Three Is Way Better Than One

Last Friday, the Filipino community here in Stuttgart held the annual Summer Fest. It began with the celebration of the holy eucharist. Thankfully, there were three guitarists who played: the hubby, ate Vicky and Jan, the son of one of our friends. Ate Vicky prepared the mass songs to be played and had copies distributed to the community. No, they didn't have any practice playing together but I thought they played very well, one song after another.

Hubby has a classical guitar with him. I think Ate Vicky has an acoustic guitar. Jan brought two guitars with him, one of which was his electric guitar. Now I don't quite know what the difference is between these three but I do know there is a difference. He also had a portable amplifier with him and I think a monster cable that he can connect to his instrument. Unfortunately he wasn't able to use it, since they realized using it might drown the two other guitars, which were not amplified. Monster cable or no, we were all able to hear the music coming from the three guitars playing. It may not be a perfect harmony but it was beautiful music just the same.

Hopefully in the upcoming eucharistic celebrations, there will be more guitar players who will volunteer to play. After all, three guitars playing is way better than one.

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Love Reading?

I have always considered myself a book lover. I enjoy reading novels about life, love, relationships, fantasy adventure, courtroom drama among others. Paulo Coelho is my all time favorite but I do enjoy the works of Jodi Picoult, George R.R. Martin, Jojo Moyes, Nicholas Sparks, Sidney Sheldon, J.R.R. Tolkien... the list could go on. Funnily though, I am not a member of any book or reader's club. 

It would have been great to share insights and recommendations with other readers around the globe or even get the prestige of being named "reader of the month". There's even a www.readersofthemonth.com website that you can visit for a start.

I read because it allows me to reflect on life. Books transport me to new places, to a different time, a different dimension. With books, your imagination can take you to places you have never imagined and allow you to feel emotions that you never thought existed. Sometimes my book makes me question what I believe in or agree with what the author or the characters think. Sometimes I wish the ending were otherwise. No matter what I feel and experience in the books that I read, I always end up feeling a little better in the end.

How about you? Do you enjoy reading too? Grab a book now and maybe your reading glasses too and enjoy a book or two.. :)

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Summer Slimmer Anyone?

If you are trying to shed a kilo or two this summer season, the best way to do it is to sweat it all out coupled with a balanced diet. I am no expert when it comes to losing weight but on my experience, keeping a healthy lifestyle is the key. It wasn't until around March this year when I realized that I am really in bad shape. I slowly began on a routine that has definitely changed my view of my self and has added a boost in my self-confidence. You see, I was around 74 kilos before I started to seriously discipline myself. It was already tiring trying to find clothes that will look good on me or having to rummage through plus size jeans just so I can wear one. And after a few months of serious working out at the fitness studio and cutting on rice especially during dinner time, eating more vegetables and fruits, and juicing, I began to feel lighter and more confident about myself. I also looked younger... hey, sweating helps to remove skin impurities or so I read. :)

My summer slimmer now that I am back in Germany. Perfect breakfast on those lazy days...

My first ever glass of summer slimmer. It looks green but it does taste refreshing!

I also tried to swap my breakfast to a "summer slimmer" juice for a week when I decided to lose then and then every now and then according to the level of my activity for the day. It is a concoction of apple, celery, cucumber, lime and ginger. I helped me to lose weight... There are many people advocating juicing and I can see why. Fresh fruits and veggies are packed with vitamins and minerals and antioxidants that keep the body healthy and strong. 

Why this summer slimmer works? According to Fabulousmag.co.uk where I got this recipe from: 

a) Cucumber is a natural diuretic and it helps to flush 
excess toxicity from the body, which aids weight loss. 

b) Citric acid in lime helps the liver produce more bile, 
which aids food digestion and helps burn fat. 

c) You burn twice as many calories digesting celery 
than the calories gained eating it."

So if you are in for a body change, try it out! 

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Home Renovations in Just 8 Days!

If there is one thing that I love about German television, it would definitely have to be the show "Zu Hause Im Glück" - which somehow translates to "happiness at home". Every week, the team would help a family who is in grave need of a house renovation because the family is held back from doing so due to a loss of a family, a serious sickness befalling a family member, and or financial dilemma. You could really tell that the house is in badly need of a renovation and you would really be amazed at the transformation.

I learn a lot from this show... it gives a lot of DIY ideas so that you can also do it on your own if you are really up to it. I also learn / get an idea as to how different tools such as laser guides, nailguns, and control levers are used, to how to install floor laminates and floor heating yourself! I get a lot of ideas on how to decorate the interiors of a room according to an individual's preferences and personality.

And you would really be amazed at the transformation of the house into a HOME... and all that in just EIGHT (8) days! And it is a really kind of dramatic ending... sometimes you see the entire family are teary-eyed. And what is really heartwarming: the look of delight in the eyes of the children whose dream of finally getting their own room designed according to their taste.

It is indeed an entertaining show and here's hoping that they may continue to be a blessing to others!

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