Self-Made Toys

Brandon has tons of toys... from Legos and puzzles to robots and super heroes... from mechanical dinosaurs and dragons to remote control cars and airplanes... from McDonald's Happy Meal free toys to more expensive ones. 

Well, being the only kid in the family he was kinda spoiled in the "toy department".

But sometimes, no matter how many toys he can play with... he does like making his own. And it always amuses me how creative he is when it comes to amusing himself.

He made this warrior shield, sword and shoulder pad himself out of an empty box.

He cut it out and pasted them together with a tape. Very clever, indeed.

A Yummy Healthy Meal

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

Since I started my Biggest Loser Weekend Challenge in my other blog, I started exercising and eating healthy. Wink* Seriously, I am more conscious now with the kind of food I buy in the grocery and with what I cook for our meals. Well, I still have not reached the ideal weight I was dreaming of for valid reasons. One is because I am not exercising enough. LOL.

Well, in terms food, which is the biggest challenge for me, I was able to learn how to prepare healthy meals. Because of that I also learned to appreciate tortillas. That is why Mission Flour Tortillas is always on top of my grocery list because it is not just easy and very convenient to prepare, it is healthy too. The versatility of Mission Flour tortillas and its freshly-baked taste make my meal always a wonderful experience.

My favorite healthy meal is tofu strips fried in olive oil...

topped with sautéd chopped button mushrooms and onions in barbeque sauce...

and chopped egg omelet...

with chopped fresh red ripe tomatoes...

and crunchy lettuce...

wrapped in warm Mission Flour tortilla. Hmmmm… Yummy!

So, if you are trying to eat healthy this is the right meal for you because Mission Flour tortillas are cholesterol free and contain 0 grams Trans fat per serving. And they are available in different sizes so you can choose which size fits your appetite. Hahahahaha

And by the way, if you have no idea of how to prepare tortilla meals… check out www.missionmenus.com for some good examples of quick and easy, budget-friendly meals for $10 using Mission Flour Tortilla. And yes, you might what to take the Mission Menus Challenge which is now currently running until August 9th, 2010.

Here are some of the important details about the Challenge.

• Mission Foods is kicking off the summer with the Mission Menus Challenge.


• Beginning June 28, 2010, Chef Sara Moulton will encourage consumers to submit their budget-friendly recipes to Mission at www.MissionMenusChallenge.com for a chance to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles and win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover as well as a host of weekly prizes.

• The grand prize winner will win round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off on September 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles.

• Until August 9th, you have the chance to submit your recipe online.

All recipes must:
• Must include Mission Flour Tortillas
• Be original
• Feed a family of five for $10 or less

And one thing worth knowing too is that…

Mission Foods is proud to support “Share Our Strength”, the leading national organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. You can help by visiting www.MissionMenusChallenge.com and learning more about Mission Foods commitment to Share Our Strength in supporting this life-changing cause.

Well, there you go. I got to go now to enjoy my new tortilla creation… another yummy meal that has something to do with grilled chicken and some crunchy chopped green peppers that I picked from Hubby’s bucket garden.

My Maine, My Vacationland

I did my routine blog check for comments today and I got so excited when I read a comment from CaraBee. I was told that she wanted to feature my blog on BlogTrotting, [a virtual travel blog dedicated to traveling to new blogs around the world] this week. And for a blogger like me, it is indeed a great privilege and opportunity to be able to be recognized and featured in other bloggers’ blog. So here you go… fellow blog-trotters… welcome to my Maine!

But before I let you in to the most kept-secret of Maine… I have a confession to make. I am not really a Mainer! I am from the Philippines and just moved here in Maine three years ago. I came here in 2007 to marry the “love of my life”. And in the span of three years,  I was acculturated to anything and everything  Maine. So if you are hoping that you will learn about the history and culture of Maine... then you will be disappointed. If you are looking for demographic data and statistics about Maine and it's people... you are in the wrong place. But if you are just wondering what does Maine really like based on the point-of-view of a non-traditional Mainer... then you are in for a treat.

So here are some of the things I learned about Maine and the reasons why I love/hate Maine.

I like Maine and I live like a Mainer. I ice-fish like a Mainer…

Checking if the bait is still there.

Setting up the trap.

I ride snowmobile like a Mainer…

Cruising in my backyard.

I gold-pan like a Mainer…

Sorting rocks in the sluice.

And I camp like a Mainer...

Camping in the Summer.

Camping in the Winter.

And though I hate its extreme and crazy weather [where it changes every 5 minutes, literally from rainy to blizzard-y to sunny to hail-y... all in a matter of 5 minutes interval]... I learned to adapt and love its amazing changing seasons...

Lobster Pond... one Winter morning.

Lobster Pond... one foggy early morning of Spring.

Lobster Pond... early morning of Summer.

Lobster Pond... one fine day of Fall.

Maine lakes are amazing...

A boat in Sabago Lake in Summer.

Snowmobiles in Sabago Lake in Winter.

its ponds are gorgeous...

No. 1 Pond, Sanford, Maine

its rivers are awesome...

East Branch, Swift River.

Saco River, Standish Maine.

its watersheds are breathtaking...

The Androscoggin Watershed, Rangeley, Maine.

One of the many protected watersheds in Maine.

its mountains are magnificent...

The snow-covered Mt. Washington from the distance. Season: Summer.

Mt. Blue, Byron, Maine.

its lighthouses are historical.

Nubble Lighthouse. The very first lighthouse I saw in Maine.

Portland Head Light, one of the oldest lighthouses on the shore of Maine

which was built in 1786 way before George Washington became

the first president of the United States.

and its bridges are phenomenal.

Parsonfield Wood Bridge in Fall.

Checking out the water from Saco River.

I also eat like a Mainer. I love its lobsters...

A staple of Maine.

and prefer maple syrup on my French toast, waffles and pancakes...

Collecting sap for the best Maple Syrup in the US.

with freshly picked fruits...

Strawberry picking in June.

Blueberry picking in August.

Apple picking in October.

And most of all, I love LL Bean!

I love everything Maine... so, I love Maine!

Totally Hardcore

I have another confession to make. Oh well, you better get used to me making confessions because I have lots of them. LOL

We went again to Byron, Maine and went camping and gold panning last weekend. Yes, we found a few tiny and microscopic pieces of the precious metal but not enough to make Hubby happy.

But that is not my confession. My confession is... I went camping for "real"!

You see, during the first year that I went camping... it was more of a hotel camping. I was so still afraid of going out of my comfort zone. I was afraid of using a different kind of bathroom [you know what I mean] and can't imagine myself sleeping on hard bumpy cold ground. So every time we planned to go camping we packed all our camping stuff in the back of the truck but checked-in... in a hotel.

The second year that we went camping... Hubby finally convinced me to go camping... in a campground and sleep in a tent. It was not that easy though but I agreed because the campground has good amenities like a bathroom with hot running water... picnic table... wood fire ring... and improvised grill for cooking. And there were other people camping too so I was sure that raccoons and coyotes are afraid to come near me. We went camping in the campground until last 4th of July of this year.

Last weekend... Hubby suddenly decided to do camping the hardcore way. It was not in the campground but in the woods... by the river... with no amenities like picnic table much less... a "shit house". We need to transport our stuff into the woods by crossing the river in our 4-wheeler about half a mile away from the dirt road where our truck was parked. I had a hard time sleeping because... 1) we were not able to use our air mattress which can only be inflated with a pump powered by the truck's battery. 2) the raccoons were checking us out. 3) the sound of the birds and other animals only-God-knows-what are too loud almost competing with the gushing sound of the water in the river. 4) and the thought that we were the only people in the woods was freaking me out.

But I survived! How? Don't even make me start!

For a Better Future

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.

Before coming here in the US, I was well equipped in terms of education and experience. Well, so I thought. Surprise… surprise… my education and experience are not enough so I needed to take another course of study to be able to join the work force.

I had a hard time looking and finding for jobs because the degree that I have doesn’t fit most of the job offers that are in demand in the job market. It was indeed tough. I waited and waited for the job offer that fits my educational background and experience but to no avail. So the only solution left is to go to school again. But being new in the country and without any means of transportation, I was devastated. Good thing I learned about online study so I took an Online degree, and was able to do take a new course in the convenience of my home.

So, if you are also thinking of an Online degree, and still having some doubts about it… consider these following information:

-Flexible and self-paced so you can study whenever and wherever you like -- ideal for stay at home moms and working adults

-Research shows Ashworth tuition is 50% less than the average accredited online school

-Tuition includes all books and course materials

-Offers zero-interest financing plus a low monthly payment plan. Monthly payments can run as low as a couple of large pizzas

-Unlike other programs, you are guaranteed to graduate without student loan debt

-Transfer up to 75% of credits earned at other schools

-Choose from more than 100+ nationally accredited career diplomas, Associate Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree and Certificate programs for today's hottest and most popular careers, including: Medical Billing, Web Design, Bridal Consulting, Interior Decorating, Human Resources, Marketing, Early Childhood Education and more.

Well, what are you waiting for? Education is the only treasure that cannot be stolen from you… as what my Dad told me… so why not invest on it? Start improving your life now for a better future ahead.

Yes, Virginia... there is gold in the river!

So I whine about gold panning.

I rant about the bugs in the woods.

And I hum about almost everything about camping.

So why do I go anyway? Why do I go up the mountain almost every other weekends?

Because there is indeed gold in the river!