Basta Igat, Sikat! by MyMaria: challenge

Jergens Chronicles: 7-day Challenge Accepted! (Updated Daily!)

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You guys probably know by now that I love a good challenge. I do believe that the moment you stop accepting challenges, is the moment you stop moving forward. And in this life, there's only one way to go. That's right. I intend to really live my life because after 3 decades on this planet, it truly is what you make it. Challenges are the ones that make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes it meaningful.

Challenge accepted! This is gonna be exciting, you guys. I can feel it. So please follow me as I embark on this 7-day journey to being beautiful inside and out!

#LEZDOTHIS!

Hmm... What could be inside this kit?

MISSION #1: SHARE WITH A STRANGER - Accomplished!

If there's anything that guarantees to brighten up someone's day, it's a gift. I may be speaking for myself but I am sure that you guys completely agree. What more if it's an unexpected present? What more if it comes from a stranger? Oh, we're about to find out!

So there I am standing in line getting an errand done to pay our electric bills.

Now I'm proud to say I'm an ideal customer (most of the time!) because truth be told I've been on the other side of that window. I know what it's like working in the customer service industry. Having been trained, I think I can tell when someone is putting up a face because they're having to deal with a load of crap. At the end of the day, it can get pretty tiresome just sitting there, processing things, dealing with complaints, etc. One could really use something that brings a smile.

And because I am on a mission, I chatted up this lady named Myrje. I have no idea who she is except that she's doing a terrific job entertaining my concerns. I also had to ask how her name is spelled! But maybe it's her friendly disposition that made me at ease talking to a stranger. (You know, it's been instilled in my head that I'm not supposed to talk to strangers since I was a kid so this feat was a bit challenging as I'm usually deemed as a snob for not initiating conversations.) Or it could be the blast of cool air conditioning temperature hitting my face from that small window that made me want to linger there.

Seeing that her work starts at 8:15 AM and ends at 5:00 PM, well, I can only imagine how cold it gets inside that office. I can feel my skin tighten and dry up thinking of the 18-degree temperature. Back in my call center days (and nights!), sometimes I'd break out in mild urticaria due to the cold and if I didn't, my skin would completely lose its moisture by the end of an 8-hour work shift. So I gave this hardworking lady a tube of Jergens Ultra Healing lotion. She was surprised and thankful for the gift.

She was so happy that she came out of her office cubicle for a photo op! She could surely use this product to help reveal a deeply luminous, visibly healthier skin. I've also been using this product and I can attest to its illuminating HYDRALUCENCE blend. Jergens Ultra Healing lotion is enriched with vitamin C, E, and B5 and the product penetrates through 5 layers of the skin's surface to repair and deeply nourish extra dry skin. So, yes! This really is one for the books. A precious moment is preserved and my first mission to radiate beauty from within is accomplished!

MISSION #2 - LEFT vs RIGHT - Accomplished!

The entire line of Jergen's lotions have been improved and my favorite has got to be the Original Beauty Lotion. This is the one with cherry almond extract. The scent alone sends me back decades ago when I was just a kid. Honestly, Jergen's has been around in my family for generations.

However, now they made it even better! Not only does it moisturizes and softens, it also has that illuminating HYDRALUCENCE blend which means that you can reveal that deeply luminous and visibly softer skin, too. Take a look at the photos below of my left arm versus the right arm.

Please don't mind my Angelina Jolie hands. ^_^

The photos don't give it justice so I guess you'll have to try it for yourself to really see the difference. It's just awesome, I tell you. My skin looks so healthy that it seems to glow! You'd think that being a moisturizing lotion it'd feel sticky and heavy on the skin, but oh no, it's super light and gets absorbed pretty quickly! And the scent, oh my gosh, you don't have to put perfume or cologne on anymore. You gotta love it!

MISSION #3 : KEEP HYDRATED - Accomplished!

This mission was a piece of cake. Why? Because you see those 4 liters of water pitchers up there? That's how much water I drink every day. 4 liters!!! I always exceed the recommended 8-12 glasses of water per day. How so? Because I am a believer in water therapy as a form of detox. Plus it's pretty hot and humid around here so there's that.

Let me show you my water therapy routine on a normal day at home. Let's use my Jergens 12 oz water tumbler. How do I drink thee? Let me count the ways...

Early morning

As soon as I'm up or after I shower, I drink about 2 glasses of water or 12 oz will do. Take note, this is on an empty stomach. I don't quite remember when I started doing this but I'm guessing it was a long time ago when I used to go out at night at lot and I always wake up dehydrated and needing to increase fluid intake. It has become more of a habit really.

Morning

Then of course, after I grab some breakfast I drink water + juice or coffee if I need something more to perk me up. Then it's time to check emails, blogs, social networks, work-related stuff, and just surf around cyberspace. Of course, I'd have to have water while doing all that.

Noon time

This goes on through lunch time and after that when my son and I do some activities and eventually get him to nap before I get to work or go out to run some errands. By then, I'd have consumed around 2 liters of water already.

Afternoon

Then it's merienda time! And the water therapy continues...

Early Evening

By early evening, I'd be immersed and getting swamped with work. So I'll only be needing some water, maybe 500 mL or so, until we have dinner around 7:30 or 8 in the evening.

Evening

I continue with work, checking inventories and all that boring financial math stuff that makes my nose bleed, throughout the night and drinking water as the moon waxes and wanes. Depending on how much workload I have that day, I go back on the computer and I get things done around midnight (but lately I'm pushing it until 3 AM!). By then I'd have already completed our bedtime routine with my son such as reading stories and roughhousing.

Midnight
Thanks @mrnoodleboy for taking our pictures. ^_^

I drink water before I hit the sack and normally have some by the bed as we sleep. So, TBH, that's more or less 4 liters of water in a day that I consume. I firmly believe that increasing water intake helps me clear out my skin, too, which is why I do it because I have such problematic and troubled skin.

Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled. Drinking plenty of water regularly keeps your skin refreshed and hydrated. You can also help lock moisture into your skin by using your favorite Jergens variant twice a day to reveal your most beautiful skin yet.

MISSION 4 - MAKE SOMEONE SMILE - Winner to be announced on 11/27/2014!

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:05pm PST

Christmas is right around the corner and what better way to jumpstart the gift-giving season than with this awesome giveaway sponsored by Jergens. Seriously, who wouldn't love a Jergens gift pack!? You know the drill, guys. Join via Raffelcopter below. Wait for it to load then login with your Facebook account and follow instructions. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: Winner will be contacted via email, FB or twitter. Be sure to follow me on social media so I can contact you easier! The prize will be shipped by Jergens.

Someone once said that a smile is a woman's best accessory. That's true - and so is her skin. Apply your favorite Jergens variant twice a day to reveal your most beautiful skin yet.

MISSION #5 : Healthy Habits - Accomplished!

Ever since I became health-conscious for obvious reasons post pregnancy, I've discovered the joy of eating non-meat (i.e., fruits, veggies, etc.) and can absolutely say my body has been benefiting from all the nutrition. One of my favorites that I've just started to eat only after I got married was tofu. The only time I ate ever it before was when it's my miso soup, but since then I've discovered a lot of other recipes that let me enjoy tofu in lots of different ways. One of those is this wonderful Chinese-style no-fuss egg drop soup with tofu and tomatoes.

What's cookin' good lookin'?! 🍲 Now updating blog for mission 5 of my @jergensph_vibelle 7-day challenge! 👍 Sharing this easy #recipe to moisturize skin and for body detox as well as to get cooled off from this crazy scorching heat! ☀️ Happy Sunday to all! #bastaigatsikat #lacocinamaria #summer #food #instafood #chinese #dish #soup #tofu #soy #healthy #diet #eat #yummy #delicious #nomnom #lunch

A photo posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Nov 11, 2014 at 9:13pm PST

The ingredients are very easy to find and it takes roughly 10-15 minutes to make it! You reap the benefits of tofu including getting your skin moisturized, detoxify your body, and of course, feel refreshed as the soup reduces body heat. Ain't it awesome? Here's what you need.

•    200 grams fresh tofu, sliced into cubes
•    2 medium-sized tomatoes, cut into wedges with seeds removed
•    Ginger slices
•    2 eggs, whisked
•    Salt
•    2 cups of water
•    1/2 tablespoon olive oil
•    Sesame oil
•    Chopped spring onions (for garnish)

Press PLAY ▶️! Easy peasy! 🍲 For a light soup that detoxifies and cools down the body in addition to moisturizing the skin, check out how to make it at my blog! Read up on my @jergensph_vibelle chronicles (a 7-day challenge) as I completed Mission 5! 👍👍 Visit http://bit.ly/jergensXmymaria 👈 #bastaigatsikat #instafood #food #yum #soup #recipe #kitchen #lacocinamaria #delicious #healthy #tofu

A video posted by ✨✨✨✨MyMaria✨✨✨✨ (@bastaigat_sikat) on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:05am PST

Directions:
1.    Heat up olive oil in a pot/wok then add half of the tomato wedges in to stir fry.
2.    Add water and ginger slices.
3.   Bring to a boil.
4.    Add tofu cubes plus the other half of the tomato wedges.
5.    After it boils once more, pour the egg and stir slowly.
6.   Add salt and/or pepper to taste.
7.    Transfer to a bowl and add some drops of sesame oil and garnish with chopped spring onions.

Egg Drop Soup with Tofu & Tomatoes

Easy peasy! Here's to good health!

Jergens Moisturizers work hand in hand with a healthy diet and exercise in keeping your skin stunningly beautiful. Apply your favorite Jergens variant twice a day to reveal your most beautiful skin yet.

MISSION #6 : Nurture Relationships - Accomplished!

Meet Mary Anne. She's our secretary/disbursement officer/part-time cook. Also she's like a sister to me since we basically grew up together and her mother has been my nanny/our household cook for 31 years (and counting!).

Mary Anne is married and is actually pregnant right now and would be a first-time mom. She will soon be on maternity leave when she gives birth and before her doctor will restrict her from eating any more sweets, I figured we take some time off work to go out and treat that sweet tooth.

Even though she's 8 years younger than me, I'm pretty sure she's going to be a terrific mom. I just know it. You know, she also helps me take care of NoodleLito when I have my hands full. Earlier today, I also helped her buy an Avent Newborn Starter Kit and gave her a few advices, not that I claim to be an expert at kids.

It's always nice to connect with people. Sometimes work and time get in the way and sometimes we even take people for granted. It's good to pause for a little while, be happy for the moment, and just enjoy the company of the people who really matter and make your life special.

Mary Anne is also the person who lends a helping hand every time I change hair colors and takes photos for me, too. ^_^

Jergens Tip: As you nurture relationships, nourish your skin as well for a beauty that radiates inside and out!

MISSION #7 : The Finish Line - Accomplished!

A full week has passed and I've finally completed my 7-day challenge. So for today I give you a BEFORE & AFTER photo. The picture on the left was taken a month ago (10/24/2014) and the right one just today (11/25/2014). You know, I actually lost 6 lbs in a month, so yay! Can you spot the difference?

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I'm sorry I don't have a clearer photo of a full body shot because I'm not a big fan of #OOTDs that's why I don't really have a lot of those. Anyway, it has been a wonderful week. I've learned many things about radiating beauty inside and out thanks to Jergens. Not only does my skin look visibly softer, I also feel fabulous having completed this 7-day challenge. Thank you so much for following my Jergens Chronicles.