ORDER PLEASE

This is a really cute menu display. I forgot which restaurant this is. I just find all the drawings so colorful. =D

P.S. As Ruther mentioned in his comment, the name of the restaurant is Capricciosa. Thanks honey!

ROD SCHMIDT SAID...

"There aren't enough days in the weekend.”

.....

We are going to beach tomorrow. It's the 85th birthday of my mom's uncle (which I mentioned in an earlier post) and his children wanted to have the luncheon at the beach. I think it will be nice to have lunch with relatives. It will be great to be bonding with all my aunts, uncles, titos, titas and cousins. It will be a learning experience for the boys too. They will get to know their relatives on my mom's side and at the same time they will learn some things about the beach.

It's actually not a typical beach because it's kind of rocky. But it still is picturesque so I hope to get some good shots tomorrow. I just hope it won't be too hot and crowded because tomorrow is a Sunday. I hope everyone will have a lot of fun! I'm going to prepare later all the things we'll be bringing tomorrow, after we get back from dinner (we are eating out again tonight). I just don't want to forget anything when we are at the beach. My mom will be bringing some pansit to contribute to the food. I can't wait to eat lechon tomorrow! Yummy!

.....

I am actually enjoying the early morning exercises with mommy. Not only do I feel energized for the whole day, but I know those exercises are helping me to lose weight. So for the rest of my stay here, I hope to be able to go with mom and dad as often as I can. I also plan to bring the boys maybe once a week just to let them see the place and to expose them to different forms of exercise.

.....

I watched the movie 300 yesterday and what do I think? I can only say... OH. MY. GOD!!!! Gerard Butler rocks!! I watched him when he played the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera and he already blew me away with his singing voice. But this time? He really proved that he could take on new roles and get out of his comfort zone (it's a loincloth for goodness' sake! gotta give him some credit.) I liked his partner in the movie, Lena Heady who plays Queen Gorgo. I think they had wonderful chemistry in the movie, not to mention the steamy lovescenes. Woohoo...

I think the movie was gory and really bloody. Definitely an adult movie because of the killings the blood, the decapitations, etc. But I understand why it was necessary. It is after all, a war movie.

Ruther and I talked about it last night. He watched it a few days earlier than me and so he had to wait until I was done with the movie before we could talk about it. We agreed it was a "fun" movie to watch. It is just so dissimilar from the usual movies so it was like a good break from all the bad movies I watched previously (remember Alexander? B-o-r-i-n-g...).

I just felt a bit disappointed that Ruther and I did not watch 300 together. Oh well...

.....

I think Mel Gibson needs more anger management sessions. 'Nuff said.

AT THE GRANDSTAND

early morning...

and so it begins...

round and round the track...

my dad and his taho

other exercise enthusiasts

TGIF

I don't know why but mommy didn't wake me up today to go to the grandstand. So now, I missed a day of exercise. And last night, I was thinking of bringing Nikki and Ethan with us so they could also see the place and all the people exercising. Oh well, there is always tomorrow...

.....

Yesterday was a surprisingly hot day. The boys were pretty much stuck beside the air conditioning because they didn't want to be too uncomfortable in the heat. Although in the afternoon, they played in the garden with Shiro and mommy took pictures of them. By the time they came back inside the house, they were perspiring and flushed. So after a few minutes' rest, I showered them so they would feel fresh again. Hopefully today would not be as hot as yesterday.

.....

My mom just told me that she DID wake me up this moring but then I did not acknowledge her and so they left me behind. I suppose I was just too tired from lack of sleep that I never felt her wake me. And I usually am a light sleeper so this really came as a surprise. Anyway, I woke up at 607am. Then, waited for 620 and woke Ruther up. I ate breakfast and at around 930, I dozed off while reading a book and awoke at 11am. Now, if that does not tell me that I lack sleep then I don't know what will. =D

LENT IN THE PHILIPPINES (PART 2)

Linggo ng Palaspas

Palm Sunday of the Catholic Holy Week is ushered with a widely- practiced ritual; parishioners wave palm fronds, locally called palaspas, in the air, mimicking the crowd that met Christ upon his return to Jerusalem. Blessings, prayers and Sunday mass follows, in affirmation of the religious nature of this age-old custom.

The Pasyon

The Pasyon refers to the verse narrative on the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ. The pasyon text may be written in Tagalog or in other major Philippine languages, like Pampango, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Bicol, Ilongo, Cebuano, and Waray. There are also pasyon narrative among the Ibanag and Itawes of Cagayan, the Gaddang of Nueva Vizcaya, and the Cuyunon of Palawan.
Among the Tagalog, the most commonly used text is entitled Casaysayan ng pasiong mahal ni Jesucristong Panginoon natin na sucat ipag-alab ng puso ng sinumang babasa (An account of the sacred passion of our Lord Jesus Christ which should inflame the heart of anyone who reads it), which is one of the many later editions of a work by an unknown writer first published in 1814.

Continuous singing of this length is not practiced in the Spanish and Mexican lenten traditions. It relates to the Philippine cultural practice connected with epic singing during important celebrations of the community. The pasyon may also be chanted, though rarely now, during wakes and death anniversaries, as well as during the reenactment of Christ's Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening. There are various melodies and musical styles in the rendering of the pasyon.

Because the text is in 5-line stanzas while melodic phrases tend to be symmetrical, various techniques are employed to reconcile the difference. In a widely used, old Tagalog punto, the first musical phrase encompasses lines 1 and 2, while the second musical phrase covers lines 3, 4, and 5. In adapting folk song melodies or similar tunes, a four-phrase melody is first sung for lines 1 to 4, which is repeated to render lines 2 to 5. Another formula makes a four-phrase melody coincide with lines 1 to 4 and appends a stock melody or standard melodic ending for line five. Generally, pasyon singing is a capella.

Many innovations in pasyon singing have been introduced, like the use of the guitar or rondalla for accompaniment and the use of the accordion by a traveling group of pasyon singers. Singing of the pasyon is performed in two basic group formations. In the first, two people or groups of people sing alternately. In the second formation, each of the singers take their turns in singing a stanza of text.

The pasyon chanting tradition is seen by many of its practitioners as a vow or panata made by an individual or family, which in many cases has been passed on from one to two generations back.

Source: http://www.filipino.com.au/categ/culture/pasyon.htm

SHIRO

EXERCISE!

I woke up really early this morning. I think it was just before 5am. Mommy and Daddy wanted me to go with them because they exercise every morning at a place we call the Grandstand, where there is an oval track and other sports facilities. Since I needed the work-out, I agreed to go so, I had to wake up early. The boys were still fast asleep so I decided against bringing them. They were pretty tired from playing the night before so I let them have their rest. It was still dark when we left the house. I brought some coffee along so I was not too hungry. When we got to the grandstand, mommy paid the guard the entrance fees and Daddy parked the car. When we got to the aerobics area, there were already some people there waiting for the work-out to begin. Mommy was worried that I would not be able to keep up (she knows that I'm not an aerobics person and that I enjoy sports more - as a way of losing weight) so I told her I'll just do my best. Turns out, I didn't have to worry. Although the exercise was intensive, it was not as muscle-crunching as I expected. I had those taebo videos and such and they always left me breathless and really exhausted afterwards. But this one was all right. I loved the arm exercises because I think my arms are in dire need of toning. I think the instructor made the work-out less exhausting to consider the older people in the group. There were around 30 of us doing the work-out by the time the sun rose into the sky. When we were done, it felt really good. Daddy didn't join us but simply did some brisk walking around the oval. After the exercise, Daddy bought us some taho and it was yummy because it was pretty warm in the tummy. On our way home (it was around 630am), we stopped to by some fruits. I think it's a good way to begin the day. After resting a bit at home, I took a bath and really felt great! I think I'll do more aero exercises in the coming days. And pretty soon it will be goodbye 7 kg! =D (Am keeping my fingers crossed!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!

Today is my mom's birthday. She is now 56 years old. How time flies. I could still remember her teaching me and my sis lessons and providing us with lots of books to read. She really is the reason for my love of reading. I could read anything: books, magazines, encyclopedias, newspapers, etc. We have quite a collection of books in our library here at home and our books in Manila have been growing every year as well. I want to inspire Nikki and Ethan to read just the way my mom inspired me. I think I also got my love for arts and crafts from her although my mom is really more into baking and cross-stitching while I like decorative crafts more. My mom was also a very strict teacher. When we were little, she would scold us and correct us if we spoke English improperly or mixed up our sentences with Tagalog words. Yes, very strict. She also enrolled me and my siblings in piano classes (which my brother hated), voice lessons, golf lessons, swimming lessons, art/painting classes and karate (for my brother). She said that she wanted us to be holistic in our learning. =D I think the one thing I really love about my mom is her devotion to family. She was always ready with our needs, always ready to listen, always ready to motivate us, to spur us on, to discover our true selves, to follow our dreams. Yes, I could say that I am who I am because of the love and guidance of my parents. And for that, I think I have the best parents ever.

Happy birthday Mommy! I love you so much!

MOTHER AND SON

Ethan's and my hands. I think this is a wonderful picture.

LENT IN THE PHILIPPINES (PART 1)

Lent is a time when Catholics remember the cruxificion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the Lenten season, numerous Passion Plays are performed as part of the celebrations. People flock to Marinduque to watch the moriones in a spectacular reenactment of the legend of Longinus.

Holy Week

Holy Week is locally called Cuaresma or Semana Santa. The start of Holy Week is Palm Sunday. Catholics carry palm leaves, known as palaspas, to chuch for the priest to bless. Catholics also celebrate Maundy Thursday, attending church services and watching Passion Plays. In one practice called visita iglesia, Catholics try to visit as many churches as they can. On Good Friday, believers in certain areas, such as Manila, San Fernando in Pampanga Province, and Antipolo in Rizal Province, reenact the sufferings and death of Christ in the Cross. Although Good Friday is a somber time, Easter Sunday is a joyful occassion that starts with salubong, where the statues representing the Risen Christ and the Grieving Mother Mary are carried to meet at an appointed place.

Source: Festivals of the World: Philippines

Cuaresma

Lent prepares the Christian for the yearly commemoration of Christ's Death and Resurrection.
Forty weekdays- hence the term cuarsma in Spanish-are given over to prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and abstinence from meat. Christ's forty-day retreat in the desert and his success in resisting the devil's temptation to wealth, power, and glory inspires the Christian.

The month of April marks the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection, what the pious call in the Philippines "Holy Week" or Semana Santa. In contrast to other Christian countries, Filipino Catholics give emphasis on the suffering of Christ, rather than on His resurrection, on the belief that salvation comes at the end.

Religious piety is passionately displayed in different parts of the Philippines, particularly in the provinces where communities go on pilgrimage to as many churches and devotees re-enacting Christ's ordeal through real-life crucifixion under the scorching heat of the sun. Extreme forms of religious practices such as self-flagellation using whips tipped with sharp objects that scar the backs of hooded penitents are some of the rituals that are performed to this day. The penitents are taken down seconds after being nailed to the wooden crosses using 2-inch stainless steel nails soaked in alcohol. These crucifixions take place in the town of San Pedro, Pampanga, north capital of Manila.

Real-life crucifixion are not countenanced by the Catholic Church, but the fine line that separates religious ritual from spectacle is slowly erased as hundreds of tourists troop to this quaint town to witness the tradition in awe and amazement. Such rituals are part of a folk religious culture that has deep roots in a brand of obscurantism that dates back to the Spanish colonial period. Hispanic Filipinos likened the suffering of Christ to their oppression in the hands of their abusive Spanish landlords and friars. Indeed, "Holy Week" encapsulates the Filipino culture of suffering, poverty and illness; it speaks not just of our redemption in the next life, but also our travails of our present life.

But for modern day Filipinos, Holy Week is an opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living to the serene beaches and picturesque landscapes spread across the archipelago. It is also a respite from the snarl of Manila's traffic jams and the din of political campaigning and electioneering that follows the Lenten season.

Source: http://www.filipinoheritage.com/religious/Cuaresma.htm

ON A YOKOHAMA SIDEWALK

ANOTHER PUPPY AND A TRIM?

We have been given another puppy today. I woke up around 930 and the moment I stepped out of the door, a puppy was thrust into my arms. It was given to my mom by a friend. Yes, that's how much we love dogs.

The puppy is a Japanese spitz. He is white and really shy and wants to be carried a lot. My mom was having a hard time coming up with a name so I suggested naming him Shiro, which in Japanese, means white. And it suits him just fine. Mommy said we could bring Choco home with us to Manila since she now has Shiro for Vanilla (the other white puppy). Yipee! We will be bringing Choco home with us in May. I hope he will adjust well there. I think he will make a good pet for the boys and he will teach them to be responsible owners. Right now, they are all over Shiro and could not help themselves from tickling and feeding him. They were funny a while ago when Shiro was sleeping. I told them to be quiet because they were going to wake Shiro and they obeyed me! Ethan was a surprise because he is usually very loud and shrill. But when I put my finger to my mouth to sign "quiet" he simply sat on the bed and watched Shiro sleep. He was so cute!

.....

I think I need to trim my hair a bit. I'm not too happy with the ends right now. I think they look a bit unhealthy. I probably need to change my shampoo as well. My current shampoo does not seem to agree with my hair. I'll ask my mom if she plans on visiting a hair salon soon. If she is, then I'll probably get my hair trimmed then...

MORE THOUGHTS

I hope the renovations in Manila finish in the next few months. It will be hard going back to a messy house again. I also hope that the house gets done nicely. Sometimes, Mama and Papa can change their minds quite easily. The house might end up looking nothing like the blueprints. So far, when we were still in Manila, the workers seem to be doing a quick job. I'm not sure if it is a GOOD job, but it looked okay to me. (But what do I know about construction?)

.....

I have yet to meet my high school classmates. Everybody seems to be busy or our schedules aren't jiving. We were supposed to meet last Sunday but we had mommy's birthday dinner then and they wanted to meet in the evening. So I could not make it. This Sunday is my mom's uncle's 85th birthday celebration and we will be going to the beach for the celebration. Just a bit of reunion and lots of eating. =D So, hopefully, my friends and I could meet up on Saturday. If not, I suppose it'll be the following weekend again.

.....

I think the clothes I brought home to Zamboanga are not enough. I am already running out of clothes to wear. Someone comes to the house to wash and iron the clothes (we usually call them labanderas and they don't use washing machines because they say the machines don't wash the clothes properly or rid them of dirt) but I suppose she comes like twice a week only so I pretty much run out of clothes when it's time to go to town or church or the mall. I suppose I'll have to get probably 2 more blouses next week and maybe a pair of pants as well. Hmm... Have to budget that...

.....

It's funny but summer here in Zamboanga doesn't feel like summer at all. I suppose it's the rains we have been having. I suppose in Manila, it's sweltering now. We usually hang out at the malls to cool off and eat halo-halo or some yummy cold snack. The malls here in Zamboanga aren't as large as the ones in Manila. They are just small buildings and so there is a limited number of stores/places one can go to. But it's okay. Home is home and sometimes, it's nice to just take things slow.

PESANG ISDA

Time for another recipe...


PESANG ISDA JAPANESE-STYLE

1 big fish (dalag, lapu-lapu, bacoco)
2 cloves garlic
1 2-inch ginger
1 medium quartered onion
2 cups rice water
2 knorr fish cubes
peppercorn
2 bunches pechay Tagalog
2 stalks green onion

sauce:
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 small onion, chopped
2 pcs tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp miso
2 tbsp fish stock


Clean and cut the fish into serving pieces. Set aside. Saute the garlic until golden brown. Add in the onion and the ginger and cook until tender. Add the fish, the rice water and season with the fish cubes. Boil for around 2 minutes. Add some peppercorn, pechay leaves and green onion. Continue cooking until the vegetables are tender.

Sauce: Saute the garlic until brown. Add the onion and tomatoes. Cook for 3 minutes. Add the miso and mash the mixture. Add the fish stock (from the pesa stock) and cook for 3 more minutes. Add to cooked fish mixture and serve.

REMINISCING

Hakkeijima, Yokohama, Japan
Such a lovely place...

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

I think it's going to be another rainy day today. This morning, as the boys were playing in their pool (yes, I know, they love the water too much!) I saw thick clouds in the sky. Not only were they thick, but they were all over, I could not see any blueness of the sky. Right now, it's already getting a bit darker so I guess we will have rains in the afternoon or early evening. I'm not complaining. It's nice to have rainy days in the summer...

.....

Ruther and I still talk every night through Skype. It's a good thing we have this or we would have really shocking phone bills (and my dad would have a fit)! During the day, when he's at the office, we email messages to each other. I try not to bother him too much though. Nikki talks to Ruther in the evenings sometimes and he can get really chatty. Ethan on the other hand, can't sit still and longest he could stay in front of the web camera is probably 40 seconds. Sigh...

.....

I have started watching a Korean tv drama titled Lovers in Paris. It's actually a part of my mom's DVD collection and since I'm a sucker for love stories and since I adore Paris (who doesn't?) I thought of watching it. So far, I am enjoying the story. The characters are funny and the story is very much similar to Philippine tv dramas (poor girl meets rich guy, etc). I think it's a very refreshing, funny love story. I am in the third disc and I have around 4 more to go. I'll probably be watching it later when the boys are napping.

PUMPKINS

BUGS IN OUR GARDEN

It has been raining/showering/drizzling these past few days and when the boys and I were at the garden this afternoon, we noticed a lot of these wriggly things around. I read that like earthworms, they come out of the ground when it rains to be able to breathe as the soil gets so clogged with mud and water. Ethan is crazy about these millipedes. Sometimes, in the evening, we see one crawling on the living room floor and Ethan would scream, "A BUG! A BUG!" He is so cute! More on the millipedes below...

....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millipede

Millipedes (Class Diplopoda, previously also known as Chilognatha) are very elongated arthropods with cylindrical bodies that have two pairs of legs for each one of their 20 to 100 or more body segments (except for the first segment behind the head which does not have any appendages at all, and the next few which only have one pair of legs). Each segment that has two pairs of legs is a result of two single segments fused together as one. This class contains around 10,000 species. The Giant African Millipede is the largest species of millipede. These animals are detritivores, slow and nonvenomous; unlike the somewhat similar and closely related centipedes (Class Chilopoda), which can be easily distinguished by their single pair of legs for each body segment. Most millipedes eat decaying leaves and other dead plant matter, moisturizing the food with secretions and then scraping it in with the jaws. However they can also be a minor garden pest, especially in greenhouses where they can cause severe damage to emergent seedlings. Signs of millipede damage include the stripping of the outer layers of a young plant stem and irregular damage to leaves and plant apices.

The millipede's most obvious feature is its large number of legs. In fact, its name is a compound word formed from the Latin roots milli ("thousand") and ped ("foot"). Despite their name, these creatures do not have a thousand legs, although the rare species Illacme plenipes have up to 750.[1] However, common species have between 80 and 400 legs.

Having very many short legs makes millipedes rather slow, but they are powerful burrowers. With their legs and body length moving in a wavelike pattern, they easily force their way underground head first. They also seem to have some engineering ability, reinforcing the tunnel by rearranging the particles around it.

The head contains a pair of sensory organs known as the Tömösváry organs. These are found just posterior and lateral to the antennae, and are shaped as small and oval rings at the base of the antennae. They are probably used to measure the humidity in the surroundings, and they may have some chemoreceptory abilities too.

Some millipede species may be amphibious.

SINGLE WHITE ... STRAND OF HAIR

I was combing my hair the other day and was closely inpecting a few strands ( I always check for split-ends) when I saw this white hair standing out like it's telling me, "Hey, look at me! I'm different!". I quickly plucked it and upon closer inspection, saw that it was completely white from root to tip. Now, I have long hair. I haven't had a haircut for maaany months now. As I stared at the white hair, I wondered, how long did it take for that single strand to be completely white? Hmmm. Might have to research the anwer to this. Unless of course, someone else gives me the answer and spares me the trouble.

Anyway, did you know in the Philippines, there's this superstition that says for every white hair you pluck from your head, you will eventually grow more white hair so old folks advise NEVER pluck those pesky white hair. Now I don't know if that supersition is true but when I find about 10 white strands of hair by next month, I'll let you know.

CHOCO

REALITY (WEIGHT) CHECK

When we were at the supermarket this morning, I was approached by a nice lady who asked if I wanted to have Nikki's height and weight checked. Since I was a bit concerned that he was on the thin side, I agreed and so she took his height and weight. I didn't know that she was going to get my measurements too! So I grudgingly stepped on the weighing scale (my ultimate nightmare!). I won't say how much I weighed but for me, it was a shocker (of course, my weight is ALWAYS a shocker so what else is new?). She also took my height and she gave Nikki's and my measurements to a nice doctor who was seated nearby. After doing the height-weight computations, she said that Nikki was perfectly healthy. I was relieved to hear that. I was worried that he was underweight but turns out he's okay. I, on the other hand, am overweight. Of course, I already knew that but hearing that come from a complete stranger made me realize that I have to lose the extra weight I gained when I was pregnant with Ethan. It was just like, well, a slap on the face. I mean, when my mom tells me to lose weight, I just go, "okay mom... will do..." but I'm not too serious about it. But after the talk with the doctor, I realized that I have to lose around 7 kg to get back to my ideal weight. SEVEN KG!! That's a lot! I know I have to start soon so tomorrow, my first step is to watch everything I eat. Hopefully, I will get to do more exercises with my cousins too and play more badminton in the next few weeks. Ooooooh! Just thinking about those 7 kg makes me so mad! I want to lose them pronto! If only shedding extra weight was sooo easy... Okay, I am giving myself 4 months. That's realistic, right?

MURPHY'S LAW OF PARENTING

I think this is a nice article. =D


Murphy's Laws of Parenting: If it can happen at the wrong time, it will
by Jennifer Saltiel

The other day, I was bundling up my seven-month-old for a stroll in the park. I changed her diaper and put on her onesie, her pants, her sweater, her jacket, her hat and her booties. Then I fastened her into the stroller and neatly tucked a blanket over her little legs. Just as we were heading out the door, I heard the telltale grunting that let me know that she would soon be in need of another diaper change. Ugh! It's one of the Murphy's Laws of Parenting that I have discovered: The minute you've fully dressed your baby, she will poop.

There are other Murphy's Laws of Parenting. Perhaps you too have found your life governed by the following:

• Upon removal of the baby's bib, even after baby has burped, the baby will inevitably spit up.
• Hand-me-down outfits stay perfectly clean. New ones are spit up on.
• Corollary #1: The more the outfit cost, the more the baby will spit up on it.
• Corollary #2: If mother is wearing a ratty old T-shirt, not a drop of drool will come out of baby's mouth. If mother puts on a new cashmere sweater, whammo!
• If baby has been an absolute angel all day while alone with mother, baby will fuss and cry the minute a play date begins.
• The baby will sleep when mother needs her to be awake (like during a music class or when someone has dropped by to see the precious one) and stay awake when mother needs baby to be asleep (for instance, at 10pm when mother wants to go to bed).
• Baby shall always achieve a new milestone, such as rolling over onto her tummy, the minute mother leaves the room. Someone else will witness it, in order that mother may be told how great it was and what a shame it was that she missed it. (I'm sure Emma will say her first word when I am out of earshot.)

I'm sure I could think of more, but I hear my daughter crying in her crib. Normally, she takes a two-hour nap in the afternoon, but today she decided to sleep just a half an hour. Murphy's Law, I tell you!

MY BOYS

BIRTHDAY DINNER

Tonight, we had a birthday dinner for my mom. She is turning 46 on March 29. Even though we had dinner out tonight in celebration, I'm still planning to get her a cake and some flowers on her birthday.

We had the dinner at a family restaurant about 10 minutes away from our home. Since there was a playground for the kids there, the boys had fun too. My cousins, Ritche, Rizza, Hannah and Seldon were invited as well. The food we ate were yummy: sinangag (garlic rice), buttered chicken, lengua estofado, inihaw na isda (roasted fish), fried chicken skin, chopsuey, and buntot. My cousins gave mommy a cake so I took a picture of her with it and she blew the single candle. The chocolate cake was yummy too and even Ethan agreed with me. =D

It was not a great big celebration but at least we were together for her birthday. Since my siblings and I studied college in Manila, we hardly had the time to come back to Zamboanga in March to celebrate my mom's birthday. We usually came home in April when it's summer and school was officially over. So, it's a good thing I'm not working and the boys are homeschooled because we have all the time now to celebrate special family occasions.

Happy Birthday Mommy! I love you!

MORE DOGGIES

These are Queenie (left) and Cookie (right), our dogs in our home here in Zamboanga. Not in the picture are Venus and Oreo.

Queenie really lives up to her name. She thinks she is the queen of the house and pretty much gets away with everything. She is feisty but very loving and is always alert. She is a sweetie.

Cookie forgot about me. He barks at me when I approach him so I try not to stress him too much. One time though, he came near me when I fed some bits of bread to them. When I pretended not to notice him and gave Queenie lots of bread, he quickly gave a sharp bark to remind me that it was his turn. He's so cute! He pretends to hate me but I know pretty soon, I'll be tickling his tummy. There seems to be something wrong with his right front paw but I can't remember if he was born that way. I'll have to ask my mom about that.

Oreo looks a lot like Queenie only he's colored mostly black. He's quite shy so I have a hard time interacting with him. But he's as vivacious as Queenie when I see them play together. He is very cute when he is alert and his ears are all up. I'll take a photo of him next time.

Venus doesn't look like any of the rest. She is brown and shaggy and currently has 2 pups, all boys, one black, the other white. She actually had 3 pups but the littlest one died. We are kind of worried about the white one because it looked abnormally small compared to Choco, the black pup. I hope the white pup won't die. Will take a photo of Venus and post it here next time.

Yup, we love dogs. My sis is not too keen on man's best friend, but the rest of us, yes, we are definitely dog lovers... =D

SUNNY SATURDAY

I surprisingly woke up earlier than usual this morning. Lately, I have been waking at around 930 but this morning, I was up at 8am. I don't know why I'm awake now (when in fact, I'm still yawning and feeling a bit sleepy). But it's all right I guess. The morning is beautiful. The birds are chirping in the nearby tree, I could still hear a few roosters crowing over the south wall, the sun lazily peeks through the tree outside our window and the boys are still so fast asleep. Really nice morning. Okay, where's my coffee?

.....

I have been considering getting a part-time job this summer. I was thinking of teaching at my high school but I still have to do some inquiries. I'll try to call the school on Monday...

I like teaching. It really gives me a lot of satisfaction when I see the boys enjoy learning so much. Hopefully, my patience and dedication will be a plus should I be accepted for a teaching position this summer. =P We'll see. Of course, my main problem will be a babysitter for the boys. I'm not so sure my mom (or dad) will be a willing volunteer. Hehe...

.....

We are having water rationing these days. My mom said that it has been rainless for the past months so here in Zamboanga, there are times when no water comes out of faucets because the local government is trying to promote water conservation. So here in our bathrooms, we have these huge covered containers for water. We have 1 in my mom's room, 1 in another bathroom, 1 in the kitchen and 1 in the bathroom that my sis and I share.

I don't mind the water rationing. I find it reasonable these days. I just wish some people in Manila are just as conscious with their water usage. Sure, I love the occasional shower and at times, the soak in the tub, but I do know not to waste water. Here in Zamboanga, after the boys swim in their pool, we just don't throw the water away. We use it to water the plants, wash the car or bathe the dogs. In some areas in Manila where water is hard to come by, some people store their bath water (they stand in a huge basin and keep the sudsy water for other uses). After bathing, they use the water to wash rags and mops, flush toilets or scrub the garage floor (garages in the Philippines are mostly open). I have even been to rural communities where people do not have faucets and toilets in their homes because they get water from wells so, they have no plumbing. So I really understand the need to save water. Especially when I read about the news on environment issues like pollution, dwindling water supply and such. I guess everyone has to do their part.

EVENTFUL NIGHT

It rained so hard last night. It was around 1230am and I was trying to go sleep with the rain gently pattering outside. I closed my eyes and in a few minutes, the gentle rain became a torrent. The sound was so loud it made me think of a waterfall. I suddenly smelled the familiar scent of wet grass and the clean air. And then, I heard this strange buzzing sound and I opened my eyes. The lights (inside and outside of the house) started to flicker. It was so weird. I heard my mom and dad go out of their room and I also went out to check. Turns out there was some problem with an electrical wiring near the garage and since it was too dark to fix it, my dad said he was going to turn off the main switch (the risk of fire was great). So, it was brownout in our home. Good thing it was not hot or the boys would have been very uncomfortable (and I would have been fanning them all night). I was able to sleep almost immediately after that and when I woke up, I was happy to see the fan doing its job. =D

MARANG

Marang is in season again! Yipee! I really missed this fruit when I was in Manila. I usually see this being sold at the supermarket at SM but it was really expensive. So, I always have second thoughts about buying one. But now that I'm in Zamboanga, I'm soooo glad that it's in season once more. I can really enjoy eating this yummy fruit once again. (If you want to know more about the Marang, just read below.)

I took some photos of the fruit. You could see that the outer covering has small spines on it.

It's really not sharp, just rough. This marang (first photo) is already ripe. You'll know it's ripe when you try to press it a little and it gives a bit. Also, you'll know it's ripe by the sweet smell it emanates. The brownish-green color is another sign of its ripeness as opposed to the green ones (but they ripen in just a few days). When you see a yellowish-green one, it's almost always overripe so it's not a good idea to buy those. Those taste too sweet and are no longer firm but soggy.

This is the inside of the marang (second photo). This fruit is very filling. My mom ate 14 of those white arils and she was stuffed. Of course, we ate this for dessert. My dad and I finished the fruit off with no problems at all. =D

.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marang

The Johey Oak (Artocarpus odoratissimus), also called Marang and Tarap, is a tree related to Jackfruit, Cempedak, and Breadfruit, native to Borneo.

It is an evergreen tree growing to 25 m tall. The leaves are 16-50 cm long and 11-28 cm broad, similar to the Breadfruit's, but are a little less lobed.

As indicated by the scientific name, the fruit has a strong scent. The fruit is delicious, soft flavoured and can be appreciated from the first bite. The fruit is considered superior in flavour to both Jackfruit and Cempedak.

The appearance of the fruit can be regarded as an intermediate shape between the jackfruit and the breadfruit. The fruit is round to oblong, 15-20 cm long and 13 cm broad, and weighing about 1 kg. The thick rind is covered with soft, broad spines. They become hard and brittle as the fruit matures. The fruit does not fall to the ground when ripe. It may be harvested while still hard, and left to ripen until soft. Marangs change colour to greenish yellow when ripe. The ripe fruit is opened by cutting the rind around. Twisting and gently pulling the halves complete the operation. The interior of the fruit is somewhat similar to the jackfruit's, but the colour is whitish. The core is relatively large, but there are fewer "rags" and less non-edible parts. Arils are white and the size of a grape, each containing a 15 × 8 mm seed. Once opened, the marang should be consumed quickly (in a few hours), as it loses flavour rapidly and fruit oxidises. The seeds are also edible after boiling or roasting.

The tree is not cold tolerant (as is the breadfruit). It can grow between latitude 15º north and south, and in coastal regions where temperatures never stay under 7 ºC. It is cultivated for its fruit in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and southern Thailand. The species is largely grown for local consumption; the short shelf-life of the fruit limits its wider use.

PIANO PLAYING

I have been practicing my piano playing these past days. I have already forgotten most of my piano pieces (the ones I played when I was in high school) which is really disappointing. I'm really not a good piano player. I have to practice lessons again and again and when I encounter a new lesson, I usually play it in almost a robotic way (you know, without feelings). I have a hard time reading notes and get really intimated by sharps and flats. So, I usually just tackle the easy piano pieces - for now. I find that when I learn the pieces by heart, I can play it better (and in a less robotic way). =P

This afternoon, I played/practiced Fur Elise (forgot some parts), Somewhere in Time, Ballad Pour Adeline (also forgot some parts), Can You Read My Mind (really easy version so I got it in no time), Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head and Moon River (my current favorite). I plan to learn more pieces later on but for now, I have to polish on these lest I forget them as well.

P.S. How can I make note-reading so much easier? =P

RAINY DAYS

Since we arrived here in Zamboanga, we have experienced rains. It is a bit surprising because it IS summer already and we usually get very little rain during this time. But still, I'm not complaining. It's wonderful to not feel the heat (although we do have an air conditioning unit in the room). I think since we arrived, we have had around 6 days of rain. Today is also dark and the sky, overcast. It already rained last night and it was really refreshing. Hopefully today it will be raining as well.

.....

The boys swam in their pool last night. Yup, last night. We had to go to the supermarket in the afternoon so they did not have time to swim by the time we came back so they swam after we had our dinner. Good thing I left this pool here in Zamboanga when we left last year. Nikki had a lot of fun last night, splashing and playing with his tiny beachball. But Ethan was scared of the night sky and just wanted me to carry him. Eventually, he preferred to stay inside the house. Oh well...

NO CONNECTION

We were having some internet connection problems for the past 2 days. It was really a bummer because 1. I could not Skype with Ruther, 2. I could not update my blog, and 3. I could not check my emails. I could call Ruther using my cellphone instead but of course, that is a costly choice so Skype has always been a blessing for us. I was bugging my dad to follow-up the connection yesterday but still, no luck. And then, more bad luck. The CPU refused to turn on yesterday afternoon! Arggh! Talk about a double jeopardy! But surprise surprise! This morning, when I pushed the "on" button of the CPU it turned on! Hmmm... Something weird is going on around here. My dad says he's sending a technician over to have a look-see but I'm just scared to turn the PC off now! Do you suppose I could just leave it on until we go back to Manila in May? =P

CANDLE

This photo was taken December 2005. =D

WHAT KIDS SAY

http://www.txc.net.au/~mapie/kidsquotes.htm

How Does a Person Decide Who to Marry?
"You flip a nickel, and heads means you stay with him and tails means you try the next one."Kally, age 9
"You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming."Allan, age 10
"No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you got to find out later who you're stuck with."Kirsten, age 10

Concerning the Proper Age to Get Married
"Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then!"Cam, age 10"
No age is good to get married at.... You got to be a fool to get married!"Freddie, age 6

How Can a Stranger Tell if Two People are Married?
"Married people usually look happy to talk to other people."Eddie, age 6
"You might have to guess based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids."Derrick, age 8

What Do You Think Your Mom and Dad Have in Common?
"Both don't want no more kids."Lori, age 8

What Do Most People Do on a Date?
"Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough."Lynnette, age 8
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date."Martin, age 10

What the Children Would Do on a First Date That Was Turning Sour
"I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns."Craig, age 9

When is It Okay to Kiss Someone?
"When they're rich!"Pam, age 7
"The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that."Curt, age 7
"The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them.... It's the right thing to do."Howard, age 8

The Great Debate: Is It Better to Be Single or Married?
"I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing ... I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out!"Theodore, age 8
"It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need somebody to clean up after them!"Anita, age 9
"Single is better ... for the simple reason that I wouldn't want to change no diapers... Of course, if I did get married, I'd figure something out. I'd just phone my mother and have her come over for some coffee and diaper-changing."Kirsten, age 10

What Advice Do You Have for a Young Couple About to Be Married?
"The first thing I'd say to them is: 'Listen up, youngins ... I got something to say to you. Why in the heck do you wanna get married, anyway?'"Craig, age 9

What Promises Do a Man and a Woman Make When They Get Married?
"A man and a woman promise to go through sickness and illness and diseases together."Marlon, age 10

How to Make a Marriage Work
"Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck!"Ricky, age 7
"If you want to last with your man, you should wear a lot of sexy clothes.... Especially underwear that is red and maybe has a few diamonds on it."Lori, age 8

Getting Married for a Second Time
"Most men are brainless, so you might have to try more than one to find a live one."Angie L., age 10

How Would the World Be Different if People Didn't Get Married?
"There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?"Kelvin, age 8
"You can be sure of one thing - the boys would come chasing after us just the same as they do now!"Roberta, age 7

VANILLA

Meet our new puppy Vanilla. She will be joining us in a month since she is still too young to leave her mother. My aunt gave her to us. Isn't she cute?

BEING HOME

It has been very peaceful staying here in Zamboanga. During our few days stay here - 3 days actually - the boys have been running around, playing, laughing and just being themselves. It's nice to see them so uninhibited. Nikki has really grown to like Zamboanga. When I asked him what place he liked more, Manila or Zamboanga, he said he liked Zamboanga better. I think it's because of the big space, the bonding with my mom and dad, and just the feeling of peacefulness. Really, you would not feel the hustle and bustle of Manila here. This city is laidback, a really "go at your own pace" kinda place.

.....

We went out this afternoon to buy some bread. Ethan loves the bread here in Zamboanga beause they are soft, sweetish and crusty. We usually buy the monalisa/monay. But this afternoon, daddy bought some cheesebread as well and eggpie for me. I love the eggpie here. It's really creamy with just the right sweetness. Ethan loved the chesebread, he ate 3. Mom and dad were happy about that. Nikki is not a bread lover. When I asked him to try the bread, he said, "That's Ethan's bread." Sigh...

.....

It's nice to be bonding with mom and dad again. It's nice to come home regularly (we try to come home every year). I love spending time with mom and dad and to see my high school friends. It's really a nice feeling knowing you have a wonderful place to go back to...

BACK IN JAPAN?

Well, whaddya know? They have Calpis Water here too! =D

I bought this bottle at SM for approximately P150. Not bad... The cashier at SM, upon seeing the bottle and scanning it, asked me, "Ano 'to, sabon?" ("Is this soap?") When I told her it was a drink, she showed an expression like it was a weird drink that she wouldn't think of touching much less drinking. Hehehe...

BACK IN ZAMBOANGA

We're here! We arrived at Zamboanga Terminal at around 720 in the morning. It was raining so I missed the sunrise. Too bad... Anyway, it was absolutely terrible at Manila Domestic Terminal. When we arrived there, the line OUTSIDE the building was sooo long. Turns out that everybody had to show their tickets and IDs as well. But it was soooo slow (only 2 guards were checking) that we barely made it to the check-in counter. It was sooo irritating that no priority at all was given to people with kids, the elderly or people with disabilities. I want to complain about this to someone. Hmmm. I'll check the hotline or textline. It was such a horrible experience. By the time we got to the check-in counter, the sign posted there said "closed" (but we were there at 5am, an hour before our departure). I nearly freaked but someone assisted me. Then, when we were going to board, I found out that we were seated at the back of the plane! We were assigned to the last seats!!! Sigh. Terrible. Note to self: Never fly on a weekend if possible. This was so much worse than flying during Christmas vacation. I hope this won't happen to me and the boys again...

.....

My mom and dad were really happy to see the boys again. They have been bonding with them the whole morning and I think, are planning all sorts of activities for them. I am glad that we came home. It's nice to see Mommy and Daddy so happy.

I also noticed that every year we come home, Mommy and Daddy are growing older and older. It affects me somewhat because my parents are always such fun-loving, lively people. I hate to see them getting on in their years because well, I would want them to be with me and my siblings for as long as possible. I know I'm thinking weird thoughts again (Ruther believes I think a lot which is not so good) but well, I just got affected about the idea of death. I am just glad that we get to see them so often and that I have the luxury of doing that. I love them so much!

.....

I barely had enough sleep from last night. I think I slept around 1am and had to get up at 3. So when we arrived here in Zamboanga, I just ate a quick breakfast and then slept until 1230. Even the boys slept along with me. They were good boys during the plane ride. I'm so proud of them. =D

ANOTHER PLANE RIDE

We are all set for tomorrow. Our flight is at 6am so we have to leave the house at 4. Good thing the airport is just a few minutes away and we don't have to wake up soooo early to get ready. The flight will be around an hour and a half long so hopefully, the boys won't be too impatient. I already prepared some crayons, toys and food for them just in case they need any of those. It will be so nice to go back home. I will get to meet my high school friends again and just bond with my mom and dad. We plan to stay for 2 months. I hope I won't die of boredom there since Zamboanga is not as busy, as large and as establishment-packed as Manila. It's really just a small city; half-rural, half-urban. But I'm sure that when I see the sunrise when we touchdown at the airport, it will be like going home all over again.

AT THE PLAYGROUND

I took photos of Ethan and Nikki when we went to the nearby playgrond the other day. They had a lot of fun and I was pleased with the way Nikki conversed with other kids and adults. He is getting to be such a big boy now.

PACKING ONCE MORE...

I'm almost done packing for our trip home to Zamboanga. The 2 bags are almost full and I have yet to buy the pasalubong. Tomorrow, the boys and I will be going to SM again to buy some of Mommy's orders and I think I need to buy the boys a new inflatable pool. Their old pool has so many holes in it it deserves some rest for now. I want to buy a bigger pool so I could sit in it too and maybe let some of my friends' kids over for a pool party. =D That would be so cool.

.....

Looking at Nikki and Ethan, I must say, I really love their color now. They look sun-kissed and perfectly tanned. Nikki does not look pale (he has a blood disorder) any longer and looks really healthy now. He still takes his folic acid frequently and when we get home, he'll get a CBC just so we could check his hemoglobin count. But I'm not worried. He's been very active lately.

.....

I can't wait to go home and play the piano again. I would loooove to play the piano everyday but we don't have one here in Manila. I have been searching for affordable secondhand pianos but no such luck. I have already forgotten some of my piano pieces and it really takes forever for me to remember them again. I'm planning to learn a new piece during the 6 months we'll be in Zamboanga. I'll be teaching Nikki some introductory piano lessons as well. I taught him how to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" the other day and he immediately got it (although he only uses one finger). Hopefully, after summer, he'll learn -and play- more easy rhymes. =D

.....

I have been eating mangoes almost everyday. So far I have only eaten one that was a bit sour. All the rest have been deliciously sweet and I love it! The mangoes make a great dessert, snack, drink, etc. I hope the mangoes last way after summer ends. I wish...

HALO-HALO

Halo-halo (from Tagalog halo, "mix") is a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice, milk, and sugar, to which is added various sweet beans and fruits, and generally served cold in a tall glass.

There is no specific recipe for this dessert, and a wide variety of ingredients are used. The order in which the ingredients are added varies widely, but generally it is mixed together prior to serving. Primary ingredients include red mung beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, sugar palm fruit (kaong), coconut sport (macapuno), and plantains. Other components may include jackfruit (langka), star apple, tapioca or sago, nata de coco, purple yam (ube) or sweet potato (kamote), sweetened corn kernels or pounded crushed rice (pinipig), flan or custard, and gelatin. Other fruits, such as papayas, avocados, kiwifruit, or cherries, may also be added. Some preparations also include ice cream on top of the halo-halo.

Generally, condensed milk or evaporated milk is used instead of fresh milk, due to the tropical climate of the Philippines. (source: wikipedia)

THE AMAZING RACE (ALL-STARS)

I watched the latest episode last Monday. When it got to the "detour", Rob and Amber had a difficult time with the task and all because Rob misspelled "Philippines". He spelled it as "Phillipeans". I know not many people know about the Philippines but this was the first time I ever saw my country spelled that way. The most common mistake is usually doubling the letter "L". Spelling it as "Phillipeans" makes me think like we belong to a country named Phillip (you know, like the Galileans, Canadians, etc.) It was kinda sad/disappointing that Rob and Amber were eliminated in that last episode. They were very competitive and really played hard. But it's okay. I think these 2 got a lot of media exposure since Survivor and I think other teams deserve the attention and glory (for a change). So, goodbye Rob and Amber. And don't forget, it's "P-h-i-l-i-p-p-i-n-e-s". =D

WONDERFULLY PHILIPPINE-MADE

Hand-carved doors in Bulacan...

REMINISCING...

I met up with a college classmate of mine yesterday at Robinson's Place Manila. We have been meaning to meet (we planned it last year but it never happened!) and since I will be heading for Zamboanga this Saturday, we thought, we better get it over with rather than put it off for a few more months. So, okay, we decided to meet yesterday.

We left the house at 10am and it was traffic!! We got to Robinson's at around 11:30am and we headed for Playbox, the play center for kids on the 3rd floor. Nikki has been been to Playbox several times for the past years and he loves it so much he calls all the play centers "playbox". =D

Anyway, I left the boys there and met up with my friend M at Mexicali. I wanted to eat at Sbarro because I love the baked ziti there but M was craving for Mexican food, so okay. We started chatting and talking about our lives, or plans, our families (M is still single) and our past. We got to talk about our former classmates and then we were talking about how our close friends from before drifted from us after we graduated. M belonged to another circle of friends and I belonged to another group. But now, M and I are closer than my own circle of friends in college. It's really funny how you discover your true friends later on in life. My college friends and I have not really stayed close. We do communicate still and I email friends from time to time but it's different now. There's some sort of formality in the exchanges. But my high school classmates and I are really TRUE friends. Even if we don't see each other for 4-6 years, the moment we are together, it's just as if we saw each other yesterday. No pretences, no weird silences. It's just as if we were in high school still; the chattering, the jokes, the stories, the noise are endless. We could still talk about anything under the sun and we could share anything with each other. I suppose it's also because I've known these girls since I was 5. From then, the friendships formed just took root and despite our status, location (some of them are scattered all over the world) and situation, we still are true to each other. And I love that I still have true friends until now. And I hope that I will discover more true friends in the future...

ETHAN AND HIS FLOATIE

Hahaha! =) Ethan is so cute!

FUN IN THE SUN

We had loads of fun yesterday when we went to 8 Waves. It was kinda far (it took 2 hours to get there) but it was a nice place so we didn't mind the ride. The boys played and swam and just enjoyed the water so much! I had fun too and that's all that counts. Nikki wants us to go back there again and I told him, next time, we will. =D

.....

Now that we are back in the Philippines, I told myself that I will never complain about the heat here no matter how sweltering it becomes. I really really really would rather be hot here than be cold in Japan. I know, it takes some getting used to, but really, I'm a summer person and I love the sun and its warmth. So, hooray for summer!!

.....

I finally got my new cell phone. It's not as high end as other phones in the market but I'm pleased with it. I am after all just a stay-at-home mom; how high tech should I get? So, I settled for a really pretty Samsung E690 phone. I love it because it has a clamshell design and the color is a cute metallic red (although the brochure said it was "pink"). My brother-in-law wanted me to get a 3G phone, but I decided against it because 1. I won't be using it often; 2. I read some reviews that some 3G phones usually have a short battery life, and 3. it's not in my budget. Anyway, after several minutes of searching, I found this phone and it was just right for me. It cost P8,600. But when I was going to pay for it, the woman gave me a discount and I only paid P8,200. Cool, huh. =D I'm still unsure with what to do with my old cellphone. I might sell it, I might keep it. I'll decide later on. For now, I have yet to study the manual since I'm still unaware on how to use my new phone. But yes, I really really love it so, yay!

WALK TALL, WALK STRONG

Using proper walking form will allow you to hit the streets (or paths or treadmill) daily without strain or pain. Here's how:

1. Walk with your head up.
2. Think about keeping your cheekbone directly above your collarbone. This ensures that your shoulders do not fall forward.
3. Allow your shoulders to relax down.
4. Lift your chest.
5. Bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
6. Keep your upper arms in close to your body.
7. Don't clench your fists.
8. Roll smoothly from your heels to your toes with every step.
9. Avoid long strides. Instead, think of taking quick steps.

source: Family Circle magazine, February 2006

FUN AT 8 WAVES

8 Waves Waterpark, Bulacan

Nikki and Ethan love the water...

Lunch: crispy pata, beef caldereta, chicharon and chopsuey. Yummy!!

Going around the park... taking pictures...

Spray pool...

Ethan is a bit sleepy and I'm still a bit wet (well, my bikini top underneath my shirt is).

Ethan plays for a bit before we head home...

Goodbye 8 Waves! We had fun!

8 WAYS TO BE GOOD TO YOUR HEART

My mom always tells me to be careful of my health. She keeps on reminding me and my siblings to eat right and to exercise. She and my dad exercise every morning and eat lots of fruits and vegetables (although my dad loves to eat fish a lot!). I hope in the future, when I'm in my 40s, I could be as health-conscious as they are.

I got this article in a magazine. Maybe it's just right to take some time to focus on ourselves for a change. =D


8 Ways to Be Good to Your Heart

1. Check your genes. You've got a 20-50% risk for heart problems.
2. Kick butts. Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart attacks in women under 45.
3. Run some diagnostics. Assess your heart disease risk.
Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Blood glcose
Other screenings
4. Take some measurements. Calculating your body mass index (BMI) determines whether you're at a healthy weight for your height.
5. Feed your heart. Eat a portion-controlled diet that's low in saurated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and simple carbohydrates, and high in fruits and vegetables, lean meats, beans, fiber-rich whole grains and unsaturated fats, like those found in nuts, olive oil and wild-caught salmon.
6. Get physical. The more you move, the healthier you'll be.
7. Make time for rest and relaxation. Women under high stress have more than double the risk for heart- and stroke-related deaths compared to women with low stress in their lives.
8. Get in tune with your emotions. Women's heart attacks are usually triggered by emotional stress.

SUMMER

Summer, summer, summer. Tomorrow we're planning to go to 8waves, a waterpark in Bulacan. We have been there twice last year (summer too) and the boys had a blast! This time, there will be more of us: me, the boys, my sis, Russell and Ron (my brothers-in-law). Since the place is pretty far, we'll have to leave the house at 7am to make it in time for their opening at 9am. I'll have to prepare the bag today. I hope I won't forget anything. I'm so excited to be having this fun trip! =D

.....

I bought a new swim suit for myself. I do have a one piece bathing suit but I wanted something nicer this time. When I saw a cute pink one at the mall, I just had to buy it. Plus, it's reasonably priced (only P500+). I'll probably wear some shorts over the bottom (my tummy has not gone back to it's usual firmness since I got pregnant) but I'll definitely flaunt the top. =D

.....

I love my long hair. Now that we're back home, it has gone back to its shiny, bouncy self. I suppose all the cold and static made my hair weird back in Japan. I trimmed the ends the other day and decided to keep it long for a few more months. Many have been saying that I look nice with long hair. So all right, I'll keep it just a little bit longer. =D

HOMEMADE BODY MOISTURIZER

I got this from Family Circle magazine. Will say if it works. =D

In a spray bottle, combine 2/3 cup distilled water with 1/3 cup mineral oil. Add a few drops of essential oil. Spritz all over after showering and rub it in.