Cooking Bits

Its been weeks now since mom had been quite busy with my sister's gig that's why I stepped up my game in our kitchen and started cooking, again. Its fun and I am starting to discover different styles. I started with frying and making soup before, and learning how to slice and dice along the way. It feels good actually; after all the stress I have experienced the past months, cooking gives me that sense of accomplishment nowadays. I'm not as good as my mom yet, and I don't think I'll ever get past her, but I'm glad I'm doing such thing. Its not too late to learn new stuff all the time; I think it makes life less boring and more interesting.

I have to go now. I'm cooking dinner for dad tonight. =)

My last project for my DEVC207 class. I hope this could show more awareness to the viewing and smoking public.

Here's another post in relation to my DevCom 207 class. Still on the campaign for smokers to stop smoking.

Believe me its possible.

Statistics and Data are taken from the Philippine Data/Fact Sheet on Cigarette Smoking

Thanks to my DEVC207 class, this blog has been revived! Ok, so let's go straight to the topic.

I chose to create an awareness poster encouraging women to quit smoking. I understand that the Department of Health is active in promoting a no smoking campaign, I just realized that it would be better if there would be a campaign dedicated for the females and for the males in the future.

This would be a good topic for a documentary or an experimental type of video.





-fin-

Ending a 6-year Habit

     I started smoking at age 19. I was 3rd year college then. I wouldn't say its peer pressure since I really wanted to learn at that time; to take off some pressure in my life I guess. I was in denial at first. I'd buy a few sticks and borrow a lighter from other smoker friends just to say that I'm not a "legal" smoker yet. But I grew tired of buying sticks every now and then, and borrowing for light is some sort of a hassle as well, so I decided to buy my very first pack along with my very first lighter. 

     Everything went fast, I didn't go as much as 2 packs a day but I did smoke a lot in one day! Whenever my college barkada would have a gathering and drink, bam! I'd smoke like a chimney. Then my whole family knew about it, which was not easy, but I got through all the questions and the comments and yes, I wasn't scolded. I was only told about its consequences, things like "what it can do to you and your health", I just agreed and smoked while listening to them.

      I've tried sooo many times to quit. The longest time that I was able to stop was three days. But no matter how hard I try, I would still find myself lighting my next stick. I just realized that I got addicted to smoking when I was really looking for it one time I ran out of cigarettes and won't have any anytime soon. I kinda went gaga literally. Not a good experience. Then came the electronic cigarette or e-cig to many. I tried one but the e-cig is only an excuse for an individual to smoke cigarettes indoors. It won't really help you quit. 

     Six years after, I never knew I could do it. How? I really don't know. It just happened. Maybe its all about conditioning the mind. 

People Around You

     

     My other siblings smoke too, but one of them quit the other still smokes. I thought that if one of my siblings can do it, why can't I? He's on his 8 month now, I'm approaching my second. As for my other sibling, well, she's still thinking about it.

Exercise

     Its hard to do exercise whenever you smoke since its hard to breathe properly while running or lifting those weights. I tried out Bikram yoga not too long ago. Whenever I do the breathing exercise, its kinda tough since deep breathing is required and without proper breathing, you'll just go sleepy and have a hard time finishing the poses; then I thought about quitting smoking.

Diet

     There's this diet my family and I tried, its called the GM diet. Its a detox diet. This was the time that I stopped smoking. With what I eat during this diet? I don't think I'd have enough nutrients in my body to fight off the smoke.

     Most people say its bad to stop smoking abruptly since you'll go cold turkey and feel a lot of nasty things but I say, stopping abruptly may make you feel ill but according to a certain article I read (try googling about quitting smoking, it'll show up), when a person stops smoking and feels ill, that just means that the body is healing itself. And what's best about this quitting thing is that the MMDA started the No Smoking campaign, making me worry less on where I should smoke. Plus, I save time now; meaning I add my smoking time to do other things. And my 80 pesos a week goes to other expenses now. 

     If you're a smoker and you're reading this, I'm not asking you to quit, that's your choice. What I'm saying is, if you'd want to quit someday, its possible. 

  

Do You Like Retail Therapy?

     I have always been a fan of bazaars and ukay-ukay. Well, more of the first that the latter. Why, if you ask? Its because I find rare stuff in bazaars than in shopping malls; yes, some items are found in malls, however, if you become more patient and (this is important) observant, you will see the same items in a bazaar with a much lower price.


     Allow me to share some of my observations as well as suggestions (to customers) which you are free to use whenever you happen to be in a bazaar.


As a customer...


1. Do not feel bad if you are not given the discount you are asking for. 


     Stall owners pay rent too, you know. You can try to haggle but again, if they don't give the price that you prefer think of their "puhunan" with the item or if you have doubts, compare prices with the shopping malls then decide where to buy.


2. Do not say bad things about the items you see.


     The tinderos and tinderas have feelings too. Imagine their hard work to put up the stall; the items they acquire are not for you only; if its not your taste, that's not their problem. If you ain't saying good about somethin', you better shut it. 


3. If you have doubts about the product you are buying, ask those in-charge properly.


     In my opinion, some customers have this notion that they are being deceived by some stall owners about their products, that's why there are some customers who ask rudely. C'mon guys, you can do better than that.


4. Please be careful how you handle the items.


     This is simple: When you break it, you pay for it.


Lastly,


5. Make sure to check out all the stalls.


     You will never know what items are up for grabs. From rare shirt designs to bath and wellness products; they're all there, you just got to be patient and really observant. =P




     Thank you for taking time to read five of the most (well I think)important things a customer should think of. If you have more, feel free to comment. =)   
         


     And, why not make the most out of it? In line with this, I am inviting you to visit my sister's stall on April 15, 16 and 17 at Eastwood. Stalls are up until 1 am. Check our items that are perfect for gifts; we also have items for bath and wellness, as well as burners and essential oils. (I heard Mother's Day is fast approaching?)=) Stall's name is under Nikki Valdez and shared with Fashion by Zen. Hope to see you all there! =D    

Announcement to Applicants: A Reminder

Funny really, what if there's this one company in which we could pass our "love resumes"? They would go over it and forward it to people who will match our likes and dislikes (aside from forwarding it to people, flyers will also be printed for faster dispersal of information). Of course, just like in a regular resume, length of past relationships will also be stated just for reference. The fun part is (if ever someone starts this company) is when people start calling you... That's the time when your "selection" begins... Easy to say, fun to think of, but for sure it will never happen. But I'm cool with that. Life was never made easy anyways.

I've got this friend, Gary's his name. He has all of the characteristics he wants for a guy (no, this is not a typo) written or if I may say, saved in a word file. The moment I asked him what he likes, he pulled up the word document, and voila, there it is, written by the bullet. For some, its kinda weird, but for me, I think that's fine. At least he knows what he likes, right?

But how do we know what we really like? What if, the person who passed our standards, fail us? I guess, we're back to zero and better rewrite what I would like to call a "standards list". 

Are you sure you really want to "apply" for love? Maybe, because of that certain emptiness inside that was caused from a past hurt or lack of affection from the people around you? People have their own reasons for yearning, but whatever that is I believe that there is always somebody for someone, if you know what I mean. 

The best thing to do I guess is to wait. Be more patient if you've been doing such in years. Who knows? By doing so, you might just receive the best offer out there.

-fin-