The art of watching World Cup

Acara Pembukaan World Cup 2010 di South Africa ..agak terlewatkan, aku nonton sambil lalu saja, tentu saja ingatan ku melayang ke bokap tercinta, dulu kalo kita nonton bertiga dengan my brother..waaah seru banget!!, dari sejak peluit berbunyi tanda dimulai-nya game sampe selesai, bapakku ini tidak pernah berhenti making comments,..sampe aku pernah bilang, 'Pa, mbok nglamar jadi komentator sana, lumayan 'kali honornya..!'..

Suamiku, ...lahir dan besar di Amerika Serikat, dimana American Football adalah segala-nya, kalo sudah final Superbowl, kayaknya semua orang di seluruh Amerika Raya pada kena 'fever'...sebelum jam tanding dimulai, banyak yang pada nyiapin pizza, popcorn, soda, chicken wings buat cemilan nonton final lewat tipi dirumah, sama halnya dengan di Indonesia, musim World Cup begini, semua orang kayaknya fokus ke World Cup, termasuk ibu ibu yang sebenernya ga ngefans sepak bola, soalnya mereka ikut membantu bikin cemilan,..pisang goreng, ketela goreng, pohung goreng, tahu goreng, pendeknya semua kategori 'gorengan'...are best of the best!!...mungkin yang bikin sebel ibu ibu rumah tangga yang tidak menggemari sepak bola adalah tidur mereka jadi terganggu, karena kebanyakan match dimulai malam hari dan dini hari karena perbedaan waktu yang panjang.

Explanation of God

By Danny Dutton, 8 years old

One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

SOLO BATIK CARNIVAL 3

Kula Nuwun,
Sugeng Rawuh ing kutha Surakarta Hadiningrat,

for English version read below
Posted by 'Loyalia' (mom of two little girls, Central Java, Indonesia)

Kata sambutan hangat yang menyambut para undangan yang terdiri dari bapak Walikota Solo dan para pejabat Negara serta tamu undangan dari beberapa Negara Asia memenuhi arena pertunjukan seolah kita dibawa pada jaman Kerajaan Majapahit dan Mataram. Dengan busana adat Jawa lengkap dengan beskap, blangkon dan selop. Tidak lupa para pagar ayu berdandan cantik lengkap dengan busana adat Jawa dengan kemben batik sabuk wala yang tidak kalah menariknya ikut berbaris rapi dengan lemah gemulai tangan dan jari mereka seakan mengundang para tamu saling berdecak kagum.

Walnuts: food for heart

Looking for another way to protect your heart? Consider walnuts. They may help keep cholesterol in check, a recent report shows.

Scientists reviewed the results of 13 studies. People in the studies were assigned to either diet high in walnuts or one of several other diets. Those who ate more walnuts had much lower total cholesterol levels than people who were on other diets. Their LDL - often called the 'bad' cholesterol- levels also were lower. And despite being high in some types of fats, results didn't indicate that the walnut-rich diet caused significant weight gain.

Because the findings are based on small, short-term studies, more research is needed. But,researchers concluded that diets with walnuts may help lower cholesterol and provide other heart health benefits. All nuts offer some health benefits, but they're high in calories. Until we know more, it's reasonable to eat small handful of nuts each day or a few times a week.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The Power of Aromatherapy

Plenty of research shows that the essential oils (extract derived from plants) can help lower stress, improve mood, boost energy, and even ease pain.

"When you inhale the scent of essential oil, it enters your bloodstream through your nasal tissues, and then moves to the brain, where it stimulates neurotransmitters that can have a calming, energizing, or even analgesic effect," explains Svetlana Kogan,M.D, founder of Doctors at Trump Place Longevity Institute and Medispa, who employs aromatherapy in her practice as a stress reliever and pain reducer for uncomfortable or stressfull procedures such as laser skin resurfacing, acupuncture, and hair removal.

Follow these simple instructions: Place an opened bottle of essential oil right under your nose, inhale slowly and deeply, hold your breath for four counts, then exhale slowly for eight. The effect can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on your metabolism. You can repeat throughout the day as needed. (Note: Never place undiluted oil directly on your skin. And thought aromtherapy is usually safe for pregnant women, you should always check with your doctor first.)

THE COMPLAINT

Fatigue, you CHOOSE : Peppermint, ginger, lemon (or another citrus scent)

Anxiety or stress, you CHOOSE: Cedarwood, chamomile, basil, sandalwood, cinnamon, sage

Pain or discomfort, you CHOOSE: Lavender, bergamot, lemon balm.

(source:Parenting)

Banyak penelitian menunjukkan bahwa minyak esensial (ekstrak yang berasal dari tanaman) bisa membantu menurunkan stres, meningkatkan mood, meningkatkan energi, dan bahkan meringankan rasa sakit.

"Ketika anda menghirup aroma minyak atsiri, aroma minyak itu memasuki aliran darah melalui jaringan hidung anda dan kemudian bergerak ke otak dimana merangsang neutrotransmitter yang dapat membuat anda tenang, ber-energi atau bahkan efek analgesik," penjelasan dari Svetlana Kogan,M.D pendiri 'Doctors' di Trump Place Longevity Institute dan Medispa, yang menaruh aromaterapi dalam praktek-nya sebagai penghilang stres dan peredam rasa sakit untuk prosedur tertentu dengan pemakaian laser, akupunktur dan hair removal.

Ikuti petunjuk sederhana ini: taruh botol aromaterapi yang sudah dibuka dibawah hidung anda, tarik napas perlahan dan dalam dalam, tahan napas dalam empat hitungan, lalu buang napas perlahan sampe hitungan kedelapan. Efek dari minyak ini akan berlangsung selam lebih kurang 15-45 menit, tergantung pada metabolisme tubuh masing-masing. Anda dapat mengulangi sepanjang hari sesuai kebutuhan. (Catatan: jangan mengoles minyak murni secara langsung pada kulit anda dan meskipun minyak aromaterapi relatif aman untuk ibu hamil, anda tetap harus berkonsultasi ke dokter terlebih dahulu).

Keluhan : Kelelahan PILIH : aroma Peppermint, Jahe, Lemon (atau semua yang mengandung citrus)

Keluhan : Stres, gelisah PILIH : Cedarwood, chamomile, Kemangi, cendana, kayu manis, Sage

Keluahan : rasa sakit atau ketidak nyamanan PILIH : Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon Balm.

Happy Father's Day

A Father's Prayer

Thank you God, I am a father on earth
You have given me this gift and responsibility.
Grant me the wisdom to carry it out.
Let my fatherhood be one of encouragement and support
not of expectations and control
Let me protect my children, but not too much;
advise them, but just a little.
Let me respect them as individuals,
not as extensions of myself.