Of Little Girls and Big Friendships

Real friends are hard to find and when you do, it is definitely a relationship you would want to keep for a lifetime. You know one more thing that is equally as beautiful? It is never losing contact with friendships you made in kindergarten and grade school. I am thankful for technology and of course, Facebook, which made me find my former classmates.

My Kindergarten class picture. Maryknoll College, 1970
I am in the second row, the 6th girl from the left

I treasure this picture so much and I have reconnected with most of these girls who are now also mothers (and grandmothers). I love viewing pictures of their families and I am happy for what they have grown up to be.

One of my grade school classmates, (not in the photo above because she was in a different section), is a very good and well established writer. She has a weekly column in a newspaper and is a proud mom of two children. I am a fan of hers, and two days ago, I ordered her third book. It came in the mail today and I just can't put it down. It is such a good book that speaks from the depths of a mother's heart. 

Cathy writes so beautifully and I dream of someday being able to reach at least 10% of what she has accomplished. I am proud that once upon a time, I sat in the same classroom with her. 

Her book, "Heart On My Sleeve" is a collection of some of her best articles in "Roots and Wings," her Sunday column of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The last part of the book is a short story entitled "Letter from Heaven," is a memoir of her son, Migi, whom she lost when he was just four years old.

If you are looking for a good read this Mother's Day, "Heart On My Sleeve" is one that you'd absolutely love.

Thank you Cathy for sharing your wisdom and talent. Looking forward to your next book.

About the author:

Cathy S. Babao has always worn her heart on her sleeve. Mother, author, grief coach and educator. She writes a Sunday column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled "Roots and Wings" and has written two books, "Heaven's Butterfly," a children's book on grief; and "Between Loss and Forever" which is about Filipina mothers on the grief journey, a 2012 National Book Award Nominee in the non-fiction category. In her other life, she is a communications manager for a multinational health care company. Email her at storiesbykate@gmail.com.

Everything A Woman Would Need, You'll Find It Here

Different seasons, different needs.

Women have the need to pamper themselves. It is not vanity, it is just the way women are. We want to feel good about ourselves by taking care of our skin, hair, and overall health. When we feel good about ourselves, we are more effective homemakers, wives, and moms. Raising a family is no easy job and a little pampering here and there is something we always look forward to.

There are times that we tend to go over our budget when buying our essentials. Often it is because we buy products one piece at a time. Thankfully, there is one way to keep within our means. What can be more exciting than to receive a curated box of full size beauty and health products from FabFitFun? These products have been carefully chosen and handpicked by the experts, guaranteed to make you feel fabulous all year round!

In each subscription box, you will find an assortment of products for skin care, cosmetics, hair care, fashion and fitness items. Every product suited for the season. Aside from these, FabFitFun also sells infuser water bottles. It is the new, healthy alternative to plain drinking water. Simply add your fruit or herb of choice into the perforated tube, fill the bottle with drinking water and enjoy!

Great products you can actually use valued at $200 can be yours for only $49.99. Best deal ever! Wouldn't it be great to sign up now and receive your #fabfitfunBI Spring Box shipped to your doorstep. No shipping fees too!


If you want to learn more tips on health and fitness, beauty, love and entertainment, you can also check out their website at fabfitfun.com

Recyclable Recipe #3 - Meatball Frenzy

This is my third "Recyclable Recipe." I hope you try this one too.

Two days ago, you served your family spaghetti and meatballs. And then you discover you made more meatballs than your family can put in their spaghetti. What to do? First, place your left over meatballs in an airtight plastic bag and pop it in the freezer for a new meal some other day.

Here's what I do with left over meatballs ~ I make a thick hearty soup! It is a delicious, easy to follow recipe that would really warm you up from the inside out. 

Ingredients:

Left over meatballs
3 cups beef or chicken stock
2 tablespoons vegetable/canola oil
1 one medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 small package Chinese vermicelli (thin rice noodles/misua)
scallions finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

In a large saucepan, brown the garlic in vegetable oil. Add the onions and saute until the onions are transparent. Add the tomatoes and continue to saute until the tomatoes are tender. Add the soup stock. Cover and bring to a boil. When the soup stock is briskly boiling, add the vermicelli. Add the left over meatballs and continue cooking until the meatballs are heated through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped scallions before serving.

Enjoy the smiles your family will have on their faces with the first spoonful! Guaranteed soul-food. Simple, easy and budget friendly!

Shopping For Swimwear In The Spring ~ Only at DHgate.com!

It is springtime! The weather is starting to warm up and blooms are everywhere. It is time to store the warm thick clothing and get ready for lighter clothing. 

I know that summer is still far off, but I want to share with you a budget saving tip: Shop for clothes when they are out of season. Sounds crazy? I don't think so. It is usually these items that are on sale. Since summer is only a few months away, wouldn't it be the best time to look for a nice swimsuit? I guess your next question would be, "Where can I buy swimwear when all the stores have spring clothing on display?"

Here's the answer to your question. At DHgate.com, you can find that perfect piece in their swimwear collection. They offer a wide variety of swimwear from bikinis, tankinis, one piece suits, vintage high waist, beach coveralls and more! They have swim wear for all women sizes, from free size, 2XS to 5XL and plus size. The designs are trendy and there is surely more than one piece you would definitely fall in love with.

This wonderful e-commerce website is easy to navigate, with a left sidebar that you can use to filter your choice according to material, color, size, and design. I am so happy to have learned about DHgate.

DHgate offers free shipping on some items and huge discounts for bulk orders, offering items as low as $5.00! Unbelievable!

For budget friendly moms like me, this is the ultimate online shop to go to! #DHgateSWBI yourself and you'll love every item you'll see.

Focus-Click-Share: From The Collection of a Photog Wannabe

I am great fan of photography. If I had my way, I would have majored in Media Arts/Journalism or Fine Arts-Photography. But of course, my father wanted me to follow his footsteps and enrolled me in Zoology for my preparatory course to the College of Medicine. 

I did not become a doctor, I dropped out in my junior year of Medical school. So now, I am a mother of three young adults, working to make a living in a call center and still loving the chance to take pictures of everything and anything. I use a cellphone, or a digicam, or a DSLR camera. Whatever is handy when something interests me. 

Here are some of the pictures I have taken over the past years. I guess you'd notice I love snapping photos of clouds, the skyline, the sunrise and sunset. Pardon the crudeness of the photos. I am saving up for a better camera. That will be my gift for myself at Christmas.

The Cloud Collection

 

 

A New Day Dawning

 

Clear Skies At Noon

 

The Beautiful Hues of Dusk

 

 

Hope you enjoyed viewing my pictures! :)

Short Hair Today, Long Hair Tomorrow!

Human hair grows at the rate of 1.5 centimeters a month or roughly only six inches per year. Sometimes we dream of having gloriously shiny long locks, however, the stress of waiting for our own hair to grow can be frustrating. There are times we can end up having split ends or we just have a bad hair day - everyday. Trips to a hair salon can be quite expensive and most of us give up on the dream to have long hair.

Thankfully, there is a solution. We can now buy natural human hair extensions! These have been around for a long time, however we should opt for the highest quality natural human hair. At DHgate.com, we can avail of 100% virgin human hair extensions. There are numerous styles, colors and lengths that we can choose from that would definitely blend in and move naturally as is if was our own hair. 

No more waiting for a year to grow six inches of hair! Whether you are a woman who wants to look your best everyday, or a salon owner/businesswoman who would want to introduce high quality hair extensions to your customers, head on over to DHgate.com. Enjoy the discounted prices and avail of free shipping on some of the items.

Loved what you read? Tweet and share #DHgateHEBI with your friends and family!

Recyclable Recipe #2 - Fried Fish and Fish Spring Rolls

Hello budget-friendly moms and dads! Today, I am giving you another recyclable recipe. 

Are you looking for an innovative recipe to recycle left over fried fish? I have been making Fish Spring Rolls ("Lumpia") out of our left over fried fish. It is very easy to make. The staple recipe is that of Lumpiang Shanghai or Pork and Beef Spring Rolls. I only substitute the meat with flaked left over fried fish. Another ingredient I add is one egg and half a cup of bread crumbs to make the mixture moist.

Here is an easy to follow recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo (1.1 pounds) de-boned and flaked fish

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 medium carrot, grated

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt (the left over fried fish has enough salt in it)

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 egg (beaten)
a few sprigs of cilantro, finely chopped (optional)

1/2 cup bread crumbs (or 1/4 cup all purpose flour)

1 1/2 scallions finely chopped

Spring roll wrappers (Rice paper)

Oil for frying

Procedure: 

1. Mix first 11 ingredients together. Set aside for half an hour to ensure the flavors have blended together. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a wok, or deep fryer. 

2. While waiting for the oil to heat up, prepare the fish spring rolls. Lay the spring roll wrapper on a flat surface.

3. Scoop two tablespoons of the mixture and spread it on the wrapper, making a long low mound across the diameter of the wrapper.

4. Fold the ends of the wrapper and roll. 

5. With a sharp knife, cut the roll into two or three pieces.

6. Deep fry the rolls in hot oil until golden brown.

7. Drain on paper towels.

Optional: 

Dipping sauce of your choice may be served together with the fish spring rolls. My family loves this with honey-mayo-mustard dip. Fish spring rolls also tastes great with good old tomato ketchup, sweet chili sauce, garlic-mayo, sweet and sour sauce, blue cheese dip or ranch dip. Your choice! 

Happy cooking!

IntelliGLASS: The Real Glass Screen Protector You'll Absolutely Love!

You've been saving up a lot to get a good smartphone that would meet your digital needs. Finally, you have enough to buy yourself the device of your dreams. I cannot describe the happiness I experienced when I held my new iPhone 6 in my hands. It was exhilarating!

My very next step was to search for a good screen protector. With so many choices to go through online and in-store, I waited for a few days to clear my mind. I then came across an innovative product which made me decide - this is it!

A real glass protector was just the product I needed for my phone. Made from hardened glass, IntelliGLASS screen protector protects my device from spills, hits and dings. It is specially crafted to resist scratches. Its oleophobic outer coating guarantees to repel oil and grease, therefore there are no smudges or fingerprints left on my screen. For a busy wife, career woman and homemaker like me, that is absolutely problem solved! And because it is made of real glass, it offers the best clarity and touchscreen sensitivity.

One more thing that made me so happy to have this intelliGLASS hardened glass screen protector is its easy, bubble-free installation. Would you want to have one too? Here's the good news. One of you may just be the lucky recipient of an intelliGLASS screen protector! Simply join by entering your email address below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Diabetic Dilemma: When Diet and Medications Don't Seem To Work

It has been an uphill battle for me and the enemy seems to be winning. I should not allow that to happen. I am still in control. I will win.

I am, of course, talking about my battle with Diabetes. Its seems despite all the dieting I am doing, my sugar levels do not go down to normal levels. My endocrinologist says my body has coped with the constant elevated level of glucose in my blood. It is the risk of damage to my liver and kidneys that my doctor is worried about.

Two days ago, I had my quarterly lab tests to check the effectiveness of my current medication. It was in late January when I was started on insulin. I am now on 18 units per shot, once a day. In addition to that, I am to take 1000 mg of Metformin after breakfast and another 1000 mg after dinner. I had high hopes that after three months, I could probably be taken off the undesirable task of poking myself with a needle.

Didn't work out that way though. After seven (7) insulin pens (Lantus Solostar), my blood sugar is still at 9. For non-diabetics, the normal blood sugar levels range between 4.27-6.07. Now, you see why I am so frustrated with my blood results.

I have decided that if I cannot see results quick, then I will crawl my way back to health. I always find it difficult to alter my diet drastically, so I am going to make small changes and then move my way up. My first step is to have little to no rice at all. I will replace rice with complex carbohydrates which fill me up longer. I bought sweet potatoes which I boiled in a pot. That will be my dinner today, together with some pork and carrots. 

I have read that apple cider vinegar is really good for diabetics. One to two tablespoons mixed in an eight ounce glass of water taken before meals may block the absorption of starch in a meal, therefore preventing the "sugar spike." Another thing I am going to try is the supplement Chromium picolinate. Chromium helps enhance the body's reaction to insulin, thereby facilitating the effective transport of glucose into the cells which is then converted into energy. It was also observed to help in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

I know that I will have to put a lot of effort and discipline to make this work. However, I have to do this. Not only for me, but for my husband and children whom I love so dearly. I wish to live long enough to enjoy my future grandchildren.

Today starts my journey to get to a 7.0 HbA1c reading. Let's see in three months time. Keeping my faith in the Great Healer. With His help, I can do this!

Brainstorming For A Mother's Day Gift

It will be Mother's day in two weeks time and I haven't even given myself some time to look for something to give my mom. What would make a 76 year old fitness advocate happy? Oh yes, you read it right. My mother is 76 and every morning at 8:00, she and her fellow senior citizens sweat their way to health in their aerobics class. On Thursday mornings, she attends a Zumba class, and on Saturday afternoons, my mom goes to ballroom dancing classes. She's a busy old gal.
If my mom is not in her fitness and dance classes, she keeps herself busy by whipping up delicious dishes. She's such a great cook. My children would always drop by her house in the after school because they know grandma always has something yummy for them.
Relaxation time for my mom is laying on the couch watching her favorite soaps. Sometimes she browses through old magazines looking for recipes or worthwhile articles. Another relaxation activity for my mom is tending her orchid collection. She does have a green thumb and her orchids are just so pretty!
Most, if not all of my mom's friends know that she simply loves anything in red color - a red purse, a red scarf or shirt, a dress with red tones, etc. When me and my siblings were little kids, we knew that a red rose plucked out of a garden somewhere would really bring a smile to her face.
This year, on Mother's day, I will keep all of these "favorites" in mind and would have to choose which among these gifts would be perfect for that one special wonder woman in my life - Mommy.

An Exercise Buddy

This would be a perfect exercise buddy. My mom has diabetes, like me, and it is essential that she stays hydrated. The water bottle can hold 300 ml. I like the idea of a little zippered pouch where she can keep her keys and emergency medicines. A plus factor - it comes in her favorite color! This product, the Nathan - Quickshot Plus Handheld Gel/Water Bottle Sparkling Cosmo is an ideal gift for an active mom like mine!

A Customizable Recipe Cook Book Binder

Whenever my mom comes across a nice recipe in a magazine, she cuts it and keeps it inside a brown paper envelope. I thought giving her a clear plastic sheet binder will help to keep her cut-out recipe collection in order. The sleeves hold standard size 8.5 x 11 paper. The 1 inch EZ turn rings can hold up to 175 pages! But that is not all that made me interested in this. The Zazzle - Pink and Black Damask Recipe Cook Book Binder offers customizable designs too. I can choose my own background design, color and title. Amazing. This is something I will seriously consider getting for my mom.

A Good Pair of Shoes

Being diabetic means extra attention must be given to the extremities, especially the feet. I am considering getting my mom a good pair of shoes she can use for her exercise classes or for walking around the mall or grocery store. The Saucony - PowerGrid Guide 7 Running Shoe - Women's would be a great buy. I love the open mesh shoe body for proper aeration. The soles provide cushioning from heel to toe with mid-foot support. I wish my children would get one for me too!

Flowers

I mentioned earlier that my mom loves orchids. So, if I would decide to give her flowers on Mother's day, it would not be a bouquet. I would instead get her an orchid plant with flowers in full bloom. I especially like the FTD - Glowing Strong Orchid Plant because of its classic beauty. The white ceramic pot will look great on her coffee table. The size is perfect. It would make it easy for my mom to take the plant out for some sunshine. If I choose this gift, I know my mom will not only have flowers for a day, but she will have them all year round. With her green thumb, I am sure this plant will be well taken care of.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

My Furry Grandchildren ~ Fang and Bite

After seven years living in this apartment, our landlady has finally given us approval to have a dog. Yay! At long last, my longing for a pet was fulfilled.

At first, we had a "weekend dog," which was exactly what it was. My son and his girlfriend had a dog in their dorm room and when they went home for the weekend, they took the dog home to me. Their dog's name is Fang. He is a Japanese Spitz-Pomeranian mix. He was a frisky little puppy and oh so cute! Fang now permanently lives with my son's girlfriend's parents. He got big and was too much work for two college kids to take care of. I miss him though. Maybe someday he can visit too.

Baby Fang

Asleep and content

Fang at 8 months

And then last December, my youngest son asked permission if he could "adopt" his girlfriend's dog. It was a tiny little 18 month old Shih Tzu. My son's girlfriend and her siblings are out of the house most of the time and there was no one left to care for the dog. Now we have a permanent pet. Officially adopted. Ours to keep. His name is Bite and he is the sweetest little creature!

Bite's selfie shot

Doing his role as "The Protector"

Bite and his toys taking over the apartment!

Bite is my stress reliever. He loves being hugged and petted. I love taking him for his walk, bathing him and just being near him. Despite his tiny size, he is over-protective of my husband. He follows him everywhere and patiently waits for him while he is in the shower or in the toilet. When I leave for work at night, Bite stays by the door while my husband is still awake and then moves to the foot of the bed when it is time for my husband to sleep. I know dogs have a very strong sense of smell and it just amazes me when he would just sniff and lick my husband's legs and feet days before he would catch a cold or be in agony with arthritis pain. I just cannot think of any other reason for Bite's strange sniff and lick habit. Could he be trying to get rid of something bad to prevent my husband from getting sick?

I treat Fang and Bite as if they were my grandchildren. Every time I get paid at work, I make sure I come home with a treat - a big can of dog food (delicious beef and chicken with gravy) or a new chew toy. They may have fierce sounding names, but they are the gentlest, sweetest, furriest little source of happiness!

Is Your Child A Future American Idol?

There are so many talent shows running right now and what is amazing is that there are contestants as young as twelve or thirteen and are already guitar wizards in their own right! It makes me wonder, when did their parents get one real guitar for them? When they were three years old? 

So much talent and so much of life ahead for these musical proteges. If I did have a child who was musically inclined, I would support them all the way. The good thing is that we do not really have to spend a lot to get quality musical instruments. A well crafted piece may be purchased at discounted prices. Some may suit your budget, and some may need some saving up for.

However, the love and support we provide our children are enough for them to hone their craft. Which parent would not be proud to see their child onstage performing in front of a live audience, televised around the world? I definitely would be.

Recyclable Recipe #1: Pork Adobo and Adobo Flakes

As most of you know, I am a very busy working mom. All my children are young adults, and yet, despite their age, I am still the one responsible preparing meals for the family. I have to mind the budget, and we opt for delicious, nutritious and easy to prepare dishes. One of the things I do to stretch the family's food budget is to make sure that the dishes I make can be "recycled" into another dish a day or two after.

I will be writing about our favorite "Recyclable Dishes" and point you to where you can get easy to follow recipes for them. For today, I want to introduce you to Pork Adobo (Adobong Baboy) and its recycled variant, Adobo Flakes.

Filipino food is truly comfort food. One of our family's favorites is Pork Adobo. It is what we call "emergency food," because it is so easy to make and the ingredients are always available in the kitchen. Pork Adobo is made of chunks of pork sauteed with lots of garlic and a medium sized onion. Soy sauce is added, together with black peppercorns and bay leaf. A cup or two of water is added and the pork is simmered until tender. There are many variations of pork adobo, depending on the region where it is prepared. Some substitute soy sauce for salt and then add tumeric (Adobo sa Dilaw), others cook it with coconut milk (Adobo sa Gata), some even add chili peppers for that nice "kick." My family prefers the standard garlicky pork adobo. You may view the complete recipe here.

Photo courtesy of www.PinoyRecipe.net

If there would be left-overs, which I really doubt, the budget conscious me would create another popular dish called "Adobo Flakes." This is done simply by flaking the left over pork adobo, browning some finely chopped garlic in a pan and then frying the pork flakes until they are crunchy. This makes a nice sandwich filling which my sons can take with them to school. It can also be a yummy topping over fried rice, served with scrambled/fried egg and a side salad.

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I would strongly suggest you try out these recipes. It not only helps stretch your budget, it is definitely a dish your family would enjoy. Watch out for the next recyclable recipe!

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Join The Springing Ahead Event GiveAway!

We Are Celebrating The Warmer Weather By Springing Ahead!

Now is the time when friends and families get together to and spend great times making memories outdoors. We Three Moms (Anderson's Angels, Joy of Mama Joyner and The More The Merrier), are so very excited to get outside with family and friends to enjoy the sunshine! We've teamed up with over 80 other wonderful bloggers, to bring you another huge giveaway event! ONE WINNER will take home all of the prizes we've put together (over $650 in prizes!) for The Springing Ahead Giveaway!

There is something for everyone in the family in this fun Prize Package:

Aden & Anais - teether - $24.95

Bees Wraps - Assorted Set of 3 - $18.00

201 Organic Baby & Toddler Meals Cookbook - $17.99

Exergen - Temporal thermometer - $59.99

Zipit Bedding - Twin set - $49.99 Sterling Publishing - Superfood Snacks - $16.95

H2wOw - 1- 4 pack - $24.99

Jackpot Candles - Candle - $24.95

Planetbox - Rover Complete Set - $59.99

Cave Tools - Meat Claws - $15.99

Nickerbacher - Book - $13.64

ChicoBag - ChicoBag - $50

EarthEasy - Worm Factory 360 Composter - $109.95 Crane - Belly Glo Night Light - $12.99 OOFOS - 1 pair - $39.95 Halo - Sleepsack or Swaddle - $26.95 GeospacePlay- GeoFlux & Game Time Sports - $29.98 TriDerma - TriDerma Set - $70.95

It's exciting isn't it? Come enter to win! The more entries you complete on the Giveaway Tools form below, the better your chances of winning are! Best Of Luck! The Springing Ahead Event will run from 12:01am EST Wednesday, April 22, 2015 through 11:59pm EST Wednesday, May 6, 2015. This giveaway event is open to all legal residents of the United States who are 18-years-old and older.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Anderson’s Angels, Joy Of Momma Joyner, The More The Merrier, and all other participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. The sponsors will send the prizes directly to the winner. We are also not responsible for any unfortunate accidents that result from the use of any of these products.

Stress-Free Shopping at #DHgate.com

There are countless online stores that offer every product you can think of. However, only a handful of them offer quality goods at a very affordable price. Since it is prom season once again, moms and daughters are busy searching for the perfect prom dress. Of course, not every parent is willing to spend hundreds of dollars for one dress. They want a special, budget friendly piece for their prom queen.

Here's a bit of good news for you. Check out DHgate.com. They offer very beautiful pieces for up to 40% off the original price. It is every young girl's dream to make prom night a memorable one for them so why not get them their dream dress without spending a fortune? Choose from a wide array of designs from simple to full beaded. Some styles even offer free shipping!

That's not all #DHgate.com can offer. They also have other fashion items for every season. They have bags, shoes, home and garden essentials, appliances, gadgets, toys, fashion accessories, children's clothes and more! It is worth your time browsing the website and I am pretty sure, you'll find that "thing" you have been wanting to buy that suits your budget.

Head on over to DHgate.com. Happy shopping!

Effective Communication and Change Management

Effective Communication is the key for success career in Change Management. Oftentimes, managers get so keen on being just that - a manager. A person holed up in a room, reading productivity reports, formulating processes and forgetting about the welfare of the people who put him/her in that room in the first place.

At a recent meeting at work, we were informed of a change that would take effect next quarter. It entails losing our monthly productivity incentive, quarterly incentive and attendance incentive. Anything in excess of 4 counts of tardiness and/or one unplanned absence in a quarter will automatically disqualify us from getting anything. It is an all or nothing, regardless of hitting 110% of productivity targets. I understand losing the attendance incentive if we exceed the allowable occurences, but to lose even your productivity incentive was just so demotivating.

There was only one thing that ran through my mind. So, if I am tardy for the 5th time, I won't do my work anymore. I will just slack off because I won't be getting anything anyway. I will not push myself to do more than is required, because my efforts won't be recognized anyway. So the poor supervisor was flooded with questions. Of course, she couldn't say much, because she does not know much. I said, "Why don't you involve us in your decision making? It is us who will be impacted with this change and yet you kept us in the dark, disregarding our thoughts, ideas and opinions." And then I heard a response I never thought would come from someone holding the title of "supervisor."

"Honestly, with the position she (referring to the Manager) is holding now, she does not need your opinion if she wants to make a change."

And to think that this person holds the position of "Manager."

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In the corporate setting, changes are rolled out to improve processes and propel the business forward. However, the success of a proposed change will depend on the effectiveness of how it was communicated to the company down lines and its possible effect on its frontliners. Lack of communication can make or break a company. 

I have read a lot about the relationship between management styles, effective communication, employee satisfaction and the success of the business. Indeed, there are a lot of knowledge that can benefit even in the smallest enterprise. Here are some of the things I have learned:

1. When changes are proposed in an organization, effective communication should be in the form of conversation. Change managers and employees discussing a proposed change would foster a smoother implementation.

2. Be open to new ideas and suggestions in bringing about change. Leaders should listen to what their employees have to say, such as wanting you to hire commercial cleaning services to keep the office clean and pleasant, for example When employees are left out in the periphery, management can very well expect resentment, distrust and resistance to change.

3.  Poor communication can lead to employee apathy, poor performance and increased incidence of absenteeism. Leaders must get rid of the attitude, "Its that way because I said so." Be like a mother who is always ready to answer that "Why" question.

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4. Acknowledge the fact that employees deserve to be involved in company decisions specially if it will significantly impact their attitude towards work, their lives, and their finances.

5. Employees feel empowered if they are able to have upward communication. This type of communication is when information flows upward in an organization and usually consists of feedback. If bosses or managers are able to listen to employees and respond, this leads to an increase in employee job satisfaction.In addition, employees are also happy if there is intense downward communication, which is information flowing down from superiors or managers to direct reports. (Source: http://study.com/academy/lesson/workplace-communication-importance-strategies-examples.html)

6. Power-tripping is the worst thing a leader or change manager can engage in. Unfortunately, some leaders use this as a way to get back at employees who "ask questions" and "show resistance." They then implement unreasonable goals making it more difficult for employees to feel happy with what they are doing. The end result is losing good employees to a competitor company.

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7. Look for compromise. Instead of trying to win the argument, look for solutions that meet everybody's needs. This focus is much more effective than one person getting what he or she wants at the other's expense. Healthy and effective communication involves finding a resolution that all parties can be happy with. This is especially true in the workplace. (Source: http://www.nwitimes.com/business/jobs-and-employment/effective-communication-in-the-workplace-is-key-to-company-success/article_819dd545-eba9-551e-87d0-93504efdc7bc.html)

8. Employees value leaders who are human and who don't hide behind their authority. The best leaders are those who aren't afraid to be themselves. Managers who respect and connect with others on a human level inspire great loyalty. (Souce: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/top-10-qualities-of-an-excellent-manager.php)

I will be back at work again tonight, hoping to get by the nine dreadful hours. I will pray before I start to work that I may keep my sanity and complete my daily tasks. I have crawled back in my shell once more, shutting out all negative and power freaks. Tonight, it will just be me, my monitor, my keyboard and my earphones. Just me, myself and I.

Credits:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/changemanagement/a/change_lessons3.htm
http://study.com/academy/lesson/workplace-communication-importance-strategies-examples.html
http://www.cpiworld.com/knowledge-center/blog/the-importance-of-open-communication-in-the-workplace
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/jobs-and-employment/effective-communication-in-the-workplace-is-key-to-company-success/article_819dd545-eba9-551e-87d0-93504efdc7bc.html

Lose Weight and Have a Happy Colon

Most women around the world have always wanted to shed a few pounds here and there, and to have a more toned and healthy body. A majority of women gained weight by going through pregnancy, stress eating and a sedentary lifestyle (working a desk job full time). Modern women live a hectic lifestyle, with a few hours to relax or do exercise. There are a lot of factors that would cause weight gain and despite efforts to cut down on caloric intake, women get easily frustrated when results do not come. I would be frustrated too, if I am tired and hungry and do not shed one single pound.

Many of us may have noticed a new product that helps women (and men) to lose weight the healthy way. It is a supplement derived from a tropical plant. I am pretty much sure you have heard or read about this product somewhere. It is called Garcinia Cambogia.

Garcinia Cambogia XT is a supplement extracted from the Garcinia cambogia plant found in Southeast Asia. The rind of the fruit is used to extract an active ingredient known as Hydroxycitric Acid or HCA. This blocks the enzyme citric lyase which the body uses to create fat. HCA also increases the level of serotonin in the body, therefore suppressing hunger. Aside from weight loss, the other benefits of Garcinia cambogia are that it boosts energy, promotes digestive and cardivascular health, and it gets rid of free radicals through its antioxidant effect.  

For the best results and keep us on the path back to health, we can combine one more supplement with Garcinia cambogia. It is called Natural Colon Cleanse Plus. This helps us eliminate of the unhealthy residue left in our colon, the "digestive sludge" as others may call it. Natural Colon Cleanse Plus contains natural ingredients that gently cleans our digestive tract of toxins leaving us clean inside. With a clean and healthy colon, we are able to better absorb the nutrients our body needs.

The supplement of Garcinia Cambogia XT and Natural Colon  Cleanse Plus are all we need to have a healthy weight loss and gentle colon cleanse. As it has always been said, "Prevention is better than cure." However, with the increasing awareness of health supplements, I would say, "Supplement to avoid confinement."

Have a happy colon!

An Easter Awakening

I took our little shih tzu out for a walk early today. It was a nice Easter morning, a little cloudy but with a nice breeze. 

As we were rounding up a corner, a boy, about nine or ten years old approached us. He was obviously a street child. He had over-sized dirty clothes and mismatched pair of slippers. He was skinny but had the most sincere smile for a child who had so little in life.

This boy asked me, "Does your dog bite?" 

I said, "No. He is well behaved." 

Then the boy asked, "Can I pet him? What kind of dog is he? What is his name?"

"He is a shih tzu. His name is Bite."

"He must be expensive. Did you spend a lot of money to get him?"

"No, I did not. He was given to us as a gift."

Then the boy bent down and petted Bite. He spoke to the dog with these heartbreaking words:

"You are so lucky, Bite. You have a home, you are well fed, you have people who take care of you. I have none. I have nothing. I am just a street child." 

And then he stands up and walks away.

It was the most heart wrenching words from the mouth of a child. I was fighting the urge to cry. How did I find it in me to want more than what I have when there are others who barely get by from day to day?

Today was the best Easter awakening I had. I thank you, Almighty God for speaking to me through that child. I will live each day as a better Christian. I will love more, be more and do more. Thank you for Your Providence. Thank You for saving me from my sins. Thank You for this renewed fervor.

Thank You.

Maybe you worship from home or are looking for a new church, you can check out things like Living church of God reviews to see which are best suited to you. But either way, we can all connect with Almighty God if we just open our eyes and look around. 

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MMORPG Yourself With #ChronoWars

Have you ever observed your child play an online game? It just amazes me how focused they can be on winning. As a parent, I make sure that the games they play does not involve them spending money or placing bets. Lately, I asked my son what was so interesting about online games. He said it is like role-playing and that he uses strategy to defeat another player and take over his "kingdom." So I asked, "But isn't it all about fighting? I don't want you to think that winning is about fighting. I don't want you to have to deal with violence day in and day out." My son says the games are not at all that way. It is about teamwork, strategy and being responsible for your belongings (actually, he means "minding your wealth and properties").

So, as a concerned (or should I say, nosey) mom, I tried out this new game called ChronoWars: Light of Darkness on Facebook. Why did I choose this game? Well, first of all, its free and it is on Facebook. The only requirement was to download a 3D plug in which was pretty fast. What have I learned on my first day of playing? A new acronym - MMORPG, which stands for Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game. I have to admit, it was an interesting game.

The game helped me put strategic planning into practice, which is what we really need to do in real life. It gave me a chance to get into my player character (I chose to be a knight) and it was fun! I wish I was a sexy as my character, though. This game is not just about fighting and being greedy, it also has some bit of history in the game. The "quest" or tasks of a player will enable you to get into six historical eras, and that includes Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Joan of Arc.  

I told my son about this game and he liked it. He said he will tell his friends about it so they can play together. I would suggest you try this game out. It is highly interactive and the 3D graphics are just awesome! 

My husband likes the game too. He said, "Now I have something to do instead of worrying my wits out while you work the night shift. Two thumbs up to the creator of #ChronoWars!"