Vancouver Top Canadian destination on list

Excerpt from Torstar News Service…no wonder why I love you Vancouver!

We ranked 6th, Victoria 8th in North America. Vancouver and Victoria have the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. Quebec City and Montreal have history and culture. Vancouver led the Canadian entries, coming in at No. 6 on Travel + Leisure magazine's ranking of the Top 10 U.S. and Canadian destinations. It was followed by Quebec City, Victoria at No. 7, then Montreal. Seattle rounded out the list that placed New York City at No. 1. But what does Canada's biggest city, Toronto, have to entice international tourists? Not much, according to the magazine's readers. Four Canadian cities ranked in the Top 10 U.S. and Canadian destinations in the popular travel publication's annual World's Best awards. But Toronto is noticeably absent. An associate editor at the magazine says Toronto shouldn't take it personally. While Toronto has everything. I don't know that it has any one thing that sort of stands up", said Ken Wong, a Queen's University School of Business marketing proffesor. "Toronto's kind of good on everything but great on nothing." A recent forecast from the Conference Board of Canada found that Toronto draws the most tourist out of the eight Canadian metropolitan areas that it studies.

Top 10
1. New York City
2. San Francisco, California
3. Chicago, Ill.
4. Charleston, S.C.
5. Santa Fe, N.M.
6. Vancouver
7. Quebec City, Que.
8. Victoria
9. Montreal, Que.
10. Seattle, Wash.

Beauty wonders around the kitchen!

Here are some kitchen items I collected that will doll up our body. There are maybe more…

Got milk? Milk is full with lactic acid which blows away old skin to reveal the radiant new skin, notes Chicago dermatologist Marianne O’Donoghue, M.D. Soak a cotton cosmetic pad in whole milk and dab over skin. Splash the face with water to rinse.

Try it to keep your legs hair free - Researchers have discovered an ingredient in soymilk that may slow hair growth. Now you can shave less often. Sweep a soymilk-saturated washcloth over legs, under arms or bikini area after shaving, then rinse.

Tea time – Chamomile tea cleanses pores. Soak two bags in hot water. Wrap a towel over head and inhale the soothing essence for 10 minutes.
Rub out under eye shadows – Its tannins stimulate circulation to fade under eye circles, says Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, John Grossman, M.D., and it wont’ stain skin. Run cool water over tea bags, place over eyes for 5 minutes.

Soothe troubled skin – a recent study in The Archives of Dermatology reported that green tea is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it reduces redness and calms crisis skin. Just soak a washcloth in a cup of cooled green tea and apply to skin for 5 minutes.

Make your skin smooth by scrubbing it with sugar - this natural exfoliator is showing up in all the pricey new bath and body treatments. Make your own by mixing a spoon of your favorite shower gel with enough sugar to form a paste. Rub over skin in the shower. Rinse well. Brown sugar works best, says Alina Roytberg, co-creator of Fresh beauty products, its crystals and doesn’t dissolve so fats.

Keep skin young with olive oil – Rich in vitamin E, olive oil fights off free radicals while it keeps skin soft and supple. Massage into skin just after showering.

Make you skin beautiful with honey – its natural moisturizer that won’t clog pores and kills acne-triggering bacteria. For an easy face or lip mask, smooth honey over face and lips. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse well.

Get succulent lips with amazing aloe – skip the store-bought balms and sticks, and soothe your chapped lips with hydrating aloe-vera gel pulled right off the plant. Take it out with tissue after 5 minutes.

How to remove wax from carpet:

I got this advice from one of my fellow OFW’s when she caught me cleaning up my client’s carpet stained with candle wax. Says, ”The easiest way to get the wax out is to use an iron. First is to cut apart a brown grocery bag and placed it over the wax, adjust the iron to medium setting, and as it melted the heat will absorb into the bag. Change the paper often and keep repeating until all the wax are out.” I tried it and it saved me the rest of the day. I was showered with compliments, too ('.') Thank you Sis…

Student Driver

Learner’s Permit - sometimes called Student Permit, required in order to get the ultimate Driver’s License. I have to study and learn the road safety, traffic rules and regulations, and pass the Knowledge Test. I picked up the latest publication from ICBC (Insurance Corp of British Columbia) office. This is a 157 pages booklet. You can visit their webpage and take an online multiple type questions and answers courses. When ready to take the test go back to ICBC office with two valid Id’s. The cost to take the test is $15. You must answer 40 out of 50 questions or you will fail. However, hehehe, you can fail as much as you can, go ahead and make a lot of donation! The learner’s permit is valid for one year. You can only take the actual driving test after one year or enroll in driving school and take the test after nine months.

Now you can start driving, but with someone who has a valid driver’s license. Next is taking the driving test. Most applicants here prefer to enroll in driving school, cost is around $300. That is why you will notice some vehicles here carry the sign “L” or STUDENT DRIVER.

We’re slow but please give us a chance…

Things we can do to Look Younger!

Celebrity makeup artist Peter Lamas (who has made Sharon Stone, Cindy Crawford, Kate Winslet and other superstars more gorgeous!) reveals the beauty rules your favorites follow to look forever young – and how you can make them work for yourself!

1) Try the anti-aging masks celebs love – Stars know that moisture keeps skin glowing and fends off fine lines beautifully. Lamas recommends this weekly ultra hydrating mask to his clients: combine a chopped, whole cucumber, a spoonful of mayonnaise and a teaspoon of olive oil in the blender. Blend until smooth, then apply to clean face. Leave on for 30 minutes.

2) Go incognito – They don’t just wear them to slip by fans; celebrities also sport hats to protect skin from the sun and keep it youthful. “Sunscreen is also a must”, says Lama. “Slather it on your face, neck and hands whenever you go out.” Tip: for everyday use, use just an SPF 15-25 lotion on your face (anything higher can clog spores).

3) Highlight this top wrinkle zone – “The first signs of aging usually surface between the nostrils and the corner of the mouth,” notes Lamas. Smart celebrities use a sweep of white highlighter to erase wrinkles and lines here in seconds! “Apply a pale concealer first, then brush on your highlighter to brighten the whole area,” says Lamas.

4) Trim your hair younger – “Dry, split ends can look dull and drying and can age anyone,” says Lamas. A regular trim (every 2-3 months) holds the shape of your style and “snips off” the years.

5) Switch to creamy formulas – Powder shadows, brushes and other cosmetics are drying and can sit in creases and draw attention to mature skin. Opt for creamier formulations to smooth away the years!!!

People come into your life for a reason

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Why Women Craved for Chocolates

Have a Chocolate Bar: Women in particular tend to crave chocolate, especially before their period, and there’s a good reason for it. Chocolate contains mood-lifting chemicals; it also increases endorphins and serotonin in the blood, promoting a sense of well-being. According to Aztec legend, cacao seeds come from paradise, and eating them brings wisdom and power. So give yourself a chocolate break, and notice the effect. After you indulge, don’t scold yourself. Experts believe that moderate amounts of treats are better than complete deprivation (which tends to lead to bingeing).

Should we do Online Banking?

If you have a computer and write more than a handful of checks each month, I urge you to start managing your money online. Some 53 million people bank online, and many of them pay their bills with just a few clicks of the mouse. The recipients don’t need online accounts; the bank can mail them a check.
Online banking can helps build wealth. Every time you log on, you see how much money is in your account, which helps prevent you from bouncing checks. You can have your paycheck deposited automatically in a money market savings account, where it earns interest. When you’re ready to pay bills, you can transfer money from savings to your checking account in seconds. Plus, online banking makes it easy to set up automatic payments. Your bank is safe enough. If a hacker swipes your money, the bank is liable. And I figure I’m safer because I don’t carry a checkbook.

Inspiring story - Bank Account

You may have read this story over and over. It may have played a great role to my everyday living due to the nature of what I do here. Yet I was thinking of me, myself in the coming years...read thru it.

Bank Account
A 92 year old, well poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, hair combed and face shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room, just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happines is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged..it's how I arrange in my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing. "Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Treat with compassion
2. Worry doesn't help
3. Live simply
4. Give more
5. Say 'yes' to life

My Daily Living - Immigration

Consistently hearing the good things plus constant advice from closed friends and relatives, I decided to apply for a job and took my chance here. Luckily enough after two years religiously waiting, I got called on the job. Now I can prove here not only on the amount of my take home pay, but the substantial opportunities this place has to offer, more job opportunities, friendly people, and high quality living conditions. The most important reason compare to other countries that I chose to work here is having the option of becoming an immigrant. To be a landed immigrant, I must continuously live here for three years. I am on my two years now and I am getting my papers ready. Fees are quite expensive though.

Applying for a permanenet resident: In my case, I must complete at least 24 months of employment as a live-in caregiver to apply for permanent res. in Canada. I must have completed the 2 years employment within 3 years of my arrival here. On May 2, 2006 the Government of Canada announced a reduction of 50% in the $975.00 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, but the processing fee is still the same $ 550.00. Medical examination - the immigration gave us the doctors list and address and it's up to you to choose which doctor you want or near in your place, but for me I will choose the cheapest one. Also, there is that required local police clearance and NBI (Phlippine clearance) clearance documents.

Open employment: Once you have recieved a favourable assessment on your application for permanent resident status, you may apply for an open work permit. This will allow you to take any job you wish until you are granted permanent resident status. You will not receive you permanent resident immidiately. Normally, there are many people applying for permanent resident at any given time, and it may take time for the application to be processed. You need to pay $150.00 for an Open Empoyment Visa.

They said at present time, there is a waiting period of 6 to 10 months. This is due to the enormous amount of application that the immigration office is processing. I think this is true. Here in the metropolitan alone, with it's diversified opulation of more than 2 million, 49% are immigrants.

Vancouver Immigration
Local Office1148 Hornby St.
Vancouver, BCV6Z 2C3
604-666-2171

Vancouver Citizenship
Local Office#877-20
Expo BlvdVancouver, BCV6B 8P8
1-888-242-2100