Category: Lifestyle

The Midea appliance line – enhanced productivity and money-saving solutions

Posted on by jane

Concepcion Industrial Corporation, known for its Carrier product line, has tied up this time with global brand Midea’s Consumer Appliances line and has formed Concepcion-Midea Inc. Philippines under the mother brand.

At a recent blogger event, we were introduced to some of the appliances in their product line. If you are one of many busybodies who have to multitask household tasks and juggle work with housework, you’ll want to check out these Midea appliances that promise ease, convenience and even savings.

MIDEA REFRIGERATORS

I gravitated immediately towards the Midea refrigerators, ahead of the rest. The innovations in refs of all brands continue to fascinate me and Midea did not disappoint. Both models run on a Turbo Inverter Compressor which lead to cost savings as temperatures are maintained at even levels instead of costly warm-up times.

French Door (Party Ref)

If I had to choose between the two refs on exhibit, this would be my ref of choice. The 20.1 cu. ft. ref is aptly called a party ref because it can store enough food for a party. The two ref doors open outward (just like French doors) to reveal space that is wide enough for a lechon (roasted pig) to fit.

The freezer section is found in 2 lower pull-out drawers. On the left side when you pull out the first freezer drawer, you will find the ice maker. The water that is used to fill the tray is found in the French doors section, a separate container you fill with water. It empties into the ice tray below and forms ice in just a few hours. Without taking the ice tray out, a knob is simply rotated to release the ice cubes into the tray below.

The ice maker is the round object on upper right and it dispenses directly into the tray below.

A very spacious second freezer level

The water container (found in the middle of the ref) that feeds into the ice maker

This model also has what Midea calls a “Keep Fresh” technology to keep fruits and vegetables fresh much longer. It irradiates natural light that keeps fresh items in their natural state longer; a UV light breaks down pesticides normally found in fruits and vegetables.

See those bright lights in the middle? They blink and mimic natural light to keep items fresh longer.

How much can you put into this ref? 20 grocery baskets full.

This French door ref retails for PhP 99,995.

Side by Side Ref (with water dispenser and beverage bar)

This is a 19.2 cu.ft ref that comes with a water dispenser on the left side and a touch-to-open beverage bar on the right side.

The right side of ref, when opened up, has high shelving to allow even a 3-tiered cake to fit inside. Space saving idea? Wine racks conveniently located so they need not take up space in the ref door.

Wine bottles can be put in a rack above the cake instead of in ref door

The beverage bar revealed

This Side by Side ref retails at PhP 72,995 (down from PhP 77,995 effective June 10, 2014).

MIDEA WASHING MACHINES

Midea offers fully automatic models featuring a One Touch feature where all cycles are done with just one touch, leaving you to do other work while the washing machine does everything from wash to rinse to dry cycles. More than that, Midea washing machines have smart sensors which detect the weight of the laundry you put in and automatically fills in just the right amount of water.

Its Quick Wash function also lets you clean a drumful of clothes in as fast as 19 minutes. Midea computed the cost of this feature and they say it translates to just ONE PESO PER LOAD – that is a real cost savings!

Midea also carries semi-automatic washing machines.

SRP Prices:

Fully Automatic:
   7kg – PhP 10,995
   8kg – PhP 14,995
  10kg – PhP 17,995
  12kg – PhP 21,995

Semi Automatic:
   8kg – PhP 7,995
  10kg – PhP 10,195

MIDEA MICROWAVE OVENS

Midea carries both manual and digital microwave ovens.

SRP Prices for Midea microwave ovens:

Digital:
   20L – PhP 3,695
   25L – PhP 5,495
   30L – PhP 5,995

Manual, 20L – PhP 2,995

MIDEA AIRCONDITIONERS

Inverter technology is also used for all Midea airconditioners. I’ll update my post once I get the prices for the aircons.

My girl who has lived for some time in China confirms that Midea is a popular and well-respected brand in China. That’s good enough for me!

Starbucks Reserve Coffee – my unique coffee experience

Posted on by jane
It’s not every day that I get to be treated to coffee tasting of a premier kind. I was very lucky to have been invited to this special coffee-tasting experience at one of the existing two Starbucks Reserve branches in the Metro.
At a blogger gathering at the Tomas Morato Starbucks Reserve store, we listened to the Starbucks team, headed by Keith Cole, tell us about these rare coffee beans.

In the Philippines, there are only 4 Starbucks Reserve blends and the coffee beans are extremely rare, limited, and hand-picked for the Reserve brand specifically for their distinctive flavors as well as unusual locales around the world.
Lucky us….we got to try each one of these four rare coffee blends together with special food items that can be found only at the Starbucks Reserve stores and go very well with each cup of Reserve coffee.

The Coffee Masters



Walk into a Starbucks Reserve store, order a cup of Reserve coffee and you’ll notice that the barista who will prepare it wears a black apron, unlike the other baristas who don green aprons. They are Starbucks’ Coffee Masters. Not all baristas of Starbucks are Coffee Masters. In order to carry the Coffee Master title and wear the black apron, I learned that they had to undergo special training and had to master knowledge of ALL things coffee — their history, types of beans, locations, varieties, taste, preparation, etc. Whew!

In order to get the most sensory experience from the Reserve blends, the Coffee Masters prepare each cup carefully only upon order. I watched them first place a #2 coffee filter on top of a ceramic brewer and mug set. The beans are ground only when about to be used so that they are fresh all the time. Even before pouring in the ground beans, the Coffee Master preps the filter by pouring hot water over it. I suppose it’s a good way to bring out the initial aroma of the coffee beans as these touch the hot, wet filter. Once the filter is wet, coffee beans good enough to make one cup of coffee are poured into the filter and once again, hot water is poured on the ground beans, allowing the liquid coffee to run down a tiny hole in the brewer and into the ceramic mug.

Here’s a quick tour of the 4 different Reserve blends and food items so you’d have some idea.

First, the Reserve Coffees

Globally, there are different Starbucks Reserve coffee blends but four of these were specifically chosen for the Philippine coffee lovers.

Starbucks Reserve Sumatra Blue Batak

My first sample came from Sumatra’s prized coffee-growing region on the southern shores of Lake Toba. This region is about 3,900-5200 feet high. The variety that the Batak tribe grow there is smooth and earthy with sweet herbal notes, a full body and low acidity. Tasting this one gives you a hint of cacao or dark chocolate.

Starbucks Reserve Zambia Peaberry Terranova Estate

The beans were grown on the rich soil of the Terranova Estate 4,000 feet above the sea. This medium‐bodied coffee with notes of apple and vanilla consists of smaller, handpicked peaberry beans, which are roasted to provide a medium body and acidity that pairs well with citrus, apples, and chocolate. For me, the Zambia Reserve coffee blend was the mildest of all the four blends so if you are looking for great coffee that is not too strong, this is it.

And…better try the Zambia blend soon. I also found out that it will be available for a very limited time only since the beans are now in limited supply. No worries though because another Reserve blend will be taking its place when that happens.

Starbucks Reserve Finca Nuevo Mexico

High in Mexico’s Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range sits the El Triunfo Biosphere and Finca Nuevo Mexico family‐owned farm. While much of the lush area is a refuge for rare wildlife, the remaining area produces a bright, complex, uniquely flavored coffee bean.

Of the four blends, I found this blend to be the most acidic. There is a citric taste to it with a hint of the sweetness of brown sugar.

Starbucks Reserve Sun-Dried Ethiopia Yirgacheffe

The district of Yirgacheffe is located 6,000 feet above sea level, a perfect mix of sun, air and soil. We were told that coffee beans here were placed in between berries. No wonder when we tasted the coffee, there was indeed a hint of berries in it. This is my favorite of the four!!!

The Starbucks Reserve coffee blends are not only available within the Reserve stores. They are sold in packs so you can continue to enjoy the coffee experience of these rare coffee beans in the comfort of your own home if you have a coffee press.

What is Reserve Coffee without matching Reserve Food?

To pair off Starbucks Reserve coffee blends with equally great food, Starbucks created six (6) Reserve Exclusive Food to go with the four Reserve Coffee blends.

1. Carrot Muffin – Muffin loaded with carrots, walnuts, and crushed pineapples and topped with cream cheese.

2. Double Chocolate Muffin – Muffin with creamy chocolate truffle and topped with chocolate chunks

3. Granola Cheese Muffin – a muffin packed with crunchy granola and cream cheese filling

4. Blueberry Scone – a light, buttery and moist scone loaded with blueberries

5. Apple Cinnamon Scone – a delicious, moist and buttery scone packed with cinnamon apples

6. Black Pepper and Cheese Scone – a sweet and savory moist scone flavored with cheese and pepper to give it a spice touch.

Just my two cents: The scones are very dense and filling. Order them if you want something that will make you feel very full. Otherwise, if you want something light only, go for the muffins.

There are currently two Starbucks Reserve stores:
* Starbucks Reserve Tomas Morato
* Starbucks Reserve 8 Forbes Town

And more Starbucks Reserve stores are coming soon:
* Starbucks Reserve Keyland Centre
* Starbucks Reserve Central Square
* Starbucks Reserve Signa

Enjoy Delightful-E Yummy and Easy Culinary Dishes with Electrolux Kitchen Appliances

Posted on by jane

At a recent cooking show at Electrolux’s headquarters at Bonifacio Global City, I was treated not just to an introduction to their newest line of kitchen appliances but also to special and surprisingly easy culinary dishes from the kitchens of Electrolux’s brand endorsers.

Mom and daughter duo, Cheska and Kendra Kramer; celebrity chefs Rosebud Benitez and Bruce Lim; and mompreneur and co-SoMom Janice Villanueva shared their favorite family dishes using the different appliances that Electrolux has for the kitchen.

The conference rooms of Electrolux HQ were magically transformed into a home setting, complete with a living room area, a dining table with plate settings and a fully furnished kitchen! Kudos to whoever transformed this corporate space into home, sweet home!

Chef Bruce Lim and Janice Villanueva were on hand to demonstrate their selected family famorite dishes.

Janice whipped up her Quick Bangus Belly which turned out to be a really quick and easy dish to prepare. After preparing the bangus belly, Janice just popped it quickly into the Electrolux range’s oven area and shortly after, it was already done. This dish can likewise be used on the Electrolux toaster oven. Much as I wanted to try it though, I was afraid to do so only because it had anchovies (I’m allergic to it!). But all the bloggers who taste-tested it said it was yummy.

We next got to see the dish that Chef Bruce Lim whipped up – Creamy Adobo Penne Pasta. I could not believe that adobo could become a pasta ingredient! Really, it never crossed my mind. But listening to Chef Bruce show us how easy it was to convert leftover adobo into a delicious pasta dish was so informative.

This was DELISH! A new dish to try!

While watching Chef Bruce, I could not help but ogle the induction cooking range he was using. I’ve always wanted one and was already thinking of getting even just a single burner one in an appliance store once. The benefits of cooking without using gas (I’m terrified of fire) plus no risk of getting burned by flames were attractive enough for me. This Electrolux induction cooking range has four induction zones for quick and flameless cooking. It also features a 61L electric oven and grill.

The other one that caught my eye was the Electrolux NutriFresh refrigerator. This was interesting for me — light affects the freshness of vegetables and fruits in the chiller! And when fruits and veggies lose their freshness, we know that we also lose most of the vitamins and nutrients that come with them. Electrolux designed its refs using a patented NutriLight feature that keeps fruits and vegetables fresher and crisper longer than ordinary refs.

Emcee Delmar explains the features of the Electrolux ref

This ref’s middle section opens up when pushed slightly to reveal a recessed place where cold drinks can be placed for kids’ easy reach. They need not open the entire ref and bring hot air in each time the door is opened. That also saves on electricity costs because the cooling system need not work overtime to keep the ref at its ideal temperature. And one more thing. See that scribbling on the upper left of the ref? The ref’s surface is writable! Just use a water-based pen and you can leave notes around for the hubby, wife or kids without having to put a paper note and magnet on the door.

Electrolux also has a Powermix Silent Blender that functions powerfully with a very low noise level. More than just a blender for smoothies and juices, it also comes with a grinder for dry food such as coffee beans and nuts that health buffs can add to a daily, healthy drink.

There are so many more Electrolux kitchen appliances to choose from – microwave ovens, dishwashers, rice cookers and more. Of course, we know that they also go beyond the kitchen and carry convenience appliances for just about any part of the home.

Don’t forget to check the Electrolux weekly contest over at Instagram and Twitter. Joining is easy:
1. follow @ElectroluxPH on Instagram and Twitter
2. Take a photo of a delightfully delicious food that reminds you of home
3. Add a catchy caption that explains why the dish reminds you of a hearty home
4. Use the hashtag #DelightfulE and tag @ElectroluxPH

An Electrolux appliance will be awarded to one lucky winner weekly.

Electrolux Phils.
Website: www.electrolux.com.ph
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook
Twitter: @electroluxph
Instagram: @electroluxph

When Skin meets Maidenform

Posted on by jane

I always thought that I did not need to splurge on ladies’ undergarments because it stayed tucked away and hidden anyway. So I always went for functionality, durability and price.

But after I received a sample of the Maidenform’s Comfort Devotion collection (a bra and panty set), my skin got so much pampering that it dawned on me that if you had to wear something around all day (and night), extreme comfort goes a long way to extending your day. I know. I’ve worn shoes that looked fashionable but were so tortuous to the feet that halfway through the day, I was wiped out.

As soon as I held the Comfort Devotion undergarments in my hand — oh my, heaven!!! Ang lambot! Grabeng lambot! This collection is meant to be luxurious – with carefully chosen plush fabrics and delicate trims to make its wearer feel sexy as it molds one’s curves comfortably.

The Maidenform Comfort Devotion Demi Bra with matching panty.
Yes, you have to touch it to believe how soft it feels.

Front view (from Maidenform website)
Back view (from Maidenform website)
Shows smoothing wing with soft liner & leotard back for stay-put straps

Accentuated by a dainty ribbon and cloud foam-lined cups with super soft wire casing

Bra straps with dainty dotted lines sewn in
Non-corrosive hook-and-eye clasps and stitches that you cannot feel at all

The panty is elastic-free; the fabric molds to the body, eliminating panty lines

The inner lining of the panty. Nothing abrasive,  just totally comfy and snug.

This shade of the Maidenform Comfort Devotion is called Latte Lift (looks like a milky coffee, right?) but it also comes in black sets. Although I got the Demi bra, this collection also comes in Strapless, Embellished Full Coverage, Embellished Push Up, Seamless Unlined and Sealess Foam Wirefree styles.

The panty styles meanwhile come in Hipster, Bikini and Thong.

If you’re after comfort and don’t mind paying a bit more for an all-day heavenly feel against your skin, the Maidenform Comfort Devotion is definitely in my recommendation list. My skin just fell in love with it.

Maidenform is available in leading department stores nationwide and is exclusively distributed by Rustan Marketing Corporation.

Fire Safety at Home with Solane

Posted on by jane

It’s no joke to experience a fire at home.

When I was in Grade 1, I came home with my yaya to find that our home had burned down. The fire started from a neighbor’s home and crossed over to ours. It was December and we lost almost everything except the clothes on our back and a few things. That was the saddest Christmas our family ever had, with my siblings and I going around in oversized slippers lent by relatives and donated clothes. Since then, I’ve been really wary of fire-causing things and my gasul at home always has a safety device on it.

Solane (known previously as Shellane) has gone a step further in ensuring that its consumers are doubly protected against LPG-related home fires. They introduced an innovative safety cap and seal, the first of its kind in the LPG industry.

Here’s a picture of an unused safety cap, together with a slide showing the different parts of the cap and seal and its features that make up a genuine Solane safety cap.

The safety cap up close

The most important part of this safety device is the round gas plug. This completely plugs the LPG tank to prevent leaks before installing the tank with a hose. With this cap on, the LPG tank is also protected from becoming a possible source of ignition. The entire cap and seal is not just ordinary plastic. It is made from high-grade plastic and can be reused by plugging and locking it in the LPG valve most specially when storing your LPG tank.

To ensure that customers can readily spot a genuine Solane safety cap and seal, it has other markings. One, each cap has a unique serial number. When you buy an LPG tank, you can actually check its authenticity by going to Solane’s FB page, click on Apps, and use the Solane Authenticity Checker. Enter the serial number and you will be told if the tank came from a licensed Solane dealer. This guards you against any fake Solane gas tanks from unauthorized dealers.

Two other features mark a genuine Solane safety cap and seal — an embossed “Solane” label as well as an embossed Flame Girl, the original symbol of Shellane carried over to Solane.

Another Facebook app, Solane Finder, helps you find the nearest Solane distributor in your area.

There are various other ways to order Solane:
1. Online: Go to www.solane.com.ph
2. Telephone: Call 887-555 for home delivery within Metro Manila
3. SMS: Text its nationwide textline 0918-887-5555

Solane is also doing its civic contribution towards safety by partnering with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). Under this partnership, Solane will hold a series of training programs together with BFP personnel, LGUs and selected communities and barangays nationwide. These talks will focus on managing LPG-related explosions, fire and emergency response in case of such incidents.

Formal signing of the partnership between Solane and the Bureau of Fire Protection

Herve Leger launches its first Asian store in Manila

Posted on by jane

Iconic haute couture has made its way to Manila in a grand way. Who would ever have imagined that Manila would trump the likes of Singapore and Hong Kong by playing host to Herve Leger‘s first and only store in Asia?

Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Diane Kruger, Miranda Kerr and Jennifer Lopez are among Herve Leger’s growing list of celebrity clientele so having it launch in Asia and in Manila, of all places, is an indication that Manila is probably holding its own as being a style capital in the region as well.

Vicky Belo was one of the celebrities who cut the ribbon to officially open the store in the new East Wing of Shangri-la Plaza. Other celebrities who were also spotted sporting Herve Leger outfits were Heart Evangelista, Tootsy Angara (wife of Sen. Sonny Angara), Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Herve Leger Philippines’ Kat Florencio, Cristalle Henares and a few more.

Vicky Belo and Tim Yap
Heart Evangelista

Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Dong Ronquillo

Herve Leger’s brand ambassadors

The look that Herve Leger is known for is what is known as the “bandage dress” because of the trademark strips of rayon, nylon and spandex/elasthanne material that are the hallmark of Herve Leger outfits. Talking to someone from the Herve Leger store during the launch, I learned that the strips are sewn ONE BY ONE to form the entire dress or gown. You can imagine how difficult that is when you are working with stretchable material. Each piece has to be perfectly cut and perfectly sewn together to give the entire dress a seamless look while still forming the billowing lower hem as well as the curves and dips in the design.

A look on the reverse side of an Herve Leger garment
Another thing I learned — each outfit has its own unique code that the owner can register with Herve Leger to get personalized service on how to care for her garment; in addition, the Herve Leger website says that registration also gives the owner access to “VIP invitations to special events, advance notice of new arrivals and sale events as well as private access to other promotions”. The unique code is also an assurance of authenticity – very important for a brand like Herve Leger.
Here are some outfits I took pics of at the Herve Leger store.

They also sell shoes and bags!

Herve Leger can be found at Level 1, Atrium, East Wing of Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong.

An Afternoon ME Time with Karimadon and the SoMoms

Posted on by jane

Confession: I have never owned or worn a Karimadon dress or gown prior to an afternoon with the SoMoms at Karimadon’s SM Megamall boutique.

I do remember seeing their label at the old Virra Mall many, many, many years ago but I was already a stay-at-home Mom then and never saw the need to check their stuff out as I was always in very casual outfits. I met Karen Go-Wu at an earlier Steveston Pizza event, connected with her on Facebook, and finally got a chance, along with my SoMom-mies to check out the store that her parents, Richard and Josie Go, put up way back in 1980.

As it turns out, Karimadon is a unique name that combines the names of the Go children. Karen is the Kar in Karimadon. To ensure the best quality, Karimadon has in-house designers who oversee the entire production to ensure the elements are all in the right places. Since those Virra Mall days, Karimadon has now grown to 16 standalone stores (2 are franchises) located in prime malls and 4 outlets inside department stores.

Hearing the Karimadon team talk about quality and style of their designs, I was already expecting price tags that were a bit steep. I was WRONG! But I’m getting ahead of myself. Just read on and see how my afternoon in Karimadon was a new discovery for women’s apparel from daytime to evening wear to formal occasions that would be surprisingly affordable.

The creative and designer team of Karimadon composed of Borgh Carino, Aby Puzon and Raffy Viernes welcomed us to Karimadon. Also there was Eric Galos, head of Marketing.

The Karimadon team

With SoMoms Mish and Noemi and Eric of Karimadon

I went around the store checking the styles and the workmanship. If you want stylish clothes that show the best in you but hide what you want hidden, Karimadon is a good place to check out. Here are samplings of what we saw at the boutique that day.

Corporate wear that hardly need ironing come in geometric figure-slimming patterns and flattering stripes

Summery white daytime and evening wear

White and classy corporate look
Styles that look great any time of the day or night

Believe it or not, the cocktail and corporate dresses here do not cost more than PhP 2,000. The gowns range from PhP 2,200 to only PhP 5,000. And accessories cost between PhP 500-1,000. So affordable!

I had so much fun shopping with the SoMoms. We monopolized the dressing rooms and tried one dress after another, with laughter and oooh-ing and aaah-ing as each SoMom stepped out to get feedback from everyone else and to “model” the dress.

So many clothes….so hard to choose!

Captured by the lens thinking about that glamorous pantsuit

Conci and I trying out the first batch of dresses

I ended up getting this — a red laced dress. Loved it!

It was a long day for us but we all went away happy with our individual finds at Karimadon. Now I have one more place to mark in case I need to go shopping for stylish but comfy and reasonably priced clothes.

You can find Karimadon at the following malls and department stores:

Stand-alone Stores:

Glorietta 5, Ayala Trinoma Mall, Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Marquee Mall, SM Megamall, SM City North Edsa, SM Centerpoint, SM Fairview, SM Bacoor, SM Marilao, SM Pampanga, SM Cebu, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Place Metro-East, Robinsons Place Ermita, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, and Ayala Terraces Mall, Fairview

Outlets in Department Stores:

Landmark, Makati; Landmark, Trinoma; La Casa Grand, Laoag; and Houseware Plaza Department Store, Daet.

Also follow Karimadon on social media at:

Website: www.karimadonfashion.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karimadon.fashion
Twitter: @KarimadonPH
Instagram: karimadonph
Tumblr: karimadon.tumblr.com

Alere: Bringing Careers in Health Care to the Philippines

Posted on by jane

A leading health care solutions company based in the United States, Alere, which focuses on servicing patients with chronic diseases by providing them with near-patient diagnostic care and managing their supplies reorders, has come to the Philippines.

Alere Philippines has set up office at the Fort after having acquired a company established in Manila and felt it was a perfect match. They wanted to establish their service center platform here. Our English-speaking labor force as well as access to many healthcare-related graduates makes Alere’s presence here logical, practical and forward-looking.

Alere Home Monitoring President, Jon Russell, says it all in this video:

At the moment, the services the Philippines will be providing is the backend, i.e., Alere Philippines will be processing the ordering of diagnostic supplies by its customers, mainly in the US. By having it done here, where the time difference is almost exactly opposite that of the US, customers can place orders even outside working hours there and still have people here processing their orders so that the shipping process continues all day round worldwide.

We did a tour of the Alere offices which can hold 200 seats per floor. They plan to get another floor in the building, bringing capacity up to a maximum of 400 seats eventually. They operate normal office hours right now but eventually may move into a 24/7 work hour operation.

For those who want a career with Alere, they are currently open to hiring. Having a healthcare background (nurses, therapists, medical technologists, pharmacists, etc) is an advantage although they are also getting peope from other backgrounds. I asked how their salary structure is and I was told that they are competitive and is around the 70% percentile. Jon Russell says they are trying to develop careers, not jobs, as they hope to bring in more services into the Philippines down the road.

Alere Philippines is located on the 11th Floor of W Building, 32nd Ave. corner 5th St in Bonifacio Global City.

Lock & Lock opens at the new wing of Shangri-la Plaza

Posted on by jane

The Korean brand of storage containers, Lock & Lock, known for its 4-sided snap-and-lock feature, invited the SoMoms recently to be one of the first visitors at their newest location in Shangri-la Plaza along EDSA.

If you’ve gone to the 4th floor of Lock & Lock before at the original wing of Shangri-la Plaza, then this is your heads-up that they’ve moved already. They’re now at the 6th level of the new wing of the mall.

While you may think that Lock & Lock is only about plastic storage containers, you will be surprised to know that they also offer Boroseal glassware, cookware and storage bins, among others. I learned about it the first time we went to their main outlet along Araneta Avenue in Sta. Mesa.

To read about Lock & Lock in a previous visit of mine, click here.

A short presentation familiarized us with some new products you can now find at Lock & Lock.


INTERLOCKING CONTAINERS

The bottoms and covers of these Lock & Lock round containers screw into each other. They’re great for storing in your ref without fear of them toppling over. They are great space savers as well.

SPEED COOK PANS

This Korean pan is just right for bulgogi and other grilling dishes on the fly. It features non-slip silicone handles that keep your grip always cool and comfy. A hard, anodizing process coats the surface. The grooved surface was purposely designed so that the fat from the meat slabs drain quickly to the sides. In just a couple of minutes, your meat is already cooking – FAST!

And just to make the experience more fun, two of our SoMoms had a cooking contest after a hearty lunch at Wee Nam Kee using a Speed Cook pan. They had to cook as many pancakes as they could in a couple of minutes!

Tin and Tina cook it out! 
VERSATILE COOKWARE

The creativity of the Koreans (like those really nifty and comfy features in our Korean SUV) is evident also in Lock & Lock products. For example, we were shown this Korean cookware with a cover. Check what else they’ve thought up to incorporate into its design.
It looks cute as it is right? With ergonomic, cool handles and cover

Those 3 holes allow the steam inside to escape without having to constantly lift the cover

Turn the casserole’s cover over and it can be a serving plate
And see those two holes on the cover’s yellow top? That’s where your chopsticks go. Neat!

NEW PAN FEATURES

The CookPlus pans come with improved features:
1. 3-layer bottom – While it is not visible to the eye, the pans now have 3 layers so they are more durable (the bottom layer is high purity aluminum, followed by hard anodizing layer, and lastly, the non-stick coating which is what you see on the pan. The underside of the pans also are scratch resistant, as demonstrated to us. The presenter got a fork and ran its prongs across the pan’s underside several times without scratching it.
2. Capsule system – prevents burning of food as it allows air to travel between the capsules on the pan’s surface
3. Concave system – for better heat dispersion all over the pan
4. Mix & match glossy and satin surface
HEAT-RESISTANT GLASS
Lock & Lock glassware use Boroseal, a heat-resistant glass, which is so much better than tempered glass. Tempered glass tends to shatter into small pieces when subjected to extreme heat, posing a danger to those close to it when it does. Boroseal, when it shatters, stays in large pieces so it is safer to handle. This slide shows that Boroseal has less patterns on its surface, which means it is more resistant to heat.
I had so much fun going around the store checking out the new items. I bought several water bottles which we used a lot of at home and several storage containers for the kitchen. 
But the best buy I had that day was a new item – a first aid kit with several compartments for medical supplies and medicines. It has a handle that collapses in 3 parts, making it more flexible and sturdier.
Check out Lock & Lock at Shangri-la Plaza Mall, 6th level of the new wing. They’ve got promo items till end of December 2013. 

Sneak Preview of the Starbucks 2014 Planners and the Christmas Starbucks Card

Posted on by jane
It’s that time of the year once more! Starbucks will be releasing its Limited Edition 2014 Starbucks Philippines Planners this coming November 2, 2013. This 11th edition set of 4 planners is truly one that you would not want to miss collecting.

This year’s theme is “Coffee Perfection” and many details incorporated into the planner echo the theme.

The 4 planners feature leather covers and come in yellow, brown, magenta and black. These 4 shades were specifically chosen as they correspond to Starbucks’ coffee blends.

The yellow planner was inspired by the Blonde Willow Blend; the brown planner was inspired by the Medium Colombia Blend; and the magenta planner was inspired by the Dark Komodo Dragon Blend. These three blends are already available in the Philippines.

The black planner was inspired by the blend called Starbucks Reserve (available so far in Thailand and Singapore only) and is in limited quantity for now. The beans are exotic, rare, specially picked and roasted.

Starbucks Reserve Coffee (screenshot from Starbucks website)

Look at the artwork in each of the coffee blends. Then turn each planner over and carefully look at the embossed back cover. You will spot the same artwork incorporated into the back cover’s design.

Size-wise, they are about the same as last year’s. A magnetic clasp keeps the planners closed.

What are some of the new or improved features of this planner aside from the roast profiles?

* Signature bookmarks – Each planner also comes with its own signature bookmark and stands for something connected to Starbucks — a coffee bean for the yellow, a house (House Blend) for the brown, a vinta (Kape Vinta) for magenta, and the Starbucks cup for the black.

Each colored planner with its own signature bookmark

* QR codes – Starbucks has gone digital. On some pages with pictures depicting Starbucks stories, you will find a QR code at a corner. Scan that with a scanning app and if you are online, you will be redirected to a Starbucks video that expounds on what the printed story is all about! I can’t wait to try that one out.

The QR code

How QR code looks on a story page

* Coffee stickers – A Starbucks survey showed that most planner users love stickers so they introduced coffee stickers reflecting the blends being featured.

* Coupons, coupons and more coupons – There are now 14 coupons you can use throughout the year to get Starbucks freebies. Last year there were only 13. That’s more than one a month!

How to Get the Starbucks 2014 Planner

If you’ve collected stickers for past planners, you more or less know how this goes. But if you’re a first-time collector of Starbucks stickers for the planner, here is how:

1. Get a promo card from any Starbucks branch.

Front

Back

2. You will need 18 stickers this time (9 Christmas beverages, 9 core beverages), except bottled drinks.

3. Promo is from Nov. 2, 2013-January 8, 2014.

Limited Christmas Starbucks Card Collectibles

Starbucks collectors, this one’s for you!

Starbucks has come up with 2 Christmas designs for its Starbucks card. It will only be available on a very limited basis but works exactly like the classic Starbucks card. One design is a snowman in a forest on a wintry day and the other design is a golden Christmas tree against a red backdrop.

Starbucks Leather Card Cases
For the first time also, leather card cases are available in colors matching the four 2014 planners. Mind you, these are not synthetic leather cases. I held them up to my nose and smelled REAL LEATHER!
Now, take note of this because it is only good for 3 DAYS!
From Nov. 4-6, 2013, just buy a Christmas Starbucks card and top it up with P1,500 and you get a FREE leather card case of your choice (subject to availability of color at the branch). For those who would rather not get the leather card case (but why won’t you???), you can get P300 FREE extra load on top of your P1,500. Remember, just these 3 days.

And here’s one more tip…

You get the most value if you use your Starbucks card when purchasing a beverage. Why? Because not only do you get a sticker towards the planner but you also earn a star towards a future free beverage once you accumulate the needed number of stars.

Happy collecting!!!