Christmas Day 2015

The kids was part of the Christmas pageant at church so we had to leave the family gathering early.  Christmas pageant is an annual play of the  St. Joseph's students depicting the life of Jesus.  My son's part was  the  chief  shepherd.  The pageant is heald before the 6 o-clock mass.  It was a really good presentation.

 We took some photos  at home after church.  When my husband holds the camera, the photos comes in many different faces lol.

 The kids went to bed around 9 o'clock.  MY son reminded us to go to bed early so Santa wouldn't  pass our home.  Hubby and I  spent almost three hours, assembling the   gift that Santa have for the kiddos.

 We thought we will be able to sleep in on Christmas day but the kids were very excited to open gifts so they  woke us up at 6 am wahhh. I was so tired and sleepy.  When we went to the living room, all the gifts were taken out and piled up according to who it was for lol.

  It was funny, my son was  bummed out that they couldn't  find any gifts from Santa underneath the tree or anywhere in the  main house.  Santa actually left all his gifts  at the basement so I asked them to let the dogs out and they finally saw their  gifts when they  went down there.

 EJ got the  "professional" art kit that he wished  for.

 Daughter couldn't wait to see the  bean bag chair that she's been wanting for Christmas.

Her brother loved her  bean bag chair so he said he wants one for his birthday which is coming up  in three weeks.  Time flies, EJ is turning 9 years old.  Oh boy, where do the time go?

Hubby thought we didn't have  anythingwrapped for him but we were  sneaky about it.  The kids  got him somethingand I got him somethingas well.  Of all the people, we couldn't  forget  the man of the house.

 Ryestein got an artkit  from Santa as well.

 She also got her bother this nike set that we found  on sale when  she and I went shopping while the boys  watched the Star Wars movie.

 Theylove the  iPOd cases that we got for them.

Funny to hear them say "this is the best Christmas ever" every year!

 They got an air hockey from Santa.  Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus  had  a hard time putting this together lol.

 It is a great joy seeing them enjoy what Santa bring though.

 Even their Dad is having a great time playing with them.

 I hope you all have a great and merriest Christmas just like we did.  Iwish you all a  joyous new year! Shadow Shots

Secret Santa Shopping

Today,  I asked my husband to take a day off.  He is  actually off on Fridays but he  called off work last MOnday because he was  sick.  He wanted to work today so he doesn't have to use his PTO but  I told him that we have some  errands to do.  "Santa" has to finish gathering all the  stuff he needs  before Christmas and so we went.  We tried to  finish doing  our secret shopping  before the kids get out of school.  

We wrapped  some gifts for   friends and relatives and they delivered it today before they went to their piano  lessons.  

While EJ was taking his piano lessons, we drove around Marland Heights and see some Christmas lights.  We were  happy to see that the Marland Heights pool was also lit up.

 I would love to have this in my yard.  I will go to the store when Christmas is over and see if I can find  one like this on sale.  It would be nice to have one next year.

Strategies For the Placement of Art in Your Home

The wall art that you select for your home can influence your mood and impact the emotions of those visiting your home. When choosing art for your home, the subject matter, the style of the artwork and the colors in a painting are factors you will want to take into consideration before making a purchase. It's also important that you consider the possible placement of each piece of art before buying it. Even the most beautifully created masterpiece can lose some of its impressiveness if it is inappropriately placed.

Guests form a first impression of your home when they enter your foyer. The art you hang there contributes to that impression and can also lend a hint to the tone of the overall decor you've chosen for your home. When selecting art for your living and dining areas, consider the diversity of people who'll enter these areas and the various types of entertaining you will be doing there.

Typically, a guest room or master bedroom decor is intended to create a serene atmosphere that encourages relaxation. There should always be a location in your home where you can go for a brief escape from a hectic day or stressful moments or for a lengthy period of relaxation. A mural that features a French painting by a master painter such as Oliver Rochefort is an ideal way to bring serenity to that area of your home. Creating a sitting area that includes a mural that depicts a tranquil countryside or visually beckons you onto a sunlit terrace or into a peaceful, rustic garden can provide you with a place of escape where you can visualize yourself as a part of that soothing scene. 

Selecting fine art pieces for your home and the placement of those pieces is something you should give serious consideration to. Wall art can be the focal point of a room or a beautifully, subtle complementary feature in a room. While you may frequently change some of your decorative accessories, the artwork you select is something that will likely remain in place for a long time.

A Summer Job They BOth Love

These past summer, one of our neighbor hire the kids to take care of their dog whenever they're at work.  The kids were very happy because  they find something to do  during their school break.  I   was so glad too because  at a young age, my kids are starting to appreciate having a "job" and earning from it.  So you see, just because  they work for it, they learn to value their money.  

 I mean, I have no issue with my daughter in saving money but my son is a spender.  This  "job" however , changed his perception about  spending.  He learned that, it feels better to  work and "earn" from it.  He saved all his "summer job" pay in his wallet and hasn't  spend it yet.  He said that he will continue to save his money so that when he is old enough to drive, he has some saved up already to buy his own car.  I think, in his mind, buying a car is like buying a box of donutt lol.  But it's okay, at least he is  setting a goal for him to work on.

 I love that our neighbors dogs are so gentle.  They are big dogs but really gentle with kids.

 We had a great summer and these dogs are part of it.  Dog sitters is a summer job they both love.

Our children are still young but hubby and I  are  planting seed in their young mind that  it is very important to be active.  We told them the importance of  work and working hard to achieve  goals.

What Can I Do To Optimize The Appearance Of My Home?

As many homeowners know, optimizing the appearance of one's living space can boost mood, enhance comfort, and make your house the haven you've always wanted it to be. However, many residential property owners find themselves uncertain how to get the home improvement process started. If this is your current dilemma, know that there are numerous home improvement strategies that can enhance your property's aesthetic. Here are three of them: 

1. Invest In New Furniture.

One great way for you to optimize the appearance of your home is to invest in new furniture. New furniture refreshes your residential property and also optimizes its functionality by ensuring that you're no longer dealing with old, decrepit pieces. When you start the search for new furniture, be sure to take your shopping endeavors online. Online furniture companies like Boyles Furniture and  Rugs are pleased to offer a wide range of excellent brands, including Bernardt. 

2. Hire An Interior Decorator. 

In addition to optimizing the appearance of your home by investing in new furniture, you can accomplish the objective by hiring an interior decorator. Although DIY projects are all the rage these days, you're much more likely to attain the proficient, precise services that enhance your property's aesthetic when you leave the work to the professionals. As you start your search for the ideal interior decorator, be sure that she or he possesses all of the following attributes:

• positive online reviews

• industry experience 

• a proven track record

• excellent customer service

3. Go Green. 

Yet another strategy you can implement to make your home look amazing is to go green. While adopting more environment-friendly home improvement practices is good for the planet, it can also enhance the look of your residential property. For example, replacing artificial light with natural light from the sun can provide your property with a very organic, lively aesthetic. Keep in mind that many interior decorators specialize in transforming traditional homes into green friendly havens. 

Start Optimizing Your Home Right Now

If you want your residential property to look absolutely incredible, it's important to know that implementing proven strategies will help expedite and optimize the home improvement process. To ensure that you can take your home's aesthetic from good to great, be sure to utilize some or all of the techniques and tips provided above!

Last Hurrah of the Summer

A close friend invited us over to their house to swim.  I told my husband that we would surprise the kids  and that we should not  tell them about it.  I [packed their swimming  stuff and towels and put it in the car before they come home from school,  So when they got home, we told them that their piano  lesson was moved at an earlier time so we have to leave  real soon.  They changed their uniform and grabbed their books and off we went.  They were not paying attention when  we were driving  so they did not realize where we are going until we made that turn and they finally saw where were at.  They asked why we were there, we told them that I have to drop off something.  We bought a cake  at Gus's Goodies.  When we parked, the kids asked if they can go down the car nd say hi to the kids.  We said yes.

 When we  got to their  baclyard, the other kids were in their swimsuit and our kids was like wondering.  So we spilled the beans and told them to change their  clothes and  swim.  They were so shocked lol.  We got them really good.  My son kept telling me "Mom,, you lied to us!"  I told him that it was a good lie hahaha.

 They really had a great time out there.

 These two are BFFs, they are like two peas in a pod. I love watching them   have fun.

I hope that when they grow up that they will still be friends.  So this was their last hurrah of the summer this year.  Although, EJ got sick the next morning, at least they have enjoyed to the fullest.