Boogie Knights

I went to Bohol, Philippines last summer for a conference in chemistry. Aside from scholarly talks and activities we planned to tour the city. Bohol boasts of white sand beaches, caves, the Chocolate hills, a beautiful river and interesting wildlife. The moment we arrived, we hired a van to take us around the city for some sightseeing. After the three-day conference we packed our bags and headed to the beach.

We went to the beach around five in the morning and quickly boarded a small motor boat to go island hopping. We were heading to the ocean to go dolphin watching. The ocean was peaceful and serene, and we were able to catch a glimpse of the first rays of sunlight. At around seven, the dolphins came in packs, jumping and crashing back to the sea. It was an amazing and exhilarating experience. After the dolphin watching, we headed to the marine sanctuary to go snorkeling. We were lucky that two of our companions who were studying marine biology brought waterproof digital cameras. The moment we snorkeled to the area with a deep sea vent, hundreds of colorful fishes swam below our feet. It was like watching the National Geographic - it seemed like a different world out there.

It was a truly memorable experience. The Olympus underwater camera of my friend captured it all.

I have allergic rhinitis causing me to sneeze a lot, day and night. I used to think that I easily catch cold but my doctor confirmed that it was a form of allergy. I had to take antihistamines once in a while to provide relief from runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing fits. It’s a pretty annoying condition. Aside from this, my room and the entire house should always be clean and if possible, allergen-free. An air purifier is the obvious solution.

There are several things that we considered before purchasing an air purifier. First and most importantly, its capacity to eliminate allergens like dust, molds, and pollen. So we checked the kind of filters that several models have. Other things to consider is its other features like the ability to eliminate unwanted odors, portability, size, ability to deodorize and sterilize air, and energy efficiency. We found out about all of this information by reading air purifier ratings.

A clean air is very important, since we cannot survive without breathing. Unclean air does not only lead to allergies, but to other airborne diseases too. Keep yourself and your family protected by installing an air purifier in your home.

Many years ago spying was as simple as assuming another identity, or dressing up in a disguise to gather classified information. Nowadays, espionage kept up with the advancement of technology, with the different spy gadgets available. Even kids have toys that can be used for spying.

The interesting thing is that some spy gadgets are not just for working undercover, a lot are functional devices which can be used for security purposes. Hidden cameras provide houses and business establishments a sense of security since they can monitor people going in and out of the premises. Burglars and intruders can easily be detected. These hidden cameras are usually cleverly hidden in inconspicuous or dull normal objects such as exit signs, books, or even teddy bears. Another useful spy gadget is the phone manager. It notifies users of who’s calling in and making outgoing calls. It also allows storing of call data of up to 2000 outgoing and incoming calls with ease. People making long distance calls can easily be monitored, thus, it prevents disputes regarding the phone bill.

Spy gadgets are more than just cool sunglasses, binoculars, X-ray sprays or voice scramblers. A lot can be used by ordinary people for practical and security reasons.

A lot of people with curly or wavy hair desire to have a sleek and shiny hair. I guess it is already man’s innate nature to want what we don’t have. Because of this, a number of people with curly hair go to beauty salons and have their hair relaxed, straightened, or rebonded. Chemical hair straightening can transform your dry, frizzy curls to sleek, straight, shiny hair. However, all chemical treatments damage hair in the long run, making it dull and lifeless. Furthermore, you are not allowed to wash your hair for a few days after a treatment, and it is also discouraged to put your hair up into a ponytail or to tuck it behind your ear since it will form dents.

An alternative to chemical hair straightening treatments is by using a flat iron. A flat iron is a tong-like device with ceramic or metal plates which uses heat to straighten your hair. I tried using one when having long, pin-straight hair was still the trend. In just a few minutes, my messy hair was transformed into straight, smooth and shiny. The good thing is that it’s only temporary. If you have naturally wavy and or curly hair, just shampoo and you have your old hair back.

However, all treatments, whether permanent or temporary, causes hair damage. It is still best to love your natural crowning glory, and enhance and take good care of it.

I don’t like putting full length and heavy curtains in our kitchen because it makes it look dark and dreary. The kitchen needs an ample amount of light since cooking is a tedious job, and it is impractical to switch on kitchen lights especially in the morning and noon. Furthermore, natural sunlight gives warmth and a cheery atmosphere. Insufficient lights can cause accidents such as cuts and burns, or may result to bad tasting food. That is why I chose short curtains and valances for our kitchen windows, which gives character and beauty without obstructing sunlight.

My grandmother is a seamstress and we decided to make homemade kitchen curtains and valances. We chose a textile with citrusy shades and vertical stripes for the short curtain, and a yellow-orange plain one for the valance. My grandmother designed lower edge of the valance with scallops and tassels. The short curtains were simple and pleated at the top. We also bought lovely curtain holders to tuck the short curtains to the window sides, thus allowing sunlight to illuminate our kitchen. It was a fun, productive project and my grandmother and I are already thinking of new kitchen window covering ideas to do at home.

Nothing is as calming as a glass of fresh, sparkling wine. Collecting wine is a luxe hobby because wines are expensive. Fine wines typically range from $30-50 while outstanding vintages from the best vineyards may sell for thousands of dollars. Investment wines are goods for which demand increases as its price goes up, such as wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Highly collectible wines should have a proven track record of holding well over time, a drinking window that is many years long, a consensus among wine experts with regards to its quality, and rigorous productions at every stage such as grape selection and barrel-aging.

Wine is a natural, perishable food product. All types of wine, including red, white, sparkling, and fortified, upon exposure to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, can spoil. Proper storage will maintain the quality of wine, and in some cases, improve its aroma. Wines are usually kept in wine cellars, which are designed specifically for wine storage and aging. An alternative to a wine cellar is a wine refrigerator, which is an indispensable appliance for wine collectors. There are many types available in the market – some are dual zone types which are capable of storing red and white wine at each of their recommended temperatures, some are fit for outdoors, and some have very large capacities – from 50 to about 400 bottles. To aid in the selection of the proper wine storage, consult wine refrigerator reviews before purchasing one.

My great aunt is a very big fan of antique furniture. Her house is rustic, and she loves heavily ornate wooden furniture, antique items and memorabilia like old telephones, phonographs and paintings. She even has a historic and authentic wooden carriage wheels in her front yard, dated during the late 1800s. The floor of her living room, dining room, and bedroom are all covered with elaborately designed San Antonio oriental rugs. All her children are living abroad, and one of them resides in Texas. She got the rugs from a well-known furniture shop in San Antonio.

The rugs were crafted tastefully and with the highest quality from the finest New Zealand wool. The rug in her living room has a Persian inspired pattern, while the one in her dining room is Chinese-inspired. In her bedroom, the Oriental rug on the floor has a safari theme with leopard prints strewn all over. It matches the bedspread and comforter on her wispy mosquito net-covered canopy bed, which have cheetah and tiger prints.

I find her house a little over decorated and scary because of all those antiques. But visiting her house is always an enjoyable experience for me because it feels like going to a museum, and playing poker with my cousins while sitting on her San Antonio oriental rugs is always fun.

I have very thin wrists, which makes it difficult for me to find the right watch or bracelet that has a nice fit. The bracelet of my metal watches is usually shortened, and bracelets often fall off my hand. That is the reason why I prefer wearing necklaces, rings, or earrings more than bracelets. However, bracelets are very fashionable and there are times that I want to accessorize my outfit with bangles or charms to achieve a unique look. I sometimes buy adjustable bangles, but there are times that I want to wear normal chain bracelets for a clean, classic look.

My husband gave me a stainless steel bracelet for my birthday, and it has different charms attached on it. The chain is narrower than the usual charm bracelets, which makes it very feminine and delicate. Knowing the size of my wrists, he had it customized by having the bracelet shortened; a few of the links were cut. It has a perfect fit and doesn’t fall off.
I wear my stainless steel bracelet often because aside from the sophisticated look it gives to my outfit, it symbolizes something special between me and my husband.

Jewelry is a fashion accessory that signifies luxury, as well as a person’s style and individuality. A lot of women would like to own something fancy and as much as possible, not spend a fortune. The good thing Is that there are a lot of jewelry that are affordable, chic, and has a good quality. At present, bamboo earrings are gaining popularity. The main feature of these earrings is its intricate design which resembles the patterns in bamboo stalks. Very zen and unique, it can be made from gold, silver or platinum, and can be further embellished with precious stones. They are usually made into hoop earrings, but a few designs are dangling or drop type.

Personally, I prefer yellow gold jewelry because of my warm skin tone, though I also wear silver or white gold depending on my outfit. For formal events, the Gold Bamboo & Champagne CZ Earrings from Kalea would surely spruce up your look. These are gold bamboo earrings with a drop style and a cubic zirconia embellishment. Wear it with a cocktail dress and heads will surely turn. For jeans or other casual outfits, I usually wear hoop earrings in either gold, white gold, or silver.

Jewelry should complement your outfit, not overpower it. It is still best to keep it simple to avoid looking like a decked out Christmas tree. Remember the rule of fashion: less is more.