e s o p h o r i a

Sunscreen Would Be It

2008-05-07T07:49:00.001+08:00

Remember the song Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann? Take note on his advice... If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it.

It is summertime once again and you know what that means... travel time! I really love to travel and doing outdoor activities but I just couldn't believe just how hot it is outside nowadays. I feel like everyone should put sunscreen on their faces everyday when going out even if they're not going under direct sunlight. And don't forget to protect your neck, ears and your lips too. Good thing Screen, Inc. has this new sunscreen which can be used on the neck, face, ears and lips. It is non-greasy and not sticky, unlike the other sunscreens that are available in the market today. We should really make it a daily habit to put sunscreen before going out. Exposure to the sun, even if for just awhile, can cause skin cancer.

Daily OM:Removing Obstructions

2008-04-15T08:01:00.000+08:00

Allowing Our Light To Shine

There are times when we may not feel at our best and brightest. At those times we can take a look at what we might do to let our inner light shine to the fullest. Because we are physical, mental and spiritual beings, we need to determine where our spiritual light is being filtered or blocked. We can work from the outside inward, knowing that we are the only ones with the power to dim our lights, and as we clear away the layers we can get out of our own way to feel the warmth of our own light shining again.

As vehicles for our mind and spirit, our bodies require proper maintenance. Caring for ourselves is like polishing--helping to clear away the accumulation of physical debris that keeps us from operating at our fullest capacity. A simple shift in our thoughts can positively affect our mental state, moving from complaints to gratitude and applying the powerful light of love to any shadowy thoughts. A change of scenery can allow us to see the world in new ways too.

Once we are free of our restrictions, we can become still and connect to the power at the center of our being. It is always there for us, but when we forget to connect, or siphon our power in too many directions, we cannot make the most of our energy. Starting from the inside out may direct us to take the right steps for our journeys back to the light, but sometimes it can be difficult to find the stillness if our bodies and minds are in the way. As we practice steps to keep our energy flowing freely and without obstruction, we shine our light brightly, illuminating our own paths and making the world around us glow as well.

Clubhouse

2007-12-04T19:40:00.000+08:00

My niece, nephew and I love playing clubhouse. Well, it's not actually a clubhouse, I just put a blanket on the headboard of my bed then tie the other ends of the blanket to anything I can tie it to. It's actually more like a tent but both my niece and nephew calls it clubhouse. I even sometimes do that at night and sleep under it. LOL! My sister already bought them a playhouse tent but we don't let them play there often because the tent is made of plastic and it's just too hot inside it. I remember our house in Malabon. We had a big backyard and my sister, cousins and I used to play there always. We loved sliding on the grass when it's raining and we loved playing Pinoy kids' version of football there. We actually spent a lot of time on that backyard because my grandma doesn't want us to go out and play with the other kids on the street. It's even big enough for a small canvas tent and I'm sure that if we still there, my niece and nephew would be thrilled. Bu, that's life, we were forced to move because of all the floods. So now, our little clubhouse will just have to do. :)

Skin Tone

2007-12-02T09:17:00.000+08:00

Ever wondered if you have a warm or school tone? Why does it matter? It does matter, to those who care anyway, so you could choose which colors of clothing, make-up and even jewelry will look good on you. So how do you determine your skin tone? Look at the underside of your arm. If your veins appear bluish you have a cool skin tone, if they appear greenish then you have a warm skin tone.

Now that you've determined your skin tone, you can now choose the right colors for you. For cool skin tone, you look best in jewel colors which include blues, greens, pinks, purples, blue-greens, magentas, and blue-based reds. Silver and platinum jewelry also looks best on you. For warm skin tone, you look best in earth colors such as yellows, oranges, browns, yellowish greens and orange-based reds. And gold jewelry will look best on you.

So, what are the benefits of knowing your skin tone and wearing the right colors? First, your skin tone will look radiant and glowing and your eyes will appear brighter and clearer. Second, your hair will reflect highlights. And lastly, you will hear compliments - such as "You look great”!

Have you ever wondered?

2007-11-27T02:25:00.000+08:00

... how it feels like to live in the old times. Imagine the ladies wearing those very tight and old fashioned corsets, and on top of that re those layers and layers or petticoats. I can't imagine myself wearing those but I'd like to try it one day. I guess it'll be fun to see myself wearing clothes from a number of generations ago. I especially like the ones worn by Jane Seymour in Somewhere In Time. Then I also want to have my photo taken just like hers in the movie. Haha! But seriously, can you imagine if we all still wear those kinds of clothes? I bet it'd be cool!

Vehicular Accidents

2007-11-26T10:27:00.000+08:00

Can you imagine how many vehicular accidents happen a day, especially here in the Philippines? I've been in a huge one about three years ago. I was on my way home and there were five of us in the car, all girls. we were about to take a u-turn when a fiera or mini truck bumped at the back of our car. It was really weird because we thought we saw a huge black shadow passed us by a few seconds before the accident happened. We were lucky no one was hurt but the damage on the car was huge and we bumped on the jeepney in front of us so there's damage both in front and at the back of the car. I called emergency 117 and it took them about an hour to get to the place. I also called my mom and dad because we were just a few meters away from our village. It turned out that the driver was drunk and he lost control of the breaks that's why he bumped into us. I really don't know what happened to the case, I think the police just let the guy go after some time and we were really disappointed. And it's not like there are truck accident lawyers here in the country that we could hire. And if there is, I'm pretty sure it would cost a fortune.

We all spent the night at my house and we were really glad that we were all fine except for some pain in our necks. The next day we all went to the doctor for a check-up. We all had our x-rays taken and they made us wear a soft neck brace and advised us to take a bed rest for 10 days just to make sure that we're really okay.

Forever

2007-11-25T08:06:00.000+08:00

Have you seen the movie Forever starring Mikee Cojuangco and Aga Muhlach? It's actually one of my favorite Tagalog films. I know it's a common setting, especially in Tagalog movies, where one is poor and the other one is rich but there's just something about this movie that I really like. And I'm not particularly fond of horses but I love it here. And did you see the bracelet that Aga gave to Mikee? I'd love to have that! LOL! And I even like Mikee's equestrian riding apparels, especially the boots! And my favorite line from the movie... "pag hawak mo mga kamay ko, parang hawak mo na din ang puso ko" (when you're holding my hands, it's like you're holding my heart). And the theme song is one of my favorites... I could listen to that song the whole day.

My Cousin's New TV

2007-11-24T00:30:00.000+08:00

My cousin bought a new plasma television complete with a plasma stand. I so envy him! But that's okay, I'm fine with my tv as long as it is functioning well. My cousin really saved up for his new tv, he worked hard for it, and he deserves it. He's really happy with his purchase and I can just imagine how proud he is of himself for being able to save and buy his wish. He even sent a picture with him standing beside the tv. He's really funny!

Decorating My Terrace

2007-11-24T00:24:00.000+08:00

So, I'm cleaning my room... and I'm also thinking of decorating my terrace. First thing I'll do is to fix the terrace. I have this mini terrace and I'm thinking of painting the flooring black. The flooring is pebble washed and it looks dirty that's why I want to paint it. Then I want to put a beach chair, a couple of bean bags, and a small table. I'd also love to put a Kichler lamp but we don't have it here in the Philippines, or if we do then I'm pretty sure it'll be expensive. I'm also torn between a beach chair and a rocking chair. I want my terrace to be a mini lounge where I can relax and read and where I can also entertain my friends when they come over.

Are you afraid of aging?

2007-11-24T00:07:00.000+08:00

Are you? I remember my sister's friend, she told my sister that when she reached the age 30 she already started skinceuticals and other beauty products to slow the process of aging. If I'm rich then maybe I will too. Unfortunately, I'm not rich. And I'd rather spend my money on things that my family needs and things that I would enjoy. Right now I'm still saving up to buy Nikon D40x and I spend some bucks for my digital scrapbooking hobby and the rest of money goes to my mom to help pay the bills at home. How I wish I have more money to help pay some debts and to buy more stuff that I like! :)

Cleaning Again

2007-11-24T00:01:00.000+08:00

Yep, I'm cleaning my room again. I'm now cleaning my cabinet and getting rid of some clothes that I'm not gonna wear anymore. But I'm actually having second thoughts... I mean those are my clothes when I was still in college but I'm thinking what if they get in fashion again? How I wish I have some space bags right so I can still keep those clothes and still have more space in my cabinet. They're just taking too much space. I think a quarter of my cabinet is occupied by my old clothes. And I definitely need those space because I'm thinking of getting rid of my study table. It's just not functional for me anymore and it just gives me more space to put my clutters.

The Lake House

2007-11-22T01:07:00.000+08:00

Starring:
Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves

The Story:
Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) is moving out from her lake house, built all of it with glass. She is a doctor and has just begin to work in a hospital in Chicago, moving to a new flat in the center of the city. Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves) is the new owner of the lake house, a young architect who's working in the construction of a new complex of houses at the city skirts. Alex and Kate are maintaining a correspondence, talking about the house matters, sending each other letters, which are put in the lake house's letter box. But a strange thing is happening, because both of them find out that the letter box is working as a kind of time communication channel, between the year 2004, where Alex's living, and 2006, the year that Kate's actually living. After sending each other many letters talking about their lives, and Kate talking to Alex about how life will be in two years, it seems like they're falling in love each other. But maybe they will never meet each other, because of the time distance. Nevertheless, Kate comes up with a memory from 2004, when she forgot a book in a train station, Jane Austen's "Persuasion", and she'll ask Alex to go to that place in that precise moment, when she lost the book. Maybe the future of Kate is about to change, when Alex decides to meet Kate's other self in the past, despite the fact that she has a boyfriend. They will learn that playing with time could be a little bit dangerous for both of them, but Alex will take everything into his hands to finally meet Kate in the future.

I've watched this movie for about three times now. I like the whole story and how everything worked out in the end. I know it's impossible but imagine if all mailboxes are like the one in the movie, imagine if a mailbox can make you communicate with someone from the past or the future. It would be like having a time machine! But seriously I love the whole story, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are a great on screen couple. And the supporting actors are also great, even the dog Jack! If you love romantic movies then you should watch this.

My Friends' Biz

2007-11-22T00:42:00.000+08:00

A couple of my friends started an assisted living business a couple of years ago in L.A. but I really don't know what happened to it. I thought it was a really good idea since Filipinos are known to be very caring when it comes to elders. Last time I heard, they were putting up the website already and they already bought a place and fixed the whole place. They were almost done with everything, complete with a system that uses an assisted living software. I haven't talked to both of them lately and when I visited their site it wasn't even updated. I hope they're just busy and that everything is working out well.

Medical Mission to Zambales

2007-11-21T07:16:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to share something I did that I'm really proud of. In 1994, a group of us from my college organization went to Zambales, Philippines to give an Aeta community free medical check-ups and free medical supplies. Mt. Pinatubo, which errupted again in 1991, is located in Zambales and was still active at that time. The military lent us one of their army trucks so we can go through the lahar flooded areas and the barangay captain in Zambales let us stay at a beach resort in the area for free. On our way home back to Manila, we almost got stranded because it rained that day and one of the bridges was unpassable due to mudflow and we had to wait until dawn just to be able to pass it. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Checking Accounts

2007-11-20T00:22:00.000+08:00

Have you ever considered having a checking account? Not that I'm qualified anyway, but I'm thinking if checking accounts are a good idea. I love those personalized checkbooks that you can get in the US, but here in the Philippines we don't have that. If I do have a checking account and I can order a personalized checkbook, I want one that has turtles or dolphins on it, or maybe teddy bears. Haha!

Checks are actually a good thing if you're going to pay someone and you don't want to carry cash with you. It's safer much safer and you don't really have to worry about snatchers. Just make sure that your account is funded so your checks won't bounce.

13 Interesting Facts About Coffee (T13-1)

2007-11-15T16:02:00.000+08:00

So who doesn't love coffee? The smell alone would make you crave for one. How I wish I have my own jura capresso machine at home so I can have freshly brewed coffee anytime I want. Enough wishful thinking... here are 13 (the first 11 are from Brian Martell's list) interesting facts about coffee. Enjoy reading an hopefully you'll learn something new today.

1. Coffee is the second most traded product in the world after petroleum. World wide coffee production tips the scales at about 6 million metric tonnes.

2. It takes five years for a coffee tree to reach maturity. The average yield from one tree is the equivalent of one roasted pound of coffee.

3. People who buy coffee primarily at drive through windows on their way to work will spend as much as 45 hours a year waiting in line.

4. Of the various botanical species of coffee trees in the world, only two are extensively cultivated commercially; Arabica and Robusta.

5. The average person who buys coffee outside the office to consume at work will spend the equivalent value of a round trip plane ticket to Florida every year.

6. The first coffee house in Europe opened in Venice in 1683, while coffee was available in Europe as early as 1608, mostly for the rich.

7. The expression “a cup of Joe” to denote coffee, was first coined during WWII, when American servicemen (G.I. Joe) were identified as big coffee drinkers.

8. The largest coffee-producing nation, Brazil, is responsible for 30 to 40 % of total world output.

9. In the late 1800’s, Chase and Sanborn put out a flier on how to read the coffee grounds at the bottom of the cup (like a fortune teller).

10. Coffee cherries usually contain two “beans”, except for the single bean peaberry anomaly. Cherries with three beans are deemed to be a sign of good luck.

11. A Belgian living in Guatemala invented the first instant coffee in 1906 and later immigrated to the United States. His name, ironically enough, was George Washington.

12. Hard bean means the coffee was grown at an altitude above 5000 feet.

13. October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

2007-11-15T15:02:00.000+08:00

Starring:
Matthew McConaughey & Kate Hudson

The Story:
Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson), Composure Magazine's "How-To" columnist, has a very unusual assignment and a quick deadline. She has to write a firsthand account of all the things women do to drive men away... and she's got to do it in 10 days. Now she's on a mission to find a guy, get him to fall in love with her, then make all the classic dating mistakes so he'll dump her. Too bad Andie's target is ad agency hottie, Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey), who has just made a high-stakes bet with his boss that he can make a woman fall in love with in 10 days. Does a ruse relationship based on deception stand a chance in a world where everyone says they're looking for honesty? You can bet on it!

My favorite line from the movie:
Andie: You can't lose something you never had.

Official Site: http://www.howtoloseaguymovie.com/

This is one of my favorite romantic comedy movies and I just love Kate Hudson movies. This one really made me laugh and I also like the part where Kate Hudson cried inside the bathroom because everything reminded her of her home. And did you see the giant diamond pendants, diamond necklaces and tiaras? Yummy! What girl wouldn't want to wear those? It doesn't really matter if some say that the movie is fluffy or predictable, it is entertaining. So if you like a light romantic comedies then you should definitely watch this.

Pinay Scandal

2007-11-15T13:35:00.000+08:00

So, I've been told to post something about pinay scandal to gain more hits to this blog.. So what do I really know about pinay scandals? Nothing really, I'm not really interested with these kind of stuff. All I know is that Pinays have somewhat become a sex symbol around the globe. Funny thing is I often see advertisements, like the online dating type of thing where you see pictures of girls saying they're from the Philippines, but when you look at the pictures they're all fair-skinned and blonde. Haha! They're obviously not pinays.

Another thing I'm familiar with is, you're more prone to viruses if you are a frequent visitor to those porn sites. You'll never know if the videos you're downloading are virus free and next thing you know your PC won't function properly anymore. If you really want videos about pinay scandals and you're in the Philippines, then the best place to go to is in Quiapo. LOL! Not that I'm promoting piracy and pornography but that's where you'll find hundreds of pirated DVDs about pinay scandals.

So, enough about pinay scandals. Watch out for my next posts about some movie reviews.

Fiber Optic Cable

2007-11-09T10:38:00.000+08:00

I'm just wondering, I often see this building that is for lease and it says it in ad that there are fiber optic cables already installed in the building. Well, I always thought that fiber optic cables has got something to do with networking the computers since the last occupant of the building seems to be involved in a business that's involved in networking. So today, just to feed my curiosity, I surfed the web about fiber optic cables and here's what I found:

You hear about fiber-optic cables whenever people talk about the telephone system, the cable TV system or the Internet. Fiber-optic lines are strands of optically pure glass as thin as a human hair that carry digital information over long distances. They are also used in medical imaging and mechanical engineering inspection.

Well, it's nice to learn something everything! :)

Update

2007-11-08T09:10:00.000+08:00

Sorry guys if I haven't been regularly posting here. I'm feeling much better now... no more headaches. But you know, about two weeks ago, we had to bring my aunt to the hospital. She just got back from the US and she wasn't feeling very well. One time she woke up in the middle of middle of the night but she can't move any part of her body. She can't even reach my uncle, who was sleeping right beside her, to wake him up. Good thing my uncle heard her making weird noises and suspected that something's not right. So my uncle called my other aunt, who also lives in the same village, and they brought her to the hospital. They said that my aunt was just lying down, her eyes open and staring at the ceiling, and she wasn't moving. But after a while, she was able to move again and she became better. The doctor said that the cause was her blood sugar became so low and she wasn't eating much was drinking her meds on an empty stomach.

It was really a wake up call for all of us. I guess it wouldn't hurt to look out for the best term life insurance quotes to prepare for ourselves and our loved ones because no one really knows what's going to happen next. Imagine if my uncle didn't hear her making noises then everything could be over in a matter of a few minutes.

So that's it for now, enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

Nursing A Headache

2007-11-03T04:51:00.000+08:00

So, I've been a little unwell for the past week. Not really sick, I just got this stubborn headache which I don't know why it wouldn't leave, but sleep really helps. So while I'm nursing this headache I just lie down all day and watch TV and DVDs. When there's really nothing good on TV and I'm too lazy to pop something in the DVD player, I watch home TV shopping channels. I'm telling you, those as seen on tv products are making me desperate! I want them all! LOL! Then after watching too much TV, I'll turn on the PC and do some surfing and after that I sleep.

I really hope this headache goes away soon. It really is not fun!

By the way, I'm thinking of revamping this blog. I'm thinking of making it a movie review and website review blog. I'll bring back photography when I have my camera already and maybe a little travel tales. What do you think?

I Miss My Dad's Office

2007-10-25T04:02:00.000+08:00

My dad has retired from his work for more than three years now and I miss his office. Yeah, I miss it. He used to have a huge office with a T.V. and couch and his own bathroom. Then they have two conference rooms both with projection televisions so it was really fun when I had to go there and wait for him. My most favorite part was at the back of their building is a small plane which the owner turned into a restaurant. It was so cool! And whenever I go there to eat, I just tell them to charge it to my dad and they would!

It's just sad that their office had to move because of the country's bad economy. And the owner of the restaurant had to close it down and tear down the plane because business had gone bad and the plane was already too old to run. Those were the days...

One of my favorite food: Eggplant

2007-10-21T06:12:00.000+08:00

One of my favorite food is fried, grilled or stewed eggplant eaten together with shrimp paste and rice. I could eat that everyday and I won't even complain. But one time my friend told me that eggplant you won't get any nutrients in eggplant and it is high in uric acid. Afraid that I might get arthritis at an early age and might find it hard to look for osteoarthritis relief, I started eating eggplant less frequently, which made me sad a little. But then I read about eggplants and found out that it is not high in uric acid and studies even showed that eggplant is effective in the treatment of high blood cholesterol hypercholesterolemia and in the control of cholesterol. Now, nothing can stop me from eating one of my favorite food! I also liked it in the Filipino dish kare-kare. Another thing that my mom does is she stews it and then mashes it together with vinegar and chopped garlic and then she serves it together with salted fried fish. It really tastes wonderful, you should try it.

Anilao Beach House

2007-10-16T04:25:00.000+08:00

I love going to Anilao and I meet a lot of interesting people there. One time, the camp where we always go to was full so one of the members of the camp, Doc Willy, offered us his beach house just a few minutes away. His place was really nice and interesting. It's like a little community of little houses. First thing you'll come across to is the guest room then if you walk about a few meters away is the kitchen. Just outside the kitchen is the dining area, which is made up of teak outdoor furnitures. Then there's a flight of stairs leading down to the main house and there's another flight of stairs leading finally to the beach.

It's really an interesting and beautiful house. And what I like most about it is the dining area which is shaded by two giant trees. Doc Willy even hired a professional to landscape the whole place. It's really very beautiful and I'd love to back there anytime.

Jewelries

2007-10-16T04:14:00.000+08:00

I'm not a big fan of jewelries but I do some pieces that I love. I really love animal jewelry in particular, like pendants, earrings, etc. Right now, I have a necklace that I wear everyday and the pendant is a tricolor bear. The bear is gold and on one side the bear is holding a bronze baby bear and on the other side the bear is holding a silver heart. Isn't it cute? Aside from bears, I also dolphins and butterflies. I once had a butterfly shaped ring but I asked my mom to just sell because it was too big and she bought me a a pair of gold heart earrings.

My most favorite piece is a bracelet. I especially love bracelets with charms like my favorite animals, flowers, hearts, moons, stars and suns.