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DANISH DAYS 2016

October 4, 2016, 3:47 am
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I really love how active the Danish Embassy is here in the Philippines. Although I was not able to watch any of the movies shown during the Danish Film Festival, I am stoked that another event is brewing on the horizon in line with the celebration of 70 years of Diplomatic Relations.
#DanishDays is a gathering of many things that Denmark is known for. I am quite sure that you have heard about Danish design and there's a little thing or two that is Danish in your homes. If you want to try and build some LEGO bricks, see how wind turbines are made, try out some Danish shoes or admire the craftmanship on some Danish jewellery then head on over to SM Aura Premier from October 13-16.


I would personally love to check out the booth for Nova Nordisk and thank them for saving my life when I had to inject insulin when I had gestational diabetes while carrying my little Dane inside me. Oh and of course check out the Danish kitchenware - Bodum and Scanpan. I've been praying for the longest time that Royal Copenhagen will consider opening up a store here in the Philippines and I hope they will in the future so I don't have to stuff my luggage with precious porcelain everytime we travel from Denmark.

Join the event and get to taste/smell/touch/experience what Denmark has to offer! See you there!

While we are talking about Denmark, I would like to invite you as well to visit the guest post I wrote over at the Two Monkeys Travel Group Blog - 10 Things I Learned From My Danish Husband.

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SHOP GLOBALLY WITH USKOOP

October 22, 2016, 6:33 am
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We're traveling back to Denmark again early next year and my excitement is palpable and I could only beam with glee. There is also a possibility that I will travel with my university classmates to other EU countries and that would make 2017 a little bit more exciting. We have Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and France on our list and if our schedule permits we will probably schedule a quick trip to Malmö, Sweden from Copenhagen before heading back to Manila.

I have to admit though that all these countries in our list are making me excited and at the same time left with a feeling that I don't know where to start with our itinerary. I'm tasked to plan our daily agenda - transportation between cities, attractions and places to see and explore, hostels or Airbnb accommodation as well as the budgetary requirements of our amazing EU getaway.


In case, it is not obvious yet, this blog post will be about my travel essentials wish list. Yes, another wish list! Who doesn't love accomplishing a wish list anyway? Introduce me to one and I'll give that person a hug. Haha! Kidding aside, if you haven't tried creating a wish list, I encourage you to do so because well it lets you work just a bit more to get what you want. It's also handy to have one just in case a loved-one asks what you want for your birthday, your anniversary, for Christmas or just about for any other occasion that warrants a gift.

Before I share my wish list, let me share my new discovery and where I plan to shop for my travel essentials.


Did the abovementioned features make you all the more excited? I'm sure you're curious to know how to get started and how to start buying items through the website. Here's a quick overview on how to place your first order right now. Like pronto! Ora mismo!

Uskoop, unlike any online shopping portal, is the only portal that allows an online shopper to 
"Tell us what you want to buy" vs "What we want to see to you"

SEARCH - for products you want to buy from Top Global Merchants on the world wide web.

COPY URL - after searching for products, copy the product URL or website link and paste it at the Uskoop site. After clicking the search icon, the product's full landed price (all local and international shipping costs, handling fees, all duties and taxes) will then be displayed.

CHECKOUT - when you proceed to checkout and after paying, the product will then be delivered to your specified address at a single fixed price.

Super easy peasy yeah?


You might ask me why I like to do my shopping online - well, for the simple reason that it is more convenient, I get good if not better deals and the world is just within reach using my fingertips and my keyboard. I don't need to do a beeline to the shopping mall only to be disappointed that they have the same items from season to season. So yes, I am ready to share with you the items that I want to buy through Uskoop and if you have any other suggestions, please do let me know so I can add it to my list.


BARE NECESSITY: JACKET

Here's a screenshot of the parka from the Ralph Lauren website:  Should I pick the black or navy?
PRODUCT URL (LINK)


I'm including this jacket in my list because I read an online article that this year will be the coldest winter in Europe and so I am expecting that it will be the coldest spring as well next year. It might even be a colder summer than this year. I don't want to freeze my tropical self off while on vacation. I think it's better to sweat under a thick jacket than to freeze wearing thin clothes. What do you think? Of course, this will be perfect when we go and explore another hiking trail.

MUST HAVE: POWERGLIDE BACKPACK

Here's a screenshot of the laptop bag from the Amazonwebsite:  Can you tell my favorite color?


My laptop bag gave up on me on our recent trip to Europe and I told myself that if I will buy a new one, I better get a durable bag and something I can wear on my back or push around when my back needs rest. I think this bag fits the bill especially that it also comes in my favorite color. Comfort and durability always trump price for me. How about you?

"THE STAPLE" FASHION ITEM: LEGGINGS


Here's a screenshot of my favorite leggings to date from the NeimanMarcus website:  


Would you believe me if I say that the most comfortable way to fly is to wear leggings? I love it! I really do! It feels like second skin to me. It also keeps me warm even when the plane temperature goes down. Leggings is basically a staple in my wardrobe plus even if I bring 10 pairs of leggings it won't really be bulky in my luggage. So much win!

WALKING PARTNER: TRAINERS

Here's a screenshot of the Nike Air Max Sequent from the official Nike website:  
PRODUCT URL (LINK)


I would really love to hike again when we go back to Denmark. I just love the fresh air and the surroundings. I can walk and walk for hours without getting tired because of the wonderful nature to indulge in. Plus I get to have meaningful conversations with my husband when we hike. I couldn't wait.

"MUSIC IS LIFE": HEADPHONES


Here's a screenshot of that I really want to buy from the Walmart.com website:  
PRODUCT URL (LINK)


I did a little bit of comparison and searched a local seller of this particular headphones and this is what I found out: 

Now scroll just a little bit up and check the Uskoop price again? That's a whopping Php 6,039.52 price difference. Now that's what I call a steal! What a good deal! Oh no, not good but super great deal!

What do you think of my list? I could shop more and easily devote at least a day for every online store but for now I just need the essentials. Here are more brands with an online presence that you need to check-out now.


If you have more questions about Uskoop, please visit their website for more information. Let me make this a tad bit sweeter for you though, after you visit the site and when you're ready to place your first order, take note of this discount code: UKSHOPTEN% to get a discount worth 10% on shipping and handling. Of course, please don't forget to follow Uskoop on social media.



Happy shopping my dear readers!

DISCLOSURE: This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Uskoop Philippines Shop Globally blog contest. All thoughts, opinions, as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own and were not influenced by any of the brands mentioned. I could win a shopping spree at the end of the contest and that is super super awesome!

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CHEERS TO LIFE. CHEERS TO EVERYDAY.

October 23, 2016, 8:50 am
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It's the eve of our 4th wedding anniversary and here I am trying to recall moments before I got married, my life after the wedding, the relentless days and nights of trying to have a baby, that moment when the pregnancy test kit showed us two lines, the birth of our daughter, family time  and so much more. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and I could not have chosen any other path than the road I am walking now hand-in-hand with my life's best blessing - my little happy family!

I feel extremely blessed and for that, I want to continue giving thanks every single day. I'm actually pretty close to going out of the house right now and high-five and hug every person I come in contact with. I want to spread love like confetti. I want to spread cheer. I want to shower the world with positive vibes. Oh yes, I think this level of happiness that I feel may have rubbed off to me from my husband who hails from the happiest country in the world. I guess it's true what they say - surround yourself with happy people and you'll be happy yourself. That I agree with full conviction!


I would like to share a little bit of my family life story with you and pardon me if I get too sappy for your liking. But I do encourage you to read until the end just so we can clink our glasses together and say "cheers". Would you let me? Okay, let's start with the birth of our lovely daughter, Viktoria Summer.

"ARE HER FINGERS AND TOES COMPLETE?"

I had a difficult pregnancy. I'm one of the pregnant women who had to go through all-day sickness because we had hyperemesis gravidarum. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. More severe cases often require a stay in the hospital so that the mother can receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous live and that's exactly what I went through. I had to be confined in the hospital twice - once every trimester. It wasn't an easy ordeal and I thought I died a little every time I purge. Feeling ko maghihiwalay na ang aking kaluluwa sa aking katawang lupa sa sama ng pakiramdam. I know it's a bit exaggerated but it's exactly what I felt. You can ask Kate Middleton and she will concur because she had it too. The catch was that I puked even the medicines I took aimed to nourish the growing and developing baby inside me. Aside from HG, I also had gestational diabetes which required me to inject insulin before meals as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Kaloka! Napunta na sa akin lahat!

I had bouts of pity parties by myself because my husband was also working overseas and I was almost just alone at home after filing for medical leave from work. To cut the long story short, I survived the nine-month ordeal and I was able to give birth to my daughter. After I heard her first cry, my first question to my husband was, "Are her fingers and toes complete?" and I shed tears of joy when my husband responded with a resounding "Yes!". Every single pain I felt during and immediately after childbirth were all trumped by the blessing of a brand new life and a promise of a wonderful tomorrow. Daig ko pa nanalo ng lotto! 



Cheers to life indeed! Cheers to all the mothers in the world especially to our very own mothers!

MOTHERHOOD CHANGES YOU

I started being a mother the moment I confirmed that I was with a child. I started thinking more about the baby growing inside me and less about me. I made pacts with myself even before my baby was born. I devoured pregnancy books, I equipped myself with the knowledge that a first-time mother ought to know. Becoming someone's mother instilled in me that my role in the world had changed - I no longer do things because I want to but I do things because it is best for that little one who depends on me. I am always trying to be an improved version of myself every single day because I am motivated to be the best kind of mother that would be reflected in my daughter's life. I have noticed that I have become more charitable, more empathic, more compassionate. I used to be a ruthless go-getter and I used to think that everything is a competition. To be really honest, I feel like my brain was rewired as soon as I became a mother.

On the flip side, I am ready to confess that motherhood made me a thousand folds more forgetful. I can still remember that one day when I made dinner for my family. I put the chicken inside the oven, cranked up the electric stove heat to 6 and started folding clothes. After an hour, I went back to check on the chicken and et voila the chicken is as cold as an early December morning - I forgot to plug the oven. But thankfully, I have not forgotten my daughter in her bath. I have not missed any feeding session. I have not neglected any of her needs and I guess that's what matters most.


Being a mother made me realize that highs and lows are bound to happen and it's always up to us on how we react or deal with the situation that we're dealt with. Knowing that is enough reason to celebrate that you are truly alive and living.

"When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children." - Jessica Lange

MOST MEMORABLE CHEERS MOMENTS

There are countless moments that I consider memorable and if I list them all, it would probably take a few more blog articles aside from this post. There are just so many snippets of our family life that make me happy in the truest sense of the word. When you are thankful even because of the little things, it is easy to be thankful for just about anything every day, every hour, every minute, every second. Here are my top 6 most memorable moments in my mommy life:
  • THAT MOMENT WHEN I FIRST HELD MY BABY IN MY ARMS - Our lives, I feel, instantly changed when our little daughter came to our lives and when I first held her in my arms, I was overcome with emotion. I cried tears of joy. I instantly fell in love. That was the only time that I believed that love at first sight really do exists. Cheers to life and the joy it brings!


  • THAT MOMENT WHEN I CRIED BECAUSE OF NEW MAMA GUILT - When I became a mom, I realized that I knew nothing. Whatever information I've read seemed to have disappeared just as fast as the anesthesia disappeared from my system. It honestly felt like I was learning even the basics and my teacher is younger, so much younger than me. Because of second-guessing myself, I felt guilty for all the little things that I felt were not good enough for my baby daughter. Cheers to learning one step at a time.
  • THAT MOMENT WHEN I TRIED EVERYTHING TO PRODUCE MILK - My breastfeeding journey is nothing to be proud of. In fact, I envy other mothers who were able to breastfeed their babies. I had milk but on the 3rd day, Summer started to cry and it felt like she wasn't getting enough milk as she should. My friend volunteered to feed her with her own milk and that we were able to satiate her for a day. After that, the same thing happened. She would cry and we would feel really helpless especially me. I requested a lactation consultant to visit me at home but we were back to the same thing the very next day. Believe me, it was really difficult to not be able to feed my daughter with my own milk. I was consumed with fear that she will grow up to be often sick because we fed her with cow's milk. She's now 20 months and we've only been to her pediatrician for her scheduled check-ups and vaccination and she only had the occasional sniffles because of the weather. She's generally healthy and that is enough to be thankful for. Cheers to health and hooray to all breastfeeding moms! 
  • THAT MOMENT WHEN SHE CRAWLED FOR THE FIRST TIME - I was over the moon the first time that I saw Summer crawl. That moment is really unforgettable.  It will be forever ingrained in my memory. Cheers to milestones!
  • THAT MOMENT WHEN SHE TURNED A YEAR OLD - We celebrated Summer's first birthday in the province with my family and most of the members of our church. It was a simple yet meaningful celebration. All the kids who attended really enjoyed the activities. Cheers to celebrations!

  • THAT MOMENT WHEN SHE WENT TO SCHOOL - I enrolled Summer in a playschool under their Sing and Play curriculum and I am happy to report that her social skills really developed and probably advanced quite a bit. She is more sociable now and she really enjoys the singing and all the other activities being taught in school. She now attempts to communicate as much as she can. She joyfully says "hi" or "hello" to her classmates before class. She has learned the value of sharing. She can even follow simple instructions. We are extremely excited to start the new semester next month. Cheers to learning while having fun!


CHEERS AND OUR LIFE'S CHEERFUL MOMENTS

Doing the grocery is probably one of my most favorite things to do. I don't consider it as a chore.  I always find teachable moments in each of the activity that I do with my daughter. At barely 2 years old, she can now identify fruits and vegetables as well as other consumer goods inside the grocery. She also knows that items need to go inside the grocery cart.


Cheers paper products, as well as trash bags, are displayed conspicuously in my friendly neighborhood supermarket. You wouldn't miss it in a rack full of paper products. The packaging is really attractive and "cheers-ful". Yes, I coined "cheers-ful" myself. Haha! Anyway, I've always picked Cheers because aside from the packaging which I really love, I also like the paper design and overall value for money.

My husband likes using the Cheers kitchen towels when he cleans the house. Oh yes, we always have a messy house - toys everywhere and yes, my husband cleans the house! I love the kitchen towel as well, especially when using it to pat dry meat before I cook them and to remove excess oils from fried food.


We also use it to clean food spilled by our little tot. For the past couple of months, I always bring the pre-cut folded napkin that comes in a box. I use it to wipe Summer's hands, mouth, or even public tables and chairs before we use them. We also use the small trash bag for soiled diapers. When I prepare Summer's bento meals, I also make sure that Cheers kitchen towel is always by my side so I can maintain cleanliness of my work area and the food I prepare. Come to think of it, Cheers have been a steady staple in our family life.


Meals shared with family plus meaningful conversations are always memorable!

Can you tell she loves Cheers?

REALITY CHECK

Motherhood is not glamorous. Motherhood is not a walk in the park. But I tell you, it is the most rewarding job you can ever have in your lifetime. I love the tender moments that I share with my daughter. I especially like it when she hears the word "hug" and she would run to me and give me a tight hug. I adore how she wakes up and greets me with her tiny voice. I love how she cuddles next to me. Heck, I even love her wet, sloppy kisses. I love her gibberish baby talk. I love when she whimpers in the middle of the night as if she wants mommy to give her a big hug and keep her safe. All these little things affirm my decision to be a stay-at-home full-time mom as the best decision I have ever made in my motherhood journey. I gave up my corporate career but there was never a day that I felt a tinge of regret. My performance review as a mother is every day and just the same I get my performance bonus on a daily basis as well. It's an entirely different ballgame but there's so much reason to say "CHEERS" loud and proud. 

Indeed, ordinary things become extraordinary when you are a mother! I probably listed trivial moments but I know that those moments will live with me until I die. I know that I will never forget those moments. Motherhood will always be a teacher to me as I advance more in this wonderful journey and there would be long days where my selflessness, compassion, and maybe even temper will be tested. However, instead of feeling the pressure, I aim to do it right for my daughter, for our little family. I know that motherhood is not easy but through the power of prayers and my faith and the support of family and friends, I know that I can hurdle my biggest challenge.


Deuteronomy 4:9-10 (English Standard Version)
9 "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children— 10 how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so."




Say yes to #Cheers and #CheersToLife #CheersToEveryday. I wish you all a happy life filled with gratitude and wonderful moments to be cheery about. 



Cheers is made from 100% virgin pulp that is made available for every consumer tissue/table napkin need! It contains no artificial whiteners and elemental chlorine which makes it truly hygienic and helps avoid paper wastage given the range of napkin configuration. Cheers can be bought from leading supermarkets and grocery stores. - Sanitary Care Products Asia, Inc. 

ABOUT SCPA, Inc.

Established in October of 1996, Sanitary Care Products Asia, Inc. is a Filipino-owned Christian family-run company dedicated to raising the level of hygiene products available to the Filipino market. With quality and innovation as key values in developing its products, SCPA was one of the first advocates of the use of more hygienic raw materials in its paper products that are void of harmful chemicals and bleaches.

Partnered with the push for innovation is the belief that every Filipino should have access to quality products. As such, SCPA aligned their brands to meet the different needs of the Filipino market while remaining uncompromising in their promise of providing excellent products. 

DISCLOSURE: This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and Cheers #CheersToLife #CheersToEveryday blog contest. All thoughts, opinions, as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own and were not influenced by the brand mentioned. I could win a birthday party for my little one if I win this contest. Ain't life grand? Cheers!

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SIX TIPS ON HOW TO BOOK GREAT HOTEL AND AIRLINE DEALS

October 28, 2016, 5:33 am
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I thought we already have closed our travel book this year but looks like I am wrong. I don’t think I still require a vacation because I'm perpetually in a vacation after quitting my job but just the same I welcome any chance of being able to stay in a new place, a new environment, a new surrounding any chance I could get. It would be fun to spend quality time with my family away from our daily routine at home.

A couple of months ago, I won in a blogging contest and I chose a hotel accommodation prize conversion. I requested to be booked in one of our favorite hotels in Makati for a staycation. A couple of weeks after the organizers booked my stay, I chanced upon a promotion for a weekend stay in the same hotel and rates were slashed up to 50%. I booked another night so we can stay a bit longer. What a great deal yeah? I will be writing about our staycation in another article soon - hopefully before the year ends. What I can tell you right now is that I keep on coming back to this hotel and even got myself a Premier membership last year for staying more than 10 times in one year. The premier card entitled me to a free suite upgrade after booking the gold room on my birthday. Such a sweet suite deal!

(insert photo here)

So, why book for a staycation? One, you don’t have to book for airfare ticket and two, you don’t have to travel far. You just need to travel a short distance from your house to any hotel in the metro and step right in to a different atmosphere away from your usual abode. Of course, you can make your stay romantic or fun or even just a day away from all your gadgets and just recharge yourself and wake up renewed.

I would like to share my six tips for booking great deals when you travel to Metro Manila in this blog post and I hope you can learn a thing or two:

1. CREATE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS - Create a new email address that would be solely dedicated to your booking needs (accommodation and airfare and other travel-related information). This way, you will never miss a single email ever again.

2. SIGN-UP FOR NEWSLETTERS - Use your new email address to sign up for newsletters for all your favorite hotels, airlines, and even travel agencies. I bet you will be able to discover great deals when you pay attention to these type of emails.

3. SUBSCRIBE TO SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS - Like or follow Facebook pages, follow Twitter accounts, follow Instagram feeds, and even Pinterest accounts of your preferred hotels and airlines. I have observed that aside from newsletters, promotions are most often communicated on the social media platforms of brands. Come to think of it, a 10% discount is still savings on your end. You may also opt to participate in contests - I won an overnight stay in a posh hotel just by retweeting something from their Twitter timeline.

4. ANSWER CONSUMER SURVEYS - Brands, at this day and age, already knows the value of its consumers and has learned to engage with their target market through consumer surveys and focus group gatherings. When brands do this, almost often, they give out discounts or even free stays so you can write about their services thus they gain additional mileage.

5. CREDIT CARD LOYALTY - My current credit card offers good deals that’s why I decided to ditch all the other credit cards that I own. I now use only one credit card and I’ve actually been pretty good at getting the best hotel deals in the Metro using it. If your credit card is not rewarding your loyalty with excellent offers then you might as well switch to a better card that appreciates your loyalty.

6. EARLY BIRD DEALS - Book months in advance or at least a month in advance to take advantage of the early bird deals. Early bird discount rates usually range from 10% to as high as 50%. I once booked a three-bedroom suite for my baby shower in a high-rise hotel in Makati CBD at 45% less than the usual price. Pretty amazing right?

I’m not going to include this in the list because this does not work all the time but hey the operative word is it could work sometimes too. It might just be your lucky day and your only capital is your confidence and your gift of gab. On the day that you check-in for your stay, try to ask the receptionist if they can offer you a free upgrade and I bet you if the hotel isn’t fully-booked and it’s low season then you might just be able to get that free upgrade that you asked for. All it takes is to ask really!

When you're about ready to book your next staycation, don't forget to read about staycation ideas to make your time-off affordable and relaxing as well.

Enjoy your next staycation! 

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INDULGE ON ME-TIME AND SAVE WITH GROUPON

October 28, 2016, 8:05 am
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.
All opinions expressed in this post
are all mine.


I have to confess that I have not visited my hair and nail salon on a regular basis for the past year. If my memory serves me right, I have only had a haircut once and a decent manicure and pedicure twice. I've resorted to just cutting my nails short and painting my own nails. I can't cut my hair to save my own life, though. We were also on vacation in Europe for a couple of months and I cannot believe the super expensive rates. Can you imagine paying 450 Danish kroner (around USD75) for a simple hair cut? As a point of reference, you can get a decent hair cut in a reputable hair salon for only USD10 in the Philippines.

I don't really know how to explain why I lost that drive to pamper myself sometimes. I think being a stay-at-home mom is not an excuse to look unkempt but I guess it's really the price and the time that holds me back from going. My time is essentially spent caring for my daughter's needs as well as designing paper crafts and other projects for my little home-based business when she's napping or tucked in bed at night. However, I also know that I have to have some me-time and not completely lose myself in frumpy oversized shirts and messy buns all the time.

Pampering is expensive alright but it is when Groupon comes to mind. Groupon aims to provide great value for consumers, just like you and me, while at the same time providing a great experience and then allows merchants to attract more customers and run their businesses better. Imagine paying only USD13.99 for a USD129 teeth whitening kit and refills - that's a whopping 89% savings!

Hey, a penny saved is a penny saved! With Groupon though, you don't just save a penny, you save hundreds of dollars and sometimes even thousands. I especially love Health, Beauty & Wellness Groupons because I save while indulging on me-time/girlfriend bonding time. if you don't have an account with Groupon yet I suggest you go and sign-up now so you can jump in on the first great deal that you bump into. Really, when you're a mother, you want to save on anything and you can start with Groupon.

What coupons do you plan to save on with Groupon? Let me know...

PHOTO CREDIT: Viktor Hanacek


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IT'S FONTASTIC: NICKY LAATZ AND HER BEAUTIFUL FONTS

October 30, 2016, 5:53 am
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One of my design inspirations is Nicky Laatz and she is considered as the most successful graphic designer and shop on Creative Marketwhich is also my favorite design goodies source. Nicky Laatz is one of the artists who owns a shop on the site and she just surpassed USD1 million in sales. I'm quite happy to know and I probably contributed a couple hundred dollars in that bank but mind you those are all happy and giddy purchases.

Nicky Laatz is a stay-at-home mom who runs her colorful and creative business from her Cape Town home in South Africa.

Here are some of Nicky's fonts which I absolutely love:

TANGLEWOODS SCRIPT
DOWNLOAD HERE


ISLAND STYLE BRUSHED FONT DUO
DOWNLOAD HERE


HELLO LUCKY FONT SET
DOWNLOAD HERE


HELLO SUNSHINE FONT DUO
DOWNLOAD HERE


HELLO BEAUTIFUL FONT DUO + SWASHES
DOWNLOAD HERE


And here's a video where Nicky was congratulated by the staff of Creative market and other artists/shop owners for the milestone that she accomplished:



Did I tell you that you can buy reasonably-priced vectors, illustrations and beautiful fonts from Creative Market? Oh and every Monday, 1PM Manila time, you can download six free design goodies (fonts, blog themes, textures, actions, and a whole lot more). Bookmark this link and be sure to visit the site every Monday so you can download your free design materials. Check out more pretty scripts here.

PHOTO CREDITS: Nicky Laatz Creative Market Shop

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON DESIGNER CLOTHES

November 2, 2016, 5:32 am
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Love designer names but want to skip the designer tag pricing? When buying designer name clothing, you can find great deals. So, how do you go about doing this and finding the latest styles and trends out there? These are a few simple tips to find the names you love, without the hefty price tag that typically comes with them.

1.  Shop through catalogues and finance it. 
Yes, you can find top designer names in catalogues; if you finance the purchase you can pay it off over time. So you don't have to come up with the full price up front. And, in many cases, promos, discounts, and introductory interest free periods are often available. So, look for these when catalogue shopping.

2.  Consider second hand.
Whether you buy from a friend, online supplier, or even trade with family (which can often be free), you can find gently used, top designer name clothing out there. So, you are going to pay a much lower price for items, and in most cases, you are going to find these items have very little or limited use when you shop. Shopping for second hand clothing is a great way to save money.



3.  Go with off season deals. 
Buy winter coats in the summer. Buy your swimsuits during the dead of the winter season. When you plan your shopping schedule, and know when to buy the clothing you are shopping for, it is possible to find the designer names you love, and to pay a much lower price when the time comes for you to checkout when you are shopping for these items.

You have options out there and more than one place to go when shopping for designer clothing. But, for those who love to find the bargain, do not want to overpay for items, and love to wear the best in style and fashion, you can save when you consider some of these tips during shopping season.


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THE LITTLE BOY OR GIRL WHO LOST THEIR NAME

November 2, 2016, 9:30 am
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Seals, unicorns, mermaids, monkeys, elephants, and rabbits hopping gleefully to and fro - those are the characters in the personalized book I ordered for my little darling doll SUMMER. The publishers of the book are on a mission to bring back the magical world for our little ones around the world - all in pursuit of making millions of children more curious, clever and kind. According to the book's website: The aim to bring back the magic and make children a part of it by combining the power of amazing stories, with the possibilities of technology, to create magical, personalized experiences for kids. Isn't that exciting! I am incredibly excited to add this book to our regular story time. I am quite sure my little darling will love it.


The Little Boy Who Lost His Name and The Little Girl Who Lost Her Name can be personalized for any kid you want to give the book to (if you like one for yourself, why not?). You just need to enter the kid's name (up to 12 characters) in the website and the magic of technology will generate the preview for you. One good thing is that you can change the animal or character of the story to suit your child's taste and preference.  Each of the characters will give the main character a letter that will form the complete name. The name is then assembled after the tale. After you order and pay, the book will then be published and shipped to you for free (anywhere in the world you are!)


The book looks like a classic high-end book and you can purchase one for only $29.99. Now, if you decide to order now, click my referral link to avail of 15% discount on your first order. The book is available in different languages - English, Deutsch, Español, Francais, Italiano, Dutch, and Chinese.

Reading is a habit that we need to teach our young ones. Huffington Post talks about how young should kids start reading in this article. If you ask me personally, I would recommend teaching our kids how to read as soon as they show the slightest interest. As soon as they start holding or staring at a flash card, slowly introduce small books and progress from there. Books are always better than mobile phone screens or televisions. We all want bright and smart children and as a parent we have the capacity to boost the learning potential of each of our children.

The book was created/illustrated by David Cadji-Newby and Pedro Serapicos.  Photo from Lost My Name Facebook Page
I am so excited to receive our book and I cannot wait to see Summer's reaction as soon as we start reading the book. I am sure she will be elated.

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SAVE WITH GROUPON THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON

November 11, 2016, 8:46 am
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed in this post are all mine.


I'm a self-confessed shopaholic but overtime I've changed my shopping habits and I'm now more particular about the practical aspect of shopping than indulging in luxury and just spending my money left and right. I see to it that I prepare a shopping list before I go to the supermarket and I use the coupons that come with my annual planner because I want to save and I don't want to spend over my budget. One of my friend in the US, shared to me that she saves by clipping coupons in newspapers, printing coupons from online sources and using Groupon coupons. Really, at this day and age, shopping online is really a huge help for full-time moms like me. I don't have to make a beeline to the shopping mall and queue at the cashier to pay, not to mention the time you save when you prepare to go out as well as the time you spend to think about what clothes to wear and the time you save by not being stuck in traffic.

Now that the holiday season is just a hop, skip and jump away and I can almost smell the fresh pine tree leaves, I want to be able to finish my gift shopping early. I've started to list down the items I want to buy and I make sure that my gifts are well-thought off and are all practical. I'm not going to gift items from wasteland stores this time around.

I was so ecstatic to know that Victoria's Secret has available coupon codes and they are offering 70% discount on lounge wear. I'm sure my sister and my cousin will love the banded boyfriend capris and the slouchy sweatshirts. I plan to give my mom and dad a surprise so I'm not going to write about it here because my mom might be stalking my blog. Haha! Anyway, I'll buy some items to furnish our home from Bed, Bath and Beyond. The Black Friday deals are just so hard to resist and I am not turning my back on a 50% discount offer for kitchen items and 67% discount on select beddings. Shopping online is surely heaven sent! While all the shopping malls are closed at this time, I am starting to fill out my shopping cart with the excellent deals I am discovering. There's a eureka moment in almost every URL I open.

I love discount shopping and I could not possibly say no to any good deal. A penny saved is a penny that can be alloted to another item that you need or can be added to your much-awaited vacation fund. How about you? Do you refuse to shop and pay 100% too? What's your best tips to shop and save at the same time? How do you complete your Christmas gift shopping easily?

Photo: Victor Hanacek

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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY - I MISS COPENHAGEN

November 12, 2016, 8:56 pm
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Hello! What's going on? I've a few updates about what I have been doing lately. I posted the photo of Nyhavn in my Instagram a couple of days ago because I suddenly got melancholic after attending the European Higher Education Fair. I was able to talk to a few Europeans as well as students who studied in different universities in the region. I'm also in the process of writing another article to contribute to a travel blog and it will be my third submission already so that means if it will be approved then I will be an official contributor. I plan to write a blog post about what led me to try my luck and submit a guest post to that website once my third article will be approved. For now, let me share to you my Sunday, currently...


I am currently...

reading this website - www.thrombocyte.com. I know you will ask why I am reading this. Well, it pays to read and so when I have some spare time, I read whatever is available. TRIVIA: thrombocyte is also known as platelet and it takes about 9-10 days for platelets to circulate in the blood stream. Visit the site to learn more about the function of thrombocyte in our human body.

writing my third guest post contribution to the travel blog.

listening to my daughter's random babbling while playing with her Lego blocks.

thinking of buying a legit vlogging camera so we can upload better quality videos. Any suggestions?

smelling the scent Tropical Blast from our Favori Scents leaf aerator. The smell is just divine. My uncle won it in an Instagram contest and he was sent a pink aerator so he gave it to me. Hehehe!

watching the Youtube video I uploaded a couple of days ago. It's been quite a while since I last used iMovie in my Macbook to edit videos and it feels like I am back in square 1 again. This video is just a compilation of some of the videos during our summer vacation to Denmark. While you're at it, please give the video a thumbs up or subscribe to our channel.



wishing to finally finish my Christmas shopping gift list before our trip to my parents' province.

hoping to lose a few more pounds before my husband comes back home next month. I'm also seriously contemplating of trying the DASH diet. Have you heard about it?

wearing my husband's old but comfortable shirt and my PJ's.

loving the project I recently started with my daughter.

wanting to nap right about now!

needing to meet with our realtor so I can get answers to my questions about the title of the lot we purchased. They're just not reliable over email and when I call, I get passed around to different individuals. Sigh!

feeling sluggish. I think I need to get out of the couch and get some walking done later this afternoon.

clicking through some of the Instagram feeds that I am following.

If you have a blog and you want to let us in your Sunday, join us. Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here.

Happy Sunday!

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HAVE YOU TRIED CATALOG SHOPPING?

November 15, 2016, 8:34 am
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Moms, dads, kids, teens; when shopping for clothing, you want to find a look that fits your style, but also falls into your age bracket. When catalog shopping for the whole family, there are options out there which we can use to shop for all members in one place. In fact, there are a few out there. For those who want to save, find great styles, and find clothes for everyone in the home, no matter what age, these are some of the catalogues you can shop through.



H&M - 
It is one of the world's leading fashion companies and one of the top fashion trend setter at that. It has clothes for everyone in the family as well - dressy, sporty, casual, name it the store has it. Whether shopping for the kids, for your spouse, or buying new designer shoes or coats for yourself, you can find a variety of styles, and options, for everyone, regardless of age or gender in the family. Just recently, H&M launched its collaboration with the famous designer brand Kenzo.

Freemans - 
The catalog not only sells clothes, but accessories, and even gifts. Simply choose the drop down tab for the type of clothing, the individual, the age, or the style you are shopping for. It also has plus sizing, as well as petite and sizing for kids. With styles and looks for all fashions, you can find something suited for anyone, when shopping in this catalogue.

Le Redoute - 
The French inspired online catalogue also sells clothing for everyone. With a child's line, with clothes for men and women, and teens, and everyone in between, you can find a wide range of articles from which to choose when shopping on this site. Pricing is also quite reasonable when purchasing online.

There are loads of online catalog sites which offer all types of products. If you are looking to find the best deal on a product, then you would use a catalog comparison site to check if you are getting the best value for money. It's also good to know that the site has a link to Simple Be which offers plus size clothing for women. It's really difficult to find fashion that fits and looks good on plus size women nowadays.

No matter what look, style, or trends you want to wear, these are catalogs selling it all. Add in the fact that you can shop for all family members under one site, for a great price, and shopping becomes simple, quick, and efficient, for those looking to find great deals and fashions, for all members of the family in one place.

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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY - BACK TO SCHOOL

November 19, 2016, 7:00 pm
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The past week zoomed by quite fast if you ask me. I almost can't believe that it's been a week since I wrote another addition to my contribution to the TSC (The Sunday Currently) series. I've accomplished quite a lot and I managed to cross out important items in my to-do list. Homeschooling is going pretty well for the little one and I also was able to bring her out to an arcade and tag her along to a cooking and coffee-making blog event as well yesterday. Oh and yes, the good news is that I have 3 design products currently lined up (labels, stickers, baptismal invitation) thus I can keep myself busy today and the next few days. I love it!  So now let me share to you my Sunday, currently...



I am currently...

reading a technical review of the camera that I won in a Facebook Page trivia contest. Huge thanks to Sony Philippines for picking my answer out of the lot. I'm so stoked until now.

writing my entry to another blogging contest sponsored by an F&B and small kitchen appliance distributor in partnership with NuffnangPH.

listening to the newscaster while I type this blog post.

thinking of enrolling in a foreign language class. Spanish, Dansk and French tops my list at the moment.

smelling my daughter's baby cologne - Summer Swing.

watching the news coverage but not full attention. I just glance at the TV when I hear something interesting.

wishing to receive final news as to when hubby will fly back home. His ship is currently in Texas.

hoping to finish all the house chores before we head out of the house to attend the first day back to school of Summer. It will be the first session for this semester. I can't wait to see her face light up again when we enter her classroom. I'm thinking of recording most of the class so I can upload in our Youtube channel. If you will visit our home in Youtube, let me know what you think of our fresh channel art. I'd love to know your thoughts.

wearing my running shorts and a camisole from Uniqlo (Greengate by Uniqlo line).

loving the gift that De'Longhi gave to their workshop guests. I just unboxed it and I got two of their espresso glasses.

wanting to wash more clothes but I don't have time today. I guess I'll have to put it off to tomorrow.

needing to sign-up at The Little Gym for the next semester which will start in January. They offer 10% discount for cash and check payments so I might as well enrol early.

feeling a bit sleepy. I slept pretty late last night and I need more shut-eye I think.

clicking through nothing. I just need to finish this blog post before I start preparing so we can head out of the house as soon as possible. I don't want Summer to be late on the first day of school.

If you have a blog and you want to let us in your Sunday, join us. Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here.

Happy Sunday!

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HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR DESKTOP + FREE DESKTOP ORGANIZERS

November 21, 2016, 1:07 am
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I've never had an organized computer desktop until I discovered this nifty trick that I am going to share today. I personally think this method is the best there is if you want to keep your computer desktop clean, clutter-free and organized. After all, there were numerous studies conducted and in the end a conclusion that our environment greatly affects our respective productivity. Most of my work now revolves around my computer - be it business, blogging, or editing videos and thus I needed to do something with my disorganized desktop.

I won't show my cluttered desktop because I feel embarrassed to flaunt it. Instead I am going to share to you how it looks like right now. I've had a dotted background, golden rectangles and used one of my favorite fonts from Nicky Laatz. I decided to create a new one and I am going to share it to you today. Are you ready? Et voila!!!


HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE YOUR DESKTOP?

Keeping your computer desktop clean and organized is one of the best rewards that you can give yourself. It will not only increase your productivity but it will also save you time and effort as well as reduce the stress brought about by digital work. You'll be surprised at how quickly files, folders and apps occupy your desktop and thus obscure your favorite photo underneath it. You can create folders and subfolders and sort the files accordingly. This way, you will need less time to look for files when you need them.

In my current computer desktop, I chose 5 main folders:

a. Personal Files - this is where I store personal documents such as but not limited to the following: digital copies of my birth certificate and other identification cards/documents, digital copy of my income tax return, travel plans/itineraries/visa requirements. I also store my hoard of wallpapers in this folder. My fitness plan which I am currently finalizing is also kept in this folder as well.

b. Work In Progress - this folder contains subfolders of my current design projects, blog drafts written on Pages/Word and other documents that needs to be accomplished.

c. Business/Work -I store invoices, order slips, payment confirmations, as well as product photos of my business in this folder. I also use this folder for my organic bath and beauty products business.

d. Archived Files - the archived foldes usually consists of design elements that I recently downloaded and are meant to be used for projects. Once I am done using these elements, I move them to my external hard drive so as I won't eat too much space in my computer.

e. Miscellaneous - this folder contains any file or subfolder that does not fit to any of the categories mentione above.

You don't have to limit yourself to the main categories I mentioned. You can add more main folders depending on your needs. What I'm using now is pretty basic but really functional not to mention that it is very easy to use and maintain - I just simply drag and drop files around.

So what do you think? Do you think this organization method would work for you? Give it a try and let me know if this will prove beneficial to you. Simply save any of the files below and update your wallpaper. These files are all 1280 px by 800 px by the way.

GOLDEN WALL

FLORALS

TROPICAL

BLACK AND WHITE

IKAT DESIGN

STARRY SKIES AND WASHI TAPES

If you want your very own design, please let me know. I can create a bespoke desktop organizer to make your digital life a wee bit easier. I would love to work with you. Please leave a comment or send me an email - ktpaperdesigns@gmail.com or hello@littlemisskessa.com.

NOTE: You may share this to your friends but please don't resell it. Spread the love!

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MY DE'LONGHI CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

November 22, 2016, 3:13 am
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It's that time of the year again - when people give and receive gifts, when kids (and adults) wish for Santa to grant their wishes but only if they have been nice, when food is plenty, when the mood is nothing short of being festive and for people like me, it's the time for making wishlists again.

It's time to take out a piece of paper and pen and write down our wishlist. In my case, I am accomplishing several wishlists this year intended to curate what I want, what I need and what things I feel will be good to have (maybe a bit of luxury here and there won't hurt). Oh and yes, I am not going to pretend that all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth because I still have them both and then some. I'm not going to say that all I want is to spend time with my family because hey I do that everyday and I'm a mother and wife 24/7. I'm going to tell you what I really want no holds barred. I'm not going to edit myself either. I will just write my wishes to my hearts' content.

* I want a full 12-hour sleep without interruption. Although I love it when my baby cuddles with me and shakes me to wake up and make her some milk, my body is crying for some much needed rest.

* I want some me-time to get a proper haircut, manicure and pedicure and maybe a relaxing facial treatment for good measure. I won't say no to a body scrub and massage either. I'll welcome it with open arms.

* I want a day without hearing "The Wheels On The Bus" or "Finger Family" song on the radio, the television, the iPad or my phone. Just one day! "I'm sorry my little darling, mommy needs to take a breather from your favorite songs."

* I want a day when my daughter eats everything I prepare for her and while doing so be mess-free. I guess I'm a wee bit tired of cleaning up food on the floor already. The challenge has just begun though.

* I want a date night with my husband. Yep, just one single night would do. He has been away for almost four months so a date night won't be too bad. You know, to keep the fire burning. Wink! Wink!

* I want to have a day free from any chore at home. I want to spend a day just doing what I want to do. Of course, this is a different day from that spa day above.

* I want to binge-watch my favorite Netflix shows as much as my broadband connection can accommodate while lying in bed.

* I want a regular coffee time at home complete with the tools and machines that I need so I won't feel the need to go to the nearest store with the green cups and spend precious moolah on either a grande or venti cup of coffee. And this is where my De'Longhi wishlist comes in. I would like to be as detailed as I can so I can introduce you to a brand that produces innovative home appliances with a distinctive combination of style and performance. Are you ready? I am...


YES! I want a fully auto coffee machine, a multifry low-oil fryer, and an espresso maker all from De'Longhi. Is that too much to ask? I am a very practical person but I am including these items in my wishlist because these would for sure make my domesticated life more comfortable. I would probably let my husband treat me to any of these or all if he would be generous enough. I have a plan in mind on how to convince him to get all these for me. I will promise him that he will have coffee everyday and that he will have delicious food that is low in oil. I think that should work!

At this point, I feel that my visit to the Concept Specialists Inc showroom was totally worth it. I was able to witness the wonders of  the De'Longhi Multifry through the cooking workshop. I witnessed how a cup of espresso, latte and cappucino were prepared using steps that doesn't involve rocket-science. It was easy and foolproof! The highlight of my day was when I volunteered to make gelato using the Il Gelataio ice cream machine. I made Nutella Gelato and it was the creamiest ice cream I've ever tasted in my whole life! I swear! I plan to write a separate blog post to feature the workshop activities. For now, I'm only going to share to you my De'Longhi Christmas Wishlist.

So grab yourself a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy my wishlist. Here goes...

I'm betting that Santa Claus will not come from North Pole for us this year but from Treviso in Italy yeah? Kidding aside, as you may have already known De'Longhi is a major Italian small appliance manufacturer based in Treviso, Italy. Here's a little trivia to get us going: The company was founded by the De'Longhi family in 1902 as a small inductrial parts manufacturing workshop. The company incorporated in 1950. Concept Specialist Inc. (CSI) is the official distributor of De'Longhi fully automatic espresso machines and small domestic appliances. Their vision is to provide convenient products to the food and beverage industry while maintaining consistent high product quality. Pretty interesting huh?

"A perfect coffee is not possible without a good espresso machine me thinks!"


I really want to furnish our future home with some sleek products from De'Longhi. We will begin the construction really soon so it is a wise decision to start shopping and maintain that wishful thinking attitude while I'm at it. After all, my husband's "happy pill" is a good cup of coffee and knowing that I'll have a buddy in a coffee machine would be such a huge help to us on a daily basis. He'll probably even love me more. Wink!

SO WHAT'S IN MY WISHLIST?


KEY FEATURES

*New Control Panel - it allows you to prepare any kind of coffee, merely by pressing a button. The simple rotation of the knob lets you increase or decrease the coffee aroma intensity. By the pressure of simple buttons, you can choose among short or long coffee.

*Cappuccino System - the Cappuccino system device is ideal to produce a rich, creamy froth for great cappuccinos.

*Aroma Saving Cover - coffee beans container with aroma saving cover.

What is there not to love about this machine straight from coffee heaven? I would love this Fully Auto Coffee Machine model to be part of my household/kitchen because this machine of three reasons:

1. It is versatile. 
The machine can be used with either coffee beans or ground coffee. You know having either option is enough but having both is just amazing! It's good to know that I can use coffee beans which are for sure fresher than ground coffee on days that I want a fresh, strong and truly indulgent cup. On one hand, it is also great that I can use ground coffee which are really more convenient to store and less fuss when prepared at home. If you ask me though, I would really prefer using coffee beans because of lesser risk of contamination.

2. It is a multi-tasker.
This machine allows the preparation of two cups of coffee with a single brewing. I mean how is that not awesome? For this alone, I am sold! You get to save time and you get to enjoy your cup quicker.

3. It is flexible.
The coffee dispenser is adjustable for cups of varying height (from 86 to 142mm). I collect coffee cups and teacups and they all come in different sizes so it is great to know that I can fit varying heights of cups when I use this machine. I hate it when I have to use a different cup when brewing and then transfer it to another cup when the height is not adjustable.

It will be a little bit of a challenge to source this model (available in silver and black) because the product is now discontinued. Santa better make it a point to find this for me yeah? Even then, if we could not find this model anymore, the PrimaDonna Elite ECAM 650.75.MS wouldn't be a bad choice either. It's actually the best choice for me if money is not an issue.

Let's get to the 2nd item in my wishlist, shall we? This one could be the piece-de-resistance in any kitchen and I would say that with full conviction. Imagine an appliance that lets you fry, steam, and bake among other things.


KEY FEATURES

*Excellent Cooking Performance - food is crispy outsideand tasty as well as juicy inside.

*Rapid Cooking - concrete example: you only need 27 minutes for 1 kilogram of frozen potatos.

*More Recipes - you can find many recipes using this wonder machine online. You can also download recipes using an app - De'Longhi Recipe Book  (available on the App Store and Google Play) and is available in several languages: English, Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Bokmål, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian.


*High Food Capacity - 1.7kg of fresh potatoes to peel and 1.5kg of frozen potatoes without adding oil. This will be the answer when you suddenly crave for fries without the guilt.

*Lower Heating Element - lower tubular sheated heating elements (200W) to improve the speed and the feasible recipes while the upper tubular sheathed heathing element for a convection and grill cooking function.

*Recipes Selector Knob - there are four pre-set programs (potatoes, pizza, cake and stew) and there are three special programs (pan function, oven function and grill function)

*Adjustable Thermostat - to set the right power needed for each recipe. Plus points that the power level and cooking time can be accessed through the digital control panel.



What is there not to love about this machine that is fully functional? I would love this Low-Oil Fryer and Multicooker Multifry Extra to be part of my household/kitchen because this machine of three reasons:

1. It is a huge space saver. 
Imagine being able to fry, steam, grill, bake and make stews and ratatouilles using only kitchen appliance! You only need 1 appliance that can do all these functions thus saving you counter space as well as storage space. This is one of the reasons why I love how advanced our technology has become and I so excited that De'Longhi has this in their small kitchen appliance line.

2. It is a healthy multitasker.
Our family loves fried food and I am not even going to apologize for it. We love our fried bacon, fried rice, fried fish, fried pork chops, fried banana, fried egg, fried potatoes, fried everything! Fried food is considered as a comfort food and a go-to choice but I have to admit that eating oily food no matter what kind of oil you use is still unhealthy. Food swimming in oil could be the bane of your existence too. That's why I love that this machine allows just a wee bit of oil to fry food and the result is crisp and brown on the outside but still juicy and tasty in the inside. You also don't need to mix the food manually because the machine is equipped with an automatic mixing paddle that can mix the ingredients for you. How cool is that eh?

3. It is easy to use.
Yes! This machine is really easy to use. I was intimidated at first but after getting a chance to try it to prepare Embutido (steaming and frying) and Quezo De Bola and Ham Muffins, I was sold! You don't need to be a professional chef to whip up restaurant-quality dishes.
SHS (Surround Heating System), the exclusive technology by De'Longhi, deliveres exceptional performance because it surrounds the food with heat to cook it evenly; the upper heating element and fan deliver uniform heat from the top; the lower heating element delivers heat from the bottom; the mixing paddle takes care of stirring the food automatically. 

Considering all the food preparation and cooking that one can do using the De'Longhi Low-oil fryer and Multifry Multicooker, you will really get your money's worth plus you save prime real estate in your kitchen. Besides making your kitchen clean, functional and organized. I would really be thankful to the kitchen gods if I can have this in my kitchen arsenal. It'll be a perfect addition to my growing army of kitchen tools before I finally launch my KT Cooks series in this blog. My aim to prepare healthy and easy-to-prepare food for my family and share it to my blog readers. Exciting times ahead!

Here's a family favorite that I cooked using a traditional frying pan. Can you see the oil? It's glistening! I am so excited to prepare this using the De'Longhi Low-oil Fryer and Multicook Multifryer so I can serve it in a much-healthier version. 
Now, we've come to the 3rd item in my wishlist. You might ask why I want another coffee machine? Haha! I'll tell you why in a bit.


KEY FEATURES

*Cream Disk Filter - this feature is 2 in 1 - the new crema filter is suitable for ground coffee and E.S.E pods.
*Cappuccino System - it mixes steam, air and milk, producing a rich, creamy froth for great cappuccino right in the comforts of your home or home office.

*Cup Warmer - very practical feature to keep coffee cups warm just like how they do it in your favorite coffee shops.

*Removable Water Reservoir - this feature makes cleaning and refilling much easier.

What is there not to love about this machine straight from coffee heaven? I would love this Fully Auto Coffee Machine model to be part of my household/kitchen because this machine of three reasons:

1. It looks vintage. 
I really love the vintage look of the Icona Vintage and this is my favorite from the line. It is a perfect example of a machine fitted with form and function. The cup warmer on top of the machine is nice touch.

2. It looks sleek.
This machine looks incredibly sleek, slegant and stylis. I'm even understating that because I got really excited when I saw it for real in one of the shelves of the De'Longhi showroom. I imagined it on top of my kitchen counter sitting happily while waiting for me to whip up a dose of pick-me-upper espresso shot. I also love that the drip tray is removable and a leather pendant with Icona Vintage logo comes with it too.

3. It is easy to use.
The advanced technology of this machine guarantees a perfect and authentic Italian espresso everytime. With a touch of a few buttons, you can expect a "good shot" everytime. The auto-off function is a good addition as well as the self-priming system which means machine is always ready to use. The machine can also be used with ground coffee or with the Easy Serving Espresso pods. So easy that you can enjoy cup after cup after cup of authentic Italian espresso.


There you go! I have three products in my De'Longhi wishlist plus one item to replace one product which has been discontinued for production. I still hope I can find it though. Crossing my fingers now!



If you could make your own wishlist, what De'Longhi products would you want to add to your home this Christmas? Here's a product list to guide you as you complete your list: 

If you want to read the De'Longhi Coffee Chronicles, click the coffee cup below: 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

DISCLOSURE: This is my entry to the NuffnangPH and De'Longhi (Concept Specialist Inc) My De'Longhi Christmas Wishlist  blog contest. All thoughts, opinions, as well as suggestions mentioned in this post are entirely my own and were not influenced by any of the brand mentioned. I could win my very own Low-oil Fryer and Multicooker Multify Extra  at the end of the contest and that is super awesome!

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WHY I LOVE NYHAVN IN COPENHAGEN

November 23, 2016, 10:44 am
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Copenhagen is one of my favorite cities in the world and I have so many reasons why I do. In this blog post, I am going to share to you one of my favorite spots in Copenhagen - Nyhavn (pronounced new-how-n which means new harbor in Dansk/Danish).

Nyhavn was once a busy and a very significant port for Kobenhavn (this is what you see in train stations or maps when you are in Denmark). It was part of a developing fishing village for the vikings in the 10th century. Tourists as well as locals visit this harbor nowadays to relax, eat, or just enjoy the view. Nyhavn is also one of the main stops for boat tours. One of the buildings here was once the residence of the famous children's story author, Hans Christian Andersen. He used to live in Nyhavn No. 20. This is where he wrote the stories "The Tinder Box" and "The Princess and The Pea". He also had a chance to live in Nyhavn No. 18 and No. 67. If you know where he lived when wrote "The Little Mermaid" (Den Lille Havfrue), please let me know by leaving a comment below.


If you have seen the movie "The Danish Girl", I am pretty sure that you already caught a glimpse of Nyhavn if you haven't been there already. Most houses in the area are really old and the oldest one is the house Nyhavn No.9. It was constructed in 1681.




The last time I was in Nyhavn, I was surprised to see some love locks on the bridge traversing the canal. I did not buy and leave a lock though because I didn't have my husband with me. It'll be pointless to leave a lock there when I have no one to promise something to.

Anyway, the house along the harbor have been renovated and restored and now functions as restaurant and cafes. Nyhavn is always filled with many locals and tourists and don't be surprised if you see people with beers on their hand and sitting casually along the wooden canal borders. The atmosphere of the place is really relaxing. I stayed there for about an hour while desperately trying to make my power bank work so I can continue walking towards Vor Frelsers Kirke (Our Saviour's Church). But, yeah Murphy's law happened and so I had to make do with about 10% of battery life before I headed off to the train station to go home. I didn't go home sad though because Nyhavn's ambiance was enough to make me feel like a true Copenhagener for a couple of hours.

I really enjoyed observing the people around me, the birds flying, the tour boats coming in and out of the quay, among other things. It looks so postcard pretty and so I took a bunch of photos.




If you happen to visit Nyhavn in the future, do check out the ice cream shop near the love lock bridge. The vanilla soft-serve ice cream they sell is really delicious.



Can you see the Embassy of France in Denmark in this photo? There's also an Amber Museum close by so if the amber gem interests you, check it out as well when you are in the area. And yes, you can buy your canal tour ticket from here.


It was a very calm day and the weather was very nice while I was sitting near the dock. I really love the vibe of the place. So inviting, so calming!




The tourist traffic was not that heavy when I visited Nyhavn so I had a more than decent space for my own the entire time that I was there. I'm bad at taking selfies myself so here's a photo of my bag. My bag was full of snacks that I wasn't able to eat because I just didn't feel hungry.  I did drink half a liter of Matilda and half a liter of expensive water from the convenience store. So, if ever you visit, bring along your own water because as much as Nyhavn is beautiful on its own, anything you buy in and near the area is expensive.


There would be no Copenhagen without Nyhavn and I bet you that if you ever come and visit, you will fall inlove with the harbor just like I did too. I have a strong feeling that it won't be my last visit. I have a few more blog posts in my drafts about my solo trip to Copenhagen. I've written about my interesting visit to a cemetery (Assistens Cemetery in Norrebro) even. I hope you come back again so you can read about my little travels.

Have you been to Nyhavn? How was your experience? Do you like the varied colors of the building facades?

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THE SUNDAY CURRENTLY - NEW VLOGGING CAMERA

November 26, 2016, 10:21 am
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I had such an amazing week last week and I don't know if I can make this coming week better. I'm also thinking of reviving my "Friday's 10 Happy Things" series because I feel like I have so much to be thankful for and I want to someday reminisce and read the people/situations/things that made me happy at a certain point in my life? What do you think? I'm publishing this early today as I am planning to sleep until noon. I'm beat! I seriously need to develop a better sleeping schedule.  Here's today's The Sunday Currently.


I am currently...

reading the manual of the Sony DSC-HX90V camera. I was able to claim it from the Sony office in BGC last Thursday and so I am very excited to make use of it pronto. I'm loving the video footages so far and I have included a few clips in the vlog that I edited earlier today. Here's the video:



writing this blog post and hoping I still make sense. It's almost 2AM you guys!

listening to Alex & Sierra on Spotify. I love the song Little Do You Know. It's currently on repeat. When you get a chance please do listen to it too and let me know what you think.

thinking of what to do after Summer's Kindermusik after this afternoon. Maybe a trip to the GoBento joint is a good choice since it is very near her school. Hmmmm, let's see!

smelling my current favorite perfume - Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia. I'm really loving the smell. I love perfumes a lot! Please let me know your favorite perfume or the brand/scent that you would recommend for me to check-out. I'm game to try.

watching nothing. I'm focused on writing this vlog.

wishing to finally find a venue for my daughter's upcoming 2nd birthday. Oh and yes, I won the blogging contest sponsored by Nuffnang Philippines and SCPA Inc (makers of Cheers paper products) and I awarded Php40,000 worth of catering for my daughter's birthday. The event will be catered by Passion Cooks. I'm really thrilled with this win. If you want to read my blog entry, please click this link.

hoping that the vlog will finish uploading before 3AM. I don't know about you but I am scared of the witching hour.

wearing my lose shirt and shorts. Ready to fall asleep yo!

loving the weather. I wish I could dance in the rain again. If only, I don't live in the city...

wanting to do some shopping done later today but I am scared of heavy traffic. I've noticed that lately, even Sunday traffic is almost the same as work day volume.

needing to ramp up my social media accounts. I need more following and I am going to do a shameless plug in this post. If you aren't following me yet, please please do:

Instagram: @ktnielsen24
Pinterest: @littlemisskessa
Twitter: @littlemisskessa 
Facebook :LittleMissKessa

feeling a bit tired. I woke up pretty early yesterday to claim my t-shirt for the photowalk and then I met my friends for breakfast and then drove to our village clubhouse.

clicking through Spotify and looking for other songs to listen to.

If you have a blog and you want to let us in your Sunday, join us. Here's my old archive of The Sunday Currently. If you want to join us, click here or here.

Happy Sunday!

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FREEBIE: PRINTABLE HOLIDAY GIFT TAGS

November 27, 2016, 8:57 am
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Whoa! I can't believe 2016 is almost over but before that happens we have to say hello to December and all the festivities, gift-giving included, that comes with it. Have you all wrapped your presents now? I haven't! I've only given 1 gift as of this writing and there are still lots ot be wrapped and be given away. I'm going to be pretty much showcasing my own designs for the gift wrappers and then print my own gift tags as well. I'm going for the whimsical feel and if you like it too please feel free to download the free printable holiday gift tags below.


If you like any or all of the gift tags in the image above, please feel free to download here. I will post another set of printables next Monday and if my schedule permits I will make this a regular series in my blog every Monday. I think it's my way of giving back for all the wonderful things that has happened in my life this year. If you want to make your own printable projects, you can download free design goodiesfrom Creative Market every Monday as well (around 1PM Manila time). This is also the same site where I buy premium fonts as well as premium graphics. 



If you wish to personalize the gift tags with your name, just follow my KT Paper Designs Instagram feed and send me a DM and I will send the file to you for free (yep, no extra cost and no hidden cost either). I'll throw in a festive name wreath or a glittery Facebook cover  for good measure. 

If you scroll at the bottom part of the page (just below the comments section), you will also be able to download another free printable - December 2016 calendar. There's also a Freebies page tab above this page where you can still download past printables. I might remove all the 2016 printables early next year so there would be space left for new ones. 

I also shared a holiday gift tags freebie set last year and you might want to check it out as well. I know you can never have too many gift tags in your life. Wink!

NOTE: This blog post contains an affiliate link and when you click the link and buy from the site, I will be earning a 10% commission as one of their partners.


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LITTLEMISSKESSA.COM NEWSLETTER & WHY EVERY BLOGGER SHOULD SEND ONE

November 30, 2016, 7:31 am
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I have flirted with the idea of sending out a newsletter to my blog readers and subscribers for the longest time and finally I found the courage to do so. I sent my first ever newsletter earlier this week and that for me is a huge achievement. I only have a handful of subscribers because I didn't really understood the importance of newsletters before. I signed up for RSS feeds but I doubt it had any impact of the increase in my readership. And so I did my homework and sent out my first ever newsletter and it felt unbelievably amazing - I felt like I am a legit and responsible blogger.


I used Mailchimp to send out my newsletter and currently I am still subscribed to the free option. Once I hit 2,000 subscribers then maybe I will consider the paid plans. My goal is to accurately identify my audience and actively track engagement. I feel like I need to write more blog posts with real value to my readers at this point. Gone are the days that you just publish anything that you feel like writing at that moment. I want to have a blog content that is worthy of being read. I've embedded sign-up forms in the homepage, my sidebar and some of the published articles that are performing better in terms of Google searches.

So maybe you will ask me why did I feel the need to send my blog newsletters?

1.  Email is more personal. 
Based on conversations with my friends, they actually check their emails more than they do with their social media accounts nowadays. They also don't just check once a day but several times in any given day. People's inboxes are more important to them than their bookmarked sites or your promotions on social media. I personally enjoy reading newsletters that go to my inbox from bloggers and business professionals that I follow. It also gives me the chance to go back to posts that I may have missed. My end goal is to build a personal relationship with my readers as well as connect with them and understand what sort of blog posts they would respond more to as well as provide value and trust along the way.

2.  Email trumps social media any day. 
I once asked myself if I wasn't a blogger would I use social media as much as I do now. My answer was no but I was so sure that I will be checking my emails everyday. Apart from email seems more important that what your online friend ate for lunch or dinner, email is easier to manage than the hundreds of social media updates that flood your feed. Thus, it's good to note that when you have a newsletter there is a higher chance that your content/update will be seen, opened and read.

3. You own your email list and nobody else has access to it. 
You may not be Mark Zuckerberg but you are the sole owner of your email subscribers list. Nearly everyone who uses the internet has an email address and people who provides you their email address means that they allow you to send them something that they would read. Having your blog readers on your email list keeps you in control of your exposure to them. This means, you can opt to send a quarterly, monthly, or even weekly newsletter.

Apart from the items I listed above, I also feel that emails can be forwarded easier than shared to social media. You can provide a call to action in each of your newsletter even. I can't believe how long I have put this to the backburner and did not even pay a good deal of attention to how it could grow my reader base. I know I have to market my blog better in order to attract, keep and connect to my readers.

I am beyond grateful to everyone who reads my blog and for those who leaves sincere comments and appreciations. I love what I do and I don't think I will ever stop blogging. I'm thankful to everyone who has stayed even when I had bouts of hiatus from time to time, when I just can't seem to string cohesive sentences and just leave posts inside the drafts folder. I am determined to bring this blog to a whole new level next year and I hope you will all stay with me in this endeavor.

If you are a blogger reading this, do you have a newsletter? What do you include in it? I would love to know. If you are one of my dear readers reading this post, let me know what you want to read or receive in my newsletters. If you haven't signed-up yet, please feel free to click the image below. I would love to connect more with you.

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5 REASONS WHY I LOVE TORVEHALLERNE

November 30, 2016, 9:38 pm
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Last week, I posted a blog about why I love Nyhavn in Copenhagen and today I am going to take you with me to Torvehallerne. Torvehallerne  is not your typical supermaket because it's more than just that - it is a "super" market complete with fresh meat and seafood, organic produce, plants and flowers, wine, beauty products, the ever so tempting Danish smørrebrød, spices, a coffee shop, a sushi joint, sweet treats, tapas, and even an Asian store.


Before I went on my Copenhagen solo trip (which was a personal dare by the way), I made sure to stop by Torvehallerne to buy some delicious Danish pastries to get me by. I decided to buy my chocolate drink and water from a nearby convenience store. If you're a foodie then this should be on top of your Copehnagen foodie trail. I love that this place is like a melting pot of organic goods, fresh produce and artisanal finds such as coffee, chocolate and wine among other things. The super market is divided into two halls and just outside the right hall is where you can find the vegetables and flowers section.

SO WHY DO I LOVE TORVEHALLERNE?

1. Torvehallerne is very accessible. 

The market is just a block away from Nørreport  train station.  The two symmetrical buildings were put up on a cobblestone-paved area more prominently known as the Israel Plads. Buses (5A and 6A) pass through the area as well and there's a bus stop just a few steps away from the halls. Of course, you can always take your bicycle with you when you go there and a bicycle parking are is also conspicuously allotted near the Frederiksborggade entrance. If you are coming from the Copenhagen Airport (Lufthavn), your best bet is to alight at the Nørreport station and after several minutes of walking, you will then immerse yourself into the food culture of Copenhagen, Denmark.

2. Torvehallerne is not your typical market. 

Although there are about 80 food stalls inside the two halls of the market, the silence is quite deafening. Of course, I am exaggerating but to put it bluntly it's not like the typical market where sellers shout and call on customers to try and buy their goods. In Torvehallerne, the sellers are very polite and welcoming, no seller pressurd me to buy anything. There were stalls with more customers than other stalls around them but people line up and so everything looks really calm and organized.



3. Torvehallerne is a one-stop-shop for a good meal. 

Be it a meal inside the halls or a meal you plan to cook at home, Torvehallerne is the place to go to get your ingredients. You may opt to get your fill of porridge, coffee, bread, tapas, open-faced sandwiches (smørrebrød), pastries, pressed fruit juices, and even wine or you may opt to  buy fruits and vegetables, the freshest fish and other seafood, meat including meat products, even flowers to decorate your table and whip up a meal at home. The market is open at 10AM (Mondays to Saturdays), 11AM on Sundays and holidays. The closing time varies depending on the day of the week so better check torvehallernekbh.dk for the updated hours of operation.





4. Torvehallerne is very clean. 

As in any other markets in Denmark, Torvehallerne is impeccably clean. The cleanliness is maintained inside and outside the establishment. Everything looks so fresh, appetizing and totally worth every Danish kroner (at least Php7 to 1 DKK) you will spend.



5. Torvehallerne is Instagram-worthy. 

I know quite a few people who thinks of their Instagram feeds when visiting places and so for you who loves adding beautiful photos in your feeds, think of Torvehallerne when you visit Copenhagen.  I regret not taking a lot of pictures because I had a timetable to adhere to so I could cover every item in my itinerary. One thing is sure though, I will be back and hopefully when I'm back my photography skills will be improved and I would be able to give justice to it's charm and beauty.





It's like La Boqueria in Barcelona - your monster appetite will be tested. You won't go out of the halls with an empty stomach (unless you purposely do so).

Here are a few more pictures for you to look at:







I hope you enjoyed our travel feature for this week. I'll see you in my next post. I will be sharing with you our trip to Tisvildeleje and Hundested (a couple of wonderful and charming towns in the Danish Riviera) in a photo blog post.  

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8 FREE SUPER FESTIVE FONTS TO TRY

December 3, 2016, 7:55 am
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I decided to DIY most of my Christmas projects for the holidays especially the items that I will be using for gifting - wrapping papers, gift tags, gift cards, and the whole nine yards. I still haven't figured out how to DIY ribbons so I'm just going to recycle some used ribbons and repurpose some elastic bands. I plan to take my calligraphy nibs and brush pens for a spin again (they haven't seen the light of day for quite a while now). READ UNTIL THE END OF THE BLOG POST TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN WIN A VACATION TO DENMARK FOR TWO

While I was creating a few more printables to include in my midmonth bonus newsletter as well as the 2017 calendar for my subscribers (sign-up if you haven't yet to get first dibs on my design projects), I stumbled upon a folder that I thought I already lost. Hooray! I found my super festive fonts folder. It felt like opening a surprise gift on Christmas morning I tell you. If you're still thinking of ways to personalize or DIY your holiday projects, I suggest for you to check the fonts in the image below. Best of all, they are all free to download (just search for the font name and install in your computer).


IF YOU WANT PREMIUM FONTS, CHECK OUT MY FAVORITE SOURCE HERE.

I have written a few more posts to tackle this holiday season like a pro with all the DIY projects I want to share but they're still sitting pretty in my drafts folder. I'm thinking of just doing a round-up so I can share my favorite reads to you as well. What do you think?

Oh yes, while we're at it I'd let you see a few of the holiday-themed wrapping papers that were requested by my clients from my paper design biz (KT Paper Designs on Instagram):

I didn't use any text in this quilt design because I felt it was too much if I would add some more element.


This is one of my personal favorites. I love how whimsical the design is. The font I used here is Bambinio. This one is a freebie font from a design pack I purchased last year. I use it mostly for kiddie party invitations.


This design warms my heart so much! I love it! It reminds me so much of Denmark especially Copenhagen. VisitDenmark and urban Danish design experts, BoConcept, have teamed up with the world's smallest hotel, Central Hotel and Café, to offer you a chance to win a vacation for two in Vesterbro in Copenhagen. You have until December 18 to join!


Do you have a list of your favorite fonts as well? Where do you usually download your free or premium fonts? 



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