The Best Christmas Gift from Above

Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the world, and definitely my favorite season! Back when I was a child, I remember doing a countdown as early as 60 days before Christmas. I loved receiving gifts from my grandparents, aunts and uncles and I always enjoyed shopping and wrapping gifts for my brothers and cousins with my Mom.

Every year is different but this Christmas is particularly special and memorable for our little family of three. We're now four! Our little bundle of joy, Samara Akasha or Kassy for short, was born on December 14, 2012, 9:30 AM at the Immaculate Conception Medical Center via LCCS (Lower Cervical Cesarean Section). Her body measurements at birth are 33.5cm (Head Circumference), 33cm (Chest Circumference), 30.5cm (Abdominal Circumference) and 54cm (Body Length). She weighed 3.3kgs.
The Cesarean Section was supposed to be until four days later (December 18th) but contractions started on the evening of December 13th. I thought it was just the watermelon I had during dinner that night, but the contractions became more painful and frequent at dawn. I finally called my OB-Gyn Dra. Marlene Palilio 6:00AM in the morning of December 14th, when I'm really really sure that it's more than just Braxton Hicks. She ordered to go to the hospital immediately. 

We reached the hospital at 9:00AM and before I knew it, baby Kassy is already crying her lungs out in the delivery room. With my first born and my first C-Section, I was put to sleep. But this time around, I was awake the whole time. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Martin Domingo was nice, documenting Kassy's first few minutes out of my womb with his reliable camera. He even showed me a video of Kassy crying while being bathed in the nursery. (Doc Martin gave me the printed souvenir photo the next day when he visited me in my room.) Everything happened so fast and I was taken to my room in less than an hour! The C-Section itself only took a maximum of 20minutes, and I think I spent another 30minutes in the recovery room.

The anesthesia made me dizzy though, I vomited twice while in the delivery room and one more time in the recovery room. It also made my skin itchy all over, especially my face! And even though the room was fully air-conditioned, I was bathed in sweat. All because of the anesthesia, the nurses said.

Anyways, back to baby Kassy, a Newborn Screening (NBS) was done on December 16th but we don't have the results yet. Please join my family in praying that the results of Kassy's NBS are favorable. Also, my baby did not pass the Otoacoustic Emissions Test or the Newborn Hearing Test and she needs a follow up test within one week. She's scheduled for a re-test on December 22nd. Again, I hope everything turns out well for my little girl.

How about you? What's the best Christmas gift you ever received?

Miss Fox New Year Giveaway (CLOSED)

It's only several days more before Christmas and before we know it, 2012 is no more and we'll be saying Hello to year 2013. How about kick-starting the new year with another giveaway? This time, the prize is for men. So if you're thinking of getting a late Christmas present for your husband, father, son, brother, a male friend or for yourself, do join this giveaway. Who knows you might just snag this special item for free?!

What's Up for Grabs?

Miss Fox would love to share one bottle of Astaire 50ml, a perfume for men from their Mister Fox line. Astaire is a limited edition perfume launched in Miss Fox Facebook page but still not available in their online store.

About Astaire

Astaire is dedicated for the quintessential gentleman. It is an elegant brew of White Musk, Vanilla and some spicy and woody notes like blood mandarin and cedar. Just like Fred Astaire, its namesake, it is effortlessly classy and sexy.

Top Notes: Aldehyde, Orange, Sea Notes, Nlood Mandarin
Middle Notes: Neroli, Cedar
Base Notes: White Musk, Tonka Bean, Cedar, Amber, Vanilla

How to Join?

Head over to the Rafflecopter below to join. This giveaway ends on January 2, 2013. Open to everyone with a Philippine address.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
About Miss Fox

Email Address: missfox(at)missfoxstore.com
Miss Fox Store
Miss Fox on Facebook
Miss Fox, Perfumes Made with Kisses in France!

Do check out Miss Fox store for the whole range of affordable perfumes for men and women. Good luck! :)

Amara Akasha


A very quick post! :) Just sharing a photo of my little princess, Amara Akasha. She was born last Friday, December 14th, 2012.

Thank you everyone for the prayers and for leaving comments on my posts. I will try to visit everyone as soon as I can.

God bless everyone! From our family to yours... :)

How to Create a Google+ Page for your Blog

Google+ is the newest social networking craze these days, and more and more companies and brands are using it not just for interaction with customers and end-users but for SEO purposes as well. Gone were the days when Google Page Rank determines the importance and authority of a website, soon enough Google+ will be the ultimate tool to measure a website's trustworthiness by analyzing behavior and keeping track of relationships of one G+ user to another.

Google+ basically works like the Facebook Recommend button. Once you hit that G+ icon, you're letting Google know what sort of things and content you are interested in. Google in turn, will provide you with search engine results that are highly relevant to your interests.

If you don't have a Google+ page for your blog yet, it's time you see its importance in branding and authority. Below is a tutorial on how to create a Google+ page for your blog.

Open your Google+ Profile

(Assuming you already have a Google+ profile.) To do this, access your gmail, click your profile picture located at the top right corner of the page and click View Profile.

On the sidebar at the left, hover your mouse to the More button and click the Pages icon. Now you are ready to create your G+ page, click Create New Page.
 Pick a Category

Available categories are Local Business or Place, Product or Brand, Company, Institution or Organization, Arts, Entertainment or Sports and Other. I choose Other for my blog.

Add Info

Fill out the form with your blog name and URL, choose the audience for your blog content and make sure to agree to Google's terms and click Continue

Get Started

Now you can start customizing your G+ page by adding a cover photo (ideally sized  885x180), a logo or icon, blog description and contact details. Once you're satisfied with how it looks, click Finish.

And you're done! Easy, right? You can now begin to add content, promote your page and socialize. Adding content is very similar to social sites like Facebook. You can add your blog posts, photos and videos and share with your Circles. Have fun!

PhilRice Tower Lighting 2012


I still remember how I accepted a job offer from the Social Security System (SSS) Cabanatuan City Branch in 2005 only to find myself back at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) again after a couple of weeks. Why? Simply because it's more fun in PhilRice! Haha. Too bad I had to leave my job there and decided to be a work-at-home Mom and Wife for my boys.

Anyway, PhilRice held its 20th Tower Lighting Ceremony last December 7, 2012 spearheaded by Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. It's an annual event conceptualized by Dr. John C. De Leon in 1992. More than 500 guests troop to the main gate this year to witness the amazing fireworks display, the creative tower lights design and this year's new addition, the flying Chinese lanterns. The event also featured drum and lyre presentations by pupils from Maligaya Elementary School, a mini parade, food stalls and kiosks, "baratillos", garage sales, dancing and singing contests and a live band who played for guests until midnight.

This 2012, the tower was designed to highlight National Year of Rice (NYR) 2013 as declared by President Benigno Aquino III via Proclamation No.494 to enlist the support of farmers, consumers, and policy-makers in the country’s endeavor to be rice self-sufficient. The theme's slogan is “Sapat na Bigas, Kaya sa Pinas”. Very catchy, isn't it?

Below are some of the photos taken by Architect Rene Bajit during the event. (Thanks, Ka Rene!)



So, until next year... Merry Christmas and Happy 27th Anniversary, my beloved PhilRice!

Mummy Makeovers: Post Pregnancy Procedures

We all know that carrying a baby for around 9 months, and then giving birth, can have damaging effects on women's bodies. Because of this, many women's self esteem and confidence suffers, because they feel so self conscious about how they and their bodies look.

Varicose veins, weight gain, cellulite, loose skin, and stretch marks, are just some of the more common problems that post pregnant women suffer from after giving birth.

The good news for them is that there are a number of procedures aimed specifically at pregnant women, looking to improve the appearance of their bodies after birth. These treatments and procedures have been labelled as "mummy makeovers".

These makeovers have been designed and created, as a way of restoring women's bodies, back to their former glory, before they became pregnant. They achieve this by combining a number of treatments and procedures over various periods of time. Either short, or long term, depending on their clients specific requests, and finances.

When is the best time to have these procedures? 

This answer really depends on what procedure you are having done. If you are looking for a tummy tuck, it is best to wait until you are certain that you will not be having any more children in the future. If you are looking at having Botox and Dermal filler treatments, then as soon as you finish breast feeding these treatments are perfectly fine. With liposuction, and breast augmentations, it is best to wait around 6 months after giving birth before having these procedures.

What do these so called "mummy makeovers" consist of?  

Basically, these makeovers and treatments consist of:
  • Botox and Dermal filler injections
  • Laser skin tightening, for cellulite and stretch marks
  • Liquid liposuction for body shaping
  • Skin rejuvenation.
Why are women having these treatments? 

As we mentioned earlier, carrying a baby, and the sleepless nights that follow, can take a real toll on your body. Women look tired, run down, unhealthy, and feel self conscious, and down about themselves. By having these treatments, they can begin to look and feel great again. Not only will they look great, they will also feel great, as their self esteem will have no doubt sky rocketed since having these makeovers.

Are these treatments painful? 

Many people believe that having major cosmetic surgery performed is a really painful ordeal. The truth of the matter is, it really isn't as painful as people believe, and certainly not more painful than child birth. They will however, require a week or two afterwards to recover and heal completely.

Are these procedures worth it?

 Many women who have these treatments and procedures, will almost certainly tell you that, yes they are. They are not very painful, reasonably priced, don't require much downtime afterwards for healing, and can make a world of difference in how you look, and feel about yourself.

Overall, post pregnancy makeovers, and surgical procedures are proving to be a worthwhile investment for self conscious new mothers, from all over the world. The makeovers have breathed new life into these women, and are helping to prove that, just because you are a mother, you can still look beautiful and feel great about yourself.

Games to Encourage the Kids to have Fun Cooking


This is a guest post by Cormac Reynolds.


Give your children some inspiration to want to start cooking by giving them fun things to do in the kitchen.  Pretend to your kids that you are finding it very difficult coming up with things to cook in the kitchen and ask them to think of ideas.  You never know they may surprise you and make you a lemon cheesecake or some other indulgent dish.

Some kids are just not interested in cooking so in this case introducing them to cooking games can be a way of getting them to experiment with cooking. 

Let’s look at some easy cooking games that the kids will enjoy:

3 Foods 1 Dish

This is a fun game for the entire family.  The idea of this game is to pick three items and put them into a basket or even a bowl and cover them.  When it comes to cooking a dish let the kids pick one item out of the basket and they have to use it in their next dish.  Who knows if there is a lemon in there, you may get a lemon cheesecake.  The surprise element adds a touch of fun.

Name the Spice

Another fun game for both the kids and adults!  Choose a number of spices and allow the kids to add these to a dish.  Foods to cook include soup, spaghetti bolognaise, and chilli to name a few and allows a variety of spices to be added.  This is where the fun begins.  When it is time to serve the food it is the family’s chance to guess the spice or spices that have been added to the food.  The person that wins and guesses the spice correctly can win a prize.  Maybe first slice of pudding!

It is important to note that only spices that will go with the foods are included, because before you know it a bottle of chilli could be added to your dish. 

Challenges are Good for Kids

It is providing these challenges to your children that can get them excited about cooking.  What child does not like playing games?  Cooking can be fun and allows your child’s imagination run wild in the kitchen and see what recipes they come up with.  Who knows they may be the next Junior Master Chef. 

When it comes to desserts, we have mentioned lemon cheesecake, but there are so many creative recipes that allow kids to be creative.  Get them to make cupcakes and let them decorate the cakes themselves with sprinkles, icing and sweets.  Let them make their own designs and then enjoy eating them afterwards.

Not only will the kids enjoy playing the games in the kitchen but they will enjoy spending time together as a family.  It is this quality time that will be welcomed by all members of the family, while also allowing them to feel comfortable within the kitchen environment.

About the Author: Cormac Reynolds loves food and enjoys much of his time in the kitchen. He works at Anchor Dairies.

Placental Grading and its Purpose

I can't hardly wait to see and touch my baby. It should've been today (December 8) if not for the result of my most recent ultrasound last Tuesday. Turned out that my baby is not ready to born yet.

According to both my OB-Gyn and my Sonologist, I have a Grade III placenta already but my baby's features seem to be around borderline term only which means that there is still risk that her lungs are not fully-developed yet. Of course, I wouldn't want to take the risk for any reason at all. I want my baby to be safe. So here I am, waiting for a few weeks more. I just couldn't contain my excitement here.

Placental Grading and its Purpose


Placental Grading by ultrasound is a method used to grade a placenta based on its structural changes. It is done to determine the age or maturity of the placenta, assess the fetus' gestational age and to predict fetal lung maturity.

Placental Grading System

Grade 0 - The earliest of the placental grades, usually within the late first trimester to early second trimester. No calcium or fibrinoid depositions were seen and the placental surface was smooth.

Grade I - Mid-second trimester to early third trimester. Some diffuse calcium and fibrinoid deposition.

Grade II - Late third trimester till delivery or around 30 weeks until delivery. Beginning formation of septa, at the maternal side clear calcium deposition.

Grade III - The highest grade. Late third trimester till delivery or around 39 weeks. Cotyledons are present, a great number of calcium and fibrinoid deposition at the maternal and fetal sides, with infarcts and 'holes' by sectioning.

Final Impressions:

Pregnancy uterine 37 weeks AOG by fetal biometry.
Cephalic presentation, singleton, live female fetus.
Estimated fetal weight = 2,898 GMS. +/- 423 GMS.
Good heart activity - 129 BPM
Active fetal movements.
Adequate amniotic fluid volume AFI = 11.6 CM.
Placenta posterior, Grade III, no previa.
EDD: January 01, 2013.

My OB-Gyn has made it clear to me that a C-Section at the wrong time have a risk of fetal prematurity so accurate timing is of dire importance. With that said, we have re-scheduled my C-Section on December 18th tentatively (I'm around 39 weeks pregnant by then).

So until then. We're all very excited to meet you, Baby Amara!

Miss Fox: Perfumes Made with Kisses in France!

Though I've always been a loyal Clinique fan, I find it so much fun to try different fragrances just to satisfy my insatiable sense of smell. I'm a fan of perfumes and colognes that have that ability to capture my senses and evoke nostalgia.

Last week, I ordered Miss Fox's Classique 50 ml Parfum from Miss Fox Store. And after 5 days of waiting, it finally arrived. Yay! The staff of Miss Fox are very sweet that they included samples of other variants so I can try them as well. So aside from Miss Fox Classique which I ordered, I also received stocking stuffers of Summer Fling, Midnight Mischief and Mister Fox Classique which was only released last Monday.

Who is Miss Fox?

Miss Fox is a perfume boutique founded in 2012. Their perfumes are made with kisses in France and lovingly packaged in Manila. Miss Fox's mission is to add some feist and flirting spirit in every girl's life.

Miss Fox Line
Classique - A brew of currant, vanilla and raspberry. A sweet smelling perfume perfect for both day and night. 
Midnight Mischief - Spicy, woody with a hint of fruit - a teasing concoction of black currant, raspberry and cedar. Use sparingly, it's a very potent love potion!
Summer Fling - Instant mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from Mr. Lifeguard! Minus the drowning in the deep salty sea, Of course! Fruity, fresh with the flirty combination of green apple, cucumber and rose to make him come hither!
Hey, Sugar! - Don't blame us if the hot quarterback is all over you. You smell like caramel, French bon-bons and vanilla for crying out loud!
Mister Fox Line
Classique - A very happy brew of citrus, marine and other sea notes, MR FOX captures the just-got-out-of-the-shower fresh and sexy scent.
Astaire - Dedicated for the quintessential gentleman. It is an elegant brew of White Musk, Vanilla and some spicy and woody notes like blood mandarin and cedar. Just like Fred Astaire, its namesake, it is effortlessly classy and sexy.
Things to Note:

Scent: The scent is good, wholesome and sweet. Something that my teenage sister would find appealing. I actually bought this for her and I know that she'll be as happy and satisfied as I am.

Packaging: The bottle is super cute as well as the label. The box's design is pretty and the inner part is lined with bubble wraps. But for some reason, might be due to courier's mishandling, the top and the bottom parts are already creased and wrinkled when I received it.

Price: Php 400.00 per bottle, plus shipping fee.

Payment Options: G-Cash, BDO, Paypal, Credit Card

Delivery: They ship orders via Xend. Orders may take 2-3 days within Metro Manila and 3-5 days for provincial addresses. No shipping on holidays.

My Verdict:

Miss Fox perfumes would make perfect gifts for perfume lovers in your shopping list this Christmas. There are enough variants to choose from so you can match the scent according to the recipient's personality. Needless to say, there's a Miss and Mister Fox for every body.

To have an idea on how Miss fox perfumes smell like, please check out the Miss Fox website for the fragrance notes of each variant.

Miss Fox Store Contact Details:

Miss Rossanne Pendoza
missfox@missfoxstore.com
Miss Fox Store
Miss Fox on Facebook

5 Things I Will Miss About Being Pregnant

Me, 27 weeks pregnant
I can feel it. My pregnancy is drawing to a close and I am starting to feel emotional again. After 9 months, 3 of which were spent in bed with morning sickness, back pains and everything that goes with it, I'm now ready to pop in several days.

According to the ultrasound, and to the pregnancy app I installed in my android phone, my due date is still a few weeks away, December 26th. But my baby is now full term - in her 37th week, and since I will be delivering via C-Section anyways, I am thinking of having the operation on December 8th. Yes, yes, yes... While celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It's my Mom's idea, actually. Seconded by my Mother-in-Law. But We'll see after my checkup, as I'll be finalizing my birth plan with my OB-Gyn this afternoon.

There are lots of things I cannot do and not allowed to do, while I'm pregnant. Long travels, rigorous exercise, and the list goes on. My physical activity is a bit limited, because I'm having a more difficult pregnancy this time. But once my baby is out of my womb and in our arms at last, I know I'll miss many things and feelings associated with being pregnant. 

On my 32nd week!
5 Things I Will Miss About Being Pregnant

Unlimited sleeping hours. Short naps in the morning, longer naps in the afternoon, and a good night's sleep. I think I'm getting 12-15 hours of sleep every day which is just too much! But who cares? I'm enjoying it and I know that after my maternity leave I couldn't afford the same luxury anymore.

Cravings and Unlimited Calories. I'm stuffing my stomach with all the food I want these days, unlike my first pregnancy where I kept myself on a diet so I can have a normal delivery. My Mom keeps on telling me to go ahead and eat everything I like, I'll be CS'ed anyway.

The Royal Treatment. Believe it or not, my husband meant everything he said the day my pregnancy was confirmed - that he'll treat me like a Queen. I'm not allowed to do any housework except sweeping the floor and some minor cleaning. Never touched the laundry and the dishes in 9 months. He does almost every thing in the house including bathing our son. I just came to realize that men can keep promises afterall.

First Bonding Moments with Baby. From the flutters and kicks that are very subtle at first, to the UFC-caliber kicks and elbows I'm getting right now, and the hickups, I'm all gonna miss them. The feeling that something beautiful and alive is inside me is just priceless. Most of the times, I just lie in bed with my husband and my son on both sides - giggling, laughing and having a great time feeling all the actions inside my belly.

The Anticipation. We've been really looking forward to welcome the newest member of our family. Whenever I see my husband and our son, I can feel their excitement - knowing that this coming Christmas, our little princess will be celebrating with us, too. Our extended families feel the same excitement as well. In fact, they already included our little princess to our gift exchange this Christmas Eve!

I can think of many others, but these are the things I'll miss most. For now, I'm trying to savor everything about being wonderfully pregnant while I can knowing that this might be my last.

How about you? Mommies, what are things you miss most about being pregnant?

Polymer Clay Charms DIY Kit WINNER

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone who joined the Polymer Clay Charms DIY Kit Giveaway sponsored by Provenance 1800 Designs and Crafts. I've only started blogging around mid-October and I'm overwhelmed by your support. We've gathered 1,603 entries. Yay!

So, without further ado and on behalf of Provenance 1800, let's congratulate our winner:


Congratulations, Nerissa Maquera! You won the Polymer Clay Charms DIY Kit from Provenance!

Please check your Inbox for my email. Thank you very much to all who participated. Until our next giveaway!

VESTI's T'Nalak Collection: Fashion Must-Have's!


When I was still working for a government institution back in 2003 - 2006, part of my job was to organize and facilitate panel discussions, seminars and investment forums in different parts of the country. For me, it was a real privilege to visit beautiful cities and places especially in Visayas and Mindanao areas. Each trip was 5 days long, with the option to extend up to 7 days provided that you can report to the office the next working day. In short, every trip turned out as a mix of work and pleasure.
                                             With my colleagues and the T'Boli dancers wearing T'Nalak clothing                                            and brass accessories. Taken in Punta Isla Resort, Lake Sebu.
One of my most memorable trips was our visit to South Cotabato in July 2006. It was perfectly timed to coincide with the T'Nalak Festival which showcases the cultural heritage of the T'Bolis. We enjoyed watching the street dance parade, the creative floats parade and the event's showcase of T'Nalak, the indigenous fabric made from abaca cloth and tie-dyed with intricate designs. I fell in love at first sight with T'Nalak and ended up buying a lot of bags and other accessories from the bazaar. 



I gave most of the bags I bought as "pasalubong" to my colleagues, but the prettiest bag went to my Mom, of course. She loves the T'Nalak bag and it's among her favorite things actually. But since it's old (I mean the bag, not my Mom. LOL.), I am planning to get her a new one this Christmas. 

I searched online for T'Nalak bags today and found VESTI.PH. Their T'Nalak Collection is really Pinterest-worthy! I love how the owner/designer Martha Rodriguez incorporates modern design to the indigenous fabric, hence the "ethnicity with modernity" tagline. The products themselves speak of elegance and charm, truly must-haves!

VESTI bags are sold via TheMall.PH. Please visit VESTI Boutique for more product photos and shopping instructions.

Is it Safe? Getting a Tattoo While Pregnant

My husband, my brothers, my brothers-in-law, most of my cousins, even my late Dad all have tattoos - mainly because of the influence of rock/metal music groups, artists and celebrities they fancy. Gone were the days when tattooed people are deemed either ex-convicts or drug addicts. These days, doctors, lawyers, company executives and even priests - yes, priests (like my husband's brother) - have tattoos. Tattoos has quickly evolved into a form of body art and fashion.
I had my first tattoo done on Valentines Day 2010. Even though I have really low pain tolerance, I insisted on getting inked so now my Bosses' names are permanently inked on the side of both arms. The session took only 20 minutes and i was able to get through the pain so it wasn't the last. 

And this, is my second tattoo done on December 2011, 2 weeks before Christmas. I actually had a motorcycle accident in September 2010 and it left a big and ugly scar at the back of my thigh. I spent a lot of money on topical treatments, creams and other skin products just to make it less noticeable but to no avail. After a year, I eventually gave up and I'm definitely not going to spend any more money for a laser or surgery so I decided to cover it up with a tattoo instead. This time though, it took an agonizing 4 hour-session and I admit I almost fainted because of the pain. That's where I learned that the back of the thigh is one of the more sensitive areas of the body. Ouch. I should've taken pain killers before the session.

And last night while chatting with a friend, I was asked if I have a plan of commemorating my pregnancy with another tattoo. I said I haven't given it a thought and I don't think I'll consider having one while still pregnant because of the reasons below.

Reasons Why I Will Never Get a Tattoo While Still Pregnant
  • Safety first. There is a risk of contracting blood-borne infections and diseases like Hepatitis or HIV if the tattoo equipments used aren't properly sterilized. Pregnant or not, always choose a licensed tattooist who wears gloves and uses sterilized tools and new needles.
  • Pregnant women tend to have extra-sensitive skin. Tattoo needles are sharp and might cause a lot of pain especially if you have low pain tolerance like me.
  • Skin stretches during pregnancy because of added weight. If you decide to have a tattoo while pregnant, it may not look the same when your baby is born. 
Still debating on getting a tattoo while pregnant? While there are not enough studies conducted on the effect of tattoo dyes and inks for unborn babies, it's best to play safe. I cannot think of any reason why I shouldn't wait for next year or until I'm done breastfeeding. Also, if I really really really want to get inked at this time of my life, I'll go for a temporary and safe alternative, which is natural henna.
Oh wait, I've heard not all henna inks are safe as well. So again, no thanks! There's a lot of things I can do to commemorate this special event without risking my baby's safety and health, anyway.

S3TAR Program to Empower 250 Women Entrepreneurs in Nueva Ecija

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in partnership with Coca Cola Philippines is currently offering scholarships to women in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija under its Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (S3TAR) program. The program aims to empower women entrepreneurs in the city with knowledge, skills and proficiency in entrepreneurship.

Benefits of the S3TAR Program:
  • Access to free Basic Entrepreneur Skills and Gender Sensitivity Training conducted by Coca Cola Philippines and TESDA. A Certificate of Completion will be given at the end of the training.
  • Access to additional capital thru the S3TAR Loan, a financing scheme by Coca Cola and accredited lending and micro-finance institutions in the city.
  • Access to additional store merchandising assets like coolers, signages and other promotional items from Coca Cola.
Important Information to Note:

Qualifications: S3TAR Program is open to all women 18 years old and above, literate and currently running a sari-sari store for the past 6 months or longer.

Training Schedules: Half-day per week session for three months, to be held at the City Library, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

Where to Apply: Interested parties may inquire from the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), City Hall, Science City of Munoz. Only 250 slots are available and all applications will be treated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Gilda Patricia Maquilan, Live Positively manager of Coca-Cola says,  “The Coke S3TAR program is part of The Coca-Cola Company’s 5by20 Global Initiative. This is our ambitious global initiative to enable the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs across the company’s value chain by 2020. Women are pillars of the communities we serve, and pillars of our business.

Check out Live Positively Philippines  on Facebook.

Maternity Leave Benefits for WAHM (Work-at-Home-Moms)

Happy Thanksgiving! Just sharing with you something that I am truly grateful for...


A few more weeks to go before I give birth to my second child - and some of my online friends are asking me if I am eligible for maternity leave benefits even if I only work from home. Luckily, I can answer them YES. My full-time job is internet-based, so I can work literally anywhere as long as there is stable internet connection. I've been with the company since August 2009 and my employer actually agreed on giving me a 4-week maternity leave with pay. Furthermore, last year when I had a miscarriage, I was given 2 weeks paid leave to completely recuperate. Though I told him that I can go back to work within the same week that I was rushed into the hospital, he insisted that I use the full 14-days leave so I can fully recover.

If you are a full-time Work-at-Home Mom like me, here are some of the things you might want to consider about taking a maternity leave:

  • Before discussing maternity leave with your employer, figure out how much time you need. It may not be approved right away, so you have to be open for negotiations. Personally, I think I can get back to the grind as soon as 2 weeks after giving birth because my job is not too demanding - mostly email correspondence and live chats which are not very frequent. 2 weeks up to a month for me is just ideal.
  • Do not hesitate to ask your employer about a PAID maternity leave but also do not put your hope on it 100 percent. After all, only a few full-time WAHMs I know are lucky enough to be given a paid leave. There's nothing wrong with being optimistic, but be prepared to take rejections.
  • Notify your employer early. At least two weeks before your due date so the company can prepare all necessary arrangements to ensure that everything will work out well while you're on leave. Also make sure you finish all pending and incomplete tasks.
  • Do not rush things. Do not go back to work if you are not ready physically, mentally  and emotionally. Also remember that those first few months are critical and very important for your newborn's development. I know WAHMs like us normally couldn't afford to take longer vacations, but make sure not to sacrifice your health and your family for the sake of earning money.
  • Everything is doable with encouragement and support. Even if your maternity leave request is denied, you can still work with the support of your husband and other family members. I know this from experience, because the first company I used to work for online (A Hong Kong - based company and I worked for them full-time for 2 years) denied me of any maternity benefits. I thought at first that I can't be a full-time mother and a full-time employee at the same time. I've been tempted to resign many times so I can take care of my newborn, but thanks to my husband and my parents who are always there there to encourage and support me, I was able to make it through without having to sacrifice my job.
  • Plan ahead. Weigh and decide whether or not you need a house help, so you can focus and work properly again when your maternity leave period is over. Having my first-born child required a big adjustment, so I figured another child would need even more. It seem stressful trying to juggle all your wonder-mommy, wonder-wifey and wonder-employee tasks in one or both hands - so I am considering to hire an extra hand this time.

And hey, I saw an infographic on Facebook the other day about paid maternity leave in other countries compared to the US. That's where I realized that working women in the US aren't given paid maternity leave, and that the Philippines' working women populace is still luckier. 



I feel so blessed having a considerate employer who understand the needs of women. How about you, what are you grateful for today?
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Sample Room: Sampling Very Soon!


I love getting free beauty product samples from magazines and different establishments in shopping malls. Why? Because it provides me with an actual experience of the product which is not possible with just seeing it on TV and the internet. I do read reviews of users online but how the heck am I supposed to know if the product suits me or not? I also particularly love the fact that I don't have to shell out my hard-earned money to try new products. That's why I felt so excited when I received an email from Cassie and Sample Room Team that they will be SAMPLING SOON!

Introducing SAMPLE ROOM

Sample Room is the first beauty sampling site in the country. It is an entirely different concept from subscription sites like BDJ Box, Glamour Box and Salad Box. With Sample Room, you only need to pay for shipping and handling fee, NO MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION!



How SAMPLE ROOM Works

  • Register and be a Sample Room member. Being a member qualifies you to get free samples from the website.
  • Get free points upon registration.  You get 100 points upon registration which you can use to avail of samples posted on the website.
  • Choose your sample.  Each sample has a corresponding number of points for it to be availed.
  • Check out.  Checkout and just pay for the shipping and handling fee. Sample Room only charges a standard shipping fee. This shipping fee may accommodate up to 3 samples!
  • Receive your samples. The samples will be delivered right to your doorstep. Now it's time to test the products you received! Exciting, right?
  • Post a review on SampleRoom.ph. Rate and review the products you have chosen to try.
  • Get points from the review, get a new sample to try. More points mean more samples to try!
  • Buying of points. You have the option to buy some points too if you do not have enough points to avail the samples you want.
  • Hooray for active members of the Sample Room community. Prizes and treats await lucky active members, plus a chance to be featured as a Sample Roomie of the month.
Oh well, I can wait for a few more days. If any beauty lover is interested, please sign up to Sample Room newsletter in the website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Website: http://www.sampleroom.ph/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sampleroomph
Twitter: @sampleroomph
Instagram: @sampleroomph

Beauty product sampling is a great way for customers to appreciate a product and prove it's effectiveness first-hand. It may be costly for the company at first, but if the brand is proven to be good, the consumers will see it's worth and will start to convert from sample size to full size which is beneficial for the them in the long run. With that said, I can't wait for Sample Room to launch! Ooh, just a few more days! :)

Syoss Moisture Intensive Care Shampoo and Conditioner


Ever since hair rebonding became popular in the country, I never miss having my mane rebonded every year. The first was in year 2004, if I remember it right. Hair rebonding is a chemical treatment that involves applying perming lotion to soften the hair and disintegrate its bonds. A flattening iron is then used afterwards to straighten the hair and as a final step, neutralizer and keratin are applied to reset the bonds and fix the hair. The end result is a crowning glory of sleek, shiny and straight hair you once thought only celebrities could have. Chemical treatments like rebonding and straightening cause damage, though. Over the years, my hair have become brittle and dry (as if this would stop me from getting my hair rebonded again next year! Hehe.) - so we should know how to take care of our hair and how to keep it healthy.

Anyways, my October BDJ Box includes a pair of 100ml Syoss Moisture Intensive Care Shampoo and Conditioner by Schwarzkopf and Henkel. It's a brand widely used by hairdressers and other hair care professionals for its Pro-Cellium Keratin ingredients that rebuilds , moisturizes, smoothens and strengthens hair from within. Among all other contents of my BDJ Box, I decided to try this first. The 100ml bottle actually lasted for almost 2 weeks so now you can imagine how thin my hair is! :)

Things to Note:

  • Formulation is not too thick like other commercial shampoos and conditioners in the market, but the shampoo produces enough bubbles to cleanse my hair.
  • I love how the conditioner doesn't make my scalp oily, unlike other brands I've tried.
  • I super love the scent, so mild and sweet and lingers a long time. (The hubby likes it, too!)
  • I don't have any idea how much this costs. But I hope it's affordable.

My Verdict:

I'm not really sure if it made my hair shinier in just 2 weeks of using it, but it did make it easier to comb and felt a lot smoother. I will definitely look for stores that carry this brand so I can continue using it and see if it can make my hair look and feel healthy again. (Note to Self: Also try Syoss' Repair Therapy line.)


How about you? Do you have a favorite brand of hair care products? What can you recommend for dry, frizzy and brittle hair? Thanks!

Provenance 1800 Designs and Crafts Giveaway (CLOSED)

When you shop for jewelries and accessories in shopping malls, there is a huge possibility that the items you bought are mass-produced and marketed. This only means that somewhere out there, someone is wearing accessories completely identical to the piece you own. This is not a problem for most of us, but there will always be people who want to be unique in terms of fashion, clothing and accessories one way or another. In view of this, many people who crave to express their own style and individuality have resorted to DIY jewelry kits. These jewelry kits are easy to make and assemble, inexpensive and can be as personalized and unique as you want.

On a similar note, craft and hobby-based education are very famous right now which I think is influenced by the popularity of sites like Etsy and Pinterest. Everybody is going gaga over organic and handmade goods. And people from all walks of life are seeing a great potential in selling their handcrafted products online, turning simple homemakers to successful entrepreneurs. But to be successful, you need to have creativity and skills, and put what you learned into practice.

Provenance 1800 Designs and Crafts, which is owned and managed by Ms. Ingrid Guerrero,  conduct short courses and workshops for hobbyists and aspiring entrepreneurs. She also sell handmade accessories, Beading Kits, DIY Jewelry Kits and Polymer Clay Charms DIY Kits in her online shop. More details as follows:

Services Offered:
  • Beading and Polymer Clay Workshops
  • Beading and Polymer Clay Parties
  • Jewelry Crafting Tutorials
  • Events Management

Provenance 1800 Designs and Crafts have various packages you can choose from, including one-on-one, corporate and group workshops.

Contact Details:
  • Ms. Ingrid Guerrero
  • Mobile: +639162291250
  • Email: provenancedesignsandrafts@gmail.com
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/provenance1800onlineshop

Provenance wants to share something with you!

A WAHM's Buggy Life is proud to partner with Provenance 1800 Designs and Crafts in its objective to encourage other people to develop their creativity and start their own business. Join this giveaway and get a chance to win a Polymer Clay Charms DIY Kit from Provenance! Head over to the Rafflecopter below to join. This giveaway ends on December 2, 2012. Open to everyone with a Philippine address.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This post is a partnership between A WAHM's Buggy Life and Provenance 1800 Designs and Crafts. 
Update: This giveaway is now closed. Please check this post for the announcement of winner: Polymer Clay Charms DIY Kit WINNER.

Caring for your Feet with Neat Feat

Image courtesy of ManilaFitness.com
Sometimes, we focus our attention on our face too much that we neglect our humble little feet which is the foundation of our whole body. Admittedly, I am guilty of this a lot of times especially now that I am pregnant. I can't even massage my feet regularly because I can't reach them. But caring for our feet does not end with proper skin care. We should also look for ways to give our feet comfort and cushioning to avoid foot problems.

Enter Neat Feat, a brand of High Performance Foot and Body Care Toiletries for an active, healthy lifestyle. I only read about Neat Feat from other blogs I frequently visit, and I did not expect to win a range of their products from a blog giveaway. (Thank you, Mom-to-be Ginger & Manila Fitness!) So now I have the means to ensure that my feet will always be comfy and well-supported whenever I wear high heels. I actually only keep the 3B and Feminine Slimline products and gave away everything else to my husband and my youngest brother who are both very passionate with playing basketball. (Feeling athletes! Haha.) Listed below are the complete list of products I received. 

Orthotics
Full Length Cushioning In-Sole (M) 
  • Absorbs heel shock
  • Stabilizes your foot
  • Conserves your foot structure
  • Gives correction on foot faults
  • Specially designed to improve foot posture and relieve stress on your ankles, knees, hips and lower back
Diabetic Self-Moulding In-Sole (M)
  • Provides better pressure distribution
  • Soft tissue arch support
  • Cushions and protects the entire planter surface
  • Insulates against cold hard-walking surfaces
  • Reduces the force of impact and supports the arch
  • Deep heel cups gives stability and support
  • Provides maximum foot protection without taking up needed space in shoe
  • Plastazote is widely recommended for people with diabetes, arthritis or any other skin disorder that requires your foot to be friction free
Heel Lift (M)
  • Adjustable height for your maximum convenience and comfort
  • Helps your pelvic and back alignment
Heel Cups (M)
  • Relieves painful heel discomfort and heel spurs
  • Gives comfort and relief from foot fatigue
  • Relieves arthritic joints and shin splints
Gel Metatarsal Pad
  • Provides cushioning under the ball of the foot to ease ball of foot pain and help prevent callus development.
  • Provides extra protection padding to help comfort the pain caused by metatarsal soreness.
  • The soft gel pad stays securely in place by a comfortable toe loop.
Gel Heel Cushion
  • Absorbs shock and relieves pressure while easing plantar fascitis and other painful conditions affecting heels.
  • Their durable, Gel construction supports heels to make walking, running and long periods of time more comfortable.
  • They do not take up much room in the shoe but improve foot comfort greatly.
Gel Toe Rings
  • Neat Feat Gel toe rings fit securely over toes and are lined with a layer of polymer gel that provides superior protection for sensitive toes
  • They are perfect to protect toes against pressure and rubbing especially in the case of clawed toes or hammer toes
  • They also provide superior cushioning for painful corns and blisters
Odour Guard Insoles
  • Designed for everyday shoes, using a charcoal backing with foam underlay
  • Provides comfort and instantly kills foot and work boot odor 
 Feminine Slimline Range

Gel Corn Pads
  • Fits snugly around the corn
  • Absorbs pressure and provides instant pain relief
  • Adhesive backing to apply to foot so corn pad stays firmly in place
Gel Slingback Strips
  • Helps to prevent shoe straps cutting into the foot, rubbing and slipping
  • Adhesive backing to apply to the shoe
  • Maximum comfort from quality polymer gel
Gel Heel Shields
  • Designed to fit the contour of the heel of the shoe
  • Protect your heels from painful rubbing and discomfort
  • Adhesive backing to fix in the shoe
  • Maximum comfort from quality polymer gel
Gel Forefoot Insole
  • Shock absorbers for sore feet
  • Non-slip adhesive backing to apply to shoe
  • Gently cushions the forefront of the foot to ease discomfort
Gel Heel Cushions
  • Shock absorbers for the heel of the feet
  • Non-slip adhesive backing for the shoe
  • Gently cushions the heel of the foot to ease discomfort and tender areas
Gel Blister Pads 
  • Oval blister pads with adhesive backing can be applied to affected area or shoe
  • Maximum comfort from quality polymer gel
  • Helps cushion and protect sensitive areas from shoe rubbing
 Neat 3B Line

Neat 3B Action Cream 75g
  • Prevents sweat rash and chafing
  • Between the legs
  • Between the buttocks
  • Between the breasts
  • Ideal for athletes, hikers or sports people
  • Developed by New Zealand Doctors
  • Safe for the whole family
  • Works by removing all moisture in the affected area
Neat 3B Face Saver 50g
  • Prevents excess facial perspiration
  • Reduces excess facial wetness and shine
  • Can be applied before usual facial makeup
  • Light gel leaves no facial residue, no deposit, no stickiness
  • Easy and smooth to apply
  • Makeup and sunscreens stay on longer
  • Keeps makeup looking fresh all day even in hot weather
I am particularly happy with the 3B Action Cream I got, because it's not only for athletes but also for pregnant women like me. The gain in size and weight when pregnant can lead to sweat rash and chafing in the areas that rub with each other or with clothing. This can especially happen in the warmer months or in warmer climates. And the Neat 3B Action Cream treats this issue. 

Store Locations

WATSONS - Fairview, Frontera Verde, Gateway, Megamall A3, MOA B, North EDSA Annex, Podium
ROBINSONS DEPARTMENT STORE - Galleria, Ermita, Festival, Metroeast
LANDMARK DEPARTMENT STORE - Trinoma, Makati

Connect with Neat Feat

(*Product details and images are copied from the Neat Feat website)