August 2015 - Page 3 of 8

How Safe Is The Water You Drink At Home?

August 22, 2015 No Comments

mum's thoughts, health — *image is by nixxphotography from freedigitalphotos.net*

For the longest time, I have been giving the little man distilled water for his milk and drinking water. I was a bit squeamish about letting him drink the water we get from a local water refilling station thinking it might not be as safe as the water brand we get for him from the local grocers that passed strict water-bottling standards. It was only until he was about 5 that I finally decided to let him drink the same water we drink at home.

I guess you cannot blame me, my OC-ness is on overdrive when it comes to what the little man eats and drinks as I would like to keep him safe and as far away from water-born diseases that might just be lurking in his drinking cup unbeknownst to us. It does not help that Jared got a water-related illness over the summer by drinking the free water offered at a local noodle house we visited to order ramen for takeaway. I always stash his drinking bottle in my bag whenever we are out and I never let him drink free water in restaurants whenever we eat out, thinking the water might be dirty and he might get sick. This is the only occasion he did and true enough, he got sick! To make matters worse, his pedia was out of town at the time and I cannot bring him to the clinic to be examined. Good thing we can keep in touch with our doctor through SMS or Viber and thanks to the little one’s strong immune system, he was able to fight off the infection without serious medical procedure or medication.

mum musings

Thankful Thursday: Of Grace + Gratitude

August 21, 2015 No Comments

mum inspires, mum's thoughts, Thankful Thursday,gratitude — *image is from Deepak and Oprah’s 21-Day Meditation Series, Day 1*

I cannot remember the last time I made a #ThankfulThursday post and I sorely miss doing it. The past several weeks had been quite hectic, especially during the little man’s exams week, and my favorite month of all is proving to be very eventful. I cannot wait to find out what else August has left in store for us! It is always a treat to share my list of thankfuls each week and it is something that I always look forward to. I highly encourage other mums to do the same and if they can manage it, create a blog post about their lists, too! After all, keeping a thankful heart can spell a world of difference and nurturing a grateful attitude towards the universe will allow more blessings to come.

Thanks to Deepak and Oprah’s 21-Day Meditation on Grace, it was what inspired my blog post title for today. Their topic this time around is all about grace and gratitude, and I am learning a lot from it. By far, this meditation series is my most favorite of all, and I look forward to each daily meditation practice because of them. The 21-Day Meditation mobile app is also a God-send as I can conveniently meditate in the room through my mobile phone. One time, I also tried meditating while aboard a UV van on the way to Manila for a blogger event. It may not have been quite a lot like my usual meditation routine, but it was a welcome change and it sure was a very worthwhile way to pass the time.

Here is my long overdue list of thankfuls for these past weeks:

Tips and Tricks

Restoring Old Couches For Resale

August 20, 2015 No Comments

tips + tricks, home, homemaking, home furnishings — *image by blackzheep from freedigitalphotos.net*

Over the course of a lifetime, a family will see many couches come and go as they wear through and require replacement. Instead of restoring the old couch, they simply sell it for a cheap price, give it away, or throw it away. They proceed to buying a new one, and repeat the situation several years down the line. These families have no idea how much they could still get out of that old couch!

Finding a Couch Project

This part of the task is a bargain hunter’s dream. They will have to go to yard sales, flea markets, second hand stores, and online classifieds to find old couches to restore. Some might be free, especially if they have some damage, flat couch cushions, or staining. Others will be very, very cheap. The goal is to find a couch that is structurally sound (solid frame) and attractive.

Replacing Flat or Damaged Cushions

One of the biggest reasons for tossing an old couch is flat or worn out cushions. Sometimes, the springs underneath the cushions have started to break. If there are broken springs, it is best to replace the broken springs first. Once this is finished, the cushions will feel much more comfortable. It is still a great idea to invest in some brand new couch foam, as replacing it will provide a much more comfortable seat.

Reupholstering or Deep Cleaning