Recently attended a focus group discussion on baby bedtime routine at Ascott Hotel (formerly Oakwood) sponsored by Johnson’s baby. The “round-table” discussion was participated in by the press, working moms, Johnson’s executives and doctors.

A survey study was presented revealed that Filipino babies were among the lowest among Asians and Caucasians which clocked in night time sleep of 9 hours and 9 minutes compared to Caucasians with 10 hours on the average. This low result according to doctors may be attributed to not having a baby bedtime routine.

Johnson’s baby aside from sharing their clinically proven baby bedtime routine also launched products that will help the baby get good, quality and sound sleep.

3 Steps to Good Night Time Sleep
1. Quick five-minute warm bath.
2. Two-minute massage using baby oil. Use gentle, circular motion. Talk to your baby in a calm, soothing voice.
3. Create the ambiance–dim lights, soft music, read stories.

That’s it, easy and only takes a few minutes that will ensure that your baby will sleep through the night. To learn more about the importance of sleep and advice from the experts, visit www.bedtime.com.ph.

Aside from the statue of Liberty one emblem that NYC is known for is the yellow cab. The city has a little of everything and a lot of attitude. Who wouldn’t want to be there and make it?

Here in the Philippines, the fascination for NY culture has spawned merchandise from shirts to bags to shoes to even food.

Yellow Cab Pizza Co. was inspired by NYC’s diversity. Thus, you can have a taste of New York with every slice.

A homegrown brand, it is going global just after six years of being in the Philippines. And why not? Ever since I came to learn about Yellow Cab, I never looked back. Part of our late night deadlines was the Yellow Cab calzone, pizza and pasta. I loved the dried chili that comes with every delivery. And well, the chicken was divine.

Recently, in its quest to continuously challenge Filipino taste buds, the Barbeque pizza flavor was launched in their Visayas Ave. branch.

With its signature warehouse looking stores, the media had a field day with every piece, every slice and every morsel of Yellow Cab.

We were greeted with appetizing treats: crunchy nachos, stuffed potato halves (oven-baked potato halves oozing with cheese and bacon) and unlimited iced tea. Aside from the food, a magician entertained us with his tricks (the card trick was a classic, hahaha) and games were enjoyable. I tried the shoot the coin but didn’t manage even one but well I had a grand time at the dart game (pop the balloon actually). I chose a nice chess game as a prize. I haven’t played chess in a while so I guess it was time to try it again.

I know somebody who has a full schedule week-after-week yet every time I meet with her she would always look her best. Hair in perfect coif, makeup is flawless and dress coordinately beautiful. Of course, she is a woman who has accumulated tons of beauty know-how through the years. Impeccable style after all is not acquired overnight. And so, she became sort of an inspiration to me, with all my leanings to makeup and accessories. (I gush over her stash, really!)

But we’re not talking about total makeover here. Instead, I’m going to recommend makeup essentials for women who are always on-the-go, me being one of course.

Ready to update your makeup kit? Let’s start soon.

When you have to be out all day and you need to just keep the contents of your bag to a minimum, then first thing you go through is your vanity kit, right? The good news is, you only need five beauty essentials to keep you looking your best all day.

* Moisturizer is a must for any woman who faces a long day ahead. It keeps your skin supple, resists aging and helps the makeup glide smoothly on your face. Think multi-tasking when you are always on the go. Look for a brand that offers more than moisturization. A tinted moisturizer instantly gives glow to your face, evens out skin tone and even protects you from the harmful UV rays.

For those who are not really makeup mavens, moisturizer brushed with powder is tops.

* Foundation is a must for a woman who is busy with work (and play!) all day. It shields your skin from the elements and at the same time makes you look fresh all day. New foundations give your skin a dewy finish. It gives you all natural glow without the heavy feeling. Lightweight foundations are usually in cream formulation. Just apply it like a moisturizer and you’ll get the coverage that you want. But creams are best used by women with normal type of skin. For those with oily skin, go for the cake. You can have a precise application and better coverage too. Use sponge, lightly dampen it then apply in a downward manner.

Apply from the outside going in on the under eye area to not stretch much the skin and cause wrinkles. Remember, the skin in this area is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the face. You may also use a lighter shade on this area to conceal uneven skin tone (this area is normally darker) and bag the bags.

Combination skin needs two type of foundation. For the T-zone, use cake foundation for better oil control and coverage. For the rest of the face, use a lighter foundation.

* Mascara can instantly update a look and give it character. The eyes after all can convey so much emotion so highlight this part as often as you can. You can do away with the eye shadow and eyeliner if you’re pressed for time but be sure to load your look with mascara. Full-volume types (such as Neutrogena’s black/brown shade) are most recommended. Curl the lashes first then amp the length with this tool.

* Blush, if you must! This is an instant pick-me-up for a weary look. Cheek stains are the rage now so grab one for yourself. Its lasting effect will save time and effort. Use your middle finger for maximum effect. I have tried applying it with a sponge but the warmth of the skin makes the color glow more. To apply, dot on both cheeks using middle finger. Start with small circle until it covers the apple of your cheeks. The effect is just marvelous.

* Lipstick of course is a basic requirement. Semi-gloss is your best choice if you want a young-ish look. But matte formulation has the longest staying power so this is a more suitable choice for hour-after-hour meetings. There are sparkling lipsticks that promise to stay put for eight hours. It has luminous finish that adjusts to the type of illumination that strikes it. Check that one out. One of my favorite lipstick brands is Mary Kay because of its interesting colors and finish.

Thin lips have an ally in lipsticks that give your pout the “plump” effect.

Tip: The darker your skin tone, the bolder the colors should be. Choose from plums, chocos, reds and cherries if you’re tan. Fair complexioned women must prefer tints and even gloss will do.

As you ply along EDSA, you can’t help but notice those beautiful men and women with beautiful faces and well-maintained bodies. These are results of religiously working out in the gym, eating a healthy diet and leading a clean lifestyle. But then look again cosmetic surgery may have had a significant part on their enviable beauty.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we are all essentially beautiful, more and more people still opt to conform to the universal “idea” of beauty and whenever they get the chance and money, a few visits to the doctor for a nip/tuck wouldn’t hurt. Or so they thought.

Rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, liposuction and even facelift are now common procedures not only here in the Philippines but on a global scale. Despite the fact that more and more people are turning to cosmetic surgery, it is not something that one must be careless about. The reality is, there are many cases of cosmetic surgery gone wrong for the simple reason that these patients didn’t do their homework.

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery now or well into the near future, there are important things that you must consider before you plunge into it.

The Reasons

There are many reasons why one undergoes cosmetic surgery (the right term for it is aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery). Some of which are: to build up on self-esteem, to achieve ageless beauty, it’s their source of living (celebrities, models, actors) and for vanity.

For whatever reason it may be, before going under the knife (or laser), there are some things that you must remember so you can get the desired results and possibly, with the least complications.

Plastic surgeons are what cosmetic surgeons are appropriately called. These are not just GP doctors who have certificates on certain procedures then go on servicing patients with surgical procedures.

Each patient is encouraged to go beyond the price of the procedure. Going for quality is beneficial for you, remember that! So how do you know that the doctor who will perform your surgery is qualified for the job? There is no better way than to ASK, the more, the better.

A qualified cosmetic surgeon has 17 years of training, starting from pre-med to actual surgery. These doctors know the ins and outs of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery and are knowledgeable in every aspect of the procedure more importantly when complications occur.

According to New Life Plastic Surgeons, an association of young and experienced certified plastic surgeons formed by Dr. James Joaquino (formerly of the Plastic Surgery and Associates), they encourage potential patients to ask the right questions for them to understand the procedure more and to know if the doctor is qualified to do the job.

Dr. Peregrino Lorenzo VII (You can read the complete discussion on http://www.philippineplastic.com.), also a member of the group even shares some tips regarding this:

1. Cosmetic Surgery should be done according to certain standards.

2. Know your doctor’s academic profile.

3. A good plastic surgeon should be able to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for the surgery you are considering.

4. Do not bargain for the cheapest doctor.

5. Find a plastic surgeon that you feel comfortable with.

6. Don’t allow yourself to undergo liquid silicon injection.

7. Don’t be attracted to newer procedures, drugs, and prosthetics.

8. Take note if the clinic or cosmetic center is well equipped.

9. Determine if the surgeon has organizational affiliation or privileges.

Responsibility lies in every cosmetic surgeon’s hands so better make sure that you choose well. One obvious advantage of going to a well-trained plastic surgeon is the quality of work that they perform. You are assured that he/she is going to provide you with “safe and guaranteed results.”

Other members of the New Life Plastic Surgeons are Dr. Hector Santos, Dr. Gil Fernandez, Dr. Edwin del Rosario, Dr. Cristina Librojo, Dr. Mark Sison and Dr. Edwin Paul Magallona.

All of them are excited about the flourishing prospects of medical tourism in the country. In fact, they are already expecting patients from the US very soon.

Dr. Joaquino says, “We are not claiming to be the best. We just want to educate the public regarding cosmetic surgery. I would say that Filipino surgeons are internationally competitive when it comes to these procedures.”

The New Life surgeons can perform procedures such as botox, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty (nose lift), alarplasty (nose reshaping), whole body liposuction, breast augmentation, hair transplant, temporal brow lift, face lift, buttocks lift, AP repair, lip reduction, earlobe repair, endermology (cellulite reduction), tummy tuck and fat injection.

You are welcome to inquire by calling (632) 687-0795, (632) 687-4332 or 1-800-2939703 or visit their website http://www.newlifeplastisurgery.com.