Gun Concealment Bench

For Father's Day, I bought  my husband this gun concealment bench to store his  guns.  They have been  in the closet  ever since we  moved in this  home  so I wanted  him to have a proper storage for it.  He wanted  a gun safe that  would show  each of them but I thought this bench is a great idea.  I don't really want to display  guns so this is perfect.  

I bought it  at Hayneedle online and I was worried that it would have  some  damage when delivered.  I was right with my worries.

 The  bottom part of the drawer was  coming apart  from the  sides.  The staples  for some reason are pulling apart from the wood.

 I had to correct  the issue before my husband could see it because I did want him to say "this is a piece of junk!"  He never want to buy any  piece of furniture online because he can't see it and it is hard to return them when it's delivered at your home already, it's a hassle really.

 Aside from the drawer issue, the varnish  is also starting to chip off on one of the panels.

 I was gonna try to assemble it myself and surprise my husband  with it as a complete piece but I gave up.  It needs two people to  ]put it together.

 The drawer also have some dents.

 The tools and other accessories  is also lacking the allen wrench.  The number 12 is there but the wrench is not, I was very disappointed.  Luckily, we have one available at home.

 Here's more damage on the wood.

 Anyway, my husband liked it except the part that it was a little hard to put together.  Some of the parts where  screw needs to be drilled, they did not pre-drilled it so we had to drill it ourselves.

 Despite the  small  dents and other issues, it was actually a good piece for the price.  It is made in Vietnam and the wood is  real and not the composite one, my husband hates those composite stuff.

So now, all of his stuff have a storage and we  have an extra space for sitting.  I love the fact that all of it are now locked in one place where kids can't get to it.

Top Kitchen Gadget Essentials

When it comes to having a functional kitchen, it is important that the right tools and gadgets are available. Having your kitchen stocked with the right items makes preparing your meals efficient and more straightforward. Preparing dinner becomes less of a bother, and it makes your meal prep a more liberating experience.

The right kitchen essentials can make an overall difference in your lifestyle, as you’ll be more inclined to make your meals and perhaps even eat healthier. Great gadgets in your kitchen can improve how you manage time and a variety of other things. Here is a list of the top kitchen gadgets you can consider stocking in your kitchen.

Cutting Board

If you plan on cooking in your kitchen at all, you will undoubtedly need a cutting board. This kitchen utensil, although not a gadget is one the most fundamental things you will need. A cutting board will keep your vegetables, meat, and whatever else you seek to chop or dice in place.

 cutting boards featuring index-style tabs to indicate which food type they should be used for –
 raw meat, vegetables, fish and cooked food. 

Vegetable Steamer

Steaming your vegetables is a great way to retain its nutrients and promote healthy eating. A vegetable steamer is convenient and is sure to encourage your consumption of vegetables daily. It makes it very easy to steam your vegetables, plus the clean up is a cinch.

Colander/ Strainer

If you plan on cooking pasta, a colander or strainer will be beneficial to have in your kitchen.  Having one on hand enables you to quickly strain the water from pasta, canned foods, as well as vegetables and fruits after they have been washed. There are many innovative and fascinating strainers and colanders on the market.

 

Grater

A grater is also a fantastic tool to have in the kitchen. Whether you need it for grating cheese or lime, it will come in handy.

Blender

Having a kitchenaid blender in your kitchen is a must. If you love blending fruits to make delicious smoothies, mix ingredients for pancakes, homemade sauces, purees and so much more. A blender can cut down on time and like many other things, encourage you to eat out less and make more tasty dishes at home.

Herb Mill

If you love using fresh herbs in your meals but hate the idea of cutting them up finely, an herb mill can do that for you. It is a fast and simple way to mince fresh herbs and add them to recipes.

There are so many great gadgets on the market that are perfect for making cooking at home very simple. After all, this is the very reason that many people choose to order out. However, with the gadgets and essentials mentioned above, cooking at home can be great.

Other gadgets that can be considered are engraved rolling pins which add designs to your flour for baking.  Pizza scissors, tea infusers, popcorn makers, yolk separators, pasta servers, and many others can be included as part of your kitchen.  However, in the end, the most important thing is to have items that make operating in the kitchen a breeze.

Perfect Mother's Day Gift for Busy Moms

To my Mum who live on the other side of the world, thousands of miles away from me, happy Mother’s Ma! I owe you for what I have become. I can’t say that I am the best Mom to my kids but I learned so much from you, you taught me everything. I love and miss you very much! #MothersDay #MyMom #BestMother

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on May 12, 2018 at 6:11am PDT

It's that time of the year again when motherhood is  celebrated.  Being a Mom is such a great blessing.  It has given me the opportunity to know the things that I never cared for when I was single.  It has given me the chance to do  the things that I did not think I could do prior to being a Mom.

 Becoming a Mom, made me appreciate my own Mom even more.  I don't think I can top  all the things that she has done for  us 9 children but I am glad and grateful  that she is my Mom, she taught me so much!  Thank you Ma!

To my Mum who live on the other side of the world, thousands of miles away from me, happy Mother’s Ma! I owe you for what I have become. I can’t say that I am the best Mom to my kids but I learned so much from you, you taught me everything. I love and miss you very much! #MothersDay #MyMom #BestMother

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on May 12, 2018 at 6:11am PDT

This Mother's Day, there are so many things that we can give to our Moms.  I wish My Mom is into gadget but she is one of the few old school Moms who doesn't even want a phone.  She does not like to  fool with gadgets.  She said it's giving her a headache when  one time we  tried to  give her  a phone so I can easily talk to her.  She said "if you want to talk to me, see me."  So that's that.  I wish I could see her everyday but it's impossible. 

Anyway, for those  who have a tech savvy Mom and love to travel, this full-size bluetooth travel keyboard is a perfect gift you can give.  This  folds into a convenient size to bringing along wherever you go.   This is such a perfect gadget for those who work while they travel.  This comes with a protective case that feels like leather and folds into a convenient stand for your tablet or smartphone when using the keyboard. It has a high-capacity Lithium-Ion battery that charges quickly from a standard USB port for weeks of normal use.  You can get this via AMAZON  for $49.95 WITH FREE SHIPPING.  You can  plug the keyboard in a USB port and use it like a USB keyboard. It is compatible with  Android, iOS, and Windows and it can connect to your iPhone, iPad, Mac or other Apple Bluetooth device.

My son's teacher  had a special treat for all the Moms  in her class.  She invited us for a brunch in their classroom where the kids served their Mom waffles with  fruits and other toppings.  Their teacher  brought a waffle mix and waffle  maker.  

I am so grateful for teachers like Ms. Boyd, she’s so caring and kind not only for our children but for parents as well. Thank you very much for making all the Moms from your class feel so special for this brunch. Words can’t express how much we all appreciated it! The kids did a great job serving us! #BestTeacherEver❤️ #MothersDayTreat #BrunchAtSchool #WaffleBrunch

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on May 10, 2018 at 6:47am PDT

It makes me wish I have a Waffle maker like this one that I saw  on Amazon.  I am not  a pancake fan but I like eating waffles.  I have never made it at home though, I always bought the frozen one from the store.  

Another thing I wish I have in my kitchen is a Pressure cooker like this one.  Having this means  that I can create a   great meal in  a press of a button.  I see some bloggers  that features  all the dishes they make  using pressure cooker that's why I wish I have one myself.

If  there's one thing you want to  have for MOther's Day, what would you like to have?  Would you consider any of the three I featured above?  Anyway, happy MOther's Day to all the Moms out there. 

#CarLoanPaidOff and #FinancialStrategies this Year

2016 was critically hard for us financially because we bought a new house and  we were still paying the mortgage of the old house.  It was really tight, I was stressed out but when we  sold our  old house, we were okay.  2017  was a better  year,   I was able to  save all of my blogging  income and also  set aside some amount  from hubby's  salary.  He did not know that I have saved  almost 10 grand so before the end of the  year last year, we paid off the car loan we had for his sports car.  The interest on that car loan was 6.99% and it kills me  paying the interest every month.  I am so glad  we were able to pay it off before 2018 started.

This year, we have made some changes so that we can cut cost and save some money for emergencies and rainy days.  I was  encouraging my husband that we should cut our cable off last year but he did not buy the idea of  not having TV but I am so glad that this year, he finally got on board with me.  It's nice having cable but the cost is getting so expensive  and we don't even use it all the time.  With all the garbage  shows you see on TV these days, I  lost  interest in watching.  We were paying $233 every month for a bundle of phone, cable and internet every month last year  and for me that was too much.  So we decided to cut our  landline phone and cable which saves us $130  each month.  We also bought our own modem for the internet which also saves $11 a month.

We cut our contract with  AT&T for the cellphones and switched to Metro PCS.  For 4 lines, we only pay $106 every month and  there's no contract.  We decided to get our children  cellphones  because they are at the age where they go places and we  would love to be able to keep track on them when they are not with us.   However, I made them signed a contract that  cellphones are not free, therefore, they will have to be  responsible in taking care of it and that they have to do their part to  regularly  help around the house when they are not in school.  It works great because, I don't have to  tell them to do things now, they do it voluntarily without buts or ifs.  With the switch, we were able to  get new phones for the 4 of us for less than what it  would cost if we added  two  new lines with our former contract with AT&T.

Another saving strategy that we incorporated this year is  selling  unwanted  things that are just laying around the house.  So far, I have rid of  a lot of things and  put that money into  our savings for the kids  school tuition  next school year.

The following strategies works for us and it might work for you.
Pulling the plug on cable and landline phone.  If you want to  watch movies on TV, you can  subscribe to Netflix, that's what we did.  They gave us  a month free and  I think we are going to keep it.  It only cost $7.99 a month, a lot better than cable cost.

 If you want to watch  local news, you can buy an indoor HDTV antenna that you can  connect to your TV, that's what we did, it only cost $19.99.

Buying your own internet modem.  Comcast charges $11 a month for  modem, if you buy your own, it cost $50 and you don't have to keep paying for something that isn't your own.

Sell things that you no longer use, I know a lot of us has a lot of these things laying around the house.  Gifts that we received but never used are common things.

Cook your own food at home rather than going to  a fast food chain.  It is healthier and it is cheaper plus you  spend quality time together in the dinner table, it's a great bonding  time with the family. We still go out once in a while  but it is just on special occasion.  I cook almost everyday  and we eat together and get to  have time to catch up and  communicate with each other.

#ToSiLog for #dinner and fruits for #dessert. #asianCuisine #tocino #sinangag #itlog #friedRice #egg #curedPork #fruits #homeCookedMeals #mango #kiwi #avocado #orange

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Feb 6, 2018 at 2:33pm PST

Instead of Paying for a Gym Membership, try to  set up a home gym.  You will save in the long run doing this and the whole family can benefit and use it  anytime of the day.  Staying active  helps  the family to stay healthy and away from sickness.

Our HomeGym

Our goal is to  pay  extra hundred dollars with our mortgage payment every month  so that we can pay it off early.  Hopefully, we can achieve this sooner so that my husband can retire and we can be debt-free.  I know that's a  long shot but  every little  changes we  do  can help achieve that.

Saving Money on your Summer Break

Now that Christmas is long behind us, and we've survived what must have been the longest January ever, it's time to start thinking about the warmer months. Springs just around the corner and summer vacations aren't a million miles away. Your summer holiday is a wonderful way to break up the year. It helps you to relax and unwind while giving you a chance to see some of the World and get some much-needed sunshine. 

But, summer vacations can be ridiculously expensive. Especially if you are tied to the school holidays and other peak times. It could be easy to spend a small fortune and find yourself paying it off until next summer. However, there are some fantastic ways to save money, and it's perfectly possible to have a fantastic summer break without breaking the bank. Let's take a look at them.

Book Now

Booking early means that you can get some great deals and that you've got longer to save. Start looking at packages now and book as soon as you can. You'll probably just need to pay a small deposit to start with, and then you'll have months to pay off the balance and start saving some spending money.

Book Later

On the other hand, booking later can also be a great option. Book some time off work and look at what last minute deals are available a few weeks before. You might not have as much choice, but it could also be a great adventure and take you somewhere you'd never have picked otherwise. 

Take Less Cash

We all like to have plenty of spending money on holiday. Taking lots of cash means that you can enjoy all of the tourist attractions, eat out all of the time, buy what you want and enjoy your vacation in luxury. But, it's not essential. Spending less while you are away is a brilliant way to save money on your break. Book any excursions you are desperate to go on online before you go to get the best rates. You could also book city-wide travel pass and tickets to events before you go to save money. 

Avoid Tourist Hotspots

Popular destinations are expensive, but if you are desperate to see them, you may need to take out a loan from debtconsolidation.loans to free up some spare cash and finance your trip. Smaller, less well-known destinations can be even better. They give you a chance to get a more authentic view of local life, to enjoy traditional experiences and do your break, your way. Explore on foot, get to know the locals, avoid busy restaurants and instead head to family establishments or cook for yourself. 

Stay Local

Staycations are more popular than ever and to be honest, most of us just enjoy having some time off work to relax. You don't need to spend a fortune traveling across the world to have a great time. Most of us don't ever fully explore places much closer to home. Look at day trips in your local area, or visit the next city along.

Shop The Sales (Without Hurting Your Finances)

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There’s something about items on sale that delights us. We see that red discount label and our minds are alight, suddenly coursing with adrenaline as we think of the bargains we might be able to find. We head to the discount section, marvelling over the reduced prices, and delight in the money we’re able to save. 

There’s no denying that sales shopping is fun, but there’s also no denying that it can be potentially problematic. Sales have a tendency to grab hold of our attention and prevent us from making the wise purchasing decisions we would normally make. If this happens often enough, you can find your spending spiralling to a point that your sales shopping is becoming a problem. 

However, the answer to this potential issue isn’t to not shop the sales at all -- a bargain is a bargain, after all! -- but to ensure your sales shopping is as smart as it can be. Read on for a few essential tips to keep in mind the next time you see discounted prices in your favorite store… 

Set a strict budget 

It’s one thing to want to grab a bargain, but you need to place restrictions on your spending as well. Giving yourself an open door to spend whatever you want, just because items are on sale, is a surefire way to spend far more than is justifiable. 

Spend in cash where possible 

While your new credit card sourced through Best.creditcard might be burning a hole in your pocket, sales shopping should always be done in cash. If you can’t literally afford the item right now, then buying it while it’s on sale is a bad idea. You have to factor in the fact that sales make us want to buy things we don’t even need; ensuring that you only buy in cash is by far the best way to ensure you are able to fight back against this problem. 

Avoid big sale events 

Big sales events, such as Black Friday, have a tendency to be a letdown. The stock on sale is often not the kind of thing you’d buy at full price, so the savings you make aren’t necessarily as good as they initially appear. It’s far better to look for individual sales at stores that you already like and frequent. You can use one of the apps featured on usnews.com if you want to ensure you’re always up-to-date with which stores have sales running at any given time. 

Ask yourself one question before you make any sales purchase 

The question is: “If I had the money available, would I buy this at the full retail price?”

If the answer is no, then put it down and move onto something else. Unless you believe an item important enough to be worth paying the full price for, you don’t need it. 

In conclusion

By keeping the above in mind, you can be sure that your sales shopping will be nothing but pleasurable, ensuring you don’t have a financial hangover from your splurge. Enjoy!

Retiring Well, Correctly & With Peace Of Mind

Why we understand that working towards retirement is a goal we all have, it can be hard to conceive of it as a reality. It always seems years ahead, and even when it approaches, we might feel like that date is nowhere near us. We do invest in our retirement throughout the course of our lives, but we rarely aim our work for the purpose of retirement, as that would be silly. This ‘tomorrow’ attitude can easily lead us to forget about preparing the finer points of our retirement, which of course would be a general mistake. There are absolutely reasons as to why someone might want to forget about retirement and focus on the current career goals they have, but when those years approach it pays to have some preparation made.

This article will help you prepare well for retirement, with a sense of peace of mind that should pervade this golden chapter of your life.

Timing

It’s important to know exactly when you can retire. Of course, your job might already have this chiselled out for you, but by and large you will have to pick this date yourself. ‘Can I retire now?’ is a thought that many people have around this time, as it’s not always apparent as to when the decision should be made. If you feel as though your professional capacity is wearing thin, your enjoyment of the job is devolving and you have the funding to retire immediately, then you could consider those three things contributive to your overall final choice. Still, this is a highly individual decision to be made, so be sure you weigh up all of the options. Timing might also rest on:

Social Networks

Of course, if you work abroad, or you are no longer in an area in which your family is close to hand, then you might decide to keep working until relocation efforts are made. When you’re in retirement, it’s easy to become socially isolated, even with a partner by your side. For this reason, making sure you’re near family before you make the decision will fill you with inner peace, knowing that you have the option to visit your relatives whenever you need. If your health deteriorates, you’ll also have the added comfort knowing that help is on the way.

Goals

You need a solid goal of retirement in mind. Of course, this is your time to relax and enjoy the time off you have always wanted, not feeling as if you need to achieve or head to work. However, if you’re directionless, it’s easy to fall into lethargy. It’s important to have a goal in mind to pursue, even if that’s not fully achieved. For example, purchasing a cottage in France and fishing, or running a small and humble B&B to keep you occupied can work wonders in keeping you socially active, healthy and considerate. Make sure you have some hobbies arranged before you lose your life to sitting on the sofa and watching daytime television. Keep activity high, and you will help maintain both your social and physical health.

With these tips, you’re sure to enjoy a fruitful and relaxing retirement.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Not Letting Scary Things Get You Down

Let’s talk about life. More importantly, let’s talk about life when life seems to have a grudge against you, and only you. It can be very easy to fall victim to the trials and tribulations of the modern world. Things can change in an instant, and these changes in our lives can be scary, at times, especially if we believe ourselves to be unprepared.

Mission accomplished!!! Finally did 5-miles in 55.36 minutes, yes!!!! I love Mondays like this where I am productive from the time I woke up till bed time. Cleaned the house after the kids was dropped off to school then burned 713 calories on #treadmillworkout . Off to plan what to cook for #dinner, any suggestion? #workout #WorkAtHomeMom #sweatingitout💦 #keepingUpAt44 #runningAndWalking #fitnessGoal #fitnessmotivation #cooking

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jan 22, 2018 at 10:08am PST

Overcoming these scary occurrences in our lives is all about keeping a positive attitude. It might be scary starting a new job, or trying out something that is unfamiliar; even small things like changing your hair or deciding to switch up and improve your lifestyle can be intimidating. You might worry what people think, or lack the confidence to believe you can do it.

But keeping a positive attitude is what separates success from failure. Having the determination and drive to get the best out of your life is the only way in which you will be able to give life the finger and carry on as you were.

MONEY

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by your finances. It might be that you were a frivolous spender in your youth and are now paying the price with debt and a low credit score. This can hurt your attitude and health, and make getting out of any hole seem terrifying unachievable.

But unless you just do it, things will only get worse. When suffering from money troubles, looking into solutions that can ease the worry, such as visiting https://debtconsolidation.co/debt-relief/, will help you start chipping away at what you owe. It will take time, but keeping up consistent payments and not repeating the mistakes of the past will put you on the right road. 

CAREER

We all like to think that we are ambitious. We like to think we are up to any and every challenge that our professional life throws at us. But if you start to become comfortable in your role, you might be reluctant to step out of your comfort zone, even if it means progression.

It could even be that you are concerned about getting stuck in an industry you have little passion for, and a promotion would only keep you further entwined. Whatever you feel is holding you back, though, can be overcome through knowing that you can do it. If you are being offered to move up, then the company clearly sees something in you. While it might seem scary at first, you will get used to it and could find yourself owning it like you never believed you could.

LOVE

Hubby and I's first date 15 years ago. My hair was short back then. He saw some f my pictures with long hair and he asked if I can grow it long again. My hair stayed long since then. #myHusband #FirstDate

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jan 22, 2018 at 4:51pm PST

It isn’t just our professional and economic situations where you need to just get on with and keep going. Your social life, more importantly, your romantic life also requires you to be decisive and know what you want. 

If you’re sick of the swiping left and right, sick of the meaningless flings, the same old dates, and everything else that comes with shopping around for the perfect partner, you need to evaluate what is important to you. Knowing what you want from both life and relationship will give you the determination to make relationships work, and save you wasting time on some fool who wants different things to you. 

WON’T STOP

Knowing what you want in life is essential. Getting what you want in life is crucial to your long term happiness. Don’t worry about what others think, and don’t be too concerned with what might go wrong. Keep on pushing for self-improvement every day, and the scary things won’t seem so terrifying.

Current weight 101.8 lbs. Trying to tone down to 95, my ideal weight for just being 4"11'. I found out that when you're in your mid-40s, shedding off extra weight is so hard but with perseverance and self-discipline, it is possible.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jan 20, 2018 at 5:41am PST

Stay Well Together This Winter With Purell

'It's 21 degree right now, it is freezing!  I am so glad it is the weekend.  I was able to get  the house cleaning done yesterday and did the pile of laundry too, yay!  It's funny because I told myself last night that I would sleep in today but I woke up rather early, I was up since 5:30!  This week was a very busy   week for me. The school had the Secret Santa Shop and I was there from Monday till Thursday helping the other Moms facilitating the shopping for the kids.  It was fun seeing the kids  shopped. 

Since it is  almost Winter times, keeping the house clean is very important  to help  avoid sickness.  I think the kids are tired of hearing me always telling them to always wash their hands and all that kind of stuff.  As a mother, we always want our children to be safe and free from sickness so we do whatever  we can to make  sure that they are healthy.  What we do with our kids at our home does not always help to avoid sickness when they go out side  but it is always  good to try our best right?  

I am so glad that I have received this Gojo  bundle of disinfectant from   Shoplet.  We  can always stay well together  this winter with the help of Purell products.  

The bundle includes Purell professional surface disinfectant, Jelly Wrap Bottle Purell advanced instant hand sanitizers, and Purell Healthy soaps.  

When the kids get home from  school, their tendency is to grab snacks right away so I am always on them to wash their  hands first.  My kids are  10 and 12 but sometimes, they still forget these little things that they are supposed to do so I always remind them.  The healthy soap  is perfect to use in cleaning their hands upon arriving from school.  

I put one in our  powder room and one in the sink so  they can always use  it.

The professional  surface disinfectant is very useful for us.  We have  two dogs and a bunny inside the house so you can imagine the dust they bring.  You might not  notice it but they do produce   so much dust inside the house.  Cleaning and disinfecting  the  surfaces is always a must for us.

Keeping the house dust free  is almost impossible but with  regular cleaning and with proper  cleaning tools, it can be done.  

I always have sanitizer in my  purse because it  comes in handy especially when we are outside our home.  I also  put  one to each of my children's  school bags for them to use  when at school.  I even  put one to my husband's  lunch bag.

Shoplet have everything that you need for your business and home including Office supplies, Cleaning supplies,   Medical supplies, and  Office Furniture.  Thank you once again Shoplet and Purell!

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.