But hey, they are not really living dinosaurs. You and I know that for a fact. They are actually robotics technology that allows for the giant creatures to move.. Life size dinosaurs that were just merely imagined, now seen during the exhibit.

They  also make a sound so real, children who are less interested in them and who are  younger get scared. But since Lili and River like dinosaurs, they were really amazed and thrilled to see the display. It is also an educational journey as children get to read important facts and information, not just about the dinosaurs, but in the environment they live in during their time, as well as the environment we live in now, as well as inputs on climate change.

Although the setting is inside the mall, the organizers have made the forest theme seem  real by the many greens you can see inside the exhibit area.. It was quite dark  and cold too, so definitely, it was forest like. But then, they could have added a brook or a stream and the sound of water—- uhm.. maybe at their next venue, lol..

Of all the dinosaurs there, this buddy seems to be the most popular.. The T-Rex is my little brother’s favorite… Not bad for the price of P 350 per head—

It feels weird moving away from the city again. I have gotten accustomed to just a few minutes travel time and we are already home. I have loved the fact that I need not worry about not buying groceries in bulk as anytime, we can just go to Save More and it will just take a few minutes to do so.. Now we have to go back to the old residence to fetch the Latex mattress that we were able to salvage. It was not submerged as it merely floated while the water went up and  it came down floating still when the water subsided during that fateful Sendong incident.  If only we have also saved the memory foam mattress in the other room, but it was burried in mud, so we just had to throw it away. Quite sad, but hey, a new place needs a new mattress, so we will be shopping for some too.  Hopefully the budget will allow for the right number needed. In case it won’t, well, the temporary mats we bought are quite comfortable, so there’s really nothing to rush about buying mattresses.

Anyway, I have this great feeling that everything will work out well in the new place. I am just reluctant because of the distance. But we’ll be fine. I am positive of that… No new mattress is not a hindrance. After all, we are still lucky we get to have a new unused place to live in. Quite decent actually. The only problem is both new locations are quite far from the city..

She told me she wants to have a tree house like this one. Not too high, and not too low. Plus the lighting and set up makes her imagine she is in a fairy camp of some sort, and the house is a Fairy Magic House.  Well, that is because my little girl is fond of fairies and magical creatures. But if you ask my little brother about the kind of tree house he would like, the design will be very different. But if you intend to save and build only one tree house for two kids with different likes and wants, then you have to start building their ability to compromise and agree on things, otherwise, you will be forced not to build anything at all.

If you are to build rooms for kids, two or fours or sixes, the above design is such a great idea. It will save time, and will look great on space saving rooms, especially those that are quite narrow. Whoever designed this is truly worthy of praise..

That’s the front lawn. See the fences? They are of golden yellow color.

While the other part have the same theme.. They actually have two different sets of living room sets, that somehow compliment each other, even though they are of different colors. They come in luxurious earth tones with yellow gold as the continuing thematic color.

The same holds true with the paintings and wall decors that hang in each part of the house. In the garden as well as inside the house too, are hues of greens and yellow gold that somehow keeps everything in proper order. It doesn’t really matter whether your home is simple or grand, what matters is that your decors, designs and color complement, if not match each other..

While waiting for my fellow participants who joined that rafting adventure some days ago, I ordered this duo at CoffeeWorks. That’s the Chocolate Chip Cookie which is just right for me, and the tall cup of Hot Chocolate.. I am actually craving for one now, so I am getting up and make some for myself.. Won’t risk going to the city center just for hot drinks and a cookie at 2:18 in the morning, would I? As a matter of fact, we have alternatives here in the pad. I have Chips-Ahoy Chocolate Chips Cookies and Anchor Chocolate Family Milk.. That will do.. so bye for now…

I spoke with the landlady’s daughter, and we have talked about certain issues and I am glad we will be leaving in peace and harmony, just as when we arrived. I am also glad that there was not really a problem with us, but only with the other tenants.

So, this is it!

Maybe when I am no longer happy with my product in use, then I will consider. Maybe.. for now, I will stick with this really awesome product that makes me so happy in the skincare department..

Financial planning can take on many forms. Education financial planning, vacation, and even retirement financial management and planning can take up a good portion of your income. So what are the best ways to ensure financial success?

Sticking to a Budget

Stick to a budget and keep a planned amount of money in the bank account, and a planned amount of money going into it each week. Even five dollars per week is something, always make a deposit. One you reach your spending and savings goals from managing and organizing your budget, reevaluate your budget plan to see if there are other areas in which you can save.

Once you are budgeted to the hilt, make concessions for those weeks when emergency issues arise. However, do not go dipping into the bank funds. Take out an online payday loan instead. That way you are not sinking yourself further in debt by taking out a high interest long term loan to achieve the same purpose.

Pay Off Debts

Try to pay off your credit card debts first. Medical debt and other types will not have the same increased interest rates as the short term online payday loan type. As long as you do not have to reach too deep into your banking funds to pay a bill you should be able to refill it rather quickly.

If you do get an online payday loan, be sure to keep the extra cash you had left over from the loan after your emergency issue since it will be much like the following weeks pay when you are repaying the short term loan.

Retirement Planning

Everyone needs to think of their retirement plan, even if they feel they are a good distance away from that moment in their career. When at all possible, invest deeply in 401(k) plans, most especially those in which the employer offers high matching investing. If you do not have an option for 401(k) you should give full consideration to an IRA.

As long as you have an equally distributed daily and weekly budget forecasts, along with an implemented plan for retirement investing, you should be able to maintain a clear level of credit while enjoying personal security.

If you begin to have problems that could endanger the items you need most in life such as your home or vehicle, do not hesitate to do what it takes to save those things that will make or break your opportunities.

Yup, you read it right. Food lovers are great company to each other. They can understand what they want and how much they want in terms of food. My friend loves to bake and her new beau loves to cook. Isn’t that a perfect combination? What’s more, they both love to explore new food places and try to mimic flavors through their own cooking and baking. Truly, the two are blessed with such compatibility.

The two reminds me of how my mom and dad were in their courtship stage. My mom’s family owns a food place and my father, being one of their consistent patrons, consistently ordered my mom’s most raved about dish— Dinuguan. My father said that he never liked Dinuguan, but my mom’s Dinuguan was totally different. Soon after they are married, my mother discovered how yummy my father cooks food too. So with their story and my friend’s love affair with her lover and their love for food, truly, the way to one’s heart is through the stomach, lol. That could be a running joke, but it has some sense to it. See, if you get married, you will after all, take turns cooking. It would be a really bad state if you are married to someone who does not know how to share your passion for food and food preparation. It would even be a bad idea, for me,  if only one partner will do the cooking, and the other will just (consistently) taste what has been cooked. Surely, that can’t be as exciting as spending your whole life preparing, cooking or baking for each other, and simultaneously becoming each other’s guide, critic and mentor..

]]> http://www.darlingaguilar.com/2012/01/food-and-lovers.html/feed 0 http://www.darlingaguilar.com/2012/01/trampolines.html http://www.darlingaguilar.com/2012/01/trampolines.html#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:02:49 +0000 Empowered Mom http://www.darlingaguilar.com/?p=7425 My daughter told me she wants a trampoline for her birthday. Jumping up and down and bouncing with a trampoline is indeed fun, even adults love to do it. But when my sister and I started looking around for trampolines, my gosh, the price was totally too high for my budget. I would rather add the money to her college fund. On the lighter side, since my daughter is the apple of my eyes and I do not want to disappoint her, my sister and I brought her to this kiddie play station where kids get to enjoy going through a balloon maze and end up bouncing in a huge trampoline right in the middle of what is already fun. The best thing about it is that, there are other kids she can play with already and entrance fee is just minimal. That really saved me a lot of money and a child’s heart to break..

For those who are not familiar with trampolines, they are actually a device that consist of a piece of taut, strong fabric that has been stretched over a steel frame by using many coiled springs. The fabric on which users bounce on, is not elastic in itself. The said elasticity is provided by the springs that connect the fabric to the frame. So that it is sturdy when being used when bouncing, as people move up and down. In case you are wondering, the fabric that is connected to the springs are commonly known as the “bounce mat” or “trampoline bed”.  People bounce on trampolines for so many reasons, but purely for recreational and competitive purposes. There are various shapes of trampolines, although most are circular, octagonal or rectangular. By the way, the fabric is usually a waterproof canvas or woven polypropylene material. That makes it sturdy and safe. Although, if you will buy the trampoline with net sidings, that will be a lot safer for kids.

Both photos from Wikipedia

Three days ago however, I read about this kind of debriefing session for calamity survivors, and they used trampolines for kids and adults alike to simply have fun bouncing. At first, the survivors were reluctant to talk, but after making them freely enjoy bouncing on the trampoline, they have loosened up and started cooperating with the people in charge of the debriefing process.  So I thought that it is actually a great idea for TS Sendong/TS Washi flash flood survivors. If trampolines can help people relieve themselves from their pain or their traumas, then it could be the greatest fun item a person should be subjected to.. What’s more, trampolines are also good for those who wish to lose weight the fun way. Oh well, better that we try that as well so we shall be able to see results.

After we signed up for ours, we learned that there is a geohazard map that people can refer to when choosing a place to build or rent a house in a specific area. Finding the right house may seem difficult when all you could see in that map are red lines. And it’s no joke because it seems that most of the city, even those on higher places are flood and landslide prone.

]]> http://www.darlingaguilar.com/2012/01/finding-the-right-house.html/feed 1 http://www.darlingaguilar.com/2012/01/what-walgreens-clients-can-enjoy.html http://www.darlingaguilar.com/2012/01/what-walgreens-clients-can-enjoy.html#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:06:23 +0000 Empowered Mom http://www.darlingaguilar.com/?p=7419 This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Wouldn’t it be great  if we have access to affordable medicine for our family and our pets? Wouldn’t it be a great idea to enjoy great savings especially during trying times? When a family member is sick and while other members find means to get the needed medication within the budget line. Hmm.. That is not at all a dream, but can somehow be a reality.

I am sure by now everyone knows what happened to Walgreens. But there is really nothing to worry about, especially those who have signed up for the  Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. Walgreens have cooked up a $10 yearly family membership that will cover all members, including a spouse and dependents aged twenty two and younger. What’s more, pets are included too. For single applicants, $5 is all it takes to become a member, and enjoy all benefits. That’s savings of eight thousand brand name and generic medicines, plus discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions as well as nebulizer, and supplies for diabetic patients. When one purchases Walgreens products and photo finishing products,  bonuses apply too.

I think it’s truly amazing what Walgreens do to help their clients. For more information and updates, you can follow Walgreens on Twitter and like Walgreens on Facebook .

It was our second Water rafting stint, my sister and I, and we could say that some rapids that we have had during that Advanced Course that we had, has somehow “transferred” (I do not know if that is the right word) to this basic course..

SavannahCollections.com is the website of Savannah Collections, an online seller of high quality luxury fine furniture. The home page itself exudes the air of elegance and luxury, giving you a taste of how it would feel and look like to have any of their furniture in your home. A slideshow of images showing some of the furniture collections make the home page visually appealing.

The header includes links to the different product categories such as bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, living room furniture, and collections, among others, to make it easier and quicker for you to find what you are looking for. Aside from high quality furniture, SavannahCollections.com also gives excellent customer service through their free and quick delivery, custom order options, multiple shipping options, hassle free returns and exchanges, multiple payment options, 30-days money back guarantee, and a safe and secure online shopping website.

Navigating through the website is very easy and browsing can be very pleasurable with the numerous images of furniture setups that you can view. If in the rare chance that you do not find what you want from the site or you have not decided yet what you want, you can always use their virtual showrooms to inspire you and help you design any of the rooms in your home.

I am quite excited because I have already bought textile in such color, and have not even been sewn yet. So when my family will move to the new place, it shall be used, yay! For some of you who are planning to do the same, it does not really matter what kind of cloth you use.

So long as the design and color blends well with your decorating…

While others are at evacuation centers for they no longer have homes to come home to, others have found a new house to dwell at, and build a new nest for the family. Out from scratch or out of nothing, surely, each is bound to stand up and start rebuilding lives. Others are lucky, they just have to clean up the mud, and though it takes painstaking efforts and time, still, at the end of the clean up, will have homes to go back to, homes to decorate and make comfortable again. While others vow not to go back lest they be reminded of the gruesome night that claimed thousands of lives and still left many missing since Sendong came and gone.

It is too early to think about new sheets matching the color of the curtains or to think about color scheme in decorating. Most people these days, especially Sendong’s survivors do not really care much about aesthetics for the time being. Two weeks is not enough to recover from such tragic event, some are yet mourning for their lost loved ones, while others are still contemplating the whereabouts of those who are missing.

Home improvement comes after finding one’s home, or building one’s home once again.. It may take months, even years, but it will come. On the lighter note, if you want to be able to use your linens and curtains, after washing the mud off them, it is best to have stain lift products like Ariel and some disinfectant like Major-D.. We have thrown away most of the muddied items, but have been able to rescue some. Definitely a new beginning for my family, and soon at our new address. It’s up there, where houses may not be as huge as our old place, but definitely far from rivers and the horrible possibilities that lie within. A plus factor is the fact that it’s pollution free and has lots of trees… Oh, and I have bought this gold curtain textile and trims, ever fitting because of the New Year motif. Best of all, it’s a wonderful place for my parents as they retire in old age..

Anyway, we left behind 2011 with all its atrocities and monstrous afflictions.. No more monsters in 2012!!! Yehey!

From my family to yours, have a great one…