Neighborhood Store

A few weeks ago, S and I went to his law school Christmas party. And as usual, we were early (ack, major losers!) so we figured that it would be best to drop by the "neighborhood store" and I took pictures--until they told me I shouldn't.



Lookit the deli!!



Here's the pasta...



and the BOOZE!!!!






And THIS was what S wanted to buy...at PhP800++ bucks a pop...so he didn't. Hehe!



I think that all Santis branches are nice and cozy. This felt the coziest of them all. It was small, cramped, and filled with stuff. Imagine a snowy evening out (of course, it didn't) and people who lived nearby dropping in to buy stuff that they missed out on during the day. The place looked nice and toasty.

Didn't stay much too long. S just got some cheese to bring to the party we were going to. Good thing that by the time we were done, the host was at his home already. =)

Back to the Old Skin

I'm going back to this background, I like it best, it's neat, it's clean, it's easy to read.

Bikram Yoga for Weight Loss??

I've noticed myself eating less than I would regularly do. The fact that I am busy (tindera nga!) doesn't contribute. I usually stop and eat during meal times. I'm the one who gets grouchy when I am not given food when hungry (it was in my sister's wedding speech--advise to S to feed me before I get hungry!).

It feels strange (but good!) to be eating less. I feel lighter. I did wonder why though...am I in love? (diba, if one's in love, she can hardly eat because of kilig? Hahahaha!) Then I asked my yogi...

Apparently, bikram yoga curbs your appetite for (unhealthy) food (for some people)! I found out from HERE that aside from the following benefits:

• Heavy sweating helps detoxify the body
• As the blood thins, the circulatory system is cleared
• The output of cells which fight infection is increased
• The heart rate is elevated
• In Bikram yoga, weight loss is made easier because your muscles are warmed and can burn fat more easily
• The heated environment is initially very challenging, helping to increase will power and mental strength

Bikram Yoga helps one lose weight in the following ways (taken from HERE):

• It is well-known that to be effective, a workout should make you sweat and increase your heart rate. Bikram yoga well and truly fulfills both of these criteria.
• Warm muscles burn fat more easily; your muscles also become more stronger and more supple from practicing Bikram yoga. Both these factors allow you to exercise your body more effectively and aid the weight loss process.
• Detoxifying the body and having a healthy circulatory system are known to have a very positive effect on metabolism. This in turn increases the ability of your body to shed weight more effectively.
• It is widely known that practicing Bikram yoga enables many of your bodily systems and functions - digestion, respiration, endocrine, lymphatic and elimination - to work in harmony. As a result, your appetite will normalize (and likely decrease) and you will more than likely lose all your cravings for unhealthful foods.
• Increased willpower and mental strength that comes from the challenge of practicing yoga in a heated environment will help you maintain your resolve and resist temptation when trying to lose weight

Yahoo! At least, I get to eat more healthful foods (sweets have lost their appeal, even pizza, tapsi, longsi, etc.). It's a bit strange because I love these food and they're suddenly not in my comfort food list. In fact, I don't know what's on my comfort food list now! (Horrors!) Maybe soup.

Oh well...my goal might actually be closer than I think.....woohoo, new wardrobe, here I come!!!

Have a great week, everyone!

Fun Shots!

Nope, this entry isn't about KFC's Fun Shots. It's about me taking the cam out again and seeing what I can do with it!

I'm too lazy to read photography books and too poor to enroll in photography classes, so I basically fiddle around with the switches and try to get the "right" photograph. For most, I prefer non-flash settings.

Here's one I took of a red SUV (is it?) on south super highway. I've been trying to learn how to take a shot like that, showing movement in the background. After many failed shots, here's one of the best (still needs some work because I want the car to stand out and not show movement at all).

While we were at Paseo de Magallanes, we went to my BIL's clinic as well...here are some pictures I took of the stuff that he had there. Such nice and happy looking vases!











Here's one of the bamboo sticks:


I like tight shots. Wonder why.

Alone Time

I have very seldom alone time these days. What with work (yes, I work!), the boys (yes, all 3), the mall operations (I really like), and LMI (watch out for THAT!), I hardly have time for myself. (Of course, unless you count the time I drive myself to the mall, go around and check the booths, then, maybe I still have alone time.)

My major alone time is when I do exercise (run or do yoga). It's something I do without my watch and without my mobile. It's just me, myself and I. And I've learned to NOT feel guilty about having alone time.

There was a time that I felt that I should devote all my time to others--mostly the boys. But I realized that without recharging, I tend to lose all the energy I have stored! So now, I cherish my alone time, whether it be exercising or doing nothing.

I am enjoying my alone time now--a beautiful rainy Sunday afternoon, at the computer, listening to pounding house music. Such are the little pleasures in life! Cherish them!

I'm a Saleslady!

S’s regularly encouraged me to be more active with fireworks sales. And with good reason…aside from the fact that it’s a “family biz” and well…hand that feeds me (well, more like P because it’s for tuition!)

I’ve never really been interested in it…until this year. (Don’t ask me why. My impulsive self has decided that I have to learn ins and outs of retail.) So from “nothing” last year, I’m actually Area Manager for our two kiosks in MegaMall. (How’s that for a big bang?)

S’s cousins have put together a business that runs the mall fireworks sales kasi during December. And this is the first year I’ve ever been involved.

I was there last Saturday evening, trying to observe. I learned that “Hi, is there anything I can help you with?” doesn’t work. I got strange looks when I asked someone who was looking at our products. What does is if you pretend to be another customer and look like you’re looking at the same thing and then talk about the product.

There was this guy looking at the 16 shots and so I ask him what he was considering it for. He said New Year’s. So I told him that he was early, and that (product name) was a big hit last year. He looks at me with interest and says, “talaga?” Well, he didn’t buy and I didn’t make that sale, but hopefully as New Year approaches, he’ll remember me and the booth. Hahahahaha!

It also helps if you reach for the pricelist and read it together. Or perhaps share with them something they can relate to.

But I realize I can’t work around in an environment with people I know, I’d be shy. Strange (maybe that’s where P picks it up). I prefer doing things on my own.

It’s actually pretty fun (I know, I might regret this come inventory time. Please, I’m open to new inventory methods…I’m still working with the one that the cousins have implemented.). Yesterday, as S and I walked back to the car after our daily collection, I said to him, “Hey, we’re real Chinese (I actually used a different term, but just in case I have readers who might get offended, I have decided to just use “Chinese”) na! See, we’re working at odd hours, we just picked up the collection for the day and are going home pa lang now. Hahahahaha!” (Can I say, “it’s in the blood pa rin”? Hahahahahaah!)

Please friends, come and visit (uh…and BUY na rin!!) our Starmaker Fireworks booths in MegaMall Building A. We have one in front of Toy Kingdom and the other is very near Pollo Loco.