Whether you've been out on your own for several years, or you're moving into your first apartment, your home away from home starts as a blank slate until you add a little personality. If you have a small space that feels more like a college dorm than a comfortable flat, here are some tips to make your apartment cozier.

Window Treatments

Stark windows make a room feel colder, and light from streetlamps can make sleeping harder at night. Installing colorful black-out curtains or the roller shades New York has made popular can not only add some personality to an otherwise boring room, but can also keep outside light from messing with your circadian rhythm. Whatever you can do to let natural light in during the day and keep out the neon lights at night will help your pad to feel more comfortable.

Accent Pillows

An inexpensive way to make your apartment feel more inviting is to add accent pillows to reflect your personality. If your apartment's color scheme is neutral-toned, bold accent colors can break up the monotony and make you and your guests feel more at home. For example, if you are an avid llama-lover, perhaps a Peruvian-style blanket and llama-themed pillow on the sofa can add that little hint of individuality you need in your humble abode.

Unique Seating Areas

Whether you prefer solitude or are always hosting dinner parties with others, unique seating can be another aspect of your new, cozy apartment. From oversized bean bags to floor pillows to hammock chairs, there are tons of options that are not only comfortable, but add a little pizzazz to your place. For apartment-dwellers with limited space available, foldable furniture can provide an easy alternative to traditional seating.

When it comes to your apartment, a personal touch in your decor can make a big difference in transforming a small space into your happy place. What matters most is that your space reflects your lifestyle and allows you to feel at home.

It's April now and yet we're still too busy with paper works at school! Well, it's RPMS fever and all of us are going gaga over accomplishment reports, evidences etc.! 

A teacher is a noble job indeed! LOL!

During the warm summer months, many families take advantage of the time off from school to take a vacation to someplace far away. While there are many good reasons to get away from home and see more of the world during the summer, there are also plenty of opportunities for summer fun in your own backyard. With a relatively small investment and some pre-planning, you can arrange fun activities for your family in your own backyard and forge lifelong memories.

1. Install a Pool

Why make a trek to the community center when you can have a private pool in your own backyard? Above-ground pools Pittsburgh area have several advantages over the in-ground variety in terms of lower upfront costs and easy installation. For safety's sake, some models also include locking gate options and built-in fencing.

2. Put on a Show

Homegrown theatricals are a great way to encourage imaginative play. To give the proceedings the feeling of a grown-up stage performance, you can construct a simple stage in the backyard complete with moveable curtains.

3. Enjoy a Fire Pit

You can install a fire pit directly into the ground or purchase a freestanding model. Either way, you can enjoy a campfire night, complete with songs, stories, and home-toasted marshmallows, any time you want. Just check the local ordinances first to ensure a home fire pit is legal.

4. Sleep Out Under the Stars

Every child should experience an adventure like this at least once in his or her life, and the best part is that it costs virtually nothing. All you need is a tarp and some sleeping bags or bedrolls; a tent is optional. Be sure to check the weather forecast beforehand.

5. Have a Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are fun for everyone. Your kids will have a blast searching for hidden treasures, and you'll enjoy yourself while thinking up clues and searching out hiding places.

Vacation trips are fine, but you shouldn't spend the whole summer away from home. The memories you make with your family in your own backyard this summer can endure forever.

Multi-tasking is real. I was even confused on what to do first LOL! Well, this is one of the disadvantages of being "jack of all trades" in our school- You will be delegated with, well, superb assignments- something like nerve cracking, mind-boggling tasks! Oops I am not complaining! It's an honor actually that out of handful of teachers present in our school, I am among those "trusted buddy". 

There are all types of homeowners in this world and from this diversity, you get many different types of yards. For the lazy, the yard may be a dead space. The yard is brown, the plants are dead and hardscaping is non-existent. Many homeowners are average. They create a decent outdoor space and call their yard, “good enough.” Some homeowners, though, want the extraordinary. They want things to stand out. For those wanting to create a stand-out yard, here are some suggestions.

Artistic Metalwork

For decades, art has mostly been focused on the inside. You have beautiful paintings, exquisite sculptures and amazing glass and ceramics. There is a growing movement, however, to bring art to the outdoors. Doesn’t your yard deserve to be a showcase for artwork as well? A great example of this is with corten steel gates. Beautiful metal-worked gates and screens can elevate your outdoor living space and show an artistic and elegant touch.

Thoughtful Landscaping

Interior decorators have been around for many years. They tour your home, look at the space and check out the lighting. Based on what they find, they design color schemes for walls, pick the furniture for rooms and choose decorations for walls and shelves. An exterior decorator does the same. They visit your yard and look at the trees and light. They check out the contours of your yard. Based on what they find, they come up with a design for landscaping and hardscaping to make your yard stand out.

Outdoor Décor

Part of an exterior designer’s job, as mentioned above, is hardscaping. Hardscaping is everything not related to landscape. Things like outdoor furniture, exterior decorations, paths and water features. They will design elements that complement your landscaping and ensure that everything looks like it was master-planned.

As you work on your yard, if you want to achieve a level of class and sophistication most homeowners never aspire to, try one of these suggestions.

Among my three adorable kids, it's my youngest one that needs more attention. My youngest is a girl who doesn't eat much but she's pretty chubby (thanks to her milk). At her age now which is 2 and a half year, she is still babbling with words. She can't even utter the word "Mama". Lucky for her Aunt (the one who babysit her) because she can mention the word "Tita". But she already knew her alphabet and numbers (thanks to educational videos- her daytime habit).

As a Mom, I have so many flaws. I'm too busy with my work that I only have less quality time with my kids. I really tried to make up with them during weekend but sometimes, even my weekend isn't "mine" anymore, I can blame it to "jury duty" thing. Besides, I'm left with no option if my service is needed in my line of duty, I have to comply, it's my bread and butter after all.

However, my kids have their way of getting my attention- and that is getting sick. Nope, it's just my opinion but seriously, I'm at the hospital right now while writing thus blog.

Mother's Duty, indeed

Glass is a versatile material that significantly transforms a space. Most of the hip offices and restaurants enjoyed by consumers and workers utilize glass facades and interiors. Glass makes a workspace uplifting and a café welcoming. Spaces feel larger and natural light fills to every corner. A simple architectural element, glass has an enchanting effect- it provides the ambiance people want and an atmosphere of airiness. Offices become uplifting and open, coffee shops the meeting grounds for creatives. Eco-friendly and energy efficient, glass offers spaces more than just aesthetic. If you are looking for a commercial glass company Washington DC, here are some ways glass can make your space stand out.

Spruce Up Your Storefronts

Storefronts are the first impression consumers make of your business. Creating an appealing and welcoming storefront increases consumer traffic. Crafting a high-quality glass storefront will give your store or restaurant the modern aesthetic people are attracted to. The modern day consumer wants natural light and open spaces that breathe a communal feel.

Get Creative With Curtain Walls

 Go to any major city in the world and most iconic buildings will have curtain walls. Curtain walls are aluminum-framed walls that have glass in-fills; they are an architectural design that gives buildings remarkable patterns and exteriors. This modern framing technique acts as a magnet for natural light- rooms are illuminated, spaces brightened. Giving your commercial building a curtain wall will give it a unique exterior that stands out.

Interior Build Out Projects

Interior build-out projects are a great way to modernize and update your space to match current trends. Glass has the remarkable ability to increase worker efficiency and satisfaction due to the atmosphere it creates. Adding glass walls or doors will make your office or commercial space more productive and inviting.

Commercial glass is a great tool for making your office, business, or building stand out among competitors.

There's this one woman who played an important role in my life. Oh, this isn't about my beloved Mom, I'm referring to another woman whom I called Ma'am.

At first, I misunderstood her. I'm even hesitant to approach her. However, she's been a part of my everyday, well, almost everyday existence. I thought of her as the kind of woman who is not approachable, intimidating and inconsiderate. Believe me, it's not only me who have that kind of thought... But that was three years ago.

Moving forward, there's this one woman who played an important role in my life. She built exceptional confidence in me. We'll, she's just too confident in the things that I can. She pushed me to do my best. The way she pushed me isn't annoying at all. In fact, I learned so much from her. She is very open, approachable, and kind. There's never a "starving" moment with her. In fact, many of my friends have the same thoughts about her. She's "what you see is what you get" kind of woman. She speaks her mind but she never put your self-esteem at risk. She believes in the talent of everyone surrounding her. She believe that everybody can do something differently. She does not entertain negative stories. She's the kind of woman who could transform a nobody to somebody if she might.

And yes, that woman three years ago that I'm talking about is the same woman that I admired in the present.

Indeed, kindness can truly make a difference.

By the way, that woman is my School Principal and she's celebrating her 44th birthday today.

Looking back, if I am to recall my childhood years, it's full of emotions. I grew up with an abusive father who eventually abandoned us for another woman. Because of that, my Mom became overly protective to us. We have lot's of DO's and DON'Ts. It was a struggle for me to ask permission whenever I received an invitation from a friend for a special occasions. We are not also allowed to get into relationship while still studying. So many DON'Ts that the list could go on. However, I also grew up with a "rebellious heart". I do what I believe is right with ample consideration on its possible "consequences". I could consider my Mom as controlling type and me as stubborn daughter. Yes, I used to failed my Mom's expectations for countless times. I get into relationship, I didn't heed some of her pieces of advice, and so on...

Now that I am a Mom of three and a teacher of many students, I realized one valuable lessons- MOM KNOWS BEST. There are so many lessons that I have imparted to my students that have something to do with those nuggets of wisdom that I learned from my Mom. Have I listened and follow those lessons she emphasized to me, I would have a better life. But there's no time for me to regret all those failures that I've done in my life. I have to move on and be strong like what my Mom did for us when my father abandoned us. I could only pray to God that I will be an effective Mom as well to my children. I could consider myself as quite controlling just like my Mom but I am also learning the effect of being one. 

Relating to my job as a teacher, I've seen so many students who have been struggling in their life as sons and daughters. I've witnessed so many outpouring whenever I asked them what has been bothering them. I am just so glad that somehow I could relate to them, I could feel their struggles and I could share to them all those valuable thoughts that I have learned as I grew up. Then I realized that each one of us have different coping mechanism. Some are good in hiding their real emotions and some are too expressive. But one thing that I love about my profession, I could reach the heart of my students and they are very willing to open up and pour out their emotions without any hesitations. Though I slowly become a shock absorb-er, but I totally enjoyed what I am doing. 

This is not my video, I just came across with this in YouTube. The video have a very strong message for every family. Teenagers nowadays are very prone to exaggerated depression. Their pain tolerance is too low that they will likely to commit suicide if they will not be able to get immediate help.

Parents and other members of the family plays a vital role in dealing with emotions among family members. Being busy shouldn't be an excuse anymore. Otherwise, things such as shown in this video might happen for real.

So, how to overcome depression in the family? Have time for each other.