If someone had told me that a ₱200 tin from the drugstore could rival the results of a luxury moisturizer, I might not have believed it. But after a few weeks of using the classic Nivea Creme in the iconic blue tin, I can confidently say my skin has never felt more hydrated. It helped repair my skin barrier after having a bad experience with a skincare line and clinic. I should have listened to my college friend that it was a wonderful product when I saw her generously slather it one night during one of our out of town completions for school.

This product has recently gained renewed attention on TikTok as users begin to explore skincare routines inspired by their mothers and grandmothers. More people are turning to tried-and-tested basics, and brands like Vaseline, Pond’s, and Nivea are once again being recognized for their simplicity and long-term effectiveness. The Appeal of the Blue Tin The first thing you notice is the texture. Nivea Creme is rich, thick, and almost balm-like. It softens when warmed between the hands and spreads smoothly across the skin.

I have been using it at night as the final step in my skincare routine, and the results are immediate. My skin looks like a glazed donut with a dewy, luminous finish that feels deeply moisturized. Visible Results Within just a few days, I noticed my skin feeling softer, more supple, and visibly more radiant. In the morning, the moisture remains locked in. My face no longer feels tight or dry, and there are no signs of flaking or dullness. I also began using the cream on my body, especially on areas prone to dryness such as elbows, knees, and heels. To my surprise, the rough skin on my feet became noticeably smoother, even after just a few uses. It has also been very helpful in calming dry patches that appear after using exfoliating products. Whether I apply acids or retinol, this cream brings relief and balance without irritation. Most importantly, it has not caused me to break out. I have allergies and sensitivities to many ingredients, so I was cautious at first. However, the cream has worked well for me so far. While some individuals may have sensitivities to it, I personally have experienced no adverse reactions.

Looking like a glazed donut after slathering on the Nivea Creme

Thanks for dropping by, and may the glam be with you always! :)

Okay yes, this is a late review. I actually watched Blue Eye Samurai a while back when it first dropped on Netflix, and I’ve been meaning to talk about it ever since. Life got in the way, but honestly? This show still lives rent-free in my head, so here we are.

If you’re into animation, Japanese lore, revenge stories, or just beautifully made TV in general, Blue Eye Samurai is 100 percent worth your time. The story follows Mizu, a half-white, half-Japanese swordswoman in Edo-period Japan, out for blood and answers. She’s cold, focused, deeply complicated and I was rooting for her every step of the way.

The animation is unreal. Like, every shot looks hand-painted and cinematic. The fight choreography is so smooth and intense I actually rewatched some scenes just to take it all in. The show doesn’t shy away from violence or emotion, and the mix of old-world Japan with high-stakes action makes it feel completely fresh.

Also, let’s talk about the cast-- Maya Erskine, Masi Oka, Kenneth Branagh… they all crushed it. Not to mention the great and wonderful George Takei! You can feel the weight of every line, and it just pulls you deeper into the story.

I’m already counting down to Season 2 next year. There’s so much more I want to see from Mizu’s journey and this world. It ended on such a strong note, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get better from here.

If you missed it when it came out or just haven’t pressed play yet, this is your sign. It’s fierce, emotional, visually stunning, and perfect for anyone who loves powerful animation with a story that sticks.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you watch it!

Let me say this clearly and without apology:

I will not sacrifice my kids to accommodate anyone.

Yes, I teach my kids kindness. I encourage sharing. I want them to have empathy and compassion.

But I will also teach them that they have the right to say no. That it’s okay to protect their own space, their belongings, their bodies, and their energy. That not sharing doesn’t make them bad people. It makes them people with healthy boundaries.

Because I know firsthand what it feels like to grow up without those boundaries.

As a child, even with well-meaning parents, my choices were often taken away from me. I was forced to share things I deeply valued. If someone had less than me, I was expected to give them what I had. No questions asked. Toys, clothes, food-- it didn’t matter. If I wanted to keep something for myself or refused, I was labeled selfish or ungrateful. Sometimes, things were just taken without my knowledge.

I was told not to ask for anything except if it was a need. I was taught to earn rewards. Not to need too much. Because “we had privilege” and others didn’t. I grew up thinking that having boundaries made me a bad person. So I learned to give and give and give until there was nothing left for me.

That followed me into adulthood.

I overextended.

I let people take.

I didn’t say no, even when I was exhausted.

I will not raise my kids that way.

My kids will be taught to be kind, but never at the expense of themselves.

They will know that it’s okay to have limits.

That generosity is a choice, not an obligation.

And that “no” is not a bad word. No is an opportunity for growth. It is not always intended to wound.

If your child is aggressive, destructive, or hurting others, I will step in. And my kids have every right to defend themselves. I expect other parents to parent their own children. But if your child is hurting mine, I will remove my kids and end the interaction immediately.

I’ve seen this firsthand.

One time, a child was actively pushing one of my kids off the stairs leading up to a slide. My child was hanging on for dear life, not even fighting back. Just silently supporting her weight with her little arms as this other kid grasped her clothes and used his other hand to push her head and back. His father was standing right there, completely absorbed in his phone. I told the child, “Do not push,” and physically moved his hands off my kid’s clothes. That was the only moment the dad looked up, took his child, and walked away without saying a word.

Another time, a child with special needs pushed one of my kids into the deep part of a pool. Their dad had to jump in immediately to rescue her. The child’s guardian apologized and explained that the child had a disability. I want to be clear. I do not believe children with special needs should be excluded from fun or public activities. Every child deserves joy and inclusion.

But inclusion requires responsibility.

If your child needs more support, then you must be more present.

You cannot zone out. You cannot scroll your phone. You must stay engaged.

This applies to me too. When I’m with my younger child, I don’t relax. I don’t look away. I stay close and pay attention. That is what parenting requires. This, I find, is a parent’s gig until they are capable of controlling their impulses and are able to keep themselves safe. Going out with small kids and kids with special needs will always mean an excursion for those kids. No me time or time to relax. No distracted time unless they are napping or securely hugging you. You watch them. Engage them. You are always gonna need to be hyper aware. A young child relies on you to keep her safe.

I will always encourage my kids to be kind, inclusive, and compassionate. But I will not ask them to tolerate being hit, hurt, or put in danger. I will not let them absorb the emotional weight of other people’s children.

Every child has the right to play.

Every child must also be taught not to harm others or cross boundaries.

I also do not believe in raising kids in a constant “yes” environment.

Some people say that saying no breaks a child’s spirit or makes them grow up too fast. But real life is full of no. Teaching children how to handle disappointment or denial is part of raising emotionally strong and balanced people.

You don’t have to be an adult to understand respect.

You don’t need to be grown to deserve boundaries.

Teaching kids about limits and personal space does not ruin their childhood.

It protects it.

That is what I am here to do.

I’m not raising kids who feel they have to shrink themselves to keep others comfortable.

I’m raising whole, confident people who know how to say,

“No. That’s not okay with me.”

A new Power Mac Center (PMC) has opened in Davao, this time in the capital city of Digos. A thriving center of trade and agriculture in Davao del Sur, Digos City now houses a new hub offering the latest Apple devices and premium accessories from partner brands.

Apple fans are invited to drop by the store, located at the second floor of the Gaisano Mall of Digos and open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Exclusive deals all opening weekend

PMC in the “Gate City of the South” Digos is  welcoming customers to discover their next Apple upgrade with grand opening deals available for a limited time only. Shoppers can enjoy up to ₱24,500 off on select iPad models, up to ₱20,500 off on MacBook Air, up to ₱19,500 off on iPhone, up to ₱9,500 off on Apple Watch, and up to ₱4,000 off on AirPods. Plus, get up to 20% off premium accessories and an additional ₱1,000 trade-in value when you swap your current device. Offers are valid until August 24, 2025, while anniversary deals run until August 31. Terms and conditions apply.

Earn rewards thru 1 Infinite app

Power Mac Center runs a loyalty program called 1 Infinite that allows customers to earn rewards points for their purchases. These points can be used to redeem premium devices, accessories, and select services and training courses (1 point = P1).

To participate, simply download the new 1 Infinite app from the App Store <http://bit.ly/4hljdr2> or Google Play <https://bit.ly/42ovsyK>. Create an account or log in using your registered email address if you are an existing member.

Membership is classified into tiers, where Connected, Lunar, and Stellar tier members earn one (1) point for every P200 spent while Astra and Cosmos tier members earn one (1) point for every P100 spent, allowing them to rack up points faster.

On top of the points-earning power, 1 Infinite members also enjoy as much as 50% off on Apple training courses, as well as other exclusive perks from Basecamp and Mobile Care, PMC’s official training and service arms, respectively. More information on 1 Infinite is available at the website <powermaccenter.com/pages/1-infinite>.

Power Mac Center Gaisano Mall of Digos is the sixth PMC location in the Davao region. It joins the roster made up of PMC SM Lanang Premier, PMC Abreeza Mall, PMC Gaisano Mall of Tagum, PMC Gaisano Mall of Toril, and The Loop by Power Mac Center SM City Davao.

Be updated on the latest celebrations and promotions by following the OFFICIAL Power Mac Center accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Viber, and YouTube, as well as The Loop Ph Facebook and The Loop Ph Instagram.

I always think to myself that the original stories should be told as is. It’s been written that way because of so many factors. I like leaving historically relevant details alone because changing them to suit the current social narratives is en vogue just seems like a lot of pandering at the cost of being true to the OG tales. The old stories are mostly out of touch for a reason. Usually because this was how it was according to the setting of the story. Anytime an original story is twisted to appease current ideologies, I feel it is disrespectful to the actual authors that wrote the stories. A lot of times, it looks forced and controversial for the wrong reasons.

Some books and stories aren’t meant to age well. The factual history we have hasn’t aged well either but we do not make changes to them because of all the things that should be altered, history should not be one of them. We are meant to tell them nonetheless to make us face how much we have or haven’t changed in the present and to see if we are on the right track for the future. The thing is, anything I didn’t like in the past, be it from literature or movies, I always took as an opportunity to learn from and teach as was the case for my own mentors when I was growing up. I read the original and sort of morbid Cinderella story, I’ve watched the child friendly Disney one and I’ve seen the live action one with Lily James. My older child has done the same and she always had questions about them. Essentially, the plot of the story remains the same and the moral of the story that some may find boring is the same— good triumphs over evil. Fairytales are often that way no matter how the stories are told and what media they are presented in. These are old fashioned love stories or stories meant to be told to children to teach them lessons of kindness, courage, and love. Outdated romance. These stories were written at a time when hope was needed and escape to storybook fantasies were needed. There were changes in these Cinderella stories I’ve seen but very minimal.  The questions that come from my kids afterwards, these are what I look forward to. I’ve read the Cinderella Complex by Colette Dowling too and I liked that book a lot. I feel like if you want to be modern and analyze or criticize damsels in distress, you should definitely do that— through a different book or story and let people that like the originals enjoy the old stories.

These days, casting is one of the things that have people divided. People who grew up on the original stories have expectations. People who did not and people who have no attachment to the old stories want to change almost everything and sure, their reasons are valid. They want the viewers to relate to it. They want to be inclusive. I’m all for that, sure, but in new beautiful stories please. There’s nothing to stop you from making amazing stories that are new originals. I don’t want my kids to not have questions. I want them to see how it was in the past and wonder why things were the way they were in that setting. I don’t want them to think that what they see from a period piece that has been altered so much was the actual norm back then. I want them to enjoy stories authored by today’s vibrant new writers that faithfully reflect the setting of today.

The sad part of it is that rewriting plots aren’t just being done to simple fairytales anymore. It’s also being done to history and actual facts. Just read about Cleopatra and you’ll see so many opposing views about this historical figure. Even queen Charlotte. This isn’t even restricted to people but even actual events. Rewriting, revisionism of atrocities in the past has fooled so many. People being gaslit of the very history they have lived through.

Remembering the past, honoring the good, and learning from it is important. We do not erase what was there; you etch it in your history and let it guide you in your present and help you shape the future for the better. Remember what was once… see how far you’ve come and aim to make it even better in the future. To remember the past is not to live or dwell in it but to take what we can from it to empower us for today and inspire us for tomorrow. Read the old stories, be inspired to make new ones! We need new stories too!

It is in the lessons learned from our experiences that we discover resilience and strength. Each moment, whether joyous or challenging, adds to the mosaic of our lives, letting us make informed decisions and shaping our identities. As we reflect, we can identify patterns, recognize our growth, and appreciate the journey that has led us to this moment. 

Embracing the past allows us to celebrate our victories and understand our struggles. It encourages empathy, as we acknowledge the paths of others who have walked alongside us. In doing so, we create a shared narrative that fosters connection and community. 

As we move forward, let us carry the wisdom gained from our history. It is not merely a collection of memories; it is a treasure trove of insights that can illuminate our way ahead. Let us strive to build a future where the lessons of yesterday inform our choices, where kindness and understanding prevail, and where we create a world that reflects the best of what we’ve learned. The journey continues, and with each step, we have the power to craft a brighter, more compassionate tomorrow.

You can’t rewrite the past but you can make new stories that reflect growth from it. You can live and be in control of  a better story in the present and start shoring up for a future that you have invested in with your choices today.

Let’s talk about the facial mist that has quietly taken over my skincare routine: the D’Alba First Spray Serum. If you’ve spent any time scrolling beauty TikTok or diving into Korean skincare, you’ve probably seen this sleek gold bottle pop up more than once. The hype? Completely justified. And just so we’re clear, I’m officially starting on my second and third bottle. Yes, I loved the formula so much that I got another bottle for my vanity and a small one for my bag.

This is one of those products I picked up thinking it would be a cute addition to my vanity even when I was initially skeptical about it. It turned out to be a staple I can’t live without.

The “Flight Attendant Glow” in a Bottle

They call this the “flight attendant spray” in Korea because it’s what flight crews use mid-flight to keep their skin fresh and glowing. Honestly, I get it. It’s part mist, part serum, and full-on luxury.

Inside the bi-phase formula (give it a shake before using) is a beautiful mix of white truffle extract, niacinamide, and natural oils like avocado and sunflower seed. Together, they hydrate, brighten, and soften the skin without any greasy residue. The mist is ultra-fine, no heavy droplets or uneven spraying here.

The scent is light, clean, and elegant. It feels like a boutique spa in a bottle.

How I Use It

This isn’t one of those occasional mists that collect dust on your shelf. I use it constantly.

• In the morning, after toner and before moisturizer
• As a mid-day refresh to bring life back into tired skin or makeup
• Right before events when I want a fresh, glowy base
• Sometimes at night as a final step when I want to feel extra pampered

It layers beautifully under and over makeup, giving your skin that healthy, lit-from-within finish. Even on tired skin days, it perks me up instantly.

And here’s the magic: it makes a full face of makeup look like natural skin. Somehow, it melts everything together and takes down the powdery, flat look without ever messing up your base. Foundation, blush, highlight — it all just looks like your actual face, only better.

Is It Worth It?

This is definitely a luxury product, but it earns its place. You’re getting the benefits of a toner, serum, and mist all in one, which simplifies your routine without compromising on results.

After finishing my first bottle, I noticed:

• A more even skin tone
• Softer, smoother texture
• A natural glow that made me want to skip foundation
• And yes, my makeup started looking way more seamless and skin-like

Now that I’m on my third bottle, I can confidently say it’s a forever repurchase. It’s not just skincare. It’s a ritual. At 43, I am getting compliments for my skin's healthy glow.

Final Verdict

The D’Alba First Spray Serum is a skincare essential for anyone who wants that effortless, hydrated glow. It’s a quiet luxury moment that actually delivers, and it fits into both simple and more elaborate routines.

If your skin needs a boost, or your routine needs a refresh, this is the one. It’s glow, it’s glam, and it makes you look like you were born with great skin — even if you’re wearing a full face.

May the glam be with you always!