Mommy's Little Corner

Following Doctor's Orders

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:29:00 +0000

I can feel that my eyes are getting worse. In a year's time, I upgraded my reading glasses. It's a bit alarming considering that I'm only about to approach mid-forties. I know I have to find ways to at least slow it down. I started with eating slightly sauteed carrots and squash every meal. That's what the ophthalmologist advised. According to him, the antioxidants found in the orange and yellow vegetables can help improve eyesight. Grape seed extract is also a great source of antioxidants that help the eyes so he also advised that I take the supplements.

One of the causes (I think) why my eyesight is deteriorating fast is because of abuse. I love to read and sew (even with poor lighting!). My mom used to tell me that I shouldn't be doing that but I didn't listen. Although I have stopped sewing, I still read. This time though, I make sure that the table lamps are turned on even if the other lamps in the room are also on. You might think that I'm exaggerating but that is a doctor's order. He stressed that there should be proper lighting if I still want to enjoy the things I used to do.

Next month, I'm scheduled for another check-up. If I followed all the things he asked me to do, there's going to be a great improvement with my eyesight.

Mellow Yellow Monday #148 - Fruits in Yogurt

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Saturday PhotoHunt & Photo Hunting - Fluffy and Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Please visit Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe for more Saturday PhotoHunt pics.

FLUFFY

This was Nikki's ( my niece) costume last Halloween. She was a rabbit and her fur is so fluffy!

DARK

My entry for dark is the Dancing Water show in Macau. The stage is very dark but the lights from the dancing water were too beautiful to watch.

Happy hunting everyone. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

Deal With Home Repairs Easily

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:52:00 +0000

Minor damages can happen in your household that can be easily repaired. These repairs can be securing shingles coming off the roof, replacing gutters, fixing a broken window and more. Most of them can be done by yourself, and don’t require too much funding.

However, some repairs may need more attention and therefore, more money. This is when you need to hire a professional to do your home repair. Any home repair—from window pane replacement to a complete renovation—can be costly. If you do not have enough cash saved for emergency repairs, you can always obtain personal installment loans online through a variety of reputable lenders.

Image from Flickr

A Leaky Roof

Unless you are a handy person who knows roofing, you may need to hire a professional. Roofing repairs often require shingles and wood to be removed in order to find the leak. This is costly, especially if the leak has been lingering for some time. It can cause wood to rot and spread throughout your rooftop. Costs for repairing a roof vary. Hence, make sure to check different professionals to find a price you are comfortable with.

Cracked Driveway

This is typical, especially if you live in areas where the ground is frequently dry. Concrete expands and contracts with cold and hot weather. If it consistently happens to be cold, then immediately is hot, there is a chance your concrete will start to crack. Sometimes the cracks are minor but ugly, and can be fixed with a little cement.

But for large cracks, the repairs for this are costly and require the concrete be completely removed and laid down again. A professional should be the one to complete this. They can assess how much of the concrete should be removed and have it laid down without too much trouble.

Termite Damage

These little insects can be easily eliminated with an exterminator. However, they cause great damage to wood and make it weak and unstable. Foundations can be ruined and cause your house to be inviting to other smaller creatures. Wood from termite damage has to be removed and replaced.

Getting repairs done can require a lot of money. Cash loans that you can repay on a monthly installment basis can help with this necessity. Try to assess how big of a loan you may need to cover your home repairs to get your home back into its tiptop condition.

Have you secured a loan for a home repair before? Share us your story at the comments box.

Did You Know?

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:14:00 +0000

Green beans fight inflammation. There are compounds in these veggies that have strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory actions. These then prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The extract from green beans also inhibit the action of an enzyme that's known to cause inflammation.

A New Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:13:00 +0000

When I first heard about upright electric bass from my son, I knew it was a musical instrument. I was thinking that it looks something like a guitar. Well, I was right. It's a string instrument but it's a little different than the traditional and bass guitars that we all used to know. It is upright as the name says and it's a lot slimmer than an ordinary guitar. The electric bass is very light and has a sweet sound. The boys in school (including mine) are getting crazy over these guitars and every one is eager to have their own instrument. My son and I are both saving for it.

Back to Crafting

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:13:00 +0000

My daughter and I have tried making jewelries before. We used to go to Quiapo to buy beads, charms, clasps, chains, hooks, strings, and other materials for our jewelry making projects; but we've never tried making the charms and plastic stones on our own. Simply because we didn't know how and we had no idea that there are available kits for making them. I only knew about it recently when I was looking for a particular charm. I saw one website that's selling resin jewelry molds, resins and colors,patinas and colors, and other materials. When I told my daughter about it, she was excited too and we've decided to go back to jewelry making. I have ordered for a few resin molds; both of us can't wait to start with our new project.

Mellow Yellow Monday #147 - Cool Corvette

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Meds Discounts and More

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
It's hard to get sick these days especially when prices of everything keep on going up. What makes it even tougher is the salary is not getting any higher. The cost of meds alone will put a whole in your pocket; add to that the doctors' fees and the hospital bills and you'll be left flat on the floor. At times like this, we need all the resources we can get to finance all these expenses. Discounts can help a lot especially in medications where a mere tablet could cost so much.

If you're looking to get great discounts on medicines, Walgreens is offering a special discount on annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club. For as little as $10 a year, you become a member of Walgreens Prescription Savings Club and you and your family can enjoy tons of discounts for prescription meds, even your pets! The club covers more that 80,000 brand names and other generic drugs, plus you can get discounts on flu shots, vaccinations and other medical supplies.

$10 ($5 for individuals) is not bad considering all the benefits you can get as a member. If you're interested to become a member of the Prescription Savings Club, you can check Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook or visit their website.

High Cholesterol?

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Eat more tomatoes! Researchers say tomatoes phytochemicals reduces levels of LDL or bad cholesterol by up to 10 percent. That's comparable to the benefits seen in patients taking low doses of statin drugs. Studies also show that lycopene (the compounds that gives the red color to tomatoes) helps decrease blood pressure significantly. Add them to salads or as side dish to grilled chicken or baked fish.

In Search Of Camera Holsters

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:45:00 +0000

My son's hobby is photography. Over the years, he has collected a few cameras so now he has different cameras for different uses. He's been looking for camera holsters for his gadgets. His dad would shop around for these during his many trips. What he needs are the ones that would accommodate his cameras. Even the smaller ones needs to be protected. He's getting to be a very good photographer. Cameras are not cheap and proper care and protection ensures a lengthy life. He bought these with his savings so he really takes care of them. He has also taken lessons from professionals to improve his sills. Maybe someday he'd win an award.

Did You Know?

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

Peppers can make you smart. Luteolin, a compound found in peppers can sharpen thinking and improve learning ability. Researchers discovered that the compound inhibits the production of inflammatory chemicals that harm brain cells.

Learning Early

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Two of my aunts have Early childhood education degrees. One of them is now in the US living with her family and practicing he expertise there. The other one is here in the Philippines and has her own school. It's just a small school that teaches kids aged two to three. Both of them believe that young kids can learn and develop at such an early age. One of them even gave my twin granddaughters a reading kit. The purpose of this reading kit is to introduce reading and math to the girls as early as six months. Everyday, their mom sits down with them for half an hour to watch the DVD and to introduce to them the alphabet and numbers through flash cards. Both are very responsive, I'm sure they'll learn fast.

We Miss Biking

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Hubs and I miss biking. When his' eyesight are still ok, we used to go up to Antipolo to go biking. We would drive up on Saturday mornings with out bikes up on the whispbar roof rack. It was him who introduced me to mountain biking. I never learned how to ride when I was a kid and I had no intentions of learning. But when hubs got hooked and he bought me a bike, I gave it a try. It was fun! Hubs had to stop though because of his glaucoma. Although he had a laser surgery, his vision is not as good. I know he misses it so much because he sighs every time he sees a beautiful mountain bike on display at stores. I miss it too.

Mellow Yellow Monday #146 - Chrysanthemums

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:21:00 +0000

Have a fabulous week and Happy MYM!

Probiotics and its benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

While we know that bacteria is a major cause of some diseases, there is however, a type of bacteria that our body needs to make us strong and help us fend off diseases; these are known as probiotics or the "friendly bacteria." Odd as it may sound (and some may even saw Eww!) but these live microorganisms that can be found in our small intestine and the vagina can actually help aid in digestion and help maintain a healthy intestinal tract. Experts call these microorganisms lactobacillus acidophilus and they can also be found in foods like yogurt, soya, miso, fermented and unfermented milk, tempeh, and some fruit juices, soy beverages. Probiotic supplements and probiotix drinks can also provide you with enough live microorganisms daily.

Now, maybe you are wondering why you might need supplements when the friendly bacteria are already present in our body? Well, that's because the live microorganisms die too when we take medications like antibiotics. In that case, we need to replace the lost microorganisms and get them from natural foods or through supplements in order for us to maintain proper balance in the digestive system. However, because of our busy lifestyle, a lot of us don't have the time to prepare healthy and delicious foods to help us maintain a healthy tummy. That's when you need to take probiotix drinks or food supplements. These are available in capsules; probiotic foods; probiotic drinks & shakes; and even probiotic chocolate candy bars.

When consumed, the friendly bacteria will provide protection against the harmful bacteria that makes us sick. They act as "soldiers" that fight against the bad bacteria that cause unhealthy digestion. Notice why sometimes your tummy gets easily upset even if you know that you have not consumed anything that might have triggered the problem? It's because you don't have enough live microorganisms inside the body to protect you against the trouble-causing germs.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is generally safe. We won't be encouraged to enjoy yogurt or all those delicious food and drinks mentioned above if they are not. Although they are already present in our body; we need to strengthen them to help us maintain a healthy stomach and digestive system. We get nutrients from the food we eat; nutrients that apparently help us become strong and fight off diseases. When we have a healthy digestive system; all the nutrients we get from the food we eat are properly digested and evenly distributed throughout our body.

When buying a supplement, it would be best to read the label carefully to make sure that you are getting the right ingredients. Or better yet, ask your doctor if he could recommend a trusted brand.

Saturday PhotoHunt & Photo Hunting - Circular & Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Please visit Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe for more Saturday PhotoHunt pics.

I've chose a cake for the theme Circular. To enjoy a cheesecake once in a while is also one of my Joys in life. How about you?

Throbbing Headache?

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:34:00 +0000

If you ever feel that familiar throbbing pain around your temples, here's an easy and delicious way to relieve it.

Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil onto a salad or use it as a bread dip. Olive oil has oleocanthal, an antioxidant that inhibit the enzymes that cause pain and inflammation as effectively as ibuprofen. A good two teaspoons of the oil are a surefire way to get rid of the ache.

Color Tint Lenses

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:54:00 +0000

I've never worn contact lenses. Not even when colored contact lenses became a fad that almost everyone I know are wearing them. Oh no, I have nothing against them. I actually think that they are very pretty; I just don't think my eyes can bear having "covers." My eyes easily become irritated when a lash gets inside them; what more with contact lenses. I was also discouraged by the fact that I have dark eyes; blue or green lenses might not look good with them.

Then on time when we had a wedding in the family; my cousins have agreed that all of us will be wearing colored lenses. I debated on it because I think I am too old for that. I don't know how it happened but they were able to convince me. During the wedding, I wore colored contacts for dark eyes. I chose the sterling gray hue. It didn't dramatically change the color of my eyes and that's good enough for me because I wasn't working on changing the colors, but they enhanced the color of my dark brown eyes.

Surprisingly too, I was very comfortable with them. I was teary in the beginning but I was alright after a few blinks. That experience totally changed my view on colored contact lenses and I won't hesitate to wear them again when another special occasion comes.

The Blackberry Bold

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I am torn between the iPhone 4s and the blackberry bold. My contract with my phone service provider is about to end in 7 days. I am very excited that I will have a new phone when I renew my contract but I still haven't decided between the two. My kids are choosing the iPhone because of its many apps but I kinda like the sleek design of the blackberry bold. Like the iPhone it also has streaming capabilities and apps; I might go for it this time.

Mellow Yellow Monday #145 - Our Little Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Photo was taken during their Christening last month.
Have a fabulous week and Happy MYM!

Did You Know?

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:23:00 +0000

Avocados are great for diabetics. Recent studies show that this delicious fruit not only fights high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke; it can help people with diabetes and cancer. Avocado is rich in monounsaturated fats which is a good substitute for carbohydrate. It is also a great source of powerful antioxidants (glutathione and vitamin C) that help protect you from cancer by neutralizing harmful free radicals that can damage the cells.

Make Her Feel Loved

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:51:00 +0000

We all know how important anniversaries are. Every woman expects that you remember this precious date; it is going to be a big issue if you forget. And what better way to let her know that you remembered than to give her an eco diamond solitaire pendant. It will make her feel very special and loved. However, not all can easily afford to give diamonds. Of course you can opt for a cheaper stone or any other gift but remember, love should be eternal and as the old adage goes; diamonds are forever. It gives your loved one a feeling that she is the best.

No Toothaches For 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:01:00 +0000

My family's resolution for the New Year is to have healthy teeth. Aside from our regular dental insurance plans, my husband also enlisted our family into dental discounts. Both would complement each other in our family's quest for dental health. Our son thankfully has very good teeth. My husband and I are quite a different story. We're older and our age have also affected our teeth. We visit our dentist more frequently. We have to deal with root canals, tooth extraction and dental surgery. Without any dental insurance, we would easily burn holes in our wallets.

We've learned our lessons well. Our son receives and enjoys preventive dental health care. He doesn't mind going on these regular scheduled visits to our dentists. He doesn't have to contend with any dental issue. Unlike his friends, our son has no tooth decay and has straight teeth. I on the other hand have calcium issues. Imagine if we do not have any kind of dental health care? Our family would be spending thousands instead of hundreds to keep our teeth healthy.

Some simply take dental health for granted. They would rather deal with it when the time comes. In the end, they end up paying more. Preventive dental care keeps your expenses down. It saves you thousands of dollars in dental costs. These are health investments. Any kind of health insurance is important. In this day and age, we need to keep our family healthy. Investing in dental insurance is an essential investment for your family.

Mellow Yellow Monday #144 - Yellow Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Liza) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

I spotted this in one of Singapore's popular shopping destinations.

Happy MYM!