My yoga retreat at Brahma Kumaris: Inner Peace, Inner Power

It was a challenging journey for the past year and you know how it is when it gets to a point that you become confused and ask yourself what your purpose is, what God has planned for you, how you can keep up with these struggles and how you mostly question the real meaning of our existence in this Universe. The sudden turn of events in my life created a big impact on myself and sometimes, when you had some catch-22 you suddenly view things on a different angle. I became cautious ‘to the point where I need to halt and pause, think deeply, before taking action. This applies to almost all situations I’m in. I choose my battles wisely and learned not to give too many fucks on small things.

Last February of this year,  it became too stifling for me and decided to attend another retreat at the Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University. This is my second one.  Being in a retreat is way even better than traveling on a different country because you get to source your positive energy and happiness from within yourself and not from your outside surroundings. I believe it is important to be in touch with your soul. I always feel so renewed after a retreat.

Pardon for my sucky photos. Actually, grainy and blurry photos are my specialty. And I don’t really mind it at all. This was taken from an old phone I had because my ASUS phone got broken and had to resort from a low end one. I still decided to take photos because I wanted to document this for I know this is worth keeping in my mind. My memory is weak and I’m afraid by the time I reach 50 I’ll have an early Alzheimer’s Disease or something.

This retreat offers you to gain a broader understanding of what is happening in the world at this time and how it affects you as you begin to understand the depth of karma philosophy. The BK yogis will teach you the Raj yoga meditation in order for you to discover the benefits of gaining peace, contentment and happiness.

As usual, we started our day with vegetarian snacks. Their food is superb and I consider this as the best ever vegetarian food I’ve ever tried

Eggless choco cake 

The yogi at Brahma Kumaris asked us, if we will pick a symbol of ourselves, , what would it be and why? We were shown different symbols and asked to write down our answers on a piece of paper.

I picked the symbol of a sea. Here’s why.

“When the weather is calm my waves roll gently. When stormy winds blow I am wild and out of control. On the surface, I am influenced by my surroundings. But I am also deep and way down beneath my surface is another world, in my depths I have a mysterious and secret world of stillness, silence, beauty, hidden color and great power. Even though I am mostly on the surface where I interact with the world outside, I spend time visiting my depths, so that I can become resilient to the winds of change. “

I love spending time here even before when I was still studying the Raj yoga at their University every Sunday in Tagaytay,. For some reason, the place holds a certain aura of peace and positivity and it’s not just because of the atmosphere that Tagayatay brings but also because you’ll see words of wisdom from each area of BK.

This is the Meditation room where you can just spend your time being quiet. You can stay here for hours as much as you like and no one will bother you.

I guess the way to deal with stress is knowing what your happiness metric is. I know that we hear this all the time, like go inwards and reflect and connect with yourself but based on my experience, after my separation, I have proven this to be true. I trudged and journeyed my way alone without needing anyone in my life even at this moment. I even came to know the real me through spending time by myself and going to places that I know i will find serenity and contentment. We shouldn’t be afraid to deal with the nuggets of bullshits that’s being forced to us down our mouths. We have the option to spit them out or eat them whole.

If you happen to be in Philippines and you want some soul spa, you may visit Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University located in Tagaytay,.

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Hershey’s Chocolate World in Dubai

To hell with the 0 Sugar diet!  I am literally in heaven. Who can resist all these mouth-watering goodness? We definitely don’t deserve deprivation and I hate it when someone tells me I’ve been eating too much sweets because it adds up to my energetic personality and making me even more talkative than ever. I am a sucker for anything sweet, like anything including men who throw cheesy lines and muttering sweet effin nothings (like seriously? why did I include that?)

So when I first arrived in Dubai, my sister gave me a little tour of the city and Dubai Mall was the first place I’ve gone to. I forgot to blog about this and was supposed to a long time ago but I was busy with family matters and work-related matters. So last week I was browsing my phone and came across these photos and thought “Okay I wanted to share this to my kabayans in the Philippines because I know a lot of my friends love chocolates, and I actually plan to bring some for them maybe next year.

Now tell me if you aren’t fascinated by them? Look at those humongous Hershey’s Kisses! They are just perfect to buy as gifts for Christmas and even Valentine’s Day to your friends and families. Seeing a lot of chocolates all lined up gave me a bit of a headache. I had this urge to grab them all and throw into the shopping basket. I can just imagine how kids are when they’re inside here, faces all lit up and smiling and begging from their mommies to get them to buy the whole store! 

Adorable Kisses and Reese stuffed toys 

My sister dragged me out of the store or else I’ll have even more migraines which could get really worse. Mind you, it’s not because of eating too much sweets but it’s the fact that I am dizzy looking at all of em!

 

And oh, wait for this next post coz we went to another candy store and this time, I almost fainted.

Up next…Candylicious!

 

My cheap beauty product alternatives for the summer in Dubai

I’ve been losing a lot of hair because of the water here in Dubai. I’ve read a lot of articles about beauty solutions and I came across this cheaper alternative for a dry shampoo. I’m actually planning to buy this product that I saw at Carrefour and it only costs like 30 something AED, but good thing  I discovered  I can actually use baby powder as a dry shampoo replacement!

I bought this Cool & Cool Baby Powder at Carrefour for only 20 something AED  The best baby powder to use as a dry shampoo alternative is look for the one that doesn’t have too much talc on it. Use the tester first and feel the texture. If it  feels like a cornstarch then that’s a better option. All you need to do is put a little amount of powder in your palm, then rub and apply in your hair. No need to get worried about looking like you had dandruff because it blends so well and wouldn’t cause any flaky residue I started using this because I cannot wash my hair everyday due to the fact that the water here in Dubai contains too much chlorine causing drastic hair fall scare.

Another cheap alternative that I am using now is the all time favorite Nivea Creme. I bought this out of impulse. I just realized that I need a new moisturizer and I cannot use an Argan Oil in daytime for it gives me that sticky feel and you cannot imagine how hot and humid Dubai can be during the day. I also need to save money so buying expensive moisturizer is not on my shopping list.

The Nivea Creme can be used as:

• A face moisturizer
• Hair balm
• lip balm
• nail and hand cream
• for chapped skin (used as skin moisturizer)

Problem solved right? So for our kabayans out there looking for a solution when it comes to avoiding hair fall and treating dry skin, you might want to consider these options. It’s waaay cheaper!

You might want to check out my article about my shampoo replacement too. Check out Amla Shampoo Replacement review

 

Surviving Dubai

What do you usually feel when you are in a place where there’s no guarantee of almost everything? No permanency. Everything temporary. Will you get scared? will you worry all the time thinking that possibly the next day, you won’t have a job, or a flat or dread that your contract is fast ending and that you fret because you don’t know if your employer will renew it or not (and if in case not you’ll have to hustle and look for another job). These emotions are pretty normal for most people here in Dubai. Some are actually too enveloped in stress that they are allowing themselves to be consumed by it, which is saddening. A lot of lonely people trying to find ways to ease the feeling of isolation .I know that this also happens to some other countries too where a lot of expats work abroad to earn for a living for their families and it’s not just Dubai. What I have concluded is that you cannot change the state of your environment, but the good thing is that you can change the state of your thinking and mindset. You see, you have to be adaptable to change. You have to go with the flow of things and be open to new challenges and adventures. Feeling all these negative emotions are  normal and you can acknowledge it. However, it is best that you know how you can divert all these negative feelings into something really positive.  For the past few months since I arrived here in Dubai, I keep holding on to this thought that something really rewarding awaits me. Actually I strongly sense it. And I keep thanking God a million times over and over how I totally appreciate the things that he has blessed me with. After all the hardships that I’ve gone through from dealing with my separation to being hospitalized and now moving to Dubai and start from zero, I must confidently say that I am not afraid anymore and I have never felt so tough when it comes to dealing with challenges. I also became more wiser and intelligent. You gain all these knowledge through experiencing struggles, meeting new people and absorbing facts and principles from books  too.

Before actually writing this blog post I was feeling kind of sentimental and homesick, which explains this photo my sister took of me while looking out the window of our flat.

So if you will ask me if I am happy now? I’ll say YES. I am happy. And when someone ask me “Why does it seem like you don’t miss your family? You seem like you’re always out and about in Dubai partying.” My usual response is” I do miss my family especially my kids. No need to wear a long face all the time because at the end of the day, you have no choice but to deal with your own shit. ”

Never let these negativity rule you. You sail your own ship and you should know where the direction of the wind will take you. You need to strategically maneuver the sails, make sure that the mast and the winch are intact and in place securely, just like with your life making sure that your emotions are stable and your mind and body are ready to take these new challenges that is coming for you

 

I hope whoever is reading this will have a fruitful and blessed life ahead of him/her.

 

 

SEAOIL offers lifetime supply of fuel to lucky motorists

SEAOIL, the country’s largest independent fuel player, has launched the first raffle promo of its kind in the Philippines that will be giving four lucky motorists their lifetime supply of SEAOIL fuels.

 

“We have always stood by the quality and performance of SEAOIL fuels and this is our way of thanking our loyal customers, whom we call SEAOIL Believers, for the trust they have placed in us,” said SEAOIL CEO Glenn Yu.

Winners of the “Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo, which will run from August 14 to November 14, 2017 will be announced during three monthly raffle draws on September 15, October 16, and November 28. They will get P5,000 worth of SEAOIL gift certificates per month during their actual lifespan.

Aside from the four main prizes of lifetime SEAOIL fuels, there will be a total of 30 winners of P10,000 pesos worth of SEAOIL gift cards, as well as over 30,000 instant prizes including P10, P20, P100, and P500 discounts on SEAOIL fuels and P100 on SEAOIL Lubricants through “peel-off” cards.

To get a raffle entry which includes an instant prize card, a customer must submit receipts totaling P500 worth of Extreme 97, Extreme 95, Extreme U, Extreme Diesel fuels and/or SEAOIL Lubricants to any SEAOIL station nationwide.

“Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo follows through on the company’s recent product quality campaign which highlights SEAOIL fuel’s top three qualities. Firstly, SEAOIL’s base fuels are imported from advanced refineries in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, ensuring world-class quality. Secondly, SEAOIL fuels are monitored and tested at least three times daily at the retail stations for consistency. Thirdly, SEAOIL fuels are the only ones in the Philippines that are powered with STP additives, known for superior engine clean-up and keep-clean properties resulting in improved performance.

“This is definitely an exciting time for us as we gear and pump up all of our 400 stations for this,” said Yu. “SEAOIL Believers all over the country will have a chance to be part of this nationwide celebration.”

Earlier in the year, the company launched its biggest station to date, the two-hectare SEAOIL-CityMall SCTEX mega station, a P600-million collaboration between SEAOIL and CityMall Commercial Centers Inc. Located near the Concepcion Exit in Tarlac, the SEAOIL mega station is midway between Baguio and Manila, making it the perfect stopover for travelers from northern Luzon provinces.

Throughout the years, SEAOIL has pioneered innovative products such as alternative fuels like bioethanol gasoline and biodiesel as well as services and programs including its award-winning franchise package as part of its commitment to excellence and service to the Filipino people.

Deepening meditation experiences: Brahma Kumaris

Deepen your spiritual understanding and experience of Raja Yoga Meditation with an experienced senior yogi. Learn more about the ultimate way to experience constant peace and happiness amidst this world loaded with peacelessness, suffering and uncertainties. This retreat offers you to:

• Gain a broader understanding of what is happening in the world at this time and how it affects you as you begin to understand the depth of karma philosophy;
• Experience Raj Yoga Meditation once again.
• Discover the benefits of leading a spiritual lifestyle.

This will be on August 12, 9am to August 13, 3pm. The retreat is Deepening Meditation Experiences. We hope you can join us in this wonderful and soul-full retreat.

Below is the suggested schedule of your retreat:
Saturday
8:00-9:00         Arrival/Registration
9:00-9:30         Orientation and Warm-up
9:30-10:00       Expectation Check
10:00-10:30     Snack Break
10:30-12:30     Session: Practical Aspects of Soul-consciousness
12:30-1:30       Lunch
1:30-3:30         Personal Time and Reflection
3:30-4:00         Snack
4:00-5:30         Meditation Session
5:30-6:30         Session: Experiencing God’s Love and Protection 1
6:30-7:30         Blessing Ceremony
7:30-8:15         Dinner
8:15-9:00         Session: Experiencing God’s Love and Protection 2

Sunday
4:00-4:45 am   Early morning meditation
6:30-7:00         Nature Walk or Breathing Exercise
7:00-7:30         Reflection
7:30-8:30         Breakfast
8:30-9:30         Session: Depths of Karma Philosophy
9:30-10:00       Reflection Time
10:00-10:30     Snack Time
10:30-12:30     Workshop with Lecture
12:30-1:30       Lunch
1:30-2:30         Q and A Session
2:30-3:00         Sharing of Experiences/Toli/Blessings
3:00 onwards Departure

During the retreat, there will be inspiring chit-chat sessions with Sister Rajni, a meditation practitioner for more than 40 years, meditation drills, interactive classes, and creative workshops to help guide you into the depth of silence so you can experience the most benefit. Sessions will be on meditation, self-realizations, philosophy of karma, and there will also be Q&A portion.

Facilitation of the retreat is our service to humanity. However, there is a contribution of 1,700 pesos per person to cover your meals, snacks, accommodation and use of the facilities.
Kindly send us your confirmation by August 7 to help us in our preparation for the retreat. Should you have questions and concerns, please feel free to contact us at (046) 4832128 / 09175020243 or send us an email.

Finding the right car at Cars.Com

-SPONSORED POST-

 

I came from a family who’s into automobile business.  My dad was obsessed with cars of all sorts from vintage to modern ones. We used to run an automotive business from selling used cars, restoring cars,  paint jobs and almost everything you can think of as long as it’s about cars. My uncle also runs the same business but his main focus are Volkswagens.  And my brother now has his own automotive business and offers home services too. He is such an expert mechanic too and I guess the skill was passed on by my dad. So given that I have a  background about automobiles, finding the perfect car is a piece of cake!

When you’re looking to buy a car, you would need to consider a lot of factors. I suggest you can make a checklist of what your preferences are, from the model, make, the performance, the price and if it really fits your current lifestyle. This could be a tedious work because a lot of car dealers and agents could take advantage of you if you are not knowledgeable with what you’re  buying. Do an extensive research first. Visiting several dealers is very important so you have the option to choose and compare prices. If you are buying a used automobile, , one important factor is checking the number of miles because this will determine the wear and tear and functionality. Buying cars can be very tricky and if you don’t think strategically about this you could end up buying something you’ll regret in the end.

So where should you start searching for brand new and used vehicles you ask? Actually, there are a lot of websites that offers a wide range of choices however, there’s only one trusted website ‘that i can recommend for you.

Company Overview:

Www.cars.com is a leading online destination that helps car shoppers and owners navigate every turn of car ownership. A pioneer in automotive classifieds, the company has evolved into one of the largest digital automotive platforms, connecting consumers with local dealers across the country anytime, anywhere. Through trusted expert content, on-the-lot mobile app features, millions of new and used vehicle listings, a comprehensive set of research tools and the largest database of consumer reviews in the industry,

Cars.com helps shoppers buy, sell and service their vehicles. It is also a great resource for finding great deals for cars whether you are looking for brand new or used ones. The website is easy to navigate and you can search for cars on sale by entering the zip code of the location you wish to buy the car from. You will also find some helpful articles about Maintenance 101 like how long will your tire last, how often should you rotate your tires, or is oil for high- mileage engines worth the extra cost? and other helpful tips you should know. If you also have a used car ‘you wanted to sell, or trade, you may register and list your car under the car listings section.

Here are samples of used cars you can find in NYC.

 

Used 2016 Maserati GranTurismo MC Centennial

Used 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo

You may also check their video reviews about the cars like this one

Video: 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Widebody: First Drive

https://www.cars.com/videos/2018-dodge-challenger-hellcat-widebody–first-drive-5511896187001/

Check out http://www.cars.com and start shopping for that perfect car you’ve been wanting. Shop wisely. Read reviews and articles and find the best car dealers in a specific state near you.

Early Sunday Mornings Become Brighter with Wazzup Pilipinas Radio

There is truth to the old adage that the early bird catches the worm since several studies have also correlated waking up early with success. It seems success could easily be attained when an individual maintains the habit of beating the sunrise to eagerly start his daily adventures feeling refreshed, highly energized and with renewed enthusiasm.

Most successful people are those who get a head start on the day by knocking out tasks before the rest of the world, especially their peers and competitors, has rolled out of bed. They are the go-getters who want to work longer hours but still have enough time for their personal lives too. The biographies of history’s greatest men would reveal that most of them were early risers. “They were men of action who had things to do and people to see. They couldn’t dilly dally under the covers.”

Early risers can be more productive, successful, and calm. They are happier, healthier and more productive than night owls. Normally, those who are punctual and are never late for work, events, meetings, and other gatherings and activities, often get the biggest opportunity because not only do they gain the admiration of their superiors and peers for their punctuality, they often send across the message that they are highly reliable, resourceful and organized.

Since traffic congestion has become a normal scenario nowadays, giving it as an excuse for being late no longer counts as an acceptable reason. Early risers have a habit of making their way to their destinations even before they get caught in a jam. They avoid such hassles because they plan ahead so that even before all the rest of the PUVs and private cars congest the streets of Metro Manila, they’ve already managed to mark the most convenient routes to reach their target destinations.

Now, there are more reasons to wake up early even on Sunday mornings. Wazzup Pilipinas Radio has been regularly on air on a weekly basis every Sunday at 6 to 7 am, and has proudly topped all the rest of the early morning radio shows during that time. The radio show has been airing live on DZRJ 810 AM and livestreaming on 8Trimedia Network’s social media pages via YouTube: http://bit.ly/2sDn0dU and via Facebook Live: http://bit.ly/2sDTe8L

Hosted by the Pambansang Blogger Ross Del Rosario, with co-hosts Master Pogi David D’Angelo, Millennial Momshie Sarah Muyco, and Ate ng Bayan Ayla De Joya,

Help Lavinia Battle Chronic Kidney Disease

Her name is Maria Lavina Cajoles. She looks strong and vibrant but deep inside she is bruised, fighting a battle that not ordinary women have. A year ago, Lav is diagnosed with what we call as Chronic Kidney Disease or commonly called CKD. A person with CKD has kidney whose function gradually becomes impaired. In its advanced stage, electrolytes and wastes can build up in the body making one’s body weak. There will be complications like anemia, weak bones, and even nerve damage. Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of the kidney damage, usually by controlling the underlying cause. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant. 

Most people don’t have any symptoms early in the disease. Once the disease progresses, the symptoms can include feeling tired, feeling weak, loss of appetite, not sleeping, not thinking clearly and swelling of the feet and ankles. The most common causes of CKD are high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Chronic kidney disease can also be caused by infections or urinary blockages. Today, as Lav takes the battle field to the next level, she finds comfort in knowing that she is never alone in her fight. The fact that people she doesn’t personally know care about her gives her strength. Currently, Lav is an active member of Life Saving Shirts wherein the group sells shirts for a cause not only for Lav but also for other patients who are fighting the battle of CKD. Support Lav in her battle by visiting the fan page of Life Saving Shirts.

Place an order via https://www.facebook.com/thelifesavingshirts/

Divatress fabulous wigs for that reinvention!

—This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine–

The downside of aging is that apart from your metabolism slowing down and skin losing it’s elasticity, our hair starts to lose it’s vibrance and slowly thinning. At age 35, I realized that my hair is approaching doomsday. As much as I wanted to grow my hair long again, whenever it reaches down to my shoulders it looks so limp and lifeless. I have to admit that I haven’t been really nice to it because I’ve been coloring my hair and putting all sorts of hair products resulting to having damaged and unhealthy strands.

I decided to let my hair breathe for once. I snipped a few inches and stopped putting chemicals to it until it grows back from it’s original color and texture. Being a blogger, I am always on the lookout for solutions online. One thing that came to mind is purchasing a wig that would really look natural when worn.  In our country the Philippines, it’s quite rare for someone to sport a wig unless you’ll be attending a social gathering or a VIP party, so you’ll seldom find a good wig to buy at a department store or malls. The good thing about the internet is that it gives you an avenue of information. Good thing I stumbled upon this website DIVATRESS offering beauty products from wigs, hair care and styling products, hair accessories, and styling tools.

The Model Model Hair Weave is perfect for my temporary hair dilemma and these are my personal picks

 

DIVATRESS is a leading E Commerce company and they are known for their popular all natural looking wigs. You’ll enjoy the wide selections of styles from curly, wavy, pixie cut, and shoulder length hair with bangs. A lot of beauty stylists go to this website to order wigs for models too (based on my personal research). You can tell just by the name that it’s totally perfect for us women with a lot of swag!

If you are trying to grow your hair long or if you don’t like the style of your hair now, feel free to browse through their website and yo;u’ll be amazed of the fabulous styles they offer. Fast delivery and very efficient customer service!

I am craving for that reinvention and this is it!!!!!