Mellow Yellow Monday #151 - Weaving

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You don't often see these scenes in the city.  Textile weaving is done using Abaca threads and Manang (the woman in the picture is weaving a blanket) happily agreed to have her picture taken.  Have a fabulous week!

The Scent and Taste of Lavender

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Stressed?  Stop and smell the scent of lavender.  The scent is a well-known tension tamer and studies reveal that the taste of the herb also has a relaxing effect.  What's more?  The calm state generated by the scent or taste of lavender even improves the brain's ability to learn.  But wait, don't just sip tea from any lavender; only those grown for culinary use should be consumed.

Having Poor Vision

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My husband underwent a laser eye surgery about 15 years ago. It has done wonders to his eyes, relieving him from all the troubles of having to wear thick eyeglasses and contact lenses because of his progressive myopia.  When he reached the age of forty he still had to wear prescription eyeglasses because even if he had his vision corrected; people over forty are starting to have poorer vision.  The good thing is, the grade of his prescription glasses are not as high as before he had the laser eye surgery.

We've heard of the method of laser eye surgery; the iLasik.  More and more people are relying on the more advanced technology of laser eye surgery where instead of one, the procedure uses two lasers. The first one is an ultra fast, computer-guided laser which creates the corneal flap after mapping the unique characteristics of the eye. In the older version of lasik, which my husband underwent, a handheld microkeratome blade was used. It is safe, I tell you because I will not allow my husband to undergo the surgery if it wasn't. 

We asked his doctor if he again, can have the surgery but she didn't advise it.  Hubs is also suffering from glaucoma and she said, even if we have his vision corrected for the second time, his eye condition will still deteriorate rapidly because of his glaucoma.  It's useless to spend again on something that will not help.  Instead she asked hubs to treat it through supplements and proper diet.  This will help lower the pressure of his glaucoma.  Looking at the bright side, hubs is eating more greens and yellow now.  He used to be a read meat lover and he avoided vegetables.

Did You Know?

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Eating eggs can help stave off urinary tract infections.  It's because of the proteins that are found in egg whites known as peptides.  They bind to infection-causing E. coli thus preventing bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract.

Michelle, the teacher

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Who would have thought that the simple girl who dreamed of becoming a teacher and owning a small school for preschoolers would grow up to be more than just a mere teacher?  Ever since we were young, My cousin Michelle's mind was set on becoming a good educator.  She idolized and looked up to her preschool teacher so much that she wanted to become like her.  So when she graduated from high school; she decided on taking it up and graduated from a course in education. 

She then went to the US to be with her parents.  Instead of working right away she took another course; B.S. Child Psychology.  Michelle is really bright because she graduated with high marks and she did it with honors.  Right after graduation, she worked as a teacher in the local high school.  A couple of years later, the school sponsored her to continue higher education.  She enrolled in an Education Masters Course while working at the same time. 

Right now she is the principal of that high school.  It was quite an achievement considering that Michelle is just in her late twenties.  She has already achieved so much at such a young age.  The girl who loves to teach is now a principal.

Michelle, the teacher

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Who would have thought that the simple girl who dreamed of becoming a teacher and owning a small school for preschoolers would grow up to be more than just a mere teacher?  Ever since we were young, My cousin Michelle's mind was set on becoming a good educator.  She idolized and looked up to her preschool teacher so much that she wanted to become like her.  So when she graduated from high school; she decided on taking it up and graduated from a course in education. 

She then went to the US to be with her parents.  Instead of working right away she took another course; B.S. Child Psychology.  Michelle is really bright because she graduated with high marks and she did it with honors.  Right after graduation, she worked as a teacher in the local high school.  A couple of years later, the school sponsored her to continue higher education.  She enrolled in an Education Masters Course while working at the same time. 

Right now she is the principal of that high school.  It was quite an achievement considering that Michelle is just in her late twenties.  She has already achieved so much at such a young age.  The girl who loves to teach is now a principal. 

Fabulous Bed Linen

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Whether you are looking for an ostentatious set or you want your bed linen simple but comfortable, The White Company can cater to all your bedroom linen needs.  I seldom shop online because I don't want to get disappointed with the quality of the product.  I have heard a lot of complaints from friends and family who didn't like the orders when they arrived.  I would much rather see and feel the bed linen before I make a purchase to ensure that I'm getting what exactly I wanted.  However, when I chanced upon The White Company website, I couldn't resist browsing through their white linen collection.  Surprisingly, the prices were irresistible too.  And the great thing is the items were exactly as they were described.; the colors were as bright as they were in the picture.  I'm glad I found this site.  Make a click stop there if you are looking for fabulous bed linen.

Mellow Yellow Monday #150 - Fire Tree Flower

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Happy MYM!

Zen Out

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Feeling fatigued?  Did you know that spending 20 minutes daily in deep relaxation (meditation, yoga or prayer) eases fatigue for 60 percent of women within one week.    according to experts, allowing your adrenals to rest and heal is a key step to restoring energy if you are under chronic stress.

Torn!

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My son is torn between the aria electric guitars or acoustic guitars.  He learned how to play last year and he can play both guitars.  Now he and his friends are forming a group.  They have already started playing in their school programs and they have set a couple of hours every weekend to jam.  Although hubs and I don't think they will become too serious about their "band;" we're glad that these kids are doing something worthwhile.  Next week, the boys (hubs included) will shop for their new musical instruments.

Move over, red. White is here.

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While the red wine is being hailed for its wonderful health benefits, the white wine seems to sit in the corner quietly.  But did you know that while sipping your Chardonnay, you reap great benefits as well?  Yes, you read it right, the white wine is just as good for your heart as red wine.  So give way to the underrated white wine because the Chardonnay is just as great as the Bordeaux.

The skin in the white varieties is also a rich source of resveratrol, powerful antioxidants that works to improve heart function and prevent artery blockage.  But that's not all because resveratrol has cancer fighting properties as well as anti-aging properties.  Sipping white wine can help turn back the clock!

If red wine offers abundant supplies of resveratrol, so does white wine.  So whatever color of wine you prefer, remember that resveratrol is an antioxidant that is anti-inflammatory, lowers blood sugar, keeps blood pressure at a level, reduces bad cholesterol, increases energy and makes you feel and look young.  Just remember to limit your drink to a glass a day to reap all these wonderful benefits; too much of a good thing can also be bad for your health.

Greet the Sunshine

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Still feeling sleepy?  Get up and greet the sun.  According to experts, getting two minutes exposure of morning sunlight shuts off the production of melatonin, a sleep hormone that makes it difficult for you to get up in the morning.  Can't get outdoors?  Just sip your morning java near the sunniest window of the house.

Seeing the Lion King movie come alive on stage

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Guest post written by Janie Blackwell

I have to say that I'm rather excited about having been able to see the Lion King play live on stage. I was so excited about it as soon as I heard that they were going to be traveling with the show again and decided that I would buy tickets for me and my grandson. We're a pretty close pair and I love taking him out to all of these different things and basically just spending as much time as possible with him.

Well, I looked online to see if I could find more details about the traveling show of Lion King and while I was doing that I ran across the website hearingaids.miracle-Ear.com. After I looked through it a little bit I decided to go and get a hearing test to be fitted with hearing aids.

I got us tickets for the show and I think that we're going to have so much fun when we go and see it! But that's still quite a while from now so I'm not going to tell him just yet that we're going.

Mellow Yellow Monday #149 - Sweet Mangoes

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Instant Energy Boost

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Feeling blah?  Go outside and feed the birds.  Spending a few minutes a day outside helping wildlife gives 60 percent of women an all-day energy boost.  Connecting with nature regulates the brain's production of the fatigue-triggering hormone melatonin.

Get your cash fast with Infinite Banking

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When Ginny needed money to fund her roof repair, she asked around where she could borrow the cash without having to pay a high interest.  One of her friends introduced her to infinite banking.  It's a kind of loan where you could borrow from your whole life insurance and pay it with interest.  Unlike other loans where there a lot of paperwork to submit; you only need to sign a few documents here.  No need to wait for approvals because you are borrowing your own money.  Ginny was surprised that she could do that and now that she knows, she'll never borrow from other loan companies anymore should she need fast cash again.

Cute Bunk Beds

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I still remember when my brother and I were still very young, we used to share a room and sleep on a bunk bed.  I was older so I was the one sleeping on the top bed.  When the lights were out I would pretend to be a witch and scare him.  Oh, he would cry so loud until our mom hears it.  Of course I got scolded every time.  I miss those times and I miss that bunk bed.  That was a long time ago and now I have grand daughters and if you have been following this blog you know they are twins.

They are still too small for a bunk bed but their mom is already checking out several bunk beds for the twins' room.  The room is not big so they can save more space with this bed. I am suggesting wood instead of metal because aside from the warm feeling it brings, wood can easily blend with other furniture.  She already showed me her choices and I was amazed at how much bunk beds have changed.  They now have drawers and some even comes with dressers.  

I found the loft tent bed really cute.  It has a castle design with tents.  The girls will feel like princesses with this bed.  Their mom is torn between the castle and the full stairwell bunk bed.  Both beds look sturdy and have beautiful designs so it's really hard to choose between the two.  But she still has a lot of time to think about that until the girls are ready for a bunk bed.

Shopping

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I'm helping out my daughter shop for some clothes for her husband.  Rob is leaving next week to board a cruise ship.  Although will only be on a local cruise, Mai wants to make sure he'll be warm enough.  We've already bought shirts and jackets from columbia sports wear and now it's time to look for pants and thermal underwear.  We hope to finish all the shopping by tomorrow because I have a lot of blog posts to finish.

Need more energy?

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Snack on nuts before lunch.  A mid-morning dose of fat that comes from plants wakes up your prefrontal cortex, an area in the brain that banishes fogginess and helps you think clearly.  You'd be good at 1/4 cup daily.

Yogurt Addiction

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The first time I have tasted frozen yogurt was back in the 80's when my family and I used to travel to Tokyo a lot.  The family business then was all about retailing.  We'd buy goods from Japan and bring them here to sell.  That required us to travel a lot during the 80s up to the 90s.  It only stopped when goods from China started to flood the retail stores here.  We cannot compete with their very low prices even if our goods were of high quality.  Well anyway, this article is not about retailing because I'd like to talk about frozen yogurt.

So I had this favorite toy store in Tokyo called Hakuhinkan, and that's where I first tasted the yummy yogurt.  Every time I would visit the toy store, I'd pass by the kiosk to buy a cup of strawberry yogurt.  I fell in love with its tart taste so much that even during winter time I eat it.  I didn't care if my hands were freezing just as long as I satisfy my cravings.  Frozen yogurt then was never heard in the Philippines.   Whoever brought these yogurt franchises here is a genius.  I was just wondering why it took them so long to do that.  Could it be that the Pinoys then weren't ready for frozen yogurt?  I was!  Maybe it was a blessing that it came late because owning a frozen yogurt booth now has become a very lucrative business.  Every where you look, you'd see a frozen yogurt store.  If I had the money, I'd like to get a franchise.  How about you, do you like frozen yogurt too?

Finding a reliable Furniture Retail Software

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My friend's abaca business is doing well.  They only started with making baskets out of abaca leaves when she was young.  I still remember helping them out whenever I stayed with my cousin's in the province during summer vacations.  I saw her a couple of years ago and she said they have expanded and making fabrics out of the leaves; designers from abroad are ordering bulks from them.  Now I heard from my cousin that they are into furniture making too.  Although they are sourcing out other local materials, abaca leaves are still their main material.  She will be here next week to ask us for help because she wants a reliable furniture retail software.  I think getting one is a great idea especially now that her business is growing.

Excited for their 1st Birthday

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The twins are getting big fast.  It seems just like yesterday when they were tiny little babies.  Now they are almost eight months old and are growing fast.  Sophie especially, who has gotten a lot bigger than her ate.  They didn't even try to sit on their own.  Both girls skipped that and are standing already.  They can't wait to walk!  The grandparents (that includes me) and great grandparents are too overjoyed with these adorable girls.

Every time I go the mall, I make sure I bring them something.  Just little things because hubs and I are saving for something.  We would like to buy them wooden playsets on their first birthday.  Yup, that would be our gifts to them.  The great grandparents are also cooking up something.  I have no idea what it will be though because they're not telling us.  They want it to be a surprise not just for the twins but for all of us.  But I'm worried about one thing.  Mom and I think alike.  I am crossing my fingers that we won't have the same gifts.  Giving the same gift has happened several times.  Guess I really have to talk to her in secret to get a clue.

Mellow Yellow Monday #149 and RT - Not so angry birds

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Did You Know?

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You can boost your brain power with eggplant.  The purple veggie's skin is packed with nasunin, a compound that protects brain cell membranes from free-radical damage and enhances communication between brain cells and messenger molecules.  The result?  Improved memory and focus.  There are so many ways to enjoy the tasty vegetable but I like mine grilled or fried with vinegar and shrimp paste.

Tuscan Valentine

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It's been customary for my husband to give his female staff presents on Valentine's Day. I help him prepare these every year. This year, he would like to give them something that make Valentine's not only a romantic experience but gastronomic as well. He's giving them a Wine Gift Baskets. Each basket contains a bottle of wine paired with food that matches it. There's cheese, chocolates, pasta, cupcakes and nuts. Each bottle of wine and its matched food was carefully selected by experts. He tediously researched each and every wine. Each basket's content is also matched with his staff's personality.

My husband loves fine dining and eating in general. He loves matching wines to different foods. He says it helps drinking wine a more pleasurable experience.Mind you, there are inexpensive wines that are really good. They may not have the pedigree but Their taste can match even the best wines. He used to manage several fine dining restaurants before. This taught him to appreciate food. I did not know that some white wines go well with red meat.

His staff will surely be pleased. They'll be receiving a very different gift from their boss. I'm sure they'll have a great Valentine's with their special someones on the day of hearts.

Following Doctor's Orders

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I can feel that my eyes are getting worse.  In a year's time, I upgraded my reading glasses.  It's a bit alarming considering that I'm only about to approach mid-forties.  I know I have to find ways to at least slow it down.  I started with eating slightly sauteed carrots and squash every meal.  That's what the ophthalmologist advised.  According to him, the antioxidants found in the orange and yellow vegetables can help improve eyesight.  Grape seed extract is also a great source of antioxidants that help the eyes so he also advised that I take the supplements.

One of the causes (I think) why my eyesight is deteriorating fast is because of abuse.  I love to read and sew (even with poor lighting!).  My mom used to tell me that I shouldn't be doing that but I didn't listen.  Although I have stopped sewing, I still read.  This time though, I make sure that the table lamps are turned on even if the other lamps in the room are also on.  You might think that I'm exaggerating but that is a doctor's order.  He stressed that there should be proper lighting if I still want to enjoy the things I used to do.

Next month, I'm scheduled for another check-up.  If I followed all the things he asked me to do, there's going to be a great improvement with my eyesight.