Only the good from travelling

I still haven't reached that point in my life where I am comfortable travelling alone, by that I must specify travelling outside of my province, really getting on a boat or a plane. I tried travelling alone many times, took a bus and went off to my destination. When I was younger it has so many advantages for me. But now that I am older I must say it's not as exciting anymore as when I was in my 20s.

So I guess this post is about the benefits of travelling with companion. Now, what kind of companion is another story. So for now I will qualify it as "travelling with a companion you enjoy".  I would love to travel with someone I love and who loves me in return. Someone who's devoted to me is much better. There are some scenes on my mind, I can still recall them where I was treated like a VIP in my travel. I want to relive these moments soonest.

What good is there in planning?

The past days I have been writing down my things to do, for the day, for the week, for the month, for the year, for the year ahead ... targets, drawings, sketches, figures. Amazing how it helps me to relax, worry less, and trust that the future is not so scary as long as I got a plan. Coming from a spiritual perspective, it does not correlate at all because as Christians we are expected to trust in the power greater than us. That has always been my understanding. But right now, reaching this particular age, I have realized both are correct and actually interrelated. I trust in the Lord Almighty that he will take care of my future, but while I am here living my present, I make the most out of it. And writing down, planning, evening things out are one of the ways where I can live life to the fullest. It helps me become more hopeful, positive, organized, calmer, more relaxed and more confident. Indeed it has given me just the right amount of control over my life at least on a daily basis.



 

Are you a bully?

bul·ly¹

ˈbo͝olē/

verb

gerund or present participle: bullying

1. use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.

   "a local man was bullied into helping them"

   synonyms:

   persecute, oppress, tyrannize, browbeat, harass, torment, intimidate, strong-arm,dominate; More

   Bullying is not good for your well being. I am being bullied at work, by someone next to me in rank. I tried not taking it sitting down but the retaliation was even worse. I would just then keep silent go to the bathroom and cry there. It's a nasty thing. I can now understand victims of bullying who hurt their offenders, even kill them. Many times in my mind I do that to my office mate. Then again I know I'm not like that. So I gain myself back and think how pitiful bullies are. 

You can make cake using rice cooker!

 

One of the benefits of baking your own cake is that you can very well control what you put into your pan. You can choose the amount of sugar, (in my case I use brown sugar, as it is of course healthier), the amount of cream, milk, nuts and whatnot. I have tried this rice cooker chocolate cake recipe, surprisingly easy to prepare and for a busy mom like me, it really comes in handy. I made one for my son's 11th birthday. It was such an experience preparing it the night before and putting on the ganache early the next morning while my son was still sleeping. 

 Rice Cooker Chocolate Cake 2 cups cake flour* 3/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted. 3/4 cup caster or superfine sugar. 4 teaspoons baking powder. Pinch of salt. 1 3/4 cups buttermilk. 2 eggs, at room temperature. 80g butter, melted.


 

Spinach for my sandwich!

Was so thrilled to see on Facebook this morning that spinach can be included in a sandwich. Plenty of spinach from where I come. You can see it everywhere. Imagine the health benefits: Health Benefits of Spinach. Low in fat and even lower in cholesterol, spinach is high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese. It is such a great encouragement as I look to my future advocating on organic farming, healthy lifestyle, clean living and going organic. I believe that this earth was created for us to enjoy every bit of its creation. I do not have to deprive myself and suffer just to "appear" healthy enough. I say "appear" because looking thinner is healthier as the society suggests. No I won't starve myself just to look that way. Finally in my life I have learned to love eating, after being skinny for  as long as I could remember. Where did I go all my life missing so much on all these mouth watering treats. 

Something from the kitchen???

I know a lot of mothers suffering from hemorrhoids, most of these cases due to giving birth. This nasty thing can cause so much pain and inconvenience. I have something close to that, yes also due to giving birth, but it's not actually classified as one. I guess I might just try this remedy too. Who knows apple cider vinegar can do so much for our health and minor health issues. The internet is such an amazing venue where we all can learn a lot of things everyday. I'm glad I am on this advocacy.

From My Garden to Your Table

It's always a joy for me to make my scrambled eggs for breakfast and I get to decorate it with greens straight from my own garden. The freshness is just pure bliss ... to the eyes, in my heart, for my taste buds. I have to admit, with my current activities, I have or I give very little time for exercise and I could just imagine the lives of other working mothers like me. So eating healthy somehow pacifies my conscience. 

Tuna Spaghetti Recipe

Being confined in the hospital for almost a week made me realize I should be taking care of my own body in a more vigilant way. I have always been conscious about what I eat, my number of hour's sleep, and all those stuff. But right now I want to take all this to another level. Thinking of more healthy alternatives for the foods that I like to eat is one way.

Here is my most delicious tuna spaghetti recipe which you too can try.

1/2 kg pasta
3 small cans of tuna flakes in oil
1/2 kg fresh tomatoes
Onions
Garlic

See how mouth watering. I really love the taste of celery in my spaghetti so I chopped a few leaves and sprinkled it as my alternative to cheese. There is nothing more comforting about the food that we eat knowing that it will not just satisfy our cravings but most importantly it will nourish us and boost our health. Imagine this simple tuna spaghetti recipe with the same goodness of the usual spaghetti minus the cream, milk, cheese, meat, sausage and hotdog. These ingredients have so much calories and whatnot and you could just imagine what it can do to your body. For me it takes a lot of discipline to be thinking about alternatives all the time. But I guess the reason for this self-imposed discipline is pretty simple. You are what you eat.

Tomato Express Recipe

Another healthy recipe which I've been craving for these days is one of my mother's menus when I was a child. I do not actually know how its called but since I have modified it a bit, I will call it Tomato Express. It is so so so good it will make you wonder how a kilo of tomatoes could become such a mouth watering dish. Here's what you will need.

1kg of fresh tomatoes
Half clove of garlic,
 minced 2 spoonfuls of shrimp paste
2 medium size pidada

In preparing the tomatoes, I cut them into two and take away the seeds. They say it's not good for those who have high uric acid. It doesn't affect the quality of the dish. But just imagine the nutritional value of tomatoes. Rich in lycopene, anti cancer, vit c...

Who says eating healthy is boring? No it's not! It is just matter of being creative and adventurous in your kitchen. Yes, it is a decision that you have to make. And no, no one can make that decision for you.

Miracles in a concrete

I noticed some miracles of nature today, right in front of my doorstep! How can wild flowers sprout out of a complete concrete, right in the middle of a bustling, modern city. Talk about ecozoic living. This just proves to us that indeed all creations can live in harmony with one another. Someone told me this flower has some medicinal value, but I am yet to find that out to confirm everything.

Meanwhile, I let its presence sooth and comfort my tired and somehow discouraged spirit. Ecozoic living and all it's amazing offers remind me that while all this is temporary, we can certainly make the most of our life while we're here. We only need to be more observant around us, we only need to pay more attention to the tiny details, no matter how ordinary they may seem to look at first.

Indeed, there is so much that we miss everyday because of our busy, modern living nowadays. No time to stop and smell the flowers. For most of us it could actually mean we have to file a leave of absence so we can go away for a bit from city life to be able to get in touch with nature. But with this wild flower thriving from my concrete wall, it is proof enough that nature is everywhere. It's exactly where we are, we are standing on it, there under the hot concrete floor. It's life waiting to be discovered. Go natura, go ecozoic. 

Deal with them anyway

I wrote here earlier about staying away from toxic people, with a few suggestions how to do it especially when it is actually impossible to really stay away from them physically. Yes, toxic people can be those who we love, like our mother, our spouse, siblings, office mates. I am always conscious of "walk your talk" principle so I make sure I also practice what I say. I must say my own suggestions were not easy to execute, especially when you are too emotionally involved with that toxic person. I tried, I keep trying. It is not so easy to just simply not care, dismiss, let go. When you are too emotionally involved with a toxic person, you get buried in the situation and the result is of course a toxic relationship.

My heart bleeds writing about this because a lot of those I know suffer in their toxic relationships. Come to think of it, two people who love each other but both suffer by being together. We cannot really judge a toxic person. Because the truth is, they are most likely suffering from a depression or a disorder. This makes the journey really difficult for everyone surrounding the toxic person. Being toxic means something is not normal. It cannot be helped really. So if you can afford it, encourage the person to seek help like counselling. We all want to live happy. We all want peace and harmony. Who doesn't anyway? But we can only achieve that if we actually work for it.

Wonders of Baking Soda

I've been using baking soda with my toothpaste for many years now. It doesn't just serve as a cleanser, whitener, it is also antibacterial, so it's a great alternative to mouthwash. I read somewhere you can also use it in cleaning vegetables to wash away harmful chemicals before preparing your meal. Most of the ones you buy from the supermarket, are made from baking soda anyway, so you can certainly make your own at home. All you need is at least 2 cups of tap water, a few tablespoon of baking soda, mix them in a bowl where you can scrub your vegies away.

A banana a day, keeps the doctor away

A banana a day, keeps the doctor away. I just realized how more superior banana is than the apple. I'm glad I live in a country where bananas are plenty and apples are, well, expensive.


 

If there's a will, there's a way

No mother is too busy to be able to take care of themselves without jeopardizing their responsibilities and bonding time with their kids. This mother will prove you wrong if you keep enumerating all the justifications for not having enough time for exercise. Do not just check out this video, try it out for yourself and be amazed at the realization. I did, myself and that's why I'm sharing it here.

What is Ecozoic Living?

Ecozoic Living means living in harmony with all creations. None in life is compromised, every organism is given the chance to thrive and live it's purpose here on earth. There is mutual respect. "Live simply so that others may simply live" speaks a lot about this, that is as far as we human beings are concerned. Living simply, however doesn't mean we have to give up the luxuries that we also deserve given the fact that we work too hard for our family and loved ones. Look at this one here, doesn't it look luxurious enough? Going natural doesn't mean inconvenience, it means more opportunity to enjoy nature without threatening it's life and existence. Going natural is taking care of our home, the earth, a gift to us. Going natural means ensuring that the air that we breathe is fresh, clean and a refreshment to our lungs. Ecozoic living is going natural. 

 Imagine co-existing with the birds, lizard and even mosquitoes! Kidding aside, of course with ecozoic principle, I can always co-exist with the mosquitoes without to actually harm them. I just need to shoo them a away a bit by planting some mosquito repellant plants and trees. 

 Hmmm... looking at this picture, I think this would be very possible in my little area down in Sipalay. Before getting to the entrance of my place, there is also a shallow sort of a river. 

Here you can see me and my son gathering some pebbles while enjoying the early morning sunlight. 

That is where I will built that hanging rest house! 

How Do You Pouch It?

I just recently learned I can actually enjoy eggs for my breakfast every morning without feeling guilty of consuming oil on a regular basis. Pouching is a lot healthier than simply frying your eggs, for obvious reasons. It's the oil, darling, it's the oil, no need to mention actually. When I learned how to do this, I was so thrilled I had pouched eggs every morning for my breakfast. Well, actually I cannot survive a day without eggs with my breakfast. So pouching is really something that has taken away every bit of guilt in me, just thinking about the oil intake every morning.


 

Make it happen

I can see it happening. A nice house in the middle of the forest farm, cool breeze, no need for any air-conditioner whatsoever, fresh vegetables, fruits, organic chicken and pork meat, a little ranch, flower farm, there is just so much to do in a 30-hectare property. I promise God he will not be disappointed for giving me this blessing. I can't wait for my 2-decade job to be over. Not that I do not treasure it, I do in so many ways. It's just that right now, I guess it's time to move on to the next chapter, where I will be better, wiser, braver. 

There is too much toxicity in city life. The noise, the haste, the pollution, the demands of a busy schedule, all these have been taking the better of me, even the capacity to connect. People do not know each other anymore. Everyone go about their days like robots or grumpy old men. I do not want that kind of life. I've had enough of it. It is in my hands, the power to make things happen, lies on my energy, my will, my decision to do it. I cannot just expect God to shower all these things to me. I have to take my part. And most of all, this has to become an advocacy, so that others, too may live. 

Grapes in the Philippines!

Watching them grow gives me so much energy and hope. There is life, there is new beginning. Starting things like this convinces me that all things are possible if not only you believe but you work for it. Never in my wildest dreams that grapes could grow in my country. Grapes here has always been tagged as special, expensive, and cannot grow in this tropical climate. But that is just a misconception. Maybe a lie by those who colonized us and wanted us to believe that our agriculture did not have any future, so we would depend eternally on imports. Well, that is going to change now. More and more of us are realizing the fact that we have very rich agriculture and this can make us rule over Asia and throughout the world if only we will work hand in hand to achieve it. I am leaning towards organic farming and that is a lot of hope. 

Me-time

I take care of myself by doing the things that I like to do, like music, taking pictures from my cheap mobile phone, writing poetry, mulling, thinking, meditating, just staying idle and being quiet. Sometimes it goes with it some tears, sighs. Whenever life becomes too toxic, I stay back and hold myself with my own dreamy approach to reality. Pragmatism can sometimes agitate the situation, as things can fail greatly, plans can be amended, trips can be cancelled. These things that are way beyond our control, way beyond our human capacity to comprehend. And so when it's not easy to understand anymore for me, I draw back some strengths from the deepest recesses of my being. It is there, waiting to be utilized. 

You're Toxic

Stay away from toxic people. They are a lot of stress and we all know what stress can do to our body. Little by little I have come to realize that indeed I can "stay away" from these negative people, even if I get to see them everyday or even if I have to live under one roof with them. The solutions may not be simple but of course they are doable. 
1. Shield yourself from their toxin by not accepting any of what they say as your own. Of course I'm referring to negative comments, insults, even observations. Sometimes they're just venting out their frustrations, you may listen, but do not accept it as your own. That's not your frustration, that is theirs. 
2. Release that negativity right after. Listen to a favorite music, wash your face with water or if possible take a nice long warm shower. You can go for a walk while taking deep breathes and releasing them to nature. There are plenty of other things you can do release negativity. 
3. Most important of all, be honest. If you really could not take it anymore or you think that you are at the moment "already stressed" enough, kindly express yourself and asked to be excused. That is not very easy to do but I tried that a few times already and no matter what their reaction would be to that, it's not your problem anymore. You've got your organs, and ultimately, your life to protect. 

Stress, the silent killer

It makes me scared watching this video. But this is very enlightening, nevertheless. I hope to spread this awareness to others so that many lives could be saved from this silent killer. All it takes, I guess, is a decision to do something about the daily stressors like schedule and family concerns and career, business, the like. No matter how intimidating this may seem, I believe it is very possible to combat stress and be able to live a healthy lifestyle. One just has to make that decision. I am making that decision. That is one of the reasons why I have come up with this site. I have just turned 40 and I want to face the remaining half of my life wish positive spirit and firm decision that I can conquer whatever it is that keeps me from being victorious.

Quick Fix Cardio Exercise

I am a very busy single working mom. Every day, my my many different roles demand 12 hours from me, mostly away from my own son and other much more important things like family, and myself. I've gotten used to the belief that exercise should at least reach 15 minutes in order for our body to maximize the full benefits. The past years have proven me wrong about that. HIT or High Interval Training has become very popular already, same principle with meta-fit exercises.

Sayote/Chayote is a Remedy for High Blood Pressure

Both of my parents have high blood pressure. My grandfather from my father's side died of heart attack. Even I, at an early age already struggled with high blood pressure, causing my doctor to recommend maintenance medicine for it. Many were a bit shocked to know I have already been maintaining something to  tone down my blood pressure. My own brother had to be rushed to the ER a few years back, that time he was 33, imagine how young, due to very high blood pressure. Initially it made me feel so frustrated, I felt greatly oppressed. As much as I can, I avoid stress as it's the number one cause of it. Some other things, (for some these can be the major cause) like bad diet, lack of sleep, lack of exercise. As for me, my doctors after thorough examinations that the culprit is stress. I am dedicated with my fitness exercises, I eat healthy, I make sure I sleep 7-8 hours a day. But still the PRESSURE is UP.

A few weeks back, my brother discovered some herbal remedy for it. I'm so excited to share it here with you. All you need is one sayote, one cocumber, one ampalaya, all with the same size. Hit them all in your juicer and viola!

My brother's blood pressure has dramatically gone down, his migraines gone.