Lunch Date at Little Quiapo BF Homes

Little Quiapo has always been the favorite go-to place for people when they crave for some delicious good old-fashioned Filipino home cooking. I was craving for some "lutong bahay" food, so my hubby and I decided to have lunch at Little Quiapo, BF Homes Paranaque.

Beautiful Wigs from Divatress

This is a sponsored post. All opinions/everything written in this post belongs to me.

MoTown Tress Wig - Amelia

I’ve always found wigs to be very stylish and fun. You can get to the experiment or play with how you look by simply changing wigs. I remember this episode from the TV show, Murphy Brown, when Murphy came to the office with a new hair style, a shorter one, everyone got really surprised and there are others who said they liked her old look better. Of course, they didn’t know she was only wearing a wig. Since Murphy didn’t like the reactions of the people of her new hairdo and it made her really uncomfortable at the office, she suddenly grabbed her wig and threw it away leaving her original long hair in place.

That’s the magic of wigs. If you start to get uncomfortable with how you look with your new hairstyle, you simply change it. You get the freedom to choose your style instantly. Luckily, people nowadays get to choose from hundreds of wigs with different hair styles and in good quality.

Choosing your Wigs

Choosing the appropriate wig for you is a bit of a challenge. You also have to consider your skin color that will match the hair color of the wigs. Divatress.com offers a variety of wigs for all types of women. They offer different styles of diva wigs for all men and women in all ages and any skin color. So do check them out and see their awesome wig collection waiting for you. 

#Divatress #beauty #ad

TravelBook.ph announces first Trip to Japan winner

TravelBook.ph, the leading online travel agency in the Philippines, announced on their official Facebook page today their first Konnichi-WOW promo winner. Erwin Sarmiento from Quezon City is set to have an all-expenses paid trip to Japan. 

Sarmiento’s prize is inclusive of round-trip plane tickets, free hotel accommodation, and pocket money. He also has the option to bring one companion to his trip. 

The Konnichi-WOW raffle draw was held last April 11, 2017, with the supervision of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Representative Rhoda Sevillino and Travelbook.ph Business Planning and Market Strategy Officer Mary Angeli Pasquin. 

Sarmiento is the first of the three winners of TravelBook.ph’s Konnichi-WOW promo. The said promo was launched last March 10 in celebration of the company’s fourth anniversary and continues until May 31, 2017. Two more winners will be announced on May and June 2017 respectively.  

Interested travelers can still join the next raffle draw simply by booking their next hotel accommodation through the TravelBook.ph website or the TravelBook.ph mobile app available in Android and iOS. 

For more details about the promo, read the full mechanics here.   

For more details, please contact:

Mary Angeli Pasquin

Business Planning Officer

MaryAngeli.Pasquin@travelbook.ph

+63 (998) 840-4855

+63 (2) 662-1113

Sharah Pinky Librada

Business Development Manager

SharahPinky.Librada@travelbook.ph

+63 (917) 530-7464

+63 (2) 662-1113 

About TravelBook.ph

TravelBook.ph is one of biggest online travel e-commerce company (online travel agent or OTA) in the Philippines dedicated to offering great value hotel bookings and with a varied selection of Philippine hotels and resorts in Baguio, Batangas, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Davao, Laguna, Metro Manila, Palawan, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Zambales, and more. A total of 3,200 affordable hotels are currently listed in Travelbook.ph.

TravelBook.ph offers the best price guarantee with attractive discounts for hotels and resorts, and various types of payment options without a credit card:

- Pay at Hotel No credit card needed

- Over the Counter: banks, 7-Eleven, department stores, and payment centers

Travelbook.ph also offers exclusive reward points: Customers also automatically earn back 5% of the total amount they spend as reward points, which they can use to get discounts on their future bookings (1 point is equivalent to PHP 1.00). 

Customers can also use TravelBook.ph’s convenient mobile app to book accommodations on the go. It is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Lastly, TravelBook.ph is a proud Philippine-based company with 24/7 support. It has a Filipino call center ready to assist customers anytime. They can be reached through these numbers: 

Landline: +63 2 662 1111 Globe: +63 917 850 9029

Sun: +63 925 887 2835 Smart: +63 998 961 3012

To know more about convenient and affordable hotel bookings all over the Philippines, visit www.travelbook.ph. Follow TravelBook.ph on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TravelBook.ph/, Twitter https://twitter.com/travelbookph, and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/travelbookph/. 

How to Plan the Best Trip to Phoenix, Arizona

This post is originally posted by Mani  on April 3, 2017 on A New Life Wandering

Phoenix, also known as the Valley of the Sun, provides sunshine almost every day of the year. And while it has remained on the list of must-visit cities in the U.S., something has shifted as of late. The city is gaining visitor momentum with its up-and-coming arts scene, gastronomic greatness, and its stunning desert and mountain scenery. If you’re intrigued, here’s how to plan the best trip to Phoenix, Arizona.

When to Go to Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix offers extreme temperatures ranging from 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 40 degrees Celsius, in the summer months to freezing in the winter. So it’s best to go in the in-between months in spring and fall to enjoy the Valley of the Sun at its best. When you’re ready to plan your trip, check out this Phoenix hotel planning guide to book the perfect hotel for your needs.

Soak in the Culture and GastronomyCapitol Building Phoenix, Arizona

Image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore

Culturally, Phoenix can really stand out with its many museums, theaters, music venues, opera, and symphony. Some of the state’s best museums lie here and feature a number of themes. I recommend The Heard Museum, the Arizona Science Center, the Phoenix Art Museum, and the Museum of Musical Instruments. You can also take a stroll through Bentley Projects, a downtown warehouse district full of art galleries.

Dining Phoenix, Arizona

Image via Flickr by Alan Light

After fueling with the complimentary breakfast at your hotel, feel free to work up an appetite during the day to give way to delicious food. Given the proximity to Mexico, you’ll find outstanding south-of-the-border inspired cuisine.

At the Phoenix Ranch Market, you’ll find freshly made tortillas, refreshing aguas frescas, and mouth-watering tres leches cake. Phoenix also has other international flavors, including French, Korean, and other Latin American cuisines.

Stay CoolPool Phoenix, Arizona

Image via Flickr by mirage1210

As mentioned, Phoenix can get pretty hot, but there are several ways to stay cool. Many hotels have pools where you can soak, refresh, and lounge with the family. You can also take them to the several water parks around the city. If water isn’t your thing, you’ll find air conditioning across buildings in Phoenix. So feel free to satisfy your shopping needs at the many malls and chic boutiques.

Witness Stunning Natural BeautyHiking Camelback Mountain Phoenix, Arizona

Image via Flickr by ThreeIfByBike

Possibly one of Phoenix’s best feature is its majestic desert landscape with breathtaking sunsets and plenty of outdoor activities. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and biking up Camelback Mountain, where you can view the city from above. If you want to bring your furry friend on your hiking adventure, there are many pet-friendly hotels in Phoenix, too.

There are also many green areas around the city, like the South Mountain and Squaw Pearl parks. You can also go horseback riding through the splendor of the desert and enjoy the vast array of colors during sunset.

Now you have all the best tips for arts and culture, gastronomy, staying cool, and outdoor adventure to visit Phoenix, Arizona. Do you have any other tips or recommendations?

(Featured image via Flickr by midiman)

Funtabulous School Bags and More!

The Earth-loving-planet-saving twins are in hot pursuit of their mission to help save Planet Earth! This 2017, Coco and his twin sister Kimmy are working hard in helping kids realize the value of saving Planet Earth. NOW, more than ever is the time for kids to realize that our planet needs help. The recent changes in our weather like typhoons are proof enough that we all need to move NOW!

Royal Princesses

Funtastic International Inc., established in the country almost 17 years ago, is behind the Cool Kids, Baby Bliss, Creadough, Zigo, Latitude, and Fluffy Friends brands. Colorful and lovely characters make up the Cool Kids Brand. These amazing characters have different roles to play in teaching kids how to care for the environment.

Cool Kids has also launched its new line of “FUN-tabulous” School bags and accessories. The new line of affordable, good quality school bags features the different characters of the Cool Kids friends; Royal Princesses, Glam Girlz, Forest Fairies, Viron Transformer, Earth (Geobot), Air (Aerobot) and Water (Aquabot)  robots, and Space rangers to name a few.  

Cool Kids has also launched its newest line of baby toys and furniture under the brand Baby Bliss. This exciting line of very safe and cool baby toys is like no other. Its wood look mixed with full color has brought a fresh look to the baby toy industry. Baby Bliss toys are competitively priced and they also offer wonderful learning experiences to our little ones.  Baby Bliss by Cool Kids aims to teach moms to help in environmental care.

Hotel Review of Hotel 101

It was my hubby’s birthday so I decided to surprise him with a 3-day stay at a hotel that’s within my budget. Then I learned about Hotel 101, a 4-star hotel, that opened its doors just a few years ago and it's very near the Mall of Asia, so I decided to give it a try for my family's staycation. An overnight stay usually costs Php4,000, but I was able to buy cheaper hotel vouchers online so it was worth it.

Location
When we arrived at the hotel, I realized it was not a stone throw away from Mall of Asia. You have to walk almost 1 kilometer to get there. It's easy if I walk by myself, but having kids and all, it's pretty tiresome so we would probably get a Grab Car just to get to MOA. But good thing Jollibee is literally just beside the hotel building so going there is a piece of cake. There's also a 7Eleven convenience store at the ground floor of the hotel so guests can buy their essentials there. 

Frugal Fragrances That Fancies the Senses

I am the kind of person who's not very sensitive when it comes to fragrances. When something smells too strong for me, I turn it down. But when a perfume smells nice and all of my senses just like it, then I would consider buying it. The next thing I would check is the price if it's within my budget. Being a mother of two and has to rely on a paycheck to paycheck doesn't give me much liberty to buy luxurious things. 

Surprisingly, there is an online shop that sells wonderful fragrances, yet, super affordable even for students. InspiredGiftsPh.com offers them and they sent me 2 fragrance bottles to test out:

Aeris (20mL). 

Price: Php 180

Description: Captures a woman’s flirtatious personality with combined sweet scents of raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrant, magnolia, and lilies. Stays on skin all day and even longer if sprayed on clothes.

The description says it all. I can actually smell the berries mentioned without being too strong for the senses. This is something I would wear for romantic ooccasions.

May (30mL)

Price: Php 180

Description: This romantic and clean fragrance is made of a combination of rose aromatic oils and citrusy oils with hints of water lily, magnolia, white violet, carnation, and ginger. It is light, warm, and overflowing with positive vibe.

May highlights your beauty during casual and formal occasion. Its scent continues to blossom the longer you wear it.

May's scent was sort of sporty to my senses because it's slightly stronger than Aeris. I even asked my husband if he liked the scent and he said he did, but he also asked me if it's for men. I said, "According to the website, it's for women." I guess that tells me that this fragrance can be unisex (for men and women).

What I liked about both the fragrances were they smelled really nice and their prices are incredibly cheap. Plus, the scent really lasted long. When I sprayed it on my clothes, it actually lasted for 4 to 6 hours. Not bad for their prices.

Do check out InspiredGiftsPh.com (http://inspiredgiftsph.com ) for more affordable fragrances both for men and women. They also offer personalized fragrance according to your specifications. They're absolutely perfect for gifts to someone or just for yourself. 

The Nord Stage 2 Keyboard

Nord's primary stage piano in recent years has been the Nord Stage 2. The Nord Stage 2 EX updates all features of the Stage 2, retaining all of the timeless attributes that have made it one of the most popular stage pianos available. This is the 88-key version of the Nord Stage 2 EX, equipped with Nord's Hammer Action keybed. The EX 2 88 keybed uses Nord's top-of-the-line fully weighted hammer action piano keys. Perfect for electric and acoustic piano sounds, but also works great for organ playing. Key range A-C. 

Nord stage 2 available at Musicians Friend.

What I Did to Achieve a Normal Delivery

My kids are already 9 and 4 years old respectively and both of them were born through normal or vaginal delivery. Other mothers said I was lucky because I was able to undergo a normal delivery. They tried to do the same, but circumstances during delivery are very different to each and every mom, and if the doctor thinks the mother is in danger, he/she has the final say if the mom has to undergo a cesarean section.

Me and the kids

At first, when I became pregnant, I also thought of having a c-section because it’s fast, effortless, or even painless compared to normal delivery. But when I asked my mom, who had a C-section with my younger brother 20 years ago, she said that it hurts like hell when the anesthesia wears off and recovery time takes longer.  That’s when I decided to have a normal delivery instead. It’s cheaper,  offers fast recovery time, and has benefits for the baby.

So when I was set on having a normal delivery, I thought of reducing my carbohydrates intake such as rice.  I replaced it when wheat bread and then ate any viand I want. During breakfast, I ate cereals, bananas, and milk. I really had a craving for milk and cereals during my first pregnancy so this change of diet was a piece of cake for me.

I may be dieting, but I also made sure that I monitor my baby’s weight if it’s within normal range by visiting my OB-Gynecologist every 2 weeks. I also made sure to take prescribed vitamins such as Iron capsules and one of those vitamin-fortified mommy milk such as Anmum, which I really loved the taste.

At the start of the 3rd trimester, I got rashes on my tummy's skin. My doctor said it was probably the weather because it was hot (summer time). She advised me not to use any strong soaps to wash it. Water or hypoallergenic soaps would be enough and it did disappear eventually.I also experienced some slight itching on the nipples and it was really irritating. Sometimes I no longer wear a bra because it somehow lessened the itching. Some mommies were asking me what I did to make it go away, but personally, I didn't do anything but didn't wear a bra. It just went away on its own in my case. ( Click this link for more info on how to relieve itchy nipples: http://www.checkpregnancy.com/itchy-nipples-early- pregnancy/)

Then D-day came and I was already feeling the contractions. At first, they were just mild ones and then every hour from then on, the contractions became more painful so I told my husband that it’s time to go to the hospital. I waited 2 hours in the emergency room while my husband was trying to get a room for my admission. Then I was sent to the delivery room (not a private one) where I was also with 2 other moms who were about to give birth.

Me after giving birth

While I was in pain, a doctor, whom I didn’t get the name, whispered to me if I wanted to have an epidural or a painless delivery for P10,000.  I declined because we didn’t have the money, so I simply pushed real hard when the doctor said it was time to push. After several excruciating pushes, I heard my baby cry. Unfortunately, right after that, I fainted and fell asleep. I woke up in their recovery room which was a major bummer for me because I didn't get to see my child right away. I saw my baby the day after.

The very next day, we checked out because I was already strong enough to go home. 3 days later, it was like nothing happened. I fully recovered physically and my baby is healthy.

So that’s that, my dear readers.  Simply reduce your carbs, replace them with fiber, and don’t forget to take vitamins. Oh, and do some minor exercises if you can and always visit your ob-gyn for regular check ups. For more pregnancy tips, visit Check Pregnancy and you might get some interesting tidbits. 

10 Moments Life Sucked Because Mom is Sick

Unilab has posted a new video about daddy doing mommy things. You can see the video in this link:

https://web.facebook.com/Unilab/videos/10154517497405829

The video simply shows that the dad is quite busy doing mommy stuff because his wife is sick so he's the one in charge taking care of the kids and the household. *sigh* I also remember the times when my own mother got sick. Although my dad didn't get all "busy" like that in the video because we had a helper in the house so she's the one charge of cooking and cleaning. But still, here are my 10 moments life sucked because mom is sick:

1. We didn't get to see her during breakfast. 
2. No warm hugs before going to school.
3. No warm hugs when we go home from school.
4. No one to ask us how was our day.
5. At the back of our minds, we always of think of when will mom get better. 
6. The house was quiet like there's no life in it. 
7. There was no one to talk to about anything.
8. ...
9. ...
10. It's just different without mom. 

Haha, sorry. I know I cheated, but I think you already got my point. It's just different when mom is sick or when someone in the family is sick. And that's when Unilab products come in. I make sure we always have the essential medicines in stock in the house like Biogesic for headaches or minor fever, Bioflu for flu, and Ceelin vitamins for the kids' daily need of Vitamin C. 

Sickness is inevitable, but I believe in the following quote: 

"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret."