I’ve often wondered about this because I experience this at times. It summer time, so lots of people are eating ice and ice cream.. Here’s some trivia..

An ice cream headache is triggered by a sudden change in temperature that occurs in your mouth when you eat something cold. On a hot day when you eat a snow cone, the cold crushed ice that touches the top of your mouth initiates a nerve reaction that swells blood vessels in your head. The nerve center on the roof of your mouth overreacts to the cold temperature of the snow cone and tries to heat your brain. This swelling of blood vessels is what causes an ice cream headache, or what is more commonly known as “brain freeze” or “frozen brain syndrome.”Luckily the intense stabbing pain in your head usually lasts only for about 30-60 seconds.

I scream, you scream, we all scream ice cream HEADACHE! – 30% of the human population suffers from these excruciating headaches. The best way to avoid getting an ice cream headache is keep the chilled foods or beverages you eat on the side of your mouth, away from the roof of your mouth.

It’s Easter Sunday today and I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on a lot of things. For the past few years, holy week is more like a festive occasion and vacation time for the family, but this year we’ve decided to do it differently and just spend these few days at home, attending church services, generally have some reflection and quiet time with the family.

In the past, during holy week, we’ve always headed to crowded beaches, home to Bicol but I just don’t know why I always come home feeling so deflated. This made me think that I had been forgetting the real meaning of the holy week and made material things the main focus of most of my time. And yet during my most trying times, God always provides and I always feels I am not alone.

This time however was great because my family has been able to bond and spend some quiet time without the pressures of work, deadlines etc. I really can’t explain the feeling of peace I have now and time spent like this I will always treasure. Tomorrow, everyone will be busy again, but now we’re all feeling recharged.

Times have really changed now and I can’t blame those who rush out and spend holidays during holy week. What really matters most is that we don’t forget to reflect and think about the real essence of Holy Week and Easter – God’s infinite love and forgiveness for us..

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

1. Befriend the Library

Buying books and movies gets expensive, and even renting can add up. Take a trip to your local library; and you’ll find all of the latest books and movies available free of charge. Still like the idea of renting? Then, sign up for Netflix or Blockbuster. With plans starting at $5, the damage to your budget will be mimimal.

2. Clip Coupons

Take the time to clip coupons for the grocery items that you buy regularly, and shave an easy 25 percent off of your weekly grocery bill. Want to save even more? Find a grocery store in your area that doubles coupons, and make that your store of choice.

3. Eat Out Less Often

Eating out is fun, but far more expensive than eating at home. Challenge yourself to eat at home more often–even if it’s just once more a month, and watch your bank account grow. Then, find ways to minimize the cost of eating out when you do decide to treat yourself.

4. Switch to Online Bill Pay

Save yourself a stamp, and avoid late fees by paying your bills online. You can pay direct to your creditors, or set up automatic bill pay with your bank; and take yourself out of the equation entirely.

5. Group Errands

Reduce your gas bill by grouping your errands and only driving when you need to. For even more savings, consider biking or walking when you don’t have far to go.

6. Make Your Own Cleaners

Homemade cleaners work just as well as store-bought cleaners and at a fraction of the price. Stock up on basic cleaning agents like vinegar and baking soda; and you’ll be ready for any cleaning task that comes your way.

7. Seek Freebies

Freebies are fun and budget-friendly. Look online for a wide-array of free offers, and enjoy a mailbox bursting with goodies. Like to try new products? Then, this is a particularly good savings strategy for you.

8. Wash in Cold

Cut your electric bill substantially by washing your laundry in cold water. Your clothes will still come out clean, and your hot water heater won’t have to work nearly as hard.

9. Flip a Switch

Reduce your electric bill even further by turning off lights and other electronics when they aren’t in use. It may seem like a small thing, but you’re sure to see the difference on your next electric bill.

10. Change Your Own Oil

Skip the quick lube, and change your own oil. You’ll reduce your tab to the price of oil and a filter, and maybe even save time too–quick lubes aren’t always as quick as the name suggests.

I’ve been asking myself, Do I really know how many calories were in that latest fast food snack I had? – My answer is no.. When you’re hungry and in a hurry you don’t really give a hoot right? Or if I ever think about it, I would usually convince myself that well, that large fries really contained just a bit of calories.. sigh!

I read that a research at Cornwell University have found that people underestimate the calories in a fast food meal by 38%! The larger the meal the larger the discrepancy.

I’ve surfed the sites of some fast food chains found here in the Philippines, KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Jollibee. All of these fast food chains, except Jollibee provide the nutritional content of their food online. This info however is not displayed on the menu or the counter whenever we are making our selection.

I think it would really be great if fast food chain would provide nutritional info for their menu that is prominently visible at the point of choice. While I was on the site of fast foods I frequent I’ve checked the calorie content of the foodies I usually crave.

McDonald’s: 1380 calories ( this is horrifying! it means I would have to do away with the sundae.. haha!)

double cheeseburger – 440
medium fries – 380
hot fudge sundae – 330
coke med – 210

KFC: 680 calories (note that this does not include rice.. I can’t find rice on their calorie calculator)

medium pepsi -180
chicken161 gms – 360

mashed potatoes 140

My mom trained us early, so we know housework since we were in grade school. I’m actually grateful that she instilled in us the value of hard work, discipline, patience and independence. When I moved out of the house after college, I didn’t find it hard to adjust since I knew already how to do laundry, clean the house, cook simple meals..

Know how my mom accomplished this? We were never allowed to be brats, we had to clean our own clutter, our own rooms, make up our own beds, fold and put used clothes in hampers, and a lot of simple, little things. When we were in high school already, every year she’d send the maids on vacation for a month and both me and my sister would take turns with chores around the house.

Since I am now a mom to a 5 year old, I’m starting to train her how to be involved and yet still have fun while doing little chores. I’m saying it should be fun too coz I don’t want her to end up resenting me.

Here’s some tips from my own experience, my mom’s advices and some hints from friends.

It frightens me to think of kids surfing the net and coming across “adult-only” sites. But as I’ve been surfing the next for the past couple of months I am really delighted to find kid-friendly sites and even search engines that are designed with kids in mind. You’d be surprised that there are actually a lot of sites where your child can learn, explore and play. So now my child gets 30 minutes, thrice a week, time allocation to use the computer.Here’s a list of sites I’d recommend for kids.LEARNING THE ALPHABET:

Animal ABC’s – (My daughter actually learned her ABC’s mostly from here) The site is very visual. Kids will love the colorful animal alphabet lesson.

Giraffian Alphabet – Alphabet picture lesson. The pictures are large and the lesson includes letters in upper and lower case. Navigation is a bit more complicated than Animal ABC site but its still easy for kids.

Letter TV – My daughter’s favorite. The site looks like a keyboard. Just click on a letter to hear the sound and to see the lower and upper case letters plus words easily associated with the letter.

Fischer-Price ABC Zoo Game – great site with great sounds and the colors are just what every kid will love.

LEARNING THE NUMBERS:

Fisher-Price Count the Score – learn numbers in a game setting. It’s great coz kids can relate it to games they play or they could get some ideas about some sports too.