Looking for a tutor solution that’s affordable, convenient, and effective for your child’s learning needs? Mark and I were also in the same boat for Tikoy’s growing development in reading. We hoped to find a hassle-free one with experienced teachers who could work with our time difference. And then we discovered Chalkboard! Tikoy had an interactive reading assessment session Chalkboard is the Philippines’ first end-to-end online tutorial learning solution that connects students worldwide to expert-level tutors with effective tutoring techniques. Starting at just PhP 117.00 per hour (group lear ..read more

Finally, a daily skin routine that works for me! As a busy mom, I like discovering convenient and easy ways to care for myself. You can do it, too with my three-step routine! Hurrah for helpful skin products! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark X Abi (@themarkxabi) Here is my three-step morning skin routine after washing my face:  1. Dermplus Moisturizing Sunblock: Whether at home or going out, I have learned the discipline to never go without sunblock. We’re perennially exposed to harmful UV rays, including light from our gadgets. Choosing a sunblock with a high ..read more

This denim dungaree is my favorite look for our son, Tikoy! Mainly because I also had the same outfit when I was a little girl, and I enjoy that sheer pleasure that Tikoy is my boy mini-me.  He likes his dungaree too Denim dungarees (aka overalls, aka jumpers) are classic, timeless outfits for kids and great for play, too! They’re durable, comfy (depending on your chosen material), and easy to wear with or without an undershirt! Here’s why dungarees are staple clothing for your kids’ wardrobe:  1. It’s durable: While there are many variations of the dungarees (including cotton and li ..read more

I can’t stop munching on these enoki mushroom fries! Here’s the recipe. My favorite kind of fries! It’s also great as a wrap! Ingredients Enoki mushroom fries 200g Enoki mushrooms 1 tbsp soy sauce 2-3 pinches of salt 1 tsp pepper 1/2 tbsp cumin powder 1/2 tbsp paprika 1 cup flour Oil for frying Dip 1 tbsp Mayonnaise 1 tbsp Sriracha 1 tbsp Mustard 1 tbsp Vinegar/Lemon or lime juice Procedure 1. Lightly wash the enoki mushrooms. Do not soak or they will get soggy. Enoki mushrooms are versatile! 2. Trim the edges and separate them into bite size pieces. Separate them into bite size pieces 3. Spri ..read more

What’s great about being in our 30s is that our sense of style become more defined and refined. We know what works for us, what flatters our body type, and what we feel confident and comfortable in. We know what we want: airy, chic, soft jumpsuits! As for me, I have always gravitated toward neutral colors and classic pieces. I like outfits I could rotate in my wardrobe for years and clothes I won’t regret seeing in pictures when I look back ten years later. Subtle yet chic However, finding clothes that fit my personal style and budget hasn’t always been easy. That’s why I was thrilled to disc ..read more

Most parents know that open-ended toys are an important investment in their child’s toy collection. Open-ended toys promote creativity, support physical and cognitive development, encourage experimentation and exploration, foster problem-solving skills, and help develop a growth mindset. He gets serious when he plays That being said, what are the best open-ended toys for kids 18 months to 5 years old? Among many, we highly recommend Duplo.  What is Duplo?  Our Duplo 10914 And among all the open-ended toys out there, Duplo stands out. What is Duplo? It’s basically like LEGO, but made ..read more

We had our first family trip in Chiang Mai. As it is in visiting any part of Thailand, the food should never be missed! Here are the 9 cafés and restaurants we tried during our holiday. Food Crawl Food crawl is one of our family’s favorite things to do whenever we go somewhere and we recommend it for you too! Visit different cafés and restaurants, try one or two of their best sellers and split them among friends or family. Here’s our guide for a budget* food crawl. Budget Food Crawl Guide 1. Look up popular places and hand pick at least 5 with different themes. 2. Places must be within walking ..read more

Mark wanted a simple celebration at home. But it felt off without a cake (and our five year old son, Tikoy, insists there should be cake). It would be weird to ask Mark to make his own as baking is his turf at home, yet I don’t have the patience to bake with all its proper measuring, folding, and mixings. So, I decided to brave baking berry cheesecake. (All I ever made before were the no-bake ones). Can’t go wrong with a fresh berry topping It was nerve-wracking! I researched a lot as though it’s rocket science. But I had to make do with what I had. I wasn’t sure if my computations to fit a sm ..read more

Who doesn’t love these famous triangle chocolates? Toblerone has released a limited edition Valentine’s Day treat: Toblerone Love Cards. Each bar of chocolate comes with a note card so you can personalize it for Valentine’s gifting! It comes with a sweet nothing and an ample space to write your message The Toblerone Love Cards are a delicious treat and a unique and thoughtful way to show your love and appreciation to that special someone. The cards come in beautiful, gift-ready packaging, making them a perfect surprise for your Valentine. Catch their promo for Toblerone Love Cards Set for only ..read more

It felt as if we were in a never-ending search for a good, sturdy, and hopefully easy-to-clean water bottle since our son started solids and drinking water. Our son’s water bottle needed replacing We tried a couple of brands, and while they’re usually ok, we always have to replace the straw. It’s the first thing to go with a little boy trying to work through the habit of biting them. This was one of his first water bottles and I replaced the straw with a metal one when it gave out. Good thing we saw Contigo from a friend just before we replaced our son’s water bottle. Mark commented, “that loo ..read more