Mellow Yellow Monday #95

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Whenever hubs and I want some quiet time together, this is where we go.  They serve delicious cappuccinos and bibingcrepes.

Happy MYM everyone!

Photohunt - Standing

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Standing?  Loki hates to do that for a long time.  He'd rather sit or sleep, but for the sake of vanity, he'll do it.  :)

Health Tip #16

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To avoid eye strain when working on your computer for a long time, check the position of your monitor.  The top of the screen should fall below eye level.  Our eyes naturally gaze downward and having set your monitor lower is the best way to keep them relaxed.  This will prevent eye strain and headaches.  Some studies also show that positioning the screen this way may also boost productivity and performance.

Easy Connection

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My siblings may be oceans away from us but we're not missing them so much because we get to communicate everyday.  Ever since my brother sent us the magic jack, both of them are calling mom everyday.  And on days they are not so busy, you can expect them to ask for a Conference call, and sometimes, a video call.  It's great that we now have these things, they can call us everyday or when ever they feel home sick, plus it's a lot cheaper than paid calls.

Did You Know?

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If you eat a raw carrot, you absorb only 4 percent of the beta carotene it contains.  Drink the juice and absorb 90 percent.

Mellow Yellow Monday #94

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Yellow easily catches my attention and I took a snap as soon as I spotted this.

Happy MYM everyone!

Photohunt - Hands

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I know, I know.  I'm supposed to post pictures of hands but I just couldn't resist not including the second photo.  These are photos of my brother and his newly born baby.  The second picture was snapped just hours after Nikki was born. 

The Tennis Ball Massage

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Neck pain?  Did you know that a simple tennis ball can work wonders against muscle kinks?  According to massage therapists, massaging a tennis ball into the back just below the shoulders loosens tightness and improves circulation to the triangle shaped muscle which runs from the center of the back up to the neck and across the shoulders.  When we are stressed, the area tends to become tight and can restrict neck movement, that leads to tension headaches.

Here's what you should do:  Lie on your back on the floor then lift your head and shoulders and place two tennis balls 2 or 3 inches below the tops of your shoulders.  Relax back down to the floor.  You should feel the balls pressing into the muscles between the shoulder blades.  wrap your arms around you and slowly rock your trunk from left to right, allowing the balls to gently massage away tension.  Continue for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Lighter Load

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Finally!  After appealing to the Principal's Office last year, the high school administration granted the parents' request to have lockers installed in the hallways.  Requiring the students to bring all their books to school everyday is I think, a punishment.  Each student has more the 10 books, add to that the weight of all their notebooks and other stuff, they are carrying more than 25 pounds of school stuff daily.  And not just carry, huh.  My son's classroom is the farthest classroom at the third floor.

It's great that all the parents have come together to request for school lockers.  Whether they install metal or wood lockers, it really doesn't matter.  What's important is they don't have to carry everything on their shoulders anymore.  At least now I don't have to worry about him hurting his back.  

Mellow Yellow Monday #93

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Found this on the wall of the restaurant where we dined in a few weeks ago.  They are selling smileys cakes and you can customize it the way you like it.  Cute!

Happy MYM everyone!

Photohunt - Shadow

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Hiding from the scorching sun!  See my shadow taking the photo?

Better Tasting Buffalo Wings

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This post brought to you by TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

If there's one dish I love with hot sauce, it's Buffalo Wings.  Well, it won't be called Buffalo Wings if it doesn't have a kick or even a hint of heat, right?  I begged for the recipe from my brother, which I found out later, he got from Game-Day Party Menu.  When he emailed it to me, he had strict instructions I use a particular brand of hot pepper sauce.  The taste won't be the same if you use another brand, he says.  I looked everywhere for that hot sauce, unfortunately, I didn't find it here.  What I got instead was TABASCO® Original Red.  I grew up with tabasco and that's what came to mind when I couldn't find the other brand.

For those of you who would like to try it out, here's my brother's recipe.  Notice I've changed the brand of hot pepper sauce.  ;)

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken wings (about 12 wings)
• 3 tbsp. butter, melted
• 4 tbsp. bottled hot pepper sauce, preferably TABASCO® Original Red
• 1 tbsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• celery and carrot sticks (optional)

Procedure:

1)  Cut off wing tips (discard or reserve for other use such as making stock). Cut wings at the joint. Put chicken wing pieces in a plastic bag. Set aside.

2)  Create a marinade by stirring together the melted butter, hot pepper sauce, paprika, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Pour all but 2 tablespoons of the marinade over the chicken pieces in the plastic bag. (Reserve marinade for coating after the pieces come out of the oven.) Seal bag and let marinate at room temperature for half an hour. When marinating is finished, drain marinade and discard bag.

3)  Place wing pieces on the rack of a broiler pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for about 10 minutes on each side, until chicken is tender and no   longer pink. Remove from oven and baste with reserved marinade. Serve with Blue Cheese Dip and celery sticks.
Well, brother, I have to tell you, the taste isn't the same, you are so right.  It's way better than your Buffalo Wings!  Try it and you'll know I'm right.  :)  And by the way, since it's football season and you love entertaining your buddies with your home-cooked meal ideas, why don't you try making your own pizza?  Click here for a Pizza Perfected recipe, serve it with tabasco and your buddies will keep coming back for more.

Health Tip #15

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Enjoy 30 minutes more of sleep and prevent diabetes.  That's from researchers who found that the extra half hour of sleep each night will cut your risk of diabetes by 41 percent.  The reason?  Being well-rested cuts cortisol production by 27 percent, and as levels of this stress hormone drop, your body's ability to control blood sugar skyrockets.  Lowering cortisol levels also helps prevent osteoporosis.

Interactive Preschool Learning Games get Kids Involved

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Preschool learning games that are interactive are often enjoyed by kids and are excellent educational tools that help children develop knowledge and skills. Interactive learning experiences provide entertainment and keep a child’s mind engaged. This is because the program that is amusing the preschooler has been designed to prompt an action from the game player and then respond to the resulting actions accordingly. Hence, it is not simply a matter of watching images as is the case with television; kids are an active part of the process.

Due to the fact that the online preschool learning games are interactive, this means children need to learn how to use a computer mouse and in some cases the keyboard. Thus, while their minds are being stimulated by the game, they are also improving their fine motor skills, such as development of hand-eye-coordination, because they need to learn to move the mouse while keeping their eyes on the screen in front of them. This is good practice for the future, because fine motor skills are an integral part in school readiness.

Exposing very young kids to preschool learning games on the Internet can really help improve a number of skills from reading to math and is a wonderful way for them to become comfortable with using a computer, which has become an important part of our society.

We have a new baby!

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If you're new at this blog, then you have not met the newest addition to the family.  Let me introduce you to Nicole Rae, my brother's daughter.  The bouncing baby girl was born December 21.  The whole family is thankful for this wonderful gift.  We thought she'd never come.  My SIL had 3 miscarriages before Nicole.  Thanks to her ob-gyne who took very good care of her during her entire pregnancy, and with the help of her prenatal vitamins, Nicole came out healthy and beautiful.  Dad, mom and my family are planning to see her this summer.  :)

Zinc Zap Zits!

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A research showed that daily supplements of zinc were as powerful as oral antibiotics in clearing up acne.  So, if you are looking for the best treatment for acne, try supplementing with zinc.  Apparently, the mineral reduces the activity of an enzyme in the skin that causes the sebum production behind clogged skin pores and acne.  But just like I always say, ask your doc first about it so he recommend the right dosage.  ;)

Flyers!

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A slump in sales is usually expected right after the holidays.  My store helper is complaining she gets bored at the store because there were only a few customers.  I told her to take it easy and give them time, they'll be back for sure.  ;)  I was also at the grocery yesterday and noticed that a lot of people were giving away business flyers.  Flyers usually help boost the sales especially those that are well-thought of and nicely printed.

Weight Loss Dilemma

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Stop breaking your New Year resolution.  If you're really keen on shedding the extra pounds, dieting and exercise alone won't do the trick.  If your weight is not going down, you might need a little help, something that will rev up your metabolism. It was only when I tried taking the best diet pills that the needle started to move down.  It was always steady at 152 lbs.  But don't just take anything without asking your doc.  He can help you choose what will work best for you and this time, you'll lose the pounds for good.

Mellow Yellow Monday #92

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Happy MYM!

Photohunt - **FREE WEEK**

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Yay, it's a free week!  I thought I'd post a couple of pictures from my uncle's party, who celebrated his 85th birthday recently.  At 85, he's having some difficulties walking so he uses a cane.  But our uncle is still very sharp, he still goes to his office every day, and his health is in great condition.

Happy weekend people

Weird Weather

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The weather’s really been weird. Some provinces in the south are experiencing heavy rains and flash floods which are very uncommon at this time of the year.  The cause?  The tail end of the cold front.  Up north, the weather's been very cold and a lot of people who are not used to this are getting sick.   The Department of Health had issued warnings of colder days to come and protective clothing should be worn to avoid getting sick.  I'm not sure how the homeless can cope with it, but it's good to know that the government are taking actions to help everyone.

Wedding Bells? Not yet.

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When it comes to watching tv, I like watching cooking shows most of the time.  I'm not a fashion girl but when I chanced upon a fashion channel earlier, I was glued when I saw the beautiful wedding dresses collection. I thought of my daughter, she likes to draw and design clothes.  In fact, the prom dresses she wore were her creations.  Wedding bells are way too early for her, she says, but when the time comes, I'd love her to wear one of those beautiful wedding dresses I saw on tv.  :)

It doesn't have to be super expensive

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Since I've never gotten the present that was in my wish list last Christmas, I've decided to get it on my own.  I am going to really save for the fuji finepix. I am not a professional but I'm getting good a t snapping photos.  And with the right equipment, I'm sure I'll be able to produce more magnificent photos.  It's a pretty expensive hobby they say, but who needs a very expensive camera when you can get the same quality photo with a not-so expensive device?

Avoid Energy Dips

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Midday tiredness?  Here's the trick to keep you going all day.  Massage the instep of your LEFT foot.  Chinese researchers found that stimulating this accupoint for 5 minutes twice daily can improve the pancrea's ability to produce insulin and steady blood sugar in one week.  The result?  Fewer cravings, less bloat, more energy and sunnier moods.

Math Help

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Joey’s least favorite subject is math.  For the last 3 years, he’s been taking up remedial classes during summer, to make up for his low grades.  Though he didn’t fail the subject, he got the lowest passing grade.  We were worried because in a few years, he’ll be in college and the low grades will surely affect his college applications.

At first, he disagreed with the idea of hiring  a tutor, but he agreed later on after hubs convinced him.  His grades have improved a lot, thanks to his math tutor, who have been very patient with him.  Chemistry, like Physics, have formulas and computations too, right?  Surprisingly, he doesn’t need a chemistry tutor because he doesn’t find the subject difficult. 

We might just finish the contract with his tutor this month then switch to an online tutor.  That way, he’ll get home early and have a little rest before studying again.

Relieve Allergy with Rosemary*

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The wonder herb rosemary, does not only sharpen minds.  It has been found to fight colds, allergies and headaches.  The compounds in rosemary oil -- camphor and betulinic acid, have anti-inflammatory properties and work to clear blocked air-ways,  Rosemary has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain to improve concentration and relieve tension.

Thank You FC!!!

John of Daily Photo Gallery

Looking for apartments west campus?

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Every parent can relax and have the peace of mind knowing their precious child is safe no matter how far he or she is away from them.  Being miles away from your child could be the toughest thing still, you know you have to let go.  To keep you from worrying, the best thing you can do is to make sure they are safe and fully protected in their apartments as they sail off with their wishes, dreams and hopes.  When looking for apartments west campus, make sure you  consider the price, distance from school, cleanliness, the different amenities, and of course, safety. Knowing that your child is safe and living comfortably on her own, would ease the bittersweet act of sending a child off to college

Eat Eggs!

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Have an omelet and protect your vision.  Egg yolks are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidants that soak into delicate eye cells, shielding them from UV light.  According to experts, just five egg yolks weekly can slow the growth of cataracts by 77 percent, plus cut your risk of macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in adults) by 42 percent.

Demand For Gold Grows

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Stocks aren't my thing, but hubs make it a point to check it on tv every single day.  He's been watching it lately and he says, the value of gold is going up. He doesn’t play the stocks but I got a feeling he could make it big if he chose to. Most of the time, his predictions are right.  He likes investing on hard assets than paper. Stocks, he says, are very unpredictable.  We all saw this when the stock market fell lat on its face. It’s still the precious metals that he is eying right now.   He says, having a gold 401k account is the safest place to invest your money. 

I take care of the budget but hubs takes care of the investments.  I trust his judgement and I like  that he's not playing chicken with our family’s future. As parents, it is our duty to prepare for our children’s future and our next step is to have a 401k gold account. 

If you are looking for a good investment to park your money, gold is one metal that will always have a good value.  It won't hurt you to put it on gold IRA.  The demand for the metal keeps  on growing. And as it grows, so does its value.

Mellow Yellow Monday #91

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Hope you all had a wonderful New Year celebration.  Here's to another year full of yellow.  Happy MYM!

Photohunt - Fuzzy

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This one's a toughie.  Been searching my albums for photos of fuzzy but this is the only one I came up with.  I do hope it qualifies.  :)

Happy New Year, all!