Five Pieces Of Technology For Your Super-Mom Arsenal

Recent technology makes it easier for moms today to manage households, work, get the kids to school on time, clean and take care of paying the bills. While you may not be able to get all of this done on your own, top of the line high-tech gadgets are here to help you out and provide you with an extra set of hands. Whether you currently have children, are expecting your first little one or are looking to expand your family in the future, try taking advantage of these five amazing pieces of technology that you're sure to appreciate when those busy days seem to be getting the best of you.

1. Home Automation System

A home automation system from Vivint literally automates almost every aspect of your home for you. This means no more manually adjusting temperature controls, turning on lights or even locking the gates to your home. Vivint reviews show that mothers and expecting moms who take advantage of home automation systems are able to free up time within their busy days. Not only are automation systems convenient, but they also provide homeowners with comfort, security and an overall better quality of life within their own home. Simply program your system and watch your home do all of the work for you.

2. mamaRoo

Holding babies at all times can be very time-consuming and not allow you to get much else done around the house. With the mamaRoo, you'll be able to place your little one down without them realizing that you're not holding them anymore. This gadget bounces and sways just as you would and also offers unique settings for car ride motions and swinging sensations.

3. backSTAGE pro II

Long car rides with the kids can be quite stressful if they are unable to amuse themselves for lengthy periods of time. You may even result to handing them your tablet to watch television show and movies on, but this can lead to damage. With the backSTAGE pro II, you can safely mount your iPad of smart phone to the back of your headrest, allowing them to watch their favorite shows safely and with ease.

4. Grocery List Generator

The Grocery List Generator application helps you to manage a list of what groceries you need, when you need them. Store ingredients for different recipes, create organized lists that can be updated when you run out of certain items and much more. This makes your grocery shopping as easy as possible, freeing up time to spend with your family.

5. Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor

Keep an eye on your children even when they sleep with the BestView Handheld Color Video Monitor. Rather than purchasing new monitors for each of your child's rooms, hook up several different cameras that are link back to one system for your viewing pleasure. Pan the room to see where they are at and even talk back to them through a two-way microphone. Now you'll always know what your kids are up to even when you're not in the same room.

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Laughter is the Best Medicine: Where does taunting fall?

Laugh therapy is very popular across cultures and it comes from the belief that laughter is the best medicine. However, scientists are intrigued on how the brain manages to distinguish different types of laughter signals. How does it differentiate a person laughing with joy from a person laughing due to a taunt?

Just for Laughs: When is Laughter the Best Medicine

"Laughter is a very strong signal when it comes to social interaction. A person feels accepted when he is smiled at. However, a person feels excluded from the group when on the receiving end of a taunt," said Wildgruber, who is a scientist and doctor of psychiatry.

As part of their research, Wildgruber and his team exposed their test subjects to different laughter sounds and measured how these were processed in the brain.

The scientists found that when we hear a person being tickled, the neural connections in our brains are mainly just doing acoustic analysis of quite a complicated noise.

By contrast, when processing taunting and friendly laughter types, we activate brain areas associated with metallising and forming visual associations. Visual imagery may support the formation of inferences on the intentions of our social counterparts.”

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/laughter-is-processed-by-the-brain/story-e6frfkui-1226644519115#ixzz2TTYB1Fuz

Since laughter is indeed a proven therapy in helping release stress and anxiety, why not watch some portions of my favorite TV show, Big Bang Theory, which truly made me laugh... laugh hard.

It looked liked he was really caught off-guard with this prank from Sheldon Cooper. It made me laugh so hard, mom had to ask why I was laughing alone with my headset.

I wonder if I will do the same if I am alone in this pool of molecules. Jae, shall we swim in this pool like kids. What will our students say? hehehe

Suddenly, here is a miracle. Sheldon interacting with another human being. Truly, laughter is the best medicine. Understand Sheldon and it would be easier to understand me. hahaha.

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Philippine Election 2013: Who Should We Vote?

According to Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, "This Sunday, we should already be done with our choices of candidates. We should already start writing down our list so that when Monday comes, we already have our list of candidates listed."  (Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/draw-list-chosen-bets-now-comelec-urges-voters-164133989.html). He believes that through this, voters would find it easier to find ovals in the long list of candidates printed in the ballots. However, how should the Filipino community choose whom to vote in this tomorrows Philippine Election 2013?

Incidentally, Bro. Eliseo Soriano of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) has also advised everyone to go and vote early. This is a screenshot of his tweet.

Unlike other religious leaders who forces their members to vote a candidate according to their whims, Bro. Eliseo Soriano gives this freedom to the members. Nevertheless, he gives them constant advice on how to choose the best leader. First and foremost, he must be God-fearing because with this attitude that candidate is less likely to become a corrupt elected official of the country.

Philippine Election 2013: Freedom to Choose

"I am also a religious leader with quite a number of followers in the Philippines and around the world. In my 47 years of service to the Church of God, I have never compelled any member to vote for the candidate of my choice, or even threatened them of being excommunicated just because they did not vote for my candidate – after all a politician is not a sufficient reason to cast a member of the true church to hell.  A brother in Christ must be loved more than a politician outside the true church." (Source: http://www.elisoriano.com/religious-threat-to-democracy/)

And while other religions, flaunt their numbers and proudly claim they could make a certain candidate win in the election; history of the Philippine Election proves them wrong.

"The Manalo’s have learned their lessons during the past nine decades the hard way. In the early history of politics in the Philippines, when the Republic was still young, and when politicians needed the support of as many groups as possible, Manalo claiming to have 4 million members, was the object of attention among those who were seeking for elective office, specifically during the elections in 1949. Then Senate President Jose Avelino, was the choice of Felix Manalo against then incumbent President Elpidio Quirino and former President Jose P. Laurel, whose presidencies did not please Manalo. Apparently, the Iglesia ni Cristo ni Manalo was not enjoying the support of the incumbent administration.

In an interview with the Philippine Free Press, Manalo firmly expressed his support for the rival of the former and incumbent Presidents respectively, even using censorable language against then President Quirino. But what was perceived to be a winning choice from an “alleged angel” from the Far East did not become a reality. Jose Avelino lost and Quirino won the presidency! Quirino got 1,803,808 votes while Avelino got only 419,890 votes with the INCM solid votes, from members (according to their claim) numbering to 4 million, when the entire Philippine population was only about 19,674,000.

Claiming to have 5 million members as early as 1966, (in their Pasugo, July 1966, p. 6, cited above) the choice of Manalo for the presidency lost in the May 11, 1992 elections. President Fidel V. Ramos won with 5,342,521 votes and Cojuangco, whom Manalo had chosen, got only 4,116,000 votes, inclusive of the votes of Catholics, Protestants and Cojuangco’s men in his vast business empire.” (Source: http://esoriano.wordpress.com/?s=counting)

Moreover, he also gave a very wise advise to everyone who will vote tomorrow.

The Members Church of God International is different from other religions in so many ways. If you are not yet familiar with this faith, you are more than free to watch this short video. 

For more information about Bro. Eli's preaching you may visit: http://theoldpath.tv/. As for tomorrow's Philippine Election 2013, may we be guided by the Holy Scriptures and choose the best candidates for our country. 

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Five Tips for Teaching Kids About Finances

It's never too early to learn how to handle your own money. Many people around the world are in big trouble these days because they never learned the value of a dollar and how to handle their overall finances. Here are five tips to remember when it comes to teaching the children of today about the financial problems that could be facing them tomorrow.

Never Give Children Money for Nothing

The best way to teach a child about the value of a dollar is to never give them anything for free. This can obviously only be taken up to a certain point, but you have to be careful about giving a child an allowance when they do not do anything to help around the house.

Teach Your Children About Debt

Every credit repair service that is in business today can thank most of the parents in the world for never teaching their children about debt. While these credit repair businesses are definitely helpful when people are in trouble, it would be better for a child to learn about the problems associated with too much debt as early as possible.

Let Your Children Invest with Funny Money

Teaching a child about the problems and virtues of investing is another great way to teach them about finances. When you let them invest some fake money into the stock market, it helps them understand that savings is usually better than debt.

Give Your Child a Job

The marketplace is where most people are able to learn the most about the economy and finances in general. If your child is too young to work, then perhaps you should employ him or her to do some things for you. The main point that you should try to get across is that there is value in the form of work behind every dollar.

Help Your Child Understand How Much it Costs Just to Live

One of the quick lessons that people learn about when they live on their own for the first time is how much it costs to simply live in today's society. Teach your children about the costs of food, shelter, energy and all of the other necessities before they live on their own for the first time.

One last thing to remember when it comes to teaching young people about finances is that they will have to learn most of their lessons on their own. There is no better teacher than experience when it comes to money.

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Make it Special: Five Ways You Can Host a Dinner Party Like Ina Garten

When you imagine the picture-perfect dinner party, you automatically think of Ina Garten. From her finger-licking good recipes to the artful way she sets a table, it’s no wonder why she’s the queen of dinner parties. Although planning the ideal party seems like a difficult challenge, in reality, it isn’t. If you want to throw a fantastic dinner party, keep reading for awesome tips and ideas.

The Planning of a Dinner Party:

Before you throw a dinner party, you obviously need to plan it beforehand. First, determine how many people you’ll invite: Will it only be a few close friends, or will you invite a ton of people? Once you determine how many people you’ll invite, send the invites. A key aspect of a dinner party is, obviously, the food. Therefore, take some time to look through cooking magazines and cookbooks for dish inspiration. Remember, you’ll need a recipe for appetizers, the main entrée, dessert and, of course, drinks. If you can, practice a new recipe before your dinner party; doing so can help prevent a disaster.

Get a Theme:

As Ina Garten knows, a theme can transform a run-of-the-mill dinner party to a one-of-a-kind dinner party. There are numerous themes you can get, from standard holiday and birthday themes to a unique M&Ms theme. The key is to be creative. Once you pick a theme, get décor that will go with it. For example, if you pick the M&Ms theme, make a centerpiece by filling a vase with M&Ms; serve the food in red, yellow and green plates; and offer desserts with the yummy candies.

Set the Table:

Setting the table is crucial, since it sets the mood for a party. A key aspect of the perfect table design is the centerpiece. A bold centerpiece is something that will make your event look put-together. Making a centerpiece for your table is really easy, and you can look for inspiration on the internet for the overall table décor.

The Food:

Hands-down, the most important aspect of a dinner party is the food. To make your life easier, pick recipes that aren’t overly fancy; the simpler the recipe, the better. The desserts are also important, so always serve cupcakes, cookies, a cake or any other dessert. Use shortcuts with quality blendtec blenders and KitchenAid food processors to have the quality without the time investment.

Overall, planning a dinner party is actually easy. Remember, a dinner party is supposed to be fun, so don’t stress out when planning it.

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Why I Blog: Instant Stress Relief

I have to ask the question, “Why I blog?” to myself once again. This is what I have to do after being idle in the blogging world for a long period of time.

The Confession of a Blogger

I must admit, it took me quite a long time before I have written on my blog. I have no excuse, except for prioritizing other tasks rather than writing. The problem is I have to cope with stress in a different manner, which is not very effective. I soon realized that writing is still the best solution for a stressed mind. It allows me to put into words emotions, challenges, and worries stuck on my mind. Moreover, it gives me the opportunity to play with words and share it to the world.

Is this the reason Why I blog?

[ long pause ]

[still a long pause ]

I guess admitting the truth is really a tough one and confessing you have a weakness is hard to swallow.

Image Credit: http://stuckinthegray.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/battle-within-myself.jpg?w=610

YES!

I blog because I am weak. However, this is not the kind of weakness that allows people to stumble on yourself. It is the weakness to assert yourself and prove to the world you are better than everyone. I guess, Greek drama would classify it as hubris.

I am not perfect, it is something I have to admit and when I write I have the feeling that I am in full control of the letters, the punctuations, and the ideas that goes into the article, which is in reality a fact. Does it mean I want to have full control of things?

I guess most people have that desire inside themselves. Sadly, they just don’t want to accept that fact. However, it is important they accept this reality because unless they do they wouldn’t be able to improve. Accepting who you are would help shape you into a better person. It has helped me… and I am glad the tough times happen.

Why I blog?

I guess it is for a selfish reason. I want to be happy. Blogging makes me happy because it makes me become myself. Words become my friend. It become a mirror of my emotion and those who understand it easily becomes a friend of mine too.

Oh boy!

This sounds like I am really a complicated girl. Hey! I am happy to be complicated and I have no desire to change… not yet… not yet. J J J

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Five House Warming Gifts Your Friends Will Love

The best house warming gifts that your friends will appreciate are found in a range of products that impart tradition and love. These are gifts that have been given to homeowners since Biblical times. Each is appropriate in its own way and imparts different meanings that everyone will cherish.

Forget odd gifts like Cheerio portraits of the Queen of England or a Mickey Mouse kitchen wall clock. These will likely be sold for a dollar at a Saturday morning garage sale. Here are five house warming gifts that your friends will love. Add a personal message on promotional products to use with gifts representing tradition and love which were handed down to us by our ancestors.

1. Bread

A loaf of bread is a traditional house warming gift that everyone can appreciate. Bread imparts the ancient message that may you never go hungry. Either an artisan loaf bought at a bakery section in the grocery store or home-baked bread that you made yourself are ideal. Place it in a basket, wrapped with personalized towels, along with jars of jam, fine cheese and Italian hard salami, and it’s the perfect house warming gift for a friend.

2. Coins

Coins represent the Old World gift that calls forth good fortune and luck. One of the most popular collectible coins in America at present is the American Silver Eagle made by the U.S. mint. It’s a nearly pure silver coin that’s the same size and shape of the old silver dollar. They can be found in nearly any coin shop. Coins have been popular with people because they become part of their personal family treasure.

3. Plants

Plants have been a part of homes for millennia. Plants symbolize life, and giving one as a gift represents a wish for good life in a home. Plants come in a variety of shapes and colors. It doesn’t matter what kind of plant you give because it will fit into any home as they have for thousands of years.

4. Candles

Candles are said to light the way during dark times. Candles have been a part of homes since Biblical times, and they’re still popular today. They’re great for romantic candlelight dinners and serve a utilitarian purpose when the power goes out.

5. Wine

Wine represents joy in a household. It’s the perfect gift to invite friends to sit back, relax and talk. A good French Bordeaux wine can be found for a reasonable price at better wine shops. Include a brick of cheese and crackers, and you have invited joy into a house.

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