Life Wheel - Finding Balance in Your Life

I am a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and a career woman at the same time. It is really difficult to strike a balance between family and work and my social life as well. I sometimes feel in a quagmire and wish that I can replicate myself so I can do everything and be with everyone all at the same time.

Although I know what my priorities in life are and my family definitely tops that. There are moments where I am caught in a middle because I have to deliver to my career and to my personal life as well. It is in those moments where I pause and take a step back so I can have a broader view of what my life has become.

I found this site which I want to share to everyone because it is informative and an eye-opener. The Wheel of Life is commonly used by life coaches and it is also used by some companies to aid their employees having trouble balancing their work and personal life.

Here's the site to visit: Mindtools.com

Health Nut - Lung Lifter Food

I should have known that this particular wonder food does wonder on lungs and I would have improved mine.

The soy is the wonder food which gives a boost to our lungs. It is rich in protein, low in fat and high in fibre too. You can get your source of soy from soy milk, tofu and edamame.

Recent Japanese studies show that those who have regular soy intake as compared to those who does not have soy have slashed the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.

(source: Realage.com)

Modern David and Goliath

I found this video very funny and amusing. Guess who won!

Not the size of the dog in the fight.. @ Yahoo! Video

Barking Bloody Murder

I got used to dogs who barely bark. All our dogs before, even the bigger breed, seldom bark. This little Millie of ours bark like crazy when she hears footsteps from the hall and other voices. I want her to stop because I don't want to cause any inconvenience to neighbors bearing in mind that we live in a flat not in a villa with an open yard.

There are ways to actually curb your dog's barking. Here are some tips on how:

1. Put on a 'spraying' collar. This spray collar gets activated when the dog starts barking. It sprays citronella which is safe for animals. The negative stimulus teaches your dog to cease barking.

2. Use a 'shock' collar. Personally, I am against this one even if it emits mild electrostatic shock. The sting can still hurt and I find this cruel to the animal.

3. Say "No" firmly. If your pet stops from barking after you said no, give the dog a cookie dog treat. Praise lavishly when your pet follows your command.

4. Use a dog trainer's whistle to call your pet's attention. Repeat if the dog barks again. That might give your pet a little reminder to stop.

5. I have this little trick I do with my Millie. When she starts barking, I say NO firmly and lift my slipper. She stops. Always work for me. I don't hit her though. I just show her who is the "alpha."

Well, if there are still other ways to stop your dog's nuisance barking before you get an eviction notice, please feel free to share it here.

Love your pets! They are your best friends...

Beauty Tip 101 - Unclog your Pores

I don't go to the dermatologist for facial. I have this weird thing against someone's hand and instrument picking on my face. I just cringe at the sight and thought!

So, I do steaming at home at least once a week to open my pores for better cleansing. You can add some aromatherapy oils if you like.

To do a facial steam at home, all you need is a small basin, a towel, stove and water. Heat a little water in the percolator and put it in the small basin once the water boils. Drop few scented oils and place your face at least few inches above the steam and cover your head (making a tent) with a towel and presto! It won't cost you much too.

So, when your pores are open, you may gently scrub the sides of your nose where most of the blackheads are.

Rinse with water and use facial toner depending on your skin type.

Easier Said Than Done

I hope my title won't be the case for me as I go full-swing on my weight loss plan. I am just tired fooling myself. I want to regain my lost confidence on myself. I want the banter on weight-issues to end. I just want my old self back. It is going to be a very difficult journey for me but I have to do this for my health and family.

I am not going to stick on any fad diets but will eat properly, exercise regularly and resist the temptation of having second-servings. I have already started my food journal and so far I am getting used to the routine of entering my food intake. This way, I have a better perspective of knowing when I fall prey to emotional eating which I need to curb now.

I pray that I can go through this. I am not aiming for a "sexy" body but I want my old clothes to fit. I know I will never get my previous body back but at least have a sound health, emotion and mind.

I have just enough of the name calling! In few months time, we'll see who's fatty...

Man's Best Friend

A dog is a man's best friend. It keeps you happy. It follows you around. It shows you its loyalty. It is always happy to be with you. A dog is like an extended family member with four legs.

It has been a while since I had a dog. It must have been ages! The last dog I ever loved so dearly was my pug named Rambo. I had him for almost 10 years until I left for Dubai. We had dogs after Rambo, the bigger kind like the Japanese Akita dog, and 2 yellow labs. I never had the chance to get close to these dogs because I was away and they are all gone now.

Having a pet here in Dubai is such a hassle. For one, they are exorbitantly expensive. I find this place not dog-friendly. Pets are not allowed to roam with their owners in malls and parks. Most landlords do not let their tenants to have pets at home. I just don't know why. However, I still managed to have one through adoption. The building administrator allowed me to keep a small pet. It was serendipity, really. A colleague forwarded an email almost 3 weeks ago about the owners leaving for UK and could not take their dog with them. I saw the picture of "Millie" and I fell in love with her right away. I told myself, "I should have this dog for my daughter." I called the owner but was unsuccessful because he already promised Millie to a family.

I have told my hubby that and he said we would just adopt another one in the shelter. Luck must be by my side because last week, I got a call from the owner of Millie asking if I was still interested. The rest was history!

We now have a dog! Our first family dog is a Bichon Frise and her name is Millie. She is already an old dog but we don't mind. She is such a bundle of energy. She leaps and sometimes bark bloody murder! She loves having her tummy scratched and loves to jump on the bed with us in the morning. She enjoys having walks and a smart dog too. She knows when it's time for her walk and will gently nudge the leash hanging near the door to signal the activity. She grows on everyone at home real fast. She is such a sweetheart!

My daughter still doesn't know and it's a big surprise. So, once again my heart is fluttering for man's best friend.

Health Nut - Good Frozen Food

Who said we cannot have nutritional serving of frozen food? Not the ice cream and popsicles folks but I am talking about the frozen berries. Yes, these frozen berries are packed with healthy anti-oxidants just like the fresh ones. During the cold season, they are good source of Vitamin C, A and calcium.

Something to Write

Writing is one of my favorite pastime. It has always been a penchant of mine even when I was young. I remember filling journal after journal after journal. I would write on anything I can get my hands on.

When I was in high school, I remember seeing a unique and remarkably eye-catching ad that read "the essay for sale is on!" I had a light bulb moment there and I knew I could make money out of my hobby. I started offering my mini-writing and research service to my family and close friends.

My first client was my sister. She did not have the patience and the passion to write so I wrote her a research paper. Since researching was also a part of my favorite things to do, the whole process of organizing the number of data I had collected for her research paper went like a breeze. I felt like a mini-sleuth on a mission! I had fun!

More family members and friends asked for my writing service and I managed to complete the tasks without compromising my studies. I enjoyed writing for them because at the same time, it also fed my fervor to write.

Well, it is a different ball game now. I still love to write and I do it as often as I can in the form of blogging. Writing will always be a part of my regular routine.

The Cool Breeze

The hot, humid and sticky summer of Dubai is coming to an end. The month of September brings forth cool breeze and manageable weather here. The cool breeze blowing on your face is quite inviting to go for a picnic in the park or the beach.

A lot of people anticipate the coming of the colder months because there are so many outdoor activities to engage with which were put off because of the very long summer months. So, people go to various outdoor places to gather and frolic. People here, like the ways of the Bedouin nomads, love to have fire pits in the middle of the desert, sipping Arabic coffee, watching belly dancers, eating the Arabic delicacies under the starry sky and having sisha. I actually experienced this unique and wonderful tradition. It was something to remember.

For the modern people, their way to enjoy the cool weather is to go sand-bashing, ride the hot air balloon, sky-dive and going to the wadis for a road-side picnic.

All these activities are truly entertaining and worth the time. It doesn't cost much, just a good cool breeze.

Monday Party Game - Meal Time Maze

Help Courage grow so he has to have 3 meals in a day. To do that, you must make Coruage pass the maze by avoiding scary monsters and collecting his doggy bone treats. Have fun!

Meal Time Maze

Click here to play this game

Strategy Games for Young Minds

Nickelodeon has spent years catering to the enjoyment of children, and the games found on their website are no different. Running the gambit of action to strategy games, single to multiplayer games, and everything in between, Nick.com has managed to incorporate the best of their television series into fun, entertaining, and sometimes educational, games.

Game play changes drastically between each game, both in genre and in difficulty level. On the light end, there is a simple coloring game featuring characters from the Rugrats television show. Much like a coloring book, there is no challenge other than attempting to keep the colors in the lines.

However, the other end of the spectrum holds a cornucopia of strategy games, some of which capable of challenging even adult minds. For instance, the Avatar: Ashes in the Air game is rather simple for the first 10 to 12 stages, but then the difficult scales incredibly, as you attempt to extinguish the fires using the limited number of moves.

They even have strategy adventure games, such as Han’s Han’s the Biking Viking: Leaving Loki’s Lockup. The creators of this ingenious little game have taken a standard platformer, incorporated teamwork strategy, and wrapped the whole thing in an entertaining plot line. It tends to come across as short for many adults since it is only 11 levels long, but for the average child who will most likely return to those levels to collect the hidden runes, the game will prove to keep their attention for a decent amount of time.

Even with the numerous custom games on their roster, Nick.com has not forgotten the traditional board games that we all grew up with. In fact, in their multiplayer games section, they have both chess and checkers, using the Nickelodeon cast of characters, of course. With an ability to email moves between two players, they have even managed to deal with the distance problem. It is obvious that most of the games on the website have had a decent amount of thought put into them, not just from their user reviews, but from the enjoyment that you will witness your children have as they sit down for another go at Pollution Solution.

Fickle Minded

I have mapped out my exercise sessions for the whole month of August just to ensure that I do not stray. I have already made up my mind to commit to this weight loss goal I have set many moons ago. So far, my first 2 weeks have been successful. I kept my goals on track and ticked my to-do for each day. The weight issue has still not budged. I think I have a metabolic resistance system. Grrr!

I am getting fickle-minded though on the kind of food I am going to take concomitant to my desire to lose weight. I tried Atkins Diet before and it did work. I do not want to skip on healthy carbs to hasten my weight loss because while I am exercising, I also want to have a good and balanced meal.

So, is there really a good diet plan that will work side-by-side my exercises without skipping on important nutrients my body require? *Sigh* I wish they just make a pill to blast these fats away!

Beauty Fixes

I know plenty of lady friends who have undergone quick beauty fixes in the past. Years ago, plastic surgery is not known for its benefits on one's aesthetic feature. It is known for its reconstruction purpose to fix a broken face due to accident. The field of plastic surgery has evolved dramatically over the years. More people are now going under the knife not for reconstruction of broken or battered face but to augment flat chests, remove bulging stomach flabs and to improve one's appearance and health. There are various procedures under the umbrella of plastic surgery and these are rhinoplasty, abdominoplasty, body contouring through liposuction, and chest augmentation and reduction.

People are now embracing the wonders of plastic surgery. There are various reasons why people go through the this. Health impediments in the nasal cavity like deviated nasal septum is one of the reason why people have rhinoplasty. Actress Ashley Tisdale had one because of that. Beverly Hills rhinoplasty is one place to go to if you have similar condition as her.

If you are looking at having chest improvement for personal reasons, then Los Angeles breast augmentation is the procedure you should consider. This particular procedure is subjective to one's desire to have a bigger bosom. I know a lot who will go the extra mile to have this done. One sure thing about this procedure is that it enhanced one's personal outlook in life.

The benefits of going through plastic surgery is wide. It is not just aesthetic; it is also to boost one's confidence and improve one's life. If you want to know more about the various procedure involved in plastic surgery, please feel free to read plastic surgery articles for a better understanding of the process.

Beauty Tip 101 - Skip the Sunbed

I know, this is the perfect time to get that longed-for tan but words to the wise - skip the sunbeds!

Although a sunbed does not expose the body to UVB rays but it can cause burning and premature ageing. Why is that? It is because the UVA rays present in sunbeds are so strong. Skip the fake tan and opt for a natural tan under the sun. Make sure you slather your strongest sunscreen lotion. Take the early morning sun probably until 8 which is still bearable. Beyond that will just be too harsh.

Health Nut - Put some Zs in your Life

Zinc is a mineral good for boosting your skin condition because of its effect on the regeneration of skin. This regeneration happens from the inside out which is beneficial to ageing and problematic skin.

This wonder mineral is found in protein-based foods. Start putting the Zs in your life to a healthier looking skin.

Pay It Forward

I am sick of hearing negative news. I am tired of reading violence like it is a part of one's culture. I am sad to know that there is disparity. Enough of those negative vibes. It's high time we spread the love around.

I am really glad that Sarah, who is behind the artistic and creative Paper Tree blog, posted this Pay It Forward scheme.

Here's how the PAY IT FORWARD part works:

1. The gift will be a mystery of my choice, created especially for the recipient (in my case, I am not very crafty so I will purchase something I feel is special).

2. I have one year to get all five gifts made (Does it really take a year to do this?!? Well, if you get to accomplish this task ahead of time, then feel free to post it right away.)

3. If you're one of the five, you must make a post in your blog offering to make a gift for five people, spreading the joy of creation

4. When you receive your gift, you should make a post on your blog and show everyone inspiring others to follow the chain and participate.

How easy is that - to make someone else happy - everyone should be doing it. Oh and if you don’t have a blog that’s okay too - you can post on your facebook/myspace page.

So, the first five interested (and will really commit) to leave a comment in my post about this will receive something from yours truly. I am not as creative as my friend Sarah but I will make it a point that it is special.

A Pat in the Back

I've been toiling my cute behind for many years in the corporate bondage. I've been recognized not once but many times when I have done something really remarkable. But those were in the past. I haven't been commended for anything lately and I am feeling a bit disheartened and demotivated knowing that my contributions have been vital and must merit recognition. However, I do not let those feelings compromise the kind of quality work and service I deliver. I cannot allow myself to slip a notch on the standards I have set.

Today, I got a sweet surprise from one of the project pilots of our company. I have handled this magnificent jumbo-of-a-plane fleet recently and the manuals were done by the previous manager of our unit. I must have done something really, really good to merit his praise and accolades. He even went as far as to notify the manager of my great job in a short period of time. He even said that he has been in the training department for 6 years and have never seen a work like I have done.

Wow. I can't help but blush. I just had a pat in the back! (Bubble thought: Hope they put that in writing! hehehehe)

Make-up Tip 101: Tickled Pink

I love blushing naturally because it flushes my skin like pale pink giving me an instant glow. Well, we don't blush every single time so what must a girl do to get that "tickled-pink" look? Here's how:

Smile really big and then put your blush on so the color goes on the apple of your cheeks. The color of your blush must depend on your skin tone, fairer skin tones look best on coral and pinkish hues while darker complexions will look good on wine and or burgundy hues. Rule of thumb: the darker the skin tone, the darker the blush hue.

Health Nut - Anti-Ageing wonder

Is there really a "fountain of youth?" And if there is, will you have sip from the fountain that will make you youthful forever? Well, sorry to burst your bubble. That is not going to happen. We are for merely mortals and the time will come where we will all return to dust. However, we can "delay" the signs of ageing by taking precautionary measures, right?

Xango juice is known to encourage anti-ageing. This juice is made from mangosteens which are rich in xanthones. Xanthones are antioxidants associated with anti-ageing. Our bodies are exposed to the elements and these elements contain free radicals responsible in damaging the tissue in our bodies. Taking antioxidants will not really make you youthful forever but it does assist in the delay process.

Xango juice is available in health food shops.

Baby Shower Favors Galore!

First they got pregnant. Then they announced their pregnancies. Then they planned for their baby showers and now, my new dilemma is what to suggest for their baby shower favors. Well, this is the situation I am in right now because most of my gal pals are pregnant and this is no exaggeration. They are!

So far, my friend from Canada already confirmed that I am the godmother. I already picked the perfect baby shower gift for the baby. I have yet to figure out what baby shower favors she can give away. She asked me if I can scout for her and I have lovingly obliged. Well, that's what friends do and being the godmother, I am honored.

I found this very cute edible baby shower favors at Bellissimofavors.com. The baby shower tin cans are really cute and so are the take-out pails. There are wide variety of baby shower favors to choose from. I will tell her to get the edible ones because they are unique. I never had this kind of favors when I was pregnant 11 years ago. So I am suggesting this edible baby shower favors instead.

I think she will approve of this suggestion once I tell her where she can get her nice favors.

Waking Up Early on A Saturday Morning

Good morning everyone! I am such an early riser. Well, I am not supposed to be up by 0645 hours specially when I am still off from work. Anyway, I feel good and I have many things to do today so let me just get on with them.

Happy Saturday to all!

(Photo source: Photobucket.com)