Sassa Introduces its Summer Swimwear 2010

A good number of my yoga outfits are by Sassa. They look good, feel good, and wear good.

So when they invited me to take a look-see at their 2010 swimwear collection, I did not hesitate.

I took videos of the fashion show thinking I’d put them here but a very strong spotlight that some guy used during the entire show spoiled my entire video because none of the models’ faces showed up at all. Thankfully, I took some pictures of the collection they were featuring that night and came away with two very cute board shorts which I have already tried and love.

What I love about this line is the ability to mix and match. It’s no longer the case that top has to match bottom. We saw the models walk down the ramp with combinations of tops and bottoms in different colors. Beautiful! Now, if only I had the body…harhar!

Metrobank Cardholders Get Free Red Ribbon Treats (updated)

Do you have a Metrobank credit card? Do you love Red Ribbon?

If you do, then this Christmas promo is for you.

It’s gift-giving time once again and if you are in the midst of Christmas shopping, you not only get to use your Metrobank credit card for convenient gift-buying, it allows you to also get free Red Ribbon pastries. The more you shop, the more treats you get. You could treat yourself to the Red Ribbon delights after a whole day of shopping on your feet. Or, you could add these to the goodies you are serving for Noche Buena or Media Noche. Or give them away to your loved ones.

Here are the promo mechanics:

1. This promotion is open to Metrobank Visa/Mastercard Credit Card, Go! MasterCard, Femme Visa, or PSBank MasterCard cardholders.
2. Cardholders can surrender their charge slips to get FREE Red Ribbon Products.
   • For a single charge slip with a minimum valid spend of at least P1,000, get ONE of the following:
     • Free 1-pc. Red Ribbon Ensaimada, Red Ribbon Cinnamon Roll, OR Red Ribbon Mamon
     • Free 1-pc. Red Ribbon Palabok Petite
   • For a single charge slip with a minimum valid spend of at least P2,500, get ONE of the following:
     • Free 1-pc. any choice of Red Ribbon Cake Slice
     • Free 1-pc. Red Ribbon Palabok Regular
     • Free 3-pc. Red Ribbon Pastry Bundle (any combination of Ensaimada, Mamon or Cinnamon Roll)
   • For a single charge slip with a minimum valid spend of at least P4,000, get Salisbury Meal with Regular Softdrink or Bangus A La Pobre with Regular Softdrink (new)
3. For accumulated charge slips worth a total valid spend of P10,000, get any choice of one whole Red Ribbon Junior Cake
4. Valid spend includes all retail transactions; examples of retail transactions are purchases at groceries, department stores, gasoline stations, restaurants, etc.
5. To redeem the free Red Ribbon products, cardholders must surrender their original valid charge slips, and present their Metrobank Visa/MasterCard Credit Card, Go! MasterCard, Femme Visa, or PSBank MasterCard at any Red Ribbon branch.
6. For the charge slips to be valid for redemption:
   • Name and card number on the charge slip must be the same as the name and card number on the Metrobank Visa/MasterCard Credit Card, Go! MasterCard, Femme Visa, or PSBank MasterCard credit card presented.
   • Transaction date of the charge slip must be within the promo period.
7. Promo Period is October 15, 2009, to January 31, 2010 (promo extended); redemption period is from October 15, 2009, to March 15, 2010.
8. Cardholders can avail a maximum of three items in a day for item 2a and 2b. Cardholders can avail a maximum of one item in a day for item 2c.
9. Redemption will not be allowed on the following dates: December 23, 24, 30, and 31, 2009.

For more on this promo, visit www.metrobankcard.com
Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 5288, Series of 2009.

Raising Healthy Kids Starts Early

As a mother of 4 kids, one of my major concerns is always how to keep my kids healthy and strong. There’s no underestimating the overused cliche “Health is Wealth“. It really is true!

It didn’t help that they all had frequent asthma episodes when they were very young. The nebulizer became a necessity and constant partner whenever we traveled. I was also spending a small fortune on medicines, doctors’ fees and ER visits.

No matter how careful one is about their health, children do get sick. And it is not a joke taking care of sick children. I remember staying up late when they had fever to monitor their temperature every 4 hours and if needed, give them a sponge bath if it went too high. No one else stayed with them in the hospital as I wanted to be there whenever they’d be given anything by mouth or intravenously. It was really hard to be a Florence Nightingale 24/7 those days.

I’m a firm believer that the first line of defense against illnesses is really how solid and robust your kids’ immunity foundation is. They may not be able to control external forces like exposure to sick people or contamination but their bodies stand a better chance of fighting these off when their internal defense system is strong. The earlier we start our kids on a healthy lifestyle, the better their chances of staying that way till their adulthood.

My kids don’t get sick that often anymore and that is a big relief. Here are a few things I learned along the way to keeping my kids healthy:

1. Breastfeeding – Although I used to work in the corporate world, every time I gave birth, I’d spend at least 3 months breastfeeding my kids. It meant some inconvenience. I’d report for work bringing a small ice chest packed with bottles & ice. I’d spend so much of mybreak time pumping breastmilk into the bottles so that they could be stored in the freezer or ref for those days when I was not at home. Given a choice, I would have breastfed longer than 3 months as I have read that children who breastfed longer turned out with a stronger immune system.

2. Complete vaccinations – This cannot be overemphasized. Vaccinations ensure they have the antibodies to fight off the viruses that are more deadly or damaging.

3. Healthy diet and lifestyle – I confess this is one of the harder things to implement. Some of my kids eat vegetables; the others don’t. I used to include junk food in my grocery shopping. I no longer do. Any junk food they want to eat comes out of their own pockets. Getting them to sleep early can be challenging too especially for my kids now that they are older. It seems the youth of today have this habit of sleeping way, way beyond midnight. Lack of sleep lowers their resistance and opens them to cough and colds.

4. Home sanitation –  A clean home, free from pests and allergens, and frequent disinfecting of surfaces can rid your home of things that could make your kids sick.

5. Good hygienic habits – Simple habits to teach the kids would minimize their getting sick like frequent hand washing especially after a trip to the comfort room.

5. Vitamins, vitamins, vitamins – I am choosy about the multivitamins I give them. The one they currently take has zinc which is known to boost immunity. Besides that, I also give them Vitamin C to fight the colds.

Learn more about boosting your child’s immunity foundation by visiting www.immunityfoundation.com. On this site you will have access to expert advice and great tips on keeping your kids’ immunity high.

Get Fit and Designer-Fitted with Nestle Fitnesse

Over a year ago, I discovered Nestle Fitnesse cereal. It went well with my being a yoga practitioner as it was light enough for me to munch on even before a yoga class without that heaviness that goes with eating. Yet, it provided the energy and fiber that I needed. It was a healthy snack that I always had around the house. In fact, while many take their cereal with milk, I took mine straight out of the box. It was something I could just continue snacking on.

When I took on a consultancy project, I found myself staying late in the office. Again, Nestle Fitnesse cereal was my constant companion. I had a resealable container in one drawer always filled with the cereal. I especially liked the variety that had fruit in it.

See? Here is my current supply of Nestle Fitnesse & Fruit!

Now, guess what! Nestle Fitnesse is offering a challenge to all of you to get into the FASHION AND FITNESS mode.

If you’re wondering what the “14 DAYS” is on the lower right of the box, that’s exactly how long one of my favorite snacks is giving you and up to 8 of your friends to lose some pounds and win an entire designer’s wardrobe. And I don’t mean just any kind of wardrobe. Handpicked by the country’s top editors, the shortlisted wardrobe is a dream come true for a fashionista. “For the prizes in NESTLE FITNESSE’s 14 Days to Show off Your Shape, we found out what some of the country’s most stylish people want to have in their closets,” shares Myra Garcia, Consumer Marketing Manager, Nestle Fitnesse . “And in doing so, we were able to shortlist what’s arguably the most coveted designer wardrobe to hit Manila.”

Start your way to a fit life and get rewarded with a set of clothes that will make you look good in a new body.

Take a look at 3 of the 8 designer items up for grabs by the winners:

7FORALLMANKIND

 

KATE TORRALBA

 

RHETT EALA

Are you tempted already by these luscious clothes? I am!

The rules are simple and fun, actually. Here are the mechanics:

14 Days to Fitness and Fashion

So what do you have to do to get a crack at Manila’s most coveted designer wardrobe?

Simply form a team of 2-8 members, and using Nestle Fitnesse’s 14-day meal plan, everyone in the team has to lose at least 2 pounds in 2 weeks. “No, 2 pounds is not that daunting, it only needs a few diet tweaks,” quips Myra Garcia. She explains that participants only need to replace breakfast and one of the main meals – either lunch or dinner–for 2 weeks.  She adds that to exercise as well as eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and low-fat, carbohydrate rich foods is the best way to complement the 14-day regimen.

And as part of the challenge, participants also need to chronicle their 14-day regimen via an online “fitness diary” accessed at www.fitnesse-14days.com <http://www.fitnesse-14days.com> . The Top 10 most popular FITNESSE 14-day diaries will make it into finals.

The Nestle Fitnesse 14 Days to Show off Your Shape will kick off on November 14, Saturday, 9am, with the voting period lasting from November 15 to December 3, 2009.  And as adjudged by Manila’s top style icons the winners will be announced on December 10, 2009 in a special fashion show.

“People who’ll join this challenge will have nothing to lose but pounds,” jests Myra Garcia.   “Not only do they win the fashionista closet of their dreams, but they walk away with health tips, tweaks and tricks during their 14-day challenge and continue on living a healthier, fitter and a more runway-ready lifestyle.”

For more information about Nestle Fitnesse’s 14 Days to Show off Your Shape, please log on to www.fitnesse-14days.com <http://www.fitnesse-14days.com> .

The Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Weight Loss Face Off

8 Weeks.

2 deejays.

3 servings of Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks daily.

1 goal.

The two deejays of Magic 89.9 — Joseph Paul Javier, aka Mojo Jojo, who co-hosts Goodtimes with Mo, and Eric Virata aka Slick Rick of Boys Night Out — gamely got into the challenge on who can lose more weight.

Here are their BEFORE stories:

Slick Rick: I have to say that I’m a happy- go-lucky guy, but of course there are times that I have insecurities about my weight and appearance. I envy the people that can lose weight really quick and I’m not part of that lucky group.

Mojo Jojo: When I was a teenager, I used to be quite athletic. However, when college came along, I found that my physical activities took a back seat to studying and hitting the books. Then when I started working, I really let myself go. And with my metabolism no longer that of a teenager, shedding the extra weight became more difficult. When they weighed me in at the beginning of the challenge, I was really shocked that I have ballooned to 183 pounds! It was a realization for me that I really had to change my lifestyle… more so than the reason of “just looking good”—it was time to think about my health.

At the end of eight weeks, while Mojo came out with an impressive 17 lbs. weight loss, Slick Rick lost a total of 20 lbs. making him the winner of the weight loss face off!

If the two deejays are happy, their family and friends are happier.  Listeners of their station call in to say that they have been inspired.  They are also saying that they would not mind undergoing the same regimen because of the healthy snacking alternative offered by the New Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks.  Health experts agree and added that eating the right foods with regular exercise like brisk walking can definitely help lose or maintain one’s weight.

Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is the only low calorie snack with 300mg of L-Carnitine that is clinically proven to burn fat!  Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is made with real fruits and it has no added sugar.

Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks are available in all leading supermarkets (Mixed Fruit, Pineapple or Pine-Orange).  SRP: P 25.00 for Mixed Fruit and Pineapple and P28.50 for Pine-Orange.  All variants are available in convenient single serve cups with spork.

(paid advertorial)