Becoming a Child again at Movie Stars Cafe

When I was a young girl, I have always been fascinated with movies and how they are made.  I was a teenager when I dreamed to become one but my family did not supported my ambition hence I did not pushed with it.  Visiting MovieStars Cafe last April 26 fulfilled my dream of becoming a star even just for a night. What with all the characters that I was able to mingle with who wouldn't feel like a star for a night.

It is good that we came in really early because we had the chance to take lots of photo before the area was filled up.  The place wasn't hard to find especially during the night because they have search lights and they say that it can be seen to as far as 4 kilometers from the place.  Mala Batman lang ang peg!
But since we came in when the sun was still up, these are the signs greeted us.

Spiderman, the Alien and Jack Skellington and her bride

goofing around with Kingkong

Our food attendant told us that the area could really get cramped up during weekends so it's good that we have a reservation.  The place has a sitting capacity of 300 persons.  Once we get in, we were greeted by their nice staff and we were seated right away to an area near the buffet table.  I immediately noticed that they do have an open kitchen which is a plus factor for us.  My firstborn loves to see how food is being prepared so it was already an entertaining thing for him.  I was not able to check out the restroom though because I was soooo busy taking photos of the place.  Hubby was the one who took care of changing the little princess' nappy when it was time to do so.  He gave the restroom area two thumbs up because there was a diaper changing area even on the Men's restroom.

inside Movie Stars Cafe

Having two men who are hungry and two ladies who wants to sample most of the items on the buffet table, we did not hesitated on going for the Dino Buffet for the four of us.  The kid was able to satisfy his burger cravings because he was actually able to create his own masterpiece.  The other dishes were good but I loved their pasta most.  The pasta was al dente and the sauces were oh-so-good that it made me come back for more. Oh and I forgot to mention that their DIY Salad bar contains really crisp and fresh green.

Even if there is not much on the buffet table, I would say that the price was reasonable enough.  Remember that you not only enjoy good food here but great entertainment, too.  That's money spent wisely 'no?

Buffet Price:
 
Dinner Buffet starts at 6:00PM-10:00PM 
Php 699.00 add Php 99.00 Drink all you can (soda, coffee/tea, iced tea, juice, draft/beer)
Php 400.00 (6-12 years old)
Php 299.00 (3-5 years old)
FREE (0-2 years old)
Add Php 100 on Fri, Sat, Sun, Holiday and the day before Holidays and Holidays

Midnight Buffet (10PM- 2AM) Php 599.00 All you can drink 

Now about the shows.  It was a Saturday, when we went there and the main performance was the Lion King.  It was a good decision to wait for the main performance because it brought me back to the days when I sat in front of our good ol' TV set and enjoyed the movie while it was being played in video.

 I was amazed that I still remember the lyrics of the songs and could still sing along with most of it.  The lady played the Priest has such a very powerful voice.  I literally thug my group to have our picture taken with the cast.

The show is every 30 minutes and most of the shows lasted at about 10 minutes.  But for me, the whole time that we spend inside the resto was a big part show. You get to rub elbows with your childhood superheroes or teenage crushes.  I even became Mime's love interest that night since we seem to wear a couples' shirt.

If you want to experience good food and great entertainment, hop on over to Movie Stars Cafe. Want to get discounts, just use code TFID-2204 and get 10% off your bill.

For reservations and more information, contact details are as follows:

Cellphone Numbers:

Globe: 0905-277-9999
Smart: 0908-200-9999
Email Add: info@moviestarscafe.com
Business Hours:
Monday-Saturdays: 12pm - 2am
Holiday-Sunday: 12pm-12am
Address: Seaside Blvd, SM MAll of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines
Hot line: (02) 550-1234

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MovieStarsCafe

Thanks Movie Stars Cafe and Mommy Bloggers Philippines for making my dream of becoming a star to come true. 

NASOCLEAR: Breaking away with Allergic Rhinitis in 1-2-3

My family had always been dealing with allergic rhinitis and we all know that summer time is not a nice time for people with allergic rhinitis.  In as much as we want to go out and smell the flowers per se, we just couldn't, since it triggers our allergies.  Not to mention that it is during the dry season that air pollutants are also in abundance.  Good thing that Unilab already came out with Nasoclear.

Nasoclear is made of 0.65% Saline solution and 0.02% Benzalkonium chloride that goes by the generic name Sodium Chloride.  We have always been told by ENT doctors that saline solution works better in declogging runny nose due to allergic rhinitis than taking antihistamines.  According to them, nasal spray are the first line of defense against allergic rhinitis.  It's even better than taking medicines since it is just like irrigating your nasal cavities with saline solution. It helps in moisturizing the nasal cavity thus relieving nasal congestion.  

Nasoclear comes in a pump spray mist that is not just easy to use but also very handy.  What I like most about this is that it comes with its own safety clip and cap.  This will ensure that the product wont get sprayed on unless you remove the clip and cap.  My son has shown really good improvement since he has been using this daily.  I bet this will be a staple item in our first aid kit box.

Do not be intimidated by the look of NasoClear.  Using it is as easy as 1-2-3. 

1. After removing the safety clip and cap,tilt your head forward and breathe out. Hold the nozzle between your fingers and squeeze.
2. Spray the solution into one nostril while covering the other nostril.
3. Spray 2 times in each nostril in the morning and at night.

We are no first timers in using nasal sprays but my son swears that just after 2 days of using Nasoclear, he noticed the improvement unlike with others wherein he needs to finish the 5 day usage term that is allowed by ENTs.  I would suggest you ask a doctor, an ENT specialist, if you feel that the product is not helping you in such a way it is supposed to do. 

Nasoclear is distributed by UNILAB.  To know more about Nasoclear and other health products from UNILAB, follow them on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

Let Naturhouse help you lose two pounds healthily in one week

Summertime has always been associated with swimwears, beach parties and sexy bodies. If you are like me who just gave birth a few months ago, chances are you are looking for a healthy way to shed off fats.  Fret not then, Spanish dietetics specialist Naturhouse is looking to expand its presence in Asia, with its first shop scheduled to be inaugurated on 6 April this year, here in the Philippines.

Naturhouse has expressed bullishness on the Philippine market citing that Filipinos are now ready for the type of unique health and wellness service that it provides. “Filipinos have been very health conscious the past few years and we took note of this in our preparations.” according to Naturhouse Philippines President Jon Rocha. It speaks volumes about Filipinos' increased awareness and desire towards living a healthy lifestyle, which is what Naturhouse is really all about and offers.

Naturhouse expects potential business in the Philippines to reach more than € 2 million in the coming years as it slowly expands northward and southward to other urban centers. “ We will not only introduce a way of living healthy to the Philippine  market, but also create jobs in the process” according to Rocha.

Dietetics defined as the science of applying nutritional principles to the planning and preparation of foods and regulation of the diet in relation to both health and disease, is what Naturhouse offers the Filipino.

Over the years, a marked increase in cases of non-communicable/chronic/lifestyle diseases has been observed not only globally, but also in the Philippines. According to the Department of Health (DOH), more than 44 million Filipinos either suffer from obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.

Because of this, the World Health Organization, through the DOH, commissioned the Nutritionist-Dietitian's Association of the Philippines to establish a set of guidelines on healthy eating which will serve as a basis for a certification program for food manufacturers and establishments.

You might be wondering how Naturhouse differs from other businesses that promises weight loss. At Naturhouse, programs are geared toward the promotion of healthy living among Filipinos. A nutritionist will guide every client to reach their desired weight goals. There will be no crash diets or hit-miss diets said Melody Melo, Head Nutritionist for Naturhouse.

Naturhouse will provide specific nutritional guidelines that have been developed by dietary professionals who provide advice along with details on how to lose weight and address issues like stress, cellulite, among others. Each solution is designed with specific nutritional characteristics to speed up the required results in each case.

"It is our mission to educate people how to eat properly and how to retain their ideal weight," said Rick Cabanban, Lead project manager who trained in offices in Spain and France for the operations of Naturhouse Philippines.

Currently there are 2,000 Naturhouse establishments around the world. Nearly 900 of these establishments are located outside of Spain. In 2011 alone, over 240 shops have been opened abroad. 4 million satisfied clients from around the globe have lost weight with the Naturhouse method.

Naturhouse is owned by the Kiluva Group of Spain, the leading Spanish corporation in dietetics and nutrition sector. It provides specialized services and exclusive products of the highest quality for the health conscious markets such as Naturhouse. C.F. Sharp Trading, Inc. is the Master Franchise holder of Naturhouse for the Philippines.

Aside from the Philippines, Naturhouse is also expanding in other Asian markets such as China, Malaysia and Singapore.

If you want to be one of the very first to try out Naturhouse, please head on to their first branch on April 6, 2014 at 10am, located at SM City North Edsa lower ground floor main building.

Wondering if its possible?
Head on to their website to know more!

For more information, you may visit and like their facebook page: Natur House Philippines

The rose that made me cry

My eldest child graduated from Elementary two days ago.  A part of me is wishing that I could brag about him getting medal for academic excellence but he did not have that kind of award.  Despite of that I am still beaming with pride not only because he will soon be in grade 7 but because he was awarded for being the most helpful in class.  He was given the award because after typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas region, he suggested to his teachers that instead of buying prizes and candies from their Christmas savings perhaps they could just send the full amount to the Yolanda victims.  He even asked the teacher to ask the class if they are willing to give every cent to the victims.  What makes me more proud is that he asked the teacher not to drop his name when the suggestion is blurted out to the class.  The whole school took the cue from that generous act.  All the classes decided to offer their class' christmas savings to the typhoon victims.  He was beaming with pride when he told me about this but he kept quiet whenever talks about the mystery person who suggested about the project to the school.

I was teary eyed when the program ended but it was not because of him moving up to high school.  It was because he took an effort to pick the only pink flower among all the white ones that decorated the stage.  She gave it to me and kissed me after saying his gratitude.  Unlike his classmates who no longer wants hugs and kisses from their parents, my soon-to-be-12-year-old-boy still kisses me in public.  A lot of parents raised an eyebrow when my son kissed me but to us it's not something to be ashamed of.  I always tell him to take pride he has a family and to not be afraid and shy to show affection whenever he feels like.  Please do not think that we don't have rough days in our house because we do have, and we have a bunch.  There are a lot of instances when my son would tell me I'm too bossy and I'm such a nagging mom.  But I guess in the end, he still loves me wholeheartedly and that really made my day.  

In the end, it's really not about the medals or trophies that matter during recognition day/ graduation day.  At least for me, it's more of the knowledge and the attitude that has been embedded on the next generation. 

What to do if your Child has Chicken Pox

According to webMd, Chicken Pox is caused by varicella zoster virus.  It normally starts with flu-like symptoms (headache, decreased appetite, colds, sore throat and fever). It is highly contagious and most common in school children.  An infected person shoud stay home until the rash is completely healed.

My eldest went home two weeks ago looking pale and tired than usual.  He told me he was not feeling well and even asked if I could check his temperature since he seems feverish.  I obliged and found some blisters that looks like peck marks of chicken on his torso.  I immediately asked him to go far from his sister.  We went to see a doctor and ask for treatment.  Doctor said that the chicken pox itself will heal on its own and no medicine can make it go away faster.  Like all viral infection, it will heal all by itself.  He was only prescribed antihistamines for the itching and paracetamol for the fever.  He was also advised to continue to drink his Vitamin C to boost his immune system and to drink more fluids especially water to keep himself hydrated.

So what do you do when your kids is downed with Chicken Pox (I hope not!)? But if ever, you may find the following handy.

• Contrary to what our Lolas do in the past, doctors instructs patients to take a bath, and it could be numerous baths in a day because it helps tone down the itch.  Addition of finely ground oatmeal in your bath water can also help a lot.
• After taking a bath, pat dry the skin but DO NOT rub.
• To help relieve pain (from some of the blisters, especially those at the mouth are), you may take over-the-counter pain relievers.
• Doctors can also prescribe antihistamines for the itchiness.
• Take your Vitamin C supplement to boost your immune system.
• No matter how hard it is, try not to scratch.  Scratching can cause skin cuts and you might develop bacterial infections from them.
• If you have other kids at home, isolate the infected kid or adult to avoid exposing the other kids to the virus.
• Antibiotics won't help so do not try to drink any.
• Since I am breastfeeding and had been able to see the wonders of breastmilk over skin rashes, I put on breastmilk on my son's scars, hoping it would easily lighten them.

A child can be vaccinated at the 12-15 months of age but for the vaccine to work they need to get a booster at age 4-6.  My son had been vaccinated but we forgot to have him injected with the booster hence he still contacted the virus.  To our dismay, even if he has been isolated, our daughter was still infected with it 2 weeks after our eldest does.  I might need to pump more breastmilk so that I can constantly put some on my kids scars.

A Dose of Sunshine

"Always smile back at little children.  To ignore them is to destroy their belief that the world is good." 

Seeing her flash a smile is my daily dose of sunshine.  It always brighten my days no matter how gloomy I feel.  When I see her smile like this, I just wanna stop and linger at the moment.  I wanna capture my children's every smile because I know that when they grow up they will smile differently.  If only I can!


This photo is submitted to the I Heart Photo Challenge | Smile.  Do you to see more smiling faces?  Just drop over there and see some smiling actions captured on photos. 

Seeing Doubles: MedelaMoms' Multiples Support Group

My mom was a working mother of the 70's (until the 80's).  This is the reason why I was left to be taken cared of by my grandmother.  And the same reason why I was not breastfed.  I guess the idea of pumping and storing milk was not yet introduced back then.  While growing up, I had always been fascinated with breastfeeding moms.  For me, it is the most wonderful way of giving because the mother is actually giving herself to her child. This is the reason why I made a promise to myself that when motherhood enters my life, I will breastfeed my baby.

My first born was breastfed for two years.  She only tasted formula milk when he was weaned on the month of his birthday.  He had been a very good example for my relatives and friends to see the beauty of breastfeeding.  He was a very healthy and active child.  Last year, we were blessed with another child but this time it was more challenging.  I gave birth to a premature baby who weighs only 1100 grams.  She had to stay in the NICU for 2 months and battled a lot of complications because of prematurity.  She tips the scale at 1800 grams when she went home.  But with the wonder of breastmilk she gained 600 grams in a span of 2 weeks.  This made believe more that yes, indeed, Breast(milk) is Best!  To date, my second child is now six months, weighs 5.5 kls and unlike other preemies, we never had any problems since she came home 4 months ago.

I have always (politely!) inform moms and soon-to-be moms about the benefits of breastfeeding (or at least those benefits that I know about).  It's super nice nowadays that there are already support groups for breastfeeding moms.  

Speaking of support groups, MedelaMoms will be launching "Seeing Doubles" a support group for moms with multiples.  Committed to being more than just the Philippines' authorized distributor of the most well-known and trusted brand of breastfeeding products, MedelaMoms is all about supporting mothers and babies in their breastfeeding journey. This is why they organize learning events related to breastfeeding and parenting, provide breastfeeding counseling if needed, and help coordinate breast milk donations whenever necessary, among other things. MedelaMoms wants to be one with you, moms out there, in breastfeeding. 

Committed to being more than just the Philippines' authorized distributor of the most well-known and trusted brand of breastfeeding products, MedelaMoms is all about supporting mothers and babies in their breastfeeding journey. This is why they organize learning events related to breastfeeding and parenting, provide breastfeeding counseling if needed, and help coordinate breast milk donations whenever necessary, among other things. MedelaMoms wants to be one with you, moms out there, in breastfeeding.

Everyone knows that breastfeeding can be challenging and nursing multiples -- twins or more -- may be even more demanding. At the same time, nurturing and raising multiples has its own set of "rewards" and sense of fulfillment. MedelaMom Beng knows this firsthand, having her own set of double blessings.

It is with great pleasure then that MedelaMoms invites all couples expecting multiples to come to the Medela House on February 8, Saturday, 9 a.m., to the launch of the "Seeing Doubles" Multiples Support Group. Different mommies with twins will share their precious time to talk about their experiences carrying, giving birth to, breastfeeding, and raising multiples! This is the time for all parents with multiples to ask their questions and satisfy their curiosity, and maybe even find the answers to all their concerns and worries. The "multiples moms" who have been invited by MedelaMoms to speak are ready to help parents for the arrival of their own sets of multiples.

Alongside the launch of “Seeing Doubles,” SweetPea, a cocktail/formal nursing wear company will also be launching its line through a fashion show. Walnut Melbourne PH will be providing the shoewear of the children in the show. Celebrity Moms Amanda Jacob and Marilen Faustino-Montenegro and children will be dropping by, too, to share their own modern day mom breastfeeding experiences. 

Amanda will also be conducting a book signing and a limited number of her book, Project Mom, co-authored with Bianca Araneta-Elizalde, will be on sale that day.

The event is free of charge but attendees are required to pre-register by texting or calling MedelaMoms at 0917-8110821 or sending an email to medelamoms@gmail.com. Sign up now to experience the first support group for mommies of multiples in the country! Giveaways, special promos, a candy buffet, and other treats are in store for participating mommies.

To get the latest updates from MedelaMoms, connect with them through their Facebook page (Medela Breastfeeding Products) or better yet, add them as a "friend" on Facebook (http://facebook.com/medelamoms).

Goodbye, Year of the Snake

The Snake Year 2013 had left me with one living remembrance.  I gave life to our precious daughter this year. To say that the snake year was a year of struggle for us was an understatement.  After being hospitalized for ten days, I was rushed to the Delivery Room for an emergency ceasarian operation since my doctor can't control my blood pressure and they found out that my baby has been suffering in my womb because of my hypertension.  I delivered her prematurely at 32 weeks.  She was so tiny but she is a warrior.  She fought for her dear life and stayed at the NICU of the hospital for two months. She battled Pneumonia, Neonatal Sepsis, Jaundice and Necrotizing Enterocolitis. She undergone four blood transfusions.  On the other hand, we were battling with ballooning medical expenses because of this.  Friends and families helped us to live through our problems and because of that I will forever be indebted to these people.  Life is indeed a precious blessing, that's my biggest lesson for this year.  And because of this 2013 will always be a year etched in my heart forever.