Valentine’s Day

Posted by Paula on Jan 25, 2012 in Mixed Bag | 0 comments

Do you already have plans for Valentine’s day? My hubby and I don’t have any plans yet. We have just come back from our vacation so we definitely won’t be going out-of-town to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I’m thinking of cooking him something special at home instead. Also personalized gifts for Valentines Day would be more economical for budget conscious people like me. I would want to give him an iPhone but it’s out of the budget. haha! Anyway, I’m sure he’ll appreciate my gift to him. What matters is we love each other very much even after spending 10 valentines together.

Traveling with Cebu Pacific

Posted by Paula on Jan 25, 2012 in Mixed Bag | 2 comments

We have just landed from the airport. We have tried riding Cebu Pacific for the first time. It’s a budget airplane that makes traveling cost affordable for everyone. Buying tickets is done online so everything is a breeze. Even checking in is done on the internet. All you need to do is print the boarding pass and show it to the airport official. This way we are saved from long lines in the airport.

On the way home, we were worried because we weren’t able to print our boarding pass. Hubby said maybe we can just use document imaging by taking a screenshot of it in our iPad. Anyway, we didn’t have to worry because we just showed our itinerary receipt and it was accepted. Technology can really lessen some hassles of traveling.

Beware of Online Job Scams

Posted by Paula on Jan 16, 2012 in Work-at-Home | 0 comments

One of the things that you have to be aware of when making the decision to work online is the possibility of being scammed by “employers.” I just read the Job Scam, by Marcus Evans and my mind was opened to more possibilities on how employers can scam online workers.

One of the red flags is if your employer asks for your bank account details and ask you to send money to another bank account. You will keep a percentage of the amount you send which will be your earning. However, this is a red flag for a possibility of transferring some stolen money. If caught, you can be jailed for theft.

When my husband was looking for jobs online we were really afraid we’ll encounter some of these job scams. So after he was interviewed and accepted by his employer we asked that he be paid weekly instead of monthly. His employer understood and five months later he’s still sending my hubby’s salary. I guess we’re really lucky he got a legitimate job.

Others are not so lucky so to avoid these be sure to protect yourself and be wary of anything suspicious. It is better to be safe than sorry when dealing with online jobs.

How to Make Memories Last Forever: 5 Tips to Storing Photographs

Posted by Paula on Jan 6, 2012 in Featured Articles | 0 comments

Photos, or prints, are typically made out of three layers of materials: chemicals and inks which make up the image on the surface, and the binder which adheres the picture to the paper. The exact chemical make-up of a photo depends on the era and developing process used. Regardless of when a photo was processed, each layer reacts to its environment different and deteriorates over time.

The most common way of storing photos is inside an album; however, there are many ways of storing photos for different formats and sizes. The type of storage you choose will depend on cost, the condition of the print and how frequently the photos will be handled for viewing.

Handle With Care

Newly developed photos should be kept separate from the negatives. The chemicals in the photo and the negatives have been known to react with each other, causing damage to the print if not they’re not stored separately.

Always hold photographs by the edges, while supporting it from underneath with your other hand. This protects the photo from being accidentally bent or torn.

Avoid touching the surface of the picture with your fingers. The oils from your fingertips can leave stains on the print. To remove fingerprints from a picture, gently clean it with either cotton or a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Storing Photos in an Album

Avoid storing photos in materials containing acid or lignin. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can yellow and destroy your photos. Many albums sold in the past are not archival safe. Black paper pages and magnetic albums, which were once popular during the 1960′s, were extremely acidic and have been known to cause damage photos. You can increase the lifespan of your photos by managing the acid content of storage materials that come in contact with the prints. For example, if you use albums, envelopes or boxes, make sure that they are archival quality.

Avoid using any adhesives in your photo projects or albums. Adhesives, such as tape and glue, are the main cause for deterioration in photos because of a chemical reaction which occurs between the glue and the print. Avoid using albums with adhesive pages unless they are specified as being archival quality. Instead, use photo corners to secure your pictures to the page.

Use a page protector to limit the amount of contact your photos have with the air. Page protectors look a lot like plastic sleeves and come in a wide selection of shapes, sizes and materials. Most page protectors are designed to fit into standard three-ringed binders, post-bound and strap-hinged albums. Page protectors are often designed with built-in slots for slipping in one photo or two back-to-back into the sleeves. These are designed to fit directly into the photo album without any special preparation or mounting.

Polyester or mylar page protectors are considered to be top of the line and can cost anywhere from $10 and upwards for three, 5 inch by 7 inch sleeves. Polypropylene and polyethylene page protectors are more affordable alternatives and can be purchased in bulk for the same cost as one mylar page protector. They are both inexpensive and are safe for storing photos and documents. Avoid magnetic album page protectors. Although they are labeled as “acid-free”, they will destroy your photographs over time. Also, avoid page protectors made out of acetate or vinyl components. Vinyl and acetate can adhere to photos, causing them to premature change color and fade.

Always store albums in an upright or vertical position. Albums, which are left lying on their side, can cause ugly distortions and indentations in the page; as well as damaging the photos.

Be careful not to overfill an album with pages. Too many pages in an album increase the chance of losing a page if the album does not close the entire way.

Take Care of Framed Photos

Display photos away from direct sunlight. Exposure to UV radiation is one of the main causes of photo fading. If possible, find a frame which has glass surface treatment to it which decreases the amount of UV light being transmitted through it. These types of frames are available at most frame shops and photo stores.

Always place an acid-free mat between the photo and the frame. This prevents the photo from adhering to the glass over time.

You can further decrease the amount of UV radiation your photos are exposed to by rotating your pictures.

Store Photos Digitally

Download photos directly onto your computer from your and label them according to month or year.

Remotely store your favorite photos. This can be done by burning a DVD of your photos and storing them in a case, or by uploading them to photo sharing sites on the internet.

Other Forms of Storage

Store photos in a cool, dry and dark place, safe from pet damage and water. A closet or a well-ventilated room is an excellent choice for storing photo boxes. Try to avoid storing photos in an attic or a basement, these areas are prone to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Photos which are frequently handled, should be stored separately in its own protective sleeve before being grouped together in a box.

Try not to over-stuff or under-fill a box. An overstuffed box can cause damage to photos whenever they are filed or pulled out. Conversely, a relatively empty box will cause the photos to warp and curl.

John spends a lot of time helping with the upkeep of a printer cartridge website in the UK. He is involved with keeping the HP laser cartridges updated, as well as writing articles.

88th Birthday Celebration

Posted by Paula on Dec 30, 2011 in Events and Holidays | 0 comments

My husband’s grandmother celebrates her birthday during Christmas. Two years ago, her children and grandchildren held a birthday party for her. This year, they surprised her with another one.

It was held at the rooftop of her son’s house and not in one of those orlando hotels (but we would love to try that someday too). After watching movies the whole day she didn’t know that a surprise was waiting for her.

About fifty of her kids, grandkids, and in-laws attended. There were games for the kids and games for the adults too. The finale was her favorite granddaughter performing a fire dance in front of her. It was my first time to see one in person.

Of course, there were lots of food too! Her daughter-in-law (center) who was a great cook was the one who cooked the food. There were no leftovers after.

This is our picture with the birthday celebrant. Can you believe she’s already 88? Happy Birthday, Lola!

Christmas Gifts Under the Tree

Posted by Paula on Dec 21, 2011 in Events and Holidays | 0 comments

Christmas is four days away, can you believe it? Although it’s not too cold for us to wear ski jackets here, we’re still feeling the chill of Christmas. Me and my youngest is already sick with a slight cold because we’re not used to it.

I took a picture of our Christmas tree. We are almost done with our Christmas shopping. Unlike previous Christmases my eldest chose to wait before opening his present. We’re just giving him one gift but he’ll be happy when he finds out Santa gave him what he wanted.

2012 Will Be Investment Year for Us!

Posted by Paula on Dec 20, 2011 in Money | 0 comments

We have resumed our mutual fund investment! I’m so glad this has been taken cared of finally. What I like about investing is it has become easier and easier. I heard you can invest through the different mutual fund companies and transfer money from your bank account to theirs. Or if you have a BPI or BDO account, they have an investing arm. You can actually transfer your money in your online bank account to the fund you wish after enrolling. It’s so so easy!

I have a lot of plans next year. We hope to amp up our savings and be more careful in managing our money. If we need rv financing, for example, we’ll save for it little by little. We hope to eliminate unplanned spending.

I have such big plans. Wish me luck!