Black is The New White: Redefining Clean

The latest trend involving charcoal as both a cleaning and detoxifying agent is causing quite a stir. For one thing, dark-colored cleaning agents have never been associated with clean.

White has long been associated with the word “clean.” Its pure state has made the color associated with cleanliness: stain free and without blemish. This is why recent trends of using dark ingredients to clean both our faces and our teeth are causing curiosity for a good reason.

The trend has been around for quite sometime now when it was just associated with flushing out toxins from the body a few years back. Today, charcoal has moved from just being a quick remedy against food poisoning, to flushing out toxins from the face. Cleansing your face and whitening your pores have recently been linked to everything dark: charcoal, black soap, clay masks, and skin-saving muds.[1][2]

Some of these ingredients, such as mud and tar, have been around since the time of the pharaohs. But the most recent addition to dark cleansing agents is charcoal. Activated charcoal is a carbon that has been treated with oxygen. It contains millions of small pores that result in a huge surface area that allows charcoal to soak up gases and toxins that they come in contact with.[3]

The interest in charcoal has allowed some to experiment on what better way to use it in terms of personal hygiene, especially in oral and facial care. As studies in charcoal confirm its cleansing benefits, would you be willing to try it for yourself?

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[1] http://www.wellandgoodnyc.com/2014/03/03/facial-cleansers-and-soap-with-charcoal-clay/

[2] http://www.prevention.com/beauty/beauty/mud-clay-and-charcoal-cleanser-are-latest-skincare-trend

[3] http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryfaqs/f/charcoal.htm

Of Tiger Stripes and Gly Derm

Let's face it, even before pregnancy, some bellas tend to have those white stripes somewhere along the bikini area, along the underarms, and on my pre-wife/pre-pregnancy years, those almost transparent stripes doesn't bother me at all - not until I gave birth.

I did tried to prevent these stripes using Shea butter during my pregnancy and it did help a bit. The stripes however are tougher especially when it's on the blueprint of your genes.

The tiger stripes that I'm talking about is very well known as the stretch mark. As mentioned earlier, puberty, weight fluctuations, pregnancy and hormonal changes weakens skin elasticity and causes collagen fibers to break.

Gly Derm Stretch Mark Cream promises to help rebuild collagen and regain skin elasticity. This so called dual-function helps improve color and size of the stretch marks.

As much as I would want to let you guys see my before and after photos, I would pass. I'm too conservative when it comes to that and my sex life (but that's another story).

Sorry for that blurry photo. Glyderm looks like any other lotion, but I could feel a film after applying this. The bottle tube is also better than OK since it is upside down and you could control the product by gently squeezing it. At the back of the bottle, the direction for use is to gently massage onto skin twice daily, and since I don't have that luxury of time, I apply this on to area after shower. And although, there are days when I forget this new routine after bath, I still quite see some difference in size and color.

This product will do best if stored below 25°C but do not refrigerate.
Its dermatologically tested, preservative free and fragrance free.

Have you tried Gly Derm before? What other stretch mark removers do you use? Comment down below!

Kids Craft Workshop - The Basic Polymer Clay Art

I wish baby is old enough to join this workshop! Nevertheless, I'm inviting everyone to the latest quality learning time you and your kids could enjoy!

 

Sign up now! This will be on October 25, 2014 at the Sulok, Tiendesitas, Ortigas Avenue cor. E. Rodriguez Ave. (C-5), Pasig City, Metro Manila from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Click here to sign up!

Communicate with your baby effectively using Sign Language!

Hi guys, I would like to share to you another Manila Workshop event!

 Teaching my baby sign language really helped me a lot in understanding what she needs and wants. For this workshop, we have invited Sharon Agoncillo - Galang of Baby Signs Philippines Inc. and Dra. Jaime Isip, a pediatrician to help us communicate effectively with our babies and toddlers.

Workshop Details:

Date: October 4, 2014, from 1-5PM

Venue: 12th Floor Insular Life Building Ayala Avenue Makati

Fee: Php 500 per person (Early Bird Rate)

Get to sign up now and pay the early bird rate! Sign up by going here.

Slappy Cake Buddies

When you're a #wahm (work-at-home mom) or a freelancer, your everyday is a special day. Quality time with baby is unlimited. Whether I'm in a rush for a deadline or easy-going with my projects finished ahead of time, I'm with Clyde. ^_^

And what's more fun than slapping cakes with my little man? ;)

 

Chillin' while waiting for our orders

With Mama Ellen after the slapping cake incident. lol

This particular night, I'm not in a rush and we did take our time playing in front of the table. This night, I had a meeting with a client somewhere with sparkles and wine but I made sure babe had his share of fun.

A night full of fun and hot mess. ^_~

Bet You Didn’t Know Tea is Good For You

Tea is usually associated with English afternoon snacks or Chinese meal partners, but did you know that tea packs a punch and is loaded with numerous health benefits? Aside from it being loaded with polyphenols, an antioxidant, and phytochemicals, it is also filled with other benefits that make you want to drink every day. 

 

Tea boosts exercise endurance. The antioxidant, catechin, is found in green tea extract and increases the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel, which also contributes to muscle endurance.

 

Tea hydrates. Contrary to popular belief, tea is a good way to hydrate your body. Not only does it help replenish your body fluids, but it also contains antioxidants that help fuel your other body functions.

 

Tea helps fight free radicals. Tea is known to be high in oxygen radical absorbance capacity or ORAC, which destroys free radicals that damage the DNA. Fighting off free radicals is needed, especially since radicals have been linked to cancer, heart disease, and neurological degeneration.

 

Tea helps your battle with the bulge. Those who wish to drop a few pounds may want to load up on their tea. In a few studies, scientists have speculated that regular tea drinking lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome, which is the slowing down of the metabolism that leads to obesity.

 

People enjoy taking their tea in different ways, but because of the constant hot weather and everyone’s tight schedule, most people want their tea cold and easy to bring anywhere, anytime. This is why many love Nestea in a bottle. Its three flavors

 

 

   

Lemon, Lemon Ice, and Apple will surely delight anyone’s taste buds while enjoying the benefits of tea. 

Teeth Check: How Clean Are Your Teeth?

Just like every part of our body, our teeth can get dirty too. From eating too much sweets and drinking carbonated drinks to keeping bacteria-friendly toothbrushes, there are many causes for dirty teeth. However, cleaning your teeth can be just as easy as one-two-three. Floss first to remove bigger debris in between the teeth. Second, brush your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes each time. Third, don’t forget your tongue and brush this area clean too.

And to beef up your daily regimen even more, here are three teeth-cleaning partners to help maintain your pearly whites. First is a 12-hour anti-bacterial protection toothpaste to boost your teeth’s defense. Second is the right toothbrush that suits your cleaning needs. And of course, don't forget to visit your dentist every six months for professional cleaning.

Remember, it’s easy to get our teeth dirty, but with a little effort, having clean teeth will become even easier.

Experience Sunkist Saya in Ministop in new PET Bottle

Experience the goodness of Sunkist and the fun fizz, anytime, anywhere with Sunkist Carbonated Juice (CJ) Drink afford-saya bottle! You can enjoy it wherever you go, with the handy 330 mL PET bottle – the perfect size that fills right – for only P18. Choose from three refreshingly fruity flavors like Orange, Apple, and Lemonade.

So brighten up your day, send some good vibes, and grab a bottle in any Ministop branch nationwide!

Age Appropriate Chores for Toddlers 2 to 3 years old

If you're a first time parent like I am, you'll be surprise on what a two-year old toddler could do. This post is important because this is one way of teaching our kids discipline, house chores and for freelance/work-at-home moms like me, this is one way of lightening the load off our shoulders. ;)

1) Put his toys in the basket/toy box.

2) Fetch his new diaper and wet wipes when he soiled his diaper

3) Throw clean thrash away like papers and plastic wrappers on my home office bin

4) Stack his baby books on shelf

5) Open and close his plastic drawers

6) Get the broom and the dustpan or better yet

7) Make him dust the floor

8) Press the on/off button of the laptop/tv/desktop/electric fan

9) Tuck in the mosquito net

10) Get my phone/wallet in my bag

11) Change the cable channel and finally,

12)  Change the light bulb! Kidding! Remove his clothes for bath time! ^_^

Of course I'm monitoring him while he is doing his "chores", like when he sweep the floor, he just swipe it like 3 to 5x when he is so determined to do it and I'll finish it off. The thing is, he should participate and maybe next month he could swipe the four corners of the room.

Sometimes, I let him sign the blueprints for me. ;) Got you there again, huh?

The best part is, he is having fun doing it. :)

Do you have anything else in mind? Comment down below!

Summit Natural Drinking Water Encourages You to Thirst for More at the Condura Skyway Marathon 2015

Summit Natural Drinking Water encourages everyone to go beyond their limits and thirst for more at the Condura Skyway Marathon 2015. The Premiere Marathon event in the country is gunning for its seventh year on February 1, 2015 in Filinvest City, Alabang. Organized by Ton and Patrick Concepcion, this year’s race is appropriately themed, “Run for a Hero” named after this year’s beneficiary, the Hero Foundation.

Hosting four categories including 42K full marathon, 21K half marathon, 10K and 6K, there’s definitely a category for every runner and every fitness level. Summit believes this is a great way to get more out of life, says Abe Cipriano, AVP for ABI Non Alcoholic Division, “Not only do you get to challenge yourself on a unique run on the Skyway, you also help a deserving beneficiary, the Hero Foundation. Summit is excited to be part of an event that truly encourages Filipinos to thirst for more, and we are looking forward to more events that push it even further.”

 For more information, visit www.conduramarthon.com

Toddler's Top 5 Today!

These photos were taken a few months back, and I stumble upon them while deleting old photos on my old phone before selling it online. I realized that these times were the start of his turning to a toddler - a very active, super curious and more adorable toddler, and as always, it made me bittersweet. Some of the shots were blurry but no matter, these still are treasures to me.

1 - He can now walk alone, he can even walk up and down the stairs while holding on to me or something for support. He also attempts to climb into furniture unassisted. He can stand on his toes and reach for his toys, carry them while walking or even running.

2 - He can kick balls. And he kick hard. Clyde can also now scribble spontaneously. I know that toddlers are usually ambiguous but I think he is more of a leftie. Not to mention, nor highlight, he turn over every container, bag and bucket around the house!

Once when we were out at KFC for a rush dinner, he spelled out the bucket, and the 24hour OPEN sign and everything else that he saw on the road. He recognizes people we meet, his shapes, letters and numbers. He can complete simple sentences and he always ask questions, questions I don't know how to answer and sometimes don't understand too. I just nod and say yes, hehe.

3 - I can tell him to pick up his toys, put things on the table, hand me this, give this to daddy, etc, etc,. He now knows how to operate phones, tablets and computers. He can maneuver the mouse and choose which video on youtube he would play next. And when he decided its time for bed, all he had to do was click the "x" box on the upper right of the tab and press the on/off button of the gadget.

To lure him to bed, I keep something "special" in there, a toy, a book, a red plastic spoon, even his cough syrup on occasions that he needs it. He started to enjoy hide-and-seek, finding objects even when hidden under a blanket or a pillow, even under the bed.  He also love sorting shapes and colors, like nips, m&ms and his twinkies.

4 - He started to play make-believe. I already forgot how I play when I was his age, and seeing him having imaginary friends amazes me. He imitates sounds and behaviours of people and things around him - like vroom, oh no!, aha!, again! bubbles, etc, etc,.

5 - He don't give in to peer pressure. He is now aware that he is a separate individual from others. He is excited to play with his cousin, Kuya LJ and yup, he now shows defiance and protest whenever he doesn't want what I am telling him to do, or when I don't want what he wants but as a silver lining, it is one sign of his milestones. He should be like that.