I cannot wait for the photo books I have ordered from Artscow. One of my favorite books that will arrive is the Sisters Forever I ordered. It contains beautiful pictures of my two girls. I hope they would both like it. I want to impart to them that they will indeed be sisters forever. I am hoping that my first batch of order will arrive by next week. That would be a happy treat for a busy mom like me. Now, for the meantime, let me finish my research on document imaging as I need it for my business.

A super late post about Varekai. The husband and I watched it last July 21. Glad we never failed to see it. It was a good decision to buy our tickets last minute since we even got a 10% discount through SM Advantage. The husband enjoyed the show very much. In fact, he said we should also watch another Cirque de Soleil show. I hope we could get to see one in Las Vegas by December. But the show tickets are just expensive. I wonder if we could squeeze on 4 tickets with our budget considering that we are also saving up for a lot of upcoming expenses including our pocket money and the Wholesale Insurance which we need to settle before we leave the country. Crossing-fingers!

If you’re thinking that your home is already due for some renovations but putting it aside due to budget restrictions, fret no more as there are means on how you can get it done without spending too much. Home improvements need not to be expensive; you just have to be a smart shopper.

Do it yourself projects are often the best way to save on home renovations. Simple household tricks could also go a long way. If the room starts to smell or look old, consider removing the wallpaper and instead apply a few coats of fresh paint. Changing the colors of the walls could easily brighten a room.

Visit a home and garden store around your area and check for do it yourself kits for basic things around the house. Most kits are easy and quick to do. Try to get as much work done and leave the rest to professionals. For tasks like plumbing and electricity, you might need to seek the help of the experts.

An advice to those who are considering hiring a contractor: go for one that is versatile and around. This could save you a lot of money and would eliminate the need to hire multiple contractors to get the job done.  It will be best to set a limit on how much you are willing to spend. Prioritize the areas that need to be done first such as places where repairs are badly needed.

Isabel currently works as a freelance writer and uses her free time traveling and exploring places as she enjoys the adventure and adrenaline rush. Her current project has provided her with an opportunity to share positive news stories that could inspire other people to make a difference.

Before I read about the disability insurance which my aunt is asking me to review for her claim with Social Security System, let me share first the good news that the husband finally agreed to come and join for a quick getaway next week. Our family will be going to Cebu together with 4 other friends and their families. We are excited as it is our first out-of-town trip together. We will be staying in Shangri-la Mactan. I am sure the kids will have a blast. So we are all praying for a summer weather in the middle of the month of August.

Hoping August is a better month! Count down already for the December vacation! We are all excited!

It was a little craze among Twitter friends for the past two weeks. We were all in a rush to finish some photo books to avail of the promo available from Artscow. I myself finished about 8 books. Yahoo! I’m happy that I finally finished most of the travel pictures that have been pending ever since I signed up with Artscow. If you haven’t done so, it’s better to sign up now too since they give about 100 free prints for new sign ups. I literally work on it even on wee hours just for me to finish it. I’m almost like a walking zombie every morning, which makes me fail to check on what my father is asking me to research for a supplier. He wants me to check available sources for That gives me a fluid tech. I better check online now.

I met a small accident last saturday evening that resulted to my sprained ankle. It was a terrible fall that I was crying on my way to the hospital. Thank God though that I didn’t suffer from any broken bone. It was just that my whole right foot was swollen so poor me, I was actually stuck in bed since Sunday morning. As of today, I can actually move it a bit. I hope I would be in full recovery by tomorrow.

God really has His ways. Maybe, it was His way of telling me to slow down. To take it easy with work as well and to enjoy the company of my girls every afternoon. In the past few days, i have been closely monitoring the kids progress in school. I am grateful for the time that I can teach them their assignments every afternoon.

I am grateful as well that I was able to read some e-books which I have been delaying in the past couple of weeks because of my busy schedules.

I am also grateful for my efficient helpers who have been assisting me since my accidents.

And of course grateful for the comfort of my husband who takes care of me and ensures that I actually do not leave bed so I can have speedy recovery.

Hope I can really walk by tomorrow.

I just love precious moments like this.

so priceless. I hope they will continue to hug me this way even when their teenagers already

Nowadays, I cannot fathom the idea of not using the internet within the day. I would almost get sick if I do not check my emails and my favorite blog sites. Today, internet has become a popular tool to whatever is available in the market. Any company would even have a website or the very least a Facebook page. In my day to day activities and work requirements, I rely mainly on the internet. I search about suppliers and their reviews from good search engines that can provide me with valuable information. I noticed that some companies even have a customized search products in their website which is a very good tool to increase versatility of their site and catering to customers who have direct point of inquiry.  Now, for my own company website, I am even thinking to have my own toolbar like those from Zugo LTD which are easy to install. These toolbars are not even detected by malware software companies nor it is a spyware. It does not affect any computer’s performance. In fact, I can even have an option to uninstall it should I decide not to use it anymore. Thus, I’m pretty sure that searching through this toolbar can cut my work in half as I can browse the web quicker and easier.

I have a crush on these Kate Spade iPhone4 covers…

Aren’t those cute? Now, I want to buy all of them!  I wonder if they will be on sale on Labor Day. I hope so. I would want to get all those 4 if ever it will be on sale. Too bad, it’s not yet included on the extra 25% off on the sale items category for this month of July.  Would I wait till the first monday of September before I get any of these?  Let’s see if I can resist it

Today is a busy weekend. We are off to 4 different parties. Yes, read it right,  4! We are attending 2 birthday parties on Saturday and a Baptism and a Housewarming party on Sunday. Good thing I already bought the gifts for the 2 birthday parties. I will just be bringing cake for the housewarming party and will quickly pass by the mall to get a christening gift before we head out to the venue on Sunday lunch time. I wonder where I could get something like this?

That is a very cute cuddling mat! Saw it from Red Envelope website. I hope there is something one in the store too as I failed to order online

On the other hand, I love the recent quality times I have with my family. My weekends are not so full of events so I can take the time on my hands. I know I should really take advantage as the peak seasons are coming over by month of September. So even if it’s a busy weekend, it’s one well-spent weekend with the family.

You would probably think that I availed the checkcity.com payday cash advance for me to afford this bag but nah, it takes only one great friend to give me one! Yes, one of my favorite cake suppliers, Joy San Gabriel gave me this fabulous bag! And yes, you got it, it is not real but so close to being real. It was actually my birthday cake which I failed to show earlier on this blog. I was ecstatic when I received it at home! It was a perfect present for my birthday even if it’s just a cake. Well, because it was indeed so yummy! Thanks to Joy!

From our recent vacation in Singapore, it was a total family bonding. I love vacations like those when it is not hurried and we just enjoy the company of one another. It was my birthday gift for my husband and he totally loved it. We stayed in Festive Hotel inside Resorts World. It was a walking distance to the Universal Studios. The kids of course love USS. We stayed the whole day inside the park from opening till closing. Great that the Festive Hotel is nearby so it wasn’t hard to retire that night. We also enjoyed swimming on the hotel’s pool. A day after, we moved to Marina Bay Sands. I have been planning to really stay on this hotel because I want to experience swimming on its SkyPark. It’s a beautiful place. Though there were really a lot of people, it was still a great place to stay in Singapore. My kids were beaming with excitement when they saw the infinity pool.

Indeed, it was one great vacation. We are thankful for all the blessings from the One above. We are grateful that our family can do vacations such as this.

I got a time in my hands this morning to check out some womens sandals and I found this beautiful Holly 2 Sandals from Tory Burch. I am actually looking for a perfect brown sandals as all my existing ones are in black. And guess what? This beautiful brown one is on sale in their website. From $275, now it’s down to $193. I wonder how much it will cost me for shipping.  Let’s see if I can resist from ordering online.

Finally, the MMDA is implementing the No Smoking Policy in the whole of Metro Manila. For those smokers, time to finally just try the e cig instead. Note that even smoking inside your own vehicle is prohibited.

For those of you who would like to know more information about this policy RA9211…here’s an excerpt:

Section 5. Smoking in Public Places – Smoking shall be absolutely prohibited in the following public places:

a. Centers of youth activity such as playschools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for persons under eighteen (18) years old;

b. Elevator and stairwells;

c. Location in which fire hazards are present, including gas stations and storage areas for flammable liquids, gas, explosives or combustible materials;

d. Within the buildings and premises of public and private hospitals. Medical, dental, and optical clinics, health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries and laboratories;

e. Public conveyance and public facilities including airport and ship terminals and train and bus stations, restaurant and conference halls, except for separate smoking areas; and

f. Food preparation areas.

Section 6. Designated Smoking And Non-Smoking Areas – In all enclosed places that are open to the general public, private workplaces, and other places not covered under the preceding section, where smoking may expose a person to the other than the smoker to tobacco smoke, the owner, proprietor, possessor, manager or administrator of such places shall establish smoking areas. Such areas may include a designated smoking area within the building, which may be in an open space or separate area with proper ventilation, but shall not be located within the same room that has been designated as a non-smoking area.

All designated smoking areas shall at least one (1) legible and visible sign posted, namely “SMOKING AREA” for the Information and guidance of all concerned. In addition, the sign or not posted shall include a warning about the health effects of direct or secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke. Non-smoking areas shall likewise have at least one (1) legible and visible sign, namely: “NO SMOKING AREA” or “NO SMOKING”.

Here are the fines and penalties:

MMDA FINES AND PENALTIES

First offense: P500 (or 8 hour community service)
Second Offense: P1,000 to P5,000
Third Offense: P5,000 to P10,000
If caught inside public (or private?) vehicles, first offense: P500
If caught inside public (or private?) vehicles, second offense: P5,000 and revoke license of the operator
If caught inside public (or private?) vehicles, third offense: P5,000 and suspension of driver’s license.

Yey for a smoke-free Metro Manila! We need good implementation of this policy

In today’s time and age, it is hard to cope up with the demands of everyday living. If you a parent, chances are you are having challenges in juggling family life and career. Kids nowadays are becoming demanding too. There are a lots of studies that have been associated how important the formative years of children. Now you need to provide much attention and effort in providing the best for your children. Recently, I am trying to do time management that will benefit my family life and kids. I need to devise a plan that would surely work for my kids and my clients too. There are days that I really need to let my kids attend childcare instead. How I wish there are schools like those of Pre Schools Adamstown in our area which offers part-time and full-time places that is directed in every parent’s working lifestyle today. These childcare centers like Giraffe Childcare and Early Learning centres offer young children four months – 6 years an environment that provides creative stimulation and play activities. Their staff are known to be highly competent to child development which promotes positive learning and imagination. They believe that children actually develop and learn in different ways and different phase. And that early years of education is an integral learning curve for the child.  For me, getting help from institutions like this are saving grace for parents like me.  I hope I get to find a center suited for my kids and my working lifestyle as well.

There are just so many things to do that I sometime wish we have more than 24 hours in a day. Life has been pretty chaotic lately especially that the kids started school already. Every morning is a struggle despite the fact that I do let them sleep early. I am not a morning person at all so I guess my kids have inherited that from me. I also struggle waking up early every day. With this system, I hope I do not age quickly, lol! I need good beauty regimen to fight my fine lines especially my dark eye circles. Wondering if I need to use orogold at this time already I am praying that things would work out on our schedule in the next couple of days or at the very least, in a couple of weeks. Wish us luck!

It was a good decision to have a quick get-away with the whole family as an advance birthday celebration of my husband.  The trip is actually my birthday gift for him.  I booked the flights and the hotels without him knowing at first.  He was all happy with the turn-out and we are currently enjoying everything about this vacation.  I made the right choices on our hotel accommodation.  Will post about it further next time.  But for the meantime, I would like to share that I love the fire pit available on top of the hotel we are staying. It totally adds ambiance to the outdoor sky park. More about that hotel on my future posts

My kids school started already about a week ago. Glad they are getting the hang of waking up early in the morning. I am also getting used to making an effort to really be with them in the afternoon and to check out their assignments. But I realized I might need to canvass for photo printers already. Most of the recent assignments require them to bring pictures and it is so hassle to even go out of the house just to have just one picture printed in a photo shop.  Most of the photo shops even require a certain minimum of prints.  So now I am thinking to really get one for our use.

I have been reading up this blog of Fashion Pulis that puts up articles of blind items on some celebrities. The blog is actually entertaining and I find the comments hilarious actually. In fact, I recently read that there is this popular actress who actually availed of a residential rehab treatment facility. I have some clues on it might be but I would just reserve my comments for myself. But it also saddens me that it has come to the point of drug rehabilitation for that actress. She has totally lost her career. I hope she can really try to detox herself and vouch that she won’t take drugs again so she can regain back her popularity. Besides, she’s really a good one actress anyway.

Last Monday, I had the privilege to be part of the symposium and book-signing of Preston Bailey in Manila. This is in celebration of 18th year in Business of Rita Neri. I totally forgot what my uncle was asking me to do that day to check out Polaris Ranger Accessories because I got so excited for the event. I got three wonderful books by Preston and had a chance to let him sign on all of my books. I am a super fan! I hope i get to enroll in one of his Event Styling Classes in the future.

So these are my girls…

Aren’t they a model in the making? Gorgeous aren’t they? Sorry love your own. But they are just like this with people they know. They are both very shy actually. That is why I have building their confidence by letting them go through some summer workshops like the Trumpets play shop so they can develop more their talents. More about the Trumpets Play Shop on my next post. For the meantime, I am already preparing for the 7th Birthday of Margaux. I am actually on the lookout for printdirectforless poster printing available as I need it for the birthday theme I am thinking. Do advise me if you have leads.