A Glimpse Back Home

I talked to my  mother last Sunday and I got a dose of what's going on with my family back home.  It's been a while since we last talk so I just listen to her talk hahaha.  I miss them so much, I wish that I could talk to them everyday but the place where they live does not have  internet  access and the signal for  cellphones is very low.  She told me that my  brother bought another motorcycle  and  he let my other brother ride it.    Sometimes I get worried about them riding motorcycle because it reminds me of  what happened to my eldest brother.   I told my Mom to tell my brothers to always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.  Anyway, here is a photo of my brother  paddling a very small boat together with  a cousin and their kids.

A Glimpse Back Home

Home Grown Bell Peppers

These two  are proudly showing you the  bell pepper that we grow at our garden.  They said that it taste so much better than the store bought, hmmnn.

They love it when I slice bell peppers  for snack.  Some times they dip it in ranch and sometimes they eat  it plain.  The combination of tangy taste and crunchiness  is what they love most about it.  Ripe bell peppers have more carotenoids and Vitamin C than the green ones.  It is also a great source of antioxidants that  helps the body to keep in tip-top shape.

Monopoly

I am sure that for family's with  kids like ours,  monopoly would be popular.  This board game  is great in teaching kids about money, investment, and strategy.  My daughter is really good at this.  Not only that it's fun to  play this game but it  is also a great family bonding for the whole family.



How about you, do you play monopoly with your kids.  With all the board games we have at home, scrabble is my favorite.  

Top 5 Natural Wonders to Experience around the World

Our natural world is incredibly beautiful. With such diverse landscapes and natural wonders it is almost impossible to choose the top 5 and it’s unlikely that any two people will agree which are the most amazing of the natural wonders of our world. One thing is for sure; our planet is definitely worth exploring. For great advice on what is out there and details of how best to get there it is a good idea to involve the seasoned professional, companies like Travel Associates have a wealth of knowledge to share; phone or go online travel-associates.com.au and begin your explorations!

The Sahara

The Sahara is the largest desert on our planet and is an awe-inspiring place to visit. It covers almost 10 per cent of the continent of Africa and crosses Nigeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. The Sahara is one of the hottest places on earth and receives as little as 3 inches of rain a year. The flora and fauna that live here have adapted to these conditions.

The Sahara is steeped in history, culture and stories of peoples through the ages who have lived or traversed this unforgiving land. Many tribes of indigenous people have crossed the Sahara Desert, and 3 groups, the Arabs, Berbers and Tuareg's are found in majority in the Sahara desert.  A visit to the famous Sahara Desert Oasis and hot springs will afford you an unforgettable experience. The huge mountains of sand in the Sahara Desert will stay in your memory for a lifetime.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef. It is made up over 3,000 individual reef systems and has hundreds of picture perfect tropical islands and coral cays.  Its’ beauty, color and diversity are unparalleled. Snorkeling on the Reef is nothing short of stepping into a wonderland. It is a magical and delightful experience to gaze upon coral and sea creatures of every color, shape and size imaginable.

Niagara Falls

The Falls sound like thunder as the mighty Niagara River plunges over a cliff of shale and dolostone. Niagara Falls is at the border of Canada and the United States and attracts about 12 million visitors each year. The Falls are a natural wonder of majestic beauty and awesome power. The Niagara Falls is the second largest waterfall in the world.

The Amazon Rainforest

The ancient Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest on the planet but it is under threat as the forest continues to be cleared at frightening rates. It covers about 40 per cent of South America and consists of a mosaic of ecosystems ranging from savannah to swamps.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a breathtaking sight; taking in the incredible size of the Canyon is a powerful and inspiring experience - nature at its most amazing. The Canyon is 446 kilometers long and up to 29 kilometers wide in parts and 1.6 kilometers deep. It features incredible geological colors and formations.

5 Outdoor activities for your family this Halloween

Though this holiday is a favorite to celebrate in America, some of us ‘aussies’ like to celebrate too. Why though? It could be the candy. The parties or just the fact that you have an excuse to dress up as your all-time favorite character? Probably. Though it is a great reason to spend time together as a family. Here are some ideas on what you can do this Halloween as a family.

1. Go on a bike ride in costume

Though dressing up as a witch is a timeless idea. Here are other some popular alternatives. If you want to make costumes, start nice and early because they can be time consuming.

Monster High – Inspired by all things horror – flicks, myths and fiction, you name it. This doll collection is the ‘go – to’ source for all things fashionably creepy.

Zombie – Heavily influenced by television series, the Walking Dead, zombies are in and brains are on the menu, well… not literally, you can buy candy that look like brains.

Minnie Mouse – The Mrs to Mr Mickey Mouse, a Minnie Mouse costume is a classical idea and not to mention a much loved one. Don’t forget the mouse ears and red bowtie with white poker dots.

Katniss Everdeen - the female lead character of the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss though is a self-trained killer is very much admired for her unique beauty and talents with a bow and arrow. If you’re going to dress up like Miss Everdeen, make sure you do not forget her side braid.

As for the bikes- your trick-o-treat trip will run quicker while you cover a great distance. For more information on what kind of bike will suit you and your kids,click here.

2. Donuts on a string game

By simply hanging donuts up on a string and eating them with only your mouth, this game is a favourite at Halloween. This game is suitable for all ages.

3. Squash bowling

Similar to a regular game of bowling except it is Halloween themed. Harvesting is usually associated with the holiday and squash are great vegetables to use because they stay standing up.

4. Bobbing for apples

This is a very traditional Halloween game. Around for centuries, bobbing for apples used to predict a player's fortune.  Today, winners can get a prize. To play this game you need a barrel or tub of some kind. Lots of apples and water. Fill up the barrel with water then put in the apples and start playing.

5. Bat Pinata

Every kid loves a piñata. You can either fill them up with candy or toys. Just be wary of the bat and make sure all players are standing a safe distance away.

Besides the obvious trick-o-treating, you also do treasure hunts if you want to keep your kids more active while eating all of that candy. There are also three legged races where two people tie two of their legs together to run the race. And there are potato sack races.

Wood Bliss

People have different preferences.  Some just love to  explore the city and some prefer a different  adventure.  MY family love to go in the woods and discover things.  It's very educational for the kids because they see things that you don't see in the  city.  It is also a healthy  bonding for us, emotionally, physically, and mentally.






Spending a weekend  exploring the woods is our bliss.  During warm days, we  usually spend  most of our time   outdoors.
  Shadow Shots

HOW TO GIVE YOUR HOME THE SPRING FEEL

At any time of the year you might crave the freshness, the breezy spaciousness and new potential that comes with spring. The way your home looks and feels plays a major part in controlling your mood and emotions, how you feel when you’re in it and also when you’re away from it. You can give yourself that spring lift anytime by trying some of these changes in your home so that you can have those feelings of abundance and lightness all year round:

Bring the Outdoors Indoors

Buy fresh flowers once a week, or better yet, grow and pick them yourself. A flower display not only on the dining table but also in bedrooms and even bathrooms brings a little delight to each corner. You can also arrange small branches, driftwood, seashells and feathers on a shelf or mantle piece. Although not all are blessed with the ability, if you can keep indoor plants alive (succulents are quite hard to kill I hear), dot them throughout the house.

Cleaning, the Dreaded C Word

Even if you don’t directly notice the dust, the film it leaves dulls the color and shine of every surface. And it builds up remarkably quickly! Dusting, sweeping and vacuuming at least once a fortnight brings a much-needed freshness to each space. Every month or so clean the walls: the build up of handprints leaves a dull greyness.

Reupholstering

Most furniture only needs a fresh change of fabric to give it a new life; save it from the skip and save yourself money too!

Scents of Spring

When we encounter a pleasant smell it relaxes our mind and encourages us to take long, deep breaths. Having a scented oil burner in any room of your house is an excellent way to both relax and refresh the mind. Any essential oil can be used in an oil burner, and you can make unique combinations of scents to create different moods for the space. For a spring feel try fresh scents like lemongrass, orange blossom, lavender, rosemary and Australian natives like lemon myrtle, which is a particular beautiful combination of sweet and zesty!

A New Rug’s as Good as a Holiday

There’s nothing more sad and dingy than a thread-bare, faded old rug. Buying a new rug for your living room will add a fresh splash of color and will enhance the whole space, making all the other furniture seem fresher as well. Try sites like www.rugsamillion.com.au, where you can find a rug to suit any space and style for any room in your house. Large rugs in living spaces, runners in corridors and small rugs on either side of the bed add color and texture to the room. And what to do with the old one? Give it to a charity store or lay it down on the veranda, patio or another outdoor area; even a faded rug can brighten up an outdoor space and give it a shabby-chic feel. You could also use it as an excellent picnic blanket for when the spring weather starts!

Vintage CAR

Every time my boys will see  an old mobile or vintage car, they would  always  admire them no matter what kind  it is.  My son would always say "take a picture of it, Mom!"  Most of the time, the photo is blurry especially if I am using my phone.  It's hard enough to take a photo  when our car is moving and with the use of camera phone, the photo isn't great but glad to do it for my son's satisfaction hehehe.

Exemptions

When filing a bankruptcy, it is best to hire a lawyer so you would understand fully what are included in the chapter 7 exemptions.  There are certain properties that  will be exempted from the filing.  Now, every state has different rules on this exemptions so a local attorney could   help you with this  matter.  I have never filed  a bankruptcy  so I don't know    exactly what are included and excluded ones.  It must be a very tough  situation to be in so I  hope that I would not have to go through this in my life.  

Huge Tire at Ripley's Believe it or Not

I took a picture of my son  inside this huge  tire at Ripley's Believe it or Not during our Alamo Expedition last June.  This Firestone  tire is  humongous, it captivated  my car-lover  son's interest.

Photography with Flash  was not allowed inside so  the photos we're blurry.  These were taken by our  pint and shoot camera.

Shopping for the Best Power Tool Brands

If you are embarking on your DIY journey, or have been a handy man for years and just need to upgrade, then you will want to buy some power tools to assist you with your handyman endeavors. Choosing the right power tool for your needs and budget can seem like a difficult one with so many different tools on the market. Knowing what you are looking for is the first step to working out what it is that you will need to buy. Here are some tips to think about when shopping or the best power tool brands.

Research

Do your homework before you purchase! Researching brands and what they offer in power tools is one way to ensure that you are getting the best, safest, most economical tool for your needs. A little bit of research on the internet means that you will have a clear picture about what is available. Go to the brand websites and look up their power tools, or talk to their customer service consultants. Another great way of researching is to go to a few different forums on the internet and hearing from the people that actually use the power tools. You may just find that the info that you get from the everyday joe will help you to make a good decision about which brand is best for you.

Safety

An important thing to think about when deciding which brand suits you best is the aspect of safety. By doing your research you will be able to get an idea about any brands that seem to have a reoccurring fault, or ones that people have had safety issues with in the past. The brands themselves are not likely to share info about faults or safety issues that they have encountered, so ask around and find out which brands are the safest.

Quality

Buying a quality product the first time means that you will not be throwing your money away on buying items multiple times, because they are cheap and break easily. Its always better to spend a little bit more on a quality product than buying a cheap one and finding that you need to buy a quality one anyway. Tried and trusted brands like STIHL have been used by handymen (and women) for years and they know power tools, so you are more likely to get a product that lasts.

Affordability

Affordability is definitely a factor in choosing a power tool but don’t let it be the final word on which tool you choose for your handy work. Having said that, buying the most expensive brand does not always mean that you are getting something great. Doing the research before you commit to spending the money will mean that you will have all the information, and be able to make an informed decision about the scale of what is the best and most economical. Find the balance between price and quality, and you will be onto a winner!

Mother Nature has it All

While the weather still permits,  explore the woods and have some exercise.  It's one  of the many ways we can do to shed off those unwanted  pounds we have been storing. Nature has so many beautiful things to offer including  fresh air for a healthy body.  Mother Nature, if you think about it, has it all.

Photos were taken at Tomlinson Run State Park.

Fall Ready

The temperature has dropped down  last night and you can feel the cool wind today. Fall is starting to set in even though we still have a week or so before it finally starts.   As you can see in the photo below, some of the trees has their leaves changed  already, a clear sign of Fall.

Our furnace will be  put at work again so soon and we have to  check on it if we need  some  work done before  Winter.   Some  homeowners would  get the furnace services hamilton to check on their furnaces.  This is to ensure that their furnace will not have a problem during freezing months.  It is also important to clean  the duct and other exhaust at your home to ensure that it is clean and ready  for the season.

If you don't have time to do it yourself, you can always hire someone or avail the duct cleaning hamilton to do it for you.  When it comes to cleaning the ducts and vents, hubby and I just do  it ourselves but we make sure that professionals does the thing that we are not capable of like a repair or changing some parts in a furnace.  It is  always safe to  consult professionals for   jobs that  you don't know how to do.  How about you, what do you do  to anticipate for cold season?

Postcard from Norway

I love to received  postcards from  friends around the globe.  A good  friend of mine who lives in Germany sent me this postcard from Norway.  I think they had their  getaway there this year.

It is so sweet when friends remember  you even when they are vacationing!  That view is stunning!

 Thanks Mads Fe!  I miss  this thoughtful lady.  She used to blog too but she slowed  down when she had the twin.  Miss you Mads!

Things to look for when Buying a Mattress Online

If you want to save time and money, then you may want to buy mattress online. Shopping online makes it easy for you to compare prices and read reviews. However, there are several things that you need to look for when you are shopping for a mattress online. Below are some tips for buying a mattress online:

Decide What You Are Looking For In a Mattress

It is important to remember that there are several types of mattresses available today. The type of mattress that you choose could have a positive or negative affect on your sleep quality. The pocket sprung mattress, memory foam mattress, gel mattress and organic mattress are just a few of the many types of mattresses that you can choose.

Look For Reputable Websites

There are several websites that sell mattresses. However, some of these websites are scams. It can be very dangerous for you to enter your personal information on a website that is not legitimate. Before you purchase from a website, you should call or email the company. You should also read over the company’s terms and conditions.

Furthermore, you should also see if there have been complaints made about the website. If the website has received a lot of complaints, then it is probably not legitimate.

Check the Measurements

You do not want to find out that your new mattress does not fit your bed frame after you get it. That is why you will need to select the right size mattress. You may want to measure your bed frame because that will make it easier for you to select the right size mattress.

Compare Prices

The cost of a mattress can vary greatly. Keep in mind that if you want a decent mattress, then you will probably have to spend a decent amount of money. However, you should not break the bank buying a mattress, which is why it is very important for you to compare the prices.

Check the Delivery Options

Most mattress companies will deliver the mattress right to your home. However, it is still a good idea for you to check the delivery options before you order the mattress.

Check the Return Policy

Before you submit your order, you should check the return policy. The company should have a return policy that is fair and easy to understand.

Buying a mattress online may be more convenient than buying one from the store. First and foremost, you should know what you are looking for in a mattress. You should also make sure that you purchase from a reputable site and check its delivery options and return policy. Additionally, you should compare prices and choose the right size mattress.