#BeChevyStrong | My Weekend with the Chevrolet Trailblazer!

I need a new car. 

Seriously, I've had this old vehicle for the past 7 years. I got it when the old operations manager left (he had it for 2+ years) so that means, it is now almost 10 years old. It is manual, too, so you can imagine the pain I get in traffic. Boo. I made a checklist of things I wanted in a new vehicle...

Someone give me a big car, please!

A month ago, Chevrolet Philippines was so kind to let me test drive the Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Check out this handsome ride! Love the Trailblazer in Summit White! Ang guapo!

I do not know much about cars, and didn't have a man in the house to review this handsome ride with me. So this post on the Chevrolet Trailblazer will be from a mom's point of view. I figured that the best way to see if this vehicle is for me, is to check if it can match my 24/7 days. Yes, that means Momma duties, work and hoarding! LOL! So that was what I did on those days I had this baby with me.

It was coded on the day it got delivered so I couldn't do much except nervously drive it home. But mind you, the Chevy Trailblazer is such a steady ride. I didn't have any problems with it. My brother, who ran me through its controls before leaving the office, warned me of its size.

My brother KM showing me some of the controls.

Its pretty wide, so he kept telling me to mind the sides (I am a small girl so I like to find my way through traffic). "Pag hindi kasya, wag mong iisipin na kasya. Malaki ang dala mo." I don't understand why he needed to worry. Because of its size, it commanded other cars to stay clear of it.

I just can't get over how handsome this SUV is!

The next day was a holiday. And we had tickets for KidZania. So this Momma took this ride to BGC. Fancy it seats seven. I had 4 kids, plus KY. So there were 6 of us. Each kid had their own nook, and sat comfortably. A and her friend C took the last row for some private chit-chat away from the adults and the kids (LOL, teenagers). RL and D (BM April's little boy) took the second row. They were a ruckus!

Since I was trying to keep my sanity with 4 kids, I forgot to take a photo of all of us in the vehicle. Oops!
Here's a group selfie of A, D and RL on our way to get C at McDonald's.

RL sat shotgun only for photo purposes.
I wanted a photo with KA at the wheel.
Oops. You see him, don't you? LOL!

Because I had to run after the boys like I was herding cattle, I got sick that evening after KidZania and stayed home the next day. Boo! We had plans to drive to Clark for some hoarding at the Duty Free shops, but I had opted to sleep it off. Good thing though, because the flu-like symptoms went away the next day! Thank goodness!

Sunday morning, my youngest brother decided to give the Trailblazer a spin. He drove my folks to church service and commended the SUV on its spaciousness, height and torque. "You can feel its power," he says.

It also is a safe drive perfect for families, with its state-of-the-art Dynamic Driving Technology. My brother even joked how this vehicle is not only perfect for men, but for women (moms!) as well, because it provides a ton of assistance to the driver - Anti-Lock Brakes, Dynamic Brakes Distribution, Traction Control, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Panic Brake Assist (yes!), Electronic Stability Control, Engine Drag Control, Cornering Brake Control, Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist (like I said, all sorts of assistance!).

DID YOU KNOW? The award-winning Chevrolet Trailblazer offers a special warranty that covers the vehicle for 3 years plus a 2-year extension for the Powertrain or the first 100km, whichever comes first. New owners also get FREE 3-year 24/7 Roadside assistance just by dialing 328-CHEV! 

Chevrolet sure outdid themselves with the new Trailblazer because to a mom like me, safety is up there on the list of must-haves in a family vehicle. I would like to think I am pretty much a safe driver, but any assistance to this already stressed-out mom is welcome. I am loving that the Trailblazer has all these features!

One of my fave safety features is the Hill Assist. Imagine being parked on a hill and starting your vehicle. No more stress in keeping your vehicle from slipping down the slope or trying to ease your way while stepping on the brakes. The Chevrolet Trailblazer's got it!

Safety features at the touch of a button! Gotta love it!

Reversing Camera for those not used to backing up with a big vehicle!

A built-in dash camera with 32GB memory!

In the afternoon, I decided to take the Trailblazer out to do what I love doing during my spare time - you guessed it - HOARDING! I love that the Trailblazer has enough space for seven plus some. The extra space is valuable to a hoarder like myself.

Getting gifts for Christmas while the stores are not yet crowded with shoppers.
Love that I got to fit all that shopping in the back without even losing any seats to storage space!
I also love the feature of having rubber guards on the edge of the trunk. This guarantees no accidental scratches during loading and unloading.

With the last row seats down, this is the storage space I get with the Trailblazer! I love it!
You can even fold down the second row, too! I can haul a whole store into it! LOL!

This vehicle has so much power! My neighbor, who incidentally used to be editor for the Motoring Section of a major broadsheet, was telling me how she test-drove the newest top-of-the-line model of the Trailblazer in Thailand. A feature she noted and loved was its power - having the ability to pull an over 2-ton trailer load at an incline was no sweat for this mean machine equipped with a Duramax Turbo-diesel engine that produces 200hp of power at 3,600rpm and 500Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. It is the most powerful SUV in its class!

There is something about the name Duramax that you associate with power. This vehicle definitely does not lack it.

But really, the most important use I shall have for any vehicle is to transport my kids to and fro. I want them seated comfortably, safe and secure. Because it was a long weekend with holidays, Chevrolet allowed me the use of the Trailblazer 'til Monday morning. So I got to take the little boy in it again with all our weekday stuff.

Sitting comfortably on the second row.
He loves the fact that the back seats are slightly elevated and that he can see out the front windows!

I love that this vehicle has a lot of leg room!
Our work and school bags fit without getting squished. I don't have to put them on the seats!

When we got to the office, I had RL move to the last row to check out the space. A was telling me that she likes the Trailblazer than both my mom's SUVs since the Trailblazer's last row had so much leg room, and she didn't feel cramped in. I didn't get to take a photo of A, so I asked RL to check it out for the photos.

Loving the last row!

Look Ma! So much leg room, even for the last row!

Additionally, here are some more features that I find handy in a vehicle. I am not much of a techie (I definitely need assistance from my brothers when picking a car!) but these I love about the Chevrolet Trailblazer...

The top-of-the line Trailblazer comes equipped with the new Chevrolet MyLink Infotainment system with mobile connect for both IOS and Android. Other variants beginning with the 4x2 LTX AT will have the new Android Infotainment System with Mobile Connect. You can connect your phone, call or text people, get on Waze and Spotify, watch movies, etc. The MyLink system even mirrors mobile devices allowing you use of apps - even Siri! 

DID YOU KNOW? Chevrolet is currently offering its new 4x2 Trailblazer LTX AT owners FREE 3GB Globe Tattoo 4G internet for the first 12 months! 

Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls. That includes answering your phone calls at the touch of a button!

A power outlet at the back so the kids don't fight over who gets to charge their gadgets!

Rear Airconditioning with controls! No more, "I'm so hot back here, Momma!" from you-know-who.

Open the visor mirror... and the visor lights automatically turn on. 

Storage for your sunnies! Or a place to hide carpark receipts!

More secret storage space! I am loving this SUV!

PLUS! RL's favorite feature - the automated seat adjuster. LOL!

Yes, the Chevrolet Trailblazer is an all-in-one mid-size SUV! It has everything a momma can ever want and need! Thank you, The Covenant Car Company Inc, for lending me this baby for the long weekend! Thank you for allowing us to experience how it is to #BeChevyStrong!

| chevrolet.com.ph
| facebook.com/ChevyPhilippines
| twitter.com/chevroletph
| instagram.com/chevyphilippines

#iloveLKK | COOKING IS EASY WITH LEE KUM KEE!

I practically grew up with Lee Kum Kee.

Seriously, Lee Kum Kee products are staples in my household. It was the same when I was growing up. Like I said, I practically grew up with the brand. I have fond memories of my childhood and my favorite Lee Kum Kee product - the Fine Chili Sauce. I ate everything with it - Pork Chop, Inihaw, Chinese Lumpia, Noodles - even Cheese! Remember that Lee Kum Kee jingle? "...Bring out the Lee Kum Kee! Bring out the Lee Kum Kee..." Yup, I knew that song by heart. I still do.

Oh, and who could forget our favorite go-to sauce - the Chicken Marinade - with simple instructions on how to cook a chicken: 1) Brown chicken in pot with a little oil, 2) Pour Chicken Marinade, 3) Bring to Boil, 4) Simmer until cooked, and 5) Enjoy! So simple, even kids can cook with it.

Now if there's a household brand I believe in, it is this. Especially now that I am married and have kids of my own. Lee Kum Kee has always made life easier. For a full-time working mom like me, Lee Kum Kee has helped me create delicious dishes in so little time. I am telling you, their sauces are lifesavers!

Moms and future moms at the #BetterMe Recipe Swap with #LKK!
(from L-R: Neva, Shiao Chew, me, Didi and Louren.

A few weeks ago, I got invited to a recipe swap hosted by Lee Kum Kee. There, I, along with other moms and future moms, learned more about Lee Kum Kee and its history in making quality sauces. Shiao Chew Chan, Lee Kum Kee's Southeast Asia Regional Category Manager for Soy, explained the tedious steps the brand has been taking to ensure their sauces are top-notch - even culturing their own oysters to make certain their Number One product, the Oyster Sauce, is of the best quality.

Shiao Chew re-telling LKK's history.

Lee Kum Kee is a family corporation spanning four generations. I can just imagine the heart that is put into this business for it to have lasted in the family this long!

Moms who demonstrated their cooking skills with LKK sauces that day: (from L-R: Eliza, Michelle, Suzi and Mish)

Anyway, during the recipe swap event, four moms shared their special recipes making use of Lee Kum Kee sauces. These were sooo good, and sooo easy to cook! This is seriously making me reconsider cooking special viands for my bentos, even in the morning before school. Lee Kum Kee makes cooking so easy!

Suzi Abrera's Thai-inspired Omelette. I love anything with eggs! And cilantro! 

Michelle's Grilled Salmon. I love how you can also bake this. This was so good!
I am sure RL will love this. He loves fish!

Michelle's Tofu Saute. So simple, but so delicious. I wanted to eat the whole plate!

Another super easy recipe! Would you believe Eli doesn't like to cook? This was nommy!!!

Inspired by these moms, I whipped up a quick recipe for you to try out as well. I make this regularly for my kids. It is a mix of chicken and veggies. I make it just the way I remember my mom making it for us. This recipe is from my childhood. I do not have the exact measurements (I cook just like my grandma, no recipes! Just stories!), so feel free to taste your cooking and adjust as you see fit. The measurements, however, I place in my recipe below is an approximate of the amounts I used. It shouldn't be too salty. But my kids love this just the way it is.

CHICKEN AND VEGGIE STIR-FRY

Ingredients
1/4 kilo Chicken Breast or Thigh Fillets, cubed
1 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce

1 tbsp. Cooking Oil

1 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Freshly Minced Garlic

1 pc. small Onion, diced

2 slices fresh Ginger

1/2 c. Button Mushrooms, sliced in quarters

1/2 c. Baby Corn, diced
1 pc. small Green Bell Pepper, seeded and diced

2 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce
1/2 c. Lukewarm Water
1 tsp. Cornstarch
Dash of Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil

Procedure

1. In a small bowl, marinate chicken fillets in Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce for 5-10 minutes.
2. Take a wok, heat cooking oil. Add Lee Kum Kee Freshly Minced Garlic, Onion and Ginger until fragrant.
3. Add marinated chicken and brown until half-cooked. 
4. Stir in mushrooms, corn and green bell pepper. Stir-fry.
5. Add Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce. 
6. In a bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water. Add to pan. Stir-fry.
7. When chicken is cooked, add a dash of Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil. Stir-fry. 
8. Turn off stove and serve over hot rice.
9. Serves 2.

This recipe is making me hungry! Omnomnom! Told you cooking is easy with Lee Kum Kee!

~~~ * ~~~

Lee Kum Kee is running a contest on Facebook! Get a chance to win P25,000 worth of kitchenware Gift Certificates! So easy to join! Here's how:

1. Like the Lee Kum Kee Philippines Facebook page. 
2. Upload a mouthwatering photo of your dish beside the Lee Kum Kee product you used. 
3. Name the dish and use the hashtag ‪#‎LKKRecipesByMe‬ and #(Lee Kum Kee product used) (Example: ‪#‎PandaOysterSauce‬). 

Promo period is from May 27 - June 24, 2015. Terms and conditions apply. You still have a week to join the promo. Get cooking with Lee Kum Kee and join today!

#iloveLKK!

| Lee Kum Kee Philippines on Facebook
| philippines.lkk.com/en/Kitchen

#RLStories | PLAY FOR REAL WITH JOHNSON'S BABY

It is no secret that my little boy is addicted to his gadgets. I suppose it is momma's fault. But in this digital age, where even schools encourage and include the use of tablets, what can we do as parents but allow them to use it?

Watching Youtube videos early in the morning.

On the gadget even when we are out of town.

Playing Minecraft at a Blogger event.

Playing NBA Live while at my mom's house.

I try to justify his gadget use by convincing myself that not all of it is bad. There are educational apps that help kids learn phonics, and in fact, RL watches Youtube instructional videos to do arts and crafts.  And I try to implement a time limit.

Testing himself with a phonics app.

Looming while watching instructional videos on Youtube.

But like I said, it has reached a point where I can say RL is addicted to it. In fact, I had to ground him recently because all he did this past month was play on his gadget from sun up to sun down. I am at work most of the day, so this summer, when he is home from his reading classes, he just took advantage of the fact that I wasn't around to regulate his gadget time.

We were invited to attend a Johnson's Baby event recently. And RL was introduced to a whole new kind of play. Not that he doesn't play much this way, but because of his gadgets, he tends to keep himself cooped up at home either with a gadget in hand or in front of the boob tube.

I shall let the little boy do the retelling on the #playforreal event. He enjoyed that day so much, he has been bugging me to move to where we can have a yard for him to play in. We live in a town house with so little play space. The only place he can run around in is the courtyard we share with seven other homeowners. We don't even have a patch of grass, and there is not enough space to ride a bike!

~~~ * ~~~

RL: "My mommy took me to a Johnson's event. I like going with her because I can play with the kids of her friends. She said I should bring extra clothes because I was going to get wet. I don't like getting wet. When we got there, someone gave me an iPad to play with. Yes! I was grounded that day. It was my chance to play Minecraft. They didn't have the paid app though."

RL: "When the program started, they let us out to play in the park. The teacher told me to build something out of the empty Johnson's Baby bottles. I decided to build a rocket ship."

RL: "This was my favorite activity. I like building things."

RL: "Auntie Didi was making a car for K and C. My mommy also helped me with taping my rocket ship together."

RL: "After this, I went to the gardening area. I wanted to plant a tree, but they only had small plants. We have a lot of plants in pots at home, and I like helping out my mommy when she takes care of her spinach plants. This is always fun to do."

RL: "This is my plant. I forgot to bring it home."

RL: "I wanted to play here but the other kids were enjoying the play bins."

Photo courtesy of mymomfriday.com. Thanks, Michelle!

RL: "So I went around and decided to build a bee with the bottles again. Then I went to play with water. I was so careful because I didn't want to get wet. But mommy said it was ok. So I got really wet and dirty! Hahaha!"

RL: "The other kids were all hanging around the water sprinkler. I wanted to play also but had to wait my turn."

Kaye's Note: After this, we were called back in. I had allowed RL to go play some more. At one point, I had to change his shirt because he was dripping wet with paint all over. One of the teacher facilitators told me that RL even managed to lie down on the grass next to the sprinklers. LOL! Here was a kid who wouldn't even dare get himself wet. I guess he enjoyed too much!

RL: "I had so much fun at the Johnson's Baby event! That was my best summer day ever!"

~~~ * ~~~

Studies show that while kids can indeed learn from gadgets in many ways, they learn more from active sensory play. It is through sensory play that their five senses are awakened, and they learn to discover the world around them.

"Active play is integral and essential in the holistic development of children... As a brand, this is something we would like to keep reminding parents of. With the information and products we offer, parents can let their children turn playtime to a time of learning while they #playforreal," says Trina Tanlapco, Johnson's Associate Marketing Director.

Did you know that the brain grows up to 90% of its adult size from birth up to five years old? This is why Fiona Sandoval, a licensed clinical psychologist and play therapist, insists on the importance of stimulation for all five senses, especially in activities like active play where the neurons and brain connections are formed better. "Children develop fine motor, language and cognitive skills through sensory play," she adds.

Ever since that day at the park, RL has been more into sensory active play. When I think about it, he is only hesitant with active play mainly because we don't encourage it, protecting him from getting hurt or dirty. Oops! But he enjoys it every chance he gets.

Because it is the digital age, and like I said, even schools encourage gadget-use, the key to letting kids enjoy both is setting a balance. Today, RL is only allowed an hour of gadget play, and only on weekends. After which, he is encouraged to get his hands busy with other toys and activities - yes, even getting wet and muddy!

Playing with the sand at the beach.

Puzzles challenge him. He has been putting together 100-pc puzzles since he was two!

Building Lego sets is his favorite activity.

Building with big blocks!

Playing with water and learning how to wash his playhouse at the same time! Hehehe.

During the event, I was telling Didi and Cai how last summer, my kids convinced me to get them water balloons. We filled two buckets with balloons and played catch outside in our little courtyard. By the time we were done, I was spent! I remember vowing to myself to never buy water balloons again. I didn't realize I was doing so at my kids' expense. Children need real play. My little boy needs to be out there more.

I am making a commitment to allow my child to #playforreal more. Even the simplest activities can be more enjoyable and meaningful than the gadget - especially when we do those activities together.

How about you? When was the last time you allowed your child to #playforreal?

Johnson's | The #playforreal transformation
Kids learn from gadgets. But watch what happens when they #playforreal.
Posted by JOHNSON'S baby on Thursday, April 16, 2015

| facebook.com/JohnsonsBabyPhilippines