Showing posts with label useful tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label useful tips. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Exloring California: 8 Tips for Those Planning to Hike the Pumpkin Rock Trail

California , environment
Exloring California: 8 Tips for Those Planning to Hike the Pumpkin Rock Trail

Halloween is almost here so it's not surprising that a lot of people suddenly want to see the Pumpkin Rock located in Norco, California. I actually didn't know about its existence until I came across several posts about it on Instagram a couple of weeks ago. Because it made me curious, I made plans to visit it with hubby and we were able to go there this past weekend. 

thankful for the lady who offered to take this photo of us

Here's sharing some tips to make your trip worthwhile:   

1. Plan to go there very early in the morning to avoid the crowds. I saw an IG post that said they had to wait two hours in line just to take a photo with the Pumpkin Rock! My husband and I left home at around 6:30AM and made it there a few minutes past 7AM. I wanted to catch the sun rise behind the rock but it was unfortunately cloudy that morning. Still, the cool air was nice as we hiked up. We were able to take photos with "Jack" after the two groups in front of us.

view of the Pumpkin Rock from the longer but not so steep trail route 

2. Check the weather forecast before going and wear an extra layer of clothing if it's going to be cold in the morning. A light jacket would be easy to take off and tie around one's waist in case you'll feel hot later on. 

what my pants and shoes looked like after the hike

3. Wear comfortable closed shoes with good sole traction. Also, if you don't want to get your legs all dusty, wear pants instead of shorts. I don't recommend following my husband's example of wearing slippers! Being a barefoot runner, he sometimes tend to not wear shoes when he knows we're just going for a short hike. I only became conscious of it when a few hikers pointed it out and marveled how he was able to move easily along the dusty trail.   

Crestview Drive as seen from higher up the steep trail near the fire hydrant

4. Park along Crestview Drive. It's a long curving street right beside one of the trail heads just up the Equestrian Center. Hubby and I found a spot a few yards from the yellow fire hydrant. Being first timers there, we mistakenly climbed the steeper trail near it but which surprisingly made for a faster hike up to the halfway point (around 10 instead of 25 minutes). I wouldn't recommend it though for rookie hikers. Going down, we chose the gentler route even though it was three times longer. 

FYI, there's a smaller pumpkin rock further to the right of the big one
 
5. Bring a trekking pole / hiking stick (or two) if you have one. I regretted that I didn't bring mine because there are some steep and slippery areas along the trail. Even though the ground was very dry, a lot of small loose rocks and pebbles can make you lose your footing. We've seen a lady fall and slide down on her bottom when she slipped. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt and was still able to laugh about it. 

Don't forget to bring something to hydrate with!

6. Carry your water in a REUSABLE bottle and bring a bag so you can dispose of your trash when you get home. Please don't leave anything behind. I found it sad how some people felt it was okay to leave their beer bottles and other garbage strewn all over the place! 

Scorched by the sun but still beautiful up close 

7. Explore the surrounding areas beyond the Pumpkin Rock. Don't make that climb without maximizing your time up there. Enjoy the nice views, clamber up some of those big rocks, feel the cool breeze, and admire the pretty plants that survived summer's scorching heat.

the one and only graffiti I found nice among all the ugly ones 

8. Take nothing but pictures and leave only your footprints. I know this is cliche but there are irresponsible people who need to be reminded of it because the atrocious amount of bad graffiti shows that there are those who hike up the trail armed with spray paint to vandalize the environment. The Pumpkin Rock itself looks really dirty so I opted to "clean" the writings using a photo editing app as you can see in my pictures.  

Can you see the beer bottles on the ground? 😕

Lastly, don't forget to wear a mask and be mindful of social distancing protocols. Let's help each other make California's hiking trails safe and enjoyable for everyone. 

pretty flowers along the hiking trail

If this blog post encouraged you to visit the Pumpkin Rock and if found these tips useful, please leave a comment below and let me know. Thank you and happy hiking! 😊


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Saturday, December 28, 2019

14 Tips for People Who are Migrating to Another Country

travel , useful tips
14 Tips for People Who are Migrating to Another Country
Since moving to the United States two years ago, I have been asked for tips and reminders by friends who were also planning to push their reset buttons and start a new life outside the Philippines.

This coming 2020, I know of at least three families who are already scheduled to leave for the US. So, here’s sharing a list of tips that I have shared with them in case others may be able to find them useful as well. 

read our family's migration story, here, where we had to leave in batches 
1. Secure documents that would be very difficult to obtain once you’re no longer in the Philippines: birth certificates, transcript of records, diplomas, etc.

*Rule of thumb: Prioritize to bring things that are impossible to duplicate outside your home country, especially if you won't be able to return for a long time.

2. If you have a child with special needs like we do or a family member with chronic conditions: Bring clinical abstracts, hospitalization summaries, enough maintenance medications (at least good for 3 months) and small medical equipment (eg. nebulizer, suction machine, feeding pump, etc). Know that it takes a while to get into the medical and insurance systems and you can’t just buy a lot of medical stuff (at pharmacies or even online) without a doctor’s prescription. The files documenting your child’s condition would be helpful when you start applying for government benefits for disabled residents. 

* As per my mom-in-law’s advice, we also brought some over-the-counter (OTC) meds for fever, headaches, coughs, and colds. Those became very useful especially during our first winter here.

3. Instead of bulky and heavy photo albums, scan digital files of family pictures that you want to keep and might want to post as throwback photos in the future. Make sure to save them in a durable external hard drive. 

* I wish I knew about the HP Smart app before! It scans documents and photos quickly by just using my phone’s camera. As it was, I tried to scan as many photos as possible, especially those of my kids’ babyhood and school photos, using our bulky HP printer with scanner. 

** Plus, I brought three VHS tapes with me that contain footages of my kids’ baby and childhood years. Once here, I had them converted into digital files.

don't forget to have original copies!

4. Close extra bank accounts and retain one PH-issued credit card (for emergency purchases) and its linked savings account (so you can pay for those credit card bills and other obligations you may be leaving behind like remaining utility bills and life insurance premiums). 

* My hubby was able to use his PH-issued credit card for car repairs during the time we still don’t have a US-issued credit card. Months later, I cancelled both our credit cards on their anniversaries because the bank wouldn’t waive our annual fees anymore.

** As soon as you have extra funds, apply for a secured credit card (more about this on another blog post) to start building your credit score -- something immigrants should have as soon as they can.

5. If possible, try to arrange for your postpaid cellphone number to be discontinued a month or two after you leave the Philippines. You will still be able to receive messages but will be charged a lot if you use the text and call services. 

My advice is to just bring at least one GSM phone with a prepaid number that has roaming activated. Link it to your savings account for those transactions that need One-Time-PINs (OTPs) and for reloading just the minimum amount a month just to keep it active. 

When my family’s PH-based bank suddenly started requiring OTPs for all online transactions and all our PH-issued sims have already expired, I went through a lot of stress communicating with inefficient customer service reps for months before finding out that I needed to send a handwritten letter via snail mail (postage set me back $40 and it took a month to arrive!) to my branch in Alabang just to enroll my US-issued cellphone number to receive OTPs. Meanwhile, our life insurance policies almost lapsed from not being paid for more than half a year! 

* In the meantime, just to have something for communication purposes, it’s easy to buy a cheap phone with a prepaid sim in department stores like Walmart or Target here in case your PH phone (mine did) won’t work with US sims. You can also check if you’d qualify for a free government phone program, which is available in most states.

two of the bags we bought in Divisoria
6. Do NOT bring too many clothes! If you’re okay with shopping at thrift shops, you can find a lot of good stuff (some even have tags still attached!) for really low prices. To see if there are stores near where you’ll be living, just search online for “thrift stores (or Goodwill) in [your city of destination].” 

* After buying down jackets and some extra warm clothing for my boys, I didn't want to spend for myself anymore and just used a coat my sister gave me to travel in. Happily, in our first week in California, I found a lovely branded down jacket for just $14.99 in a thrift shop! 

7. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Avoid worrying about not bringing enough personal care items or even kitchen tools. Search Google Maps for “dollar stores in [city of destination]” and shop there for necessities once you get here.

8. If you’re trying to save money but don’t have enough bags for the whole family, don’t buy brand new and super expensive luggage from the malls. Check surplus stores first or even take a trip to Divisoria. You can buy new and better luggage here in the future when you need to take trips and already have the funds to buy good quality ones. Plus, you may have problems with storage if you have to keep all of them after the trip.

*Almost all 11 pieces of luggage we used were damaged from mishandling (hubby and two of the boys’ stopover was in China). Only three pieces survived and had minor damages. I was able to use one again two years later when I went to the East Coast to visit relatives. 

**We didn’t know that checked-in mobility equipment are not counted as luggage! Hubby only had one large suitcase because he brought James’ jogger stroller. As it was, he could have brought another checked-in bag! 

mobility equipment are not counted as checked-in bag!
9. Save the luggage space (you can only bring two big ones as checked-in baggage per person) for stuff you feel like you will miss the most from home. In our case, I packed a lot of sachet mixes for sinigang, kaldereta, and panggisa; our preferred brand of instant noodles (promise, the same ones for export that can be bought here taste bland!); plus four bottles of our favorite concentrated calamansi juice. As new migrants who are not yet financially stable, you’d initially find them quite expensive in Filipino stores as we first did.

10. Bring reusable eco-bags that can be folded into small sizes and tucked inside your pocket or shoulder bag. I regretted leaving a lot of pretty eco-bags that I got from media events. Here, grocery plastic bags cost 10 cents each if you have nothing to put your purchases in and I’ve seen people discarding them later without any second thoughts, opting to just buy another bag the next time they shop. That’s practically throwing money away!

11. Since Filipinos tend to be madiskarte or mag-Mcgyver and plumbing services here are expensive, it is better to bring some basic handyman tools (and a roll of duct tape!) for quick-fix circumstances. This would help you avoid buying pricey items from home improvement stores while you’re still looking for a job or need to save more money. My husband’s tools came in real handy during our first few months when he attached a bidet to the toilet, among other things.

actual photo of hubby's tools we brought with us to the US
12. Sell off as many of your stuff as possible so you won’t get stressed about where to store them and leaving them in storage for several years. When you get here, you’ll realize soon enough that many of things you planned to come back for someday would have been put to better use by other people. Most likely, you’ll find the same or similar items here, some even better than what you used to have.

*I used Shopee to dispose of a lot of items and earned about P30,000 in just a few months from selling already heavily discounted second hand and never-been-used products. Some of the leftovers I gave away to relatives and neighbors while some were sold by my mom and sister in garage sales.

13. Visit your dentist and have as much dental work done as much as possible. Seriously, you will be frustrated at the exorbitant prices dentists charge here even WITH insurance! Also, they almost always refuse to do tooth fillings and want to perform root canals so they can charge you $1000 for the service. And that quote still doesn’t include dental veneers, tooth jackets, or dentures!

14. Pay for your green card processing while you’re still in the Philippines so that you can receive it in as little as two weeks after arriving in the US. According to the PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) speaker at the CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas), if you pay when you’re already here, it will take two months to arrive. I am not 100% sure about that timeline but we did the former and did receive our green cards in less than a month.

my and James' arrival at LAX
Please note that everything in this post are based on my family’s own experiences and are just here as guides. Some of the tips may not be applicable to your specific circumstances but I hope you were able to find some of them helpful. 

To fellow Filipinos who also migrated to another country, please feel free to share in the comments anything else you think should be included in this list. Thank you for reading! :) 


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Sunday, December 22, 2019

Tips for Shooting Videos and Well-Lighted Photos at Home

gadgets , photography
Tips for Shooting Videos and Well-Lighted Photos at Home
FACT: Not all living spaces are designed with big windows that let in a lot of natural light. Unfortunately, this is not a good thing for those who need to shoot good photos and videos at home.

No more dark and shadowy photos and videos!

Last year, I had to send a taped message to be used during the launch of my book Embracing Disability This Ability in the Philippines since I wasn't able to fly back home and couldn't make it to the event.

At the time, hubby and I had difficulties finding a good spot in the townhouse we were living in. So we just settled for a place across the living room window to get the best illumination. Still, it wasn't as well-lighted as we wanted.

screenshot from last year's video

The thing is, poorly-lighted videos can distract viewers from understanding one's message fully but we didn't have time to figure out a solution. And no, cellphone flashlights didn't help! 

Fast forward to this year when I was requested to send another video for a Christmas outreach program to encourage fellow special needs parents who also have kids with cerebral palsy.

Thankfully, I found a very functional ring light online that can be mounted on a tripod and even comes with a tiny remote so users can easily stop and start recording whenever needed.


Needless to say, hubby and I were happy with the results. Aren't advances in technology awesome?! 

P.S. For those wondering, I bought the selfie right light here and the well-lighted photos were taken using hubby's Pixel 2 XL and my Pixel 3. 

Note: Google's NOT a sponsor of this blog although I wish it is! We are just really happy with our phones :)
    

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Saturday, December 30, 2017

9 Quotes That Will Bring Peace When Dealing with Difficult People

inspiration , thoughts
9 Quotes That Will Bring Peace When Dealing with Difficult People
Before we cross over to 2018, may we remember these wise words that are too good not to share! Credits to The Law of Universe for compiling them ...


So we can keep on re-reading (and learn from) the sound advice, here's compiling the text versions:

1. The greatest stress we go through when dealing with a difficult person is not fueled by the words and actions of this person -- it is fueled by your mind that gives their words and actions importance.

2. It's OK to be upset. It's never OK to be cruel. Rage, resentment, and jealousy do not change the hearts of others -- they only change yours.


3. Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace. Free yourself of the burden of being an eternal victim.

4. Stay positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others refuse to. It's an easy way to make a difference in the world around you.

5. Gossip and drama ends at a wise person's ears. Be wise. Seek to understand before you attempt to judge. Use your judgment not as a weapon for putting others down, but as a tool for making positive choices that help you build your own character.


6. Always set an example. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you -- not because they are nice, but because YOU are. And do your best to be thankful for rude and difficult people, too -- they serve as great reminders of how not to be.

7. The way we treat people we strongly disagree with is a report card on what we've learned about love, compassion, and kindness. Life is too short to argue and fight. Count your blessings, value the people who matter, and move on from the drama with your head held high.

8. Don't expect to see positive changes in your life if you constantly surround yourself with difficult people. The great danger of being around difficult people too often is that you start to become like them without even knowing it. Just because you are kind to someone does NOT mean you have to spend extra time with them.


9. If you really want to be happy and peaceful, then stop being afraid of being yourself, and stop thinking about what others think of you every second. There's nothing selfish about giving yourself enough space for self care. Experience life on your terms and you'll be life-giving to others.

 Have a meaningful year ahead, everyone! :)


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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Renew Yourself with Watsons by Restoring Your Beauty and Recharging Your Health

beauty , celebrities
Renew Yourself with Watsons by Restoring Your Beauty and Recharging Your Health
How busy are you? Would you agree that with our many responsibilities, we tend to forget giving ourselves some much-needed TLC? Unfortunately, by wanting to accomplish as much as possible, we end up spreading ourselves too thin, which takes a toll on our overall wellbeing.

It’s time to revitalize our youthful vigor and bring back the vitality we need to live life to the fullest! To help us get back on track, Watsons launches the Time to Renew campaign so we could more easily restore our beauty and recharge our health.

Ruffa Gutierrez and Iza Calzado
This campaign focuses on three things that people often set aside when running on tight schedules:

• Restore beauty for proper skin care
• Revitalize hair to bring life back to dull tresses
• Recharge health for a more energized and healthier body

campaign launch at the Podium
In case you still don’t know, busy schedules leading to poor sleeping habits not only affect the mood but also result in dull skin, making it prone to blemishes, dryness, acne, or oiliness. Combat these with helpful products you can find at Watsons: Pond’s, Olay, L’Oreal, Belo, Celeteque, Neutrogena, Snow, St. Ive’s, Suave, Bellic, Glutamax, Shulammite soap, Cosmo Skin, and Nivea Men crème.

More than the skin, however, we also have to protect our hair. Simply shampooing and conditioning are not enough to prevent greasiness/dryness, hair fall, or graying. Hair needs intensive protection from the sun and heat styling products. So, make it a point to revitalize your hair with products like Tresseme, L’Oreal, Dove, and Moringa.

there is a right product for every need! find yours at Watsons!
As to recharging health to achieve a 100% you, make sure to mind your eating and exercise habits because skipping them lead to lack of energy and nutrition. Supplement a healthier life and get in tip-top shape with Watson’s healthy solutions such as Cosmo Cee, Poten-Cee, Met Tathione, IVI Collagen, Myra E, Stresstabs, Belo Glutathione, Snow Caps, and Kilo-off.

During the recent campaign launch in Podium, celebrities Iza Calzado, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Alice Dixson shared their beauty secrets using helpful products available at Watsons. Like them, you can restore your beauty and recharge your health while also enjoying big discounts and great deals at Watsons stores and the SM Store Beauty Section. 

Alice Dixson
In addition, get a chance to win revitalizing packages when you use your SM Advantage Card, BDO Rewards, or PriMo Card when shopping. Every P500 single-receipt purchase of any participating product entitles shoppers to one raffle entry.

There will be 35 winners of Spa Pampering Packages at The Spa; 10 winners of Full-Year Gym memberships at Fitness First, and 10 winners of Overnight Weekend Wellness Packages at The Farm at San Benito resort.

visit Watsons and easily find the products that are right for you
If you’re not yet an SMAC member, make sure to join now because the “Members Get More” program (read my other blog post about it, here) makes shopping more rewarding than ever before. 

Definitely, it’s Time to Renew at Watsons as well as time to get MORE POINTS, MORE SAVINGS, and MORE VALUE! Visit the store nearest you, now!


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Friday, August 18, 2017

Have Fun, Stay Healthy, and Get Freebies When You Celebrate Wellness at Robinsons Supermarket

health , home
Have Fun, Stay Healthy, and Get Freebies When You Celebrate Wellness at Robinsons Supermarket
The months of 2017 seemed to have passed swiftly by, it's a bit surprising to note that Robinsons Supermarket was already launching the fourth leg of its year-long Route to Wellness journey for Filipino families! 

Tonipet Gaba hosting the fun event
This August, let us continue to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle with Celebrate Wellness. This campaign kicked off at the Eastwood Mall Open Park in Quezon City earlier this month with exciting sports-related and wellness activities from Robinsons Supermarket and its partners. 

Hosted by TV personality Tonipet Gaba, families were treated to a fun afternoon program that showcased an impressive taekwondo demo from students of Diliman Prep School among other exciting features. Of course, we young-at-heart attendees also joined the booth activities and happily claimed our prizes and freebies. 

wish I could also kick that high!
It's good to know that more Filipino families would be able to experience the same when the Celebrate Wellness caravan visits Robinsons Place Metro East on August 18-20, Robinsons Place Malolos, Bulacan on August 25-27; Robinsons Lipa, Batangas on September 1-3; and Robinsons Ilocos on September 15-17.

You, too, can get a chance at winning prizes when you get your passports completely stamped at the event booths. Get to try out the virtual reality bike marathon, wii sports games, and mini soccer game. Also earn stamps by availing of promos and taking part in games by sponsor brands.

Woot! I won against my virtual opponent in this tennis match!
“We at Robinsons Supermarket are committed to giving Filipinos a chance to be fit by offering them healthy choices and encouraging them to be active through fun family activities,” said Jody Gadia, Robinsons Supermarket general manager.

What's more, customers can get a free Robinsons Supersavers hand soap for a minimum single receipt purchase of P3,000 inclusive of P500 worth of participating products from Nestle, P&G, Abbott Nutrition, Wyeth, Unilever, and CDO until September 30, 2017.

get this hand soap for free! read terms above
Learn more about RSC’s year-long Route to Wellness series of promos and activities. Like it on Facebook www.facebook.com/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial or visit its official website at www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph to stay updated on the activities that it has in store. Plus, learn more about the #ILoveWellness campaign by checking out the hashtag on social media sites.


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Monday, July 31, 2017

Hizon's Catering: Making Dream Events Happen

event , food trip
Hizon's Catering: Making Dream Events Happen
Anybody who has tried organizing a party or get-together without much experience would admit how hard it could be to stay on top of everything to ensure a smooth-sailing event. I've had my share of mishaps while staging birthday parties for my sons when they were small because information about party planning was scarce during those pre-internet years.

Children's Party theme
These days, if you need guidance on party do's and don'ts, you can easily log on to www.hizoncatering.com and find an extensive collection of tips and tricks at the blog section. However, if you want to really enjoy your party and relax with your guests, it's much better to just contact them and allow them to take charge!

delectable hors d' oeuvres
Hizon's Catering is a popular name when it comes to providing food, service, and amenities for parties that range from simple and casual to lavish and formal. They can accommodate anywhere between 50 and 15,000 guests. In fact, since 1989, they've been busy behind the scenes of weddings, anniversaries, baptisms, birthdays, graduations, seminars, Christmas parties, product launches, and many more! 

cakes are one of those little things that can make or break a party
What are amenities, you ask? They're the little things -- decor, hotel reservation, bridal car, entertainment, sound system, cake -- that can add up and become a big headache if one or more suddenly becomes missing or broken on the big day. 

Joseph Hizon
General Manager Joseph Hizon assures that inconveniences like that can be avoided because they take care of everything. "We assign an event planner to every client to coordinate all the details. We don't mark-up on it. It's like an added service. We've always been known for giving good value," he shares. Their packages start at P450/pax. Although based in Metro Manila, Hizon's has gone as far as Subic, Batangas, and Rizal. 

party food for kids and kids-at-heart
Apart from good service, Hizon's is also well-known for their consistently good food. Joseph reveals, "There is no secret recipe, we just make everything from scratch. As part of our culture, we don't allow instant food and flavorings in our kitchens."

beautiful wedding setup
Recently, Hizon's Catering provided bloggers a sneak peek of their offerings and it was amazing how they were able to fit four party themes on each corner of Oasis Manila's Pavillon. On one end was an elegant Wedding setup complete with bride and groom along with a buffet featuring soup, salad, main course, and a carving station.

pretty table setting
At the circus-themed and colorful Children's Party corner, the fare were delightfully a more sophisticated version of the kiddie meals we are commonly familiar with. There was also a balloon twister whose creations went home with happy owners.

cute twisted balloon minion 
The third and glamorous corner was dedicated to an Awards Night theme complete with red carpet and paparazzis. Hor d'oeuvres were passed around and a dessert bar with a variety of tempting treats waited for those with a sweet tooth.      

elegant awards night theme
We also had the chance to see how a Corporate Seminar setup looks like. Since it was supposed to be a morning affair, the omelette cooking station with lots of fillings to choose from made up for the serious ambiance of the stark long tables meant for attendees.

savory treats
There were so many food items to sample, I wasn't able to try all of them but enjoyed everything that ended up on my plate. All the dishes were whipped up by the kitchen team headed by Chef Simon Dayrit while event styling was taken cared of by Drew Menor. The event planning group, on the other hand, was led by Cheska Pineda.

sweet temptations
Having experienced being a guest in a lot of parties and events, I am very much in favor of handing over the reins of being party organizer to the experts. So, if you also have a dream event in mind, make sure to give Hizon's Catering a call. They are the caterer accredited by the most number of venues (375 as of this writing) in Metro Manila. For more information, visit www.hizonscatering.com, email info@hizonscatering.com, or call (02) 925.0103 / (02) 925.0107.

practicing for our silver anniversary next year! :)
Thank you to the following partners for making the bloggers event possible: Oasis Manila, Advent Light & Sounds, Sentimental Groove Band, Bars Datiles Design Props, Star Balloon, Enzuno Cakes, The Photoman, Keon Salon, Jerome Yu LED Projector, and emcee Myra Lorenzo.


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Friday, July 21, 2017

Cheers Napkins: Bringing Life to Everyday Celebrations

family , food trip
Cheers Napkins: Bringing Life to Everyday Celebrations
Filipinos love to eat, especially with family and friends. Whether we buy take away food from restaurants or spend hours in the kitchen whipping up heirloom dishes, the end goal for every gathering is to celebrate and have fun together, right?

eat, have fun, and keep your face clean! :)
So, despite our busy lifestyles, many of us make time to “break bread” and share good moments with the people we value. It is, after all, a good reason why we enjoy hosting get-togethers where we swap stories over good food.

Of course, with meals come messes and cleanups. Make that part easier by discovering the value of bringing Cheers into your home!

Cheers is a brand of quality hygienic napkins in various configurations. Aside from kitchen and paper towels, it also carries other party needs like starch-based cutleries and trash bags that are both eco-friendly and biodegradable.

Cheers has different napkin sizes for various needs
At home, we use different Cheers paper products because using the right napkin sizes helps us avoid paper wastage. This is very important to me as someone who advocates for the protection of our environment. Here’s how we use the following:

• Cheers Kitchen Towel Roll – I keep one handy near the kitchen sink because I normally use a sheet or two to dry my hands with after washing the dishes. And since it is 2-ply, each sheet is strong enough not to tear easily. So I also use a couple to line up serving dishes when I need to drain excess oil from fried food items like chicken, hash browns, or French fries.  

• Cheers Interfolded Paper Towels – This one is stationed on a side table in our dining room because it is so convenient to pull a sheet to instantly wipe off accidental spills. We also use them to dry our place mats after eating. 

Going on a picnic? Don't forget to bring a pack of Cheers! 
• Cheers Table Napkins – These are available in different sizes and are very, very useful during parties. You can wrap sandwiches in the big flat napkins while the dinner napkins can be used when table setting for a sit-down dinner. On the other hand, the small pull napkins are ideal for wiping the sides of the mouth especially when there are kids who usually end up with food smudges on their faces. Likewise, children’s parties are made more colorful with Cheers napkins that have fun print designs!

Aside from the various useful features, I like Cheers products because they are made with 100% Virgin Pulp and have no artificial whiteners and elemental chlorine. As a result, these attributes make them very hygienic to use with food. Moms, after all, take safety in high consideration when it comes to serving meals at home.

make snack times less messy by having table napkins on standby
With Cheers, parties and get-togethers can be made more special when you don’t have to dread the cleaning up part after a meal is over. And with the various products offered, it’s definitely a plus to be able to bring out a different dimension in every celebration.

So, Cheers to the privilege and joy of being with our loved ones while we all enjoy food, laughter, and making happy memories!


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Monday, July 03, 2017

Race Review: Robinsons' 10th Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run

family , fun time
Race Review: Robinsons' 10th Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run
One of the things that definitely makes working out fun is doing it with a buddy. Whether you're accompanied by a friend or family member, physical activities seem to get easier if someone's with you to finish the journey with. 

early morning run with my boys
This July, Robinsons' Supermarket once more proved that pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle is very much possible with the success of the 10th Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run held yesterday at the Parade Grounds of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

I love this particular annual running event because it encourages participants to partner with a loved one in running together towards the finish line. This is my third time to join and I am grateful for the opportunity to be with my family in doing an activity I have personally grown to love. 

hubby and son number two
Like last year, my youngest son and I teamed up to run 5k while pushing our special child's wheelchair while hubby and our second son, both barefoot runners, once more tackled the 10k distance together. We caught up with each other along the race route and happily took a groufie I posted on Instagram.  

It was so great to see several blogger friends join the race for the first time with their significant others. I am really glad they had fun and hope that they would continue to incorporate running in their fitness regimens from now on. 

winners got cool prizes
Mr. Jody Gadia, general manager of Robinsons Supermarket, affirmed how much the Fit & Fun Buddy Run has become a much-anticipated event through the years. "It's our kick-off as we celebrate Wellness and Nutrition Month with the nation. It provides a fun gateway activity for fitness newbies who are just about to start their wellness journey and loyal runners."

On stage, Gretchen Ho and Robi Domingo served as hosts while coaches Jim and Toni Saret led pre- and post-workout sessions to help keep runners' adrenalin pumping. The fit couple also invited everyone to register on-site for the Fit Filipino 1 Million Pounds National Weight Loss Challenge. This is the biggest on-ground and online wellness program in the country that encourages everyone to pledge their unwanted pounds and lose weight by December. Know more about it, here. 

coaches Jim and Toni with Gretchen and Robi
Adding to the fun were various booths that offered freebies from Nestle Philippines, Johnson & Johnson, Fonterra, Unilab and Wyeth Nutrition, Unilever, International Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (IPI), Procter & Gamble, Abbott Nutrition, Getz Bros, Ecossential, Del Monte, Foodsphere Inc., and Philusa. 

The fun run, however, is just one of Robinsons Supermarket's many programs this July. There are Wellness Festivals being held in various locations and Healthy You snack platters to be given away for a minimum purchase of P3,000 inclusive of P500 worth of participating items.

everybody went home a winner with heavy lootbags filled with grocery items!
Keep updated with Robinsons' different promos and activities that aim to provide Filipinos with delicious and healthy food options and alternatives. Make sure to Like Robinsons Supermarket Official on Facebook and visit www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph regularly. 

* Thank you so much, Running Photographers, for taking such great photos!


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