Grocery Shopping at SYSU Food Hub + a GIVEAWAY

As a mom who prepares meals for my family everyday, it is just but natural that I spend a lot of time in the grocery. Personally, some days I love to go grocery shopping. I would go through aisles leisurely and see good deals on items on sale or discover new products I didn’t know about. During these times, I am also more willing to try new foods and recipes.

Other days, I just need to get in and out of the grocery immediately. Days like this, I stick to tried and tested products from brands  that I have used through the years. By sticking with the brand, I know the quality that I'll get each time.

My grocery haul during a recent visit to SYSU Food Hub

#GotYouGirl

I've just gotten one kid in college! Yes!!!

I can't exactly describe what I'm feeling, it's a mixture of relief, happiness and excitement.

She's in the university of her choice, taking up the course she wants. She's enjoying meeting new friends, busy joining orgs that she's interested in, exploring her vast new world

I toured her campus one Saturday while waiting for her to attend a one-hour seminar. 

This new building just opened.

Fringy.PH

One of the things I enjoy doing in Instagram is discovering and following the accounts of high-quality local brands.

I purchase a lot from these online stores, and if I'm really satisfied with their products and the quality of their service then I also love sharing them with all of you. These local brands deserve to reach a bigger market.

A few months ago, when we were invited to join the Row 101 Suummer Pop Up Bazaar, my daughter discovered Fringy.PH. She had used up her shopping money allocation, so she kept bugging to borrow money to buy these genuine leather fringes.

In the end, I gave in and brought her two pairs.

So quirky! See?

#BeloBaby Blog Giveaway

This summer heat just makes everyone in the family want to take a bath frequently. But we all know that frequent washing can strip sensitive skin of essential oils thereby leading to dry and itchy skin. 

It's perfect timing that I discovered Belo Baby about a month ago. We gave it a try, and now I'm back to tell you about how my kids and I are loving it.

Belo Baby is made from 100% natural products, which means that they are free from synthetic chemicals and toxins, they are less likely to cause irritation as they are free from common allergens. They are also gentler and safer than products with artificial ingredients.

Hair & Body Wash (200ml bottle for Php 219.75). 

Face & Body Lotion (150ml tube for Php 224.75). Bar Soap (Php 79.75)

War Room Movie + DVD Giveaway

You know how it is when you have kids, and you're with them the whole day and you all had fun, but then the level of activity with your teens is just so hyper that by the end of the day even if you're so sleepy, you just want to stay awake just to get a piece of quiet all by your lonesome? Well that was me one night a few weeks ago..

C went out to meet with his men's group. I had all the time that night to do anything and everything without the kids or the husband. It's my ME-time! hahaha!

I spent the time watching War Room. My friend, Kaye, sent me a DVD of War Room a month ago pa ata. But I never had the time to watch it because having teens who want you to bring them around everywhere takes up all of my day this summer. 

War Room is the fifth movie from the Kendrick Brothers. They are the brothers behind the movies: Fire Proof and Courageous. I’ve watched their previous movies before, and I especially the values that both movies imparted.

Bathe With Perfume With Lux Soft Touch

I must admit, after a tiring day, I never really feel rested until after I take a long shower. There's really something about hot showers that seem to take the feeling of tiredness off my body. I love using fragrant beauty soaps and body washes that make me feel and smell wonderful hours after I have stepped out of the shower. I have a few favorites that I use on heavy rotation. The latest of which is LUX Soft Touch. It's like taking a bath with delicate French Roses!

I like that the body wash foams up nicely but doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry and tight. I always use body gels with a bath puff, this way I don't need to use too much of the product. Just a coin-size amount is enough for the entire body. I love also that the fragrance lingers on my skin, so when my kids lean in for a hug and to kiss me good night, they always say, "Mommy, you smell so good."  

LUX Soft Touch Moisturizing Body Wash (P55 for 100ml, P120 for 250ml)

5 Things We Should Know About Kids & Sleep + A Uratex Pillow Giveaway

As a concerned mother to a teen, a tween and a pre-teen, I sometimes question whether my kids are getting enough sleep. During school days, they wake up at around 6am, spend a full day in school, swim/train for about 2 hours after school, go home for a quick dinner and then do homework/study for about an hour before going to bed.

We have a big California King bed in our room. The kids don't sleep with us, but during the day, the kids love to gather in our room, and the bed is where we are all at.

ReadyWrap Giveaway + Phenomenal Tips for An Organized Kitchen

Packing lunches for my three kids is something that I have to do every day of the week during school days. I’m passionate about sending them to school with a yummy and healthy meal. There are days, very few and far in between, that I ask them to just buy lunch from the school cafeteria, but my girls rarely like the food from their canteen, and it’s usually not as healthy as something from home. 

But it’s not just lunch baon I prepare, I also make an effort to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for breakfast, school lunch baon, merienda/after-school snacks, and dinner. I share the home with people who are big eaters and who look forward to each meal with anticipation.

Meal planning and food prepping are two very important areas in my life as a homemaker. But I am also a busy with other homemaking and parenting duties. Not to mention I also try to pursue other areas of interest and manage my social media accounts and update the blog. Having said that, an organized kitchen (pantry + refrigerator) makes meal planning and preparation run as efficiently and smoothly as possible, to leave me with time for doing other things.

A Well-Stocked + Organized Pantry

I like to keep my pantry well-stocked and orderly. A well-stocked pantry full of nutritious food makes it easy to prepare healthy meals for the family.

You can see more photos of my pantry and how I keep it organized in this post: 

http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2013/04/phenomenal-tip-organized-kitchen.html

Phenomenal Tips for Faster Breakfast Prep

For several years now, my husband and I have been starting our days with a breakfast date. I don't really remember when this started, but surely it was borne in the early years of our marriage when it was such a major production to leave the kids and schedule a date night.

Now, our daily breakfast dates are a part of our routine already that we cannot do without. My husband loves to eat, and he appreciates that I make an effort to "style" his breakfast plate. I'm not really good at styling, but it makes me want to continuously improve because I can see that he really appreciates the effort I put into it. Right after I prepare the kids' baon in the morning, I usually take a quick break for some quiet time, and then I'm back in the kitchen to fix up something quick for our breakfast.

Don't be mistaken, our breakfast dates are not elaborate. We just take about half an hour to eat and talk about matters which concern the family, our schedule for the day... just about anything. We just use the time to reconnect with each other, before we go about our own.  It's just the best way to start the day!

.   .   .   .   .

Make sure to read on until the end of the post to find out how you can be 

one of three winners of this 12-piece plate set.

Can You Really Catch A Cold by Getting Wet in the Rain? + A Euky BearGiveaway

I've heard my lola say it, I've heard my mom say it, and now, when we are headed out and it's raining and my kids refuse to open up an umbrella, I say it, too: "open your umbrella or you'll get sipon."

But can you really catch a cold by getting wet in the rain?

I turned to one of my local favorite authors who is also a physician for answers. "Ha-Ha-Hatsinggg!" is a book writtten by Luis Gatmaitan, MD.  It answers kids curiosities about what makes us sick in the first place. I bought the kids this book from the bookstore, and the kids and I read it one night. The author, also known as Tito Doc, is a practicing physician. He is also a four-time Don Carlos Palanca Memorial awardee for Literature. 

The answer to this age-old question is complicated. But Tito Doc simplifies it for us.

Tito Doc says: No, not directly. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, its just that your immune system is often more run down when you are out in the rain and cold and shivering, and so it is easier for you to catch something.

Long story short, the author shares with us what we should do to avoid getting a cold:

1. Avoid crowded places.

2. Always sneeze into handkerchief when you have colds to avoid spreading the virus.

3. Wash hands frequently.

4. Don't forget to bring an umbrella or raincoat during the rainy season.

Super Coffee: A Smile In Your Cup + Giveaway

Super Coffee GIVEAWAY at the end of this post!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to an exclusive and intimate media launch for Super Coffee. Super Coffee is a Singaporean brand which enjoys dominance in the Southeast Asian market in terms of instant food and beverages.

Unlike other brands in the market, Super Coffee prides itself in its roasting and blending techniques which is able to faithfully capture the aroma of an authentic cup of coffee. I believe in the brand so when they named me as one of their Super Coffee Smile Ambassadors, I gladly accepted! And because I'm a Smile ambassador, look what I have for you... one lucky reader get a chance to win a truckload of coffee! Teehee! Well, technically, a one-year supple of coffee - twice a day, everyday! Read to the end of this post for the complete mechanics.

QQ Alkaline Water Bottle + A Giveaway

I really think when you get to be my age, one is really made to be more aware of health issues. Consequently, a shift to a healthier lifestyle is really the order of the day. That is also what led me to be more conscious about what food I feed my family, which led me to be an advocate for Cleaner Eating.

A year ago, I was diagnosed with acid reflux. I changed my diet and avoided most of the food which aggravated my symptoms.  Included more fresh fruits and vegetables. Altered my lifestyle, including my sleeping habits, stopped wearing clothing that is too tight, and a whole lot more. I also took medicines to control the acid production. 

When I was given a 500ml bottle of QQ Alkaline Water Bottle a few months ago, I was happy to give it a try. After all, I have heard of friends who claim that alkaline water reduced the frequency and alleviate their GERD symptoms.

Amusing Grace + A Blog Giveaway

Whenever I find myself with some free time, I would almost always spend it reading. I am not a picky reader for I love reading anything I could get my hands on... books, magazines, blogs, e-books, newspapers.... Kahit ano! :) I shared a few years back at how happy I was for having a house for my books, but fast forward to today, that same bookshelf is bursting, and books are spilling over - to my happiness, of course!

Just to show you, the topics of the books in my bookshelf ranges from biography, fiction, self-help, cookbooks.  But one thing is for sure, when I love a book, I always go back and re-read it again and again and again.:)

F1 Hotel Manila: A Family Staycation in BGC + F1 Hotel StaycationGiveaway

Just a few more weeks and summer will soon be upon us.  Of course no one is complaining! Summer is all about sleeping in, eating, reading in bed, movie marathons for the kids and their dad, cooking and baking marathons for the kids and me... We love summer!

MUZIP Zipper Earphones: Product Review + A GIVEAWAY

On weekends, when everyone takes a break from studying, the kids usually gather in our room after dinner. Because they sleep in their own room, staying together in one room is a weekend treat for everyone. Most often, we will call it a "movie night" and watch a movie in our room, sometimes with pizza and popcorn. But there are also times when everyone would just be together in the room doing their own thing. This usually ends up with argument at some point because one likes to watch a movie, one likes to listen to her playlist, and still the other one likes to play a game on the iPad.  You can just imagine the noise competition going on!

The Crockery Den + a GIVEAWAY

If you've been following me on Instagram, then you surely must have seen a snippet here and there of my newest hobby, which is to collect blue and white plates. I used to just have a tiny collection of white plates, but when we went to Japan over the summer, and when we visited a wholesale kitchen market in Osaka, I started falling in love with Oriental blue and white plate-ware.

I started my collection with a small number of deep bowls bought on sale at Sogo.  And then I bought a few more from the wholesale market.  I painstakingly handcarried these lovely and delicate pieces to make sure they survive the travel back home to Manila.

Luckily, I don't have to go to Japan to indulge myself in this growing addiction.  Early this year, I discovered The Crockery Den, an online retailer with a well-curated selection of items. The Crockery Den supplied my addiction to beautiful crockery quite efficiently that it wasn't long before my growing number of plates now hold fort quite beautifully in one side of my walk-in pantry. Dalasan na lang ang pag-grocery because the grocery items have slowly been inched-out of precious shelving real estate. tee-hee!

Enjoy looking through some of my IG posts using plates from The Crockery Den:

 

 

The Crockery Den uploads a new collection 2-3 times a month, with no particular schedule.  But a day before the upload date, she announces the time details on IG. Buying items from her always involves a little bit of "survival of the fittest and fastest WIFI."  I have expereinced several let-downs of not being able to purchase a coveted item because I did not type "MINE" fast enough, or my IG did not refresh fast enough or I wasn't able to check her feed exactly when her auction started.

The Crockery Den is an after-office project/creative outlet of Sheila, who holds a day job as a merchandising and operations manager. Like me, her interest in crockery started with Japanese ceramic plates, before it grew to include stoneware and earthenware.  Her interest in architecture and interior design can be seen even in the way she creates the vignettes when she posts her items in Instagram. If you haven't followed her on Instagram yet, you can do so here.

I've also shared in Instagram my unboxing of several packages from her.  I am always excited to receive my orders.  The items are always tightly-packed and well-protected so they are always sure to get to their destination in one piece! All the the plates are nicely covered with kraft paper and sealed with a packing tape before they are wrapped with bubble wrap-twice! I have purchased mulitple times from her and have never encountered a problem so far. What's more, Sheila occasionally also throws in a lagniappe of random items such as bowls or sauce plates.

Here are some more of her merchandise which I have fallen in love with and cannot get enough of.  Yeah, seriously showing my age with my obsession with crockery!

 

Luckily for all of us, The Crockery Den is throwing a raffle for 4 of my readers!!!  I am so excited for all of you.  If it's even possible to join my own contest, I would!  Just look at what the lucky winners can win!

FISHNETS + LINES COLLECTION

BLUE FORALS COLLECTION

ORIENTALIA COLLECTION

STONEWARE + NEUTRALS COLLECTION

Why, yes, 4 winners get to win one collection each!!! Each collection is estimated to be worth P2,000.00. Giddy!

I know they are so lovely to look at, and so for the benefit of everyone, here's one more gratuitous viewing for your pleasure.:) tee-hee!

It's so easy to join:
1. Follow ThePhenomenalMama on Instagram, Twitter and Instagram
2. Follow The Crockery Den on Instagram
3. Capture and Repost any of the promo photos of the collection you want to win in Facebook and Instagram
3. Tag @thephenomenalmama @thecrockeryden and caption "I want this for Christmas!"
4. Don't forget to use hashtags #TPMxTCDinstaraffle and #TheCrockeryDen
5. You can send in multiple entries, but you can only win once!  So go ahead and post all 4 sets!!!

NOW go to rafflecopter to ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Terms & Conditions:
Winners will be picked at random.
Giveaway will run from today November 21 to December 24, 2014.
It is open to MetroManila residents only.
The Phenomenal Mama will announce the winners, The Crockery Den will ship the prizes.
Winners can only win once, but can send multiple entries (if you want all plates, then go ahead and repost the photo of all plates).

FOLLOW ME!   

   

CamelBak Water Bottles + A Giveaway

 

Euky Bearub: All-Natural Eucalyptus Rub + A GIVEAWAY

I still have a Halloween hangover!  And no, it's not from our super memorable Oreo Trip & Treats party, but because the kids got sick one after the other during the sem-break!  I tell you that is the scariest thing that happened during the Halloween weekend. Hainaku!!!

Ugh! All of them complained of headache, colds, sore throat, clogged nose. As a first recourse, I usually turn to natural remedies, so I had them drink oregano tea made from fresh oregano leaves.  A friend gave me a starter pot of this beautiful oregano plant, which we quickly grew into 5 new plants by plant cuttings. I think I need about 10 pots at the rate we consume them whenever someone is sick.

I cleared out the books by my beside to give way to the essentials: a thermometer, saline solution to clear the nasal airways, and Euky Bearub. Euky Bearub is Australia's #1 pharmacy chest rub. It's a gentle, soothing Eucalyptus rub that helps relieve sore throat, stuffy nose, irritating cough, muscle pains and even insect bites.

A few months ago, Marilen, the distributor of Euky Bearub in the Philippines, sent over some of their chest rub for me to try. Since the kids rarely get sick, I just left them in our medicine cabinet for future use. So when the first kid got sick and I went to get the thermometer, I took out the Euky Bearub at the same time.

My kids loved it when I massaged it on their chest and throat area. It helped clear their nasal passages and relieved their sore and inflamed throat. They find it extra relaxing when I did this before they went to bed to ensure that they can breathe freely, making their sleep more restful.

Marilen assures me that Euky Bearub is safe for both kids and adults because it is a natural eucalyptus chest rub that uses camphor as its base.. It is safe to use during pregnancy too. Euky Bearub was Australia's My Child Excellence Awards Runner up for Favorite Baby Care Product in 2013 and is Australia’s #1 pharmacy chest rub.

Why I like Euky Bearub:
- clears stuffy nose.
- eases cough
- soothes sore throat
- relieves mucous congestion
- helps sleep better
- relieves muscular pains and aches
- soothes pain, swelling and redness of minor insect bites
You can view the different ways on how to use Euky Bearub here.

I have used it on myself when I felt a headache coming.  I massaged it gently on the temples of my head, and felt immediate relief. This is one rub that the whole family can use!

One 50g tube costs Php489.75.  Euky Bearub is sold in:

1.Mamaway 4th Level, Main Wing, Shangri-la Plaza Mall
2. Babyland Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City

To know more about Euky Bearub:
http://www.eukybearphilippines.com/home.html
https://www.facebook.com/eukybearphilippines

GIVEAWAY!!!

Thanks to Euky Bearub for giving 3 lucky mamas ONE TUBE EACH of Euky Bearub!!!
CONTEST IS OPEN ONLY TO METRO MANILA RESIDENTS!


To join this giveaway, all you have to do is follow the steps in the rafflecopter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOLLOW ME!   

   

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!!!