Earlier today, while I was browsing to compare dental insurance quotes, I was told that a package for me has arrived but I need to pay for something. I saw that I need to pay Fedex a thousand pesos for custom stamps, taxes and storage fee.

This is frustrating as I ordered my photobooks and chose regular airmail for shipping, but got the Fedex shipping service. If via airmail, I will just have to pay 35 pesos for each photobook at the post office. I never heard of any complaint or bad review on Artscow about shipping before so I didn’t expect this. Or maybe I wasn’t just reading their forum often enough.

It may be a generous(?) gesture by Artscow to upgrade the shipping to Fedex but instead, this made my experience unsatisfactory. So just today when someone asked me at Facebook about Artscow, I’m no longer sure if I should still recommend them.

If I’ll be shelling out that much money for Fedex shipping, I might just as well order my photobooks from a local store like Digiprint or some other printing shop that’s just starting up. Tsk tsk.

I’m not sure why but I have some ballet-themed kits. As much as I want my daughter to enroll in a ballet class, she doesn’t want to, no matter how insistent I am. Still, she twirls when she dances. And I must say, her twirl is just amazing, you’d think she studies ballet.

Here’s a photo of her when she was 2 years old.

Credits:
Template: sensational singles 2 by Janet Phillips (SSD)
Papers and elements from Just Too Funky kit by Zoe Pearn and Manda Bean (SSD)
Tiptoe/tulip stamp from Barefoot kit by Shabby Princess
alpha from Smooches kit by Amanda Heimann (Scrap Orchard)

And last week, it was their talent show in school. Initially, I thought she’ll be singing but then, I was surprised when she asked me to buy her a ballet costume. I simply told her that it’s not within our budget, and it would be a luxury to buy a costume if she isn’t going to ballet classes. So again, I asked her if she wants to attend ballet classes (then I can buy her the costume), to which she did not agree, as always.

She danced ballet at their talent show, alright. She also chose “blue danube” as the music to dance to. I wasn’t able to go to her school to watch her but I’m glad she showed me her dance so I can snap some shots.

If only I waited a bit longer, I would have known about costume kingdom coupons at dropdowndeals before I actually purchase my kids’ costumes. But I was in a hurry, was afraid they won’t arrive at my aunt’s place in time for her flight.

Anyway, my daughter decided to be mermaid this year. This time, it’s final as I no longer have budget for additional costume in case she suddenly changes her mind again.

Found some interesting kits while browsing at digishoptalk.com

Yesterday was the deadline of Artscow’s promo on 30-paged 8×8 photobooks. I was able to finish photobooks of Mikee’s 1st birthday and our Bohol trip. And last Thursday, I just thought I can still finish another one on time.

I was able to finish it alright. I was able to order a total of 5 photobooks last night. I admit I spent a couple of sleepless nights to avail of the promo price.

But if you missed this promo, there’s hope.
Until August 3rd, there’s 20% discount on all products (except prints) with free shipping too!

Coupon Code: 20ALLOFF

So yes, I’m back to digiscrapping more photobooks.

Woot! Woot!

I received an invite to Google+ about 2 weeks ago. Still, I haven’t had the time to go about it to know how it works. For one, the language was in Filipino which made it more difficult to understand since it uses a lot of really “old” Tagalog words. But today, the husband insisted I invite him so I took time to change the language.

There was so much hype over it going to be Facebook’s terminator, it is my impression that Google+ would help bloggers get more traffic by recommendations from current readers. If that’s the case, then +1 me!

Content by Mac Kline

Gossip Girl is one of the hottest shows that is on television right now, and this is probably a large part of why Blake Lively is my favorite actress. She is not only a great actress, but she is also an amazing style icon as well. All of the top designers want her at their fashion shows, and they also allow her private viewings of all of their different items. She loves fashion, and she looks good wearing it, and she is a great role model for all of the younger girls that watch her, since the target viewer for Gossip Girl of the high school age. If you are looking for a person to copy their style trends, then this is the girl that you are going to want to watch. Everything that she wears is super hot, and I always watch to see what she is watching on Gossip Girl on my satellite tv from http://www.directstartv.com. If you are looking to watch a great actress on a suspenseful show, then Gossip Girl just may be the show for you. You don’t even have to be at the high school age to enjoy it either, because it is great for all ages.

Artscow is again having a promo on their 8×8 30-paged photobooks. Until July 29th, a photobook only costs $9.99, free shipping. This made me want to finish all the photobooks I have in mind. But life has become busier than anticipated, more visits to the pedia than scheduled, more encounters with med techs and their medical equipment than we wanted. So until now, I only have 2 photobooks waiting on my cart.

Anyway, the coupon code for the 8×8 30-paged photobooks for $9.99 is 8X830P99.

I was browsing the SSD store for a kit that I can use for the invite and souvenirs I have in mind. Well, actually, the souvenirs that I saw from a friend who is also one of the SSD SugarBabes. I have a color combination in mind so I initially chose this Brighten The Day kit by Julie Billingsley.

I shared this to my friend, and she immediately suggested a better kit also by Julie Billingsley, the Brotherly Love kit. The kit does not only have my preferred color combination, but also its theme would be perfect for the guest book that I plan to make which would have photos of my son and my daughter together.

But you will have to wait till end of September (or maybe October, depending on my eagerness to blog) before photos of the finished invites, souvenirs and guestbook to be posted here.

Healthy eating should be encouraged at home and something that should be done by the whole family. Kids even at a young age should be introduced to this type of lifestyle so that they will carry this habit even in the coming years. But is it even possible? Encouraging young children to munch on celery and carrot sticks when the taste buds are craving for sweets and candies?

With proper techniques and parenting skills, you’ll be able to introduce a healthy diet to your kids. Start by looking for fun and easy recipes. You can find easy to prepare dishes that are nutritious in several health magazines or online. Let the kids join in food preparation and use this time to introduce them to different fruits and vegetables. As they become more familiar to it, they will be more interested and curious to try it.

Remember that a meal does not have to be boring. Cut vegetables in different shapes and sizes; mix a variety of veggies with different colors for a lively presentation. And of course don’t that as parents, you should serve as role models when it comes to eating healthy and right.

Joy is a freelance content writer is also fond of traveling and outdoor adventures. She enjoys working for tagpaptag and sees this as an opportunity to share information about a special type of roofing.

When my sister saw the gifts that Mikee received for her birthday, she asked me why some of them are Hello Kitty items, knowing Mikee loves Dora. I kidded her asking was she expecting spa gifts for her niece. Hahaha. I explained to her that this was because Mikee’s design of her invites is Hello Kitty themed.

I noticed that only after Mikee’s first birthday party that people give gifts that are in line with the party theme. She received a lot of Disney princess items. I realized, that of course, people would assume any gift/item with the same character on it would be best appreciated by the birthday kid. After all, themes are (usually) the kid’s favorite character.