The Pink Muse: Health

Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thicken Your Hair Naturally! EeZYGrow Natural Solution by Suregrow

I was born with very thin and sparse eyebrows. Many thought I plucked my eyebrows out of carelessness or I shaved them and I didn't know what I was doing. I could literally say that I only have half an eyebrow per eye. It used to be one of my biggest insecurities because I know now that eyebrows changes the way your face looks like.

I used to dream that I'd have an eyebrow transplant when I get my first paycheck. But I'm thankful that I didn't because I would have spend thousands of pesos for that!

Until I came across this wonderful product called EezyGrow. Eezygrow is a naturally-made eyebrow thickener solution out of herbal elements. The first time I saw the brochure I was really impressed because of the before and after results because I never knew you can restore hair naturally with that kind of difference. Anyway, I was able to purchase two bottles already. This was what my eyebrows looked like when I was young:

I'm the girl on the right! See how thin my eyebrows were there! :))

And after quite some time using the Eezygrow Natural Hair Growth Solution regularly, here are the results!

Not yet too thick, but I'm quite satisfied! :)

Although I still use eyebrow pencils and other eyebrow kits to shape my eyebrows, I am quite satisfied with the results and I use it regularly and according to the instructions for effective results. If you don't have eyebrow problems yourself, I believe that there are other hair growth solutions (like for those who wants thicker or fuller especially for older men, or those who want to grow facial or eyelash hair).

I hoped you liked this review and don't forget to leave a comment when you've tried this product out! I got mine at Suregrow Shop, located at the Ground Floor of Festival Mall, Alabang.

Here is the product and company's information:

Eezygrow Herbal Eyebrow Solution

By Suregrow International Corporation

www.thesuregrowshop.com

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The Urban Farm: Fresh, Unique and Delicious!

I'm all in for health food. I'm all the more in if it's healthy and delicious. The Urban Farm's concept is relatively new since they emphasize that they only use organic vegetables and grass fed animals. When I visited the place with my friend, we were talking about how the restaurant was formed because the owners had an organic farm. The menu consisted mainly of meat and vegetable entrees, fresh shakes, pastas, pastries and snacks. I was really satisfied with my visit there since I could pretty much say that it's one of the best lunches I had in a long time.

In our visit, these are the items that we ordered: 2 fresh fruit shakes (strawberry and grapes), roast chicken (good for two), salmon flakes pasta and a piece of lemon bar.

Roast chicken with black rice

Strawberry shake

Salmon flakes pasta

I was very very satisfied and full with what we ordered considering that I was very hungry prior to our lunch. The food tasted fresh and the flavors were alive. There was not a hint of greasiness even in the roast chicken, and the shakes were made from actual fruits and not powdered flavorings. I was also satisfied with the paste because even when it was written "salmon flakes" in the menu, what we really got were "salmon chunks" and we were really happy. The lemon bar also tasted fresh and homemade. I was not able to take a picture of it, sorry! The ambiance is really nice because their motif is light green and white and it's very refreshing to the eyes. Do visit the place while it's still new! By the way, price ranges of food are from 150-400 pesos each. Shakes vary from 70-100 pesos. For me, it's a great deal considering that I enjoyed the food very much.

It isn't readable but the quote there said, "Laugh so hard that even sorrow smiles at you". Nice, huh? :)

I don't usually write about restaurants that I don't like, so you'd probably get it by now that I highly recommend you to try The Urban Farm in BF Homes, President's Ave! This one is just across Tahanan Village, Paranaque. What other healthy restaurants would you recommend? Leave a comment below!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Simple Ways to Form Good Habits

English: Exercising outdoors is healthier than working out indoors. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am a lazy person by nature. It is very difficult for me to prepare early, exercise or even exert effort in those things that make me feel uncomfortable. It's really difficult when you are starting to get annoyed of your routine because there are some things you cannot change. Are you frustrated because you want to be an overall better person but you can't seem to be one because of some bad habits here and there? Here are simple ways that can help you form good habits that can improve the quality of your life.

1. Make a list

Make a list of things that you don't like about the things that you're doing, such as eating junk food, sleeping late, eating too much sweets, not exercising, lingering in the social media for too long, etc.

2. Negate the list by forming a good habit that can replace the bad ones

Now, after listing the things that you don't like, negate these things by replacing it with the good habits. For example, if eating junk food is something you don't like about yourself, replace it by a good habit such as eating healthy food or avoiding junk food.

3. In making good habits, be specific!

It is very very (I emphasize) important to be specific in setting good habits for the overall improvement of your life. It is not enough that you say that you will start eating healthy food from now on. For example, you can start being specific in this habit by specifying which times of the day would you strictly eat healthy food (e.g. breakfast and lunch). What happens when you don't become specific? You end up overlooking your goals and habits.

4. Make it visible

Another thing that helped me keep my good habits in check is to always write them in my journal. I always include them in my to-do list, such as exercising, preparing baon, drinking vitamins, tea, etc. The more you make it visible, the more room that you're allowing your mind to remember it.

5. Cut yourself some slack once in a while

Unless your bad habits involve some kind of spiritual conflict or addiction, you must at least cut yourself some slack or rest once in a while, such as one day a week per habit. This is for you to prevent being burned out or have lack of motivation in work.

6. Dare yourself to do it in 21 days

This is the so-called popular habit dare, which asks you to form habits within 21 days. The only catch here is you have to do it 21 times each day so that the habit will be established. This is somewhat in psychology what they call "conditioning" and this is effective if I will base it on my experience since it worked for me! Now that I formed some habits that I did not use to do before, I feel very uncomfortable if I can't do it in a certain day.

7. If you slip, don't let yourself slip again

If you missed a day doing your certain good habit due to unforseen circumstances, don't let yourself slip again the next day! Push yourself if you have to, so that the habit won't be gone.

I hope you enjoyed this post and do share if you have good tips in forming good habits.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Searching Vs. Being

An array of Valentine's Day-connotated candy decor. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The recently celebrated Valentines Day increased my awareness of my current singleness. On that Friday morning just outside our subdivision, I saw a girl being surprised by her boyfriend with a bouquet of flowers on the sidewalk. The sight made me smile despite the fact that I'm not the girl being surprised.

I used to be a person who thinks that in order to be happily in a relationship, I will be in a continuous search. With a "characteristics list" in mind, I exposed myself in environments where I can find potential guys. By potential, I meant if I could only check out at least one or two characteristic from my list, I found it okay. I always thought I can "fix" them. I drove myself crazy with the sustained eye contacts, assuming what could it have meant, analyzing the text messages and why were they left unanswered, going on "dates" that I refused to call dates just because I was unsure of the person I was dating, and just literally obsessing over it. On the surface I looked calm and collected, but deep inside I was just hungry for the attention thinking to myself why it was so hard to just love someone and be loved the way I wanted to be loved. I was always in a "searching" mindset. I was so into the idea of having a relationship just for the sake of having it that I missed the whole point.

After a series of heartbreaks and disappointments, I finally broke free from this way of thinking and just started "being". If I searched and searched, it only meant that I was focusing on the person I want to meet. But that made me think, am I really ready to meet this person? If I want to meet a godly man, how is my spiritual growth? If I want to meet a hardworking person, how am I performing in my job? If I want to meet a person who listens, appreciates and respects me, how are those attitudes shining in my own life when I interact with other people?

So I decided to develop right habits since this year started. I decided to commit on improving my overall wellness--physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and social. I dedicated at least half an hour of my day in working out, being mindful of the food I ate, drinking my vitamins regularly. I decided that I should spend more time reading books, articles, and attending seminars that will increase my knowledge in my profession. I always try to invest time and resources for my family and friends. I also committed in reading and studying the Bible, going to group meetings and attending Sunday services with my family. I have to pray about ministry, since my heart is not yet set on where I should put my abilities to use for God. I have to develop a more patient and persevering attitude in my work and I've yet to develop coping with my anxieties and other negative emotions/thoughts.

Although I don't believe in the idea that I should just stop "searching" all together and hide under a rock and just wait for "God's best", I believe that it's not just about searching, it shouldn't be what singlehood is for the most part. For me now, it's going to be mostly about "being". It's a season of discovering myself, pursuing my dreams and doing what God wants for my life.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Drinking Tea is Tea-rrific! Benefits of Drinking Tea

Oolong Tea. Ohhhhlooong. Hahaha

I used to dislike drinking tea except for the regular iced tea. I used to cringe at its bitter taste and pass up the chances when restaurants offer their house tea. However, I noticed that I was gaining weight throughout the holiday season and I was looking for ways to lose weight aside from exercise. I was bored one day and decided to type the keyword "Lose weight" in Youtube and found this amazingly funny and interesting video:

The girl in the video inspired me to drink tea regularly so after researching, I bought a box of Oolong and Green tea. I found out that these are the benefits of drinking tea:

1. Tea helps in overall metabolism. Drinking tea a little while after your meals is a good way of speeding up the metabolic process. It also blocks too much fat absorption.

2. Drinking tea helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. If your family has a history of heart problems, maybe drinking tea regularly will prevent you from having them.

3. Tea is loaded with antioxidants which help battle and prevent cancer cells from multiplying.

4. Tea keeps us hydrated and hydration consequently gives us brighter and supple skin.

5. Tea has no calories and makes us feel more calm after drinking.

If you do some research, you'd find out that tea has tons of benefits that I wasn't able to mention here. I drink tea regularly in the morning and occasionally during the afternoon after meals, but if you're the type who is sensitive to caffeine (like me), you may not want to drink it at night. I officially love tea more than coffee now. Sometimes for taste I put honey, calamansi, or lemon but generally I love the plain tea so I don't do it that often. I encourage everyone to skip the frappes and the cappuccinos (yes, and skip the calories!) and get yourself a good ol' cup of tea.

Do you love drinking tea? Why or why not?

Monday, December 30, 2013

8 Things to be Less and More this 2014

English: Bratislava; New Year 2005; FireWorks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people keep telling statements such as "2014 is MY year!" or "New year, new me!". While it all sounds optimistic, it's very difficult to follow through new year resolutions if they're not realistic. That is why I have come up with a 'less and more' list since old habits die hard. We will have a harder time removing things we don't like in ourselves if we go sudden cold turkey. Gradual, step by step change is key. Here is my "Less and More" resolution this 2014:

1. LESS JUNK FOOD, MORE HEALTHY FOOD

Junk food isn't cool anymore. Yes, more and more people are becoming health-conscious nowadays and are taking measures to maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. Junk the junk food, that's why they're called junk in the first place. Now is the time to set realistic goals in your diet. You can either opt to minimize junk food (say, half a bag of chips or a bar of chocolates and share it to a friend), or choose healthier alternatives (raw veggies, nuts). This way, you can lose weight and minimize your chances of getting chronic diseases from an unhealthy diet.

2. LESS SOCIAL MEDIA, MORE ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS

Social media seemed to have trumped over our social lives and replaced actual meetups and conversations. This shouldn't be the case unless you want to be that guy who has 5000 Facebook friends who don't know him personally, or has 1.2 million followers on Twitter but is socially awkward in real life. Invest in actual conversations and relationships. Host a party, or have coffee with that long-time friend your haven't seen in years.

3. LESS SPENDING, MORE SAVING

Our consumerist culture subtly shows us that the people who are happier spend their money on material things. Though it's not really true that money can't buy you happiness, and money is a big factor in overall life satisfaction, I dare you to commit this year in saving money. Save money not just for you but for causes that you care about. Remember that blessings are given to us so we can share. Start saving small amounts daily, cut on unnecessary expenses (e.g. saving on electricity, impulse shopping) and make profit from things that you don't use anymore (e.g. garage sale or sell them online).

4. LESS COMPLAINTS, MORE GRATITUDE

It's too common for us to point out the things we don't want in our present status such as our health, finances, work, and the people we're with. Don't you notice that the more we complain, the more that we feel an overall sense of negativity in ourselves? Let 2014 be a year of gratitude for you. Instead of complaining on things you don't have, be thankful for the things you actually have. Write them down, and you'll be surprised that you have a lot to be thankful for.

5. LESS LAZINESS, MORE MOTIVATION

Our lives are comprised of time. Laziness wastes our time and consequently wastes our life. Gradually lessen your laziness by achieving the mindset that you may not have tomorrow and you should make the best of today, or even right now. If you can't find motivation within yourself, find motivation from a friend or ask God for motivation. You will be amazed with the things you can achieve just by lessening your procrastination and doing what the Nike quote says: "Just do it".

6. LESS NEGATIVITY, MORE POSITIVITY

Emotions and moods are powerful determiners of our decision-making. It is unhealthy to dwell on negative emotions such as anxiety, fear or anger towards something or someone. While it's also unhealthy to numb yourself of these emotions, it is best for us to feel it, let it out (in appropriate means), and let it go. Focus on positive things in your life, and use that inspiration to see your problems and opportunities of growth and change.

7. LESS HATE, MORE LOVE

Similar to negativity, hate brings about dissatisfaction in our relationships with people. The more we choose to dwell on hate or bitterness, the more we have a difficult time seeing love in other people and in ourselves. If you have two options, always choose to love. Always choose to forgive. Let go of any issues of hate, anger, bitterness towards people and learn to show love despite others' offenses.

8. LESS OF ME, MORE OF GOD

Focusing too much on ourselves, our own pursuits and interests brings about pride in our lives. Too much pride can make us selfish and destroys our relationship with people and with God. As C.S. Lewis states it:

"A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you."

Focus less on yourself and focus more on what God wants in your life. Focus less on material pursuits and seek Him above everything else because if you believe that He is God, He will want the best for you in all aspects of your life, whether it's your family, relationships, career or finances. 2014 is your year to dedicate, or rededicate your life to Him.

Happy new year everyone! God bless!

Love,

Geline

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Four Investments You Will Never Regret

Tuesdays with Morrie (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When we talk about investments, the most common thing that comes to our mind are material and monetary possessions such as savings, a house, a car or a business. However, what I'm going to talk about today are investments which are not things, but relationships.

You see, I have read Tuesdays With Morrie for quite some time. A conversation with a friend reminded me of how Morrie valued his relationships above everything else, since at the end of his life, it will be the only thing that truly matters. This struck me because I personally feel that I haven't invested much on people and relationships in general. When I graduated, my mindset was to become successful at the shortest amount of time possible. But reminding myself of how Morrie saw his life, making himself as an instrument to inspire and help other people grow, I had a sudden change of mindset. Yes, I still had my material goals, but I realized that I needed to strike a balance with how I value them because at the end of my life, who will be beside my death bed? Will a house, a million worth of savings, a car and all these other things hold my hand and mourn for me? Definitely not. Over time, I learned to value my relationships more.

Here are the four investments you will never regret:

These are my friends from college, work, and church.

1. Friends

I'm talking about friends who bring a positive influence in your life. Friends who encourage you to pursue your dreams and those who are there to celebrate your joys and grieve with you at your lowest points. Right now I feel very blessed because I had gained so many friends across different areas of my life. I have friends from college, work and church. I know deep down that these people truly care and think the best of me. They bring sunshine in my life. Invest in friends who will not judge but accept you, but is honest enough not to turn a blind eye with your struggles. Invest in friends who will make you a better person. Do not isolate yourself because part of growth is knowing people and building friendships.

This is my family.

2. Family

Sometimes, the ones we are with every day are the ones we neglect the most. I encourage you to invest in your family. Show your mom and dad simple gestures of kindness and affection. Take them out to simple dinners, cook for them, have fun with them. Your presence is important. Sometimes you will feel like you know your friends more than your sister or brother, but don't let that be. Invest in getting to know them, helping them and doing small favors. Visit your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and don't use that smartphone in family reunions. Yes, I am preaching against myself because I tend to be complacent with investing time for my family. Your family may not be perfect, and you may feel like some things are holding you back from investing in them, but I believe God has His reasons why you have these people in your life. Treasure them, make time for them, and if they upset you, learn to forgive them every day.

I went to Villamor Airbase to volunteer for the typhoon victims,
since we're not allowed to take pictures,
I kept this ID as a remembrance.

3. People in Need

I remembered how I talked about blessings and how God gave them to us, not just to enjoy them but to share them. We are often stuck in the rationale that only the millionaires are obliged to help those in need because we don't have anything to give. But just as how Jesus saw the heart of the poor widow who offered her coin (Mark 12:41-44), God sees our hearts, and not the amounts that we give. It doesn't have to be money or material things. We can offer our time, our skills and other resources that will help those who are in need. They can be victims of calamity, orphans, elderly, aspiring students and the like. Compassion is what makes us human, and we only learn to truly give once we learn to give to those who can't give anything in return.

Starting on writing my devotions again.

4. God

This is one thing I realized: If you learn to invest in God, all the things that you should learn to invest on will follow. Jesus' example of compassion with the sick, poor and needy gave me the heart to finally take a stand and volunteer, which is something outside outside of my comfort zone. His example of His love for his disciples helped me to show genuine love and concern towards my friends. His death for the church who is His family reminded me to show sacrificial love to my family. Today, I decided to start on my written journals again and I'm so blessed with how God reveals Himself to me when I offer a time into reading His word, with no distractions. If you have to make the biggest investment, invest on God. Invest your time and resources on Him. You may regret a lot of things in your life, but I guarantee you that knowing Him, seeking, pursuing Him relentlessly is something you will never regret.

I hope this post encourages you to make these top 4 investments in your life.

Love,

Geline :)

I recommend this title that helps us invest in our relationships in a more profound way:

The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts
How's your relationship with your mate? Your children? Your parents? Your siblings? It may be a matter of the state of the "love tank". Author Gary Chapman in his book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate believes everyone has a love tank, and that tank is filled by different love languages. These five languages are Gifts, Words of Affirmation, Quality of Time, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. (credit: Amazon.com)

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thicken Your Hair Naturally! EeZYGrow Natural Solution by Suregrow

Thursday, April 10, 2014

The Urban Farm: Fresh, Unique and Delicious!