Healthy, Hassle-Free Holiday Bundles from The Goodwill Market.

Tis the season to show you care by sending healthy goodies from The Goodwill Market to family and friends. The gift baskets have been carefully curated to fit different lifestyles, filled with wholesome products that focus on health and wellbeing. What’s more, they can be delivered safely and conveniently to your loved ones doorstep via orders on The Goodwill Market website. You don’t have to leave the comfort and safety of your home to send out healthy and high-quality gifts this Christmas.

Holiday Gift Bundles from The Goodwill Market.

The Goodwill Market is an online shop owned and operated by Dygen Pharma Distribution Corporation (DPDC), a subsidiary of Dyna Drug Corporation. Its mission is to make premium brands more accessible to Filipino consumers with online orders and fuss-free delivery. “This is a very valuable e-commerce service especially as everyone stays safe inside their homes” says DPDC General Manager May Panganiban. “Our gift packages contain a wide selection of health and wellness products that are sure to add a spark of joy to the holidays.”

Here are some of the gift selections that you can send as corporate giveaways, or as personalized gifts to your loved ones.

Holiday Flavor Pack.

1. The Holiday Flavor Pack delivers goodies that are fit for the season’s feasts. It contains a selection of imported pasta sauces for easy meals made special.

Work from Home.

2. Work from Home (WFH) is a healthy spread of snacks and ingredients that are perfect for who like to bond over good food while working. Wholesome meals and snacks are more accessible with tasty treats and premium ingredients.

3. The Lunch Box Buddies is the perfect gift for parents who shower this kids with love and care. It’s got everything they need to make bath time fun while taking care of baby’s sensitive skin. It’s also got kiddie vitamins for that extra boost of protection.

Make your Christmas list and check it twice. Find out which gift sets from The Goodwill Market will fit your friends and family members best, or check out the other items that are available at www.goodwill.market and its official social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and have these wholesome gift packs delivered directly to your recipient hassle-free. Book your corporate giveaways, customized orders and special requests through customer@goodwillmarket.ph

The Goodwill Market Delivers Perfect Presents This Season of Giving.

Gift-giving is made simpler with the goodies that have been bundled up for easy delivery by The Goodwill Market. Choose from a wide array of wholesome treats that have been packed into perfect presents to fit any lifestyle. Delivery is also hassle-free as your orders can be delivered directly to friends and family, to help you stay safe at home as you shop for the holidays.

The Goodwill Market is an online shop owned and operated by Dygen Pharma Distribution Corporation (DPDC), a subsidiary of Dyna Drug Corporation. Its mission is to make premium brands more accessible to Filipino consumers with online orders and fuss-free delivery. DPDC General Manager May Panganiban says, ““This is a very valuable e-commerce service especially as everyone stays safe inside their homes. We have carefully curated our gift packages, which contain a wide selection of health and wellness products. You can also curate your own gift boxes from our selection of products that are on the website, for your corporate giveaways or for more personalized gifts for your loved ones.”

Check out these premium gift baskets that are made to share joy this season:

Holiday Fitspiration.

1. The Holiday Fitspiration package is for the health-conscious eater who pays special attention to their diet. It’s packed with wholesome snacks that are heart-healthy and guilt free.

Coffee, Tea, and Message from Me.

2. Coffee, Tea, and Message From Me is a sweet way to show you care for their health and wellbeing, with yummy treats that are great for snack time or movie nights.

Find out more about these festive gift packs from The Goodwill Market through their website www.goodwill.market and its official social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Have these wholesome gift packs delivered directly to your recipient hassle-free this holiday. To book your corporate giveaways, customized orders and special requests email customer@goodwillmarket.ph.

McDonald's brightens up the holidays with the launch of its Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts.

As the holiday season draws near, more Filipinos are looking forward to celebrating by sharing the light and happiness to their loved ones despite being apart. Luckily, McDonald’s is here to bring back a taste of that signature Pinoy Christmas through the new festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts!

Taste the festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts from McDonald's!

Combining Filipinos’ sweet tooth and love for the holidays, McDonald’s is adding a Pinoy twist to their best-tasting desserts with some crowd-favorite Filipino desserts. For ube lovers, indulge in McDonald’s take on the sugary delicacy with the Ube Pastillas Sundae and Ube Pastillas Frappe, while you can enjoy the sweet, creamy, and delicate flavor of Brazo de Mercedes with McDonald’s various renditions of the classic cake: the Brazo Sundae, Brazo Frappe, or Brazo Iced Coffee! Those looking for the classic taste of sweetness and warmth can also grab a cup of McDonald’s Hot Chocolate, perfect for cozy Ber-month mornings.

New frappe flavors!

New sundae flavors!

It’s never too early to start the holiday season! Brighten up and sweeten the holiday celebrations with the new McDonald’s Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts—available for a limited time only.

Taste the festive twist to McDonald’s desserts by ordering via Dine-In, Take Out, Ride-Thru or via delivery through McDelivery, Grab or foodpanda! Follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and Viber to stay up to date on all McDonald’s announcements.

Happy Hair-y Holidays with Novuhair!

So you’ve got your festive outfit set and the fancy gift wrapped for your Secret Santa. All that’s left undone is a party season-perfect hairstyle.

The fresh out of the shower look can be seductive yet temporary. Blame it on tropical climate, it can spoil your appearance, besides making you feel sweaty and stale. The heat and humidity brought about by extreme weather condition, likewise, dries out the locks easily and make it more fragile.

Adding damage to your delicate strands are the chemical contents of various products on hand. From shampoo to conditioner and hair treatment, down to styling goods to groom it to your liking, their harsh synthetic materials jeopardize the natural oil and luster of your mane.

Because you are what you eat, the fate of your crowning glory is in the plate. Your diet must have the correct balance of vitamins and minerals to supply hair with all that it needs to become shiny and strong. So don’t overindulge, especially this time of the year when gastronomic feasts are spread almost everywhere you go. Be careful on what you take in, thinking that it’s also what you feed your ‘do.

Even stress can wear off the beauty and health of the tresses. And that’s exactly what you should avoid this Yuletide season. Never put pressure on yourself just to please everyone. Just take it easy, let your hair down and party all night long.

Novuhair Christmas and Year-end Promo!

In this time of gratitude, Novuhair makes everyday 'a good hair day' for its valued patrons like you with its Christmas and Year-End Promo. Get an extra Novuhair Herbal Shampoo 200 mL worth P1,040 for FREE if you buy a NOVUHAIR 3-in-1 pack at participating Watson's stores nationwide (DOH-FDA CCRR Permit No.: 967 s. 2017).

Packed with 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—Novuhair Topical Scalp Lotion does not only help prevent the hair fall malady, but also aids in stimulating hair growth. Novuhair helps prevent hair loss, improve overall appearance, promote nourishment and rejuvenation. It is clinically-tested and proven safe and effective.

Opt for the best with this Christmas and Year-End promo. Whether it’s a luxury gift for your loved ones, or a self-indulgent treat for you, Novuhair has the perfect gift to inspire and keep you party-ready this Holiday season, while providing you with the ultimate styling result.

For inquiries, please call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575.
You may also visit www.novuhair.com or Novuhair’s Facebook page – Novuhair Official.

Foodie Goodie | Holiday Sprinkle Cake Pops.

Oh blog, I missed you! 
After my five-year-old laptop finally conked out on me, I was forced to go (back) in hiatus until I get a replacement. After several weeks of waiting and being excommunicated from the blogging world, my brand-spanking new Ideapad has found its way home and arrived at my doorstep today (thanks to my dear husband for this lovely present, and to my brother-in-law who was kind enough to bring it over, hehe)!

And now I can finally say that I am so back, and I am back with a vengeance. Well, not exactly. Just tons of blog backlog that have piled up in my two-month absence.

Anyhow, let me bring a bit of holiday cheer to my dear readers by sharing this uber cute and yummy recipe. After all, Christmas is but four days away! :)

Holiday Sprinkle Cake Pops

Ingredients:
Baked cake (your favorite box mix)
1 Can of frosting
Red and green candy sprinkles
White candy coating (2-3 bags)
Lollipop sticks
Brick of Styrofoam
Parchment lined baking sheet

Procedure:

1. Bake your cake according to the box instructions and set aside to cool completely. Prep your sprinkles by putting them into a small bowl or plate.

2. Crumble the cake finely into a bowl. Discard any hard edging of the cake that does not crumble neatly. Spoon in ½ - ¾ the can of frosting and use your hands to mix the frosting thoroughly into the cake.

3.  Using your hands, scoop out a small portion of cake and roll it into a ball and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Once all the cake is shaped, place the cookie sheet into the freezer for 15 minutes. After that time, transfer to the refrigerator.

4. Once the 15 minutes is up, pour the white candy coating into a microwave safe bowl and microwave at 50% for 40-second intervals. Stir after each 40-second interval, being careful to not over heat the candy coating. When there are only a few lumps left, stir the coating until it is melted and smooth.

5. Remove 3 or 4 cakes from the refrigerator at a time to dip. Dip the end of a lollipop stick into the coating, then insert into the bottom of the cake. Now, dip the pop into the coating, submerging the cake completely. Do not swirl the cake pop or the cake will come apart into the bowl. Let any extra coating drip back into the bowl.

6.  Before the candy coating dries, sprinkle red and green candy sprinkles all over the cake pop. Set the stick end into the Styrofoam to dry. Repeat until all the cake pops are dipped and decorated.

Happy Christmas cooking, everyone! :)
As seen on Spoonful. Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday. 

Foodie Goodie | Hummingbird Nests.

Admit it, you missed my Foodie Goodie Friday posts. I missed it, too! I've been swamped with products reviews and blog campaigns lately that I haven't had the time to tinker in the kitchen or cook a proper, full-course meal.

Anyhow, I'm squeezing in this quick food post because a reader sent in a request for an Easter recipe. This recipe is a quick one, too. But you'll have tons of fun making it with your child. Enjoy!

Hummingbird Nests

Ingredients:

1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup shredded coconut
Egg-shaped candies (M&M's Peanut or jelly beans will do)


Procedure:
1. Melt the chocolate chips, following the directions on the bag.
2. When the chocolate is smooth, stir in the coconut.
3. Drop the mixture by the heaping tablespoon onto waxed-paper-lined cookie sheets.
4. While the 'nests' are still warm, use your thumbs to poke an impression into the middle of each.
5. Allow the 'nest' to cool, then fill with egg-shaped candies.

As seen on Spoonful. 
Shared with Food Friday, Food Trip Friday, Heavenly Treats Sunday.

Foodie Goodie | Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars.

What cookies are for Cookie Monster, that's what peanut butter is to me. I'm a self-confessed peanut butter addict, and anything that has peanut butter in it, I will gladly devour. All the more if it's combined with chocolate. Hello, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

I did some experimenting with peanut butter the other day, following a recipe that I found on Spoonful. They're called Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars, sort of a spin off from my all-time favorite Reese's PBC. These tasty treats take less than an hour to make, and best of all, you don't even need an oven for it!

Peanut Butter is love!

Ingredients:

6 Tablespoons butter

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup chocolate chips

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, mix the butter and peanut butter. Melt them together and blend until smooth.

2. Add in the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Mix well. 

3. In an 8x8 baking pan lined with waxed/parchment paper, pour in the mixture. Spread across the pan and press evenly.

3. Melt chocolate chips until smooth and pour over peanut butter mixture. Smooth over the top and refrigerate for thirty minutes until firm.

4. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before cutting into bars.

Serve these as an after-school snack for the kids, or as a dessert for the dinner party. You can give them as food gifts during this holiday season, too!

Shared with Food Friday, Food Trip Friday, Heavenly Treats Sunday.

Foodie Goodie | Chocolate Mint Brownies.

Thinking of giving food gifts for Christmas? That's a great idea too, as long as it's not the traditional fruit cake - which most people hate anyway.

If you're baking for the holidays, here's a gift idea that you can try - Chocolate Mint Brownies! They're quite easy to make, and yummy, too! Definitely a better and tastier alternative to stale bread soused with candied fruit and rum.

Ingredients:

BROWNIES

1/2 cup butter

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

MINT FROSTING

1/4 cup softened butter

2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 to 3 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

Green food coloring

CHOCOLATE TOPPING

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Procedure:

1. Heat the oven to 350º and grease a 9-inch square baking pan. For the brownies, place the butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stir, and microwave for 1 minute more. Stir until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs. Stir in the chocolate and the vanilla extract. Finally, stir in the flour and salt until thoroughly combined. Pour into the prepared pan, then bake for 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for at least 1 hour.

2. To make the mint frosting, cream the butter and confectioners' sugar. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until it is smooth and spreadable. Beat in the peppermint extract and tint to the desired shade with green food coloring. Frost the cooled brownies, cover, and chill for 1 hour.

3. To make the chocolate topping, pour the chips into a microwave-safe bowl, add the butter, and microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until the chocolate melts. Stir until smooth. Pour the chocolate over the brownies and smooth it with a knife. Refrigerate for 45 minutes or until the coating hardens.

4. Bring the brownies to room temperature, then cut into 16 to 32 pieces. Layer them on a piece of cellophane; remember to place waxed paper between the layers to prevent sticking.

5. Wrap the brownie package and tie with a ribbon (red or gold would be best).

As seen on Spoonful. Shared with Food Friday, Food Trip Friday, Heavenly Treats Sunday.

There's a Rumbly in the Tummy.

It's that time of the year again - houses adorned with lights and decorations, malls crowded with busy shoppers, supermarkets well-stocked with gift baskets, fruits, wine, and ham. Ah yes, the month of December is all about partying, merry-making, having fun - and without a doubt, the most wonderful time of the year.

And with company parties, alumni homecomings, and family reunions happening left and right as Christmas approaches, this is also that time of the year when people binge on food the most - myself included. At this point, there's always an excuse to cheat on your diet and stuff yourself silly. More often than not, the phrase 'because Christmas comes but once a year' becomes the most overused excuse. Then on New Year's Day, 'go on a diet' will claim top spot on the list of New Year's resolution, just like it did last year, and the year before.

If going on a diet just wouldn't cut it, getting a tummy tuck montreal might do the trick. It's a procedure also known as abdominoplasty, where excess fat and skin are removed, thereby flattening the abdomen, and shaping the waist. Given the choice, I'd go for a tummy tuck instead of depriving myself of food. Because most likely, I won't be able to resist the beck and call of food anyway.

Enjoy the Holidays with Free Treats!

The Yuletide season has always been synonymous to spending and expenses. And if you're one of those who finished their Christmas shopping way, way ahead (like me, for instance), I'm sure that by this time you're already balancing your checkbook, calculating what is left of your earnings, and anticipating your credit card bills.

But since 'tis the season to be merry, we can always save the worrying for next year and just make the most out of the holidays. On that note, why not enjoy a free holiday treat from these stores?

If you're a BDO credit card holder and have spent at least Php 2,500 on a single transaction, you can start claiming your free treats from any of the merchants pictured above.

We redeemed one yesterday, and look at that eager beaver, ready to pounce on his goods from Brownies Unlimited. 

After all, who won't be able to resist these uber moist and chewy brownies? Even I would ruin my diet for a piece (or two) of that.

So instead of fretting over your charge slips, why not put them to good use and give yourselves a treat?

Promo runs from November 20, 2011 to February 29, 2012. For more details, click here.