Make life easier with oleophobic coated eyeglasses

This is a sponsored post written by me in behalf of Zenni for SponsoredReviews. All opinions are 100% mine.

As of now I own 3 pairs of extended contact lenses and a pair of eyeglasses. I just had my check up on January 2nd of this year after two years. Here are my current specs : RIGHT : PWR -1.75 CYL -0.75 AXIS 070 LEFT   : PWR -1.50 CYL -0.75 AXIS 090. Just for trivia, my astigmatism went up from -0.50 to -0.75 so I am now using toric lenses. I use the lenses mainly for aesthetic purposes only-that is for special occasions and events. But on a regular basis, (I mean everyday of my waking hours) I use my handy eyeglasses. I find it more convenient to wear especially now that I am a mom plus it is also easier to maintain, no worries of my eyes getting infected and actually I can sleep (and wake up, still) wearing it. Just like me, I know you are always in the lookout for affordable and value for money eyeglasses and that is what Zenni Optical offers.

Zenni Optical is the #1 online eyeglasses store offering high quality prescription eyeglasses. Since prescription eyeglasses are a health item necessity for most wearers, the company takes considerable pride in providing a very high quality product of great durability, safety and comfort at truly affordable prices.

plastic full frame at $6.95-I wanted to try the frame's semi cat eye shape

Zenni Optical offers the newest generation of eyeglasses with oleophobic coating, Fingerprint Resistant and (Oleophobic) Anti-Reflective. The technically advanced super-hydrophobic/oleophobic coated lenses effective repel water, oil, dust and fingerprints, while still reducing annoying reflections. Lenses stay clearer, and are easier to clean than ever before. As an AR coating, it significantly reduces reflections while driving or from overhead light reflections and makes your glasses less noticeable and less reflective in photos.

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another $6.95 frame bet-very much similar to the one I am currently using 

Aside from quality, the next attribute that we take into consideration is the price. Zenni Optical offers very reasonable $6.95 prescriptions glasses. Apart from the fairly-priced spectacles there is a wide variety of options in terms of designs and styles that you can choose from, you name it they got it. A feature of Zenni's that I like best is that since it is an online store, they provided the Zenni Frame Fit widget wherein you will get the chance to try on your chosen frame design. Either you upload your own picture or choose from the pictures carrying different face shapes and try on the frame, with that you will know which one best suits you or if your choice will match your face features.

If you want more information and details visit Zenni Optical at http://www.zennioptical.com.

Small Business Loans

photo credit : www.fairfaxnews.com

Like you, I have a dream of not being an employee my whole life. {As of now I am a stay at home mom because of some certain limitations. My husband and I decided for me to 'temporarily' stop working while taking care of our daughter, we feel that it doesn't make sense for me to work then find a nanny.} So why temporarily? Because I know that once we have joined him in another place it will not be practical anymore to stay at home as much as I'd like to. Whether I like it or not, anytime soon I will be part of the work force again. But just the same my dream of having my own business and being my own boss someday doesn't falter.

Right now I wanted to share some essential steps on how to start your small business. It may still be far off  for now but it pays to be prepared.

1. Identify your business opportunity. When confronted with the dilemma of coming up with a business, there are actually a multitude of ideas that are going to come up. It is said that it's difficult to do the things you don't like that's why it is essential to go after where your passion and personality type lies. An equally important thing also are yours skills-things that you can do. From there you can identify the products that you will sell or the services that you will render.

2. Build a business plan. Writing a business plan just makes good business sense, actually those that have, have 50% more profits and revenue than those that went non-planned. In starting up, a business plan allows you to gain better understanding of the structure of the industry you're going to penetrate, it will give you an idea of the competitive landscape and most importantly the capital requirements of starting a small business.

3. Find start up money. To start a business means investing in the business. Each individual has different means of finding start up funds, all of course depending on the amount needed. Some turn to small business administration loans while for some they use hard earned savings (or money from retirement) and of course income from sold properties for others. Finding the money needed may sometimes come from a source that you never thought of.  

Now from here, after doing the steps mentioned and completing each you can start your next step which is implementation-that is having your business name, developing business structure, acquiring license & permits, setting up and determining business location, getting business insurance and the list goes on. But don't get afraid if the list seems to be long, once you're there you will not notice anymore. I hope this will inspire you in one way or another to be your own boss someday. That is my dream.

This post is in participation of a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for SBA Loans and was compensated, however, the views and opinions are 100% my own.

 

Chinese New Year Giveaway!!!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!
It's time to ring in another Chinese New Year.

To welcome the year of the water dragon, I have teamed up with The Coffee Chic and some other awesome bloggers to bring you the Chinese New Year Cash Giveaway. Try your luck and enter the rafflecopter form to win $100 Paypal Cash or Amazon Card (Winner's Choice).
Sponsors of the Giveaway :
One Frugal Chick Chic Foodie Sports And Adventures Acadiana's Thrifty Mom Koupon Krazed The BPA FREE Baby Divine Deal Diva Sunshine Praises Picture Clusters Pinay Mommy Online Savingformyfamily The Coup Diva One Proud Momma Jenns Blah Blah Blog I Love Coupons & Giveaways Having a Hallelujah Good Time Of Limes and Lemons My Charmed Mom Centsablecouponlady Finds and Freebies Coupons for Winconsin Sadie Lankford - Blog Tips & More TheItMom.com Extreme Personal Measures Musings on Meanderings Happy Home and Family Delightful Whimsy Proud Mommy of Three Momsicle Online Travel Mommy Africa's Blog Beauty Marks The Spot Reviews Mary's Cup of Tea Coupon Queen of Texas
Just like the Facebook pages, follow Twitter Accounts, add Google pages in your circle and Subscribe via Email for a chance to grab the prize. Winner will be randomly selected and notified via email or FB message. He or she will be given 48 hours to send a response. Otherwise, his or her winnings will be forfeited and a new participant will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

$100 PayPal Cash or Sports Authority Gift Card Giveaway

Welcome to a New Year, A New Me Giveaway Event hosted by Daily Mothering, Mommy Of Two Little Monkeys and Mommy Digger!

Over 55 blogs have come together to present this exciting fitness and beauty event. This runs from January 24th-31st and each blog is giving away a fitness and/or beauty related prize worth $25 or more. Enter this giveaway and if you want to hop to other participating blogs, click here.

I together with other bloggers have teamed up to give away $100 Paypal cash or Sports Authority Gift Card. (Since, this is an international giveaway, the winner can choose to receive the prize as Paypal cash or a gift card.) 

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win and become a New You for the New Year!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Upcoming Giveaways

Joining giveaway hops has been very addicting for me. Since the New Year started I have joined in various hops and sponsored some giveaways as well. I have heard from some bloggers that they felt the same way that's why they take advantage of  every opportunity they get to join and sponsor giveaway hops.

The same goes for me, of course aside from gaining new followers and increasing blog traffic, I also get to meet a lot of other bloggers and discover blogs that I enjoy reading and find very informative. 

Here are some upcoming giveaways that you can look out for, if you wanted to sign up as a sponsor you can do so by clicking the badges below :

Chinese New Year Giveaway is sponsored by I Heart Giveaways and The Coffee Chic. Giveaway will run from January 23-29 2012. If you want to sign up head to the blogs mentioned above or use this form.

Random Acts of Kindness is a cash giveaway event sponsored by Coupons for Wisconsin which will be open for entries on February 10-16. There will be one grand prize shared across all of the blogs that participate. Winner will will be drawn and announced on February 17-Random Acts of Kindness Day. 

Fill out this form for sign ups or hit the button above for more information.

Now if you just wanna join you know when to get back here and join these giveaways!

Forget The Resolutions Giveaway Hop

We have sponsored a giveaway by Life's Cheap Thrills.

If you want some extra cash join LIFE'S CHEAP THRILLS GIVEAWAY HOP for a chance to win $30 Paypal Cash. You can also visit other participating blogs in the hop and join their giveaways too.

The hop will  run from JANUARY 21-26 2012!

Forget The Resolutions Giveaway Hop

It is said that it take 21days to make a new habit, so by January21, you probably have already broken your New Year's Resolutions. Forget the Resolutions!

FORGET THE RESOLUTIONS GIVEAWAY HOP!

January 21-26 2012

The Forget The Resolutions Giveaway Hop runs from January 21 12:01AM EST to January 26 midnight EST   (January 27 12:01AM EST for Rafflecopter forms). Each blogger is responsible for getting a sponsor package (or self-sponsor) of at least $20, setting up and running their own giveaway on their own blog for the time above. THERE IS NO FEE TO PARTICIPATE.

Each blogger agrees to post the button and Linky List of participating blogs on their post from Jan21-26 (final code will be provided by Lisa Weidknecht).

Head now to Planet Weidknecht for the full details of this hop!

Facebook Blast - Blogger Sign Ups

Facebook Amazon Blast now open for sign ups!

Dear Bloggers, would you like to participate in a fun event? Well actually it's more than just fun since Jen of Makobi Scribe is hosting another $100 Amazon Event this time for Facebook! For the fee of $1.50 per blog, you get the chance to participate in this event and get more FACEBOOK Followers. 

The event will run from Feb 1st 9:00 AM EST to Feb 15 12:01 EST. The Rafflecopter form will be provided which will be posted on your blog and Facebook Fan Page. 

If you want to participate in this event, check out this post to sign up pay the sign up fee and wait for Jen's email for instructions via email. 

If you're not a blogger, come back here on February 1st for you chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card-with quick and easy Facebook-following Rafflecopter entries!

Start ahead of time on your entries by liking Of Limes and Lemons Facebook Page!

Please care to visit my other blog My Charmed Mom

Win $100 Amazon Twitter Blast

If you are into doing your shopping online this is the best chance for you to do it for FREE! Yes, you read it right, FREE if you win this $100 Amazon Twitter Blast! I have teamed up with Kobiso and other bloggers to come up with this exciting giveaway

Everyone loves Amazon Codes. Complete the entries in the Rafflecopter below. You can come back and do a few each day or do them all in one sitting! Good Luck! You have until February 1st to join...

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

San Jose, California will be a future home for me. I know that eventhough I have mixed emotions about migrating and moving to my husband's place, it is inevitable. I don't want to get too emotional because in the first place this is supposed to be a happy start for me and my husband (and our family).  It is just my anxieties creeping over me.

In terms of getting ready, I will yet have to prepare a lot of things here before my daughter and I leave. I will need to fix and arrange our things-to give out those that can still be used (hand me downs), dispose those that are literally junk already and arrange those that we will keep in storage. On the other hand, my husband also needs to do a lot of things, mainly some minor renovations around the house. He will need to make sure that the house will be child-proof and safe for our daughter. Aside from that he also needs to check the insulation system of the house and replace it with those like of energy efficient metal buildings to make sure that we will all feel comfy and warm. 

AERIAL SHOT-SAN JOSE DOWNTOWN (image source : www.aerialarchives.com)

Moving on to some amazing facts about San Jose, it is the third largest city in California, the largest in the Bay Area and tenth largest in the United States. San Jose was founded by Jose Joaquin Moraga on November 29, 1777 as El Pueblo de San Jose Guadalupe which is the first town in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California. For almost 150 years, the city served as a farming community during Spanish military  installations at San Francisco and Monterey.

When California gained statehood in 1850, San Jose served as its first capital. By the 1990's, San Jose's location within the booming local technology industry earned the city its nickname, Capital of Silicon Valley. True to its location in the heart of Silicon Valley, it is now home to the headquarters of many "tech" companies. San Jose now maintains global city status and is the largest city in the San Francisco bay Area in terms of population, land area, and industrial development. 

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for Energy Efficient Metal Buildings and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own. 

*information source : Wikipedia

My Own Business Someday

I am excited for 2012 since I know that it poses a lot of possibilities and opportunities. Aside from our own home (which is a plan in the making for me and my husband), one of the things I really dream of having someday is my own business.

Having grown in a family of good cooks, my brother and I had been dreaming of owning a restaurant in the future. It had been our dream since then. I think we got the inspiration from our mom who loves to cook. We grew up tasting different kinds of dishes and being exposed to cooking. that is why even if we're left home alone  back then (during our growing up years) we will still survive and not starve ourselves to death as long as there's food in the fridge. 

image source : www.queenscrap.blogspot.com

I cannot say I have a clear/good palate, but I surely know when a food tastes good or not. This is also the same reason why I got interested in cooking. No one really taught me how to, not even my mom. What I did was watch her during her meal preparation at home and I was only able to practice and put into use everything I learned when I went away to college. I had more practice of my own cooking when I started working in Manila and lived on my own.  

The "dream restaurant" we have still remains a dream but I know that in time we will be able to fulfill it. This is actually a project of ours in progress, meaning we are still saving up for it. But meanwhile, we still have a lot to learn before we get fully operational in this field. We need to learn the tricks of the trade like supplier management in order for us to be successful when we finally venture into the business.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for supplier management and was compensated. However, all the views and opinions are my own.

Auto Insurance and Other Needs

My husband is overseas and always points out the need for me to learn how to drive. With our petition showing some light, he said that driving skills are a must in order for me survive and work in the future. 

In 2008, he was able to buy a worn 1995 Ford Mustang very similar to the one below. He got it from a friend who was out of work that time due to the economic recession and turned to his idle assets for extra cash.  He was able to get it at $250, which is such a great steal right? The car's body is in very condition except that it isn't running. There are engine and electrical problems, since it has been stored unused for a long time. He really wanted to have a sports car but knows that he cannot afford it or I must say a brand new one, that is why he just turned to this great offer by his friend.

image from www.allfordmustang.com

He has another friend, a car mechanic who promised to help him get the car running. It was not an easy feat for him. Soon after the repairs started one problem came after another and more money is needed to get the car in running condition. It took him months, maybe even a year to complete all the repairs and finally get the car zooming. And as soon as everything else was fixed, he got Portland Auto Insurance  for it just like putting icing on the cake.

Now he declared that once we get there with him, since he has another car which is a Sentra, I will be driving the Mustang! Honestly I am so excited about it, the only thing is, I don't know how to drive! Sigh...

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for Oregon Auto Insurance and was compensated. However, the views and opinions shared in this post are my own.

Photographs and Memories

For each milestone in our life, we want it properly documented. Sometimes we take for granted the things we have today, not knowing that we will not be able to bring back today once it becomes yesterday. One of my all time favorite song is Paul Anka's "Times of Your Life". Yes I am a sentimental junkie! This song never fail to bring tears to my eyes. Let me share with you the some parts of the lyrics : 

Good morning, yesterday

You wake up and time has slipped away

And suddenly it's hard to find the memories you left behind

The laughter and the tears

The shadows of misty yesteryears

The good times and the bad you've seen

And all the others in between

Remember, do you remember?

The times of your life

The mem'ries are the time that you borrowTo spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the setting sunThe seasons are passing one by oneSo gather moments while you mayCollect the dreams you dream today

Remember, do you remember?

The times of your life

For some trivia, this same song was used in a Kodak TV advertisement way back in 1977 :

Indeed the times of our life are priceless, once gone we can never get it back, we can never have everything in rewind. Maybe the reason I am getting a little emotional about it is because my daughter just turned one. With all the milestones that are unfolding before my eyes everyday, if only I can, I will hire a DC photographer to capture all of these memories and transform them into photographs so that I can look back at it in the future. 

So let us gather moments while we can, collect the dream we dream today and remember the times of our life.

*credits to www.youtube.com for the video clip used above

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for DC photographer and was compensated. However, the views and opinions shared are 100 % my own.

The job I love

I had been out of the workforce now for almost two and a half years. I stopped working in 2009 even before I got pregnant. I worked as a customer service officer for Digitel and the job stressed me. Knowing that it can be a reason for delayed pregnancy I decided to stop working. Back then, my husband and I had been planning of having a baby (which was successful by the way) when he comes home on April of 2010, so I  resigned, decided to de-stress myself and relax. 

During that time, I had been eyeing a job as an online English tutor to Japanese students and luckily I got accepted. I enjoyed the job so much, most specially the flexible work schedule. My shift is at night time  (7PM-12MN) so the mood is so relaxed and laid back. My workplace is at the comfort of my own room. How cool is that? Actually if I wanted to get a day job, it will still fit in my schedule but I just suffice myself in this job and just relied on some online selling stints for extra cash that time.

My job is to teach students who are actually Japanese professionals to speak English. The Japanese are very patriotic that is why in Japan, the Japanese language is the primary language used by everybody. Being professionals as they are, they needed to learn and be fluent with the English language because they needed it in their jobs. Aside from that, they all need their English speaking skills during their travels. I have learned so much from my students as much as they had from me (I hope!). Actually I did not consider it as a job but rather much more of a past time. I only need to talk to my students-ask them how their day was, engage them  in a conversation, correct their pronunciation and/or grammar and that's it!

The best thing about this job aside from the work itself is the company who sees to it that employees/tutors are satisfied. The company once in a while launches some cool perks for the employees and they they conduct regular employee surveys to check on the tutor's thought, feelings and behavior so that they will be able to know what to do about it most specially if there are certain issues to address. I miss this job so much and if ever my mom duties will permit me in the future I will still go back and become an online English tutor again. 

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for an employee survey company and was compensated. However, the views and opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

Preserving Memories

image source : www.barnels.com

I love pictures!I remember saving up for a digital camera when it was still a little pricey. My first one was a Canon A-430 which is a 5MP camera, and I remember I was so proud of it that time! I like to take pictures to capture moments that will forever be gone.

The only problem with digital revolution now is that we don't put pictures in photo albums anymore, instead we use online/digital albums and also those that of social networking sites. Aside from that many of us don't use the traditional picture frames nyc since digital frames are already available. 

Well I can say that technology is actually good, because with it we can do a lot of things. We can make alterations on images, we can repair damaged photos and we can enhance those that need more color and a lot more other things. The only downfall I see on this is that we tend to neglect the beautiful art of custom framing nyc for our pictures-like our graduation, wedding and birthday photos. 

image source : www.whisperingwoodsgallery.com

Let me share this with you, I remember my mom has complete set of pictures of me and brother since we were babies, mind you we didn't own a camera that time. She just borrowed during special occasions like our birthdays from a relative who is much better off. But much to my dismay, during a strong typhoon in 1989, we experienced flood. Everything was wet including those pictures and I was only able to salvage a few. I efficiently sun-dried those that are still intact. Those pictures were priceless! But because there were no back ups then, everything was gone forever. 

So now that I am a mom, I make sure that every milestone of my child is captured. I made sure that everything is well documented and I have a ready-backup just in case something goes wrong and for me that's one good way of preserving memories.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for custom framing nyc and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are 100% my own. 

The Importance of a Great Website

We are now in the era of digital revolution where websites play a crucial role in promoting business to all parts of the world. Whether you are using the Internet for business or for personal use, your own website plays a vital role in promoting your purpose. It has become an interactive platform to receive and provide information. Thus it also has become a dominant resource attached in the daily aspects of our lives such as employment, education, commerce, government, health care and a lot more. 

Having a website is  a basic element for a business to connect with future clients, and for blogs (such as this one-to potential readers). For some, building a website has brought substantial success, while for some it only caused an unexpected disaster. A poor website design is the common cause for a website's failure. 

With regards to online matters, the website is like the the reflection of one's personality. According to studies, web users develop their first impressions a few seconds after looking at web pages so it is important to develop an efficient and well illustrated web design that will provide precise information. If you want to attain the maximum potential of your site and make a profit out of it, the are lots of web design companies such as Long Island Web Design that specializes in developing award-winning designs. Web design is much more than just creating a look to a website but building up the content. Information contained on a website should be easy to read and well structured or else users will not be able to have the chance to see what they are looking for and veer away. 

image from www.thedrum.co.uk

There are four major characteristics of a good website : first, it should be visually appealing, well organized and easy to navigate, the quality content and design should convey the company's message and should encourage customers to engage with the company. Good designs are characterized by good color combinations and easy navigation. This allows users to save time on their searches. 

Based on research, users who cannot find their way easily around a site has the tendency to leave between 5-30 seconds. A good design should not only look pleasant to the eyes but also easily accessible to anyone who wants to use it. It will help you set apart your website from the rest. 

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for Long Island Web Design and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Things to Consider in Buying a Home

Everyone's dream is to have a house he can call his own. Despite the ongoing economic fluctuations, we still strive to save a little bit of our incomes to save up for a house. Some may consider it an important investment but some say that it is a dead one. But no matter what we think about it, we still need a roof over our heads to serve as our shelter. For 2012, one of the major things we are considering is buying a new home.

There are actually some important things to consider in buying a home. As for me who is an aspiring homeowner in the future, I wanted to share my thoughts on factors to consider in choosing your home. First on the list will be location. It is known that once you have settled in a place you will not be able to change the geography for it is already fixed. You should consider the place's proximity to your job, to schools, to parks, shopping malls and supermarkets, and also to public transportation plus other major important establishments. Next is situation factors, beyond the location, you should also check the existing condition of your prospect new home. Is it situated properly on the lot? Does it give you enough space to do your gardening and other outside activities? Does your new home give you a nice view?

Image from www.everythingsimple.com

Another essential factor consider in choosing your home will be the neighborhood. Let's admit that more that the house itself, the neighborhood is a deciding component. The neighborhood should be safe enough night and day not only for adults but especially for children. Is it safe for people to walk and run around, to bike, for children to play outside the yards? Of course the crime rate in the area should be at a minimum level, that is why for the latest listings we should see St Louis homes for sale to get an idea of the safest neighborhoods to check out. Lastly on my list will be the size and floor plan of the house. We all want a grand home, who doesn't? Most especially if it's going to be out of our own hard earned money but the question is, is it practical?We should choose a floor plan that fits our lifestyle. The size and number of bedrooms and bath will depend on the family size. We don't want a home that will only give us useless space that we could have used for other purposes. 

Finding your home is like finding your partner, you will never be able to settle until your find the right one. Happy house hunting!

*I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog for St Louis homes for sale and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CEANA

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One year ago, I had been a new person called Mommy because of you, and I am loving every minute of it...

The Lord has indeed blessed us with your presence for the past year. You just don't know how much you changed not only my life (and Daddy's life) but the people around you. Thank you so much for bringing so much joy and happiness to us. Time really flies so fast the baby that I cradled in my arms a year ago is now walking and actively exploring this world. If only I could freeze time to enjoy you more baby (so don't grow up so fast!).

Happy birthday my dear little angel Margaret Ceana, I love you so much..

and this is Daddy's Facebook post which made me cry tons so early this morning:

Believe it or not, it was just 12 months ago when we welcomed you into this world.It has been amazing watching you in SKYPE grow from a tiny baby into an active toddler this past year. I look forward to sharing many more milestones with you.It is clear that God created you for a great purpose.I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU SO MUCH HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY Margaret Ceana Maghirang...

Amazon Twitter Blast - Blogger Sign Ups

The Amazon Twitter Blast is back from a successful stint last month. In this event, a $100 Amazon GC will be given away. 

If you want to be a part of this event, you can head to Kobiso for the full details. 

This event will happen on  January 15th 11:59 PM EST til February 1 12:01, but sign ups are still open until January 14th at 9 AM EST.

Make sure to come back and let's make this one fun event!