Rina's Rainbow

I'm happy to share the most exciting thing to ever happen in my non-existing baking career! It's this moment that I've made cupcakes using a ready-mix batter from a supermarket. Even more so, it was really exciting for me that I was able to watch the batter rise inside the convection oven, and seeing my little Rainbow devour it. And I think my new Disney baking stuff had a lot to do with it.

Obviously, it already caught Rain's attention. She knows a hidden Mickey when she sees one.

Here's the Disney Baking Gift set I got. They're part of the Melawares Kids’ line. They have this silicone chocolate mold which I used as a cupcake mold. And I also got these plastic cookie cutters in the shape of Mickey's head and his pants. The other stuff in the Disney Baking Gift set incude some small and large silicone cake pan, small and large non-stick cake pan, silicone pancake mold, plastic mold, metal cookie cutters, and even cake pop molds.

A close up look at the chocolate mold.

Plus I also really like this Cake stand by Melaware that when turned upside down...

...becomes a platter with a sauce container at the middle.

Okay so here I go! Mixing the ready-made cake batter into a bowl. I don't have a baking bowl so I used the biggest bowl I could find in the kitchen which is actually a pot. Improvise! ;-)

I remembered watching a baking video on YouTube and I remembered how she brushed the mold / pan with butter or cooking oil spray so the cake won't stick. So I did exactly that.

Then in goes the mixture! I may have poured more that I should have.

In they go inside our convection oven. My error in this first batch was that the tray/grill thing was placed too high. So my first batch was burnt. But when Rain saw this first burnt batch, she suddenly exclaimed "Momma, they're beautiful!!!" :' ) Maybe she thought I was making chocolate cake but still! That really warmed my heart :')

So on my second attempt I placed the tray thing on the bottom level. For the convection heat setting, I think it was about 250 degrees on bake/roast mode. It was really exciting for me to watch the batter rise! (And overflow a bit in my case)

Okay so some was still burnt but this was the last of my batter so I just rolled with it.

Since I put too much batter in the first place, it was too hard to see the shape of the cakes. So I cut the top off and TADAAA! Mickey-shaped cakes!

I'm so glad I used that ready-made cake mix because at least the taste was good! And Rain seems to really like it that she would not stop eating them.

For my next baking project, I'm going to turn it up a notch by using a different mix flavor and maybe adding some sliced strawberries ;-) Or maybe I'll make cookies so I can try the cookie cutters too! Thanks again Melaware for these awesome gift set! You made me enjoy baking!

Melaware's Disney Baking Gift Set is available at select SM Homeworld stores in Metro Manila. For more information, visit www.melawares.com or contact 0917-527-5487

Okay... so this was it. The last two classes of Ran's Ready Steady Go Kids term. And I don't know maybe it was just because she missed them from the Christmas break, but it also seemed like Rain sort of knew somehow that she was going to miss her coaches Coach Sonny and Coach Meriel. So she went to Coach Meriel for a big hug and didn't want to let go for a while :-)

2nd to the Last Day

The class starts with their routine of greeting song and some quick warm-up exercises. Walk sideways like a crab, march, hop like a kangaroo, etc.

And then they're introduced to how to hit a ball with a bat! She didn't quite get it yet as she insisted on hitting the pole, not the ball. But it's alright because she got the same result---making the ball fly (or bounce down the ground, that is.) After they would hit all their 5 balls, they're asked to pick up 5 balls, put it in their baskets and try again.

During this class, we were also introduced to some new assistant coaches! One of whom helped Rain during the next activity. Rolling a hoola-hoop and chasing after it. (Thanks Coach Pat!)

Obviously, Rain had fun with this activity. She likes anything that involves chasing hehe.

Last Day: Graduation :')

During the last day, Rain had the same emotions. She was suddenly shy to go inside the gym but when Coach Sonny came to greet her, she hugged Coach and didn't leave him until she warmed up to the venue again and started exploring. I noticed the mini stage they set up on the side and some parents were taking photos of their child there. So I also took this one of Rain while she was with Coach Sonny.

Seemed like only yesterday when Rain first sat with the coaches and with other kids in a circle to sing their welcome song. And now for the last time she sat and happily clapped along with the greeting song.

Next was their warm-up exercise. March, walk sideways like a crab, hop like a bunny, etc. Look at that smile on her face!

And then they started again with the bat and ball. I was glad to see Rain improve a bit from her last class. During the last class she would often hit the stand to make the ball fall.

And then for the last time this term, they ran though a short obstacle course. But this time, halfway though the obstacle was the giving of the certificate. So after some skipping and balancing though some obstacles, Rain steps on the stage, joined by me, and receives her certificate :')

Rain's Achievement Award! :') My golly before I know it she will be receiving her college diploma. I hope I could freeze the moment :')

Anyway, she then proceeds back to continue the rest of the obstacle. And that was it!

Rain receives her stamp from Coach Meriel. She got a balloon on one hand and a heart on the other.

And to my surprise, she also asked Coach Meriel to give her a happy face, a heart, and a flower on her tummy hahaha!

We're so proud of our little one for finishing her Ready Steady Go Kids multi-sports term! I actually just enrolled her in a kinder school. Sigh....Time, please don't go by so fast!

A very huge THANK YOU for Coaches Meriel and Sonny for introducing Rain to basic sports and at the same time playing and having fun with Rain though RSGK's program. You have really made an impact on Rain's life! And of course to Creative Juice (especially Janice and Monica for letting RinasRainbow.Net be a part of this amazing experience! It's really an amazing school-readiness program for our little Rainbow!

Rain with Coach Sonny :-)

For more details on this Australian multi-sport exercise program for preschoolers, schedules, and rates, go to their official website http://readysteadygokids.com.ph/. You may also get updates from their Facebook page here.

I am the first one to admit that I don't really know anything about make up. Just the basics. My daily routine is just a CC cream and lip gloss and a little bit of lipstick and I'm good to go. It almost makes me feel ashamed when I recently I found out that my niece-in-law Crave The World knows a lot more than me! And she actually has a knack for make up! So what would one do if she wants to feature a make-up but is not sure of what she's doing? Ask someone to show her how to put it on! ;-)

And for this blog post, I will briefly show you how Cara applied this pretty Fantastic Color Eyes eyeshadow (Bohemian Soul)!

Etude House Philippines has this pretty themed eye shadow with its colors based on some relaxing Bohemian colors.

Folk Song, Apricot Jam, Ethnic Coral, Gypsy Queen, Wanderlust, and Freedom.

This is my sweet niece Cara. My model. And at the same time the Make Up Artist. Haha! Yes I agree that she looks already super radiant without anything on. This-is-how-she-woke-up kind of thing.

Cara used the colors Gypsy Queen, Wanderlust and Freedom. She said she likes gradient eye shadow combinations so that you really see the move from light to dark. So she put Gypsy Queen on the inner part of her eyelid closest to the nose, she says she's always found that using the lightest color in that spot immediately brightens the eyes.

Cara says she put Wanderlust across the middle of her lid because a somewhat medium color between the lightest and darkest colors give some additional depth to the eyes. She also says Freedom worked for her in the outer edge of her lid to round out the eyeshadow blend and frame the whole eye.

Final look! I love that she did not overdo it with the glitters. It has that strong impact, it made her eyes more alive, but at the same time it's also not very strong.

Thanks so much Cara for giving me a quick eyeshadow 101! :-) I'm really glad I asked you!!! :-) You were perfect for this post! Read her mouth-watering lifestyle blog at http://cravetheworld.blogspot.com/

Oh, and as a lover of shades of purple, me likey this other color theme: Bloody Halloween!

I love the plum shades! Perfect if you want to go for a Morticia Addams look.

For more make up goodies, follow Etude Philippines on Facebook! And check out their official website.

Lego is such a classic toy / hobby for people of all age. Lego has been around ever since I could remember. I remember my cousin Aouie loved collecting them and wouldn't let us play with it for fear that we might break it or lose the parts. I totally don't take that against her. I would have done the same. I guess this makes us the same as "the man upstairs". (You'll get what I mean if you've seen The Lego Movie;-)

Lego is not just a toy for kids or a hobby for master builders. But it's a great bonding activity for the whole family! This, paired with a delicious Sunday buffet brunch? That's definitely an ideal and fun way to spend a relaxing Sunday. And there is such a thing in the heart of Makati! It's Spectrum's Awesome Sunday Brunch! When we found out about this, we were eager to take Rain because she has also grown to love playing with Lego. Especially after she saw The Lego Movie for like 74 times. (This means we also had to watch it 74 times).

I wish I was able to take a photo of Rain's delighted expression as soon as she saw Emmet Brickowski welcoming her into Spectrum!

Lego Burgers, anyone?

Lego desserts?

More Lego desserts? Don't worry they serve real delicious food. These are just the delicious-looking display by the entrance of Spectrum.

Right beside Emmet is the Lego replica of Raffles Hotel! Lego master builders build this for around 20 days, or so I heard. Now THAT'S awesome!

We all started by chowing down on the delicious food that Spectrum has to offer.

Meat station

Pasta station

Dim sum station

Pâté and crackers station

Fresh seafood, anyone?

Here's the beautiful sushi corner which I attacked right away!

And for a Filipino touch, lechon and paella!

Cold cuts

Say Cheese!

Spectrum's bakers really had fun making Lego-themed desserts! It made us all feel like kids again!

They didn't only look fantastic but they were really good too! Especially the chocolates!

After dessert and after resting for a bit, the kids were given stubs for the Lego play room at the 2nd floor. It's a room with 2 sets of Lego play tables and lots and lots of Lego bricks.

And beside it is a whole table of Lego collections starting from Duplo (Lego for toddlers)...

all the way up to the normal collector Legos. These are all for sale for a discounted price!

Here I am helping Rain make her Lego farm

Ooops! Getting distracted with The Lego Movie that was playing hehe

Tadaaaa! After your little one is finished making her Lego creation, the Lego staff will snap a photo to make this moment everlasting! And after they take your photo, they will give a cool Lego gift pack for your little ones! This makes the Sunday Brunch rate per head rate worth it!

Rain definitely had fun playing Lego with other kids. I actually had to pry her away from the room because we needed to leave. (Sorry sweetie!)

The Awesome Sunday Brunch happens every Sunday for the months of February and March 2015. Adult rate is P2,777++, and children between 6-12 get 50% Off! Thank you Raffles for this truly AWESOME SUNDAY BRUNCH!!!

For more information, like Raffles Makati and Fairmont Makati on Facebook! And for nicer photos and more details on the food, please go to my husband's post here. :-)

Raffles Hotel Makati / Fairmont Hotel is located at 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, Makati City

An old photo taken a few years back by Kulotsky Man :-)

It has been forever ago when I last went to a derma clinic. My aunt was so gracious enough to treat me to some derma sessions because as a teenager, I had pimply skin. Specifically on my triangle zone. I always had pimples. But because of my tita's derma, it lessened. Eversince then, I would occasionally still get pimples but I never went back to any derma, I lived on eskinol with dalacin-c, and this skin set I bought online which I believed worked, but I would still get break outs from time to time. A fact I thought was just normal until I started to realize that I actually have a lot of friends that very very seldom have pimples. Even my sister hardly gets any pimples. And me on the other hand, I get batches! Like 2 or 3 at a time. (And I called that normal?!) This was a wake up call for me. Something needed to be done.

So a few weeks ago, it was the first time in how many years that I finally stepped inside a skin clinic again. The clinic of Dra. Kristina Cuevas Reyes, MD. , a pretty clinic called Luminisce.

Luminisce is a pretty little clinic situated at the 2nd floor of the Mercury Drug building in The Fort, BGC. Just go to the side of Mercury Drug and you will see the entrance.

I love how pretty the place looked. Very classy, clean, and bright.

While waiting, I was offered some merienda, and they made me choose between tea or coffee. So I had a little snack while waiting for Doc Kaycee. Finally it was my turn.

Photo from Luminisce Facebook Page

Photo from Luminisce Facebook page

The thing that is apparent with Doc Kaycee is that she is very hands on with her clinic. She makes sure she handles all the consultation. This is why you might have to wait a moment for your next turn. She makes sure she really addresses your concerns well. She has been featured in a number of magazines and online articles for her amazing achievements! Popular celebrities go to her clinic as well! Check on their Facebook page to see who!

I also have to admit that during my consultation, I couldn't help but stare at her face because her skin is just soooo beautiful! Not a blemish anywhere. She has that natural glow. No foundation, no creams. Just an all-natural glow that was hard not to stare at. So knowing that this person owns the place and is the skin doctor per se, you just know you're in good hands.

First order of business for Doc is skin check. Since we all have different skin types, it's important for her to really analyze the skin of the client, and really hear their concerns with their skin. As I mentioned, pimples like me. Like a woman's monthly period, they appear from time to time. Not to mention I started having these freckle-looking spots just by my cheek bones.

I recall having this conversation with a sales lady at a cosmetic stall...

Me: eto miss oh (showing my brown spots to her) .. may brown spots... ano kaya yan?

Sales lady: Ah signs of aging yan, ma'am.

Bwiset.

Oh, and then just very recently again, I noticed small specks of brown circles at the sides of my face. And yes, I've confirmed they're ... warts... uuugh!!!! What perfect timing to go to Luminisce!

Aaaanyway, going back to the consultation, Doc Kaycee really carefully analyzed what treatments she feels is appropriate for my skin type. During the consultation, she had one of her staff there in the room with us who was going to do the treatments. This way, the nurse also knows what the doctor and the patient talks about, she hears the concerns of the client, and so Dra. Kaycee can directly instruct her what treatments to do.

Next I was lead to my room. A small room with the same interior style as the reception area. It felt like I was in a nice bedroom.

And aside from my phone, this was my view the whole time.

My "before" shot. As you can see, I have pimple marks. And actual painful pimples on my nose and near my lips. But since I was wearing some CC cream that day, it helped hide it a little. But believe me it's there. This would also be the last time in a long time that I will be wearing a CC cream on my face as doc told me later on that I should stop using anything but sun block.

Here we go! Here's the list of treatments that Dra. Kaycee wanted me to undergo:

Luxury Facial

- a special facial treatment that deeply cleans the pores and removes those very bad bacteria that causes acne, cleans out excess oil and trapped dirt and helps minimize pores up to 2 weeks.

So soothing! I wanted to nap at this point.

This starts with a relaxing facial cleansing and a relaxing facial massage.

It tickles!

A very light and thin gauze placed on my face leaving room for me to breathe.

Then the sonophoresis begins. This is where ultrasound waves seep nutrients into the skin that removes blackheads and white heads as well. And then they use this special machine that lifts and revitalizes the skin. It's a weird sensation I have to admit because you'll feel tiny currents of electricity web out under your skin. Anyway, after this, another machine is used that oxygenates the skin by releasing cool pressurized oxygen in the skin and hydrates the pores. It's like they're cleaning your skin and pores as clean as a whistle.

Looks like a scene from The Matrix or something

Clear Laser Peel by Spectra XT

-uses a film of carbon lotion that regenerates collagen and correct melasma, pigmentation, acne, skin tone, pore appearance, and fine wrinkles.

Acne Clear Laser by Spectra XT

- I was pretty amazed by the Acne Clear Laser because if there's one thing I want to visually do with my stubborn pimples is to shoot them down with a laser gun. This isn't actually a laser gun but this Spectra XT toning laser normalizes the blood vessels surrounding the wound healing process which lessens inflammation and makes it heal faster. After a day or two I could really feel the inflamation of my then throbbing inflamed pimples significantly go down until it was totally healed. If I do this for a few more sessions, I could get smoother and even-toned skin.

Coquille Peel

-This Coquille Peel helps even out skin tone. If you want to get that youthful glow back, this is the treatment to try. It helps shed rough skin and restores the skin's moisture levels. The amazing part is that it uses Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) which is derive from natural fruit and food extracts. Nothing but good stuff in it. This is actually exclusive to Luminisce.

Derm Enhancer Laser by Spectra XT

- For my melasma (apparently that's what my freckle-looking spots on my cheek bones are called, doc wanted to try treat it with the derm enhancer laser because it uses the Spectra XT RuvyTouch which is a precise laser that send out microbeams totally directed at problem areas. It's interesting because it causes tissue damage, and then when this happens, it initiates collagen production and cell renewal. And the amazing part is it is non-invasive.

Going home, some parts of my face, specifically the now ex-pimples looked red but Doc Kaycee assured this was what was supposed to happen for at least a few days. Mine didn't last very long which is good. Doc also prescribed some antibiotics for me to help tone down my acne.

2 Weeks After

I could really see the difference with my skin. I couldn't see or feel any new pimple building up. The two or three pimples that Doc treated were definitely gone. My melasma was still there but I was expecting this because Doc mentioned to me that my level of melasma was a bit harder to treat so I'm going to need to get a series of treatments for it. I know it's not yet celebrity level skin, but the important thing is that I didn't have pimples anymore. Just some marks that I'm hoping to lighten eventually. I believe that with regular check ups, clear smooth and bright skin will definitely be achievable even for people with pimply skin like mine :-) I'm definitely going back soon to continue my other treatments.

Luminisce Clinic is located at 32nd Street, 4th Ave., Bonifacio Global, Taguig City. It is located on the 2nd floor of Mercury Drug. , right across St. Lukes. Her clinic is open from Monday thru Saturdays from 10am to 7pm. Contact number (02) 511-8500

Follow Luminisce on Facebook!

Photo by Stanley Ong

Usually one would refer to "Halloween" as the theme. But during our experience last weekend, it was definitely an Oreo-themed Halloween! I know you can do a lot of dessert recipes with Oreos, but the SoMoms (who graciously invited me and my family to their out-of-town Halloween trip) definitely showed lots of fun things one can do with an Oreo cookie that will guarantee your family buckets of fun!

The Cast

This is the first time ever that my family and I went out-of-town for Halloween. The venue was the ever cool and famous Tagaytay at the beautiful Hotel Kimberly (which I will share on another post very soon!)

Trick or Treat!

We settled at the hotel a little before lunch, and then by afternoon, the program started with a little Trick or Treat! Of course because I didn't really have time, we just used our costumes from Rain's birthday party.

Kimberly Hotel staff gave out yummy treats to all kids! We... I mean Rain... got lots of Oreo goodies!

The Trick or Treat lead to this beautiful open field...

Where a herd of sheep freely roams around! I know there are only two in the photo but there must have been around 10 or so. You'll see more at my Hotel Kimberly post.

I wonder if Rain's Princess Sofia costume and toy amulet can also give her powers to talk to animals? I guess I'll never know.

Let the Games Begin!

Then right after short but treat-filled Trick or Treat, we all settled by the playground for some fun and games where lots of cute and delicious prizes await from winners of the fun games we did with Oreos!

First game was the Oreo Hunt! Oreo packs were scattered around the playground. The person who finds the most Oreos wins! At Rain's age, she's really more of a saling pusa for now. (Like she's not really competing since she doesn't completely get the game yet. All she knows is that she gets to eat a lot of Oreos!). So I helped her run around and look. We got 4 packs. Yay! This is an excellent activity where you can incorporate delicious snacks such as Oreos. Great bonding too for parents and kids!

Next was Donut on a String game. Donuts are tied on a string and you have to eat one without using your hands. It's actually harder than it looks. But the kids did an excellent job! Too bad adults weren't allowed to join this game, or else Richie would have given the kids a run for their money haha!

Then there was the Face the Cookie game. Kids making funny facial stretching to transport an Oreo cookie from their forehead into their mouths, without falling of course, and eating it.

Of course us moms also played a little game! The Oreo Relay! The goal is to finish one Oreo cookie without touching it from the plate. After swallowing, you tag the person next in line. First team to finish wins! My team lost, but our tummies and taste buds felt like winners hehe.

Spooky Dessert Buffet

This.

This is the fantastically designed spooky dessert buffet is the result of Mish, Cai, and Tina's creative efforts using Oreos! Didi and I were just stunned watching the SoMoms do their magic. How do they find the time to prepare all these designs? I'm baffled!

A closer look at the dessert buffet and you will see the amazing desserts themselves, cleverly designed to transform it into something spooky!

Mummy Milk! Wait...Mummy or ghost? Either way they look spooky but cute!

Richie and I really enjoyed the Lemon Tart that Gia (Mish's daughter) made! Just the right amount of tangy-ness that for us!

BOO!

One of my favorite spooky dessert is this tomb stone Oreo cupcake. I love how they cut an Oreo cookie into the shape of a tomb stone, put RIP in icing, sprinkle some crushed Oreos on top to make it look like dirt, and then added a pumpkin topper. Such a simple idea that really works!

Another one of my favorite desserts is the Oreo Push Pops. Because I'm not a baker, I was really amazed at how they were able to put inside this cool container!

So to eat the cake inside, just push the stick upwards!

And then of course, the star of the dessert buffet feast, is the Halloween Cake with Oreo spiders! Again, baked by Mish and daughter Gia!

The Halloween touch can also be seen inside the cake. Cross section of the cake reveals a Halloween orange cake with black spots (chocolate cake balls).

Best in Costume

Best in Costume Prizes

Like I mentioned earlier, I wasn't really going for the win on the costume contest so we just reused our costumes from Rain's party. But seems like Rain's costume that we had custom-made for her really makes an impact because she was again one of the winners for the Best in Costume! :-) Thank you Kamuning hahaha! What we spent on Rain's costumes is getting to be more worth it haha!

Rain can't wait to open her molding clay prize as soon as it was awarded to her!

Richie, Rain, and I, and even Yaya Joy definitely had loads of fun in this well-planned out-of-town Halloween gathering! Activities are truly more fun when experienced with the whole family!

Spending holidays or even just weekends with the whole family makes everything more meaningful. Any activity, be it a simple snack together or some grand activity, everything is really better when done together!

Photo by Stanley Ong

Thank you again to Oreo and SoMoms for inviting my family in this fun-filled gathering! And thank you to Stanley Ong Photography for capturing beautiful moments of this whole experience!

How well do you sleep at night?

We often take this fact for granted as we become more focused on the things we need to do during the day time. Family, work, business, children, what have yous. But what we sometimes forget is the fact that every human being spends half of their lives sleeping. Half! So if you think about it, a good sleep is vital.

This means that technically, we should all really think about investing more on how to get a good night's sleep. And investing in good sleeping apparatus is the obvious step. Mattress and pillows. And when the term "good mattresses" comes to mind, there's one brand that comes on top of my head. This one brand that I've felt one day in a showroom years ago and that made me realize how much I am missing. And that is the TEMPUR bed.

Because I don't own one, I felt lucky to once again experience the softness and the comfort of laying in a TEMPUR bed. And it wasn't just in any showroom, mind you. It was in a one-night-only TEMPUR "movie theater", sitting in the middle of Bonifacio High Street in Taguig, where we were invited to watch a family movie flick while kicking our feet up on top of the amazing comfort of TEMPUR beds! It was one of the coolest and the most relaxing events I've been to!

I was one of the earliest to arrive. There were probably around 20 beds along with beautiful comforters inside the breezy tent that afternoon. And all beds were pointing towards the screen where we got to watch How To Train Your Dragon 2 during the evening.

Nearby, a snack / candy bar was set up for the kids to snack on during the movie.

Not long after, a lady walked up to me to check if I have already chosen a bed for the evening. Then she helped me choose by showing the different levels of mattress softness of TEMPUR to cater to different people's preference. I never knew they had different types! This just got more interesting...

First there's the TEMPUR Original (Supportive, firm feel). I love the way it contours to the shape of my body but being comfortably firm at the same time. Without being too soft.

TEMPUR Cloud (Supportive softer feel) is very soft, but still gives you the support your body needs.

Next is the TEMPUR Sensation (Supportive traditional feel). Feeling like Goldilocks in the bedroom of the three bears, I found the TEMPUR Sensation like baby bear's bed. It was just right. Not too firm, not too soft. The Sensation is generally made for ease of movement. I really wish I could take it home.

Anyway, because of the bed placing, I ended up choosing a bed that has a better view of the screen so Rain can watch the movie without straining her neck. A problem that I shouldn't have worried about later on since all she did was play with the other kids in the theater).

The bed that I ended up choosing was a TEMPUR Cloud, but kicked up a notch. It was the NEW TEMPUR Breeze. The Breeze is a new line of mattress which obviously, based on the name, will make for a breezier and cooler sleep, especially in the warm climate of the Philippines.

What makes this different is the TEMPUR Climate Material is the new feature inside the Breeze that essentially helps wick away excess moisture. It has thick open cell walls that help moisture move faster. And with the 3D cover of the Breeze mattress, humidity can easily just breeze through the mattress because there is better air flow. How I wish we had this when Rain was an infant. I vividly remember how much she immediately sweats every time she naps, even with the aircon on. I think all babies are like that because they create more body heat that adults. So naturally, the Breeze would be perfect for babies and children.

Going back to the softness of the TEMPUR Cloud, at first I honestly felt that it was way too soft. As soon as I sat on the bed I really sunk down from where I was sitting. But after a while when I really go to settle in, I got used to it. It was without a doubt very comfortable! I felt like I was literally laying on a fluffy cloud. This mattress really lived up to its name. I could really imagine myself at home snuggled in this bed while watching my current favorite Travel Channel show, Ghost Adventures.

As most of you may know, TEMPUR beds aren't exactly cheap. But once you feel the huge difference, you will really understand why. First of all, the TEMPUR mattress material is made up of a very special foam the contours the shape of your body.

Photo from TEMPUR Philippines

And because it contours to your body perfectly, this means there will be no back problems for you as your spine will get the exact support it needs. See how straight the spine is in the photo. Another amazing fact about this mattress is that even if the kids love jumping up and down the bed on one side, and you're sitting or laying down the other side of the bed, you will not bounce along with them. You will stay still. Because the TEMPUR absorbs the pressure of the movement of the bouncing kids. And the last but definitely not the least, no matter how much you think you beat up your TEMPUR bed, it will always always always immediately get back in its original shape.

So no matter what body type you have, no matter how much you move when you sleep, no matter what sleeping positing you are in, whether you are sleeping, reading a book in bed, playing games in bed, or watching a movie in bed, TEMPUR has got your comfort covered. It's as if the mattress was tailor made for you! You can be sure that every night will be the #BestSleepEver!

King-sized TEMPUR bed... you will be mine! Oh yes. You will be mine! Haha!

Follow TEMPUR on Facebook: Tempur in the Philippines to get the latest updates and information. And visit the TEMPUR show rooms below to feel the difference!

Level 5, Main Wing
Shangri-La Plaza Mall
(02) 631-1391

Lower Ground,
Greenbelt 5
(02) 728-3015

B5, Bonifacio High Street
(02) 856-4700

Design Center of Cebu
P. Remedios Corner, A.S. Fortuna Sts
Mandaue, Cebu
(032) 520-9888

It's been 3 years since I gave birth to my little Rainbow. And everyday since then we have spent our lives with her. That's roughly 1,250 days. But because the only thing permanent in this world is change, a couple of weeks ago I officially made a payment to a small school in our village. So Rain will be starting school this June. Obviously, I'm the one having separation anxiety.

So when we had the chance to go with the SoMoms on a little road trip to a nice farm in Sta. Elena in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, I didn't want to pass up the chance! It's a great bonding trip with my little one before she starts getting busy with school (I'm talking like she's going off to college or something haha)

It was around an hour drive from Manila to Sta. Elena. Going inside Sta. Elena, a flock of sheep greeted us by blocking our path. (Baaaaaa!)

After an easy drive, touchdown! It's pretty easy going here. From SLEX, exit to Cabuyao, then after the toll gate, turn right. And then around 500 meters you will see the Sta. Elena Village gate entrance on your right. From there, you can get the simple instructions from the guard on how to get to The Fun Farm. FYI that visits to The Fun Farm has to be booked ahead of time. Reservations need to be made.

We're here!

Entrance fee is P300 per head, but free for children below 2 years old. Special P240 rate for senior citizens. After 4 hours, there's an hourly rate of P50.

This was our area for the day! The Fun Farm has a number of areas where groups of customers can be assigned for the day. This is why you need to book ahead of time. It's ideal for parties!

Before heading out to check out all the fun activities we could do at The Fun Farm, Rain wanted to have a snack first! And she wanted to attack the OREO!

Which by the way, has a new flavor, STRAWBERRY!!! It's really our go-to snack for family trips!

Rain's way of eating OREOS: Look, and lick!

After a hearty serving of OREOS, we went on to explore! Rain had a blast at the Sand House. It's literally like a big sand box with little activities kids can do there.

She loved the swings! And I won't have to worry so much about her breaking something if she falls because of the sand. This area's definitely for the little ones.

This one on the other hand is more for the bigger kids. It may look like cool wooden pyramids, but there's something more to it...

It's a mini zip line! Go up to the wooden pyramid and zip down back to the ground! (With adult supervision of course)

Aside from the Sand House, there were a couple more playground things in the farm such as the net, see saws, and a little tunnel maze

There's also some old cool trucks around which is just fun to take photos with!

Then there's the boating area. It's a small man-made lake where you can ride a boat.

It was a quick ride but it was fun none the less! Oh, and there's another activity here in this photo. Can you see it? Let's zoom in, shall we?

People can cross the little lake by hanging on these ropes. Looks really fun! And I heard some people weren't able to make it to the other side and *SPLASH*!!!! Falls into the water. (True story)

Which is why they've created a shower area!

Oh and you can go fishing too! You can get a bamboo fishing rod with a worm bait from the guy manning the little lake. Unfortunately, we didn't catch one. But we saw some kids who were lucky!

Animals

I know what you're thinking. It's a farm. So where are the animals?!? Well, here you go!

Of course there are lots of animals that the kids can interact with! Like this carabao for example. He's just taking a quick rest but later on, you'll see how he can take you for a fun ride! (Looks like Rain really likes to join the carabao for a mud bath!)

It's time to ride a carabao!!! #OreoBetterTogether #PlayWithOreo #thefunfarm #oreo @pickiesteater
A video posted by Rina Zamora 🌈 (@rinasrainbow) on Feb 24, 2015 at 11:07pm PST

And so after being acquainted with Chocnut the Carabao, all the kids went for a ride with him, bringing along some OREOS in case they get hungry during the Chocnut's farm tour.

Another fun activity is horseback riding! Confession... this is my first time again in probably 25 years to actually ride a horse. Rain enjoyed it a lot so we rode twice. (Tip: You can ride as much as you want as it's part of the fee already.)

They also have a pony that you can pet! I think you can feed it too!

A Fun Farm would not be as fun without animal feeding. So of course they have an Animal Feeding area which all the kids seemed to spend most of their time on.

The feeding area has a rabbit pen ..

and a guinea pig pen. I just love this photo taken by Michelle of My Mom Friday! Thanks Michelle for this photo! :-)

They also had pigs but they were too lazy to play that day no matter how much Rain tried to

get their attention.

What I love about The Fun Farm is how they consider cleanliness and sanitation. Like the fact that there's an available alcohol and tissue on the table right by the feeding area. So your kids can wash their hands immediately after feeding and petting the little fur monsters.

And if alcohol doesn't quite solve the icky feeling, there are wash areas around that you can use to lather your face and arms with water and soap. Very convenient!

I also like the scattered random positive messages posted around the farm. This one's my favorite! (#TheSecret #LawsofAttraction #PositiveAttractsPositive)

Time to #PlayWithOREO!

After a while, we all went back to our camp and played games while waiting for lunch. Lucky for us all, the games had something to do with eating OREOS!

First game was to stack OREOS using nothing but chopsticks. And I'm happy to say

our team won!

The next game was the taste test! Kids were blindfolded and were asked to

blind-taste 3 flavors of OREOS.

Original, double stuffed chocolate, and the newest flavor, Strawberry!

Rain hogged the whole OREOS Strawberry before I could even taste it. I guess you could say she has no plans of sharing it.

It was a tiring trip but all the kids really had a lot of fun playing with the animals, playing with other kids, playing with their families, and playing with OREO! <--- Click here to watch the fun TVC of OREO!

For other fun OREO activities, click here! And for more updates on upcoming flavors, follow OREO on Facebook!

PS: If you're planning to go to The Fun Farm, here are a few reminders on safety and security! Have fun!!!

It was back in 2012 when Richie, Rain, and I were invited to witness Marriott Hotel's Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. This was the first time I set foot inside this hotel and it was a memorable experience watching Rain be mesmerized with the huge gingerbread train and of course getting a treat from Santa Claus himself!

Fast forward to 2015,where it would again be another unforgettable moment for me as we experience an overnight stay and at the same time have a beautiful albeit delayed anniversary dinner! It was all so worth the wait!

First, a quick tour around the beautiful Marriott Hotel. From the outside to the inside, you can see and feel that world-class quality. All the staff were very accommodating with all smiles as soon as you walk in.

The reception is very spacious with clean lines and beautiful wall decors.

Lots of comfortable areas to sit on. Perfect for businessmen to hold short but sweet meetings. Or for families and friends to just lounge around and have a drink.

Rain: "Reservation under Rain Zamora please. Non-smoking room. Thank you."

Tip: If you're checking in in an Executive Suite room, you can actually head on to the 8th floor at the Executive Lounge and check in there. No lines! :-) Here's Rain checking in for us.

This is the Executive Lounge. It has a really homey feel with lots of comfortable couches where you can just lounge around all day and watch some telly. Or read a book, or maybe bring your laptop up to get some work done.

Lots more couch sets and tables on this executive lounge...

And of course being an executive lounge,refreshments are freely available in these glass chillers.

A spectacular view is available as well as you relax with your snack and coffee.

The Room

The room has a good 40 sq meter size. Just the right space and room for all your stuff, and my little toddler has space to play and do things that toddlers do.

There's a work station, with convenient cords and cable connections for your laptop and your portable media players as well.

Cool! The TV greeting us with a warm welcome message!

There was also a welcome snack platter waiting in the room contained with all things mango! And as I expected, Rain really loved them. She loves mangoes.

There's a ceiling-to-floor glass window in the bathroom. This is very helpful for parents like me who has a little girl who refuses to leave the bathtub for a long time. I can freely go to the room for a bit to check my phone or whatever and I can still keep an eye on her in the bathtub to make sure she's okay.

Marriott Hotel toiletries (with bath salts!) are supplied by Thann, a company that uses only natural ingredients, "combining the art of natural therapy with modern dermatological science."

Marriott at Night

At night, the Marriott Lobby, which becomes The Great Room at night, becomes a relaxing lounge where guests can chill and have a drink or two while listening to some relaxing music from a live acoustic duo.

Marriott Cafe

In the morning, you can have your most important meal of the day at Marriott Cafe located at the ground floor. So far, everyone I know who's been there really enjoyed their breakfast buffet. And we did too!

For one, I really enjoyed their toast section mainly because you get to have unlimited Nutella! They also have lots of delicious jams from The Fruit Garden and Bonne Mamman that you can spread on different types of bread.

and this was my plate. Garlic rice, longanissa, tapa, and of course, bacon. Always bacon. For more photos on their amazing buffet, head on over to The Pickiest Eater's post!

Just beside the Marriott Cafe is the Eye Candy. Marriott's cute little candy store!

For gym goers, Marriott has a really nice well-equipped gym. One of the nicest ones I've seen.

On the way to the pool area, you will pass by this area where you can purchase some swim wear in case you accidentally left yours. This is also the same area as the spa so you can also purchase here some spa skincare products made by Pevonia. Pevonia products are used for exclusive spas and used by professional Aestheticians.

Here's the pool area. Nice, eh?

The little enclosed pools on the side is perfect for children to stay in.

CRU Steakhouse

And now... one of the highlights of my stay. This is CRU Steakhouse. Upon walking inside and seeing the beautiful interiors with dimmed setting, you already know you're in for a special evening.

It's really super classy! I felt like maybe Richie was going to propose to me again. Haha!

CRU's pride and joy is proudly displayed in this glass chiller. Look at those beautiful steaks!

We had the three-course steak menu which started with this mushroom Amuse Bouche. I have to admit that at first I was a bit disappointed not because it didn't look beautiful. It did! But because I was hungry, I was worried that the food here was all going to be in small fancy pancy portions that I know will not satisfy my hunger at that moment. But I was proved wrong. Size does not matter as this amuse bouche was one of the best I've tasted! The mushroom was very tasty, with a mix of sweet and salty juicy taste in it, plus all the different texture going in in my mouth as I ate it was an added delight. I was happy to eat Richie's share. He's not big on mushrooms. Bodes well for me!

Next was the Baby Spinach Salad. See the crunchy looking wrap thingy? That's Parmesan crisp! The spinach had a vinaigrette dressing (I love vinaigrette dressings) and then mixed with some chunks of blue cheese (yum!!!) and more crunch from the candied walnuts. I really really love this dish!

Then came the star of the night! Behold the 250g Grilled Certified Angus Beef USDA Prime Rib Eye. For me it was huge! Very juicy, soft, seasoned perfectly! Even without the gravy it was really good. And the Gorgonzola & Corn pudding was also a real treat! By this time I was already so full!

potato and onion gratin grilled portabello mushrooms

And this was not all, I tell you. This steak comes with sidings. The potato and onion gratin, and grilled portabello mushrooms which I thought were so delicious and so filling that we didn't get to finish them. (So much for worrying about portions at the beginning!)

And for sweet endings, we had a really big serving of White Chocolate Cheesecake. Each! We were so full that we could have just shared one plate of dessert.

Unexpectedly, we had one more dessert which was a surprise from the CRU staff. It was really nice of them to take the time to even personally write their greeting in a card! So old school... so personal....I LOVE IT!!!!

Obviously, we had a really great time in Marriott Hotel! A classy hotel in a great location, near NAIA Terminal 3, and being in the heart of Resorts World, it's got a passage going to Resorts World Manila, therefore giving you access to tons of restaurants and stores! Thank you again and again Marriott Hotel for the wonderful stay!

Marriott Hotel Manila is located at No 10 Newport Blvd, Newport City Complex, Pasay City, Manila. Follow them on Facebook as Marriott Hotel Manila!

If you have been reading my husband's blog and mine for a while now, you would know for a fact that we gear more towards food that have been cooked in a certain technique that started way back in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC: FRYING. We can't help it. More often than not, it's the delicious stuff. We're not going to lie and pretend we're all for eating healthy. It's not good, we know. But it's not like we're canibals so relax geeeeez! Okay I'm getting way defensive ha ha ha (nervous laughter).

Aaaanyway, that being said, somehow I feel we need to at least find a way to eat fried stuff that could somehow make us feel less guilty (if that's even possible at all). You walk around the grocery by the cooking oil aisle and see a whole lot of types of cooking oil: vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, palm oil etc. that have their own health benefits. But just recently, I was introduced to a cooking oil that has a whole bunch of benefits like you wouldn't believe. But at the same time, it's also not that hard to believe once you learn that this certain oil is made from a fruit that's deemed as a "superfood": COCONUT!

We all know that coconuts are known to have a lot of great health benefits. (We're actually lucky we live in a country that substantially grows coconuts.) As I've researched, what makes coconuts healthy is their unique combination of fatty acids that in return has unremarkable positive effects on health, including better brain function, energy boost, better indigestion, to name a few. Oh, and interestingly, it helps aid in FAT LOSS! (Aha! Did I get your attention? Coz it certainly caught mine!)

So what makes Laurin an excellent choice for eating healthy? The most apparent reason is that Laurin is made of pure CocoMCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides). What's that, you ask? Oh nothing much... it's just the healthiest part of the coconut, that's all. So imagine an oil made of concentrated CocoMCT?

If you compare Laurin to other MCT oils, they leave the lauric acid intact in the process, and this gives Laurin it's antimicrobial properties that helps further strengthen the immune system, fighting off those stupid sickness that we may acquire on a daily basis. (I do believe in the saying Health is Wealth!) Not only tat, but leaving the lauric acid in there helps preserve all the natural health benefits of coconuts.

What makes CocoMCT even more awesome is that it is easily absorbed by the body. Then it is converted into ketones which supplies the body and brain with a boost of energy. I admit that my brain is usually afloat, I have a bad memory, and I KNOW I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer (my husband will get mad at me for thinking this, but I'm just calling a spade, a spade). In short... So I need this!

But wait! There's more! The best part? IT CANNOT BE STORED AS BODY FAT! Seriously, can this product be any healthier?!?

And the answer is, it can be! Let me count the ways:

Good for the heart because it manages cholesterol levels
Good for digestive system as it flushes out toxins

Good for cooking ...

A perfect gourmet oil
Stays as liquid and clear even under super cold or super hot conditions. Doesn't turn into grease.
Is odor and flavor free! So it won't clash with whatever's on your menu for the day!

Great for beauty and fashion...

Because it has great moisturizing powers, it can be used as a great massage oil, conditioner, lip balm, and even as a make up remover!
Again since it's odor-free, you won't feel weird slathering it all over your body.
Rejuvenates cells and slows down skin aging

Great for athletes!

Provides quick source of energy that comes in handy especially with high-intensity training
Protects from illnesses and infections
Keeps one active and alert

So thank you to Laurin Oil, I felt less guilty about pan-frying these 2 pieces of bread in Laurin oil...

....turning it into a scrumptious grilled cheese when I got a real craving for it after watching the movie Chef.

And thanks to Laurin, I didn't feel icky pouring a good serving of oil into my cake batter mix....

... that I made for my little Rainbow. (She really loved it!)

aaaand I didn't feel guilty taking these yummy slices of tikoy for a dip in a bubbling pan Jacuzzi of hot coconut oil. (Thanks Joan and Abet Lim of The Food Alphabet for this delicious tikoy!)

With all these amazing health benefits, how can you not make this a permanent part of your grocery list? ;-)

Laurin CocoMCT can be bought at the following stores:

EchoStore

Salcedo Village

Serendra, BGC

Nurture Nook shop

78-d Estrella st Makati City

The Flow Shop

www.flowretreats.com

or call 635-9000 to order

(Delivery is available for minimum orders)

Check out their official website here, and follow Laurin CocoMCT on Facebook!

I'm going to admit something. I love the beach, but I'm not as excited as I used to be when I was a few years younger. Not because I've grown up to be a party pooper, but it's just that there are a lot of things to consider now that I'm a mom. First, you worry about your kid... making sure you pack everything you might possibly need for your little one. Thinking of beach scenarios that might happen, and thinking of the corresponding items you might need during those scenarios. On top of that, you also need to pack for your husband. And of course, for you.

And then there's the other factor. SKIN!!! Shucks! I don't have white luminous smooth skin but I just recently went to a dermatologist a few weeks back, for crying out loud! I just got some skin treatments to somehow treat the pimples and stuff. And I was clearly told not to stay out too long in the sun and to always always put sunscreen. But I still really want to enjoy the beach with my family. I mean look at that view I took of Boracay last weekend! How can anyone resist that?!? Of course, the solution was very obvious: SUNSCREEN.

But my problem with other sunscreen is that sticky feeling. And the sunblock's main powers is to really protect your skin form harmful UV rays right? The whitening part, not really. And that's why I chose to pack my NEW Vaseline Water-Based Whitening Serum for our beach weekend!

What I like about it? First of all it's SPF 30. And apparently, this is enough SPF to provide up to 96% protection from the bad UVB rays, from skin damage and sunburn.

Not only that. It has PA++ that protects the skin from UVA rays which unfortunately been causing these sun spots under my eyes.

Another super power of this is how it has Vitamin B3! And this, my friends, is what helps whiten the skin 3x more compared to other whitening lotions! With continued use, of course. Alright! (Filipinos have a thing for fair skin).

And last but not the least, since it is water-based, it feels really light on the skin. It's not sticky at all. It's very refreshing, not to mention I love love love the smell!

While the NEW Vaseline whitening serum does a great job, I'm sure your derma will still advice you to wear something to shade your face from the sun. That's why I always take my big pink hat with me. That's right. It's not a fashion statement. It's protection! So if you happen to be in Boracay last weekend and see a lady in a big pink and white hat, chasing a little girl around the beach, that was me!

Here's me and my husband and little girl in the background enjoying Hennan Lagoon's amazing lagoon-sized pool (my post on this coming soon!). This was already during the late afternoon so the sun was setting. Hence my hat-less self. The cool thing was that as soon as we landed back in Manila, and my sister picked us up from the airport, she told us that we didn't look like we got darker. Alright, Vaseline!

So anyway, these are the reasons why I think the NEW Vaseline Water-Based Whitening Serum is an excellent lotion to have in your bag. With it, I was able to #SeizeTheSummer! Yay Vaseline!

The NEW Vaseline Water-Based Whitening Serum is available in all stores nationwide. It's P249 for 180mL, And only P99 for 70mL.

As a child, I have to admit I wasn't the model student. I wasn't rebel or anything but I never made it to any top positions.I hated math. I hated memorizing dates in history. And that was okay for me. But one thing I did know is that I loved art. Anything that required creativity, I was interested in. And I'd like to think I was pretty good at it. Not expert good but pretty good. And it's something that I hope little Rainbow will take an interest as well while growing up.

Right now, Rain can only do scribbles. Hardly any shapes being formed yet when he scribbles on a paper. But with a little practice, I'm sure she will get the hang of it. And a fun art class like Global Art will really help as well! Global Art is this amazing world-class art enrichment program for children starting toddlers, all the way to teenagers.

I went there a few days ago to check it out and you won't believe what these young children can do with art materials!

The painting of a dog and the painting of the little girl in the bottom right was done by children. Forgot exactly what age but doesn't change the fact that they're children who did these expert-looking paintings! Rain couldn't help but adore them!

Global Art was founded and started in Malaysia wherein children are taught to express themselves by creating their own works of art, and not by copying certain styles and images. Since then it has spread world wide namely Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, USA, China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and of course, the Philippines.

Look at these artworks on the walls. At first I thought they were just showcasing the works of their students, but it was a little more than that. These walls show the categories and the levels of art that children work on from beginners to advanced. When you take a closer look you will see that these are not just your basic coloring book sheets.

Mrs. Yenny Saw, Global Art Philippines' Country manager, shows us samples work sheets with templates that their students work on per level. A pattern or image/images are printed in it, and then the children are asked to use those images and turn it into their own works of art.

For example, the sheet on the left is the template sheet, and the picture on the right is finished masterpiece that the child created out of the simple lines from the blank sheet. Clearly, children are really being taught to let their imaginations run wild! Look how the kid transformed a sun-looking shape template into a minion with wavy brown locks of hair?! It's really amazing! And I have to admit it looked so much fun that I wanted to ask for a template that I can do! Seriously!

Different Levels of Art

There are different instructions per level. The Junior Level is where children ages 3-4 years old learn about basic colors and shapes through story telling, coloring, and handicrafts.

The Foundation Level is for kids 4-6. Dotted lines rule this level. Because it helps guide kids with short attention span and helps them with their motor skills (Cool! Makes sense!) They are also asked to draw more objects in the template and of course color them. How amazing that a kid can think about transforming a simple circle shape into a whole shark? (3rd row). Or a basket with oval shapes template into a basket of bread or fruits? (First row).

Next is the Basic Level. For kids 7-9 years old. The children are given a theme (for example, a chicken) and then he is required to draw a whole picture with a chicken in mind. They do not need to copy the picture of the chicken in the worksheet. They are required to make up a story, and make it into one drawing. Like in one of the student's work in the photo above for instance (4th row). The child created a half-chicken, half alien and a chicken astronaut walking on the moon. Now that's a pretty wild imagination! Again... Mind. Blown.

On the Intermediate level, for kids 10-13 years old, kids can practice enriching skills in drawing, sketching, poster-making, cartoon and comic making by using dry and wet art materials.

Here are some of the student's best works of the month!

I was able to take a sneak peak at an ongoing class. They're all so well-behaved and so focused.

In the other classroom, the children were all busy with their works with no teacher around. Although the door was open but still!

All students only use Global Art materials. They are non-toxic so they are safe for kids.

Can't believe this little girl is making this from scratch! I think it's also amazing on how these children come up with art works that convey life messages like this little girl right here who's drawing something that says love mother nature, save the trees.

More busy bees!

Global Art also does crafts in pot and plates painting

And molding!

To know more about this program, you may like them on Facebook: Global Art Philippines, visit their official website at GlobalArt.com.ph, or head on to their main office at the address below.. Don't forget to inquire about their FREE TRIAL!:

Global Art Philippines

Unit 101, Sekai Center,

368 Ortigas Ave. Corner Madison Street

Greenhills, San Juan

Contact number: (02) 726-0435

Rain has started showing more interest in actual coloring. Not just scribbling all over the paper. So earlier, as I was coloring with her...

Rain: Mama, what color is this? (holds up a brown crayon)

Me: I don't know... you tell me. What color is that?

Rain: (silence... thinking of the answer)

Me: (Finally deciding to help her with the answer) It's BRRRROW...

Rain: ...RRROWN! (finishing the word brown, as if she knew it all along)... GOOD JOB MAMA!

Thank you anak! XD That's it! I just wanted to document this funny moment :-)

Rain gets 2 shirts of her daddy and wears it like this and says "look mom it's a costume!"😂 Good job resourceful baby!😂😍👍
A photo posted by Rina Zamora 🌈 (@rinasrainbow) on Mar 9, 2015 at 8:06pm PDT

Rain is a girly girl. She loves princesses, sparkly stuff, sometimes even tries to wear my old heels. And more than anything else, she loves dressing up, She can get a simple cloth laying around and will put it on like a skirt or a cape, or a veil.

So one afternoon, on the same day I posted this Instagram photo of hers, I decided it was time to bring out one of her Christmas gifts from her Bito and Bita (grandparents). And my husband took a video of her adorable reaction as soon as she saw it! :')

Click Read More to watch the video!

Truly, toddlers reactions are priceless! She really is a Disney Princess! Long may she reign! Thanks to my husband Richie for the awesome edit! ;-)

I went there a few days ago to check it out and you won't believe what these young children can do with art materials!

Different Levels of Art

There are different instructions per level. The Junior Level is where children ages 3-4 years old learn about basic colors and shapes through story telling, coloring, and handicrafts.

On the Intermediate level, for kids 10-13 years old, kids can practice enriching skills in drawing, sketching, poster-making, cartoon and comic making by using dry and wet art materials.

Here are some of the student's best works of the month!

I was able to take a sneak peak at an ongoing class. They're all so well-behaved and so focused.

In the other classroom, the children were all busy with their works with no teacher around. Although the door was open but still!

All students only use Global Art materials. They are non-toxic so they are safe for kids.

More busy bees!

Global Art also does crafts in pot and plates painting

And molding!

Global Art Philippines

Unit 101, Sekai Center,

368 Ortigas Ave. Corner Madison Street

Greenhills, San Juan

Contact number: (02) 726-0435

When it comes to singing, I have no doubt in the talent of Filipinos. And it has been proven ever since I can remember. On the top of my head, Lea Salonga, a big name in broadway and is also the first ever Filipina Disney Princess singing voice, Arnel Pineda, the lead vocals of the international band The Journey, and a lot more other normal citizens like us who are being flown to be a guest at The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Brother Philippines President Glenn Hocson with Jason Dy
Photo from Brother International Philippines Corp.

Another amazing talent is the Grand Winner of The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 Jason Dy who won and received a Php1-million business package from The Voice major sponsor Brother International Philippines Corporation (Brother Philippines). With this exciting package, Jason can start his own business with the wide roster of Brothers Philippines products at hand. Imagine all the things he can do!

Brothers Philippines is a premier provider in imaging, printing, multi-function centers for offices as well as homes. And they've been here ever since I can remember, true to their slogan, "at your side". And now, they are also the Official Multi-function Printer of The Voice of the Philippines Season 2. Like us, they believe in the Filipino's unbelievable talent and creativity. And sponsoring The Voice of the Philippines Season 2, they are aiding in uplifting the Filipinos' abilities to reach their dreams of being a star.

"Through the Brother business package, we want to make a lasting impact on the life of the grand winner while echoing that The Voice of the Philippines is a competition where the contestants’ voice is the only thing they need to start a better life, and yes, an exciting new business."

- Brother Philippines President Glenn Hocson

Congratulations once again to Jason Dy!!!

If you're like my husband, Mr. Pickiest Eater who loves watching TV series and movies, then you too will be excited like a fresh grad getting his pay check for the first time when you hear Globe's new partnership with HOOQ. An online tool that can give Globe Tattoo customers exclusive access to lots and lots of shows and movies like you wouldn't believe! And you can access it all right from your tablet or mobile phone! How awesome is that?!? It's like Spotify for videos!!!

HOOQ has a vast library of movies, shows, and television episodes that you can watch. From local shows (ABSCBN, GMA, Regal Entertainment, and Viva Communications.)

And for international, the library includes Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers Entertainment.

Tattoo customers can enjoy UNLIMITED online streaming, and you can also have the option to download it and watch it offline. This means I can pre-download shows while I have wifi at home, then watch the video while on the plane going to Palawan or something. You can download up to 5 videos total. You can also hook up your HOOQ up to 5 devices. Your smartphone, laptop, tablet, what have yous.

Okay, so how much? And what does this include?

Exclusive access to HOOQ = starting at Plan 1,299
Combined access to HOOQ with Spotify or NBA = starting at Plan 1,599
Access to all three (HOOQ, Spotify, and NBA) = starting at Plan 1,999
All plans include 1 Mbps minimum speed up to 15 Mbps
Free landline
Free unlimited calls to Globe and TM
Free Wi-Fi modem

For video fanatics who just can't get enough (and by fanatics I mean my husband), in case you exceed your data, there's the Tattoo home volume boost that you can avail of to make sure you have consistent streaming / download speeds. If you're not sure how much speed you actually need, Tattoo Home will be implementing their 3-month program, where wired customers can get an additional 50GB on top of their existing plan data allowance. So one you breach 50% of your existing plan data allowance, you'll get a text message alert. With this, you can really track your usage.

HOOQ for Globe Mobile Smartphones

If for now you're planning to just use HOOQ with your Globe / TM mobile phone, just go to https://www.hooq.tv/ph, sign up and make your account, and then for the mode of payment, you can pay through your Globe/TM mobile bill/prepaid load for only P199 good for 30 days. Option to use credit card will be coming soon!

Once you've created your account, you can then download the app in your mobile phone / tablet. The app is available in iTunes and Play Store.

I fiddled around with the app earlier and saw that they have FRIENDS!!!!! Okay that's more than enough reason already to sign up! My whole family loves loves loves watching Friends. For me it's the funniest sitcom until this very day!

I'm also really excited for my little Rainbow! She can very easily watch lots of movies or shows for kids during our travels when she's bored in the car. This can save me a lot of time downloading movies, and then transferring it to Rain's tablet! Thank you Globe and HOOQ for this promising partnership!

Like Globe Tattoo on Facebook for more details and to be updated with their latest promotions!

I don’t know about you but as a Disney fan, I am really really excited about this news that I’m about to share!

PLDT Home is expanding their partnership with ... Wait for it... The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia!!! Isn’t that cool?! (Please don’t think this blogging mother is weird. I’m a child-at heart. And every time I hear “Disney”, I kind of get a little excited! PLDT’s various units (PLDT HOME and Smart) is the first ever telecommunications company in the Philippines to enter a content partnership with Disney! Awesome!

So what exactly happens? Through Disney’s digital entertainment arm called Disney Interactive, PLDT HOME and Disney will bring us lots and lots of fun and magical Disney offers! This being said, PLDT HOME can have access to as much as 300 Disney stuff such as games, e-books, and more that will be available through the Disney Portal, hosted by PLDT HOME website (www.pldthome.com).

And another feature is the free Disney Telpad skins! Just like this Mickey skin you see in the picture. The skins come with a DIY application kit.

And every month, they will be having brand new skin designs, all in time for the upcoming Disney flicks. Like Inside Out on June, Avengers: The Age of Ultron on May, maybe they will also have a skin for The Good Dinosaur on which is coming out on November, and I think Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December!

And I know it’s cliche, but in the words of TV home shopping... “But wait, there’s more!”....

If you haven’t done so already, you might want to subscribe to a PLDT HOME TelPad so your family can download lots and lots of Disney games (like spin-off games such as Frozen Free Fall and Toy Story Smash It ) and interactive Disney e-books making story time more fun! And it’s all easily accessed with one tap of the Telpad’s Disney widget!

Now the question is... How much? Well, you would be delighted to know that you only have to add P199 per month on top of your TelPad subscription for your Disney TelPad package! And all PLDT HOME TelPad subscribers can expect 2 new premium games available each month that you can download.

The amazing part is when Mr. Gary Dujali, PLDT Vice President and Home Marketing Head, announced that this Disney on TelPad is just the beginning of PLDT HOME’s campaign for kids. This means we can expect a lot more surprises in the coming months, and years to come!

Gary Dujali, PLDT Vice President and Home Marketing Head, Host Princess Kat, and Patrick Tan, PLDT Vice President of Home Voice Solutions

I am really excited about this tie up (obviously). I personally feel that Disney has amazing effects on a child’s creativity and imagination. Rain is a Disney Baby. We’re always on Disney Junior every single day because I know that if she’s going to watch something, it might as well be something educational, musical, creative, and just plain fun! And to think that it will all be powered by the leading telecommunications company in the Philippines, that’s really something to look forward to!

I’m happy because I know this will not only keep Rain entertained, but I will be sure that these Disney content are all child-friendly and appropriate for children to watch or play or read. Also, it’s going to give us more Disney-based fun activities that we can all do together as a family! Not to mention that because of this partnership, we now have even more bonding activities that Rain, Richie, and I can all do as a family! And I just can’t wait!!!

PS: As a way of celebrating the launch, PLDT HOME invited us all to a special private screening of Disney’s new live action movie, Cinderella! It was Rain’s first ever movie theater experience and I can’t wait to tell you about how memorable it was for her in my upcoming post! It’s so special that I feel like it deserves its own separate post here:-)

In the meanwhile, here are more photos during the PLDT HOME Disney on TelPad launch!

The media and bloggers launch was held at Cravings, Shangri-La

Snow White balloon twist cinderella balloon twist

PLDT HOME prepared some activities for the kids such as balloon twisting and face-painting. Rain adored her Cinderella and Snow White balloons!

The Host, Princess Kat playing with the little prince and princesses.

Find out more about PLDT HOME’s Disney on TelPad! Just visit www.pldthome.com/telpad!

Last March 18, 2015, was a fun and memorable day for us. It was Rain’s first time to enter a movie house! The movie? It’s a Disney movie of course! The new live action Cinderella! It was a treat of PLDT HOME as part of the launching of their newest announcement, the Disney on TelPad! Read more about it here!

But turns out it was not a simple movie experience for Rain....

Before I tell the bonus of this first experience for Rain, let me first tell you about how she was during her first movie theater experience...

Here she is, in her Snow White costume, munching on one of her favorite snacks: puncorn (that’s how she pronounces popcorn)

Selfie with mommy! Still eating her cheese "puncorn"!

So while we were happily munching, this was going on... PLDT HOME welcoming us to the special screening of Cinderella. The place was filled with bloggers, media writers, as well as PLDT HOME TelPad subscribers with their kids who won tickets to this special screening. Kids were asked to wear a costume as a Disney princess or prince. And then Mr. Patrick Tan (PLDT Vice Presidne to HOME Voice Solutions) went on to announce that there was actually a Best In Costume contest!

So the kids were all called to stay in front with the host Princess Kat, for the announcing of winners. Mr Patrcik Tan did the honors of announcing the winners.

The 3rd prize went to the little prince with the denim crown. Hats off to his mom’s DIY skills!

The 2nd prize went to the pretty girl dressed as Rapunzel. At this point, Rain thought that that was it. That it was Rapunzel who won THE prize. So Rain turns to Rapunzel and with great sincerity says “CONGRATULATIONS RAPUNZEL!” I wanted to cry!!! She was such a good sport! This is probably the proudest moment in my life so far! :’) And because Rain’s reaction was such a surprise to me and Richie, he wasn’t able to hit ‘record’ on his phone on time. But this will forever be recorded in my memory :’)

I was still reliving the moment when Mr. Patrick Tan announced the grand prize winner...

(

I'm so proud of my Baby Rain! She is now 3-0 in costume parties! Sulit ang gastos! But my proudest moment isnt when they gave her the prize.. it was when they announced the runner up. When they announced the Runner up, an adorable little girl that wore a Rapunzel outfit, Rain thought that It was for the grand prize. She went up to the girl and graciously said, "Congratulations, Rapunzel!". Such a good sport my baby is, but little did she know, she was the one who would take home the grand prize! #ProudDaddy #DisneyOnTelpad #Disney
A video posted by RichieZ (@pickiesteater) on Mar 15, 2015 at 4:43am PDT

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YES! RAIN WON!!!!! This custom-made Snow White costume of hers which we had made in Kamuning Market for her 3rd birthday party was totally worth it! Because this would be the 2nd time she won a place for a costume contest using this Snow White dress!

After the announcement, we all settled back in our seats and the lights dimmed. We excitedly watched Frozen Fever Short film (yes I teared up at the end. I’m such a cry baby when it comes to Disney flicks), and we all enjoyed the movie Cinderella. Rain was fortunately behaved, until she got a bit bored with her popcorn and decided to walk hover around in front of us. But the movie got her attention back when the Fairy God mother appeared and gave Cinderella her ultimate magical transformation and transportation. Right after that scene, Rain fell in my lap :-)

Thank you so much PLDT HOME for this exciting bonus experience for Rain! This is truly something that we will all never forget! :-)

I was doing my usual business of browsing the App Store once in a while when I noticed all the icons of most of the apps are in color red. Reminded every of my math grades back in elementary and high school. But all kidding aside, these red icon apps have a great reason behind it...

Apple and (RED) have been collaborating together for years to help fight AIDS in Africa. And this year, they've extended this collaboration by including apps from iTunes.

It started last November 7 until December, every time you purchase any (RED) product apps in iTunes, 100% of the proceeds will go to Global Fund to help aid the fight for AIDS.

Find out more details and how else you can donate here: http://www.red.org/en/

One app can be a big help! Buy (RED), save lives!

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iTunes is screaming (RED) !!!