Natural is Still Best to De-Stress Your Tress

Striking a life balance is no easy task to do. It requires hard work and dedication which sometimes can be strenuous to achieve. Can you imagine how overtaxing it is to juggle between your career and providing for your loved ones?

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Finding the Right Family Car

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Recently, we just purchased a vehicle that could fit our family of 8. Well, actually it’s my sister who has a major contribution to it, so she has the last say of what kind of vehicle we should buy. But she also wants our whole family to fit in it making it our official family car.

When it comes to big groups, the first vehicle that comes to our minds is a van. The problem is that my sister didn’t want a van. She said it’s hard to drive onto and it lacks class because she will also use it going to the office once in a while. She wanted something stylish or something that has a wow factor in it. So before I divulge the vehicle that she purchased, allow me to share with you the steps we did before she did the purchase:

1. Know your budget and be firm with it. We were very firm about the budget we have so whenever we talk to a car salesman, we tell them upfront the budget that we are willing to use and what cars are available that would fit 8 people. That instantly narrows down our choices saving us time.

2. Reading the vehicles’ flyers/brochures that include information of the vehicle’s safety features, number of seats, and more. Of course, going to each car shops is exhausting. So to save time, gather each of the brand’s brochures usually found in the malls or on the roads. When we got home, that’s when we did our reading and canvassing where we’re relaxed and free to discuss the pros and cons of the cars with the whole family.

3. When we finally narrowed down some vehicles that we like and fits our budget, that’s when we went to its designated shop and try out the vehicle itself. We made sure the whole family gets to sit inside the vehicle, try out the seat belts, ask if they’re comfortable especially the kids (5 and 9 years old), and such. We asked the salesman what happens to the vehicle if we suddenly had a collision and he did answer them in detail including the air bag features, which was a plus for us.

So that’s a summary of what we did before purchasing a car. Hopefully, it gave you some insights. In the end, it all boils down to what vehicle is good for the family which my sister also liked, so we chose the Chevrolet Trailblazer. It looked really pretty inside and out, plus everyone can fit in it. We also liked its features so it's our family's choice. 

Are you thinking of buying your own car? Try to check out www.cars.com where you can canvass and compare vehicles of your liking. 

Lookna – A Great Way To Advertise Your Legit Business

For many small businesses, cost is a major barrier when it comes to marketing and advertising. Many of the popular methods we know (like radio, TV, magazines and newspapers) are often too expensive for small businesses.

In a world where a 30-second advert slot on radio and television can cost hundreds of dollars, it’s difficult for small businesses to cope. That’s why big companies with advertising and marketing budgets that run into thousands and millions of dollars dominate the billboards, newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Because most small businesses cannot find the customers they need to remain in business, many small businesses starve and die because they cannot sell enough products and services.

Despite these difficulties, how come there are still a couple of businesses which start very small but are able to attract enough customers to remain in business?

Research has shown that these smart businesses and entrepreneurs use several taken-for-granted methods that many of us have learned to overlook. Some of them are amazingly simple and will cost you nothing. Some of the others will cost you a little, but not enough to bore a hole in your pocket.

Thanks to the internet, there are now more free, cheap and interesting advertising options for small businesses. Since more people now spend more time on the internet, it only makes sense that you follow them there. Online advertising is the way to go! However, it is important you know that online advertising will work best for your business if you have a website for your business. 

Lookna is a fraud-free hyperlocal search engine for local businesses. We provide fair and equal advertising opportunity by providing leverage to small scale business to compete with giant advertisers. We want to make advertisement fair and square to all business owners. We all know that those who have the power and funds win in an advertising competition, making it hard for small-scale business owners to compete in a fierce gameplay. We provide FREE advertising services where you can showcase your products and services. There will be no funds depletion, making your ads visible ALWAYS. There is also no bid competition to make it on the top, so there is no more overspending just to keep it up with giant advertisers. 

The best marketing and advertising strategy to increase the number of customers is to advertise at Lookna. More customers mean more sales. More sales mean more profits. And profits are always good news for any small business!

Furthermore, Lookna is an advocate of fair ads distribution. Your ads are seen by users or searcher based on keywords, keyword phrases, price and location you entered in when you listed your business. 

Lookna also keeps your information secure through data encryption and strict safekeeping in their database. You are assured that whatever information you submit upon sign up will never be shared or sold to third party partners. 

Have you been having any difficulties with advertising and marketing your products and services? Try Lookna today while it’s still free and experience a safe advertisement platform that aims to provide businesses a secure and fair marketplace. 

Manila Ocean Park and Hotel H2O Experience 2017 (Part 2)

When we returned to our room after a tiresome tour around Manila Ocean Park, upon opening the door, we were all stunned to see drops of water leaking from the ceiling of our room! I forgot to take a picture because I was busy talking to front desk over the phone about our dilemma. 

After their maintenance guy confirmed the leak, we were informed that we will be transferred to another room, the Aqua Room Supreme. I started to think that the leak was a blessing in disguise because I've always wanted to stay in the Aqua Room Supreme with my family, but it's just not within our budget. I remained calm and told the front desk to give us 30 minutes to repack our things, while deep inside, I was screaming "Yahoooo!". When the bellboy arrived, he assisted us with our things and guided us to our new room. It took us about 3 minutes to walk along the hallway because the room is farther from the front desk compared to our original room. So as we were walking, the bellboy was assuring us that our room is going to be bigger and better.  

The Aqua Room Supreme

The Aqua Supreme Room

My children were very excited to see the new room. It's definitely bigger. It has a bigger aquarium, bigger space, and bigger work desk. The bed, however, is still the same queen sized bed. 

It has a bathtub!

One of the biggest assets of the room is its bathtub. My kids got excited seeing it and they immediately jumped in to test it even without water yet. It was fun seeing them take a bath, but it's pretty exposed for adults to take a bath there. My husband and I just used the separate shower during bath time. 

The Bath area (The sink/toilet/shower recess)

We settled in for the night enjoying our new room. 

Manila Ocean Park (2nd Day Tour)

Yexel's Toy Museum

The first thing we visited on the 2nd day is Yexel's Toy Museum. There were lots of unique toys being displayed such as Lord of the Rings collectibles, Star Wars statues, Marvel character statues, and a whole lot more. It really brought out the kid in ourselves. After the tour, there's a toy shop where you can buy some toys as souvenirs. 

Birds of Prey

We went to the "Birds of Prey" and we saw plenty of Philippine hawks inside. Taking pictures are strictly prohibited so I wasn't able to take a picture unless you're willing to pay the staff to take a photo of you. We went there at around 11AM and it's an open area so it was pretty hot at that time, but seeing the majestic hawks was just awesome. It's still worth the visit for me. 

The Sea Lion Show

The Sea Lion Show started at 4:30PM and it was a bit hot because we were facing the sun as we watch the show, so be sure to bring an umbrella/cap or anything that can cover your eyes or head. The show was okay. The seals showed some synchronized swimming and some tricks for entertainment. Well, the kids were happy so we're happy. The show's duration was about 30 minutes only. 

We weren't able to visit the All-Star Bird Show and the Penguin Talk Show because we missed the time, and so we decided to go around the vicinity and do a little shopping instead. 

Manila Ocean Park is not only a place for fishes and marine life, but it's also a place for "tiangge" shopping. We all enjoyed looking around and ended up buying some fidget spinners, hair clips, and other toys for the kids. 

And since we're spending our last moments in Ocean Park, we're taking selfies in every corner of the place before the sun sets.  We went back to our room afterward and spent more staycation time to savor every last minute. 

Overall, our stay was satisfactory. The kids enjoyed the fishes, the birds, the seals, the hotel, and there were lots of food choices in the vicinity so there's always something to eat for everyone (e.g. Potato Corner, Wendy's, Sisig, etc.). It's definitely a nice place to bring your entire family to. Thank you, Manila Ocean Park and Hotel H2O, for an awesome summer ending. 

Did I miss something in my review? Do you have questions about our stay or something you need to clarify? Do send me a message or comment it below.  

Mejie Coffee: The Slimming Coffee with Collagen

Slimming coffees are not new to the market. I have tried a few slimming coffees before, but this is the first time I've tried a slimming coffee with collagen. So it's supposed to slim you down and gives you great skin and other benefits, too.

Here's the product information about the Mejie coffee:

MEJIE Coffee Plus Collagen is the first product that contains 3 Active Ingredients for weight loss plus making your skin young using Japanese Hydrolyzed Collagen raw materials. MEJIE Coffee Plus Collagen also uses natural sweeter called Stevia. To give you more description of the main raw materials of our coffee.

Active Ingredients: 

GARCINIA CAMBOGIA

Garcinia cambogia, a tropical fruit also known as the Malabar tamarind, is a popular weight-loss supplement. People say it blocks your body's ability to make fat and it puts the brakes on your appetite. It could help keep blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check, too. You'll find it in bottles on the shelf at the store as well as mixed with other ingredients in diet products.

How It Works

The active ingredient in the fruit's rind, hydroxy citric acid, or HCA, has boosted fat-burning and cut back appetite in studies. It appears to block an enzyme called citrate lyase, which your body uses to make fat. It also raises levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which may make you feel less hungry.

L-CARNITINE

helps the body produce energy. It is important for heart and brain function, muscle movement, and many other body processes.

GREEN TEA

It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. This includes improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits. Here are 10 health benefits of green tea that have been confirmed in human research studies.

COLLAGEN

Hydrolyzed Collagen is the missing link in supplying amino acids like glycine, proline and lysine that are required by the body to build connective tissue to regulate cell growth. It will benefit hair, skin tissue, muscle, cartilage, ligaments and blood cell growth.

Improves Health of Skin and Hair.

Reduces Joint Pains and Degeneration.

Helps Heal Leaky Gut.

Boosts Metabolism, Muscle Mass and Energy Output.

Strengthens Nails, Hair and Teeth.

Improves Liver Health.

Protects Cardiovascular Health.

STEVIA POWDER

Stevia is an intensely sweet, natural sweetener that is harvested from the stevia reb Audi ana plant.

Research indicates that stevia sweeteners do not contribute calories or carbohydrates to the diet and do not affect blood glucose or insulin response.

Just pour the sachet contents into a sip and add 180ml of hot water. Stir well and Mejie Coffee plus collagen is ready to be served.

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Directions: 

Just pour the sachet contents into a cup and add 180ml of hot water. Stir well and Mejie Coffee plus collagen is ready to be served.

I do admit I have a sweet tooth so anything that's not sweet is a big adjustment for me. So at first sip of Mejie Coffee, there was a very slight bitterness and I could also taste the collagen which proves that there is indeed collagen in my coffee.  But after a few more sips, my taste buds got used to the unique coffee taste. I finished the whole cup and I actually felt full. 

Right now, I'm on my 2nd day drinking Mejie coffee after meals because it's been a habit of mine to drink coffee after breakfast or lunch, or sometimes both. It didn't give me any side-effects or whatsoever as of today. As for my eating urges, nothing much has changed as of now, but I do feel a little bit more alert and energetic. I plan to continue drinking the coffee and finish the whole box to see the results.

Reminders: Please do not drink this coffee if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any illnesses. Please consult your doctor first for your own safety. 

Mejie coffee is available in Lazada and Asian Sky Mall (www.asianskymall.com).
For more information, you may check their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/asianskymall

How To Spend A Long Weekend in Cambridge

This post is originally posted by Mary Chong  on May 27, 2017 on CalculatedTraveller.com (https://www.calculatedtraveller.com/blog/long-weekend-cambridge/)

A trip to Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a journey through history, art galleries, museums, and higher learning. Throw in some shopping and some good eats, and you have the perfect long weekend getaway.

GET EDUCATED AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Image via Flickr by Michael Hicks

No trip to Cambridge is complete without a visit to Harvard University — the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Famous alumni of this prestigious university include John F. Kennedy, Barak Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates. Tours, both guided and self-guided, are available. You can choose among a number of Cambridge hotels that will keep you close to the sights and attractions you enjoy.

Harvard Square Hotel is conveniently located three blocks from the University. With a hotel this close, you can pretend you’re an Ivy League student living on campus but without having to share a dorm room. While you are playing student, strolling through Harvard Yard, check out the rare books at Houghton Library, find some culture at the Harvard Art Museum, stop into the COOP for some Harvard U souvenirs, and grab a bite at Mr Bartley’s Burgers.

GET CREATIVE AT THE RAY AND MARIA STATA CENTER AT MIT

Image via Flickr by Tony Webster

Home to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the contemporary, deconstructivist style of the Frank Gehry-designed Ray and Maria Stata Center contrast the traditional architecture of the buildings of Harvard. The unique exterior and interior design has received much criticism — positive and negative — so form your own opinion while you’re there. This isn’t the only place to find creativity on campus; MIT is home to some fabulous art galleries as well as many outdoor art installations to fill your Instagram feed.

Image via Flickr by SoeLin

Whether staying in a historic or a contemporary hotel near MIT, you can be in the middle of all the action at hotels near Kendall Square. This 10-acre redevelopment includes restaurants, shopping, 2.5 acres of open space, an outdoor concert venue, a farmers market, and canoe/kayak rentals by the river. Where to eat? Why not pack a picnic or enjoy an outdoor patio meal?

HAVE A 3-D EXPERIENCE AT THE MIT MUSEUM

Image via Flickr by A.M. Kuchling

Welcoming over 130,000 visitors each year with a collection of over 1 million objects that explore the concept of idea-innovation-invention, the MIT Museum archives the history of the MIT and holds the largest collection of holograms in the world.

Should you wish to consider hotels near the MIT Museum, Le Meridien Cambridge-MIT is one example that’s a few blocks away, next to University Park Common. When it comes time to eat, I’ve heard great things about Craigie on Main, the James Beard award-winning French bistro run by Chef Tony Maws. Alongside its regular menu, Craigie on Main also offers five-course tasting menus as well as brunch on Sunday.

BOSTON IS ACROSS THE RIVER!

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Image via Flickr by spi516

Cambridge sights are plentiful, but Boston is across the Charles River should you wish to explore further. Davis Square is a great neighbourhood to call your home away from home since it’s midway between both cities, and you can find a good variety of Davis Square Hotels.

I HOPE YOU’VE ENJOYED THIS WEEKEND GETAWAY THROUGH CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS! DID I MISS ANYTHING?

Featured Image (top) via Flickr by Tony Webster