Road to Independence

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

I reported to work at the Y last week. During my break I met a long time acquaintance and exchanged “HIs” and “HELLOs”. It’s been a long time too since I last talked to this wheelchair-bound young happy and friendly guy whom I met years ago as he was alighting from that special van on his wheelchair.

I admire this guy’s cheerful and carefree spirit. He seems to be always happy and unwary of his physical limitations. And despite his disability he possesses a unique sense of independence that I couldn’t imagine. He would move around the gym in his “wheelchair “from one gym equipment to another doing sets of exercises and would stop to greet people who would come and go to the gym.

Well, after my shift I met him again on his way out and bade goodbye. He was safely and smoothly wheeled by his handler back into that special white van. Next week, I will surely see him again and hope we can have a few minutes chat like we used to.

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Isn't it nice that this kind of specially-made vehicle is available to our friends and loved ones with physical disabilities? Isn't it great that with this kind of vehicle, our physically challenged friends and loved ones are able to go places safely? And isn't it good that these kind of vehicles are available through the help of NMEDA who makes sure that vehicles like these are easily accessible by wheelchairs?

If you are a caregiver of a physically challenged loved one or a Health Care provider who needs this kind of special vehicles for your clients… visit nmeda.org and on the homepage, hit the dealer’s locator and type in your ZIP code and see if there is a qualified dealer near you.

Here are some important information about NMEDA and QAP:

NMEDA is a non-profit trade association; they educate consumers on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer.

- NMEDA DOES NOT SELL ANYTHING: NMEDA is the only association that promotes safe driving and equipment for disabled people. They are non-profit and their members are required to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NMEDA dealers (members) are the ones who sell handicap vans and vehicle modifications for disabled people.

- No two people with a disability are exactly the same. Beware of adapted wheelchair vehicles sold over the Internet or through catalogs. After a personalized “in-person” evaluation, you can be sure you are getting the right driving solution customized to your specific lifestyle and needs. If you need additional training or product refinements, your NMEDA dealer is there to help you.

The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

If you are interested in becoming a NMEDA or QAP dealer… check out nmeda.org and join.

I hate Gold Panning

I have a confession to make. I'm not really too crazy about gold panning and camping. I hate packing and worse, I hate cleaning up after the mess. You know what I mean. So why do I go anyway, you will ask. Because... I want to get hold of the gold if ever Hubby will get one!.

I hate gold panning. It's a lot of work and it's boring. We would spend the whole day in the river almost lasting up to 10 hours. Hubby would be dredging dirt while I would sort out the rocks from the sluice. Hubby would be knee deep scrapping dirt, sand and rocks under a big boulder and I would be either sorting rocks or... going up and down the river a few times to make lunch, strolling along the river, taking photos, snacking on junk food, listening to my iPod and taking a dip in the freezing cold running water [but not necessarily in that order]. It would be our tight schedule for a couple of days or at least during the duration of our trip to the gold panning site.

I hate gold panning. But I have been doing it for 3 years now. And I have a funny feeling that the foundation of our 3 years marriage is based on solid gold. [wink*]

During the first year, Hubby and I just enjoyed going up Byron to take a short vacation. We only have riffle pans and a small shovel and would just be digging dirt along the bank.

During the second year, Hubby bought a sluice and a dredge and a motor online. I was freaking out for he paid $500 for them. In retaliation ... I went shopping online for shoes and bag to match his spending.

During the third year, aside from celebrating our 3rd year Wedding Anniversary gold panning in New Hampshire.. Hubby bought a bigger motor and yards of pipes or tubes [I don't exactly know what it is called] online and spent $700 out of our tax refund. I then spent a little more than that on jewelries, clothes, and make up.

Next year, we will surely be gold panning again because... Hubby bought another gold panning equipment the other day... so I  booked a plane ticket to Los Angeles... then, I will surely be shopping in Rodeo Drive, baby! LOL

Oh, Boy! Should I change my title to... I love gold panning?

A Bright Beginning… Indeed

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

My BFF just gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl. She is a delight and she instantly melted everybody’s heart the first time she smiled or cried. Awwwww. Everybody loves a baby. Who doesn’t? They are the sweetest little thing God ever created.

Well, since my BFF gave birth to this precious little princess I spent more time with her during the first couple of weeks since her mother is living half around the world. We are like sisters so I am at her beck and call. And since I am the little princess’ fairy Godmother [wink] I have no problem taking care of her and her mom’s needs.

And as a good fairy godmother I have no problem changing her diapers or ordering her milk-based organic infant formula Bright Beginnings available at diapers.com. Yup, our little princess deserves the best.

Here are some important facts about this infant formula that you might find interesting:

Bright Beginnings DHA Milk Based Organic Infant Formula is the First Organic National Brand Baby Formula made in Vermont and certified organic in accordance with USDA regulations, Bright Beginnings ORGANIC is produced without: Potentially Harmful Pesticides, Added Growth Hormones and Antibiotics.

Bright Beginnings ORGANIC provides the benefits of the lipids DHA and ARA, nutrients naturally found in breast milk essential for babies' mental and visual development. Our baby formula meets the recommendations of the World Health Organization for DHA and ARA .

Benefits of DHA & ARA in Baby Formula

DHA and ARA occur naturally in mother's milk and belong to a class of nutrients called lipids, or fats. Lipids are an essential part of a healthy diet because they are important structural components of vital organs, particularly an infant's brain and eyes. Interest in DHA and ARA has increased following several scientific studies showing that infants fed formula supplemented with DHA and ARA gained intellectual and visual benefits not found in infants who were fed standard formulas without DHA and ARA.

Well, to all mommies who want nothing but the best for their precious little ones, you can purchase Bright Beginnings Infant Formula at Diaper.com or request your child’s fairy Godmother to do that for you. LOL.

It Felt like Forever

Hubby and I just got back from a day trip from Bath, New Hampshire. It was an unplanned trip. A trip that we didn't put so much preparation on. And one of those usual occasions that we decided on impulse.

Today we decided to check out another gold panning site in New Hampshire. Yes, today we did another gold panning adventure out of state. And yes, today we did gold panning on our 3rd year Wedding Anniversary.

Dearest Sweetest,

Happy Anniversary. It's only our third but it felt like forever. It felt like we have been together for a long time.

Three years... are not enough to know how much we do love each other compared to those who are celebrating their silver or golden anniversary. But it's enough to realize that we are growing in our love for each other.

Three years... of being together are full of challenges due to our differences. But challenges that we were able to win because we both tried our best to work our differences out.

Three years... and we are indeed counting.

Happy Anniversary my Sweetest... may our love for each other grow stronger each day. May our differences become our strength. And may we keep the faith for one another.

I love you... for always.

Your Sweetie

A Dream Weekend with my BFFs

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

Oh, I love summer. Who doesn’t? With the temperature rising and the weather being favorably unwintery… who would like to spend time inside the house? Forget about the laundry. Forget about the chores. Forget about the garden. With this kind of weather, I’d rather be on a boat sipping margarita… in a spa having a relaxing massage… in a beach watching the sunset or sunrise… or in a far flung local flea market shopping for rare and hard-to-find antiques and souvenirs… with my BFFs.

Well, don’t get me wrong. Me and Hubby are always together almost all weekends camping and gold panning since the snow melted. It’s all about “Me Time” now. I do need to spend time with my girlfriends and recharge. It would be nice if I win in the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes and get a free weekend stay at any Hampton Hotel. Well, if that happens my BFFs and I will surely have fun basking in the sun in Florida because I will surely book us at Hampton Inn & Suites Boynton Beach.

Oh well, even if I don’t win we will still do it. So if you are dreaming of having a fabulous free getaway with your friends, enter the sweepstakes and take your chance to win. Who knows you might be joining us there.

My Not-so-handy Handyman and my new craft room

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

Yes, as my blog title suggests… I am indeed a Carpenter’s Wife. Then, you might think that I am lucky for having a handy man under my wings. That I have someone to do all kinds of home repairs at my beck and call. Well, think again [LOL] because sometimes, it will take a little longer than expected to ask my handyman to do things around his own house. It will take a lot of motivation to make him do things for me. And worse, it will take a real “blackmail” to make him do things quick and fast. Why, because he doesn’t get paid to do carpentry job in his own home. Hahahahaha I'm just kidding. You know... Men!

Anyway, so I needed to paint my craft room. It’s not an urgent task but as usual, he would procrastinate because I can’t think of anything to blackmail him with. But he did suggest that I go to Home Depot and ask the sale associate about Glidden paint. It’s what he uses at his job site.

And so I went and was delighted at how convenient it is to use this paint. I just bought the paint tester first and experimented with it. And yes, I went back after a couple of days and decided to give my craft room an entirely new look.

Here are some of the interesting facts about Glidden Paints:

• Glidden’s paint testers are unique from other brands because they have a handy brush included in the lid, and our testers allow you to try out the actual paint color before you commit to buying all the paint necessary for your project.

• The paint testers are also great for households with children because they can be used to quickly touch up scrapes and stains. 

• Glidden testers are also easier to store than large, messy, half-used cans of paint. Find Ideas Quickly with Glidden’s Top 10 Color Palettes and XL Paint Chips.

• Get inspired to paint with colors that reflect who you are! Glidden’s Top 10 Color Palettes are assembled by color experts to express your personality.

• Glidden also makes it easy to select the perfect combination of colors. Their large paint chips help you experience your favorite color in your room’s unique lighting. Plus, all of the chips have two coordinating color options right on the back.

Well, Hubby did the paint job with no blackmailing involved [sigh] and he was all praise for my choice of color combination. And I am happy for my new craft room. Too bad I still haven’t taken any photo of it because my camera is still in the repair shop. Maybe next time.

Some Weekend

So we did go camping and gold panning again. I still don’t know if we found some gold nuggets because we only dredged and brought back the concentrate. Hubby will surely pan the concentrate any day this week.

We went in the same place. We stayed in the same campsite. And we dredged in the same spot. Having spent almost all our summer every year in this place, it almost feel like home already.

I know the place quite well now.

I’m not scared anymore to go down and up the steep hill with bucket and sluice in my hands.

I’m already familiar with the rocks and know which ones are not steady to step on when crossing the river.

I’m used to being greeted with some pleasant critters and being bugged by some unpleasant ones.

[This little one is checking out my cooler and stayed there the whole time while I was cooking our lunch.]

And for three days… I answered the call of nature at Mother Nature's. Hehehehe

[Well, where else would you do it? And how else would you do it? With a grand view like this! wink*]

Cooked our meals at my improvised kitchen.

[Preparing lunch in my kitchen while hubby is down the river dredging.}

Washed my dirty dishes at 40 degrees cold running water. Yeah, literally running water.

[My nature's dishwasher with plenty of cold running water. Don't worry I used biodegradable dish soap so the environment is safe.]

And amused myself with photography while hubby had his nose underwater dredging for dirt. And yes, we will surely be back soon.

For That Special Guy in your Life Only

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Voctorinox Swiss Army. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s almost Father’s Day. I am not really too crazy about the occasion because my dad is long gone. I miss him so much. He was my greatest fan and my best critic. He was my trusted friend and my worse competition. He was my confidante and my strict guardian. I really miss him so much.

If he was alive I will not find it hard to buy him a gift this Father’s Day. He is a watch collector so definitely I would buy him a Victorinox Swiss Army. It is the only kind of gift that I know he would appreciate and cherish just like the ones he got in his collection. He would never get tired of them.

But since I he is no longer around to appreciate such gift… it’s about time that I introduce Hubby to this one of a kind timepiece. That is why this Father’s Day I am giving him one. Shhhhhh… it’s still a secret. He doesn’t have to know about that now.

For more interesting information about Victorinox Swiss Army… Visit www.swissarmy.com to view their timepiece collection or be a fan of the Victorinox Swiss Army Facebook page and participate in the I Wear a Watch sweepstakes. They’re giving 30 lucky winners a Victorinox Swiss Army timepiece.

So what are you waiting for? Check out Facebook IWAW sweepstakes page and wonder no more what gift should you give that special guy in your life.

Can you?

Hmmmmm... can you hear the bird chirping? Can you feel the cool water of the river under your toes? Can you see in your mind the lush green sceneries of tall trees? I can!

I can hear, feel and see in my mind the camping ground and the river where we dredge dirt. And yes, Hubby and I will go camping and gold panning again soon. And it will surely be a big challenge again.

And by the way... did I mention that we did find gold nugget... a very tiny one and some specks. wink*

I will post the photo next time.

Confession of a Pizza Convert

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

I am not a pizza person. I don’t know why, but I am just not too crazy about pizza. In fact I can live without pizza. Hubby finds it weird because he is a pizza lover. Well, he thought that everybody loves pizza until he met me. hahahaha

But in fairness, pizza is always my saving glory. It always saves my dinner. When I come home late from work, pizza is the first thing in my mind to serve for supper. When I am busy doing a lot of things or chores on a weekend and have no time to make supper, pizza is the way to go. And when a friend pays a surprise visit, pizza is an express meal over chitchat.

Anyway, yes I am really not a pizza person. But it doesn’t necessarily mean I hate it. It’s just that if I have a choice I will not choose it. But, when I was doing my routine grocery shopping last weekend, I found this Freschetta FlatBread in the freezer section. I bought one box because Hubby and I planned to do a movie marathon that weekend. And lo and behold, I was instantly hooked.

I never tasted a pizza that great. No offense with all the famous pizza stores… but this pizza in the box is the one that really captured my heart. I realized that the reason I didn’t like pizza is because oft its crust. And though they do have thin crust, Freschetta is different… it is flatbread. And that makes the difference! Did I mention that it come in different flavors too? Hmmm, Yummy.

Are you hungry yet? Hold on… check out Freschetta website (http://www.freschetta.com/thin-crust-pizzas/flatbread-pizza/default.aspx) and get a coupon for $1 off and enjoy your pizza flatbread.

And as for me… my favorite is Roasted Garlic and Spinach. But you can’t go wrong with Zesty Iltalian or Pepperoni or even their 5-cheese. Hahahaha Guess I already made my point. Yes, I am a pizza convert.

Reward Yourself

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

Did technology already conquer the world? Are you high-tech in more ways than one? Can you still live without technology? Is your day complete without facebooking or twitting? Do you use technology to make money or earn extra income? Can you live without internet and mobile phone?

I had to admit there are lots of advantages that we can get from technology. It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me [sort of]. LOL. Well, I had to admit too that I use it to monetize. Since I learned how to blog and make descent income out of blogging through some social media network like Izea, the internet is the best monetizing niche that can help a lot of people make both ends meet especially in this tough economic situation.

And now, you can make extra income through your mobile phone. Yup, this is another great possibility through WeReward.com. This is a kind of social media network using mobile incentive platform where consumers are being paid in cash for doing certain things and earn rewards for patronizing products and services from some local businesses. This is a new monetizing system meant for mobile phones where consumers can Download the App that will allow them to use the platform.

Here is some important information about WeReward:

WeReward is a new mobile application from IZEA, the company behind SocialSpark and Sponsored Tweets.

WeReward pays you for check ins and tasks you complete in the real world. It integrates with Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, so you can still get your badges and share the way you always have.

If you have an iPhone you can download the app and give it a try or watch this video for the overview of WeReward.

So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of your mobile phone and start monetizing and start rewarding yourself.