I was thinking about what we have been eating for the past few days and realized we have been eating more meat and fewer vegetables. It was time to cook for dinner so I checked on the vegetables on hand and found I have on whole squash on hand. Aha! I checked and I have Chinese okra, basil, ginger , small shrimps and coconut milk. I made a delicious and hearty squash soup or “dinuldog” in Cebuano with a hint of Thai basil and nutmeg. That was what we had for supper and it went well with the leftover grilled milkfish.

When cooking a very flavourful dish like squash soup, the possibilities are endless. You can sneak in green vegetables into the dish and it would still taste great. Okra, green beans, string beans, spinach or any other green leafy vegetables work well with the dish.

When we moved to our new place, we bought two bird feeders. We just hang the feeders around the cherry tree at our backyard. It was not  long before warblers flock to our feeders. I could see at least twenty birds feeding at the same time at any day. Most of
them, picking up seeds on the ground that fell from the feeders.

Sometimes I could not see the small birds feeding when they usually do. The bigger birds would scare them away.  It is either the robins are picking on the ripe cherries or there are magpies resting by the tree.

It is such a joy to see birds right outside our windows. They are present everyday and are always chirping and calling out to each other. I enjoy their presence so much that it makes me feel I have pets.

We were kind of upgrading the things that we already own.  We have a pair of JM Lab- Focal floor-standing speakers and we wanted the surround system. We bought the center speaker, subwoofer and back speakers, same brand for all to maximize the sound effect.

My husband had always wanted to buy a bigger TV but we kept  putting it off because of space issue. What we had before was a 32-inch Samsung TV. Now that we have the space, we bought a 55-inch Samsung Smart TV 3D and LED. The purchase also came with a pair of 3D glasses, Skype Chat camera and headset and a complete set of Shrek blu-ray discs in 3D.   I am really amazed at how so many things can  be done with just a TV nowadays. The future is promising.

The reclining navigator sofa from Ashley has been with us  for more than two years.  If you look at it, you can tell that it is obviously old but it is still in near perfect condition. We paid the same store a visit and we added love seat, center table and corner table from the same series. We also got a few accessories for our  living room.  Our living room now looks very welcoming and cozy.

Shopping for appliances and furniture can be a headache, what with the limited budget and endless options.  As for us, we just had to upgrade. We were already satisfied with what we already have so going with it was a smart choice.

The media is partly to be blamed for our obsession to try to look like the models in magazines and television. Although we are well aware that technology makes it possible to edit pictures, we still take pictures in the magazines as it is. We also forget that make-up, lighting and other factors help make pictures look perfect. We would like to believe that models are really perfect in the truest sense even if they too, have flaws just like everyone else.

While technology advancement makes us want to try to look like the models in the commercials and advertisements, it is also the exact same thing that provides us with the tools and products to help us look and live better. An excellent example of this is body wraps. This product has become so popular around the world because of its proven efficacy. When your cellulite is smoothed out, you actually lose some inches off which makes it even better. Most BODY WRAPS are done in spas before but now, there is a wide selection of products which you can use in the privacy of your own home with the same results.

Summer is just around the corner and this means a possible trip to the beach. This is the time when we need our bodies to be fit and our skin smooth. A nice website to check out for products that I’m quite sure everybody especially women, would love is shimmerfx.com. There you can find products that can dramatically improve your well-being without your having to go through the knife. Everybody needs to be pampered once in awhile. When you work hard, you have to treat yourself with good things that make you look great. We are not born perfect but I’m glad that there are products that help us look great. When we look good in the mirror, we feel good. When we feel good, we feel like we can do everything and we project that good feeling with everything around us.

Before I arrived in Canada, my husband rented a one-bedroom apartment and was just using a queen sized sofa bed for sleeping. The sofa bed was quite comfortable. He chose to use the sofa bed instead of a real bed because his job requires him to move in wherever the next contract would take him. The sofa bed is so convenient for this purpose because it can be folded.

When I joined him last year, we moved in to a new two-bedroom apartment. We had a deal before that we would only choose our proper bed when we’re together but I procrastinated. We’re still using his old sofa bed. Yesterday, I noticed that the sofa bed is starting to make a noise with sudden movements. I took it as a signal for us to consider buying our proper bed as soon as possible.

I found  some  Bedroom Sets  to choose from and they’re absolutely gorgeous. They can be ordered online at spacify.com and shipping can be free. If  I were living alone, I would definitely go for something feminine but since we’re a couple, our bedroom should  reflect who we are as a couple. I would also like our bedroom to be balanced on both sides like having a nightstand and lamp on each side. The headboard should be very sturdy and there should be space under the bed to let the air go through it. This is required in feng shui and for very good reasons. The bedroom is the couple’s ultimate sanctuary and should not be taken lightly.

As I was searching the internet for cleaning tips, specifically how to remove stains, I came across a website for Commercial Cleaning for homes and businesses. I was amazed at how informative their website is. Even if their business is commercial cleaning, they still give valuable tips on cleaning. It’s like the chef giving off his secret recipes. Well, not really. They also have an online form you can fill up for a free quote, schedule an appointment, avail of their cleaning services and unbelievably, expert advice on all your needs.

I think the greater part of COMMERCIAL CLEANING is not the how-to-clean part but the energy-to-do-it part. I’m sure everybody will agree that carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and air duct cleaning are the most difficult to do. You don’t do this very often but they have to be done and you can’t just settle for clean, it has to be very clean. Cleanliness is not just for beautification purposes, it is also crucial to good health. Having said that, I am going to avail of a Commercial Cleaning service soon. This is because the carpet upholstery and air duct needs thorough cleaning once in awhile. I don’t think my own cleaning would suffice. Also, I’m allergic to dust and I can’t stand prolonged exposure to dust and dirt when cleaning. Sounds like an excellent excuse to call commercial cleaners.

The dermatologists and doctors always say it is idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown. Having this disease on and off for many years, searching the internet for answers and reading books about the skin, I have come to realize that every flare up becomes better. I may feel at times that I am at my worse flare up but it always get better with time. Every flare up has a trigger and I just need to figure out what cause this.

I feel I have auto-immune issues because when you have a problem like mine, you will know that the problem is inside your body. I become hyper-sensitive to everyday things when I’m in a flare otherwise, I could just tolerate most things I seem to be sensitive to.

These days, I’m still itchy but feeling much better. I still take two antihistamines everyday because I learned that you only have to stop taking it after at least two months of having no symptoms. I still keep trying new things here, like moisturizers and shampoos but I’m slowly discovering what works for me and what doesn’t work. I just have to be my own detective. These are one of those times when instead of getting immediate relief, you have to dig deep into the matter and find the root cause and start from there.

We have a room upstairs that we use as our office. When my husband is at work, I use that office. We have a home network of three computers so it is just alright if I use any of the computers because all our files are stored in the server. When my husband is at home however, I give him priority over the office upstairs because that is really his computer there. My computer is downstairs but when I work with photos, I like to do it in his computer because it is directly wired to the server while mine is using wireless connection. This means that loading of photos in his computer is way faster than in my computer and I’m talking about several thousands of photos here.

My husband have been offering to buy me a proper computer table but I procrastinated because I really don’t want to rush on buying things. I have my own requirements when it comes to buying things. I usually know what I want and I want it at a very reasonable price. Lately though, I have been working long hours in the computer and using just a small table and small stool. My back is beginning to hurt. This concerns me so much so it was time to set-up a proper working space.

Yesterday, we were at Staples and we bought a corner workcenter table with cherry finish. When we got home, my husband assembled the table right away and it came out perfect to my corner space office and my ergonomic chair. The table is quite sturdy and wide enough for the phone and other computer accessories. It also has enough space in front of me, in case I need to write things down. The CPU holder is very spacious that I think it is big enough to accommodate three CPU’s.

Since I like to work with pictures, I also bought Adobe Photoshop Elements version 7. I slept late last night because I was very busy watching the how-to videos of the software that I just bought. I’m so glad I brushed up with my knowledge in photo-editing in Photoshop which I have not done in quite a long time. I have been using Windows Picture Manager and Olympus Master 2 prior to this. Sooner than later, I will be editing videos and who knows, make movies.

     I was touched by the heart-breaking story of the five year-old twins, Addison and Cassie Hempel who are suffering from Niemann Pick Type-C  (NPC), a disease that causes dementia in children.  This means they slowly forget what they know and eventually die young if left untreated.  There are 500 children worldwide affected by the disease.

      NPC is a genetic condition wherein children cannot process cholesterol which slowly builds up in the body causing cells to die and leading to organ failure. The neurons in the child’s brain cannot process cholesterol so brain cells break down thus causing dementia. The good news though is that there is hope.

    The twins are now granted “compassionate use” (as per parents’ request) of the sugar compound, cyclodextrin which will extract the cholesterol in the body and may help with their condition. The sugar compound will be infused directly into the twin’s bloodstreams by a tube placed in their chests. There’s hope also that those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease may benefit from the same treatment.

    It is really impossible for most parents to give up on their children. In this case, the twin’s father has been working closely with doctors for the development of this treatment.  The twins’ parents are not only giving hope to their children but to the many families with children affected by the disease.

     The seaweed that we eat  in the Philippines are different from what the Japanese restaurants are serving although just the same, they all taste and smell of seawater.  All the seaweeds that I know of, need blanching before you season them and turn them into a salad.

     Today I made my first Japanese style seaweed salad. I never miss to order this every time we go to a Japanese restaurant. I always love this as a side dish. I made mine from dried wakame seaweed and I just followed the recipe for the seasoning that I got from the internet. It turned out really nice. My husband loved it too. From now on,  dried seaweed is going to be a staple in my pantry.