5 Beautiful Swimming Pools

Water is the source of life and having a water feature in your property such as the swimming pool is a great addition to beautify your place. It is soothing, adds elegance and tranquility. On a hot and scorching summer days, it is always nice to have a swimming pool to keep the family cools down a bit.

Infinity Pools

I personally like the pool above especially at sunset time. The silhouette of the mountain is an awesome view of the nature. I also like the blue reflection of the water because of the light fixtures on the sides of the pool. The shape looks like a half moon which gives the swimming pool area a stunning place to enjoy the night after a long day at work.

I love great gardens and the swimming pool above added a great feature in it. The Jacuzzi is situated at the top and for me, this place is an oasis of relaxation. Flowers in bloom and the sight of the plants added the great ambiance in this part of the property.

What an awesome swimming pool location, isn't it? Overlooking the city and hills as well. Though privacy is an issue here because those houses can snoop using a telescope but; on the positive side, who cares if you have this amazing view right? If I have a property in a location like this, I would build my pool on the same spot as well.

The infinity pool above is my favorite. The view is awesome. Jacuzzi on the side with 360 degrees of great view of nature and a space for entertaining on the other side which is totally perfect.

The last infinity pool is not the least in fact; I love the location. The swimming pool is located at the top of the hill overlooking a gorgeous 180 degrees of awesome view. Privacy could be an issue to some but, it is alright for me if I have this great view. What do you think? Which pool is your favorite?

Note: All Photos are not mine.

Fun Time with PowerMyLearning

This is a sponsored post written and edited by AmiableAmy on behalf of PowerMyLearning. All opinions and photos (except the logo) are 100% mine.

As a former teacher, I believe children acquire knowledge and learn the most when they are having fun. For that reason, I am very happy and excited to share to all you mommies and daddies out there about the great and modern way of fun learning that would help any parent or teacher in their strategy to re-enforce children's learning potential.

I was introduced to a Website which has an innovative approach; and a computer based learning program called PowerMyLearning. I am delighted to tell you that this learning program is from K2 to 12 and so far, the highest learning technique that I have seen online.

The line of subjects they offered are similar to what is taught in schools like Math, Science, Literacy, Social Studies, Technology and Language as well as Arts and Music. Mostly, they are in a form of game activities that a child would not even think that he or she is learning some lessons. It sharpens their cognitive learning and reasoning as well.

Believe me, I have tried it with Chloe and she loves it! Like most of the children in this generation, Chloe knows how to operate a computer but of course, with an adult supervision. I told her to logged in and once she is in PowerMyLearning site, she was excited to check the featured games.  We focused on K2 and she has all the freedom to choose whatever activity she fancies. 

Favorite PowerMyLearning Educational Games of Chloe 

Geology: Dinosaur Fossils

This is a read along guide for kids. Since Chloe has a curious mind about Dinosaurs, as she browsed and read the facts about them, she has full of excitement. Every time she reads new things, she gained knowledge then; she would turn her head to mommy and giggled. She is having fun! It was very impressive to see her wanting to learn more.

Science: Solid and Liquid Activity

She loves this game and she was experimenting thru the pictures. It was fascinating for her to learn what will happen to a solid when it is heated and a liquid when frozen. As she learns the experiments, she would react in surprising manner. I can see that she was delighted to learn.

Reading

The follow along read aloud version of "A Snowy Day Story" is a big hit for Chloe. She loves to read.  To sum it up, in the eyes of Chloe, PowerMyLearning has been her favorite Website for the last 5 days now and I know, this will remain her favorite.  Based on my observation, she has learned a lot from PowerMyLearning. By the way, you can create a free account in PowerMyLearning Website so; you might as well check it out!

Feel Free to Register HERE

Lemonade Fizzy Drink

Are you looking for something to experiment on with your kids? Here is one and it is super easy to do! One quick question: Do you like fizzy drinks? You can make this now if you have the following ingredients: 

Ingredients: 

Lemon
Drinking glass 

Water 

1 tsp Baking Soda 

Sugar 

Instructions:

Squeeze the juice from the lemon into the glass. Pour in an equal amount of water as the lemon juice. Add 1 tsp of baking soda. Give the mixture a taste and add the sugar depending how sweet you want it to be. 

SURPRISE! 

The mixture should go bubbly and should taste like a lemonade soda. If you add some sugar it will tastes like a lemon flavored soft drink.. The bubbles that form when you add the baking soda to the lemon mixture are carbon dioxide or CO2. The same bubbles you find in fizzy drinks in the market. The CO2 or carbon dioxide you just created is a chemical reaction when you add the lemon which is an acid to the baking soda the base. 

Have fun and make the experiment now with your kids.

Audio Materials

When I was in college, I was a working scholar in the main library. I was assigned in the counter where students and faculty loan-out books for few days. Sometimes, if it is slow, I put the books back on the shelves. I love the smell of books and I love working in the library. My work schedule was up to 7 PM and I have a Glee Club practice at 8 PM. I would then get the key of the Little Theater from the in-charge of the Audio-Visual Office, which is part of the library. There is a small booth in the Little Theater which houses the audio material and operation of the sound system, I took charge of that. I do not fool with other functions except the sound system and the microphones.

 

When our beloved conductor arrives, everything is already set up and we practice right away.  After the practice, I make sure that the Little Theater is securely closed and I will then; turn-over the key to the night guard in the campus. In the Audio Visual room, there are so many materials which for me are fascinating to manipulate. Similar audio material like the tone hammer at musician's friend, they have that. By now, they improved a lot with all those new and high tech gadgets for audio-visual usage. Oh yeah, I am reminiscing my college days and I had a wonderful memories in it.

One Lucky Winner of HGTV Smart Home 2013

If you watch HGTV Channel, you probably know about the SMART HOME 2013 GIVEAWAY which ended recently. That also means they picked the lucky winner. I say lucky because out of the 40 million plus entries (including mine ^_^ ), Peggy Walker, a retired special education teacher from South Washington County School District in Minnesota came out the winner for HGTV Smart Home 2013.

 
Check out the HOME she owns now:

POOLSIDE

Dining Area

Front of the House

Living Room/Family Room

Pool

This is a fully furnished property worth $900,000including the 2013 GMC Terrain Denali (first photo) plus $100,000 cash. What an awesome blessing! Congratulations Peggy and Family.

Note: All Photos are NOT MINE.

Merlot Natural Grape Seed Skin Care Products

When I saw Merlot products from the reputable Blogger sites that I read, I was convinced that they are great on the skin by looking at their before and after pictures. I emailed Merlot and requested for a product review. I was so grateful that the VP of Merlot Corp responded to my request and sent me a beautiful pack which includes the Moonlight Radiance Night Cream, Lip Moisturizer and Merlot Divine Eau de Parfum Spray.

All About Merlot:

* 2001 – Wayne Beckley who is known as “Dr. Grapes” and “Father of Grape Seed Technology” launched Merlot Skin Care.

* Wayne Beckley utilizes the power of the grape seed in each unique formulation.

* Grape Seed is the most powerful antioxidants. It is 50 times more powerful than Vitamin E and nearly 25 times more powerful than Vitamin C.

* Merlot products work to fight free and protect skin against the signs of aging.

*Merlot Skin Care products is known for their high quality formulations and tremendous value.

* Merlot products are made in the USA.

* Merlot Skin Care is owned and operated by the Beckley family.

Merlot Website, Shipping and Packaging

Made in the USA, that is the main reason why I am confident to use the Merlot products. When I was given the opportunity to choose the products that I want to try, I visited their user friendly Website. Adding the items on the cart is not complicated at all and check-out is fast and easy. The package arrived fast and I got it in good condition. It was securely packed and inside was a gorgeous gift items wrapped in decorative cellophane with pretty bow. It makes me so happy seeing the pack and excited to use the Moonlight Radiance Night Cream that night.

On Moonlight Radiance Night Cream

I have been using the Moonlight Radiance Night Cream for weeks now and every time I applied it on my face at night, it relaxes the my skin. It really feels like the cream locks in the moisture keeping my skin hydrated. Having it on my face at night leaves no sticky feeling. It smells good too which I like about it. In the morning, my skin is soft to the touch and it feels healthy and rejuvenate. Would I recommend this product? Yes for sure!

On Merlot Divine Eau de Parfum Spray

I used it one time only and my husband loves the fragrance of Divine. I was having migraine at that time so; the smell was overpowering for me. When my friend smell the Divine fragrance, she loved it as well and she begged me to have it as her birthday present. I can't say no to my friend, its her birthday! Oh, she loves it dearly.

On Lip Moisturizer

When my lips felt dry, I just lick to moisten it. I do not like to wear make up and lipstick when I am at home but, when I got this lip moisturizer, I am impressed for it keeps my lips soft and smooth. I have it in my purse all the time now when I go out. I used it everyday knowing that it has SPF15 which simply protects my lips. It is fragrance free too so; I like it the most.

To Check out Merlot products:

Visit Merlot Websites

Like their Facebookpage

Follow their Twitter account
Follow their boards in Pinterest
Subscribe their YouTube Channel

Finally, would you like to win a Merlot Product? I am pleased to let you know that Merlot is sponsoring a giveaway and ONE lucky winner will receive ONE product of Merlot. All you have to do is ENTER the GIVEAWAY below. This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY. The more entries you submit, the more chances of winning. Good luck!

MERLOT Skin Care Product Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Merlotskincare.com is the sponsor of this MERLOT Skin Care Product giveaway and is therefore responsible for the prize as well as the shipment of the prize to the winner.

I WAS NOT compensated for this post. All opinions are based on my own and were not influenced in any way. 

Scary Clouds Heading Our Way

My oh my, the thunder outside is deafening. I went outside to check what's going on and look at the scary clouds, the storm is heading this way. Good thing that our home is built good and while inside, we can only hear the thunder if it is really that bad. Oh yeah, the storm at this time is pretty bad. It will be gone in few minutes though. It's like, no traces of storm whatsoever except a nice yard soaking wet. Nice one though and I love the smell of grass after the rain! Well, as long as there is no tornado warning, I'm good and the thunder doesn't bother me at all.

 

What Accessories Should You Get?

When you buy a large truck like a GMC, you might want to put a few extra things on it to make it more useful. You never know when you might need some accessories to help you do what you need to do. There are a lot of GMC accessories in Kansas City that are available to go on your new vehicle, so see what is out there and decide if any of them could be helpful to you. 

Common GMC Accessories

One of the most common accessories that people choose to buy is a tool box that is specially fitted to go into the bed of their trunk. When you drive around with a truck doing work, you’ll probably need your tools with you. Getting a specially fitted tool box will keep your tools secure wherever you go. The box is big enough to fit all your tools in, so you should never find yourself without a tool you need. Another important accessory for many people is a truck rack that goes on top. This rack can hold anything too big to fit in the bed of your truck or in the back of your car. There are many different types of racks that you can choose from, so find one that will be best for you.

As you drive around in your new car, you want to be sure that you and anyone else in the car will be as safe as possible. There are fire extinguishers and first aid kits that you can buy to keep in your car at all times. You can deal with minor injuries by yourself and put out any fires immediately before they cause too much damage. These accidents can happen to anyone, so you may want to make sure that you are prepared in case something happens to you.

Your Car

You can get GMC accessories in Kansas City for a new or used car. If you have had a GMC for a long time, chances are that you can still get accessories to make it better for you. You can look online to see if there are any more options of accessories that you might be interested in.

On Buying Real Estate Properties

There is a great sign of relief in the Real Estate business these days compared to two years back. There is a 25% increase of the housing prices and people are now buying back properties. That means economy bounced back a little. Few weeks ago, we met our realtor and asked him about the status of Real Estate business in our area. He told us that it is promising in fact; he was able to sell 3 properties. The prices are a bit higher now than last year yet, the price is not a deterrent because people are buying properties.

It is undeniable that people wanted to purchase properties these days. Taking advantage of the reasonable price in the market and Home Loans are available out there. One family that we knew sold their property and bought a bigger place which was a great idea. This is really the best time to buy a property. The price in the housing market is reasonable and a lot of nice property listed on a daily basis. As long as you have a job, buying a property should be your priority.

Anyway, are you planning to buy a property in New Zealand? Do you plan to live there for good? If you have a friend in that country, ask a favor and request them to hire the services from Web Video Production. Have them take a video of the properties in the area that you wanted. Request your friend to send you the video. That way you do not need to go there right at this time. By the time you schedule to go there, you already have the idea which property you want to buy.

Now, if you moved for good, do you have work waiting in New Zealand? If you are moving because your job calls for it, lucky you! You will be in a beautiful new place with a new job, must be surreal for you and the family. If you have are having the dilemma between moving and losing a job then, seek for a new job now. You can find Temp Jobs online. Start planning now.

On Sale Coach Products at Belk

Hello Ladies out there, did you shop lately? If you adore Coach products because of the quality and style, here's what I found in Belk.com and good news, these are on sale about 25% off from the original price. I always compare prices before I buy them. Just like this Leela Heel which is $228 in Coach.com but, in Belk, the price is 50% off, $114 is a bargain price.

Here is another product, the Legacy Leather Haley Satchel which is $358 but, if you choose the Silver Bright Coral color, you only have to pay $267.99 which is 25% off. I love on sale products! One time, I went to the Outlet Mall and bought two items using 30% off to items with 25% off already, a total of 55% off. Awesome deal don't you think?

 

I seldom wear jewelry but, I buy them when I saw something that I like. Now, this bracelet watch is pretty. Sorry to tell you that both sites did not put this on sale. My suggestion is that you should check the web for coupons. Usually, they have coupons up to 30% off.

 
For more on sale items, check out Belk.com and Coach.com. The latter has on sale items of shoes, I bought one lately and it was a great deal.

Vibration Control: Spring Mounts

If you are in search for vibration components, don't look too far. I found a Website that has that and if you want to buy an effective vibration control, you should check out this site today. This company has the spring mounts just like the photo that you see below. If that is what you are looking for, go ahead and visit the site now.

The View along the Boat Ramp in Titusville

The other day we went to Parish Park in Titusville just merely watching people go fishing and boating. Some were swimming in the river. We were just sitting in our car since we will not stay for long. It was a cloudy day which is good. The breeze is cool and I like it. Hubby and I decided to drive down the boat ramp and we saw quite a few people ready to go boating. This place is awesome for boating.

While those people are fishing, I saw flocks of bird in the sitting area. I was eating a burger at that time and three birds attempted to come near me as if begging for the food. The birds are not intimidated with  people around for sure.

Here the birds were observing people. When they saw people with food on their hand, they flew near them. Amazing behavior!
 
Anyway, I will be showing you more photos in this area and I am sure you will love them. Thanks for stopping by.

I Miss Playing my Guitar

Okay, I will admit that though I have a guitar, it's been sitting there in the corner for so many months now. I quit playing when the fourth string broke and I always forgot to buy the replacement even if, I frequent the mall. Seeing this guitar reminded me to go and buy that string so I can play again.

Do you like this guitar? You can check out some of the exceptional yamaha pacifica at musicians friend. I wish to buy a new guitar and give my old one to my cousins. The only problem is the high shipping cost so; I guess I will stick with my old one. Besides, how can it be old when I did not use it more often, right?

Project Skylab Veterans at the Kennedy Space Center

I took these photos at the Astronaut's Encounter in Kennedy Space Center last July 27, 2013 during the Skylab's 40th Anniversary Reunion. There were 10 invited Astronauts but, only 9 came. Fred Gregory, a veteran NASA astronaut served as the moderator during the discussion from the Skylab team.

Most of them are already in their late 70's and all of them have good recollections of what they did during the Skylab-era. They have good humor and everyone had a great time listening to their talks.

Hubby and I were seated at the end seats in the middle section so; we have a great spot to watch them. I took a video the whole time. I have 4 parts. You should try to watch it.

Here are some of them when they were younger.

And here they are today. The Skylab was the first and only American space station in orbit around the Earth in 1973 and 1974. Skylab was launched aboard the last of the Apollo-era Saturn V rockets on May 14, 1973. Their mission is to study the sun and Earth as well as the effects of zero gravity on the human body on long-duration of space flights as well as other scientific experiments.

Anyway, here is the list of Astronauts who were invited for the discussion : Karol “Bo” Bobko, Vance Brand, Jerry Carr, Bob Crippen, Owen Garriott, Ed Gibson, Jack Lousma, Bill Pogue, William Thornton, and Paul Weitz.

The Symbol of Eternity Ring

We went to Orlando to meet a client today. While my husband was busy with the forms; the parents of the client started talking to me. They were in their 80's and married for 53 years. They were reminiscing their younger days when they first met. While he was telling me their love story, I keep noticing the precious ring of the woman. It was an eternity ring. It looks like the photo below. The man gave an eternity ring to the wife in their 25th wedding anniversary. Eternity ring symbolizes love and commitment until eternity. The man told me that the first moment he saw her (wife), he told himself; she is the ONE!

Their story was truly inspiring bonded with this tangible promise of everlasting love. They vow to cherish each other and promise to love each other forever. I could tell that they are in-love. After married for 53 years, they look happy and in-love. Eternity ring is my favorite ring in the jewelry vortex wedding rings. I don't know if I will be able to own one but, I hope that my husband will give me one someday.

Meeting with a Client: Filipino-American Family

We went to meet a client today who needs a Power of Attorney with a Durable Clause. The husband is a Mobile Notary so; his clients are all over Brevard and Orange Counties. The client made mention that she needs it because her parents will be going back to the Philippines for a vacation.

She needed a Durable Power of Attorney because if it is only the Power of Attorney document, it will  become ineffective if the principal dies or becomes "incapacitated". With the Durable Power of Attorney,  the authority of the attorney-in-fact to act and  make decisions on behalf of the principal will continue until the principal's death.

Anyway, I was with the husband when he met the clients. Oh my goodness, I had full two hours talking with the father (American veteran) who is 88 years old and the mother (Filipino) in her late 70's. What we talked about started with his first glance of the woman which he married for 53 years. I was like put into a trance listening to a love story.

Design a Tee for a Cause at Teespring

The heart breaking incident during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 has left us with profound grief and misery especially when we witnessed the event as it unfolded on live TV telecast. We can only hope and pray for no casualty. The reality was, the bombing killed 3 and injured 250+ and even though the victims are strangers to us, we feel their sorrow and pain. That is why; we look for ways to help them and reach out to let them know we care and we pray for them.

There are thousands of people who initiated a good cause with goals of helping the victims and their family for financial relief. Some individuals have fund raising and the proceeds are donated to a reputable and verified organization. The customized Stay Strong Boston T-shirt above was a great idea and the fund raising became so successful. The goal was to sell 75 but, it was sold about 6313 which was an amazing turn-out! The financial support that was given to the victims and their family will not erase the sadness in their hearts but, knowing that they are not alone thru the effort and of reaching out matters the most.

Fund raising event like this will not be successful without the company who is behind the amazing idea of printing and have everything organized. Thanks to Teespring.com, a perfect site to launch a campaign. You know what's good about this company? Three steps is all you need to focus and no upfront costs, awesome right? The prints are high quality and most of all, no risks whatsoever. For details, you can check out their Website today and feel free to use their online designer tool. It is unbelievably user-friendly and the prices of tees will vary according to the colors, art design, style and brand of the item you choose. I tell you, you can design a tee in few clicks because their designer tool is easy to use.

So, do you have a fund raising event coming up? Use Teespring.com to design a tee for a cause. All you have to do is make a design; share it to your friends thru social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter; collect the pre-orders, and tadaaa ... Teespring will handle the printing and shipping.

Helping one another is a genuine act of love and kindness, don't you think? Visit the site, follow Teespring in Twitter and make a difference today!

Find a Barber for a Shave and a Haircut

Going to the barber might seem like a thing of the past, at least for a shave. You are probably used to shaving at home in from of the bathroom mirror. Going to visit a barber on a regular basis for a shave is probably neither cost effective nor realistic in today’s world, but a shave at the barber’s can be a wonderful experience. You probably don’t cut your own hair, however, and visiting an Atlanta barber for a haircut is a great idea.

A Barbershop Shave

Going to get a shave at the barbershop will probably be a different experience for you. You won’t get a closer shave anywhere than you will at a barber’s, so it is perfect for occasions where you want to look your absolute best. Your shave from the barber will last all day long. It can also be an incredibly relaxing experience. You will recline in a comfortable chair while the barber preps your face with hot towels. The clean aroma of men’s shaving and hair products will fill the room while the barber oils your face, whips up quality lather with his shaving brush, and applies it to your jaw. A good barber will use a straight razor, a tool that requires considerable skill. A straight razor, while the oldest of the razors still used today, still gives the closest shave that you can get. The barber will probably ask if you would like aftershave applied, and you may even get a face and neck massage out of the experience.
 

A Barbershop Haircut

If you haven’t had your haircut at a barber’s, you are missing out. For a man, a barber is a great choice, because barbers specialize in men’s hairstyles and cuts. While the professionals at unisex hair salons can do a great job, most are trained with an emphasis on women’s hair and the use of scissors. A barber will be more skilled at using clippers, which are ideal for short men’s hairstyles. An Atlanta barber can give you a great haircut that will continue to look great for weeks. A good haircut will save you money in the long run.

Bedroom Inspiration: 9 Bedroom Oasis

After working for 8 hours straight, we all deserve to have a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed in a pleasant and relaxing bedroom in our home. With warm lighting that sets the mood in the room and soft textiles to snuggle up in. Wow! What a precious space it would be. I was browsing the HGTV site which is my favorite website ever especially when I needed a style inspiration. Please note that all photos are not mine. Today, I found 9 bedroom designs that I call bedroom oasis. Here are the photos of bedroom designs which top my list:

I am attracted to this bedroom because of the patterned curtains. Paula Grace designed this bedroom and I love the accessories she put together. The bedside lamps are gorgeous.

Check out the artistic bed, huge windows, white sheets and neutral colors in this bedroom. It is simple, clean and elegant, reason why I love this bedroom.

In this design, I am drawn to the contemporary furnishings and the contrast of the brick wall. Check out the windows and the doors, a great design to enjoy the view from the comfort of the bedroom.

If the room has high ceiling, take advantage of using draperies and that's the reason why I love this bedroom. Designed by Annette Phillips, this bedroom has that elegance and ambiance that probably most of us would want to have in a bedroom. Hardwood flooring, antique white walls and all the accessories bind the room into a relaxing place.

This is a Troy Beasley design and I love everything in it especially the bed. The smooth fabric of the curtain, the contrast of black and white plus, the yellow accent truly created a calm and relaxing ambiance.

I love the skylight and the texture of the carpet in this bedroom. The white, yellow-gold and blue combination of colors is relaxing. This is a great design by Gina Fitzsimmons.

This bedroom reminds me of the guest bedroom of our friend who lives in Alabama. The ambiance is similar. The floral bed covers, soft lighting, antique furnishings and huge windows truly a delightful bedroom to have at home.

Last but definitely not the least is this Sarah Barnard's design. I love this design because of the color and the fabric, simple and elegant.

Which is your bet among these bedroom designs? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by.