Mimi's Haven

10 GUIDELINES TO THRASH DEPRESSION

2009-04-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

There are times when we left to face with the harsh realities of life… We feel that we will not be able to deal with the present situation and we see nothing good in the future to change things. So we sink into the depths of desolation… But are we going to live our life in this manner? Don’t we have faith in God who sustains us, in whatever trials we are through? Afterall, God does not give us trials that we can’t handle. We just need to have faith in Him to help us to have courage in facing our struggles and troubles in this God-given life… I would like to share with you some tips on how to beat depression no matter how downtrodden you are:

1. Try to think positive. Don’t give too much emphasis on the bad things instead give more emphasis on the good things. Count your blessings… Count them one by one, from the tip of your hair down to your toes, count all the people who love and care so much about you, count all the talents and strengths you have, and all the triumph you had in the past… Praise God for everything. One way to look at life is to look at the grass in the field, they don’t reap nor plant yet God takes care of them. We do have problems; we have failures and mistakes; and we have to struggle in this life, but amidst all these, we can also put our full trust in the Lord. Only then we can get through this phase.

2. Seek help from someone. Getting the burden out from your system can lessen it. Confide in someone you can trust and whose advice you respect such as a friend, a teacher, a priest, your parents, your brothers or your sisters, etc. They have wonderful ideas to help you get through this. Remember, two heads are better than one.

3. Have a good cry. It is uplifting to voice out all your emotions by giving in to your sorrow. Don’t be ashamed to cry out loud and accept the realities of life. And most of all never refuse to accept comfort from others.

4. Plan a course of action to solve your problems and follow it until you see improvement. If for example you are jobless, don’t wallow on self-pity, instead look for jobs. If loneliness is your problem, try to accept the fact that we all do experience certain lows and highs in our lives. Don’t isolate yourself. Get in touch with your old and new friends. They will help you recover what ever sadness you are feeling right now.

5. Be good to yourself. If you have some cravings, go splurge for it. There is no time to do that but now. Go to the salon and have your hair done, have a spa or massage, buy yourself an ice cream, etc. By doing this, you are giving yourself time to chill out.

6. Realize that you are not alone. Nobody in this world is alone. No matter how poor or rich we are, we have our family and friends to cling to. And if you think that nobody is really there for you, think of Jesus. He is always there for you, just call Him… You can also join organizations in which you have a sincere interest. There you will meet new friends with similar interest that will help uplift your spirit.

7. Renew an interest. If you used to enjoy movies, music, gardening, reading, or whatever you like, go for it. This will improve your self esteem and keep you out from thinking of the present problem.

8. Follow a course of regular exercise. You can take a walk early in the morning in your neighborhood and just appreciate the beauty of things around you, from the small ant in the anthill to the flying birds in the sky. See the wondrous beauty of nature… Meditate and be thankful for everything that was given unto you.

9. If in spite of all your efforts you continue to suffer from sleeplessness or anxiety or restlessness or worst thoughts of suicide, ask for professional advice from a reputable psychiatrist and begin your therapy.

10. Write down your dreams and try to interpret them yourself. Sometimes they can help in solving your problem. Keep in mind that the Lord in ancient time uses dream in order to talk to people and help them in whatever dilemma they had… So take time to meditate on it!

Remember that there is no problem in this world that can’t be solve with God in our side. For the Lord said: “Come to me, all you grown weary and burdened, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble hearted, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burdened is light.” Face it and cheer up! J

THE BEAUTITUDES

2009-04-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Christ triumph over death. Let celebrate this day and reflect in what he want us to do in order to be truly happy…

True Happiness (Matthew 5:3-12)

Happy are those who know

they are spiritually poor;

the kingdom of heaven

belongs to them!

Happy are those who mourn;

God will comfort them!

Happy are those who are humble;

they will receive what God has promised!

Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;

God will satisfy them fully!

Happy are those who are merciful to others;

God will be merciful to them!

Happy are the pure in heart;

they will see God!

Happy are those who work for peace;

God will call them his children!

Happy are those who are persecuted

because they do what God requires;

the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.

JESUS CHRIST’S TEACHING

2009-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a black Saturday, let us all reflect and meditate on what Jesus thought us… Here is some of Jesus teachings for you to ponder this season of lent…

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Matthew 7:1-2

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."

Matthew 5:38-40

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Matthew 7:3-5

"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

Matthew 22:36-40

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Matthew 7:7-8

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES

2009-04-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay and you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.”

Isaiah 64:8

“If it is not the Lord

who builds a house,

its builders strain at it to no purpose.

If it is not the Lord

who guards a city,

guards keep watch to no purpose.”

Psalm 127:1

“Whether you eat or drink

or whether you do not,

do everything for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

“Be a model of good works

in every respect;

in your teaching demonstrate integrity,

seriousness, and sound speech

which is beyond reproach.”

Titus 2:7-8

“Render service with enthusiasm,

as to the Lord

and not to men and women,

knowing that whatever good we do,

we will receive the same from the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:7

“Come to me, all you grown

weary and burdened,

and I will refresh you.

Take my yoke upon you

and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble hearted,

and you will find rest for your souls;

for my yoke is easy,

and my burden light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

But first seek the Kingdom and

the will of God and all those things

will be given to you also.”

Matthew 6:33

VEGIES FOR HOLY WEEK

2009-04-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Since today is a Maundy Thursday, I would like to share with you three vegetable recipes that you could cook this holy week when meat is a no-no for us Catholics. Enjoy cooking!

1. Cream of Peppers

· Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; ½ pound onion chopped; 1 large clove garlic chopped; ¾ pound ripe plum tomatoes; 1 pound red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, trimmed, seeded and chopped; 3 ½ - 4 cups chicken stock, no salt added; 6 large basil leaves, plus additional leaves for garnish; ¼ cup dry sherry; salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

· Procedure: Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high flame. Reduce heat to medium and sauté onion in the oil until tender. Add garlic and continue sautéing for 30 seconds or so. Stir in tomatoes and cook about 5 minutes, until tomatoes soften completely and lose their shape; do not brown. Stir in peppers and 3 ½ cups stock. Briskly simmer about 10 minutes, until liquid has reduced a little. A couple of minutes before the time is up, add 6 basil leaves. Add sherry, season with salt and pepper then remove from heat. Carefully spoon half the mixture into a blender and blend thoroughly. Pour into bowl and repeat with remaining mixture. If mixture is too thick, add a little more stock. Serve warm or chilled, topping each serving with a tablespoon of julienned basil leaves.

2. Sautéed Eggplant

Ingredients: 2 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 tablespoon chopped onion; 4 cups cubed eggplant; 1 tablespoon oyster sauce; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon chili paste with garlic; 1 tablespoon vinegar; ¼ cup water or chicken broth; ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds.
Procedure: Heat oil with onion in a heavy bottomed frying pan until soft, about 2 minutes. Add eggplant and stir and toss until cubes are coated and oil has been absorbed for about 2 minutes. Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, chili paste, vinegar and ¼ cup water or chicken broth. Cover and simmer over medium heat until tender for about 5 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds and serve.

3. Zucchini with Butter

Ingredients: 4 small zucchini about 1 pound; salt and freshly ground pepper; 4 teaspoon capers, well drained; 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley; 1/3 cup unsalted butter.
Procedure: Wash and dry zucchini and trim ends. Cut crosswise into 2-inch chunks. Cut each chunk lengthwise into 1/2 –inch slices, then cut each slice into ½-inch sticks. In a large saucepan, heat enough water to generously cover zucchini to a boil. Add salt and zucchini sticks, and simmer until just tender for about 2 minutes. Drain and plunge into cold water to stop the cooking. Drain sticks thoroughly and transfer them to a shallow, heat proof serving dish. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper, toss, then add capers and parsley. When ready, heat butter in a small, heavy saucepan. Cook it over medium heat until the bubbling stops and the butter turns to light brown and smells nutty. Pour butter over zucchini and serve.

FAT BURNING SOUP

2009-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Are you overweight? Do you want to get rid of all those fats? If so, I would like to share with you a recipe which is called “fat burning soup” that helps in trimming down fats in your body. I had read this recipe in an old issue of Homelife Magazine just this morning. Here it goes…

Recipe:

4 large white onions; a head of cabbage; a can stewed or crushed or paste tomato; broth of your choice; any other vegetables that would make the soup more appetizing. Just pop all the ingredients in a pot, put a desired amount of water and boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Rationing:

Day 1: Eat lots of fruits (except banana) and fat-burning soup.

Day 2: Eat lots of vegetables and of course, fat-burning soup.

Day 3: Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and lots of fat-burning soup.

Day 4: Eat meat with a small amount of butte and lots of fat burning soup.

Day 5: Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and lots of fat-burning soup.

Day 6: Eat meat with small amount of butter and lots of fat-burning soup.

Day 7: Regular three square meals. But no merienda please.

But take note, for day 1 to 6, absolutely no bread, no rice, no carbonated drinks and no alcoholic beverage. Vary your vegetables or broth to make your fat-burning more appetizing. And if you lose more than 15 pounds after seventh day, make sure you take two weeks interval before resuming the diet…

Good luck!

RELATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY TEST

2009-04-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

I was surfing the net when I came to this website www.personalityquiz.com. It did interest me a lot that I answered some of its personality tests which were featured in this site. One of the tests was entitled Priority Test in which an individual is given a situation and was asked to decide without second thought on which action he would do first in a given situation. In the test, each action matches up with a certain priority. Here is the test, just follow the given instruction below… Enjoy answering...

What would you do first if you were in a situation where:

· The baby is crying.

· The clothes are hanging outside and it has started to rain.

· The water is running from the tap.

· The doorbell is ringing.

· The phone is ringing.

Think about what you will do first, then second and so on. Scroll down to see the explanation.

Each action reflects the priorities that you have set in your life. Take a look at the following table to see which priority corresponds to which action.

Action	Priority
Attend the phone	Career and job
See who is at the door	Friends and relatives
Pick up the clothes	Sex
Attend the baby	Family
Switch the tap off	Wealth

For example if the first thing that you did was to answer the phone then your biggest priority in life would be your career and job. Similarly if the fourth thing that you did was to attend to the baby then your fourth priority would be your family.

FOUR GREAT TUMMY EXERCISES

2009-04-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am one of those girls who keep on whining about a big tummy. I really wanted to have this flat abs that most women on television or magazine have. So when I had a chance, I searched in the web and find this article from Olinda Rola entitled ‘Best Flat Tummy Exercises for Great Female Abs’. She has these four tummy exercises that are really easy to do. So I wanted to share it with you. And I hope you will find it helpful too… Here are the great flat tummy exercises:

1. Tummy Isometric Crunch

Exhale, then suck in your stomach as far as you can, hold for about 15 seconds. Relax and breathe. Visualize moving your bellybutton straight toward your back. Holding in your tummy muscles and tensing your abs is a good way of firming and strengthening them. You will also become more aware of how to control your tummy muscles. Repeat several times. This exercise can be done anywhere, anytime.

*Note - if you have high blood pressure, do not hold your breath for extended periods of time.

2. Rectus Abdominis Tummy Exercises

a. Lie on your back on the floor with bent knees and your feet flat on the floor, knees and feet spread apart the width of your hips.

b. Place your hands gently on the sides of your head for support, spreading your elbows so you cannot see them.

c. With your chin tucked toward your chest, gently curl upward and forward so that your head, neck and shoulder blades lift off the floor and your lower back presses against the floor (if you want, start with your head resting on a pillow which has your head and neck in the correct position to begin).

d. Pause just a moment, then gently return to the starting position.

e. Repeat several times.

*Note - do not use your arms to complete the curl. If you can see your elbows, you're cheating. Do not put your feet under anything since this lessens the effectiveness of these types of flat tummy exercises. If this female abs exercise is too difficult for you, do the next one below.

3. Sit-Back Flat Tummy Exercises - if your female abs muscles are weak and you have trouble lifting yourself off the floor in #2 above, here is an alternate flat tummy exercise for you:

a. Start in a sitting position on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor (secure your feet under a piece of furniture).

b. Cross your arms over your chest and roll your head and shoulders forward toward your chest.

c. Gently and slowly lean back, keeping your head and shoulders tucked. Continue until you begin to feel your stomach muscles contracting.

d. Then try to lean back just a bit more if you can and hold that position until your muscles start shaking. Try to hold this position with your muscles shaking for five seconds, then ease back to the upright sitting position.

e. Repeat in a few seconds.

4. Reduce Chewing Exercises - yes, as in jaw muscles used for excessive chewing as in overeating. Reducing overeating or exercising those jaw muscles less may be necessary to have great female abs. No one can see great female abs if they are covered with body fat! Having great female abs may require losing some body fat. Losing body fat means:

a. Cardio exercise on a regular basis - getting the heartbeat up with fun whole-body workouts several times a week.

b. Healthy eating habits - eating healthy foods, eliminating sodas/junk food and taking in fewer calories than you burn each day.

c. Besides flat tummy exercises, strength training for the whole body – any muscle tissue you add will burn extra calories 24/7.

HOW TO KEEP LOOKING YOUNG?

2009-04-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

We see on television women in their forties who look like in their twenties. We often wonder about the things they do to maintain these youthful glows. It’s a fact that some people look younger than their age and some look like they were born really older than they look. But can we do something about keeping our looks younger than our age? Here are some things we can follow religiously to maintain that youthful glow longer than we thought:

1. Cleanse and Moisturize. Always keep your skin clean especially the face. Make sure you moisturize every after wash to lock moisture that keeps your skin younger looking.

2. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. The water cleanses our system from toxins and keeps our skin from getting dry.

3. Eat healthy foods. It is important to eat fruits, vegetables and foods that are rich in proteins and vitamin C. This will help in maintaining healthy cells in our body.

4. Sleep 8-10 hours a day. Sleep is the time of our body to invigorate itself. This is also a good time for our skin to repair its damage cells. So it is best to maintain proper sleeping pattern.

5. Exercise daily. Ideally 30 minutes exercises a day will keep you fit and vigorous. And not only that, this will also improve your blood circulation for a pinkish glow in your skin.

6. Avoid the heat of the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause irreparable damage to your skin cells, making it look dull and old. So always do not forget to apply sunscreen whenever you go out under the sun.

7. Maintain your weight. When you grow fat, your skin stretches and your body expands so when you lose weight your skin will be flabby and stretch marks will be very unsightly. So always try to maintain or at least keep your weight as close as possible to your ideal weight.

8. Never smoke. When you smoke your skin looks tired and pale and not only that, your skin will also ages faster and looks older. So it’s best to say ‘no to smoking’ the first time.

9. Avoid stress. Stress disrupts normal sleep which will affect your health and your looks. So whenever feeling stress up, take a break… Relax!

10. Smile… This will make you look young irregardless of your age. This would also make people like you. So put that frown down and learn to smile most of the time…

Remember, we only live this life once. So start living beautifully and healthily as early as you can… Keep looking young! J

COMPLETE LIST OF 2008 BAR EXAM PASSERS

2009-04-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

2008 Law graduates were so happy after their graduation because their four years, to some five years, struggle in the law school has finally come to an end. You could see smiling and fulfilled faces carved on their features. But after this short pleasure, another struggle would be coming on their way and that would be passing the Bar of 2008. After six months of toils and labors for the bar and five months of sleepless nights waiting for the result, finally the end is already here… The most awaited result of the Bar… A total of 1,310 passed the 2008 bar examinations, the Supreme Court announced Friday evening... (Click here to view result)

To the new lawyers: Congratulations! And to all the aspiring lawyers: God bless you for the coming Bar 2009.

MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT SCOLIOSIS

2009-04-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

1. What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a sideward curvature in your spine. Some curves in your spine are normal but for people with scoliosis, their spine have a large curve from side to side in the shape of the letter “S” or the letter “C.” If this curve is severe, it can cause pain and make breathing difficult. The good news is that most cases of scoliosis are mild, so if detected at an early stage, it can be prevented from getting worse.

2. What causes scoliosis?

In most cases, the cause of scoliosis is not known. And this disease is most common in girls than boys and it usually started at the age 8 to 10. And scoliosis that is severe enough to need treatment is most common in girls.

3. What are the symptoms?

A person who has scoliosis may have the following symptoms:

· one shoulder or hip that looks higher than the other

· the head does not look centered over the body

· one shoulder blade sticks out more than the other

· waistline is flat on one side, or the ribs look higher on one side

· back pain and difficulty in breathing

4. How is scoliosis diagnosed?

The scoliosis can be diagnosed by the doctor who will check to see if the back and ribs of a certain person is even. If the doctor finds that one side is higher than the other, then the doctor will advise for an X-ray to measure the spinal curve.

5. How is it treated?

Mild cases of scoliosis usually do not need treatment. If it is a child, the doctor will check the curve of the spine every 4 to 6 months. If the curve gets worse, then the doctor may advice the child to wear a brace until he or she has finished growing. In severe cases, or if bracing doesn't help, the child may need to have surgery. In adults who have scoliosis, the doctor will advice regular exercise and proper back care that may help relieve the pain for mild cases. And if there is progression in the curve, the doctor will advice for surgery to correct the curve in the spine.

6. What increases the risk of scoliosis?

A child will most likely to have scoliosis if someone in the family had it and if the child is a girl. Other things that increase the chance of a person to have scoliosis includes: bone deformity like a missing arm or leg, problems with tissue growth, and spine deformity from birth.

GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY

2009-04-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

I had seen a lot of old people come and go in my life. And I noticed that they have many things in common; they have lots of regrets and what ifs in their lives that they live their remaining days without ease… some lost interest in their social life so they spent their days being a grump and a pain in the ass for others who live with them… others find it so useless to learn new things so they just stayed home and splurge their time in complete idleness… and a few numbers of them live a meaningless life that they just live without living...

So what now? We can’t stay young forever. All of us will grow old and reached that emotional anxiety sooner or later… We can be like those people being described above. What can we do about it? Is their really a formula for growing old gracefully? The answer is quite vague… It really depends upon the person… But I assume there are things we can do to grow old happily and contentedly in life. Here are some things that I think will help people to grow old gracefully:

Love and be loved. Love is one of the most powerful stimulants to a longer, happier and contented life. Show your love ones everyday that you really care. I think “I love you” is not really that hard to say especially if you really mean it. Why not say it more often to your husband or to your wife or to your kids? Talk to them more often, it will surely make the bond of love stronger in your family.
Be affectionate. Replenish your affection to your partner by just a hug or a kiss or a simple act of helping your wife or your husband in doing household activities. With that you can show that years didn’t weaken your affection to each other. You can also play with your kids or do some activities with them together; you are not only having fun but you are also showing your affection to them.
Broaden your interests. Not all of us can travel around the world before old age but everyone can begin to look forward to learning new things, to pursuing pastimes and developing skills. You can expose yourself to new interests in many ways, such as learning new technologies like the internet, joining in civic or welfare activities in your place like cleaning the streets, etc., or you could start reading books that would ensure not only knowledge but also a sense of enjoyment. Remember, inquiry into things that are new to you quickens the mind and heart.
Choose to be happy. Giving in to anger is one of our unhealthiest habits. Always not to let your emotions rule over you. Avoid heated arguments and strong emotional conflicts instead continue to nurture your relationship not only to your family but also to your neighbors and friends around you.
Don’t worry. Worry is just a bad emotional habit; like any habit, it can be broken if you make enough effort to stay away from it. Think of the positive things of life, like all the blessing you have acquired. Don’t be troubled over small things. Remember worrying too much could add more wrinkles on your face.
Make friends easily. As you grow older you must adjust yourself to the loss of lifelong friends and be prepared to make new ones. To do so, you have to be interested with people. Don’t hesitate to offer help when others need it; offer whatever pleasant and useful to you. Do not count what you give instead count all the satisfaction you feel in giving.
Nurture your religious faith. During the stresses and trials of everyday living, we all need the real comfort of faith. Getting old is not just about physical aspect of looking old but it’s a time of great responsibility in our spiritual life. This is the time that we need to cultivate our relationship with our God. So try to find time in your solitude to pray…

And I think the best way to grow old gracefully is to be eager to continue one’s life without looking back… And just continue reaching goals and dreams and more dreams and much more dreams… They said: “Aging is a process in which most people do more things for the last time, and fewer for the first time”. Reverse that and you have an antidote for growing old…J

HOW IT CAME TO BE?

2009-04-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

It was a Monday morning when my sister Coco and I decided not to work just to unwind ourselves. We were so exhausted working the whole week that we wanted to relax just for a day. I sent a text message to our school principal informing him that I will be absent for the day because I am not feeling well. Yeah… I am not really feeling that well not in literal sense but really I am emotionally… Maybe because of the pressure in school that resulted in emotional stress…

Anyhow, Coco and I spent the whole morning at home just sleeping, talking, and doing nothing at all… Then in the afternoon, we went to an internet café in Divisoria. I surfed the net in there then made some renovations in my friendster account… Suddenly the connection became so sluggish that I began to complain… Yeah, complained… But to my precious self only because I’m not a grumbler ever since and I am not fun of creating a scene in any place… I am actually a shy type… I keep on talking to myself not knowing that a friend of my mine, Boogie, was also in that café. She called my name and went near me and we began to chat. She then introduced me in the bloggers world... So that’s how it came to be…. I had this blog because of her. (Thanks Bogs!)

Anyway, it was not until 3 months after that meeting that I had decided to write something for this blog… You know why? School is finally over for this school year and I have nothing left to do at home and I don’t want to be idle for the summer… Then I remember my blog and fix on starting to write something in here. And this is it! A uncomplicated start… I would like to formally welcome all of you to my “blog”! J