2008 ~ Healthy Living

Wednesday 31 December 2008

Not in Good Mood?

Here's some good food ideas for you from realage.com:

It's that intense time of year again, when the lows are low and the highs are high. Here are our picks of uplifting foods that will banish the blues, keep you focused, and maybe even make you a little sexier. Bon appetit!

1. Peppermint: It's nature's drill sergeant, telling your brain to wake up and focus! Perfect for helping you handle all those must-do holiday details. The next time you're dragging, pop a piece of peppermint gum and listen to your brain say, "Can do!"

2. Dark chocolate: An ounce or two may be just enough to release the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. Plus, you’ll get a three-way energy kick from chocolate's caffeine, theobromine, and phenylethylamine (a cousin of amphetamine). And the antioxidants in 70% dark chocolate do your arteries good, too. No wonder we crave the irresistible stuff.

3. Wild salmon (mackerel and herring, too): Logged more miles in a day at the mall than you usually do in a week on the treadmill? The accumulated anti-inflammatory action of omega-3 fatty acids in a fish platter or a grilled salmon steak can help ease the wear and tear on your tired body.

4. Half a dozen Blue Points: You get more zinc from six Blue Point oysters than you need in a day in order to fuel your production of testosterone -- the hormone that keeps both men and women in the mood for love. Oysters are also a storehouse of dopamine, the brain’s pleasure chemical.

5. An omelet: Just two eggs give you an entire daily quota of vitamin B12, a nutrient that's crucial to your brain's supply of good-mood chemicals. Make it a veggie omelet, add a whole-wheat bagel, and you'll be good to go for hours. . . and for few calories!

It’s too hard to avoid pigging out this holiday, isn’t it? Whereever you go there are foods tempting you. But sometimes, it’s too hard not to feel guilty after binging on fatty indulgent and fizzy high calorie drinks. After this merry season just go back to your routine of exercising, working out or diet.

This season also brings out the bad mood in us. Long queue where ever we go. If you’re annoyed and stressed, nibble on dark chocolate or have a bowl of soup. They are rich in serotonin, enough to make you feel good. It was in the telly last night that shopping gives some headache. Why? I do feel good every time I shop especially if I splurge for myself.

Oh by the way, I’ve an idea what gift will I give Mcj on the next special occasion. A dress watch like that of Nixon watches. His dress watch’s bracelet was broken and hasn’t been mended. Oh, I’m so looking forward to shopping of it already.

Don't Skip Breakfast

Here’s a very simple and easy to follow step on how to lose those unwanted pounds from realage.com:

Here are DesMaisons’s four simple rules for using breakfast to counterbalance the biochemical mechanisms behind sugar cravings, obesity, and depression:
• Do it daily. Your goal is to make it a daily, automatic habit. The reward? You can kiss late-day low blood sugar and sugary snack cravings goodbye -- permanently.
• Do it sooner rather than later. For the best results, eat breakfast within an hour or so of waking up -- even if you’re not hungry. Morning-time low blood sugar produces a brain chemical designed to mask hunger pangs -- but can cause sugar cravings later in the day.
• Make it complex. We’re talking complex carbohydrates here (whole-grain cereals, steel-cut oats, high-fiber fruits, etc.) The fiber keeps blood sugar on an even keel and helps you feel full longer.
• Power it with protein. Protein slows digestion, helps prevent spikes and dips in blood sugar, and can even give you a dose of depression-fighting tryptophan. DesMaisons recommends that you get a third of your daily protein at breakfast.

I am guilty as charged for not doing the number 2. I can’t eat breakfast early in the morning even if I am hungry. My stomach is not just for it. I tried to after having a shower, but still no effect. I reckon this is good because we can save money on breakfast. Maybe we can get that a tankless water heater to give room in the laundry.

Holiday Binge

The holiday season is not over yet. There are still heaps of time to indulge on decadence, yummy yet fatty foods and just chilling out (read: being lazy). Yet, I’m sure some of us are already complaining of the effects of those indulgence that we have last Christmas and those decadent we receive as a gifts – I heard someone whines just this morning, in our body. Bulges or love handles has started to build or cheeks getting chubby.

I wish I can complain the same. The last time that I pigged-out was on Christmas lunch – a heapful of meat (lamb, ham, pork) and salad. Mind you, though the meats were not cook through healthy grilling, they were not oily or fatty. The next day after that, my half-sprouted wisdom tooth decided to grow full blown. I can hardly open my mouth widely. The only decadent I had was a couple of Lindt chocolates and a half a bag of Doritos with a couple of sips of cola last night, if you count that as indulgence. I wish I can eat more than I used to. At least just this season.

I have New Year to look forward to. I hope, my wisdom tooth will actually use its wisdom and realise that it’s festive season and I need to feast. :)

No Ordinary Dinner

This plate is just an ordinary dinner. We usually have this every week. Corned beef and veggies. But this one, I particularly like.

Heaps of veggies and generous serving of meat. I loved the potato salad - potatoes, onions and mayonnaise. Simple and easy. The carrots and corn were frozen but still taste yum! I liked the tomatoes. It's been a long while since I had some that I missed it.

It's a big serving but I ate it all. It's not fattening too as it is mostly veggies. I'm now hungry.

Have to check what's the buzz with Seattle injury lawyer about, first.

Stone Fruit

While the northern part of the world is bracing the cold weather, here in Down Under we are basking in the sun - hopefully with sunscreen and hat or just being sun smart.

Summer in Down Under does not only means sun, beach, longer days, flowers, etc.. it also means aplenty supply of stone fruit. Last week, we were in shopping frenzy of them. We bought heaps, as if they're going to run out and as if there a dozen of mouths to feed at home. Not!

Now, some are over-ripe and some starts to rot. I don't want them to end up in the mouth of the wilds so we better hurry up eating them or put them in the fridge. Humm, seems we are in Lipovox diet.

Being a Mum

Stumbled upon these in the net while I was reading some medical stuff. From cyh.com, this is very interesting and informative.

As your children grow

Your time and energy is your most precious resource. Spending time with your children is a sure sign to them that they are truly valued - and it will help them to behave better!

Say sorry when you lose your temper or treat them unfairly.

See yourself as a teacher - teaching them about relationships and about living in society with other people. These things take a long time to learn so be prepared to repeat lessons calmly.

Encourage your children to share in tasks around the home (in keeping with their age and ability).

Tell them when they do helpful things - that's how they know to keep doing them. Children need to feel that they are needed.

Set reasonable limits and stick to them.

Do unexpected small things to make them feel special. For example, a note on their pillow to say "I love you", or a treat in their school lunch box.

Take time to listen to what's happening in their lives - know the names of their friends, teachers, heroes and what their favourite books, videos or TV programs are about.

These are very common advise but I admit sometimes, I need reminding.

Whew, I'm being emotional here, I know. It's just me.

Better be going so I can finish my work and wrap some gifts. It occured to me that personalized books is a nice gift idea.

Clean House - Healthy Skin

Ridiculous, right? But yeah, for some it is so true. A friend has a skin allergry triggered by dust mites. She needs to change their linens very often than usual and maybe clean often as well.

If you're really into freak-cleaning, as I call it, here's some tips from realage.com:

Steam it. Vacuuming helps remove dust mites, but it can also stir them up, so try steam cleaning your floors, furniture, carpets, and drapes.

Filter it. For your home’s heating and cooling system, purchase a HEPA filter or other air purification system to help lower the mite count in your house.

Wash it. Dust mites love hanging out in bed with you. Wash your bed linens at least once a week in hot water, detergent, and bleach (if possible)

Keeping your house clean does not only helps the skin but the health of everybody at home.

This reminds me to do my own house-cleaning today. There are just so much dust around the house that soon I'll be wearing beanie to keep my hair clean.

I had one big over-riped banana sitting in the fridge for a couple of days. I decided to try baking banana cake. I got a simple recipe from bestrecipes.com.au that I got so enthusiastic about it. I didn't follow it up to the amount of engridients though.

My version:
1 big ripe banana (cavendish)
1/2 cup brown sugar (haven't got caster sugar)
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter

Mix the sugar and butter until cream. Add the eggs and milk. Dissolve the baking soda in milk and add to the mixture. Then add the flour in portions. Mix thouroughly.

Pour the mixture in greased tin. Try to sprinkle flour on the tin so the cake won't stick at the bottom. Mine got stuck as I only sprayed the tin with oil.

I cooked mine for 30 minutes in 180 degrees celcius and it is a bit crusty. Try cooking it in less time - say 20 minutes. If more, try it longer.

Mine taste good. Not so sweet - the way I like it. But it needs more banana - Mcj said.

This is a cheap snacks or tea. Nutritious as well and very easy to prepare. I'm sure, I'll make another one soon. Have to buy banana first. :)

For now, have to go back to work - check if our VPN to the office is working and maybe check some small business for sale if I have time later.

Flawless Skin

There are lots of skincare products available in the market now. Choosing what suits you, should be easy but for some, it isn't. You can never be sure if some are really safe as you can see in the news, more and more products are causing skin damage. Sometimes, it is better to go back to the basic and natural products that once had given perfect flawless skin.

Here's some tips from realage.com:

It’s olive oil -- great on salads and pasta but possibly even better on your skin. But don’t stop there. Your scalp, hair, nails, and lips might seem unlikely candidates for a moisturizer, but they can also benefit from this smoothing stuff.

Be picky when you shop; extra-virgin olive oil works best for skin. But because a small segment of the population can be sensitive to it, first rub a drop on your wrist to see how your skin reacts. If you’re good to go, try making your own skin-soothing Roman-bath experience by adding a quarter cup of olive oil and a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil to a warm soak. Top off the experience with some beauty sleep.

I wish I could have enough time during the day and night to do all these vanity stuff. I really need some TLC physically. Oh well, I'm getting enough TLC from my one-and-a-half-men anyway. I think, they're more powerful than any therapy. But, do I have time for that term life insurance quote.

Down by a Bug

I skipped work Wednesday as I was down with cold and flu. I don’t feel better yet but not that bad so I reported to work the next day. It turned out, there are several issues waiting for my attention. So, I am glad for Mcj’s prodding me to get up that day. I could have taken my notebook with me home so I can just work from here or save a copy of my files to work on in a flash memory, but I didn't. What a shame?

It could be the weather as it is like crazy. Warm, hot, cold, cool – all that in one day.

I think, it’s time again to stock up vitamin C in the medicine cabinet or more intakes of fruit that are richer of that nutrient.

Here are some tips from wikihow on how to treat cold. Might help.

Try taking a day off, from school or work. You wouldn't want to feel uncomfortable at school, with a blocked nose, runny nose, and the urge to sneeze every 10 minutes. This also helps limit your spread of the illness to others.

Stop the spreading of germs. Don't allow others to eat or drink from anything you have come in contact with, and change your pillow cases every day or two while you're feeling ill. This will limit your chances of spreading the illness, as well as help remove the germs from your environment.

Drink lots of water or juice. Staying hydrated will reduce the effects of many symptoms such as headaches and sore throat. You may go to the bathroom a lot, but it's no different than your body trying to get rid of stuff by making you cough and sneeze. A good indication that you are drinking enough fluids is that your urine will be almost clear. The deeper yellows imply higher concentrations of waste in your body that are not dissolving and diluting enough - so, raise your fluid intake. Hot soups are another good way to take fluids in.

Eat chicken soup. There has been some scientific evidence to suggest that chicken soup slows down the movement of certain white blood cells which cause the symptoms of a cold[1], in addition the hot liquid from the soup can help clear the nasal passages and soothe your throat. In addition, some view the combination of salt, heat and fluid in chicken soup as an aid in fighting infection.

Cooking Adventure

A month ago, I tried to make a leche flan following the recipe that I got off the net. I follow it up to the measurement proportion. It turned out yummy-looking and it was yummy, except that the sweetness is out of proportion

If you are not really a sweet-tooth like me, I suggest to use a dozen of eggs for a 375 can of condense milk. I just use half of the can with 5 eggs and it was oh so sweet.

And since then, I haven’t made any again. I popped what’s left of the milk in the freezer. I learned that I can keep it there for a maximum of 6 months.

I’m not that picky but there is this type of apples that I love eating, the royal gala. The skin is soft enough to eat and the taste is just balance – not too sweet and not too sour.

When Mcj did a quick trip to the shop, I asked him to buy some apples and he picked up red delicious. Though the name says it, they don’t taste close to it.

Anyway, they’ve been sitting on the bowl for quite sometime and last Sunday, I thought of concocting something that has apple. I quickly dash to the net but I haven’t found any. It frustrates me.

So, I just settled for a stewed apple in the microwave. Jens loves them with his cereal anyway. A bit of sugar in three big apples for 15 minutes – perfect fruit for breakfast cereal or for pudding dessert.

I now realise that cooking is very therapeutic and full-“filling”. The same high you get when you’re conversion rate optimization plan works.

Quick Fix

Quick fix. That’s what I need in the morning. I’m always stalling to get up that most of the time, I’m running late. I need everything instant – coffee (no time for espresso machines), breakfast, lunches, shower, even dressing up.

Today, is a tad different because Jens didn’t go to “school” so I only have myself to get ready. Though, I still made him his breakfast – little soldiers (toast) – and changed him from his jammies.

Sensitive Skin

I’m not really fussy with my skincare products but when I feel one brand is giving me my money’s worth, expect me to stick to it.

I use a meagre amount of moisturiser for my face and I only apply it once a day, even if the packet says, it can be use at night as well – I don’t like my face to feel heavy at night. A small pump bottle of moisturiser will last me more than 6 months. I think, longer than that - too long that when I needed a new one, that variant was already phased out in the market. I was talking of Neutrogena. Since, I couldn’t find it in shops, I tried Garnier. I’ve been using it for like a month, and I’m getting zits here and there. Though, it is for oily skin and supposedly should control the oil, my skin tend to be shinier that I have to use face powder or worse, an acne treatment soon.

Yesterday, I decided to try another variant of Neutrogena and use it today. Well, let’s see if it suits my type of skin. Really, if I could only find the variant that I used on my face, I might buy two of them. :)

Lucrative Jobs

It was in the news recently that the tax system will be simplified so an individual doesn’t have to employ the accountant’s service in order to file for the personal tax return. Accountants occupy a big chunk of the work force here in Down Under. Everyone needs an accountant. But with the planned tax scheme, accountants might not be needed at all. Well, this tax plan is not designed for the accountants to loose their job. It is said to help many Aussies who could have filed their tax return themselves without hassles. Besides accountants hold a very lucrative profession. They could fit to any jobs in business. No scare for them to be out of job.

Bad Habit

I’ve mentioned many times maybe that Mcj drink a lot of coffee everyday. It’s his water except on a hot summer’s day.

Recently, he decided that he could have cola also. It’s not that this change will have a positive effect on his body but because it is getting warmer, a cold cola will quench his thirst which is a sham because it actually does not do that. You become thirstier. We’ve also tried fizzy lemonade. And worst is, I do my share of drinking a couple of can in a worse day. Cola is not really part of my diet and because it sits on fridge, it is so tempting. And what does it give me? Big fat belly. Yeah, I am not fat, but I have flabby abs. It’s the usual effect whey I drink cola continuously. I should stop and try green tea fat burner but don’t you feel like drinking cola when you are eating fatty or greasy food or salty chips? I might just need more exercise, what do you reckon?

The Big Storm

It was so humid and sticky hot last Sunday. Mcj was busy fixing the aircondition in the room while Jens and I were bonding in the lounge. He went to sleep for almost two hours in the afternoon so I had some ME time. I read a book.

I finished cooking dinner by 5PM and decided to hang out with Mcj while he was doing his thingie. We were told that there is a storm coming but I just brushed it off, not really expecting a big one. Then Mcj all of a sudden, won’t let us come out in the backyard. He said, the cloud is greenish and hail most probably is coming. Not long after, rain with gusty wind started. Then the power went off.

It was a very big storm. We ate dinner with only a torch giving us light and what’s left of the daylight. It was sort of fun, albeit the condition outside. The power was not restored until the next morning so we went to sleep early.

When the eye of the storm passed, Mcj inspected around the property and found some louvers broken, rooves blown away, etc. That and the bamboo blinds in the patio were swept away.

I am thankful that nothing bad happened to us. Some areas of Queensland were severely affected, it’s just horrifying.

Jens is staying home until the day care’s facility is restored, which was damaged when the tree fell down on one of the electricity posts.

Queensland was declared a calamity zone. And it just happened overnight – even shorter than that.

Spring Cleaning

I have these piles of Jens’ old and winter clothes and some winter bed sheets in one corner that need stashing away as they won’t fit in the cupboard. We are running out of space and these stuff were bought just this winter. It is spring now and we don’t need them anymore this year. I’ve started sorting our stuff more than two weeks ago.

Finally, last weekend, I was able to find the strength or should I say the will to box them. Problem was, I haven’t shopped for the boxes yet. I asked Mcj if he could take me to the closest shop so I can pick-up a couple of boxes which I annoyed him because he wanted to shop around and get the best quality stuff in good price. Well, my aim was just to finish the task once and for all. In compromise, I shopped in the catalogue. Target has sale on boxes but we didn’t go there.

We head to Bunnings instead. That’s where Mcj bought Jens’ toys box and he said, we can get boxes of any size there. True enough. We picked-up 2 100liters boxes. They were priced more than 80% from Target but they are of good quality.

Jens went to sleep when we got home so I had time to sort things out and found out that one of the boxes hasn’t got wheels. Geez! We picked up the two stacks not realising that the other hasn’t got wheels. Another job for Mcj, going back to Bunnings to swap it.

The two boxes fixed me up. I have so much room. I have stashed away everything. It’s like I’m packed for las vegas hotels.

Practice Makes Driving Perfect

The old cliché, Practice makes perfect, never lost is lustre. And I suppose I should apply that in acquiring a real good driving skill. But I have not. I haven’t been behind the wheel for almost two weeks now. I don’t even try to run around the property with our huge car let alone in the streets. I just depend on my paid lessons. I got another one this Saturday.

I reckon, the cause of the problem is, I don’t have my own car yet. I don’t necessarily need a car for myself but because our car is way bigger for my build, I can’t just hop behind the wheel anytime and run around the block.

But with the financial crises that the world is facing now, we are not considering of buying any car soon, yet. We need to save for the rainy days, as they say. Even if I am thinking of buying just a pre-loved car, there is still the cost of auto insurance and rego to take into account.

I guess, I just have to make do with my paid lessons and of driving from the gate to the garage from time to time, until this financial meltdown is over and we are able to splurge a big chunk of our savings on a car.

Make it Shine!

I’ve been aiming of making mirrors cleaner but of course, I don’t know the ingredients so I asked the help of the net. And this is what about.com gave me.

Ingredients
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar

Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with national brands. This can also be used to give a nice shine to hard tiles, chrome, and other surfaces.

And this from newfluwiki:

Window cleaner

½ tsp liquid soap,
3 tbs vinegar,
2 cups water,
spray bottle.

Combine the ingredients and put them in the spray bottle. Use like any window cleaner. Tip:Use newspaper to dry your windows. It's cheaper than paper towels and it leaves windows shiny and streak free.

I might give this a try on weekend but my problem is, I haven’t seen a rubbing alcohol here. Things that make you, hummmm!

Up and Down

Jens and I sang some song before his bedtime last night. We started on the Alphabet Song and followed by The Wheels on the Bus (not really sure that’s the title of the song). I was surprised when he stood up on the bed and bent his knees making up and down motions. And I was still in the “The wheels on the bus go round and round” line. But I knew that he is making the action for “the people in the bus go up and down, up and down”.

Oh, I just love my Bubby boy! I have received comments that he is very clever in mimicking actions. He really made his Mummy proud.

On another note, I always see babies with fat rolls but my Jens hasn’t got any. But of course, that doesn’t mean that he is not healthy. He is actually very healthy in our eyes as he has muscles on his arms and thighs. And I know the reason of the absence of fat rolls, he is a breastfed baby, that is. Yet, he has a big fat belly (we’ve been calling that since he was a baby). He has a rubbish guts – stuffed his face until he is full and then store them inside his cheeks. Then when he sees something more interesting or something that he knew is sweet, he’ll chuck-up what’s inside his cheeks.

In short, he just loves food. I realised now, his day is made up of 50% eating, 15% sleeping and 35% playing. I just hope he won’t take this habit until his teenage life or yellow bullets would come into the picture. :)

"Peanuts" bow

I'm munching on boiled peanuts now. Humm, sounds a healthy choice for a snack, right? (I won't be needing an orovo diet pill). Not really. I eat them with cola. I just had a piece of pizza subs. It's almost lunch here.

Anyway, I have a small trivia about peanuts. They are not actually nuts as nuts grow on trees. They are legumes belonging to the pea and beans family. Interesting, right? I reckon, they are root crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, etc.. as they grow from roots. What do you think?

Also, here are some health benefits of peanuts from hubpages.com

Whole peanuts contains high amount of protein, which makes it a preferred diet of those people engaged in body-building and those people who are weak and underweight. The raw peanut butter with crushed skin contains much higher amounts of nutrient than refined "nut-only" butter.
Peanut is a good source of Coenzyme Q10 which protects the heart during the period of lack of oxygen example high altitudes and clogged arteries.
Peanuts contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols, primarily a compound called p-coumaric acid. Roasting peanuts increases its p-coumaric acid levels, boosting it overall antioxidant content by as much as 22%. Roasted peanuts rival the antioxidant content of blackberries and strawberries, and are far richer in antioxidants than apples, carrots or beets.
Unsalted peanuts are good for your arteries. One quarter cup of peanuts contains as much monunsaturated fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.
Peanuts' high niacin content helps in the recovery of cell damage provides protection against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive problem.
Peanut contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Peanut contain iron which is essential for the correct functioning of red blood cells.
Peanut is rich in calcium which helps promotes healthy bones.
Peanut has higher bioflavonoid resveratrol content than grapes. This bioflavonoid is believed to improve blood flow in the brain by as much as 30%, thus greatly reducing the risk of stroke. Study showed that by adding even small amounts of peanut products to the diet can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by 14%.
Peanuts' fiber content helps lower the risk of colon cancer, an ounce of peanuts contains 2 grams of fiber.
Peanut helps to accelerate the growth of male and female hormones.

Cooking Recipes

My mother-in-law gave me a recipe book.

I’m not so interested in it because most of the recipes are for sauces, snacks, etc. Maybe the part 1 of this book is what I am looking for.

Well, anyway... I’ve printed recipes off the net and put them in the transparent folder. I got that idea from a fellow blogger. I saved lots of recipes but actually didn’t print them all as I am not going to cook them all either. I’ll just wear our printer out plus use up all the ink.

For Tea Lovers

Drinking tea has so many health benefits. Each has varying effects. This fact is known to man for a long time.

Drinking tea has been a habit for some country. Here in down under for example, people drink tea in the morning, afternoon and night. It’s a beverage. Snack is called tea – morning tea, afternoon tea, tea. Cakes have tea in their name – apple tea cake, carrot tea cake, toffee and caramel tea cake, etc.

I haven’t embraced this tea drinking habit yet. I do drink coffee in moderation.

Some drink tea for weight loss reason. Some because of the antioxidants.

Here are some facts from lifestylechannel.com.au.

Tea and Health
The therapeutic benefits of tea have long been recognised. The Ancient Greeks used tea to treat colds and asthma, while the Chinese have been drinking tea to aid digestion, increase alertness and improve physical and mental performance for thousands of years.

More recently, published scientific research has confirmed that both black and green teas have health promoting properties. Tea is rich in flavonoids, substances with powerful antioxidant properties. The antioxidants are similar to those found in fruit, vegetables and red wine. These appear to help the body fight harmful 'free radicals' which can advance ageing, work against the immune system and play a major role in the development of chronic and degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Studies have shown that flavonoids in tea can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels and may halve the risk of heart attack by reducing blood clotting and cholesterol. People who drink one or more cups of tea a day have half the risk of heart attack in people who don't drink it, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and The Lancet.

Tea consumption may also have beneficial effects in reducing cancer risk. One study published in the International Journal of Cancer, indicated that men who drink between 2-3 cups of black tea per day reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by up to 30% compared to non-tea drinkers.

Drinking tea may have a role to play in dental health. A 1991 British study suggested that tea drinking could provide some children with enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay. The study also suggested that drinking tea decreases plaque, the scale caused by mouth bacteria that leads to gum disease.

Black tea may protect against the development of skin cancers caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation according to research with mice at the CSIRO in Adelaide. The latest research with mice found those given tea (with milk) experienced a reduction in the development of skin cancer of 50 percent and a reduction in the development of papillomas of 70 per cent.

It is not only the flavonoid content of tea that makes it good for us. Tea is also an excellent source of important nutrients such as manganese (essential for bone growth), potassium (vital for maintaining fluid levels in the body) and zinc (essential for growth and development). Research also suggests that drinking tea produces mild antibiotic actions in the gut, which offer protection against harmful bacteria and possibly cancer of the colon.

So sit back and relax in your modern furniture and have a cuppa. :)

Breaking the Fast

These days my usual breakfast would be a piece of toast and a cup of coffee. Anything other than that happens not too often. It's the only I can prepare in so little time I have in the morning. It's entirely my fault though. I usually slept in so I don't have ample time in my hands to construct something sumptous. I miss the typical Pinoy breakfast.

A piece of bread can't last me long. If I have the change I could gobble a snack bar, a piece or two of apples and some chocolate bar before lunch. I don't want to resort to energy pills to replenish my strength. But really I home and wish of a very simple yet appetising meals plus enough time to enjoy it.

How about you? What is your sustenance in the morning?

Spidey Lady

There are lots of spiders in the building around our place. They are pretty much annoying because when you walk in the dard, there's a big chance of you going through their webs. They are just not your ordinary small spiders. Some are really big, they look scary. Who knows if they are poisonous or not. I used to get a long stick and wound their webs on it and eventually wound the spiders in it. It was effective. I could build a big ball of webs at the end of each stick. Anyway, if I'd known then that we could use spider traps, I shouldn't have bothered. But it was hardwork well paid off. We got rid of some of the spidey and no money spent.

Security

In our side of the world, you can use your life insurance as collateral for the mortgage of your house – obviously it is called, mortgage life insurance. Apparently, you have to take out a big life insurance if you’re house is dear – big premium follows.

Also here, you can have a life insurance from your Superannuation. The downside of this though is, your super is not growing or moving at all because the growth might just be equivalent to the life insurance premium. Especially in times like what we are now, the economy is moving slow and the stock market is moving down, super is likely not moving at all.

Bag-ful of Wishes

My ever active mind has been shopping again. But I’m not really spending some moolah, just my time and effort which I reckon were well spent.

Some additions to my wish list (can't download the photos of the bags that I love. waaaa!).

It’s my first time to hear Ju Ju Be bags. But boy, I’m impressed. I like their style. Lookie. So apt for the weather here. I love colours! Summer.

Routines

The Tatapilla’s mind is like a computer memory. It is programmed. When his Dad put him in the car in the afternoon to pick me up, he doesn’t whine. But when I am there, right when we open the door he starts making rowdy noises. Just for a bickie. Yes, his mind and belly is programmed that he will have bickie when I get in the car. Just in the afternoon. It doesn’t happen in any time of the day. It just took a couple of days of me giving him something to eat when I get in the car for him to remember that yes, Mummy has something for me in the afternoon.

Well, babies remember routines very easily anyway. And they love routine. It makes them feel secure.

And yeah, he knows where the bickies in the car are. His hands and eyes sometimes stray in the secret location.

Christmas Hampers

The first "ber" month is almost over. Time flies so quickly. Before we know it, it will be Christmas soon.

I’ve been making notes in my head what are the gifts that we’re going to give this year mostly to our families. I’m thinking, grocery hampers or gift baskets would be ideal. That way, I don’t have to buy gifts for each member of the family. But what should include the hampers? Aha! I have an idea on how to tackle this. We might check every isle of the grocery shops and take note of the stuff that we can buy as gifts.

Tried to look up the net and found lots of something like this.

Sweaty Head

Jens was born in winter month. And when I was pregnant I was sort of worried how my new baby will cope with the cold, although it is not that cold in Queensland during winter compared to other states down south. We were prepared for winter - woolly and warm blankets, warmer clothes, etc.

Back then I didn’t know how much clothes I should put onto my baby to keep him warm. I was told that it is always 1 layer more than I have. I applied that rule to Jens but because Jens has a very sweaty head, I eventually dismiss that notion.

In the last weeks of winter this year, he went to sleep in his singlet and nappy. Even then, his head sweat a lot. Take it up from his father. With both of them sweating, I don’t really look forward this summer; washing wise. I’m sure I would be washing our linens and Jens’ baby bedding more often than usual.

Here are some facts on baby sweating ccording to birth.com.au.

Damp and sweaty heads

Newborn babies have a limited ability to regulate their own body temperature. They are unable to shiver and only have mature sweat glands in their head, neck, hands and feet. You may notice that your baby's head becomes quite sweaty at times, particularly when feeding on the breast or bottle. You may also notice this when you pick them up after asleep. The sheet they have been lying on may feel damp (or even quite wet in the warmer months). This is very normal, and may last until your baby is about 2 to 4 years of age (or into adulthood if your family tends to sweat a lot).

Centepede

I did some window shopping again and found these.

When it comes to shoes, I don’t get tired of searching for prettier, classier, more gorgeous, etc. But there is only so much I can wear. Hahaha. If only I was a centipede. I don't really surf and check all the shoe shop online. Only those that has proven to have good taste I grace. I haven't checked Clarks shoes yet.

Child Considerations

How much is the right amount of food for a 14 month old baby? That’s the question that I want to have answers. Books said that food portion depends on the appetite. But what if your child has a very good appetite and you think he’s eating too much yet, short feeding him makes him feel hungry often?

I think, the answer would be common sense? I don’t really know. But since my little boy’s appetite is getting big, I don’t really know how much am I going to give him. But isn’t the portion should be according to his age and size so he won’t grow obese or otherwise?

Yes, food is a big consideration when you have a child especially on holidays. You need to have child-friendly place. I wonder if there are hotels in las vegas that are child-friendly.

Insights

Travelling everyday gives me insights as to how different we people are.
While waiting for the train at the station, some people would wait close to the entrance, some wait at the middle and some like me wait at the area where I can get onto the first car of the train. I’m sure each of us has our own purpose why we wait at a particular section.

Then, we do different things also when in the train. Some try to go to sleep, which I do sometimes. Some listens to music with their IPods, mobile phones, etc. Most are reading – sometimes I also do this. At times there are people who open up their notebook computer to do some work. Pretty neat, eh? I sometimes wish to do this but the battery of my machine is sort of defective. Won’t stay long.

I also get to know who are gentlemen and not but I don’t judge them. Like myself, they are tired at the end of the day. But no excuse if it’s in the morning though. J

Winding Up

This week I am able to watch a couple of movies from my increasing collection. Just light movies. Monday night was the Blond Ambition. I don’t really like Jessica Simpson. Matter of fact, I haven’t seen any of her movies before. The reason I bought the DVD was because of Luke Wilson. I was a bit crazy about him before. I used to have a photo of him on my desk at work.

On the movie, anything light is really my type. Though this one didn’t really rank on the top of my favourites, I kind of like it. Imagine, beauty princess from a small town of Oklahoma land a big job in the city that never sleeps – some kind of jobs in Manhattan, eh? Sound like my story except that I am not in NY.

Clean?

I didn’t realise how our floor gets dirty everyday until I cleaned our place daily. That was when I have plenty of time in my hands. You can’t imagine the dust that gets in. Well, I reckon it wasn’t surprising as we don’t really use house shoes or slippers. We get in and out of the house in the same shoes the whole day except when it’s time for bed.

As much as I love cleaning (sometimes), I don’t really like using vacuum cleaners. One, I don’t like the noise. It seems that if I’m going to use one every time I clean, I would end up having industrial deafness. Maybe, Miele vacuums produce less noise? Plus, because of the limited space at home I have to stash it somewhere that would require me extra effort to unpack and put it away again.

But yeah, I admit that it looks extra clean if I vacuum the floor. Well. I just mop after sweeping. It looks clean also. J

Sort-of Diet

I’ve embraced the eating habits of Mcj. I can go without eating rice for a month or longer. I don’t crave for it anymore. Though when I get to eat it, it feels like “heaven”. And I do tend to eat a lot of it as well.

Just like every ordinary Aussie, I survive on bread and bread and potato and potato for my source of carbohydrates. I could say that we have a healthy diet at home. We always see to it that we have lots of veggies everyday and also meat – this we can never go without in a day.

But when we go out, it’s another story. We tend to pig out on rich on hollow-calories food. A sort of treat to ourselves.

Yet, I tend to balance my diet from time to time. If I have deep fried food, I would have salad. I don’t want to end up using diet pills in order to shed the unwanted pounds.

Do Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat?

For me the answer to this question can be a myth already. Some would say yes, some would say no. Me? I don't use sugar substitute. Period. I want the real thing. I one said to a frind that espartame has a substance that causes cancer and she said, we sure will all die so why not die sexy? She had a point, though.

Anyway, according to realage.com:

The answer may be false. According to early studies, the fake stuff could actually lead to overeating.

Your Body Knows the Difference
In a study, lab animals fed saccharin-sweetened yogurt consumed more calories -- and packed on more pounds -- than the animals that ate the treat with sugar added. Like humans, animals are conditioned to expect lots of calories from sweet-tasting foods. But it seems that no-calorie substitutes may put the brain and the body at odds. The brain says, "Mmm, sweet and satisfying," but the body says, "I need more." Time will tell if the results hold true in people, but there are already human studies linking diet soda to excess weight. (Here's another reason diet soda may be bad for you.)

When You Want Something Sweet . . .
Sugar substitutes aren't the only way to cut back on calories while still satisfying your sweet tooth. Try one of these ideas:
Pile on the berries. These naturally sweet treats are good on cereal, in yogurt, or by themselves in a bowl. And they're chock-full of fiber. (Did you know? Eating fiber-rich fruit could keep you from gaining weight.)
Skip the no-fat, sugar-free ice cream . . . and make one of these instead: Watermelon-Yogurt Ice or exotic Iced Lychees.
Think quality, not quantity. A few nibbles of the richest dark chocolate can be more satisfying than a pound of cheap milk chocolate.

I wonder what do staff of Wilmington NC real estate think?

It's Spring Time

Spring had just started and I’m loving it. What’s not to love about spring? Nothing I reckon.

Though.

I haven’t seen massive flowers around our place yet. No rain as predicted at the end of winter. But it’s definitely warmer now. I’ve started shedding off layers of clothes this week. I might pack my winter gears soon and get back to my normal clothes. Plus, it’s a great time to enjoy a cuppa in the outdoor coffee tables.

My little one would absolutely love and enjoy this weather. The days are longer now, which means more time to play in the backyard. We might be able to explore new games. When it’s sunny, our hill’s hoist (clothes line) is in a strategic location for direct sunlight even if around 2PM – most of the time, just around when I’m finished doing the laundry. And on winter, the early afternoon sun was shielded by the big trees in our backyard.

This brings to mind to do some spring cleaning. Here are some tips from housecleaningtips.com.au.

Cleaning your house can be an easy task if you just take a few steps to do it right the first time.

Making a house cleaning schedule is always a plus, but few follow through.

Therefore, if you do not have a specific schedule, try making a list of which rooms you want to clean today. Then enhance that list by stating specifically WHAT you want to do in that room.

Example of Cleaning Bedroom:
Strip bed and start bedding in wash
Gather cleaning supplies (dust clothes, dusting solution, window cleaning solution, paper towels, vacuum)
Dust ceiling fan first (if you have one) Dust over door tops and window ledges
Empty bed side table, dust lamp, alarm clock & picture frame
Dust bed table
Put items back on table
Repeat process of other bed table
Repeat process on dresser Dust television and stand
Vacuum
Put clean bed sheets on the bed.
Make bed.
Room finished!
Making a detailed list such as this gives you a very specific guide on what needs to be done and the order to do it.

Make a list such as this for each room in your house and before you know it, each room is done that you plan to complete today. Now you can be off and on the run doing whatever else you would like to do in your free time.

A little bit of pre-planning ahead of time, can save you lots of time, reduce your stress, and leaves it very easy to get back to a specific point if you get interrupted in the process.

House cleaning is something we all have to do. However, even though we want our homes to be environmentally healthy to our families, pets and friends, we do not want to spend our lives making it so. A quick clean up on a regular basis, makes the big “spring cleaning” or “summer cleaning” not such a big job.

Something for the Mind

Our mind needs to get active else we would go insane or worthless (might be worse). I gather this is especially to the retirees. Imagine doing nothing all day. Won't you get bored? Well, that's why while you're still young and earning, you save up for your retirement - for travel, for playing golf and other games that you might fancy, for playing pokies, etc.

My parents-in-law used to do puzzle. They always bought heaps and heaps of puzzle books every week. But that changed now. Mcj set them up a PC that they can play solitaire or pokies. They only have limited games. Well, you know.. when you're of age you just want to indulge yourself in simple things. I'm not talking from experience here - first hand that is. Anyway, they had fun playing the machine since then. For the first few months, they always slept late in the morning, playing until the wee hour. They can't get enough of it, I would say.

Imagine how thrilled would they be if they own one of the gaming keyboards? They really look cool to me. Even if you're not that avid of games, owning one or maybe having one (somebody might gift it to you), you might be tempted to try games and get addicted. Leisure such as this comes in different size and package, you'll be surprise how flexible they can be to cater to your needs. Plain keyboard with gaming keys extra or standalone pads are available.

In this day and age, there are heaps of options to choose from for entertainment. You'll have a hard time choosing one.

Eating Breakfast

Do you eat breakfast everyday? Some of us don't for several reasons. One, there is really no time for breakfast especially if running late for work. Some said they don't want to earn more pounds so they skip breakfast.

I eat breakfast. Even then when I just burn it with pushing strollers or playing with my little boy. Before, I am not used to have one very early in the morning but recently I changed my routine and eating breakfast early doesn't bother me anymore.

For those who skip breakfast because of worry of gaining weight, here's some help from realage.com:

Here are DesMaisons’s four simple rules for using breakfast to counterbalance the biochemical mechanisms behind sugar cravings, obesity, and depression.

Do it daily. Your goal is to make it a daily, automatic habit. The reward? You can kiss late-day low blood sugar and sugary snack cravings goodbye -- permanently.

Do it sooner rather than later. For the best results, eat breakfast within an hour or so of waking up -- even if you’re not hungry. Morning-time low blood sugar produces a brain chemical designed to mask hunger pangs -- but can cause sugar cravings later in the day.

Make it complex. We’re talking complex carbohydrates here (whole-grain cereals, steel-cut oats, high-fiber fruits, etc.) The fiber keeps blood sugar on an even keel and helps you feel full longer.

Power it with protein. Protein slows digestion, helps prevent spikes and dips in blood sugar, and can even give you a dose of depression-fighting tryptophan. DesMaisons recommends that you get a third of your daily protein at breakfast.

More vitamin C

We are just keeping on passing the germs around the house that the sneezing and running nose are not going away. What to do, what to do?

Mcj had been on antibiotics for almost a week now. And when he thinks he is getting better, the bug had hit him again. Same with Jens - runny nose and a bit of cough. I on the other hand is fighting the germs. There had been two instances that I shoved it off by taking two paracetamols, stuffed my face with citrus and honey.

I just home, this bug won't stay around that long. You know that when a man is sick, he is worst than a baby right? Moaning there and here. Plus I have to attend to my little boy. And when the progesterone level is rising, all hell breaks loose.

I just need to keep an eye to them and make sure I take lots of citrus myself.

Dagwood Dog

We went to ekka last Sunday. After we got off the train, I bought a show program then bought dagwood dogs. Mcj said, it is one of the foods that the show is known for. It is just a crumbed sauge on a stick. You can have it with sauce or none. It was yummy for me who was really hungry.

It was a fun Sunday. We spent more time walking and eating than sight seeing. Throngs of people were coming from all direction that getting around was difficult especially with a pram.

I wonder though what are the specialty in Vegas vacations - apart from casinos and desert. Better check the net.

It's The Weather

Winter is almost over yet the worst of it has never come yet. Westerly wind hasn't started blowing. It is supposed to be in these days, in time for the Brisbane exhibition.

I am not happy or should I say the entire family isn't happy because we've been visited by illnesses. Mcj had cold and flu and developed into something severe that he had to postpone his dental appointment for the next three weeks. The appointment that he'd been waiting for almost two months. And the reason why we didn't push through our plan to go to the Philippines last month. Then, Jens had a temperature running up to almost 39 degrees celcius for almost three days and when it was over, some rashes appeared on some parts of his body. Now, I am worried that it is measles. If only our human body are like furnitures that we can just put patio furniture covers over us during winter and not much damage that should be done. But it's not.

Here are some facts about colds:

Can you prevent colds?
The time when people with colds are most likely to pass them on to someone else is in the first 2 to 4 days after the cold starts, especially when the person is sneezing, coughing or has a very runny nose.
Colds are spread by little drops in the air from coughing or sneezing, or by touching the nose or mouth of someone with a cold and then touching your own nose or mouth, or after touching something the person has coughed or sneezed onto (such as a tissue).
Since colds are everywhere it is almost impossible to stop children from getting colds, but there are some things which may help.
Try not to let people with colds come close to, or hold, babies.
Wash your own and children's hands, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing noses and before eating.
Teach children to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. They need to wash their hands straight afterwards.
Use tissues once and then throw them in the bin, instead using of handkerchiefs.
If anyone has a cold, they should try not to pass it on. They should stay home from childcare, school or work whenever possible.
There are no immunisations against colds, because of all of the different viruses that cause them, and there are not likely to be immunisations in the near future.
Eating healthy food seems to help, but even very healthy people can get colds.
There is no proof that extra vitamin C helps prevent colds, but many people use vitamin C. It seems that it may shorten the time a cold lasts by a small amount. It does not do any harm unless you take very large doses.
Recent research is showing that taking extra zinc can shorten the time some people are unwell and make the symptoms less severe. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist (chemist) to find out the best type of zinc preparation if you want to try this.
If a person has been near another person who has a cold, taking Echinacea might prevent a cold developing. It also might be useful in the very early stages of a cold, making recovery quicker. Make sure the preparation you use is suitable for children, and that it does not have any aspirin in it.
The air passages and lungs of babies and children are smaller, more delicate and sensitive to the effects of the chemicals in the tobacco smoke if they are around people who smoke. Tobacco smoke irritates eyes, nasal passages and children can catch more colds and other respiratory illnesses.

Guilt-free Pancakes

Do you like pancakes? I do but I seldom make them. Even if the procedure is fairly simply, it still hard work for a busy Mum like me. But I guess most people don't share my reason why they don't make pancakes for breakfast anymore. It's the calories in them. I read that making pancakes are like baking cookies or making rissoles. You can threw in whatever you like and the mixture will just come out fine.

Here's some tips on how to make pancakes guilt free:

1. Cut Down the Calories
· Use half the oil, margarine, shortening, or butter called for in the recipe.
· Use nonfat milk or nonfat condensed milk -- or low-fat buttermilk or soymilk -- instead of whole milk.
· Use cooking spray to prepare the griddle.
· Keep servings to two 4" pancakes.

2. Pump Up the Fiber
· Replace some of the white or unbleached flour with whole-wheat pastry flour. (It's lighter than regular whole-wheat flour.) Start with 3/4 cup white and 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour for every cup of flour called for. Increase the whole-wheat flour every time you cook until you find the proportion you like best.
· Toss in a handful of oatmeal to up the protein and fiber. (You may need to add a little extra milk, too.)
· To make gluten-free pancakes, use buckwheat flour.

3. Skim Off the Cholesterol
· Replace the eggs with egg substitute, or use two whites per yolk.
· For fluffier pancakes, whip the whites separately, and then fold them into the batter.

4. Skinny Down the Sugar
· Replace half the sugar with Splenda.
· Try adding sweet-tasting flavorings: vanilla, nutmeg, and/or cinnamon, and leave out some of the sugar.

5. Rev Up the Antioxidants
· Mix a spoonful of canned pumpkin, grated apple, or whole blueberries into the batter.
· Add some toasted wheat germ or ground flaxseeds, too.

6. Swap Out the Syrup
· Heap on fresh or thawed berries -- any kind.
· Top with a tablespoon of all-fruit apricot jam and a sliced banana.
· Spoon on fat-free sour cream, yogurt, or ricotta cheese mixed with mango chunks or mandarin oranges.

If you still crave syrup, drizzle any of the above with a little agave nectar (sold in health-food stores). It tastes as sweet as syrup, but it's far easier on your blood sugar levels.

There you go. I'm sure indulging to pancakes once in a while will be guilt-free. :)

By the way, have I mentioned before that Mcj loves watching cooking shows? It's not because he watched it online in Sony Vaio because he hasn't got none of that. He doesn't cook either. I can' explain it myself but I tell you, he fits the showing time of his favorite cooking show in his work schedule. I'm stump!

Keeping Your Weight

For some that doesn't have the time to go walking, jogging or exercise outdoor, they resort to all gadgets available - treadmills, something for the abs, etc. All these helps at some point, when the routine is done religiously. But there's a gadget that can really help.

If the pounds you dropped in time for summer are working their way back on, there’s a time-tested gadget that might help halt the creep.

It’s your bathroom scale. Research shows that people who weigh themselves regularly after reaching a goal weight do a much better job of keeping the lost pounds off.

Maintaining Your Losses
When you’re trying to lose weight, a bathroom scale may not be your best friend. It doesn’t always tell the whole story. But if you’re trying to keep lost weight off, a scale could be just the thing to keep you from backsliding. Researchers asked people who had lost weight over a 2-year period to weigh themselves daily for 18 months. The result? People who regularly weighed in were more successful at keeping the weight off for the long haul.

More Strategies for Control
So what else can you do to keep your weight -- and appetite -- in check?

Eat a little healthy fat at the start of each meal. It will help curb your appetite.

Buy a bag of pears, and have one before each meal. You’ll eat less overall.

Don’t diet! Really. Dieters usually regain what they lose.

Skin Diet

I don't mean eating skin - mandarin peel, etc. I mean, eating food good for your skin.

Whether we are ready or not, wrinkles will appear on our skin eventually mainly because of our sun exposure. Most resort to botox or surgery or any invasive procedure - that is for cure. For prevention, we use sun screen. Though, it pays to examine the food that we put into our mouth.

Food fight... against aging
Researchers are just beginning to explore the extent of diet's role in the skin aging process. One recent study revealed that people whose diets are rich in vegetables, beans, olive oil, nuts, and multigrain breads are less likely to wrinkle than those who feast on red meat, butter, and sugary foods.

Experts suspect that antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E and the minerals zinc and selenium may keep wrinkles at bay by reducing the amount of potentially damaging free radicals produced by skin cells. One study revealed that a supplement that included a combination of these antioxidant vitamins helped protect the skin from aging due to solar UV exposure.

Another study suggests that for light-skinned people, consuming a diet rich in carotenoids offers similar UV protection and also may contribute to healthy skin coloring.

To achieve a healthy, youthful glow, turn away from the sun and turn to carotenoid-rich foods such as cantaloupe, apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and other fruits and vegetables that have deep green, yellow, orange, and red hues. A multivitamin may provide your skin further protection against aging.

In addition, several research reviews have revealed that botanical antioxidants show promise as an effective means of protecting skin cells against ultraviolet radiation; this is another good reason to eat at least four servings of fruits and five of vegetables each day.

Eating the right food just doesn't help keeping wrinkles at bay but also prevent acne from appearing.

Sweets and Ramblings

I just finished gobbling up two slices of apple cake. It was yum! I tell you, hubby and I can eat the whole round cake in one setting. That's how rubbish guts we are. It was my first time to try that cake and I quite like it, except the green apple toppings. I still have two slices left. I'll eat them after blogging. Bwahahaha!

Recently, seen in the news that some ebay sellers were complaining because paypal increase its merchant fee up to something. Hubs said, it was just soo minimal compare to credit cards merchant fee. I guess the concern of those sellers were because there aren't much customers that pay using paypal though it is slowly evolving (just like any authorize.net user).

By the way, how do you like your peanuts? Roasted with shell or not? Oiled? Boiled? Recent study shows that peanuts boiled in their shells have higher concentration of disease-fighting phytochemicals. Yeah, so next time you buy peanuts have a quick deliberation if you're going to buy raw with shell or already cooked. Just be sure though that when you boil peanuts in shell, it takes long to cook especially if it's been kept for quite a while. I advise that you soak it in water for at least overnight. I'm telling from experience. :)

Live Life

You may find this weird or unbelievable but I tell you, my mother-in-law got her ears pierced when he was 79 years old. Yeah. You read it right. Whooping 79. It might be too late for some but she said, she wanted to live her life to the fullest. So there goes, pop the ear pierce. But the absence of piercing before didn't stopped her from wearing earrings. She just used clip on earrings. She has lovely jewelry and clip on earrings were a bit of nuisance to wear. I bet you will agree with me. I've used some when I was young.

Now, you can see her wearing several earrings at times. Yeah, she's making use of her time left to maximize the use of her jewelry. My SIL make custom earrings so MIL has an abundance of them.

What does this story tells us? Well. Living life to the fullest, that is. The littlest reason counts.

Something For The Eyes

We've been planning to avail another extra from our health insurance. Eyeglasses for me and Mcj. You see, mine are almost two years old. My vision I reckon had gone worse than what it was. Plus, they are now defective. Jens knocked off the righ lense that it doesn't stay if hit even with a little force. Good thing, I don't use them as often as before. (I notice I haven't got recent photos of me wearing them in my pc, even in the memory cards).

I might convince Mcj to check the shop on Sunday. I saw glasses sale ads on telly.

Anyway, for those who has maintained a 20 20 vision. Take care of your eyes. I haven't realized how important it is to have healthy eyes until I was wearing googles. Lol. Once you have glasses, you will have it forever. Even if you are wearing contact lenses. The glasses always stand as your backup. But, I don't regret why my action in my early years contributed to my dilemna. I benefited from them.

Here are some DIY test to check if you have vision problem:

Fatigue test: If your eyes tire out faster during normal activity -- like reading or working on the computer -- it could be a sign of weakening eyesight.

Endurance test: If your eyes get tired earlier in your daily routine than usual -- maybe you can’t read in bed anymore, for example -- schedule a checkup.

Green Tea

We all know that tea is good for us particularly green tea. But did you really know what it can do to you and your health? Here are some tangible facts that you may want to read.

1. Cut Your Cancer Risk
Several polyphenols -- the potent antioxidants that green tea is famous for -- seem to help keep cancer cells from gaining a foothold in the body by discouraging growth and then suppressing the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to thrive. Study after study has found that regularly drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast, stomach, esophagus, colon, and prostate cancer.

2. Soothe Your Skin
Got a cut, scrape, or bite, and a little leftover green tea? Soak a cotton ball in it. The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling. Try it on inflamed blemishes, sunburns, or puffy eyelids. But that's not all. Green tea has been shown to help block sun-triggered skin cancer, whether you drink it or apply it directly to the skin -- which is why you're seeing green tea in more and more sunscreens and moisturizers.

3. Steady Your Blood Pressure
Having healthy blood pressure -- meaning below 120/80 -- is one thing. Keeping it that way is quite another. But people who sip just half a cup of green tea a day are almost 50% less likely to wind up with hypertension than nondrinkers. Credit goes to the polyphenols again (especially one known as ECGC); they help keep blood vessels from contracting and raising blood pressure.

4. Protect Your -- or Your Mom’s -- Memory
Green tea may also keep the brain from turning fuzzy. Getting-up-there adults who drink at least two cups a day are half as likely to develop cognitive problems as those who drink less. Why? It appears that the tea's big dose of antioxidants fights the free-radical damage to brain nerves seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

5. Stay Young
The younger and healthier your arteries are, the younger and healthier you are. So fight plaque buildup in your blood vessels; the sticky stuff increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, adds years to your RealAge, and saps your energy. How much green tea does this vital job take? About 10 ounces a day, which also deters your body from absorbing artery-clogging fat and cholesterol.

6. Lose Weight
Oh yeah, one more thing. Turns out that green tea speeds up your body's calorie-burning process. In the every-little-bit-counts department, that’s good news!

The reason that I used to believe was the last one, losing weight. Well, if you some pounds to shed.. maybe it's high time to try green tea if you haven't yet. You might be surprise that you can get into that beautiful little renaissance clothing that you have in your wardrobe.

source

Nail Health

I noticed today that I had my nail polish for at least a month so I decided to change it. Just when I was putting on the first coat on my three toenails, the little boy woke up so I stopped. Imagine my right foot with two nails clear and three with chocolate coat. :)

Very timely, I came across this article about nails.

Alterations in the appearance, shape, and texture of your nails can indicate an underlying health condition. For example:
Thickened nails may be a sign of psoriasis.
Red nail beds may be a symptom of diabetes.
Pale nail beds can indicate anemia.
White nails have been associated with kidney disease.

And here are some tips:

To trim nails, cut straight across with sharp nail scissors or clippers. Slight rounding of the tips is fine, but avoid filing nails into a point, which may cause weakening and make the nails more prone to damage. Soak difficult-to-trim nails in warm salt water for 5 minutes before trimming.

Pay attention to the cuticle -- the seal between the nail and skin. Don’t clip or remove the cuticle, which can leave the nail open to infection. Instead, gently push back the cuticle with an orangewood stick. Do this after showering, when the cuticle is soft.

Just as I see..

This is not a goss. Just a mere observation that I want to share.

Did you know that my MIL owns 3 vacuum cleaners? They are all of different brands (no Sebo vacuums yet). She gave one to us to use. She bought the latest because it is small and handy. Easy to store and use around the house. The little boy loves playing with the hoses, so it's another toy for him. :)

Anyway, I don't do that much vacuuming so as she. I just don't like the noise. So imagine those vacuums gathering dust in the nook. :)

Something for the Little Boy

I've been wanting to buy DVD's for my little boy. But I couldn't find any in the shop. I am not just looking for kids movies but nursery rhymes but should not be a CD. I found nursery rhymes in the internet that were in videos, so that gave me an idea what to look for. I am so frustrated because I couldn't find any here. Anyway, for now watching them in the computer will suffice. Thanks to our reliable video cards, we can watch it in all three computers. But, I won't give up on my quest. I am actually considering of asking those people that uploaded the videos where did they bought their copy. Hope they are living in down under. :)

A Supernova Fruit

Love berries? You're on the right track.

Blueberries do not only linked to skin, heart, eye, and urinary health but also to a lower risk of cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. But you have to eat at least 1 to 2 cups a day inorder to reap the health benefits.

Blueberries do not come all year round so when they're season and abundance, stock your freezer. It was said that frozen berries are as good as fresh.

Here are some tips on how to use those frozen berries:

defrost them at night by putting a cup in the fridge then spare some on your cereal or yoghurt.
frozen ones can be thrown into the blender and you'll have instant smoothie.
add them when baking some treats like muffins.
serve as floats on your beverage.
eat them plain - frozen.
add them to winter salads.

We all know an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I guess it is safe to say, a cup of blueberries a day keep those nasties away. :)

Random Health Facts

Did you know that watermelon can have effects like viagra. A natural viagra according to research. It works when a person eats a ripe watermelon. Research said that this fruit contains amino acid that relaxes and dilates blood vessel just like viagra and other drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The downside is, you have to eat at least 6 cups. Wouldn't you feel bloated after eating that much?

*****

We thought that winter and the food make us fat but summer can have the same effect. Though we are more active durin summer and stay outdoor, it's the food that can pack the pounds. Imagine the greasy sausages, meat patties, beers, and the lot that we eat during barbecue parties. The best thing is opt to eat those less-fattening food and be more active unless you want to fit into the plus size lingerie.

*****

Coffee is not as bad as what we hear about it - just from those who don't like it. We all know that it contains antioxidant but the more surprising fact is, this antioxidant helps reduce cavities, improve moods, stop headaches, and reduce the risk of diabetis 2, other form of cancers and parkinson's diseases.

Tips For You

No, this is not the 10% of my food bill. :) This is some helpful info that you may find handy.

Dark chocolate is an antioxidant and is better for you than milk. (of course, we all know that and we love our chocolates. Even up to the point that we may need Fenphedra)

If you feel a cold coming on, try and sneeze through your nose rather than with your mouth open.

As soon as you feel that slight tingle on your lips that heralds a cold sore, swamp a piece of gauze with witch hazel and dab it on the area. It often stops the sore developing, but if you are too late, repeat the witch hazel treatment, ignore the sting and the sore will soon dry out. Dilute white vinegar works, too.

Next time you need caffeine blast, aim for the fruit bowl and vegetable rack instead. Put some beetroot, apple and ginger in the juicer and drink that instead. Kick the caffeine habit and get into juicing for a few weeks and wait for people to tell you how great you look.

tips taken from practical household hints book

Night Cap

It's a cold and miserable day today. It's winter and already cold without the rain. But it is raining, so it is colder. Brrrrr.

I just made myself a cuppa. Bought a pack of choc viennese fingers yesterday, so it's perfect for my coffee in this type of weather. Warm and sweet. :)

Oh, I might make another cup later for telly munchies. It's Wimbledon finals for women's single.

Mcj was just saying, "you can lead the horse to the water but you can't make it drink". Maybe because it is using horse supplements. Hehehe. We're in a horsie mode.

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Tips on Cramp

Mcj suffers from cramps most of the time. He reckon, it's from lack of salt in his diet. I reckon he still has muscle growth. Kidding!

But if you're like him, try to these tips. Got them from the book that I bought recently.

If you suffer from cramp in the feet or legs at night, scrub any dirt off a medium-size potato and dry it thoroughly. Put it on your bed, somewhere you are not likely to disturb it as you move in your sleep, and you won't get cramp.

If you are feeling sceptical going to bed with a potato, try keeping a muslin bag containing corks in your bed. If you feel cramp coming on, holding a cork in a clenched fist keeps it at bay. And if you get cramp in your feet, put on a pair of loose bedsocks keeping a cork in place next to the usually affected spot will ease any cramp that threathens.

A syrup made up of a teaspoonful each of honey, cider vinegar and calcium lactate and taken by the teaspoon every few hours is a time-tested way of keeping cramp at bay.

Parties

I remembered this morning that we have a standing invitation from Mcj's sister for a birthday and house warming party. And if my memory is keen, it would be soon. Yet, we haven't made a plan if we're going or not. Appointments and errands had caught up that our plates are always full to the brim.

If we're going, we should be making plans soon as we can't just walk-in the party without bearing gifts.

As much as we love to spend time with family and friends, there are just times that pleasant and nice occasions are hard to fit in our schedule. I am thankful though that Halloween isn't big here so we don't receive Halloween invitations.

Talking of parties, I know I have a special occasion to plan.

Busy

I've always heard that doing some handy works at your own house is very relaxing and enjoyable. I bet it is but I haven't tried doing any yet. I always want to paint anything - might be our cabinet- but I haven't gotten around of doing it. I love gardening at some point in my life but I haven't done any here. There are lots of tools lying around here (some are air tools), yet I haven't spend any time to pick them up even just to trip a plant or cut a stem that's out of the way. I also want to bake. There are lots of stuff that I want to do but no time to do them. I'm just sort of busy these days. Maybe soon, when the little boy is not so little anymore. :) But, I reckon soon I should learn how to cook. :)

Good Wine

Australia's Witchmouth Estate 2004 vintage shiraz has just recently been named as the best shiraz (or as the French say "syrah") in the world in the Syrah du Monde wine competition held in France.

This wine is not from Yarra Valley, the famous place in Oz for wine. It is from Rockbank, a slip of flat, volcanic red soil on the way to Melton, Victoria. But, I guess after the award, this place would occupy a big space in the wine map and might be associated with some clubs (like the California wine clubs)

Healthiest Foods

Eating healthy food is a key to healthy body. Sometimes it concerns us if the food that we put in our mouth is really nutritious and healthy.

According to research as for vegetable, asparagus ranked as number, apples for fruit, almonds for nuts, barley for grains, low-fat cheese for low-fat dairy, black beans for beans and legumes, basil for spices and herbs, cod for seafood, lean organic beef for poultry and lean meats, and green tea. Of course there are other nutritious food.

To maintain your healthy body or get trim to go back to your swimsuits, try following these standard. You might surprise with the result.

Keeping Bread

Some bread contains the preservative 262 - Sodium acetates (acidity regulator), to keep in fresh longer. Since 262 is a preservative, it's not good for our body. Some bread doesn't contain it and instead have salt to keep it fresh. If you want preservative free bread always check the packaging and look for NO 262 label.

Bread can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months and it will still be edible. Just thaw it out when you need it.

To keep the bread fresher in the bread bin put a stalk of celery. When the stalk turns brown replace it or after a week. It will also keep the bin smell good.

Avoid storing bread in a refrigerator. Most fridge temperature is 5 degree C and it is the temp where bread stales most quickly. One day in the fridge is equivalent to 3 days at room temperature.

Just A Game

Last night was the big night for poker online, that is for Mcj and his brother. They are playing for a spot of Las Vegas travel with Shane Warne. His brother was at his home so I played for his. I was winning at first and well, stayed afloat. Mcj lost his so he started coaching me closely. There were hands that I lost because of his advice and I got angry, saying that I won't listen to him at all. We were sort of bickering and I realized that it was just a poker game. Why do it have to come between us so I started to mellow down. Eventually, I lost all my stack. I was disappointed but at the same time relieved. I have opps to do, you know. At the end of it all, I told Mcj why I do blogging instead of playing poker. Because it has sure money. :)

Back Pain and Injury

Back aches are common problem that people complain about. It is just soo easy to have this pain. Just a mere bad sleeping position can cause it. Now that I'm a mother of a little boy that gets heavier by the day, I'm one of those that complain back pain. It's the carrying and lifting that cause it.

But for some, there are other causes that I can't ever think of. Some may have injured their back in the process. Here are some tips to prevent this from happening.

1. Get as close to the load as possible. The further the load is from the center line of your body, the greater the strain imposed on your back. If need be, squat down to lift the load and pull it between your legs. This gets it closer to the center of your body and helps prevent the need to bend at the waist. However, since your leg muscles are the largest muscles in your body, they are the biggest energy consumers. Repeated squatting can be very fatiguing, and reduces a person's ability to lift in this manner for any length of time. In addition to lifting the load, you are also hoisting the majority of your body weight. For repeated lifting, other strategies must be used.

2. Avoid picking up heavy objects placed below your knees. Try to see that heavy objects are placed and stored above knee level and below shoulder level. If you suspect the load is too heavy to be lifted comfortably, do not chance it. Use a mechanical aid, break the load down into its component parts, or get help. The most common cause of back injury is overloading. Some said that using big and heavy bags (especially golf bags and not using a golf cart) can cause this problem.

3. Keep your back straight. This means don't bend at the waist when reaching to lift an object. Keep the natural arch in your lower back, which distributes the load evenly over the surface of spinal disks, and is less stressful than if the disk is pinched between vertebras. Bending principally from the hips is acceptable if you maintain the arch in your back, rather than bending at the waist.

4. Glue your hand to your thigh. If you carry a load in one hand, such as when carrying a tool box, place your free hand on the outside of your thigh and mentally "glue" it into position. This will help you maintain correct back alignment rather than lifting and tilting to one side. When carrying a heavy load, side bending can be just as stressful to the spine as bending forward.

5. Tighten your stomach muscles. This technique helps prevent your spine from twisting. If you lift a load and need to place it off to one side, turn by moving your feet. After repeated lifts you might find yourself getting a bit sloppy and forgetting to move your feet. You can overcome this tendency if the place you set the load down is at least one step away from where it is lifted. If you wear a back support belt, wear it low on your trunk and loosen it when you are not lifting.

6. Stay in good physical condition. A protruding stomach is an extra load carried away from the center line of the body, and prevents you from keeping a lifted object close-the number one rule for back care. When you bend at the waist to lift, due to the leverage principal, the load is up to 10 times heavier than its actual weight. A "pot belly" puts extra, stressful weight on the spine.

7. Stretch and loosen up before work. Research has shown that trunk flexibility and mobility is significantly lower in the morning than later in the day, increasing the number and severity of back strains at this time. A few minutes of stretching can warm up cold stiff muscles and tendons and help you avoid an injury. All professional athletes know this-"industrial athletes" should too!

Source

A Trip Down The Coast

The little boy and I tagged along to Mcj when he drove his brother down the coast to pick up the van. It was a long drive but it was all worth because of the scenery that we saw on the way and in the vicinity.

The place is so ideal for retirement (much like the Winter Park real estate) if you can afford the whooping price of the apartments that are close to the beach.

These apartments are overlooking the Pacific Ocean. How great is that?

Well, we enjoyed the view as much as the residents. But still it is too far that we don't see ourselves going down there again in the near future.

Child-proofing

Child-proofing a house isn't easy especially if it has been an abode of grown-ups for a long time. You can't just make it very child-friendly, unless you overhaul your entire furniture and fixtures.
The little boy has a very active mind and is restless. Before, he was happy playing in the lounge. Now that he discovered he can get into more mischief in the kitchen, he plays run-away whenever he gets the chance. He loves the kitchen because of the cupboards that can try to open and pull everything in it out. Plus, the computer which CPU is just on the floor. He had managed to turn it off the other day just by pulling the cords (we just use ordinary ones not HDMI).

You can't just leave him playing around the house un-attended even for five ups.

Playpen is an option and he already got one but he doesn't like being caged. And who does, anyway?

What he needs is somewhat like this. Hummmm.

Adobong Sitaw

I saw a bundle snake beans in the shop last week and I instantly miss adobong sitaw. I was really hungry then and all I can think of while shopping was that dish. Funny eh!

The next day, I cook it for lunch with rice. I wasn't disappointed with my cooking. I loved it. It just tasted like my mother's. It was yummy! It was my lunch for two days (with rice of course).

This is a purely vegetarian dish. I didn't put any mince meat.

I looked for the beans in the shop again last time we shop and I didn't see any. I should have bought two bundles then. :)

I am constantly looking out for vegies that can be cooked simply (Pinoy dish). Maybe, next time I'll go for eggplant.

I Went Shopping

Now, that I have a paypal account I love shopping online. Actually, that's the reason why I can shop from home. Mcj is reluctant to give credit card details online, hence I can't pay through it.

Anyway, paypal partners here have lots of promotions.. free shipping, discounts, etc. And these gimmicks lure me to shop. Just recently, I've been checking up jewellery, earrings (the site doesn't have gold anklet, by the way) particularly. I don't need a pair, just love to have another pair and style. Yet, I didn't found any that tickles my fancy. I completely forgot about it, instead shopped for watch the following day. It was delivered the other day, found out it is way too big for me so I am donating it to Mcj. :)

Rocking Horse or Trampouline

Since Christmas last year, we've been planning on buying the little boy a rocking horse. But because he is still a little boy, we reckon it wouldn't be a good idea yet. But I know he will surely love it - he loves rocking by the way. Plus it won't cost anymore money as it doesn't really need saddles, good on Mum and Dad.

Recently, Mcj thought of buying a trampouline because he also loves bouncing. Now, that's a bit out of his age for now. Well, Christmas is still far away.

Not that we are waiting for Christmas to buy him gifts. It's just that special occasions need special gifts, don't you think?

But it is best to think toys that will keep him fit at the same time educational.

Wednesday 31 December 2008

Monday 29 December 2008

Sunday 21 December 2008

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Monday 8 December 2008

Friday 5 December 2008

Thursday 4 December 2008

Saturday 22 November 2008

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Monday 10 November 2008

Thursday 30 October 2008

Thursday 23 October 2008

Saturday 11 October 2008

Monday 6 October 2008

Sunday 5 October 2008

Thursday 2 October 2008

Wednesday 1 October 2008

Saturday 27 September 2008

Thursday 25 September 2008

Friday 19 September 2008

Monday 8 September 2008

Wednesday 3 September 2008

Saturday 23 August 2008

Sunday 17 August 2008

Monday 11 August 2008

Saturday 9 August 2008

Thursday 7 August 2008

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Sunday 27 July 2008

Monday 21 July 2008

Saturday 19 July 2008

Saturday 12 July 2008

Saturday 5 July 2008

Thursday 3 July 2008

Monday 30 June 2008

Friday 27 June 2008

Friday 20 June 2008

Sunday 15 June 2008

Saturday 14 June 2008

Friday 13 June 2008

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