Classy Home and Lighting

Just like many of you, one of my ultimate dreams as I've mentioned a lot of  times is having our own home. I guess through this, I will  be able to express my personality and style. As they say, our home is the reflection of who we really are, a mirror of how our life is.

We all want a classy home, admit it or not. But sometimes, we usually mistake classy with being expensive but I should say it is not true all the time. Having a classy home is a choice-a lifestyle. For me classy home need not be one adorned with lavish and high-priced furniture or of antiques and all other sorts. A classy home for me is one which is simple yet uncluttered, furnished yet functional. One of the main furnishings or fixtures that I would like to invest on in the future is contemporary lighting. It is like a passive ornamentation but it could add compliment to your space and bring some sophistication to your home. We can compare it to adding jewelry to our wardrobe, which makes our whole style stand out. It separates our home's individuality apart from other homes.

Lighting can be considered a make or break element of interior design. Chandeliers are designed to float in a room as an important part of the decor. We will need to consider the size, strength, style and color of fittings plus the light they emit to achieve the best effect. To make sure that your chandelier is just the perfect size for your home, you will need to consider the following things : the height of your ceiling (higher ceilings demand bigger fixtures), size and shape of any furnishing below it (should complement not overpower anything you plan to suspend it over), the size of the room you are lighting (chandelier should not be too big or too small), and lastly is the form and design of the chandelier.

Many people get exhausted in finding the right lighting suitable for their homes. But for me, I would prefer contemporary chandeliers. They grace your ceiling and unanimously give out natural glow. Aside from that they exhibit natural warmth and elegance, exhibiting a sumptuous appearance of blended sparkling colors. The application of modern lighting within your home can give it a stylish look which will define its character. It is possible to purchase stylish yet contemporary lighting fixtures at reasonable and affordable prices. Who said being classy is expensive?

 

Make life easier with oleophobic coated eyeglasses

This is a sponsored post written by me in behalf of Zenni for SponsoredReviews. All opinions are 100% mine.

As of now I own 3 pairs of extended contact lenses and a pair of eyeglasses. I just had my check up on January 2nd of this year after two years. Here are my current specs : RIGHT : PWR -1.75 CYL -0.75 AXIS 070 LEFT   : PWR -1.50 CYL -0.75 AXIS 090. Just for trivia, my astigmatism went up from -0.50 to -0.75 so I am now using toric lenses. I use the lenses mainly for aesthetic purposes only-that is for special occasions and events. But on a regular basis, (I mean everyday of my waking hours) I use my handy eyeglasses. I find it more convenient to wear especially now that I am a mom plus it is also easier to maintain, no worries of my eyes getting infected and actually I can sleep (and wake up, still) wearing it. Just like me, I know you are always in the lookout for affordable and value for money eyeglasses and that is what Zenni Optical offers.

Zenni Optical is the #1 online eyeglasses store offering high quality prescription eyeglasses. Since prescription eyeglasses are a health item necessity for most wearers, the company takes considerable pride in providing a very high quality product of great durability, safety and comfort at truly affordable prices.

plastic full frame at $6.95-I wanted to try the frame's semi cat eye shape

Zenni Optical offers the newest generation of eyeglasses with oleophobic coating, Fingerprint Resistant and (Oleophobic) Anti-Reflective. The technically advanced super-hydrophobic/oleophobic coated lenses effective repel water, oil, dust and fingerprints, while still reducing annoying reflections. Lenses stay clearer, and are easier to clean than ever before. As an AR coating, it significantly reduces reflections while driving or from overhead light reflections and makes your glasses less noticeable and less reflective in photos.

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another $6.95 frame bet-very much similar to the one I am currently using 

Aside from quality, the next attribute that we take into consideration is the price. Zenni Optical offers very reasonable $6.95 prescriptions glasses. Apart from the fairly-priced spectacles there is a wide variety of options in terms of designs and styles that you can choose from, you name it they got it. A feature of Zenni's that I like best is that since it is an online store, they provided the Zenni Frame Fit widget wherein you will get the chance to try on your chosen frame design. Either you upload your own picture or choose from the pictures carrying different face shapes and try on the frame, with that you will know which one best suits you or if your choice will match your face features.

If you want more information and details visit Zenni Optical at http://www.zennioptical.com.

Small Business Loans

photo credit : www.fairfaxnews.com

Like you, I have a dream of not being an employee my whole life. {As of now I am a stay at home mom because of some certain limitations. My husband and I decided for me to 'temporarily' stop working while taking care of our daughter, we feel that it doesn't make sense for me to work then find a nanny.} So why temporarily? Because I know that once we have joined him in another place it will not be practical anymore to stay at home as much as I'd like to. Whether I like it or not, anytime soon I will be part of the work force again. But just the same my dream of having my own business and being my own boss someday doesn't falter.

Right now I wanted to share some essential steps on how to start your small business. It may still be far off  for now but it pays to be prepared.

1. Identify your business opportunity. When confronted with the dilemma of coming up with a business, there are actually a multitude of ideas that are going to come up. It is said that it's difficult to do the things you don't like that's why it is essential to go after where your passion and personality type lies. An equally important thing also are yours skills-things that you can do. From there you can identify the products that you will sell or the services that you will render.

2. Build a business plan. Writing a business plan just makes good business sense, actually those that have, have 50% more profits and revenue than those that went non-planned. In starting up, a business plan allows you to gain better understanding of the structure of the industry you're going to penetrate, it will give you an idea of the competitive landscape and most importantly the capital requirements of starting a small business.

3. Find start up money. To start a business means investing in the business. Each individual has different means of finding start up funds, all of course depending on the amount needed. Some turn to small business administration loans while for some they use hard earned savings (or money from retirement) and of course income from sold properties for others. Finding the money needed may sometimes come from a source that you never thought of.  

Now from here, after doing the steps mentioned and completing each you can start your next step which is implementation-that is having your business name, developing business structure, acquiring license & permits, setting up and determining business location, getting business insurance and the list goes on. But don't get afraid if the list seems to be long, once you're there you will not notice anymore. I hope this will inspire you in one way or another to be your own boss someday. That is my dream.

This post is in participation of a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for SBA Loans and was compensated, however, the views and opinions are 100% my own.

 

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

San Jose, California will be a future home for me. I know that eventhough I have mixed emotions about migrating and moving to my husband's place, it is inevitable. I don't want to get too emotional because in the first place this is supposed to be a happy start for me and my husband (and our family).  It is just my anxieties creeping over me.

In terms of getting ready, I will yet have to prepare a lot of things here before my daughter and I leave. I will need to fix and arrange our things-to give out those that can still be used (hand me downs), dispose those that are literally junk already and arrange those that we will keep in storage. On the other hand, my husband also needs to do a lot of things, mainly some minor renovations around the house. He will need to make sure that the house will be child-proof and safe for our daughter. Aside from that he also needs to check the insulation system of the house and replace it with those like of energy efficient metal buildings to make sure that we will all feel comfy and warm. 

AERIAL SHOT-SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN (image source : www.aerialarchives.com)

Moving on to some amazing facts about San Jose, it is the third largest city in California, the largest in the Bay Area and tenth largest in the United States. San Jose was founded by Jose Joaquin Moraga on November 29, 1777 as El Pueblo de San Jose Guadalupe which is the first town in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California. For almost 150 years, the city served as a farming community during Spanish military  installations at San Francisco and Monterey.

When California gained statehood in 1850, San Jose served as its first capital. By the 1990's, San Jose's location within the booming local technology industry earned the city its nickname, Capital of Silicon Valley. True to its location in the heart of Silicon Valley, it is now home to the headquarters of many "tech" companies. San Jose now maintains global city status and is the largest city in the San Francisco bay Area in terms of population, land area, and industrial development. 

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for Energy Efficient Metal Buildings and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own. 

*information source : Wikipedia

My Own Business Someday

I am excited for 2012 since I know that it poses a lot of possibilities and opportunities. Aside from our own home (which is a plan in the making for me and my husband), one of the things I really dream of having someday is my own business.

Having grown in a family of good cooks, my brother and I had been dreaming of owning a restaurant in the future. It had been our dream since then. I think we got the inspiration from our mom who loves to cook. We grew up tasting different kinds of dishes and being exposed to cooking. that is why even if we're left home alone  back then (during our growing up years) we will still survive and not starve ourselves to death as long as there's food in the fridge. 

image source : www.queenscrap.blogspot.com

I cannot say I have a clear/good palate, but I surely know when a food tastes good or not. This is also the same reason why I got interested in cooking. No one really taught me how to, not even my mom. What I did was watch her during her meal preparation at home and I was only able to practice and put into use everything I learned when I went away to college. I had more practice of my own cooking when I started working in Manila and lived on my own.  

The "dream restaurant" we have still remains a dream but I know that in time we will be able to fulfill it. This is actually a project of ours in progress, meaning we are still saving up for it. But meanwhile, we still have a lot to learn before we get fully operational in this field. We need to learn the tricks of the trade like supplier management in order for us to be successful when we finally venture into the business.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for supplier management and was compensated. However, all the views and opinions are my own.

Auto Insurance and Other Needs

My husband is overseas and always points out the need for me to learn how to drive. With our petition showing some light, he said that driving skills are a must in order for me survive and work in the future. 

In 2008, he was able to buy a worn 1995 Ford Mustang very similar to the one below. He got it from a friend who was out of work that time due to the economic recession and turned to his idle assets for extra cash.  He was able to get it at $250, which is such a great steal right? The car's body is in very condition except that it isn't running. There are engine and electrical problems, since it has been stored unused for a long time. He really wanted to have a sports car but knows that he cannot afford it or I must say a brand new one, that is why he just turned to this great offer by his friend.

image from www.allfordmustang.com

He has another friend, a car mechanic who promised to help him get the car running. It was not an easy feat for him. Soon after the repairs started one problem came after another and more money is needed to get the car in running condition. It took him months, maybe even a year to complete all the repairs and finally get the car zooming. And as soon as everything else was fixed, he got Portland Auto Insurance  for it just like putting icing on the cake.

Now he declared that once we get there with him, since he has another car which is a Sentra, I will be driving the Mustang! Honestly I am so excited about it, the only thing is, I don't know how to drive! Sigh...

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for Oregon Auto Insurance and was compensated. However, the views and opinions shared in this post are my own.

Photographs and Memories

For each milestone in our life, we want it properly documented. Sometimes we take for granted the things we have today, not knowing that we will not be able to bring back today once it becomes yesterday. One of my all time favorite song is Paul Anka's "Times of Your Life". Yes I am a sentimental junkie! This song never fail to bring tears to my eyes. Let me share with you the some parts of the lyrics : 

Good morning, yesterday

You wake up and time has slipped away

And suddenly it's hard to find the memories you left behind

The laughter and the tears

The shadows of misty yesteryears

The good times and the bad you've seen

And all the others in between

Remember, do you remember?

The times of your life

The mem'ries are the time that you borrowTo spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the setting sunThe seasons are passing one by oneSo gather moments while you mayCollect the dreams you dream today

Remember, do you remember?

The times of your life

For some trivia, this same song was used in a Kodak TV advertisement way back in 1977 :

Indeed the times of our life are priceless, once gone we can never get it back, we can never have everything in rewind. Maybe the reason I am getting a little emotional about it is because my daughter just turned one. With all the milestones that are unfolding before my eyes everyday, if only I can, I will hire a DC photographer to capture all of these memories and transform them into photographs so that I can look back at it in the future. 

So let us gather moments while we can, collect the dream we dream today and remember the times of our life.

*credits to www.youtube.com for the video clip used above

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for DC photographer and was compensated. However, the views and opinions shared are 100 % my own.

The job I love

I had been out of the workforce now for almost two and a half years. I stopped working in 2009 even before I got pregnant. I worked as a customer service officer for Digitel and the job stressed me. Knowing that it can be a reason for delayed pregnancy I decided to stop working. Back then, my husband and I had been planning of having a baby (which was successful by the way) when he comes home on April of 2010, so I  resigned, decided to de-stress myself and relax. 

During that time, I had been eyeing a job as an online English tutor to Japanese students and luckily I got accepted. I enjoyed the job so much, most specially the flexible work schedule. My shift is at night time  (7PM-12MN) so the mood is so relaxed and laid back. My workplace is at the comfort of my own room. How cool is that? Actually if I wanted to get a day job, it will still fit in my schedule but I just suffice myself in this job and just relied on some online selling stints for extra cash that time.

My job is to teach students who are actually Japanese professionals to speak English. The Japanese are very patriotic that is why in Japan, the Japanese language is the primary language used by everybody. Being professionals as they are, they needed to learn and be fluent with the English language because they needed it in their jobs. Aside from that, they all need their English speaking skills during their travels. I have learned so much from my students as much as they had from me (I hope!). Actually I did not consider it as a job but rather much more of a past time. I only need to talk to my students-ask them how their day was, engage them  in a conversation, correct their pronunciation and/or grammar and that's it!

The best thing about this job aside from the work itself is the company who sees to it that employees/tutors are satisfied. The company once in a while launches some cool perks for the employees and they they conduct regular employee surveys to check on the tutor's thought, feelings and behavior so that they will be able to know what to do about it most specially if there are certain issues to address. I miss this job so much and if ever my mom duties will permit me in the future I will still go back and become an online English tutor again. 

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for an employee survey company and was compensated. However, the views and opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

Preserving Memories

image source : www.barnels.com

I love pictures!I remember saving up for a digital camera when it was still a little pricey. My first one was a Canon A-430 which is a 5MP camera, and I remember I was so proud of it that time! I like to take pictures to capture moments that will forever be gone.

The only problem with digital revolution now is that we don't put pictures in photo albums anymore, instead we use online/digital albums and also those that of social networking sites. Aside from that many of us don't use the traditional picture frames nyc since digital frames are already available. 

Well I can say that technology is actually good, because with it we can do a lot of things. We can make alterations on images, we can repair damaged photos and we can enhance those that need more color and a lot more other things. The only downfall I see on this is that we tend to neglect the beautiful art of custom framing nyc for our pictures-like our graduation, wedding and birthday photos. 

image source : www.whisperingwoodsgallery.com

Let me share this with you, I remember my mom has complete set of pictures of me and brother since we were babies, mind you we didn't own a camera that time. She just borrowed during special occasions like our birthdays from a relative who is much better off. But much to my dismay, during a strong typhoon in 1989, we experienced flood. Everything was wet including those pictures and I was only able to salvage a few. I efficiently sun-dried those that are still intact. Those pictures were priceless! But because there were no back ups then, everything was gone forever. 

So now that I am a mom, I make sure that every milestone of my child is captured. I made sure that everything is well documented and I have a ready-backup just in case something goes wrong and for me that's one good way of preserving memories.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for custom framing nyc and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are 100% my own. 

the art of building your website

With the onset of technological advancement, the World Wide Web or as what is popularly known as the Internet has been an avenue of so many sorts of things. Everyday more and more websites are being built for different reasons and purposes. On top of all these, E-commerce has become more famous and prevalent. Aside from using social networking sites, I use the Internet for selling and earning online, not to mention the  correspondence made easier with my loved ones overseas and/or anyone around the world by email. With regards to my pursuits online-that is selling (accompanied with buying also!) and my earning thru blogging, the first thing that I have learned is to make a website.

Initially, I started using Multiply for my online shop that was in 2008. I really didn't have an idea as to how everything worked. All I know is that in order to get started with selling you need to build your own website. It's a good thing that platforms now have user-friendly templates which helped me a lot during that time. This is a crucial part in starting out online, because whatever it is you are coming up with-either a store, a blog or just even a personal site, your website will represent your identity. Having said that, your website becomes the mirror of your own personality.

The typical parameters to consider in building a website are your domain name, which will act as your business address, your site's logo plus the relevant graphics and texts that you will incorporate in it. The customization of your site will reflect the person behind it  and for someone who wants to market his website-this is of equal importance. As based in my own experience, it is helpful if you will use a web design software to start out with your website's design. Aside from that there are a lot of web design companies to choose from which provides services starting from web design to web hosting, then they also aid in building your site's traffic.

In summary, I can say that for a website to become successful it must be inspired  by life guided with knowledge and built with a good tool.





I amparticipating in a blog campaign from Bucks2Blog for a website design company intuit.com and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Why Sell Online?

Selling online has become so popular nowadays. If you will ask me why, I can name a few reasons why...

My fascination for online selling emerged from my fondness of buying stuff online. With the many infinite choices and convenience of shopping at the comforts of your own home, I can't help but feel the excitement whenever I will received my online order. But mind you, I can say that I am a sensible buyer since I buy only the things I need. About 3 years ago, I got hooked on online buying, it ranged from clothes, accessories, bags,etc. In fact the couple shirt my husband and I used for our pre-wedding pictorial and even our wedding giveaway were online finds. With this fondness, a question came in mind "Why not try to sell online? Then came the idea of an online shop, but the next question is what to sell online? One tip is finding your audience's    niche, asking yourself what do you like best and what do you like to buy most of the time will determine what type of merchandise you will sell. It actually varies and may change from time to time, as for my case I am interested in baby stuff now as compared to clothes and accessories before.

The popularity of E-commerce business intensifies many great opportunities for a newbie in online trading. Take into consideration, a seller having the world wide web for his market, it provides a vast number of advantages most specially for a budding entrepreneur. It becomes easy for an aspiring seller to get his idea on what to sell online and target his market thru the trend that he sees online, which will then make it easier for him to penetrate that market. As compared to actual retail it will take a shorter time for a seller to market his products because of the exposure to global market thus, a faster return on his investment. With internet communication, it also provides better customer relationships. E-commerce does not end with selling, aside from direct sales, online retailers can also use the web to introduce new products and brands and offer after sales customer support.

Among the many reasons to sell online, just imagine having your shop accessible anytime,anywhere 24/7. For the benefit of online buyers, they will not need to wait for long queues just like in malls, they have the convenience of getting the best deals and the most competitive prices online. It is cost efficient saving on gas because you don't need to go the mall just to do shopping and time efficient as well since all is done is just a few clicks. Plus it is easier to recommend an item to friends since it is readily available to view.

There are a number of sites to help you out get started to sell online. All you have to do is maximize every potential resources and and use it to your own advantage and believe me there are endless possibilities for you to succeed.

I am participating in a blog campaign for Bucks2Blog for an e-commerce solution company, www.intuit.com and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.