Offline Update

Looks like I have colds today. I have sore throat, too. I pray that this is not flu. *crossing fingers* I really hope not.

I am feeling better today than yesterday though, emotionally and physically. *smiles* I think I had the worst PMS yesterday - so much so that I am guilty of feeling and acting like a rebellious teenager -yikes! I'll not go into details with that though.

Anyway, I'm in the process of making a nook for my son at home so I'm checking house interior setup/improvement sites online. It's really not a big project like a room so I won't need much industrial products but I'd still need few latches, hinges, bolts and nuts for this tiny space. It's actually my son's study corner ( and also a place to keep some of his things, in my attempt to get us all organized).

So that's it for now - no tips but just an update. And I'm off again to see some home improvement sites and a hot fix for this sore throat, too. Have a lovely day everyone.

Diet Suggestions to Cut Calories

Are you faithfully monitoring your calorie intake? Or do you want healthy diet suggestions?

I just want to share this great page I recently found at Prevention.com. It's about some diet suggestions that will help us all minimize our calorie intake.

For instance here are a couple of options I'm quoting from the page:

Breakfast: Savor a bowl of bananas, berries, low fat milk and sugar substitute
instead of a sweet roll.


Lunch/Dinner: Pick waterpacked tuna instead of tuna packed in oil.

BTW, prevention.com also tackles interesting topics about health and beauty. It offers practical tips and tricks that I find valuable and I'm actually hooked since I found it.

5 Footwears I Love to Wear

If you know me personally, I'm sure you can already imagine the pairs of shoes that I love to wear. And can even guess what shoes I'd buy next - yes I'm that predictable (and boooring *hehe*)!

But then online, few people know me and so here's something I wanna share. It's about the footwears that I love to wear, apart from the Merrel and North Face shoes that I've mentioned more than a dozen time here. So without much ado, here they are:

1) Flipflops - I eternally love to wear flipflops. They are God's gift to my little feet and I wear them anywhere (even to the office!). It doesn't matter if it's an Ipanema or Havaianas or a local brand as long as it keeps my feet happy.

2) Women's Ballet Flats - I have 4 favorite pairs (of different colors and style) at the moment. I got a red, black, silver and copper-colored ballet shoes. All of the ballet flats I own are bought locally but I've seen some pairs from popular online stores like Jildor that looks similar to what I have.

My black ballet shoes very much looks like this Tory Burch Reva. The only difference is the buckle design.

3. Sneakers - I totally adore sneakers. Converse is an all-time favorite brand, one I haven't gotten over with since my college days. I also love those from Keds like this one below.

This one used to be my favorite Keds sneaks.

4. Espadrilles - They are unbelievably cool and comfortable to wear. And I can wear them with almost all the casual clothes I have! Right now, I'm trying to find a way on how I can purchase one of those cool Toms shoes (okay I'm lying, it's not just one but maybe 3!).

And lastly...

5. Sizzling Hot Sandals. Like.these.pairs.by. Stuart Weitzman :

Need I say more?

My Take on HDTV

I heard speculations that Direct TV Business is not too profitable in my country - but I wonder if that's really true. I wonder what DreamSatellite, which primarily offers Commercial Direct TV services in the country, will say to that. And if that were true, I wonder why then would the company I worked for would venture in a multi-million project such as the DirectTV Business.

In fact, the company is adding more HDTV and standard definition channels as response to subscriber demand and take-up. I think subscribers appreciates the superb services they get from their subscription. Subscribers are now aware of the quality of shows direct-to-home TV service will provide. And it's even cheaper (at least with the company's brand) than Cable TV and at the moment, I've heard that the company is targetting "uncabled" areas in Luzon - so there is a ready market for the service. True, there's still a lot more work and investment to be made for the service to cover more areas where Cable TV Services is not existent but I'm sure with time, it will become a realization - not just in Luzon but nationwide (I hope!).

I am actually excited to avail of this service but I guess I have to wait. *grins* For now, I'll just be content with a low-end Sat TV setup that the hubster has recently paid for. Some of my officemates have similar satellite dishes installed in their homes so they can get more channels and watch more shows on TV, too. (BTW, the equipment are not coming from Dream Satellite nor with the company I worked for). But this gives away the mindset of TV subscribers these days and maybe this is an indication that Direct TV Business is a thriving business afterall.

How Fit Are Your Feet?

I had fun answering this test at Prevention.com and in the process I have also learned something.

So how fit are my feet?

My result says: Pay attention. Your feet and ankles are showing signs of wear. Continue your normal activities, but seriously consider seeing a podiatrist for a checkup.

One Worry-Free Day Please...

Don't you just wish for a day of indolence? (Okay the term indolence is not too postive to read so maybe I daresay laziness *lol*).

But really don't you just wish for a care-free day --when you can only be busy doing nothing? I do, I do - and today is just one of those days when I wish for that. After a stressful day in the office, or make that a stressful night, I badly need some relaxation and some time to just bum around doing nothing. Hayy, I already dream of warming my bum on something so luxurious as this outdoor furniture:

Looks so heavenly! As a matter of fact, I could already see myself sleeping all day on that!

*sigh*sigh* I could dream on you know. But I really hope I could have some free time during my days off.

Healthy YOU

I recently received this tip about losing weight through SMS and it says:

You did not gain all this weight overnight, so you can't expect to lose it fast either. Weight loss takes commitment, patience and determination.

I might just add that, it also takes a lot of discipline to achieve a healthy body (and sound mind).

That said, I'll just have to re-iterate too that it's never too late to start taking care of our body or taking actions for a fit and healthy US. It's never too late to start exercising. Nor is it too late to start eating healthy foods.

After making the giant leap of deciding to be healthy - whatever the means must be, work on that and stay committed on the decision. You might not get immediate result, but with patience and perseverance, I'm sure a favorable result is not just a dream. *smiles*

Oh by the way, do NOT forget to consult your physician before starting any exercise routine (or diet) and understand that diet and nutrition play a big factor in the overall result.

Your Buying Guide

For busy people who wish to do their exercise routine but could barely drop by the gym and get on their programs, I'd surely understand if you wish to bring the gym to the home by buying a treadmill or similar machines like those ellipticals. (I do feel that most of the times especially when I'm waist-deep with paperworks.) Great innovations for fitness buffs who lead busy lives, don't you think? With modern technology which has made things easier and more convenient for everyone, I'm sure you feel thankful that treadmills and other equipment that you can easily install and use at home (and help you become fit and healthy) are made available for us all.

So are you planning to get one of those or better yet, have you already decided to purchase one for home use? Before buying one, here's a Treadmill Buying Guide that may be useful to you. It offers practical tips and advices and information on the things you should know before buying one.

Here's a couple of things that I picked up from there:

DON'T make your decision based on just one person's opinion.
DO look at many sources available online

It also walks you through the basic treadmill components and gives insight on additional features that you may be interested to get for your equipment.

Lastly, the article gives tips and tricks on maintaining your treadmill. Check it out and have fun working out!

Because We Care

Growing up in a culture where the young family members take care of the old kins, and then in a close-knit family like ours, it is but normal for me to feel responsible for my parents welfare. Like any caring and responsible daughter/son, I take it on myself to take care of my 60-plus year old parents - though thanks God they are still "able" physically and mentally. I'd always like for them to live with us -or us with them. But what I'm concerned even at this time is the fact that there will always be a time when I will not always be with them. There's also my own family to take care of, and I have a regular job to attend to everyday. So what happens when the time comes when they would need extra looking-after because of old age and I (or my other siblings) cannot always be with them? What if emergency situation arises? What if something happens while we are not with them? What if they fall or get lost or... *shivers* The what-ifs are actually endless!

But recently, I found out about wonderful personal emergency response systems (PERS) that can truly help us protect our aged parents or grandparents (and can alleviate our concern with old family members as well). It's called the Brickhouse Alert System, a high-tech and sophisticated Medical Alert Systems consisting of the BrickHouse AlertTele-Assist (a home console plus a personal pendant), and BrickHouse Alert Mobile GPS (a GPSmobile watch).

So how does it work? The home console, which is connected to a phone jack and electrical outlet - much like an answering machine, and the personal pendant can help you get connected to trained professionals who will be able to dispatch help. The alert may be done by pressing the Panic Button. When the button is pressed, you may be able to speak with an operator who will assess the situation and either send emergency services, call your emergency contacts or talk you through the situation. If you are unable speak, the op will immediately call emergency help and dispatch rescue to your house. So it's not only a Medical Alarm system but also works like security and protection system as well.

Now, here's an interesting thing. Because the provider offers 24-hour fall monitoring, once a fall is detected, even if you are not able to push the emergency panic button, rest assured that this will automatically be noted and that help is already on the way. Apart from its fall detection feature, the system has other features such as medication reminders, wake up calls, inactivity alerts, and motion sensors. Find out more of the system here.

BTW, all the personal accessories are waterproof and the system has a back-up battery that will last 24 hours after a power outage. It's really an awesome system! And I'm glad that with modern technology, all of us who care for the safety and protection of our aged loved ones will at least have the peace of mind to leave them on their own -for a while or even for a day or two.

Swine Flu Update

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

So the pandemic alert level of the swine flu or the Influenza A(H1N1) virus is already raised by the WHO to Level 6!

However, this does not indicate the severity of illness caused by the virus. This only reflects the ongoing community level outbreaks worldwide. Read here the latest statistics from WHO.

So my tip for the day is to load up on Vitamin C now and observe proper hygiene always. Stay healthy everyone.

Have a wonderful day!

Another Vacation Idea

Remember about the post I wrote a week ago about wanting to have a vacation? Remember the places the mentioned? I'd like to quote myself and here are some of the places I'd love to visit , given the time and money (of course!):

Maybe Vietnam or Thailand would be lovely for me and my family. Or Singapore. Not to mention getting on with my dream trip to Hawaii. Or a take a fun trip to Disneyland (again!). Or explore Greece. Or chill out in Panama. *closing my eyes* Or see Paris.

Now today, I've read about a wonderful place that I wouldn't mind visiting (sponsor anyone?). Really. The place is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I've read of interesting attractions there that's very ideal for a family vacation. Some of these attractions are the the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley's Aquarium, the Family Kingdom Amusement Park & Water Park and so much more. For night owls and party animals, there are also numerous bars to visit there. And for sportsminded people, maybe you'll be interested with the Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations. And take note that there are many golf courses to choose from. In fact, there are quite a number of awesome Myrtle Beach Golf Packages offered that will surely satisfy anyone. (So for non-golfers like me, maybe it's time to learn a new sport then?) But for golf aficionado out there, if you want to have a vacation and play Golf Myrtle Beach is the name.

Use Gmail to Reply With Your Other Email Addresses!

Do you have multiple email accounts? Maybe you like to send email from any of your known email addresses using your Gmail, ey?

Wonder how to do it? Just check this post from the Gmailblog.

Reminders

After writing this post and this, I feel the need to re-iterate few things.

First, this site and its authors are not responsible for any action or activity taken by its readers. Thus will not be held liable for any consequence of the readers' actions/activities.

Second, it is the readers responsibility to exercise due prudence in all their affairs.

Okay, done with a couple of prime concerns, I'm going to proceed to the next and last reminder. If you wish to use pills/supplements to expedite the process of losing weight and learn which -among the best diet pills available in the market- is suitable for you, it is ALWAYS best to seek the advice of your physician or health practitioner. Never ever substitute their advices with online reviews.

Nonetheless, online reviews are good sources of information as well as opinions. They may be able to educate you and give you insight on consumers' experiences with the products (and services). As always, they help us decide whether to give a product a try or not.

tipsandtricks4me

Day in the Cloud Feeler Questions

I've hopped on the Gmailblog this morning and found out that, together with Virgin America, Gmail will be hosting an online contest of sorts called Day in the Cloud Challenge on June 24. All flights of Virgin America on that day will have complimentary WiFi connection. So anyone and everyone interested -whether you're up in the air or on the ground- may participate. Just sign up at http://dayinthecloud.com.

You know I'm such a sucker for fun quizzes. But however much I wanted to join this fun event, I won't be able to (it's geographically impossible for me to do that). But good thing Gmail provided practise questions and I got to experience what's it's like (oh well I just have to content myself with the practise questions!). And boy was I stumped! Imagine being asked this: What do the NASA Advanced Crew Escape Suits, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Tokyo Tower have in common?

Know the answer?

Now shame, shame on me -I couldn't even get decent guesses to majority the questions! But at least I have a teeny weeny idea what the challenge will be like.

So anyone wanna try it out. Just go here for some details and relevant links.

Ephedrine Info

I was reading about Ephedrine today and boy did I learn a lot!

To be honest, I have no experience with Ephedrine or ephedrine-related drug, synthetic or in pure ephedrine form. In fact in my circle of friends, this term has a negative connotation to it. But today, I learned that some Chinese medicines are made of this! In fact, extract of the Ephedra Sinica plant has been used to treat asthma.

Not only that, in other countries such as the USA,

Ephedra and ephedrine are sold in health food stores under a variety of brand names. Ephedrine is widely used for weight loss, as an energy booster, and to enhance athletic performance. These products often contain other stimulants, such as caffeine, which may have synergistic effects and increase the potential for adverse effects. Ephedra is often touted as the "herbal fen-phen." Source

But with reports of adverse effect associated with the use of products containing ephedrine alkaloid, "the FDA proposed to prohibit the marketing of dietary supplements containing 8 milligrams or more of ephedrine alkaloids per serving."

Oh boy. So IMHO, it is always best to consult and seek the advise of your physician or healthcare practitioner for proper administration and guidance BEFORE taking health supplements. Or when taking prescribed drugs, it's always best to follow your physician's instruction to the letter.

Getting the Best on Fashion Mags

Who loves browsing through style and fashion magazines? Raise your hand please.

Come now, don't be shy. Truth is, I too heart reading and browsing through them. To me, they are actually great guides to current trends and classic styles. But that's that.

Copying few of these styles is fine too but it would be an entirely different story if you pick EVERYTHING that you see in these mags. Sometimes, it would just be too impractical (not to mention the obvious that it would be expensive too - but if you've got tons of money to burn, then fine go ahead. Who am I to say don't? Lol).

But if you wish to stay practical - it's enough to pick what looks and feels best (or better) on you. Experiment but also be honest to yourself. Solicit your friends' advice if you must. And then maybe in the process of you can also develop your own style.

Vacay Wow Woe

I'm so in the mood for a vacation. In fact, I ABSOLUTELY need one right NOW! And any place would do - as long as I don't see my office desk! Lol.

But really, I would love to take a mini-vacation someplace. Maybe Vietnam or Thailand would be lovely for me and my family. Or Singapore. Not to mention getting on with my dream trip to Hawaii. Or a take a fun trip to Disneyland (again!). Or explore Greece. Or chillout in Panama. *closing my eyes* Or see Paris. How wonderful would that be! *sigh* But I would need a lot of cash for all these and there's not much of that in my bag now. But I could dream on, okay? Lol

Not much cash but what I have lots of in my bag though is my imagination and a bottle of a hand sanitizer. Haaaay. The swine flu scare is surely killing all the fun!

My colleague and her family are planning to visit Hongkong a month from now but decided against it because of the possible virus exposure when traveling. They've decided to visit a local vacation island instead.

We are also supposed to have a mini-vacation this week but we decided to postpone it indefinitely as this trip would require air transpo (and we definitely don't want to get possible virus exposure in the airport). *Paranoid Mama mode is turned on!* But instead of taking that trip, we're planning to hit some place this weekend to chill out -most likely the beach.

Sigh. Sigh. I just hope we see a decline of A(H1N1) cases in the coming months, so we can get on with our travel plans. There are just too many places I wanted to visit (given the time and $$$)-and my dream vacation wish list is getting long by the day!

How about you any botched travel plans b/c of the swine flu scare? Or could you share your dream vacation wish list? How about your most memorable vacation, when, where and with whom?

BTW, for families who plan to experience the fun theme parks in Orlando, see some of the tour packages for the funtabulous Orlando vacations in the preceding link.

What Kind Of Girlfriend Are You?

It's Monday and I actually wanted to do away from all serious stuff (because as it is, Monday sounds so serious already!).

So.... I'm sharing the result of a fun quiz I took. Did I hear somebody groan 'not again'?Lol. I'm sorry but this will be all for now.

You are a Great Girlfriend

When it comes to your guy, you're very thoughtful But you also haven't stopped thinking of yourself You're the perfect blend of independent and caring You're a total catch - make sure your guy knows it too!

Are You a Good Girlfriend?

Oh btw, I didn't cheat here. Hehehe. But really, I'm sure the hubster would echo the same thing. *chuckles*

My Word of the Day

Today, I've learned a new term: RV. I actually didn't know the term rv prior to reading it online. And so I googled it and here's what I got:

According to AudioEnglish.net, an RV is a "motorized wheeled vehicle used for camping or other recreational activities". RV is short for recreational vehicle.

So those trailers used for camping are also called RVs. *hmmm* Some are even used for vacations so I've read. How cool is that! It sure sounds like fun and I would love to try one if there's a chance of that in the future.

Anyway, if you're out wanting to own one (like me!) and are already making considerations to make the big ticket purchase (I only wish! *smile*), here's a post I found that will help you make the choice between a gas-operated or diesel-operated RVs. Read it here. Also here's something to learn about the Travel Trailer Hitch Set-up Procedure.

Washing Your SKin May Save The Day

The other day, I was talking with my office mate about having breakouts of late ( I'm currently treating my zits with a trusted product and a lot of vitamins) and she too complained of the same thing -but not only with her face but her back and shoulders as well.

And from her derma to me, she shared this bit. It's very basic really but sometimes in our hurry we end up forgetting to actually do this. So the next time that you hit the bath, don't forget to:

Wash your skin thoroughly after shampooing and conditioning. Hair products usually leave residue of oil on your back and shoulders causing zit or acne breakouts, and consequently lead to unsightly blemishes and scars.

Where to Find an Unbiased Weight Loss Supplement Review

I'm such a big sucker for reviews. I love reading reviews -of movies, videos, CDs, books, food products, etcetera, etcetera... For movies and videos, though these reviews would seem more like spoilers, I don’t really mind because somehow, they help me decide whether to spend my hard-earned cash watching it on the big Silverscreen or just rent a copy of it. And biased or not, reviews always gives me a glimpse of what a product, a movie or video or an item is.

Today, I've found an online source of unbiased diet pill reviews for consumers. All of you who are in the process of learning more about what diet pill is best suited for you, or just plain curious, go to consumerpricewatch.net for your dose of weight loss supplement reviews. They even ranked these products according to a 12-point criteria, as follows:

1. Value
2. Ingredient Quality
3. Customer Feedback
4. Safety
5. Company Reputation
6. Reorder Rates
7. Customer Service
8. Product Sensation
9. Packaging
10. Long-Term Benefits
11. Product Convenience
12. Weight-Loss Potential

Interesting? Read their reviews now. Note: It's always safe to ask your doctor or physician before taking any medication or supplements.

What Style of Womens Jeans Are You?

No Pocket Jeans

You are confident and completely comfortable with your body. You don't mind showing off - in fact, you put it all out there!

What Style of Womens Jeans Are You?

P.S. Truth be known, I don't have a pair of jeans without pockets (back pockets)in my wardrobe cabinet. *silly grin* Still, as I've always said in my previous posts of this nature, it's just a fun quiz so let it be just that.

Have a wonderful day everyone!