Three Things to Look at When Choosing a Divorce Attorney.

There are a few moments in life that you never forget, but you don't want your divorce case to always remain on your mind. A messy divorce can leave you uncomfortable and unhappy about the future. Attorneys who specialize in divorce can make you feel as happy about those proceedings as you did about your marriage. When selecting your divorce attorney, there are three key things you want to look at and consider.

Photo credit: Telegraph UK.

Experience in Divorce Cases
One of the first things you want to look at is how much experience the attorney has in handling divorce cases. Family law attorneys often specialize in all areas of family law, which can include paternity and adoption cases, wills and estates and marriages and divorces. The more experience the lawyer has in handling divorce cases, the better you'll feel about your case. As a father, you may want to consider working with someone who has experience in the rights of the father and husband. This ensures that the lawyer will fight for your rights and what is right for your family.

Settlement vs. Trial
Some divorces are such happy and peaceful occasions that both parties work things through without ever once stepping foot in a courtroom. When looking at family and divorce lawyers, consider asking those lawyers whether the majority of their cases settle out of court or go through the court system. Reaching a settlement outside of court puts less pressure on both you and your former spouse. You'll also feel better knowing that your children never need to testify and that they'll never see their parents fighting in front of them.

Comfort and Ease
The most important thing that you want from an attorney is someone who makes you feel more comfortable and puts your mind at ease. Divorce is often stressful and may leave you dealing with a host of different emotions. A lawyer who puts you at ease can make you feel more peaceful both during the divorce proceedings and later. Reviews of Cordell and Cordell from former clients claim that the lawyers working for that firm helped them feel more relaxed and got them through their proceedings faster and with minimal stress. Whether you choose Cordell and Cordless or another firm, make sure that your lawyer will work hard for you and do what is right for your case.

Easy Gift Ideas for the Holidays.

Finding the right gift for a loved one can be difficult, especially if you're unsure of their interests. While some people have very explicit passions and obvious hobbies, others are less transparent and harder to shop for. When you're having a rough time finding the perfect gift, there are a few options at your disposal.

Gearing up for the holidays? :)

Personalized merchandise is one example of an easy gift that will suit anyone's tastes. Basically, you can order a variety of things including clothes, office supplies and even medical tools like stethoscopes, that feature personalized embroidery or engraving. You can easily emblazon initials, names, quotes and even song lyrics onto the item of choice, creating a keepsake that can be as personal as it is functional.

When in doubt, electronics and cookware are always excellent options because they are so versatile and necessary in daily life. For instance, a new portable music player is warmly accepted by most people, especially those who are always on the go. A new set of baking pans or wine glasses are wonderful additions to a kitchen's collection, and there are so many inventive cooking gadgets that finding a unique option should be a cinch.

For man's best friend. :)

An especially novel gift idea is also reserved for those with pets. There are a variety of cat and dog gift baskets that feature both human and animal treats, along with toys and items both owner and pet can enjoy together. Such a purchase would be a wonderfully charming present to a friend with a furry companion.

Buying Shapewear Online.

Women who are on the look-out for the perfect shapewear will enjoy shopping at an online retailer that offers different types of shapewear in a variety of colors and patterns.

Customers can buy bodysuits and slips to shape their upper bodies and thighs. Those who want shapewear for their legs can buy leggings and tights. Customers can purchase black or nude bodysuits with or without thigh shapers. Sleeveless shaping slips and slips with short sleeves come in black or nude.

Leggings.

Shoppers who want cotton leggings with a high waist in dark colors can buy them in navy or gray. Suede leggings are available in black or purple. Customers can also buy black velvet or corduroy leggings. Corduroy leggings also come in plum or navy.

Women who are interested in leggings with patterns can buy them with leopard prints or turquoise flowers. White or ivory leggings are available for those who want leggings in light colors.

Dark tights in solid colors come in black, brown or gray. Women who want tights in light colors can buy them in light gray, bone or nude. Fleece tights for cold days come in black, chocolate and gray. Shoppers who want tights with patterns can buy them with stripes or flowers.

Watch Your Child's Imagination Grow With These Great Ideas.

Magical events take place when you, as a parent, encourage your child's imagination to grow. Of course, imaginative play really takes leaps and bounds when a child is allowed to independently engage in creative thinking. A child who has a well-developed imagination tends to eventually become a confident, successful adult who has an inventive mind. Let your child's imagination grow with these three great playtime ideas.

Photo credit: A Little Mummy Magic

A Fairy Door
Not all doors are as they seem. During imaginative playtime, a young child will see a fairy door as more than an apparatus that opens and closes. A fairy door along with fairy door accessories, such as vibrant backgrounds, create a small gateway where fairies come through to visit. With a fairy door in her bedroom or play area, there is no limit to the places your child's imagination will go.

Photo credit: Fine Art America.

An Elf Door
Fairies are not the only magical beings who enter through a tiny door. A little boy who has a big imagination will see endless playtime possibilities with an elf door in his room. An elf door is the ideal alternative for boys who want a similar experience as a fairy door gives a girl.

Photo credit: Mini Land.

A Roombox
The careful attention to detail given to a roombox makes this play item more than simply a small showcase. A carefully crafted roombox brings a certain realism to any child's inventive ideas. And with made-to-scale furniture and food items, a roombox becomes a world all of its own.

The imagination of young boys and girls is a marvelous gift. It is unfortunate that as children grow, their imaginations tend to become stifled. Therefore, parents should take every given opportunity to nurture their child's creative mind. Visit http://openingfairydoors.com.au/ to see all of the roomboxes, food and furniture, elf and fairy doors and other accessories available at Opening Fairy Doors. 

Wordless Wednesday #106 | Fun with Science!

Little man having fun at the Sci-Math Camp at school.

Spotlight | Nature Republic Bulgarian Rose Moisture Toner.

Having heard good things about Nature Republic's Bulgarian Rose skincare line, I took the chance to purchase the Moisture Toner the last time I visited the Nature Republic store at Festival Supermall. The skincare line also includes an emulsion, an essence, and a moisture cream. However, I decided not to buy the entire line as I still have tons of creams and essences from various Korean brands, stocked at home.

Bulgarian Rose Moisture Toner.

The Nature Republic Bulgarian Rose Moisture Toner comes in a pink plastic bottle with a silver twist cap. I believe they come in one size only (155 mL) and sell for Php 255 per bottle. The packaging is very simple and straight-forward, yet comes off as elegant and feminine.

The silver cap gives a vintage vibe to it.

Sealed. :)

The clear-colored toner contains rose water, which is popular for its wide range of benefits to the skin. This includes moisturizing, soothing, and rejuvenating the skin.

Hangul text at the back of the bottle.

Filled with anti-oxidants and various vitamins, rose water also nourishes the skin and can help prevent signs of aging. 

Lovely rose prints on the side.

Unlike most toners that have a watery consistency, this particular toner has a slightly thicker, gel-like consistency - definitely a plus if you have dry skin. The best part? This product smells divine!

Comes in one size only - 155 mL.

What I love:

- The scent - beautiful, feminine, and light.

- Simple yet elegant packaging.

- Does a good job of moisturizing the skin.

- Soothes and softens the skin.

- No break-outs, safe for sensitive skin.

- Affordable price.

What you might not like:

- None that I can think of (except for the fact that practically everything in the bottle is written in Hangul).

Now here's a bit of trivia about rose water. 

Rose hydrosol (aka rose water) is derived from an intricate process. Small batches of rose buds are steamed in copper distilleries and ultimately release a volatile therapeutic compound into the water. The essential oil is drawn off, and rose water - containing micro molecules of essential oil and constituents from the flower - is captured drop by drop.
Amazing, isn't it? :)

Have you tried this product, or any other skincare products with rose water? How was your experience?

Kim Soo Hyun for Samsonite RED.

If there's one brand of luggage that I can easily associate with, it has to be Samsonite. Coming from an OFW family, it's a brand that I have been familiar with since childhood.

I remember my grandfather's big black luggage bag was Samsonite, and opening it each time he'd come home from Saudi Arabia was a treat as it would be filled with toys and chocolates. Even my Mum, who comes home from the UK at least twice a year, is a fan of Samsonite bags. Every time we fetch at the airport, her red Samsonite carry on luggage makes her so easy to spot among the throng of balikbayans.

And so when news of Kim Soo Hyun endorsing Samsonite broke out, I couldn't be happier. One of my favorite Korean actors endorsing my favorite luggage brand... exciting, isn't it? :)

Here's a bit of info about Samsonite Red, the line that Kim Soo Hyun, together with Hong Kong model and actress Angelababy, is currently endorsing.

Kim Soo Hyun wears an Oben, while Angelababy carries a Bona.

Tailored to specifically cater to the lifestyle of the upwardly mobile, Samsonite Red features different styles in various materials. From sturdy nylon in neutral hues to highlight its simple and practical nature, to coated cotton twill mixed with supple leather that lends to a more urban aesthetic, to more utilitarian designs that feature water-proof material and even sleek all-leather options that show function doesn’t have to come at the expense of style.

Liebe, an all-in-one, unisex bag that can be used for day and night activities.
Comes in orange, gray, navy, and emerald green.

Liebe in Navy.

Diversity is essential to this collection. Samsonite understands that an ‘everyday bag’ isn’t a one size fits all concept; it is defined by the individual's aesthetic, everyday needs, and his or her way of life.

Easy-Way has multi-function and well-organized compartments.
Perfect for yuppies who go for the casual yet trendy style.

Fort has a minimalist style and comes in tooled leather.
It's available as a backpack, briefcase, and cross-shoulder bag.

It’s a collection that simplifies the process of finding a replacement for that trusty old travel backpack for men, by giving you a selection of options that range from minimalist to quirky - depending on ones's needs and personality.

Genio is very simple, yet pleasing to the eye with its nylon and leather combination.
It comes in backpacks, briefcases, and cross-shoulder bags.

Angelababy with a Bona mini cross bag; Kim Soo Hyun with a Genio briefcase.

Samsonite Red represents the kind of low-key collection that has become the benchmark of utility and style - simple, functional but still chic. And you can’t ask anything more from a fashion staple that you will essentially be wearing everyday.

Samsonite Red is a brand of innovation, designed to make new ideas into reality. Available nationwide in selected Rustan’s department stores, Ayala Malls, SM department stores, Robinsons Mall, KCC Veranza Mall, Resorts World, Eastwood Mall, Podium, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Shoppesville Greenhills, Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Shangri-la Mall, Bonifacio High Street Central and Limketkai Mall.

Foodie Goodie | Spooky Cookie Pops.

Just a few more days 'til Halloween! Are your kids excited to go trick-or-treat-ing this year?
My little man is, as always. He's so looking forward to filling his pumpkin basket to the brim with all sorts of candies and sweet treats.

Now if you're thinking of making some kid-friendly desserts for Halloween, here's a recipe for you. These Spooky Cookie Pops, made with oats, chocolates, and raisins, make great giveaways for the little monsters knocking at your door.

Spooky Cookie Pops

Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6-ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2-1/2 cups quick oats
1 cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
3 dozen craft sticks or popsicle sticks
Decorating glaze (recipe below) or 1 tub vanilla frosting
Colored icing tubes or pens

Procedure:
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Combine butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla; beat until well blended.
3. Stir in melted chocolate, flour and baking soda. Mix well.
4. Mix in oats and raisins.
5. Space sticks 4-inches apart on baking sheet.
6. Drop a rounded 2-inch ball of dough onto the end of each stick.
7. Butter the bottom of a glass, dip in flour, and gently press cookie dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Repeat with remaining dough.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
9. Cool on pan 3 minutes.
10. Remove with spatula to cool on wire racks.

Decorating Glaze:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 pound (about 3-1/2 cups) powdered sugar
1. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Add milk.
2. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar. (Sift sugar first if it is lumpy.)
3. Stir vigorously with a fork for 3 to 4 minutes until mixture turns white and opaque. Mixture should be thick, smooth and pourable; add ore milk or sugar if needed.
4. Working quickly before glaze stiffens, generously spoon glaze over cookies allowing excess to run off edges.
5. Let set until dry to the touch. Decorate.

As seen on Sun-Maid Raisins website.

Globe Project 1 Phone | Reduce, Recover, Recycle.

I was skimming through my Facebook photos when I stumbled upon this - a not-so-stolen shot of me with my old gadgets. This was sometime in 2010, when the Nokia E63 was hip and I still had curly hair. Haha!

I still have that phone stashed somewhere around here, but I'm parting ways with it pretty soon.  I'm donating this baby - together with my other old phones - to Globe's Project 1 Phone campaign.

Throwback to 2010!

Together with global electronic waste recycling specialist TES-AMM, Globe aims to promote sustainability and create awareness on proper disposal of old and obsolete electronic items through this Project 1 Phone campaign.

Formed in 2005, TES-AMM combines state-or-the-art technology with in-depth knowledge of environment and waste management techniques to provide reuse solutions and recovery of precious metals from end-of-life electronics such as computers, cell phones, peripherals, television sets, among others. It is headquartered in Singapore with facilities in other parts of Asia, Oceania, Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Globe is currently encouraging everyone to participate in Project 1 Phone by donating their unusable mobile phones and portable devices via donation bins available at all participating Globe Stores in various parts of the country (for the complete list, please visit the Globe Telecom website www.globe.com.ph/project1phone ).

Sample of the recycling process by TES-AMM.

All collected units and accessories shall be turned over to TES-AMM Philippines for proper recycling and recovery. No phones or accessories collected will be refurbished for resale or cannibalized for usable parts.

Old cellphones and their batteries have toxic components such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury as well as plastic parts which usually have brominated flame retardant which are all toxic when released to the environment. If thrown improperly, these can pollute the environment and cause harmful effects to one’s health.

Thus, aside from ensuring that e-wastes are not unnecessarily dumped into landfills, TES-AMM also provides the facility to recover precious metals and plastics for re-manufacture, proceeds of which will go to classroom construction in Aklan where Globe is a development sponsor.

Wordless Wednesday #105 | Big Baby Girl.

On Maggie:
Minnie Mouse tee and sneakers from the Disney Store,
shorts from Just Tees.

Project BB Cream | Laneige Snow BB Cream.

Well, it sure took me months to get another BB Cream review out. I can't believe the last review I did was way back in February - when I still sported a pixie and my son was still in Kindergarten. Haha!

Anyhoo, on to my review. This will be the 15th in my Project BB Cream series (yes folks, so far I have tried 15 kinds of BB Cream in my lifetime), and perhaps my most favorite among all the BB Creams that I've tried.

Laneige Snow BB Cream.

This one's called the Snow BB Cream, from the highly-acclaimed Korean skincare brand Laneige. If you're a Kdrama/Kpop fan like me, you can easily associate this brand to Song Hye Kyo, Soong Jong Ki, and Song Jae Rim. (So I just noticed that the brand's endorsers have something similar in their names. Haha!)

#2 Natural.

Laneige calls this their 'smart and advanced BB Cream', with its whitening, anti-wrinkle and UV protection properties (SPF41 PA++).  This product also boasts of the 'liquid crystal essence ingredient', which works as a natural barrier that locks moisture on to the skin.

Squeeze tube bottle, 10 mL sample size.

The Laneige Snow BB Cream comes in two shades - #1 Shimmer Brightening, and #2 Natural. I have the latter, which is neutral beige in color but adjusts accordingly to one's skin tone.

A swatch of the Snow BB Cream #2 Natural.

This BB Cream has a light, non-sticky texture that's quite easy to blend. It provides medium to full coverage, yet looks very natural on the skin. It also leaves the skin with a luminous finish - the kind that makes your skin look healthy and glowing. 

Blend, blend, blend!

I love how this BB Cream lasted for hours on my face, with very little to almost no touch-ups. If you have oily skin, you may need to blot every few hours or so but that's pretty much it. Oh, and did I mention that this BB Cream smells so nice? It has this mild powdery, floral scent that I fell in love with at first whiff.

Left without BB Cream, right with BB Cream.

What I love:

- Buildable coverage.

- Looks very natural on the skin.

- Feels light on the skin, too.

- Lovely, dewy finish without looking sparkly and all.

- Excellent staying power. 

- SPF42 PA++.

- Mild, floral scent.

- No break-outs, no allergies, safe for sensitive skin.

What you might not like:

- Only two shades available.

- A bit pricier than the other BB Creams in the market, but then again, Laneige is a high-end brand.

In the end, you're really getting your money's worth. :)

Products Used:
FACE: Laneige Snow BB Cream, Missha Under Eye Brightener.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner, Missha The Style 4D Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Tint in #2 Red.
LIPS: Sleek Makeup True Colour Lipstick in OMG!

The Laneige Snow BB Cream sells for around 30,000 won in Korea (where this sample came from). Here in the Philippines, a 50mL tube sells for Php 1650 (correct me if I'm wrong) and is available at all six branches in the Metro.

Globe gears up for Samsung Galaxy Note 4!

What's on your wishlist this Christmas?
The Laneige Beauty Box? A new designer bag? Plane tickets maybe?
Or perhaps Samsung's newest baby, the Galaxy Note 4?

If you're just as excited as I am for the latest Note device, our friends at Globe Telecom are bouncing off the walls for us enthusiastic customers! They're even going the extra mile in welcoming the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Gear S by opening an online portal for the eager beavers.The portal accepts registration of interest among customers purchasing the latest devices with a postpaid plan from Globe.

Register now and be one of the first proud owners of the Galaxy Note 4!

Available on the Globe website via https://samsungnote4.globe.com.ph, the registration of interest portal allows new and existing postpaid customers to choose their device color in advance and register their personal details such as name, mobile number, and e-mail address. The customer database will be used to update registered customers with postpaid plan offers and pricing details. A reference number will be provided to customers so they can track status of their application.

Yes, it comes in pink, too!

Sweet isn't it? Now here are some of the drool-worthy features of the Galaxy Note 4.
For starters, it boasts of a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display and is armed with a 2.7GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM. It sports a 16-megapixel Smart OIS main camera for shooting high-quality photos and a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera with a wide-angle lens. Equipped with all the fun and functional features of Android 4.4 KitKat plus an Advanced S Pen, the Note 4 promises enhanced productivity and creativity.

So what are you waiting for? #SurpiseYourself or a loved one this Christmas with a Galaxy Note 4. :)

Foodie Goodie | Binggrae Ice Cream.

From yesterday's 26 degrees Celsius, the temperature dropped to 24 degrees today making the cold winds even colder than the usual. But the chilly weather does not and will not stop me from enjoying my favorite ice cream. In fact, I did the grocery today and bought a few packs of my beloved Binggrae. Good thing they're in stock at the Puregold branch nearby! :)

Korea's #1 ice cream brand, Binggrae is currently being sold in various countries around the world, including the Philippines. There are several ice cream products under the Binggrae brand, which includes the ever-popular 'Melona' ice pops. Launched in 1992, these melon-flavored popsicles have the bragging rights as the best-selling popsicles in South Korea with more than 280 million bars sold since its debut.

Melona!

Aside from ice pops, Binggrae also has ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches in their product line. Personally, I prefer the ice cream sandwiches over the bars and pops and these ones are my (our) favorites.

Samanco and Melona Ice Waffle.

Samanco Ice Cream Sandwich is a fish-shaped, waffle sandwich. Inside the fish is a creamy combination of vanilla ice cream and red bean paste. This ice cream is actually based off a popular street food called bungeobbang, which is actually Korea's version of Japan's taiyaki.

Here fishy fishy!

If the red bean thing isn't to your liking, you may opt for the chocolate or strawberry-flavored ones under the Melona brand. They sell for the same price as the Samanco one - Php 47 a pop.

Pangtoa, on the other hand, is ice cream sandwiched in soft chiffon cake. They sell for Php 55 each and comes in three different flavors, two of which I have tried. I like how these ice cream sandwiches have just the right sweetness - not too light, not cloying either. Personally, I prefer the Cookies and Cream variant over the Choco Chiffon, though my son thinks otherwise.

Pangtoa Cookies 'N Cream.

Soft and moist chiffon cake + cookies and cream.

Pangtoa Choco Chiffon.

Chocolate in chocolate.

Well, there goes my diet! Haha!
Have you tried these ice cream brands before? What's your favorite ice cream?