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Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category

When it comes to grilling the choices are many – charcoal, gas, wood, electric – each method has it’s fans and many a battle has been fought over which is the best. Some folks even have more than one grill, using charcoal for BBQ and gas grills for everything else. The options are endless. One thing almost everyone can agree on is that grilled food tastes great – grilling lets the true flavor of the meat, fish or poultry take center stage and grilled food is generally easier and less time consuming to prepare.

 When you serve grilled food the entire meal and pace of the event can be more relaxed – most grilled foods are quite forgiving and do not require precision preparation and presentation. Meat in particular tastes much better when it has been allowed to “rest” – this means that after cooking, you let the meat sit  for as little as ten and as many as 25 minutes. This allows the meat to retain the succulent juices, rich flavor, and moisture that is otherwise left on the cutting board if you cut and serve it too soon.

It can be tempting to slice and serve meat while it’s hot – set the knife aside for at least ten minutes and you will find the meat easier to slice and far less “runny” because the juices have been reabsorbed. Searing meat, fish and poultry helps to retain flavor and moisture and is one of the secrets to grilling success regardless of your grilling weapon of choice. Another handy grilling secret is to use olive oil on vegetables and fruits – this keeps them from sticking to the grill basket and helps to seal in flavor. Spray olive oil or vegetable oil is handy for any metal surface which may come in contact with the grill.

Whatever happened to Alanis Morisette?

Apparently, she’s been spending some time at the beach under the scorching Hawaiian sun.

The 38-year-old singer was seen in a Hawaiian beach strutting in a skimpy bikini on May 4. She was playing in the sun with her husband, Mario “MC Souleye” Treadway and their 2-year-old son.

Morisette earlier hinted this slice of her life on a tweet on May 3, saying: “Happy birthday to my angel husband. Xooxoxox” with an accompanying Instagram photo of her and her husband kissing in a peaceful beach at the backdrop.

The couple, it was revealed, is celebrating their third wedding anniversary on May 22. So that gives us the clue that she’d probably be staying in Hawaii the whole month of May.

So for those who want to catch a glimpse of THE Alanis Morisette, you know what to do and where to go.

And to those who want her to produce new music with the same great impacts as “Ironic” and “Hand in My Pocket” among many others, let’s just cross our fingers that the Hawaiian waters would inspire her to do so.

The Louis Vuitton Keepall makes easy lifting for Jillian Michaels. Oh why? She does weightlifting on a regular basis:)

More than her toned body, I’m drooling over that personalized initial on her Monogram Keepall. Love.

Semestral break last year (October 2012) when the daughter purchased this new gadget. At 20, she has achieved that much in terms of financial freedom. She’s into online selling (anything of value…even small screws , as we try to kid her) she sells it online^_^) She started as a reseller which soon after she learned where to source out her wares, she embarked on her own online business. That’s the reason she has been earning on her own and has allowed her to buy stuff she like and gadgets. In fact she purchased her own Laptop some two years ago for 16k PHP. And, next is this Samsung Galaxy Tab for around18k PHP that time.

The mini iPad wasn’t yet available that time, and because this tablet has phone functionality, she opted for this model. She bought this at Abenson’s Robinsons Pacific Cabanatuan branch. It also comes with a free ordinary Samsung phone.

Testing…

I asked why she didn’t choose the bigger one. She said she opted for this 7.o inches monitor so she could easily slide it in her tote. She added, she need not the bigger model because she had too many gadgets on her tote. Sometimes her Laptop which she carries in her university, and, her two phones (both for business purposes^_^).

Testing the touchscreen…

So, there’s her gadget purchase last year. Please don’t ask me why kids do need to have all the gadgets which are out in the market. I honestly don’t know why

The Samsung Tablet isn’t Charging Properly. What happened?

Now, here’s one story I would like to share about that tablet. Just this February, she phoned me telling me that there seems to be problem concerning the tablet. It won’t charged. Good thing, she need not go home to bring her tablet for checking or repairs. She went to the manufacturer’s service center (Samsung) and replaced the charger – FOR FREE.

How Important are Warranties?

That’s how important product warranties are. The product you purchased on the merchant is protected by the manufacturer’s warranty. Hence, the manufacturer cover the cost of repairs in case the product malfunctions. They are also warranted (the manufacturer) in case the product is found defective and needs replacement.

Manufacturer’s warranties gives us the assurance that our purchases are protected in the event of a failure.

Thus, to keep our money safe and free from ensuing headaches for repair costs, it is best to buy from refutable shops that provides maximum warranty on the product they sell. Selling price may cost more -the daughter pays P18600 at Abensons while at online store , it is priced at P16200 at that time. P2400 savings? Maybe. Let’s checked on…

Online Shopping has its perks but BEWARE. Ask for specifics on WARRANTIES.

In today’s online shopping trend, we, buyers are tempted to buy online because of the convenience it provides. This proves to be true. However, because of the density of online shops crawling the web nowadays, competition becomes tougher. Online stores tend to outrun each other by luring more clients with freebies, discounts, free shipping and lower prices as compared to other websites offering the same product.

Online shoppers, beware. Especially for gadgets or appliances. These products are generally sophisticated. Factors may cause malfunctioning like shipment. Although, online shops may promise free repairs or replacement, one question buyer must have popped out to online shops is, “Who pays for shipping in case I return the product I purchased?” Plus another question, “Still, who pays for the item when it will be shipped to the buyer after being repaired or replaced?”

DO NOT BE FOOLED by lower prices or discounts.

Too many questions. I do not say, online shopping posed too many a hazard. Actually, it is. Buyers should know how to weigh the pros and the cons.

One last thing, if you happen to see this on your favorite gadget online store:

WARRANTY: One (1) Year (Retailer’s Name) Service Warranty. Three (3) Days Unit Replacement in-case of factory defect.

That’s translated to: If you broke your gadget on the 7th day of usage, it can not be replaced with a new unit. Plus, the burden of going to or shipping the product back to the retailer. Moreover, since retailer is not covered by manufacturer’s warranty, buyers will have to shoulder the replacement part/s.

Parting tip.

Shop in refutable companies. Check the company. How long are they operating? Check also in forums or blog reviews because these are the buyers who will conduct fair and honest reviews about their actual experiences.

Have you experience shopping online and found out that the product you purchased is defective? How did the retailer extend help -in terms of services and fees?

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away. For sure a lot of people are now starting to buy Valentine’s gifts or presents for their loved ones -either for their partner, their parents, their kids or even for their friends.

If you are looking for a gift suggestion for a photography hobbyist, then you are in luck today because below, I will give you my top 5 choices of DSLR cameras under $500 (some of they are on sale as of this writing). They are not that expensive but the specs and features they have are top notch. Without further delay, here is my list.

1. Canon EOS 1000D Kit 10 MP DSLR with 18-55mm Lens

According to its manufacturers and creators, this camera is the smallest and lightest Digital EOS model yet, the EOS 1000D weighs just 450g – and is ergonomically designed for comfortable handling.

Features:

10.1 Megapixel

3.0x Optical Zoom

2.5″ LCD screen

DIGIC III processor for rapid operation and superior imaging

2. Nikon D3100 14.2 MP DSLR

A camera that can use maximum ISO of 3200 (expandable to ISO 12800). If you don’t want any camera-shake blur for your photos or images, this one is good for you (or for the person who will receive this as a gift from you)

Features:

14.2 Megapixel

Nikon F mount

3.0″ LCD screen

3. Nikon D3000 10.2 MP with 3x 18-55mm lens

A basic, simple and easy to use camera yet very effective that even advanced and pro digital photographer will surely love.

Features:

10.2MP

3x Optical zoom

6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes

4. Nikon D3100 Kit 18-55 MM VR Lens

Another easy to use Nikon camera with great functionality.

Features:

14.2-megapixel

3-inch monitor with One-Touch Live View shooting and movie capture

5. Nikon D3000 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Features:

10.2-megapixel

Nikon EXPEED image processing

3.0-inch color LCD screen

I hope you find my above personal list a very useful one for you especially for this upcoming Valentine’s Day. If you wanted to buy one or two of above mentioned DSLR cameras, you can check out online stores like Lazada.Com.Ph and WeeMall.Com. They are having promos and offers huge discounts for this Love Month season. Better take advantage of it for huge savings.

A lot of home buyers finance real estate and therefore needs to get a real estate loan. There are many things to consider when making a mortgage loan and home owners should study all aspects carefully. This includes its features such as how much is the loan, maturity of the loan, how will it be paid off, interest rate, where will you acquire the loan, and which type of lender will you choose.

It is best to weigh your choices and pick the kind of mortgage that will suit your budget or finances and the type of property that you wish to purchase. It is also advisable to compare the different lender rates. Getting approved for a mortgage is not a walk in the park. Some applications are rejected by loan officers so make sure that you have everything covered. If your salary is not enough to qualify for a loan, you can look for a cosigner who will guarantee the lender that mortgage payments will be made. You can also consider setting your sights on a more affordable property if ever you do not qualify for the amount of mortgage you want.

With that being said, a home buyer can get a loan either to buy or secure the property from commercial banks, credit unions, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, stock brokerages, savings and loan associations, online lenders, and private individuals. Most real estate loans in the US are from mortgage brokers or persons who bring together borrowers and lenders. They can also discuss a fee directly with the buyer in exchange for a low interest rate. Getting a loan from a bank is also good because they may offer a discount if you have an account with them. Mortgage bankers may represent many banks and the loans they give out are bank funded. A person can also get a mortgage loan from online lenders. But it is best to first do a research and make sure you are dealing with a reputable company with a history of satisfied borrowers and clients.

A lot of people enjoy online shopping. Aside from the fact that it is more convenient, easier, and faster than your usual mall shopping, online shops are where you usually find unique items. I often browse the internet for shops that sell beautiful, interesting, and affordable items and I must say that there are quite a handful of shops that stood out not just in terms of their products but also the over all look and vibe of their websites. One shop that caught my fancy is Spencer’s. It is a lifestyle retail company which has been in business for many years selling a wide selection of items like T-shirts, accessories, body jewelry, footwear, bags, wallets, sexy lingerie, novelty gifts, board games, and home accessories among others. Apart from their online store, they have hundreds of stores across the United States and Canada. Visit their Facebook page to get a feel of what the company is all about.

Their fun, cute, outrageous, and humorous products are a favorite not just among young adults but to shoppers of all ages. Furthermore, they have items that you will not find elsewhere. For people who love body piercing, they also sell fancy body jewelry. They have eyebrow rings as well as 14 gauge banana rings in red, black, and white for your navel piercing. Its curved barbells shape is more attractive compared to the usual ball ends. These banana piercing ideas is enough proof that Spencer’s continue to challenge themselves by selling items that you will not see in other online stores. In the process keeping shoppers interested, excited, and yearning for more.

Has the weather or season’s have already changed? At this time of the year, we should be experiencing colder temperatures even in the afternoons. But high and lo! Daytime lately is like experiencing mid-summer’s days. With heat rising up at 33 degrees. What had been happening, Earth?

The afternoon heat had made us plan to spend a few days in Baguio City perhaps next week when the kids had their off from school, or after Christmas when we couldn’t set up our schedules altogether. In lieu of this planned “highland getaway”, we are sourcing out kerrits stuff to bring so we could spend one day horse-riding on Wright’s Park. And, yes, a trip to nearby Camp John Hay. We’ve heard of the many new adventures going on there. Family plus vacation sans the heat equals total fun in a colder place.

National security is one of the most critical points in managing a country. This is why most sovereign states in the world put premium to its national defense departments and arms. It is important that the members of the military are provided with complete arms and weapons so that they can fulfill their duties to assure the safety and security of the nation. They should also be given with world-class facilties that are guaranteed with maximum quality and performance.

In America, there has been a steady increase of businesses that ventured into the sale of weapons and instruments for implementing safety and security. Seeing the profitability of these implements, business groups in the US have also put up online shops to extend there market not only in the America but also all over the world.

One of the leading websites in the sale of weapons is www.gggaz.com. This offers a wide variety of weapons and machinery and also their corresponding accessories. One of the sites top-seller is the Mossberg 500 Accesories, which are manufactured in the finest and most intricate processes.

Easy access to weapons

But the presence of these shops and their online bases have opened the opportunities for a lot of people to easily get their own weapons. There are many reasons why people would want to avail their won weapons and tools.

For one, they could use these tools to protect the security of their own families. In this time when criminalities are becoming rampant, it is but rational to make ways to implement stricter security plans for the family. The purchase of security weapons for the family can help achieve this end.

The downside, however, is when these tools are used to employ criminalities all the more. The presence of shops for weapons have increased the chances for unscrupulous individuals to get their own tools which could aid them in perpetuating their nasty deeds.

That is why online shops should be keenful as to who they should offer their products. They should become channels to implement better security for the nation, not to give chances for criminals to continue their wrong acts.

The era of affordable living comes high in style at a recent announcement made by New York City Mayor Bloomberg. The proposed plan was the construction of micro-apartments that will be made available to young professionals or couples planning to relocate in the city to be near their work place.

Living in a high end city such as the Big Apple tends to be costly averaging rent to a small studio apartment from $3000 up per month. The Mayor’s plan of developing these micro-units will have leverage on the following:

Affordability. The influx of people from neighboring states had made the city one of the highest occupancy rates in the world. The Mayor sees a greater demand for single occupancy. Despite zoning laws, the possibility of renting smaller apartments will be more than enough to provide these people with affordable places to stay.

Accessibility. The city life makes a conducive place to find satisfying careers. The reason why more people were opting to stay at too many high profile and costly city as New York. It makes up a good base for commercialism. Transportation, establishments, work, and, leisure. Every thing is within easy access.

Design. While the trend in real estate properties were leaning towards maximizing every space available, the proposed 10 by 30 feet apartment units will have the same basic functions as a normal house should be. Bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, living room, with enough light coming in to the units. A design so small yet targeting full functionality to make the place as cozy, livable and not cramped.