Sink, cupboards, dining set-these are part of our ‘office’. And the tool that keeps us together and serves as our bestfriend is the cooking range. With this, we can serve the best food for our family.

Like our most loved gadget, we should always make it a point to keep our cooking material in its best state. How? Basic maintenance: Keep it clean. Let’s look at some home tips to maintain (and clean) our range of quality cookers.

Tidy it Up:

• Manage to wipe stains and spills before they form into solid patches on your cooker. You can use damp water and soap.
• For the stainless steel areas, you can opt for specific stainless steel cleansing products
• Oven, oven door, grids, and burners should always be washed with a clean soapy sponge and grease-removing material

Let it serve its purpose for years and years to come:

• Do not clean it while the burner is still hot. Let it cool down first
• Turn off the controls after use
• Place the pans on the center of the hobs

Economical Cleaning tips!

Squeeze a lemon onto your cooking range and let the juice sit for half a minute. Afterwards, wipe it with a soft damp sponge followed by a dry cloth. Voila! Clean and sparkling cooker awaits its owner.

But today, let me share with you something really wonderful. Got a package from Unilab with 2 Asian Secrets Lulur Indonesian Whitening Body Scrub. One is with Seaweed Extract and Vitamin E. The other one, with Green Tea and Vitamin E. I thought, well, why not give this product a try.

Here’s what I found:

Lulur is a ritual given for the bride-to-be  to smoothen, beautify, and whiten her skin before the big day. This ritual originated from the royal palaces of Java, Indonesia, thus a brilliant idea for a beauty product.

The Benefits:

• Lulur beads exfoliate dead skin cells, giving you that radiant glow
• By getting rid of your dark patches, it evens out your skin tone
• With regular use, it reduces skin pigmentation
• Moisturizes skin
• Leaves your skin with a light fragrant smell
• Contains Vitamin E to help protect your skin and at the same time keep it healthy

To enjoy its benefits, here’s how to use the body scrub:

1. Apply and scrub it on your skin, particularly on the dark areas while you are still dry. This lets the tiny beads scrub your skin’s impurities, dirt, and dead skin
2. Rinse with water.

That’s it! No need to use pumice stone or other whitening products that contains strong chemicals and affects your skin.

Even my mother loved the product, especially the one with the Seaweed Extract and Vitamin E. I would suggest using it even  in this very humid weather. Why? Because it doesn’t leave you that  greasy feeling after wash. Very light on the skin, and very fragrant. Almost like your skin gets a spa it deserves.

Asian Secrets Lulur Indonesian Whitening Body Scrub will definitely replace our body soap. Will try to look for these in Watson’s or The Body Shop.

This is a personal review. Again, let me just say, we have different skin types. It may work on mine, but not on all of us. So if you’re using it and rash and irritation occurs, stop and have your skin checked.

In the genre of direct selling and multi-level marketing, Gano iTouch Philippines, continues to be a front liner, not only in terms of the business side, but more significantly, in creating top-notch, success-driven people.

Hard work and patience, is just one of the motivating factors that led Rizalde Anda, or “Andy” to get to his road to success.

Andy is presently a Silver Diamond Director for Gano iTouch Phils., and is celebrating his 1^st year as Megastockist in Occidental Mindoro, main product outlet for the whole province.

“I came to first know about Gano through a gym mate, Linda Alado. It all started with having me try Gano PIOIR coffee,” fondly recalls Andy.

Prior to this, Andy was into chemical industry, being a chemist by profession. He spent almost 13 years in this business. However, there was a slump by year 2011. “The market got saturated”, he said. And by November of 2011, this was his first encounter with Gano i Touch.

“I signed up my membership November 17, 2011 to be exact. I went first into retailing”.

“A week after I joined Gano, my father had a stroke.  Then he went into comatose, and eventually, he died.” And this particular incident in his life really got him to push all the more, he had to work double-time. His earnings from the retailing made it possible for the hospital bills to get paid.

And if he can do well in retailing, he realized a bigger opportunity in networking.

Rizalde Anda and his family

“The product is very good and effective. Plus management support is really very good. I had to know and understand Gano, product side and business side. I attended trainings. I tried to equip myself with all learnings I can get possibly get.  It is very important and a must that you really have to know the products by heart. “

It was not an easy road for Andy. His wife, Ma. Teresa, had to leave the country to work as an OFW (nurse in Saudi Arabia) leaving their eldest with him who was barely 4 years old then. “It simply heartbreaking to see your wife leaving to work abroad and you have your son with you, who was barely 4 years old then. I promised myself that I need to be stable, find the right business for me, for my family’s sake. The investment we put in for having a Gano center came from my wife’s earnings and from the chemical business. It was all hard-earned money”.

Determination. Collaboration. Wise Spending. “I am not for those who will just wait for money coming from their loved ones working abroad, while you are not doing your share of the responsibilities here. Or worst, hard-earned money goes down the drain. ”

He first opened a center in Mendez, Cavite.  And after only a week, a megastockist center opened in Batangas.  A year after, Gano i Touch is conquering the whole of Occidental Mindoro, under Andy’s management.

Fact of the matter, there is always a risk in any business. But for Andy, “It takes a lot of guts and determination. Instead of allowing that risk to overcome you, figure out for yourself  what is the reason for that risk and find ways to address it.”

Looking back, Andy says he made the right decision to join and invest with Gano i Touch. “The management support is very strong. Everyone is treated here like family. Good, quality products. Very supportive management).What else can you ask for?”

“Gano is not all business. We advocate social responsibility as well. And this is top-of-mind.”

What for Andy is success?

“If I may share my formula for success, first is hardwork and determination. It is also important and a must that you know what you are talking about. You have to know your product and the business inside-out. Empower yourself. Go for trainings, do research, study.  Do product experience. And make sure you are hands-on with the business.”

And what is his benchmark for success?

“I can say I am fulfilled if I see my children, all three of them, get to have good education, I can provide them with what they need, we have enough savings, and most importantly, everyone in the family is healthy and happy.”

First, my plan is to give it color. An apple green shade is what I was hoping to achieve. The vibrancy of the shade relaxes my computer-tired eyes.

Next is the consideration of a multi-functional bed. This will give the family an organize storage areas for shoes, books, etc. Something like these 2. (photos credited)

I want to play with shapes so I was thinking of bookshelves that I can put on the wall.

So, to put it, my eyes are seeing something like this design below. A refreshing small space that feels grand, inviting, and relaxing. Still, I’m still looking for other home decoration ideas for more inspiration.

High-end living is everyone’s dream of having. Well of course, who would not want to just sit in a tub of luxury, enjoying a glass of invitingly cold and fresh fruit juice. One could say, “aahh, this is life!”. 

But to be honest, do you really want to live like this for the REST of your life..or do you just want an experience? The stories you can tell your friends and family. This is a thought I just realized.

You don’t need to be a millionaire to live like one.

I’m not well-endowed financially. I basically need to work hard to earn cold moolahs. But you know what? Alongside this, I get to experience and enjoy high-end living once in a while. How? Again, how do I indulge in luxurious lifestyle in a not-so-luxurious budget?

Is luxury to you about big yachts, mansion, riding in a limousine? Okay, first, we need to redefine this word, “luxury”. Instead of the above mentioned, why not think of it as experience, people, and things. This way, it will be easy for you to obtain.

Of course, you still can get luxury products for yourself. Save up for a pair of earrings, or an LV bag, whichever you like. 

As experienced, I promised to treat myself trying new places to eat. A new restaurant with quality people like my family. This is luxury to me. And you know what, it’s not overpriced!

Buying new clothes and checking out new fashion style is also  luxury to me. A perfectly fit dress gives me that one-million smile. And usually, I find this on surplus shops.

So again, luxury is yours to define. Allow more of it in your life and enjoy. Take steps to give it a go and experience it for free.

Nowadays, people risk their lives to accumulate more and more money. Working overtime, investing in business, etc. They base themselves in the security of their bank accounts-how much they own and how much more they need. We cannot blame anyone for this. Money really matters these days. From the air you breathe to the simplest of food you eat, you need to shell out some ka-chings.

That is why one needs to be equipped in financial matters and all that goes along with the issue. How to calculate tax, money management, debt management, consume credit, personal loans, insurance, investments, and so on.

Maybe a blog speaking about financials will help. This way, your decisions about financial matters will be simpler and clearer.

Know more about insurance, advantageous rates, banking. and all about economy.

There are times you need to make comparisons. The prices of goods and services, and even credit card rates. No worries for you can do it online–more particularly on the one that has an online economic calculator.

I envy travelers. They enjoy every bit of their lives trekking the globe. Who wouldn’t want such an experience, right? It’s like walking down the world showroom. Sigh..when will I get to experience that?

My brother, on the other hand, gets his chance to go to other places . Being a member of a riding group, he and his friends always plan to have an itinerary almost every month. But before they hit the road, like the firs-timers, they have their seminar on Backpacking 101. Here it is:

First is you need to know find a huge but reliable bag that will hold all the stuff you need. This will definitely cost you. But it’s okay. You wouldn’t want to tour places with a broken bag, do you?

Next is you must identify which items you need in your trip. How many clothes you need, or should you pack an extra, etc. Prepare to   have a small medicine kit in case of emergency.

Plan. Plan. Plan. Not everyone wants to get stuck in a place where they cannot find a place to stay to. Write down your itinerary, hotel reservation, place to eat, something like that. There are travel books and advisor traveling portal you can get information to. It will guide you on your next destinations and give you ideas on the exciting events of a particular place. With travel tips and guidelines, you will be anchored to the right direction.

Being a blogger, it will also be a thrill to have a travel blog where I can blog about my experiences along the way. The people I meet, the delicacies I enjoyed. The adventures and misadventures I encountered.

I was inspired by a website I stumbled upon. It’s a blog about global traveling. It’s like a community of travelers where they share their feelings and prepare others for the next trip. With info about the itineraries, travel gadgets, travel arts, infographics,–and event travel pets! Cool!

I know everyone who wants to take a joyride must really be familiar with the must-know and must-haves of the trip. Here’s where you can get an idea. Get the best hotel deals, cheap solutions, where to go, events and festivals, everything that you should know before taking on the wheels.

UNIQLO, Japan’s leading global fashion brand, announced the winners of its newest Facebook promo, “U-SHOP. U-WIN,” at the opening of SM Aura Premier, the SM mall chain’s newest and first mall at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

The promo, which lasted for two weeks, featured several exciting prizes up for grabs for avid UNIQLO shoppers..

UNIQLO’s “U-SHOP. U-WIN.” is a Facebook-based game application that allows netizens, especially Facebook users, to virtually purchase items from UNIQLO’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection found at the UNIQLO Spring/Summer page within the UNIQLO Web page and get more shopping points for them to buy more UNIQLO items. Shoppers can win instantly just by choosing their “lucky” cashier upon checking out after shopping. Towards the end of the promo period, major prizes will be raffled off to all shoppers who played the game. Players who logged and played more during the promo period will have more chances of winning the major prizes.

Among them include Harlene Echinique from Pasay City, Monica Salvacion from Quezon City, Philsen Padilla from Malate, Manila, Angela Lustre from Biñan, Laguna, Elmer Rayo from Taguig City and Mary Joy Puno, who each won a Tablet Phone.

On the other hand, a Summer Getaway for 2 was each won by Jaime Atienza, Jr. from Davao City, Jose Mari Jurado from Meycauayan, Bulacan and Recarlo Concepcion from Sampaloc, Manila while Kristine Joy de Vera of Kaingin Road, Balintawak and Randy Sureta from Novaliches, Quezon City has each won a Canon DSLR Camera.

Finally, Chrischelle Osicos from Makati City, Michael Allen Celestial from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Marlon So and Roland Savellano, both from Quezon City, was awarded a brand new iPhone 5 each.

The awarding ceremony for UNIQLO’s “U-SHOP. U-WIN” Facebook app promo was preceded by the opening of UNIQLO’s 3^rd store in the country.

1. Go to the your precinct station equipped with your ID and your list of candidates. This will make it easier for you to find where you will vote and it won’t take you a long time to decide what names to put in your ballot
2. Bring water, towel and fan. Expect long queues on this day.
3. Be responsible. Guard your vote. Also keep your eyes open to people who are vote buying.
4. Vote wisely!