So your phone doesn’t run on Apple’s mobile OS or on Android but you want apps on it? Well, you no longer have to dream on with your Java, or Symbian phone because now there’s MY APPS MALL which gives you access to thousands of mobile applications and games.

This new Mall of Apps from Globe lets you search and download mobile apps – some have to be purchased but others, you can download for free. You just have to register on their site. Once registered, you not only get access thousands of apps and games, you also get P10 worth of Globe instant load (Limited to first 20,000 new users who text in successfully), a free @myappsmall.com email, and a chance to win 1 of 100 ANDROID PHONES in the weekly draw and 1 of 3 Honda Scoopy Motorcycles or a brand new Chery QQ CAR in their grand draw of the Superstar Challenge.

To know more about MY APPS MALL, checkout my blog post here.

Oral health is one of the most important components of your kid’s general health. Tooth problems can cause a lot of health predicaments – and I’m not just talking about those severe headaches and the unbearable pain a lot of people experience when they have toothaches. That being said, it is very crucial for us moms to teach our kids how to brush their teeth as soon as they can.

When should you start brushing your kid’s teeth?

There is no definite answer to this. The defining factor would be the number of teeth your kid has. Most moms start brushing their kid’s teeth when he/she already has four or six, and that’s usually when the kid is about a year old. However, it’s best to start the cleaning as soon as the first tooth shows up. You can use a clean, soft wash cloth to rub your baby’s tooth/teeth and gums.

When your kid is about nine months, you can start using soft toothbrushes but if your kid doesn’t know how to spit, avoid using toothpaste with flouride. Your kid’s baby teeth would be fine with the help of water, proper brushing, and rinsing.

When can you take your kid for his/her first visit to the dentist

The usual practice is to take your kid to see the dentist when he/she reaches the age of 1. However, some experts now suggest that you see the dentist as soon as the first tooth pops out. This is to ensure that you will be briefed with the proper steps for your kid’s dental care and oral health. The dentist will also probably discuss your kid’s expected dental development (how the kids would develop their milk and then their permanent teeth).

Teaching your kid how to brush

My eldest learned how to brush her teeth on her own when she was about 14 months old. She learned how to brush and spit by simply imitating what I do. I think actual demonstration is the best way to teach our kids how to brush their teeth. Most kids would love to brush simply because they want to imitate what their parents are doing. To add to that, most kids will develop proper oral hygiene routines if they see their parents doing the same.

For some toddlers who are not interested in brushing (such as my twins) however, they would need extra motivation. Buying them cute looking soft toothbrushes would help. Getting spin brushes can also do good. Making a game out of brushing their teeth is also a great idea. For example, you can tell a story about them being the super hero and the brush as the super tool which can help them get rid of the germs that can invade their mouth and steal their teeth if they wouldn’t brush.

During the early stages of this ‘Toothbrushing’ teaching process, your kid may not be able to clean his/her teeth properly so it would be better if you can take turns with the brushing. Such practice not only ensures proper brushing, it also promotes fun and bonding between you and your kid.

When should your kid start using toothpaste?

Usually, toddlers who do not know how to spit shouldn’t be allowed to use toothpaste with fluoride. This is because there is such a thing as toothpaste poisoning.

Most toothpastes have two ingredients – sodium fluoride and triclosan – which can be poisonous if toothpaste is swallowed in large amounts. That is why you should never let your toddler brush and use toothpaste on her own without your supervision. Toothpaste poisoning can result to stomach pain and intestinal blockage. It can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, drooling, breathing difficulty, slow heart rate, shock, tremors, and heart attack.

Sometimes, getting a loan is a temptation that is hard to resist. With all the amazing gadgets showing up, the fine houses and condo units, and all the marketing hype which puts emphasis on having a charmed life of luxury and convenience, saying NO to the credit card sales representative, or a payday or rv loans marketer can be difficult. However, before saying yes to being in debt, I suggest you first take into consideration the questions…

Does it have to be now?
Getting a loan is understandable in case of emergencies. Otherwise, you have to ask yourself – can’t the purchase wait until you have the money in your hands? House mortgages and auto loans however – can be exceptions considering that most people won’t be able to pay for a house and lot or a car in full and in cash – and if they wait further, there’s a high chance that such would only get more expensive in the next few years or decades.

Don’t you have other options?
Always ask yourself – are there less expensive options for you? If you plan on getting a loan for an expensive car, why not settle for something you can afford now – like perhaps a second-hand car? If you’re getting a loan for a diamond engagement ring, consider buying more affordable ones. If you’re getting a loan for a family holiday vacation abroad, why not just find your adventure in a local spot?

Can you handle the debt?
When I say “handle the debt” , I refer to two things – pay for the regular payments and its terms (when should you pay and how much will be your payment-installments) and manage the stress. Let’s admit it, when we have debts, we have to exert extra effort in scheduling and making payments, computing our budget, and thinking of what ifs. Having a debt is a financial burden not just because of the interest rates. It also doesn’t create a positive feeling as compared to saving little by little and then paying in cash whatever it is that you need to purchase. Then again – if you have emergency expenses like home or car repairs or hospitalization expenses, getting a loan could provide immediate relief that would save you from sleepless nights and despair.

What happens if you can’t pay it off?
There are instances when our plans fail. For example, what happens if you suddenly lose your job which used to provide more than enough for your household expenses, and payments for your mortgage and car loan? What would happen to you? What are the terms that come with the loan? Can you lengthen the payment period? Can you ask for a time-out? Would there be a need to file for bankruptcy?

More and more trends in the health and wellness industry are being brought about by the increasing number of new, developing illnesses, as well as the gradual decline of life expectancy in most parts of the globe. One of the most popular heath campaigns is on the use of water ionizers to produce alkaline water that when regularly taken, can help balance the body’s ecosystem.

So what is a water ionizer? How does it work and what are its known health benefits?

A water ionizer is a water purification system that turns tap water into ionized water. It does this in two stages – filtration stage and the ionization stage. In the filtration stage, tap water is filtered, removing the contaminants and chemicals producing mineral water in the end. In the ionization stage, the process of electrolysis is applied where the water is both positively charged making it acidic and negatively charged – resulting to alkaline water. The two types of water are separated in the ionization chamber and the alkaline water is then used for drinking.

A lot of people believe that alkaline water helps in balancing the PH levels of the body and thus, prevents illnesses brought about by having acidic body like osteoporosis, fatigue and the like. Although it has not been clinically proven, there are a lot of individuals who are drinking alkaline water regularly and who can attest to the improvement that they have observed with their health. Some of the benefits that they associate with drinking ionized water are the following:

1. Acts as an antioxidant. Alkaline water has antioxidant power, which flushes bad toxins from our body. This can improve the body’s immune system and it can help one achieve and maintain a younger looking skin. It also increases one’s vitality.
2. Improves cardiovascular health. Alkaline water can help prevent heart diseases like heart failure, heart attack, and high blood pressure. It can also improve the cholesterol level, which also helps in preventing heart ailments.
3. Aids in weight loss. It would be  easier for the body to lose some weight if it is  less acidic so drinking alkaline water can help an individual achieve their weight loss goal.
4. Prevents Cancer. Since alkaline water reduces the acidity of the body, it makes the body healthy and also prevents deadly diseases like cancer.

Health is wealth as the cliché goes so we can really conclude that investing in a water ionizer at home is a wise choice. One of the stores that sell top quality water ionizers is Alkaline Water Plus. There are many different brand of water ionizers available from Alkaline Water Plus store which vary in price, style, internal cleaning system and more, but here are a few of the brands that most consider to be the best:

Jupiter Water Ionizers

• Offers lifetime warranty
• All of their water ionizers have trouble-free, self cleaning electrode plates
• Has the best water filters compared to other brands of water ionizers.

Chanson Water Ionizers

• Offers lifetime warranty
• Compact and programmable

Tyent Water Ionizers

• Offers lifetime warranty on parts and labor
• Programmable with varying amperage
• Produces a wide range of PH and ORP

Enagic Kangen Water Ionizers

• Offers 5 year warranty
• 230 watt (not variable), 7 plate water ionizers
• Perfect for health clubs and doctor’s office because its flow rate is faster than normal

A simple change in the water that we drink can bring a lot of life-changing effects for our health. So why wait until you are sick or until you have been struck with a disease? Invest in a water ionizer now.

I recently read from Mashable.com that Amazon has sold six million Kindle Fires during the holiday season – and they have therefore exceeded the number of iPads sold during its first quarter of availability (3.2 million iPads were sold during its 1st quarter). That triggered my interest and so I browsed for more info about this successful tablet.

Apparently, the Amazon Kindle Fire is pretty much like the many 7-inch Android tablets which are available in the market. It has apps and you can browse the web, play music and videos, and more. What makes it stand out however is the fact that the Kindle has been known to be more of e-book reader, thus with the Kindle Fire, we get to access not just apps but a massive digital bookstore plus Amazon’s wide array of digital music, videos, and magazines (that’s a 19 million collection by the way).

The Amazon Kindle Fire runs on dual core processer and it comes with a 7 inch multi-touch display with in-plane switching technology and extra-wide viewing angles (1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi). Some frown over the fact that it only has 8GB of internal storage (and the OS consumes about 2GB of it) but Amazon counters the complaints with its Free Cloud Storage offer for all Amazon content. Its app market is not as vast as that of Apple but the popular apps and games are there (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora,etc.).

The Kindle Fire also boasts of fast web browsing through its cloud-accelerated browser – Amazon Silk. It also offers WiFi connectivity, the Amazon Whispersync, word document processing & webmail features, and it has a USB port. You’ll actually get more out of it if you are an Amazon Prime Member. Amazon Prime members are entitled to unlimited and instant TV show and movie streaming – and they can also borrow books for free.

Another common complain about it is that its 7-inch screen fails to deliver a pleasant reading experience when it comes to browsing magazines. There is of course a zoom feature but others feel that such is a hassle. Well for me, I actually think that the Kindle Fire would be a great buy considering that it only costs $199 – which is much lesser than its market competitors.

I still don’t when the Kindle Fire will be officially released by Amazon here in the Philippines but I know that some online stores via classified ads site are already offering it for roughly Php 10,000.