“Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
- Franklin P. Jones

Don’t you think it’s true?  You may be taking a bumpy ride but love definitely makes it easier.  Hubs and I have been through a lot of bumpy rides in the past but love helped us weather all those storms.

Imagine the world if chocolate was never invented.  I can’t!  It’s one of the things that always bring a smile to everyone’s face.  So many people love it and there is something hypnotic about chocolate that makes it soooo hard to resist.  Numerous studies have shown us the reasons why we should enjoy it more.  It does not only boost our moods but it contains the antioxidant Flavonol that gives positive effects on the heart and help protect our body against the damaging effects of pollution and processed foods.  It’s our best defense against sickness and stress.

I don’t think I will ever run out good things to say about this super yummy treat.  The last time my daughter got hit with the killer cold I made her a cup of delicious, decadent hot chocolate spiced with cayenne pepper, a recipe I got from recipe for homemade hot chocolate.  I have read from one blog article  that the ground pods and seeds of red peppers, which we call cayenne, has powerful antibacterial properties that can relieve nasal congestion.  Daughter loved her spicy hot chocolate and her sniffles were gone in a jiffy. Now, isn’t that a delicious way to treat a cold?  Plus, it’s all natural!

More yummy hot chocolate recipes are just a click of a mouse away.

I used to fret whenever I see my kids kissing our dog.  I have explained to them for so many times that it’s not a wise thing to do even if I know that our dog is always well-groomed.  But I was surprised when I read that regular contact with animals causes their immune system to produce new antibodies that protect against chronic health hassles.  Studies have shown that children who get early exposure to pet dander and saliva are less likely to develop asthma and eczema by up to 61 percent. I know that germs and bacteria is important in building their immune system but I never expected that it could also come from pets.

Do you wake up feeling sore and stiff in the morning?  And do you still feel sleepy during the day even if you know that you had plenty of sleep?  Chances are you did not get the quality sleep you need to keep you going during the day.  I have read that even if you are sleeping for 8 hours, it does not guarantee that you’re getting  good quality sleep, and that explains the low energy you have and mental blocks.

There are many reasons for not having quality sleep and one of them could be your bed.  It’s more than just a place to sleep, it is where you recharge energy, relax and re-energize.  And if you can’t even find a comfortable position when you sleep, then maybe your bed is not providing you the proper support.  It’s about time you change beds.  But your new bed doesn’t have to be pricey.  What you need is a good quality bed that can support your body well like ottoman beds, beds that will allow you to rest in a natural position.   Don’t let yourself suffer in uncomfortable beds when you know you can get an elegant bed at very affordable prices.  Remember, a good night’s sleep ensures you to become fully functional the next day.

One of the oldest Filipino traditions that my family continues to do is having 12 different round fruuits on New Year’s eve.  It’s believed to bring lots of luck for the coming year.  Twelve fruits to represent each month.  Mom always makes sure she completes the basket every new year’s eve.

Do you want to have sparkling white teeth?  I’m sure you do, but before you go and buy over the counter whitening toothpaste make sure you find some important  facts about the product first to know which one will work best for you.  It’s also important to research about its effectiveness and safety, especially that you have to put it inside your mouth.

My daughter’s been bugging me for weeks, she’s been complaining about the color of her teeth.  Whoa! The color of her teeth has been slightly yellow for years, and now she’s suddenly complaining.  She now thinks that her teeth are looking awful.  I asked her a lot of times why she wanted to do that, and she told me that it’s because of this new product called Celebrity Sexy White.  She explained to me that it’s a safe and effective way of whitening teeth, as she read it from the web site.  I was a bit skeptical at first so I checked the site, researched the product and read the reviews.  My daughter knows that when it comes to some products that they have to put inside their mouth, my main concern is safety.

It took me only a few minutes to realize that Celebrity Sexy White is indeed good and safe product and it’s not expensive, as I thought.  I’m sure she’ll be happy when I tell her that we’re getting one.

Here’s one cause why our kids are groggy on school mornings, SLEEPING LATE ON WEEKENDS.  Just like mine, I’m sure your kids look forward to weekends too because they can stay up late.  I’ve read that changing the sleeping patterns even for just 2 days can have the same negative effect on brain function as jet lag.

In a study made by the Brown University researchers, they found out that kids who stuck to their regular school-day sleep schedule every night are more alert during mornings.  While those who were allowed to have later shut-eye routine on weekends were less alert on Monday morning.

I know that sleeping late is not so good but i never realized that it’s causing their grogginess even if they slept longer.  Experts say, it’s best to encourage our children to get to bed and wake up at about the same time everyday.  Remember, being alert and attentive in school gives them the edge so don’t be surprised if he aces the tests.

I’m beginning to worry about my husband’s snoring so I have been doing some readings about it.  At first I thought it was just normal because I know a lot of people who snore.   Hubs says I snore too when I’m really tired.  But when I noticed that he was having breathing interruptions, I tried to google what could be causing it.  Here’s what I found…

“Sleep Apnea is a condition characterized by temporary breathing interruptions during sleep. The pauses in breathing can occur dozens or even hundreds of times a night. Symptoms include loud snoring and a gasping or snorting sound when the sleeping individual starts to breathe again. Although the individual may not be aware of having sleep apnea, the condition can disrupt the quality of sleep and result in daytime fatigue. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the tongue or other soft tissue blocks the airway. Treatments include breathing devices that keep the airway open during sleep, and surgery that reduces the amount of soft tissue near the airway.”

What I thought to be normal was actually sleep apnea and I got scared upon knowing that it could lead to something serious if not taken care of.   I “googled” it more to see if  I can find remedies without having to resort to surgery.  I chanced upon a web site called Sleep Disorders Guide.  They have all the information about sleep apnea, what causes it, treatments, remedies, prevention tips and sleep apnea self care.  It has all the useful information I need to help my husband with this disorder.

By the way, the site does not only focus on sleep apnea.  It covers sleep disorder in general.  Whether you are having problems with insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome and other related problems, you will surely find all the information there.

If your daughter has been pouting for some time because things aren’t going her way or she’s been fighting with her bestfriend, don’t get angry if she’s trying to put you off and your attempts to comfort her are met with sighs and rolling of the eyes.

Our teens usually go on the defensive when we try to give them advice because we often sound too authoritative.  When we try to talk to them, they probably expect a lecture so that explains the sighs and eye rolls.

To easily connect with her, try to create a relaxed and informal atmosphere first.  Instead of calling her, go to her room so you are on her turf.  Then, carefully tell her that you have some thoughts you’d like to share.  Stress that they are merely suggestions and she can ignore them if she wants.  That will make it easier for her to give you the opportunity to be heard.  And the next time she goes through it, she might be the one to approach you.

Google’s year ender was an update on page ranks.  Some are happy some are not.  This blog used to have PR1 and now it has 2.  For those who lost their PRs, don’t fret.  Just continue to write good contents and I’m sure you’ll have your page rank back.

I am glad that my page rank increased and hopefully, I’d see more greens next update.