Friday, November 16, 2018

Doe Deere: The Queen of Lime Crime, Momtrepreneur & a New Venture

Doe Deere welcomed her new daughter, Loreli Elita into the world 21st of September this year. The queen of makeup and founder of Lime Crime could not hide her joy on Instagram.


She expressed her joy and took that chance to shed light on her new prospects in the coming months.

Deere’s daughter was carried by a surrogate because of the medical complications that the pregnancy would have exposed her to. A few months ago she opened up on Instagram about her situation and decision to use a surrogate to carry her baby. Loreti is Deere’s first child.

It was also during that time that Deere made it public of her decision to step down from most of her roles at Lime Crime for the purposes of concentrating on a new venture. Indeed it’s a time of new beginnings for Deere and her family.

Deere has always been open about her life in public and she welcomes all of us into her new journey. Having welcomed a newborn and announced the launch of Poppy Angel off (A jewelry boutique line) sheds light on the experience of momtrepreneurs around the world.

The Poppy Angeloff Venture

The Lime Crime founder is on the new jewelry venture. Kat Day expressed her joy to work together with her sister in the jewelry business. “We all love jewelry in our family and when we were not able to get what we wanted, we took that opportunity to work out something”, said Kat Day.

Kat day is also a new mother meaning that all of them will be operating the business with babies tied around them. This is a similar trend across the globe. Most women have broken the glass ceiling of patriarchy in the business world. They have overcome barriers that always brought them down.

Deere has worked out her way through thick and thin and has managed to build an empire in the cosmetic world.

Entrepreneurship is part and parcel of my life . I always search on the needs of the market and think of a solution for it. Besides, find something that you are passionate about and follow through it. –Doe Deere

This is a marketing technique that has previously worked for Deere. Right now she is building a following on Instagram for the new brand’s Instagram page. She has also assured followers on her personal Instagram page that they will love the aesthetics of her jewelry.

Who is Doe Deere?

I've had posted about Deere several times before like on this article. But again, Deere surfaced into the cosmetic industry in 2008. She started small but her prowess in online marketing helped her to dominate the cosmetic world within a short time. Deere was a popular user of Myspace and LiveJournal at that time.

She took advantage of her social media popularity to build a community of followers who turned her into a household name. She shared some of her music and sold constructed clothing and vintage to her followers.

How Deere built Lime Crime

Lime Crime entered the cosmetic industry with pomp and color. In the early days, her products mainly attracted subcultures such as Dollies, the Goths, the Punks and such like stuff. However, within a short period of time, Lime Crime offered the Cosmetic industry what it needed (creativity).

Deere’s Transition

Having served in the top leadership of the company for several years now, Deere recently revealed that she will be stepping down from her position together with her husband.

She, however, assured her customers that the company’s goal of providing cruelty-free cosmetic products will continue. Deere will also remain on the board of Lime Crime even as she ventures on her new business.

Monday, November 5, 2018

5 Easy Ways to Make Family Travel More Affordable

Traveling with your family or a large group can be challenging for a number of reasons. First, you need to make sure you have time off of work or school and then you have to find transportation and accommodations that will be big enough for everyone. Once you find everything you need, then you have to decide how you're going to pay for it. Unfortunately, family travel can be expensive which is why many people don’t travel with their families. Here are some ways that you can make your next group vacation fun and affordable. 

1. Travel in the “Off” Season 

The truth is that most people can travel during a few times of the year. Summer holidays, school breaks, and the end of the year. Since so many people travel at the same times, airlines and hotels can charge more for flights and rooms because there is greater demand. If you decide to travel in times other than these you can often find savings of hundreds or more depending on where you are going to go. This might mean you have to sacrifice having nice weather and travel in the winter, but you will save money and avoid a lot of the large crowds that flock to tourist destinations during the peak travel months. 

2. Pack Light


This next step is part of saving money on flights. One way that you will save money is by packing lighter so you don’t pay for as many check bags. One way to avoid this is to fit everything into a carry on bag, or into a free check piece of luggage so you don’t have to pay extra. You might consider splitting a larger suitcase with a family member so you don’t have to each pack an additional suitcase. 

3. Use Flight Trackers


One way to save on flights is to set up a Google Alert in Google Flights that will notify you when the price for a certain flight reaches a certain point. Also, there are a number of 3rd party sites or newsletters you can find that will give you this information. You can even visit the websites of airlines and look at the different prices to learn when you should fly to get the most bang for your buck. 

4. Use a Credit Card that Has Travel Rewards

Some credit cards reward you with cash back on flights or hotels when you make purchases with them. These points will add up, and you will be able to save a lot of money on your next trip. This shouldn’t cost you much extra money since most of the items you buy on your credit cards like groceries or daily essentials need to be purchased regardless. If you are spending money on the necessities of life, at least you should be getting rewarded for it. However, be very careful not to let the balance you own grow too large. It would be smart to pay off your balance every week or every month so you don’t get trapped in debt. 

5. Go on a Cruise

A cruise is a great way to travel and can often be cheaper than traditional vacations because everything you need is included in the ticket price. When you pay for a cruise you get your lodging, food, and entertainment included. Plus, companies such as inCruises have made traveling even less expensive. Another good idea is to look at cruises during the off season to get the best price possible. 

Overview

Traveling with a family on a budget is possible! Don’t let the cost of taking a trip scare you off. If you plan ahead and use some creativity, you can save a lot of money and still have a very memorable trip.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Choosing A Jogger Stroller That Fits Your Needs!

Strollers are a must-have item for any parent of young kids, be it infants or toddlers. Choosing the right stroller is a process that can be challenging and confusing, with all the different options out there. 


Plus, choosing a specialty stroller can be even more difficult, as these represent an even bigger investment in your little one, so read on to find out how you can choose the best jogging stroller to fit your needs, even if you’re on a budget!

Jogging Strollers 101

A jogging stroller is durable and lightweight, much unlike a conventional stroller, which tends to be made of more rigid materials that make it more difficult to maneuver.

The biggest difference between jogging strollers and regular strollers are the wheels. These differ in both the materials and the size. The wheels on jogging strollers are light and durable, as they are made of rubber and inflated with air, much like the tires on a bicycle. 

Conventional strollers have hard plastic wheels that are smaller and tend to spin in all directions, so it’s more difficult to keep a straight path with this kind of stroller.

The construction and different wheels make taking a jogging stroller out on a run a breeze!

So why do I need one?

Great question! The answer here is multi-fold. One, if you’re an avid outdoor exerciser, and you just love to run the trails or jog in the park, a jogging stroller is a great tool to take your little ones with you and share in the joys of being outdoors.

This also offers you great bonding time with your kiddos! Fortunately, jogging strollers also have tons of really useful cargo space, so you can take along snacks and juice boxes (plus water and whatever else you need for yourself) to keep the little ones happy and enjoying the ride.

You’ll also benefit from a jogging stroller if you like taking your kids outside, minus the running or jogging. Thanks to the great maneuverability and light weight of jogging strollers, they’re great for general purpose strolling as well.

Jogging strollers are super easy to push – you can even do it with just one hand – making this an ideal tool for taking your kids grocery shopping, too. These strollers are true multitaskers and will turn you into a super-parent in no time!

If you’re concerned about the cost of one of these must-have jogging strollers, fear not, there are many options available for even the most budget conscious. Check out this link if you want to know more about these low-budget strollers

Another options is to buy a used stroller from a mom whose kids have outgrown their stroller. Generally, jogging strollers hold up really well thanks to their durable construction, so you’ll be sure to have a great stroller even if you decide to go this route.

So go on out there, find a great jogging stroller, and have fun with the kids!

Saturday, October 20, 2018

5 Ways TeenSafe Helps to Protect Your Kids

In this day and age where technology plays a big role in our everyday lives, it's no longer a surprise seeing kids using their own gadgets. My 3 kids are aged, 9, 6 and 4 years old, as of now, they only share one iPad and I sometimes let them use my smartphone to watch and play. Right now, I am already anticipating that when they are old enough they would already ask for their own smartphones. And, it sure is like a scary time for me. I am sure all moms' with preteens and teenagers could understand. Of course, we want our kids to have access to all the good things about phones and the internet, but we also know there is a potential that they could get into trouble. Good thing, smartphone monitoring service has been invented. So it is best to strike a compromise with our kids, we can let them use their phones while still letting us make sure they were staying safe. One smartphone monitoring service is that I know of is TeenSafe, since it came highly recommended by other mom's online. 

Here are some features of TeenSafe that will Surely Help Protect our Kids:



Reading SMS messages

This one is important. The service allows you to read sent and received SMS messages and even look at deleted ones as well. This feature doesn't intend parents to be nosey, it is used to make sure that our kids aren’t talking to people they shouldn’t be. If they’re talking to friends, that’s great! If they’re talking to strangers, then we’d need to sit down and have a talk. This feature will also make sure our kids are engaging in age-appropriate activities.

Call monitoring

Similar to being able to read messages, the service also allows you to see your kid’s call log. This lets us know what kind of people they’re conversing with. Again, our guard is up about strangers they could meet on the internet so if we see any unknown numbers in our kids’ phone logs, we can ask them about it. It helps us to stay connected and drives home the point that it’s important to be careful about who you’re talking to.

Contact list access

By having the ability to access the contacts in our kids’ phone, we can again see who they’re interacting with. We place a high degree of emphasis on this because it’s so easy for a young person to get caught up with the wrong kind of people. We’re not snooping here, but we can let our kids know that we’re keeping an eye on who they’re communicating with.

Location tracking

TeenSafe allows parents to track current and past locations of a phone in order to get an idea of where their kids are or have been. I find this feature to be useful from a safety perspective because it will let us know that our kids are where they say they’re going to be. If we see that they’re not, it’s a red flag and we’ll check in with them to make sure everything’s okay.

Website information

The ability to see what websites our kids are visiting will surely come in handy. One big thing this allows us to do is to ensure they are visiting sites that are appropriate for them to be viewing. It also helps us monitor their social media usage, as that can not only get to be excessive at times but can also be a source of cyberbullying. That’s something we’re always on guard about since it’s often not something a kid will tell their parent is occurring.

Those are five great ways that TeenSafe can help us feel more comfortable with our kids’ usage of technology. Using the service in conjunction with open communication and expectations will be a great tool for all parents like me. If you’re concerned about the ways in which your kid uses their phone, consider looking into the service further. 

Have you tried other smartphone monitoring services? I'd love to hear about it!

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Gift Ideas for People Who Are always on the Go

And just like that, it’s already October!  Probably by now, some of you are already thinking about buying holiday presents for your friends and loved ones. It’s never too early for that because hey, thinking about what gifts to buy could be a little stressful and surely you wouldn’t want to be caught up in the holiday rush, right?

So let me help you get started with your shopping list, whether it’s for a holiday or a birthday present for your friends and loved ones, I have gift ideas that will surely be put into good use.

In this fast-paced world, where technology plays a big role in our everyday lives, it’s no wonder why people are always on the go. And, with the presence of social media more and more people are being influenced by influencers to travel more and live an active lifestyle. So when it comes to buying gifts, you can never go wrong with gadgets!

To give you an idea, I have listed some Garmin gadgets below that are ideal for the people in your life that are always on the go or even for yourself. Not only that, I have searched the web for the best Garmin sale, deals, discounts and voucher codes for you and I found it on LatestDeals.co.uk. So if you are from the UK, sit back, relax and read on!

Garmin Sat Nav’s

For people who are always on the road. Garmin Sat Nav’s are reliable and has full-feature GPS navigators that will surely take the doubt out of driving.


This Garmin Drive Sat Nav GPS UK ROI Ireland Lifetime Maps is just one of the popular deals on LatestDeals.co.uk which you can get for only £79.99 from the original price of £109.99 plus you get to save £30 for the delivery.

Garmin watches and fitness trackers


There is no doubt that smartwatches and fitness trackers are very popular today since more people are aiming to live a more active lifestyle. It’s a good thing that the number of Garmin watches and fit trackers is continuously growing which means they have everything for amateur runners to pro triathletes. You can choose yours depending on your personal fitness goal, the design and of course the one that suits your budget. And, LatestDeals.co.uk has a lot of great deals for you! 


Your friends would surely love to receive these gadgets as gifts, and every time they'd use it they'll remember you so it's definitely worth spending your money on. Or, you might want to list these down on your wishlist! 

Do you have other gift ideas for people of today who are always on the go? It would also be great if you'd share awesome deals you've recently discovered. I'd love to check them out!

Happy shopping :)


Thursday, September 13, 2018

Indoor Plant Pests

Whether your plants are outdoors or indoors, there are several varieties of bugs that can attack them. Therefore, if your plants’ growth rate has reduced or stopped entirely; there are color changes or bugs can be seen on it, there is a need to take urgent action if you still cherish your potted plant.


Because many bugs rely on plants for their basic needs of food and shelter, plants naturally harbor bugs. Timely and thorough inspection of your plants will help ensure an outbreak is curtailed as soon as it starts. In this article, we discuss how to ensure your cherished potted plants are not infested and also highlight the examples of bugs usually found in plants. 

Typical house plant bugs.

You might be unsure of the type of bug you are dealing with when your potted plants become infected with one. We have therefore compiled a list of the plant's bugs that are usually seen and will help you know the exact type of bug bothering your potted plants and how to kill aphids and other pests.

Aphids

This is frequently located on indoor plants. They can hinder the growth of the plant by taking out sap from the plants. While the colony of aphids keeps growing, they rob plans of the crucial nutrients. Indoor plants with critical aphids’ infestation tend to get sticky as a result of the honeydew secreted by the bug.

This bug can have the same color of your plant and can usually be found underneath the leaves in a group. The best means of eradicating these is to bring in ladybugs.


Spider Mites

To observe the signs of spider mites, you may be required to use a magnifying glass. This is because these bugs are quite tiny. Plants with spider mites tend to turn dull brown as opposed to bright green.

Chronic infestations will come alongside webbings underneath the leaves and it then becomes tedious to get rid of the mites. Insecticides will be unable to get rid of these mites due to the fact that they are not insects.

How to deal with a spider mite infestation:

  • Separate the infected plant:

Utilize water and spray on the plant regularly. Note that spider mites tend to reproduce rapidly. This is each 3-7 days. If you can, place the plant that has been infested in a humid location as spider mites breeding is encouraged by dry air.



Mealybugs

These bugs are quite determined and would crop up over and over again. To note a mealy bug infestation on your plant, you would spot a cotton-like fluff growing on it. The white is partially a waxy substance secreted by the bug and also the mealybug itself. The wax functions to safeguard them from getting sprayed.

To kill these bugs, spread a Q-tip doused with alcohol. You may also want to douse the plant with water continuously to get the mealy bugs loos. Next, apply neem oil generously on the plants so the bugs don’t have the capacity to return.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

What Are Jeunesse Global's Products?



Jeunesse Global was founded by Wendy Lewis and Randy Ray in 2009 with a vision to create skin care products and nutritional supplements that are made of high-quality, powerful ingredients. The company's products are marketed under the Youth Enhancement System Y.E.S., and the Y.E.S. system is available to consumers all over the world. 

The company has 32 fully operational offices that are located across the globe and has multilingual customer service, in-house programming, a global enrollment system, and a back office support team. To continue to improve its products, the company focuses on various types of research that includes DNA repair, adult stem cell science, fat loss technology, telomere support, and nutrigenomics. 

Here are Jeunesse Global's Products

Nevo 

Nevo is the company's energy drink and is offered in four enticing flavors. It includes real fruit juices, only contains 50 calories, and doesn't contain artificial colors or sweeteners. Green tea, guarana, and Yerba Mate are a some of the ingredients in the drink that effectively boost energy. 

Reserve 

Reserve is a nutritional drink that includes a potent blend of antioxidants that protect cells from free radical damage. To effectively fight against free radical damage, the supplement contains green tea, aloe vera, and grape seed extract. Other ingredients that makeup Reserve include dark sweet cherries, pomegranates, acai berries, blueberries, and grapes. 

M1ND 

M1ND is a nutritional supplement that helps support memory and mental focus with ingredients that include CERA-Q. This proprietary ingredient is a blend of proteins from silkworm cocoons that help enhance overall memory. In addition, the supplement also contains L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine, GABA, and N-Acetyl. The drink is offered in a small, travel-friendly packet and is a lemon meringue flavor. 

MonaVie Active 

This Jeunesse nutritional drink includes an antioxidant blend of 19 fruits that includes acai berries. Vitamin C from the fruits help protect individuals from oxidative stress and free radical damage. In addition, the drink also supports the formation of healthy collagen that is essential for cartilage health. 

Naara 

Naara is a skin care drink that contains 5,000 mg of TruMarine Collagen. This proprietary ingredient helps skin retain moisture and restore collagen loss. The drink produces visible results in as little as four weeks, it promotes skin firmness and elasticity, diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and minimizes the appearance of pores. 

ZEN Project 8 

This is the company's weight management program that lasts eight weeks. During this time, participants will go through three phases, which include Detox, Ignite, and Thrive. The three-phase weight management plan also provides participants with a support group of active participants. The program teaches individuals portion control, healthy food choices, and more. 

Finiti 

Finiti is one of Jeunesse's most potent supplements. The supplement contains a powerful blend of fruit and vegetable extracts and is free of artificial colors, preservatives, eggs, shellfish, fish, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat. Finiti contains turmeric, pomegranate extract, Coenzyme Q10, and more. 

Luminesce 

Luminesce is a skincare line that includes APT-200, which effectively fights against the signs of aging. The product line includes a daily moisturizing complex, an advanced night cream, a youth-restoring cleanser, a skin brightening serum, and more. 

Instantly Ageless 

This is a micro cream that starts to work within two minutes from when it is applied. The cream lasts for up to nine hours and increases tone and elasticity

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Doe Deere: From Zany Makeup to Stellar Jewelry and a Baby in Between

Life has a funny yet beautiful way of changing. Whether a new job opportunity comes along, a new addition to the family, or even the way a person continuously grows throughout the years, life is unusually random, which is especially true for makeup mogul, Doe Deere.


The Russian-born beauty icon has accomplished a lot throughout her short life, including the decision to venture to the United States to pursue music originally, tackling real-world biases when it comes to the freedom of expression with her intense and zany makeup brand (Lime Crime), and even battling depression. Regardless of her struggles and successes, the iconic dame refused to remain stagnant in both her personal and business lives and decided to have a child, and even launched a new jewelry business with her sister, Kat Dey.

Meet and Love the Jewelry Line: Poppy Angeloff

Deere shares a common theme with the females in her family: They are all petite! While some struggle to find the negativity in that factor, these ladies understand the hardships attached to rocking jewelry when you are dainty. After much difficulty discovering rings, bracelets, and necklaces to fit their tiny statures, the sisters decided that enough was enough, thus launching Poppy Angeloff.

What makes the line unique is not the inspiration behind it but the fact that it is an invisible online boutique that prospective customers must be approved to enter. Of course, though, Deere and her sister are not in business to turn their loving fans away, so the process is undoubtedly easy! Of course, fans are able to follow the Poppy Angeloff Instagram where they can know that & Jewelry is about to get magical" and even discover clues on how to access the invisible boutique.

With so many exciting things happening in Deere's life, her forever followers, or Unicorns as she has so lovingly coined them, cannot help but wonder the fate of their favorite makeup company, Lime Crime, or even how Doe Deere and her husband will thrive with a brand new baby. 

Balancing a Baby, Marriage, and Multiple Stellar Businesses

There is no denying the victories Lime Crime has undergone in its years making waves within the beauty industry. As the company grew in popularity gaining a plethora of followers daily, Doe Deere admitted that "Lime Crime's rapid growth began to present challenges outside her and Mark's experience." Because of this, she and her husband joined forces with Tengram in order to sustain Lime Crime's popularity effectively, fairly, and with the overall vision of the company, coined so long ago in 2008.


The Queen of Unicorns has a lust for entrepreneurship, so her jewelry brand will fulfill these desires while allowing her and Mark to properly care for their child arriving in September. With a baby on the way, Deere has plenty of plans to stay in the makeup world, all while embarking in the realms of fashion and jewelry.

Summary: Why These Changes are Huge, Important, and Beautiful

In the month of May, which is also Mental Health Awareness month, Deere again stated how her struggles with depression and panic attacks have affected her for years. "It can be especially hard, as a business leader, to admit that you need help & put yourself first" stated the beauty and is a statement so strong her fans fell even more in love with her on a relatable level. With her recognition of her mental illnesses and struggles, there is no denying that Deere will be an amazing mother and always understand the need to take a healthy backseat once in a while.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

6 Pointers to Help You Choose the Right Wig


Wigs have become a part of many people’s everyday look. You do not need to be losing hair to wear a wig. You can choose to satisfy your wish to have a new look with a wig. You can even choose to enhance your hair by finding a wig that fits you perfectly. Before you spend a ton of money buying a wig that makes you look bad, consider a few things. Once you consider these points you can end up having a wig that makes you look gorgeous.

Match the Color

The color you choose is important. Choosing close to your natural hair color is the best idea. Before jumping to a starkly different shade you can slowly try out different shades that are closer to your hair color. For dark hair sticking to dark lace front wigs is a better idea than jumping to a blond wig. If you jump colors suddenly then your wig might seem to stand out like a sore thumb.

Stick to the Length

The length you choose should complement your face type. But do not let that limit you. Try out and experiment with different lengths and different designs to see which one makes you look nice. Do not let fashion tips dictate your purchase. Try out some out of the box designs before buying the right one for you.

Choose the Right Material

There are many different materials that wigs are made from. You can choose from synthetic, human hair or even a blend. Synthetic hairs come in more styles and are easy to maintain. Synthetic wigs are also highly affordable. The human hair wigs, however, are of a better quality. You can style your human hair wig however you like. So, try the different materials, consider your budget and select the material.

Figure out your Cap Size

Usually, the regular cap size fits most heads. But for some, the cap might be too loose or too tight. You need to try out different cap sizes to find the perfect fit. A wig that is too loose runs the risk of coming undone and spoiling the look. A wig that is too tight will simply be too painful for you to even want to wear a wig anymore. To get the look and experience right, try out the different wig cap sizes before you buy one.

Select the Cap Type

There are various types of wig caps. From lace front to monofilament you get a large variety of options. Figure out how each type of wigs is different from each other. Depending on your budget and your wig design needs you can choose the wig cap type.

Get the Right Care Products

Just buying a wig is not the end of it. You need to buy the right hair care products for your wig. No matter what wig you choose to buy it will not last long if you do not take care of it. So, figure out the brands and kinds of wig care products that you need to buy.

Monday, August 6, 2018

Celebrating Smiles Through Art

Acts of Kindness Hosts Art Exhibit Benefitting Smile Train, the World’s Leading Cleft Charity

Photo from Smile Train Philippines Facebook Page
“A Celebration of Smiles: Creating smiles and second chances at life through art,” an art exhibit benefitting Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity was unveiled last July 19 by Acts of Kindness and Solaire Resorts and Casino. The exhibit is being held at Solaire's The Shoppes Artway.

The exhibit features artwork by local and international artists and some of Smile Train’s former cleft patients. The artwork will be available for sale until September 2 and will help raise funds and awareness for children with clefts in the Philippines.

We are grateful that Acts of Kindness is hosting this art exhibit to help raise awareness for Smile Train and our local programs here in the Philippines. Through this initiative, not only is Acts of Kindness able to showcase local and international talent, they are also able to help create a brighter future for children born with clefts,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Area Director for Smile Train in Southeast Asia.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Smile Train to help fund various local programs to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos.

Celebrating Smiles Through Art

The art exhibit showcases pieces from Roberto Sanchez, a DJ, and entrepreneur by trade, but creatively a self-taught artist; Jon Ray Fernandez, an airline professional turned mixed-media artist; Camy Cabral, a full-time artist with a background in design and advertising; and Albrecht Behmel, an award-winning artist and best-selling writer whose works have been shown in Paris, Beijing, New York, Moscow and London. Despite coming from different backgrounds with different styles of artwork, these artists came together to offer their pieces all for a good cause.

Apart from the seasoned artists, some of the artwork is from Smile Train’s former cleft patients including Julia Robert Capili, Angel Ibo, Pearl Angeli Miranda, Jervy Hobo, and Nickson Cabote. Having interacted with the guests, these individuals have shown how far they’ve come since their initial cleft surgery.

We hope that we can continue to raise awareness for children with clefts in the Philippines and all over the world through these small acts of kindness,” says Flaviano. “We want to continue to spread smiles and encourage others to do the same.”

For more information about Smile Train's global efforts and to make a donation, please visit smiletrain.org. Follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

Monday, July 30, 2018

We Partied at the SM Kids City 2018 in SM DasmariƱas!

It's been raining a lot lately which could mean suspended classes and kids have no choice but to stay indoors. Though it's really not a problem for our kids staying at home, but it is mandatory that we have at least 1 day out. More than the kids, I guess it's me who craved for it the most. You know, being a stay-at-home-mom (and without a helper) you really don't get to have a day off so at least make time to have some quality time with the family, right?


So when I get invites to mom and kids events, I get excited! And the most recent event that I attended with the kids is the launch of the biggest kiddie party in the Metro thrown by SM Market and Savemore - SM Kids City 2018 in SM DasmariƱas last July 20, 2018. It was a Friday and classes got suspended so I get to bring all 3 kids with me, of course, Jaear came with us (good thing his 1-day vacation leave request was approved). 

This event is a follow-through of SM Kids City 2017's success wherein we also got to attend when they launched it at SM Southmall, you can read about our experience here

We also saw Mommy Bloggers, Mommy Levy and Kaycee with her Macho Kid at the event.

It is already expected that it will be patronized by frequent mall goers and shoppers because the admission is FREE just register at the entrance area. But I was surprised because there were way many people compared to last year that it was actually a challenge to roam around. Nevertheless, everyone is determined to get in and when I say, everyone, I mean kids and parents alike. I can't blame them there's something for everyone to get busy with and to enjoy. 


Playground Area 



Kids just can't get enough play time. Many kids are waiting for their turn to enter the playground area.


 Kids can also crayon all they want.

Overflowing Food

What's a party without food? There are overflowing free food sample!

Kids grabbing some free food sample from participating brands.
There was also a great selection of kids' favorite food like Hen Lin and Waffle Time or kiddie treats like popcorn, cotton candy, pizza, and pasta.


Fresh Juices
Ang pambansang meryenda- Turon with langka. Yum!

Amazing Shows and Mascots



Just like last year, Pororo was there and the kids are just so happy and this time he is with Krong!

There were also amazing shows such as Clowning Around, Mad Science and Jiggles the Balloon Lady. 


The crowd also participated in exciting games to win prizes! I was thrilled watching the Spicy Noodle Challenge and was tempted to join. Haha!

Freebies and Exclusive Offers

To make the event memorable not just for the kids, there's also something for the parents. SM Markets has partnered with Pampers, Johnson's Baby, URC, Huggies, Koko Krunch, Lactum 3+ and 6+, Lucky Me!, Purefoods, Maggi, Knorr, Barilla, Federated Distributor Inc., Papa Catsup, American Garden, McCormick, Century Tuna Argentina Corned Beef, 555 Tuna, Angel Kremdensada, Ajinomoto, Nextrade Philippines, Inc., Delimondo and Samyang for exclusive offers and prizes. 

It was indeed a Friday well spent. We had so much fun and went home with a smile on our face. 

Missed this event? Fret not because this is just the first round. Treat your kids and the entire family at the biggest kiddie party ever! Catch SM Kids City 2018 in the following malls:
  • SM Fairview – August 4
  • SM Southmall – August 11
  • SM Center Angono – August 18
  • SM San Lazaro – September 1
  • SM Megamall – September 8
Enjoy!

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Yummy and Hearty Avocado Toast with Egg


It's true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I must admit though that I tend to miss breakfast on most days, but looks like this Avocado toast will make me look forward to breakfast from now on.

Alright, I know, this isn't something new, avocado toast has been a hype for quite a while now. Forgive me though for raving about it just now because I just recently tried it and fell in love with it! Haha, I'm such a late bloomer. 

Who doesn't love avocado? It's yummy and often said to be the most nutritious fruit in the world. I just didn't really think that avocado is good for savory dishes as I've been accustomed to eating it as a sweet treat by adding milk on it or as an ice cream. I've been seeing lost of posts about food with avocado in it and didn't bother, not until now. 

So one day as I was grocery shopping, I bought some avocados and the rest was history. Hahaha! As usual, I've searched and checked on different recipes online and came up with the easiest one to prepare. All you need is 5 ingredients!

I believe that caring is sharing so here's an easy peasy but yummy and hearty Avocado Toast with egg recipe. 

Avocado Toast with Egg


Ingredients:

1/2 or 1 whole medium ripe avocado
1 egg
1 slice whole wheat bread (for a healthier version but you can use any bread of your choice)
salt and pepper 

Instructions:

1. Mash ripe avocado. You can season it with salt and pepper or any other spices of your choice. As for me, I didn't season it with anything, just plain avocado.
2. Heat pan over medium heat, crack the egg on the pan and cook a sunny side up egg according to your liking. Season with salt and pepper.
3. While cooking the egg, prepare your toast.
4. Spread mashed avocado on top of the toasted bread, top with egg and sprinkle some salt and pepper as desired.
5. Indulge!

In less than 10 minutes, you already have a healthy and yummy breakfast! Easy-peasy right? You may also use soft boiled egg, poached egg or scrambled egg instead of sunny side up. You may also add tomatoes or anything you wish to. Feel free to experiment with your toast.

Have you tried avocado toast yet? How do you like your avocado? If you have other avocado recipes aside from toast, feel free to comment down below. 

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Celebrating Every Life Stages at the Sanicare Play Day

Life Lately

...is all about balance.

Life lately has been challenging. It's been over 2 months now that we don't have a helper and since I quit my job. So as a stay at home mom, I get to do all the household chores and look after the kids, it seems like the job is never done. The struggles indeed is real and at some point, it feels like I'm on the verge of losing my sanity. Luckily, I still have it 'coz I don't have a choice! Hahahuhu. It's also a relief that the kids are on the stage wherein they are learning about becoming independent so I don't end up being a helicopter mom. They get to do some tasks on their own especially when it comes to their personal hygiene. The last thing I want to think about is dealing with sickness caused by neglect of basic hygiene such as hand washing, bathing and brushing their teeth, or else I might just really lose it (talking about my sanity, that is).

This current situation, especially during weekdays, is so exacting. This makes me look forward to weekends more so I could spend quality time with the family and take care of the small project that we've ventured into. This is also the reason as to why I don't get to attend events as much as I want to. 

So when I received an invitation to attend a mom and kids event for Sanicare (good thing it falls on a Saturday) I did not hesitate, even though June 30 was our 6th Wedding Anniversary. With how things are going, we really didn't have a concrete plan for the occasion. So I signed up for the event and tagged along Athena and Brianna with me. Tristan has Saturday class so Jaear stayed with him, we just met after the event to have dinner.

What is Sanicare?

When you hear the word Sanicare, what comes first into your mind? For me, it's Hygiene without a doubt. Sanicare is a popular household name known for producing quality hygiene products such as bathroom tissues, wet wipes, cotton, cotton balls and the like. These hygiene products are essentials in every home, but Sanicare is more than that, and that's something that I learned at the Sanicare Play Day which I will be sharing with you so read on.

So Much Fun at the Sanicare Play Day

The Sanicare Play Day was held at the Axon in Green Sun Hotel which was set up with booths highlighting different life stages so moms and kids can choose the best fit for them but we actually got to do almost all the activities. 


Alright, off to our first stop, the Lavender and Cotton Ball installation where we had our photos taken. Brianna is being her shy self again, timidly smiling.

Arts and Crafts at the Kids Corner

Next stop is the Kids corner where they showcased their artistic side. Most materials used are Sanicare products which is very creative I must say. 



Athena and Brianna made their own cotton ball sushi.


They also made a flower out of styrofoam ball and cotton buds. They also made a headband stand using the jumbo kitchen towel roll wrapped with a fabric. I forgot to take photos though. 


Athena and Brianna loves to draw. 

Play Hard and Get Artsy at the Toddler Corner


At the toddler corner, Athena and Brianna enjoyed designing their own eco bags.


But one of their favorite was the mini playground area with a wooden rocker/seesaw and obstacle course. 


Next to it is the sand box which seems to be a hit to most of the kids. There were many kids playing so Athena and Brianna didn't get to play for long, though I can sense they liked it too.

Lovely Baby Corner

On the same side of the fence was the Baby corner. It was set up with rubber mats, pillows and squishy plushies as if inviting me to just lounge around. Too bad I didn't get to take any photos of it.



There was also an activity area where the kids got their palms painted, pressed against a Sanicare paper towel and then had it framed. I really love the idea!


Oh by the way, since most of the activities could get messy, upon entering the venue, every kids were given hygiene kits but we didn't get to use one bit because every booth was equipped with Sanicare products and are manned by people who are assisting the kids with all the activities.

My Learning and Discoveries

While kids were busy playing, I together with my fellow mommies celebrated Bianca Gonzles-Intal's first anniversary as Sanicare's first brand ambassador, she is also expecting her second child. We also listened to her as she shared how Sanicare products have been there by her side during most of her life- from living with her parents to becoming a parent herself. It perfectly captured Sanicare's commitment of being everyone's hygiene companion in all life's adventure.


Bianca also shared a hygiene hack that is very helpful and that is to:
 "Keep hygiene fun and teach hygiene by example. Kids follow what they see and will definitely pick up on your hygiene habits!" 
I totally agree with Bianca, that is also what we practice at home with the kids and I'm so glad that it grows on them. Now that 2 of our kids are in preschool and 1 in grade school, they are fully aware about proper hygiene. They would wash their hands when it's necessary but if there's no access to soap and water, they make use of their hygiene kit (which we never leave the house without) containing their hand sanitizers and wipes. That's one less worry for me knowing that they'll be alright in times when I am not around.

I also learned that Sanicare is a homegrown, proudly Filipino-owned company that is already 20 years in the market. Also, Sanicare uses 100% virgin pulp that has no artificial whiteners and no elemental chlorine. True enough, they have our best interest in mind. 


At the event, I get to discover some products I never new existed such as the Toilet seat cover. This is definitely an addition to our hygiene kit essentials as I never let the kids sit on public toilets. What I like about it is that it is 100% biodegradable so you can just flush it down at the toilet.


We are also loving the Clean Hands Foaming sanitizer, the kids are fond of the bubbly surprise and according to Brianna it's just like soap! Plus it's alcohol free, another addition to our hygiene kit essentials.

Kudos to Sanicare for providing quality products designed for all life stages, they make sure that every hygiene woe meets its match! For a mom like me, having a go-to hygienic choice is a respite from all the decisions I have to make every day. 

So much fun and learning at the Sanicare Play Day. I'm really glad I brought the kids with me because aside from all the playing they were once again reminded of proper hygiene in the most fun way possible! After a mundane week of just school-home routine, Athena and Brianna really looked forward to the event and they weren't disappointed. It's been almost a month now and they still can't get over about it, that whenever they see Sanicare products, they would start talking about all the fun they had.

Thanks again Sanicare for having us!

Sanicare will continue to aspire to give its customers one less worry at every stage of their life by pursuing innovative hygiene products that will be every Filipino's companion in their life journey. 

To know more about how Sanicare can be your family's hygiene companion in all of life’s stages, you can visit the Sanicare Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/sanicare.ph.