I have recently come to appreciate the wonders of essential oils after attending the Mod Moms event with Amara Lab. There, I was able to learn more about the e.o. varieties, its uses and benefits, and even made my first oil blends using Amara Oils.  I actually first learned about EOs when I was pregnant with the girl in 2007. I attended an event for expectant moms which featured a demo on infant massage. During the demo (sorry, I forgot the name of the resource person), the expert stressed that we should try to use essential oil blends and not the mineral oil-based varieties that are ..read more

It's rainy season once again so expect humidity to be off the charts, thus, frizzy hair!!! Even my skin feels different in this weather so I take extra care. As much as I want to wear my hair down more often, I don't have enough patience to give too much attention to it. I know that having beautiful and healthy hair always gives a good impression. That is why I always try to keep my hair neat and in place. But my naturally buhaghag hair requires some time and effort to style. Even on a good hair day, my laziness kicks in and I end up with a ponytail just to keep hair away from my fac ..read more

Over the past couple of years, I've added a few steps to my very basic skin care regimen, kasi tumatanda nako, hehe. Seriously, after I hit the 40 mark, my skin drastically became drier and more prone to irritation, and worse, occasional eczema flare-ups which I never experienced in my youth. Top priority is really to keep my skin hydrated everyday. Aside from drinking more water than I'm used to, I also go with my trusted skin care brands na hiyang talaga ako. So, let me share what these #WaterfulSkincare and #PurifiedByNature brands are, plus some practical tips that can help us achieve ..read more

Lapu-lapu is one of our favorite fish. It's in the top of the list when we order from Chinese restaurants since they are live and best served steamed. I used to watch my mother and my Cantonese gwa-kong (maternal grandpa) prepare this delicious dish and enjoyed by family members. So, whenever I get a chance to have fresh lapu-lapu, I try to make this recipe, no special occasion required. It's a must that you use fresh lapu-lapu, or any fish you prefer, if you want to steam it. If it's frozen, I suggest you fry it instead. This recipe can also work well with king fish,  tilapia, po ..read more

Online shopping is a hard habit to break. The ease and convenience of shopping with just a few swipes and taps make it all the more enticing and satisfying. It saves me a lot of time and effort while being free from traffic! For international purchases, I've been ordering from Amazon for almost two decades now. Items are shipped to my sister-in-law in the U.S., who consolidates all our orders in a balikbayan box. We just have to wait long since it takes at least a month by sea to get here. But I got introduced to My Shopping Box, an international parcel delivery and courier service compan ..read more

Fresh off the launch, I am sharing with you the latest limited edition collection from lifestyle brand beabi, who is celebrating its 10th year, in collaboration with world renowned Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor. I am familiar with Baldemor's masterpieces because I like his colorful little houses and lively geometric style in painting. Look him up to see his beautiful works of art. With his first brand collab, we saw another side of the artist with the MBaldemor x beabi Floral Symphony Collection. The MBaldemor x beabi Floral Symphony Collection features rarely publicized floral ..read more

Salmon has never been a staple fish in our household. It's more pricey than other fish in the market and has a very distinct flavor that I believe is an acquired taste. Somehow, salmon intimidates me, that's why I rarely cook with it.  I personally enjoy salmon dishes from restaurants, and buy smoked salmon as canape from time to time. Recently, I received a batch of frozen wild-caught Alaskan salmon to try. This is a new line from Seaking brand. I regularly buy Seaking's marinated bangus belly so I welcomed these new salmon packs and got excited to come up with something in the ..read more

Hey all! My Mom-Friday is still alive and active, heehee... just haven't been blogging as much as I used to. So, for today, I'll be sharing something that I've been using for a few months now, and it truly deserves a blog feature. Tiger Tacook JBX Rice Cooker -- the multi-tasking, multi-use, micro computer controlled rice cooker from Japan! Tacook is first and foremost, a rice cooker. But, this beauty can do so much more than cook rice! What I love about Tacook JBX: Light and sleek design Easy to use Different cooking settings with timer Plain Rice Synchro-Cooking Steaming Slow Cooking ..read more

Moms and homemakers like me will always find ways to make our days more organized, productive, and less stressful, even when spending many hours a day online.  Whether for work, socializing, or shopping, I try to find reliable online services that offer the best value and convenience. From travel needs and electronics, to fashion, food and groceries -- I love the ease and time-saving elements of purchasing our needs and wants at the comfort of our home or on my mobile phone while on the road. Ultimately, we all want to be able to spend more time with family and on things that matter. Wee ..read more

My beauty routine is boring. But when I find a good product that suits me, I stick with it for years. This summer, I had a chance to try awesome new products that are now part of my basic skin care and beauty must-haves: A face mask, a face powder, and a lip tint. Who doesn't want healthy looking skin? We all have to start with a good "base". That means finding the right combination of products that will become a part of our daily skin care regimen. Hindi ko talaga kaya yung 10-step Korean skin care routine that many are following. Tamad kasi ako.  In my case, hanggang 5 steps  ..read more