When Sleep Evades

Do you have trouble sleeping? I know of a few people who find it difficult to sleep and the one who tops my list is my husband. He has had trouble sleeping for quite a while now that I thought he should tell his doctor about it. But I doubt if he would ever tell his doctor about it on his appointments. I know it is insomnia, which is the "difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both" or the perception of poor quality sleep, but like most people, he wouldn't seek medical advice.

I have been wondering why the insomnia... and I guess he is just more stressed than I am lately because of transitions at work. So what do we do as home treatment for insomnia? I give him a massage, or rather, he would ask me for one. I massage his back, his legs and feet and hands using Japanese oil. This helps release all the tensions from his muscles and helps him to relax. Massaging his head almost always does the trick and leads him off to dreamland in just a few minutes.

Sometimes, when he wakes up in the middle of the night to empty his bladder and find it difficult to go back to sleep again, he would drink warm milk. Sometimes it helps but sometimes, it doesn't. So what does he do when the milk doesn't do its wonders? He would wake me up and ask me for a massage again. I guess he should do something about his insomnia otherwise, he would always feel tired and stressed.

Tweet

Mommy Moments: New Family Photos

Photos are an essential part of our life because they capture those moments that only at that moment existed. These photographs are reminders of those days gone by. That is why getting a family photo at least once a year is a big deal to me. I guess I am just one of those sentimental types. But what can I do? I am one sentimental person... and if there is anyTHING precious that I can hold on to in this world, that would have to be our photographs.

So here are our recent family snapshots:

Sinulog 2011

Christmas 2010

Laternefest 2010 at Samantha's Kindergarten

These are the two most precious people in my life and I would willingly trade the day just to be with them. Yes, we are not perfect and the days are not always good. But I feel complete when I am with them. I have no care in this world as long as I am with them. They're the reason why I always come rushing home after the last lecture is done, after I am done with my important errands.

Our family is a circle of strength and love…

With every birth and every union the circle grows…

Every joy shared adds more love…

Every crisis faced together

makes the circle grow stronger.

-source-

Tweet

Exams Coming Up

I feel like a real student again. I know this may sound weird as I am really a student again. But ever since classes started last September, I don't really feel much like a student because I haven't really done any studying. Then the tutorials came in preparation for the exam and it is the only times when I really got my hands dirty and really concentrated. My plans to study here at home are underway but I have to stop myself from using the computer first otherwise, my efforts will just go to waste. I know what happens each time I touch the mouse: I forget about the time.

I remember when I was still in college and wanted to pass a very difficult subject because I have a scholarship to maintain. I always burn the midnight candle to study that pimples sprouted on my face like mushrooms. It was terrible that I almost needed acne treatment for it. But thankfully, they all went away after the exams because I was able to relax, get enough rest and I wasn't so stressed anymore. Thankfully, my efforts paid off and I passed that course and was able to maintain the scholarship.

Hopefully, my efforts coupled with the tutorials will also pay off and I will see myself passing the exams and moving on into the summer semester. I need more than luck.

Tweet

GT: Final Resolutions

So it's the last week of January and the last Thursday is past. What am I doing here on GT then? To be honest, I haven't really done much thinking on what I want to resolve this 2011 so that it would be futile to join this week but here I am anyway. No matter how late the post is, I know Marce Kaye anticipates my entry and because I love her so much, I just have to write something.

So, what's in it for me for 2011? I guess I have to be more enthusiastic about life and more patient because that is what I have been lacking in 2010. There have been lots of changes in my daily routine since last year and although it has been a few months already, I still haven't adjusted to a lot of things. My indicators?

1. I am still late for my first lectures of the day most of the time.

2. I complete / write my tasks on the due date.

3. I am still late in posting my meme entries.

4. I snap almost every single day.

5. I haven't visited the fitness studio since time immemorial.

To add up to being more enthusiastic and more patient, I guess I should also try to resolve to work on items 1-5. I know they are doable... I just need to pay more attention and manage my time well. It's high time I set my priorities. It's almost February and I have the remaining eleven months to make this year a good one, not only for me but for my family.

Tweet

0% Finanzierung

Many shopping stores here have their own gimmicks to get as many customers as they can to come to their store and buy their items. Some hold special sales, others offer very attractive packages and still others, free subscriptions for a few months just for people to try the product. There's another that is very attractive, one that they call 0% Finanzierung in which you can purchase items and pay them on an installment basis at 0% interest. This is one great opportunity that no one would like to pass, right?

For us though, this is something that we like to stay away from. But I guess 0% Finanzierung is not bad at all because you get to enjoy the products that you want to buy at the moment such as an additional samsung lcd so that the husband and the daughter will not fight over what tv program to watch. Most of the time, it is the daughter who wins though. Lol! An advantage of this types of special offers? You don't have to take out a large amount of money at the moment just to satisfy your craving. That means you can have better use of your cash while still enjoying some of the good things in life.

Too bad the 0% Finanzierung at Media Markt ends on the 5th of February. We are disqualified because our AE (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) expires in three months and we have yet to renew or extend it on the 7th of February.

Tweet

TCP Themes for February 2011: All About Love

I can't believe January is about to come to an end. In less than five days, we will wake up to the first day of the Love Month, which incidentally is also a Tuesday. We all know that if it is Tuesday, it is going to be Tuesday Couch Potatoes meme day. So what's in store for all of us this February on TCP? Nothing but love, love, love of course!

So to all you hopeless romantics out there, get your romantic film titles ready for Tuesday Couch Potatoes as we go ALL ABOUT LOVE!

Remember the different kinds of love? If you don't, well let me refresh your memories as they will be the basic themes for this month.

February 1. Storge / Familial Love: Because We Are a Family. Storge love is often described as a comfortable old shoe relationship comprised of natural affection and a sense of belonging to each other. This could be movies that depict the warm affection that parents have for their children or about couples who end up with each other because of the trust, acceptance and mutual respect that they have for one another.

February 8. Phileo / Friendship Love: Camaraderie and Friendship. It's the kind of love talked about by Jesus, who said: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Philia is the embodiment of everything a true, meaningful friendship represents. This love cherishes and has tender affection for the beloved but it expects a response. It is a love of relationship, comradeship, sharing, communication and friendship. While eros makes lovers, phileo makes a close companionship that is all trusting. They share each other’s thoughts, feelings, attitudes, plans and dreams. I know you have lots of titles in mind for this friendship love theme.

February 15. Eros / Romantic Love: When A Man Loves A Woman. By definition, EROS is the desire to draw out all that is good, beautiful and true. It is motivated by need. It's often understood to refer primarily to sex, but that's really only one part of it - albeit a significant part. Eros involves the emotional need to elicit physical love and affection ("beautiful expression" in general) from the one you love. What's the greatest romantic love film you've seen so far then?

February 22. Agape / Unconditional Love: To Love Selflessly. The word agape often represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Thomas Jay Oord has defined agape as "an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being." In his book, The Pilgrimage, author Paulo Coelho defines it as "the love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love, one that surpasses all other types of affection. Contemporary philosopher Slavoj Žižek refers to it as "political love". Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity. 

These are our themes for the month of February. So now you know a little bit more about love! :D

Tweet

Are You Safe?

Most of you must have already heard about asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

What many people are unaware of during the early times was that exposure to asbestos fibers can cause very severe respiratory diseases. This is because it takes quite sometime for the negative effects the asbestos fibers have in the lungs to manifest. Exposure to asbestos has proven to result in a wide range of health conditions, including Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. This rare form of cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.

This is the reason why the use of asbestos has been banned in whole or in part in many countries worldwide including in the European Union, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Australia to name a few. Sadly, in many developing countries such India, Southeast Asia, asbestos material is still much a part of the construction industry. When it will be finally controlled or banned in these countries remains a big question because it involves the economy and livelihood of many.

Tweet

Tutorial Program

I received an email a few weeks ago from a fellow M.Sc. WASTE student about the Stuttgart University's tutorial program, wherein the university allocates a portion of the tuition money that students pay every semester to expenses which directly contribute to the improvement of the study situation at the university. So each degree course can hand in proposals about how to improve the study-situation for its students to a central committee of professors and students which then decides upon how to distribute the respective part of the tuition money.

And because of this, the M.Sc. WASTE Program got allocated money for a tutorial program, aimed at helping us prepare for the upcoming exams. This one is something that I personally really need because I never really got around to do some serious studying.

The tutorials started today and for our first topic, we studied about Thermodynamics. I had Thermodynamics before but that was eight years ago and I found today's tutorials really helpful. I could say that I really used my brain, (LOL!) and was really attentive and focused. I guess the tutorials is just the motivation that I needed then. I look forward to tomorrow's tutorial. I heard it will be about Wastewater Technology. I just hope the good start I had today will continue on in the next few weeks until exam date! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Tweet

Effective Diaper Rash Care For Your Little One

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you are a Mom, especially a first time Mom, you can never really say that you know exactly what to do if your child gets sick. There is no school that would prepare us for this wonderful and exciting career called motherhood. You would just rely on your maternal instincts, personal experiences with your mom when you were still a child, or advice from your Mom friends and medical experts.

Children undoubtedly get sick in one way or another and it is then up to us Moms to make sure that they get better quick. Common illnesses are usually easy to manage but diaper rash? We have heard of it one too many times and there are just one too many options on how to cure them. But how do you know which one is effective? When it comes to remedies, I would say choose something that is specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care, like Boudreaux's Butt Paste and is being recommended by pediatricians, many Moms and their children's rears. With a pleasant scent, Butt Paste contains zinc oxide and peruvian balsam that treat diaper rash and protect and sooth irritated skin.

This product has been featured all over the Oprah Show, Tonight Show, Today Show, People Magazine, ESPN, and While You Were Out TLC so if you want to receive your own free sample, visit their website today!

Tweet

Blogging For Keeps

It has been more than two years since I started blogging and although I have been remiss and delinquent in updating all of my four blogs, I don't think I will ever give them up. It has been like a part of my daily routine. I of course would want to devote more time to it if only time will allow it. 

I know I would need to work on my blogs' page views, unique visitors and page ranks one of theses days too if I really want to be a success in this hobby turned sideline thing called blogging. I might also switch to managed hosting when the right time comes. Who would have known that I would really get serious when I started a couple of years back, right? 

Thanks to good blogger friends found along the way, I was properly guided and I am now reaping some of the rewards of blogging. And if I really put my mind and heart into it, I know it will only be a matter of time before things will really start rolling for me.

Tweet

TCP#75: SALT

Hello Couchers! Welcome to the January 25th edition of Tuesday Couch Potatoes, a Tuesday movie meme where we post about a movie each week. I can say that this Tuesday's theme, Favorite 2010 Movie,  is a tough one, considering that I can count with my fingers the movies that I have watched that were released in 2010. Out of the hundreds of films released last year, I think I only managed to watch five or six of them, and only one was viewed on the big screen. I guess that disqualifies me as a Couch Potato, eh?

Anyway, one of the movies that really made it's mark was SALT, a spy action-thriller movie starring none other than the great Angelina Jolie. It was really one kick-a** movie. I know most of you have seen this one because the posters were just intriguing: Who is SALT? You, of course, would want to know right?

Here's a short synopsis then:

"Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA officer who swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. When she is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper spy, Salt goes on the run to clear her name and ultimately prove she is a patriot. Using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative, she must elude capture and protect her husband or the worlds most powerful forces will erase any trace of her existence."

The question is, will there be a continuation? Let's wait and find out in another couple of years.

How about you? What's your Favorite 2010 Movie? Come share it with us here on TCP by entering your TCP link URL in the linky below:

Thank you for joining us this week on Tuesday Couch Potatoes. Our themes for February will be ALL ABOUT LOVE so stay tuned fore more!

Tweet

Baby Nichole's Baptism

The newest addition to the family was baptized yesterday. Her name is Marianna Nichole and she is my niece. I am very happy that she is now baptized into the bigger Roman Catholic family. I just learned of her baptism yesterday, thanks to my sister who left me a message on Facebook and to my Mama who left me an SMS via Chikka Messenger. The power of the internet does bring people together. I got to chat with my cousins, my sister and my Mom for a while. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see them because they didn't have a webcam. But the photos I saw from Facebook today were more than enough!

I missed another family event and I know that I will be missing so much more. I just hope that my little niece will still remember me even though we live far away. I am sure Samantha will love to get to know her. Hopefully, when we finally get to visit the Philippines, Nichole will get to know her cousin from Germany.

My simple wish to my little niece?  

"I wish that God will bless you with His love and guidance and that may you grow to be a good Christian. May your parents guide you in your journey and may you always be a healthy child. Know that even though we are far away, you are always in our prayers. God bless you always, oh sweet little one!"

Tweet

Reconnecting With Friends

Our friends in Japan have been asking a lot of questions about when our return in Japan will be, how is Samantha doing, when are we going to visit again for a short vacation, and all other stuff related to that. I cannot really give a definite reply that we won't be returning anymore because there is still a chance that we might come back, at least that is what I am hoping for. So instead of answering their questions, I would steer away from the topic and ask how they have been doing.

Hearing from them again and talking about their recent activities with the Filipino community and their plans for upcoming Japanese festivals like the Hanami in the spring time made me realize how far I really am from them and how much I have missed these friends who were much a part of our two years of stay in Japan. I also hear of some tragedies like someone getting into an accident or someone getting sick because of old age and even weather changes that I even recommended getting someone like an allergy doctor austin. Of course, they know better than me as to where to look since they are the locals. 

It is nice though to reconnect with these friends through the Internet. I must admit, although we are separated physically by a great distance, I can still feel the acceptance, warmth, and concern that I first felt when I first came to know them.

Tweet

Mommy Moments: New Feats

I have been so busy lately so it wouldn't surprise Marce Chris is my Mommy Moments entry came in so late. My little Samantha is still sick and I just recovered myself. So with so many blog posts to make up for, let me start with Mommy Moments. Last Friday's Theme was New Achievements.

I haven't really done worth mentioning lately but my little girl does. Last January 15 was the annual Sinulog Festival here in Stuttgart, Germany and being regular members of the Sto. Nino Group, a Filipino religious organization here, the kids were busy preparing for their preparation. They have been practicing Itik-Itik for weeks and although my little girl doesn't seem to show much interest during the practices, she made me proud on D-Day.

And here is the video for you to find out why:

I must admit I am one Stage Mama... if you have an adorable daughter just like that, who wouldn't?

Another thing that my little girl has achieved is her being able to catch lyrics of songs and singing them. I know she has a good memory but it just amazes me how she sings songs from her memory. And if it is still worth mentioning, I love it that she now understands that she has to come with her Daddy to the Kindergarten because Mommy has to go to school.

There are more things we Mommies are proud of and if you want to know more, check out The Mommy Journey for more precious Mommy Moments!

Tweet

They Put The Pizzazz in Pizza

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have always enjoyed eating pizza. It is very easy to prepare and I can top it with just about anything to give me the distinct flavor that I want. It comes frozen too or if I am awfully too lazy, just have it delivered. I love my pizza thin crust and straight from the oven. Of course, it is never complete without TABASCO® Original Red in it. There is just something about TABASCO Original Red that I can't get enough of. It is so much more than hot. It surprisingly enhances the flavor of the pizza. Take away the hot sauce and I won't enjoy pizza as much.

TABASCO Original Red is perfect for other dishes too. Have you ever tried it on top of your scrambled eggs? Sprinkle a few and it will definitely jump start your day, not to mention give you that  distinct taste that catsup cannot provide.

And since football season is just around the corner, it is high time to plan your Game-Day Party Menu, be it pizza, chicken wings, or quesadillas. You might also want to check out Pizza Perfected and try out some of the hearty homemade recipes. I am sure the family will love them and you will never go hungry on Super Bowl night! Don't forget to stock up on TABASCO Original Red... because they put the pizzazz in pizza!

Tweet

Holy Artscow!

Remember my Photobook Project? Well, I managed to finish the first year book already and ordered the printing. I think the people at Artscow are really fast because I placed my order last January 11, 2011 and I received an email yesterday telling me that my Photobooks are being shipped. The estimated arrival time is between January 29, 2011 to February 3, 2011 and I am so excited to get hold of it!

I guess now, all I can do is sit back, bite my fingernails until there is none left to chew and anticipate the coming of my little girl's photobook. And maybe while waiting, I can start designing her second and third year photobooks. I've also got our travel photos waiting in line so there is a lot to do in between.

Oh, and if you don't know about Artscow yet, you better register now and enjoy your photos printed at the highest quality at the lowest possible price! I certainly recommend it to all of you who treasure those captured moments your lives. Come sign up for Artscow now!

Tweet

Human Needs

As human beings, we all have our needs. Whether they are physical, materials, emotional or subjective needs, we are lucky to have the capacity to fulfill them.

We have the need to be educated and learn that is why we go to school. We have the need to be nourished and be healthy that is why we eat good, healthy food. We have the need to be understood that is why we try to communicate ourselves and make our opinions heard. We have the need to feel secure about ourselves that is why we treat ourselves to beauty spas or splurge on beauty products every now and then. We have the need to be loved that is why we exert an effort to be good and pleasing to the eyes of our beloved. We have the need to be accepted that is why we take better care of our appearance and the way we deal with other people.  We have the need to be recognized that is why we try to do our best, hoping that others will recognize our efforts. We have the need to make a difference in this world that is why we initiate and join activities that are aimed at helping other people's lives.

What are your needs? Here's hoping that they are satisfied.

Tweet

On Gambling

What is gambling? According to dictionaries, it can be used both as a verb and as a noun. As a verb it means "to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance". As a noun, it means "any matter or thing involving risk or hazardous uncertainty; or a venture in a game of chance for stakes, esp. for high stakes."

If you look at the definition, it does not necessarily mean casinos or online gambling although it has come to be known that way. There are various types. Electronic games like video poker is one of them. There are also other forms that do not involve real money but materials which have a value, among them games like Pogs  or Magic. The Gathering.

Looking back at history, religious perspectives on gambling have been mixed. Both the Catholic and Jewish traditions have even set aside days for gambling, although religious authorities generally disapprove of gambling.

Gambling is also considered a major international commercial activity because the legal gambling market ushers in millions of dollars per year.

Tweet

GT: Work Resolutions

I know I am way too late for my Girls Talk entry but as they always say, better late than never! This Thursday's theme is WORK RESOLUTIONS so I guess it would be safe to say that I obviously haven't done any work resolutions yet, for the obvious reason that this post is LATE!

I have been a good procrastinator as far as my online work is concerned. I am guilty of being a buzzer beater as I only write my online tasks on the due date! And now the tasks are piling up so I know I must seriously work out my time management, and stop doing other extras when I am online. The final exams at the university are also coming up, therefore the more I need to manage my time. But how does one manages his/her time? I absolutely don't know anymore. Perhaps I should attend another workshop on "Time Management 101" to get me back on track again. 

Because I am a student-Mom-wife-blogger-individual, I do hope that I will be able to allot quality time to all those roles and be able to fulfill the needs required by each. It is one tough job I know to do a balancing act, but I hope I can manage. I have a long way to go but with my family's support and understanding, I know that I will endure.

Tweet

Why DIY Is Still The Best

I have always considered myself a hands-on type of person, be it at being a mom and a housewife. There is a lot of excitement and satisfaction at doing things your way, that is why I prefer this kind of lifestyle. And doing things on your own is way cheaper too than if you hire other people to do it for you.

I remember the last time we were preparing to move. It is required to bring the apartment back to its initial condition as when we moved in so that I repainted and cleaned everything nook and cranny in the house. It was a lot of hardwork but with the right kind of hand tools, the job becomes easier.

Fastforward to today, when we have already moved into our new apartment and slowly settling down. And I am already thinking about home improvement projects. But then again, I just can't... not just yet because we can't just hammer and bore and saw all we like. It is not our own apartment after all. We are just renting out.

Besides, we still need to purchase a lot of tools for those projects and we need a space where we can put all our workshop accessories in. And speaking of shopping, I know just the place where I can find thousands, about 30,000 stores on the Internet in just one site! And with this great selection of stores, you are sure to find the best deals and the biggest discounts there is.

And now that I am on it, it's time to go shopping... online!

Tweet

An Award and 7 Things About Me

I have to say, I missed receiving tags. Luckily, somebody remembered to tag me today and because I missed the fun of tagging others and giving some link love, I am playing along and responding right now.

But before I forget, let me thank Jona of Heartifying for sending this tag my way and for the Stylish Blogger Award. I don't know why she thought me deserving of this award, but the thought alone is very much appreciated.

Like any other tag and award, there are rules so that it will be passed on to others and will in turn, create link love. It's simple though:

1. Link back and thank the person who gave you this award. (check!)

2. Then share 7 things about yourself.

1. I am obsessive-compulsive.

2. I am easily distracted by the Internet.

3. I love to cook but I am sometimes too lazy to cook.

4. I usually like to keep to myself.

5. I love coffee. I always drink at least one cup.

6. I truly adore my little girl although I am trying my best not to give in to what she wants.

7. I always find it hard to say NO, especially to my loved ones.

3. Award 15 great bloggers that you know.

Since I haven't been very active in the blogging world lately, I might not reach the required 15. 

First, I would like to tag the Couchers who have been with me every Tuesday for my movie meme, Tuesday Couch Potatoes:

Les of Mommy LESsons

Genny of Life Is A Battle

Kim of Earth and I

Liz of My Thoughts, My Words

Lulu of Bitz 'N Pieces of My Life

Shydub of Worth's World

Trish of The All Around Mom

Bonz of Pink Clash

Claire of Bookworm on the Loose

Shahz of Sissy's Pastime

Chris of Chris Chronicles

Chuchie of Chuchie's Hideaway

And to old friends reconnected and new friends met along the way:

Cookie of All About Chloe and Zoe

Phoebe of Pinay Mama

Alice Law of My Little Sprouts

Tweet

Winterspeck

It has been warm and fuzzy the last couple of weeks and I felt happy, just feeling the warm sunshine on my shine. But the cold days are here again. From almost 15 degrees, the temperatures are back to zero and lower. It is still winter after all.

Although I enjoy the cold of winter and the fine, white snow, I always find myself getting big-ger this time of the year. That's because it is during the winter season when we celebrate Christmas, New Year, and the annual Sinulog among others. That means lots of food is served and the tendency for me to eat heaps and heaps of food. Now I have gained more weight than ever, and I have an a few inches(?) more of Winterspeck, a term that Germans use to indicate excess fat or weight gain due to the Winter season. And because of that, I am now in a frantic search for the most effective weight loss diet pills so I can get rid of them. Of course, I also intend to do a lot of exercise. I just need to get used to my daily routine again after almost three weeks of just sitting around at home. Once I find my rhythm again, I will definitely go back to the fitness studio and work my butt off. I hope me and my girl friends from Graduate School will push through with our plans to play badminton.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Tweet

Miggy at Four

My nephew Miggy turned four yesterday. I can't believe that time flies so fast and that it has been almost four years since we parted ways. In my heart and mind, he will always be that little baby boy who I had the luxury and honor of taking care of.

My birthday wish for this makulet but very smart nephew of mine? I wish him only the best in life. "May God bless you with good health, happiness and joy as you live your childhood, and may you always know and feel that you have a family who will always love and surround you."

Laugh and be happy always Migz. And always be a good boy to your Mommy, to Mama and Papa and to the rest of the family. God bless you more!

Tweet

On Growing Old and Watching E!

Ever since my husband updated our television's entertainment package, we now have an additional number of channels that shows lots of English programs. There's Disney channels, I think around five channels in total, cartoon network, tnt series, music television channels, national geographic and discovery, fashion channels, and entertainment channel.

Since we are not so updated on Hollywood stuff, we would channel surf and sometimes land on E! Unconsciously, we began to like some of the regular shows in this channel. I know it is mostly gossip but the specials are really nice. Last night, they featured Gwyneth Paltrow but since I went to bed early, it was only the husband who got to see it. I also remember chanching upon an episode of Dr. 90210 and how people subject themselves under the knife just to look and feel better about themselves. There was one procedure done to remove excess body fat and stretched skin and I thought it was a really painful one. I cringed while watching that episode. It's good to know that should I want to remove forehead wrinkles when I am older, I would not need to go through such trouble and subject myself to a surgery because there are lots of available treatment options that come in the bottle. 

The fountain of youth is everyone's quest these days. Why else would  we go through the trouble of taking of our skin and buying lots of skin care products if not for this quest alone? All of us want to look younger and have beautiful skin because it makes us feel more confident about ourselves. The question is, how far would you go?

Tweet

TCP#74: The Tuxedo

Hello Couchers, and welcome to the January 18th edition of Tuesday Couch Potatoes. Sorry for the late post, this blogger was feeling under the weather yesterday. I am still feeling a little groggy and light-headed but I have to write this one. So let's get started, shall we?

This week's theme is Surprisingly Nice! We often hear of our friends describing a bad movie that they saw which they thought really bad and wasn't worth their time and money but then, when you watched it, just to satisfy your curiosity, turned out to be a good one. This theme is for that kind of movie.

My pick will be, The Tuxedo, a 2002 comedy-action film staring Jackie Chan and Jennifer Love Hewitt. It is a spy spoof that involves a tuxedo that gives its wearer special abilities. I would agree that the script was written very badly and that this was one of Chan's worst movies but he and Hewitt got charm and Chan's moves, while donning the tuxedo, are just to watch for. It turned out to be a very entertaining watch for me, what with the good humor, the action and the hint of romance between Jimmy (Chan) and Del (Hewitt).

Synopsis: Jackie Chan looks spiffy in The Tuxedo, but the movie needs a tailor. No Jackie Chan movie could be a total misfire, however, and he's charmingly self-effacing here as a hapless chauffeur who inadvertently replaces his injured super-agent boss (Jason Issacs) and foils a madman (Ritchie Coster) who plans to infect the world's water supply (!) and reap a fortune selling pure bottled water. Jackie's a bumbling superhero after donning his boss's high-tech, Inspector Gadget-like tuxedo (it even has a "Mambo" setting), and curvaceous co-agent Jennifer Love Hewitt coaches him in crime fighting while closing in on the bad guys. It's all as routinely ridiculous as it sounds--Jackie's faux James Brown act is the only real highlight--and as critic Roger Ebert observed, the climax hinges on an insect queen that doesn't exist in nature! So, while Jackie and Jennifer provide a few moments of stellar stunts and random amusement, you can blame this mess on screenwriters who didn't do their homework. --Jeff Shannon (Rotten Tomatoes website) Jackie Chan looks spiffy in The Tuxedo, but the movie needs a tailor. No Jackie Chan movie could be a total misfire, however, and he's charmingly...

What's your movie this week? Don't forget to share it with us here on Tuesday Couch Potatoes and enter your TCP entry URL in the linky below:

See you guys next week for another TCP Movie with the theme Favorite Movie from 2010. Thank you very much for joining us this week! Have a good week everyone!

Tweet

A Vacuum and Anti-Slip

Remember about me blogging about one of our very great buys for the house just before the year 2010 ended? The floor carpet may seem familiar to you because I once posted it in this blog last month.

I am happy with this one because it has kept our feet warm when we lounge in the living room on our lazy days, which is most of the time. Lol! There's a few problems though. One is that it would move every now and then and I will have to set it right every now and then too, which can be a little tasking for me. I wish I could find something that works like a non slip, something that I can place in between the carpet and the floor to keep it from slipping.

Another problem is that because the carpet's material is made of natural fibers and has some wool in it, some loose tiny fibers that look like accumulated cobwebs would appear, making it very unsightly. And I would manually take them away one by one until I have covered the area. This is more tasking for me, which makes me wish I had a vacuum cleaner so that I will only need to suck the dust and loose fibers out. And that would then equate to less lower backaches for me!

Tweet

Exhausted But Happy

It was a very busy day yesterday. But I guess everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves immensely. It was actually our second Sinulog experience here in Stuttgart and I can say that it was a success!

From the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which was celebrated by Father Simon, a Cebuano priest, to the Sinulog pprocession wherein we did a street dancing for the first time down to the continuation of the festivities at the venue, I can say that all went well. Of course, there is still room for improvement but all in all, it went well. Of course, a Filipino fiesta like the Sinulog will not be complete without the food and I can say that the tables were overflowing with numerous Filipino dishes. While eating, I was thinking to myself, the scales will go crazy after this one! There was even a lot of take home food, so I no longer need to worry for today's menu!

I am still exhausted but I just want to share a little about our Sinulog. Will blog more about it in my next updates.

Pit Senyor to everyone!

Tweet