Making Connections That Matter: Riki Flo on Rediscovering Bonding Time at Home

     Many families are now looking forward to the start of the new year at home. Despite the hardships and challenges that the past months of quarantine have posed, there are still so many things that everyone can be thankful for, especially that staying safe at home has brought everyone closer together.

     When everybody welcomed the new decade full of hopes and excitement, no one could have predicted how a health crisis would put an indefinite pause on their plans and resolutions for the year. However, radio personality and wonder-mom Riki Flo felt blessed to have spent the time in quarantine with the company of her loving family. She says, “I realized that spending time at home with people you love the most is a luxury, and when life got too real, I was reminded of that. And though we may not have had as many adventures outside this year, we made many memories at home and that allowed us to become closer.” 

Making Connections That Matter: Riki Flo on Rediscovering Bonding Time at Home

Product Review: Mise en Scene Hello Bubble Foam Color x Black Pink Ash Khaki Brown (7K) and Primer (Pre-Color)

     Hello dearies! If you're a long-time follower of this blog, I'm sure you've seen me sport different hair colors in the past years. Some were colored in salons while most were done at home. I'm a fan of bubble hair color since time immemorial. I've tried around four brands in the past and only one became my default DIY bubble color hair dye brand.

     Fast forward today, I stumbled upon another brand that I consider a new HG (Holy Grail) after using it last December. Fun fact: I bought that brand around August 2020 but decided to use it only last month because I was too lazy to freshen the color of my hair since I'm just always at home. I suddenly realized that my birthday will be less than a month and that made me decide to color my hair so it will look good in the photos. So without further ado, here's my review of Mise en Scene Hello Bubble Foam Color x Black Pink that I bought from Glow & Hale for P375 per box.

Product Review: Mise en Scene Hello Bubble Foam Color x Black Ash Khaki Brown (7K) and Pink Primer (Pre-Color) 

Chunky Monkey Vegan Banana Bread Recipe

     I was browsing the Instagram explore feed when I stumbled upon a banana bread recipe. I love bananas and bread that's why I decided to click on the photo and check the recipe. To my surprise, it's not the regular banana bread that's perfect for afternoon tea or coffee. It's vegan! Have you tried this kind of food yet? According to healthline.com, Veganism is currently defined as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, be it from food, clothing, or any other purpose. 

     Therefore, the simplest explanation is that vegan food simply equates to plant-based. In order for you to cook vegan food, all the ingredients must be animal-free, and using plants like fruits, vegetables including nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans to name a few is what all you need. This vegan banana bread is so easy to make and made up of five ingredients. It's filling because of the whole grains used instead of the usual bread flour. So without further ado, here's my version of Chunky Monkey Vegan Banana Bread Recipe, read more below.

Chunky Monkey Vegan Banana Bread Recipe 

Essential Embrocation and Liniment Oil Brands in the Philippines

     I'm not sure when was the exact day that I heard the words Tito and Tita essentials but when these became word of the mouth a couple of years ago, there are a few things that we associate with them. One of the most popular essentials that have been linked to a Tito and a Tita is embrocation or liniment oil, yes?! These essentials are a must-have in every Tito's bag or Tita's purse and prolly you will agree that we (yes, I'm a certified Tita) can never have too many embrocation and essential oils at home. 

     If my memory serves me right, I've been using embrocation and liniment oils since I was in high school because of vascular headaches and migraine attacks. I'm not new to these essentials and I have tried many brands in the past already. I have a love-hate relationship with some brands because of minor side effects like an intolerable burning sensation when applied to the temples of my head or skin irritation. Other than that, I love the cooling, relaxing, and comforting feeling whenever I use or apply them for aches and pains. Sharing a short feature of the brands that became a mainstay in my Tita essentials stash below.

Essential Embrocation and Liniment Oil Brands in the Philippines

New Year, New Rediscoveries

     The year 2020 was a challenging one but it also made Filipinos realize the most important and meaningful constant in life – FAMILY and HOME. As the nation looks forward to a hopeful start of new year, PLDT Home wraps up 2020 with a collection of inspiring narratives that attested to the strength of Filipino families and the learning experiences that prepared each one for a better year ahead. 

     Life may have become a bit different than how Filipinos are used to, but one thing is certain – strong connections at home enable families to thrive and strengthen relationships. What was once almost unimaginable became inevitable and a necessity in 2020 – online learning, online shopping, office video call meetings, and next-level opportunities for business: digital or online selling. Entertainment at home has also evolved – grandparents getting into the Tiktok craze, children watching Korean dramas on Viu and Netflix, and even parents starting to learn and enjoy esports at home with their children. 

New Year, New Rediscoveries