Pressure, demands, lack of sleep or just too busy. These are the factors that triggers stress. We all know its hard to deal with it but there's always a way out. Here is my list of ways to deal or relieves STRESS.
Have a Full Body Massage
-This is the most effective way to relieve stress. There are a lot of spas that offers full body massage which uses essential oils that relieves stress. Service fee ranges from P200 to P500 or if you have enough budget then you can also try massage that has sauna bath and buffet meal which ranges from P800 to P1000 depending on the package.
Treat Yourself to the Salon
-Try a new look. This will somehow boost your moral and change your mood. Cut your hair short or have it permed. Enjoy your time sitting under the hair steamer while reading a fashion magazine. By the end of the session you'll have a free back massage too.
Go on Shopping
-After a long weekend you deserve a break. It's your pay day. And shopping malls normally have sale during these days. Have a look at the trendiest shoes available in store. Try those new clothes on and see if it fits you. This adventure makes more fun when your with friends.
Watch a Funny Movie.
-Laughter still is the best medicine. Go on a movie date with your office mates (they need this too) and watch the funniest and wackiest movie. Laugh as hard as you can to release those tension and notice a lighter feeling afterward.
Your Comfort Food
-Have a feast once in a while. Eat your pepperoni pan pizza or try that creamy carbonara. Sundae with hot fudge is also a must try. Eat as much as you can but remember to visit your gym buddy the other day so you don't get overweight. You don't want to have another reason to get stressed.
Monday, November 30, 2009
How to Make Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Baking cookies made easy. The smell of freshly baked oatmeal cookies completes your Sunday afternoon with kids.
you'll be needing :
4 cups of oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 eggs
optional:
raisins
chocolate chip
peanuts
Here's how we do it:
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees
* In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until soft and creamy (make sure you chill the butter before using)
* Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat these ingredients together
* Add all the remaining dry ingredients then continue mixing
* In a tray, place the cookies in a cookie sheet (don't forget to grease these sheets so cookies won't stick)
* Bake this for about 10-15 mins or until golden brown.
Best served with hot coffee or chocolate while chatting with your friends or while home with your family. Nothing compares the joy of eating with your loved ones.
you'll be needing :
4 cups of oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 eggs
optional:
raisins
chocolate chip
peanuts
Here's how we do it:
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees
* In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until soft and creamy (make sure you chill the butter before using)
* Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat these ingredients together
* Add all the remaining dry ingredients then continue mixing
* In a tray, place the cookies in a cookie sheet (don't forget to grease these sheets so cookies won't stick)
* Bake this for about 10-15 mins or until golden brown.
Best served with hot coffee or chocolate while chatting with your friends or while home with your family. Nothing compares the joy of eating with your loved ones.
Sometime Somewhere
We speak but the words we say mean nothing
We smile but the smiles we give are wanting
We look upon each other's eyes,
No spark, no glow, no real signs, but we both know
This is all for show
Until that sometime, somewhere,
We could show the world we have each other
Sometime, somewhere, we need not hide our feelings
We just keep on believing
That we both have the time together
Sometime and somewhere, our lips would be free at last
To say the words we've hungered to say
And we won't have to worry, we smile, we won't say sorry
One look and we have cast our fears aside
Sometime, that sometime we'll turn to forever for all time
Somewhere, our somewhere would not be just one place but everywhere
Until that sometime, somewhere,
We just have to be content with stealing glances
Somehow, content with saying nothing, smiles that are always wanting
Though deep inside it hurts because we know that our love,
Like love is what it is, it's what we got
Our love, like love will have to wait until that sometime, somewhere
________________________
This was composed by Mr. Ryan Cayabyab and sang by Ms. Regine Velasquez. Just want to post this and hope you guys will check on the lyrics. The message of the song was about two hearts that will never be together. I personally love this song maybe because I can relate to it. I feel sad and gloomy everytime I listen to this song.
We smile but the smiles we give are wanting
We look upon each other's eyes,
No spark, no glow, no real signs, but we both know
This is all for show
Until that sometime, somewhere,
We could show the world we have each other
Sometime, somewhere, we need not hide our feelings
We just keep on believing
That we both have the time together
Sometime and somewhere, our lips would be free at last
To say the words we've hungered to say
And we won't have to worry, we smile, we won't say sorry
One look and we have cast our fears aside
Sometime, that sometime we'll turn to forever for all time
Somewhere, our somewhere would not be just one place but everywhere
Until that sometime, somewhere,
We just have to be content with stealing glances
Somehow, content with saying nothing, smiles that are always wanting
Though deep inside it hurts because we know that our love,
Like love is what it is, it's what we got
Our love, like love will have to wait until that sometime, somewhere
________________________
This was composed by Mr. Ryan Cayabyab and sang by Ms. Regine Velasquez. Just want to post this and hope you guys will check on the lyrics. The message of the song was about two hearts that will never be together. I personally love this song maybe because I can relate to it. I feel sad and gloomy everytime I listen to this song.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
My best friend's boyfriend - Will it last?
As we all know same sex relationship is now accepted not just here in the Philippines but around the globe. Men are now very discreet when it comes to their identity and if you don't know how to determine whether the guy is gay or no, then you are one of the many people that were deceived by their looks. They are everywhere. You can find them in the school, in the office, sometimes they're also in the least places you could think of like in the gym and maybe, just maybe your he is professor in culinary arts.
My best friend is one of them. His name is KC. He's currently working in Eastwood, Libis as a call center representative. To tell you frankly, if I dont know him I would think he's straight. He is very discreet in his own way. From the way he moves to the way he look. You definitely won't think that he's gay. We've been friends since we're kids and same goes with our family. We've been friends since I was in second year highschool and he was in his first year. So more or less we've been friends for nine years already. We already know each other's differences and get along with each other through the years. Kc loves exploring things and doing things that he haven't experienced yet. I can tell that he's one of the bravest friends that I know. To be honest I feel safe whenever he's around. He became my security blanket especially at times when I feel I'm alone or whenever I have problems.I can laugh as much as I could and cry at times. He's always there when I need someone to listen, he's always there when I need a friend.
This story that I'm going to tell just happened recently. Kc went to a bar in Cubao to have some fun with his officemates. If I recall it right the bar's name was "Palawan" and if I'm not mistaken, this bar is like a haven for men who prefer to hook up with same sex. The day before this I was with him. He told me that he is planning to check what's with the bar and he'll tell me whether the bar is fine or not. So come the next day I went to their place and looked for him because we have plans to go out. His mother was worried already because Kc left the house last night around 8:00pm and it's already three in the afternoon and he's still not home. I tried to call him yet there's no answer so I decided to tell her mom that I'm gonna leave and be back next day. The other day I texted him and asked what happened. He told me that he went to palawan and hooked up with this guy and went to he's place at Taguig to do their thing. From that point on Kc addressed this guy as he's boyfriend.
Kc looked happy as day goes by so I ask what's goin on. So he tells me futher stories about the guy. He say's the guy is married with two kids but his wife is at Japan and the kids are in the province. The guy also offered Kc the place and was asking him to stay with him. Kc had doubts with the set up so he refused to besides he can't leave her mom alone. After a week he told me that he's with another guy. I dont know what happened but I didn't bother to ask because that's too personal. I asked who this guy is and he replied with a smile. I guess he's in love so I asked futher questions. The guys name is Maco and they met in chat. Maco is a culinary arts teacher in a University somewhere in Manila. They meet up and get along with each others company and according to Kc he was Kind. Kind in the sense that the guy always pay the expenses whenever they go out. I dont know Maco personally. I haven't got time to meet up with him but Kc is already planning to set a date where we have time to go out and finally meet each other.
One day I texted Kc if he's free for the day because I'm planning to go out to unwind. He replied yes so I immediately went to their house to pick him up. I was planning to play frozen throne (a LAN based game) with him at morayta. On our way his phone rings and it was his boyfriend Maco. Maco is currently at Monumento and was asking Kc to pick him up at Doroteo Jose. Kc looked confused at moment because he don't know whether he'll go or not. He's confused because if he decides to go then that means he'll have to leave me. I just listened and waited for his decision. This somehow became a test for Kc as to whether drop me just for he's boyfriend or tell a lie and stay with me. At that point Kc is already asking what to do but I just replied "I dunno" or "You decide". In the end he decided to pick up his guy and leave me behind. I didn't say a word because I was shock. I told him "it's okay" and "I'm fine". I just feel like I'm betrayed or maybe Im just jealous or maybe I'm mad. I didn't realized that Kc, my bestfriend can do that. Although it may look like the situation is just plain and simple still it hurt me. It pains me to see him walking and leave me just for this guy he just knew few days ago. Actually I'm not mad because he did that. I guess I'm mad because of the fact that I asked him if he's free for the day and he says yes when all he'll do is just dump me and leave me behind. Although he texted me and said he'll be back still the fact that he leave is painful.
I learned something on that day. It openned my eye to the posibilities that all the people around you will eventually leave. They have their reasons to go and you can't blame them. They leave because they choose to walk with love instead of friendship. They choose to fly instead of looking up the sky and sometimes they choose to risk everything and leave all they have behind. Maybe I'm right. Maybe Kc is brave. Maybe he's brave to leave his friends or maybe he's just trying new things on his own. I just wish he'll be happy to whatever the results may be. As for me, I still consider Kc as my bestfriend and what ever life would give him, I'll still be here for him. For me our friendship which was built for years will never be changed by this situation.
I just hope their relationship would last.
My best friend is one of them. His name is KC. He's currently working in Eastwood, Libis as a call center representative. To tell you frankly, if I dont know him I would think he's straight. He is very discreet in his own way. From the way he moves to the way he look. You definitely won't think that he's gay. We've been friends since we're kids and same goes with our family. We've been friends since I was in second year highschool and he was in his first year. So more or less we've been friends for nine years already. We already know each other's differences and get along with each other through the years. Kc loves exploring things and doing things that he haven't experienced yet. I can tell that he's one of the bravest friends that I know. To be honest I feel safe whenever he's around. He became my security blanket especially at times when I feel I'm alone or whenever I have problems.I can laugh as much as I could and cry at times. He's always there when I need someone to listen, he's always there when I need a friend.
This story that I'm going to tell just happened recently. Kc went to a bar in Cubao to have some fun with his officemates. If I recall it right the bar's name was "Palawan" and if I'm not mistaken, this bar is like a haven for men who prefer to hook up with same sex. The day before this I was with him. He told me that he is planning to check what's with the bar and he'll tell me whether the bar is fine or not. So come the next day I went to their place and looked for him because we have plans to go out. His mother was worried already because Kc left the house last night around 8:00pm and it's already three in the afternoon and he's still not home. I tried to call him yet there's no answer so I decided to tell her mom that I'm gonna leave and be back next day. The other day I texted him and asked what happened. He told me that he went to palawan and hooked up with this guy and went to he's place at Taguig to do their thing. From that point on Kc addressed this guy as he's boyfriend.
Kc looked happy as day goes by so I ask what's goin on. So he tells me futher stories about the guy. He say's the guy is married with two kids but his wife is at Japan and the kids are in the province. The guy also offered Kc the place and was asking him to stay with him. Kc had doubts with the set up so he refused to besides he can't leave her mom alone. After a week he told me that he's with another guy. I dont know what happened but I didn't bother to ask because that's too personal. I asked who this guy is and he replied with a smile. I guess he's in love so I asked futher questions. The guys name is Maco and they met in chat. Maco is a culinary arts teacher in a University somewhere in Manila. They meet up and get along with each others company and according to Kc he was Kind. Kind in the sense that the guy always pay the expenses whenever they go out. I dont know Maco personally. I haven't got time to meet up with him but Kc is already planning to set a date where we have time to go out and finally meet each other.
One day I texted Kc if he's free for the day because I'm planning to go out to unwind. He replied yes so I immediately went to their house to pick him up. I was planning to play frozen throne (a LAN based game) with him at morayta. On our way his phone rings and it was his boyfriend Maco. Maco is currently at Monumento and was asking Kc to pick him up at Doroteo Jose. Kc looked confused at moment because he don't know whether he'll go or not. He's confused because if he decides to go then that means he'll have to leave me. I just listened and waited for his decision. This somehow became a test for Kc as to whether drop me just for he's boyfriend or tell a lie and stay with me. At that point Kc is already asking what to do but I just replied "I dunno" or "You decide". In the end he decided to pick up his guy and leave me behind. I didn't say a word because I was shock. I told him "it's okay" and "I'm fine". I just feel like I'm betrayed or maybe Im just jealous or maybe I'm mad. I didn't realized that Kc, my bestfriend can do that. Although it may look like the situation is just plain and simple still it hurt me. It pains me to see him walking and leave me just for this guy he just knew few days ago. Actually I'm not mad because he did that. I guess I'm mad because of the fact that I asked him if he's free for the day and he says yes when all he'll do is just dump me and leave me behind. Although he texted me and said he'll be back still the fact that he leave is painful.
I learned something on that day. It openned my eye to the posibilities that all the people around you will eventually leave. They have their reasons to go and you can't blame them. They leave because they choose to walk with love instead of friendship. They choose to fly instead of looking up the sky and sometimes they choose to risk everything and leave all they have behind. Maybe I'm right. Maybe Kc is brave. Maybe he's brave to leave his friends or maybe he's just trying new things on his own. I just wish he'll be happy to whatever the results may be. As for me, I still consider Kc as my bestfriend and what ever life would give him, I'll still be here for him. For me our friendship which was built for years will never be changed by this situation.
I just hope their relationship would last.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Fight Against Breast Cancer
Just last June of this year, my mom was diagnosed to have a breast cancer. We went to Medical City in trinoma (just a clinic which is closest to our place) to have my mom's breast checked because she was telling us that it hurts. She told us that she can feel a lump for both breast. Good thing was we had this checked right away. The first doctor checked my mom's breast and told us that the moment she land her hand on the left breast she was able to feel it. She was shocked because it was huge. According to her the size of the lump was same as the cap of a regular size alcohol. For the right breast, it took her 3mins to locate it. It was smaller than that of the left. Doc said the lumps should be removed and have it undergo a biopsy(a process of checking whether the lump was malignant or benign)The doctors were telling us that we shouldn't draw our conclusions yet until we see the results of the biopsy. Dra. referred us to another doctor (if I remember it right, he was Dr. Jorge) which is a surgeon. So Dr. Jorge checked my mom's breast and explain the situation which we are already aware of. He asked us which kind of biopsy we want because we can choose either Incision or Excision (not sure though of the spelling ahaha..). Im not certain about the meaning but as far as I know the other one means to remove the whole lump and the other one means to get a part or a tissue of the lump. We asked for the Doctors opinion and ask which is the best. In the end, she had to undergo both types. They removed the whole lump for the left breast(which is huge) and since the lump on the left is pretty small then the doctor suggested that they will get a part of the lump for testing. So the following week my mom had a minor operation for the biopsy and waited for another week to get the result the we are all dreading.
Mom was diagnosed to have a stage I Breast Cancer and Grade 1 (Grade 1=malignant cells multiply slowly; Grade 2=Moderately Fast and Grade 3= Fast) for the gravity of the malignant cells. I was with my sister and with my mom when the break the news. Of course we were in shock but in calm condition (me and my sister talked about this before going to the clinic and we agreed to stay calm and never show weakness in front of our mom if the result will be bad). My mom wasn't able to absorb it right away until we went home. My mom was in tears during our way home. All we can say was nothing but power words and encouragements that she can get through this, WE can all get through this. We inform our friends and relatives to pray for our mom atleast for spiritual help and moral support. Angela did some research about my moms condition while I asked my collegues (mostly certified nurses) about the information they know.
My cousin's wife Ness called Angela the moment she heard the news. Her mom was a cancer patient before and was a survivor. She told us the doctor that took care of her mom was her friend and she recommends that we seek assistance with the same doctor. Doctor Precilla Cagiua was a resident doctor in University of Sto. Tomas and also in St. Lukes hospital. She told us that Dra. Precy was good so immediately we went to UST for consultation. Dra. Precy told us everything we need to know and in the end we were advised to have moms both breast removed. Dra. precy is an Oncologist and dont do operation so she referred us to Doc. Olalia which is good because he was a maxicare affiliate doctor. Mom had to stay in the Hospital for five days for the operation. The expenses were covered by the health card and Philhealth so we didn't encounter much problem(although the card was maxed out and we need to cash out P60,000.00 for the professional fee and other expenses in the hospital).
After a month, mom was able to recover about last operation and was ready for the next step. Actually to be honest, we thought we're good after the operation but we are dead wrong. The breast that they got from mom undergone some testings. They found out what exactly is mom's status. They told us that mom's Breast Cancer stage was II and the gravity of the malignant cells was Grade 3. Dra. Precy suggested that mom undergo six cycles of chemotherapy to make sure that all the malignant cells in moms body will be removed. So come August mom had her first cycle of chemotherapy. Dra. prescribe some medicines that will somehow help my mom suppress some effects of the chemo drugs. But as expected, she lose weight and wasn't able to eat well. She also lose her hair as well which for me is too painful. It gives my mom a mark that she was not well and she was medicating. All the our neighbors found out our moms condition which we want to avoid because we don't want them to talk to our mom differently and we don't want them to ask about her condition because that would only let our mom dwell in sorrow and maybe she will feel sorry for herself. During the course of her chemotheraphy, she was advised o use a facial mask and was advised to avoid eating fresh foods to avoid getting bacteria and the like. On the 4th, 5th and 6th day after each cycle she is advised to inject a Granocyte (which will help her boost her immunity or enhance the production of white blood cells). Every monday of the 3rd week she needs to take a blood test just to check the status of her blood and during tuesday or thursday(which is the schedule of Dra. Precy in UST) she will have her regular check up. She sometimes had some problems like having extremely bad tooth ache that alarmed us because we saw our mom in tears because of the pain. She can't take meds that are in the family of mefenamic acid so the doctor prescribed other pain reliever.
And on this day, my mom just had her 6th and final cycle of chemotheraphy. We are all happy for our mom. She made it. WE made it. We did not let our mom fight in the battle field alone. We were all by her side during the entire battle. Each member of the family had their own contributions whether its big or small. All take their part and cooperated well. We were a team. I Just realized that during this times you will never let a member of a family down. You'll do everything and anything to save reason why you're here. If my father would see us, I know he'll be happy and I know he'll be proud of what we've done and what we've accomplished. I just wished he was still here. But wherever he is right now, I know he's looking for us.
"In the end all will be okay. If its not yet okay then its not yet the end."
Mom was diagnosed to have a stage I Breast Cancer and Grade 1 (Grade 1=malignant cells multiply slowly; Grade 2=Moderately Fast and Grade 3= Fast) for the gravity of the malignant cells. I was with my sister and with my mom when the break the news. Of course we were in shock but in calm condition (me and my sister talked about this before going to the clinic and we agreed to stay calm and never show weakness in front of our mom if the result will be bad). My mom wasn't able to absorb it right away until we went home. My mom was in tears during our way home. All we can say was nothing but power words and encouragements that she can get through this, WE can all get through this. We inform our friends and relatives to pray for our mom atleast for spiritual help and moral support. Angela did some research about my moms condition while I asked my collegues (mostly certified nurses) about the information they know.
My cousin's wife Ness called Angela the moment she heard the news. Her mom was a cancer patient before and was a survivor. She told us the doctor that took care of her mom was her friend and she recommends that we seek assistance with the same doctor. Doctor Precilla Cagiua was a resident doctor in University of Sto. Tomas and also in St. Lukes hospital. She told us that Dra. Precy was good so immediately we went to UST for consultation. Dra. Precy told us everything we need to know and in the end we were advised to have moms both breast removed. Dra. precy is an Oncologist and dont do operation so she referred us to Doc. Olalia which is good because he was a maxicare affiliate doctor. Mom had to stay in the Hospital for five days for the operation. The expenses were covered by the health card and Philhealth so we didn't encounter much problem(although the card was maxed out and we need to cash out P60,000.00 for the professional fee and other expenses in the hospital).
After a month, mom was able to recover about last operation and was ready for the next step. Actually to be honest, we thought we're good after the operation but we are dead wrong. The breast that they got from mom undergone some testings. They found out what exactly is mom's status. They told us that mom's Breast Cancer stage was II and the gravity of the malignant cells was Grade 3. Dra. Precy suggested that mom undergo six cycles of chemotherapy to make sure that all the malignant cells in moms body will be removed. So come August mom had her first cycle of chemotherapy. Dra. prescribe some medicines that will somehow help my mom suppress some effects of the chemo drugs. But as expected, she lose weight and wasn't able to eat well. She also lose her hair as well which for me is too painful. It gives my mom a mark that she was not well and she was medicating. All the our neighbors found out our moms condition which we want to avoid because we don't want them to talk to our mom differently and we don't want them to ask about her condition because that would only let our mom dwell in sorrow and maybe she will feel sorry for herself. During the course of her chemotheraphy, she was advised o use a facial mask and was advised to avoid eating fresh foods to avoid getting bacteria and the like. On the 4th, 5th and 6th day after each cycle she is advised to inject a Granocyte (which will help her boost her immunity or enhance the production of white blood cells). Every monday of the 3rd week she needs to take a blood test just to check the status of her blood and during tuesday or thursday(which is the schedule of Dra. Precy in UST) she will have her regular check up. She sometimes had some problems like having extremely bad tooth ache that alarmed us because we saw our mom in tears because of the pain. She can't take meds that are in the family of mefenamic acid so the doctor prescribed other pain reliever.
And on this day, my mom just had her 6th and final cycle of chemotheraphy. We are all happy for our mom. She made it. WE made it. We did not let our mom fight in the battle field alone. We were all by her side during the entire battle. Each member of the family had their own contributions whether its big or small. All take their part and cooperated well. We were a team. I Just realized that during this times you will never let a member of a family down. You'll do everything and anything to save reason why you're here. If my father would see us, I know he'll be happy and I know he'll be proud of what we've done and what we've accomplished. I just wished he was still here. But wherever he is right now, I know he's looking for us.
"In the end all will be okay. If its not yet okay then its not yet the end."
