josie's window

My first book

2010-03-10T13:36:00.004+08:00

Kids' minds are like sponge absorbing knowledge, they are very curious with all the things they see around them and want to explore. They are attracted to colorful things like pictures and toys, it give them the chance to create things using their imagination. For parents this is the ideal age to supplement that need, by giving them books with colorful images, they will love it even if they don't know how to read. By looking at the pictures on the books they can tell the story behind it, and how about if they see their name and image? Yes it can be done, a personalized book just for your kids. I can almost imagine how happy they will be, I'm sure they will show it to their playmates. Visit firstimebook site and you will see what I mean.
You can order a book of your choice from the list below:

My Personalized ABC Book

My Personalized Potty Book

My Personalized Coloring Book

My Personalized Birthday Book

My Personalized I Spy Book

My Christmas Adventure Book

My Personalized Journals

Trend-setters

2010-03-09T16:18:00.006+08:00

How time flies, I can still remember my college days, we have no school uniforms then, so we can wear any types of clothes we want. Anything that is in the fashion trend, you can see it in the campus. Different people, different style of clothes, shoes and bags. Same with the young people of today who are very much in the hip hop clothing, like their favorite celebrities, whatever they saw them sporting, they buy and wear too. True enough, celebrities are the main fashion trend setters.

Fish Kill - safety warning

2010-03-09T14:11:00.013+08:00

Abstinence from eating meat is a tradition during the Lenten season in the Christian world as a commemoration to the sacrifice done by Jesus Christ. Fish and seafood dishes are very popular during the holy week. So this is bad news and the public is being warned:

Fish ponds are drying up as a result of the El Nino phenomenon, thousands of Tilapia fishes died because of the low level of dissolved oxygen produced when the level of dam water went down that supplies the fish ponds. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Philippines advised the fish pond owners to harvest the fish early to prevent anymore fish kills.
Public are warned not to eat fish found already floating, because they are not safe for human consumption and must be buried deep in the soil. If you will buy fish make sure that it is fresh and no foul smell, better yet buy canned if you are in doubt.
Also Red Tide Alert is up as a result of the warm ocean water. So extra care for you, shell seafood lovers.

Sale alert

2010-03-08T00:09:00.004+08:00

As an internet cafe owner, it is my responsibility to make sure our computers are always on top conditions and have updated games and programs to run the business smoothly. We do the maintenance, if there's any problem we fix them ourselves. I know that computers need to be upgraded regularly, so I'm always on the look out if there's a sale on computer parts we can get for replacement. Full attention is required if you want to survive in this business.

Healthy lifestyle

2010-03-07T23:37:00.005+08:00

Young people now a days are very concerned not only on their looks but also on their health. We see many of them flocking the gyms, do a lot of workouts and stayed away from fatty and sugary foods. Gym people know that dieting doesn't mean eating less but eating the right food. Those who want to build up muscles are aware that protein is very important on their diet. If they cannot get much on their food they supplemented it with protein powder, to make sure they get the required amount their body needs.

Summer skin care

2010-03-06T16:09:00.005+08:00

Summer is here and so are the different skin infections like rashes and acne. Kids and teens are very eager to play or swim, they don't care about the harmful effect of the sun exposure on their skin. Parents and adults must be wary of any skin infections that kids and teens might get. Oil and dirt can cause acne, which is very common during the hot season so for exposed skin care, always use sunblock, drink lots of liquid and keep the face clean.

No more hot afternoons

2010-03-06T15:55:00.004+08:00

Our bedroom have two big windows and made of clear glass, I used to put lace curtains on them, but in the afternoon hot sunlight goes in and passed through the thin curtains which made the room humid and uncomfortable. The air conditioner had to be switched to the coolest to cool the room. Now, we're using blinds (like the one on the photo) instead of curtains to block the sun rays from going through windows, to save on energy and on our electric bill.

Save a child - My Facebook cause

2010-03-05T18:06:00.003+08:00

This is long overdue, received the email last Feb. The CAUSE is about saving children of Haiti from hunger and malnutrition:

Congrats! Your cause, Save a child; pass it on!, earned a new pixel crowd, Woodstock, by reaching 500,000 members.

This would not have happened without you and the other members of the cause who invited their friends so thank you.

Congratulate the Cause

To reach the next pixel crowd, City, we need 1,000,000 members.

Thank you and keep it up!
The Causes Team

P.S. Don't forget to congratulate the cause!

Old and beautiful

2010-03-05T14:24:00.005+08:00

If mid-aged men worried about being unable to keep up with younger generation for some physical activities, most women worried about their look, anyone disagree? If they see any age spots on their face, most likely an anti-aging cream is on the list the next time they go on shopping, hmm sounds familiar ha ha. Take care of your skin and use moisturizer if possible on your face while you are still young, it will make a big difference as you grow older. You may be old but still looked beautiful.

Stay Active

2010-03-05T13:47:00.004+08:00

Sometimes it's hard to accept especially for a middle-aged and up man that he is old, when he cannot perform hard tasks he used to do when he was a teen-ager or during his twenties and thirties. When he felt that can not keep up with younger people in some physical activities. But age doesn't really matter if you stay active and maintain a regular activity to keep the body healthy, others even use testosterone cream to invigorate their metabolism and energy to keep them revitalize and strong.

Encourage Healthy Laughter to your kids

2010-03-03T12:25:00.000+08:00

For kids to be happy and confident, a home environment conducive to the development of a sense of humor should be nurtured.

Here's some pointers on encouraging kids to see the humorous side of life:
Make playtime at home full of fun and laughter.
Share funny anecdotes about yourself.
Take turns sharing a funny joke during mealtimes.
Make a humor journal of your child.
Post cartoon clippings or strips on the kid's room or on the refrigerator.
Laugh with your child and reaffirm that is funny.
Laugh at mistakes to reduce stress.
And most importantly, parents must learn to laugh at themselves because a good sense of humor will help get one through most problems in life, and with a smile to boot.

THANK YOU

2010-03-02T21:07:00.011+08:00

Every time I opened my blog, the first two things I looked are the comments both in my posts and chat box. And the number of people who followed my blog, today I'm so happy when I saw that it reached the 300th mark, and hopefully to gain more. Knowing that someone visited me perks up my day. For a not so new non-pro blogger like me, this is a big accomplishment, and inspire me more to give my best. A very big THANK YOU to those who commented and followed me. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Preparedness count a lot

2010-03-01T01:00:00.006+08:00

Tsunami alerts were lifted, although the expected aftermath of the Chile's massive earthquake last Saturday hit Japan and Russia, it was not as big as expected and create small or no damage at all. Thank God!

Tale of two Earthquakes

The magnitude on Chile's earthquake was stronger than those that happened in Haiti, but the casualties are much much lower, because Chile is prepared, having experience disaster very often, they have building codes that are earthquake resistant, unlike those in Haiti where they did not experience any earthquake till last January. The homes and buildings are poorly constructed and the people were not taught on how to react in this kind of situation. The country is very poor and rely heavily on other nations for help. On the other hand, Chile is a rich country, and can stand on their own.
Now we see the advantages of being prepared when catastrophe struck, of how many lives and properties can be saved by simply knowing what to do when faced with danger.
Every citizen must be ready and prepared when tragedy strike.
Schools are the primary source of information, teachers should teach school children all the basics steps in case of emergency, to be calm and not panic to prevent getting hurt and to avoid casualties. At home, adults, parents and guardians must do the same.

Spice me up

2010-02-28T10:32:00.002+08:00

Another way I can lose weight is eating spicy foods. Hubby, the cook loves to put chili and hot pepper in all his recipes. We even have hot chili plants courtesy of hubby, he planted them, so he doesn't need to buy and just pick from our small garden every time he wants to use them. Why I am saying this is because I found out that chili is one of the foods that burn fat. Haven't you noticed that the more you eat spicy foods the more you sweat? Because it increases the body's metabolism, that makes the body burn more fats. But remember you also need to exercise and eat a balanced diet.

Hot, hot day !

2010-02-28T09:49:00.002+08:00

It's a hot, hot, hot day. For a few minutes that I left an air-conditioned room, my body is sweating like crazy, as if I'm working out. Looks like my New Year's resolution of losing weight will be successful after all without even trying. LOL.. Now who needs an exercising equipment, well not me, oh maybe it is hubby, who can't seem to control his eating habit, yep he's the COOK, that's why. Maybe I can buy him a dip station, the ultimate body press, to keep him fit when I receive my next pay out. :P

Car care

2010-02-27T21:24:00.005+08:00

When we bought our first car, although I took up driving lesson and got my non-professional driver's license, I haven't been able to practice much, coz it was hubby who did all the driving, he was more nervous than I am when I start driving our car. So to keep his sanity intact, I let him do the driving. Ha ha.
Since I'm not driving, naturally I don't know much about its part. Hubby did all the trouble-shooting, or go to an auto mechanic or repair shop when he cannot fixed it, like when the car won't start and the mechanic said there is something wrong with the placement of a timing belt or it needed to be replace. One time, when we went out of town, the radiator heats up, we stopped at a gasoline station to pour some water on it, the in-house mechanic checked it and found out that the water pump malfunctioned because the fan belt was damaged, so we quickly bought one and replaced it.
It's not easy to own a car, it's like a baby who needs tender loving care and had to be maintained regularly to keep it in good condition. You also must have a trusted auto repair shop in case it needs some repair, or else it will be a big headache. Same with the Phoenix auto repair shop, from all the positive comments and recommendations I read, I can see that they provide good quality services to all their customers.

Strong Earthquake hit CHILE

2010-02-27T20:55:00.005+08:00

Yes, another strong earthquake struck again and this time it was in Chile. It has a magnitude of 8.8 destroying homes and buildings and could trigger tsunamis, so warnings was already sent to wide areas including Philippines, Hawaii and Japan. As for the moment it claimed 76 lives already. I'm extending my prayers for the safety and early recovery from this disaster to the people of Chile. After all these it make me think if I ever allow my children to live in high-rise apartment building or condo.
SANTIAGO, Chile – Chile's government says 76 people are confirmed dead in a giant earthquake that has collapsed buildings and set off a tsunami.

The death toll comes from the deputy interior minister, Patricio Rosende. His boss, Edmundo Perez Yoma says: "the death toll will continue rising."

The magnitude-8.8 earthquake has caused a huge wave that reached a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands off the Chilean coast. Tsunami warnings have been issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.

The earthquake struck early Saturday.

source: yahoo.news

Something to rely on

2010-02-27T10:19:00.005+08:00

While browsing the internet, I came across a site about health insurance in NC, and I know how important to have one like this, though not in US. Just yesterday I renewed my annual health insurance policy. I always make it a point to have it updated because this is a great help for us, like when my son, as one of my beneficiaries, got hospitalized when his appendix got infected and have to be removed immediately, they paid the 25% of the hospital bill, for my spouse they will reimburse 50% of the bill and for me, since I am the principal holder they will pay 100%. If for the whole year it is not use, they will give me an executive medical check-up as part of my benefit. That's how important having a health insurance is. Whatever happens you can have something to rely on.

Safety first

2010-02-26T14:16:00.006+08:00

It's not yet summer but you can already feel the heat, mostly in the late mornings and afternoons. March is usually the start of summer and also the fire-prevention month, too much heat and lack of water supply are some of the causes of fire, so the community is advice to make the necessary precautions to prevent this calamity.

If you happen to be in secluded places like buildings or movie houses, look for all the exit signs just in case anything like this happens, so you know where the way out. Same with earthquake, another disaster we don't want to experience that happened recently in Haiti.

Summer camping

2010-02-26T12:28:00.010+08:00

Wanna go camping? Summer for me is the best season to go on camping, go nature-tripping and enjoy the summer breeze. It would be nice if we have our own trailer and go wherever we want. We don't need to rent a cottage coz we have all the things we need. How I wish. LOL..
How about you? Looking for one? But buying a brand new trailer is out of the budget? Well, going for a used travel trailers hunt is not a bad idea. There, you could find trailer that is still in good condition but very much cheaper compared to a brand new one.

Get the best deal

2010-02-25T21:13:00.005+08:00

Safety is our main concern for us and to our family, whether at home or on the road, so getting an insurance policy for our home and vehicle is not an option but a priority. But at this present economic situation, frugality is the name of the game, even when acquiring insurance. And I suggest go to different insurance companies for insurance quotes, before signing into any contract so you can compare and assess their prices to get the best deal at lower costs.

Are you ready?

2010-02-25T20:32:00.005+08:00

Accidents happen when you least expected it. And what more frustrating when it came at time when you have no money to spend for medication or hospitalization. What about when it's worse than just being hospitalized. How will your family cope, what will happen to their future, to the kids? Getting a life insurance is one option, but can we afford it? Life insurance need not be expensive, get life insurance quote first before committing, coz there are companies that give low premiums with same benefits.

Baby has a Cold

2010-02-24T23:28:00.002+08:00

Colds are caused by viruses, an extremely small infectious substances, even smaller than bacteria. Would you believe there are 200 cold viruses? Our bodies can work up an immunity only after a contact, so it's impossible to become immune to colds. Virus can be transmitted directly from one person to another with a simple sneeze or cough. Or when the infected person transfers the virus to his hand while coughing or sneezing, then touches the hand of a healthy person, then the healthy person touches his nose or mouth, which give way for the virus to enter his body, where it can grow and multiply, thus soon rise the symptoms of colds.

Symptoms of colds:
runny nose
hoarseness
watery eyes
coughing
low-grade fever

It is important that the baby is check by the pediatrician on the first sign of the illness, symptoms can be misleading and colds can quickly develop into serious disease.

How to prevent babies from catching colds?

Keep the baby from people who already have them.
Careful hand washing of people taking care of the baby. It was proven that hand washing reduces the risk of transferring cold viruses.
Avoid exposing the baby to cigarette smoke, it increases his vulnerability to colds and other respiratory infections.

Fragile handle with care

2010-02-22T22:01:00.006+08:00

READ THIS PARENTS and BABYSITTERS:
There are some situation, that an adult may handle the baby roughly, swinging and shaking in attempt to keep him quiet. This can be harmful, even fatal for the baby.

Do you know what SBS is?
Shaken Baby Syndrome - it happens when someone shakes an infant less than one year old. At that age, an infant's neck muscles have not fully developed. The violent movement causes the minute blood vessels, especially those between the skull and the brain to break. This causes bleeding in the subdural area, found beneath the dura mater that covers the brain and the spinal cord. As the amount of blood increases, it causes pressure in the brain.
The signs and symptoms of SBS are vomiting, convulsions, poor appetite, difficulty breathing, unequal pupil size and seizures. Manifestations can include a preferential gaze to one side due to accumulation of the blood in a particular part of the brain. SBS often has irreparable consequences. Although SBS can be fatal, there are babies who survive, especially if detected early and the bleeding is not profuse. But survivor may suffer partial or total blindness, hearing loss, developmental delays, impaired intellect, speech and learning difficulties, problems with memory and attention or paralysis. Neurological effects can include damage to the nervous system, particularly the brain.

Three important points to remember to reduce the risk of SBS:
1. Never shake baby vigorously. Tell baby sitter and other caregivers never to shake the baby when putting to sleep.
2. Awareness of the cause of SBS and the proper care of infants is very important.
3. Be gentle with infants. They are very delicate creatures who need gentle treatment and loving care.
Smart parenting

Tips on how we can improve our Personality

2010-02-20T21:41:00.007+08:00

1. Maintain a sound physical health
2. Develop a wholesome outlook in life
3. Gain confidence through achieving even small successes
4. Learn to enjoy people and to make stimulating social contacts
5. Cultivate a variety of active interests
6. Conquer fears by facing them
7. Adopt sensible independence
9. Plan a balanced program of work and play
10. Beware of alluring escapes
11. Learn to face things as they are
12. Strive for a balanced satisfaction of life's needs
13. Remember that time is a great healer