Focus-Click-Share: From The Collection of a Photog Wannabe

I am great fan of photography. If I had my way, I would have majored in Media Arts/Journalism or Fine Arts-Photography. But of course, my father wanted me to follow his footsteps and enrolled me in Zoology for my preparatory course to the College of Medicine. 

I did not become a doctor, I dropped out in my junior year of Medical school. So now, I am a mother of three young adults, working to make a living in a call center and still loving the chance to take pictures of everything and anything. I use a cellphone, or a digicam, or a DSLR camera. Whatever is handy when something interests me. 

Here are some of the pictures I have taken over the past years. I guess you'd notice I love snapping photos of clouds, the skyline, the sunrise and sunset. Pardon the crudeness of the photos. I am saving up for a better camera. That will be my gift for myself at Christmas.

The Cloud Collection

 

 

A New Day Dawning

 

Clear Skies At Noon

 

The Beautiful Hues of Dusk

 

 

Hope you enjoyed viewing my pictures! :)

Short Hair Today, Long Hair Tomorrow!

Human hair grows at the rate of 1.5 centimeters a month or roughly only six inches per year. Sometimes we dream of having gloriously shiny long locks, however, the stress of waiting for our own hair to grow can be frustrating. There are times we can end up having split ends or we just have a bad hair day - everyday. Trips to a hair salon can be quite expensive and most of us give up on the dream to have long hair.

Thankfully, there is a solution. We can now buy natural human hair extensions! These have been around for a long time, however we should opt for the highest quality natural human hair. At DHgate.com, we can avail of 100% virgin human hair extensions. There are numerous styles, colors and lengths that we can choose from that would definitely blend in and move naturally as is if was our own hair. 

No more waiting for a year to grow six inches of hair! Whether you are a woman who wants to look your best everyday, or a salon owner/businesswoman who would want to introduce high quality hair extensions to your customers, head on over to DHgate.com. Enjoy the discounted prices and avail of free shipping on some of the items.

Loved what you read? Tweet and share #DHgateHEBI with your friends and family!

Recyclable Recipe #2 - Fried Fish and Fish Spring Rolls

Hello budget-friendly moms and dads! Today, I am giving you another recyclable recipe. 

Are you looking for an innovative recipe to recycle left over fried fish? I have been making Fish Spring Rolls ("Lumpia") out of our left over fried fish. It is very easy to make. The staple recipe is that of Lumpiang Shanghai or Pork and Beef Spring Rolls. I only substitute the meat with flaked left over fried fish. Another ingredient I add is one egg and half a cup of bread crumbs to make the mixture moist.

Here is an easy to follow recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo (1.1 pounds) de-boned and flaked fish

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 medium carrot, grated

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt (the left over fried fish has enough salt in it)

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 egg (beaten)
a few sprigs of cilantro, finely chopped (optional)

1/2 cup bread crumbs (or 1/4 cup all purpose flour)

1 1/2 scallions finely chopped

Spring roll wrappers (Rice paper)

Oil for frying

Procedure: 

1. Mix first 11 ingredients together. Set aside for half an hour to ensure the flavors have blended together. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a wok, or deep fryer. 

2. While waiting for the oil to heat up, prepare the fish spring rolls. Lay the spring roll wrapper on a flat surface.

3. Scoop two tablespoons of the mixture and spread it on the wrapper, making a long low mound across the diameter of the wrapper.

4. Fold the ends of the wrapper and roll. 

5. With a sharp knife, cut the roll into two or three pieces.

6. Deep fry the rolls in hot oil until golden brown.

7. Drain on paper towels.

Optional: 

Dipping sauce of your choice may be served together with the fish spring rolls. My family loves this with honey-mayo-mustard dip. Fish spring rolls also tastes great with good old tomato ketchup, sweet chili sauce, garlic-mayo, sweet and sour sauce, blue cheese dip or ranch dip. Your choice! 

Happy cooking!

IntelliGLASS: The Real Glass Screen Protector You'll Absolutely Love!

You've been saving up a lot to get a good smartphone that would meet your digital needs. Finally, you have enough to buy yourself the device of your dreams. I cannot describe the happiness I experienced when I held my new iPhone 6 in my hands. It was exhilarating!

My very next step was to search for a good screen protector. With so many choices to go through online and in-store, I waited for a few days to clear my mind. I then came across an innovative product which made me decide - this is it!

A real glass protector was just the product I needed for my phone. Made from hardened glass, IntelliGLASS screen protector protects my device from spills, hits and dings. It is specially crafted to resist scratches. Its oleophobic outer coating guarantees to repel oil and grease, therefore there are no smudges or fingerprints left on my screen. For a busy wife, career woman and homemaker like me, that is absolutely problem solved! And because it is made of real glass, it offers the best clarity and touchscreen sensitivity.

One more thing that made me so happy to have this intelliGLASS hardened glass screen protector is its easy, bubble-free installation. Would you want to have one too? Here's the good news. One of you may just be the lucky recipient of an intelliGLASS screen protector! Simply join by entering your email address below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Diabetic Dilemma: When Diet and Medications Don't Seem To Work

It has been an uphill battle for me and the enemy seems to be winning. I should not allow that to happen. I am still in control. I will win.

I am, of course, talking about my battle with Diabetes. Its seems despite all the dieting I am doing, my sugar levels do not go down to normal levels. My endocrinologist says my body has coped with the constant elevated level of glucose in my blood. It is the risk of damage to my liver and kidneys that my doctor is worried about.

Two days ago, I had my quarterly lab tests to check the effectiveness of my current medication. It was in late January when I was started on insulin. I am now on 18 units per shot, once a day. In addition to that, I am to take 1000 mg of Metformin after breakfast and another 1000 mg after dinner. I had high hopes that after three months, I could probably be taken off the undesirable task of poking myself with a needle.

Didn't work out that way though. After seven (7) insulin pens (Lantus Solostar), my blood sugar is still at 9. For non-diabetics, the normal blood sugar levels range between 4.27-6.07. Now, you see why I am so frustrated with my blood results.

I have decided that if I cannot see results quick, then I will crawl my way back to health. I always find it difficult to alter my diet drastically, so I am going to make small changes and then move my way up. My first step is to have little to no rice at all. I will replace rice with complex carbohydrates which fill me up longer. I bought sweet potatoes which I boiled in a pot. That will be my dinner today, together with some pork and carrots. 

I have read that apple cider vinegar is really good for diabetics. One to two tablespoons mixed in an eight ounce glass of water taken before meals may block the absorption of starch in a meal, therefore preventing the "sugar spike." Another thing I am going to try is the supplement Chromium picolinate. Chromium helps enhance the body's reaction to insulin, thereby facilitating the effective transport of glucose into the cells which is then converted into energy. It was also observed to help in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

I know that I will have to put a lot of effort and discipline to make this work. However, I have to do this. Not only for me, but for my husband and children whom I love so dearly. I wish to live long enough to enjoy my future grandchildren.

Today starts my journey to get to a 7.0 HbA1c reading. Let's see in three months time. Keeping my faith in the Great Healer. With His help, I can do this!

Brainstorming For A Mother's Day Gift

It will be Mother's day in two weeks time and I haven't even given myself some time to look for something to give my mom. What would make a 76 year old fitness advocate happy? Oh yes, you read it right. My mother is 76 and every morning at 8:00, she and her fellow senior citizens sweat their way to health in their aerobics class. On Thursday mornings, she attends a Zumba class, and on Saturday afternoons, my mom goes to ballroom dancing classes. She's a busy old gal.
If my mom is not in her fitness and dance classes, she keeps herself busy by whipping up delicious dishes. She's such a great cook. My children would always drop by her house in the after school because they know grandma always has something yummy for them.
Relaxation time for my mom is laying on the couch watching her favorite soaps. Sometimes she browses through old magazines looking for recipes or worthwhile articles. Another relaxation activity for my mom is tending her orchid collection. She does have a green thumb and her orchids are just so pretty!
Most, if not all of my mom's friends know that she simply loves anything in red color - a red purse, a red scarf or shirt, a dress with red tones, etc. When me and my siblings were little kids, we knew that a red rose plucked out of a garden somewhere would really bring a smile to her face.
This year, on Mother's day, I will keep all of these "favorites" in mind and would have to choose which among these gifts would be perfect for that one special wonder woman in my life - Mommy.

An Exercise Buddy

This would be a perfect exercise buddy. My mom has diabetes, like me, and it is essential that she stays hydrated. The water bottle can hold 300 ml. I like the idea of a little zippered pouch where she can keep her keys and emergency medicines. A plus factor - it comes in her favorite color! This product, the Nathan - Quickshot Plus Handheld Gel/Water Bottle Sparkling Cosmo is an ideal gift for an active mom like mine!

A Customizable Recipe Cook Book Binder

Whenever my mom comes across a nice recipe in a magazine, she cuts it and keeps it inside a brown paper envelope. I thought giving her a clear plastic sheet binder will help to keep her cut-out recipe collection in order. The sleeves hold standard size 8.5 x 11 paper. The 1 inch EZ turn rings can hold up to 175 pages! But that is not all that made me interested in this. The Zazzle - Pink and Black Damask Recipe Cook Book Binder offers customizable designs too. I can choose my own background design, color and title. Amazing. This is something I will seriously consider getting for my mom.

A Good Pair of Shoes

Being diabetic means extra attention must be given to the extremities, especially the feet. I am considering getting my mom a good pair of shoes she can use for her exercise classes or for walking around the mall or grocery store. The Saucony - PowerGrid Guide 7 Running Shoe - Women's would be a great buy. I love the open mesh shoe body for proper aeration. The soles provide cushioning from heel to toe with mid-foot support. I wish my children would get one for me too!

Flowers

I mentioned earlier that my mom loves orchids. So, if I would decide to give her flowers on Mother's day, it would not be a bouquet. I would instead get her an orchid plant with flowers in full bloom. I especially like the FTD - Glowing Strong Orchid Plant because of its classic beauty. The white ceramic pot will look great on her coffee table. The size is perfect. It would make it easy for my mom to take the plant out for some sunshine. If I choose this gift, I know my mom will not only have flowers for a day, but she will have them all year round. With her green thumb, I am sure this plant will be well taken care of.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

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.

Photolink

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.