Yohanism #37

My parents recently sent me several gifts. I was so overwhelmed with happiness which made me utter ...

Me: "My dad and mom are the best parents in the world!"

Yohan heard it and seemed baffled. He asked me ...

Yohan: "What about you?"

Me: "My parents are kinder and more thoughtful than I am."
 
He touched my shoulder and said ...

Yohan: "Mom, don't underestimate yourself."

One Remote That Does It All

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

Many people, like me, enjoy watching TV series. You will feel the excitement building inside of you as the plot thickens. Sometimes you might feel anxious to know what will happen next. There's always something worth looking forward to especially when the story continues to unfold. You can find the best and latest TV series on TiVo Premiere.  I became a fan. You can do the same by clicking here to access its Facebook Fan Page.

I'm looking forward to the many upcoming TV Fall Premieres especially Glee. I checked out Fall TV and I'm also excited to watch the action packed series Hawaii Five-0. Now you can watch your favorite programs with ease. TiVo Premiere is such an amazing gadget for the biggest TV fans. I'm sure a lot of TV lovers will appreciate it.  Now, it's easy to keep track of your favorite programs and actors. You can simply click and find your favorite programs whether its web video, TV, and movies.

I'm fascinated by the features of the the TiVo Premiere and Slide Remote. It's a remote and at the same time, it gives you full access to TiVo.  I like its fully retractable QWERTY keyboard. It is perfect in making easy and quick text entries. I don't have to worry about using it in the dark because it is equipped with a cool light sensor. It's convenient to use in the dark because of its automatic glow in the dark feature. The backlit keys and keyboard will surely come in handy at night.

You can enjoy your favorite programs and get the chance to win a a new TiVo Slide in the "30 Slides in 30 Days" Sweepstakes (http://www.tivo.com/30slides).  Sweepstakes ends 9/22/10 so don't waste time and click Enter to Win. Happy viewing and good luck!

Undeniable Force

Life is always filled with thoughts and inspiration. Blogging has allowed me to share fragments of my thoughts, feelings and mixtures of inspiration. I sometimes take a break but later on I always find myself pulled to this same direction.  It's like an undeniable pull of force.

I'm back.

Thanks for still being there. :)

Photo Hunt :: Colorful

Come and join PhotoHunt

My son had a fun 7th birthday celebration in school a few weeks ago. My husband and I brought some food for the kids and gave each one a personalized birthday token. In lieu of the usual loot bags filled with candies and chocolates, we gave them these colorful miniature pots with wooden animal clips. We had the kids' names printed to give the giveaways a nice touch.

How To Make a Cupcake Tower

For our son's recent birthday celebration, hubby made a simple 3-tier cupcake tower from scratch. It was fun and relatively easy to do. Even the birthday boy helped out.

Interested to make your DIY cupcake tower? Here are the materials and simple steps.

You will need: 
2 large Styrofoam boards
2 even sized Styrofoam squares
ruler or measuring tape
marker
decorative paper (or fabric)
scissors
cutter
tape
glue
long and thin wooden stick (BBQ stick can be used)

Procedure:

1. Cut 3 Styrofoam squares measuring: *8x8, 10x10 and 12x12. Use a ruler or measuring tape to get precise measurements. Use a marker when making measurements so you can easily cut the proportions using a cutter.

2. Cover the Styrofoam boards and squares with decorative paper or fabric. For paper, you can use craft glue. For fabric, it is better to use glue gun.

3. Connect the pieces using wooden sticks. You also have the option to glue them permanently.

4. Clean the surface of the tiers. You can gently wipe the decorative paper or fabric with paper towel. Arrange the cupcakes starting from the last level going up.

Enjoy!

* You can also use round Styrofoam boards or ready made cake boards measuring: 1×8″, 1×10″, 1×12″. Replace Styrofoam squares with cylinders.

Wind on my sail

Smooth sailing on calm waters.

The wind suddenly blew hard and rocked my boat.

What should I do?

I hold tight and pray for balance.

Photo Hunt :: Public

Come and join PhotoHunt

You'll find a lot of great bargains in the tiangge. It is sort of a flea market which is open to the public. There are different stalls selling all kinds of merchandise. There are stalls that sell clothes, fabrics, cooking wares, toys, accessories and more.

This stall sell stickers, hair accessories, cellphone accessories and different kinds of small trinkets for a fraction of a price. 

I would also like to share an article I wrote before entitled The gypsy life of a magtia-tiangge. It's about a nomad merchant who sells variety of household things in the tiangge. He works hard for the money to give his family a comfortable life.

Sustainable Progress in Small Communities

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

I grew up in the city. I was used to the noisy and busy streets. When I got married, I moved to a nice and relatively small town in the south. It took a while for me to adjust but through the years, I have learned to appreciate the wonderful things around me. I love the spectacular view of the mountain, the fresh air, the peaceful surroundings and the kind people.

Every town can benefit from sustainable progress and development.  Big investors who build large establishments bring in new jobs and opportunities for many people.  However, there are times when these big establishments threaten small scale businesses. It's quite sad to hear of businesses which have been passed on from generation to generation, closing down because of giant competitors.

I don't mind progress but at the same time, I also care for historical preservation. Take for example, the inspiring story of Ramblers Way Farm. This American company is known for sourcing, growing and producing their fine woolen apparel.  The company revitalize small towns by utilizing 100% domestic resources. The company works hand in hand with the people to achieve sustainable growth.One of the company's great achievements is earning the Gold Lead Certification level.

I have great confidence in products Made in America. I expect such products to have excellent quality. Ramblers Way is known for their beautiful and eco-friendly wool garments. They are admired for their highest quality superfine wool. Even their building adheres to environmental standards. The company that is dedicated to help the people around them makes it worth looking up to.