Timeless Beauty

Use rugs to decorate the floor

2009-12-08T08:40:00.002+08:00

This is a unique tie rug that was given as a wedding present. Image by eileenaway via Flickr

A home with a shiny hardwood floor should not be covered in carpeting. It is better to use discount rugs to decorate the floor and keep the feet warm and protected from slipping or sliding because of the wax.

There are many ukay-ukay shops that sell discount rugs aside from the second-hand clothes, bags and shoes. They probably cost less than two dollars each. Some good rugs are knitted and made of wool. Make sure these do not fade easily, or if that's unavoidable, then choose darker colors so the rug will fade less noticeably.

Mobile Homes For Squatters

2009-12-08T08:16:00.003+08:00

The inside of a mobile home ready for drywalling. Image via Wikipedia

With the holidays fast approaching, families are expected to come together in comfort and joy in their homes. Unfortunately, this scenario is not true for many families displaced by the typhoons, fire and demolition forces. The victims are often from the lower classes that will have great difficulty raising themselves from the tragedies that have struck them.

The government and many civic organizations can only do so much with their donations and relief goods, but what the families need the most is a roof to sleep under and a table to put food on.

The government can easily build manufactured homes, the present name for mobile homes, that the families can live in. In fact, they can place these homes on certain tracts of land without worry of congesting the area. The problems of professional squatting and violent demolitions can be resolved with regulated placements of mobile homes.

Extreme Body Workout: Losing That Belly Fast!

2009-12-08T08:15:00.000+08:00

Image by size8jeans via Flickr

In more than a month's time, I will be married to a wonderful man. It is going to be the most joyful day of my life. I wanted to prepare for it, not only emotionally and financially, but also physically. This means I have to get in shape and lose this belly fast!

No worries though. I just found a possible workout program that can help me. It is fast and safe. It is called the P90X workout that involves a lot of rigorous exercises and turn these into tools to sculpt your body like an artist.

P90X is an extreme body workout that powerfully combines all three elements of the program: P90X exercises, P90X equipment and P90X nutrition. These three are customized to your needs and will not negatively affect your health.

I know my wedding is just about a month away, but I am sure after a month of engaging in P90X I will have visible results. I will make sure the unsightly belly is first to go.

Gifts For My Nephews

2009-12-05T11:23:00.003+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

It is Christmas once again. It is also the time when I have to prepare my gift list. I have many nephews and godchildren. I am not sure what kids want these days. I expect it is some new gadget like the Playstation 3 or a cellphone with camera. Children are like technofreaks these days.

I have already given of my nephews a cellphone, but that quickly wore out its novelty and was put aside for newer stuff. I don't know if I should give one again. Maybe I should stick to giving t-shirts as gifts. That's a safer option, I think.

New Work Desk

2009-12-05T11:05:00.000+08:00

I just bought a new work desk with rubber mounts to reduce movement and shaking. It set me back about 5k but I think it's worth it. My work area is now more stable and better organized because of the small shelves and secure drawers.

My major pest problem with ants is avoided because of the work desk's surface can be cleaned with a moist cloth. I can use a furniture cleaner for this or simply moist wipes, whichever is handy at the moment.

Banking Online

2009-12-01T02:39:00.003+08:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It's been days since I last went to the grocery. The family needs some new supplies--vegetables, fruits, personal items, snacks, bread, sugar, salt, etc. And I need to have some cash with me. With the intermittent power outages happening lately, it will be difficult to use a cash card or credit card for the digital POS systems at the local supermarket.

Problem is: the ATM machines also rely on electricity to run. Talk about technology biting us in the ass. So sometimes I have no choice but to withdraw over the counter at the bank. If only the line was short, it would have been okay to just breeze through the process.

Anyways, I am changing banks now. I have just closed my BPI account and I am opening a new one at BDO. I think Edward and I need to open a joint account in preparation for the future.

One of the reasons I chose BDO was its accessibility at most major malls and establishments. BDO also operate until after hours and during Sundays, which is very convenient. Another thing is that I can easily access my account online so I won't have to go to the bank personally for other transactions.

Protect Your Family From Risks

2009-11-26T13:00:00.003+08:00

Image by ecstaticist via Flickr

Life is as fragile as a dewdrop. All we can do is accept this fragility and find ways to lessen the risks and the pain of losing a loved one.

One way to protect your family from risks brought by a death in the family or your death as the breadwinner is to buy a life insurance policy for yourself with your family as beneficiaries.

The life insurance rate that you will be paying will depend on the range of coverage you wanted. The more coverage, the higher your insurance rate will be.

There are two types of life insurance: term life and whole life. Whole life insurance is in effect as long as the insurance policy holder is alive. Term life, on the other hand, is in effect only within specified periods, such as 10 years, 20 years or 30 years.

Both types of life insurance can have the same coverage, but will not have the same extra benefits. Extra benefits may include interest earning premiums, which can increase the amount of money the insurance policy owner can get when the policy has matured.

Know The Rules When Vacationing

2009-11-25T22:26:00.004+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Many tourists visit the Philippines during winter and often go to the beach to enjoy the warm sun and the cool water before heading back to their wintry home countries. What most of them do not know is that the Philippines is hardest hit by typhoons during the months of September to January.

This combination of strong winds, high waves and tourists on sandy beaches can be fatal for the unprepared. Aside from the standard warnings sent out to travelers, local authorities also make sure they have the necessary facilities and equipment for search and rescue.

Search and rescue teams often bring extra devices with them besides the first aid kit materials. One of these devices is the AED, or the Automated External Defibrillator, which is very useful in reviving patients from cardiac arrest.

However, despite the preparedness of emergency response teams, there are still many deadly accidents that happen during vacations or the holidays. Safety should start first with self-awareness and discipline. Knowing the risks is not a guarantee that people will abide by the rules and follow the guidelines.

When you do decide to take a vacation, always remember to know the local laws and culture and to follow them as strictly as possible to avoid confusion, conflict and mishaps.

Freebies During The Holidays

2009-11-25T22:25:00.000+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

I love going to the malls during the Ember months when early Christmas is alive in the Philippines. Lots of sales and discounts going on in some shops. This helps you save money when you have a lot of Christmas shopping to do.

Many food and beverage companies make it a point to release promotional products in time for the holidays. They would set up kiosks at the entrances to the supermarkets and entice shoppers to taste the latest wine, milk, coffee, or juice they have. There are also hotdogs, sausages, sandwiches, ham slices, and other food samples that they want you to take a bite of.

Just walking around these areas is enough to satisfy your hunger and you don't even have to spend a cent to eat! This is truly one of those money-saving occasions that you should take advantage of during the holidays.

Diamonds Are Forever

2009-11-03T15:04:00.003+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

It is a known fact that most women are lovers of the beautiful, the shiny, and the expensive. Diamonds, in particular, have all these qualities, which make these stones the most expensive parts of jewelry in the world.

Loose diamonds are perfect for buyers looking to have their ring or necklace pendant customized. Loose diamonds can be cut and set in any way to match the design of the jewelry.

The most valuable pieces of loose diamonds are those with color in them. Colors of brown and yellow are often seen as streaks inside the stone and are caused by the stone's exposure to nitrogen.

Other chemical impurities in loose diamonds can produce other colors such as red, pink, green or blue. These colored diamonds are the rarest and the most expensive in the market. When the effect is not immediately noticeable, then the value of these diamonds increases.

Life Insurance For Your Protection

2009-11-03T14:11:00.003+08:00

Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

Life is too unpredictable for promises. You won't know what happens today or tomorrow. All you can do is approximate the events based on what happened yesterday, and then plan what to do in case what we fear will happen happens.

This uncertainty is the reason why life insurance exists. Life insurance rates are lower when you set your insurance premiums high. Insurance premiums, in turn, increase as more coverage is added into the plan.

The more coverage you include in your life insurance plan, the better protected you will be. However, the problem with too much coverage is that you are not sure you will be using them in the future.

A benefit of a full coverage life insurance, on one hand, is lesser premiums for home and auto insurance. Life insurance will cover health and medical coverage in case of accidents or home security problems.

Beautifying Your Teeth

2009-11-03T14:03:00.000+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Great beauty rarely comes without a price. Many women have succumbed to Vanity's call and had some parts of their body reconstructed or surgically enhanced to look young and beautiful. One of these body parts is teeth.

Many of us have bad experiences with dentists when we were young. This general fear of dentists have led to avoidance of dental checkups as much as possible in our adult lives.

Luckily, except for discoloration, few of us have extreme dental problems. Teeth whitening can get rid of discolorations in your teeth caused by drinking coffee or nicotine from smoking.

Sometimes people lose one tooth and may need a replacement. Seeing an implant dentist Plano is a good solution for this. Having one's teeth implanted with a replica of one's tooth, shiny and new. If there are several teeth that can not be fixed through a retainer or braces, then an implant is a good solution.

Swine Flu is a National Emergency in the US

2009-10-29T11:22:00.000+08:00

Image by jmtimages via Flickr

The cases of swine flu has been steadily increasing since its outbreak in April 2009. So far, the virus has killed at least a thousand people in the United States alone. Almost 100 children had died and 46 states have already recorded numerous cases of the outbreak.

In response to this rising epidemic, President Barack Obama has declared the swine flu epidemic as a national emergency.

As part of the declaration, US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius can bypass federal rules in opening alternative health care sites, such as offsite hospital centers at schools and community centers. Relocating offsite can prevent further spreading of the virus to non-infected patients and health workers at community centers, hospitals and other treatment areas.

Hospitals can also change the rules to speed up access to treatment, such as requiring less information from patients so they can be given treatment as soon as possible.

For our part, we must stay vigilant in observing cleanliness with our surroundings. We can also choose to buy some form of health care, even if it is just low cost health insurance.

Worldwide, more than 5,000 people have reportedly died from swine flu since it emerged this year and developed into a global epidemic, the World Health Organization said.

Dieting

2009-10-22T09:22:00.000+08:00

I desperately need appetite suppressants. My jean size has just ballooned to 30 now. I tried controlling my eating habits, but no matter what I do, I still get hungry and I tend to eat more than three time each day. Even if I start avoiding eating some foods, I still eat more meals in a day.

Not only that, because I live in a country where rice is the staple food. A meal is not a meal without the rice, and rice is full of carbohydrates. I also love to cook, and I am proud to say, all my dishes taste good.

I haven't tried Fitril yet. But both Fitrum and Fitril are fat burners. They have L-carnitine. They may also have appetite suppressants, but let's see how it goes.

Cleaning AC Filters Is Good For Your Health

2009-10-22T09:04:00.000+08:00

I have been having some allergic reaction while working at the office. I don't feel sick like that when I'm outside or when I'm at home. It seems there is something wrong with the air at the office that I get this clogged nose, itchy eyes and a budding sore throat. I think it is time the office cleans the AC filters of the aircons.

Cleaning the AC filters is easy. Take the dirty filter out; filters are easy to slide out of the aircon. Wash the mesh with water and soap. Professional cleaners use water hoses with a special nozzle that controls the flow of water. However, if you want to do it yourself, just a wash rag, a little soap, and warm water will do. Make sure the filter is dry before placing it back inside the aircon.

Cleaning the AC filters regularly saves on energy. The aircon won't have to work so hard to keep the air temp low. Plus the air that circulates is cleaner; less dust are floating around the room.

Finding Safety In Norton Security

2009-10-14T11:44:00.000+08:00

I used to have AVG 8 in my netbook. It is one of the free antivirus software available in the market. That software, however, was not as effective as I thought in detecting some new viruses.

Take for example, the bar311.exe virus that has infected my BF's PC and flash drive. Good thing I have AntiVir and Norton Security in my netbook. They were able to detect the virus early and prevent it from spreading into my netbook.

As of now I am looking into subscribing to Norton Security. I have not experienced feeling safe with an antivirus software until I got Norton Security. I love my netbook too much now to allow anything to happen to it.

Buy Home Insurance Against Flood Damage

2009-10-07T13:46:00.003+08:00

While watching the TV reports of the ongoing onslaught of the two major typhoons in northern Philippines, I felt shock and regret at the loss of life and property of my fellow Filipinos. Some who could afford it probably have a type of home insurance. However, the simple Pinoys surely do not have protection against natural calamities such as Ketsana and Melor.

The sight of an LCD HDTV covered in mud or a Mercedes van being swept away by the flood is heartbreaking sight to see. Losing one's home won't have to be a complete tragedy if the homeowner has a home insurance. The insurance can cover damages to not only the house's structure, but also to personal property and belongings, such as appliances, cars, and clothes.

However, most Filipinos are not well-informed about the benefits of paying a home insurance premium every month. They would rather spend the money on food, clothing and school fees.

Protect Your Family From Health Risks After A Flood

2009-10-07T13:45:00.000+08:00

The recent visits from two typhoons have destroyed so many homes and other properties. Families lost loved ones and had to evacuate to seek refuge in gyms, schools and covered courts.

Those who did not leave their homes continue to live in them despite the flood water surrounding their area. The flood water remains high in some areas, preventing transportation of goods and delaying travel. In fact, authorities say the flood water will remain until December, unless the government can find a way to direct the water somewhere.

The presence of dirty stagnant flood water is a dangerous source of sickness, one of which is dengue. Another malady could be skin diseases. The most common sickness, however, is caused by intestinal bacteria, those infectious organisms that look like corkscrews and spring plungers under a microscope.

Protect your self and your family from intestinal diseases by making sure you only drink distilled water. If the food looks and smells suspicious, throw it out immediately. Whenever you need to go out, always wear protective gear, such as gloves, boots, coats, and hats.

Wash your clothes and other belongings you can salvage from your flooded home. Use strong detergents to get rid of the odor, and disinfect your possessions if possible. Use anti-microbial soaps and lotions to keep the bacteria from infecting your system.

Get Insured Now Or It Will Be Too Late!

2009-10-01T00:05:00.001+08:00

As I watch my fellow Filipinos suffer from the destruction brought on by two typhoons, Ketsana and Melor, one of the things that I strongly comes to mind is the term life insurance. So few Filipinos purchase a life insurance, much less a home or property insurance, that could have helped them through the effects of two typhoons.

Buying a life insurance or a property insurance is one of the best decisions you could ever make in your life. It may cost you each month a percentage of your wages, but the return is worth it by the time you need the insurance money.

There are insurance packages that include coverage for life and property loss in the event of a natural calamity. The money from the insurance could have paid for a new house, for food and clothes, and for replacement of home appliances that were destroyed.

A Skin Disorder Can Be A Social Security Disability

2009-09-16T16:49:00.000+08:00

Did you know that you can apply for social security disability benefits if you suffer from severe skin disorders? Skin disorders are included in the list of impairments that Social Security deems severe enough to deter a person from working efficiently in the workplace.

According to the official list under Skin Disorders, the following skin diseases are included: Ichthyosis, bullous diseases, chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes, dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, genetic photosensitivity disorders, and burns.

Social security assessments are based on the following criteria: duration and severity of the skin disease, extensiveness of skin lesions, frequency of flare-ups, symptoms include pain, and the kind of treatment the patient has to undergo. Sometimes, the skin disease causes deformity and may affect the senses and speech. There are others that require special treatment for the person.

People with these conditions are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The approval of their application will depend on many factors, such as the medical prognosis for the skin disorder and the supporting documents for it.

Using Web Directories

2009-09-05T11:50:00.001+08:00

Image by fmc.nikon.d40 via Flickr

For many years, web directories have been used and abused by link builders in the name of SEO. Some web directories have a respectable reputation and valuable listings, but others have turned into moneymaking machines that do not give much attention to what kind of links they are placing in their lists.

However, the usefulness of web directories as sources for information still holds true. Unlike search engines that use crawlers, web directories are human edited, and therefore, have a more relevant and accurate listing than any automated product.

Not only that, web directory owners can also earn from their site through ad placements, instead of paid links. Since paid links are frowned upon by Google, this option is way much better, and perhaps more effective in getting traffic since the ads are more attractive and informative than just text links.

If you have time, please come visit my other blog, Malditang Pinay. Thanks!

Did you know...?

2009-09-03T10:52:00.000+08:00

Ceramic tile are generally safe when they are fully formed. The tiles themselves were made of clay and glazed by intense heat. They are non-metallic and are made to endure for many years. However, before the 1970s, it was found that the tiles were mixed with asbestos, which strengthens the tiles. The asbestos has been linked to Mesothelioma, one of the worst cancers with a high mortality rate.

Today's ceramic tiles manufacturers have stopped using asbestos in making the tiles. However, there are still a few who use small amounts to strengthen their products. Of course, they neglect to mention that to their customers. That kind of irresponsibility has caused undue health problems among the company's employees and also its customers. Many Mesothelioma cases have continued to arise from such negligence.

To avoid being exposed to asbestos, you must make sure the ceramic tiles you are buying are 100% free from asbestos. Check what kind of company your supplier is.

Symptoms and Prevention of Burnout

2009-09-01T10:51:00.000+08:00

Image by Diogo Drigo via Flickr

Thoughts of leaving my nine-to-five job to work as a freelancer have been dancing in my mind. Lately, I have been experiencing this trapped feeling whenever I think of work. There's a strong urge to just drop everything, buy an RV and get my RV insurance, and drive away, leaving behind a stressful life in the city. These thoughts and feelings are not there without a reason, I know. They are probably symptoms of an oncoming bout with burnout.

Burnout is defined by HelpGuide.org as a "state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress." It can happen when a person feels so overwhelmed with the constant demands of work. There are general feelings of frustration and desperation, which cause a high level of stress.

As the stress continues to bombard the person's day-today-life, he or she begins to lose the interest or motivation to work, or to even take responsibility for one's work.

Burnout reduces productivity and saps a person's energy, leaving feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, cynicism, and resentment. Eventually, a person who is experiencing burnout may feel like there's nothing more to give. Eventually, they give up.

What are some ways to prevent burnout? Livestrong.com gives us the following tips in preventing burnout:

* Be informed of the expectations, scope of responsibilities, opportunity for advancement, supervision, job description, workload, evaluation criteria, benefits and salary of a job before accepting it.
* Identify goals and evaluate accordingly both at home and on the job.
* Maintain personal growth both at home and on the job.
* Seek out helpful supervision for your work both at home and on the job.
* Develop an active outside life with a variety of interests.
* Personalize your work and home environment with meaningful pictures, objects, colors, etc.
* Feel comfortable with yourself, set limits for yourself and know how far to become involved with family and colleagues.
* Encourage and practice good communication skills.
* Provide for flexible working conditions.
* Seek out encouragement for trying new ideas.
* Find your own "decompression techniques'' such as activities like meditation or exercise that relieve tension and put you into a more relaxed state.
* Build a support system for yourself with those who can discuss your problems and help look for solutions. Don't just air gripes, but look for solutions.

Upcoming: Malditang Pinay SEO Links Directory

2009-08-27T17:30:00.004+08:00

I have another blog at www.malditangpinay.com and I'm planning to put a free links directory there. I haven't installed the software yet, but when it's done and looks alright, I'll announce when people can submit directory information and see their links posted. The tentative URL for the directory is http://www.malditangpinay.com/SEO Links/

Fitrum Boo, Fitril Up Next

2009-08-24T17:25:00.000+08:00

My Fitrum experiment didn't work on me at all. The increased metabolism made me hungry more often than before. I stopped before I get bigger. Next diet pill that I'll try is Fitril, which a bit similar but may be less expensive.