I Need a Psychic

I was talking to my friend Leo this morning when I heard Mom and Dad talking from the kitchen. They were talking about some renovations yet to be made. We just had the whole house repainted though there are still some little details to be done. And Mom’s next agenda is to have the kitchen fixtures changed. Some of them are already old and needed replacement especially the faucet. Mom already shopped for Grohe faucets and they will be installed anytime soon. I wonder what else there is to change? Wish i could read Mom's mind.

Encourage Your Child's Drinking Habits

Children, like adults, need to drink plenty of fluids in a day. Remember, your child sees what you drink, so set a good example. Drink milk with meals. Three to four glasses of milk a day will supply a child with the amount of bone-building calcium they need for growth and development. Serving milk with meals is a great way to make sure children get their daily servings. Try strawberry, banana, or chocolate milk - they all contain the same amount of calcium and other nutrients as unflavored milk.

Offer water frequently during the day too. Jazz it up with ice, add a lemon or orange slice, and serve it in a fun bottle or cup.

Source: RD

Best of Luck, Sis!

It was my bro-in-law’s birthday on the 25th and we had a sumptuous dinner at their home. It was also a time for my sister and me to have a little chitchat again. We always end up having one in special occasions such as that one. And the topic just goes to about anything – whatever comes to mind, that is. But there’s one topic that is always present – business ideas. My sister is a bank employee but she’s really eager to start a business of her own. We’ve been talking about franchises since we both believe it’s the easiest business to start – a small capital is needed and everything is already made for you. She’s actually searching for a good franchise business for a while now but wasn’t lucky enough just yet to find what she wanted - something that is guaranteed saleable and would fit her budget. Hope she’d find one soon enough.

Understanding Your Baby's Sleeping Patterns

Your bundle of joy is quite the little sleepyhead. And especially at night, your newborn's irregular sleeping patterns will probably throw off your internal time clock and chosen hours of sleep. But be patient. Before long your baby will fall into a schedule and their sleeping habits will become more predictable.

Source: RD

My Day in Pampering Paradise

After two weeks of staying home, I finally got the chance to go out again yesterday. I just feel so lazy to go out lately because of the weather. It’s just so hot that I feel like the heat penetrates deep down to my bones. LOL.

Anyway, I was able to pamper myself for a while. I had a haircut and a pedicure. That’s in preparation for Yogi’s upcoming graduation and birthday of course. Need to look good for those two special occasions. Hehe.

Then, I met a friend at the mall. I was supposed to meet two friends but the other one wasn’t able to make it because she needed some pampering too. And guess what we had for snack - none other than my favorite lasagna at my favorite restaurant. And it didn’t end there. I had chocolate sundae after and an ice cream. Another food trip, huh? I wonder how many calories have I consumed in those snacks alone. Well, no worries. I’ll just have to burn them with an hour walking on a treadmill. Hope I’ll be successful on that one. What do you think?

So, here's the lasagna...

...and the ice cream.

I'll bet you're drooling now. (",)

Holding Your Baby Safely

Most people are naturally nervous the first time they hold a newborn baby. But it won't take long before you - and the people you trust - will be handling your baby with ease. The best thing you can do to help both you and your new baby feel comfortable is to handle them with gentle confidence, in a way that evokes the security they're felt for the past nine months inside the womb. Touch and talk too. It's important for them to be aware of you before you pick them up. Gently touch them and talk to them to let them know you're there. Then rub your hand on their tummy or back for a few seconds before you lift them up. Finally, make sure you go slowly. Never make quick movements with a newborn baby; they can startle and upset them.

Source: RD

His Beloved Pets

This is my friend's barn...

...and these are his horses.

He so love his horses that whenever we talk before; his horses are always our topic almost everyday. Even though he is busy with work, he always makes it sure that he is the one who attends to his pets’ need not unless he will be out of the country which seldom happens. And whenever his out of the country, horse supplies are what he checks first. That’s how he loves his pets and as per him, his life won’t be complete without them. Simply admirable, isn’t it?

Sumptuous Birthday Food

I have blogged about my friend Elsie's birthday which happened earlier this month but it's not all that. The party won't be complete without the food, right? And the food was just superb that time. My friend Elsie is a Kapampangan (one of the many Filipino tribes) and they're known to possess great talents when it comes to cooking and these food that she prepared for us were just great tasting. Yummy! Here, feast your eyes and drool at the same time too. LOL.

Chicken Adobo

Pork Lumpiang Shanghai

Tuna Chunks with Cucumber (Kinilaw)

Chopsuey with Quail Egg

Tortang Baboy or Tortang Pork

Chicken Afritada

Shell Soup (Imbao Shell)

And the dessert...Buko Pandan

Happy Trip Cuz!

Yesterday was my cousin Adel’s birthday but I only remembered it after checking my FB account late in the afternoon. I almost forgot. But it was never late and I still got to catch up. I called him right then and it was only then that I found out that he’s leaving for New Jersey tomorrow to attend their family reunion. He was actually preparing his luggage while we were having the conversation – sorting everything out and making sure he’s not forgetting anything. He’d be away for like two weeks only since he still have a lot of things to attend to here. He’s connected with an international advertising firm and his job can’t let him have a vacation longer than two weeks. That’s how busy my cousin is. And that’s probably the reason why he’s still single up to now. Hehe.

Oh well, belated happy birthday, Cuz and bon voyage! Take care! Big hugs!

Every Bite Counts During Pregnancy

Common sense tells us that what a woman eats during pregnancy is important both for her health and for the health and development of her baby. Every gram of protein, every microgram of folic acid, and every drop of water her baby needs must come from her diet.

If you are expecting, remember that most nutrients aren't stored in the body, so the food you eat is the only source of the things your baby needs. Your diet also supplies your body with the fuel and nutrients you need to make the next nine months a pleasurable experience, ease delivery and speed your recovery after your baby is born. That's why it's important to eat well before you conceive and for the months that follow.

Look and Feel Sexy!

Today, I have noticed certain things when it comes to the type of clothes women wear. They are getting sexier and definitely daring. Before, you would only see women wearing sexy outfits in bars or in parties but now, you would see them wearing those head-turner clothes even in malls. Well, I don’t see anything wrong with it anyway. For as long as it is not provocative enough that can be considered totally inappropriate for public viewing.

Like those sexy clothes from FlirtyLingerie.com perhaps. They are sexy yet elegant. See that sexy pants in the picture? It is not something provocative but it is sexy, no doubt. It’s something any woman can wear without the feeling of being daring but would still look sexy in the eyes of many or should I say, in the eyes of men. Do you agree? Flirty Lingerie’s sexy clothes range from mini skirts, mini dresses, club wear, and a lot more. You may as well check them out yourself to see more.

I have browsed the site and I have already chosen few clothes that I could say, fits my personality. They are sexy, yes, but not provocative, for sure. And those sexy pants in the picture are just an example.

A Consumer's Guide To Food Labels - Part II

Reduced Fat food products have less fat than regular products, but may not necessarily below in fat. Usually there is 25 to 33% less fat in them than in their regular counterparts. Examples are reduced-fat cheese, margarine spreads, mayonnaise, sour cream and dairy desserts.

Cooked in Vegetable Oil does not necessarily mean polyunsaturated or monounsaturated. One of the most common oils used to fry snacks and fast foods in is palm oil, a tropical oil which is 50% saturated. While it qualifies as a vegetable oil, it differs greatly from the unsaturated vegetable oils usch as canola, soya bean and sunflower oil. If one of these oils is used in the food, it will usually tell you on the pack. If not, you can assume it is palm oil or a hydrogenated (hardened and therefore saturated) vegetable oil.

Polyunsaturated indicated on the label of polyunsaturated margarine, spreads, mayonnaise, oils, salad dressings and biscuits is often perceived to mean low in fat and therefore non-fattening. All fats supply the same number of calories regardless of whether they are polyunsaturated, mono-unsaturated or saturated.

Salt-Reduced foods usually have one-third to one-half less salt than their regular varieties. Sodium chloride is the chemical name for salt and its amounts (in miligrams) are often indicated on food labels.

Natural or Wholesome are terms that sound very healthy and ideal but are often used as bait for health-conscious customers, but seldom deliver what they claim. Compare foods bought at a health food shop with those from the supermarket, especially foods like unprocessed bran, rolled oats, brown rice, unsalted nuts, dried fruit, muesli bars and flours. Food authorities discourage the use of the word natural, claiming that often there is no difference from the regular food product.

Organically-grown foods must conform to certain grading standards from the country of origin. Top-grade organic products are generally grown with no artificial fertilizers or chemicals such as pesticides or fumigants. Organic methods such as crop rotation, animal manure, legumes and mineral bearing rocks are utilized to maintain the soil. Insects, weeds and others pests are controlled biologically.

Source: RD

Related Post:
A Consumer's Guide To Food Labels - Part I

Best Wrinkle and Eye Creams

I am already in my early 30’s and there are certain things that I could not deny because they are already showing. I am talking about the fine lines that are now getting visible in some parts of my face like around the eyes and on the sides of the mouth which we often call as frown lines or laugh lines. I do use cream to reduce or get rid of them but it is not that effective as I have expected. I actually have used about three different creams already but they did not offer the effectiveness as what they claimed. Until at this time, I am still searching for the best wrinkle cream and always on the look out on what’s new in the market. They all claim to offer quality but remains to be seen still, right?

And just earlier, I was browsing the net when I came across WrinkleBest.com. The site presented wrinkle cream reviews of different kinds or brands of creams that could be of great help to people who are searching for the best wrinkle cream there is, and that includes me. Things were made easy for us since wrinkle creams were reviewed and rated and we were given ideas of the best cream that would suit us best or the one that we would prefer. I know all of us would definitely use one that is guaranteed effective. It could be money wasted if we won’t be able to get what we wanted.

I’ve also came across another site that presented Eye Cream Reviews and I have an idea now which one to get, given time. If you are searching for wrinkle creams or eye creams for that matter, then I suggest, check the site yourself too. I do believe those reviews will be of great help to you.

A Consumer's Guide To Food Labels - Part I

Going to the grocery is such a tedious task if you have to carefully monitor the nutritional value of every food item you need to buy. More often than not, various types of food at the supermarket boast a battery of claims such as no artificial coloring, 100% fat-free, cooked in vegetable oil, polyunsaturated, salt-reduced, natural of wholesome products, organically grown produce, high-fiber, no MSG and so on.

What do these food characteristics mean to the consumer? Are they really healthier than the regular varieties? Below are brief descriptions that can serve as your guide the next time you make your trip to the neighborhood grocer.

97% Fat-Free really means that the food contains 3% fat. It is often misunderstood by consumers to mean the food has 97% less fat.

Cholesterol Free or No Cholesterol can be misleading because people tend to conclude that it means 0% fat. Some food is free of cholesterol but still remains high in fat. Examples include cheese, snack foods, nuts, peanut butter, oils, margarine, sauces and avocado.

Only animal products contain cholesterol, so food made from plants are automatically free of cholesterol. The human body regulates its own cholesterol levels and can switch production on or off, depending on how much cholesterol and saturated fat is eaten. It is more important to reduce fat intake (especially saturated fat) than the cholesterol.

Lite or Light does not always mean that a food is low in calories or fat, as many dieters often believe. Light potato crisps, for example, are lightly-salted and thinly-sliced (but still have about the same amount of fat); light beer is low in alcohol; light olive oil has a milder, bland flavor (but still the same amount of fat as regular olive oil; light cheese has less fat and occasionally less salt; light cake has a light fluffy texture. Read the label well before you buy! Ideally, characteristics should be stated along with a comparison with the regular product.

Source: RD

Want To Make His Eyes Twinkle?

Yes, ladies, when was the last time you saw that special gleam in your man’s eyes? In the rush-rush-rush of this dog-eat-dog world we live in, sometimes it is easy to take for granted that your better half is happy and content with the lady you are. And most times, women dress accordingly to the subdued and genteel manner of everyday life. And there is something to be said about modest dress, for there is the mystery and magic of making a guy wonder just what lies beneath; what could be more mysterious than the vision in his mind’s eye of what he may find hiding under the housewife’s veneer? But then, there are other times. Special times that you would love to flaunt just what does lie beneath, that other lady, the lady of his dreams. And what better way to make yourself alluring and desirable than giving him the no-doubt tease of wearing some especially sexy lingerie, be it on a special occasion, or at a time you yourself have a twinkle in your eye?

At FlirtyLingerie.com you can find exactly what your heart desires to make his heart go pitter-patter with desire. Be it as simple as a mini-skirt, or as enticing as a sexy top worn with a lacy bra, here you will find it. Flirty Lingerie offers over 7,500 items on its website, from the simple to the exotic erotic, all with a Low Price Guarantee; find it cheaper elsewhere and they will match the price! For orders over $100.00 within the continental U.S, shipping is free. And for the men, they also have a large selection of items that will definitely put a twinkle in your lady’s eyes, if you’re of an adventuresome nature. So what are you waiting for? Check it out and let the twinkles begin!

Triple Friendship Awards

Awards from dear blogging buddy and lovely soon-to-be mom, Madz and sweet blogging buddy Twinks. Bunch of thanks for the thought Sistahs. I truly appreciate your always remembering to give me tags and awards. Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!

Rules: Name 7 things/person that you love then pass this on to 7 other bloggers. I love my family.

1) I love my unico hijo Yogi... but of course!
2) I love my family!
3) I love my friends!
4) I love reading "poetic" emails! (*wink*)
5) I love eating pasta and sweets!
6) I love browsing the net!
7) Last but not the least...I love shopping on eBay!

Now, it's time for me to share these awards to six blogging friends and my niece who never fail to pay me a visit and leave warm comments always... Twinks, Nova, Michelle, Nancy, Lisa, Ate Norm and Mawee.

Pasalubong

Mom and Dad were out of town last week for three days to attend the Rotary International Convention which was held in Insular Hotel, Davao City. What we like about them being away is the Pasalubong or gifts that they bring us when they go back home. And these items here consist of chocolates, bread and tamarind candy, is what we've got. It's my first time to have tasted the tamarind candy and it's yummy with its mixture of sweet, sour and spicy flavors. Yogi is so into chocolates like me and he had his share of two packs of Toblerone which he had eaten in a row. Wish i could share these with you guys but sad to say, there's no more left. LOL. Maybe some other time. Hehe.

Yogi's First Haircut

With me, that is. It has always been my dad, my mom or my brother who accompanies him to the barber shop. So since it’s our “first”, I took a photo of him while he was having his haircut. I was amused watching him sitting properly on the chair, and I didn’t hear any complaints at all even though his body language says so. I know those tiny hairs that landed on his neck were itchy that’s why he was squirming but no complaints from him whatsoever. Good boy, Yogi!

It took the barber about 20 minutes to finish the haircut. But there was never a dull moment sitting there waiting because a Jacky Chan movie was also being shown on the Barber Shop’s TV wall mount so I was really entertained.

Yogi was all smiles after the haircut and for being a good boy during the whole process, I gave him a treat. We dined in at his favorite food chain after and as usual, Yogi ordered his favorite spaghetti and chocolate sundae. What a nice mommy-son bonding moment.

Food Label Analysis: What To Look For

Ingredient list - is a rundown of all ingredients used in making the food. Usually listed in descending order by weight.

Expiry Date - indicates the duration within which the product is at its freshest. It can also appear as "Best Before" or "Consume Before."

Additive code numbers - Used to identify the additives in food, these are often easier to remember than their full chemical name, which may also be listed. For example, the presence of a preservative would appear as either PRESERVATIVE (223) or PRESERVATIVE (SODIUM METABISULPHITE). These numbers correspond to the European food numbering system without the prefix E.

There are 12 major varieties of acceptable additives with very distinct and specific functions. They are anti-oxidants, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, food acids, food coloring, humectants, flavoring, flavor enhancers, mineral salts, vegetable gums, preservatives and thickeners.

All additives in commercial use have been rigorously tested before being accepted as being safe, ensuring that no other additive could perform the same job.

Nutrition Information Panel - shows the amount of calories, along with the content of protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, sodium and potassium for average food servings (per 100g). The "Per 100 grams" column enables you to compare the value of different foods on an even basis.

Source: RD

Champorado

Or sweet chocolate rice porridge is my nieces' and my nephews' favorite snack. They always come looking for it whenever they arrived from school that's why their Granny (my mom) always see to it that it's ready to serve even before they arrive.

Champorado is traditionally made by boiling sticky/sweet rice and cocoa powder giving it a distinctly brown color. However, dry champorado mixes, which may be found in some Asian food stores, are prepared by adding just boiling water. It can be served hot or cold and with milk and sugar to taste. It is served usually at breakfast and sometimes together with dried fish locally known as tuyo. The pudding becomes very thick and the lighter milk helps to "loosen" it. It's almost like eating "chocolate oatmeal." It can be eaten as a snack or dessert as well. (Source: Wikipedia)