Early Morning Treat

Daryl is home at last! He and his classmates went to Laoag then to Vigan for an out of class (for Geog) activity last two days ago.

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Look at what he got for us from Vigan.

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Vigan longganisa are more garlicky than sweet.  But I love it with fried egg, tomatoes, fried rice and Pinoy Kurat (spiced tuba vinegar). Yum!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="fresh tomatoes, no salt"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="simple but yummy garlic rice"][/caption]

While Papsie was cooking the longganisa in small amount of water with no cooking oil (the oil that comes from these longganisas becomes the one that will fry them), I was starving.  Who would not be when they look great over the fire and when they're already cooked?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="while they are being cooked"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="the finished product about to be gobbled"][/caption]

Daryl had fun.  He also brought home muscovado and a set of special bibingka.

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Of Pills and Workouts

It is astonishing that the so called diet pills are abounding in the net and there are even those claimed as the best diet pills for women.  But as I have always said, when I am asked what I will choose between pills and workouts, I always choose the hard way - working out!

Most of the time, I do morning workouts but I learned that evening workouts are preferable because they boost metabolism and they burn calories after a heavy dinner.  I think I am going to try this because it is always hard to get up early and I might be losing some benefits of a healthy sound sleep.

The disadvantage of having a gastrointestinal disorder is what I fear with diet pills.  My intestines are always sensitive that a slight disturbance and a foreign matter would cause LBM (excuse me for the word  :-D  ).

Both diet pills and workouts require managing one's diet anyway.  It is the seemingly influx of energy that I always like with workouts.  I will not be experiencing that with diet pills as I only need to sit and wait for the effects.

Photohunt: Mostly Black

Photohunt's theme is Mostly Black.  The photo above was taken last year during a brownout.  The children played with the lights of their cellular phones while one of them took photos.  There is no need to tell that the photo is mostly black.  It's pretty obvious.  :-D

Photohunters, enjoy the hunt!

Colon Cleansing to Remove Mucoid Plaque

What is a colon? Why is a cleanse colon procedure necessary?

The colon is the part of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum; it extracts moisture from food residues before they are excreted.  From Wikipedia, it is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates ; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided (largely bacteria) fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a major role in absorption of foods and nutrients. However, the colon does absorb water, potassium and some fat soluble vitamins.

Experts say that colon cleansing is very important to remove the mucoid plaque from the colon.  One can start by fasting and then a procedure involving supplements.

Using the Head

While I contemplate on how to reduce belly fat - what to choose between work-out and pills or between the hard or easy way - I came to a conclusion that a large part of results in our lives come from discipline.

Last Wednesday, a worker in one of the plants in the company where I work went missing.  Speculations include the possibility of accident, and worst, murder by criminals.  All forms of monsters lurk in the street when night falls and who knows what could have happened?

The guy was found behind bars on Friday afternoon.  The borrowed motorcycle he used to send another co-worker home killed a 73 yr old man when he wasn't able to balance the motorcycle as he was climbing the slope of a path.  The old man was crossing the path and was hit and dragged when the motorcycle dropped down the slope.  Guy M had a head injury, too.  He was put behind bars facing multiple charges.

All of us wishing for him to be safe before were thinking now of the benefit of him not coming alive out of the mess.  It may sound cruel but to live and face such a very complicated situation makes him a walking dead.  The agony of the whole thing for his family, especially to his wife and kids, is unbearable.  Even if I am not witnessing what is transpiring now in his life, I am sure of the pain that they are enduring.

But as the old saying goes, if there is life, there is hope.  Maybe there will be good that will come out of it all.  But I am sure that he had learned his lesson very well that there are always consequences to a wrong-doing, that before plunging into anything, use the head.

And back to reducing belly fat, similar things are running in my head.  I had not considered on exercises, or work-outs, or drills, to be physically fit.  Maybe because I am a working mom and there are many things to pencil in to draw at least a happy life if not a perfect one.  But there are always consequences, as mentioned. In my case, a bloated body and belly to trim.

Photohunt: Silhouette

[caption id="attachment_2505" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Who is that boy?"][/caption]

I love the most recent theme for Photohunt.  Silhouettes always fascinate me.  They give that mystery behind the dark shadows.

On Valentine's Day

Let us partake of love's
sweet taste
Let us swamp ourselves
in love's care
Again and again, feel
my embrace,
my kisses,
my love.

Let me drown in your tenderness,
my love.
Let us for a while forget
this world.

Let us partake of love's
nectar
and live in its
sweet taste
forever.

Love is corny, according to you.  But according to you, too, this is the reason why it is so nice to feel love.  Just like ingredients, being corny is one of the ingredients of a sweet and good love.

We do not utter our love like this.  We just usually say "I love you".  It comes with a touch on the head, and of course, a touch here and there.  :-D  It also comes with a wink that usually has an intense meaning to it.  It also comes with a passionate glare which meaning I know too well.  It comes most of the time with a kiss, or with kisses, some are feather-like, some flaming.

A day does not end without telling me that I am loved, or making me feel that I am.  Do we not get so bored with each other? So used to each other's words, touch and presence?  I do not think so.  You are not only my other half.  You are more than being half of my life.  And I hope I am to you, too.

Happy Heart's Day, dearest!

Photohunt: Education

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Above is a picture of son Daryl's friends gathered for a meeting of their organization. Organizations in their university enhance their social skills, and their abilities. Meeting people and getting to know and learn from them makes it more interesting. I had never seen my children so interested in joining and participating for the sake of education empowerment.

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This is a picture in one of those English classes Kay had attended. The professor was once a news anchor in one of today's famous teevee stations.

Today's Photohunt is about education. It is quite a challenging theme for me. How about you? How do you find it?

You can check the others here and here.

Not Yet Ready

From the first day she had a boyfriend when she's still in high school, people tell me and my daughter that I will soon be a grandma or she will soon get married (as if a young girl can marry that young). There were even relatives who bravely asked when she will marry.  Of course, this irked my daughter.

I know that the thought of having a baby out of wedlock, or marrying early is not a far-fetched idea for most people who sees a young girl walking side by side with her young boyfriend.  Admittedly, it crossed my mind.  Even with a beautiful ergo baby carrier, the idea is not appealing to me though.

Photohunt: Fashion

[caption id="attachment_2466" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="daughter Kay"][/caption]

Because today's Photohunt theme is fashion, I share this photo.   This pair of big eyeglasses does not look good to everybody but it fitted Kay well.  Fashion-only eyeglasses can enhance the look and outfit but they also have to suit the shape of the face.

Fine Linens on a Cold Night

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Sleep is heavenly when there are fine linens and pillows to slumber on.  It does not necessarily require Sferra linens.  But if you have the cash, and want to experience these handcrafted linens and pillows, then maybe it's worth the try.  How can they not be when this 100% Italian Egyptian sateen sheet costs almost PhP 8,000 and a pair of pillows almost PhP 4,000?

Cheap Car Insurance

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THE CAR

Our car is an old model.  That is why the cheap car insurance.  Not that I am complaining because there is no need to (it is a very useful car for us).  What I am trying to say is we cannot avail of the comprehensive insurance because it is already an old model car and not a vintage car.

We have the CTPL insurance, meaning, compulsory third party liability insurance.  It is a requirement for old model cars.  The third party is the owner of the vehicle.  The liability will be the financial obligation for the bodily injury or harm to the third party.  This also includes death.

A Prom Dress for a Debut?

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Anything from the collection of Jovani prom dresses would look great on my daughter on her 18th birthday last 2008.  I was thinking of a one-shoulder satin mini length dress with sequins, beads and flowers.  But flowers on a dress is a big no-no for her.  I was also thinking of a strapless square tulle mini length dress with a full skirt in an empire waistline.  I know it would be perfect for her.  But not with a fuchsia or pink color.

Conference Calls - How I Wish!

Conference calls can spice up phone conversations with family, relatives and friends.  Imagine talking or conversing through the phone with more than one caller.  The juiciest conversation will go unending because it would be like talking personally to more than one of your family members, or relatives, or friends.  If you are bored at home, you just call a number and you will be connected to conversations with other callers.  Isn't this amazing?