5 Reasons Why You Need to Add Hineleban's Turmeric to your Daily Vitamins

These days, we need to ensure that our immune system is performing in tiptop shape which is why on top of the regular vitamin C that we drink, we need to add turmeric as well. I have been using Hineleban Farm's Turmeric for over a month now and I can tell you that this is truly effective. 

I normally lack sleep but I feel good and I feel energized unlike before. This product is amazing. I am in awe of it. The best part about this is that there is none of that smell normally associated with turmeric. 

So here are 5 more reasons why you should also give this a try. 

1. It is an anti-inflammatory agent meaning less gout and fewer flare-ups in the joints which are normally present when you're my age, which is around 40. 

Curcumin is a compound in turmeric that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Another advantage over conventional anti-inflammatory agents is that turmeric does not cause gastric side effects. 

2. It improves digestion and stomach health.  Turmeric is a carminative- it helps in relieving bloating. Turmeric is an effective digestive aid.

3. It helps with acid reflux. It improves digestion, exerts a bactericidal effect on H.pylori infection, prevents the formation of ulcers, soothes inflammation, and even protects from silent reflux.

4. It is a natural pain killer. If like me, you are trying to lessen the pain medicines that you take and the essential oils are not doing it, you can drink some turmeric. 

Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory property contributes to its painkiller property. Its inhibitory action on inflammatory chemicals like prostaglandins and interleukins helps in reducing pain.

5. It is an anti-oxidant. As antioxidants, turmeric functions in 3 ways:

• Reduce oxidative stress or imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant species in the body

• Raise the level of antioxidant enzymes

• Scavenge free radical species that cause oxidative damage

To order, you can go to www.hinelebanstore.com, email them at order@hinelebanstore.com or call them at 09155938073 or 09229220600. 

Baby and Bio-Fit Plus

Since my son could take in vitamins, Bio-Fit has been a staple for him. He loves the taste and doesn't mind it when we give him his daily dose. 

This was taken 25 weeks ago.  

25 weeks later, look at how much he has grown. 

What do I like about Bio-fit? 

It contains the combination of Folic acid has a synergistic effect with other vitamin B-vitamins for further brain development that may enhance memory. Suitable for children's day-to-day activities, online schooling, and soon face-to-face classes.

It also has a combination of Vitamin C and Zinc which helps boost our children’s immune system most especially in this time of the pandemic, where it is needed most.

With the help of these combinations Folic Acid, other B-Vitamins, Vitamin C and Zinc. Bio-Fit Plus will surely help our children to cope with these challenging times. It also makes for a happy and healthy baby.

Not only that, what’s interesting about bio-fit is that it has a PLUS!

It contains TLC which stands for

T for TAURINE for a healthy heart.

L for LYSINE for better appetite.

C for Chlorella Growth Factor for maximum growth potential.

Aside from TLC, it also has Vitamins A, D, and E which we know that these vitamins are also essential for children’s everyday healthier living.

Vitamin A for good eyesight, 

Vitamin D for strong bones; and

Vitamin E a powerful anti-oxidant.

“MEMORYA at RESISTENSYANG maluFIT sa batang bio-fit.”

Fresh Chicken Spring Rolls with Lily's Peanut Butter Sauce

I'm not an expert in the kitchen. Truth be told, I'm not someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen but when I do, I make sure that what I serve to my family and friends is something that is nutritious, healthy, and delicious. 

Recently, I shared a creation that my brother taught me on Facebook. A lot of my friends asked for the recipe of the Fresh Chicken Spring Roll with Peanut Butter Sauce so here it is. 

You'll notice that for the sauce, there is no exact measurement. This is because it will depend on your taste. You can add to it till you find the taste that you would like but if you want to be safe, 4 tbsps of each should be a good start.

Just plate it nicely and present it to your family. I guarantee that they will be impressed and they will love it. You can also watch my 1-minute video on how to prepare this here. 

Let me know if you want me to post more of these kinds of things on my blog and if you tried this recipe, how did it turn out? 

On rentals, moving, and buying a home ...

It was March 15, 2020, when we went on lockdown. For the next 3 months, we were put on a hard lockdown where all movements were restricted and only the essentials could be bought. To say that it was a jarring experience would be an understatement. 

However, what was even more jarring and completely unnerving was having to move houses in the middle of the lockdown with a newborn baby which is exactly what happened to my family and me last June 2020. We needed to move in a matter of 5 days and so a lot of options were thrown out the window and we had to settle for the first place big enough and affordable enough to house us. 

I learned a lot with that experience. I learned that moving houses and choosing whether to buy or rent requires a lot of factors to be taken into consideration. When we moved, we had no guide and no one helping us out. It was just us making the best guess of everything. 

I promised myself that I will never go through something like that ever again. The next time we move houses, it has to be one that we will be buying and I would need some help so that I'm not in the dark or making a guest. 

To be honest right now is the best time to make a real estate investment if you have the money. There are so many homes available right now and they are much more affordable because a lot of people took a hit with the ongoing pandemic. If you are interested in getting one, I'd suggest using this mortgage calculator which would have been such a lifesaver had I known about it earlier.

I've been playing with it, imagining what I can do with the money that I have and it has been so helpful because I can see right off the bat how much I'd need, how much it would cost me monthly, or how much I still need to save for a property that I may be interested in. It's been really amazing seeing everything sort of laid out for you. The one that shows me how much I can afford is the one feature I love best because as we all know, I'm not the best at Math. 

It feels nice, looking around, dreaming of your own place. I also like that though there's a situation within the world, I can easily look at houses not just in the Philippines but also in Canada and London, two other countries that we are thinking of moving into. It's a good thing that everything is now available online so I was able to check a few things on Post Office UK to give me a better idea of what I'd need. Heck, even the husband has been reading on materials about this. 

What I'm looking for in a house is actually simple. I don't like complicating things and I don't want a house that will be too big for my husband and me in the end. Right now, I just want a house that our baby can grow into because he's only one year old so it needs to be a bungalow if possible. 

I need a house with at least 5 rooms so that we can have a guest room and a home office for myself because I do work from home and I vlog so I would need a workspace that can accommodate all the lights and my workstation. It also needs to be pet-friendly because I do own a lot of cats and a couple of dogs. 

I’m not really a fan of a big backyard or front lawn because I didn’t grow up with one but I know that if we do end up buying a house in Canada or London, this would be something that I would need to consider. For now, my main focus is having a house that I can easily turn into a home so I want something spacious but not too spacious if that makes sense. 

Hopefully, soon, I will be able to make this dream a reality. For now, I’m just going to keep on checking out my different options so that when it’s finally time, I can easily make it happen.  

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition' Sends Two Candidates Home

“The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition" returned with another exciting episode on Monday, March 29, on One Sports.

Martial arts legends Georges St-Pierre and Renzo Gracie appeared in the episode and participated in a difficult physical task with the candidates. Catcha Group Co-Founder and Group CEO Patrick Grove later joined ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong and Advisor Niharika Singh in the boardroom.

Physical Challenge: Fort Siloso Skywalk on Sentosa Island

For the physical challenge, candidates had to rappel down an 11-story structure and quickly climb back up via rope ladder. The team with the shortest combined time from all candidates would earn a victory celebration at Bar Square and receive an advantage in the next business challenge.

St-Pierre and Gracie surprised the cast by performing the task first, and Task Captain Dom Lau briefed the group shortly afterward.

Candidates from both teams experienced difficulty rappelling down the skywalk and struggled to maneuver their way up the dangling ladder. Japanese candidate Sho Takei struggled with his fear of heights but ultimately willed himself through the challenge.

Despite Sho's tough time, his teammates pulled through, and Team Valor captured the victory behind a strong group effort.

Business Challenge: Seven-Day Social Media Campaign

Teams had to create an engaging seven-day social media campaign, choosing between influencers Yumika Hoskin and Justin Bratton to promote Andaz Singapore's designer hotel experience. Because Team Valor won the physical challenge, the group had first pick.

With Filipino candidate Louie Sangalang as Project Manager for Team Valor, the unit mostly worked together in harmony while preventing Clinton Tudor from disrupting productivity. Meanwhile, Eugene Chung's inexperience as a leader for Team Conquest resulted in a disorganized mess.

Both teams delivered solid presentations, but it quickly became clear which side had created the more robust campaign.

The Pitches

With ONE’s Siyodtong, Singh, and Catcha Group’s Grove examining every aspect of both marketing plans, the atmosphere was intense.

Sho, Kexin Ye, and Monica Millington led the presentation for Team Valor, impressing Sityodtong by combining analytics with creative ideas. However, Grove pointed out the lack of a clear seven-day plan, which the challenge required.

In contrast, Niraj Puran Rao and Paulina Purnomowati presented a clear plan for Team Conquest, but the campaign was bland and unoriginal. Singh criticized Alvin Ang for not contributing to his team enough and Roman Wilson for his PowerPoint design flaws.

With vastly different approaches, both teams headed to the boardroom.

The Boardroom: Double-Elimination

Team Valor once again emerged victorious in the business challenge. Sityodtong credited the win to a superior concept and praised Millington's ability to build brand identity. Conversely, the ONE Championship CEO sent Ang, Chung, and Wilson from Team Conquest to the chopping block.

Chung delivered a passionate speech about changing his life and the inspiration he took from Sityodtong's own rags-to-riches life story, which moved the ONE CEO.

That kept Chung on the show, but Wilson's passiveness and Ang's lack of contribution saw both of them eliminated from the competition.

“The Apprentice” is one of the biggest non-scripted reality television programs in history, judging the business skills of candidates who are competing for a job offer under a high-profile CEO. It has aired in more than 120 countries. The first season of “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” consists of 13 episodes and will be seen in the Philippines on Thursdays, 8:50 pm on AXN cable network and on Mondays at 9 p.m. on One Sport.

More information on “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” and How to Watch can be found at:  https://www.onefc.com/the-apprentice 

The 15 Year Evolution of My Blog

My blog was born out of laziness. You see, I gave birth in 2005 and everyone on both sides kept wanting to receive updates. I would get emails on a weekly basis asking about the baby and I would have to reply one by one to each email. It was tiresome. 

I told a friend about this predicament and she suggested that I blog instead. It seems that there was a website that allows you to post pictures and text and anyone who had the link can view it. In January 2006, I made my first blog post and it was about my baby. 

When I first started blogging, my content was just my son and some arts and craft projects that I was interested in doing. I followed so many craft bloggers and we would all interact and participate in weekly memes. This was the thing then. 

Slowly, my blog became my personal diary. It saw the downfall of my marriage, the heartaches, and everything that I could not tell anyone in person. I would write about it on my blog and it became my silent sanctuary. It also saw the rise of MySpace where I followed people like Jessica Vine and saw how MySpace toppled over when Facebook started.

Ironically, this was the time I started gaining a following. People could relate. They were cheering me on, there with me when I would meet someone new, fall in love, fall out of love, get ghosted on, and go through every step of the dating game. 

Now because I was dating a lot, I would eat out a lot and I would write about my food shenanigans. I would judge the ambiance, the service, and the food of each restaurant that I would eat. This was before food blogging became a thing. 

Unbeknownst to me, my blog was becoming one of the go-to blogs of the people and it was gaining attention from brands and marketing managers. I started receiving invitations to cover restaurant launches, hotel openings, new promotions, as well as new products. My blog was developing a reputation as a food blog.

Over the years, it has evolved from being a food blog to lifestyle, beauty, and tech. I have been on so many adventures in my life that I know I never would have experienced if it wasn’t for the fact that I started writing on a blog back in January 2006. 

I’ve been to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Macau because of my blog. I’ve been to Batanes, Palawan, Cebu, Boracay, Bohol, Baguio, and Nueva Vizcaya too. It has taken me to see many beautiful places and has allowed me to experience so many things that would last me a lifetime. 

I have even been nominated many times over for being an influencer or a key opinion leader on my blog but nothing like the influential women on Instagram. This year, I aspire to be more of a Mom blogger and talk about my learnings as a Mom to a teenage boy while raising a one-year-old. The differences are pretty glaring and definitely worthy of a discussion. Who knows? I might be one of these Moms soon. 

It's been 15 years. I've grown so much because of my blog and my blog has grown over the years as well. I am definitely looking forward to where it will take me in the next 15 years. 

Celebrating Small Wins with Yellow Cab!

With the number of cases hitting the ceiling these days, it's a little hard to focus on the positive. However, for the sake of our mental health, we need to remember to celebrate the small wins in life. 

For me, I celebrate the fact that I wake up in the morning. I am able to breathe with ease and I am able to taste my food. 

I celebrate the fact that we are all alive, safe, and healthy. This is something that is supposed to be a given but these days, it's a win! 

I celebrate the fact that we still have a job and are able to earn a living. We can eat when we want and enjoy treats. Speaking of which, today, we celebrated these wins by enjoying some goodies from Yellow Cab!

 Yellow Cab currently has a 2in1 welcomes '21 bundle where you can get 12inch 2-in01 Classic or Signature NY-Style Original Crust pizza, 1/2 pound wings in your choice of flavor (we picked Hot Chix and Garlic Parmesan) as well as 1.5 bottle of Mountain Dew. This bundle is only Php899.

The good thing is that this is available in all Yellow Cab stores nationwide, Curbside Pickup, drive-thru, delivery, or take out. It's also on GrabFood and FoodPanda for only Php999. 

This bundle offer is valid only till April 10 so make sure to order now! 

One Year Anniversary of BrandBuzz Helps

The Brand Buzz Community, led by Miss Clara Alegria, recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of BrandBuzz Helps aka BB Helps. An initiative led by Gie, as she is fondly called, to help frontliners and those in need, one meal at a time. 

BB Helps also makes monetary donations to those who reach out but only after careful consideration to ensure that monetary donations go to those who truly deserve it. This is how the BrandBuzz community gives back.

So, how did this come to life?

March 21, 2020, was when it all started. Clara saw a video of an old lady stating that they will die of hunger first before they even die of Covid. This affected her so much that she was not able to sleep for days. She found herself wanting to do something but couldn't think of anything. 

She tapped her BrandBuzz Viber group of almost 500 influencers and asked for ideas and from this, BrandBuzz Helps was born.

 To date, Brandbuzz has fed over 70,000 frontliners in more than 50 hospitals nationwide. They have accumulated more than three million pesos worth of food and cash donation which has been received and shared to people & communities in need. 

They said that influencers are just people who want to become famous by posting photos online. The Brandbuzz influencers beg to differ. These are the kind of influencers that we need nowadays. These are the Brandbuzz Influencers, PR with a Heart. 

Miss Teresa Loyzaga

They do not just influence, they affect and change people's lives for the better. 

Interested in becoming a donor? Message them on Facebook. 

Review of the Nokia 3.4

Yes, Nokia has a new android phone and we had the chance to try it out. I was very excited to try it out because it's been a while since I reviewed a phone.

 

Appearance / Aesthetic 

The Nokia 3.4 looks very sleek and classy. You will be proud to show this off and use it anywhere because the emerald green gives off an elegant vibe that makes it both fashionable and functional. 

Function 

This Nokia 3.4 is a great entry-level phone. This is good for elementary kids and high school students who need an android phone for their online class. This is good for Zoom calls, modules, and online learning. 

Basic Photography 

The Nokia 3.4 is great for day-to-day photography. If you just want something for your Facebook and Instagram, it can get the job done. Just don't use the zoom function too much because the photos can be blurry. 

When you use the zoom function. 

Gaming

The Nokia 3.4 can only handle basic gaming. It's not meant for high-end gaming such as Mobile Legends because it is an entry-level phone. However, if you're going to use it for games like Candy Crush, then you're good to go. 

Final Thoughts 

I would recommend the Nokia 3.4 to people who may have a limited budget but wants a semi-powerful phone. I would recommend the Nokia 3.4 to Moms and Dads who need an android phone for their kids to use for their modules. This way, the kids get to have a "tablet" and a phone all in one go. 

Here's my unboxing video of the Nokia 3.4

Initial Thoughts about the Canon Pixma G3020

5 years ago, I won a printer from a raffle. Since then, I've only used that printer for all my daily needs. I loved this printer though I always wished that the photo output was more vibrant and long-lasting. 

Some people told me that for those needs of mine, I should try a Canon printer. Over the years, I would hear Canon being recommended whenever I would talk about my journaling or memory-keeping projects. Finally, I bit the bullet and now have a Canon Pixma G3020. 

First Impressions

I loved that it was not as bulky as my previous printer. It had the same purpose as being a scanner, copier, and printer but this was far less bulky. This meant that it was also not as heavy which is a definite plus because I tend to move my things around in my little office whenever I feel stuck and looking for an idea.

Aesthetics 

I love that it's a sleek combo of gray and black. It's not hard to fit into the overall design of my workspace though if it came in baby pink, it would be so much better. Ahem ahem. Pastel-colored printer collection please hahaha. 

Speed of Printing 

My old printer would take ages to print. One page can take more than one minute and if I use the best print options, it can take at least 5 minutes even. When you're in a rush to do something, this can be frustrating. 

Noise 

This is the one thing that I don't like so much about the Canon Pixma G3020. It's a bit noisier than my old printer. However, this is something that I can live with for sure. 

Overall, I'm very happy with the performance of the Canon Pixma G3020. I've tried printing 300+ pages and it took less than 30 minutes for everything to get printed out. Definitely impressed me. 

Now, I just need to see how it does when I print photos and stickers. I hope that it will produce really good quality photos and clear stickers so that I can finally have an all in one printer that serves the needs of my son for his modules as well as my journaling and memory keeping needs. 

5 Things to Remember If We Go on Lockdown Again

The possibility of a lockdown is real. With more than 20,000 new cases in just 3 days, the government will be forced to lockdown if this rising number does not drop significantly. 

So, is it time to panic and hoard once more?

Absolutely not. If there's one thing that we should have learned from last year is that there is no need to go panicking and hoarding. Instead, these are what we need to remember. 

1. Buy enough groceries for two weeks if you have space to store it. This lessens the need to go out weekly which also lessens the risk of being infected. Do not hoard and buy all the canned goods and what not because lockdown or not, supermarkets and public markets will remain open because it's part of the essentials. 

2. Buy first aid emergency medicines for common ailments such as cough, cold, flu, fever, small wounds, and the like. You should have these at home regardless of the current situation. 

3. Double-dose your vitamin intake if possible. Sleep at least 6 hours a day. Exercise. Drink a lot of water. Do what you can to take care of your body because it's one of the biggest tools you have to avoid getting infected. 

4. Sterilize, wash your hands, and use alcohol. When handling things coming from the outside, make sure to sterilize them first. Here are some of the items I have in my household that I use to sterilize everything from shoes to bags to phones. 

Bag / Package Sterilizer for Php2,198

Phone Sterilizer  for only Php429 

Mask / Face Shield Sterilizer for Php2,599

5. Take care of your mental health. Do something to relax. Spend time with family. Be productive. Choose to do something that you will be proud of. No matter what, stressing yourself won't help at all so choose to take care of your mental well-being.  

Stay at home unless you absolutely need to go out. If it can be delivered online, choose to have it delivered and wear a mask and face shield when receiving packages. Don't allow visitors for the time being. Don't visit someone else too. 

Now is not the time for milestone parties or events. It's better to miss a milestone and then make up for it in the future than attend a milestone and have it be your last. 

Times may be crazy again and it feels like we are back to square one but what we all need to remember is, we survived the first wave. We can and will survive once more.

on COVID-19's second wave and anxiety attacks

It's been a year since the pandemic. We're still in quarantine and now, there are new variants wreaking havoc in our lives. Honestly, I am starting to feel anxious. 

Today, we hit the highest recorded number in a single day since the pandemic became an official thing. 7,103 new positive cases. 7,103. Let that sink in.  

The UK strain is said to be targeting kids and senior citizens. It's also supposedly 7x faster when it comes to spreading itself. It is that contagious. 

It's nerve wracking these days. The mere thought of going out and possibly contracting the disease has become more of a reality these days. Coworkers of mine are getting swab tests because they came into contact with someone positive.

It's more real now than it was a year ago and yet there are so many people who think that it's okay to no longer wear masks and face shield now. It's maddening and terrifying. 

I worry about myself. I worry about my family. I worry about friends. I worry about the world. 

When will this end? Will this ever end?

Stay Safe, Stay Fresh with Betadine

We all know that when we feel that small itch down our throat, we are ready to grab a bottle of Betadine 1% Antiseptic Oral Solution Gargle and immediately get rid of the bacteria. You've done it. I've done it. Everyone should be doing it. In fact, this is something that you most likely grew up with and this is because we love and trust Betadine. 

Now that they have come up with new products such as Povidone-Iodine (Betadine) Throat Spray and Betadine Fresh Bliss Lavander Feminine Wash. 

I've been using the feminine wash to help keep me safe and fresh down there. This is very important because a woman's health can be affected if you don't keep things clean down there. Thankfully, Betadine® Fresh Bliss® is a daily feminine wash with Avena Oats that helps soothe and moisturize your intimate area and Gentle Defense Lactic Acid to help maintain its pH balance and protect you from unpleasant odor, Paraben-free, Clinically tested, pH-balanced. 

My brother on the other hand is obsessed with gargling. He uses Povidone-Iodine (BETADINE®) Gargle and Throat Spray to kill sore throat- causing viruses in as early as 30 seconds! This works because it has 0.45% oral antiseptic solution and is mentholated. 

The husband, on the other hand, prefers the Povidone-Iodine (BETADINE®) Throat Spray because it delivers direct to throat. Since he is also a front liner, it's important for him to always have something that can kill viruses in the throat in as fast as 30seconds. It's also important that he has something that is convenient to carry around and easy to use. 

Good thing is that right now, there's 20% off on these items! Just click on this link and you can go ahead and avail of it.

20% OFF BETADINE 

Make sure to download the Shopee App via Google Play or Apple Store to take advantage of this sale. 

Family Favorite Snack Love Corn

A week ago, we had the chance to try out Love Corn. Since we're all fans of corn snacks, we were all so excited to give this a go. Half of me already knew that I would love it but the other half had trepidations because it could still go wrong and not taste any good. 

We were able to try out all 4 variants and the kids were so excited that they mixed it up in a plate. There was Sea Salt, Salt and Vinegar, Smoked BBQ, and Habanero. 

My personal favorite was the sea salt. I loved how it mixed with the usual sweetness of corn. TJ loved the Salt and Vinegar while my cousin Ivan just wanted to devour everything on sight which he did 5 minutes after this photo was taken. 

It's a good thing that these are available in a variety of bag sizes: 20g snack pack, 45g portion size and 115g for sharing so that next time, we know to get the biggest one. 

What I love most about these is that these crunchy & delicious corn kernels are packed with flavor and made with love which makes it great for kids’ lunch boxes, after sports, or even in between meals. 

For the adults, this pairs perfectly with beer & wine so don't worry. You can definitely indulge in Love Corn any time of the day. 

Love Corn is also  plant based, vegan, gluten free, verified Kosher and Non GMO. The ingredients are as simple as they get, just corn that’s been roasted then seasoned. 

What's not to love right? 

If you want to level up your family time, get togethers, or just have something really good to snack on, you can order Love Corn here and use CODE CRUNCH20 to get 20% off. 

Not sure yet? We got you. You can also claim a FREE LOVE CORN sampler pack. All you need to do is just pay for the shipping of £1.99. 

Let me know if you've tried this and what you think okay? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Celebrating Women who Have it All

They say that you can't have your cake and eat it too. These three women featured on the blog today beg to differ. Not only do they have their cake and ate it, they baked and sold the rest. 

Today is International Women's Day and I would like to recognize three women are entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, and pillars of their community.  

Cristy Takano of Craze Fashion Main 

Cristy is the owner of Craze Fashion Main, an online shop that sells locally made shoes that are both fashionable, safe, and comfortable. She is also a mother of 3 who is very hands on with her kids. She sets at least 5 goals every year that she wants to accomplish and she makes sure that she achieves them by end of year. 

Cristy also believes that there are 3 skills that every girl should be taught and these are failure is not an option, eyes on the prize, and always put God first in everything that you do.  

Queenie Uy of Salmon HQ 

Queenie started selling salmon dishes when the lockdown started. What used to be a simple hobby turned into a profitable business, with dishes ranging from baked sushi to her famous Naked Salmon Cake, a first in the Philippines. 

Queenie comes up with new recipes to keep customers happy and coming back for more. This is how she has lasted and stayed on top of her game when it comes to salmon creations. She is also a mother and a wife which makes her even more amazing because she manages everything with grace. 

Jenny Mata of A Happier Life with Jen 

Jen is one of those people who has a pure heart. Always armed with a smile, Jen just wanted what everyone else did in life: good things for herself, her family, and the people around her. When the news of breast cancer arrived, instead of dwelling on the why, she focused on how she can better herself to combat this disease so that she can be there for the people that mattered most. 

Her store sells organic things that are good for the heart, mind, body, and soul. She is a breast cancer survivor, a mom, and a wife who manages everything in her household while running a business. 

Anyone whoever said that a mom can't also run a business has not met these three women. These days, women can truly have it all. Women now excel in running a business and can also maintain a loving home, be a great mother, and a wonderful partner to their husbands. 

Now that's having your cake and eating it too! Cheers to all the wonderful women out there! 

Lockdown Stories

This time last year was the last week that the normal that we all knew was still the normal that we lived in. A week later, the new normal started and the world hasn't been the same. 

Last year, I gave birth February 9 to a bouncing baby boy. Trust me when I say that I was SO HAPPY that I gave birth a month before the lockdown. I wouldn't  know what we would have done if I had to give birth during the lockdown. 

I was also very lucky to have seen some friends of mine before the actual lockdown started. It really helped because the next few months of the lockdown was pretty hard. 

M had to stop working because my Mom feared that he would be exposed to the virus. I had to work double time to make up for the loss income even though I just got off the operating table myself. THAT was hard. 

There were also family troubles at that time so it was a TENSION FILLED lockdown which wasn't good at all for someone suffering from a little post partum depression. 

The only good thing was the fact that I was really more of a homebody so I didn't really mind not being able to go out. The fact that I had my husband at home was also very helpful because I didn't have to worry about him being out and about, battling a virus.

3 months in, we MOVED HOUSES. Yep, more insanity. Thankfully, no one got the virus and we were able to move in within 5 days and set everything up. I guess it's also a good thing that I got rid of so many things that I didn't want or have use for. 

Living on our own, having a house that we have full control over took some getting used to but eventually, I gained more confidence on how I wanted things to look and how I wanted the house to feel like. 

I also like that this home is filled with so much love, laughter, and light moments. There's no negativity except for the occasional wayward cockroach that makes its way to our home from the neighbors hahaha. Aside from that, this house is just filled with light moments. 

My son has his own space, can eat what he wants to eat, and has his own thing going on. Our baby is growing up to be a pretty happy baby and we even have a rocker, bike, and mini swimming pool for him. 

We are not rich but thankfully, we are able to make do and do more than survive. This lockdown has been hard but aside from the occasional longing to eat out, go out, and take our baby somewhere fun, it's been good for us. We are all healthy, alive, safe, and we are able to eat more than 3x a day. 

I feel like there might be another lockdown happening because people seem to have gotten used to the idea of COVID and no longer feel threatened by it. Now, numbers are up and my worst fear is that it's spreading rapidly once more and might put all of us back on lock down. 

I hope that we find a cure for it soon or if not, I hope we all get vaccinated soon. Most of all, I pray that very soon, we can go back to how things used to be when the idea of hugging someone or shaking their hands was normal and not frowned upon on.