For two years, since the covid-19 outbreak began, we're not able to travel often. I used to go out with my family when I felt stressed at work or I needed to have a mental break. But when the pandemic started, it impacted so much our everyday routine. For example, Chesska, my older daughter, had to stay at home for two years for her online class. Also, our mobility outside our home is limited due to covid restrictions and we couldn't bring our kids when we went to the mall for grocery shopping. Thankfully, when the covid cases started to decline in March,  we right away seized the opportunity to travel with kids.  

We chose Bukidnon because we had traveled here many times before as my brother is working at Del Monte located at Manolo Fortich. Whenever we wanted to have a long vacation, we just stayed at their house. So without further ado, I would like to share the tourist spots we've been to. We visited one of the newest tourist destinations in Kiliog, Libona Bukidnon called Crumbs and Country Food Park.  The ambiance has a country feel as if you were situated in Western Country. I loved the place because it was really a stress reliever especially if you are living most of your life in the city.  The nature, fresh air, and green sceneries are soothing to the senses. Here are our photos below.

While at the facial session, the Beauty Consultant Director, explained first the basics of skincare,  before introducing the Mary Kay products. She stressed that there are 5 essential steps in caring for skin.

1. Cleanse twice daily. Whether you like it or not, each day,  you have been exposed to dirt, dust, pollutants, and other impurities,  so you need to cleanse your skin. It is recommended to cleanse your skin before going to bed. Don't sleep with your make-up still on.

2. Exfoliate two to three times a week. There are dead cells that build up in our skin that simple cleansing cannot remove. So using exfoliating products can eliminate dead cells that block the pores and dull the skin.

3. Freshen - Have you ever noticed that some parts of your face are darker, and some parts are brighter? Some parts of your forehead are oily,  and some parts are dry? Your skin tone is not even. Well, most cleansing and exfoliating products can help even out your skin tone.

4. Moisturize once to twice daily. I have just learned that lack of moisture can cause wrinkles. Oily skin is less likely prone to wrinkles since it produces plenty of moisture, while dry skin is vulnerable to wrinkles because it lacks moisture. So it is recommended for dry skin person to lavish moisturizer to add more glow to the skin.

5. Protect as needed- protect the skin from the sun and environmental stressors through the use of foundation and sunblock. Foundation can prevent dirt from entering your pores that cause pimples,  while sunblock can protect skin from UV rays that cause sunburn and other skin issues.

"Aha" Moments...

After the facial session, I came to realize that my beauty routines were incorrect. Mary Kay has given me the right direction on what steps I should take to improve my skin. In my next post,   I will reveal what Mary Kay products I've been using.

Final Words...

None of us wants to look old and wrinkled? Right? Pampering your skin is like pampering your baby.  It needs extra care and attention in order to have great and baby-looking skin.

I hope this post helps you, and don't forget to like my Facebook page. Thanks a lot!

Toys aren't just for playing, they are actually learning tools for your child. Providing your baby or toddler with hands-on games through manipulative toys or even a simple game "hide and seek" will help optimize your child's brain to learn.

To be honest, I felt scared months before I turned 40 because I thought I was getting old. But when I meditated and looked back on how I overcame the struggles and trials I've been through in the past years and how I become victorious in life today, it made me realize that being forty is a GIFT. A gift from God that is not given to everyone. Sure, I may not be able to do the things that I used to do when I was in my 20s and 30s, but I believe I can still do something as I enter this new season of my life. 

I've been through many difficult things in life in 40 years. For example,  I didn't have happy memories as a child because my father was a drunkard person and he always beat my mother every time he got home drunk. On top of that, we struggled financially and my parents could not provide us enough food on our table, could not buy what we wanted, and could not send us to a good school. When I was 12,  my father died and my mother had to work hard to raise us until we finished college. In fact, I couldn't count the problems, struggles, and tribulations we had been through at that time, but thankfully,  God had delivered us from those situations. 

Out of those experiences, I learned a lot from them and it benefited me until today. Here are the 40 lessons I've learned since turning 40. 

1.  Family does matter. Friends just come and go in your life but family sticks with you up to the end. 

2.  Failures and mistakes are life's lessons to make us better and stronger. 

3.  Refuse to give up. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. 

4.  Each of us is unique. God gave each of us a talent, gift, and ability to do the things he asks us to do. 

5.  Trials and tribulations in life will help you build your character and be spiritually mature. 

6. Don't be jealous of others' success.  Look at them as inspiration instead. 

7. Be grateful all the time. Be grateful that you can still breathe, walk, talk, have your visions, being able to sleep and wake up. 

8. Enjoy your husband, kids, and your home. 

9. Your past will not determine your future.  It's not how you start your life, it's how you finish it. You can always have a fresh start. 

10. Practice delayed gratification. 

11.  Learn to say no. Don't overcommit to people or things to avoid stress.

12. Be a God pleaser, not a people pleaser.

13. The devil is real and He's the one who gives problems and troubles in our life to distract us from our fellowship with God. 

14. Battle begins in the mind. A negative mind produces negative life. A positive mind produces positive life. 

15. Pray for those who mistreat you and be quick to forgive. Remember, God is a God of justice and He is our vindicator. 

16. Don't be somebody you can never be. Be who you are.

17. Slow down. Live life one at a time. 

18. Be a constructive critic.

19. Don't control your kids.

20. Spend some. Save some. Give some.

21. Don't put your money in one basket. 

22. Patience is not about waiting. It's about your attitude while you wait. 

23. There are slow people to test our patience. So be patient. 

24. Education is a continuous process. Keep on learning.

25. Don't trust too much. 

26. Cast all your cares, concerns, and worries to God. 

27. Don't expect too much from people. 

28.  Be led by the prompting of the Holy Spirit not by the impulses of the flesh when making a crucial decision. 

29. Self-control and discipline are important in order to be successful in life.

31. Let your YES be YES and NO be NO. Have a word of honor. 

32. You cannot change a person. Only God can change him/her.

33. You can trust people but do not expect that they will not disappoint you.

34. You cannot be a happy Christian at the same time be selfish. 

35. Some people I know who called themselves Christians are miserable. 

36. Your 100% trust belongs to God alone. 

37. Emotions are fickle. Don't live beyond it. 

38. God gave us the spirit of love not the spirit of fear. Don't be afraid to step out in faith. 

39.  Don't take life too seriously. Have fun, be naughty at times, and throw clean jokes to break the ice. 

40.  Eat healthily. 

I hope you enjoy reading my blog post. If you learn something, don't be shy to comment below and share your thoughts. Have a good day!

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Disclaimer: The information or products provided on this website is for general purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.  Never rely on the information on this website in place of seeking professional advice. You are encouraged to consult with your pediatrician with regard to the needs of your baby. 

Breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby. In fact, according to Unicef, at 6 months of age, breastmilk continues to be a vital source of your baby's nutrition and by this time solid foods should be gradually introduced to keep up with her growing needs.

While not all mothers can continue breastfeeding due to health issues or personal preferences, they look for the best formula milk having the nutrients close to mother's milk to ensure their baby's healthy development. 

But with the variety of options today, it's hard to choose which formula fits your growing baby. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• what’s best for your baby’s needs
• what will your baby accept
• what fits into your budget

Things to Know Before Choosing a Formula

The first thing parents need to consider before buying a formula is what the base ingredient can be. Here are some of the common ingredients used as a base for baby formula. 

Cow’s Milk: Most babies' formula is made with cow's milk. It is the most common and the least expensive one. Most babies do well with cow's milk but some babies are allergic to it which needs some types of milk below.   

Soy Milk: If you want to exclude animal proteins from your child's diet, this type of formula might be also an option for your baby. Consult first a pediatrician, before choosing or switching to this type of formula. 

Lactose-Free: It is used for babies that are lactose intolerant or have allergy issues. 

Hydrolyzed baby formula. Also called protein hydrolysate–based formula or predigested formula, these formulas contain broken-down (or “predigested”) amino acids, making them easier for the baby to digest.

Read: Best Vitamins for Babies Up to 12 Months Old 

Read: List of Best Formula Milk for 1-3 Years Old Baby 

List of Best Formula Milk for 6-12 Months