This Christmas & All Year Round, Shop Domesticity

Last Christmas, I bought a lot of our Christmas presents from Domesticity. Throw pillows, tea towels, notepads and notebooks, that were not only pretty, but practical too. Of course, while shopping for gifts, I picked up a couple of pieces for our place, 2 sets of place mats, a napkin holder, and a cutlery tray that instantly perk up my table settings year round.

The beautiful thing about Domesticity is that is more than just a company that makes lovingly handcrafted products for our homes. It is a social enterprise that was started by Mariel San Agustin in 2002, and has gone on to support all on-going programs and the beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga San Agustin Legacy Village in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Watch this video to understand the impact of supporting Mariel's advocacy whenever we buy from Domesticity:

Galing no? It just makes me want to shop Domesticity all the more! Did you spy the large storage boxes? Parang I need 10  of those. So perfect for household kalat!

Here's a closer look too at the latest designs I spotted during the last Negros Trade Fair.

I couldn't leave without picking up the glass cloche (a steal at Php500 only)...

and the bird pillow (Php700) that perfectly complemented our DwellStudio Zebra throw pillow...

...plus a tray and a baguette basket, eeep!

Seriously, it's kind of hard to walk away without getting something for myself every time.

The great thing is, I can always say, "It's for a good cause!"

Shop Domesticity online at mydomesticity.com and Like Domesticity on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyDomesticityPH  to stay in the loop on the Domesticity bazaar tour, so you can follow Mariel like a die-hard Domesticity groupie.

About Domesticity:
 

Domesticity was a small cottage size business started in April of 2002, and for the 11 years that we have been in operation, we not only grew as a company specializing in export-quality products made of Philippine pandan and other indigenous materials as well as products made of faux leather materials, but we have channeled our efforts in order to be the main support to all on-going programs and the beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga San Agustin Legacy Village in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. As of today, the company employs 20 beneficiaries of the Gawad Kalinga Village.

Human Nature Baby & Kids + Plush & Play

Plush & Play's Anne Kamatis and Maria Mangga with my Human Nature goodies

A few weeks ago, my friend Anna Meloto-Wilk of Human Nature invited the SoMoms over for brunch at Mom & Tina's Libis to share with us the relaunch and new look of Human Nature’s Natural Baby Care Line, introduce their fun new products for kids and of course, pick our brains for product development. Because moms really, are like the best resource people, I swear.

First up, the new look of the Natural Baby Care Line:

 Human Nature’s Complete 3-Step Baby Care Line includes Step 1: Natural Baby Wash, Step 2: Natural Baby Lotion and Step 3: Baby Wonder Oil 

They've done away with the old blue & white packaging for a look that is decidedly greener also aesthetically. The inside is of course, honest to goodness green & natural.

Natural Baby Wash 99.3% Natural (P 289.75 for 500ml; P 129.75 for 200ml; P 44.75 for 50ml) is free from harmful chemicals such as SLS and SLES, and is perfectly safe to use on baby’s delicate skin. Touches of lavender, rosemary, and chamomile help calm and relax your baby from top to toe.

Natural Baby Lotion 100% Natural (P 129.75 for 200ml; P 44.75 for 50ml) is perfect for nourishing and moisturizing baby’s skin, which is ten times more sensitive than ours. This 100% Natural Baby Lotion is made with a medley of sunflower oil, avocado oil and aloe vera. Completely free from harmful chemicals like silicone and parabens, it contains natural glycerin that gently seals in moisture for healthy skin that’s baby-soft and supple.

Natural Baby Wonder Oil 100% Natural (P 129.75 for 100ml) Made with premium-grade sunflower oil, it’s gentle and safe to use for infant massage, a crucial step for baby’s development as it stimulates brain nerves. It also lowers the baby’s stress level for a stronger immune system. 

The Natural Baby Wonder Oil is ideal for infant massage, helps prevent and soothe diaper rash, helps protect against skin infections, helps heal little bumps, boo-boos and insect bites and is a gentle cleanser for the ears and belly button.

Second,  bath time becomes fun with these fruity shampoos and chocolate-y soap!

Human Nature’s Kids Natural Shampoo & Body Wash comes in Ocean Apple for Girls and Tangerine Thunder for Boys. It is 96.4% Natural and 100% free from harmful chemicals, retailing for as low as P44.75 for a 50ml bottle.

Human Nature Kids Natural Kids Bath Soap is unlike any ordinary soap out there, with its yummy Chocolate scent. 100% Natural and 100% free from harmful chemicals, you also get to save yourself from bath time struggles with just P69.75.

Human Nature is the Philippines’ largest brand of genuinely natural personal care, cosmetics and home care products. Operating as a social enterprise, it is driven by the core philosophies of being PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR and PRO-ENVIRONMENT. Founded by Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille Meloto, daughters of Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto, Human Nature’s products are 100% made in the Philippines and 100% free from harmful chemicals.

To learn more about Human Nature products and advocacy or to learn how to be a dealer, visit www.humanheartnature.com or your nearest Human Nature Branch, or call (02) 224-2224. 

Get Human Nature online at www.humanheartnature.com/buy and at Rustan’s Supermarket, Shopwise, Beauty Bar, select Robinson’s Supermarkets, Landmark Department Stores and Sesou Nature Source for a select line of Human Nature products. 

But wait! There's more! Let me introduce to you Plush & Play's Enchanted Farm barkada:

Each character is wittily named. Apart from Anne Kamatis, there's Buko Martin and Manny Pakwan

Plush & Play is a homegrown Filipino brand that offers fun, educational and safe plush toys for infants, toddlers & children that are made from a soft & hypoallergenic fabric called Velboa.

Its founder, Fabien Courteille is a twenty-four year-old French social entrepreneur, who arrived in the Philippines in 2011 to do a 3-month internship with Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm. His short stint at the Farm gave him the opportunity to get to know and fall in love with the Philippines and its people.

After Fabien learned that majority of the toys in the Philippines came from China and that most of them contain toxic substances or parts (such as plastic) that pose health hazards to children, and seeing how women staying in the GK Enchanted Farm were skilled sewers but were not employed anywhere, he put two and two together, resulting in Plush & Play.

With fruit & vegetable characters wittily named Anne Kamatis, Buko Martin and such, each character tells a story that kids will enjoy and learn from, and allows children’s imagination to roam freely.

To learn more about Plush & Play, visit www.facebook.com/PlushAndPlay.

The Human Nature Flagship Store in Q.C.

A few weeks ago, my best friend Nina asked me to come with her to the opening of the Human Nature flagship store on Commonwealth Avenue, in Quezon City. She said her friend Anna Meloto-Wilks started the company which makes really great natural products. She actually did a special interest report on Human Nature for TV sometime ago, and had the products tested by chemists. And true to Human Nature's claims, the products Nina swears, are safe and truly natural. Now, I have actually heard of Human Nature prior to Nina's raves, so it did not take me a lot of convincing to drop by with her.

When we finally arrived at this really pretty and well-lit store, Nina introduced me to Anna, who like us, is pregnant and expecting a Dragon Baby! And, as Manila is truly small, it turns out, my sister Trina is friends with Anna too - they used to surf together a few years back, when they were all still young and carefree! And now, Anna has this amazing and truly world-class store to speak for!

Here's Anna & Nina against a wall of social enterprise products. Anna shares that apart from Human Nature products, they also carry items championed by social entrepreneurs who have endeavored to provide livelihood to impoverished communities and at the same time create value out of random raw materials while celebrating Filipino creativity.  Will tell you more about these soon, but first let me talk about Human Nature, hehe.

Anna gave us a tour of their store, which she shares was designed by two very young Filipina architects, Mau Adraneda and Joyce Angara. She says everything in the store is sourced in the Philippines, and all are made from sustainable materials. See those chairs above? Those are actually made from corrugated boxes! Clever no? They wanted a store that was truly Filipino, without falling into that ethnic, rustic cliche. And I think they really did an amazing job!

Anna says that they really want the place to be more than just a store, but also a destination. Where the whole family can hang out. There's shopping for the ladies, a reading nook for the kids, and unlimited (yes bottomless barako, mountain blends and Sulu) coffee (and free wifi too I think!) for the dads or those who just want an alternative to hanging out in overpriced coffee shops (although mahiya naman kayo and buy something from Human Nature as well hehehe).

And now, a quick run through of some of the products that caught my eye:

Apparently, the sunflower oil is a great makeup remover, and can be used for belly rubs to prevent stretch marks as well!

Love the packaging of these kids natural shampoos! Makes bath time so much fun! Human Nature also has a natural makeup line composed of powders, blushes, glosses and lipsticks. Camille, Anna's younger sister who is into cosmetics, took the lead in developing the line, experimenting with colors. What a fun (and meaningful!) job right?

Like I said earlier, apart from Human Nature personal care products and makeup, there are great finds in store like food, drinks, household and fashion items, which also make great gifts, giveaways and pasalubong for visiting relatives or friends from abroad:

Enchantea: healthy iced tea from GK Enchanted Farm

Golden Eggs: salted eggs, a Filipino favorite, without the toxic food color

Café de Sug: Gawad Kalinga’s famous coffee from Sulu - only for the brave!

- FilBambu: all food containing bamboo, winners in the Shanghai Expo

- Theo & Philo Chocolates: the only 100% bean to bar Filipino artisan chocolate

- Jacinto & Lirio: luxury bags made from leather and water Hyacinth

- Red Carpet, Blue Bamboo, Salabatea and more!

What made the launch of Human Nature's flagship store extra fun was the yummy, healthy food! Tito Tony told us with beaming pride that all the food served came from the GK Enchanted Farm and/or developed by young social entrepreneurs. 

A volunteer from France, serving organic lettuce from the Enchanted Farm stuffed with Golden Eggs & tomatoes

We had the yummiest fromage de chevre/ goat cheese with nuts spread over crackers aka as Gourmet Keso from GK Enchanted Farm. This was developed by Xilca Alvarez, who I remember was Trina's classmate during their grade school days. Nina and I ate a lot, never mind if it's pasteurized or not. These were just too good! Hahaha!

So, if you are ever in the Quezon City area, or even if you are way on the other side of town, I really think it is worth your time to schedule a visit to Human Nature's concept store. Not only do you get to stock up on various natural products, you also get to do your share in supporting the livelihood of the GK communities where all these products come from.

Human Nature is the Philippines’ largest brand of genuinely natural personal care and cosmetics products. As a social enterprise, it lives by being PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR and PRO-ENVIRONMENT. Founded by Anna Meloto-Wilk and Camille Meloto, daughters of GK founder Tony Meloto, Human Nature’s products are 100% made in the Philippines and 100% free from harmful chemicals.

The Human Nature flagship store is located at 460 Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City (past the Caltex station and across Puregold).

To learn more about Human Nature products and advocacy or to learn how to be a dealer, visit www.humanheartnature.com or your nearest Human Nature Branch, or call (02) 931-5787. You may also visit Rustans, Shopwise and Beauty Bar for a select line of Human Nature products.