Josiah's school is celebrating July as Nutrition Month. Part of their activities is a school tour to a local Pizza Hut restaurant. The kids will have their chance to make their own pizza. Excited mom that I am, I asked the teacher to let my youngest son to take part of the tour. He's salimpusa (extra) haha!

Josiah and Yosef all geared up, ready to make pizza!

Happy and excited Josiah :)

Josiah joined the "I love Pizza Huuuuut" contest. He made a long 4 seconds, haha!

Curious kids let their hands feel the fridge that contains the dough.

Josiah keenly looks at the recipes as he listens to the Pizza Hut manager's instructions.

The most awaited moment, he's making the pizza!

His classmates excitedly poured the final topping, pineapple. But Josiah managed to make a pretty presentation by neatly putting the pineapples over the ham. Maarte talaga!

Yosef's pizza's quite a mess, but he really enjoyed the moment. He kept sayin, "more"... toppings.

Delighted Josiah happily posing as he saw his baked pizza.

Yosef's equally excited to eat his creation.

From Pizza Hut to our house, they wore their toque and apron. Just goes to show how they enjoyed their very first school tour- The Pizza Hut tour. Josiah thinks he's now a chef.

The world we live today is overwhelmed with chemical-based products, artificially preserved foods, and synthetic drugs that do us more harm than good. While modern advancement aims to provide comfort, hassle-free, instant use of just about any human use and consumption, we are more than ever, exposed to junk, toxins and carcinogens. No wonder why our life span now is getting shorter. My grandparents died in their late 70's. I can only imagine up to what age I, or my kids will actually live if I will just let my family continue to be exposed to these 'killing-me-softly' products.

Good thing is, as much as we are exposed to the unnatural products, there is a growing awareness of health consciousness. More and more people are shifting to organic, natural, and chemical-free products. Now we are going back to basics.

I got curious when I saw Lifestyle Network show's Grow Your Own Drugs teaser. So I watched the show and every second was worth it. The show's packed with information on what plants/herbs are good as remedies and beauty treats, where to usually find them, and the must-know how-to's. Ethnobotanist James Wong knowledgeably hosts the show.

How I envy him! I'm awed at how vast his knowledge is of these amazing, God-given plants. Oh how can I not be? I never tried planting one, not until recently. I grew some plants on my plant box and I don't even know the names of these plants I planted. I am pathetic, harhar!

But it's never too late to grow my own drugs/plants. I'll start planting my own herbs. In the Philippines, some herbs are rarely planted. As far as I know, the only herb commonly planted here is oregano. I might wanna give it a shot for some basil, rosemary and thyme and mint for a start. :)

    Juliet:
    "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet."
    Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

A thing is always recognized by it's name. Vivid impression whether good or bad, is visualized in our minds when a certain name is heard of.

No wonder why, at the mention of some super brands, our ears extend to hear, our eyes light up, and we giggle with excitement.

That's the power of branding.

The name or brand dictates the amount of patronizers. When my hubby opened Q-Zone Detailing Center, a car wash and detailing center in Pampanga, he had no other detailing product in mind than Meguiar's Car Care Products. Why Meguiar's? Well, It's been on the business for so long -since 1901. It's been kicking that long, and has evolved to the detailing giant it is now. Of course, my hubby wants to lay his ground on what's tried and tested for years, thus making his Q-Zone Detailing Center known for using the best product.

Last May, at the 20th Trans Sport Show at the SMX Convention Center, hubby got the chance to meet Barry Meguiar in person. Barry Meguiar is the President and CEO of the Meguiar's car care product empire. And he hosts Car Crazy Central, Speed Channel's television series about automotive enthusiasts. Hubby was so overwhelmed! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Enthused hubby and brother with Mr. Barry Meguiar

Mr. Barry Meguiar signing for Q-Zone Detailers, my hubby's detailing center.

Every home, specially if there are kids, should have a handy first aid kit. It pays to be prepared when accidents happen. Mine include mostly for the kids' needs.

Here it is:

It includes:

• Thermometer
• Gauze and adhesive tape - for cuts, wounds.
  
• adhesive bandage - aka Band-aid
• Herbal cough syrup - Vitex Negudo L. Lagundi Leaf - Brand name: Ascof - for relief from mild cough, naturally.
  
• Paracetamol- for fever.

• Tetrahydrozoline HCl- Brand Name: Eye Mo. Eye drop for relief of eye redness & common eye irritations.
• Povidone Iodine - Brand name : Betadine. This is a topical antiseptic  for cleaning minor cuts and wounds.