Before, I thought life would be a whole lot easier if you have somebody to lean on or it would be nice and rewarding feeling if somebody depended on you that much. But that was actually before.

I can see home shattered because one felt so exhausted being the sole breadwinner of a bigger family. I can see friendship shattered because one friend is too co-dependent to the other.

It is not really bad if you have someone to depend on in times of need or somebody depended on you when they are in need. But what is unbearable is if that someone doesn't know how to take responsibility to himself as well as to others. If that someone don't value "shared-responsibility" and instead became a burden to others, that's what make things or the situation bad. If the person become selfish and to self-centered, that's where and how the conflict will start.

So as an individual, we should have our stand. We should have learned the value of sensitivity, looking after the other and not just minding ourself.

That is also called, COMMON SENSE.

There's a line in a song that goes, "shame on YOU if you fool me once, shame on ME if you fool me twice"- of course most of us are familiar of the song Life Goes On by LeeAnn Rimes.

What did the song imply? It's too heavy to handle actually. It's a song of a girl who fall in love for the wrong person but eventually realized the dilemma she's been through.

Unfortunately, not all madly in love individual have the same realization because there are still those who choose to continue to live in stupidity (sorry for the word), those who choose pain over common sense.

If you are involved with the WRONG person- don't hold on, you must stop it before you lose your sanity. Never allow that person to hurt you over and over again- that is called SELF-RESPECT.

Have you tried going to the market with no particular list on what to buy then you saw fruits and veggies on sale then out of compulsion, you bought and brought it home but could not figure out what to do with it because, in the first place, you really is not good in cooking?

Well, it happened to me most of the time. I once brought ingredients for Chicken Tinola (minus the chicken) and I just put it inside the refrigerator then days passed by it all dried up and gone to waste- what a waste of money! This often happens for busy working Moms like me. That feeling of having all the will but not the power to do it by yourself because you are just too tired to work in the kitchen after an all days work!

Somehow I learned my lesson from all those waste. I learned not to buy out of compulsion anymore. I see to it that once I bought something for meals, I should have enough time to prepare for it to avoid the same mistakes again. That is why I preferred buying ingredients during weekends so I have enough time to cook.

The ready-made food in the bottle is also a big help for busy Moms like me. That Spanish sardines in a bottle can be a better option. However, I minimize buying processed food because of preservatives, not unless it's chili sauce because I knew for sure that it has no preservatives at all just like Dandom's Chili Sauce. Talking about chili sauce, here's another thing, instead of making your own, why not trust it to the experts? In that way, you could free yourself from the hustle of grinding and estimating the taste of your sauce? My colleague once bought a kilo of fresh chilies because she wanted to make her own chili sauce but failed to do it because, yes, she doesn't have the luxury of time. The ending? she just threw all those dried-up chilies- just like throwing away her money because chilies are quite expensive.

The Original Dandom's Chili Garlic Sauce

So, a piece of advice from a not-so-good cook Mom like me? Spare yourself from the hustle- you want chili garlic sauce? Why not try Dandom's homemade Chili and garlic sauce? It is made from fresh chilies and fresh garlic, plus you can be assured that it is of superb quality and savory flavor because the maker herself is a licensed food technologist. How do I know? She's a good friend of mine and I could really vouch for her expertise!

Where to find them? Check their website at https://www.dandoms.com.

What is your stand on Reproductive Health Bill? Are you caught in between?

This has become a hot issue in the previous years. People on Congress were on hot debate regarding this matter, some even took one's opinion personally. The Church stressed out their defiance against the RH Bill. If you have gone through the full text of House Bill No. 5043, I am pretty sure you have now your stand. I didn't go through the whole issue, I just read the different opinions from those who were able to read it. Some made a responsible opinion while others don't. I really don't know if CORRUPTION has something to do with this. 

My attention was caught on Sec. 12 of the said bill which has the following provisions:

SEC. 12. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education. – Recognizing the importance of reproductive health rights in empowering the youth and developing them into responsible adults, Reproductive Health Education in an age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to Fourth Year High School. In order to assure the prior training of teachers on reproductive health, the implementation of Reproductive Health Education shall commence at the start of the school year one year following the effectivity of this Act. The POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall formulate the Reproductive Health Education curriculum, which shall be common to both public and private schools and shall include related population and development concepts in addition to the following subjects and standards:

a. Reproductive health and sexual rights;

b. Reproductive health care and services;

c. Attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health;

d. Proscription and hazards of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

e. Responsible parenthood.

f. Use and application of natural and modern family planning methods to promote reproductive health, achieve desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies;

g. Abstinence before marriage;

h. Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other, STIs/STDs, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other gynecological disorders;

i. Responsible sexuality; and

j. Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services.

In support of the natural, and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth, the POPCOM shall provide concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the age-appropriate topics and manner of teaching reproductive health education to their children.

In the elementary level, reproductive health education shall focus, among others, on values formation.

Non-formal education programs shall likewise include the abovementioned reproductive Health Education.

I just don't know if teaching such a subject to young elementary students will make a good impact. I am not even sure if they will be able to comprehend such topic. Let's take into consideration item f, the use and application o natural and modern family planning methods... I don't think they will really be able to grasp the importance of such topic when all they could think of was how Spongebob was able to do some tricks on Patrick. Their mind are completely oblivious on this kind of issue. 

I do not know how the Congress and the President himself will be able to deal with this issue... The bill isn't really that bad but I guess it needs to be reviewed once and for all. They should weigh things out before coming up with final decision. Above all, they should take the Biblical truths into consideration.

If you happen to relate with those people who get bullied for being single then this message is for you. DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. Some were just trying to make fun out of your situation but you don't need to get affected by them. Never rush into something that you are not sure about simply because you get pressured by your peers.

I have more than one colleague who is still single in their 30's. We do sometimes teased them just for fun but we never encouraged them to do suicidal moves just to please everyone- it's their life and it's their choice. Though I have this one friend who is in a relationship for quite some time already and I do encourage them to settle down considering their age and their future family if they thought of having kids.

But seriously, marriage is a decision that needs thorough consideration by both parties. Unlike before, marriage is not about urges anymore. Most young couples now reconsider their capacity and capabilities of building a family of their own. Some were even building houses before building homes. But in my own opinion, I do not go for living together prior to marriage. As much as possible, that situation should not be tolerated. Practical as it may seem, but never make it a norm. Yes, we are already in the modern era, in post millennial time, but would that mean we are going to erase chastity and dignity in the book of vocabulary?

That doesn't make sense.

    No matter how good or reliable you are in your work but you ignore taking any steps for your professional growth, you will remain always at the bottom. Chances are, you will be working like a horse and your take-home pay cannot even compensate for all the stress that your work has caused you. This is the reality in my beloved Philippines. No wonder many professionals opted to work abroad where all their hard work and efforts are fairly compensated.

    As for me, I have no other choice but to embrace the system. At work, I always felt so exhausted with all those works piling on my table considering the multitasking that I have to do. I cannot leave my work and go abroad because I don't want to leave my family here. Thus, I am left with no choice other than to pursue my Master's Degree. Yes, I have already earned 30 units but I need to earn more in order to hit their goal and eventually apply for Teacher 3 (Currently I am still Teacher 1), Yes, you heard it right, earning a Master's Degree is not even a guarantee that you will be promoted right away because you need to apply for it- which means, you need to compile all the necessary documents to earn it.

    As of now, I have enrolled in 6 units and I really find it so difficult to work and study at the same time. But I am always praying for God's wisdom and strength that I could make it through! Good thing I have my sister who helped me with the expenses for my studies.

New Year, new hope.

The pandemic is still on but let us remain resilient with the situation. We cannot control the pandemic but we can manage to remain calm amidst anxieties. Together, let us all pray for a safer, better 2021.

What awaits us this year? It depends on our daily undertakings, our daily decisions, and our daily choices. If 2020 brought us into tears, then maybe we can do something to change our 2021. What occurs in 2020 that brings us down must mold us to stand up and look forward. As long as we live, we are up for better chances-just keep the faith. If we survived 2020, there must be a reason and that reason should be good enough for us to go on- to persevere and to face life amidst adversity with hope and greater faith in God.

Happy New Year everyone!

Skin that is not healthy and cared for tends to age more quickly. However, taking care of your skin is not just a matter of vanity. Your skin provides a protective function in preventing disease. Therefore, when your skin is not healthy, it puts the rest of your body at risk as well. Here are some tips for keeping your skin healthy and beautiful.

1. Use the Right Products

Your skin produces oils to protect it and keep it soft and moist. When you use harsh soaps, it can strip away these oils and leave your skin vulnerable. Instead, use mild cleansers and moisturizers to protect the natural oils and keep your skin hydrated. You can buy these products packaged in their own sachets Hoboken NJ.

2. Know Your Skin Type

The products that you need depend on the type of skin you have. Some people have excessively oily skin, while other people have skin that tends to dry out. Some people have combination skin that is oily in some areas and dry in others. Knowing the type of skin you have can help you choose products specifically formulated for that type.

3. Guard Against the Sun

The sun, or more specifically, the ultraviolet radiation it produces, is one of your skin's worst enemies. If you've seen how inanimate objects fade, crack, and peel in the sun, you can imagine what it is doing to your skin. You can protect yourself by staying in the shade as much as possible, wearing clothing and accessories that cover your skin, and wearing sunscreen whenever you go outdoors.

4. Don't Smoke

While ultraviolet radiation is harmful to your skin, sunlight itself can be beneficial in other ways, such as helping your body produce beneficial vitamin D. Since tobacco smoke offers no health benefits and can damage your skin in several ways, it may actually be your skin's arch-nemesis. Smoking can contribute to wrinkles in various ways. It also damages the blood vessels in your skin and puts you at risk for skin cancer.

I just wanna thank God for sparing us from the mad fire last Wednesday, October 28, 2020. I felt sad for all my neighbors who lost their homes. Indeed, life is more precious than any materials in the Earth. I'm just glad no lives were taken.

Sometimes a house, no matter how much it is loved, needs a refresh in the decorating department. New home decorations can be luxurious and expensive, but they can also be simple and affordable. Here are five ideas to refresh your home this year.

Simple and Affordable: Plant Life

Seasonal plants and fresh flowers Granville NY give homes of all shapes and sizes a new brightness. Plants and flowers look wonderful in any room of the house that need color.

Luxurious and Expensive: Paint

A great way to update the entirety of your home in one swoop is to freshen its paint job. Choose something in a warm, neutral shade to ensure its value and update its overall look at the same time.

Simple and Affordable: Vintage Decorations

Although some vintage pieces can be very expensive (think armoires, chandeliers, and art), there are usually fun and interesting vintage and consignment shops in hometowns for you to explore that offer a wide variety of items and price points. Visit these shops for new and vintage décor to feature in your home.

Luxurious and Expensive: Redo the Backyard

Consider redoing your backyard to encourage more time outdoors as a family. You can put in an outdoor kitchen complete with a brick pizza oven, install shade covering to protect everyone from the sun, or even put in a pool for those warm months of summer. The options (and budgets) are nearly limitless.

Simple and Affordable: Create a Collage

Thanks to smart phones and their rather amazing cameras, we are taking more and more photographs of our every day lives. Create a collage of photographs to hang on one or many of your walls. You will enjoy seeing the memories, and you can even change out the pictures depending on the time of year.

Updating your home's look can be affordable, or you can save up for big renovations and changes. The possibilities are endless.

 

The rising cases of COVID19 are totally alarming. People are getting paranoid as to what to do and how to go about it. The best approach that we could ever do to minimize the risk of infection is to boost our immune system. Apart from taking essential vitamins, there are other different ways that we can do at home that have been proven and tested to really keep our immune system at its best. 

Google image

     When feeling sick, people have become very reluctant in going to the hospital for the fear of getting infected with the virus. Thus, the traditional methods of therapy resurfaced. Among the traditional methods used nowadays, steam inhalation or tuob also called steam therapy is the most popular, which is done through inhalation of water vapor. The warm, moist air helps in loosening the mucus in the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. This may relieve symptoms of inflamed, swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages. 

     The food we eat every day also contributes to boosting our immune system. There are many immune system boosters that we can find in the market. We have fruits that are rich in Vitamin C, vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, some nuts like almond and sunflower seeds, AND spices like bell pepper, garlic, turmeric, and chili pepper that we can find in the famous chili garlic sauce. 

 The Benefits of Chilies 

Native Wild Chili

     Why chilies? Well, The spicy properties of the chilies in hot sauce have been shown to help beat off the symptoms of colds and flu by easing sinus and nasal congestion, increasing body temperature, and relieving respiratory problems. Based on studies, Chilli peppers contain a substance called capsaicin, which gives peppers their characteristic pungency, producing mild to intense spice when eaten. Capsaicin is being studied as an effective treatment for sensory nerve fiber disorders, including pain associated with arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetic neuropathy. 

Dandom's Chili Garlic Sauce

    The benefits of chili are not limited to boosting our immunity, it also fights inflammation, a natural pain reliever for those who are suffering from diabetes, and can even aid us in losing weight! Of course, eating chili by itself is such a dreadful idea. The best way to eat chili is by eating chili garlic sauce! There are many chili garlic sauces in the market so how to choose the best one? Choose chili sauce that is made from fresh garlic and fresh chilies. The one that is made from native wild chilies is the best! And do you know where to find it? Check this out!