Top Must-Read Filipino Books for Bookworms This 2015

Do you love reading books? Enrich your knowledge and entertain yourself at the same time with this list of books from our talented Filipino authors.

1. “Stupid is Forever” – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago

This book is a collection of jokes, one-liners, pick-up lines, comebacks, and speeches delivered and/or curated by the beloved Senator of the youth.

2. “Dear Alex, Break Na Kami, Paano?! Love Catherine” – Alex Gonzaga

This book is for the singles, single again, single by choice, and can’t accept that they are single. This breakup survival guide will help you let go, move on, and love yourself.

3. “Paano Ba To?! How to Survive Growing Up” – Bianca Gonzalez

The author shares her personal life lessons, as well insights from friends and experts, on how to deal with life’s dilemmas. It is a growing up guide for every young Filipina in this crazy, yet wonderful world.

4. “Help!!! Ayoko Na Sa Syota Ko!” – Ramon Bautista

Whether you are the one leaving or the one who was left behind, this book will help you get through the hardships of break up.

5. “Make Your Nanay Proud” – Boy Abunda

This book is named after Abunda’s foundation and includes his curated anecdotes and reflections from well-known personalities. They shared how their mothers helped them get to where they are today.

 

6. “Lovestruck: Sakit Edition” – Ronald Molmisa

Sakit Edition is the fourth instalment of Lovestruck Series. This book will help you how to deal with break ups and relationship problems.

7. “Kontento Ka Na Ba Sa Pagpapalaki Ng Anak Mo?” – Vic and Avelynn Garcia

This book will is a parenting guide that will help you deal, manage, and respond to common strategies children use to outwit their parents.

8. “Help! I’m a Bagaholic” – Carmencita Sioson and Stefanie Cabal

This mini book is for men and women who love bags. It profiles bag connoisseurs and their bags, the most desired iconic bags, and tips on how to care for them.

9. “Captivating, Communication: The Art and Science of Communication” – Carelle Mangaliag

This book will teach readers the art and science of High Impact Communication, using principles applied in theatre, comedy, and the science of human behavior.

Book Cover Credits: 

www.nationalbookstore.com.ph

www.chapters.indigo.ca

www.lifestyle.inquirer.net

www.omflit.com

www.philstar.com

Five Ways to Have Better Instagram Pictures

Image from www.tweaktown.com

Instagram has reached a huge milestone, and you backed it up, right? You are among the 300 million plus active users that uploads photos daily.

Instagram was the first easy-to-use photo sharing app. Every photo lover, even the amateur ones, can use it to take and share pictures. It has photo filters and editing tools to produce good output. Yet, it is rare to find well-crafted, expressive, and soul-full images.

Do you want to share better pictures? Dogs, cats, and foods you shoot at will have more sophistication if you know how to take picture like a pro. 

Be a photo geek and improve your images with these five photography tips:

1. The blue and golden hour counts. Photo enthusiasts use natural lighting to create a dramatic effect. One trick is to shoot during the day’s first or last hour. As the sun sets, it creates warm golden glow and gentle shadows. This creates a deep impact everyone love to see. Moreover, smartphones often fail to work well with the harsh midday sun and strong backlight. These lightings will just spoil your pictures.

2. Focus on composition. Instagram’s square photos have become the standard of mobile photography. Your subject is right in the center. But you have to use this with caution since photos in square format may not be appealing. It is effective when you keep it proportion. In addition, your subject must be strong enough to grab viewer’s attention. You may also apply the rule of thirds to have a dynamic image.

3. Keep them simple and creative. Even Steve Jobs said that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. So move away from crowded and messy photos. For sure, it will strain viewers' eyes.  Yet, keep your creative flair. Expand your horizons and enhance the presentation. If you are going to take a picture of a food, try to mix up other things. Include some colorful flowers or fruits on the side, but do not overdo it.

4. Capture a great scene. The art of photography lies in waiting and capturing happy moments. Thus, spent time to plan what you are going to shoot. Scout good locations such as parks, fields, and bays. Find interesting subjects with nice background or foreground elements. Then, be observant on things that give good concepts for your photo shoot.

5. Break old habits.  Have better perspective and close-range shots. You often shoot at standing eye-level, right? Instead, try to shoot at different angles. Various viewpoints produce unalike moods or messages. Aside from this, a closer shot creates depth. Your smartphone can shoot 3 to 6 inches close to your subject. The nearest thing is in focus while blurring the background. This creates a good effect on your photos.

Arts And Crafts: Five D-I-Y Crafts for Stay-At-Home Moms

Today’s smart mothers know how to make life more enjoyable. They don't just stay at home doing household chores, looking after their kids, or waiting for their husbands to come home. They spend the day efficiently.

Staying at home does not mean that your life must revolve around baby-sitting or running after your kids. You can still be a hands-on mom while creating something on your spare time.

Balance motherhood and homemaking by doing things that can make you happy and productive. Be an artsy mom and try these do-it-yourself crafts:

Photo credit: pixgood.com

1. Paper basket weaving. If you have the interest doing handmade craft, this one is best for you. In doing this project, just bring out old newspapers, magazines, or calendars. Simply roll the pages or cut them into strips. Flatten or fold the strips, then weave these tubes into a basket. You have created nice eco-friendly bins for your kids’ toys, brushes, art tools, or a gift basket.

Photo credit: decoratingfiles.com

2. Curtain, cloth box, or bag sewing. If your mother had left you a sewing machine, it’s time to put it out and learn to sew. Search the Internet for tutorials. Your kids can use these boxes and bags to organize and keep their toys and other things. Instead of buying costly curtains for your walls, you can create one for your home.

Photo credit: janesdesigneryarnpatterns.com

3. Knitting. Madonna, Russell Crowe, and Meryl Streep’s past time. Aside from creating sweaters for your family, psychologists say that knitting has a therapeutic gain. The good effects on the brain lessen stress and increase the feel-good hormones.

Photo credit: quiltsandquilting.co.nz

4. Quilting. Pick up the needle and thread. Experience the fun of hand quilting. Use your finish product as blanket, wall decoration, floor rags, and pouches. What’s more, the hand-eye coordination is good for your brain. This task will keep you mentally active delaying any old-age 

illness like dementia.

Photo credit: perfect-wedding-day.com

5. Cupcake decorating. If you cannot bake, cupcake decorating is a good alternative. It has become an affordable hobby for many mothers. This is also a fun way to have snacks with your children.

Try to perfect one creative craft at home. Who knows, it might lead you to a prolific business. 

Going Modern? Innovative Technologies to Watch out for This 2015

Photo credit: Oculus.com

Time flies so fast and so does technology. Modern discoveries surprise us each day. What we have today becomes obsolete the next day. Truly, modern trends continue to change, shock us, and affect our daily living. What does the future hold for us? Are we ready for a high-tech earth?

People are on a quest to make living convenient and easy. This endless pursuit prompts us to look ahead and wait for brilliant ideas find lifestyle-changing solutions.

If you are “techy” person who has passion for the latest finds and innovation and planning to get them for your convenience, for sure your mind is hungry to know the most innovative things this 2015.

Read this article to feed your hungry mind.

Current Breakthroughs

• Virtual reality headsets for 3D gaming – Oculus VR is up for “an effort to revolutionize the way people experience interactive content.”  Its Rift, which can allow 3D game players step into the virtual world, is expected to be launched in 2015.

• Sleep tracking device – Pioneered by a 23-year old British entrepreneur James Proud, this device called “Sense” will make use of a tennis ball-sized sphere and an app to gather details of one’s sleep. Incredible, right?

• 3D-printed electric car – This car, with model name Strati, is the first and one of its kind. It can be built in 24 hours. This is for a fact that it has only 49 parts.

• Long-lasting LED light - Jake Dyson Products worked to transform the light bulb we used to know. The firm will soon launch an LED light that can perform up to 40 years. Yes, that’s the life span!

• Powered bike wheel – This is yet a new feature we all want to experience. Copenhagen Wheel has a wheel that can study the way how one’s feet move—it can capture the energy from braking. What else? It can be retrofitted to almost any type of bike.

• Neural computer – This chip, which was named SyNAPSE, was developed by no less than IBM and was launched in August 2014. What’s hot about this one is that it is modeled on biological brains and can imitate their neural networks. It is expected to gain huge following in 2015.

These are just few of the many amazing discoveries that will come along our way. Let’s just hope that these things will really make living easy, happy, comfortable, and safe.

Enjoy the perks of science. Go modern now!

[Source: The Guardian.com ]

Top Travel Destinations This 2015 for Budget Savers

Photo Credits: www.holidays-2015.com

Spending vacation with your loved ones is truly priceless but if you’re on a tight budget, we can help you with that! Here’s the list of budget-friendly places this 2015.

1. Tunisia

Fewer crowds and affordable prices are likely to lure back tourists to North Africa’s most compact package. It’s an awesome and rewarding experience whether you stay in cosmopolitan Tunis or head for the Star Wars set.

2. South Africa

South Africa is more affordable this year than it has been for years. Enjoy wonderful wildlife watching, bargain public transport, and free entry to museums due to their currency fluctuations.

3. Shanghai

From cheap hotel accommodation to sumptuous street food, China’s most famous coastal city has remained affordable for budget travellers.

4. Samoa

This emergent tropical paradise offers cheap, family-owned beach hut lodging. Visit the markets of capital Apia– especially Maketi Fou - for souvenirs and street food.

5. Bali

Bali is perfect for mid-range adventurers who fancy air conditioning and spa treatments because of their beachside bungalows and cheap costs for food and transport.

6. Uruguay

Both underrated and affordable, Uruguay’s sandy coasts are a better value choice for a trip to South America than Brazil. There’s even a Fray Bentos museum.

7. Portugal

This surf and family-friendly European destination is great value, and Lisbon is set to get a whole lot more accessible as Ryanair will soon fly to the capital.

8. Taiwan

Dorm beds and homestays are great value in Taiwan. Rail passes are also cheap, as is admission to many attractions and temples – not to mention the food.

9. Romania

Romania is now better connected to the rest of Europe by budget airlines. There are spectacular castles to explore and accommodation in Bucharest is cheap in summer.

10. Burkina Faso

This little known country in West Africa boasts fantastic markets, friendly locals, a lively arts scene in its capital Ouagadougou - plus affordable wildlife spotting in the south.

Do you know other budget-friendly places? Share your story and passion in travelling to us. We will be more than willing to accept your inputs and exchange experiences with you.

Best Bodybuilding Foods to Give Your Muscles a Boost

Photo credit: Emed.com.au

Have you been working out for a couple of weeks or months and still not seeing the fruit of your hard work? This is really disgusting, especially if you can’t think of what really went wrong with your fitness program. Perhaps, the food that you have been eating are the culprits why you’re not yet reaching your goals for your physique.

Proper diet always comes along with physical activities to gain weight and build muscles. For sure you’d ask yourself which foods you should eat to achieve a well-built body. Read on.

What You Should Eat

If you’re into bodybuilding, try to eat these foods in moderation so you’ll soon get closer to your dream curve and shape.

• Red meat – While light meats (e.g., chicken and turkey) play a vital role in bodybuilding, health experts and fitness buffs alike are one in saying that lean cuts of red meat will work best to improve one’s frame. Red meats are full of protein, a factor in growing human tissues.

• Fish fillet – Seafood varieties are also a good of source of protein. But eating fish can bring a lot of benefits to your body. Fishes, like salmon and tuna, contain amino acids that are easy to digest. They have minerals that support and boost testosterone functions.

• Sweet potato – This root crop is rich in carbohydrates, a good source of energy for you to get going each time you work out. A sweet potato contains nutrients that help you gain weight and build muscles.

• Greek yogurt – This contains high concentration of protein and has no fat.

• Egg – This food is complete with elements that help build minerals and recover muscle. Eggs’ dietary cholesterol does not contribute to high blood cholesterol level. They are easy to digest.

Other Foods to Try

Most bodybuilders also eat these foods: oatmeal, grapes, oyster, cottage cheese, chicken breast, peas, lentils, and butter.

Pieces of Advice

All these foods mentioned above make up a high-performance diet. These will surely give your muscles a boost in no time. Include them in your regimen and soon you can show your hard-earned muscular and chiseled figure!

Do not just consume these foods as you wish. For better results, ask a dietitian for proper consumption and a fitness expert to match your gym routines.

Achieving a well-built body takes time. Hence, you should be patient, determined, and strive hard to fulfill it. This goes along with discipline every time you hit the gym and enter the kitchen.

Dealing with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Self-Help for Relief

Photo credit: Santa Clara University.edu 

Living with any kind of disease is a terribly hurting experience. What’s worse than this is having a disease that one is not fully aware of his own condition. Yes, this is possible. Your act, which is just normal for you, may be a sign of a disease you have yet to uncover and treat.

Do you wash your hands frequently thinking that it makes you very dirty when you don’t do it? Do you check your light every so often just to make sure it’s turned off, or a liquefied petroleum gas to check if it doesn’t leak? Do you do annoying or disturbing routines that eat up your time and make you feel depressed or dissatisfied even after doing them? If you answer “yes” to any or all of these questions, then you probably have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But take it easy. Don’t freak out as of yet.

Learn more about this disease and get to know how it affects your daily living.

What is OCD?

OCD can either obsession or compulsion or both of them, which involve various thoughts, activities, and fear. According to International OCD Foundation, these obsessions are “thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control.” Compulsions, on the other hand, are “are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses with the intention of neutralizing, counteracting, or making their obsessions go away.”

If you think you have OCD or you have been diagnosed with this type of mental-behavior disorder, you can still cope even without any therapy.

Help Yourself

While you may be showing signs of OCD, there are ways for you to deal with it. Believe it: you can overcome this disease on your own. Find relief toward a stress-free life by replacing your old habits with these new ones:

1. Tell yourself “there is no real danger.” People with OCD tend to act for their “routine” just to be ready for the “perceived” danger. Analyze if this danger really exists or will really happen.
2. Manage your anxiety well.
3. Divert your attention to some other worthwhile things and activities.
4. Think about your obsessions in a more helpful and balanced way.
5. Try to resist the urge that triggers to do your compulsions.
6. Challenge yourself to be “different.”
7. Be brave in facing life’s trials.

Try to heed these tips and you’ll soon find relief and eventually make you think and behave normally as a human being.

Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015

Movie Posters from www.imdb.com

Are you a movie addict? Well, it seems like 2015 has a lot in store for us! So without further ado, here’s the list of the most awaited movies this year.

1. Fifty Shades of Grey (February 13, 2015)

Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets the handsome, yet tormented billionaire Christian Grey.

2. Furious 7 (April 3, 2015)

Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for the death of his brother.

3. Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1, 2015)

When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

4. Pitch Perfect 2 (May 15, 2015)

Collegiate A cappella group the Barden Bellas enter into an international competition that no American team has ever won.

5. Jurassic World (June 12, 2015)

Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. As visitor rates decline, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor's interest, which backfires horribly.

6. Terminator Genisys (July 1, 2015)

After finding himself in a new timeline, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor's mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, "Judgement Day".

7. Minions (July 17, 2015)

Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.

8. Spectre (November 6, 2015)

The cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

9. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (November 20, 2015)

After being symbolized as the 'Mockingjay' Katniss Everdeen, District 13 engages in an all-out revolution against the autocratic Capitol.

10. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (December 18, 2015)

A continuation of the saga created by George Lucas set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). The new films will feature a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces as per StarWars.com.