Tired of wasting money on expensive beauty products only to end up frustrated? Since most cosmetics are processed with chemical content it could contain ingredients that are harmful especially to sensitive skin. So the next time you are about to make a skincare purchase think first, there are several home remedies that could work on your skin and you might want to try them.

Honey is considered as one of the popular choices form homeopathic solutions. It is known for its moisturizing and hydrating properties that provide a healthier and glowing skin. Apply a mixture of milk and honey all over face and leave it for a few minutes before rinsing. This could leave your skin looking radiant and softer.

A slightly heated dab of honey is also a good way to treat acne because of its anti bacterial properties. Apply the honey to the affected area and leave it overnight. You’ll notice that the redness and swelling is gone by the morning. Make an exfoliating mask by combining honey with oatmeal and yogurt to remove the impurities and dead skin cells.

Honey is not only good for the skin but the hair as well. Massage a mixture of olive oil and honey to strands and scalp for a shiny and healthy hair. Now with all these easy to do honey recipes, you might want to think twice before buying expensive skin care products.

Angela is a freelance content writer is also fond of traveling and outdoor adventures. She enjoys working on a tagpaptag project and sees this as an opportunity to share information about roofing.

The other week my brother was an emergency case when he complained of chest pain and shortness of breath.  He was diagnosed to have suffered mild heart attack and found out that he has an artery block.   Who wouldn’t if you can consume 2 packs of cigarette a day, no exercise, stressed and he always stays up late at night?   Being an artist, for him cigarettes are his comforter while doing his oil painting but now it is beginning to take its toll on his health.  He was confined for 4 days and was discharged when he was declared out of the danger zone that is 1-3 days after the last attack… because according to the attending physician, it is likely to have another attack within 24 hours -3 days.

His take home medicines are a lot and the “bitter pill” for him to swallow is the stern advice to stop smoking.  The first few weeks is expected to be terrible and a struggle because of the withdrawal symptoms that he is going to experience.   Lately, he has been complaining of headaches but we were told that it is normal.  It will be an overall change of diet for him like avoiding saturated fats, too much preservatives, sweets and though he is protesting because his food taste bland, he had to obey and be a good boy.

brod is trying to eliminate the habit

I can see him always sitting on his favorite rocking chair and I have to cajole him to start walking around.   He should not just sit idly.. in fact he can start to go back to his painting but he needs to take it easy.   Discipline is the key.

A friend is trying to convince me to buy the slimming coffee she swore that will make me slim.  I was adamant thinking it is again one of those networking schemes that are a lot here.  She was insistent (to get a sale????) and showed us our common friend who had tried the coffee.  OMG… if this slimming coffee is what she used to make Gina that sleek and slim then I will initially order a dozen boxes!!!!  Now, I am beginning to change my perspective that all fad diets won’t really help.   But now that I have seen the proof and based on her testimonies… I think I am about to believe… Gullible huh!

Alright, we were given leaflets to read and I gasped when I read that the magic effect of the slimming coffee is that you will be slender in only 18 days…. My mind wandered fast because in few weeks time it will be my silver wedding anniversary.  In case, we decided to renew our vows… I will be wearing a white gown again and looked good in it…. Just wishful thinking… But how?    Well.. accordingly, it will lock fats and prevents absorption.. it will also increase fat reduction and increase metabolism…

Well… to good to be true huh! Anyway, I won’t believe it till I experience it first hand.   Does this mean that my friend has a sure deal now?

PS… I won’t mention the brand yet till I have tried it and if it’s effective, surely it will be for endorsement.. Just hang on!.

A friend brought us hope and good news when she came back sleek and slim and looking young.  Of course, we were intrigued on how she did it.  Knowing that she also had this love and hate relationship with her stored fats…lol…. and yo-yo dieting is nothing new.  It is an endless battle of the bulge.   She will lose weight and gain it again in just few weeks.   She had tried all diets.. fad diet pills, yoga, tae-bo .. countless means to fight her ballooning weight…

However, this time, it was a success!  There is no surgical intervention because she hates surgery like liposuction that is why she is trying all possible means to lose weight.   We cornered and let her spill the beans… apparently, she has been drinking a new brand of  Slimming coffee and she hit the bulls eye… it is effective on her.  Actually, the effect is different for all types of people…she did not experience any side effects at all unlike others who swore that it is not good for them.

This time my friend Annie is bent to continue drinking the coffee and will do her work out to hasten her weight loss.  She is focussed to reach her goal because 6 months from now, her beau is going to arrive for their church wedding.   Any lady would want to look her best on her special day!  I am now tempted to try the coffee because I am one of the principal sponsors and of course, jut like the bride to be.. I also wanted to show off my new curves (if the coffee will work for me).

Let me see if I can ask for Annie’s before and after photo to post here… Just hang on…

My hubby just celebrated his 51st  birthdays 3 days ago.   Prelude to old age?  Well, I believe that he must do something about taking care of himself more because he (or we) are not getting any younger…. Last Sunday,while driving to  a meeting, he complained of shortness of breath and numbness on his left arm.  Knowing him having history of hypertension, alarmed, we proceeded to the Emergency room of a nearby hospital to have him checked.   He had his ECG done and X-ray (??? wonder why chest X-ray) and an IV fluid administered.

According to the attending physician, the pain was not related to hypertension but a neck problem, suspecting some nerves might have been blocked or twisted that caused numbness.  What a relief…but still he needs to take care.  He should not rest with the thought that his ECG was normal… he might overindulge again.  Actually that  is his weakness, he would not listen because he loves to eat and most often than not he would not skip eating those foods that he needs to avoid confident that his medicines are ever ready… lol…   Of course, I want him to enjoy food but he need to watch his intake.  I am not imposing too much restrictions on him and really, I would not want to see him starving.   Hubby should eat sensibly and healthy before it’s too late.

This illustration is worth sharing to all (including him….).

Oh well, it is really true… we can never teach an old man new tricks!

Off for a while from blogging.   We might spend our whole day to accompany a friend whose husband suffered stroke yesterday.   He is now in the Medical Intensive Care Unit of a nearby hospital and no good news to date.   Actually, yesterday, we were also there but no new development came out till we left to attend to some appointments.  As my friend recounted, her husband complained of chest pain the night before and slept his aches away hoping that it will subside but woke up very early with unbearable pain.  Since he can’t drive and  calling and sending for  an ambulance will take longer time, she decided to rushed him in a taxi but she almost panicked when he was sweaty, cold and pale and about to collapse.  The medical team in the Emergency room who received them attached all tubes and did emergency procedures on his husband.  Afterwards, she learned that his heart stopped beating for seconds but was revived.   In case his condition deteriorates, he will undergo open heart surgery which was scheduled tomorrow.  So, today, we will lend a hand the best way we can.   We just need continuous prayers for her husband Vaughn.

Well, my hubby should cut out his hearty appetite as a warning.   He too is taking regular medication for his hypertension and lately, his blood works yielded high triglycerides.  I told him that he needs to take care of  himself.    Lol… and reminded him that gluttony is a mortal sin!

I’ll be out for a while… don’t miss me!!!!

these flowers might cheer up our friend…

Have you heard about Ventosa Massage Cupping Therapy?  I, too have no idea until last night when a family friend came over to the house to perform a  technique to my hubby who for the longest time has been feeling sluggish, tired and complained of  lower back muscle pains.  I presumed it was just wrong posture or improper sleeping position that made his body aches but he always insist it’s not.  So, he asked a big favor from Jun, our friend to do ventosa on him which he did not refuse at all.  Sweet friend!

the therapy started… what are those?  spikes????

I was in awe how the therapy was performed.   First, I saw Jun took out from his bag more than 20 pieces of drinking glasses, more than a dozen cone shaped papers and he lighted a candle.  I was very attentive because it was my first time to see such technique.  While  hubby was  just relaxed and waited patiently.  The procedure is to create a vacuum by using glass placed on the back which lifts the skin.  The cone shaped papers were burn from the tip and while it is burning, it is place inside an upside down cup.   The oxygen of the burning paper, lifts the skin.  It then “sucks” out the skin and during treatment, red lumps inside appears.   He looked like a dinosaur with spikes at the back….

red swelling…hubby said it does not hurt at all!

Interestingly, afterwards, the skin inside the glass reddened due to the suction effect.  According to Jun, it does not hurt at all… The redness that I saw was because the circulation had been brought to the surface and toxins are generally sucked out.  The procedure is called Ventosa Cupping Therapy and they say that it is painless.  I believed so because hubby did not complained all throughout the procedure.  The therapy took about 20-25 minutes and hubby said he was relieved from his aches and he swore to its efficacy.

ewwww! an ugly sight!

However, after the glasses has been removed, ewwwwww… his back was an ugly sight!   I can’t exactly describe it but better judge it for yourself.      You can see mild bruising  after and it was  then massaged and soothed with oil and I’ve learned that  it  will be gone in 2-3 days time.

Hubby had a good sleep after the procedure.  He was in dreamland in no time at all!  Have you tried one before?  I don’t think I need one… not yet….

Everytime, I see my cousin Jade, in her eyes, I can see the emptiness of  life.  The last time I saw her, I can’t exactly describe how I perceived how her life is going!  She was always in deep thought and her pretty smile and infectious laughter were gone.   A relative told me that she decided to hibernate in a place to “soul search”.  I felt sorry for I did  not even had the chance bond with her and know the true story behind that gloomy face.

Amazing!  One time, Jane popped out of the blue and would you believe in a social networking site when she joined our Family group page?   Jade is undeniably bubbly and happy in her post.   Her shout out in her profile was  ” I found my peace with ilchi lee!    Momentarily, I froze in amazement when I checked on all her pictures and I felt so happy for her.  Not even knowing who ilchi lee is, I presumed that she already found the man of her dreams. When I had the chance to chat with her, I did not hesitate to ask her (what cousins are for) about that newly found joy in her life.   She was all ecstatic, happy and proud about how her life turned 180 degrees from being helpless to being hopeful and she kept mentioning how ilchi lee brought the sunshine back into her empty life.  Very briefly, she recounted that her endless quest for serenity of life, wellness of life and health was discovered in a place she’s been to (she would not disclose).  I wonder which place she was referring to because there were several pictures of places with majestic and serene view posted,  t’was a sight to see!   I also saw her in several yoga poses and her face was very calm and peaceful….. I bet that was her tight guarded secret, ilchi lee!

Oh well, whatever… as long as she is happy and contented.. I am more than happy!

I received a pair of red dumb bells last Christmas.   For a while I set it aside because I thought I  don’t need it and even wondered why my friend gave it to me!  However, after the long holidays, I am actually convinced now that there should be something to be done.  While I was clearing our bedroom, there’s this pair of  red dumb bell in the corner which caught my attention.  Was it a reminder that I need to start to get fit this 2011!  Actually, my husband kept reassuring me that I look alright but sometimes I have this suspicious feeling that he is just being nice.  I know that I gained some unwanted pounds judging from the fact that I can no longer button my favorite jeans.  It is already tight in the waist and unsightly bulges are noticeable.  Oh dear!  A lot of working out to do again!   This yo-yo weight syndrome is again driving me a little bit cranky!

Time to psyche myself, and that the red dumb bell will serve its purpose from this day forward.   I rummaged my cabinet for my fitness gear which I think has been in the hiding place for quite a time.   Oh no!  I hope that this is not just a burst of emotion.. wanting to get fit… then stop then start again.   It’s unhealthy!

May this pair of red dumb bell inspires  me!

For now, I won’t be saying too much about my plans… it will be a big surprise (again?)!

As the Nike slogan goes….JUST DO IT!

…. words from a Shakira song…. It hits me bullseye for I won’t deny it, my hips expanded much to my dismay. Admittedly, I have totally blown out my self control
and for the past weeks now, I have done terrible on my diet. Yes, I succumbed to my moment of weakness and temptation, I gave in to eating without let up.

Now (oh no not again) I am thinking of challenging myself to lose weight. I have self declared last night (after my weigh-in ) that I will start my weight reduction program but my family is already used to hear my self pronouncements so I know it fell on deaf ears. The past months were very good for I had successfully got back on focus and was able to maintain my ideal weight. I even rewarded myself with a nice gold bangle for I was a good girl but the diet was ruined totally when my children came for vacation, I ate without any regret. Of course, we were very happy and ecstatic when they came so in celebration, we had successive eating and dining out.

I am very much aware, this yo-yo syndrome is not really doing me any good. I’ve been there, done that way too many times. A dietician friend whom I have consulted told me that starvation is not the way to lose weight. She said it simply, it is output vs. input. We should be burning more calories than what we eat everyday and it should be in combination with exercise and good balanced diet. True, it is really easier said than done but we really have to assess our life style if we are really bent in changing our outlook towards fitness. Further, she said that if we want to lose weight, we don’t need to starve ourselves in guise of dieting.

The other day, I casually asked one of physician staff on how I can lose weight fast. Simply she said “zip your mouth” Hmmm… true and I will take her word! I will give it a try and this time, I will make a realistic set of goals for losing weight.

Weight loss challenge? My hips won’t lie!