Monthly Archives: May 2010

Online Kitchen Shopping

I have spent most of my “supposed” working hours tonight idly browsing websites. No, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. In fact, to be quite honest, I have been aimlessly clicking on whatever I see in front of me. I started looking at celebrity homes and got fascinated with the wonderful architectural and interior design..and I was in awe with how detail-oriented people can get. I was amazed how everything is somehow connected or is somehow a match to the theme or color of a certain room. From flamboyant draperies in the hallways down to the all clad copper core cookware set in the kitchen.

One can get so many ideas and inspiration online. Makes me want to do a DIY of my interior decorating once I own one. Hmm.

Meet Sadie

I was meant to name her Soleil, as I have told Fedhz and Kaye already, but being the fickle-minded woman that I am, I changed my mind. I have finally decided to just name her Sadie, like the name I want if I will be blessed with another baby girl. Since that is still a long way off, I think Sadie is perfect for my new baby — my new lappy! Here she is folks. Sorry to disappoint you though, the one I got isn’t in pink. I had to take into consideration the fact that the only service centers (official anyway) are just for Acer computers/laptops. I wouldn’t want the inconvenience of having to send my laptop back and forth to Manila just to get things repaired. It defeats the purpose of having a warranty. So anyway, here she is:

Acer Aspire 4745G

14″ HD LED LCD screen with a glossy cover (finger print magnet, but I’ll get a pink skin for it. Haha! Found an excuse!)

It’s just a little more than an inch thick. And it’s light. VERY portable.

The metallic finish gives it that “posh” style

Tech Specs:

  • Intel Core i5 430m processor
  • 2gb DDR3 RAM
  • 500GB HDD
  • ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 512mb VRAM
  • DVD-RW
  • Multi-Card Reader
  • Windows 7 Ultimate

I am so loving it. I do apologize if the pictures aren’t all that “appealing”. I am no pro when it comes to photography, and even taking pictures of the kids is a major ordeal for me. I now have no excuse not to earn more than enough for our needs. LOL. :)

How to Help a Loved One with a Drug Addiction

If someone who you’re close to has a drug addiction, it may be hard to know what you should do to help. A drug addiction can physically alter the brain. The body becomes addicted and will tell the person that she needs the drug to survive. Because it becomes a survival need, addicts will do or say anything they need to get more of that drug. Here’s what you can do to help:

Say something: Tell the person that you care and you want to help them get over their addiction. Knowing that they have support may be enough to help them want to change.

Don’t support the habit: If a person claims that if you will help one more time then he’ll get help, don’t believe him. As stated above, an addict will say anything to get the next fix. Also, if he is spending all of his money on drugs and now can’t pay the rent, utility bills or for food, don’t help pay for these things. Just because you’re not paying for drugs doesn’t mean you aren’t supporting the habit.

Don’t lie for the drug user: It’s instinctual to lie for the user and make up excuses why he wasn’t able to go to work or why he missed out on a family event. This doesn’t help him overcome his problem. This may prevent him from getting the help he needs. If others know, they might be willing to help support him in getting help.

Watch out for codependency: Some people become addicted to helping an addict. This can turn into an unhealthy relationship because the helper doesn’t really want to help the drug user get better because then the helper will no longer be needed.

As a last resort, you might want to consider encouraging your loved one to go register at one of the alcohol and drug treatment centers in your area.

Screening Tenants is Essential for Residential Property Management

Screening potential tenants remains an important task for anyone who manages a residential property. A good tenant will ensure the unit remains clean, pays rent on time and can make your life easier. A bad tenant can disturb their neighbors, trash the unit and stiff you for rent. The best way to deal with problem tenants is to avoid them in the first place. These tips will help you do just that.

First, make sure that your renting criteria falls within state and federal fair housing laws. One cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion or national origin. One can avoid accusations of discrimination by creating an objective set of “colorblind” criteria beforehand and strictly following it.

Ensure, that prospective tenants understand the city, state, and federal occupancy limits. Often, people will try to save money by sharing a dwelling with roommates or family. One should understand exactly what level of occupancy is legal and ensure that you’re upfront and clear about this.

Closely check the tenants submitted financial records. Avoid tenants with spotty employment records as this can lead to difficulties such as late payments. Contact old property owners, ask about late or missing payments and screen for those tenants who pay promptly, in full, on time.

Contact both the references and former property owners to ask about the condition of their previous housing. One can bet safely on tenants that received their deposits or get glowing comments from previous managers, but avoid tenants with a long list of complaints.

Screening tenants can take a lot of time, and you might want to consider hiring a residential property management company if you’re not sure about it. Often they have their own established screening process along with access to credit checks, databases, and legally approved applications. A residential property management company can save you a lot of headaches.