Apple Cider Vinegar

Would you drink ACV? Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) is known to curb appetite. For more than 10 years my family has practiced it for many other benefits.

My was the first to try it and with the results he enjoyed, introduced the practice to us. I stopped taking when I couldn't get hold of Bragg's ACV. But now that I found it again, I am back to practicing it again.

Every morning, 2 capfuls of ACV is mixed to a glass of water. It's the first drink one should take on an empty stomach. Aside from curbing appetite, it also has other benefits. 

Intermittent Fasting: My Second Attempt

Since the pandemic started, I have gained weight rapidly. And a week ago, I have finally started Intermittent Fasting again. I have done it before but due to some stress eating, I have stopped doing it. I found comfort in food as cooking and baking or even simple food preparations are my ways of relaxing. 

So it started when I weighed myself again. But this time, I decided to finally pick up myself and do something about it. To help me in my journey, I have downloaded Fastic, an intermittent fasting app from PlayStore. It's quite good.

You can monitor weight too. 

It also allows you to monitor your water intake and how much movement you are able to achieve. Plus, you can have buddies in the journey who will help and encourage you. And the best thing, there are lessons you learn to give you more information about your journey and what happens to your body.

Best of all, the food I eat when I break from fast, within my eating window, and the last meal before I start my next fasting time, are now all healthy and carbs all scraped from my plan. But with Fastic, it has also become yummy too. This  is good so people on Intermittent Fasting will not feel deprived while on the program.

I always look forward to creating healthy, carb-free meals and I actually crave proteins instead of sweets and carbs.. But of course, this is also effective if we do exercises and prayer & meditation.

Crossing my fingers.. Wish me luck.

Nilagang Baboy

We're back to eating together again after our New Year medya noche. Tonight's meal is Nilagang Baboy. 

Nilagang Baboy or in Binisaya, Lauyang Baboy. This dish always reminds me of home. 

The best part for me is always the leg part. For the recipe, click this link. 

Back home, we always have this on weekends because of how tasking the process is.

Grateful for the Constant in Life

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you will never know what you are gonna get." Hmmm, that famous line made popular by Forest Gump is truly something, but I prefer talking about what's constant in life, rather than those uncertainties.

Like the image I am sharing here of my diffuser and electric mosquito killer, the lights from them can best represent life, my life. The electric mosquito killer which doesn't change its light color, represents all the constant in life, including death, while the oil diffuser, with the changing light colors, represents all the uncertainties coz even though the lights look so appealing, changes happen to it. Water evaporates, the oils form clumps if unchanged, will turn off when the timer is up, and many others. 

There are so many things we want, so many things we seek but at the end of the day, we go back to what's constant; rest, sleep, food, family, friends, comfort, love and whatever else we value or those that give is value. No matter how far we journey, no matter where we set our feet on, there is still that longing of home and the sweet embrace of the ones you love. And no matter how far we've travelled, our journey always leads us back home - whether it's the home you came from or the home you are going to build in the new frontier, it is what it is, and it is always worth every journey. And this is true to every human whose heart yearns for that, even the most adventurous of us. Home is a constant. It is where my heart resides.

So why think of the uncertainty when you can always be grateful of what's constant in your life? We can always face uncertainties head-on with  a positive outlook and a lot of prayer. 

I am grateful for all the constant in my life, as they are the ones that anchor my existence amidst the changing tides. At some point, we may hit rock bottom, but it is always a fact that we shall always go back up and float. Swim to shore or get fished out of the water, there will always be a way out. Although death is inevitable, and a constant, drowning is never an option. Do whatever you can to save yourself. Pray harder if you must, and remember this, faith and trust always saves. Believing is a constant that never fails us. So believe. Have faith. Trust the process. 

Such a lengthy reminder to myself.

Thanks for reading it too.

What are you thankful for in 2020?

Officially, 2020 ended. Everyone is happy and looking forward to what 2021 will bring. But for me, to look forward to something positive entails gratefulness.

What did 2020 give you that is worthy of thanks? 

For me, if I am to sum up all experiences in 2020, I would say it had been a tough year for me, especially because I experienced all pain and suffering. Covid 19 happened, I got sick, we lost a loved one, bills kept coming, income flow is not the same as before, lockdowns happened, and many others. Above all, I miss my family who I haven't seen in summer and in the recent Christmas holiday all due to covid 19 pandemic. But, of course these realities are not only mine as I know others suffering worse states. Still, I am grateful because through what happened in 2020, I can see who are real and who are only good while taking a part of me. Plus, the fact that I am still alive, that is enough to be grateful really. 

So yes, thank you 2020. You are one difficult year, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything else.

I am looking forward to a positive change to happen in 2021. And I know it should begin with my thoughts. 

So I claim it! 

2021 will be a very good year. 

Thank you Universe.

My wishes for you this new year:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye... 

Let LOVE be your GUIDE in the coming new year.. <3 <3 <3 - Mommy Dharlz 

Happy New Year everyone..