Parrot on a PorchA Journey Toward the Little Mansion Dream

As previously blogged, we were debating whether to get blinds or curtains for the Little Mansion’s windows. As of this writing, we haven’t had any agreement still so it’s a hanging subject for now. But thinking it over, sometimes a shade, a curtain, drapes or window blinds are not just enough. No matter how much we try to cover the windows, the sun’s glare sometimes still gets through the room and in a tropical country such as ours, the heat can be just tormenting especially in the mid-afternoon. The humidity plus the summer heat lately are just too much. It makes me wish to be transported to somewhere up in the Northern Hemisphere to be cooled.

Anyway, I find the products of these window film los angeles firms very brilliant and I may add, very effective. Many buildings and skyscrapers are utilizing these window films and window tinting los angeles applications for solar control, safety and decorative purposes. These products have a capability to control the room’s temperature balancing the hotness and coldness from the outside. They cut annoying glare, reduce up to 99% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays and also prevent injury from glass fragments due to crime, accidents or destructive weather. I’ve just read that these can also be utilized and are applicable in homes so I’ll suggest this to the husband later.

My mental dream board (if there is such a thing) consists of pictures of just a few but colossal things. The most notable and significant of which is a little mansion. The dwelling isn’t actually as huge and as grand as those of the affluent people but just a simple house, in fact small but very homey with a beautiful garden where I envision my kids playing and running around happily. I’m completely overwhelmed that I’m about to reach this dream very soon as our little mansion is being constructed. Except for the little garden that we’re yet to think on how to go about the Landscape Design, everything’s seemingly just an arm reach away. The house, I believe, is already 80% done so it’s just a matter of time when we’ll do the big move. As to the garden, we’re still talking it with the developer on how we want the front space and walkway be maximized. I’m thinking of having a small water garden as it’s soothing but I don’t think it’s conducive to have one because dengue-causing mosquitoes might harbor in it. Perhaps a garden path walkway will do. As long as there are beautiful flowers and green grasses to please and soothe the eyes, I’m more than satisfied.

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We’re indeed bit by bit getting busier as the house approaches its completion. We’re taking this as our cue to start thinking about dolling up the interiors. Hoping that it pushes through, we might start buying the appliances one by one soon especially that we found an ample space to temporarily shelter the stuffs. Aside from the furniture and appliances, we’re now also looking for decorations like framed canvas prints, ornaments and other trinkets to prettify the inside. My research about canvas lead me to the website of Colour Graphics as I saw this movie canvas of the 1983 movie Scarface starred by Al Pacino as Tony Montana.

Colour Graphics offers stationary, advertising and other business high quality printing services that uses the Full Colour technology. Among their services are banner and canvas printing, Banner stand and graphic display stands, and large format printing. The offer exceptional and artful design services, too. What’s noteworthy about this company is their earth-nurturing commitment that they only use natural, recyclable, re-usable and energy-saving materials without sacrificing the craftmanship of each product.

I’m trying to picture if the Scarface movie canvas will fit and look good in the little entertainment room that we’d have. I’m hesitant because it appears a little bit off. Although it’s Al Pacino and a movie shot, the bath scene itself is kinda inapt. isn’t it?

Have you noticed how owning a vehicle now has become a necessity? One interesting and odd reports during the hype of the world financial crisis and oil price hike was that car sales have remained the same meaning people may have scrimped on some other things and luxuries but they deemed that having a vehicle is seemingly a must for a working man or even more for a family man. However, consumers now have become choosy as to which car make and machine type that is cost effective to maintain. It’s undeniable that the frequent and unstable oil price hike can really hole a wallet big time. Thus, car makers are continuously on research and hyped to build a budget and environment friendly vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf.

LEAF stands for Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family car. It’s electrically powered, has a range of 160 kilometres (100 miles) and a 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This is really brilliant because not only it’s cheaper but also healthier for the environment as there is no need for expensive crude oils and gas to run it. While it may be quite a new technology and there may be some disadvantages or it may not give the full satisfaction a gas powered vehicle gives, this type of car is actually promising. I’ve heard that the LEAF will be on the road in some US states in 2010 while mass production will begin in 2012.

Here comes another beach related blog post.

But first, my apologies if you’re from the other side of the world, still experiencing snow and badly enticed. I don’t mean to get you guys envious but conditioning my mind for summer as early as now is brought about by the extreme heat we’re also unusually experiencing here in the Philippines.

In a tropical country such as ours, I have come to realize that beaches aren’t widely demanded every summer period but actually for some, it’s all year round. The reason is that beaches are favorites and also popularly booked for destination weddings. Just like in the divine beach coast of Riviera Maya in Mexico, the five signature hotels of the Karisma Group have been a wedding destination favorite. Apart from the romantic setup and heavenly vacation, their gourmet inclusive concept perfects the ultimate wedding experience.

Whoever thought of and designed this Itsa beach towel is a genius!

It may be a little too early to plan for summer outings but the extraordinary hot temperature in our country as early as January will probably make people to start planning out their summer getaways the soonest. In fact, my sisters and I just booked a resort for our family outing on April. I’ve just also blogged recently about the new rash guard set I bought for my son the other day. Talk about being excited. I really am. And I got even more ecstatic when I saw this brilliant beach bag that can be turned into a beach towel or a sun lounger cover.

This is absolutely cool and just perfect for our beach getaway. I like how it comes handy, functional and stylish. With such, I have some place to put on my sun protection lotion, a book, my sunglass, my iPod and even a few of my toddler’s small beach trinkets and toys. Then, on the beach, I have an instant towel or mat to use. It comes at a reasonable price (as low as $14.95) in different vibrant and beach colors and made from a high quality material.

It’s a great beach companion, indeed. Simply, itsa-mazing. I guess I have to contact my friend in the US right away to place an order for me just in time for our April swimming.

After surfing endlessly for home inspirations this afternoon, let me blab about fashion this time for a change. I’ve just stumbled upon an interesting website to shop for Watch Bands. I have come to realize that it’s not about the actual watch itself that makes it flashy and fashionable. Actually, people won’t notice the brand right away as they will not stick their noses and likely look at it very closely. The very first thing that is noticeable about watches are actually its band.

If you have a high-end watch, WatchStyle.com’s HIRSCH Artisanal leather watch band collection is a must-browse catalog. Each leather band is specially handcrafted one by one exuding nothing else but sheer elegance and craft. Its one of a kind HIRSCH Rembordier technology make all their leather bands sauna-tested and water-resistant.

Their stainless steel series collection is also alluring with their styles coming up in matt or shiny metals, classical designs, elegant showpieces or modern combinations of different materials. Their HIRSCH No Allergy system also makes it possible for them to come up with skin-friendly, hypoallergenic watch bracelets for those who suffer vulnerability to aggressive skin allergens.

I bet people from select non-US sites will be delighted to know that they also ship internationally.

Now this spares me from thinking what to gift the husband on his birthday in three months.

Superstitious beliefs in any form have always been part of every culture. The recent Chinese New Year celebration and the recent Feng Shui talks among my Twitter pals got me interested to look into what my Chinese horoscope has to say about my career, health and fortune in this year of the Metal Tiger. I am really pleased to know that, being born in the year of the Metal Rooster, this year is a promising one for me according to the predictions. Every aspect is actually favorable specifically on career, health (with the help of joint health supplements perhaps) and relationships. Same also with my son who’s born in the year of the rat.

Even without this chinese horoscope thingie, I’m still positive..in fact, I’m claiming that the year 2010 will be our year. After all, it’s us, ourselves, who make and run our lives.

Now that Pinoy Big Brother Double Up has ended up last weekend, I can now say bye-bye to my deark circles under eyes. I am a self-confessed Kapamilya so if the little one isn’t glued on Animal Planet, our TV is tuned to no other channel than ABS-CBN. Especially when May Bukas Pa was still airing (the little one adores Santino!), their primetime shows were a hit to us even if it means I have to stay up late. I have to thank these shows because sometimes, these prompts the husband to rush and go home early from work as he doesn’t want to miss them. Hehe.

Who wouldn’t recognize this popular blue and yellow house? And who wouldn’t know the owner of this house who remains anonymous to everyone up until now? We’ve followed the day-to-day lives of the double up housemates from Day 1 until the Big Night and all I can say is that, even though my bet didn’t win, I still enjoyed the show. Thanks for another interesting and really entertaining season, Kuya. We’ll surely wait for the next one this summer.

It is here in Quezon City where the husband was born and raised. This is where we are currently and will be based in the next years to come as it is here where our very dear Little Mansion is situated. This city is known as the country’s City of Stars. The reason is that majority (if not all) of the radio and television stations, movie production outfits, recording companies can be found here. A lot of celebrities and personalities are also residents of this city, thus, this is also the locality where its city hall holds the most number of actor politicians’ offices.

With the elections coming, streamers and posters of these actor politicians are a common sight in every street posts and wires. With all honesty and just a general opinion, I don’t buy the idea of “some” celebrities having ambitions to run for public office. I’m not generalizing as I know that there is also a number of them whose intentions are pure and are really capable to lead.

I’m sure a lot of you have already seen Mo’s interview with Ara Mina who is running for a local post this coming elections. Aren’t her answers so appalling and unimpressive? Geez, I’m just glad that I won’t be voting here in QC (I haven’t met the residency qualifications) or else, such aspirants will lead me to stock up with wrinkle crème. One whose entirely clueless and doesn’t have a conviction over the major issues of the country absolutely DOES NOT deserve my vote. I hope the voters will be wise enough to vote for the rightful ones because of their leadership capabilities and not for the ridiculous reasons that they are “popular” and “stars”.