Planting Joy With The Right Garden Hose

I have always loved nature's hues! Vividly colored petals and leaves refresh the soul. I remember my younger son saying not so long ago- "plants, plants plants, all mommy does is plant plant plant". 

Now that life has become busier, the closest I can get to gardening is taking photos in the family garden. What an enjoyable role that is! I get to watch tiny winged friends crawling on purple petals and leaves kissing the rain!

Battered Woman Syndrome: How To Recognize The Signs

       

Love is the most powerful of emotions. It could either make you or break you. Women tend to be easily swept off their feet when a man proposes with promises of heaven and Earth and everything else in between. We are genetically predisposed to respond to men's luring. As women we have to learn to protect ourselves from being stuck in disastrous relationships and end up being beaten by the man we thought would love us for all eternity. Thank God not all men are bad and there are many out there who truly know how to take care of a woman.

What is Battered Woman Syndrome or Battered Wife Syndrome?     

-is a reference to any person who...

Orly and our Belgian Malinois

Hubby and our Belgian Malinois fur baby both watching the sky change colors dawn of yesterday. 

Blessed Sunday

Sundays, I love Sundays. The hubby and I have been good the past weeks. He has managed to make me get out of bed at 4 in the morning to prepare for early Sunday mass. And as always he takes the lead in buying our week's supply of veggies, meat, fish and poultry. I'll share our fresh purchases in another post. Believe me I am enjoying the simple quiet life. The best!

~kulasa~

Testing Times: Three Situations Where Children May Need Extra Support

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Children are generally resilient and happy go lucky, they adapt to new situations far better than most of us adult do. However, that’s not to say that certain circumstances aren’t tricky for them, and it’s important to guide them through successfully. Otherwise, they're at risk of anxieties and negative thought patterns that could follow them through later in life. Here are three testing situations where children might need some extra support, advice and guidance. 

When You’re Moving House

Why Your Dining Room Deserves To Be Part Of Your Home

Dining rooms are a dying fashion. It’s no wonder when we have breakfast bars in the kitchen that we use on a regular basis. Dining rooms are often locked up and never used. In many ways, dining rooms are just throwbacks to when dinner parties were big business. If you host often, then that’s great, but most of us don't use our dining rooms enough. With Christmas on its way, it’s time to change that. Does the prospect of your family crowding into your damp and unloved dining room make you cringe? Take the excuse to bring your dining room into this century by giving it the makeover it deserves.

GET THE DECORATION RIGHT

Choosing the right decoration is crucial in updating your dining room. You’re going to want to create ambiance during meals. Opting for bright colours might not be the best thing. Think of settling down after a hard day with a glass of wine and a good meal. Neutral colours are best. Something that’s not going to give you a headache the moment you walk in. Think of creams and beige colours. How about sandy coloured walls? Even a pale yellow could work well if it fits with the rest of the house. Think of the most soothing colours possible, and see which one works.

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On Parenthood and Nipa Resto Grill

      The food lover in me found another good place  to dine in. The hubby and I have been so curious about this new resto along the Diversion Road to San Fernando City from its construction to its opening.

Missing You: Remembering And Honoring A Dear Departed Loved One

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Losing a loved one is a painful experience. At times it can feel completely overwhelming. Dealing with that grief takes time. When the initial rawness eases, some people take comfort in remembering and memorializing that person in some way. There are many simple and thoughtful ways you can do this.

1. A Simple Memory Book

When a person you love dies, the pain of missing them can seem unbearable. So it makes sense to gather their photographs around you. Anything with a link to them seems significant and can help you begin to heal. Putting together a photo album of their life is a reminder of the happy times you shared.

Understanding Your Role As The Child Of An Elderly Parent

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Hey guys, lately I’ve been reading a lot about elderly parents. In particular, what role the former kids, now adults should take. I think this is quite a complicated issue. On the one hand, you want to make sure that your parents are safe in their old age. On the other, you have to let them have their independence. Then, you need to think about where they should live and when this becomes your choice, not theirs. You need to think about whether you want to help them move in with you. I know a lot of people prefer this option to permanent care. But is that the best thing for your parents are you. There’s a lot of choices to make here, and the right decision isn’t always clear. That’s why I’m going to try and break down my thoughts on this issue.

Beyond the Sunset

Dear Dad,

     Hi there! Hey, I came to visit the other day. I didn't see you. I suppose you weren't there. It was too grassy where we left you. But don't worry, someone will clean up the place soon. I hope you got what I left for you there, a candle on the ground next to the yellow flowers. 

I visited next one of your favorite places in town. You remember? that area where you used to fish? where the sun meets the sky at the end of the day and where I used to sit around and watch you with your fish-net running towards the waves...

I went there but didn't see you though I have to admit, the wind, the clouds, the air, the sun, the flowers...they all told me you are happy now....wherever you may be......

Important Considerations When Planning a Funeral For Your Loved Ones

It comes as a fact of life that people are born and people die. Even though we know it will happen some day, it can be a shock when it is sudden and unexpected. It can be a bit of a taboo subject, but it shouldn’t be. That is why it is a good idea to have some advice lined up for planning a funeral. It could be your own that you are planning ahead of time. It could be for that of a loved one. You will have so many emotions at the time of the loss, so it is a good idea to have a few ideas up your sleeve before hand. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself or get stressed out. It will already be a stressful and emotional situation!

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How To Sell Your Home Quickly!

Image by Mark Moz

A lot of the time people want to sell their house quickly. Whether you don’t like the area or are having disputes with the neighbours, people want to move into a new home quick as possible. If the market is good, a home can sell within a month. However, sometimes it can take a year or more to get a buyer for your property. Here are some useful tips if you want to sell up quickly!

Fantastic Ideas For Family Reunions

We hardly have the time to catch-up with our whole family these days. Busy, modern work schedules can make it difficult for families to arrange time together. Especially when everyone has busy social calendars as well.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try and all hangout, though. Familie time is time well spent! One way to make sure to get all your nearest and dearest under one roof is to arrange a family reunion. As it is a big event, you will be planning it well in advance, so you can give all of your relatives plenty of notice to keep the date free.

Family reunions can be as intimate or as big as you want them to be. You’ll know the kinds of social events your family prefers, so plan it according to their tastes. Not too sure what to plan? Here are five fantastic ideas that the whole family will enjoy!

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Coping with Your Aging Parents

Nearly everyone will have to deal with their parent getting old before they have to go through it themselves. Aging is difficult because it's not just the elderly people who have to go through it. Their loved ones are also responsible for helping them and ensuring they live out the rest of their life comfortably. There might even come a time when they can't care for themselves. However, at the same time, it's not always your job to organize your parents lives. Sometimes they're perfectly capable of doing things for themselves. So what is the best way to cope with them getting older?

Money Troubles

One of the biggest worries as people age is whether they can afford to support themselves. Most people stop working at a certain age, hopefully having saved for retirement. But even with funds put aside, do they have enough for everything they might need? Many people plan for retirement but don't think about the costs of care if they can't look after themselves. Is it their children's job to make up the shortfall? Many will say yes, including the law in some places. Supporting your parents financially is sometimes a necessity, but it's difficult to do at a detriment to your own finances.

Pic source: Jonas Bodi

How To Get Your Kids Excited About Your Camping Trip

Now the holidays are over, and some more normality has come back into your life, it’s time to start thinking about your next family vacation. If you’re tired of always going to the same resort in the same place year after year, it might be time for a change. Camping is a fabulous vacation choice as it is suitable for all ages and encourages spending time outdoors. But if your kids have never experienced camping before it may be difficult for them to get excited about it. So to get your kids counting down the days till your trip use this guide to help you.

Image found on Flickr

Giving Your Husband A Birthday He'll Remember

When we’re kids, we rarely go a day without thinking about our next birthday party. As we grow older of course, they start to seem less and less important. Many adults I know barely even acknowledge their birthdays at all! While I was writing my piece on love addiction, it got me thinking about my hubby’s birthday. It had been a while since either of us had had a truly special day. If you want to give your husband a birthday which will really make him feel appreciated, then here’s a little guide to help you out!

Image from Freestockphotos

Flowers for Mom- from Pleasanton Flower Shop

mom at "16" :) 12/30/2015

A photo posted by thelettersinnovember (@zenskulasa) on Jan 1, 2016 at 9:24pm PST

On the 29th of December 2015, as always I surprised my mom with a Birthday Cheer Bouquet from Pleasanton Flower Shop. It was breezy placing my order online as it was last year. All thanks to internet I got to show my mom my love and thoughtfulness from across the miles.

Hubby and Our Dream Home

Yes we do have a "dream house" but that doesn't mean we are not happy where we live now. We've made an agreement not to have a huge one because we'll be needing not too much space when we retire. 

Look After Your Baby's Skin With These Skincare Tips

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One of the best things about a newborn baby is how good they smell and how soft their skin is. Babies skin is so delicate and sensitive and needs appropriate care and attention to be looked after properly. Dyes in clothing, harsh detergents and perfumes can cause newborns skin to become dry and irritable. If their skin is not looked after this can cause rashing and even scarring in some cases. It’s vital to your baby’s development that you touch their skin as it soothes them and makes them feel loved. There are things you can do to prevent any harm to their delicate skin, follow these gentle skincare tips to find out more.

Becoming "Dad-dy..O": A Tribute to the Man Who Made Me a MOM

I can't remember the exact date I fell for you but I guess it was when you said "I want you to be the mother of my children".

Ours is a one-of-a-kind story that I cherish for life. You and me seemed very odd then. Then came "them". They're the combination of US- your childish ways plus mine. Your temper plus my craziness minus your patience with household chores and my love for sleeping multiplied by two! Aaaahhh you spelled it right- a beautiful disaster!