Decluttering and Organizing our home (part 1)

I'm sure I'm not the only one with dreams of having a perfectly clutter-free home. Especially for those with kids, it's such a struggle to keep everything neat and orderly with their endless toys, books, clothes, and shoes everywhere! I mean you've just put back all their toys in the bin and arranged their books on the shelf, and barely 10 minutes have passed and they dump everything on the floor again! Honestly, why do we even bother?!

Anyway, I've been seeing a lot of those professional organizers online these days, hired by celebrities to tidy up their closets. I wish I had the budget for one, but I know I can do it as long as I put my mind to it! Challenge accepted! ;p

Our Rainbow Vacuum Demo experience (to buy or not to buy?)

I've been referred to have a Rainbow vacuum demo a number of times before, but I've always said no since I know how expensive it is. But I've read such great reviews about it in online mommy groups, saying how it was SO worth it since the unit can last for decades and they have superb after-sales service. And since my family can be prone to allergy attacks, I figured it was time to see for myself if we should indeed get one.

IKEA Raskog Cart look-alike

I've been meaning to buy this IKEA Raskog Trolley for the longest time. It comes in a variety of colors like white, black, turquoise, beige, and rust.

Vacuum Cleaning Service with Happy Helpers

As part of my new year's resolution to organize and declutter around the house, I've decided to get a cleaning service to vacuum our mattresses. This has actually been long overdue since we moved in our home 5 years ago! I realized I really needed to get this done since we've all been getting symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Like I couldn't get a good night's sleep since my throat and eyes were always so itchy, plus we're all sneezing and getting runny noses all the time.

I searched online and read all about dust mites and bed bugs (ewww!) which was probably the culprit for all our allergies. That was when I found HAPPY HELPERS through some recommendations from a mommy group. There were actually other companies I inquired with, but what made me ultimately decide on Happy Helpers (aside from their lower price compared to others) was that they're a social enterprise that employs women from Gawad Kalinga communities.

Vacuum bags

I've been looking for vacuum bags for the longest time now, and I finally chanced upon an online seller with some affordable products.

The company is called XPLORE and aside from vacuum compressed bags, they also sell stuff like foldable boots, luggage scale, perfume atomizer and other latest travel products.

I emailed them to inquire and got a reply very quickly. The 60x80cm vacuum bags (2pcs/set) were P199 and you get 20% discount if you get at least 4 sets. Free delivery too.

So I got 4 sets for a grand total of P637 (for 8 bags all in all) and they got delivered two days after I deposited the payment. Super fast and efficient service. :)

I've been wanting to store some of my out of season clothes plus those that don't fit me right now (since I'm preggy) as well as some of the kids' stuff, and it's been quite a challenge fitting them all inside orocan boxes. Plus, I've always wanted to use these when we travel to save space in our luggage.

Anyway, the vacuum bags are so easy to use. Just put all your clothes in and close the bag like you would a regular ziplock bag.

Open the valve and use a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out. You can also do it manually by compressing the bag by hand to push the air out.

Close the valve and you're all done! Instant space saver, plus I love how the stuff inside are protected since it's airtight and waterproof. :)

Anyway, for inquiries and orders, you can check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/xploreunli. Or call 09998193543 / 09178227787 / 6246249 or email xploreunli@gmail.com.

Closet Clean-up (stage 1)

Sometimes, I just get that feeling that I have to do something NOW. My closet has been in a state of disarray since forever, plus I've always been meaning to put away clothes that don't fit or I don't use anymore. So one morning, when both kids were still asleep, the urge to fix my closet suddenly came over me and I finally got started on it...

Well, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. One thing I find hard to do is let go of things especially when there's a particular memory attached to it. I kept thinking "aww hubby bought this for me" or "I wore this when hubby and I went to this place, or during this event, or when we were on vacation...blah blah blah"  Or even if I know I probably won't wear something ever again, or it doesn't even fit me anymore, there's this little voice telling me "what if it goes back in style?" or "what if you need this in the future?" and so on and so forth... You get the idea.

I started with just my shirts and tops first (still have pants, skirts and dresses to do... and also shoes!) and at the end my organizing, I had like a small pile I was sure I didn't like anymore and a HUGE PILE I was on the fence about letting go. So in the end, I just kept that huge pile in the bodega. At least I've freed some closet space for now... Hmmm time to go shopping for new clothes? Hahaha kidding! ;p

Home Decor and MORE from Zalora

While Zalora may be known more for being an online fashion store where you can get clothes, shoes and accessories, you may be surprised to know that they also carry a wide array of Home & Living products. So when I saw an email from Zalora asking me if I'd like to write about some of the stuff I like from their site, I didn't even need to think twice about it! I actually already have a mental checklist of some of my favorite items from repeatedly browsing their store. ;p

What I love about Zalora's Home & Living section is that they have a great assortment of brands and items ranging from storage, cooking & kitchen tools, bath, dining & entertaining, bed linens, rugs, and window treatments. They also have an impressive selection of pillows & throws, wall decor, lighting, candles & scents, and even pet accessories!

Anyway, here's my top picks from their site. I can't even begin to tell you how much I need these things in my life. Like NOW. ;p

THROW PILLOWS
If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I love throw pillow covers since they're such an easy and inexpensive way to change the way your room looks. Here's some of the gorgeous and trendy pillow covers they have online. I'm in love with all the prints and patterns!

Keep Calm throw pillows from ARQ Curtains (P499.75)

Made from 100% polyester. Dimension: 16x16 inches

EMPIRE HOME 16x16 Throw Pillow Cases (P466.75)

Made of cotton canvas with invisible zipper opening. (does not include a filler)

THROW IN THE THROWPILLOWS Covers (P298)

Throwpillow Cover with one-color print; hand silkscreened using water based non-toxic paint and has a back zip closure. Material is Cotton Polyester Blend Canvass. Size 18"x18". 

PHOTO FRAMES
You know I can't resist a good picture frame when I see one. I really love these colorful ones which is just like what I used for my silhouette art.

SLIQUE Photo Frames (from P199)

4x6 / 5x7 / 8x10 photo frame set of 2. Made of plastic.

ORGANIZING
I'm currently obsessed with fixing my closet and putting everything in its rightful place. These organizers are just perfect for that.

AT HOME Scarf Organizer-ring (P299)

Features 12 rings that can hold and organize your scarves, belts, and other accessories. 

CHICTEES hanging pocket organizer (P499)

Features a 12-pocket jewelry organizer with hanger. Contrast piping. Foldable.

KIDS & STORAGE
I love how cute these would look in the kids' room!

3 SPROUTS Storage Bin (P1950)

A bin sporting kid-friendly animal motif. It’s made of 100% cotton canvas, with polyethylene coating on the inside, and measures 17.5" in height and 17" in diameter.

TETROPACK Photostools (P2200)

Has stable wood-based panels made from recycled wood fibers. The panels feature high resolution digital prints, finished and protected with UV-hardening lacquer. Maximum load is 150 kg.

ACCESSORIES
I love vintage looking pieces as well as anything floral so these items would look great in my bedroom or living room.

REGALONG PAMBAHAY Metal Planters (from P200-P350)

Made of square-tapered galvanized steel. It features a full decor of decoupage paper and acrylic paint.

Wastebasket Chinese Flowers from TETROPACK (P1700)

A trash bin that features Stable wood-based panels (MDF), furnished with high-resolution floral prints and protected by UV-hardening lacquer. Measures 41 cm (L) x 25.8 cm (W) x 25.8 cm (H). Made in Germany.

CLOCKS
I love bold pops of color around the house so these clocks would be the perfect way to add some life to any wall.

NEXTIME Wall Clocks

GIFT ITEMS

I'm a big fan of anything quirky and Zalora has quite the collection of novelty items, travel accessories, planners and stationery. Here's some that I would love to give and receive as gifts.

Mr. Pepper & Mrs. Salt from QUIRKS NOVELTIES & CURIOSITIES (P695)

Available in green and red. 100% recyclable. Measures 4 (D) x 8.8cm (H). Imported from Thailand.

Famous Faces Travel Wallet/Card Holder (P200)

10.5 x 7 cm (folded size). 2 internal pockets for cards. Made of vinyl.

AUDREY-FLIP NOTE by Wellspring (P450)

A flip open notepad that comes with a pen. Made of metal. These are great for notes on-the-go as they fit snugly inside pockets, purses or briefcases. Each pad measures 4 3/8" height x 2 3/4" width. 

Anyway, what's also great about Zalora is the Cash on Delivery (COD) payment option they have for major cities in the Philippines. I for one prefer this, since you don't have to worry about giving your credit card details or even lose sleep over whether your items will get delivered or not after you've paid. Plus, they also offer FREE shipping for orders P1,000 and up (if you order less than P1,000 you’ll be charged a flat shipping fee of P100 for delivery to Luzon and P150 for delivery to Mindanao and the Visayas). And don't forget about the P250 introductory gift voucher when you sign up for the first time. So whether your looking for that perfect accessory to complete your outfit or your home, there are really so many reasons to start shopping at Zalora. ;p

Repost: 50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World

I just read this article and it has completely changed my world! Haha! No seriously! According to the article, "Life hacks are little ways to make our lives easier. These low-budget tips and trick can help you organize and de-clutter space; prolong and preserve your products; or teach you something that you simply did not know before."

Here's some of my favorites, which mostly deal with organizing and for doing home improvement stuff. I'm telling you, GENIUS!

Remember how I fixed my internet and phone cords? This is a great alternative without having to buy a cable organizer.

I've been saving my toilet paper rolls for future arts & crafts projects, but nice to know I can also use them to organize stuff.

super smart and CUTE idea!

this is a perfect tip for my hubby, when he drills more of my picture frames on the wall ;p

this I've been doing ever since =)

I also use my hair iron to straighten creased gift wrapping ribbons

Aren't these life hacks fabulous? So simple and yet they make a world of difference. And I love how they make use of normal everyday things you have lying around the house. I am so trying out some of these tips and letting you know how they turn out. =)

To view the whole article, click HERE.

Early Christmas presents

My in-laws finally came home from their US vacation a few weeks ago. And while we, especially the kids, missed them so much, this also meant one thing... PASALUBONG for everyone! ;p

I felt like a giddy kid waking up on Christmas morning all set to open Christmas presents. But this time, I was eagerly awaiting the opening of the balikbayan boxes haha! Although I already knew the stuff I was going to get since I had already searched for these online and even ordered some of it myself. ;p

First up were these fabric cube bins from Target. They come in many colors but I just got the beige ones to blend in with our white shelf (which I got from S&R). They're just perfect for holding stray toys and books in the kids' room.

from Target

now it looks more organized!

stuffed toys in one of the drawers

plus a bonus OWL drawer too, which the kids love wearing on their head!

My daughter Miley is super addicted to Bubble Guppies so I really searched online if they had any toys available in the States. I found these at Amazon.com and I'm so happy they were able to buy all 3 characters! My mother-in-law emailed a picture of the toys when they got it and Miley was so excited already. I even asked her the day before her Mama and Lolo came home: "Miley, are you excited? Mama will be here tomorrow!" And you know what she said: "Then I'll have my Bubble Guppies!" (talagang un ang priority? haha!)

from Amazon.com

And finally, what I was most excited about! If you read my post about my favorite online shop, you know how crazy I am over Urban Outfitters' home stuff! I regularly browse their Apartment Section, especially the SALE items, and these were the things I ended up getting:

from Urban Outfitters

from Urban Outfitters

I wanted to get more bedding stuff but I decided to wait and check the quality first. But it's REALLY GOOD! I totally love the prints and the colors are so vibrant in real life. I am definitely buying more in the future when I have relatives going to the States again so they can bring it home for me.

I also bought this cardboard deer head for Sabe's room. Can't wait to assemble and put it up!

from Urban Outfitters

We also had other pasalubongs like clothes, shoes, and of course sooooo much stuff for the kids! It definitely felt like Christmas in our house! I was telling hubby maybe the kids shouldn't get all the toys at once since they'll be so overwhelmed. But of course, their grandparents were so excited to pamper the little ones after being away for so long. As for me, I'm super happy with my new goodies. Oh, and the best part? That "amoy PX" smell! I could spend all day sniffing our new stuff, feeling ko galing na din akong States hahaha! ;p

Damage-free hanging hooks

You must know that my hubby absolutely hates drilling anything into our walls. He likes the minimalist look so it drives him nuts whenever he sees me buying picture frames or planning a new wall gallery. Even a simple task of drilling a towel bar in one of our bathrooms has been put off for months! I want to do it myself but power tools scare me and I might end up doing further damage than good. So I've taken matters into my own hands. No more nails, screws or anything that requires puncturing a hole in the walls. I've started stocking up on those heavy duty double-sided tapes which I can use to mount my frames (which I did for my new wallart here). While in Handyman, I also saw these 3M adhesive hooks which was perfect for this project I wanted to do for the kids' room. It was a bit pricey at P200 for 2 hooks but the cute, bold colors really sucked me in (there were much cheaper options but in white). On the bright side, it came with a free microfiber wipe cloth. =)

Anyway, I've been wanting to put hooks in the walls to hang some of the kids' stuff like their backpacks. Not only does it make use of wall space, but the stuff you hang sort of acts like a decoration as well. By mounting the hooks at the kids' height, I hope to teach them to be more organized by allowing them to put their own stuff away. =)

What's good about these hooks is only the base is mounted. The actual hook can be taken out so I can even interchange it with another color if I want to. =)

The only problem? Once Sabe noticed this new addition to their room, he instantly wanted to play with the hooks and kept pulling on them! Well, I think it was only because he saw me taking photos. On a regular day when the backpacks are hanging on them, he mostly leaves them alone. =)

So far, the hooks are hanging pretty well despite the pulling and tugging of the kids. I'm definitely planning to put another set at the opposite wall soon. =)