Car seat check

This is a sponsored post but all opinions are mine.

Last September, the House committee on transportation approved a bill requiring private vehicles to install car seats for children. We have an existing law which is the Philippine Seat Belt Law (RA 8750) which requires the use of seat belts in front and back seats of private vehicles, but it does not require the use of car seats for young children on board.  The proposed Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act of 2017 requires owners of private vehicles to secure children in a child restraint system or car seat while in transit on any road, street, or highway.

car seat safety check

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I won’t make the money mistake my father made

Since last Sunday was Father’s Day, I just want to share what I learned from my father or from his mistake on how he handled his money. Papa was a seafarer, he was the main man in the engine department. With his position, a lot of our relatives and family friends thought that we have a lot of money. Sure, Papa and Nanay have acquired some properties in the province, jewelries, and have some money in the bank. But are these enough to support them throughout their retirement?

Unfortunately not. The interest in the bank is very small that when you factor in inflation, lugi ka pa. I can’t blame my father though because a lot of their investments were just simply offered to them by relatives and friends. They bought them out of goodwill and pakikisama not thinking of the market value in the future.

Philam funds

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Sponsored Video: Celebrate Togetherness this Christmas with Lady’s Choice

Growing up, I am used to spending Christmas in a simple way. My father is a seafarer and most of the time, we were spending Christmas without him. Most of my family’s relatives are in Aklan and since we are just a small family, our Christmas is just a simple celebration. My mother, brother, and I will usually hear Mass in the morning and then eat in a restaurant. When we go home, we will wait for visitors or relatives to drop by. Nanay will just cook a simple meal so that visitors will have something to eat like spaghetti, ham sandwich, and macaroni salad.

When Jeff and I got married, I got to spend Christmas at my in-laws. They have a big family and there are kids everywhere. It’s a big contrast to what I was accustomed to but I was happy nonetheless. This photo was taken last year and they’re not even complete.

ladys choice thankutogether

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What to give to a man who has everything?

This is a sponsored post by Groupon but all opinions and views are mine.

My husband, Jeff’s birthday is on Monday. We will be spending his birthday out of town with some friends so I’m looking forward for the weekend. We both don’t like surprises when it comes to giving each other gifts whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, or any special occasion. Sometimes, we just go to the mall, choose whatever we like, and pay for the item.

I feel that Jeff deserves a gift this time because he’s extra hardworking and he’s a good provider to us. A little something for my man to make him extra special is nice, right? But how can I buy a surprise gift when we’re always together and I can’t sneak in to go to the mall???

Well, thanks to online shopping. I can look for Groupon goods for gifts without him knowing. But what can you give to a man who has everything? He is a very simple man and he just wants a few necessary items, he is not into extravagant and luxurious items, and lastly he prefers practical and functional items.

OnTek Water-Resistant Bluetooth Shower Speaker with Mic and Controls – This is cool because Jeff loves adventure and a music-lover too.

groupon speaker

1-, 3-, or 4-Outlet and Dual-USB Wall Charging Station – We love to travel and this will eliminate bringing a lot of adapters.

groupon outlet

Sonic Edge Extended Charge Toothbrush with 4 Heads – An electric toothbrush is something you don’t think you need but can’t leave without once you have it.

groupon toothbrush

POM Gear Pro2Go B100 Bluetooth 4.0 Wireless Earbuds with Inline Mic – Jeff can use this while running.

groupon earbuds

Now, that I narrowed it down to 4, can you help me choose what to finally order in Groupon?

Purefoods Blue Line: Life’s simple things bring comfort

Food is ALWAYS a part of our lives. We eat because food is a necessity, but also to satisfy our cravings in whatever situation we are in. When we’re happy and there’s a celebration, we indulge in a feast; when we’re sad, we just eat our worries away; and when we’re bored, we still eat. Food makes everything better, especially if it’s your comfort food. It’s like having a warm hug when you needed one.

Did you notice that most comfort foods are just so simple like a bar of chocolate? One of my comfort foods is corned beef, particularly Purefoods Corned Beef. I like to cook mine by sauteeing garlic and onions before adding Purefoods Corned Beef, I would cook it until some shreds are slightly toasted and crunchy. This is what my little family enjoys either for breakfast or dinner. When we have leftover corned beef from dinner, we would buy pandesal for breakfast and have Purefoods Corned Beef as “palaman”. Purefoods Corned Beef Hash is really good as palaman too! Thank God my family is easy to please with my simple dishes. Life can be so simple and fulfilling 🙂

I’d like to share this quote from Ina Garten:

Food is not about impressing people. It is about making them feel comfortable.

This is how I felt during our painting sesh one afternoon at Sip and Gogh in Kapitolyo.

purefoods blue line

This is actually my first time to paint, I was nervous that I won’t be able to even blend the colors. But as the afternoon progressed, I realized that blending colors and dabbing the paintbrush on the canvass is so therapeutic and puts me in a zen mode.

purefoods blue line

my work of art in progress…

purefoods blue line

Painting plus chikahan with my kumare Peachy is one fun afternoon!

The atmosphere was so comforting and encouraging, everybody was in a cheerful mode. I think having all the Purefoods Blue Line dishes specially prepared that afternoon made our tummies satisfied hence fueled our creative minds.

purefoods blue line

Some of the snacks prepared for us that afternoon were Quesadillas made with Purefoods Corned Beef, Purefoods Luncheon Meat Chili Cheese Spring Rolls, and Cheesy Vienna Dumplings. I actually made the quesadillas at home for our breakfast. I love Purefoods Corned Beef because of the meatier bite it gives, and it’s seasoned perfectly.

quesadilla with purefoods corned beef

I also discovered other Purefoods Blue Line variants aside from the Corned Beef (Classic, Chili Garlic, and Hash) through the dishes that were served. These were Luncheon Meat, Chorizo Bilbao, Vienna Sausage and Liver Spread.

purefoods chili cheese spring rolls

I will now use Purefoods Luncheon Meat for my chili spring rolls, tastes better and easier to prepare

Any recipe that calls for ground meat can be replaced with any Purefoods Blue Line products, I swear, your dishes will taste better and will make your prep time shorter too.

purefoods dumplings

no ground meat for your dumplings? use Purefoods Vienna Sausage

The afternoon got even more exciting because Heart Evangelista graced the event and shared stories about anything and everything we asked her, including her favorite Purefoods Blue Line products. She gamely showed her artistic side by adding her touch in Camille of The Soshal Network’s canvas.

purefoods blue line

Everybody is curious…

purefoods blue line

And here’s my finished piece, Heart approves!

purefoods blue line

Heart E. is pretty, charming, accommodating, and very down-to-earth. I became an instant fan!

purefoods blue line

At first, I was unsure of myself if I can pull it through. But with some very basic techniques, I was able to create my own art. Thanks to Purefoods for reminding me that life need not be complicated, that I can make something out of the ordinary and turn it into something special. Sometimes, the simplest things in life are the ones that bring comfort the most.

Whether you’re just waiting for creativity to strike or just craving for that comfort food, you should try these Purefoods Blue Line products:

  • Corned Beef Classic
  • Corned Beef Chili Garlic
  • Corned Beef Hash
  • Luncheon Meat
  • Vienna Sausage
  • Chorizo Bilbao
  • Liver Spread

For more info, visit Purefoods Blue Line on Facebook.

Kuya J Halo-Halo Espesyal: Smooth and suave as Jericho Rosales

With the Philippines being a tropical country, the heat always make me feel like it’s summer season everyday. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that… but thanks to Kuya J Restaurant because its newest offering will help me breeze through the scorching heat all year long. I’m talking about Kuya J Halo-Halo Espesyal.

kuya j halo halo espesyal

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