Every January 1, Jerico and his family do their annual family reunion, but it has been postponed for 2 years because of the pandemic. I never had the chance to meet his entire family before we got married, so meeting everyone for the first time was really exciting for me. 

We arrived at around 11 am in Paranaque from our home in Quezon City, and we went straight to Jerico's uncle's house where the reunion was going to be held. Eventually, his other family members were there, and we started the party. 

We had lunch (God! May I just say that his family has a great sense of taste with food?! HAHAHA!) and moved on with the party proper. 

It was really nice to see that his family welcomed me and Edmund with open arms. Masasabi ko talagang sobrang Palad ng family na ito dahil sobrang bait nila sa aming dalawa ni Edmund- bagay na bagay talaga ang apelyido nila sa kanila. 

I am so blessed to be a part of this family, I am so thankful for my in-laws and I am so grateful for my husband for bringing us over. 

Next reunion, we will be all out! HAHAHA! I'll prep myself with the dance number and prepared gifts because we didn't prepared any dahil sabi ni Jerico "Pumunta lang tayo, walang dapat dalhin o gawin." E may gift giving pala! HAHAHA! Nakakaloka. But to his defense, he said that he wanted me to experience everything first *make sense*.

Meal preparation has always been a challenge for me as a homemaker. But I am so lucky that I married a man who has a great relationship with food. We are always open to discovering the different recipes and hacks to have a variety on my picky eater's palate. This 2022, I'm really excited to try my new discovery by San Miguel Food.

Go Veega. For vegans, try familiar comforts such as Veega’s meat-free Tapa and Tocino, which are fully cooked and completely free of animal meat and by-products. For flexitarians, there are Korean-inspired faves such as Meat-free and ready-to-eat Bulgogi and Spicy Soy Garlic Balls. You’ll never miss out on flavor with these meat-free wonders. 

Breakfast thy will be done.  Rethink about skipping breakfast with perfect breakfast mates, Purefoods Deli Breakfast Sausage and Purefoods Beef Bacon. They are so good, you”ll truly want more. And beyond breakfast, these delicious products can also be served in a lot of ways.

Create “chicken’’ na chicken meals. Make meal preparation a breeze in 2022 with freshly marinated and ready-to-cook Chicken Timplados. Prepping meals can be done in minutes with any of these easy chicken sarap variants- Magnolia Ready-to-Cook Fried Chicken, BBQ, Tocino, Teriyaki, Spicy Fried Chicken, Oriental Wings, Spicy Wings, Inasal and Roasters (marinated whole chicken) in Lemon Herb and Smoked Pepper. The menu will never be boring with the selection of variants cooked as is or leveled up with some twists.

Develop a Pasta-stic Habit. Have pasta anytime with Purefoods Spaghetti Sauce. Just reheat and toss in cooked noodles or level up with addition of some ingredients. Either way, you’ll get consistent, satisfying pasta sauce each time.

Make meal preparation and dining with the family an enjoyable food adventure, even allowing enough me time in-between with these new discoveries.

Also, check out www.homefoodie.com for recipe ideas with these products!

No matter how to age your kids will be, nothing beats the feeling of a Power Parent when they witness their baby in their most active state. I remember my own Edmund when I saw his first likot, kembot, and galaw. It gives me a sense of rush, happiness most especially during those times when everything around me seems out of control.

When active play and learning are encouraged, it stimulates the baby for their next level of development. Babies also have a natural way of expressing their needs. Emotions and thoughts are voiced through movement. Similarly, babies are also always curious. When they see adults dance and sing to music, their natural reaction is to move to the beat. Dancing promotes body coordination, motor skills, and strength. It stimulates almost every area of a baby’s brain, encouraging cognitive development growth.

An active baby is a happy, and comfortable baby. When the baby isn’t as active, it might be caused by uncomfortable triggers like rashes. That’s why Power Parents choose the NEW Pampers Pants with Rash Shield! The NEW Pampers Rash Shield protection is now powered by Lotion with ALOE! This helps babies have good skin and overall health, so they can be active and comfortable to kembot, any time of the day.

Only Pampers Pants can keep babies all-around protected from rashes because of the elevated skin health proposition, Rash Shield with ALOE ingredient, improved leak, skin protection cues, and wider diaper perception, and new fresh aloe scent. Now, the baby can dance freely and explore with Pampers’ improved protection from rashes and leaks.

Kembot The Rashes Away with the Kembot Nation!

Babies can’t help but to kembot to Pampers newest Kembot Nation jingle. Here’s a look at some of the exciting moves of the Kembot Nation and why you and your baby should join in the fun too.

Look at Mithi’s kembot moves! “Mithi can easily do the #PampersKembotNation challenge without that itchy feeling dahil sa bagong #PampersRashShield with Lotion with Aloe that's good for her skin.” Power Parent Carlo Aquino shared on Instagram.

Even Power Parent Trina Candaza approves of the kembot effect the new Pampers Pants with Rash Shield with Aloe has. “Talagang napapa Kembot ang Mithi namin tuwing naririnig ang mga paborito niyang kanta habang suot ang Pampers Rash Shield with Lotion with Aloe!”

Being a dancer really runs in the blood according to Power Parent Dianne Medina, “Just like his Daddy @rodjuncruz, mahilig talagang sumayaw si Baby Joaquin! Go anak! He can do this because of his strong #PampersRashShield!”

Hopeful Power Parent Dani Baretto-Panlillio looks forward to the many dance moves that her baby Mill will show. “At least we have a potential dancer in the family! Hehe. Love dancing and just being silly with you, Mill. She can do this because of her strong #PampersRashShield!”

Nothing is stopping these babies with their kembot moves with the added improved leak & skin protection cues of Pampers. Now, Power Parents like you can also join the Kembot Nation and maki-kembot!

Kembot your way to Lazada and Shopee now and try the NEW Pampers Pants with Rash Shield and Lotion with Aloe!

 Hello mommies! We are finally in Kindergarten.

I thought that having a 5-year-old in Kindergarten is easy-peasy because I can see so many blogger moms who seem like got it all together. Unfortunately, not all moms are on the same pace when it comes to teaching their kids.

So here's my story.

Edmund is already 5 and we're left with no choice but to enroll him in Kindergarten. We opted not to enroll him last year due to the pandemic.

Initially, we enrolled him in a private school nearby. I was very firm about enrolling him there because of several factors:

Location

I wanted to enroll Edmund in a school that is easily accessible. I am thinking that if face-to-face happened anytime soon, it'll be easier for us to go back and forth to the school.

Support

As a first-time mom, I wanted to grow in a community that provides endless support to the parents and the kids. But let's be real, it's hard to be the teacher and mother at the same time. So we need constant support not only from our hubbies but most importantly to the school administration where we will be enrolling our kids.

Price

I never thought paying for one's tuition fee would cost me much. If you will enroll your kids in kindergarten you do have various options. With our family, we opted to enroll Edmund in our Private School.

At the moment, the range of private school tuition fees is about 40 to 45K in private schools. Some of my mommy friends who opted to let their kids enroll in homeschool providers, I believe their tuition fee ranges from 18 to 20k (books are not yet provided)

Now that we surpassed the first month in Kindergarten, I couldn't think of a better takeaway but all career-driven moms like me who are still hands-on with their toddlers.

It's really a hard responsibility yet really worth it.

Our kids need 100% attention more than ever. It's really different now because, in the past, teachers spend more time with our kids and give utmost support but now, we are spending so much more than the teachers.

It's also nice to invest in beneficial gadgets that can make your life even more convenient. I found out that Edmund is a very visual person so I invested in a printer to print out all his modules and other worksheets and activity that we could work with.

Here's the thing mommies, we tend to be intimidated by moms who we think we got it all together. They have a complete gadget to support their family's needs but know that we shouldn't be intimidated by them. We can start by saving enough money to buy the money that we really need until we complete all our dream gadgets for our kids- we'll get there.

Routine is EVERYTHING. Routine for us is very necessary to be more familiar with what should be done in a day.

In our household, we normally wake up at 7 AM and then prepare for school that will be finishing at 12 PM. In the middle of the day, we take short naps, before we study in the late afternoon and then I start working at around 2 PM in the afternoon.

How about you mommies, what is your biggest takeaway in the first months of August? Let me know and let's stay connected.

Spa and wellness treatments might not be a part of your necessities at the moment, but we could all use a relaxing escape from the stress of pandemic. Now, more than ever, it is essential for us to indulge in pampering ourselves on a regular basis. Not only it is pleasurable, but it is also extremely beneficial to your well-being especially now that we spend most of our time indoors. 

It may be an impression that spa is a type of luxury and that it may be expensive to squeeze in your weekly budget, but trust us, you don’t need to splash out a large amount of cash to treat yourself into a fancy self-care time—and you can totally DIY within the comforts of your own home! 

As a skincare brand that makes every user experience the power of healthy and flawless skin, Speaks G is the perfect partner to recreate an at-home spa day session you long deserve to have. 

Here’s how you can have a simple, stress-relieving spa day at home with Speaks G:

Jump in the shower and give yourself a good rejuvenating scrub 

Dead cells can sometimes accumulate on the surface of your skin and lead to dull and dry skin. That’s why regular exfoliation is important to nourish the skin. Speaks G’s Whipp Relief Soap helps in eliminating dead cells and deeply cleanses the skin. You will feel instantly refreshed and lighter after scrubbing away those skin impurities.

Remove breakouts with a face peel 

Acnes can be caused by many factors including stress, lifestyle, the food you eat and having dry skin. Treat breakouts with facial peels that slough off the top layers of your skin, leaving the surface smooth and clear. Speaks G’s Ultra Peel Soap revives your skin’s elasticity and can take off dark spots, whiteheads, blackheads, and other facial blemishes. Face peels will surely tighten your pores while keeping them soft and supple.

Let your nails breathe with moisturizing gel 

Manicure is not the only spa treatment you can have for your nails, give them extra TLC by keeping your cuticles healthy and hydrated for good nail growth. Speaks G’s Aloe Vera Gel is a versatile product that can be used not only on your hair, face, and body; it also has moisturizing and nourishing properties to strengthen your nails, prevent brittleness, and helps in the regeneration of damaged nails. Just apply a proper amount of gel to your hands, gently massaging your fingers and nails until the gel is completely absorbed.

Level up your skincare routine with a gentle cream 

Keep dry skin and acne growth at bay by applying lotion or cream right after your shower routine. Speaks G’s Opulent Tawas Cream is an all-in-one cream that whitens dark spots, eliminates body odor, and minimizes pores—great with quick body massage and an easy way to add gentle care to your skin. Aside from its beneficial nutrients, it is also an antioxidant that protects your skin and calms skin inflammations. Creams can condition your skin and will surely give you a moist and bouncy look.

Try new beauty products and find the best one for your skin. 

There are so many products available in the market and often times we lean on products that are popular or those that you already tried. But as the world around us keeps on changing, so our skincare should, too. Speaks G’s newly launched product, the Sunflower Beauty Oil, can be considered as a beauty breakthrough and a holy grail for skincare that you deserve to try. This beauty oil can intensely moisturize your skin and address every skin problem with a single drop. With a gentle application of Speaks G Sunflower Beauty Oil, it can soften and soothe dry and irritated skin. Include it in your routine and experience youthful and glowing skin!

And there you have it, an easy spa day at home tips we hope you’d try! Give yourself some ‘me’ time to be refreshed, recharged, and revitalized. To order Speaks G products, send them a message through their Facebook page www.facebook.com/speaksg.main or you may reach them at 0917 118 5363. 

About Speaks G 

Speaks G Skin Essential Products Enterprise was established in 2013, a skincare company that aims to provide excellent and affordable products by using top-of-the-line materials and innovation that will change the customers’ perspective in beauty and wellness. Speaks G is a brand of all skin types, bringing products that renew, restore, and heal—keeping the skin young and healthy. 

For more information, please follow Speaks G on their social media accounts: www.facebook.com/speaksg.main on Facebook, www.instagram.com/speaksg.main on Instagram, and official website at www.speaksg.ph.

 If you have been my reader for quite some time, you would definitely know my downfalls, my darkest time, and how I recovered from it. 

You know what, I'm so lucky to experience all of those because now, I'm enjoying the fruits of all my tears, stress, anxiety, and troubles. I'M GETTING MARRIED! 

You know what I needed more than ever during my busy day? Coffee. 

I'm sure all freelancers and moms will agree with me! We all need coffee to boost our energy and for me, it maintains my sanity. 

I consume at least 2 to 3 big mugs of coffee and because of this, I develop gastroenteritis. My doctor requires me a complete STOP to caffeine but since I need a daily dose of my coffee. I already found my perfect partner- Glorious Blend. 

For decades, coffee had received a bad reputation. Besides allegedly triggering high blood pressure, insomnia, and hyperacidity, the Filipino habit of adding lots of sugar and cream to one’s cup has been said to aggravate diabetes.

While there’s no denying the Pinoy coffee fan his morning cup, there is concern over the amount of sugar present in commercial 3-in-1 coffee mixes. The leading brand has 14.6 grams of sugar in one 20-gram sachet alone. Imagine how much sugar you’re taking in if you drink an average of three cups of coffee a day.

What About Sugar-Free Coffee?

For health-conscious individuals, especially diabetics, turning to sugar-free coffee mixes seems to be the only option. This meant enduring tasteless cups of coffee just to satisfy their caffeine fix —until Stevia came along.

Stevia is a low-calorie, zero-sugar sweetener that tastes so much better than artificial sweeteners. 

Stevia is an herb with a sweet-tasting extract that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been enjoyed since pre-Columbian South America where indigenous people used the herb to sweeten their tea and other drinks. 

The plant's taste stems from steviol glycosides, molecules that are 250–300 times sweeter than regular sugar.  

It became popular among health-conscious individuals because stevia has a very low caloric content. This makes it perfect for dieters and people who are trying to lose weight. 

Moreover, Stevia makes coffee and tea taste so much better without adding any calories. 

Aside from beverages, Stevia is also used as an alternative sweetener when cooking or baking.

The Health Advantages of Stevia

Stevia is a safe, healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up food without the negative health effects of refined sugar. It’s also associated with several impressive benefits such as reduced calorie intake, managed blood sugar levels, and minimized risk of cavities.

Additionally, while other sugar substitutes like Aspartame have been linked with cancer, there's no evidence linking stevia to cancer since it is a natural ingredient.

This means you can add stevia to dishes and drinks without fear that you’re taking too much sugar, or that you’ll get sick a few years down the road.

For coffee lovers, it’s also good to note that locally-made Glorious Blend coffees and instant beverages have Stevia as its natural sweetener. The blend of natural and healthful ingredients makes the drink not only refreshing and safe but also good for one’s overall health.

The Glorious Blend boasts a full line of healthy drinks, including a 7-in-1 healthy coffee mix. This special blend is made with proven medicinal ingredients like Malunggay, Mangosteen, Calcium, Gotu Kola, and sweetened with Sweet & Fit Stevia. What’s even better is that the Glorious Blend 7in1 Coffee is non-acidic and promotes regular bowel movement. 

The Glorious line-up also includes the 3-in-1 coffee mix with Stevia; 7-in-1 choco mix; 4-in-1 coffee with Malunggay; 5-in-1 coffee mix with Brown Rice; and the MaxiTrim coffee. 

All Glorious Blend beverages use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic indexes. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day. 

Also, Glorious Blend products are locally sourced and manufactured. Their company supports local farmers, stevia growers, and other agricultural communities.

So if you’ve been cutting back on drinking coffee because of health problems like diabetes or hyperacidity, Glorious Blend coffee mixes are here to help. You can enjoy all the aroma and flavor of freshly made coffee all day —without the guilt!

Now, you can drink coffee for better health! Glorious, isn’t it?

For more information about Glorious Blend coffee mixes, check out https://www.facebook.com/gloriousblend.