I Eat Therefore I Am..

Quick Fix

2008-11-18T21:13:00.000+10:00

Quick fix. That’s what I need in the morning. I’m always stalling to get up that most of the time, I’m running late. I need everything instant – coffee (no time for espresso machines), breakfast, lunches, shower, even dressing up.

Today, is a tad different because Jens didn’t go to “school” so I only have myself to get ready. Though, I still made him his breakfast – little soldiers (toast) – and changed him from his jammies.

Sensitive Skin

2008-11-18T21:12:00.001+10:00

I’m not really fussy with my skincare products but when I feel one brand is giving me my money’s worth, expect me to stick to it.

I use a meagre amount of moisturiser for my face and I only apply it once a day, even if the packet says, it can be use at night as well – I don’t like my face to feel heavy at night. A small pump bottle of moisturiser will last me more than 6 months. I think, longer than that - too long that when I needed a new one, that variant was already phased out in the market. I was talking of Neutrogena. Since, I couldn’t find it in shops, I tried Garnier. I’ve been using it for like a month, and I’m getting zits here and there. Though, it is for oily skin and supposedly should control the oil, my skin tend to be shinier that I have to use face powder or worse, an acne treatment soon.

Yesterday, I decided to try another variant of Neutrogena and use it today. Well, let’s see if it suits my type of skin. Really, if I could only find the variant that I used on my face, I might buy two of them. :)

Lucrative Jobs

2008-11-18T21:10:00.000+10:00

It was in the news recently that the tax system will be simplified so an individual doesn’t have to employ the accountant’s service in order to file for the personal tax return. Accountants occupy a big chunk of the work force here in Down Under. Everyone needs an accountant. But with the planned tax scheme, accountants might not be needed at all. Well, this tax plan is not designed for the accountants to loose their job. It is said to help many Aussies who could have filed their tax return themselves without hassles. Besides accountants hold a very lucrative profession. They could fit to any jobs in business. No scare for them to be out of job.

Bad Habit

2008-11-18T21:08:00.000+10:00

I’ve mentioned many times maybe that Mcj drink a lot of coffee everyday. It’s his water except on a hot summer’s day.

Recently, he decided that he could have cola also. It’s not that this change will have a positive effect on his body but because it is getting warmer, a cold cola will quench his thirst which is a sham because it actually does not do that. You become thirstier. We’ve also tried fizzy lemonade. And worst is, I do my share of drinking a couple of can in a worse day. Cola is not really part of my diet and because it sits on fridge, it is so tempting. And what does it give me? Big fat belly. Yeah, I am not fat, but I have flabby abs. It’s the usual effect whey I drink cola continuously. I should stop and try green tea fat burner but don’t you feel like drinking cola when you are eating fatty or greasy food or salty chips? I might just need more exercise, what do you reckon?

The Big Storm

2008-11-18T21:07:00.000+10:00

It was so humid and sticky hot last Sunday. Mcj was busy fixing the aircondition in the room while Jens and I were bonding in the lounge. He went to sleep for almost two hours in the afternoon so I had some ME time. I read a book.

I finished cooking dinner by 5PM and decided to hang out with Mcj while he was doing his thingie. We were told that there is a storm coming but I just brushed it off, not really expecting a big one. Then Mcj all of a sudden, won’t let us come out in the backyard. He said, the cloud is greenish and hail most probably is coming. Not long after, rain with gusty wind started. Then the power went off.

It was a very big storm. We ate dinner with only a torch giving us light and what’s left of the daylight. It was sort of fun, albeit the condition outside. The power was not restored until the next morning so we went to sleep early.

When the eye of the storm passed, Mcj inspected around the property and found some louvers broken, rooves blown away, etc. That and the bamboo blinds in the patio were swept away.

I am thankful that nothing bad happened to us. Some areas of Queensland were severely affected, it’s just horrifying.

Jens is staying home until the day care’s facility is restored, which was damaged when the tree fell down on one of the electricity posts.

Queensland was declared a calamity zone. And it just happened overnight – even shorter than that.

Spring Cleaning

2008-11-11T20:34:00.000+10:00

I have these piles of Jens’ old and winter clothes and some winter bed sheets in one corner that need stashing away as they won’t fit in the cupboard. We are running out of space and these stuff were bought just this winter. It is spring now and we don’t need them anymore this year. I’ve started sorting our stuff more than two weeks ago.

Finally, last weekend, I was able to find the strength or should I say the will to box them. Problem was, I haven’t shopped for the boxes yet. I asked Mcj if he could take me to the closest shop so I can pick-up a couple of boxes which I annoyed him because he wanted to shop around and get the best quality stuff in good price. Well, my aim was just to finish the task once and for all. In compromise, I shopped in the catalogue. Target has sale on boxes but we didn’t go there.

We head to Bunnings instead. That’s where Mcj bought Jens’ toys box and he said, we can get boxes of any size there. True enough. We picked-up 2 100liters boxes. They were priced more than 80% from Target but they are of good quality.

Jens went to sleep when we got home so I had time to sort things out and found out that one of the boxes hasn’t got wheels. Geez! We picked up the two stacks not realising that the other hasn’t got wheels. Another job for Mcj, going back to Bunnings to swap it.

The two boxes fixed me up. I have so much room. I have stashed away everything. It’s like I’m packed for las vegas hotels.

Practice Makes Driving Perfect

2008-11-10T20:52:00.000+10:00

The old cliché, Practice makes perfect, never lost is lustre. And I suppose I should apply that in acquiring a real good driving skill. But I have not. I haven’t been behind the wheel for almost two weeks now. I don’t even try to run around the property with our huge car let alone in the streets. I just depend on my paid lessons. I got another one this Saturday.

I reckon, the cause of the problem is, I don’t have my own car yet. I don’t necessarily need a car for myself but because our car is way bigger for my build, I can’t just hop behind the wheel anytime and run around the block.

But with the financial crises that the world is facing now, we are not considering of buying any car soon, yet. We need to save for the rainy days, as they say. Even if I am thinking of buying just a pre-loved car, there is still the cost of auto insurance and rego to take into account.

I guess, I just have to make do with my paid lessons and of driving from the gate to the garage from time to time, until this financial meltdown is over and we are able to splurge a big chunk of our savings on a car.

Make it Shine!

2008-10-30T20:24:00.000+10:00

I’ve been aiming of making mirrors cleaner but of course, I don’t know the ingredients so I asked the help of the net. And this is what about.com gave me.

Ingredients
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar

Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with national brands. This can also be used to give a nice shine to hard tiles, chrome, and other surfaces.

And this from newfluwiki:

Window cleaner

½ tsp liquid soap,
3 tbs vinegar,
2 cups water,
spray bottle.

Combine the ingredients and put them in the spray bottle. Use like any window cleaner. Tip:Use newspaper to dry your windows. It's cheaper than paper towels and it leaves windows shiny and streak free.

I might give this a try on weekend but my problem is, I haven’t seen a rubbing alcohol here. Things that make you, hummmm!

Up and Down

2008-10-30T20:22:00.000+10:00

Jens and I sang some song before his bedtime last night. We started on the Alphabet Song and followed by The Wheels on the Bus (not really sure that’s the title of the song). I was surprised when he stood up on the bed and bent his knees making up and down motions. And I was still in the “The wheels on the bus go round and round” line. But I knew that he is making the action for “the people in the bus go up and down, up and down”.

Oh, I just love my Bubby boy! I have received comments that he is very clever in mimicking actions. He really made his Mummy proud.

On another note, I always see babies with fat rolls but my Jens hasn’t got any. But of course, that doesn’t mean that he is not healthy. He is actually very healthy in our eyes as he has muscles on his arms and thighs. And I know the reason of the absence of fat rolls, he is a breastfed baby, that is. Yet, he has a big fat belly (we’ve been calling that since he was a baby). He has a rubbish guts – stuffed his face until he is full and then store them inside his cheeks. Then when he sees something more interesting or something that he knew is sweet, he’ll chuck-up what’s inside his cheeks.

In short, he just loves food. I realised now, his day is made up of 50% eating, 15% sleeping and 35% playing. I just hope he won’t take this habit until his teenage life or yellow bullets would come into the picture. :)

"Peanuts" bow

2008-10-23T12:22:00.003+10:00

I'm munching on boiled peanuts now. Humm, sounds a healthy choice for a snack, right? (I won't be needing an orovo diet pill). Not really. I eat them with cola. I just had a piece of pizza subs. It's almost lunch here.

Anyway, I have a small trivia about peanuts. They are not actually nuts as nuts grow on trees. They are legumes belonging to the pea and beans family. Interesting, right? I reckon, they are root crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, etc.. as they grow from roots. What do you think?

Also, here are some health benefits of peanuts from hubpages.com

Whole peanuts contains high amount of protein, which makes it a preferred diet of those people engaged in body-building and those people who are weak and underweight. The raw peanut butter with crushed skin contains much higher amounts of nutrient than refined "nut-only" butter.
Peanut is a good source of Coenzyme Q10 which protects the heart during the period of lack of oxygen example high altitudes and clogged arteries.
Peanuts contain high concentrations of antioxidant polyphenols, primarily a compound called p-coumaric acid. Roasting peanuts increases its p-coumaric acid levels, boosting it overall antioxidant content by as much as 22%. Roasted peanuts rival the antioxidant content of blackberries and strawberries, and are far richer in antioxidants than apples, carrots or beets.
Unsalted peanuts are good for your arteries. One quarter cup of peanuts contains as much monunsaturated fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower blood cholesterol.
Peanuts' high niacin content helps in the recovery of cell damage provides protection against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive problem.
Peanut contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that is shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Peanut contain iron which is essential for the correct functioning of red blood cells.
Peanut is rich in calcium which helps promotes healthy bones.
Peanut has higher bioflavonoid resveratrol content than grapes. This bioflavonoid is believed to improve blood flow in the brain by as much as 30%, thus greatly reducing the risk of stroke. Study showed that by adding even small amounts of peanut products to the diet can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by 14%.
Peanuts' fiber content helps lower the risk of colon cancer, an ounce of peanuts contains 2 grams of fiber.
Peanut helps to accelerate the growth of male and female hormones.

Cooking Recipes

2008-10-23T11:54:00.001+10:00

My mother-in-law gave me a recipe book.
I’m not so interested in it because most of the recipes are for sauces, snacks, etc. Maybe the part 1 of this book is what I am looking for.

Well, anyway... I’ve printed recipes off the net and put them in the transparent folder. I got that idea from a fellow blogger. I saved lots of recipes but actually didn’t print them all as I am not going to cook them all either. I’ll just wear our printer out plus use up all the ink.

For Tea Lovers

2008-10-11T10:40:00.001+10:00

Drinking tea has so many health benefits. Each has varying effects. This fact is known to man for a long time.

Drinking tea has been a habit for some country. Here in down under for example, people drink tea in the morning, afternoon and night. It’s a beverage. Snack is called tea – morning tea, afternoon tea, tea. Cakes have tea in their name – apple tea cake, carrot tea cake, toffee and caramel tea cake, etc.

I haven’t embraced this tea drinking habit yet. I do drink coffee in moderation.

Some drink tea for weight loss reason. Some because of the antioxidants.

Here are some facts from lifestylechannel.com.au.

Tea and Health
The therapeutic benefits of tea have long been recognised. The Ancient Greeks used tea to treat colds and asthma, while the Chinese have been drinking tea to aid digestion, increase alertness and improve physical and mental performance for thousands of years.

More recently, published scientific research has confirmed that both black and green teas have health promoting properties. Tea is rich in flavonoids, substances with powerful antioxidant properties. The antioxidants are similar to those found in fruit, vegetables and red wine. These appear to help the body fight harmful 'free radicals' which can advance ageing, work against the immune system and play a major role in the development of chronic and degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Studies have shown that flavonoids in tea can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels and may halve the risk of heart attack by reducing blood clotting and cholesterol. People who drink one or more cups of tea a day have half the risk of heart attack in people who don't drink it, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and The Lancet.

Tea consumption may also have beneficial effects in reducing cancer risk. One study published in the International Journal of Cancer, indicated that men who drink between 2-3 cups of black tea per day reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by up to 30% compared to non-tea drinkers.

Drinking tea may have a role to play in dental health. A 1991 British study suggested that tea drinking could provide some children with enough fluoride to prevent tooth decay. The study also suggested that drinking tea decreases plaque, the scale caused by mouth bacteria that leads to gum disease.

Black tea may protect against the development of skin cancers caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation according to research with mice at the CSIRO in Adelaide. The latest research with mice found those given tea (with milk) experienced a reduction in the development of skin cancer of 50 percent and a reduction in the development of papillomas of 70 per cent.

It is not only the flavonoid content of tea that makes it good for us. Tea is also an excellent source of important nutrients such as manganese (essential for bone growth), potassium (vital for maintaining fluid levels in the body) and zinc (essential for growth and development). Research also suggests that drinking tea produces mild antibiotic actions in the gut, which offer protection against harmful bacteria and possibly cancer of the colon.

So sit back and relax in your modern furniture and have a cuppa. :)

Breaking the Fast

2008-10-06T21:53:00.002+10:00

These days my usual breakfast would be a piece of toast and a cup of coffee. Anything other than that happens not too often. It's the only I can prepare in so little time I have in the morning. It's entirely my fault though. I usually slept in so I don't have ample time in my hands to construct something sumptous. I miss the typical Pinoy breakfast.

A piece of bread can't last me long. If I have the change I could gobble a snack bar, a piece or two of apples and some chocolate bar before lunch. I don't want to resort to energy pills to replenish my strength. But really I home and wish of a very simple yet appetising meals plus enough time to enjoy it.

How about you? What is your sustenance in the morning?

Spidey Lady

2008-10-05T16:33:00.000+10:00

There are lots of spiders in the building around our place. They are pretty much annoying because when you walk in the dard, there's a big chance of you going through their webs. They are just not your ordinary small spiders. Some are really big, they look scary. Who knows if they are poisonous or not. I used to get a long stick and wound their webs on it and eventually wound the spiders in it. It was effective. I could build a big ball of webs at the end of each stick. Anyway, if I'd known then that we could use spider traps, I shouldn't have bothered. But it was hardwork well paid off. We got rid of some of the spidey and no money spent.

Security

2008-10-02T20:33:00.000+10:00

In our side of the world, you can use your life insurance as collateral for the mortgage of your house – obviously it is called, mortgage life insurance. Apparently, you have to take out a big life insurance if you’re house is dear – big premium follows.

Also here, you can have a life insurance from your Superannuation. The downside of this though is, your super is not growing or moving at all because the growth might just be equivalent to the life insurance premium. Especially in times like what we are now, the economy is moving slow and the stock market is moving down, super is likely not moving at all.

Bag-ful of Wishes

2008-10-01T21:13:00.004+10:00

My ever active mind has been shopping again. But I’m not really spending some moolah, just my time and effort which I reckon were well spent.

Some additions to my wish list (can't download the photos of the bags that I love. waaaa!).

It’s my first time to hear Ju Ju Be bags. But boy, I’m impressed. I like their style. Lookie. So apt for the weather here. I love colours! Summer.

Routines

2008-10-01T21:07:00.000+10:00

The Tatapilla’s mind is like a computer memory. It is programmed. When his Dad put him in the car in the afternoon to pick me up, he doesn’t whine. But when I am there, right when we open the door he starts making rowdy noises. Just for a bickie. Yes, his mind and belly is programmed that he will have bickie when I get in the car. Just in the afternoon. It doesn’t happen in any time of the day. It just took a couple of days of me giving him something to eat when I get in the car for him to remember that yes, Mummy has something for me in the afternoon.

Well, babies remember routines very easily anyway. And they love routine. It makes them feel secure.

And yeah, he knows where the bickies in the car are. His hands and eyes sometimes stray in the secret location.

Christmas Hampers

2008-09-27T11:26:00.001+10:00

The first "ber" month is almost over. Time flies so quickly. Before we know it, it will be Christmas soon.

I’ve been making notes in my head what are the gifts that we’re going to give this year mostly to our families. I’m thinking, grocery hampers or gift baskets would be ideal. That way, I don’t have to buy gifts for each member of the family. But what should include the hampers? Aha! I have an idea on how to tackle this. We might check every isle of the grocery shops and take note of the stuff that we can buy as gifts.

Tried to look up the net and found lots of something like this.

Sweaty Head

2008-09-27T11:21:00.001+10:00

Jens was born in winter month. And when I was pregnant I was sort of worried how my new baby will cope with the cold, although it is not that cold in Queensland during winter compared to other states down south. We were prepared for winter - woolly and warm blankets, warmer clothes, etc.

Back then I didn’t know how much clothes I should put onto my baby to keep him warm. I was told that it is always 1 layer more than I have. I applied that rule to Jens but because Jens has a very sweaty head, I eventually dismiss that notion.

In the last weeks of winter this year, he went to sleep in his singlet and nappy. Even then, his head sweat a lot. Take it up from his father. With both of them sweating, I don’t really look forward this summer; washing wise. I’m sure I would be washing our linens and Jens’ baby bedding more often than usual.

Here are some facts on baby sweating ccording to birth.com.au.

Damp and sweaty heads

Newborn babies have a limited ability to regulate their own body temperature. They are unable to shiver and only have mature sweat glands in their head, neck, hands and feet. You may notice that your baby's head becomes quite sweaty at times, particularly when feeding on the breast or bottle. You may also notice this when you pick them up after asleep. The sheet they have been lying on may feel damp (or even quite wet in the warmer months). This is very normal, and may last until your baby is about 2 to 4 years of age (or into adulthood if your family tends to sweat a lot).

Centepede

2008-09-25T21:27:00.002+10:00

I did some window shopping again and found these.
When it comes to shoes, I don’t get tired of searching for prettier, classier, more gorgeous, etc. But there is only so much I can wear. Hahaha. If only I was a centipede. I don't really surf and check all the shoe shop online. Only those that has proven to have good taste I grace. I haven't checked Clarks shoes yet.

Child Considerations

2008-09-25T21:23:00.002+10:00

How much is the right amount of food for a 14 month old baby? That’s the question that I want to have answers. Books said that food portion depends on the appetite. But what if your child has a very good appetite and you think he’s eating too much yet, short feeding him makes him feel hungry often?

I think, the answer would be common sense? I don’t really know. But since my little boy’s appetite is getting big, I don’t really know how much am I going to give him. But isn’t the portion should be according to his age and size so he won’t grow obese or otherwise?

Yes, food is a big consideration when you have a child especially on holidays. You need to have child-friendly place. I wonder if there are hotels in las vegas that are child-friendly.

Insights

2008-09-19T20:18:00.003+10:00

Travelling everyday gives me insights as to how different we people are.
While waiting for the train at the station, some people would wait close to the entrance, some wait at the middle and some like me wait at the area where I can get onto the first car of the train. I’m sure each of us has our own purpose why we wait at a particular section.

Then, we do different things also when in the train. Some try to go to sleep, which I do sometimes. Some listens to music with their IPods, mobile phones, etc. Most are reading – sometimes I also do this. At times there are people who open up their notebook computer to do some work. Pretty neat, eh? I sometimes wish to do this but the battery of my machine is sort of defective. Won’t stay long.

I also get to know who are gentlemen and not but I don’t judge them. Like myself, they are tired at the end of the day. But no excuse if it’s in the morning though. J

Winding Up

2008-09-19T20:18:00.002+10:00

This week I am able to watch a couple of movies from my increasing collection. Just light movies. Monday night was the Blond Ambition. I don’t really like Jessica Simpson. Matter of fact, I haven’t seen any of her movies before. The reason I bought the DVD was because of Luke Wilson. I was a bit crazy about him before. I used to have a photo of him on my desk at work.

On the movie, anything light is really my type. Though this one didn’t really rank on the top of my favourites, I kind of like it. Imagine, beauty princess from a small town of Oklahoma land a big job in the city that never sleeps – some kind of jobs in Manhattan, eh? Sound like my story except that I am not in NY.

Clean?

2008-09-19T20:18:00.001+10:00

I didn’t realise how our floor gets dirty everyday until I cleaned our place daily. That was when I have plenty of time in my hands. You can’t imagine the dust that gets in. Well, I reckon it wasn’t surprising as we don’t really use house shoes or slippers. We get in and out of the house in the same shoes the whole day except when it’s time for bed.

As much as I love cleaning (sometimes), I don’t really like using vacuum cleaners. One, I don’t like the noise. It seems that if I’m going to use one every time I clean, I would end up having industrial deafness. Maybe, Miele vacuums produce less noise? Plus, because of the limited space at home I have to stash it somewhere that would require me extra effort to unpack and put it away again.

But yeah, I admit that it looks extra clean if I vacuum the floor. Well. I just mop after sweeping. It looks clean also. J

Sort-of Diet

2008-09-08T21:29:00.000+10:00

I’ve embraced the eating habits of Mcj. I can go without eating rice for a month or longer. I don’t crave for it anymore. Though when I get to eat it, it feels like “heaven”. And I do tend to eat a lot of it as well.

Just like every ordinary Aussie, I survive on bread and bread and potato and potato for my source of carbohydrates. I could say that we have a healthy diet at home. We always see to it that we have lots of veggies everyday and also meat – this we can never go without in a day.

But when we go out, it’s another story. We tend to pig out on rich on hollow-calories food. A sort of treat to ourselves.

Yet, I tend to balance my diet from time to time. If I have deep fried food, I would have salad. I don’t want to end up using diet pills in order to shed the unwanted pounds.