Stormy Real Estate Market

I'm worried about the country's problematic economy. This has a huge impact on the real estate market. This means buyers are having a hard time to close home deals and home sellers are losing money when they sell. As a homeowner, it is a big concern for home prices deflating. Although we don't plan to sell our house now but we want to eventually move and buy our dream house years from now. So we need higher equity for that. I hope and pray this real estate roller coaster will soon be over.

Tornadoes In The Neighboring State

I was really shocked of the tornado news yesterday in Suffolk, Virginia. Even if it is in the southern part of the state, it's still close to my beloved state of Maryland. Calamities like these do happen here in the U.S. and it's scary because it ruin not only cars, trees, power lines, houses, establishments, and some properties but also dangerous to possibly cause major injuries and even death to residents. I hope people will be more alert and updated of the coming tornado warnings. It's no joke to loose our homes and start over.

Life Strategies

I just finished reading this book which I bought weeks ago. I got wonderful insights about life strategies and found great advice from successful people who themselves have experienced many failures but made it still to success despite the hardships. There are just so many issues that we have to deal with as we go through life every single day. There is the issue of financial contentment with what we currently earn and not being able to make more money. We sometimes feel frustrated because we don't get what we want. It seems like we are just going through the motions of our lives with no passion, no plan, and no goal. Or simply bored with ourselves? Some are silently enduring an emotionally barren life or marriage. Others are living a lonely existence with little hope for change. If you experience some of these, I want to share some strategies. Who knows it might work for you.

1. You either get it, or you don't.

Strategy: Become one of those who gets it.

2. You create your own experience.

Strategy: Acknowledge and accept accountability for your life.

3. People do what works.

Strategy: Identify the payoffs that drive your behavior and that of others.

4. You cannot change what you do not acknowledge.

Strategy: Get real with yourself about your life and everybody on it.

5. Life rewards action.

Strategy: Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger.

6. There is no reality; only perception.

Strategy: Identify the filters through which you view the world.

7. Life is managed; it is not cured.

Strategy: Learn to take charge of your life.

8. We teach people how to treat us.

Strategy: Own, rather than complain, about how people treat you.

9. There is power in forgiveness.

Strategy: Open your eyes to what anger and resentment are doing for you.

10. You have to name it before you can claim it.

Strategy: Get clear about what you want and take your turn.

Making Sense of Autism

I have read an article about an increase in the diagnosis of autism in children nowadays compared to the last decade. Earlier reports estimated only 1 child in 1,000 had autism. Now, it's 6 in 1,000. This higher frequency is alarming. Now I'm scared for my future child. Although I plan to have a baby two or three years from now, I'm concerned about my age and I hope it has nothing to do with it. For those who just gave birth, doctors recommend parents to learn about the normal growth and development of a child so they'll have the idea whether the child is on the right track. Make sure to have routine check-ups so the doctor could monitor the child's normal development especially when they reach 18-24 months old. Autism screening should be done by this specific age range. The sooner autism is diagnosed or the sooner the treatment begun, the better a child will do in the long run.

I Hate Rainy Days

It's been raining lately. I hate it. I can't do my everyday jogging routine in the park. You see, I'm very motivated to loose some weight because I'm looking forward to our Philippine vacation next year. I want to feel confident wearing sexy bathing suits! LoL! Boracay is on top of our list. It will be summer of 2009 for sure. With many great resorts in my hometown, I can't say no to frolicking with my hubby, family and friends in the beach. I'm a certified beach bum I admit. I really miss the seawaves also, the very calm seawater which I can hardly find here of course because of the surrounding big bodies of ocean.

Look Of The Year

Do you have the looks and confidence to join an online beauty contest? This Look of the Year is a worldwide contest and anyone can join if you feel like you got the looks and qualities. All you have to do is submit your best photo and create a great profile. Participants are judged by viewers who browse the net! Who knows you might get many votes from possible base fans out there! If you will not win, there’s still a big chance to be discovered by model agencies. Interested? Join now and let the viewers rate your beautiful winning photo!

http://www.lookoftheyear.com

Crazy Baseball Fans

These photos were taken last Saturday evening at Baltimore Camden Yards. My hubby loves sports so much. Since baseball season has just started and I know he's an avid fan of the sport, I decided to go with him watched one of the Orioles-Yankees games. Thank God we arrived early at the stadium and never had to deal with the long line at the gate for ticket inspection. The photos above really show how Americans love baseball games. There were 45,000 estimated crazy baseball fans attending the game on that one particular night. Luckily my hubby's favorite team won. It's crazy hearing people trash talking defending their respective teams. The stadium is like a great venue for a big party for sports fanatics. A sport for all ages where Americans gather as one big happy family.

Credit Offers

Are you planning to get a new credit card? Credit offers are everywhere. You might be getting many junk mails everyday about pre-approved offers but there are no guarantees of good rates of course. Even if it says pre-approved, it still doesn’t mean anything if you do not meet certain requirements in the actual application process. Besides, pre-approved offers might not match your spending habits depending on your credit needs. Choosing the best credit card deals in bestcredit.com is a great start if you are considering getting one. The website is not a credit card company but they can help you find the best offers and provide online bank applications. With a wide selection of top online bank offers, a good or bad credit history doesn’t matter. Regardless of your credit history, there are available options for you to choose from. All you have to do is compare their list of deals then submit your application online and rest assured of your personal information because they provide data protection. Each card offer has features uniquely designed for consumers that would surely match their spending patterns. Get answers on credit offers by visiting the website and expect immediate credit card care service from them.

Filipinos Abroad

My friend and I went malling today. We met two Filipino couples and got to chit chat with them for a while. They've been here for 30 years. It's really a wonderful feeling seeing some Pinoys abroad. I can't explain the instant closeness when conversation starts. Or maybe it's a cultural thing because we Filipinos are very warm, sociable and friendly. It's like you know one another for a long time already. A simple gesture of saying hello or even just a smile makes me feel home. I thought a great number of Filipinos are mostly based in California or Florida but I can see them here as well. And there's plenty of them!

The Smallest Horse

I got this pic from a friend's email. This small horse's name is Thumbelina. I really find it cute so I decided to post it here.

She may be small, a mere 17 inches and weighing only 60 pounds. But she is all horse. Thumbelina is officially recognized as the world’s smallest horse. Normally horses weight about 250lb and rise to a height of 34 inches when they are fully grown. But from the day she was born it was clear that tiny Thumbelina would never grow to that size. She weighed only 8lb – the size of a new-born baby when she was born. Eventually she grew to just 60lb. Her amazing size has been explained as dwarfism. This makes her a miniature of a miniature.

Wow! It's Been A Year

Time flies so fast! It's been a year since I got here. So many things happened. I can't enumerate each of them here but I can share the highlights of my one year stay in the US. I left the Philippines April 13, 2007 via Philippine Airlines with connecting flights, Cebu-Manila, Manila-LA, LA-Baltimore. I was having mixed emotions then. When I was about to leave, I felt very excited about having a new life with my fiance and sad at the same time saying goodbye to my family at the airport. On the other hand, it's been a great year for me. I got married, travel to see places, meet friends, got a job, got a driver's license, got my green card for permanent residency and most of all after a year of being together I realized I did the right choice. They say it's hard to be married to a foreigner because of cultural differences and interracial marriages are difficult but it works for us. I'm grateful for 1 blissful year and I'm still counting...

A Walk In The Park

This is one of my favorite places to hang out with my pinay friend together with her husband and daughter. It's only 10-15 minutes drive (depending on the road traffic) from my house. We visit this park often if we have the time and no work. It's a very quiet place to relax, take a walk, have picnic or just unwind from a stressful day's work. The park is huge and the lake for fishing as well! The first time we got here we walked for almost three miles which took us an hour for one round. It was really a good exercise. That is why I love to keep on coming back.

Credit Card Deals

Are you tired of finding the best credit card deals? Although having credit cards have its disadvantages, it is also very important to have one. In the Philippines not all people have cards simply because there are some requirements which need to be met before approval. When I got here it’s totally different. I noticed most people use cards in making purchases, in grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls, etc. Then I realize the importance of it. Landlords, employers and insurance companies check credit records. Looking at somebody’s record allow them to see the person’s spending pattern and even a history of declared bankruptcy. That is why it is essential to have a credit card and choosing the best credit card deals evaluation should also be considered. One way is to look for best deals online. You might want to take a look at Best-Rate-Visa-Credit-Card-Applications.com. The website provides valuable information on new credit card deals including business credit card deals. They can help you identify the great credit deals from the leading companies like MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Interested? Apply online now and compare credit card deals by rewards, spendings, banks, and even foreign card deals.

The Art of Painting

I'm so happy today coz I bought a painting for $10. Hahaha. It's actually old but it's not obvious. My hubby likes it. He is a minimalist when it comes to his tastes in visual art. He doesn't like too much colors. I don't like the white frames though. We will just paint it with another color, a dark brown maybe to emphasize its wood frames. A little work will be worth it considering I didn't pay that much.

Chapman House Inc.

Drug addiction is one of the common problems society is facing today. There are a lot of reasons why some people are taking them. Curiosity could be one. There is also what we called “peer pressure” on the younger generation. And there are times when people just want to forget present problems or don’t want to deal with too much depression or stress that is why they resort to drugs. They think this is an easy escape and the only solution to life’s difficulties and problems. When we say drug addiction, it could either be an intoxication of an alcohol substance or chemical substance. I remember one of my friend’s mom’s son had to undergo a drug treatment at a very young age. Drug rehab did really help him and now he is a new person and having a great life.

If you know someone, a relative, a neighbor or a friend, the best way to care for them is to show your concern. There might be times when people commit mistakes like drug dependency for example. Browsing the net led me to a specific website which helps provide drug treatment program. Chapman House offers a wide range of options which include treatment for alcoholism, drug addiction, food addiction and eating disorders and many more. One way to fastest recovery is their detoxification program. That is if the patient is cooperative and not hesitant to undergo such treatment. But if the patient doesn’t want to give his 100% shot and reluctant, they have the family intervention technique which has been proven to be successful for most of their patients. The Chapman House Counseling Team can also conduct Professional Drug and Alcohol Evaluations for anyone who requires an assessment. So if you want to help someone it is never too late. Make a difference in other people's lives. Drug rehabilitation at Chapman House is an option. The road to fast recovery and new life may begin here.

Books To Read

I love to read books (especially mystery novels). Even though how hectic my schedule gets, I still spend time reading some pages before going to sleep. Today, I got great deals from Salvation Army Store. While a friend of mine was so busy shopping for clothes, I enjoyed the books on sale. Daniel Steel is one of my favorites and when I saw the books, I never had any second thought of not buying them. Plus, they were on sale! Each book costs only $1. I have read some of them in college but I want to read them over and over again. Now, I have six books to read. Whew!

To Earn Money

There is a lot of ways to earn money (gagner de l'argent) by simply using the internet. Building store online, blogging, answering surveys, etc. are few of them. However there is also a lot of fraud going on the net nowadays like work at home scams which mostly require registration fees before joining. Another way for easy money (argent facile) is playing casino online considering your expertise in the field. For those who don’t know the right tactics, I know one website which will help you earn money through their proven techniques. Although I have not tried their method myself, I just want you to share their expertise and strategies to win more money. You can try by playing one of their casino selections and download the free software. To become rich (devenir riche)might be some people’s dream but who knows their money-maker method might work for you. These group of experts in probabilities specialize in the industry of the play might give you a rare chance of a lifetime.

Keep These Lines In Mind

A sharp tongue can cut my own throat.
If I want my dreams to come true, I mustn't oversleep.
Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important.
The best vitamin for making friends..... B1.
The happiness of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts.
The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.
One thing I can give and still keep...is my word.
I lie the loudest when I lie to myself.
If I lack the courage to start, I have already finished.
One thing I can't recycle is wasted time.
Ideas won't work unless "I" do.
My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.
The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice.
The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Ashop Commerce

Selling any kind of products online can be a great source of income. Do you have stuffs to sell? Are you planning to create your own store online but do not know what to do or where to start? The best way to build a good online store is having a shopping cart software. If you have the right shopping cart, you will never go wrong with building a store on the website. With Ashop, you can compete with all other existing stores online because they will help you set up your own page through their customizable features. You can use their unique, easy, award winning design creator to get a professional looking online store. This will give you the edge over other websites. Ashop makes sure customers get to your store and make their online shopping experience absolutely fun. Thus, helps you generate more sales! Take advantage now of this next revolution in ecommerce. Managing your business online will be easier through ecommerce software. The software is not only amazing but also affordable. Plus, they also offer full tech support and great customer service to help you succeed. Interested? Check Ashop website!

Good Old Movie

Instead of watching a movie in the theather like we usually do every Friday night, we decided to just stay in the house and find a good movie on TV. Although most movies on the list are old, we found one which we both agreed to watch. I remember "Ghost" became so popular in the Philippines. My dad even bought a VHS copy and my whole family kept on watching the movie over and over again. I was still in grade school then. How time flies so fast. But I'm wondering how come Demi Moore still looks the same. Maybe a young lover keeps her youthful beauty. Anyway, good old movie like this is great to watch. It made our night.

3 Questions Define My Personality

I was tagged by Jeff about personality test. Thanks a lot for this interesting tag. Wanna know more about me? Here's the result.

Your Personality Is

Rational (NT)

You are both logical and creative. You are full of ideas.
You are so rational that you analyze everything. This drives people a little crazy!
Intelligence is important to you. You always like to be around smart people.
In fact, you're often a little short with people who don't impress you mentally.
You seem distant to some - but it's usually because you're deep in thought.
Those who understand you best are fellow Rationals.
In love, you tend to approach things with logic.
You seek a compatible mate - who is also very intelligent.
At work, you tend to gravitate toward idea building careers - like programming,
medicine, or academia.
With others, you are very honest and direct.
People often can't take your criticism well.
As far as your looks go, you're coasting on what you were born with.
You think fashion is silly.
On weekends, you spend most of your time thinking, experimenting with new
ideas, or learning new things.

The Three Question Personality Test

I wanna pass this tag to all my fellow bloggers. Feel free to grab it.

Lumens Lighting And Living

Home interior designing has become my favorite hobby now that I got married. When I first got here, the house was so plain and simple. It looked like a bachelor’s pad. It really reflected my husband's status. No decorative curtains, only blinds. There was white paint all over the house from the ceiling to the bathroom down to the full basement. I guess all he cares is work and work. Beautifying the house and decorating it is not his thing. Well, not anymore. Since I got here, I busied myself decorating. Part of it was looking for good deals in the internet. Until now, I’m still working on making the house more beautiful. While browsing the net this morning trying to look for chandeliers and lighting, I came across lumens.com. They have a wide selection of Contemporary lighting from Eurofase. Aside from lighting, they also have home accessories and more home products which are good designs at reasonable prices. The website offers a wide array of product selection from world-renowned lighting innovators like Flos, Artemide, Tech Lighting and LBL Lighting. Their modern ceiling fans came from manufacturers like Minka Aire. Even though their big showroom is located in California, you can still shop their products online like you are in the actual showroom. Everything can be browsed over the net and you don’t have to worry about shipping cost. It’s free if you order over $50 and no restocking fees. So visit the showroom now or shop online. Either way, Lumens.com features the very best designs in modern and contemporary lighting as well as extraordinary home accessories.

My Sister's First Boyfriend

Finally, after months of courtship my sister said "yes" to her sincere and consistent suitor. Though we are miles apart, she always tells me things about her latest updates, be it in her studies or her lovelife. She had many suitors before but I don't know why it took her awhile to get into a relationship. I'm glad she found a boyfriend. A great guy can be a good source of inspiration (especially now that she's a graduating nursing student). It reminds me of my younger days, fell in love, get hurt, move on and fell in love again. The cycle goes on and on. Hehehe... It just needs patience and good judgement to find the right one. I'm glad I found my husband after all those trial and errors. LoL.

Bad Credit Improvement

Managing our finances involve great responsibility. One example is how we use credit cards in the best way we can. Since good credit report reflects our credit worthiness, choosing the right credit card is also very important. With good credit cards, it gives us the purchase power and ease in making purchases; allow us to build credit line which is vital for loan or rental applications and even applying for jobs; and for emergency purposes in times when we don’t have enough cash in our pocket. But having credit cards has also its disadvantages. These include the possibility of increased debts and very high interest rates and penalties. That is why if you are in a bad credit situation right now and wants bad credit improvement, there’s a solution for you. Acclaimsecuredcards.com can be one of your options. We all know that credit companies prefer customers with good credit history. With them, although you can’t get the best possible deals but you still have a chance to avail of their special credit deals for the purpose of improving your credit score. Check the website if you want to act now and start rebuilding your credit. Just make sure you choose the right credit card because your future financial stability depends on how you manage your finances today.

My Daily Supplements

Having a busy lifestyle, we sometimes go for fast food, order pizza online or eat microwavewable food. I know these kind of ready to eat food are not healthy and don't have all the necessary nutrients that our body needs. That is why I make it a habit to take daily supplements as substitutes. I take them every single day after a meal. I even read about a famous Dr. Linus Pauling who encouraged people about his Vitamin C theory. I'm sure his name sounds familiar to you because he was the only one in the world to have won two times unshared Nobel Prizes (Chemistry and Peace). He used to take 10,000 mg of Vitamin C everyday. He died at the age of 93. Some people don't believe in the importance of vitamins but I do, simply for these reasons:

• Glutathione's role as an antioxidant, detoxifier, and the possible reversal of malignant cells to healthy cells;
• Vitamin C for a healthy immune system;
• Vitamin D for healthy bone development;
• Vitamin E for healthy skin and vital for proper nervous system function;
• Fish Oil which contains Omega-3 fatty acids (good for the heart);
• Flaxseed Oil which protects against certain cancers especially the common breast cancer incidence in women and prostate cancer for men;
• Lecithin which is necessary for the renewal and maintenance of all cell membranes;
• Calcium for healthy bones and teeth, and of course for osteoporosis prevention
  
  
  

Ecommerce Software

Are you planning to have your own business online? I know creating a web store online costs a lot of money because of development expenses and monthly hosting fees. Well, while browsing the internet this morning I came across Ashop Commerce. It’s an ecommerce company which specializes in shopping cart software development. In short, it’s the best solution for those who want to start selling online without all the hassles. Choosing this ecommerce software enables you to easily set up a shopping cart using customizable design. Its low monthly cost makes it very affordable for you to start a successful business online. Security features include fraud protection, IP address location checking and password protection. They provide live customer support 24/7 and free tech support by mail, chat or phone. Interested? Get started now with your online store and take advantage of Ashop Commerce great shopping cart features. All you have to do is sign up and immediately get set up information through email. This new revolution for ecommerce business will surely help you generate more sales. Thus, let you earn money online with ease!