Archives for February 2014

Choosing The Right Home Office Chair

February 21, 2014 by

Among the many perks of being a work-at-home-mom is that we get to work anywhere we want. I know some of my WAHM friends spend most of the day on their beds running their online shops or writing articles using their laptops. There are those who’d rather work on the kitchen table perched on their favorite stools. A few opt for the comfy couch in the living room. Almost all of them do have their own nooks at home which have been turned into a home office but would rather stay in a more comfortable place. There are loads of other perks to working at home as well, as it can also affect youwr energy bills. Depending on how much time and space takes up your business at home you can take a look at having business energy instead of residential energy. This might help you save some money on your energy bills. For more information, why don’t you check out someone like Simply Switch who can tell you how much you might save if you can switch to business energy.

Even when you’re just working at home, it’s still important to choose the right office chair. You might say that the couch is so much softer or that the bed is more relaxing; however, there is such a thing as a comfortable office chair, you know. Ergonomic chairs are now much kinder to our bodies than chairs of yore. Speaking of chairs from long ago, you’d be surprised to know who was among the innovators of the very first office chair! Check out the infographic below:


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Thanks to technology, office chairs now are no longer just straightback chairs with wheels drilled into them. They now come with adjustable backrests, swivels, casters, and arm rests. They also come in every imaginable design and color. More than the design and color, here are some features that you must consider having in your own home office chair:

  • Adjustable Backrests. Choose a chair that has a back rest separate from the seat and that can be adjusted to your height. Something like the aeron chair could be a perfect fit if you need high levels of adjustability, but whichever chair you pick should also allow some forward or backward movement(tilt) that enable you to move while providing ample support.
  • Adjustable Lumbar Support. To avoid lower back pains, choose a chair that has excellent lumbar support. This would help maintain that natural curve of your spine for a healthier posture. As with the backrest, look for lumbar support that can be adjusted to your natural curve.
  • Sufficient Padding. A chair padding that is too soft would not provide ample support while one that is too hard would cause pain after a few hours. Make sure that your chair is comfortable enough to keep you relaxed during long hours of work.
  • Swivel and Casters. You have got to love those who invented these! They provide us mobility and help us use our workspace more efficiently, to allow for all the various Office Supplies that are needed on a day-to-day basis.

After you’ve found the perfect office chair for your home office, keep in mind though that spending hours and hours sitting on a chair – no matter how comfy it is – is detrimental to your health. There are easy ways to cut your sitting timeby making some adjustments in your daily routine. One of which is getting up for water breaks more often. You’d be hitting two birds with one stone at that – getting more physical activity and increasing water intake.

Filed Under: Business Savvy Moms, Mom's Corner

More Mom-Friendly Recipes in Store for Viewers with Del Monte Kitchenomics

February 18, 2014 by

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It’s a new season for Del Monte Kitchenomics as it airs its premiere episode on February 19, 2014 on GMA 7.  Tune in just before Eat Bulaga and pick up new delicious, budget-easy, and mom-friendly recipes from hosts Carla Abellana (Kapuso actress) and Chef Jackie Ang-Po (multi-awarded pastry chef and mom of two).  To kick off this new season, a Bloggers’ Conference was held to gather a group of food and lifestyle bloggers from the Metro.  Lunching with fellow bloggers and sampling a couple of the featured recipes in Del Monte Kitchenomics’ 100 Best-Loved Recipes cookbook was nurturing for the heart and soul (Kaldereta is my comfort food, so there :D).

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The attendees of the Conference were treated to lunch first before the program started.  I must say that the Kadereta from Chef Long of the Del Monte test kitchen was the star of the show.  Of course, the Fiesta Float put a refreshing cap to the entire meal.  Lunch pangs satisfied, the bloggers were all ears when Del Monte’s Susie Aquino (senior product manager) welcomed everyone and introduced the cooking show’s new season.  She was joined by the show’s hosts and fellow Del Monte executives in the Question and Answer panel.

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As the bloggers started asking their questions, I could not help but realize how a cooking show such as Del Monte Kitchenomics has become part of the kitchens of many Filipino cooks for over 30 years.  The exchanges were candid and without all the high-browed cooking lingo.  The same atmosphere can be expected from the show itself.  “It’s more than just a cooking show,” Susie declared.  She further said that “We’ve engaged our audience for many years.  It’s a family.  It has become the people’s cooking show.”  For this, the Del Monte Kitchenomics rises above any other ordinary cooking show.

Viewers of the new season of Del Monte Kitchenomics cooking show has a lot to look forward to.  “We have many exciting things in store for the Del Monte Kitchenomics Cooking Show viewers.  We have new faces on the show and new culinary destinations.  Kitchenomics will also be even more fan-engaging as it will be very easy for our active Facebook Fans to be guests on our show and we’ll be featuring many of our members’ Most Requested Recipes,” Susie said.  Carla also added that “you do not have to be a professional to cook with Del Monte Kitchenomics.” She shared stories about how she was inspired by her grandmother from which she got her love for cooking and passion to learn new things in the kitchen.

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Everyone can cook with Del Monte Kitchenomics.  Viewers can expect to learn recipes that are easy-to-follow and that require only a handful of ingredients.  One of the challenges of the ordinary home cook in following recipes is the need for special ingredients and equipment.  There’s none of these requirements in Del Monte Kitchenomics’ easy-to-prepare recipes – Del Monte food products are enough to give your dishes that special touch.  Aside from being kitchen-tested, the recipes are also easy on the budget.  They even have Swak sa Budget recipes on their website that allow you to prepare meals for only P100 for a family of 5.

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Chef Jackie and Carla are the perfect hosts for this cooking show.  They exude an air of credibility without losing their bubbly and approachable personality.  It’s like cooking with friends in your kitchen.  While the show is intended to help moms with their kitchen dilemmas and challenges in preparing meals for their family, other home cooks can definitely join in the fun.  Cooking, after all, knows no age.  Viewers of all ages will definitely enjoy the Del Monte Kitchenomics cooking show.  With Del Monte products available at affordable prices in various supermarkets, cooking is easy as 1-2-3.

The new season of the Del Monte Kitchenomics cooking show airs on GMA Channel 7 on Wednesdays and Saturdays before Eat Bulaga and on Sundays before Sunday All Stars.

 

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This post was written by Elmira Dulce Joson-Rivera who attended the conference for The Tottering Mama.  Elmira is a passionate lover of the printed word who opted to trade in her suits and the perks of a corporate job for more quality family time. Now a freelance writer/editor and a work-at-home-mom, she continues to strive to live life to the fullest, taking each day at a time, riding the highs and the lows with the people she loves most. Read more of her articles at http://mirellasnotes.blogspot.com/  and http://ramielspassion.blogspot.com/

Filed Under: Events, for DAD & MOM, for the KIDS, Products We Love Tagged With:

Cinema Savings for the Whole Family

February 17, 2014 by

Cinema has been a favorite pastime of family and friends for many years.  However, with the steady increase in both ticket prices and cinema kiosk food prices a family trip to the cinema can feel less like entertainment and more like an encounter with a ring of professional pickpockets. Fortunately however, family treats can still be attained by borrowing some extra funds, but always check that you are getting the best possible rates available. There are ways for you to enjoy a great deal of films within a sensible family budget.  Taking the time to plan family cinema outings can not only make visits to the cinema enjoyable once again, but can also save a family a substantial amount of money.  Many tips about saving money at the cinema focus on what times of the day or week a film is playing. However, how a family chooses to watch a film can have an even bigger impact on the amount of money that can be saved.

Skip the Blockbusters

Depending on the age of your children they may or may not care about the latest and greatest film.  Even if the little ones do desperately want to see the latest Disney or DreamWorks offering, make a decision as a family as to which one you really want to see.  Also, consider seeing a film at a cut-rate second-run cinema and save your wallet from the premium purchases prices of the film tickets during the initial marketing blitz and rollout.

Take Off Those 3D Glasses

3D glasses have become a become a permanent fixture in the cinema going experience. Unquestionably, if 3D effects are used skillfully, they can add a significant amount of visual depth and excitement to a film. On the other hand, a great number of 3D movies being rolled out to cinemas are simply using the element of 3D to draw more people in at higher ticket prices.  If you are not sure whether a film warrants the extra expense of 3D Glasses, check with friends and colleagues who have already seen the film to get their opinion of the entertainment value of seeing the film in 3D. In addition, check the online forums and discussion boards to see if people feel the 3D glasses make a big enough difference to justify the additional cost. Most film critics today will discuss whether or not a film is paying extra money in order to view it in 3D.

Skip the Cinema Altogether

Certainly there will be some movies that a family will want to see on the cinema screen.  They may prefer going to the cinema for a visually spectacular action film or the latest Sci-Fi flick. However, films that do not rely on big budget visual effects are often just as enjoyable to watch on DVD. Even certain animated movies are perfectly fine to relegate to DVD viewing.

In fact, watching a film on DVD can often be a much more enjoyable experience than watching it at the cinema.  Parents do not have to miss sections of the movie while taking their children to the loo. The ability to pause the DVD player can come in quite handy in such situations.  If your family enjoys chatting during a film, there’s no need to worry about bothering the people around you.

Skip the DVDs

For the real bargain hunters,  there are plenty of good movies to see on many of the legitimate free film sites. Hulu and Crackle are the best known providers of free films.  Recently, YouTube also has made its foray into streaming both paid and free films. The biggest downside to these free options is that often all of them will show the same free movies at the same time. However, they can still be a good option to add into the mix of family film viewing experiences.

Filed Under: Family Fun Tagged With: ,

Never Lose Socks in the Drawer Again!

February 17, 2014 by

Why didn’t I think of it before?!

Couldn’t help exclaiming that when I found another use for my little girl’s teeny hair bands! These small rubber bands keep more than my li’l girl’s hair in place. They also keep socks together!

If you have preschoolers like I do, I’m sure you could totally relate to being frustrated by how the sock drawer always ends up in disarray just right after you’ve organized it.  Some tie socks in a knot but I don’t like doing this as it deforms the socks.  Some suggest folding the socks on top of the other and rolling it into a ball or tucking the toe part inside the opening of one sock – which is what I used to do.  Unfortunately, children have a way of unrolling ALL the socks in the drawer after getting just ONE pair of socks.  I guess that’s one of the magic tricks that kids learn naturally. 😛

Fortunately, I had a Eureka moment(or maybe I’ve read about this somewhere a long long time ago and just remembered now) while braiding my lil girl’s hair.  I use her hair bands to keep their socks from being unrolled. Now I’ll never lose socks in the drawer again!  It’s also very inexpensive and require no complicated instruction manual. 😀  I bought our pack for only 29.75 pesos from SM Department Store (But I’m sure they’re available in other department stores as well).  There are hundreds of bands in the pack so even if you lose some of the bands, it’ll last for a year or so of sock organizing. 🙂

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Do you have a trick of your own to keep things organized at home? We’d love to hear them!  No, we BEG to hear them! Please do share your household tips and tricks in the comment section below. We’d love you for doing so! 🙂

Filed Under: Handy Tips, House Matters Tagged With:

Shopping for Flower Girl Dresses Online

February 13, 2014 by

A wedding is a special occasion worth celebrating. From the engagement to the actual ceremony, it takes a lot of preparation to get ready for the wedding ceremony. There are floral arrangements, seating charts, cake flavors, decorations, dresses, and tuxedos, one must consider before the big day. With so much to consider anyone offering a solution is welcomed into the experience. JenJenHouse is no exception. Not only do they provide wedding attire for the bride, but for other members of the bridal party like the flower girl.

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The flower girl is an important part of the actual ceremony. She is responsible for laying down the floral patterns that the bride will walk on, on her way to the groom. She must look extra special as she will walk right before the bride. JenJenHouse provides awesome dresses for the flower girl in your wedding. Most of the designs feature white dresses accented with colored belts, most of which are shades of red and orange. Dress also come in other colors. Royal purple, reds, and blue are common among the line. The patterns are few and far between, as the dresses are fairly simple. There are some pastel color dress and most embellishments are elegant bows and floral bows.

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Organza and taffeta are commonly used fabrics among their flower girl dresses. There are close to 70 dresses that feature some beading and thirty with lace details. Any little girl would be happy to wear one of these featured gowns. All the gowns compliment the bride and other members of the bridal party on the big day. Along with looking elegant the prices are reasonable all gowns are under two hundred dollars, with most being between one hundred and one hundred fifty dollars. There are some dresses that are under eighty which makes it very affordable for any bride.

Filed Under: Beauty on A Budget, for the KIDS, Mom's Corner Tagged With: ,
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