QUALITY ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Many people don't realize how hard it is, both physically and emotionally, to have a disability.  To have your independence taken away from you, whether the disability is inborn or from an accident.  The pain and frustration isn't limited to the person with disability, it affects the caretaker too.  

I am glad that there are still those who are committed to helping people with disabilities reclaim their independence.  One such association is NMEDA, a non-profit trade association of mobility equipment dealers dedicated to broaden opportunities with people with disabilities.  These dealers provide people with disabilities a chance to drive or be transported in vehicles modified with mobility equipment.  Not only do they provide mobility equipment but they also require their members to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Their members follow the NMEDA guidlelines and update them yearly.  The NMEDA guidelines is a living document providing detailed recommended practices on equipment installation and modifications

NMEDA also has QAP or Quality Assurance Program dealers.  The QAP is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry.  Which I really found nice because they base it on the principle that customers will be satisfied if companies have a systematic approach to quality.  This only means that they are very particular with the quality of products that their dealers are selling.  This is quite important especially since the products are for people with disabilities.  

If you have a friend or family member who is with disability,  please remember that no two people with disability are the same so it is important that you have someone like NMEDA's dealers help you evaluate and customize equipment.  It would not be safe to just buy something off the internet.  I suggest you go to NMEDA's website and search for a dealer, they have one in every zip code, just input your zip code and they will provide you with a list of qualified dealers.

IS IT TIME TO WORK FROM HOME?

Today was great.  The husbo and I went out on a simple date. We just went to a nearby mall and shopped to our heart's content (a.k.a until our pockets were empty LOL!). It's a good thing most of the stores were offering items on sale. We were two happy shoppers!  

This was the second date in two days and I am just happy.  Please pardon the shallowness, but when your work schedules only allow you to see each other 2 days in a week, you treasure the times you spend together - every single minute of it. No matter how simple, even if it's just eating breakfast together or waking up beside each other is already something to be thankful for.

Which really makes me think about my plans for next year - of quitting my job and just work from home full time.  It's a daunting thought and there's a lot to consider but so far, the pros outweigh the cons.

COMFORT THAN STYLE

I am clueless when it comes to fashion.  I always have a hard time picking out clothes in the mall and most of the things I have in my closet (that are not a pair of jeans or shirt) are chosen by family and friends.  I don't know, maybe it's the Taurus in me that's not comfortable with change or I am just simply not fashion conscious. LOL!

I always think comfort before style.  Always going with a pair of jeans and shirt with slippers or sneakers.  I've always been the comfort-than-style type of gal and believe me I've heard countless sighs from my family and friends whenever they see me.  I tell you, if that show "How Do I Look" was available here in our country, my friends would've sent my name in already.  

So, it is quite refreshing to see one of my favorite actress, Ashley Greene in her comfiest!  I love her for her simplicity and freshness. Her style is just comfortable to look at and yet, her beauty shines!  

Ashley Greene - Photo from www.peoplestylewatch.com

How about you?  What's your fashion style?

HI! I AM A TWITTER ADDICT.

I have a new addiction. Twitter. LOL! I know I'm kinda late in the game but there, I am now a certified Twitter addict.  

What do I love about being on Twitter?  Well, it gives me real time updates on my friends, family and favorite authors, celebrities or websites.  It's nice that I can update them on what's happening in my life as well.

I also follow my favorite celebrities on Twitter.  Helps remind me that they are real people and go through the same things in life as we do.  Sometimes we get so caught up on their on-screen characters that we forget they are just actors.

If this picture doesn't prove what a Twitter addict I am already, then I don't know what does. LOL!  Bought this crystal birdie key chain from a friend.  

If you have a twitter account, follow me! 

MY ASTHMA IS BACK

I forgot to blog about my recent doctor's visit.  My cough just won't let up 2 weeks ago that we decided it's time to visit the doctor.  The hospital improved a lot since I was there last year for my operation.  The waiting rooms were improved, they added a lot more chairs for waiting patients and the ventilation was better also.  

Another thing I noticed was that they had new nursing uniform scrubs which was easier on the eye.  Last year's were quite boring. LOL!  I wonder where they got it, if they had them made or if they just decided to buy scrubs online.

I didn't wait long for my doctor though so that was great.  He pronounced I had asthma and prescribed a lot of medicines and I now had to buy an inhaler.  Something I didn't use even when I had asthma as a kid.  I guess this asthma attack was bigger. Sigh.  Medicine costs now a days aren't a joke but I had to buy.  Oh well, at least I had a cute doctor, who, by the way, was also sporting a new medical scrub! I am totally crushing on my doctor! Maybe being sick isn't a bad thing if I see him all the time LOL!

113 DIE IN INDONESIA TSUNAMI

113 people died and many are still missing due to a 10 foot (3 meter) tsunami that hit remote Indonesian islands last Monday, October 25. Many are left homeless as the tsunami swept away homes and majority are still afraid to come down from higher lands. The 7.7-magnitude quake that struck late Monday just 13 miles (20 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor was followed by at least 14 aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

According to a report from Yahoo! News, more than 4,000 are expected to spend the night without shelter because tents and other supplies will have a hard time getting to these remote islands reachable only by a 12 - hour boat ride.

To read more about what happened, see the full story on Yahoo! News.

Can we pause for a while and offer our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Indonesia? Please help me pray that the needed supplies and basic necessities reach them immediately.

LET POSITIVITY START WITH YOURSELF

"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

One of my favorite positive blogs, Zen Habits, led me to a new online treasure: Tiny Buddha. The blog just reeks of positivity I couldn't take my eyes off the pages!

One particular post I liked was 25 Ways to Be Good for Someone Else (Be the Positivity You Want to Feel). Just like the author, my life was all about negativity and I spared no one. I wanted all to hear about how other people ruined and hurt me. It was not only tiresome for the people listening, it was tiresome for me as well, having to repeat all that negativity.

Just recently, I chose to stop being a channel of negativity. I chose to try to bring happiness, no matter how small, into other people's lives.

Garage Sale - Success!

Whew! Just woke up from deep slumber. Crashed after the garage sale, which was a success, by the way. I am having cramps because of my period but I don't care, I am happy. :)

Considering the garage sale was impromptu and we had no time to announce it, people dropped by from all over and bought stuff. I praise God for the grace and blessing! He answered my prayer for a sunny day! I guess, being a Sunday also helped. A lot of people were passing by going to and from Church. Needless to say, I enjoyed every bit of it and I am looking forward to the next session. :)

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

I woke up too early today because I am excited for my very first garage sale!

I know people have been doing this for the longest time, but this is my first. Hihi! I have been toying with the idea for weeks now and pitched it to my mom who convinced me to have the sale at their house first - today. Pressure much? I only pitched the idea to her yesterday and she wanted to hold the sale today. But, I grabbed the opportunity and went gaga cleaning out our closet, deciding which stuff to sell, and putting on prices on the stuff. A million of things to do running in my mind. Probably one of the reasons why I woke up early. Ack!

I also have some new items to sell (Thanks to my good friend, Summer! Love yah!). That's cool, right? or are people expecting purely pre-loved items at garage sales? Eeek! I'm starting to get a bit of first time jitters.

Oh well, wish me luck guys! I have to go now. I still need to do some signs and posters for the sale. Oh and if you are near the Visayas Avenue, Quezon City area, you may want to drop by. :) Post a comment so I can tell you where it is exactly. We'll be holding the garage sale there for 3 Sundays, starting today. After that, sale will transfer to the Kamuning area. Will keep you posted. :)

The Best Things in Life Aren't Things

Okay, I began this post last night but as I start to type, I stole a glance upon my husband, sleeping soundly and in an instant I abandon my laptop and snuggle beside him. This time with him, even when his consciousness is far in dreamland, is precious to me. To hear his heart beat, feel his chest rise and fall as he breathes, to feel the warmth of his arms around me, are moments I learned to appreciate every single day.

I've never been very jealous of what others have, material wise. There are things that I like and sometimes I splurge on these but I never seem to think them important in my life. I don't even care too much about shopping. I just buy whenever I need new clothes and that spans years sometimes. What I find important in my life are the relationships I choose to keep. My husband of course seconds the list (with God being in the number 1 spot) followed closely by my family and then my friends. Another thing I treasure are the moments I spend with these people I consider important. I keep their memories deep in my heart and I know my life is full. I may not have the biggest mansion or the fanciest car, as long as I have God, my husband and my family and friends, I am happy and content.

Down

I've been down with cough and colds the past few days. I felt horrendous! The colds went away after a few hours but the cough stayed with me and I still have them until today. It's a pest really. I've been spending my time in the bedroom, sleeping and drowning myself with water hoping the cough will go away soon.

In spite of my cough, our meeting pushed through last Saturday and we now have a theme which makes things easier. The teaser will be up soon enough. :)

I have to end this post now. I still need to research on some transcription jobs I could do from home.

Happiness is a Choice

This is something I remind myself every time I wake up. And when I am up and about, I still remind myself so I don't forget to stay happy throughout the day.

Okay, I am not some perfect walking sunshine. In fact, people who know me would probably tell you that Mr. Melancholy and I are practically twins, and Mr. Negativity is our cousin. Oh and let's not forget, Ms. Frown who is a friend, dropping in unannounced and never leaves until bed time.

Yeah, that's me. But today, I finally learned that happiness is a choice. Funny, and you may think I am stupid, but I've heard that phrase so many times in my entire life, I even use it, but for the life of me, I couldn't quite grasp it's meaning. I keep asking myself, "how in the world can you choose to be happy when circumstances in your life won't allow you to be?" And then I realized, it was all because I was letting Mr. Negativity in.

So I tried making a choice today. I chose to have a happy mind set. To fill my mind with happiness, or as Peter Pan puts it: "Think happy thoughts!" I woke up reminding myself that I am happy. It wasn't easy. All throughout the day, Mr. Melancholy, Mr. Negativity and Ms. Frown kept knocking on my door. But I simply told them that I was happy with Mr. Positivity. That I didn't need them and proceeded to close the door on their faces with Ms. Smile with me. I was relieved when they didn't pester me anymore. There were opportunities for them to show up, but they never did. And I felt lighter.

It doesn't mean that I won't get sad. I am just human after all. It just means I now know how to see beyond the imperfections. It just means I am now able to look at things in a different perspective. I haven't mastered this yet but it's something I look forward to doing every single moment of my waking day. To choose to be happy in spite and despite of the circumstances that come along.

Will you practice this with me? :)

Project NB: Officially Launched!

The Christmas project I was talking about in my last post is now officially launched! For a lack of name, I am temporarily calling it: Project NB. LOL! I am giddy with excitement! The fun committee, including yours truly, had our first meeting today. Follow up meeting on Saturday so my weekends will be pretty busy with planning. We have 2 months to go before this "wonder"-ful event. Teaser will be posted soon!

Aside from the fun meeting we had, it was pretty much a simple weekend spent with family. I enjoyed it though. Chatting with family, watching the kids dance and sing the butterfly song and then having a laptop party now with David and Ruffa. This is the life! Thank God for days like this!

Christmas is Just Around the Corner

Christmas is just around the corner and I am excited. I am cooking something up for the family and my mind is swarmed with ideas. I just don't know how to consolidate everything but this will be my focus starting today. With the busy schedules we have the entire year, it would be nice to have a few hours or a day concentrated on family.

With all the events that happened this year, I figured, I want to grow older and smile when I look back on my life. I want to smile when I remember the laughter and be inspired when I realize that the tears have strengthened me.

Procrastinator Me

You may think this funny but I just recently had myself scheduled for the SSS ID Capture. I had one before but my ID bore my single surname. Now, after almost 6 years of being married, I am finally having my ID changed! LOL!

Another thing is renewal of my passport. I think my old passport was released way back when I was 9 years old hahaha! I never found the time to renew it. But now I am taking hold of my life and having it renewed. Who knows I might travel soon. ;-)

It felt good to finally accomplish these things. What can I say? I am one big procrastinator!

I hope things go well during the passport renewal.

New Look

Changed my blogger template again. I wanted a happier look this time to coincide with my resolve to have a happier outlook in life. How do you like it? :)