This is a cute and very useful infographic for all you lovers of coffee and tea.
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Health and Well-being
One month into the winter season and I went down with a nasty flu and throat infection. I said hello to July miserable in bed surrounded by tissues, water bottles (that was tirelessly filled by the Husband), antibiotics and Chicken Arroz Caldo.
My body’s used to having bouts of head colds and cough on icy mornings. But just when I thought and felt that my body’s more resilient with winter, a persistent bug caught me and knocked me down. What I thought was going to be just a 2-day sick leave from work, turned out to be seven days. The plan was to go back to work middle of last week but I decided (yes, I decided) to take the whole week off to avoid a relapse and make it my Health Holiday.
There’s always that connotation that sick leaves are not good (oh well, we know it’s not good because it’s about being sick) so instead of thinking that I’m on leave because I’m down with something, I renamed my break from work to a Health Holiday. (Yes, I do make up names for my holidays sometimes.)
Health Holiday—doesn’t that sound more positive?
Whenever I get sick, I sometimes have feelings of vulnerability. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I actually think that it’s normal for one to be emotional when physically unwell. Staying home and not being able to do things we’re used to doing makes one feel vulnerable. At the start of my being sick two weeks ago, I started having “wawa” thoughts (kawawa thoughts/self-pity thought) but experience has taught me that negative thoughts and feelings do nothing. I knew I was physically beaten so I instead of wallowing and be cranky (because I hated being sick), I made a mental turnaround and let go.
I let go and accepted healing positively.
I let go and accepted that it’s okay to be sick once in a while.
I let go and laughed it off.
I let go and let my Husband take care of me.
I tried to be patient with getting well. Being the conscientious person that I am, I sometimes give deadlines on when I should be well (probably because of the thought that I need to go back to work). But instead of being too conscious of time, I focused on getting well and let my body recover on its own sweet time. I disregarded the thought that work may be piling up or that the office needs me. I shrugged at boredom and instead became thankful that I have all the time in the world to get well.
I listened to what my body needed. I slept for hours. It amazed me that even if I didn’t have much appetite, my body craved to eat good food. I stayed away from the computer. I went out our balcony and let the sun comfort me with it’s warmth and Vitamin D.
I’m a believer that every situation has its blessing(s). In my case of being sick, it inspired me to be more healthy. Also, I’ve learned to let go and focus on being positive even when I’m down with something.
I’m grateful to be back to attending to my usual routines this week. Although I still have a bit of cough, I feel so much better and nearly a hundred percent recovered.
If you are a Filipino, you would know that family and friends would usually ask, “Ano ang gusto mong pasalubong?” whenever they are coming to visit or travelling from somewhere. And whenever I am asked that question, I always think, “Hmmm, Ano bang meron doon na wala dito?”
So when my aunt asked me what I want from America, my answer was, “Something from Bath & Body Works, please?” And then I emailed her a list of my preferred items from the store. And yes, you read it right, we don’t have Bath & Body Works here in Australia.
Thanks to my aunt, I now have a few bottles of Bath & Body Works to last me awhile.
The Cherry Blossom Body Mist and Cherry Blossom Body Lotion from the Signature Collection. The body mist a is refreshingly light floral scent of Cherry Blossoms and makes me think (and smell like) Spring. The body lotion moisturises the skin with the help of Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E.
I love sweet scent of Vanilla so I also asked for the Black Raspberry Vanilla Shower Gel and Black Raspberry Vanilla Body Lotion. The shower gel has aloe vera and Vitamin E that leaves the skin smooth and pampered after every bath. Like the Cherry Blossom Body Lotion, the Black Raspberry Vanilla Body Lotion has Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Vitamin Oil. Other than keeping my skin hydrated, these two gives my skin a sweet fruity scent all day.
Having Bath & Body Works hand gels are always a treat. I sometimes forget to use hand sanitisers now that I live here in Australia, but having these around is helpful all the time.
Happy 1st day of Winter!
It’s my 7th Winter in Australia and so far my body has adjusted to the very cold weather. The first two years were the hardest but I got used to it eventually.
When I moved here, I only care to regularly cleanse my face. I don’t like putting moisturisers on because I have oily skin and thought it might cause my face to break out. However, my skin went very dry come cold season so I had to ask help from a facial care centre.
Their best skin care tips were:
(1) It is important to have a regular skin regimen.
(2) One can find skin care products that won’t cause the skin to get too oily or pimple break outs.
(3) Learn the habit of putting moisturisers and sunblock on as early as possible to avoid skin dryness, premature wrinkles and sunspots.
(4) Drink lots of water all the time to hydrate skin.
(5) Moisturise everyday. I used to have this idea that I should only put moisturiser on when I have dry skin or during cold season only but I was advised otherwise.
I have since followed their advice and found skin care products that make my skin better. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve seen a few changes in my skin and thought it’s time to be more vigilant in moisturising. I have always used cream moisturisers but recently I discovered the wonders of using oil.
Here are my top 5 favourite oils:
Rosehip Oil. Considered the miracle oil that contains Omega 3, 6 and 9, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, it minimise the appearance of wrinkles and scars. Regular use results to smooth skin and dramatically improved moisture levels, leaving skin radiant and glowing. I love it because it is lightweight and non-greasy. I use it as a base before putting anything on my face. Even if I put a layer of cream moisturiser/sunblock/foundation on my face after putting rosehip oil on, it doesn’t get oily. I’ve used it for two weeks and my acne scars seem to be less visible. This is so far the best oil I’ve used on my face.
Argan Oil/Moroccan Oil. I used this as a skin moisturiser before I discovered Rosehip Oil. This is an all-around oil that can be used for the hair, face and body (it can even be used for cooking!). It is high in Vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant. Now that I have Rosehip Oil to do wonders for my face, I use this mainly for my hair because it keeps it soft, non-frizzy and silky. It also prevents my scalp from being itchy and dry.
Tea Tea Oil. I call this my “Healing Oil” as this is my go-to when I have pimple break outs and dandruff. I love it’s soothing feel. Although the Husband teases that I smell like a tree whenever I put this (usually at bedtime), I don’t care. I wake up with my skin healed which is the most important thing.
Palmer’s Moisturizing Body Oil. After a bath, I apply this on my damp skin to lock in moisture. It absorbs quickly and softens my skin preventing it from being dry. This oil is light but I feel the richness of its formula on my skin that I sometimes get away with not putting lotion anymore.
Johnson’s Bedtime Oil. This is my usual body oil when I take baths in the evening. I also use this as an alternative to applying lotion at night. The smell is wonderfully relaxing and induces me to sleep.
Now that I’ve found oils that bring out the best in my skin and hair, I feel more confident surviving not just the winter season, but every season of every year.
If someone asks me what I bought with my first salary from my first Aussie paycheck, the answer would have to be my Resistance Elliptical Strider.
I grew up being physically active. When I was young, I always get involved in activities where I’m able to move and sweat. It’s not difficult to engage in physical activities in school thanks to the various clubs one can join but when one goes out into the corporate world of working 8-10 hours a day, it can become a challenge to some of us. When I worked in Manila, I had the chance of joining sports competitions until such time I had to retire because of an injury. And just when that happened, I migrated to Australia where I felt I needed to continue having an active lifestyle.
So when I received my first paycheck in 2005, I looked for a cheap exercise equipment and found a Resistance Elliptical Strider. The machine may seem harmless but it is quite the opposite. This one weighed a ton (I don’t have the exact number but it is heavy) and takes a lot of effort (and muscle) to exercise in. But given my age and physical capabilities then, it was good enough for me. A few minutes on this machine 3 to 4 times a week gave me a fast heartbeat rate, strong legs and arms. Other than the help of this machine, I averaged 30 minutes of walking on a daily basis. For three years, I lived near a park and every weekend, I’d briskwalk and run during the afternoons for additional exercise.
When I moved to an apartment with my Husband, we brought the Elliptical Strider with us. But as time goes by, my body has changed and I needed an exercise equipment that will be more friendly to my body, my bones and joints in particular.
As one age, we have to treat our body with appropriate care. I’m petite and cannot carry very heavy things. I thought that I should treat my bones and joints well. At one time, exercising on my elliptical strider gave me a backache so instead of being encouraged to use it, I became wary, fearing that I might injure so I stopped exercising on it last year. It took me months to decide to let it go and opt for another exercise machine.
It came with simple instructions on how to unfold it. No need to assemble any big parts.
In less than 5 minutes, our treadmill was ready for use.
I love our treadmill because:
It is handy, small, compact but serves its purpose. With its 1530mm x 650mm x 720mm size, it is perfect for our 2-bedroom apartment. Since it is foldable, it doesn’t eat up too much space at home. It only weighs 19 kilos so lugging it around is not a hassle. It has a stable incline which is manageable for everyone in the family.
I don’t have to get out of the house in order to walk or jog. One of my biggest hurdle in exercising is going/driving to the park and the weather. Going out requires extra time and effort while driving to a place involves petrol costs. The weather can be a nuisance. It’s too cold during winter, too hot during summer and rains last for days. Since I’ve got a treadmill at home, I’ve got no excuse.
I’m back to my regular habit of exercising! After three weeks of having a treadmill at home, I’m now back to exercising 3 to 4 times a week. Nowadays, I look forward to going home and spending time on the treadmill. It easily became a part of my lifestyle because I can get on the treadmill while I watch TFConline before dinner.
The Treadmill was a great replacement to the Elliptical Strider.The treadmill is perfect for me because I love walking. I can just walk for a long period of time while I watch TV or read stuff on the iPad. If I’m not doing anything while on the treadmill, I don’t get bored. Walking in silence is therapeutic for me. It helps me think and de-stress.
It’s a fun exercise machine! I’m able to walk, briskwalk, jog, run on the treadmill. In a 25-minute session, I’m able to do all four activities. Sometimes, I do a bit of arm exercises while walking–a combined exercise. I also sometimes sing while I walk on the treadmill and I love it!
Although I miss having the Elliptical Strider around, I’m glad I made this change in our lifestyle. I realized now how important it is to finding the right equipment for me, one that will is more friendly to me body and one that makes me want to exercise.
For those who would like to buy the same treadmill I have, you can check it out here.