5 Creative Gift Hacks for the Christmas Season.

Christmas is just right around the corner, and the season of readying presents, prepping feasts, planning reunions, and practicing holiday traditions have already started. You might even be worrying about finding unique presents as early as now, but there’s no need to fret since we’ve got some smart hacks for you!

Christmas shopping made easy. 

1. Online Shopping – easy, accessible, and hassle-free!
You don’t actually have to go out of the house to shop anymore. Just fire up your laptop or smartphone to go online, and you’ll find tons of online shopping sites just waiting for you to add items to your cart. What are you waiting for? Search for the product you want to buy, and have it delivered straight to your doorstep. It’s definitely easy and convenient! Just make sure to purchase from reliable websites, and you’re good to go!

2. Hit the malls and be one with the holiday crowd.
You can always go back to the good ‘ol mall sales. With prices dropping up to 50% off and buy-one-take-one deals popping everywhere, malls are the main go-to for holiday shoppers. If you’re willing to dive in with the crowd during this busy season, you can purchase great finds in various malls.

However, you have to be wise in managing your time when you choose to deal with the Christmas crowd. Prepare the list of items you want to buy, or names of people you want to shop for, to save your time. When visiting malls, you really have to stick to your list to avoid lavish spending.

Photo credit: Smart Parenting.

3. Garage sales and Bazaars - a nifty way to get great steals!
A wise man once said, “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.” Well technically, it’s not really garbage - some items and clothes in garage sales are just barely used, and are actually still in perfectly good condition. With a little bit of cleaning and washing especially with a premium detergent’s superior cleaning formula, it can be worth way more than what you paid for.

Bazaars, on the other hand, can be handy as well. They sell a wide range of exciting things from clothes to socks, scarves, caps, shoes, accessories, and many more. There are a lot of bazaar set-ups lining up in malls once the “ber” months hit, so you’ll surely have no problem spotting one!

4. Go Treasure-hunting with Ukay-Ukay.
When it comes to hunting down unique finds, ukay-ukays or thrift shops are the most common go-to shopping spree spots for Filipinos. You can find fashionable and branded pieces here that can definitely work well as gifts! Nowadays, there are many bloggers and vloggers you can get inspiration from when it comes to styling clothes from thrift shops. You can simply watch their ukay hauls and vlogs to get an idea on where to get great finds and what pieces to match it with.

When buying from ukay-ukay stores, it’s important to make sure that the items you bought are clean and fresh before giving them away. Quality is of utmost importance, and it’s a good thing a little bit of laundry washing can go a long way. You can always use a great detergent like Ariel to wash away the stains - even those pesky invisible kulob stains! Those ukay-ukay steals should be clean, kulob-free, and in good shape.

Naeil Cantabile, 2014.

5. Don’t have time to buy? No problem! Raid your closet.
There’s no excuse for not giving anyone a gift when you have pre-loved clothes and accessories living in your closet. Look for tops or pieces you’ve only worn once or never even used before that will be perfect for other people. This will not only let you save money, but it will also make room for new items in your closet! Say goodbye to your old clothes, and say hello to the new ones to come!

Of course by doing this, you need to make sure that the fashion items you’re giving away smell fresh and kulob-free! You might not notice, but there can be invisible stains lingering on your clothes that cause that awful kulob smell. There’s no need to worry though, as long as you get to wash them with a detergent that can go for deep and superior cleaning. Give it a shot with Ariel, with intensive cleaning that can remove even those invisible kulob stains with just one wash.

This can definitely turn your clothes from closet stuffing to an actual gift that looks brand new! Your friends and family won’t even notice, especially when the gift is finished off with a nice packaging then — Voilà! You have yourself the perfect well-thought of gift for your friends and loved ones!

~~~

Kulob is an awful smell that is common during the rainy season. Did you know that it is actually caused by invisible stains that cannot be removed by ordinary detergents? Kulob is a stain you can’t actually see, but you can definitely smell. It’s caused by ineffective cleaning of leftover dirt and sebum stains, and these stains go through the process of oxidation, leading to microorganism activity the gives out a rancid odor.

What's your Kulob Story?

Thankfully, there’s a detergent that can effectively combat the awful smell of kulob — Ariel’s deep cleaning formulation, which intensively cleans clothes and washes off invisible kulob stains and malodor-causing bacteria.

Need more proof?
Watch this video to find out more about invisible kulob stains through this link: http://bit.ly/ArielNoInvisibleKulob

Simple Tips to Help Manage Your Family Finances.

Looking after your loved ones is a challenge. Managing your family’s finances is a whole different ball game. Not only do you want to provide the best things for your children, but you also want to stay in the black.

Finding the right balance between keeping your loved ones happy and staying within your budget may seem like a daunting task. However, there are many ways to pull that off successfully.

These methods may seem simple. Once you apply them, they can reduce stress in the long run. To help ease the management of your family finances, Alpha Car Finance offers these tips below.

Budgeting need not be stressful.

Don’t spend more than you earn.
It’s a very straightforward advice, but many folks tend to overlook the simplest things. These days, it’s easy to get swept away with huge sales or enticing promotions. Armed with a credit card, anyone can easily walk into a store and spend money like a millionaire. That’s why many consumers end up falling behind on their monthly expenses. One glaring sign that you are spending more than you earn is if you can’t afford to pay for something outright. So, if you intend to commit to a big-ticket purchase, make sure you have more than enough to cover the monthly installments.

Create a realistic budget.
No matter how busy life gets, find the time to create a family budget and make sure you stick to it. You can start by writing a list of all your monthly bills. These expenses may include mortgage, car payments, utilities, groceries, phone and internet bills, among others. Determine the things you can live without, then allocate more money to your savings.

Keep track of your spending.
Part of committing to your family budget is by keeping track of your spending habits. You can research online, get some tips from Family Hype, or use free financial apps, like You Need a Budget (YNAB), Mint or similar tools to help track your expenses and manage your finances. It’s easier to manage what you can track. After doing this for a month or two, you’ll get a better handle on your finances.

Photo credit: Kiplinger.

Avoid impulse buying.
Many people find it hard to resist the temptation of buying something expensive on a whim. To counteract impulse buying, give yourself at least 30 days to think before making a huge purchase. This way, you’ll have enough time to realize whether you really need something or not.

Share the responsibility.
Get every member of the family involved. When you get everyone onboard, it will be easier for you and your family to achieve your financial goals. Be transparent about your finances, so you won’t have any unforeseen issues.

Also, set some ground rules. Get your partner and children to agree on having spending limits. There will be instances that you may appear like the bad guy because you need to enforce these rules. But, remember, you must set a good example for your children. It will make your job a lot less difficult.

Look for ways to get extra income.
These days, it’s easier to make money on the side by making good use of your skills. If you enjoy writing, you can start a blog and promote other people’s product or services and get paid for your talents. If you have older children, they can do simple jobs like mowing the neighbor’s lawn, delivering the newspaper, do some babysitting, the possibilities are endless.

Even if you apply some or all these tips, we hope they help you get better control of your family finances. Though keeping track of your spending and sticking to a budget may seem difficult, just remember that you and your family will reap the benefits in the long run.

Do you have some tips to share? We’d love to hear them. What steps did you take to manage your family’s finances? How was your experience? Please share them in the comments.

Benefits of Shopping Online for Your Premier Shutters.

Premier shutters can create the ultimate design feature for your home, but you may be concerned about the cost. If you are worried that purchasing shutter will be expensive, you need to consider shopping online. This is the ideal way to keep costs to a minimal, and select the shutters that you want for your home.

Saving money has become part of everyday life for millions of people, but making your home look and feel welcoming and inviting, is as valuable. This is why you need to spend the time searching for cheaper alternatives to the items that you require. Premier shutters look stunning, and do not have to cost a vast amount.

Photo credit: The Louver Shop

Shutters have become the ultimate window dressing for homes to have both inside and out, and there are many different styles, sizes and colours to choose. They offer an alternative to blinds and curtains, and can help to redecorate your home on a budget. In the past shutters were expensive, but today, you can find some remarkable bargains.

Knowing where to find the bargains is the first challenge, but the Internet has opened up a huge array of possibilities. You can enjoy shopping in the comfort of your home, without the added cost of travel. Shopping online is straightforward, and will ensure that you save money on your shutters, helping you to create the ultimate home on a budget.

Online pricing is considered to be the best when you need to find a bargain, and shutters are a specialist item that can be difficult to find at a reasonable price. However, if you locate the best stores online, you will make incredible savings, and be happy with your purchases. Affordable shutters do not mean that they are poor quality, and you will be amazed at what you can find online.

There are a number of different premier shutter companies, which can help you select the shutters that you want. Whether you want classic wooden shutters, or modern plastic alternatives, you will find them all online. The company will be able to guide you through the buying process, and often be able to install the shutters to complete the job.

Taking the time to search of all of your different options can make a massive difference when trying to save money. Some companies will offer free delivery, and others may offer free fitting, which can benefit you if you do not need to pay for installation. You may have to pay slightly more for the shutter, but you will save money in the long run.

Reward schemes, money off and sales are just some of the other fantastic ways to save money, and checking the different websites regularly will ensure that you do not miss out on these deals. There may be discontinued lines of premier shutters which are far cheaper, and will suit the style of your home, which is why you need to consider every option.

You will never have to sacrifice the style of shutter that you want to purchase as there are many on offer. The prices are lower than high street stores ensuring that you find what you want at an affordable price. Taking the time and effort to shop online will save you money, and guarantee that you find the premier shutters that you need.

Some sneakpeeq Steals!

A few months ago, I had the privilege of hosting a giveaway for sneakpeeq. I was still a newbie at giveaway events and PR activities back then, so it was quite an honor to be pitched outright by the company.

Much as I enjoyed hosting their giveaway, it's the shopping itself that I love most about sneakpeeq. Not only do I get to discover new brands and great products, I also have the chance to buy items at discounted prices (often at astounding dirt-cheap prices, mind you!). I can also 'share' the deals that I 'peeq' into, which can earn me leaderboard points and badges that translate into even better deals (e.g, free shipping, additional 15% discount on a particular brand, etc.).

You might be wondering if sneakpeeq ships outside of the US. At the moment, they don't. I just happen to have the kindest friends and relatives whose addresses I use for my US-restricted shopping finds. They, in turn, ship the items to me. I will forever be indebted for stamp and postage fees, haha! :)

Now let me share with you my amazing sneakpeeq finds.

BWC Lip Gloss, BWC Nail Polish, Freshwater Pearl Earrings.

1) Freshwater Pearl Earrings.

Valued at $49, I got these babies for FREE. It's some sort of welcome gift to new sneakpeeq members, and I've seen a lot of bloggers out there who also received the same gift as mine.

2) Beauty Without Cruelty Nail Polish.

Originally priced at $16.95, I snagged this for $1 only! Yes, one freaking dollar only! This was priced at $11 after sneakpeeq discount, but thanks to my extra $10 off (which I got as a badge for sharing my peeqs), I got it for an even lower price! How cool is that?!

$1 is an incredible steal, I tell you. The color is intense, it doesn't chip off easily, it dries quickly, it's phtalate and formaldehyde-free and best of all... BWC is certified cruelty-free! No animal testing whatsoever!

3) Beauty Without Cruelty Lip Gloss.

My regular blog followers would know that I'm not a huge fan of lip gloss. But having the opportunity to get this for only $1 (from its original price of $16.95) isn't something you come across with everyday, so there.

See the Leaping Bunny and Vegan Society logo? That's proof that Beauty Without Cruelty is living up to its name.

Color pay-off, check. 

Doe-foot applicator glides on lips smoothly, check. 

Not tested on animals, check. 

And, surprisingly, non-sticky - check!

I'm glad I stayed away from the pinks and got this instead. I have waaaay too many pinks and reds already!
The color's just right for those days when I don't feel like putting on full make-up. And yesterday was one of them.

Let's end this post with an FOTD, shall we? :)

Products used:

Missha The Style Under Eye Brightener in Light Beige
Etude House Precious Minerals All Day Strong BB Cream #2
Human Heart Nature Perfect Coverage Mineral Foundation in Honey
L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Single in Sable
Avon Extra Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Kohl Royal Selections Eyeliner in Charcoal Gray
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Liner in Brown
Avon Super Curlacious Waterproof Mascara in Black
Tony Moly Cheek Tint #1 Cherry Pink
Beauty Without Cruelty Natural Lip Gloss in Coral Mist

Shopping Areas of London.

London is not only a city of outstanding culture and history, but also one of the best places in the country to go shopping. Take a trip to the capital to see the sights,and you’ll probably find yourself drawn towards the famous department stores or rummaging in its quirky markets and second-hand shops. Whether you’re looking for upmarket luxury brands, edgy vintage pieces or just the biggest outlets of your favourite chain, London is unrivalled for choice.

For general shopping, Oxford Street is the place to start as it’s home to almost all of the well-known chain brands that have made the UK high street what it is today – fantastic. Interspersed with big department stores and little eateries, Oxford Street is the busiest shopping street in Europe, and is always buzzing with crowds of shoppers hunting a bargain.

Look who's lovin' London!

If you’re looking for something high-end, Sloane Street in Kensington has the biggest names in chic couture, and Bond Street, where art galleries and auction houses nestle alongside up-market designer shops, is similarly swanky. Knightsbridge is best for major department stores, and a retro 1960s vibe still lingers on the iconic King’s Road in Chelsea and Carnaby Street in Soho.

Men are equally well catered for – Savile Row is unbeatable for beautifully tailored bespoke suits and Jermyn Street is the place to go for shirts to match. The Burlington Arcade, first opened in 1819 by Lord George Cavendish, is home to the finest watch shops and is still supervised by the top-hatted ‘Burlington Beadles’ of long tradition. Running from Piccadilly to Bond Street, the arcade is a little piece of history full of luxury, top quality goods.

Meanwhile, if you buy vintage, Portobello Road in the Notting Hill district is the place to go for antiques, whilst Covent Garden and the area around Brick Lane are great for vintage clothes and retro style.

With American Express Gold Cards you can earn rewards points on your purchases, and the American Express Platinum Card will give you elite tier membership with Hilton hotels – so you can take your time, make a weekend of it, and enjoy everything the capital has to offer.

How to Make the Little Man Smile.

My son has the sweetest smile in the world. And it doesn't take much to elicit that from him. He takes his frivolity after me; both of us find joy in the simplest little things.

One of his cheap thrills, for instance, is going to the mall. (Although when you think about it, the mall is not really a very cheap place to go to. Haha!) Mention the word 'SM' and his face will instantly brighten, like Christmas lights that have just been plugged into the socket.

Dress him up in his 'going out' clothes, and he'll be happier even more. Especially when he's wearing his Spiderman sneakers, his most favorite shoes at the moment. That way, he's pretty much convinced that you're really going somewhere and you're not just saying 'SM' for kicks.

Stylin' and profilin'.
On Yue: Future England Captain shirt and pants set from  Umbro, Spiderman hi-cut sneakers by Reebok.

When at the mall, take him to any of his favorite fastfood restaurants. Get him some fries, chicken or chicken nuggets, a glass of iced tea (sans the ice), and he's sure to wolf down everything in one sitting.

Regular faces at Mc D's. Because we're crazy about their Happy Meal toys.

Swing by the department store, and make sure to buy him something - anything. It doesn't matter if it's on sale or the price is astronomical (the latter is always the last option, haha!). For as long as he likes what you're going to buy, that's fine with him.

Yue's haul from last Wednesday's shopping trip: My First Words Sticker and Activity Book, a pair of Phineas and Ferb flipflops, and a blue body scrubber.

This kid absolutely loves stickers. I think it's something that all kids have a penchant for at some point in their lives. I'm glad that Yue doesn't put his stickers on the walls; thank Heavens he's a bit of a neat freak like me!

Thumbs up, Mom!

After a stressful day, nothing beats seeing the little man all beaming and happy. One look at his smile and my hunger goes away, my stress gets relieved, and I feel like the most accomplished woman in the world.

Sticker happy!

I'm glad that I chose to be a stay-at-home Mom. In my three years of being one, I've never missed a chance to see that pretty boy smile of his. He looks more and more like his Dad each day, especially when he flashes his Dad's signature killer smile. :)

Sharing this post on



Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Byzmo Win, and another Onitsuka Tiger.

Last May, Byzmo, one of my favorite online stores, turned two. In celebration of its anniversary, the store opened its very own Facebook page where a contest and a raffle was also held.

The mechanics were pretty simple. For the contest, all you have to do is post a photo of your Byzmo-bought products. The picture with the most 'likes' wins. For the raffle, submit a testimonial for Byzmo and whoever gets picked by via random draw wins.

The prize? Two $50 gift cards - one for the photo contest and one for the raffle draw. These gift cards can be used to buy items from any of the US pre-order sites frequented by Byzmo.

I've been a regular costumer for about a year, so I sent Jaimee (the woman behind Byzmo) this photo of my son. I included a small description of this photo, which served as its caption. It read: Bought a surprise gift courtesy of Byzmo. Yue's Perry the Platypus is the envy of many. :)

Since I did this out of goodwill for Jaimee, I didn't bother rallying for likes from Facebook friends. For me, it was returning her the favor for the trust and accommodation that she has given all this time. On top of that, I've never really had much luck with raffles and contests. Remember those Red Cross raffle tickets from grade school? I never won in any of them. Not even a consolation prize. And those raffle draws during company Christmas parties? Zilch. The most that I have won from those was a not-so-expensive pressure cooker. TV set? DVD player? Never.

So imagine my surprise when Jaimee broke the news in her Facebook wall. My name got picked in the raffle! I won a $50 gift card! I knew right away where to spend my prize - Zappos! Here's what I got:

Onitsuka Tiger California 78, baby! Another one to add to my collection!  I've fallen in love with them since my first Mexico 66. My feet are most comfortable when I'm wearing OTs. :)

These shoes are beyond cool. It's low-profile design and super sleekness adds even more to its charm. And yes, they're authentic. Check the tag. It's like a mini-booklet, and it's tied with a rope. The counterfeits use plastic safety tags instead of the woven rope. They don't have the mini-booklet as well.

This win from Byzmo has definitely ignited my fire. Now I join blog contests and giveaways, with hopes that I'll get lucky again. And luck has indeed been very good to me, as I won in another online giveaway a few days ago. But let's save that for another entry.

To sum it up, my hats off to Byzmo, my heartfelt thanks to Jaimee, and... my Onitsuka Tigers rock! ;)

Sharing this with 

Smart Shopper, and the Start of Something Smokin'.

I said I love makeup, right? But here's the thing. While I've been wearing makeup for the longest time (I was already using mascara and lipgloss back in high school), I never really paid much attention to how makeup should be worn. Back then, I was content with just pressed powder, concealer, lipstick, and using just one shade of eyeshadow. No more, no less. That is, until this baby came along.

It's a Profusion Eye Glaze set, which I got as a present from Tita Mac of SmartShopper. I ordered a pair of Onitsuka Tigers from her last year, and this makeup was sent as a freebie. 

I almost always receive makeup items as freebies each time I buy something from her. Tita Mac is pretty much aware how much of a kikay I am, because she's seen my vanity plastered all over my Facebook page. LOL.

Seeing the shades in this palette, I knew it was meant for the 'smokey eye' look. I was never fond of dark makeup before, thinking that it does not suit me. But then again, you'll never really know unless you give it a try. 

So I Googled smokey eye, read makeup blogs, watched makeup demo videos, and experimented with the stuff I have at home. The next thing I knew, I was putting on BB cream, lining my eyebrows, wearing liquid eyeliner - all those stuff that were not part of my usual makeup routine. And as it turns out, smokey eyes suit me, after all. 

I love the transition from dark to light, and the drama that goes with it. Plus the fact that attention is drawn to my eyebrow ridge and not my (dark) undereyes. Haha!

With that, I now take makeup matters seriously - which also means an extra thirty minutes has been added to my already one hour prep time. I've already gotten complaints from my son (Mommy, ang tagal mo naman magbihis! Gusto ko na umalis ng bahay!) and my Mum (Jusko anak, saan ba ang shooting mo? Aabay ka ba ngayon?), but my husband has only praises for it. So I guess it's all good.

Quick tip: Opposites together. 

Dark eyeshadow + light lipstick. Light eyeshadow + dark lipstick. 

Never match dark with dark unless you're acting in a stage play. :)

Great makeup finds? Items from US websites? Check out Smart Shopper now! :)

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.

Beating the Christmas Rush.

Two week to go 'til Christmas, and this is how our tree looks like now. Brimming, isn't it?

I finished my Christmas shopping quite early this year. Anticipating a very busy December (with my Mum coming home, my niece Maggie's Christening, my birthday, and my sister's wedding all happening on the weeks before Christmas Day) I started scouting for possible gift ideas as early as September. I began working on my shopping list, too. I just have to write everything down, because I'm OC like that. Also, I hate the Christmas rush and the throng of people that come with it. Plus the fact that I really hate doing things at the last minute.

And so by early October, I'd already been booking and placing orders in US/foreign websites, thereby giving enough time for those items to be shipped before Christmas. Come November, I was halfway through that shopping list. Taking advantage of Black Friday and Thanksgiving deals, I shopped for the rest of those gift items during this period. By the time December kicked in, all the gifts that I'll be giving had already been wrapped and sitting under (more like beside) this Christmas tree.

Needless to say, I'm pretty much ready for the holidays. I hope you are, too.