How to keep your kitty happy, healthy, groomed and well-fed?

Fun, playful, independent, loving, curious, smart and entertaining, and easy to care for, cats are lovable and adorable pets. Pet parents have found their company comforting and a source of joy especially during the pandemic, when we spend more time at home. 

That is why it is important to keep your kitty happy, healthy, groomed and well-fed. PetExpress , the one stop –shop for all your feline essentials, has a wide variety of high-quality cat food, supplements, cat toys, cat litter and accessories to help you in taking care of your feline friend. 

Likewise, Pet Express shares some practical tips from American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) on how to keep your kitty purr-fectly healthy and happy: 

1. Feed your cat with love. Give your cat the healthy diet they need. Treats should be at least 10% of their diet. Kittens should eat a kitten formula food that is in high calorie for their growth. 

2. Provide fresh water daily. Clean, fresh water is essential for your cat’s good health. 

3. Groom your cat regularly. Cats are self-groomers but they will also benefit from regular brushing and combing whether they have short or long fur. It also reduces the amount of shedding and cuts down the incidence of hairballs. 

4. Make sure you have enough litter boxes and quality cat litter placed in a quiet and accessible location. Keep it clean regularly and wash it with a mild detergent and refill it weekly. 

5. Train your cats to use scratching post. Cutting your cat’s nails every two weeks will less likely scar your furniture. A sturdy scratching post made with sisal, burlap or tree bark is a must-have. 

6. Make sure they have fun times. Cats love to play, and toy mice, kibble feeder toy, catnip and feathers are great sources of amusement. Also, a good Cat Condo or Play Gym will make your cat happy and active. 

7. Choose a feline-friendly vet. A vet specializing in cat’s health and anatomy can be an ally in keeping your cat in best health. 

8. Spay and neuter your cat. Female cats should be spayed and male cats neutered by five months of age. This will prevent them from any reproductive diseases. 

Pet parents can now place their order online thru Pet Express website- and on their Call and Collect services in selected branches. Also, you can book a vet or do rush kitty-sentials shopping with Pet Express’ PAWSONAL SHOPPER, just book an appointment at 0917.8091864.

Enjoy free printable templates with the Brother Creative Center

In the new normal, many problems are solvable with digital solutions. As we work and study from home, we rely more and more on the internet for the projects we work on. There are many free resources online to help you make your output look professional and high-quality.

 

Sometimes, however, you might need a little help. Not everyone is a skilled graphic designer, and sometimes you just need something that’s quick, easy, and good-looking.

 

That’s why Brother is here to help you find your creative groove with their new Brother Creative Center. It’s a one-stop resource where you can edit and personalize hundreds of pre-made templates for letters, business cards, brochures, greeting cards, decorations, and much more online—for free!

 

All you have to do is go to the Creative Center site, choose a pre-formatted template to work on, and edit it with your personal text and images using the free online template editor. Once you’re finished making the perfect material, you can print it using your printer, no matter what brand it is!

 

“We at Brother are happy to help customers with their printing needs—with the Brother Creative Center, we go beyond the printers themselves and assist them with the material they need to print, so it can look well-made, lively, and professional,” said Glenn Hocson, President of Brother Philippines.

 

Whether you need a flyer for your business, a greeting card for your loved ones, or decorations for a party, you’ll definitely have a great time customizing your projects on the Brother Creative Center! Just go to https://bit.ly/brothercreativecenter to start designing today!

 

For more information on Brother products and services, visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BROTHERatyourside/. You can also call the Brother Helpdesk Hotline at (02) 8 581-9898, or through the toll-free line at 1-10-BROTHER or send an email to helpdesk@brother.com.ph.

Coffee That's Really Good For You: Glorious, Isn't It?

 For decades, coffee had received a bad reputation. Besides allegedly triggering high blood pressure, insomnia, and hyperacidity, the Filipino habit of adding lots of sugar and cream to one’s cup has been said to aggravate diabetes.

While there’s no denying the Pinoy coffee fan his morning cup, there is concern over the amount of sugar present in commercial 3-in-1 coffee mixes. The leading brand has 14.6 grams of sugar in one 20-gram sachet alone. Imagine how much sugar you’re taking in if you drink an average of three cups of coffee a day.

What About Sugar-Free Coffee?

For health-conscious individuals, especially diabetics, turning to sugar-free coffee mixes seems to be the only option. This meant enduring tasteless cups of coffee just to satisfy their caffeine fix —until Stevia came along.

 Stevia is the low calorie, zero sugar sweetener that tastes so much better than artificial sweeteners. 

Stevia is an herb with a sweet-tasting extract that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been enjoyed since pre-Columbian South America where indigenous people used the herb to sweeten their tea and other drinks. 

The plant's taste stems from steviol glycosides, molecules which are 250–300 times sweeter than regular sugar.  

It became popular among health-conscious individuals because stevia has a very low caloric content. This makes it perfect for dieters and people who are trying to lose weight. 

Moreover, Stevia makes coffee and tea taste so much better without adding any calories. 

Aside from beverages, Stevia is also used as an alternative sweetener when cooking or baking.

The Health Advantages of Stevia

Stevia is a safe, healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up food without the negative health effects of refined sugar. It’s also associated with several impressive benefits such as reduced calorie intake, managed blood sugar levels, and minimized risk of cavities.

Additionally, while other sugar substitutes like Aspartame have been linked with cancer, there's no evidence linking stevia to cancer since it is a natural ingredient.

This means you can add stevia to dishes and drinks without fear that you’re taking too much sugar, or that you’ll get sick a few years down the road.

For coffee lovers, it’s also good to note that locally-made Glorious Blend coffees and instant beverages have Stevia as its natural sweetener. The blend of natural and healthful ingredients make the drink not only refreshing and safe, but also good for one’s overall health.

The Glorious Blend boasts a full line of healthy drinks, including a 7-in-1 healthy coffee mix. This special blend is made with proven medicinal ingredients like Malunggay, Mangosteen, Calcium, Gotu Kola, and sweetened with Sweet & Fit Stevia. What’s even better is that the Glorious Blend 7in1 Coffee is non-acidic and promotes regular bowel movement. 

The Glorious line-up also includes the 3-in-1 coffee mix with Stevia; 7-in-1 choco mix; 4-in-1 coffee with Malunggay; 5-in-1 coffee mix with Brown Rice; and the MaxiTrim coffee. 

All Glorious Blend beverages use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic index. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day. 

Also, Glorious Blend products are locally sourced and manufactured. Their company supports local farmers, stevia growers, and other agricultural communities.

So if you’ve been cutting back on drinking coffee because of health problems like diabetes or hyper acidity, Glorious Blend coffee mixes are here to help. You can enjoy all the aroma and flavor of freshly made coffee all day —without the guilt!

Now, you can drink coffee for better health! Glorious, isn’t it?

For more information about Glorious Blend coffee mixes, check out https://www.facebook.com/gloriousblend.

5 Ways to Maximize Your Sweldo at the Shopee 3.15 Payday Sale

One of the best things about online shopping—aside from the thrill of adding to cart and the joy of finally receiving your package, of course—is how it enables you to make the most of your hard-earned sweldo. You can choose from a wide variety of products, negotiate with sellers, and enjoy plenty of sales. Shopee offers all these and more, including exclusive discounts, coins cashback, and even big prizes, to create rewarding shopping experiences for all its users. 

Planning a shopping spree this payday? Make the most out of your sweldo at Shopee’s Payday Sale this March 15 with these helpful tips below:

Always check for free shipping 

Who doesn’t love free shipping? Before checking out, double-check if free shipping vouchers are available. Your favorite shops also often offer free shipping vouchers on select items. This Payday Sale, get your carts ready—you can enjoy all-day free shipping with no minimum spend from thousands of participating shops.

Avail of cashback rewards

Shopee coins are cashback rewards you can use to get discounts on your next purchases. Every peso counts, so try to earn as many coins as you can while shopping. To earn more, click on the "Daily Check-In" button on the Coins Rewards page, rate and review your purchases, play Shopee Games, and watch live streams. Want more coins? Shop during the Payday Sale to enjoy all-day 15% cashback, capped at 200 coins, with no minimum spend!

Go cashless with ShopeePay for more perks

Shop, buy load, and pay bills with ShopeePay, Shopee’s built-in mobile wallet, to enjoy safe transactions and rewards. Use ShopeePay during the Payday Sale to enjoy all-day sitewide free shipping and 15% coins cashback. You can also enjoy ₱1 deals from Jollibee, Dunkin’ Donuts, and McDonald’s with ShopeePay. Buy ₱10 mobile load for only ₱6 all day, and enjoy bigger discounts at 12 AM-1 AM, 12 NN-1 PM, and 5 PM-6 PM. You also get 20% cashback when you pay your bills using ShopeePay for the first time.

Get exclusive discounts on Shopee Mall

Check out the Payday Sale to enjoy up to 90% off on top Shopee Mall brands such as Penshoppe, L'Oréal Paris, Logitech, Unilever Homecare, Unilever Foods, Omega Houseware, Xtreme Appliances, and Huggies. Use the code MALLPAYDAY15 on all Shopee Mall items to enjoy 15% cashback, capped at 200 coins, for ₱500 minimum spend. For more discounts, you can also apply multiple shop vouchers per order. 

Bonus: join Shopee Prizes to win exciting rewards

Get a chance to score big prizes by playing fun Shopee Prizes! Play Shopee Hourly Prizes to win a gadgets bundle worth ₱15,000, Shopee Farm for a Nintendo Switch, Shopee Candy for a pair of Galaxy Buds, and Shopee Bubble for a Huawei Matebook Bundle.

With these tips, you can indulge this coming payday without hurting your wallet! For more information on the Shopee 3.15 Payday Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale. 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

8 back to work must-haves this 2021

Ever since quarantine measures have eased up, many have returned to working in the office – and that number is expected to increase with the start of the New Year. If you’re one of those people, every single safety precaution is a must. Apart from strict social distancing, here is a list of back-to-work essentials that will help keep you safe as you hustle in the new normal.

 

Mask and shield. Of course, this has to be first on the list! If you’re going back to the office, you can't leave your house without a proper face mask. In case you run out, leading stores at SM offer a variety of options from the usual surgical and KN95 masks to the more colorful and fashionable cloth masks.

 

     

   

 Kinepin Kn95 face mask and face shield from The SM Store

 

 

All-in-one pouch!  Ever struggled rummaging through your bag just to look for your alcohol spray? A travel pouch could be the solution! You can insert a small travel pouch in your bag with all your safety essentials, such as hand sanitizers, soaps, and wipes. That way, you can easily find it inside your bag. Another possible solution is alcohol sprays on keychains so you can easily attach them outside your bag. Watsons at SM has a lot of cute options available!

  

Head to The SM Store to get travel pouch for your safety essentials, a case for your face mask and bottle holder for your alcohol or hand sanitizer.

 

Drink on the go. Invest in a tumbler so you can always have water or your favorite juice with you to stay healthy amid the pandemic. Plus, you get to save money and help the environment at the same time! The SM Store and top brands at SM offer a wide variety of options for you that you can even personalize to your heart’s content. 

 

Clean breathing space. Wearable air purifiers claim to release negative ions to purify the air around you from airborne pollutants, which may help drive viruses away from your immediate breathing zone. Some studies state that they may have many health benefits, such as boosting your mood, reducing stress levels, and improving sleep. Check out SM Cyberzone and leading stores at SM for yours!

 

  

Air purifier necklace available at SM Cyberzone and The SM Store

 

 

Always on plan.  After a year when most things were out of your control, experts say a planner can be therapeutic. It allows you to have some control in your life. It also lets you be more organized and less frantic since it can help you keep track of deadlines. The best part of having a planner: you get to make the most of your time and save some of it for yourself and your family. Now that's work-life balance! If you want a selection of 2021 planners with a variety designs, check out different bookstores and office supplies stores at your local SM mall.

 

The Leuchtturn1917 Daily Planner 2021 (left) and Moleskine Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Daily Planner (right) available at National Book Store. Visit Shopmag for more planners to keep your life on track.

Can’t have too many umbrellas. Beat the scorching heat or the pouring rain when you go outside. Even before the pandemic, an umbrella has always been an outdoor essential in the Philippines, especially since the weather can be unpredictable. Whenever you go out for work, make sure you have an umbrella inside your bag – you'll never know when you'll need it. The SM Store has plenty of options for you!

 

Music to relax. Many believe that music can enhance cognitive performance. If you find yourself getting a bit stressed out, just put on your headphones and play your favorite song on a low volume. This will help you relax a bit and create personal space. As a result, you get to focus on your work, regain concentration, and improve productivity. Aside from that, headphones may also come in handy during those virtual calls and online events you have to attend for work. You can check out SM Cyberzone to get quality headphones and your other tech needs.

 

  

Sennheiser HD206 (left) and Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones (right) available at SM Cyberzone

 

 

New year, new look. What better way to say "new year, new me" than by rocking a whole different look from head to toe? After a tough 2020, treat yourself to some enjoyable shopping and get the latest fashion items! And once you go back to the office, surprise your officemates with your upgraded style and aesthetic. If you want a new look for the workplace, SM has all the leading stores that have the best clothes, shoes and bags from business casual to formal wear and everything in between.

Sport a new back-to-office look with wide clothing selection from SM Woman and SM Men at The SM Store.

 

For more updates, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

 

theAsianparent Philippines invites Filipino mothers to join Team BakuNanay and learn more about protecting families through vaccination

theAsianparent Philippines is building a safe space for Filipino mothers to openly discuss immunization with a new online community called Team BakuNanay. 

Partnering with global healthcare company Sanofi Philippines, the regional publishing company and parenting community launched the private BakuNanay Facebook group last December as a proactive initiative to combat public health misinformation online. 

Finding trustworthy information about family health is an important priority for parents, especially as questions over vaccine safety continue to persist in the country. In the Philippines, the Department of Health has noted the need to strengthen immunization efforts nationwide. With this new online community, Team Bakunanay is able to complement official health programs promoting immunization for vaccine-preventable diseases such as the flu, polio, and measles. 

Sanofi General Manager Dr. Jean-Antoine Zinsou asserted that information campaigns necessarily go hand-in-hand with immunization campaigns. “Community support is so important to help address vaccine hesitancy. This is a great step towards building a healthier, and more informed Philippines,” he said.

Meanwhile, theAsianparent Philippines General Manager Frances Ang shared that the group’s main goal is to support parents. “We hope to provide the necessary support for those seeking information about how to best protect their families from these diseases,” she says. “Through our BakuNanay campaign, Filipino mothers are encouraged to speak up and share personal experiences on how vaccines have helped protect their children,” she added.

One of the group’s first major activities is an open forum with infectious disease expert Dr. Lulu Bravo this February 10. Members will be allowed to ask the expert for advice and information related to vaccines. The group is administered by officials from theAsianparent Philippines who make sure members only share verified news and respectful discussions. The community currently has over 1.5 thousand members and is seen to be particularly helpful for first-time parents. Interested mothers can join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bakunanay/.

Love & Luck Shopping at SM City Masinag’s 3-Day Sale

The love month is here and SM City Masinag treats you with great shopping deals! This Valentines weekend, SM City Masinag holds its first 3-Day Sale for 2021. Up to 70% discount are up for grabs on selected items plus extra deals on each day on February 12, 13 and 14, 2021! 

Get a chance to win a brand new Suzuki Suzuki S-Presso MT at the grand e-raffle draw. For every single or accumulated receipts of P1,000 equal to one (1) e-raffle entry.  Shoppers on Saturday and Sunday will get double the chance of winning as qualified raffle entries are doubled on both days. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-112118, Series of 2021. 

Shopping for your sweetheart is made sweeter with The SM Store’s special deals on all 3 days! Prestige Card holders can avail additional 10% off on Friday, February 12. SM Advantage and BDO Rewards card holders can avail additional 10% off for every P3,000 single receipt purchase on February 13 & 14. While BDO Credit Card holders can get 5% discount on minimum P5,000 worth of purchase for both and installment transactions. A maximum of P5,000 discount can be applied per transaction. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-112573, Series of 2021. 

Make sure to check out SM City Masinag’s official Facebook account for updates on the best deals you can get on its first 3-Day Sale this 2021.