Health Buff Couple

I found this article on yahoo news about staying fit and healthy as a couple and  was compelled to share it with you. Labsie would be hitting the gym soon (or is planning to), with me in tow. Our idea of exercise was to have a toner body and a healthy lifestyle. So far, we've tried running, biking and badminton (and we still do). We we're trying to get ourselves in gym since they have professional trainer there. Exercising strengthens our relationship.

It takes two to keep fit and healthy.  If you’re a health buff, imagine being married to a junk food-eating, non-exercising, potbelly-scratching couch potato.  Not pretty!

It is important for couples to work together, like they do in other aspects of their relationship, to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Here are simple and easy tips.

1. Watch each other’s diet.

It’s really not that easy to go on any kind of diet if the person you’re constantly with is munching on the very same food you’re trying to avoid.  This sometimes leads to tension in the relationship.

Couples should mutually agree on the terms of the diet—whether it’s to cut down on carbs or sodium, use organic ingredients, or go vegetarian.

Agreement is key to commitment.  That means that you have to manage your food intake together as a couple and check on one another.

The best way to get this started is to consult a nutritionist.  You and your partner might have different dietary needs and goals, but the reality is you share the same pantry and kitchen.

 

2. Go to bed earlier.

This is a great excuse to get a head start on snuggling up. That might mean turning off the laptop, the TV, getting the kids out of the room and adjusting your evening routines so you hit the sack earlier.

When you improve your sleeping habits, you are allowing your body to recover and priming it to take on the demands of the day.

Plus, studies have shown that people who sleep less than six hours a night undergo hormone changes that lead to an increase in hunger.

3. Make gym dates a regular thing.

Using cardio machines side by side can help motivate and encourage the other to reach his or her individual goals.

On weights, you or your partner can praise each other as you flex in front of the mirror.  Ladies, squeeze his biceps and show some admiration.  A regular pat on the back (or the lower extremities) can put your partner in a giddy mood.

Use opportunities like wiping the sweat beads off the side of your partner’s face to keep the flames of romance alive.  At least you’ll be burning more than just calories!

Go on gym dates two to three times a week.

 

4. Enjoy the outdoors.

Look for activities you and your partner would enjoy.  A brisk walk or a run around the neighborhood, a bike ride on a trail both of you can conquer, or a weekend fun run.

Or, try a little basketball, volleyball and even football at the local park. You don’t need to be great, but you need to be determined.

There are so many activities you and your partner can take up to make your bond strong...and your bones and muscles even stronger.

5. Dance like no one’s looking.

It doesn’t matter if you have two left feet. What matters is that you’re willing to spice up your workout with a partner who won’t laugh (that much) at you for your not being blessed with rhythm and grace.

Dancing is a sure-fire way to add sizzle to your relationship while allowing those unwanted fats to fizzle.

There are many dance classes and dance workouts being offered in malls, hotels and neighborhood studios. You can also hit the many dance clubs in the city.

Staying fit and healthy not only allows you to enjoy life more fully, it also puts more excitement in your relationship.

Remember, it takes two to tango.  So drop the chips, get off the couch and vow to get through the challenge together, in fitness and in health.

Celebrating Easter Sunday

Being a God-observing country, Philippines observe Lenten season religiously. This will start on Ash Wednesday that paternized the lunar calendar of Romans to be followed by Palm Sunday, then what we call THE HOLY WEEK, with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and will end on Easter Sunday.

It was said that we celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon or the first vernal equinox(day and night sharing equal length). This was agreed upon by the church leaders of Nicea(325 A.D.), thus, this day can be either from March 22nd till April25th.

Behind that modernized way of celebrating Easter with the usual bunny and the famous egg hunting, Filipinos rejoice in this glorious day to commemmorate the Ressurection of Jesus Christ and how He saved us from our sins. And since it has been long knowned what Christ went through, and what He did, People all accross the country celebrate it as solemnly as possible.

How Filipinos Celebrate Easter

Festivity will start on Palm Sunday when everyone goes to church with palm leaves and listen to the mass and prepare for a week long celebration after. Then come Monday until Wednesday, we go to the office, do our regular chores, but in a more prim manner. Loud music is out of the question, drinking and going to bars- DEFINITELY a no-no… This is the time to reflect and to do fasting.This is the perfect time to forgive and forget.

On Maundy Thursday, Filipinos will attend the mass and pray together as we remembered the day Christ started suffering for our sins. Catholics observe the Station of the Cross, and it has been their tradition to visit as many churches as they can by walking. Others will just be in their respective homes as they singPasyon (Passion).

Good Friday is when you can see Penitensya (Penitents) who reneact how Jesus was nailed in the Cross, wherein these people would also put barbed wires as their crowns, walks down the streets carrying that cross that weights a ton.

On Black Saturday when Jesus is still dead, Filipinos still continue with the fasting to somehow suffer for what He did for us.

And as soon as sunrise hits on Easter Sunday, Filipinos go to church together, and celebrate as Christ has risen from death. The birth of NEW LIFE, so we rejoice in that Day and we have somehow adopted westernized culture, we now have Easter EGG hunting on this memorable day.

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

To the citizens of Panem, we were once again brought to the edge of our seats as the 74th Annual Hunger Games finally happened in the theaters.

First off, let me greet you a Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Finally, I was able to hit the movie house once again, what's better way to unwind than to watch movie from a books. The story was set somewhere in future North America where a contest is held annually by the evil Capitol nation with the 12 districts represented by a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games, a brutal death sport until one remains as the victor. It reminded me of the TV show 'Survivor' which showed similar elements involved sans the brutality. Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique of X-Men: First Class) as Katniss Everdeen takes the lead in this action thriller. Some offensiveness in some scenes involving minors being brutally hacked, shaky camera pannings, too much close-ups on action sequences and some cheesiness on the love element between Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Liam Hemsworth (brother of the Mighty Thor Chris Hemsworth) looks bland, stoic and dumb. Overall, it's effective and a powerful thrill ride despite its repulsive plot involving young tweens pitted against late teen bullies and the lack of deep characterizations on the lead stars.

A Movie Review: 3 Idiots

"Aal izz well!" This is a new mantra I got from the movie I watched a week before. And I couldn't stop myself from sharing this movie with you, hoping that you'd also find something great, funny, touching and inspiring about it.

If you haven't heard about "3 Idiots" yet, it is an Indian Romantic Comedy film released in 2009. 

This movie made me think, laugh and cry. I found it entertaining and insightful. And t could teach us some things in life. Below is the list of the following lesson we can learn from the movie

1. To be born poor or as an average person in not a crime but to die as an average person with middle class talent is miserable and if you are unable to optimize your potential and die with unused potential then that is your shameful truth
2. One should not die as a mediocre. He/She has to bring out genius inside him/her and has to use his/her talent to optimum level.
3. Simplicity is a way of life and Indian culture highly stresses on simple living and high thinking, and this is the way of life: "Legs down to earth and eyes looking beyond the sky"
4. Necessity is mother of invention. Necessity creates pressure and forces you to invent something or to make it happen or to use your potential.
5. When your hobby becomes your profession, the passion becomes your profession. You will be able to lead up excellence in life. Satisfaction, joy, pleasure and love will be the outcome of the passion.
6. Freedom to life is beautiful. Don't die before the actual death. Live every moment to the fullest as if today is the last day. Life is a gift.
7. Never try to be successful, pursue excellence. Success is the by-product and the result. Excellence a;ways creates success and it is a process of continual improvement.
8. Never run after success. Let success come to you.
9. Live and live towards happiness
10. Learning is simple. Never stop.

Domestic Blues

In an effort to start improving myself and familiarizing myself with housekeeping duties, I’ve been looking into different recipes that I can find online. The more, the merrier. Aside from recipe scouring, I’m also browsing DIY crafts. It is my secret dream to be able to cook superbly. Though I know that my cooking is a bit sub-par, I have to make it a habit to spend more time in the kitchen. I’ve been able to cook some various dishes, all of them edible to eat, of course, but none of them will be able to make it to the menu of a five star restaurant. 

Maybe I’ve been setting my standards way too high, but idea of making a sumptuous dish is high on my list of things to do. 

This year, I’ll start with the basics then I’ll work my way up the ladder. 

Wish me luck guys!

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

Dear Children,

Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things I want you to know. Things that you may not hear from anyone else, and certainly not on TV or other media. Sadly, your church may not even tell you.

Marriage, sweet little people, is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must yet understand that marriage is God’s design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.

To my girls:

Marry a man whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show gratitude, and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always, and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.

You’ll have bad days of course, crying days even, and that’s when you go to your bedroom, kneel on the floor and beg the Lord to carry you. Then get up, get a fresh perspective (crayons will come off the wall), and try again. Above all else, make a home.

To my boys:

Marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, she may be hard to please  only if you don’t know “the secret”. What is that? I’m glad you asked. The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won’t always readily translate the oil change to love, though it means that. But let me give you a “secret question”–a question you need to ask her often. It’s not just in the asking, though. Be sure to focus your eyes on hers, maybe even touch her shoulder or face, and then ask: “What’s on your mind these days? “ And then be ready to listen. She wants you to draw her out. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection. That’s what she wants.

To you all:

If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive again. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day. Dwell on the strengths, push out thoughts of their weaknesses. Take every thought captive–choose to love.

Here’s that part you are not going to hear often:

If you find yourself “not happy”, having lost attraction, disinterested, etc., you are not permitted to even think about a divorce. If you find yourselves arguing more and more, don’t think for a minute that “the children will be better off out of this”, because they won’t.

The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before a Holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don’t feel like it. You swore a solemn oath and if you can’t live up to it, don’t get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation for getting along if your “marriage house” has no door.

Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.

Divorce is not a “private option”. It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you “separate what God has joined” you permanently injure far more than just yourself.

Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as an extension of your flesh, just as God sees you. Treat your spouse like other family members. You know, “you gotta love ‘em, they’re the only family you’ve got”.

I want you to be happy, I surely do. But I will pray for you to be holy.

Source: http://raisinghomemakers.com/2012/a-letter-to-my-children-about-marriage/

Questions About Life

Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? Which is worse, failing or never trying? If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do? If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Would you break the law to save a loved one? Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? What’s something you know you do differently than most people? How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back? Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? Why are you, you? Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? What are you most grateful for? Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? Has your greatest fear ever come true? Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? If not now, then when? If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in? If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? What is the difference between being alive and truly living? When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? Decisions are being made right now.

The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

A Date with Jollibee

Jollibee’s Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

I've been craving a Jollibee’s Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. It has a has a special flavorful sauce made with generous portions of real ground chicken meat, sliced mushrooms, combined with a special blend of tomatoes, herbs, and spices. The Chicken and Mushroom Pasta puts in the right amount of herbs and spices that is sure to land on each of your friends’ list of must-try dishes.

Jollibee Sundae Mix-ins Milo Blast

For someone, who can’t get enough of the Jollibee treat, I decided to finished my sumptuous meal with a sumptuous dessert - Jollibee Sundae Mix-ins Milo Blast. I have an ongoing love affair with Jollibee’s Chocolate Sundae, but I always take time to try new flavors whenever they launch new offerings. What’s with the new flavor? This Jollibee Sundae is further enhanced with a mix of MILO powder and MILO breakfast cereals, a great mix to make your day. I had nothing but sweet satisfaction from the first scoop to the last drop. It’s plain and simple but truly addictive!

The Dreamer by Sylvia Brown

Come through my door

oh weaver of schemes

and you ol dear

with many lost dreams

Come into my room

where stories are read

and let yesterday's sorrows

lay long and dead

Come in young lad

with the world in your eyes

come in young maid

and please don't cry

The people come through

young middle and old

and each life a tale

that has to be told

To the ear that is bent

and the heart that is full

and hopeful help is given

to destiny's pull

Come into my world

oh dreamer of dreams

come into my world

oh schemer of schemes

There is no one to small

nor one to tall

there isn't some grace

from God for all

Come take the adventure

and hold bravely my hand

and we'll reach

that talked of promised land

Of life now with it's struggles

and with all of it's glee

let me help you through it

and in time we'll be free

The only thing you'll hear

is perceptive truth

what I perceive for you

will be living proof

You cannot have cherries

without some sour cream

so come into my room

oh dreamer of dreams.