Although I am still on the lookout for an affordable shih tzu, I want to purchase a waterproof dog bed. With this type of dog bed, my (soon-to-be) pet dog can stay dry outdoors even on rainy days.
Waterproof dog beds can be easily cleaned and require little maintenance. This dog bed option is a great way to prevent building up of molds and bacteria, thus, protecting owners and their respective pet dogs.
tuffies.co.uk
I like this waterproof bed called “The Tuffie Nest” from tuffies.co.uk. Apart from being waterproof, it is also chew-proof which is perfect for a chewing dog like shih tzu.
Since I have learned how to “push/pull” in Sketchup, I cannot stop from making designs of almost anything-- from cabinet to bunk bed to floor plan.
My unfinished cabinet
There are two versions of Sketchup: Google Sketchup and Sketchup Pro. I am using the former as it is a freeware. I am not an engineer or an architect, so I do not need the more capable Sketchup Pro.
With the free-downloadable version of Sketchup, I can already make a floor plan with interior design using its basic tools. The free version can export .dae file and .kmz file format of Google Earth.
I am new to Google Sketchup so I still have many things to learn, like how to properly use the component tool and rotate. Thankfully, there are sketchup tutorials that I can play every time I need help with my design.
Bunk bed is great for rooms with limited space as it occupies minimum space while maximizing available floor space. In my own room, I already have one standard bunk bed and I am planning to add one. The extra bed will be used by my nieces when they come and visit DC.
I have seen various bunk beds in different malls here in DC but nothing really caught my attention. But this space saver bunk bed from ResourceFurniture.com really tickled my fancy.
resourcefurniture.com
It looks like a simple couch but by lifting one of its parts, it can transform into a bunk bed.
resourcefurniture.com
resourcefurniture.com
Genius, is it not? I want to order this type of space saving bunk bed but I do not think Resource Furniture delivers their products outside the US. :(
After my account in MoneyBookers (MB) has been verified, I tested its capacity in withdrawing money to my bank account in the Philippines.
The withdrawal process in MB is as simple as withdrawing money in PayPal. However, MB has a confirmation process that involves entering of birth date.
Fees Unlike PayPal’s fee (2.9%+$0.30), receiving money in MoneyBookers is free. But withdrawing money entails a flat fee of $2.37, depending on the FOREX market. For that reason, it is better to withdraw a bigger amount in MB.
Inability to view amount in Philippine currency This is probably one of the drawbacks of using MB. I was not able to view the total withdrawal amount in Philippine peso before proceeding to wire transfer. However, based on my manual computation, MoneyBookers has higher exchange rate than PayPal.
Wire transfer According to Moneybookers, it will take up to 5 business days before the amount reaches my bank account. In PayPal, money transfer can be completed within 2 to 3 business days. When I used Moneybookers, wire transfer only took 2 days to complete.
Because of the positive result of the withdrawal process in Moneybookers, I prefer Moneybookers to PayPal provided the amount to be withdrawn is more than $300. I just hope that transferring money using Moneybookers will continue to be a hassle-free transaction.
Better Bathrooms is a company based in the United Kingdom. Apart from their betterbathrooms.com website, you can also visit their showrooms located in Wigan, Warrington and Manchester. So, if you reside in those places, you can easily view their items and order in store. However, if you are like me, who lives miles away from their showrooms, you can always visit their website, BetterBathrooms.com, to search and order bathroom suites, toilets, bathroom tiles, bathroom furniture, etc.
Delivery option BetterBathrooms.com is able to deliver your order in 3 to 5 business days. But if you order a stocked item, you can avail of their next day delivery option.
Reliable call center BetterBathrooms.com has a reliable UK based call center that allows you to inquire about your order, delivery options and other enquiries you may have in mind.
Money back guarantee With its 7-day money back guarantee, you can return your ordered items, i.e. if you are not satisfied with the quality of the items upon receipt, thereby, giving you more confidence when ordering at BB.
Track order BetterBathrooms.com provides an online order tracking system which you can use to know the status of your order. You just need to enter your surname, post code and email address to track your order either through text or email.
Payment and security The payment system of BetterBathrooms.com is encrypted using 256-SSL certificates, thereby, taking your worries out while ordering.
Throughout the month of January, Better Bathrooms items are on sale which allow you to save up to 60% off on its products. With that in mind, you can surely save not just hundreds but thousands of money for the bathroom products you wish to purchase.
As for me, I set my heart on “Impressions 1 Tap Hole Bathroom Suite,” which is ideal for the small bathroom in our new dwelling.
Right now, I am out of budget to buy Herbalife shake. For that reason, I opted to eat oatmeal twice a day -- breakfast and lunch -- and drink Herbalife shake in the evening. Oatmeal is also great to increase my fiber intake.
Oatmeal is a rich source of fiber, thereby, useful in controlling my weight. Furthermore, oatmeal is also helpful in lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol level in the blood. As a result, it reduces the risk of heart disease.
Moreover, oatmeal is beneficial for individuals who are prone to type 2 diabetes. The reason for this is the soluble fiber present that controls blood glucose levels.
Although oatmeal is beneficial in controlling my weight, I still perform regular exercise to achieve optimum benefits.
UPDATE: Not recommended. At first, I was reluctant to use Moneybookers (MB), an online payment and money transfer service like PayPal, because of the many negative comments I have read about it. But because of its lower receiving fees, I gave it a try.
Registration Like PayPal, signing up for Moneybookers is free.
Identity verification through credit/debit card Unlike PayPal, there are three methods of verifying an account in MoneyBookers. One of these is the use of a credit/debit card. But this was very inconvenient for me. Why?
After I registered my EON account as credit/debit, MB debited a random amount from such account. The said amount is in dollar currency and it should be entered into the verification page of MB in order to verify my credit/debit card. Since my EON is not a dollar’s account, I did not have a way to determine the exact debited amount in dollars. I tried to compute it manually using the exchange rates at that time, but to no avail.
I emailed its customer support by uploading a snipped image of my statement of account displaying the debited amount in pesos. Unfortunately, after 48 hours of waiting, Moneybookers was not able to verify my account manually using said uploaded document as the card number was not displayed.
The online statement of my EON does not show the card number in any instances. Thus, I just scanned my EON card and uploaded it along with the snipped image of my statement of account. After a day, Moneybookers verified my EON account.
Identity verification through postal address Another way of verifying Moneybookers account is the use of postal address verification method. In here, MB sent a postal mail, which contains a verification code, to the address I used in MB. Upon receipt, I should enter such code in order to verify my address.
Moneybookers advised to wait up to 5 days before said mail arrives. Unfortunately for me, I was not able to receive it. So, after the 5-day period ended, I emailed MB regarding this concern. They emailed me back in less than 24 hours. They asked me to send a recent paper document that has my name and address on it. I uploaded the scanned photo of the only utility bill that showed my name and address.
Luckily, Moneybookers accepted it and verified my postal address.
Identity verification using bank account This is another method of verifying Moneybookers account. Sadly, I was not able to try such method since MB does not support verifying bank account in the Philippines.
Generally, the verification methods of Moneybookers are a bit tricky and inconvenient. However, I understand its main purposes -- to protect its Moneybookers users and to prevent its system from being used as a processor for money laundering.
If you want to sign up for Moneybookers, you may visit and register at: Moneybookers
I like to try baking low fat crab cakes this New Year as a gift for my brother. Every member in my family is watching his or her own diet these days. We could not afford to be ill as the prices of medications are too high. :(
Anyway, low fat crab cakes are made of crab meat, obviously, and mixed with other ingredients, such as egg, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, lemon, etc.
tasteandshare.com
According to food experts, crab cakes should be baked rather than fried.
Meanwhile, I am still looking for a low fat crab cake recipe that is as easy as preparing boiled egg.
These grayish/greenish dots are not part of the bread’s design. Rather, they are molds that grew on the bread because of spoilage. I took this picture inside GS, one of the malls in DC, a couple of weeks ago.
It was a repugnant sight to my eyes that I swore to myself not to buy a loaf of bread in said mall. I alerted one of the staff of that establishment to remove that product. He immediately obliged.
The bread’s expiration date: November 30, 2010. Yet, they still displayed it along with the new batch of loaves of bread. Disgusting.
I am planning to buy bathroom towels as a gift to my chubby niece. Since she “grows bigger each day,” I do not want to gift her clothes. Rather, bathroom towels could be a perfect Christmas gift for her as they are durable and could be used for many years. Plus, they are easily found in any malls in DC.
According to experts, bathroom towels are a unique gift for this holiday as they can be decorated easily. Most of the gifted bathroom towels are really not used for bathing purposes. Instead, they are intended as a decorative piece in a bathroom , living room or in a bedroom.
In my case, I may start looking for bathroom towels this week in the malls, but if I get tired of getting through the crowded malls, I’d rather pick these Little Miss Matched Dot Clusters towels by JC Penny.
I wore dental braces for more than four years. I needed those brackets to remedy my underbite and crooked teeth. These problems of mine had been an issue since childhood. I already wore retainers when I was in primary school. But the same problem came back years after I stopped wearing retainers.
Based on my research, dental braces are abhorred by the majority of Americans. But the case is different in the Philippines. Some of the people here think that if you are wearing braces, you are rich. You cannot blame them as those “metals” are really expensive. Nonetheless, they still do anything just to have dental braces cemented on their teeth, though they don’t necessarily need them (worse could not afford them). After all, people would consider them as individuals belonging to the affluent society once they show their teeth with metals.
But according to my orthodontist, people who don’t need dental braces but insist on wearing them would face many serious dental problems, sooner or later.
Thankfully, I’m done with the pain, especially the canker sore. But one thing I noticed though, my teeth became whiter after my orthodontist removed those metals.
“Why rent an apartment or a house if you could own an affordable home with superior quality?” Those were the words I heard coming from the mouth of Bambu Estate’s sales force. Every mall here in DC has an exhibit of Kisan Lu’s Bambu Estate subdivision.
“Ma’am, we can accompany you for a free site tripping anytime,” one real estate agent said. So when I had the time, I signed up for a site tripping to see the place.
Bambu Estate subdivision, a garden-themed promoting green architecture, is located in Mintal, Davao City. It is approximately 30 minutes away from downtown, i.e. when the traffic is mild and you are riding in a private transportation or a cab. But if you are travelling in a public transportation, say a PUJ, it is another story.
Anyway, yes the travel time was too long but it was worth my time. I saw their house models. Both Hana and Yumi are Japanese-inspired house units.
Please play the video provided below to have a glimpse of Bambu Estate:
Hana is cheaper than Yumi. But it is only built with 2 bedrooms and 1 toilet and bath. If you choose Standard Hana (PHP 1.4M approximately $32,000), the interior of the house doesn't have floor tiles installed and closets in the 2 bedrooms. Deluxe Hana (PHP 1.5M or $34,000), on the other hand, is equipped with floor tiles and cabinets, plus it’s carport is finished with plain cement.
Yumi Standard (PHP1.7M or $38,636) has 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms, but no floor tiles and closets. While Yumi DeLuxe (PHP 1.9M or $43,181) has the same rooms as Yumi Standard has to offer. The only difference is that there are no floor tiles (plain cement finishing only) and closets (for the bedrooms).
The model houses of Bambu Estate are really appealing. But it is wrong for those agents to say that “everything that you see in there is included in the package, except for the appliances, beds, sofa, and dining set.” It is a lie. The model houses were just fully enhanced. They have fixtures, lights and mirrors installed in every corner of the house to make the small floor area (42 sq.m for Hana and 52 sq.m for Yumi) look bigger. The enhancements are, of course, excluded in the package.
What really caught my eyes are the colors of the tiles plastered to the walls and floor of the bathroom. The contrasting colors are just a cozy sight.
However, I could not understand why Kisan Lu Lands Inc. (KLLI) keeps on advertising Bambu Estate as affordable when in fact the lowest price they offer reaches more than a million pesos. Then again, KLLI is known in DC as the best developer in terms of building high quality homes.
By the way, zen-themed Bambu Estate has the following facilities:
Swimming pool (which I love) Clubhouse Basketball court (I don’t need this) Guardhouse with security guards on duty
Sadly, it does not have a tennis court. :(
Anyway, I went home wondering where would I get PHP 1.4M. My only chance to own one Bambu Estate house and lot package is to win the super lotto jackpot prize of PHP 600M+ (approx $1.4M). Oh, how I wish I could be the next millionaire. But first, I need to buy a ticket for the super lotto.