Effortless Slimming

Whole grains have always been a healthy diet staple, and just recently, researchers have discovered the secret to unlocking all the slimming potential of the nutrient-rich carbs. If you are trying to slim down and is searching for diets that work, look for the one that involves eating a scientifically balanced ratio of whole grains and fresh produce like Joy Bauers Diet. They say, this formula (whole grains and fresh produce) is proven to speed up metabolism, cut cravings in half and tame even the most ravenous appetite within 48 hours.

Bring Back The Fire

Does your partner have very little interest in sex? It could be that his testosterone level is low. Though home testing kits are available to provide you some answers, it would be best to consult your doctor so he can help you design a nutritional plan and maybe even give him testosterone cream to correct the toxicity or imbalance and restore his sex drive. Two common causes of low testosterone level are heavy metal toxicity and mineral imbalances. Heavy metals like mercury can sneak into the body from the environment, while a poor diet can throw off levels of key minerals such as iron and magnesium. Both can drain your man's energy, reduce his resistance to stress and destabilize mood -- all these factors result to low sex drive.

Delay The Gray

Do you like mushrooms? Those with graying hair will love this news: Mushrooms contain copper, a mineral that is an essential component of melatonin, the hormone that helps preserve hair's pigment. If you're problem is like mine, eat more of these earthy vegetables. According to experts, consuming mushrooms can help delay the gray.

It's All About Lifestyle

At 73, I'm amazed that my mother in law is still in top form. All her life she worked as an executive secretary but after she retired, she was forced to stay at home and do all the the houseworks. She does the laundry, ironing, cooking and cleaning. She was never used to all those chores but she manages to do everything every single day. But that's not actually what I'm amazed about her, I'm surprised that she remains very healthy despite not being conscious of what she eats, not eating on time and even skipping meals at times. She does not have any health problems not even joint pain. Her only complain? She is tired! I wonder how she does it. I wanna be like her when I reach that age.

It Pays To Check

We all know that having a clean colon means a healthy body because many of the diseases tend to get their start in the colon. There are three ways to clean the colon, you can do it the natural way, have a colonic or use colon cleansers. I won't be discussing the first two as my real concern is the last one. If you would try to google colon cleansers, colonix seems to top the list. But not many of us know that it does not actually have the real ingredients required to effectively clean the colon. I've even read articles claiming that it's a scam. Should you decide to use colon cleansers, don't just go for it because it's popular. It's important to research the product first before using. For me, natural of course, is still the best.

RT|WW - Euphorbia

Soothe a Flushed Face

Too much heat may leave your face bloated. To alleviate a flushed face fast, try this simple trick I found. Fill a bowl with whole milk and some ice cubes. Gently pat the cold liquid onto your cheeks with a washcloth, then rinse with cool water. The ice lowers body temperature and constricts capillaries, while whole milk's lactic acid has an anti-inflammatory effect.

RT|WW - Singkil Dance

Snapped this photo at Tiendesitas a few weeks ago. I didn't know there were live dance performances, I thought the place was only for band gigs.

Got Oily Scalp?

Do your scalp get oily and your hair looks limp every time the weather heats up? The simple way to keep off excess oil is a mini scalp massage. I'm sure you've noticed that when you go to the salon, you don't need to shampoo for a few days. That's because your stylist gently push her fingertips into your scalp during the shampoo process to press excess oil from the glands. Copy that massage style in the shower and your locks will stay grease-free longer. But if your hair needs a little more help, you can try hair powder. Though I have not tried it, I've read that it also helps keep excess oil at bay. It's made specifically to soak up excess moisture and is tinted to match the color of your hair, so there's no evidence of residue. Sprinkle some onto your scalp and brush through.

My New Phone

I got a new qwerty phone courtesy of Smart. Though I know it's going to take me some time to get used to using it (I'm trying!), the kids are patiently teaching me how. Haha. The first time they saw the new phone, they got excited and loaded it up with lots of mp3s and games. I thought the 2 gig SD card that came with it would do but I noticed that some apps are taking a long time to open. They probably overdid it. Hubs said I should expand the sd card to a higher one so everything will load faster. That's what I will do tomorrow.

RT|WW - Mini Burgers

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother Prayer

Dear Lord,
today we pray for mothers--
our own mothers, and mothers everywhere,
who have made such a major contribution
to the good qualities we have,
sometimes through genetics,
more often through great effort and patient instruction,
and who have done their best
to gently polish away our rough edges.
Lord, please bless our mothers
for the endless hours of time they spent
and the boundless energy they invested in us.
Bless our mothers for their sacrifices on our behalf
as they often gave up or deferred their own dreams
so that we could have ours.
Bless our mothers for always being there for us,
for being the person we know we can turn to
when we need comfort, encouragement, or just a hug.
Bless our mothers for making a home for us
where we could feel safe, where we felt we belonged.
Most of all, Lord,
bless our mothers for their unconditional love,
for loving us no matter what,
and for frequently showing love
in ways that make us feel valued and cherished.
Lord, please bless our mothers mightily.
Strengthen them, soothe them,
wrap them in Your infinite love
and shower them with blessings
too numerous to count, too magnificent to describe.
We love them, admire them, respect them,
and we wish that You would give them back
many times the good they gave to us.
In Jesus' name we pray; Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

Burn, Baby Burn!

Still about my cousin and her desperate plan to lose weight, she told me that she already started exercising. Good for her. But she's not giving up on diet pills, she ordered a bottle of the best weight loss product she has used before. She said it's going to help her lose weight fast. She's going back to back to work next month and she needs to lose a lot of weight to fit in her office clothes again.

Not Phentermine!

My cousin who gave birth to her first baby last year is struggling to lose all the pregnancy pounds she gained. Getting more desperate, she wanted to try the popular Phentermine 37.5. The pill may promise fast results but I told her I don't think she should take it. I heard that it has some serious downfalls and should only be taken under a doctor's supervision. It might have scared her because she's now asking me how indoor walking is done. That's the way cuz.... exercise!

Beating Tiredness with Salt

The natural salt crystals mined from the Himalayas have been prized for centuries for their ability to boost energy, mood and well-being. And recent studies reveal why: They enhance the body's absorption of nutrients, as well as balance electrolytes and boost circulation.

You can find Himalayan crystal salt in gourmet food stores and use it in place of table salt.

It Left A Big Hole In My Pocket

You know how expensive medical bills, dental bills, over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, eye care, hearing aids, and many other health-related items and services are. I didn't have a health savings account so it took me 4 months to pay for my dental bills. Good thing my dentist is very considerate and allowed me to make staggered payments. If not, I wouldn't know where to get the money for my dental "emergency" last January. It was my sister who told me about having a health savings account. She said this will save you money and and simplify your medical insurance needs. If this is true, then I will have to check on this.

RT|WW - Dancing Mermaids

Manila Ocean Park's dancing mermaids

To Live On His Own

My cousin is leaving for Canada in two months. Wanting greener pasture, he chose Canada because he thinks he has a lot of opportunities there. He applied for a job online and was happy that he was accepted. He is scheduled to leave for Toronto in July. My aunt is worried because it's his first time to live on his own and we don't have a relative in Canada. She said, she wouldn't worry so much if he opted to work in the United States because we have many relatives there. Besides, my siblings are also there so there'll be someone to at least, look after him.

Upon hearing that his decision is already final, I tracked down an old classmate of mine who happens to live in Toronto. It took me only a few days to find her and she replied to my email right away. I had to ask her to help us look for an apartment for my cousin. She said, that won't be a problem because there are so many near her place. She recommended Toronto Furnished Rentals. According to her, the units are furnished and located within the city. For a start, he won't have problems going to work and back since he won't be able to purchase a car right away. The great thing is, these furnished rentals are just a few minutes away from her home, so my aunt calmed down as soon as she heard this.

I told my cousin that moms are really like that so just let her be. My daughter is also planning to leave for the US, and although it's still a plan, I already felt sad and I'm starting to get worried. Haay, moms! :)

Pics 'r Us

I recently attended the first birthday party of a friend's daughter. Aside from hiring a photographer and videographer, my friend also rented a couple of photo booths. They were a hit especially with the kids who attended the event. Even the parents patiently cued for a chance to have their photos taken. It was a novel idea and many of us would like to rent one for our future get-togethers. It would be nice to have one for our reunions or even New Year's celebration. The concept is really different and could easily get the interest of prospective clients. It gave an idea of how we can use it for our upcoming school fair where we intend to raise funds for the repair of the library.

What's great about it is the features it has. From CDs to frames, it even has props that you can use in costume parties. I can almost see it creating raves in our planned events. This concept could also be a potential moneymaker due to its exclusivity and innovativeness. Who would ever think that the booth we enjoy in malls and carnivals can now be brought right into our homes. These photo booths will definitely be a permanent fixture in our future events.

Younger-Looking Lips

Want to have young-looking lips? Then blow kisses often! Yes, that's the secret. Over time, our lips can lose definition but this motion of blowing a kiss stretches and contracts the lips so they retain their structure.

To have young-looking lips, do 6 to 8 reps of this kiss-blowing motion daily.