Man Cave? How About Something for the Ladies?

These days, the concept of a "man cave" is practically ubiquitous, but for some reason, there is less awareness about the female equivalent – the lady haven. Women can benefit just as much as men from having a space in the home specifically designed for their tastes, interests, and comfort. Three simple steps can help get you started on designing your lady cave.

Step One: Claim a Space

Recognizing the importance of creating space for yourself is crucial. Every woman can benefit greatly from having a place to unwind and temporarily disconnect from the busy world of kids, work, and a constantly full email inbox. Once you have made the decision to make a room or area of the home your own private space, you are well on your way towards the lady haven goal.

Step Two: Make it Yours

Assess the space you have designated as your future lady haven. Its size, natural light, and other features can help you determine how best to decorate and furnish it. It may also be a helpful exercise to envision yourself occupying the finished room – how do you hope to use it? Will it be a calm and quiet space, or one suited to loud music and impromptu dance parties?

Step Three: Enjoy

Once complete, your lady haven may just be your new favorite place in the world. The space can insulate you from the stress of the outside world and serve as a platform for pursuing you hobbies. It is also worth noting that your lady lair can be an ongoing project, ever changing to meet your whims or new interests. What is important is that you have begun the process, and have thus invested in your own comfort and wellbeing.

Your Sanctuary

Whether your idea of bliss is curling up with a book, having your girlfriends over or stretching out on a yoga mat, having a space in your home in which to relax is vitally important. Designing a lady haven can be an exciting opportunity to create a space that is truly yours, and which lends itself specifically to your comfort and entertainment.

Relaxed Chevron Throw - Dot & Bo Review

Disclosure: The author of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review. Opinions expressed is solely my own and may differ from others. The product/s being described in this review was provided for FREE for evaluation purposes.

During the Thanksgiving break, hubby and I have been busy at home.  I put him to work with the new  curtain rods that we snagged on sale.  

 We bought the oil-rubbed bronze decorative rod set by Kirsch.  It was originally priced at $22 but we got it for $5.99, the day after the Black Friday  sale.

For the past couple of days, I have been working on some projects, HAND-SEWN throw pillow cases.  It's funny that I have three  electric sewing machine here but none of them seem to work so I just sewn them with my hands.  

 Our throw pillows  have  the same  color as the love seat and couch when we bought them.  So I thought of adding some colors to our living room.  I found these beautiful fabrics at one of our old sewing machine cabinet so I made them into pillow cases.  

BLUE by the way is the family's favorite color! ABC Wednesday

I thought the pattern of this light blue printed  fabric goes really good with our painting on the wall.   

I also bought two mink throws on sale to keep us warm when we watch our favorite shows on TV.

I LOVE the new addition, another splash of color to our living room, the Relaxed Chevron Throw   that Dot & Bo sent me for review.  You can buy this on sale for $49.99 with a 40% discount from the original price of $83.

This throw gives you a bold pallete of color without sacrificing the cozy feeling.  I love that it somehow ties with  the color of our couch and love seat.  This is  made from 100% cotton from India so it is so soft and very cozy  for snuggling.

Just look at this  little lady of mine who is always feeling cold.  She just love this  soft throw.

 Even our dog, Bolt wanted to snuggle in it too but he isn't allowed lol.  Sorry buddy, this isn't for you but  I might buy you a new cushion if you behave hehehe.

Now my living room doesn't look so dark anymore because of the new splashes of color that I added.  It's not the best living room  set up you'll ever see but it's good enough for us to stay warm on this freezing  weather.  Interior decorating is not my cup of tea but I  try my best to make our home a bit presentable.  

Thanks a lot Dot & Bo for the beautiful Christmas present!  If you are looking for  unique home decor and products, Dot & Bo is the place to go.  I love everything that they have!

As I have said, I am no expert when it comes to decorating so rearranging is frequent.  Any  expertise that you may have in decorating or how to properly put stuff  is quite welcome through the comment.  

Why You Should Start Blogging if you Don't Already

It might come to shock you that most ecommerce websites do not have a business blog. Whereas there are several sources asserting as to why a business should have a blog, quite a few have been targeted at the e-commerce sites.

Business blogs do much for increasing online traffic to general website platforms. They also have various other benefits specific to e-commerce sites. However, what’s better even is that since several e-commerce sites are not taking advantage of having business blog, this may be one aspect setting your site apart from the rest.

The below are just a few of the reasons why blogs are important for eCommerce.

Blogs are vital for SEO in getting your content crawled

Through content and links, search engine “crawlers” may reach billions of interconnected documents. Since blogs regularly contain specific phrasing, links, and content that’s related to your e-commerce site, making it easier for search engine bots to classify and rank your site. This will translate to better rankings in Google searches.

Informing your Reader

A blog is an excellent way to help visitors gain more insight as to what your products or services are all about. To gain more following for the blog, you should produce quality content offering valuable information. The readers will keep coming for more, and the more they come, the more they know about your product.

Begin or Reply to a Discussion about Popular Questions

When trying to write content, look at the previous comments on the other posts, or look to the social media accounts and try answering a question that a customer or follower is having. This demonstrates that you care about your readers. Asking questions is an ideal way of creating an ongoing dialog. This creates a personal relationship between you and your customers, and people normally shop and buy goods from businessmen who personally connect with them and make their clients a priority.

Share a Relatable Story or an Experience

When writing a post, and you sharing a personal anecdote, client story, or other experience, make sure it’s in your opening paragraph. This draws readers to what you want to say, and shows that you are an expert on this topic. Emotional connections play a large role in any business that exists, even more so online as you have a short time to make the connection with your customer. Give them a reason they should ignore the back button.

Conclusion

When internet users buy services and goods online, they normally care about who they are buying from. Thus, a business blog helps in indicating that your e-commerce site values the interest and the needs of customers. It establishes credibility, provides valuable information, have your site ranked higher in search engines. Blogging is going to set your eCommerce site apart from other businesses, and with time, it will build content that will be valuable to your business and the customers.

Edrick Hypolite is a blogger with a focus on tech and internet business. He writes in order to help aspiring ecommerce entrepreneurs improve their sites and hopefully be more successful in the future. For those who have set up their site and just need a secure checkout process, he highly recommends third party providers like FastSpring. You can learn more about Edrick on Google+.

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.