Product Review: Scotch Gard by 3M

We replaced our 3-year-old sofa last October with a new and better one from Mandaue Foam.  Everything in the sofa is washable (even the foam if you must) except for the frame and the fabric that covers it.

Before purchasing the sofa, we were advised that it comes with a 5-year warranty for the foam and frame.  Fabrics are not included.  There is nothing to worry about this because we can have fabrics covering the foams washed or buy custom made if in case it tears or breaks or get stained.  But the fabric in frame got us worried – because of course, we can’t wash it.

And last December, I got home to our sofa armrest looking like this.

I wasn’t angry or sad or worried – neither did Neo got scolded for doing this (just a quick reminder of using his papers alone for coloring).  Because I was relying on the fact that the staff a Mandaue Foam suggested a cleaning aide we can use – Scotch Gard.

Since Scotch Gard is made by 3M, a brand I have been using since I was introduced to it last year, I didn’t check any other brands.  However, Scotch Gard is quite hard to find.  Some stores only have one stock.  And this brand is more expensive than the others. SRP: Php530.

But as I go over quality of product, I didn’t hesitate in buying this.  And it did not disappoint.  After spraying Scotch Gard in the sofa armrest, waited for 3-5mins, dab it with clean wet cloth (did this for two times), look at our sofa armrest.

Good as new J

This product is a definite must have for families with little hands that draw and write all over your fabrics.

Food Panda Special Delivery

I have blogged about FoodPanda Delivery last year.  I was so pleased with their service that I wanted to try them again.  But with some twist.

Food delivery has gone through a lot of innovations already.  What sets Food Panda apart from the rest is that 1) I can order online, 2) receive updates online through emails and phone call, and 3) pay online - though I can also choose to pay upon delivery.  Most food delivery will only allow me to pay upon receipt of food.   

So what’s the twist about this Food Panda Delivery I made?  I ordered online and sent it to the hubby.  All I did was follow the easy procedure of Food Panda.  I entered all necessary details:  the hubby’s name (because the delivery man will be looking for him), his mobile number (because they will contact him in case they get lost), his office address, and my email address – it’s a surprise so, I don’t want him pre-empted that I have food delivered to him.

Food Panda allowed me to pay for my purchased online.  They also sent several emails to me to verify my orders.

The hubby was surprised when the office guard called him that he has a delivery. J  (Sadly he didn't took a photo of the food).  That is something you can do too.  Go visit Food Panda today and send love through food delivery.  Ooops, you can also download the Food Panda app via their website for your convenience. 

BayView Park Hotel

This is a long overdue post.   Last year, due to a work project, I needed to stay late in the office during weekends and so I needed a place to stay near the office and was fortunate enough because BayView Hotel Manila was able to accommodate me (and my family).

BayView Hotel Manila is located along Roxas Boulevard in front of the US Embassy.  It has a total of 282 rooms, a pool deck swimming pool, modern gym, children activity center, and fitness center.

We were given a superior room.  Superior rooms may vary so you can ask to have a queen size bed or twin bed, a view of Manila Bay, or request for a room with a bath tub.  We weren’t able to try the swimming pool (because I was too busy with work), so the bath tub was essential for Neo to swim around.

Each room has a mini ref.  Complimentary coffee, tea, and bottled water are available.

The beds are so comfortable that Neo fell in love with it.  The floors are carpeted (not common in hotels).  And bathroom essentials are complete.  Complimentary local newspaper daily.

Playing in the carpeted floor

Complete bathroom essentials

Breakfast was served at the lobby café from 6am – 10am. 

Rates are as follows:

Room Type	Room Rates
Executive Suite	Php 9,728.00
Bayview Suite	Php 8,648.00
Deluxe Room	Php 5,498.00
Superior Room	Php 4,328.00
Extra Bed / Person	Php 1,358.00

For more info:

www.bayviewparkhotel.com

1118 Roxas Blvd cor United Nations Ave,

Manila Philippines

Healthy Recipes for the Heart

Cooking delicious healthy meals for the family is what every mom wants to do.  But cooking delicious healthy meals that are good for the heart is quite tricky.  Because we are we are led to believe that whenever we use cooking oil, it is bad for the heart. 

The good news is that there is now a cooking oil in the market that is very good for the heart and for the budget.  It’s called Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil.  Because it is made of canola oil which is the healthiest cooking oil due to its high monounsaturated fat (the good fat) and low saturated fat (the bad fat).  It also has Omega 3 and 6 that are good for the heart.   

Here are two heart-healthy delicious recipes you can try using Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil.  Heart-Healthy Salmon which was featured at GMA 7’s Basta Everyday Happy cooked by Donita Rose and Pork Steak with Mushroom Bits featured at GMA 7’s Sarap Diva cooked by REgine Velasquez-Alcasid.

Heart-Healthy Salmon

INGREDIENTS:

For the Salmon:

2 center-cut salmon fillets (6oz each)

1 ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice

¼ cup finely chopped cilantro

2 tablespoon Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil

Freshly ground black pepper

For the Salsa:

1 medium red onion

3 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

3 pcs medium tomatoes

2 firm-ripe avocados

1 pc ripe mango

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

PROCEDURE:

1.    Place the salmon fillets in a shallow bowl.  Toss well with lemon juice, cilantro, Jolly Canola oil, and pepper.  Let it rest for 15 mins.

2.    Cook the salmon, skin side  down in a nonstick skillet over medium to high heat for 2-3mins, shaking the pan and carefully lifting the salmon with a spatula to loosen it from the pan.

3.    Reduce the heat to medium.  Cover the pan and wait for 3-4mins until the salmon is cooked.  The skin should be crisp and the flesh medium rare.

4.    To make the salsa: finely chop onion and mince garlic.  In a bowl toss onion and garlic with cilantro.

5.    Chop tomatoes and mango, add to onion mixture, toss to combine.

6.    Peel and pit avocados and cut into ¾ inch pcs.  Add avocados, lime juice, and pepper to taste. 

7.    Spoon over cooked salmon.

Pork Steak with Mushroom Bits

INGREDIENTS:

1kg pork steak, cut into small cubes

½ cup soy sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon ground paprika

2 tablespoon Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil

2-3 tablespoon chopped garlic

2 cans Jolly Button Mushroom Whole cut in half

½ cup red wine

2 tablespoon butter

Chopped parsley

PROCEDURE:

1.    Season pork steak in soy sauce, salt, and pepper, set aside.

2.    Pre heat pan with some Jolly Canola Oil and cook the pork cubes until slightly brown.

3.    Remove from pan.  Toss in chopped garlic and Jolly Button Mushrooms.  Sauté then season with some salt, pepper, and ground paprika.

4.    Deglaze with red wine then simmer until sauce is slightly thick.

5.    Mix in the cooked pork and cold butter.

6.    Transfer to plate then garnish with some toasted garlic and chopped parsley.

Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil is exclusively distributed by Fly Ace Corporation. 

Bloganniversary Giveaway! - With A Winner!

I have been blogging for 2 years and 2 years is still 2 years.  So I want to thank my readers by hosting another Star City Giveaway.

I will be giving away Four (4) Star City Ride-All-You-Can passes to two of my blog readers.  How to win?

·         Like Baby Neo’s Mama’s facebook page.

·         Follow me on Instagram and Twitter.

·         Share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter.  Don't forget to tag me. 

·         Leave your name and email address in the comment box – and a reason why I need to choose you as my winner.  I will personally choose the winner so be creative ;)

·         Star City Ride-All-You-Can passes can be claimed and used Mondays – Saturdays of February, not on Sundays and Holidays.  The prize is not convertible to cash.

Winners will be announced on January 30^th J

5 Tips When Travelling via Land With A Toddler

The Hubby and I have traveled with our little boy countless of times by plane.  My son is so fortunate that we are blessed to be able to afford to travel by plane.  This is because we book early on a promo fare.  But because we were so preoccupied in traveling the past year, we forgot to book a flight home to Cagayan for the New Year.  When we finally remembered to book our flights, the practical person in me cannot stomach the fare amount.  So we had a last minute decision to travel by land.

We left our place at 6AM and reached Cagayan at 1AM the next day.  That’s 19 hours travel time.  Did I learn something from this?  I did.  A lot.  Here’s my tips in travelling by land with a toddler in tow.

EVENING vs MORNING.  We took the morning trip when we went to Cagayan.  It took us 19 hours (6AM to 1AM, including the wait time and delays).  We took the evening trip from Cagayan to Cavite.  It took us 13 hours (6PM to 8AM, including wait time and breakfast).  Needless to say, I prefer and advice evening trips.  Not only is your toddler asleep during the trip, the trip is faster since there is no traffic during night time.

ENTERTAINMENT.  Bring toys, foods, gadgets, and anything to entertain the little one.  Neo was wide awake most of the time we were traveling in the morning trip.  He was entertained by food and the view.  He didn’t throw tantrums because we came equipped with toys, foods, and gadgets to shoo away his boredom.

MEDICINES and PLASTICS.  It was a long trip and needless to say my body and head ached during the travel.  People say “masakit sa pwet” but its “mas masakit sa legs” because of numbness.  Paracetamol and Mefenamic came in handy.  When traveling with a little one, make sure you have plastics with you.  The toddler seated at our back threw up 2 hours into the journey, and the mother was not prepared.  Aside from the dirt, the smell of vomit was really unbearable. 

BLANKETS, PILLOWS, ETC.  Comfortable clothes are a must whatever means of transport you are taking.  But for long trips, blankets, pillows, socks won’t go amiss. 

A SEAT FOR THE TODDLER.  Every time we travel, we always buy a seat for Neo.  This is not just for my comfort, but mostly for his.  If you have a toddler, and you’re traveling for more than an hour, treat your toddler a seat of his own. 

Hope these tips help you when traveling with a toddler via land transport.  You can also check out my tips when flying with a toddler.  Happy traveling J

My December in Pictures

 December, being the month with the most holidays, had kept me busy all throughout.  So I am browsing pictures to update you what happened to me and my family during that month.

I attended my first ever blogger Christmas Party.  Thanks for Mommy Bloggers Philippines.

Neo celebrated his 3^rd birthday J

Neo donated a book through Project Aklat.  Starting him young.

Neo broke his front tooth. L

I went home from our office Christmas Party to this – crayon scribbles in our sofa L

Merry Christmas 2014! J

Neo opened his first coin bank J  So proud that he’s already saving.

We traveled to Cagayan via land transport.  Neo and my first time. 

We attended the hubby’s family reunion.

MBP’s Winter Wonderland Christmas Party

Last December 5, members of Mommy Blogger’s Philippines, an online community of mommy bloggers, had its first ever Christmas Party.  The event was an intimate one held at Spaces by Babyland along Shaw Boulevard.

Upon entrance, I was greeted with blue and white everywhere.  From the decors adorning the place to the mommies wearing their best blue and white dress as the event’s theme is winter wonderland.

With Lally of Lally’s Reflection.

The program started with a welcome remarks from Lanie Lluch, MBP admin.  After which an ice breaker was played by the mommies to get to know each other more.

Photo grabbed from MBP’s site.

Everyone was treated to different cuisines from three caterers namely Shekinah Dishes, The Posh Caterer, and Kubiertos Catering.  After eating sumptuous meals, we were given a sweet taste of different desserts from Love Desserts.

Mommies lined up to have their pictures taken as souvenir by Yeah Shoot Photobooth.

We ended the day with a group picture.

Photo grabbed from MBP’s site.

Prizes were raffled off to lucky mommies – I am not one of them.  But I didn’t go home empty handed.  Thanks to the generous sponsors listed below, I was able to take home a lot of goodies both for me and for my little boy J

Goodies from Fly Ace, Nailaholics, Teleserv, Zomato, Trolli, Triumph, and Nature Essentials. 

Welcoming 2015!

Happy New Year! J

The year 2014 has brought me so much blessings and trials.  It has brought me a lot of joys and sorrows.  Last year has made me stronger and I thank the Lord for that.

2014 is the year I traveled the most locally because of work, and the year we, Neo and I, traveled outside of the country for the first time.

2014 is the year I experienced losing someone I love when my uncle passed away. I also lost material possessions because I was robbed (the first time I was) this year.

2014 is the year I experienced being a blogger and attended a lot of blogging related activities that helped me and my blog grow.

2014 is the year I experienced being a mom to a preschooler when Neo started attending to Day Care.

Now, I welcome 2015 with more hope.  Hope that this year will be as blessed as the last year or maybe better J