AsH wEdNesDay

When I was young, I always wanted to have a darker mark on my forehead during Ash Wednesday. Since, I am just a little girl I really do not know the meaning and significance of this day until I became older and started to listen to what priests say.

In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the priest who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Here is the actual mark on my forehead. Not that dark, huh :p


A lot of people go to mass during Ash Wednesday. Some knows the meaning of it but others do not. Others follow the fasting and abstinence code but others just ignore it. The Catholic church says that people between 14-60 should do the fasting and abstinence. There should be no eating of pork during Ash Wednesday, all Fridays during the 40 days as well as Good Friday and also Black Saturday if possible. But mandatory are the Fridays and the Ash Wednesday itself. Not only fasting and abstinence should be done. We should also extend help to others in great need and attend mass everyday. These are some of the good deeds that Catholics should observe during this Season. As for me, I am a hypocrite to say that I do all these. Yes, I try to follow them but I am just human making mistakes. I believe this is the best time to ask for forgiveness so I also try to have a confession once a year.

(People are falling in line to receive ash)

mY aDvaNce BdaY giFt

Last Saturday, my hubby and I went to SM for our twice a month grocery. But before we went to the Supermarket, we passed by Watson's to check out some beauty products. Hubby knows that I wanted to have the 7 signs from Oil of Olay. So, right there he asked me to pick what I want. Since there are several products from Oil of Olay, I felt like I was torn among many lovers hahaha. The nice lady carefully explained the differences of each product. After a few minutes, hubby decided to buy the day and night cream for me. We were just so lucky that there was a promo wherein I got a 20ML of day cream for free! So now, I ended up to have three! But my lucky day did not just end there. The nice lady also offered me a free tote bag in addition to a bottle of shampoo that we need to add to our items . Since shampoo is a necessity, we decided to buy one. At the end of the day, I got all these items for a discounted amount. I was so happy since my birthday is just a few weeks away. I just can't help but smile :) I hope everyday is my birthday hahahha

SiCk :(

Right now, I am suffering from cough and colds so I have no choice but to stay at home and take a lot of rest. It maybe simple to some of us but, it still hurts! haha It is very inconvenient and the fact is, we cannot just ignore it. During my first day of sickness, I had difficulty in sleeping. I always wake up since my nose is being clogged by mucus. So today, I rested the whole day and took some medicine to ease up the heavy feeling that I have. Since I feel a lot better, I have decided to make a research and share these important details to you. I hope this helps :)

Bolstering Your Immune System in Five Simple Steps to Help Prevent Colds and the Flu

The immune system defends the body against diseases and other harmful invaders, including bacteria and the flu virus. The body's ability to resist these invaders is called immunity. In my opinion, building one's immunity against all invaders is a much more comprehensive approach than the singularly focused flu vaccination and can be accomplished by following five easy steps:

1. Advanced Hygiene - Why Hand Washing is Not Enough? - I believe that cleaning the hands in the usual fashion only rids them of a small percentage of all potential pathogens. I highly encourage individuals to practice a system called “Advanced Hygiene.” The first step of advanced hygiene starts with a semi-soft natural soap. I instruct my patients to push their fingertips into the soap in order to address the area in and around the fingernails, an infectious hotbed where I believe that the overwhelming majority of germs on the hands reside. The next step involves immersing one’s face (facial dipping) into a solution of water, sea salt and dilute iodine. This process is designed to rid the face of germs, viruses, and bacteria. This is vital since these pathogens gain access to our bodies not through our airways and respiratory tract, but through our eyes, nasal passages, mouth and ears. Fingernail cleansing and “facial dipping” disarm the autoinoculation process—the process where we unwittingly put into our bodies (through the eyes, nose, or mouth) unwanted germs or viruses.
   
2. Diet - A whole foods-based diet adds to overall human health and immunity. Examples of "immune-enhancing foods" are locally grown meats, poultry, dairy, fruits and vegetables raised organically and chemical-free. Fresh fruits and vegetables are especially vital in this capacity. While no health official would argue with the consumption of fruits and vegetables, we can take our diets a step further if we really want to bolster our immune system!
3. Supplementation - In general, I recommend my patients use supplement formulas made from "whole foods" that have been fermented. Since the majority of the immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract, balance of intestinal bacteria is vital to helping our bodily defenses function properly. Key supplements to help bolster immunity include: Probiotics: Probiotics improve the body's ability to fight infection and enhance the immune response.
   
4. Sleep - Consistent, adequate sleep is vitally important to overall health and paramount to a healthy and well functioning immune system. Recent studies have shown that proper restful sleep is intimately tied to the balance of a number of hormones, most notably cortisol and melatonin. More important than how long you sleep is when you sleep. To insure proper glandular function it appears sleep is optimized when in sync with the day-night cycle. That means the optimal spring/summer bedtime is between 9 and 10 p.m. and the optimal fall/winter bedtime is between 8 and 9 p.m. It also appears that sleep cycles started before midnight are far more effective than those started after midnight-- regardless of the number of hours slept.
5. Reducing Stress - Stress is linked to six of the leading causes of death: Heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide--and too much stress also hinders the immune system. Constant stress could increase risks associated with a variety of conditions such as heart, allergic, and immune diseases. SOURCE : Preventtheflu.com, by Dr, Joseph Brasco, MD.
   

OuR PrE-VaLeNtiNe DaTe

picture taking while waiting for the foods

Yesterday, my hubby and I decided to have our pre valentine date. Since, malls will be very congested by Friday and Saturday, we just took the early celebration.

We had a lunch out at a famous Japanese resto in SM Pampanga. The food was great and every penny was worth it.

For all those Japanese food lovers out there, try it! The resto is located at the Annex wing beside Flavors of China. I am looking forward for more Valentine's Day with you, Nee.

hubby while looking at the menu



















the authentic Japanese cuisine



















hubby while enjoying the food



















me, trying hard in using the chopsticks