Christmas Backpack Giveaway!

My son has been out and about the city wearing his Christmas backpack. It is such a cutie that fellow Moms frequently ask where they can buy the unique Christmas product. It is suitable for children 1-3 years old. This is your chance to win the lovely, fluffy Christmas backpack as I bought another one for giveaway!

Simply join my BabyBond Couture Nursing Sash Giveaway on Kero's Celebration. The winner will receive this Christmas Backpack for her child as a special token of appreciation.

The last entry for the giveaway will be accepted midnight of December 30, 2010. Will you be the lucky Mom  to receive this?

Ready for shipment!!!

Good luck!

The Cat's Eye

After a lovely Thai lunch at Lemongrass, we decided to walk around and explore the branch of Dubai Garden in Al Qasba, Sharjah. This cutie kept following us while we check on the nursery plants and waterscapes.

Al Qasba Kitty

An entry for

Never Pay Full Price Again!

That is going to be my New Years resolution. I will vow to be addicted to savings. =)

I received an e-mail last week informing that The Entertainer Family 2011 is now out. We have never bought any copy but I really want to try if it's really the best loyalty book around.

The Entertainer is a dining and activity guide around UAE. It is priced for 350AED and you can save over 155,000AED with its 2 for 1 vouchers. Adventures such as Wild Wadi, Aquaventure, and Ski Dubai are always included but I hope they also added coupons for the new Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi lol!

While we are on the subject of saving money and using coupons, you my dear readers can check out the best sweet tomatoes coupons around the net, all listed for your convenience in souplantation coupons.

Well I gotta go now and try to think ways of convincing Hubby to buy our copy of The Entertainer.Ciao!

Silk Pink Tie For Hubby

We will be attending a wedding next month and the motif is pink and white. The ladies for the wedding entourage will be wearing white cocktail dresses. And men will have to wear something pink - it could be a tie, shirt, or formal jacket. Naturally, my ever-practical husband chose to wear pink tie so he can still use it for their upcoming company dinner party in late December. That way our purchase will not be for one time use.

Shopping malls these days are packed with holiday shoppers so I am dreading a trip just to purchase for mens tie. Fortunately, there is S Buckingham, a website especially for men's accesories. I can browse and shop online at the comfort of our home. Moreover, the silk tie gift set we purchased from them last month certainly did not disappoint.

I am tempted to buy this pre-tied silk bow tie but I am not sure how Hubby would react. 

He likes to dress up with fun though so I will have to ask =)

Anyway, here are my choices from S Buckinghams mens silk pink tie collection.

Mens Pink Navy Blue Polka Dot woven Silk Tie. 

I think this will also be very suited for the New Year dinner.

 Or this stylish Mens Pink Paisley Woven Silk Tie

Since this is a formal event, I will add mens cufflinks uk to the purchase. I narrowed choices to these.



I will only need Hubby's choice and approval tonight to check out our order.

Shopping For Perfume

'Tis the season of gift giving (and frantic shopping lol)!

Hubby lets me take care of all the gift shopping but every year he has one little request: that I purchase two-three extra things to wrap just in case we forgot to include some people on our Christmas gift list. For this year I am preparing to wrap lovely perfumes for those extra gifts. A site called ApparelCandy.com provides wholesale of celebrity inspired perfumes. See examples of their perfumes below.

 Blue Dream inspired by Blue Glow by J.Lo

Unit Price $3.75 / Package Price (3pcs) $11.25

Paris Dreams Inspired by Can Can By Paris Hilton

Unit Price $3.75 / Package price (3 pcs) $11.25

Based in Los Angeles, California, ApparelCandy.com also sells wholesale clothing such as tops, pants and jeans, dresses, and skirts, including plus sizes. Visit them for chic fashion that won't break the bank. Happy shopping!

Aigner Toiletries

 If you are a horse-lover, then you will be very pleased to stay in Jumeirah The Meydan. Each brilliantly designed room is rich in leather and in keeping up with the luxurious pamapering and horse-theme, the 5-star hotel provides posh Aigner In Leather toiletries.

Just for a brief history, the cult brand Aigner began with the great fashion designer Etienne Aigner. He presented his first leather hand bag in New York and caused a major sensation. From then on, Aigner's exclusive leather creations were coveted all over the world.

The fashion house describes itself as German brand with Italian soul: precision of the German and with Tuscan tradition.  They derive themes from equestrian and so much is their devotion for the wild and free that back in the 60's, they organized The Aigner Racing Days.  They even went as far as to design the the Aigner "A" logo in the shape of a horseshoe.

Aigner In Leather scent subtly reminds me of CK Eternity (while Hubby thinks it reminds him of Virgin Vie Seduction) -- only that it is more refined, deep, and sensual. I love that the hint of wood and leather was infused in a manner that provides calming effect.

Guide To Aromatherapy Oils

After sharing a post on how to use essential oils, we move on to your guide on the ancient healing art of aromatherapy. I will share with you today which specific oil is good for what use.

A Guide To Essential Oils

Aniseed: Good as a room freshener. The aroma helps clear a headache. Use in the bath as a relaxant.

Basil: A bracing tonic, good for clearing the head and giving the mind strength and clarity of thought. Helps poor memory and induces restful sleep.

Camomile: Particularly good for dry skin. Use as massage for aches and pains. Its scent also helps lift depression.

Eucalyptus: Us as an inhalant to relieve colds. Makes a great room freshener too. promotes a feeling of well-being, provides a sense of clear headedness.

Frankincense: This oil is rejuvenating and is renowned for its skin toning powers. Inhaled, it is useful aid to meditation and can help releive apprehensiveness, insecurity and paranoia.

Geranium: An oil which refreshes and balances for emotional harmony. It also soothes skin irritations and hlps heal burns. Blends wll with lavender and bergamot.

Juniper: use as a massage oil. helps reduce the swelling of arthritis and is effective on dandruff and acne.

Kanuka: An antiseptic oil and alternative to tea tree. Its aroma is refreshing. Useful for relief of spots, cold sores, and athlete's foot.

Lavender: One of the most popular oils. Use undiluted on minor burns and insect bites and add to your bath for a relaxing experience.

Marjoram: Warming and relaxing, this oil has sedative effects to help you sleep. A hot compress with Marjoram will help soothe sprains.

Neroli: Soothes dry skin and is an anti depressant. Gives feeling of peace and helps improve circulation.

Orange: Sparkling with freshness, good for those lacking energy. promotes well being and spiritual awareness.

Peppermint: Use in bath water to cool skin on hot days. Inhale to help concentration and relieve headaches and travel sickness. is mildly antiseptic.

Rose: A great friends in teh fight against broken veins, puffiness, and beneficial for mature skin. It helps nervousness too. Either inhale or use in the bath.

Sandalwood: a relaxant that promotes feeling of wellbeing and boosts self esteem. Good for anti-stress massages. A few drops in the bath leaves skin smooth and pleasantly scented.

Tea Tree: Strng anti-bacterial properties. Good for spots and acne and disinfects insect bites and wounds. Dab on neat. A must for the first aid box.

Vetiver: Makes a great relaxant when used in the bath. Its fragrance resembles lilac so it also adds a gentle scent to bed linen.

Ylang Ylang: Calming and relaxing, Ylang Ylang has a rich scent  that creates a feeling of well being. use in a massage blend or room fragrancer.

Note: Except for lavender and tea tree, then oils must be diluted in a natural base oil like grapeseed, sunflower, or wheatgerm before applying to the skin.

Health Benefits of Infrared Sauna

Yesterday, after my son's morning swim, we noticed a sign on the gym entrance informing all tenants that the sauna steam bath facility is under renovation and currently not available for use. This is good news because early this year, tenants have asked for a bigger sauna bath - something that at least  can accommodate  four to five person. We have been very pleased with the building management  because they had been very accommodating with tenants' requests - clean swimming pool, more gym facilities, and now  an improved sauna bath. This is what happens when there is over-supply in the market: you gotta keep the good tenants happy.

Anyway, I hope the management will opt for a step up and install far infrared sauna. I've been reading a lot about it lately and it has come to my attention that it provides more health benefits than the conventional steam sauna. While a conventional steam sauna relies only on indirect heat - the skin must absorb the heat out of the surrounding air, far infrared heat directly penetrates the body's tissues to a depth of over 1½ inches. It reaches right into the muscle to soothe and relax naturally and safely. 

The other health benefits of infrared sauna include:
  *Helps treat cellulites
  *Contribute to weighloss
  *Detoxifies your body
  *Strengthens immune system
  *helps control blood pressure
  *Helps treat burns and scars
  *Helps treat bronchitis
  *Relieves muscle and joint pains
  *Helps control cholesterol level
  *Strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Home Holiday Mood!

Though we had a busy weekend, I squeezed time to put on some Christmas trimmings around our apartment.

Clockwise, you see a pretty box with decorated real egg-shell. Inside is a German chocolate truffle. Eggs symbolize birth in the circle of life, and as Christmas was a celebration of the birth of Christ, the giving of decorated eggs on Christmas Day had become a custom.

Beside the box is our current coffee table book Angela and the Baby Jesus by our  all-time favorite Author, Frank McCourt.

Below those are some holiday presents I finished wrapping at the time I took the photo. Currently, i have wrapped 10 presents. I sneak to do such when my little one is asleep. Raise you hand if you've been good this year. =)

Next are three Christmas stockings, one for each member of the family. The big one is obviously for Andreas lol! Now that's a challenge to fill, darling!

Then we have a pretty Christmas backpack, filled with cookies and toys, decorating Andreas' little corner.

Lastly, a holiday wreath on our front door. Drop by for some Christmas cheers!!

An entry for

The Busy Months Parampapampam

Breathe. I am writing this to clear my head of our schedules waaah!

November events include charity book sale (which I don't dare to miss), annual company party, Style Arabia, (still haven't decided what to wear) and a big sporting event that will come after F1. In between those, I have product reviews to do and deadlines to beat. Leaves me no time for FB lol!

And come December, we have three special events. First, we're attending the wedding of two bosom friends. We're both sponsors and Andreas was asked to be a ring-bearer. But because my hyperactive son cannot endure a one-hour church ceremony, I requested to have him replaced. Tsaka para naman hindi solohin ng pamilya namin ang wedding entourage hihihii!

The wedding falls on the first week. The second week will be spent finishing the Christmas shopping list. Hubby has to give out something to some 40+ people and I am pleading, begging for discount at Candylicious or Hereshey's World.

Third week is Hubby's birthday and I'm thinking of a spa weekend but then I have to check the budget. The best thing though is I already bought my gift for him. I am soo excited 'coz this is the first time I bought him something from my own money. Oh yes, not even from my debit card.

And the last week of December is Andreas' third birthday, yay! He is so animal crazy these days so we will probably be spending it somewhere riding-horses.

I am actually thinking of moving the celebration until next year but Hubby will be very busy with work in Abu Dhabi. And he will remain so for a couple of months maybe even a year.  December is probably the most relaxing month we will have for a long time to come.

Gotta go now and continue making these big plans. I'm so good at them LOL!