It's cold season but it doesn't mean it ain't the season to take care of the yard and the pond. Have you been maintaining your ponds? Hope you do as the fishes need a clean habitat.Just in case you are planning for pond supplies shopping, there is a website that I can recommend. Check out www.pondworld.com for a large variety of high quality pond supplies such as :

• Algae Control
• Aquatic Plant Supplies
• Filter Media
• Fish Feeders
• Fish Food
• Fish Medication
• Maintenance Supplies
• Mosquito Control
• Pond Bacteria
• Pond Filters
• Water Clarifiers
• Water Treatments
• Winterization

There are a lot more products on the website and are categorized to make your shopping easy and accessible. On top of that, Pondworld is having a "deal of the day" promo. TOday's great deal is "Savio Pond Lights" now priced from $7.20 to $59.40 and was $12.00 to $99.00. Check it out before the day is over.

I have posted about vehicle trading between the hubby and his mother months ago. I would just like to refresh my friends minds again as they keep on asking stuff about cars and insurance. So here I am sharing a lil bit of it.The process took over a month including the waiting they had for the truck's title in hand. When it was received, they had to see a notary for the documents and titles to be notarized before purchasing insurance and proceeding to DMV to get the plates back. Insurance shopping was done in just an hour or two. The hubby first asked for insurance quotes at a nearby insurance agent before he did purchase his liability insurance since his had expired prior to car trading. He got the cheapest one with a great coverage.The MIL already had her insurance, she just needed to update it. Insurance shopping is not as arduous as what others are saying, it is only a matter of finding a reliable agent to get in touch with.

Few months ago, the hubby and I watched the movie Blood in Blood out on DVD. There are situations in the story that somehow strangled my little heart partly because it link to real life situations. Yes, I am talking about racism, about the people who think and believe that they are superior or higher class of species. To say it further, history repeats itself. Racial discrimination started centuries ago and still does exists to this generation.As a brown-skinned individual living in a white dominated world, I see myself being discriminated both in words and through the public's conspicuous eyes. When I am in a crowd like grocery stores, hanging out in the mall or just stopping at convenience stores, I see nasty opposing visages. I could care less for all they know!My home country, Philippines, is not a discrimination-free country. A dark skinned Pinoy is ugly for for some lighter complected Pinoys. I used to wish back then to have a lighter skin just to get the attention I want from relatives and guys (lol). Now I am thankful that I have a caramel skin. America envies my color and tanning salon makes a lot of money from tan-wannabe-whites.Inter-racial marriage is generally not accepted in the society. Before I came here, some of the hubby's narrow-minded friends incisively thought that I just wanna be here for the Greencard per se, that after I get it, I would be gone and go find me a hunk. Such an obnoxious indictment and it did injure me emotionally. It's been almost three years and have proven them wrong. The vexation I had for them had vanished. Now they do talk to me with sincerity. On the other hand, it flatters me when the hubby tells about the compliments from his friends and families. I am not carrying my own chair but they said I am pretty with wit and humor (really?). Thanks for them for seeing the other side of me that I really didn't give a care.TLC's police women of Broward county reminds me, too, of the movie Blood in Blood out. In that show, there is a scenario where a Hispanic police officer handcuffed a Hispanic suspect for selling prohibited drugs (caught in the act). While doing so, the suspect complained that he is being accused because of his skin, brown skin so to say. What an excuse!! It is so clear that he did something wrong and still he throws the truth off others. Coherently, the hubby is a law enforcer. What pisses him off is when a suspect claims or expresses his resentment that he is being accused/handcuffed/jailed because of his skin color. The statement is on the far side of the truth. How I wish that skin color won't be used against or for a certain thing or situation.I can not speak for other races as I have not open up an in-depth conversation with a yellow person - Chinese, Japanese etc; as well as black and hispanic. I know for certain that a race discriminates one's race. This nature won't depart a human's soul and is forever contagious like a freakin' virus 'til the world stops breathing.

Women have one common problem and that is belly fat. For new moms, losing belly fat is a struggle. Taking care of the baby, house chores and job make it arduous to find time for exercise and even diet.When I gave birth to my lil girl, I thought I could easily lose my belly fat, unfortunately, it didn't happen but I gained more weight eating too much carbs. Food had become my comfort after a long stressful day of tending the lil one. Time came when I burned out from buying a lot of clothes in a bigger size so I decided to get back on shape. I searched some articles on how to lose belly fat. Five months after religiously following the program, I lose weight. Now I am back to wearing my old clothes, clothes when I wasn't a mom yet.

All Saints day and All souls day are two significant days in the Philippines. Same is through in other nations predominated by Christians and Catholics that believe in the days of the deads. Each of these nations celebrates and commemorates in diverse kinds in accordance to its respective customs and traditions. Some have festivals while others have it in an earnest manner.Most Filipinos are having cook-outs as offering to the living and the dead. Some Pinoys come visit one's house to eat. Often, foods and flowers are offered for the souls, placed on top of or by the graves and or on the altars of each homes with candle lit. It is believed that the souls of the dead are coming back to visit their love ones, eat and get what are offered for them, too. I know that this sounds tremendously insane for non-believers but this is how it has been hundreds of years ago and is still practiced til today.As a Catholic, November 1 and 2 are very special days for me and my family back home. Mainly, these days are intended to commemorate the people whom we believe are now in Heaven with God. On the very first day, November 1, some members in the family are off to the cemetery to clean the graves while on the second day, November 2, is a sort of a reunion for the family of two to three generations. Basically, the second day is to light candles and offer a prayer for the souls of our love ones as well as offer them (deads) foods, flowers and other stuff that they used to like when they were still animating. Talking to them is part of and completes the day.This time of the year saddens me so bad. I lost two of the most important people in my life recently. Uncle Boy passed away in December last year while Mama(grandmother) followed in June this year. I am so not over with it yet. All Souls Day reminds me so much of them and the hearbreaking times I had during the first couple of weeks of burial. Papa (grandpa) died a decade ago and he still is in my heart and mind. Life has to move on and all I can do is offer them a prayer. I will make it up (visit their graves) next year when I am home.All Saints Day or All Souls day are so different here in America. I noticed that the days of the dead are all for fun. Halloween decorations and Halloween parties are everywhere. Trick or treat comes follow. I am really not into it but then I have to compel myself to embrace the custom just for the hell of my family and their American culture. I feel not the essence of All souls day here and I am not so happy about it. And if only I can, I'd rather go back to my homeland, Philippines to celebrate where All Souls day is very well remembered not for the living but for the dead.I intend peace. All that you read above are traces of my experience and opinion about what I see around.

Texans, particularly the people in Austin and nearby cities can now stop by at Drivetime Austin branch to check out the selection of used cars for sale. At the same time, purchasing is no longer a problem because credit history is not the basis for approval of loans. Drive Time has it's own bank that supports a customer monetarily.Used Cars are available at any 77 locations of Drivetime, one of the largest car dealerships in the country. I must admit that I haven't been to any of the locations and so I can not give proper descriptions of what it looks like, manners of customer representatives or agents and the status of the used cars for sale.

Finally, the long wait for cold weather is here. I am feeling the FALL! It ain't really that cold yet but at least, I am spared from the itchy, oily, dry and burning skin caused by high humidity. The 'lil one is enjoying the drive way so much. First time I've seen her run fast wearing her boots and fall clothes on. She's loving the wind!Cold season limits me from eating ice cold food, too. No more cold water and sodas and say hello to hot soups like......corn soup! I first tasted this at my in-laws. MIL cooked it so yummy at her house that made me crave so much when I got home. Unfortunately, I was out of corn that time but the hubby offered me a ride to shop what I need. So here is my version of corn soup (mixed rice, tofu, corn, carrots, potato and my secret seasonings). The lil one loved it and even asked for more RICE.I bet some Pinoys are drooling for this. It's CHAMPORADO beybi! Who would forget this sweet-bitter Filipino dish? Missed it a lot!!! Got my taste of champorado in the US, first in history.

I bet my desktop missed me a lot today lol. I was idle for hours and hours. Now I am indebted to my EC droppers for dropping not in two days.Just got out from the little one's room. She slept so late tonight and I am to be blamed. I had to clean her cluttered room and reorganize her stuff making her so awake. Changed bedding. Put all toys in the basket. Summer clothes in a bag making room for fall and winter wardrobe. Vacuum and wiped all the dust I felt and smelled.The 'lil one was just watching Sprout's the goodnight show with Nina and star while I did my part. She didn't ask for milk until around 11PM. After drinking 9 oz., she pointed the crib which means she is so ready to go night-night.What a busy night I have. I will be washing dirty bedding in a little while after publishing this post. There is nothing much to do once everything is washed and dried. Maybe I will spend some time later to talk to my friend who works in a call center somewhere in Cebu. She've been working there before I quit working and that was almost three years ago. Actually, most of my friends and classmates in college opted to work as a call center agent than practicing their degree. They are just so practical! Money matters and call center satisfies their cravings. Less I know about call center outsourcing and maybe Mau could answer my q's or just share her ideas and experiences to me. I'd rather hear it from her than just read online, after all it's gonna be a great topic to discuss.I better get going, be back in less than an hour. Just need to take care of used bedding as well as polish the kitchen.

A friend of mine is going back to school this second semester in the Philippines. Her Bachelors degree does not support her dream of becoming a nurse or a doctor. That is the reason why she is going to study nursing which would probably take three to four years to finish and would cost her a fortune. I wanted to ask her why she wants to be in the medical field but I don't have the audacity to raise a question or open up a personal matter.Working in the field of medicine involves a lot of money from the time the school starts til graduation. On the other hand, everything that is spent will be reaped in just a manner of time. If ever I would go back to school, I might take medical assisting certification online. It is convenient for me as a homemaker and a mother; and a practical way of involving a future in a world where money is easy to make.

Acne is a very common skin disease that usually occurs on the adolescence stage. This disease finds no exception that it also occurs on adults and even newborns.When the lil one was on her first three months of life, she had a couple of spots (acne) on her face. The doctor said it's normal and will just go away in a manner of time. Now that she is fifteen months old, her skin looks so clear, acne vanished.Occasionally, I have my breakouts, too that occur once a month. It does go away without applying any sort of acne treatments. Glad I don't have a pimple-prone skin.However, a long time friend of mine has acne all over her face and neck. She said it runs in the family. She treats the breakouts everyday but seem she has no luck with acne treatments from her dermatologist. Sometimes her skin gets clear but most of the time acne just loses her confidence. I wanna help her like buy some natural acne treatments here in the US but it's gonna cost me a lot of money just for the shipping and handling to the Philippines. I guess it would be better if I will bring the kit with me on my vacation next year.

Tonight is full of bliss and blessings. There are too many to thank about.Many thanks to Lerlyn for helping me out the with the video. And oh, it's her daughter Bienne who exerted effort to give life to the product. Her acting is superb at a very young age. She knows the term adlib. Lerlyn is so fortunate for having a smart daughter like Bienne. Please watch the video posted on the previous post to see her prowess.Thanking my mentor Ms. Tan for sparing with me her time tonight. We had a great chat mostly about library and librarianship. Yep, when librarians come across, expect a conversation full of criticism and appreciation against one's library management. Good thing I am not working there anymore or I will be carrying it on my shoulder.Thank you to the ever giving Payu, I am finally over with some of my job assignments and submitted it that quick before expiration comes dreadfully. I still have two more job assignments to compose but then again, my eyes are about to fall down. My brain is drained as well and can't produce topics to share about. Sleep is the best medicine for it to recharge.So tonight is the night when I need to let go of my desktop again. I will be disturbing HP tomorrow morning as soon as I finish feeding my daughter. See yah and have a great evening!!!

In my previous post, I mentioned about purchasing a PLASMA TV to replace the old flat screen TV in the living area. But wait a minute, I just wanna emphasize that it ain't happening too soon unless either me or the hubby wins the lottery jackpot lol. Sounds crazy eh? Just a simple daydream if you don't mind. Along with the TV, purchasing a tv stand will come with it. I want something slim in structure and design or a narrow TV stand with cabinets and drawers underneath just like the ones sold at www.standsandmounts.com. Also, I want it to be made of wood and not the common vinyl or engineered wood that easily breaks.

Where do you shop your office and business supplies? I bet from some office supply stores with unreasonable price tags.In times like this when the economy is so low, I think it is best to compare various store prices before making a purchase. The point is why spend a lot when you can get it for a lesser price.Just so you are searching for any of these : barcode scanner, cash drawer, POS system POS software, receipt printer and other office and business supplies, there is an online store to check out to. The POS Micro offers various printers, software and business-related electronic products with up to 70% off the market price.

Each age level has different needs and capabilities to do things. Young ones can mostly do anything provided that he or she is perfectly healthy. The oldies are the ones who are mostly not comfortable to do some stuff. Taking a bath is an essential thing yet some doesn't do it everyday in which bath tub might be the reason. That is why I wanna make a suggestion for the oldies, just if you can afford to change your old lowered bath tub , why not go ahead and spend a portion of your money to purchase a walk in bath tub. For sure this is something that would make your bath time comfortable.If only I have the money to spend for it, I definitely would purchase a walk-in tub for my in-laws. Although they can afford it, I know that they are not buying the idea believing that they are not going to live that long.

Pictures paint a thousand words, there is no doubt about that. This Holiday season, there is such a better way to express thoughts to families, friends, colleagues or those who have done something significant in our lives. It's not about how big or small the gift box is nor how expensive the value is. It is a matter of leaving footprints of memories to the receiver.My idea for this Holiday is to give away holiday photo cards with my daughter's photo on it. It is a way of thanking everybody who are there for us.Holiday photo cards and other seasonal cards are available at www.peartreegreetings.com. New designs for Holiday 2009 are now ready to be ordered. For as low as $19.99 per 24 cards, we can create a smile on someone's face.

The hubby and I always talk about the future that if ever either of us wins a lottery, we won't be moving out from this house. We'll just renovate and update everything we see that needs a touch-up. First thing firsts, the laminated floor in the living area and bedrooms will become a bamboo or a wood floor. There is no need for the kitchen floor to be changed as floor tiles are still in great condition and still in trend. Dump or give away our old TVs and change it to a plasma. Whew! so ambitious eh? A big home is what we don't need. Our current three-bedroom and two-bath house satisfies us that big. Adding to that is the friendly and quiet neighborhood. There are a lot to be changed, before everything happens, playing the lottery is what we have to do.

Ain't Holiday is the season to change? It is one of the best reasons to start a new year ahead. Time to change the environment including our own homes. I bet some of you are shopping for Holiday decorations early. If you did, you are one lucky person. YOu won't be dealing with the crowd and out of stock items on the rush hours. Others might be on the process of updating their homes just for the holiday like changing kitchen faucets, light fixtures and even buying kitchen utensils to match the season's theme.By the way, have you started gift shopping yet? For some reasons, I have not yet. It might be sometime in November during weekdays or I'll just do it online to be safe and fast. Besides, there are only six people in my list whom I pressume doesn't need any particular gifts.

This is one revelation to make, maybe I would say a big one as it pertains to my own hygiene and it's such a shame to think that I am this old yet it is my first try of tooth flosser. For two decades and two years, my tooth finally experienced how to be cleaned in between by myself using the Dentek fun flossers. I used to depend on the dentist to do it for me back then. It's so funny that I used a kids floss and not the other kind made for adults. In fairness, it didn't hurt that disproves my unsupported opinion. This kind of floss that Dentek has is made thin for kids' tiny tooth with various bright colored foot-like handles as what Bienne described on the video below. Kids would certainly love it because of the fruit flavored floss with flouride for a healthy tooth.THe video above shows how Bienne, Lerlyn's daughter enjoyed the Dentek FUn flossers. She honestly gave her description about the product.

I know it's fattening (lol) but I hate to dump the egg yolks (leftover from the other night's angel food cake). Since I am watching my weight, I just eat a tiny slice a day. I have plenty of slices in the fridge that I think would just go into waste in the next few days if I can't eat it all. My leche flan is so different when it comes to the process of cooking it. Most leche flans are steamed and this one is baked in the oven for 1 1/2 hour.This dessert is perfect for gatherings and other parties. It's so easy to prepare too provided that you have 12 egg yolks, vanilla extract, evaporated milk or Vit. D milk, condensed milk and sugar for caramel.

The FIL is scheduled for a major surgery in November. His doctors finally decided that he should undergo the process to eliminate back pain (hope it works). Prior to check-ups and this coming surgery, the FIL was required to get an insurance. He'd been living his life with no insurance at all for decades and for the first time, he got himself the Medicare supplement insurance plan of AARP.What's funny about him is that he wouldn't want to stay in the hospital for that long. He wants to be released quickly on or before LSU vs. Alabama football game. Tsk Tsk tsk..he'd rather stay in his house just for the game rather than stay in the hospital to monitor his health. Typical LSU fan!!!He is 75 years old and getting weaker and weaker though he's not admitting it. I dunno what's in the doctors minds but I am not into this idea of surgery. He is just too old for and his body might not react accordingly that would lead to regrets and beyond.

Last week, I won this auction on Ebay for a Lacoste polo shirt. The item arrived yesterday, so fast that impressed me more. The thing is, the item did not meet the seller's description and buyer's expectation. It's just a real fake. I wanted to like it but couldn't. As soon as I opened the package, I knew for sure that it ain't authentic for these reasons :

• The logo is not embroidered well ; the real one has a very distinct and clear embroidered croc logo on the chest.
• Buttons are not made of mother of pearl but made of plastic with 4 holes, too. The authentic has two mother of the pearl buttons with 2 holes on it and sewn vertically on the shirt.
• Only has one tag. It should have 2 tags on the neck with trademark logo and size (4,6 or 8 on the first tag.
• Washing instruction is not printed with DEVANLAY.
• Fabric is cheap cotton.

The Lacoste that I bought doesn't have all the signs of authenticity. Seller did a great job in posting an unreal photo including free shipping. I was fooled but she'll pay for it. I left her a very negative feedback leaving her an 83% seller feedback. I did return the item as well to get my money back. In fairness, the seller is apologetic enough, thus, it didn't change my decision to inform other buyers about the scam. She (seller) needs to settle down and sell original, not imitation.For those who buy Lacoste products on Ebay, better watch out. Examine the description carefully, ask for more photos before placing bids or purchasing directly. Don't give your whole trust to sellers with very satisfactory feedbacks. Some of them are selling their products for a low low price to attract buyers.

Zenni Optical is rapidly growing when it comes to numbers of customers. This trusted e-store caters prescription eyeglasses for as low as 8 Rx eyeglasses, the cheapest price we can find online, I believe. By the way, the photos that you are seeing in this post are My favorite high fashion eyeglasses on ZenniOptical.com. Cute, eh? And oh, the e-store is actually mentioned on the article "How You Can Start Spending Smart" published by CBN.com. You may wanna check it to find out why. Just click the link herein to be redirected quickly.

How many of us are bothered by dark circles under eyes? Some of us are treating it with expensive eye cremes while others are still in the process of trying various products to find out which one would work well. But here's what I found out today. When looking for a product that would immensely treat dark circles under eyes, choose the one's with peptides, antioxidants -- the two primary ingredients that treat dark circle under eyes and protect it from coming back. I read this info at www.darkcirclesundereye.org. Go check out the website and I am sure you'll learn a lot, too.

TOday is my silly sister's 20th birthday. It is the 12th of October now in the Philippines. I just gave her a call for greetings and a short chat. She was hinting that the house is quiet, which means no party at all for her lol. Hmn sorry dear, the ate is broke today. I got paid but couldn't cash it out, couldn't send you some either. Let's just make it up some other time.See how silly she is?The youngest! The spoiled brat, yet sweet.Oh how I miss my baby sis. She was my only baby back then. I remember she got so mad when she found out that I am getting married. Didn't talk to me for days and didn't talk to the hubby, too on his first Philippine visit. At the latter, she accepted the situation and bonded with the hubby on his second visit.She is still my baby, the authentic one lol (she loves signatured stuff).Happy birthday, gang!!! happiness is my wish for you.