Craft Explorers Party

Had fun with these two during the Craft Explorers Party!  All activities engaged these imaginative little boys.

With Lani of Tweenselmom.com

Explore the fun world of crafts.  It fuels imagination and creativity, improves motor skills, and exercises listening skills.  For your next party, try an arts and crafts party at The Craft Central.

Who didn't grow up receiving a Hallmark card or at least in their lifetime bought a card or more for their loved ones?  I sure remember receiving and giving out Hallmark cards my entire teenage and early adult years.  I still receive them from my dad whenever there's an occasion.  How happy it was to have lived during pre-email or pre-digital years.  But good news to millenials and even my kids, you'll be happy to know that card-giving still lives and Hallmark has even expanded its line of products for everyone to enjoy!  Plus, every purchase of a Hallmark product you know it's for a good cause just like this news I am bringing to you!
Through every celebration—may it be a birthday, an anniversary, or a wedding—Hallmark has been part of spreading the most precious messages of love and cheer. Their well-loved cards have connected and brought smiles throughout people all over the world. And this year’s holiday season is no exception.

For 23 years, Filstar Distributors Corporation (FDC), the country’s exclusive licensee of Hallmark USA together with the Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment (L.I.F.E.) Foundation created a charitable project called “Hallmark for L.I.F.E.” to help alleviate the condition of indigent children with Leukemia.

Every year, Hallmark collaborates with top local artists in creating special limited edition L.I.F.E. products such as greeting cards, gift wrappers, bags, and other giftable items where a portion from the sales of these products go straight to the foundation.

L-R Jose Martin Ramos Licauco, Management Trainee, Filstar Distributors Corporation, Mia Christina Licauco Alindogan, Vice President, Filstar Distributors Corporation, Carmela Gozon, Corporate Secretary, LIFE Foundation, Katrina M. Yatco, Business Co - Chair, LIFE Foundation, Winfred Huang, President, LIFE Foundation, Gabriel A. Felix, Treasurer, LIFE Foundation, Nanette M. Garcia, Assistant Vice President - Sales, Filstar Distributors Corporation

This holiday season, FDC will donate to the Foundation a portion from the sales of all Christmas products of Hallmark including the 2018 L.I.F.E. Christmas card collection Hallmark for L.I.F.E. sparks hope back into the lives of less fortunate children and helps them in their fight against leukemia. Since its inception in 1995, this charitable project has eased the burden of families experiencing the ordeal of both disease and poverty.

L-R Carmela Gozon, Corporate Secretary, LIFE Foundation, Winfred Huang, President, LIFE Foundation, Mia Christina Licauco Alindogan, Vice President, Filstar Distributors Corporation, Nanette M. Garcia, Assistant Vice President - Sales, Filstar Distributors Corporation

To formally launch Hallmark for L.I.F.E, an event was held last October 31 at the Ayala Malls 30th Cinema 1. It was attended by the Hallmark for L.I.F.E team and some of the kids of the foundation. Through this, the people behind Hallmark and L.I.F.E. Foundation hope to help uplift the spirits of the kids, put a smile on their faces, and give them the encouragement and support that they need.
Christmas is a time for families and loved ones to come together and celebrate the holidays. This season, may we be reminded of the spirit of giving—that even in the littlest ways, we make a conscious effort to support good causes. Because to someone, a gift is just a gift, and a greeting card is simply that, but to someone else, your purchase gives them more: hope, joy, and the best present you could possibly give, another chance at life.

Here are some Hallmark's Holiday Set 2018 which you may purchase:

I was that mother who worked all her energy and enthusiasm in the office just to be able to provide my children's needs.   I had just one before and was a single mom too, so imagine the roles I had to play and time I had to manage to make him feel secured and loved at the same time.  I was intentional at making everyday moments fun and happy even if I had to do it alone those days.  Jollibee was our ultimate hang out place before I go to work, and as his favorite pasalubong.

Jollibee released their newest heartfelt video which showed how parents making the most of the time they spend with their children by making everyday activities such as playtime, snack time, bath time, and bedtime more fun and memorable.  I totally remembered myself when I was a full-time working mom.  I braved the traffic, the rain, finished deadlines, just to be home on time to make it before my son's bedtime.  Watch this video, for sure many of you can relate to this sweet-sarap moments complemented by a classic favorite that has captured the hearts of Pinoy kids of different generations: Jolly Spaghetti.
“The latest Jolly Spaghetti video is our tribute to Filipino parents who tirelessly find ways to connect and bond with their children, even in the smallest ways like sharing their favorite sweet-sarap treat,” said Cathleen Capati, Jollibee AVP for Marketing – Flagship Category. “Childhood always goes by so fast and for parents, it’s important to enjoy and cherish every moment with our children.”

(L-R): Jollibee Philippines Brand Engagement Officer Celina Tan; Jollibee Philippines Brand Manager for Jolly Spaghetti Kat Silvoza; Jollibee Philippines AVP and Marketing Head of Flagship Category Cathleen Capati; parent panelists Melissa Ricks, Tina Lata, Japoy Lizardo, and Delamar Arias with their kids; Jollibee Philippines Assistant Brand Manager Rein Locsin; and Johnjo Paje.

For decades, Jolly Spaghetti has always been a delight for Pinoy kids of all ages. A pioneering fast-food offering that perfectly captures the Filipino palate, Jolly Spaghetti boasts of a unique sweet-sarap sauce, meaty hotdog slices, and a generous sprinkling of grated cheese on top of freshly prepared noodles “We at Jollibee hope that this video inspires parents to make even the simplest day-to-day activities, such as enjoying a common favorite like Jolly Spaghetti, a means to connect with their kids for that bonding na walang kasing-sarap,” concluded Capati.

I agree that daily activities with kids make a great bonding time with the kids.  Though I am a full-fledged stay-at-home-mom now since I resigned last February, there are still days that I have to be reminded of this.  Kids first before chores.  Kids first before anything else.  Thanks Jollibee for the simple reminder of how bonding time is important for kids.  They grow up soon and I don't want to miss important years in their lives when I am still needed - I have to be present.
sharing with the family! The Jolly Spaghetti Family Pan is available for dine-in, take-out, drive-thru, and delivery transactions in Jollibee stores nationwide. For more heartwarming stories and information on the Philippines’ number one fast-food brand, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Philippines on YouTube, and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

Colgate Philippines recently awarded PHP5 million worth of scholarship money to young students around the country as part of the Colgate Sponsorship Promo 2018, providing them with a future they can smile about through education.

I remember how it felt when my son Dandre received a scholarship reward from the company I used to work for.  I was overwhelmed with so much gratefulness and my happiness radiated through my smiles everywhere I go.  So I know how the parents of these recipients feel about securing their children's education.  And who better could bring these proud and joyful smiles out but Colgate!

Announcing the Php100,000.00 scholarship grant winners from Colgate:
Drawn from May to July this year, the personal care brand awarded P100,000 to a total of 50 winners who each nominated a scholar who will benefit from the scholarship money.

“The Colgate Scholarship Promo is part of our company’s commitment to give everyone a ‘future they can smile about’ by providing financial support to Filipino families and assisting them in the educational needs of young students, who will become the future scientists, doctors, teachers, lawyers, engineers of this country,” said Arvind Sachdev, general manager of Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc., who led the formal awarding of the prizes to the scholars. 

This year’s Colgate Scholarship Promo received approximately 174,000 entries, registering its highest number of entries per day in the promo’s three-year run. Aside from the grand prize of P100,000, Colgate also gave away P500 National Book Store gift certificates to 500 winners and P15 prepaid load to 5,000 winners.

We're Colgate users at home, in fact, I grew up with Colgate myself.  It has been taking care of our oral health and hygiene at home or in school and even in the office.  To know that what we use as a family has a program such as this which gives back to the community is something I feel proud about.  My heart goes out as a happy mom myself to the winners of the Colgate Scholarship Promo 2018.  Congratulations dear students, please do study well and appreciate this great blessing of God's provision through a reputable and good company such as Colgate.

To know more about Colgate, its promos and other updates, follow them on Facebook.

When I was a little girl, I used to play with dolls and a doll house with an elevator a lot.  It was more of a building than a house, para siyang condo.  So I guess my doll house was way advanced and cooler than others.  Haha!  I love dolls and I am sure if I have a daughter, I would had passed on my fascination with dolls to her.  But I don't have one or she hasn't been given to me yet.  Who knows right?  Konting dasal pa.

If you scan a toy store, you'll see that there are so many doll brands already, in different sizes, different looks, with different accessories and functionalities these days.  But there's one that's new to me and which caught my attention because it stood out from the rest - the LOL Surprise! Dolls.  LOL stands for Lil Outrageous Littles (not Laughing Out Loud, I'm sure if you're not familiar with this doll, you would've thought of that too!).

Recently, Bankee Toys, the official distributor of LOL Surprise! Dolls in the Philippines launched the newest line of the dolls called the LOL Surprise! Under Wraps, which I had the pleasure to host at Toys R Us branches.  During the hosting gig, I developed my curiosity and high interest about the LOL Surprise! Dolls.  Who wouldn't be curious about these cute and mysterious dolls right?

So here's a special toy feature and my short review!  But wait, I still can't stop wishing I had a little girl with me to share my excitement about unwrapping of the LOL Surprise! Under Wraps (see what I did there? LOL! - and that too! Hahaha!)

UNWRAPPING THE LOL SURPRISE! DOLL UNDER WRAPS
At the back of the packaging, it says, there are 15 surprises inside.  Which I got really giddy excited about.  These are:
- Magnifying glass decoder
- Code
- Unlocking codes
- Sippy cup
- The Under Wrap Doll (2 covers to unwrap)
- Shoes (right and left)
- Accessories (its back pack and pacifier)
- Top and Bottom clothes
- 3 things it could do with water

That's 15 in all!  WOW!

There are three layers or wrappers to remove before you see the mysterious capsule itself with the doll.  Each of the wrappers have a a secret message I need to decode.  Gave me the decoder which looks like a magnifying glass.  Second wrapper layer it says "Getting Close!" in the speech bubble and gave me the Codes and Instruction Manual. Lastly, the third wrapper says "Almost There!" and revealed the capsule where the LOL Surprise! Doll with her accessories are!
When I saw this doll wrapped in silicone, I got so excited to unwrap it.  BUT WAIT!  Before I open the capsule, there are things that need to be done:
1. Open the capsule, there are four locks that need correct combinations to unlock the capsule.
2.  To get the codes to the correct combination, refer to the LOL Surprise! Codes.
3.  Use the magnifying glass to see the codes and combinations.  Make sure you have a good eyesight to see these codes. LOL!
4. Beware of too much suspense and excitement because as you uncover the perfect lock combinations, you unravel one surprise after the other!
5.  Uncover the doll's accessories one by one as you unlock the capsule's compartments.  Again, brace your hearts and your eyes because of the cuteness overload that you'll be seeing one by one.  Be ready to be SURPRISED!  Are you ready to see the reveal?  I'm sure you are!
Now let's do the UNWRAPPING ONE BY ONE.....
Starting with the doll...
AAWW... Isn't she cute?  She's "As If Baby" from the Glam Club.  I already love her at first sight because she is sooo like me when I was younger!
I opened the packages one by one to reveal the surprises such as her top and bottom clothes, her shoes, her accessories (bag and bottle), and her baby pacifier.