Being at Home

Thanks for the post from Barney Crosby

Being a new realtor here in town has afforded me a lot of new friends. There aren’t too many of us here since it’s a small town but it’s nice being a known person in town. Whenever someone wants to buy or sell a house they come to me and even though the market is really bad nationally things have been okay here. I’ve been really good about helping my clients get settled once they buy a house because they put a lot of money into a new place and they deserve to have it be exactly the way they want it to be. I love knowing about security systems Tennessee and the local restaurants and a good guy to do flooring for them and my clients appreciate that kind of attention to detail, I think. I know if I was new to real estate and I had a realtor helping me with things like that I would feel better about everything as a whole and I would trust them to find me the right house for the right price.

A Future Secured with Insurance

I am a wife and a mother first before I consider myself a woman of my own. Therefore, I try to keep myself healthy so I wouldn’t have to be stuck in my bed just because I fell ill. Of course, who am I to defy the call of nature, right? I don’t think there’s anything else I can do if Mother Nature decides to make me sick. However, I can do something for myself and that is to get a traditional health insurance for myself.

If I have insurance, I wouldn’t have to make hubby worried sick about hospital bills and expenses. I could even get my son a student medical insurance, which he can use even when he’s gone off to college. I think it’s only wise to get insurance for the whole family, as we never know what lies ahead for each one of us in the future. 

Other people ignore the importance of getting medical insurance because they don’t want to spend for the monthly premiums. They fail to keep in mind the point that if a person doesn’t have insurance coverage and he gets sick, he will solely be responsible for the high cost of medical bills. Therefore, if you don’t have coverage yet, look for an insurance company to help you with the requirements for getting yourself insured.

FTF: Garlic Chicken

This dish is one of my son's favorite. Nope I didn't really make it. I bought a frozen package of it at Costco and then just warmed it with a little bit of water for less than 30 minutes. We all love it for it is a perfect meal. It has meat, veggies and noodles. Just my share this week on FTF.

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FTF: Apple and Sweet Potato Pies

Yesterday, I was so in the mood for baking that I baked two of my favorite pies; the apple and sweet potato pies. So, my blood sugar have been a little bit elevated because I couldn't resist eating a slice every time I feel like eating a dessert. Good thing my son and hubby loves pies, too! Here is my share this week.

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Contest About Cuddly Babies Over Cute Puppies

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies. All opinions are 100% mine.

How would you like someone's puppy or baby win $5,000? No, it's not a separate contest, but just one where are voted upon. It's the Puppies vs. Babies online contest, and the choice is between a cuddly baby or a cute puppy. Of course, If you are a mom like me, I am sure you will go for voting a cuddly baby over a cute pup. I would definitely vote for a cute baby, than a cute puppy. Babies are adorable, regardless of how they would look like in the first few weeks, and they do not have that stinky smell of a dog. Although some babies look like aliens or the smell rancid stale milk at times, but would always appeal to me. Puppies however, may just be as cute but not that cute to choose it over a little human being, which is actually a copy of myself.. But then again, that is just my opinion. You too can have your say on this Puppies vs. Babies Online contest when you decide who is cuter.
So cast your vote. If you can get your votes in from now until November 23rd, then be counted in for the decision on who will ultimately be the top baby or puppy to win! That's a whooping $5,000 for the lucky puppy or baby!
So head on to the voting site and cast your vote today. Please comment on this post about Puppies vs. Babies, and who you think deserves the prize. The Puppies vs. Babies Photo that wins in this contest can be found at ().

Woodlands Junk Removal Services is All You Need!

The garbage collectors drop by our place every Monday and Thursday morning to collect our garbage. In other countries and cities around the world, junk removal is a pretty good business. Why? Because there are certain junk products that one may not likely have the energy to dispose off, like refrigerators, computers, appliances, truck batteries and many others. And still, others have no time to find where they must be disposed off. I read in a blog somewhere that The Woodlands Junk Removal is simply dialing a 1800 number... and that is, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, and I think it is cool. Just a few clicks here and there and professional, cleanly dressed employees come knocking at your door to remove what you have requested to be removed.

On the other hand, there are also people who personally recycle their waste materials hence, less garbage to collect. And some, sell their old stuff like refrigerators, cars, appliances and all others so they do not necessarily need to throw anything away. Ha! Either way you put it, garbage is indeed a lucrative fair business. Don't you think so? It always pays to recycle, less clutter and less garbage, so mother earth becomes happy. I think these garbage collecting companies do the recycling too.

A Software that Can Ensure Industrail Hygiene

Are you one of the many business owners out there are currently trying to find out the risk your employees might face when it comes to chemical and other hazardous materials that they may be exposed with? Well in this current day in age it is very important to make sure that your employees are not exposed to harmful materials because it is obviously not good for them as well as your company. In the past there have been companies that did not do their part to ensure industrial hygiene and later faced lawsuits. The responsible thing to do is to ensure employee safety and right now there is software that can help you with all the planning that is required in order to ensure employee safety. This software can be purchased with a company known as Med Gate who is actually considered one of the global leaders in OH Software. So why not go to Med Gate and find out how their software can help you and your company plan and create a safe and hazard free work environment, you will definitely be glad that you checked them out.

United Conveyor Corporation, Company You Can Trust!

If you are employed in a business that needs to have different kinds of ash and/or other materials handled professionally there are not very many places that you can go to.  At the present time one of the best companies that works with fly ash handling, mill rejects, bottom ash handling, as well as other materials, is a company called United Conveyor Corporation. Did you know that United Conveyor Corporation has been in the business of material handling since 1920? This just goes to show you that they are quite experienced when it comes to material handling. So if you are looking for things such as a new material handling system, upgrading a system or if your current system is in need of service or repair, United Conveyor Corporation is the place to go. If you want to do the repairs yourself and just need parts United Conveyor Corporation has a very large supply of parts including pipes, vessels and tanks, prime movers, separating equipment, along with many more parts, you have come to the right place. I highly recommend that check out their website and learn more about United Conveyor Corporation and how they can help you and your company out.

FTF: Pinakbet

We are trying to eat a vegetarian diet just because it is healthier. I started substituting tofu in lieu of meat for protein. I am also using less meat by replacing bacon for flavor....and hopefully would be completely meatless meal eventually. So, I cooked "Pinakbet" with a little bacon. We also had fried tofu for our dinner tonight; am glad that my son eats this dish :-). Anyway, sharing our meal for FTF this week.

My version of pinakbet consists of bacon, bagoong, radish, sweet potatoes, okra, bitter gourd or ampalaya, eggplant, and long beans or sitaw. I sauteed these veggies on bacon's oil, with garlic onion and tomatoes. Oh man, it reminds me of my Mom's cooking where she puts sweet potato or kamote instead of squash or kalabasa.

Caring for Elders

Elders are very sensitive. They want to be understood, wooed, cared for and above all, they want to feel that they are loved. When elders get sick, they expect full attention of the whole family.

It is very important to give them consideration, for it makes them glad especially when you talk to them warmly. My parents are both 69 years old already. My Mom, recently got operated with a slip disc. My Dad is a walking time bomb, suffering from hypertension. Being the eldest among their children, I am most responsible in taking care of them. It is not easy to take care of the elders, as I am experiencing at the moment. I see to it that as much as possible I give them the things they need like medical assistance and weekly allowance for their food and other necessities. I avoid letting them hear harsh words from any of my siblings. They need our love and support most in this phase of their life.

When I reach old age I want to be admitted in home elder care. The institution is also a place like home, they give quality care and services. Rest assured an elder will be taken cared of with utmost concern.

My Family Troubles

Thanks for the post, Vernon Lowe

Being part of a family means dealing with other people’s shenanigans and since I live with two of my sisters I guess I should have sort of seen these shenanigans coming. I love them to death but they’re really, really spoiled so our house is less than perfect for sharing. My sister Judy is just really irresponsible – she’s always doing things like leaving the adt columbus alarm off or the back door open. And Jenny’s dog – don’t get me started. I’m an animal person but this saint bernard is bigger than my bathtub and he’s always slobbering and snotting on everything which means none of my nice furniture is going to make it out of this house alive. Anyway, it’s nice to save money but at the expense of sounding bratty, it’s not worth putting up with my sisters or their pets. As soon as I’m financially able I’m going to get a place of my own so we can hopefully mend our relationships and move on to something new.

Maintaining Good Oral Health

Not is everyone is blessed with that ‘perfect smile’. Years of harmful dental habits, neglect of one’s dental health and misaligned teeth can contribute to having a bad set of teeth. It can cause a person to lose self-confidence. His social life may be greatly affected especially since he would intentionally avoid dealing with other people because he’s embarrassed with his teeth. Going to a job interview or meeting with a client are just some of the tasks that he may not look forward to. 

San Antonio Dentistry can help you regain the confidence of smiling in public. They have competent and experience dentists that can work on whatever dental work you may need. After the initial consultation, they can give a comprehensive assessment of the current condition of your teeth. They will then present to you the suitable procedures that they can perform to address the problems you have with your teeth. They use the latest technology to make sure that each procedure is done accurately and with out most care. Each personnel, including the dentist and dental technicians, are qualified to perform the dental procedures that these dental clinics offer. They also teach you proper dental hygiene and give you advice on how you maintain that perfect smile after undergoing a procedure.

Best Electronic Cigarette

Are you one of the many people out there who are tired of smoking real cigarettes and want to try the new electronic cigarettes? Well, although there are many electronic cigarettes out there it is important that you choose the best electronic cigarette out there and from companies that offer perks such as lifetime warranty’s, free shipping, and money back guarantees. While many electronic cigarettes are not necessarily healthy, it is often believed that they are safer alternatives to traditional smoking. Some of the advantages of electronic cigarettes are that they have a wide variety of flavors, even more so than traditional cigarettes. It has been said that the electronic cigarettes are great because they are very smooth and you can smoke without the tar, ashes or smell. I would have to say that the best part of the electronic cigarette however, is the fact that there is no second hand smoke so you can rest assured that non-smokers will be okay while you can enjoy your cigarette, what more could you ask for? So if you are a smoker, keep in mind that electronic cigarettes are another alternative that you have, and who knows, you might really like them.

FTF: Chicken Cacciatore

I always wanted to try this dish, but didn't get the chance of cooking it till today. I did it with a twists. I omitted wine, and replaced the diced tomatoes to stewed tomatoes. I didn't not have red and green pepper, so I used pimento instead. It turned out to be good considering it was my first time to make this Italian dish. Hubby told me that he liked it :-).

Ingredients:

4 chicken thighs
2 chicken breasts with skin and backbone, halved crosswise
2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 cup  water
1 ( 28-ounce) can diced stewed tomatoes with juice
1 small can of mushrooms
3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons drained capers
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions:

1. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with 1 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour to coat lightly.

2. In a large heavy saute pan, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and saute just until brown, about 5 minutes per side. If all the chicken does not fit in the pan, saute it in 2 batches. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

3. Add the bell pepper, onion and garlic to the same pan and saute over medium heat until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add water reduced by half, about 3 minutes.

4. Add the tomatoes with their juice, broth, capers and oregano, and mushrooms. Return the chicken pieces to the pan and turn them to coat in the sauce. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Continue simmering over medium-low heat until the chicken is just cooked through, about 30 minutes for the breast pieces, and 20 minutes for the thighs.

5. Using tongs, transfer the chicken to a platter. If necessary, boil the sauce until it thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Spoon off any excess fat from atop the sauce. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, then sprinkle with the basil and serve.


And now, I made it my entry for FTF this week. Bona Pettit!

FTF: Beefy Caldereta

I made a beef caldereta for our dinner tonight. It's been awhile since the last time I cooked some and this one was good even though I use a tough meat. Plus I use my own recipe when I put peas, no cheese and liver. For veggie, we had have our left over chopsuey from the dinner the other night.

My share on FTF this week. Visit the site by clicking the button attached here, thanks!

Biomedical Storage Supplies and Equipments

For highly sensitive objects that need special care and preservation like specimens for medical use, a reliable storage is needed.  There are biomedical storage supplies and equipment that can provide extensive protection and safe-keeping for these things.

Liquid nitrogen freezers or an ln2freezer provides efficient storage for biological products needed for transplants or specimen samples.  This equipment is created to hold and maintain temperatures that are very specific to protect the nature of the objects.  There is no other trusted storage equipment for this type of products than a liquid nitrogen freezer.  It is also designed for cryogenic and cell culture storage.  Medical institutions, pharmaceutical laboratories, medical universities, and the likes acquire this type of storage for their laboratory needs.  

You will need a specialized and knowledgeable person to install this equipment.  So you may have to request the company, where you bought the ln2freezer from, to provide you experienced people to help with the installation.  Remember to ask plenty of questions before getting this equipment for your company or research institution.  But I am certain this is a good investment.

FTF : Our Fave Fast Foods

When I am not in the mood for an elaborate dinner, these are what we eat :-). My own version of chicken noodles soup, baked fish sticks and sweet potato fries, and cheesecake for dessert. We love eating these foods every once in awhile. These are healthy and oh... so good!

My entry on FTF this week. Come visit our entries by clicking the button below!

He's On a Semi - Vegetarian Diet

About a week ago, my husband decided to go on vegetarian diet so he could lose weight. But the thing is, he still wants to eat fish! He said no more red and poultry for him aside from eggs; and he still drinks milk, eats cottage cheese and cheese. I told him that is not a vegetarian at all, maybe semi-vegetarian :-). And he agreed. Now, we eat more of those foods than ever. However, my son and I still eat red meat particularly beef. So, every once in awhile, I still cook red meat. And oh, we eat less carbohydrates foods such as white rice, bread, pasta, and tortilla. That way, we would not only lose weight but, will have a manageable blood sugar.

Okay, this week we will be having green leafy vegetables like mustard green, Chinese broccoli,  swiss chard, and sweet potato tops. I will fry fish and tofu for our protein. What do you think? Do you think we would lose weight and get back to our old small sizes? I am hoping so....we will couple it with exercise everyday. Sounds like a great plan for us. Wish us luck! Above are the veggie dishes I have cooked this afternoon.

Staying at Cape Cod

Three years ago my husband's work moved us to the East Coast. We've found a place to live in the heart of Virginia called Ashland. We lived there for a little over a year and have come to love the place/city. In that short span of time, we manage to visit six states namely: Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. We had so much fun visiting my relatives in Florida. Unfortunately, hubby's relatives in Massachusetts were disappointed because we didn't get the chance to visit  them. We planned on visiting them, but once again, hubby's work moved us back to Texas the following year. Our great time in VA ended :-(. 

Hubby and I have talked about it and planned on going back to see his brother next year and hopefully, we would be able to spend more time with them going to the Disney World and the beach. I would like to stay in one of the Cape Cod rentals  there in Massachusetts. It would be great if we could eat my favorite seafood which is lobster. I hear they serve the best seafood in that state. Visiting the Washington monument was fun when we went there during winter time. I wouldn't mind going back there again if time permit us.        

Relocating to Edmonton

Last month, I had the chance to check this site: http://rentedmonton.com/ and it reminded me of an old friend who migrated there 10 years ago. I kind of miss this friend of mine all of a sudden. And wished we could talk again the way we use to before we went our separate ways. It may and may not happen again, but who knows, right?

Anyway, my other friend and I were talking the other day and we got to talk about our lives, our dreams and aspirations, as well as our plans for the future. Since both of us moms already, we discussed the things we yearned for the most as far as our family is concerned. Obviously, no matter what we wish for, it’s always centered on our respective families.

I was quite taken a back when my friend told me that she was actually thinking of relocating to Edmonton, Alberta. She told me she only want what’s best for her family. She feels her kids would be able to get the best education there and become fully equipped to face life head-on. I asked why she chose Edmonton. She said that she happened to visit the above website one day, and she was impressed by the properties listed on the site.

Aside from that, she told me that there were a lot of attractions and culturally enriching places in Edmonton which she wants her kids to visit. The fact that Edmonton is considered an economic hub sounds tempting to her, too. She feels it would be a much better residence for her and her family. I tried to read about Edmonton and seeing how there seems to be a lot of open doors for opportunities and possibilities there, I am not surprised that my friend chose the place.

FTF: Stir - Fry Bean Sprout, Tofu and Turon

I made a nice dinner yesterday and my son loved the 'ginisang toge.' He said; Mommy, this veggie is so yummy! Thank goodness he ate a lot. Tofu is one of his fave food, too. We have finished our dinner with Turon. I miss this dessert so much! I am glad I've found a 'saba' at Hongkong market this Monday. Lucky me for I seldom see this kind of banana here in the U.S. Most Filipino use plantain for their Turon.

My share for FTF this week. Come join us by clicking the badge below.

Timeless Fashion Style

I may not be a fashionista or a shopaholic, but I do love leafing through fashion magazines. Let’s just say I know a beautiful piece of clothing or footwear when I see one. Through all these years that I’ve been constantly following the annual fashion trends that designers release at the start of the New Year, I realized that there are some fashion and trends that never go out of style. They probably have been there since the way, way back, and I have a strong feeling that they won’t go out of fashion for a very long time.

Here is my take on fashion and trends that will never go out of style: vintage clothing like high-waist bottoms and jumpsuits, pleated skirts and flared hip dresses, ladylike blouses made of silks and sheers, Bohemian-inspired clothes and of course, that little black dress. When it comes to footwear, I believe that stilettos, pumps, wedges, and even girls flip flops will never go out of style. Do you agree with some of my choices? Again, I am not an expert fashionista. These are just based on what I observe.

Fascinated with Buttons and Pins

Do you have a hobby? Perhaps you love collecting stuff. Who doesn’t, right? I have this friend who loves collecting buttons and pins. I really don’t know when her fascination started. I just know that she doesn’t go anywhere or visit a place without buying buttons and pins. She’s got them in all shapes and sizes imaginable. Some are labeled with names of sports teams, presidential candidates, countries, artists, rock bands, and even cartoon characters.

But now, her fascination has shifted to custom lapel pins. She seldom wears suits and neither does her husband. However, she has started collecting lapel pins, some even studded with Swarovski crystals. The pins are neatly stacked in one of the drawers in her dresser, and these are arranged by size, color, and shape. Now tell me if that isn’t weird. Honestly, though, I enjoy watching her as she arranges her collections. I also admire her organizational skills. To be able to arrange all those buttons, pins, and now, lapel pins which she has amassed over the year in a systematic manner is really something I am in awe of.

A Silver Jewelry for Me

Last month was our 10th year wedding anniversary and hubby bought me a gift which was a white and yellow gold necklace. I like it a lot except that it was very expensive. And so we returned it to the store where he bought it. I told him next time he bought me a gift, don't get me something that cost too much. I was happy with that gesture and gift but I don't need a costly jewelry especially a necklace for I already have a necklace. It would be nice though if he would get me a silver ring from tungsten jewelry online. I read that it is the best online jewelry store that sells pretty nice rings for an affordable prices. I like that the shipping is free and that they even re size the ring in case it doesn't fit you free of charge.

Just One of my Dreams

Being a movie fan, my husband and I watch movie at least once a day. We rent movie at Redbox and blockbuster and every once in awhile online.Our favorite movies to watch are western, detective, comedy, family and documentary. Watching movie together with favorite snacks makes a perfect date for us. We both believe that you don't need to spend a lot of money to make a date special. We love being together and that is what matters most. Whatever we do, as long as we are together it doesn't really matter.

Lately, we have been watching movie about rich people and politician where the main character or actor is very influential, too. They can do whatever they want and have security following them to make sure they are protected and safe. I like it when the actor or actress fly on her/his private jet charter. How cool is that? Makes me wish that someday I will own one. But I don't think it would be possible, and so I will just dream about it. Dreaming doesn't cost me even a penny...so I would just dream as much as I want to.

FTF: My Favorite Velvet Cupcakes

My most fave cakes next to chocolate cake is velvet cake. It is very yummy and easy to make. A perfect cake for kids birthday....just the right size for adults who are on a diet. Don't they look yummy?

My share this week for Food Trip Friday. Join us...click the button below!

Apartment Rentals In Calgary

If you plan on moving to Calgary and don’t have any clue where to look for Calgaryapartments for rent (http://www.rentcalgary.com), you should search online for there are lots of websites that can help you find the right apartment for you to stay/ live in. For instance, this site can be helpful to you as you narrow down your choices. Whatever your reason for moving in, finding the right property should be one of your major concerns. Most people who plan on moving to a new place, they look for an apartment first before finally deciding whether they need a house, condo or a rental house. Say let us, when we move back to Texas from Virginia, hubby and I decided to live in an apartment first before we bought a new house. We stayed at the apartment for more than a year. Prior to that move, my husband had to find an apartment online that is close to work, hospital, school and shopping center that way we would avoid long drives or trio to these important places. With the help of rentcalgary.com finding apartment in Calgary, Canada would be easier to find. Make your search convenient by sorting by price, number of bedrooms, and rental property type and so forth. I am pretty sure you will find the one you are looking for. Check the website out for more info.

So I Am a Crock Pot

Funny, but I don't really use crock pot often when cooking :-); I occasionally use it when I don't have enough time to cook the meat, but when I use it. the foods taste great that even my mother in-law would ask for the recipe of the dish I made using crock pot. Speaking of  waiting, I am a patient person who is willing to wait for I know that good thing comes to those who wait patiently. And yes, small and simple things makes me happy for I am a simple person who loves simple things in life....like spending time in the kitchen preparing foods for the people I love the most...my family :-)!

You Are a Crock Pot

You are slow paced and steady. You don't rush to be the first to get anything done. You know that good things come to those who wait. You are willing to sit back and watch it all unfold. You are community minded. You try to pitch in and help wherever you are needed. The smallest and most boring things in life make you the most content. Your happiness is not complicated.

What Kitchen Item Are You?

FTF: Freschetta Pizza

My son and I are having pizza for dinner tonight. Nope, I didn't make it if you ask. This is a frozen pizza, Freschetta brand. This brand is our favorite because it is very yummy,  a bit expensive though compared to other frozen pizza available; but it is worth the money for it is not salty and not greasy... and the crust is to die for (if you know what I mean). The fire baked artisan crust (Classic Supreme) is my new favorite among all their pizza :-). Intrigue? Try it, they are available in any grocery store near you.

Share yours with us; click the button below!

A Late Birthday Gift for Her

My friend's birthday was last month, but we celebrated it by having lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant in Mesquite, TX. It was a buffet so we ate all we can till we were all so full! I missed the crab legs though for they don't serve it during weekdays :-(, bummer! Anyway, we still had fun for the foods were so great; my favorite was the sushi. Okay, so much for Chinese foods, Emely didn't want us to give her gifts but I am thinking of giving her one this coming Christmas. I know it is not even fall yet, but I want to buy her now. I'll buy her something she could wear at work since she is a nurse at ICU.

Good thing to know that I can buy her a uniform online. At http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ you can also find all sorts of medical scrubs, from nurse scrubs to dental hygiene scrubs they got you covered. What I like about this site is that they sell quality scrubs, affordable, comfortable to wear and are stylish. So, if you are looking for medical scrubs, don't hesitate to check their website...you will be glad you did!

My Favorite Winter Shoes

Fall is fast approaching; and before we know it...it is winter time already, which is one of my favorite season next to spring. In the country where I was borne and raised, we only have two seasons; the rainy and sunny seasons. So, when I came here in United States in fall, I was very happy to have felt the windy and cold temperature. I enjoy walking and riding my bike outside  because of the cool breeze of the wind. Then, after three more months, the temperature got cooler accompanied by snow! What a treat for me! For the first time, I knew how it feels like to have fall/autumn and winter times.

I love playing  with snow since, though at first it was too cold for me. And so my husband bought me some clothes to keep me warm. Later, I bought myself a fair of boots online so I can walk on the snow and still feel warm at the same time. Anyway, while shopping for some boots, I noticed that the store also sells wide calf boots, plus size shoes, leather calf boots and more. I love the leather boots the most. I could wear it on a casual attire as well as formal.I couldn't wait till it's winter again, so I can wear my boots again and maybe buy a couple of pair of boots online.

FTF: Beef Fajitas and More

After our trip to Tyler this Labor Day, my boys were very hungry and tired, and so we decided to eat dinner at our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant in Terrel. We love the El Nogalito restaurant for they serve yummy and less expensive dishes. So here are our orders :-).

We had shrimp cocktail for appetizer, Jacob and Hubby had Beef tamales with enchiladas, and I ate my fave of all, the beef fajitas :-); yum!

Car Broken Into

The Author of this post is Velma Baird

It is amazing how one event can change the way you think about things. I always thought my neighborhood was safe. I did not feel I needed to lock my doors. I always felt the car was safe in the driveway. There was never a second thought about the neighborhood. Until last weekend, I thought we were in the safest part of town with the best neighborhood. Our car was broken into while we were still at home. I always thought these things happened when you were not home or if you were drawing attention to your car with flashy wheels or items in the window. We never thought anyone would touch our little car, until they did. This had me second guessing everything. First thing I did was have Home Alarm Systems install an alarm. I just didn’t feel safe anymore and I needed to at least feel safe in my own home. Then we purchased a motion sensor light. We are hopeful this will stop future break-ins, but at least we feel safe and right now that is the most important thing.

FTF: Dining Out

One thing hubby and I couldn't resist is eating out. We both always says that we will limit our dining out habit to at least once a week, but we couldn't do it. We always ended doing it twice and sometimes three times a week. This bad habit needs to be stopped otherwise we wouldn't be able to save. As we all know, it is very expensive to dine out than cooking your own foods. I confess that this habit is really harder to break; any suggestions on how to stop it? Anyway, here is my share for this week. We had lunch our again :-).

 My Patty Melt and Fried Okra

 Jake's Cheeseburger and French Fries

 Hubby's Burger with Mushrooms and Cheeses and Baked Potato

Join us at Food Trip Friday today!

He Would Love This Phone!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband who is the only bread winner in our household has a tough job to do when it comes to managing our finances. I offered to work outside home, so I could help him with our bills and save at the same time for emergency. But he refused my offer because he wanted me to stay home and be a happy Homemaker. I respect his decision and now I am a one happy stay at home Mom.

Anyway, he said we could cut down our expenses by canceling cable TV, turning lights off when not in use as well as the faucets. Cutting down his mobile bills could save us more. He thinks that switching to Straight Talk is the next thing he needs to do for it will really help us with our money management. I learned from watching videos of Straight Talk customers that even though this phone has no contract; you can get phone plan with more minutes, txt, and web data on monthly basis for an affordable price, which means more savings.

Straight Talk is a no contract mobile plan that has everything you need , with no with no hidden charges or fees, and no credit checks. You can use it when calling overseas with excellent reception and connectivity.  And best of all, I like their plan which is the Straight Talk “All you need plan” that everyone will enjoy. This plan has a 1,000 minutes call, 1,000 txt, and 30MB of web data for just $30 a month. Their Unlimited service which includes unlimited calls, txt, picture message, and web browsing only cost $45 a month which will only be $499.00 a year. When you call a friend or family overseas, you will only pay as little as $5. I love that I don’t have to worry about termination fee for they don’t require it. Yes, no termination fee!

Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung. Anyway, if you have children, this phone features everything they’ll love such as camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Okay, it would be up to you still, after all, mom knows best .

FTF: Inabraw or Dinengdeng

It is good to know that when I crave for something like Filipino foods, I can always rely on Asian market because they sell some asian veggies such as saluyot, labong, talong, tamarind, sitaw and more. Okay, this is a Filipino dish that originates in Ilocano province. Saluyot with labong with fried tilapia. The taste is a little bit sour blend with salt. We call it "Inabraw". My version of this dish is, I put tamarind or sometimes Santol (if available) that is why it has a sour taste.

How about you. What is your version of this recipe? Share it with us; join this meme now!

What is Inabraw or Dinengdeng?

Dinengdeng (also called inabraw) is a dish of the Ilocano people of the Philippines, similar to pinakbet. It is classified as a bagoong soup based dish. Unlike pinakbet, dinengdeng contains fewer vegetables and contains more bagoong soup base.The dish contains the following vegetables: jute leaves, the pods and leaves of the marunggay, the leaves and fruits of bitter melon, the calabaza squash and blossoms, alakon blossoms, amaranth leaves, sweet potato tubers and leaves, gourds (like kabatiti and tabungaw), string beans and shoots, talinum, chayote squash and shoots, chili peppers, sabunganay (banana blossoms), corn, West-Indian pea blossoms, tangkoy (winter melon), eggplant, okra, winged beans, parda beans, lima beans, various mushrooms like oyster mushrooms, whole taro, cassava tubers, purple yams, and wild potatoes. Some add fried or roasted fish or other meats, usually leftovers, to the dish.

Staying in Touch with Tracfone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone. All opinions are 100% mine.

Staying in touch with our loved ones, especially with our kids this summer is one major concern of most parents. Our children, specifically those in their teenage years tend to explore the world around them and the best time to do it is during summer. So since school is out and vacation is in, children, teenagers would love to spend time outside their homes, they go out with friends, they go malling, camping, or just stay outdoors. So to keep in touch with them and to know their whereabouts, parents give them cellular phones as this is the easiest and affordable way to reach them.

Thankfully, Tracfone is available to meet this need. Tracfone offers the least expensive way of owning a cellular phone. With monthly plans for as low as $10, you get to text and call your child anytime. As a real TracFone customers, you and your family choose from the different brands of phone like Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola and Kyocera. Many real TracFone customers have also tried the International Neighbors program which will provide family and friends in Mexico or Canada a local phone number in those countries to reach you at your TracFone in the U.S. Aside from this, so many features enjoy international long distance calls to over 60 destinations at no extra cost.

All these great deals and a whole lot more from Tracfone fit your family budget. You don’t have to worry anymore about your kids’ endeavors since you are always in touch with them with Tracfone.

FTF: Dinner at Roadhouse

My share for this week; don't they look sumptuous? Yum! How about you? Share yours with us by clicking the button below :-)!