Monday, September 23, 2019

Check out these self-storage services in Manila and the reasons why you should consider storing away your belongings

You may have heard a lot about storage units in the past as there have been some interesting TV shows based on these kinds of units. Of course, while everything on these TV shows are so dramatic, storage units are actually quite boring but very beneficial to you in a number of ways, especially if you live in a condominium in Manila.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider investing in a storage unit for your belongings:

Various Sizes 
One of the great things about using a self-storage unit is that they can come in various sizes. In the TV shows, they're all just these big rooms. That's great if you have a few beds and furniture to store away but what if you just need to store your when-I-was-skinny clothes? 

You will find that storage units can come in small, medium and larger sizes so there will definitely be something for you. You can even size your own up with some storage companies, so be sure to find out more as this could be beneficial to your family.

Secure 
If you have a lot of items in your home that are a little more valuable, then you might be worried that they could get stolen. While you will probably have home insurance, you need to take extra measures to look after your things. With a storage unit, you can make sure that your items are protected. The best storage units come with extra security which includes top of the range locking systems and CCTV that runs 24/7. Some storage services also offer insurance!

Multi-Purpose 
Whether you are in the process of moving home and need some more space or you are starting your own business and need a unit to store your stock, a storage unit can come in handy. 

When using your unit, just make sure you store all your items correctly. Some items will need to be stored in a very specific way (artwork for instance needs the right conditions), so make sure the storage service offers climate-control (that means temperature, light and humidity are monitored). If this seems a little overwhelming, Moishe’s Self Storage offer a self storage guide that provides some essential tips on how you can use your unit to suit you. You can take a read of this here if you’re interested. 

More Space In Your Home 
Finally, you will find that a self-storage unit can really help you to find more space in your home. When you spend some time decluttering, you might realize that you don’t want to throw away a lot of your items (even those that don't spark joy!). With a self-storage unit, you can send all of your items over there and have a much tidier home. This is great for growing families that need that extra bit of space. 

If you are not already someone who uses a self-storage unit regularly then you might want to think about trying this out soon. You should be able to find a reliable storage unit company in your local area so give it a try.

7 Self-Storage Services in Manila
Obviously, storage units are located in Manila because we have no space! And our condos are getting tinier (and yet pricier!) by the day. These condo developers are inhuman, I swear. So if you need storage, here are some I found (arranged alphabetically):

Locations: Pasig
Rates: Site doesn't disclose rates.
Reason to store with them: They have a special offer—rent for 12 months and get an extra month for free. I don't know how long this promo will last, though, so check their website for updates. 

Locations: Mandaluyong
Rates: Site doesn't disclose rates but they say they're cheaper than their competitors.
Reason to store with them: Well, they're cheaper than their competitors!

Locations: Mystery location. Their website doesn't say! They'll just pick up your stuff and then deliver it back to you when you need them.
Rates: P200 for a Kahon
Reason to store with them: You store your items in boxes so you can control how much you spend (vs filling up a room). Climate-controlled warehouse, too.

Locations: Doesn't say where their warehouse is but they can pick up and deliver to Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Paranaque, and Muntinlupa.
Rates: Starts at Php 499 up to Php 17,199
Reason to store with them: You can manage everything through their app! I think they're expensive, though.

Locations: Pasig, Makati, JP Rizal, Taguig
Rates: Site doesn't disclose.
Reason to store with them: Their units are climate-controlled! 24/7 access, too.

Locations: San Juan, Mandaluyong, Rockwell, Balate, Grace Village, Divisoria, and 2 warehouses in Araneta Ave, QC.
Rates: Php 500 per sqm
Reason to store with them: They have 8 locations! And you pay per square meter.

Locations: San Juan, Quezon Ave, Yakal, and Eran
Rates: Site doesn't disclose.
Reason to store with them: They're open 24/7! So if you suddenly need your wedding gown at 2am, you can get it! 

* This is a guest post, with my edits. To place a guest post, email frances@topazhorizon.com for my rates. 

Friday, September 20, 2019

Review: Bioderma Sebium H2O Purifying Cleansing Micelle Cleanser

Selfie to prove my oily skin loves Bioderma Sebium!

A few weeks ago, I made my first IGTV video where I showed everyone how I remove my makeup. I used Bioderma Sebium micellar water to remove my makeup and clean my face. I didn't rinse since it was a no-rinse cleanser. And I thought that was the end of that.

Well, apparently, I was wrong! A few viewers told me that Bioderma Sebium is a cleanser, not a makeup remover. I should've used Sensibio to remove my makeup first then used Sebium to clean my face after. So that's why it took a lot of cleansing wipes before every bit of makeup was removed! Thank you to my viewers for telling me!

Since I don't have Sensibio, all I'll be able to review today is the Sebium. And that's okay because I love it!


Sebium is micellar water which is a special kind of water infused with micelles (cleansing oil in molecule form) that capture and lift away dirt and makeup. Sebium also has other purifying ingredients so that skin is cleansed without drying out. It's gentle for everyday use. Even if you don't wear makeup, if you use sunscreen, commute, or are oily-skinned, use Sebium anyway. It really lifts off everything—except moisture!—from your skin.

The bottle makes the liquid look blue but it's clear.

Now, even though I was told that it's not a makeup remover, when I do use it to remove makeup, it does remove makeup! Maybe it took me a lot more product than usual but it still did its job so I'm not complaining. 

I also like that Sebium is designed for combination/oily skin because that's my skin type. Bioderma says that Sebium is especially formulated to regulate the oil secretion with their patented Fluidactiv. It promises to normalize oil production. I honestly haven't seen any lessening of my oiliness. But at least I'm not breaking out either so I dunno. Maybe it works!


If you want to try Bioderma Sebium, it's available in a lot of places for just P518 for the 100ml bottle. Just click these links: Watsons, BeautyMNL, and Lazada. I also saw that Care to Beauty sells it at a discount—P274 lang! And please support my new IGTV channel although I still don't know what to do with it haha

Monday, September 16, 2019

My kids loved Harry Potter in Concert!

My kids had such a wonderful treat this weekend. We got to watch Harry Potter in Concert! It's like watching the movie but with a real orchestra playing the music. Yes, a real live orchestra accompanying the movie. They played the entire musical score from opening scene up to the end credits! It was fantastic!

My kids just discovered Harry Potter this year. We're now reading Prisoner of Azkaban. It's slow work but I guess that's better kasi nasasamsam talaga nila lahat ng details. Reading Harry Potter aloud to the kids is very tiring (their Papa does most of the work) but it's nice to revisit one of my favorite stories with three of my most favorite people in the world. Imagine watching it on the big screen with a live musical performance! We had such a fabulous time and it was also so nice seeing my other mommy friends at the Theater at Solaire!

Me with my little Harry!
Aliza Apostol
Marie Field-Faith
Kat Maderazo
Harry Potter in Concert is produced by CC: Concepts, a really young music production company with a mission to make music mainstream. I like that they chose Harry Potter because its fan base is kids. It's good to introduce orchestra music to young children. My father, grandfather, and my grade school music teacher did that to me and I developed a liking to identifying instruments while listening to classical music.



It sounds hoity-toity but it's not really. I think it made me smarter and calmer. More human. I'm not like my husband who can identify composers and symphonies and operas at a drop of a hat. He's obviously more sophisticated than I am, but we share the same love for music and how it sweeps through the soul. I think every human being should know how that feels, and if we start our kids young on a steady diet of music, it will strengthen their mind and soul. I really believe this!

I should apply it more, though. I'm always too busy to be more mindful of my kids' music education. But Harry Potter in Concert was a great experience for them. They loved hearing the music live. The performance was actually so good, the kids didn't realize the music was actually being performed right in front of them. Fantastic job to conductor Gerard Salonga and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra!

 
 

And congratulations to CC: Concepts for such a successful show. Please produce all 8 movies please! Then do a Disney one, too. And Avengers. And Star Wars. And Lord of the Rings!!! Omigosh, please do Lord of the Rings!!!

For upcoming CC: Concepts shows, please visit their Facebook page.

*mommy-and-kids photos from CC: Concepts Facebook page.