Our Philippine Trip

Nov. 8, 2010 - January 7, 2011

This trip is full of activities, tiring transactions and planning, but the entire trip was still fun! Although the trip priority was about our new home, - (the constructions, expenses, and the moving in), our family is still the main reason.

Every celebration is not complete without the beach and the pool, we should say ;). There are lots of fun activities there beside swimming, like food!

This was also a trip for hubby to experience his first Christmas with the family in the Philippines, and got his first taste of witnessing the New year celebration there too.
The New Year became so "noisy" for him later on when he said he couldn't sleep because of the firecracker sounds popping up in the air. He didn't realize that the noise would not stop until 5-6 in the morning. He woke up with blood-shut eyes on New Year's day, LOL!

Generally, we can say it was all a celebration full of fun with good food, the beach, the pool and the mall!

Cigars

If there is yet one best place to buy cigars online, it should be Cigar Place where cheap cigars are available. If I mean cheap, it does NOT mean you have to risk buying poor quality! These cigars are made of top quality and yet with the best prices you can afford.
Rest assured that you can have a secure, efficient and reliable cigar shopping experience when you order from them online.
Good thing to know too that they accept international orders as well. You might want to check their shipping policy for international orders so you know what to expect just in case you are outside the US and you are interested to purchase from them online.

Don't forget to check some cigar accessories as well like a cigar humidor where you can keep your cigars or other tobacco products to protect them at a constant level of humidity. These items are selling like hotcakes, so be sure to grab one before they run out of stock! They come available in various sizes up to large sizes that can store up to more than 150 cigars!...ideal for those who collect cigars in big bulks.
Of course, the prices are still considered to be budget-friendly because you will be saving as much as 50% out from the original price.

By the way, have you checked on Acid cigars yet? They come in different variety, and yet they are all made from pure natural materials only from Nicaragua. Each variety has a distinct flavor and bouquet that are pleasing to the palate and to the spirit senses ;). Most of these cigars easily run out of stock, but yo can still request order notifications just in case your item happened to be out of stock.

As early as possible, you should start buying now to avoid longer waits if it runs out of stock.

This site is really very convenient for cigar lovers. You can even get exclusive offers and free cigars! Just sign up for a free newsletter by providing your email address, and that's it. As simple as that!

You can also get free stuff every Fridays, or you can be one of those lucky customers to get the early bird special randomly.

Making The Most of Your Getaway

Do what you can. - Trying to coordinate plans with several families and find a time that works to get away can be a logistical nightmare.

Make interaction the point. - You can bring one cell phone for emergencies, and all technology should be off limits. This is the time to interact with each other.

Keep it simple. - Search for places to go where the attraction is the great outdoors.

The Cruise Down Memory Lane

Posted by Hyman Weeks

I could not believe my eyes when I opened up my mail and saw that I had won a pair of cruise tickets. My husband has always chided me over my love of sweepstakes and now, it was all worthwhile. My perseverance finally paid off. I could barely contain my excitement as I told my husband about the tickets that I had won. We were both thrilled to see that the tickets were for the Cayman Islands. The last time we had visited the Cayman Islands was on our honeymoon in 1985. Now, we were to be afforded the opportunity to create even more fond memories at our favorite vacation destination.

The day of the cruise had arrived and I'm glad to report that we were already packed and ready. I even brought a pair of shorts that I had worn during our first trip as a surprise for my husband. The cab was outside and it was time to leave. I set my home security alarm (AtlantaHomeSecurity) and closed the door behind me. We loaded our luggage into the cab and were on our way. As my home disappeared behind me, I went over a mental checklist to make sure that I hadn't forgotten anything. We still had an hour before we had to check in at the airport and we were making good time.

Emmanuel Parish of the Episcopal Church - Cumberland, MD

It was a great opportunity for me and hubby to visit this church,-considered to be the "mother church of Western Maryland."

Emmanuel Parish Episcopal Church is rich in history and art. We actually did a quick tour starting from the church sanctuary down to the highlights of the visit; - to go underground and witness the tunnels that had been a secret to many during the colonial era.

The story of the underground railroad of the church is quite interesting. The secret underground wayback during the time it was built was considered a highly illegal conspiracy where countless of African and white Americans were involved during the slavery years.
These secret tunnels that led to Emmanuel Church served as the escaped route of slaves. During those days, any slave caught escaping will be returned to the master and could be beaten or killed at the master's will.

This is a long story to tell, so I am sharing the basic facts only on this post :).

This is one great trip I won't forget. Learning a piece of history and witnessing the old earthworks are quite worth of a trip experience.

Light Fixtures

I recently bought a house in the Philippines more than a year ago, but it took me another few months more before I was able to complete the interior construction and decorations.
If only I can move my new home in the US, it should have been much easier to fix through the help of Echo Lighting Design Gallery. Of course, I and my husband is currently enjoying our home here in the US, but we're just contented and comfortable with the present condition of our home right now.

I usually buy many stuff for the home here in the US and ship them to the Philippines for the new home there, and I even thought of getting fluorescent lighting fixtures, but I found out the shipping charges are extremely expensive! :(.
I pretty much enjoy decorating our new home there, and every time I decide to go home, our new house is always one of the few reasons I always look forward to. The experience of choosing the interior decorations is self-fulfilling although sometimes, the choices are limited there. That was the tough part!

Echo Lighting Design Gallery is worth recommending though to some friends that might just want to upgrade their homes to a better look. Most of them would always search for stores that offer discount lighting fixtures for sure and yet the products are made of top quality and high styles. This is a store where you don't have to sacrifice about the style and quality just because the products are discounted.
With more than 40,000 products to choose from, you can get them all at top quality performances and yet you pay them at affordable prices. Isn't that cool?

Echo Lighting has tons of choices for all your home lighting fixtures that include everything from landscape lighting and other exterior lighting fixtures to all types and designs of lighting fixtures in every room of your home.

Don't forget to check the comprehensive selection of their LED lighting fixtures that are rich in styles and designs and also energy efficient. Choosing these products would not only give your home a sophisticated look, but also you're helping the environment.

Facts VS. Fiction of Busting Your Mileage

As much as possible, we all want to save at the gas pump. But there are some cases when we should know the facts and myths about how we can benefit in our mileage and avoid the misconceptions.

Myth: Driving faster can save me gas as I get to my destination sooner.

Fact: In the 70's, 55mph was considered to be as the national speed limit because it's close to an optimum speed for saving gas. According to the US Department of Energy, if you drive 55 mph instead of 70, your mileage improves by 21%.
The added increment of energy needed to propel a car the extra mph offsets any saving on time spent driving.

Myth: I can get a better deal buying gas in the morning instead of at midday.

Fact: Gas has lesser vapor in cooler temperatures, so that when you fill your tank in cooler weather, you're filling it with more gas, and less vapor. So, there's more gas for your dollar, a factor offset in warmer months.

Myth: Fuel additives boost your gas mileage.

Fact: According to Federal Trade Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, fuel additive claims are misleading. Study had shown the products did nothing to improve gas mileage.

Myth: In achieving optimum gas mileage, vehicle maintenance makes little difference.

Fact: Keeping your car's tires properly inflated, replacing air filters regularly, getting frequent tune-ups and picking the right motor oil can greatly improve your mileage.

Myth: "All hyper-miling" is completely safe.

Fact: "Eco-driving" principles like avoiding jack rabbit stops and starts are good things. Hyper-miling practices can get more extreme which can be hazardous.
Hyper-miling practices are:

• drafting behind another vehicle to reduce wind drag can increase chances of crash.
• Shutting off the engine while car is rolling (e.g. on a hill) - which can harm steering and power brakes and lock up the steering wheel.
• Rolling through stop signs to avoid unneeded acceleration is both unsafe and illegal.
• Over-inflating tires, which some claim can improve mileage, can make tires more susceptible to road hazards.
  

Electronics Parts & More

If you are looking for an easy way to buy your replacements online for your electronics and appliances at home or your work place, PartSimple will do it for you. At PartSimple, it is always committed to its customers to find and offer them the right electronic parts they need easily and quickly.

Remote Controls for example can be easily damaged as they are more often exposed to strong pressure knock downs. PartSimple offers wide variety of items easy to replace such as these. Of course, these products are not too difficult to find it in many stores either, but if you want to save, then why risk buying it in a popular appliance or electronic stores that sell almost double the price from the cheaper brand?

Electronics Parts such as those electronic products you have at your home, - stereo, TV, laptops or computers, cell phones, gaming devices, refrigerators, freezers and much more are covered by PartSimple.
There are tons of choices and wide inventory of parts available for hundreds of various brands like LG, GE, Whirlpool, Panasonic and mostly all popular and top brands.

TV Parts with hundreds available are also covered by PartSimple. Check on the top categories for an easier searching. Otherwise, you might also want to use their easy search tool by putting your model or part number on the box provided on the site.

Don't forget to check the Deal of the Day as well. You can save a lot of money with their latest deals daily. You can also sign up for a newsletter for the latest update on their offers and discounts, and signing up is free.

In the event that you want a replacement or return of your ordered product, they can let you avail the 30-day return policy for easier transactions.

PartSimple is still a new company, but the fact that they can offer a lot of parts from top brands is somewhat promising and the sincerity of helping their customers find the products they need is worth looking forward to.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Tour

Trip Date: Oct. 9, 2010

This trip was planned early fall. I had been wishing to do the trip when the colors of the fall are at its peak, but since I am preparing for the big trip to the Philippines, I and hubby just thought of planning it early.
Besides, the tour is being done by Eyre Bus Tour & Travel, and the date is the only schedule perfectly available that time.

So, Eyre Bus drove us to the Railway Station in Cumberland, where a tour guide met us there, got our tickets and boarded the train after getting a quick coffee from the station.

This tour is a round trip excursion originating from Cumberland, MD that would take us to Frostburg Depot where the turntable is located. it is considered to be the main highlight of the trip where the train will be rotated at the turntable.

While the locomotive train is moving towards Frostburg Depot, you will enjoy the exciting mountain scenery with a tour guide sharing about the rich transportation history involving the train.

Upon reaching Frostburg Depot, we had a 90-minute lay-over. We were then so excited to see the train turning on the turntable, but unfortunately it didn't work!!! :((.
And speaking of steam trains, the tendency of not being able to work is just a normal expectation.
Well, for us, it wasn't expected!...so our lay-over at Frostburg were extended to 2 hours because they can't seem to make the train work going back.
We ended up calling for Eyre Bus to pick us up. Thanks to our tour guide who did a good job in taking care of us.

We then proceeded to visit the last 2 itineraries, - a shopping to Merling Blanket Outlet and then a visit to Emmanuel Episcopal Church as our last stop. I will be sharing our trip to this church in the next post.

Flooring Tools

If you want your business to stay long and get a better income, customer satisfaction should always be a top priority.
In the flooring business, you need high quality, advanced serious machineries to get the job done at a perfect quality in a perfect time! Of course, you also have to consider the customer's satisfaction as well.
Your business' performance will take you a long way when you consider it the priority in running your company flooring business, whether it be in residential areas, commercial and industrial buildings.

Consider for example the choice of getting a tile removal equipment. Flooring removal is a big job that requires high quality machinery to get the job done correctly and with ease.
This machine called "Terminator" is a highly recommended product as a flooring removal equipment from Innovatech. Being a top quality distributor of flooring machineries, Innovatech's designs and manufacturing quality are made from the state-of-the-art factory equipped with the latest technology which includes computer controlled lathes, welding equipments, mills, and more.

When it comes to offering your customers concrete polishing service, make it sure you get "I-Shine"! The I-Shine system is also an Innovatech product that is considered to be the latest and most advanced polishing system in the world that delivers concrete floor polishing excellence with ease of use and with the best speed and tooling quality, yet very economical.
There are also many benefits your customers get by using I-Shine concrete polishing pads, so be sure to make all your customers happy! ;).

Take note, if there is "Terminator" and "I-Shine" helping you with the job, don't forget to add "Predator", - a floor grinder tool that can do superior results for grinding and even polishing cement, concrete, marble, granite, terrazzo, natural stone and eve more.
Predator is also meant for handling tough conditions that can still produce results that truly shine. It is because Predator has a wide range of tooling options with unmatched production capabilities.

No wonder why many business-minded people in the flooring industry demand products from Innovatech; - it's because their line of products are world-renowned in performance and durability!

Tasmania - Truly a World Away!

Tasmania or "Tassie" as fondly called by the locals is 150 miles off the southeast corner of mainland Australia.
The island has dazzling wilderness areas, fine wines, distinct colonial heritage and a hip-laid back culture making it one of the country's hottest new destinations of today.

What to explore:
While you're in Hobart, Tasmania's capital, you can shop for locally-made arts and crafts at Salamanca or catch a show at Theater Royale, - Australia's oldest operating theatre.
You can go for a cruise through the Derwent River estuary to Peppermint Bay or just cycle down Mt. Wellington. Don't forget to sample local wines at Moorilla Estate.

Explore further the ancient temperate rainforests of the World Heritage Wilderness through a Gordon River Cruise. Or do a seaplane or helicopter tour over Macquarie Harbour and mountain peaks such as Frenchmans Cap.

Tour Tasmania's favorite brewery,-Boag's or get a taste of the award-winning pinot noir at Tamar Ridge Vineyard & Winery.

Learn more about Tasmania's past through a guided Historic Ghost Tour at the Port Arthur Convict Heritage Site, or do sightseeing on the Georgian architecture and colonial charm of quaint villages.

If you're more into wildlife adventures, visit Narawntapu National Park and get to see wombats and the rare Forester kangaroo.
Take a nocturnal tour of the penguin colony at Bicheno or visit Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park to have a face-to-face encounter with the Tasmanian devil.

Arts & Designs at Cool Capitals

In the world of art, ideas are endless and uniqueness are in various perspectives. That is probably the reason why many people love art.
Art is everywhere,- we can see it in fashion and designs, architecture, food, paintings, even in culture which make an art an enjoyable thing to explore.
That is why Cool Capitals was born from a joint initiative that helps travelers enjoy what is worth exploring, seeing and doing particularly in Europe's most stylish cities, such as Amsterdam, Zurich, Vienna, Valencia and Antwerp.
Europe must be the ideal place to see a real art in various forms, don't you think?
I think it would be worth recommending to visit those top five cool cities in Europe to enjoy a much well-deserved vacation where enjoyment is limitless and fulfilling as well.
It should be worth trying to visit Zurich,-the largest city in Switzerland where Zurich design can easily be seen throughout the city. Being one of the fascinating travel destination in the world in ten years, Zurich is primarily known by its reputation as a premier shopping destination and full of nightlife and recreation. Zurich for sure won't let its travelers get bored, as there are various experiences being offered.
Valencia is another cool city worth exploring due to its unique heritage. It is Spain's third largest city that is part Muslim, part Roman and part Catholic. You shouldn't miss exploring Valencia Art. Many say that art and architecture rule the modern day in Valencia.
Another fascinating city is Vienna,-the capital of Austria. Vienna Design
is considered unique because it is considered a medieval city and yet with modern appeal. It is one dynamic city where music, art, food, architecture and theater are mixed. In Vienna, design and art are as natural as it is from furniture to jewelry because artists are taking their inspirations from the elegant Viennese style.
Their own cultural attractions are world-famous Vienna restaurants, although food is also being influenced by various culinary traditions of Austria's many neighboring countries.

Topamax Injury Attorneys

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Your Topamax injuries can make you get a liability compensation that you deserve with their help.
It's time to make those drug manufacturers accountable for the dangerous side effect results made by Topamax.
Check them out online!

Sn. Francisco City Tour

Trip Date: Sept. 19, 2010 - SFO, CA

After finding a parking spot around the area, we signed up for the San Francisco City Tour taking the All Loops Package which include a visit to Golden Gate Bridge, and a visit to Sausalito.

We actually thought we can complete the tour since it is unlimited hop-on, hop-off from the bus for 48 hours and we can make our own itinerary whichever comes first, the way we like it.
There are 27 bus stops on the 4 diverse loops, so we just carried our loop maps with us. ride the bus and from there, we made our itinerary.

After touring the SFO downtown area, we hopped off the bus and strolled up Lombard Street. I almost gave up going up further on the hilly street...stopped 5 times to rest and catch my breaths due to the sharp incline.
But after reaching the top, it was all worth it, seeing the most crooked street in the whole wide world! Whew!

Going back to where the bus stop was tough...we got lost, and I think we were walking endlessly, and felt it was like we walked 3 miles going back and forth!
By the time we reached the place, we realized we could no longer make it to the 3rd loop.
We then proceeded to go on with the rest of the 2nd loop which included the visit to Sausalito.

Sausalito is a charming coastal town that has breathtaking views of the bay. I couldn't seem to find my photo in here but I'll update it in this post once I see it, :)).

The entire day was exhausting but we didn't mind. We enjoyed the tour.
There's always the "next times" of going back to SFO and continue to visit those places we missed during our tour.

MR Direct Sink & Faucets

It was too late for me to know all about MR Direct because I just had bought some stainless sinks for my house recently from a different company :(.
But of course it is worth highly recommending to some friends, particularly those who would be needing Undermount Sinks for their homes.

When you buy products from MR Direct, you can get guaranteed superior quality product at an affordable price with a limited lifetime warranty.

The next time you need an Undermount Sink for your home, you can check on MR Direct either online or by phone.

Be safe & Sober During Holiday Season

It is too early to post this one, but I believe it will still be of help to those who are party goers and to those who love group hangouts with friends as well.

Some occasions, which includes the holiday season means a lot of festive activities that includes drinking...and driving! But you can help protect yourself by being sober, and here's what you must do:

• Stay away from drunk drivers, and report them to local law enforcement (when safely possible). If you see one, note the car's make, model and color; license plate number and the direction in which it was traveling.
• Always wear your seat belt, and check and ensure the kids are properly secured on the child safety seats.
• Offer non alcoholic drinks to your guests if you are hosting a party. Take note that you can be held legally liable if you serve alcohol to someone who becomes involved in an accident.
• And of course, if you drink, never drive! Don't ride in a car with an intoxicated driver as well!
  

Spend Less, Get More!

A tight budget is tough to handle. Considering the economic situation nowadays where everything is skyrocketing, there is no way for overspending out from our budget. Don't you think?
Let's be practical! Who doesn't love discounts coupons, or hot deals nowadays? That means great savings, and the bigger the savings we can get, the more money we can save.

There's one great site worth highly recommending to everyone when it comes to shopping or buying online. You might want to check http://www.savings.com where you can find the best deals on all the things you want or need to buy online.
It might even surprise you that your favorite store has a lot of deals without you knowing it. But at savings.com, you can do a super easy search on your store, or the brand or item you want to buy and voila! - you ca now have a list of your item with its corresponding coupon.
There are lots of free online coupons on this site, particularly famous department stores and brands that you can find, - from the smallest accessory of any product to the heaviest kind of furniture! ;)

Do you have facebook account? Then, you can even get more deals easily from there when you join the site by simply pressing the "like" button.

One good thing from the site as well is you can get help and advice from deal experts for free. Plus, you can get more information by reading about their money saving tips, - shopping advices, product reviews, etc...
So don't wait any longer, catch the hottest deals because as they would say; - "saving money feels so good!"

I'm bookmarking it myself! ;).

Delaware's New Children's Museum

There's that long awaited children's museum that has recently opened at the Wilmington Waterfront in Delaware. Its doors opened last April 24, 2010.

The place is easily located in a bright yellow building from adjacent Interstate 95, and within walking distance of the train and bus stations, and parking is free!

So, what's in the museum to play with? There are a lot.

ECOnnect - kids can play in the water of a stream table then take a stroll on a boardwalk through Delaware ecosystem to see the flora and fauna living there, from forest and rivers to wetlands to shoreline.

Studio D - place where kids can get creative in an artistic media - printmaking, weaving, sculpture and painting.

It also has a money-themed exhibit to teach kids financial literacy, where they can earn money, a stock market for investing, a bank for saving and ways to spend money as well as to give back through charity.

A transportation-themed exhibit is also present and kids can climb on a toddler-sized train or boat, or go work in the auto shop fixing a miniature car.

The museum focuses on science and technology, math in an interactive playful ways.

Fisherman's Wharf

September 18, 2010 - San Francisco, CA

Who isn't familiar when it comes to Fisherman's Wharf? It's the popular destination of many visiting SFO and famous waterfront community in SFO (San Francisco).

We tried our luck with our GPS, went there and the place was so crowded.
Since it was weekend, finding a parking spot is tough! We finally able to get one after going around the place for 10 minutes.

We though of seeing Alcatraz Island, and we saw a ticketing booth close to Pier 39 to get a ticket for the ferry boat. It's a small trip adventure that has something to look forward to, so off we went.

Our trip was called "Alcatraz Tour Cruise" (Escape From The Rock) and we boarded the Blue Gold Fleet at Pier 39.
The tour includes the history of the island, the facts about the Golden Gate Bridge and other facts about the bay.
We had a closer look of the Golden Gate as we went under it. It was foggy that day, so the entire bridge wasn't really clear.

We thought the tour would allow us to go down the Alcatraz Island, but it was only a cruise.

Oh, and we also saw a group of sea lions hanging out close to the pier at Pier 39. There were tons of them, and no wonder why that "fishy" smell on that area seems to be strong!

Luxury Hotel Deals in San Francisco

Later last year (September), we were in San Francisco for a pleasure visit. And by the way, if you are planning to do a trip there, one day won't be enough if you want to visit the entire city as there are many things to do and enjoy in San Francisco.

One important thing you have to do as well is to find san francisco hotel deals, particularly if you plan to stay there longer. Getting a hotel in San Francisco at a regular rate can be very expensive, so you do not want to spoil the fun of your vacation by ending up overspending, do you?

Have you heard about Off & Away auction? You can check it on their site about the promo. Who knows? You will be the next lucky one to win the auction and you will get a special room with an extra spa as a relaxation ;). Take note that there are many hotels around the area as well participating in the auction aside from San Francisco hotels that are selected. But regardless of where the hotel is, you will still enjoy the same vacation all throughout.
But of course, just don't forget checking the upcoming auctions for San Francisco luxury hotel deals.

Ahh! I miss San Francisco! The last time we visited Fisherman's Wharf, it was only a short trip of pleasure since we were coming from Oakland where my husband had his business trip there. It was a 40-minute drive going to the wharf and that time the hotel we stayed at in Oakland was paid by the company where my husband was working.

It's good to go back in San Francisco someday, and I am bookmarking these deals. I am aiming to win the auction for SFO! :))