Notepad Corner

Frequent cooking such as baking, roasting and food spills can build up grease and charred food into your stove, oven or microwave. Charred food when accumulated turn into carbon, the reason why there is a strong burning smell when cooking and eventually can taint your food which can be harmful to your health. Cleaning your cooking appliances regularly using the green cleaning solution of baking soda and water, instead of the harsh commercial oven cleaner chemicals is best recommended. Here are tips on how to clean your cooking appliances: Remove the oven grills and burners on the stovetop and wash in soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and drip dry.  Clean the stovetop, interior and exterior walls of the oven using the water and baking soda solution to remove cooked-on food spatters and scatters.   Unclog burner holes using an old toothbrush. Clean under and behind the cooking range too. For convection oven, read manual and follow instructions carefu...

Many times, the lighting in one's home is taken for granted in favor of other decorative elements which seem to have the biggest contribution when it comes to achieving aesthetic satisfaction. It is a more common scenario to see homeowners fuss over new sofas, antique jars and rugs, than over avant-garde lighting fixtures and fancy chandeliers. This is owed perhaps to the limited notion that many people have about the effects of good lighting -- especially in the living room. Why good lighting counts But really, how can lighting be so important? Lighting, as a matter of fact, has a good deal of impact on the sense of wellness of people. Imagine yourself in a dim or dark room in contrast to a well-lit one. Of course you would be able to achieve more with the latter. And according to studies, people who work in well-lit spaces are more organized and are more driven to accomplish tasks because they are less fatigued compared to those who work in dark areas. Too much brigh...

My youngest son is now grade 8 under the newly implemented K to 12 program of study. Their batch among the other nationwide grade 8 students will be the first graduates under the new education program. The new curriculum of the Philippine education aims to equip every student with different skills such as effective communication skills, information, media and technology skills, learning and innovation skills, life and career skills so they will be ready to go further into their next path, be it a continuing college education, entrepreneurship or employment. To further understand the grading system in the new K to 12 Curriculum, the school where my son studies conducted a seminar for parent orientation on how a student will be assessed under the new curriculum. 

Deciding on the right window treatments is sometimes a daunting task.  Not only is it important that they match the existing décor, shades and blinds have to be easy to operate, safe and functional while still remaining within the range of a budget. Advancements in energy efficiency and modern technology have made it possible for manufacturers to develop new lines of shades and blinds that can significantly contribute to conserving energy in the home while offering modern, clean lines which can very easily fit into the décor of any room.  Cellular shades , which are also called cellular blinds, honeycomb blinds and honeycomb shades, are elegant and durable window treatments that are designed to insulate the home and safeguard it against noise and loss of energy. Cellular Shades and Blinds Cellular blinds are so named because of the empty air pockets that are parallel to the seams.  Generally speaking, cellular shades look like conventional pleated shades when t...

A dog is a good companion, it is proven to be one of the best human stress reliever, but how about owning a dog a in high rise living? The answer is yes, it is possible to keep a dog or other pets even if you’re staying in a condominium as long as there is no “no-pet policy” enforced in the place. Some condominiums are strict in implementing the no-pet directive but there are those which allows one dog per unit rule and serve a designated place also in the building where pets can play. Therefore, if you plan to rent or buy a condo unit check out on their pet policy first for you to be able to keep your dog with you. The size of the dog and the space is not really a problem. A dog can easily adapt to condo living as long as you bring up and trained your dog properly. Poodle, English Bulldog, Dachshund, Chihuahua, Charles Spaniel, Shih Tzu, Pug among others are suggested good dog companions for condo living. Their typically good natured traits and intelligence make the...

As online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, more and more people prefer shopping online over conventional shopping due to the many benefits it offers to savvy shoppers. Merchant websites sudden increase in number gave way to giving out promotional codes in order to promote and boost product sales and to keep pace with the competition. Promotional codes referred to as promo codes or promotional discount codes are a sequence of unique letters and numbers used during checkout on an online shop to be eligible to the discounted offer upon placing the order. It is designed to encourage more consumers to shop as they save money when claiming a promo code. Promotional codes are synonymous to coupon codes which is easy and simple to use. Just look and enter the code box labeled "Promotional Code" in the shopping cart or during checkout. Its primary purpose is to provide discount, special offers, freebies and in some cases it is given as a reward to loyal customers. Nowa...

Families spend a considerable amount of time cooking, preparing meals and eating in the kitchen. Therefore, this space must be well kept and always clean to drive away pests and insects and to keep it germ-free to ensure the family’s good health. Here are several tips on how to keep your kitchen clean and tidy. Make a habit of separating the wet and dry garbage. Place two trash bins for each purpose. Wet garbage attracts insects and pests, so take this out of the house on a daily basis. Don’t leave plates and other dishes to drip dry.  Wipe them with a clean paper towel before storing them. Use separate sponges for dish washing and wiping counter tops  Wipe dry the sink, faucet, table and counter tops after use. Clean the stove tops or the oven after each use. Wipe away the spills and grease. Keeping it clean will also prolong its life. Mop the kitchen floor twice a day, in the morning and before you retire at n...

Children are as self-conscious about their glasses as teenagers; more so, in fact. Glasses can subdue the liveliest of kids. Children do see the alternatives advertised – contact lenses. It’s no wonder that they long for contacts. Are they ready for it, though? Emotionally, yes The first day they go to school with their glasses on, children are often so embarrassed, they wish they could disappear. That’s how ill at ease they are. Their friends add to their torment with their unrelenting teasing. When they do forget for a while that they have their glasses on, their obstructed peripheral vision teases them into remembering their sad lot. They sure are ready to be rid of these tormentors that sit right on their noses. Maturity-wise, no Children are so given to living in the moment that it is often impossible for them to remember all the safety measures that they need to adopt when they use contacts. Disinfecting their lenses properly, remembering to take them off bef...

There are many people who find themselves confused when it comes to planning and writing a dissertation. The key to success is following a simple guide that will elaborate all standard aspects that are required for dissertation writing. This article will provide guidelines on the generalized structure of a dissertation that is preferred by most academic institutions.  Dissertation title page The title page needs to provide a clear title of the dissertation, as well as the writer’s name, the name of the writer’s supervisor and the course title. The inclusion of the course in the word count is not standardized – some academics prefer to include the course, while others don’t accept that part in the word count. Abstract The Abstract should take a half to one third of the page, and it should provide a summary and overview of the dissertation. This part of the dissertation should be kept as brief as possible, but it needs to clear out the main points of the work and p...

There are many ways to save money but a lot people seem to find it hard to be frugal and continue with their current ways of spending. The rising costs of necessities and the way the economy has sagged are pushing more families to become penny-wise and stretch their meager finances. Like most families, yours might also be clueless as to how you can have a trimmer lifestyle. Here are five simple ways on how you can practice frugality at home and at work. Monitor Your Expenses . The simplest way to being frugal is to create an accurate costing of your expenses. This includes housing costs, utilities, transportation and even your daily dose of coffee at the corner store. Many people find it helpful to track expenses as it provide where exactly their money goes. It also allows you to see where you can trim off your budget.

Schooling is all about intellectual, emotional, moral, physical and social development. It is an all round holistic development of an individual in order to succeed in the future.   Most students abhor studying due to academic pressures that bring stress. Allowing your child to join and participate in their school’s extra curricular activities such as sports club, school programs or other forms of school student activities can bring balance to academic pressure. My youngest son- Yahmir, 2nd Placer, Cosplay Competition at Tanabata Festival in their school Extra curricular activities is generally accepted today as part of a school’s curriculum. According to studies, it is one of the effective ways to motivate students to develop increased interest in studying. Among the benefits of participation are:

Recycling can be seen as your old washer's final spin cycle. It may finally emerge as a designer lampshade, a new car or a barbeque grill. Here’s how to recycle your washing machine Breathe Life Into Your Old Washing Machine Nowadays, it's possible to recycle most old and outdated household appliances that we plan to get rid of. Recycling does not only mean dismantling at a recycling centre; you can donate working appliances or sell them to scrap yards without having to chuck it in a landfill. Did you know that washing machines have up to 65% steel, in addition to electrical components and other materials? The recyclable steel, other metals, and selected components of your old washer can be made into new products. If nothing else, your washing machine drum can be turned into a flower pot with some potting soil and your favourite plants. A modernist lampshade is another swell idea! There are many scrap metal dealers whom you can contact over the internet. A scrap metal recycl...

Not every homeowner can afford an immediate home makeover primarily because of budget limits, but that should not stop you from planning and probably starting micro projects to spruce up your home. When your home feels a little dull and drafty, here are three makeovers that you can do and afford to give your home the face lift it deserve. Color Your Walls White – that’s basically what most of your walls look like. It can sometimes become stark, lifeless and non-inspirational. Give your home a noticeable upgrade by changing your wall colors to something entirely different. If you’re used to seeing white or beige, try midnight blue or a fresh mint green! But go easy on it and try it out first on a small section of your wall before going up ahead. De-clutter Storage Spaces Sometimes, a home only needs a good de-cluttering to renew its vibe. Schedule a day for organizing, sorting and de-cluttering out all drawers, shelves, boxes and storage spaces to remove all you don...

Whether you enrol your children in a local school or a British international school in Tianjin , good study habits is very important.  It is a gift that you can impart to your kids and they will surely appreciate your intent by the time they reach university.  Education can be tough especially on children who do not have good study habits.  Acquiring knowledge and learning continuously is what studying is all about.  It helps students prepare and become proficient in each of their subjects.  The question is how do you encourage kids to develop good study habits?  Start before school age The basic foundation in developing study habits is when the student is willing to learn.  Thus, from the beginning when the child becomes conscious and active about the things around him or her, start the process of learning fun and exciting ways for them.  Develop their reading habits, encourage inquisitive minds, allow them to experiment and experience f...

Rugs and carpets give liveliness and loveliness to any space. But these floor coverings are dirt magnets, so they need regular care and maintenance. Rugs and carpets differ in some ways, yet share the same purpose which is to provide accent and decoration on your floors.  Rugs are smaller in size and usually used as centerpiece flooring or foot rugs in the bedroom or used as corner rugs. It is also made in artistic and stylish pattern, color and shape in a variety of fabrics. While a carpet is used as floor covering and attached to the sub-floor. Dusts and stains build up depends on the foot traffic, thus a standard cleaning is essential to keep it in good condition and to take away accumulated dirt to prevent odor and bacteria build up.  There are two options you can consider to maintain its cleanliness and beauty.

Children these days have formed an attachment to gadgets and game consoles that traditional indoor games seem to have lost on them. They are content at simply sitting in one corner while their fingers and eyes kept busy. But this should not be the case, children need to be active for them to develop their mind and bodies as well as keep them healthy and strong. When you find yourself holed up at home during the rainy season, go for energy burning and mind boggling games that are fun and thrilling not only for kids but for kids-at-heart too.

Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional off the grid electricity that is metered by companies. More and more households are installing solar energy systems these days and businesses are beginning to follow suit. What you may not know is that solar energy doesn't only have to be used to produce electricity – it can also be used for heating water for a variety of purposes as well. The process of using solar energy to heat water begins with a receptacle to store the water, which is generally located on the roof in an area that receives the most direct sunlight. It will usually be an insulated box with a lot of copper piping affixed to it. The copper piping acts as a conductor for the heat and is responsible for delivering the heated water throughout the home. For residential consumption, there are two types of systems - passive and active. Passive systems mean the water flows through it via gravity while active systems use a pump. Both k...

There are different ways to get more out of a small kitchen. It may be small on space but it can be big on style and efficiency that can give a light and airy feel A tiny kitchen’s main chore is meal preparation, therefore if you’re planning to do some remodeling focus on its primary function. Consider the appliances and work areas you need. The use of pot racks, shelving and kitchen utensil holders are only some of the tricks to make it look more spacious. image credits: diynetwork.com

Mother and child bonding usually starts during pregnancy but the unique bonding experience between the mother and child created by breastfeeding is beyond compare.  Some young and first time mothers were misled thinking that infant formula does very well as a substitute for breast milk, maybe because of lack of awareness or due to the abundance of different feeding formula available in the market. The fact remains that the human milk is unique as it protects the health of the child by providing a special nutrition. Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after giving birth in order for the infant to nourish the thick yellow liquid called colostrum, the first breast milk which is very rich in antibodies and nutrients. In order for your baby to get the colostrum he needs, he must be fed every 1-3 hours or 8-12 times within 24 hours after birth as his tiny stomach can only hold a small amount of milk.  Babies must be breastfed on his first 6 months to continue unt...

The latest movement is prepaid debit and credit cards. They are everywhere. People rate these types of cards better than bank accounts because they have less fees, more deposit options and work just like any other debit or credit card without high interest fees or overdraft charges. If you are running a budget, this type of card is a perfect choice for you. For example, Kaiku offers one of the top credit cards prepaid on the market. It's easy to add money through direct deposit, bank account, cash locations or even card-to-card transfers. Members of Kaiku also have a lot of account options and tools. They can budget and manage their money easily online or even use the Kaiku app to access their account, send money, receive text alerts and check for in-network ATMs.

Many people believe that multi-tasking is a great skill that can bring efficiency and productivity. To work on several things at the same time to accomplish urgent tasks is what most people do when they are pressed by time to meet deadlines and complete equally urgent pieces of work. Studies show that when a person tries to multi-task, his focus on doing one task will be detrimental to the performance of another task as we can focus only on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is explained as frequent task switching, that is doing task 1 then task 2 then back to task 1 then maybe start on task 3. Exchanging one task for another can be done quickly but still it is sequential in nature rather than simultaneous. 

Mergers and acquisitions are the heart of a corporation, the sure way to expansion and increased profit. When dealing with complicated mergers and acquisitions in the area of chemicals, it is best to consult a specialized investment bank such as the Valence Group which grew from the chemicals and materials industry. The Valence Group can carry you through the entire transaction from research to acquisition. They offer chemical M&A advice in a number of sectors globally. The experts at the Valence Group have experience in transactions at all levels of chemicals, materials, and related industries. Their offices in London, New York, and Shanghai offer a presence all over the world, as well as familiarity with global economies. 

There are a ton of new cars out there with fuel efficiency and low financing. However, the cars that provide fuel efficiency, low depreciation rates, high safety and advanced technology are hard to come by. When you buy any new vehicle, much of the price can be contributed to having the latest model. Nevertheless, one car manufacturer has received a lot of recognition this year for producing incredibly safe and efficient vehicles. Toyota vehicles like the Camry and Tundra have won the top safety award for 2013 by IHS. The Tundra also received the best for overall value award by Intellichoice. When you study the cost of ownership for Toyota vehicles, it's incredibly low compared to any other car maker. They have a low depreciation rate and low repair costs, especially with the ToyotaCare two-year maintenance program that is standard on all vehicles. 

Children find studying difficult and boring especially when they are not used to spend time studying on a study routine after school. Setting up a daily study schedule will help them establish the routine whether he has or has no homework to do. Our responsibility as parents is to create a system to motivate and help our children to improve concentration and make studying more interesting. Providing your child his own study table is a contributing tool to motivate him to enjoy studying. It is necessary for his study area to be free of distractions. Placing the study table in his room is a better option provided his computer is off when he studies. Provide him a comfortable chair to sit on as well as good lighting to be able to read and work properly. Make sure that his table is clean and equipped with the necessary school supplies and reference books like dictionaries that he would be needing to refrain wasting his study period looking around for the things he needed. Remember tha...

The best strategy to have some control over what your family spends is to create a home budget plan. A monthly budget plan can help you decide how to spend money based on the actual family income. By calculating the monthly income over monthly expenses incurred, you will get a clear idea of how much can be provided for family needs. Budgeting becomes difficult and complicated when the total income is not adequate to meet the needs of the family. However, there are ways on how to manage finances wisely such as resisting the urge to buy on impulse – cut back on your spending, buy only what you and your family needs. Take advantage of availing discount codes, browse on promotional sites like Coupon Codes Raja that offers discount codes to buy your daily essentials like baby diapers, groceries, vitamins and supplements and more. You can save money by using coupons and voucher codes as you can purchase items and products at a lower cost compared to its actual market price. You c...

Rainy days are here, harvesting and harnessing rainwater for various home purposes is a practical way to save on water that will significantly lower down your water bill. Rainwater reservoir is a useful technology not only vital for the agriculture sector but can also be utilized in every home to conserve water. A simple do-it-yourself rainwater collection system is easy to build. You only need to place a large container under the downspout which drains the water off your roof.  But before doing so make sure you let someone clean the roof and the open downspouts on the roof first in order to get rid of dirt and other debris that may clog the gutters. It is also advisable to place a gutter strain to keep fragments to work its way down the fittings.

When running an online business, an entrepreneur can make a serious living. However, when building on an idea, some fail to create a viable marketing strategy. This mistake can cause the entrepreneur to fail in their quest to take their idea to the next level. Fortunately, there are plenty of methods one can use to gain new visitors.  Here are four tips for finding new customers for an online business. Website : An Internet-based business must have a perfect website. To build a solid site, one must keep their design simple and their pages easily navigable. The content should offer the visitor all the information he or she is seeking. To turn visitors into customers, the content should also have a call to action. Simply put, the Web pages should compel people to spend money. One must also remember that it is important to change the website as conditions change. Ideally, from day one, a business owner should track visitors using an analytics programme. This will aid greatly...