Happy Halloween!

I read in the news that the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCP) treats Halloween as un-Filipino. The bishops believe that, during this time of the year, we Filipinos should remember the dead by attending Holy Mass and offering prayers for the deceased. According to them, the dead are feared because they are being portrayed as horrible ghosts and spirits in horror movies and TV shows.

I am a practicing Catholic, but I also celebrate Halloween. In fact, our home is presently adorned with Halloween decor and I am proud that ours is the only home in the village that is decorated with plastic pumpkins and dangling skeletons. But then, being raised by Catholic parents, I and my siblings were taught to hear Mass both on All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Soul's Day (November 2). At night, we pray the rosary with the Litany of the Saints and the names of our deceased relatives and friends. Then, we feast on home-cooked biko and sotanghon. We place a portion of our food in saucers and place them by the altar for the souls.

I am also teaching our child the same practice I witnessed growing up. This is aside from the Trick or Treat and costume parties that he has attended and will still attend in the years to come. We will still be decorating our home with the same ghoulish skeletons and plastic pumpkins. But at night, we'll light candles and place them by the altar and pray for our departed loved ones.

I believe that the Catholic bishops are only reminding us Catholics to not forget the religious side of this holiday. As a parent, I also believe that I should be responsible in teaching my child about this. So,tonight I say "Happy Halloween" because it's the 31st and it is indeed Hallow's Eve. But tomorrow, we will fulfill our religious obligations. This being said, I will now go back to the bridal shower invitations site I am browsing before I read the news. Please understand that this is just my personal view of the matter.


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Tiki is coming!

As of the moment, my sister is in the labor room delivering her first born. We are all so excited! My parents are excited all the more because the baby will be the first baby girl in my family. My sister's expected due date is supposed to be on Nov. 5 so the baby's delivery is just on time.

I'm still waiting for updates from my brother-in-law who is in the hospital right now. I'm not sure if I'll be visiting in the hospital because I'm feeling under the weather lately. Probably, I'll just visit when the baby's home. We may not have atlantic furniture for our Tiki but she sure has one happy clan waiting for her when she arrives!

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Order ni Mrs. is Back!

Baguio Oil is re-launching the character that made the cooking oil brand a household name. Mrs., from the memorable “Order ni Mrs.” tagline is coming back wiser and funnier with her pack of tips, tricks and gossip. The character of Mrs., which was introduced by the brand in the 70’s, will share her wisdom today through her very own mobile site, Facebook and Twitter accounts. With Mrs. going mobile and online, Baguio Oil aims to modernize and maintain awareness of the brand.

Download her recipes and learn from her experiences by visiting http://ordernimrs.ph on your mobile phone. Talk to Mrs. by liking her page on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/OrderniMrs, or following her on Twitter, http://twitter.com/ordernimrs. “Order ni Mrs” Facebook and Twitter accounts will not only feature health tips and household tricks of Mrs. but also post about her latest promos and giveaways. Promos of “Order ni Mrs.” begin in November 2010.


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How Safe Is Your Home?

Aside from being the perfect time for shopping, the Christmas season nowadays becomes known to be the season when robbery becomes frequent. Last week, a laptop was stolen in the coffee shop where I was working while waiting for my boy. The thieves were disguised as decent men in suits and ties. I guess that's why the victim never thought that they would steal her laptop in the split second that she left her chair.

Photo: “A rusty gate with chained padlock” by Koonisutra, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

It just made me all the more paranoid of the safety of my family and our property as well. We're planning to go on a 4-day road trip to Ilocos a week before Christmas and I'm feeling worried about leaving our helper alone in the house. He's always left alone when we go on trips but I can never be too sure especially with the new faces and construction projects that are going on in our village right now. Aside from security cameras, we are also thinking of installing motion-activated alarms to catch future intruders. The village's perimeter wall behind our house is also getting to be scary. I think we should have a barbed wire installed there, too.

How safe is your home? Have you also installed security gadgets to protect it? Have you any recommendations and tips? I'd love to read about your thoughts!


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Ariel Experts vs 100 Challenge

The cutesy mini-shirt invite said "Do YOU think you can tell the difference?" It looked like an easy task but it wasn't. It was just a wild guess and I was able to identify which of the shirts was new and which was washed 10 times with Ariel in the mini-game.

I won this cool USB Spy Pen in the mini-game.

The Ariel Experts vs. 100 Challenge proves that even experts can get confused between what’s new and what’s old when it’s washed with Ariel. Hosting the event was TV host and radio DJ, Mo Twister. Meanwhile, the fabric and stain experts who accepted the challenge were Adrian Asis, Vice President for Marketing of Metropole Laundry and Dry Cleaners, Inc. and Patrick Tan. Senior Store Operations Manager of Bench.

Adrian Asis, Vice President for Marketing of Metropole Laundry and Dry Cleaners, Inc. 

Mo Twister with Patrick Tan, Senior Store Operations Manager of Bench. 

Media attendees composed the 100 mob participants and, as you can see, I was Mob #8. Unfortunately, I did not win for my chosen charity in the contest proper. I thought that luck was on my side because of the number 8 but the challenge was really hard! I lasted only until the 3rd question, LOL! Even the two clothing experts had a hard time figuring it out because Ariel Oxybleach has a unique oxybleach system that removes tough stains so well (even without scrubbing with a bar and brush!) that it can give clothes the care it needs to keep looking like new.

My voting gadget.

“With Ariel, our focus has always been to provide the latest detergent technology to moms to give them the perfect clean that they’ve always wanted,” said Ariel Country Marketing Manager, Danish Rahman.

Ariel Country Marketing Manager, Danish Rahman.

“Ariel actually has a unique oxybleach system that consists of a bleach activator which decolorizes and removes the stain in the wash, plus photo-bleach, which is activated by sunlight during drying to provide additional bleaching effects and even enzymes that care for your clothes as it prevents ‘himulmol’. Through this advanced technology that removes stains really well, Ariel is able to keep your clothes looking like new.”

The event also served as the launch of the partnership between three clothing experts -- Ariel, the dry cleaning giant Metropole and one of the country’s leading fashion retailers, Bench, who have banded together to help Filipino moms take even better care of their family’s clothes. Both Bench and Metropole agreed that Ariel Oxybleach is superior to other detergents in keeping clothes looking new.

“Being an Ariel user myself. I can say that Ariel’s oxybleach formula is indeed efficient in taking away stains. Another thing is with Ariel, you just soak your laundry without scrubbing too much – that way, your clothes will be kept looking like new,” said Patrick Tan, Senior Store Operations Manager of Bench.

Meanwhile, Metropole has actually been using Ariel since 2003, as it was evaluated (and continued to be) the best detergent to remove stains, as well as caring for apparel items.

“For the last seven years Ariel has been determined to be superior, against other detergents available in the market, in stain removal while at the same time maintaining the “like New” appearance of apparel items,” declared Adrian Asis, Vice President for Marketing.

“Most detergents were tested to work on white colored items but had the negative effect of fading colored items. Ariel was tested to be the detergent with the best balance of maintaining white colored items while also gentle enough to minimize fading on dark colored items.”

Like Bench and Metropole, I am also an avid Ariel user. I was taught to wash white clothes with bleach to make them whiter but experience has also showed me that it wears out clothes faster. Bleach in my household is just used to clean our bathroom and I don't allow my helper to use it in washing our clothes. Our clothes are soaked in a solution of dissolved Ariel for 30 minutes before it's washed in the washing machine. Ariel is effective in removing tough stains and making colored clothes appear more vibrant.

My 10-year old boy recommends Ariel, too! They performed a laundry stain experiment in his advanced Science class one time where they used all detergent brands in the market today. Ariel emerged victorious in removing stains. This made me all the more convinced in the powers of Ariel. In a few days, P&G will be launching a liquid version of Ariel that will make washing clothes easier for us mommies! I'll keep you posted on that for sure.

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On Health Supplements

A couple of years back, I was brought to a business opportunity seminar of a multi-level networking company which carried health supplements. What they claimed was that their product has every health benefit that the human body would ever need. It's a superdrug in short. Other companies might have noticed how popular health supplements became for the Pinoys that there is now a health supplement for almost every organ in the body! Agree? Have you noticed how many the different kinds of health supplements there are in the market today?

Photo: “Pills” by Keith Ramsey, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

Being diabetic makes me a favorite target of people selling health supplements. I often say no to them because my condition also makes me sensitive to the effects of these health supplements. Besides, I have my own maintenance meds and vitamins so I don't think I can add more into my daily "menu." Not to mention the extra bucks I would need to buy them. I take 1500 milligrams of Metformin everyday to tame my fluctuating blood sugar levels. I also take in Fern-C, Myra 400 E, and sometimes, Pharmaton when I'm working on huge writing projects that leave me all stressed out. I'm also thinking of adding calcium supplements because I don't drink milk.

Are you taking in health supplements? How is it working for you so far?


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BREASTFEEDING SERIES No. 4: Breastfeeding and dads

One lucky reader will receive a pretty Next9 Nursing Cover and a Lactacyd Baby Bath gift pack! Raffle contest details at the end of this post.

During the You & Me & Mommy event at SM Megamall in August, I was able to meet dads who supported their breastfeeding wives. Breastfeeding need not be a mom's sole responsibility. There are a lot of opportunities for dads to be part of the whole breastfeeding bonding activity.

Photo: “Club Med 2007 - 317” by Ed Yourdon,
c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

Here are some of the things that dads can do before or after babies are breastfed:

• Burping baby after feeding
• Putting baby back to sleep
• Bathing and massaging baby

Meanwhile, breastfeeding moms also need extra loving care from their husbands. Here are some suggestions:

• Giving a glass of water while baby is being breastfed
• Preparing yummy and nutritious food
• Sharing in the chores like cleaning and doing the grocery
• Giving the wife a relaxing massage

Moms are more encouraged to continue breastfeeding their babies when they feel that their husbands are there to support them.

Win this!

Help me encourage other moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed. Share the link of this post in your Facebook wall by clicking the Facebook share button at the beginning of this post and tagging The 24 Hour Mommy by writing this:

I and @The 24 Hour Mommy encourage moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed!

Reminders:

• You will need to be a FAN to successfully tag our Facebook fan page. Choose and click The 24 Hour Mommy's fan page as it appears in the drop down list after typing @ and the first few letters.
• Your post's privacy setting should be set to EVERYONE for it to appear in the fan page wall. If in case you are having problems in making your posts appear in the fan page wall, don't hesitate to place a comment to this post so I can help you.
• You will only need to share the link of this post once to qualify in the raffle. There are 4 posts about breastfeeding so you have 4 chances of winning! Please check out these other posts if you haven't shared them yet:
BREASTFEEDING SERIES No.1: The Benefits of Breastfeeding BREASTFEEDING SERIES No. 2: Common Breastfeeding Concerns BREASTFEEDING SERIES No. 3: Back to work!
• This contest is open to Philippine readers. I will ship the prize to the lucky winner. Contest will run from October 4, 2010 to October 29, 2010. I will announce the winner by October 30, 2010.
• NO BOGUS FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS PLEASE! I'd like to believe that we're all grown up and matured enough not to cheat in simple contests like these. :)

Reference: Breastfeeding informational flyer developed by the DOH, WHO, and SM Supermalls.

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Missing Lola

Photo: “and then you realized that the age old teacup was the only friend you had” c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

I've been making a list of the names of our deceased relatives for a prayer offering this coming All Souls' Day. With that, I remembered my Lola Doming and all she did for me when she stayed with our family.

My Lola used to live in the province with my other aunts and uncles. But with some of her children living in Manila, she often takes the long trip from Visayas to Luzon just to spend time with some of her children. Some of the last years of her life were spent with us. That was when I was still in college.

My Lola was a typical Filipina grandmother. She had traditions and superstitions that she strictly followed. She prayed the rosary thrice a day and had me buy kamanyang (incense) from Quiapo for her evening prayer ritual. In the evening, she would ask me to apply Tiger balm on her back before she went to sleep. In return, she applied coconut oil on my scalp and brushed my hair till it was soft and shiny. She did not want me to use any shampoo for thin hair because she just wanted me to use her gugo which I hated so badly, hahaha!

But seriously, I miss everything about her now that I remember her. And I am guilty of the fact that I did not become the abogada she wished I would be. I just wish I had the chance to tell her how thankful I am for everything she did for me.

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Pampers and Gymboree Celebrity Babylympics

Last Thursday, I witnessed celebrity babies play and show their unique movement skills at the Pampers and Gymboree Celebrity Babylympics. I swear, it's the first event that has got me shooting photos while sitting on the floor! Yeah, I so wanted to get close to the cute tots that I forgot all about being poised and everything. The babies crawled in and out of tunnels and displayed their unique talents. Who wouldn't fall for that?

RJ Ledesma, who attended the event with his baby Fortune, hosted the event.

Ann Tan, Gymboree Play & Music President and Anama Dimapilis, P&G Brand PR Manager for Pampers with host RJ Ledesma.

Opening the Babylympics was celebrity mom and Pampers Playtime Ambassador Vina Morales and her baby Ceana who "lit" the torch to signal the beginning of the games.



Five celebrity moms and their babies vied for the Pampers Babylympics medals. Mommy Aubrey Miles and baby Hunter won 1st place, Chesca Garcia and baby Kendra won 2nd place, while Jennifer Sevilla and baby Simon Rafa placed 3rd. Karel Marquez and baby Keylie, and Nancy Castiglione and baby Joaquin placed 4th and 5th places respectively.



The active babies played games and activities developed by two experts in baby development - Gymboree Play & Music and Pampers diapers. They all enjoyed uninterrupted play because of Pampers Active Baby diaper's Extra-lock layer that keeps babies' bottoms dry even under pressure. You know how active babies are during the toddler years. Moms won't even need diet pills to lose weight because running after these tots will definitely make you sweat!

Also launched during the event was Pampers Active Baby Play Play Everyday Playtime course which is again designed by Gymboree and Pampers. The course can help parents nurture their baby's development thorough simple activities. It also gives them more opportunities to bond through play. You can visit the Pampers website at www.pampers.com.ph to learn more about it.

You can view more photos of the event at The 24 Hour Mommy Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=241336&id=156029469233). :)


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The Halloweens of Long Ago

The Halloweens that we spent in Laguna Bel Air were the best Halloween celebrations we had. The whole community, even the Mc Donald's branch just outside the gate, would prepare special contests for the homeowners. The kids also looked forward to going around the whole village come Trick or Treat. Five happy Halloween celebrations. The next Halloweens that came every year after the last were sad because we always end up missing our old home, our former neighbors, our beloved community. So we just bring out the photographs of those 4 happy Halloweens at it would always make us smile. See them below:

Bumblebee costume was lent by Alma, my kumare.
It was our first year and we didn't know that they had "Trick or Treat."

I was able to buy a costume for Rap.  He did not win
but our house got a citation and we won an umbrella for that, haha!

I made a simple Quasimodo shirt for Rap.
My husband also dressed up for a costume contest in the office. 

Rap's cousins came over to Trick or Treat with us.
Of course, they had to have costumes.
Rap won the grand prize in this year even when his costume was just
his Katipunero costume for UN Day converted into a Scarecrow costume! :D

We lived for 5 years in Laguna Bel Air but we were not able to join the festivities in 2005 because we went out of town then. Besides, we had to give others the chance to win, right? LOL!

The village where we live in right now also holds a Trick or Treat program for the kids. Last year, my alalay thought of bringing out what's left of our old Halloween decors. It became a hit to the people who came and some even took souvenir photos.

This year, we thought of postponing our schedule of bringing out our Christmas ornaments and decorate our home for the Halloween instead. I think we're the only home here that is Halloween-decorated.

I can't wait for Halloween to come. I'm planning to bake gingerbread and sugar cookies to give away to the kids!

How about you? What are your activities this Halloween?

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BREASTFEEDING SERIES No. 3: Back to work!

One lucky reader will receive a pretty Next9 Nursing Cover and a Lactacyd Baby Bath gift pack! Raffle contest details at the end of this post.

Working moms often find it hard to go back to work once their maternity leave ends. Aside from separation anxiety, they would also need to delegate the delicate task of caring for their baby to a close relative or to a yaya. To make feeding easier, some working moms turn to milk formulas.

Photo: “Linden - drinking breast milk from a bottle” by Nelson Kwok, 
c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

Are you one of these working moms? Please remember that breastfeeding is still possible even when you go back to work. You will just need to make these few adjustments:

• Invest on a breast pump. You can choose from a single manual to double electric breast pumps which are both readily available in departments stores and specialty shops nowadays.
• Take advantage of disposable sterilized storage bags to store your milk. Don't forget to label each bag with the date and time you expressed the milk.
• Store the milk in a freezer. If your office pantry has a refrigerator, ask your co-workers to reserve some space for your bags away from other foods and liquids. 
• Bring a small cooler or an insulated bag to keep your milk cool while you go home from work. You can also put your milk storage bags here if you don't want to place it in the office pantry refrigerator. Just make sure that it is kept cool throughout the day. Breastmilk can only last in the fridge/cooler for 24 hours. In a deep freezer, breastmilk can last from 6 months to 1 year.
• Have a picture of your baby to look at while expressing milk to stimulate milking.
• Do not express milk inside the restroom. With a nursing cover, you can do it quietly in your cubicle or work area. It would also be helpful if your office has a lactation room or at least a private room that can be used by nursing mothers.
• Orient your baby's caregiver about the First In, First Out system and about thawing and heating the expressed milk. Remind him/her to never microwave breastmilk! and to never heat the milk directly on the stove. Frozen milk should first be placed in the ref a day before use or cooled under cool running water. Then, it should be immersed in a bowl of hot water. Rewarm the water if necessary.
• Sterilize all your breastfeeding equipment when you get home.

When breastmilk is stored, it may appear to have a milk layer and a cream layer. This is normal. Just shake it gently before feeding to redistribute the cream. At home, go back to exclusively feeding your baby from your breasts. You will also need the natural sucking of your child to drain the milk in your breasts which will signal your brain to produce more milk for your baby.

Win this!

Help me encourage other moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed. Share the link of this post in your Facebook wall by clicking the Facebook share button at the beginning of this post and tagging The 24 Hour Mommy by writing this:

I and @The 24 Hour Mommy encourage moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed!

Reminders:

• You will need to be a FAN to successfully tag our Facebook fan page. Choose and click The 24 Hour Mommy's fan page as it appears in the drop down list after typing @ and the first few letters.
• Your post's privacy setting should be set to EVERYONE for it to appear in the fan page wall. If in case you are having problems in making your posts appear in the fan page wall, don't hesitate to place a comment to this post so I can help you.
• You will only need to share the link of this post once to qualify in the raffle. There will be 4 posts about breastfeeding so you will have 4 chances of winning! Please check out these other posts:
BREASTFEEDING SERIES No.1: The Benefits of Breastfeeding
BREASTFEEDING SERIES No. 2: Common Breastfeeding Concerns
• This contest is open to Philippine readers. I will ship the prize to the lucky winner. Contest will run from October 4, 2010 to October 29, 2010. I will announce the winner by October 30, 2010.
• NO BOGUS FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS PLEASE! I'd like to believe that we're all grown up and matured enough not to cheat in simple contests like these. :)

Reference: Breastfeeding informational flyer developed by the DOH, WHO, and SM Supermalls.

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My WikiPilipinas Career: One Year After

I have been writing for WikiPilipinas.org, The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia, since October 14 of last year. For all those who are not familiar with the site, WikiPilipinas is the Pinoy version of Wikipedia. However, we only write articles that are relevant to Filipinos and Filipino culture and society.

One year after, here I am, almost an expert in "wikifying" after writing more than 250 articles which are mostly biographies of Filipino historical personalities. The project was fun because I did learn a lot about our history. If it were not for the project, you wouldn't see me reading books about Philippine History.

Writing for WikiPilipinas also opened new opportunities for me within the umbrella of Vibal Foundation's online publications. From February to July of this year, I wrote feature articles for The Philippine Online Chronicles (thepoc.net).

Just recently, my former editor resigned from her Wiki editing post and recommended me to take her place. I am now the Editor for WikiHealth, a site dedicated to Philippine Health and Wellness, which is a project of WikiPilipinas in cooperation with the Department of Health.

I am now busy editing submissions from the WikiHealth team. At the same time, I will also need to write a few health articles to contribute to the site. Currently, I'm reading about chromium polynicotinate. I'm still looking for related Philippine news or articles about it in the web. Believe me, this geeky stuff is fun. And I'm getting paid to do it, hahaha!

WikiPilipinas, WikiHealth, WikiFilipino, and The Philippine Online Chronicles are produced by the hardworking writers, staff, and management of Vibal Foundation. I do hope you support us by doing your searches through our sites.

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Choosing safe toys for the kiddos

It's less than three months before Christmas Eve, is your Christmas gift list ready? For sure, you will be buying toys for the kids, right? Before you do your Christmas shopping, here's a checklist of things you need to remember in buying toys as gifts for Christmas.

1. Consider the age of the child. There are age-specific toys and you will clearly see the recommended age group written outside the box. You can help the kid avoid accidents just by giving him the right kind of toy for his age.
2. Regardless of age, do not buy toys that have the potential of hurting a child. These include toys that have sharp parts or screws and nails that get easily detached.
3. Go for educational toys. There are toys that are fun to play with and, at the same time, efficient in stimulating a child's mind.
4. When you give electronic toys that have the "batteries not included" label, please make sure to buy batteries, too. Would you want to spoil a child's excitement on Christmas Eve by giving a toy that won't work because you forgot to buy alkaline batteries? (Well, if you ask me, I'm more in favor of rechargeable batteries.)

Now you're ready for Christmas toy shopping!


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Staying Healthy in this Changing Weather

A lot of my friends are sick these days. Most of them have coughs and colds while some had sore eyes. The crazy weather we're having is partly to blame. How do you keep yourself and your kids resistant from these diseases?

Here's what you can do:

• Eat a balanced diet which includes foods rich in Vitamin C. 
• Take in extra vitamin supplements. Our family takes Fern-C now and it works well.
• Keep the body hydrated. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day even when your out of the house.
• Get enough hours of sleep. A tired body will not be able to fight viruses and bacteria.
• Wash/Disinfect the hands regularly. 
• Keep an umbrella handy, rain or shine.

The weather is erratic even in other parts of the globe. My cousin in the States told me a week ago that my niece has the "walking flu." The little girl loves outdoor fireplaces that she frequently stays in the porch at night even when it's starting to get cold over there. Probably, that's how she got the flu.


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Forever Olay

Who among you remembers the legendary Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid? I do. I grew up watching my mom apply it on her face day and night. The sweet smelling pink fluid was an essential part of her facial routine. Here's a bit of trivia I learned from yesterday's Forever Olay event - Oil of Olay was created by a chemist for his wife. Isn't it sweet?

Essentials of the Olay Total Effects beauty regimen.

In the 1950s, South African chemist Graham Wulff discovered that her wife used thick and greasy facial creams packed in shoe-polish style tins. Seeing this, he started to create the perfect cream that women like his wife Dinah would truly love. He developed a new facial moisturizer that could be quickly absorbed into the skin. With the help of his wife's suggestions, the Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid was born. Over the years, Olay became a trusted friend for women who want to look ageless and beautiful.

I'd love to have all of these on my vanity counter! Paging the husband... haha!

Olay still remains to be the trusted beauty product of most women. And just as Olay was born out of listening to a woman's need, Olay Total Effects was conceived from listening to the concerns of over 6,000 women across the globe. In 2000, the first black-and-gold bottle of Olay Total Effects was launched in the South East Asia region. In 2006, it reached Philippine shores and immediately gained the trust of Filipinas.

Proof that Olay Total Effects has lived up to its promise are the brand ambassadors that first launched the brand in 2006 - Miriam Quiambao, Dapphne Oseña-Paez, Ines Delgado-Prieto, and Menchu Launchengco-Yulo. These women have already undergone so much changes in their lives from the time they helped launch Olay Total Effects in 2006. Yet, they still look young and their skin remains as youthful as ever. That is why they all reaffirmed their promise to remain "Forever Olay."

Olay Total Effects Ambasadors (from L-R): Daphne Oseña-Paez, Menchu Launchengco-Yulo, Ines Delgado-Prieto, and Miriam Quiambao.

As you can see, Miriam Quiambao is as fresh and beautiful as the day she won 1st runner-up in Miss Universe. The Olay VISIA machine showed further proof that she continues to look even younger than most women her age, and even those 10 years younger than her. Visia is an in-depth complexion-analysis system used by Olay to study the skin conditions of different women and it records and tracks skin changes over time.

Olay Total Effects has a wide range of products specially formulated to answer the different skin needs of women today and fight the 7 signs of ageing. The Olay Total Effects regimen has three important steps: Cleansing, Moisturizing, and Boosting.:

• Cleanse with Olay Total Effects Foaming Cleanser, Olay Total Effects Cream Cleanser, or Olay Total Effects Oily/Blemish Prone Cream Cleanser.
• Boost with Olay Total Effects Daily Serum, Olay Total Effects Night Cream, and Olay Total Effects Eye Cream.
• Moisturize with Olay Total Effects Normal Formula, Olay Total Effects Normal Formula with UV Protection, Olay Total Effects Gentle Formula, Olay Total Effects Gentle Formula with UV Protection, Olay Total Effects with Touch of Foundation, Olay Total Effects with Cooling Essense, or Olay Total Effects for Oily/Blemish-Prone Skin.

Then once a week, use the Olay Total Effects mask and enjoy the revolutionary stretch technology that hugs the contours of your face.

WIN THIS:



During the event, I was asked to fill up a card and complete the sentence:

"Time can change ________________ but __________________ remains forever."

Comment to this post and fill in the blanks with your answers. Include your name and email address.

The best entry will win this Olay Total Effects Foaming Cleanser and the elegant Forever Olay stationery. The contest is open to Philippine readers and I will ship the prize to the winner. I will be accepting answers until 11:59 pm of October 22, 2010 only.


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A Family Car

I rode a van this morning going to Ayala to attend the Olay media launch this morning at Manila Peninsula. It was the first time for me to ride a van going to Makati because I often see AUVs plying the route. The van I rode in, which I think was an Urvan, was relatively new. I actually find its interior neat and spacious because the seats at the back were arranged sideways like riding a jeep. I started imagining my family riding a van on the road to the province. Yes, I think a van would be a nice family car.

My husband's SUV somehow becomes our family car of sorts because it's bigger than my sedan. Although we don't have a large family, we're still thinking of upgrading to a bigger one in the future. We often go on road trips and it would be nice to have other relatives and friends come along. An RV would be nice but only movie stars and rich Pinoys have it here. I bet you have to be prepared for rv repairs. Bottom line - a van is still the larger yet cheaper option. What do you think?

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Compression Stocking for the Preggy Mommy

When I was pregnant with Rap, I remember having swollen feet and ankles despite the fact that I walk to and from the LRT station every day. The discomfort was so bad that I even had leg cramps at night. I was told to wear compression stockings to help relieve the discomfort of swollen feet.

However, I wasn't able to buy compression stockings because I just didn't know where to get it. I discovered that it's not the same as the regular nylon stockings and these are often sold in medical supply stores. Instead, I just wrapped elastic gauze bandage on my legs when I slept at night. I looked like a mummy from the thighs down, oh my!

The preggy mommy of today is luckier than I was before ten years ago. Now, you can easily buy compression stockings from online suppliers. I saw one local supplier selling compression stockings for 1,300 pesos.

Were you also advised to wear compression stockings when you were pregnant? How was it?


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Project New Dining Table

Since I'm still helping my parents send my youngest brother to school, part of my writing income goes to his college tuition. However, every December, I make it a point to reward myself for all my writing efforts. Last year, I was able to save some money to buy my very first oven. This year, with the peso-dollar exchange rate not freelancer-friendly, I'm just thinking of buying a new dining table for our home.



See how "cute" our dining table is. It's now common for me to witness my boys bickering about the lack of space when we're having our meals together. The chairs seem to be wobbling too since the wood pieces are just held by screws and pegs. The whole dining set needs replacing so to speak.

I still need a month or two before my new dining set fund is enough for me to take a trip to Mandaue Foam. I hope they still have modern dining tables on sale there.

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BREASTFEEDING SERIES No. 2: Common Breastfeeding Concerns

Since my sister is giving birth to her first-born this month, I'm helping educate her on breastfeeding by writing about it all Mondays of October. And as promised, one lucky reader will receive a pretty Next9 Nursing Cover and a Lactacyd Baby Bath gift pack! Raffle contest details at the end of this post.

After giving birth, moms start breastfeeding their babies. But not all of them will breastfeed for long. Often, it's not the schedule that's the problem but the problems and discomforts that discourage mom from continuing breastfeeding.

Image source: "Lactation" by Carin from stock.xchng (http://www.sxc.hu/photo/161049)

By learning to identify the symptoms of common breastfeeding problems, you'll be able to quickly overcome them or find ways to cope. That way, your baby will enjoy the benefits of your breast milk longer without your having the ouchie.

1. Having inverted or flat nipples. Do not fret because there are special nipple cups known as breast shells that help draw nipples out. They can be worn between feedings. Also, you can opt to pump or express milk which help make the nipples more erect. Remember not to roll, twist, or pull on your nipple unless you want to cause nipple trauma.
2. Engorgement. This happens when enough milk is not removed because of skip feeding or limited feeding time. You can wear a supportive bra (but not underwire bras)to help lessen the discomfort. To make it easier for your baby to latch, you can massage your breasts to promote milk flow or place hot washcloths on your breasts. To prevent fullness, try not to skip feed and establish a feeding schedule based on your baby's demand.
3. Sore nipples. Prevent having sore nipples by establish a good latch on. Try different positions until both you and your baby are comfortable. After feeding, allow your nipples to air dry completely. Do not use breast creams. Instead, you can try applying a small amount of pure anhydrous lanolin to your nipples. Change nursing pads frequently if you are wearing them.
4. Thrush. Itching, flaking, redness, and in some cases, white patches, may happen several weeks or months after successful breastfeeding. When this happens, seek medical help. Boil all items that come in contact with your baby's mouth and be extra careful in washing bra pads and bras. Keep the breasts dry as much as possible.
5. Decreased milk supply. The more you nurse your baby, the more milk you will produce. While establishing a feeding schedule, make sure to nurture yourself by drinking plenty of fluids and eating a balanced diet.
6. Plugged ducts. When milk ducts become clogged, you may feel a hard, lumpy, painful area in your breast. Nurse your baby more often so as not to leave milk in the breasts between feedings. Apply warm, moist towels to your breasts before feeding to help alleviate the pain. You can also massage your breasts while your baby breastfeeds.

Win this!

Help me encourage other moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed. Share the link of this post in your Facebook wall by clicking the Facebook share button at the beginning of this post and tagging The 24 Hour Mommy by writing this:

I and @The 24 Hour Mommy encourage moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed!

Reminders:

• You will need to be a FAN to successfully tag our Facebook fan page. Choose and click The 24 Hour Mommy's fan page as it appears in the drop down list after typing @ and the first few letters.
• Your post's privacy setting should be set to EVERYONE for it to appear in the fan page wall. If in case you are having problems in making your posts appear in the fan page wall, don't hesitate to place a comment to this post so I can help you.
• You will only need to share the link of this post once to qualify in the raffle. There are 4 posts about breastfeeding so you will have 4 chances of winning!
• This contest is open to Philippine readers. I will ship the prize to the lucky winner. Contest will run from October 4, 2010 to October 29, 2010. I will announce the winner by October 30, 2010.
• NO BOGUS FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS PLEASE! I'd like to believe that we're all too grown up and matured to cheat in simple contests like these. :)

Reference: Breastfeeding informational flyer developed by the DOH, WHO, and SM Supermalls.

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Slowly drifting away

My husband says that my son and I have a closer relationship compared to what they have. He says that we agree on most things. Well, I could agree with that totally if he said that a few years ago. Before, we would talk about everything under the sun. We would laugh about the simplest jokes, watch TV, and read books together.

Now, there are some things he reserves for his dad and there are things that he shares with his friends. I don't even understand what he says sometimes. One time, I felt I looked stupid when he pointed out the big difference between a rack mount PC and a PC mounted on a rack. Ha! I bet you also thought they're the same, don't you?

Oh, well. We can't stop them from growing up and slowly drifting away from us, can't we. I still can't help feeling sad.


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How To Raise Kids Who Care

Back in July, I saw that photo of a girl holding a large cabbage that grew in her home's backyard garden. But the large cabbage is not the only thing that's amazing in her story, what's truly unbelievable is that she grew the vegetables in her garden to feed the homeless.

Katie Stagliano of Summerville, South Carolina, USA, started her own non-profit organization she called Katie's Krops. Together with her family, classmates, and volunteers in her community, she grew vegetables that were donated in soup kitchens which fed the homeless in her hometown. Her mom is moved and is beaming with pride. She relates, "I say to her, 'I hope some day when you are a parent, you have a kid who is as amazing as you so you can see it from a mom's perspective.'"

You can also encourage your kids to be as unselfish and caring as Katie by doing these:

• Talk to your child about caring for others. Share your observations about children in the streets or the beggars asking for alms. That way, you will also get to discover what he/she feels about them.
• Use holidays or special family occasions as opportunities to help others. For example, you can ask your kids to collect their old toys once the "ber" months sets in so they can donate them to the needy come Christmastime.
• Expose your child to different living conditions and environments. Show him/her that other kids do not enjoy the same comforts that he/she has. It will not only teach him/her to be more appreciative of what he/she has but also to think about ways to help bring comfort to other people.
• Teach by doing. Actions speak louder than words. Show that you care for others through the things that you do everyday like getting along with the househelp or your co-workers.

No one is too young to help others in need. Start training your kids to be caring individuals as early as now.

The tips that I shared here are from an article written by Becky Kho entitled "Children who care" which was published in the September 2001 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines.

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BREASTFEEDING SERIES No.1: The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Since my sister is giving birth to her first-born this month, I'm helping educate her on breastfeeding by writing about it all Mondays of October. And as promised, one lucky reader will receive a pretty Next9 Nursing Cover and a Lactacyd Baby Bath gift pack! Raffle contest details at the end of this post.

I believe that, when God created moms, He specifically included the ability to produce milk so that we can provide sustenance for our babies no matter what the circumstances are. There's no excuse to breastfeeding - it's natural and convenient. Plus, it benefits not only our babies but our bodies, too.

Breastfeeding is best for babies! Breastmilk make babies smarter, healthier, and happier. Among the benefits derived from breastmilk are:

• increased resistance to viral and bacterial infections
• decreased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• decreased risk of diarrhea and constipation
• less colic
• healthier and softer skin
• lower risk of anemia, pneumonia, gastroenterities, dental caries, and bronchitis
• better brain development and visual development and eye coordination
• leaner body composition throughout infancy
• reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancers, allergic diseases, polio, and asthma

Breastfeeding is best for moms! Breastfeeding creates this special bond between mother than child. Aside from that, moms get to enjoy these advantages:

• quick return of uterus to normal size
• reduced blood loss after giving birth
• dealy of fertility (when exclusively breastfeeding)
• fewer urinary tract infections
• faster weight loss
• reduced risk of breask, ovarian, and endemotriosis cancers
• reduced risk of fractures and osteoporosis
• lowered risk of postpartum depression, stress, anxiety, and agression

Win this!

Help me encourage other moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed. Share the link of this post in your Facebook wall by clicking the Facebook share button at the beginning of this post and tagging The 24 Hour Mommy by writing this:

I and @The 24 Hour Mommy encourage moms and moms-to-be to breastfeed!

Reminders:

• You will need to be a FAN to successfully tag our Facebook fan page. Choose and click The 24 Hour Mommy's fan page as it appears in the drop down list after typing @ and the first few letters.
• Your post's privacy setting should be set to EVERYONE for it to appear in the fan page wall. If in case you are having problems in making your posts appear in the fan page wall, don't hesitate to place a comment to this post so I can help you.
• You will only need to share the link of this post once to qualify in the raffle. There will be 4 posts about breastfeeding so you will have 4 chances of winning!
• This contest is open to Philippine readers. I will ship the prize to the lucky winner. Contest will run from October 4, 2010 to October 29, 2010. I will announce the winner by October 30, 2010.

Reference: Breastfeeding informational flyer developed by the DOH, WHO, and SM Supermalls.

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Problems With Teenage Acne?

I'd like too think that I'm blessed with good skin when I was a teenager. I'd seldom have breakouts and, if I ever had pimples, it would only be a few days before my period. My husband, on the other hand, tells me that he had a huge problem with acne when he was a teen. I'm kinda scared for my boy upon hearing this because acne seems to be hereditary. He'll be a teen in 3 years.

Why do teens get acne? Acne happens when bacteria invade the pores of an already oily skin pore. Having oily skin during the teenage years is an obvious after-effect of puberty. It becomes disastrous when partnered with poor hygiene, lack of nutritious foods, and stress.

So if you were to ask me about tips on how to get rid of acne fast, here are some pointers I'll share with you:

• Keep the skin clean at all times. It doesn't mean that you'll ask your teen to wash his/her face all the time because frequent washing can also trigger acne breakouts. Twice or thrice a day with a mild or hypoallergenic cleanser is enough just to reduce the oiliness in the skin. In college, I'd always bring with me a small tube of facial wash and a convenient bottle of moisturizer and wash my face upon reaching school after my long commute from home. Also, remind your teen to avoid touching his/her face with dirty hands, hankies, or towels. Hair strands should be kept away from the face, too.
• Eat a balanced diet. Avoid oily foods and stock up on fibrous and juicy fruits. Some kids get acne breakouts after eating chocolate and nuts while some don't. So to be safe, just avoid the junk food and eat healthier alternatives.
• Sleep well and have more relaxing hours. Since pimples are inflammations in the skin's pores, the body needs to rest so that it can help heal itself. No to sleeping late. Reduce your teen's stress by giving them ample time to relax before going doing school work. Most importantly, be a friend and talk and laugh with your teen!
• Moisturize. The skin should still be moisturized even when it's already oily. I have two different facial moisturizers. The cream-based one I put on at night and the lighter water-based one I put on during the day because I noticed that my skin's oilier during the day. Celeteque's Facial Moisturizer is water-based, oil-free, fragrance free, and hypo-allergenic. Just perfect for young teenage skin.

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On Medical Insurance Plans

Have you watched the 2nd episode of Glee Season 2? One of the cheerleader Glee members, Santana, ordered the school dentist to do a dental treatment on her even she didn't need to have one. She insisted that her family's medical insurance can pay for the treatment. After watching, I suddenly remembered that it's time for my dental prophylaxis and made a note to myself to schedule one for me and the boys right away.

Our medical insurance plan is provided by my husband's employer. We just changed health plans that's why I still haven't had our dental prophylaxis scheduled since we need to change dentists. Since my son and I are only dependents, our health plan is limited compared to my husband. This is why I am also looking for a health insurance with pre existing medical conditions like the previous medical insurance that we had. Before, I can reimburse my diabetic maintenance medicines and lab tests but I cannot possibly do it now.

Another option for me is to just get an affordable health insurance temporary plan even only for a year or two until our existing health plan is changed. That way, lab tests for my pre existing medical condition will be covered.  This option is less expensive too so I think I can handle paying this out of my own pocket.

Do you have a medical insurance? I hope you do even if it's only one that is issued by yours or your spouse's employers. In these hard times, no one can afford to get sick all of a sudden because, when this happens, all of the other priorities become affected. Having a medical insurance, even if it's not one that offers a major medical coverage, helps lessen the impact of the family's finances.   There are lots of affordable medical insurance plans in the market today.  I'm sure you'll find one that will suit your budget.


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Dolan Goodie Bag Raffle Contest Winners!

Congratulations to MENCHIE GORDO who posted the link of my post and tagged The 24 Hour Mommy in her Facebook wall on September 16 at 9:04am! She wins the Dolan goodie bag with the following contents:



1 Digital thermometer
1 Dolan water tumbler
1 Dolan cap
1 Dolan ballpen
5 Dolan samplers
and I'm also throwing in 1 Myra VitaMoisture Lip Balm!



Another Myra VitaMoisture Lip Balm goes to RLYN SIXEIGHT for posting the best tip among the lot! Rlyn shared,

"When my child has fever I burn the midnight oil and arm myself with a complete side table to make him/her feel better. My side table is loaded with a water bottle, a thermometer, a notepad, Dolan, a fresh pair of pyjamas and a tepid towel sponge bath. I rarely feel the need to sleep as I'd rather be kept up at my tot's beck and call."

She posted the link of my post and tagged The 24 Hour Mommy in her Facebook wall on September 22 at 5:04pm! I found Ryln's tip as the best among all the ones that were given because she got everything covered. Also, it should be noted that she specifically wrote "tepid towel sponge bath" for a child with fever. Tepid water is somewhere in between lukewarm and room temperature and I believe that this is the most comfortable temperature that a feverish child can handle. It is comforting and relaxing at the same time.

I prepared a list of all the contestants with their raffle points and their comments for your reference. You can view the list here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/38504471/Dolan-Raffle-Tabulation

Again, special thanks goes to Unilab for starting The Discerning Mommy program and for sharing these wonderful treats. You can follow the Unilab Facebook page or follow them over Twitter to be updated on their latest products and promos.

Menchie and Rlyn, please reply to my private Facebook message with your full names and shipping addresses so I can ship your prizes within the week.

Thanks to everyone for joining! I'm launching another raffle as promised and I'll be giving out a Next9 Nursing Cover for breastfeeding moms. Hope you can join this one!

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