Musings Archives - Page 21 of 48

Watsons Bath To Basics

I have four kids, one demanding husband and a house to maintain.. how I keep my sanity? me time! specifically bath time. Nothing seems impossible after an hour at the bathroom.. laundry? dinner? assignments? I can do all that, but first, let me take a bath!

Yes, that’s how I see bathing.. a time that I can call mine and mine alone. It’s a treat that I always look forward too.. and my favorite full bath ritual (which happens once or twice a week) includes body scrub + hair conditioning. A total stress buster!

If there is one thing that I want every mom to have, that would be a “me time”. And for busy moms like me, bath time is the perfect opportunity to have that precious “me time”. That’s why I am very grateful that Watsons invited to take part in their newest campaign, Bath to Basics.

Together with beauty bloggers, yours truly, had an afternoon of indulgence, from spa party to shopping! (and I just have to say it again.. hindi naman ako beauty blogger> beautiful blogger lang, kaya thank you Watsons for seeing that haha) But before our spa party, we had a chance to hear some greats tips from Ms Olen Lim (professional image consultant) about bath regimens.

She also discussed bath organizing and one thing I learned from her: when in doubt, throw it out! It’s about toiletries sitting too long in the bathroom. If the smell is not good, throw it.

Bloggers were divided into two groups, one group were treated with body scrub while the other one with a massage, and I’m glad I’m part of the massage team. I do love scrub, but that, I can do on my own, specially with the many body scrub available at Watsons. Body massage is another thing, it’s not everyday that (not even once a month! haha) I get to experience a full body massage, so I welcomed it with open arms.

After a very relaxing massage experience at Neo Day Spa, we had a shopping challenge at Watson’s. Each blogger we’re given 1k GC to buy whatever we want but whoever buys the most Watsons Bath To Basics participating products will win a Neo Day Spa GC. Any shopper on her right mind would get the buy one take one at Watsons (BOTO are counted as two!) Here’s my cart:

Ang unti yata? I want to hoard the cheapest that I can find (like the body puff) to win the challenge, eh kaso, anong gagawin ko sa sandamakmak na body puff? So I just bought items that I really like (mostly body scrubs).

Watsons Bath to Basics campaign aims to educate people about the importance of maintaining or boosting their bathing habits to achieve better health and skin. To support this campaign, Watsons is giving away FREE 750 ml Limited Edition Hand Soap if you buy any of the participating bath products worth 500 PhP

EXCLUSIVE FOR SM ADVANTAGE CARD member: If you buy 400 PhP worth of participating product, you can avail your free hand soap. This promo is also available in the SM Store Beauty Section.

Watsons has also the Bath To Basics Activation booths in the following malls to score great deals and offers:

SM Fairview (July 17-22)
Festival Mall (July 24- 29)
SM North EDSA (July 31- August 6)
SM Manila (August 14- 19)

So before I finish this post (because my banyo is already calling me), let me ask you, what are your bath routines? What bath products you can’t live without? Any bath regimen tips? Share it with us!

Menthol-riffic!

still trying to figure out where to start or how to bring back my blogging mojo.. so many things happened..pagkatapos magkasakit ng mga bagets, ako naman ang sumunod.. at kahit hindi pa ako magaling, may I sugod sa Quiapo at Divi ang drama ko for my ate’s wedding.. so while I try to re organize my thoughts, calendar and physical health, here are some of the things I bought in Quiapo.. err Binondo to be exact:

Yes, there’s a few drops of Chinese blood on my veins but it’s not what influenced me to be dependent to menthol and ointments. I got it from my mom who loves anything alternative medicine hehe (acupuncture, moxibustion and the use of food supplements).

These 4 are always present in our medicine cabinet and each one has a purpose..uhhm well for me.. each one has its own “expertise”.

Let’s start with the more popular menthol, Vicks VapoRub. I have a confession to make..there was a time in my life that I can’t live er sleep without a rub of Vicks. It was during my college years and Vicks kinda treats my home sickness.. Actually until now, if I am super duper stressed, I still need some help from my menthol friends to fall asleep. Other than that, we use Vicks to treat colds, coughs and ease pain from tonsillitis.

Vicks VapoRub can also be used as steam to temporary relief from colds or clogged nose. To use as steam, partly fill a bowl of steaming water, add 2 teaspoonfuls of Vicks VapoRub and inhale the steam.

Polar Bear is next because as far as I can remember, this menthol has been with my family..giving us comfort from stomach pain and travel sickness (even morning sickness!). My mom would put two drops of Polar Bear to a cup of hot water and will drink it like a tea.. best treatment for flatulence hehe

According to the Tsinoy where I bought Polar Bear, this menthol is for China where as White Flower is used in HongKong. Also, be careful in buying Polar Bear, only buy at Binondo where you can be sure that you’re buying the original one. Original Polar Bear is distributed by Tekson Marketing here in the Philippines.

White Flower.. can’t remember when it was introduced to me but since then, we never run out of this flower. Since White Flower is a very strong oil, I use this to treat head ache.. like extreme headache or the migraine kind of head ache.. or the kind of head ache that makes you want to cut your head off.. Put a little near your eyes and a lot on your forehead and you’ll definitely feel a sudden relief from that kind of head ache.

White Flower is also used for cold, flu and muscular pain. It can also be applied to insect and mosquito bites and used for travel sickness.

Last one.. which I only discovered this year, is Tiger Balm… ay I love the smell of this one.. I use this pag bahong baho ako sa paligid ko LOL Tiger Balm is best used for muscle pain.. instant relief mga teh! The only downside.. kumukulay sya sa damit!

Tiger Balm is from Singapore pala.. and can also be used for itchiness and insect bites.. my sister pointed out that it smells like Betet.. it’s another menthol ointment (from Malaysia naman)..well, not to me.. Tiger Balm smells waaay better than Betet.

Price List! (from Binondo, magtanong tanong muna kayo ha, kase ung nabilhan kong tindahan sa Binondo medyo mahal eh haha):

White Flower 10 ml 140 PhP
Polar Bear 55 PhP
Vicks VapoRub 135 PhP
Tiger Balm 95 PhP (as low as 75 PhP)

All these menthol pala is available din in Mercury Drugstore, not sure lang if it is cheaper in Binondo or not 🙂

Do you love using menthol or Chinese ointments too? Tell me what’s your favorite!

Throwback Thursday/ Future Friday

This seldom happens.. us and our moms together.. My friendship with Fedhz and Niko is as old as this blog.. or a few months younger. During our last Fridate session at Amber, we had a trip down memory lane.. well, I met Fedhz from mylot. Niko from blog hopping…and with the birth of Sati, our friendship was sealed (along with other mommy bloggers who also became Sati’s godmother). We often hang out..before, we try to use blog events as an excuse to see each other, not anymore since we can always set an impromptu date anytime our (or my) schedule allows. But a meet up together with our moms.. that’s very rare! Actually, first time nangyari to.. ang cute di ba!?!