I am a type of person who stays loyal to a product and has a tendency not to look for other alternatives especially when I find it reliable and effective. A product that has those two qualities is a type of product that I can't live without. Sometimes it only takes someone to convince me to try a new product. Most often, new product discoveries happen when they are given as gifts. 

One of those products that was introduced to me that I became attached with was Pine-Sol Lavender. I am using it for three years. 

Obviously, it's one of my most favorite cleaning aids due to the following reasons:

- It's non-corrosive. It doesn't cause any irritation to my hands or damage on surfaces.

- It's economical. Only a small amount is needed to remove stubborn stains, grout, dirt, and oil on tiles, floors, and other surfaces.

- It's affordable. There are three sizes available that suit every budget.

- It's safe. The formula doesn't leave any sticky or slippery residue that can cause accidents.

- It's environment-friendly. It's made with ingredients that don't harm the environment.

- It's so easy to use. It removes dirt quickly and can be used concentrated or diluted depending on its purpose or my personal preference. 

- It's refreshing. It makes your home or office smell clean and really, really good for hours. 

- It's effective.  Our house stays clean longer. Dirt doesn't stick to the surfaces quickly. The absence of grout in our bathroom stays for days while our floor stays clean and non-sticky for hours.

I love everything about Pine-Sol Lavender except for its packaging. For me, the container is the only flaw that needs to be improved because it looks like a beverage bottle that makes it enticing for kids. That's the reason why I always keep it out of Bunso's reach. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it because it can aid in your cleaning needs. 

What is the cleaning aid that you can't live without? Feel free to share.

One early morning when I was still half awake, I forced myself to go to the washroom to pee. It was dark. The kitchen light was the only one turned on. As I switched on the washroom light, my sleepiness literally vanished when I saw my face in the mirror. It was beaming, flawless, and fair as if I was wearing a matte foundation. Then I remembered that I used a black soap that I just pulled out of the closet before I went to bed. 

To tell you frankly, I have a habit of using any soap on my face found in the washroom or kitchen. I am too lazy when it comes to facial care. What matters to me is to make my face clean and moisturized all the time. Good thing is that I am so blessed to have non-sensitive and acne prone facial skin. 

I am not exaggerating when I say that my face becomes whiter and fairer when I use that special black soap. That awesome soap is very uncommon like its name, Block Out Deodorant Soap. It's intended to be used for the body since it's an odor fighting and antibacterial soap. But then again, due to the wonders that it does to may facial skin, Block Out Deodorant Soap is therefore perfect as  facial soap too!

Block Out Deodorant Soap is a local brand manufactured by International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Cebu, City and distributed by its sister company, Beautiful Horizon Incorporated. International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the maker of Omega Pain Killer, Casino Rubbing Alcohol, Dr. Wong's Sulfur Soap, Bioderm, Broncho Rub, Efficascent Oil, and more popular health and wellness products.

Block Out Deodorant Soap is made of Natural Bamboo Charcoal and Peppermint Oil as the main ingredients. It provides the following benefits:

- Helps deodorize and prevent body odor

- Provides deep exfoliation

- Effectively cleanses and unclogs blocked pores

- Aids in the absorption of dirt and removal of excessive grease.

The Natural Bamboo Charcoal is the one that promotes an excellent absorption properties that effectively deodorizes and removes dirt, impurities, and excessive grease. Peppermint Oil gives a fresh, minty, and invigorating aroma. It also gives a light cooling effect as I lather the soap on my face. Since it's summer and the weather is extremely hot and humid, I experience excessive facial oil production. Block Out Deodorant Soap makes my face not oily for hours. My pores become cleaner and smaller. In line with this, due to my very busy schedule, I have the tendency to forget using my favorite nose pack to remove whiteheads, which is my perennial problem actually. Block Out Deodorant Soap is really doing its job well because it unclogs my pores quickly, reducing the presence of whiteheads to 40% in just two days. Using it initially for two days, twice daily, it has made a drastic improvement on my facial skin, and of course, on my entire body as well. To sum it all up, Block Out Deodorant Soap is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It's also economical because it goes a long way. Just a few strokes on the palm of my hands, it creates a great lather and the soap itself doesn't melt easily. I highly recommend it. 

It was such a heaven sent! It was given to Paps as a Christmas present last year. The one that we are using is almost gone. I feel sad because I can't find it in our favorite drugstore and supermarket. I checked out Google and found out that it could be purchased via direct selling through official Beautiful Horizons Inc. Distribution Centers and sellers nationwide or via sellers in Shopee or Ebay.  I hope that it's available on drugstores and supermarkets.

Block Out Deodorant Soap is so perfect as a facial soap and I wonder why it's underrated. 

What is your favorite soap as of now? Why do you love it?

Since time immemorial, men in particular have sought to express their presence and power through various means. Our tribal warriors in the past show their prominence and prowess through various tattoos on their bodies which act as proof of their mettle and degree of influence, such fashion statements were regarded as a proof of power. In every age of our history, fashion statements worn by men have been geared towards the expression of their sphere of influence or degree of stability. Unlike women, who have a wide variety of sources and choices when it comes to their fashion expression, men's repertoire of choices when it comes to self-expression is still simply very conservative. On one hand, men usually cannot over dress since it may send the wrong impression. On the other hand, down-dressing may also send a negative message. That is why for the most part, men seek to show their social status, financial standing, power, and dominance in a very unassuming but prominent way. Such criteria are best expressed on what they wear on their wrist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, time pieces are an integral part of men's fashion, expression, and way of life. On such time piece that encapsulates everything that men want to express is offered by Jord Watches. Their time pieces cater to various types of expression, They exude elegance, fashionability, exclusivity, and power. Their designs are created to fit men's modern lifestyle without sacrificing functionality and versatility.

Jord Watches are exquisitely designed to cater every man's fashion taste and lifestyle. They are made of wood like Acacia, Bamboo, Ebony, Golden Camphor, Koa, Cosso, Maple, Olive, Purpleheart, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Walnut, and Cedarwood which promotes sustainability and eco-friendliness. Their movements are basically self-winding automatic mechanical battery powered movement, or battery powered chronograph, depending on the models or series. The face of the watches is made of Sapphire glass, a synthetic crystal (aluminum oxide) that is known in the luxury watch world as the definitive material for transparency and durability and second to diamond as the hardest and most scratch resistant material on earth. The sapphire glass's high modulus of elasticity and tensile strength makes all Jord watches extremely versatile, durable, and impact/abrasion resistant.

Furthermore, Jord as a company is being ran by artists, designers, marketers, and minders with a common goal of creating timepieces that are modeled after a modern lifestyle. It values sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living. Jord makes timepieces for men (and also women) who are passionate and driven, those who value time and what it brings. 

In line with this, my eldest son, who is now in his teenage years, is now seeking for his own identity. As a mom, I give him the liberty to choose what he wants to do and that includes the apparel that he wants to wear. In every choice that he makes, my husband and I make sure that his choices must be based on our values and needs as a family but would never loose his own identity. Just in time that he needs a new watch that would help him catch up with his busy schedule in school and extra curricular activities while telling a statement and expressing himself as a goal-driven young man, Jord has sent him a DARK SANDALWOOD & BLUE CARBON worth $159 (Delmar Series) that he has chosen for himself.

Isn't it beautiful? My son loved it at first sight!

Included in the kit are the following: 

*Jord Preserve Finishing Oil- It is a custom-formulated cleaning oil, 100% natural with no artificial chemicals, made specifically for the care of wood watches.

*Jord Polishing Cloth (thin and thick)- The thin cloth is intended for polishing the sapphire glass while the thick one is for polishing the watch's body.

*Comprehensive User's Manual- All you need to know about the watch and how to maintain it are written there.

*Jord Wooden Logo- It's a guarantee that you are receiving an original Jord Watch. It also makes the whole package prettier.

*Portion of the bracelet that was removed because upon ordering, Jord lets you measure your wrist  to make your watched tailored-fit for you (Free Sizing).

There is also a thin magnetic drawer under the box where you can store all the add-ons. When you flip the box upside-down or sideways, the contents are not going to fall down. Amazing, isn't it?

Jord Dark Sandalwood & Blue Carbon set

Since a Jord Watch is not just great for personal use, it can be a perfect gift choice for a friend or a loved one. The company offers Engraving Services to make any watch of your choice personalized.

What is curry? Where did it originate?

According to the dictionary, Curry is a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce of strong spices and turmeric and typically served with rice.

Alan Davidson has stated in the Oxford Companion to Food that curry comes from the Tamil word kari, or spiced sauce, which originally a thin, soup-like, spiced dressing served in southern India, amongst many other stew-like dressings for meat and vegetables. It was also noted in an English cookbook published in 1390s, The Forme of Cury, that “cury” originated from the word cuire, meaning to cook. Chef Cyrus Todiwala from BBC Two's The Incredible Spice Men explained that even though Portuguese discovered India and was credited with popularizing Curry, the country Britain was the one that brought the spice to the world. There were evidences that traces of cooked ginger and turmeric were found in starch grains in human teeth and cooking pot seen in the town of Famana, west of Delhi. Anthropologists believed that they might have found the evidence of a 4,000-year old "proto-curry". (Taylor, 2013)

There are so many types of curries in the world and one of the most interesting is the Japanese’s Curry Roux Cube. Curry Roux Cubes have flavors similar to bouillon, concentrated hits of spices and "umami" that releases when mixed with a liquid. These cubes are milder in flavor and sweeter than other curry bases and tend to produce a thicker sauce due to the presence of thickeners like corn starch or flour. Dishes like kare raisu (rice with Japanese curry) and katsu kare (thin, fried pork or chicken with Japanese curry) are almost always made from a box of Japanese curry roux. (Delany, 2017)

Three weeks ago, Primer Media Inc. sent me three brands of curry roux cubes from House Foods Sauce Mix, Japan, a well-known company established in 1913 as a producer of herbal medicines. They are now the largest spice manufacturer in Japan, and one of the most prominent producers of Japanese food products.

I admit that I wasn't familiar with Vermont, Java, and Kokumaro Curry Roux Cubes until I searched Instagram and saw thousands of posts of people from all over the world featuring their curry dishes using these three brands! That, my friends, made me more excited to try them!

Hubby and I were confused on what to try first since it was our very first time to use curry roux cubes. After listening to a friend’s recommendation that we should try Vermont Curry first, which she rated five stars, and following the cooking instructions, we enjoyed the flavor and seasoning of our delectable curry dish! It was so delicious! The dish had the right amount of sweetness and spiciness.  Perfect! Super sarap with hot steamed rice! Mapapa-extra rice ka sa sobrang linamnam!

Let me share with you our very own version of Vermont Medium Hot Japanese Chicken Curry.

To show you in detail, here is how we cooked our Japanese Chicken Curry using Vermont Curry- Medium Hot:

Ingredients

Chicken breast: 500 grams

Onion: 800 grams

Potato: 450 grams 

Carrot: 200 grams

Cooking oil: 30 ml (2 tbsp) 

Water: 6 cups (1,400 ml)

One package of Vermont Curry- Med. Hot 185 grams

Procedure

1. Drizzle cooking oil into a pot and heat it up. 

2. Put chopped onion into and fry it. 

3. After it’s cooked, put chopped chicken. 

4. After chicken is cooked well, put chopped carrot and potato respectively.

5. After every ingredient is well cooked, put water. 

6. Boil with medium heat and put the lid of the pot. 

7. Remove scum with ladle. 

8. Boil till every ingredient becomes tender.

9. Stop heating. Break curry roux into small blocks and put them into the pot. 

10. Stir it till curry roux melts completely. 

11. Heat the pot again with low heat until the sauce is thick enough. 

12. Stir the sauce while heating to avoid burning it. 

13. Serve curry with steamed rice.

Tada! Our finished product may not look like your typical Chicken Curry that is bright yellow in color but this tastes really, really good! My food blogger friend, Joy Gurtiza, was the one who encouraged me to use Vermont Curry (Med. Hot) first which she rated five stars and she was right! I strongly agree!

For more details and information about Vermont, Java, and Kokumaro Curry Roux Cubes, visit House Foods Sauce Mix, Japan's official website.

Have you tried cooking your favorite dish using Vermont, Java, or Kokumaro Curry? If yes, I will be glad to know your chika about it! Feel free to leave a comment! Salamat!

References:

Taylor, A. (2013). Curry: Where did it come from?. Retrieved http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/0/24432750

I admit that I only drink plain milk daily during my two pregnancies because I wanted my babies to get the calcium for their developing bones and other nutrients for proper growth that they could only get from it. Then to sustain my own and family's milk requirements now, I just incorporate it with the dishes that I cook and drinks that I take. 

While I have milk taste fatigue, my sons' tummies have become sensitive to plain white milk but I am amazed that when milk is incorporated with other drinks and dishes, their tummies can tolerate it. There was also a time in their growing years that they drank milk chocolate but I decided to let them stop because I thought that milk chocolate as a substitute was bad for the health. But I was wrong.

According to healthyeating.org, milk chocolate (flavored and unflavored) is as healthy as plain white milk. Like the former, the latter has also the sugar lactose in it. In an eight-ounce glass of milk we can find 12 grams of lactose. Milk chocolate has between eight to 12 additional grams of sugar added. So about one-half of the sugar in chocolate milk is naturally-occurring lactose found in all milk. Only about 60 calories in chocolate milk are from added sugars, which is small relative to the powerhouse of nutrients it provides. (Source: www.healthyeating.org/Milk-Dairy/Dairy-Facts/Chocolate-Milk)

At first, my kids loved drinking chocolate milk everyday. I would allow them to take only one small tetra brick at least three times a week because I would still observe their tummies' reaction to it. Until finally, they manifested no negative reaction so I let them continue. But somehow, they experience an "umay factor" from time to time, finding their favorite milk chocolate drink very, very sweet.

Then a few weeks before the recent holidays, Jolly Cow of Fly Ace Corporation sent me a gift pack with Jolly Cow Chocolate Milk in it. Milk chocolate consumption was never the same. 

Our family began to like and recommended it to our friends due to the following reasons:

- It's not too sweet. It has the right amount of sweetness and creaminess that makes Jolly Cow Chocolate Milk different from other brands.

- I admit that it's addicting. It's delicious when stored in room temperature and even yummier when served chilled or with ice cubes.

- It's made of 100% pure cow's milk straight from Denmark added with real cocoa.

- It's loaded with calcium and essential nutrients for healthier bones, strong immune system, and well-functioning body organs. 

- It's versatile, best paired with our family's favorite snacks. We can enjoy our occasional milk chocolate indulgence without the guilt.

- I am a chocoholic and I drink this as a post workout booster without ruining my diet plan. It has a balanced protein and carbohydrate contents.

- It's guaranteed natural, no artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

- It’s shelf-stable packaging also allows the milk to be stored at room temperature to keep its freshness and creamy texture up to seven months or until the date code. It's Longlife Ultra Heat Treated which means it's safe and clean.

- New feature! It has a Junior version, 200 ml, that is perfect for my kids' baon for school. Hubby and I also bring one when we go out. 

- Affordable and sleek- a box of Jolly Cow Chocolate Milk Junior is also one of the best potluck contributions. One box contains 27 tetra bricks of real chocolate goodness that kids and adults can surely enjoy!

- I am conscious with what my family consumes. Nutritional information, ingredients, storing instructions, manufacturing date, expiration date, and manufacturer information are all printed on the packaging. It also has a printed educational activity at the back that kids can answer.

Jolly Cow Chocolate Milk is loaded with real chocolatey and milky goodness in every pack!

My family loves Jolly Cow Chocolate Milk. It is something that lifts the spirit and sends happiness! I know that when you try it, you'll love it too!

Holiday rush is a common problem as Christmas approaches. Filipinos always love last minute preparations. Lahat ay punung-abala, aligaga, at natataranta because we belong to a nation who considers celebrating Christmas a big deal. Why is it always like this? Because bonuses or 13th month pay are usually given a few weeks before Christmas. One more thing, most Filipinos are not used to planning ahead of time at umaasa sa bonus sa Disyembre bago magsimulang magplano and they will end up spending too much until finally, wala ng natitira.

If you are going to ask me, these scenarios can be avoided. It's plain and simple. First and foremost, before making and preparing your Christmas menu, gifts and shopping list, the questions are, "How much is your budget?", "How much time can you spend preparing?", "Who will do the preparations?" If you answer these questions, make sure that they are SMART- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Time-bound. Don't just focus on the idea na "May darating namang bonus. Minsan lang naman ang pasko sa loob ng isang taon kaya itodo na ito!"

Well, that's the other side of the coin. Let's just say that you are capable of spending too much for the holidays. It is a family tradition that you always prepare of annually. If you want to spend your hard earned money to make memories, it's fine and it's your choice as long as you still have spare money to spend after the holidays. 

For those living on a budget and for those who have much to spend, one thing's for sure. Everyone wants to save, get huge discounts, get the best deals, and still get the best choices. If you have already planned for your working budget, prepared your gift list, made your shopping list for gifts, food, decors, and anything that you are going to use for Christmas celebration, here are some tips that work well based on experience.

1. Why wait for December when you can prepare your gift and shopping list as early as January? 

Yes, it is advisable to plan ahead so that you can refrain yourself from spending too much due to impulsive buying.

2. When you have planned ahead and prepared your list already, you can shop all-year round during mall, supermarket, or warehouse sale events. There you can score amazing deals, huge discounts, and unique finds that you can store as gift items during emergency occasions and of course, for Christmas. Always make it a habit to buy extra gift items just in case that you've missed someone on your list. Bulk food items that can be stored for months like canned fruits, sauces, snacks, chocolates, coffee, creamer, and other non-perishables if you plan to prepare Christmas baskets as gifts to each family of your relatives, they are best bought in the middle of the year as the "Ber Month" approaches, Most of the sale events happen during "Sweldo Day". What you can do is to spare a few amounts for your shopping intended for the holidays. By doing this little by little you're going to be surprised that in December, you are already prepared for the holidays. You will no longer need to spend your bonus to shop. You may invest it instead.

3. You can start wrapping your gifts as soon as you have bought them. You can do this on your spare time during weekends or if you want to do something to unwind after a busy day. Gift wrapping is therapeutic too and doing it without rushing can give you more time to be creative in making your gifts personalized. If you are not an artsy type, you can purchase pretty boxes, crates, bags, or jars to house your gifts. You can also save the environment in doing so because they can be reused too. 

4. After purchasing the things and gifts that you need for the holidays, do you have a room, cabinet, or storage area where you can place them neatly and orderly? Doing a quarterly general cleaning is a must to keep your house neat and orderly. It will save you from cramming as the holiday season approaches. If you have a lot of items not being used for six months and up, it is time for you to sell them through a garage sale. The money that you can earn can be used as part of your budget for Christmas, can be donated to charity, or save as emergency fund. If you don't want to sell those items, you may donate them to charity or give them to someone that you think can use them. If you don't have time to do a quarterly general cleaning, make it a habit to declutter or organize on a daily basis so that your home is ready for unexpected guests or relatives who will spend a day or two with you during the holidays. This will lessen your worries during the holidays.

5. As early as October, if you expect relatives to celebrate Christmas with your family, check the inventory of your China, glassware, flat ware, utensils, kitchen towels, table cloth, table napkins, biodegradable trash liners, and other kitchen aids. If the dinner or lunch is informal and if you don't want to have trouble in washing the dishes for a huge number of guests, there are biodegradable disposable plates, utensils, and napkins that are decorated intended for Christmas which you can use to beautify your table setting too while keeping your kitchen, dining table, and guests clean and neat.

In line with this, one of my most trusted brands for my kitchen is Sanicare, a local brand that is also famous for its tissues and other hygiene products such as cotton, wipes, underpants, and toilet seat cover. Whenever I purchase kitchen towels, my first choice is always Sanicare. Sanicare Kitchen Towels are composed of moisture locking technology that makes them super absorbent, perfect in absorbing excess oil, water, and other liquids. They are also durable and stays intact while being used. I've been using them for years and I highly recommend them. To add class to the table setting, I recommend Sanicare Mood Dinner Napkins that are known to be luxuriously strong but very soft, making meals extraordinarily special. It comes in two colors, white and black, but I prefer the former than the latter.

Sanicare Mood Dinner Napkins in White is my favorite! So neat and clean!

Since it's Christmas preparation that I am talking about, what makes me excited is that Sanicare has launched again its very festive Kitchen Towel Christmas Edition as it usually does annually.

Nothing beats the absorbing power of Sanicare Kitchen Towels due to their moisture locking technology.

This year, Sanicare  Kitchen Towel Christmas Edition also goes hand in hand with the launch of a specially designed holiday facial tissue boxes called Liwanag Christmas Edition Boxes. This year, the boxes were designed by the very talented artist, Alex Eduque, founder of MovEd.

Sanicare Liwanag Christmas Edition Facial Tissues in white, red, blue, and green boxes

As you can see, Liwanag Christmas Edition Boxes are inspired by a world-class Filipino talent, promoting hope and happiness amidst all odds. Alex has chosen parols (lanterns) and stars as the center of her amazing designs. She believes that parols or lanterns are symbolic representation that expresses unification and a nation of promise while stars remind us that every person in the world share the same sky and despite our differences, conditions, and circumstances, each of us has a star shining brightly from within. The overall design speaks of equality among social classes that symbolically lights up all Filipino homes.

Those parols (lanters) and stars printed in every Sanicare Liwanag Christmas Edition Facial Tisue Boxes literally shine brightly! I love the way they are printed in gold foil.

Like our family this Christmas season, Sanicare would also like you to try its Christmas Edition Kitchen Towels and Facial Tissue Liwanag Series Boxes. By doing so, you don't just make your home and festivities to have "Christmas feels" but you can also have a chance to win awesome prizes by joining Starry Bright Christmas Promo.

To join this promo, here are the simple mechanics.

1. Interested participants need to post a creative photo on their Facebook account featuring the Sanicare Facial Tissue Liwanag Series Box.

2. The creative photo must include a caption that starts with a phrase, "My Christmas is extra bright this year because _______________!" and must tag three (3) other friends. Entries also should include the mandatory hashtags #SanicareLiwanagSeries #Sanicare #SCPA.

3. Once the photo was posted, the participant must go back to the Sanicare PH Facebook promo post and click the link provided in order to submit the entry.

They are so easy, aren't they?

The promo will run from November 22, 2017 to January 1, 2018. Deadline of submission is on  January 1 at 6:00 PM. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2018 on Sanicare PH Facebook Page. 

Luck winners will get the following prizes:

The grand prize winner will be given four (4) all day passes to Dream Play and Lunch Buffet for four (4) at The Cafe at the Hyatt City of Dreams Manila.

10 consolation prize winners will also be chosen and each will receive a Php2,000 Sodexo Gift Certificate from Sanicare.

For more details and updates about the promo, you may visit and like Sanicare PH Facebook Page. Starry Bright Christmas Promo is under DTI Permit No. 18311 Series of 2017. You may also follow @sanicare_ph on Instagram as well.

Join Sanicare Starry Bright Christmas Promo and get the chance to win awesome prizes!

Have a stress-free Christmas! I hope that you can join and win the promo too! 

Last Friday morning, I was able to talk to a pretty mom, a co-parent in Bunso's school, which I forgot to ask the name. We had a brief conversation about our kids. She asked me when and how Bunso learned to talk. I told her that Bunso could only say Mama and Papa when he started his therapy sessions three years ago. After three months of regular OT sessions, he knew how to talk in simple phrases. Amazing, isn't it?

Swimming is Bunso's way to exercise his body while reading is his habit to exercise his mind.

Aside from the help of his therapist and his education under the supervision of the Sped team, the advantage of Bunso's non-exposure to television because he doesn't like watching TV shows and limiting his gadget time have helped in the process too. Paps and I exposed him to books at an early age instead.

These  books were few of the many books that we got last summer from our visit to Scholastic Warehouse Sale. Bunso and his Kuya shares the passion for the love for reading through the years. Why do you see multiple copies of most of the books? They are nice gifts for all occasions. The gift of learning is priceless and timeless.

Believe it or not, two years ago I used to read aloud 45 books, 3 to 7 times a day to Bunso while pointing the words and showing him the illustrations. He memorized them all until our reading materials became more than 45 books. Every January, I would change his reading materials so that he could have a new learning experience. Until finally, he began reading the words on his own without memorizing the story. I would also ask him questions about the story to check his comprehension.

In line with this, Scholastic Warehouse Sale is our cheapest source of reading materials since 2014. I encourage you to visit its ongoing sale. I guarantee na sulit ang pagod ninyo sa pagpunta. You will find all the details below my Scholastic Warehouse Sale experiences and the ongoing Christmas sale. 

Hello, Mars at Pards! The year is about to end again. If you notice, this Mama is at her peak of being very busy. Honestly, burnout sets in at this point and still, I am doing something about it by diverting my attention to something else that breaks my usual routines. I am currently and seriously doing my "installment general cleaning". For me it's an activity that I love but don't have the luxury of time doing often. That's why when long vacations arrive, I take the opportunity to do it with gusto! As I always do, I set my priorities and make things happen. However, it pays to be more flexible to avoid the dangers of becoming too engrossed with routines and finally, feeling down due to denial of experiencing burnout. Loving myself should be prioritized among anything else because I can't give what I don't have. Happiness should radiate from within and it should extend to the persons I hold dear.

To set that happy emotional state on my being and loving myself more, the first step that I did was to have my website refurbished. It so happened that a good blogger friend of mine and an amazing software engineer Celerhina Aubrey had an enticing proposal and I grabbed that rare opportunity.

A few years ago, I was the one who made my own website despite having no knowledge in programming. Thanks to Google! I survived! I was able to fix the look that I really wanted for my website after three long months. The old look of my website served me well since 2013. However, due to the advent of android phones and tablets, I wanted my website to be responsive which I didn't know how to fix myself. 

Furthermore, four years of having the same layout was long overdue. I was hesitant to ask some web developers even Celerhina Aubrey because of the knowledge that it was quite expensive. That endeavor wasn't also my priority. Not until she announced on her Facebook account that she was selling her current website design. I immediately took the chance to ask her because I admired her website layout as much as I love her writing style. Her website design had all the criteria that I was looking for. It was classy, chic, clean, comprehensive, functional, and most of all responsive. Bonus na bonus din na she was selling it for a cheaper price. Without batting an eyelash, I told her,"Go na ako!"

Celerhina Aubrey is one of the bloggers that I trust and admire. Siya kasi very honest. What you see is what you get. Walang paliguy-ligoy. Magaan agad ang loob ko sa kanya the first time we met and had brunch together na umabot hanggang hapon. She is straightforward, brutally frank but kind, generous, and easy to deal with. She fixed my website in no time. While doing so, she was so patient in answering my queries. A non-techie like me could really rely on her.

This gorgeous and talented lady designed my website. (Photo credit: Celerhina Aubrey)

My friends and loved ones like the new look of my website. Some of my blogger friends knew who did it while others kept on asking who did it. Some of my blogger friends started to inquire about her services. Then I learned that they were so affordable. Gaganda at magiging responsive ang website ninyo without breaking a bank. 

If you are using Blogger and you're planning to change the design of your website, you may communicate with Celerhina Aubrey through her website, Facebook page, or email address. She also does quality logo, Favicon, and badge design at a very reasonable price. 

Seeing the new look of my website started to take my blues away. Now I feel more inspired to improve my content para bagay naman sa website design. LOL! I still need to edit and update texts and photos of some of my blog entries. To cut the story short, my website is always a work in progress and I am so glad that someone has helped me make it visually enticing and user friendly. I am happy with my new website look. Thanks to Celerhina Aubrey for making me tick one entry on my bucket list.

How do you find my website's new look? Feel free to leave your comment.