Heidi Tobias-Valenzuela is one of the dearest persons in my life. She is my sister from another mother, best friend for more than three decades, business partner, confidant, and literally a person who knows me well aside from my family. Like her, she knows that I don't collect things but memories and I value relationships more than anything else. Whenever we see each other (I am glad that it becomes often for a couple of months now due to our perfume venture), we see to it that we check and assure each other that we are okay despite our concerns and struggles, may they be personal or family related. We like to give each other words of wisdom and sometimes we exchange a little something for each other like food and kikay stuff. What makes me amazed about her is she knows what I need at the moment. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, may pagka- "Manang Bola" siya. Ang galing niyang manghula! 

Just recently, she gave me a present. Tamang-tama kasi it was the time that I was planning to purchase an extra pouch for my necessities. She said that I could choose among the purses that she showed me as her birthday gift to me. Then I chose the one in the middle of this photo because I really liked the verse on it and it was really, really pretty. I was touched. How thoughtful of her! What made me more touched about her gesture was the fact that those purses that she showed me was purchased by her for a cause. 

Mabait, matulungin, at mapagmahal talaga sa mga kaibigan at kapamilya ang best friend ko. She finds ways and means to extend her help sa abot ng kanyang makakaya. Her selflessness is one of her traits that I really admire. She told me that she purchased the purses to help her friend and co-worker at Philippine Business for Social Progress, Franco Dino Bonifacio, to raise funds for his kidney transplant. 

I was not able to ask Heidi more details about Franco's life. All I know is that he needs to save funds for his kidney transplant that needs to be done as soon as possible. Apparently, he is single and stays with his mom. Below is the post on his Facebook account that Heidi shared through private message.

What makes Heidi happy is that there are many friends who are willing to help Franco. Sabi nga niya, Franco is a good person at siya ang tipo ng taong hindi ka magdadalawang-isip tulungan. If you are already preparing your Christmas gift list, I am humbly knocking on your kind hearts to please consider Franco's purse as one of your gift choices. You may purchase directly to him though the posted link above. The details, variants, designs, mode of payment, and other instructions are included there. I assure you that you are going to like his purses. They are so nice in actual, affordable, high quality, useful, practical, and neatly packed. Hindi ka mapapahiyang iregalo sila sa iyong mahal sa buhay, 'ika nga! Makatutulong ka pang mapahaba ang buhay ng isang mabuting tao.

Your help will be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance and God bless you a thousandfold.

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. 

I am a lip balm fanatic. It's a beauty staple that I am very dependent with. I can live without lipstick but not without lip balm. I am born with very dry lips despite of hydrating myself often. I've tried and tested various lip balm brands and only a few suit me well.

Moreover, lip balms that pass my standards have the following criteria:

1. Effectiveness

A lip balm's primary function is to make the lips free from dryness, chapping, and cracking, making them smooth, plump, and soft in no time. Smooth and soft lips look younger, fresher, and healthier. A lip balm also aids in making any lipstick especially the one with matte formula glide on smoothly, leaving lips moisturized and not dry at all.

2. Safety

Whenever I shop for lip balms, I check their ingredients. Are they made from natural and safe ingredients? Are they free from harmful or carcinogenic components? If yes, I go for them. I am now in a state that I am more conscious with what I apply on my face and body.

3. Great Taste

I always opt for a fruity lip balm with a hint of mint and vanilla or a just a plain minty one can do.

4. Light Consistency

I don't want my lips to look like I've just eaten greasy food. I want a lip balm that leaves a thin layer of gloss on my lips, not too shiny or greasy. 

5. Affordability

I am a frugal person. I believe that it doesn't necessarily mean that if a product is expensive, it's safe and effective already. Why spend more on a good product if you can purchase a better and cheaper alternative?

6. Availability

I am a loyal product user if it satisfies me and serves its purpose well. It breaks my heart when I ran out of a certain lip balm brand that I love and I can't readily purchase it in a nearby mall, drugstore,  or online. Online shopping may be an option. Additional shipping fee adds on the expenses but for me it's okay as long as the product is really worth purchasing. I admit that I am "kuripot" and I am not ashamed of being one. I don't mind adding an additional fee for shipping because it saves time, a thing that is always lacking due to mom duties, it's hassle-free, and convenient. I don't need to go out anymore because the product shall be delivered right on my doorstep.

7. Reliable and Convenient Packaging

For hygiene purposes, I prefer a tube type lip balm packaging than the tub type. I don't want to apply lip balm using my fingers because it's messy, unhygienic, and inconvenient. I love a lip balm packaging that is very light and not bulky so that I can slip it easily in my pocket, clutch, or small makeup case. I don't want something that takes so much space and weight of my bag. I also find a lip balm packaging reliable where I can read the detailed product information including claims, ingredients, manufacturer, distributor, batch number, manufacturing date, expiration date, and other important details that consumers need to know.

8. Amazing Staying Power

I am a type of girl who doesn't like retouching makeup often especially lipstick or lip balm because I find it inconvenient due to my not-so-conscious and on-the-go personality. The staying power of my lip balm matters to me. The longer that it stays on my lips to keep them smoother and softer, the better.

In line with this, I have discovered another lip balm brand that I've added to my top choices, and that is GEMZ LIP BALM. 

Gemz Lip Balm naturally moisturizes and smoothens my lips. It's enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and Jojoba Oil, three of my most favorite beauty product ingredients. It is infused with antioxidants and SPF 15, keeping my lips protected from harmful UV rays and other harsh environmental elements.

Gemz Lip Balm is hypoallergenic, 95% natural, 100% safe for kids and adults, and FDA approved. It has the following ingredients: Beeswax, Candelilla Cera, Copernica Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Squalene, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Benzophenone-3, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Fruit Oil/Extract (depending on the lip balm variant), Flavor, and Ci 77492. It's paraben-free, petrolatum-free, and gluten-free.

Gemz Lip Balm is so easy to use. All you have to do is twist off, smooch, apply, and smile! It's convenient to store. It's not bulky, not messy, and very handy. Just store in a cool, dry place between 20 C to 25 C. Remember to keep away from direct sunlight.

Just recently, I tried and tested the following variants: Citrine Lemon, Ruby Strawberry, and Peach Moonstone which I really, really like especially Ruby Strawberry. Their tastes are not too sweet or overwhelming, and very, very light. It has three more variants: Emerald Pineapple, Blue Amethyst, and Mint Zircon. I wonder how they taste? Hmmm... I will surely try them soon.

Gemz Lip Balm is exceptionally shaped to provide just the right amount of lip balm in every application, making my lips sweet, soft, and smooth longer without applying often.

This imported lip balm brand is made in China for London-based company, Dexe Group Ltd. It's exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Bellus Life Solutions, Inc., found in Unit 222 Cityland, 7648 Dela Rosa Street, Barangay Pio del Pilar, Makati City.

Every Gemz Lip Balm is safe to use for three years from the date of manufacturing. I encourage you to try and experience Gemz Lip Balm to see that it really works, making your lips fresh, shinier, softer, and younger-looking! 

Furthermore, Christmas time is fast approaching. Gemz Lip Balms as gifts for the holidays can be a great idea!  They are definitely affordable, practical, and useful gifts for your friends and loved ones. You can turn one into something more special by adding personalized "Christmas feels" on it just like making a nose of a reindeer in a DIY card? Isn't it nice?

How to avail these fabulous lip balms? They are available online at Php100 per piece only. Free shipping applies for five-piece and above orders. Php90 per piece for orders six pieces and above, while additional discounts apply for orders per box or twelve pieces.

You may send private messages at @gemzlipbalm on Instagram or Gemz Lip Balm on Facebook. You may also reach it at mobile number 09258250225 or email address gemzphofficial@yahoo.com with the information seen on the photo below.

Gemz Lip Balm is looking for resellers. If you are interested to start up your own Gemz Lip Balm Business, you may contact it through the above-mentioned contact details.

I hope that this list can help you choose the best Halloween Trick or Treat venue for your kids. Have a Spooktacular Halloween!

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You may also like to read the articles about Halloween that I've written for PSST.ph.

BEST HEALTHY AND PRACTICAL HALLOWEEN TREAT ALTERNATIVES

FIVE BEST ONLINE RESOURCES FOR EASY DIY HALLOWEEN FOOD, DECOR, AND COSTUME IDEAS

2017 BEST HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT VENUES IN THE METRO

Paps and I are the ones preparing and cooking meals for our family. We seldom eat-out or order food for delivery because our kids prefer what we cook for them.

The advantages of cooking and eating home-cooked meals are tremendous since we meticulously do the shopping, hand-picking, and preparing our own food. We know that what we serve to our loved ones is clean, safe, healthy, and most of all, delicious.

Preparing delicious meals doesn't necessary mean that we have to make it grand in amount or appearance. Anthony Bourdain, one of the most influential chefs, authors, and television personalities in the world, said, "Good food is very often, even most often, simple food."  Indeed, we agree because our food is always simple but its flavors that tickle our palates and the benefits that it contributes to our well-being are amazingly satisfying.

Aside from handling our food with so much love and care, I am going to reveal our family's secret to our delectable meals and that is no less than, MAGGI. We may be using various brands of herbs, spices, and sauces but Maggi products are always in our pantry.

Why is Maggi part of our meal preparations for years? 

Whenever we choose products especially for ingestion, we always check if they are from reputable brands. Maggi has been in the market for decades. It's among the most trusted food brands in the world. Most of all, it's a product of Nestle, one of the world's leader in health and nutrition. Nestle products including Maggi is research-based and proven to be safe and healthy to use.

Maggi is not just safe and healthy. Napapasasarap naman nito talaga ang mga pagkaing aming inihahanda para sa aming pamilya kahit hindi na lalagyan ng salt o iba pang pampaalat. Maggi balances and enhances the flavor of every meal without making it too salty.

Our vegetable dishes are incomplete without a dash of Maggi Savor Classic Liquid Seasoning. This variant in particular is also best as dip for dumplings, fried dishes, roasted meats, and steamed or boiled veggies. 

We put salt and pepper to our oil-less pan fried chicken. When we discovered Maggi Magic Sarap All-In-One Seasoning Granules and Maggi Magic Chicken Meaty Seasoning Granules, we use them interchangeably and don't use salt anymore. Furthermore, our fried rice is incomplete without Maggi Magic Sarap.

Seared Pork Chops are my mom's favorite. The pork taste is enhanced when Maggi Magic Pork Meaty Seasoning Granules are added to the milk marinade.

Then we tried using it in our Ginisang Monggo because we lessened the pork. Mas lalo pang naging meaty ang flavor at lalong sumarap at naging malinamnam ito!

Why is it that our barbecue dishes taste great? Maggi Oyster Sauce ang sikreto riyan! My best friend, Grace Yanzon, served her Pork Barbecue with Maggi Oyster Sauce when she invited me for lunch in her home. Sa sobrang sarap ng barbecue niya, I never forget to stock up Maggi Oyster Sauce at home. It also makes stir-fry dishes flavorful.

Another milestone was unlocked, Our search for affordable, tasty, and not too salty soy sauce was over because of the launch of Maggi Soy Sauce in the market a couple of months ago. Our Adobo, Menudo or Igado tastes even better with it.

To sum it up, Maggi makes simple dishes taste magical! Parang laging may handaan sa aming tahanan dahil sa Maggi. Sa simpleng Sinigang, pritong ulam, o inihaw, #AllWeNeedIsMagic!

Maggi Watermelon Surprise Soup Base Mix and Maggi Magic Isda All-In-One Seasoning Granules for Fish ang susunod kong susubukan. Ikaw, ano ang kwentong Maggi mo?

The Philippine Readers and Writers Festival was a three day event. Everyday was filled with workshops hosted by different publications which you could attend for free. Just register and you would be given a free pass to all the ballrooms where the workshops were held plus free entrance to the 38th Manila International Book Fair. This event encouraged aspiring and current writers to learn and be good in their craft. 

Due to my limited time, I had a chance to sit on a 2 1/2 hour workshop, "The Path to Possibilities: How Stories Can Reach a Global Audience" by Scholastic Asia and facilitated by five experts in the field of education, reading, editing, publishing, writing, and coaching. Let me give you their background and the insights that they imparted to inspire aspiring and current writers, bloggers, educators, students, and even parents to instill in themselves, to their kids and others the pointers on how to create a good story and love reading. Here they are:

Barry Cunningham is  the publisher of Chicken House Books, has had an impressive career in publishing. He has worked with the great names in children's books including Roald Dahl during the most popular years of his career. He soon became one of the best-known names in publishing after he signed up J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In 2010, he was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's Honours List for services in literature.

Mr. Cunningham prepared this video while on vacation. He was so enthusiastic to share his expertise and expressed his regret of not being able to see us in person. (Courtesy: Scholastic Asia)

Professors Sangil and Villanueva amazed the audience as they shared their insights. (Courtesy: Scholastic Asia)

Fondly called Teacher Vic, has spent 24 years doing literacy work in various roles. He was an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, University of the Philippines Diliman, Executive Director of Wordlab School, Judge of National Book Development Board, Consultant of Wordprime, Founder of Read Ability Literacy Improvement Center, and School Director of The Builder's School. He is currently a Senior Educational Consultant of Grolier Scholastic Philippines, Board Member of The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), and Reading Assessment Specialist.

The following are the key points that he has mentioned in "Reading Landscape: What Readers Look for in a Good Story?"

 (Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales)

Learning from the speakers could be refreshing and recharging. Even if we are writing for a couple of years now, learning should not stop. After all, we don't have the monopoly of knowledge.  All the insights that they said would mean that great writers started from reading at a very young age. They found it easier to express themselves effectively due to their exposure to good vocabulary, other writers' ideas through the books that they read, and most of all through their own experiences. 

All the tips that they've shared may sound easy but being great not just in writing entails a lot of hard work, enthusiasm, and perseverance. Furthermore, experience makes perfect and permanence. Learning is part of our lifetime and it shall only end as we die.

It's been a a while since I've shared my most favorite recipes. This Mama is very, very busy for a couple of months now. As you all now, I am writing for PSST!PH since July (It's a dream come true, actually.) and our home based family business is doing good. I am striking the iron while it's hot!

While my hands were tied, I also had a quick decision to have my blog get an overhaul. It so happened that a good blogger friend and a very talented software engineer, Celerhina Aubrey, had a very nice and reasonable proposal and I took advantage of the opportunity.

While Aubrey was fixing the look of my website, Paps and I were focused on our kids while doing our own jobs and helping each other with mom on our family business. Wala kaming hangin and a day is not enough to cover all our duties. Having a writer's block from time to time also refrains me from even touching the keyboard of our PC. Sakit ko na yata ito especially when the year is about to end.

Furthermore, there are so many ongoing issues and concerns in my life. To slow down a bit, I always write my musings on my Instagram account. By the way, it's my most updated social media account and I invite you to check it out. There I write almost anything that pops on my head. I also browse my past photos from time to time and that is when I came across with Mrs. Patty Cuyugan's Mexican Rice Casserole Recipe na pagkasarap-sarap!

It has an authentic taste of a cheesy, meaty, and spicy Mexican food. Dahil nakita ko na naman ang photo na ito on Instagram I have this urge to cook it again and enjoy it with my family. I also encourage you to try this. You'll surely love this too! Madali pang iluto.

When you cook this, tanya-tanya lang.

Ingredients

old rice 

 pork giniling 

 taco seasoning 

crushed tomatoes 

minced onions 

corn 

bell pepper 

cheese 

Procedure

Saute all the ingredients except cheese in taco seasoning. When everything was mixed thoroughly, place grated cheese and a little sauteed pork giniling on top and turned off the stove. 

Isn't it super easy? When you smell and taste it, feel na feel mo ang Mexican flavors. It fits perfectly what Kate Mclennan of thekateringshow.com once said, "Mexican food is so full of colour, life, and music. It's like a pinata exploding in your mouth."

Thanks for sharing this recipe, Patty! I will be sharing again more home cooked recipes in the days to come! Feel free to leave a comment once you have tried and tasted it. Maraming salamat, Mars at Pards!