Surviving Family Road Trip

How would you handle the situation traveling more or less 9 hours by car with a screaming toddler? What would you do to survive the long hours drive without losing your cool?
Every family who take road trips have different driving situations, kids, drivers and passengers, and the number of hours. Well, in our case we drove 9 hours with one two year old toddler who doesn't like car motion and hate car seat. The fact that she hates being strap in with her car seat, hate small space, and hate not moving around. She exactly different with her 3 year old brother who is willing to go along and find ways to enjoy himself.

We made three stops in that 9 hours drive. Those hours that my little Miss was sleeping, we never made a stop and tried to control the urge of going to the bathroom. Until it came to the point that the little man had to go pee and potty so we decided to stop then the sleeping beauty woke up.

When you make a stop, do not let the kids see any traveling store to avoid spending money on some useless toys they find at the store. If you can distract them when going to the bathroom then do it and make alibis that doesn't sound like a lie. Anyway, since the girl was already up, the fussing and excruciating scream begun. If you sit in the middle try to talk to her some nonsense so you can distract her from getting bored. I did try giving her tons of things to do but it did not stop her from doing what she want and that was taking her strap off of her and standing in her seat while the car is running. We could get a ticket if a cop saw us but fortunately there wasn't much cop in that high way. However, letting her stand that few hours of the road trip was a relief hearing her scream.

Coke is not good for kids. But in order for my little Miss to sit still while the car is running is by allowing her drink the coke. As I have said, she doesn't like car motion and that was one of the things that made he feel uncomfortable. The coke helped her stomach to feel better and at the same time pre-occupied. Giving her drawing book makes her feel dizzy again so after the coke, she needed to moved around again and cry a bit of course. So, I let her stand for a while and sat in my lap for few minutes while the car was running.

Make some few stops to give the kids time to stretch out but if they're sleeping take advantage of that opportunity to stay on the road. According to my MIL who was also in the car with us (we were using her car during the road trip), despite of the screaming and fussing, my kids still pass as the good traveler baby or toddler. Singing, talking, and giving them what they want was helpful in surviving a family road trip.

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Birthday Gift

My dearest babger celebrated his birthday just three weeks ago. I did not talk much about it on the day of his birthday because I already did the day before it. I wanted to buy gifts for him but he refused because he prefers cash than any material thing. And for me, cash is more convenient and easy to give than browsing online for gifts that he might now find interesting nor useful. He is very picky and choosy. With cash, he can spend it whatever and however he wants it. Last Christmas I gave him a wallet as gift and I was happy to see that he is using it. This year we already talked not to give gifts with each other, not even surprise gift. I am cool with it because i could use the money to buy gifts for my kids, family and friends instead. How about you, do you exchange gifts on Christmas and birthdays?

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Second Thanksgiving Trip To Chicago

We spent our Thanksgiving in Chicago. This was our second time spending Thanksgiving at SIL and her family in Chicago. The first one was in 2009 and Justine was still like 4 months old at that time.

Jake was pretty excited on that trip while Justine, well no so sure because she got up late and she was fussing the whole trip. Although there were few minutes that she wasn't crying, screaming, fussing and whining but she wasn't sitting properly either in her car seat. She prefers to stand up and got out from her seat belt.



The Museum of Science and Industry is pretty much a walking distance from their place so we walked going there the next day and stopped by at the playground. The Thanksgiving dinner was great with delicious foods and pies. Thank you guys for inviting us.

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Connects with CaféWell to Stay Well

This post brought to you by Cafe Well. All opinions are 100% mine.

What do you do to stay healthy and well? Perhaps, Cafe Well can help you to connects with other people who share your health care interests and needs. Café well was created to provide a safe, secure and anonymous destination that exists for one reason which is Health. The community will address your needs, from chronic condition support, to healthy lifestyle tips and challenges. Café well is a social network that offers corporate wellness programs that truly work through corporate wellness program called Race to the Moon that aims to get members more fit and active by walking or running through offering free wireless pedometers which tracks their steps and rewards them for milestones and total steps. The participants who have walked over 50 million steps, and average 2.5 million steps a day can testify that being in this program will do you good because it really works for even under a month. If you are a member of Health America then you are eligible to join the Race to the Moon program challenge and perhaps be a member of Cafe Well to enjoy some of their features which includes fun challenges, expert advice and more that encourage you to get well and stay healthy. So, if you are up for the challenge and would love to stay well then connecting to Café well is certainly the best outlet for you. Café Well understands how complex and difficult the health care system is to navigate and they will make it easy to get the health information you need, when and where you want it. If I were to create a health challenge, It would be a 20 minute walk or run, maintain healthy diet, exercise and right amount of sleep. Sometimes, I feel like throwing up because of the head ache and lack of sleep. And also the fact that I need to get back in shape but would like to do it in a natural possible way to keep healthy and fit is part of the challenge.

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Family Thanksgiving and Holiday

[This is an old photo taken at the Museum of Science and Industry]

The husband has a week off from work starting Monday which was couple of days ago plus a weekend off too. time to take a good break from everything and spend an exciting holiday with family. Thanksgiving is few days away in fact and we will be spending it somewhere else. We don't really care what the weather will be like as far as fun is concern.

Meanwhile, if you want to know where are we now, well make a wild guess. We drove to SR last Monday afternoon and took off the next day to where we headed. We arrived in the afternoon but since it was raining and because of the time saving, it was already dark at 5:00 when we got here. The trip was not as pleasant as every body would love to experience, but it's half way decent than expected. The kids took two long naps the whole trip which gave room for quiet time and we also made three stops on the way. Now that we are here, I don't want to think anything of our trip back home yet. So, how about you, where are you going this holiday? Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

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Enjoy the Cheap All Inclusive Holidays

The common purpose for taking holiday vacation is to enjoy and go some place where all you can do is relax. Well, vacation is always expensive but one smart way to at least save and splurge an amazing vacation is by booking on cheap all inclusive holidays that you can find online. Escape from the hassle and bustle of the city life and reward yourself and your family with a luxurious getaway. My friend in Las Vegas spent a week vacation and availed the all inclusive holiday. They had wonderful time and they spent it with the amount of days they needed before going back to work. We all deserved this extra week or two to just do nothing but enjoy the beach, take a walk along the shore while watching the stunning sunlight or sunrise and do whatever you want with your heart content. There is no best time taking your family and love ones on a cheap all inclusive holiday than now. What are you waiting for?

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Mellow Yellow Monday | Bellagio Las Vegas

This was taken at the Bellagio garden. A big sunflower that looks like a ferries wheel at our back. The place was very colorful when when we went there surrounded with variety of flowers and colorful bird as well.

Splurge on a well spend getaway and long break this holiday season by taking advantage of this super cheap holidays. Pack everything up and take you family now to some place away from the ordinary environment to something amazing with great accommodation and facilities. Have fun and enjoy!

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DIY Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning

Imagine the pain and hassles I went through when we still renting in that old house where all floors up and down were carpeted. It was a pain in the neck every time I vacuumed it because I I know not 100% of dust mites and dirt came off when I cleaned it. I had to use a broom in sweeping the tiny stones and lent that stuck in the carpet. If you are having the same problem like I did, then it's time for you to hire a carpet cleaner services that specializing in cleaning and restoration. The Steam Team is the only services I heard online to provide such services. They can also do great job in restoration. Visit this link http://www.thesteamteam.com/austin-restoration-services/smoke-fire.shtml and contact any of their representative for information.

However, there is also other ways for you to be more resourceful and eco-friendly in cleaning your carpet or appliances. You could try the do it yourself upholstery cleaning to save a little. Feel free to check out instructions at the Steam Team website. In my situation right now, I got a little break from cleaning my carpet because this new house we just bought have only small portion of carpet. The bedrooms in the second floors are the only carpeted area in this house. The rest are tiled and floors which is easy to clean. So, do not punish yourself by scrubbing so hard the damage portion of your carpets when you can find help in just a phone call away.

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Friday Fill Ins 11/19

And...here we go!

1. As you can see I am still wide awake at the wee hour of the time trying to update my blogs.

2. I will be done and go to bed soon!

3. I love to buy skinny jeans but the problem don't have extra moolah for it to buy.

4. I don't even know if I can buy Christmas gift(s).

5. What's up with you, why are you so peetics.

6. Shopping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday is right at your fingertips.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to blog, tomorrow my plans include cleaning and Sunday, I want to chilax!

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Interesting Magazine

Do you read magazine? Well, if you then you might want to include Candis Magazine in your collection of magazine. You can subscribe to it and be updated with the latest news. Candis magazine can also be your resource to upload itunes and other apps. Feel free to check it out and enjoy reading.

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Gearing Up Your RV for Thanksgiving Drive

Thanksgiving is a week away from now. I assume that some of you is getting ready for a family getaway to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends across the state. Some few tips you need to keep in mind before hitting the road. Check you engine first if it really in great condition to drive on a possible severe weather condition. You have to check the tire of your RV as well if it looks good. Make sure your insurance is with you all the time just in case of emergency and unexpected car break down. In order to feel 100% confident that your RV is perfect to go, take it to rv repair shop for a quick check from expert repair person. Gearing up your RV is a safest way to do especially if you are driving long distance. Advance happy Thanksgiving!

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Straight Out of the Camera | Dandelion

Saw this one and only dandelion in our front yard. Jake picked it up and start blowing it. Dandelion is one tough wild flower to have survived cold weather. We already had snow in our area and yet this dandelion still surviving and looks so perfect.

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Camera Critters | Seeing Cardinal Again

Howdy yo! The picture looks tiny but it sure is cardinal bird taking a rest at the neighbors tree or bush

I thought when we moved in to this new house i will not be able to see birds. But one day i was at the porch taking the Halloween decorations out when I spotted this red bird. The picture looks tiny though as I don't know how to operate my camera yet. Hope you guys will have a blessed Sunday!

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Small business owner

Contribution by Kennith Griffin

My husband and I own a small business, and at times I wonder if it is worth the stress. One of the major positives is that we make our own hours and can schedule work how we would like. However, at times it can be very stressful. We own a window washing company that my husband started shortly before we met. He has been in the business for nearly ten years, but at times it can be difficult. I keep the books, and we have two employees along with my husband. The work is very labor-intensive in the spring, summer, and fall. However, in the winter time the work is very slow due to the cold. As a way to maintain our budget, we have recently switched to fixed-rate energy through texaselectricityproviders.com. We have also decided to cut back on our family spending. We are shortening our family vacation by four days, and I have started using coupons more when shopping for food and other necessary items. I am thankful for the hard work that my husband puts into the business for our family, but at times it can be very stressful owning a small business in today’s marketplace.

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Friday Fill Ins 11/10

Questions courtesy of my cousin, dackelprincess.com, this week. And...here we go!

1. Turkey is in the freezer now ready for Thanksgiving but not in our kitchen.

2. And so is apple and pumpkin pie.

3. On and on and on we go like it never going to stop. It's a tradition.

4. The last time I saw her, she was thin now she was faaattt.

5. Can you believe it, I look like I lost weight but I still weigh the same.

6. I need a break, money and vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finished at least couple of task so my day will make sense, tomorrow my plans include shopping for couch, I hope. I'ts a long overdue home project but until now we still did able to buy a new couch to replace the suckishly couch we have and Sunday, I want to wifey or housemaid chores and stuffs!

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Studio B Buffet @ M

If you happen to visit Las Vegas, you should try the buffet at M resort and Casinos. You can check out the buffet hours and prices below.

Studio B by far is one of the top of the line buffet I've ever been to in Las Vegas. My sister and her husband are living in Las Vegas and they're familiar with the great places in strip when it comes to buffet. That is why when we were there, my BIL recommended us to try the buffet in this new place.

The place is so spacious with delicious food all over. I got overwhelmed which one I should try first. So, I went with the seafood since i was craving for sushi. It was the best.

Here is a glance of what the inside looks like. This is just a part or portion of the whole place.

Thank you for choosing to dine with Studio B Buffet and thank you for visiting ya'll.

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Buy Gold and Silver for Collection

Do you collect coins? If you do then buy silver bullion online and have it shipped directly to your home for physical delivery. This kind of investment has been around and I'm sure it will still be around the market no matter how tough the economic recession would be. Visit Regalgoldcoins.com for information. Regal Assets has a longstanding tradition of responsible and trustworthy business practices demonstrated by the A+ rating with the BBB. They have been in the buying and selling of gold and Silver for over fifty years with combined experience in the precious metals industry. You can count on the Regal Assets team of specialists to work for you with credibility and integrity. They are precious metals dealer that specialize in Gold & Silver investments. You can also sell your gold to them, just visit their website and I'm sure you will find coin and bullion you need. You can also buy gold and/or silver coins from their website from different country not just America. You can check out their silver price and start investing in gold and silver. If only I have plenty of money I would want to buy coins from different places and collect them.

Speaking of collection, I collected quarters of the 50 state in America. I also have one coin from Canada that I saw from my husband's coin collection or should I say piggy bank in the jar. The quarters I have collected is not certified yet and I'm lacking three state including Chicago, Florida and Michigan. These are the state I am lacking to complete my quarters. I also saw a quarter certification book sort of thing where you place the quarter but I forgot to buy it. Next week, I'll go back to the store and get that quarter book for my coin collection. Thus, if you plan on investing or collecting gold and silver, visit Regal Assets for details.

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Winter Clothing for the Kids

Went to Target last weekend to shopped for winter clothing. Kids sure grow so fast and outgrow their clothing so quick. Since, we have four seasons we see to it that our children have outfit that is appropriate for the weather. Target coupons practically my savoir during that shopping and save a little. You can go online and take advantage of this coupon when shopping at Target. Anyway, I bought a pair of PJs and couple pieces of long sleeves for my little guy. Then, I got two dresses for Justine and socks. Soon, we probably going start shopping for gifts and stuff this holiday season.

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Liking the Scrubs

Some of you may think what kind of scrubs I'm referring that I like about. It's not the scrub for cleaning though. I am fascinated with scrubs, not the show "Scrubs" either but the hospital scrubs that most nurses and doctors wear to work. Who doesn't get fascinated with their colorful uniform? Look at the nurses now days, they look like they never go to work because of fresh aura they get through the clothes they wear. The color and designs look so lively and lovely, doesn't it? I do like the nurses job but unfortunately, I'm not cut off to be one.


Nonetheless, there are so many stores today that are selling scrubs at a very affordable price but only few offers quality and you can find it by visiting this link http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/. Take a look at their designer medical uniform and scrubs and perhaps take advantage of the discount they sometimes offer. Not only you can buy scrubs for yourself but you can also find scrubs for kids and accessories to add style to your personality. Whatever the style, color, trend and fashion cut you may want, Blue Sky Scrubs has it all. So, head on over to their website and feel free to browse around.

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Family Is Funny Loving

This post brought to you by American Family Insurance. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you watch stand up comedy? If you do, perhaps you would want to watch Stand Up For Family with Bill Bellamy that focuses on Family or should I say American family specifically. So many actors and and actresses with successful career that started as stand up comedian. This is a big stepping stone for talented individual who can make the crowd laugh. Anyway, you shouldn't miss the Stand Up Family Comedy Special from American Family Insurance hosted by Bill Bellamy, which features some of today's hottest comedians providing entertainment for the entire family. A family is a basic unit in the society and thus, no matter how big and small the family is, for sure the fun is as big as life. Family always the priority for everybody and we are willing to put up a fight just to defend our family. We have heard so many jokes and comedy shows about family. Yet, this type of shows always earn amazing number of viewer because lot of people can relate to it. As I was watching the clips or videos by AmFam, I was laughing all night and forget about the time. There was one video about the Eye Beggin' which I find have similarity to what we experienced as we grew up. In fact we have exactly the same joke like that back home. However, watching these kind of shows will bring family closer as they reminisce all the fun they experienced inside and outside their home.  Family can be funny most of the time and loving of course.   You will appreciate the essential of having a wonderful family. So, if want to have a good laugh, check out their website and watch their Stand Up for Family special. Enjoy!

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Cheap and Smart Travel

How would you like to avail the cheap all inclusive holidays for great savings when traveling as family? Simply visit On The Beach or click on the link provided to start finding best cheap holidays that suit your needs, and your budget. The all inclusive holidays would be your great choice and option just in case you are in the market of looking for cheap deals on plane ticket and hotels. Book any hotels and your kids can stay free, how cool is that.

[Traveling with Toddlers | Checking in at Pittsburgh Airport]

Traveling with toddlers is a challenge. You cannot expect them to stay in one position or keep still for a minute while you are at the counter checking in your luggage. And then in the plane you have to make sure that they have something to play to keep them busy. The stress and excitement is equally tiring and inevitable. And of course not to mention that when you travel, expect your pocket to get ripped as it drain out your cash so quickly. All these are part of the travel. When we get home and think of the fun we had is priceless. So, in order to get the most out of your travel experience, try to find cheap all inclusive holidays. Be smart and clever when you book your flight and hotel. Enjoy your trip!

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Missing The Beach

[Beach Outing with Sisters at Bas Dako Moalboal]

It's been over four years already since I arrived here in the US. How I miss the beach in the tropical island like my home country. My husband and I have been talking of taking the kids to the beach so they can experience what the beach like and perhaps have a little taste of the salty water. We start surfing the net looking for Bargain Holiday where you can book for a cheap holiday deals to some amazing destination such as Caribbean or Spain maybe. I know that traveling with kids is kind of tough but it's possible if you really want to.

The picture above was my sister at one of the beach in our home country. It's a 2 hour drive to the south from the city but when you get there. it's all worth it because it's not too crowded compared to other public beach where it's always full especially on the weekend. Looking at this white beach made me feel nostalgic.

So, if you have plan to travel this holiday and escape from the freezing winter, then book for a Cheap Bargain Holiday today.

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Comparing Roads

Las Vegas Road/highway

Pittsburgh Road

Pittsburgh is one of the oldest city in the US. In fact Pennsylvania was one of the 13 original state in the USA. Most of the things around the area from houses to roads are old. The narrow road is one of the reason why my husband was hesitant to teach me how to drive. In the west part of the US however such as California, Las Vegas and more, they have wider road. It was funny to hear people from that area complain about traffic, aggressive drivers and the like when they have wide road for them to drive in.

Just take a look at the picture and compare these two roads. Which do you prefer to drive? If Las Vegas have so many aggressive driver and you can't stand with the traffic, try driving here in Pittsburgh.

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Cool Water Sports

I took a bunch of video during 4th of July happenings at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. We got there a bit early and we able to watch the first part of their main event which is the water sport. I think it's the a very cool sport doesn't it? it needs a great talent and talented person to do this kind of tricks in the water with the water ski.

The video below was the couple event of wakeboarding. I have kids with me so it's hard to focus the video camera on them especially that the subject was moving really fast. This group of wakeboarders were from Madison Wisconsin. They've presented different event during that celebration. We had to leave and misses the rest of the awesome sport because the kids were getting restless already. Later that day someone jumps off the helicopter and land to the water thats what I heard from the announcement. Anyway, enjoy the video folks.

Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques.

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Spooky Witch

Last night after the Trick-or-Treat, we proclaimed Halloween is over in our end. Although, there were still few adults outside asking for candy even if the Trick-or-Treat curfew is over. But they never ring our door bell because we already turned the lights off which was a signal that no more candy and trick-or-treat was over. Anyway, as I was going up and down the stairs i had this feeling that someone was staring at me. When i came down this spooky witch cover was the one peeking at our door. It was very spooky though, if I hadn't know that it's a door cover i would probably freaked out. My husband I thing got bothered with this witch so he removed the cover when he got home from work today. He was probably felt creepy when he got up this morning for work.

Anyway, how was the Halloween and Trick-or-Treat at your end?

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I Need A New Partial

If you will be given the chance to change one thing of your body, what would it be? Well, I said to myself that I am happy of what I look but the truth is I was in denial. If I could change one thing of my body, it would be my teeth. I want a real pearly and perfect set of teeth so I have the confident when I smile. I grew up with so many insecurities. Physically, I look different among my siblings and parents in a lot of ways. I always mistook as someone else child other than my own family. That sort of discrimination made me feel insecure. I do not want to innumerate all my insecurities but my teeth is one of them. I never had a nice set of teeth when I was growing up. Then, back in college I made a wrong decision of putting retainer or breeze to my teeth for alignment and closing the in between spaces of my upper teeth. That cheap retainer which was done by unprofessional dental assistant causes my gum to bleed all the time. Apparently, I stopped using that said retainer and made an impulsive decision to have both my front teeth removed. It was too late when I realized what I have done. Anyway, wearing a partial teeth is not as pleasant and attractive as I thought it would be. Plus it is expensive too because you have to replace it every ow and then. As of now, am desperately need a new partial but I can't find a place to get it done. I found this website San Antonio Dentistry but too bad there is nothing like this in our area. The cosmetic dentist in their area uses advance technology to give their client a beautiful smile makeover. I wonder if they can also give a smile makeover to someone like me. So, if you live around San Antonio area and is looking for cosmetic dentist, then you should contact their office for appointment.

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