A Mom's Life and Loves

Hotel Chocolat – A chocolate revolution that will blow your mind!

Admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:34:40 +0000

Hotel Chocolat is a British cocoa grower and luxury chocolatier, with an amazing website for the chocolate-lover. The company produces gourmet chocolate gifts from the finest authentic ingredients.

Hotel Chocolat, a select ‘origin chocolatier’, own the 140-acre Rabot Estate in St Lucia, which allows Hotel Chocolat to produce exceptional chocolate with unique characteristics and taste derived from the environment in which the selected cocoa trees are grown.

For birthday gifts Hotel Chocolat has a wide range for different budgets. For a classic boxed chocolate gift there’s a little bit of everything in ‘The Sleekster Hand Piped Selection’, a best-selling collection of thirty of the finest hand piped chocolates – from luscious brownies, to amaretto with a whole cherry. Sleekster boxes are designed to slip through most letterboxes so are an excellent choice for delivery with your own personal message.

An unusual gift for an adventurous couple is the ‘Mini Chocolate Dipping Adventure for Two’. Every flavor and nuance of the smooth melting chocolate can be brought out with sweet and savoury dipping items. The dipping adventure includes white and milk chocolate pots, marshmallows, breadsticks, fudge, and gianduja cubes, and is also available as the ‘Large Dipping Adventure’ for sharing with friends.

For chocolate hungry kids, there’s a range of flavours of Hotel Chocolat’s ‘Giant Slabs’ each with over 1lb of fine cocoa luxury milk chocolate. The classy ‘Triple Chocolate Wham Bam Giant Slab’ is a luxurious blend of milk, mellow caramel and creamy white chocolate.

Hotel Chocolat specialise in chocolate gifts, with their website organized to easily search by many categories. Luxury Chocolates for every occasion that you can think can be found on the site with Christmas gifts being their specialty. They also have a special range of Corporate gifts that be personalised with branded packaging and attention grabbing designs.

Top corporate gifts include ‘The Signature Collection’ – a collection of twenty-four beautifully hand finished fine chocolates featuring the most prized, new season recipes. Within the stunningly-presented collection are zingy fruits, mellow caramels, and champagne truffles. Hotel Chocolat have over 20 years experience working with clients on marketing campaigns, providing chocolate gifts for some of the world’s largest brands, full details can be found at their website.

Pain in the Neck. Literally.

Admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:28:49 +0000

It was already night time when JC noticed that Sanjo’s lower right cheek and neck was swollen. I shrugged it off and told him it is normal for teething babies to have swollen gums and maybe cheeks. A few minutes later when I carried him, I did notice the very swollen part of his neck and realized that it wasn’t normal, and that it wasn’t just his gums that were causing the swelling. I touched it lightly, and Sanjo flinched and started to whine. I quickly googled the terms “swelling neck and cheeks” and the first few search results showed “mumps”, “mumps symptoms”. I thought that it just wasn’t possible. So I clicked on each one and checked the symptoms listed. Fever, swollen cheeks/neck, lack of appetite, fatigue.. All of which Sanjo was positive of showing. So anyway, since it was already quite late, we’re taking him to his pediatrician later this morning. I will post pictures late on as well.

I am really worried, and quite sad, but still I am VERY thankful to the Lord that because He blessed me with a work at home job, I am able to look after my baby even though I am working. I couldn’t imagine having to drag myself to work when my child is very sick. I pray to God Sanjo gets well soon, and I will update you guys on what the pedia tells us later on.

Budgeting the Household Money: Overstock Coupon Codes and More

Admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:35:57 +0000

You’d be surprised at how many people don’t actually have a household budget. Not having a budget is one of the major reasons that people are living paycheck to paycheck. Not only do they not have a budget, but they don’t keep track of the amount of money they spend, so they have no idea where their money goes. While it’s great to use things like Overstock coupon codes to save money, it doesn’t give you an advantage unless you control all aspects of your financial situation.

When you create your family’s budget, you should start by listing all the bills that have to be paid each month. Include any credit card bills, car payments, utility bills, cell phone bills and your house payment or rent. List the minimum monthly payment, as well as how much money you actually owe. Once you know how much money all of the bills are, start to add in the necessary expenses, like groceries. Finally, list how much money you have coming in each month. It’s important that this amount is more than the amount you have to pay out. If it’s not, you need to cut down your expenses so you can pay the bills.

Once you have created your household’s monthly budget it’s extremely important to stick with it. Give each family member an alloted amount of money they can spend each week. As you pay off some of your debt, and you have a better flow of money this amount can be increased. However, you shouldn’t forget that the goal of every budget is to save money. You need to put a specified amount in a savings account each week. Don’t touch this money unless there’s an emergency that requires it. Before you know it, not only will you have money saved, but you’ll have less debt as well.

S&S B&B Bash

Admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:25:31 +0000

This should have been Sam & San’s Birthday & Blogversary Bash, but I think Belated is more apt for the first B in this case. I should have blogged about this when it started in July, but due to the overwhelming number of things that I have to deal with, it is only now that I am able to post about it.

Sansan and I both celebrated our blogversaries and birthdays, and this is the perfect chance for us to celebrate it with you.

So, don’t fret, because we have good news for you! There’s a lot of time to join because we have decided to EXTEND THE CONTEST. Contest will end on Sept 19, at exactly 11:59PM. So you can still send in your entries.

Here are the official contest details:

Sam and San’s Birthday & Blogversary Contest

Official Contest Badge:

Contest Mechanics:

1. This is a point system wherein each participant will get a point/s every time they submit an entry.

2. 1 point = 1 raffle slot

3. At the end of the contest, the winner will be chosen randomly.

4. As for blog reviews, only one entry per email address
5. Contest will run until SEPTEMBER 19th

How to join:

1. Blog about the contest

2. Put the contest banner on your sidebar for the whole duration of the contest

3. Follow our (Sam’s and Mine) blogs through Google Connect

4. Subscribe to our feeds

5. *Drop your ECs

6. Write blog reviews of ours and our sponsors’ blogs

7. Add us and our sponsors to your blogroll/badge exchange section of your blog (each sponsor’s badge = 1 point)

* (special prize will be given to our Top EC Dropper)

Prizes at stake:
Cash Prizes
1st Prize = $50.00 + ad spaces
2nd Prize = $30.00 + ad spaces
3rd Prize = $20.00 + ad spaces

Top Droppers:
1st Prize = 5000 ECs
2nd Prize = 3000 ECs
3rd Prize = 2000 ECs

Here’s the list of our sponsors:

The Tsinay Writes
A Mom’s Life and Loves
The Blogger Hub
Fabulicious Diva
WAHMy Sammy
Realm of a Dreamer
Learn and Make Money Online
Events, Contests and Freebies
The Peregrinator
Asian Entertainment Online
Fashion and Beauty Craze
My Food Indulgence
All About Love and Relationships
Life Can’t Wait
Up Now and What’s Next
M3O: Make More Money Online
Bloguardian Hellsite: OVERCASHED
MTGirl
Techie Liz
Pinkville: Pink and Magic Convergence Zone
Fortune Sharing
I’m the Man!
It’s Not Always About ME
MeOnlineBizz
busy reading…
Drama Queen
Scientific Blabber
the food, the place and the bad trips!
Living Life to the Fullest!
Designer’s Depot
My Journey to Life
Something to Live By
Journey of a Dreamer
Wonderful World of Peachy
Red is Marose
My Red Hot Reviews

Good luck everyone!

Christmas is coming?

Admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:35:17 +0000

I can’t believe that it’s past the middle of August already. After a couple of week, it’s going to be the start of the “ber” months (September, October, November and December). Starting the “ber” months means that Christmas is coming soon.

Some people I know start their Christmas shopping during September, to give them ample time to pick gifts, and to avoid the Christmas rush. I think this is a wise practice, and although I’m not doing my Christmas shopping next month, I’m hoping to be able to do it by November if we get to go to Davao City. That would be exciting. I haven’t been to a real mall in ages. I bet that by then, the malls would be in full Christmas gear and decorated with wreaths and trees adorned with mini led christmas lights. Exciting!