Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Thank God I'm on my third trimester of pregnancy and so far me and my baby are doing very well. I've been very careful since I knew I was pregnant on my third baby because I don't want to lose another child. I'm pretty excited to know my baby's gender, I can't wait to have my ultrasound.

 

Here's what I should expect during my last three months of pregnancy.

 

My Baby's Growth and Development in the Third Trimester

 

Month Seven of Pregnancy

 

At the end of the seventh month of pregnancy, fat begins to be deposited on your baby. Your baby is about 36 cm (14 inches) long and weighs from about 900 - 1800g (two to four pounds). Your baby's hearing is fully developed and he or she changes position frequently and responds to stimuli, including sound, pain, and light.

 

If born prematurely, your baby would probably survive after the seventh month of pregnancy.

Month Eight of Pregnancy

Your baby, who is now about 46cm (18 inches) long and weighs as much as about 2.27 kg (five pounds), will continue to mature and develop body fat reserves. You may notice that your baby is kicking more. Baby's brain is developing rapidly at this time, and he or she can see and hear. Most internal systems are well developed, but the lungs may still be immature.

Month Nine of Pregnancy

Towards the end of the third trimester your baby continues to grow and mature. His or her lungs are nearly fully developed. Your baby's reflexes are coordinated so he or she can blink, close the eyes, turn the head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light, and touch.

 

Your baby's position changes to prepare itself for labor and delivery. The baby drops down in your pelvis, and usually his or her head is facing down toward the birth canal.

 

By the end of this pregnancy month, your baby is about 46- 51cm (18 to 20 inches) long and weighs about 3.2kg (seven pounds).

 

Source: WebMD

 

Back-to-School Shopping for Supplies

Last Tuesday I have already enrolled my daughter for this coming school year 2014-2015. Time is running so fast, she will be entering Grade 4 now and in a few years time she'll be graduating from elementary and will be starting her highschool. What's not amazing are that the prices of the books and the tuition fee because they are really getting expensive every school year, especially now that my daughter will be having one additional subject. Well, according from what I've heard, this school year their classrooms will be already air-conditioned that's why the tuition fee became a little bit higher.

 

Just yesterday, me and my daughter already bought her school supplies requirements for Grade 4. As expected the prices of the school supplies are getting higher and higher too. One piece of good quality writing notebook can cost from Php25.00 to about Php 40.00. Good thing my daughter didn't demand for a much higher priced notebook. Unfortunately, the notebooks with The Amazing World of Gumball designs were not available anymore which was her first choice, so she settled for 10 pieces of notebooks with cute Hello Kitty designs. I personally loved and liked them too because Hello Kitty is among my favorite characters.

 

 

Among the other things we bought were theme writing notebooks for English and Filipino, lots of pencils with erasers, lots of red, blue, and black ballpens, glue & paste, scissor, ruler, pad papers, correction fluid, scotch tape, folders with fasteners, crayons, etc. All in all, we've spend more than Php 800.00. Next week we still need to buy her other things like pencil case and  clear plastic folder since she wasn't able to find her type yesterday. Other things she'll be needing are black shoes, new socks, white sandos, shorts, underwear, and handkerchief. Hopefully, we'll be able to buy all of these already so things will be settled and we'll have nothing to worry about. We'll just have to wait for the school opening by June.  

 

 

Food Items You Shouldn't Refrigerate

Every food item you buy in the supermarket should be treated accordingly. Not all of them should be stored in the refrigerator as some of them can live happily and longer in the pantry. Check out this list of foods which you might be incorrectly storing inside your fridge.

 

1. Hot Sauce - can be placed in the pantry and can last up to three years.

 

2. Potatoes - can be placed inside paper bags, stored in the pantry and can last for three weeks.

 

3. Bread - should be placed in a room temperature and must be consumed within four days.

 



 

4. Onion - can be placed inside a mesh bag and stored in the pantry. However, keep it away from potatoes as it emits moisture and gases causing it to rot easily.

 

5. Garlic - can be placed in the pantry and can last for about two months.

 

6. Tomatoes - should be placed in a room temperature and can last for three days; if you want it to ripen fast, store it in a paper bag.

 

7. Coffee Beans - should be placed inside an airtight container. Placing it inside the fridge will affect its flavor.

 

8. Winter Squashes - can be placed in the pantry and can last for a month or so.

 

 

9. Honey - should be placed inside an airtight container in the pantry. Placing it inside the fridge will only thicken it.

 

10. Peanut Butter - should be placed in a tightly covered container in the pantry. Storing it in your fridge can harden it.

 

11. Baked Cookies - should be placed in a cookie jar in the pantry. Refrigerating it will cause it to stale faster.

 

After reading this, you now know what food items which you should not stored inside the fridge. Don't worry about food safety in this case because it will not be compromised in the first place.

 

Source: RealSimple.com
            About.com Busy Cooks

 

Sweet Marriage Proposal (Chito & Neri)

After all the controversies and scandals they've been through, Chito and Neri are now engaged. Chito Miranda has proposed to girlfriend of over two years Neri Naig last May 8, 2014 in Tagaytay.

 

Watch the sweet marriage proposal video:

Source: Yahoo Philippines

 

Checklist When Buying A Shih Tzu

If you are planning to get a Shih Tzu as a pet at your home, you should think about it very carefully. Remember that owning any pet comes with a big responsibility. You and your whole family at home should be well prepared for all the needs of your new family member. Before you finally decide to get a Shih Tzu, here is a checklist of the things you should take into consideration.

1. Do you have, or plan on having, small children in your home? The Shih Tzu can be a poor choice as a pet for a new and growing family. Like many other toy breeds, they are very possessive of their owners, and may become jealous of a small child and vie for attention. In addition, the breed's small size does not allow her to stand up physically to the rough-and-tumble abuse she can receive from a rambunctious child.

2. Are you the nervous type or easily excited? The Shih Tzu is a very active and alert dog, and can become very excited very easily. During these times they may run around and bark a lot. Although these are good watchdog qualities, they may be upsetting to some people.

3. Do you have the time, patience, and energy needed to properly raise a dog? The long coat of the Shih Tzu requires daily grooming, and puppies need to be trained and housetrained.

4. Are you willing to devote some of your free time to the dog? The Shih Tzu require significant human companionship for their emotional well-being. If you travel a lot, or take long vacations away from home, you must be willing to either take the dog with or find a sitter for your pet.

5. Do you intend to keep your dog in an outdoor kennel? The Shih Tzu is  a house-dog, and must be kept indoors. Although he/she will need to go outdoors to do her business and get some exercise, you must not expose this breed to harsh weather for a prolonged period of time. Shih Tzu are not very tolerant of cold weather.

6. Do you understand the long-term commitment of owning a Shih Tzu? A dog may live with you for as long as a child and will likely spend more time at home. The life span of this breed is ordinarily 13-14 years, and is sometimes longer.

7. Can you afford to keep a Shih Tzu? In addition to the initial purchase price, you will need to buy supplies. Food alone can cost as much as $40-$50 per month. You will also have to pay for those annual visits to the veterinarian.

Source: Jaime J. Sucher Shih Tzu - A Complete Pet Owner's Manual

 

Things To Consider When Buying A Shih Tzu

Adult or Puppy Shih Tzu?

 

 

 

There is a little question as to why four out of every five people desiring to purchase a dog begin by looking or a puppy rather than an adult dog. Just one look at a litter of Shih Tzu puppies will tell you why. How can anyone resist wanting one after they see those tiny, clumsy balls of fur frolicking with their littermates in such a carefree manner? A single glimpse can melt the coldest heart.

Indeed, one of the greatest pleasures of owning a Shih Tzu puppy is to watch her grow from small, delicate bundle of energy into a proud, dignified, and intelligent member of the family. This, however, takes a lot of patience, time, and energy. Puppies need constant care. They must be fed more frequently and watched more carefully than adult dogs, and need to be housetrained.

For those who cannot give a puppy all that she needs, choosing an adult would be much more advantageous. By getting an adult dog, you can free yourself from the drudgeries of housetraining chores and rigorous feeding schedules. The adult Shih Tzu would also be a benefit to anyone who does not have enough flexibility in their daily schedule to accommodate a puppy's needs.

An adult Shih Tzu will usually adapt easily to a new owner and environment, and would make an ideal pet for the elderly, or anyone else for whom raising a puppy would be too much work. The greatest drawback to buying an adult Shih Tzu is that it may be difficult to correct any bad habits that she may have previously acquired.

The choice, then, is evenly divided between obtaining an older dog that would doubtless be easier to care for, or getting a puppy and raising her to adapt to one's own lifestyle. If you are looking to obtain a show dog, however, the choice may become one of monetary feasibility.

There is certain amount of luck involved in buying a potential show puppy. While you can check the puppy's lineage, and you can see the conformation of the dam (mother), you cannot be sure that the puppy will grow up with the desired looks and temperament. In fact, the Shih Tzu does not reach full maturity or beauty until the age of almost three years. On the other hand, if you wish to purchase a proven adult show dog, it will cost a significantly greater amount of money.

Male or Female Shih Tzu?

 

 

Another choice you will have to make when choosing your Shih Tzu is whether to get a male or a female. This is usually an easier choice, for it is more a matter of personal preference. In Shih Tzu, there are only slight differences in the temperaments of males and females. Females are usually more even-tempered except when they are in season, while males may become more irritable from time to time. There is little difference when it comes to training, although females do tend to be slightly friendlier, while males will be more ruggedly independent. These differences are so slight that unless you have raised both sexes simultaneously you might not even notice them.

 

Where the choice of male and female becomes more important, however, is if you decide that you want to raise puppies. If you are considering starting a kennel, then you would want a female. If you plan to buy a second Shih Tzu and you already have a male, sometimes brining a second male home may lead to fights (although bringing home a female may lead to other obvious problems). If you have a female you can get another female without worries.

 

If you select a female and have no intention of breeding her, then have her spayed. There is an alarming number of unwanted and homeless dogs in the United States, and every precaution a dog owner can take to prevent unwanted pregnancies should be taken. The spayed female is also less likely to suffer from breast tumors, ovarian cysts, false pregnancies, and other ailments. Likewise, male dogs should be neutered. Neutered males are less likely to develop testicular or prostate cancer.

 

If you plan on entering a conformation dog show, do not have your dog spayed or neutered because it will be immediately disqualified.

 

Source: Jaime J. Sucher Shih Tzu - A Complete Pet Owner's Manual

 

 

Craving for Greenwich Pizza & Pasta

Yesterday was Mother's day and me and my Mama had a date together. We just spend some hours together but it's really worth celebrating our special day. We had our snacks at Greenwich and we definitely loved the food we ordered, Lasagna Supreme, Creamy Carbonara, Garlic Stix, and Mango Pearl Coolers.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully tomorrow I can eat again at Greenwich together with my daughter after enrolling her at her school. I can't wait to taste Greenwich goodies again. But tomorrow I'll be trying Chocolate Pearl Coolers since I've already tasted Mango Pearl Coolers. I bet my daughter will order her favorite Solo Hawaiian Pizza.

 

 

Mother's Day 2014

Mother's day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers in the world. Happy Mother's day to me as well. And of course, happy mother's to my one and only Mama Fe. Also, happy mother's day to my mother-in-law, to my grandmother, to all my aunties, and friends.

 

I personally want to dedicate this one to my Mama.

 

 



 

 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, so let me first greet all wonderful mothers and mothers-to-be a happy and truly blessed Mother's Day. Mothers doesn't really expect any material gifts from their children for tomorrow's celebration, just a simple greeting of Happy Mother's Day and a heartfelt Thank You and I Love You for being a good Mom is enough to make them feel really happy.

 

If you decided to appreciate your Moms even more and wants to give her a gift, here are some of the best Mother's Day gift ideas you can choose from.

 

1. A Mother's Day Card with Flowers - it would be extra special if you make your very own mother's day card with a very sweet dedication together with flowers that your Mom really likes.

 

2. Take her to the movie house and watch a film; or buy her a VCD of her favorite movie and watch at home plus make her a special snack.

 

3. Give your Mom a spa, salon, or massage treatment that would help her get away with stress and feel so relieve, relax, and beautiful.

 

4. Plan and prepare a special lunch or dinner at home for your Mom and invite your family and her closest friends.

 

5. If you have enough money, buy your Mom her favorite scent of perfume.

 

6. If you know how to bake, make a special cake or cookies for your Mom. If not, buy her a cake with a Happy Mother's Day dedication and eat with her while bonding together.

 

7. Give her a gift certificate that she can really make use of.

 

8. If you can't be with her tomorrow during the Mother's Day celebration, give her a surprise call and greet her.

 

 

Extraordinary Uses of Petroleum Jelly

   

What exactly is Petroleum Jelly?

 

According to Wikipedia, Petroleum Jelly is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons which is originally promoted and used as a topical ointment for its healing properties. It is colorless, or of a pale yellow color, translucent and devoid of taste and smell when it is pure. It does not oxidize when exposed to the air and is not readily acted on by chemical reagents. It is also insoluble in water but soluble in dichloromethane, benzene, carbon disulfide, chloroform, oil of turpentine, and diethyl ether.

 

When it comes the uses of petroleum jelly, you will surely be surprised to know that it actually has lots of extraordinary.

 

1. Before going to bed at night, apply ample amount of petroleum jelly on to your chapped feet and hands. Cover your feet with cotton socks and your hands with cotton gloves. The following day, expect both of your feet and hands feeling soft and smooth.

 

2. Apply liberal amount of petroleum jelly to any chapped and wind burned skin part of your body. Do it regularly and you'll see it will be healed in no time.

 

3. If you want your perfume to last on your body, apply some petroleum jelly to the parts where you usually spray your perfume and spray your favorite perfume on top of it. Sure enough you will smell so good throughout the day.

 

4. Make a an easy homemade and inexpensive exfoliator by mixing petroleum jelly and sugar or sea salt.

 

5. Remove shoe blisters by smearing a little amount of petroleum jelly on the specific part of the shoe that rub against your foot.

 

6. For a warming massage at home, heat petroleum jelly until warm using the microwave and ask someone to massage it into your back. It will help sooth your back pain.

 

7. If you have a fever, put petroleum jelly inside the freezer for about 5 minutes, then sooth it on your forehead and you'll feel relieved.

 

8. If you find it hard opening bottles like the nail polish bottles, rub petroleum jelly on its neck for easy opening.

 

9. If you have pets at home and they you noticed they have cracked paw pads, rub some petroleum jelly on their pads to make them smooth.

 

10. To restore the shiny look of your leather bags and shoes, apply some petroleum jelly to them

 

11. To easily remove candle wax, apply petroleum jelly all around its edges.

 

12. Dab some petroleum jelly on doors with squeaky hinges.

 

13. To reduce and ease scalp itching and scaling because of dandruff, massage some petroleum jelly into your scalp.

 

14. If a chewing gum accidentally get stuck on your hair, remove it by applying petroleum jelly to it and the gum will slide off easily.

 

15. If you want to keep ants and other insects from getting into your pet's food bowl, spread petroleum jelly all around the outer sides of the bowl.

 

16. Safe for your baby, apply small amount of petroleum jelly on your baby's clean bottom before putting on a new diaper to prevent diaper rash.

 

Source: www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com

 

Interesting and Fun Facts - Part 5

Here's the part 5 of the interesting and fun facts I want to share with you all.

 

 

I want to see one of this curly coated pig one day. From the research I've made, they are called Mangalitsa pig which is very unusual as it grows a hairy fleece like that of a sheep.

 

 

I'm looking forward for the day I'm going to meet somebody who looks exactly like me. That would be very exciting for anyone else.

 

I've seen a peacock and its beautiful colored feathers amazed me so much.

From the research I've made, they are not actually albino peacock for they are called White Peacock. The explanation regarding their color is because of the genetic mutation known as Leucism that causes the lack of pigments in the plumage.

 

This would be definitely so fun to do. How I wish there will also be snow in the Philippines.

 

I've done this a lot of times and I've really wonder what are those white dots I always see. Now I know that its my own white blood cells. Go ahead and try it, see it yourself.

 

Looks scary but really unique.

From what I read from Wikipedia, Snowflake was an albino gorilla. He is the only known white gorilla so far, and was the most popular resident of the Barcelona Zoo in Spain.

 

 

Rules To Have A Happy Life

 

 

Everybody wants to live a happy life and obviously any one can as long he or she makes an effort to make his/her life worth living for. To help you live the kind of life you expect, here are 10 simple rules you can apply to your life.

 

1. This is your life do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit.

• Go ahead and do whatever it is that you've been wanting to do in your life but remember to act your age. If you don't like the kind of job you have at the moment you can always quit but make sure you'll have a new work you will surely love and will let you earn more money.

2. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV.

• Stop wasting your precious time on things that is not worth it. If you have something to do, do it right away.

3. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop! They will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

• Your true love will come at the right time, so stop searching for it for you may be missing a lot of things in your life already.

4. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful.

• Life is definitely beautiful, it's up to you to make it more interesting and flow the way you like it.

5. When you eat, appreciate every last bite.

• You're lucky if you're able to eat three times a day or more than that so appreciate every food you eat. Not everyone in the world can eat delicious food every single day.

6. Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences.

• Being friendly is important so don't be shy when meeting other people. Welcome them in your life but remember to choose only those who deserves your time and love as a friend.

7. Ask the next person you see what their passion is and share your inspiring dream with them.

• You can always inspire other people around you and likewise other people you'll meet will inspire you even more.

8. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself.

• Take enough time with yourself alone. Travel to places you've been wanting to go and explore a lot of things.

9. Some opportunities only comes once, seize them.

• When an opportunity knocks at your door, grab it right away. Do not let it pass because that could be the chance you've been waiting for to become successful and truly happy in life.

10. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them. So go out and start creating. Life is short, live your dream and wear your passion.

• Your life would be nothing without the other people around you. Your family and friends are among the most important persons you're going to share your happiness. Live every single day of your life to the fullest as if it is your last.

 

Source: Livingggood.com

 

Characteristics Of The Shih Tzu Dog Breed

 

The following descriptions are an interpretation of the AKC-approved Shih Tzu Standard. The standard is complete written description of the breed; how it should look, act, and move. You can obtain a copy of the written Standard from the ASTC or the AKC.

 

General Appearance

 

The Shih Tzu should be sturdy, lively, and alert, with a long, flowing double coat. Because of its noble heritage as the palace pet of several Chinese dynasties, the Shih Tzu has a "distinctively arrogant carriage." The Shih Tzu will move its head held high and its tail curved over its back. Although a certain amount of variation in size is accepted, the Shih Tzu must be "compact, solid, carrying good weight and substance."

 

Size, Proportion, Substance

 

The Shih Tzu should have a height at the withers (the highest point of the shoulders) of between 8 and 11 inches (20-28 cm). Mature dogs should weigh between 9 and 16 pounds (4-7 kg). The length of the Shih Tzu, from the withers to the base of the tail, should be slightly longer than its height at the withers. It should not appear either "leggy" or "dumpy or squatty."

 

 

Head

 

The head of the Shih Tzu should be round, broad, and wide between the eyes, and the top of the head must be domes. The head must be in proportion to the rest of the body, and appear neither too large nor too small. The facial expression will impart a "warm, sweet, wide-eyed, friendly, and trusting" feeling. A overall well-balanced expression is more important than any individual part.

 

Eyes

 

The eyes must be large, round, placed well apart, and look straight ahead; however, they should not be too prominent. They should be very dark in color, but, on liver- and blue- coated dogs, the eyes may be lighter.

 

Ears

 

The proper Shih Tzu ears should be large, heavily coated, and slightly below the crown of the domed skull.

 

Muzzle

 

The muzzle must be set no lower than the bottom rim of the eye. It should be square, short, and smooth, and must never be downturned. The overall length of the muzzle should be no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the tip of the nose to the stop (the base of the forehead). The length will vary in proportion to the overall size of the dog. The front of the muzzle should be flat. The lower lip and chin should not be protruding or receding. The jaw is broad and wide, and its bite should be undershot. The teeth and tongue should be hidden when the mouth is closed.

 

Nose

 

The nose, like the lips and eye rims, is black (except on liver-pigmented dogs, where it should be liver-colored, and on blue-pigmented dogs, where it should be blue). A Shih Tzu's nostrils are broad, wide and open.

 

 

Neck, Topline, and Body

 

Once again, the overall balance is most important. The neck should be sturdy and flow smoothly into the shoulders. Its length should allow the dog to hold its head high, and should be in proportion to the height and length of the dog. Its back should be level and parallel to the ground. The body is short and sturdy, and there should be no evidence of a waistline or tucked-in abdomen. The body should be slightly longer than the tail. Shih Tzu possess a broad and deep chest with good rib spring. The should not, however, be barrel-chested. The depth of the rib cage should extend to just below the elbow. The distance from the elbows to the withers is slightly longer than from the elbows to the ground. The croup (the highest part of the rump) should be flat.

 

Tail

 

The tail is set high on the hindquarters and is heavily "plumped." It should be carried in a curve well over the back.

 

Forequarters

 

The shoulders are laid back, well angulated, laid in, and fit smoothly into the body. The forelegs are straight, muscular, and firmly attached to the body. Because of the broad chest, they should be set well apart; however, the elbows must be close to the body. The pasterns (the equivalent of a forearm) are strong and perpendicular to the ground. The feet of the Shih Tzu are firm, and well padded and point straight ahead.

 

Hindquarters

 

The angle and position of the hindquarters should be in balance with the forequarters. The rear legs, like the forelegs, are well-boned and muscular. When viewed from the rear, with the stifles (the equivalent of the human knee) well bent, the legs should be straight and not too close together, but still in line with the forelegs. The hocks (the next joint below the stifle) are perpendicular to the ground. The rear feet are firm, padded, and pointed straight forward.

 

Coat

 

A Shih Tzu's double coat is long, luxurious, thick, and flowing and at times may have a slight wave.

 

Gait

 

This breed should move straight, and at its natural speed should display "smooth, flowing and effortless movement." The dog should demonstrate a good reach and equally strong rear drive. Its back should remain level during movement, ad its head should be carried high. Even when moving, the tail should remain curved over the back.

Temperament

Because the sole purpose of a Shih Tzu is to be a companion and house pet, the Standard dictates that is essential that its temperament be "outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly, and trusting towards all."
 

 

Source: Jaime J. Sucher - Shih Tzu A Complete Pet Owner's Manual

 

Shih Tzu - A Complete Pet Owner's Manual

 

 

 

This is a Complete Shih Tzu Pet Owner's Manual by Jaime J. Sucher which my husband bought several days after our pet dog Mio arrived at home. It talks about everything from deciding to purchase a Shih Tzu dog, taking care of it, the kind of food and important nutrition it needs, the kind of training it requires, and certain explanations about its behavior. As soon as we had such book at home, I spend the following days reading and understanding every topic discussed and I've learned so much from it.

 

Let me share with you some topics I've read from Sucher's book. From time to time I will be posting important topics here on my blog regarding the things I've read from the said book.

 

 

What is a Shih Tzu?

 

 

Origins and Early History

 

The exact origins of the Shih Tzu (Sheed-zoo) are really unknown, but there is enough evidence available to create a theory that most experts think is accurate. There are documents, paintings, and other art objects of Chinese origin that contain references to images of a form of dog believed to be the original ancestors of the modern Shih Tzu. The oldest document dates back to the Tang dynasty, in the year A.D. 624. It says that a pair of these dogs was given to the royal court by a Chinese nobleman. It is believed that the nobleman obtained the dogs from the ancient empire of Byzantium. Unfortunately there is little further documentation for the 370 years that followed. The next mention of these dogs (or a breed that was very similar) comes in the years A.D. 990-994 when the people of the Ho Chou province gave a pair to the Imperial Court as a tribute. It is believed that the dogs were later bred in the Forbidden City of Peking for several countries.

 

Later records written during the Manchu dynasty of the mid-seventeenth century claimed that early relatives of the Lhasa Apso were brought from Tibet to the Forbidden City. The highly prized Apsos were sometimes given as gifts by the Dalai Lama of Tibet, or may have been taken by Manchu generals as spoils of war. Such dog were placed at the feet of the emperor as a sign of fealty, or as a symbol of conquest. It is believed that these Tibetan Apsos were bred with the native dogs of the Chinese royal palace.

 

The original ancestors may have been a relative of the Chinese Pekingese, or at least, at one point in time, there were some crosses with this breed. It is also believed that in the Imperial Palace there were some crossed with a smooth-coated breed that was the ancestor of the modern Pug. Whether these crosses were intentional or not, they definitely played an important part in the origins of our modern Shih Tzu.

 

 

"Shih Tzu brother and sister Tian Mi's Over The Top aka John J and AM CH Tian Mi's Isadorable aka Izzy. John J and Izzy are typical Shih Tzus who do not meet a stranger. They enjoy dog shows or just being couch potatoes."

 

Source: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shihtzu.htm

 

 

There are several pictures of a small, lion-faced (i.e., the lion as depicted in traditional Asian art) dog the appear in the Imperial Dog Book of the Manchu Dynasty, and there are records indicating that these special dogs were selected with great care for court breeding. From these came the Shih Tzu that we know today. Although the word Shih Tzu is Chinese of "lion dog", they were often referred to as a chrysanthemum-faced dog. One look at a Shih Tzu groomed in the traditional Chinese manner will tell you why. This method consists of combing out the dog's mustache and beard away from the face, and roughing up the hair behind the head and on the shoulders to form a large, puffed-up head of fur that resembles the aforementioned flower.

 

The writings in the Imperial Dog Book will tell of how these small, intelligent, and docile dogs were bred by court eunuchs. They would compete with each other to produce specimens for the emperor. If a dog caught the emperor's eye, a picture of it would be placed in the court record book, which was considered a very great honor.

 

It is known that the Shih Tzu was a highly favored house pet of the royal family for well over 200 years. Unfortunately many dogs were destroyed during the Revolution because they were viewed as a symbol or imperial rule. Only a few of the royal dogs escaped.

 

In the 1930, Lady Brownrigg, an Englishwoman living in China, was able to save a pair of Shih Tzu and import them to England. Their names were Hibou (the male) and Shu-Ssa. Shortly afterward, another male, named Lung-Fu-Ssu, was imported into Ireland. later in the 1930s a few more Shih Tzu were saved by an English officer on duty in China. All of the Shih Tzu we know of today are descendants of these dogs. In 1934, the Shih Tzu Club of England was formed, and the first championship awards were given in 1940.  

 



   

Motivation for Moms #2

You may have one or several children at home and as a their mother, you should always bear in mind that they will grow differently from each other. As your kids grow at their own timing, they will have their own personality making them one unique human being. Together with your husband and other family members at home, you shouldn't be so surprised about your kids having their own kind of tastes, styles, and abilities. However, you should always be there for them to guide them and keep reminding them of the good things to follow and bad things to avoid. Remember that every child is unique and it's just important that you as a parent take enough time interacting with them so they'll know they are always loved and cared for. And sure enough with the help of God, you will be able to raise your kids in a good way.