Friday, April 30, 2021

COFFEE THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR YOU: GLORIOUS, ISN'T IT?

For decades, coffee had received a bad reputation. Besides allegedly triggering high blood pressure, insomnia, and hyperacidity, the Filipino habit of adding lots of sugar and cream to one’s cup has been said to aggravate diabetes.



While there’s no denying the Pinoy coffee fan his morning cup, there is concern over the amount of sugar present in commercial 3-in-1 coffee mixes. The leading brand has 14.6 grams of sugar in one 20-gram sachet alone. Imagine how much sugar you’re taking in if you drink an average of three cups of coffee a day.

What About Sugar-Free Coffee?

For health-conscious individuals, especially diabetics, turning to sugar-free coffee mixes seems to be the only option. This meant enduring tasteless cups of coffee just to satisfy their caffeine fix —until Stevia came along.
Stevia is the low calorie, zero sugar sweetener that tastes so much better than artificial sweeteners.
Stevia is an herb with a sweet-tasting extract that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been enjoyed since pre-Columbian South America where indigenous people used the herb to sweeten their tea and other drinks.
The plant's taste stems from steviol glycosides, molecules which are 250–300 times sweeter than regular sugar.
It became popular among health-conscious individuals because stevia has a very low caloric content. This makes it perfect for dieters and people who are trying to lose weight.
Moreover, Stevia makes coffee and tea taste so much better without adding any calories.
Aside from beverages, Stevia is also used as an alternative sweetener when cooking or baking.

The Health Advantages of Stevia

Stevia is a safe, healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up food without the negative health effects of refined sugar. It’s also associated with several impressive benefits such as reduced calorie intake, managed blood sugar levels, and minimized risk of cavities.
Additionally, while other sugar substitutes like Aspartame have been linked with cancer, there's no evidence linking stevia to cancer since it is a natural ingredient.
This means you can add stevia to dishes and drinks without fear that you’re taking too much sugar, or that you’ll get sick a few years down the road.
For coffee lovers, it’s also good to note that locally-made Glorious Blend coffees and instant beverages have Stevia as its natural sweetener. The blend of natural and healthful ingredients make the drink not only refreshing and safe, but also good for one’s overall health.

The Glorious Blend boasts a full line of healthy drinks, including a 7-in-1 healthy coffee mix. This special blend is made with proven medicinal ingredients like Malunggay, Mangosteen, Calcium, Gotu Kola, and sweetened with Sweet & Fit Stevia. What’s even better is that the Glorious Blend 7in1 Coffee is non-acidic and promotes regular bowel movement.
The Glorious line-up also includes the 3-in-1 coffee mix with Stevia; 7-in-1 choco mix; 4-in-1 coffee with Malunggay; 5-in-1 coffee mix with Brown Rice; and the MaxiTrim coffee.

All Glorious Blend beverages use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic index. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day.
Also, Glorious Blend products are locally sourced and manufactured. Their company supports local farmers, stevia growers, and other agricultural communities.
So if you’ve been cutting back on drinking coffee because of health problems like diabetes or hyper acidity, Glorious Blend coffee mixes are here to help. You can enjoy all the aroma and flavor of freshly made coffee all day —without the guilt!
Now, you can drink coffee for better health! Glorious, isn’t it?
For more information about Glorious Blend coffee mixes, check out
https://www.facebook.com/gloriousblend
.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

THE PANDEMIC FINANCIAL SURVIVAL KIT: WHAT TO DO TO SURVIVE

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FAMILY'S FINANCES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC 

I live in a third world country, the Philippines. It is a country badly hit by the pandemic. The country’s inflation rate hit a high 4.7% at the start of 2021. Money is hard to come by these days as many members of the work force were laid off. Businesses are closing left and right. And according to reports, 4 million Filipinos are unemployed as of January 2021. Many Filipinos are wondering, when the next paycheck will come.   In a climate of uncertainty and anxiety, one of the last things you want to worry about is finances.


WHAT TO DO TO SURVIVE:




SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!

With the pandemic, most people are working from home. This means that their spending habits have changed drastically. A decrease in dining out, attending concerts and shows, leisure travels and vacations and less money spent on commuting and shopping.  This could mean more money to save. Don’t splurge on online shopping just to reward yourselves for following protocols of staying at home. 

 

For most people the formula they follow when it comes to saving money is: 

INCOME – EXPENSES = SAVINGS. But I find this risky. When you get tempted on spending a large part of your income, you may end up with no savings at all. The smarter formula to follow is: INCOME – SAVINGS = EXPENSES. This formula prioritizes savings. 

 

Be a wise saver. If you want expert assistance on saving money you may want to check out a savings calculator that will help you to determine the future value of money investments at various compounding intervals. 

 

 

FOLLOW A BUDGET




Budgets are the only practical way to control on spending, and to make sure your money is being used the way you want it to be. Every time an income or paycheck comes in, it is important to look first on FIXED EXPENSES that you cannot take for granted:  bills, allowance, insurance premium, debts, mortgage, tuition, tax payments, food and transportation expenses.

 

Keep track of your expenses. Don’t spend beyond your limits. Determine which expenses are necessities and which are just luxuries. Once you’ve set your budget goals, make sure the spending stays within the limits that you have set. If you need an extra help on making a practical budget that will suit your lifestyle, check out a budget planning calculator.

 

 

 

MANAGE LOANS

I always pay my credit card purchases on time.  I simply don't want to pay for credit card interests.  It is not WISE.   

 

What I teach my teens: If you want to buy something, buy it with cash.  If you don't have enough cash... SAVE.  You want that sneakers but you don't have enough money, wait until you have enough. This will also give you ample time to think if you really want to buy that sneakers. This also saves them from becoming impulsive shoppers.

When we applied for housing loan, we chose the 10-year plan versus the 15 or 20 year plan.  We paid for a higher amortization rate, but the shorter years spent paying, gave us more financial freedom.


Loans are ok if you are purchasing for a future investment. For example: house mortgage and real estate.  After you have paid it off, you will benefit from it.  You will reap financial rewards and security after you have paid it off.  

 

 

BUILD AN EMERGENCY FUND

According to forbes.com, an emergency fund is a fund that should help you carry on with life and meet your obligatory expenses without opting for last-minute unplanned loans, overutilizing your credit card, or selling and mortgaging your existing assets. 

 

In building an emergency, you should keep a record of your monthly expenses. This will give you a bird’s eye view of how much to put into your emergency fund.

 

This is the computation that I personally follow. It is is based on my conservative estimate of my monthly expense, which is Php20,000.  Ideally, you should build an emergency fund good for 6 months which is around Php100,000.

 

It is also important to understand that an emergency fund is different from your savings. An added tip: place your emergency fund in another bank account, separate from your savings account so you will not be tempted to spend it. Lump sum money you might get from tax refunds, year end bonuses or investment gains should ideally go straight to your emergency fund.

 

PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS

If you have enough savings, you follow a strict budget and you have built an emergency fund, the next thing you should consider are investments. If there is one thing the ongoing pandemic has taught us, it is that an emergency can strike at any time and you can’t do anything about it other than being prepared. 

 

There are four main asset classes that people can invest in with the hopes of enjoying appreciation: stocks, bonds, commodities and real estate.  

 

The pandemic also taught us that we should definitely invest in personal life  and health insurances because we should safeguard ourselves against medical emergencies, that may strike anytime.

 

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with an illness that required so many medical tests and expensive medicine. Good thing was, I was wise to invest in a health card.  Now, my husband, took on the responsibility of providing HMO plan for the entire family.

 


We are still in the middle of a global pandemic and no one is sure yet when this will end. Just hang in there, do not panic, take care of your health and your finances. Panicking solves nothing. The best strategy is to have an arsenal of financial tools and know how. 




Monday, April 26, 2021

HOME CHEF'S DELI: BRINGING GOURMET FOOD IN FILIPINO HOMES





TRUE STORY: 


I really cannot remember when was the first time I "tasted" the Bravo puttanesca sauce. But I tell you, from that time on, there was no turning back. I used to buy it in one of the kiosks in Megamall. So every time I am in Megamall, I never fail to visit the Bravo Kiosk.

 

But as of 2019, I cannot seem to find that kiosk anymore. It just disappeared. Then one day, I discovered my favorite Bravo Puttanesca Sauce in Robinsons Supermarket, 

 

Then I discovered bravo puttanesca in Robinsons Supermarket Timo, in Victoria Towers, just beside St. Paul Church Quezon City. I still remember the excitement when I found the bottles staring at me in one of the shelves in the aisle dedicated for sauces. I bought one bottle, because I thought, Robinsons Supermarket has a constant supply of it.

 

After a month, I visited all the Robinsons branches near me (Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Capitol Hills) and none of these branches have the puttanesca sauce! 

 

So when I had a chance to visit Robinsons Timog again, I bought not just one, but 3 big bottles! I hoarded! But it is not often that I visit that side of Quezon City. So I got to have a constant supply of my go-to pasta sauce!

 

Then the pandemic happened. I saw a lot of thriving local online businesses in my Facebook feed. When the “new normal” dictates it is safer to do online shopping with the convenience of deliveries, I joined the bandwagon. It was also my own little way to support the local entrepreneurs!

 

Then one day, I saw this Facebook post by a fellow blogger that she received these products from Bravo!  That is when I discovered that my favorite puttanesca sauce is now available online. 

 

December 2020, I lodged my first online order. I even won in an online giveaway when I made an account with them (still ongoing you might want to try it too)! I won a TOMATO GARLIC DIP (I needed to mention this because this started my gustatory love affair with this dip)! 





MY ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE: 

 

Two words: Very convenient.   




 

Their website loads fast. Easy to navigate, make choices and add to cart. I used G-CASH as mode of payment. You can also pay using your credit card and through BPI. 

If you spend Php2000 and above, there will be no delivery fee.

 

My delivery arrived the following. It came with an invoice so it was very easy to check my orders.


 

MRS.WISE PERSONAL FAVORITES:

 

Now let me tell you about my Home Chef's Deli favorites. 

 

The Puttanesca is my go-to pasta sauce. During busy days, when me and the hubby are loaded with work, we just ask Ate to cook pasta and have an instant Pasta Puttanesca for lunch or dinner.  Bravo’s version of this traditional sauce   is seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, Italian tomatoes, olives and anchovies. 

 





My other favorite is the Artichoke and Spinach spread. It reminds me of that mushroom pate I bought in Fukuoka in 2019. Super yummy with biscuits, crackers, bread and grapes! The combined flavors of the  cream cheese, spinach and marinated artichokes bursts into your mouth.

 




The Tomato Garlic dip was a surprise! It uses real Italian tomatoes, and I can see pieces of garlic in it. The teens use it for pasta. The hubby and I pair it with biscuits and crackers with red wine. And the biggest surprise -- we made pizza using the dip. We just added ingredients readily available: cheese, ham, alfalfa microgreens, basil and arugula from my veggie garden, and we had a lockdown pizza party! 

 

that is my ALFALFA microgreens


DIY pizza with basil




Since we placed our first order in December, we ordered hams for our New Year celebration. We wanted to sample the Pancetta Arrotolata (Rolled bacon) and the Parma Ham (Prosciutto Crudo Disossato). We enjoyed both with wine and cocktails. 


 

 
SPEAKING OF CELEBRATIONS:

 

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. And if you want to make Mother’s Day this year special, even if you are just in the comforts of your home – why not try Home Chef Deli’s GRAZING BOXES and CHARCUTERIE BOARDS.

 




For our "stay-at-home" Mother’s Day celebration, we will definitely have some cold cuts, cheese, red wine. You want to see what’s in my cart? Here it is:




Or if you want to cook Mother’s Day recipes for your momshies, do check out their website for special ingredients. They have cold cuts, cheeses, sauces and many more. You can also pair your home cooked meals with their wines and beers.

 

And as our special treat to all the mommies out there – here is a special treat!

Buy any of Mrs. Wise's favorites (Puttanesca, Artichoke & Spinach Spread or Tomato Garlic Dip) and get one FREE PIZZA of your choice! Choose between Margherita, Mediterranena or Prosciutto e Pancetta Pizza. These pizzas will be delivered frozen so you can enjoy them anytime at home!


HOW IT WORKS:

  1. The customer must first add at least one bottle of Puttanesca, Artichoke & Spinach Spread or Tomato Garlic Dip.
  2. Then the customer must add their choice of pizza (Margherita, Mediterranea or Prosciutto e Pancetta).
  3. At checkout, the customer must use the discount code "MrsWisexHCD"


TERMS AND CONDITIONS:


  1. Only one promo code per order will be accepted. It cannot be combined with any other promotions.
  2. Only one free pizza per order.
  3. Only one use per customer.
  4. The promo code is valid from April 23, 2021 to July 31, 2021.


What are you waiting for? Go to this link https://homechefsdeli.ph/discount/MrsWiseXHCD and enjoy this very special deal!  

 

As founder Mica Bastin wrote: "I invite all of you to join me on this journey as we discover new recipes together and create joy (in our tummies)!  Lezzgo momshies (and daddies too), and let us join her in creating sumptuous recipes in the comforts of our homes!  


 


 

 

  

Thursday, April 22, 2021

EMPOWERED BY #Salontastic HAIR TO BREAK FREE FROM STEREOTYPES

In a world where ideas of being a woman are often defined by stereotypes and media messages, it’s quite common to be subjected to gender stereotypes that have little to do with your abilities or appearance. While these harmful preconceptions have been ingrained in society, social media has connected millions of women who continuously inspire each other to defy gender stereotypes.

Personal testaments from stories of how women choose to live their lives regardless of stereotypes, serve as daily inspiration for the young generation and for women that have yet to realize who they want to be. Filipinas are no exception to the powerful transformations that empowerment and confidence can give.

Here are four empowering stories from Filipinas who have not let gender labels limit them. Discover how they built up their confidence through a common denominator.




Inspired by her dad, a scuba diver, Gabbi Garcia has dreamt of seeing marine life up close as a kid and has since grown a love for the sea. “Despite hearing doubts from other people, I kept going to reach my dream. As young as 10 years old, I got my license as a junior open water diver. And just 2 years ago, I’m finally a certified advanced open water diver!” Gabbi encouraged others to go after their own dreams and shared that having confidence is important in achieving such. “Having great hair is one of the factors that help boost my confidence as a woman and it makes me feel that I can conquer anything… I can really say that being #Salontastic has helped me boost my confidence as a woman.




“Great hair makes empowered and confident women! Having the best version of my hair everyday makes me feel that I can conquer anything.” Kylie Verzosa shared as she looked back on her memories of filming her upcoming movie. “Some scenes required big movements, but I never backed down and stayed extra confident in my scenes because I know I stay #Salontastic throughout the day! To all the girls dreaming of the same, let this be the sign to start your Salontastic journey and be the action star in your own movie

“Never underestimate the power of great hair and strong and confident women!” Nostalgic about her bustling schedules of taping from one location to another, Sofia Andres looks back on her heartwarming and humbling memories as an actress. “Even though it was super hectic and exhausting, I did not give up and stayed extra confident in my scenes because I knew I would stay #Salontastic throughout the day! To all the girls dreaming of the same, may it be an being an actress, a mom, a content creator, businesswoman, be who you want to be! Let this be the sign to start your Salontastic journey!”




Anne Curtis asked her followers on Instagram, “What’s the favourite hairstyle you’ve had that made you feel strong and empowered?” She proudly tells, “Whether short, long, coloured, or untouched. You do you. Sometimes our hair can give us that extra touch of feeling empowered! No matter my hairstyle - even fresh out of the shower I feel that way with Pantene. No matter the variant it’s always helped me have Salontastic moments!”



On days when you feel like crushing gender labels, the Pantene Collagen Miracle Intensive Serum Conditioner might just give you the confidence boost you need to power through. This conditioner is #Salontastic in a bottle. It’s formulated with a blend of Pro-Vitamin B5, miracle serum, and real collagen — sealing in nutrients and locking in moisture, turning dry, damaged, frizzy hair into shiny, smoother hair every day. 

Even the slightest ounce of confidence through smooth and #Salontastic hair can transform a woman’s outlook, freeing them from the boundaries of labels and other people’s opinions. Pantene gives you strong and Salontastic hair to redefine yourself, confidently, however you want to be.

Are you missing the confidence that salon-like results offer? Experience Salontastic hair at home when you checkout Pantene through the P&G Shopee Mall.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

LIFE IN THE NEW NORMAL: THE RISE OF THE "GAMER MOM"

 It has been a year since the pandemic started, and we are constantly adjusting to our “new normal”. The teens are into online learning. Husband and I are still working from home. My husband has an eight-to-six job, while my work schedule is flexible as a freelance writer. 

 

At the start, I thought it will be a breeze adjusting to this new normal. But as time passes by, we all discovered how stressful this set up is. One, there is no clear separation of work and family hours.  There can be work demands even on weekends.   There are times when my husband has to revise work even after office hours. Sometimes, he may need to wake up in the wee hours of the morning just to check up on office work. The teens are glued to their laptops, even on weekends finishing some schoolworks. 


 
And how to we keep our stress at bay?  

 

>> In between online works, my husband and I squeeze in some yoga/stretching exercises just to give our bodies a breather from the long hours of sitting in front of the computer. 

>> We listen to our favorite music, tend the garden, play with pets during scheduled work breaks. These are some of the activities that we truly enjoy.

>> At night, we unwind by watching comedy films.

>> Lastly, we play some online games, not only as the break the monotony of work, but to exercise our brains with some puzzles and word games!

 

PLAYING VIDEO GAMES BY KIDS AND ADULTS:

 

I did some research and found some studies about kids playing video games. They become more creative when it comes to writing and drawing. Puzzle video games improve verbal comprehension, visual and spatial processing, visual perception, planning and reasoning.

 

In one article, it is said that video games can reduce stress in adults. Also, video games might just slow down the aging process. The “brain games” involving problem solving and memory have been shown to have a positive benefit in older players. In one study, just 10 hours of play led to increased cognitive functioning in participants 50 and older.  

 
 
FUN ONLINE GAMES FOR FREE:


During the pandemic, I discovered this site where I can play games for free! It is called https://plays.org


The games can be quickly played from the browser. With loading time just for a few seconds. I can play it both on my laptop and on my phone. They have more or less 100 games on their site, and the hardworking people behind it try to publish a new game or two every day!


Two of my personal favorites when it comes to free and fun onlines games are:  FALLING CUBES, a remake of the classic puzzle game that I had fun in early 2000, Tetris; and WORDS FAMILY, a simple word game where I try to spell words across using the letter tiles to fill in the puzzle.




CATEGORY BASED NAVIGATION FOR THE GAME COLLECTION 


What has the pandemic taught me? That is OK to spend quality playing the computer to de-stress. That somehow this "new normal" has turned me into a "gamer-mom" for my own mental health. And that it is highly acceptabe for majority of working moms to play these online games to relax when they have free time. 


And I have to be thankful, that my husband and my two teens share the same interests in online games. We truly live by these words "the family that PLAYS together, stay HAPPY together"!







Sunday, April 4, 2021

CREATIVE WAYS TO STORE YOUR BATH TOWELS WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH

As a work from home mom, the pandemic has brought me opportunities to survey home concerns. I have the luxury of staying at home and focus my energy on home improvements that will make staying at home pretty relaxing for the entire family, especially that my husband is also working from home and the teens are into online schooling.  By relaxing, I mean… organized and clutter-free. 

 

I decided to start organizing the bathroom.  It is definitely on of the rooms in the house that is frequently used. As a DIY enthusiast, I browsed the internet for projects that are simple to start and using recycled things. My target first project in the bathroom – storing my bath towels.

 

A mommy friendly reminder though – find a good place to store your bath towels. Bathrooms are not the place places for it because they are damp and can breed mildew and other harmful organisms. It is advisable to store your bath towels in a dry area or airy shelves, in your bedroom or walls farthest from the shower area.  Fold them well or roll them after washing and drying. 

 


photo credit: bhg.com

 

USE NATIVE BASKETS

Do you have native baskets lying around the house? You can use it as a towel storage. You can put it on top of your sink to store hand towels. Or a bigger one can store your rolled-up bath towels. A good source of these native baskets are the stalls in Quiapo or Dapitan Arcade.

 



photo credit: decoist.com

photo credit: architecture design.net

RECYCLED PALLET BOXES  

As a blogger, I get to receive packages in pallet boxes. Over time, it accumulated in numbers. I recycled them to store bath towels in the master’s bathroom.  It can give your space a rustic, shabby chic vibe. You can opt to paint it to add color into your space. 




photo credit: sarahshermansamuel.com

 

LADDERS 

If you have a small bathroom, it is ideal to store towels using a repurposed ladder. It keeps your towels organized and you maximize vertical and wall space. It is even portable; you can move it anywhere in your bathroom. 



photo credit: https://creatingmaryshome.com

WINE RACK

Another great idea to create a vertical storage for your bath towels is to use a wine rack. As an added tip, choose a stainless-steel wine rack if you decide to use one in your bathroom. It is the safest to combat moisture and it will not rust!


 

photo credit: photos.hgtv.com


OLD MAGAZINE HOLDER

When everything turns digital, I know a lot of mommies can identify, that magazine holders became obsolete. When you use your smartphones or tablets in reading articles and news, I am very sure, we already stopped buying magazines. What to do with those old magazine holders? You can use it to store your towels.  

 

 

Aside from being organized and clutter free in towel storage. I am also being mindful to practice minimalism. That would mean 2-3 bath towels per person in our household. We can live with 2 towels in summer, when we alternate usage and washing. But during rainy season, we need to have a spare one, if washed towels do not dry on time.

 

Maybe you are also wondering if it is about time to replace your bath towels. If you wash it frequently, chances are it becomes worn out or frayed on the edges. If they are not as absorbent as it used to be, you should replace them already. Old, worn out bath towels won’t dry you thoroughly and will be infested with unseen germs and bacteria. A big NO for OC mommies!  Experts advise, you should replace your bath towels every two years.