The X Factor UK 2011– Live Show 4

Who went home on The X Factor UK Live Show 4 Results Show? Bottom 2 are Misha B and Sophie Habibis -it's a shocker! Neither of the girls deserved to be in bottom two! No one's really safe in X-factor. Why not Frankie Cocozza? He is not entertaining, special, his singing is more like talking, his hair needs to be cut and I cant believe I have to hear him next week. ...and the result: Sophie Habibis is voted off The X Factor! Some says that she's boring, so it's not a surprise she’s gone:(

This was the worst bottom 2 ever in the history of X factor! Sophie is not the best but she deserves to be in the competition for another week. I kinda knew she won't be in the final but I expected her to go one or two shows before the finals. Not this SOON! And when you still have Frankie safe it's just unbelievable!

If you're also watching X Factor UK, then you'll understand what I'm ranting about...he..he...

What to do On Halloween as Christians who don't celebrate Halloween?

What are we doing FOR Halloween? Nothing! We don't celebrate Halloween. We had costume parties on other days but not on Halloween. My family does not celebrate it or participate in it. The October 31st holiday that we today know as Halloween has strong roots in paganism and is closely connected with worship of the Enemy of this world, Satan. It is a holiday that generally glorifies the dark things of this world, rather than the light of Jesus Christ, The Truth. So, what are we doing ON Halloween? As birds begin to sing and sunshine breaks through the cumulus clouds we're going to a bank to get a new ATM card in replaced to the latest one which was stacked in an ATM machine yesterday. Blame it to forgetting password! Next stop is BIG C Extra.We need to do our family monthly grocery shopping. People are panic-buying because of the threat of flood as rain starts to pour! After that, we gonna watch the FOXCRIME's 48 hours CSI series marathon. Crime Scene Investigation is exciting and it gives us a glimpse (however fanciful) into the world of lawbreakers law enforcers and Coroner Jobs. Everyone seemed to enjoy serving and protecting the citizens. Hope our law enforcers are like them- intelligent, polite, assertive, and emotionally and psychologically stable.

Before the day ends, the most important thing we do as Christians is to PRAY- Intercession and Spiritual Warfare ! Our parents inculcated this practice on us since we're kids. By this small and simple act, we knew that our prayers are heard and acted on by our Father. We've known that we can make a difference. Come October 31, we know we have a job to do. We pray for protection.We pray over both those who engage in prayer warfare and over those who will be out trick-or-treating or at Halloween parties. October 31 is a prime recruiting time for witches and Satanists… and a time for interested kids to experiment. We pray that the Lord keeps our kids from falling prey to those who worship the enemy.

Longer Eyelashes Improve Attraction

I like women with long eyelashes just the way men like their women to have. The best way to get them is to improve the appearance of our eyelashes by wearing mascara. Have you noticed that almost every cosmetics company has recently come out with their own “eyelash growth enhancer formula” mascara and the commercials are all over TV. As of now, I'm still trying to find a better mascara that truly works- a mascara with eyelash growth serum that can do that quicker and easier . When you have full, sexy eyelashes and eyebrows, men will be drawn towards you and your romantic prospects will improve immediately. Don't we women want that?

The X Factor USA 2011: The Top 12!

I'm sooo excited about the result of the first live show of X-factor USA 2011! The acts all got to perform, but of the 17, 5 of them were sent home. 3 from each category remains and the top 12 move on to perform again next week. I almost get it right! Following the performance, judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, LA Reid and Nicole Scherzinger were each required to eliminate one of his or her four acts from the competition and move ahead with only three. The contestants really give the judges the hard time. Here are the final 12!

Boys Category:
Mentor : LA Reid
1. Brian "Astro" Bradley
2. Chris Rene
3. Marcus Canty
Eliminated: Phillip Lomax


Over 30s category:
Mentor: Nicole Scherzinger
1.Stacy Francis,
2.LeRoy Bell
3. Josh Krajcik
Eliminated: Dexter Haygood

Groups:
Mentor: Paula Abdul
1.The Stereo Hogzz
2.InTENsity
3.Lakoda Rayne
Eliminated: The Brewer Boys (sad here:( wish they could perform more...*sigh*)


Girls Category:
Mentor: Simon Cowell
Girls category contained five singers, meaning two acts would have to leave.
1. Rachel Crow
2.Drew Ryniewicz
3.Melanie Amaro
Eliminated: Simone Battle and Tiah Tolliver

But the result doesn't mean the singer Simone Battle is down for the count. Battle released her first single music video,gay-themed "He Likes Boys," last night, announcing the song's release before she'd even left the "X Factor" stage.

The X Factor USA continues next Wednesday (November 2) at 8/7c on Fox, when viewer voting will open for the first time.

Angry Birds Costumes: A Unique Idea For Halloween This Year!

Lots of my students are sooo crazy with Angry Birds. It’s a ridiculously addictive game that you can download for free in your PC or in your Smartphone and tablet computer. There’s so much about this game, from the "weapons" to the physics and level variety, is really quite excellent. If you've got even one destructive bone in your body, I think this military-farm-complex will be fun for you! Now that the game has become so popular, official Angry Birds Halloween costumes have now been released! You can grab Angry Birds character this Halloween around $30-$50 only. Check out BuyCostumes.com.

Choosing the Angry Birds theme for Halloween is excellent if there are a few of you who want to coordinate your costumes. There are quite a few characters in this game, meaning more unique costumes to choose from. This costume is also suitable for both kids and adults, as it's a game played by just about all ages.

Officially Licensed Angry Birds Costumes

The good news is that it's easy to get the Angry Birds look just right if you choose to buy an officially licensed costume. Here's the lowdown on what's available:

Red Bird: This is the classic character you think of when you imagine Angry Birds. The red bird of the earlier levels looks fierce! This costume is designed to stand out from your body in the round bird shape - it comes with pillow pouches so you can stuff it into shape.

If you want only to don on oversize red angry bird , then this is for you: 

Mask is oversized, stuffed foam with appliqué face. It has a back slit with Velcro closure for easy on and off. Each mask has a hood inside for comfort, proper fit and face alignment

Yellow or Black Birds: Fancy going as the yellow or black bird instead? These are other big costumes that'll create the right shape for the bird's body, with holes for your face, arms and legs.

King Pig: The last choice is for you to go as the green King Pig. This is the pig that the birds are angry at and want to see destroyed! This is a classic green color, featuring the pig's snout, eyes and small golden crown.

Doesn’t your baby like the king pig, or he will be hated by others? This green plush Angry Birds infant halloween costume is nice for your baby! 

Whichever character you play, remember that the birds really are angry! After all, the pigs have stolen all of their eggs. It's time to take revenge if they want to survive! This could make for some fun interactions between the birds and the pigs on Halloween, if you can get enough of you together wearing costumes based around this theme.

And don't forget one key fact about the angry birds - they don't have wings!

5 Tips That'll Help You Secure Those Cyber Monday Specials

Ever heard of Cyber Monday? Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in United States created by companies to persuade people to shop online. Cyber Monday specials have become more and more common in recent years. No longer is it necessary to brave the hoards of people shopping on Black Friday. Wait until the Monday after Thanksgiving and you can shop from the comfort of your home instead! If you want to get the best deals, however, it pays to be prepared. Here are 5 tips I followed to help me secure those Cyber Monday Specials:

1) Know When The Sale Starts

Cyber Monday is usually the best time to shop for gadgets. Even though you're shopping from the comfort of your own home, it's still a good idea to check out the major electronics websites in advance. They don't always give away all details of their Black Friday/ Cyber Monday offers, but they will usually at least tell you what time they start. To be safe, sign up to their newsletters. Keep an eye on your email and make sure you're there as soon as the sale starts. Don't be late! The best deals can go within minutes, even online!

2) Follow Retailers On Facebook, Twitter And Their Own Websites

The easiest way to find out about Cyber Monday specials is to sign up with retailers directly. Sign up to newsletters on their websites, or follow them on Twitter and Facebook to be the first to find out about a sale. Better still, do a few Twitter searches near the time to see people tweeting about any deals that may have leaked early. This helps get you prepared to click on as soon as the deal goes live!

3) Sign Up In Advance

If you've never shopped with a particular online retailer before, but you know they're launching a deal you're interested in, then create an account with them before Thanksgiving. Make sure all your billing and shipping information is there so you can check out quickly when the time comes. Why is this so important? Because Cyber Monday specials are very limited! Often being the first to add to your cart isn't enough - you need to go through the whole checkout process before they expire.

4) Combine Deals With Extra Coupons

Just because you've already found a great deal doesn't mean that you can't save even more! If you shop online you should always, always go a quick Google search for a coupon code for that particular store. It usually takes about a minute, but you could save on shipping or get a percentage off your total order price. You might not find anything, but it's well worth checking! Do it in advance of the sale, so you don't waste precious time once it has started.

5) Start As Early As Thanksgiving (Or Sooner!)

Lastly, although Cyber Monday specials may be the most famous (those that go live on Monday after Thanksgiving), many online retailers do, in fact, start their sales as early as Thanksgiving itself! You might not want to interrupt your day with online shopping, but if you don't mind then it's well worth checking your favorite stores to see whether any online specials have gone live yet.

Fashion Explorer is giving away Stone-Brass Jewelry!

Fashion Explorer is our online shop that sells trendy, glamorous and of exceptional quality handmade jewelries bought directly from manufacturers in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the reason why you won’t break your bank when you shop with us. WE offer our jewelries for as low as $3! Shipping? We know how hard it is to shop online with shipping fees way over than the item you buy so we give you the lowest shipping rate we could find. Check them out HERE !

Currently, our shop offers you Stone-Brass Earrings, Stone-Brass Rings and Stone-Strand Bracelets. They're all bought directly from the manufacturer and wholesaler based in Bangkok, Thailand . This explains why Fashion Explorer gives you the very affordable price for high-quality and unique designs. They are 100% handmade by Thai craftsmen. These craftsmen specialize in handmade jewelry designs made of semi-precious stones (turquoise, howlite, jasper, jade, amethyst and dyed stones), fresh water pearls, brass, wax cord, glass beads and other natural materials and embellishments.

As part of our launching, we're hosting a giveaway for you all. Without much ado here's the prize at stake:

Stone-Strand Bracelet, Stone-Brass Ring and Stone-Brass Earrings

Here's what you can do to enter:

Answer the survey and have the chance to win a router!

How do you stay connected? Wifi or 3G?

Answer the survey from Make or Break and have a chance to win a router,. The winning respondent via raffle will win a E4200- SRP PHP 8,995.

image and product feautures from Cisco Store

Linksys E4200 Features:
Simultaneous Dual-Band N (2.4 & 5 GHz)
Gigabit Ethernet 4-port switch
Maximum speed up to 300 + 450 Mbps
USB port for shared storage
Built-In UPnP AV media server

Get your chance on this router by visiting Make or Break and answering the survey! good luck!

Keyword Search Optimization Tips For Bloggers

I’m blogging for almost 3 years already and I always stumbled on topics about keyword search optimization. It was just recently that I took time to learn about this one of the important factors in gaining traffic to your blog. There are many ways to get traffic to your blog, but the best free method is to appear in the search engines for relevant keywords. Searchers will then click through to your blog to find what you’re looking for.

Although the search engines may include your site in results when you take advantage of keyword search optimization or not, you can give them a helping hand. By doing keyword research, finding highly searched keywords, and then using them appropriately in your content, you can make sure that the search engines rank you higher for these terms.

Let me share to you the basic information I gleaned from my research on the net:

Keep It Natural

Although keyword search optimization is an important strategy for many bloggers, it’s also important to sound natural. After all, it’s not just the search engines looking at your content – there are real human readers too! And they’re likely to be turned off if it sounds like you’ve just stuffed in your keyword as many times as possible.

This is why it’s important to work on writing a good blog post first, and worries about the keywords you’re including second. No matter how well you’ve incorporated keyword search optimization into your article; your site isn’t going to do well unless you can keep readers interested with well crafted, interesting content that’s written with their needs in mind.

Keyword Density

When writing using keywords, the number of times you include a given keyword throughout the content is known as “keyword density”. For example, if your blog post is 200 words long and contains 2 instances of the keyword, this means that you’ve got a 1% keyword density (one instance of the keyword per 100 words). There is debate about how much you should use the keywords, but it’s often recommended you use them at least once per 100 words.

Where you use the keywords is also important. You should include them:

* At the beginning of the title,

* Within the first sentence,

* Within the last sentence,

* And spread through the article body.

Too Many Keywords Can Have the Opposite Effect

Although we all know that it’s useful to include keywords in your blog posts, including too many can even turn the search engines off. The giants like Google are well aware that bloggers and internet marketers are trying to improve their rankings with methods like this, so they won’t reward you for taking shortcuts and stuffing your content with too many keywords. If they did, it would be too easy for low quality rankings to get to the top of the rankings.

Keywords Aren’t Everything

Following on from the point above, it’s important to realize that Google is looking at a lot more than just keywords to rank your site. It takes into account who links back to your site, how you link to your own pages, how well your site is laid out and, importantly, whether your website actually delivers the information your visitors are searching for.

Keyword search optimization is definitely something you should be incorporating into your blog posts if you want to take advantage of free search engine traffic. However, it’s also important to work on the quality of your blog. The visitors will follow.

Birthday Ideas for Grandpa

My grandpa (father side) will be 73 on February 14. Yes, he shared birthday with Valentines! When we’re still kids, on his birthday, all of his children and grandchildren will gather around to celebrate his special day. I love our grandpa whom we fondly call “Tatay Wennie”. He’s a farmer, a Barangay Healthworker and most of all; he’s a strong man of God. He’s considered a hero in his town because he helped delivered babies who the midwives find difficult. In fact, he delivered almost all of his grandkids! We’re blessed to have a grandpa like him. I'm so thankful to have a grandfather like him. There is no other who could fill his shoes.

A lot of history is covered over my grandpa’s 73 years of life. There is nothing that demonstrates love for Grandpa better than a birthday party that celebrates these years. I’m sure that my family won’t fail our grandpa how much they love him by dedicating a day toward celebrating his birthday. If I were just there I have this idea (which you could follow too!). I would love to begin the day by making him a cup of coffee and placing a sticky note on it wishing him a happy birthday. I would make plans of surprising him like bringing him to his surprise birthday party!

Here are some birthday ideas you could do for your grandpa:

For food preparation, bring back his childhood by serving small bowls of comfort food like chicken and dumplings, home-style macaroni and cheese topped with breadcrumbs and grits. Offer common foods like fried chicken and pork chops, deviled eggs and potato salad. Complete the old-fashioned food theme by making popcorn balls. In honor of his birthday, offer shrimp cocktail and lobster bisque, two foods that he would only have eaten in celebration. If your grandpa has a favorite dish, build the menu around it and stick to his favorite foods. By serving guests a variety of foods you ensure all in attendance will find a food they are happy with.

For great gourmet birthday present for grandpa, visit Berries.com. Their sweet bakery desserts, stunning gift baskets, fabulous birthday cakes, signature chocolate-dipped strawberries, outstanding picnic hampers and food presents large and small are quite simply perfect for saying happy birthday to Grandpa. Here’s what I’m drooling at the moment which I believe my grandpa would love:

Berries for Him Gift Includes

• 4 Berries Dipped in Milk with Chopped Almonds
• 4 Berries Dipped in Dark with Dark Chocolate Chips
• 4 Berries Dipped in White with Dark Swizzles

Incredible, mouthwatering creations! Each succulent strawberry is dipped in milk, dark or white and covered with toppings. The end result is a heavenly combination of flavors.  This is really something that will tempt his taste buds!

What gift to give? How about a pocket watch with a small note in it expressing your love for him? Include a line that addresses his ability to make time for you whenever you need it. Or a "Grandpa" coffee mug, gourmet coffee and a cap that can keep him cool while he is outdoors in the summer.

Just change the label to "Grandpa". This gift is both functional and fun. This mustache-coffee mug filled with Chocolate Delite Trail Mix is a great way to tell your grandpa that he's special. I'm sure he’ll love how you keep his gifts stylish and tasty!

Any other birthday ideas for grandpa? I would love to hear from you!

October is a special month for me

There are so many things to celebrate this October- our 4th wedding anniversary, Hyzyd’s 3rd birthday, my father’s 50 plus birthday and my niece’s 2nd birthday. I love to shop for gifts especially that there’s PersonalCreationsCoupons.com where you'll find a series of active coupons and discounts that can save you up to 20% on a wide variety of customized merchandise. Whether you are looking for anniversary gifts, birthday gifts, shirts, mugs, baby clothes or anything in between, you can get an incredible deal by simply clicking on the discount links they provided. 

With or without gifts, I’m forever grateful to God for giving me a wonderful family. I have someone to curl up with when the world seems cold, who's as concerned as I am when someone’s ill in the family , having a hand that keeps checking my brow when I’m not well, and a shoulder to cry on when I’m in my most trying times.

To my hubby, hope you know how much I love and appreciate you. When my time comes to leave this world, it's your face I want to kiss goodbye. It's your hand I want to hold as I slip into eternity. I want to look into your eyes and see that I mattered. Not what I looked like, or how much money I made, or even how talented I was. No, I want to look into the eyes of someone who loved me and see that I mattered.

To my son, Hyzyd, let me tell you that when God blessed your dad and I with YOU, He blessed us REAL good! I cannot think of a time since your birth that you have not been a joy to our hearts and a blessing to our lives. Know that I love you and always will. You are starting out on a weird, scary, daunting, but ultimately incredibly wonderful journey, and I will be there for you when I can. Godspeed.

To my Papa Ben, I want to acknowledge your unconditional love and protection for me and my siblings . Your blessed marriage with Mama inspires us to be the best in our marriage life. Your commitment and undying devotion to God encourages us to continue serving God through thick and thin. No matter how old I am, I'm always be your little girl. I love you papa. I always pray for you.

To my beautiful niece, HJ, you came into this world and made it a more beautiful place. For many countless reasons I'm glad you're the niece I got. You are loved for your sweetness and your very special ways. Mwaaaaahhh!

Things to Consider When Buying Men's Watches

When it comes to choosing watches, my hubby is very meticulous. Because for him who doesn’t like to wear other accessories like ring, bracelet and necklace, he was left with watch as the only accessory he could have own. If it’s not an essential style element, I doubt it if he would like one. You see, he only wears watch on school days but on weekends you’ll see it kept in a corner. Worst, expect them to be given away especially on vacation. That’s what happened to his 2 Everlasts watches. On the other hand, I’m proud that my hubby is a generous man. He loves to give away things that are dear to him (not to mention that they’re pricey). So it’s up to me to limit him in giving because that will left him with nothing especially with his wardrobe. Last April, when we visit Philippines, almost all his shirts and pants were given away to my younger brothers. They love to receive hand-me-downs from him because they don’t look as one rather they look brand new and of good quality. Watches were given and yeah his brand new converse shoes were among the loot.

Now, let’s go down to business…he..he…I’ve mentioned earlier that my hubby is meticulous in choosing his watches. Here are the few things he considered in buying his watches: 

1. His lifestyle.
My hubby is a high school teacher so he choose a watch that looks great both when he’s in school wearing long sleeve and ties or on casual days wearing T-shirts and sports shoes.

2. The Face

Another thing that gets him when it comes to watches is the size of the watch face relative to his wrist. He wanted watches that have larger than standard faces. He doesn’t like a watch that once worn ends up like a ladies watch. I personally love bigger watch faces whether you're a big guy or not, it's a great look. 

3. Water Resistance

For hubby he considered it because he’s driving motorbike and sometimes along the way, he get caught in the rain, he doesn’t need t worry. And by the way, water resistant can mean several things so he makes sure he ask to what degree the watch really is resistant. Some watches will resist moisture from accidental splashing, rain, sweat, etc. and others will resist moisture up to certain depths such as 50 or 100 meters. 

4. The Color of the Face and Strap

Hubby’s usual color choice is the tried and true colors that will blend and look appropriate both in formal and casual setting. He chooses dark blue or black. 

We went to City Chain , one of the leading watch stores in town and here’s my hubby’s pick:

This looks fashionable to me , reminds me one of the St. Moritz watches we’ve stumbled in internet. With a 60% discount, his watch became affordable to me ($400 with a 60% discount, you do the math) ..he..he…It’s a perfect travel companion. This chronograph black dial watch combines functionality and modern style. Light stainless steel case with genuine leather strap fits snugly and comfortably.

wearing the watch on casual days...

wearing the watch on Sports Day

wearing the watch on formal days

If you have other things to consider in buying your men's watches, please do share. I would love to hear from you.

Flood again?

We're in alert right now. Older folks in the neighborhood warn us of the possibility of another flood. Some of our friends already moved their valuable things on the first floor to their 2nd floor. They already bought and stocked food, drinking water, candles and other necessities. If we based on the weather, it's unlikely to have flood because the weather's been so good to us except for occasional rain in the evening and very chilly dawn that made you wish you have heated mattress pads to keep you warm. But yet, it's better to be prepared than be sorry later. You see, Hatyai City will be submerged if the dam in Sadao will be opened. A moderate southwesterly monsoon covered the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand. These conditions had caused torrential rain in the Central area including Bangkok and nearby provinces, as well as the East and upper South. And we're in South folks...*sigh*....

Just yesterday, I heard from the news that there's a plan to evacuate people from 13 districts and eastern zones of Bangkok located outside flood barriers because some parts of the capital will be submerged by overflows from the Chao Phraya.

The weather bureau said Saturday that a monsoon trough still covering the lower Central and Eastern region would develop into a low-pressure cell in the centre of the South China Sea.

Eastern parts of Bangkok likely to be flooded are Min Buri, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang and Klong Sam Wa.

The 13 districts at risk are Bang Sue, Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Samphan Thawong, Bang Kholaem, Yannawa, Klong Toei, Bang Plat, Bangkok Noi, Thon Buri, Klong San, Rat Burana and Thawee Wattana.

Some nine canals in the capital would also be flooded, the National Disaster Warning Centre also warned.

The centre reported that the level of water in Bangkok was rising drastically, especially in Klong Bang Phrom, Klong Bang Wak, Klong Prem Prachakorn, Klong Lat Phrao, Pak Klong Talad, Klong Bang Sue, and Klong Maha Sawas. Officials were urged to prepare relief for people living in areas at risk of being flooded.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Saturday that torrential rain caused flooding in 17 areas across Bangkok. Ratchadaphisek Road was the hardest hit area. "We will still handle the flood situation in Bangkok," he assured.

The level of water around the intersection between Ratchada and Lat Phrao was 30 to 40cm deep, which paralysed traffic in the area.

Other areas affected were Ratchayothin intersection, Lat Phrao intersection, Lat Phrao Soi 22, Ngam Wong Wan Road, Kaset intersection, Pradit Manoo Tham Road, Phaholyothin, Srinakarin Road and Nawamin Road.

I pray hard for the safety of the people here in Thailand. Please pray for us here in Hatyai City that we'll be spared. I can't imagine having to undergo such mess again we experienced last November 1, 2010. 

So help us God.

Electricity Saving Tips For The Kitchen

How's your electric bill this month? Ours has increased a bit-from 500 baht to 600 baht. Maybe because a plumber used a drilling machine for a day when he changed the drainage pipe of our bathroom. If it wasn't for that, we could have maintained our monthly electric bill.

When it comes to using electricity saving tips in the home, it helps to take things one step at a time. Even small measures all add up to reduce your bills and help save the environment. Let's start saving electricity in our kitchen. Our kitchen is one of the areas of the home where we use the most energy, so here are a few tips for cutting down on the electricity we use.

Refrigerator

Since I was a child, I always heard my mom reminding us not to always open the refrigerator. If we want to get something we'll make sure that we get all we need so that we could minimize opening the ref. And if we open the ref's door, we'll be conscious not to leave the doors of our refrigerator open for longer than we need. It's because the longer you keep them open when you’re looking inside, the more it’s going to have to work to get back down to its original cold temperature. That reminder lingers to me that we practice it even in our own home. Some other methods that will stop it working too hard include not overfilling it, making sure that the door doesn’t leak any cold air, and not placing it near any direct sources of heat or in a sunny area of the kitchen.

When You’re Cooking

There are so many electricity saving tips for cooking that won’t negatively impact the way you cook, but can make a huge difference when it comes to saving energy. When you’re using pans to do your cooking, make sure you always cover them for the most efficient heating. You should also match the size of the pan to the size of the coil heating it.

Cooking food in bulk is a fantastic way to save both time and energy. You can simply freeze the leftovers and save them for those evenings where you don’t have time to cook a whole meal from scratch.

Another “lazy” way to save energy is to try cooking more one-pot dishes. This means that everything is cooked in the same container, making it easier to cook yet saving electricity at the same time. Or use a pressure cooker to speed up cooking times for certain meals.

Other great electricity saving tips include turning off the burners just before food is finished cooking. The residual heat will keep on cooking it for you. This works especially well with pasta: simply get it to boiling point, place a lid on the pan, turn off the burner and leave it to cook for as long as the instructions state.

Using the Oven

If you’re using the oven, don’t keep opening the door to check it’s ready. This can reduce the temperature by 25 degrees each time, meaning your oven will need to use more energy to heat back up again. If your oven is electric, then you can use the same tip as above and turn it off when the food is nearly done. The oven will stay hot for ten minutes and keep cooking the food.

As you can see, none of these electricity saving tips involve you sacrificing your favorite meals. They just mean thinking ahead a little and getting into new habits that will soon become second nature. When you see how much difference they can make to your energy bills, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t try them sooner!

Family Friendly Cooking for Fall

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to NYC Rentals, Nassau Real Estate, home improvement and the latest architecture, design and fashion.  Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign.

Children love helping out, especially in the kitchen.  Here are some fun cooking ideas you can do as a family:

"PUMPKIN" PLAY DOUGH

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 T. vegetable oil
2 cups water
4 tsp. cream of tartar
orange food coloring
a shake of nutmeg
a few drops of cinnamon extract

An adult will need to help supervise cooking up this fun dough. The children will enjoy pulling, measuring and dumping the first five ingredients into a clean, cold skillet or electric skillet that is turned to the off setting. Once ingredients have been added, heat skillet to medium and continuously stir the dough until it begins to come together. Working quickly, add the coloring, nutmeg and extract. When the dough is completely pulled away from the sides and forms a ball, it is ready. It can be turned onto the counter and ready to be played with in a few minutes. Use pumpkin and leaf shaped cookie cutters, as well as rolling pins and plastic scissors for hours of Fall fun!

HARVEST SALAD

6-8 cups baby greens
1 small apple, cored and thinly sliced
shredded carrot
aged shredded white cheddar
pumpkin seeds
golden raisins
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup milk

In a large salad bowl, have children toss together the baby greens, apple slices, carrots, cheddar, pumpkin seeds and raisins. Set aside. In a small plastic bowl with tight fitting lid, have children measure mayonnaise, milk and dressing mix. They can take turns mixing the dressing with spoons and shaking the bowl (with lid) until the dressing is completely mixed. Chill salad and dressing for about an hour. Enjoy!

CORN AND CHICKEN CROCK POT SOUP

1 Rotisserie chicken (from supermarket, cooled)
1 pkg. shredded carrots
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of potato soup
2 soup cans of milk
1 can of creamed corn
1 can of corn (undrained)
sea salt, pepper and onion powder to taste

Have children pull apart the cooled, roasted chicken, teaching them what to keep and what to discard. Next, they can fill the cold crock pot with shredded chicken, carrots, soups, milk, corn and spices. Mix the ingredients well and heat on low for about six hours. It may be necessary to thin or thicken the soup to preference.

When the soup is ready, supervised children may ladle a portion of soup into a bowl and garnish with, shredded cheeses, sour cream, chives, bacon and croutons.

The Safe Way to Lose Post-Pregnancy Weight

Childbirth is one of the amazing moments in a woman’s life. It is such a rewarding experience after nine months. But the challenge does not end there. During the entire course of a pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through several changes caused by different factors and without a doubt those cravings and meals could take a toll as well. One thing hat lingers on the mind of every moms is how to shed those pounds gained from the pregnancy.

You have to remember that the weight loss won’t happen overnight. Rather than dwelling on this matter focus more on your responsibilities as a new parent as this is more important. Also keep in mind that it pays to have a weight loss program that is effective and safe in order to avoid any health risks in the future. Make sure that you are doing it the right way. Do not rush. Follow the guidelines and never attempt to do exercise routines without the help of fitness professionals.

Child delivery is something that your body will need sometime to recover. If you are thinking of getting back to that treadmill immediately but it will be best to ask your doctor first. Allow your body to heal before doing workout activities. This way you can be sure that your body is ready and injuries are prevented.

Be careful with your diet programs especially if you are breastfeeding. Crash diets could post a great risk to your health and at the same time it can affect your baby too. Choose healthy and all-natural foods and avoid the processed ones. Stay away from fatty meals and limit your sweets. But do not deprive yourself from these pleasures, a small slice of chocolate once a month is a good way to reward your body.

It is also possible to work out and lose weight while still taking care of your baby. A walk around the park or mall with your child is just one of the many options.

Kate is a freelance content writer is also fond of traveling and outdoor adventures.She enjoys working on a project on hypothyroidism diet and sees this as an opportunity to share stories and inspire the readers.

Kristen Stewart: Now I feel like a woman!

Kristen Stewart already caught my attention long before she became the Twilight actress. Who can forget her heroic role as a 12-year-old daughter who robbed a bank for her father's surgery in Catch that Kid ? Or her major role in the Hollywood film Panic Room playing the diabetic daughter of a divorced mother(Jodie Foster)? That film received generally positive reviews, and Stewart garnered positive notices for her performance. She was even nominated for a Young Artist Award for her performance.

She seemed to have this endless look of a bit scowl-ly and tomboyish which she admitted that this made her deathly self-conscious.But the actress has told British GQ in their November issue that her style is about to change.Kristen graces the cover in a black retro bikini with perfect hair and makeup and looks the best she ever has.Her dark hair was styled in Old Hollywood waves and she sported bright red lipstick while laying on a sun lounger by a pool. 

The sexy transformation has led Kristen to declare she is ready to grown into her womanhood. 

''I looked like a boy for a long time,'' she told the publication. ''Now I feel like a woman.'' 

Kristen will also show off her curves during honeymoon scenes in the second installment of Breaking Dawn. 

She and her co-star and real life beau Robert Pattinson filmed beach scenes in St Thomas where she donned a bathing suit. 

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is out next northern summer.

   

What do you think of her bikini bod?