I cannot believe it! Would you believe that a credit card company whom I have had cut all ties with two years ago sent me (yet again) a pre-approved credit card? The main reason I didn’t renew my subscription with them is because of their very poor customer service and exorbitant interest rates. Then, when I was trying to cut off my card, they had all sorts of reasons! Id rather much stay with my current card provider. They have cash back credit cards and balance transfer credit cards to choose from. I actually have had my credit limit increased thrice because of good credit standing. Credit cards can really work to your advantage. You just need to know how to handle them. They are CREDIT, not money you can spend easily. You have to pay for it in the long run. So think log and hard before using it!
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Im sure most of us can relate to this! LOL.
I am not a patient person, let alone a patient person. But patience can be developed over time — it’s a habit, and like any other habit, it just takes some focus.
Here are some tips:
1. Count to 10. This one really works. When you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry, stop. Count slowly to 10 (you can do this in your head). When you’re done, most of the initial impulse to yell will go away. Alternatively, if you count out loud to 10, your kids will learn quickly that this is a good sign to run away. 
2. Deep breaths. This works very well in conjunction with the above tip. Count to 10, and then take three slow, deep breaths. Feel the frustration draining out of you with each breath.
3. Tally marks. One of the most effective and important methods for controlling an impulse — these worrisome urges that we have difficulty controlling — is to become more aware of it. And to do that, you should carry around a little pencil and paper all day, and each time you feel the impulse (in this case, to react with anger), mark down a tally. This is an extremely important first step. Once you become aware of your impulses, you can work out an alternative reaction.
4. Pretend someone’s watching. I forgot where I read this tip (a couple places, I think), but it’s effective. Pretend you have an audience. You’re less likely to overreact with your child if someone’s there watching your every move.
What would mom do? My mom is one of the most patient people I know (although she’s human like the rest of us). So when I find my ire rising, I think … “How would my mom handle this?” And using this role model, I begin to change my behavior to something more positive. You can use any role model you want — not necessarily my mom.
I love Zen Habits! I get a LOT of tips there. You can read more tips here.
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I need help! Seriously. For the longest time, I have been struggling with keeping our things at home organized. I have two children, live in one room and have very very limited space. Can anyone suggest highly recommended storage solutions and its products to keep things like toys and books organized? We also have hundreds and hundreds of DVDs and I really do not know who to store and display them nicely. I have been trying to find a way to install a DVD rack that can be accessible to us but out of reach for our kids and Im running on empty with ideas. One more thing, books - I need storage ideas for books. I have so many! From nursing books, scrapbooking mags and everything else. I really want to have a clutter-free home! HELP!
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Just a few tips which I am sure will help me simplify my work and make more productive. Now, if only they can disable internet as well?! LOL! That would be my biggest distraction actually - the internet! I always feel the need to surf around a lot, even if i just surfed five minutes ago!
Simplifying your workspace can help boost productivity by removing distractions.
1. Keep the light, lose the view. Natural light is essential to any healthy workspace, but an interesting view will have you staring blankly into the garden or out onto the street when work gets tough. During work-time, your computer screen should be the most interesting place you can look. During your breaks, however, a trip outside or a peek out of an open window can help reinvigorate you.
2. Move books into another room. In moments where our concentration is broken it can be tempting to reach up into a bookshelf and start thumbing through a book. Unless you need them for your work, it could be a good idea to remove books or magazines, and in doing so, remove the distraction.
3. Keep your desk focused. A productive desk contains the items and resources you need to complete your current task within arm’s reach. Photos, toys, figurines and other items can make our desks seem more homely, but also have the potential to trigger day-dreaming sessions and tinkering.
If you can’t bear to part with the items, consider placing them on a shelf behind where you sit. You’ll get the comfort of knowing they’re there without the visual distraction.
4. Minimize digital distractions. If your work doesn’t require connectivity, disconnect the internet while you work. You can reward yourself with some browsing during break-time. If games are a distraction for you, consider uninstalling them. If you have more than one computer, save one for work only, and use another for fun stuff.
5. Simplify decorations. My workspace — also my bedroom — used to contain one wall covered in a collage of photos. It was the wall behind my desk, and the time I spent poring over the images when I was supposed to be working began to eat into my productivity. I’ve since taken down the collage and have found I actually like the clean, uncluttered look better. I’d also much rather look at my computer screen than a blank wall!
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The cabinets under the kitchen sink are really destroyed now. I have been trying to convince Edil to replace them with metal cabinets because for one thing, if we install stainless steel cabinets, it won’t rot, unlike wood. It would also last long. The finish would be more professional looking as well. I hope we can afford to have it replaced though. I have been looking for certain styles that will match the kitchen interiors and hope to have some help once Abbie works in the US.
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The retreat house in Amadeo is all decked out for Christmas! The Nativity Scene is here, there are christmas lights and decors..the works! Plus the season is getting colder and you can definitely smell Christmas in the air. I need to get the house in Manila done and cleaned too. The kids are set to go home on Wednesday for some trick and treating and the house is still a mess!
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It’s hard to find cheap mortgage these days. Interest rates on homes have once again rise and many homeowners are finding it hard to pay their mortgage, let alone get mortgage protection . And more and more people have been getting poor credit remortgage scores. The banks have been blames for this, saying they approve applications easily when they know that some people would find it difficult to make the repayments if interest rates increase. I find it doubtful but highly possible. Banks profit from interest rates and additional charges. This makes me scared to buy a home, I think I really need to be financially stable to be able to buy one.
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Have you ever seen camping stoves? It is not only used for camping but is generally recommened when cooking outdoors - like having a barbecue grill! The Woodgas Camp Stove is one of them. It is a new biomas cooking stove - which means that is is environment-friendly, ultra-clean burning - it doesnt char food - and uses the fuels that nature provides.
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You know what else is going to be busy this holiday season? Travel tourist spots. Most affluent families go out of the country to experience snow, since we are a tropical country. Most actually look forward to go skiing in the luxury ski chalets in Meribel. Luxury Skiing holidays is something to celebrate about, definitely. You can book through a UK based company called Supertravel. They have over 40 years of experience in the travel industry and with specific departments dedicated to booking and planning ski and golf holidays, you are guaranteed your holiday packages will be taken cared of by a specialist.
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So I have the toys Im going to give to the kids planned out already. Matthew will be getting a Nintendo DS Lite with around three games. Martha will get a LeapFrog computer, phone and book. Im still thinking if I need to get a kitchen for her — maybe more animal toys. The only thing that is bothering me is where I can have all the toys shipped. Ill be buying them from the US since the conversion will be cheaper - but I do not know how it can happen. Maybe I can find something here as well. I need to ask my Mommy group.
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