Real Living Gives Small Space Storage Tips – in a Book!

Posted on by jane

My problem at home is always space. I can’t believe how fast gifts and purchases fill up closet space.

So when my friend Fran invited me to the launch of Real Living Magazine’s Real Home Ideas 5: Small Space Solutions which focused on what else — small space solutions! I immediately said YES!

Knowing how to maximize small space really is an art in itself. Many times, we tend to fill up horizontal space and forget that there is such a thing as vertical space. Our floors and closets fill up quickly but if only we viewed air space around us, we can still actually fit more if furniture was designed to take advantage of the space ABOVE the floor or closet levels.

My girl and I went to the launch at Megamall’s Atrium. There we were greeted by living room, dining room and bedroom sets done by 3 different designers who were challenged with a very tiny space to work with.

Living Area (by Frenjick Quesada)

Dining Area (by Kristine Neri)
Bedroom (by Grace Moslares)
Wow, look at those tiny spaces.  They were able to maximize the space to produce 3 areas! I think even a small bachelor’s pad will fit these 3 sets in it.
There are more such ideas in the book Real Home Ideas 5: Small Space Solutions. The book is divided into three parts. The first chapter deals with different kinds of small homes and allows the reader to identify which type is most identical to the one he or she owns. The second chapter is all about small space tricks, which gives storage and furniture layout ideas. The third and last chapter gives tips on how a homeowner can go about renovating a small space and what to remember before retouching a small space home.

Real Living Editor-In-Chief Rachelle Medina says of their latest release, “Small homes are a reality for most of us these days, and this book will show you how to make the most out of the situation – from maximizing available space, and creating an efficient room layout, to choosing stylish but flexible furniture pieces. So whether you live in a condo, a studio apartment, a tiny, single-detached house, or a room in your parents’ home, you can still have a beautiful place, regardless of floor area or budget.”

The Real Home Ideas 5: Small Space Solutions book is available in bookstores and magazine stands nationwide for only P195.

These Online Games Can Win You Free OREOs

Posted on by jane

Are you or your kids gamers? Oh, never mind if you aren’t gamers. Do you love OREOs?

I do! And yes, there’s now a way to get free OREOs and play simple online games to get your free packs.

Here are a few steps:

1. Head on over to shareoreo.com first. You’ll need to register an email address and provide a password. That way you get your first gift pack of OREOs just for registering.

2. Log in and on see the 2 games on the right side. To play, just click “Play Game” on the game of your choice.

3. Completing all levels of a game entitles you to free OREOs. An email will be sent to you. Print this out and claim it at the 7-Eleven branch you indicated.

OREOs has two fun games to choose from.

The first is Twist, Lick, Dunk.

There are 3 levels in this game. Drag the Twist, Lick, Dunk icons on the top to the “?” boxes in a certain order. Press “OK”. That releases the OREO which travels from one block to another. Once it hits the “Dunk” button, an arrow appears and it moves in the direction of your mouse. Aim for the glass of milk, then press the key. You have 5 tries (represented by the five OREOs above). Trying again costs you one OREO.
I’ve completed this game already and earned myself another set of OREOs.
The second game is the OREO Bonding Puzzle.
The goal here is to get both mommy and child to sit down at the dining table to share OREOs. To do this, you need to drag objects to either the mother or son in a correct sequence to get them to sit down and share OREOs.
It’s that easy. Start today and have fun playing while earning your FREE OREOs.

Nuffnang and HEAVEN Ice Cream invite you to a special screening of ‘SALT’

Posted on by jane

Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.

Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors—Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.

OREOs to Have, Share and Play With!

Posted on by jane

Whenever I go to the grocery to buy food, one item is almost always there – kids’ snacks. As I head off to the aisle with all the biscuits and cookies, there is one thing for sure that will be thrown into my grocery cart – OREOs!

Now, my kids’ favorite snack pack is here for everyone to have, share and play with!

You can enjoy OREOs, share FREE packs with your family and friends, and bond while playing the OREO games!

It’s simple!  Just visit www.shareoreo.com and REGISTER.

Once you’re registered, you’ll be able to experience the OREO fun:

1. Claim your very own FREE OREO PACKS (you will get a GC like the one below in your email and you can print it out to claim your 3 OREO packs from your designated 7-Eleven branch);

2. Send these very same OREO packs to all the people you know. There’s an easy way on the site to automatically send the free OREOs to your contacts on different email providers and social network sites like Facebook, Twitter and more; and

3. Play the different OREO games on the site and get a chance to win more prizes as well as the chance to experience what it’s like to become a human OREO.

With OREO, you don’t just get to twist, lick and dunk OREOs yourself. You get to share this fun with everyone else as well!

A Killer of Women – Cervical Cancer

Posted on by jane

Every 2 hours, a woman dies from its deathly grip.

Being a woman and having 2 girls of my own, a statistic like this is downright scary. It can hit any woman anywhere around the world. And it will strike unless preventive measures are taken.

CERVICAL CANCER.

It is considered by the Department of Health as the second most common female cancer in the Philippines today, with an estimated 7,277 new cases reported every year. What about unreported or still undiagnosed cases? That number could easily escalate simply because women do not know how to protect themselves from this disease.

Cervical cancer develops when normal cells of the cervix turn cancerous, usually caused by a chronic and persistent cancer-causing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that leads to pre-malignant lesions that eventually progress to cancer. This type of cancer takes decades to happen (from 10 to 30 years) so it is actually easy to prevent, screen, detect and diagnose before it turns malignant. Regular pap smears and visual inspection of the cervix with Acetic Acid (VIA) helps to screen for cervical cancer.

Rather than wait to be diagnosed with the presence of HPV, prevention is really the better strategy for us and that can be achieved by getting an effective vaccine that targets the cause of cervical cancer which are HPV types 16 and 18.

For me and my daughters, getting protection through a cervical cancer vaccine is a MUST. If you have daughters of your own, consider getting protection as soon as possible. Prices have already dropped considerably and cervical cancer protection is now affordable.

Here are some more statistics for you to consider.

Cervical Cancer by the Numbers

• 2                  Cervical Cancer is the second biggest cause of female mortality globally
• 510, 000        World Health Organization’s (WHO) estimate of new cervical cancer cases annually worldwide
• 288, 000        yearly deaths around the world because of cervical cancer, according to WHO
• 80                percent of cervical cancer cases found in developing countries in the world
• 245, 000        estimated number of new cervical cancer cases found in Asia every year
• 7, 277           estimated new cervical cancer cases every year in the Philippines according to survey                  done in Rizal, Cebu, and Davao by Department of Health (DOH)
• 12                estimated number of deaths (daily) in the Philippines due to cervical cancer
• 35                the age to start getting a Pap smear for women who have not engaged in vaginal intercourse
• 200              number of Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) acknowledged to exist
• 15                number of HPV types said to be high-risk (cancer-causing)
• 16 & 18         HPV types which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases
• 45                3rd most common cancer-causing HPV types which is prevalent among Filipinas

Weddings with Josiah's Catering

Weddings with Josiah’s Catering

Posted on by jane

June is a very romantic month because aside from December, this is the marry-est month in the calendar. There were no such things as wedding coordinators during my time so I basically had to do my own research, canvassing and preparations when I got married. Now, with a proliferation of wedding planners, brides now have an easier time than I did before.

So, it was very exciting to check out what modern wedding receptions look like nowadays. 1 Esplanade played host to a wedding themed affair prepared by one of the top caterers in town, Josiah’s Catering. “Seasons of Love: A Wedding Banquet Expo” featured Four Seasons set-up, one of many packages that well-known Filipino event designer, Ms. Beth Amat, designed especially for Josiah’s Catering. No matter what month of the year you plan to get married, there is a theme just for you.

Continue reading “Weddings with Josiah’s Catering” →

Ipanema Launches its "Colorful Sea" Collection

Ipanema Launches its “Colorful Sea” Collection

Posted on by jane

I have several pairs of Ipanema flipflops and each one is just so comfortable and pliant. I can do a ballet pointe and the flipflops would just follow the curve of my pointed foot.

For 2010, Ipanema is once again launching its latest GB collection, which it dubbed “Colorful Sea”. The GB line (GB which stands for Gisele Bundchen, a Brazilian and the world’s most successful supermodel who endorses Ipanema GB) is known for its hip design, unmatched style and high quality as well as for being an important medium for eco-awareness.

A devoted environmentalist, Gisele Bündchen actively adheres to her role as UN ambassador by using each GB collection to raise funds and awareness for specific eco-causes. The 2010 “Colorful Sea” collection supports the preservation of Brazil’s turtle population as well as the welfare of our own local marine life.

Continue reading “Ipanema Launches its “Colorful Sea” Collection” →

How Do You Teach Your Kids How to Beat Procrastination? (updated)

Posted on by jane

After reviewing the comments posted, I wish I could award the watch to everyone who participated because the tips were really useful but I had to choose 3 tips only. So here goes. The winners are:

1. Suzanne de los Santos
2. Pearlie Uy
3. Dante Ward Jr.

An email will be sent out to the winners with further instructions.

Thank you all. I hope to host another contest sometime.

———————————————————————-

Growing up, my parents taught me not to procrastinate. Of course, that was not always easy. It’s easier to push work to the last minute before cramming. But I did learn the hard way, at times, that doing this meant a finished product that was not as good as I would have wanted it to be.

As my own kids are now in school, I try to teach them how NOT to procrastinate. I think it’s a lot more difficult to do so in this day and age. There are just too many distractions. Unlike before when my Mom just had to turn the TV off, now I have to deal with the internet, video games, and even when I send them to bed, there is the PSP or iPod Touch under the blanket. My kids are in high school and college and by this time, they have also learned the hard way what it means to cram things at the last minute. I’m glad that in high school, they have planners that they were taught to fill in so that they could monitor project and homework deadlines and improve their time management.

Showing your children that getting important things done right away is an essential skill that they need to grow up into responsible adults. Studies show that people with poor time management skills often face difficulties at school and at work. One study from Australia’s Victoria University cited poor time management as the cause of some students feeling pressured at school –the result of which is that they either drop out or experience health or mental problems.

Arm your kids with the proper tools against procrastination with these tips and advice from child psychologists and teachers.

  1. Time your children’s tasks. It’s good to have a clock in your child’s bedroom so he knows how long certain tasks take. You can also give your child his own watch, so he can monitor how long it takes to do different activities. You can even make a pie chart so your child can visualize how much time he spends doing homework and how much time is left for TV. This will make him understand that the more he procrastinates on an urgent task, the less time he has for more enjoyable activities.
  2. Help your child break down tasks into simpler ones. Sometimes, children put off homework or a project because they think that these are too difficult, so they become scared to tackle these tasks right away. Teach your child how to break these hard tasks into easier, simpler ones so they don’t feel overwhelmed. If your child has homework for several subjects, for instance, you can help him tackle one subject at a time.
  3. Set habits or rituals. This is especially effective for younger kids or preschoolers. Setting a certain time for specific activities help your children develop good habits and time management skills. For example, you can set 5pm as homework hour and 7pm as free time for your kids to do whatever they want.

Have you used any strategies to effectively help your kids beat procrastination? Then this is for you.

I’m running a very easy contest to see what your own ideas are on how to teach kids to beat procrastination. My partner in this contest is none other than Kids Watch Central (KWC), a favorite place to go to for timepieces just right for your kids. With watches of their own, it’s a lot easier for your kids to manage time and develop good habits and time management skills.

KWC’s colorful timepieces feature many different popular cartoon characters, such as Hello Kitty, Ben10, Transformers and Barbie. Their various designs can inspire your child to finish important tasks and activities right away.

Now, here are the contest mechanics:
1. Just answer this question by posting a comment below:

How Important is Teaching Time Management to Kids and what’s the best tip that you can share with other moms regarding teaching your child time management?

2. You can join several times over the contest’s duration but you can only comment once a day. If a commenter submits multiple entries in a day, only the first entry will count.

3. Commenters must include the following info: Your Name & Email Address. Anonymous commenters or those without email addresses will not be considered qualified.

4. Promo runs from June 9 to July 9, 2010. I will select the top 3 answers (an email address can win only once). The 3 winners will be announced on this blog on July 11, 2010. Choice of winners is final. Each winner gets a KWC timepiece.

5. Winners need to present an email of acknowledgment from me and can claim their prizes from Cathy Muncal at 6F Cambridge Center Building, 108 Tordesillas cor. Gallardo Sts., Salcedo Village, Makati City or at Urban Time Boutique at SM North Edsa Annex. Prizes of any provincial winners will be sent via courier. Sorry, but this contest is limited only to residents within the Philippines as we cannot send prizes abroad.

6. The watches that will be given to the winners are not necessarily those shown on this blog post (the photos are samples of KWC timepieces).


Do You Have the Toughest Job? (winners announed)

Posted on by jane

I think the toughest job in the Philippines is being a MOM.

Why?

  1. Being a Mom starts with PAIN – during childbirth. And even for those who are Moms by adoption, pain can come in the form of sacrifices and problems.
  2. You’re on duty 24/7
  3. Your job description requires multiple skills and duties: caregiver, nanny, tutor, cook, driver, motivator, disciplinarian, financier
  4. Once you get the job, there is absolutely no resignation. You’re in this for the long haul – like it or not.
  5. There is no financial compensation. You need to do all these absolutely FREE OF CHARGE.
Do you think your job is tough too? Then come join Alaxan FR and DOLE’s Search for the Toughest Jobs in the Philippines Campaign.

Different people may give different answers; but for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Manny Pacquiao and Alaxan FR, no job is too small or too easy. Because it is in how one performs the job – whether he rises above the pain and the challenge—that determines whether a job is tough or so-so.

With this in mind, the DOLE and the People’s Champ,  together with top pain relief brand Alaxan FR, launches the “Search for the Toughest Jobs in the Philippines” – a groundbreaking initiative that seeks to honor Filipino men and women who face the challenges of their day-to-day jobs with pride, resiliency and most of all toughness.

“In the case of Manny Pacquiao, it’s the pain of training for a boxing title; for the promodizer, it’s the long commute to be able to give service to grocery shoppers; for the teacher, it’s the leg cramps after long hours of standing to be able to impart knowledge to students. Really, pain is a badge of honor. It’s one sign that you’ve exerted enough effort and commitment to do your job well.,” asserts Sheila Rono, Alaxan Brand Representative..

My blog is offering a contest for the toughest job. 3 winners will be chosen by me. 
To join, here are mechanics:
1. Just post a comment at the end of this article stating what is your toughest job. Please include your NAME and OCCUPATION.
2. Your comment entry is also automatically an entry to www.toughjobsphilippines.com for the national contest which runs till Aug. 21, 2010 (see mechanics for the national contest there). You are required to submit the same entry in my blog, but this time with a PHOTO of your tough job, to alaxantoughjobs@gmail.com (Alaxan FR’s PR people will be the ones to upload your entry on the website). The entry that gets the most number of votes online will win the competition and will bring home a trophy and a cash prize of P20,000.  
3. Deadline for entries to my blog contest: July 15, 2010
4. For my blog contest, there will be 3 winners chosen by me. My blog winners will win tough jobs T-shirts, cellphone cleaners and Alaxan FR’s sample packs. 
5. Winners can claim their prizes at GeiserMaclang Office – 6F Cambridge Center Building, 108 Tordesillas cor Gallardo Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Alaxan FR contains Ibuprofen (200mg) and Paracetamol (325mg), two of the most widely used and trusted pain relievers by doctors worldwide. It is used for the relief of mild to moderately severe pain of musculoskeletal origin such as myalgia, arthritis, rheumatism, sprain, strain, bursitis, tendonitis, backache and stiff neck, as well as tension headache, dysmenorrhea, toothache and pain after tooth extraction and minor surgical operations and for the reduction of fever. Alaxan FR is available at leading drugstores and supermarkets.


UPDATE:


Here are my winners for Alaxan FR gift packs:

1. May Ann Saturno – her description of her job as transcriptionist-editor really tugged at my heart. I agree that it’s a very tough job to have.

2. Jennifer Aspacio – 12 blogs? No yaya? Homeschooling teacher? Waaaahhhh, that’s tough!

3. Julie Fuertes – dealing with kids can be a handful. Julie’s work with special education children is a challenge! Plus, she has all this online work on top of having no househelp. Makes my life look like a breeze.

Congrats Ann, Jennie and Julie. I’ll be emailing you soon. Please note though that the promo was extended to Aug. 15, 2010 AFTER I had closed the contest. So please be patient because your prizes will be available beginning Aug. 15 only.

TGI Friday’s Shareable Platters & Party Pitchers

Posted on by jane

Friends and family, there is more reason now to visit TGI Friday’s and spend wonderful bonding time without racking up a fortune in food bills. They now have platters that are completely shareable, with party pitchers to boot, good for 3-4 persons! And take it from me and my friend, Chats, who were lucky enough to sit down to taste test these platters, they are scrumptious!

Chats and I, after a yummy TGIF dinner

The night we ate there, we got to try two of their platters: the Triple Chicken Sampler and the Seafood Platter.

Triple Chicken Sampler (Buffalo wings complete with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing; Sesame Jack Chicken strips with Jack Daniel’s sauce and Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Quesadillas drizzled with balsamic glaze and served with marinara sauce). Cost: P925
Seafood Platter (crispy medley of fresh Calamari, deep fried white Fish Fillet and crispy jumbo Shrimp, served with Friday’s signature sauces of Southwestern sour cream, cocktail sauce and tartar sauce. Cost: P945
Of course, our meal came with one of their party pitchers, the Strawberry Lemonade Slush, which is probably good for 4 people – just right for a barkada meet-up. Cost: P345

The other platters that I am bent on trying next time I’m there are:
Filipino Platter – Friday’s famous Filipino Pork Liempo basted with sweet and sour sauce, Pork Adobo and Slow Roasted Half Chicken all in one platter and served with Friday’s ensalada. Cost: P1,225
Friday’s Three for All – features a trio of Friday’s most famous appetizers: Loaded Potato Skins, Fried Mozzarella and spicy Buffalo Wings, complete with sour cream and green onions, marinara sauce, and celery sticks with Bleu Cheese dressing.
Jack Daniel’s Sampler – crispy golden-fried shrimps, juice Sesame Jack Chicken Strips and tender baby back pork ribs with the mouthwatering Jack Daniel’s sauce. Cost: P1,285
And if you purchase a shareable platter from 5pm onwards, your pitcher is on TGI Fridays – FREE!