A Woman Remembers by Liz

This is a blog feature written by Liz of Bloguardian Hellsite-Overcashed. I truly appreciate the words and her thoughts about me and my blog, A Woman Remembers. Her post made me smile and be grateful of getting to know bloggers like her. Here's my blog post about the Top 100 Moments for 2009, read why this is the best for her. Of course, I can't help but agree with her! 

Thanks so much for your wonderful post, Liz!

Renting Tips and Finding a Great Place to Live

People move for varied reasons such as better living standard, proximity to workplace or school. Renting a home, an apartment, a townhouse or a condo unit is not as simple as 123, oftentimes, it can be a daunting task. You don’t just rent and hope for the best. You have to consider a couple of things should you decide to rent one.

Renting can be beneficial too. You are not compelled to continue staying in the same home or same location. Whether you are looking for a place to stay for a short period or not ready to purchase a house, renting is always a viable option. Here are some important factors you might want to consider:

Search and plan early.

Searching for an apartment can take a lot of your time. You can always take a look at the list of apartments for rent. List your priorities. Be clear about the kind of property you're looking for, where you want to live, what amenities you need to be close to and the budget you have available, and how long you want to rent it for. If you own a car, see if there is a garage space. This will make your hunting easier.

Examine the property.

Spend time to check on the exterior and interiors of the entire property. See if there are damages and what needs to be fixed. Check the conditions of the bathroom, kitchen sinks, cabinets, windows, laundry areas, ceilings, walls and flooring. Always consider water supply, power supply, telephone and Internet connection, and a lot more of the necessary factors. Be sure to ask who will handle the major repairs or incidental damages. Don’t rush inspecting the property you want to rent, be thorough and take the time you need.

Determine your ideal location.

Check the entire neighborhood before renting an apartment. Make a thorough research on the where you are going to live. Consider your public transport means, its proximity to schools, hospitals, markets and other important locations.

Rental costs and payment terms.

Consider your budget and how much you can afford to pay. Ask the landlord/owner about payment dues, payment forms and penalties for late payments. Most will expect you to pay 2 months rent in advance. You may also be asked to pay a security deposit, which is usually a month rent. Make sure you can afford to pay the rent and other bills once you decided to move in.

Don’t forget to ask for a documented agreement, examine your lease in detail and keep every payment receipts.

Plan the big move.

Moving, packing and unpacking can also be stressful. Plan carefully for your big day. The smartest way is to prepare a moving out checklist to keep you organized. Plenty of boxes, tapes and marking materials are a big help.

Know your rights.

Be aware of your rights. If there are problems, better inform the property owner. Always remember your rights to privacy as long as you are paying your rent.

Here in the Philippines you have the option of checking the classified ads section of newspapers, property finder ads, surfing the Internet and going around the neighborhood looking for that "For Rent" sign. If you are in the United States, there are millions of properties across the countries that are available for rent. It is always good to check on reliable sources where you can find the best and most affordable apartments for rent.

Smart Parenting Hot Mama Makeover

Smart Parenting website features my own SP cover for today, January 13! It's for the ongoing Hot Mama Makeover Promo. It's a promo where moms get a chance to be on the cover of Smart Parenting Mag. To those interested in joining the promo, you can upload your photo using the SP cover application to create your very own customized SP cover. Write down your beauty resolution for 2010 in the caption section.

No, I did not win in the promo yet. Still, just getting featured feels like winning too!

Of course, I was even prouder when this was posted in Smartparenting.com's Facebook page. Here's the screenshot of the promo and my own SP Mag Cover with my daughter.

Smart Parenting website

Smart Parenting Facebook page

Exploring Detroit and San Francisco

How wonderful it is to explore living in these two great cities in the United States! It would truly be an experience travelling a city, which boosts of exciting things to do and places to visit. Moreover, enjoy the benefits of affordable real estate.

First stop, Detroit.

This Motor City of the United States holds more than just cars; the city is vibrant and booming in food, entertainment and culture. The place is rich in culture, which includes the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Opera House, Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Fisher and Fox theatres. It's also a great place for music and there's always musical acts playing at the city’s many venues. It is the hometown of world famous singers like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Bob Seger, Eminem Of course, I would also love to enjoy an array of delicious dining options.

Detroit has plenty of attractions, from historical landmarks and museums to adventurous amusement and water parks. Visiting Detroit won't be complete without attending the world’s largest jazz festival, the Ford International Jazz Festival. It’s a place where there's something special to see and do for everyone!

Next stop, San Francisco. 

San Francisco is one of the world's top travel destinations and a great place to live! The place is popular international tourist destination I would love to spend the day visiting historical landmarks like the world famous Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate Bridge. One should not miss San Francisco's moving landmark, the Cable Cars. I know art lovers would enjoy the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and San Francisco's best museum, the Exploratorium. Of course, it would be interesting to explore the Ferry Building Marketplace where local artisan food shops and restaurants, and tourists mix with locals.

You'll also get to enjoy endless variety of events and festivals throughout the year. With San Francisco's cool, changeable climate, famous landmarks, history and culture, it is definitely one of the world's most memorable destination.

Life and Living.

Detroit or San Francisco are indeed great places to live. People who are considering settling in these cities need not to worry about finding a place to stay. There are properties and homes for sale in these cities. Check San Francisco homes for sale now to enjoy and experience affordable cost of living.

Sunday Shoot and Nature Love at La Mesa Ecopark

Spending a day at LaMesa ecopark is like breaking free from city living and the online world. The park, which lies within the La Mesa Watershed, is a great place to commune with nature without actually going out of town. It is built around the watershed that provides water supply to Metro Manila residents. Indeed, Ecopark is a scenic paradise within Quezon City.

lunch at the picnic area

Upon paying entrance fees, we opted to write an electric powered jeep for free while enjoying the view. The spacious picnic areas are covered by the canopies of tress providing a much-needed shade under the sun. The picnic groves with grilling facilities make it a great place to have a picnic with the family. You can also bring mats and tents if you want.

As my son Brent won in Kidsandbabies contest, one of the contest highlight is the photoshoot for the 12 winners. I had the chance to meet the winning models and their families. Aside from the sponsored photographer, we bought our own camera so we can enjoy our day at Ecopark to the fullest. We took pictures before and after the photoshoot.

Here are some of Brent's photos wearing his hippie costume. These photos are all taken by my sister's fiancé.

There are trails for biking, jogging, and hiking. Kids can enjoy playing in the playground, ride the bikes or the horses. You can also take a swim at the swimming pool or enjoy boating in the lagoon. The Orchidarium, the Shell Flower Terraces and the Petron Fitness Trail are other interesting areas in the park. More sports activities, like zip lining, wall climbing, paintball field, are available outside the park.

fitness trails

It is indeed a wonderful place to unwind, relax, bond with the family and take outdoor pictures. There are even lots of couples taking their pre-nuptial shots around the park.

At La Mesa Ecopark, nature lovers can enjoy the smell of fresh air, the sight of the colorful flowers and feel the aura of serenity. It is a paradise where you can get closer to nature.

Park entrance fee is Php 50, children 3ft below are Free, QC residents Php 40 and QC students with valid ID Php 20 and QC senior citizens with valid ID are Free.

Anew and Rejuvenate

Anew. Rejuvenate.

These two words totally describes what my skin wants to achieve, what I want to feel and what products I need to really invest on. I love using products that will make my skin soft, smooth and young looking. I am 30, and this year, I'll be turning a year older. I am still on the lookout for the perfect anti-aging product line that would work perfectly on my skin.

Luckily, Earth is sponsoring a contest and she's giving away an Anew Rejuvenate Line. It is composed of the  Revitalizing 2-in-1 Gel Cleanser, Revitalizing Mineral Toner, Revitalizing Cream Day (SPF 25 UVA/UVB), Revitalizing Cream Night, A 24 Hour Eye Cream Day Cream SPF 25/ Nigh Cream and Flash Facial Revitalizing Concentrate. Her interesting review about the 6 products make me want to try them on my skin too. I love the fact that the product line is hypoallergenic and the eye cream is safe for those with sensitive eyes. 

Well, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be lucky to win the Avon's Anew Rejuvenate products given by Earthlingorgeous.