Contagious Smiles of my Niece and Nephews

When I left my country eight years ago, my niece, Hazel Ann was  just  a kid.  I mean she was 6 years old back then and now, she is  becoming a  pretty  little lass already.

Then when we visited  my family back home for the first time, my sister had another baby, and now he is  getting big too.

Don't they all have infectious/contagious smiles?

Their Mom is the closest sister of all my siblings. We got along so well when we were  still  singles.   I miss them terribly.  It's sad that they are growing up and I seldom see them as we are thousand miles apart.

ABC Wednesday

The Metals in your Wedding Ring

When you look at people around you, have a glance at their wedding rings. You will notice that most, especially those worn by the older generation, are yellow gold while younger people will have rings of yellow gold or white metal. Some are a combination of yellow and white metals.

When you choose the color of your wedding ring you need to consider the color of your other jewelry. And, when you have decided the co lour you need to choose the metal. You will need something that is tough, hard wearing and scratch resistant, and that is affordable. So what are your options?

Gold

In its purest form – 24 carat - gold is yellow, but at this purity it is useless for rings because it is too soft and malleable. To make it suitable for rings it is alloyed with other metals that reduce its purity (usually to 9,14, 18, and 22 carat - respectively 37.5%, 58.5%, 75% and 91.6% by weight) and it is these other metals that determine the color of the finished product: Both yellow and white gold are

• Yellow gold is an alloy that usually includes silver, copper and zinc. This is the traditional color favored in the past and which is still very popular today.
• White gold is an alloy that normally comprises nickel, palladium, platinum and manganese with zinc, copper or silver sometimes added. The silvery shine of white gold is attributable to a coating of rhodium.
• Rose gold is gold that is alloyed with a high proportion of copper to give it a reddish glow. It is increasing in popularity among people who are looking for something that is a departure from the norm.

Platinum

Platinum is usually used 95% pure and is identified as Platinum 950. It makes an excellent material for wedding rings because it is hard wearing and easier to fabricate and engrave than white gold. Platinum is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to white gold not only for its properties and appearance but also because in the past it was extremely expensive compared with gold but is now comparable in price as the price of gold has risen considerably in recent years.

Palladium

With similar qualities to platinum, palladium is gaining favor as a white metal alternative because it is cheaper and lighter. In jewellery it is 95% pure and will not tarnish.

Silver

Silver is prone to tarnishing and is therefore not a popular choice for wedding rings. There are now tarnish-resistant silvers available. These are alloyed with a small percentage of platinum or, in some cases, germanium that increases resistance to tarnishing.

Bi-metal

Modern couples often depart from the single color look of most rings and combine two metals in one ring to give a two-color effect. The result is a stunning look that is achieved without the need for engraving or the addition of gemstones.

Your wedding ring is a symbol of enduring love and commitment. These metals will give you a ring of enduring beauty that will last a lifetime and beyond.

Geeky Teacher

I was browsing my sister's FB page and saw this geeky looking photo of her. This reminds me of Michelle Chamuel, the finalist from The Voice.  Anyway, I am so glad that my sister is almost done with her  studies.  She still has to take the licensure exam for teachers in order to   have a teaching  employment and I pray that she would be able to  pass it when she takes it.  

Good luck in finishing your degree Nene.

3 Tips to Making Decisions Together

The toughest part about marriage is the fact that there are two imperfect people involved. If you had to boil down the reason for most of our marital problems it is the fact that there are two people (who are probably opposites in a lot of areas) trying to do life together. One aspect of the tough points of marriage is decision making. Whether you are trying to choose the music in the car or trying to figure out where to move to making decisions together is a vital part of marriage and the better we are at making decisions together the quicker we can squash the arguments to come. Here are several tips to help us make decisions together.

1. Decide who will make certain decisions

One of the greatest things that I enjoy about my husband is that he has made it clear that I am free to make a lot of decisions that he does not consider big. He does not mind that I choose what cologne he should wear, or the dinner that we eat, or even the color of his clothes. His reasoning for this is because he wants to lead our relationship in such a way that I don’t feel domineered by his leadership. Talking in advance about what decision power each holds in many areas in life will help tremendously when the need for decision-making arises.

2. Yield 

This is one of the hardest parts about marriage because yielding to the desires of your spouse calls you to lay down your preference for their own preference and it doesn’t feel fair in the moment. There are many times where I have to just stop demanding my own decision and let my husband make the final call because we just can’t agree. The same is true with him as well.

3. Doubt yourself

This tip fly’s in the face of prevalent cultural thought. In the United States we live in a day and age where everyone should believe in ourselves but there are a multitude of times where we are simply wrong about whatever decision we are trying to make. One of the best things you can do for both yourself and your spouse is to simply doubt yourself. Make sure that whatever decision you are trying to make is sound and understand that you might be in error. This is a position of humility and lets your spouse know that you do not think you know it all. With this position of humility you will find that making decisions tends to become a little easier.

It is no secret that everyone struggles in their marriage, which is why half of all marriages end in divorce. Just recently my husband and I were arguing about something simple like choosing the right home security company for our home. We eventually went with my choice, Smith Monitoring, because they had functions and apps that allow me to control the security of my home from my mobile device even when I’m not home. Smith Monitoring is the best among all alarm monitoring companies and specializes in Jersey Village home security systems. The question you have to ask yourself now is how do you and your spouse make decisions together?

About The Author: Katie Melendez is a writer for Smith Monitoring. Katie is also a wife, youth mentor, and a health nut. Follow her blogs for all current trends on home, health, and family.

How Gaming and Makeup go Hand-in-Hand

One of my favorite things to do to pass the time is sit in front of my computer and watch YouTube videos. I usually end up watching some of my favorite online makeup gurus for hours on end. Among my favorites is Michelle Phan, who comes up with the perfect blend of nerdy humor and cute makeup tips.

Collaboration Gold

Michelle Phan recently teamed up with another of my beloved YouTube personalities, “Swoozie” though the topics of his videos are a far cry from beauty tips. The two share common ground in gaming, and so the collaboration between them has been interesting, to say the least. I, for one, enjoy the products of their teamwork. I absolutely love seeing these two combine their unique interests and find common ground for entertaining videos.

Cosplay

In one video, Swoozie attempts to appreciate the makeup business by teaching his viewers how to cosplay. He chooses his favorite video game character, and attempts to show viewers how to achieve that look. The result is more comical than informative, but the collaboration is definitely worthwhile to watch.

Make-up or Break-it

An especially helpful video that Michelle recently released provided detailed instruction as to how to fix a broken makeup pallet. I wasn’t sure which interested me more: the topic, or the fact that Swoozie makes an appearance in the video. He appears as a burglar attempting to rob Michelle as she prepares for a date.  Michelle incorporates her love for gaming in a cutely choreographed fight scene in which she “kills” the intruder. Unfortunately, he breaks her blush in the process and she has no choice but to teach her viewers how to fix such a mess before her date.

Of course, there are cheesy elements to this video that are difficult to stomach. Of course it’s cute that Michelle manages to render her attacker defenseless, but I wouldn’t leave a burglar passed out in my home if I were in her shoes. I also wouldn’t leave on my date right after I’d defeated an intruder. I would most likely annoy my boyfriend to no end with worry as soon as he arrived. If I hadn’t before, I would sign up for a high-tech home security system, and I wouldn’t go on our date until I had set up the home alarm monitoring system to make sure he didn't come back while I was away. I’m paranoid as it is, so the cuteness of the video was a little lost on me.

About The Author: Rae Piazza. is a writer for Smith Monitoring. Rae is also active on many social networking sites. Follow her on Wordpress, Twitter, & Poshmark!

Turning Twenty

It has been months since I last posted here.  I went home during our summer break because I was not able to find a part time job in school.  I was glad too that I got the long break because I   was getting sick a lot.  My sister  advised me to go to the doctor but I think I will be fine.

I am now back to school.  I started my duty  when the enrollment started in June 1st.  Thanks to my sister and my brother-in-law for sending me the  amount  for my tuition fee.  I can't wait till I can graduate and find a job so I can give for their sacrifices in order to send me to school.

I enrolled to all my remaining subjects and next semester will just be my  practicum.  I will be  doing my on-the-job training or practicum (practice teaching) at Divine High School.  I am turning 20 in five days and  I wish that in  a couple of years, I have a permanent teaching position or  a good paying job.  Advance happy birthday also to my  wonderful Ate who is celebrating  her birthday also  this month.  I was born  20 years and one day  after she was born.  I wish you and Kuya John the best, I love you both and the kids!

3 Phrases You Want to Avoid During an Argument with Your Boyfriend

Several weeks ago one of my friends told me a story about an altercation she had with his girlfriend. At this time they were dating for about seven months and he realized that the honeymoon phase of their relationship had officially been over. When I say honeymoon phase I mean that time in your relationship where everything was perfect, no arguments, you can’t get enough of each other and you stayed up late at night. Do you remember? After talking to her about their first major argument I identified some trigger language that she used that could really affect the way they argue in a very negative way.

1.“You always…”

My friend was very upset that her boyfriend didn’t let her choose what to do when they go out on dates. Even though he was trying to always initiate romance it felt like he was being domineering to her. One of the worst things you could ever say to your boyfriend (or anyone you care about) is this phrase “you always…” This implies that things cannot improve and it doesn’t help in the moment of the argument. It also takes away from the times when your boyfriend does do things right. An alternative to using the “You always…” phrase is “You tend to do this after work and I don’t like that you do this”.

2.“Why don’t you ever…”

My friend had a prior relationship in which her boyfriend took care of the oil change in her car. She assumed that her new boyfriend would do the same thing and had an expectation of him that he was not even aware of. The phrase “why don’t you ever…” implies that your boyfriend doesn’t want to do something that you earnestly desire. Maybe he has a desire to do whatever it is that you want from him but your desire wasn’t clearly communicated to him. An alternative to this phrase is “would you please…” This alternative is a little more humble and makes way to clearly communicate what you desire from him.

3.“You are in idiot”

When she was in the heat of the moment my friend called her boyfriend some variation of the word idiot. Language like this is very detrimental to your boyfriend because instead of speaking words of life into him you are speaking words that condemn him. There is no doubt that he might indeed be a moron in certain areas of his life. Any honest and humble man would admit that. But hearing that from the person he loves and cares about can adversely affect him.

My husband and I have had hundreds of arguments and will have thousands more in the decades to come. One that we had recently was about the fact that he left the house without setting the alarm on the house for the thousandth time. I shot him a text reminding him and yet he still forgot. I’m very thankful that I chose Smith Monitoring as my home security company because the app notifies me when we leave the home without setting the alarm and the notification I received reminded me to remind him to set the alarm. Words have powerful impacts in our relationships. Smith Monitoring specializes in home security and Grapevine home security. What kind of words are you using? 

About The Author: Katie Melendez is a writer for Smith Monitoring. Katie is also a wife, youth mentor, and a health nut. Follow her blogs for all current trends on home, health, and family.

Textbooks, Retreat, Tuition, and other School Expenses

I sent my sister the money a couple of weeks for her school expenses. She told me that she need to  buy textbooks for her major subjects and also need to pay for her Holy Retreat.  She is so lucky that  aside from  being  a scholar in the school, we are also sending her money to pay for her board and lodging and other expenses that she needs.  When I was in college, nobody helped me ut myself but  I think that it made me really stronger  and thus I finished school  with no problem.

Anyway, back ti the textbook that I  am talking about.  I asked her to   compare stores at Affordabook before she buys the books that she needs but she said that she  is running out of time.  She needs it right away so she just bought them from the local store.  I told her that next semester, she should know the books she needs to buy so that she can buy it online before the  classes starts.  I do believe that she can save money in buying them online.  I even offer to order it from here and I will just send it to her.  I hope that the money I sent her would be enough to cover all the expenses.