September has almost come to its end.  The entire month really gave us a roller-coaster ride.  We were happy, pleased and excited for one moment and before we knew it, there’s the big drop that literally brought us tears.

Travis and I were excited of finally being able to get our own place.  It’s yet another step closer to our dream.  We went to look at several places and when we found the one that we like with a wooded view, we did not hesitate to make an application.  Little did we know that the management of the said apartment are too critical about credit rating/score.  Unfortunately, we got rejected and that time we feel defeated, sad, and on the verge of depression.

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Packing is my least favorite thing to do and I abhor moving but as it turns out, it has become my way of life.  From Charlotte, NC to Jacksonville Fl, from Columbia Heights, MN to a Minneapolis Suburb, such experience has made me into a constant packer and a constant mover.

After all those times, I have learned how to handle such a big undertaking.  Self Move is not a very difficult nor expensive task at all.  Especially if you know how to play your cards right.  Take charge of the packing.  And I’m very critical when it comes to it because I make sure similar things are packed together and that they are labeled correctly and neatly.  Leave the loading and unloading to the big arms.  With the physical strength that Travis and I lack, the internet has always been our source of help.  Craiglist can help us find guys who will move our stuff from the house to the truck.  And the moving truck?  Not to worry, ABF U-Pack Moving is there to assist you.  They will provide you with the truck that you need and send it to your location, then you load your stuff yourself or by the guys you hire.  ABF U-Pack picks it up and delivers it to your new location and let your guys or yourself do the unloading.  ABF does all the driving for your convenience.  It is even less expensive than the full coverage mover and more convenient than the usual renting a truck.

Now are you ready for the next move?  We will be!

You might notice that I have not been blogging much this week. Travis and I have been looking for an apartment of our own. The contract on this apartment that we shared with a friend is up until the end of September.  Our friends just bought a house for themselves so they won’t sign another lease.  Travis and I need to find our own place.   We were playing tug-of-war on one apartment unit and we lose it to someone else.  The reason?  Credit Score!

TS’ credit score got screwed up because of his stupid student loans.  When he was between jobs, he put a hold on his student loan payments to prioritize on the more important bills.  He has been prompt in paying all the bills except for that one.  And this particular one screwed up his credit score.  And someone like me who has no credit history could not help him at all.

Right now, we are waiting for the decision of the other apartment that we  applied to.  If we get it, we’ll be staying here in Minnesota and continue what we have started.  If not, we will be forced to go back to Florida and live in Mom’s house until we are able to fix that damn credit score so we can find a place to stay if not afford our own house.

Whatever will come up, I know there’s a reason for it.  If destiny will take us back to Florida, I will embrace it wholeheartedly.  Afterall, I already got 2 calls from Convergys in Jacksonville for HR position.  However, TS and I will continue to long for Minnesota that we both love so dearly.  So, wish us luck!

The Holidays are almost here and it’s about time to start window shopping to get a load full of gift ideas.  I want to give Travis something special this year… something that will represent my love for him… something that can withstand the test of time.  Every time I think of what to give to Travis, I always end up having blank thoughts and no ideas at all.  When I mentioned the word time, a gift idea came into my mind.  How about a watch?

He used to have a Movado watch and I would like to match that one if not find a better one for him.  I came across Breitling watches and could not stop admiring these luxurious watches.  These watches look great and indeed very professional.  Breitling Aeromarine exemplifies pure perfection, performance and sofistication in a class dedicated to professionals and sports people alike.  I’m pretty sure this would not only  look good on his hand but his friends will like it as well.

So it’s time to save up those dollars ‘coz this is a perfect gift for someone who means the world to me that no money can buy.  This gift is gonna be my goal and I don’t care if i can’t give it to him on his birthday or Christmas but I’ll be sure to give it to him in one special occasion that for now, only time can tell….

Well, it was not just an apple a day.  I have been feasting with apples everyday after Travis and I harvested a bag of it from Grandpa and Grandma’s backyard.  All those times I’ve been visiting the Budke’s Bend (that’s the name of their place), I didn’t realize that those trees that I’ve been mowing around last year are apple trees until today.  Now, all of those small trees are adorned with beautiful red apples.

The looks of it somehow reminded me of our Christmas Tree from way back when.  I could still remember when we had our Christmas tree adorned with real apples.  We were home alone then… me and my 3 other elder sisters – Manang Rorie, Manang Rema and Madon.  We were just laying around letting our imaginations roam while staring at the Christmas tree until our hunger strikes in.  We were so hungry (add laziness to that too) that we can’t afford to get up.  So, we just decided to pick the apples in the tree and ate it.

Now, for a little info on the apples that we got, it is actually the Honeycripsâ„¢ Apple.  The Honeycrispâ„¢ apple (Malus pumila cultivar Honeycrisp) was adopted as the state fruit of Minnesota in 2006. The apple was produced from a 1960 cross of Macoun and Honeygold apples, as part of the University of Minnesota apple breeding program to develop a winter-hardy tree with high quality fruit. The original seedling was planted in 1962. Now, millions of honeycrisp apple trees are grown across the U.S. and Canada and as far away as South Africa and New Zealand. Honeycrisp apples are about three inches in diameter. Their skin color is 60 to 90 percent mottled red over a yellow background. The fruit surface has shallow dimples and numerous, small dots with green russeting at the stem end. Honeycrisp apples are characterized by an exceptionally crisp and juicy texture. They are harvested from mid-September to mid-October; the optimum harvest usually occurs the last week of September.

The marketing slogan and proverb addresses the health effects of the fruit: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” though this adage was likely the result of farmers encouraging higher sales of produce in an effort to counteract the belief that it was an apple that was the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eve ate. Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Compared to many other fruits and vegetables, apples contain relatively low amounts of Vitamin C as well as a several of other antioxidant compounds. The fiber content, while less than in most other fruits, helps regulate bowel movements and may thus reduce the risk of colon cancer. They may also help with heart disease, weight loss and controlling cholesterol, as they do not have any cholesterol, have fiber, which reduces cholesterol by preventing reabsorption, and are bulky for their caloric content like most fruits and vegetables.

I love being in the sauna. It is a place to cleanse the mind, rejuvenate and refresh the spirit. After minutes of stay in it, your body feels great and you’d feel really beautiful.

This brings me to recall my first sauna experience. Travis and I were not married then. We were given passes to Thermae 200 by Papa Hen and Manang Rema for us to experience one of their favorite place to go and favorite thing to do. Each sauna has different temperatures to it. We first went ti the 45°C (113°F) room but realized it was packed. We then decided to go to the highest temperature room available in the resort which is 75°C (167°F). It was just us and we can feel every drop of sweat that would come out from our skin.  Every drop of it is like every bit of toxin out of my body as it melts the stress away.

These days technology has made a breakthrough with far infrared saunas.  These saunas use a special heater that generates far infrared radiation rays similar to that produced by the sun. Infrared Saunas are beneficial for overall health.  For one, Infrared radiation has been shown to kill the bacteria responsible for acne.  Not only that, the warmth of saunas will increase blood circulation to the skin which brings fresh nutrients to the surface.  These saunas assists with and or alleviates symptoms of Pain relief, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Arthritis, Weight Loss (burn up to 900 cal. in a 30 min. session, Increases Extensibility of Collagen Tissue, Joint Stiffness, Increases Blood Flow, Menopausal Symptoms, Low Blood Pressure, Detoxification of the Body, Aging, Skin (clogged pores, poor skin tone, acne, & more), Eczema, Menstruation Pain, Ulcers, High Blood Pressure, Hepatitis, Asthma, Sore Throat, Nose Bleeds, Sunburns, and Scarring.

These health benefits are just an added bonus to the feeling of rejuvenated, refreshed and cleansed every time you step out of the sauna.  It is amazing how a traditional Finnish ritual evolved to become an aid for healthy living.

I was out of town from Friday afternoon until about 1 am today, Sunday.  While I was gone, I thank you for continuing to visit my site.  As much as I would like to reply to the comments you have posted, I was not only preoccupied helping out for our Dad’s reception dinner but the Opera Mini on my Blackberry has been having small issues when I make a reply.  I eventually gave up and just focus on what I had to do while I was there.

Now, that I’m back, I’ll definitely keep up with your blogs and promise to reply on the comments that you left on my site.  But if you may, it’s 2:54 in the morning now and I must take myself to rest.

Have a Blessed Sunday everyone!  Until later….

Out with the old and in with the new.  Microsoft has surged ahead in bringing out new features to old operating system Windows XP.  They developed this year Windows Vista which is a total improvement from its predecessor.  In Windows Vista, they have revamped the cool features that is already available with Windows XP.  It has a new look and a new feel.

There is a new feature called “Aero” which is not present in Windows XP enables one to view the open windows as 3D windows. The task bar and open windows can be given translucent, which means semi-transparent effect, through “Aero” option. few of the many features that the new Windows Vista has to offer.  Microsoft also bought the side-bar feature similar to the sidebar you see on MS-Office 97.  Programs can be quickly accessed, through customizable buttons provided for the purpose.  We need not navigate through Start > Programs > Program Group > Program Name” to run a program.  Instead, we can create a short cut on the side bar such that Program Name can be directly accessed.  These are few of the many features that makes Windows Vista interesting.

Windows Vista has a couple of editions in its product line-up.  Each edition of Windows Vista has its own target market and resolves around the needs of specific type of potential customer.  If you have a small business and is interested to take on the advancement of technology, Windows Visa gives an assurance for Small Businesses.  You will receive free support, compatibility assistance, and one-on-one coaching from Microsoft to help ensure a smooth transition.  Not only that, they assure you that Windows Vista is more secure than its predecessor and is least likely to get infected by spyware and malware.  Their trained and responsive customer service team are waiting to help you out.

So keep up with the new age technology and be more secure with Windows Vista.

Travis decided to turn the radio on to break the silence when we were driving back home from Fergus Falls after attending Dad and Sandi’s Reception.  When the Spice Girls’ Wanna Be song played, I recalled that it was my first casette tape ever purchased having The Moffatts Chapter I: A New Beginning album being the second.  Now it gets me to wonder, what happened to The Moffatts?

When I asked my walking google (Travis) about it, he couldn’t give me an answer.  He doesn’t even know the band nor their songs.  Even the mention of the Hanson brothers being their similar group or I should say rival group at that time doesn’t ring a bell to him.  I can’t believe that the group The Moffatts which was very popular in the Philippines back in the late 90′s is unheard of here in the US.

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Postcards are used to promote a variety of things.  It is one of the most powerful tool for businesses to reach their clients.  For small businesses, one will find the comfort of marketing through it.  Whether it is direct mailing or personal hand-out postcards, it is surely an effective way to convey your message to the person.  It is not until recently that it became easier for us to create custom postcards.  With the emergence of new technology-digital cameras and imaging software, one can easily create their own Postcards that will not only represent their business but will also attract potential consumers or buyers.

From my previous post, I have mentioned about working on pictures to be made as posters.  Have I also mentioned that I manipulated images and made them as invitations and thank you cards?  My sister-Rema continued to inspire me that I can somehow earn with it.  However, my works remained digital.  I have not moved forward to providing prints because of the fact that printing can cost a lot of money.

Last night, when I was about to finishing a birthday tribute for Tante Ria’s 50th Birthday, I let my myself wander for a little bit curious to know how prints would cost.  There’s Vista Prints!  They provide quality prints at a reasonable price.  You can have your own design or you can let their creative services team to finish the job for you.  The great thing is, you can get 50 Free Oversized Postcards by using the Coupon PC50 : 50 Free Oversized Postcard.

Now, there’s no stopping us now.  Vista Prints will definitely save me!