Sunday, January 22, 2017

Goodah!!! Opens Its 8th Store in Baclaran + A New Dish!



Goodah!!! a well-known solidly patronized all-Filipino food chain starting in the 80’s that popularized the food ensemble "silog", starts the new year with the opening of its 8th newest branch in Baclaran, last January 16, 2017. It's a perfect place for their “Open 25 Hours" and “Pagkaing Good for Every-All” concept because Baclaran is flocked by many people for the "tiangge" and the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

I attended the Grand Opening of its Baclaran branch together with my fellow Bloggers. I actually haven't eaten at any Goodah!!! branch before, so this was my first time and I was excited to taste their classic Filipino dish offering. The opening also coincides with another new and exciting dish that many Filipinos love. They will be offering their own Krispy take on a favorite Filipino classic dish, Kare-Kare!

We were served with this food set which is good for 4 people.
I also ordered Halo-Halo for dessert
The KKK or Krispy Kare-Kare uses ground peanuts to give that traditionally rich and earthy flavor to its kare-kare sauce. A large bowl is filled with cooked string beans, talong, pechay, and of course, puso ng saging because it wouldn’t be much of a kare-kare without it. A good amount of soft and juicy beef flank joins the dish. Sautéed shrimp paste gives kare-kare a different dimension to its play on flavors, which is very much like how this Filipino dish became a classic that everyone loves.

GoodAh!!!’s Krispy Kare-Kare is the centerpiece offering for GoodAh’s newest branch in Baclaran, Pasay City, and is available for just Php 299 a la carte or everyone can have it in a set meal for just Php 339
I love the classic Kare-Kare, but what GoodAh!!! adds to the table is what gives it the “K” in the KKK. The usually gamey ox tripe or what Filipinos usually “tuwalya” is tough to eat if not cooked properly— usually by slowly cooking it in a pot or by cooking it in a pressure cooker. What GoodAh!!! did was to fry the ox tripe to give it a crispy texture, which is a complementing contrast, especially to the soft flanks and rich sauce of kare-kare. It’s a real crispy twist on the classic dish!


The launch of this newest branch was graced with special guests along with GoodAh!!!’s top management heads. Included in their lineup of guests is GoodAh!!!’s brand ambassador and celebrity talk show host, Mr. Boy Abunda. 


Yesterday, I took Jaear, the kids and my in laws to have dinner at Goodah!!!, we were supposed to eat at their Las Pinas branch but we can't seem to find it so we ended up eating at Baclaran branch. 





We ordered their group meal which is good for 6 people which consists of; Bulalo, Fried Chicken, Pork BBQ and Garlic Kangkong. This meal comes with 6 cups of rice, a pitcher of iced tea and 6 pieces puto flan, and it only costs Php 699.00 only. Then we just ordered the Krispy Kare-kare a la carte. I personally liked the Pork BBQ and the Kangkong, it just tastes better with the alamang of the shrimp paste. But overall, the food was good and the price was reasonable. In fact, I look forward on tasting their other dishes.

GoodAh!!! continues to push culinary boundaries with this new and exciting twist on kare-kare, much like their recent, wildly popular food offerings:Crispy Pata and Bulalugaw. Indeed, GoodAh!!!  offers “Pagkaing Good for Every-All”. 

Watch out for more exciting dishes from GoodAh!!! by visiting their website at www.goodah.com.ph or their Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoodahPh.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Clean and Sweet-smelling Hands with Belo Baby Hand Sanitizers

Mommies could go crazy when it comes to the welfare of their children. But that’s only because, we want what’s best for them, as cliché as it may sound but it’s the reality, right? And, that is why; I tend to become overprotective of my children. However, I found out that being overprotective is not actually good at all times. Kids are kids, they need to play and explore and that includes getting their hands dirty and sometimes even bruised knees but what matters is that they are happy and learning which helps them become well rounded individuals. 

With that being said, I allow my 3 kids, Tristan, Athena and Brianna play, explore outdoors, have fun and just be kids. At the same time, I also let them understand the importance of their health and safety. Aside from teaching them to eat healthy to keep them away from diseases, I  taught them to be extra careful and also by teaching them basic safety precautions such as washing their hands properly especially after every play, before eating and after using the toilet, good thing they are very eager to learn. However, washing their hands is almost impossible to do most especially when we are outdoors, that’s why I see to it that I always bring an alcohol or a hand sanitizer with us. 

And, a couple of days ago, I posted on Instagram about my recent discovery—these fruity and baby chic Hand Sanitizers which is a new line of product from Belo Baby. If you still haven’t heard, Belo Baby is a product line targeting mothers and was introduced by Belo last April 2016. Its first product line includes Bath and Body products such as the Face and Body Lotion, Hair and Body Wash, Bar Soap and Colognes. 

When I first found out about this Belo Baby Hand Sanitizers, I never hesitated to use it to my kids. I was actually excited that when we got it I was the first one who tried it. We have been using these for almost a week now and here are things I love about it: 
  • It kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria. 
  • Carefully formulated without triclosan, parabens, benzalkonium, chloride, quats, glycols, chlorine, formaldehyde carriers, petrochemicals, and most common allergens. 
  • Hypoallergenic 
  • Dermatologist-tested 
  • With glycerin, that moisturizes and an ulta-mild that leaves skin fresh 

Belo Baby Hand Sanitizers are available in three fruity scents: 

  • Peach- smells powdery but a bit strong, however it’s not overpowering once sprayed on the hands. 
  • Green Apple- has a fresh after shower scent. 
  • Blueberry- smells sweet and yummy like candies. 
I love all its scent, but my favourite is the Blueberry. My kids also have their own personal favourites, Tristan likes the Green Apple, and Athena likes the Blueberry and Peach for Brianna. 

Overall, we love these Belo Baby Hand Sanitizers; we use it even we’re just at home. The kids are very fond of its fresh fruity scent while I am of course happy that it’s 100% safe for them because it doesn’t contain those harmful chemicals that can harm their delicate skin. This is definitely a must have item in the house. I’m planning to replace the alcohol from Tristan and Athena’s hygiene kit at school with these hand sanitizers. It’s going to be a sweet reminder for them to always keep their hands clean! 

Belo is trusted by many and most celebrities when it comes to cosmetics and beauty and I’m glad that they have extended their expertise in providing safe and quality products not just for babies but the whole family. 

Belo Baby products are indeed crafted with care for the most delicate skin, for the most meticulous moms. I highly recommend it! 

Belo Baby Hand Sanitizers cost Php49.75 each

To know more about the Belo Baby Hand Sanitizers and other Baby Belo products, visit their website at www.belobaby.ph. Follow them on FB: belobabylove, Twitter: @belobabylove, and IG: @belobabylove. 

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet On School Trip Locations: Will It Be Worth The Money?

Are you proactive with your children’s education and plan ahead as much as possible? More frequently these days, it means saving to enable your kids to attend school trips, when the opportunity arises. The problem is that they can be so expensive, it can be very difficult to find the money for them to go on every single excursion that is offered. So how do you know which ones to send them on, and which ones to skip? Well, read on for a guide to the most popular international trip locations and what to expect from each. Which should make your choices a lot easier. 


France

France is a popular location for school trips from all over the world. But what are the benefits of such a trip? Well, for one depending on where your child is traveling from they may well get their first taste of long haul travel. Which is a worthwhile experience in itself. As it can trigger wanderlust for the rest of their lives!

Secondly, many schools chose to take their students to France to help them perfect the language by immersing them the culture. Of course, they also get to experience the famous cuisine and cultural aspects too. Which are two another two reasons why this may be a suitable trip to pay out for.


Italy

Italy is another popular school trip location. It is probably worth sending your kids on this one. This is because there are so many famous cities in Italy to visit, that will provide them with an educational experience. 

For example, the is Venice where they can learn all about defense in the middle ages, as well as the power and history of the Medici family.

Then there is Verona, perfect for students studying Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. They can even visit the balcony that is said to have inspired this tale of forlorn lovers. Where there is a statue of Juliet, herself situated.


However, these are not the only cities which hold education merit in Italy because Rome itself was said to be the cradle of the modern world. That means visiting Rome and experiencing the scale and splendor of sites like the amphitheater can bring history to life for many students. Instead of it being seen as a dry subject discussed in the pages of a book.

Lastly, the Italian lakes also provide a worthwhile school trip location, because of all the wonderful activities there are to do there. Surfing, sailing, and walking are all very popular around locations like Lake Garda. So you may find that your child school chooses to take them there for some healthy, active fun.


Iceland


Another frequently chosen location for a school trip is the beautiful country of Iceland. School trips to Iceland are often much looked forward to, and places can become very limited. This is because of the uniqueness of the things to see and be a part of, on such a trip.

Probably the most important of all of these is the Aurora Borealis, which is only able to be seen from a few places in the entire world. The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights is a wonderful phenomenon that makes green, blue and yellow lights dance across the sky. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many people so it would be an awful shame if you child had to miss out on this.

Of course, there are other fascinating things to do in Iceland on a school trip as well, such as visiting the Blue Lagoon. Or going on an organized trip into the snowy wilderness to look for animals like the Arctic Fox and Reindeer. 


Russia

Some education institutions choose to take their students on a trip to Russia. These are often met with mixed feeling. As Russia, while interesting to many, is known for its harsh living conditions.


Deciding whether this trip is worth the money or not, has a lot to do with how much interest you child is showing in this location. You also need to consider how vital it is for their education achievement. As well as how they will cope with cuisine for an extended period of time.


USA

Some students, especially those going to school in places that are near to the USA, get the chance to visit America on a school trip. Most kids will want to go on this trip, whether it is educationally relevant to what they are studying or not. That is because they will see it as a chance to have a lot of fun and experience the American Culture to which they are all familiar with through TV.

Of course, before you pay for such a trip, it is always a good idea to explain just how many days they will be spending at Disneyland, if any. As well as, how many days they will be spending touring around civil war sites and the like. This might end up being the deciding factor for them, and you, on whether it is worth paying our to go or not.


United Kingdom

Lastly, another very popular location for school trips and residentials is the United Kingdom. Of course, this has a lot to do with helping the kids learning to improve their English speaking skills, which is always a worthwhile thing to do. 

But the UK is also an interesting place to visit for the historical and cultural aspects as well. It has a rich history dating far back into the past, and in various UK locations, you can learn about these. Good places to do this include the castles along the Northumbrian coast and the Jorvik Center in York. Which demonstrate how the Viking Invaders lived when they reached England. 

Of course, the UK is divided into four countries: England, Northern Island, Scotland, and Wales. So each country provides its own educational experiences, as well as having its own unique identity, language, and culture to explore. Making the UK a generally good choice for a school trip. 

Tips to Up Your Laundry Game


Doing the laundry is one of the task I hate the most. That's why I end up just throwing everything into the washer and hoping for the best. And, if you're just like me, this bad habit can not only lead to a premature degradation of clothing but can also waste money and water.

So, if you want to truly do your laundry ‘properly’ there is a bit more to it than that.

If you are wondering whether your laundry technique could be improved upon, take a look at the following tips to up your laundry technique:

Soak Stains Straight Away

As soon as you get a stain on your clothing, you must take action. Once a stain has dried, it will be tough, if not impossible to get rid of it. 

The best way to deal with a fresh stain is to put it in a sink or bucket full of water, add a little detergent and leave it to soak until you’re ready to wash it.

If a stain is particularly stubborn (grass, red wine), you may also need to purchase a specific stain removal product to deal with the problem.

Install a Water Softener System


If you live in a hard water area, you might want to look into water softener systems because hard water can have a very detrimental impact on your washing machine, and as a result, your clothing. A water softener system may seem unnecessary, but when you consider that it can help extend the life of your laundry and your washing machine, you will start to see how quickly such a device will pay for itself.

The Right Way to Sort

We all know that we should separate lights, whites and darks, and delicates, but many of us don’t realise that’s not the whole story. If you also separate your laundry by washing temperature and type of fabric, you will see much better results regarding cleanliness and the lifespan of your clothing.

Leave Some Room

It can be tempting to cram every bit of laundry into the washer, so you can get it done in one load, save money and use less water, and this is a god goal. However, you do not want to take it too far because a washer that is overloaded will not be able to clean all your clothes as effectively as it should. You may also experience problems at the spinning stage too.

Aim to fill your washer until it is around 75 percent full, and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Wash with Cold Water 


It is perfectly acceptable to save time, money and energy by washing with cold water, providing that they are only mildly soiled. This could save you up to 90 percent of the energy costs of doing the laundry.

Now that you know how to do the laundry properly, you’ll never have to worry about stained clothes, pink t-shirts or excessive energy costs again!

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Revealed: The Best Apps For Your Family

Looking after kids can get hectic, I'm sure most moms will agree with me, right? This is most especially true when you’ve got to cater to the needs of each and every single member of your family. One kid might love sitting down and playing video games, but the others might enjoy walks around the park. Either way, you’re going to upset someone! You’ve got to blend and merge hobbies and activities. You’ve always got to be on your feet and be imaginative - sometimes that can’t happen.

Thankfully, mobile phones can rescue you, and you don’t have to give up your device to grubby little fingers for your mobile phone to save you! When you can’t think of any ideas, your tablet or mobile can. There’s an app for everything, or so they say.

  • So, it’s a rainy day, and your plans have been ruined. You want to refer to your backup plan of a movie night in with the kids, but you don’t have the money to spend on a blu-ray disc. What’s more, you don’t really want to drive around and look for media stores… There are streaming solutions, and this is probably the best free app right now for Android, meaning that if you’ve chosen the Google option, you’ll have access to a huge back catalogue of movies! A great option.


  • Now, if it isn’t raining outside - you might want to plan a nice day out. Google Maps is a great way to not only get from A to B but is a fantastic method of finding new things to do and see. It’s a huge virtual phone book you can navigate. Not only that, but it can show you traffic build-up - so you know exactly when to leave the house.
  • Apple’s widescreen iPad has some amazing options and none more so than interactive iBooks. There are plenty on the market, and you just need to choose the best option for your kids. The interactive features of the iBooks make it perfect for the little ones who cannot sit still.
  • Spotify is a classic and a must have for everyone! Who doesn’t like music? If you’ve got some bluetooth speakers, you’ll always be ready for a kids party and even if there’s no celebration going on, you can still introduce your children to some classics.
  • If you’ve got a PS4 system and a Sony phone, you can link them up via Remote Play to let your kids on the console when you are out and about. Most computers can run Remote Play as well, so if the console is out of action because you’re having some ‘you’ time in front of the TV, the children can play on it!


There are plenty of workarounds and apps that can entertain your kids, but you shouldn’t rely on them as crutch. Make sure you plan entertaining days out for your children! It’s your job after all!

Life's A Beach, And Then You Fly! Pre-Summer Tips for Busy Moms


Summer is coming and it's possibly one of the most exciting holiday of the year for a family. It gives the kids a chance to explore new places and beaches and it gives the parents some quality time together away from the rat race. The one thing that comes with a holiday is a plethora of lists! Lists for what to pack for carry on, lists for what to pack in the hold, lists for what to bring for a baby should you have one… there’s even lists before you even go away of things you need to buy. For most of us moms, lists are exciting! When you’re getting ready to go on holiday with the kids, there are a few things you need to remember to do before you go and one of those is sorting out the house.


If you’re a lover of lists, you won’t mind reading through just one more and this one isn’t just about the tips you need when you take the kids abroad on holiday. It’s for moms who would lose their heads if they weren’t screwed on. It’s for moms who need just one more checklist to feel like they’ve done it all for this long-awaited family holiday!

1. Cleaning the house from top to bottom seems to be a habit for most families, as you then don’t have to come back to piles of washing, hoovering or dusting to do. Even the little jobs you don’t think to do should get done now. Roll up those sleeves and leave the house sparkling!

2. If you don’t live close by to family, scheduling a food shop to be delivered the evening you return to the house is also a great idea. No need to dash out to the nearest supermarket for the essentials.

3. Security is key when you’re going away. Checking out alarm reviews of Vivint home security can mean you have your peace of mind while you’re enjoying your holiday.

4. Adding to that, even if you don’t have a house alarm on the house yet, think about security lights. Timed lights to come on at certain times of the day can make outsiders think your home is occupied and deter thieves.

5. Ask a friend or neighbour to check on the house if you’re going away for more than ten days.

6. Have any pets sorted into a shelter or have a friend take care of them before you go.

7. Sort out your tickets and passports for every family member and make sure you have all your travel documents in the right order for your journey.

Your home is your castle and if you make sure you have the gates up and the alarms on before you go, your holiday can be epic. If you know the place you are leaving is secure and in tip-top shape, you can truly stretch out and relax on that sandy beach far away. Now go, before everyone reading this is even more jealous of your travels!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

14 Ways To Save Time, Do More And Love Your Life


Time is precious, and it’s often scarce. Busy moms are accustomed to juggling work and home, and keeping everything running smoothly. But at what cost? We work hard all day, collapse into a tired heap at night, only to get up and do it all again the next day. Break the cycle with these smart tips to cut the jobs you hate and spend more time doing what you love.

1. Organize And Prioritize

Make a list of all the tasks you complete in a day. Include everything, even the small things like opening post, taking out the garbage, waiting for deliveries, etc. Highlight the tasks that are the most important and get rid of anything that isn’t important. A good way to determine whether a task is important or not is to work out what you’ll be doing five years from now and whether this will make a difference. You’ll be surprised at the things you can ditch. 

2. Optimize Your Productivity

Optimize what you can do in a day by keeping healthy. Eat well, drink enough water, exercise, and get enough sleep each night. If these four things are out of balance, it’s likely you’re feeling tired and sluggish, making any tasks take longer.

3. Invest In The Right Tools

Don’t skimp on your household tools. When you purchase a vacuum cleaner, you’re buying more than just a machine. If you choose well and purchase an efficient model, you’re buying time. Even if you save just ten minutes each time you vacuum, over the course of a year this could amount to around twenty-six hours; more than a day. The same is true of cleaning products. Opt for efficient natural products that cut through grease and grime and are safe for the whole family. Sites like www.CleanHappens.com have a good range. 


4. The 2-Minute Rule

If a task takes two minutes or less, do it there and then. This is relevant for home and work situations. For example, dashing off a quick email or opening and filing the post. If you put it off until later, you’ll have to make a note of it, remember it, and then complete it, which is likely to take 5 minutes or more. So do those tiny tasks now, get them out of the way, and save yourself some time. 

5. Keep A To-Do List

Keep a running to-do list for work and home. Keep it up-to-date and cross items off as you go. This will help clear your mind and ensure things are not forgotten. 

6. Meditate

If you don’t do this already, it looks like we’re adding things to list rather than taking them away. However, meditating each day is great for productivity. It promotes a calm, peaceful mind and helps with focus and clarity. Therefore, it helps boost productivity and helps your overall well-being at the same time. Even ten minutes a day will produce results. Sites like www.headspace.com demonstrate simple techniques. 

7. Cut Your Apps And Tools

In a digitized world, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that new apps will get the job done quicker. This might be true, but if you have too many of them, you’ll spend more time accessing and managing them. Cut your online tools and apps down to a minimum and only use what is useful and saves you time. 


8. Turn Your Phone Off

How many times do you access your phone each day to check email, texts, social media, WhatsApp, etc.? If you had a running total, you would be horrified at the minutes (or longer) you waste each day. The best way to deal with this is to unplug completely, even if it’s just for half an hour a day. 

9. Focus

When working on a task, whether at home or work, give it your undivided attention. Get rid of distractions such as your phone, social media feeds, and email. Work only on your current project. You’ll be surprised how much quicker you work without the distractions. 

10. Time Yourself

For all those jobs you hate, such as accounts, cleaning, etc. set yourself a specific amount of time to work on it. It could be as little as ten minutes. Pretty much any task is palatable when you only have to work at it for a short period of time. Using this method you can chip away at larger projects bit by bit. And what often happens is that you spend more than the allocated amount of time as you get into a flow. 


11. Schedule Emails

There’s a temptation to read and action emails as soon as they come in, regardless of what else you’re doing at the time. This is counterproductive and will make you lose your focus. It also wastes time if you’re constantly checking and reading. Schedule times each day when you check emails and switch off your inbox for the rest of the time. Unless it’s a necessary part of your job, don’t check emails at all in the evening. Establish a cut-off point and stick to it. There’s no point in mulling over messages that you have no intention of replying to until the next day. It only results in keeping your mind on work and can contribute to stress. 

12. Say No More Often

If you’re the person everyone comes to when they have a problem or need something doing, start saying no. This doesn’t mean you can’t be helpful and caring. It just means that you’re putting your own oxygen mask on first. Establishing healthy barriers will help you focus on your own work, without taking on additional tasks. It’s not easy to do this in the beginning, but it does get easier. 

13. Delegate

You don’t have to do everything yourself. Getting other people to help will boost productivity. This doesn’t just apply to the office; it applies to your home life too. Get the kids to put away their own toys and give them responsibility for certain tasks. 

14. Save Time In The Kitchen

There are lots of ways you can save time spent in the kitchen. Cut cooking times by making twice as much and freezing half of it. It may initially take a little longer to chop and bake, etc. but the next time you serve this meal, all you will have to do is defrost it and heat it up. 

And with all this time saved, it will create more time to spend with the people you love, doing the things you enjoy.