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...