Everyday is D-Day with Forti-D!

My son isn't the most outdoors-y kid, which comes as no surprise since I'm not a very outdoors-y person either. Sure, he likes going to parks and playgrounds and looks forward to our occasional beach trips, but for the most part, he prefers playing indoors.

Playing with his Legos.

Unlike other kids who like playing basketball or riding their bikes while basking in the sunshine, Yue would rather spend hours tinkering with his Lego sets and action figures within the comforts of our bedroom, or watch YouTube videos and play games with his cellphone while curled up on the couch.

Looks like he's downloading something... again.

I have no qualms with him staying indoors most of the time with the perennial dengue scare and all (plus he still gets enough exercise with his karate training anyway). However, at the back of my mind, there's always this fear that we're not getting enough Vitamin D since we pretty much have an 'indoor lifestyle'. Same goes for my husband, who hardly sees the sun since he works the night shift.

Watching videos on YouTube.

Unbeknownst to many, Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Studies show that 36 of our organs and tissues are regulated by Vitamin D, including our heart, lungs, brains, and bones.

However, not everyone gets the sufficient Vitamin D requirement to stay healthy. In fact, 7 out of 10 Filipinos are Vitamin D deficient (based on a study conducted with Hi-Precision Diagnostics, where 8200 Filipinos from key cities in the Philippines were tested for Vitamin D Deficiency). This could stem from the following reasons:

1. It’s hard to get enough Vitamin D from the sun (indoor lifestyle, clothing, skin color, aging, and use of umbrellas or sunscreen limit Vitamin D absorption).

2. It’s difficult to obtain from food (RDA of Vitamin D is equivalent to 40 eggs / 8 glasses of milk / 800g of salmon / 2 cans of tuna flakes every day).

Forti-D, for your daily dose of vitamin D.

Now this is where Forti-D comes into play. One capsule a day gives you your daily requirement of Vitamin D (800 IU) safe for daily intake. It also gives protective effects against serious diseases by keeping vital organs (heart, bones, muscles, and the brain) functioning healthily. Forti-D comes in an easy-to-swallow, small gel capsule and costs only Php 6.50 each - a very small price to pay to give my bones and body organs some serious protection.

For my husband and I, everyday is now D-day with Forti-D. We'd like to be in the pink of health in the longest time possible for our one and only. Because you know, parenting is some serious business. :)

Foodie Goodie | Eat, Drink, and Crave Healthy!

Constant food cravings are normal during the early stages of pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my son, my food cravings varied from the 'normal' ones such as chicken cordon bleu, tamarind candies, and siomai drizzled with lots of calamansi; to the more 'outlandish' food combinations such as green mangoes and mayonnaise, and carbonara with salted egg. Crazy, right?

Occasionally, I would crave for junk food like potato chips and the like. However, I do not want to risk my then-unborn baby's health just so I could satisfy my desire for overly salty, fatty, unhealthy food.

Fast-forward to 2017. If I were pregnant now and craving for junk food, I'd probably grab a bag of Crave Healthy and eat to my heart's desires.

Crave Healthy!

Crave Healthy is the first snack product in the Philippines that is specifically designed for the pregnant woman by doctors and nutritionists.

It’s nutritious because it contains essential nutrients – Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium that are critical for both the mom and her growing baby. It also has reduced salt and just the right amount of calories that give the pregnant woman that extra energy she needs daily.

It’s delicious because it tastes just like any regular snack. Crave Healthy is currently available in Sweet Corn flavor and does not have any aftertaste of nutrient fortifications. It helps support the nutritional needs of pregnant women and their developing fetus. A healthy way to satisfy hunger and food cravings of pregnant women!

A pack of Crave is worth Php 25.00 at 30 grams each. It’s available online at www.cravehealthysnacks.com, select Med Express branches, and select Robinsons Supermarket outlets.

Similarly, there's also a milk product especially formulated for women.
Women like us, who are always on the go, seek to strike a balance between work, household duties, and personal time to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. That is why we need to stay fit and attractive, to look good and feel good whenever you can. We have unique needs that only us women would truly understand.

Introducing Athena, the milk especially formulated to meet our special nutritional needs.

Athena - milk for women.

It is high in calcium, which is essential for optimum bone health. It is also a source of Vitamins D and K, Magnesium and Phosphorus – nutrients to help maintain strong bones. However, it is low in fat so you can enjoy this beverage without the risk of high caloric intake.

In addition, this milk is also a great source of anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A & E and Zinc to help maintain healthy skin and promote optimum immune function.

Choco flavor.

Athena comes in two flavors – Milk (180 grams – Php 130.00; 400 grams – Php 273.00) and Choco (180 grams – Php 130.00). It’s available online at www.athena.com.ph and in-store at Mercury Drugstore, Watsons, and Southstar.

For Your Next Adventure - the United Home Travel Kit.

We all have different preferences when it comes to travel.

Some like to go on beach trips with their buddies, while some love to go hiking and exploring the great outdoors. Some prefer to go on laid-back road trips done on a whim, while others (especially the OC ones like me) would want their trips well-planned, with itineraries carefully thought of.

Whether it's a long-haul flight, a short staycation, or a brief weekend adventure, we all want our travels to be memorable, enjoyable, and free from sickness.

United Home has a line of health and wellness for all of our travel needs!

United Home Ceetab, Php 1.75 per tablet.

United Home Ceetab (Ascorbic Acid) helps promote immunity against sickness.

United Home Supracid, Php 0.75 per tablet.

United Home Supracid (Sodium Bicarbonate) - provides relief from hyperacidity.

United Home Dizitab, Php 9.50 per tablet.

United Home Dizitab for kids.

United Home Dizitab (Meclizine HCL) gives relief from dizziness and motion sickness.

United Home Lormide, Php 8.00 per tablet.

United Home Lormide (Loperamide) gives relief from diarrhea or LBM.

On your next adventure, be sure to bring these United Home items with you! You'll never have to worry about bumpy rides or long haul flights or bingeing too much with this United Home travel kit. :)

To know more about United Home and their products, visit the United Home website and their official Facebook page.

Say Sayonara to Scars with Clearascar!

Advances in technology have thankfully made it possible for scars to be removed with little to no trace. However, the best scar treatments available could be prohibitively expensive and would require a visit to a surgical clinic.

Now here's a more affordable and more convenient alternative to costly surgical procedures. It's called Clearascar - a scar solution in a tube!

Clearascar Scar Gel.

Made with 100% silicone, this product has been clinically proven to improve the appearance of scars in as fast as 2 weeks. It can lighten, flatten, and soften mature (old) and immature (new) scars, and can improve the appearance of all types of scars most especially the elevated scars such as Hypertrophic scars and Keloids.

Clearascar is currently the only 100% silicone-containing scar solution in the market. Silicone is considered the first line of therapy for scar management as recommended by medical practitioners. It is proven safe and effective, non-toxic and easy to use, with no side effects.

Clearascar comes in two sizes: 6g tube, priced at Php 418.95, and 15g tube priced at Php 761.20. This product is available at all leading drugstores nationwide such as Mercury Drugstore, Watsons, and South Star Drug, and can also be purchased online through this link: https://shop.clickhealth.com.ph/index.php/clearascar/

Seoul Searching | My Winter Travel Essentials.

Two more weeks and we're finally flying to Korea! Hooray!

To say that I am excited would be an understatement. I'm super psyched for this trip that I actually spent a good part of the day taking out luggage bags from the storage, sorting clothes, preparing the stuff that we need to bring, and listing down the items that I still need to buy. If I were more OC than this, I would have actually started packing a month ago. Haha!

Now as we all know, it's already winter in Korea and temperature has dropped to as low as 4 degrees Celsius. It has also snowed twice since winter started, with last Wednesday's snowfall heavier than the first. And while I am very eager to see, feel, and experience snow for the first time in my life, I'm also a tad worried because of my (and my son's) asthma. Hence, I've listed down our winter travel essentials - stuff that we're bringing (and/or buying) to brave the harsh Korean winter.

1) Thermals.
Otherwise known as thermal undershirts/underpants, these are pieces of clothing that are designed in such a way to help retain body heat.

Thermals for the little man.

Heattech by Uniqlo.

2) Coats, Jackets, Scarves, and Beanies.

They say the key to keeping yourself warm and toasty in the dead of winter is to layer clothes effectively. Coats, jackets, and scarves are key items in layering. Beanies, ear muffs, and gloves are options, too.

Keeping it warm!

3) Boots.

Because winter means boots, I'm trading my good old Onitsuka Tigers (for the meantime) for this pair of Dorothy Perkins ankle boots that I have not worn in a long, long time.

Winter = boots.

4) Hotpacks.

Perhaps you've seen these in Kdramas - those small sachets that give off warmth and are usually stuffed inside pockets. I bet I'll be buying a handful of these during our stay in Korea.

Photo credit: GrrlTraveler.

5) Medical Supplies.

Whether it's an overnight stay at the beach or a week-long trip to somewhere, I always make sure we have our medical supplies in tow. That includes our good ol' nebulizer and Duavent nebules (as prescribed by my son's pediatrician), Alnix Plus for my son's colds and allergies, and Ceelin Plus for his daily dose of Vitamin C. Also included in our stash are medicines for fever, cough, and upset stomach, pain killers, and my Salbutamol inhaler.

Some of our medical essentials from Unilab.

I guess I've got all my bases covered with this list. Hopefully, my son and I will be able to survive the unfamiliar season that is winter and have a blast while we're at it.

Do you wanna build a snowman? I do. :)

No More Sick Days with Ceelin Plus!

And we're back to regular programming!

I've been away from my blog for too long, and boy, do I miss feeling the rush of adrenaline whenever I write, do a product review, or (try to) beat a deadline. My Mum came home (again) for a quick vacation (again), so I was pretty much out and about for the past two weeks. On top of that, my son had his First Quarterly Exams last week. And you know how I am (and I guess most moms are) during exam week - we study like crazy and review like there's no tomorrow. Haha!

My son was excitedly looking forward to the long weekend as we had plans to hit the beach with the rest of the family. But alas, our plans to bask in the sun and enjoy the sea were foiled thanks to Typhoon Ineng! It rained non-stop over the weekend, and we were pretty much stuck at home, much to my little man's chagrin. Well, it couldn't be helped as his health and safety is top priority, especially now that the weather is more erratic than ever.

My little man all dressed up! :)

As a mom, I would do anything and everything to protect my child. This includes giving him healthy food such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and milk. But since times are different now - with all that pollution, and the viruses that keep on evolving - these are not enough.

Times like these call for superior protection from Ceelin Plus. It has Vitamin C PLUS Zinc for Proteksyong Plus. And by that, I mean another layer of protection for my child. Vitamin C and Zinc found in Ceelin Plus can actually reduce severity and shorten bout of sickness. Imagine what it can do if it’s used every day – it can really protect the child from getting sick!

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo and son Lucho.

In addition, Ceelin Plus has an advantage over other Vitamin C and Zinc products. It has ZincPlus technology which ensures the correct levels of Vitamin C and Zinc; so, my child is assured of superior protection. It's the same kind of protection that Mommy Juday gives to her son Lucho!

And if it works for Lucho and Yue, then it'll work for your child, too! Ang batang naka-Ceelin Plus, may Proteksyong Plus! :)

Spotlight | NasoClear ™ Nasal Spray.

Last week, I received a package from Unilab which contained a bottle of NasoClear and a trial pack of Constipaid. The NasoClear couldn't have come at a better time, as my son's allergic rhinitis (with a bit of dry cough) acted up last week. Talk about putting this product to good use!

NasoClear™.

A product of Unilab, NasoClear is a nasal spray used to treat dry or irritated nasal passages. It helps add moisture inside the nose to dissolve and soften thick mucus and provide relief for dry, irritated, and inflamed nasal membranes. This medicine is used to help relieve nasal congestion, nasal allergies, nasal irritation, cold or flu symptoms, and postnasal drip.

The NasoClear bottle up close.

The product is actually a clear, colorless solution made with 0.65% Sodium chloride and 0.02% Benzalkonium chloride. It comes in a 30 mL plastic bottle, complete with plastic cap and safety clip. I like that it comes in a handy, travel-friendly packaging. I can easily stuff this in my bag (or in my son's backpack) and bring it along wherever we go.

Clear plastic cap + safety clip attached.

The product may look daunting at first (especially to those who haven't used nasal sprays before), but NasoClear is actually very easy to use.

Cap + safety clip removed.

1) First, tilt your head forward and breathe out. 

2) Remove the cap and safety clip, hold the bottle at the bottom with your thumb with the nozzle in between two fingers. 

3) Spray the solution into one nostril while covering the other nostril.

4) Spray 2 times in each nostril twice a day, or as directed by your doctor.

Remember to clean the tip of the nozzle after every use! :)

Pump + nozzle.

This product can be used on adults, children, and even infants. For kids, of course, this must be used with adult supervision.

Just to show you that the nozzle fits into your nostrils just right. Use with adult supervision! :)

I like that this medicine gives immediate relief without any side effects. My son was able to breathe easier after two doses of NasoClear, and within 48 hours, his cough and colds were almost gone. Looks like this item will be another staple in our medicine cabinet. :)

Get to know more about NasoClear by watching this video.

Spotlight | Swish Fresh Breath Saver Pack.

Once upon a time, I was a smoker. And not just any smoker, mind you. I was a chain smoker. What started out of curiosity during my sophomore year in high school became one big bad habit that lasted for thirteen years. If not for my little man, I would have not been able to quit cold turkey. I stopped smoking in 2008 - the moment I learned I was five weeks pregnant with my son.

Receiving this Fresh Breath Saver Pack from Swish reminded me of the days when I used to smoke one pack (perhaps even more) of cancer sticks per day. Ugh. Kids, do not try that (I mean smoking) at home, or anywhere else for that matter. Lol.

Swish Breath Saver Pack + Vanity Pouch.

Back then, you'd always find a bottle of mouthwash or a breath spray stashed in my bag - together with a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, a hand sanitizer (you know, to keep my hands from smelling like burnt cancer sticks), and a bottle of perfume (to mar the smell of smoke on my hair and clothes).

Swish Breath Spray, Php 109 each.

Breath sprays, such as this one from Swish, make for a quick breath fix. Just one or two pumps would be enough to eliminate bad breath caused by smoking. They come in a handy dandy packaging that fits even tiny fob pockets (as in the right-hand hip pocket in your jeans). Hence, they're pretty easy to lug around wherever you go.

Fits even fob pockets!

Mouthwashes, on the other hand, provide longer lasting fresh breath. This one from Swish is equipped with the Surefresh Technology which not only helps kill bacteria that causes bad breath, but also prevents plaque build-up, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Swish Mangosteen Mint 120 mL, Php 78.

Like the other Swish Mouthwash variants, the Mangosteen Mint flavor is alcohol-free, which allows you to gargle for a good 30 seconds without the burning, stinging sensation in your mouth. Gargling with it twice a day leaves your mouth with round-the-clock freshness.

Now just because I've been nicotine-free for five years now doesn't mean that I have no use for these products anymore. I still keep a breath spray in my bag, and mouthwash bottles are a common sight in our bathroom.Because you know, bad breath is not caused by smoking alone. It can also be caused by eating and drinking.

With that in mind, Swish launches its 'Say Swish Campaign 2013'.
Swish will be having several 'Say Swish booths' set-up in leading supermarkets and drug stores nationwide. Customers can try the different variants of Swish for free at the Say Swish booths. There are five flavors to choose from, each with varying levels of mint:

Icy Choco Mint - sweet, minty sensation

Mangosteen Mint - fruity, minty sensation

Peppermint Fresh - strong mint

Cinnamon Blast - super strong mint

Arctic Chill - intense, strong mint

Freebies such as photobooth souvenirs and other premium items will be given upon purchase of any Swish product. And if you're really lucky, you can chance upon Swish endorser Ryan Agoncillo during the 'Say Swish' activities.

Say Swish!

Get to know more about Swish products and the 'Say Swish Campaign' by liking the Swish Philippines Facebook page!

Spotlight | Celeteque Radiance Body Cream.

If there's one skincare product that I can't live without, it's lotion. I'm a self-confessed lotion addict. I love 'em so much to the point that I have all sorts of brands and scents lined up in my dresser, ready for my disposal.

And so when I chanced upon the Celeteque Radiance Body Cream in the Sample Room inventory, I got a sample right away without even thinking twice. Especially after seeing that the sample you'll be getting is actually a full-sized product.

Celeteque Radiance Body Cream.

So here, my dear readers, is the 200 mL bottle of the Celeteque Radiance Body Cream. Actual retail price is Php 270, and they're available at most drugstores and supermarkets.

Multi-Bright Complex for fairer skin!

And as per product description, this product contains MultiBright Complex - 'a revolutionary fusion of seven plant extracts that reduces melanin to help achieve fairer and even-toned skin'. The seven plant extracts refer to the following: mallow, peppermint, cowslip, lady's mantle, fluellen, balm mint, and yarrow. I listed them down just in case any of you are allergic to the plants mentioned above. As for me, my sensitive skin had no allergic reactions to this product.

Comes in an easy-to-squeeze bottle.

I still can't attest to the whitening properties of this product, as I've been using this for barely a week. I'll keep you all posted for any significant changes in my skin tone. But for now, I'm really loving this product's moisturizing properties - it makes your skin smooth and supple, and gives it a healthy, radiant glow.

Squeeze it, baby!

For a body cream, this product's texture is actually very light and silky, and is easily absorbed by the skin. It's non-greasy, and doesn't feel icky even when you're wearing it on a hot and humid day. Plus points for the Radiance Body Cream's sun protection factor (SPF15).

Light and non-greasy. :)

This product is unscented (or at least that's what my olfactory nerves tell me) which is okay with me, though I must admit I prefer my lotions scented.

What I love:

- Leaves the skin smooth and supple.

- Makes the skin radiant and glowing.

- SPF 15.

- Texture is light and non-greasy.

- Easily absorbed by the skin.

- Hypoallergenic.

- Comes in a sleek, easy-to-squeeze bottle.

- Affordable price.

- Available at local drugstores and supermarkets.

What you might not like:

- None that I can think of. :)

From the looks of it, this product will easily make its way to my list of favorite lotions. How about you, what's your favorite lotion? :)

Spotlight | pH Care Feminine Wipes.

Aside from my makeup kit, my gadgets, my bundle of keys, a pair of sunglasses, a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and my favorite ballpoint pen, there is one other thing that I can never leave home without - feminine wipes.

Yep, you read it right. Feminine wipes. They're like wet tissue/baby wipes, only they're meant to be used down under. And by that, I mean your intimate part.

pH Care Feminine Wipes in Cool Wind.

My brand of choice is pH Care, because honestly I don't know of any other brand of feminine wipes in the market. Or perhaps the competitor brands are just not available in my area. Haha!

Dainty design on the packaging. :)

A product of Unilab, pH Care Feminine Wipes come in two variants - Passionate Bloom, which comes in a pink packaging, and Cool Wind, which is the one you see above. These feminine wipes come in a resealable pack, each with 10 sheets inside.

Handy, resealable pack.

Mildly scented, pH balanced, and alcohol-free, these wipes are also super soft and hypoallergenic. They're safe to use everyday, and come in handy when you have to take a leak in public restrooms.

pH Care Feminine Wipes are available at most drugstores and supermarkets and sell for Php 42 (that's around $1) per pack.