I am the designated dish washer of the family and although I am now using gloves when I wash dishes, there was a time when I washed dishes with my bare hands. That resulted to skin dryness. It really confused me at one point because I couldn’t understand why the skin of my hands was getting drier and drier each day. It was then I learned that frequently getting my hands wet could lead to skin dryness. So I started using hand cream.

Why? I didn’t want my hands to suffer from premature wrinkling and gnarling. I knew I had to start taking good care of my hands. After all, I heavily rely on them not only for doing household chores but for my work as a freelance writer. Using moisturizer for my hands immediately after washing the dishes was a very good way of restoring lost moisture.

The habit worked wonders and I was able to cure my skin dryness. I made sure that before going to sleep I would apply the cream on my hands, fingers and even the skin around my nails and rubbed the cream on gently to stimulate the nerves on my hands. Believe me, it’s very effective. So if you want to have soft, smooth hands, start using hand cream. It need not be expensive as long as it’s able to do its part in making your hands satiny smooth.

We attended a formal conference last week and prior to attending, I was preparing the clothes I will wear as well as the accessories to go with the dress. I was counting on wearing silver accessories the first day but I realized that I didn’t have a solid silver watch so I had to change my mind the last minute. I ended up wearing two-tone jewelry to go with my two-tone watch. Because of this, I was prompted to start looking for an all-silver watch that I can use for both formal and casual events. I decided to browse some online stores and I saw some really great deals for Invicta watches. This is what I have my eyes set on:

It’s a stainless steel watch with fold over clasp closure. I particularly love the design of the bracelet. It’s not too extravagant, but neither is it too simple. It’s just right and I’m sure I’m going to love wearing it. Incidentally, while on the website, I decided to check out some G Shock watches. It’s something I always wanted to have but never found the time to buy. Maybe now I can buy this one for myself:

I want it because it’s purple. The only problem is it’s for men. It’s the only purple G Shock being offered by the store so I just might buy it after all. I guess it is okay to wear men’s watch these days. It’s just a watch after all. Besides, it’s not too big so even if I wear it, it won’t look awkward. What do you think? Anyway, the store really has some great deals and I have bookmarked it. You might want to check it out, too.   

The business of my SIL and brother will be celebrating its fourth year this coming October and we are already thinking of possible giveaways and freebies for regular customers. Since the business is a boutique, my SIL normally gives her clients accessories, shirts or blouses. This time though, they are thinking of adding something else to their giveaways.

Since the freebies will be their way of saying thanks for the 4 years that these customers have been avidly supporting their business, I suggested that they give calendars - the ever reliable giveaways. That way their customers will be reminded of their boutique the whole year round.

So now we are looking for a company or a print shop that can help us with our calendar printing needs. We don’t have a particular design in mind yet so we’re hoping the print shop can help us out with that. But we do want the calendar to wear the colors of the boutique which are purple, yellow and pink.

Literally, mentally and emotionally.

After receiving spiritual food the past weekend, I've been drenched in literal, mental and emotional rain. The downpour's heavy. I don't know if I can lift myself up from it. I'm praying. I'm hoping.

I love the literal rain. It's the other two that I don't like. I may be strong but I can only take so much. You might be wondering, "Why is she still blogging if she's besieged with problems?" Outlet. Yes, I don't have anybody to pour my emotions out with. I feel so alone and this is the only place I know where I can pour my heart out without being judged.

I'm Sunshine but currently, I don't feel sunshiny at all.

A court stenographer’s job is nothing short of easy. Imagine having to sit through the entire court proceedings and recording every bit of information mentioned in the court in order to produce official transcripts of court hearings, depositions, as well as other legal proceedings. I was watching TV the other day and there was a special about court reporters and stenographers and one particular group that was interviewed consisted of court reporters from Richmond.

They shared that there were actually three ways for a court reporter to report court proceedings and these include digital recording which is part of Richmond Videography Services, machine shorthand and voice writing. Also, I learned that regardless of which method a court reporter uses in recording court hearings, they all actually have to be knowledgeable in the following: legal and medical language, business law, and much English.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a journalist but I wanted to be the one who writes the stories and not the one reporting. Had I known that a court reporter has a pretty interesting job, I would’ve taken that course. I probably would be one of Cook and Wiley Court Reporters by now and be known for the excellent service I’m able to provide.

That's me!☺

I think it's pretty obvious from the looks of this blog what my favorite color is. There's just something about the color purple (and other shades of it, too!) that make me go crazy. LOL

Because of my love for the color, I have decided to start a color meme and it is hosted at my other purple blog, Life and then Some. I would really love to see all of you every week, purple lovers and non-purple lovers alike (as long as you have a photo of anything to share) at Crazy Over Purple Saturdays.

My heart melts every time I see young kids with cleft lips or palates. Birth defects like these can be heart wrenching for both mother and kid. Mothers, usually, blame themselves because they might have taken medication during their pregnancy which caused the defect. One such medication is Topamax, an anti-convulsant known to treat epileptic seizures and even migraines.

Of course, a mother wouldn’t have taken Topamax had she known it would affect her child, right? Because of this, a mother can actually file a Topamax lawsuit so she and the child can be properly compensated for whatever damages incurred. The O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath law firm can help mothers facing this situation.

If you or someone you know are in need of good lawyers to help you with your lawsuit, visit O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949 and consult with the experts.

I just read this sad news that a 12-year old girl who lives in one of the provinces here committed suicide by hanging herself from a beam. According to news reports, she did so out of frustration and desperation. Relatives of the pre-teen said that the girl has been problematic lately because of her mom. The girl hasn’t been doing well in school so her mom decided to transfer her to a public school and according to reports the girl didn’t like the idea. She also took her own life because she didn’t want to be called dumb by her mom anymore.

In my opinion, the kid had deeper problems than just that. I’m guessing she was into drugs or something because no kid in her right mind would do such a thing. Her problem should’ve been detected early on so she could’ve been subjected to Teen Treatment Programs.

I’m pretty certain that there are drug prevention communities in their area and if only her mom paid attention to her instead of scolding her every time she brought home low grades from school, she would have been given attention and help right way. Maybe she’ll still be alive.

No, I am not the one migrating. Actually nobody is. It's actually this blog that I'm referring to. I plan to migrate it to  another platform. Not that I'm not happy where I am today. It's just that I have other blogs under a different platform and I just feel that I'd be able to manage them better if they're all under one roof, so to speak. Besides, since this blog is under my own domain, I want it to be self-hosted as well and IMO, everything will fall into place smoothly if I migrated this. So there.

The summer heat is proving to be very harsh and unkind! We can’t stand the heat! The air conditioner is running almost 24 hours a day but the heat can still be very unbearable. We’re planning on buying a portable pool that we can set up in the foyer and where we can dip ourselves every now and then. Maybe we’ll just buy a tarp that we can use as a roof over the pool so it won’t be extremely hot.

So far only my four year old nephew has a portable pool which he uses every afternoon before or after his nap. We just cover it with a canvas tarp to keep the water clean because sometimes he swims there more than once a day and it would be such a waste if we’ll keep on changing the water.

We already saw a place where we can order custom made tarps that would perfectly fit my nephew’s pool and the pool we will be buying. We’re also measuring the whole length and width of the area where the pools will be located so we can order an additional one that would serve as the roof or covering of the area.

I am a doting aunt. Two of my nieces have grown up right in front of my eyes and I have doted on them. Now that they’re both grownups my attention is focused on my 4-year old nephew who is a very robust kid. He loves to play ball, run around and ride his motorbike all the time. That’s all good actually. But the thing I don’t like about kiddie activities is that they are bound to get boo-boos one way or another. My nephew has had his share of scratches, bumps and bruises. It breaks my heart when I see him crying over a boo-boo. He has a mini-playground in our house and I have since suggested that we contact a Playground Surfacing company to work on the surface of the area to make it more conducive for my active nephew. I know that such companies offer safety pads which provide additional protection and cushioning against impacts and collisions from various fall heights hence it would be very practical to have around. We all can’t watch the kid play every waking moment because we have stuff to do and a playground surface that offers immense safety will surely give us peace of mind.

Did you know that even if you’re inside the confines of your home, you may still be exposed to pollution of different sorts? The pollution could come from within your house or from a neighbor’s or from any nearby place. The question is can you be protected from such? It seems that you can be.

There are some companies now like Beacon Hill Associates, a wholesale insurance broker, which understands that the effects of pollution or pollution condition from within insured premises may not be included in the insurance coverage of the place itself. That could prove to be a hassle in the long run especially since pollution is proven to be harmful. People need to be protected from it.

The company offers Premises Pollution Insurance which is a type of coverage provided for both on-site and off-site clean-up, defense costs, and third party bodily injury and property damage claims. These are features which are not part of general liability coverage. So if you think you are exposed to a certain level of pollution, better ask your insurance agent if they offer pollution insurance.

Have you ever thought about how it would be like to live in a far-off place? In a place that’s far from the madding crowd? Sometimes, the hustle and bustle of everyday life make you want to just drop everything and go somewhere quiet, peaceful and calm. If you live in the city, you can’t expect to find a place like not unless you lock yourself up in your room and detach yourself from everything and everyone.

Maybe that’s one reason why some people choose to make a home for themselves in the country. Or if their work demands that they live in the city, they try to commute to and from the city to the country every weekend or when time permits. They want to keep the last strands of sanity intact so they try to spend a few quiet days in a home far from “civilization”.

If you are one of those who long for calm and serenity, then you might want to consider relocating or at least setting up a home in the valley. Harrisonburg real estate can help you find a home or a property somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley. Whether it’s a farm, a home, a farmhouse, a working farm or a piece of raw land you’re looking to buy, they have several listings within the area and when you see how calm the whole place looks, you would surely want to make the place your home base.

What's great about that real estate company is that they have a website where all their listings are posted, as well as photographs of the properties so you can have a general idea of how the property looks like and other specific details you may wish to know. You can get in touch with an agent that will assist you through the website.

Times are hard and that is why it’s important for people to learn how to invest their hard-earned money properly. Investments must be made with long term goals in mind. Anything tangible that is susceptible to wear and tear, like a car for instance is definitely not a long term investment. Just think, if you invest on a high-end vehicle, sooner or later you would have to spend for maintenance and repairs and you may end up with more losses than profits.

But if you invest on a real estate property, you’re practically putting your money to very good use. DabneyProperties.com has several listings of apartments in Virginia which would definitely be worth the time, effort and money you will be spending.

If you happen to live within the area, search for Ft Lee, Virginia Furnished Apartments and you will see all the furnished apartments which are for sale. You won’t only put your money towards a good investment but you have actually saved up on money that should have been allotted for furniture. Now it’s up to you whether you would want to actually live in the place or rent it out to someone else. So it’s a win-win situation for you.

Do you know what Day Trading is? It is the practice of buying and selling financial instruments like stocks, stock options, currencies and a lot more within the same trading day. Sounds easy right? Well, there’s actually more to day trading than meets the eye.

If you’re really keen on trading online, it’s imperative that you become properly educated about the concepts and skills required to be a trader. Why? Well, even if it offers remarkable profits, there are risks involved as well. Some of the risks involved are incompetent handling or management of money which become apparent if you don’t know how to execute trades well. There’s also the risk of failing to abide by your own trading rules and tactics.

Simply put, you need to allow yourself time to learn first and adapt to all the tricks. As simple as the whole concept sounds, a lot of other things are involved in it and you can’t simply jump in to the water, so to speak. There actually is a site that's about to be launched that has a lot of information about day trading, as well as valuable tips and helpful information for people who have never traded a stock before.

I’ll let you in on a secret: I seldom wear make-up. Yes, even when I’m about to attend a special or important occasion, I rarely wear make-up. That’s because my skin gets easily irritated with some of the harsh ingredients found in make-ups. Add to that is my eye allergy which makes it hard for me to use just any eye make-up. On rare occasions when I wear make-up, it has to be mineral make-up. But one brand that stands out from the rest is Clinique. I have a couple of Clinique make-up and they work perfectly well for my skin. It is for this reason that I was so excited when I learned about clinique bonus time. It highlights a few important skin care tips and also lets me find the best deals for Clinique make-ups! They always have the latest finds from Clinique complete with Clinique’s trademark freebies.

The latest clinique bonus time offer is the Pretty in Prints Milly which is a fantastic package designed by Milly designer Michelle Smith and brings together a cool pinkish eye shadow, a pink shade for glossy lips which is Long Last Glosswear SPF 15. I actually love the shade of the eye shadow and the lip gloss so I am definitely going to get one for myself.

Everyone with a business knows that without proper advertising, a business won’t take off and soar to new heights. All sorts of promotional strategies must be exhausted to ensure that a lot of people know about the business or else, it won’t thrive. One fool-proof marketing campaign is through advertising. But then that is a bit pricey. Besides, it’s never easy to brainstorm about the most effective come-on for clients and customers.

Thanks to the advent of the Internet, campaigning and advertising a business is now a piece of cake. Almost everyone who has a computer and Internet connection at home or elsewhere has access to an e-mail account. So if you have a business and you know a lot of people who can be potential customers or clients, why don’t you create email campaigns? E-mail marketing is very much famous nowadays as it allows you to spread the word about your business at Internet speed. If you want to boost your profits the fast and most effective way, start sending those e-mails now and watch your business skyrocket.

If you own an online business or an e-commerce website, the most important thing for you is to maximize your online presence. Why is that important? An established online presence would make or break your business. If only a few people know about your business, than there’s no point in pursuing it because you have no way of knowing if you’re profiting or if you have broken even in the first place. Is your ROI enough or are you spending more than you are earning? Now though, there are a couple of marketing programs that allows you to verify your ROI for dollar that comes out of your pocket. One such program is ppc services which lets you choose the right set of keywords, particularly the keywords with the most market value. That’s important because when people pull up their browsers, the first thing they will enter in the search engine is the main word description of a product or service they need and if you are able to use the right keywords, then that would mean business for you because your website will definitely land on search results. If you have an online business, I suggest you try it out.

It's now possible for Twitter and Facebook users from the Philippines to earn while doing the things they love doing - updating their Facebook statuses and sending out tweets! If you want to find out why, just click the link below.

ph.churpchurp.com is awesome! you earn while tweeting and updating! Astig! #phchurpchurp

A friend of mine is having her house renovated and she’s thinking of having new flooring installed. She actually wants marble flooring but since she has little children running around the house, I advised her to just use laminated flooring instead. Laminate Floor is better than marble flooring because it’s less slippery. It would eliminate the risk of her kids slipping and hitting their head on the floor. Anyway she can just place are rugs where they are needed. There is a great store that offers a lot of choices on laminate floors at very affordable prices and they even give suggestions on what would look good in her house. Best of all, they also offer installation of the flooring so she can be sure that the installation will be done properly. If you’re also thinking of changing the floors in your house, check that site out and feast on their premium selection.