Thursday, August 10, 2017

Frances Finds: Hygienix Body Care Pure Defense Germicidal Soap

It seems ironic that I'm writing a post about fighting germs when I just recently lost that battle and my kids and I got sick with the flu. Me, being the weak-lunged woman that I am, my condition worsened to bronchitis. But after a desperate visit to the doctor this week, I am on the mend!

And that is why today—after a long absence from the blog because of getting sick—I'm back! And I'll tell you about our new germicidal soap, the Hygienix Body Care Pure Defense Germicidal Soap, and why it's now a must-have in my home. Plus, I'll also announce the winners of our Hygienix Shower Rangers giveaway!

So a few weeks ago, we had the most interesting visitors at our little home—The Hygienix Shower Rangers! This super gilas gumalaw group saved our family from world germination by defeating the evil disease-causing monster Germdugo! Yes, pati si Germdugo dumalaw sa bahay namin and nagsabog talaga siya ng lagim! 

Buti na lang the Shower Rangers arrived! The Shower Rangers are the four qualities that make the new Hygienix germicidal soap so effective and attractive to mamas like us. It's Super Sulit (Green Shower Ranger), Non-Drying Formula (Pink Shower Ranger), Refreshing Scent (Yellow Shower Ranger), and last but definitely the most important, Germ Killer (Blue Shower Ranger)!

And yes, mamas, the new Hygienix germicidal soap really does have a nice scent. It's not too mabango, and even though it's a germ-killing soap, it doesn't reek of medical or hospital-like smells. It's super affordable talaga kasi the big bar is just P28 tapos yung smaller bar is only P12! One month na namin ginagamit yung soap and hindi siya natutunaw. Plus, kahit ilang beses pa kaming mag-wash ng hands, our skin don't dry up. It's really very gentle on skin. Now, for the germ-killing part, I haven't actually seen with my own two eyes how the soap can kill 99.9% of known germs but I have faith in all the clinical tests done on Hygienix soap to prove that it really does kill 99.9% of germs!

My sons had such a great time helping the Shower Rangers beat up that nasty Germdugo. Then we all got a goody box of Hygienix germicidal soap and alcohol so that we can fight germs every day!

Last week, Hygienix offered my readers the chance to fight germs, too. My followers were invited to share photos of their families in their best germ-fighting pose. The five mommies whose photos had the most likes won! I screencapped their photos LAST NIGHT when contest ended*, and here they are:
5. Imee Rafe Jaafar with 736 likes

4. Esmeralda De Vargas with 746 likes

3. Rose Ann Nardo Panganiban with 782 likes

2. Nica Enaj with 945 likes

1. Neth Saransan with a whopping 1,100+ likes!

Congratulations, mamas! Hygienix will contact you soonest on how you can claim your prize!

Hygienix Body Care Pure Defense Germicidal Soap is the newest product in the germ-fighting line of Hygienix. It's clinically proven to kill 99.9% of all known disease-causing bacteria. Use every day to protect your family from illness, mamas! As I recently experienced, we can't afford to get sick—our kids can't miss class and it's so heartbreaking to see them sick, and we working mamas can't get sick because our little ones depend on us for everything!

P.S. I highly recommend following their Facebook page for lots of funny videos and clever memes!


*Winners were chosen based on the number of likes garnered at the time contest ended. Additional likes received AFTER contest are not considered.

This post is brought to you by Hygienix.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Pimply skin managed! Thanks, Flawless Acne Control Advanced Facial!

I'm knocking on wood while I type this: My skin is finally clear. Sana hindi mausog haha but because I'm more religious with my skincare and I've gone back to Flawless for facials and consultations, I think it's safe to say that. I'm still not flawless but my skin is smooth and pimple-free for the first time in years. Hooray!

My journey to smooth, acne-free skin only began in July 2015 even though I've had pimples since I was 13 (so for 27 years now!). My pimples calmed down when I entered my 30s so I thought, "Yey, puberty finally done!" Of course I knew full well that puberty is only during the teen years but I couldn't understand why I was riddled with pimples well into adulthood. But when I turned 30, my skin magically cleared up. Pimples only cropped up during the first trimesters of my three pregnancies. Otherwise, my skin was smooth and pimple-free.

Then exactly two years ago, my skin flared up again. It was hideous. It affected everything—I stopped attending blog events (unless required by sponsors), and my blog sponsorships slowed down when potential sponsors met me. I think my bad skin turned them off. I had to do something about my face! Just look at what it looked like back then:
Cheeks inflamed with pimples.
Flaky skin everywhere.

I went to clinic after clinic but it was only in Flawless that my skin cleared up. At first, I had to go every 10 days for my Acne Control Advanced Facial (review here). Then it became every 2 weeks, plus my dermatologist at Flawless, Dr Boyles, prescribed an additional salicylic acid peel. Then I only needed to go once a month and now I get a gentler peel, which is the glycolic one.
Getting my Flawless facial two weeks ago. So pink!

But this year, I got so busy because of my work at Calyxta that I couldn't go to Flawless regularly anymore. Well, a dermatologist is like a dentist—you're supposed to visit them just twice a year unless you have a skin problem. It's a good thing then I became more diligent with my skincare—which included Flawless products—so even if I skipped my facials, my skin seldom broke out.

Thanks so much, Flawless, for making me pimple-free!

Okay, I'm still not flawless. Naka-makeup ako sa picture na yan but at least walang bulubundukin na sa mukha ko. Flat and smooth na so concealer takes care of my dark spots—acne scars and sun spots. I still have my ice-pick pimple scars. And because I'm 40, there's sagging already, plus fine lines around my eyes and laugh lines around my mouth.

Dr Boyles said I can now try Fractional Needling Therapy (FNT) for my scars. I still haven't decided if I should do that because... I dunno, maybe it's because I'm already 40 so my scars don't actually bother me. What bothers me is my starting-to-sag skin, like my eyelids, my jowl, my neck, my tummy, my boobs, my butt haha For that, Flawless said I can try their new Thermolift Therapy. It's supposed to tighten, lift and contour skin. Will decide this week on what to do!

The Flawless Acne Control Advanced Facial is just P980. Additional peels like salicylic and glycolic peels will cost more. Click here to find the Flawless clinic nearest you. Follow their Facebook page to get news on discounts and promos.

This post is brought to you by Flawless Face & Body Clinic.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

5 Fulfilling Jobs to Consider When You’re a Mom

Hi, working mamas! I was inspired to write this blog post because I get messages from my readers asking me for job suggestions since they want my situation—earning a living while being with my kids. I did blog about how not all parents can take to the blogger/freelance life (the income is erratic, for example). Now that my kids are older, I'm starting to think of a job that will give me regular pay checks, too!

Mom bloggers Nikki Tiu, Jackie Go and myself actually have other jobs!

Many moms find blogging as a glamorous career—like when we mom bloggers do photo shoots like above. But what you don't see is that we mom bloggers have other jobs doing what we really love. Yes, because for a lot of moms blogging is the platform to talk about what we love. Blogging is not the real job (although sometimes, it's the one that pays most!). I also want to point out that we mom bloggers have to wear many hats to supplement the blogging income that we do sometimes get. For example, Nikki Tiu is a makeup artist, makeup trainer, brand consultant, and HR consultant. Jackie Go is a commercial model and owns a business. Me, I'm a freelance writer, an editorial consultant, and I do PR and am a blogger handler for agencies sometimes. Lots of hats! That's because we mommies are always looking for ways to earn money while being there for our family.

When you’re a mom, it isn’t always easy to find a job that suits your needs. Not only do you have to think about finding a career that you’ll enjoy, but you also have to factor in flexibility, pay, and childcare, too! So many moms end up working retail jobs they hate because the hours fit around childcare, or they end up never seeing their kids because that job that pays well has long hours. It doesn’t have to be that way!

Okay, since I'm seriously considering changing careers (because careers for writers and editors are dwindling), I'm going to share with you mommies what I've been looking at. So without further ado, here are some truly fulfilling jobs that are perfect for moms:

1. Early Years Education
If you're a mommy of older kids but now you miss babies and toddlers, what could be better than spending your days caring for little kids? Working in early years education is a great way to balance your responsibilities as a mom with a great career. You can earn an early childhood education degree online, and then you’ll be able to work in kindergartens, daycare centers, or even as a childcare professional within your own home, earning a living in a way that truly fits in with your family life and your mommy responsibilities.

I'm actually thinking about this because I used to be a preschool teacher and there's a preschool very near my home. My other mommy friends and I have also thought of putting up a playschool, but that didn't pan out because it's going to take a lot of money! But I'm still dreaming of it! If you want to be my business partner, let's put up a daycare center! 

2. Tutor
If you love kids and teaching, you can make a very good living as a tutor. I know because I've been asking around for tutors' rates and it's about P500 an hour. If you tutor just 4 kids a day, that's already P2,000 for half a day's work! That's P10,000 a week, mommies! I'm thinking this is something I can do—from tutoring kids to teaching English to Koreans! 

You might need to go back to college to get education credits or to update yourself with new methods (like Singapore Math and the like), but once you’re qualified, you’ll be able to offer your services in any way you say fit. You could teach kids in your own home, thus ensuring you’ll be around for your own kids; you could become a mobile tutor, traveling to your clients’ homes at a time that is mutually beneficial; or you could open your own tutorial center!

3. Music teacher
Same as being a tutor, teaching music is big business. I asked around for my kids and for 12 sessions, it's about as low as P5,000 to as high as P12,000 to teach kids to sing or play the guitar/piano/drums/violin/etc. The great thing about teaching music, unlike tutoring, is your students don't need to be kids. Your students can be as young as 3 to as old as 80! You'll always have work!

Now, sadly for me, I don't know how to play any instrument, but my brother does (cello, piano, drums, bass, guitar, etc!) and he knows a lot of musicians so I'm seriously considering asking him to put up a music school with me. 

4. Financial Planning
If you have a degree in accountancy or similar, or you’re willing to get a financial planning qualification online, you can set yourself up as a financial planner from your home and set your own schedule. You’ll be able to make a good living, working around your family commitments, and you’ll be able to put your brain to good use, which is something a lot of moms really miss when they take convenience jobs over jobs they love for the sake of their kids.

I've thought about this because my financial planner keeps asking me to consider it. Maybe one day! If there's one financial job I wish there was more of, it's accountants. So many Filipinos now work from home or are bloggers and we all need accountants to help with our business. 

5. Freelance services
Last but not the least because this is where I am, try freelance work. If you have a skill, any skill, you can work freelance on your own terms. Selling skills like writing, book editing, web designing, graphic design and literally anything you can do well, you can find someone who is willing to pay for that service. For example, I write for magazines and websites. It doesn't pay as well as blogging but it's something I enjoy very much. Most of the time you’ll be able to do your freelance work from your own home, or at least at a time and place that is suitable for you and your family.

Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg, since there are other careers mommies can look at. There's selling homemade products, driving an Uber or a Grab—in fact I blogged about how my former magazine editor friends transitioned to other jobs here: Work-from-Home Careers for Busy Moms. And of course, there's professional blogging, which is something a lot of mommies still consider. If you've been a blogger for a while and hope to make your blog make money, I'm doing a workshop next month! It's another Boss Bellas workshop from me and my friend Ginger Arboleda.  

Sign up here!

I hope this post has highlighted that there are many fulfilling career options out there for moms trying to get the right work-life balance. Good luck, mamas!

*This post has affiliate links.

Monday, July 24, 2017

10 ways to prevent a simple wound from killing you


This summer, I was one of the moms that Fucidin invited to talk about the antibacterial cream. The other moms are pediatrician Dr. Empress Carlos-Villapando (with pearls), Leo Pharma president and CEO Gitte Aabo (in green dress), and last but definitely not the least, Madam Kris Aquino (if you don't know who she is, she's the one in orange!).

At the event, Kris revealed that she's been using Fucidin for a while now and in fact became its brand ambassador because she said on one of her Instagram Stories that she applies Fucidin on her kilay when she gets her eyebrows groomed. Yes, kahit tiny wounds, she applies Fucidin. She said, “I have two boys and when they get a cut or a wound, I clean it with soap and water for 15 seconds. Then I apply Fucidin agad. Fucidin is part of our wound care kit!”


Unlike Kris Aquino, new believer lang ako ng Fucidin. Like most mommies these days, I've turned to natural remedies like coconut gel and kung anu-ano pang mga herbal pahid-pahid diyan to soothe bites and heal scratches and scrapes. Of course I wash my and my sons' wounds with soap and water, but pag malayo sa banyo, I use alcohol. I'm a big believer in alcohol! But if walang alcohol, may mga all-natural antibacterial creams din ako.

This has worked for us so far until last year when my bunso had a scratch on his knee and thigh na hindi gumagaling. In fact, lalong lumalaki at lumalala. As in, it's been MONTHS. Kahit anong pahid ng herbal/essential oil/plant extract balm chorva na recommended ng mga all-natural-no-chemical mommies na kilala ko, walang effect! We finally asked his pedia about it and she prescribed Fucidin. Within two days, healed na yung sugat. Two days! Imagine that—ilang buwan kong pina-suffer ang anak ko?!? Never again. From now on, doctors win any medical argument!


Why is Fucidin so effective? Fusidic acid/sodium fusidate Fucidin is a powerful antibiotic that is clinically proven against wound infection. It is fast-acting, working on the infection 2 minutes upon application and deep-penetrating, reaching the skin’s deepest layer 30 minutes after application. It also helps prevent bacteria from spreading.


Like Kris, I have Fucidin in my medicine box because I've seen how effective it is in preventing infection and healing wounds. But after this particular month, I'm even more convinced to join the fight against wound infection. Let me tell you the sad reason why.

So the event was done, I went about my life and thought nothing more of Fucidin unless we have little wounds, but this month, I was very alarmed to learn that two people died of staph infection. One was a little boy in my sons' school and the other a mommy [GMA News: Wasp sting blamed for ex-TV anchor's death]. It frightened me because I'm a mommy, I have little boys, and I just learned about staph infection a few weeks ago! In the late TV anchor's Facebook post [Once there was a wasp], she says a simple wasp sting became a full blown staph infection, which sadly was what killed her.


What scares me is hindi ko siniseryoso ang staph bacteria. Why? Because ALL of us have it on our skin. As in, right now, while you're reading this—you have staphyloccocus bacteria on your skin and nasal passages. When we get wounds, usually our immune system will heal it. No problem. If we don't clean it and magnana yan, staph infection yan. Nursing moms who suffer from mastitis have a staph infection. The worst staph infection I got was from a pedicure and it bled and hindi ko pinansin. Next day, my toe was so swollen with pus, and the veins leading out of my foot were red. That was cellulitis—a painful skin infection. My dermatologist gave me antibiotics and Fucidin and the wound healed within two days.

So in my mind, skin problems lang ang dala ng staph bacteria. But after the two deaths this month, I learned that sometimes the staph bacteria can cause food poisoning or toxic shock syndrome. When the staph infection enters the blood stream, sepsis happens. Sepsis kills.


So if maarte na ako sa sugat before, now I'm taking wounds even more seriously. Here are the tips I found to prevent a staph infection:

1. Always wash hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds [Tip: Sing the Birthday Song twice]. Rinse thoroughly.
2. In the absence of soap and water, alcohol will do but wash with soap and water as soon as you can.
3. Do not share personal items like razors, soap, towels, etc. 
4. Do not use makeup testers at makeup counters [TODAY: Model warns about makeup brushes after getting infection]. Do not borrow your friends' makeup and makeup tools. If you're having your makeup done for an event, make sure your makeup artist uses clean brushes and disinfected makeup. If you want to be super safe, bring your own!
5. Make sure you clean your own makeup tools and disinfect your makeup! 
6. When you have a wound, wash it immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. Dr. Empress said it is still the best first step to fight infection because dirt, blood, and bacteria will be washed away.
7. Do not scratch insect bites. Do not pop pimples. Do not make kutkot scabs.
8. Do not touch other people's wounds or bandages. Tell these to your kids!!! You also, mommies, whenever you care for your family's wounds, wash your hands thoroughly after.
9. When you're working out sa gym, disinfect the equipment before using it.
10. Always apply Fucidin on wounds—big or small! Sometimes nga pag sobrang laki ng pimples ko, I dab a bit of Fucidin on them and they heal so much faster!

Wounds are part of life. From moms and dads to kids of all ages, everyone gets cuts and scrapes when playing, insect bites, puncture wounds, sliced open skin when cooking, paper cuts, mani-pedi sugat, etc etc. So since all of us get wounds, all of us should make sure these don't get infected. At best, when we're healthy, our immune system can take care of our wounds. But if we're not as healthy as we should be, then a simple scratch, a tiny insect bite, or even a silly thing as borrowing a friend's mascara can be fatal.

Okay, masyadong serious. I'll leave you with this anecdote, when Kris asked me about what my sons want to be when they grow up:


Fucidin® comes in two variants. Fucidin® cream is ideal for exposed parts of the body like the face and hands, while Fucidin® ointment is ideal for dry, scaly or cracked lesions. Fusidic acid/sodium fusidate is the generic name of Fucidin®. Fucidin® is available in leading drugstores nationwide.

If symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Climbing Out Of A Career Rut: Where Will Your Next Step Take You?

As the weekend draws to a close, I'm already plotting the coming week. There's a lot of work coming up but I'm also seeing friends, getting a treatment from my skin and body clinic of choice (I choose Flawless!), and diving into lots of school-related concerns since it's oral tests and PTC this week! Thank goodness my work set-up is flexible. It really is kind to my situation as a mommy of small kids.

Many of my Loyal Readers have emailed me telling me they wish they can just quit their jobs just like I did. Well, it wasn't that easy. When I left my employment, I walked away with a generous compensation package earned from more than a decade's work. While I agree with the wish that all moms can spend more time with their kids, I'm also aware that not all of us can do this freelance life. For one thing, the pay checks come at erratic times, which can be a source of worry especially since we have kids to feed and send to school. Honestly, I'm starting to think of going back to the corporate world! So if you wish you were also a freelancer and entrepreneur like me, think of your financial situation first. If you determine that regular pay checks are better for your family, then stay employed. Just think of ways to improve your work situation!

We all have days when going to work is the last thing we want to do. However, if you feel like this every day, it’s likely that you’ve fallen into a career rut. If your current job doesn’t fulfill you, you feel like you’re giving everything for nothing in return, you’re exhausted, or you crave more, it may be time for a change. Where will your next step take you?

Promotion
If you love your job but you’ve been at the same level for years, and you want to take on new challenges and earn more money, why not look into the possibility of working towards a promotion? Let your boss know that you’d be interested in any roles that become available, and try and make sure you put your case forward in the best way possible. Show that you’re passionate about moving upwards and that you’re committed to the company. If the company says there's no budget for a bigger salary, sometimes it's possible to ask for a higher position anyway and ask for another kind of compensation—like flexible work hours, a car, travel with learning opportunities, even a home nearer your place of work!

If there aren’t any posts available and movement within the firm is restricted, only then should your consider looking at jobs offered by different companies. Even if you get on really well with your colleagues, you don’t want to stay on the same rung of the ladder for too long. 

Relocation
Sometimes, a change of scenery is what we need when life becomes a little mundane. If you enjoy your current job and you want to stay with the company, ask about the possibility of moving to a different branch or taking a position in a different province, or even another country. When I was looking for jobs last year, my family advised me to apply to international companies so that in case the Philippines implodes, I have a chance to migrate to another country via my work. If you're looking for a job where your working environment is conducive for growth, you can check out software engineer jobs in Boston and see if something catches your attention. With plenty of options available, you might consider taking it up there.

Before you research long distance moving companies, think carefully about the jobs on offer, make sure they appeal to you, and find out exactly what the move entails. For example, will your new job pay enough in case your husband will have to quit his job to move with you? Will your kids miss their school and friends? Then again, your new office doesn't have to be a country away! You can do it the way my mother did—she found out a Meralco branch was opening right outside our subdivision so she asked for a transfer there. She was happier to be nearer our home. So even if you’re only relocating to an office a few kilometers down the highway, you can still benefit from meeting new people and experiencing a different environment.

Change of career
Of course, if you're really unhappy with your job, by all means consider leaving it! It’s important to put food on the table, but it’s also beneficial to get something other than financial reward out of employment. If you dread every morning or work is purely a means of paying bills, think about what you really want to do, and start working out how you can get there. This is easier said than done, of course, because your family needs to be financially secure before you take the leap, but when you're finally ready to take that leap, do it! You may need to study, train or get some experience, but it’s worth making changes that will benefit you in the future now.

Career break
Sometimes, when you’re burned out and you’ve been working incredibly hard for as long as you can remember, a career break can do you a world of good. Even if you only take a few weeks to relax, do something different—take some time out to travel and catch up with friends, learn a new skill, 
refresh knowledge by enrolling in online courses, or even if it's as simple as spending time with your kids and just being a housewife (which may make you decide if being a housewife is something you really want!), time off will let you think about what you’re going to do next. You can either go back to work refreshed or you can have that drive to start a new job with a new lease of life. 

If you’re stuck in a career rut, it’s time to mull over your options and work out where your next step will take you. Good luck, working mamas!