A Chic Digital Frame

Photos get the conversation flowing when you have people over. These days, digital frames are being designed so they’re actually pretty enough to display in your living room. The real beauty: Since the pictures change frequently, you can stock it with tons of shots of your vacations, your friends — you name it.

A Mini Rug For Your Bedroom

Stepping onto the cold floor first thing in the morning is not a great way for you (or a “friend”) to start the day. Plus, the bareness makes your room look as cold as it feels. Put a small area rug right beside your bed so that the feet are greeted by the plush material when you wake up.

A Lamp With A Dimmer

No one wants to hang out in a room with bright, glaring lighting. Frankly, it makes you look bad, and it can be jarring. By plugging dimmers into your lamps (you can get them cheap at home stores), you’ll keep the atmosphere more flattering.

A Warm Paint Color

The neutral shade Casa de Oro by Ace Paint is the most awesome, cozy tone out there. It flatters every skin tone, and light, warm colors have actually been proven to soothe. Use it or something similar to paint the room in which people tend to hang out the most — like the kitchen or living room. You can even paint just one accent wall.

Fresh-Smelling Candles

Everyone feels more at ease in a clean home. And if your pad isn’t exactly spotless, there’s a simple way to make it at least seem like it is: People automatically associate the smell of linen with cleanliness. So, light a few linen-scented candles, or use a diffuser and viola! Instantly fresh and “clean” room.

A Pretty Basket For Your Nightstand

You should think of your bedroom as your calm zone, and a nightstand cluttered with various items (your glasses, the TV remote, books, tubes of lip balm, etc.) makes it feel chaotic and not relaxing at all. Buy an inexpensive basket or a pretty bowl, and keep all your random stuff in it. Your beside area will look much more organized and, yes, Zen.

Anawangin Cove, Pundaquit, Zambales

Accessible only by boat or a six-hour trek, this hidden paradise has a pristine white-sand beach lined with tall pine trees. It’s a picture-perfect site that welcomes many happy beach campers.

Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

There are no resorts or electricity in Calaguas, just unspoiled white-sand shores. The sand on the main isle, Mahabang Bubangin, is super fine — some say even finer than Boracay’s polvoron variety.

Hundred Islands, Pangasinan

Just pick up a permit from the town’s local tourism post and spend the night at one of the camp-friendly islands. The beauty of these wonderful isles has long been underestimated.

Saud Beach, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Head to the Northern tip of the Philippines and enjoy the quiet coves of Ilocos. Saud is popular for its white sand and chillout vibe. It’s perfect for beach camping and bonding with the barkada.

Apo Reef, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro

If you and your pals are into adventurous beach jaunts, then Apo Reef would be perfect. You can pitch your tents on Apo Island, and go diving in Apo Reef during the day. This marine sanctuary is one of Philippines’ best.

He’s a little too mysterious.

The strong, silent type may be sexy, but a man who wants to get serious will open up about stuff like his family. If he doesn’t, he’s avoiding bonding so he can keep things light (read: temporary). And, be wary if he’s asking tons of questions — it may be his way of not answering yours.

He forgets the smaller stuff.

Although it may not seem like a big deal if a guy you’re seeing forgets the name of your dog or your province, a dude who is into you will pay closer attention to the details. A man who doesn’t pick up on minutiae probably isn’t concerned with developing a relationship.

You censor yourself.

If after a few weeks of dating, you don’t feel comfortable enough to call him when you feel like it — because you’re afraid of coming off as clingy — or if you resist showing him your goofy side, then your intuition may be picking up on the probability that he’s not fully invested in what you two have going on.

Remind yourself of happy days by highlighting a few mementos

Can’t forget your last holiday, the birth of your baby, or your chance meeting with a long-lost friend? Then do your best to preserve all those feel-good thoughts and experiences: Create a focal point in your room by putting together all the little (or big) things that made the event extra special. Example: A framed artwork can become a platform for various trinkets and objects. Throw in a book about relaxing, and people will have an idea of where you’ve been and what you’ve done.

Easy — and free — ways to feel better right now

• Count your blessings.

Sometimes problems can blind us to the blessings that we receive every single day. Make a conscious effort to recognize them.

• Commune with nature.

Something about nature is soothing to the soul. Walk to a nearby park or a big university full of trees. Go window-shopping at a flower shop.

• Pamper yourself.

When was the last time you were alone? Take a long, leisurely bath. Be fully present to every single movement, even if it’s jst shampooing your hair.

For Babies: MILK

A recent study concluded that milk with higher levels of vitamin A, C, and E, and minerals iron, zinc, and selenium prevents major diseases in preschool kids, including diarrhea and acute lower respiratory infections like pneumonia.

The 12-month study was conducted by child nutrition expert among 636 children one to three years old.

The child nutrition expert concluded that children who drink fortified milk are better protected against these diseases than those who drink milk with normal levels of the same nutrients.

For Grownups: GREEN TEA

A known anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant, it is recognized by the National Cancer Center Research Institute in Japan as an effective anti-cancer beverage. This is because the anti-oxidant it contains, is one hundred times stronger than vitamin C and twenty-five times more potent than vitamin E in protecting human cells.

Cultivated 5,000 years ago, green tea also: refreshes the body; controls high blood pressure; protects against heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol and upping the good kind; manages body weight (shows the release of carbohydrates thus promotes the burning of fat), and delays aging by its anti-oxidizing agents.

– Break out the lowbrow chow.

You may be used to throwing chic get-togethers with the girls, but resist your urge to put a gourmet twist on man food. Stick to crowd-pleasing classics like nachos, and present a selection of hot sauces that range from flaming to face-exploding. Then, suggest they bet on who can handle the most heat.

– Connect one-on-one.

Guys are used to being treated like a mob of troublemakers by wives and girlfriends. Show that you view them as individuals, not a collective threat, by asking each of them a few questions about their interests. Then, tell them something surprising about you, so they’ll see you as a person, not just the girlfriend.

– Take off after 30 minutes.

Drive home the fact that you have no desire to cut into dude bonding by ducking out to do your own thing, and leaving him to enjoy the rest of the night with his crew. Give them plenty of time to discuss how lucky your guy is to have a non-ball-busting woman like you in his life.

Most men aren’t pumped about PDAs, nut this advice will get him going public with your palm in no time.

– Play damsel in distress. Whether you’re stepping off the curb or descending stairs in stilettos, grab his arm for support. Guys enjoy feeling chivalrous. Plus, it’s a good place to start before going all the way with his hand.

– Keep it short and sweet. Stop holding his hand before he has a chance to become uncomfortable. Keep it to a minute, then let go. It makes you a scarce commodity. When you move away from him, ‘Why did she stop?’ He’ll soon be reaching for your hand all by himself.

– Make it worth his while. Don’t give him a limp hand. Suggestively play with his paw and he definitely won’t want to drop yours.

Casual conversation topics can help you unearth his core personality… and whether you’ll want to go on date two.

- His childhood. If he’s eager to describe his early years, you’ll know he’s comfortable defining himself in terms of close relationships — he’s a family man, so to speak. Short answers about his upbringing suggest a less-than-great home dynamic… so he may hesitate when it comes to opening his heart to you.

- Former flames. Putting ex-girlfriends on a pedestal or blaming them for every little bump in the road indicates that he has unresolved emotional baggage. Answering briefly about what he learned from past relationships shows that he is mature and willing to share responsibility when things go wrong.

- His pet peeves. Whether it’s messy sinks or loud cell-phone talkers, what bugs him reflects his personal values (like cleanliness and manners). Stressing something super-specific, like people who wear sneakers to dinner, hints at a rigid worldview.

After all, they all contain chemical and ingredients which could react with one another in bad ways, not to mention many of them are not good for family members or pets to ingest or inhale too many fumes.

Here are safety tips for using household cleaners:

• Protect your hands and eyes when doing routine home cleaning.
• Turn on a fan or open the windows when using household chemicals.
• Never smoke while using cleaners.
• Keep cleaning products beyond the reach of young children.
• Read and follow all safety labels, and usage and disposal instructions.
• Always keep cleaners in their original containers with the label intact.
• Store cleaning products separately from cooking and food items.

Tip: Never mix chemicals, cleaners and other household products when cleaning your home. Some combinations, such as bleach and ammonia, can produce toxic gas that can make your family ill.