Thought for Food

Pop up Trade Show Display Products

2012-01-25T14:05:00.004-06:00

Pop up displays are commonly used for both indoor and outdoor events like exhibits, conferences and other marketing events in public areas because they are portable. You can use this kind of display anywhere and for several purposes. They can be used as an attention getter to attract people. Pop up booths are also a great promotional tool to promote your products and services. Their design is really intended for multi-purpose use. They can pop up and be ready to use in just a few minutes. They are a great asset to your exhibit to achieve your marketing goals.

There are many ways to promote and advertise your products and services. Another very effective tool for getting the word out about your business to a precisely targeted audience are pop up trade show displays. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes that are usually used as the mainstay of presenters at all types of fairs & festivals and anything in between.

E Cigarettes

2012-01-18T15:14:00.005-06:00

I don't know much about cigarettes because neither my hubby nor I smoke. The only thing that I know is that there are traditional and electronic cigarettes but I don't know first hand if electronic cigarettes are better than the traditional ones. To those who smoke, you might like to give electronic cigarettes a try. Who knows, you might like them because there are many different flavors to choose from and you don't have to worry about tar, ash and smell.

At blucigs you can find electronic cigarettes, starter kits, flavor cartridges and many accessories. They offer free shipping, one year warranty and a thirty day money back guarantee. The blu electronic cigarettes look, feel and taste like the real thing. They have different flavors like cherry crush, magnificent menthol, java jolt, classic tobacco, peach schnapps and more.

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

2012-01-15T20:45:00.000-06:00

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

I had never heard of the contract dispute between Walgreens and Express Script until recently. Express Scripts is the middleman between pharmacies that provide the health care service and employers and their health care plans. Walgreens had been negotiating with Express Scripts to continue to be their provider network. Unfortunately, the negotiations were unsuccessful and both parties have now parted ways. One of the Express Scripts customers that is affected by the split is Tricare, the health and prescription drug program for the US military.

The contract between Walgreens and Express Scripts expired on December 31st and as of January 1, 2012, Walgreens is no longer part of the Express Scripts network. This means that all Walgreens pharmacies nationwide and Duane Reade pharmacies in the New York City area are no longer included in the Express Scripts pharmacy network. The change of network coverage forces many pharmacy customers to go elsewhere to use their in-network pharmacy benefits for their meds.

In an effort to reduce the disruption to Express Scripts customers, the pharmacy is offering a special discount on an annual membership of Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. For $10 a year, a family membership covers everyone in your immediate family including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and pets. Individuals may join for $5. You will receive savings on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications and get discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies as well.

Stay updated and show your support by following Walgreens on Twitter and by subscribing to Walgreens on Facebook.

Ad Agency

2012-01-12T12:41:00.004-06:00

I have not been diligently working on my blogs these past few weeks because I have been hooked on watching the Philippine Big Brother show and the live feeds. I know it is a big waste of time but I need to find something that can help me brighten my mood, especially during this time of the year. I am doing this because I feel depressed. Even though I don't feel like working on my blogs, I am still able to finish the tasks that have been assigned to me. I wish I had someone that would do the work for me in times like these. Something like what the Advertising Agency does for people who need help developing a strategic marketing plan.

There are a lot of advertising campaigns to choose from. Since I spend most of my time online, I come across many different kinds of advertising. The most annoying among them is the pop up ad. It is as annoying as the people on Facebook that I don’t know tagging me for their advertising campaigns. I don’t like pop up ads even if I really like what is being advertised. Sometimes I won’t buy the product because of the way they advertise it.

That! Company is an advertising agency that can consistently come up with new and imaginative ideas to help you with your advertising needs. That! Company is not a typical advertising company because they can create a mixed media advertisement by combining new and old media. If you are looking for an advertising agency that can help you with your public relations, event promotions, media buying and search engine optimization needs, check them out online.

Got Junk?

2012-01-12T12:14:00.005-06:00

When I moved in to my hubby's place five years ago, the house was badly in need of some cleaning. My hubby wanted to get it cleaned up before I got here but he was so busy with his work that he did not have the time to get it done. The house looks much better now than when I first got here. There are still a lot of things that need to be done including cleaning, organizing and renovating the house. I have been bugging him to help me sort through his stuff so we can throw out the junk and keep what he wants.

He admits that we have a lot of worthless junk laying around but he has good stuff mixed in with it and it will take a lot of time to get it sorted out. We have a lot of old furniture, electronics and other stuff that needs to be sorted through and organized. Our house definitely needs a big clean up and makeover. I sometimes think about calling a junk removal company but I am afraid my hubby would have a nervous breakdown. Besides, I don't know of any particular junk removal service in the nearby area but I am sure that I could find one online.

Just out of curiosity, I browsed through junk removal companies online and came across 1-800-GOT-JUNK. It is The Woodlands Junk removal company that serves both home and business locations including offices, retail locations, construction sites and more. If you want to find a junk removal provider near you, call 1-800-GOT-JUNK. They haul all types of junk.

Mom's Here

2012-01-04T23:09:00.003-06:00

Contribution by Kennith Griffin

It’s helpful to have my mom here helping us get settled with the new baby. It’s tough enough finding a way to manage this tiny human but finances have been really tight for us and it’s hard for me to know what to do. My mom’s been great – helping me look into Amigo Energy in Texas and a better loan for the car and even working with a creditor on my student loans – as it turns out having a baby is really incredibly expensive! I love that there are so many people in my family that are so supportive of me but I don’t want to take handouts – I want to be able to do as much as I can on my own and I know that with a little time and planning I’ll get there. Mom’s helping a lot right now and I can’t even explain to her how valuable her help is to me. I love you mom, thanks for always being there for me when I need it most!

Mussels Soup

2011-12-21T11:24:00.005-06:00

You can get frozen mussels at Walmart. I was craving for mussel soup and my hubby helped me satisfy that craving. I made this soup the way I wanted it. Fortunately, my hubby likes my mussel soup recipe. The preparation is so simple. Here are the ingredients you need:

* 1 lb mussel
* 1 clove minced garlic
* 1 tsp cooking oil
* 2 medium sized tomatoes
* 1/2 cup chopped onions
* 2 cups of water
* salt to taste
* green onions (optional)

Procedure:

1. Sautee garlic until it turns brownish and then sautee the onions.
2. Add in the mussels and water. Bring to boil.
3. Add the tomatoes and then salt and green onions.
4. Simmer for a few more minutes.

It is best served with rice, especially during the cold season.

Join Schar Club to Get Free Sample of Gluten Free Food Products

2011-11-20T12:50:00.001-06:00

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

Are you interested in trying some of the best gluten free bread and rolls? If so, join Schar club. Being a part of that club, you get unlimited benefits. You get free sample products like Ciabatta and coupons, advice on how to live a gluten free lifestyle and more. Schar is one of the leaders in gluten free food products and are offering a free sample to the first 2,000 Schar club members that request it. Yes, they are available now, just for you, members of the gluten free network. They have recently re-launched their gluten free heat & serve items such as Sub Sandwich rolls, Ciabatta rolls and Baguettes.

With the holiday season fast approaching, I am excited to give Schar rolls and baguettes a try. Their sub rolls come individually packed in convenient two packs. They are low fat and an excellent source of fiber. They are ideal for school and work lunches. To get a free sample, sign up for the Schar club today. Check the Schar club site often for more news, giveaways, coupons, new products, recipes and other promotions. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section of my post about which items you are excited to try.

I Think My Niece Could Have Won this Puppies vs. Babies Contest

2011-11-17T21:55:00.000-06:00

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

Puppies and babies are both cute but I find babies to be cuter. They have an adorable giggle, they dance and they don’t smell like a dog. Even though babies can be messy in their own way and their cuteness goes away when they get bigger, they are still cuddly. My hubby loves dogs but I don’t want one because the shedding of their hair is too much work for me. The last dog that my hubby had before I got here left so much hair in the carpet that it is still coming out every time I vacuum.

I wish I had found this Puppies vs. Babies online contest earlier. I think my niece could have won this contest. She is so cute and funny and friendly that she can melt your heart, at least that’s what she does to me. At age 2, she speaks three different languages which is a compliment to her personality. Unfortunately, the picture submission portion of the Puppies vs Babies contest is already over but you can still take part in the on-going voting from now until November 23^rd. Be sure to get your say in who you think will be the winner of the Puppies vs. Babies competition. The winning puppy or baby will get $5,000. Also make sure to share your ideas and opinions in the comments section.

Escabeche Crappie

2011-10-25T18:36:00.009-05:00

Ingredients:

1 pc whole Crappie
1 tsp garlic
1 cup cooking oil
1 medium sized onion,chopped
1 thumbs ginger, cut into strips
1 cup water
3 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 small carrot, cut into strips
salt to taste

Cooking Procedure:

1. Fry the Crappie
2. Once the fish is fully cooked, remove from pan and set aside
3. Prepare the sauce
4. In a clean pan, saute the garlic, onion, carrots and ginger
5. Add 1 cup of water and simmer for 5 minutes
6. Add the tomato paste and sugar then mix thoroughly
7. Add the cornstarch to thicken the sauce (make sure to dilute the cornstarch in 1/4 cup water before adding it in)
8. Put the Crappie in the sauce.
9. Serve hot.

*** My hubby says that it is now his new favorite Filipino dish that I ever served to him.

Feel Richer with Android from Straight Talk

2011-10-25T18:28:00.000-05:00

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

The getting richer effect has expanded... by LittleBard95

I don’t like the idea of having a contract and being restricted to a certain cell phone plan. That was one of the reasons I decided to use a prepaid cell phone when I got here to the US five years ago. I did not want to go through the same frustrations that my hubby had gone through with his cell phone service provider. He often got charged for phone calls that were supposed to be free. To add insult to injury, when he ended the service long after the contract had ran out, they kept taking money out of his bank account.

My hubby and I don’t have a current working cell phone because we don’t have the need for one, especially now that my hubby is retired and I work out of our home. Our car has a built-in phone so when we travel we can call anywhere we like.

If you don’t want to be restricted to a cell phone contract, check out Straight Talk. Not only can you get a cell phone without a contract, you will also be able to cut your phone bill in half. You get great nationwide coverage and excellent connectivity.

Straight Talk has all the applications and games that you need. All of their smart phones have smart plans and with Straight Talk, you can get everything that you need in a cell phone without a contract. If I do decide to get a new cell phone, I want an Android. For only $45 a month I get unlimited use and I Feel Richer with Android from Straight Talk. I will be able to take advantage of all the great features that The power of Android phones have.

The Straight Talk “All You Need” plan meets the needs of heavy phone users. The plan includes 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts with 30 MB of web data. This unlimited monthly service is only $45 which includes calls, text, picture messaging and web. 411 calls are also included at no extra charge. Since there are no activation and reactivation fees, there is no termination fee as well.

Straight Talk also has international long distance service. It is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates. That sounds appealing to me. I need to check it out further.

For as low as $10, you can get reconditioned phones with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access and blue tooth capability from Straight Talk. These kinds of phones are great for young users.

Personal Injury Lawyers

2011-10-04T16:09:00.002-05:00

Accident can happen to anyone when you least expect it. If you are looking for Austin truck accident lawyer, visit O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949. They provide clients with superior client service and legal representation across the state of Texas. Their experience in this area allows them to deliver high quality expert advice in a prompt and efficient manner. The law firm prides itself on being approachable to clients and aggressive toward their adversaries. Contact O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath if you or someone you know suffers personal injury in an accident.

Buttered Garlic Shrimp

2011-10-03T12:39:00.004-05:00

Ingredients:

1 lb shrimp
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup garlic, minced
1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
1/2 cup lemon soda

Procedure:

1. Marinade the shrimp in lemon soda for about 15 minutes.
2. Heat up the butter in a pan until it is hot enough to cook the garlic.
3. Add the garlic and cook it until it turns golden brown.
4. Put the shrimp including the liquid marinade and let it cook until the liquid completely evaporates.
5. Sprinkle the parsley, ground black pepper and salt to taste.
6. Serve hot.

My hubby likes it but he preferred the peeled shrimp because it is not nearly as messy. I do like it with the shell on it.

Hass Avocados Recipe Contest

2011-09-24T11:58:00.003-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hass Avocado Board featuring Hass Avocados for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have a few simple avocado recipes that I would like to share. These recipes are not appealing to my American husband but are popular in my native home country. Our house in the Philippines where I grew up has a few avocado trees in our front yard so we always have a lot of avocados to eat. One of my favorite recipes was called an avocado milk shake. It is a combination of avocado, milk, ice and sugar. Blend these ingredients to taste until it is ready to be served. It is that simple. They make really good drinks for the hot summer season in the Philippines. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of that recipe because I haven’t made one since I got here to the US.

Avocado is a nutrient dense food. Did you know that one-fifth of a medium avocado has only 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 different vitamins and minerals? Over 75% of the fat in an avocado is unsaturated (mono and polyunsaturated fats), making them a great substitute for foods high in saturated fat. My hubby likes avocados. He eats them straight up with just a sprinkle of salt on them.

The reason I am suddenly talking about avocado recipes on Thought for Food is because I have been given the opportunity to share with you guys the Kick Off with Hass Avocados Recipe Contest. The winner selected by the Hass Avocado Board, will win a trip for four to the Rose Bowl Game®, held on January 2, 2012, in Pasadena, California. That includes round trip airfare, hotel accommodations and participation in a Rose Bowl Game® Welcome Reception. Also included will be admission to the “behind-the-scene” Rose Bowl Parade® decorating site, sightseeing tour of Pasadena, admission to the Rose Bowl Game® on January 2. 2012 and more. All for free.

There are two ways to participate in the contest:

A weekly sweepstakes where they will give away a box of avocados for 14 consecutive weeks!
A Recipe Contest where the winner will win a trip to the Rose Bowl Game®!

Entries will be reviewed by a panel of marketers selected by the Hass Avocado Board. They will be judged according to the following points: (a) the use of Hass Avocados in recipe – 25% (b) photo quality and image appeal– 25% (c) creativity – 25% (d) relevance – 25%. The finalists will be voted on by the public. The recipe that receives the greatest number of votes will win the grand prize. So get those avocado recipes ready for the contest. Feel free to check for more tailgating tips and recipes or sign up to receive free emails of recipe ideas and nutrition information.

Sushi Salad

2011-09-17T15:28:00.004-05:00

Sushi salad is a popular dish in the Philippines, especially during birthdays and family get togethers. It is made with tuna, cucumber, vinegar, onions, ginger, salt, hot pepper and such.

I am not good at making kinilaw. I tried making some with anchovies once but it did not turn out well and I have never tried making it again since.

Fresh caught fish are the best for kinilaw, especially the ocean fish. The tuna fish is my first choice for sushi salad but the anchovies will do.

Android on Straight Talk

2011-09-17T15:19:00.003-05:00

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

My hubby and I are now looking for a new local phone provider. We have been having lots of problems with our current provider and they are getting to be a pain in the butt to deal with. I am looking for a new international long distance provider as well. I told my hubby that I would give Straight Talk a try after I found out that their international long distance service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables me to make international calls from my home at low rates.

I don’t like having a contract and being restricted to a certain plan. With Straight Talk, I can Call a friend and family without one. The very first cell phone that I got when I first came here to the US five years ago was a prepaid. It was from TracFone. Straight Talk is their new service that would allow me to save money on international calls as well as domestic.

My hubby had a very frustrating experienced with a cell phone service that required a contract. He got charged for calls that were supposed to be free and when he ended the service after the contract was over, they kept on taking money from his bank account. He felt like he got sucked in, Hook, line and sinker. I don’t want to go through the same frustrations so I prefer an all-you-need type of plan in a cell phone.

Straight Talk has great nationwide coverage, excellent connections and connectivity and only uses trusted phone manufacturers like Motorola, Kyocera, LG, Nokia and Samsung. You can choose from smart phones, touch screen phones and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®. You can now get Android on Straight Talk as well. There are many features that I like about Straight Talk. Straight Talk offers the least expensive way to own and use a cell phone in America. There are no contracts and credit checks needed. They don’t charge activation or cancellation fees.

Zacapa Premium Dark Rum

2011-08-26T11:20:00.006-05:00

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

Time flies when you are having fun. It seemed like it was just yesterday when we were celebrating the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. In my native country, the Philippines, when the …ber months set in, we start hanging out our Christmas decorations. Yes, we have a long Christmas holiday season there. I tried that tradition here at home in the US but my husband is not that excited about the idea. He says that it is too early to do that but he let me try it once on my first Christmas here.

With the holidays fast approaching, I also start preparing our holiday treats. I am looking for new recipes to add to my old ones. One that I recently came across that is quick and easy to prepare is a rum balls recipe. I haven’t tried making rum balls made of premium dark rum before but it sure does sound interesting.

I am not much of a drinker but my hubby does occasionally. I am not familiar with any particular rum but recently found one that is made with concentrated sugar cane honey called Zacapa. If I do make rum balls, I will try to find Zacapa premium rum to put in them. Many claim that it is the best tasting rum in the world. Its unique blend of ingredients and special brewing process results in a very sophisticated and distinctive flavor all its own.

To learn more about this heavenly aged rum, visit Zacapa online or join the Zacapa Society and see what others have to say. To join the Zacapa Society, simply register at http://bit.ly/pvKdC9

Moving to live in Calif

2011-08-08T08:36:00.003-05:00

This guest post from Doris Dillon

Moving to California was always in the cards for me since it was my dream to become an actress (I know, it sounds cliché). I came out here when I was only 21 and I’ve been here ever since although my dreams and ambitions have changed a bit over the course of the last decade! I know own a home and a Http://allhomesecurity.com/ security system with a dog and a literal white picket fence and I don’t really think about acting all that much. I have a job as a consultant and I do a lot of traveling between here and Arizona so I’m not even at home all that much! I’m married now and don’t really go out like I used to but that’s okay since I’m getting older and those things just don’t really interest me anymore. California is just as suited for the older, settled life and there’s a lot of natural beautyto behold if you ask me. I love it here and I’m glad I made the move!

My life as an Arborist

2011-06-06T10:31:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Jonathon Woods

Most people don't know what an arborist is, but basically, my job is to maintain the health and pleasing aesthetic appearance of all of the trees in our local area. It's a harder task than you would imagine, since when one tree gets a disease, much like in humans, they spread it to other trees as well. This is how an entire row of elm trees is able to be knocked out in one fell swoop. I have to stay on top of the diseases that are currently going around as well as infestations that may also affect my trees. I found some goo Miami Clearinternet deals so I'm able to use my laptop to look up symptoms while I'm out on a job site, which helps me administer prompt and effective treatment. I get so much joy out of being able to save a sick tree and nothing breaks my heart more than not being able to save a dying one. The greatest part about my job is that I get to be outside all day long doing exactly what I want to do.

Spring/Summer 2011 Outdoor/Indoor Furniture

2011-04-18T09:28:00.005-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I haven’t tried shopping for outdoor furniture and décor at Pier 1 just yet. I don’t think we have a Pier 1 here in the nearby area. Out of curiosity I searched on their website and found several in the twin cities. I am planning to stop by the next time my hubby and I go there, probably, sometime in June because we are going to attend the graduation party of my hubby’s grand daughter.

Pier 1 has creative and innovative furniture for your home. Pier 1 Imports is a home decoration, furniture and gift store chain. They have just revealed their Spring/Summer 2011 outdoor furniture line. The pieces are innovative and very unique, especially the Papasan chairs. They are head turning pieces that people will talk about even after they leave your home. Pier 1 creativity is one of a kind.

I like anything colorful to match the nice summer season here in Minnesota. If we can start our home remodeling project this summer, I will also be shopping for new furniture, home accents and décor. I would definitely go with some of these things for my home.

This outdoor furniture is a must have for our deck. During the summer season my hubby and I spend a lot of time there relaxing. This is definitely the perfect furniture for sitting out there while sipping a few cold beers.

To find out more about the great bargains on outdoor furniture and décor at Pier 1, feel free to check them out online. Also, take a good look at the Pier 1 Tweetups, there might be one coming to your area.

Few More Days to go..

2011-04-18T09:10:00.002-05:00

It will be only a few more days to go before my trip to the Philippines. I am getting excited now that soon I will be able to see my family again and pig out some Filipino foods. Before going home to the village, I want to eat out at my favorite chicken restaurant first in the city. Then, I want to have some grilled tilapia dip in a hot sauce (vinegar and soy sauce) when I get to the village. There is so much more food to think about and now I am getting hungry.

I am leaving very soon and I can't help myself to feel sad as well because my hubby is not going with me. I am missing him already knowing that I am leaving in a few days. I hope that I can still get a good sleep before I leave. I have a very long flight ahead. I need to go to bed early because I need to leave home at 2 o'clock in the morning to go to the airport. I am two hours drive from the airport and need to check in two hours before flight departure.

Cord Blood Banking

2011-03-02T09:17:00.009-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International. All opinions are 100% mine.

CryoCell International is America's most established cord blood banking institution. They offer families the opportunity to preserve their newborn’s umbilical cord blood stem cells in a safe and secure place. With CryoCell International, you can preserve your newborn’s umbilical cord blood for potential use against many life threatening diseases. At www.Cryo-Cell.com you can find out more information about their cord blood banking services and even chat with a live representative to help answer your questions and concerns.

If you or someone you know is currently pregnant, consider this innovative stem cell solution in a non controversial way. It is definitely something that you should look into. We don’t know what the future holds so having these umbilical cord blood stem cells safely stored in case of emergency could be priceless. It is an easy way to protect your child and possibly the health of their siblings. You can go to www.Cryo-Cell.net and fill out a form to request an expectant parent information packet. By doing so, you can get a free BellyBag containing items to help you get started on your cord blood banking journey. Hurry, limited time special offer only.

Healthier eating choices in college

2011-02-17T09:14:00.002-06:00

Guest post written by Brad Dodge

In high school I think that I was at my healthiest because I played three sports and was constantly exercising. I also made an effort to eat pretty healthy to help me perform even better. Now that I'm in college, I play a club sport but that's not my main concern and a lot of times I'll sacrifice time at the gym or picking out a healthy meal to just grab fast food to go to the library and study for a few hours. I'm sure that not getting 8 hours of sleep a night also isn't helping the state of my health.

So when I was home visiting my parents for Christmas I got my mom to help me come up with healthy things I could eat without having to do any preparation that would lose me study time. While I was figuring that out with her by looking at online nutritional information, we came across a site with internet packages on it and she ordered one of them for our home service.

I'm really dedicated to making some healthy eating choices this semester and hopefully it will help me have more energy too.

Super Bowl Recipes

2011-02-02T09:52:00.002-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kenmore Live Studio. All opinions are 100% mine.

I can't wait to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. Both my hubby and I are football fans. I am a fan of both the Packers and the Steelers but I will be rooting for the Packers this time. They have been hot lately and have a good chance of winning. We are staying at home to watch the big game and will probably not have guests. Even though it is just me and my hubby, our home feels like a stadium because of the volume of the noise that I make cheering for my favorite team. We will also be preparing tasty foods and snacks for ourselves.

The Super Bowl Recipes that Kenmore offers can definitely help us plan ahead of time the foods that we will be eating. If you are planning to host a party for family and friends during the Super Bowl, check out the posted video to get some ideas and tips to have a successful sports party at home. I have watched a couple of videos and learned some cooking tips. I will have my hubby watch the videos with me, especially because he is the one that does most of the cooking. My personal favorite recipe is the steak nachos. I think my hubby will like it also because he is a big fan of steak.

Pancakes w/ Grape Jelly

2011-01-25T14:13:00.003-06:00

My hubby made these pancakes for his breakfast but I had some. I would like to have pancakes for breakfast or snacks from time to time because it is easy and quick to prepare. All you need to do is follow the instructions located on the box of Bisquick mix.

Like Hot and Spicy?

2011-01-11T09:50:00.004-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am originally from the Philippines but now living here in the US. I never heard of TABASCO® Original Red sauce before nor have I tried it. My hubby says that he tried it before with Mexican food and thinks that I would really like it, especially since I like hot stuff. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of him during his Tabasco Original Red sauce experience because it happened before we met.

Chicken afritada, fried chicken and menudo are just a few of my favorite recipes that I can think of that would be tasty with Tabasco Original Red sauce in it. Those are widely known Filipino recipes. This Tabasco Original Red sauce will also add more flavor to my hubby's favorite pizza, dip and chili beans. Since we are both fans of hot and spicy foods we should probably keep a bottle of Tabasco Original Red on hand. I will get one the next time we go grocery shopping. Then we will be ready for snacking and partying during the upcoming national championship football game and NFL playoffs.

Are you ready for some football? Check out the Game-Day Party Menu and Pizza Perfected pages for some simple ideas and recipes that everyone will love.

Chicken Curry

2011-01-01T10:44:00.006-06:00

This is the first chicken curry that I have ever cooked. It turned out good though I ate it all by myself. It looks ugly but it is definitely tasty.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp oil
3/4 lb chicken
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup onions
salt & pepper to taste
2 tsp curry powder
1 cup of water
3/4 cup of coconut milk
2 pcs. of green chili peppers

Procedure:

1. Saute garlic and onions until they get brownish.
2. Add the chicken, curry powder, water, salt and pepper.
3. Cover and bring to boil until half done.
4. Add the coconut milk and stir occasionally until the chicken is fully cooked.
5. Remove from heat and serve hot.

Part 2: Mouthwatering Dishes

2010-12-05T10:50:00.009-06:00

The above pictures are of several mouthwatering dishes that were made by a friend of mine. From the upper left: chicken pancit, macaroons, pork stew with tamarind and embutido (Filipino style meat loaf).

Gold Bullion

2010-11-16T16:49:00.010-06:00

Where is the best place to buy gold bullion and other precious metals? To meet your precious metals investment needs, consider the United States Gold Bureau. There you can purchase silver, gold and other precious metals in either coin or bullion form. There you can arrange for convenient and safe storage at an independent bank or depository. If you choose you can also have them sent to you personally. The prices of gold and silver have both dropped off recently but they are much higher than a year ago and still in the midst of a strong bull market. Check them out to find out more.

Part 1: Mouthwatering Dishes

2010-11-04T11:37:00.016-05:00

These were just a few of the mouthwatering recipes that were cooked by a friend of mine. I did not expect that she would prepare all of these for us. She cooked way more than we could eat. They did not go to waste though because she wanted us to take home the leftovers. I will be posting more of her recipes soon so stay tuned. From the upper left: egg rolls, leche flan, coconut cake and chicken afritada. My friend, Analyn, did a really good job. They all tasted fantastic.

Endless Shrimp

2010-10-25T19:30:00.007-05:00

My hubby and I had a chance to dine at Red Lobster when my hubby had an appointment at the VA Hospital in Fargo. We decided to go to Red Lobster after seeing a TV ad featuring their endless shrimp menu. We tried all five endless varieties of shrimp dishes like parmesan shrimp, garlic shrimp scampi, shrimp linguini alfredo, garlic-grilled shrimp and hand-breaded shrimp. They all tasted really good but my favorite was the garlic grilled shrimp and my hubby's favorite was the shrimp linguini alfredo.

Homegrown Watermelon

2010-10-20T17:32:00.007-05:00

This is the first homegrown watermelon that we have grown to near full size. It is about the size of my head. We have been planting watermelons in our garden for the past few years but, because of the poor soil and short growing season they were not able to grow to their full size. This year we got rain nearly every week during the growing season so because of that and a little fertilizer this one grew bigger than any before it. Overall we had a good crop this year in our garden except for the corn because we planted it too late. We had the best tomato harvest of any so far.

Medical Alert System for Elderly

2010-10-15T15:27:00.008-05:00

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

Everyone grows old if they don't die young. Elderly people are at high risk for falls. If your parent or a senior that you care about is living alone, you should consider getting him a medical alert system. This medical alert system can give you peace of mind. I have seen television commercials about medical alert systems and found them to be a great idea. Medical Guardian is one of those companies that provide medical alert systems.

A medical alert system can save lives. In case of emergency, all you have to do is press the button. A signal is sent to their Emergency Monitoring Station over your existing phone lines and help is on the way. This medical alert system can be worn on the neck, wrist or belt.

Medical Guardian offers 24/7 round-the-clock UL approved live emergency response monitoring. Their senior medical alert system includes base station and waterproof wireless emergency button. The Medical Guardian internet special offers free hardware, shipping and set up. It helps you achieve peace of mind while giving your parent the independence he wants. As they say, prevention is better than cure, so feel free to check out Medical Guardian to find out more about their medical alert systems.

Big Grocery Shopping Awaits!

2010-10-12T17:45:00.004-05:00

I have been anticipating tomorrow's trip to Fargo because I can go grocery shopping at the Asian store. There is an Asian store nearby but I prefer grocery shopping in Fargo because there are a lot more choices. I am planning to buy jasmine rice, mongo beans, moringa leaves, dried fish, water spinach, tamarind and more.

We are going to Fargo because my hubby has a check up there at the VA hospital. After my hubby's check up, we will dine at Red Lobster first before shopping. My hubby will be very hungry because he had to fast for two days before his procedure.

PlayStation Move

2010-09-30T16:42:00.013-05:00

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

Personally I don't know much about the latest and greatest in motion gaming. In other words, I am not much into this kind of game nor have I tried playing any PlayStation Move games. If a little genie appeared and gave me and my family a PlayStation Move, I would probably become a fan. I have read a lot of good reviews about PlayStation Move online and people are getting hooked on it.

My hubby and I are into the habit of watching TV shows most nights but if we had a PlayStation Move, that would probably change. Instead of a TV movie night, it would be a family game night. Both my hubby and I like sports so, those would probably be the games that we would play most.

PlayStation Move redefines motion gaming with the most immersive and realistic gaming experience. The simple, ergonomically designed and easy-to-use controller captures a full range of motion giving you ultimate control over how you play the game. For only $99 you can bring motion gaming exclusively to your existing PlayStation 3 with the MOVE bundle package. Christmas is just around the corner so maybe we will give ourselves a PlayStation Move.

Seafood Alfredo

2010-09-27T16:11:00.007-05:00

This is my hubby's version of seafood alfredo. It is one of his favorite recipes. Instead of dining out at a restaurant and paying $15 or more he has come up with his own recipe to make it at home. The recipe is really simple. It uses one pound of shrimp, one pound of artificial crab, one-half pound of noodles (dry) and one 16 ounce jar of Ragu alfredo sauce and violahhhhh! He likes to sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese before serving. It tastes sooooo good.

Loaded WordPress - Social Marketing Platform.

2010-09-23T19:15:00.009-05:00

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

Have you heard about the Loaded WordPress - Social Marketing Platform? It is a new and exciting online marketing solution. It integrates a website or blog with cutting edge social media and marketing tools. Loaded WordPress is a complete platform for your online presence, your websites, your marketing efforts, your social media strategies and your entire business. In other words it is a complete solution for businesses and individuals looking for an easy to use platform in order to be successful on the world wide web.

This platform helps you to easily create and share your content at a touch of a button tool. It helps increase your traffic, through better SEO, relevant and automated content for your entire audience. It also gives you complete analytic reports. LoadedWordPress is a product by AppStacks, a software developer with extensive experience developing open source products and solutions for businesses. If you want to attract more visitors to your site or blog, LoadedWordPress might be the one that you are looking for. You can get a 14 day free trial to see how it works.

As Planned

2010-09-23T19:09:00.007-05:00

My hubby second platter.

This is mine for the second time around.

My hubby and I just got home from town. As planned we dined in at the Super Buffet restaurant in town. We stuffed ourselves with tasty goodies like shrimp, mussel and more. I will be posting here some of the pictures that I took of the food we ate.

Technology Articles

2010-09-21T16:03:00.012-05:00

My hubby has an inventive mind. He is an engineer who has come up with all kinds of creative ideas and holds several patents on them. He was issued the patents when he worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company. Currently, he has several different projects of his own that he has been trying to get going for many years. Unfortunately, we have not had the financial resources necessary to develop any of them.

He tries to keep up with the latest and greatest in his field and watches a lot of television programs that are related to technology. He also reads a lot of Technology Articles from magazines and the internet.

Buffet Dinner

2010-09-19T15:52:00.005-05:00

I miss dining out at the Super Buffet restaurant in town. It has been quite a while since the last time we dined there because we have been trying to cut back on our spending. I asked my hubby earlier if we could have a dinner there one of these days. He said OK. He just wants to know ahead of time so that when we go there he has not already eaten. It is a buffet so we will take full advantage of the good food by making sure that we go there with an empty stomach. I get his point because if we go there already half way full, we miss the chance to taste all of the great dishes.

What's Your Kissimmee Vacation Plan?

2010-09-13T16:21:00.005-05:00

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

I have never been to Kissimmee or visited Florida but I would like to explore that place sometime in the future. My hubby went to Orlando once and said that it was a nice place. Kissimmee is right next to Orlando but he did not have a chance to go there and he only visited one of the famous attractions, Disney World.
Disney World, Orlando Science Center and Wonderworks are just a few of the attractions that I would like to see the most. My hubby and I would probably stay at the Holiday Inn Main Gate East because it is located just a few miles from the Walt Disney World Resort and across the street from Old Town Shopping and Fun Spot USA Family Fun Park. Some of the things that I would like to do while on vacation in Kissimmee, Florida would be to explore the theme parks, go shopping, attend world class shows and events and much more.
If you or your family are planning on taking a vacation, visit Kissimmee online and plan your dream vacation. Kissimmee has all the things that everyone in the family would like to enjoy in a Florida vacation. What are you waiting for? Start planning your Kissimmee vacation now.

Brownies

2010-09-12T21:07:00.004-05:00

This is one of my all time favorite dishes. It has been a while since the last time I baked some brownies. I still have two boxes left in the cupboard. I miss it. I have been very busy these past few weeks and have not had much time to be in the kitchen. Maybe I will bake some next weekend.

Over the Counter Athlete's Foot Treatment

2010-09-03T19:34:00.011-05:00

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

Fungal infection such as athlete’s foot can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. A common solution that I heard of while I was still back in the Philippines was to use powder before wearing shoes. Some said that dipping your feet in vinegar would kill the fungus. That sounds to me like that would sting a lot. I don’t know if those suggestions can really help or not because I have never had athlete's foot. My hubby says that you usually get this kind of fungal infection in places like public showers or locker rooms. It happens where you are walking bare foot and you get in direct or indirect contact with someone who already has the infection.

I can’t remember if I have experienced any fungal infections before but one thing that I am sure of is that I and my hubby don’t have any right now. If you have a nasty fungal infection, you should check out Lamisil athlete's foot treatment. Lamisil is an over the counter medication that can cure athlete’s foot. If you are suffering from a fungal infection why suffer any longer. Act now and get rid of that itchy and scaly infection before it gets worse.

Lasagna

2010-09-01T11:52:00.005-05:00

Lasagna is one of my hubby's favorites. He made this himself and it was really good. I don't usually care much for lasagna but I did like his version of it. My hubby got the recipe off the internet and modified it according to his own preferences. He says it was good but it was a lot of work for him to put it together. It has been over a year now since the last time he made any.

Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes

2010-08-25T17:51:00.009-05:00

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

My hubby would let me take a vacation by myself to my homeland, the Philippines, to visit my family but I did not like that idea. That would definitely save us a lot of money on plane tickets and hotel accommodations but I could not go along with that. If I go on a vacation I want him to come along with me but due to our current financial situation we can't. Since taking a vacation abroad is now out of the question, hopefully my hubby and I can still take a vacation locally.

I have a few places in mind that I would like to visit but no place in particular. Actually I just want to get out of the house and spend a day or two somewhere near the water. This Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes might be the solution. What could be better than winning a free stay at a Hampton for one weekend with my hubby and friends? Not to mention, the winner will also receive $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend.
I would prefer to invite my family and relatives over my friends mainly because I don't have that many friends here in the area. Most of my friends are in the Philippines. I really never thought of vacationing with 100 of my friends or even family or relatives together but I am sure that would be fun and exciting. If there was a Hampton hotel near our place in the Philippines I would probably organize alumni from my group in high school.

The Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes is open to residents of the 50 US states, DC, Canada (excluding Quebec), UK and Mexico. There's no purchase necessary so you better enter now.

Spaghetti

2010-08-25T17:42:00.004-05:00

My hubby likes spaghetti very much while me not so much. In fact, I don't usually eat spaghetti because it reminds me of night crawlers but I eat rice noodles or pancit canton. In order for me to eat it my hubby made it with angel hair spaghetti. Angel hair spaghetti noodles are very thin spaghetti noodles. I started tasting it little by little until I got use to it and won't gag anymore when eating it.

Mission Back to School

2010-08-23T19:05:00.009-05:00

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

I am still adjusting to American food. After more than four years living here in the US, I am finally getting into it. My hubby and I haven't tried Mission Flour Tortillas yet but since we both like burritos, we can try making some. I am sure he will like me using Mission Flour Tortillas for the roll-ups because they contain 0 grams of Trans fat per serving and are cholesterol free.

Kids it is Mission – Back To School time now. Tell mom not to forget to pack you a healthy lunch using Mission fresh idea recipes in your lunch box. I don't have kids yet but I always try to make sure to serve healthy dishes for my husband. If you have kids teach them the importance of making responsible and healthy decisions when it comes to meal planning and preparation. This can be accomplished by involving them in the creation of quick and easy meals. With Mission Flour Tortillas you can make a variety of flavorful lunch options as well as quick and easy meals that your whole family can enjoy after a long day at school or work.

Mission Flour Tortillas are a budget friendly, great pantry staple that are available in major grocery stores nationwide. You can check out www.missionmenus.com for quick and easy recipes for back to school meals.

Crab Apples

2010-08-23T18:42:00.004-05:00

Yesterday my hubby and I picked some crab apples in the neighbor's yard. Our neighbor told him he could pick as many crab apples as he wanted. This is the best crab apple season that I have seen. There's a lot more fruit on the tree but I think we picked as many as we will use. One thing that I like about crab apple is that it is sour. Since I can't find sour mangoes here like I used to get back in the Philippines, I go for the crab apples. They are small but they are so good. Would you like to try some? Help yourself ;-).

Apply Now to Become a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow

2010-08-23T17:52:00.007-05:00

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

Do you consider yourself a good teacher? The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship provides recent college graduates and career changers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or math) with a $30,000 stipend to complete an intensive master’s degree program at one of fourteen participating universities. This is a one of a kind opportunity that is hard to pass up so apply now to become a Woodrow Wilson Teaching fellow.

Undergraduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher, college graduates, mid career professionals or retirees who have majored in or had a career in STEM fields are eligible to apply for this new program. Fellows will complete a field based master’s degree in teacher education and commit to teach for at least three years in a high need school. In that span of time they will also receive intensive support and mentoring in the classroom.

The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship seeks to recruit, prepare and retain effective teachers for the students and schools who need them most. Do you want to be a part of their team? Visit www.wwteachingfellowship.org to submit your application and to find out more. Deadline is September 1, 2010. Apply now!

Blueberry Pie

2010-08-23T17:41:00.007-05:00

My sister in-law made this blueberry pie the last time she was up here. She made this pie out of blueberries that she had picked in the woods. Since I was not able to join the family dinner, she sent some home with my husband. That was so kind of her. She was disappointed with the way it turned out because the filling was kind of runny but I thought it tasted great. Wild pick blueberries are so much better than the ones you can buy in the store.

My hubby also made a pie from the blueberries that we picked but I forgot to take a picture of it. My hubby said it was ugly anyway because the crust did not turn out very well. He got the crust recipe online but it wouldn't roll out thin enough. The blueberry part turned out good but the pie itself was pretty ugly looking.

Boost Mobile

2010-08-23T16:49:00.006-05:00

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

My hubby and I don't have an active mobile phone because we do not have the need for it. We have a phone at home and in our car. I work at home and my hubby is retired. The mobile phones that we recently had were prepaid and there was no connection charge at the time. We have decided to go with prepaid phones over contract because of the trouble that my hubby had experienced with a previous service provider. We wanted to take control of the minutes we used and avoid hidden charges.

If I decide I need a mobile phone again, this time I will get a Blackberry. I have been eying one because it is the latest style and it has many features that I like in a phone. I never had a phone that allows me to download applications and get connected in social networking sites. Blackberry is a good choice to help me keep updated on Facebook and other networking sites. For as low as $60 a month, with Boost Mobile, I will be able to send unlimited texts & emails and unlimited nationwide talk.

Boost Mobile's Re-Boost program looks appealing to me. It has all the flexible payment options I want. With re-boost program you can pay online, in person or over the phone. How convenient is that? You can use your credit or debit card to make a payment or set up worry free automatic payments. It leaves you one less thing to worry about at the end of every month.

Home Grown Tomatoes

2010-08-23T16:10:00.004-05:00

These is our first harvest of home grown tomatoes. There were four but one got rotten due to the heavy rain we have been getting all summer. We only have two tomato plants in our garden this season but they have a lot of fruit. I just hope that we can get most of the fruit before the frost comes. My hubby likes home grown tomatoes very much with salt sprinkled on them. I like them when they are still green or if they are ripe I like them mixed in fish or meat soup.

Management Consulting w/ Lillilooloo

2010-08-18T16:50:00.006-05:00

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

To all you management consultants out there, if you want to have a research team that can help create professional reports, presentations and proposals for you, check this new site called Lillilooloo. That site caters to the needs of management consultants like you. That is the only full site serving the management consulting community and the only site that offers 1000's of free consulting manuals. Lillilooloo provides three primary services such as document sharing, a template store and premium document creation service.

Lillilooloo offers great quality free file uploads and downloads in unlimited quantities. No credit card needed but you need to register as a user to gain instant access. You can upload files one after another or in bulk. You can also browse through files by category. To date there are already more than 60,000 Word, Excel, PDF, Text and Powerpoint files uploaded at their site. You can also find a wide selection of consulting templates prepared to consulting standards and ready to use by management consultants. Also, don't forget to grab a copy of their new book called "Succeeding as a Management Consultant", can be found in the template store.

Lillilooloo's research team can also help you prepare documents from descriptions and hand drawn notes. For premium services, Lillilooloo can be your back door consulting office, can do fully automated project management system tracking for you to track projects, provide comments and review drafts.

Raspberries

2010-08-18T13:22:00.000-05:00

These were wild raspberries that I picked from bushes near our house. They were very sweet. I prefer raspberries over blueberries for some reason. I first saw wild raspberries when my hubby, my brother in-law and I went down a forest trail. I did not expect that I could find these kind of tasty treats free in the nearby woods. I was munching them while sitting outside on our deck and while my hubby was mowing the lawn.

Bedroom Furniture

2010-08-18T11:17:00.005-05:00

Just yesterday my hubby was talking about getting new bedroom furniture. Our bed is composed of a mattress and a box spring. It is kind of low and sometimes he has a hard time getting up because he is 6'4 tall and 280 lb. We have been looking for a bed with drawers underneath so we can save space in our bedroom. Since we couldn't find one at a nearby furniture store, he has been thinking about building one himself. If not, we might just get another mattress to help elevate it a little bit.

Picking Blueberries

2010-08-13T12:33:00.000-05:00

Today is Friday the 13th. I was planning to finish off my work on my blogs first thing in the morning. Instead my hubby and I decided to go out and pick wild blueberries. I thought that the blueberry season would be over by now, but thanks to my brother in-law for informing us. There were still more blueberries than we could believe. Another friend said that the blueberry season would probably continue through the middle of September. We went out picking blueberries for about two hours and my hubby and I picked a gallon. Not bad for just a couple of hours of picking. The ones that we recently picked were much bigger than the first batch we got.

I am planning on making a blueberry pie. I haven't tried making a blueberry pie before so I need my husband's help in this matter. Hopefully it will turn out good. I have tried my sister in-law's blueberry pie and it was very good. The only thing that I don't like about making a pie out of them is that it is so sweet. I don't like sweet stuff much because it contains a lot of carbohydrates and that is not good for my husband as well.

What are you Passionate About?

2010-08-05T15:12:00.016-05:00

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

Cooking is not really my favorite thing to do. It is at the bottom of the list right next to washing the dishes. When I was a kid, my grandma tried to teach me to cook simple dishes but it would go in one ear and out the other. When I went off to college I began to realize that grandma did that for my own good. My father sent me to school far from home. When I lived in the dormitory I learned a lot of things. I learned to cook out of necessity. I am still not a good cook and it is one of my biggest frustrations in life. I can cook enough to feed my family and that is it. I am trying my best to cook tasty dishes now that I am married but it is not easy for me.

My favorite dish, the one that I would like to share with my family, friends and readers, is the grilled fish. Here are the things you need to do. First remove the gills and entrails. Then I sprinkle salt inside and out and put chopped onions in the fish belly. I then put it over the hot charcoal until the scales become slightly charred. My hubby told me that it was the best fish dish he had ever eaten. He likes to peel the skin back and put butter on it. Though it is quite messy to eat, it is really good.

What are you passionate about? Cooking is my new found passion. So much so that it inspired me to create a blog about it. Speaking of passion, watch for the new episodes of Passion Profiles coming out soon. It is a talk show that features some of Canada's most intriguing personalities. It defines some of Canada's finest chefs, designers and musicians. It is hosted by ET Canada's Cheryl Hickey. Designer and HGTV star Sarah Richardson will be on PASSION PROFILES on August 11, 2010. So watch for it. To take a deeper look at PASSION PROFILES, visit them online.

Cheesecake

2010-08-02T19:06:00.000-05:00

My hubby had planned on making a cheesecake on my birthday. He bought all the ingredients he needed a few weeks before but did not end up making it until just recently. I forgot about his plan and I only remembered it when he made the cheesecake which was three weeks later. My birthday is easy to forget. It is the time of the year when my hubby's relatives come up here for the 4th of July holiday vacation and everyone is busy. He has to take them all fishing and they wear him out. I almost cried when he forgot to wish me a happy birthday the first thing in the morning. Later when I reminded him he felt very guilty. I was wondering if I had not reminded him whether he would have remember it all.

Stay Hydrated with Hydration Station

2010-07-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

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

I had never heard of a Hydration Station before. I found out that it is a touch free, filtered water dispenser for reusable bottles and containers. This new water dispenser was designed for green projects and to help eliminate the need for wasteful bottled water and awkward five gallon office water jugs. Office buildings, schools, gyms, parks, hospitals and other public places are ideal locations for the Hydration Station.

Aside from saving money with the Hydration Station, it also helps our environment because we don't have to deal with the wasteful plastic bottles from bottled water anymore. The Hydration Station refilling base filters the water and dispenses it to your container. It is more than just a dispenser, it processes tap water into great tasting pure water. Consider the Hydration Station for your school, office, gym or company. Your employees will love it.

I like the summer season but the heat and humidity can sometimes cause me to become dehydrated. I would really like to see this kind of refilling station in all of the public places here that currently have just plain water fountains. I used to drink water from the water fountains but sometimes the city water doesn't taste very good. It would be nice to replace all of those water fountains with Hydration Stations.

Blueberries

2010-07-26T19:23:00.000-05:00

A week ago my hubby and I went to the woods to pick blueberries. We did not plan on doing that ahead of time, it was a last minute decision. First we went to the area that my brother in-law told us but when we got there we couldn't find the place. So we went to the place where he thought he had seen blueberries before. When we got there there were lots of people already picking. The blueberries were right next to the road and all through the woods. It was the first time I have ever picked blueberries and I had a lot of fun. We picked about a half gallon of blueberries in just an hour or so on that day. We have been eating them and there are some left in the fridge. We are planning to pick more sometime this weekend.

Unique Investment

2010-07-25T09:09:00.000-05:00

My hubby and I are planning to buy a few ounces of gold and other precious metals when we have extra cash. After studying the various investment options available, we have decided that precious metals are the best and safest option available to us. Many experts believe that now is the best time to buy gold bullion, unfortunately we don't have much loose cash available at the moment. If you are planning on investing your money in gold, silver and other precious metals, check out the United States Gold Bureau. There you can satisfy your precious metals investment needs. It is one of America's best dealers with a convenient market and competitive precious metal prices.

Stewed Crappie

2010-07-22T19:40:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been craving Filipino fish dishes. For two days in a row I ate all my meals with fish and rice, each fixed according to a different recipe. First I fried the crappie. I just sprinkled salt on it and then fried it. The typical way of frying fish in the Philippines is with the bones. The fish looks similar to the image above. Yesterday I stewed the fish. I ate the last piece of it for my lunch. My hubby normally doesn't care for the way I cook it. He prefers the fish fillet because it has no bones and is easy to eat. In my stewed fish, I put soy sauce, vinegar, ground pepper, onions and garlic.

Charter special deals for Father's Day

2010-07-21T17:18:00.000-05:00

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

Instead of giving presents on Father's Day I normally just greet my husband and my father wishing them a happy father's day. I would like to give something special but it seems like Father's Day is easy to forget, unlike Mother's Day. Actually both of these occasions are easy to forget. If I don't see ads online about special deals on Mother's or Father's Day I don't remember those days.

If I were to give something to my hubby on Father's Day, it would probably be something related to the digital world. An iPod Touch would be great, especially because he likes to keep updated on his favorite sports like football and baseball. He also likes to watch news and weather forecast. With iPod Touch he can get all of those things at his finger tips.

You can Enter now to win an iPod Touch. There is no purchase necessary for entry into the contest. This contest is brought to you by Charter. It is a special deal for Father's Day. Charter is giving away iPod Touches to show off their new mobile apps for iPod, iPhone and Blackberry. To find out more or to get updates, fun extras, and facebook only deals on Charter’s Facebook page, head over to the provided links above.

Teriyaki Shrimp

2010-07-21T17:09:00.000-05:00

My hubby and I had this tasty food when we had a one day stop over in Toronto on our way back from South America last year. We dined at Teriyaki Experience in the Dixie Auto Mall. If you live in Missisagua, Canada you are probably familiar with that restaurant. I liked that food very much. I would really like to see a restaurant in this area serving that kind of food.

Football Pick

2010-07-21T16:03:00.000-05:00

I am looking forward to the NFL season. It is just around the corner. Before the football season opener, I need to get updates first of nfl picks. I would like to know which team my favorite players will be playing for this season. I am wondering if Brett Favre will play for the Vikings this year. I will be keeping an eye on the nfl pick.

Got Gold?

2010-07-21T10:42:00.000-05:00

Are you planning on investing your money in gold coins and other precious metals? Check out the preceding link. At that site you can buy gold coins and other precious metals for immediate personal delivery or arrange for convenient and safe storage. Many experts say that it is one of the best ways to preserve your family's wealth, especially in these tough economic times. This kind of investment product is available in coin or ingot form. United States Gold Bureau is the home to a large and dedicated staff of hard asset professionals committed to serving your precious metal investment needs. They are also America’s best dealer with a convenient market and competitive precious metal prices.

Sardines in Tomato Sauce

2010-07-21T10:32:00.000-05:00

I usually buy sardines in tomato sauce when my hubby and I go to the Asian store. Even though I can get sardines at the nearby store, they are not like the ones in tomato sauce that are imported from Asia. I crave for them from time to time and that is why I need to stock up a couple of dozen in the cupboard. I eat them straight up with rice or mix them with eggs. I also use them to make soup with rice noodles, either way they are very tasty.

My Familyville

2010-07-20T21:32:00.000-05:00

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

My favorite Johnsonville sausage is the beer brat. My hubby also likes Johnsonville sausage but his favorite is the polish sausage with barbecue sauce on it. We have the great taste of Johnsonville sausages quite often in the summer time when we can do them outdoors on the grill. We also have Johnsonville sausages on a bun a lot when we have family get togethers and cookouts. Before I came here to the US I had never tasted Johnsonville sausages. I'm not a beer drinker, but I think I have become addicted to the Johnsonville beer brats. My hubby usually eats his sausage on a bun but I eat mine with rice. Mmm, they tastes so good like that.

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Grilled Crappie

2010-07-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, my hubby and I went fishing. Later in the afternoon, we decided to have some grilled crappie. I took the gills and guts out. Sprinkled salt inside and out then put chopped onions in the fish belly. My hubby told me that it was the best fish dish he ever had. He ate it with butter. It was quite a bit messy to eat but was good. I plan on grilling more soon.

Sweet Things To Say To Your Girlfriend

2010-07-15T15:53:00.001-05:00

I am a married woman but I still like to hear a lot of compliments from my hubby. Sometimes I ask him why I seldom hear him saying sweet things to me now that we are married unlike before when we were still dating. Girls just love compliments and are emotionally sensitive. So guys, you need to take note of that. If you have a girlfriend right now, you should start making a habit of always finding Sweet things to say to your girlfriend. As a woman I always like to hear that. It may sound cheesy to other people but I love it. I hope my hubby can read this post because I still want to hear more of those sweet words like I heard this afternoon ;-).

Safe Haven Investment

2010-07-15T11:00:00.001-05:00

When to buy gold coins? Personally, I say now is the best time to buy gold and other precious metals. For many years the values of these kinds of investments keep going up even though there has been momentary fluctuations from time to time. Historically, gold has always been known as a safe haven investment especially in times of uncertainty when there is economic turmoil many investors flee to gold to protect their investments. If I had investments such as stocks or bonds I would be one of them. I am planning on investing my money in gold for my retirement savings. Are you planning on investing your money in hard assets like gold, silver and other precious metals? Feel free to check out the preceding link.

Oxidative Stress

2010-07-08T15:08:00.000-05:00

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Bro's Birthday Party

2010-07-02T17:05:00.001-05:00

These are some of the goodies that my younger brother had on his birthday. All of his classmates and some of our relatives were invited in the celebration. Even though I was not able to attend his birthday, I felt happy knowing that he was happy. Most of the recipes were home made and the others were ordered. My mother and my cousin took charge of the cooking. I miss some of those that I can't make and get here in the US.

Had Planned on Fencing Our Property

2010-06-30T18:16:00.000-05:00

My hubby and I have thought about fencing our property for privacy purposes and to keep wild animals out. Instead of building a fence my hubby decided to plant trees because they are more natural and still give us privacy. Speaking of fencing, any homeowners wanting to install chain link fence san diego area, you should check out the provided link.

Property Manager

2010-06-30T17:52:00.000-05:00

Sometimes managing your own commercial, residential or rental properties is a pain in the butt and can drive you crazy. Many people like the idea of hiring somebody to manage their properties for them instead. Do you have properties in Columbus and you need a property manager? You should start looking for a Property Manager in Columbus online then.

Office Chairs Wearing Out

2010-06-30T11:55:00.000-05:00

My hubby and I need to Buy Office Chairs soon. The ones that we are using right now are wearing out but they are still functional. We just need to start window shopping for new office chairs now so that when we really need to replace them, we will already know where to buy them. I am looking for affordable office chairs for both me and my hubby.

Buy Gold Coins

2010-06-29T19:34:00.000-05:00

Gold, silver and other precious metals are good investment products especially in these tough and uncertain economic times. For many years this kind of investment has been going up in value. If you want to buy gold coins, you should check out the link above. At that site you can purchase silver, gold and other precious metals in coins or ingot form for immediate personal delivery or arrange for convenient and safe storage at an independent bank or depository. There's no better time to buy gold coins than right now. Investing your money in gold is the best way to preserve your wealth. It is also considered a unique kind of investment.

Sour Mango

2010-06-29T17:18:00.000-05:00

Just by looking at it makes me drool. I like sour mango dipped in salt or salted fish. My husband says the thought of it makes him gag, but sour mango is commonly eaten in the Philippines. You can find green mangoes everywhere especially during the right season. I bought this from the nearby store but it tasted different from the green mango that I usually ate back home in the Philippines. I am craving it right now.

Beef Menudo

2010-06-21T19:22:00.001-05:00

This is the first beef menudo that I have ever cooked. I found the recipe online and made my own version of it. Here are the ingredients.

2 lb of cubed beef steak
3 cubed potatoes
3 cubed carrots
1/4 lb cubed liver or braunschweiger
1/2 cup chopped onions
3 cloves of minced garlic
2 cups of water
1/2 cup ketchup
3 tbsp of tomato paste
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cooking oil

Procedure:

* Saute garlic, onions, beef and liver. Add two cups of water and simmer until tender.
* Add carrots and potatoes and simmer until soft .
* Add ketchup, tomato paste and black pepper. Add salt to taste.

Guide for Finding the Right College or University

2010-06-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

Learning is an ongoing process. Sometimes in life you need to go through tests before you learn but in school you need to learn before taking tests.

Finding the best school can be a daunting task. To help you find the right accredited college or university, CollegeDegreesToday is there to help you. They provide a comprehensive guide for finding the right accredited college or university for your key to success. All top online and campus based schools across the nation have been carefully selected by their education partners. They offer you the ability to search by degree level, degree program, online school, campus based school or vocational program. If you want to research college degrees, go to their website and use the "Find Your Degree" feature to locate the campus or online college that fits your education goals today!

Porkchop Adobo

2010-06-06T19:19:00.000-05:00

I cooked this sometime ago. Instead of frying it, I decided to cook it in an adobo marinade. Adobo is one of the famous recipes in the Philippines. It is tasty and easy to prepare. Here are the ingredients that you need.

5 porkchops
1 red bell pepper
1/2 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 onion
3 cloves of minced garlic

Fried Rice

2010-05-24T17:51:00.000-05:00

This is my fried rice version. It is also my hubby's all time favorite among the Filipino dishes that I have cooked so far.

Ingredients:

1 cup carrots in cubes
1 cup green peas
1 cube of beef bullion
1-2 lb of beef (sliced in cubes)
6 scrambled eggs
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 cup rice boiled in 2 cups of water

Got Gold Bullion?

2010-05-22T07:47:00.000-05:00

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Roasted Turkey

2010-05-14T18:12:00.000-05:00

I took this picture last Thanksgiving. Just looking at it, makes me drool. It also urged me to ask my hubby if we could roast a turkey one of these days. Fortunately we still have one in the freezer and he said we will have it next weekend because it takes time to thaw. Back in the Philippines when we roasted a turkey, we would only put a big bundle of lemon grass inside but here in the US my hubby uses stuffing mix, onions, celery and giblets to make the stuffing. At first I did not find it tasty but later I began to like it and now even crave it. My hubby usually does the cooking. We have a division of labor in the kitchen. Since he does most of the cooking, I clean the mess.

Stuffing Ingredients:

1-16 ounce bag of Pepperidge farm stuffing
2.5 cups of water
6 tablespoons of butter
chopped turkey giblets (liver optional)
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
8 to 16 ounces of sliced mushrooms
2 raw eggs

Optional: In addition to or instead of giblets one lb cooked and crumbled sausage.

Sweet Jackfruit

2010-05-07T19:50:00.000-05:00

When I first saw a pack of jack fruit at the Asian store, I did not hesitate to grab one. It has been more than two years since the last time I had some. If I lived in the Philippines I probably wouldn't crave it so much because I can get it there whenever I want. Actually we have a few jack fruit trees growing in our yard there in the Philippines. I ate the whole pack of jack fruit by myself. My hubby tried some but he did not like it that much because for him it was too sweet, so I ended up eating the rest by myself.

Hubby's Birthday

2010-05-02T16:45:00.001-05:00

Better late than never. I am sorry Darling! I should have made this post on the 13th of April, right after we got back home.

These was the food that we had on my hubby's birthday celebration at Sparkling Waters in the nearby town. We hadn't tried dining at that restaurant yet, so we decided to give it a try on my hubby's birthday after my brother in-law and my friend told us about the restaurant. We had our lunch there. The food and ambiance were nice and we are planning on going back in the future.

Both my hubby and I had chicken shish kabob on a wild rice blend for our main coarse. For dessert I had tiramisu while my hubby had creme brule, both were tasty.

Anniversary Dinner Date

2010-04-24T19:54:00.001-05:00

photo credits to Olive Garden

Yesterday my hubby and I had our wedding anniversary dinner date at the Olive Garden. We had never tried dining at the Olive Garden before but after experiencing their excellent service and tasty food, all I can say is that we will be back. In fact my hubby told me that it was the best service that he had ever experienced. The waiter was very helpful and the food came much faster than what we were expecting. At first we thought that we might end up waiting for quite a while because there were so many cars in their parking lot but that was not the case. We were immediately seated after we walked in the front door and the waiter was there to bring our menus and get our drinks ordered in less than a minute.

My hubby had the Seafood Alfredo which is one of his favorites, while I had their special, Grilled Steak Fonduta, most of which I ended up eating after I got home because I had already filled up on the Chicken & Gnocchi Soup with bread sticks. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera, so the above photos were taken from the Olive Garden menu web page. Congratulations to the Olive Garden restaurant in Fargo for the great food, service and a memorable dining experience.

Beef with Oriental Mix Vegetables

2010-04-17T15:20:00.000-05:00

Ingredients:

* 1 lb beef steak
* 1 beef bullion cube
* 1 lb oriental mix vegetables (carrots, string & lima beans, broccoli, red pepper and water chest nuts)
* 1/2 onion

Procedure:

Cut the beef into cubes. Then boil it together with the beef bullion in two cups of water until it gets tender. Put the chopped onions and the oriental mix vegetables.

This is one of the recipes that I came up with experimenting in the kitchen. It turned well and my hubby liked it. He even said that this is the kind of food that I should eat more often because it is both healthy and tasty. I am craving for it every now and then.

Disclosure

2010-04-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

This blog accepts cash advertising, paid insertions and other forms of compensation. All paid posts will not always be identified. All entries written including paid posts on this blog are based on my opinions, beliefs, findings or experiences. Any product claims, quotes or services should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

Roasted Pig

2010-03-02T20:25:00.000-06:00

This was taken during my nephew Carl's christening. They butchered two home grown pigs to roasts. They had quite a big feast. The christening was attended and celebrated by family, relatives and close friends. Since I live abroad, I got only a picture to drool while looking at it. I don't know first hand how to roast a whole pig but I do know for sure how to eat it. Whenever my father is planning to roast a pig, he will usually hire somebody to do that for us. My brother tried roasting a pig once before and it did not end up properly cooked. When roasting a pig, we usually put spices inside. Usually we only put a big bundle of lemon grass. While serving you can eat it plain, dip it in ketchup or soy sauce with vinegar & red pepper. Hmmm.... yummy!

Hot & Spicy Pancit Canton

2010-02-12T18:30:00.000-06:00

This is my all time favorite easy to fix food, pancit canton. In the Philippines you can buy it for only $0.20 a pack. In each pack there's already hot and spicy seasoning added. All you need to do is boil it in a cup of water, let stand for about five minutes then drain the water and mix in the seasoning. Pancit canton is one of the Filipino dishes that I miss. Fortunately, I can get this kind of food at the Asian store here in the US. Every time my hubby and I go to the city, I stock up on pancit cantons, sardines in tomato sauce and sometimes I grab a bag of dried fish. Speaking of dried fish, it has been a while since the last time I had any. The reason I did not buy dried fish the last time I went shopping at the Asian store was because I can't cook that kind of food during the winter season. My husband told me that I can have dried fish anytime I want except for the winter season because we can't open the windows. He can't stand the smell in the house.

Outdoor Grill Barbecued Pork

2010-02-01T20:17:00.000-06:00

Ingredients:

* pork
* lemon juice or vinegar
* soy sauce
* chopped onions
* chopped garlic
* barbecue sauce

Barbecue pork is easy to prepare. All you need to do is mix together in a bowl the lemon juice, soy sauce, onions, garlic and pork. Then marinade it overnight in the fridge.

My hubby and I have a division of labor when cooking on the outdoor grill. He starts the fire while I prepare the meat on shish kabob sticks. When the meat is almost fully cooked, I brush the barbecue sauce on both sides and grill a few minutes longer. This recipe will give you some of the best barbecue pork you have ever tasted.