Pretty Nook

A few months ago we did minor facelifting of the house. It included mostly repainting the rooms to make them brighter. I appreciate so much the new colors as it gave out a happier feel when we are inside the comforts of our room. Next is sprucing up the loft by changing the sofa and the television cabinet. We want a new look for the house without really spending much. It takes a lot of creativity to achieve that, not to mention patience. We are looking at having the whole living room done before the end of the third quarter this year. I want to achieve the zen look.

Through the years we have added some decorations and improvements, we removed some, changed a few, refurbished a number. It is therapeutic actually to do some relay-out of the fixtures. It's like getting a new house only it is on the same exact address. I find it exciting to redecorate the house. There are times though we only plan to redo a certain portion but looking at the totality of the house, we just do not feel comfortable not aligning the other areas from the area which was newly relayed out. So almost always, everything is changed or modified.

I have an idea going on in my head at this moment. That is creating a small nook on the vacant space going to the dining area. Actually it is not vacant as there are plants to liven up the area. We can very well remove them onto another part of the house to make way for the nook as my hubby calls it. Just to make it classic but simple I am thinking of putting counter stools to go with a high table for two. Put on some flowers on the table and a painting on the wall as a backdrop. Pretty.

While I am at it, maybe the counter in the kitchen can very well do with kitchen bar stools. We don't have that for years as the last ones were sold because they are all wooden and do not match the tiled counter. Did I say home improvements need not be expensive? Of course. There are discount bar stools that are offered with a variety of selections. I would like ours in oak or cappuccino.

13 Celebrities

I was on leave from work since yesterday. It is more of a career contemplation kind of leave. Should I stay or should I go? It's been quite stressful but my mind is made up. I want to throw stress out of my system. Excuse me, stress.

What better way to do that is to think of things that relaxes me. I've done this several times - goofing around with my daughter, a good book, a massage, etcetera. At this moment, what's on my mind is to put in here thirteen of my favorite people in Hollywood. I love movies, I love entertainment. Watching them on television gives me some relaxing time.

1. Wentworth Miller - I like actors who are intelligent and those who do not spread themselves too thin.

2. Johnny Depp - He is adorable. And from what I read, he loves his fans and was never a snob.

3. Reese Witherspoon - She's funny as Elle Wood. And I also love her in Sweet Home Alabama. She should have taken Mr. Dreamy though. :)

4. Ashton Kutcher - For being the romantic boy that he is. His sincerity is what makes him admirable. And he's funny.

5. The Cast of Friends (Joey, Ross and Phoebe most especially) - I can see three of my friends in them.

6. The Cast of Sex and the City - I love their quirks and middle age angst. Lol.

7. Josh Hartnett - Just because.

8. Renee Zellweger - She is just so cute! I love her innocent face and her voice. I love her in Jerry Maguire and Chicago.

9. Rachel Ray - She is just so refreshing.

10. Nigella Lawson - Just like how it is to be a domestic goddess. That's one of my goals. :)

11. Cameron Diaz - She's funny and sexy.

12. John Stewart - I like his being outspoken.

13. Katherine Heigl - A pretty face and it feels like she is really one good natured girl.

This is Mine!

I'm the cookie monster. :P

This is my entry for this week's Wordless Wednesday. Check the others and click the link. :)

Shower Stalls

I am fond of decorating our house. Nothing escapes me - I have the last say how each area of the house will look like. My husband suggests the kind of paint and even the color but it has to be with my concurrence. Good thing, we agree most of the time. A compromise is reached when we both feel strongly about the shade of the color or the design of a particular area.

Even the washroom and the bathroom's interior are as detailed as they can be. The tiles we put the last time we renovated our bathroom upstairs is in light blue and the borders are made of cute shapes and in pastel colors. Isn't it nice to be in the privacy of your bathroom with everything looking harmonious? Who would not want that?

My husband thought of putting up shower enclosures as he is sometimes getting obsessive-compulsive with all the water splashes getting out from the shower onto the rest of the washroom. Shower enclosures sometimes look a bit high tech for me. It's like taking a bath inside a capsule but I would love to have that model where there's a built in foot massager. Wow, that will be incredibly nice. Maybe I would save some money foregoing my regular foot spa.

Bathroom showers come in different styles. There are different colors and varieties which could fit in the design of your bathroom. If you have invested making your bathroom a beautiful sight, bathroom showers are definitely a must to complete the look. They are normally included in the design. You may want to shop for more designs though to have an idea what are the latest in bathroom showers.

If you are a little more luxurious, you might be interested having a steam shower installed. A good unit totally prevents water vapor from damaging the paint of the entirety of your bathroom. Steam showers have their health benefits too. Perspiration resulting from steam baths make the skin softer and more refreshed. A sauna in your very own bathroom.

Tails: And Your Job Is?

It's tails today and it asks the participants to tell something about her job. Let me share here what I do.

I am a full time mom and I will not exchange that for anything else. But my day job is heading a department of a manufacturing and retail company. Let me talk about my day job this time as I always talk about my full time job in my Mommy Zone blog.

My day job requires both hard and soft skills. I'd like to expound more on the soft skills. And focus on its upside. As leadership classes and seminars tell us as well as from various experiences from corporate life, being a leader gives more significance in our roles than just being managers. Building relationships is vital to strengthen the team and encourage them more to bring out the best that they can be.

This is a fulfillment on my part whenever my team members get high performance appraisals or have successfully headed a very important project. Being their leader is also like being their mother. You are there to guide them, coach them and support them such that they realize their potentials and eventually pays them forward. Train and share, that's one of the best ways to grow and learn some more.

I am contemplating on having a career change and be a Human Resource practitioner, focusing on Organization Development. Another career option my husband is presenting me is to be a Work-at-Home-Mom. Been thinking about that and it actually excites me. One step at a time. I am moving to another company soon and I still carry with me the enthusiasm of sharing what I have learned through the years in my career.

Whatever it is, there is always this thought which guides me, "A woman is successful if she gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between does what she wants to do." Thanks to Bob Dylan for that line. :)

Let us take a peek at what the other participants have posted here at HoTsHome. :)

Best Friend

My Manic Monday entry. Here are my answers.

Do good things come to those who wait?
I'd like to believe so. But timing is everything so they say.

Your best friend's spouse is being unfaithful. Would you tell your friend? If so, how?
Yes I will tell my best friend. If she's the type who prefer to learn things point blank, I will do just that. Otherwise, I have to choose my words which will be a little hard on my part.

Which part of your body do you like the least? Would you change it through plastic surgery, if possible?
My waist, they're kind of wide even when I was thinner. But no, I won't go under the knife. I'll do a lot of exercises I guess. Yeah, right. :)

Sunday Mutterings

This is my first time to join Unconscious Mutterings. I think I will love this one as I am fond of word association. Let my thoughts flow starting now.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Referral :: Buddy
2. Indiana :: Jones >>> hehe
3. Foil :: Wrapper
4. Horizon :: Sky
5. Event :: Happening
6. Sailing :: Water
7. Footage :: Video
8. Sunday :: Monday
9. Breathtaking :: Wow!
10. Dude! :: Hey!

I wonder what these words mean or if these associations I was able to produce mean anything at all.

Look of the Year

You are beautiful, you are young and you are just raring to go and conquer the world! Check the site, http://lookoftheyear.com. This is an online beauty search open for girls and boys, fourteen to nineteen years of age and for men and women ages nineteen and up. Let your beauty shine!

If & What

This is my first Manic Monday. The questions that need answers for today are the following.

If you knew that every minute of the next 24 hours of your life would be recorded on camera is there anything you would change about your habits?
I'm not sure exactly what since I don't have any habit that is really annoying or embarrassing. Maybe my eating binges. :D

If you could take a one-month trip to any single destination in the world and money is not a consideration, where would you go?
Europe, I want to explore it.

What is the best example of “perfection” that you can think of?
Perfect...I once read this and it stuck to mind, from Bob Dylan, "A man is successful if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between; does what he wants to do". That's perfect. Also perfection is when everything is in harmony even if there are differences in opinion, in likes and dislikes. Everything just complements everything. Bliss.

Unsecured Loans

The economic situation these days is volatile. Financial back-ups are necessary for expenses that crop up which are not within the alloted budget. There are unexpected expenses which one needs to attend to fast and easy. There is just no time with long processes since one is just too busy multi-tasking the different roles one has to fill in.

This is where unsecured loans come in handy for you. No collaterals needed and cash is available for whatever purpose it may serve to the borrower. Unsecured personal loan lets you afford to implement some home improvements or even purchases of high ticket appliances with competitive interest rates.

Loans need not be a burden. In fact you can work it to your advantage and your family's too. Get a loan when you finally decided that you really need it for very important matters. Loans in more ways than one shoud be helping you manage your finances and not just add to your credit. Remember that loans are also based on your current credit standing. Be wise and don't just jump on loans in a whim. Loans should serve a better purpose, generally for the improvement of your finances so manage it wisely.

All About Books

Do you love books? Do you collect books with a passion that you have one room converted into a library to store and safe keep your books? Do you even remember now how many books you already own, which are the ones you bought, which are gifts and which are freebies you could have probably won in a book contest?

Keep track of all of your book collection. All My Books will organize your books fast and easy. There is no manual installation or search but the software will source information about your books from online references.

What I particularly like about the software is its book sharing manager which lets an owner records to whom and when the book was received. There is also a limitless amount of graphic information for each of the books in the database. All these features and much more from All My Books software. The people behind this service can even create a customized version for you for a relatively affordable fee.

Lifelock

One can never be too careful. There are times you think you have secured all your personal data but someone gets hold of them. Someone was able to see your social security number for instance or your credit card billings. You will never know, with technology today and a some misguided elements, identity theft is a major concern.

Sometimes these things happen right on your very nose. Sometimes identity fraud happens without you knowing it. You just get caught by surprise when, say, you receive a statement of account with a staggering amount which you never used. Alas, you are now a victim of some credit card fraud.

Is there a way to be secured and keep your identity and personal information just yours and nobody else's? Lifelock can do this for you.

Automatic fraud alerts and legal assistance to recover stolen identities are just some of the features lifelock offers. Visit lifelock.com to understand and appreciate more the services it offers.

You can avail of good discounts by using the lifelock promotion code. You may compare how other promotion codes compare to lifelock's. You be the judge which gives the better opportunity in terms of savings and having your identity protected.

Big City

My once a week does of feast has come again. What do you know, days fly by so fast. But who's complaining? Well, sometimes I do, lol. Anyway, here's my take for this week's Friday's Feast.

Appetizer
What is the nearest big city to your home?
I live in a big city and I think the next big city to where I am is Caloocan City. That's just a guess.

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?
I think a 10, 9 at times. I am very good at keeping secrets.

Salad
Describe your hair (color, texture, length).
I just had my hair dye and highlight so it's light brown now. Texture, it's pretty normal. It gets dry if I don't have my usual hot oil. I have a naturally coarse hair that's why. I'm sporting a short, short 'do. I got tired of long hair. I'll grow my hair again but in the mean time, I'm enjoying my short hair.

Main Course
What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?
I still don't drive. Pathetic me. But I'm learning. I know I'd be a courteous driver.

Dessert
When was the last time you had a really bad week?
I don't really want to recall anything beyond positivity. How's that? :)

Online Opportunity

Spend your time productively while you are online, why not. Make money out of it. What can beat that, you are loving what you are doing and earning extra income from it? Try BloggerWave for this opportunity. Click on the link and find out more.


Have some fun and earn at the same time while browsing and blog hopping.

Sites

I would like to share the thirteen websites I frequently visit. These sites vary from food to current events to cartoon blogs. I found a few through random browsing, all the others I sought out since I love watching them on television or love reading them. You might want to check out some and just might find them good and useful for you. :)


1. Taste Spotting
This site has loads of pictures of food and they are linked on the blog or site from where the picture came from. Most are recipes so I have a delightful read whenever I click on the picture I like.

2. Eating Asia
I love the pictures and how the post goes. It's a virtual trip to the places the author goes to.

3. Gaping Void
Often times I love the cartoons.

4. Rotten Tomatoes
For my dose of movie reviews.

5. Business Mirror
For my daily dose of current events.

6. Sinfest
For some silly cartoons and a few laughs.

7. Parenthood
A lot of good articles about parenthood. The title is a give away, isn't it? :)

8. Comedy Central
Jon Stewart is a genius.

9. Fox
For my update on Prison Break, particularly Wentworth Miller.

10. NY Times on Books
When I feel like checking on what books are on review. Not that I follow what the reviewers say.

11. Nickelodeon
To be updated with the current Nick shows my daughter loves watching.

12. Disney
To be updated with the current Disney shows my daughter loves watching.

13. My Blogs

Happy TT! :)

Bear on a Tin Can

For my Wordless Wednesday entry, here's the cute bear we got from Yellow Cab Pizza as one of their Valentine promo.

Personal Loan

There are a lot of bills to settle and the next best thing to do is prioritize them. There are the staples - the monthly bills for the electricity, the utilities, phone bills for your land line as well as your cell phone, the rent or the monthly amortization...the list goes on. And then there are unexpected bills that come - your car engine needs to be overhauled, the water pipes are leaking, etcetera. Pay first whichever comes up as the first priority and go on down the line until all the settlements are finished.

Easier said than done. Generally people are working on a budget. Some have so little left for their personal needs or unforeseen expenses. What to do, what to do. This is where a personal loan come into the picture. This will help you manage your finances and settle your obligations. The loanable amounts vary depending on how much it is you need. The requirements also vary depending on the amount you will avail.

It is important that your loan is used wisely and what they are intended for. There are unsecured loans which could help ease your financial dilemma.

Loans can be availed of even without financial documentation in certain instances. This will make the process easier which means it will be faster and the cash available to you.

Business Loans

It is always best to be prepared financially such that whatever is the economic situation, you and your family is not left hanging with nothing to depend on. I have always believed that it is best to be self-sufficient. One way is to start being an entrepreneur. Start small and let the business grow steadily. Know the ins and outs of a business and give it your best shot by being hands-on.

Business loans are available for financing small business needs. No collaterals needed and the processing is generally easy. One has to check the interest rates to ensure that you can cover this with the projected profit of your business.

Personal loans can also be availed which one can use for personal needs. Do you need a break and want some vacation but your funding is not enough? You might want to avail of this kind of loan. Maybe there are improvements you want to do for your home or even you business establishment, say expand some more or upgrade the fixtures. Personal loans could help back up your finances.

Given the right perspective, loans can very well assist you with you ventures be they personal or for your business.

IT'S A SPECIAL DAY!

Cash Loans

The financial crisis is not an isolated case. This is being experienced even by families belonging to the middle income group based on the news I was able to catch the other night. Definitely this deserves immediate attention and great planning in terms of financial needs. A good accounting of one's financial standing is in order.

I have friends from the United States talking about availing of loans to sustain the business they have started. The current economic situation is a challenge to them but there is a way to pursue what they have started.

Business loan which need not require collaterals is very ideal in their case. A quick and easy approval will be an advantage to them since they have to maintain their business needs. They have good credit standing. This is one of the major prerequisites in availing an unsecured loan. Approval of amounts and interest rates are dependent on one's personal credit history.

Aside from business loans, personal loans can also be availed for some unforeseen situations which need to be attended to requiring some funding. Depending on one's needs, there are personal loans which do not require credit check. It's a quick cash loan you can use for your immediate needs.

The Letter L

It's Friday and there's a feast once again. Here's my take on today's questions.

Appetizer
When someone smiles at you, do you smile
back?
Generally I do.

Soup
Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?
It's mixed. We have tiles and vinyl and hardwood.

Salad
Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.
Lady loves, lives, laughs, leads. Lol. <<< That's an extra L.

Main Course
Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?
Yes I know. Someone very close to my heart.

Dessert
Name 2 blue things.
Our sofa and the ice cream container I am having right now.

Research Help

Students, professionals and everyone else are multi-tasking these days. If there are items you can delegate for a smoother implementation of your work, why not? If you are deep in your paper works and need some help on research, there are custom research papers which could meet your needs. Being clear about the details of the content of your paper helps a great deal in accomplishing your paper as you want it.

Keeping in touch with the writer or researcher twenty four hours a day, seven days a week assures you that your custom research paper is on the right track. For your peace of mind too, a plagiarism software is used to ensure that your paper is not a copy of someone else's work. You custom term paper is polished or edited as you want it done.

Make your research faster and make use of your time wisely.

Get Linked

I was tag by a Cookie. So here goes. :)

Links around the world tag (update as of Mar. 5, 2008) 1 - Momhood Moments 2 - Business Mars 3 - Pinay Mommy Online 4 - OnlineBiz and Resources 5 - A Simple life 6 - moms….. check nyo 7 - Mommy’s Little Corner 8- Princezz 9 - Princess 10 - Random Thoughts 11 - Paradigm 12 - See Me For What You Will 13 - Pamp’s Blog Corner 14 - Pampered 15 - HappyHeart 16 - Qtcotzkie and Baby 17 - A Sorta Fairytale 18 -tragicseven 19 - Listen to the Beat! 20 Just Saying 21 Tipsy Tips 22 Different Angles 23 Delicious Corner 24 I Care 25 Blog Blag Blog 26 Daily List 27 Life’s Journey 28- D’ Cooking Mudra 29 Clark & Butchay’s Blog 30 Sweetbites by Bang 31 ScroochChronicles 32 Everything and then Some..... add your blog here!

I'm tagging Bing, Ellen, Juliana and Lena. :)

Make Your Own Logo

I enjoy tinkering with my different blog templates. I want them fresh and new, say, after three to four months. I am not an expert but even with my limited knowledge in hypertextmarkuplanguage (html), I can configure my sites' templates.

But it is a different story when we talk about my header. I can only do the simplest thing using a design software. I have long wanted to create my logo design. That will serve as my blog's badge. Also, I have been wanting to create and develop a finance website, a simple but high impact logo design will definitely help in building its identity over the internet. I intend to put it also in my business card.

Logo design examples are available. I can start by using them and see what will represent what I have on mind. LogoYes lowered its pricing from $99 to $69 for a copy of your design in high resolution EPS Vector file.

A professional logo design is achievable even if you no nothing about digital designing. Step by step directions are provided to serve as your guide in creating your own logo. As a matter of fact there are only five quick and easy steps to create your own logo. Try it now and you will be pleased with what you will create.

Background Check

As part of my job description, I handle the final interview for certain positions in my department. The recruitment unit of the Human Resource department forwards to me profiles of several candidates. I have to say there are candidates who prove to be good in interviews but do not actually deliver. But that is not the worst part.

Some applicants do not disclose their previous experiences about their past jobs or anything at all that could put their applications in a bad light. That is but an expected act. So before a company hires an applicant, background checks need to be conducted.

There are services also for criminal background checks. Some companies would want to have second checks on their applicants' records - are these applicants spic and span clean or somewhere along the way, an offense was committed?

Comprehensive criminal checks can be provided at state and county levels. To fast track the process, there are features for simultaneous background checks for several profiles. A successful screening program is vital in a productive human resource processing.

These background checks need to be comprehensive but need not be expensive. Start getting your background investigation more accurately and faster. These are basic but vital to any organization seeking a productive manpower.

Speedy and Keanu

I have not participated at Friday's Feast for quite some time. Let me give it a try now since I am in the mood for some meme.

Appetizer

What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?

Oh this question will probably show my age. Haha. But I loved watching Speedy Gonzales. The fastest mouse in all Mexico. He goes around with the chant "ariba, ariba, andale, andale!". I don't particularly remember why I liked this mouse.

Next to Speedy Gonzales are Josie and Pussycats, Bugs Bunny, Popeye and Tweety Bird. Take a quick peek at Speedy from YouTube.




Soup

Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?

I think I'll name my new pet, which is a clown fish (like Nemo and Marlin), Keanu. I just thought of the name seeing Keanu Reeves on television while I am typing this. But I'd like to have a clown fish really.

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?
I'd say an eight. I love dressing up but I'm not into experimenting for some new look or hairstyle specially when it's a company party. I want to play it safe most of the time.

Main Course

What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?
I like R&B or music from my generation, a little of new wave.

Dessert

When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it?
Haha. I don't remember ever buying a clock. Our clocks at home are always gifts from my parents or my hubby bought them. He bought a desk clock a few months ago I think. It's square and gives out different colors of light. It could serve as a night light actually.

Online Game Selection

There are so many games to choose from in the world wide web and for some people, it's a way of unwinding. And when you say unwind, you mean rest and enjoy. You need not browse endlessly for an online game you think you will enjoy playing. Start looking for casino online for easier and faster selection.

Pro360 has been reviewing online casinos for about eleven years already. Reviews done with regards to the experience of the game I believe is very vital since...hey, you are playing because you want to have fun! One must have a good reading of how an online casino is. The site gives out reviews from the editors as well as the players. A full review is available in a click of your mouse. It shows there the running number of votes.

The best guide the site offers is their link with the best online poker rooms. At least for me, this provided a general overview of one of the most popular online casino games. I suggest go to this link for a good selection of poker rooms if you are so ready to play and have some good time.

Bad Credit Loans

Wanting to start anew? Start on a clean slate? All debts be cleared and start paying up now? There is a site where you can have the opportunity to compare the credit marketplace. Check what suits your needs and how the different credit offers could actually help you.

Numerous bad credit loans are out there and a comparative study on their features are ready for review. There are offers for credit cards, for your home loans, auto loans as well as personal loans. There are also services you can find where you can easily monitor your credit report. This is a very vital report, therefore useful, especially if you have existing credits.

Bad Credit Offers also give a rundown of credit solutions where you can repair your debt in the shortest time possible. Comparisons of services by the different credit and debt relief organizations are stated and ready for your application once you have decided what best fits your needs.

Start cleaning up and find the best credit loan you can get.