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

Neat Feat Philippines on Facebook
Neat Feat on Twitter
Neat Feat Website

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

Thank You for the Love, EQ Diapers!

EQ's I Love You Mom Promo 2011

EQ Diapers is one of the local brands closest to my heart. Not only because I won the Grand Prize in their Mothers' Day Contest last year, but also because I truly support their affordable and quality products. (Anyways, the 20k I won greatly helped my family pay one of my Dad's chemo sessions.)

Starter Kit from EQ Diapers

Through some of my Facebook friends, I've learned that EQ launched another promo for expecting Moms. I signed up in the EQ Diapers website last month and submitted my pregnancy details. And yipee, I received my EQ Starter Kit last Monday. Another great news is, I will also be a member of the EQ Baby Club automatically after giving birth and will have access to all their exciting promos and rewards. Yey, thanks again EQ Diapers! Preggy Moms, check out the complete Mechanics in the EQ website (link at the end of this post). 

Expecting?

And aside from the Expecting? promo for expecting Moms, EQ also have the following ongoing promos in their website:

Dining Pals

EQ Baby Club

 Don't forget to join the EQ Baby Club, Moms! :)

EQ Diapers Facebook Page
EQ Diapers Website
EQ Baby Club

Petron's Passion for Porsche Promo

Petron Passion for Porsche

I used to collect books of novelists and authors I really like, until I started a family and I realized that my collection ate a lot of space in our little home. I had a complete collection of Anne Rice, Stephen King, Steve Berry, and Dan Brown novels and other mystery / suspense / thriller books that I sold in eBay 4 years ago. I still buy books these days, but I do not collect anymore. Sometimes I post them up for sale in eBay immediately after reading them.

And now my son Dirk is having a growing collection of toy cars. Runs in the family, I guess. (My Father had a collection of Tempo newspapers from the 80's.) His recent acquisition being a blue Porsche Panamera from the Petron Collectible Limited Edition. 

Petron launched its "Passion for Porsche" promo on November 1, 2012 initially offering 4 toy cars - silver Cayenne, red Cayman S, black Carrera S and the blue Panamera. The 5th toy car, a white GT3 RSR, will only be available commencing December 1, 2012.

You can get these Porsche toy cars for P180 each, with a P1,000-worth of fuel receipt (single or accumulated purchase) of Blaze 100, XCS, Xtra Unleaded, Turbo Diesel and Diesel Max from Petron. They have rev, alarm and horn sounds with lights, and a pull back & go feature. Promo period is until January 31, 2013.

Let's see if we can collect all five!

Winner of the Glutamax Gift Pack

Hello.

I would like to thank everybody who participated in our recently-concluded mini-giveaway. I enjoyed reading your answers, we really have so many things to be thankful for. Aren't we all so blessed? :)

So finally, the winner of a Glutamax Gift Pack is:

Congratulations! Please wait for my email on how to claim your prize.

Stay tuned for another giveaway soon! :)

Yoga Lifestyle: A Great Way to Live

Going to Yoga classes, wearing the proper attire and knowing the proper greetings don’t make anyone an expert of Yoga. It takes time, discipline and a lot of work for anyone to achieve the best results Yoga could ever provide for an aching body.  It must come from within. Fancy clothes and equipment do not mean anything if a person’s emotional and mental state is not 100% into the program. A person’s core values will show if he or she is living the Yoga Lifestyle.

Most people think that Yoga is all about the stretching and strengthening the body. This is just not true. Yoga heals a person from within and its effects can be seen through a person’s character, disposition and physical appearance. In other words, a person who lives a yoga lifestyle will exhibit happiness all throughout the day.  Yoga is not just about exercise. It is a lifestyle practice that will enhance an individual’s awareness of his surroundings, of other people and most of all himself. This lifestyle involves proper diet, & personal hygiene. It also includes serenity of the mind, breathing exercises, meditation and even posture. 

Spiritual teachers and Yoga experts define Yoga as “perfection in action.” This means that, everything one does, benefit someone and does no harm to anyone. Violence is not an option. Compassion is the key. This is the Yoga lifestyle. The idea of non-violence is an important standard in Yoga. Ghandi, for example, dedicated his life to maintaining this attitude. This is known in Sanskrit as Ahimsa. He is a great epitome of a true Yogi. 

The Yoga Lifestyle also includes principles such as Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non stealing), Brahmacharya (faithfulness) and Aparigraha (non-greed). 

Every person can practice the following principles in their daily activities in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, a person can practice Ahimsa treating every creature of God with love, care and respect. Satya can be exercised when a person deals with other people. He must see to it that he tells the truth but with proper discretion. Some truths can harm people so people must practice this with care. Asteya can be done by taking only what is needed and what is rightfully yours. Practice Brahmacharya by not betraying your relationship with people. Practice Aparigraha by being simple. 

These principles make up the Yoga lifestyle. By following these ideas, having a Yogic life is not that difficult.

My BDJ Box for October 2012

I am officially a Work-at-Home-Mom for 7 years now. I don't have to report to a physical office so I don't have the need to dress up and put make up. But hey, I do feel the need to be beautiful at least once in a while. Not for my colleagues, not for the acquaintances and strangers I bump into on the way to work, but for my husband and for myself. I'm really not the type of person who gets affected by other people's opinion of how I look but it's important for me to be the prettiest in my husband's eyes. :))

Beauty products are expensive though, especially those premium and high-end brands from overseas. I normally read excellent reviews of these products from the beauty bloggers I follow, but the price makes me reluctant to try them. We have different skin types, so what if it doesn't work for me? I don't want to waste my hard-earned money on a product that doesn't deliver, to think that only a few companies offer Money-Back Guarantees.

BDJ Box is the first try-before-you-buy or sampling site to launch in October 24, 2012. I instantly liked the idea, as this would make me updated on the latest trends in beauty and fashion. It's an exciting and fresh concept. It will also feed my desire to try new products as much as I can. 

More About BDJ Box

Subscription Plans:

• P480 - 1 month (one time purchase, can be renewed monthly)
• P480 - 1 month (recurring subscription, credit card will be billed every 10th of the month, can be canceled anytime)
• P1400 - 3 months (one time purchase, can be renewed every 3 months)
• P2800 - 6 months (one time purchase, can be renewed every 6 months)
• P5280 - 1 year (one time purchase, can be renewed every year)

Payment Methods:

• BPI
• BDO
• Metrobank
• RCBC
• Unionbank
• Chinabank
• EastWest
• UCPB
• PNB
• GCash
• Smart Money
• Bancnet
• Megalink
• LBC
• SM Retail Group
• Paypal Money
• Credit Cards via Paypal - coming soon!

Ongoing Promos:

• First 100 subscribers of the 3-month plan gets a special premium-sized sample from Benefit Cosmetics
• First 30 subscribers of the 6-month plan gets a VIP invite to an Intimate Guerlain Elite Event
• Payments made for a 1 year plan from October to November 2012 gets an additional free BDJ Box and a BDJ Planner

Contents of October BDJ Box:

L'Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Daily Repairing Treatment, 50ml - Fights the five signs of damaged hair and makes hair stronger, smoother and shinier.
Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Active Multi-Action Scrub, 50ml - Clears skin imperfections and prevents dirt from further building up.
L'Oreal Revitalift Intensive Night Repair Essence, 5ml - Stimulates your skin's natural lifters and revives your skin's firmness and elasticity.
L'Oreal Lucent Magique Skin Illuminating BB Cream SPF20, 5ml - Instantly brightens skin and evens out your skin colour with its lightweight formula.
Calvin Klein Eternity Aqua, 1.2ml -  Crafted for the stylish and sophisticated woman, this modern scent is inspired by the ocean breeze.
Syoss Moisture Intensive Care Shampoo, 100ml + Syoss Moisture Intensive Care Conditioner, 100ml - The perfect tandem designed to moisturize dry, frizzy and brittle hair.
Yves Rocher Pure System Stop Blemish Lotion 4 in 1, 15ml - Helps skin against blemish and residual marks with organic Aloe-Vera and anti-bacterial salicylic acid.
Garnier Skin Naturals Light SPF17, 8ml - Moisturizes, whitens and evens out your skin tone as you protect it from the sun. 

My Observations:

The Surprise Factor - I signed up in their website and paid for a 1-month subscription. And though their website says the boxes are mailed out every 3rd week of the month, I received mine in just 3 days! Naisip ko, bakit ang bilis? I actually thought I'll be getting the November box as I signed up on November 2nd but they still sent me the box for October. It kinda ruined it for me, because I already know the contents of the October box from different blogs I visited prior to signing up with them. A photo of the October Box's contents is posted in their website and Facebook page as well.

The Personalization Factor - The website says the contents of the box you will receive depends on your beauty profile. When you sign up, you will be asked to answer a set of questions about your face, skin, hair, lifestyle and other preferences. But I have only seen one (1) set of products so far. 

My Suggestions:

This might be hard to do, because the subscribers pay on different dates, but maybe they can implement a cut-off schedule so they can ship out the all the boxes in the same day?

It would also be more fun if they can encourage their subscribers to post about the contents maybe 3 days after the shipping of the boxes? Just to make sure everybody already received theirs before they see the contents online. Haha.

Nevertheless, I'm still happy with the items I got. It's worth so much more than P480. Shipping to your home address is also FREE of charge. They're still in Beta-phase and I understand that the system is not flawless yet. The people behind BDJ Box are customer-friendly based on what I've seen in their Facebook and Twitter pages. I'm sure they are looking for ways to improve in order to serve their subscribers better.

(I'll try the Points/Rewards system first and update this as soon as I get more information and details.)

My Verdict:

I'll renew my subscription again next week so I can get the November Box. Like I said, it's so sulit for a budget-conscious WAHM like me. I recommend subscribing to BDJ Box for your monthly dose of beauty essentials. Try+Review before you Buy!

Senator Chiz Escudero for 2013?

Senator Chiz

I'm sure I'm not alone with this predicament: Elected a politician and then later get disappointed, not entirely because of the things he did but more on the things that he failed to do on his term. Their promises during campaign period remains just... promises. Words so sweet and convincing but were never put into action.

The 2013 polls is coming. Another new challenge for us Filipino voters to get to know the candidates seeking for election or reelection, and to evaluate and re-evaluate their performance as public servants so we can make an informed decision by election day.

Earlier today, I stumbled upon this post that basically asks readers if they will vote for Senator Chiz Escudero for a second term. I actually don't know yet as I usually make a final decision a week before election day. But me and my family voted for him last election. He's just so lovable, an accomplished young politician, very articulate, charismatic and passionate. So I want to grab this chance to express my views and opinion in relation to the Philippines Election Journal assessment.

On Senator Chiz Escudero's Accomplishment as a Lawmaker

I've found a number of bills and resolutions he sponsored, co-sponsored, co-authored (10, 5 and 13 respectively) but none listed him as the sole author or primary proponent. I really hope that the Philippine Senate database, Wikipedia and the Senator's official website are just not updated.

I think that every elected public servant and politician should maintain an email account they can check and respond to their constituents' queries in a reasonable amount of time. Their assistants and secretaries can do this in their behalf, since I know most of them are busy and simply do not have the time. I also suggest putting ACCURATE and up-to-date information on websites and/or social networking sites so the public knows what they have accomplished and what remains to be done.

Senator Chiz Escudero and girlfriend Heart Evangelista

On Senator Chiz and Heart Evangelista Love Team

It would be unfair to the couple to presume that it's just a publicity stunt intended for generating more buzz and interest to Senator Chiz's candidacy and for burying negative issues that targets him and his performance as a lawmaker in the past several weeks. Nagkataon lang siguro. And depending on whose opinion you ask, the Chiz+Heart tandem is either perfect timing or bad timing.

For me, I don't see anything wrong with a Senator and a famous actress being in-love with each other. It happens all over the world, every time. Though I really hate the feeling of getting fooled when what I originally thought to be legit turns out to be fake, or just a show. So let's see. Abangan ang susunod na kabanata, eka nga.

My Two Cents

I believe that a good candidate must not get swayed and defeated by the unfriendly media. Rather, he should talk to the people directly. There will always be people who would dig up your skeletons, and make you look stupid and unworthy in every way possible. So the key is to remain focused and counter them with a commanding personality and a calm demeanor.

Reactions from Other Bloggers

Chiz Escudero: Will You Vote For Him Again?

Is Saridon Safe or Not?

As a Work-at-Home Mom, I usually spend 10-16 hours a day in the internet with the main purpose of doing my online job, keeping in touch with family and friends on social networking sites, and keeping myself updated with information relevant to my daily life.

I am the kind of person who check facts and get details first with the help of search engines like Google before deciding to purchase and consume a product. I have a bad eyesight which causes frequent headaches; and while searching for a safe and reliable alternative to Biogesic (the brand I usually use), I come across several articles about Saridon which obviously piqued my interest.

About Saridon

I am not familiar with Saridon, as I don't even see, hear or read about it from the tri-media and this is actually the first time I read about the brand.

According to Wikipedia, Saridon is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug distributed by Bayer Philippines for the relief of mild to severe headache, toothache, menstrual discomfort, postoperative and rheumatic pain, and for pain and fever associated with colds and flu.

It is first launched in the 1930s but was discontinued because one of its original ingredients was found to cause cancer. It was later reformulated by Bayer Indonesia in the early 2000s and is now being sold here in the Philippines.

Suspicions about Saridon

Suspicion #1: It is unsafe to use. - The original formulation with phenacetin as one of its main ingredients was discontinued decades ago. Its reformulated version contains Propyphenazone (feared to be a derivative of phenacetin) which on the other hand, has been associated with a blood disorder called Blood Dyscrasias.

Suspicion #2: Consumers from the Visayas and Mindanao areas are being used as a test market. - Again, it's the safety issue. Saridon has been banned in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and Turkey but being sold in our country at a very low price. And if it really is safe, why was it initially being distributed and sold in the VisMin areas only? What if the people living in these regions are actually a test market, to determine whether the product is safe for a larger target market?

Suspicion #3: Restricted information - Why is it so hard to find complete information about Saridon in the internet? Their Facebook page contains no helpful information at all. I can find their TVCs in Youtube but again, it doesn't have the details I need. I actually couldn't find anything about its safety that I can consider as FACT. Are they restricting information that would justify Suspicion #2? I hope not.

My Take on This Issue

Suspicions might be true or false. But it will really make a difference if Bayer Philippines would take the initiative to provide people with the exact information (FACTS) they need about the drug's safety. This shouldn't be so hard to do, as they can easily setup an official website or a Facebook page and interact with their consumers. If they really want a bigger chunk of the market, this will even be beneficial for them because they can gain loyal followers thru honest and responsive social interaction. Moreover, they shouldn't forget their responsiblity to keep consumers updated and properly informed.

The Department of Health (DOH) and Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) should also closely monitor this issue. They should not allow questionable medicines to be consumed by the general public, especially now that Saridon has been launched and is being sold nationwide.

I, as a consumer, would greatly appreciate if the abovementioned agencies can shed light into this issue and let the country know whether Propyphenazone is safe or not.

Additional Readings about Saridon

Wazzup? Pilipinas!

Mini-Giveaway: Win a Glutamax Gift Pack (Closed)

Hello everyone! I am hosting a mini-giveaway as a way of giving thanks to the Lord for showering me with overflowing blessings and inspiration all throughout the year. A great family, supportive friends, plenty of online work opportunities which allows me to stay at home and take care of my little prince, and a little princess on the way! I really couldn't ask for more. Who's up for a fun game? Come celebrate with me!

What's up for grabs?

One lucky follower will win a Glutamax Gift Pack (1 Lightening Cream, 1 Lightening Soap and 1 Lightening Deodorant)


How to Join?

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Giveaway Period is until November 12, 2012 only. Winner will be announced in this blog and FB page, and will be contacted within 48 hours after the raffle ends. I will ship the prize to the lucky winner.

So what are you waiting for? Sali na! :)

My First Day on CloudCrowd

I can't remember exactly where I read about CloudCrowd. I just added it to my To-Do List on iGoogle and never had the chance to check it out until 2 days ago. I went to the website first to learn everything I can about it, how it works, guidelines and a wealth of resources for workers and then decided to sign up.

To create an account and access CloudCrowd, you need to have a Facebook account, allow the app to access your basic information and you're done. Additional details can be added later.

In all eagerness to earn, I immediately opened the Available Work tab and found out that I need to have credentials first so I can work on the tasks available which includes Writing, Editing, Categorization, Research, Data Entry, Translation and Others. So I went to the Credentials tab and took the English Comprehension Credential Test. It's the first one on the list so I chose it. I completed the test and waited for the result in my email. I passed the test ang got awarded with the English Comprehension Credential Level 1 which means that I now have access to projects that requires this credential. 

My CloudCrowd Credibility & Credentials

And yesterday, I decided to do 5 test tasks on Gathering Restaurant Information ($0.22 per successfully complated task). I wanted to know first if what I'm doing is right so I waited for the review results first. The reviewers are different people so the reviews are inconsistent and probably not updated with the requirements of the task so all 5 of them got Rejected. So frustrating actually. I always thought I'm good in following instructions! My credibility also dropped to 28 from 30 (All new workers are given a starting credibility score of 30).

My CloudCrowd Test Tasks - Day 1

Good thing that they have an Appeals feature, which allows workers to appeal decisions when they feel like their work has been wrongly rejected. So I reviewed my work and appealed 3 of them, just to test the waters again. I don't really want to exert full effort on appealing all of them and then get rejected again. At the end of the day, I received the results of the appeal on my email, informing me that my appeal has been resolved, my task has been approved and that I will receive payment for it the next day. Yay! My credibility increased from 28 to 41, too! Yey! Aside from that, my Level 1 English Comprehension Credential is now Level 4! Yahoo! :) Really made me happy because I feel like I am getting rewarded for doing the task correctly.

But what pleases me most is that they pay promptly. Yes, CloudCrowd really pays you for the work you successfully completed on the next business day! Here's a proof of my earnings yesterday, $0.66 for 3 approved tasks. 3/5 is not that bad, hahaha!

CloudCrowd Proof of Payment - Day 1

I highly recommed CloudCrowd for Work-at-Home Moms and Stay-at-Home Moms, students, writers, and all other people who have a bit of a spare time to spend. Why not make your idle hours worthwhile? Join CloudCrowd today! Click the image below to get started.