My husband turned a natural talent into a career, he's an artist. Some people would have been content to simply use their talent as a hobby, but he knew early on that art is where his passion lies and he stuck with it. Unfortunately, not all of us are like that. We aren't as focused and usually turn to traditional careers and simply use our artistic tendencies to occupy our spare time.
My girls, and I'm sure they get their tendencies from their father, love all kinds of crafts and art. They make paper accessories, knitted scarves, sewn handbags, handcrafted jewelry, clay sculptures and many other things that catch their interest. Jade has been trying to find ways to turn their hobbies into money. She's at that stage when money is becoming important to do the things she wants to do, so she's putting her skills to work. She's thinking of opening an online store to sell their wares, and I'm not discouraging her. More power to her endeavors and I do hope she starts making her own money soon. Maybe I can start keeping more of mine in my wallet. LOL!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Making Money From Your Hobby
Sports in the House
My girls have never been too much into sports like some kids their age (Is it any wonder?) but this year, they or at least Jade, has been growing an interest in, of all things, field hockey. So I've been shopping for field hockey sticks and finally found one on Amazon at a reasonable prize. Jade loves her green hockey stick which came with a bonus gift, a pink ball :)
Now, I'm shopping around for cleats but I'm hoping that she will find some in California because when it comes to shoes, I'm leery about buying them without trying them on first. As it is, she was complaining about her running shoes as being too loose when she runs and she tried those on at the store!
My husband was also suggesting to start looking for golf shoes for them as he swears he'll start taking them to play with him, his cousin and his daughters. They're planning on having a regularly scheduled golf outings with their kids (his cousin has two girls and a boy). I can't wait to see how that goes!
Are You Clean Enough?
I'm not the neatest person, but I would like to think that I am pretty clean. At least I like having things around me to be clean even though I don't like cleaning. I don't think I'm overly obsessive about sterilizing scrubbing everything down, but I do like to keep things hygienic especially when it comes to food.
I do know of people though who are just obsessive about cleanliness. When they say you can eat of their floor, your really can! If they could, they would presoak chicken in chlorox to make sure they don't get salmonella. Do you know people like that? How's their health? Are they healthy and free of infections?
The thing that I've noticed is, these very people who are obsessive about being germ free are the very ones who are complaining of allergies, chronic stomach problems and recurring colds. What's up with that?
Well, this discussion on the hygiene hypothesis may provide some answers. They asked the question "Are we scrubbing away our immune system and giving ourselves allergies?". I believe that, to some extent, we are. Visit Squidoo to see what others are saying about the topic of being too clean.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Alzheimer's Memory Walk
As we grow older and our parents grow older we become more aware of this dreadful disease called Alzheimer. Sure, we make fun of it sometimes, using it to define our addled moments. But it really isn't funny when it affects you directly. It isn't funny seeing your loved ones slowly lose their memories, even of you. I have mentioned before how my dad was diagnosed with early Altzheimer's. He's been lucky in that it seems like the drugs he's been taking is retarding the progress of the disease; but you can still see changes. They are subtle but palpable changes and it's scary to imagine what is yet to come.
The Alzheimer's Memory Walk is an event that not only raises awareness of the disease it also raises funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. The Memory Walk is a two to three mile walk usually held in the fall where volunteers of all ages walk to fight against Alzheimer's. These walks are held all over the country, and as much as it seems like summer is never going to end, fall will be here before you know it. Check your community if the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® is going to be held in your area and please do plan on joining. Better yet, organize a team or volunteer to be a team captain and support this worthwhile cause with your family, friends and co-workers.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Until Death Do Us Part
This story is a little long, but I think you'll like it. I'm not sure that it's a true story, but I enjoyed reading it and contemplating its message. It's a forwarded email, and you may be skeptical about reading it (I was), but I think you will be forwarding this too after you read it.
To All Married Couples and Singles Who Intend To Get Married
When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you.
She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know What I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man!
That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Dew.
I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, 30% shares of my company and the car. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing.
I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a months time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door every morning. I thought she was going crazy.
Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset.
I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest.. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day,� I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by.
Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me; she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart.
Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway.
Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.
I drove to office... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore. She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head.
Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death does us apart. Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.
At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote: 'I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart'
The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship.
It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank balance that matters.
These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!
Don't go away yet...
OK, if you ate all the foods we previously cooked up and posted about below, you'd probably pulling out that diet pill, but you don't really have to do that. Summer time is the best time to pig out because you usually end up doing more outdoor activities because the weather is nice and when the weather is hot, you burn up some of the extra calories just by sweating.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
If you can't take the heat...
If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. That's how the old saying goes. But in our house, it seems we've been in the kitchen more often since the weather got hotter. We love it too that the garden has been putting out its usual bounty again. That's always inspiring us to cook. I also joined a couple of cooking events so that's prompted me to try out new recipes that I never thought I would try. So here's a few things that's been cooked so far:
Ratatouille which I cooked up with vegetables from our garden for Recipes to Rival, a monthly cooking challenge for savory dishes.
My entries for Lasang Pinoy Sundays, a weekly food photo blogging event featuring Filipino foods.Yakitori Grilled Chicken, perfect for the warm summer entertaining outdoors. We certainly were entertained :)
Finally, a Danish Braid which was not only delicious but also beautiful, which we cooked up for Daring Bakers. If you're feeling daring, this is for you.
Feeding the Soul
In our kitchen, we work to feed our bellies. But having a full belly does not always mean a fulfilled soul. Sure, we has our families and friends to make our lives more meaningful, but sometimes caring for pets also fills a space that makes our soul more purposeful.
Some of us treat our pets as part of our families and care for them in the same way. In return, they provide us with as much love and nurturing as we give them. ZooToo is a pet social network where pet lovers can commune with other pet lovers to help and care for their pets. When you register for membership, you also affiliate yourself with a shelter near you or with an animal advocate group. After you register, you will have your own customized profile where you can post photos of your pet, have a journal to share ideas and thoughts about your pet, a review section where you can give tips on products or services you've tried and so much more. You can interact with other pet lovers, share ideas and leave comments on their profiles and they on yours.
It sounds like it's going to be a fun community to be involved with. In addition to the features I just mentioned, they have a variety of promotions to help pet shelters and rescue groups around the county.
Summer Reading
With Jade working at the library this summer, we've taken up a new interest in the library. We've been spending way too much time at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Walden Books and our (well more like MY) pockets have been getting lighter. So re-discovering the library has been a treat! We had to reactivate our library cards, and even paid extra for lost cards, but the cost does not even compare to what we spend at book stores. Anyway, we've checked out several books to complement our reading list.
The Clone even joined a reading club. I think she did it just to get the weekly prizes though. LOL!
Anyway, here are a couple of book reviews of what we've read so far:
American Gods from me, and
For Matrimonial Purposes from Jade.
The Clone opted not to review her book. Actually, she's still reading :)
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Vision Plans
We just had to renew our insurance plans and this year, I opted out of the vision plan. The vision plan that I was signed up for cost $29 a month for our family of 5, of which only two have to wear glasses. I computed what I paid into the plan and what we ended up spending on check up and glasses last year and figured that I could save more money by saving the money I would pay into the plan and just use a resource like zennioptical.com to shop for eyeglasses.
For the cost of one months insurance premium, I can buy a very stylish glasses. They have a huge selection of eye glasses and a wide range of prices which dips all the way to $8.00 for a pair! All you have to do is get a prescription from an optometrist, which can cost quite a lot less than what you would pay for a year's worth on the vision plan, send them your script and they will have your glasses made with the frame of your choice in no time!
They promise to ship your order within two weeks, and lastly, they will guarantee a 50% refund of the cost of your glasses plus shipping should you be unhappy with what you got. Sounds like a great deal to me.
Away from Home
This is my daughter's home away from home this summer. She's been away for two weeks now and we have been sorely missing her. Yep, even her cranky sisters who do not miss a beat to argue with her have been whining that they miss her. I guess that is just part of being sisters. I too have that love/hate relationship with my sisters over the years.
We were worried about Asi being on her own for weeks at a time, but again, she surprised us how well she is doing. Not only is she taking care of personal details such as cleaning up after herself, she has also been doing her own laundry! She just called me and asked to transfer $20 to her school card because she has used up the first installment I put to begin with, doing laundry! Who knew :)
Summer Reading
Summer reading is on at our house. The Clone decided to join our local library's summer reading club. She's trying to win a laptop from their monthly drawing. Well, anything to get them and keep them reading, eh? Anyway, we've been making weekly trips to the library for her to check in with the club and get more books to read.
The funny thing is, she checks in with the librarian in the children's section on the first floor, then proceeds to the teen and fiction section of the library, on the third floor, to pick out her book. The librarian had to laugh when we first went to sign up because she proudly told The Clone to go to the table and pick any book she wants and she can have it for free just for signing up for the club. So my 10 year old goes to browse the free books table and comes back empty handed. She said the books there were too easy for her. Which, they were. They were the easy-reader type books. So the librarian pulled out a secret stash with teen paperbacks for the Clone to choose from. :)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Too hot to be working
It's been in the nineties here for about a week now and it doesn't look like it will be letting up anytime soon. Not that I mind... I actually like hot weather. I just feel bad for my husband who has a sun sensitivity and can't be out in the heat for too long. Of course, it doesn't help that some of the work he has to do must be done outside, and he also loves working in the garden. This week, our bathroom faucets decided to take a leak. So he was outside and under the house trying to figure out where the leak is at. He found it, but it requires for him to crawl under the house to get to it. In this heat, it's just no fun.
Discoveries
I've been trying to get back into the swing of blogging, of writing something for one of my blogs daily, but it sure has been a chore. I've been having a very difficult time getting back into the swing of things. In my head, I'm always blogging, having conversations with myself. But when I actually sit down to start blogging, I am stuck. Blocked. Not really knowing where to start.
There are comments I need to respond to, but just haven't been up to writing anything. I feel deflated, especially in light of a couple of events involving my online life.
Anyway, today I vow to renew the effort.
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By the way, this is our latest discovery, Ichiban Kan USA.
Found the site while looking for bento boxes last month. We ordered four sets of bento boxes for less than $40! can you believe that? Just try searching for bento boxes online and you'll see how overpriced some of them are. This place is like a dollar store for Japanese items. I'm going to be ordering more from them. Check them out.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Summer Cool Down
Summer is upon us with a vengeance and the girls and I have ramped up our dream of having our own pool in the backyard. If you are also on this same daydream, then Blue World Pools may be just the thing for you.
Consider having an above ground pool for the fraction of the price for an in ground pool. It's a great way to relax after work and cool off in the summer time. It's almost hard to believe, but the price for an above ground pool starts at $349. The $349 offer is for a limited time only and applies to the 15x24 oval pool. That's good enough to cool off in, but if you'd like something more fitting for your backyard landscape and one that matches the architecture of your house, you may opt for a midline pool or the classic pool. You certainly get a lot of flexibility in design and pricing with above ground pools.
The website is very intuitive. If you want a quote, they'll give you one for free and if you just want to know if they provide service in your area, they have that information online too. Even if they don't service your area, contact them anyway, they may still be able to help you. They have live online help, so you can get your questions answered right away. Blue World Pools has been in business a long time and they have a proven track record for providing good service. They not only make sure you receive excellent service in choosing and installing your pool, they will provide assistance with financing and maintenance after the installation so that you will enjoy your pool for years to come.
Check their website, and give them a call. They may just have the solution to this summer's heat.
This post sponsored by Blue World Pools
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
In our Other Blogs
Here's an update on what's been going on in our other blogs:
COOKED FROM THE HEART
Cherry Crisp or Cherry Dump Cake (pictured)
Fried Potatoes - cooked it up for breakfast, but could also fare well with other dishes like a nice grilled steak.
Furikake - it's a Japanese seasoning for rice. But have you ever had it for breakfast?
Eggplant Salad - another great complement for grilled meats
What's been going on with the AMOORES?
Art for the Summer - see photos of my girls when they were younger and working on their art.
The Adventure Continues - Indiana Jones continues to woo young and old girls alike.
In our BACKYARD:
See photos of our garden in early spring. I'll try to post more recent updates soon.
At FOUND NOT LOST read about my recent reviews:
Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay - a book review of my recent read or re-read
Inuyasha Bag and other Anime Items - found this website with cool Anime products
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - a big book that took me a while to read, about very interesting vampire lore.
If you don't find me here, now you know where else I am :)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Teen Skin Care
Same conversation with sister as before, this time on skin care. I was telling her about all the things we had to get for Asi's summer away from home, among them extensive amount of skin care products. She has a tendency to break out easily, plus, she's sixteen, so I suppose it is to be expected. We've been trying out several types of natural acne treatment and she hasn't found one yet that works and that doesn't burn her skin. So sis said that she ordered some skin treatment and she'll send it on so Asi can try it out.
The Price of Nice
I was talking to my sister the other day and she said that since our grandma has been sick, she's been going over to our mom's house more often to visit. "That's nice", I told her. "That's bad" she said, "I've gained weight because I'm eating so much! I'll be needing some diet pills pretty soon!". LOL! I guess there is also a price for being nice and visiting your mother :)
High on the Hog
No, not the hog that goes oink, but the one that goes vroooom! I noticed, since the gas prices topped the $4 mark, that there are now more and more motorcycles in our parking lot. I've also seen at least a couple of hybrids. I guess everyone is starting to feel the gas crunch. I myself have been feeling it for a while now, but I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. Gas is expensive for my mini van, yes, but I also can't afford to buy another car or a hybrid. I may have enough to buy one of those used Harleys, but the thing is, I don't know how to ride a bike! LOL!
Summer Fun in the Summer Heat
Last year, the girls and I went to Las Vegas for our summer vacation. We toured Hoover Dam in 113 degree heat. Sounds like fun?
Actually, it was. I never would have thought that a family vacation in Las Vegas would be so much fun. The girls spent a lot of time in the pool and when the weather becomes unbearable, there are things to do indoors. Can you believe they even have a whole amusement park indoor? Yep, one day was spent at the Adventuredome behind circus circus. They had everything to keep the little munchkins entertained. They had games and roller coasters and water rides galore.
The girls were excited. They thought or maybe hoped they will be going to Las Vegas with their aunts again, but I think their aunts have something else planned for them :)
Share the Summer Fun
Once you get over the anxiety of sending your kids off to summer vacation on their own (see previous post), you can start planning on the fun aspects of a summer vacation. Not being with your kids, like we will be, you'd still want to keep up with what they will be doing without you. I've already coached my girls to take lots of photos so mom and dad can see what they did.
I've done this before, and I think we'll do it again this year. Always at the end of a vacation with my family, we've had photo cards made to commemorate that year's vacation. Photo Cards are highly customizable and can be used in a variety of ways. For instance, soon after we get back home, we send thank you cards to our summer hosts, with a memorable image to remind them how much we enjoyed our time with them. You can have custom messages printed inside the cards, or you can leave them blank. It's your choice. I personally like to write my own personal messages inside so I like to leave them blank.
When we're in the midst of winter and we are enveloped in thick coats, I like to use our summer vacation pictures, when we were tanned and wearing less, as Christmas cards. Yes! They make perfect Christmas card images to send to family and friends and this time Yes to the customized message either on the front of the cards or inside. What makes sending summer images for Christmas even special is that it reminds everyone the great time over the past summer and makes them look forward to the next, making winter not seem so bleak after all.
Kids Traveling Alone
The girls will be traveling alone for the first time this summer. Although they have been going through airports since they were toddlers and are pretty savvy travelers, I can't help but still worry about their safety. Their ages are 16, 15 and 10 so according to most airline's policies, they are allowed to travel as unaccompanied minors. There is a pretty hefty fee tacked on to their basic fare for the added service that will be provided to them. Let's hope it's worth it.
For the added fee, the airline is supposed to identify them to the staff on board that they are minors traveling alone and will need assistance. They will be making one connection, and a staff is supposed to assist them to get to the appropriate gate for the second leg of their flight.
In the event that they miss their connecting flight, a staff person is supposed to assist them to get on the next available flight. If, worst comes to worst and they have to spend overnight somewhere, a staff of the same sex is supposed to stay with them at the hotel and assist them in getting back to the airport for their connecting flight.
There are horror stories of children traveling alone out there. I suggest not reading them :)
Here's another tip that I didn't know about. Did you know that you can ask the airline for a security pass so that you can walk your minors to their boarding gate? So rather than just leaving them at the counter and letting them go through security on their own, I think we'll avail ourselves of this opportunity. Just to be on the safe side, you know?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Portraits by the Sea
Does anything evoke more romantic images in your mind than to hear the phrase, "Portraits by the Sea"?
If you are going to be in the area around Destin, Florida this summer and would like to have the most awesome souvenir to commemorate your vacation, you have to get your portrait taken by Portraits by the Sea. It is the photography studio of Tiki Nelson, specializing in beach portraits. Visit the website's portfolio section to get an idea of the different types of portraits you can take. The photographer's policy and pricing are also delineated so you won't get any surprises and you know what to expect. I like that. It allows me to plan ahead of time and my vacation won't be ruined by unexpected price hikes once I get there. That can be such a downer!
Volunteer Jobs for Teens
One activity to keep your teens busy during the summer is of course to send them off to summer school. That's what my oldest daughter is doing, she's going off to summer school.
My middle child Jade, though, will be spending her summer volunteering. She will be working in our main library's archive collection, duplicating and indexing material. She's excited because she will be getting out of the house. I'm excited because she will be learning a new skill and learning how to deal with people in the workplace.
The Unlikely Monster
The temperature here in North Carolina has been topping the hundreds for four days in a row. Today we're getting a break. We're only going to be in the nineties. lol!
The thing with heat waves is, everyone starts cranking up their air conditioning and before you know it, power usage spikes and the grid becomes strained and power outages are not uncommon. Everyone has been talking about how to serve more energy and those who are buying new air conditioning units or any appliances for that matter, are encouraged to buy energy efficient appliances with the energy star rating. We just bought a freezer, for instance, and we made sure it was the kind that is energy efficient. It's being delivered today.
What most people don't realize is that the smaller appliances like toasters, vacuum cleaners and hair driers usually pull more energy in the short time they are in use than the larger appliances in the same amount of time. So during peak times, when everyone has their air conditioning on and drawing tons of energy, it is recommended that you also cut down on using these smaller, energy monsters.
One brand that has tried to make their appliances less like monsters is, believe it or not, Dirt Devil (hehe! can you see the irony?). Seriously though, most of their appliances are star energy rated meaning they use less energy than their counterparts and are optimized for this purpose. So if you just really have to crank up something during peak hours, at least find one that is energy efficient. 
