Global smartphone brand Vivo has made a good impression on tech enthusiasts at the SM Cyberzone’s Mobile Fest 2018. 

To explain all the goods on Vivo’s latest flagship smartphone—the X21, the brand tapped respected tech experts Mark Macanas of TechPinas and Alora Uy Guerrero of Revu. 

The experts discussed Vivo X21’s unlocking technologies, dual rear camera, AI Selfie Camera, AI Game Mode, Hi-Fi, performance, and design. 

 
Alora Uy Guerrero of Revu and Mark Macanas of TechPinas had nothing but praises for Vivo X21

Macanas and Guerrero mentioned that there are two ways to unlock the Vivo X21, through the Face ID Access with Infrared that accurately identifies a user’s facial features even in nighttime and the In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology that replaces the rear fingerprint sensor. Vivo is the industry pioneer of In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. 


Aside from pioneering features, the pair also talked about Vivo X21’s photography-related specs. The 12 megapixel+5MP dual rear camera and the 12MP front camera with Dual Pixel Sensor. These impressive hardware specs are even boosted by the X21’s AI features like the AI Face Beauty and AI HDR. 

In terms of performance, the Vivo X21 proved to be a hard worker, said Macanas and Guerrero. After all, the X21 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660AIE chip that can process complex AI and neural computing. It has a 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM to improve the speed of launching, loading, and switching including large and complex mobile games. 

To complement all these, Vivo X21 has a 6.28-inch 19:9 FHD+ FullView™ Display with a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio for every user’s viewing pleasure. 

Moreover, Guerrero, a music-lover, even praised Vivo for continuing its Hi-Fi legacy in the X21. The smartphone is equipped with Deep Field technology, which was developed by Vivo to provide panoramic surround, mega bass, clear voice effects and various environmental audio effects, allowing users to customize their audio experience.

The Vivo booth at the Mobile Fest 2018. 

Vivo is one of the key brands that participated in the Mobile Fest 2018.

The Vivo booth will be at the Mobile Fest until July 29 in SM City North EDSA. 

About Vivo
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.  In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.   

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

I know this topic often gets debated over mommy groups and a lot of mommies have different views about this. Much like Scary Mommy, we stand naked in front our our children. 



WHY? Okay first, before you raise your brows on me, I would like to cite our reasons. This was a mutual decision between me and baby daddy so…

Our body is a natural thing; it is something given to us by God that we have to cherish it. We want the kids to feel comfortable about themselves and about their body and the way to do it is how we normally do it at home. We go take a bath and dress up and also our kids and not minding we stand naked in front of them--think of Adam and Eve and the creation in the Bible. 

FEED THE CURIOUS MIND. When kids start to ask questions like why, how and what, that is the right time to educate them about the anatomy and physiology of our body. AGAIN, you have to explain it to them like how it was explained in our Science books, NO MALICE. The key in doing it is you have to engage them in conversation in order for you to know the extent of their knowledge about our body. My kids started to ask questions when they turned 4ish when they knew that their body parts are different from us. 

EDUCATE. This is where you tell them who are the only persons allowed to touch our body. You also have to tell them about the boundaries. My kids wear whatever they want here at home because that is how they are comfortable with. But if there are visitors, they immediately rush to their rooms and get their clothes changed. Teach them what is the appropriate outfit for every occasion. 

OPEN COMMUNICATION. As the grow older, they will throw more questions. Do not curtail their curiosity. Engage them in conversation so that they will feel confident to share sensitive issues regarding their body as soon as they age. Also, remind them that our body is not something to be shared to others. We also tell our children not to make fun or tell jokes about our body and don’t get that idea to shame others. 

Again, I am sharing with you our stand regarding this. I respect your family’s decision about this because to each his own. 


When I was a kid, I remember how we used to have these generic glasses and whenever we finish a spread, there will be an addition to the collection. Back then, we only have few selections of spread for our bread, and one of our staple was Lily’s peanut butter spread. It was our all time favorite. Now that I am a mom, it has also been a staple in my grocery list and we never leave the grocery store without it. Imagine our household can finish a jar in a week--that is how my kids loved Lily’s peanut butter spread, the same way we loved it when we were kids. 

INNOVATION



But through the years, it has already evolved into different variants and added more products to their line. I admire how they cope up with the changing time with their variants. They have our classic favorite which comes in different sizes. The coco jam which is a perfect for sticky rice. Chocolate peanut butter is my son’s favorite because anything chocolate is his thing. They also added texture to their spread and came up with Crunchy Peanut Butter. Of course they will not forget those who are weight conscious but still wants to enjoy peanut butter so they came up with Lite Peanut Butter Spread. 

ADDITION TO OUR RECIPE





As a millennial mom, I have come to explore options on how we can enjoy peanut butter in so many ways. With our access to the internet and a little imagination, we are able to come up with different recipes that can be made with peanut butter. It will not only be the same spread that we put on our bread but we can also use them as a flavoring to our cupcakes, pancakes, frostings and cookies! We can also make use of them for our everyday meals at home. Because with food, there is endless possibility. My kids and I can come up with new more recipes out of their products. 

MEALS AND MEMORIES





Lilly’s Peanut Butter Spread also knows that as a mom, we struggle with our daily lives. I myself tend to forget a lot of things because of the never ending responsibilities that we tend to attend to. They came up with this spreaduler that we can use in order for us to be a bit more organized at home. It is just like our ordinary planner but a bit more exciting because they incorporate the bonding memories we can do every week. Bonding is important in every family to be able to make memories just like out childhood. One of them is to bond over our comfort food while do our different roles in the house. 


DEBUNKING THE MYTH 

While many people tend to believe that peanuts are bad for health, it is the other way around. According to Harvard University’s research, including peanut in our diet can actually aid weight loss. Diet that is also high in monosaturated fat which are found in peanuts, peanut butter and peanut oils are superior to low-fat diets for heart and health. Peanut butter is also a good source of protein that kids can enjoy. Lily’s Peanut butter spread is also made with natural products that is shown by the oil that settles on top of each jar. It means no extenders or preservatives were added to it but only the natural ingredients. 


How about you? What is your fond memories with Lily’s Peanut butter spread? Share them away!
Dressing up has been my thing before I had kids. I would wear the latest trends in fashion and basically just put everything together. I describe my old self as loud and carefree. But it is when you have three kids and you forget how to dress up nicely. Not to mention that I gained a lot after giving birth to my youngest. The worst weight gain I had. 

I miss wearing my size 25 inches’ waist jeans, my shorts, my small sized tops and dresses. Oh, add to that my size 6-foot wear that I used to wear is now size 7. Crazy? I know!

I used to love wearing dresses back then. Why? It is not hard to put the pieces together because you only need one piece of clothing to wear compared to wearing pants, pants and shirts. Just pair it with your bags and shoes and your outfit is now complete. 

But ever since I had kids and gained weight, I had hard time buying dresses. There are only few selections at the mall and local online stores. Plus, most of it isn’t my type. So I basically stopped wearing dresses for almost three years. But I would really love to shop for new dresses most especially when I have to attend special events and also dress up on regular basis. 

So I searched online and found this online store ROSEGAL which has plus sized dresses click here. I tell you, they have wide selections from summer, casual, elegant dresses that can be worn on different occasions depending on your style. 







Here are my top picks:









Aren't they pretty? Hurry! Cart your orders now because some items are on sale! 








If there is one country that I want to visit is Japan. I would love to see in person how beautiful is Japan as well as their culture. I also want to see in person Cherry Blossoms in bloom because it falls on March—my birthday month. Since winter in Japan falls on March too, I need to plan my outfit properly to keep me warm. Just this year, it snowed in Japan. If there is something in mind that I want to wear on winter are puffer coats because, why not?

But what I do I really look for in puffer coats? For one, I want something really thick and soft that will keep me warm. Also, I want something that I can use as a makeshift pillow inside the plane since puffer coats are squishy and fluffy. 

I searched where I can buy decent puffer coats online but since I love watching clothing hauls, I found something interesting in ZAFUL. My personal picks are the following: 






I really want something with solid colors so that it will look classy as well as mix and match them with clothing pieces of different solid colors too. 

I am thinking of wearing of white heat teach long sleeves turtle neck top, gray pants and eight hole black boots.

If you want to order puffer coats online, you may check their website here.
  
 
Plus, there is free shipping over $49 and 30 Days Return Warranty. Go cart your puffer coats now!
As a parent, all we want is to raise our children well. By that, we mean they would grow up happy and a healthy individual. But how do we really do it? They say being a parent doesn’t come with manuals. So I myself didn’t know what to do back then to my eldest when I gave birth to him. But you know what? Everything else is just spontaneous, it just happens naturally. There might be few moments though when I needed to read parenting sites, forums and ask friends about their experiences but of course, it will just remain a basis for my parenting.

NESTOKID® FOUR believes that raising happy and healthy children can start with something as simple as with choosing the right milk, as nutrition is vital for good health and well-being. NESTOKID® FOUR is specially formulated with L. Comfortis, a probiotic that helps strengthen tummies to provide better digestion and help in absorption of nutrients, making sure that kids get the nutrition they need during their growing-up years. It is also packed with Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, and DHA for overall growth and development.

NESTOKID® FOUR, however, acknowledges that milk is just one of the key components to raising a happy and healthy child, and therefore encourages parents to complement proper nutrition with providing their children a nurturing environment where they can play, imagine, and bond with loved ones. The brand’s newest endorser and proud mommy of two, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco agrees saying, “I learned from my experience with Amelia that proper nutrition should go hand-in-hand with a happy home talaga. I really think it makes all the difference, lalo na ngayon na nakikita ko kung gaano siya ka-confident sa school at kung gaano kadali sa kanya makipagkaibiganDaig pa ako sa pagiging Ms. Congeniality!”


My daughter and I were able to play at the activity area and learn a lot more through their four stations. Laro (Play) allows kids to be physically active through a friendly game of ring toss, Likha (Art) gives participants the freedom to express themselves through lines and colors, while Musika (Music) challenges kids to a fun game of musical chairs with a twist. To cap it all off, NESTOKID® FOUR reminds parents about the importance of raising happy, healthy kids with a storytelling video at the final station, Nutrisyon (Nutrition).







About NESTOKID® FOUR
NESTOKID FOUR is the only growing up milk brand that contains L. Comfortis, a probiotic that may help in your child’s digestive health. NESTOKID® FOUR is not a breast milk substitute and is suitable for healthy children above 3 years old.





















I have only two rules in my life when it comes to purchasing expensive items. Buy cheap and good quality or buy expensive items but wait until it's on sale. Yes, I am frugal like that. Every penny counts and that I want it spent wisely. Who doesn't? With the rising costs of all commodities, we really have to budget our finances well. When we moved, all I wanted to do was to redesign the house to match our personality. But it would mean alot of money if I give it one go. So I said, wait and hunt for bargain finds. That is why I love going to HMR ever since we discovered this store some few years back. They are always our last and final resort to all our needs. Here are few things to expect at HMR:

1. Overwhelming choices. Before I buy a certain thing, what I usually do is to look for cheap and good quality alternatives. That way, I get to really buy what is best and won't regret it afterwards. But at HMR, once you get into their store, there will be unlimited choices because you tend to get everything on their display. They have all sorts of products you need from furnitures, toys, equipments, household appliances, kitchen appliances and everything else, name it--they almost have it!

2. Sky's the limit budget. The very reason why we go to HMR is because of frugal reasons but it is quite ironic when you wish that you have all the fund to buy what you want need. Again, because of the reason number 1, there will really be overwhelming choices but you just need to stick with what you really want need. 

3. Hoarder alert. If you are the type of person who loves to hoard stuff, then I am giving you a warning already as I have mentioned in number 1, there will be a lot of choices and 2, it will definitely break your budget. HAHA. But I was able to buy what I need in my kitchen thru HMR. I am now a happy domestic mom because of them. 

Now here are my tips in going to HMR. 

1. Hit and miss. Their items are mostly new (unopened), market returns (others with boxes but opened and used), or damaged. If you are a first time customer, look for a sales agent that will assist you and don't hesitate to ask them details regarding the items you are going to purchase. They are willing to help and assist you with what you need. If you are quite particular with warranty, then this is not the place for you. They only offer replacement and sometimes repair but if items are not available in the store, their resort is to offer refund but again, this will depend on store branches. 

2. Search every nook and cranny of the store. Not all their branches are organized and have the same stocks and due to the volume of customers going in and out as well as the ones they take out from the storage, it tends to get cluttered. So you really have to allot ample time when you go there because who knows? You just might find a hidden treasure there. HAHA. 

3. Always check. If you are decided on purchasing a certain item and it contains parts example: toy, always check for the completeness. HMR puts sticker on the box whether they have checked the toy if it's working, complete and has missing parts. But because of the volume of customers including the kids going in and out, it tends to get misplaced at some point. 

Here are some of the good finds  got from HMR. Please do note that I got them from different branches already. 
Soupmaker
Handheld Steamer 

Digital Rice Cooker


Blender with different attachments
Homedics Sauna

Read my blog about it here: Homedics Facial Sauna
That's it. If you have additional information, please do comment them below. I hope these tips will help you in your frugal way to HMR. As their customer for several years, these are some of my experiences from them. If you haven't checked them out yet, you may check their nearest store in their facebook page HMR Philippines



SM Cinema, the largest cinema exhibitor in the country and Called to Rescue, an international non-profit organization dedicated to fighting child trafficking, recently joined forces to empower kids to be like their favorite superheroes from Incredibles 2 who are sound, alert, and ready to fight evil and counter threats to child safety.  


SM Cinema partnered with Called to Rescue Philippines to give kids from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Muntinlupa branch an Incredible afternoon full of inspirational talks, safety tips, educational games and fun prizes that motivated the young participants to enjoy their childhood while being aware of their surroundings. The kids were also treated to a free screening of the animated family blockbuster, the Incredibles 2, at SM Cinema in SM Southmall. 


There was no better way for kids to enjoy their day than be trained like superheroes as they played with the interactive displays of The Incredibles 2! They got a taste of having superpowers in Dash’s Obstacle Course, Violet’s Force Field, Elastigirl’s Trampoline and Mr. Incredible’s Logo Builder. They were given prizes from Jollibee, Papa Ketchup, and Mr. Pluffy when they became whiz kids answering trivia questions about their favorite superhero family. The kids did not only enjoy the time with the Supers, but also had the chance to listen and learn from real life superheroes of Called to Rescue. 

Called to Rescue, founded in 2014 in the Philippines, has been working together with various partners to raise awareness and help lessen the problem of child trafficking in the country and across the globe. 

Anthony Pangilinan, Called the Rescue Philippines Officer-in-Charge, leads the activities of the organization like seminars, self-defense training, and school tours, among others. “We do not just educate the kids on trafficking, we also teach them how to fight back. Similar to the movie, our kids should be prepared to fight against the villains of this world,” shared Pangilinan. 

You can still catch the animated family blockbuster of the summer, the Incredibles 2, in SM Cinema branches nationwide. Book your tickets through the website, www.smcinema.com or download the SM Cinema mobile app. You may also follow /SMCinema on facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for updates.          





The kids have been craving for noodles for the past weeks and they have bribed me with kisses and hugs to grant their request. But because I am quite preoccupied with the back to school thingamajigs, and need to dry flooded carpet, I just couldn't find time to cook as well as food shopping. 

But last night was the perfect time because it was raining hard and I have ample time to prepare food. So here it is the recipe:

Chicken and Mushroom Noodle Soup



Ingredients:

Noodles (you can use egg noodles)
Chicken Balls
Chicken (I choose neck part as it has more flavor, but you can choose breast of other part), chopped
Chicken broth/stock
Boiled Eggs
Carrots, sliced thinly
Cabbage or you can use Chinese Cabbage, sliced thinly
Mushroom (I used Tenga ng Daga here but you can use Portabello mushroom)
Onion, quartered
Garlic, minced
Pepper
Salt
Soy Sauce (Maggi)
Fish Sauce
Spring Onions/Leeks (optional)

Procedure:

1. Prepare the ingredients. Boil the eggs separately, let it cool and peel the shells. 
2. Boil the chicken in a large pot with onion, garlic, broth, ground pepper, fish sauce and soy sauce. Remember to add them gradually as this will be your soup base later on. 
3. Remove the chicken, chop it in approximately two inches. 
4. Add the chicken balls. If you do not like it, you may skip this one. Simmer until cooked and remove it from the pot. 
5. Add the tenga ng daga or mushroom of your choice. Simmer for two minutes and remove from the pot. 
5. Add egg noodles. Simmer for two minutes until half cooked. 
6. Prepare bowl for plating. Add chicken, chicken balls, cabbage, carrots and sliced egg. 
7. Add egg noodles and soup. Let it sit for two minutes before serving or until the sliced carrots and cabbage is slightly cooked. 
8. Garnish with Spring Onions. 
9. Serve.

You can tweak this recipe to your liking. Again, the secret here is to gradually adjust the taste to your desire. I usually do not put quantity as you have the freedom to do whatever your heart desires. 

Enjoy! Let me know if you have tried this one already. 






With the school year starting, it’s back to worrying about whether to prepare packed meals for your child or just provide more allowance for food. Undoubtedly, letting them eat out is more time-saving and convenient. But while it’s a tempting option, doing this regularly is expensive and unhealthy.

As such, health experts often advise to make home-cooked meals - but of course, cooking at home is much easier said than done. It takes time and effort to create delicious and nutritious baon for kids, especially if yours are picky eaters. So to help you create healthy and yummy meals for their kids as the school year starts, here are some tips from Electrolux Philippines.

Plan your meals
Although it may seem tedious at first, meal planning is one of the best ways to save money and be more efficient at cooking.

Start by making an inventory of everything in your refrigerator and pantry. By knowing what you currently have, you can determine what meals to make, or what additional ingredients to buy. It’s wiser to pick recipes based on common ingredients, or things you can easily get from the store.

Planning meals are vital to your kids’ healthy diet so remember to choose balanced recipes with a good mix of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Interactive tools like meal planning applications and websites can also help make this task easier to manage by helping you create grocery lists, choose recipes, and track your children’s’ calorie intake.

Get creative with veggies
It’s no secret that most kids aren’t fond of their greens. One way to get your kids to eat vegetables is by using creative preparation and presentation - like making vegetarian sushi. Combine all kinds of vegetables or fruits with rice and seasoning to create tasty sushi rolls. Another way to serve veggies is to turn them into kebabs. By marinating and grilling them with herbs, garlic, and balsamic glaze, your veggies can achieve a deliciously tangy taste. Place them on skewers with some chicken or shrimp and you have a healthy lunch!

Here’s an easy way to get kids to eat their veggies – make veggie kebabs!    
Healthy switches
Instead of buying packaged sweets and chips, give your kids sandwiches like peanut butter with sliced fruits, or grilled chicken & cheese with lettuce and tomatoes. Not only are they healthier, but more filling and satisfying as well. If you want variation from regular burgers, try switching the meat patties to tuna. It’s incredibly simple and cheap to make using canned tuna—not to mention, it’s also packed with nutritious omega 3, iron, and potassium.

As for drinks, you may opt to switch packaged beverages with homemade juices. Freshly made juices do not have added preservatives, sugars, and artificial flavoring. Just make sure you have a juicer or blender handy then get your kids to pick out what fruit blend they want for the day!

With the Electrolux NutriFresh Refrigerator, you can keep your fruits and veggies fresh for long a time so you can make healthy shakes and juices for your kids’ baon to school!    
Let nothing go to waste
Making extra servings can actually help you save a lot of time since you no longer need to go through the lengthy prep time before every meal. You can easily store extra servings in the refrigerator or freezer to preserve their freshness, then heat them up when needed.

Make the most out of leftovers by making One-Pot Pasta meals. Throw in remaining ingredients such as onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables to a pan, then add the pasta, olive oil, and other seasonings to your taste. Be creative!    
And don’t forget about leftovers! To make use of leftover ingredients, try making One Pot Meals – meals such as stews or pasta that you can make by putting together all your ingredients in one pot. The great thing about One Pot Meals is that you can be as creative as you like as long as the ingredients can complement each other. If you still have unused ingredients such as onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, or mushrooms, you can chop them up then put them in a pan. Afterwards, add the pasta, pour olive oil and season everything to taste.

Have the right kitchen appliances
When it comes to food preparation and cooking, Electrolux offers a wide variety of kitchen appliances to suit your every need.

If you’re worried about how long your leftovers or ingredients will last in storage, the Electrolux NutriFresh™ Inverter Refrigerator EHE5220AA can go a long way in helping you prevent food spoilage. Since it’s equipped with technology that stabilizes temperature, deodorizes, and minimizes water loss, fruits and vegetables can stay fresh for up to a week. It also lessens utility costs because of its energy saving features.

The Electrolux 520L NutriFresh Inverter Refrigerator has the capacity to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh and nutritious 7 days longer than the average refrigerator.    
If you live in a condo or apartment with a smaller kitchen, the Electrolux Tabletop Microwave Oven with Grill & Convection EMS3087X is the right fit for you. This 4-in-1 appliance combines the convenience of a microwave and the performance of an oven, grill and even a steamer, which allows you to prepare different types of dishes so your kids won’t get tired of the same old thing.
The Electrolux 30L Table Top Microwave with Grill and Convection is a 4-in-1 cooking appliance that is a perfect fit for smaller kitchens.    

For something bigger but just as versatile, you can use the Electrolux Built-In Oven EOB2200BOX to bake, grill, and roast food. It comes with the InfiSpace™ feature that can extend the 68-litre capacity to a 74-litre capacity to give you plenty of room to cook multiple dishes in one go. It also comes with an enamel coating that repels grease and dirt, making it easier to clean.
The Electrolux 68 L Built-In Oven allows you to grill, bake, or roast food, with plenty of room to cook multiple dishes at the same time.    

If you’re looking for a convenient way to cook, you can use the Electrolux Built-in Induction Hob EHED63CS. Induction is faster and uses much less energy than other cooking technologies because it heats the cookware directly while the cooktop remains cool in the process, making it safe to touch and easy to clean perfect for creating delicious dishes in less time and with less fuss.


The Electrolux 60cm Built-in Induction Hob takes less time and energy to cook your favorite dishes.
Although preparing packed meals at home can seem tiresome and overwhelming, the long term pay-off is worth it. Not only is it more nutritious for your child, but more cost-friendly as well. Cooking isn’t always easy, but with a bit of practice, time, and guidance, you’ll eventually see that there are plenty of ways to be creative and efficient when it comes to making baon everyday!

For more tips on healthy eating, visit visit www.electrolux.com.ph and follow @ElectroluxPhilippines on Facebook and Instagram or @ElectroluxPH on Twitter.











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