Get Help to Settle Your Debt!

Problem with credit card? Why not settle it once and for all by calling a Debt Settlement company that can hep you? This company can settle you credit card debt in as little as 12 - 36 months, thus gives you peace of mind you've been deprived of for a long time. As we know, having uncontrollable debt gives us stress.

Recipe for Pickled Eggs

Hello Guys, I didn't know you would be interested on "pickled eggs" I have posted on FTF this week; anyway, am posting this recipe and hope you will like it. It is really easy to make. Just follow the recipes and you are set to have a delicious pickled eggs. By the way, this is a little bit sour and if you're not in to sour taste, this recipe is not for you, sorry :-(!

Ingredients:
12 eggs
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons coarse salt
2 tablespoons pickling spice
1 onion, sliced
5 black peppercorns
1 canned sliced beets

Directions:

Place eggs in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool and peel. Place the eggs into a 1 quart wide mouth jar.In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, salt, pickling spice, most of the onion (reserve a couple of slices), beets, and black peppercorns. Bring to a rolling boil; pour over the eggs in the jar. Place a couple of slices of onion on top and seal the jars. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 3 days before serving.

Virginia Beach Rent to Own Homes

When we move to Virginia in 2007, we thought that my hubby's job would probably last longer than the one he had in Texas. Thinking we would stay/live there long, we decided to look for a house to buy; plus, we couldn't stand living in an apartment with inconsiderate and nosy neighbors. We went looking for a house and found many rent to own houses in the area where we wanted to live. The thing is, when we finally found the house we like which is close to church, work, school, hospital, and shopping center, hubby got laid off again. His job only lasted for exactly one year! Bummer! We were very disappointed and under stress again.

It was a trying times for us. Thank God we were able to surpass that problem and is back to where we used to be....happy and back to a more secure job. Anyway, before we finally moved back to TX, we took our sweet time to travel in Virginia Beach....for we would miss the beach so much. Knowing TX, beaches are far away from where we live, and so while there, we got the chance to tour the area and was very surprised to see a lot of rent to own properties particularly rent to own homes. The only thing is, being close to the beach those properties are expensive. But if we are millionaire, then we would surely buy one property there :-). And we would contact people that can help us find Virginia Beach Rent To Own Homes...that way we wouldn't be under a lot of stress again ....and I am pretty sure they can also give us info about Rental Assistance. Oh well, this is just a dream...no idea if this dream would ever be realized :-); well, as they say, dreaming is free, so I will dream as much as I want to :-) for it will not cost me anything not even a single penny!

FTF: Pickled Eggs

One of the things I love about hubby is he can cook good foods. Even before we got married this guy cooks his own food. He was the one who introduced me to pickled foods like pickled egg, cucumber, okra, artichoke and more. The other day, I asked him to make pickled eggs because I was craving for it....and I get bored with just plain boiled egg sometimes.

Visit Willa's Kitchen for more yummy foods...join us if you want and share yours (yummy foods that is) with us. Thank for stopping by and leaving comments :-)!

There Are Land Contract Homes in Your Neighborhood!

Back when we were looking for a house to purchase, our heads were spinning because there are plenty of options out there. There's this rent to own homes, custom build homes, land contract homes, Government Homes For Sale to name a few. Hubby and I have to study and do some research about these options to see which of these options will work for our need and budget. Then after doing some research, we have talked about it and decided which option we like the best. And so the next thing we did was contact a real estate agent to help us find the house of our dream and we did find one and are happy to say that we are excited and ready to move in next month.

Going back to land contract homes, if you are not familiar about it, let me give you a little bit about it. A land contract is when a landlord agrees to lease a home to a tenant and the tenant has an option to buy the home for a pre-negotiated price before the end of the lease. The primary components of a land contract are the rental term, the purchase price, the upfront deposit, and the monthly rent credit. So if you decide to purchase a land contract home, and you live in Fresno, CA...then contact Fresno Land Contract Homes for they can help you find the home of your dream.

FTF: Fish Sticks and Sweet Potato Fries

There are times that I get lazy to make dinner, and when that time comes frozen foods come very handy. Good thing I always have them in the freezer. Frozen foods makes my life easier! Just toast them in the oven and in less than 20 minutes, walla, we have yummy dinner! So here are two of our favorites! I so love sweet potato fries and my son loves fish sticks.

Head on to Willa's Kitchen for more yummy foods!

DOVE®'s Mini Moment Contest!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.

The first time the DOVE® chocolates was introduced in the market, I went to a store and got myself one. I tried it and fell in love with it! From that day on, DOVE® chocolates became my favorite chocolates of all because it is creamy, smooth, silky and so delicious. I also like Dove Ice Cream products for they are the richest, creamiest ice cream I have ever tasted; available in several mouth-watering flavors Now, they are launching the newest addition to the Dove® family and that is the DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures. They even launched the "My Mini Moment" contest where they are asking women to share their favorite mini moment of scape. Easy isn't it? To join the contest, all you have to do is submit a photo and short essay at DoveIceCream.com/myminimoment by June 7, 2010.

The one lucky winner could win one of 3 sensational mini-grand prizes such as a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, Spa services for a year or a mini-home makeover. For a woman like me who is working out to lose some weight, DOVE® Ice Cream Miniatures has only 70 calories each. And am sure all the women out there would be very please and happy because they will not only satisfy their sweet tooth, but also not watch about their calorie intake.

And for those who are coffee lovers, why not try their new decadent Café Collection which features Java Chip and Cappuccino Flavors. And since mothers and Dove consumers are important to the DOVE® company, they conducted a survey of over 400 where 70 percent of these women are busy multi-taskers taking time for themselves each day. In short, this contest is for us women to celebrate the cherished moments of our lives.

Join now and take advantage of the 3 sensational mini-grand prizes and be lucky winner. Visit their website now for more info.

Spillin' the Beans

If you don't know beans about beans, read on for some great information and new ideas!

Beans belong to a group of foods referred to as "legumes." This food group includes peas, lentils, and peanuts in addition to the beans with which most of us are familiar. Next to cereal grains, the legume family contributes the most substantially towards feeding the people of the world. The high protein content of beans is necessary when meat is hard to come by, which is what makes legumes a wonderful addition to your food storage pantry! Beans are also high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and contain important vitamins and minerals like foliate, calcium, iron and potassium.

There are many different varieties of legumes, and each variety is used in different ways!

Lentils

Lentils are a quick cooking legume commonly found in soups, stews, and salads. They have a meat-like texture and are high in protein and fiber, yet low in fat!

Pinto Beans
Pinto Beans are popular in Tex-Mex cooking and are used for refried beans in tacos and burritos. They are nutrient rich and provide a flavorful side dish often paired with spicy rice. These naturally dehydrated beans are sometimes specially prepared with salt and sometimes other ingredients and sold as refried beans.

Black Beans
Black Beans are known for their meat-like texture and versatility. They are a Latin American staple that have a mild flavor and are commonly used in salads and paired with rice as a side dish. This bean has recently become more popular with many Fresh Mex, Baja-Mexico-inspired restaurants. Due to its meat-like texture and dark color, it is often used as a red meat substitute.

Small Red Beans
Small Red Beans have a hearty flavor and a rich texture. They are often used in bean casseroles or served with rice and Cajun seasonings.

Kidney Beans
Kidney Beans are the bean most often used in chili recipes. This variety is also very hearty in texture and accents other flavors well.

Split Green Peas
Split Green Peas are known for their flavorful use in "split green pea soup." Their fresh flavor and color make them perfect for adding color and variety to your home storage.

Small White Navy Beans
Small White Navy Beans are excellent for use in soups and stews. Bean with Bacon soup is one of the most popular recipes for White Navy Beans.

Soybeans
Soy Beans are extremely versatile and used worldwide in making soymilk, textured vegetable protein (a meat substitute), and tofu. This bean takes flavor very well and has a wonderful texture.

Peanuts
Peanuts are in the legume family and are considered by many people to be a comfort food and family favorite. Most commonly used to make peanut butter, it is used in recipes and as a simple sandwich filling. Though their high fat content makes them hard to store, you can store peanut butter and peanut butter powder.

Garbanzo Beans
Garbanzo Beans (or Chick Peas) are often used in salads and as a base for making hummus. Though similar in use to other beans, they are not as commonly used for home storage.

Beans are also used to thicken gravies and add richness to soups and stews. Bean flour can be used in place of wheat flour in many recipes. Bean flour is delicious in dips, spreads, and can be used as a fat replacement when cooked and mashed into the consistency of shortening!

Dry beans should be parboiled or soaked overnight before cooking. Many dry bean varieties can be stored up to thirty years if packaged correctly. Once cooked, beans can be stored safely at least five days in the refrigerator, or up to one year if frozen. Over time, beans may require a longer soak and extended cooking times to achieve a softer texture.

This is just a small sampling of the many things you can do with beans! The recipes and possibilities are nearly endless with this versatile and healthy food storage basic. Hopefully you are an official "bean counter" and are ready to store and use more this wonderful food!

Source: LDS Magazine.com

We Are Ready To Move In!

Three months ago, hubby and I finally found the house of our dream when we visited a community that offers all the amenities we were looking for. We like that it has a school inside, swimming pool, playground, basketball court, soccer field, fishing pier, walking path and more. Anyway, there where three home builders in the community and we chose the one that meets our need and budget. After all the paper works were signed up, we started talking about home plans. Hubby and I were very excited. Now that they are building our house, we couldn't wait to see it completed/finished. We are so ready to move in, but before that we plan to paint the interior first before and then decorate it. I just wished that we have a budget for interior decorator to do the decorating for us. Oh well, I think our house would look nice, too, with my simple decorating skill :-).

Food Trip Friday: Croissantwich

I don't normally eat heavy breakfast, but since hubby sleeps during daytime due to his graveyard schedule at work, I have to make him brunch meal; why? Because when he sleeps, he doesn't wake up till 5pm....and that means he sleeps 8 hours without interruptions. Here is one meal we both love to eat together in the morning :-).

Head on to Willa's Kitchen for more delicious meal :-); join us there, too if you want and share your foods with us!

Neil Kornswiet, Real Estate Professional

My husband and I always believe that it is very important to get help from a real estate professional when it comes on selling and or purchasing a real estate property. And that is why we contacted one when we were looking for the house of our dream. Indeed, he made our house search easier. Now, our new custom house is being built in the area where we wanted to be. Anyway, I heard from my cousin that if you live in CA, particularly in San Francisco, there are many real estate professional you can contact with. One of them is Neil Kornswiet and his associaltes. He said that Neil Kornswiet and his associates are expert when it comes to this matter. They can help you in any way possible. I wished Neil Kornswiet has also office in North Texas. We could have used his help during those days when we are having hard time finding a real estate professional who can help us find our dream home as well as information on how we can qualify for a loan and stuffs with regards on buying a home.

Here's to My friends, and All the Mother's Out there...

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. . . . No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you – life!

You have been a great example, and a teacher of whom I learned a lot with and on how to be a good wife to my husband and mother to my child. Thanks for being such! You are amazing!

FTF: Liver Filipino Style

Since I have iron deficiency problem, my blood count is low and I became anemic. So the doctor advised me to eat foods rich in iron such as read meat, liver, apricot, poultry, green leafy veggies, fruits, spinach and more. For whatever reason, I can't stand eating liver anymore....just the smell of it makes me throw up! But what else can I do? I have to eat it or else I would be very miserable and sicker. I thought if I cook the liver like "Bistek," it would taste better and my taste bud will tolerate the taste of it. So, here it it: Liver Pinoy style :-)!

Head on the Willa's Kitchen for more delicious food entries.

Hubby's Lunch at Brady's Burgers

Today, hubby and I decided to take a look at what is going on with the building of our house. And so drove down there and were happy to see that they were almost done with the building of foundation; concrete was poured out and being leveled when we got there. We didn't really stay long because we don't want to scare the workers :-). And when the concrete dried up, it will be a non-stop work; the contractor told us they will do the "accelerated building" to speed up the process. Anyway, since it was lunch time already, we went to a nearby restaurant to satisfy our hunger. I was craving for a sandwich, so after hubby ate at Brady's Burgers which is voted "Best Burger" in North Texas by the TV show "Good Morning Texas." Luckily, none of their foods looked appetizing to me that time, so I went to Walmart and bought myself a Croissantwich which was my fave! And it only cost me less than $3 while his was almost $7! By the way, below are the photos I took while hubby was eating his expensive burger.

And when I teased my him how pricey his burger was, he said that the most expensive burger he had was the $10 one at Humperdinks. Oh well, for me a burger that is worth more than 4 bucks is pricey :-)!

Sports Betting is Fun and Exciting!

In the country where I was borne and raised, many people particularly men like to either watch or play sports. The most popular sports there are basketball, boxing, football, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Unfortunately, I never learn to play any single one of these sports. On the other hand, my father is good on chess, and one of my three brother is good on table tennis, chess as well as volleyball and basketball. I really want to learn football and volleyball then, but I concentrated with academic activities and sports was set aside till I eventually forgot about it.

Playing basketball is in our blood because my brother and cousins played a lot of it and even formed a team to join the competitions and won most of the games. My father on the other hand is an avid fan of basketball; only it is the NBA or National Basketball Association teams. These are professional basketball players in the country. I remember, I used to watch these guys with my father on the television and had fun! Then, people who loves this sports, bets on the sports they like. Sports betting is widely popular among men in my country of origin. My father used to bet a lot, but now that he is getting older, he stopped betting on any kind of sports and is now contented watching it in front of the television. Talking about sports betting, during “Fiestas” or the celebration of the patron saint's anniversary, many activities are lined up during day and night time. Ball games and board games are always on the list. People like to bet mostly on basketball games of course. They bet and cheer on their favorite teams. During the celebration, people and their friends from the neighboring towns and cities join the celebration with plenty of foods, entertainment, marching bands and shops that sell affordable products and things like that. It is indeed fun to join in the celebration which is one thing I miss most while living here in the U.S.

Do's and Don'ts on Eating Out!

Hubby and I are really trying hard to lose weight and stay healthy. Based on our personal experienced being overweight is not good for our health, that is why we both have to take high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol medicines. We also walk at least three times a week for 45 minutes. Since we dine out at least once a week, we try to stick to these tips in order to enjoy good meals while losing weight and at the same time without worries on how much we would be spending each time.

1. Set a budget
Determine how much you're willing to eat before looking at the menu. You can give yourself some leeway by scheduling some exercise on or near days you plan to eat out. Putting in gym time or going for a brisk walk will help offset a little extra eating. And remember, be flexible. You can loosen up a bit on special occasions, as long as you eat carefully most of the time. (Just don't let every day become a special occasion.)

2. Put on your game face
Decide on some guidelines before you go to a restaurant, and stick to them. For instance:

~~ Skip the all-inclusive (prix fixe) menu and opt for à la carte selections. Doing so might not be as economical, but you'll probably eat less.

~~ Take one piece of bread, then ask your server to remove the breadbasket from the table.

3. Make special requests
You're paying good money for that meal, so you're entitled to make special requests or slight modifications. Why not say:

~~ Can I have that without butter? Grilled? With the sauce on the side?

~~ I'd like mixed greens instead of fries with my sandwich.

4. Practice portion control
Some restaurant portions can be two, three, even four times the "normal" size — especially super-sized fast food meals. Keep your portions in check by:

~~ Ordering a salad as a starter and then splitting a main entrée with a friend.

~~ Creating your own scaled-down meal from a couple of appetizers and/or side dishes.

5. Break down (language) barriers
If you don't know what a preparation term means, ask. In general, though, the following words translate into high-fat, high-calorie dishes.

~~ Au gratin, scalloped, hollandaise.

~~ Parmigiana, scampi, Bolognese.

6. Downsize the super-size
Super-sized fast food meal options can be loaded with calories. Either:

~~ Order something small, like a basic burger. After all, the first bite tastes the same as the last.

~~ Order yourself a children's meal.

7. Watch out for extras
The average burger with ketchup, lettuce and tomato isn't so bad. But one with "the works" is usually a caloric nightmare. Skip:

~~ Bacon, cheese and mayonnaise.

~~ Double-burger patties and extra pieces of bread.

8. Don't go top heavy
Salad bars and garden salads grace menus across the country. But those extra toppings can sabotage your seemingly diet-conscious choices:

~~ Go light on croutons, grated cheese and bacon.

~~ Opt for small amounts of low-fat or nonfat dressings on the side.

9. Don't drink away your progress
~~ A drink with dinner is fine, but too many margaritas may wreak havoc on your dieting resolve. Keep your appetite under control by:

~~ Alternating alcoholic beverages with noncaloric sodas or sparkling water.

~~ Not drinking alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach.

10. Resign from the "clean plate club"
You paid for it so you have to eat it, right? Wrong. Just think of the health and emotional costs of those extra calories on your body. Downsize by:

~~ Eating half the meal and doggie-bagging the rest.

~~ Pushing your plate away when you're full.

~~ And remember to eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your body to recognize that it's full.

Breakfast Veggie Casserole

If you are on a diet or trying to lose weight, then this breakfast meal is right for you. It requires a lot of work, but it is worth the effort and time. I haven't tired it yet, but will try it next week for I don't have all the ingredients yet. Anyway, just thought you might be interested :-)! So, I am sharing the recipe for you which by the way I have found at Weight Watchers website.

Ingredients:
2 spray(s) cooking spray
2 slice(s) Weight Watchers 100% Whole Wheat Bread
3 Tbsp red onion(s), diced
3 Tbsp sweet red pepper(s), diced
3 Tbsp zucchini, diced
2 large egg(s)
2 large egg white(s)
1/8 tsp table salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 pouch(es) Weight Watchers Natural Reduced Fat Shredded Cheddar Cheese, about 2 tbsp

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly coat two oven-safe, 8-ounce ramekins (3 1/2-inches in diameter) with cooking spray. Cut a circle from each slice of bread and firmly press into bottoms of both ramekins; set aside.

Lightly coat a medium sauté pan with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, red pepper and zucchini to pan; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and onion is translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Promptly remove from heat; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, salt and pepper until well combined; stir in cooked vegetables and cheese. Pour equal amounts of egg-vegetable mixture into each ramekin. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted into center of a ramekin comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove promptly from oven; let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Yields 1 ramekin per serving.

Want to avoid too much early-morning prep? Cook the vegetables and whisk the eggs the night before. Combine ingredients, cover and store in refrigerator overnight. Then just preheat oven, cut bread circles and pour mixture into ramekins when you’re ready for breakfast the next morning.

Looking for Leather Cowboy Goods

Since I got here in the United States and marry my husband of nearly ten years I became a fan of western movies especially those that are starred by John Wayne. I love the stories behind the movies especially those that are based on real life stories. It is very interesting to see the old west and how they have lived during those times. My husband for one has the collection of John Wayne movies and every time we feel like watching it, we just put it in our DVD or VHS player and enjoy it. Indeed, we never get tired of seeing those movies over and over again.

Okay, we have been living in the South for most of our married life, and our only child who is almost six year old now was conceived and borne here. We call him “ Little Cowboy” for he loves Sheriff Woody, the star of the animated Disney movies, Toy Story 1 and 2; he even have a costume almost exactly like the one Woody has. He has the cowboy hat, vest, boots, belt, scarf, toy gun,with matching Western gun holsters.

Talking about cowboy boots, my son has grown up his and since he needed a new one, husband and I plan of buying a pair of leather boots for him. We just need to find a place where they sell leather goods particularly. My son can use a new leather kid cowboy hat, too to match his leather boots. Who knows, he might wear his cowboy costume for the fourth times during Halloween day. Oh yeah, he wore it three times already and that shows how much he loves being a cowboy kid. Anyway, we can look online for leather goods or ask our friend whose son is an avid cowboy fan. Oh, I am more excited now than our son :-)!