Wednesday, June 29, 2005

The Indian Woman's Beauty Secrets

If you are one to try traditional beauty treatments you should definitely pay attention to this.

Indian herbal beauty treatments are becoming more and more accepted in today’s world. It all started for me when I woke up one morning and found a horrid army of red men invading my face. I panicked and like most teenagers slathered my face with creams and masks of all kinds. Fortunately my mother came to my rescue with an array of traditional Indian products. I took Indian beauty treatments all the more seriously after that. I also felt a bond of sorts with my family and culture as these prized recommendations were passed down from my granny to my mother and then to me. I am certain that I will pass them to my kids as well, for now I am content with enlightening you.

Goat’s Milk soap is ideal as a cleanser. It is gentle and takes care of everything from pimples to blackheads. Try Nanny Brand Goat’s Milk Soap.

Sandalwood soap is wonderful as a body bar with it entrancing fragrance.

Turmeric is a miracle worker that treats almost everything from dry skin to pimples. It can be purchased in the form of a cream that is easily absorbed by the skin and non-greasy. Try Vicco Turmeric Cream, it comes packaged in a handy tube.

Rosewater is a wonderfully fragrant ingredient that can be used as a toner for the face.

Tulsi comes from a plant and is even used to heal coughs and colds. This is done by boiling the leaves in water then drinking the mixture. Tulsi is also an antiseptic. Look out for it in shampoos and even toothpastes.

Shiyakai is yet another ingredient that is used in shampoos. It is great for dry hair. Try Vatika shampoo with shiyakai and green almonds.

Lemon is good for ridding the scalp of dandruff. Look for Vatika Herbal Lemon Shampoo.

Coconut Oil is used on the hair to strengthen and help it grow. It also thickens the hair. Get Clinic Brand Hair Oil. However, I must warn that it leaves hair feeling heavy and greasy, so apply liberally over hair before bed, once or twice a week and rinse off with shampoo in the morning.

Gingelly Oil is used to treat chapped lips, blisters and can also be used as hair oil. I suggest MahaLingham Brand, if not just ask for Nallanai.

Henna is recently being used as a form of body art but traditionally Indian women use this special blend of herbs to dye hair. Try Eagle Brand Henna, it comes nicely packed in sachets.

The Indian Woman’s most striking feature is her eyes. An alternative to plucking eyebrows is threading This is done by using a taut string to pull out the stray hairs.

Beautify your eyes as well by lining them with ma-ee, which is a blend of herbs that is so gentle it will not cause any irritation at all.

Now that you are equipped with the secrets of the Indian Woman, go ahead and discover them yourself!

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Essential Tools For A Marriage That Works

An understanding of marital responsibilities is a key ingredient to a successful marriage. To develop a meaningful marital relationship, couples need to know themselves, their partners and learn to grow together.

    Communicating Right

Effective communication reinforces a marital relationship. We need to express our thoughts and feelings as much as we want attention and responses:

  • Communication is a skill
  • Effective communication takes practice
  • Communication is about listening and speaking
  • How we express our thoughts and feelings is important and is reflected verbally and non-verbally
  • Listening is just as important as we interpret what we hear and see

    Couple Talk Time

Some tips for effective communication :


L I S T E N

L- earn to check or reflect on feelings expressed by your partner. This helps to internalize the emotions of your partner, clarify your understanding of the situation, and convey empathy.
Your partner remarks, “There’s much work to do. And you’re telling me what I should be doing!..”You could respond gently, “ I understand that you are feeling upset and tired because there is so much to do”.

I- ndulge in regular routine conversations, such as news, jokes and daily happenings at work. Just by being together , or doing mundane things are also valid forms of connecting.

S- hare your dreams, goals and hopes with each other.


T- ake time to appreciate each other especially after time spent apart. Validating each other in small ways help keep the love and respect for each other going.

E- xplore flexible and creative ways of communication, e.g. writing short notes, using symbolic cues and messages, physical contacts, etc. Develop your unique signals and cue.

N- urture a wider scope of conversations and the places where it can take place. Enjoy group conversations with friends to broaden the scope of conversation.


Do you have any problems communicating with your spouse or the other half?

You can visit this website : http://www.my-marriage.com/

Monday, June 27, 2005

Minsan........Minsan lang talaga......

Minsan sa buhay ng tao ang daming nangyayari, as in napakarami, samu't saring kaganapan, mapa love life, personal na buhay, pamilya , hanapbuhay at iba pa.

Sa buhay ko, maraming dumaan na pangyayari, maraming kaganapan na di ko inaasahan. Sa mga pangyayaring iyon, marami akong naranasan at natutunan. Bata pa lang ako, nakita ko na ang mga bagay na sa murang edad ko eh di pa dapat dahil di ko pa mauunawaan ang sitwasyon. Gaya ng pagkakaroon ng ibang babae ng aking ama, nakita, nakasama ko sa pamamasyal ganun din ang pagbili nila sakin ng gamit na kailangan ko. Umabot ito hanggang sa magdalaga ako. Nasa elementarya palang ako ng maranasan ko din na makulong ang aking ama ng apat hanggang anim na taon sa dahilang "self-defense". Dahil sa may kaya ang nakalaban ng aking ama ay nahatulan nga syang makulong. Sa mga panahong iyon, ang aking ina ang gumabay skin kahit na tuwing sabado naman eh nadadalaw namin ang ama ko sa Camp Crame at pati na rin ng malipat sya sa Bicutan. Alam kong mahal na mahal ng aking ina ang aking ama, kahit na sukdulan na ang pambabae ng ama ko. Di ko rin naman masisisi sya dahil alam kong may dahilan lng sya kung bkt nya nagagawa yun. Sa kaliitan din ng sahod sa pagpopolice kaya ganun o dahil na rin sa may ksasabihan na pagka pulis ay matinik din sa chicks. Alam kong mahal na mahal nya din ang aking ina pero ganun tlaga ang nangyari. Sa Crame, may pagkakataon na sabay kami dumalaw ng babae nya pero sa huli kami ng ina ko ang pinaalis nya. Luhaan kami lumakad palabas ng mommy ko sa crame dahil awang awa kami sa mga sarili namin. Sa galit ng mommy ko di na sya dumalaw sa papa ko ng ilang buwan hanggang sa nakiusap sa kanya ang papa ko at humingi ng tawad. Marami pa ang mga nangyari sa kanila..... Edad 18 ako ng makalabas sya ng Bicutan, tamang tama sa debut ko, maka ilang buwan lng eh kinausap na ako ng papa ko at sinabi nya sakin na makikipag hiwalay na sya sa mommy ko, hinintay lng daw nya na dumating ako sa tamang edad para maunawaan ko ang sitwasyon nila pero matagal na nyang gsto ito gawin. Mahirap pala ang ganun, sobrang close ako sa papa ko , papa's girl kumbaga pero wala naman ako magagawa sa kanila kung di na tlaga kayang iwork out. Di ako kumibo dahil kahit ako naman eh hanggang ngyn eh nahihirapan din makipag communicate sa mommy ko. All the while akala ng mommy ko eh pinagkakaisahan namin sya ng papa ko dahil kung bakit daw di ako nagagalit sa papa ko sa pambabae nya at pag-iwan samin. Ang dahilan ko, wala ako sa lugar kasi para magalit at kamuhian sya dahil napakabait nya sakin, ni saktan di nya nagawa sakin, matalik kaming magkaibigan, buddy buddy kumbaga kaya naunawaan ko sya. Nakakapag-usap kami ng puso sa puso.

Nagkikita kami ng papa ko every Sunday para maibigay nya ang weekly allowance ko then pasyal kami, sinasama nya ako kahit saan kahit at kahit puro matatanda ang kainuman nya , join ako kaya tuwang tuwa sya sakin dahil game ako lagi basta sya kasama ko. Lalong nagselos ang mommy ko dahil nga sa nangyari pero yun na rin ang sitwasyon eh sa kagustihan nya na humingi ako ng pera sa papa ko.

Nag part time job ako when I was still in college, indoor golf attendant ako noon sa PAR - T golf sa Manila Hotel. Afternoon shift ako noon 1-9 pm dahil nga may klase ako ng 7 -12, full load sa course ko. That time napaka payat ko noon dahil makakauwi ako noon sa haus namin sa Mandaluyong ng 10:30-11 pm tpos gigising naman ako ng 5:30 am para naman sa pagpasok ko sa Legarda. Good thing di ganun kalakas ang area ko sa indoor golf kaya nakakapag aral ako doon pati na ang magawa ang mga assignments ko, same thing to review kung may exam. I have my own money then, I also pay my own tuition then kahati ko mommy ko sa salary ko :-) I was so fulfilled noon, earning my own money and meeting new people. Speaking of meeting new people, doon ko nakilala ang mapapangasawa ko pala. Dito ko nasaba na ang pag aasawa pala eh di mo masasabi dahil kusa syang darating syo.

To top it of, tinanan ako ng naging asawa ko dahil natatakot sya na maka meet ako ng iba dahil graduating na ako noon sa college. Dahil sa sobrang mahal ko sya , sumama ako at nagpakasal nga kami. Pero bago dumating ang wedding day namin, nakaranas muna ako ng gulpi sa mommy ko. Pero sa papa ko, kinausap nya lng ako sa phone ng mahinahon. Tinanong nya ako kung buntis ba ako at kung di pa ako ready to get married, handa daw syang itago sa mommy ko at tulungan kami ng magiging anak ko. Unfortunately, di naman ako buntis, it's just that ready na ako mag asawa nun kaya go ako. I faced everything, we faced everthing, lahat ng hirap, sa pera, sa puso at iba pa but I have no regrets..... They were all waiting na lumaki na lng bigla ang tiyan ko dahil feeling ng buong pamilya ko eh nagsisinungaling pa rin ako na di ako buntis pero di nangyari yun. It was 7 months after bago pa lumaki ang tiyan ko after the wedding. Di ko rin alam medyo matagal din bago ako nabuntis, o baka nga tlaga ma prove namin na i got married na hindi buntis.

Napatira kami ng asawa ko sa iisang bubong with my mom, well I can say na mahirap pala ang ganun, pero dahil nga sa nag-iisa na ang mommy ko, nagsama na kami sa iisang bubong. Pero sandali lng yun dahil may mga bagay tlaga na di namin mapapagkasunduang mag-ina. Kaya bumukod din kami mag-asawa, napapunta kami sa Pasay, kung san lumaki ang asawa ko. Marami ding nangyari samin doon, nakilala ko ng lubos ang kabiyak ko, ang mga kaibigan nya na walang alam kundi ang mag inuman. Nabarkada ulit ang asawa ko sa kanila, na humahantong sa pag aaway naming dalawa. Pinipigilan ko sya uminom dahil nga alam kong high blood sya pati na rin ang takaw away nya sa ibang tao. Kaso di sya nakinig sakin. Apat na taon din kami nagsama bilang mag-asawa kasama ang nag-iisa naming anak na si Vince. Yun nga taong 2001 ng bigla na lang sya inatake sa puso ng walang sabi sabi at permonition man lng. As in bigla na lng sya kinuha ni Lord sakin.

Pagkatapos nun, doon na nagsimula ang lahat ng samu't saring naranasan ko. Depression, at marami pa. Taong 2002, isa pa sa pinakamamahal ko ay kinuha din sakin ni Lord, ang Papa ko, ganun din biglaang atake sa puso. Kakababang luksa ko pa lang sa asawa ko ng January 2002, May 2002 ng mawala ang ama ko. Wala akong choice kundi tanggapin yun pero napakahirap.

Nagka BF ako ng taong din yun, pero after 8 months lng kinuha din sya sakin ni Lord.Marso taong 2003. Sakit naman sa kidney mula pagkabata ang naging sanhi ng pagkamatay nya. Kulang na lng ay maloka na ako at madalaw na lng sa Mental Hospital, pero di ako sumuko hanggang ngyn ay lumalaban ako sa puso at isipan ko. Ni minsan di rin ako nagalit sa Diyos simula pa noong una, wala akong naramdamang galit.

Pagkatpos nito, marami pang ring nangyari sakin at sa buhay ko at naming mag-ina hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Pero di pa rin ako sumusuko, di pa rin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa sa buhay, at patuloy pa rin na umiibig ang puso ko. Alam kong ibibigay sakin ni Lord ang makakasama ko at namin ni Vince. Maaaring kasama na namin sya ngyn.

Hiling ko lng tlaga na maging matibay din ang anak ko pati na rin ang bf ko ngyn.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Am I happy?

I've been having sleepless nights the past few days. I don't know why. am I having too many problems? Don't know where to run and no shoulder to cry on? Am I happy of what I have right now and what I am experiencing? Yes, I have my one and only son Vince, he's the only one I've got. BF, I don't know if I'm expecting something from him? Do I envy somebody else's love relationship?Am I getting something in return by heart? Goshhhhh. I have so many questions in my mind in which I am having a hard time to answer it by myself.

As for now I am just letting it flow like water, blew it by the strong winds. Then wherever the wind and water takes me I'll begin to decide. In my mind, I just wanna be strong and to continue smiling.

I want some signs from above so I can easily decide so I could lessen my loneliness now.

Friday, June 03, 2005

Inside your Heaven

Got hooked in watching the "American Idol" up to the finale. From the best of Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood. Carrie made it as the American Idol 2005.
The final 2 at the American Idol 2005:

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I was also amazed by the song which will her first single this June 14. I just don't want to forget the lyrics:


INSIDE YOUR HEAVEN
Performed by Carrie Underwood

I've been down
Now I'm blessed
I felt a revelation comin' round
I guess it's right
It's so amazing
Everytime I see you I'm alive

You're all I've got
You lift me up
The sun and moonlight
All my dreams are in your eyes

I wanna be inside your heaven
Take me to the place you cry from
When the storm blows your way
I wanna be the earth to hold you
Every bit of air you're breathing in
A soothing wind
I wanna be inside your heaven

When minutes turn to days and years
When mountains fall I'll still be here
Holding you until the day I die