Mommy Practicality

Two long weekends had already passed, one was Holy Week and the other was the ASEAN Summit/Labor Day weekend. And here I am, too late a hero to be posting about this just now. So forgive me loves, but there will be more long weekends, occasions (or none), and stressful week in the full stretch of the year when you'd feel you want to have a quick getaway without going too far from the metro. What am I talking about? A well-deserved hotel staycation!

I've compiled a list of the hotels my family and I actually stayed in. My choices of hotels passed the following criteria:

Should have a swimming pool
Should have two (2) Queen or Double beds or One (1) King Bed
Should have breakfast
Should be reasonably priced
Should be available (of course)
Bonus if with extra mattress, with cot, with massage, with a view, etc.

So here goes my list in no particular order.

1. B-Hotel QC - Staying in B Hotel QC was a unique experience for us. We were fascinated by the hotel's modern, chic, minimalist, and industrial look. Room essentials were complete. The bed was big enough for a family with two kids, sheets and pillows were soft which ensure guests get a good night's sleep. I almost didn't want to get up! Pool was not very big, but there is a pool! Our breakfast was awesome! Cleanliness was unquestionable too which pleased me and my meticulous family. Staff were courteous, respectable, had the initiative to offer assistance whether needed or not, serve its guests politely and sincerely, and were efficient. Pasok sa banga the budget too especially if they have a promo.

Read my complete review here: B-Hotel QC Review

2. Best Western Plus Antel Hotel - The one-bedroom suite we booked is perfect for 2 adults and 2 kids. The room has one (1) Queen-sized bed and a sofa bed for the kids. YOu may request for extra pillows and blanket at no cost. Kitchen and dining are available should you decide to cook or heat food. Air-conditioning is good as well plus no fighting over channels between parents and kids, there are two cable televisions in the suite. Buffet breakfast is also included in the package! For entertainment and activities, there are three large swimming pools, a play ground, and a gym. Spa is also available at the ground floor. A supermarket is just across the hotel so if you need last-minute stuff for your stay, it won't be a hassle to go out. Restaurants are abundant, there are so many to choose from. A. Venue mall and Century City Mall are also walking distance from the hotel. If you're bringing a car, parking is free! With all these and more, staying at Best Western Plus Antel Hotel is worth it. Your stay will definitely be a comfortable and a relaxing one.

Read my complete review here: Best Western Plus Antel Hotel (Serenity Suites) Review

3. Luxent Hotel QC - We were highly satisfied as Luxent Hotel was able to meet our hotel expectations. It's not only a business hotel, but it certainly is family-friendly. The Superior Room has complete amenities and we weren't charged for anything extra we requested. It's spacious and it's a good choice for family guests staying in.

Vestibule to welcome guests going up the rooms. :)

They boast of their "Aquatrim" Swimming Pool

The facilities and amenities are well-maintained and complete. They have a reliable Wi-Fi, comfortable beds, soft pillows and sheets, and cable TV. Their swimming pools are clean. Rooms come with breakfast buffet for 2. I appreciate their Bread Indulgence Corner at the ground floor for times I just feel like having a bread or cookies for snacks. The staff are all friendly, accommodating, competent and genuine. Lastly, they have BACON! :)

Read my complete review HERE: Luxent Hotel QC Review

4. Privato Hotel, Pasig - For the price that we got our weekend stay, our stay was so much worth it! No corner in this pretty boutique hotel isn't well-kept. For a not so big hotel, their choice of modern minimalist design and ambiance makes the hotel optically spacious. Staff were all courteous and efficient, plus they always smile making their guests feel really welcome and almost close to home.

The hotel facilities are quite complete, they've got the essentials their guests may need. Price is indeed reasonable and perfect for like me who loves to get the best out of life without spending too much to achieve it. There were some misses like serving not-too-warm breakfast and the pool being too cold, but their other hits overcome the misses immensely. Accessibility to transportation, nearby convenience store, commercial complex, and restaurants, is not a problem at all.

Read my full review HERE: Privato Hotel Pasig Review

5. The Bellevue Hotel, Alabang I loved our hotel staycation here. There's luxe in every corner of The Bellevue Manila hotel. The staff especially at the Signature Club every morning, was friendly, efficient, kind and courteous. Our room was comfortable, I never knew I could sleep so long and so soundly - truly an escape from my daily working-mom life. SPA experience was awesome! Food was excellent in all the restaurants we dined in (Cafe d' Asie Restaurant and Phoenix Court). Their facilities are complete. The swimming pool was huge and we all enjoyed our time there!
The Bellevue Hotel, Alabang Review

6. F1 Hotel Manila, BGC, Taguig City - I could say that F1 Hotel Manila is definitely a family-friendly hotel. The one-bedroom-suite we stayed in is spacious and comfortable. Staying there as a guest felt like my needs were attended to. Food? One of the best breakfast buffets we've tried! They have a wide selection of food all day! There are also a total of three swimming pools which we loved lounging at in the afternoon. you definitely get your money's worth if you decide to stay here. We'll be coming back here next month and we're all so excited! Overall, we were highly satisfied with our family staycation.

Read my full review here: F1 Hotel Manila Review

These are just some of the hotels I already featured on the blog which I highly recommend to families who are looking for kid-friendly hotels around the metro. I'll be adding more to this list or maybe do a part 2 as our family keeps adding new staycation adventures to our memory box.

I think this post is timely since Mother's Day is coming up, why not surprise Mom and check these recommended hotels for a weekend she'll truly enjoy!

Have a great hotel staycation loves! :)

My love story with potatoes began when I was introduced to one of my favorite Filipino Dishes of all time, Nilagang Baka or Beef Nilaga or Boiled Beef. I remember staring at the yellow vegetables which stood out among other green leafy veggies, wondering what they taste like and when I tried them, I made them part of my diet.

Source:

Now being a mom myself, of three very active boys, I was able to successfully pass on this love for potatoes, even to my one-year old . Potatoes are one of his first foods because they’re so easy to prepare, mash, eat and they’re healthy.

Although I knew that potatoes were healthy, I didn't know that they are actually more nutritious than I thought they are. Potatoes boost our energy , help strengthen our immune system, boost memory because they are brain food, and are a good source of carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. All of which help keep us away from common illnesses. Every mom would agree, that our kids' nutrition, is one of our top priorities.

I would also admit to one common wrong notion about other types of potatoes, those which aren't fresh from the wet market or vegetable stands, that they are less healthy and lose their full health benefits. What "other" potatoes am I talking about? The frozen fries or hashbrowns and the dehydrated ones you would find in supermarket frozen section. I was wrong all along. At least I know better now and I want to share with you my learnings momshies (popular term for “mom” in the Philippines)!

There are different potato types: Fresh potatoes, frozen potatoes, and dehydrated potatoes.

The first type, FRESH POTATOES, I'm very familiar with those. These are the potatoes which are carefully grown by farmers following strict guidelines se by US seed certification system to ensure that every potato product is high quality. But what I didn't know is that there are seven potato type categories: russet, red, white, yellow, blue/purple., fingerling, and petite.

The US FROZEN POTATOES come in different varieties and are easily available in leading supermarkets nationwide. Some of the cuts available are frozen half shells, wedges, slices, straight cuts, crinkle cuts, loop/curly or popularly known as twister fries, lattice/basket weave, tater tots, and hash browns. I recently bought some frozen US potatoes in the nearby community market because my kids love french fries and my personal choice, hashbrowns. I bought them because it's cheaper to prepare them at home than buy them from fast food chains. Plus cooking them at home means knowing what type of cooking oil I deep-fry them in. These frozen potatoes also use state-of-the-art technology to meet high industry standards and are instantly quick-frozen to lock in the flavor and nutrients of fresh potatoes. The US Frozen potatoes we see in supermarkets met and passed the stringent requirements of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Lastly, DEHYDRATED POTATOES. I thought dehydrated potatoes didn’t have as much nutrients therefore,depriving our bodies of the nutrients we need, so I don't really purchase them. EEEK, wrong! When you buy U.S. high-quality dehydrated potatoes, you are getting real potatoes, just with the water removed. U.S. dehydrated potato products deliver all the flavor, nutrition and versatility of potatoes in a more convenient package – and are the perfect ingredient for everything from soups and salads to main dishes and desserts. Available US dehydrated potato products in the Philippines are the US standard potato flakes which are perfect for baking or creating mashed potatoes.

So now that we've learned a lot about US Potatoes and their health benefits, wouldn't it be nice to actually try them, bring them home from the supermarket (I tell you you’ll save so much more than buying fries or hashbrowns and even mashed potatoes from popular fast food chains!), cook them for the family. Cooking these yummy potatoes with the kids is actually a good family bonding idea too!

Use fresh potatoes for viands such as my childhood favorite Beef Nilaga Soup with sliced potatoes. Serve french fries as snacks and even baon for the kids. Have that yummy hashbrown in the morning together with ketchup or garlic mayo, and of course coffee or hot chocolate.

For me, the true benefits of having US Potatoes as part of your supermarket list are:

It's a nutritious food packed with vitamins and minerals.
It's more practical to cook your own frozen potatoes (fries or hashbrowns) at home than order from fast food.
Cooking an easy healthy potato recipe at home with the kids and even husband is a great family bonding activity.

Want to take home these healthy US potatoes? They are largely available just about everywhere! Here's a quick list:

FROZEN POTATOES:
Brands:

Carnation
Park Lane
Dane
Lamb Weston
Island Valley
Food Service Pack
Alexia
American Maple Leaf
Golden
Frenchies

Available in these supermarkets:

Cherry Foodarama
S&R
SM Supermarkets
Rustan’s
Robinson’s

DEHYDRATED POTATOES
Available in these supermarkets:

All about baking
The Baker’s Company
Best Value Factory Outlet
Gourdo’s
S&R

FRESH POTATOES
Available in these supermarkets:

Rustan’s
SM
Robinsons

So go grab a pack of US potatoes today for you and your kids on your next supermarket trip. For more information, recipes, and tips, like Potatoes USA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines.

What makes your day bright? What fuels you in the morning? What helps you start your day right? Paano mo masasabing gumaganda ang araw mo sa umaga?

Gumaganda Ang Araw Ko with my Family

In our family, we start the day by saying our morning prayers, eating a hefty breakfast, and guess what? After we prepare the kids for school and do with household morning rush, hubby and I go together to our offices and go online using our mobile phones. Or we could just go back to bed and still go online.

Gumaganda Ang Araw ko with SUN's newest and widest LTE network

That's the reality, we really pick up our mobile phones after all our other priority tasks at home are done and over with in the morning. And I tell you mas gumaganda ang araw mo if you're enjoying a high-speed internet. Hindi yung ang tagal mag-buffer ng videos or when logging in your social media accounts take forever or when even as simple as viewing or opening photos on your feeds eh super slow.

We used to experience that honestly. But now, SUN is sooooo back brighter than ever to make every day better with their newest and widest LTE network coverage.

Husband and I are both SUN subscribers for years already and we're really happy we stayed. One, we have always enjoyed our unli-texts and calls to each other and two, we're pretty satisfied with our mobile data performance. But with the new LTE SIM which Sun offers, our mobile data speed leveled up! No more buffers, no lags, and less waiting time fore our online activities.

So this network upgrade means just these AWESOME things for me personally:

24/7 Online Connection - I am such a social animal, I think this doesn't need further explanation, but I will anyway. I update my social media sites all day both for personal and blog purposes. I use my data when away with kids to do video calls several times a day to check how they are doing. I also use my data to check on them through our IP Camera at home. I blog using my mobile phone whenever there are waiting or free times during the day. Basta I'm always online using my mobile data and I love that I could now get 24/7 fast internet using Sun.
Faster Downloading- as a blogger and full time working mom, I receive documents via email and when I am out of the office, I still access my email and download files. Documents mean some brand information, contracts or presentations which I download from my inbox. I also always download photos and videos of my kids or of some movies my husband and I will watch as part of our night bonding. Since I am in a band with my husband and also part of our church's music ministry, we always need to study songs and download music files. A fast internet is needed to make this happen.
Mobile Gaming at High Speed- No more lagging animations, missed coins or delayed movements. Right now, I am finishing all episodes of my current mobile game called Restaurant Dash. I love the time pressure and attaining goals or reaching some points or finishing tasks. But nakakasira ng diskarte if the game is paused or when it's not experienced at high internet speed
Practical - Value For Money- Imagine, husband and I are on Sun's Best Value Plan and Sun Prepaid and being on the Sun network for years just means we're happy with the service. Now with the upgraded network and better mobile data experience with its wider LTE coverage, sobrang value for money.

Here's the GOOD NEWS for NEW and OLD SUN subscribers!

FOR CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS
If you're on the SUN network and still using the old SIM, good news!!! You can now also upgrade the way you connect online and better understand how awesome my husband and I are experiencing with our SUN LTE SIMs. If you're a Sun Prepaid subscriber, just bring your old 3G SIM to the new LTE-ready SIM for FREE without changing your number at any Sun Shops nationwide. This can be cut to regular, micro, and nano SIM sizes. Available for BOTH Sun Prepaid and Sun Postpaid na!

FOR NON-SUBSCRIBERS:
Naku, what are you waiting for? If you're still undecided which network to sign up or you're thinking of switching, and all you want is to get the best telecommunication and internet or mobile data services from a provider which will NEVER break the bank. Then your timing is just perfect, SUN now offers LTE-ready SIM for you. SUN Prepaid LTE SIM is available for only Php35.00! You get so much for a very affordable price, definitely a great value for money.

Watch this newest ad featuring Vic Sotto, Maja Salvador, and Matteo Guidicelli:

So again, let me ask you, paano mo masasabi na #GumagandaAngArawMo?

Kami, aminin man o hindi, even if traffic is bad...I'm running late for work... my kids forget (all the time!) to follow my usual morning bilins... if the coffee isn't too hot or I'm still hungry... and even if hubby and I had a petty tampuhan, as long as I'm connected and enjoying high speed mobile internet/data using my SUN LTE SIM, I can say pa rin na Gumaganda Ang Araw Ko.

Upgrade na to SUN's LTE SIM today. Swap your old 3G SIM without changing your existing number for FREE at any SUN Shop nationwide. Or if you're still not with SUN and like me you value practicality in your choices, apply for a SUN postpaid line or buy a SUN Prepaid LTE SIM for an affordable price of Php35.00 only! Para masabi mo ring #GumagandaAngArawMo every day with SUN LTE! :)

For more information, follow Sun on Facebook

#GumagandaAngArawMo

I never knew I could actually relax in the usually busy and stressful Makati until my family and I were invited to stay at KL Tower Serviced Residences in Makati a few weekends ago. Makati - being my workplace for 10 years now (imagine going to and from Makati 5 days a week for 10 years) would make me not choose it for a place of rejuvenation or quick city escape. Oh no.. not where I experience everyday traffic, hear loud horns from vehicles rushing to go where they're heading or a place that would remind me of my 8 to 5 job.

But KL Tower Serviced Residences changed the way I look at Makati. It's located near in Legaspi Village near Legaspi Active Park and Washington Sycip Park, a few blocks away from the office. I would say it's the quieter side of Makati and a lot more greens too. We stayed in a 2-BR suite one weekend as a treat to my children who recently had their birthdays at that time.

My impressions of a serviced residence or a business hotel is that it's too business-y, stiff, overly professional staff, and rooms equipped with the basics. But I'm glad that KL Tower Serviced Residences proved them wrong.

Checking in was a breeze. It took us around 5 minutes only. In this brief moment, the front office staff made sure that we were: assisted to our rooms, were given our two (2) room key cards, that we were provided with a free parking slot, were oriented about our breakfast coupons at Kitchen 1B, and also were given our room's WiFi password so we would definitely enjoy our staycation. We were impressed with the efficiency of the service.

OUR 2BR SUITE
We were checked in a 2BR suite which is just the perfect choice for our family. Having three kids now mean getting an extra room whenever we travel or stay in a hotel. The 2BR suite assigned to us was just the perfect size. The unit came with everything we needed.

It's actually home away from home so the space is highly recommendable to staycationing families like us.

The unit is really a livable space, if you're here in Manila for a long vacation or long business trip, with your family, then you would appreciate staying in a 2BR suite. The suite has a dining area with complete dining ware and utensils such as plates, water goblets, bowls, and cutlery.

The suite also has a fully equipped kitchen and you'd find this very helpful when staying for a couple of days or weeks in Makati. It's got a refrigerator for storing food, a bread toaster, induction oven, microwave, pots, pans, and cooking utensils too.

The kitchen passed the high standards of my baby boy, look how meticulously he inspected the kitchen:

And my husband's kitchen standards too! He's the better cook between us two.

The 2BR Suite has coffee and tea making facility, complimentary water bottles, cooking utensils, knives and a pair of scissors, a dishwashing solution and dish drying rack.

The refrigerator as inspected by my baby is also stocked with more water bottles, sodas, and beer.

This is the view from one of the two rooms. It's a really spacious unit which for any busy and always occupied parents like us, a breathable space is sometimes what we need to destress even for less than 5 minutes. The classy ambiance helps a lot in relaxation. The unit may be stylish and look quite posh, but the completeness of its room amenities truly gives its guests a sensible and a practical experience.

The living area where a lot of laughter (we played Word Search and Beware of the Dog games here) took place.

Here's the master bedroom where husband and I plus the baby stayed for the night. It has its own television, air-conditioning unit, its own bathroom and a row of closets (perfect for long staying guests). The queen-sized bed with clean white sheets and soft pillows are some of the things I love about staying in hotels. You know your body is definitely up for recharging the moment it lays on the bed.

The other room was where my 2 boys stayed. They brought their PS4 with them and also our external hard disk for movies. There were two reading led lamps at the edge of the bed, galing, perfect for bedtime stories or coloring activities.

Here are the other room amenities which you'll find in the suite:

Hair Dryer
Electronic Digital Safe
Extra Pillows
Bedroom Slippers
Laundry Bag
Toiletries
Consumables: Shampoo, Conditioner, Dental Kit, Grooming Kit, Body Wash, Body Lotion

MY KIDS' ACTIVITIES:

Whenever we stay in a hotel, we make sure we keep our kids busy, from the teenager, the school boy, down to the baby. Wes brings a lot of toys with him, plus other toys which the whole family could play. Dandre, my eldest, brings his game console with him, either the PS4 or the XBox. And well, the baby, h's with his main milk source (that's me!) so he just sleeps and eats and swims, then repeat.

BREAKFAST AT KITCHEN 1B
Our room came with breakfast coupons for use in its retaurant at the ground floor, the popular Kitchen 1B. Each of us chose one main menu. Then choose your drink, coffee, water, juice or tea. If you're a bread or pandesal, cereal, or salad person, then you'll love the buffet spread.

My 7 year old boy loves having cereals with milk for breakfast so he kept coming back to this station.

Bread section of the simple buffet spread which comes with your choice of spread, butter or jam.

Salad anyone? I'm not a veggie in the morning kind of person, so this wasn't very popular to me and the kids. :) But there were a number of guests who enjoyed this!

I love orange juice in the morning!

Here's what I had for breakfast, takaw ano? Super carbo overload, rice and pandesal, what's up with that? :)

My husband had bacon and eggs plus brewed coffee.

FACILITIES
When choosing a hotel for our next staycation destination, we make sure there's pool. We love the water, we love swimming and a pool is a non-negotiable part of our checklist when selecting hotels. It's a plus if there will be other family-friendly facilities in the hotel. KL Tower Serviced Residences has family-friendly facilities such as sauna for me and hubby.

Gym is found at the same floor as the pool, sauna, function room and children's play area (unfortunatly at that time I think the play area wasn't set up or was being maintained).

Here's our favorite of the hotel facilities, the swimming pool located a floor down our room. We had the whole pool to ourselves for a good 2 hours! :)

The swimming pool is divided to kiddie and adult pool. I used to train in swimming so when I'm out and pool is around, I use my free-time doing some laps. I think this is the only sport I know. :) Glad my kids love swimming too!

My Wes with his ever dependable floaters. Loves swimming a lot like me!

My youngest has been swimming since he turned 6 months. Another swimmer in the making hopefully! :)

My shy hubby who is always with us whenever we have family stuff to do. He makes sure we do it altogether.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

KL Tower Serviced Residences as I mentioned earlier is located near the Legaspi Active Park and Washington Sycip Park. If you wish to watch a movie, buy from a supermarket or dine out with family or friends, Greenbelt which has Rustan's Supermarket, is just walking distance. If you're staying for the weekend, timing couldn't be more perfect because the Legazpi Sunday Market happens every Sunday near the hotel. We went there to supposedly have lunch and shop for some organic products and cute finds, but it was jam packed and baby was super hungry already. Good thing the hotel is located near restos.

LOVING KL TOWER SERVICED RESIDENCES

Our overnight stay was well-spent. It was a weekend we felt relaxed and seriously, it changed how I see Makati. What helped make our stay worthwhile was the staff behind KL Tower Serviced Residences. Everyone was just helpful, efficient, and courteous. We were greeted with smiles which made us really felt welcome. Whenever we need something, our calls to the front office or housekeeping were always pleasant.

The room appointed to us was impressive, clean, complete (love the kitchen!), air conditioning was just right, spacious, room facilities were well stocked. Cooking or bringing in food is A-Okay. Also, imagine having 2 bathrooms too, I think I forgot to mention that. So walang hintayan or agawan who goes in first right?

The rates are value for money. Imagine staying in a de luxe hotel at a fraction of price compared to other hotels. So if you're up for relaxation and unwinding within the metro, I highly recommend KL Tower Serviced Residences.

ABOUT THE MANAGEMENT

KL Tower Serviced Residences is managed by Hospitality Innovators, Inc. (HII) who is also the management behind other known hotels/properties such as Azumi Boutique Hotel, Parque España, The Exchange Regency Ortigas, Y2 Residence Hotel, and Picasso Boutique Serviced Residence to name a few.

To know more about KL Tower Serviced Residences, visit http://kltower.ph/.

For room promos or updates, like them on Facebook.

To reserve a room, you may call 02845-8804.

KL Tower Serviced Residences is located at

117 Gamboa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City Philippines.

I’m sure there are working moms who are reading this who breastfeed, express milk at work every day, bring home the milk to feed baby, and were or still are challenged in finding the right feeding bottles with the right teat for their baby. Some may say,“pare-pareho lang naman mga bote at nipples na yan, anong mahirap dun?” But for breastfeeding working moms who still have their babies directly latch on them at night and all day on weekends or day offs, what we want to avoid for our babies is nipple confusion.

I believe, based on forums online and also what my friends tell me asking for some breastfeeding advice, that’s one of the most common breastfeeding problems. So, what I always say is always choose feeding bottles and teats close to the feel of suckling our breasts. I’ve tried one of the known brands which worked fine, BUT affected my baby’s teeth formation. And now I switched to using NUK Feeding Bottles because of its specially designed teat which amazingly developed by a team of experts such as pediatricians, midwives, orthodontists and nutritionists.

I thought the only problem I was avoiding was the nipple confusion, I should’ve known better and chose NUK from the beginning because every feeding bottle and teat has an effect pala to our baby’s oral development – the jaw, tongue, and oral cavity.

There are many other feeding bottles with special teat that may avoid nipple confusion, but there’s not one that addresses orthodontic development needs, until I discovered NUK. It’s actually the first teat suited to the jaw – devised by two dental specialists who discovered better jaw and teeth development in children who were breastfed rather than bottlefed.

At first sight of a NUK teat, you’ll wonder, “Bakit ganito shape?" My curiosity urged me to research more about NUK and I'll tell you more about it. First let's take a closer look at a NUK Teat:

FEATURES:

Feed hole: Set back from the tops and points upwards so milk is directed towards the baby’s palate allowing the feed to mix with saliva for good digestion.
Super soft: With the new Soft Zone the teat adapts even better to baby’s mouth

Flat underside: Ensure correct positioning of tongue to encourage milking action. This helps widen jaw allowing correct spacing for tooth development.

Extra-wide lip: Provides support for a natural way of feeding.
Less colic: The new Anti-Colic Air System ensures a natural flow to help your baby drink without allowing air.

So these features are actually the science behind the unique shape of the NUK Teat. Ang galling lang because by using a NUK teat/feeding bottle, babies hardly notice any difference between breast and bottle. I learned that when you feed your baby with a NUK bottle, the speed and strength of the baby’s suckling motions are similar to breast feeding, which aids the healthy oral development of the baby.

Based on careful research, babies suck 569 times when breastfeeding, when compared to using a NUK feeding bottle, babies suck 606 times. Close comparison also was made on baby’s feeding pauses, (53 times when breastfeeding while 50 times with NUK) and measured the same milk intake of 70g within 13 minutes of test/study.

When I fully understood all these about NUK teats for their soothers (pacifiers) and feeding bottles, I switched and now recommend this to breastfeeding (working) moms like me who:

Leave their children under yaya’s or relatives’ care while away from home and still feed their babies with their precious liquid gold
Want a no-fuss preparation or method of milk feeding
Worry about nipple confusion and want a feeding bottle/teat which mimics breastfeeding best (shape of nipple, sucking motion, pauses, even milk intake)
Opt for scientifically researched and designed teats to help in baby’s over-all oral development (jaw, tongue and teeth formation)

I also highly recommend this to new moms and even expecting moms who have the power to choose what feeding bottle or teat they should let their babies use as an alternative to breastfeeding, when direct latching is not possible.

Who wouldn’t want the best for our babies diba? We all do. NUK Teats and Feeding Bottles may be new in the Philippine market, but this German brand has been around since 1956, wow, 60 years and counting. It’s also clinically proven, Oral and Health Foundation approved and also importantly has NUK Anti-Colic Air System (air can escape through the baglet vent, thus allowing it to stay soft and keep its shape and thereby helping to prevent jaw malfunction).

TIME FOR A GENEROUS NUK GIVEAWAY!

Now the good news is, NUK is going to help me spread the love for NUK Teats and Feeding Bottles by giving away all these:

· Four (4) winners of NUK Newborn Bottle Sets (0-6m)

· Three (3) winners of NUK Soothers + Ultra Dry Comfort Nursing Pads

Mechanics:

Like NUK Philippines (https://facebook.com/NukPhilippines) and Mommy Practicality on Facebook (https://facebook.com/MommyPracticality)
Follow NUK Philippines and Mommy Practicality on Instagram https://instagram.com/NukPhilippines and https://instagram.com/MommyPracticality
Post a photo of you and your baby on your social media accounts and in your photo’s caption answer any of these questions (please make sure your post is public):

How would NUK help me in giving my best to my baby?
Why you want to switch to using NUK for your baby?

Tag NUK Philippines and Mommy Practicality on Facebook and IG and include this hashtags: #NUKPhilippines #NUKxMommyPracticality
Giveaway starts November 21 until December 5, 2017
Winners will be selected based on completion of Rafflecopter tasks and best answer on your photo captions.

For more information, visit facebook.com/NukPhilippines or contact them via email nukphilippines@gmail.com.

NUK Philippines Feeding Bottles, Soothers, and other products are available online through Lazada, in select stores of Baby Company, Mothercare, SM Stores (Metro Manila branches only), and Rustan’s.

Long weekends and holidays compel working parents like us to book out of town trips, have a hotel staycation or just stay in. But whatever the plan may be, there's only ONE activity that we cannot miss doing - EATING SNACKS! And not just any food or snacks my dear! As much as possible, we eat healthy snacks like fruits or potatoes!

Remember my discovery about potatoes on how nutritional they are and the many types available in the market? Well, we bought a few types of US Potato brands and cooked them at home

Cooking meals yourself is always more economical than buying from fast foods or other restaurants right? So for the love of potatoes, I bought Frenchies Frozen French Fries and also Park Lane Hash Browns (because I love eating hash browns for breakfast!) so we could enjoy the same potato meals we usually buy in restaurants. Definitely a practical decision for every mom with kids who are also potato monsters!

First Potato Meal: FRENCHIES FRENCH FRIES

US Potato Featured: Frenchies Premium French Fried Potatoes

Plain French Fries Procedure:

1. Take out frozen US Potato Frenchies from the freezer and prepare them for deep frying.

2. Heat the cooking oil for a few minutes then deep fry the US Potatoes Frenchies French Fries. No need to defrost!

3. After frying in small batches for 5-6 minutes while occasionally turning them, take them out of the pan with a strainer to let the oil drip before placing them on a bowl or plate.

4. You may also use sheets of paper towel to absorb the oil from the french fries.

5. Prepare flavors or dips of choice. This particular Frenchies variant came with a cheese powder for flavoring. But my kids preferred plain and just with dips. For dips, I gave them two options: catsup and homemade garlic mayo. I even made a poll of dip choice on my IG, and garlic mayo won for the adults. :)

6. Serve and enjoy! :)

Second Potato Meal: Breakfast Potatoes (Hash Corned Beef and Hash Browns)

US Potato Featured: Frenchies Premium French Fried Potatoes and Park Lane Hash Browns.

Hash Corned Beef Procedure:

1. Heat the canned or market fresh corned beef in a pan with very little oil or none at all. You may opt to saute garlic and onions first for additional flavor.

2. After cooking it for five minutes, add chopped frozen Frenchies Premium French Fried Potatoes in the cooking pan with the corned beef.

3. Mix the corned beef with potatoes occasionally until cooked.

4. Serve with steamed rice or bread.

Breakfast Hash Browns Procedure:

1. Take out the frozen Park Lane Hash Browns from the freezer and prepare for fying.

2. Heat the cooking oil and when ready, deep fry the hash browns until golden brown.

3. Take out cooked hash browns from the pan with a strainer to get rid of excess oil or you may also put paper towel on the plate to absorb oil.

4. Serve with your favorite breakfast pair like egg or sausage OR you could enjoy it plain with catsup.

These are just some of the easy meals using frozen US Potatoes. Our family loves potatoes, but I mean, who doesn't? When we're out we order it in restaurants like fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, twister fries, potato wedges, and many more!

After all, potatoes are nutritious because they are a good source of Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B6, sodium, and are cholesterol free!

With that, make sure to include US Potatoes in your next grocery list. For more information about US Potatoes, like Potatoes USA on Facebook: facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines.

Happy Holidays everyone! Time flies by so fast that I have been pretty caught up with all my late November to December happenings. Apart from Christmas, the most unforgettable this month is when our yaya of almost 4 years left us without any warning, just a farewell letter we found on the corner of our catch all desk. Grabe siya, di man lang nagpaalam, papayagan naman. Magpapasko pa namaaaan.

That said, a lot of planned family lunches and dinners I offered to host were canceled, because, no help! I finished all my work leaves and even had no-pay leaves, brought baby to work too, nagulo lahat. Even my planned menu for Noche Buena and Christmas lunch were changed. I can't cook in all my momm-chef glory because of two reasons: 1) I have NO HELP around to watch my baby while I do the cooking; 2) Even if I can cook, I have NOT ENOUGH TIME. No Help. No Time. Gusto ko pa naman ng Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, Lechon Kawali, Leche Flan, Macaroni Salad and Spaghetti.

Buti na lang, as if the heavens heard my inner cry for help and panic in my heart, I discovered Purefoods Heat And Eat line: Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali.

Heaven sent! When I was doing our last minute meat and veggies buying I passed by a Monterey meatshop and got curious when I saw these new products from Purefoods. Nanlaki mga mata ko, I said.. WHOA.. Crispy Pata for sure? Eh kakawish ko lang nyan. So I bought a few for our Noche Buena, for Christmas Lunch, and for NYE na rin. :)

I'm sure excited ka na rin to know how it tastes kasi I think it's the first Crispy Pata na Heat and Eat lang perfect for busy moms like us who wish to give the best and spend time in the kitchen to prepare the yummiest food for the family, yet lack the required hours to do so. So the solution to this is to seek for convenience yet not sacrificing the quality or taste diba? Parang yung sa mga favorite restaurants na dating lang ang peg.

Momshies.. ACHIEVE na achieve ang Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali! All it took me was 10 to 20 minutes to cook it in Turbo or Pan Fry.

Photos of the Purefoods Heat And Eat Crispy Pata pa lang, you can sense na malutong siya right? I highly recommend it momshies especially now that New Year's Eve handa naman is coming up, here are some of the reasons why:

Saves you Effort and Time. Imagine, you don't have to go and dress up to go to malls and eat in restaurants for a Crispy Pata, you can have it almost instantly at the convenience of your home. Sa ating mga Pinoy families, Crispy Pata is like the highlight of our handaan right? In movies or theater, main cast siya. You save effort and time in preparing it to achieve the crispiness of its balat, my favorite! It saves you time from pressure cooking the pata, seasoning and freezing it for hours, then cooking it. Just buy Purefoods Heat and Eat, turbo or pan fry it then voila!
Super Lutong - Anything malutong to me is simply irresistible. Sarap lutong anytime, all the time. You know the feeling of attacking a crispy pata in restaurants the moment your waiter serves it on the table? You attack the balat first so you're assured you devour it while it's crispy? Ganyang ganyan kalutong ang Purefoods Heat and Eat Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali.
Tender And Tasty - And kapag ubos na ang balat, since the meat is tasty and also tender. Both variants are already fully cooked and ready to eat after heating them. The taste didn't disappoint me and the rest of the family at all. It has the assurance and consistency of restaurant quality favorites.
Easy To Cook, Easier To Eat- Just reheat these frozen meats via Turbo or Pan Fry for 10 to 20 minutes then serve.
Inexpensive And Practical - This is what surprised me the most. The Purefoods Heat And Eat variants are affordably priced at Php 230.00 (for Lechon Kawali at 425g per bag) and Php 325.00 (for Crispy Pata at 900g per bag). If you eat at restaurants, it would definitely cost you more than these price points. Buying meat from the wet market, may save you some pesos, but will take so much effort and time to prepare and cook them. So mas practical if you buy Purefoods Heat And Eat na lang right?

I can say so much more pero ito na lang, if you buy and try Purefoods Heat And Eat Crispy Pata or Lechon Kawali, hindi mo pagsisisihan, baka makarami ka pa and even give as a gift to in laws or friends, which I did when I shared these during our Christmas lunch with the Santoses. They all raved about how crispy and tasty these new discoveries of mine are!

Ang happy ko pa because, you don't need to wait for a special occasion like Noche Buena or Media Noche this NYE to have Crispy Pata or Lechon Kawali. With its availability in Monterey Meatshops and major supermarkets in Luzon, you can have it anytime of the year! It's clearly made for convenience seeker in all of us!

For updates on Purefoods Heat And Eat (availability, promo, price and future additional exciting variants) like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram.

The holidays isn't over! After Christmas we all look forward to New Year's Eve and of course as early as now, we prepare our list of what to serve the family. The more people and food, the merrier!

Every family has their own recipes that they have mastered and improved over decades. After all Christmas and New Year is all about traditions, and it’s a wonderful thing to share traditions with the people closest to you. But it’s also the perfect time to start your own traditions. Where better to start than with the food you’re serving on NYE! It might be time to revamp your Holidays cookbook with cheesy twists to those traditional dishes.

Liven up your Media Noche table with Danes Cheese Ball. It’s creamy, delicious and cheesy on its own. But what’s even better is that it’s so versatile you can mix it into your own recipes or make new dishes with it!

Here are four dishes that can then make your NYE handa extra special:

1. Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a Filipino party essential and Christmas and New Year's celebrations are no exception! Something about this just screams, “Let’s celebrate!” So why not make your sweet spaghetti even better with cheese mixed into the sauce. Then sprinkle a lot of cheese on top. This will surely be a hit with the kids!

2. Caldereta

Every mom has a specialty dish, and you can expect it served on the grandest

occasion of the year. Caldereta is one of the mostpopular mommy specialties. It’s a

common heirloom recipe passed on from generation to generation. Adding cheese to the sauce makes it even more savory.

3. Kakanin

Even when the Simbang Gabi has ended, churches are still surrounded with stalls that sell colorful delicacies like bibingka and puto bumbong. As an appetizer or dessert, we can’t get enough of kakanin, especially with cheese sprinkled on top of them! Besides, nearly everything is better with cheese, right?

4. Fruit Salad

What’s Noche Buena or Media Noche without Lola or Tita’s fruit salad? Most of us probably even helped making this as a kid, right? Bonding over food preparations is a special part of our family memories. It’s a really cheesy moment we share with our families.

These are just some of the dishes you can make with Danes Cheese Ball, you can mix it into your own recipes or make new dishes with it. It’s great eaten on its own and it’s great with your signature dishes as well.

Danes Cheese Ball is available in all leading groceries and supermarkets. #HappyHoliDanes, indeed!

So what are you waiting for? Give your traditional Christmas and Media Noche dishes an awesome flavor boost with Danes Cheese Ball and create new family favorites.

Check out their awesome video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr5TxZQ2nxs

For more Danes Cheese Ball recipes, visit facebook.com/danescheese.

Happy new year to all of you supporters and readers of my blog. How was your new year's eve celebration? Ours was just as simple as having Media Noche together as a family and simply welcoming 2018 with a bang!

So how was your 2017 loves? Personally, I can't say that 2017 was an awesome year for me but it was a year full of breakthroughs, yaya challenges, milestone celebrations of my children, blog struggles (a long phase of writer's block but more of the passion took a vacation somewhere, but is now back baby!) career plateau and 10 year mark, and the unforgettable renewal and total surrender of my life to Jesus Christ. It was an Ups-And-Downs ride for me this 2017, and it definitely taught me important life lessons and had reset my perspective on many things to ready me for this year.

I want to share them with you and I hope you also get something out of these personal realizations of mine.

But first, let me share a throwback of the year that was through some photos I have shared with you via IG or my Facebook page throughout the year:

First time Damien ate solids! :)

First family photo of the year.

Enchanted Kingdom where I tried a liver-flippin' ride for the first time.

IndustreeTV shoot

Damien's first beach trip. :)

Mother's Day with kids doing something we all love - SWIMMING!

Damien turned ONE!!!!

My husband turned 30 something - lost count na! Hahahaha!

My first born turned 14! Waaahh I can't believe how fast he's grown!

A milestone 7th birthday celebration of my second son.

Bataan family getaway

I turned a year short from 40. :)

A life-changing retreat attendance with my son Wes and my public declaration of my total surrender to Jesus!

Looking at my photos, I also realized that I've focused a lot on my family. I celebrated every milestone and I also prioritized them most often over everything. There were sacrifices made and compromises done to some areas in my life but I never regret and will never ever regret making my family my priority.

Now let me share with you what I already knew in the past but was impressed to me more last 2017.

1. Prioritize Family Always
I've dealt with numerous yaya problems last year which made me take almost all my vacation and sick leaves from work or do a work from home stunt just to stay at home to take care of my baby and do all the house chores. My career and even blog was compromised because of the indefinite helpless situation but those didn't matter that much to me as much as it did in the past because I know my priority is my family. My family is my ministry. Well, the office and the bloggy world will always have someone/anyone to replace me, but I will always and forever be irreplaceable to my husband and children. I've learned not to adore my job too much that I sacrifice the welfare of my children. But this didn't mean I slacked in office work or even with blog, it just took a backseat a bit but was still able to deliver what needs to be done. Job will come, money will come. But the time which passed, the milestones of the kids you missed, the health, safety and welfare that's compromised - once they're gone.. you can never go back in time and get them all back nor rewind them.

2. Submit To Your Husband
I admit to be a stubborn, a bit bratty, proud, fearless, know-it-all, self-reliant, independent woman who finds her husband an equal - BEFORE. Until my husband and I renewed our relationship with God and attended our weekly DGroup meetings (a small support group for couples to share both blessing and struggles of every day in marriage and family who come together to learn more about God and align hearts to what God really wants for us), I learned a lot about the important roles of the husband and the wife in the family. I was guilty of not submitting to my husband and following his leadership for the family. I used to be too proud to say that "I can actually live without him..." or that "If he can do it, so can I!" and the mahaderang asawa lines could go on and on. I am not proud about that. But I am glad that I've changed my ways and perspectives on marriage and how I look at my husband right now. I submit to him now more than ever.. and there's more peace, happiness, tolerance, and patience at home now more than ever.

3. Health Is Wealth
Just like prioritizing family, we should also prioritize health. How will you be a wife to your husband and take care of your children while they are young if you're ill right? Never take health for granted. As moms - homemakers or working moms, we tend to take on everything. We tend to say, "I can do this!" or "Ooops that spot isn't sparkly clean yet, let me tidy some more!" or "I have to finish all the tasks on my to do lists." and so on and on. And not to mention, we wake up early in the morning, do chores, go to work and stress out, suck in traffic blues, clean the house again, and sleep late. Yun ang culprit, PUYAT and PAGOD. Both are enemies of our health. If you're tired, it's okay not to pick up and organize all the messed up toys. When we tend to do so much and don't get enough sleep, we get tired easily, we get stressed, and different sicknesses kick in. When it does, REST and don't say "No.. it's all in the mind I can do it." If you've got health card, use it (abuse even!) and have yourself checked. For women, get vaccinated against HPV, do self-breast-examination regularly, see your OB-Gyn doctor. Healthy food and exercise should also be part of our TO DO lists. I think I am telling this to myself out loud. Personally, now that I am nearing 40, sometimes fear lures around the corner because I have a breast mass which needs to be checked via sonomammogram every six months. Having a tip-top shape healthy body should be every moms' priority. And by healthy it doesn't mean just losing weight but more of being strong. So that's my goal for this year, to get back to eating more fresh colorful foods (fruits and veggies) and avoid bad cholesterol. Again, health is wealth.

4. You Win Some You Lose Some
Sure you didn't get that promotion or nailed that presentation to get your dream client or in my case I wasn't considered in some projects or collaborations with brands that I hoped to represent or be an ambassador of. If I were the old me, I would feel a little jealous of others who got the promotion faster than I did or others who got the blog project and would compare them to me. Ask WHY NOT ME? But nah, that's the old me. Though I'm not really full on envious of others victories, I am not perfect and I humbly admit that to these mistakes. You know what happened to me? Self-esteem was blown away, self-doubt rushed in, and I even questioned my relevance. But I changed the way I look at all these things and was able to move on from things I didn't get or achieve and just celebrated the things that I did. When we pray to God for something, (and please remember God is not a genie that we only call on to when we need something hehe!) never question his answers because He may say Yes, No or Later. Why? Because He always has something BETTER for us, trust me! I know. So you win some, you lose some, and know that it is okay. :)

5. Learn To Let Go Of Some Friends
This may be one of the hardest to do sometimes, to let go of people in your lives who do not bring you or give you value, who belittle you, who were never happy when you achieve something, and who do not bring you close to God. Not all relationships are bound to last. Those whom you thought you've found gems in them may lose their luster. Those you've trusted with your all and sold it to others behind you aren't worth your time and effort. Those who can't afford to be honest to you no matter how much it may hurt and didn't even bother to give you the answers you needed when asked, no point in continuing the relationship. When you lose friends or end relationships along the way, it's God's way of pruning, molding, and directing you to the path He wants you to take. Some friendships or affiliations don't always work and do not bring Him glory and thus there are unexpected E-O-Fs or F-Os (End of Friendship or Friendship Over) along the way. Accept it with grace, let go of them, and move on.

6. Forgive Even Those Who Didn't Ask For It
To them who had done you so wrong, who had hurt you, who betrayed you, who bullied you, who took you for granted, who left you, who didn't stand up for you - it could be your mom or dad, any of your siblings, your best friend, an ex, your colleague, and even your spouse, don't harbor hatred, it will make you look older, prune bitterness in your heart, turn it to resentment and let it affect the person you are to become. Sometimes pa, we may not know it but we are in denial saying that we've forgiven a person yet will never forget what they have done. When we forgive, we forgive totally. We let go of everything that comes with the pain or hurts or brokenness we experienced with that person or persons. And even if these people do not ask forgiveness, okay lang, forgive anyway. You are doing this more for yourself and for the Lord.

7. Surrender Your ALL To God
Early last year, my husband and my eldest attended a retreat organized by CCF (Christ Commission Fellowship). Last December, Wes and I attended CCF's (Christ Commission Fellowship) True Life Retreat where we both deeply understood how much God loves us that He sacrificed His own Son to save us from our sins so we could all receive the gift of salvation when our "time" comes. I used to just hear and accept those words casually and didn't fully understood them deeply. We've also been attending services in CCF more regularly as a family since the start of the year. Since then, one answered prayer after the other happened. I didn't say challenges in our marriage, kids, work, and financials didn't occur anymore. Of course they did, but our spiritual maturity has helped us cope better, accept these things better, worry lesser, fight lesser, be convicted quicker when we did something wrong or not so good, and this made us forgive more openly, and apologize immediately. Our prides are still being crushed because we're still works in progress. My husband is now more intentional, he's more patient to me, he's more thoughtful, he's now saying SORRY (which is a very hard thing to say for a man most of the time right ladies?) and he has stepped up in leading our family closer to God. By surrendering to God and lifting up all to Him (everything talaga, challenges, triumphs, frustrations, anxieties, worries, bitterness, as in everything!) our family life has changed all for the better. Our relationships are more knitted together, communication is more open, we pray together at night, my relationship with my husband has improved, my outlook in life has been more positive, and the past hurts and brokenness had been slowly taken away. There's no way to go but UP with God!

These are the lessons that were impressed more to me this 2017. These aren't new but every year because of my spiritual growth and maturity, I look at these lessons or topics at different perspectives. All I know is I am happy to still be alive, to have renewed my personal relationship with Jesus, that my family and I are healthy, safe, and together, that I am less stressed and less worried, that I am more focused, and that I've never felt so alive! I've also never felt so much loved by my family and of course by God.

Cheers to an awesome 2018! Thank you for your continuous support and love for my blog. Happy new year to everyone!

I am not called a practical mom for nothing I believe, that's what I am also known for that at my workplace whenever I would be asked or tasked to source something and stay within budget. It's like buying a Ferrari with a Toyota budget (not advertising them.. but you get the analogy right?) It's also what I am known for within my circle of friends long before I started blogging. I got this trait from the Grandma Practicality I believe, haha, my mom.

One of the reasons why I am known for being practical, is because I make sure that whenever I purchase anything, I look at it as an investment, not merely because I am following a trend or I think I need it but just want it. I look at the longevity of my purchases. With clothes, I choose good quality, basic colors or cuts, and which go with classic styles, para naman they're going to have a long lifespan in my closet. I don't need many, I need just a few quality ones. Same goes with my purchase of baby gears such as my GRACO Pack N Play/Travel crib for my babies (yup all three are GRACO users, which I was able to use from birth til their walking years!) and my baby's current highchair is a 4-in-1 blossom chair which is amazing kasi it's an infant high chair (Damien used this the moment he started eating solids), can turn to an instant booster mode, to a toddler booster chair, and a youth chair (maybe until he's 4 or 5yo pwede!). You see, instead of buying several chairs or gears for my babies, I chose a quality brand that promises to grow with my child. For me yun ang practical and smart choice talaga.

I am now eyeing on another GRACO product which is also going to be more of an investment than just a want, the GRACO 4 EVER Car Seat, the (only) car seat you'll ever need! Like my Graco High Chair it's also a 4-in-1 Car seat because it grows with your child, from infant up to 10 years of age!

Did you know that in the Philippines alone, an average of more than 600 children died in road crashes every year from 2006 to 2014? And please please parents, get this, seat belts are not enough for infants and children. That's why there's a newly approved bill to require car seats for kids.

Infants and kids need a more specific type of system to protect them, seat belts aren't enough because it's not right for their size. And apart from this bill, I'm sure (and hope) you're aware that you'll be penalized if you're caught with kids who:
- are riding in front of the vehicle
- are not secured in a child restraint system in the vehicle while on the road
- are left unaccompanied in any vehicle

This is why I am eyeing on the GRACO 4ever 4-in-1 Car Seat because of its product longevity.

Here are more details about it:

One-hand, 10-position adjustable headrest easily adapts for your growing child
InRight™ LATCH system for an easy, one-second LATCH attachment
Integrated belt lock-off for easy vehicle seat belt installation
Washable seat cover is easy to remove without removing the harness
Steel-reinforced frame provides strength and durability
Integrated harness storage compartment holds unused harness straps while in the belt positioning booster mode
2 integrated cupholders keeps your child's drinks or snacks close at hand
Plush inserts keep your child comfortable
Easy-to-read level indicator helps eliminate rear-facing installation guesswork

I am also loving these other Features and Benefits of a GRACO 4ever Car Seat:

6 Position recline
Rear (should be from infant up to 2 years of age) and Forward Facing
Side impact
Infant support
Simply Safe Adjust Harness
Washable and Breathable Fabric
Cup Holders
One hand adjustable headrest with 10 adjustable positions
Latch-equipped

Here are the recommended weight and height range when in use:

Rear-facing infant car seat (4–50 lb)
Forward-facing 5-point harness seat (22–65 lb)
High-back belt-positioning booster (40–100 lb)
Backless belt-positioning booster (40–120 lb)

As a practical mom like you an me, we don't just look at a brand's or product's price tag. You may find the GRACO 4ever Car Seat expensive but if you would look at the savings versus buying 3 or 2 more car seats for your child, lalo na our government has approved the bill in requiring parents to use car seats for our children, you wouldn't regret investing in a GRACO 4ever Car Seat. Plus, GRACO is a household name of baby products which are designed to be high quality, thoughtful, safe, comfortable, and innovative. A brand name that moms have trusted for years. I have used Graco since my first child 14 years ago, and could attest to the durability, comfort, safety, and quality of their products. Super tibay na napamana pa ng kuya ang GRACO niya sa mga kapatid. Ako na lang ang bumigay, at bumili ng bagong GRACO para sa bunso. :)

The GRACO 4ever Car Seat is available in LAZADA. Go check Graco Philippines on Facebook for more details, updates, and also sale announcements.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!!

Graco Philippines generously wants you to experience their high quality products that's why they are giving away some baby items which moms of little ones will truly delight in! :)

Two (2) winners of Graco Bubble Spa Bath Tubs
Two (2) winners of Graco Diaper Bags

BONGGANG BONGGA ang very first Blog Giveaway right mommies?

I'm so sure you're all super excited about this and guess what? Joining and submitting entries are very easy so you may get a chance to be one of the winners of these items! :)

Giveaway Mechanics:

Open to all readers of Mommy Practicality who are willing to pick up the prizes.
Like and Follow Mommy Practicality and Graco Philippines on Facebook and Instagram:

Graco Philipines: facebook.com/GracoPhilippines/
Mommy Practicality: facebook.com/MommyPracticality/ and https://instagram.com/mommypracticality/

On Instagram, post a photo of you with your little one while travelling or on a vacation and answer this: "I want to have a Graco 4ever 4-in-1 Car Seat because __________________."

Make sure your entry is public and that you are of course a follower of Mommy Practicality.

Use the hashtag #GracoPhXMommyPracticality so we could track your entries.

This giveaway will start on January 8, 2017 and will end on January 14, 2017.

Good luck Mommies! :)

I am a mom of three and among my children, pinakamasaya maging expecting and new mom to my youngest. Don’t get me wrong, I am not playing favoriites among my kids I love them all equally. But the experience of being pregnant with him, breastfeeding him, and the many available safe and quality baby products available for him – made all the groundbreaking difference.

Iba na ngayon. Bringing my youngest to this world at this day and age when information and availability of products which are proven safe and wouldn’t hurt the pockets, are within reach anytime and anywhere. Glad to be a new mom in this millennial generation.

I noticed that one of my baby’s favorite activities is bath time. The moment he sees the bathroom lights on, hears the water running from the faucet, he screams giddily, jumps and runs towards me. I don’t know what’s with bath time and babies, they’re just magnetized with it. He stretches his legs to me signaling me to remove his slippers, raises his arms as if telling me to remove his clothes. The minute his cute chubby feet touch the warm water you can’t take him out of it easily any more unlike before. He knows what he likes and what he doesn’t and bath time is one of his wants, next to my milk, so I have to give him that fun splish-splashy experience every day.

Bath time has become our play and bonding time too. And because I know how much he loves soaking himself in water, I’m afraid that his skin may get dryer than usual. Given this love for the water, a mom’s gotta choose the right and safe bath essentials for him to keep the natural moisture and softness of his skin. I discovered Babyflo® Soap-Free Bath and Babyflo ® Oatmeal Bath.

The one we’re using right now is Babyflo Soap-Free Bath. Yup, it’s SOAP-FREE, meaning it’s bubble-free (but if you try it on a foam puff, you may create little bubbles, tip yun for bubble-loving moms and kids.) Are you one of the moms who’s fixated to bubbles when bath is concerned? Eeep, I’m guilty of that too. Gone are the days na kapag mas mabula ang bath, mas nakakalinis or mas effective ang product. Babyflo’s Soap-Free Bath is an effective mild and gentle cleanser for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. My baby’s skin is not really sensitive but I wouldn’t risk using other bath products which contains harsh chemicals.

I’ve tried other soap-free brands and surprisingly, Babyflo stepped up by coming up with their new bath essentials in a super cute packaging too. These are the other features I like about our new discovery, Babyflo Soap-Free Bath:

Fragrance-Free- I never really liked over-powering scents for my baby. Parang it strips off the natural baby scent which I am addicted to when I smell my baby and kiss him all over kapag nanggigigil ako sa kanya. Because it’s fragrance-free it gives me an impression that it’s also free of irritating chemicals attributed to added scents in any baby product.
Babyflo® Soap-Free Bath cleanses well– Though it’s bubble-free it doesn’t mean it cleanses any lesser than others. In fact, it’s mild and gentle for baby’s use and a great choice of cleanser for baby’s delicate skin. It smoothens and softens baby’s skin and it’s not drying nor irritating at all because it’s free of the strong alkaline ingredients that can strip skin of its natural moisture. Perfect this cold season when our skin tends to be drier than any months of the year.
It’s Hypo-Allergenic and Paraben-Free- Sa mga meticulous moms like me, we always look for the phrases na “hypo-allergenic” and “paraben-free” on baby products’ labels right? Good news! Babyflo’s Soap-Free Bath is paraben-free so safe siya talaga for daily use. It also doesn’t leave any residues or yung tinatawag na non-comedogenic which means, it cleanses without clogging pores or irritating baby’s skin. Because it’s fragrance-free too, it lessens the risk of negative skin reactions, so iwas rashes siya for my baby.

So bath time is always a happy time for both me and my baby! Ang sarap ng feeling that even if I go to work every day, I get to bathe my baby and let love flow between us with Babyflo® in tow! Agree din dito si Mareng Iya Villana-Arellano and Pareng Drew Arellano with Baby Primo, who are the first family endorsers of Babyflo.

Since mga millennial moms or millennials-at-heart tayo like Iya, we believe in the promise of every product introduced to us especially if it’s recommended by doctors and health experts. Babyflo has been in the market for a long time now and they have started to build recommendation habit among doctors for the Babyflo Bath products. I'm sure doctors will not recommend Babyflo if it's not safe for our babies right?

You know how also Babyflo made it to my Mommy Top Practical Picks? It’s made super affordable so that it can reach every Filipino families. Hindi kailangan mahal ang pagmamahal! And dahil malapit na ang Christmas, let love flow all the more and extend the love to your family and friends. Babyflo could also be a perfect Christmas gift idea to your inaanak, little baby nephew and nieces too!

Babyflo is a trusted heritage brand that promotes safe, hygienic and gentle products that make each moment spent with baby more memorable. From the sole of your baby’s feet to the tip of his head, Babyflo’s wide range of quality personal care products offer the best care for your precious one.

For more information, like Babyflo on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BabyfloPH

Okay, it's still January, still start of the year and if you still have no planner or can't choose from the multiple planners available just about everywhere, well this review is going to help you choose. I know it's a bit late for some, but personally, I still haven't started jotting on any of the planners I have on hand. Because, they all appeal to a part of my personality: A Woman. A Mom. A Professional.

In this digital age, who still uses journals or still love jotting down schedules or reminders when technology makes planning, scheduling. notes taking or making and ticking check lists easier, more convenient, more accessible, and more instant like fast foods. I do! I guess a lot who comes from the generation I did still appreciate and are still in love with pen and paper, and addicted to the smell of these as well.

So here goes my not so late 2018 Planners Review. My review will focus on WHAT. WHO. WHY. WHERE. HOW.

2. Mommy Mundo's MOM 24/7 2018 Planner
This is the planner I used in 2017 from cover to cover. I love that the planner was carefully thought of and designed to really help moms go through their day, plan not only for herself but for her whole family. That's how moms are really wired right? We are so selfless and this planner reflects that perfectly.

Here's what's inside every Mommy Mundo's MOM 24/7 Planner.

The Mom 24/7 comes in three designs and the one I have with me is the Erin design which represents mindfulness and peace. Other planner designs are Cadence and Aria.

First few pages gives you an overview of the year - a full 2018 and 2019 calendar and important dates to remember. I utilized the Dates to Remember and jotted down birthdays or anniversaries of my loved ones.

This is what you will see at every start of the month. Put your month's matra or your word or goal for the month and let it be your month's focus.On the right is the super duper helpful To-Do-List separated between work and pleasure. Put your must-dos and tick them after they're accomplished. I love this feature because I usually write my To-Dos on a separate notebook. With this planner's feature, I don't need a separate notepad or notebook, it's already here.

The day to day planning and scheduling for one whole week is on this spread. There's a full January calendar on top for an easy reference when scheduling (you don't need to search for other pages to see a full month's calendar.) The bigger boxes are for your plans and schedules and the small boxes are for some reminders for kids. Small box of notes are found at the bottom which you could maybe use for your weekly reminder.You could also write your goals for your different roles: as a Woman, as A Wife/Mom, as a Homemaker, and as a Career Woman. To help you stay positive or even get by, you may read inspirational quotes from influential women such as Princess Velasco on this page.

One of the best parts of the Mommy Mundo Mom 24/7 is their feature pages and perks! It just goes to show that this planner was intentionally made for moms - to help her plan her day to day as well as track or monitor her whole year with matters concerning her personal wellness, her husband, children, household and budget, and even her household help (we know how this is the hardest to find and manage! So a special page is dedicated for them. Haha!)

Child's Info Sheet and Health Record

Children's Immunization Record

Mom's Health Record

Mom's Menstrual Cycle Monitoring Sheet (helps a lot in "planning" hehehe!) and also Household Staff File where you have an easy reference on info about them.

Menu Maker/Grocery List

Kid's Doodle Page for times when waiting time bores the children a lot - didn't bring a toy and don't want them to use any gadgets to pass time, this page is the ultimate answer!

Personal Budget Plan

Family Travel Planner

Car/Appliance Maintenance and a helpful Party Planner Checklist

And of course, who wouldn't love the succeeding pages loaded with discounts from different mom and baby brands we know, love, and trust.

The Mom 24/7 Planner comes with planner stickers to make your daily scheduling more fun and colorful, reminders more emphasized, and achievements more pronounced. It also has a helpful notepad for jotting some important info immediately. And the Mommy Mundo Passport.

WHO should have the Mommy Mundo Mom 24/7 Planner?
Of course, Moms like you and me!!!! The planner is perfect for multi-tasking moms, moms who compartmentalizes her thoughts, dreams, and plans not only for herself but for the other members of her family. Moms who like writing, planning, dreaming, and achieving. Moms who has so many checklists and just want to maintain or see all those lists in one planner. Mom, this is for you! :)
WHERE is Mom 24/7 Planner available?
Mommy Mundo Mom 24/7 is available in Mommy Mundo Shop for only Php515. Join the Mommy Mundo Community online, For more information and updates on events, new products, reviews, and anything about moms, follow them Mommy Mundo on Facebook or Instagram.

2. Belle De Jour Power Planner
WHAT's inside every Belle De Jour Power Planner:

The cover depicts a positive, happy, young woman with a strong black planner background. This particular planner is Smyth-sewn, but the BDJ 2018 Planner is also available in leather and discbound types. Each planner has 192 pretty pages to write on.

The planner spread covers one whole week. There's a whole January calendar for month view reference, a date and day column. You can write your reminders, schedule, things to do vertically, which is how we usually write our lists. Each line has an 8am to 8pm schedule. At the bottom of the page you'll see empowering and motivational tips for women.

There are also writing prompts on top, a cute magnetic bookmark, and which week of the year you're in. You'll also see a short inspirational quotes on top of each page.

The 2018 Version of Yourself is where you write the NEW YOU, the person you've become through the adventures, travels, activities, new things you've tried, dreams you've made come true and goals you've achieved for the year. The Bills Tracker Page is for all "adulting" stuff so you may monitor your bills spending or savings.

The Cash Flow Tracker page helps you monitor your monthly expenses, see if you've reached your target savings for the month and track your liquidity as well. The opposite page are for all your Emergency Information.

The most favorite part of the planner is the BDJ Lifestyle Card included in a separate Perks of a Bella booklet which comes with every Belle De Jour Power Planner. It's a booklet of coupons of freebies and discounts worth over Php40,000 from different establishments. And if you reach a certain number of required coupon to use, you could have this validated and either get a FREE 2019 Belle De Jour Planner or purchase it at a discounted price. It certainly is a great way to reward yourself through dining, shopping, and relaxation.

WHO should have the Belle De Jour Planner?

With the look and feel of this planner, the Belle De Jour Planner is more appealing to younger women, who like and want to see pretty things, take full charge of their lives - take adulting seriously, live more independently and more empowered, stay positive and inspired, goal and results oriented, and also who definitely want to enjoy life.

WHERE to buy?

It's available on sale at https://ilovebdj.com/shop/2018bdj/ (Php 550 sale price - Php 720) and all leading bookstores nationwide.

3. Starbucks 2018 Planner

I would say the most expensive planner because you needed to consume Starbucks beverages worth around P2,300 to Php2,600 (without the PWD or Senior Citizen and other discounts) for the stickers - which my husband did. But my own sweet Hubby Practicality actually got his colleagues to agree to a deal for him to claim all their stickers. So this planner is special to me, ineffortan ni hubby eh. :)

So, let's take a look at WHAT is inside a Starbucks Planner.

Excited to unbox this gift from hubby. :)

The Starbucks Planners come in two sizes, one is smaller. I got the bigger one in this design. The planner comes with this lovely leather sleeve, a ruled stencil, and a 2018 calendar which is Starbucks Cup- shaped.

A closer look of the leather sleeve, stencil and 2018 calendar standee.

A pretty brushed design of my Starbucks Planner

The first few pages will welcome you with a special edition Kape Vinta Starbucks Card

Inside is a spread of both 2018 and 2019 calendars for easy whole year references.

Before the day to day schedule, a full calendar spread welcomes the month for bullet reminders you could jot and check in one view. Things to do for the month may be written on the left side.

Free writing of stuff our great minds randomly think of or remember - a poem, a Bibile verse, a bright idea - is on the left. While day to day schedule jotting is on the right side. I am a vertical or listing kind of planner so this horizontal orientation for planner writing didn't appeal to me that much.

At the back are a few blank pages for more doodles, poem or song writing, and many more.

Of course, who wouldn't miss the Starbucks coupons which may be found at the back pages of the planner. You may have spent a lot to get this, but the freebies and upgrades may offset half of the cost it took you to collect those Starbucks stickers! :)

WHO is likely to use the Starbucks 2018 Planner?

First of all, of course, Starbucks coffee lovers love Starbucks, you'll find a Starbucks coffee branch near universities, near offices, and in the malls (and still attract both students and yuppies). So this fits students and young professionals. The planner is a balance between artistic and clean. It's a simple, direct to the point planner so the owner could do just that - planning and scheduling. It keeps the owner focused on his schedules and in rewarding himself with the Starbucks coupon of the month he could avail.

If by this time you still haven't decided which planner to get, hope my review helped. So which 2018 planner you think is for you? And if you think you know already what you want but still waiting for someone to buy you one or wasnt able to complete the required stickers, tien good news!

I am giving away the following planners to three blessed winners:
- One (1) Mommy Mundo Mom 24/7 2018 Planner Cadence design - perfect for MOMS
- One (1) Navi 2018 Planner by Viviamo! Inc. - perfecr for travelers and adventure seekers
- Set of One (1) BDJ Daybook Expense and One (1) Desk Calendar

Mommy Mundo's Mom 24/7 2018 Planner

Viviamo! Inc. Navi 2018 Planner

BDJ Daybook Expense

Mechanics:
1. Open to all Momy Practicality blog readers and followers in the Philippines.
2. Follow Mommy Practicality on all her social media channels:
https://facebook.com/mommypracticality
https://instagram.com/momypracticality
https://twitter.com/mompracticality
3. Follow Mommy Mundo and BDJ too:
https://instagram.com/mommymundo
https://instagram.com/bdjbuzz
4. On Instagram, post a creative selfie which should well represent your 2018 goal/s for yourself, your family, your career, travel destination, fitness, and any other goals your mind and heart desires.

5. In your caption, tell us your goal and how a planner could help you achieve it.
6. Tag me on your public post on IG @mommypracticality and include the hashtag #MommyPracticalityPlannerGiveaway
7. Giveaway will end on January 27, 2018.
8. Prizes may be claimed or sent to winners (shipping fee to be shouldered by winner).

Good luck!

Happy New Year, Happy New You!

Basta January, for me it's still legit to greet all of you a Happy New Year! To start this post, I just want to ask you all, how was your 2017? Were you able to achieve all your new year's resolution or goals? If you would ask me, hahaha! I wasn't able to achieve some. Let me review last year's list (which tends to look the same list as the previous years before last, kayo din?). Most of the goals I was able to achieve or at least nearly achieved were for our marriage, children, career, blog, and a bit of our financials, but just one - goals for MYSELF - which concerns my health, beauty and fitness.

Tayo talagang mga moms, we tend to think so much about others and put them before our own happiness and needs. At first you may say it's a noble and selfless thing to do - but may actually affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally in the long run. We keep on giving ourselves to others that we forget to leave some TLC for ourselves. I'm guilty of that.

Last year:
I wanted to fix my frizzy-all-over-the-place-buhaghag-forever hair. It did not happen.
I wanted to get into a regular fitness activity (was thinking about running or yoga). It did not happen.
I wanted to pursue dancing. It did not happen.
I wanted to level up my make up skills. It did not happen.

I attempted to meet these goals, but attempt isn't enough to achieve them. I guess it was because a lot of things happened to me last year that I got swayed far from my goals.

But this year, is going to be my year! 2018 is also the year I am going to begin my life, begin to prioritize me - the year I am turning 40! I gotta pen those goals again and make sure I meet all of them so I could achieve my Happy New Me by learning new skills, getting into action, and relying on trusted products. Watsons has always been my go to store for these health and beauty products - for the hair, the body, and the face.

Recently, I attended Watsons' #HappyNewYou event at SM Aura where a number of expert celebrity speakers gave practical tips and secrets in achieving their health, beauty, and fitness goals. I learned a lot from each of them -

So I also wrote and exerted great effort in beautifying my 2018 goals which we were all asked to post on the transformation wall. Here are my 2018 goals:

Now let me share with you my takeaways from their talks.

For the body:
- No time for gym (yup that's me!), pick up a yoga mat and some dumbbells
- Can't cook or find some sinful meals still irresistible? Don't worry, you can balance your diet with the right supplements with the help of Cosmo Body.
- Increase your endurance while toning up your muscles with Euphoria Maxx.
- Enhance your overall health with Organique Acai juice supplement.
- STRONG is now the NEW BEAUTIFUL. We used to think losing weight is all there is and having a flat tummy too. But no, it's building muscles and becoming stronger that will not only make you look healthy but beautiful too.

For the hair:
- It's okay not to shampoo every day.
- Hair coloring will give you an instant make-over and you don't need to spend thousands in the salon! L'Oreal Excellence is one of my trusted hair coloring brand that you could DIY at the comforts of your home.
- Keep the hair color vibrant with the help of Revlon Color Care shampoo and conditioner
- Going out for work or meetings? Wow them with different hairstyles with Lolane Freestyle Gel Spray's help.

On Make-Up:
- Kilay is still life, try BYS Brow Pencil
- BYS' Contour Trio also helps with your face's angles
- You could say goodbye to mattes and hello to rick and sparkly lipsticks or tints. Try BYS' Glitter Gloss
- You may start playing with colors on your lids and make your cheekbones pop with BYS' Blush Trio.
- Never leave your eyeliner and mascara at home. Big natural lashes are sooo in!

For the skin:
- Tried and tested ko ang Belo Kojic for fairer and smoother skin.
- My anti-aging regimen consists of Olay Regenerist Night Cream or Pond's Age Miracle too.
- For blemish-free radiance, Neutrogena's Fine Fairness Light Mask will do the trick.
- For added glow, you may also complement all those with Skin Crystal White Tomato Capsules and Belo Collagen Drink.

So with all these amazing products from Watsons, how could you ever not look good and feel great? Kasalanan mo na if 2018 pangit ka pa rin - so yes bes, check out the right products for you at Watsons so you could also achieve the #HappyNewYou!

Great news for SM Advantage Card members! A total of 1,000,000 shopping points will be given away by purchasing any participating product with a minimum amount of P500.00. Per DOH-FDA-CDRR permit no. 003 series of 2018. The SM Advantage Card is available at any Watsons store or at The SM Beauty Section. At Watsons, members get more!

~So, how about you? How would you achieve your #HappyNewYou goals this year? ~

Do you think you are a supermom? If yes, congratulations!

Honestly speaking, most of the time I don't feel so super about being a MOM because I am not being a mom in all its sense. I have been working all my mommy years and I keep saying that over and over on social media. True, I earn money to spend for the family's wants on top of the needs and with it, a sense of financial comfort and security are somehow impressed on my favorite people.

But deep inside, I have mommy guilt for spending more hours in the traffic and office, for missing some of their milestones, for forgetting to call and check on them during lunch time, and many other things because I was too busy with my corporate job.

This corporate routine started to change last year, when we became yayaless twice. I didn't feel as sad as I did in the past years. I welcomed the challenges as opportunities for me to give staying-at-home-mommy a good try. And you know what? I enjoyed every single moment of it.

While I know how to do all the domesticated stuff, they aren't my most favorite. Especially doing the L-A-U-N-D-R-Y. But then, if I won't do it, no one will. Though I could rehire our labandera, but nah - that's additional household expense plus I am not a donya. I mustered all the strength I could ask from the universe, and did the laundry.

I liked it then, but I LOVE IT NOW! I didn't realize how doing the laundry could be therapeutic. And one of the things that made me LOVE laundry is the scent of freshly laundered clothes leveled up by Downy.

If you're a Downy user, you'd exactly know what I am talking about. The whole house smells so good when I take them out from the washing machine. When we smell something good, it always marks a good memory hence creating a positive environment also in the family.

But it's not only the scent of Downy that hooked me to laundry.

Here are more reasons why for me Downy's the best fabric conditioner I've ever tried:

1. It has sweat activated freshness capsules- keep clothes smelling fresh even when we sweat. I am surrounded with men in the house - an adult, a young man, a boy, and a little cutie baby boy. Boys sweat a lot and it helps if their clothes are washed well. With the help of Downy, even if they're out the whole day or busy with so many manly activities at work, in basketball training or in school, they still come home smelling fresh. That's what I like about Downy compared to other fabric conditioners I've used. Others kasi, in the middle of the day pa lang, they smell sweaty na talaga.

2. Downy helps clothes dry more quickly- I noticed with Downy, our clothes dry faster compared to using other fabric conditioners I tried in the past. I did my research and found out that by using Downy, our clothes are left with less water residue after laundry process which results to quick drying. This is the reason why even if the weather is rainy, no sun to dry the clothes faster after washing, okay lang, no "kulob" smell. With Downy's technology, I am assured I always have fresh smelling clothes. Also if it dries quicker it also means no malodor.

3. It protects clothes fabric - Downy was the first that introduced to fabric conditioner and honestly when other brands came out, I tried others kasi mas mura. But now I know why others are a lot cheaper, they don't have the same standard of effect on clothes compared to Downy. I noticed that our clothes are softer and sometimes don't need ironing too. With Downy, our clothes have less tangles or "himulmol." And even if I spend a bit more, okay lang because with Downy, lesser ironing of clothes saves me a lot more with electricity expenses. Plus because it protects our clothes, tumatagal ang closet life ng clothes. Definitely a practical choice diba?

Since then, I've been a loyal Downy user, no turning back na. I've been doing the laundry myself week after week and guess what? Even my baby who sees me do this household chore with so much glee and enthusiasm became my little helper na! He already knows how to load clothes into the machine, even assists in putting Downy into the fabric conditioner dispenser, and would like to operate the machine and do the laundry himself. Nakakagigil!

I guess for him laundry is therapeutic too!

How about you? What's your laundry love story? Share mo naman! :)

If I would be asked what are the most imporant baby gears that I've bought and will even recommend moms to purchase, one of my answers would be a dependable stroller. You'd see strollers as one of your bestfriends whether you're a new mom or a mom of many, like me. I admit to having tried two other brands. I tried both the inexpensive and the expensive brands. Though they both served me and my babies well, I wasn't as satisfied with them compared to my new one - Graco Stroller Featherweight.

Used GRACO Stroller Featherweight during one blog event attendance

But first, let me tell you why I think every mom needs a stroller or a pushchair and why this will be one of your bffs. First, a quality and carefully designed stroller could be used from newborn up to toddler years. This said, you really need a durable stroller which you can count on during the early years of your child.

Second, strollers help moms keep their sanity when out and about with their kids. Without a stroller for trips which will require long walks, you could get burnt out, tired or impatient easily because carrying your child all the way through could be tough. It's also waiting for the tantrums bomb to explode anytime.

Third, a great stroller shares the heavy load, literally and figuratively, of carrying not only your baby's stuff but yours as well.

But having a Graco Stroller Featherweight is all these and more. Want to take a closer look at it? Watch this video:

Now, here are the other features I love about the ultra lightweight Graco Stroller Featherweight:

It's the lightest stroller I've had - It only weighs 3.6 kg which is definitely lighter than my baby Damien. This then means I can really carry even by myself easily because it's super light or if I need to take the stairs, I will have no problem carrying it on one hand and my baby on the other
It's a one-hand fold stroller - I've had no-yaya days, so there are times I had to bring my baby to work sometimes when I'm needed to be physically in the office. So having a one-hand old stroller is a lifesaver for me because even if I have my baby in one arm, I can still use the other to fold and unfold his stroller.

It's reclinable to lie-flat - Another lifesaver feature I love about this Graco Featherweight stroller is that I can lay down my baby comfortably when he falls asleep. There were times I brought him to the office and he just slept in his Graco Featherweight stroller while I go to my meeting.

Five point harness kept baby safe and snug. The bar is removable, making it easy to remove him from the stroller.

It's has a padded and secured strap- The five point harness keeps my baby safe, snug, and always in place.

Its seat pad is washable - Cookie crumbs or milk residues on strollers, not a problem this time. The seat pad is easily removable with a zip and could be washed and dried easily.

Spacious storage basket - My diaper bag plus other stuff could fit underneath the chair. The last two strollers I had couldn't even fit my baby's diaper bag so we carried the bag pa. Parang, what's the use of the basket underneath? Not much help to us. Graco may be ultralight, but it's heavily functional and helpful to moms.
It comes with reasonable price - The Graco Stroller Featherweight Gray is only Php12,999.75. For me personally it's a practical choice if you purchase something you will use from newborn up to approximately 3 years of age. You are assured that it will last with you and your baby, hindi siya sirain unlike other strollers. You can even pass on to younger child because Graco is proven durable.
It is available in Chilli Red and Black Grey colors. Graco Stroller Featherweight is suitable from newborn upto toddlers weighing 15kg and is available exclusively at Baby Company.

Overall, we are happily satisfied with our new GRACO Stroller Featherweight. I highly recommend the this to always-on-the-go-moms with newborn babys or of toddlers. This is absolutely a stroller you would want to have even if you don't have any help available around or on no-yaya-days because it is ultralight, you can carry it, no sweat! You can go by yourself with your baby, transport with the stroller or easily slid the stroller at the back of the car - yes totoo, all by yourself, thanks to the one-hand fold! We are happy to discover GRACO Stroller Featherweight, hope you consider this too when looking for a dependable, durable, practical, and quality stroller that will grow with your baby.

For more information on GRACO, like Graco Philippines on Facebook.

In today's world, most parents already know the importance of keeping children busy and active even when school is out. That's why parents are in search for summer workshops, summer sports clinics, summer lessons and activities which their kids could participate or be enrolled in.

I've round up a list of 2018 Summer workshops, sports clinics, and activities for kids in Metro Manila which your children may take interest in. Personally, my eldest has always been enrolled in sports clinics particularly basketball and the result of his yearly basketball activities has been serving him well. He's part of his school's high school basketball varsity. My second one is more into arts and at seven, he's still exploring if he wants to pursue visual arts (drawing or painting) and performance arts (singing and theater). The little one will be enrolled in a play school for sure! :)

It's great to know that many schools, organizations, and even establishments offer arts, sports, academics, cooking or baking workshops/lessons/classes where kids may not only learn but enjoy as well. The experience will definitely help them grow more confident and more sociable. In this era of mobile apps, games and gadgets, let's try our best to keep our kids more active with the many summer activities in store for them this 2018.

ARTS
PETA WORKSHOP EXPRESS
What: Creative Musical Theater for Children, Musical Theater for Young People or Creative Musical Theater for Adults.
When: Beginning April 9, 2018
Rates: From Php 9,000 - 11,000
For schedule and more information, visit www.bit.ly/PETAWorkshops or contact 0905-369-6003 or like them on Facebook.

TRUMPETS PLAYSHOP

What: Children's Theater, Children's Musical Theater, Musical Theater for Kids and Adults, Streetdance for Kids and Adults, Modeling, Public Speaking and Hosting, Sing and Dance, Star Power, and Playhouse.

For inquiries or more details, call 0917 5864177, 9014364, or 818 1111 loc 235 or like them on Facebook. You may also visit their website http://trumpetsplayshop.com/ or email trumpetsplayshop20@gmail.com.

CENTER FOR POP MUSIC PHILIPPINES

What: Classes available for Singing, Dancing, Modeling, Acting and Musical Instruments.

When: Enrollment is on-going.

Where: Contact the branch nearest you at these numbers:

Center for Pop Cubao Branch - 7210714 / 7210731 / 09996709585

Center for Pop Bacoor Cavite Branch – 09338562969 / 046-5718208

Center for Pop Makati Branch - 09499469247 / 09420153525

Center for Pop Marcos Highway Branch - 09479711839

Center for Pop Sta.Rosa Branch - (049) 3029767 / 09982823825

Center for Pop Lipa, Batangas Branch - 09088949048 / 09330264440

Center for Pop San Fernando, Pampanga Branch - 09256968742 / 09175068742

Center for Pop Butuan City, Mindanao - (085) 8160243 / 09957804157 / 09502186177

For more information and updates, like them on Facebook.

YOUNG ARTISTS' STUDIO

What: Summer classes available are: Art for Beginners, Painting, Drawing, Comics Illustration, Fashion Design & Illustration,. Animation, and Sculpture

Where: Ortigas, Pasig, Quezon City, Alabang, BGC, Makati, and San Juan

Rates: See below for details

ART FOR BEGINNERS: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 11,800- inclusive of materials

PAINTING: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 11,800- inclusive of materials.

DRAWING: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 10,800- inclusive of materials.

COMICS ILLUSTRATION: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 10,800- inclusive of materials.

FASHION ILLUSTRATION: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 10,800- inclusive of materials.

FASHION DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION: Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 12,800- inclusive of materials.

CREATIVE COLORING: Duration: 8 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 8,800- inclusive of materials and a copy of OSTB

ANIMATION: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 10,800- inclusive of materials.

SCULPTURE: Duration: 10 sessions, 2 hours per session, Workshop Fee: PhP 12,800- inclusive of materials.

For more information, visit their website www.youngartistsstudio.com, like them on Facebook or call 435-5971 (QC) / 238-4641 (Ortigas/Pasig) / 824-9454 (Alabang) or email youngartistsstudio@gmail.com.

List of 2018 Summer Workshops, Summer Sports Clinics, Summer Classes, and Summer Lessons for Kids in Metro Manila

PHILIPPINE STAGERS FOUNDATION

What: Summer workshops available are: Kids Performance Workshop (3-10 years old); Teens and Adults Theatre Workshop (11-80 years old); Teens and Adults Theatre Workshop (11-80 years old); and Stage Management Workshop (15-80 years old)

When: Registration, April 1 - 5, 2018; Orientation, April 9, 2018, and Classes begin April 10, 2018.

Where: PSF Studio 4th floor Vincent I Building, Calabash - A corner G. Tuazon, Balic Balic, Sampaloc Manila (beside PS Bank).

For more information, call or text 09154440373 or like them on Facebook.

SPORTS

B.E.S.T. CENTER

What: Different SPORTS Classes and Venues such as Basketball, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Tennis, and more. Fore more information, like BEST Center on Facebook or call 411-6260 / 372-3066.

Basketball: NCR Basketball Schedule and Venues

Ateneo College Covered Courts (April 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26)

Levels: Preparatory, Level 1, 2, and 5

Monday and Thursday (1:00 - 4:00 pm)

Levels: 2, 3, 4, and 6

International Christian Academy (April 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26)

Extra Ext., Fourth Estate Subdivision, Sucat, Parañaque

Monday and Thursday (1:00 - 4:00 p.m.)

Levels: 1 and 2

Starmall Alabang (April 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 )

Tuesday and Friday (8:00 -11:00 am)

Levels: Preparatory, Levels 1 and 2

Tuesday and Friday (1:00 - 4:00 pm)

Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4

Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary (April 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 )

Tuesday and Friday (8:00 - 11:00 am)

Lvels 1 and 2

Malate Catholic School (April 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 )

Wednesday and Saturday (8:00 am to 11:30 am)

Levels: Preparatory, Level 1 and 2

Wednesday and Saturday (1:00 - 4:30 pm)

Levles: 1, 2, 3, and 4

Xavier School, Fr. Rafael Cortina Sports Complex (April 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28)

Wednesay and Saturday (1:00 - 4:00 pm)

Levels: Preparatory, Levels 1, 2, and 3

Volleyball Venues and Schedule, please view HERE.

THE ARCHERY ACADEMY
What: Archery summer lessons for kids aged 9 and above. There will be 8 sessions with 2-hour classes each held every Wednesday and Friday (WF) for Batches 1, 6, and 7 from 1:00pm-3:00pm and Monday, Wednesday, Friday (MWF) and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (TThS) for Batches 2 to 4 from 9:00am-11:00am, 11:00am-1:00am, 1:30 pm-3:30pm, and 3:30pm-5:30pm.
When: Classes start as early as March 2, 2018
For more information, visit their website or like them on Facebook.

FITKIDS

What: Sports, Arts, Music, and Movement Summer workshops.

For information on schedule, venues, and fees, call 0917-5138377 or email fitkidsph@gmail.com. You may also like them on Facebook for updates.

ACADEMICS

GALILEO

What: Galileo Enrichment Learning Program offers a new way of learning for kids this summer. Here are the programs to be offered:
- Summer Learning Camp: Exploring Plants and Animals
- Money Smart Camp for Kids: Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
- Digital Summer Camp: Coding and STEM for kids
- Kiddie Cooking Camp: Cooking With Numbers
When: Classes start on April, 2018
For more information, like Galileo on Facebook or visit their website http://www.galileoenrichment.com/.

GALILEO EASTWOOD
What: Summer Zoofari Day Care Program for Kids ages 2 to 4 years old with activities such as art exploration, puzzles and shape sorters, dance, and music and stories at circle time to teach the little ones socialization, listening skills, and following simple instructions.
When: Classes start on April with limited slots of 10 per class.
For more information or inquiry, like and message them on Facebook or call 0905 - 4582853 or 730 - 3721.

So there you have it! Have you thought of where to enroll your child this summer? I hope my post helps you. Please do come back as more and more establishments and schools will post their summer workshops and lessons in the coming weeks. I will be updating this post regularly.

If you're an establishment or a school who wants to have your classes or workshops be on my list, please email me ldfandino(at)gmail(dot)com or message me directly on my Facebook Page.

Thanks and have a fun summer with your kids!:)

I am a Manileña since birth.

I cannot imagine myself living elsewhere amidst the traffic, the chaos, the tricycles and pedicabs taking over half of the street, and the old smoke-belching jeepney. My love and loyalty for Manila can't be questioned.

I know the streets of Manila, the old buildings which I even painted when I was six. I studied in one of the schools in University Belt hence, I ate street foods, I walked along the scary (to some) streets like C.M. Recto, Morayta, Legarda, and witnessed numerous rallies in Mendiola. There's so much going on along these streets of Manila. For a student back then, it was an adventure. But times have changed as the years went by. It got darker, older, and forgotten.

But thanks to the couple who took the journey of faith, Old Manila is restored starting with the transformation of Laperal Apartments originally built in 1946. What used to be an unnoticed, frightening and really outdated building is now an uplifted and safe dormitory called the YOUniversity Suites.

The YOUniversity Suites is just a few steps away from University of the East and San Sebastian College which has 85 semi-furnished units ready to be lived in. Touring the two types of dormitory rooms was a treat because it's an amazing work to restore something old and almost forgotten to something new. Undergraduates who will be staying here are indeed lucky to be living here because it's surprisingly affordable, secured, and complete with the necessary facilities.

The YOUniversity suites are available for single, double, or quadruple occupancy, rooms can be rented for as low as Php5,000 a month, with more affordable rates given to annual boarders. Each room ranges from 11 to 27 square meters and each high-ceiling suite comes with sturdy bunk beds, locker storage spaces, and spacious dining and bath areas.

Quadruple Occupancy

Double Occupancy

Clean corridor

I am thinking, parents of students from provinces who fear the living conditions in Manila and who look for a safe and secured place for their children, would be happy to know that with YOUniversity Suites, they can have a big sigh of relief. Worries will be erased if they would let their children stay in this place. What would buy them into having their kids rent here is it's surprisingly affordable! Plus facilities are complete, kids won't have the need to go elsewhere because, everything's here.

What's more to love is that there are common areas for all-night study sessions, a spacious lobby, open air Sky lounge, an exclusive indoor swimming pool, and a gym for students and non-students who want to be fit.

YOUniversity Suites also have quick access to L.A. Village - a vintage inspired commercial complex which offers four floors of fun and entertainment.

There are something for everybody in each floor like a variety of affordable food stalls and restaurants, boutique shops. and diverse services to cater students' needs. You could also listen to live music from invited bands/entertainers or play billiards and more! You'd never miss the intentionally modern-vintage designed complex with an authentic World War I German aircraft that floats majestically over the common dining area.

Available commercial establishments at L.A. Village: The Barrows, BB King, Bonchon Chicken, Burger Factory, Camino's, Chicks & Vrew, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Dulce Donna, Eggsquisite Express, Fresh Rinse Laundry, Frozen Slush Shakes, Golden Lotus, Gr8t Shots Manila, Halal Kabab Express, Hot Star Large Fried Chicken, Infinitea, Juanchos, Lugaw Republic, Manila Ice, Master Siomai, Mealville, Metro Vanilla, Nitro 7, Noodle House, Pesca Pizza Pasta Company, Potato Lab, PotDog Yummy Yes Delights, Pub Express, RedBucks, Rosanjun bar, Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant, Sam's Mini Mart, Sgt. Sisig, Shawarma House, SM Appliance, Splasher, Sterling Gym, Study Haven, Sumo Takoyaki, Sup Vietnamese Kitchen, Tender Juicy Hotdogs, Tokyo Tempura, and Watsons.

Hubby and I were invited to tour the YOUniversity Suites and experience the fun in L.A. Village with the performance of one of our favorite bands, Up Dharma Down (waaaaahh!!! I went cray cray!) and it became an instant pre-Valentine's Day date.

YOUniversity Suites and L.A. Village are located at 2119 Claro M. Recto Avenue, Manila. For more information, visit their website: www.youniversitysuites.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @YouniversitySuites. For inquiries and reservations, call (02) 244-2421 to 22 or (0926) 704-7679.

Hello mga momshies, kumare, titas of Manila, mommies, mudrabelles, mudrabeks, and everyone! :)

SO, here's another chapter in my bloggy life as I keep on growing more in love with the digital world of sharing, informing, and inspiring my readers and followers. Announcing, the launch of my first-ever VLOG entitled: MOMMY PRACTICALITY VLOG#1: USAPANG LABAHAN, TANIMAN, JENGA, ATBP.

Subscribe to my channel: https://youtube.com/ldfandino

My YouTube channel has been existing since 2011 for the mere purpose of uploading personal videos of my children. I have two channels actually, nalito na rin ako which one I am using. The other one is the more updated channel, but I couldn't personalize it anymore or make it into a "branded" channel because of YouTube's new policy. So I decided to use the older one, which has its own customized channel (bearing nga lang my maiden name pa).

Guys, hope you support me in this new phase of my digital blogger/vlogger life, launching today my YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/ldfandino

What type of video content shall you expect from my channel?
My VLOGs will be a genuine peep into our family life as we go through trivial everyday stuff to adventures such as hotel staycations, travels as a family, products and services review/feature, unboxing of stuff (toys, make-up, gadgets, other baby/mommy products), new food/restaurant discoveries, practical shopping finds, events, and many more - almost anything under the sun. All while keeping it real and truest to the true core of my blog pa rin which of course will focus on practicality.

Without further adieu, here's my VLOG #1: USAPANG LABAHAN, TANIMAN, JENGA, ATBP.
Hope you enjoy watching and do subscribe as well. Leave a comment para ma-encourage din ako to make more makabuluhang content for all of you!

Enjoy and Thank you! :)

I don't know if you would agree with me when I say that deep inside as a woman, we believe that we can do so much (sometimes we think we can do even more than some men - aminin!) to contribute to the society, earn our own money, be independent and self-sustaining, and be leaders and succeed in the fields we choose to be in.

Having our own money makes us feel secured and fulfilled, tama ba? That's why, the moment we stepped out of college - we looked for jobs or entered a business venture, climbed the corporate ladder, and fulfill our career dreams!

That's exactly what I did! Even when I became a mom the first time, the second and third time - I took on an 8 - 5 job (even rendered more hours than that actually!) to help support the family's monthly expenses, send my children to school, and help sustain the budget for our growing family's needs and wants (gifts, play dates, parties, travels, and many adventures!). And while I earn more and more each year, I also spend more and more TIME AWAY from my children.

Working Mom Sacrifice: TIME AWAY from my children
That was the sacrifice I made. TIME AWAY from my children. It worked out for almost 20 years in the corporate world - so I thought. It was okay with my eldest because when he was growing up as a child, I was still starting with my career which meant I can get off early from work to come home to him right away. I was still young and full of energy which also meant I had a lot of active play time with him. Though I wasn't making much then, simple fast food dining in or free play in some playgrounds made him beam with so much joy. He grew up happy, confident, and secured.

When my second child was born. my career was starting to blossom, I also got a promotion and though I was still young and had the energy, time wasn't enough. I had to stay longer in the office. I traveled frequently and stayed longer outside than at home. I was earning better because apart from my office job, I also started blogging and earned a little, I started an online business, and I pursued my TVC career as well. I could pretty much say we had more resources when my second son was born. But TIME with him was compromised - and I REGRET it today.

Our family was more financially secured when my third child was conceived and born. We had a lot more resources, I also enjoyed performance bonuses at work, my blog was earning better too, and I do other sideline projects here and there. We had something to spend but our energies were decreasing. In addition to that, since both of us are working - we were just repeating the same pattern as what happened to our second child.

During this time too, we've become Christians and we can say that our relationship with God has improved so much. He saved our family from the cycle of living just to survive without having a solid life and after-life purpose.

How did GOD do that? He prepared and saved me personally from potential family damage that I may cause by not spending time with my children. He is sovereign and He knew that I will be led to resign, so He did all these things to prepare me for this new life journey:

- By putting my 3rd pregnancy at risk - He did this so I could slow down, stay at home until I give birth and get a feel of what's it like being just at home all day for three months. He made this happen so I could see how happy my kids got when they find me in the room waiting for them, instead of the usual them, waiting for me.

- By letting me have an emergency CS - As if the three months OB-ordered bed rest wasn't enough, the 2-hour 10 cm delivery became an emergency CS, so I could stay longer at home with my newborn and the kids, and master breastfeeding.

- By letting me choose to exclusively breastfeed - By letting me have a longer maternity leave, I was able to exclusively breastfeed my baby for three months. In that three months of breastfeeding by demand, I've seen how beautifully a woman's body is created that we're able to feed our offspring. That made me decide to commit to exclusively breastfeed my baby for one year. Going back to work was a challenge especially after staying at home for about six months (bed rest plus maternity leave). To pump at work two to three times a day is a commitment and I saw it as God's way to make me feel closer to home even if I was at work.

- By letting us lose our yaya three times last year - We fired the first one, the second, third, and fourth were temps. The one that came back after her vacation, just left without any notice. this situation left me with no choice but to take leaves (finish them even sick leaves actually) to be able to stay at home and care for the baby. This led me and my husband to seriously assess our situation. Should I still stay or should I go now? We prayed really hard for this, the first time we did, God's answer was "not yet." Then last December, it was clear, God's answer was "Yes, it's time." So come January this year, I resigned from my 10-year job.

- By showering us with projects last quarter of 2017 - I just surrendered everything to God this time. I admit to getting anxiety attacks during the first 2 weeks after my husband and I decided on my resignation. But I prayed more and just put all my trust in Him. I know I am doing everything to glorify Him. I know I can never go wrong with the very reason why I was resigning - for my children - my real life's ministry. Without any replacement job, most would say, I am crazy. Leaving a very stable and well-compensated (complete benefits pa) job without any plan? That's crazy, but for me, it's obedience to what God really wants for our family. And by just obeying, I soon realized, how God planned this for me. He gave me projects during the last quarter and every paid project will be my receivables for the first up to third quarter of this year. I mean. wow God! You're so full of surprises. He's impressed on me to just really put my trust, put all my faith in Him that He will provide, He will never leave nor forsake me, and that He has plans to prosper me and never to harm.

BAHALA NA SI BATMAN - NO! BAHALA NA SI GOD!
So now, I am more than a month unemployed and I am loving every moment of it. I seriously didn't plan this. I even told a colleague my 2018 plans at work and how I wasn't going to resign anytime soon or that I would probably wait until the company retires my service.

Grabe ang galing ni God because when God wants something for you, even if you plan something else for yourself, God will make a way to make things happen. Nothing really happens by accident. All you have to do is to obey, be faithful, and trust that God will provide.

That's all I did. And I've never been happier losing a full-time well-paying corporate job without any replacement than this phase in my life. I am with my children almost 24/7 because there are still times I go out for events and meetings. I get to blog whenever I want without feeling guilty. I am now able to fulfill my homemaker dreams. I am now able to pursue other passion projects I will later on reveal. I also feel that God is preparing me more for something great. I just don't know what exactly, but I know He is. I've been living lighter, stress-free and praise God for letting me leave my corporate life.

So there's my resignation story. :) Are you a working mom? Or also resigned like me? Or a full-time mom working at home and chose to leave corporate a looooong time ago for the kids? How's it been? What's your story? I want to hear yours and learn as well. Please do share. :)

Have you heard of the saying "Don't put all your eggs in one basket?” I have- a number of times actually. And if we are going to talk about budgeting, saving, and investing, I would tell you the same.

I am quite knowledgeable on how I manage my earnings from my bonuses, talent fees or my regular salaries. But, it took me a while to make the first step to make my earnings work harder for me.

I’ve invested in different financial products already but I’ve never encountered an investment plan that’s as easy and as user-friendly as Manulife’s GradMaker.

GradMaker is for everyone, especially...

For new parents
For moms or dads who are always on-the-go
For the seguristas who want to know where their money goes or how their investments perform

GradMaker is a mobile app launched January this year which is designed for parents like us who may be too busy to meet investment counselors or financial advisors.

Sometimes even if we have time, we feel awkward about discussing financial matters with someone else that is why GradMaker is a good companion for us.

As parents we have one common dream- to give our children a better and more secure future. This is the reason why we work hard in what we do. We do our best to save up for our dream house so we can live more comfortably. We save up for our dream car so we can travel more easily. And most importantly, we save up for our children’s education so we can get a sense of security that they will be alright when they grow older.

Saving can be tricky and one way to make it easier, simple, and fun is by investing in GradMaker.

I attended the launch of GradMaker recently and Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, its brand ambassador said, "My husband and I were looking at tuition fees and it's sort of crazy how high they will be by the time our daughter enters university.... It made us want to start saving and investing right away, so I'm happy Manulife launched GradMaker. It give parents like us a convenient way to prepare for our children's college education."

Nice seeing Bianca again! She's really beautiful inside and out! :)

Bianca Gonzalez-Intal w/ daughter Lucia - WELCOME TO MANULIFE! Bianca Gonzalez-Intal and daughter Lucia are the newest brand ambassadors of Manulife Philippines. They talked about GradMaker, a mobile application that offers flexible and convenient investing, among select members of the media.

Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, Manulife's brand ambassador asks Ryan Charland, President & CEO of Manulife Philippines and Melissa Henson (rightmost), SVP & Chief Marketing Officer more about GradMaker.

Manulife executives with Bianca Gonzalez-Intal w/ daughter Lucia - BE A GRADMAKER! Ryan Charland, President & CEO of Manulife Philippines, joins new brand ambassadors Bianca Gonzalez-Intal and daughter Lucia during the launch of mobile app GradMaker. They are joined by Melissa Henson (rightmost), SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, and Bim Gutierrez (leftmost), SAVP & Chief Innovations Officer.

When we think of investments, we think - "Naku, kailangan ng malaking pera o capital dyan." This is what bought me into GradMaker, for as low as Php10,000, you could already buy policies anytime and you are not bound to a monthly payment schedule! And because it's an investment app, you manage and pay with just a few clicks on your phone. You can also check the performance of your investment anytime you want without bothering a financial advisor.

What I personally like about GradMaker

In less than 15 minutes, you could already sign up and make an investment so you could start saving for your children's education.
The online policies may be paid using a credit card or a debit card.
There's a Tuition Fee Calculator - which allows you to have a university or college tuition fee savings goal for your investment. It helps you visualize how much money you would need to save up for your children’s future.
Your money will be invested in professionally managed funds for long-term growth.
Policy owner is insured for at least 125% of the amount invested. GradMaker is a Variable Life Product.
Your money can potentially grow more with GradMaker compared to banks. (Your money in a savings account currently can earn a guaranteed interest rate of 0.2% annually. You can contact your bank for the actual interest rate.)
Everything is done online - you manage your investment yourself, from signing up, investing, monitoring your account, to withdrawing.
YES! You can withdraw your investment anytime!

Are these features great or great? I am definitely sold into Manulife's GradMaker.

Going back to what I said earlier regarding putting your eggs in different baskets, I will put some in GradMaker and watch my money grow as I save up for my children's future. Parents, I am sure that you will appreciate the full digital investment experience.

I definitely did!

Manulife's GradMaker is free for download on the Google Play Store

and Apple App Store for select Android and iOS devices.

For more information about GradMaker, visit www.manulife.com.ph/GradMaker.

Family Friendly Hotels (With Pool) On Your Next Staycation

Getting To Know Your US Potatoes

#GumagandaAngArawMo With SUN's New LTE SIM

Our Weekend family Staycation at KL Tower Serviced Residences

A Closer Look At NUK Teat and Feeding Bottles + A Giveaway

Breakfast And Snacks Using US Potatoes

New Discovery: Purefoods Heat And Eat Crispy Pata And Lechon Kawali

A Cheesy Twist To Your Media Noche Faves With Danes Cheese Balls

What 2017 Taught Me About God, Family, Friends, Career and Others

Graco 4ever 4-In-1 Car Seat, An Investment For Practical Moms (Plus An Awesome Giveaway!)

Let Love Flow With Babyflo Soap-Free Bath

Review of 2018 Planners: Mommy Mundo Mom 24/7, Belle De Jour and Starbucks

Achieve The #HappyNewYou With Watsons

How Doing My Own Laundry Is Therapeutic!

Why We LOVE the New GRACO Stroller Featherweight

2018 List of Summer Workshops, Sports Clinics, and Activities for Kids in Metro Manila

YOUniversity Suites and L.A. Village, Old Manila Restored and Reborn

Launching My YouTube Channel with VLOG#1: Usapang Labahan, Taniman, Jenga, Atbp.

Why I Left My Corporate Job

Manulife's GradMaker - The Easiest Investing Tool For Moms On-The-Go