This weekend was specially stressful for me. My husband and I decided to finally work on a home makeover and I assisted him on repainting our whole ground floor. The idea seemed simple at first but I learned in the process how physically tiring it is. While battling with the roll brush and fixing furniture, I had to bring my sister for an operation.

My ate underwent several tests prior the operation and the doctor advised that she needs to undergo curettement (or raspa in Filipino) and removal of follicles or follics. These ovarian cysts will be sent to laboratory for testing to find out what next step to take. I stayed with my ate until the operation is over and prayed for its success. Now, I am praying that the result of the test will be negative, that the cysts are not harmful at all.

It seem that harmful follicle condition is becoming common to women. The problem is sometimes, this condition is mistaken as symptoms to menopause. We have to be aware of the difference and act accordingly as infections caused by this condition may lead to severe health problems or even death.

As a mother, I am increasing my vigilance against any health threats against women. Protecting myself from this diseases will ensure more time spent with my family. To better protect ourselves and our family against potential health problems, we can acquire medical devices such as spirometer and ambulatory BP monitor or blood pressure monitor.

Be safe everyone.

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Here are the OSCARS 2010 Winners in different categories:

Best Picture: THE HURT LOCKER
Best Actor in a Leading Role: JEFF BRIDGES of CRAZY HEART
Best Actress in a Leading Role: SANDRA BULLOCK of THE BLIND SIDE
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: CHRISTOPH WALTZ of INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: MO’NIQUE
Best Animated Picture Film: UP by Pete Docter
Best Art Direction and Cinematography: AVATAR
Best Director: KATHRYN BIGELOW of THE HURT LOCKER
Best Adapted Screenplay: PRECIOUS, Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
Best Original Screenplay: THE HURT LOCKER written by Mark Boal
Best Visual Effects: AVATAR

So the movies to collect in DVD or download from the Internet to watch in the next days are: The Hurt Locker, Crazy Heart, The Blind Side, Precious, Avatar and Up. I can’t wait to schedule a movie marathon. Share your personal review of these films will you? Happy watching!

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Clottey is the former world welterweight champion of Accra, Ghana and will try to steal the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title from our very own pound-for-pound King Pacquiao. The talked-about boxing match is sponsored by Top Rank and Jerry Jones of Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Don’t miss this chance to root for our country’s boxing pride live! See you at the Park!

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It simply means he caught the bug. Every male teen seem to be fond of exercising and toning their muscles and body built. I can attest to this as almost all my nephews and my friends’ boys, are into the gym and exercising fad.

Suddenly, these young men are talking about bench press, dip machine, thread mills, and other fitness equipment. Nothing wrong about these though. Being busy in sports and fitness hobbies are healthy habits. Engaging in these physical exercises will develop their sense of discipline and boost their confidence, aside from making them healthy and fit. Definitely a lot better instead of having couch potatoes and computer games addicts in your homes right?

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For me though, the most significant accomplishments and roles played by women in their lives can be seen and felt at home — by being mothers, wives, sisters, aunts, grandmothers… A woman’s love build homes, build characters, build lives.

May this day be inspirational, worthwhile, and exceptional for every proud Filipina and all the women of the world. Allow me to especially dedicate today’s celebration to the special women in my life who in their own capacity and uniqueness played their life’s roles very well. Their contribution to developing their families, friends, and the community itself, by sharing their values, their talents, their skills, and unselfish love, are worth high commendation. These are the women I met at home, in the community in the workplace, in the training industry, in the academe, in the blogosphere, in the streets and everywhere else I found myself at one point in my life.

Here are they:

To you beautiful and extraordinary women, this quote holds true:

“There is in every true woman’s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.” Washington Irving

To everyone, Happy International Women’s Day!

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The popular strategy to keep students busy and still learning on summer break is enrolling them to different summer classes like art lessons, sports clinics, and academic tutorials. Having them in art and sports classes would improve their creativity, innate physical abilities and social interaction skills. Putting them for Math, English and Science tutorials will help them get ready and ahead for the classes in June.

If you wanted however for your child to just stay at home, the best learning approach is to purchase learning toys and learning games which would help your child become busy while at the same time, learning enjoyably.

Some example of these learning toys are mind and puzzle games. The popular ones are scrabble, monopoly, chess sets and chinese checkers. You may buy these learning games online or in the malls.

While these learning strategies would entail some cost, consider these learning investments for your children. It would surely help them become productive and competitive.

Any ideas for learning leasure stretegies for kids? Share it with by writing through email at marikenya at yahoo dot com or by using the contact form at the right.

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To prevent fire incidents in our homes, please note these safety and prevention tips from the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) Philippines. You may want to print this and post it somewhere in the house for every household member to be reminded.

For those traveling abroad, note these basic travel reminders:

1. Review your travel documents — passports, plane tickets, visa(s), hotel accommodation advisory, etc.
2. Important documents and necessities should be in your carry-on luggage or hand-carry. These valuables include travel documents, medication, expensive jewelries and gadgets. I would suggest you also pack extra clothing in your hand carry (a piece of shirt, undies, and pants or short) so even if your luggage get lost in transit or experience delay, you have something to change on.
3. Take the expert business travelers advise: “take twice as much money and half as many clothes as you think you’ll need.” Maybe not easy on the pocket but today, airlines usually enforce policies like “one piece of carry-on luggage” rule. This is especially enforced on full flights so travel as light as possible. ATMs and credit cards will come in handy too.
4. Keeping duplicate copies of important travel documents just in case you lost the original copies, you will have references.

Make sure yor family or close friends are advised about your travel. Provide them your flight details just in case there will be any travel emergency. If a travel is well planned, the more assured you are everything will go well and enjoyable.

Have a wonderful and safe summer!

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If the answer is yes, you caught the bug! American Idol Season 9 is back and as popular as ever. Welcome to the show which put instant celebrities like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, and David Cook to stardom.

This week, the top 24 is singing their way to stay in the show. Early favorites are already picked. Female faves are: Crystal Bowersox, Ashley Rodriguez, Katie Stevens, and Lilly Scott. Male favorites include: Casey James, Tim Urban, and Andrew Garcia.

My personal favorite is Lacey Brown, a perky and pretty blond with short hair. Unfortunately, she blew her chance tonight as she picked a song that was not good for her kind of voice. Let’s see next week if she will be saved by America.

What about you, rooting for someone from the top 24?

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