Back to School Shopping for Footwear

I decided not to buy shoes from the uniform place because it is very expensive there.  A pair  costs more than $40 over there  and  although it last for the whole year, I still think it is  a bit much for school uniform shoes.  I got a  coupon from  payless so we  shopped there.  My husband was hesitant to buy their shoes there because he is  the type  that likes to buy "branded".  I am more practical.  I see it as practical shopping especially for shoes.  The kids feet grows  faster than you can't imagine so buying branded shoes is not  so practical  at all.  Anyhow, here are the shoes that we bought  at Payless.

Gym Shoes -  every year, we buy them an extra pair of shoes to use for their Gym classes.  Their gym shoes  are still in great condition but they can't use it anymore the next year as their feet grew bigger.  Again, not practical to buy branded shoes because they only use it once a week in school.  Their gym shoes stayed in school after  every use so there's no way they can use it at home.

Uniform Shoes, we bought each of them a pair of uniform shoes.  Ms. Burrito  has  extra pair that she can still use as it was a bit bigger for her feet when we bought it last year.  The little mister also has an extra pair at home.

I also bought two packs of white socks which was on sale for $10 a dozen.  

Then I snagged me  two packs of this low foot liner which was  also on sale for $5 for two.

I paid more than 80 dollars for  four pairs of shoes and more than a dozen of socks.  A big savings compared to  buying the school shoes at the uniform place which could have cost us  almost  two hundred bucks if we bought it there.  

Bandeau Top and Side String Shorts from Onzie

As I have mentioned in my Fitness & Fashion blog, Onzie has send me four pieces of workout apparel to try and review.  I chose the black capri and black  racer bra top to review which they initially agreed for me to review.  The social media manager of Onzie asked me if  I want to  try their amazing prints.  I asked if I can have it in different products and she agreed so I am  ecstatic.  To return their generosity, I am doing a separate review for each pair.   

Bandeau Top - $28

I got a fuchsia bandeau top and the space jewels print  side string shorts in small sizes.  They are both available in different sizes and  print designs.  The bandeau top is  very comfortable and has   really good support at the bust area.  The stretchy and flexible  fabric fits and flatters all body types.  I love the shorts as you can adjust it  for a more sexier look.

 Side String Shorts - $39

The bandeau top  fits me perfectly but the  side string shorts is a little bit bigger  on my waist.  Nevertheless, I loved both as  I can use it when I am doing yoga or  my  aerobics at home.  Hubby even complimented me when  was doing my yoga today, he asked me not to wear it  outside though lol.  I will never it wear outside anyway, well, I can  but just in our backyard as it is fenced and nobody will see me anyway.

Doing my airplane yoga pose.

Again, thank you so much Onzie for the wonderful opportunity of working with you!

Disclaimer:  The  author of this blog was NOT compensated  financially in writing this review.  The products mentioned above was provided for FREE for evaluation purposes.

Boxes I sent Home

My sister was very happy to get the box that I sent her.   I use  some good packaging for shipping so the  other stuff that I put in the box would not be broken during  the transit.  I am so glad that my siblings  got the two big  boxes that I sent.  It is hard  to send boxes overseas because it get lost sometimes but with the new system that we are using, it gets there safe and sound with no problem.

Big Ideas for Small Business... Office Supplies from Shoplet

Last school year, I tried to be organized with my kids school stuff.  I managed to   have it  in order just from the start but at the very end, I was losing  documents here in  there because the folder that I was using was packed already.

This year, I will try again and this time, with Avery products   help. Shoplet sent me the Avery products  for review and I am glad because I could really use these  to keep my children's stuff  in order and organized.  Aside from that, I am also planning to  create a seller account in eBay and sell some things, so these labels and binder will help me organize them.

I got a pack of this printable tags with strings.  This is valued at $11.58 but you will  get a much lower price if you buy it in bulk.  Let us say if you are trying to sell something, you can create a professional looking tags using this.  This is printer compatible so you can easily add your business logo to it.

This Avery ready index with contemporary table of contents divider is valued at $2.72.  This is great in  segregating your clients name.  I received a pack of 8 of this one.

I also received a pack of this print to the edge round labels.   A great way to label your  products, ideal for branding or use  for  promotional labels.  This is valued at $13.23, you get 120 in one pack.

When you are starting a business, chances are , you will do some presentation to your  prospective  clients and this  Flexi-View presentation binder will be great to use.  You can buy this for $4.60.

Lastly, I received a pack of this Trifold brochure with tear away cards valued at $11.60.  This has detachable cards that can be used as business cards, coupons,  r promotion.

Shoplet offers a 2-day delivery after you placed your order.  You can save money in buying your business  office needs when you buy it in bulk at Shoplet.  Small business can create big ideas through using  Avery products.  Thank you Shoplet!

Disclaimer:  The author of this blog  was NOT financially compensated in writing this review.  The products mentioned above  was provided for FREE  for evaluation purposes.  

Headphones for Their Computer Class

I was relieved that  the school year has started smoothly for us.  I did not feel any stress at all when I send my two kids at school yesterday.  For the past couple of years, I was very stressed  out during the start of the year, maybe because  it's their first time and our first time as well.   Now, I am more relaxed and prepared.   I sent other school  supplies that we missed to bring  when we  registered  them last week  and I haven't send in their headphones which they will need  for their computer class.  A note would be send in to us by the teacher when they need it already.  I go my kids a good sets of headphones  and they love it.  For those who doesn't have one for their kids yet, the alesis headphones might be a good one to consider.  

Laptop and Document Lifts from Shoplet

If you are looking for  some promotional products for your clients or customers, Shoplet has it for you.  I got another  two very useful products from them and I love it as I can use these for my daily  undertakings here  at home.  I don't have a file tray at my  table so this Fellowes Document Lift with dry erase surface would really come in handy.  Since you can position  the document upright, it saves you space.  

This I-Spire series document  lift features 3-in-1 design which includes, document holder, , memo board, and clip board.  You can view your document  comfortably without straining your eyes.  It includes the dry erase memo board if you want to put your schedule or reminders and the weighted base ensures a sturdy position for your  document holder.  The clip can hold up to 15 pieces of  papers.  You can buy this at Shoplet  for $28.60.

Below is the Fellowes Laptop Riser or the Laptop Lift that I truly love because I can  position my laptop with a little bit of inclination.  This innovative design   gives you an elevation that you need for your laptop when working on something.  

Since your laptop is elevated a little  higher, you can see  and read your stuff comfortably which reduce neck strain and  shoulder tension.

You can buy this at Shoplet for $30.17 but if you will buy four pieces, you can get it at a discounted price of $28.96 each.

I highly recommend this  especially for those who uses  laptop a lot.

Check them out  by visiting  the links provided above.  Thank you so much once again Shoplet, you are making my tasks easier with your innovative   office supplies.

Disclaimer:  The author of this blog was NOT financially compensated in writing  this review.  The products mentioned above were provided for FREE for evaluation purposes.

3 Safety Features That Could Save Your Life (and Save You Money)

The elements in your home that keep you safe can also be the factors that either entice or deter a future buyer from putting in a bid on your home. Installing safety measures also leads to more rewards from your homeowner insurance company, which will find you to be less of a potential liability. Perhaps most importantly, when you take active steps to keep your home safe you will be more likely to become aware of an emergency right away. All of these factors mean that installation of safety devices is definitely worth the effort. Here are three safety measures that will impress your insurance company and help you avoid tragedy.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors set off an audible alarm when smoke is present in your home. Because smoke rises, these should usually be installed on the ceiling in your house or apartment. Keep a smoke detector near areas where a fire is most likely to start, such as your kitchen or adjacent to a fireplace. It’s also a good idea to have one in the area of your home where your family sleeps, so that you can be alerted if a fire breaks out in the middle of the night.

Alarm Systems

An alarm can deter a burglar from even trying to enter your home, particularly if you display a sign from your security system company on your front gate or near your front door. If someone decides to break through a window or door, alarms will send a message to your security system company. Typically, when the security company can’t get a hold of you, they will send police to come check out your home. These systems can not only protect you against the theft of your property, but they may save the life of you or someone in your home. Alarms can also be based on motion, so even if someone makes it through the door their walking will set off an alert.

Extra Locks

Dead locks on your windows and doors will make it less likely that someone can break into your home. Insurance companies reward you for this measure, especially if you have more than one secure lock on each door. Keep one lock at the very top of the door, where it would be difficult for someone to successfully pick it from the outside, especially without looking very suspicious.

Protecting yourself and your family is a good practice in general, but as an added bonus it can also help your finances. Your monthly home insurance premiums are affected by a number of different factors, including your zip code, but with these safety measures you will have at least some control over what you pay in insurance fees. If you install a new safety feature in your home, always inform your insurance company and ask about negotiating a new rate for your home.

Nicole Lee Handbag

I wish I could have one of this beautiful Nicole Lee Handbag,.  This was the prize from a giveaway from a friend's blog.  One lucky winner took this home, wish I am that lucky one  lol.

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Keyless Locks

Whenever we go somewhere, I always rely on my husband to take the keys.  I grab  everything else   except the keys.  It would be nice to have one of those Keyless Access Locks so I don't have to carry the heavy keys in my purse.I think it is really  dandy if you will just use your fingerprint to open  your home door isn't it?  How about you,what do you think of keyless  locks?

Truck is Sold!

After a week of posting  the truck for sale in this blog, we got a call  of an interested buyer.  He asked my husband about the details and told us that he was coming over the weekend to see it.  We waited but he did not come.  A few days later, a passer by  who lives  close to our place stopped by, knocked on our door and asked  about it.  Hubby talked to him for a while, he  test drove it around the neighborhood, he offered half the price of what we are asking for and  hubby said yes.  I was a bit disappointed that hubby did not bargain back but glad that it was   got sold out.

Here's my daughter when we were cleaning out the truck.

My husband spent  around almost $800 for that truck a couple of months ago so the new owner  is lucky.  At least now, I don't have to pay for its insurance anymore. Besides, it was still better from the price that the  garage where we bought our  van is willing to pay us.  When they told us that they will give us $500 for it, hubby and I said that we will just sell it ourselves.  So glad to see it go.

Cabinet Latches

I am glad that the medicine cabinet that we bought  has a built in latches.  It secures all the medicines in place.  I remember when my kids were still little, we used to  put  safety locks on every  cabinet door especially where the cleaners are because they love to dig into it.  Time flies and my kids are now getting bigger.  Sometimes it makes me  sad because I  miss the times when they were little and full of innocence.  Now that they are big, I can't say No without them counter asking, why, oh boy!

Cereal Bowl

We bought some new cereal bowl a couple of months ago.  They were on sale so we grabbed four of them.  The kids love the multi-colored one while  hubby and I chose the ones with leaves design.


We replaced the bowls that we  bought from Korea with these ones.

Top 3 Collectible Toys to Give to Young Lads

Giving gifts to young boys can sometimes be an onerous task. You could get him a cheap toy, maybe a game, or even a video console, but the problem with these items is that they have little sentimental value and will probably be discarded within a few months anyway. For something truly memorable, a collector’s toy that not only looks beautiful, but will also appreciate in value over time is a great investment. Many fond childhood memories are built around these collectible items, and by giving your young lad something he can cherish for years to come you will help build an unbreakable bond between the two of you. Knowing what kind of collectible to get him, however, can still be challenging. To make the task easier for you, we will here go over three of the best toy collectibles you can buy for boys.

Toy Horses

Remember when Red Rum won his record-breaking third Grand National title? Well, you’re not the only one. Toy horses have a sentimental value that is often attached to a specific time period. As such, they tend to make great investments. Toy horses of individual race winners are often only produced in limited quantities, meaning that years later those people who are nostalgic for their boyhood days will come looking for a particular toy horse that is associated with their earlier years. Besides, toy horses are great fun for boys and can even help them develop an interest in horseracing itself as they grow older.

Toy Guns

The idea of train robbers and cowboys is set deep in the imaginations of most young lads. Toy guns are great fun to play with, and in many instances the level of craftsmanship on these guns is truly astonishing. Furthermore, as toy guns are becoming less common of a gift nowadays, you can be assured that that increased rarity will lead to a greater appreciation in value in the future. Toy guns also come in a vast number of varieties, from pistols to light sabers, meaning your young boy’s collection can go on for many years to come.

Toy Lorries

Every young boy loves playing with his toy lorries, but the great news is that toy lorries also represent a smart investment for that boy’s future. Because many young boys grow up to become nostalgic for their lost youth, and in particular for those sunny days spent racing their toy lorries down the sidewalk, these items are becoming increasingly popular with collectors. Not only that, but a row of collectible toy lorries on a boy’s bedroom shelf looks beautiful and can really instill a sense of awe and wonder at their marvelous craftsmanship.

From horses to guns to lorries, there are so many collectible toys that one can get for a young lad. These toys are great for firing the imagination of a child, and also for investing in that child’s future. With so many men wanting to regain a link to their boyhoods, collecting toys will continue to be a worthwhile endeavor for both kids and adults alike.

John McKenzie has a passion for collectible toys. He enjoys sharing his insights through blogging.