If you have been my reader for quite some time, you would definitely know my downfalls, my darkest time, and how I recovered from it. 

You know what, I'm so lucky to experience all of those because now, I'm enjoying the fruits of all my tears, stress, anxiety, and troubles. I'M GETTING MARRIED! 

You know what I needed more than ever during my busy day? Coffee. 

I'm sure all freelancers and moms will agree with me! We all need coffee to boost our energy and for me, it maintains my sanity. 

I consume at least 2 to 3 big mugs of coffee and because of this, I develop gastroenteritis. My doctor requires me a complete STOP to caffeine but since I need a daily dose of my coffee. I already found my perfect partner- Glorious Blend. 

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 a 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 that 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 makes 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 indexes. 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 hyperacidity, 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.

 Hi, loves! 

Let me be honest with you- I DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME! I hate it because I want to accomplish more every single day- call me a goal digger. 

As you all know, I'm a parent, entrepreneur, social media manager, and virtual assistant. I honestly feel that I have so much going on my plate that sometimes makes me feel exhausted and overwhelmed. I know this is normal, but I can't give up. I know how time is significant in my industry and how much I value every penny that comes into my bank. 

So I made these simple steps for people who are just like me- aiming to do many things in a day and maximize their time. 

1. Start early 

Okay, I have to be honest, I wake up very late, but because I sleep early (does that make any sense?) to give you a context. Here's my sample day-to-day schedule:

10 AM: Wake up
10:30 AM: Work (doing morning VA tasks)
1:00 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM: Social Media Management tasks
2:30 PM: Take a bath
2:45 PM: Back to work
5:00 PM: Rest (while I do entrepreneurial tasks)
6:30 PM: Go back to work
7:30 PM: Dinner
rest of the night until 2 AM: Work

But if I can wake up earlier, I can finish and sleep early, right? The same goes for you, my dear friend. If you wake up earlier, you can accomplish more tasks ahead of time. Plus, you can also insert some leisure tasks in between. I for myself, if I feel exhausted from work, I take an hour, maybe two, to watch Netflix and ease my mind from my work. 

2. Stick with your routine

The key to maximizing your time is to have a proper routine; you should know when to start working, when to rest, and when to call it a day. Don't you feel irritated when you're not doing things on your own schedule? 

The same goes for me; I really hate it when I haven't bathed at around 3 PM; I feel tired, exhausted, and sticky, so I make sure to really stick with my time. I pause everything and go to bathe at exactly 2 PM because if not, everything will fail. 

Here's an exercise:

Start with a work routine and then slowly transition with your body clock; thus, your body and brain won't feel too overwhelmed with your changes. Slowly but surely, they say, but this definitely works. 

3. Hierarchy of tasks

I don't know for some, but I stick with the easiest tasks because they are the easiest to accomplish. Plus, a little check on your to-do list is such a great encouragement that you are doing something productive. 

Learning how to prioritize your tasks plays an essential role in your daily life. Whether you like it or not, it will become an excellent habit to adopt. 

If you want to finish harder jobs first to accomplish things faster, then do it- whatever works for you is definitely the best. 

4. Find your peak hours

They say our mind works better at a specific time; I call it "Peak Hours" that's when our minds are really pumped up to solve critical challenges such as decision making, conceptualizing, etc. 

My peak hours are always in the evening after 6 pm, so I do most of my conceptualizing and analysis because my mind works faster during this time. I also would love to work do my meetings in the evening because I feel more relaxed when the weather is cooled down, and my mind is already at ease. 

However, this doesn't work for everyone. Just like what I have said, find your peak hours. 

5. Invest in multitasking

Okay, I know this may sound a little daunting but believe me, it's always worth it! In the past, I'm working with my 4-year-old laptop, but as the years went by, I realized that my laptop is already tired and sooo worn out. The performance is prolonged, and even though I can accomplish tasks, I know I can do more if I invest in a new gadget. 

Now, I own two laptops, and it has been a lifesaver. 

One laptop is basically used for heavy duties like in-depth photo editing and video editing. The other one is for some administrative tasks like email marketing, scheduling social media posts for clients, and this- blogging. 

But mind you, if you can't afford to purchase one yet, don't worry, you'll eventually save up and buy a new investment real soon. 

We all know how crucial our situation is because we are in the middle of pandemics; I can say we cannot afford any emergency situation, whether it's related to household or finances. We should be proactive in securing our assets, for instance, having them insured because we never know when unforeseen circumstances will happen. 

Cebuana Lhuillier has been a partner for my family's remittances all over the Philippines. Their branch near my area is very accessible; I also visit them for my Lazada orders, but little did I know that apart from remittances, pawning, and other assistance related to monetary, Cebuana also offers amazing insurance Filipinos will benefit from. 

Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance arm strengthens Fire Prevention call, mounts webinar with BFP

The damage of getting your house razed by fire is insurmountable; fires at home can break out anytime and anywhere and can damage livelihood, household appliances, and more. In 2018, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded 14,316 incidents of fire from January until December. 

This is why every March is Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines, and BFP’s campaign for this month is safety consciousness among our people every day of the year as a positive preventive approach to a problem that can be solved by more caution, vigilance, sobriety, the exercise of common sense and respect for the law.” It is a campaign that focuses on exercising vigilance at home and keeping oneself knowledgeable on the best way to protect your home and family from destruction brought about by fire. 

“Cebuana Lhuillier has always committed to being of help to the Filipinos at all times, and our call for Fire Prevention is a reflection of that, our insurance products that aim to keep our clients protected at all times is a complementary effort to our advocacy for this month,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President, and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

PJ Lhuillier’s insurance arm, the Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers, Inc (CLIB), has also expressed its support for BFP’s campaign through the years. It has been a staunch advocate of having Filipinos insured, posting almost a 35% contribution to the total number of insured Filipinos through microinsurance. CLIB has also worked together closely with the Insurance Commission in promoting microinsurance in the country; they have settled over more than 5,300 million claims worth over Php 500 million they have serviced over 16,500 claimants. Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers’, Inc. is also the first and only ISO-certified insurance broker in the Philippines.

Also launched this month in conjunction with the Fire Prevention Month celebration is a promo dubbed “Panalo ka sa ProtectMax” where clients of the ProtectMax product of CLIB get a chance to win Php 25,000. The promo is open to all clients who will purchase 5 ProtectMax COCs; these 5 COCs are equal to the e-raffle entry. For the promo, 20 lucky raffle winners will be selected and will win Php 25,000. 

“This Fire Prevention month, it is essential to drumbeat awareness on fire safety and prevention and the importance of being protected. CLIB believes that an information and education drive is essential to ensure that everyone is well-informed against conflagration,” said Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers’ Inc., Jonathan Batangan.

For clients who are interested in keeping themselves protected without having to go to Cebuana Lhuillier’s more than 2,500 branches, they may purchase Home Insurance via the ProtectNow app or website; just log on to protectnow.com to see CLIB’s full range of products online.

They’ve also mounted the #SunogFreeWorryFree: ProtectMax Kontra Sunog webinar, which aims to emphasize the importance of being ready for untoward situations, especially fire, and the importance of having protection whenever there are threats of the conflagration.

 Hi loves, 

I know not everyone loves Mondays. Mondays are a great signal that we need to pick up our lazy ass and start working again for the entire week- gahd! While most of you hate Monday, let me tell you a secret. 

I love Mondays! 

Because I can start working guilt-free again. Yes, you heard it right. Guilt-free! I often work on weekends because I feel bored, and I feel like the time is just a waste if I just lay down and watch TV. I know, I know it's such a bad habit, but I just love to work. 

So let me give you my 3 things to make my Mondays better:

1. Start with clearing out your computer and work station

Okay, I am such a sucker for this. I don't clean my computer and workstation at the end of every workday. I just don't feel like it, but you know what? I discovered that you are giving yourself a break from the chaotic world you will be facing whenever you start working in a clean environment. 

2. Make a to-do list

This step sounds cliche, right? But for me, it works, and I know this will work for you too. Having a to-do list can give you a clear vision of what your day is going to be. Plus, you will not forget anything; this is absolutely UH-MAZING! I really hate whenever I miss a task and the deadline. I know you do too. 

3. Be grateful

This part is the most often forgotten step. As we tend to survive in this pandemic, we sometimes forget the little blessings that come in our life, like waking up in the morning or having a nice yummy meal or having a roof over your head. 

Remember, many people lost their job during this pandemic. You are beyond lucky to work! That job is the wish of every jobless right now- do not take it for granted. 

This is just what I have for you right now; I'm ready to start my day with a cup of coffee and good music. What about you? What excites you every day?