Welch's 100% Grape Juice Celebrates 150 Years!

I was also surprised that Welch's has been around for 150 years and to celebrate it and remind moms about making healthier choices for the family, they organized an event where Ms. Paz Sales, a certified nutritionist showed the current bad eating habits of Filipinos and how to overcome them, the importance of healthy eating is while including Welch's in a family's diet. 
I am blessed to have been invited to learn and also discover ways how to prepare healthy food using Welch's Grape Juice as demonstrated by Chefs Peachy Mathay and Trisha Ocampo.
Attendees also got to learn from social media celebrity moms Frances Sales and Aliza Apostol as they shared some of their healthy family traditions, challenges, and advice.
I was in attendance with some of my mom friends with whom I share the same belief when it comes to choosing healthier nutrition for our family.
“Welch’s is an advocate of better nutritional choices for families all over the world. To celebrate its 150 years, we continue the tradition of encouraging more people to lead a healthy lifestyle, and it starts with the food and beverage that we consume,” says Erika Rodriguez, VP for Marketing of Gemco, the Philippine marketing agent of Welch’s International.  “Even amidst our busy lifestyle, moms must make sure that our family – especially the growing kids – only get the best when it comes to nutrition.”

On the part of its Philippine distributor, Fly Ace Corporation, President Lucio ‘Jun’ Cochanco Jr. said that they are proud to carry Welch’s as it is not only a heritage brand but also one that is popular among Filipino families.  “We celebrate with Welch’s as it marks 150 years. It is a product that we are proud of since it is well loved because of its nutritional values and the natural goodness that it gives to consumers. Moving forward, we want more Filipinos to share in the joy of drinking Welch's together especially during special occasions and family moments.”

Why Choose Welch's 100% Grape Juice?
- Opening a bottle of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice is like unleashing the power of ‘purple’ in every sip.  - Welch’s is vitamin-packed and 100% natural with no artificial coloring and sugar.
- Made from Concord grapes known for containing natural sugars that is unlikely to raise one’s blood sugar significantly.
- A glass of Welch's 100% Grape Juice supports a healthy heart because of its polyphenols an antioxidant.
- It tastes delicious especially when chilled.

This is why, I also prepare my son's #WesBaonToday with a bottle of healthy Welch's grape juice or cranberry juice and also their yummy Fruit Snacks!

To illustrate, Welch’s juice uses the entire Concord grape – skin, seeds and all – to release the plant’s true polyphenol power. In fact, at least 20 grapes are squeezed into each 4-ounce glass.  Imagine the vitamins and minerals in each glass of Welch’s that has nurtured generations of families not only in the Philippines but all over the world.

For more information about the 150 years of Welch’s and how to know the different ways to enjoy 100% natural grape juice, visit www.welchs.com or follow Welch’s PH in Facebook and IG. Welch’s fruit drinks and snacks are distributed by Fly Ace Corporation and available in leading retail stores nationwide.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a unique event to feature a #MomCar (at least that's what I call it!) in the body of the All-New Mercedes Benz B-Class.  I was in awe during the exclusive preview of the B-Class.  It was a lovely afternoon of gathering with other mom bloggers as well as media people, where we learned a lot about traveling and even shared hacks on traveling with kids.  Great food, happy conversations, and impressive subject or star of that afternoon - that's how I would describe the Mercedes Benz B-Class event.

Here are the first impressions that took my breath away instantly and why I say it's definitely a mom car for this exact generation:

It's compact outside but roomy inside.  Indeed perfect for families and moms bringing kids to and from school or usual weekend bonding.  Unbelievably, there's so much space inside to put a sturdy car seat, diaper bags, individual bags of kids, toys, hygiene kit, and many more!  The new B-Class offers increased interior dimensions from its predecessor, and also offers more headroom, elbowroom in both the front and the rear. The seat is also more elevated to a more level position making it more comfortable to sit in the vehicle.  It also has a huge back loading capability for longer luggage, thanks to its 40-40-20 lay-fold rear seats capability. Whether its dad’s golf bags, mom’s luggage, or the baby stroller, the new B-Class offers no compromise on space.Mercedes Benz gave a new meaning to real comfort and space, making it the ideal starter family vehicle.

Impressive Digital User Experience For The Driver. It has a state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) like which elevates to a whole new level the driving experience of moms and even non-moms other human forms and kinds.  It has a wide digital panel that connects the car and the driver to a personal level which definitely is an awesome digital driving experience!  I am highly impressed with this feature!  This is their highly intelligent virtual assistant, which is activated by pressing a button in the steering wheel or by simply saying, “Hey Mercedes”. It caters to voice commands to attend to infotainment functions such as destination input, phone call, music selection, climate control, and ambient lighting. MBUX comes with a natural speech recognition program that helps it to recognize and understand nearly all sentences from the fields of multimedia and vehicle operation.  I only see this kind of intelligence in Marvel movies (Ironman's Jarvis VA!) and it's real with the MBUX!
Safety is its top priority.  Being Mercedes Benz alone, a German luxury car brand, speaks quality, high-technology, and unparalleled safety.  It's over-all functionality and well-thought space for the driver and passengers make it comfortably safe.  You won't find a seat without seat belts.  The space at the back passenger make durable car seats such as what was demonstrated during the event, very fitting.   It also improved the all-around visibility, minimizing the risk of overlooking vehicles and pedestrians.  It also has an extended Active Brake Assist as a standard.  Depending on the situation, it can effectively help to mitigate the consequences of rear-end collisions by applying braking when the vehicle detects slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead - even with crossing pedestrians and cyclists.  If the driver fails to respond, Active Brake Assist can go one step further and brake
autonomously if the danger of collision persists, so as to mitigate the severity of the accident or in the best case even prevent it. Attention Assist with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver in a timely manner of inattentiveness and drowsiness, is also included as standard. To add to one’s peace of mind, the vehicle comes equipped with airbags for driver and front passenger, including windowbags and kneebag for the driver, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts and TopTether attachment points in the rear backrest, plus a host of other safety features.
Sleek yet Practical.  A Mercedes is a Mercedes, and it will remain classy and top of the line when it comes to vehicles.  The B-Class holds the brand's class yet with its features, makes it a practical car for the family, especially moms like us.  The new B-Class has redefined its relaxed and practical look with a sportier profile without sacrificing space or user value. Dubbed as a small multi-purpose vehicle, one of the main highlights of the new B-Class is its spacious interior and cabin.  Its Artico-leather-made seat offers excellent ergonomics and a high degree of comfort even on longer journeys.

The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class is priced at PHP 2.690 Million Pesos.  If a family has a budget for buying a car with its highest-safety in mind and one that would really be worth every peso they worked for, the Mercedes Benz B-Class should be a consideration.

Auto Nation Group hosted the event and welcomed moms to their showroom last week.  According to Joseph Ayllon, Asst. VP,  "The new B-Class is the perfect mom-mobile for today’s modern mom. It is easy and comfortable to drive, offers a huge amount of space for passengers and their load, and comes with class-leading safety features and world-class technology. It has everything every starter family would want in a reliable vehicle.” 
We were also treated to a learning session during the talk by Jeanette Ipapo-Tuason, entrepreneur and
mother of five, who shared her ideas on how to make family road trips safe and enjoyable.  Some of us, including me, shared some family travel hacks.  Sharers won a gift pack from L'Oreal.  Yey for mommies! 

Some of the sponsors of the event who were too generous to gift us with something to take home and make mommy self-care possible were The Farm at San Benito, Belo, Chicco, Mighty Mom, Oh so Healthy!, Sarah’s Home Sprays, Sharp Philippines,and Wenya Bags.
For more information, details or inquiries, you visit any Mercedes-Benz showroom nationwide ((EDSA Greenhills, Alabang, BGC and Cebu) or call ahead to schedule a test drive. You may also visit https://www.mercedes-benz.ph or follow them on Instargram @mercedesbenzph.

Hi, if you're new to my blog, welcome to Mommy Practicality, I'm Louise and a newly baptized Work At Home Mom or WAHM for short.  If you're a long-time reader and follower, you somehow know my mom life stages.

For the longest time I've been a working mom (working outside home), then just last year, February 2018 to be exact, I left my corporate life to become a full-pledged Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) and focus on my family, especially my children.  We intentionally didn't get a helper, because I want to do everything myself and feel the real deal of being a full-time mother for the very first time.

After over a year of being a SAHM, I got an offer to be a writer working from home.  I thought to myself, wow, what an awesome job because I can transition from being a full-time career woman to a full-time mom to being a working mom again while staying at home with my kids.  Dream opportunity for many working mommas I know who want to just stay at home to watch their kids grow but at the same time want to earn just enough to still be able to contribute to the household expenses.
I have to tell you this, yes, I am reaping the good benefits of this set up because I earn a living while I stay at home, be with my kids, and be a homemaker conveniently.  I also still get to go out on some days for meetings, events (blog and work-related), occasional coffice (make coffee place my remote office/working venue), and also a little bit of me-time or see friends.

It seems like a perfect set up for moms with little children like me.  But it's not always butterflies and rainbows and perfect days.  To be honest, I also have some struggles too and that's what this post is all about.

STRUGGLES OF A WAHM
1.  I'm here but I'm not here.  The struggle is real, I am here at home, but I am not actually here when my mind is at work mode.  So, it's like I'm in another dimension when I start to open my laptop and sit on my recently bought office chair.  In a way, I feel a bit unfair to my kids, but at the same time, I feel still priveleged to living a life I've wanted to achieve when I was still in the corporate jungle.

2.  Double and endless things to do on my list.  The Things-To-Do-List became longer than usual.  The list now contains things to do for the household and things to do for work.  I cannot give work as an excuse not to wash dishes, not to cook, not to attend to my kids' needs even when I  work at my office space because my office is just at home.

Photo Source

3.  Out of focus.  Because of number 2 struggle, I often catch myself out of focus because of balancing priorities.  I admit it's easier to focus at work when you're doing it outside than doing it from home where you're also required to stay on top of things.  No matter how trained you were in your corporate days, you'll still struggle in this department because you know in your heart that even if work is also a priority, your family's needs are more important.

4.  Demanding kids.  I love my kids so much, but we all know how they can be demanding.  In my case, I still have a toddler who exclusively breastfeeds from me.  Though he may be old enough to understand that when I sit in front of the computer at my working corner in the room, he isn't old enough to have self-control.  His needs vs the demands of my profession.  Since I work from home, home is where my heart is.  I give in to his demands because he is my child and since I am here, it's very convenient to give his needs.  That's the beauty of this struggle in a way that I can be with them right away, but for many, I know it's a struggle to balance the demands of work and the demands of your real little bosses at home.

5.  Who's this woman?  Ever since I started working from home, honestly, I looked at myself in the mirror lesser now to check my make up, to make sure my outfit matches, to make sure my accessories match my clothes, to iron my hair or style it.  Washing my face and brushing my teeth are enough because no one would see me anyway unless I do some stories on IG (but most of the time I still don't wear makeup when I share a home story on IG too!).  So when I look back to old working momma photos of myself, hala, WHO YOU sa akin ang nakikita ko in the mirror now.  It's not really letting go of myself.  I still care about how I look or present myself especially when I go out.  It's just not as frequent as every day

These are just some of the recent struggles I experience there are still plenty, but I deal with these more frequently.  Too frequent that I've found solutions that work best for me.  I hope these solutions offer the same answers to your WAHM struggles as well.

What To Do?  Here are some WAHM Solutions:

1. Time Management.  Cliche as it may sound, really, time management is the key to almost everything.  Our home duties in the morning are easy because we really do wake up in the morning as a routine and prepare breakfast, kids for school, and we have this regular chores list we follow before we get on to other stuff to do - like our work.  Set time for work, if like me you have no definite time, you still have to set time for you to devote time for work.  Set time for cooking lunch or dinner (like at least 30mins before mealtime).  Incorporate social media/phone time in your daily schedule as a break.  Never forget to also have quiet time for prayer.  In my case on an ordinary stay-in day, 5am - 7am is time for breakfast/baon-preps/wife duties. 7 - 8am is for household duties.  By 8 to 9 am, I start working in my little corner in our room, 11-11:30am I cook, 12 - 1:30pm is lunch, back to work after that until around 6pm.  In between, I set aside breaks for social media (usually 2pm and 5:30pm), play with my toddler, breastfeeding, and PM snack when my grade-schooler arrives.  I cook at around 6pm, have dinner between 7 to 8pm with the whole family (around this time my husband arrives from work already).  8 - 9pm for some self-care (ideally, dapat meron!) like bathing, skincare, social media engagements.  I also put the kids to sleep around this time - extended to around 10pm.  9pm onwards, wife duties (that includes Netflix, talk, devotion, husband-wife-activity lol!)  My husband sleeps early, so by 11pm - 12nn is my me-time before bedtime.

2. Set an Away Day.  Yes, our WAHM setup is ideal because we get to be with our kids at home while being able to put food on the table.  But to break from routine, have a fresh outlook, and get inspired again, we need an away day too.  For a writer like me, I need inspiration which I can't find sometimes in the chaotic jungle called home.  I have to see new things and be in a different environment to get into writing.  It's one way I manage writer's block which happens to me every now and then.  You could choose a coffee shop or a restaurant with wide windows for natural light, inspiring ambiance, and a place that makes you feel joy.

3. Defined Work Space - At home, a WAHM needs to set up a home office corner or better a small room to do pure work and nothing else.  This will help us get into the zone and motivate us to finish that long list of tasks we need to accomplish for the day or week.  If you may also communicate with people in the house that this workspace is to be respected, please do.  No toys on the desk or any arts and materials, it disrupts the flow of work.  It's also one way of organizing the house spaces and items around you.  Personally, I don't have an office room, but I do have an office corner in the room where I placed all my work-related stuff,  desktop computer, my laptop, printer, office supplies, books, and other writing/blogging references.  With this home office, it makes it easier for me to shift my mood or mode from homemaker - to WAHM.

4. Prayer time.  In anything and everything, let's practice a lifestyle of prayer.  A quiet time at the start of the day which could be the moment you wake up, as you're about to start work or write your To Do list, or during your me-time break or even when the day ends.  It helps that we're centered and calm before or after work - to be able to communicate with our Creator to give praises, give thanks, ask for guidance, and ask forgiveness.  Personally, when I pray, I am reminded that I was called to this situation, which I also prayed for, to be able to serve Him and not myself.  So for everything, I should solely depend on his strength and provision.  For every skill, talent, and output I have - all came from Him.. all are HIS.  In prayer, I couldn't thank God enough for blessing me with work that's ideal for almost every mom who wants to be more a more mindful and intentional mother while being able to help her husband put food on the table.  Praying makes me more productive and because I am humbled that without Him, I have no work.  Without the gifts of skills I use for work, I will not be qualified for what I do.  In anything and everything, I give thanks.

But tao lang din naman tao, we get really tired at the end of the day.  Too exhausted na nakakaiyak na minsan, let me share this Bible verse to calm you and let you know we cannot rely on our own strengths.

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

So there you have it, the real mom struggles and solutions to them of a WAHM, at least for writers/bloggers like me.  All these are from my personal experience.  I hope I was able to inspire you to be positive all the time and to motivate you to do better each day.  We all struggle in this department called motherhood, so the least we could do is to lift each other up, help and motivate each other, and never to judge any mom for the choices she makes for her family.  Because wherever she is, whatever she does, and whichever she chooses, God certainly put her there at His perfect timing.  We just have to always trust God's plan for us mothers.

Have a happy work week ahead!

Weekends are precious for our family that's why we make the most out of those two days doing two things:  relax and look for recreational activities.  Recently, we decided to indulge in an opportunity to experience The Garage VR Zone and Food Park plus some Dreamplay time at City of Dreams Manila (will write a separate blog post about this fun experience too!)
It was our first time at The Garage and we were greeted with families enjoying their meals or at least going around the huge food park and kids excitedly playing at the VR Zone. The Garage has a wide range of casual dining choices of food and beverages for the whole family presented in nice-looking trucks and trailers. 
Set in a 2,714-square meter cool and comfortable space located at the upper ground floor, The Garage stands out with its modern industrial interiors catering to a 563-seating capacity. Designed by award-winning Paris-based creative design agency, Malherbe Design in collaboration with Westar Architectural Interior Design, a group known for its strong sensitivity to contemporary design aesthetics, The Garage is further given life and vibrancy with graffiti works of two prominent names in the street art scene: Kookoo Ramos and DeeJae Paste. 
For me, it's a must-experience latest entertainment and dining attraction. The Garage is offering a selection of more than 10 food and beverage trucks and trailers: Chip Shoppe, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Katsu Sora, Pink’s Hotdog, Little Flour, El Chupacabra, Pizza Grigliata, Farmacy, Chocol8, The Roaster and Juiced. I also love that The Garage is also enhanced with the sustainability drive of City of Dreams Manila, where they used only eco-friendly, biodegradable and compostable plates, utensils and take-out bags.

Let me share with you what we had during our family's visit:
We were served food from the Chip Shoppe and we enjoyed the COD Save the Queen (battered COD fish), Calamari, Coco Prawn Fritters, Corn Dog, Spam Fritters and Fries.  For dessert, we tried their Banana Fritters with chocolate ice cream on top.

Calamari, COD Save The Queen, Coco Prawn Fritters, Smap Fritters, Corn Dog, and Fries from Chip Shoppe

Pizza Grigliata Manila

Four Cheese Pizza

Pizza No. Two surprised us with a little kick of spiciness and tanginess with every bite.

Lots of cheese, basil leaves and alfalfa sprouts - THIS is my kind of pizza!

Real deal Carbonara and Tomat0-based

Jasmine Iced Tea

A cup of my favorite Cafe Mocha or was this Capuccino?

The Chip Shoppe

Beverage Bar offers a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

The Roaster's giant roasting machine which they actually use but is in a glass case making it look like an exhibit or an artifact.  This is so cool!

The Roaster is the go-to outlet for an array of gourmet coffee creations made from freshly roasted Philippine beans. In keeping with the resort’s sustainability campaign, the beans are sourced from coffee growers and farmers in various communities supported by the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc.

Chocol8 is an award-winning chocolate shop which can be found in The Garage at City Of Dreams Manila

Chocol8 features handcrafted chocolates in a number of shapes and forms, and are enhanced with special ingredients such as fruits, nuts, and spices.

These chocolates were featured in a number of TV shows, I bet their chocolates are one of the bests in the country!

Farmacy Food Truck

Care for some Soccer game?

The VR zone is not for the faint heart and super full stomach.  It's recommended that you play either before eating or an hour or so after because if it's your first time, chances are you may get nauseated.  How do I know?  I can message it to you privately!  Hahaha!  It was an awesome experience overall especially for first-timers like my husband and me.

After having an awesome experience hanging out at The Garage VR Zone and Food Park, here are some of the reasons why we recommend this to families looking for a new place to comfortably hangout:
1.  It's spacious.  Spend time with the family at ease.  Having a spacious area means kids could run around, you don't worry much that you're disturbing another family, hahaha!  Honestly, this happens to every family with little kids in tow.  I love the high ceiling, and really the big space of The Garage.
2.  It has a wide selection of food choices.  There's literally something for everybody!  If you want finger foods that are easy to eat yet filling and satisfying there's The Chip Shoppe or Pink Hotdogs.  For Japanese or Mexican dish lovers like me, you'll be happy to try Katsu Sora, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka or El Chupacabra. Pizza and Pasta Day?  Then Pizza Grigliata Manila is the right truck destination.
3.  It's well-ventilated.  Space is big yet very cool.. I love the air-conditioning system because it adds up to the total happy customer experience for the whole family.  Indeed, anyone's stay or hangout experience is a comfortable one.
4.  It's clean.  Who wants to dine in with the family in an unkempt place right?  They've got you covered, from the dining areas to each of the food stalls, and especially their comfort rooms, totally clean.
5.  It's child-friendly.  I say this because the couches are perfect for sitting small children safely and comfortably.  Having a spacious area to hangout also is a plus point for being a child-friendly venue.  The selection of food even for our little picky eaters is friendly, so you're assured your little man or little girl will also be filled with food he/she will enjoy.
6.  It's pro-environment.  They use both reusable and biodegradable materials for serving food, from bowls, plates, wooden utensils, they are all impressively sustainable, making love for our planet and the future generation felt as well!  Good job City of Dreams! :)
7.  It's casual.  Lastly, no need to dress to impress!  This casual hangout place for the family makes the experience a lot more carefree, not restricting, and comfortable while making great family memories last a lifetime.  No social pressure, no venue pressure, just come as you are and be REALLY HAPPY with the family!  I love this about The Garage VR Zone/Food Park!

WHAT TO TRY NEXT:
What we want to try the next time we come here are the following:
1. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka’s well-loved ramen.
2. Katsu Sora's tonkatsu with rice and other side dishes.
3. Pink Hotdogs' intriguing "The Hollywood Legend" hotdogs and their burgers too.
4. Little Flour Café by the highly successful Wildflour Café + Bakery's rice bowls, delicacies, and grilled items.
5.  El Chupacabra's delectable array of Mexican-influenced dishes such as street tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and grilled chicken sticks.
6.  Farmacy Ice Cream - all flavors! :)

Operating Hours:
On Sundays to Thursdays, the VR Zone is open from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., food outlets at 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and The Roaster at 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Fridays to Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., the food outlets at 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and The Roaster at 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Rates:
Single VR activity ticket is at Php 380; while packages are available for those playing in pairs or groups: Php 700 for two persons playing Ski Rodeo or Galaga Fever; and Php 1,300 for a group of four playing Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, Hospital Escape Terror or Winged Bicycle. For those who want to avail of three or five activities, the ticket prices are Php 1, 300 and Php 1, 650 respectively.

For more information, call (+63 2) 800-8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.