cured and healed

 

My family and I normally don’t get sick. Yes, we are quite proud of how healthy we are. Our lucks turned when my son caught acute bacterial nasopharyngitis. Sounds complicated huh? It actually means common colds, although acute bacterial makes it look more bad. And yes it was! My son had to endure high grade fever for 6 days! He is just 28 months old and all he can say was “ouch ouch mommy” when something is painful. He couldn’t eat. Apparently, even drinking water is painful. We rushed to him to the hospital from fear of dehydration. He had an iv and the antibiotics were directly injected thru the veins. As a mother, it was always so hard to watch your child suffer like that. I couldn’t sleep nor eat. I relied on coffee heavily. We were so glad when the doctors finally announced that he is well and could go home. When he was already feeling better, he started playing on his bed. I brought his favorite toys – Thomas the tank engine and friends trains, and his big crayons and coloring books. When the nurses took out the iv, he was already playing on the floor. We had to make one of the bedsheets as a carpet on the floor. I was so glad to see my little boy happy and well again.

On the way home inside the car, my son was all bubbly and talkative. Back to his normal self asking so many questions and singing “Lights and Shades by FLL.” It was such a sight! When we arrived home, the bad news hit me hard. This time, I’m the one who is sick. I felt all sorts of pain, from head down to my throat, to every other part of my body. I felt dizzy too and would very much like to lie down. My mouth went dry and had no appetite. I swear! When I tried to eat, I had to force myself not to puke. And swallowing was sooooo hard! I even had to dig my fingernails around inside my palm just to help me drink water. That’s when I realized how hard my son suffered. I felt so terrible. My fever went as high as 39.9. That freaked me out! The next day, my husband had to rushed me to the hospital gastric pains and allergies.

Today. I feel better now. No pain. No fever. No dizziness. No weakness. Yes, the medicines cured me. But the one that – no – the one who healed me is Jesus. I remember a day from this week, when my dad phoned me and prayed with me. Tears just flowed without even thinking. I felt a little power inside me. I continued to pray and pray, calling Jesus my Lord, Saviour and Healer. You see, I was getting really freak out by my family asking why have I been with fever for such a long time, that maybe something else is wrong with me. I was scared. Really scared. Well, not anymore because I am finally healed. Thank you Lord Jesus for healing me and my child.

Holiday shopping... would you do it online or offline?

Counting the days til Christmas and here I am in front of my very reliable Toshiba laptop, hunting for unique Christmas gift ideas. As much as I would like to lie low and cut back on buying wonderful presents for my love ones, I really can't. Doesn't really matter how much the gift would costs (Budget wiser of course!) me. What matters is how much these gifts will please my family.

These days, thanks to the ginormous benefits of the internet, we can now buy all kinds of items online for our love ones. There are so many online gift shops and one that I would like to share is PinasGift.

(above is a screen shot of www.pinasgift.com)

I must say I am impressed! Not only do they have a wide variety of chocolates, flowers, wine and other stuff you're expecting from a gift shop, but they also have a wide array of furniture, appliances, computers, mobile phones, scanners, printers, etc. to choose from. Can you imagine yourself going online and ordering a refrigerator for your mom? Nice one right? The prices of course differs from that of an offline shop. It is relevant to remember that ordering in an online shop, one is not only paying for the actual gift item, but also for courier expenses. PinasGift uses a courier to deliver the gift straight right to the doorstep of the receiver. PinasGift delivers nationwide, seven (7) days a week. Same day delivery is possible for Metro Manila area only. Although, it is specified on their site, that during peak seasons such as Valentines and Christmas, same day delivery might be impossible. The customer can also track their gifts (packages) via PinasGift’s website. The prices are all in US$ so you might need to grab your handy calculator and check out the price in PH Pesos right before you hit that "order" button, just to be safe from confusion and making that big mistake of buying something out of your budget. We do want to celebrate Christmas reasonably and practically, otherwise we'll end up drowning in credit debt.

Offline shopping - means you will personally go to a shop and pick out that amazing gift. You can always choose where to shop. Department stores and boutiques inside malls.

(above is an image of a department store)

 

(above is an image of the “Midnight Market” in Tutuban, Divisoria)

If you happen to go to a tiangge such as in Divisoria, you might want to try haggling right before paying. Who knows? The store owner or salesperson might give you a PhP50 discount or higher, then lucky you! Downside of this, it can be very tiring! However, the whole adventure of gift hunting shall be rewarded most graciously once you have already given those special presents to your special love ones.

The Ingredients of a Chocolate Company

Chocolates... chocolates... and lots and lots of it!

I have a great video of TCHO Chocolate Company which I found very informative, interesting and witty. Please take a look and see for yourself.



***I don't own the rights to this video. I figured it's great to share this.

Dove Chocolate?

My ears couldn't believe when I first heard about the Dove Chocolates. I gasped and said, "Doves are soap bars right?" Apparently, I'm wrong. Dove Chocolate has been around in Chicago, USA since the 1950s. Founded by Greek-American Leo Stefanos. He originally developed Dove Bar out of his concern for his family's safety, after witnessing his son running across the street for the ice cream truck.

Looking at their stunning site. The rich color of chocolaty brown is everywhere. Making sure that the person looking at it would certainly crave for that delightful sweet rich taste of chocolate. Clever huh? The site is amazingly informative. Their products all look so enticing. Hah! I don't know who else can resist these yummy treats! Oh yes I forgot I do! I have a friend who doesn't like to eat chocolates. I kept telling her she's missing half of her life LOL

What's amazing about Dove Chocolate is that they actually invite people to HOST A CHOCOLATE PARTY. Amazing! It's a perfect idea for people, family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances to celebrate Dove Chocolate’s silky smooth flavor while enjoying each other's presence. It has also been mentioned that this is one sure way of becoming a certified Dove Chocolatier. Furthermore, included in their ultra informative website are great chocolate recipes.



Yay! Sounds like this is going to be a gastronomically inspiring adventure for me today. Chocolates do make my stomach growl and my taste buds sweet. Dove Chocolate has been acquired by M&M/Mars in 1986 as the crown jewel of their company. They continue to go through the whole process of refining and perfecting that deliciously indulgent Dove Chocolates. What do you know? Dove Chocolate were first created out of love, and after sixty (60) years, it is still being created and served with love.

Chocolate Fangs and Skulls

Chocolates are mostly seen and eaten during sweet occasions, such as Valentines. Well, apparently the trend has changed. This year, master chocolatieurs such as Bond Street Chocolate, and Dean & DeLuca, both well known in the Chocolate-making Industry, have created series of shapes that are entirely fit for Halloween. Fangs and Skulls both pretty sell out, thanks to the Twilight Movie/Books saga, True Blood and other highly anticipated Vampire books, movies and tv series out there.



This may be seen as something new, however, in Mexico, people are used to making candies in the shape of skull and crossbones, a casket, or a skeleton, during the Day of the Dead (celebrated during November 1 and 2), also referred to as El Dia de los Muertos.

Now, after learning this, I just can't wait to grab a gastronomically inspiring chocolate fang... hmmm.. yummy... Anyway, I simply love chocolates and it doesn't matter the form or shape, as long as it taste heavenly.

Happy and Spooky Halloween!

I have fallen for Fallen

It’s been a while since the last time I read novels. The last time I read, it was Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer aka the Twilight Saga Author and a Goddess in her own right. I remembered trying to finish the last book as fast as I could, so that I would know the ending. However, when I got to the last pages, I found myself wondering how can I live another day knowing that I have no more lines to read. That basically, the end of the story was there in front of me. There was a little part of me wishing that Stephanie could write some more. Although, I have already had enough of vampires-wolves and other bad guys that could break Bella and her little half-human-half-vamp baby Renesmee.

So, I searched online for something new to crazed upon. That’s when I saw Fallen written by Lauren Kate.  The novel’s front cover was very mysteriously appealing to me. The girl on the cover, with both hands on her face, looked so sad, delicate and mysterious to me. Again, mysteriously appealing, which called my attention. So I decided to get one for myself.

Reading the tagline, “What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?” was electrifying to me. From the first pages up to the last, I found myself enjoying the whole ride, as if I was watching a movie but only my mind can see it. That is how I enjoy my reading, whenever the words from the pages turn into images in my mind. Fallen is about two star-strucked lovers Luce Price (a mortal) and Daniel Grigori (fallen angel). Not to be compared with Romeo and Juliet. This one is a different story. Daniel, eternally damned and Luce, always reincarnated after being killed whenever she finally finds out the whole truth about her and Daniel. They will always meet every seventeen (17) years. They will always fall in love, but time always seemed so short as Daniel would always witnessed the death of his Luce whenever she discovers their whole history and the truth surrounding it. This novel is very captivating and sexy. I surely recommend it. Fallen is a story not just for young adults but for everyone who enjoys suspense and heaven sent romance. This will surely keep you on the edge of your seat. Hold on tight and gasped at how the story unfolds. You will never guess what will happen next.

I believe from what I’ve heard online, that the sequel to Fallen will be out this September 2010. I can’t wait! I have fallen for Fallen and I will surely love the next book!

Baby singing Snow Song