Mom-ME Time: Beauty Basics

Usually my ME-time are most spent on reading and watching movies. I'm done reading the "Redeeming Love" which I shared to you last time in HERE. I'm starting another novel , The Mystery of Mary by Grace Livingstone Hill.

Last night before going to bed while hubby read to Hyzyd, I took the liberty to exfoliate, moisturize, and the whole shebang. As a mama, I spend a lot of my time taking care of others, and I view my beauty routine as my daily chance to totally take care of myself.

Meeting Calibre

I agreed to review Max On Life by Max Lucado. It's my first time to download in e-book format so I faced a challenge on what to do next in order to read the file. In times like this, Mr.Google becomes handy. I was introduced to Calibre- a comprehensive e-book software and the one stop solution for all your e-book needs. With Calibre I was able to transfer my ePub files to something more suited for reading on a home computer such as PDF.

Here's a simplified instruction on how to run Calibre and convert your ePub files to PDF files I gleaned from eHow.

1. Download Calibre from the Calibre website (http://calibre-ebook.com/download_windows). Double-click its icon after downloading and following the on-screen instructions to install it. Click "Launch Calibre" on the final screen.

2.Click "Generic" under "Manufacturers" on the screen that appears and "Generic E-Ink Device" under "Devices." Click "Accept," then "Finish" to get to the main screen of Calibre. You only need to complete this setup process the first time you use Calibre.

3. Drag and drop your ePub file into the main window of Calibre. The main window is the one with the "Title", "Author" and "Date" fields at the top of it. Alternatively, click "Add Books" at the top left of the screen, locate the ePub file on your hard drive and double-click it to add it to Calibre.

4.Highlight your ePub file in the main window of Calibre and click "Convert Books" at the top of the screen.

5. Click the "Output format" drop-down menu at the top right of the screen that appears and select "PDF." Use this screen to make any other alterations you wish to the metadata of your ePub file, such as changing the title, author, cover image or font size. Click "OK" at the bottom of the screen to convert the file. The PDF conversion of your ePub file will now appear in its parent folder.

I started reading Max on Life on ePub form and I'm enjoying it. Next time, I plan to download Bangkok Bank's ePub file on life insurance types so that I could take time to study it and choose the best life insurance type that suits well for my family. 

Happy Sunday to all! 

Book Review: Couples Who Pray Together by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt

I received my first book from BookSneeze  for free in exchange for an honest review two weeks ago. Couples Who Pray by SQuire Rushnell  (Author of the bestseller When God Winks at You) and Louise DuArt (entertainer and talk-show host) is surely a book that changes our marriage for good and for yours too!

I grow up in a family that prays together every night and day. I grow up witnessing how God moves His hands to do the things which we can't do every time we pray. When I got married, I continued this tradition with my family before going to bed. But praying as couples, it's inconsistent...if only we can find time or during times that we  faced with BIG problems  I could now assessed that we've not really committed ourselves to joint-prayer as husband and wife. I do pray for my husband, alone. He does pray for me, alone. Why not practiced praying together even for few minutes a day where we can share our innermost thoughts and concerns with our spouses? If the authors and other celebrities like Denzel and Pauletta Washington and Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford, to mention a few, find time EVERY DAY to pray as couples for five minutes amidst their hectic schedules- more hectic schedules than ours, why can't we? On those days that we pray together as couples we experienced happiness for answered prayers, how much joy would it be if we committed ourselves to pray together every day? 

The testimonies of the authors and other celebrities were really inspiring. As they bare themselves before God in prayer for a minimum of five minutes a day for forty days, they experienced extraordinary results like soar in lovemaking satisfaction, elevation of spousal communication, respect rises, miracles, financial breakthroughs and happiness that this world can't give. If they all claim they successfully accomplished something by simply praying together, then it won't be far to happen to us as we're on our tenth day. Moreover, a result of a research conducted provides an evidence that couples who pray together has tangible results.

I came across lots of articles about praying together but this one inspires me a lot, so far . The contents are mostly encouraging, blessed and filled with hope. It seems like the authors are in front of me talking with smiles and showing me on what's the best thing to do in our marriage. Indeed this book is a must-have for every couple. It will be an eye-opener for everybody that the couple that pray together are the couple that stay together. Furthermore, this book has everything you need to begin a more intimate and rewarding relationship. It also offers simple tips to make your marriage better than before and sweeter as the days go by!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Just Beautiful: 8 beautiful sisters of mine!

Who among you here got as many sisters as I do?  I got eight beautiful younger sisters. Isn't that wonderful...sooo beautiful?

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I'm the eldest of 14 children. I got 8 sisters who looked up on me with respect and adoration. I got 8 companions to whom I can express my feelings. They're my jewels and I never regretted that they're born nor that we're as many as over a dozen. I can always turn to them coz they're my bestfriends. There were no dull moments with them. I love them so much! They're one of the beautiful things of my life.

My friends, meet my sisters:

the 14th- the future doctor in the family

the 13th- wants to be a teacher like me...she's the dancer among us

the 9th- soon to join me here in Thailand to study International Business English

the 5th (with moi)- is on her last year of BS Environmental Science Management

the 11th- the supportive and obliging

the 12th- the thinker and scholarly

the 10th- the charming and cute

the 8th- the gracious and sociable

Care to share your anti-aging secret?

For celebrities, image is everything. It's not a surprise that even if they're already in their 40s, 50s or even 60s, they still possessed that attention-grabbing, dewy, fresh gorgeous skin. I wonder if they used xpi xtreme hgh? This supplement is popular because it claims to enhance physical appearance (won't fail you to look better on camera), boost endurance, stamina, metabolism, energy, and muscle mass while reducing body fat.

Take for example, Cindy Crawford. She'll be 45 this year but her age doesn't show, does it? You can't see trace of lines and wrinkles on her face. Makes me thinks, what's her powerful anti-aging secret? Do you know?

Orange Tuesdays: People who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere

Hi meme lovers. There's a new meme hosted by Shengkay's Randomness Journal open every Tuesday to Saturday.If you love orange, then it's time for your orange stuffs to be in the limelight and if you simply needed a filler post, joining this meme could be the right one for you coz you'll just find photo of yourself with orange, your love ones, your things or just anything that has color orange, write a short description then voila, you got a post. But don't forget to leave comments to the host and to other entrants who manage to sneak a peek on your entry.

I only had few things in orange. I noticed that someone wearing orange stands out in crowd. Maybe because of its so bright or maybe because only few choose this color. I've been told that people who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere. Do you think so? Let's us hubby..he..he...

Here's my hubby wearing orange Wrangler tee. It's the only orange tee that he got. This photo was taken last December 2010 by the pretty woman behind Janet Luison's Photography.

my family

Making Mommy Time

Was glad I find this kind of meme- Mom-Me Time hosted by RJ's mom. It's a reminder for all moms out there to find a few minutes (or more!) each day to relax and focus on yourself. 

As a mom to a two-year-old boy and a pre-school teacher, I badly need a "Me" time to just relax and recharge. Usually on weekdays I don't have a second to spare from the moment I wake up 'til the moment I hit my head on the pillow. So, I see to it that on weekends, I find mommy time vital to be refreshed and ready to be mom again!

What did I do yesterday? After church I took a nap with Hyzyd. When we woke up, I let him watch his favorite cartoon while I relax by reading a good book – Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I'm still on page 50 and I plan to continue reading it in school during my lunch breaks. Here's the synopsis of the novel:

California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything, Michael Hosea obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation until, despite her resistance her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go. A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. Over 1 million copies sold!

I also treat myself by watching movie. Last night, I watched a family fantasy flick "Zokkomon" . ZOKKOMON is an action adventure film about an ordinary boy who overcomes extraordinary challenges. Kunal, played by Darsheel Safary, is an orphaned boy, who discovers how cruel life is when he is abandoned by his heartless uncle. Left to fend for himself, Kunal discovers the hero within and begins his epic journey of adventure and transformation to become ZOKKOMON. I tell you, the film is an easy, breezy watch but is deeper than your normal fluff in the name of children’s films. There are some nice dialogues, an interesting premise where the protagonists use superstition to get the villagers to stop believing in it, and some great songs.

 I can't wait to explore next time some other ME time aside from reading and watching. Manicure? Pedicure? Spa or taking OxyElite Pro could be considered Mom-Me time? Perhaps,Yes, because I took the time to treat the tubby spots of my body..he..he..don't you think?

I can't wait to visit other mom's entries. I'm eager to know how they spend their Mom-Me Time.

Fun things to do in your backyard

If you're sick and tired of modern technology and sometimes you just want to get away, have you ever thought that your own backyard could be a perfect place to relax and enjoy?

Here are some fun things you can do in your backyard:
1. Grab a blanket, spread it on the grass and watch the cloud.
2. Invite friends for a scavenger hunt!
3. Play hide and seek.
4. Take a nap outside under the shade of a tree.
5. If you have any good trees, climb them!
6. Bring couch outside, sit down there with a book and a glass of lemonade.
7. You could build a fire pit. Having a nice glowing fire pit around creates nice ambiance.
8. Start gardening and get heaps of flowers or vegetables!
9. Backyard picnics. They're both convenient and fun.
10. Backyard barbecue. Whether you're cooking steaks or hot dogs--almost everything tastes better when you cook it outside.

There are so many ways to have fun in your backyard. Care to share some?

Just Beautiful: Up in the sky

I found it captivating seeing Hyzyd's finger pointing to the clouds on his first flight going to Philippines.

From being a night owl to an early riser

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” – Ben Franklin

What time do you wake up? As for me , I developed this habit of waking at 3:00 AM for more than a year now. I was once a night owl but was first forced to switch to an early riser when I got a toddler and had discovered my passion in blogging. It has been a godsend breakthrough. I couldn't specifically pinpoint any health benefits of rising early but I could cite some great benefits of rising early.  It has helped me in so many ways that I’d never go back. Here are just a few:

Photo Via:Medical
Assistant

1. Have a meaningful time with God. Doctors tell us that the most important meal of the day is breakfast. It often determines our energy levels, alertness, and even moods for the day. Likewise, we need a "spiritual breakfast" to start our day off right. In the morning our minds are uncluttered from the day's activities. Our thoughts are fresh, we're rested; tensions have not yet come on us, and it's usually the quietest time. With a kid around the house and work as a pre-school teacher,  early morning is my only time when it is quiet and I can be alone with God. It works for me.

2. Amazing start. I used to start my day by jumping out of bed, late as usual, and rushing to get myself  ready and come in to work late. I would walk into work, looking rumpled and barely awake, grumpy and behind everyone else. Not a great start to my day. Now that I have a renewing morning ritual, I’ve gotten so much done before 7 a.m. We ate breakfast at 6:00 a.m and arrived at school before 7:30. 

3.Have time for Breakfast. Rise early and you actually have time for breakfast. As I mentioned earlier,  it’s one of the most important meals of the day. Without breakfast, your body is running on fumes until you are so hungry at lunchtime that you eat whatever unhealthy thing you can find- usually with lots of fats and sugar. But eat breakfast, and you are sated until later. 

4. Exercise. There are other times to exercise besides the early morning, of course, but I’ve found that while exercising right after work is also very enjoyable, it’s also liable to be canceled because of other things that come up. Morning exercise is virtually never canceled.

5. Productivity. Mornings, for me at least, are the most productive time of day. I like to do some writing in the morning, when there are no distractions, before I check my email , blog stats, and Facebook. I get so much more done by starting on my work in the morning. Then, when evening rolls around, I have no work that I need to do, and I can spend it with family.

Hitting the road with Mr. Toshiba

What a weekend I had! I was joining the Travel Diva's highest comments contest when I was hit by cold. It's maybe because I stayed in front of the computer for so many hours that my body couldn't take it anymore and that I needed rest. I don't want to stop the game especially that I'm leading the highest points but there's nothing I can do. I bid goodbye to $20.

Then a wonderful surprise met me on Monday morning. I was awarded $10 for garnering the second highest number of comments. Wow, I didn't expect it. Thanks to Ate Janet, the generous hostess of Travel Diva.

It's a wonderful experience. It's like we travel with the author to her 2nd visit to America. We virtually visited Jackson, Lenox Mall, Atlanta, beautiful Colorado Springs , interstate driving from Georgia to South Carolina. We virtually accompanied her to her thrifting spree, picking strawberries and milking cow! That's the beauty of having your own laptop while traveling. You could post your travel tales and won't left your readers behind.

Nowadays possessing a laptop is a real necessity, nobody can cope without one. Besides, is there anyone to deny the necessity and advantage of possessing a notebook?

Thanks God I got my own for free! My father gave to me his two-year-old Toshiba lappy when we visited Philippines. This is one of the best FREE things I received this year. I will enjoy this as much as I can. I can carry it always in going to school. With my own laptop,  I can take advantage of the free WiFi in school. I can write blog posts and emails in the comfort of my office on lunch breaks.

my Toshiba is ready to serve me all the time..he..he...

Having your own laptop, you can enjoy lots of FREE stuffs especially if you're always on travel-free WiFi is one. Next is being able to watch films while in a departure area. It’s also useful to pass the time when the plane movie turns out to be dreadful.

Image Source:Online College Classes

While it can be a little bulky, I can’t stand traveling next time without my laptop. It's a great place to upload photos at the end of the day. I experienced before that my camera was reformatted accidentally . It upsets me because the photos weren't stored yet and they're all gone! About the writing part–I can still write and work on blog posts and what I experience on the road without having to be online. Publishing could wait until I get internet access.

One more FREE thing I could do with laptop,instead of hauling guide book around, the laptop (with WiFi, of course) could offer a wealth of free information, often more updated and accurate than a guidebook anyway.

Thanks to Travel Diva's creative blogging and to my father who gave me his laptop . The next time we'll travel, I gonna write my experiences while on road and also  reward my top commentators- let's say $50? he..he..he...

Wising Up!

Hello dearies!

I know, it's been awhile since I updated this site. Laziness can't be blamed on this but let's say the issue of realigning and clarifying the priorities in my life causes the delay of the updates- mind management, my personal relationship with God, family, friends, career, online tasks, 7 blogs and ME time!

Our vacation to Philippines taught me to be wise on my priorities. I'd spend more time with my family . I get to know what my brothers and sisters want to be in the future. One is taking up Mining Engineering. The other one fancies IT. I could have advised him to take online it degree if only internet is accessible at home.Someone wants to be a tourist guide, one loves accountancy and the younger ones desire to be teachers like their "Ate" which is me. That swells my heart..he..he...Moreover, I came to realize that petty things steal too much of my time. I had the chance to re-route my life with God's guidance and started living for the right reasons.

A new school year just open so it means I gonna spend my 40 hours in school again. I circle today's date on my calendar and declare that the best days of my life are beginning - right now!

Happy Monday everyone! Oh by the way, I didn't expect today that I'll win $10 from Travel Diva's Top Commenter's Contest. Check it out at http://www.thetraveldiva.info! Thank you, Ate Janet and thank you Lord. I'm one happy woman...he..he...

My Mother

I found my old school paper and there laid my published article dedicated to Mama Genei on Mother's day. I wish to share this to you:

Once a neighbor said to me, "You look more like your mother everyday." "Thank you." I replied. "I wish I could be more like her everyday. She's my ideal woman!" I continued.

My mother is a good-looking mirror for me. Her soul belongs to the Lord and her heart to my father and to us-her children. She is our companion, confidante and cheerleader. She is close to us because she's close to God. She loves us unselfishly for we don't exist for her instead she loves us sacrificially because for her, we, her family lives for the Lord.

Life to her is one big bowl of charities. She never ask what she could spare but what she can share. In her tongue is the law of kindness. Her kindness is the patch for every puncture, the eraser for every error, Heaven's light for earth's darkest day, God's gem for every people's poverty and master key for locked hearts. She is attentive, available and affectionate to all. She looks upon my father as her king, every son a prince and every daughter a princess. My mother builds up our home and never breaks it up. 

I'm so proud of you, Mama Genei. Happy Mother's Day to you!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Car Cleaning

If ever we'll own a car, I think the best contribution I can give is maintain the cleanliness of the car and cleaning of the auto glass . Isn't it nice to drive a shiny, clean car? The quality of  driving can be impaired with dirty windows, isn't it? A messy interior can cause unnecessary distractions and even accidents. There's nothing that devalues your car faster than a collision!

I've seen some people used old newspapers as auto glass cleaning tool. It's totally WRONG! Did you ever notice ink on your fingers after reading a newspaper or magazine? Why would you want that on your windshield?

I read somewhere that you'll use ZYMOL Microwipes instead and spray them rather than the glass. Use the microwipes to clean. When you wash them, avoid the fabric softener to prevent streaking next time.

Don't forget to clean auto glass after doing the rest of the car so you don't mess it up again while working on other areas. Wipe up and down and side to side with long strokes giving special attention to the windshield since that is the glass you will be using the most.

I think I'm now ready to clean our first car. The question still remains though: When? LOL!

What will you do if you badly needed money today and you have none?

What would you do if you badly needed money today but your payday isn't until next week?

If you find yourself short on cash and in need of financial help you could do the following:

1. borrow from your friends- friends can lend us money with no interest...he..he..

2. fast cash advance or payday advance- in my case, I could do payday advance in school. All I need to do is fill up a form, let the school manager sign and then I could get my cash from the cashier. Still, no loan interest implemented.

3. online cash advance- Have any of you tried getting a loan via online application? I haven't tried this one but sounds tempting when I'm in dire need. All you need to do is to complete the online application. It's easy, quick, and free. Just be sure to give that online company like ICA (Instant Cash Advances.net) accurate information to ensure the process is as quick as possible. After you have submitted all your information , they will confirm everything is correct. Finally, after they see that you have entered your personal information correctly you will be be able to access your funds after the money has been quickly deposited into your bank account.

4. bad credit cash advance. This kind of loan suits for those who couldn't get a loan from their banks because of bad credit. Don't let bad credit hold you back. If you need money in a hurry, this kind of online loan company won't let your credit history get in the way. You just need to complete the simple online application to get easy approval. The whole process just takes minutes.No Credit Check. They don't look at your history.If you have a job you can get a loan.

Just make cash advances if you badly needed it-a matter between life and death or if you're 100% sure that you'll be able to pay the loan back on time. Often, people in financial trouble will find themselves sinking deeper and deeper in debt. One cash advance may lead to more and more, leaving the individual paying more interest and higher cash advance payments. Don't be one of them!

Vacation without Technology

I felt blessed for the chance we had of taking vacation in the Philippines. I had adequate time off from online works- no internet connection and even cell phone signals are very weak. Speaking of weak cell phone signals, I can't blame my parents if they can't reply to our SMS or we couldn't contact them. It maybe because they don't receive them of if they received our SMS, they still have to walk for a hundred meters before they could find a favorable signal to reply us. In our place we badly needed home cell booster to boost cell signal.

I did survive our three weeks vacation without internet. I only went to an Internet café once in a week. My first visit to the café was terrible! The DSL connection was literally slower than a dial-up! I started to panic: “I HAVE TO check my e-mail, publish a post on my blogs and do my online tasks. I just HAVE TO!“. Then, it hit me: “What if I left everything and tried to enjoy my vacation without worrying about anything related to technology for once?“.

And that was exactly what I did. To tell you the truth, I can’t remember the last time I felt as relaxed . I admit that catching up will be hard (1000+ unread items in my email inbox!!), but it was worth it. I was able to recapture my naive exploratory freedom. I woke up, ate, read and slept any time I desired. I had lots of fun without being worried about my work responsibilities back home.

Thank God I survived the crying game!

Hundreds of preschoolers had their first day of school last Tuesday. I helped with the Thai teachers and I can't imagine how I endure the crying game! It really broke my heart seeing hundreds of preschoolers screaming, holding on to their moms or dad’s legs for dear life, refusing to even look at the classroom, much less walk into it alone. I wonder how would I react to that kind of playout if Hyzyd starts preschool. I don't want to think about it. What a pressure it will be!

Crying children is nothing new to the preschool teachers.They even require the parents to leave at exactly 8:30 am. It really does work. Nine out of ten times, the child stops crying within five minutes of the parent leaving. In some cases, if the preschool teacher can’t get the child to calm down, they’ll be in touch with the parents. I now have trust in their experience and know they have my child’s best interest at heart when time comes for Hyzyd to start preschool.

Today is a national holiday. It marks the 61st anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. I'm glad to have this break so that I could start reading "Couples Who Pray" from BookSneeze. They sent me this book for free in exchange for a review on this blog. Stay tune with it. Also, I'm reviewing the booklet that the Bangkok Insurance Public Company Limited has sent me. I still don't know what policy to buy: the universal life insurance, whole life insurance or just the personal accident insurance? Hubby and I need some brainstorming plus your ideas!

Just Beautiful: My BIG, Happy Family

Isn't it beautiful to be part of a Christian family? There are many benefits and blessings which come from the Christian home- Prayer, Bible study, and family worship that keeps us together. I have happy memories of childhood experiences in my big happy home.

Last month, we got the chance of meeting my grandparents, parents, and my 13 siblings (plus the fiancees and nephew and niece)! What a grand reunion we had!

Family

I think about those I do not see,

Sensing that they too think of me.

So many miles I have strayed,

When I could have simply stayed.

Merely to expand the bond,

To make new memories far beyond.

Life's choices find us miles apart,

Ever close with the beat of my heart.

To relive in my minds eye,

Keeps them close and always near by.

Memories gathered from the start,

Forever alive within my heart.

My message is so simple and small.

Those three words most important of all,

I LOVE YOU!

~© Terri Napoleon~