Link Love: September 1, 2011

Hello everyone! I am so happy to be back on the blog. I am hoping that I am a better manager of my schedule in September. Good news -- I have a lot of links to share with you today! I hope that you will find a couple that will either help or entertain you or BOTH!

turningArt
A new, 100% risk-free way to discover, fall in love with, and ultimately buy artwork. Starting at $15/month, you will get unlimited print rotations and see what art works best with your home. Look at it like the Netflix for your blank wall.

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee
The blog of the beautiful Sarah Mae who created one of my favorite e-books "31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way." I just found out she is currently visiting Nashville and wish I got the chance to meet her!

Twitter Book Recommendations by Craig Groeschel
Pastor and author Craig Groeschel asked his Twitter friends to recommend leadership and spiritual books. Awesome reading list.

Parenting on Your Knees by Megan Hyatt Miller
Megan thoughtfully talks about being intentional and purposeful about praying for and with your children.

Mark Driscoll is a bully. Stand up to him. by Rachel Held Evans
I do not doubt for one second that Pastor Mark Driscoll loves Jesus and has had impressive leadership success. However, I have heard statements he has made in the past that made my spirit weep. I also have so much respect for Rachel Held Evans. Although her manner of response is not something I would do, I am actually glad someone stood up and brought this to his attention.

Obvious to you. Amazing to others. by Derek Sivers
Every time I second-guess a new idea, I watch this.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became A Parent by RefineUs
Lessons from a couple who had their first child in their early 20s.

The Digital Mom Handbook: How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home
I am really enjoying this book and have started making some moves.

The Fives Rules of Spiritual Engagement at Work by The High Calling
A great article in effectively and boldly integrating faith in the workplace.

BLT Bites by Bee in our Bonnet
Perfect and easy appetizers!

Discovering Your Passion by Kingdom Dreams
A great e-book. And it's free!

Strawberry Summer Cake by Mom Spark
Thinking of making this when my husband celebrates his birthday at youth service.

Connecting Youth Pastors' Wives
I feel understood here.

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes by Giver's Log
My mouth is watering. Planning to make this one Saturday morning.

How to tie a scarf
Printing this out and putting it up on my closet door. A much-needed guide as fall arrives.

The Perfect Palette
It is meant to be a wedding blog to help brides to pick out the perfect color scheme but I look to this for outfit and decorating ideas.

34 Photoshop Tutorials That Will Leave You Looking Like a Pro by onextrapixel
I am going to need this once I start making time for a proper photography lesson.

10 Can't Miss Photos to Take Each Month by Creating Keepsakes
A printable list of photography subjects. A great project to do in 2012.

The 50 Best Websites of 2011 by TIME
Found a couple of gems here.

And the verdict is ... by Perry's Scope
A thoughtful reaction to the Casey Anthony verdict

52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion by SCOUTIEGIRL
A great blogging how-to e-book in a month-by-month format. Makes a great Christmas gift to anyone who wants to start blogging in 2012.

Movie Mistakes
I love movie goofs that made past the editing room. For example, Tom Cruise in Top Gun wears no sunglasses and then has them on in the same scene.

How about you? What are you looking at today?

 

Link Love: June 22, 2011

I am loving the warm summer month of June! And what I am loving more is the fact that today I will be sharing with you some awesome links I have found on the Web lately.

Hope that you find at least a couple of stories that will bring delight to you!


My entryway and a Huggable Hangers giveaway by I'm an Organizing Junkie
A lady had an entryway closet that looked exactly like ours. Therefore, her organizing project inspired mine. In fact, I copied it down to the last detail!

Five Simple Steps to Tone Your Thighs by Tip Junkie
An easy step-by-step guide to get rid of that thigh jiggle. Bookmark this if you want to look like a million bucks in your summer shorts.

10 Tips to Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons by Simple Midwest Mom
Too busy to get into couponing? There are still many other ways to cut back on your grocery expenses.

How to Lose Friends by In The Name of Love
A well-written blog post by Bianca Juarez about cultivating friendships -- something I am still trying to figure out up to this day.

Happy Mother's Day by Jill Thomas Photography
A gorgeous maternity photo shoot of actress Autumn Reeser. I loved her in the television show No Ordinary Family.

How Should We Respond to Osama bin Laden's Death? by JoshHarris.com
It was difficult for me to process my feelings and reaction to bin Laden's death. Josh Harris wrote a very thoughtful and helpful perspective.

Simple Tips to Grill the Perfect Burger by Lifehacker
I have never grilled a burger but this article makes it so easy. You will see me flip some patties soon!

Eight Easy Ways to Get Traffic to Your Blog by Style Me Pretty
Helpful tips by Abby Larson. Beginners will learn a lot of this post.

Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
The most beautiful response to a theological debate that has produced the good, the bad, and the ugly.

How You Can Come With Us to the Philippines by Chatting at the Sky
I am doing everything I can to get more people to sponsor a Filipino child through Compassion International. Please take the time to read this.

Dating Delilah by Judah Smith
A youth pastor wrote purity from his own perspective. The ebook is free to download.

What to Do with Old Cards and Letters by Simple Mom
I managed to keep all cards and letters since I was in elementary school! Yes, believe it. Now I know what to do with them.

One Habit that Radically Changes a Family by A Holy Experience
Six ways to develop the habit of daily family Bible reading.

Why Is It So Hard to Connect Spiritual Value to Our Work? by The High Calling
Our spiritual life should stand out in the workplace. The way we do our work must be driven by our deep love for Jesus. One of the many great posts in an excellent blog about being Christ-like in the marketplace.

iPad Resources by Andy Naselli
I haven't seen a good iPad 'must-haves' list in a long time. Andy Naselli wrote a very good one.

A Balanced View on Singleness by Boundless
Are you single and Christian? A deeper look on pursuing marriage honorably.

Catalyst Adoption Story
I love how Catalyst uses its influence to encourage believers to adopt. This story by Andy and Tanya Ehlers is making me seriously consider foster care in the next couple of years.

Japan: three months after the quake by Boston.com
Haunting photographs of Japan three months after the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami rocked the country.

What I Learned from the Best Hostesses

If I can describe the kind of life Robert and I have lived since 2008, it is a picture of consecutive transitions that involved traveling through different cities, and staying in each place for about 7-14 days at a time. We were fortunate enough to have been on the receiving end of many gracious hosts who treated us with so much kindness and made us feel like we were part of their families.

Now that it looks like we are going to be living in Nashville for a while, what can I do to extend the gift of hospitality without having much experience? I definitely have the heart to serve and offer a room to anyone who needs a place to sleep at night.

Today, I am grateful I can look back at those times when hostesses created extraordinary teaching moments to someone like me who barely had any time to settle in one place for too long. I knew having us around required extra work on their part but they always made us feel that it was a pleasurable thing for them to do.

Here are some valuable lessons that I have learned from the best hostesses.

1) Provide a generous number of bathing essentials. Sometimes it's hard to work with a single piece of towel. It's nice to have at least two bath towels, and additional ones for the face and the hand. Same goes for toilet paper. The most awkward thing for a guest is to ask for extra rolls of toilet paper because he/she went to the bathroom too many times. Another thoughtful gesture is providing basic toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, Q-tips, cotton balls, tissue, lotion, shampoo and conditioner.

2) Make it easy for guests to locate things.  It is very considerate to make guests' basic needs accessible. These include (but not limited to) extra towels, pillows, blankets, iron, toiletries, snacks, and drinking water. Include a welcome note with the password of your home wireless Internet for that extra touch. If you want your visitors to easily clean up after themselves, leave rolls of paper towels and a bottle of all-purpose cleaning spray by the bathroom sink. Want your guest to avoid the awkwardness of fixing personal, private mishaps? Discreetly put a plunger in the corner of your bathroom. Include a bottle of air freshener so they can comfortably mask personal scents. And oh don't forget the wastebasket!

3) Have their favorite morning drink available. Find out the favorite comfort morning drink of your guest. Everyone has one! Nothing says "It is my joy to have you over" than freshly brewed coffee or tea especially made for a friend. Another thoughtful touch: leave a $5 Starbucks gift card and a city map in the guest room as a welcome gesture!

4) Provide closet and/or dresser space. I am not sure if many can relate to this but when I reach my intended destination, my first order of business is unpacking and making sure I know where my things are. An empty section of a closet or dresser is heaven-sent when I take on this task!  Provide several hangers so that guests get a chance to smooth out the wrinkles of their clothes. Include a travel-sized spray bottle of Downy Wrinkle-Releaser. An added bonus: a full-length mirror available in their bedroom!

5) Stock the room with reading materials. Another demonstration of thoughtfulness is leaving a couple of magazines, a newspaper, or a "local scene" newsletter. Giving the guests a chance to unwind before bedtime lets them know that you care about their rest. One creative hostess even left a language book and some chocolates! And don't forget to provide proper lighting to complement their reading time.


Hospitality comes in different shapes and sizes. And I feel so blessed to have seen a lot of those different shapes -- all are more than wonderful and taught me in huge ways.

The five practical ways of being a great hostess was impressive to me not because my needs as a guest were met (although that in itself is a beautiful thing). It was the heart behind those acts of kindness. There is something extraordinary that takes place when members of a host family allow themselves to be used by God through a home-cooked meal, an engaging conversation, and shared laughter.

Isn't it very loving to provide that kind of warmth to people in today's cold, disconnected world? I am excited to talk more about this subject in my next blog post: The Heart of a Gracious Hostess. Watch out for it!

1 Peter 4:9 (ESV) says,

"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

Tell me today:

What ideas do you have to make a guest's visit more enjoyable?

Saving Money with Daily Deal Websites

Last Update: October 27, 2011

If you have ever signed up for Groupon and Living Social, you know exactly what I am talking about.

No clue on how daily deal websites work? Let me explain it to you in the easiest way possible.

A website features an extraordinary deal (as much as 50-75% off) on a store, boutique, tourist spot, creative service, or restaurant in your city. The promotional offer usually lasts 24 hours which entices consumers to snag the deal immediately.

How do you find out about daily deals? Go to the website, search for your city, and sign-up using your e-mail address. You will get an e-mail daily explaining the day's current deal.

How does this happen? The website negotiates a deal with a merchant to give a steep discount that is not found anywhere else. A sale like this promises a good volume of new customers to the seller.

In summary, here is how it works:
1. The website emails you an incredible local, online deal everyday.
2. Deals are only offered for a limited time, usually 24 hours.
3. Interested in in deal? Buy it before time runs out.
4. You will get a voucher through e-mail once you are done with payment
4. Print your voucher and it is used like cash. If the sale is online, you get a coupon code.
5. Enjoy your savings!

Robert and I have enjoyed new places here in Nashville because of these websites. We have toured a plantation, gone wine/chocolate tasting, watched a movie on its day of release, and ate at upscale places we never usually go to at full price.

Are you interested in signing up for these websites? Here is a summary of my sources of daily deals.

1 Sale a Day

Bloomspot

BuyWithMe

bloomspot

Crowd Savings

Daily Candy

Daily Flock

Double Take Deals

Eversave

Groupon

Heartsy

HomeRun

iCouponOnline

KGB Deals

Living Social

Mamapedia

MealDeal

Mertado

Moolala

Only 144

Qponday

PopSugar City

Scoop St

Scoutmob

Sharing Spree

Style Blueprint Deal

Target

TIPPR

Woot

Yes, believe it -- I subscribe to all these savings sites and I love getting a good deal when I stumble upon something we really need. Please remember that I live in Nashville, which is a fairly popular city. You might not see your city on some of the sites, depending on where you live, but you might get deals that are available nationwide or online.

*Note: Some of these sites have a referral codes embedded in links. If you do decide to sign up, I will be grateful that you acknowledge that I led you to them!

Obsessed with Everything Blue and Brown!

It has always been my favorite color combination and still is to this very day! I have been really obsessed lately with design inspirations for the home in these colors.

Looking For Ideas: Wall Photo Gallery

I have been looking hard around the web for inspiration on how to display some of my most cherished photographs that are stored in my hard drive. Our walls are very bare right now and it needs to come alive soon.

Here are some wall galleries that I really like.

Bree Hester Photography

Katie the Scrapbook Lady

the DAILY digi

Little Birdie Secrets

Laura Lopez

The Picture Wall Company

High-heeled Foot in the Door

KI.D Collective

Any more suggestions on beautiful wall galleries? I would love to take on this project soon!

Building A Basic Pantry

I consider myself a rookie when it comes to running a household. I have had only about 3 years of practice in our little apartment in Manila.

Photo Credit: Women's Health Magazine

I had it so easy:

• We lived in an apartment complex where it had a large grocery store in it. I can be spontaneous with cooking dinner because I knew I was only a few steps away from getting the ingredients.
• Prices of grocery items there were so low. I can fill up a cart filled with a week's worth of meals for only about $50.
• We also lived a couple of blocks away from a 'wet' market. How wonderful it was to have easy access to fresh fish that was caught literally that morning!
• I had a helper who came in on certain days of the week to assist me in household chores. This meant that I was blessed to have someone do the food preparation for me.
• On really busy nights, there was a cafeteria located also inside the our apartment complex. It only takes one quick phone call and I have someone knocking on our door with a freshly cooked dinner. And it was delicious food. The price? Only $2 per plate!

Now that we live in new city with a higher cost of living, I am starting to appreciate the importance of menu planning so that we can stay within our monthly food budget. I have been a big believer that planning is an integral part of stewardship -- God has blessed me and Robert with so much; and I want to be able to use everything He has given us in ways that give Him honor.

We are currently concluded our 21-day fast. On the beginning of February, the first order of business is to stock our pantry with cooking staples. I will be planning our menu based on what is stocked in the kitchen.

Lifestyle, culture, and dietary preferences determine what makes the 'staple pantry list.' By giving this a lot of thought, here is the list that I came up with.

1. Olive oil
2. Salt
3. Pepper
4. Sugar
5. Soy sauce
6. Vinegar
7. Canned tuna
8. Chicken broth
9. Jarred spaghetti sauce
10. Brown rice
11. Whole grain bread
12. Whole wheat pasta
13. Tomatoes
14. Garlic
15. Onions
16. Butter 
17. Milk
18. Dry cereal
19. Eggs
20. Cheeses - mozzarella, parmesan, American
21. Carrots
22. Whole kernel corn
23. Sweet peas
24. Lemon
25. Dried fruits
26. Nuts

Share with me:

What is your list of pantry staples?

Book Review: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

When I got this book in the mail (thank you BookSneeze!), I was more excited than the usual because what it is all about is not what I usually review.

While I will always love books on Christian life, theology and even fiction, I can always use a book that will help me become a better homemaker and money manager. Something that's practical and can be easily applied to the very unique household Robert and I are accustomed to.

"Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half" by "America's Cheapest Family" Steve and Anne Economides (yes -- it's really their last name) just does that.

This book is not intimidating. Admittedly, I was concerned that the lessons shared might be unrealistic to my household and the third-world culture that I call my permanent residence.

Each lesson / money-saving tip is placed in one chapter. This means that I can choose to apply one tip and completely ignore the other.

There is no requirement to do all the recommendations in order to make an impact on our budget. Every single tip will do make some changes!

Running a home and staying on top of family finances is a beautiful calling from God. I take this privilege seriously.

While I am not expert at it (I am learning daily and sometimes the hard way!), I am glad that I have access to resources that teach me to grow in my role. This book is one of them! For any family who needs to save more (which is pretty much everyone), I highly recommend getting a copy of this book.

Moving Out Day

As most of you know, we are heading to the United States on April 12th. This trip is important because we want to take care of my mother-in-law who is recovering from brain surgery. We will also use this time to, once again, raise our ministry support. I hope that you cover us in prayers as we go on this journey.

In preparation for this trip, Robert and I decided to finally move out of our current apartment. Aside from the fact that the owner of our place recently put it up for sale, we are also believing for a new place to live that we can buy when we come back.

Our home looked like this for more than three years.


And turned into this in the past week.


Days leading up to the time we finally move out has been a test on leaning on God's strength and not my own. I hosted a rummage sale that went on for several days; put up a lot of our furniture for sale; packed everything; and segregated the boxes.


I had to separate our things into six main divisions: sell, dispose, donate, storage, Baguio trip, and US trip. I also had to attend to the proper disconnection of all utilities, made sure all bills are accounted for, filed paperwork for the clearance of our moving out, and keep up with my full-time work.

I almost expected that I would have a nervous breakdown at some point but I refused to believe that it is meant to happen. Instead I chose one Bible verse to carry me through this time.

"Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always." 
(1 Chronicles 16:11)

True enough, my beloved Jesus Christ sustained me and Robert throughout this crucial time. Although there were occasional stressful moments, the whole process was smoother than we expected. No tears, no frustrating moments, and most of all, no anxiety attacks!

We had friends who came by and offered help. There were those who checked in on us and offered food (made a very wise assumption that we were too busy to eat). Others called to let us know they were eager to help.

Robert's family came by to help too. Our driver Edwin was amazing. And there is our loyal and trusted helper Ate Lisa -- who was like our little angel from heaven during this time.




Our friend Sheila offered her truck -- which was a huge help. We only had to make one trip for the move out.


I also had a husband whose leadership I leaned on during this time. He was my rock during these past couple of weeks. He was always available and supportive. One of the many reasons why I get reminded how wonderful he is!

I will miss our home for the past three years. I will never forget how we spent the first part of our marriage here.


Here's to a day of new beginnings! We have a new life and we are new creations through the risen Christ!


Happy Easter everyone!