tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254140096121557362024-02-08T08:15:49.987+08:00The Search for WellnessSearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-79238456075041227842009-02-03T22:22:00.003+08:002009-02-03T22:33:51.566+08:00Hiatus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO1z26Www1Yc6kD0v-PpiwprLGqDJClrRRcOebdEX1xBmHbT5_M-eTlvZB8VSEtzoGeBbKsJRwm0I_HlHlUkxF0ZNegUCRUfcs-tHGA-2uCtXNuyl1jdSoLy9-1bPZ-lH7UD7DO-VBFHZ/s1600-h/j0439350.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO1z26Www1Yc6kD0v-PpiwprLGqDJClrRRcOebdEX1xBmHbT5_M-eTlvZB8VSEtzoGeBbKsJRwm0I_HlHlUkxF0ZNegUCRUfcs-tHGA-2uCtXNuyl1jdSoLy9-1bPZ-lH7UD7DO-VBFHZ/s400/j0439350.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298576777709897266" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I apologize for not blogging enough. New tasks. New people. New responsibilities. Going through a learning curve. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meantime, I am enjoying Edwin Casimiro's <a href="http://www.curemanual.com/">Cure All Manual</a>. I hope to start at least one of his protocols. The avoidance of any cosmetic will be very challenging though. :) I doubt if I will be brave enough to chuck them completely. Try to visit his blog and be challenged. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have started with 2 books in my 30-book Amazon wishlist. A Different Bookstore in Serendra is on sale up to February 28th. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Vaccine Book </span>by Dr. Sears is a good read. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Leader in Me </span>by Stephen Covey is equally engaging. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-25204322846318405322009-01-31T01:15:00.005+08:002009-01-31T02:05:18.185+08:00BB Cream<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkDZHsAyf5brPTesasqWZn3SsfUjMqY1mQy9NIfS5gedDuStK2Oef3zi_fUEpnyzMbQ1OVP3FV0Ue8RYGu1_HZHCcegTcKQNEpiWfvQMUxaC6MzUZ4UHMv3UXYmIgwJzNbc_TzmD8Z_PK/s1600-h/bb+cream.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkDZHsAyf5brPTesasqWZn3SsfUjMqY1mQy9NIfS5gedDuStK2Oef3zi_fUEpnyzMbQ1OVP3FV0Ue8RYGu1_HZHCcegTcKQNEpiWfvQMUxaC6MzUZ4UHMv3UXYmIgwJzNbc_TzmD8Z_PK/s400/bb+cream.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297136906690326018" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon this product called the BB Cream. I first heard about from this <a href="http://lizterati.blogspot.com/2008/12/preview-brtc-glossy-shining-bb-cream.html">Li(z)terati</a>, whose site I lurk. Askmewhats made an extensive product review as shown <a href="http://www.askmewhats.com/2008/12/askmewhats-reviews-brtc-cover-bb-cream.html">here</a>. It took me serious googling to finally find <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Indulgenzes</span>, a <a href="http://indulgenzes.multiply.com/photos/album/21/BRTC_BB_CREAM_">local supplier</a>. I bought a tube from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Indulgenzes</span> before she ran out of stock. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The rave about BB Cream, particularly the BRTC brand is captured by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Indulgenzes </span>description as follows:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Blemish Balm, also called BB Cream, is known to have been formulated as an after-treatment cream to help patients who have gone through laser skin surgery to soothe and regenerate the skin. Soon, it became popular with many Korean celebrities.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ADVANTAGE</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">-Helps soften skin texture</div><div style="text-align: left;">-Prolonged use of product may help improve overall texture of skin and fade acne scars</div><div style="text-align: left;">-Acts as makeup base and foundation</div><div style="text-align: left;">-Helps cover the irregularities on the skin, even out skin tone, camouflage under eye circles, scars and add radiance to face."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of all the BB Creams available in the market, BRTC (Bio Remedies for Therapeutic Cosmetics) has the best reviews. I liked the sound of a cosmetic that actually heals the skin instead of ruins it. So far, it is an amazing makeup base. The Perfect Protect BRTC BB Cream leaves a dewy effect instead of a matte effect. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How do I apply?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Cleanser</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Toner</div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Moisturizer (I skip it during the day because I tend to get oily.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Sunblock spf 50 (My BRTC BB cream has no spf.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">5. BRTC BB Cream</div><div style="text-align: left;">6. Foundation (for better coverage)</div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Powder (to set)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-8040775545175742912009-01-23T23:40:00.005+08:002009-01-23T23:52:58.313+08:00Bye Google Chrome, Welcome Back FirefoxI wanted to like Google chrome. Downloading it was amazingly fast. It was like magic. It has a malware/spyware alert system that actually prevented me from opening sites including blogspot sites that have some issues. I would have wanted it to work!<br /><br />But, it was freakingly sloooooooooowwwww. I don't get it! It can hardly open its very own Google reader. It doesn't allow me to reply to my yahoo mail messages. I was unable to reply to group threads or to private messages. I don't get it.<br /><br />Now, there is a theory floating around that google chrome's sluggish performance is due to its secret activity of actually mining information on the user's web activities. Ah ha.<br /><br />That's it. I am outta here and running back to firefox!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWlZYYp8iqJBFsqmdikwXCBBIZlnd7cS5ibf4uqWi7fVnHBecl7CxTiPp7ZvNmvKC9TsTZwazXlbpdCRyLlVyi6It3-b8Ty12Fjl41fITQgP_0nBk_DhEr9q33dH3Z1cHnbWd59EUG0gH/s1600-h/chrome.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 377px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWlZYYp8iqJBFsqmdikwXCBBIZlnd7cS5ibf4uqWi7fVnHBecl7CxTiPp7ZvNmvKC9TsTZwazXlbpdCRyLlVyi6It3-b8Ty12Fjl41fITQgP_0nBk_DhEr9q33dH3Z1cHnbWd59EUG0gH/s400/chrome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294516388173719314" border="0" /></a><br /></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-54860657319702223932009-01-20T18:26:00.005+08:002009-01-21T13:39:06.234+08:0050 Favorite Nursery RhymesIn October, 2008, the store Baby Company released the collection, "50 Favorite Nursery Rhymes: An Anniversary Collection" to mark SM's 50 year celebration. I was in Baby Company at that time buying diapers when I heard this beautifully sang, "Hush-A-Bye Baby." I asked the sales girl how much a CD costs while bracing for the usual PHP300 and above price range. My jaw dropped when she said they were selling it for PHP60 only.<div></div><div><br /></div><div>I hurried to the CD rack and I let out a major oohwah when I saw the collection:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkle_Twinkle_Little_Star">Twinkle Twinkle Little Star</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock-a-bye_Baby">Hush-A-Bye Baby/Rock-A-Bye-Baby</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_a_Cock_Horse">Ride a Cock Horse</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush,_Little_Baby">Hush Little Baby</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A8re_Jacques">Are You Sleeping Brother John</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Mary,_Quite_Contrary">Mary Mary Quite Contrary</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_Rain_Go_Away">Rain Rain Go Away</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Row,_Row,_Row_Your_Boat">Row Row Row Your Boat</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Bridge_is_Falling_Down">London Bridge</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory_Dickory_Dock">Hickory Dickory Dock</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_had_a_little_lamb">Mary Had A Little Lamb</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpty_Dumpty">Humpty Dumpty</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_and_Jill_(song)">Jack & Jill (Original)</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'm_a_Little_Teapot">I'm a Little Teapot</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You">Happy Birthday</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_song">Alphabet Song (A-You're Adorable)</a></li><li>Supercallifragillisticexplaidocious</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Bo_Peep">Little Bo-Peep</a></li><li>I Have Two Hands</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_King_Cole">Old King Cole</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail,_Hail,_the_Gang's_All_Here">Hail! Hail The Gang's All Here</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_to_Know_You_(song)">Getting To Know You</a></li><li>Hello! How Do You Do</li><li>The More We Get Together</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sit_Down,_You're_Rockin'_the_Boat">Sit Down, You're Rocking The Boat</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Blind_Mice">Three Blind Mice</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Little_Indians">Ten Little Indians</a></li><li>My Toes, My Knees, My Shoulder, My Head</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsy_Bitsy_Spider">Eency Weency Spider</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(How_Much_Is)_That_Doggie_in_the_Window%3F">(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window</a></li><li>Musical Alphabet Song</li><li>Little Sunny Water</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_lyrics_to_Frère_Jacques">Where Is Thumbkin</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One,_Two,_Buckle_My_Shoe">One, Two, Buckle My Shoe</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_Around_the_Rosie">Ring Around the Rosy</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingo_(song)">B-i-n-g-o</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIEIO">Old McDonald Had A Farm</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Top_of_Spaghetti">On Top of Spaghetti</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_goes_the_weasel">Pop Goes the Weasel</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She'll_Be_Coming_'Round_the_Mountain">She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip_to_My_Lou">Skip To My Lou</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Little_Piggy">The Little Pig Went to Market</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Little_">Three Little Kittens</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I've_Been_Working_on_the_Railroad">I've Been Working on the Railroad</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He's_Got_the_Whole_World_in_His_Hands">He's Got the Whole World</a></li><li>Six Little Ducks</li><li>Three Little Piggies</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Pandy">Here We Go Looby Loo</a></li><li>Shake My Hand</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farmer_in_the_Dell">The Farmer In The Dell</a></li></ol><div style="text-align: left;">The whole CD was a real steal! Only problem is, I bought only one and it is no longer available after October. So, SM, if you are reading this, please, please make it available again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The CD is a real stress buster. The baby loves it and sleeps soundly after we play it to her. It is a constant companion to our out of town trips. It has preserved my sanity by preempting some of baby's major meltdowns. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe51z4M-ImoPLcWaHMiUfgs2oDhfSDGJ4S068x00D6nVQZW2NmR-YePnx_V3_HB63-QpGbBjuF8HRO672Q624fm-P2HGmL7BoTSr0wWhAwWb9D9ZGEIh0zkfHSVo0neGdlVwuDtc21xJR/s400/010.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293320773554493042" /><br /></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-42215111297661273702009-01-19T12:10:00.002+08:002009-01-22T02:17:03.210+08:00Fabulous Blog<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); line-height: 20px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wdzcpl-4_-IVONEJIqVnKgk23BS1X6q-goh0-tOj73yq08qvUe-4EP0OjuX2v4iX5VK6CW3NzDG1z0-z6ZeFOoY9kgn7A82OGZHU-EvucDLx1NZ57NISku7G1_ugRf_iv58oHCrpkWI/s1600-h/fab-ria+train.jpg" style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); text-decoration: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wdzcpl-4_-IVONEJIqVnKgk23BS1X6q-goh0-tOj73yq08qvUe-4EP0OjuX2v4iX5VK6CW3NzDG1z0-z6ZeFOoY9kgn7A82OGZHU-EvucDLx1NZ57NISku7G1_ugRf_iv58oHCrpkWI/s400/fab-ria+train.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289705870997833634" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 185px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(68, 102, 136); border-right-color: rgb(68, 102, 136); border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 102, 136); border-left-color: rgb(68, 102, 136); " /></a></span>Amy of <a href="http://amy200686.blogspot.com/">http://amy200686.blogspot.com/</a> gave me this fabulous award. Thanks so much girl!!! Do check out Amy's website. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pat of <a href="http://www.patscupoftea.com/">http://www.patscupoftea.com/ </a>also handed me the same award. Thank you, Pat. This time, though, I have to reveal my addictions. Uh oh. So here are the five:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Hubby and baby. I get really bad separation anxiety when it comes to my baby. Working on that. </div><div>2. Japanese food</div><div>3. Internet surfing and lurking at other people's sites </div><div>4. Books</div><div>5. Probably shopping, but not that much really.</div><div><br /></div><div>In turn, I am passing on this award to those who visited me these past days despite my lack of activity. Well, Pat is one of them, but I can't give her back this award. These are:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ask Ms. Recipe of <a href="http://askmsrecipe.com/">http://askmsrecipe.com/</a></div><div>J of <a href="http://www.ozjacaranda.blogspot.com/">http://www.ozjacaranda.blogspot.com/</a></div><div><a href="http://www.ixanova.com/">http://www.ixanova.com/</a><br /></div><div>Eds of <a href="http://edsmommylife.com/?p=900">http://edsmommylife.com/?p=900</a></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-61210778074532170762009-01-15T13:10:00.003+08:002009-01-15T13:32:13.685+08:00BPA free bottle - Medela<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ4U1V0_g_f_eqvlYj19tID49YSsXRuKRWf_lQqbjh2tULr_yU1M67D4uM9VWsUj1ayOdGl9H0Id64AIOqQJK0lsIMEEZQnQ88KTklPQNOf1J6jP17dVrr9VErx2NNNmieA1e1bpLQ71Y/s400/Medela+bottles_bisphenol_en_l.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291383195970679874" /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When my baby was just a few months' old, my really good friend from Canada emailed me to dump my non-BPA free bottles and switch to safer bottles. At the start I said, nah, it's no big deal. I was using Avent at that time and I found it pricey to change bottles since Avent is not offering to replace bottles here in the Philippines. </div><div><br /></div><div>After some time of deliberating and tossing and turning, I relented. I figured what is a few hundred bucks of savings but with a possibility of a potential damage to my daughter's health.</div><div><br /></div><div>What convinced me was the decisive action taken by the Canadian government based on the studies by Health Canada. On October 17, 2008, Canada announced its drafting of regulations banning the importation, sale, and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA), as announced <a href="http://www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/challenge-defi/bisphenol-a_e.html">here</a>. As far as I know, the US has not initiated similar steps. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">There are two main sources<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> of BPA for infants</span></span>: (1) baby bottles; and (2) tin cans containing baby formula. Heating the bottle or putting in hot liquid may cause leeching. I have been mixed feeding from the start and shifted to pure formula feeding when my baby turned 8 months. I have figured out a way of ensuring BPA free bottles by purchasing <a href="http://www.medela.com/ISBD/breastfeeding/products/bottles_BPA-free.php">Medela</a> bottles. However, I have not been as mindful of the formula cans containing my baby's formula. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">How to check if your formula<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> tin can is polycarbonate.</span> Check the bottom of the bottle for the number 7 in the center of the recycling symbol with a PC beside it. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">BPA Health Risks. </span>Bisphenol A is a hormone disruptor. Studies have linked low-dose BPA exposure with permanent changes to the genital tract; increase prostate weight; decline in testosterone; breast cells predisposed to cancer; prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer; and hyperactivity. </div><div><br /></div><div>The scientific studies are not yet very certain, however, I find it best to err on the side of caution. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7HVN0_5LYLWLM4T36yxUtstfVpVF-gBnikO2UmFcK3WXTntkIU-s0j_K6845a9Cm_sigkmS26jAyAFsmsWcibcDPdIKdtbo_gByDTj0GfO-GcThWaj-RkmSYIbu3k11buteBOwzgGysm/s400/medela+with+teat.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291383196467747314" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After all this information, I went up to see Beng of Codienne Enterprises. It is my understanding that Codienne Enterprises is allowed to distribute Medela products provided that they distribute directly to consumers and do not put out their products in stores. Maybe, that is why their Medela products are cheaper. I was in luck and Beng had stocks so I bought 4 pieces of <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:16px;">250ml/8.5oz bottles with medium teat at PHP 600/piece.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>According to Beng, the Medela bottles are flexible as they can be used with all Medela breastpumps. The bottles are also shatterproof and do not crack or splinter when dropped. Best of all, they are BPA free!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beng Feliciano</div><div style="text-align: center;">Medela Mom</div><div style="text-align: center;">Exclusive Authorized Distributor</div><div style="text-align: center;">Medela Philippines</div><div style="text-align: center;">mobile: (0926) 7016248 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><<a href="mailto:medelamoms@yahoo.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(36, 70, 107); ">medelamoms@yahoo.com</a>></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></span></div></span><div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-19839657048825698492009-01-11T19:32:00.008+08:002009-01-12T15:57:33.823+08:00Massage Oil<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfspga6en1ahaX35li8ql8Q9xLByFbFB9qzzXCmpoXYo2TYpTnkye64G9jRlN3KdDa4M9hKz8ctc8-CZhcpy4pmVhqBk71gM6pbWbzYT58KXB0rgFKklgA4b2GiQLf1Hv9l7rLCi8yAdv/s1600-h/Massage+oil+002.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfspga6en1ahaX35li8ql8Q9xLByFbFB9qzzXCmpoXYo2TYpTnkye64G9jRlN3KdDa4M9hKz8ctc8-CZhcpy4pmVhqBk71gM6pbWbzYT58KXB0rgFKklgA4b2GiQLf1Hv9l7rLCi8yAdv/s400/Massage+oil+002.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Once more, I found this fabulous massage oil at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Legaspi</span> Sunday Market. It is made and sold by the same people behind the very effective <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">gugo</span> shampoo with real <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">gugo</span> bark, as I posted <a href="http://thesearchforwellness.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-swear-i-got-more-hair.html">here</a>. I also bought from them the pure soap which I use as baby bottle cleanser described <a href="http://thesearchforwellness.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-swear-i-got-more-hair.html">here</a>.<br /><br />What I love about the massage oil is that it is made of ginger. It is not oily or greasy. More importantly, it doesn't leave oil blots on my sheets or strong smell on the skin. That part I didn't like about coconut oil.<div><br /></div><div>The label says:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ginger Massage Oil</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Folk medicine for centuries has regarded ginger as one of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nature's most health-giving gifts to mankind. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Modern science has attested to the fact that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">rhizoid's</span> oil</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and extract possess anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aestheticians</span> the world over claim it helps beautify the skin </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">by easing dermal tension that may cause</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">wrinkles or varicose vein formations. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />The bottle shown about sells at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">PHP</span>250.00. I already used some of it once for a 2-hour massage. So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sulit</span>.<br /><br />Anyways, I finally snagged the booth's owner's name and contact details:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Gerry Ruiz </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Villena</span></span></span><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Mobile: 0927 577 2075<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>0922 471 0741<br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Email: grvprods_services@yahoo.com<br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Gerry claims that he can ship his products. If you need more details, better reach him directly. His small booth is attracting attention at the Sunday Market. Celebrity sightings include Angel Aquino and Cory <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Quirino</span>. I hope that doesn't affect either its quality or pricing.<div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-12360528996537170602009-01-10T19:21:00.003+08:002009-01-21T13:44:47.877+08:006th Folder/6th Picture Tag from Amy<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">Amy (<a href="http://amy200686.blogspot.com/">http://amy200686.blogspot.com/</a>) tagged me this post. </div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">The rules are: </div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">1. Go the picture folder of your computer or wherever you store your pictures.</div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">2. Go to the 6th foloder and get the 6th picture in that folder.</div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">3. Post it on your blog and tell the story that goes with that picture.</div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">4. Tag other glorious people to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog telling them about it. </div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; ">So, here goes. This is a photo of Caylabne Bay in Tarnate, Cavite. This was taken last year. Hmmm... we often head to Caylabne for weekend outing. Nothing much follows.<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSFqluVPxHqv9Qg-_cQLfgBuzun8ip_0rCA6ecQ1w5jI8qvp7iL6Xd_Kk6sQQ1tC8-wV0XbtyUmlO-_OJZbfRi2jA5ICd-5z6mwJAbBPYZU-FhlFbWGNUDFISH_34aD8UVe0Opc-xLwUn/s400/Dive+%26+trek+029.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></span></div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; ">I am tagging <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://crazylovers.blogspot.com/">http://crazylovers.blogspot.com/, </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">Ria(<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.riastevenson.com/">http://www.riastevenson.com/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">), Faye(<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.quicker8.com/">http://www.quicker8.com/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">), Carlos(<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://carlos-ideas.blogspot.com/">http://carlos-ideas.blogspot.com/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"> ), Rhea(<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://rheaangela.blogspot.com/">http://rheaangela.blogspot.com/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"> ), Anne(<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://anneblythe.blogspot.com/">http://anneblythe.blogspot.com/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"> ) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></span></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-60417366506147739642009-01-10T17:38:00.007+08:002009-01-10T19:36:49.502+08:00Inspiring Blog AwardMy friend, <a href="http://quinnieann.blogspot.com/2009/01/sunnysideup-tagged-inspiring-blogger.html">Q,</a> (and no she is not a James Bond 007 character) has been all too kind to pass these awards to me. <div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZLmHqk5EO6tyOaEfIOM8MoxOyXffCHjf0qajze17RTSYuwz2363IXYv4Ma0enipcOr_U_ilT9_xM7t_fbv4wgqmjem0Yb0cka1PnYUMTvwgQH8pnUy_zIO75LuJN_5h8u9pXPmxqzt5Z/s400/anugerahgus.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289597587556009698" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdckPjjTlIlAlJOB39Iy14nIYr-I29u3wjMxqIA9_afNxK2jSyiwIV9aIOk-u1W-03dxVFUGNYIKUkf-OpeERgI6ZNxo8LrYS7AAsIDEF6eFU5xXpo1C4M25rAbf48aY94RWkwptpjYBs/s400/giraffes-youmakemydayaward-storyteller-253x300.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 169px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289597585279144194" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In turn, I am passing these awards to:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thea(<a href="http://theasbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/">http://theasbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/</a>), Concon(<a href="http://www.theversozas.com/">http://www.theversozas.com/)</a>, Dez(<a href="http://zedruol.blogspot.com/">http://zedruol.blogspot.com/</a>), J(<a href="http://www.ozjacaranda.blogspot.com/">http://www.ozjacaranda.blogspot.com/</a>), Era( <a href="http://eraofchris.blogspot.com/">http://eraofchris.blogspot.com/</a>), Hazel( <a href="http://www.hazelholbrook.com/">http://www.hazelholbrook.com/</a>), Arnie( <a href="http://arnieted.blogspot.com/">http://arnieted.blogspot.com/</a>), Eds(<a href="http://www.mypreciousniche.com/">http://www.mypreciousniche.com/</a> ), Beth(<a href="http://allaboutelizabethp.blogspot.com/">http://allaboutelizabethp.blogspot.com/</a>)</div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-38287549909420343502009-01-10T10:44:00.012+08:002009-01-10T17:18:25.663+08:00The Fourth Edition Tag<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://mycashcrateflow.blogspot.com/">Amy</a> tagged me this fun tag. Amy is from Cagayan de Oro but is now in the US. I follow her blog and we have had a few exchanges. She is the sweetest. Anyways, here is her tag:<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4 favorite things to munch on</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJqboQ9MvbBxS5lreFXrlkFNDgzUwAzPh3hj_A8poeIo50OBSj8sMWtdJUoKlIK6Davm9X7bAjFz6O2p6oAFFNwBvXpPG0EcR-sThpfyk9fXK9qOmgJRcOCIFd9LkyYpNigiJLrDiVYpy/s400/nuts.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 203px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289523834172425090" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKw3C3o4DpNKMlNkRN-puDykLvwgpRpOYs6X0r0UZBfpRSxPlWhXrhSfzZK3BwMhy_PagsDZ__y1K_L39x50FJkzthCYC17Nw4gd4HU_bGnXxJ6M5UaOl7JUXp8H3k-XH8QPpKAlacLNt/s400/chocolateBOX72ppi.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289523830936513154" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbGm8Zvq697tBj2a5T5VkHm8BOUgtl9jFf3GROYDHsuF-IflVMtZUGWt3YHZ20CTAjknzHc3HlhydVUQ_tzufp9ugSi2kNgSZlvYuV68WHkMit33vjSi4GqgTFbAbcPNbCB8JdTyb5N4/s1600-h/1643_lg.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbGm8Zvq697tBj2a5T5VkHm8BOUgtl9jFf3GROYDHsuF-IflVMtZUGWt3YHZ20CTAjknzHc3HlhydVUQ_tzufp9ugSi2kNgSZlvYuV68WHkMit33vjSi4GqgTFbAbcPNbCB8JdTyb5N4/s400/1643_lg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289523831917627442" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KbGm8Zvq697tBj2a5T5VkHm8BOUgtl9jFf3GROYDHsuF-IflVMtZUGWt3YHZ20CTAjknzHc3HlhydVUQ_tzufp9ugSi2kNgSZlvYuV68WHkMit33vjSi4GqgTFbAbcPNbCB8JdTyb5N4/s1600-h/1643_lg.jpg"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFOF6YUDlR2u3scDL5OLbraOr6Oh9FsD025EDqg82tyfwhQC9OEbGScYYrQRWA_T_Ri2J9cJMAr-w1T5Mbw8CZVOKG41rd4u1S_Zhnou5tfZOu8txWsmuiRb0I2kC8dD9HtvhztO9_hkd/s1600-h/Banana.arp.750pix.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFOF6YUDlR2u3scDL5OLbraOr6Oh9FsD025EDqg82tyfwhQC9OEbGScYYrQRWA_T_Ri2J9cJMAr-w1T5Mbw8CZVOKG41rd4u1S_Zhnou5tfZOu8txWsmuiRb0I2kC8dD9HtvhztO9_hkd/s400/Banana.arp.750pix.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289523825622184626" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4 places I like to visit and why</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rome and all of Italy - wanna visit it again but this time with hubby and baby.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH2rKOic-Zpdwwp0l7FwCuBzzcgz8mBMipxyJCOiOgLauXbz5Siub0v1PZ-x_5gjHp8-ec02aeGw7qZHycjg6RY2DzKpwgGWO-AZEijyGZqlumGEq_-ZD_iuZSjp-7Vh740mTA_TDNxLX/s400/rome1.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289523837508569922" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lourdes, France - to have a pilgrimage to our Lady and, of course, ask for healing<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ6-XCQTFVGhUv5sVFtYY96rwYzDOni20HbEqcTCoY4_TUwhsalqduP7N5ugZNH8-MkG5hiQv3bIdbpyN3MmTz6ORRulkfiy9R-_yYtOXSaB2XJdwaXEez1tuyyui80t2pqokyhcs84K1/s400/grotte-lourdes-b.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289524732755726722" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">New Zealand - I love a laid back tour. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6axBYuGOpO5oPHQhop89U4YrDHPRQbNCDti5g5GxNlAd-yb2SR3k1LN-VIc76aExJ4ch0-1K0p88A64Qp6DhhwoegONgrT-r8Or76JUlEdLfJhKZemWjgG95WEjeWIXT7iM0Y07Vz5at/s400/Canterbury_+New+Zealand+_MG_6289.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289524738771151602" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">California and the US - to visit family; to outlet shop in the US :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamtBj_WIJicq5KSBvonrmmImfyOR36raBUoWiQSdvPdXwHSG-JKhdbtIh2KTuuFpHYzhkRdnF3BEHSDqOutEJXioChWUeK15uAtrBXW_0PycHZX9f0fCOXzP0JtnAGT_K5NU106TV3m2Y/s400/california-overview.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289524737095086274" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4 favorite sites for online shopping.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">my amazon.com wishlist is up to 30 items already....</div><div style="text-align: center;">can't have enough of amazon books</div><div style="text-align: center;">can't find Tan Books google image</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg00gMIebVXEU5MI50OxRM6VfyrNMEyDJ5f8yII63oa6skJ8hIoCREeVgyrPn6mCIryatRtlB7E4egAQo09DUJ064gQRQ0eaaWzfSgbyUrEnJ7lLoDsnXn4Vsyhk-i-fUoioNIHUJ7pps/s400/amazon.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 78px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289524729902605666" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEItVeBKNPPdW8Ms2T7Nd6SA0aTdqcLD32lUk9UEpRW4yB0QX6jzyztokRUHqTRG71GQ4nhFw-6QlYy326A_xElnXxSzGX1wAYUBaStwgZUoQ6_-hWuxAHiGhkn3ftl5l70w0PD7Ew-ul3/s400/07amazon-inline3-650.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289524738864555282" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7ZhjeUfIctNdqQfwVumruySlo3AnJ6J3aMFOD_hf8R1mz7oCR19xiC0nkU6ABRz5-rCooHrGRb5phdL3Ohik8j8bSXskH7ddWFcYJAIKkat3JWgbYdtmC9lynxZVf9mTYStfJzc3WDoN/s400/1.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289525961911866674" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4 things that pop up when you google my name</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">That my name is a flower is pretty obvious. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, no irish spring soap popped up in google image. How annoying for pinoys to identify my name with this soap and not with any of the beautiful images below. Perhaps, that's why they always spell my name with an "h". Hay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m4cCU2i5rYcSVrBt-8_7_eRgMzopNG2wxnkQ8ks9uH7A-iqQadLJviHup0pPQhR_c46iqENCNQxFaX22ko2TJbGQ43kSn5AD6qkL8H5xamEg9jJ39Bur_yq0IdzCsKRh8I32E0oxLr-8/s400/2188489010029210395YjQEjG_ph.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289525968237874610" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That my name is an eye part is also common.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlC1mWpVXAJnibxV5mDB67rFuEQvfJvIxqLMjXdIMpeh7SVeC_WnU78dNqCa4fz3znrGbWKOTi_1qEw53FB5I4_CeWSBwMGLLtBXNZ8Hsko_FJkQK86asqNQ_qZPNWjF3mj7UWalmhsBN/s400/greeniris.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289525966397039554" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That a perfume with my name is understandable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9swTyr50wAlEZHmSruUsM7y9Jh0g_8L7RH0v2e8CGrCofe34oOuaxGtiMHTTZWDWaXqZ3sb4uELKrLL_eM1p6qUQtmNasN0N44LtgHZ1ggQq18R_XWgHhcgMM9EbDM_lnMs-m-X4rVRO/s400/Iris+Noir+Eau+de+Parfum.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289525973307975090" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But to have named a nebula, Iris, is astounding! Indeed, a far cry from irish spring. Har har har</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhFToCmi41D4Za6LiX4e4ioxO0nam75gVk8ISeoKnAHm2gDwlWOP8NtfMXHJKiXuM13qiP3x4ZiDVdqwpHEzJ8kvHmH6MIElIfWuHwwpC0w5aj2lcVDUGS_uQmUwcY3QF5CnG1kI3cXy9/s400/iris_cfht.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289526091244386930" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am tagging all those in my followers button to do this fun post, well, except, Amy (<a href="http://amy200686.blogspot.com/">http://amy200686.blogspot.com/)</a>, who tagged me in the first place. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Q (<a href="http://quinnieann.blogspot.com/">http://quinnieann.blogspot.com/; </a> <a href="http://pinoysbest.blogspot.com/">http://pinoysbest.blogspot.com/;</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://pinoysbest.blogspot.com/"> </a><a href="http://inlovewithphotography.blogspot.com/">http://inlovewithphotography.blogspot.com/)</a>- She has 3 blogs and I follow all three. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jenny (<a href="http://jenijenjen.blogspot.com/">http://jenijenjen.blogspot.com/</a>) blogs about political issues, and the girl can jump! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ren (<a href="http://rentale.blogspot.com/">http://rentale.blogspot.com/</a>) is a Cebuano who blogs about Cebu.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Momgen (<a href="http://mommyko.com/">http://mommyko.com</a>) blogs about a myriad of things.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Melanie (<a href="http://lifeinbellevue.blogspot.com/">http://lifeinbellevue.blogspot.com/</a>) talks about her life as a pinay mom in Seattle. She must be busy preparing for Gabz's birthday. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dharlz ( <a href="http://eleanormordenoaguilar.blogspot.com/">http://eleanormordenoaguilar.blogspot.com/ ) </a> is a SPED teacher based in Cagayan de Oro City. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hot Topic (<a href="http://newhottopics.blogspot.com/">http://newhottopics.blogspot.com/</a>) is a certified Bisdak [bisayang dako]. She talks about anything new or hot at the moment.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Krissy ( <a href="http://krissyfied.blogspot.com/">http://krissyfied.blogspot.com/</a> ) is a new blog friend. I visit her site often.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jigi (<a href="http://thechefswife.blogspot.com/">http://thechefswife.blogspot.com/)</a>- She is a Filipina who lives in Sydney with her Greek chef husband. I can't imagine how good the food must be in her house. She blogs about her life and her own kitchen. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Claire (<a href="http://reanaclaire.blogspot.com/">http://reanaclaire.blogspot.com/ ) -</a>She blogs mostly about food finds that leave my mouth watering most of the time.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFOF6YUDlR2u3scDL5OLbraOr6Oh9FsD025EDqg82tyfwhQC9OEbGScYYrQRWA_T_Ri2J9cJMAr-w1T5Mbw8CZVOKG41rd4u1S_Zhnou5tfZOu8txWsmuiRb0I2kC8dD9HtvhztO9_hkd/s1600-h/Banana.arp.750pix.jpg"><br /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); text-decoration: underline;"><div><br /></div></span>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-16650739728773708612009-01-07T13:58:00.005+08:002009-01-07T14:29:23.231+08:00Tomato Soup<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw-_9ij7ADXw58C1KI4iOznGA3K12nXE3odMFn8l_mtOkj5M7doMghHdhoRMVDjda3tvzYQdQFUgECFZfRVYwFNHtMcIFt96VS6DXysibuT3Qbj71tq6biRQTG2bONlX-NDQuFS-jdkA4/s1600-h/December+2008+077.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnw-_9ij7ADXw58C1KI4iOznGA3K12nXE3odMFn8l_mtOkj5M7doMghHdhoRMVDjda3tvzYQdQFUgECFZfRVYwFNHtMcIFt96VS6DXysibuT3Qbj71tq6biRQTG2bONlX-NDQuFS-jdkA4/s400/December+2008+077.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It is a challenge finding healthy eats in malls. Therefore, it was a welcome surprise stumbling upon the menu selection of the Buzz Cafe in Island City Mall (ICM) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. I particularly liked its tomato sauce with fresh vegetables. The soup came with bread and the Bohol Bee Farm spreads. It is offered at PHP160 per serving. I know, it is a tad expensive for Bohol rates. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; ">THE BUZZ CAFE</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><div style="text-align: center;">Upper Ground Floor, Island City Mall<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tagbilaran Ctiy, Philippines<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">+6338.5017818<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp4nzaI_TnOFqCumKgUk4zrJPW5UGVGDXpdSgb9GChM71-FA6fbzXfISId-Jm_WZD9wP9MVDmtmwc7aasd9dzZGUfxP9Xp7MWy4YH2fNpOVp3x3ZOjE2SeS565WYWre4mSqeAbC93t9Ff/s1600-h/December+2008+079.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp4nzaI_TnOFqCumKgUk4zrJPW5UGVGDXpdSgb9GChM71-FA6fbzXfISId-Jm_WZD9wP9MVDmtmwc7aasd9dzZGUfxP9Xp7MWy4YH2fNpOVp3x3ZOjE2SeS565WYWre4mSqeAbC93t9Ff/s400/December+2008+079.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;clear: both; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;clear: both; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;clear: both; ">I have always loved tomato soup. I used to prepare it for dinner along with bruschetta. Below is the tomato soup recipe which I cherish. It is from the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Best of Food Magazine</span> (ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. Pasig City, 2001)</div><div style="text-align: justify;clear: both; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;clear: both; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Tomato Bread Soup</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;clear: both; ">6-8 servings</div><div style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1/2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> cup olive oil (preferably extra virgin) plus additional for serving</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>large onion, minced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>large cans (about 16 oz. each) whole plum tomatoes, undrained, cut into <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>large pieces</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">5 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>cups chicken broth OR 2 bouillon chicken cubes dissolved in 5 cups water</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">10 slices crusty bread cut into chunks</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>teaspoon salt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>teaspoons sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Pinch of Italian seasoning</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>cups fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces OR 1 teaspoon dried basil</span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><ul><li>In a large stockpot, heat olive oil and saute onion.</li><li>Add tomatoes and their juices and saute for a few seconds, pressing tomatoes with a wooden spoon.</li><li>Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 5 minutes.</li><li>Stir in bread chunks and blend well with the rest of the mixture. Season with salt, sugar, Italian seasoning and the dried basil if using. Let simmer 10 to 15 minutes.</li><li>If using fresh basil leaves, add the leaves at this point. Heat through for 30 seconds.</li><li>Spoon into individual serving bowls. Pour a dollop of extra virgin olive oil into each soup bowl for added flavor. Serve with warm bread such as focaccia or baguette.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><br /></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-6193494127865086482009-01-05T10:37:00.004+08:002009-01-06T12:43:22.359+08:00Acupuncture in Tagbilaran City, Bohol<div>While in Bohol, I went to see Dr. Jefferson Huan Ong for acupuncture treatment. Dr. Ong is a licensed doctor of medicine and graduated from Cebu Doctor's College. He went to China to train in acupuncture and has now opened an acupuncture clinic in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Dr. Ong is accredited with the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), a government owned and controlled corporation attached to the Department of Health. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't believe that Bohol is so fortunate to have this alternative treatment available. </div><div><br /></div><div>Had I known about acupuncture during my pregnancy, perhaps, I never would have gone through two days of induced labor and ended up with a c-section just the same. Oh well, I am charging everything to experience and blogging about it so people are informed of other choices.<br /></div><div> </div><div>Dr. Ong was very accommodating. He agreed to see me during his lunch break, though, it was a bit unusual. I had no other time and was running really late for my other activities. He explained very well what the procedure is about. It was my first time to have a heated moxa (a bitter herb) used on my acupuncture needles. Dr. Ong explained that sometimes a person's qi (pronounced: chee) is very deficient that you need external stimulus like the heat from the moxa to fire up the qi. He also adds that the moxa is used to treat dysmenorrhea, insomnia, etc. People with insomnia would put moxa herbs under their pillows and would have really deep sleep and very vivid dreams. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRWGBT-i3-P2fWuEcsh1R9QhDLNJCGo8316xZjUjKyS3WW3dsoQa1vrX-AeG3OQlk8glu8Uq7dPqhmCvWxGtHSqjasTawTmJZ2KSuJVhOSsQMy_4QH8J1Lf-pudCxjfCnyDtf9iosaUvO/s400/December+2008+085.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287618939154906306" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Clinic facade</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">From Dr. Ong's flyer:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">What is acupuncture? </span></span>It is an ancient system of treating and preventing disease developed in China. It has at least 4,000 years of history and is based on the balance of the vital energy of the body called Qi (chee). Qi follows consistent pathways through the body connecting the outer skin and muscles to inner organs. By inserting very thin sterile needles into the skin and underlying tissues, a well-trained acupuncturist can manipulate the flow of the qi and improve the target health issue.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">How does it treat disease?</span></span> Diseases are generally classified as excess or deficiency of qi. The manipulation of qi along its pathways in the body allows the physician to regulate the flow, reducing excesses and increasing the deficient. Obstructed pathways which are usually responsible for pain are also freed through manipulations. An herb called moxa from the Mugwort plant is sometimes heated over the acupoint to increase positive energy. this is especially useful in diseases where pain has been present for a long time (e.g. arthritis, spondylosis, disc diseases, etc)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Acupuncture is safe to combine with most modern medicines and maintenance medications should be continued even while undergoing acupuncture.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEP8eVUSZKSxnpmYfAQEimTm3k0ei53xkaayB9mNHpYdVdWvfC9h58v12zb3ShQeVEHEOGrHpAn-rUrmyHpVpGoUkML6tEzTqJbG8aR5ErJ7ThxPwUcqwsC_1y3L50l10C2VMo4DtMZoq/s400/December+2008+086.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287618944456094818" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Inside the clinic</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Is it painful?</span></span> The insertion of the needle is hardly perceivable due to the very thin gauge of the needle used. When the needle contacts the acupoint, there may be one of a number of sensations around the area. Feelings such as numbness, tingling, heat or cold, heaviness or a sensation of electricity passing through the limb may be felt. This is called the "arrival of qi" and is directly related to the benefit that can be derived from the acupuncture session. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA3Nxo_XCha0rIzjswfGq6pysIIddccQKM6rF06qCSBseD5ErnplBAr74ovupXQU8pKKxWjAZF1d40X7URkoEnzX9paU3nMdpgFd2HHL2Go7di6wJNbqMbD7rkjATt5SVSRto69okm87o/s400/December+2008+087.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287618936131581682" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; ">Dr. Jefferson Huan Ong, M.D.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">What diseases can be treated with acupuncture?</span></span> Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that all diseases can be treated using acupuncture becase the qi affects everything in the body. The World Health Organization however has a list of around 30+ medical conditions approved to benefit from acupuncture:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Low back pain</li><li>Neck pain/stiffness</li><li>Sciatica</li><li>Elbow joint problem</li><li>Knee pain</li><li>Arthritis of the shoulder</li><li>Sprains</li><li>Facial pain/Bell's palsy</li><li>Headache (including migraine)</li><li>Dental pain</li><li>Temporomandibular Joint (TMU) dysfunction</li><li>Rheumatoid arthritis</li><li>Induction of labor</li><li>Correction of malposition of fetus (breech presentation)</li><li>Morning sickness/dizziness</li><li>Nausea and vomiting</li><li>Pain after surgery</li><li>Stroke</li><li>Essential hypertension</li><li>Primary hypotension</li><li>Renal colic</li><li>Leukopenia</li><li>Adverse reactions to radiation or chemotherapy</li><li>Allergic rhinitis including hay fever</li><li>Billary colic</li><li>Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)</li><li>Acute diarrhea</li><li>Primary dysmenorrhea</li><li>Acute abdominal pain</li><li>Peptic ulcer/gastritis</li><li>Insomnia and generalized anxiety</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2WzEK5OEAaBrXwJDbqynzGu5hiSU51-3aS8HgGsQW5zybyuE0pNrg3Hf5yN0Kcq4ChyphenhyphenFFlgwK0jJkYwuT224Tcxmq7oPS7ArKVXj1rEIvQs-oeycTlbdSIBYI35Bd71UmRv0hvuhr8DZ/s400/December+2008+088.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287618954310064370" /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Moxa</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Location: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div> Point of Care Acupuncture Clinic</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Upper Ground Floor, Bohol Quality Mall<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City, Bohol<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Philippines<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Phone:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div> +63 38 411 3164 loc. 294 (landline)</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>+63 920 962 3457 (mobile)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Clinic Days:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div> Monday to Saturday but call for appointment</div><div><br /></div><div>Rates:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>PHP500 for first session</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>PHP300 for succeeding sessions<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-77660307100003852732009-01-04T16:17:00.002+08:002009-01-04T16:31:12.175+08:00What Child Is This?It is now Sunday and we are preparing to go to mass. The long vacation is over and we are looking forward to the new year, though not exactly thrilled to go back to work. Then, I stumbled upon <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/">Jennifer's blog</a>.<br /><br />I was mesmerized by a video she posted.<br /><br /> I, too, was challenged to really consider the importance of the Christmas we just celebrated. When we are back to the grind of our daily life and work, we <em>simply forget</em>. Then, we remember, when we are in dire need, when we are sick, or when we feel helpless. I hope to remember each time. After all, "If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation." (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Inaugural Mass, 24 April 2005)<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M8EWMdgiINg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M8EWMdgiINg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-84983878477822930762009-01-03T19:54:00.001+08:002009-01-04T23:40:27.212+08:00Raw Fish and Fresh SeafoodWhen I was young, my mother used to share an anecdote about a guy from Cebu who was diagnosed with cancer. The guy went on leave from his job and lived on an island. He went fishing with the local fishermen everyday and had a regular diet of raw fish dipped in sea water. He thought he was nearing his end until one day his doctors discovered that he was already cancer free.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">True or not, this story has always fascinated me. I love being out to sea. I love eating raw fish or what we Visayans call, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">kinilaw </span>or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">kilawin </span>for the Tagalogs. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287025595435560258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlFaF-nfEi58KfxPrKRv3IREDZd7j0QJQjf4Yb21O18HVPvxSINcZM0oYK7nGnW7f9nIvMYuujFccw_rID_DGV4UiU1lwmcdSAofQo5kTFkpJPA7orR4Mdv9N4O0Vmw2OyeeW5tiWi35a/s400/December+2008+161.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Kinilaw </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287025585953704034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbB61pPbokw88HY2Oeun-7cjRWSuRM7Oozv4i2pcREnZR4uhXYoAmedC0i92whovhjwL6z0x-PwevF-X9r-z93QLSxbPl1FR7VuFHTnVGyPThtUjkSSwmG8cHtSxJOm9SK-P4D25NMNJKL/s400/December+2008+159.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Preparing the kinilaw</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><br /><br />So during my trip home to Tagbilaran, I asked my mother to prepare <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">kinilaw. </span>It was the best!!! I couldn't have enough. If only we have more fresh seafood in Manila. I also went to see the market in Dao District, Tagbilaran City. This is the market across from Island City Mall (ICM).<br /><br /><br />Below are my finds at 5:30 in the afternoon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287025601622498210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1oZVB6JmyVl-jC_uPxG18uZ7X6XIvMRvzxv5FDUFFhyhzOI8d4AQQI0iEcvDiTQDOf2gX67FKXtYRYWWMX3fsgEiUUUctuamG58K8WBEkVRTNH58MDDZ1Ioy3THVz1Wso7ehcVdfZrJy/s400/December+2008+061.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287025576997726274" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Uo-jIgOIeemQpn_xumwWrLITIypzcWvDH7gF0asFa4D6VVOus3RHHmJiXXbVOQJOnYdz4BGQeRswWgKYRAG3RDJMpz-e5eBOqJnMvpm7x1zTe7fDBKob1LJ5Cw8xuzmhmdmca20bLr7A/s400/December+2008+067.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287025572828739874" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhzkFd3cMIaii2thJj78fYYxyiyr7SVk13LxvtyGKrwmHeasXvZcmqKgwVe2cmenqF6aCzi-MvE06-39QrCW1olnn0yZSdMfZ_ZUvufl9Iv_VjBo4NxUmb_ACvr1bs8yeTm9NwdA6kdZM/s400/December+2008+065.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-33959408667035401372009-01-03T16:19:00.000+08:002009-01-03T16:35:33.364+08:00I've been awarded!<div>Finally, I am back! It is good to have an internet access. To start the year, I will first post about the awards I received from my amazing online friends. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Thanks to <a href="http://www.dez-myonlineworld.com/">dez </a>for giving me this award.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wTqdLgrrsJdjwPmiWA_OYkMyyoJpt7ewlv4dC93GQ-ZkPdK6XxojV0_RbuUxRnPu8t3DsLQI8q0Pjwn6uDcYNg_iQb0l3f71fqNICv_o0-OPCJPc3mBqafVaNCyKrS_zj7-oV1GOmreo/s400/Award+image001.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 116px; height: 147px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286980796800654114" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks <a href="http://theasbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/">thea</a> for handing me this award.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5p2X8olWvv38H7Ez482JXiH6k73x_bfJvveOgN-jJzFEaiOJgbI_tHcwXCzydo_GDKQ-HPC44kVKPqHt4ORZVFLsc6TVt6gqX2EVDVsdXZHR1CzaIF2YYFmE9-wJ-4NY27ZFUQfhJJ2M/s400/Awardamazingblogger.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 170px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286981043483676130" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, thanks to <a href="http://eleanormordenoaguilar.blogspot.com/">dharlz</a> who also gave me this award:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOREQSNWGbsxxDH2YoYmBTN6IcYHWdj7Zj-IL4nh26ygd8Rn64v7Hz1g5RWcfMtEJolfr3nVh9oWVfv1iD43UAv2-Eryh-YWZNCQNkTA8909-Ca1FoyfrYU5QJvZWYN6tD0kr-te9JReQD/s400/awardfriendship_award.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 116px; height: 147px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286982454780537602" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is definitely starting the year with a bang!</div><br /><div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-38917079179734539592008-12-22T11:48:00.010+08:002008-12-24T21:57:57.661+08:00Reflexology Slippers at the Legaspi Sunday Market<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282461199016541858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvp5V7lyQF5ICvjPGwJ-dxXrMMzXBbkiiBP0d2AYqG1qk0VFGVd6zNZujThT-pKU05kbePDkHPWKQqnR4yMuzEw2al0tXFKw38zwVtqT18OOsGLE6_PD_J1NKUulOo7K7nGEb3i6IQ-iS/s400/Dec+2008+003.JPG" border="0" /> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Mike, a Japanese, has been in the Philippines since the 1990s. He personally weaves waraji slippers using the indigenous abaca material. The slippers are woven in a way that the lumps press the crucial reflexology points once the slippers are worn. In this way, organs like the kidney, lungs, heart, etc. get a "massage" while the wearer is walking. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The hubby and I got a pair each for PHP550 and PHP500 respectively. I figured it is cheaper than Havaianas and my very dependable Crocs. I get to strengthen vital organs while walking and support the abaca industry at the same time. Moreover, the slippers are hand made by Mike, who produces three pairs a day. </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Perfect for malling!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282461379748421890" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS83dQ4ebXHtjMFNBVF2uVAgRo0s2O77rRQLrlM0GOiJlY3yw1_z5HQl9xNrGJYE0zoOC-HSrO2SX2VT70S1FEIxykjI57RdPMbjWUCULuNd6lvhf9ghRPIxvKSOCxBJ76PoV3ZMwHDtEk/s400/002.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Prices: PHP500 for smaller sizes; PHP550 for bigger sizes</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Location: Legaspi Sunday Market, Makati City</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"></span>(Herrera to Rada Streets corner Legaspi Street, Legaspi, Makati City)<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Store hours: 7 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">You may call or text Mike at 0920 889 3545</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-59889719643911879372008-12-22T11:43:00.002+08:002008-12-22T18:10:28.088+08:00Merry Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9Tyf1tu0hzeHDF9Jt8sKZIKYlNVPc4uiw9V6iNUlWlADBQi07U4ub-gZKQbuauiCdHXL_9-QtlSIWyUq2x2HwVRdL_PV_8hQ5T36X4oFsJAHaBhyMVisHGZnU-np6MdXxHy5aaShEJpp/s1600-h/j0438992.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9Tyf1tu0hzeHDF9Jt8sKZIKYlNVPc4uiw9V6iNUlWlADBQi07U4ub-gZKQbuauiCdHXL_9-QtlSIWyUq2x2HwVRdL_PV_8hQ5T36X4oFsJAHaBhyMVisHGZnU-np6MdXxHy5aaShEJpp/s400/j0438992.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282456121095608722" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you very much to all my friends, most are newly found, for these amazing few weeks. Thank you for welcoming this newbie into the blogging world. I will be taking a break from blogging for a few days to celebrate Christmas, but I will be back here after New Year's day. All your new posts are stored in my Google reader so I will be able to resume our conversations by then. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Have a blessed Christmas.</div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-36391463018089769962008-12-19T13:07:00.004+08:002008-12-22T11:09:21.697+08:00Google Reader Makes My Blogging Life So Much EasierWhen I started blogging a few weeks back, I stumbled upon a completely new world of bloggers. Of course, I want to read all the recent posts of the 76 blogs (and growing) I am following. At first, it was daunting, I had to go to all the individual sites, then, scour for recent posts. The whole process was tedious and tiring.<div><br /></div><div>I thought I would be unable to keep up, as I am crazy busy myself. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I got smarter. I started to experiment with the different elements and widgets google has to offer. Eventually, I began to understand that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Follow this Blog</span> button is not just a new design, but is a very useful element if used together with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Google Reader. </span>The reader feeds you all the recent posts of your bookmark. You have the option of an expanded or list view. If you want to comment or read an entry, you just click link. Amazing!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rh9blnebxnpeQR82SjGjpTX3yXuB9VAJ1aD9aAds-ukgbqBlU2AbjXlmCTMeA8VrFbyrh-hVQJO1ofYMl_tkJQxdLTo79gBnJM7m_UutfcEl0Qr0GSX2RXAReCtgi0sdQyWLU6ZjxTnD/s400/google_reader.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 304px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282445428399537762" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy of www.carltonbale.com</span></div><div><br /></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-10764650535716159142008-12-18T22:10:00.027+08:002009-01-10T17:19:30.038+08:00Getting Pregnant<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Today we mark our 9th year wedding anniversary. The hubby and I really wanted the date, December 19th. While preparing for the wedding, we carefully selected the marriage rite and the mass readings, but we were oblivious to the readings of the day.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It took us some time to realize that the mass readings for December 19th will always be on the two barren women who were granted the special blessing by God to bear children: t</span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Judg&ch=13&bv1=2&ev1=7&bv2=24&ev2=25"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he mother of Samson in the Old Testament</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and the</span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Luke&ch=1&bv1=5&ev1=25"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> mother of John the Baptist.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> During the early years of our marriage, I was amused at the readings. Later on, I was alarmed. Oh gosh, I am not barren, am I? Then, much much later on, I was filled with hope. It took us eight years to conceive. In those eight years, my period was never delayed nor missed. There was no conception, no miscarriage, no nothing. </span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevNwmIiIvnAHMvxfcOSMXhjujmL51iQ6QZk0vNebkIVDywcxaMgSsj9KnWHsANKHM3hrT2byV3KLbzHOApHeNw7gh5j30OGhdjdfCmiwNsWhmMF3Ck0mrH8xHvw7Bze0emZqaaz-DsNZ5/s400/0000VisitationGHIRLANDAIO1491.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 392px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281151689173861938" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Twice, I attempted to consult with an ob gyn intending a full work up, but I never managed the work up. The tests were invasive and the costs were very expensive. We knew time was ticking. Medical experts consider us infertile for we had been trying to conceive for more than a year without success. I was concerned but was certain that I would conceive.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> On the eighth year, the hubby and I asked John Paul II, who had passed, to pray for us by using </span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/intercessionJP2.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this prayer card</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. I asked God to open my womb just as He did to Sarah the wife of Abraham and Elizabeth the mother of John. The next week, I went to a therapist who did foot reflexology to clean my fallopian tubes, ovaries, etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuFPxwaQrA5R2LpMai2K67zL-fFin4zWDEs1Ztg5aZvOXKTkBf7vU8v8XQzx8-xoMXFTUSPMQUFOEiYcUXyiOLtBp7CsOhoYdLkNr42b79sJtb4zmZgIkXcJ-j8V_P8WlgvGnExPaU46b/s400/000pope-john-paul-image.gif" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281152598386673906" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Six weeks later, I had difficulty getting out of bed. My migraine was horrendous. I was dead tired. I slept through the day. Office was calling but I was just zoned out. I forced hubby to take me to ER after his work because I hated missing work again after just taking a leave to go to the province to vote. :) At the Makati Medical Center ER, the interns checked me for neurological impairment, for flu, etc., eventually, I was asked to give a urine sample. After almost an eternity, I was called in by the intern who told me matter-of-factly that I was pregnant. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I was stumped. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Each day that my belly was growing, I could not believe that I was pregnant. It was a difficult pregnancy and a more difficult delivery. I had to undergo regular ultrasound examinations, which allowed us to witness the growth of our daughter from a mere humping tadpole to a martian like creature, to a recognizable baby. </span><a href="http://www.justthefacts.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Click here for a good view of life inside the womb</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Of course, the pregnancy was a ridiculously happy time but was punctuated by occasional anxiety when I would spot, or had preterm contractions at 6 months, with at least three false alarm emergency trips to the delivery room. It was particularly challenging for me because I am a bit of a control freak. You know, I have issues with ice skating because I cannot control the slippery ground. I am a first born. Yada, yada, yada. But I clung fiercely to the hand of God knowing that he would not pull the rug from under me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was, then, I realize that fertility is a fragile gift and that God is the lord of our fecundity. We delude ourselves into thinking otherwise, but He is and will always be the author of life. As Master Shifu was told in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kung</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fu Panda</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, control is but an illusion. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJj8IctMNQgH9WLKTFR6lffuGf1mPDw2tt2gLmcRLnt7B7-xdr5vLpP3_-sM6rYy9FqNVOEOo3gR4Vb_VGbpbPX7v-szlOakraxaewIcwL6-Rs0YoJsqsG1KPErqdTT9n2EkDCwpaYOFV/s400/000kungfupandaKFP021.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 170px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281172793817755154" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ooXbtMM02wU1EmjnXfhcTTzsb1SaAVfPjY6GDobzNpLWRi2doDXcxRdSLZO0fd02nF3kyE1d-s3qjwz3RrTUv9luZwEBPpvLclX3uvXMaqpDjPFs_3UInxao5g6qIlvTClxm1SZycJFm/s400/000shifu2-1024.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281337414887699506" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am writing this account in gratitude to God's gift for my baby and to holy intercessors Mother Mary, St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph, to John Paull II, as well as avid fans, i.e., my in-laws, relatives, and dear friends, for many were more impatient than us all those years of waiting. I thank the guardian angels and archangels for protecting my daughter in the womb, and to St. Nicholas of Bari for helping me make ends meet. Special thanks to St. Josemaria Escriva who until now inspires my day with real concern for others as I begin a new chapter of my life.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The hubby and the baby are featured in the December 2008 issue of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Baby Magazine, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">page 68. Hope you grab your copies!</span></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-11389758276514504522008-12-15T18:37:00.026+08:002008-12-16T11:16:46.071+08:00Tagged Again: Fun Google Post!Thank you, <a href="http://mycashcrateflow.blogspot.com/">Amy</a>, for this fun tag!<div><br /></div><div>The Rules are-</div><div><br /></div><div>" Use Google Image to search the answers to the questions below. Then you must choose a picture in the first page of the results and post it as your answer. After that tag 7 people."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1. Date of my birthday</span></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK0T6opX9MpPf7UXaDtfLefZD6MGO5kDmvEO83H9fwLoV3nzMIhGmICwliH0EbqKcZQPIprgADOGvcxNkE7anj9Bb1-mvbPOI2ZakhH__34Ik53W48rVokI2R4nUtJZxH8CCOaipsDTKd/s400/11170s-Scrapbook-2-lg.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279965458370180546" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">2. The place I'd like to travel to</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLKDXE-DGCGoj3OFS6m1BUaQEVRggkWZfAToQJDE5h4Bls6IGBsrJDqgTTYBYhWXgFhf_qkJzUa2N1SGecs0BCgAdl6cixUGykdGFRjyivFo32JnO4SvLexBovDL-7v0xwFyeCIzY1cP5/s400/111rome-holiday-colosseum-full.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279966356201426482" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">3. A favorite place<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ju6tXI74MHu4PlemizwTn71voRahBH5xFEvU-6w34tHdtVpkJGighJQdkaMbAx7r9C0pNrgrSOdqp3qSIa_mPKeaBG23n-1QR0on6yJnZ2RbRLlhiQrNt05G8sq2Hz4ypZj0NQHeqBwL/s400/111Panglao_Public_Beach.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279968040627441602" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">4. A Favorite Thing</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZezpSgfUV7SeB1Prro6SOjgWKSto2upks9I97GwSuuvgW5RWW2HRcLyg9v5rqcYQ_f1M2Ia2BY-3Mmp7PGz6jbW1KsaTLbQGtzhpP2acoZv0RarFiNMtoNFfS0dGO-8h5NfJAiEi68oBK/s400/111annegedes.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279968530791602642" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">5. A Favorite Food</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH99IKFxjJrjlsydGWXMZ-K4aLRWip7Y4JJ-Y5ukJkNJH2jY3fVXwk_W_WhwD7DpJxrPaB0lpLAuytpmas_mEHQzAFNk1DMuIdk0WkoavnNqZMeOWpieXuC8gO0SGASvPabhyphenhyphenuJwRWrB-I/s400/111sashimi.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279969819419726178" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">6. A Favorite Color </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdGbAOyDbVT24iUpxURltDEcYh2GXELDhpzdIq5YjlF11mMDlcwmcfFlNY5w3fnlIEB5-66WHNjLrBw0r7fZLaq4Gq0sZn14RhEMErGcodgipNjc0C9uIMh-QIL-3evqpU99ePQJ0v4RP/s400/111tb_mecsek_yellow_flower.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279970292814524290" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> 7. The City I Live In</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31MaRVOcqMFC8SK_H5IJLNe-zaR7sglYkfSWcVQhyUlh5m-YyhyVf7HxUAO-mFjlxZhzhgEBNPzbm-ACty3wtoHJbiHkdsuuWJtDCmY_x7iMHXPPiLz3km2EjpANNkL1NLJsavgMFV1oZ/s400/111makati81ee.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279971144350886226" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">8. The City I was Born in</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgScx21QLXfDLH7KIld4Rj35aE1u0qRXGJavR6C1Bu-UVPPXWM2X_ccUBRNZHfWjT_MwDT5qypIvGHXWzSP7kx4wg2YOv-vXbQfJY72KOCznWejDlJxtc-HnlEVm0OqahZGdAqLtKClGY/s400/111cebu360015738_2b921ad0b0.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279972088472177986" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">9. A <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Nickname I had</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfU0l0HEWHH2b3sx7oaB6oI8DISww8-7D7f6xYaIET0jeMjJ70xJ-sOWc4h6X7bJnDiN8nTRyPURJ3SQtcX7UT3MsJfC3TP2O5uRT1Atg1IcTpfdyJ8pzaRbD5cEyIN88BNkkQLlb53C8c/s400/111LetterI_WEB+(3)+(1).jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279973506400944786" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">10. A College Major</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb_KpcIejFvqHXPuJX-H51go2HcGZQwk2ADpuP0Pq88jq_eEDhUcPXVrR2GKWylbkMCxOsnplin5BbrwHtPWY6YSFzG0ILh3ORUdN1TgvvK0VnB08bQNU6kAzfaO2HSOFMRN17OIFPZXF/s400/222psoc_globe.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 367px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279974644098588002" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">11. Name of First Lover</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQXxUlTbINcUkI5U3-HDQDGOY578fg9CYN2wT_QnJZJtBPuKJsQvSfi3wwn-eyYn9W1jor5y0_weXVZ7AYqGDwsKdtELrSVAmA_RdoElqriInnekJ0IHQGbWBUPkpEJP2jBqleUr3YSbx/s400/222jesus9.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279976563058127042" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">12. A Bad Habit</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM0k_4SfPbztRqSXGN2MrnRkBJ0elPLaZFEbkSK8doHm_wH38lmWt3yHkQ3YnjZeE6xx1MdpEkxDCY2cBgCxDjbcke4FitK-HgIpuTECFOJ6xNUYo_qJV5_sCukebF608sgGPbzZO7W2I/s400/333procrastinate-main_Full.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279979657653232402" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">13. A Hobby</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2cD6xrr3oGcmF2VfCanPbemNbpdAHOcE0_q3G9J0iZbOBN-YFNLDYfLAzXsqoLSbtVYWDzbzrq-3sQFOVAgv4IAup9N5-F7U3ZFYDNsvGugo198UNCm0UUsNFsTX7fSVZiq2t9X7Ctw0/s400/333Young-Girl-Reading-Print-C10032525.jpeg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279983004828658658" /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">14. Current Three Wishes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBe3QQYfoE-loYCvrri14kDKzK8NNqE_-0q-A5sazORwvkSTSKLvhQZHFrTifIb81ov5qzKV93re7bRVUKeRlkW0M1wan5zzvkeV_ZbQnfQJuWPUeW5Df_DqYHJ0MZLQOWKbmylKw76mc7/s400/333Header-healthy-life.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 130px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279984134672822882" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdrc_VNuYUerJmMGoA6O96rOGL2CWtPHVGUWDojqYmmcntHELKfEQkLQ-kXrqnzmTj37hsIDL50KyEFI1P-vEuoLeyEVmK9UdPDWEtH2hvTt4KWh9RhaMsgg0zRTGMhcEuNWE_CcKl9O9/s400/111Bentwood+French+Country+1.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279986695776150898" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXQ6dDK2RNwxZaMfs0srVI43Jy3KIu10CKEz2sdRGbnZNd7MLhUE4tx1LmFn__rOHemHmS_9Y44ZdEZnXNzbrioqiADb5wRgOM4PGS2tRxIa9SAi7LPXV90H6vTx-6kA2vzR-fRf2QipW/s400/333slowliving2368923670_105d73bd56.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279984000577693474" /></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">I tag <a href="http:////eraofchris.blogspot.com/">era</a>, <a href="http://vmarie00.blogspot.com/">marie</a>,<a href="http://www.reanaclaire.blogspot.com/">claire</a>, <a href="http://askmsrecipe.com/">askmsrecipe</a>, and <a href="http://askmsrecipe.com/">vina</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-16502963231873787012008-12-15T15:03:00.013+08:002008-12-15T18:00:12.321+08:00The Charism of Healing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUr8hv5t5ZjJjOvVxzjMgTuZuXBmVBryRwhzpCrm8BkFUgxYghdUhMJgwGAd5G9x6LZqPNWZvJGcMwb9FBLwyxUv5TeY_kHDIKGtEF4ips29GjwmbBLoaOuKlfgqXbkPIFWUwjsyFVgzX/s1600-h/j0438920.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUr8hv5t5ZjJjOvVxzjMgTuZuXBmVBryRwhzpCrm8BkFUgxYghdUhMJgwGAd5G9x6LZqPNWZvJGcMwb9FBLwyxUv5TeY_kHDIKGtEF4ips29GjwmbBLoaOuKlfgqXbkPIFWUwjsyFVgzX/s400/j0438920.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279919736516770818" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>On September 14, 2000, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, then headed by the current Pope, released the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20001123_istruzione_en.html">Instruction on Prayers for Healing</a>. </span>It is most interesting that the the document encourages the sick to really pray for healing by noting that Our Lord Jesus Christ never "hinted any reproach" to anyone who prays for healing. Instead, he only complains of the lack of faith of the droves of people who go to him. I am urged by this observation to pray my brains out for my intentions. Perhaps, I need to pray like the widow in the parable of the unjust judge. <div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DthehCVPA-6rfc85QC9rW8REJHHh_PQ4coKBllvmqTU4izRv9pKUfXqRC-pUZXkwStmsBbBcVMP8qnwKyHLUesB2KfAViwQUK84gzWcS3qlGqRKUJNDo-lZVUCAJiZnXGTHrpBeG-Nd_/s400/j0409692.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279918901133443250" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Second, the Vatican also recognizes that the Holy Spirit confers the gift or the charism of healing to any person he chooses. Such a gift is freely given and does not depend on the person's class, category, or group. The document identifies the existence of a charism of healing when healing transpires due to the intercession of a particular person who is given the gift to heal. Otherwise, if the healing is attributed to certain sanctuaries or places of healing, then, technically there is no charism of healing to speak of. </div><div><br /></div><div>The document is most helpful especially in the discernment of spirits to acertain the source of healing (or vision or revelation for that matter), as there are three current sources: (1) good spirit; (2) evil spirit; and (3) auto suggestion. The article of Fr. William Most discusses discernment of spirits <a href="http://www.catholic-pages.com/bvm/private_revelations.asp">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-75145739266377546872008-12-15T10:42:00.010+08:002008-12-19T14:40:04.498+08:00I've Been Tagged!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mUhQcj1c4ZkS0h6xucEdHaGZjf9nl7AH357WTxBaHk15gczKcBT7zDioFr-ogmwOfk5wt6OWnh9HYhKfuS6VJKOVlOnFFKL7OQsFgJP6Bf0C1xzJhDUcNituEGnYPRRLMq1IX9p8T1vN/s1600-h/Blog+awardjpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mUhQcj1c4ZkS0h6xucEdHaGZjf9nl7AH357WTxBaHk15gczKcBT7zDioFr-ogmwOfk5wt6OWnh9HYhKfuS6VJKOVlOnFFKL7OQsFgJP6Bf0C1xzJhDUcNituEGnYPRRLMq1IX9p8T1vN/s400/Blog+awardjpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279843076050719906" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:11px;"><strong><em><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Many thanks Melanie of </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><a href="http://lifeinbellevue.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Life in Bellevue </span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://lifeinbellevue.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> for this award.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Here are the rules of this award: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></em></strong><span style=" "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1. Each blogger must post these rules.</span></span></span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span><span style=" "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2. Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.</span></span></span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span><span style=" "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">3. </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blogger</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> that are tagged, need to write ten facts about themselves. You need to choose ten people to tag and list their names.</span></span></span></em></span><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic; line-height: 16px;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic; line-height: 16px;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">================================ </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic; line-height: 16px;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So, here are my ten, weird, random, little known facts or habits about myself. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1. I get affected by celebrity marital breakups. Seriously! I can't stand Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt because of all the brouhaha over the Jennifer Aniston thing. I am not even an Aniston fan. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2. On a similar vein, I don't like the local Dingdong Avanzado and Marian Rivera the more, because of what happened to Avanzado and Karylle. I think fame has gotten into Avanzado's head. I am not and have never been a fan or a follower of any of the actors, but after the Karylle breakup, I can't stand any of their endorsements, trailers, shows, etc. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">3. I am stumped that Melanie of Life of Bellevue had the book author of the book she read and blogged about posted a </span><a href="http://lifeinbellevue.blogspot.com/2008/12/matter-of-grace-what-would-it-be.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">comment on her blog</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">4. I am very grateful to John Paul II for his prayers so I can have my baby.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">5. I talk to my guardian angel everyday and to my family members' guardian angels.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">6. I personally experience the guardian angels' prompt and very effective response every time I ask for help, like to protect my daughter when she was in my womb during a challenging pregnancy or to get parking space, etc.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">7. I am convinced that when Jesus said your faith will move mountains, He meant it literally and not just figuratively.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">8. Pacquiao's mother said that she is related to my maternal grandfather. Hahahaha.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">9. I and two friends once walked through a snow storm in Halifax, Novia Scotia. We were the only souls out in the streets that time.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">10. And oh, we are on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Baby Magazine </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">for the December 2008 issue. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Passing award to: <a href="http://www.quinnieann.blogspot.com/">sunnysideup</a>, <a href="http://theasbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/">thea</a>, <a href="http://homeact.blogspot.com/">libai</a>, <a href="http://zedruol.blogspot.com/">dez</a>, <a href="http://elladelrosario.blogspot.com/">ella</a>, <a href="http://thechefswife.blogspot.com/">jigi</a>, <a href="http://www.patscupoftea.com/">pat</a>, <a href="http://anneblythe.blogspot.com/">joy</a>, <a href="http://dredreviews.blogspot.com/">dred</a>, <a href="http://leahjoseph.com/">leah</a>, <a href="http://www.pinoysbest.blogspot.com/">pinoysbes</a>t. </span></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-91091923107096520252008-12-11T17:54:00.015+08:002008-12-14T00:20:29.329+08:00Home Massage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjMq-EKDTYVIr4GGDCVSM3n6U0ICrI-pPbENLg2LbDKg-fEAuc-us6IrGNtYYjFlrFJNnx38sUUDFj6nASCDiSW_BmgKvzpqr77vw5WJgt1__AZsbe8k4axTtkP56E02O_S__zgEmWgCf/s1600-h/j0430963.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjMq-EKDTYVIr4GGDCVSM3n6U0ICrI-pPbENLg2LbDKg-fEAuc-us6IrGNtYYjFlrFJNnx38sUUDFj6nASCDiSW_BmgKvzpqr77vw5WJgt1__AZsbe8k4axTtkP56E02O_S__zgEmWgCf/s400/j0430963.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278911274047733778" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Having a good home massage in Metro Manila is a hit or miss affair. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Once I was made to wait for almost two hours for the massage therapist to arrive with not a word from the massage service provider or the therapist. When the therapist got in, there was neither an apology nor an explanation given. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Second, I do not get consistent or good service. One time, the hubby kidded that the massage service was in a bind to fill in my request that it had its househelp put on a therapist's uniform and call on my door. The therapist obviously doesn't know how to massage. I was just eager to have the massage over and done with.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr_Np7E-VrO7idMGqcUOoKv_-o89_WdUSsTaTuojjiUMYEya43zUE2ZCodQNp72ucqpFHa_dO7SyW7OBHqoGiSMoC6eixwsUpMpiWMvBaWgEi7Q8FqwHAF5TWMygk1uRJC-QprTqZf8X9/s400/j0409551.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278909329693223698" /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Finally, there is always the issue of security. I have heard of theft. I also have concerns about bringing in complete strangers into my home. For a long time, I settled with going to spas for my massage. Eventually, I had to curb my spa going. It was getting too expensive to be done regularly. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That was until I met Nanay Shionny.... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Nanay Shionny used to work with a home service massage. Prior that, she was with Lasema Spa in Makati. But, earlier on she trained in massage therapy in her hometown, Cagayan de Oro, before she was 20 years old. She was considered a hilot, a term she does not particularly like, and has helped stroke patients, women who just gave birth, etc. Only in Metro Manila did she seek employment as a home massage therapist. After resigning from the home massage service provider, she has been accepting her own clients.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have benefitted from Nanay Shionny's seasoned massage therapy. Moreover, I can now have a massage in the comforts of my home knowing that the therapist can be trusted. Most of all, I get to de-stress without costing me an arm and a leg. After all, PHP250 an hour is practically a steal!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-58687180088401677712008-12-10T12:31:00.011+08:002008-12-10T13:33:54.691+08:00Baby Bottle Cleaner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE1zEHUfriPETusIg40-YQQzHkXDp3mcRKLTCdQAHFZhz2PSoqYTf0PDb0tXC1NBmnlDtOCTHehQD7WXXsezaontPeXcA7_i2RelqBquGy0M3OZygZmeISaAwtqbe7sHjmFV_6aQAII_-/s1600-h/7th+day+of+novena+011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE1zEHUfriPETusIg40-YQQzHkXDp3mcRKLTCdQAHFZhz2PSoqYTf0PDb0tXC1NBmnlDtOCTHehQD7WXXsezaontPeXcA7_i2RelqBquGy0M3OZygZmeISaAwtqbe7sHjmFV_6aQAII_-/s400/7th+day+of+novena+011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278027851227101202" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">B</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">aby products are getting really expensive these days. The hubby and I feel guilty about scrimping on things like BPA-free bottles, pedia care, etc, but, we had to draw the line at a PHP500.00 (roughly USD10.00) per baby bottle wash. We get it that we have to give the baby chemical-free products, but PHP500.00 is still PHP500.00. Yet, we could not see ourselves settling with Joy, Axion, Dawn, or what not. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Good thing we stumbled upon this little </span></span><a href="http://thesearchforwellness.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-swear-i-got-more-hair.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">booth</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> at the Legaspi Sunday market, which sells organic soaps and shampoos. I don't know the booth's name or the owners, but my previous </span></span><a href="http://thesearchforwellness.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-swear-i-got-more-hair.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> discusses another one of its products. This booth happens to sell </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pure Soap </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">as well. The soap label reads:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the soap to use when you can't allow traces of fragrances, residue, odor or dirt to remain. Ideal for fine china, crystals and silverwares. May also be used for baby's utensils, microwave ovens and refrigerator interiors.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We have been using </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pure Soap</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for months' now not just on baby's utensils but on our regular dishes as well. It turned out to be cheaper than commercial dishwashing liquid. A liter costs about PHP300.00, but it lasted us for a couple of months. Not bad, eh?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825414009612155736.post-41768684676212868262008-12-08T12:39:00.010+08:002008-12-22T12:22:12.083+08:00I Swear I Got More Hair!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jNTop3me2gmKRx-6UPUEt2mpNTxWshu08nx_CQXq0iU6qeP6F6BaStlvJ8d7ZHUokFrm728rjjh1tfUVfqhKnG8sFp0SUPLHrCf0jm7L3mPs8moC7rXHzxjIcK9WkgyIwb8UyrY5QqTs/s1600-h/7th+day+of+novena+010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jNTop3me2gmKRx-6UPUEt2mpNTxWshu08nx_CQXq0iU6qeP6F6BaStlvJ8d7ZHUokFrm728rjjh1tfUVfqhKnG8sFp0SUPLHrCf0jm7L3mPs8moC7rXHzxjIcK9WkgyIwb8UyrY5QqTs/s400/7th+day+of+novena+010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277278830126995506" /></a><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>At the risk of incurring legal liability from the shampoo who used the above tagline, I will just have to seek permission for its use, as it most accurately describes my experience with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Rain Forest Gugo Shampoo. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The hubby and I first visited the organics booth sometime last year at the Legaspi market. We were curious about the organic soaps that were of different flavors and beautiful colors. We were enticed into buying as it was dirt cheap compared to LUSH. LUSH is very good, but the pocket is not as deep.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I immediately noticed the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Rain Forest Gugo Shampoo</span> displayed by the side. I easily convinced my husband to buy it as his developing tonsure was starting to be a more regular topic of conversation. It also helped that the booth owners, whose faces I will recognize anywhere, but whose names I failed to get, assured us that their products were truly chemical-free.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My husband and I used the shampoo and stopped buying other shampoo. We were happy because the gugo shampoo was very economical. A 1-Liter size lasted us for months. We were content that it was not laden with all those scary poisons you hear about in your forwarded emails. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVYAOHcIM-NwJKqtp2WLmD-f_BbKgJgkc-MX8o8_tLwjih6Bu-DjlFcppznvJn72IWyqMKTdnzPRtiotAibTyVb9sd8Pb5fLvbdiiPyCDNB0R-30dq5Gfz9kUa06hn6j6FNMKIItntO0J/s400/7th+day+of+novena+009.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277279389431470946" /><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Then, one time I was combing my hair and I noticed baby hair on my hairline! I was ecstatic. You see, back in high school when Debbie Gibson was cool and Michael Jackson was still partly black, Aqua Net hairspray was in every girl's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">kikay</span> kit... and it was in mine as well. I was using Aqua Net like there was no tomorrow. I <a href="http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip100066.htm">teased</a> my bangs when I wore my hair up. I teased my bangs when I wore my hair down. However, I wore my hair, my bangs have to be teased. The teasing started in Grade 6 and probably ended with my high school graduation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">All those years of merciless backcombing and loading chemicals onto my hair contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer and thinned my hairline. I don't say recede, just thinned. A girl notices when her hair is not as lush at should be. Certainly, I noticed. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Going back to that "aha!" moment while combing my hair in front of the mirror, at first I was puzzled. I did not remember having portions of my bangs cut down to an inch. Then, it dawned on me that I had baby hair. The hair growth was amazing as it happened after my child birth which typically causes hair loss. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I am also happy to report that the hubby's tonsure is no longer as evident. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Prices: PHP300 for 1-Liter bottle</span><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Location: Available at the Legaspi Sunday market, Makati City</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Herrera to Rada Streets corner Legaspi Street<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Legaspi, Makati City</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Store hours: 7 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon; open on Sundays only</span></div></div>SearchingWellnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11076377697155686850noreply@blogger.com5