Thank God it’s Friday again. Like I always said almost every Friday, I love this day because this is the last workday and school day for my kids. Then, I get to bond with my kids again tomorrow, which reminds me to look for a good recipe to cook.

Before that, I will give a quick look at the rates of the Outer Banks beach rentals. Most of the people say it is good to book early so that I can get the lowest possible price. Also, it guarantees vacationers or travelers room availability.

Well, that’s it for now. I still have to check the rates. But, if I can’t find affordable one, then might as well plan for trip to the nearest beach. It’s much better that way, I guess.

Yesterday, my husband and I decided to buy new bed for our room. It is a good start to get an update to keep our bedroom comfortable and nice looking. I would want to see drastic changes in the next few weeks. That is why we list some of the items we want to change.

One of the things that made through our lists is the light. I no longer want a simple fluorescent bulb hanging in our ceiling. I want to add something that is elegant and classic; something that is not just functional, but also decorative. The only thing that I can think of that fits to this category is the wall sconce.

So, instantly check the web for some ideal products that will fit my taste. Not before long, I found the one in the picture that I really like. But, before placing an order I have to ask my husband’s opinion and see if he likes it.

A year ago, my husband and I have this business plan that failed. My daughter is the one willing to fund the venture. In the process we realized we are not yet ready to take the plunge. We thought going to business is easy, but it’s not. So, we let go of that big opportunity.

However, I am still hopeful that one day we will be able to have a business that we will fit our need and lifestyle. That’s why I continue searching and I found vending machines business opportunity. Why would I consider this? I’ve learned that this venture is a 100% cash business that will allow me to work from home and set my own hours. That means I can still do my regular housewife thing while I earn money.

Additionally, I don’t have to worry about paying salary for additional employees. And, there is no rent to pay for an office or additional utilities fees as well as advertising cost. Plus, it offers significant tax advantages. So, it is a very attractive business idea for me. All I have to do now is to convince one of my family members to fund the venture.

I’ve been craving embutido for at least three days now. It was Christmas or New Year when I last tasted it. I thought of making it, but I don’t know much. It was my daughter who made the dish at that time and I was not able to get all the ingredients since I am also doing different meals. The easiest way I can think of is to get the recipe around the web and place it here. That way I won’t misplace it and it’s easier to retrieve information than putting it in a notebook. So, here it is.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground pork
• 1 (12 ounce) container fully cooked luncheon meat (such as SPAM®), sliced thin
• 2 (4 ounce) links chorizo de bilbao (spicy Spanish semi-cured sausage), sliced thin
• 2 tablespoons chopped sweet pickle
• 1 (1.5 ounce) box raisins
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix together the ground pork, luncheon meat, chorizo de bilbao, pickle, raisin, eggs, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Form the mixture into 2 logs and wrap with aluminum foil. Place the wrapped logs in a baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
• Set the meatloaves aside to rest. Carefully drain the drippings from the baking dish into a small saucepan placed over medium heat. Stir the soy sauce and corn flour into the drippings; bring to a boil. Cook the mixture at a boil, stirring continually, until the sauce is thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Unwrap the meatloaves and slice; serve the sauce over sliced meatloaf.

Not many children or teens nowadays travel to the countryside during weekends, or in summer vacations, preferring to remain in the cities with their friends. Parents also share some of the responsibilities, in the sense that stressful jobs and overloaded work schedules do not allow them more time to spend with their families. However, investigators believe that these factors should not always deter families from taking small trips to the countryside whenever possible, AlphaGalileo reports.

Debbie Pearlman Hougie of University of Hertfordshire Rural Geography believes that parents should not let the comfort of modern life interfere with children’s chances of getting to know their surroundings. Her idea is not a new one, taking children out of cities could also contribute to their health, and also their awareness on several issues, such as biodiversity and climate change. Many other researchers believe that seeing the countryside allows children to relate to efforts of saving our planet, which are currently being promoted by international authorities.

Also, she says that this population segment is prevented from going out and experiencing something else by two main things – the parent’s inability to negotiate the countryside, and their fears of their children’s safety in this environment, as well as the pull of the computer monitor. The Internet, with its games, instant chat programs and social networks, exerts arguably the most important influence on children today. The expert says that her study looked at 53 children, aged 5 to 10, from Hertordshire. She also conducted focus group with the parents.

The hot weather these past few days make everyone in the family wants to go on a family vacation. The best spot would be at the beach where we can enjoy the cold water. Actually we can cool down at the bathroom. But, it swimming at the beach is a different thing.

Whenever we all sit down to talk about our vacation plan, I am reminded by the secluded white-sand beaches on the Mexican Riviera Maya. I’ve been writing about Karisma and I can’t forget the services they offer that includes elite level of service luxurious accommodations, invigorating entertainment and the classy snap-to service that responds to discerning travelers’ requests rolled in one payment.

Anyway, that is just a dream for now since I currently have no access to the place. But, that doesn’t mean I would stop from dreaming about it.