Spring and Easter Home Decorating

We often hear the song "it's the most wonderful time of the year" whenever it is the winter and Christmas season, but SPRING can be considered the most wonderful time of the year too! 

Whenever I think of spring, I think of HOPE, and LIFE, and yes, EASTER! It is that time of the year when everything sprouts and springs back to life - birds singing, trees budding, flowers beginning to bloom. It is also that time of the year when everything seems painted in the soft hues of pastel colors and one is just in the mood to clean every corner and redecorate the house in all the glory of spring and easter!

Decorative pieces like vase, candle holders and candles, 
that when mixed and matched,
create a beautiful and romantic atmosphere.

When it comes to decors, one of my favorite go to stores is DEPOT. I just love their fresh ideas and trendy designs, and the endless possibilities of creative decorating that one can do by mixing and matching items. Plus, you can get lots of advice and decorating ideas in their blog "Schön bei Dir". Be it the living room, kitchen, dining table, bedroom, outdoor garden - you can find a lot of stuff to be inspired when you enter this store. They offer free brochures in-store that customers can take home, too so you can pre-select and organize your shopping list for when you drop by the next time. Their online shop allows you to shop 24/7 at the comfort of home.

DIY Idea: "A string of home-made bunting for festive occasions and everyday 'hygge'."
Photo from Sostrene Grene website. 

Another store that me and my daughter recently discovered is SOSTRENE GRENE. It is a Scandinavian chain of stores with headquarters in Denmark that provides its customers with a refined and innovative product range but still with a Nordic feeling to it. They always have something new every week, with some products available only at a limited period, so you will always be surprised each time you visit. The "DIY Corner" section of their website is something every craft-person must visit for those do-it-yourself ideas ranging from the simplest and easiest as making cardboard bugs with kids to more complicated projects like making a stunning lampshade. They don't have an online shop but the catalogues published monthly online are very helpful to plan ahead what you would like to purchase. If you love the feminine and Scandinavian touch like I do, then this store is a must visit. A visit at one of their stores is guaranteed to be a happy experience. :)

So if you want to liven up and redo your home decor for spring and easter, have a look at the assortment at these two stores mentioned. Wonderful surprises await you.

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Goodbye Hugendubel Stuttgart

I have seen some small shops and even big department store chains along the Königstrasse closing down because of low profit and clientele but I never thought I would see the day when one of my favorite book stores, which is really a haven for book lovers out there, would also close its doors. Whether you fancy reading a book and decide to buy one, grab a cup of coffee in their cafe, look for some gift ideas or just relax and window shop, this is one of the places to be.

My little girl trying to look what's still inside the bookstore
through a small gap between the glass doors.
She was of course sad when she heard the news.

HUGENDUBEL. If you have never been to this book haven before, then it is too late. Their branch along Königstrasse (beside Müller) closed last April 4th 2015. There are still other branches all over Germany though and you can still purchase books from their online shop at Hugendubel.de.

Interior of the bookstore on the 2nd floor. These comfy lounges are so relaxing.
Photo © Pagolux Interieur

There's even a play area in the children's section of the bookstore where
children can play while their mommies browse through children's books.
Photo © Pagolux Interieur.

The bookstore front along Königstrasse taken a year and a half ago (October 2013).

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Buying a Heart Rate Monitor? Consider These...

As an athlete, you may find the use of a heart rate monitor to be beneficial. With a heart rate monitor, you can keep track of your target heart rate without stopping your exercise routine. However, selecting the proper monitor may not be as easy as it seems. There are several things that should be taken into consideration.

Before heading to your local athletic store, decide on the type of monitor you are interested in. If you are a professional athlete, consider one of the pro-level monitors. Not only can these monitors track your heart rate, but many keep track of distance traveled. You will need to decide which features are most beneficial to you. Keep your budget in mind. Remember, the more features, the more expensive the monitor will be. The monitor you select should be easy to use. Take a look at the digital screen of the monitor. The numbers should be easy to read. Next, check out the monitor's battery life. On average, batteries should last for 30 days or more. The type of battery should also be taken into consideration as some types can be on the expensive side. Most of all, consider the comfort of the monitor. When looking for a monitor, check out the heart rate sports watches from HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com.

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Great Deals, Great Finds at Lazada Philippines!

I have always enjoyed online shopping since it saves me the time and the effort in going to the store. I also find myself getting great deals online which are otherwise not available or not offered in-store. In the Philippines, it is a good thing that there is now an online shopping store that carries a variety of products, from techie gadgets to fashion clothing to household goods. 

I am talking about Online Shopping Manila, an online store that practically has about everything (except for food items). They have got lots of great deals on offer like the MasterCard Mondays, in which customers get an additional 10% discount on their orders if they use their MasterCard debit or credit cards. They also have the Super Hourly Deals in which selected items are put on sale every hour. For the techie customer, there is the 7 Inch Tablet Madness where various Android tablets are on offer at discounts of up to 43%. Get your own Haipad Tablet for as low as Php3,189.00. The New Haipad Anaconda Edition 7" Android 4.0 Dual Cam 4GB with Wifi (White), for example has Android 4.0 OS, 4GB ROM, a 1.2GHz processor, a dual camera and has a MicroSD slot for an extra memory of up to 32GB.

To find out more, here is a video of their latest TVC:

Enjoy shopping and enjoy the great deals on offer at Lazada Philippines today!

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Dump Bins for Your Retail Store Business

Many people share the dream of owning a store one day. Why not? Retailing is a good business, if you know how to start and you have the right attitude.

One of the most important things when running a retail store is the layout of the store. It should be such that everything your store has to offer or your merchandise is visible to the customers. A good way to achieve this is by using effective fixtures such as display tables and shelves, and Dump Bins and placing them in strategic locations so that they are visible to  the customers. Dump bins are paticularly effective if you use them to display items that are on special sale or items that customers frequently forget because they are small or are too common and then place them near the cash register. The customers can just pick the items that they need without having to leave the line.

Equally important is where you get your supply of fixtures. Because they will be used on a long term basis, they should be bought from a reputable dealer to make sure that they are of good quality: durable, flexible in terms of size and easy to install and transport.

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Steinway Pianos and Where To Buy Them

Do you love beautiful music? I have always enjoyed listening to piano music and would stop and listen to a live performance in one of the shopping centers here whenever I happen to be there. Although I am no expert when it comes to music, I can somehow tell if the instrument is a good one by the sound that it creates and the craftmanship. 

In this modern world where technology makes it possible to imitate and replicate originals, it is indeed difficult to know whether you are buying the genuine one. That is why when buying fine pre-owned musical instruments like grand pianos, it is important to first conduct your own reasearch as to which dealer is trustworthy and sells only the originals. How to know if a Steinway piano is authentic? It has the Steinway & Sons certificate of authenticity and offers also warranty.

One of the finest pianos that I know of, which produces that distinct and very refined sound is Steinway, which is built by Steinway & Sons. Steinway & Sons have been in the piano business for 150 years so that whether NEW or Used Steinway Pianos, you can guarantee that you are buying something that is of superior quality. Dedicated to creating the finest pianos in the world, every Steinway piano is built in an unhurried manner, using carefully selected raw materials and the strictest of standards. A grand piano, for instance takes about a year to build. 

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Our 2011 Christmas Meal

This year's Christmas meal consisted of healthy and simple Filipino dishes, mainly seafood. It has been over a year since we feasted on tuna kinilaw so that we bought some fresh tuna at Elma's Fischhandel. If you live in Central Europe, eating fresh seafood is a rarity but if you know where to find them, you are lucky! So I guess we are lucky too.

So here's what we had: garlic shrimps, deep fried fish, tuna kinilaw and vegetable spring rolls.

The shrimps and the fish, we also got from Elma's.We love shrimps with the head and shells on because it is more tasty compared to the shelled ones. I bought Langustino shrimps, the large ones for the garlic shrimps, and Dorade Rose fish and deep fried them. The vegetable spring rolls was relatively easy to make. I sauteed onions, some ground pork, mung bean sprouts, carrot strips, and beans together  and flavored to taste. Then I wrapped them in spring roll sheets, which I got from Asian shops, and then fried in vegetable oil.

For dessert, I made chocolate muffins. My little girl helped decorate them with lady bugs and flowers.

I finished preparing for our Christmas meal in no time. It was a simple but glorious meal, shared with the family.

Hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas celebration too!

More info on Elma's Fischhandel at http://elmas-fischhandel.com.
Location: Neckarwiesenstr.5, 70188 Stuttgart(Großmarkt)
Opening Hours: Mondays: closed,
Tuesdays-Fridays.: 5:00AM-6:00PM, Saturdays: 5:00AM-2:00PM

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Let There Be Light!

Winter is almost here and that means longer nights... Did you know that winter is the time of year when more and more people become depressed? This is because of the lack of exposure to white light. If you want to beat depression, better have as much white light in your house as possible. And to make your room look modern, try putting up contemporary ceiling lights. There are lots of modern designs available today to suit your taste that have different lamping. Whether it is incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, or Xenon. If you want to stay healthy by having a well-lighted room and at the same time create different moods in your home, invest on lighting.

Some ceiling light designs that I really love are the following:

This is a flushmount ceiling light from Robert Abbey Lighting that has incandescent lamping enclosed in a frosted white glass. It is available in three finishes: antique brass, polished nickel and deep Patina bronze.

Got artwork in a room that you want to highlight in your house? This directional lighting with halogen lamps will do the trick! With a satin nickel finish, your room will always be modern and chic!

This two light semi-flush ceiling light is convertible! You can have it installed close to the ceiling or low by attaching the chain. That is why it is also perfect for the dining room!







Take your pick and make way for a more nicely lit room this winter season!

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Shopping Made Easy

Nowadays, I do most of my shopping online. If I am doubtful about a certain product, I would first check it out in the shopping centers, taking note of the size, model, color, etc. before I make my purchase online. Why do I bother to check when I can just purchase them right there and there? This is because most of the stuff sold online are way cheaper than those sold in shopping centers. So far, this is what I have observed.

So why is it cheaper? Maybe because there is no need to rent a place to display the products in an area where there are lots of people. The number of people will also be less. And they can just use the services of another delivery company to do the delivery of the items. I am pretty sure they also have a number of barcode scanners because handling items electronically is way, way more efficient when it comes to inventory and billing.

And there is this thing called Rückgaberecht, which is the right of the customer to return a product item without any questions within fourteen days from the date of arrival to your doorstep. It is the law and is applicable not only for shopping items but also for contracts, for example a mobile phone plan. This is so that you can return the product if it does not fit, or you don't like the color, or you just simply changed your mind.

Now, ain't shopping easier this way?

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Coupons To Save

These are hard times. Prices are steadily increasing and keeping a household can be a tough job, especially if you always go over budget. That is why I try to save whatever I can and cut on things that are not really needed in the house. I have the tendency to just grab whatever I find at the grocery store, especially if they slashed down the price and I end up paying more because of the additional items. To keep myself from doing such "crime" over again, I bring a grocery list, a calculator and a pen. These are really effective in helping me stick to the budget.

The other thing is when I buy goods online, I always try to look for those with coupon codes and those that offer free shipping so that I could save more. I always find Target coupons very helpful in really helping me save. Even if it is just a few cents or dollars per purchase, it could go a long way if you add them all up together. I think that coupons are not just a marketing tool. They are really aimed at helping customers get the most out of their money and help them save at the same time. The Internet has a wealth of offers and coupons to offer if you only know where to look. Before, I just take ignore them, the coupons I mean. But what I didn't know is that entering those special codes each time you check out during an online purchase really decreases the amount that you need to pay. So the next time you shop, use coupons as much as you can. You'll be amazed at how much you are able to save.

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Where Does Your TV Stand?

Anyone who doesn't have a TV, raise your hand! I guess at this day and age, one can expect at least one television unit in a home. Some even have one in each room. With TV becoming a part of our daily lives as a source of information and entertainment, one should of course see to it that it stands on something sturdy and stable.

When it comes to TV stands, online shopping sites is one of the places to go to. They offer all your audio-visual furniture needs and carries many different brands and all types of TV stands that will suit your taste. If you are on a budget, you can choose from a wide selection and offers free shipping on almost all products.

We have always wanted to buy a cantilever TV stand for our flat screen LCD TV but we always hesitate on buying one because the ones we find are just way too expensive. Then I found something that is just prefect. It can suit LCD TVs up to 42" wide and can hold about 40kg of weight. It allows for cables to be managed properly without the unsightly spaghetti look. It has also two shelves made of toughened black glass and will just be perfect for our blueray player and media receiver. It also has a black modern look. And most of all, it helps save space because it does not occupy the entire wall as some TV panels do.

If you want to buy a new one for your LCD TV, just make sure that you consider these things: security (of your TV), comfort (of the viewer when watching) and storage (of your DVDs or players and unsightly cables). Than you will be one happy coucher.

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Precious Time

Time is a very precious commodity. Once it has passed, one can never turn it back. That is why through the years, watches have been developed to be precise as possible so that man is able to work efficiently and that not a second is wasted.

But top quality watches are very hard to come by because when you say precision watches, they also come with a very high price. And for the ordinary human being, having the real thing would just be too much, unless of course, it is given as a gift. Good thing there are now Replica watches at Replica-mania.com. It is very close to the real thing but at a more reasonable price and it tells you the time correctly too.

Replica watches have become famous these days because they look almost like the real thing. Most probably because they are copied down to the finest and smallest detail. The material and clockwork may be different but they are still made with quality and durability in mind. If you have an eye for Swiss precision watches but cannot afford one in the mean time, getting yourself a Rolex replica  is surely not a bad idea. Or if you want to feel like a pilot or an aviator, go get yourself a Breitling replica. They may not be the real thing but wearing them sure can give some self confidence.

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Baby Clothing for Boys

"It's about time". That's what most of our friends say everytime they see my little girl see all grown up. She is now three years old and even we would agree that is about time that she gets a brother or a sister. (But not yet as I have yet to finish my Masters.)

Speaking of babies, I discovered very cute baby clothes from Vertbaudet. Whether it's a baby boy or girl, you can choose some very smart designs for your little one. We want to have a little baby boy and if we would be blessed with one, there are baby clothes 0-3 months that really look so cute on your little man. Any baby boy would look handsome in their collection. I love the colors because they are not very dark and bright and the designs are really stylish. My little girl also owns Vertbaudet and I really love the quality of the cloth. It is  very soft and made of 100% cotton so you wouldn't have to worry about your little boy's sensitive skin. Just looking at their collection now makes me want to stock up on baby clothes for boys. They have everything for your little one from head to toe.

If you are looking for baby boy clothes, try Vertbaudet. "Have your little one step out in style with Vertbaudet!"

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Summer Shopping

Summer is fast approaching and it would be great to add some new collection to your summer wardrobe, right? But sometimes, shopping can be such a task especially if you are looking for clothes that are in special sizes for women. I am not sure if I am already a plus size, perhaps not yet but I am bordering on it. I have looked into some shops here that carry special sizes, particularly plus sizes for women and it looks like they are still too big for me. I would smile and rejoice, saying "Hurrah!" to myself. It is such a relief that I am still on the safe size. Lol!

But if you are big on some parts of your body, here are some safe tips that you could use:

1. If you love stripes, wear the vertical ones to give the illusion of a slim figure.

2. It would be a good idea to skip the low-rise jeans and opt for jeans that fits you well instead.

3. Always match light tops with dark pants. Instead of going for blacks, which does not always slimming give that slimming effect that you need, go monochromatic instead. 

4. Add high heels to your wardrobe. It will make you look more confident.

5. Do not be afraid to wear printed tops. Make sure though that the prints are not large.

I know I can still do something about my big tummy aside from buying an entirely new set of wardrobe. I could either work my butt off and sweat it out in the fitness studio or I could just insist to hubby that he get me pregnant, pronto. But then again, getting pregnant would mean I would need to get new maternity clothing because my old ones were for the winter season. Oh well, might as well do some exercise. It is good for the body and helps relax tense muscles.

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Another Reason To Collect Points

It is a blessing that we live where we live right now. The location is just very ideal. We are only a few steps away from the train station, there are schools around us, a church nearby, and a grocery store just at the ground floor of our building. And even with all the daily hustle and bustle, it is surprisingly a quiet and safe neighborhood.

I love to buy our groceries in the store downstairs because they are fresh and the selection is good. It's a bit pricey compared to other stores but they do have some promotions. They have this point system where you collect points and can get household items of top brands for a very, very low price. Like last winter, I was able to get a WMF stainless steel pan with a nonstick liner valued at €132.90 for only €36.99, that's about €95.91 worth of savings. This month, they are having another promotion where you can get five-star knives from a very well-known German brand. I wonder if they also have a utility knife in the list, as I know I could use one. Let's see. So I am saving all the points I could get. It is not so often that you can get quality knives such as these for a very low price.

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0% Finanzierung

Many shopping stores here have their own gimmicks to get as many customers as they can to come to their store and buy their items. Some hold special sales, others offer very attractive packages and still others, free subscriptions for a few months just for people to try the product. There's another that is very attractive, one that they call 0% Finanzierung in which you can purchase items and pay them on an installment basis at 0% interest. This is one great opportunity that no one would like to pass, right?

For us though, this is something that we like to stay away from. But I guess 0% Finanzierung is not bad at all because you get to enjoy the products that you want to buy at the moment such as an additional samsung lcd so that the husband and the daughter will not fight over what tv program to watch. Most of the time, it is the daughter who wins though. Lol! An advantage of this types of special offers? You don't have to take out a large amount of money at the moment just to satisfy your craving. That means you can have better use of your cash while still enjoying some of the good things in life.

Too bad the 0% Finanzierung at Media Markt ends on the 5th of February. We are disqualified because our AE (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) expires in three months and we have yet to renew or extend it on the 7th of February.

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Time to Change

Early last month, my husband went to the tire service center to have our summer tires replaced with winter tires. The cold season was fast approaching then and it is here to stay for four more months. He went to the usual service center where he purchased the tires and asked the mechanic to have our tires changed. And the mechanic jokingly said that changing our tires is a lot of work. 

Why? Because we don't have spare tire rims, which means that with every tire change, the technicians will also need to remove the rims from each tire and replace it to the other tires, reinstall the sensors and all the other technical stuff that technicians do when replacing tires.They would also need to perform wheel balancing and alignment after putting the tires back.

We will definitely be needing a new set of tire rims in the summer. That way, our tires won't need to undergo stress from all the pulling when the rims need to be removed and the technicians will have an easier job at replacing them. Hubby wants premium alloy for the rims and I know just where to find them - on the Internet, of course!

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Best Time to Shop

I have always considered myself a thrifty spender. Ever since I became an expat about four years ago, I have learned how to spend money well (or perhaps not). I always scour for shops that sell quality goods at a much lesser price. I ask around. I check the print ads, even the Internet. And if you are to ask me when is the best time to shop? I would immediately answer: the end of the year or better yet, Christmas!

It is during this time of the year where people are expected to spend more because of the gift giving season and so many stores offer lots of gift items at discounted prices. This makes it more attractive to Christmas shoppers especially if they see a price slash in the tag.

December is also the time when businesses perform their inventory and in preparation for the new stocks that will come in the next year, they usually hold clearance sales to empty their warehouses or stock rooms faster. Offering discounts as much as 70% is more than anyone can hope for right? 

We were planning to buy some carpets for our home when I chanced upon the newspaper ad that said Räumungsverkauf (Clearance Sale) and so we went last Saturday. It was a very big carpet warehouse that sells original, oriental handmade carpets from India. We actually got a couple of big carpets and some small floor rugs at a very good price and we went home smiling. No more cold floors in the living room then!

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Oh Christmas Tree!

On my way home today, I dropped by a home deco shop to buy a Christmas stocking for my little girl. The Kindergarten sent us a note saying the Nikolaustag is just around the corner so that my little girl should bring along with her a nice stocking to be filled by Santa later on. When I entered the shop, I suddenly had the urge to shop for Christmas decorations. I have been longing to put up our own Christmas tree this year since it has been a while since I decorated one.

I really was so tempted! I really started filling up shopping basket with ribbons, Christmas balls, angels and small Santas and candy canes, candles and garlands and I had to stop and put them all back. It just wasn't time to buy yet because it was not in my budget for this month. The next paycheck is still a few days away and I just can't ask for cash advances, because I don't even have a regular job that earns me a regular salary to start with. That said, I ended up buying three Christmas stockings and a deep red table runner for our non-existent six-seater dining table. Hahaha!

But just wait till the end of the month. I will definitely go back to that shop to buy Christmas decors. And since the Christmas markets are opening soon, I know I will have more great finds!

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When In Venice...

Have you ever been to Venice? It is one very romantic city, perfect for honeymooners. There's so much to see and do in this magical place where you have canals for streets and bus ferries and gongolas for cars: join the Mardi Gras, ride a gondola, visit the grand churches, eat gelato in the smeltering heat of the sun, or simply dine or have coffee at the numerous restaurants. While it is famous for tourism, there's another thing that it is famous for: Murano Glass.

A master glassmaker at Fornace Estevan Rossetto who showed us how glass is made.

Murano Island in Venice has been producing handmade glass since 1291. Through the years, they have perfected the technique for handmade glass and are able to make various glass and crystal pieces in various shapes, sizes, color and purpose. One can visit the glass museum and also tour one of the private glassmaking houses in the island.

Most of the Murano glasses are made using the lampworking technique, where it uses a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is formed by blowing and shaping with tools and hand movements. This is why one can see various Murano glass products from simple paper weights and glass beads to complex glass figures and chandeliers.

Popular among tourists are: Murano Glass Jewelry, particularly the Murano Glass Pendants.  They make very good souvenirs and gifts for your loved ones. And because each piece is handmade, no two pieces are exactly the same.

So if ever you are in Venice, don't forget to visit the Murano Island and be entranced by its beauty and it's Venetian tradition that has withstood the test of time: the Murano Glass.

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