GOING GAGA OVER SHOPBACK'S CASH BACK

March 3, 2016, 10:07 pm

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I was invited by SHOPBACKa couple of weeks ago to experience the newest cashback site on the internet today. I've never personally shopped through a cashback website before so I was really excited to try because - SHOPPING! You can count me in any time, any day especially if I don't need to leave the house, let alone my work-at-home desk. I just don't have patience with the worsening metro traffic anymore. So read along because I will be sharing some juicy shopping bits and pieces.

If you frequent  online stores like Lazada, Zalora, Galleon.PH, Bench, and Melissa as well as travel booking and accommodation sites like TravelBook and Agoda then you are in for a sweet treat with ShopBack.ph! Every time you shop through ShopBack.ph you will be getting some of your money back which will save you a lot if you prefer shopping online. Cashbacks range from around 1% to a whopping 12%. CHECK OUT ALL THE PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS HERE 

WHAT IS SHOPBACK.PH? 

ShopBack.ph is a cashback site that pays us, shoppers, to shop online. Consumer payments come in the form of savings - no need to line up to claim for reimbursement. Easy peasy! ShopBack already has a foothold in Singapore and Malaysia and they are looking to expand in the Philippines and the rest of southeast Asia.

Sounds complicated? Nah, let me give you a little explanation. When you go to ShopBack.ph, you'll see a list of merchants stores. You just need to click through the SHOP NOW button and a new window will lead you to your favorite online store so you can browse and shop to your heart's content. After you make your purchase, the cashback will be reflected in your ShopBack account. You may opt to have your cash backs sent to your bank account or your Paypal account.

When you see this button, just click it! Don't think twice because you save anyway. Now online shopping is not just convenient, fun and exciting - it's now even rewarding.

HOW SHOPBACK.PH WORKS? 

This is the first page that you will see when you visit the ShopBack.ph website. It was cleverly made to be honest. Be warned that you'd be a little overwhelmed to see all the cash back offers so as early as now while you are reading my blog, think about which stores to visit later.

For this post, I am going to share with you my ShopBack transaction when my mom requested me to buy her an ASUS PowerBank. Of course, I had to get something for myself also so I bought myself a nail polish. Both items were bought from Lazada through ShopBack which gives me up to 4% cashback.

I chose to shop at Lazada so I clicked the corresponding merchant button. A pop-up window appeared that has all the details about the cashback tiers as well as the ongoing promotion/sale. Ain't I lucky? Cashback for the leap year sale is almost double the normal cashback rate (I'm going to be receiving 2.5% of my total purchase price).

After reading everything in the pop-up window, all I had to do next was to click on the SHOP NOW button which led me to the Lazada website. Before the Laza website opened I saw another window that reminded me that my cashback will be added to my account within 15 days. Frankly, it made me more excited to shop. ShopBack is such a huge enabler! LOL!

I then browsed through the Lazada website and searched for the items that I planned to buy. Click, click, add to cart, pay! Now, all I have to do is to wait for my items to be sent to my address. Easy, no sweat, shopped like a pro!

I received an email from ShopBack after my successful transaction with Lazada.

And oh yes, you can get extra savings too when you shop online. Sign up through my referral code LMKSHOPBACK to get an extra Php100 pesos when you sign-up and another Php100 when you make your first purchase.

I hope I made you understand how ShopBack.ph works. For more information or if you have any question, leave a comment below or visit the ShopBack website and start saving while shopping. Happy shopping!

LET'S CONNECT

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SAVE MONEY EVERYDAY USING VOUCHER CODES

February 28, 2016, 9:40 am

≫ Next: EASTER 2016 EGG HUNTING EVENTS IN THE METRO

≪ Previous: GOING GAGA OVER SHOPBACK'S CASH BACK

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I have never been the best saver all my life. I would splurge and shop every chance I get. I would make wish lists and hunt each item down until I scratch everything in my list. I always console myself when I look into my bank account that I did all that shopping because I deserve a reward for working so hard, for working all-night, for working the graveyard shift, for meeting all my deliverables, for finishing all the performance reviews, for just about anything that I feel I worked hard for. Don't get me wrong, I still saved some (apart from my emergency fund) but not substantial enough to finance a year-long sabbatical. My shopaholic attitude may have afforded me all the material things I wanted but every time I open a shopping bag or box I feel like my life span had another extension. You may call it happy-go-lucky attitude but that's what made me happy at some point in time.

The entry and surge of popularity of online shopping websites just depleted my savings even more. I have high-speed internet at home as well which made online shopping much more convenient. It was so easy to browse and click and send everything I like to my cart and then eventually click the check-out button. All that careless and thoughtless shopping attitude changed when I became pregnant with my daughter, Viktoria Summer.



I began to carefully choose the items I plan to buy and I always check the "on sale" items first. I cautiously go through my online cart before paying for the items. I would search for discount codes, voucher codes, and tag all the codes that my bank send me so I can use them for my shopping trips and schedules. I would even check last minute hotel deals before booking for our regular family staycations. I became a big follower of the show "Extreme Couponing" and even wished I am living in the United States so I could do hardcore couponing. The deal is that I wanted to save every single peso I can save so I can help save up for the future of our family especially my daughter.

Saving money every single day has become quite a bit of an obsession at some point. I would open all my purses and collect all the coins stashed in every pocket. I would wait for store promotions before shopping and I would hoard when a regular household item is on sale. When my husband booked for our coming trip to Denmark, I encouraged him to save more with an Agoda coupon. Saving is so much fun when you know that you get the bang for your buck.

So how does one save from using voucher codes? 

Voucher codes are essentially discount codes that a consumer use in order to get instant discount on the purchase price of a premium item sold by e-commerce websites such as but not limited to Lazada, Zalora, Agoda, Sephora and Ensogo among others. Instead of the usual newspaper clipping or product tab that you have to peel from packaging, voucher codes can be collected online from sites like myvouchercodes.ph.

MyVoucherCodes.PH does not only offer voucher codes for fashion and electronics. The website also showcases a wide array of e-commerce merchant site codes which cover home furnishings, consumer durables, as well as tourism packages (hotel and airline reservations).

Using voucher codes is just one way to save for every purchase that you make. This is not an excuse for me to go back to my old shopping habits though. I'm now a wiser shopper and I plan to shop and save every chance I get.

Have you tried to use voucher codes? How was your experience? Let me know by leaving a comment. I am looking forward to hear back from you.

LET'S CONNECT

EASTER 2016 EGG HUNTING EVENTS IN THE METRO

March 13, 2016, 10:04 am

≫ Next: KT COOKS: BAKED MAGNOLIA CHICKEN WITH DRIED ROSEMARY AND FRESH THYME

≪ Previous: SAVE MONEY EVERYDAY USING VOUCHER CODES

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I am not yet sure if I am going to bring Summer to any Easter egg hunting events this year. My husband will be overseas again so it would be a little difficult for us to hop (pun intended) from one event to another. Maybe we will just pick one and be fine with that nonetheless. Maybe a staycation in a hotel would be a better option so we can be home away from home. I'm not looking at the possibility of an out of town because of the horrendous traffic of going out of Metro Manila and coming home with other vacationers. I really haven't made up my mind yet and I am still in the process of looking for the best deals that would give us the best memories. I want to bring Summer to an event that she would enjoy at the very least.

I've observed that Summer likes being around with other kids. She shows interest in what other kids are doing so I am inclined to think that she would enjoy hunting eggs with kiddie company. She's used to being with adults that I think it is good for her social skills development to be exposed to kids her age. Do one-year-olds go and hunt eggs though? Let me know if this activity would pose more harm than good to her.

At any rate, I would still like to share with you the places where you can go egg hunting in Metro Manila this year.

THE GRAND EASTER HOLIDAY AT MAKATI SHANGRI-LA
The Easter Adventures of Rafa the Rabbit
#GrandEasterHoliday
Easter Fair:March 24-26, 2016 (free for all in-house guests only; Php600 door charge for walk-in)
Activities: Movie screening for kids, egg painting, cupcake decorating, Lego and Megablocks play tables, rabbits petting zoo and bouncy castle
Easter Egg Hunting:March 27, 2016 11AM to 2PM(entrance fee: Php1000 adult or child inclusive of 3 food stubs and 1 beverage stub)

CANDY WONDERLAND AT DIAMOND HOTEL
Candy Wonderland Sugarland Playground
Easter Event at the Diamond Ballroom
March 27, 2016 10AM to 2PM (entrance fee: Php1000 nett per person inclusive of a take home snack box)
Activities: Face and egg painting, cupcake decorating, photo booth, games, glimmer tattoo, kids' salon, musical instrument, and loot bags (Kids in their candyland-inspired costume will get a chance to win exciting prizes.)
Visit Diamond Hotel's website for more details

ESTERRIFIC SUNDAY AT ACTIVE FUN
March 27, 2016 at Bonifacio High Street 9AM / Fairview Terraces 10AM (Php650 for FunClub members and Php250 for every adult companion)
Activities: egg hunting, arts and crafts with free art set, mascot and magic shows, face painting, games and prizes, free photo booth, raffle draw, kiddie snacks and Easter goody bag.

EASTER CROSSOVER AT DUSIT THANI MANILA
Easter Event: March 27, 2016 11:30AM to 2:30PM 
Activities: Magic show, face painting, balloon twisting, arts and crafts, egg hunting and loot bags for kids who will join the Easter Crossover. (Php2500 net per person - inclusive of unlimited soda, iced tea and chilled juices / Php2950 net per person - inclusive of unlimited soda, iced tea, chilled juices, red and white wine and chandon / Kids rate - Php1,250 net - maximum of 2 kids, 14 years old and below, free of charge when dining with their families)

SWEET PATISSERIE AT SHANGRI-LA PLAZA
Easter Party 2016
#ShangEasterParty
March 27, 2016, 1PM to 4PM
Activities: Fun games, adventure, prizes and so much more

EASTER EGG HUNT WITH DIBO THE GIFT DRAGON
Monet Ballroom Novotel Manila Araneta Center
March 27, 2016 2PM (Php1,617.90 net per person)
Activities: Dibo Show, food, prizes, games, magic show, acrobat and many more

PETER BEAR EASTER ADVENTURE
The Peninsula Manila 
#PenDaysOfEaster
March 27, 2016 egg hunting at Escolta (for in-house guests) Easter Sunday brunch
Activities: Join Peter Bear for loads of Easter adventure and fun

There's my list! If you will attend any of the easter egg hunting activities above and you see me and Summer, please don't hesitate to say hello. Let me know as well if you have more suggestions apart from the events I listed. Have loads of fun and lots of luck as you hunt for eggs. May you be showered with an abundance of blessing as you renew your faith, hope and love and remember that reason for the season - the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ! 

LET'S CONNECT

KT COOKS: BAKED MAGNOLIA CHICKEN WITH DRIED ROSEMARY AND FRESH THYME

March 29, 2016, 7:56 am

≫ Next: OLX SELLEBRATE SUMMER: The Ultimate Summer Naksperience Promo

≪ Previous: EASTER 2016 EGG HUNTING EVENTS IN THE METRO

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When my college classmate asked me if she can visit our house, I agreed almost instantaneously. We haven't seen each other for almost a year and it would be nice to catch up once again. She left her office around 3PM so I decided to cook something for dinner. I'm sure she misses home-cooked meals a lot.

I wanted to cook something "Masarap, Masustansya at Kayang-kaya" and I know a chicken dish won't disappoint. I thawed the Magnolia Whole Chicken and started preparing for the dish.

BEST WAY TO THAW CHICKEN:
The best way to safely and quickly thaw chicken is to use a cold water bath. Submerge tightly sealed frozen chicken in a bowl of cold water (ice water is fine). Turn on the tap to slowly run cold water to make the thawing faster. 

TIME: You need a total of 2 hours and 10 minutes when cooking this recipe. The prep time includes thawing the chicken, chopping the ingredients and using the spice rub. The inactive time is used to marinate the chicken. The cooking time is for baking the chicken. Be sure to turn the chicken so the skin will be brown and crispy on both sides if you use a pan instead of a rotiserrie. This also ensures that the chicken is cooked well. 

This recipe yields at least 7 servings and each serving costs around Php60.

TRIVIA: Did you know that - the SMFI Poultry Business, which uses the brand Magnolia Fresh Chicken, had its beginnings in 1953 when the first B-Meg feedmill in Balintawak began converting by-products of beer production from the Polo Brewery into animal's feeds? In 1972, the company's integrated poultry operations started with its first breeder farm in Cavite. The first chicken processing plant which produced the trade mark Magnolia Fresh Chicken was set up in Muntinlupa in 1973. -SOURCE

LET'S START COOKIN' OUR PRETTY CHICKEN!

Here's a video of the whole process on how to prepare this dish: (video available in HD)

It's super easy to prepare, isn't it? You're guaranteed a juicy chicken meat and crispy chicken skin if you follow the steps. When making this recipe, I always choose Magnolia Fresh Chicken because I know that extra care and quality control was exercised in producing the chicken for consumers like me. What I like about SMPFC products is the quality. It's always fool proof to use premium and truly fresh ingredients when preparing food especially for home-cooked meals/dishes. 

Let me know by leaving a comment below if you decide to make this easy peasy chicken recipe as well and of course make sure to use nothing but Magnolia Fresh Chilled Whole Chicken for best results. Truly masarap, masustansya at kayang-kaya!

DISCLOSURE:This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Bloggers Love Chicken Blog Contest. As usual, all thoughts, opinions as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own. I bought the product using my own money and was not provided in whole or in part by the product/brand mentioned. 

Enjoy the recipe and let me know if you have any question! 

LET'S CONNECT

OLX SELLEBRATE SUMMER: The Ultimate Summer Naksperience Promo

March 30, 2016, 1:03 am

≫ Next: KT COOKS: ARRABIATA SPAGHETTI WITH PUREFOODS SEXY CHIX SHREDDED CHICKEN

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Aside from the fact that we have "summer" in our house forever because our little one Summer, the summer season was officially declared in the Philippines by PAG-ASA (Philippine Weather Bureau) already. This means vacations are in order, seemingly endless supply of ice cream and halo-halo are in order, skyrocketing electricity bill among others. But as it is, I will always welcome summer with open arms.

How about you? Do you also look forward to summer? We currently do not have any vacations lined up this summer because we will spend our summer in another part of the globe and that is something I am looking forward to. I am however very much open to impromptu summer getaways nonetheless. To prepare for these impromptu getaways, which aren't necessarily within budget so to speak, I am planning to sell items over the internet (spring cleaning in the summertime), such as OLX.

OLX is a global brand which provides local communities a vibrant market to discover opportunities that improve lives by earning extra cash simply from posting items that are no longer of use, and thus giving buyers the opportunity to find value to these items at awesome and affordable deals. -SOURCE

Sometimes impromptu summer getaways would cost a little bit higher compared to vacations planned months in advance so I would love to look for ways to finance these out of budget activities. Thank God for OLX, I can sell preloved clothes and shoes as well as second-hand home appliances and gadgets. I might sell books and bags too. Aside from freeing up space, I would earn some cash too as well as get a chance to go on my dream vacation this summer without touching our savings and forking a few good thousand pesos. You too can get a chance to win a buying spree on OLX plus a trip for 4 to Batanes, Cebu, Palawan, and Baguio! Isn't that such a good deal?

FULL ELIGIBILITY TO JOIN THE CONTEST

• Users must register at the Naksperience microsite with complete name, mobile number associated with the OLX Philippines account, mailing address, email address as well as birthdate. If the user doesn't have an OLX account yet, he/she may continue with the promo registration and sign-up for an OLX account after as long as the mobile number he/she will use is the same.
• After registering for the OLX Sellebrate Summer: The Ultimate Summer Naksperience Promo, users must download the OLX Philippines app which is available both on Android and iOS. Users who have downloaded the app before the campaign do not need to download the app again and can use the existing app they have in their mobile devices. 
• A user cannot use more than 1 OLX Philippines account for the promo. No cheating or gaming the system! 
• To earn a raffle entry, users must do the following: 1) Register in the promo microsite. 2) Post an ad or sell an items through the mobile app. 3) Add the hashtag #naksperience on the product description. 4) Items posted for selling must be of good quality and at least be of one hundred pesos in value and price. 
• To know how to post a good quality ad: HOW TO POST AN AD?
• Only ads posted through the mobile app will earn raffle entries. Ads posted through the desktop or mobile website will not earn raffle entries. Posted ads are those ads submitted by the user and approved for posting by the moderator. 
• One published/approved ad is equal to one entry. 
• There is no limit to the entries users can get. However, there's a limit to free ad posting. If the users want to post more ads after reaching the limit, they may do so but would be required to pay a minimal amount. FREE AD LIMITS AND COST FOR ADDITIONAL ADS

I can almost smell the pines in Baguio or the smell of salty air in Palawan and Cebu. I've never been to Batanes yet so the thought of having a chance to go there excites me to no end.

Here's what you stand to win if you join the OLX Sellebrate Summer promo:

Weekly Draw: 

Two winners of a Php50,000 buying spree on OLX Philippines each

Grand Draw: 

One winner of a Php100,000 buying spree on OLX and a trip for 4 to places like Batanes, Boracay, Cebu or Palawan. 

I say sign me up! Go gather your items to sell and post an ad because the contest will only be open until April 8.

DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post

LET'S CONNECT

KT COOKS: ARRABIATA SPAGHETTI WITH PUREFOODS SEXY CHIX SHREDDED CHICKEN

March 31, 2016, 8:45 am

≫ Next: HEY APRIL

≪ Previous: OLX SELLEBRATE SUMMER: The Ultimate Summer Naksperience Promo

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Any pasta dish is a staple at home and I am always on the look-out for different kinds of sauces for the pasta dishes that I make for my family. I love making pasta dishes because they're quick, comforting and delicious. 

This recipe that I am going to share with you today is quick, easy and does not involve any trick but the result is nothing short of magical - I am sure your family or whoever you will cook this for will surely love this complete meal. Plus points if you love chicken because the pasta sauce has Purefoods Sexy Chix Shredded Chicken.

INGREDIENTS

TIP: 
Boil water while preparing your ingredients (mise en plas) to save your time. Add salt and a tablespoon of oil so the noodles will not stick together when cooked. While cooking the spaghetti (or any other pasta), start cooking your sauce. They'd be cooked almost at the same time. 

TIME: You need a total of 30 minutes when cooking this recipe. The prep time includes chopping, slicing and dicing the ingredientsThe cooking time is for the pasta and the sauce. Be sure to follow the cooking instruction for the pasta so your pasta will be al dente and not mushy. You don't want to eat overcooked pasta I tell you.

This recipe yields at least 4 servings and each serving costs around Php75.

That's it! It couldn't get easier than that. Here's a video of the whole process on how to prepare this dish: (video available in HD)

It's super easy to prepare, isn't it? You're guaranteed a delicious and comforting easy pasta dish with this recipe. The depth of flavor is outstanding that you'll sure to love a home-cooked meal.  What I like about SMPFC products is the quality. It's always fool proof to use premium and truly fresh ingredients when preparing food especially for home-cooked meals/dishes not to mention that each can of Purefoods Sexy Chix Shredded Chicken is also very affordable and would fit right in your budget. Did you know that the chicken in every Purefoods Sexy Chix can is made of Magnolia Fresh Chicken? 

Let me know by leaving a comment below if you decide to make this easy peasy pasta recipe as well. I would love to know if you loved the recipe just as much as I do. This masarap, masustansya at kayang-kaya recipe is a must try.

DISCLOSURE:This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Bloggers Love Chicken Blog Contest. As usual, all thoughts, opinions as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own. I bought the product using my own money and was not provided in whole or in part by the product/brand mentioned. 

Enjoy the recipe and let me know if you have any question! 

LET'S CONNECT

HEY APRIL

April 1, 2016, 8:40 am

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≪ Previous: KT COOKS: ARRABIATA SPAGHETTI WITH PUREFOODS SEXY CHIX SHREDDED CHICKEN

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I started my day quite late today but I didn't get fooled by so many April Fool's Day prank/joke. I have never tried doing it and personally I feel like people who do it especially on social media just wants to prove that they're smarter than anyone or just hungry for attention. I'm sorry if you pulled one today yourself. It's not just my cup of tea.

I published my goals last month and I have accomplished quite a bit and I plan to carry over the outstanding ones and add a few more.

Here are my goals last month: 

— Organize my computer desktop. Arrange files and folders - alphabetical order. I created a wallpaper with spaces to categorize files/folders in different boxes (files/archive, personal, business, pending tasks/WIP, and miscellaneous). I like it and I am going to fine tune the document so I can share it as a freebie. -DONE!

— Review the VFS website and take note of visa application process. We're scheduled to fly to Denmark again and a relative will be traveling with us so I have to prepare my own documents and help him organize his requirements as well. -DONE!

— Create a pricing document for KT Paper Designs so I don't have to manually type in my answers when I get inquiries for my services. -DONE

— Revise the product and price list for Excellent Organics. We've recently launched new products (Grapefruit Shower Gel, Grapefruit Body Butter, Raw African Shea Butter Ultra Moisturizing Soap, Germ Buster Sanitizer Spray, Underarm Whitening Tonique and Healing Balm). I've tried using the soap and body butter and so far I am loving it.  Let me know if you are interested in trying any of our products. We currently have more than 40 different kinds of organic products for bath and body. -I never got a chance to work on this because I accepted several projects for my layout and design business. I will try again next month.

— Attend the blogging workshop I signed up for. I'm glad the hubby will be home again this weekend so he can stay with Summer on the day of the workshop midmonth. -DONE

— Install all the plugins I need for the Wordpress blog that I am going to launch soon. I'm so excited about this project. I will share the blog link when the blog is ready to be shown. -DONE

— Drink at least 2 liters of water every day. I tried 4 liters but I didn't enjoy the several trips to the bathroom. It just takes so much of my time. -I got tired tracking my fluid intake. I'll see if I can do it next month.

— Delete apps installed in my phone that I rarely use. Delete unnecessary files that I saved in my laptop. I need to free up some space in my life. -I haven't deleted a single app. In fact, I added a few more. Ouch!

— Drink my collagen supplement as advised - once a day. Even if I don't like the taste so much and the only way I could drink it is when I mix it with coffee. I've noticed a very good change in my skin especially when I wake up in the morning. -DONE

— Allot more play time with Summer. Bring her to Gymboree at least once a week so she can develop her social skills. -I was only able to bring her once. Bad mommy!

Here are my goals this month: 

— Revise the product and price list for Excellent Organics. We've recently launched new products (Grapefruit Shower Gel, Grapefruit Body Butter, Raw African Shea Butter Ultra Moisturizing Soap, Germ Buster Sanitizer Spray, Underarm Whitening Tonique and Healing Balm). I've tried using the soap and body butter and so far I am loving it.  Let me know if you are interested in trying any of our products. We currently have more than 40 different kinds of organic products for bath and body.

— Drink at least 2 liters of water every day. I tried 4 liters but I didn't enjoy the several trips to the bathroom. It just takes so much of my time.

— Delete apps installed in my phone that I rarely use. Delete unnecessary files that I saved in my laptop. I need to free up some space in my life.

— Allot more play time with Summer. Bring her to Gymboree at least once a week so she can develop her social skills.

— Publish at least two recipe blog posts this month featuring my home-cooked meals.

— Finish the 4th and 5th season of Breaking Bad. I started late and got hooked really bad.

— Finalize the itinerary for our trip to North Jutland in Denmark as well as our trip to Kristiansand in Norway. If you are reading this and you are from North Jutland or Kristiansand or at least familiar with any of the places I mentioned, I would love to hear suggestions on what we can do when we visit your community. Any worthwhile tip or information would be a lifesaver!

— Buy travel insurance from Blue Cross and apply for my Schengen visa.

— Update KT Paper Designs with at least 1 Instagram post daily.

— Organize porcelain and china cabinet to avoid breakage.

If you want a printable copy of the April 2016 calendar, you may download it by clicking the link in the free printables section below (blog footer).

I'm excited for you dear April! Bring it on!

LET'S CONNECT

KT COOKS: A LITTLE DANISH IN EVERY DISH

April 5, 2016, 7:56 am

≫ Next: KT COOKS: SALT-CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH HERB BUTTER

≪ Previous: HEY APRIL

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Have you ever felt stumped and at a loss on what to cook for your family? I have and it's not a good feeling. Even if I consider the kitchen as a happy place, there are times that I seem to have cooked all the dish I could think of already and repeating the same dish is not an option. Of course, there are times that I would channel my inner "Chopped Chef" and come up with dishes depending on what's in the fridge. Sometimes I channel my inner "Masterchef" and whip up as many dishes that I could to satisfy each family member's discerning taste.

For this KT Cooks edition, I am going to share with you a complete family meal that is easy to prepare, light on the budget and something that your family will love. And of course, I've injected a little something "Danish" in every recipe in this family meal. As my half-Danish daughter have shown quite an interest in different food preparations, I want to make sure that she never forgets the taste of food from Denmark. But fret not, you can very well buy the ingredients of these recipes in Philippine supermarkets.

click photos below to open PDF file and save to your recipe list

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS 

The key to hassle-free meal preparation is to make sure that you have all your ingredients prepared before you start cooking. Unless you take pride in always winging it in the kitchen then better be ready with every single thing in your recipe list. For me aside from adding lots of love in each of the dish you prepare, creating the ultimate food experience also involves a seamless preparation process.  If you have the prep process in check, I am sure that you will be on your way to creating "Marasap, Masustansya, at Kayang-kaya" dishes just like the ones that are featured in this blog post. 

TIME: 
Preparing a multi-recipe meal will take a considerable amount of time especially if you only have one  burner/fire source. I have a four-burner stove at home so I can multi-task and cook the dishes at the same time. For reference, time here is based on cooking on a four-burner stove top. You will use around 1 hour and 30 minutes including prep time. 

This full meal is for a family of 4-5 members and costs about Php100/serving.

FINISHED PRODUCTS

That's it! It couldn't get easier than that. It's a quick and healthy meal that your family will surely love. Here's a video of the whole process on how to prepare this dish: (video available in HD)

It's super easy to prepare, isn't it? You're guaranteed a delicious and complete family meal that you will surely love. What I like about SMPFC products that I used in this meal preparation is that they are packaged so conveniently and so easy to prepare and use. It's always fool proof to use premium and truly fresh ingredients when preparing food especially for home-cooked meals/dishes. You can get restaurant-style fried chicken cuts that are very affordable and would fit right in your budget. 

Let me know by leaving a comment below if you decide to make this complete meal for your family. I would love to know if you loved the recipes just as much as I do. These masarap, masustansya at kayang-kaya recipes are a must try.

Don't forget to download and save the pdf files above so you can reference these recipes in the futures.

DISCLOSURE:This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Bloggers Love Chicken Blog Contest. As usual, all thoughts, opinions as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own. I bought the featured products (Purefoods Sexy Chix Chicken Chunks Can and Purefoods Crispy Fried Chicken Packs) using my own money and were not provided in whole or in part by the product/brand mentioned. 

Enjoy the recipes and let me know if you have any question! 

LET'S CONNECT

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KT COOKS: SALT-CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH HERB BUTTER

April 7, 2016, 1:03 am

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One of my mom's favorite chicken recipe, as far as I know, is the salt-crusted chicken. Plain and simple, nothing fancy, but oozing with incredible flavor and wonderful result. I have never tried making it because I am scared that I would fail but I am giving this a go this fine Thursday of April. This is a big challenge at hand but you see I am a bit competitive and I seldom say no to any challenge. I've shared easy recipes in the past here on my blog and I am positive that this recipe that I am going to share today is the most complex considering the cooking technique involved.

I'm usually drawn towards easy peasy recipes but I'm in the mood for something new and the opportunity to add a timeless and delicious recipe in my recipe book is too hard to pass up. It's also the perfect timing to try this while the husband is not home so if in case I fail, I won't serve him a D-rated recipe. After all, one can never learn unless one tries and I am determined to make this a success.

Today, I am going to share my mom's recipe but I am going to tweak it to suit my taste buds. Her recipe is fantastic as it is but I want to take it a notch higher. Go big or go home!

SALT-CRUSTED CHICKEN - a chicken that is wrapped in a mixture of salt and flour before it's baked in the oven. The salt-crusting technique is something that I've long wanted to try but never had the chance because the thought of wrapping up a chicken in a salty dough intimidates me s much.

As much as I want to wow my family, I wanted to challenge myself to make this first attempt a huge success - breaking the salt crust open with a meat mallet or the back of a knife (or anything you can get your hands on in anticipation) to reveal the perfectly cooked chicken happily nested inside never fails to provide a little entertainment at the dining table and might even elicit a few gasps and squeals and even applause. If you want to impress your future mother-in-law, your husband/wife, your friends, I guess this is the recipe to try. Because why not?

If you want to keep a copy of this recipe, I created a high resolution version so please feel free to click the photo below and download. This recipe yields about 4-5 servings and costs around Php70 each. 

For this recipe, I used Magnolia Whole Chicken (about 2 kilos), Magnolia Butterlicious for the Herb Butter, and Magnolia All-Purpose Flour for the salt crust. The result is unbelievably outstanding. I'm in awe myself! You gotta try this dish!

Here's a video of the whole process on how to prepare this dish - incuding how to make the herb butter: (video available in HD)

Would you accept the challenge and try to make this dish as well? Let me know by leaving a comment below. I would love to know how you will feel when you experience the cracking of the crust. This masarap, masustansya at kayang-kaya recipe is one for the books and a definite must try.

COOKING IN SALT BED OR PASTRY (CRUST)

Oddly enough, this unusual cooking method does not leave food salty - indeed, you may still want to add salt at the table. The method, which comes from the ancient Chinese, is simply a means of preparing poultry, game, fish and meat evenly and with little loss of moisture. 

The theory behind certain types of salt cooking is that heat and moisture are trapped under a hermetic crust, forcing seasoning to permeate the food rather than allowing them to escape, as can happen in broiling and sauteing. -The New York Times

When we eat chicken (or duck), we don't carve it. I prefer to just serve the whole chicken so everyone gets their chance to partake of the dish and maybe even flip a coin and the winner gets the honor to eat the first slice. A little bit of family fun right there! This may be the first time that I am personally making this but for sure it won't be the last one.

Don't forget to download and save the recipe pdf file above!

DISCLOSURE:This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Bloggers Love Chicken Blog Contest. As usual, all thoughts, opinions as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own. I bought the featured products (Magnolia Fresh Chicken, Magnolia All-Purpose Flour, and Magnolia Butterlicious) using my own money and were not provided in whole or in part by the product/brand mentioned. 

Enjoy the recipe and let me know if you have any question! 

LET'S CONNECT

LIVE WITH THE KING

April 9, 2016, 1:49 am

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Have you met a king? I have! Kidding aside, I've met kings and queens when we were on our vacation in Denmark. I've met their portraits, busts, and sculptures - I've met them on the halls of museums and old castles and courtyards.

I've never met "the King" though. Have you? Well, I'm happy to have the honor to introduce you to the king and highlight my favorite five features of the "King of Android". Frankly, I can't wait to own one. Let's get to it shall we?

If you are an Android enthusiast, then the Google Nexus lineup might have appealed to you and the Huawei Nexus 6P might have you salivating over it's specifications. Because why not? If it's chock-full of wonderful offerings. Saying it is gorgeous might even be an understatement.

http://bit.ly/livewiththeking

How's that for an introduction? If you want the very best of Android, then look no further because well "the King" has arrived. Thanks for watching the video. Don't forget to spread the good news to your family and friends. Visit the PRODUCT MICROSITE to read more about Huawei Nexus 6P.

I am going to write an extensive blog post about "the King" and I hope you come back to read it when it's published. I'm super giddy with excitement, to say the least. You can thank me later...

LET'S CONNECT

WE'RE VLOGGING ON YOUTUBE

April 10, 2016, 9:41 am

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I've published a few short vlogs since starting our little family Youtube channel and I want to share some of the vlogs that are already live. I have so much respect for the vloggers now who have gained so many subscribers and who have great and consistent content. Vlogging involves hard work and I honestly don't know what I have gotten myself into. Editing is taking so much of my time because I have zero editing experience under my belt. I surely hope that I'd be able to get the hang of it before I hang my vlogging gloves to rest.

I currently only use my iPhone 6 because the Nikon D7000 I own is super heavy to carry wherever I/we go. I also can't find my tripod and I might have left it in Denmark.

Anyway, I won't bore you any longer with a very lengthy introduction. Let me share the videos with you and if you can spare a tip or two that I can apply in this new venture, I would be very happy and appreciative.

If any of our videos interest you, please subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/viktoriasummertv. I plan to publish a vlog everyday if my schedule permits or maybe 3x each week and make the videos longer. Uploading these videos made me realize how slow a 5MB broadband speed is, so if we ever experience an encouraging reception for our channel then maybe I will invest in a faster internet connection subscription.

Have a wonderful week ahead! 

LET'S CONNECT

THE IMPORTANCE OF PACKING LIGHT

April 12, 2016, 6:47 am

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I'm almost done printing all the documents I need for my Schengen visa application. It's my third time to apply and the first two have been approved but I still feel the same nervous feeling that I felt the first time I handed over my documents to the Norwegian embassy consul. This time, I am going to submit my documents to a third-party visa processing center (VFS) which the Denmark government hired to process visa applications here in the Philippines. I've also yet to buy new luggage sets for me and the hubby because his luggage wheel got damaged on his last flight. I also need to keep in mind to pack light so we don't incur a staggering $500 expense on excess on baggage again. Que horror!

If you’re not prepared or at least used to it, the hours leading up to an out-of-town or overseas trip can be an exercise in frustration. You have to review your itinerary, make sure you do everything you can, not to get stuck in traffic on the way to the airport (sometimes an exercise in futility all by itself!), and get some rest so you don’t end up irritable when you finally land.

That’s not all. Of course, there’s also that common conundrum travelers end up face to face with all too often: packing all your essentials without ending up going to the airport with three giant suitcases and a full mountaineering pack.

Knowing how to properly pack for a trip can make the difference between an enjoyable vacation and a nightmare trip to hell. Not just psychologically and logistically, either -- it can also affect you financially. In a blog post detailing the top ten common hidden costs associated with budget airlines, UK parking service Parking4Less lists baggage fees at number 3. Fail to pack light and you stand to spend more than you expected at the check-in counter. I have my own story to tell about this and that experience left me dumb-founded. It was such a travel faux pas. 

Now, knowing how to pack efficiently is both a science and an art. Useful tutorials and how-tos from experts such as Rick Steves online that show you the most efficient ways to fill any given bag with as much as you possibly can. That’s the science part. 

Here are a few tips that should help you get started:

1. Don’t fold your clothes. That takes too much space. Instead, roll them up.
2. Ball up socks and underwear to save space.
3. Limit yourself. Never use a bag that’s bigger than the maximum carry-on size.
4. Need to bring a bulky jacket? Don’t pack it - just wear it instead.
5. Minimize toiletries. Just buy them as needed.

As for the art part? That’s knowing instinctively which items to bring and which to leave behind. That’s something that can only be learned through trial and error, however. Go plan your next trip and practice your packing skills! Let's all wander the world one country at a time. In the meantime, I'll practice packing light. Let me know if you have a tip or two to share. 

LIVE WITH THE KING

April 19, 2016, 10:09 pm

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You're probably wondering why I am back blogging about Huawei Nexus 6P again at this point but I hope you give me a few minutes of your time so I can talk about this super sleek gadget out in the market today. I posted my first entry a couple of week's ago and I promised to give you an in-depth introduction to "the king".
LIVE WITH THE KING PART 1

Hear ye! Hear ye! Meet the first Nexus phone built by the Chinese manufacturer Huawei. Make no mistake, the Nexus 6P is the first Nexus that can undoubtedly be called a PREMIUM Android smartphone.

I can almost imagine the conversation between Huawei and Google when they were still envisioning the phone that is Nexus 6P.

Google: Good morning Huawei.
Huawei: Zǎoshang hǎo Google. Nee hǎu!
Google: Thank you for coming to our meeting today. Let's get down to business shall we?
Huawei: Yes, for sure.
Google: We decided to tap your expertise in creating the newest premium Nexus phone. We want it     to have an awesome display, powerful camera, and long-lasting battery. Those are non-negotiables. Can you build it for us?
Huawei: Those features are amazing. We can surely do it for you.
Google: That's great! It is good to know that we have found the right partner to make this vision a reality. Shall we schedule another meeting so you can present the design and specifics to us?

That's probably how their first meeting went yeah? Who knows? The one thing I know is that before 2015 closed, the Nexus 6P was crowned as the best Nexus smartphone there is. If that fact is not enough to convince you to hurry and give it a try and start to live with the king then let me share with you my Top 5 Favorite Features.

HUAWEI NEXUS 6P OVERVIEW

MY TOP FIVE FAVORITE FEATURES
(Let's pretend we are in the king's court and we are being treated to a gallery full of "the kings" pictures and what the kingdom touts as its world-class features.)

No non-sense ICONIC HARDWARE DESIGN

Google did a good job on this nifty gadget because the aesthetic is truly on point! The Nexus 6P is super sleek and ultra posh that you won't be ashamed to whip it out and use it even in the classiest get-togethers. It's a serious eye-candy to say the least.

The backside is a little bit raised because of the camera but it's not a cause of worry. The device is full metal unibody and diamond-chamfered edges. Did I say it looks really sleek and classy? Huawei clearly showcased it's best ever metal phone yet with this design. Oh not to forget about the glass display which was manufactured with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and has an oleophobic coating to keep smudges away. Now, that is a winner for me! Because of the AMOLED panel, the display has a very vivid black as well as awesome color saturation. The colors just come to life through the screen. On the other hand, the Nexus 6P's curved metal shell is crafted from aeronautical-grade anodized aluminium.  Talking about out of this world (pun intended) specs yeah?

Let's move on to an ambient room with a rather low lighting... are you ready with the next feature? Yes! A camera that takes crisp photos even in low-light. Give me that quickly. I am sold! 

Excellent LOW-LIGHT LOVING, POWERFUL CAMERA

The camera is the best for the Nexus line so far. Picture this (or should I say imagine this) - 12.3MP lens, 1.55 micron pixels!!! What I look forward most when buying a smartphone is the camera specs and Nexus 6P does not disappoint. The phone's camera is undeniably good and is a cut above the rest. The 12.3MP lens is arguably "the best all-around camera ever installed in a Nexus phone". Having 1.55 micron pixels means more light as well thus producing vivid and beautiful shots every time. Say hello to capturing pretty pictures even at night yo!

The camera also has HDR+ setting which highlights more details. When HDR+ is turned off however, your photos will process faster and will work best with moving subjects - perfect for a mom like me who takes snaps of our little bundle of joy. It's also perfect for adventure-seekers who likes to shoot things/animals in motion.

Google turned to Sony to create the 12.3MP camera sensor and it's one of the best moves that Google did when they conceptualized this thing of beauty.

We've talked about the physical attributes as well as the powerful camera, why don't we talk about the performance? Shall we? 

EXtraordinary FASTER-THAN-EVER PERFORMANCE

I have not personally tried using the Nexus 6P yet so I spent a few hours researching about the capability of this little (big) wonder. The phone did not buckle after a series of tests according to TECHRADAR.COM - gaming, web browsing, streaming live video, navigation, hotspot, etc. The Nexus 6P comes with the power of Snapdragon 810 version 2.1, which doesn't run low even when multitasking.

Qualcomm's 64-bit, octa-core processor combines a faster 2.0 gigahertz quad-core chip and a slower, but more energy efficient, 1.55 gigahertz quad-core one. The results finally strike the balance.

With all the things mentioned above, I could not possibly identify a weak-point as of the moment. Not to mention how clean and stable Marshmallow is. It's nothing short of awesome really!

Have you ever lost your phone? Are you cautious of protecting your files saved in your phone? Are you worried about preserving your privacy? This fingerprint ID feature is the answer to your worries and fears. Here's why?

Unique ERGONOMIC FINGERPRINT ID

Google decided to put one more feature to the arsenal of features of this phone. The fingerprint ID scanner is located at the back of the unit and under the camera - it's a simple recessed circle on the back designed to look subtle and restrained but still sleek and functional. The placement is perfect and makes good use of an otherwise unused space. A person holding the phone will have his/her index finger right smack at the sensor that's why it is ergonomic.

The fingerprint ID sensor allows up to 5 registered fingerprints and to unlock the phone. The sensor is fast and accurate and get this - works even when your fingers are wet!

Purchasing apps through Google Play is as easy as a finger scan away. Amazeballs!

With all the features mentioned above, you might ask how many times you would need to charge your phone in a day. Let's get to that right now. 

Superior FAST CHARGING DUE TO ITS USB TYPE C CHARGING PORT

Battery life is also a plus for the Huawei Nexus 6P. Oh my goodness! This feature must be straight from the heavens. Owning this phone would really be a lifesaver. Although there is no wireless charging support, the USB-C port is fast-charging. In theory, a USB-C port pormises up to 7 hours of use from a 10-minute charge. That could be overstated but even if you remove 50% of that data, I'd be happy with a longer battery life from a shorter charging time.

Can someone give me this phone like right now? Anyway, the USB Type-C port is located at the bottom edge of the phone. This is a new feature for the Nexus line and the new standard for smartphones in general. Aside from fast-charging, the USB Type-C is also capable of faster data transfer, reverse charging (you can charge another Type-C compatible phone from your Nexus 6P), and the cable is also reversible so it doesn't matter which way you plug it in.

My hope is that the market for accessories should catch up soon so if I need a spare, it will be less expensive.

The King of Android is one for the books indeed! I want it more now than when I started writing this blog post.

AND HERE'S A BONUS VIDEO FOR YOU: 

Have you made up your mind yet?

To say the Nexus 6P has good specs and hardware would be an understatement. This thing is so jam-packed with the latest bells and whistles it makes the competitor look like a handset from 2010. The Nexus 6P has all the grunt and firepower you will ever need from a handset, but importantly — and this isn’t always the case inside Android — it ACTUALLY feels that way too. -KNOWYOURMOBILE.COM

My excitement is indescribable. My heart is racing. I am super ready to "live with the king". For me, it's the most complete Android device out in the market today. Did I excite you too? I hope I was able to help. If you have any question, visit the Huawei Nexus 6P microsite here.

Disclosure: This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Huawei Nexus 6P Live With The King Contest. As always, all thoughts and opinions as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own and were not influenced by the brand mentioned. Sharing all these wonderful product features to you gives me the chance to win 1 of this though. 

Photos provided by NuffnangPH. Photos were edited by the blogger. Video created/edited using Final Cut Pro X.

LET'S CONNECT

LIVE WITH THE KING

April 29, 2016, 12:39 am

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I'm back and I am posting another video I created showcasing my top 5 favorite features of the King of Android - Huawei Nexus 6P.

Read up on my first two blog/vlog posts here:
LIVE WITH THE KING PART 1
LIVE WITH THE KING PART 2 - this post contains an extensive write-up about the features that I love the most. There's another bonus video as well.

Rightfully crowned yeah?

Here's the 4th video because why not? I just can't get enough fo this new phone and I really want the prove the law of attraction this time. I want this no doubt and I hope that I could get my hands on this beautiful creation anytime soon. I'm sure you do too.

Watch the video to know about my favorite features: (please watch in HD -1080p available)

Now the question is: Are you ready to live with the king?

Make a beeline to your nearest gadget store to check this sleek "anointed one" now. You can thank me later.

For more details on its features, visit: Huawei Nexus 6P Minisite

Disclosure: This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Huawei Nexus 6P Live With The King Contest. As always, all thoughts and opinions as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own and were not influenced by the brand mentioned. Sharing all these wonderful product features to you gives me the chance to win 1 of this though. 

Photos provided by NuffnangPH. Photos were edited by the blogger. Video created/edited using Keynote and Final Cut Pro X.

LET'S CONNECT

IT'S FONTASTIC: 5 NEW FONTS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SWOON

June 12, 2016, 5:29 pm

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You may not know it yet but I've really fallen madly in-love with script fonts. It's actually the perfect alternative for when you don't have time to get down and dirty with the calligraphy ink and pointed pens. I just love incorporating at least one script font in every design project I am creating.

I've purchased quite a few premium fonts lately and here are 10 of my current favorites:

LADYLOVE SCRIPT FONT
Download Here

BOULEVARD SCRIPT
Download Here

PRIMADONA SCRIPT
Download Here

BELOVED SCRIPT
Download Here

NIGHTSTAR SCRIPT
Download Here

Ain't these fonts lovely and extra sweet?

You can get all of these script fonts plus a whole slew of other wonderful design goodies if you purchase the Creative Market June Bundle. Get 79 top design elements (fonts, lightroom presets, watercolor flowers, premium Wordpress themes, resume templates, vectors, flat icons, and a whole lot more) valued at $1456++ for only $39.

Find more design deals here: THE HUNGRY JPEG

LET'S CONNECT

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WIN A WISH FROM SHOPBACK

August 26, 2016, 3:00 am

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Have you heard of people who toss coins in fountains? How about people who wish upon a falling star? How about people who wish before blowing the candles on a birthday cake? I certainly have heard of people who believes in the power of making a wish (or a wishlist per se) and I am a believer myself - nothing to lose so to speak. I take every chance to make a wish and for the most part, I love making wish lists because I believe wishes do come true in their perfect time - maybe later, tomorrow, or in the near future eventually.

I was in our boarding gate waiting for our flight back to Manila from our annual family trip when I read the email from ShopBack. My husband nudged me and asked why I was smiling to myself. I told him about the email I just read and he had a smile on his face too. I'm sure you would also smile when you know that your wish could be granted just by blogging about it. Ain't that double the fun?

Before I share the items in my wish list, let me tell you first about my favorite online shopping destination to date. I call it my shopping portal that gives back. Wink!

ShopBack.ph is a cashback site that pays us, shoppers, to shop online. Consumer payments come in the form of savings - no need to line up to claim for reimbursement. Easy peasy! ShopBack already has a foothold in Singapore and Malaysia. As of this writing, ShopBack is now the #1online cashback/rebates site in the Philippines.

Sounds complicated? Nah, let me give you a little explanation. When you go to ShopBack.ph, you'll see a list of merchants stores. You just need to click the SHOP NOW button and a new window will lead you to your favorite online store so you can browse and shop to your heart's content. After you make your purchase, the cashback will be reflected in your ShopBack account. You may opt to have your cash backs sent to your bank account or your Paypal account.

ShopBack has over 300 partner merchants like Zalora, Lazada, Agoda, Hotels.com. iTrueMart, Melissa, AliExpress, ASOS, Expedia and more - virtually all your shopping whims will be catered to from fashion to travel to electronics to food. If that isn't awesome enough I don't know what is.

Essentially, ShopBack merchants reward them with a commission for referring shoppers to the shop on their site. Instead of keeping the rewards all to themselves, they share them to online shoppers like me and you and your family and friends too.

(if you have any question, please leave a comment and I will be more than happy to help you with your ShopBack concerns or better yet get in touch with ShopBack through their customer service or social media accounts)

HERE'S A VIDEO TO BETTER APPRECIATE HOW SHOPBACK WORKS:

Now that you are more familiar with how ShopBack works, here are the six items that I have included in my wish list and these are all available through the partner merchants. 

PARTNER MERCHANT: Lazada
ITEM BRAND: American Tourister
ITEM DESCRIPTION/DETAILS: Tokyo Chic Spinner 67/24 and 77/28 Luggage Bundle (Matte Burgundy Stamp
CASHBACK POTENTIAL: 12% cashback (non-electronics)
WHY I WANT THIS PRODUCT:

My husband's luggage always loses a wheel when we travel and we don't know why. My luggage luckily always arrives unscathed. I am putting this in my wish list because I want to give this luggage set to him on his birthday next month. I am sure he will be happy and it will be put to good use as he is always traveling for work.

http://www.lazada.com.ph/american-tourister-tokyo-chic-spinner-6724-and-7728-luggagebundle-matte-burgundy-stamp-5653587.html

PARTNER MERCHANT: Lazada
ITEM BRAND: European Cast Iron
ITEM DESCRIPTION/DETAILS:
CASHBACK POTENTIAL: 12% cashback
WHY I WANT THIS PRODUCT:

I am crushing on  several Le Creuset cookware but this orange cast iron casserole would do for now. I love that it is bright and it also looks sturdy and also made in Europe. Who knows it could be the next best thing and I would love to cook more for my family using this.

http://www.lazada.com.ph/european-cast-iron-orange-round-casserole-cocotte-pot-24-cm-5866474.html

I think for good measure, I would like to include an Apple iPad mini 3 16GB (gold) which I will use for my Sing and Play sessions with my toddler, Viktoria Summer. She loves singing and dancing and I love that she can now follow moves and can recognize melodies. She instinctively claps when she loves a song playing. The iPad mini sold on Lazada are all way above Php10,000 but I guess it's possible for me to top up the price in case my wish will be granted yeah? Here's to wishful thinking!

PARTNER MERCHANT: Sephora
ITEM BRAND: This Works
ITEM DESCRIPTION/DETAILS: Deep Sleep Bath Oil (100ml)
CASHBACK POTENTIAL: 8% cashback
WHY I WANT THIS PRODUCT:

The almost 100% humidity in Denmark made my screen so dry and I still am nursing some dry spots until now. I have been religiously slathering lotion all over my body for the past week or so but it's not enough to hydrate my skin again. I need a more potent oil to ward off dryness for good.

http://www.sephora.ph/products/this-works-deep-sleep-bath-oil/v/deep-sleep-bath-oil

PARTNER MERCHANT: Zalora
ITEM BRAND: Anne Klein
ITEM DESCRIPTION/DETAILS: Analog Watch
CASHBACK POTENTIAL: 4% cashback (existing Zalora customer)
WHY I WANT THIS PRODUCT:

I recently lost my watch and I have been wanting to replace it but I just could not squeeze it in my budget anymore. This watch looks so classic and it will really make me look more put together when I wear it.

https://www.zalora.com.ph/anne-klein-analog-watch-gold-541359.html

PARTNER MERCHANT: Melissa Shoes
ITEM BRAND: Melissa Shoes
ITEM DESCRIPTION/DETAILS: Mini Melissa Classic Baby & Mini Melissa Monkey Boot
CASHBACK POTENTIAL: 5% cashback
WHY I WANT THIS PRODUCT:

My daughter loves the designs of Mini Melissa shoes. She has outgrown a few of her shoes already and these two shoes would be a great addition to her collection. She is attending playschool already and so we have to always be out of the house to attend her classes and these shoes would complete her daily OOTDs. Ahh my little fashionista is growing up so fast and her foot garb needs some upgrade too.

http://www.mdreams.com/mini-melissa-classic-baby

http://www.mdreams.com/mini-monkey-boot-jeremy-scott

But of course, an overnight stay in a deluxe room (pool view corner room please) in one of my favorite hotels in the metro would be a welcome treat as well. I don't think I need to explain myself why I want this item in my wish list yeah? Of course, we all want a little respite from the hustle and bustle of daily living. If you want to check out Fairmont, click the link and then get a cashback of 3%. Again, when you purchase through ShopBack, you save a portion of what you spend and that's always better than nothing.

You too can win an item on your wish list for free (item prize is capped at Php10,000). Now that you are acquainted with ShopBack and its benefits, get your wish list ready and blog about it. Comment your blog link below so I can visit your list too.

LET'S CONNECT

ASSISTENS CEMETERY IN COPENHAGEN

September 4, 2016, 11:39 am

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I rarely see travel bloggers include cemetery visits to their itineraries so I never included a visit to a graveyard in my previous travels to Denmark. I've always been intrigued though because I always see well-manicured plants and flowers in graveyards in church yards. It's so different than the usual community cemeteries that we see in the Philippines. It's like the Danes are the masters of urban planning in the world if I may say so.

My curiosity was piqued last month and so I decided to visit a cemetery on my solo trip to Copenhagen and I chose the Assistens Kirkegård to include in my itinerary.

Just to set the record straight, I am a scaredy-cat and I easily get spooked by ghost stories so my husband almost can't believe what he was hearing when I told him I am going to Norrebro to visit the cemetery alone. I even surprised myself and I was so determined to go and see the graves of some of the famous Danes in history.

I started my Copenhagen exploration from the Norreport Station and I walked towards Frederiksborggade, crossed the Dronning Louises Bro (Bridge), walked the buzzing and colorful Norrebrogade and then turned left to Kapelvej where the main gate was. I recommend entering through this gate if you want to be near the grave of Hans Christian Andersen.

The Kapelvej entryway also leads to the chapel. The chapel now serves as a cultural center. 

The cemetery is divided into different sections mostly by fences. The oldest part of the cemetery being Section A. Based on what I have read, there's a section for kids, the homeless, the soldiers from the First World War, and there's another portion that is being constructed/developed and will be operational and open for internments in 2018.

“It is certainly one of the most beautiful graveyards in Europe. Leafy trees, dark paths, bright open flowery expanses, temples shaded by poplars, marble tombs overhung by weeping willows, and urns or crosses wrapped in swathes of roses, fragrance and bird song, all transform this place of death into a little paradise.” -Swedish Poet Karl August Nicander 

I couldn't believe I was inside a big city when I was inside the yard. The place is gorgeous and if not for the tombs scattered all over the area, you would really think that it is a recreational park on its own. I saw people sitting on benches, some sprawled on the grass having picnic or reading a book, some people walking around just like me and I also met a couple from the US who were so friendly we had a little chat near H.C. Andersen's grave. I also saw some families bonding over snacks or walking their dogs and some cycling along the poplar tree avenue.

The Assistens Cemetery is one of the Nørrebro District's most interesting, "peaceful" and relaxing green oasis teeming with lush greenery in summer and beautiful flowers in spring. If I were a permanent Copenhagen resident, I will probably be a regular in the area. It's easy to spend hours just walking aimlessly around while enjoying the little piece of silence that is solely mine. 

There was a particular section of the cemetery that intrigued me. The people buried in the section died in the same year and their last names aren't Danish-sounding. I checked Google and I found out that I was standing near the graves of the French-Belgian soldiers who died in Denmark right after the World War 1. Apparently, all the soldiers buried there died in January 1919 - two months after the war ended. 

The soldiers were prisoners of war of the Germans and they were freed when the war ended. On their way home, many fell sick and some were even injured so they were sent to Copenhagen to rest and recover. Incidentally, there was a Spanish influenza epidemic and because the soldiers were sick and weak they fell ill and succumbed to the epidemic. It wasn't a good idea to transport the bodies more so the travel back home would be long so they were buried in Copenhagen instead. It was so ironic that they survived the battle but never made it alive to reunite with their families. I wonder if the family members were able to visit their graves.

The park/cemetery has other sections that I was not able to see so I am planning another visit when we go back next year. I'm really curious to see the area dedicated to the "people of the streets" or locally known as the gadens folk. 

This grave gave me the creeps. I was alone in this section of the cemetery when I chanced upon this fresh mound of soil with flowers that were less than a week old or so on top. I walk fast right after I took the photo and went to the Russian graves section.

These graves were once neglected because no one took care of the plots and the area was renovated between 2005-2013. The restoration was sponsored by the Embassy of Russia.

Another photo of the poplar avenue

Japanese anemones have practically dominated these graves. It looks beautiful though.

I spent around three hours inside the Assistens Cemetery and it was all worth it. I'm glad I was able to visit this beautiful graveyard. I could have easily spent another hour or so and have my lunch there but I decided to pass by Jægersborggade and check out some of the interesting shops that are have become internet famous recently (Coffee Collective, Meyers Bageri, Damernes Magasin, Sneakers and Coffee, Keramiker Inge Vincents, among other). The Jægersborggade Alle is just across the Jagtvej gate of the cemetery. If you have a few hours to spare when you travel to Copenhagen, I suggest you check out this alley that offers a variety of shops for shopping and eating. The hip Mikeller Bar is just around the corner too. I will write another blog post about the rest of my solo walking trip to Copenhagen. 

This particular tomb made me tear up. I was overcome with emotion as soon as I saw it. Little Peanut is now an angel in heaven but I am sad for his/her parents who probably anticipated for him/her to be born alive. Rest in peace Little Peanut!

ADDRESS / VICINITY MAP

Assistens Kirkegård

Kapelvej 2

København N

Would I recommend including a graveyard in your itinerary? Yes, I would and in fact, I plan to go back again next year so I could walk around the areas that I missed on my first visit.  I'll probably rent a bike and take it with me inside the cemetery when I go back so I could cover more of the 20-hectare area.

I've also listed down the names of the cemeteries that I plan to visit in Europe in the future. We can probably call this my CEMETERY BUCKET LIST:

1. Cimetière du Père Lachaise in Paris, France
2. Highgate Cemetery in London, United Kingdom
3. Kaisergruft in Vienna, Austria
4. Hólavallagarōr Cemetery in Reykjavik, Iceland
5. Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, Czech Republic
6. Merry Cemetery in Maramure County, Romania
7. Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, United States of America
8. Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland (reported to be haunted)
9. American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-mere, France (featured in Saving Private Ryan)
10. Sudfriedhof in Leipzeg, Germany

Of course, I have to admit that the number one reason why I have been enamored to visiting cemeteries is that I don't need to queue up to get in. That's right! Visiting a cemetery is the perfect example of a free and easy not to mention relaxing itinerary. Everyone's welcome! Leave your fear and any reservations outside the cemetery walls.

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KT BAKES: HOMEMADE BUNS

September 7, 2016, 10:13 am

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I've been wanting to bake the last few days and I have always put it off because I was busy building my Pokemon Go empire. LOL! Kidding aside, I decided to make these homemade buns inspired by the Danish birthday buns and the Filipino breakfast buns most commonly known as pan de sal. I did not add cardamom powder so this isn't 100% Danish birthday bun and this isn't 100% Filipino breakfast bun because I did not add finely ground bread crumbs.

These rolls are best eaten warm with coffee or tea and a host of toppings/fillings/spreads. This recipe is really simple as well and if you are scared to bake this is the best recipe to get your feet wet and for once try to break your baking cherry. It's easy but requires quite a bit of waiting time for the dough to rise and double. You will, however, love the outcome just as much as my family did.

INGREDIENTS (makes 24 rolls)

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (not hot)
1 cup lukewarm milk (I use Arla All-Natural Full Cream 3.5%)
2 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, beaten (medium)
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons oatmeal
optional: 1 teaspoon cardamom powder

HOW TO MAKE THE BUNS

1. Heat the milk and the butter in a saucepan until it is lukewarm.

2. Dissolve the yeast using the warm water with a little bit of sugar. This is what is commonly called as proofing your yeast or testing if it is alive.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients and knead well (with your hands) until the dough isn't too sticky and has a smooth surface.

4. Put the dough back in a lightly greased bowl and allow it to rise for about an hour in the warmest part of your kitchen. I would suggest covering it with plastic cling wrap or a kitchen towel.

5. Form 24 balls out of the dough.  Arrange the buns on two baking trays. Leave the buns to rise again to about double in size (approximately an hour or until the buns doubles in size).

6. Brush with the beaten egg. (I did not do this)

7. Bake at 200 degrees Celsius in the middle of oven for 15. Crank up the heat to about 275 degrees Celsius and bake again for another 10-15 minutes or until the buns become brown.

8.  Remove from the oven and place the buns on a cooling rack or a bread basket.

And that's how easy it is to make your very own homemade buns. Let me know when you try the recipe. Enjoy!

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IT'S FONTASTIC: 7 PRETTY SCRIPT FONTS

September 26, 2016, 7:26 am

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It's been a while since I last shared to you the fonts I downloaded and added to my premium fonts arsenal. Yes, I'm a self-confessed font hoarder. I love typography and I still dream of coming up with my very own font in the future. I'm going to share a few free fonts in this blog post and some can be purchased at a very reasonable price.

Oh and yes, I will be starting a new blog series next month which involves fonts and Dansk. I will be taking you on my journey as I finally get my feet wet in learning Denmark's national language. We will start with basic words and then progress to phrases. I hope you are as excited as I am.

Let's get started, shall we?

Our first font is Rabusto Script and this one's FREE this week (September 26 to October 2).  Rabusto is sweet and lovely but not too feminine. It almost looks like Master of Break. I can see myself using this font in designing book covers, cards, logos, and maybe even posters. Click the download link now before the offer expires.
D O W N L O A D   R A B U S T O   H E R E

Our second font is Mademoiselle Script. I instantly fell in love with this font the moment I laid eyes on it. If you call it love at first sight I will not dare to object. Mademoiselle is super perfect for branding, logos, wedding invitations, and quotes for Instagram. This deal isn't free but aside from being 15% off, this font package also comes with foils and watercolor styles as well as swashes and handmade illustrations. You'll get your money's worth for sure.
D O W N L O A D   M A D E M O I S E L L E   H E R E 

This next font is quite a surprise for me. If I hadn't seen a sample, I would probably think that it is made of straight lines and probably a few solid corners. But no, Mustache Script is full of handmade brush script goodness. This font package is great for DIY projects for sure and includes extra vector clipart. 
D O W N L O A D   M U S T A C H E   H E R E

My favorite artist, Nicky Laatz, is at again with another font that's so pretty and elegant. It looks really stylish and a little bit playful. This font package contains a bevy of extra free goodies - Photoshop watercolor styles and foils - Shimmer Pop, Rose Coins and Glam Gold. You can use this font for personal and commercial projects.
D O W N L O A D   M I S S   C O U T U R E   H E R E

May I introduce you to Verona? Verona is a thick and thin style handwritten brush and ink font. It is 100% handwritten straight from the paper. This font is great for wedding invitations, social media infographics, banners, posters and a whole lot of handmade goodies. Commercial usage is also allowed.
D O W N L O A D   V E R O N A   H E R E

This next font reminds me so much of Bombshell Pro. Brigitte Script is a lovely modern calligraphy typeface which looks so much like a fresh out of paper. This will be perfect for wedding invitations. Watch out for new features in my KT Paper Designs Instagram feed for when I create an invitation using this font. This font package includes long swashes, ligatures, as well as alternate characters.
D O W N L O A D   B R I G I T T E   S C R I P T   H E R E

Butterscotch is a beautifully organic, hand-lettered script, carefully crafted and then digitized by Nicky Laatz (yes, I really really love her fonts). You have to check her out as well as this font full of inky goodness. Because, why not? This font package has a bonus goodie pack too so download it now will you?
D O W N L O A D   B U T T E R S C O T C H   H E R E

Did you like any of the fonts featured above? Check out this article for 10 more pretty fonts to add to your collection. However, if money is tight and you can no longer squeeze a penny out of your budget,   BOOKMARK THIS LINK and visit it every Monday to download six free design goodies (there's always a free font included every week). Isn't that a good deal?

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BEST FEATURES OF OPPO F1s

September 26, 2016, 11:33 am

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I'm still heartbroken and I'm still not over the fact that my baby daughter dropped my phone and it has a cracked glass now. The positive side of the story is that it's still working but I know the time is ticking and it will soon be going into the dark of the night and say goodbye to me for good. I'm actually on the lookout for the next phone to buy and the new Oppo F1s is one of the phones in my list. Because why not? It's the selfie expert for crying out loud.

Here's a little confession before I jump into the best features of Oppo F1s: I am not a fan of selfies. Yes, I take selfies but either it goes straight to the trash bin, gets deleted after five minutes or so or kept in my camera gallery and gets saved to never see the light of day but of course the best ones gets a spot in my social media accounts - what else is a selfie for? However, after buying Oppo F1 for my cousin, I must admit that the selling point was the camera. I loved the subtle filters and so when I learned about the release of the Oppo F1s, I got so excited. I want one for myself! Like right now...

But first, let me introduce you to Oppo F1s:

WHAT MAKES YOU EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL?

The Oppo F1s will not tout this phone as the Selfie Expert for nothing. Being one of the selfie-centric smartphones available in the market today, it uses facial data from millions of users. Beautify 4.0 allows users to capture their very best looks. Blemish reduction has been refined to ensure beautiful, natural-looking shots that are eye-catching for all the right reasons - selfie good enough to share and be proud of for sure.

Ordinary Picture

With Beautify 4.0

The rear camera has a 13MP resolution with dual LED flash to boot. The built-in camera app is very similar to the iOS camera app so since I have been a long-time iPhone user, I am sure that I won't need much of learning to get familiar with this feature. The rear camera is very capable of snapping decent photos which I really love. I've read in tech reviews that the depth of field is pretty good and macro shots are possible too. Of course, this smartphone boosts of 16MP front camera with an aperture of f/2/0.

Apart from Beautify 4.0, the camera also offers Selfie Panorama and Screen Flash. How's the quality you may ask? The quality of the images taken with this phone is great. It takes excellent selfies with impressive detail and clarity.

There are several filters available as well - Cafe, Bright, Candy, Shine, Soft, Fade, Mono. If you love using filters, then you will love this phone as much as I do. If that's not enough to impress you, this mid-range phone also has stunning color quality - all of its 16,000,000 colors!

Photographic self-portraiture flourised in the 1970's when affordable instant cameras birthed a new medium of self-expression. The rebirth of selfie, most prevalent among teens and millenials (and maybe even little kids as in the case of my toddler) was again an in-thing to do when smartphones available in the market started offering high-quality built-in phone cameras. Oppo is one of the frontrunners of providing smartphone cameras into a whole new level - high quality, high resolution lenses for better selfies and regular pictures alike at a price that won't break the bank.

WHAT MAKES YOU EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE?

The Oppo F1s is powered by an octa-core MediaTek 6750 processor working hand-in-hand with 3GB of RAM. Yep! You read it right. It's running on 3GB of RAM. It has 32GB internal memory/storage which is expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card. I'm literally salivating now. I want this phone! This phone configuration would be able to handle my multitasking - browse, play games, shuffle from one app to another and of course take selfies.

The phone has dual sim capacity plus a single microSD slot. The triple slot tray is a welcome improvement. An Oppo F1s user will surely have plenty of room for more contacts, more memories, more music, more games, and the whole nine yards.

The OS offers customization options via a themes store and it's amazing that the lockscreen wallpaper can be changed from a selection of beautiful online pictures. It's also good to know that the device has a system optimizing app, a backup app and an office app and that's it - not so much bloatware right here!

Another point that would improve productivity is the impressive call quality and network connectivity. I've read the loudspeaker is pretty decent.

WHAT MAKES YOU EVEN MORE SECURE?

The Oppo F1s has a fingerprint scanner. It only takes a fraction of a second to recognize prints. The reader is snappy, sensitive and durable. Would you gasp for joy if I tell you that this phone also has fingerprint-activated and app launch? You better do, because it boosts of this feature as well. You can assign up to five fingerprints to do this, making the launch of your frequently-used apps faster. Unlocking the phone with either of your thumbs is super easy to do. It is also possible to use other fingers.

WHAT'S INSIDE THE BOX?

The Oppo F1s smartphone comes in a beautiful white box. The box contains the Oppo F1s phone, an in-ear type smartphone, a micro USB cable, a charger, a SIM ejector tool, a user's manual/documentation, and a clear case. The protective film is already applied to the phone so you won't have to worry about scratching your phone as soon as you unbox it. Thank you Oppo for doing this extra thoughtful step.

I'm still smiling from ear-to-ear while writing this blog post and I really hope to get my hands on the new Oppo F1s soon. After all, I need to step-up my selfie game and this phone will be my best partner in crime. All these plus a very affordable price tag and a decent battery life. Such a steal!

Here's a quick look at the features and specs of the new Oppo F1s:

1280x720 HD resolution with a pixel density of 267ppi

Isn't this smartphone lovable? To read more about this amazing phone, please visit this L I N K.  Cheers to journeying into the world of selfie-centric smartphones that packs a punch! Here's an infographic to summarize the features and specifications of the Oppo F1s smartphone:

Now the big question is, WILL YOU GO BUY THE OPPO F1s SMARTPHONE? Let me know what your non-negotiables are when choosing a phone. I would love to know.

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