Making Simple Christmas Decors at Home

I have been busy  tinkering  here at home with small  things that we have collected over the years.  I am recycling empty containers into simple Christmas decorations using the  pretty little things that my kinds have found during our walks or small things that they got as  gifts.  First up are the small tree jars that was given to the kids by the homeroom Moms last year.  They were filled with chocolates.  Now that they are empty, I filled it with the small figurines that we have.

 My son  collected these baby pine cones last summer during one of our walks so I thought of using it to fill the  tree jar, it made him happy that I used his collection.

The card that says "God's love is the Heart of Christmas" was given away by the second grade homeroom moms this year so I out it  by the nativity  scene figurine.  

 

 It is now sitting in our little  corner nook that the kids have initially decorated.

I filled the other tree jar with  sweets  (tree cane and  small candy canes).  The kids received these sweets last year but they never really ate them so  these would serve as decorations from now on.

 Ain't that cute?

 Another thing that I tinkered is this empty  candle jar.  I put two of the baby cones that daughter and I painted and a one holly  branch.

 The small pine branches are also  from my   son's  nature collection.  They are real  pine leaves that he dried out so they smelled good.

I don't really decorate for any other holidays but I make sure to decorate on Christmas.  If you are tired of putting up  the same decor every year, you can alter them.  Make something new out of something old.  Pink Saturday

Tinkering Wreath and Empty Jars

Our wreath in the front door is just  adorned with poinsettia flowers so I borrowed Ms. Burrito's  hot glue gun and  put some Christmas balls in it to add some colors.   

 I am in so much pain  due to menstrual cramp so I thought of tinkering this wreath just to forget the pain for a while and it worked!

I also have these empty  candle jars so I thought Christmas balls would look great inside it.  

 My daughter said that it would look great if there is a led light inside which I agree.  For now, the balls is alright.  I will look for  some led lights when we go to the store and put one in each jar.

 So there you go, our weekend project is tinkering. How about you, what's  consuming your weekend?

Travel During Pregnancy

This photo was taken  before my first flight going out of the country took place.  My Mom was  very sad on that day because  we never knew when we will see each other again.  I was seven months pregnant when I flew out the Philippines.  Before I left though, I had to secure a certification from my  OB GYNe in the Philippines that I am safe to travel.  She also gave me a medicine which would help me and the baby while traveling.  

We know many pregnant women who are afraid to travel during pregnancy. If you love to travel, don’t think you can’t enjoy that anymore when you’re pregnant. Pregnancytips.org say that the most ideal trimester to travel is during the second trimester. Second trimester is ideal because, most pregnant women no longer suffer from nausea and morning sickness during this time, nor are you too big to be uncomfortable, especially during the rigors of air travel. Also, you don’t want to suddenly be in labor while travelling when you travel during your third trimester when you’re also more easily fatigued. 

 Always be cautious and seek advice from your OB Gyn about your plan of travelling. As long as there are no pregnancy complications, it is generally safe to travel. With your doctor’s blessing and your smart preparation, there’s no reason to sit home. Take advantage of your wanderlust now, before bringing baby home!

Common Signs of Poisoning in Pets

Every day, your pet faces the possibility of becoming poisoned by food or possibly by pesticides left out for rodents to eat. Because different types of poisons affect pets differently, it can be very difficult to recognize the classic signs of poisoning unless you know specifically what to look for. If your pet is suddenly acting sluggish or sick, it is important to get them to an animal emergency hospital right away. It is also important to note whether or not your pet has been around any dangerous and potentially poisonous substances. The more information you can give the veterinarian regarding potential causes of your pet’s symptoms, the more likely your veterinarian will be able to give them the proper treatment they need in time.

Symptoms of Pet Poisoning

Signs of poisoning in your pet can be varied and can exhibit very suddenly. Depending on the type of poison consumed, your pet may experience symptoms that affect the kidneys, intestines, liver, and other body systems. Here are a few of the most common poisoning symptoms to look out for:

• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Diarrhea
• Pale gums
• Excessive urination or thirst
• Decreased urination
• Lethargy
• Collapse
• Racing heart rate
• Vomiting blood
• Extremely bad breath
• Jaundice/yellow gum discoloration
• Tar-like black stool
• Acting abnormally

If you notice any of these symptoms, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately in order to increase the chances of your pet’s survival and healthy recovery.

Most Commonly Reported Pet Poisonings

Every year, thousands of pets are poisoned accidentally. Some of the most commonly reported poison dangers for pets include:

• Foods: Chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol, and other human foods are poisonous to dogs and can cause a variety of symptoms. When it comes to chocolate, there is no amount that is safe for your dog to eat, and it is especially dangerous if it is a dark and concentrated type of chocolate. The artificial sweetener xylitol is also toxic for dogs and can result in liver failure in the most severe cases. Grapes and raisins are also very poisonous to dogs and can cause kidney failure if consumed.
• Rodent Poisons: Chemical rodent poisons are left out for mice and rats to eat, but they can easily be discovered and consumed by your pets. All rodenticides are packed with chemicals that can cause brain swelling, internal bleeding, severe vomiting, bloating, and kidney failure in pets. It is also possible for cats or dogs to be poisoned by eating a rodent that has already died due to ingesting rodenticides.
• Insecticides: Insecticides are not only dangerous for human toddlers, but they are also toxic to pets. Pesticides and insecticides that contain organophosphates are especially life-threatening for small pets, even in very small amounts. It is also important to note that some tick and flea treatments are ok to give to your dogs, but those same treatments can be dangerous and even deadly for cats. When in doubt about the safety of flea and tick treatments, always read the labeling.

Losing a pet due to poisoning can be a very tragic and life-changing experience. To keep your pets as safe as possible, be sure to limit their exposure to places that may contain poisons, and keep them away from human food.

Looking Like Christmas at Home

In three weeks, Christmas is here. Family and friends enjoy this kind of gathering catching up with each other of what's going on. Children get to see most of the family members and enjoy chasing and playing with each other. Our kids always anticipates for this kind of occasion.

I am grateful that we had  a long weekend  for the Thanksgiving because it gave us time to  decorate the house for Christmas.  I hold off in decorating early this year because hubby  wants it after Thanksgiving so that's what we did.

Our decor is nothing fancy but it's good enough to convey the spirit of Christmas.  

My kids were in-charged on decorating  our rotating Christmas tree. 

I love this fiber optic tree that Dad gave to the kids.  

The kids are also in-charge in decorating their book case.  

My SIL gave me some  pine cones few years ago so daughter and I painted them and out some glitters to it.  They make great Christmas decor in my opinion.  

Some new addition to our decor this year.  I got this from a garage sale for free.  The  woman selling it gave it  for free along with other stuff to my kids.  She said that since my kids were so good that she just gave  most of  the stuff we got for free.

The tin snowmen  are so cute.  What  caught my attention in getting them in the first place is the fact that they are  made oin the Philippines which somehow reminds me of my family back home.  

Passport

Christmas is nice but it is  the most stressful  holiday for me.  With all the shopping and planning, time passes by so fast.  Gladly, a lot of   companies are offering  sale on  almost everything including the passport that you might need for Fender.  I did not even know that  there is a Fender passport until I have came across it online when I was looking for a deal for the music instrument that our kids wants.