Honestly, it’s boring to see my mp3 player bare – no accessories and no protective gear, just the provided headphone.  My mp3 player is not just a gadget where I can listen to my favorite music, but it’s also a fashion accessory for me, so I try to make it look more interesting. I pimp it up with mp3 player accessories, from stylish headphones, skin covers or shield protectors, speakers, chargers and even laces!

I have two mp3 players, one is battery operated and has a built in fm radio, and the other one is rechargeable in USB computers. The purpose of having two mp3s is that I use one as my computer files storage device and the other as my radio and music player. I embellished them both with different accessories, using a different brand for each. The advantage of mp3 accessories is that it is compatible with most of the mp3 players out in the market.

I use a Philips headphone for my Creative Zen mp3 because its cord is long enough to keep my mp3 player in my backpack or in my pocket. I used Colby foldable speakers if I want to play my music in a high volume. I protect my mp3 player with Creative’s clear case for Zen with a matching handy loop in my belt. For my Samsung mp3 player, I use high end technology with cordless headphone and speakers connected via Bluetooth, a silicone skin cover and shield protector cases to protect my mp3 from scratches. I also make sure to equip my mp3 players with an AC to USB adaptor, battery recharger and a USB car/travel charger for long distance travels.

I have this weird and funny mannerism when looking at the mirror. I purse my lips together and pout, or more precisely, I do a model’s pout. I haven’t noticed until everyone was teasing me about it. There was even a time that I was scared to look at the mirror if someone was watching, although it didn’t last long because I am naturally vain. I like looking at myself in the mirror, not because I’m narcissistic, but because I just want to make sure I looked good and presentable always.

Imagine how long it takes for me to fix myself in front of our bathroom vanity. Our discount bathroom vanity has an amazing frameless mirror, compact cabinets and a stand-out sink, and all my toiletries, beauty products, and hair dryer are carefully arranged in the cabinets and shelf. The frameless mirror and the soft yellow lights, for some reason, make me look better which makes applying makeup or fixing my self up more fun. Plus, the entire vanity doesn’t look like it was bought on sale since it has a classy, contemporary design, and quality craftsmanship.

The “magical mirror” in the vanity is a hit; even visitors noticed their improved appearance when looking at their reflections. I guess I have to give them the number of our interior decorator, to give them the same unique bathroom experience.

When I was twelve years old, my elementary school friends came over at our house to have a slumber party to celebrate the end of final exams. Aside from the usual activities of truth or dare, pillow fight, and watching scary movies, we decided to bake a ready mix devil’s food cake that my mom keeps in the kitchen cabinet. The only other person in the house was my uncle who doesn’t know a thing about baking and where the baking utensils were. So we had to figure out everything ourselves.

The funny thing was that we couldn’t find my mom’s circular metal cake pan. What we found was small oval metal pans used for making the dessert called leche flan. We had no choice, so we poured the batter into the metal pans and filled it to the brim. Being newbies in baking, we had no idea of the thermal expansion concept. We noticed after 15 minutes of heating it into the oven that the batter was spilling at the sides of the pan.

Nevertheless, the mini cakes were still delicious even though it really looks ugly and deformed. We also had trouble taking it out of the pan since the cake stuck to the sides of the pan.

At present, I already mastered the art of baking and I now have an assortment of cake pans in different materials, shapes, and sizes– metal, glass, and silicone. I like the silicone best because it is non-stick and resistant to extreme temperature. But no matter what pan you use, as long as you bake it for people who are special to you, it almost always turns out delicious.

Most of the time, employees are given insurance benefits by the companies that they work for, which is just deducted from their salary. Usually, the human resource department of their company takes care of all the necessary paperwork, and the employees just have to pass the required documents. Self employed professionals or business owners, on the other hand, are already burdened with running their own firm or business, and a lot of them do not have the time to even think about, much less acquire their own insurance.

A health insurance is important in case of emergencies. A sudden disease or an accident might lead to hospitalization and medications, which cost a lot of money. A lot of people are caught unprepared and suffer from financial burdens in times of crisis.

Everyone should take the time to find a stable and reliable insurance company to safeguard their future. A lot of companies offer different kinds of individual insurance plans, depending on what you think you need.  Self-employed people, no matter how busy they are, should allot time to look over insurance quotes or brochures to get all the important information regarding the insurance packages. A self-employed health insurance is usually available in different insurance companies. You just have to inquire the benefits, payment scheme, and terms before you decide on which insurance package to choose.

Household pests are not only a big nuisance. They also pose a big danger to our health due to the different diseases that they bring. Mosquitoes cause malaria and dengue fever. Flies are one of the causes of diarrhea. Rats carry fleas that cause bubonic plague, and their urine can bring about leptospirosis. Termites, on the other hand, destroy wood furnishings in our homes. More often than not, ordinary insect repellents cannot completely eradicate these household vermin. Some form colonies, such as termites, while the rest reproduce quickly and exponentially.

Severe pest infestation requires professional pest control services. These companies offer specialized treatments for eliminating household pests, which depends on the degree of infestation and the kind of pest to eliminate. The treatments available may be the traditional insecticide for mild cases, or specific all-organic treatment programs for severe infestation.

Some companies offer packages or discounts, especially for termite treatments which requires several sessions. An example is a pest control Dallas, Texas company, which offer a $100 off for termite treatment agreement, $50 off for fire ant control, and $40 off for general pest control. They also have a 90 day back guarantee if the customer is unsatisfied with their mosquito control system.

A lot of people make the mistake of stuffing anything into the garage – tools, ladders, boxes stuffed with used items, and old furniture. Before they know it, they couldn’t even get their car in because of the overflow of piles and piles of assorted things. Excessive garage litter makes the garage look terribly dirty, and attracts pests such as cockroaches and rats. To avoid this, you have to clean and organize your garage once in a while.

Sorting out your stuff is the first thing to do. Segregate your tools, household items and valuable stuff from those you can already dispose. If you have the time, you can do a garage sale which can give you extra profit. If you don’t, then just throw unnecessary stuff away. Once you get rid of useless or unwanted things, organize the stuff left in your garage. There are a lot of garage storage solutions available in the market. Depending on your budget, floor area and the kinds of things you will store, you can opt for a storage cabinet, tool chest, gearbox or garage shelving. With a clean garage, you have a wider working and parking space, and a healthier house environment.

I learned a lesson the hard way because of that incident, and since my tree climbing habit is still alive in me, I now have the proper equipment to avoid such accidents. The minimum requirements for a safe tree climbing are: a harness, helmet and rope. On top of that, I enrolled in a lesson for correct and safe tree climbing and the instructor told me to buy tree climbing gears. I also recommended these gears to my tree climbing-mates. Here’s the stuff that I bought for just below $650: a top-of-the-line helmet, full body harness, gloves, 120 feet 16-strand rope with rope bag, carabiner with ball-lock feature, foot ascender and descender tools, climbing pants and rope access tool. Although it cost me this much, it is worthy to buy tree climbing gear than to be hospitalized and pay for a larger amount due to broken bones.

Now, as adults, we still enjoy the recreational tree climbing activity – now equipped with the proper protective gears.

I invest in designer items from time to time – shoes, bags, clothes and other accessories. When I buy designer stuff, I make sure that I choose key pieces that go well with a lot of outfits, and I pick those with classic and timeless designs. I purchase designer items for their quality, they usually have a fine craftsmanship and they really last a long time.

Designer fashion accessories like jewelry, shoes, bags, and eyewear oozes with class and style. Think Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, and the Upper East Side privileged kids in Gossip Girl, designer accessories is portrayed as a must in high fashion.

When it comes to jewelry, I love Tiffany and Co. necklaces. Aside from the fact that I adore Audrey Hepburn, their jewelries are made from high quality platinum and gold, and have simple, elegant designs. Christian Louboutin is my favorite shoe designer when it comes to pumps. My favorite shoe from his Spring/Summer 2010 collection is the Tahiti high heels, white pumps with a bold, black flower embellishment on the side. For bags, who wouldn’t recognize the conspicuous LV monogram? Louis Vuitton is the most sought-after, and the most pirated, leather goods brand. Its newest collection is the Damier Azur – bags and wallets in white checkered monogram patterns.

Only the well-off or at least, those who are in the middle to high income earners can afford designer items because of their sky high prices. Remember that when buying from designer brands, choose a well-made and a tastefully designed piece – you wouldn’t want to purchase the designer’s biggest mistake.

No matter how busy we are in school, work, business or whatever we are doing, family should always be the number one priority. A lot of parents and children spend more time in their work places, school activities, colleagues, and friends, and very little time is devoted to the family. This is the usual cause of rifts and lack of communication among family members. They simply don’t make time for family activities.

Bonding activities for the family can be as simple as sharing a happy meal together or playing board games on a lazy weekend. But to add variety and excitement, we should have a family vacation at least once or twice a year to have something to look forward to.

There are a lot of family vacation ideas to try. The key thing is to make it unique, to make the vacation more memorable. A beach vacation is more than just swimming and sunbathing. Include other activities such as parasailing, snorkeling, and island hopping. For hiking activities, you could try roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories by the campfire. Vacations abroad could be more than just sightseeing and shopping. Backpacking in Europe keeps you in touch with nature, and for families who love adventure, hiking in the forests and meditating with the monks in Bhutan is a refreshing and unique experience.

Whether a vacation or a simple family dinner, time spent with the family should be quality and fun.

Our new home is still under construction but I can already picture it clearly in my mind. My husband and I decided to have the modern and minimalistic theme for our house – no antiques and no overly ornate and stuffy furniture, just contemporary and sleek fixtures, and spacious, airy rooms with high ceilings. Our kitchen is no exception. I love to cook and my husband loves to eat, and we want our kitchen to be roomy and functional. Even before the general planning of the house design, we already have different kitchen ideas.

I am a big fan of modern furniture and designs, and we want every detail, even our kitchen lights, to go along with the general theme of our house. The color schemes may vary in every room, but the contemporary motif stays. The kitchen is an integral part of the house since cooking involves a lot of work. Kitchen lights illuminate the area, and choosing the wrong one could lead to burns, cuts, bad tasting food and other accidents. Besides providing proper lighting, it contribute to a warm ambiance ad beautifies the kitchen.

Contemporary lights are sleek and trendy, and require little attention unlike elaborate lighting that needs constant cleaning. Pendant lights in the color of your choice or embellished with different crystals hang from the ceiling directly above the kitchen countertops, making it both stylish and functional at the same time. Modern chandeliers are less intricate than the traditional ones, and uses halogen that emit a modern atmosphere.