When I was younger and already working, I used to get quickly irritated by Insurance agents bothering me (bordering to sobrang kakulitan) to get an insurance from them.  I was annoyed because I (thought I) didn't need one, that it's an additional expense and that I don't understand what it's for.

So much for my ignorance back then. I realized its importance when I was already in my 30s (ggetting insured is one of the things that should be accomplished by this time) I immediately got myself insured back in 2012 (after carefully studying each proposals sent.)  I kept on saying to myself that I should have started when I was younger.  But I believe that it's never late to start, the important thing is, I started and now I feel more secured.

That's exactly what our letter sender this week asked, let's read her short letter:

Yes, there's a new fad that's taking the digital space by storm right now in our country!  If you haven't heard or seen a #makeuptransformation post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, then I don't know where you've been lately?

I usually dive into a funny and entertaining craze such as this #makeuptransformation.  Even hubby also created his entry.  Yesterday, we were in my in-law's house with other friends and during our mini get together, there was a time when we'd all just burst into contagious laughter one after the other while holding our mobile phones.  I'm sure you could easily get why, because we're individually browsing photo entries to this craze.

But first, let me show you my #makeuptransformation entry:

My #makeuptransformation to Iza Calzado

Hubby's Mark Pingris #makeuptransformation entry:
Entries of friends:

My friend Paelo as Paolo Avelino

From my sweet friend Jane of @sugar_n_spice_88

From Richie Zamora's The Pickiest Eater's FB Page

Funny #makeuptransformation Photos:
If you have Instgram or Facebook (of course you do!)  Go search for the hashtag: #makeuptransformation and you'll see tons of entries from different people.  I chose some hilarious and creative posts from the timeline.  I'm sharing them with you to make you smile! :)

From Bogart The Explorer's FB Page

We all know the difference between males and our species, females, in all aspects.  Be it psychological, mental, biological make-up and of course the most obvious - physical.  One of the many physical differences is our reproductive organs (a bird is different from the flower - as how we teach our kids about these body parts), the appearance of women's breasts (of course ours are larger and serves a lot of purpose) and lastly hair growth and its aesthetics.  While some guys look really hot with a mustache and a beard or look really macho with chest hairs (but not too much) and hairy legs, for women, looking HOT with these hair appearances is a big NO, in fact could be a turn-off and sometimes not hygienic.

That's why waxing and threading salons sprouted all over the metro to attend to these hair removal musts.  I personally have my eyebrows threaded to make sure they look well-groomed, my underarms waxed once every two months and I've tried Brazilian twice pa lang (looking forward to more - when I am more brave enough.)  Why?  Because apart from it makes me look better with groomed brows, I feel clean and even feel more confident with waxed underarms.  Hindi ako mahihiyang mag-sleeveless top or hail a cab diba?

I recently discovered a nearby (near my office that is) waxing salon called Satin Finish Nail and Waxing Salon.  It's located at UG 7, Cityland 10 Tower 1, Salcedo Village, 1224 Makati.  Let me take you around their small but cozy and clean salon for your better appreciation:

Hello loves!  How's your mid-week so far?  Mine was a busy start, but I'm on leave from work earlier because my son has fever.  Help me please pray for his speedy recovery.  Thank you.

Anyway, our #DearMommyPracticality letter sender for the week is from a mom who is (still as of this writing) separated from her 2yo son and wants to get him back.  Let's read her letter now:

It's already Tuesday loves and I've been meaning to share with you what my Friday at work and the family's weekend was made of.  As you read it, it was a fun one with a sweet ending for me and hubby.

First of all, to working ladies reading this, have you applied the 5S workplace management in your office?  For those not familiar, 5S office management is a name of a workplace organization method which applies the five Japanese words already translated to English.  5S means: Sort (which ones to retain, return or get rid of), Set in Order or organize stuff in short, Shine (make workplace spic and span), Standardize (maintain and make sort, set in order and shine a regular habit), and Sustain (keep it that way to make one more efficient at work.)  I heard there's an additional 3S and these are: Safety, Security and Satisfaction.

So last Friday, I got down my knees, kept my office shoes and other personal stuff (spell b-a-h-a-y) inside my pedestal and lateral cabinets.  It was actually a therapeutic activity because I discovered that I've been keeping trash in my work area that I don't use, accumulate dust and take up space. I'm proud to present to you my new (and hopefully sustainable) 5S work place:

“Mom, may I please come with my friends to watch Guardians of The Galaxy and go to arcade tomorrow?”  It was a very simple yet powerful question from my 10-year old boy.

It struck me that my fear of THE day when he will ask me to be with his friends – had finally unfolded right before my very eyes.

I had to face reality.  I’m already a mom of an almost adolescent kid and that instant, a lot ran through my sometimes-over-analytic-mind like:

“Naku, he’ll have his girlfriend soon!”

“Oh no, he might have plenty of facial pimples!”

"He might not want to be with me anymore, at all."

Of course I allowed him, but not without me as a chaperone.  After all he is just 10 and not an official teenager.  Wait, what?  Me?  Already a chaperone and no longer his main companion?  Do you know how that feels?  I was emotionally affected, OA pero yun ako.  I vividly remember him as my first-born, a healthy toddler, an active preschooler, an adjusting grade-schooler, and now he wants to be more independent and go out with his friends.  I could be exaggerating if I tell you that my world was shattering and my heart was being cut in half, crying and breaking, when I was asked that question.

So last Saturday, I chaperoned him to his very first and official lakwatsa: movie and arcade with his school friends.  As expected, his classmates' parents also played the role of chaperones.  There was a feeling of relief that I'm not alone in going through this adjustment to my child's new developmental stage.  We were talking and agreed when we said, they are no longer our babies.

It's not a hidden fact that I am a "kuracha" Mommy.  "Kuracha" in contemporary Filipino language means one who does a lot of things at a time or one who wears different hats and seems like she never gets tired doing so.  Here are the life roles I play: A wifey, a working mom, a blogger, a band vocalist, a part-time TV commercial talent, a part-time memorial plan sales agent, and a businesswoman too.

Sa panahon ngayon, we should be practical diba? That's why I believe in monetizing your skills or talents and I cannot stress enough how important investing in yourself is (even wrote about it HERE and HERE.)  For me, practicality means getting a quality of life without sacrificing your family's budget.  AND also you should know how to make money and save too!  I have been asked by mommy friends and even colleagues this question, "Talaga bang Mommy Practicality ka?"  They would run plenty of jokes to prove that I'm not (but they don't succeed of course!) to challenge how practical I could get.
Wow ha!  For someone who even during sale season in malls thinks twice about getting that really nice dress or purchasing that marked down stilettos, who brings lunch baon to work (almost daily), who enrolls to mobile/data unli-promos and never stops thinking of ways to earn, who would even think I am impractical?  But mind you, I am not stingy when it comes to expenses, I just prioritize where our money goes and also make sure that we get the best value in every peso spent.  Nakaka-relate ba kayo mommies?

Here's one practical example on our mobile subscription.  Did you know that I could get my 2 pesos worth a long way?  That's possible with SUN Cellular's #SunAdd2.  I just add 2 pesos to my selected Sun Prepaid load and I could already have all day unlimited Facebook especially when I need to update my Mommy Practicality FB Page, OR I could also have all day unlimited chat to family and friends here and abroad through Viber, WeChat and Line OR I could also have all day mobile surfing of up to 5MB to get the latest news, share inspiring contents and even blog during commuting hours!  Now that's getting MORE value for money talaga loves!  To avail of #SunAdd2 just dial *247#2# on your Sun Prepaid phone.

For those of you who don't have a skin regimen yet, you better start now.  Whether you are in your young 20s, maturing 30s and especially 40s and above, skin care is one of the most important parts of our daily hygiene.  We all know that proper skin care will result to better appearance and over-all health and well-being.  Being that our skin is the largest organ of our body and protects us from harmful bacteria, viruses and even from the rays of the sun, we have a duty to care for it too.

How?  I was taught by my mom and by the dermatologists I consulted from that the proper way to care for the facial skin is to cleanse, tone and moisturize.  For the rest of the body, it's to cleanse and put lotions and sunblock as well.  But did you know that skin care now goes beyond caring for the outside?  It's called Holistic Skin Care - Beautiful Skin From Within.  While creams, sunblocks, lotions could do wonders for our skin, these should be complemented with a healthy lifestyle.  Recent studies show, that that's the real secret to healthy, young-looking and glowing skin.

I was reminded of how important Holistic Skin Care really is when I received a Myra Holistic Skin Care package.

Package Contents: Kor Water Bottle (the hydration vessel of Oprah, and Gwyneth Paltrow) Yummy Recipe Book, Myra-E 300 and Myra-E 400

Our first letter sender for our #DearMommyPracticality Season 2 (very TV-series-like) comes from a very hardworking wife who is having some concerns about their current family financial set-up.

Let's now read about her dilemma:

#DearMommyPracticality,

Hi.Good Day!  Hello sis you (may) call me Bluemorpho nalang.

Actually sis i don't know kung big problem ba talaga 'to or ginagawa ko lang big deal for me.  I have two kids (2 boys) the one is turning to 6 yrs old and the other is turning into 1 yr old.  We know already na mahirap ang buhay ngayon.  The problem is nagresign po kasi husband ko sa work so ako nalang po nagwowork.and he decided na sya nalang mag-alaga sa two kids po namin.  Alam po natin na madaming expenses right now tulad ng tuition fees etc.

Sa tingin mo ba sis big deal yung problem ko?

Thank you sis.

Sincerely,
Bluemorpho