Lovey Dovey [DIY Facial]

It's almost weekend and that means spending time with your SO (Special One).  My husband and I have been married for 2 years and 11 days today and it's all good.  Yeah, we've had petty arguments and stuff but it just adds sugar and spice to our marriage.

So, what can you and your SO do this weekend?  Try giving each other a facial.  Thanks to my adorable sister for inspiring us. 
Love to you, sistah!

Oatmeal and Yogurt Face Mask

This mixture will exfoliate, cleanse and rejuvenate your skin.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
1 tbsp oatmeal, finely ground
1 tbsp live, organic yogurt - We used Fage Greek yogurt with honey on the side.  A small container is more than enough for your face and your tummy.
A few drops of honey
Procedure:
Add the yogurt to the oatmeal in a small bowl and mix together.
Add about 1/2 tsp of warm honey.
Stir the honey into the yogurt and oatmeal mixture.

Apply the mask to the face. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with several splashes of warm water. Follow with a warm washcloth.

Apply moisturizer.   We used Alba sea plus renewal cream. 

Do you want a natural facelift?  Do these facial exercises: 

-  with your middle fingers, stroke your forhead upwards toward your hairline about 15 times

-  with the same, stroke sideways towards the side of the forhead (temple area).  Reduce pressure towards the side so as not to compress on the blood vessels and nerves in the area.

-  using the tips of your fingers, "cup" the cheeks upward from the midline moving along the area of the cheekbone

-  using your palms, stroke upwards and sideways from the chin towards the earlobes

-  finish off by massaging the earlobes and stimulating the scalp.

Have a great weekend everyone!

What's your idea of a great weekend?

Reflections on Ms. Lea Salonga

I have always loved watching Broadway musicals and shows.  When I was in High School, we had several productions such as "The Music Man", "The King and I", "South Pacific", etc.  Of all that I have seen, the most memorable was watching Ms. Lea Salonga in "Miss Saigon."  There is something about seeing a fellow Filipino perform amidst an International audience.  It brings tears to my ears and shivers to my bones when I hear their resounding applause and appreciation. 

My family and I have been fans of Ms. Lea Salonga.  We watched her concerts at the PICC and were always awed by the clarity and strength of her voice.  Whether she is singing as Princess Jasmine, Mulan, Cinderella or as Ms. Lea doing a duet with Ms. Ai-Ai de las Alas, she is awesome!

One week ago, hubby and I celebrated our 2nd year wedding anniversary in Chicago.  We watched "Wicked" at the Cadillac Palace and enjoyed the show very much.   We browsed through the Playbill and were elated to see an ad for Lea's concert on March 19 at The Venue, Hammond Indiana.  It made us proud to be Filipinos and Lea Salonga fans at that.  I am set to go back to Manila a week before her concert so I regret having to miss it.  See you again soon.

May you continue to sing beautiful music, Lea!

The Blog Guidebook

I have always kept a pen and notebook to jot down my random thoughts.  Others keep a diary or a journal.  These days, many write and share their thoughts on their Blog.  I have learned a lot through blogging these past few months.  There were a lot of terms and the blog templates looked so 'hi-tech' but I learn a little more every day.  Do you want to blog but scared of the tedious tasks that comes with it?  Fret not, my friend.  If you want to start blogging, you may check out this website by clicking HERE.  They have made blogging a lot easier for newbies.  Their website is a good place to start browsing through different blogs on different topics:  crafting, photography, religions, etc.  It's just a click away.

www.blogguidebook.com

So what are you waiting for?  Start now!
Happy blogging!

Cabby Crafter: MyHub's Vday card [HA January 2011B]

Cabby Crafter: MyHub's Vday card [HA January 2011B]

A wickedly soaring high weekend! [2nd Wedding Anniversary]

 My husband and I are celebrating our 2nd Wedding anniversary on January 17.  Yay!  It's amazing how fast time flies - it seems just yesterday as the cliche goes.  Here we are now... 2 years of wedded bliss.

Our journey together has been exciting - with our own taste of ups and downs, highs and lows - but its all good.  This is the first time that we celebrated in the US (we celebrated our 1st in Manila) and it was fun.

Since our anniversary date happened to be on a Monday, we opted to celebrate on the weekend before that.  We started off by watching "Wicked" at The Cadillac Palace, thanks to our family member's very generous Christmas gift.  This was followed by a long walk along North Michigan ave., braving the cold air while sipping our hot 7-11 hazelnut coffee, followed by window shopping at The Water Tower Place where we explored a very cute doll store: American girl dolls.  This was capped by an uber nice dinner at The Signature Room located on the 95th floor of John Hancock - wow, what an awesome nightscape and superb food!  We had tuna tartare, Carnaroli shellfish risotto and Spice crusted Alaskan halibut.  Dessert were Dark & white chocolate mousse cake and vanilla creme brulee'... yum!  

It was another wonderful day (and night) of being together,  deposited lots of memories in our memory banks.

The inner diameter of our wedding band reads:  "Deus nos iunxit" - God has joined us together - He really has. 

I love you today and forevermore ☺♥☺♥.

Cadillac Palace, The Water Tower Place, The signature Room

Worry wart [Turning point]

Have you experienced being so anxious, feeling so uncertain about the things or events to come?  Have you worried so much that you felt totally helpless and against the wall?  Have you ever opened your Bible or devotional material only to come across a passage of scripture that strikes you to the core and makes you think: 'This is for me'?  That's exactly what happened to me today.
Philippians 4:6-9
"v. 6 Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
v. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
v. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
v. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."

Today's Turning Point (click to read more)  describes the oneness of an orchestra, each instrument contributing to the beautiful totality of a musical masterpiece.  It correlates it to our Christian life where our hearts and hands must work in concert in the same way to produce a life of peace.   "Our desires (the heart) and our actions (the hands) must be working toward the same goal, or tension and disharmony will cause peace to vanish.  In Philippians 4:6-9, Paul talks about living a prayerful life free from anxiety (verses 6-7), and gives us themes on which the heart can settle in peace: noble, true, and virtuous things (verses 8-9). It does no good to pray for peace if we are fixing our minds on the conflicts and struggles of this world."

It comforts me all the time when I read this passage.  "Fix your heart, and then fold your hands in prayer - and receive God's peace."  


Blessings to you, my friend!

Consistency [Turning Point]

Today's topic on Turning point is on "Consistency"with Psalm 119:33-40 as the passage discussed.  The article told of the story of a man who as a child was always reminded to brush his teeth and read his Bible, memorize a verse, before going to bed.  He consistently did this until adulthood out of routine but one day, God spoke to Him and took hold of his life.  There are many obstacles to being consistent.  Over a week ago, most of us made our New Year's resolutions and where are we now?  I am guilty of not being consistent by not doing and reading my daily assignments.  Once again, I am reminded to be consistent, to be steadfast and always abiding in the word of the Lord.

I echo what Pastor David Jeremiah said and i quote:
"Perhaps the most important aspect of Bible study is consistency. It's better to study a little in God's Word every day than to try to absorb lots of the Bible in random study. Find a pattern that works for you, and stick with it. Every day brush your teeth and read your Bible. Be consistent!"


Isn't this funny statement true?:  'A lack of Bible study lead to "truth" decay.' - Unknown

Have a blessed week, my friend.

Comfort drink [Oberweis chocolate milk]

I have fond memories of Magnolia bottled fresh milk delivered right to our doorstep in Manila.  It was more expensive than the ordinary milk sold at the grocery and it was such a treat when my parents bought us a bottle or two - I remember gulping the half-a-liter bottle in one sitting.  I particularly loved the chocolate milk... and the melon milk (yup, they make milk with that flavor in Manila).

Today, my husband introduced me to something in the grocery when we got to the dairy section.  He was like saying:  "Wife, meet Oberweis"  so I gladly took it out of the chiller and into our little cart.  Later, when we got home and I was kinda upset about something, he gave me a glass of this unassuming chocolate milk.  While I was ranting and venting, I unconsciously took a sip and as the rich, silky, creamy, delicious, chocolatey milk caressed my taste buds, I suddenly had nothing but warm, fuzzy, happy happy happy thoughts!

Oberweis Dairy
Chocolate Milk

It was absolutley "SImply the Best!"



Now, I can't wait to be introduced to it's higher form of evolution: Oberweis chocolate ice cream.  More on that later.



Love and Light [John 8:12]

John 8:12 "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

This in one of the verses that assures us that if God is in control of our life, He will never leave us blind and in the dark.  How can we have the light of life?  It's by putting our faith in God, in all humility acknowledge our sins, accepting Him as our Saviour and Lord and to walk daily in His word.  It is difficult, no one said it would be easy.  Our family and friends may criticize us for being "holy holy" or call us different names such as "preacher or pastor so and so" but do not be discouraged.  People will come to know who Jesus is by the lives that we live.  For us Christians, we should strive to grow in the love and knowledge of our Lord - "read your Bible, pray every day" as the sunday school song goes.

David Jeremiah reminds us in "Turning Points" that: 
'Like a lamp that needs to be lit each night, make sure you connect with your spiritual Light-Source every morning. Only by taking His light with you can you enlighten the world.'

You are blessed! ☺

Happy Feet! [DMV day]

I have been driving in Manila for over for 21 years so I can definitely be called a "Manila driver."  It's crazy driving in Manila - I miss honking the car horn, getting across the intersection praying to God that I'd get safely to the other side, inching my way through traffic and along small alleys with tricycles and market vendors on the street, playing cat and mouse with smoke belching buses and jay walking pedestrians, driving so fast just to reach the hospital in time for my newborn baby's delivery, etc.  Oh, it was fun and at times, stressful.  But they say that "If you can drive in Manila, you can drive everywhere."

I have been procastinating on getting my DL for 2 months because of being too anxious about it.  Yes, I was very anxious.  I tried to drive here but I observed that their driving habits are different from us, Manila drivers.  Here, people observe road courtesy and right-of-way towards pedestrians and other vehicles.  Todays weather was nice, sunny with a little cool breeze and since hubby was off from work and it was the first work day of the year 2011, I told him I was ready to get my DL.  It was funny because I felt like a student driver:  fixing the mirrors, wearing my seatbelt, completely stopping at the STOP sign, looking behind and on the side for oncoming traffic, reviewing road signs and their meaning and reading the driving rules of the road. 

My anxiety was quickly replaced with excitement as I handed my application form and finish the written exam.  Then I had to wait for the examiner for the practical driving part.  Hmmm... I couldn't remember what I did when I got my Phil. DL but this time, he instructed me to drive, turn, stop, back-up, merge, and park.  In the end, he told me that I passed.  Yay!  After a few minutes, I already had my DL - total cost USD30. 

Time to celebrate!  Hubby let me drive in the freeway - oh, to drive at 65mph/105kph again... such heaven!  Then, lunch at Olive Garden - yummy!

Appetizer platter:  calamari, stuffed mushroom and fried mozarella

Ministrone, Ravioli di portobello

yummy ravioli

Another stuffing for the hips and my belly.  Enjoy! ☺♥☺

Another year has dawned [1-1-11 Devotion]

Happy New Year!  How did your celebration go?  What did you do on the first day of the new year?  By this time, many have made their "New Year's Resolution":  to be healthy and stop eating junk food, to be patient with others, to work harder and earn more, to quit this or that vice, to give time for one's family... blah blah blah.  I decided not to make one since I am not ever willing to give up eating my slice or two of chocolate cake.

My devotion today is on Psalm 90:1-12.  You might want to read what David Jeremiah shared about it here.  Psalm 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Once again, I am reminded that I will be getting a year older this year.  I'm so looking forward to the big 4-0 though a bit anxious about it.  Being older definitely has its perks but thinking of degenerative diseases such as arthritis or hypertension makes me want to stop the hands of time.  As we grow older, we should become wiser, as the popular saying goes, right?  All the good and bad experiences, trials that we've had in the past should serve as lessons for us to share to those who are younger than us hoping that they would make decisions that they will not regret.  

Our time on earth is short.  What then should we do to make it worth living? I like what David Jeremiah wrote on the last part:  "Lord, remind us that You are our eternal life. Turn our atTENtion to the importance of each day—each year—each decade, and to make our lives count for Christ."


During our New years eve dinner, I requested my in-laws to sing one of my favorite hymns.  Click HERE to listen to "Another year is Dawning."  The song was written by Fran­ces R. Hav­er­gal in 1874. She wrote these words as a po­em for her New Year’s greet­ing cards.  Music is by Samuel S. Wesley (hymn "The Church's One Foundation").
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.


Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.


Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

You are blessed, my friend.