A Single Mom's Blog

Stay at home moms work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We must realize what's our worth and contribution. We moms need to be prepared of  our own retirement too, making sure that we are protected in case something happens to our partners or relationship. Having a bank account under our names is one of these preparations. But in my own opinion, being a single mother, having this is not enough.. We should invest on insurances while we are young, especially on health and life insurance. I must admit that I really don't understand about insurances, but I know I should take care of myself and prepare for the sake of my children.

Just the other week, I heard a story of a mom with 5 kids, just don't know exactly what their age. Her husband left her and her kids for no reason(or maybe there is only the husband know). She used to be a full time mom, and know nothing about work, she applied for an all around housemaid just to raise her children. After a year, she got ill. Due to lack of money, she couldn't afford for her medicine supplies. Soon she passed away. No one to take care of her children. Relatives decided to divide and adapt the children.

It was just an ordinary story but behind it, there is la esson we can adopt for ourselves. We can never predict what is going to happen. Best option is to get an insurance policy for our protection should we get ill or injured. We deserve it.

Questions about insurance? Click here...

Women like me who have oily skin tend to have larger pores, which can easily be clogged by make up and dirt that causes pimples and acne. Additional attention needs to be given. Here are some ways:

1. Wash your face 2x to 3x a day.
2. Be sure to cleanse 2x a day with a cleanser suitable for your skin type.
3. Treat yourself to a "facial steam" to clean pores completely. Steam relaxes your senses.
    Create your own facial steam by pouring boiling water into a large bowl, allow to cool a bit. Make sure to  put it on a flat surface. Add your additives and place a bath towel over your head and lower your face over the bowl. Make sure that the face is at least 8-10 inches from the bowl to avoid scald burns. Breath in deeply for 7 -10 minutes, allowing the scents to calm your senses. Pat skin dry. Splash with cold water to close the pores. Finish with moisturizer.

Choose additives according to your mood. Below are few suggestions to aid unclogging pores.

Sliced lemons - the scent of lemons is emotionally uplifting, relieving stress.
Tea Tree Oil - it is ideal for oily, acne prone skin. It is a potent antiseptic, it prevents and heals infections.
Essential oil of lavender - one or two drops of these in the water should calm your nerves and help you relax.
Green Tea- one or two bags. It lessen skin inflammations.

If you have a sinus problem, you can use this additive to relieve sinus attack:

Eucalyptus oil - 3-4 drops added to your steam source will ease your sinus and nasal congestion within minutes. Eucalyptus oil should not be applied directly to the skin or used by applying more than a few drops to the steam source.

This recipe is one of my favorites. Can be serve with rice or as a pulutan (accompanied with liquor or beer).

Ingredients:

1 kg pork lung
1 kg pork heart
1 1/2 tsp cooking oil
1 whole garlic, minced
1 onion, cubed
3-5 pcs siling labuyo/hot pepper (optional)
1 red bell pepper, cubed
1 medium sized radish (cubed)
1/2 - 1 cup of vinegar
1 pck of atsuete coloring (annatto seeds soaked in 1/2 c hot water, remove seeds)
1 tsp. ground black pepper
         salt

Procedure:
Rinse pork heart and lung. Boil until tender. Let it cool. Chop into small cubes.
Saute` garlic, onion, radish, pork heart and lung. Add salt to taste. Add atsuete coloring. Pour vinegar and let simmer for 10-20 minutes or until you feel it's ready. Do not stir. If the smell of vinegar is still strong, it should be evaporated a little bit. Add red bell pepper and siling labuyo. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Serve.