This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Back to school time is just around the corner and that means school projects for students and teachers! Making projects in school is not an easy undertaking for school boys and girls. You need to get creative in able to get high grades for every project you submit. For activities that require papers, using very colorful papers is quite eye-catching compared to dull, plain colors like grey, brown, white, and the like. Therefore, it is very important to choose the ones that will surely give you a A+ grade. Astrobrights papers is one good example of papers with a great collection of 23 attention-getting bright colors like pulsar pink, solar yellow, terra green, celestial blue, and many more! And for teachers who are busy making their  projects to decorate the room to get ready for school, you definitely have to check Astrobrights papers. These papers are perfect to brighten up the entire room.

Talking about back to school projects, Astrobrights is also doing its own project through "Give a Brighter Year" sweepstakes. Beneficiaries of this contest are elementary schools that the winner chose to give the prize to. The school can receive cash prizes and school supplies valued at $30,000! Such a wonderful present for the educational institution that you support!

Meanwhile, for creative people out there, this is the perfect time to share the magic of your hands and minds in the "Make Astrobrights Design" challenges. You can win lots of prizes in sharing your work through pictures and videos. To find out more, check Astrobrights on Facebook.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Children are going back to school so soon, and buying the things they need can be overwhelming financially speaking. But thanks to some stores which offer sales and promotion to keep the parents' budget in line. One great example is the BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon. Shoes are one of the most important things that our school age-child needs. Famous Footwear has a large collection of different styles of shoes that are perfect for school. From athletic, boots, casual, sandals to dress shoes, Famous Footwear has everything that your kids want at affordable prices coupled with discounts that will save you more bucks.

Moreover, Rewards members this is such a happy day because you can avail  the back-to-school promotion of 20% off plus buy one get one 50% off! For non-members, this is a great chance to grab the opportunity to save more in your back-to-school expenses! Aside from the mentioned discounts, other benefits you can get  as a Rewards Program member is, you will earn 1 point for every dollar you spent in-store or online. You can accumulate points up to $100 equivalent. Imagine getting shoes for free through the points you earn! Besides, Famous Footwear offers an instant discount to buyers signing up to become a member.

If you're going to visit one of your local Famous Footwear, you need to print the BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon to get the discount and show it to the register at checkout. The coupon can be used between 8/2 to 8/18, 2012.

 

Quite disappointed of the water melon we got at Mekong Plaza last weekend. There was not a part of the fruit that can be eaten. It's terribly overripe. The inside was so soft, juicy, but in a bad way. Absolutely a waste of money. This Asian market should strictly choose their fresh produce suppliers. This is not the first time we experience getting bad fruits and produce. There are a lot of great produce available in this place, but, as a buyer I expect all produce to be fresh and edible. I paid for it, therefore I deserve what I spent our money for. I like Mekong. It's where I get most of my ingredients when I crave for my native Filipino food. However, I wish this establishment gives me the best of their merchandise everytime we go and purchase some. More than twice of getting inedible fresh produce is too much.

I decided to buy Pompano fish yesterday instead of the Bonita fish. I was bored of the latter. I've been eating the same fish for a month and I wanted something different. I remember when I went to visit a Filipina friend who lives nearby, she made a whole grilled Pompano fish. It was very good. Evie even loved it.

So today, I gave in to my craving and prepared the fish for lunch. I stuffed it with salted green onions, yellow onions, and tomatoes. Before I put it in the oven, I rubbed a little amount of salt on both sides. I used olive oil to coat the pan. I set the oven to 350 degrees and cooked the fish for about 20 minutes. I flipped it on the other side after the first 10 minutes. By the way, I only use convection oven to cook it in "grill" setting. The fish turned out sooooooooo good. I wanted to eat the whole fish but was getting too full. The fish's meat is very sweet and tastes fresh. The spices I put with salt in it really helped enhance the flavor of the fish. My craving is satisfied! :)

If you like grilled fish, I recommend Pompano fish. Give it a try and taste for yourself.

Grace Community Church's Easter Sunday service this year was quite moving to me. Tears were racing one after the other. The emotions started to well up inside when this special group of church members, one by one, walked into the middle of the stage holding a huge, white placard with writings in it. The writings were confessions of how and what they were before they knew Jesus. Declarations were expressed in one word, at the most three words. Confessions like: fatherless to heavenly Father; fear to no fear; unloved to loved; cancer to survivor; selfish to selfless;  exhausted to refreshed; uncertain to certain; lost to found, and many more. It was done in silent gesture, but the impact in mind, heart, and soul, was so powerful. I knew that I was not only the one touched by the messages. I felt it all around me. I heard sniffles beside, on the front, on the back. It was very touching and humbling to identify myself as one of these people; the bad and sad things I went through before having a personal relationship with Jesus, and the good and joyful things I received after knowing my personal Savior.

The choir was awesome. As the presentation was done, one girl in her teens led the lead vocals and was accompanied by a group of children, probably ages 6 to 10 years of age. They sounded like heavenly angels sent from above. The song they sung and the angelic voices that came out from their mouth made the event more meaningful and strong. I felt like I was in heaven...with Jesus.

It was such an awesome service. Thank you Grace Community Church for moving my heart and the tears that I shed...from the bottom of my heart.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Spartan Race for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

For people who find pleasure and fulfillment in vigorous workout activities like marathon or triathlon, yet thirst for more challenge other than mental and physical strength, Spartan Race is the ultimate test that you can ever encounter these days. Spartan racing is the latest fun-filled working out event that pushes one's physical abilities to the limit and the same time make it a very enjoyable and entertaining marathon for everyone involved. Their world leading obstacle courses  were discreetly chosen to stimulate each participant's interest to get up on his feet, confront the challenges along the way, and give him motivation to finish the race. Unlike the typical triathlon where it only involves swimming, biking, and running, Spartan Race, sets the bar to the highest by incorporating various obstacle courses like jumping, crawling, sliding, climbing, throwing, dodging, and so much more that you never imagine in a race.

The name Spartan itself connotes "toughness" and "durability." Maybe you think that this race is only for people who have proven themselves iron men in the racing arena. The good news is, it is for everyone—beginners to veterans. Spartan Race even designed specific type of races for kids that will attract them to get involve and get active. The whole family gang can join the physical fun and stay fit and healthy! I myself is happy to know that this event is not only for the seasoned athletes. That means their door is very much wide open to welcome a neophyte like myself to get fit and eventually finish the obstacle courses with other participants.

If you are interested of this newest racing event in town, you can check Spartan Race's frequently asked questions and answers and sign up to receive newsletters, daily workout challenges, and inspiring blogs from the members. You may be a beginner today, but one day, you will just find yourself becoming one of the mighty "Spartans."

Four months after submitting my application to the USCIS to remove my 2-year conditional residency status, I have finally received my 10-year green card today. Yay for that! I am most thankful that it didn't get lost in the mail like what happened to my first green card. We had to pay another $350 to get a replacement. It sucks, but we couldn't do anything about it. It's a very important document that I have to have.

My application process was so smooth. I never encountered any problem with the documents (evidence) that we sent and the biometrics that I took months back. We really didn't provide that much evidence of relationship (that my husband and I still live together) except for our joint tax info, bank account statement, 3-4 family pictures, and our daughter's birth certificate. It's very comforting to know that we didn't get an RFE (request for evidence) which will delay the process and approval.

Next step would be my application for naturalization. It would be another document preparation but the end of $$$$ fees and immigration application and appointments. Hopefully, it would be as smooth-sailing as this one.

I was surprised to find the Sears gift card in our car today. I thought that Sears already forgot what they promised me months ago. I made a back order purchase last December online and a month later, I got an email that most of the stuff I ordered were no longer available. The email came with an apology and to make up for the inconvenience that they caused me, Sears promised to post 25,000 points (equivalent to $25) in my Shop Your Way Rewards account and send me a $15 gift card. Wow, that "inconvenience" was worth $40. Who would say no to a free $40? True enough, they credited the points to my card and I was able to use it to buy stuff that we needed for our baby. I waited up to 6 weeks the most for the gift card to arrive, but it didn't. Sears must have forgotten it already. Well, not really. I just received it today (probably arrived yesterday since it's already in the car). With the blessings I got, I want to thank Sears for being true to their words. My online shopping experiences with you has been really smooth and I appreciate for giving away $40 just because the items I ordered are no longer available. :)

Church members gathered around in a huge pool to celebrate with the newly baptized members.

Grace Community Church celebrated Palm Sunday with a blast. Everyone gathered together in one service. Church was packed. Sermon was awesome. Thanks to our head teaching Pastor Darryl DelHousaye who never fails to give us meaningful and inspiring messages. The service was followed by the baptism of children and adult members who desired to profess to the public their faith to Jesus Christ. The church rejoiced as more and more people dedicate their life to the Most High.

Cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn stations.

Long queue for food. It's so worth the wait!

Picnic was next! Tents, tables, chairs, and bouncy houses were put up outside the worship center. Of course it wouldn't be complete without food. There were cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn station not only for the little ones but also for those who still consider themselves "little ones" (I'm one of them :) ). I was amazed of how much food the church prepared and served. I thought there would only be hotdogs and burgers. I was so surprised to see several kinds of side dishes, salads and desserts (including ice cream!). Everything I had in my plate were so good—I emptied it. Food was absolutely awesome. I salute the people who took their time to prepare and share their delectable recipes to the church. Also, my sincerest appreciation to all volunteers who made sure not one person gets hungry.

Our good friends, the Holowinski's. It's always great to bring a big blanket for the picnic. :)

Children were playing and running all over the field, some were enjoying the bouncy house, others couldn't get enough of their sweet treats. Blankets were laid on the ground as family and friends chit-chatted and shared their meal together. I got the privilege to talk to a new member of the church who was sitting and eating with us in the table along with her "new" friend who is a regular member of the church. We had a great conversation. A great company.

I am so grateful how our church celebrated Palm Sunday this year. This wasn't done last year. Thanks to our current head Pastor Josh Sherrard and to the church elders for such a wonderful idea. This kind of gathering gives us the opportunity to mingle with church members as one big family. I hope we will do this again next year. We love it!!!

My daughter Evie patiently waiting for her cotton candy.

Enjoying the sumptuous food, nice weather, great company.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CafeWell for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Staying fit and healthy is a challenge that a lot of us are facing today. Well, that includes me. I am not the type of person who pushes herself to do regular workouts and watches the amount of calorie, fat , and sugar for every bite I take. I know within myself that I need to make a decision when it comes to the subject of "health." I need something and someone to motivate me achieve the goal. Well, I might have found the answer— CafeWell. CafeWell is a Social Network just like the ever popular Facebook, but different in so many ways. Unlike other social network sites which focus more on gossips, friends and family's every day activity, picture and video sharing, etc., CafeWell's primary objective and concentration revolves around the health care of each and every member. Similar to other social network websites, we can also connect  and share with other people, but , solely about our health care interests and needs. Reach for the Peaks is a health program that CafeWell and its partners like Altius provide to all members for free. It is a wireless pedometer program that every member can avail. The goal is to help and support each member to become and stay active and healthy. Included in their health and wellness programs are activities that come with regular prizes and social acknowledgments to insured members.

I'd definitely check this "new thing" in the social networking world myself. It's different and sounds really beneficial for a happier, healthier life that I deserve. I should be able to find and connect with people that will hold me accountable of how I take care of my health, and to reciprocate, be also their accountability partner. I am sharing one of the testimonies that motivated me to try CafeWell. And it goes:

"I never thought that I was competitive before.  Now I am counting steps and enjoying seeing them add up.  My husband was actually teasing me a little and telling me that I was competitive after all… It has been fun to encourage each other to get more steps in each day.  It is also fun to see the medals add up.  I don't know whose idea it was to get this program started, but it was a great one.  I sure hope everyone else is enjoying this health competition to get healthy!"
 

If wondering whether you have to pay a fee to become a CafeWell member, it's for FREE!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Spring is here, and for people who enjoy getting their hands dirty in their gardens, this is the most exciting season of all! For gardening enthusiasts, we find joy seeing our yards in full bloom of lovely, colorful flowers and greens. We do everything we can: buy gardening tools and stuff that we think will help beautify our oasis of Eden. But sometimes, we are unsuccessful in doing this. It is because one of the most important things we overlook is the quality of the soil where we planted flowers. If in your case this is the problem, Miracle-Gro's newest innovation Expand ‘n Gro™ is the solution. This planting mix promises to expand the growth of flowers and vegetables up to 3x compared to native soil. It takes care and retains the healthy growth of plants for up to 6 months. The natural fiber in this mix does amazing job in absorbing water. Compared to the basic potting soil, Expand n' Gro holds up to 50% of water, thus, keeping the plants fresh and hydrated.

If you haven't use this product yet but want to see how it works in your blooms, Miracle-Gro is giving out a free sample packet to growers. You will find this opportunity on their website itself, so check it out. I myself can't wait for my free stuff. Once you've tried the product, I would love to hear how it works in your garden and we can compare. :)

We have another yummy french toast for breakfast. Before my husband found a good recipe for french toast batter online, our french toast was not exciting at all. The one that he found is not fancy at all. It's only asks the basic ingredients for the batter but with a little twist that makes it more enjoyable to our taste buds. So, I am sharing this recipe in case you are tired of your boring french toast.

French Toast Batter Ingredients:

2 eggs & 1 egg yolk

1/3 cup milk (we use soy milk so our daughter can eat)

1/8 tsp vanilla

1/6 cup flour

1/6 cup sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

This batter is only good for 4-5 slices of bread. We only use white bread (Sara Lee Iron Kids brand) and it's pretty good. Just have to make sure that the bread is soaked enough to make the inside moist and flavorful. I like  the edges of the bread crispy. I do this by dropping tiny slices of butter around the edges. We usually eat our french toast with a regular pancake syrup and crispy bacon. Bon apetite!

I was talking to my brother-in-law yesterday and I was telling him about how things have been tight for our family financially lately. I usually do not like to talk finances with him because he is kind of a know-it-all when it comes to finances. However, I am to the point that I need some advice. He suggested that we try to go on a cash budget. I thought it sounded a little crazy, but after he explained it I decided that we should give it a try. He also suggested that we switch to fixed-rate energy so we will have a predictable bill each month. I asked him how he found out about that and he told me that he searched “energy companies Texas” online and discovered that he was eligible for it. His wife actually keeps track of their budget and is very strict about it. He is not even allowed to use their debit card without getting her approval ahead of time. I do not want to be as extreme as them in our budget, but I do think that my wife and I can learn from some of their financial principles.

Ever have that moment of where you just want to stop the time, close your eyes and hope that when you open your eyes again you have all the things that you wished for? Sometimes I have those moments.

One of the things I wished for when I am in my dreamland is a adjustable coffee table dining table. I would want a coffee table where it can be transformed into a dining table. Call it 2-in-1! I'd also love to have a place on my coffee table where I can store magazines and books. That way, when I want to spend my time relaxing, I can grab something to read while I drink my coffee, and probably rest my tired feet. For a coffeeholic like me, this item is luxury.

Ever dreamed of spending a date night with your other half in a fancy restaurant wearing a Adrianna Papell evening essentials? Well, I do. Who wouldn't want to wear a wardrobe made by Adrianna Papell? It would be a perfect outfit for that very special, exclusive night that I'd want to spend with my beloved. I bet he'd love what I wear.

I love to daydream. I love to drown myself in fantasy (sometimes). Life without them seem dull. As human beings, it's just normal for us to create our make-believes specially at times when life looks colorless. Fantasies are rainbows of life. And yeah... before I take another plunge into my dreamland again, I have to call my husband to get a 20x36 air filter. We definitely need to change it. Daydreaming is so much better when you breathe clean air.

Ever have a problem on how to wash a gigantic bed comforter in a small washing machine? I just had that dilemma when we got a king size comforter last Christmas from my parents-in-law. I didn't realize how small our washing machine is and never thought of what damage it will do when I dumped an elephant-sized bedding. One of the edges of the comforter got torn! It got caught with a rough plastic that's located on the cover tub. My heart sunk. Luckily, the other parts were still intact. We can't just throw away a very new, nice comforter, so we decided to use it anyway. Now the question is, how am I going to wash it without using the washing machine? An idea immediately lighted in my mind. Wash it the Filipino way!

In the Philippines, we wash our clothes by hands (at least most of us). Washing clothes is totally a physical effort. But we don't mind it. We're used to it. It's our lifestyle. We don't use dryer either. We utilize the natural heat of the sun to dry our clothes by hanging them outside our houses using ropes that we tie on one post to another. It does not only conserve energy (well, physical energy? it burns us a lot!), it also saves us money.

Going back to my recent dilemma, I found the perfect place where I can wash the bed comforter—bath tub! It's the right size that I need. You might ask if could I really wash that much size using my hands. The answer is "no way!" It's too big for my small hands, plus hey come on, I am pregnant! How in the world I could do that with my hands. Well, another way I was taught on how to wash huge items like blankets is through my...feet! Yup! Our feet is one of the best tools that we can use to do big tasks such as this. I'm quite happy that I was able to save myself from trouble of getting our comforter ripped again and finally accomplished my goal. Thankfully, I have the tools—big tub and my feet (of course water and soap too). Awesome! Problem solved. Next task? Drying the comforter under the sun.

Eversince, I have dreamed of having a expansive, beautiful lawn. I love the sight of neatly-trimmed green grass. It's the closest to nature I can enjoy specially when you live in the urban area. Unluckily for me, I do not have what I wished for. But if I do have a lawn in our abode, I would definitely maintain its beautification. With available tools to do the work, I bet it wouldn't require me that much of an effort. The Scotts® Snap® Spreader System for example is a great equipment that will make the lawn work easy. Just watching the demo video alone has convinced me of how great it would be to own one if I have a huge, grassy yard. Like one homeowner has testified after using the system, it's very manageable to use and more compact for easy storage. It's a no mess, no guess spreader system.




If I were a homeowner whose lucky to have a lawn, I'd definitely get this product. The features that come with Scotts® Snap® Spreader System are great that will surely help me preserve the beauty and greenness of the grass. It does not require cutting, opening, or pouring heavy bags when time to feed the grass. All I have to do is snap the bag, lock it, and I'm ready to go! It also comes with a very unique EdgeGuard feature that keeps the product in place where I want it on the lawn. In addition to the uniqueness of this system, the Snap Pack has a self-seal feature, making the storage quick and easy. Who wouldn't want such convenience when it comes to lawn jobs?

For more info about this awesome product, check out Snap perks on Facebook and also get the chance to join promotions and win prizes in a Snap®!

So yesterday, the color of the star on my eBay account has finally changed...to purple! I've reached 500 feedbacks (mostly from buyers). I had been waiting for my blue star to change to another color. The change of star color on eBay means you're on to the next level. I actually thought it's going to be "red" after I accumulated 500 feedbacks. I think I needed 500 more feedbacks to get it. Well, purple is a pretty color—feminine, I can say. I know it's just a star and color, but I take my pride for every achievement I receive as a seller on eBay. It's something I worked hard for, so I better be proud of it! :)

Our garage door got broken last night after we got home from getting something to eat for dinner. Both my appetite and my husband's just flew nowhere after that. At least I ate a little bit, but he only took one bit of his chicken. It looked so damaged and bolts were disaligned. My poor dear hubby had to spend more than an hour taking off one part of the door. It's very heavy and huge and I can see how much the work was draining his energy and strength. When our daughter saw him fixing the garage, she kept on naming tools that she knew like wrench and screwdriver. Her wit and humor at least lightened the mood. As much as I wanted to stay with my husband in the garage, I had to stay with my daughter inside because it's not safe for her to be in the garage watching her Dada fixed the broken door. Later I told him to just leave the problem and work on it the next day. He looked so exhausted and needed rest. He took a shower which somehow helped soothe his labored muscles. He called his friends and asked for help in the weekend. I posted the problem on my Facebook page and my mother-in-law saw it. She asked my father-in-law to call Ryan and they were able to talk about the problem.

My father-in-law came to our place so early this morning to help his son take good care of the broken door. It was so nice of him to do that for us. He's always like that. He always comes to the rescue when we need help. He's an awesome man. We are very blessed to have him in our life. He takes good care of us. He's a great father.

The two were able to fix our garage door today. Hurray!!! I am so happy. My husband was so glad that Dad came over and offered us help or our garage would be wide open until the weekend. We truly appreciate for his lending us a hand to keep the house safe again. Thank you Dad for the kind of father you are to us. And thank you to my husband for the hard work and doing everything he could to mend the problem.