So I have promised to rekindle my passion for reading. Before my addiction to the net came, I was such an avid reader – reading all the time, while eating, doing number two, in bed, in front of TV – I was such a bookwork. And I would read ANYTHING I can get my hands on, even those paparazzi magazine of Hollywood celebrities.

When I became a mother, acquiring the latest books out in stores got pushed back in the burner as I need to prioritize my kids’ needs. However, thanks to technology, I can now read books as much and as often as I like at a fraction of a cost – through e-books!

I have been secretly itching (and madly curious) about the Kindle but as friends have told me, you can get a similar Kindle app on the iPhone or iTouch. So, if I can avail of a payday loan, which one should I get?

It seems that the FDA (again) is on the hot seat. With the mounting cases against that diet pill, Yaz, lawsuits have been popping up in alarming levels. As of writing, I think there are now more than 50 different lawsuits against the manufacturing company that is unrelated to its manufacturing process.

Yaz is an oral contraceptive pill manufactured by Bayer and is nearly identical to the Yasmin birth control pill. It has been aggressively marketed without adequate warnings about serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.

Yaz Problems have been reported to be serious and life-threatening:

• Heart Attack or Stroke
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)>
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Gallbladder Disease
• Sudden Death on Yaz

There is a key ingredient in Yaz which makes it dangerous for some people. Drospirenone can increase blood potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, which can result in the Yaz heart problems and other side effects. You are entitled to compensation if you have suffered from its side effects but the damage has been done. I just hope that the FDA comes up with stricter regulations regarding list prescription drugs. Quality assurance and standards should never be compromised. We are talking about human lives here.

FDA has received 50 reported deaths due to Yaz already. Wake up people!

So I watched the Lake House movie again (a Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock movie) and while I love the story and the movie itself, I cannot help but notice what a ratty mailbox a very modern and lovely house has:

One would think that they would have thought to use ecco mailboxes on the set. I can understand if for example one of them belongs to a different age (70’s perhaps) but both of them live in the 90’s!

Personally, I think an ecco wall mount mailbox would have done the trick, but I do understand that the house stands in the middle of the lake! In that case a free-standing ecco mailbox would be better.

I prefer the e4-e8 styles of ecco mailboxes. May I suggest stuff that would have worked with the movie?

Here is an ecco e4 mailbox :

An ecco e6 mailbox is similar to Victorian mailboxes, very regal:

An ecco e7 mailbox is somehow modern:

While an ecco e8 mailbox looks like it came straight out of a movie!

I have been silently reciting this old-age wisdom to myself whenever my hands get itchy and I feel the urge to shop (which is almost every other day). I have always confessed that I am not really good with handling money, that’s why no matter how big I earn, little or none goes to saving.

I have committed to change that this year and so far, I have been succeeding. Since we are still trying to invest on things for the house and I will have two kids going to school, saving is not supposed to be stressing me out. I just transfer 10% of whatever comes in to my bank account to another one that is labelled “untouchable” and I was surprised how much it could be after only a month. It’s true – little dimes add up to hundreds in no time.

However, I know saving will not be enough. We need to invest if we want our money to grow rapidly. I think it is the right time to buy gold bullion, as the demand for it has peaked and it is the only known value that has never depreciated in the economic slump of the past years.

Twitter has defined a new whole concept in blogging, or telling the world what you are doing, in 140 characters or less. I have been on Twitter since 2007, long before it became mainstream and I am somehow frustrated nowadays when it conks out due to over activity.

I would like to collect my life’s microblogging snippets one day. I have a lot of little quotes from my kids there and since I am on different laptops everyday, it is my way to stay sane, despite the craziness of my everyday.

Part of my resolution this year is to read more and so far aside from the tile flooring I need to decide on, yesterday was spent asking for book recommendations in the forum I frequent in.

So far I have these:

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
The Book Thief by Marc Zusak
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Tenth Circle, The Pact, Plain Truth, and Handle with Care  by Jodi Piccoult
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Emma and Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Room With A View and Howards End – E.M. Forster
The Age of Innocence – Edith Wharton
P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
What the Dog Saw And Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Now, what would YOU recommend?

1. How long have you been blogging?
Almost seven years (in May)

2. What made you start?
I was new at work with T3 internet access and I was bored.

3. Who inspired you?
An officemate.

4. About how many hours a week would you estimate you spend on your blog?
About 5 hours a day during weekdays, 3 hours on weekends. That’s spent surfing, coming up with topics, and writing. If I had a Bluetooth headset it would be easier and faster for me to update when out of the house.

5. What kind of experience or background do you have with writing?
Aside from just loving writing and keeping diaries since I was 8, none.

6. Talk about how you come up with blog topics. Where do you get your ideas?
I need to read a lot – a full brain is a treasure for blog topics.

7. What or who inspires you and your blog?
I just blog to share stuff.

8. Where and/or how do your brainstorming for your blog?
Surfing other blogs, spotting trends.

9. Do you have any blogging rules or guidelines you follow?
Do not write stuff that you don’t want your kids to read when they are 20. Once on the net, it will always be there FOREVER.

10. Is there anything you will not blog about?
Personal problems.

11. Do you have any sort of a publishing schedule in terms of day of week or topic?
Yes, I am organized that way.

Saturday 9: Everybody is a Star

1. Did you ever think that you’d be a star? If yes, doing what?
All the time – my greatest frustration (and dream) is to be a really great, world-class singer.

2. Tell us about the last time you had a romantic dinner.
Hmmmm, 12 years ago?

3. Tell us about your worst job interview.
It was for a marketing position at a pharmaceutical company. They grilled me about my being a single mother to my then-son and told me I might not be able to hold up to the position.

4. Tell us about your stupidest date.
No dates aside from the husband and somebody. A friend though had this nightmare date with someone who would not stop sharing his rheumatoid arthritis stories!

5. How much in common do you think you should have with a romantic partner?
Just common respect.

6. Tell us about a favorite meme that you loved but no longer posts.
I forgot already but it was a meme during Fridays.

7. How did you get into blogging?
A friend talked me into it, I was healing a broken heart and keeping a journal was the way to go.

8. Do you share all your fantasies with a significant other?
Not all of them.

9. What change in your life would you like to happen this year?
Secret

Here is a little trivia for you: We currently have no address. We are sharing our current address (house number) with our landlady. And this is not a duplex or an apartment, it’s a house! I really do not know how come this house didn’t get to be assigned a decent house number but it is what it is. It’s a good thing our landlady is an elderly woman who rarely receives mail or packages. It would be quite a mix-up if all correspondence were delivered to her house. 

We are currently expecting a courier box bearing all the goodies I shopped for during Black Friday way back in November and I am anxious if the freight service will pick our house up. See, this should have not been a cause of anxiety if we had address plaques. I will be getting a lawn marker when we finally have our own house so anybody who will be looking for our house will not miss it.

This is what I am talking about:

 
I love how the lighted address plaques from Outdora too. Buyers have placed great feedback that the plaques are very visible during night time – since we live in the suburbs this will be a great idea so I won’t have delayed food (and pizza) deliveries. If a house is national or cultural treasure, one can get commemorative plaque for it like this one:

Remember that having an address plaque not only serves as a decoration for your lawn or door but as a helpful tool for people to find your house easily. Imagine if there would be an emergency and an ambulance needs to find your house in the shortest possible time – having a visible marker for your house will not only help, but could matter of fact save lives.  Do not worry about it ruining the style of your house or lawn. Address plaque makers these days have varied designs made of quality materials for every home imaginable. Just make sure that what you get will stand the test of time. Address plaques need to survive extreme weather conditions and would be subject to continuous wear and tear. Order from a reliable company like Outdora.com.

You thought it can only happen in movies. Apparently, it can also happen in real life. A friend of ours had her home almost burglarized. It was a good thing they invested in a Home Security System. The got theirs from ADT and with the Home Security System they got, it already has the following:

1. Digital Keypad – you have access to fire, medical and police dispatch with one touch of a button
2. Keychain Remote Access – one can disarm or arm the whole security system at any area of the house
3. PIR Infrared MOTION DETECTORS – these can differentiate pets and humans so false alarms are prevented.
4. UP TO 3 POINTS OF PROTECTION – wireless and window sensors can be moved around the house.
5. Decibel Alarm Siren – it is enough to wake the dead – believe me.
6. Battery Back up – In case the burglars are smart enough to disable your electricity first, have no fear. The ADT Home Security System is smarter than them. Its high-capacity battery backup system will keep your home and family protected!

My friend’s home was left untouched but they were, as expected, traumatized.

I have a long list of woes about the kitchen in our rented house. If I can just renovate it and have the amount deducted from our rent every month, I would have gladly renovated it for the longest time. But we might have to stay here for 10 years with the amount of renovation needed to be done.

For one thing, I would replace our current sink with an undermount kitchen sink. I really do not know why it hasn’t been installed with one in the first place. For one thing, cleaning it would be so easy, especially around the area. When you need to wipe off food debris, you just wipe it off and it gets thrown into the sink, and it still does not get caught on the rim on the sink.  Second (and more important for me) is that with these types of sinks, plumbing is hid behind the cabinetry. I like my kitchen and bathroom clean all the time. It also looks less messy if pipes are hidden, don’t you agree?

I would get stainless undermount kitchen sinks because it is easier to clean, and it is definitely for the long run – it does not stain, dent and scratch easily.

It seems it is easier to work in making our dreams come true.

Thanks to technology and the internet. And I am not kidding on that statement.

I have three friends who currently are studying for their masteral degree programs while staying a career woman, an active mother to schooling kids and still maintaining (and having time for) a gorgeous, fit body. How do they do it? Through the help of online colleges! It has been so much easier to sign up for classes without having to sacrifice time and availability or even try to juggle schedules factoring transportation and traffic costs.

And since the transport factor has been erased, they can now enroll in schools they really like, not just because it is easier to get from work or home or have the class slots they have the time to take.

And just for your information in case you will be interested to study again, here are the top 10 online schools:

1. University of Phoenix
2. Kaplan University
3. Capella University
4. Colorado Technical University Online
5. Everest University Online
6. South University
7. Florida Tech University Online
8. Westwood College
9. American Intercontinental University
10. Ashford University

So now we don’t have reasons not to aim higher, right?

I want to try new things this year and one of them is to be able to make things grow. In short, I want to be able to take care of a plant, let it grow and bloom. As of the moment I am leaning towards planting seeds for vegetables. God knows how much we need more veggies in the house. So I am on the lookout for Planters. I want my little experiment boxed in so I have more control on the soil (and I can move them around). Outdoor Planters and Garden Planters are high on my list.

Will this do?

The reason why I haven’t considered flowering plants is because I am so scared they would just wilt and die. Plus, my flowers in their Indoor Planters run a high risk of getting plucked out by my daughter everyday. Window Box Planters might work but definitely not those High End Planters:
 

Isn’t that picture the most enticing thing? Now if only I can blooms like that as well.

My aunt has a green thumb and she can make anything bloom under her care. She makes such pretty arrangements too. She invests on Decorative Planters  because she gives them away as gifts quite often. Wouldn’t you want to receive lovely blooms in a Decorative Planter?

My sister visited the other day and we watched High School Musical 3, her first time watching. It seems like I was right back at high school with all the Lockers I saw! Unfortunately, my  Locker was not as cool like theirs were. School Lockers was the least of the concerns of my school back then.

Back to the movie, we literally swooned and gushed to what was the best scene in the movie, in my humble opinion of course:

I am literally green with envy with Vanessa’s clothes and her man.

There were some scenes in the Gym Lockers where I thought Zack’s body was shown just for the sake of it being shown. I am not complaining though. 

Wood Lockers were not seen in the movie but I can bet that they ordered the lockers they used on the set at MoreLockers.com. I saw a couple from the site that were familiar in some scenes.

Sunday Stealing: The Negativity Meme

Pisses me off at work:
Slow internet connection, delayed auto insurance quotes

Pisses me off in general:
Children fighting

Makes me impatient at home:
Slow internet connection

Makes me impatient at work:
Slow internet connection (Do you see a pattern here?)

Makes me impatient in public:
Long Lines

Celebrity I hate:
John and Kate

Music artist I hate:

Read the rest of this entry »

It seems that it’s going to be another great year for salons and spas. Fashion observers predict a great year for fashion and style, with people wanting to look good and are dying to experiment with change. Hairstyles will vary from season to season, and hair style experts have come up with new looks at different hair lengths for each change! How exciting is that? I love that as a consumer I now have so many options available for me.

Short Hairstyles will surely be the next big thing, with styles ranging from pixie, bob cut, curls and the shag to choose from. The short bob haircut, with thick sideswept bangs, coupled with thick highlights, will still prevail among women. The key to getting a gorgeous cut is finding the right length and style that will contour your face, highlight a feature and downplay other parts you want hidden. Coupled with make up tips that will help you achieve the look that you are aiming for, I am sure you will look fantastic.

I personally belong to the long tresses category and right now I am torn with having to keep it straight (easier options to style it) or having it curled (I am such a wash and wear + go hair person, truthfully, sometimes I even fail to remember to brush my hair) – any suggestions?

I have read so many e-mails about 80’s trends and fads that since we are starting a new decade, someone needs to move one and create a “are you a 90’s kid?” e-mail. So while I looking up an Oklahoma criminal defense attorney for endorsement, I came across an article which aptly describes MY high school life. I can’t help but chuckle.

Read on:

Tretorns
What they were: Low-cut sneakers (then billed as tennis shoes) that came in plain and printed colors, but the coolest pair to own was plain white.
Why we loved them: “Trets” were an alternative to those mass-produced white sneakers with barely-there soles (remember those Spartans?). In schools where they were allowed as P.E. shoes, girls would have their friends write on their Tretorns with permanent markers at the end of the school year.

(I actually had one when I was in 4th year high school already. As a kid, I am behind all the time with trends. I remember I had my first cellphone (a second hand one) when I was 19, a few months after I got pregnant. AND I never had a pager.)

Marks & Spencer Socks
What they were: Patterned white socks that cost five to 10 times more than an ordinary pair of Landmark or SM socks. They were knee-high, but the fashion was to scrunch them low.
Why we loved them: Although the typical Catholic schoolgirl had to comply with uniform requirements and dress codes, she pushed her snotty country club air into her choice of socks. And if you wanted to be a trendsetter to the second power, you’d wear DOUBLE M&S socks.

(I had plenty of these, primarily because there were a lot of knock-offs in SM. Since I have long lengs and slim ankles back then, it looked really good on me too.)

Yarn Ties
What they were: Brightly colored yarn ribbons used as hair accessories. Girls matched them with their brightly colored ’80s get-ups, adding the finishing touch to pigtails or ponytails.
Why we loved them: They were cute—a bit plumper than the kind your grandmother uses for knitting, and probably made popular by Drew Barrymore as Gertie in E.T.

Colored Rubber Bands
What they were: Cheap rubber bands that came in different colors. We bought them per piece or by the dozen at the palengke and sari-sari store, or by the box at Goodwill Bookstore or National Bookstore.
Why we loved them: Meant for office and school use, these rubber bands were improvised into bracelets. That cool, weird girl from school wore colored rubber bands that covered half her forearms—and you wanted them, too! They were the retro version of today’s baller bands—only more useful; during recess we’d link them into a long rope to play Chinese garter or 10-20.

Kung Fu Shoes
What they were: Usually black, low-cut martial arts shoes. Guys wore the ones with elastic bits on the sides, while the girls wore them with the strap across the front. Knockoffs gave girls better options—like those hip Mary-Jane styles—to keep us from looking like Bruce Lee.
Why we loved them: Blame it on the Karate Kid flicks. But they were more than a fad; Kung Fu shoes were comfortable to run in and kick around with, a la Ralph Macchio. Repeat after me: “Wax on, wax off…”

(I think these are making a comeback right?)

Hi Tops
What they were: Hi-cut sneakers or combat boots produced by the reigning brands of the ’90s—Reebok, LA Gear, Converse, and of course, Doc Martens.
Why we loved them: We wanted to break free from the low-cut mold and went for the hi-top rage. Although Reebok was the king, Nike soon joined the craze, followed by those knockoff LA Gear pairs with large “tongues” or (gasp!) blinking red lights. Pa-cool teens would even stick a piece of Lego at the back of their Docs like a key chain. Now you can tell your skater/punk nephews that OUR generation started the Converse and Doc Martens craze! Just don’t mention the shoes with lights or we’ll never hear the end of it.

(Oh my gosh, I remember how every cool kid in town wore DMs in school. Since I have big feet, DMs were out of the question because I would look like McDonalds. I secretly lusted after Chucks though. At almost 29, I have yet to own one).

Friendship Bracelets
What they were: Handmade bracelets made of string, yarn, beads, and other arts & crafts materials. They came in various colors and designs. You bought them from your crafty classmate, a street vendor, or better yet, made one as your labor of love for your best friend.
Why we loved them: Before Gossip Girl unleashed the conniving vixens in all of us, friendship was a term that ’80s kids took seriously. When wearing a friendship bracelet, you had to follow the golden rule: Never take it off (not even in the shower) or you and your best friend will fight. You should let it die a natural death when it falls off on its own or gets tugged accidentally.

(Again, something I never really got to wear, primarily because my wrist was too big and I personally looked so funny with them. I adorned my Jansport back pack with it though – now that was cool. I also made lots of them, because apparently I was good with color combinations ).

Swatch Watches
What they were: Colored plastic watches that came in bright colors and funky designs. The fad expanded to giant Swatch clocks that you’d hang next to your Madonna and Tiffany posters.
Why we loved them: Thanks to the effective endorsement of then “It” girl Mikee Cojuangco, Swatch watches made it to everyone’s must-have list. Everyone had at least two of these colored plastic watches—complete with rubber guards to keep the face from getting scratched. We’ll bet you also had a Swatch Pop with detachable straps so that you could clip the watch onto your shirt. And if you were a die-hard ’80s trendsetter, you’d wear the watch on your ponytail.

(Eternally grateful to my ninang for giving me a Swatch watch, I wore this to death. I had a red face with transparent strap as my first Swatch.)

Drawstring Nylon or Canvas Bags
What they were: Nylon fabric bags with a huge “Esprit” or “Esprit De Corp” printed on them, in lots of different color combinations. If you wanted an alternative to the Esprit drawstring bag, it was the Benetton beach bag.
Why we loved them: Esprit and Benetton were the Topshop and Zara of the ’90s. Everyone’s closet had at least one item from those brands. Teens used the nylon bags to hold their books or P.E. shoes.

(Trivia 999999: I never owned a Benetton. And all my Esprit stuff were hand-me-downs. Yet I was still pretty. Lesson learned: Just conveniently forget that your stuff aint brand new. And once a new girl with a Bennetton arrives, flash your Jansport backpack and appear to love alternative options.)

Drawstring Nylon or Canvas Bags

What they were: Nylon fabric bags with a huge “Esprit” or “Esprit De Corp” printed on them, in lots of different color combinations. If you wanted an alternative to the Esprit drawstring bag, it was the Benetton beach bag.
Why we loved them: Esprit and Benetton were the Topshop and Zara of the ’90s. Everyone’s closet had at least one item from those brands. Teens used the nylon bags to hold their books or P.E. shoes.

Trapper Keepers
What they were: This expensive loose-leaf binder had sliding plastic rings, colorful folders and pockets to keep school files, and a wraparound Velcro closure. The cover designs started off with cartoon and video game characters. Then in the early ’90s, abstract and computer-generated designs drew hundreds of fad-hungry teens to bookstores worldwide. Hollywood eventually caught up, and folders plastered with pictures of celebs, like the original gang from Beverly Hills 90210, also made it into local Trappers.
Why we loved them: Why write on a plain Corona or That’s Entertainment notebook when you could show off a Trapper Keeper? Artsy fartsies would even slit one side of the plastic lamination so that they could insert their favorite Guess and Calvin Klein magazine ads. It’s too bad certain private schools banned the use of Trapper Keepers, saying, “They are objects of materialism and envy.” Amen.

This was one area where I was really really cool. Since I have always been crafty (my brother is as well) and indigenous with supplies, I can afford to change trapper keepers which I made myself every quarter. My friends used to always borrow mine to look at all the doodles I drew, and the pictures of whoever celebrity I fancied at the moment. I went through Brian Austin Green, Eddie Furlong and Dean Cain.

Rock music has evolved so much in the recent years that you have so many types already: metal, hard rock, grunge, pop and the list goes on. One of them is punk rock. It developed between 1974 and 1976 in the US, UK and Australia. Coming from garage rock roots, punk rock bands show the extremes of what is now known as 70s rock.

Punk rock have fast, hard-edged music with short songs usually with political lyrics. As you remember, the 70s is the era of citizens knowing their rights and asking for more freedom. The UK has punk rock with Sex Pistols and the Clarks while in the US, Ramones of New York City. Right now, punk rock has gone mainstream thanks to Green Day and the Offspring.

One of the greatest 80s punk rock band is the Green Police. Coming from Claremore and Verdigris, Oklahoma, the band is composed of Duss Rosencutter on vocals/guitar, Drew "the Screw" Wilson on guitar, Chris Pixley on bass, and Evan Campbell on drums. The Green Police’s influences include The Buzzcocks, X, and 60 style Garage & Surf music. Their music are often fast-paced, with distorted guitars, complex bass riffs and trademark harsh but fun vocals.

I can think of so many people who, for the longest time, have been trying to lose weight. I would like to call them people who are on a perpetual diet. I am one of those people. Can you imagine how many of them are most likely to try out different kinds of diet pills thinking it would help them lose weight faster? People these days no longer have the discipline and perseverance because these pills promise to do the work for them, only to have it rebound and wreak havoc in their metabolism.

Gastric bypass surgery is also very dangerous. It is reserved for the severely obese people so it is not an option for all people. Have you noticed celebrities lose drastic amounts of weight in such a short time? Surely, they are on some kind of weight loss program that does not involve exercise programs as I can imagine they do not have the time. I also hope they are starving themselves. Most of them have discovered a new way to lose weight: the hcg weight loss program.

It is a medically supervised weight loss program that involves no surgery or starving, no outrageous exercise programs, no dangerous pills or expensive packaged meals. It is designed to help reduce fat, not muscle (as what starvation does) and adjust the body’s metabolism in order to stay slim (some diet pills destroy our metabolism, making it slower). It is faster and safer than surgery and you can lose a pound a day! It is with the help of the hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, HCG for short.

There are so many bad things happening all over the world – the Haiti earthquake, new diseases (that even scientists, doctor nor a mesothelioma lawyer cannot help us with) but music can heal, and there is a music fest in Coachella!

April 16-17-18, 2010

Tickets on sale 1/22 @ 10am

* All ages welcome.
* 8 ticket limit (festival & camping)
* Parking is free. (Day Parking)
* Children 5 and under are free.
* Festival gates open at some time each day. Stay Tuned
* Box Office opens Noon on Thursday, 8am Fri-Sun
* Rain or shine.
* No ticket refunds or exchanges or cancellations.
* Line up subject to change.
* All patrons subject to search.
* Photo ID required for all will call or guest ticket pick-ups.
* Tickets can be purchased at the box office for cash, Visa / Mastercard, only on the days of the event and only if tickets are still available (from 3-day pass allotment).

Finally, a colored Disney Princess – its first – in the new movie, The Princess and the Frog. My daughter will have a blast watching this. Let’s hope it shows in theaters soon so it can be her first movie!

A modern day retelling of the classic story The Frog Prince. The Princess and the Frog finds the lives of arrogant, carefree Prince Naveen and hardworking waitress Tiana crossing paths. Prince Naveen is transformed into a frog by a conniving voodoo magician and Tiana, following suit, upon kissing the amphibian royalty. With the help of a trumpet-playing alligator, a Cajun firefly, and an old blind lady who lives in a boat in a tree, Naveen and Tiana must race to break the spell and fulfill their dreams.

Otherwise known as your muffin top, jelly belly, dunlap.

Here are some tips on how to reduce belly fat. Not only is belly fat unattractive, it can be downright dangerous to your health. Extra fat carried around your abdomen can increase your risk of heart disease. :

1. Healthy Meals. Notice the word diet isn’t part of the equation. Healthy meals consist of lean protein, lots of vegetables, whole grains and some fruit. Your should consistantly choose foods that are as close as possible to their natural state.

2. Cardiovascular Exercise. Regular cardiovascular exercise will reduce body fat levels. Put your shoes on and get moving for at least 30 minutes per day. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far you walk in the beginning, the most important point is that you’re moving your body aerobically on a regular basis. Participate in whatever aerobic activity you enjoy.

3. Lift Weights. Yes, you did read that correctly! If you’re wondering what lifting weights has to do with effectively reducing belly fat, then read on. Regular weight lifting has several beneficial effects for those folks trying to reduce their body fat levels. Muscles burn extra calories. The more muscle you carry on your frame, the more calories you burn in a 24 hour period which translates into extra fat burning power. Muscles take up about one third less space than fat. Muscles give you the power to carry on your daily activities more effectively and with energy to spare.

I noticed I have not been sharing as much thoughts to ponder images lately. I have been swamped with work and need to focus on finishing the clinislim review I need to submit by this week. I went to look at one of my favorite Tumblr sites and discovered she has been posting a lot (SO MANY!) of cute images lately so here are a few that caught my eye and gave my heart a little tug:

(SOURCE)

The Golden Globes has just finished and here I am eagerly anticipating all the movies I will be watching in 2010.You can read various articles here, here and for kids – here (will be making a separate post about that soon.)

Here are the movies I would want to watch in the big screen:

ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Starring: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska
Director: Tim Burton
Release Date: March 4, 2010

DATE NIGHT
Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey
Director: Shawn Levy
Release Date: April 10, 2010

WALL STREET 2
Starring: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Shia LaBeouf, Javier Bardem
Director: Oliver Stone
Release Date: April 23, 2010

SEX AND THE CITY 2
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
Director: Michael Patrick King
Release Date: June 2, 2010

TOY STORY 3
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
Director: Lee Unkrich
Release Date: June 23, 2010

INCEPTION
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard
Director: Christopher Nolan
Release Date: July 15, 2010

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS, PART 1
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Director: David Yates
Release Date: November 18, 2010

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lutner
Director: David Slade
Release Date: June 30, 2010

Not even a bout of severe acne would scare me into going to the theaters to watch these movies.

MOTION PICTURES:

Picture, Drama: "Avatar."
Picture, Musical or Comedy: "The Hangover."
Actor, Drama: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart."
Actress, Drama: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side."
Director: James Cameron, "Avatar."
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Robert Downey Jr., "Sherlock Holmes."
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia."
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds."
Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire."
Foreign Language: "The White Ribbon."
Animated Film: "Up."
Screenplay: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, "Up in the Air."
Original Score: Michael Giacchino, "Up."
Original Song: "The Weary Kind" (theme from "Crazy Heart"), (written by Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett).

TELEVISION:

Series, Drama: "Mad Men," AMC.
Actor, Drama: Michael C. Hall, "Dexter."
Actress, Drama: Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife."
Series, Musical or Comedy: "Glee," Fox.
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Toni Collette, "United States of Tara."
Miniseries or Movie: "Grey Gardens," HBO.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Bacon, "Taking Chance."
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Drew Barrymore, "Grey Gardens."
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: John Lithgow, "Dexter."
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Chloe Sevigny, "Big Love."

While I am keeping my feature on the Golden Globe carpet on my fashion blog, I cannot help but gush over Sigourney Weaver! Look at her!

Can you believe this hot woman is 60? She must have been using the best anti wrinkle face cream. Actually, I was more drawn to her fit body!