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4.03.2013

Wordless Wednesday #32 | Becoming the Bookworm.

The little man asked for books the other day, and this was what he bought.
Simply Jesse (Php 125) and The Cat in the Hat.
And then we saw him! The Cat in the Hat!
Also, he's been accelerated to Module 5 of the Kumon Reading Program.
He finished the first two modules in a matter of six weeks only.
I'm a so proud of my little man. :)


4.02.2013

5 Tips For Selecting Quality Furniture For Your New Home.

Shifting to a new home after Easter? It’s ideal for you to start looking for some home furniture as well. You’ll have to take charge for ready-made furniture as your hubby would be interested in doing everything DIY.

Before he gets carried away, start planning in advance of what you need and get to it as soon as possible. There are several companies that you can look into, and some options like quality Broyhill furniture even allow you to make your own designs for sofas, loveseats and other furniture.

Whether you’re looking to fill in the new living room, bedroom or dining room, here are some tips that you should follow for selecting quality home furniture:

1. Check for the quality of frames and cushion
The furniture that you’re going to pick for the new house will commonly feature a synthetic frame, and living room items will come along with cushions. While selecting, check for the frame quality, the quality of the materials that were used to make it, and its life. For cushions, be bold enough to unzip them and see what’s inside, so that you get the best when it comes to quality. When furnishing bedrooms, it can also be worth exploring stylish double bed frames for modern bedrooms, which tend to combine durability with contemporary design to elevate both comfort and aesthetics in space.

2. Inspect wood quality and carpentry
Wood furniture is selected for most homes. If you’re going to go with it, make sure to carefully examine the carpentry and the quality of wood. Don’t opt for something that comes with a firm structure, as it may not have a good lifespan. Beautiful patterns clearly show on high quality wood furniture, so make sure to look for wood grains. The water content should be at 15% and dry areas should contain even less, as the furniture is going to shrink with weather changes if the water content is high.

Photo credit: Andy Exclusive Design

3. Check for weakness if selecting upholstered furniture
There’s one main reason due to which you may prefer upholstered furniture over leather and wooden furniture; it’s cheap. The other reason you may go for it is because it looks quite fancy and modern when viewed in furniture catalogues. However, it’s very important that you actually check for weakness on the actual item as the weak edges and spots can give in very quickly, leading to wear and tear in a short amount of time.

4. Go for quality, instead of quantity
This approach applies to most things you’ll buy for your new home. Rather than opting for cheap furniture that may need replacing sooner, invest in high-quality pieces that will last. For example, a well-made wood tv stand can serve you for years due to its durability and protective lacquered finish.

While budget furniture may seem appealing due to its low price, quality pieces often justify their higher cost in the long run. Even if both options appear similar at first glance, the difference in materials and craftsmanship becomes obvious over time. Avoid filling your new home with items that won’t hold up—prioritize quality within your budget.

Photo credit: Josh Sorenson on Pexels.

5. Warranty and after-sales services
When it comes to select furniture that’s of high quality, the after-sales services are going to play an important role. All quality manufacturers give out warranty, which acts insurance, allowing you to change the furniture that didn’t turn out to be as good as promised with a quality replacement. Conclusion Finding quality furniture is not as difficult as it might seem, and these tips will help you to make wise decisions that will make your new home thank you.


4.01.2013

Showered with Love Giveaway | Win Burt's Bees Gift Packs for You and Your Little One!

Baby Shower Giveaway Hop
Welcome to the Showered With Love Event 
hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network!  

We all know that April Showers bring May Flowers, but did you know that over 50 bloggers have come together throw a huge Shower of our own - a virtual Baby Shower!  The Showered  with Love Event will run from April 1-15, giving you plenty of chances and time to enter all of the great giveaways!



For my dear readers and followers, I will be showering you with these lovely prizes:

Baby Bee Getting Started Kit for your precious bundle of joy. This kit includes the following:

Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion 1 oz
Baby Bee Shampoo & Body Wash 1.8 fl oz
Baby Bee Diaper Ointment 0.75 oz
Baby Bee Nourishing Oil 1 fl oz
Baby Bee Buttermilk Soap 0.8 oz

And for the mommies, we have the Radiance Healthy Glow Kit which contains: 


Radiance Face Cleanser 0.75 oz
Radiance Day Lotion 0.25 fl oz
Radiance Night Cream 0.25 oz
Radiance Eye Cream 0.14 oz
Radiance Lip Shimmer 0.09 oz









Ready to win these gift packs for you and your little one? Then mouse over to the Rafflecopter form below and send in your entries! The more tasks you complete, (they're easy peasy, I tell you!) the more entries you get, the better your chances of winning! Remember, this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE! :)

Be sure to hop around to each blogger in the linky below, as well as check out the fabulous Baby Shower Grand Prize, including a Boba Wrap, Red Charlotte Doll Carrier, a $50 GC to Walls Need Love, AND 6 pocket cloth diapers from Little Monsters - worth over $300!
Showered With Love Grand Prize


Disclosure: According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Showered with Love participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Join | iPad Giveaway Event!

It's officially Summer in the Philippines, but in most parts of the world, it's Spring. Whatever season you're having right now, a new gadget sounds good - any single day of the year. 



Let's get moving with this iPad Giveaway, shall we?

This event is hosted by A Little Bit of Everything
together with the following co-host blogs:

This event will run from April 1-30.
Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter below.


Disclosure:  The Rebel Sweetheart is not responsible for shipment of the prize.  Any questions, comments, or concerns, please send to littlebitofeverything@live.com.

Pucker Up! | NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp and Milan.

Remember how I fell head over heels in love with Addis Ababa? It's been months since my love affair with this lippy began, and although I'll never get tired of wearing this shade, I decided it's time to try other shades from the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream line.

My first choice was Sau Paolo, but this shade is just too elusive. It's almost always out of stock each time I search for it! And so I went for Antwerp and Milan instead, which I bought from Skye Avenue some three or four weeks ago.
Antwerp + Milan.
They're on sale at Php 250 each. That's 30 pesos off from the original retail price.
Antwerp + Milan.
As always, it comes with a doe foot applicator and has the same yummy scent as Addis Ababa. Both shades are highly-pigmented, colors are buildable, and dry into a lovely matte finish.
Antwerp on the left, Milan on the right.
Don't forget to wear a lip balm underneath these Lip Creams! (I use EOS, in case you're wondering.) You wouldn't want your lips to look parched and dry while wearing these lovely colors.
Swatches. Antwerp on the left, Milan on the right.
Antwerp is a pretty shade of coral that, when worn, tends to brighten one's face. The color is suitable for daytime wear and absolutely perfect for the summer. (It's now summer in the Philippines, by the way.)
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp.
Milan, on the other hand, is a neutral pink shade that looks quite natural on the lips. On days when I'm too lazy to go through my full makeup routine, I reach for this lippy and wear it together with one of my favorite BB creams.
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan.

What I love:
- Gorgeous shades
- Highly-pigmented
- Buildable colors
- Nice scent
- Stays on your lips for hours
- Kiss-proof
- Affordable price
- Cruelty-free (not tested on animals)

What you might not like:
- Has a tendency to dry out the lips (nothing a good lip balm can't handle, though).

Wrapping this post up with a Face of the Day! Two faces, to be precise. :)
Lips in Milan. 
Indoor light, no flash.
My son says I look like a pullip doll in this photo. Haha!
Lips in Antwerp.
Outdoor light, no flash.
I was standing in a spot where the sunlight actually streaks on my face, lol.