Monsters University

We often associate cartoons with kids. Nowadays, movie makers have started creating cartoon movies that also allow adults to enjoy it. Movies like Ice Age, Monsters Inc, Madagascar, Toy Story, Brave are examples that there are things that kids and adults can enjoy together.

                Speaking of cartoons, my family watched Monsters University yesterday at home. My five month old even reacted to some of the scenes in the movie. We just let him watch with us and when he seems bored, we just carry him or play with him while watching.

                Monsters University tells the story of how Sully and Mike became the best of friends. They started out as enemies when they were in college but being both kicked out in the scare program brought them together. Together, they beat out all odds and won the game. However, the story did not end there. There were still revealing issues after the game that tested their friendship. Both of them realized that they both brought out the best in each other.

                Cartoons are not just for kids. If we look at the story, no matter how simple it is, we can learn something and can apply it in our lives as well. 

Facebook Ethics

Think Before You Speak. Think Before you Act.

I remember having a shirt that had these words on it. These days with all the social media going on, more and more people are forgetting to think before doing or saying something. Almost everyone I know have a Facebook account. There is something addictive about scrolling down the newsfeed and randomly checking what is happening with other people’s lives. I personally love to see happy family  pictures because it is a reminder that inspite of all the negativity around us, family will always be our “go to” when nothing else is left. I also love to read positive and funny shout outs. There are times when these simple shout outs make my day.

However, sometimes the posts on Facebook seem a bit much. Giving too much information can actually harm and not all our friends on Facebook are really our friends. Most of them are just acquaintances and they do not really give a damn what is happening in our lives.

Here are just a few things that I think we should not do on Facebook or whatever social media we are in:

1.Posting EVERYTHING you are doing every single day. Too much information is not cool.

2. Showing off every single thing that you buy. You don’t need to tell the world that you’re rich. The real rich people don’t actually do that.

3. Shouting out your love problems and making hints about what you are actually going through. Do not wash your dirty laundry in public.

4. Making inappropriate comments about another person. Even if you don’t actually mention the name, the fact that you are making a bad comment, people will be curious and ask about the identity of that person.

5. Sharing your family problems on Facebook is just not right. In the end, your family will still be your family. They deserve your respect by keeping private things within your circle.

6. Posting PDA pictures and saying too much I Love You just to make someone else jealous and showing everyone that you’re happy. A happy relationship is not measured on how much you need to show others that you guys are in love. It is more important to be affectionate when no one else is around to witness it. That makes it more intimate and special.

7. Telling everyone that you’re having a vacation and posting the exact dates of your departure and arrival. Remember thieves also have accounts on Facebook.

8. Shouting out negative comments about your workplace. You’ll never know when your superiors might be lurking on Facebook to fish information.  

9. Posting too many “Selfie” pictures. I would understand if you’re a model or in showbiz because they get paid to do that and the shots are pretty good. Don’t be too in love with your own face.

10. Posting unattractive photos of your friends and tagging them on purpose. Be a friend and know your limits.

These are just some of the things that in my opinion should be avoided. While it is good to share a part of our life to others, let us remember that too much information can actually do us more harm than good. Let us spread positive energy not just in our personal encounters but in social media as well. We can reach more people via internet and we can use our technology now to spread love in so many ways. 

Videos for Babies

    My son is almost five months old and he is starting to be curious on a lot of things. I started showing him videos for toddlers and he is already reacting. One of his favourites is the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star video. There is an owl in the video that flies with the star. He makes a sound every time he sees the owl.

    I am thankful to YouTube because we do not have to buy DVDs for babies and toddlers. Those educational DVDs like Baby Einstein are a little expensive so I was so happy to see some of them on YouTube.

The Voice

I love watching singing shows like American Idol, X-Factor, The Next, The Sing Off and The Voice. So far, the one that I like the most is the blind auditions of The Voice. The four coaches’ chairs are facing the audience so they cannot see the one singing on stage. They would base their judgement purely on the person’s voice. We really cannot deny that looks have a big influence on the judging. People are looking for the whole package. Talents plus looks plus personality equals a possible Star.

I especially love when the voice does not match the looks and I would see the surprise in the coaches’ faces. Also, I noticed that the contestants really know how to sing unlike X Factor and American Idol where there are contestants who just join for fun.

I am glad that The Voice has also branched out in the Philippines. My husband and I look forward watching it every weekend. We try to guess who will be the first winner of The Voice Philippines.  

After Birth Weight

 Becoming a mom is not an excuse to slack off on how women should dress. It is also not an excuse to just eat anything we want and not watch our weight. While it is a fact that majority of women gain weight during pregnancy and after birth, I think there is a limit as to when we can stop using giving birth as an excuse to just let go of our eating habits.

I am guilty of this. Four months after giving birth and I was still using my maternity clothes because my pre pregnancy clothes are still super tight. I could not even wear my pants. I was not really affected when people would comment about my weight gain because I thought  I was entitled to it because of childbirth. I had another excuse. Breastfeeding. Nursing makes you hungry and thirsty all the time. At least that’s what I’m experiencing. It is true that a breastfeeding mom should not limit her food intake. However, it is the kind of food that matters.

I realized that I was eating a lot of chocolates and I think it is the main culprit why I am not losing weight. I made a decision that four months is enough of making excuses. I then started putting away my maternity clothes. I am able to use one pair of pants from my pre pregnancy days. It was the pants that was a little big before and now, I can fit into it but still a little tight. I decided to start using it to remind me that I have to watch what I eat. I have started using my pre pregnancy clothes. Well, the ones that still fit anyway. I have a long way to go but I am determined to be able to wear all of them in a few months.

I am not going on a diet.  I will just eat healthier. I will not totally eliminate eating chocolates. I will just lessen it. Being skinny is not my goal. My goal is to just reach my ideal weight and just be healthier for myself and for my son.

Happy Weekend EveryoneJ

Reputation or Character

Reputation is what we are when someone is looking. Character is what we are when no one is looking.  I heard someone say this a long time ago. It was during one of our devotionals and it actually stayed with me.

Our reputation is what others think of us. When we do something seeking for men’s approval, we are only thinking of our reputation. Character chooses to do what is right whether it is popular or not.

Yes, we can choose to work for our reputation. We can put a mask and pretend about so many things. We can make people believe what we want them to believe. Reputation can be built in an instant. Character on the other hand is what we truly are. Our character is built in our lifetime. Reputation can be taken away from us but they cannot take away our character. Reputation is what we have when we first meet people. When we unmask what we truly are then our character is seen. As what they say, reputation is what is written in our obituary but our character is what the angels are saying about us before our great Creator.

What is more important to us? Our reputation or our character? Choose wiselyJ

Baby Weight Loss

 I bring my baby to the pediatrician every month for his regular check up and immunization. During his check up, the doctor measures his head, length and weight. She also checks up my son’s breathing if there are abnormalities. My son just turned four months and when we had our regular check up, we found out that he lost 200 grams of weight.   

We were analyzing the cause of his weight loss. The doctor suggested that the quality of my milk was deteriorating so I had to eat healthier foods. She also suggested giving him solids if he is ready. She mentioned that one of the signs to look for if the baby is ready to eat solids is when he starts opening his mouth when we are eating. Also, if the baby starts rolling and lying tummy down on his own. My baby has not started doing any of the mentioned signs so he is not yet ready.

About  two weeks before his check up, my husband and I were more rested at night because our son sleeps about five to eight hours straight without feeding. We realized that this is the major cause of his weight loss. Though, I would love to sleep the whole night without waking up, it is not healthy for the baby. Breastmilk is faster to digest than formula milk so I have to feed him every 2-3 hours.

 So now, I wake up every three hours to feed my son. It’s a good thing that he still feeds even if he’s asleep. I want to prolong giving him formula as long as I can and I want to start giving him solids when he is almost seven months. I just read so many articles saying that delaying solids will be more beneficial for the baby as allergies and having diabetes can be avoided.

I hope and pray that his weight will improve on our next visit. 

Sunscreen

I heard this song playing on the radio and it brought back fond memories of my younger days. I love the lyrics because it reminds us that life is too short to waste on worrying. I read somewhere that 90% of our worries do not materialize. So, to make the most out of life, just lift everything to the Lord and trust that every problem has a way out. Enjoy!

Baz Luhrmann
Sunscreen lyrics

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience... 
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked... 
You're not as fat as you Imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. 
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; 
Sometimes you're ahead, 
Sometimes You're behind.
The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your
Life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't Congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. 
Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can... Don't be afraid of it, or what other people Think of it, 
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own... 

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there
For you. 
And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can. 
Everybody's free.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; 
They are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. 
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; 
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will Philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. 
Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen... 

(Brother and sister together we'll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there
For you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody's free.)