My Furry Grandchildren ~ Fang and Bite

After seven years living in this apartment, our landlady has finally given us approval to have a dog. Yay! At long last, my longing for a pet was fulfilled.

At first, we had a "weekend dog," which was exactly what it was. My son and his girlfriend had a dog in their dorm room and when they went home for the weekend, they took the dog home to me. Their dog's name is Fang. He is a Japanese Spitz-Pomeranian mix. He was a frisky little puppy and oh so cute! Fang now permanently lives with my son's girlfriend's parents. He got big and was too much work for two college kids to take care of. I miss him though. Maybe someday he can visit too.

Baby Fang

Asleep and content

Fang at 8 months

And then last December, my youngest son asked permission if he could "adopt" his girlfriend's dog. It was a tiny little 18 month old Shih Tzu. My son's girlfriend and her siblings are out of the house most of the time and there was no one left to care for the dog. Now we have a permanent pet. Officially adopted. Ours to keep. His name is Bite and he is the sweetest little creature!

Bite's selfie shot

Doing his role as "The Protector"

Bite and his toys taking over the apartment!

Bite is my stress reliever. He loves being hugged and petted. I love taking him for his walk, bathing him and just being near him. Despite his tiny size, he is over-protective of my husband. He follows him everywhere and patiently waits for him while he is in the shower or in the toilet. When I leave for work at night, Bite stays by the door while my husband is still awake and then moves to the foot of the bed when it is time for my husband to sleep. I know dogs have a very strong sense of smell and it just amazes me when he would just sniff and lick my husband's legs and feet days before he would catch a cold or be in agony with arthritis pain. I just cannot think of any other reason for Bite's strange sniff and lick habit. Could he be trying to get rid of something bad to prevent my husband from getting sick?

I treat Fang and Bite as if they were my grandchildren. Every time I get paid at work, I make sure I come home with a treat - a big can of dog food (delicious beef and chicken with gravy) or a new chew toy. They may have fierce sounding names, but they are the gentlest, sweetest, furriest little source of happiness!

Is Your Child A Future American Idol?

There are so many talent shows running right now and what is amazing is that there are contestants as young as twelve or thirteen and are already guitar wizards in their own right! It makes me wonder, when did their parents get one real guitar for them? When they were three years old? 

So much talent and so much of life ahead for these musical proteges. If I did have a child who was musically inclined, I would support them all the way. The good thing is that we do not really have to spend a lot to get quality musical instruments. A well crafted piece may be purchased at discounted prices. Some may suit your budget, and some may need some saving up for.

However, the love and support we provide our children are enough for them to hone their craft. Which parent would not be proud to see their child onstage performing in front of a live audience, televised around the world? I definitely would be.

Recyclable Recipe #1: Pork Adobo and Adobo Flakes

As most of you know, I am a very busy working mom. All my children are young adults, and yet, despite their age, I am still the one responsible preparing meals for the family. I have to mind the budget, and we opt for delicious, nutritious and easy to prepare dishes. One of the things I do to stretch the family's food budget is to make sure that the dishes I make can be "recycled" into another dish a day or two after.

I will be writing about our favorite "Recyclable Dishes" and point you to where you can get easy to follow recipes for them. For today, I want to introduce you to Pork Adobo (Adobong Baboy) and its recycled variant, Adobo Flakes.

Filipino food is truly comfort food. One of our family's favorites is Pork Adobo. It is what we call "emergency food," because it is so easy to make and the ingredients are always available in the kitchen. Pork Adobo is made of chunks of pork sauteed with lots of garlic and a medium sized onion. Soy sauce is added, together with black peppercorns and bay leaf. A cup or two of water is added and the pork is simmered until tender. There are many variations of pork adobo, depending on the region where it is prepared. Some substitute soy sauce for salt and then add tumeric (Adobo sa Dilaw), others cook it with coconut milk (Adobo sa Gata), some even add chili peppers for that nice "kick." My family prefers the standard garlicky pork adobo. You may view the complete recipe here.

Photo courtesy of www.PinoyRecipe.net

If there would be left-overs, which I really doubt, the budget conscious me would create another popular dish called "Adobo Flakes." This is done simply by flaking the left over pork adobo, browning some finely chopped garlic in a pan and then frying the pork flakes until they are crunchy. This makes a nice sandwich filling which my sons can take with them to school. It can also be a yummy topping over fried rice, served with scrambled/fried egg and a side salad.

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I would strongly suggest you try out these recipes. It not only helps stretch your budget, it is definitely a dish your family would enjoy. Watch out for the next recyclable recipe!

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Join The Springing Ahead Event GiveAway!

We Are Celebrating The Warmer Weather By Springing Ahead!

Now is the time when friends and families get together to and spend great times making memories outdoors. We Three Moms (Anderson's Angels, Joy of Mama Joyner and The More The Merrier), are so very excited to get outside with family and friends to enjoy the sunshine! We've teamed up with over 80 other wonderful bloggers, to bring you another huge giveaway event! ONE WINNER will take home all of the prizes we've put together (over $650 in prizes!) for The Springing Ahead Giveaway!

There is something for everyone in the family in this fun Prize Package:

Aden & Anais - teether - $24.95

Bees Wraps - Assorted Set of 3 - $18.00

201 Organic Baby & Toddler Meals Cookbook - $17.99

Exergen - Temporal thermometer - $59.99

Zipit Bedding - Twin set - $49.99 Sterling Publishing - Superfood Snacks - $16.95

H2wOw - 1- 4 pack - $24.99

Jackpot Candles - Candle - $24.95

Planetbox - Rover Complete Set - $59.99

Cave Tools - Meat Claws - $15.99

Nickerbacher - Book - $13.64

ChicoBag - ChicoBag - $50

EarthEasy - Worm Factory 360 Composter - $109.95 Crane - Belly Glo Night Light - $12.99 OOFOS - 1 pair - $39.95 Halo - Sleepsack or Swaddle - $26.95 GeospacePlay- GeoFlux & Game Time Sports - $29.98 TriDerma - TriDerma Set - $70.95

It's exciting isn't it? Come enter to win! The more entries you complete on the Giveaway Tools form below, the better your chances of winning are! Best Of Luck! The Springing Ahead Event will run from 12:01am EST Wednesday, April 22, 2015 through 11:59pm EST Wednesday, May 6, 2015. This giveaway event is open to all legal residents of the United States who are 18-years-old and older.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Anderson’s Angels, Joy Of Momma Joyner, The More The Merrier, and all other participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. The sponsors will send the prizes directly to the winner. We are also not responsible for any unfortunate accidents that result from the use of any of these products.

Stress-Free Shopping at #DHgate.com

There are countless online stores that offer every product you can think of. However, only a handful of them offer quality goods at a very affordable price. Since it is prom season once again, moms and daughters are busy searching for the perfect prom dress. Of course, not every parent is willing to spend hundreds of dollars for one dress. They want a special, budget friendly piece for their prom queen.

Here's a bit of good news for you. Check out DHgate.com. They offer very beautiful pieces for up to 40% off the original price. It is every young girl's dream to make prom night a memorable one for them so why not get them their dream dress without spending a fortune? Choose from a wide array of designs from simple to full beaded. Some styles even offer free shipping!

That's not all #DHgate.com can offer. They also have other fashion items for every season. They have bags, shoes, home and garden essentials, appliances, gadgets, toys, fashion accessories, children's clothes and more! It is worth your time browsing the website and I am pretty sure, you'll find that "thing" you have been wanting to buy that suits your budget.

Head on over to DHgate.com. Happy shopping!

Effective Communication and Change Management

Effective Communication is the key for success career in Change Management. Oftentimes, managers get so keen on being just that - a manager. A person holed up in a room, reading productivity reports, formulating processes and forgetting about the welfare of the people who put him/her in that room in the first place.

At a recent meeting at work, we were informed of a change that would take effect next quarter. It entails losing our monthly productivity incentive, quarterly incentive and attendance incentive. Anything in excess of 4 counts of tardiness and/or one unplanned absence in a quarter will automatically disqualify us from getting anything. It is an all or nothing, regardless of hitting 110% of productivity targets. I understand losing the attendance incentive if we exceed the allowable occurences, but to lose even your productivity incentive was just so demotivating.

There was only one thing that ran through my mind. So, if I am tardy for the 5th time, I won't do my work anymore. I will just slack off because I won't be getting anything anyway. I will not push myself to do more than is required, because my efforts won't be recognized anyway. So the poor supervisor was flooded with questions. Of course, she couldn't say much, because she does not know much. I said, "Why don't you involve us in your decision making? It is us who will be impacted with this change and yet you kept us in the dark, disregarding our thoughts, ideas and opinions." And then I heard a response I never thought would come from someone holding the title of "supervisor."

"Honestly, with the position she (referring to the Manager) is holding now, she does not need your opinion if she wants to make a change."

And to think that this person holds the position of "Manager."

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In the corporate setting, changes are rolled out to improve processes and propel the business forward. However, the success of a proposed change will depend on the effectiveness of how it was communicated to the company down lines and its possible effect on its frontliners. Lack of communication can make or break a company. 

I have read a lot about the relationship between management styles, effective communication, employee satisfaction and the success of the business. Indeed, there are a lot of knowledge that can benefit even in the smallest enterprise. Here are some of the things I have learned:

1. When changes are proposed in an organization, effective communication should be in the form of conversation. Change managers and employees discussing a proposed change would foster a smoother implementation.

2. Be open to new ideas and suggestions in bringing about change. Leaders should listen to what their employees have to say, such as wanting you to hire commercial cleaning services to keep the office clean and pleasant, for example When employees are left out in the periphery, management can very well expect resentment, distrust and resistance to change.

3.  Poor communication can lead to employee apathy, poor performance and increased incidence of absenteeism. Leaders must get rid of the attitude, "Its that way because I said so." Be like a mother who is always ready to answer that "Why" question.

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4. Acknowledge the fact that employees deserve to be involved in company decisions specially if it will significantly impact their attitude towards work, their lives, and their finances.

5. Employees feel empowered if they are able to have upward communication. This type of communication is when information flows upward in an organization and usually consists of feedback. If bosses or managers are able to listen to employees and respond, this leads to an increase in employee job satisfaction.In addition, employees are also happy if there is intense downward communication, which is information flowing down from superiors or managers to direct reports. (Source: http://study.com/academy/lesson/workplace-communication-importance-strategies-examples.html)

6. Power-tripping is the worst thing a leader or change manager can engage in. Unfortunately, some leaders use this as a way to get back at employees who "ask questions" and "show resistance." They then implement unreasonable goals making it more difficult for employees to feel happy with what they are doing. The end result is losing good employees to a competitor company.

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7. Look for compromise. Instead of trying to win the argument, look for solutions that meet everybody's needs. This focus is much more effective than one person getting what he or she wants at the other's expense. Healthy and effective communication involves finding a resolution that all parties can be happy with. This is especially true in the workplace. (Source: http://www.nwitimes.com/business/jobs-and-employment/effective-communication-in-the-workplace-is-key-to-company-success/article_819dd545-eba9-551e-87d0-93504efdc7bc.html)

8. Employees value leaders who are human and who don't hide behind their authority. The best leaders are those who aren't afraid to be themselves. Managers who respect and connect with others on a human level inspire great loyalty. (Souce: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/top-10-qualities-of-an-excellent-manager.php)

I will be back at work again tonight, hoping to get by the nine dreadful hours. I will pray before I start to work that I may keep my sanity and complete my daily tasks. I have crawled back in my shell once more, shutting out all negative and power freaks. Tonight, it will just be me, my monitor, my keyboard and my earphones. Just me, myself and I.

Credits:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/changemanagement/a/change_lessons3.htm
http://study.com/academy/lesson/workplace-communication-importance-strategies-examples.html
http://www.cpiworld.com/knowledge-center/blog/the-importance-of-open-communication-in-the-workplace
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/jobs-and-employment/effective-communication-in-the-workplace-is-key-to-company-success/article_819dd545-eba9-551e-87d0-93504efdc7bc.html

Lose Weight and Have a Happy Colon

Most women around the world have always wanted to shed a few pounds here and there, and to have a more toned and healthy body. A majority of women gained weight by going through pregnancy, stress eating and a sedentary lifestyle (working a desk job full time). Modern women live a hectic lifestyle, with a few hours to relax or do exercise. There are a lot of factors that would cause weight gain and despite efforts to cut down on caloric intake, women get easily frustrated when results do not come. I would be frustrated too, if I am tired and hungry and do not shed one single pound.

Many of us may have noticed a new product that helps women (and men) to lose weight the healthy way. It is a supplement derived from a tropical plant. I am pretty much sure you have heard or read about this product somewhere. It is called Garcinia Cambogia.

Garcinia Cambogia XT is a supplement extracted from the Garcinia cambogia plant found in Southeast Asia. The rind of the fruit is used to extract an active ingredient known as Hydroxycitric Acid or HCA. This blocks the enzyme citric lyase which the body uses to create fat. HCA also increases the level of serotonin in the body, therefore suppressing hunger. Aside from weight loss, the other benefits of Garcinia cambogia are that it boosts energy, promotes digestive and cardivascular health, and it gets rid of free radicals through its antioxidant effect.  

For the best results and keep us on the path back to health, we can combine one more supplement with Garcinia cambogia. It is called Natural Colon Cleanse Plus. This helps us eliminate of the unhealthy residue left in our colon, the "digestive sludge" as others may call it. Natural Colon Cleanse Plus contains natural ingredients that gently cleans our digestive tract of toxins leaving us clean inside. With a clean and healthy colon, we are able to better absorb the nutrients our body needs.

The supplement of Garcinia Cambogia XT and Natural Colon  Cleanse Plus are all we need to have a healthy weight loss and gentle colon cleanse. As it has always been said, "Prevention is better than cure." However, with the increasing awareness of health supplements, I would say, "Supplement to avoid confinement."

Have a happy colon!

An Easter Awakening

I took our little shih tzu out for a walk early today. It was a nice Easter morning, a little cloudy but with a nice breeze. 

As we were rounding up a corner, a boy, about nine or ten years old approached us. He was obviously a street child. He had over-sized dirty clothes and mismatched pair of slippers. He was skinny but had the most sincere smile for a child who had so little in life.

This boy asked me, "Does your dog bite?" 

I said, "No. He is well behaved." 

Then the boy asked, "Can I pet him? What kind of dog is he? What is his name?"

"He is a shih tzu. His name is Bite."

"He must be expensive. Did you spend a lot of money to get him?"

"No, I did not. He was given to us as a gift."

Then the boy bent down and petted Bite. He spoke to the dog with these heartbreaking words:

"You are so lucky, Bite. You have a home, you are well fed, you have people who take care of you. I have none. I have nothing. I am just a street child." 

And then he stands up and walks away.

It was the most heart wrenching words from the mouth of a child. I was fighting the urge to cry. How did I find it in me to want more than what I have when there are others who barely get by from day to day?

Today was the best Easter awakening I had. I thank you, Almighty God for speaking to me through that child. I will live each day as a better Christian. I will love more, be more and do more. Thank you for Your Providence. Thank You for saving me from my sins. Thank You for this renewed fervor.

Thank You.

Maybe you worship from home or are looking for a new church, you can check out things like Living church of God reviews to see which are best suited to you. But either way, we can all connect with Almighty God if we just open our eyes and look around. 

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MMORPG Yourself With #ChronoWars

Have you ever observed your child play an online game? It just amazes me how focused they can be on winning. As a parent, I make sure that the games they play does not involve them spending money or placing bets. Lately, I asked my son what was so interesting about online games. He said it is like role-playing and that he uses strategy to defeat another player and take over his "kingdom." So I asked, "But isn't it all about fighting? I don't want you to think that winning is about fighting. I don't want you to have to deal with violence day in and day out." My son says the games are not at all that way. It is about teamwork, strategy and being responsible for your belongings (actually, he means "minding your wealth and properties").

So, as a concerned (or should I say, nosey) mom, I tried out this new game called ChronoWars: Light of Darkness on Facebook. Why did I choose this game? Well, first of all, its free and it is on Facebook. The only requirement was to download a 3D plug in which was pretty fast. What have I learned on my first day of playing? A new acronym - MMORPG, which stands for Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game. I have to admit, it was an interesting game.

The game helped me put strategic planning into practice, which is what we really need to do in real life. It gave me a chance to get into my player character (I chose to be a knight) and it was fun! I wish I was a sexy as my character, though. This game is not just about fighting and being greedy, it also has some bit of history in the game. The "quest" or tasks of a player will enable you to get into six historical eras, and that includes Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Joan of Arc.  

I told my son about this game and he liked it. He said he will tell his friends about it so they can play together. I would suggest you try this game out. It is highly interactive and the 3D graphics are just awesome! 

My husband likes the game too. He said, "Now I have something to do instead of worrying my wits out while you work the night shift. Two thumbs up to the creator of #ChronoWars!"

My Mid-life Motherhood Crisis

It has been so long since I wrote about matters of the heart. Lately, my mind has been so full of things I think that I have been thrown into the depression pit. I want to jump, scream, pull my hair out and run like crazy. It is a very stressful time for me. Writing is my therapy and this is exactly what I will do. Releasing all these pent up emotions will probably do me some good. I hope.

My son quit school. After six years in college and two different majors, he opted out and found himself a job. He took the initiative to take a break from school, earn and save some money and then go back and finish his college course. It guess it is good, in a way, because he did not end up a bum. However, I feel that I have failed. I fear that once he enjoyed earning his own keep, he won't go back to college anymore. What future does he have without a college degree? In my country, a college degree IS everything. It is a ticket to a better future, more opportunities, more chances to succeed. It is a guarantee that my grandchildren will have a good life. He now works in a call center. Of all places. I did not dream of any of my children working the same job as me. I do not want to see them get sick, put up with poor dietary choices, and miss out on sleep. That is not what I want them to be.

Is my son happy? I guess he is. He is now calmer, more responsible and has been receiving awards and incentives left and right. He's been employed for two months and he seems to be enjoying it. Why can't I be happy for him? Why can't I be thankful that he is gainfully employed while there are others who patiently go out everyday seeking employment only to come home unsuccessful? Why am I so sad over his decision? He is 23 years old. After all, he has all the right to choose what he wants to do in life. But why does my heart bleed every night he leaves the house to go to work?

I refuse to accept that the reason I may be feeling this way is because of all the time and money that was wasted. Was it really wasted? My son had a scholarship he earned through engaging in athletics. I was not paying much tuition. Was it the allowance I gave him that I feel was wasted for nothing? Years ago, he pleaded to stay in a dorm. The university he attends is not that far, maybe a half hour commute if he takes the train. He said he needed time to rest after his classes and team practice, and that the long commute would take up time that he could spend studying instead. So I gave in. Result? He incurred failures in his academic subjects, causing him to shift to a different major. Was I too lenient? Did I give in to something that did not serve him well?

And so I think he learned his lesson. He still stayed in a dorm, however, this time, he was sharing it with a group of friends who "supported" each other. The next three years was okay. Suddenly, another major roadblock. My son told me I had to go meet up with the Dean. "Why?" I asked. "You have to sign some papers," is all he said. To my surprise, I found out that the papers I had to sign was an agreement for "conditional enrolment." My boy had incurred failures, and that meant disqualification from receiving his scholarship grant for the semester. I was so heartbroken. Not because I was going to pay out of pocket for the coming semester, but because I felt betrayed.

Eventually, my son decided to drop out of school. The university that he loved and served so much could not do anything to keep him in. The only option for him would be to transfer to a different major (again). That was what he did not like, so he chose the fastest way out.

Should I have been angry? Was I a failure? Am I to blame? All I want is to see all of my children finish school. Is that too much to ask? Or am I just expecting too much? I love all my children and I do not want to hurt their feelings even if I am now so sad and hurt over all of these things.  

I am hoping and praying that in God's time, all of these will pass. I surrender everything to Him who is the God of all creations. It is only Him who knows what the future will bring. I pray that I be a better shepherd to my children. I pray that all of them will have a better life than what I have. I will continue to strive until there is strength left in me. My mission in life has not yet been accomplished, I am not even halfway done.

My heart is bleeding, my body is so tired, and my soul cries out to God to guide me to be the best mother and raise my children the way He wants them to be.