Industrial Scientific Annual Picnic 2014

It was fun getting to know some of the people that my husband worked with five days a week. They were all nice and friendly. Last year, we rarely took to anyone as my husband was just starting to work from the company but this year, he know quite a few.  I took some photos of them while they were having fun  tossing corn bag in the corn hole game.  We play this kind of  game too during family gathering as my sister-in-law makes this bean bag toss game and sells them.

We had a nice time chatting with this young and sweet couple who are getting married in September.  Thanks for the invitation Ralph and Bethany!  

Don't Ralph looks like James Paul Marsden, the star from the movie Hop? Me and the kids always think he looks like him.

My son had  a fun time interacting with this goof air force guy hehehe.

Ever since hubby lost 26 pounds, he is looking so  much better without the double chin hehehe.

The Annual Company Picnic sponsored by Industrial Scientific is definitely one of the things to look forward to every year.  Thanks to the family-oriented owners of the company who value the importance of family fun!

Top Tips For People Visiting Barcelona

Barcelona can be a great holiday destination for anyone who is looking to travel to Spain. If you are looking to visit Barcelona, you are probably interested in how you make the most out of your stay there. After all, you are may be limited in the amount of time you have, and so you will want to squeeze the most out of every moment. You need not worry. That is because you will soon discover how you can make your trip to Barcelona awesome, even if you are visiting for the first time.

Find a Great Place to Stay

One of the most important things you need to do is to find a great place to stay. There are many options open to you in relation to accommodation. You may choose to rest in a hotel, however, that could get a little bit expensive. If you are looking to stay for an extended period, you might want to book some Citybase apartments. Most of the time, apartments tend to work out cheaper in the long run. They can also provide you with more privacy and comfort.

Find Out What You Can Do

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There will be a ton of different things that you can do whilst out in Barcelona. Nevertheless, there might only be a few that are of interest to you. Therefore, find out what is on offer and then pick out the things you know you will like most. 

The best way to do this is by reading a local travel guide. A travel guide will provide you with information, based on the various Barcelona attractions on offer. You can purchase a travel guide from a local bookstore. You must ensure that the travel guide you are reading is up to date.

Have a Way to Record Your Memories

Whilst you are visiting Barcelona, it is essential that you have a way to record some of the experiences you are having. The best way to do this is via the use of a camera. Your current smartphone may have a very powerful camera, that allows for you to take some fantastic pictures. If you do not have a smartphone, you might want to buy a standalone camera. 

There are many cameras to choose from, and so you might feel somewhat overwhelmed shopping for one. Should that be the case, you should visit your local electronics store. At such a store, you will be able to find out what the best camera is for your budget. You can do this by speaking to some of the staff there, of whom have been trained to answer such questions.

A Trip to Remember?

When you visit Barcelona for the first time, you will want to do everything that you can to make it a trip that you are going to remember. You can do this by arranging some great accommodation. You should also think about discovering some of the sights that Barcelona has to offer. Should you do the basics, you will eventually come to find that you have an awesome trip. Who knows, you might just want to visit again in the coming months!

Family Walk on the Weekend

We went for a walk with our friend last weekend at our neighborhood.  I took the opportunity  of getting us some  family photos while Don was with us.  I love where we live  because it is in the middle of everything, church, bank, post office, school, stores, you name it.  We are even near a woody  part of the area.  That's why I really don't want to move even though our house is small because I can basically walk going everywhere.  Aside from that, our neighbors are the best!

A Family that Walks Together, Stay Healthy Together.

I'd Never Tell by Kawehi

Have you heard one of Kawehi's songs? This Hawaiian chick is so talented, her keyboard  looks like the mpk I saw online some time ago where it is very small.  I like all her songs.  I wonder why she isn't very popular as her songs are really good.  One of her songs that I love listening to is the "I'd Never Tell".  You can play and listen or watch it and tell me if she is good or not.

Black Widow at Kennywood

One of the many rides that we watched at Kennywood Park is the Black Widow.  Oh boy, it made me sick to my stomach just watching it sway back and forth in such height lol.

I would not trust my life in that suspended  things. What if it snapped while it is swinging, that would be tragic.  I admire people that can tolerate speed and heights!

I hate to be on top of the air like that, that would just make me puke my guts out lol.

I asked my son if he would ever be interested in riding  it when he grow up and he said "No Way" lol.  He is like me.

Daughter on the  other hand is an adrenaline Junkie, he loves ride that would suddenly drop or rides that is fast.  Shadow Shots

What to Look for in an After Market Wakeboard Tower

Wakeboarding is more popular than ever. Wakeboard towers have helped the sport take off by raising the tie-off point of the tow rope, allowing the boarder more air and more time to perform incredible tricks. Plus, they look awesome. As a result, more new boats are outfitted off the showroom floor with original equipment manufacturers (OEM) wakeboarding towers. So, what if you are not buying a new boat? Is it possible to outfit an existing boat with a wakeboard tower that will perform as well and look as good as original equipment? The good news is, tower packages from Wake Essentials are available in a variety of styles to outfit almost every boat.

Stainless Steel or Aluminum?

The wake tower company Big Air offers two styles of wake towers: custom stainless steel and universal aluminum. Stainless steel offers a sleek brushed finish and solid strength. The aluminum used in the company’s wake towers is aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, which demonstrates superior strength in relation to its weight. In general, 2.25 inches is the optimal diameter for tubes of either material.

How Strong is Strong?

Towers should test for resistance at least beyond 1500 pounds, and even beyond 2,000 pounds. Certified testing ensures that the tower will remain durable and safe season to season.

Will it Fit?

Big Air requires measurements specific to the boat for semi-custom built towers, but there are general guidelines for deciding which tower will best suit a given boat. There are two main requirements: the boat must be at least 16 feet long, and there must be access under the gunnels. After that, it is just a question of sizing ranges. Universal towers can accommodate a range from 62 inches to 103 inches wide.

What about the Gear?

Some towers come with integrated racks to carry and store wakeboards, but accessory racks may be added as well. Other functional and cool add-ons include speakers, light bars and mirrors. Many towers will accommodate a factory bimini, but it is best to check measurements with the company first to see whether a tower will bind the bimini or not.

How Will it Look?

Sure, a wake tower gives a boarder enough air to pull off some great tricks, but it adds major style to a boat, too. Towers can be shaped slightly differently, can be decked out with a variety of accessories, and can come in different finishes. Black powder coating looks great on most boats. Sleek polished or brushed finishes are popular as well. Any tower can give a boat an instant profile upgrade.

What About Installation?

A Big Air dealer can install an after-market tower to any boat over 16 feet long and ensure a secure fit. Often, however, a boat owner can do the installation in about 4-6 hours and get the same solid result. If the boat has a hull less than 3/8 inch thick, the hull will need to be reinforced with enough material to bring the thickness to at least 3/8 inch.

A wakeboard tower will help put big air in reach while making almost any boat look great. If the boat did not come with one, it is easy to find and install the perfect wakeboard tower and start making waves.

A Dream to Own a Boat

The city where we live is  connected to  three  states, hence, the Tri-state.  We live close to the Ohio river so  it would be a fun thing to experience  to cruise along the river if we have a boat.  Whenever my husband would ask me what I want for my birthday, I always joke that I want a boat (lol).  I grew up in a coastal area  in the country where I came from so  one of the things that I miss is riding a boat.  

Spring Cleaning the Green Way

Spring has finally arrived and after this year's harsh winter, cleaning your home's carpet is probably very high on your home maintenance chores. This spring, go green by selecting a carpet cleaning company that removes the grime using environmentally friendly products. But before you throw open the windows, install the screens and have the rugs and carpeting cleaned, there are some other spring cleaning chores to be done first. 

Having your home's heating ducts and vents cleaned first prevents accumulated dust from blowing around and settling on freshly cleaned carpeting. Wiping down ceilings and walls before having the carpet cleaned is also a good idea. Removing dust and dirt from odd corners beforehand means that they will not be drifting in the air, ready to settle on fresh sparkling carpeting.

But carpeting is not the only floor covering that needs spring cleaning, either. Area rugs, especially runners experiencing a lot of traffic in the winter months, need a thorough cleaning that includes stain removal.

Now that you have decided to go green because everyone else seems to be doing it, it is good to know that green carpet cleaning really does produce outstanding results. Even better, you may notice that household allergies are not as troublesome after you have gone green.

Truly green carpet cleaning avoids the use of harsh detergents containing chemicals associated with central nervous system involvement and some forms of cancer. But at the same time, deep-seated grime and stains must be removed.

Green carpet cleaning products are usually based on nontoxic, biodegradable and safe ingredients such as baking soda and sodium lauryl phosphate. These do not give off that distinctive chemical smell associated with more traditional solutions, nor do they emit irritating fumes that cause watery eyes, burning noses and scratchy throats.

These green products do not rely on chemical fragrances to cover up odors left behind in carpeting. They remove the sources of bad smells entirely. All the customer smells is “clean.”

Even better, green carpet cleaning products do not leave behind detergent residues in carpet fibers. These residues sometimes remain somewhat sticky, and dust and dirt adhere to the residue. A chemically cleaned carpet does not remain looking clean for very long as a result.

Green Choice Carpet is one of the companies in the New York City area that uses nontoxic, safe and environmentally friendly carpet cleaning methods.

Auto Race at Kennywood

When I asked my husband what he wanted for  Christmas in 2010, he told me that he really doesn't need anything but he would love if if he can have a GPS. That was what I gave  to him and I am so thankful that he chose that for a gift because we always get lost whenever we are driving. Both of us have a terrible sense of direction so we really need to have a GPS. 

Ever since we got the GPS, we have been traveling confidently without being lost.  The photos below were taken on the 6th of June when we  went to Kennywood Park for my husband's company's annual picnic.

 They always enjoyed going to this Auto Race where they can drive around.  This is my son's favorite as the ride is quite long and the place where they drive around is huge unlike other rides.

I am their biggest stalker ever.  The smiles on their faces always bring me so much joy.  One of the many perks of being a parent.  I always thank God that  He  gave me this great opportunity to become a Mom.

Last year, our son rode with his Dad but this year he was independent and wanted to ride by himself.

 I thank God for  giving me a wonderful husband who can provide  what  our children needs and  things to enjoy that I never  experienced  in my childhood.  

History of Man's Bag

My husband does not really care too much about bringing bags with him. He only carries bags when he travels and that is because he needs them. I found it interesting when reading this brief history of the man's bag, that there are some many different kinds of bags that men have carried over the centuries. I don't see many men carrying bags. I think that men who have office work are usually the ones who carry bags. Please take a look at the info graphic below and see how the man's bag has evolved.

With the info graphic Presented by Ghurka above, you probably have an idea of how much the man’s bag has evolved through each era. The Middles Age bag is what interests me the most because of its name, Girdle Pouches. The Renaissance's Swete Bagges is so different. I don't think I have seen that kind of bag being carried by a man. I am only aware of the last four presented above which are the satchel, briefcase, bread bag, and messenger bag.

The messenger bag reminds me of the times when we went to Google Headquarters. I saw quite a few men who were using messenger bags. It must be a trend. How about your husband or boyfriend, do they carry a specific bag mentioned above?