Slow and Easy Outdoor Cooking

Guess what my husband wants for his birthday? Nope, it's not a camera lens, a gadget nor a new car accessory. What he's aiming to purchase seven months from now is a Lynx built in barbecue. He loves watching cooking shows and never fails to mention how taste the meat looks when it's cooked in the right grill. When I found out how much it would cost us to get the "right" grill, I was momentarily at a loss for words. The one that he likes is around $3,000 but he said he can settle for the A-Series 26 inch Built-In PGS Aluminum grill (pictured below).

It's only $711 after the sale price so I'm not complaining.

To be fair, I've always wanted to have one of those outdoor kitchens that I see from Home Network TV shows. One of my dreams when we get to build our dream house is to have a huge garden area where we can hold parties for our friends. The food will always consist of pastas, salads and barbecues that will rival the ones being served from high-end resorts and hotels. Not that I will ever have the talent to cook. That's my husband's area of expertise, hence his need to get his hands on one of these grills.

Now we're both addicted to browsing the net for barbeque smokers which is perfect for slow cooked recipes and all kinds of burners and grills. Most of them are more than what I'm willing to pay for but considering their materials, I know the price is worth it if it can serve us for more than twenty years. My mother-in-law told me as well that it's better to invest on high-end appliances instead of replacing them every 3 years or so. Anyway, I know this is just the first of the many appliances that we're going to invest on. My husband and I decided to start purchasing furniture and appliances so we won't have to buy them in bulk when we start building our house next year.

Horseback Riding in Tagaytay

Can you see how big her smile was? It was very hot that day but she still went ahead. It was the first time that we let her ride without me or her Papa by her side too. She was all smiles and we could even see her trying to make her horse walk faster. She's really all grown up now. The timing couldn't be more perfect.

Careers in Beauty

Looking for cosmetology school in Illinois? I would like to recommend the Regency Beauty Institute. I've came across their site while helping a friend from Chicago find a school where she can learn more about hair cosmetology. We love what their program has to say - about showcasing your skills while learning, how to be exceptional and being rewarded in the end by acquiring a professional career in beauty.

Don't have the budget? They have financial aid so that the only thing you'll have to worry is how to make everyone beautiful around you. All you need to do is fill out a form so they can calculate and see how much you can receive through grants and loans. Financial aid, top of the line facilities, career networking - it's like the universe is conspiring to help you achieve your dreams! What more can you ask for?

Quick Getaway Last Holy Week

Last Holy Thursday and Friday, we trekked to Tagaytay to spend some quality time with each other. And when I say each other, that would be me, Sandy and the Husband. We booked a room at Balay Indang which was located 20 minutes from Tagaytay. It was a very restful two days filled with great food and awesome company.

I've forgotten how nice it is to just enjoy the nature with the two most important people in my life. There were no TVs inside the rooms so we spent the afternoon walking around the huge place, exploring hidden resting areas and tree houses. There was a swimming pool too, a billiards pool table, videoke area and lots of hammocks and comfortable nooks that even the busiest person can enjoy. Check out the link above to read more about the place. All in all, I rate that weekend 9 stars.

Another Space - Finally

We just finished cleaning up one of the smaller rooms in our house. It's the one nearest our bedroom and small enough for Sandy and the Husband whenever they want to play PS2 or watch videos. That way, they won't disturb me and the baby when we're trying to sleep. When I first checked it out, I was saddened to see that the closet was filled with old stuff and there weren't enough storage space. But after convincing the Husband to throw away most of the unusable items and sold the ones that can still be salvaged, we were left with two whole cabinets ready to be filled with "new" junk from the master's bedroom. So now, all the things that we don't use that much was moved to the smaller room. This leaves our master bedroom with lots of space for my new computer table and a future queen-sized sofa bed which will be used by Sandy and the Husband. Another great project done!

Gold Coins Once More

Why should we buy gold coins instead of other investment instruments? According to US Gold Bureau, when the dollar declines, gold goes up. Plus it has been proven for centuries how gold can preserve one's wealth simply because it is backed by something physical and solid, and not just paper. It is indestructible and will remain valuable even with it's smashed into bits. It's the safest way to increase your family's investment and protect yourself from inflation. If you want to know more how to invest in gold, just visit the US Gold Bureaue website. It's important to research thoroughly especially when it comes to money matters. Even better, subscribe for one year to The Fold Monitor and learn the 10 mistakes people make when buying gold and educate yourself on how to purchase the right precious metal so you can have higher returns in the end.