A Search Engine for Businesses

It's true in what they say "A business with no sign is a sign of no business". A business will not run on it's own. It has to have a very good advertising campaign or else people will not know that one exists. It will always start by word of mouth but it is also very important not to rely on other peoples words and comments but a business for it to proper must have a very reliable and means of advertising. In my case for instance, I have a landscaping business but I don't just rely on other people to tell their family and friends that I have this kind of business but I also have a very good visualization of what my business is all about and of course an advertisement through the internet. People around the world always rely on the internet now a days for them to get what they needed and a good ppc services is what people with businesses like me needs.  So don't just rely on other people's words but let the experts do what they do best. A good search engine for our business is the right choice to have if you are looking for a better profit and worldwide access.

Panagbenga Festival 2011

This year's Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City will be on Feb. 26 with the Grand Street Parade and on Feb. 27 with the Grand Float parade. This festival is done yearly which showcase the beautiful flowers of Baguio City. Yes, all the flowers that will be used here are all fresh blooms. I just wish I could go there for the very beautiful and colorful display of floats from different Baguio organizations and colorful costumes of the young and old participants and dancers all over the City.

*photos courtesy of last year's festival from different sources.

Plants from Baguio City

Whenever we visit Baguio City it always takes my breath away. Once you start travelling along the zigzag roads and start gazing at the beautiful landscapes and waterfalls of the mountains, it seems that it's always my first time to go there. Besides the cold weather and clean atmosphere of the place, I can't appreciate enough the so many variety of foliages and flowering plants that can be found just about anywhere in Baguio. In Manila we only have to make do with the tropical plants and some common plants that are planted anywhere. But in Baguio, you get to see many plants that can only be grown in cold areas.

Like this one for instance, in Manila we had the small variety we called "Kalanchoe" plant. The local version of the plant had only red blossoms but the imported varieties had red, orange, yellow and white. But when I saw these kind in Camp John Hay Club House, I was really surprised to see a different flower of the plant. I don't know if they're still buds about to open in a few more days or it's the way its flower should be, like a bud.

Another kind of flower I saw was this grass like aster. Again in Manila, you can only find the white ones with small blooms. But here in Baguio, these flowers grow abundantly and I guess lasts longer because of the cold weather there.

And of course, all the plants, grass and trees in Baguio have a very striking and lush colors compared from the plants that are grown and maintained in Manila. So again, maybe because of the cold weather and clean air surrounding these beautiful landscapes. 

This is one of the golf courses of Camp John Hay located at the back of the Club house. While having your lunch here, you can also enjoy watching the golfers play their game.

Kuya Reg's Work of Art

I just want to share this. This photo was taken from the garden of my  hubby's cousin, Kuya Reggie. My hubby's family is known for their landscaping business. But having seen this very beautiful and well maintained garden made me think that besides having knowledge in the field of landscaping you also have to have a passion and love  for it too...... because without it maybe this garden will not look like this. It's like having visited a famous tourist spot or park from another country. 

Camping to the Next Level

My sons and husband love camping. In the school where the boys went, they have a "Father and Son" camping year where each one together with their fathers will go camping for three consecutive days on a preferred place of their school. They enjoy the setting up the tent, the fun games organized by each class parent representatives, the unlimited food and the support of all the parents who participated on the event. Each section has their own class color so that they can be distinguished from one another. My husband and sons had their four years of camping and now they miss doing it again. When we went to Baguio, I think that was December, we tried camping on the lawn. We set up tents, a big one and two small ones good for one person only. My husband and I and my youngest slept on the big tent while my daughter and eldest son slept on the small tent. We didn't realize that the temperature would drop to 10 degrees and we awoke almost frozen to the bones! At 3 am we were all sipping hot chocolate drinks and hot coffee that day. It's no use camping outside with that kind of weather. So we are thinking of acquiring an rv so in case we plan to go camping to a far place, we can really enjoy the trip and the camping on a comfortable vehicle without having to worry about the temperature outside plus the convenience of having your personal space without having to rent a place or go to a hotel to rest.

Today's Flowers

Fresh picked roses, perfect for a table centerpiece for the day......

Ordering your Business Cards Online

There is a saying, " A business with no sign, is a sign of no business ". Do you agree? Me, of course. How can anyone know if you're offering something if you don't have proper advertising or a simple sign board telling what business you have. To attract customers, is to have an attractive sign on your place. Make it simple but pleasing to the eye and the customer will know what you offer in an instant. You may also need some business cards to give out to your prospective clients and customers for future reference. Who knows if they are satisfied in what they see in your business they will surely call you back for more inquiries. 

Looking for business card makers is also sometimes very tiring because you don't know who to pick. As a landscape designer, I would choose a company that specifically designs or make business cards for artists like me. They call it the artist business cards. The first to look is of course in the internet or just browse the web for graphic artists that designs these business cards for your liking. I found one and in their website, you can customize the business card you want to order by designing the card yourself or you can pick one of their pre-designed cards and just order them online they they will ship it to you. All you have to do is pick your design, place your order, pay online and that's it! You can now have a business card of your own.

A Study on A Fruit to treat Cancer

Here in the Philippines, this fruit is called Guyabano. In English, Soursop because of it's sweet soury taste. I like eating this fruit because I believe that it helps in our digestion because of it's very fibrous. We heard so much about this fruit and just recently, someone told us that study is still undergoing for it's possible treatment for cancers.

If it will be proven that this fruit could treat cancer, then I would plant the tree starting right now on my own backyard. I am very conscious of my health because my family has a history on cancers. So I am doing everything including researching what can prevent me from having it. Some infos courtesy of the Philippine Herbal Medicines.org has it's say about this fruit.

Guyabano/Soursop Fruit Nutrition

Guyabano belongs to the family of Annonaceae, (A. muricata L.). The flesh of the fruit consist of a white edible pulp that is high in carbohydrates and considerable amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Potassium and dietary fiber. Guyabano is low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. No only is guyabano a good health food, it also taste delicious. The tree and fruit is known in various names: Guyabano in Filipino, Soursop in English, Graviola in Brazil, and Guanabana in Spanish.

About the Guyabano

The heart shaped / oblong guyabano fruit has a dark green, leathery and spike-like skin that measures from 8 to 12 inches long and can weigh up to 2.5 kilos. The creamy and delectable flesh contains from 60 to 100 black-brown seeds that are indigestible and non-edible.

The guyabano tree is relatively small. It usually grows from 8 to less than 20 feet high and is sensitive to very cold temperatures. The guyabano tree requires a lot of water, warmth and humidity and is usually grown in the tropics. It is cultivated commercially in Central & South America, West Africa, Asia and South Florida in limited numbers.

Products made from Guyabano fruit:

Aside from being eaten raw, the guyabano fruit is processed into candies, tarts, shakes, ice-cream, sherbets and other beverages.

Medicinal Uses of Guyabano

Guyabano has been used as folkloric herbal medicine in many regions thought the world. It is considered to be antispasmodic, sudorific and emetic. A decoction (boiling in water) of guyabano leaves is used to kill bedbugs and head lice.

To reduce fever, a decoction of leaves can be taken internally or the leaves added to bathing water also has the same effect. The crushed fresh leaves are also applied on skin eruptions for faster healing. A poultice of young guyabano leaves is applied on the skin to alleviate rheumatism and other skin infections like eczema. Applied during the healing of wounds, this can result in less or no skin scars. The decoction can also be used as a wet compress on swollen feet and other inflammations.

The juice of the fruit is taken orally as a herbal remedy for urethritis, haematuria and liver ailments.

Studies are underway by leading medical institutes, universities and pharmaceutical companies of the healing properties of guyabano against cancers. Initial findings show that certain compounds and chemicals extracted from guyabano leaves, seeds, fruit and bark appear to kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells remain unaffected.

Other uses of Guyabano

Pulverizing the guyabano seeds and mixing it with soap & water is used as effective spray against caterpillars, armyworms and leafhoppers on plants.

The guyabano leaves are believed to have a tranquilizing and sedative properties. In the Netherlands Antilles, the leaves are placed inside pillows or placed on top of the mattress to induce a good night's sleep.

Christmas Is Just Around the Corner

The countdown for Christmas has already began when September stepped in. Usually, when the "ber" months are already on the calendar, I would start looking for items that I give out in Christmas time. Every year, I would have the same problem.... gifts for my in-laws! It  gives me a headache when I think what to give them at Christmas. I never thought that finding a perfect gift for them would be a very hard task for me indeed. It is hard because they already have all the material things their hearts desires and I really don't know what to give them. Now here I am again with Christmas is just around the corner, same problem again...sighs! I browsed in the internet to find a perfect and unique gift for them and I found some amazing mantel clock in different sizes, shapes and material. I found this one, the one on the photo to be quite perfect for my in-laws. It's a two sided clock with a brass finish and I think that they would love this because one thing is for sure, this would make a very beautiful and unique accessory piece for their house in the province because of it's vintage yet elegant style. Well now, I guess my quest for this year has ended quite early if I may say so myself, who knows maybe I would get one more for my Mom. I know she will love this.

House Arrest for 2 Weeks!

It's been a week now since I had my operation. My doctor said that I should be resting for at least two weeks with no stress and heavy lifting what so ever. Being at home for two weeks is frustrated because I am not used to being here all the time. I only have to be here when I'm sick or every Wednesday when my cleaning lady comes in. Anyways, if my doctor says it's for my health then I will follow her. So here I am with nothing to do but update my blogs and make some opportunities online to pass my time. I haven't done any photo shooting lately so I don't have anything interesting to share. I just hope I'll be up on my feet next week so I can do my work at my shop.

Two months Till Halloween

In my line of work, I was sometimes being called to put up some decorations for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, openings or any large gatherings that needs instant beautification by providing potted plants and flower decorations. In weddings, I arranged cut flowers mostly for the reception and some foliages and potted plants for the church. Same goes to large conferences and meetings in which I let them rent my plants in different decorative plants for the indoors. September is here and Christmas is just around the corner to greet us. Halloween is not very important here in our country but some of my clients especially those living in private subdivisions are preparing or this event. Two weeks before Halloween, I have to have some ideas on how to decorate and implement some of my plants for the said occasion. I must already have some unique and great ideas of Halloween Decorations for my clients before the end of September. The usual decor are mostly flying bats suspended on their existing trees and some frightening figures of zombies and monsters in front of their gates. Some cobwebs and giant spiders and some even have sound effects at the background and being played during the night. But I'm still would like to use some plants and flowers maybe indoors with colors for the Halloween like orange, red, bright yellow and black. I could also use real pumpkin as a centerpiece for a flower arrangement. What do you think?

3 Days to go........sighs!

Today is Wednesday...... three days to go and i'm off to the hospital. I was scheduled to undergo a DNC operation for endometrium polyps. This will be my second time having that procedure. The first one was 4 years ago and now I was diagnosed by ultrasound that the polyps are back again and needed to be removed and biopsied. I wasn't suppose to feel nervous or agitated because I already know what to expect from the procedure. But I can't help feeling nervous as the day of my operation gets near. I'm the kind of person who is really afraid and don't like needles! The thought of having a dextrose poke to my veins again gives me the nerves. Anyways, like my hubby was telling me, I really don't have a choice. I just hope that my veins will cooperate this time because the last time I was hospitalized, the med techs had a hard time inserting the dextrose to my veins so I was pricked two times.......gosh make it a one time only this time! Can't tolerate the pain!

Looking for new blinds for the house

Last  summer we had our house repainted from the exterior. It costs us a bit but it's worth it. The house looks new again and very pleasing to look at especially with the new landscape of our garden. We didn't repaint the interior of the house because it's still intact and clean. But I can't help finding something inside the house that needs fixing or repair. I noticed that our existing window blinds are already fading and needs to be pilled down from the windows. The manufacturer and supplier of our blinds told us that we can remove the stains by cleaning it with just plain ordinary laundry soap and then it's good to go again. It's been raining hard these past few days and our lanai is always getting wet because of the heavy rains and insufficient protection from the rains.

I saw in one of my "Real Home" magazines that you can use awnings for protection against the heavy rains and can also be used during summer season as a convenient and beautiful shade from the burning sun. Now that is what I need. A shade during summer time and a rain protector during the rainy seasons. Isn't that great? I think this is practical than having to built a roof that is not sufficient for the rains and the heat of the scourging sun. I guess this will do, 2 in 1 awning. I'd better order right away before the storms hit our area. I heard from the news that a low pressure area is again forming and they are expecting it to become a typhoon in a few days. I just hope my order will come before that storm.

Benefits of Oregano Plant

Many people here in our area are getting sick because of the climate change. In the morning, it's hot then come evening it will rain. Sometimes, it rains in the afternoon and then it get hot during night time. One of the common illnesses people are experiencing right now are severe coughs and flu. Toddlers are the most number affected by these illnesses. 

There are many coughs and flu medicines that can be purchased over the counter but some are trying to use alternative medicines such as medicinal plants and herbs that helps cure and prevent these common illnesses. One of these herbs is the Oregano. The oregano leaves have many benefits and one of them is relieving severe coughs and mucus in the respiratory system. All you have to do is boil the leaves and then extract the juice and take 1 tablespoonful of the oregano extract everyday for about 5 to 7 days and you'll see the relief it provides. Here are also some health benefits of Oregano oil.

• its strong antiviral and antibacterial properties can help destroy organisms that contribute to skin infections.
• It also has antiparisitic properties which is helpful in digestive problems
• It can strengthen the immune system
• It helps increase the joint and muscles flexibility
• Improves respiratory health.
• Oil of Oregano when applied topically can help treat skin infections, itchy skin and irritated gums, (but make sure it has been diluted because oregano oil is concentrated and can cause burning sensation to tongue or skin).
• The high content of thymol and carvacrol in oregano can help calm upset stomachs and aid digestion. Mix 2 to 3 drops of oil to a glass of juice, milk or water for a quick remedy for mild indigestion.
• Oil of Oregano can help in the treatment of sinus or lung congestion. Just mix 2 or 3 drops of oil with juice, and drink this daily, you can notice the improvement within 3-5days.
• Oregano has antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that the anti-oxidant properties of oregano may even exceed that of apples and blueberries. Antioxidant vitamins are thought to play a vital role in the prevention of many forms of cancer, as well as perhaps slowing down the aging process.
• Oregano is rich in fiber
• Fresh oregano like other leafy vegetables is loaded with vitamins and nutrients. It is a good source of iron and manganese as well as calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. It also has omega-3 fatty acids.
• Oregano is good in maintaining the respiratory health
• Oregano oil, also acts as a stimulant, carminative, and it helps to increase perspiration when a person has fever.
• Oregano can help increase menstrual flow.
• When given in the form of a warm infusion, oregano relieves muscle spasms and cramps, colic, or spasmodic pains in the abdomen.
• The dried leaves can also be applied in bags as a warm application to painful arthritic swellings and other conditions, including rheumatism.

*Benefits of Oregano oil courtesy of hubpages.com

Joint Pains

It seems that I'm just getting old! Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with acid reflex and now I have joint pains on my right hip and on my right knee. What is happening to me? Is this due to old age or my body is starting to fall apart because I don't give attention to it? Whatever the case, I have to do something about it before I can't function anymore and do my work. I just had my consultation with my doctor regarding my abdominal pains and I really don't want to see another doctor for my joint pains. I guess it won't do me any harm if I search about this on the internet on what to do if you fell these pains on your body. I just hope that this will not lead to arthritis! 

Anyways, upon browsing the internet for some medications and information about my joint pains, I saw this Review of Trigosamine, a supplement for joint pains and arthritis. In this review, they compare medicinal solution from the other treatments like the magnetic therapy or the copper bracelet therapy. They say that both can have advantages and disadvantages and may cause bad side effects if not handled well. So they suggest a medication that has natural ingredients that helps solve the problem and provides long-term relief for the patients. Trigosamine contains 100% natural ingredients like Hyaluronate, Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Studies shows that this medication really works and should be available over the counter.