Vacation Day 1

Yes, I'm officially on vacation...all the way up to January 15. I can hardly believe I have so much free time on my hands. I spent my first day, guess where? In a mall I would never even dream of going --- Trinoma. I had to meet up with someone there so I took advantage and wanted to visit just one store : The Landmark. Why? Because I've been there once before but only to look around. I didn't have the energy to buy anything, there were just too many people around. Today though was a breeze. I was there at past 2pm and the crowd wasn't thick at all.

I feel triumphant because I went home with several shopping bags in tow (and a sore arm from carrying all of them) but my wallet didn't hurt one bit. I made the mistake of opening everything and throwing stuff in the hamper before I could take photos --- flop! But just to show you how successful this shopping trip was, here's a list of what I got:

Flannel pajamas (set of 2 pcs) for Anissa, P180
Flannel pajamas (set of 2 pcs) for Sabine, P160
Printed cotton capri pajamas (set of 2 pcs) for me, P180
2 bathroom rugs for the master's bathroom, P115 each
2 white foot towels for the girls' bathroom, P120 each
2 shower curtains for the girls' bathroom, P279 each
2 unbranded white ceramic serving dishes (about 11 x 14), P450 each
2 unbranded white ceramic serving bowls with cover, P295 each
Christmas-themed tablecloth, P299
Christmas-themed dish towels (bundle of 5 in diff designs), P199
Christmas-themed cloth napkins (set of 6), P250

Plus I threw in a few pasalubongs :

Disney Kitchen Set for Sabine, P150
HK-made white and aqua skinny jeans for Anissa, P380 each (i love the denim material, not the cheapy kind)
Hollister Plaid buttondown shirt for Neal, P500 (he was shocked when I told him I got it from Landmark)

I definitely want to go back because this was all my hands could handle for today. In fact, I spotted a lot more stuff I can get for people for Christmas plus some really nice throw pillow covers and ready-made curtains (I just need to measure the TV room and den windows).

To The Other Man In My Life

At the ripe old age of 40, I'm still not ashamed to admit that I'm every inch a Daddy's Girl. But DF has had to share a portion of the spotlight with someone...my significant other, the "other" man in my life. Luckily, this "other" man doesn't feel the need to compete with Daddy, simply because he knows there should be no such thing. And that's just one of the many things I love about him.

Today is his 42nd birthday (sorry, Hon...I can't lie. I know you feel like you're only 40 but you're not hehehe) I'm dedicating today's entry to him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

The one who makes me laugh the most

The one who reminds me to be thankful, even for the little things

The one who replenishes my strength and faith when they run low

The one who overlooks the "bad" and manages to see the "good" in me all the time

The one who would rather give than receive

The one who's taught me about forgiveness and humilty

The one I always choose to run to first

The one who always finds a way, never mind if all the odds are against him

The one who likes to stroke my hair when I'm asleep

(or when I pretend that I'm asleep)

The one who spoils the kids to death and plays deaf whenever I try to be "bad" cop

The one whose silence I've learned to read and understand through the years

The one person I can trust not to judge me

The one who finds bliss in the simplest of things and situations

The person I truly admire for his drive and perseverance

The one I can count on at any given time, in any given situation

The person who rescues me from every little predicament

My second chance

Probably (hehehe) the last chance I'll ever get in this lifetime

HAVE AN AWESOME BIRTHDAY, HON!!!

I LOVE YOU FROM MY BOTTOMLESS HEART!

5 Ways To Protect Your Kids (and yourself) From The Flu

I've been sick 2x in the past month. Once right before my November birthday and then now. The first time, I had a really bad cold accompanied by fever and body malaise. Then last Wednesday, I felt pain in my throat which quickly became intense that same night, I could hardly swallow my dinner. I had a major product launch the next day and couldn't possibly miss it so I forced myself to go to bed at 8pm. I made it to my launch while still feeling a bit uncomfortable. I even went to Subic for the weekend and there, I began to lose my voice bit by bit. By the time we got back, I was speaking in whispers and yesterday, totally lost my voice. Then last night, Sabine developed a slight fever and woke up with a bad cough this morning. Her yaya is also down with the same bad cough. This is what I hate about the "ber" months. I hardly get sick the rest of the year but I can be sure that once these months are here, it'll just be a matter of time before a virus hits me or the kids.

I came across this write up and thought of sharing it here for everyone else to read. These are things we're already aware of but need to be reminded of from time to time.

Hope this helps! In the meantime...let me go and drink my Ascof Lagundi tablet, which, by the way, has really helped make me feel better.

1. Sugar and processed foods impact the immune system.

Studies have shown that through a complex system of chemical processes sugar and processed foods depress the immune system. There exists a direct link between the amount of these foods that your child consumes and his/her health.

Obvious foods such as sodas, candy, cookies, ice cream, and potato chips are the big guns that should be kept concealed.

Even more disturbing are the foods that you think are healthy for your child that hide sugar and many refined ingredients: yogurt, and yogurt drinks and “pops;”most cereals; juices; fruit roll ups and “leathers;” “healthy” cookies and treats, soy ice cream and frozen treats. While being marketed as healthy choices, these foods aren’t much better than the obvious poor choices. Work hard during flu season to keep these foods away from your children. Read ingredient labels and watch out for: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup or “HFCS,” brown rice syrup, fructose, sucrose, barleymalt and the obvious, sugar.

2. Fresh foods offer the highest quality vitamins.

It’s shocking to me how often I see people turn to orange juice for vitamin C in an effort to fight off a cold or flu.

It is important to understand that the majority of vitamin C in orange juice is added after processing. Vitamin C and others like zinc, vitamin E, and magnesium help to support the immune system and are a great defense during flu season.

Choose better by having kids eat fresh whole foods such as cherries, berries, and apples, and vegetables such as spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes.

I know you probably hear this suggestion all the time, but it can’t be stressed enough. It is imperative to find creative ways to prepare vegetables so that kids will actually eat them. Sautee, roast or grill vegetables with olive oil or real butter, add some fresh sea salt or sprinkle with organic low fat cheese and kids will be more likely to eat.

3. Sleep will boost the immune system.

At night while we rest, the body is working to rebuild the immune system. Deep sleep allows a complex set of hormonal changes that recharge the body so that it’s resilient the next day. Be diligent and ensure that kids get a full night sleep of 8-10 hours.

Mandate bedtime despite protests and stick to a regular schedule. These are the times that mom and dad really need to be the boss. Resist the temptation to allow your child to stay up late and watch his or her favorite show. At the end of the day when you are tired as well, it’s easy to give in to your child’s vigilant campaign.

Remember: Would you rather avoid the confrontation tonight? Or deal with a sick kid tomorrow?

4. Fatigue is the first sign of a distressed immune system.

As already stated, the immune system desperately needs sleep to keep the body healthy. When the immune system is fighting to keep your child healthy, it requests that the body get extra rest to help in the fight.

If your child seems more fatigued than usual, it could be a very strong signal that your child is on the brink of getting sick.

The best way to fight off a cold or flu is to act immediately and get extra rest. Pay attention to the health of others around you such as those at work or your child’s school. If you hear of a bug “going around” and you notice that your child is tired, there’s a good chance that extra sleep will ward off the cold or flu. This is the time to allow extra television and require a mid-day nap.

5. Wash hands frequently, but avoid antibacterial products.

This seems counterintuitive, but the best way to kill environmental germs is to use soap and hot water and scrub hands thoroughly. Bacteria live all around us. They are on every surface we touch and in every breath we take. Without bacteria, our immune system wouldn’t learn to be strong.

Our internal bacterial system fights off invaders and thereby gets more effective at winning the battle. It’s just like working out: In order to become stronger, you must work hard in the gym. Your child’s body is a bacterial gym. Again, this comes back to the immune system. If you foster a strong immune system, your child’s body will fight off invaders and therefore become more resilient to future battles. While it is imperative to wash hands frequently during flu season, remember that the hands are only one very small way that germs enter your child’s system. Killing off the germs on hands with antibacterial products is futile and weakens your child’s- and the world’s- future ability to confront germs.