A few Saturdays ago, Nuffnang and Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly held a Laughter Yoga event at the Julius Maggi Kitchen of Nestle Rockwell.  The guests were welcomed by the event’s host Mike Unson, who is one of my two top favorite stand-up comedians in the country.  I used to catch Mike in Comedy Cartel gigs, mostly at the Spicy Fingers restaurant in Greenbelt 2 but he has come in full circle since his Comedy Cartel days and is now doing TV, radio and events hosting with his stand-up comedy acts.

 

As expected, Mike opened the floor with his jesting monologue that’s wittingly funny it got the crowd stirred with laughter.  The light-hearted entertainment continued, this time with a healthy twist when Mike turned over the floor to Paolo Martin Trinidad, a certified laughter yoga instructor –the one and only in the Philippines.  

 

 

The person who got first quoted saying, “Laughter is the best medicine” knows exactly what he or she is talking about.  Paolo confirms that when done properly through right breathing techniques, laughter can actually help cure depression, facilitate blood circulation and assist in weight loss.  One of the breathing methods that the Laughter Yoga master taught is to inhale deeply through the nose and exhale longer through the same channel using your belly.  Smiling while doing this repetitively sends notes to the brain to be happy while oxygenizing your entire system.  Exhaling longer also gets rid of stale air that’s been trapped inside the body.

 

The Laughter Yoga session took away the inhibitions of the people inside the room and opened them up to proper breathing/laughing techniques.  Laughter in our lives is so vitally important mentally and equally nourishing physically when correctly performed to get the full benefits of it.  At the end of the session, I was feeling really tired and warm from the laughing exercises –but full in spirit, having communicated to my brain that I’m happy through the “act of laughing.”

  

 

After stretching out our laughing faculties, it was time to stretch out our tummies.  Refreshments of tasty snacks of pasta, fried wontons, sandwiches and tacos filled the table but the star of the show is the debut of the new Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly. 

 

 

Personally, the new variant got me excited since I’m a true-blue fan of Nestle Fruit Yogurt.  I started buying it off grocery shelves in 2006 while I was on a diet and continued to consume it heartily even after my diet.  My all-time favorite of course is the 0% fat yogurt in strawberry flavor (if all fat free goods taste like this, we’d be happier people) but I’ve moved from one variant to another and have also fallen in love with their mixed berries.  Colleagues see my stock pile of Nestle Yogurt in the fridge and at certain times have asked me if they can get a “cup” from my stock for their after lunch dessert or for their afternoon munchies.

 

I’m one of the happy consumers of the brand for years now that’s why when I was approached, I was okay to write an open review about their newest product -Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly.  It is still the smooth and creamy yogurt everyone’s familiar with that the Nestle brand continues to deliver but half of that cup is filled with a new surprise –jelly.  Yes, that translucent gelatin we’ve all come to love growing up –and for some, candied jelly is still a choice of dessert or snack.  Put the two together and get introduced to the newest product of the NFSY line, Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly!  It’s definitely another first from Nestle.

 

If you’re a happy consumer of Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt just like me,

 Click Like on their Facebook Fan Page.

 

I got my first dibs of the yogurt with jelly or jello-gurt, as I would flippantly call it, at the Laughter Yoga event.  Observably, each person had their own take on how to eat this double treat.  Some cracked the soft jelly on top of the yogurt and actively mixed it with the yogurt blend at the bottom.  I took another route and gently spooned a bit of the jelly and savored its wobbly glassy texture.  My next bite consisted of a fragment of the jelly and a portion of the yogurt, tasting it together in a unifying sweet tart while enjoying the altering texture of the two components. 

 

 

The jelly has a light fruity taste while the yogurt still holds its recognizable characteristic tang with traces of strawberry sweetness.  It is twice the surprise and twice the delight!  I wonder if the Buko Pandan variant tastes the same.  That’s what I’ll figure out in the coming days.

 

With the arrival of frozen yogurt specialty parlors that have sprouted like stray mushrooms in the Metro, I’m still partial to my off-the-shelf yogurt favorite that I can just pop open and enjoy.  It’s such a lip-smacking thrill to know that Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt continues to create delicious new twist, in this case jellicious (jelly + delicious), to excite yogurt aficionados. 

 

 

Contest Alert #1: JellyGurt Bounce Game

 

Check out the JellyGurt Bounce Game on the Facebook link below.  Just register and be the highest score recorded to win special prizes from Nestle weekly!

 

It’s as simple as catching many blue objects in the cup, but eye and hand coordination including speed are keys to strategize your way into getting high scores.  It’s so fun –it’s as exciting and enjoyable as eating your favorite NSFY at the bottom and fun jiggly jelly on top.

 

Contest runs from September 6 to October 31, 2010, 5:59 PM.

 

 

 

Contest Alert #2: Twogether Forever/Decorate It Twibbons Blogger Contest

 

Nestle will be giving away 30 jellicious cups of their newest yogurt variant for Between Bites readers.  All you have to do is join the Twogether Forever (portmanteau) game.  A Portmanteau game is a game that combines two words to create a new word.

 

 

Contest Mechanics:

 

1. This contest is open only to Metro Manila residents (prizes need to be picked up from the Fort area).

2. Go to http://www.twibbon.com/join/Jelliciously-Good and create your own twibbon.

3. Use the twibbon as your profile picture on Twitter for the duration of the contest (1 week).

             For example: http://twitter.com/maanbeee

4. The contestants must describe their NFSY with Jelly snacking experience using the portmanteau game. Was it fun, cool, odd, amazing?  We want to know!

5. Tweet your entries using this format: @blogger word1 + word2 = portmanteau #NestleFruitSelectionYogurt

             For example: @maanbeee jelly + delicious = jellicious #NestleFruitSelectionYogurt

6. Each person can send in multiple entries.

7. Winners will be chosen according to creativity.  The sponsoring agency will choose the winner.

8. There will be 2 winners and each winner will receive 15 cups of NFSY with Jelly each.

9. Within 1 week of being proclaimed, the winners can claim their prizes at the Ogilvy office at this address:

25F Picadilly Star Building

4th Avenue corner 27th Street

Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634

  

 

It’s as EASY as that!  TWO contests are underway and it’s your chance to win the prizes.

 

 

Don’t forget to GRAB a chilled cup of Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly and start snacking on your favorite yogurt with a jelly twist!

 

 

-o-

 

 

 

Related Entries:

Patting Myself on the Back

Yabba Dabba Yoggle

Comedy Cartel – Mad Max

Laugh Out Loud with Comedy Cartel

 

 

NSFY Laughter Yoga Event Album

 

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Women come in all shapes and sizes –in different forms and curves.  No matter how much we try to lose weight or gain weight to perfectly fit in a pair of jeans, finding the perfect pair still eludes us.  Levi’s Strauss and Co. invited some women to an intimate gathering one Saturday to talk about what women generally believe in, whether in advocacy, lifestyle, dream or finding the denim pair that suits them.

 

 

The event started with a fun activity of creating an “I Believe” board or mood board.  It felt crafty and productive (and even therapeutic!) to cut out items from magazines and design them on your “I Believe” board using your own creative style.  Each of our “I Believe” boards depicted our own lifestyle and it also helped us visualize our dreams.  Visualizing as they say moves you an inch closer in pursuing your goals.  The guests, sharing their thoughts on their dream boards, all had lovely smiles on their faces –genuine marks of how pleasant the activity was.

 

 

As for my “I Believe” board:

 

I believe that people should have an appetite for the good life while striving to achieve the best things.  That’s one of the things that the Between Bites site stands for.  Whether it’s a bite of food, travel, reading, music, circumstance, a memorable moment, hope or anything in between, there’s always something to be happy about in life.    

 

 

I’ve tagged my mood board with Lit Chick and the statement, “Discover the perfect fit that makes you lit!”  Never mind if the perfect fit means an ideal partner for you, a gadget you’ve been wanting to purchase, clothes you’ve been meaning to romp on your life’s ramp, the paying job that makes you happy or circle of friends that you can trust and be yourself with… whatever it is, it’s great to find something or someone that makes us light up. 

 

Why not create your own “I Believe” board? :)  Might be a dose of inspiration for you.

 

Right after the “sharing” and women-bonding, we all partook in a tasty lunch at Cav while we continued to exchange stories and updates. 

 

 

On the Table:

 

Young Arugula Salad

Watermelon, Cherry Tomato Confit, Parmesan Crisp

 

 

Twice Cooked Pork Belly

Garlic Potato Puree, Haricot Bundles, Madeira Jus

 

 

Flourless Chocolate

Flourless chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream

 

 

When the hearty lunch was consumed, it was time for the “fit” measurement at the makeshift dressing room.  Some ladies, including moi, were quite apprehensive about getting “measured” after filling ourselves up.  But our worries and fears were put aside when we discovered that the custom fit pants they’re launching will be based on our natural shape instead of size.  First time I’ve heard of such thing.  I’ve grown accustomed to getting my waistline size when hunting for jeans.

 

Levi’s® has started a campaign driven to help women find the best-fitting and most perfect pair of jeans.  They have studied the body shapes of over 60,000 women around the world and through this, Levi’s® created revolutionary custom-fit denims that are based on shape that celebrates straight figures, frames perfect proportions and honors genuine curves.

 

 

The new Levi’s Jeans Collection for Women has custom-fit denims that:

 

1. Defines your waist and accentuates your curves without a muffin top.
2. Flatters your waist and smoothens your shape.
3. Hugs your waist without gaping or pulling.

 

What an innovation if it answers most of women’s denim problems. 

 

 

I got measured and was handed a pair of skinny jeans.  One try and voila, I didn’t have to try any other pair.  Excellent huh?  It is for me because jeans is the most tiring clothing piece to shop for.  If I got different pants to try on, then that takes a lot of pulling pants and removing them and re-wearing my clothes.  It’s quite a workout.  That’s why I’m glad that I was able to find my pair of denimwear in a snap (thanks Peach for measuring me)!

 

Women can now be comfortable with their given genes whether they have curvy curves or semi-curves.  There’s a custom-fit denim that matches your natural body curves!  Stand tall, be proud and shake what your momma gave you!

 

Levi’s has been strongly associated with men’s jeans for the longest time because it’s the dependable brand that’s been trusted by men.  This time, Levi’s unlocked the ingenuity behind women’s jeans and has created jeans made to fit the curve of a woman’s body.  Say ta-tah to those ill-fitting bottoms because every woman now just got to make room for the greatest fitting pair of jeans ever to hit your closet!   Go to the nearest Levi’s® store or outlet near you, get measured and grab a pair!

 

 

Levi’s Event at Cav Album

 

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It does take commitment to finish what you have started. 

 

I think it’s what pulled me through 14 days more than the good comments I received after “Week 1.”  The good comments did encourage me to do more for my body care.  Before last week ended, I made it a point to get a facial and a foot spa –both I haven’t done in more than half a year.  My face felt so squeaky clean from white and black heads that I kept running the back of my finger (back because I assume my fingertips are dirtier) on my nose and cheeks.  I feel so refreshed when I give my body a break from the usual activities and give it the time to relax and be pampered.  

 

Because of the 14-day challenge, I have conditioned my hair more than what I would have usually done in 1 week.  Prior to this challenge, I only use hair conditioner every other day or 2 days (partly due to laziness to do it and lack of time).  But once I’ve incorporated it into my daily bath routine, it became much easier and mechanical to shampoo and condition my hair… and when hair is put into an automatic “caring” process like that.  Results are noticeable.

 

In case you can’t find me with my hair down,

I’m the one in front with a black and white bag

 

 

At the end of the 14-day challenge, there is quite a difference.  Quite, I should say.  The change is admittedly not impeccably perfect down to the last fine hair.  I guess that takes more than 14 days… and a commitment not to abuse your hair –heat, blower, sun exposure, coloring, etc.  But 14 days of using the Mystery Hair Care Brand, my hair is appreciably softer and more manageable.  What’s incredible is it’s much straighter –back to my natural straight.  I’ve put my hair up in a bun so often in the past years that my natural straight hair waved a bit… but lately, it’s straight out… like it was never put on a knotting/tying ordeal.

 

Of course, habits are hard to break.  Plus, I really need my hair up at times where I’m wearing a certain type of clothing where neatly tied hair complements the whole look.  Openly, more readers told me that they prefer my hair up than down.  I still can’t decide at this time, although for 3 years, I have always had my hair up –which is quite a change from always letting it hang loose prior to that time.  What I’m particularly happy about what the Mystery Hair Care brand did for my hair is that even if there are times (during the 14 days) that I still tie my hair up, it doesn’t feel that extensively tired after I let it loose.  It still feels alive and perky somehow, if that makes sense to you.

 

 

What’s the Buzz About: Mystery Hair Care Brand Revealed!

 

Yesterday, the brand was finally revealed in 2 shows on the local network, ABS-CBN.  Bubba and I were still in cold but refreshing Tagaytay when the ASAP show was on.  We were actually having a late lunch at the beautiful Marcia Adam’s Tuscany restaurant.  Good thing though that drive back to Manila was a breeze and I was still able to catch the Big Reveal on the Buzz.  

 

And as most of you have guessed,

 

(Drum roll please)

 

 It’s The All New Pantene.

 

They also revealed the 3 new endorsers of Pantene as well as its latest TVC.

 

The 14 Day Commitment

 

Finally, the connection has been made.  Other than the inspiration to commit to a beautiful change within, Pantene also encouraged girls/women to commit to the 14 day challenge where The All New Pantene assures an experience of hair transformation in 14 days.  Who doesn’t want healthier hair? 

 

Pantene’s new lineup of shampoos, conditioners and treatments for split ends, hair fall and rough, tangled hair is formulated with the powerful Pantene Recharging Fluid Pro-V Formula that has Pro-Vitamin B5 that deeply moisturizes your hair.  It’s apparently designed to address the toughest hair issues faced by women today.  From regimens that address split ends and rough, tangled hair to solutions for hair fall due to breakage, there’s a specific Pantene hair care product or treatment for YOU.

 

 

 

 

Make the 14 Day Commitment with Pantene

To find out which type of Pantene will solve your hair problems,

 

VISIT pantene.com.ph for more details.

 

 

I wasn’t too surprised because of the packaging of the Mystery Hair Care brand and the color points of the question mark.  And their teaser ads on TV seem to have the same familiar voice and feel of the previous TVCs of the same brand.

 

It did surprise me that Pantene is a product that I can use.  I don’t remember using Pantene before.  Pantene probably has millions of following that believe in their product (that’s perhaps where they get the drive to continually improve their goods) but I wasn’t one of them… until I’ve tried the 14-day challenge.  This 14-day usage of their hair care products opened my eyes to what Pantene can bring to the table.

 

Will I continue to use The All New Pantene?  We’ll see.  I still have one whole shampoo bottle and 1 bottle of conditioner left to use… the visible results have given me personal satisfaction to continue finishing the bottles at the very least. 

 

It’s a formula that worked so far for me.  So who knows *shrugs* I’d probably buy after that.  

 

 

 

 

*If you want to know more about The All New Pantene, visit their website  pantene.com.ph for more info.  Interested to try out the 14 Day Challenge yourself?  VISIT HERE.  You try.  You decide. 

 

 

—

 

 

Hello folks!!! *waves*

 

Bubba and I are in Tagaytay.  It’s been raining so it’s colder than usual here.  And it was quite foggy outside earlier that visibility was poor for motorists.  Good thing it wasn’t too difficult to find Summit Ridge.  I’m looking outside the window and it has cleared up a bit now.

 

Bubba is now snoring, taking a late afternoon nap.  I’m wide awake even if the weather is conducive to sleeping.  It’s probably from the Serenitea drinks we brought with us.  I finished mine already while Bubba is yet to drink his.  Uh-huh, it’s Serenitea on my hand anywhere… even a drive up to Tagaytay.

 

We took some photos earlier before Bubba went to la la land. 

 

-

 

Yes, I do have my hair down more than usual nowadays.  Which one do you prefer?

 

 

The 14-Day Challenge is coming to a close.  My friends and some readers and I have our own hunches.  We still can’t tell at this point if our guesses are right until we see the actual unveiling of the product.

 

The Big Reveal will be tomorrow.  I can’t wait to find out what the brand is.  The mystery hair care brand will be revealed tomorrow on ASAP and The Buzz on Channel 2.  We might be checked out by then so I guess I have to catch it on Bubba’s portable TV.  Yup, he recently bought one.  I hope reception is not bad.  If it is, you guys can tweet me the reveal.  Twitter account is betweenbites.

 

Anyway, it’s half past 5pm and I got to think of a place where to grab dinner before he wakes up.  I’m not sure if I can squeeze in time to blog tomorrow (Bubba will surely complain) because we’re thinking of getting a massage and hitting a few spots here in Tagaytay before heading back to Manila.  My observable conclusion on the 14-Day Challenge is coming up so stay tuned for that.

 

Ciao folks!!! Hope everyone’s having a great weekend!

 

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There are days in a year that were specially made to thank fathers, mothers, and even teachers.  But we shouldn’t stop to thank them only during those specific days.  On the same breath, when was the last time you showed sweetness towards your friend who have pulled through for you through thick and thin?  If you haven’t, maybe it’s about time that you did.

 

Show how thankful you are to your blockbuster friend for being there for you, every step of the way. 

 

Our friends turn our tears into laughter, they tell us the truth even if it hurts and we know that they’d take a leave from work just to help us through tough times or go with us through life’s many adventures. They are bonded to us, not by blood or by virtue of work, but by common interests, goals, passions and simply by unconditional love. We all know that special friends like these come rarely in a lifetime, and while our best friends ask for nothing in return for everything they’ve done for us, we know that we need to let them know how much we appreciate their sacrifices, their care and their love. We know that they are there for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week—so it makes perfect sense that we also thank them for their friendship every single day.

 

 

Toblerone, the legendary triangular Swiss chocolate, urges you to say “thank you” to your very best friend everyday through simple things that show your appreciation.  You can start showing how grateful you are by telling the world about the wonderful story of your friendship.  Talk about how you met your epic friend, the adventures you’ve gone through together and especially why you are thankful for your relationship with him or her. All you have to do is to “Like” the Toblerone Fan Page on Facebook, upload a photo of you and your epic friend, tag yourselves and TobleronePilipinas and then post your answers in the Comments section of your photo. Make sure that you get your epic friend to “Like” the post as well!

 

Ten winners will be chosen based on the number of people who “Liked” your post as well as the feedback from the Toblerone team and a special panel of judges. Winners will be treated to Toblerone gift packs and a full day of fun and exciting bonding activities, featuring body care treatments at The Spa, with their epic friends. It’s a great and unique way to start saying “thank you” to your best friend! The contest will run from July 5, 2010 to August 11, 2010—so hurry and tell the world how grateful you are for your epic friend.

 

Gratitude, like friendship, shouldn’t just be a one-day deal.  Let this opportunity from Toblerone inspire you to think of many different ways to show your friend how much you appreciate all she or he has done for you. After all, each day is always a good day to say “thank you.”

 

For more information, please log on to www.toblerone.ph.