Grendha's Zaxy Collection

Our home has a lot of windows, allowing natural light in during the day. This is how I like to go about my day, with sunlight following my every step. From the moment I put my feet down on the bedroom floor upon waking up, to the walk down to the kitchen.  It follows me as I prepare breakfast and lunch baon in the kitchen, and most of all while C and I are enjoying our daily breakfast date at home.  Even when I work on the blog and answer my mails, the warm rays of light from the sun are my constant companion. Parang nasa beach lang palagi.:)

That is why I always dread the onset of the rainy season. An overcast day makes me feel uninspired and lazy,  parang it takes more energy to do things.  Do you feel that also? I also dislike the earthy smell after it just rained, and the flood that always seem to follow the rain. Did you notice that lately it seems to flood after it rains? Parang there's a puddle everywhere I step.  I hate that, especially when I am wearing my leather shoes.

If like me, you hate getting your leather shoes wet during the rainy days that are now upon us, then it's time for all of us to rejoice! Grendha launches its collection perfect for the rainy days. The best and most stylish way to look and feel pretty amidst the bad weather.  The sophisticated design and quality materials makes the perfect footwear for the rainy days.

Sometimes, it's tempting to wear my Ipanema flip-flops everyday, but there are days when I have to attend an event or meet-up with friends, and flip-flops just won't do. The Grendha Acai Print (P1,495) in red instantly caught me eye.  It's perfect for me.  The comfort of flip-flops, but dressed up in one of my favorite color.

The Grendha Conquista (P1,695) is another item I like. I appreciate the added texture the animal patterns provide on the straps and sole.

 

I can see myself pairing this Grenda Zaxy Garden (P1,795) with a simple knee-length black dress and the red bag which C gave me (which is so big it also doubles as a maleta. haha!)

 

The Grendha Zaxy Sundalia (P1,795) is another pair that caught me eye.  By now, you must have noticed that I am really partial to flats. After almost a decade of always running after toddlers, I think I have come to realize that flats are the best way to really walk around in comfort.

 

 

The Grendha Zaxy Pop Star Queen (P2,595) deserves to be the last so that it can truly live up to its diva-ness. teehee!:) This is one pair that will surely let you walk tall and fashionable, not even the rain can put a damper on you when you wear this!

 

There are a lot more styles and colors to choose from, all of them made of materials which are 100% waterproof, durable, and stronger than rubber! The choice of colors and prints give each product a unique personality suitable for those who want to be stylish, even during the rainy days!

Grendha is available in Bambu Stores and all leading Boutiques and Department Stores nationwide.
Like GrendhaPhilippines on Facebook.

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Justice Girl & The Ultimate #OOTD

As a mother to two girls, I know first-hand that dressing up girls can be a challenge, especially if they are 6-15 years old. They are in that awkward age where they are too young to be grown-ups, but too old to be kids. My girls often like to ask for my opinion on what to wear; but once I give it, they do not agree with me half of the time.

Today's tweens are very opinionated with their fashion choices, and they do no commit to just one look. They like to experiment... girly, sporty, preppy, trendy. My girls can be in athletic shorts and shirts on Saturday for a swim meet and be in a dress for Sunday lunch. And I like it that they don't feel boxed in to just go for one look. After all, these are the years where they are looking for their identity.

My little girl B, is just starting to become conscious on fashion. It's a good thing that Justice is in our shores to help her explore her fashion identity. The brand allows girls to express their uniqueness and individuality. This well-loved US brand has three stores: Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Alabang Town Center, and Glorietta 2.

The Brand Manager for Justice Philippines, Mariel Avellana, met up with some of the SoMoms recently to better introduce the brand to us. But all of us are Justice moms already, given that all our girls are frequent shoppers at Justice.

Here are some of the photos I snapped during my recent visit to the store to accompany B for her Justice shopping spree!

 Justice has a trendy and colorful line-up of of apparel, underwear, sleepwear, swimwear and accessories, for girls 7 to 15 years old — making it the ultimate tween shopping destination.

 

 

 

B loved so many things at the store that it was so hard for her to limit her choices.  But she soon decided getting items with animal prints on them.  Thank you JusticePH for this shopping treat!

JClub

JClub is an exclusive loyalty and discount card created specifically with Justice regulars in mind. Launched last July, JClub offers discounts and all-access event passes to its members. Card holders will also enjoy Birthday Promos and sneak previews of Justice’s latest line and season must-haves.

To get the card, tweens and parents must purchase a minimum of Php 5,000 worth of Justice apparel or accessories. The single-purchase receipt from Justice Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang Town Center, or Glorietta 2 merits a tween’s membership to JClub.

Search for Justice Girl!

Justice is really all about tween girls and if you think about it, what’s the one thing common with almost everyone from this age group? They are so into taking photos and they’re all online! 

MECHANICS:

The Search for Justice Girl is the brand's first grand hurrah to keep Justice fans excited. All the girls have to do to join is:
1. Simply mix and match Justice faves, 
2. Snap an awesome OOTD, and bring a copy of the photo to any Justice store. 
3. Visit Justice’s Facebook page to see if the submitted OOTD phot made it to the official monthly entries.”

4. The contest period will run from August 2014 to February 12, 2015 where a total of six monthly winners will be announced.

**OOTDs or the photo entries will be judged by Justice on the criteria of: social media amplification or number of likes and shares; fashion sense and style; and uniqueness and creativity.

PRIZES:
The 6 monthly winners will get Php 3,000 worth of Justice gift certificates and will get to style a mannequin in a Justice store of their choice!

For the grand winner or THE Justice Girl, prizes are not only for tweens but something that the whole family can enjoy as well! Along with the pride and pomp of being crowned the Justice Girl, gift certificates from Justice worth Php 15,000, gift certificates from Naturalizer and Florsheim worth Php 5,000 each, and a grand staycation package at the Linden Suites are all up for grabs.

Who knows, the next time you pay Justice a visit, a mannequin with your signature style might just be staring back at you!

To know more about the JClub loyalty and discount card and Search for Justice Girl, visit ShopJusticePH on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can also find Justice at Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang Town Center, and Glorietta 2.

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Weekend Footnotes: F7 Rallos (Senor Pollo + The Burger Project + Purple Oven + Mrs. Graham's Cafe)

As you may very well know by now, C insists that I take a break from cooking on weekends, so we usually eat out - a lot!:)  The past weekend, we tried almost all the restaurants at the F7 Rallos complex.

We first visited F7 Rallos a few weekends ago with the swimming family of my kids after a swim competition. F7 Rallos is a restaurant complex just off the busy street of Tomas Morato in Quezon City. The place has a mix of affordable restaurants that is perfect for a quick bite with the family during the weekend, or a great place for friends to catch up.

{Weekend Footnotes} Smoked Salmon & Asparagus Pasta Recipe + Central Square BGC

The long weekend that just happened is another excuse for me to share with all of you our foodie indulgences.

Let me start by giving out my recipe for this Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pasta. What I love about this dish, other than the smoked salmon, is that it is so easy to do.  It is almost fail-proof, and provides a lot of room for improvisation.  You can add cream, leave out asparagus, use arugula, throw in some capers, etc. The essentials are smoked salmon, salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic, and pasta with some olive oil.

Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pasta
8 ounces spaghetti (or other) pasta
Salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cream (optional)
4 ounces smoked salmon, cut into bite sized pieces
Freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Add in asparagus at the last 2 minutes of cooking. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold the pasta, such as a 12-inch saute pan or a large, shallow pot. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it just begins to turn golden on the edges-don't overcook it! Carefully add the reserved pasta-cooking water to the garlic and oil and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about a third. If you want a slightly creamy sauce, add the cream and let boil a minute more.
3. Add the drained pasta to the garlic sauce and toss. Turn off the heat, add the smoked salmon and toss well. Allow the pasta to rest off the heat for 5 minutes for the sauce to be absorbed. Taste for seasoning and serve warm with lemon wedges and Parmesan on the side.
4. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

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If you've been following me on Instagram, then you know that I've been cooking up all sorts of dulce de leche sorcery. These choco chip cookies filled with dulce de leche are just so good that one tray is not enough for my family.

We promised the kids pizza night, and C's favorite pizza is Yellow Cab.  It surely did not disappoint, and left-overs were gladly eaten for breakfast the next day.

I am so happy that Purple Oven decided to open in the Scout area.  It is now much more convenient to pop in to buy their baked goodies. My kids love their lemon bars and chocolate revel bars. 

Purple Oven

F7 Building, Scout Rallos corner Tomas Morato, QC

What's a long weekend for if there's no time to visit the bookstore? For my kids, a trip to the mall will not be complete without a pit stop at the bookstore. Fully Booked at Boni Hi-Street is always a fave.

Baskin Robbins Philippines just reopened at Central Square in BGC, and C wanted to take the kids there.

Do you know that Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors?  Look closely at their logo and you'll see 31 between the “B and R”.

Central Square is located beside BGC High Street, and this is also where the new 4DX cinema is located. On the floor where the movie theaters are, we tried Mr. Franks. 

On the opposite end, but on the same floor, one of our favorite Italian restaurant opened its second store. It's thep erfect place to have an early dinner when watching a movie at Central Square. Va Bene Pasta Deli's original store is located at Petron Gas Station in Dasma.

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Goody Gulp Milk Drink + a GIVEAWAY

When it comes to my children's nutrition, I pay extra attention to serve them food that are not only nutrient-rich, but also enjoyable to eat.  Since they are also competitive athletes, I try to serve food after their training which can help their bodies recover from their tiring workouts.  One of their favorite after-training drinks is chocolate milk.

Compared to plain milk, water, or most sports drinks, chocolate milk has double the carbohydrate and protein content, perfect for replenishing tired muscles. Its high water content replaces fluids lost as sweat, preventing dehydration. Plus it packs a nutritional bonus of calcium, and includes just a little sodium and sugar -- additives that help recovering athletes retain water and regain energy. {source}

{via}

GIVEAWAY at the end of this post!!!

iPad and Trustworthiness

If you are a long-time reader of the blog then you know I am not really a fan of electronic gadgets as toys for my kids.  I have always believed that the best way to spend their time is to engage in recreation with things that remain inanimate until they put them in motion.

But I admit that I cannot totally keep my kids from playing with their electronic gadgets.  In our house during school days, iPads are played only on weekends.  And even then, it's not a play-all-day kind of thing.  I "encourage" them to play for an hour and take a break, and then they can play again after that, but always with a healthy amount of play time only.  Similar to excercise sets, one set = one hour. I am sure not everyone agrees with my way, and we all have different ways of parenting.  But this is what I want for my kids.:)

During summer, they have one-hour in the morning and another hour in the evening to play with electronics. I have discussed with all three of  them that this rule is meant to protect them.  I have witnessed kids of my friends wherein social media/ipads have acted as addictive substance which caused these kids to neglect other areas of their lives.

The Learning Library: The Reading Advantage & Wika'y Galing

The first quarter has just passed us; and I am just thankful that exam week is over, and that we survived our Filipino quarterly test.  Just like most kids nowadays, my kids have a difficult time learning Filipino, as well. It is a struggle to teach them grammar in Filipino, and worst when it comes to making them answer reading comprehension questions for stories in Filipino.

That is why, it makes me so happy that there are places like The Learning Library which offers a child-centered program to make our kids love Filipino.  There are 2 Filipino programs to choose from, depending on the level of difficulty of your child.  Read more about their Filipino programs here.  

Phenomenal Tip: DIY Instant Pancake Mix

On mornings when the kids' schedule is not that hectic, one of our favorite breakfasts to make and eat is pancakes. Ever since I started making my own from-scratch pancake mix, I stopped buying ready-mixes from the grocery. Read about what brand I used to purchased before I started making my own mix.

Weekend Footnotes: Duck & Buvette

Buvettes are French neighborhood eateries where people meet for casual food and drink any time of day. This is the inspiration for D&B Duck and Buvette, the newly opened French-inspired eatery located where the old Cafe Provencal used to be. The owners remain the same, and just decided to breathe new life into the old place.

{Phenomenal Tip} How To Make Your Salad Greens Stay Fresh & Crisp Longer

We buy our organic vegetables by bulk and it gets delivered every Tuesday or Wednesday.  Everyone in the family loves salad greens; as such, my fridge is full of organic romaine lettuce, arugula, spinach.  I've read somewhere that loose lettuces such as romaine contain more antioxidants and nutrients than the tightly-packed ones such as iceberg.