Decorating your home adds not only an aesthetic value to the property but also creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for family members and guests who come over. While first time owners are often giddy when it comes to decorating, the excitement seem to fade away as the years go by. One of the reasons why homeowners tend to put decorating aside is because of budget issues.

The truth is, you don’t need to spend a lot of money if you are thinking of giving your home a little facelift. All it takes is proper planning, organization and knowing where to find the best deals. Start by making a list of the things around the house; mark those that needs repairs and take note of the ones that requires replacement. Learn to prioritize. Ask yourself: do you really need a new coffee table or is it time to replace the sofa that you’ve been using for the past years?

If you are planning to buy a new furniture, remember that quality is the most important factor to consider. Even if you are budget, consider getting an item that might cost a little more but will surely last for a long period of time rather than going for a cheap bargain that you might need to replace again just after a few months. Be a smart shopper and know where you can find great deals and discounts. The internet is the best place for shoppers on a budget because you can find a wide range of selection that fits every budget.

For owners that are creative. you may find items around the house that you can fix and use as decorative pieces. Be a little crafty and spend a weekend repainting tables and chairs or making flower pots for the garden. There are a number of DIY activities for home decorating that you can also do with the family.

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Mina is a freelance content writer who loves to share tips about home improvement and design. She is currently working for  http://gulvafslibning.mobi/.

If I will be asked to find somebody who cannot live a day without coffee, I wil surely point no less than my very own self. I am a certified coffeeholic (my term for coffee addiction). I'm into brown coffee,  I just so love it and there's only one brand of its kind that I really love he most (better not mention it here though).

photo credit: Google image

And so yesterday afternoon, in the middle of my class, I left my student while doing their project to have a sip of brown coffee (with bread). I was just so sleepy that I want hot coffee to perk me up. And guess what? I was able to consumed TWO CUPS! err MUGS it's not really unusual to me but it was taken simultaneously. My colleague told me that it has an effect to me and I might be suffering from it. I just completely ignore what she said by telling here that I am used of doing it. Then later that afternoon, I felt like eating "isaw" so I have a bottle of softdrinks to complete my meal. I then realized, I do have lots of caffeine intake for the day. 

And true enough, it has an effect on me: I CANNOT SLEEP! yes, I really find it hard to sleep last night. I read my Amway Product Catalogue in order to drain my eyes but still it doesn't work. If I were to measure the total number of hours where I have an interrupted sleep, it might be just within two hours!

Now, I felt the need to cut down my coffee intake. Or at least I shouldn't have took it simultaneously :( 
Indeed, TOO MUCH OF SOMETHING IS BAD ENOUGH!

photo credit: Google Image

Right this moment, I'm feeling groggy while having my class...

Children love to play with different toys. Parents buy them from toy stores such as dolls, cars or building blocks. Knowing which are safe enough for their kids to enjoy playing with is very important to prevent any accident from happening.

How does one choose from the different selections in the toy stores? There are different ways to choose the best one that fits any child’s preferences. Toys can be recreational or educational depending on what is preferred.

Selecting safe toys

·         Know the age of the child who will be using the toys. There are different varieties for every age group. Check the box for printed age labels that suits the child or ask the saleslady for tips on which one to buy.

·         Educational toys are excellent since it hones the cognitive part of the brain of a child. Play with him and teach him how to use building blocks.

·         Buy books that can teach the child how to count from one to three, tell colors or identify objects.

·         Check the packaging for the contents of the product. If it contains lead don’t purchase it and instead report it to the health department. It may be hazardous to a child’s health.

·         Always test the toy first in the stores to see if it is in good working condition.

·         If the child is too young, don’t buy Legos or other similar toys since it may end up choking the child.

·         Ask other parents around who already bought their own kids toys to know which are safe and recommendable.

A child’s safety is important and should come as a priority to any parent. Playing with them can attribute greatly to their growing up stage. Know the pros and cons of any toys bought from the stores to ensure how the child may benefit from it safely.

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This is a guest post by Ciel, a photography enthusiast and an article contributor. She hopes to travel the world someday and show it through photographs. Her current writing task is for promoting a site for tagpap Hvidovre.

Lately, I felt like I am totally overtaken by bad happenings in my life. First, we lost our great step dad, next, my patience has been challenge to its peak. I easily get mad and I wanted to shout all my disappointments in life. Well, this is the consequences brought by all those things that I have decided before. And it seems like it is hard for me to understand. Why hard? It's because I failed to listen to his Words.

Lord, change my heart please with all willingness. Cleanse it from all unrighteousness.

balloons for Tatay

Letting go of the reality that Tatay is forever gone

This is the day that my Tatay will finally be laid to his final rest... I will never have the chance to see him again. The days that follow will be a different one. It is different knowing that Tatay is gone. I wish i could turn back the hands of time and should have spend more time with him. It's gonna be too late. i just hope that Tatay is happy wherever he is right now...

courtesy of Sto. Niño Devotees

Linking for BPC

I was late again this morning in coming to school. I cannot put the blame to the driver or to the traffic. I was late because I get up late. I still have to feed my baby and prepare his milk so that his Nanay (my Mama) won't get stress in preparing all those things. It's been six days already that the whole family stays together at my Mama's house and six days since our Tatay is gone. Tomorrow will be his scheduled burial and sad to say we cannot go there at Bukidnon to pay our last respect. The situation is quite complicated so I suggested to my Mama to have our simple way of bidding goodbye to our Tatay by releasing a white balloon tomorrow. Right after tomorrow, all of us (my Manoy and his family, my other  brother's family, all our relatives and friends who will also be with us) will go back to our respective home, leaving our Mama alone in the house. Well, that's how I sees thing then. I know it will not be easy for my Mama.

Me, my sisters, my Mama & my Tatay

I've known for a fact that we can only appreciate the value of an individual when he/she is gone already. However, we tend to forget this kind of reality unless we could actually relate to it. When Tatay was still alive, he became quite irritable as his condition worsen. He constantly woke Mama up in the middle of the night. He often shout as if he was badly hurt. He's like a child who always long for attention. Mama's condition isn't really that good as well because she has a hypertension and she keeps on complaining that he barely sleeps at night because Tatay keeps on waking her up. During daytime, Tatay used to stay outside the house to keep himself from too much boredom because he has no one to talk to because Mama is busy also in doing her duty as Barangay Official in the place where we previously resided. Tatay is an extrovert type of person. He always wanted to have someone to talk to. Thus, despite his worsen condition, Tatay made an extra effort with the help of his assistant, whom Mama hired, to go to a neighbor's house few meters away from ours to talk with his so called "best friend" who is older than him yet still in good health condition. Tatay's daily routine goes on that way. Looking back all these things, I know Mama will miss him. She will miss those good and bad times that they've shared together. Tatay used to cook for her when he was still in good health, sing for her whenever we are all gathered for  a celebration. I remember how Tatay insisted to have a Lechon Baboy (grilled pork) on my 27th birthday by giving up Sabadik, his alagang baboy.He actually did the same thing when I passed the Teacher's Board Exam. Way back in College, I could easily approach Tatay for permission than Mama. He was actually my lawyer because he has the final say and Mama couldn't do anything about it. I am a hard-headed individual who always insist on the things that I want and Tatay knew about it and he understood. Indeed, he completely perform the role of a father into our life. There are five of us in the family and during our Big Day, he was always there. He was the one who walked us down through the aisle except for my little sis (Tatay's girl) who got married at the US. This is the thing that my biological father never ever witnessed because we did not allow him to.

Until now, the idea of losing Tatay for good hurts. The man who was selfless enough to accept us as his own. If not for him, I may not able to finish my studies 10 years ago and all those selfless acts that he did for all of us in the family.

Well, I am not saying good bye because I know that sooner or later, I will also have my final rest. 

Tatay , thanks for your selfless love. We will miss you!

Linking for BPC

The mindset of the younger generations now are greatly affected with the   fast development of technology. It influences their lifestyle, their decisions and their priorities. If we are going to compare the youth today from yesterday, we can say that there is really a broader generation gap that one may likely to fall if not given enough attention.

But hey, it's not only the younger generation who were severely affected with the rise of high technology. Even the older ones who are very much open and could easily adapt to the great changes are also one of the primary targets. In some cases, a family relationship could be endangered because of the communication barriers caused by technology. Family talks and family bonding were lessen because the kids were glued to the internet. Or worst, Mom do not have any idea anymore of what's going on with her kids because she's so into social networking, chatting some old or newly found friends. Dad got the same dilemma because he is too busy upgrading his customized PC and so much alike situations. I am not saying that technologies are bad. But how it affects you is what I am trying to emphasize here. We gradually become too overwhelmed with what technologies have brought forth to us that we become comfortable with it. If you notice that your life becomes a slave to technology and your world already revolves around it always waiting on what's the latest design and all, then learn to say NO while you still can. NO to bad influences, NO to worldly passion. 

In memory of my dear Tatay

In our lives we met lots of people. Some will just pass by, while others choose to stay. Those who chooses to stay, they stayed for a reason. Those people who lingers with us are those who gave value to us. It is also a reality that there are people whom you are not related with by any bloodline or consanguinity yet they are like more than a family to us.

Let me share with you a story.

Everybody called him "Tatay". His presence in our lives filled the empty seat that my biological father have used to abandon. He is my step father. Unlike what we often heard in the news about a step father maltreating his stepchildren, he is the exact opposite. He loves us like his own. That is why we love him too. But ours is not really a perfect relationship. We often have misunderstandings but Tatay's fatherly love is just so unique. He gave pieces of advice but he never forced you to follow it. He is a man of wisdom. He is not perfect but he is real. He reprimand you when you did something wrong. He is very observant too. He has a very sharp memory. Ask him about History and he will keep you posted. However, just like any individual, Tatay has his share of stubbornness too. If there's one vice that he couldn't give up-it is smoking. That is actually the main reason when we fight. I was the one who reprimanded him it's because I love him. I used to be his nurse way back then. I was the one who have enough courage to give him a shot of insulin twice a day. When I got married he couldn't walk well anymore. Few days before my wedding he told me to let my biological father to walk me on the aisle but I protested. I insisted him to be with me on my big day. He said he couldn't make it anymore because our church was on the second floor of a building and it is difficult for him to climb up the stairs. I insisted saying many are willing to carry him upstairs. And on my big day, my brother told me that Tatay went to the church so early so he have enough time to climb up the stairs. Wow, that was more than a year ago. By the time I have a family on my own, I barely see Tatay anymore. I got pregnant then and I find it too risky to travel a lot considering that we are living quite far from them. Every time I am home, he used to ask me to massage his feet and hand. Every time I did it, I noticed the great changes in Tatay. He is getting weaker each day. It's like he's getting brittle each day. I know the end is near.

Death is inevitable.

This is the reality in life. All of us will have the same ending regardless of who and what we are.

As I thank God for my 31 years of  existence yesterday, my Tatay passed away a day after my birthday. Indeed, life will really end. His death just happened so suddenly, everyone was caught unguarded. We (my hubby and my baby) were not there because we live couple of kilometers away. He was enduring the complication of diabetes. He can barely walk. He is not physically  fit. He went through lots of medication but to no avail. We have also tried alternative medication but he did not continue because his system could not adapt it anymore.

We heard stories about bad relationship between step dad/mom to his stepchildren, and we are blessed enough to have Tatay. 

We might not be your first family, yet you choose to stay with us until your last breath. We couldn't thank you enough for the love and care you have shown to us. We will be missing you. We hope to see you when our turn to have an appointment with God comes.

Hasta la vista!

Linking for BPC 

Last year, I was praying for a healthy baby as my birthday gift and indeed it was granted to me by God. For my 31st birthday today, I want a better future for my baby- may God grant it to me as well. Yes, I am now 31 (I just can't believe it I am way beyond the calendar days right now- LOL). I've been through a lot (as always been) but by His grace I was able to survive (of course with the help of my hubby). 

Jeush Gregory @ 7 months

When you became a Mom, your priorities changed. It is no longer me who is the center of attention, my son took THE CROWN from me. How I love him so much. now that he is getting bigger and he could already respond well every time you cuddled him, the feeling of joy was immeasurable. I might have sleepless nights but it doesn't matter to me anymore as long as it is for my baby I am very much willing to do anything for him. He is God's wonderful gift to me and I will always cherish him for the rest of my life. :)

Linking for Blog photo Challenge.

The most common cause of road accidents is reckless driving. That is why those who are not familiar with the traffic rules and road signs should not be allowed to drive. However, it cannot be denied that there are lots of drivers out there who just learn the basic but not totally equipped when it comes to safe driving. Every car owner/driver should consider the fact that when they drive life is at stake- it could be his own life and the lives of those who are on-board.

How to address this problem then? All individuals either owner or just simply driver should undergo proper driving training or should be enrolled in a  driving course before they will be given a license to drive. It is not enough to acquire knowledge (which is basic only) through informal training. There should be a strict compliance about this matter. If you really want to ensure safety for you and your family while traveling, get a formal training from a certified driving school Scarborough. Make sure that you will learn the basic training and safety measures from highly qualified and highly equipped trainers or driving instructors who will be patient enough to guide you on your endeavors behind wheels. Don't worry about the price that you might be spending. The money that you are going to spend is nothing compared to the safety and skills that you will get in return. Trust that those driving instructors will really teach you every details because that is their forte. They are also after of your safety. Do not limit yourself in learning the lessons that you ought to know before getting that driver's license. Always give safety with utmost priority. If you will enroll in driving schools Scarborough, make sure that such school is of known reputation and expertise when it comes to driving courses. Learn the ABC's of driving: Always Be Careful. 

Drive with confidence, take a driving course before taking the road to safety driving.

 

Yes it is true and I want it so bad!

Too ambitious thinking for a part-time teacher like me. But I am serious, I really want to get rich. But this desire is not out of selfish interest, it is for my son, and for his brighter future... and for the security of my own family as well. I also want to help my family ( my parents, siblings and nieces and nephew). I want to share my blessing whenever I get rich.

That is why I signed up with AMWAY Philippines because I believe in their promises. I knew I am in the right track because I am with the right vehicle. I want to run a business of my own, a business which would give me an assurance of peace of mind and stress-free life.

I am fed up with the kind of life wherein you are scared of what tomorrow will bring. I don't want to stay up late at night just because I am bothered with the thought of living a day with an empty stomach. This is the kind of life that I dreaded the most. I don't want to wake up one day with no food to serve on the table, I do not want to wake up one day being scared to death because I do not have money to go to a doctor when any of my family get ill- God forbid!

May God bless all my endeavor. 

Are you struggling in the area of giving? Me? Yes. But I was trying harder to be faithful on this area. Honestly, I am a good giver as long as I have something enough to give. I do not hesitate to give if that will give joy to my recipient. Because it feels good when someone is happy because you shared. However, when there's nothing left in me, how can I give? We cannot give what we do not have! I cannot give what I do not have! I oftentimes asked God to bless me abundantly so I could bless others as well. But there are just some things that I do not understand. Well, maybe God wants me to learn something and whatever is that, I still have to deal with it.

But again, I still firmly believe that God loves a cheerful giver- those who gave without hesitations and with full of joy. He knows our anxieties and the reason every time we cannot give. Our God is an all-knowing God. Nothing is hidden from Him. I love the prayer of Jabez so much. His boldness before God is contagious, I often pray the same prayer before God 

"Bless me so I could bless others..."

How about you? Do we share the same thoughts? Care to let me know about it and how do you deal with it?

May God bless us all with His richness beyond measures. Amen

I wanna start this month with happy thoughts and positive outlook in life... And why not? Feelings greatly affect much of our daily endeavors...

Well, I am having a good vibes that everything will fall into its right places by God's grace. While at work this morning, my hubby informed me that he needs to report to work! Wow, what a good news. They were having a two-week off from work for some renovation. They were supposed to resume on the 9th of  September (my birthday! OM!)

There's new business venture that I would like to try. I was invited by my sister-in-law to join with Amway Company. The goal is to earn through passive income. The compensation and return of investment are indeed very good. I got the chance to meet great people of different walks of life. The products was all about wellness. Their product line are indeed reliable and can really be trusted. Currently I am taking Nutrilite B Complex to ease the pain on my finger joints. I tell you, it was indeed so effective. I took it last night and I can really tell the difference with how I feel the very moment I woke up this morning. Their product lines are indeed great.

Amway has been operating here in the Philippines for such a longer period of time and there's no doubt on their integrity. I never have a second thought in taking part of this kind of business. All I need now is a small capital for the registration. I just hope I could have more writing opportunities this month. I can't wait to join with the team. If you are interested with Amway and their compensation scheme,do not hesitate to visit their branch near you. A very accommodating mentor will do the pleasure of answering your queries. Or if you are from CDO, do not hesitate to contact me. Just leave a comment below :)

AmWay to go!