LG Awesome

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband must love LG brand for cellphones and appliances. We bought a new t.v just a few months ago and it's LG. Another thing he possess of the same brand is his cell phone but it is not the latest model nor it has special features that a person would envy. 

If he were to change his cell phone, I would encourage him to buy this LG DoublePlay™ because of the many features it offers. He would never complain about taking forever to send text messages especially when he is at work for it has a split QWERTY keyboard and capacitive touch screens making simultaneous mobile activity easier than ever. It also comes with a 5-mega pixel camera with LED flash and 720 HD video recorder that allows him to capture and share videos via messaging, emails or through Facebook. 

This can make a great gift for my husband this Christmas since I cannot think of anything to buy for him but a new cell phone. As for me, I am not much of a cell phone user. I can send text messages in a month maybe just 10 or more messages.  I used to have a subscription in which I can have unlimited data and internet on my phone and as far as I can remember, I spent at least 5 or 6 hours doing the social networking on it. 

Since I am on Facebook a lot lately, a new LG DoublePlay can help me so much with so many things for it offers multi messaging options plus it allows users to perfom multiple tasks at once like updating Facebook pages while surfing the web simultaneously. Awesome, isn't it?

My dear readers and visitors out there, if you haven't upgraded your cell phone, you can put it in your wish list so Santa knows what you want this Christmas. By the way, this phone is available exclusively at T-Mobile. You would be delighted to check out LG DoublePlay if you spend most of your time surfing the web and updating your Facebook page all the time using your cell phone. 

And if you give me a little bit of your time to answer the following questions for me, I would appreciate it.

How  many hours do you spend texting and engaging in Social networking site on your phone?

How do you think The LG DoublePlay would change the way you interact with your Social Network? Leave your answers on the comment page of my entry and surprise me with your answers, okay? Thank you!

 

My Grandfather

Contribution by Michale Greer

My grandfather loves watching old western movies. He is a huge fan of John Wayne and loves watching any movie that has him in it. He was telling me that he wished he had a tv channel that he showed all of his favorite movies. I showed him how to log on to giveadish.com to find out if there are any channels that show old western movies. He was so happy that he was able to research this and find a tv package that includes a channel with western movies.

This new tv channel never shows a movie that he does not like and he never seems to get tired of the westerns. Sometimes I’ll watch a movie with him and it really seems like he is watching a movie for the first time, even though I know he has seen it many times before. I do not mind watching these movies either. I am glad that there is something that I can share with my grandfather so that I can spend more time with him.

Sorry?

I didn't expect to receive some flowers from the husband this afternoon. He has been an asshole that is why he gave me some flowers. Last night before we went to sleep, we had this short pillow fight, I used my girl's light pillow and he used the hardest and heavy pillow on me, he hit me twice in my face which caused me to see a firefly. It hurts so much that it made me cry so I went to sleep crying...

When he came home this afternoon he handed me these pink beautiful long stemmed flowers. I immediately put them in a vase. He said, "I've been an asshole"..and I replied back "I'm glad you know it". He grinned!

In a relationship, there will always be misunderstandings and hurt feelings but what's important is the couple knows how to acknowledge their mistake and willing to say sorry. That is what those flowers for, he is sorry that is why he gave me flowers. I told him, if he can be an asshole everyday so I can have flowers everyday.

Engagement Rings

People despite of the downfall of economy still choose to be engaged and eventually get married. Why? They never let anything interfere with their love. Buying of unique engagement rings are so popular even though there are men are living from paycheck to paycheck. They strive to spare a budget for their sweetheart's engagement diamond and unique rings.

What does an engagement ring stands for? An engagement ring symbolizes a pledge and devotion to another person in the willingness to spend their lives together as one.

Are you one of those looking forward to being engaged with your girlfriend? Make her the sweetest fiancee you could ever have by proposing to her with that stone in your hand ask for marriage. For sure she would love to hear those magic words popping out from your mouth. At www.diamondmansion.com, you can design your own engagement ring whether you want a solitaire engagement ring, halo, pave, 3 stone, channel set engagement ring and wedding set. You choose! Or you can simply choose the setting and the diamond. You can mix and match and scroll through the pictures of the setting and diamond chosen to get a better view of what the ring will look like.

Losing A Father

We just got back from Davao last night and I feel very exhausted due to a couple of sleepless nights. We went to my father's hometown because he chose to be buried there. As you all you know, my father passed away last October 16, 2011. I flew all the way from America just to see him for the last time. When in Davao, I saw there were only very few flowers offered or placed on his coffin so I had to buy funeral flowers at a local florist.

But the bouquet of flowers I bought wasn't something very nice. I wished I could find another decent florist nearby so I could offer my father the nicest flowers he could ever have. But anyway, I doubt those flowers being bought by people for his funeral had some additives for cut flowers because they wilted and died too soon.

Too bad I am not so familiar of the place. I could have gone to several florists and chose the best funeral flowers for him. Anyway, the big hurdle thrown to us is over. He is now laid to rest and I hope he is resting peacefully with the Lord in heaven. Hard to imagine living a life without a father but life goes on. I know he is happy where he is right now and I am pretty sure he is watching over us!

15 New Uses Of Tea

Tea drinkers would be so happy to know these 15 new uses of their favorite drink. A great practical article on Yahoo Shine that saves a lot of your time and money if you would follow what is written here.

1. Clean carpets: Clean up musty, dirty carpets by sprinkling dry, used green tea leaves on the carpet. Let them work their magic for about 10 minutes, then vacuum them up. Delicate Persian and Oriental rugs can also benefit from a sprinkling of tea leaves. In this case, sprinkle nearly dry, used whole tea leaves on the rugs, and gently sweep them away.

2. Shine wood floors: The tannins in black tea can help shine and color hardwood flooring. Follow your regular floor cleaning routine by carefully rubbing some brewed tea into the floor (don’t use too much water on hardwood flooring) and letting it air dry.

3. Polish furniture: Brewed tea also can help clean and shine wood furniture. The tannins in tea will re-color light spots and scratches in wood surfaces. Dip a soft cloth in a small amount of strongly-brewed tea, and use it to wipe down scratched tables, chairs, and more. Woodworker Jim McNamara suggested using "regular orange pekoe (Lipton's) or other dark tea" in Woodworker's Gazette.

4. Clean mirrors and windows: Tea can remove stubborn, greasy fingerprints from glass, and make it sparkle. Simply rub a damp teabag on the glass or fill a spray bottle with brewed tea.

5. Clean toilet stains: Rumor has it that used tea leaves can magically remove stubborn stains in the bottom of the toilet bowl. Just leave them in the toilet for several hours, then flush the toilet and brush the bowl.

6. Soothe a sunburn: Tea can soothe sunburns and other minor burns. Dr. Oz suggests sponging sunburned skin with "cooled chamomile tea" for it's anti-inflammatory effect. Don't try this if skin is broken.

7. Soothe tired eyes: Warm, wet tea bags can reduce puffiness and soothe pain around tired eyes — and tea bags on your eyes look a little less ridiculous than cucumber slices.

8. Soothe bleeding gums: After a tooth extraction or when an older child loses a tooth, try putting a cold, wet tea bag in the mouth where the tooth was lost and bite down on it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, "The tannic acid in tea helps healing blood clots to form (blood clots function similarly to a scab on an open wound). It can reduce bleeding and soothe pain."

9. Shine dry hair: Brewed tea makes a good conditioner for dry hair. Rinse with (unsweetened) tea and leave to dry for a while, then rinse again with water.

10. Improve skin: The Mayo Clinic suggests that herbal tea ingredients chamomile and calendula can help soothe dermatitis when prepared as a topical cream. Consult with a qualified health practitioner before using these remedies.

11. Soothe acne: Some acne sufferers swear by washing their faces with green tea because of its mildly antiseptic properties. Dr. Andrew Weil suggests washing with calendula flower tea as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide.

12. Tenderize meat: Marinate tough meat in black tea to make it more tender.

13. Add to compost: Pouring strong tea into a compost bin will help speed up the process and encourage more friendly bacteria to grow, improving the compost.

14. Help houseplants: Occasionally use brewed tea instead of water to feed ferns and other houseplants that like rich, acidic soil. Spread used tea leaves around rosebushes, then add mulch and water. The tannic acid and other nutrients will benefit the plants. A few used teabags in the bottom of a planter can help the soil retain water, and adds valuable nutrients.

15. Dye fabrics: Green and black teas have long been used in dyes for fabric and paper, particularly for generating a beige, faux-antique look.

Not A Mention Of Online Dating

I just read an article on yahoo about five surprising places to find love. It is kind of a long article which for me is too much to do since I don't like reading! Anyway, while the author mentioned five places to fall in love, there was not a mention of online dating which for me could be the perfect place to find your soulmate. Although a couple met on tweetup still it is not the same as online dating which you register yourself, create your profile and upload your photo/s.

Thousands of dating sites out there which serve as a match maker to those who are lonely, wanting to find love and believe in destiny. Hard to believe it? I tell you, it works for us and for a lot of my Filipina friends too. In fact, there was a study about people finding love in person and online dating, the surprising result to online dating is that, it works just as fine as dating personally.

If two people are meant to be together, they are meant to be no matter what the distance is. If they are bound for each other, no matter how hard the hurdles thrown at each other they will overcome them. We are a living example of online dating for my husband and I met on the internet 7 years ago.

Five surprising places to find love

By Susan Johnston

Love in the snow lane

For Marie Melsheimer, 35, love didn’t walk in; it slid into the back of her car during an icy winter in Bend, OR 17 years ago. “I was stopped at a stop sign and my car stalled,” says Melsheimer. “His truck slid into the back of my car and he broke my taillights and dented my bumper.” The guy offered to fix her car, so they exchanged phone numbers. She blames his inexperience with the icy road conditions for their fender bender, while he blames her car stalling. Regardless of who was at fault, Melsheimer says it was love at first sight. “I was on my way to my grandmother’s house,” she recalls, “and after leaving him, I arrived there to tell her I had just met the man I was going to marry.” True to both their words, he fixed her tail lights — and they married several years later.

A purr-fect match

Plenty of romances come courtesy of some trusty canine companions at the dog park. Without daily walks, though, cat owners don’t have a similar excuse to socialize. That didn’t stop Whitney Shore, 26, and her now-boyfriend from striking up a conversation at the vet’s office. “I was bringing one of my cats in after work on a Tuesday, and he was bringing in one of his cats, too,” says Shore. “I noticed him when he walked in and was pretty excited when he sat down a couple of seats down from me. We started talking and continued talking for the next hour.” Though he’d already left by the time Shore’s appointment wrapped up, the clever cat-lover pieced together details from their conversation and left a note on Shore’s car with his phone number. “We met for brunch that Sunday, which turned into us going to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, which turned into dinner, which then turned into a movie,” she says. “All told, our first date was 10 hours… and the rest is history!”

Sparks fly at 30,000 feet

Scott Trosclair, 29, was flying to Oakland, CA when a girl with big, grayish-green eyes sat down in the seat next to him. Her name was Emily, he learned, and they struck up a conversation, chatting about his move from New York City to the Bay Area and the fact that they were both wearing Rainbow sandals. Though they talked for the entirety of the flight, Trosclair waited until the last second to ask for her number in the baggage claim area, just in case she turned him down. Fortunately, she didn’t — and four years later, Trosclair planned a surprise proposal on another shared flight. “We met flying from Orange County to Oakland, so I proposed on a flight going the opposite path,” says Trosclair. “When we landed, I had her brother, mother and her mom’s boyfriend meet up with us in a limo.” Since they met while traveling, the pair included some airplane and travel motifs in their wedding this past spring.

Tweet love

Even social networks designed exclusively for online conversation can lead to real-world connections. Just ask MoniQue Shaldjian, 24, who met her fiancé Mike at a Tweetup in Phoenix last year. “I had seen his Twitter handle in a retweet here or there,” she remembers. “So, I’m at this event, and I got a tweet from him that said, ‘don’t leave, I want to meet you.’” She went to shake his hand and he went for a bear hug. Later, they both went to a bar to chat, and the conversation flowed as if they were old friends. Although Mike didn’t ask for MoniQue’s phone number that night, they started following each other on Twitter and she texted him after seeing he’d tweeted his phone number to a client. Things took off from there. MoniQue says that she “never imagined” she’d meet her husband at a Tweetup, but their shared interest in social media has helped the couple to bond.

Connecting on a commuter train

Long train rides may seem like a waste of time for tired commuters, but Holly Johnson, 27, actually met her husband Jesse while commuting from Boston to Worcester, MA. “He said that he saw me in the window and thought I was pretty,” Johnson recalls. But she wasn’t looking for a love connection, so when Jesse asked to sit next to her, she answered: “I don’t know why people ask if they can sit next to someone else — it’s a free country.” Still, it’ a long ride to Worcester, so the two started chatting about politics and discovered they shared some similar viewpoints. Jesse offered Holly a ride from the train station, but she insisted on taking a cab instead. “I thought he was a weirdo stalker,” she admits. “As it turns out, he really was just being nice.” Holly reluctantly gave him her cell number, not expecting to hear from him. However, Jesse called the next day. Now, eight years later, they’re married and have a child together.

Susan Johnston is a freelance writer who has written for The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, Parade, and many other publications. She met her boyfriend online but loves hearing unusual “how we met” stories.

Article courtesy of Happen magazine.

LIFTED FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Helping A Cousin Find A Mate

Who says finding your mate online doesn't work? My husband and I are the living example of online dating. We met at a dating site seven years ago. I am from the Philippines and of course he's from Texas. We are two souls bound to be together. Two completely different personalities yet in love and relationship is getting stronger as years pass by. In fact, we are celebrating our seven years of happy marriage next week.

Another example of couple who met online is my cousin whom I have not talked to for two years in the other state. She too, found her husband at a dating site of course with my help. As young as 17 years old, I taught her how to chat, set up an email account and register herself at different dating sites so she can marry an American. She was successful!

Then I am thinking of helping another cousin in the Philippines to use the the internet so she can start registering herself too. I would want her to create a profile at a Christian dating site for a great chance of mingling or dating with christian singles. I am more than willing helping people those are interested to make their life gets better instead of just screwing around boys in our country who proves nothing but make a lot of children and have nothing to support them.

He Find Me Weird Which Is Weird

We are turning 7 years of our marriage in 11 days. Wow that long already? It felt like it was just yesterday when we tied the knot. I am blessed and thankful for another blissful year of being together. In relation to me being married to my husband, I still find him attractive and handsome despite of our slightly grown bellies (I don't take that as criticism instead it's a sign of progress for both of us, we are having a good life you know lol), I am too vocal of my feeling towards him and from time to time, whenever I feel like saying it, I would blurt it out to him saying, "hmmmmm you look so guapo times like when he just showered or coming home from work". Then he would reply to me, you're weird. For what? For finding me handsome, he said. LMAO! So what? Of course he is handsome because I picked him. I married him!

The Right Place For Scrubs

The last visit of my babies' Pediatrician was about three weeks ago. The nurse who handled our little Pearl looked so pretty, pregnant and just attractive looking nurse. Not to mention she wore a very nice pattern and color of scrub uniform that day. I asked her where did she buy her scrubs and she said at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women and I was like, oh really? I told her, I do a lot of reviews in that particular scrub site and to tell you what, you have come to the right place when it comes to buying real affordable nurse scrub uniforms. Yes, believe me, it truly is the place where to buy cheap scrubs. If you are looking for a new set of uniform, you might check it out yourself and tell me what you think. Wink!

5 lessons learned from 18 years of marriage

Another great article I read on yahoo on how to keep your marriage alive throughout the years! I share this here so my readers who missed reading it on yahoo are able to read it.

1. A strong marriage is built of tiny actions.

“It’s the little things.” Such a cliche! Such bad sentence construction! And such truth.

Related: 35 for 35 — Things I have learned in my 35 years

Each time you discuss instead of demand, you strengthen your marriage. Same goes for speaking with respect instead of sarcasm, and listening instead of dismissing, and engaging instead of eye-rolling.

Each action is like a brick. You choose whether to use it to build a foundation or a wall.

2. But don’t forget the grand gesture.

Buying flowers or surprising your spouse with a vacation, an iPad, or a day off from dishwashing won’t make your marriage. But it will cause your partner to snap out of the day-to-day routine and take notice. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get the ball rolling in a very pleasant direction.

3. Never underestimate the importance of a good laugh.

Sometimes life as a grownup can be hard, boring, and downright drudgery. Another cliche fits here: “If I didn’t laugh, I’d probably cry.” So laugh. A lot.

Related: Marriage advice for new parents — 7 ways to baby-proof your relationship

What do you both find funny? Comedies? Jon Stewart? Silly t-shirts? Private jokes? Sneezing pandas? Write a “funny” list, then commit yourself to experiencing at least one of these things together every day. You’ll thank me.

4. All good marriages have a supporting cast.

There’s an odd fallacy about marriage (middle-class, American marriage, perhaps) that it should somehow stand on its own. If two people love each other, have shared values, a little chemistry, a decent job, maybe a kid or two…that they should be able to figure it out. That a good marriage can withstand life’s slings and arrows, if not unscathed, then at least intact.

Guess what? Life’s a lot bigger than two people. Sooner or later, a sneaker wave will knock you down, and you’ll need a hand to find your balance again. Perhaps it will be something small, like a messy house or a bad habit. Or something big: job loss, a health crisis. It may be something good: starting a new business, or winning the lottery. Or something bad: a death in the family, or an affair.

Whatever it is, there are people who can help.

Everyone’s supporting cast looks different. Some include a housecleaner or a babysitter. Others include a marriage counselor or a psychiatrist. Some need a financial advisor. Some just need their extended family or their friends. But everyone needs someone.

Related: 9 tips to spice up your marriage

5. Treat your spouse as you hope your children will treat theirs.

Little eyes are watching. Little ears are listening. And little minds and hearts are learning about partnership and marriage from your example.

I say this not to promote guilt, paranoia or dishonesty. The worst thing we could do is to project a facade of shiny perfection to our kids. They’re smarter than that, and such playacting hurts and confuses them.

But it’s worth remembering that kids really do follow our lead, and we owe it to them to be mindful about what we’re teaching. And we owe it to ourselves to dig deep for the good stuff. We’re worth it.

I’d love to hear your pithy marriage wisdom. What have you learned so far?

- By Asha Dornfest

Basketball Wife

Guest post by Von Battle

I moved to a new cubicle at work this week, and thus I have a new neighbor. Her name is Jessica, and she is something else. I didn’t even know Jessica worked for my company because she is in the office so infrequently. Now that we’re neighbors, I have an even better idea of her leisurely schedule. Jessica comes into the office for about three days out of the week. She never stays the whole day, just long enough to make some noise and show her face so no one will move into her cubicle thinking that she no longer works there. If there’s something that I can say about Jessica, it’s that she is always dressed to a T in high high heels, fake eyelashes and designer duds.

I called her the other day because I needed a form that I couldn’t find. I asked her where she was. She hesitated for a moment and then stated she was at lunch. I asked where she was eating. She told the nail salon. Home girl has been watching a bit too much Basketball Wives on her Directtv.

Men's Tungsten Rings

Tungsten rings or tungsten jewelry's quality is said to be unmatched. If you know anyone who is getting married especially a man you know, do suggest him to look at Tungsten wedding rings and see if he prefers it over just plain white gold rings. Men's Tungsten rings can be found at a premier online retailer of unique, hard to find and incredibly stylish Tungsten rings and jewelry store called Tungsten Depot. Their Tungsten jewelry is unmatched with prices that are unbeatable.

A man should be happy to purchase a Tungsten jewelry of any kind because Tungsten is known to be one of the hardest and most durable metals on Earth, but Tungsten Depot rings and jewelry sell for a fraction of the price of gold and other precious metals. Few very good reasons why you should shop your jewelry from them is they offer FREE PRIORITY SHIPPING within the USA, including Puerto Rico, free gift box with every Tungsten ring purchase, lifetime sizing, a 60 day money back guarantee and an amazing LIFETIME WARRANTY.

A Wife's Joke

After the wife and the husband made love last weekend, she remembered one joke while she was still in her own country years ago and she asked her husband to test if he will answer her question correctly.

Wife: Lalabs, do you know the question women often ask to their partners after having sex?

Husband: do you love me?

Wife: Wrong. She would ask "where is my panty?"

...and that's what I asked to him that made him chuckle.

Everybody's On The Phone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I can't seem to understand why people love spending most of their time talking on their phone. Wherever I go, whether in the park or at the mall, everybody's on their phone. Unless you are a businessman, I can understand you being on the phone all the time for clients reaching you through your cell phone. But for the rest of the people especially the teenagers? Hard to understand that. 

But anyway, it is their life and it is them who pay their cell phone bills each month. I can only imagine how much they are going to pay for it. Unless you switch your subscription to Straight Talk you could pay half of the bill you pay. Hook, line and sinker is what it takes to cut your cell phone in half and for you to save some money. 

If you are a heavy phone user, you will be glad to Call a friend because Straight Talk offers 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data, this is definitely what you need the "All You Need" plan.  Oh one more thing, you will be glad to know Android on Straight Talk if you are using Android mobile phone. How cool is that?

For more information what these phones has to offer please watch this video   or the one embedded below.

 

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Money From The Tree

I wish money can be picked from the trees in our backyard so whenever we need some, we ca just go out there and harvest some. Money is so tight these days grrrrrrrr. Some people out there who don't have a family, only one mouth to feed, who have no responsibilities just refusing to give what is supposed to be given to my husband long time ago. I hate people like that, no sense of urgency, they don't care if their family is struggling financially. All they care about is themselves!!!

Keeping In Touch With My Family

Calling my family back in the Philippines could cost us a fortune if I won't be careful with my call with them. As much as I wanted to call them often, I cannot do that... I just can't do that. Before I had their internet service disconnected we could talk at least twice a week via the internet using yahoo messenger with live webcam. Since my mother often complain about the monthly payment of their internet service I'd rather have it disconnected than keep hearing her mouth that is too annoying.

What I am using nowadays to call them is something bought online but it won't give reasonable price for my International Calling. I would like to switch but I don't know what company should I turn to because I know for sure some would charge me hidden fees and other surprising unwanted charges that I am not sure willing to pay.

Gladly though I was able to talk to someone who has been here for over a decade and knows which international calling service should I purchase in order to save some money. I may have to try it for the first time this weekend and compare the rates between pureminutes.com and the current subscription I have.

Riding With A Superhero

We had a close call to an accident last Sunday. We were going to the Filipino market at that time taking the busy service roads when all of the sudden this other driver driving a van just crossed the street without looking to an incoming traffic. My husband was driving at least 40 miles an hour and had very little time to act quickly. He was gonna go right but then the van continued crossing the street so the husband had to steer left. His driving skill and being in the law enforcement for 19 years was tested last Sunday with all his family riding with him in the car. It was the other driver's fault for he failed to yield and gave us the right of way.

His wise thinking and quick maneuvering saved us from a disastrous accident. It could have slowed down our day and worst got stuck in a hot summer temperature with our little girls. I was thankful nothing happened to us, and thankful enough to the husband who at that time proved to us that he can take care of his family even in an unexpected circumstances.

Saving Money On Your Cellphone Bill

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

How do you like saving some money by cutting off your cell phone bill? I guess everybody loves that and people are wondering how is that possible? With Straight Talk it is very possible if you choose to switch to this company.  Here is why, Straight Talk has no need for contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks. Plus, it has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception or connectivity so perfect to call a friend. 

When you switch to Straight Talk, you will make the best decision in your life for it has everything you need. With the  "All You Need Plan" they offer, what else do you look for? For $45 unlimited phone service every month you can get 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and most all you will get 30 MB of web data so perfect for heavy phone users like you. If your mother has told you to switch your phone service, you should listen to because you know mom knows best. 

Straight Talk monthly plans also include 411 calls at no extra charge, free from activation, reactivation or termination fees. And one last great thing about it is that you will have international calling option for they offer International Long Distance Service which is a flexible prepaid calling service  that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phones at low rates.

Before I forget, you may want to watch this video embedded below to listen to real Straight Talk customer has to say..

 

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Hair Care

Guest post by Jewel Cole

I saw a Suave commercial this morning while watching TV from HTTP://www.direc4U.COM. It is targeted towards moms and I must say I agree with everything that was said which is rare for me. A lot of us become different people after we become married and have children. My grandmother gave me some advice at my bridal shower that I will never forget. She told me to never let myself go. Always keep yourself maintained. I said I would not let that happen. Well, fast forward some years. After having 2 kids I see exactly what she was talking about. It can be so hard to play dress up when there are babies spitting up on you, older kids tugging and pulling at your leg and a house that looks like a war zone. I used to be known as the woman who always had it together. I wore makeup and heels every day. I have decided bring that woman back, for myself. So mothers, get out of the jogging pants at least once a week and remember the woman you once were. She is still there.

Pros And Cons of Marrying A Younger And Older Man!

Older man pros:

- May be more established in life as far as financially and a home.

- May be more patient and has hopefully learned from past mistakes to not repeat them in his new marriage.

Older man cons:

- May have children already that may or may not approve of the pinay.

- May also have ex wive or wives that may or may not still be a part of his life.

Older man pro or con, depends on your view:

- May have an established life already and the pinay is not able to build with him as all is already set up.

Younger man pros:

- Odds favor him that he will live longer than an older man.

- Usually no ex wife or kids to have to deal with.

Younger man cons:

- May not have great financial security as he is just getting it started.

- May have immaturity still and not ready to take the leap into marriage.

Younger man pro or con, depends on your view:

- May not have established much as far as a home and such allowing the pinay to build with him.

Toddler Gear: The Only 5 Items You Need

I hate it when I stepped or tripped into my girl's toys. Not only it hurts my feet but sometimes I fell down once I step on her toys. It pissed me off honestly, sometimes I wish we didn't buy her toys because she doesn't clean up after her mess. We end up sleeping at night with all the toys cluttered all over our place. When we need to get up at night, possibility is we fall down for stepping into her toys.

I found this article this morning stating the only 5 things necessary to keep around for the baby. You see no mention of plastic toys here which for me is an awesome idea, keep it simple and clean is what I want to do.

1. Car Seat

Unless you plan to stay home all summer, you'll need a car seat. If you haven't already done so, you'll also need to upgrade your infant seat to a larger one to safely accommodate your growing child. And don't forget, experts recommend you buy a new car seat rather than borrow a used one since safety standards are constantly changing.

2. Crib

Even though my toddler manages to nap on a cot at day care, she still needs a crib at night. My pediatrician recently reminded me that parents need to shift their kids to a toddler bed or purchase a crib tent once their youngsters start climbing out of their cribs.

3. Stroller

Personally, I find a stroller indispensable because I live in New York City and walk everywhere. Once I move to the suburbs, I may feel differently. But I imagine a set of wheels are helpful no matter where you live since little feet tire easily.

3. Sippy Cups

Drinking from an open cup can be tricky for young toddlers. Many can do it, but not without frequent spills. So unless you like cleaning up after your child, some form of sippy or straw cup is quite helpful.

4. Potty

When a toddler starts showing signs she's ready to get rid of her diapers, you'll want a potty to help make the process move along more smoothly.

5. Crayons

Hands down, my favorite toddler toy is a simple box of crayons. Steal some paper from your printer and you can transform your little mess maker into a regular Picasso. You can also ditch the flashcards and use the crayons to illustrate your own alphabet and set of numbers.

Of course, you'll also need clothing and diapers. But I didn't include these on the list since I don't consider them toddler gear.

You're also probably thinking I forgot about the high chair, changing table and even the toddler utensils. Nope. I let my daughter sit on a regular chair at the dining room table. I change her diapers on a towel on the bed. (Sometimes I just do it while she's standing up in the bathroom.) And she's quite happy using our regular silverware, provided she gets a salad fork and tea spoon.

Finally, I'll admit that toddlers need books too. But that's what the library is for.

What toddler items can't you live without?

LIFTED FROM ITS ORIGINAL SOURCE FROM YAHOO FINANCIALLY FIT

A Change Of Mind

So sweet of him! I truly do appreciate my husband for setting his family first before anything else in this world. He changed his mind not to take the test anymore to promote himself to becoming a detective instead stick to his career as a police officer until he retires.

Becoming one would be such a big change and a fulfillment of his career, might a pay a bit more but not much but losing so much time for his family. It was his dream to become a detective but considering all the sudden change and big impact it could cause to our family, he changed his mind. He would come home late tired and grumpy, less time to rest, less time with his kids, he would miss me, I would miss him etc... are the worst things we both think about.

He just doesn't know how thankful and glad I am he is more concern of his family than his career. He devoted himself selflessly to us and I should be very very happy with that. I am one lucky wife to have found such an amazing partner in life and a great father to our kid/s.

Afraid Of Nurses Wearing White

Jadyn had her traumatic experience with nurses wearing white uniform during her vacation in the Philippines earlier this year. She got sick there and was confined in a hospital for two days. You know when in the hospital that you are going to be poked with needles and that somehow saved in her long-term memory. Such an innocent mind still remember those horrific experiences in that small hospital room. So every time there is a nurse wearing a white uniform, she'd come to me crying! Poor girl.

If only they wear scrubs uniforms nurses to make their looks friendly and calming to little patients, she wouldn't have remembered the women wearing whites were evil and bad. In my personal opinion, a nurse or any medical staff that wears a pink scrub that can be bought at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com because it is more feminine, more friendly and attractive to the little kids. That way, children won't perceive them as intimidating and be afraid of them if they wear lighter and more girly scrub.

Traps To Avoid When Shopping At The Mall

Another great article that I'd like to share here from Yahoo. This was written by a Yahoo contributor. I don't want to miss posting it here to for I know a lot of people or most women love to shop and they would like to grab the chance or the opportunity when they can in order to save money but little do they know, most of what the mall is offering are just traps. Read and so you can learn something from this informative article here.

Delayed Coupon

A recent shopping trap involves giving customers a coupon at the end of a purchase. The coupon may become active in the next day, week or month, tempting shoppers to return and buy more than they had initially planned. This shopping trap can be avoided by searching for online coupons that can be applied that very day and then bringing them along.

Scratch Cards

Another gimmick that mall stores have been using recently is scratch cards reminiscent of lottery scratch cards. To lure shoppers into the store, the scratch cards are handed out to passersby. There are no losing cards, which grants everyone the joy of a win. And once the shopper enters the store with a $5 scratch card, he is likely to fall into the shopping trap of buying something he wasn't planning on buying that day at all.

Save 15% on $75

Coupons that only come into effect when the consumer spends enough money are becoming more and more common in mall stores. Typically, the offers are made to club members -- shoppers who signed up to receive coupons in the mail. Though reserved for repeat customers, such coupons present an obvious shopping trap, one that's irresistible to someone who likes that store enough to become a club member. Seasonal shopping, four times a year, can help shoppers buy everything they need at one time and make use of such coupons only when they need them.

Save 15% Today

There isn't a store in a mall that doesn't offer 15% at the time of checkout if you'll apply for the store credit card. I've even come across instances when the proverbial "would you like to save 15% by applying for our card today?" has been replaced with a tantalizing "would you like to save 15%?" This shopping trap should be avoided for the simple reason that spending cash is psychologically more difficult than swiping a plastic card.

Cash Back or Rebate

Some store cards will offer you a rebate or cash-back bonus for every dollar you spend. Such bonuses are low, typically earning you $1 for every $1,000 spent, money which you can only spend by revisiting the store. Then, once back, you're likely to spend far more than your measly rebate.

Up to 50% Off

Mall stores often try to lure us in with tempting sale signs, such as 50% off. But when words like "up to" or "no more than" come before or after the number, the appeal changes drastically. Then, it's easy for us to fall into the shopping trap of paying a higher price, especially since the item we've spent time choosing is probably on sale too, though not for the higher (poster-perfect) amount. To avoid this shopping trap, read all signs carefully.

Buy 1 Get 1 at 1/2 Price

I've found this shopping trap in a wide range of mall stores. The buy 1 get 1 free promotion is one we're all so familiar with that stores use it to get our business. This can become a shopping trap when the second item is not actually offered for free but for half its price. Mall signs will typically present the "half price" in small numbers that can easily be missed or mistaken for shorthand for buy 1 get 2. Once more, the way to avoid this shopping trap is to read signs carefully or ask the store clerk for clarification.

Sale Rack Misfit

Sale racks may be great for bargain hunters, but they can also be terribly disappointing when a full-price item accidentally ends up on them. Rather than try on clothing you may be unable to afford, it is best to compare the price tags of surrounding items on a sale rack. Most likely, sale items will have a sticker on them to indicate the price reduction. The full-price misfit will then become glaringly obvious.

Lifted from its ORIGINAL SOURCE

Water Damage Repair Company

It would be so unfortunate for someone who is a victim or has a water damage problem in his house. Not only it would cost him so much but it will take time to find that reliable company to fix the problem. When it comes to water damage, trust only companies that would truly show some concern and do their job well like these water damage repair companies austin you find on the internet plus give you the right and exact cost as to how much are you going to pay for all the job done.

To get an idea how much, please look at water damage repair cost austin section of their website and see if their prices meet your budget. Water damage is such a major thing to do so I would recommend to hire a

water damage specialist austin if you live in the Austin area or in some neighboring cities. Just one call and a team of water damage specialists will come right at your door when you need them.

Leaving The Kitchen Neat

If there is one thing to be brag about my husband is that he is not a messy type of person. He knows how to clean up after himself. Unlike other men, he knows exactly where to put his dirty clothes and that go directly to the laundry basket. When he cooks, he makes sure that the kitchen is neat before he leaves there. He washes the dishes right away after using them to avoid the clutter.

And I am somewhat the opposite. Whenever I take turn in the kitchen, rest assured it will be a big mess as if it was just hit by a tornado. It's because, I want to finish cooking first before tidying up. I want to do the dishes all at once and clean the kitchen counter top and leave. Or sometimes I leave the place all messy and feed myself and the baby and would just come back when I am full. I have big belly you know and standing for long hours of cooking makes my back and legs hurt so I need to sit down and eat before cleaning!

Couple's Corner #3:My Husband As A Brother

There is nothing much to tell about how my husband being a brother to his siblings. All I know is that he is the eldest of three and he helped take care of his younger brothers when they were kids. He said he helped changed diapers, fed and played with his brothers and other than that nothing else. He and the third brother of his have grown apart with distant feelings, right now they aren't in good terms so I cannot really elaborate more. As to their relationship, they're kind of you know on the rocks!

Buy Walgreens Brand Health and Wellness Products

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Firstly, I love the idea that people can help contribute or participate their community's wellness by buying Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products. For I heard Walgreens will contribute up to 3 million dollars annually to the program which they call Walgreens Way to Well Fund™ that provides free preventive health tests as well as other health and wellness services and education to local communities. As we know, not all people in your community can afford to have regular health check up so this is good to have free provided for by Walgreens. 

If you buy any product from Walgreens then you are helping your community just like what we did. We do have some stuff  bought at this pharmacy last weekend. One for example is the mouth wash as a refill to what my husband has been using. We stick to the same product they sent us in the mail months ago because of its content, no sugar or alcohol in it. Besides, it is a lot cheaper than national brands. 

Lastly, before I forget, learn how you can win such big and amazing giveaways at Walgreens brand sweeps contest. No purchase necessary to enter or claim the prize and it is open to anyone who is a legal US resident above 18 years old. For more contest rules and information just click on the link above and join!

[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/mrs_sanborn/rinse003.jpg[/IMG]

 

Father's Day Photos

I had one of the best days of my life with my family today as we celebrated the Father's day. First off, I had Jadyn brought our gifts to her daddy and she opened it for him... a father's day card and a blow up picture of them in the garden hugging tight then we went to church afterwards...

I had my husband with me and Jadyn in church. For the longest time since Jadyn was baptized in the Philippines my husband went to church with us! How awesome. After the mass, we took few photos of us outside the church and headed to the Chinese restaurant for a lunch treat for Father's day. I felt good knowing that my treasured family are together on a day like this. I am blessed, so blessed having them in my life!

We ended our day by finalizing the set up of Jadyn's room with all the newly painted furniture in it. Will post photos on Jadyn's blog after this.

Here are the shots we took before and after church and in the restaurant...

I Already Have A Plan

It's Father's day tomorrow and I already have a plan for the father in this house. My baby girl and I are going to church at 11 so we need to wake up earlier than our usual waking time. But before leaving in the house, I would love to have baby girl to bring our Father's day presents to her daddy so he can open it with his girl next to him and take a picture of them together.

I would only tell what the presents are tomorrow evening. He might have an idea what it's gonna be but even so it will still be special for him to make him feel that all his support, love and care to his child and his family are appreciated. They are just so simple gifts but heartily given!! Hope he likes them!

Back to my plan, after church I would treat my husband to a restaurant, my treat so he can't say no to my invitation. I wouldn't even let him pay for the tip because as I say, it's my treat so he doesn't need to spend a dollar for our lunch tomorrow as we celebrate his day!

How to Make Simple and Cheap Detergents

Ah now I know. I have to try making it sometime and see if it truly cleanses greasy, heavily soiled dishes. This is going to be a challenge for all of us in order to save some bucks at the grocery.

According to the latest government data, Americans spend an average of $659 a year on housekeeping supplies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides that figure, also says the average American earns about $787/week -- which means many people are spending most of (if not more than) a week's pay every year on dish soap, laundry detergent, and other cleaning products.

If that sounds crazy, here's a better idea: Make your own.

Recipes for cleaning products are as numerous as recipes for dinner. Here are just a few to help with dishes, clothes and more.

Dishwasher Detergent

Here's a simple recipe for dishwasher soap:

• 1 cup of borax

• 1 cup of baking soda

• ¼ cup of table salt

• 2 packets (half an ounce) of unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid

You can try to save even more by buying ingredients in bulk, but another idea is to find smaller and much cheaper boxes at your local dollar store: a good idea to since you'll want to try a small amount at first to see if you like the results. The amounts listed above are good for 16 loads -- one tablespoon each -- so even small batches will last a while.

Other recipes online vary: For example, we found one that suggested combining only borax and baking soda, 1 tablespoon each per load. Another suggested adding a little citrus essential oil to make it smell nice: We didn't try that one, however, because we had difficulty finding inexpensive citrus oil online. Then there's this recipe, which goes in a different direction altogether:

• 2 bars of shredded Octagon soap

• 1 cup of baking soda

• ¼ cup of washing soda

• ¼ cup of lemon juice

This one calls for melting the shredded soap in five quarts of water and then mixing in the other ingredients. If that sounds a little like the recipe for laundry detergent we wrote about last year, that's because it is.

Laundry Detergent

Speaking of laundry detergent, that's easy, too. You'll need:

• 4 cups of water

• ⅓ bar of cheap soap, grated

• ½ cup washing soda (not baking soda)

• ½ cup of Borax (20 Mule Team)

• 5-gallon bucket for mixing

• 3 gallons of water

First, mix the grated soap in a saucepan with 4 cups of water, and heat on low until the soap is completely dissolved. Add hot water/soap mixture to 3 gallons of water in the 5-gallon bucket, stir in the washing soda and Borax, and continue stirring until thickened. Let the mix sit for 24 hours, and voila! Homemade laundry detergent.

Other Cleaning Products

If you like the results of your homemade concoctions on clothes and dishes, why stop there? The next time you're at the store, instead of picking up a bottle of some expensive cleanser, grab these six items and make your own cleaning supplies:

• Vinegar. It may smell a little weird, but vinegar can handle everything from dishes to laundry and even weeds. We've written about the wonders of vinegar before.

• Baking soda. Eliminates odors and helps with stains, and also works as a natural method of pest control -- ants hate it.

• Borax. This mineral salt beats bleach as a toilet cleaner and is also useful for scrubbing walls. And as you see in the recipes above, works with laundry, too.

• Fels-Naptha soap. This one's actually made by one of those big cleaning companies: Dial. They recommend it for "pre-treating" stains. In other words, "use this in addition to a bunch of our other expensive products, like Purex!" But you can turn the tables by using it as part of a recipe for your own laundry detergent, and they can keep the Purex.

• Rubbing alcohol. Works as a disinfectant and is also a great glass cleaner. It also gets grime off plastic and metal surfaces like patio furniture or bathroom fixtures.

• Lemon juice. This cuts through dish grease and is an ingredient for homemade furniture polish -- but it's not the easiest thing to preserve long-term.

If making your own cleaning products sounds a little extreme, there are still simple ways to save. The best? Buying generics. And if you insist on using name brands, at least clip those coupons -- but only the ones worth your time.

LIFTED FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

That Was A Good Question He Asked

My birthday is coming. I'll be two decades and 8 years old in 21 days. Huh, that old already? I am thankful I have been given those long years to experience and enjoy life with family by God. My husband asked me the best question ever a woman or a wife would want to hear. He asked " so what would you like to have on your birthday?". I didn't know what to answer but very pleased with his question. I jokingly replied him back "don't ask me what I want because you might can't give it to me, I would want to have a real genuine gold bar".. haha.. that time I told him that, I wasn't sure or couldn't think of anything else what I really wanted for my birthday.

I got on the internet, was gonna open the Dooney and Burke's site and browse for purses there when he walked toward my back. I don't want him to see what I was looking on the internet so I pretended to open other sites. Honestly, I have several D&B purses I'm eyeing on for days now and really want to get one for myself but... I have a mission.. a mission that requires quite a fair amount of money so I am saving up for it.

Anyway, minutes passed by... my husband suggested or asked me if I want a new digital camera, a much better one than what we're currently using... hmm camera? that would be a great idea. Not DSLR though for I know we are tight in budget right now... If I want one, that would be in the future but for now I would just settle for something that is the latest that takes the same quality or close to a DSLR one for my delivery... soooo a digital camera for my birthday would be awesome. I am easy to please, I appreciate every little or big things come my way...so I am loving the idea of having to use a much nicer camera than this cheap one I have right now...duh what do I expect, it only cost me 85 bucks when I bought it two years ago.

Soaking At The Backyard Pool

Soaking at our inflatable little backyard pool is the least we could do to beat the heat. These shots here were taken yesterday. My daughter seemed to enjoy the water very much and so did I. So hot these days that we almost get into triple digit everyday. It isn't officially summer yet, how much more when it's really S-U-M-M-E-R???

Beantown Bound

Thanks for the guest post by Jo Levy

Moving to Boston was one of the biggest decisions I ever had to make, especially since I just graduated from college in the winter. I have never lived alone before but I didn't know anyone in Beantown so I had to find a studio apartment that I could afford as my first place. I did everything right as far as I know as all the utilities are on and I did preliminary Internet research at internetserviceboston.com concerning wireless broadband. I'm really loving my new place so far and though my parents stayed that whole first weekend I don't even feel that homesick.

I'm totally living the big city life and have already met a couple of girls I work who I think are going to make really great friends. I can't wait to start integrating into my new home city and really making a life for myself here in Boston. Maybe this summer I'll even get to take in a baseball game or drink a beer at the famous Cheers bar!

Peter Francis-Macrae

Twitter has been a part of my daily life to get updates from people I care and companies, artists, latest fashion and celebrities everyday. It's fun, it's interactive and most of all live updates are there every second of the day. I chanced to see a person's twitter page named Peter Francis-Macrae and I think he's interesting that is why I am now following him. You too can follow him and we'll find out more about this guy.

10 Days, No Spending

JUST WANT TO SHARE THIS HELPFUL ARTICLE I READ ON YAHOO TODAY AS I KNOW SOME FAMILIES ARE IN FINANCIAL STRESS, THIS MIGHT HELP THEM. OF COURSE THIS IS LIFTED FROM IT'S ORIGINAL SOURCE FROM YAHOO FINANCE.

*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a personal finance story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.

As I was perusing Facebook one morning, a posting from a friend caught my attention. This virtual liaison pledged to spend no money for 10 days. That's correct: She pledged to spend no money at all, not a dime. She had sufficient groceries, a half-tank of gas, and the will and determination to do it. With this pixelated revelation, I launched a program with my online budgeting group to do the same.

With some tweaking, this can be a powerful way to jump-start a frugal lifestyle, and I have now completed this challenge twice.

Take stock.

First, I rummaged through my cabinets, checked the contents of my freezer, and looked to see what was in the fridge. You can't expect to initiate a challenge like this without an adequate stock of groceries, household items, and toiletries, and I wanted to make sure I was prepared. The secret to the success of this program is removing the store from your equation for 10 days.

Pay the bills.

Remember, you are making a commitment to spend nothing, and that means nothing. I looked at all my bills that would come due in the next 10 days and paid them online. Having that monkey off my back was a wonderful feeling.

Fill up the car only enough to commute to work.

No more, no less. When you run out of gas, that's it. An even better idea contributed by a member of my group is to arrange for a carpool during this period, or to buy a bus pass before starting the challenge. Because I work from home, I wasn't concerned about having enough gas to commute to work. Both times I started the challenge, I had about a quarter of a tank. It was only for emergencies and taking the kids to school and extracurricular activities.

Hide it.

I removed my debit card, credit cards, and checkbook from my purse. I put them in a fireproof safe and left them there for 10 days. Find your own solution, and put your spending tools in a safe place, where they are not easily accessed. By avoiding temptation, you are more likely to achieve success.

Pick a day.

I mark a day on my calendar each month. Just like with starting a workout program, you have to choose a day to start. Mondays work best for most people, as it signifies the beginning of a new week. When I began the challenge, I started on a Monday.

Stay accountable.

Challenges like these work best when you have people around to hold you accountable. In my online budgeting group, everyone would report daily if they were still in the challenge or if they had given in to spending. It was interesting to see who stuck with the program and how they did it. I have to admit that being one of the few that held out for the full 10 days was a fantastic feeling of accomplishment.

Log your progress.

I kept an online diary on my iPhone. The more I logged in the various ways I didn't spend, the more I felt like I was accomplishing something great. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.

Check your bank balance.

This is the moment of truth, especially for over-spenders like me. Seeing a solid balance in the bank, or even an increase if the challenge fell on a payday, is surprising, but in the best of ways. I ended both challenges with more money than I started with, and I was happier for it.

By forcing yourself to repeat this challenge at least once a month, you could easily increase your savings by banking what you would have spent otherwise. If you have tried unsuccessfully to stop the spending train from getting out of control, this might just be the ticket to get you out of the station and down the tracks toward a frugal lifestyle. It works for me, and it's a great repeatable exercise.

25 Manners Every Child Should Know

Does your child knows at least few of these manners listed below? I must say, my big girl is one grateful child and that she knows the basic manners that she'd learn before  she can even speak. I taught her how to be courteous and polite with older people because how she interact or behave reflects the behavior of the parents. It shows the character of people living in the house. And when she grows up, people will notice that she is a child any parents can be proud to have. Here's a very interesting article I found on yahoo this morning and I would like to share it here so every parent visitor in this blog can read.

Your child's rude 'tude isn't always intentional. Sometimes kids just don't realize it's impolite to interrupt, pick their nose, or loudly observe that the lady walking in front of them has a large behind. And in the hustle and bustle of daily life, busy moms and dads don't always have the time to focus on etiquette. But if you reinforce these 25 must-do manners, you'll raise a polite, kind, well-liked child.-

Manner #1

When asking for something, say "Please."

Manner #2

When receiving something, say "Thank you."

Manner #3

Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4

If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.

Manner #5

When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6

The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.

Manner #7

Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8

When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9

When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10

Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.

Manner #11

When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12

Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13

Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14

Don't call people mean names.

Manner #15

Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.

Manner #16

Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

Manner #17

If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."

Manner #18

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.

Manner #19

As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20

If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.

Manner #21

When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22

When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23

Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24

Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25

Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of Parents magazine.

Lifted from its Orignal Source

A Clean Sink Is Unusual??

Somebody just made a comment how the dirty dishes disappeared. I cleaned after I fed myself and our baby girl this afternoon. I had nothing else to do so I did the most dreaded chore of the day, doing dishes that is! When my husband got up from his peaceful rest, he went to the kitchen and seeing the kitchen clean made him say something. I didn't hear him clearly what he was saying but I uttered, why is it unusual to see the sink clean? And he agreed to that.

Arggggs and ouch! I can't blame him, although it was just a joke. Doing the dirty dishes is the last chore I wanna do at the end of the day so most afternoons upon arriving home from work, you could expect to see the sink full of dirty dishes piled up. In rare occasions, he would do the job for me knowing that he just worked ten hours dealing with criminals yet when he comes home, a dirty sink what greets him. That is why, seeing a clean sink is unusual!

CC #: 2 Me, As A Wife

Wow it's Couple's Corner day again. How did I miss last week's topic? Too bad I wasn't able to write about that, I was really anticipating to join last week's CC for I got so much to tell about me being a mother, of course I would only tell what my husband says about me.

Anyways, I am glad that I am back on track now. I somehow thought that CC will be every Friday? Just recently I received a compliment from my husband about me being thoughtful. Naks, heart flattering it is but I don't know that. I just have to be me when he's around. I don't cook him dinner, he does his own dinner even after working ten-hour shift everyday. All I do is fix him breakfast on his day off. I make sure he's still on the computer and bring the food in his study so he doesn't get starved while reading his news.

A friend of his visited us 3 weeks ago and he gave me the same compliment after handling him his slippers outside so he can be comfortable. My husband sure heard what his friend said and I believe, these men sure are grateful for they appreciate every little thing I did to them. There are so many things he think I am too busy to write them all right now..