In our country today, the current insurance penetration in the Philippines is less than 2%. This means that if life suddenly throws a curveball at us, like catching or dying from COVID-19, Filipinos and the family they leave behind will have the problem of finding ways to settle medical bills or debts.
Which paves way to this question, "Do you want to be part of the solution?" If you have a brilliant tech, innovative idea or creative strategy to make Filipinos rethink the value of protection at a faster rate, then you should join the AIA Philam Life's Life Hackers 2020!

Halloween is two days away and though this year will be a whole lot different, it doesn't mean we can't make the most of it. :) There are still ways to make it memorable and fun for your family. :) One of which is still to continue the tradition of costumes!
Since my boys grow up really fast, I figured buying costumes in the toy store isn't ideal, so why not just make them one? two? three? or more! >_< The possibility is endless when you get started on Pinterest and DIY. :) Sharing some of the ones I did for the boys last week!

I'm back again with life updates! Quarantine to be exact, because we all know that the numbers still aren't getting any better, sadly. It has been 7 months and Christmas is so near already and a part of me can't believe that this will be the first year that my family won't be complete during the holiday season. :( It's truly sad what COVID is doing to all of us around the world. Sigh... Stay healthy, everyone. That's all I can really say right now.
Anyhoo! For this blog, i'll be compiling a few things that the family and I have done last July to this October to keep sane this quarantine and how we're coping. :)

Last September 30, realme Philippines officially launched the new realme 7 series and the realme Buds Q. One of which is the new realme 7 Pro. This October I got my hands on it and I was able to personally test the phone out myself and I want to share the features that it has and my first impressions about it. :)

color: Mirror blue

As someone who has lived in a rented home all her life (31 years to be exact), I've always wondered what it would be like to search for a home for my family someday. Though I've heard of the many struggles and challenges of friends and other people, I still have many questions in mind and the lingering one I always have is, "Where do I start looking?" There are a lot of agents in the market yet the worrisome person in me  doesn't who to trust or tends to find searching quite tedious. You never really know what to expect.
The other day, I attended the online event of Ohmyhome and thankfully, I think I found the answer to my question and with this post, I hope it can also help all your real estate queries. :) 

As a result of the pandemic, all educational institutions have agreed to continue operating remotely and without the face-to-face aspect of traditional classrooms, distance learning requires a range of technology to improve the educational experience.

On.Ward PH, the newest and most innovative retail store for top-of-the-line products for Education, Work from Home, Content Creation, Fitness and Health, Gaming, and Smart Products from well-known brands, has recently released 3 latest products for a creative and easiest way of learning online.

This quarantine has made me spark up a lot of old hobbies and develop new interests. One of which is the ever so popular game on Nintendo Switch - Animal Crossing New Horizons. The first time I ever heard of this game was sometime in March. But in all honesty, I haven't been interested in computer games for a very loooong time. The last was probably the Game Boy Colored and after that, I pretty much was occupied with journaling and non-gamer stuff haha. =P Hence, I didn't jump the bandwagon immediately. But come April, I started getting curious cos 90% of the time, my feed would have majority of my friends updating about their island, the designs they've made and remarks on how crazy fun the game is. The problem during this time for me was that we were on strict lockdown and all stores in the mall was closed, so I couldn't get my hands on the physical game. I know there was a digital version of it but the Hubby and I just found it too pricey. So, we both waited and when June arrived, he got ACNH for me as an anniversary gift.♥

It’s already the beginning of the ‘BER’ months and time just flew by really fast! With so many things happening around us and all the things we have to consider, it’s always nice to get a few savings and perks here and there. Timely enough, the annual Robinson’s Rewards VIP Day is back this 2020!

Remember when eating out meant heading for the family’s go-to fast-food place to eat our all-time-favorite fried chicken? We just couldn’t have enough of crunchy breaded fried chicken smothered with delicious gravy! 

Gravy reminds us of fun and laughter and relishing comfort food—the stuff unforgettable meals were made of. And these days, when we need to be safe and socially distanced, the cravings do not really go away. We still yearn for the chance to step out just to eat chicken dipped in delicious gravy. 

Fortunately for us, we can now have delicious gravy any time and any day we want—with UFC Gravy Sa Sarap. 

When I was in high school, I remember how I would have all these crazy teen problems, but acne breakout wasn’t one of them. I would normally get one pimple or two during that time of the month, but that was it. I was even happy that the only thing I needed to do as a skincare regimen was to wash my face.

Fast forward to my 30s, I am more acne prone than ever. If I just stay under the sun too long, sweat too much, stay up late or eat a lot of oily food, my forehead would have an acne breakout. At first I was puzzled why this is happening to my skinsince it wasn’t like during puberty, a time wherein you’re very acne prone. But, I’m guessing, it’s all due to the stress of today and the environment we have now. It’s fortunate that I’ve managed to control it lately with the help of a good skincare routine and drinking Lactezin. 

What is Lactezin, you may ask?

Lactezin is a clinically tested over-the-counter drug, which uses a natural antibacterial active ingredient Lactoferrin combined with Vitamin E and Zinc to help lessen pimples and give clear skin in as early as 2 weeks when taken 2x daily.

The ingredients found  in Lactezin has antibacterial properties and antioxidant that can help protect and rejuvenate your skin. 

For me, having acne breakout is really difficult because it not only affects my confidence but also my work. That’s why I’ve added Lactezin along with my usual supplements, so that I don’t have to worry about pimples.

So far after drinking Lactezin, I haven’t encountered any new breakouts on my face. J

I’m sure you’re also curious about this so, i’ll put some FAQs below that I read up on their website:

·      What age can you start taking Lactezin?

                                               -  Can start as early as 13 

·      What to do when pimples come out when I take Lactezin

- Continue taking 2 capsules daily as instructed to address mild to moderate acne

·      Can pregnant women or breastfeeding moms take Lactezin?

-       Yes since Lactoferrin can be found in human breast milk while Vitamin E and Zinc are naturally present in various food. 

·      How should Lactezin be taken?

- Recommended to take 1 capsule, twice a day (one in the morning and one at night).  Preferably 8-14 hours apart. Usually takes two weeks to see results

But as a general reminder, Lactezin still recommends that you consult your doctor first before taking any medicine, including vitamins. J

Aside from Lactezin, also remember to get enough sleep, drink lots of water and eat healthy to maintain healthy looking skin!

Lactezin is only Php 27/capsule and is available in leading drugstores nationwide!

For more information, visit https://lactezin.com/ 

Being a parent means that you have many roles in life. You’re the provider, the first teacher they have, the playmate, best friend, role model, the confidant, and the biggest supporter they’ll ever have. :) As moms, we fill them with love and provide a nurturing environment for them. We nurture our kids not just by providing their basic needs, but also by having a good relationship or strong bond. 

With nurturing, I am a firm believer in making sure that we should always make time for our children. Being fully present no matter how busy our schedules can get will help promote healthy growth in them, mentally and emotionally, in the long run.

Being healthy is one of the most important things to keep in mind nowadays. With everything that is going on, I personally make sure that my family is always in their best health by cooking or feeding them the right food and that they also don't forget to drink their vitamins.
Health is wealth! So, I wanna share with you, guys one of my favorite fruits right now that is filled with vitamins and for sure your family would also enjoy snacking on. :)

This blog is alive! Haha! Promise! I can't believe that it took me this long to write again. I've been so active on Instagram that sometimes I forget I have a blog to update as well. Haha! >_< But I really do love my blog and I actually wish I put more effort and time to it. 
Anyhoo! We've officially been on quarantine for 4 months now. Though this July, the Philippine government became slightly lenient and placed Metro Manila on General Community Quarantine (GCQ), meaning malls are now open, some stores are also allowed to operate and quarantine passes are no longer needed. We still have to be extra careful cos COVID-19 hasn't really subsided. In fact, we have a high number of cases. So yes, it may be GCQ, but our guards shouldn't be down. For now, we only go out for essential runs, like grocery or errands. Other than that, we stay at home.
Sharing updates on our quarantine life lately for May to July. :)

When lockdown happened, I remember missing a lot of things and one of those is shopping and awaiting new collections from Uniqlo. I'm sure people who love the brand as much as I do did too! But now they're back to serve everyone again and I actually visited their stores in MoA and Glorietta (along with our grocery run) recently wearing some of my old faves...
These are from their old collection but still remain in my closet cos I can always find myself using them over and over again. Love their basics! 
The point of this post is actually me, wanting to share their two latest collections! ^_^ Sharing is caring a.k.a. damay damay na toh.. haha! >_<

Life in quarantine has forced all of us to reimagine how to maintain our relationships, and send love while self-isolating. Couples, even those living within a few kilometers from each other, have unexpectedly shifted to long-distance relationships. And even as the country move towards easing restrictions, safety under these changing times is of utmost importance. While the distance remains, here are some date night ideas, data and internet capability allowing, to help you #StayCloserApart and your hearts growing fonder: 

Water is one of our most precious resources in this world and sadly, we sometimes take this for granted by using it in an unlimited manner. Nowadays, we have to be more careful because we’ve been experiencing a shortage of fresh water supply every now and then. Aside from saving money in our utility bills, we should make a conscious effort in trying to save water, not just now but to also benefit our future.

Going on a trip to Maynilad last February 28 has opened my eyes even more to our water shortage and in one of the short talks we had with them, the thing that stuck out to me the most was using water responsibly. We are currently experiencing water shortage and to help out, we should also do our part in conserving water.

Plenty of time on my hands lately that I was able to watch a new Kdrama and actually stay up to date with it! It's the most watched now by most of the people I know and it's called 'A World of Married Couple'. The Hubby and I got so hooked on the story line! If you've seen it too, you know how every episode is so packed and it can make your blood curl haha! Given that it's probably my fave right now, I decided to recreate some looks of the lead character Ji Sun-Woo from my own closet! ^_^

Quarantine week 7? Am I correct? I honestly sometimes forget what day it is already and I'm sure you, guys feel me on this one too. >_< As of my last ECQ post, the lockdown began last March 15 and was supposedly to last until April 14. Then it got moved to April 30 and the most recent one is May 15. I really miss the outside world. But I have no problem with extension of the quarantine as long as we see progress and the death toll stops rising. :( 
We've all been in quarantine for more than a month now and slowly, each of us is adjusting to our new normal or routine. It isn't easy - most of us deal with anxiety and stress. That's why I am all for doing things that give you good vibes or help you cope up with our present situation. So, you do you! May it be TikTok videos, reading self help quotes/books, binge watching Kdramas, cooking, sharing food on social media, or working out, do what makes you happy! ^_^
As for me, I've been doing most of the things I mentioned above and they've been fairly effective. :) Sharing with you, guys through this post, our life lately as a family in quarantine.

It’s officially week 4 of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and the family and I have been strictly following it since March 15. I’m the main runner of our family for groceries and every two weeks, I go so that we have enough supply at home. But there are moments when my boys randomly tell me that they miss restaurant food and I totally feel them. I miss it so much too. Thankfully, we still have a few restos within the city that are open for delivery. :)

Speaking of delivery, since cash is one of the ways that we can transport viruses, I’ve been using my PayMaya virtual card to pay for delivery transactions. :) It’s super easy, convenient and you can also practice social distancing better for you and your rider too!

For online deliveries, you can easily use your PayMaya virtual card or physical card as your payment option. All you have to do is:

Since 2019, our water problem has been evident with the interruptions that went on for months, and I personally understand how stressful that can be, given that we, too, experience the same thing every day. Our water interruption could start as early at 7:00AM and came back around 4 or 5:00PM. I know some people have different schedules with regards to this and because I’m not too knowledgeable in this department, I wanted to be educated further on what’s happening with our water supply. It’s the main reason why I agreed to join a recent trip to Maynilad Water Services, Inc. last February 28 to know more about it. I’m sure many are curious too, so sharing here on the blog our day with Maynilad!

It has been a while since my last blog post here. When I normally do a blog post, it's either for work purposes or I try to catch up on my pending travel post. I really missed writing! I can now say that I have more time on my hands to write cos of the recent state we are all in right now a.k.a. COVID-19. 
I know things haven't been easy for anyone. This is our new normal; being stuck at home, living vicariously through our friends' feed on Instagram or Facebook, living on the edge and constantly having to be cautious of our surroundings or people we do interact with. These are, indeed, tough times. But even so, I still believe in having a community to give us a little sanity with our feed being bombarded with dreadful news day in and day out. For the record, I'm not saying that we should stray away completely from listening to news cos we need it too, that's actually crucial. But what I mean is that we should also take a breather from it with the help of our friends. :)
I personally have a community or my best friends on Messenger and we always check up on each other. We make sure each one is fine, healthy and we also share what we did for the day that doesn't isn't virus related. :) Because of that, I decided to share 5 things that all of us can do while we're all stuck at home, being good citizens practicing community lockdown. :) Let's put this month-long time at home into good use!

There was a time that I didn’t have much mind for things like stress relievers or mood lifters, but now that the ‘tita’ in me has awaken, I have found a love for essential oils (EO). I never knew how beneficial they were in my younger years, so now that I do, I’m encouraging, young or old, to try it out because of the many benefits it can actually give you. :) I’ve tried several essential oils in the past and since I’ve been hooked on different kinds, I actually made a corner in my room already that is dedicated to my diffuser + oils.♥ I recently got three new EOs from Legande. :) Before I share more about the essential oils that I got, a little background on Legande: Legande is a fusion of two companies, Multipure Phil’s and Pillars 5. Multipure Philippines is the exclusive distributor of Multipure water systems of USA. Pillars 5 is an all natural nutrition and wellness company. Essential Oils For many centuries, as old as Egyptian times (4500 B.C.E.) essential oils have been used worldwide for many purposes. Even today, we use it for beauty, as flavoring agent, medicine for healing and as aromatic oil. The usual essential oils we see or encounter nowadays can be used topically, aromatically, and internally. It’s a customizable system based on how we want to use them. So, how does EO work? Normally, you can put them in diffusers, steam inhalation or apply a few drops on your palm or cotton and inhale it. Don’t use too much! Just one to three drops is fine. With this, the aroma enters your nose and gives your body different benefits. They can act as mood lifters, stress/pain busters and energy boosters. :) Sharing the EOs that I got and their benefits: The oils that Legande uses are all 100%! Lavender Essential Oil ~Sweet, rich aroma that has a balancing effect on the nervous system ~ ♥ Reduces stress - has a calming aroma that promotes relaxation, an effective remedy for various neurological issues like stress, anxiety and depression. ♥ Improves sleep quality - has a calming and sedative properties which calm down the nervous system. ♥ Prevents skin aging - has a powerful antioxidants which prevent skin aging and promotes cells regeneration which make your skin soft and firm. Tea Tree Essential Oil ~Refreshing, invigorating and sharp aroma targets ailments like blemishes and fatigue~ ♥ Soothes dry skin and eczema - can help soothe dry skin by reducing itching and irritation. ♥ Boosts wound healing - a few drops of tea tree oil can be added to wound dressing to encourage wound healing. ♥ Fights acne - as effective as benzoyl peroxide, the most common anti-acne medication. Lemon Essential Oil ~The fragrance is purifying as it is uplifting and it leaves you with a refreshing scent~ ♥ Cleanses and uplifts - an excellent remover of toxins, assists in rejuvenating energy and can help tone the skin. ♥ Anti-fungal and antibacterial properties - can be used for treating certain skin overgrowths and natural alternative for treating acne. ♥ Helps alleviate fatigue - the smell of lemon can increase focus and ease tension. Among the three my favorite would have to be lemon. I love the refreshing scent of it! Aside from the individual oils, Legande also has the My TLC variant that is a synergy blend of 8 100% Natural and Pure Essential Oils. It helps lift, soothe and calm one’s being. The ingredients in it helps boost energy and alleviate pain. Something that is perfect for the family. It’s easy to bring around too, so if we go out or have trips, this is definitely coming with us! :) It has a calamansi, elemi, frankincense, mandarin, lemon, eucalyptus, grape seed and spearmint mix. :) With the many health benefits of Essential Oils, it’s no wonder why so many people have included it in their lifestyle. I personally love them and can’t imagine ‘ ME-time’ without it. My son Asher at 7 years old also requests it on our diffuser every bedtime. ^_^ If you’re interested in Legande’s 100% Essential Oils, you may check their price list below and where to get them. :)

Good news! Saw this interesting information on how low our power rates are! 

As someone who is in charge of paying the electricity monthly in our household, it's a huge deal whenever I see our bill lower than usual because I get to save a few pesos and I can allot that money for something else or to another utility bill. Every savings counts! I'm sure all of you feel the same way too! It's a great thing, for the second month in a row, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced a decrease in power rates for February! :)

Finally! The much-awaited BIG BAD WOLF Book Sale is here again! It’s officially my third year to attend the sale and I always get so excited. :)  Nothing beats being in a room filled with 2 million new books that are 50-90% OFF! ^_^ Oh and did I forget to mention, they’re open 24 hours at The World Trade Center??

The great thing about our whole Chiang Mai adventure was that all of our activities were booked on Klook. We didn't do any DIY for this trip, so we need not worry about getting lost, navigating to different places and we can rest our minds until we get to the destination. :) Nothing bad about DIY cos I do it often too when traveling, but I pretty much enjoyed taking the back seat on this one hihi!
The start of our Day 2 was early and we were really excited for this cos it has been our dream to visit an elephant sanctuary and turns out, Chiang Mai has a lot of them. :)

Heinz, a global leader in condiments with a 130 year history, has been producing oriental-flavored sauces and condiments since 2002. Heinz Asian Sauces are served all over the world from America all the way to Asia, and now it is finally available here in the Philippines. From simple meals to gourmet dishes, Heinz Asian Sauces provide enhanced taste and premium flavours to your cooking. Heinz has been serving up quality, taste, convenience and innovation like no other food company on Earth.  It has to be Heinz.

For as long as I can remember my eyes always suffered a blurry vision. As early as 4^th grade I already got my first pair of prescription glasses and I recall how teary I got because I didn’t want to have the discomfort of wearing one and I felt like my life was going to change drastically haha. Fortunately, by the time I hit 6^th grade, I was allowed to get contact lenses and from then on it was my best friend. :)

For people like me who can’t leave the house or function without a visual aid, I really find having contact lenses helpful because my life revolves around going to events, having to look presentable and occasions that make it difficult to have glasses a.k.a. swimming or beach trips! >_<

Writing this in my favorite coffee shop right now while I wait for Asher to finish his 4 hour class. I'm not really a morning person and I don't think i'll ever be, except for special occasions, like traveling, a incredibly good breakfast or quiet mornings like today, wherein I can catch up on the things I want to do. :) It has been quite a while since I last touched a keyboard with passion. More often than not, it has become purely work related and though, I love my work too, a part of me just misses 2005-2010 Artsy Fartsy Ava who blogged about just the most random things and her interest at heart. I think that's one of my biggest heartache in 2019. It dawned on me so much how I have lost touch with my love for writing. So, in 2020, I promise myself to do so much better. To try my hardest to bring back that old gusto for blogging. :)
Before I fully move on to the new decade, I just want to reflect (like I do every year) on the year that has passed and that even with challenges and struggles, there was more good in it than bad.