Going for a Younger Look

Excerpts from a very interesting article by Liz Brody, "5 Simple Tricks to Looking Younger":

(1) Skin
Try creams and lotions. Cleanse gently, moisturize daily, swear by SPF 30, and think about an anti-aging cream. Vitamins C and A seem to stand out. In drugstore creams, look for L-ascorbic acid and retinol. At the prescription level, retinoids (like Retin A) have the most science behind them.

(2) Makeup
Try "let there be light" instead of make-up and hide. To hide the bags, dab a light-reflecting cover-up, and don't use powder unless it's loose and finely milled. "If you've never curled your lashes, now is the time to start," says Hollywood makeup artist Kerry Herta . "The compact has to go. Replace it with a liquid foundation." Try a tinted moisturizer. The whole idea is to keep a luminosity to the skin rather than to mattify it. The look of youth is radiance. Brash lipstick can backfire; you'll look younger with soft colors and a little gloss on top".

(3) Hair
Try a touch of shine instead of dyeing darker. Also the cut and a few well-placed highlights can counter facial sagging according to Terrence Michael Renk, a stylist at J Beverly Hills who works in TV and film.

(4) Clothes
It's all about the right pieces."You'll look chic and younger", she says Charla Krupp, author of How Not to Look Old , "in white pants and high heels, or a simple dress". And then"a lot of bangles, a big thick watch, tons of teeny elasticized bracelets." Eyewear can make a big difference, too. Shake up the pedicure. "Put lavender on your toes. Blue, black...grey is really in."

(5) The Body
"You need to continue to train the brain circuits responsible for movement," says Michael Gonzalez-Wallace, creator of the Super Body, Super Brain program. That means, instead of just walking or jogging, which you do automatically, you should periodically throw in a balance or coordination challenge: Walk backward, play basketball, take a ballet class, stand on one foot with your eyes closed. "Try one new activity a week, You just need a few minutes."

Stephanie Dolgoff, author of My Formerly Hot Life says, "Dying your hair or filling in a frown line can definitely give you a little boost. But don't expect looking younger to make you happy.

A smile is an instant face lift.


Source: Liz Brody's blog post

A Good Day to be Happy

Today is another "D Day" for us as a family. . .

That means, it's chemo therapy session day for us. That is how it works. It is really us, as a team undergoing the session, but of course "Wonder Mamu" as the lead. Got to face this with a bit of excitement and thanksgiving as well.

So at 6 am in the morning, little "ate" sister (our youngest sister) called up Mamu to give her happy thoughts as "pabaon" (like a take out or something). Mamu was able to talk to her grandchildren (Julia, Jareth and Zachy) in the US.

Then came the call from my only brother living in New Zealand who also gave a present to Mamu by having his son JP talk to Mamu before she heads to the hospital. This not only made Mamu happy but busy because she had to rush dressing up for we have to go. We had about four big bags to carry. We were like going to a summer outing. We even forgot our pillow. With all the hustle and bustle, her thoughts were off the chemo therapy. Great!

Our relatives both here and abroad have also showed their own personal ways of caring and support. Mamu's community members (of the Lourdes parish church) have also done their prayers and vespers, all for Mamu's health. Thanks to all of them, not to forget our very own friends too.

We started our day early. That way, we don't have to mingle with the traffic, both vehicles and people. A reward is having to choose "our place". I am referring to our "suki" cubicle, the one we always choose.

We went straight to the BCI unit (BCI stands for Bienavides Cancer Institute), with big sister saying good morning to the secretary, the security guard and the nurses, "parang kakandidato" (like a candidate for a government position). That's how she is.

The hospital has new, up-to-date and clean facilities and equipment. Here is the nurses' station in the middle of the room. At the sides are the cubicles, now with pink curtains and golden yellow bed sheets. The last time we visited, they had light yellow curtains and bed sheets.

We were contemplating on trying out the cubicle near the large glass windows so we can look at the big green trees and the vast blue sky, however, the sunlight might smile on us too much, heheh, so we ended up on our usual "fave" spot where it's super cool, besides cubicle 7.

An elderly couple was occupying Cubicle No. 7. The husband was the patient who completed his 6 sessions, however, his doctor recommended a 7th. The wife went to this 7th session with a worried face (most probably a worried mind and heart as well, not to exclude a worried financial situation, since this was what she mentioned to Mamu). She quickly received comforting words from my eldest sister for that's all my sister's powers can do for the woman at the moment.

Mamu, the wonder woman that she is, takes her position on the bed with conviction, taking off her pair of golden "Crocs shoes" . . .

The nurse, in blue not in white, diligently prepared the medicines and the gadgets. Would you believe they were so busy because all the cubicles were occupied. The other room for children patients was also accommodating grown-ups for the day.

My sister and I try to cheer up Mamu as best we can. Mamu was sharing her feelings about the contents of the cards her grandsons Justin and Jeric gave her and some funny stories about Angelica, her granddaughter, who was in school, on a Saturday, for her review. Grandchildren are a blessing (most of the time, viewing it positively). We had a lot of chit-chats and laughs before the session plus some eats.

Mamu had a couple of McDonald's hash brown before the session, some delicious sweet crunchy native "turon" (fried sweet banana) during the session and "lumpiang sariwa" with mouth-watering halo-halo after.

We had her listen to nice music to make her relax. She was asleep the whole time, but I guess it's more of the Benadryl (a medicine that makes one sleepy) more than the music, heheh. Of course not, the pop music helped.

According to Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner, we have an experiencing self and a memory self.

From what I get, we define happiness based on our memory of the experience rather than the experience itself. This is something new to me and I find it really interesting.

This is the reason why we make an effort to build a positive experience today for Mamu than any other day.

Keep on believing! Chow!

Give Thanks to a Big God

Late last night, before I went to bed, I felt really really tired, emotionally and mentally, more than physically. I was at the hospital with my sister and my mother from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. It was mom's first session of a series of scheduled chemo therapy, that is for this year 2010. Way back in 2007, we were in the same hospital, the same chemo unit and the same bed, doing the same familiar procedures.

I was ready to sleep, with my eyes closed, lying flat on my back, silent, not moving a twitch, just thinking . . . thinking.

Thank you Mamu is undergoing chemo therapy . . .
Thank you for the these medical technologies . . .
Thank you for these latest medicines that give healing . . .
Thank you for able doctors and nurses and hospital staff . . .
Thank you for this hospital that offers these medical treatments in our country . . .
Thank you the capability to avail of these services in various ways possible . . .
Thank you for government benefits that help in a way . . .
Thank you for family and friends that show their support in their own personal way . . .
Thank you for Mamu's fellow community members that pray for her and visit her . . .
Thank you for Mamu's strength physically, emotionally and mentally to undergo treatment . . .
Thank you for the cheaper and faster methods of communication . . .

Thank you for a big God that handles our big problems . . .


Then, I fell asleep like a baby.

Miracles

Inspiring words from Bo Sanchez, motivational speaker, spiritual leader . . .

I’ve noticed something: The older I get, the more I believe in miracles. In fact, I believe I’m surrounded by an ocean of miracles.

Everyday, I see God-Coincidences. Divine Appointments. Supernatural Connections. Mysterious Surprises. Spontaneous Healings.

More and more, I believe in the unexplainable, beautiful, mystical work of God in our lives. That no matter how impossible the situation, I believe that God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

Yes, I believe in magic. I live in a magical universe! I believe that in every moment, God is performing miracles. In every moment, He is blessing you, healing you, touching you, and guiding you.

The past year, I saw a certain movement in my spirit. It was a gentle call from God to a deeper kind of trust. I saw myself walking to a new stage in my spiritual life. Today, I’m a mystic. Again. I’m back believing in miracles. Obviously, I never lost faith in miracles. But in a more profound way, I’m realizing that everything that I do is dependent on miracles.

How did this happen? I really have no choice: It’s the only way to keep my sanity.

As overall leader of Light of Jesus and our other ministries, I’m faced with gigantic problems every single day.

I do all I can. With the best of my abilities. But the problems are still there. So I reach this point where only God can solve the problems. I have only two options: To be stressed or to be blessed. Stress and trust cannot co-exist.If I’m stressed, then it means I don’t trust. If I trust, then I won’t be stressed. So I decide to trust.

And I like a child, I tell Him, “I’ve reached a point of incompetence. Lord, this is your problem. Give me a miracle.”

And He gives me a miracle! He actually comes in and performs a beautiful miracle right before my eyes.

Why I’m Relaxed

My wife says I’m always cool. No matter what happens. Let me tell you why. I believe that I live in a friendly universe. I live in a gracious galaxy. I live in a universe that is conspiring to bless me.

Every atom of God’s creation is strategizing how to prosper me, solve my problems, open new doors of opportunity, give me divine connections, supernatural appointments, send miracles on my path, heal me, make me stronger, increase my peace, increase my money, tighten my relationships with my family, give me more wisdom….

And problems? I believe that when a problem comes, it brings within it a beautiful solution. When a trial comes, it brings within it a treasure waiting to be unearthed. I just need to be open to it—and the miracle will come.

We live in a magical universe. I’m surrounded by an ocean of miracles.

But I’ve now learned that sometimes, God allows small problems to protect us from bigger problems. He allows us to lose a small amount, so that in the future, we won’t lose a bigger amount.

Even In Your Biggest Problems,

God Is Performing Miracles

Here’s what I learned in life: God’s size is flexible. Some worship a big God. Some worship a small God. It depends on your faith. Do you want to know the size of your God? Look at the size of your fears. If your fears are big, then it means your God is small. But if your fears are small, then it means your God is big.

Today, my fears are getting smaller and smaller, because my God is getting bigger and bigger.

Even In Your Biggest Problems,

God Is Performing Miracles

“This storm will end. Your miracle will come. What you wish for will be granted.”

You’re Surrounded By An Ocean Of Miracles

Perhaps right now, you too have experienced a loss. Perhaps you’re going through a heavy trial right now. And it seems like it’s an impossible situation. But in God’s vocabulary, there’s no such word as impossible. In God’s dictionary, the word “impossible” isn’t found. I have a simple message for you: Trust Him.

God will make a way where there seems to be no way. You’re surrounded by an ocean of miracles.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

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