Song from a Mother's Heart

It's been awhile since I made an entry for Mommy Moments. Pardon my absence,  there's just too much on my plate right now. But I'm back and I am sharing with you a video that I made for my kids. This happens to be my favorite song.

I get teary eyed every time, I hear this song. I decided to put together a video.

Enjoy...

Life Insurance as an Investment

Many people do not believe in purchasing life insurance policy. The main rationale behind could be that most people are afraid to think of dying. Believe me, I know. I was once a life insurance agent.

As an insurance agent, I have observed that people fail to consider that life is full of surprises and death in inevitable. Life insurance as a unique investment that helps protect your life and your assets as well. In circumstances such as loss of income due to disability, diagnosis of critical and terminal illness, and death, the financial interest of the family will be protected.

In buying a life insurance policy, it is recommended that you consult with your financial advisor. This way they can give you the best life product suited to you and your family’s specific needs.
Remember it is always best to be prepared in everything, especially when it comes to protecting your family. Life insurance is an investment for you and your family.

Markdown Madness 2010

Another good find for those bargain hunters out there. Markdown Madness is here once again. Enjoy up to 70% off on Skechers, Zoo York, Ecko Unltd., and may more! This sale event will be from March 1-4 at the PSE Center, Tektite Tower, Exchange Road, Ortigas, Pasig.   

The Magic of Theme Parks

A visit to a theme park is every child’s dream, it is in fact for kids of all ages. Most parents would want a vacation that is both fun and educational and I believe a theme park tour is one that can produce both.

I remember when I was a kid, I used to dream of visiting Disneyland. Experiencing all those breathtaking rides, watching the stage performances or simply enjoy the beauty and splendour that the place has to offer.

Although this is one experience that can be very costly considering that you need to take into account the plane fare, board and lodging, admission fees, meals, etc., I personally believe that everyone must experience this at least once in their lifetime. It is an event worth saving up for, treating it as an investment.

A lot of theme parks are available around the world, be it in North America, Europe, Canada and in Asia. It is just a matter of trying to get the best deals for your family vacation and find ways in which you can save. You can squeeze in a visit to your relatives and friends who are around the area to make your the most out of your trip. You can ask them for cheaper places to stay since they are more knowledgeable of the place. For instance, for your next Orlando vacation, scout whether you have relatives and long time friends that you want to pay a visit while you plan this fun adventure.

Make this magical dream come true for you and your family!

On Children’s Skin Disorders

Of the many skin conditions common among children, it was skin asthma that afflicted my son. I can vividly remember the incidents that occurred during that time.

My son was a barely a year when we first noticed the skin condition. At the start, we thought it was only prickly heat or probably rashes because of the severe heat. Living in a tropical country, skin conditions like these are very common. However, it became very bothersome. You can see that the whole of his back has turned red and rough. I can feel his distress. For a child who cannot express how he feels, it’s their cry that will make you understand.

Initially, it was only the pediatrician who oversees his condition. Prescribing us ointments, mild soaps, hypo-allergenic products, in spite of this, the symptoms still persisted. It was after a couple of months that we decided to see an allergologist. We needed to know the cause and try be more proactive rather than merely reacting to the situation.

A skin test was conducted. This test is done on the skin in order to identify the allergen (allergy substance) that triggers the allergic reaction. A very small amount of the supposed allergen is placed on the skin by gently scratching it. Don’t worry they used a special sterile needle to scratch the skin. That’s why this is also called a scratch test. If area becomes red then that is positive – meaning it is the substance that causes the allergy.

After identifying the substance that triggers the allergic reaction, we were advised if we want him immunized. This is the process wherein he will be injected with antibodies to fight the allergy causing substances. The process took about 2 months and injections were done on a weekly basis.

Living within your budget

One of the greatest setbacks of being a SAHM (stay-at-home Mom) is that you have to accept the fact that your family will now live on a single income. Let’s face it, it is hard. You have to count every centavo you spend and track all your expenses.

Assess your financial situation.

Look at your monthly spending such as mortgage/rent, utilities, education, gasoline allowance, food, etc. It’s easy when you know where all your money is going. Try to separate your needs and your wants. Concentrate on the necessities. This is as simple as listing it down using a pen and a paper, any spreadsheet or if you have a financial software such as home budget software on hand, then life would be a lot easier.

After you have plotted your spending, the next step would be to try to assess and look for ways you can save. For instance, instead of having an air conditioning unit in every room may be you can just live with one. Planning your trips can save a lot of gas. Or when doing your grocery, you can buy in bulk it saves you a lot.

Now consider additional earnings. During Christmas, instead of buying expensive gifts, I give away my own home baked goodies. This gives us a lot of savings and it is also an opportunity for me to earn extra bucks.

Try to avoid using your credit card. As much as possible limit your expenditure on cash basis. It is never a good idea to accrue massive debt on credit cards. Use your credit wisely, and make sure to pay the whole amount instead of just the minimum amount. Otherwise, you can end up having a bad credit rating which could hound you for a long time.

On facial appearance

Admittedly women are more concern about their facial appearance than our male counterpart. Although more and more male are now extra conscious on how they look, one thing is for sure -- our face is considered one of our best assets. Since this is the more prominent part of our body, it is considered our window to the world. It allows us to communicate through expression, that’s why more and more people put in a considerable amount of time in taking care of their facial appearance.

Evidently, more and more facial salons are opening up like a mushroom, a clear manifestation that a lot of people, both men and women are truly mindful of the way they look. Fortunately, I am blessed to have a fairly clear skin since my childhood days, except for a pimple outbreak every now and then -- especially when I am under a lot stress and during PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), my skin is fine. Yet, I still put a lot of effort in taking care of it. With proper diet, exercise and occasional trips to the dermatologist, I feel confident that my skin will be okay.

However, I have friends who have been bothered by acne all their lives. They have tried a lot of medications but the problem still exists. Some of them have developed a very low self-esteem because of this. Although there are a lot of medications available for the treatment of acne, some cases are quite cystic.
For people who suffer severe cases of acne, and have tried absolutely every treatment, checking out accutane is worth a shot. Accutane is a derivative of Vitamin A and is a very powerful drug used to eliminate moderate to serve cases of acne. Nevertheless, just like in taking any other prescription drug, it is always best to do your own research and consult your physician.

Planning your summer trips

Summer is just around the corner. Honestly, as early as December we have already planned the places we want to visit. It’s always nice to plan early. With the help of technology, it is now easier to check out the places you intend to go. Now, you can get great travel ideas, plan your stops, look out for local attractions, things to do and get the best bargain on hotels right at the comfort of your homes.

There are a lot of websites and blogs right now that specializes in documenting their travel experiences. In these sites, you can read their first hand experiences and their reviews which will definitely assist you in looking for the perfect summer getaway for you and your family.

For me and my family, the first planned trip would be a road trip. Aside from the travel blogs and sites that I have read, I also consulted friends who live in the locality and friends who have visited the place. This is another way to discover what places to go and things that you should do while on trip. And for me, this is the best ways to gain knowledge of the location. Most especially if they live around the locale, since they know the cheapest places/hotels to stay.

Crocs Mega Sale at the Mega Tent

To all shoppingeras out there, Crocs is having another Mega Sale at the Mega Tent this March!

Another weekend to look out for. I was just thinking of this as I saw my boy's feet outgrowing the Crocs I bought from last year's sale.

You can get your favorite Crocs pair at up to 90% off! Whew! Isn't that exciting? And instead of just 3 days, they are making it a 4-day sale. Starting on Thrusday, March 18, 2010 (10:00am) to Sunday, March 21 (9:00pm). It will be at the Mega Tent, Meralco Ave. Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

TIPS:

BE EARLY! I was there on the first day, and lucky for me I was early. I didn't have to line up a long time outside the tent. Last year, as I was about to exit the Megatent,  I was surprised to find out the long cue of people outside. They let people inside in batches. So be ready to line up just in case ... bring umbrellas and caps!

Be ready for battle! A lot of people are really waiting for this sale, so expect a lot of people inside. Be prepared to sweat and haggle for shoe sizes.

If you plan to bring your kids, best that they stay in one place while you get their sizes. Or better yet just get a piece of paper and get their size.

I just hope this year's sale will be more organized and that Mega Tent's air conditioning system works properly :-)

Acne and its psychosocial effects

I remember having written an article about the treatment of acne way back in April of last year. It was prompted by my daughter being very conscious about her facial appearance. Although, hers are really not that bad, it’s not even considered acne. She just had that normal pimple outbreak very common to young adolescents. Very small skins lesions compared to acne vulgaris, which is definitely larger and more prominent.

Although acne is not at all harmful nevertheless it’s a dreaded disease that people, mostly teenager are very worried about. Believe it or not, it causes anxiety. Why? Well, of course you don’t want people to see you with those unsightly, inflamed pinkish spots on your face especially during those very important events in your life. Truth of the matter is that it can truly cause emotional distress.

As a parent, it can seem very insignificant to us but we need to be there for our children. When they feel “ugly” and “disheartened” to go out and show the world how beautiful they are, we need to give them that boost of confidence. Let them know that they are not alone. Encourage positive outlook! This is very important so they will not develop low self-esteem.

Various treatments are available today, you can check out www.bestacnetreatment.net maybe you can come across the best regimen that will work effectively on you.

The need to DETOXIFY

Nowadays, with our fast-paced lives, we tend to neglect the food that we eat. Fast food, processed food, instant food, anything to make our lives easier. We have to admit that most of the food that we intake contribute to the formation of toxins in our body. Coupled with the exposure to our current environment plus the constant use of medication, these factors play a part in our health. That’s why we need to detoxify-- to remove the toxins from our body.

Toxins affect our overall health and wellness. Ever remember having been so sluggish? When you easily tire out and feel so stressed? These are signs that you might have built up a lot of toxins inside you. It can also lead to you incapacity to lose those excess weight and constant diarrhea and constipation.

There are many ways to detoxify however, we need to bear in mind that all congestions start from our bowel movement – it is probably the basis of our health. Bowel cleansing or colon cleansing, can be achieved slowly by modifying your diet to one that has plenty of raw fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods. Yes, I know it’s hard to avoid those chips, burgers, hotdogs, and what have you. But it’s really the way to go.

Of course it will be an extensive process to get all those toxins out of the body but one has to start somewhere. Soon, you'll feel rejuvenated.

Genes and Weight Gain

I am probably one of the millions of women who struggle with their weight. The challenge started after giving birth to my second baby. I have heard a lot about weight loss success stories, and honestly I feel envious at first but then come to think of it, these success stories have a lot of contributing factors. Often times, we tend to compare our story with them not knowing that we are very different from one another, just like a thumbprint, we all are made differently.

Understanding these factors can be extremely helpful and effective in managing your weight. One factor that you need to consider is genetics. Genes play a role in our weight gain. In all likelihood, it regulates how our bodies acquire, store and release energy from food. Our genetic make-up is very unique.

"It's in your genes", that's what my brother, who is a doctor, always tells me every time I complain about my weight. Probably true! But I still believe that weight loss is achievable through regular exercise and proper diet.

Boys and Racing

I am amazed at how boys --men for that matter, are so fascinated with sports especially racing. Even my boy at a very young age of 4, have learned to watch racing competitions. The fascination does not stop at watching alone, he wants to try and imitate them. I remember the sparkle in his eyes when we gave him a go-cart during one of his birthdays. It was just priceless!

Every time he has a chance to go go-karting with his dad in the amusement park, he jumps enthusiastically into every opportunity. Of course together with his love for racing is the passion and delight in having to wear those sportswear, such as shirts, caps and jackets. Just like those Nascar jackets, Go-kart and Formula1 jackets as well.

On Ageing and Facial care

It is hard to admit it but when you’re about to reach the big four-O, signs of aging are very visible especially on the face. That’s why I try to be more conscious in caring and protecting my skin. I do these by watching what I eat – more fruits and vegetables coupled with regular exercise and of course, to keep me hydrated, I make sure to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.

Aside from these, I try to keep my skin moisturized by putting on a moisturizer every day – day and night. Once in while I try to apply tretinoin, to help improve my facial appearance especially around the eyes where those crow’s feet becomes really visible. Tretinoin as a derivative of Vitamin increases cell division for faster skin cell turnover exposing a new layer of younger skin cell. You can opt to use tretinoin gel or cream, whichever you prefer. It is also used as treatment for acne, whiteheads and blackheads and sun-damaged skin.

Travelling is a Learning Experience

When I was young, I never had the chance to really go out and see beyond the province where I grew up with. Not even around the country. It was only when I was working that I had the chance to travel the Philippines and in Asia.

As I was visiting these foreign places both locally and abroad, I realized I had missed out on a lot of things. One wrong notion I had on travelling, to my mind I treat it as an expense, which shouldn’t be the case. Admittedly, travelling requires you to spend but for you to maximize its benefit and enjoy it is to consider it as an investment.

Travelling is a learning experience, you get to see a world different from your own. Learn their language, their culture, appreciate their food and discover a thing or two as you go through this wonderful experience.
We live in a magnificent world, full of beauty and adventures waiting to be discovered. There is no limit to the things we can do; it is only the mind that sets our limitations.

“All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson

On house furnishings

It’s been a while since I have purchased any major furniture for the house. The main reason is that we are still renting. I would not want to purchase anything and then it might not fit the house that we will acquire. Waste of money is one thing I am avoiding.

Probably the major thing I have done for my furniture would be the re-upholstery of my sofa set, acquiring tv stands for the television sets, and the little stuff that are really necessary. I'm reserving my energy and excitement in furnishing our own house. I am still hopeful that our dream house will cease to be a dream one day .... with God's grace.

Choosing the right thermal printer for your business

When you have chosen the right POS system for your growing enterprise, your sales transactions will surely be peaking up and volume will continue to increase, it is now time for you to pick out the best printer for your rapidly expanding business.

An assortment of thermal printers is readily available in the market, it is just a matter of picking out the perfect product that will match your needs. One of the printers available is the EPSON brand. It has now introduced the latest addition to its industry-leading TM-T88 POS printer series, the tm-t88iv. It is designed to cater to high volume retail and hospitality environment. It can deliver faster printing with its added two-color capability which you can use to emphasize your company logo. It also features both wired and wireless interfaces. The TM-T88IV is more reliable and has a lot of new ease-of-use features.

You can now speed up customer transactions with its recorded speed of up to 7.9 inches per transaction. No reason for you to have long lines at the cashier. A product such as this can truly help your growing business.

POS Systems

Are you tired of matching your inventory from your daily sales? Chasing those unrecorded transactions? When you’re a retailer, it is important that you record your sales accurately and never have to worry about spending time looking for that entry that never got documented. If you often have this kind of problem, I believe it is time for you to consider providing your store with the technology that can give you timely and accurate sales tracking and record inventory levels without delay. This technology is called Point of Sale system.

There are a lot of POS systems in the market today that will cater to your business needs. Whether you are a simple retailer, restaurant owner or a full scale business enterprise, you can find the perfect system for you. A little investment that can assure you of the efficiency and success of your business!

Buying Toys Online

With our busy schedule, more and more moms (and dads) are finding it more convenient to buy things online, most especially when it comes to buying their children’s toys.

I must say it’s kind of cool, aside from the fact that it saves you a lot of time, it can also be a bonding moment with your kid as you go through the pages and choose the toy or toys they like. Since you do not have to worry about travel time and long lines going to the cashier, you have more time to talk about and deliberate your choices. It’s also easier to choose, since you can opt to pick out toys by price range, by gender and by category. Isn’t that fun? Maybe you can stumble into one of their “sale” items without haggling through the crowd of people wanting to get the best bargain. That’s truly an added benefit!

Career Search Services

In building a career, it essential that you find the right job for you. There are lots of tools available for job seekers to find the perfect job that would truly fit your competencies.

As an HR practitioner, one of the tools we use in recruitment is subscribing to career search services and networking tools. It aids us in recruiting the right person for the job. It enables me and my colleagues to search through resumes of job seekers and provides us ease of short listing qualified candidates.

This kind of opportunity likewise helps job seekers and professionals find jobs and improve their careers. As they post their qualifications, it opens their doors to the job market and online advertising, giving them the edge as they take charge of their career direction.

With tools such as this, it delivers quality and targeted results for both employers and job seekers.