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Archive for August, 2012

Been rummaging through sales rack lately hoping to find items for my baking needs. Been meaning to find round or square Pyrex dish tray can hold meat loafs or cottage pies. One of my rectangular glass dish was accidentally broken three months ago. Can’t seem to find one in the discounted items.

There were cheaper version. But, I am sure durability and versatility would suffer if I chose to opt for the cheaper brands. Then, the frugal shopper in me nearly gave in when I saw cute dish trays in vibrant orange color and I thought they’d be perfect for baked pasta and other dishes.

Instantaneously, the vibrant dishes reminded me of what Rachel Ray used in her tv show:

Lovely pieces, aren’t they? If you were watching her show, she used those dishes prominently to stuff her quick and easy concoctions.

Both small and medium stoneware dish trays are so versatile you can use them straight from the oven to the dining table. Both are dishwasher, microwave, freezer and oven safe. And, the addition of handles makes it more convenient to use. Moreover, this Rachel Ray Orange Stoneware Dish were up on sale.

And, yes. I hold on to my purse tightly because I do not want the cheaper imitation for it will not hold to the functionality and quality of the original items. Wished to find one in other shops in the next few days. Weeks. Perhaps, on sale, too That would be nicer

Image from Google

Home security had become a multi-million industry, with all the products and services available in the market nowadays. Some professionals are even telling us that it already evolved into a separate branch of trade, or science, or even art. However, the basics remain the same.

We are duty-bound to protect our home and our family. We can argue endlessly on whose fault lies the degradation of society but at the end of the day; it must be us who should help ourselves first and we should strengthen our first line of defense against these crooks who would blame poverty each time they were caught in their dastardly acts.

Deterrence is most important and it must make the life of these criminals a little harder, and here are some cost effective ways to secure your homes.

•  A well-lit home is less attractive to these criminals. Flood the exterior of your house with lights by installing low wattage led lamps controlled by timer or hang solar mini-lamps that will automatically activate at the onset of darkness and are capable of staying on for 8-10 hours. These are available for a couple of hundreds of pesos.
• Don’t allow these crooks to blend in your surroundings, trim hedges and bushes around the house.
• Make your house harder to penetrate, install grills on your windows, double or dead-bolt locks on doors.
• Surprise the trespasser, install motion sensitive lighting or alarm on the entrances. Hubby acquired a 150 watts-motion triggered halogen lamp for 500 pesos two years ago that never missed to send the dogs running each time it activate when the dogs pass near it. Install limit switches on the window sills that will trigger a central-low voltage alarm in case the windows were opened when the circuit is activated.
• Catch the unwelcome visitors in the act, cameras with own hard drives capable of recording 10 hours of video are now available for less than 3000 pesos.                                             

These simple and cheap steps will not stop thieves from trying but once they found out that “the effort is not worth the booty”, they will leave you in peace.

So, why am I still agonizing on those huge discounts I discovered in malls lately?

For one thing, I get frustrated by the fact that I do not have the convenience of having shopping budget these days. Even though discounts and freebies are flooding every shops in the city. From clothing items, to home items, to household appliances -they’re too tempting. I regret I haven’t planned out this clearance sale. Maybe next year.

For now, I need to stick to one worry. That it how I can get the best possible equote insurance for the youngest daughter.

Yes. There’s too many a sale going on at popular malls these days. Rainy days come, off they shed huge percentage on every item’s original prices.

Yes. I it’s been raining on discounts for would-be shoppers. I did checked out 2 appliances store at two malls here in our city and yes, they’re battling it out with offers everywhere. Offers that may have lured shoppers to let loose their pennies and bills, or credit card perhaps.

Aside from the cut on the prices, there’s freebies, too. I saw couple of small kitchen items with flatware and china wares as freebies. Plus, I saw a huge Plasma television unit with an Fully Automatic Washing Machine as FREE! That’s 9,995 pesos FREE!

 Yay! My jaw dropped heavily as I saw the super tandem sale. Husband said, “See if you’ve delayed your holiday shopping last December, you could have gotten that huge washing machine instead of the free DVD Player which remained unused for months now.” To further worsen my “agony” he added, “I told you, patience has its price.”

Agonizing? Me? Perhaps.

Yet for those planning on purchasing electrical appliances, furniture, home items, kitchen tools -check out your local shops to avail of discounts and freebies.

Controlled fire is an essential tool for our daily existence but when uncontrolled, it will become a destructive and vicious enemy. Domestic fire prevention must be a family affair, understood and practiced by everybody. It will become effective only when all family members adopt it as an integral part of their way of life. An ideal fire prevention approach is the one that will avoid the occurrence of accidental fire and will also minimize its effect by preventing it from getting out of hand. In its greatest perspective, fire safety should include but not be limited to the following:

Draw up a fire plan. Establish a primary escape route and set up a fixed meeting point outside of the house for your family members.

Educate your children. Explain the merits of safety; made them understand the perils of negligence.

Practice basic safety at home. Practice what you preach.

• Keep matches and lighters away.
• Use metal canisters filled with pebbles as candle holders, place it   away from curtains and extinguish after use.
•  Shut off gas valve after cooking.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Don’t smoke inside the house. Never throw away lighted cigarette butt in any way you wish.

Anticipate probable fire hazards. Be on the look-out for anything extra-ordinary.

• Check electrical appliances for burning smells, tingling sensation on hands when touched, replace worn- out power cords.
• Avoid using plug adaptors and extensions, observe power ratings, do not overload if you can’t avoid using them.
• Make periodic check of your house wirings, look for tell-tale signs of electrical deterioration such as discoloured outlets and unsteady or flickering lights, seek professional advice if necessary.
• Do not store clothes and other combustible materials in unsecured places.
• Check gas hoses for cracks and leaks, replace faulty hoses and install leak detecting valve if possible.
• Keep down lights or high lighting fixtures away from curtains and drapes.
• Install fire detectors and alarm.

9 litre fire extinguisher

Equip your home with fire extinguishers. The most common types of fire extinguishers  found at fire protection online are as follows:

• Air Pressurized Water for solid fires such as woods, papers, and most plastics. Not to be used in liquid fires such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, grease, or oil because it will make the blaze bigger. If used in electrical fires, it poses the danger of electrocution.
• Carbon Dioxide for electrical and liquid fires. Made of highly pressurized carbon dioxide gas and does not leave any harmful residue. If used in solid fires, there is a danger of re-ignition of fire remnants.
• Dry Chemicals for solid, liquid, and electrical fire. Made of foam or powder and pressurized with nitrogen. It completely prevent re-ignition of fire remnants by leaving a non-flammable residue.

Can be further categorized into two groups:

• Regular, for liquid and electrical fires, made of sodium or potassium bicarbonate. It leaves an slightly corrosive residue that may damage materials if not cleaned immediately.
• Multi-Purpose, for solid, liquid, electrical fires, made of mono-ammonium phosphate. It leaves a sticky residue that is damaging to most materials.

There are other types of fire extinguishers for particular applications. For proper size and type selection, you may seek the advice of professionals. They will also provide you with after sales service like maintenance and refilling of your extinguishers.

Fires can be devastating. Loss of property and lives are at stake. It shall be hugely beneficial to take the necessary precaution in order to prevent fires.

One was on regular price. The other one at a fractional discount.

Shoppers must be grinning wide these days as there’s sales everywhere. Curtains, beddings and other home accessory were on a 50%-discount. I was not planning on buying anything because I am short on cash that day. It can not support any impulse buying. And, so I thought.

But, as everybody knew, the more you explore shops, the more are the chances for unnecessary buy.

While I was paying for my son’s shirts, I espied on the familiar red tag on the shelf beside me…

Yes. Got me this transparent fruit tray for 112.31 after the discount. I wished to get two, but the other one’s in different design. And, it doesn’t appeal to me

Aside from using it as a fruit tray, don’t you think it can be useful as a plate for salad greens, too.

And, so, after a trip to Robinson’s Cabanatuan, we had decided to dine out at the newly-renovated McDonald’s Sanciangco branch. The little kid was pestering us on her little tantrums, so we gave in.

After the McDo trip, we ventured into the nearby Puregold Cabanatuan. It is alongside McDonald’s. They have BDO sandwiched between them.

The unplanned foray had me take home this cute white electric kettle. Not on sale. Priced at 375 pesos. This cutie can hold a liter of water for coffee or tea needs. Just a 200ml shorter of the black one that I had bought last year. Fortunately that electric kettle had been snatched by the eldest daughter for her hot water needs at her boarding house.

So, there’s goes my unplanned purchases last week…I wished to go back sometime next week because I have seen glass baking dishes that are on sale, too.

I’ll bet that not many people notices that their neat looking, nicely coloured electric outlet plates poses a serious hazard to their young children especially toddlers. Our countries’ regulations do not specifically requires these outlets to be shuttered or front dead except for those intended for outdoor installations. Hence, the live electrical parts are just millimeters away from anybody around its vicinity.

Children are curious by nature, and if left unattended might pick up metallic objects that when inserted on these sockets will put them in contact with the live parts lurking behind these plates. Education is a nice tool but it’s often neglected especially if we parents do not recognize the gravity of the situation.

I experienced such horror when my lad whose three years old then inserted a bent fork on the outlet, while telling me that he can shut off our electrical system. Before I could react, I heard a distant thud and the boy, grinning from ear to ear and still holding the fork said, “See, the refrigerator and the tv were off now.” Running to his side to check his condition, he blurted out again, “Ang galing ko hano, Mommy”. He seemed to be alright but I am not, still shaking in fear, I immediately telephoned hubby and informed him of what happened. Without any hint of excitement in his voice; he just told me to check the breaker panel and put on whatever was in off position. When he arrived from work, he explained to me that he had anticipated all these things and that all our power circuits were protected by earth leakage circuit breakers. He said that these things were calibrated to give protection at levels way below what is harmful to humans in case of accidental contacts.

The husband then theorized that the lad might had seen him testing these protections and aped what he was doing but he made it a point that he never inserted a fork on the outlet. I remembered that when our abode was built, hubby took time out from work and took the pain to personally do the electrical wirings. He tried to explain to me the functions of the odd looking pieces of equipment he was installing but being a non-technical person; nothing of what he was saying interests me . I still got goosebumps whenever I recalled that moment until now, another lesson learned.

With the husband’s advise, I am sharing with you easy tips to childproof your power outlets so that the name convenience outlets does not become a misnomer.

• If the installation is existing, the most cost effective solution is to buy blanking plastics. These are the peso coin sized round plastics with two prongs at the back resembling the contacts of a plug. Just plug it on your wall outlet and presto, your outlet is now front dead.

• If you can afford to replace all your existing convenience outlets, you can shop around for euro-standard compliant versions. These fixtures have built-in shutters that will cover the opening when a plug was pulled out and will open when you push a plug in. Or, here’s a two-gang outlet that have shutters which is ideal for outdoor placement such as the patio and the garage.

• If your house is still on the drawing board, ask your engineer to specify earth leakage system in addition to the normal overcurrent/short circuit breakers for added protection. European designs allow the earth leakage to be clipped directly on the side of the standard breaker making them one assembly only for ease of installation. It may entail additional cost but these equipment were engineered for lifetime use.

Keeping our homes safe cost only a little but the rewards are high given the protection and safety it will promote particularly on our kids.

Image from Google.com

I know a lot of you have been interested to meet the sweetest fairy on blogland. Because earlier today, I finally get to meet him. Casting his magical wand here on my site. Yes. It was a privileged to have been visited by The Fairy Hobmother. The friendly fairy who have been magically dusting his glittery dusts on other sites whom I have visited in the past weeks. I had been wishing that one day he could visit me, too.

I was truly blessed because he must have seen my comments in the blogs he had visited. Now, it’s my turn to feel that magic. It was awesome. And, true to what others are saying, HE IS SO GENEROUS. Because in the next few weeks I might have one of those Top 5 Washing Machines I have spotted in a website.

If in case you were wondering how would this be possible and who is this fairy I am talking about, leave your comments below. The Fairy Hobmother takes delight in hopping from one blog site to another and if he sees your comments, you will be surprised at the abundance of blessings he would shower on you.

I promise, you will be in awe once you get to know the famous fairy.

I recently took a second shot in baking, basic baking, that is. I wanna learn how to make cookies, tarts, cupcakes. My kids loved them. I am keen on starting my baking journey in making those simple pastries. Plus, I have to get started too with the right tools as required when you want to achieved an edible and not burnt bakery foodies. That means, I have to stray away from my usual habit of making “estimates” or using kitchen items such as cups in measuring ingredients. For all we care, there must have been a dozen different cup sizes in our kitchen counter. So, in the end, baking always end up in disaster.

To start with, I bought few kitchen tools that will guide me to make accurate measurements on the ingredients used.

Here they are:

Kitchen scale. This tool will be extra useful when measuring dry ingredients. Baking entails precise measurements, hence, exact weights are needed to ensure successful results in baking.

Liquid measuring cups. This is intended for measuring liquids like milk, oil, water or juice. They come in either plastic or glass. Measurements are clearly indicated on the side of the cup. They have a pouring spout for easy for easy management of the liquids. Their main purpose is to try to give out exact liquid proportions as needed for in a recipe.

Measuring cups. Set of measuring cups come in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1 cup. They come in either plastics or stainless steel. They have flat surfaces for easy leveling. Hence, one will get the exact ingredients as called for by the recipe. No more estimates using different cup sizes. These cups are usually use for measuring dry ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter, syrup, and more.

Measuring spoons. Same as in the measuring cups, measuring spoons come in either plastic or stainless steel.  A set of these spoons have measurements for 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and, 1 tablespoon. These spoons are intended to measure small amounts of ingredients such as baking soda or baking powder, salt, vanilla extracts, and other spices. Because measuring spoons are used both with dry and liquid ingredients, it is preferable to have two sets of measuring spoons .

Yes. I have started my baking journey with those small kitchen tools. As I promised to add more and more tools as I go on with my renewed passion in baking.

As I scroll down the web looking for necessities in basic baking, I find a site where you can find a complete list of items necessary to make every baking adventure a success. Check out thebakingpan.com. Now, I know what should I be needing for my first try out in baking cakes.

Crossing fingers

 The size of a complex is irrelevant, be it a block of offices to Buckingham Palace, all pipes need protection from frost and the cold weather. Trace heating is needed to keep the water from freezing in the pipes which can cause the pipes to burst. Replacing burst pipes is a messy and pricey endeavour and one that is sure to cause a headache.

 To prevent such a disaster it is advisable to invest in self-regulating electricals such as heating elements. These cables are able to either warm up or cool down dependent on the temperature in the pipes. The beauty of these heating elements is their ability to self-regulate, meaning that day to day maintenance and operation is not necessary. It is important to thoroughly research what system would be suitable for your building and to speak to experts about the issue, as it can be expensive to install.

The inner section of the cables are protected by either tinned copper or stainless steel braids which prevent mechanical shocks and electrical surges from destroying the heating elements inside the pipes, an essential addition which prevents costly repairs. The cost of a repair is not the only negative aspect; the process of making the repair is one that can cost time and money to the owner. These metal braids prevent such catastrophes from occurring. An essential part to heating installation is the drum heater. Choosing the right one can make the difference between an installation that works and one that doesn’t.

In conclusion regardless of the size of a complex, in cold weather the pipes are liable to freeze and break. A good heating installation is a key part of any structure.