First Time Mover? Here's What You Need

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First Time Mover? Here's What You Need

Moving into your first apartment can be a very exciting experience. Your number one priority should be to figure out the average monthly cost of renters insurance in your new area, and purchase a policy that’s within your budget. You’ll want to cover your valuables and protect against any mishaps that might happen to the apartment or surrounding buildings. Unfortunately, if you don’t prepare for your move beforehand, it can be very overwhelming.

These tips will help you avoid any dilemmas. You’re going to need certain items right away when you first move into a new space. Refer to this checklist before your move to keep the entire experience as stress-free as possible.

Daily Essentials

There are some items you never want to be without on your first day in a new apartment. They include toilet paper, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a shower curtain, and any other toiletries you use on a daily basis. You also want to make sure you purchase a bed and all bedding you need. Sleeping on the floor is not fun for anyone!

Purchase certain kitchen essentials as well. Spending money on takeout can be a lot more expensive than you think. Although you might convince yourself you can justify ordering food for the first few days in your new place, that can turn into the first few weeks if you don’t prepare beforehand. At the very least make sure you have enough kitchenware to prepare basic meals right away.

Necessary Kits

You don’t need to purchase every single item on this list individually. There are couple kits you should buy that will include several necessities all in one convenient package.

The most important one is a first-aid kit. If an emergency strikes, you want to be prepared.

You should also purchase a basic tool kit. This doesn’t need to include much equipment. For a renter, starting out with a kit that includes a hammer, tape measure, screwdriver, and needle-nose pliers should suffice.

Landlords are typically responsible for addressing any major repairs or improvements that need to be made to an apartment. However, for smaller jobs, such as hanging up posters or curtains, you’re on your own. A beginner tool kit will help you perform these tasks.

Cleaning Supplies

You want your new place to be as neat and comfortable as possible. Of course, it’s a lot easier to be proactive about cleaning when you have the supplies you need immediately on hand. When you move in, make sure you bring a vacuum, something for mopping and sweeping up floors, multi-purpose cleaning sprays, a toilet scrubber, toilet cleaning solution, cleaning wipes, dish detergent, and laundry detergent. You might also need to pack stainless steel cleaner if your new apartment has any stainless steel surfaces.

Furnishings

You might assume you can put off buying some of these items. However, if you don’t make a point of buying them ahead of time, you might not get around to it right away. Your apartment won’t feel like home until you do.

That’s why you should also invest in furnishings now. If you’re on a budget, search for them at secondhand stores and Craigslist. As long as you thoroughly check for signs of bed bugs and wear and tear, this is an easy way to save money.

Having these items before you move is key to enjoying your first day at your first apartment. Remember, you could be relaxing, or you could be spending that time worrying because you forgot to bring certain essentials along. That’s a lot less likely to happen if you stick to this list.

Lunch at Sear via Booky

I have the Booky application on my phone for years and I haven't used it even once. Finally, I had an opportunity when we went out for lunch. Rix asked me what I wanted to eat. I jokingly said steak. I opened the Booky app and searched for Banawe area. An offer from Sear Steak Scullery popped up. 

Good thing I did not need to call for a reservation. I am one of the people who shy away from phone calls. Glad it can be done via text messaging. I was notified of a confirmation from Sear. The reservation was for 12 noon, but we were not kept waiting when we arrived early. Points for that!

It's located on the second floor of 238 Center, Banawe Corner Panalturan Street, Banawe, Quezon City. 

The theme of the restaurant is kind of Western. The staff were wearing cowboy and cowgirl outfits. See the horseshoes and saddle on the wall?

We ordered beef lasagna in white sauce, fish nuggets, and dry-aged ribeye. We actually ordered T-bone steaks, but the server came back and told us that there was no delivery yet.

The beef lasagna was creamy and cheesy. It was a different take without the tomato sauce. The ground beef was a little salty.

The fish nuggets were delicious. the outside was crunchy and inside, the fish inside was nicely flaking. It came with tartar sauce.

The photo below shows the dry-aged ribeye we had. It wasn't served on a sizzling plate, as I expected. It came with a bowl of mushroom soup for each of us, a bread basket with four pieces of bread and a small plate of flavored butter (pimiento, it seemed), a big serving of mashed potatoes, buttered French beans and corn, and two cups of sweet soft-serve ice cream. 

The mediumly done beef was soft and tasty, even without the A1 and Worcestershire sauces. There were bits of fat, but mostly not. 

When we were almost finished eating, I received a text message from Booky. I could get a free dessert when I answer the survey. I did. But, we didn't claim it anymore because we were full. We even took home some fish nuggets for the kids to try.

It was a unique experience. Booky allowed us to explore new places in the neighborhood that we haven't tried yet. We chose Sear because it was one of the two restaurants that offered Php300 off the bill, provided it reached a thousand.

Did you use Booky? How was your experience with it?

The ZALORA Meme

Have you seen this kind of meme going around on Facebook?

I am like Z. I love to shop online (if I have extra money or just looking around), specifically articles of clothing, accessories and shoes because... 

• it's more convenient than going to stores and trying on clothes
• I am too afraid to don't drive
• ZALORA offers 30-day return or exchange
• ZALORA accepts cash on delivery

So, how can we be smart and stylish like Z? Click this link to find out: Buy now, pay later with COD

Be even smarter, use this code to get 15% discount on your very first purchase:

Happy online shopping!

Tips On Finding Bargains Online

Shopping is an art form to many people who are on limited budgets. These people often go out of their way to get the biggest bang for their buck. Fortunately, modern technology now gives these people more ways to save money on clothing than they could have ever dreamed of a decade ago. It is simply a matter of knowing how to use this technology to benefit you as you attempt to find the items you are looking for. Sadly, many consumers routinely pay much more than they need to for clothes because they are ignorant regarding these basic techniques that can be used to save money. Here are some simple ways to go about finding the best clothing bargains.

Bargain alerts

There can be no question that the Internet has completely changed the way that people do their shopping. It has also revolutionized the way that people look for bargains. One of the most popular methods is the use of bargain alerts. The fact that most people have a cell phone these days makes this method particularly effective. The way it works is very simple. A person will go to a clothing website that sells some clothes he or she is interested in. However, the price might be a little too high at the moment. The website might offer bargain alerts to their customers. Basically, all you need to do is sign up and provide your email address or your phone number. Then you can select the specific articles of clothing you are interested in. You will receive an email or a text message any time those clothing items go on sale. This will allow you to be one of the first people to take advantage of the savings. You can also do some shopping on Craftsvilla for some of your favorite bridal mehndi designs.

Coupon sites

There are now an enormous amount of sites that offer coupon codes on a wide variety of items. All you need to do is go to these sites to see if there are any coupon codes on items you are interested in buying. You can then copy down the coupon code and enter it when you buy that specific item from a different site. There is also an alert system for these sites. Enter your email or phone number and you will receive an alert if a particular item has a coupon code associated with it. The money you can save is substantial.

5 Ways to Cut Spending in the Business for 2016

In order for a business to survive, money needs to be spent wisely. Technology provides a number of ways to reduce the overhead costs of a company through various alternatives. These methods may also prove to be a good marketing point by advertising that your business is essentially "eco-friendly." While you don't have to line your roof with solar panels, cutting the costs of paper and energy use has potential to attract customers who focus on the environment.

BYOD Platforms

Many businesses are moving to a Bring-Your-Own-Device platform. This means employees use their own smartphones, laptops and computers to perform the work. It saves money on hardware purchased by the company and the time spent by your IT staff to keep them operational. For a lot of businesses, personal hardware means personal expense to repair broken devices.

source

Paperless Systems

In reality, there is no reason to store or create paper-based documents in the 21st century. Digital signatures are just as binding as those of pen and paper in most states. Using paperless document management allows you to archive everything you'll ever need without buying countless file cabinets and drawers. Some businesses have to get large storage units to hold all of their paperwork, which becomes an additional expense.

Cloud Usage

Storing files and such on the Cloud allows you to access work materials from virtually anywhere. This provides a greater level of productivity for your employees while giving access to vital information from anywhere there is an Internet connection.

In the Bathrooms

Using motion-sensing lights and aerated faucets reduces the resources wasted in the bathroom every day. Most organizations keep their lights on throughout all hours. Motion switches removes this energy loss by registering the movement of people actually in the facilities. Aerated faucets reduces the amount of water that is used when employees wash their hands.

Watering the Grounds

Water timers can help regulate how much is being used. Some of the newer models will detect rainfall eliminating the need to water the grass. You can also go a step further and use additives that will enhance the usage of that water. This could reduce how often your grounds need to be saturated by up to 50 percent, depending on the brand of additive.

These are only a few ways that you can prepare the business for 2016. With each new innovative technology, greater savings can be achieved. Keep your finger on the pulse of business devices and discover other ways to drastically cut your financial losses each year. Less money to these expenses means more money for marketing and payroll.

Ways to Take the Guesswork Out Of Bidding for a Job

Regardless of the construction trade a person works in, everyone has a task they enjoy doing and a task they just hate to do. Usually, the task they enjoy doing is something they can do well. For an experienced HVAC contractor, installing duct work is a piece of cake. Then there are other tedious tasks that are frustrating to do. The challenge for contractors is understanding how to calculate and accurately charge for these types of tasks.

Most individuals who choose to work in the construction field do so because they enjoy working with their hands. They enjoy interacting with real things. They did not get this job because they wanted to be an accountant. However, as much as a contractor may hate estimating jobs and then making bids based on these estimates, it is an essential part of what they do. Being able to accurately estimate a job and being able to accurately bid for a job can mean the difference between a successful business and one that fails.

Many contractors have experiences where they get the job, do the best work they can, but because of a problem with their estimate, they either break even or walk away losing money. Mistakes associated with pricing a job will cost contractors money.

The first step in accurately estimating a job is to make sure that you include all of the materials you are going to need. For example, a plumber would need to know the pipes they're going to be using, the number of elbows they will need, and the amount of digging and excavating they will need to do for the job.

Something else to take into consideration is the number of vehicles that are going to be used on the job. Contractors should not forget to prorate the wear and tear their vehicles are going to have, depreciation of the vehicles, and fuel costs. Additionally, overhead costs need to be factored in. This includes insurance, permits, advertising, salary, and all of the other little things that contractors need in order to keep their business running.

Many contractors have seen the benefit of pre-estimating a job and then using that to create a flat rate. Electricians can show their customers the flat rate in an electrical price book. They can also show upgrades to the job that can be done for an up charge. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of bidding for a job.

What would I do with an extra $100?

Did you know that the little, seemingly negligible expenses that we shell out each month add up to much at the end of the year? If I buy an ice cream cone from the nearby convenience store for $.50 each week, I would be spending $24 a year!

Savings could also go the same way. It's much exciting, too! Take for example the razor that's being bought each month. If I become a member of the Dollar Shave Club (DSC), I would get shaving supplies, like their razors, for as low as $1 a month. I would have an extra $100 after a year. That's a lot!

So, what would I do with an extra $100?

• Buy new jeans! With all the ice cream cones I had for a year, I'm going to need new pants that are a size or two bigger.
• Go book shopping! I would love to get my hands on new titles! (even if I still have a long to-read list)
• Get a gift for my husband. I don't have any idea what to buy, yet. Maybe more razors from DSC?
• Or maybe I should just date my hubby at a restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet! Yum!
• Go crazy with online shopping! Woohoo!

How about you? What would you do with an extra 100 bucks?

Want to know more? Watch this video!

A Little Care Will Make Your Carpets Last Longer

Wall to wall carpets are cozy and attractive, but they are also dirt collectors. Even if you vacuum regularly, the dirt and dust works its way down to the pad and can cause odors, stains and premature wear. You can prevent this with regular maintenance and professional service by Green Choice Carpet Cleaning NYC cleaning once a year. To avoid bringing toxic fumes into your home, it is recommended to use a company such as Green Choice Carpet that uses organic cleaning products.

Tips for Keeping Wall to Wall Carpet Clean

Once you have your carpet professionally cleaned, you want to keep it as clean as possible throughout the year. There are some simple things you can do that will help reduce the amount of dirt, dust and allergens that settle in your carpet.

• Vacuum the whole carpet every week and more often in high-traffic areas. It takes about five minutes for the vacuum cleaner to remove the optimum amount of dust and dirt, so you should go over each area several times.

• Use an attachment to vacuum around heavy furniture and move light-weight furniture to vacuum beneath it.

• The vacuum bag or canister should be emptied when it is half-full of dirt because if it is too full, you won’t get enough suction. There may be a full-line on the bag or canister.

• Use furniture leg coasters under the legs on heavy furniture. These will prevent deep, permanent dents from forming on the carpet and pad.

• Clean spills immediately if possible. The longer the spilled substance is on the carpet, the deeper it will go in and be harder to remove. Soak up as much of the substance by pressing it with an absorbent towel. Don't rub the spill because this will push it into the carpet. If there is any remaining stain, you can blot it with a solution of one cup water and one quarter cup mild detergent. Rinse the soap out with clear water and blot dry. When it is completely dry, vacuum the area.

• You can deodorize you carpet once a month by sprinkling baking soda on it in a thin layer and leaving it overnight. The next day vacuum it completely. Just as it does in your refrigerator, baking soda will absorb the pet and other odors in your carpet.

You can keep your wall to wall carpet looking and smelling fresh between its annual professional cleanings.

How Remanufacturing Is Helping HVAC Customers Save Money and the Planet

Air conditioning technology is much more efficient now than in previous decades. This is thanks to more eco-friendly refrigerant chemicals and recycling programs. Businesses, like American Hermetics and hundreds of others, help to keep costs down for customers by using these environmentally safe strategies. One such strategy is remanufacturing.

Remanufacturing is a strategy where existing HVAC parts are repaired and supplemented with newer parts. This allows the HVAC business to use the same HVAC part without ordering or manufacturing new parts. Remanufacturing can be used when repairing a HVAC unit or it can be used during the manufacturing process itself. Essentially, a new HVAC unit can be made with various parts that are remanufactured.

This process is environmentally friendly since it reduces the carbon footprint of the HVAC manufacturing or repair process. Environmentalists point out that every time a product needs to be manufactured or repaired with new parts, the carbon output from that product is raised. Therefore, by remanufacturing products, like an air conditioning compressor, the HVAC repair or manufacturing process is much more environmentally friendly.

In addition, these strategies help customers in terms of costs. By reducing the amount of energy and resources going into the repair or manufacturing process, remanufacturing can reduce the overall cost of the HVAC unit. This passes on savings to customers.

Remanufacturing is a cost effective and environmentally safe way to repair or manufacture HVAC units. Many companies are on the leading edge of using this strategy when they are working on air conditioners and other HVAC systems.

My Starbucks Card

On our way home from a trip to Laguna, my family and I stopped over at Starbucks to get Rix and me some coffee. The kind cashier/barista offered me the Starbucks card and I chose this dainty design.

Upon registration, I was rewarded with a free grande beverage of my choice. A green tea frap was what I decided on days after I registered my card. The offer was valid for 60 days. 

I must remember to treat my Starbucks card as cash as I have loaded it so I could use it in the future and get rewards. What specific rewards? I haven't figured it out yet.

This month, my birth month, I will be treated to a slice of cake together with a purchase of drink. I'm looking forward to it!

Signs Of Home Foundation Damage

Foundation damage sets in gradually, and it can eventually destroy your home. The warning signs should never be ignored because fast treatment can save your home and drastically reduce the cost of repairs. Keep an eye out for these warning signs that your foundation is facing serious problems.

Sloping Areas

Sections of your house that should be level should never start sloping. If your floor or ceiling starts to slope, you should call for Plano foundation repair before the damage becomes too extensive.

Door and Window Problems

When the foundation settles, you will start having problems with your doors and windows working properly. They may become stiff, difficult to open and difficult to close. There also may be a separation between the doors and windows and surrounding areas.

Cracks

Watch for cracks in any are of the home. Wall cracks can happen with mild settling, but they should not return once they are filled in and patched. Cracks that tear bricks or cinder blocks in two are particularly worrisome, and you should also watch for cracks in the floor, foundation and moldings.

Bowing and Separation

Finally, the most serious warning signs including bowing of walls and separation of walls from the floors or ceiling. When you start to see these warning signs, you should absolutely call for service at the earliest moment.

The good news is that these foundation problems can be corrected. Calling at the first sign of problems will minimize the damage and limit your repair bills, but even more serious foundation problems can be professionally repaired.

13% Off This 2013 at ZALORA

The holiday happenings at ZALORA isn't over yet!

There is a Happy New Year 2013 SALE happening now.

Get 13% off for a minimum spend of 2,500 Php, excluding sale items.

Just use the coupon code NEWYEAR13 upon checkout.

What will happen on 12.12.12? SALE!!!

National Online Internet Shopping Extravaganza (NOISE)

Press release:

On December 12, 2012, leading one-stop shopping sites ZALORA and Lazada are teaming up with the best in group-buying website Groupon to give Pinoy netizens their biggest and most exciting cyber shopping experience ever.

ZALORA, the country’s online destination for lifestyle and fashion, will offer 12% off on all items, from trendy clothing and chic home décor to cool sports gear and even stylish accessories to everyone who purchases from 12AM to 1AM and 12PM to 1PM on 12/12/12. NOISE day also kicks off the special ZALORA 12 days of Christmas sale - offering even more exciting discounts on a different category each day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas eve.

Lazada, the Philippines’ Online Shopping Mall offers a huge discount of 30% and up on 8 products each for their 12 categories, giving consumers the best deals on gadgets, books, baby essentials, beauty products and more every hour starting at 8AM until 8PM. To make this even more exciting, Lazada Philippines will be having an hourly raffle draw for their shoppers with the grand prize of PhP 121,212 worth of Lazada Gift Certificates!

Groupon Philippines will be having a 12-hour Flash Sale from 12 noon to 12 midnight. Subscribers will be able to avail of an additional 12% discount on selected local deals, including restaurant vouchers, spa deals, and more. In addition, free credits will given to loyal Groupon subscribers. Experience your city for less with Groupon!

If you haven't finished checking off your Christmas list, 12.12.12 is the date to do it! Take advantage of the NOISE and get 12% off your purchase when you shop and checkout during the said times.

The Spend-Less Holidays Blog Carnival 2012

Would you believe? It's only 19 days before Christmas! If you are still decorating (raising my hand) or still looking for gifts, and if you want to "spend less while savoring the season", there is a blog carnival hosted by The Frugal Fil-Am and Dainty Mom with insightful posts on how to enjoy a meaningful Christmas without emptying the wallets and piggy banks. Below is the list of the wonderful participants.

Domesticated Goddess

Apple’s World

A WAHMs Life

Changing Nappies in High Heels

Savvy Saving Couple

Kids Party Hub

My Life in Letters

Super Mommy Wannabee

The Learning Basket

The Frugal Fil-Am

Mrs. C’s Sugar-Coated Life

Henry’s Mom

Roller Coaster Ride

Saved By the Miracle of Baked Mac

Mommy Journey

City Girl, Country Home

Ate Maui

The World is Our Classroom

Lique’s Antics

Mommy Bares All

Consumer Queen

Truly Rich Mom

Saving Well, Spending Less

Dainty Mom

Because of these moms, I am now inspired to:

• Decorate our 3-year-old Christmas tree with our existing decor plus gifted ones, but in new  and creative ways.
• I also want to incorporate my eldest's toys or works of art into the tree.
• Scour my old clothes and my babies' pre-loved ones for really nice pieces to sell on eBay.
• Ask my 5-year-old to help me sort her old toys and choose what we will give to other children in need.
• Re-arrange our furniture and incorporate Christmas-themed elements onto the surfaces.
• I am not sure if bazaars still accept concessionaires, but, it's a great idea to also sell stuff or yummy food in a preferred bazaar, and use the money earned to buy affordable gifts in the same bazaar where booth was set up. Saves on gas, too!
• I once sold Human Nature products at two bazaars so I bought a lot of brown paper bags. I just use these to wrap the gifts, decorate them with nice ribbons that were from cake shops or previous Christmas gifts. I also keep shopping paper bags to use as "wrappers." If the recipient really appreciates what's inside, I'm sure he/she won't mind the wrapper. Plus, it's earth-friendly, too.

Lemon for Moms!

When it comes to handling our family's finances, moms need all the help we can get. Agree? Do you really know what you spend your money on? I want the answer to that question.

Overwhelmed by receipts? If you are like me whose wallet was getting fat, not with cash (I hope it was!), but with receipts and charge slips, then using Lemon would be a sigh of relief. 

Is it just me or are you also amazed at how iPhone applications could turn the camera into a scanner? Wow, right? So when I used Lemon to scan receipts so I'll have a digital copy of them, I was also in awe how the scanner could read the printed words and amount then type them out. I even tried it on a handwritten one and it worked.

And did you know that one can now digitize the debit and credit cards, the loyalty and ID cards, even coupons and daily deals using Lemon? So, if I lost my wallet (God forbid!), I have a back-up copy of my cards thus, when I call the credit card company to report my lost card, I know the card info to tell them. Smart, isn't it?

If you want a useful application on your iPhone that could benefit yourself and your family financial-wise, then try Lemon. Please click on my affiliate links if you have decided to join Lemon. Thanks!

I need more nursing wear.

The bazaar at Bellevue started yesterday. I have bought tops there for me, for my hubby and for our daughter Elle last two years. Brands that were carried include Guess and Mossimo. There were super many people at the booth rummaging through the display cases and scoring sweet deals for themselves and to give as gifts.

I have decided to breastfeed my third child this year, therefore I would need nursing tops. So, I wouldn't be able to shop at the bazaar this season. I have a few nursing blouses I got at a warehouse sale while I was preggy. And, I'm hoping to win one from Dainty Mom Martine's giveaway of Latch a Babe Nursingwear.

I am eyeing this dress:

and this top:

From Drypers

Gotta love Drypers' marketing strategy for I received free samples of its diapers simply by requesting for them online. They also gave out samples at the breastfeeding class I attended in The Medical City when I was pregnant. Then, I joined its online community for mommies (my username is ceemee), and got gift certificates for McDonald's. Yay!

for baby & for mommy

Saving While Spending

Christmas is a season most people are looking forward to. It is a time when family and friends get together to enjoy each others' companies and make more memories to cherish. It is also a time to show our appreciation by giving presents. With all these merry-making and gift-giving, it isn't a wonder that there would be a significant dent on our wallets or credit cards. Wouldn't it be great if we could find ways to save money while shelling out for the season's expenses?

Creating a budget for the presents that will be bought and separating it from the household expenses is one way to start saving money. Other tips that I picked up here and there include:

• Plan your gifts. Making a list of people and ideas on what to give them would be helpful in knowing what to look for when you scour bazaars and sales.
• Take advantage of upcoming sales. Remember to bring your list with you so you won't end up buying what you don't need.
• Take advantage of the Internet and online shops. When you don't want to brave a sea of people when shopping, doing so in the comforts of your home would be better. You can save on gas and spend it on the shipping costs instead.
• If it's possible, get all or most of what you need from your trusted shop so you'll get more items and just pay for a one time delivery charge. Paying different shipping fees for just one or a few items from different stores can be taxing financially.
• Prizes you won which you haven't used and are in tip-top shape could make great gifts too. I know of a family with kids who attend children's parties and who participate eagerly in games to get as many prizes as they could, and tada! They have a trove of children's gifts for occasions like birthday or Christmas.
• Set aside a day to shop for your gift(s) to yourself. That way, it will be more focused and you won't suddenly want what you're going to give your BFF.
• This isn't related to gifts, but, I like the idea of soliciting your family or even friends (close ones, of course!) for everyday useful stuff that they have in abundance, for example, giveaway pens or umbrellas. I know that, for some reason, my parents have a lot of bath towels so when I ran out, I know who to run to. Heehee!

I just hope I get to follow my own advice on saving. Ha ha! How about you? What things do you do to save while spending?

Excited For The Photo Book!

Taking advantage of online deals could prove to be good for our wallets, provided that the products or services are well worth it. It also helps that the companies that peruse this type of marketing are popular like purchasing a Bath and Body Works coupon, or having a buffet lunch at Cafe d'Asie, The Bellevue Manila, which had many patrons when we went there twice. And then we availed of five coupons from Chooks-To-Go, a roasted chicken delivery service, which were life-savers when I couldn't come up with anything for dinner due to time constraint, mostly. I also bought two coupons to a steak dinner at Alfredo's as a gift for my parents. I hope they enjoyed them. 

I also featured a US-based online deal-buying site called Mamapedia, now it's Mamasource, I think.

We had pictures of the "maternity shoot" of my 2nd pregnancy, the newborn shoot of baby Caleb, his dedication and first birthday that we would like to compile into an album. Thankfully, I saw a deal for photobookphilippines.com where there's a software I could download, then I just upload the pictures to the software then drag & drop them to my desired page layout. I have the option to add scrapbook elements, masking, backgrounds, frames, drop shadows, vignettes, texts, and borders. I also love that I could rearrange the pages easily. I purchased this at the price of 1000Php for a 4000Php worth of photo book. 

the interface

After I have finished uploading and designing the album, I would need to click the order button. I just wonder how the pictures are going to be transferred to them. That would remain a mystery until I am through with this "project".  Then, the album would be shipped to me. It's just unfortunate that the voucher amount cannot be used for shipping costs. I am excited to see the finished product! If it looks really nice and worth it, I think I'm going to get another album for the third baby. :-)

Giveaway Dismay

Giveaways are supposed to be fun and apart from driving traffic to the hosts' website/blog, it should foster camaraderie among bloggers or people in the niche the hosts are reaching out to. I like joining giveaways with prizes that I think I, and especially my kids, could use and be happy about. I am thankful to the bloggers who are generous and are clear with their giveaway rules, especially how the winners will receive their prizes.

My latest giveaway winning experience was not a super pleasant one. 

I received an e-mail from the host that I won the diaper bag. I was excited because it was a welcome need although we have already purchased one the day before I knew of the news. This was for my baby boy. The prize would then be kept for our upcoming third baby. 

Although the rules did not state that winners would need to claim the prizes in person, I was set to meet up with the blogger at an event. And I was to meet with the sponsor even. I was a little nervous because I have never met a certified blogger. Then, she contacted me and told me that my prize will be sent via courier to me because she wouldn't be able to attend the event. I was asked for my address. 

I hoped she had taken note of my real name as I have already stated it in the comment section of her blog as part of the requirement. But, because she used my e-mail address as my name, the prize needed to be sent again since the people who answer the door were not familiar with my e-mail address. One sad part was that I had to shoulder the courier charge.

Another sad part was that the prize I was promised was not the item delivered. If we haven't already bought the diaper bag for my 2nd baby, then we would be wasting another trip to the mall. 

I was disappointed with this incident.