house painting project

Since we were not expecting that the rainy season will be early this year, we were not able to finish most of the house fixes we used to do before the summer ends. It's good to know though that we had the roof checked first and the drainage canals cleaned. We were not able to repaint the exterior of our house because first, we were having a hard time finding a professional painter and second, the weather was clearly unpredictable over the last couple of weeks.

Painting our home is a part of routine maintenance and also to update the appearance of our house. We would also very much like to change the color from white to something more lively, like a cheerful yellow which we saw from the works of Birmingham Painting.

I read that a house painting project does not only entail choosing the right color, but also gives consideration to house paint durability. The more intense a color, the more likely it is to fade. Dark colors can also pose more maintenance problems. Although dark colors absorb heat and suffer more moisture problems, it can give a house a sense of drama. We will keep these in mind the next time we decide to repaint the exterior of our house, and that time we will definitely start early.

too good to be true

As some of you may know, we are considering living on our own and so we are always at a look out for potential house and lot and/or rent-to-own townhouse, condominium unit or apartment. If we could afford it, we really wanted a house and lot, but living in a townhouse or an apartment is still a viable option for us.

I was handed a brochure of a townhouse for sale while we were in the mall. I took a look at it and the location is right for us. The pictures in the brochure showed three different sizes and models to choose from. Since hubby and I were not in a hurry to go home, we decided to take a look at it. When we arrived at the exact location, my jaw dropped since it is totally different from what we saw on the brochure. The building looks old and could really use the services of a Houston pest control because I saw some rodents from one of the units. There was not enough parking space and one of the units doesn't have enough windows for ventilation.

I had a feeling that the brochure looked too good to be true, but still we had to see it for ourselves. It was totally a waste of time. Nevertheless, we are still hopeful that we could find the house or apartment for us that would fit our requirements and most importantly our budget. ; )

 

dream visit to Giudecca

I was in the bookstore the other day and found myself browsing travel books and one book about Venice caught my attenton, and so I started reading it. I read about Giudecca, an island in the Venetian Lagoon and is part of the sestiere of Dorsoduro. It was historically an area of large palaces with gardens. The pictures on the book showed the beautiful gardens with luscious greenery and beautiful landscapes. It very much reminded me of the landscaping done by a Cumming Landscaper, who has the professional experience and expertise that evolves a property into a thing of beauty.

Although the island of Giudecca became an industrial area in the early 20th century, it is now once more regarded as an exclusive residential area. La Giudecca offers many points of interest, which are worth the visit. Quietness is part of its beauty and here you can enjoy some relaxation, especially after a visit to the crowded St. Mark's.

It also provides fine views of Venice itself when you stroll along the waterfront. The waterfront is lined with restaurants, cafes and art galleries and unlike other places of busy streets and vehicles, life in Giudecca Island almost happen on water. Getting around is best done on foot or by boat. Reading about it transcends me into a place I dream of visiting some day and this romantic place is definitely worth the discovery.    

 

Pranjetto Hills

My mom's long time friend, Tita Myrna, came to the Philippines for a visit from Australia and they planned a trip to one of the resorts in Tanay, Rizal. It was during Mother's Day and Joaqui and I tagged along. It was the first time that I went on an out of town trip with Joaqui alone - no daddy and no nanny. We had fun looking at the scenery on our way to Tanay, Rizal and of course, when Joaqui saw the swimming pool, he immediately wanted to go swimming.

The resort we went to was Pranjetto Hills and is located in the scenic foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. It has an olympic-size swimming pool, children's pool and other recreational facilities. What attracted us most is the beautiful hotel situated in the resort with a sophisticated roofing design. Tita Myrna said that the roof is very well made, like the ones made by Arvada Roofing in the U.S. The cottages were not too big, but are very cozy with a view of the majestic garden.

In the afternoon, Joaqui and I explored the nature trail and enjoyed the cool air in the many manicured gardens. It was summer, but the breeze is cool and refreshing like during Christmas time. I was glad that we tagged along with my mom and got to see the beauty of Pranjetto Hills and the scenic view of the mountains from Tanay, Rizal. 

Pacman is hard as concrete

The much awaited fight of Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton will be this Sunday and I know it's going to be one awesome boxing event. The streets of Manila once again will be quiet and crime rate an all-time low as every one will be watching the event. There are certanily a lot of intriguing uncertainties as to who would really dominate this match, but of course my support goes to Pacman and I hope and pray he wins this for the Filipino people.

In the midst of anticipation, one issue is surfacing up with 50 members of the congress who are going to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao's fight. Although these politicians said that they would be spending their own money, I doubt that because their salaray comes from our taxes. The travel money would be better spent on projects such as road works with a reliable contractor such as a Phoenix Concrete that specializes in concrete contracting, sidewalks and concrete construction. 

They can show their support for Pacman in a lot of ways, without spending hundreds of thousands on airplane ticket, accommodation and boxing match tickets. Manny's fight would be the same anywhere you watch it and patriotism doesn't have to be expensive.

on our own

There are times that I really wanted to move out of my mom's house and have a place of our own. It's not that my mom is difficult to live with (well sometimes), but I just want to experience living on our own, what it would be like for me to totally take care of the household. Sometimes I also dream of having our own house - my kind of house. I want a big house with a spacious lawn, but most importanly I want a house with a beautiful modern kitchen such as these:

I like a kitchen where I can work comfortably with pieces of modern kitchen equipment, a big oven, stainless kitchen sinks, and beautifully crafted kitchen cabinets. I can imagine myself cooking and preparing our meals in my modern kitchen. It's one of my favorite things to do also, I call it "house shopping" but not actually shopping for a house. I just like to look at different houses when we pass by villages or subdivisions. I would take note of the house's characteristics because it's something that I would want if we get to have our own house someday.

I mentioned that I wanted a house because although there are many condominium-type abodes that are available, I like the idea of having a lawn, just like my parents' house, because Joaqui likes to run around it. And a lawn may also put my green thumb into practice, so I can plant trees and flowers and maybe some vegetables in the backyard. Maybe living on our own would take a few more years to become a reality, but I do not mind that much because my mom is just delighted to have Joaqui around. Besides, small home improvements around here are more affordable right now. ; )