Beat the Heat!

I think most places as of this season of the year, is having a summer cycle. When it is summer, we can expect sunshine, heat and hot. What could we expect aside from those mentioned? Well, its solution. Ha!

Okay, how to beat the heat? There are actually a lot of solutions but it only start and end of one thing, coolness. How to have a cool temperature. How to be of the heat that won't burn us.

Hemmm.. any solution? For me, drinking cold water, using air conditioning, going to the falls and get wet/swimming, eat good foods which are not that warm (let us not forget to warm all the foods we gotta eat but make sure, we won't be consuming soup all the time, eh). Desserts like maja blanca, sweetened taro root or any cool desserts would do. Do not forget cool fruits, is great to beat the heat. Ooh yeah, ice cream, did I ice cream? He! ;-) If you could get what I am trying to say. Yep, I think of ice cream this time. Mmmm.. :-) The thing is, we have to beat the heat to be hydrated all the time. Remember, dehydration cause a lot of trouble in our body. So, beat the heat!

Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling System

A huge percentage of a household’s monthly expenses go to the utility bills. If we want to make our heating and cooling system to be more energy efficient and save money at the same time, we need to know how to properly maintain them. Aside from making sure that we have a heating and cooling system that is suitable to the needs of our home, we need to know how each one works. We can ask the company who has installed our system to teach us how to make minor repairs and how we can make sure that they are functioning as they should. We need a fast and dependable service in times we need it just like for instance, an air conditioning problem. Scorching heat of the sun this summer season gives us its undesirable heat, thus great repair man/company is what we need in times of such.

Regular cleaning and knowing how to determine which parts need to be replaced are important as well. We have to make sure that we purchase authentic replacement parts to ensure that they will function properly. Using low quality parts may only cause more damage to our systems and this may present more complicated problems for us. We need to look for a reliable retailer that can provide us with authentic parts. This includes knowing how to clean and replace air filters. We should also schedule professional maintenance check so that our heating, cooling and plumbing systems are always in excellent condition.

Stylish Home Décor

You know a gracious home when you see one – perhaps it was on a charity house tour or maybe you were looking at sample homes; it’s fun to see how other people decorate, especially if the homes you are looking at are similar to your own. Perhaps the homes have exceptionally chic window treatments and bedding or especially stylish and well-appointed bathrooms. It can be very inspiring to look at different homes and take away design and decoration ideas you can use in your own home in any place you live. Perhaps your won bathroom is rather mundane and you’d like to step it up a bit. While new medicine and vanity cabinets or a new commode may not be in the budget there are still many ways to make any bathroom more stylish. Look for bathroom hardware such as drawer pulls, handles and knobs which can transform a vanity in minutes. You may even find a line which offers coordinating towel bars, robe hooks and even shower curtain looks; when you outfit the entire room with coordinated hardware it takes on a much more stylish and professional look. The same holds true with bath accessories – by using matching or coordinating lotion dispensers, soap, dishes, tissue holders and so on you can really tie the room together. If the bathroom is small and you would like to make it seem larger than it really is, stick to solid colors and add mirrors wherever possible. The light reflected from the mirrors will make the room look and feel roomier plus mirrors help to make grooming easier since you can see yourself fro many different angles.


  
 

Who Manages Your Home?

Since I am a mom of one cute little baby named Sam, I am the one who is responsible at home. My husband works and must give him care every day by making his food especially dinner time. I make sure to cook his favorites one. Sometimes, I failed to buy food in the store so he volunteered to do so, well by buying out foods in the drive-thru. He is a loving , kind husband I may say. He knows how to make a balance in many ways. I do the cleaning of course and washing, to add telling you about my chores. Wink. A multi-task of being a mom, wife and a best friend. This is my role . I am completely a woman. I am proud that I am the one who manage our abode and of course with the help of my dearest husband. Financially my partner supports perfectly. For our kid's need and for mine as well. I am a lucky wife. How about you there, who manages your home?

Reliable LockSmith Services

Reliable Locksmith Services Home security begins with installing all the necessary home security devices installed. If you want to eliminate the chance for burglars to gain access to your home, you need to have all the proper security measures in place. Any place has burglars who just lurk in communities where there are poorly secured homes. When they see that your home does not any security devices, it will only take a few minutes for them to gain access to your house and take all your valuables. A trusted LockSmith Calgary service provider will be able to create a secure environment for both your home and your family. Whether you need to install new security devices or you want to upgrade your existing security system, they can provide you with the type of services that your home needs. They have the knowledge and skills required to help you choose the security devices that can help your house acquire the level of security it needs. They can provide the most reliable and affordable locksmith services. Locksmith services include window lock installations, garage door lock installation, cabinet lock, electronic locks and installation of other high end residential security solutions. With their expertise and services, you will be able to create a secure environment for your family.

 

Insect on Plants

Around in our front apartment, there's these green plants that occupy near our windows. Even though we have screen in our windows, it still can crawl going inside if I open the glass window. I don't like it (who does?) because I once had an allery in my skin before, much more to an infant. I really like opening our front two windows but I just cannot. It's better this way than being in pain and having skin rashes out of it. It's really a "grrr!" because it's nice to have fresh air even if we're just inside. But to it, not possible! I gonna find ways to have a safe and fresh home (specially that it's already spring, summer is approaching, hot weather is coming)! What could be the work of a homemaker anyway!

Have a great one!

Keeping Our Parents Safe

(Guest post from: Steve Delaney)

The home security elgin offerings seem pretty good to me. I have not lived in Illinois all my life so I do not know what the offerings used to be like, but just what is possible to get in our area is pretty good. I honestly had no idea what home security systems would cost, when I would pay my bill or even how the system really works. I did not learn any of that until we actually had it installed at our house. I am not sure if it was a necessity for us to get, but I am definitely glad that we did. My parents just moved in with us. They are getting older now and cannot really do a lot of things on their own. Right now, neither my husband nor I can stay home all that much, so it was important to us that we had a way to maintain their safety when they were home alone. So far, we have not really had any alerts or any attempted break ins, but I will definitely not feel as worried with our home security system if we do have an attempted break in.

Applebee's

 (This guest post from Hong Alexander)

The local county government recently approved rezoning for commercial developments in our rather rural part of town. Now, don't get me wrong I am all for progress and business but I also have concerns with increased foot traffic near my house. All of my neighbors have been in a ADT home security Champaign system. I think this is a very good idea. I always like to think the best of people, but these days, especially with the economy the way it is, you can never be too careful. I am excited about the new stores coming to my area though. We could really use some more restaurants in our area. The closest Applebees in over 30 minutes away and I love their blonde brownie dessert. I would probably walk 30 miles just to get a blondie brownie from Applebees. We could also use a grocery store close to the house. I can not tell you how annoying it is to have to drive 30 minutes back to the store because I forgot a necessary ingredient for the nights dinner.

 

The Housekeeper

(Posted by Arden Wallace)

Having a housekeeper is the only thing that keeps me sane, to be honest with you. Before Theresa I don’t know how this place didn’t turn into a disaster area! The kids come through here like tornadoes and it’s hard enough just balancing spending time with them and my job without having to worry about picking up after everyone. Theresa comes on Tuesdays and Fridays and just uses our http://SECURITYChoice.com password to get in and she goes to town. I think she spends about 2 hours each time cleaning this place and boy can you smell the clean when you get home from work! I love having help but I do feel guilty at times for shirking my own responsibilities but I’m a much nicer person not having to worry about keeping this place clean. It’s hard enough to keep everyone clothed and fed as it is without adding one more big task to my plate! I think we’ll keep Theresa around as long as she still wants to work with and for us!

House-Hunting in Calgary, Canada

Living in a rented home is no big deal in any places. As long as a renter has the money to pay-off or a good credit background then one is good to go. There are many to rent-on! Just like if you are looking for an affordable yet very nice home to rent in the area of Calgary, Canada, you might be interested to look for Rent Calgary which has an extensive list of most of the nicest places up for rent in the area. It has also a wide selection of dwelling places of every kind that will not only fit your preference but will also match your budget.

More of it, you can either go for a 2-bedroom bungalow, a small apartment, a condo unit near the city centre or a lavish 2-storey spread if you are so inclined. You can browse through their site, which is so user-friendly and very easy to navigate and comes with a map of Calgary for much easier browsing, for a prospective new home of your choice at the comfort of your own living room. They also offer an online mortgage application for first-time home buyers. Check it out for yourself! Have a happy house-hunting! :-)

Key Duplication

What will you do if you want to go out (walking) and you only have one key for the house and your husband has it currently? Simple as 1-2-3, let the house be duplicated! Or go out and ask your dear husband to get you afterwards. Not that easy, you have to tell him before you leave the house and let him get you when he's on his way going home, sounds better. Ha! 

Since the landlord gives only one house key and it's okay to have it duplicated (of course! But make sure you have to take an extra care of it since that's a house key, that involves everything which includes your undies, oops! hehheh!), you then have to do so or else one cannot enter without the other and that is a trouble. That is how key duplication is important in your place. :-) For now, am still waiting for DH to duplicate the key at Home Depot store when he gets back at work for me (or for him). It's a hassle when we only have one key. Of course you cannot leave the house unlock! When you move-in, it's better to duplicate your house key for your spouse in the first day of stay. Remember that. :-) If not, we will find ourselves locked out and unhappy. Everyone maybe should just take locksmith courses!

Summer House Floor

Folks do like to change house floors by season especially summer. I can sense they do like it this season because it don't have snows, rain or stuffs like that. They do like to have a wood tiles, yes floor change just like the pergo flooring in any place/corner of the house. Not bad! What's your floor looks-like? Is it carpeted or tiles (glass, wood)? Whatever it is, laminated floors is awesome, isn't it? A happy and cool home then. :-)

First Day of Sleeping

In the new apartment we moved-in, we first stayed there in the 24th of June. I did not realized that was a day of Saint John the Baptist. Yes, it is the day of commemorating the person/saint who baptized Jesus and the people who became Christian Catholic. But then St. John the Baptist commemoration isn't that much here in US of A unlike there in my birth country, Philippines, especially if you live near the beach or lake. Anyway, just reminiscing my first day of sleeping on our new apartment abode. :-) As I always said I love it better than our old one. I had some do-it-yourself cleaning done just like cleaning the tiles grout in the bathroom floor and in the kitchen both on the ground/floor and the main kitchen base down to the in-sink. I made it on the third time. Yep, I cleaned it twice but it the stain did not removed. Thankfully, my friend's husband thru her (Te Claudia) advised me to use comet cleansing powder with scrubs. I used scotch brite and a little hard brush (not toothbrush, better than toothbrush) then scrubbed to the max. It was quiet tedious but I made it. I cannot stand the tiles and in-sink hard stains especially the paint/design is light. I was working my but off for about five days arranging, cleaning and a slight moving/lifting. I had a great exercise! Yey! Now am a bit relax of cleaning thing. The first night by the way is awesome!

Moving theFurnitures This Weekend

You may not know that we are moving from apartment to another. The good thing is it is not far from the place we are right now. Actually it is just two or three blocks away, of the same city (of course). *wink* Later on, I'll be going to pack-up my computer as well as my DH. Then dismantle my table and chair. The Internet will be cut-off and transfer to the new place, only the cable will be left. The electric current was turned-on two days ago so no problem when it comes to light and other stuffs connected. The Internet will be connected tomorrow at 1:00-3:00 pm. I hope I can connect to it directly so we won't be disconnected for long. :-) I am excited to live in our new abode. Good luck for the arrangements and some other packings for me and my husband. :-) The furniture will be lift-up by some men contacted.

And the Moving Already Started

After my husband's four-days off (three days regular off: Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a one-day holiday for Memorial Day commemoration), he finally signed a lease agreement to the landlord. It's a one-year agreement lease with one month rent (good for the month of June) and a security deposit. So we have two apartment rented for this month of June, the current and the new one. The security deposit is being held in case we will be gone on the leased apartment within a year. And also if there is(are) damage(s), security deposit can't be claimed once a renter want to transfer even if it's already one-year. And that's fine, great one though we like to be gone without a year contract. We'll just see how this goes or we can't get our security deposit anymore. Whatever is good for us or for my husband because he really wants to retire next year, hopefully. So then, good luck to me and my husband for the moving. I was all-packed up. Oops, not that so, we're just half way on the transferring but once my baby shower ends, this will all be fine and good for moving. By July 1st, we're already on our new abode. :-)  Yey!

Will Be Moving Next Month

It will be June in the next three days. Today is 29th of May by the way. Am just so glad that finally we will be moving in another apartment, the one bedroom - one bathe. After all, that is what I really like to. That is because this current apartment home we have, have two bedrooms to which it is unneeded but the rent difference is 300. Doing the math, DH already told I can have my motorcycle with it when we will move then to our planned country by next year. We might just have to stay for one year according to the lease agreement or we cannot get the security deposit equivalent to a month rent. At the same time, DH can still work and have our extra. DH already forwarded our rent for next month (he intended to pay it in advance) at the same time gave the letter of notice for one-month evacuate as per agreement by the landlord. Then my Tuesday we will sign the new agreement to our new apartment home. I can't wait to transfer! Wish us luck! Thanks in advance. ;-)

It Is Cloudy Day Today

Yes, it is cloudy day today here in the place where I reside and DH reside. In fact, it was just minutes ago that the sun shines, to think that it's already past 3:00 in the afternoon. I thought it would rain but it didn't. I have to check the weather forecast later of what's the status and the weather later. I was not able to take a walk yesterday so it has to be a must-to-do for me today, speaking of pregnancy routine for at least 30 minutes a day. For sure it will be cold so I have to bring or wear coat. I was planning to go to farmer's market lately the morning but the weather did not cooperate or I was just lazy to get-up. Ha! The result is I don't have something to cook for my "ginataan" or vegetables with coconut milk, ooh well, the leafy vegetables, that is. I also was not able yet to wash the black socks, we (DH and I especially DH) are running out of clean black socks already. I have to wash it today, so later I won't have to forget or else am an inconsistent wife. :-( Anyway, I just have to load to the washer and dryer and that's it. I just have not to forget it! So then, still I have a great Sunday! Have a great Sunday to you too! Enjoy!

Family Home Entertainment

We (my husband and I) will be three soon in our home (apartment-rented home) as I have a baby-in-my-tummy. Soon enough too, we will be moving to a new apartment or a small house to which we will live in the first floor. I am not comfortable living in a second-story or any floors but on the first (or at least for our temporary home before moving in to our very own). In that way, I can easily go out with stroller without any hassle or any help from neighbor, or alike, during hubby's working hours. So new environment and a home plus additional one needs a good entertainment hub. Though I cannot say we do not have a good entertainment currently (we have two TV, one for him and one for me but more on we bond together on the bigger one which is in the bedroom) but it is great to have a better flat panel tv stands like the two below, to which the first one is for our bigger TV to put in our living room with the entertainment stuffs like DVD and its tapes, DVR, CD's, etc. I can even put electronic picture frames on it and some little decors to beautify and also the DVD speakers on the sides or above the entertainment media center, then the remote hub just on one of the shelves so it is just in one place or furniture stuffs. 

(I was given a right to use these images. Thanks to Sean from CSN Stores)

The wall mount which is on the right is perfect is perfect for our traditional TV which is no problem regarding its performance and cable channels or we can buy other wall mount perfect for its type if DH wanted it changed into a flat one to which is great for our bedroom or baby's room. I can't wait to move into another apartment home or our home of our own to settle down for a family of three.

Blogging While Cooking and Watching TV

Multi-tasking huh! Hehe! ;-) Am here in the couch doing something (okay, blogging) whilst watching TV particularly basketball sport of National Basketball Association (NBA) and cooking sweet potatoes (purple yums and the yellow ones). Oops, eating too! Haha! Yep, beside me is a plate of comfort foods. Ooh I love the "sapin-sapin" foods (different kinds of snacks in one container) which it includes maja blanca, "biko", "halayang ube", small rice cakes, and the three color foods (I don't know the name". Ah, what a Sunday and I love it! This is also what I love of this place (couch and the other TV) because I am the remote owner, hahaha! DH is in the bedroom and doing his TV moment too. :-) I can do what I want without  considering someone is also watching or alike. He's not fond of watching TV at one channel unlike me, so it's better this way especially when I have something to focus watching. :-)

I have a great Sunday, hope you too! Enjoy! Oops, it's time for my sweet potatoes, it now cooked. Thanks for the time.

 

Preparing Food No Hassle

When there is a big occasion of a family or a part of a family like birthday, graduation and alike, most likely it is such a tiring job of preparing/cooking the foods aside from preparing the place. But here in USA, preparing food is just a piece of cake since catering and restaurant delivery is just a phone call away and in the scheduled event, the foods are there as early as a bird.Now, is it tiring? Is it time-hassle? No way! I just cannot imagine if the host will also be the one to cook all the cuisines unless if it's a big family or such family is hiring a cook then it would be possible. :-) But knowing folks here are also busy working, I could say it is very much convenient to have catering/delivery of foods than home-made cooking, maybe just a house specialty it would do, isn't it? What do you think?