OCfied

Nothing is as beautiful and as delicate as our baby's skin.  Chemicals, fragrances or any toxic products that you keep around the house should be kept as far away as possible so as not to cause any rashes, chaffing or skin irritations. When I say far, I really mean far!  Being OC about your home also means being OC about caring for your family! ​❤ 

Now when it comes to skin care, the lesser the chemicals, the better! ​Here was my little one when she was just 3 months old. Oh how I would love to kiss and gigil her skin. Back then I would invest in imported organic baby products because I felt that the local ones were just too harsh for her skin.   That's why I was so happy when I found out that Belo launched a skin care line for babies, aptly called Belo Baby, that has 100% certified natural ingredients and 0% harmful chemicals. 

ANTHONY CARRINO AND JOHN COLANERI MAKE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES TO PROMOTE AMERICA’S MOST DESPERATE KITCHENS. 

Many say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but with all the cooking, chopping and eating that goes on in there, many kitchens need an overhaul. Enter "The Cousins", John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino, who rescue desperate homeowners by surprising them with stunning kitchen makeovers.

PHILIPPINES,  17 APRIL 2016 – Home and design enthusiasts like me was able to get up close and personal with co-hosts and best friends, Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri as they made their first appearance in Asia. More popularly known as "The Cousins", John and Anthony was in Manila to promote Asia’s first and exclusive premiere of America’s Most Desperate Kitchens on HGTV.

Last July 8, 2015, I witnessed something extraordinary! Strongman Moises Torcator and celebrity Daniel Matsunaga pulled a 6,000 pound truck loaded with 18 girls for a distance of 18 meters to demonstrate their toughness and to ask the rest of the country - "Are you tough enough?" 

KIX, my favorite channel when I'm in the mood for action entertainment at home, officially launched today a nationwide search for the toughest Pinoy called R U Tough Enough? (RUTE). KIX is an action channel that epitomizes toughness and the spirit of a champion. This spirit of endurance and perseverance will be brought to life with RUTE. So here's what I know... Following the launch that I witnessed, KIX will deploy “Tough Troopers” around Metro Manila in search for tough men and women to compete in this challenge. The competition, however, is open to all Philippines residents aged 18 years old and above.  To join the contest, entrants must first apply online at www.kix-tv.com/tough. Shortlisted participants will be invited for a closed-door audition on August 16. The audition will determine 10 finalists who will compete in a final showdown at SM Megamall on September 5, 2015. 

I just met my perfect notebook --- Leuchtturm Journals!  Last April 29, National Book Store launched the "Personalize Your Leuchtturm (loy-turm) Journal" event at their branch in Glorietta, Makati. We got to engrave our names on the soft leather cover of our chosen journal. Here's me with mine.  You will fall in love with this notebook's details! From its ink proof and acid proof paper, its numbered pages, its detachable sheets, to its page marker, elastic enclosure band and most of all, the myriad of colors that you can choose from! 

What do you do with an old jug? Turn it into a cool lamp! It's so easy! 

For me, running a home, a business and a family means running a healthy life, too. That's why I join health runs! The last run I attended was by Amway. They recently completed the Philippine leg of the Nutrilite Health Run—a regional initiative promoting optimal health and wellness, covering Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and Singapore.  The Philippine leg covered key cities Manila, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.  The Nutrilite Health Run culminates the year-long celebration of Nutrilite’s 80th year anniversary.   “This is the third year that Amway Philippines staged this event and it has just gotten bigger,” said Leni Olmedo, country manager, Amway Philippines. This year’s run covered 3k, 5k and 8k categories, catering to more than 11,000 runners of different fitness levels.  “Through this yearly series of runs, we try to encourage more people to put a premium on their personal wellness. We want more people to eat right, exercise regularly, and take the right supplements to support their lifestyles,” added Olmedo.  

The second leg of the Nutrilite Health Run happened in Davao City. In the picture are Amway country manager Leni Olmedo,  Amway Emerald Raquel and Jun Bernardino, Amway Founders Platinum Joseph and Kim Milana and Amway sales manager Jonathan Lim.

Whether you live in a condominium with an enclosed laundry area, or a house with an open one, here are some tips on how to keep this area of your home from becoming a mess. Washing and drying can be a breeze if this place is organized and clutter free. Let's start with the place where you segregate your clothes. You can hang hampers for easy sorting. (Photo: Amazon)

Or put baskets inside a drawer to keep them out of sight. (Photo: megandmartinmen.blogspot.com) 

It's summer time! Holy Week is fast approaching, too! So if you are planning on a family vacation, an office holiday or a barkada pampering trip, here are some of my tips on how to pack efficiently.  

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Our home is our castle. Or at least we can try our very best to make it one. That's why improvement is a constant objective whether it be upgrades in design, repairs and of course my favorite...organization! There is a wealth of information out there when it comes to building and maintaining your home. I myself take inspiration from many websites, magazines and even TV shows to get valuable tips so that I can achieve my dream home. Which is why I got very excited when Cignal brought to its subscribers HGTV – America’s leading home and lifestyle channel. This channel gives a helping hand to mothers and fathers who want to spice up their homes with HGTV’s robust line-up of top rated programs about home, hybrid construction, design and extreme spaces.  Shows like Fixer Upper and Rehab Addict are two programs that could inspire creativity and design for mothers; while guys enjoy the technicalities of property-buying in Property Brothers and Brother vs. Brother.   Plus Cignal is airing HGTV in HD clarity, giving viewers a more enjoyable viewing experience with its vivid images, vibrant colors and crisp sound quality. 

You just splurged on a new designer handbag. Now how do you take care of it so that you are assured many years of enjoyment and use? Here are some tips on how to properly care for your bags. 1. FIND A PROPER STORAGE SPACE 

Find a proper storage space for your bags that is far away from direct sunlight as this can cause leather to fade or dry out. Pick a place that also has good airflow and low humidity as high humidity can lead to mildew. Now if you stay in a place with high humidity, add silica gel desiccant inside your bag storage area. These are available at craft stores or better yet, don't throw the little bags that come with your vitamins! Reuse them for your luxury items. (Photo: stylenbeautyounge.com)

2. STORE WITH A COVER AND AN INSIDE SUPPORT

Avoid dust by properly storing your bags inside dust bag covers. If you can’t find one, use a natural fibre pillowcase instead. Never store them in any kind of plastic or vinyl as this material traps wetness and eventually may cause molds. To keep your bags in its proper shape, you can purchase purse inserts for support or you can also be economical by stuffing your bags with towels or tissue paper instead. (Photo: deluxemall.com) 

Empty toilet paper rolls have so many uses. You just need a bit of imagination to give it an afterlife. A bit of twine, some felt paper, a few buttons and strings, and you have yourself a cute pencil holder! 

I cannot understate the benefits of a de-cluttered home or work space. I assure you, once you start your organized life, you will understand why I am such a big advocate of it. You have less to clean, less stress, more space and more energy for your passions or the people you love. But to start is a big challenge for many. So where in the world should you begin?

January is a great time to start a de-cluttering project. It might feel overwhelming at the start but I promise you, it’s not as painful as it seems to be. Here are some tips to help you get started. 1.    You don’t have to do it all in a day. If you think you can organize all your closets and all rooms in a day, no wonder you are getting anxiety attacks! You will just end up quitting the project even before you've begun. Start small. Just go room by room or space by space.

I respect digital apps that make our lives easier. I have a calendar and tasklist app on my mobile phone that I just can’t live without. But I also keep an old fashioned planner – you know the kind that’s made of paper and needs an actual pen! :)

There is something I love about planners. I find its physicality just more personal. I am the type who likes making micro notes and a ton of micro checklists. It allows me to doodle in spaces, stick notes or used tickets, or use a colored pen whenever I feel like it. I’ve always kept one since I was in high school and it’s so reassuring to know that though my computer may crash or phone might go obsolete, my paper planners will always be there to give me an archaeological preview of the years that was.

That’s why I took a look at three Belle de Jour planners and hopefully this review will help you decide which one best suits you.

1. Belle de Jour Power Planner

If you’re a girl who needs inspiration all year long, then this is the planner for you. It is filled with pages upon pages of empowering thoughts and tips that will help you achieve the life of your dreams.

There is a dream board, a happiness list, a travel checklist, a menstrual tracker and so many more!

What I like about this planner is that you can actually personalize it by adding your name on the front cover.

I bought my first Belle de Jour planner many years ago. Back then what excited me about it were all the discount coupons inside! What girl doesn’t love shopping and eating out right? The 2015 planner comes with a booklet filled with these discount coupons plus stickers, too.

2. Everything is Possible Planner

Now this is the planner for dreamers! This planner will help you specify your goals and achieve it one step and one day at a time.

The planner is filled with mantras to keep you on track, a priorities list, a space to document your life learnings and many more.

3. NAVI: Your Life Navigator Planner

Men need to organize themselves, too! This is the planner for the modern-day explorer and for those who see life as one big adventure.

It is filled with gridded pages to plot out your week, sketch or write down your thoughts while you collect experiences.

It is also filled with places from all over the world that may just be part of your next life adventure.

This concept planner also comes with an expandable back pocket that contains a booklet filled with discount coupons that guys will love.

So much of our social, family and professional lives are determined by the systems we use to keep track of them.  Good luck finding the perfect planner for you!

Being a mom, working as an advertising executive, having my own business and making sure I keep myself and my family healthy and happy is no easy task. My to-do list never ever ends! I have a feeling almost everyone out there can relate to this. On top of all our tasks, we home managers also need to keep our homes and family’s lives in order. But with just too many tasks to do, something very soon has got to give. Thank heavens I was introduced to Tasktics. It’s the perfect place to find dependable help for a task that you need. Need a driver for a day? Go to Tasktics.com! Need a plumber? Go to Tasktics.com! Need help cleaning your apartment? Go to Tasktics.com!

This is how it works:

The kitchen is the heart of your home so don't allow it to be buried in clutter. I made a video to share some tips on how I keep my kitchen organized. A must watch for every mom and homemaker!