Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Keeping a Clean and Fresh Laundry on Rainy Days

During rainy days it’s really tough to do the laundry, isn’t it? Well, I’ve resolved long ago that problem, ha-ha.  Here’s how I achieve a clean and fresh laundry during rainy days (and sunny days too!).




Saturday, August 17, 2013

3 Secrets for White and Odorous Armpits

Every time I give birth to my kids, I always got dark armpits. I have learned later that darkening of my armpit’s skin  is normal, I remember an article that I read and explained that  pregnant women releases too much melanin that causes hyper pigmentation or darkening of several parts of the body such as  the neck, nipples, abdomen and the armpits.

Alright, it was normal but in my experience, the darkening of my armpits doesn’t disappear quickly! I remember it looks like this, yaiks!


Embarrassing!
So, you may ask how did I get rid those yucky dark armpits?

Here’s my secret to maintain white armpits:


Kalamansi scrub - Kalamansi is a natural bleaching agent, it lighten dark spots and whitens the skin. I just rub my armpits with kalamansi juice before taking a bath.


Baking soda – I don’t use deodorant, I use baking soda to maintain sweet smelling armpits, ha-ha! I just mix baking soda with water and wash my underarms with this solution. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is an effective odor remover, it act as a shield and neutralizes both acidic and alkaline substances to regulate pH. Baking soda is also my natural skin exfoliant, by making a thick paste from baking soda and water it removes dead skin cells that also causes darkening of armpits,  and help unblock my the skin pores.


Waxing – Are you still shaving and plucking? A-ah, better avoid these two. Our underarm skin is very thin and sensitive. Shaving and plucking produces micro abrasions and the result is a darker skin once it  heals. Yes, I wax because by waxing the hair is removed by the root, and when the hair grows back there will be less and softer, not stubbly as a result of shaving and plucking.  I made my own wax; this recipe was shared by a friend, I mix 2 cups sugar, ¼ cup lemon juice, and ¼ cup water. I just heat the mixture (don’t boil!)


Now, I am using Strip It! Tet posted this on her blog, a week ago I think,  and upon reading her post I was really itching to try it,  I quickly  ordered it online and the next day an LBC man is knocking at our doorstep. Wow, express service!  I was not disappointed by using Strip It; it is really a good product and an all natural product too, same with my homemade.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

10 VA Opportunities

So you need a job. Why not become a VA like me?

A  VA is a virtual assistant, a self-employed, works from home personal assistant that provides administrative, technical, or creative support to diverse clients.  I love my job as a VA. I have a flexible time, 3-4 hour work fits my time very well and compensated satisfactorily. Did you know that becoming a VA is the hottest work at home trend nowadays?

So, what are the opportunities waiting for you as a virtual assistant? Oh, a lot of varied tasks, please check these list, I know you knew and already doing some of these easy tasks:











Easy, right?
Actually, it’s just a short list,  these are the VA opportunities I saw on my e-mails, I know there’s a lot more.
Don’t know how to start? Read these:
I’m now a WAHM!   
How I landed an online job
Photo images: Google

Thursday, August 1, 2013

5 Tips for UPCAT Examinees

I’ve learned that by August 3 and 4, its University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) time again. Last year my son took UPCAT and I’m so pleased he passed it.

After months of preparation for the UPCAT, I suggested to my son these following tips:



The moment we knew my son’s building assignment; we did a short trip to UP. We look for the building, 
the CR and the best and fastest route to be there.


I make sure that my son brings his test permit, 2 pencils, erasers, sharpener, water, juice and sandwiches. 
Oh, I also make sure that he memorized his UPCAT Identification Number; I told him that he will be asked to write his UPCAT ID number more than once during the exam.


I told my son to dress in snugly clothing – jeans and a cotton shirt, and rubber shoes.

My son took the morning session,  his dad drive him to UP before 6:30 AM.  I make a point that he got enough sleep before the exam.


I give him a cue to read the directions, understand the queries and don’t hang around on a lone question. 
And try to finish the exam.

Photo Sources: Google

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

5 Ways to Cook Camote

Did you know that camote or sweet potato is one of the world’s healthiest foods?  This root crop, especially the yellow camote is rich in beta carotene that looks after our heart, contains lutein to sustain good eyesight.  Camote also stabilizes blood sugar levels in our body. Its fibers help lessen bad cholesterol and relieve bowel movement. And it has heaps of vital minerals and vitamins like manganese, potassium, iron Vitamin A, C, E, B2 and B6 that our body needs.

Wow, isn’t camote an amazing food? 
Do you like camote? I do! It’s one of my favorite food.


Boiled or Bake Camote

Fried of Baked Camote Fries

Camote Que 

Glazed Camote 
Here's the Yummy recipe that I follow when I cook glazed camote.

Camote Chips
Here's a great recipe from Market Manila.

How about you? Do you have other ways to cook camote? 

Photo Sources: Google, YUMMY, Market Manila

Monday, July 22, 2013

Morning routine, typical day…

Even I am a full time mom I always ensure to have a smooth morning routine to have a productive day.

Here’s my morning routine:

Wake up at 4:45AM every day.
a. drink one full glass of water after waking up – did you know that drinking water in early morning and with empty stomach cleanse our colon, boosts the production of new blood and muscle cells and facilitates weight loss? I have been doing this for years and I feel good every day. 
b. prepare breakfast and prepare my school girl’s pack lunch/my lunch too! 
c. do my daily exercise – walking around the neighborhood for at least 30 minutes and now I include skipping rope, 50 to 100 repetitions.  By the time I’ve returned home, my kids and hubby are already wide awake.
To make sure that I get up that early is to never sleep late or sleep while the TV is on.  Speaking of TV, as much as I really wanted to watch Ch7’s My Husband’s Lover because I really like its plot, but I cannot do it because  have to stick to my schedule to be productive for the following day.

Eat breakfast with the whole family by 6:15AM – I don’t skip breakfast or be left behind, eating our meals is my family’s bonding time. You know, that I eat my lunch alone during weekdays and I really despise eating all alone haha!

By 7:00AM, my kids and hubby desert me.  I would start my normal house chores.  If there is plenty of time I open my blog, update my blog, read updates from my FB or read online articles or book.

After lunch I would spend several hours to supervise our business, trouble shoot if there are problems,   do my online job while lazing with our staff/workers and take snacks with them.  By late afternoon, I rush to go home to cook dinner and wait for my youngest to return from school, and then my eldest and the hubby.

It’s my typical day. How about you? What’s your morning routine, typical day?

Monday, July 15, 2013

Pack Lunch

Do you packed lunch for your kids? I do. I always ensure that my kids eat safe and healthy foods when they are in school that’s why I need to be awake very early in the morning to prepare their pack lunches.
For this school year, my daughter is the one that brings pack lunch to school. My eldest who is now in college, suddenly resented a packed lunch! OMG, what’s wrong with him? Is it embarrassing to bring packed lunch in universities nowadays?

Well, I realize my son is in a different stage of life now - new environment, new classmates and friends. Maybe his friend doesn’t bring packed lunch? Maybe it’s dyahe?

Ha! I should be broadminded. I should understand the developmental stage he is in now.  I cannot impose the things that I like him to do. I cannot force him to bring a packed lunch if he doesn’t want.  I don’t like to be a nagging mommy! It’s different now.  Looks like I need to update my knowledge on approaches in handling teenagers, specifically a 17 year old kid.

Anyways, this pack lunch – Herbed Rice with Lechon Kawali is for my daughter’s lunch today. Oh, I also reserve another serving for my lunch.


The Lechon Kawali is a left over viand from yesterday’s lunch. I boiled a slab of pork liempo in salty water, with cloves of garlic, laurel leaf and peppercorns.  Once it done, I baked it for 25 minutes. I reheat the left over this morning.

For the herbed rice, pour olive oil in a pan, add minced garlic, onions, dried basil and thyme, and stir for a minute. Then add in the cooked rice, season with salt and pepper and stir until the rice is heated through. Pour in oyster sauce and chopped fried egg, stir again. Add chopped green onions, stir a few more times.
And I am done with our lunch.

Monday, July 8, 2013

How I received my payments?


The next big thing to me when I got an online job is how I will receive my payment.  When I applied for a job I noticed that employers are asking for a PayPal account. So I did open a PayPal account.

Signing up a PayPal Account is so easy. I just fill up this PayPal form.


I noticed a section that I need to verify my account by adding a credit or debit card. I skip this section because I like to have a separate credit or debit card for all my online earnings.  I think I got a separate card two weeks after I got a job. Anyway, even my account was unverified; I can receive my weekly payments.

So the next step I did is to have a credit or debit card. Searching online, opening an EON Cyber Account with UNION BANK is the simple and best route to easily get verified.  And from the articles I read EON has no cash out charges, no minimum maintaining balance and it is an ATM debit card and electronic banking in one meaning I can purchase on line using the card, pay bills online, withdraw cash from any ATM machine and can transfer cash. I was really beguiled by these services!

I applied online.



I just fill up all the sections and after that I received a text and an email stating my Reference Number and that I can pick up my EON Visa Debit Card in the nearest Union Bank branch in my place.  Wow, I was amazed of the rapidity!  I just need to bring 2 valid IDs and P350.00 for the annual fee.

So I went to the bank, showed the text stating my Reference Number,  my 2 IDs + photocopies of each, the P350.00 for annual fee and P200.00 for initial deposit that will be used for PayPal verification process but will be returned.

After 10 or 15 minutes, I was holding my EON Visa Card, ha-ha!


That was so easy and super quick!

When I got home, I enrolled my card online.



And  add my card to my PayPal account.


I just clicked the Get Verified link. And entered the information required:
Name
Last Name
Billing Address
Card Type (select VISA)
Card Expiry
Card Security Code (flip the card and there is 3 number sequence next to the signature strip)
Card Number – the 16 digits number
And SAVE.

Upon adding my card, PayPal charged me of  $1.95. It appeared on my bank account statement accompanied by the 4 digit EXPUSE number. I waited for 2 days before the EXPUSE number appeared on my bank account statement.

After 2 days I see my EXPUSE number. I log-in to my PayPal account and click the link – Confirm my debit or credit card. I entered the EXPUSE number and clicked submit. PayPal send a message that I successfully verified my account.

After that I clicked WITHDRAW to transfer money to my bank.  I waited 5 days for the transfer.
It’s already July but my money from my online earnings in less than 2 months, amounting now to P13, 000.00 are still intact.

I’m feeling great to be earning again!

Monday, July 1, 2013

How I landed an online job

Before I landed an online job, I would say that my job hunting experience was a tough one. I job hunt for less than three months. There are a lot of people – various ages and nationalities having qualified skills that seek for a job, meaning I have a lot of competitors for a single job application.

But I wasn’t enfeebled. I soldier on with my job hunt until an employer contacted me. That begins my story of being a WAHM.

I will specifically address this post to certain BC Bloggers, such as Abbey, Van, Ella (Ella, I was not able to email you, I decided to write this post instead), Meikah and Aileen, who expressed interest for online job. Hey ladies, your comments compel me to write my experience and I will not fail you, I will show you the way as Meikah had remarked, ha-ha.

Aside from the ladies I mentioned I hope this post can be of help to others who are seeking online jobs.

Here it goes.
1. Write your resume; proof read it for correct spelling, grammar, no missing words, and no typing mistake; and attach your recent photo. 
2. Start your job hunt. Here are the 5 job boards/sites  that I member in and subscribed for daily job alerts.
Freelancer
OnlinejobsPH
ProBlogger
Elance
Craigslist 
You can search for more job boards online if you want to. 
3. Some tips
a. Apply as many jobs as you could. Applying for a single job and wait for the employer to contact you is unfeasible. Remember you have a lot of competitors!  When I hopped into various job boards and monitor job alerts in my email, I applied to all positions that I think I am qualified. 
b. Decide if you go part time or full time. Identify your priorities and limitations. For now, I will work part time, I am not ready to hire house help, and anyway I have survived 16 years of personally taking care of my two kids and hubby. Hays, even its tough ha-ha.  
c. Do not be afraid for the job interviews, even its a Skype interview. When you are scheduled for one, nail it!
  • Stare into the camera; make eye contact to your future employer. Sit not too close to the camera, sit-up straight.
  • Even if you are in your home be presentable, be dressed just   like you are going to have a real interview. 
  • Do your interview in a quiet and not cluttered place in your home. Remove anything that can distract you.
  • Don’t forget to smile. 
  • Answer the questions smartly and be yourself.
  • Fix technical difficulties that may arise – camera, audio, etc.
d. Persevere. If you failed with your first, second, and so forth job applications as well as job interviews. Then, try again. There’s no harm in trying. 
Ladies, start your job hunt now!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

I’m now a WAHM!


I’ve shared with you my desire to earn while I am in the comforts of my home.  At the start of this year I and hubby have been conceptualizing for other means for additional earnings because our eldest is now in college this school year and we are anticipating that added overheads will heap up.

That aspiration is now achieved, I am now a WAHM! I am now working at the comforts of my home. I am now a virtual assistant of a company based in California USA for over a month now.  I love my job because the work time is flexible – it depends on me when will I work, I have a time in and time out also. I’ve got a rate of $2.50 per hour.  Great isn’t it.

At the rapidity that I am doing, I am able to work 2-3 hours per day as a virtual assistant, it’s my spare time, after completing all my housework, overseeing our modest business, and while my two kids and hubby are out.  You know me, when they got home; my attention is just for them.

I know it’s a part time work, but the rate is very appealing that I’m thinking to go fulltime! Hahaha, I’m thinking big time! It is so sweet to earn again. I am so happy.

Here are the proofs of my compensation last month.


Friday, June 14, 2013

Won Tickets for Man of Steel


Yay, I won 2 tickets for the special movie screening of Man of Steel sponsored by Schick and NuffnangPH! Oh, I am so keyed up to watch another Superman movie, that’s tonight - 10PM at Shang Cineplex Cinema 2. Wohoo!

 


Update: June 15

I and hubby watched the Man of Steel last night, we are both Superman fanatics, and waited for years for another sequel, was 2006 the last?

Well, what is my impression after watching Man of Steel? I am not astounded of the movie, it lacks something.  But Superman is still my beloved superhero, no one can change that.

Although I already know the origins of Superman, that Man of Steel rehashed, I love that the movie tackles the human side of Superman/Clark Kent.  And even I found the fighting scenes, repetitive and dragging, it has subjected me to a gigantic and deafening action sequences that I’ve ever seen, ha-ha. I didn’t even blink and suppressed my pee!

Another thing that caught my attention was the soulful eyes of Henry Cavill!  So sexy, ha-ha.

Of course we also have FREE snacks – 2 tumblers of popcorn and soft drinks, and a bag of Schick giveaway handed by NuffnangPH staff after watching the movie.



Thank you Schick and Nuffnang!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Tofu


Do you eat tofu or soybean curd? I am a fan of tofu, aside from potatoes, beans and pasta that I stack in my pantry; a block of tofu is always at hand in my fridge.

I eat tofu probably twice or thrice a week; it’s my cheapest and dependable ulam ha-ha!  Yes, it is the cheapest protein anyone can get.  You know I am a frugal mom and on schooldays that I was always left alone, all alone to eat my lunch,  next to pasta dishes that I can quickly cooked and the  left over food that I can reheat; tofu is one of the easiest, quickest, cheapest and healthy viand for my lunch!

What’s in tofu?
Tofu is made from dried soybeans, it is produced by grinding, then filtered and boiled to form a milk-like sub-stance, which is compressed and left to congeal. The mass is dried up into a jellylike solid, it is cut into a palm sized cubes.

Since it is made from soybean it is high in protein and low in fat.  The day I discern that this following benefits I get for eating tofu:
1. helps lower bad cholesterol
2. lessen symptoms associated with menopause because it contains isoflavone
3. lowers risk of cancer
4. makes middle-aged bones stronger

I became a tofu fan!

I have friends that don’t like tofu, they say tofu taste bland. No!  I insist to them that tofu is versatile, the spongy texture of tofu acquire the taste of any ingredient it is mixed with. I have cooked my tofu in more than a few ways – stir fry with  any vegetables and with different kinds of sauces like oyster sauce, teriyaki sauce, chili-garlic sauce etc.



Oh, yesterday these was my lunch,  I have a fried tofu with spicy vinegar dip, paired with breaded okra. Delicious!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Mac and Cheese


My hubby doesn’t like Mac and Cheese, he describe it as a boring pasta dish. Boring dish? Perhaps the dish has no meat, and plain looking? But I like it to cook because it is so easy and quick to cook.  And serving it isn’t picky, I just serve it in bowls or ramekins accompanied with buttered toast and that’s it.

Besides, my kids like my Mac and Cheese, so even though my hubby dislike it, I always cooked it especially when he is not around, ha ha!

This Mac and Cheese was my lunch two weeks ago, the days when I was left alone – my hubby at work and my kids are still on vacation. Oh, did I tell you that my kids have already returned from less than a month of vacationing, hopping from one auntie/uncle to another auntie/uncle? My home is deafening and in jumble again, ha ha.

I said it’s simple and quick, so here’s how I cook my Mac and Cheese. Heat butter in a pan, add chopped onions and cook until soft.  Pour in the milk, add a pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper, then bring to boil.  Dump in the pasta, stir and cook the pasta about 10 minutes or until the pasta is done. Cooking the pasta in milk is a technique I came across online. The mixture should not be dry, add more milk if the mixture becomes dry. Add the grated cheese and stir until the cheese has melted. Easy and quick isn’t it?

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Transform yourself with Schick



 Schick. Free Your Skin.


Superman is my all-time super hero. When I was a kid I visualized myself possessing his super powers, during playtime, me and my cousins act out as superheroes, even if I am a girl, I would always play the Superman, The Man of Steel, I dramatized as Superman flying to outer space and defeating plentiful villains, ha ha.

Now that I am grown up, and a mom too, I am still a Superman fan. I still visualize myself possessing his super powers. Oh, I can’t act out as what I had done when I was a kid. Seriously, if I had the power of MAN OF STEEL, for one week I will use up all my power to do the following:
1. Clean and prettify my house
2. Do the laundry
3. Do marketing, cooking and whip up new recipe
4. Generate 365 blog posts (for the whole year!)
5. Get rid of kidnappers, child-molesters, rapists and women-beaters. 
Astonished?
Well, you can also visualize yourself as the MAN OF STEEL by joining Schick’s Superman promo contest and be able to win 2 tickets to watch MAN OF STEEL special screening on June 14 at the Shangri-La Cineplex.


Per DTI-NCR Permit No.1843 Series of 2013.