Sunday, June 30, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENT: Registration for Baristas’ Quest in Davao, Baguio and Cebu, Now Open!

Calling all Baristas and Coffee Enthusiasts in the Philippines! 



The registration is now open for Baristas’ Quest, a campaign of competitions created for baristas and coffee enthusiasts to showcase their skills in coffee that will take place in Davao, Baguio and Cebu this July. 

Three different competitions are prepared for the month-long campaign. If you can identify a unique coffee in a set of cups, you may join the Flavors + Profiles: Coffee Triangulation—a cup tasting activity that will be held at the Frog Kaffe in Davao City on July 3. 

For artists who can create designs using milk, Baguio City will be having the Coffee + Art: Latte Art Throwdown at Halfroom Coffee on July 10. 

Meanwhile, for individuals who can extract rich coffee flavors into a cup, the Kettle + Cup: Coffee Brewing Challenge is set to happen at the Tightrope Coffee in Cebu City on July 25. 

Michael Harris Lim, President and CEO of Henry & Sons Trading and Manufacturing Company, Inc., who is also the 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion and the 2019 World Barista Championship Semi-Finalist, leads the Baristas’ Quest campaign. 


Over the years, our company is committed in championing the local coffee scene through programs that promote sustainability in our coffee industry—from the farmers down to our baristas—by alleviating their status, improving their skills, and promoting camaraderie,” said Michael Harris Lim. 

Registration is free. Interested participants may register at bit.ly/BaristaQuest-Davao, bit.ly/BaristaQuest-Baguio, and bit.ly/BaristaQuest-Cebu

The champions of these competitions will get the chance to represent his or her region by getting a competitor sponsorship package for the National Coffee Championships, a travel allowance and accommodation to the National Barista Conference happening in Manila this September, and a Comandante Grinder! These events are co-sponsored by the venue partners. 

To know more about Barista Quest visit www.facebook.com/baristasquest/ or contact Tony Dy at 0917.153.1188.

Friday, June 28, 2019

On Being Healthy Inside and Out

I remember having a conversation with Tristan about cleaning his ears, which he is not fond of doing, mainly because he gets very ticklish. It's really a struggle doing that, it feels like we're playing tug-o-war; I pull him close to me and the moment I touch his ears, he pulls back. And, repeat. It gets really annoying! It takes a good amount of patient, strength and talking how important hygiene is, just to get it done. I would even make up horror stories about dirty ears, and that he'd get sick if we don't get it cleaned. But he doesn't seem to be bothered. According to him, he is eating vegetable so he is still healthy. So of course, I explained to him that being healthy should be inside and out.


And, that is really my goal for my family, to live a lifestyle that is healthy inside and out (i guess it's everybody's goal). But honestly, it's a struggle especially nowadays that the standard of being healthy has gone up on a different level. In all fairness though, I really admire those mommies who are very health conscious, those who prepare healthy, all-natural, or vegan meals for their families. Mommies who are dedicated to working out and has gym subscriptions. So, if that's what you are expecting here in this post, just like my other Health related posts, sorry to disappoint you but you can't find it here. Haha. I am going to talk about our reality and what are the things that I am doing to achieve my goal for me and my family.

Just in time, Watson's also have an ongoing campaign that is aligned with my goal. They sent us a Wellness Kit that has helped us throughout our journey to becoming healthy inside and out. 

Here's a short unboxing video which I've posted on Facebook and Instagram.


Before anything else, let me give you an overview of what is it like in our household, consisting of 5 members (with kids aged 9, 6 and 5) plus 2 in-laws, no yaya and no helper. Chaos! Hahahuhu. My husband and my in-laws are working so it is I and the kids who are mostly at home, so in short, I connote domestic drudgery. LOL! But, I won't take all the credit, because we all work together, there's a help when I need it. But, the struggle is still there, we just can't completely get rid of that.


These are all the products included on our Wellness Kit. There are products for everyone in the family plus gift cards that we can use to buy all other things we need from hygiene products, bath essentials, vitamins and supplements and over the counter medications. It's definitely a one-stop-shop! 

Now, talking about health, we all know the basics, healthy and balanced meal, active lifestyle, and cleanliness or hygiene. So these are the areas where I am going to focus on.

Active Lifestyle

In the past years, I always work out even just at home. I just check YouTube for home workouts. But since last year, it's zero. The only workout I get to do is when I do household chores and running errands. I've been a lazy ass, you know, Netflix and chill up to the wee hours then the next day, I'm very sleepy and feeling exhausted. Haha! 

So, all I can say is, I need to work on this area. If you're like me, a work-at-home-mom or stay-at-home-mom who can't afford or don't have time to go to the gym, let's push for home workouts even for just 30 mins to 1 hour a day. Remember, a little exercise is better than nothing. It can be jogging, walking, using the stairs or dancing, just keep moving. 

Sleep

Okay, I have to add this too. Take it from me, sleep is a necessity. It's hard to function well if you lack sleep. I know this, but then again I guess I am just pasaway. Imagine, sleeping 2AM or 3AM then waking up at 6AM to attend to the kids until I work late at night. I love sleeping but I also value my "me time". So, what I am doing is, I try to limit my late night "me time" then find time in between chores to take a nap or do what I want. To help induce sleep, it's best to avoid caffeine and drink Chamomile tea instead, its calming effect can help induce sleep.


I guess lack of sleep is also one of the reasons (aside from aging lol) as to why I always get a headache. So this Aromatherapy roll on is now part of my must-have items. 

When it comes to the kids, I see to it that they sleep 8PM and 9PM as the latest. Time management plays a big role here. So good luck! But really, you'll be surprised how kids can keep up with schedules. When I deviate from our original schedule my kids especially my eldest wouldn't budge. It's really important to be firm and consistent.

Hygiene

This is rather easy. Taking a bath should be an everyday thing, right? Well, except for moms to newborn babies, who hardly has time for themselves; been there, done that! Toothbrush, three times a day. Handwashing, before and after eating and using the restroom or as necessary. I couldn't elaborate more on this, I'm sure you all get this. But for a family with small kids, actually children in general, this needs more emphasis, agree?    

Aside from personal hygiene, home hygiene is also important. Our home is our sanctuary so it is mandatory that the cleanliness is maintained. But I also know how hard it is to tidy up after the kids or the biggest kid in the house (ehem the husband). Still, I make sure to clean up every day then we do spring cleaning every now and then. 

Healthy and Balanced Food



This is where I struggle the most because it is not just for me, I have 3 school-age kids to consider. I find myself stuck in a rut, cooking the same food or if not resorting to fast food or instant food. Don't judge me, a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do!

So a week before this school year started, I vowed to plan our weekly menu since I will also be starting with my work at home job. This way, I can manage my time, budget and avoid stressing about what to cook. It's been 3 weeks now since I started and so far it's a success.

I started posting photos of their baon/snack and I'm enjoying it. I'm planning to buy bento tools to make it more pretty!

Now, I get to let the kids eat more veggies and we only get to eat fast-food or eat out on weekends. Yes, we haven't totally got rid of fast-food and also chips and sweets but the good thing is, it was lessened. So I still give the kids their vitamins daily to make sure they meet their nutritional needs, and we're almost done with that bottle of Propan TLC from our Watsons Kit.  

So there you go, our health and wellness journey so far. There is still a lot to improve on but we'll take that one day at a time. With the many distractions around us, I'm glad we were able to stick to our routine. Also thankful to Watsons for being part of it.

It's true that being healthy should be inside and out and when you are healthy you will look good and feel great! And there's no better time than now to start living healthy! 


Check Watsons online and stay updated with their products and exciting promos: 
Instagram: @watsonsph

Thursday, June 27, 2019

HOME IMPROVEMENT HACKS WITH AKEMI PH

What's your favorite part of your house? Mine is our bedroom, no doubt!

We spend most of our time in the bedroom and for most people, the bedroom becomes a sanctuary of thoughts, thereby, making it appealing and conducive to the eye can be very useful. The perfect bedroom should help cheer you up as well as get you the right outlook.

These hacks can help alter the way you see and feel your bedroom in no time.

Let the light shine

By using appropriate lighting in your room, you get to create the proper scene you want to project. Be playful and explore your options.

Dress up your walls

This may be one of the first things you notice when you enter a room. Walls play a major part in the presentation of your room and can become a major mood-shifter. New paint or wallpaper can spell the difference.

Accentuate

Invest in color accents and stay away from monotonous hues to avoid gloomy feel in your room. Hanging up ornaments such as a beautiful painting is a good idea.

Brighten up with the perfect bedding

If changing the color of your wall is too tedious and other factors do not fit your budget, investing in the right bedding might just be the solution. Your bedding is probably the most important aspect in your bedroom anyway.


Your bedding can alter your mood. Complement with proper color hues of your pillow and duvet creates an aesthetical beauty which you can change every now and then.

AKEMI beddings have the most innovative features such as its comfortable fabric that are gentle on the skin. It also has a hypoallergenic feature for those with sensitive skin.



Did you know that you can get up to 50% savings on your home improvement needs by visiting AKEMI booth at the SM Home Fair at SMX Convention Center, MOA complex? It's happening on June 28 to 30, 2019. You can even get a sustainable and chic Eco bag with a minimum single receipt purchase of Php3000! See you there!

Oh and make sure to visit AKEMI Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AkemiPH/ for more info and promos and get a chance to win exciting prizes!

CONSEQUENCES OF USING THE WRONG PILLOW

Sleeping is a necessity, but when you're a mom who juggles different hats a day, it somehow becomes a luxury. A day seems ain't enough! After a long day and after putting my kids to sleep, all I want to do is sleep too, but some household chores await so, I can't. But as kids are growing, I am slowly earning that luxury of sleeping in early. Except, that kid-free time seems appealing for a perfect time to have my uninterrupted "me-time". But all I can say is, sleep is life! Nothing beats a good night sleep. 

So since we are talking about sleep, I am sharing with you all a good read about how you can have a quality of sleep you so deserve. Read on.

CONSEQUENCES OF USING THE WRONG PILLOW

You may think that sleeping is just a way to relieve you of your tiredness and a reprieve for a long day. Research shows that people tend to overlook the way they sleep. Having a bed and using just any type of pillow might not get you the quality of sleep you need.

There’s a myriad of choices when it comes to selecting a pillow but how do you choose the right pillow for your body type? An expert went out of his way to learn and develop a specialty pillow to address this concern.

Mr. Chawakit Kaoien, founder of Mr. Big Pillow is a physical therapist who spent years working in the ICU of a hospital’s respiratory unit and was in-charge of bedridden critical care patients and see to it that they are kept comfortable and could breathe properly. This led him to develop a brand of pillows that would benefit every individual.

Over the years, Chawakit hacked the right density of pillows as well as its best position to address your sleeping concerns. Every individual is different, thus, we cannot conform to just one type of pillow.

Here are the cause and effect of using the wrong pillow:



1. You might think that waking up on the wrong side of the bed caused you that neck pain, wrong! Using incorrect pillow puts a strain in your neck, thus, causing that stiff and painful neck in the morning.

2. Can’t sleep? Is it really because of your caffeine intake or you might think you develop a condition called insomnia? Think again, improper positioning and height of your pillow might be causing uneasiness that causes you to toss and turn throughout the night.

3. If your partner complains about your snore, then it might be time to change your pillow. Snoring is
usually caused by blockage of nasal passages. By improving your sleep position, you can also alleviate your snoring.

4. Consistent Headache. This is such a nasty way to start your day especially if you have that important meeting ahead. Your frequent headache might be caused by the wrong elevation of your pillow, tension headaches happen when your neck muscles are strained.

5. Mental Block. Sleep deprivation causes forgetfulness and lack of creativity. Improve your brain function by using the right pillow that can get you a good night’s rest.

By using the appropriate pillow according to your height and weight as well as each individual’s condition, you can maintain a good quality of sleep and overall health. Use this test to assess which type of pillow is right for you.



Incidentally, Mr. Big will be having a sale at the SM Home Fair happening on June 28-30, 2019 at the SMX, Mall of Asia complex. Huge discount of up to 50% off awaits. Plus get a special Halogel pillow worth Php1899 for a single receipt purchase of Php5000. So, see you there?

Mr. Big pillows are available in selected SM Homes. Visit Mr. Big Pillow Philippines FB page https://www.facebook.com/MrBigPillowPhilippines/ for more updates and get a chance to win exciting prizes.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Life Lately: Blog Update


You've probably read in some of my Instagram posts that I will be blogging about that, reviewing this yadda yadda yadda. But still ended up with nothing. I can't think of a better excuse as to why I am not blogging other than the truth which is, I am demotivated and yes a little bit lazy. Hehe.

You see, since I went back to work in 2017, I also started slacking off in terms of blogging. I stopped blogging unless it was for a project. And then, there came a time when I wasn't able to fulfill some responsibilities. I tried squeezing in a few hours of my free time to attend events but eventually stopped. Juggling work and the many hats I wear as a mom was already a little too much for me. 

2018 came, I had to quit my job. I came back to being a stay at home mom again, no helper no yaya. Despite not being active on my website, I was, on Instagram. I somehow missed blogging, but it was not the same way as before. There were several event invites, to which I can't attend at all given our setup. There were no blog opportunities. Being away in the blogging scene for quite some time made me feel like I'm starting from scratch again. Truth be told, it demotivated me. I pressured myself to catch up with everyone else, to become relevant. I even thought of quitting.

It took a while before I finally realized why I started blogging in the first place. And that changed everything.

I blogged to tell our story, to share our experiences, it's having something to look back to in the future. I blogged because it was cathartic and hopefully be able to relate to other mommies out there, earning from it was just a bonus. 

So I continued blogging for myself. However, being a full-time-mom was too taxing. I don't get to use the computer anymore which means, no blog posts. Also, I partly blame Netflix! Haha! So yes,  I am mostly on my phone during my free time so I just make up for it by being active on social media especially on Instagram. My feed isn't curated at all, I post anything I like, I post about the kids, our family.  

Somehow, my presence in social media landed me some projects. I'd be lying if I tell you it doesn't make me happy. Why wouldn't I be happy when I get to do something I love and find out that there are still people who believe in me and trust in my capabilities, right? 

I have had this blog for 6 years in total (I just changed the name 3 times) and I would like to commit more to it. But also, reminding myself to not take it too seriously and always remember my reason for blogging. No pressure, no competition just purely working for passion. 

So in the next few days, I will be writing about all the things that I've been meaning to write about in the past few months even years. That’s a lot! Haha. This is definitely a challenge for me since given that my hands are full, literally and figuratively. But I’d gladly take the challenge!


Good luck to me! ❤