My little princess, Louise got the go signal for baby food from her pediatrician, but it took some work to prepare her mashed potatoes or carrots so somehow it discouraged me. Still, I was determined not to feed her baby food with preservatives like Gerber or Cerelac. As I survey the aisle of a supermarket I discovered this baby food that is all natural, without preservatives or extenders or anything. I got excited.. I wish to share this to all parents cause this could make their life a little bit easier (hope so!).. I found this 100% natural pureed food from Rafferty’s Garden. Their products come from this zesto-like pack with a spout and comes in different flavors. For our trial, we chose 2 flavors, the sweet potato+carrot+apple and the blueberries+banana+apple. Louise liked both. My husband and I even tried it, and it tasted good. There are a lot more flavors, found an organic one too.. So disappointed that i didn’t get that one!

You can store these packs in room temp (without sunlight of course!), and when opened put it in the ref and still enjoy it for 48 hours. This product is quite convenient too since there is a spout where you can just pour the food straight on the spoon. It can be microwaved but i feed Louise straight from the ref.

Found this in Landmark Supermarket in Trinoma in the baby food section (with the Gerbers and Cerelacs). Prices differ per flavor, but its around Php40.00 per pack (140 gms).

If ever you decide to try it.. Ope you enjoy it as well as we did. Give me your feedback as well!

Group Buying or Bulk Buying is a new online phenomenon that is spreading like wild fire. It makes it possible for clients to purchase products or services online with a big discount (usually 40 TO 90% off) from its original price. This “deal” would only push through if a certain number of purchases will be made. This is what you call buying power!

Usually, payments could be made via credit card, over the counter, paypal, or by bank deposits.

Here in the Philippines, a number of group buying sites are getting popular. Here are some which you would want to visit and tell me which ones you like:

Awesome, Buyanihan, Ensogo, Pakyaw, All Deals Asia, Deal Grocer, Deal Spot, Metro Deal, and Groupon.

But always be vigilant of yourself. Do not buy everything with a big discount, unless you really need it!

Happy Shopping!

A Chinese company would be so embarrassed in printing Kate Middleton and instead of Prince William’s photo, Prince Harry’s in a mug as a royal wedding souvenir. But, I suppose this would be a lot profitable. Will the guy who laid this out wrong be fired?

Even with all these disasters, what I am amazed with the Japanese is their discipline. Whatever their experiences were, whatever they lost, no looting was reported. In fact, they even patiently waited in line for more than 8 hours in a supermarket, not even sure if supplies would last them. Still, they fell in line. This is one good reason why one should be proud of being Japanese!

Anyway, was on the foot of the mountain at around 3am, put on our head lamps and started trekking. At first, the trail was easy, but around 6am, the elevation started to peak and my thighs were getting stingy! Was so glad our guide offered to bring my bag (for a price, of course) so that my climb would be easier. After the elevation hike, the trail became a somewhat “takeshi’s castle”, where one wrong step and you’ll slide down a rocky n grassy cliff. Thanks to the strong winds, it became more challenging! After several 5 minute breaks, we reached the top.. I was so excited knowing that the hard climb was done and the trail was only going down from there. But……. i saw the cove where we were supposed to go and it was still kilometers away!!! $&#*%$&#

The hike going down was rocky but easier (especially without my bag!). We passed through grassy parts and portions that are burnt.  Passed by boulders and an area where we were supposed to cross a river (but it was dried up).  The last string was somewhat desert like- ashes from Mt. Piunatubo, and the sun was so high and hot!  The walk was kind of hard because we were wearing hiking shoes and it was difficult walking on sand, the sun was so hot, plus there were no trees to cover our walk.

We reached the beach, and the view was breathe taking, everything was worth it! Thought pine trees grow only in cool places, but there were pine trees on the beach! Pitched our tent and slept. For dinner, I thought a simple egg or instant food would be appropriate, but I was so wrong! Prepped and had sweet and sour fish plus ampalaya con carne with rice for dinner. Had a few drinks (my first time in more than a year now), then slept. For breakfast, had arroz a la cubana!

Swam the beach, the water was so clear and serene! Didn’t hike in going home, rode a banca instead, PHEW!

Loved the experience and can’t wait to have another one like it again!

The best place for you to keep your toothbrush is not in the bathroom. You see, every time you flush your toilet, droplets spring out for about 6 feet; contaminating everything in your bathroom- including your toothbrush that you put in your mouth and your toilet paper. One remedy for this is have your toothbrush and toilet paper covered. Also, the bacterial mist usually float in the air for around two hours after flushing! So, think before you breathe while you are in the bathroom! What you can do is cover the toilet before you flush.

Another item that you have to keep out of your bathroom , especially when you take a bath with hot water, is your medicine because some medicines need to be maintained within a certain temperature range and should not be stored in a humid environment.

June 8 is declared National Best Friend’s Day so at least send an sms to your BFF’s and tell him/ her how you feel.

June 1, 2010 is my Lola Choleng’s 40th day of her death. My uncle was able to find this prayer that she wrote. This shows how loving, caring, grateful, happy, and God-trusting she was, even during her sick times. She will be truly missed.
This is her prayer.

Prayer of a Sick Person
By Ursula Urian

Lord, I am sick more than ever before
I wish I could do my daily work
Especially now I realize what it means to be healthy
What it means to be able to do simplest and monotonous work

Lord, now that I am sick, I feel sometimes discouraged
It pains me that I am so dependent on others
That I cannot be of any service
It pains me that I have to suffer
It pains me that I have to deny myself of a lot of things

And yet, Lord, I experience happiness and contentment
Those who take care of me and visit me bring me consolation and courage
I thank you for all of this
And I ask you for gentleness and patience with myself
That I may never discourage those people with all their kindness

Lord, you have restored the health of so many sick people
The blind, the lepers, the lame, and the deaf

Give me my health back
Give me through the skill and dedication of all the people who take care of me
In the meantime, strengthen me that in my sickness I may not be discouraged

Help me that in the silence of my sickroom I may still live in love

Lord, you have said to those who visit the sick and take care of them
When I was sick, you visited me
You say in those words Lord that whatever is done for the sick is done for you

Lord, is it true then that when I am sick I am to others a source of grace?
Is it true lord, that when I am sick I belong more that ever to you?

Teach me to have more faith in this
Of course my sickness will remain painful but my happiness will remain healthy
Accept then, my suffering Lord, for those who are too sick or too poor
For those who are discouraged or too care free
In one word, Lord, for all who have a hard time to recognize you

Amen.

This year’s election was obviously more peaceful than the past ones. But, was it more reliable? More honest? I am watching the hearing of the congress on the elections, gives me some doubts about it…. The manual audit was not 100% accurate, tsk tsk..Also, visiting juanvote’s website. Seems a lot of people did not stop on being vigilant after voting. They are still interested on the dependability of the automated elections.

Smartmatic was not able to answer certain questions regarding its inconsistencies. Made Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin shout “son of a &*%$#” on national TV and radio!