I grew up reading fairy tales with my mom not only at bedtime but even in the middle of the day or whenever I feel like I want to hear a story.  When I was in preschool, I used to sport a really short hair.  I don't know why it was short but I definitely wanted to grow it long so I would look more girly AND because I want to look like my influencer back then, who else but Princess Rapunzel!

I love classic fairy tales up to this day but too bad I cannot share the same magical feeling to any of my kids because I have no princess, they're all boys.  So, to all who also love and was influenced by the beautiful Rapunzel to grow her hair, I am so excited to let you know that she will come to life - on stage!

Catch Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale from September 15, 2018 to January 27, 2019 at the OnStage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

I love theater!  I miss theater!  Did I tell you that I used to be a part of a theater group back in college and performed in different schools?  But wait this isn't about my love story with theater!  I am excited to tell you that REP’s Theater for Young Audiences reinvents the classic, whimsical adventure of Princess Rapunzel in Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale from September 15, 2018 to January 27, 2019 at the OnStage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

Based on the story, music, and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, the play opens with the beautiful, extremely long-haired Princess Rapunzel (Cara Barredo, Mikkie Bradshaw, Justine Narciso and Alyssa Rosa) being kidnapped and trapped inside a tower as the evil Lady Za Za (Carla Guevara-Laforteza and Liesl Batucan) tries to seize the entire kingdom and place it under her rule.

Hans Eckstein as Sir Roderick, Steven Hotckiss as Edgar, Cara Barredo as Rapunzel, Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Lady Za Za, and Kenny Isidro as  Socrates

While on the quest to find the perfect head of hair, Sir Roderick (Hans Eckstein, Andres Borromeo and Brendon Banares) and his hairstylist friend Edgar (Steven Hotchkiss, Chino Veguillas, and Kenny Isidro) find their way to the tower in the middle of the dark forest to rescue Rapunzel with the help of a slightly neurotic Gypsy Woman (Bituin Escalante and Naths Everett) and witty, old dragon Socrates (Arnel Carrion, Raymund Concepcion and Jamie Wilson).

Joy Virata directs the cast of this magical retelling of a classic fairytale with its fair share of twists and turns.

Interested organizations and schools may now reserve slots for fundraising purposes. For the available show dates and tickets, call REP at 843-3570 or Ticketworld at 891-9999, or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.

For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, like and follow @repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram, and follow @repphils on Twitter.

You have truly found a gem in your life if you've got your girl best friend who would always say #GotYouGirl every time you needed someone to empathize with you, cry with you, feel the pain you're going through, validate your feelings, and even celebrate achievements and milestones with you.  After all, no one could understand the complexities of a woman, but another woman right?

I found not only a gem, but gems in my life.  First my mother, who really has got my back from the very beginning.  She was there from the very beginning I started to blossom as a woman.  She taught me everything I needed to know and protect myself from.  She also equipped me with tips, tricks, and lessons in life which had formed me into the woman that I am today, a wife and a mother myself.  She may have left her earthly life but her presence and voice will remain forever in my heart.  I am blessed to have a mother like her.

My late mother Elizabeth, my BFF since birth until her last breath

Other than my mom, I am blessed to have my best friends who had been with me during almost all my highs and more especially my lows. 

Joy, my soul sister from another mother since 1997

I've heard them say I #GotYouGirl countless times in countless seasons of my life and I will forever be grateful to God for sending these angels to me. 

My "Maders" Karina, JC, and Trish, since 2002

They were there during my dating days, my countless heartbreak s, the time I tested for positive pregnancy the first time, during my first up to third childbirth, my life celebrations, during my wedding, when I had the worst days in my life and needed a drink or getaway, and even my career highs and lows.

My super friendships - Anne and Anna, since 2007

Like Our Women Best Friends, pHCare's Got Us Girls
This holds true when it comes to women’s most intricate body part: the feminine area. As the most sensitive organ, it’s always exposed to bacteria which lead to us experiencing discomforts like odor, itch, and irritation. We may think that our regular routine of washing our feminine area with soap and water is enough, but little did we know, it needs better TLC. Thus, for a body part which requires special attention, women need a gentle partner that’s specifically made to care— this is what pH Care is all about.
Like my best friends, pHCare is my daily partner in caring for my intimate area.  pHCare is also present during my monthly periods, my pregnancy, my postnatal days, and in many other important and trivial days.  It never lets me down, it's always there for me!  I get the exact kind of care I need and is there every step of the way.
As the country’s leading brand of feminine wash, pH Care has always had an inherent connection with women. I love the new pH Care variant infused with Natural Guava Leaf Extracts, a natural anti-bacterial solution proven to provide protection against odor, itch and irritation, giving us that right care like how our fellow women show us.

There’s nothing like someone who’s there for you every step of the way. For understanding and care like no other, pH Care definitely has #GotYouGirl.  Watch this heartfelt video about how having someone who understands us a woman is a life essential:
pH Care is available in all leading supermarkets, department stores, and convenience stores nationwide. Prices range of the 50ml pH Care bottle is PHP 50.00 to PHP 52.00, the price range of the 150ml pH Care bottle is PHP 111.00 to PHP 115.00 and the price range of the 250ml pH Care bottle is PHP 142.00 to PHP 148.00. Price range for the feminine wipes is from PHP39.00 to PHP 45.00.

Visit pH Care’s page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/phcarephilippines for more information.

Ask every mom's wish on how to make their mom life easier and an automatic washing machine would always be top of mind.  I know so because I once prayed for it and when I had it, I couldn't thank heavens enough for making my life easier, more convenient, and more practical!  Indeed a time and energy saver my Electrolux Philippines washing machine.
Indeed washing machines have become a reliable partner of many Filipino households in doing their laundry as it saves more time than washing by hand. You would rarely see me wash by hand because my hands are sensitive not only to detergents but to the motion of pagkukusot.  But I would still hand wash delicate clothes, my intimate wears, and baby clothes sometimes because these are just things which I can't trust washing machines to do.  I guess this is true for most of us lalo if nakasanayan na right?
But during Electrolux FashionCare Campaign launch I attended recently, I learned that we now don't need to worry about these issues anymore!  These concerns were addressed during the event during a panel discussion, a demonstration and some video presentation.  I was so happy to be there because I learned a lot from esteemed guests such as Electrolux Philippines FashionCare Ambassador Rajo Laurel and FashionCare Council Members Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Janice Villanueva.
Let's Talk About Laundry Woes
Electrolux Philippines conducted a research in partnership with Mommy Mundo, one of the country’s leading mom communities I am part of.  When asked about what fabrics they were afraid to wash using their washing machine, 67% of the respondent moms say that they are afraid to machine wash their silk clothing, followed by delicate wear (52%), cashmere clothing (40%), and wool clothing (39%).

Among the top reasons why women hesitate to put their clothes in washing machines are more than half of them or 58% think it might ruin the clothes, while some think that machine wash can cause fabric shrinkage (17%) or fading of colors (4%).

When it comes to doing laundry, moms worry about more than just cleaning. Among their top 3 laundry concerns are pilling of clothes or what we call himulmol, stubborn stains and misshaping of clothes - two of them are related to caring for the fabric. Fabric care remains one of the unfulfilled needs of moms as 77% of these women look for fabric care features when they buy washing machines.

The FashionCare Challenge
With women’s laundry concerns in mind, Electrolux created the UltimateCare line of washing machines and dryers, designed to help women care for their clothes.

At the FashionCare Season 2 Launch Party, Electrolux Philippines FashionCare Ambassador Rajo Laurel and FashionCare Council Members Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Janice Villanueva put the UltimateCare washer-dryer to the test.
Renowned fashion designer and Electrolux FashionCare Ambassador Rajo Laurel challenged Electrolux to wash one of his designer pieces.

“My passion for clothes extends to how I take care of them. Doing your laundry is more than just about making your clothes clean. It’s making sure that your clothes look better, newer, longer,” shared Rajo during the event.

Meanwhile Amina Aranaz-Alunan, founder, executive director and teacher of SoFA Design Institute, and Creative Director of fashion accessories and bag label ARANÁZ, put in a silk scarf, saying that she normally wouldn’t wash silk tops, scarves, knitted items and sweaters in the wash as they “might break, have holes or snag.”

Janice Villlanueva, successful mompreneur and founder of Mommy Mundo, likewise shared the same apprehensions.

“For items like formal wear, underwear, and knits, I’m always afraid to put it in the wash because it can damage the fabric and it will fade or get deformed,” Villanueva said. “Especially if the bras have underwire, or for formal clothes, it might shrink, or for knitwear, it might stretch out of shape.”

Designed to care for clothes
I have an Electrolux Vapour Action Automatic Washing Machine which is my laundry BFF for years.  But now I want to upgrade it to the latest line of its washing machines, UltimateCare.  It comes with UltraMix™ technology to help moms not only get better stain removal but better fabric care, helping them retain the color, shape, and softness of their clothes from delicate wear to designer pieces.

The UltraMix™ technology gives women the results of a hot wash for better stain and dirt removal, yet uses a lower, gentler temperature. Detergent and water are pre-mixed in a special chamber before the beginning of the cycle to maximize cleaning power at a lower temperature. It delivers deeper clean and 31% better colour care, to ensure your favorites look newer for longer.

Besides the powerful yet gentle cleaning of UltraMix™, Electrolux UltimateCare washing machines extend the life of clothes with Vapour Action, designed to soften fabric while reducing allergens by up to 99.9% that’s gives women the assurance of better care for your clothes for years to come. The Woolmark certified cycle approved by the Woolmark Company, the global authority on wool, will safely launder these precious garments.

Electrolux UltimateCare washing machines also has Eco Inverter technology that offers high energy efficiency that reduces energy consumption by 75% and save time by 44%. Women can also enjoy the flexibility and convenience to toss in forgotten items during the washing cycle with add clothes feature.

“As a mom, I understand that many women still prefer to handwash certain items of clothing but we at Electrolux want to share that now, there is a washing machine that cares for your clothes and your family’s clothes as much as you do,” shared Andrea Pionilla, Country Marketing Manager of Electrolux. “With the FashionCare Campaign, Electrolux wants to introduce a better way of taking care of our machine wash-sensitive clothes. With the Electrolux UltimateCare washing machines and dryers, you not only get cleaning but fabric care that makes clothes look newer for longer.”

ON-GOING BUNDLE AND 25% OFF PROMO
In line with its FashionCare campaign, Electrolux is offering several great deals on its washing machines, with offers up to 25% off on selected front load washing machines and washer dryers.  Women can also avail of selected Electrolux Front Load Washing Machines and get 25% off on an Electrolux Front Load Dryer. Also included is a free stacking kit and installation valued at PhP 3,049 with this fantastic bundle deal. Promo period runs from July 1 to September 30, 2018.

Avail of fantastic deals on Electrolux washing machines and dryers until September 30, 2018.

To learn more how Electrolux can help keep favourites clothes looking new for longer, vist at bit.ly/ElectroluxFashionCare and follow @ElectroluxPhilippines on Facebook and Instagram or @ElectroluxPH on Twitter.

Having a husband whose asthma only developed in adulthood means the kids are also at risk of developing this condition once the allergen triggers set in.  Mostly, these allergens come from dust or polluted areas.  That's why, we have a regular cleaning routine to avoid the accumulation of dirt and dust.

But as much as we want to protect our kids from the pollutants that may possibly trigger their asthma attacks, I really cannot be with them 24/7. I also can't ensure that they will be pollutant-free all the time.  For one, we live in the very heart of Metro Manila with outside pollution practically coming from everywhere:  smoke from vehicles, dust on the streets, garbage, etc. My eldest commutes already, my second though takes a bus service going home and is still exposed to outdoor pollutants day in day out.

Concrete example are the invisible specks from food we cook, it’s not enough that we eliminate the smell but we make sure that there are no  lingering particles in the air.
Allow me to share with you some of the things we do at home to protect kids from these harmful indoor pollutants.

Tips to To Protect Kids from Indoor Pollutants

• Invest in air purifier such as Dyson Pure Cool. They say, prevention is better than cure. TRUE!  These things we do regularly are to clean the things we can see that are dirty or dusty, but what about the pollutants we don't see?  How do we clean them? How do we protect the kids from these? The answer is air purifiers, but not just any air purifier, make that Dyson Pure Cool.  

• NO smoking rule in the house. Thankfully, none of us smoke. But for our visiting relatives and friends in the house, we really impose a NO SMOKING rule, especially in enclosed spaces such as the toilet as secondhand smoke may trigger asthma attacks (which we are trying our best to avoid), coughing/wheezing, and other lung problems 

• Wash and change sheets often. Dirt and dust accumulate in our pillowcases and bed sheets.  Bed sheets should be replaced every week while pillow cases every three to four days. These sheets are what we lie down on every night and the dirt (sweat, dead skin cells, and more) from our own bodies gets trapped or accumulates over time. If we don't change the sheets regularly, pimples, eczema flare ups, itchiness, skin irritability, asthma (our fear) could be among the bad effects. 

• DAILY CLEAN UP is necessary, use natural cleaners Cleaning surfaces, (like tables, kitchen counters, etc), items we often touch (door knobs, staircase rail, closet handles, etc) and the floor is a big help in protecting the whole family from buildup of bacteria, mold and dirt - which are harmful and could make us sick.  As a stay-at-home mom since February of this year, I've never cleaned so much.  I realized how much I relied on the household help, who might not have the same concern for my child as much as I do. I use natural ingredients such as baking soda paste to clean ovens, sea salt and lemon juice for pots and pans, and more.  Less chemicals mean less exposure to indoor pollutants.  A cleaner home means fewer chances of kids getting sick due to pollutants.

Why Dyson Pure Cool?
I found out in the first few days how "polluted" our room is through Dyson Pure Cool Air's reports. The good thing about having an app to capture the condition of the air we regularly breathe is that I can access it anywhere, and it gives me some peace of mind that the once unclean air is now being purified.  This then relieves my usual fear of bad air circulation, especially in our room which usually has poor ventilation (it’s always enclosed). I get to know the room's temperature, the quality of air in the room, the humidity level, which are all vital in ensuring that my family is protected.
        


See the spikes in these graphs? I noticed whenever we open the windows in the morning, it spikes to that level. I figured it must be the dust in the wind from outside upon opening the windows plus the smoke coming from the cars’ engine pipes along our common garage. I also noticed there’s spike in the afternoon at early evening when I cook our meals.

We badly needed this technology at home. My husband, who regularly couldn't breathe properly at night, now has a more peaceful sleep. My kids, who I fear might acquire asthma if allergens like dust and dirt trigger it, are a little bit safer now can be protected from these indoor air pollutants. Thanks to the technology of Dyson Pure Cool, I can finally say that HOME is not only where the heart is, but also where the health is.

To know more about Dyson Pure Cool, like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DysonPH/ or visit their website https://www.dyson.ph/fans-and-purifiers/purifiers/dyson-pure-cool/overview.aspx.

This blog also appears on theAsianparent PH

I love clothes and today, I am sharing with you my recent shopping experience at MALDITA and what I love about their new collection.  Hence, I am a certified Maldita Mom - in a good and fashionable way.

Wrap dress in floral navy blue is definitely a mom-bod bff!  Can breastfeed in this too!

But let me first tell you about a love story.  My love story with clothes.

In high school, I've always had an eye for trendy pieces and would save up or sell accessories to classmates so I may be able to shop without asking my parents for a "luho"budget. Before pa lang practical at madiskarte na ako.

I love clothes to death that I was able to accumulate too much and they wouldn't fit my closet anymore.  So two years ago, I started to declutter and let go some of a decade-old (or more) clothes and those that wouldn't fit me, do not spark joy anymore, and those that were too outdated (ayan kakabili ng trendy clothes, not thinking about its lifespan or longevity).

What did I do to these clothes?

I sold them.

I donated them.

Then I started to love the idea of a capsule wardrobe.  I left classic (in style and color), quality, and favorite pieces in my closet and I have never had let out the most relieving sigh in my closet life.  I kept whites, blacks, navy blues, stripes, and grays in my wardrobe.  I accentuate my office get ups with jewels, watches, bags and shoes.  But after a while, my closet lacked spark or fun.  But I still love all my clothes anyway.

Fast forward to my 6 month old SAHM life, I clamored for a shopping ME-Time which I thought I really deserve for all the days I felt physically exhausted and drained.  God must've heard what my heart was yearning for so MALDITA came to the rescue.

Green ruffled top with Jeggings, bulges gone right?

I thought to myself oh yes, I would finally see Maldita, a shop I've always known for having a lot of blacks and whites, grays and navy blues - all my favorites.  That only means, I'll get crisp clothes but same hues!  Perfect, that's all I wanted anyway!

BUT! But.. upon entrance Maldita Store in their Trinoma branch. I was surprised to see that they have expanded their styles and palette of their pieces!  Maldita now has updated looks, varying hues, but still the versatile and classic styles.  Their pieces could be worn from Day-To-Night.

Mixed and matched the pieces I got from Maldita

Showing you the ensembles I picked for myself during my shopping spree at MALDITA:

Day to Night wear: Run errands in the morning. have lunch with amigas, then date night with hubby!

I haven't worn this all mustardy set, but have paired the top with a Maldita black cropped pants.

Layering  (or taking off for that matter) to go from Day-To-Night look

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MALDITA CLOTHES:

1. Versatility.  The new MALDITA collection has tops, dresses, pants, skirts, cardigans, blazers, and shorts for both Women and Men.  Yes, you read that right, there are pieces for the man of your lives as well.  The pieces in their collection are so versatile that you could wear them from DAY-TO-NIGHT.  Just by adding some accessories or layering (or taking off too) with clothes (add jacket or cardigan) or changing shoes or putting your hair down, you can achieve a different look.

2. Mom-bod friendly.  I cannot stress enough how real moms have unwanted tummy bulges or love handles (we can't handle), and breasts made for feeding another human - the choices of Maldita clothes I took home could hide those bulges and could make breastfeeding possible too!  Not to mention, we sometimes have yoyo-like weight issues (gain some, lose some) right?   The cropped pants I got is garterized which means, okay lang if I had an extra rice during lunch or dinner!

3. Quality.  Maldita always strikes me as a retail apparel shop which would never sacrifice the quality of clothing in their stores.  After all, how could an apparel business that's been around for decades (since I was still in school!) sustain its very Filipino business name in an industry where new, popular, and strong players keep on popping everywhere?  They may have come and go, but Maldita stays the same- an apparel known for its quality standards and style.
4. Price.  I thought the price tags on the pieces I picked would give me a heart attack.  It didn't.  In fact, for a piece of clothing coming from a known apparel brand, I was surprised to see that they are super affordable and reasonable.  Actually, they could even make their price point higher because of quality, buti na lang hindi!  So that moms who are stylish would not bat their eyelashes to spend for themselves for all the hard work they do for their families.

The Verdict:
You could say that I was highly satisfied with my shopping experience and of course with all the different sets of Maldita apparel pieces I took home that day.  In fact, I wanted to come back right away after realizing that I haven't shopped enough!  Hahaha!

Thank you Maldita for trusting my blog to be your Maldita Mom of the month!  Thank you also for answering my prayers - a shopping experience I've been dreading to have soon.  Thank you also for the confidence and self-esteem you brought back to me when I wear your pieces of clothing.  It's emotional.

Lastly, because of you Maldita, I discovered that I am now down to size SMALL from my usual MEDIUM!  Another boost of confidence right there!  Thank you.


About MALDITA
Maldita is a proud Filipino brand based in Manila, offering fashionable apparel to women and men who appreciate alternative and contemporary design.

Customers are upwardly mobile, educated and fashion-savvy women and men of all ages. Maldita dresses the modern woman and man for their daily casual, urban or dressy needs, making them feel strong, empowered and driven.

Providing excellent customer service, presenting great quality merchandise and offering affordable and reasonable pricing in the modern retail environment is the heart of their core pursuits.

As a stay-at-home mom of three, with a toddler being the youngest and super handful, I have limited time for myself.  Although I am aware how important self-care is, for now at this phase in my life, this season, finding time to get fit is challenging.

Happy to be a stay-at-home-mom, I lost a few inches all over.  Need to sustain this by being fit and strong together with Anytime Fitness

But I already asked my husband to give Saturday to me as my "Mommy Day-Off" or a me-time day.  Bahala na ako what to do on that day, go to the salon, run errands, go to spa, or go to the mall.  But I realize, why not spare at least an hour to dedicate it to fitness as part of my self-care.

Happy to start my fitness journey again with Anytime Fitness!

I've been like a yoyo when fitness is concerned.  But as I age, I come to realize how important it is to be consistent so that I would reach one of my life goals which is to stay strong and healthy long enough to see my grandchildren.  At home I may do this by eating right, but I still need to exercise.

Anytime Fitness "My Healthier Place at BGC

Gladly, I attended Anytime Fitness' My Healthier Place event at BGC one weekend (sakto sa day-off ko!) where I learned about importance of movements (through Zumba, Yoga, and Belly Dancing) and eating healthy.  I tried a bit of belly dancing and hats off to the Titas of Manila who participated, I wasn't able to keep up with them.

Hats off to these lovely ladies who finished two sessions of Belly Dancing (I couldn't even finish one!)

Fitness Goal: To wear something like this! :)  Belly Dancing FTW!

Stretching for Belly Dancing

Belly Dancing class

The experience inspired me to jot in my calendar fitness schedule and take exercising or moving seriously (again!) and hopefully make it part of my lifestyle.  It's not because it's trendy, but I really do want to be fit and strong for my husband and kids.  After all, how will I be able to take care of them if I am weak and sickly.

The event featured free fitness classes (which are available in their branches nationwide) to really rally for Health and Fitness, anytime, anywhere.  That fitness shouldn't be just confined to their branches but could be accesses even outside, such as what took place in Bonifacio High Street Ampitheater, BGC.

EXPLORING “MY HEALTHIER PLACE”
Whether we walk going to the office, do errands, do chores at home (which I have been doing for months), complete a home workout (yoga, zumba or HIIT), we DO MOVE and when we move we lose some calories.  But wouldn't it be better if we follow a routine or a program that ensures you calculated calories burned and just to be habit-forming so that we will reach all our fitness goals right?  The real gym-goers and fitness enthusiasts say we are accountable to our body's fitness anytime and anywhere.  So why not join Anytime Fitness as they explore and celebrate different healthier places both in or outside the gym?

Anytime Fitness, taking fitness outside the gym!

“My Healthier Place​” is not just for the gym buffs or fitness gurus. It’s a much-needed reminder that
everyone’s gym—no matter how convenient, well-equipped, accommodating, or purple—is still just the starting point. Yes, a reminder to just START (talking to myself now!)

Their Anytime Fitness “My Healthier Place” campaign culminated last August 25 with the crowning of their various contest winners, hosting of free fitness classes (which I availed), games and activities, healthy cooking demo, and many more!  They also awarded their winner of “The Search for the Next Digital Ambassador​,” which has been running since July 30. 

Cooking demo with lovely and malambing Ms. Sabrina Atardi

Healthy Vegetable Omelette with healthy spices from McCormick (such as Turmeric, Basil, to name a few)

Finally, there is also the much-awaited tournament: The Battle of the Purple Warriors​, where five qualifying teams made up of Anytime Fitness’ best and most loyal members and coaches will battle it out in an exciting series of obstacles.

With Mher and Agi of Anytime Fitness Binondo Branch, my future gym/fitness instructors

Thank you Anytime Fitness for making me part of your "My Healthier Place" culminating event.  It really inspired me to just (re)START my health and fitness journey and reach my Mommy-To-Lola Fitness Goals!  I will definitely visit one of your Manila branches soon!


ABOUT ANYTIME FITNESS
With over 70 operational branches just within the Philippines—Anytime Fitness has enjoyed extraordinary growth since it was first founded in 2002, alongside its dedication to its members’ fitness both in and out of the trademark purple gym.

More than a decade after its founding, Anytime Fitness has stayed loyal to its core principle that the
healthy lifestyle should be as accessible and unhindered as it can possibly be. Now, the brand aims to
bring the healthy lifestyle even closer to everyday life—because even if Anytime Fitness has their gyms available 24/7, the average gym-goer only spends about 30 minutes to an hour inside. In fact, 30 minutes of exercise is all that’s necessary to maintain the regular adult’s health. But in bringing exercise and fun exercise trends closer to the everyday Filipino, Anytime Fitness allows both the gym buffs and the average human to spend more time thinking about taking care of their health.