ME Time

I had some ME time last week. And what better way to spend it than to go shopping? It was just a short yet sweet time.

The shops in our suburbs are not that big. There aren’t any department stores. Most of the shops are food stores – 4 supermarkets, restos, bakeries, coffee shops, etc. Ah! And several pet shops and real estates. There are also quaint little specialty shops that where ladies, girls, women’s frequently stop.

I saw and passed this one store named, Just Add Bling. There are pretty women’s clothes displays but I never investigated what else the store carries, until last week. And I was surprised by what I saw. Plus, the prices of the goods are not dear. I tried three dresses which fit me but I don’t like the colour so put them back in the rack. I ended up buying earrings and necklace set and a brooch. I didn’t pay much! I’m sure, I will be coming back in that shop.

Oh, and another thing that got me curious was the retail pos systems used by the owner. By the way, she was very friendly and helpful – one of the reasons why I would like to come back. She was using a notebook in entering the transactions and the system that she was using was a bit foreign to me. Not that I know all of the POS systems but I know at least some. I might ask her on my next trip.

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Getting Ready

Since we have booked our flights for next year’s holiday, I’ve been looking out for a great deal for luggage. Our luggage is pretty old and dusty. We absolutely need new. There are websites that I frequent and I admit they have better deals but what’s stopping me from buying is the shipping cost. One of the websites sometimes offer shipping during special occasions. When is the next special day? Christmas? Not long to wait.

I’ve been eyeing these:

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For Pretty Smile

Have you got tooth fillings? Do you know if it is Amalgam or Composite?

I have amalgam fillings on my molars. I was naive then when I went to the dentist and have them done. I was advised that amalgam was nice as they last longer. But what really are the facts? Here are some from Dentistry.about.com:

AMALGAM FILLINGS

Pros:

Because of the metal content, amalgam fillings are very strong and can withstand heavy biting pressure, therefore, used primarily for the back teeth.
Amalgam filling material is relatively inexpensive.
Most insurance companies cover amalgam fillings.
Cons:
Amalgam filling material contains mercury and other metals. While there have been no conclusive studies relating the mercury in amalgam to any dangers, mercury by itself is very toxic.
Some people experience a period of hot and cold sensitivity after having an amalgam filling.
Amalgam fillings do not harden immediately, therefore, it is not good to chew on that specific tooth for a couple of hours after the filling is placed.
More tooth structure is lost because the dentist has to make a bigger preparation.
Not all dentists do amalgam fillings anymore.

COMPOSITE FILLINGS

Pros

The composite filling material contains only acrylic resin and glass particles, no mercury.
The tooth colored filling material looks very nice and natural.
This type of filling material is already hard when you leave the dental office, therefore, you can chew on it whenever you like.
Less tooth structure is lost because the dentist can make a smaller preparation.
Cons

The composite filling material is more expensive.
This type of filling usually takes the dentist a little longer to do.
Composite fillings can stain over a period of time depending factors such as tea, coffee and smoking.
These fillings do not get whiter if you bleach your teeth.
Composite fillings are strong on back teeth, but not as strong as amalgam.
Insurance companies will not always pay for composite fillings on back teeth.

I wonder what the Washington DC dentist advise to their patient/customer?

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Fashion-phobic?

I don't go with fashion. They are so short-lived that it's too hard to catch-up. :) Money wise and all. I dress with what I feel good.

If you're like me, here are some tips for us for ehow.com:

Develop and keep your own style. Trust your instincts about what looks best with your coloring, habits, personality and place in the world.

Adopt what you truly like, but recognize that it may not be the last word forever.

Understand the process. Be aware of why, as well as when, a trend is cooling. Fashion trends and fads can happen because a style is cool (heavy-soled shoes) or fun (temporary tattoos) or even shocking (lingerie as outerwear).

Adapt the style you want to adopt. For example, is everyone wearing short shorts but you just can't? Add a piece of fabric or ribbon to your hems so you can wear them short but not as short as everyone else.

Mix trendy pieces with classic ones.

Break some rules; bend others. If the fashion is large breasts, get a maximizer bra and avoid the more radical surgery route. If straight hair is in, use large rollers and blow-dry your hair before you chemically straighten your ringlets.

Develop confidence: Take a class, read fashion magazines, get a makeup lesson, get your colors done.
Learn about fashion, style, tips and tricks, then go out and make your own fashion news.

C'mon, take notes... you don't have a system memory.

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Dressing Up for a Barbie

Well, summer is fast approaching. And in down under, summer means barbie. Barbie Q party that is. For those of you who are concerned of what to wear to this gathering, here are some tips from ehow.com (ihaw):

Aim for comfort, ease and great style. Call your host or hostess if you need more direction.

Look for clothes that are easy to wear and easy to clean: cotton, nylon, blends and silk.

Think separates: shorts, skirts, easy shirts and the latest thinking in pants.

Wear lively, trendy pieces for summer barbecues, parties and backyard gatherings.

Set the mood with bright colors, big patterns and interesting materials.

Choose fun summer shoes: flip-flops, tennis shoes, sandals and slides.

Take along layering pieces in case the weather suddenly changes: sweatshirts, cotton sweaters, hooded jackets and big shirts.

For women, choose versatile twinsets in silk, lightweight wool, French terry and cotton.
Take along accessories. Sunglasses, hats and scarves keep the sun off and spice up your outfit.

And a tip coming from me? Dress casually (you're not going to see las vegas strip) and for the weather.

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High Heels Without Heels

Would you wear these shoes?

Me? I don't really think so. Just look at this one makes me feel I'm going to fall backward. These pair really look nice though. Pink and all that.

Have you seen the boots that Posh's wore? They might be trendy but they don't look err... something. :)

I reckon, if you're a bit overweight, you need a weight loss before you can wear these.

I might try them on. To tame my curiousity maybe.

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Hot Weather

It's getting hot again in my side of the world. It's time to take off those ever handy patio furniture covers and make our outdoor ornaments useful - entertain friends outside, have barbie (and invite us) or simply just have your brekkie or cuppa outside. Enjoy the sun, the fresh air, the nature.

We weren't really confined in our house this year's winter as the temperature was never that low compared to other states. We got the chance to play outside when the sun was up. But warm weather is definitely a pleasant change.

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Online Shopping

I really get frustrated when I’m shopping online (read: browsing) and I happen to like something and found out that the store does not accept Paypal. I’ll tell myself, now you just lost one prospect customer. I’m still dubious of giving my credit card details through the internet. I know that most people do but with the identity theft issues that I’m hearing every now and then, you can’t blame me.

It’s another story though if the transaction is over the phone. We give out details even if the other party is overseas (most cards these days work as international credit cards). You may wonder how more secure a phone transaction than an internet one. I don’t really know. I guess we base our judgement on experience. Mcj has been giving out credit card details over the phone since that mode of payment was made available so there the worry is less, I should say. At the end of the day, theft could happen anywhere anytime.

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Pretty and Nice

Some of the good things in life that I like.

Pretty shoes. Pretty bags. Pretty jewelry. Pretty clothes. Short hair. Nice perfume. Delicious food. Holden car. Kohler faucets. Round the world tour. Trip back home. Green mango (indian mango) with bagoong. Chicken inasal. Chicken adobo cooked by my Tatay. Camping. Kisses and hugs and special cuddles. A bike. Weekends. Good music. Wine??? Good company. Good friends. Strawberries, nuts, mudcake, choc chip muffins, pasta. At iba pa!

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Skin Condition

Up til now, I still didn’t un-cover the best acne treatment for my type of skin. Not that I have acne. I just used to have pimples when I was a teenager. They were not acne type but fine like heat rashes on my forehead. I also have an oily skin so from time to time back then, pimples would appear on my cheeks and chin. I can’t remember that I did use some cream or whatever. I think, it goes with age?

I really got curious what is acne. According to about.com, acne is:

a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, or what is commonly called the hair follicle or pore. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is the most common skin disorder in the United States. Acne vulgaris, as common acne is known, is classified as a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin.

Acne is characterized by the presence of pimples or "zits", blackheads, and whiteheads. It chiefly affects the face, neck, chest, back, and/or upper arms of sufferers. Rarely you will find acne in other areas of the body. Acne varies in development from very mild to extremely severe.

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Growth Spurt?

The Tatapilla is the biggest “rubbish” I’ve ever known. He just loves eating. He wants to eat every food he sees, every food that everyone’s eating. He’s always curious when he sees me eating. It seems he feels like he’s missing out on something.

One night, he had his dinner ahead of us as he was so hungry. He had stewed apple after it. Then, he wanted some of my dinner so I gave him a tub of custard. He ate it all. He helped feed himself. When the custard was gone, he wanted some of his Daddy’s dinner. Can you imagine that? He’s belly is really getting big. Gone were the days when he was taut and terrific. If he’s an adult, at the rate that he’s eating, he might need alli diet pill already. I just blamed it to growth spurt plus playing all day makes the little boy hungry.

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Collections

It’s been ages since my last trip to the movie house. I can’t remember the last movie I seen there. Whew! Does that mean, it was really that far in the past? And now that we have the BIG Guy, all the more difficult to see a movie at a cinema. And so we compensate that by collecting dvds. Though we don’t really buy DVD’s of recently released movies as, well, we know that they are dearer than old movies. I don’t complain as I love watching old movies – old, light, nostalgic.

When I was in the Philippines, I was amassing books. I used to buy second hand ones. They’re now in my parents’ place hidden in the boxes. They haven’t dedicated any bookshelves for them.
I do still read books here. I have some stashed somewhere away from little inquisitive hands. But I stopped buying recently as I’ve learned that the local library lend out latest books, paperbacks, etc.

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