Care – Page 8 – Jellybeans in the City

dōTERRA® Opens Corporate Office and Celebrates Grand Opening in The Philippines

dōTERRA®, the world leader in essential oils, is celebrating its global expansion with the grand opening of a new corporate office and locally registered product in the Philippines. The office provides a convenient location where thousands of local Wellness Advocates, together with a growing customer base, can come to learn about and purchase dōTERRA’s pure, potent, and sustainable essential oils.

“This is a great day for dōTERRA and the growing number of dōTERRA Wellness Advocates and customers whose demand for our products were critical in our expansion into the Philippines,” said Greg Cook, Founding Executive. “We are excited about the potential of our Southeast Asia business, and the opportunity to share our pure essential oils with more consumers and increase awareness of our sustainable sourcing with another global community. Our presence in the Philippines further solidifies our position as the largest essential oil company in the world.”

“Opening an office and building a support team in the Philippines is a small, yet significant way for us to support our Filipino Wellness Advocates and customers, and demonstrate our commitment to building a successful business in the region,” said Johnathan Kunz, dōTERRA Vice President of Asia Pacific Markets. “Serving the thousands of loyal dōTERRA customers just got easier, and we appreciate everyone that has had a hand in making this office possible.”

dōTERRA previously announced that Micheal Carson will serve as General Manager for the Philippines. Carson is an experienced industry leader who also helped open China for dōTERRA in 2014.

About dōTERRA®

dōTERRA® is an integrative health and wellness company and the world leader in the Global Aromatherapy and Essential Oils market. dōTERRA sources, tests, manufactures and distributes CPTG® essential oils and essential oil products to over eight million dōTERRA Wellness Advocates and customers. Through industry leading responsible sourcing practices, dōTERRA maintains the highest levels of quality, purity and sustainability in partnership with local growers around the world through Cō-Impact Sourcing. The dōTERRA Healing Hands™ offers resources and tools to global sourcing communities and charitable organizations for self-reliance, healthcare, education, sanitation, and the fight against human trafficking. Through the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils, dōTERRA is changing the world one drop, one person, one community at a time.

To learn more, visit its website.

Women empowerment with INEX Active

A new line of workout gear, INEX ACTIVE, was launched last October 23, 2019 at the Mindful Movement Asia Pilates Studio in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig through an invigorating Pilates session headed by Mindful Movement Asia Pilates Studio General Manager Ken Colubio and Pilates coach Regina Del Rosario with INEX ACTIVE Founder and daughter of Senator Pia Cayetano, Maxine Sebastian and Managing Partner Juancho Palacios.

“INEX is short for inexorable which means unstoppable and relentless as we want the name itself to be empowering. We wanted the logo to mean something, so we chose the wolf and the moon. The wolf symbolizes personal power and all that is INEXorable in every one of us; the moon is a symbol of female strength. They say when the moon is full, women are in their highest point energetically. So, we’re hoping that by wearing INEX, women will be able to bring that feeling with them,” – according to Maxine Sebastian.

The event was also graced by notable personalities like Sen. Pia Cayetano, beauty queen-turned image consultant Abbygale Arenas-De Leon, Ms. Earth 2015 Angela Ong, model TV-host Kelly Misa to name a few; and they had the privilege to try and enjoy the newest INEX activewear styles.

The seamless structure of INEX ACTIVE sportswear is mainly made up of nylon which is soft as silk. It is also breathable, durable and odor-inhibiting in which it wicks sweat from your skin to fabric’s surface where it can evaporate. They are available in the sweetest pastels to the most energizing neons.

INEX ACTIVE is passionate about finding fresh ways for women to express themselves through their activewear and ultimately sharing the joy of an active lifestyle. They are big believers in self-acceptance and self-expression. This is why they aim to provide a variety of styles that complement every body type and to encourage women expressing themselves and embrace what makes them unique.

Another core values INEX ACTIVE want to share to their customers is “It’s Cool 2 Care”. They are committed to slowly but surely shifting to a more sustainable business model starting with their packaging options in which their customer can choose between their reusable pouches and their 100% compostable packaging.

INEX activewear is available online at inexactive.com. You can also follow them on their Instagram and facebook account at @inexactive to keep up to date!

About One of A Kind

One of A Kind Marketing is the Southeast Asia’s leading Marketing arm of International Brands catering to Asia. The Company is primarily involved in Brand Marketing, brand building, PR, Events, Ambassadors Athletes Management and Brand Activations, and content creation, as well as in the production of International Event Licensing. Creating the next big brand in the Philippines and Asia.

The brands that they manage and build in the Philippines is Under Armour for the past 5 years, they also cater brands such as Unilab , Chevron, Balesin, Newton, Active Health , Tobys Sports, Lucerne Brands And even stage events like Trifactor Asia as SEA Games Qualifier.

One of a Kind Marketing produces a wide variety of engaging world-class events and programs in multiple sports fields such as Triathlon, Beach Volleyball, Running basketball and all active lifestyle and fitness related activities. The company is also one of the houses of multiple star athletes with different advocacies but w one goal of uplifting athletes’ sports development and strengthening support to our national sports tourism.

One of A Kind Marketing also provides platform and programming for athletes and coaches. Marking them as the top of mind partner for sports events. The Company also owns Trifactor Philippines and into content and event production. It brings its content to worldwide audiences via online and affiliate partner brands internationally. In addition, One of A Kind Marketing has business interests in merchandising and licensing, multimedia services, video production, talent identification, business consultancy all of which complement and enhance the Company’s strength in content production and distribution.

Product details and images provided in a recent press release.

Sisig Society launches Sisig-flavored Lip Balm

Just when I thought that there are no more new ideas when it comes to beauty and self-care, I received a package from Sisig Society containing a sisig-flavored lip balm.

Say whuuut?!?

Yes, a sisig-flavored lip balm.

While conventional wisdom in lip products veer towards combinations of floral or fruity scents and flavors, someone at Sisig Society probably said, “Hey, why not make a lip balm flavor that people actually eat?”

And, well, here you go.

Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it, though.

The product comes in two signature flavors: Classic Pork and Spicy Chicken. Both flavors are specially formulated to meet beauty standards while satisfying sisig cravings.

Each swipe of these lip balms across your kissers contains a taste of either chicken or pork meat, caramelized onions, chicharon and Sisig Society’s very own secret sauce.

And it does a great job of moisturizing lips, too!

Here’s a wild idea: give your Significant Other a kiss while wearing this lip balm and see if the poor creature can figure out how the yummy taste of sisig came to be on your lips. Oh, and props to you if you time this prank near a mealtime so you can both go to Sisig Society to satisfy the sisig craving that’s sure to pop out.

(I see what you did there, Sisig Society…) 😉

Now, where to find a Sisig Society outlet…

East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Food Gallery, Third Floor, Ali Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City

Third Floor, Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Del Monte, Quezon City

Calle Bistro, Ground Floor, Ever Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Avenue, Old Balara, Quezon City

Unit 12 The Fort Strip, 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Ground Floor, One World Square, McKinley Hill, Taguig

Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Marikina, Liwasang Kalayaan, Marikina Heights, Marikina City

Third Floor, Circuit Lane, Ayala Malls Circuit, Olympia, Makati

Ground Floor, Dela Rosa Carpark 2, Legaspi Village, Makati

Ground Floor, Fisher Mall, Navotas-Caloocan Junction, Longos, Malabon City

Gave my nails a treat at Nailaholics, SM Pasig

I seldom get manicures or pedicures: having been blessed with nails resistant to chipping or breaking while within a reasonable length, I just usually cut my nails myself every month or so. Also, I usually devote the time and money for this kind of self-care towards other pursuits (like foodie meetups, yeah!).

Surprisingly though, far from being a frivolous self-indulgence, getting nails done actually can be very beneficial to most women’s well-being.

How?

A mani-pedi session at a local nail spa or salon is a precious moment when a woman can unplug from the usual concerns of work and family life. The half-hour it takes for a nail specialist to clean, cut, shape and file a woman’s nails is time she can spend with her phone hidden away as she lounges on a comfy chair with her hands and feet up. Many girls take this as an opportunity to de-stress.

A treatment also oftentimes include a relaxing hand and foot massage that helps improve blood circulation and ease joint movement in these limbs.

Furthermore, regular nail treatments also reduces the chances of nails developing fungi and other infections, thanks to the intensive cleaning that they go through.

I recently got to treat myself to these health benefits when I got a free mani-pedi treatment at Nailaholics at SM Pasig (thanks to my good friend Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com for the GC!).

Nailaholics is a chain of nail salons that seek to provide the metro’s denizens with a place to escape to and get pampered.

Inspired by the chic and luxurious beach life along the Hamptons coast, its premises are marked by seaside inspired colors and decor. Soft mood piped-in music also contributes to the relaxing atmosphere.

After ushering me to a lounge chair, my nail technicians (NTs) Issa and Dicel set about giving me and my nails a much-deserved treat which included:

Soaking my hands and feet in warm scented water for a few seconds. This helps to moisturize and soften my nails prior to the treatment.

Shaping my nails. My nails usually grow in a rounded shape so the NTs just clipped and filed my nails following this natural shape. This actually results to stronger nail growth.

Cleaning. A cuticle cream is applied to my nails and the cuticle is gently pushed down to create an appearance of longer nails.

Hand and Foot Massage. My hands and feet were applied with lotion and given a gentle reflexology massage. Ooh, this made me want to go back the very next day!

I opted not to have my nails colored because, being a no-frills girl at heart, I didn’t want the responsibility of maintaining colored nails.

My mani-pedi treatment at Nailaholics was a welcome respite from the daily grind. Knowing that it actually contributes to my overall health, and to my confidence in presenting myself to the world, are welcome bonuses.

Now I’m thinking of treating my best gals to a nail spa day at Nailaholics for my birthday.

This Nailaholics branch is located at Unit 148 SM Center Frontera Verde C5 Ugong, Pasig City. Other branches in metro are located in the following cities:

Makati: Cash and Carry, Glorietta 3, Ayala Malls Circuit

Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk, Fishermall, Gateway Mall Cubao, Robinsons Galleria, SM Fairview, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf

Muntinlupa: Festival Mall Alabang, SM Muntinlupa

Manila: Lucky Chinatown Mall, SM Manila

Taguig: Uptown Mall BGC, Market! Market!

Pasig: Robinsons Metro East

Paranaque: SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, SM BF

Las Pinas: SM Las Pinas, SM Southmall

Pasay: SM Mall of Asia

Marikina: SM Marikina, Ayala Malls Feliz

Mandaluyong: SM Megamall

San Juan: Unimart Greenhills

For more details, visit the Nailaholics website.

Product Review: Sweet Scents from Perfume Dessert

Fresh from a happy lunch adventure at the vegetarian resto just below it, a friend and I came upon a store selling perfumes.

Most of its inventory consist of imported brands but what caught our attention were the unusually packaged scents whose display takes pride of place along one of the store’s walls.

Named Perfume Dessert, each variant is inspired by a luscious sweet confection. And you know for a known sweet tooth such as myself, that fact is enough to catch my interest.

Each 30ml crimped spray bottle which prevents leaks and scent diffusion is encased in a colorful cardboard tube, making the perfume quite handy and secure when inside one’s purse. This distinctive packaging also makes Dessert Perfume variants pretty and unusual gifts for the fashionistas who love scents.

Perfume Dessert is an eu de parfum brand that originated from London, UK. This version of perfumes has a lower concentration of fragrant essential oils than parfum, but higher than in eu de toilette. When applied, Perfume Dessert’s scent can last for four to eight hours.

I got three bottles of Perfume Dessert (I bought one while I received two as product samples). I usually choose the scent that suits my mood at the start of the day and I take it with me to the office or on my errands (which just shows how handy they are!).

I choose the Fruit Tart scent when I feel sweet and feminine. It’s great for dinners out with Hubby.

French Macaron‘s more floral scent suits me for afternoons spent outdoors with the kids.

The sweet vanilla scent of Cake Pops, on the other hand, gets me in the mood to face another busy day at the office.

At only Php250 per 30ml bottle, Dessert Perfume definitely fits the working mom’s budget.

(Methinks it would be so easy to get Hubby to buy me some more bottles, yeah? I’ll probably test this theory when my bottles are used up so wish me luck!)

Check out these sweet scents at these retail outlets:

54 Payna Street, Veterans Village, QC (Tel: +63 2 7516355 or +63 977 0855658)
2nd Floor POS1, Tomas Morato, South Triangle, QC (Tel: +63 2 7516355)

For more information on Perfume Dessert, visit its Facebook Page.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix

Have you ever found that while you possess so much stuff that you hardly have enough room for all of them, you still find yourself wanting to acquire more? Have you ever thought that getting a new outfit, accessory or gadget will make all the difference?

Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, espouses gratitude for the things you already have and letting go of those that no longer “spark joy.” Jumping off from the Japanese word tokimeku (“throb, flutter, palpitate”), Kondo advises homeowners to clean in one fell swoop: keep only what brings you joy, discard all other items, and assign a proper place for everything.

For so many of us, there may be a lot of things that hold us back from letting go items that we don’t really need. We could be holding on to them on the assumption that we might need them again in the future, we feel that our possessions are tied in to our identity or we associate them with happy memories from our past.

To help homeowners sort through their emotions, as well as their stuff, Kondo has introduced the KonMari Method. It encourages tidying up by category – beginning with clothes, then books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items – instead of location.

In her new Netflix series dropped on New Year’s Day, Kondo visits cluttered homes in the US and advises homeowners on tidying up using the Konmari Method. Among my takeaways from the episodes are:

Greet your space. Before proceeding with tidying up, Kondo takes the time to quietly “introduce” herself to the home. At the same time, she encourages the homeowners to envision their ideal home or ponder their intention for the space. For me, this exercise helps in getting me in the proper and thankful frame of mind, feeling a sense of gratitude for the home for the shelter and protection it provides for my family, and in strengthening a resolution to take better care of it.

When discarding items, thank them for their service. With each item to be sorted, Kondo advises holding them for a while and asking oneself if they “spark joy.” If they do, decide to keep them; if not, discard them. However, rather than just dumping these items in a bin, Kondo encourages homeowners to thank them for their service, for whatever joy they contributed to their lives. I find that with this action, I feel gratitude for the items I say goodbye to and hope that they provide happiness to others, rather than guilt for accumulating so much stuff.

Find a proper home for every item you keep. Ideally, the items you choose to hold on to should be kept where they can easily be seen and accessed. For instance, folded clothes should be stored vertically and miscellaneous items should be placed in clear boxes. This helps the homeowner to easily locate the items and keep track of how much stuff they already possess. In my case, since these items spark joy, seeing them and easily accessing them will only accentuate that joy.

Who would have thought that getting rid of, instead of acquiring, stuff could be a joyful activity?

So, how will you start ensuring that all things in your life spark joy?

How about spreading that joy to others? Your pre-loved clothes, footwear and accessories can be donated to Segunda Mana, while old toys can be given to the Philippine Toy Library. Old books, on the other hand, may be donated to the Reading Club 2000.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is now available for streaming on Netflix. If you’re a SKY subscriber, you can subscribe to Netflix and charge it to your SKY bill. More details can be found here.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out some home organizing solutions available on Amazon.com.

Simple Houseware Foldable Cube Storage Bin – 6 Pack

Cardboard Safari Bamboo Organizational Box Set

Utiao Plastic Storage Baskets Organizing in Classroom, Office, Home, 6 Packs(Medium)

Learn more about the KonMari Method with Marie Kondo’s books on Amazon.com.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up)

Life-Changing Magic: A Journal – Spark Joy Every Day

This post contains affiliate links.

Check out my blog posts about other Netflix shows:

Product Review: Shaleve Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been blessed with naturally straight hair but it does tend to get oily, even greasy at times. I quite surprised that despite this, my scalp tends to get flaky, especially when I feel stressed. (This is a big problem for me as I like wearing dark colors.)

I also have a problem with hairfall: after washing my hair, I would see strands clumping together at the drain.

While many commercially available hair care products do purport to address my hair concerns, I oftentimes don’t see or feel the improvements as immediately or as signifcantly as I would like.

Then I was sent a bottle each of Shaleve Ginger Anti-Alopecia Shampoo and Shaleve Ginger Physiotherapy Hair Care Conditioner to review.

My first thought was: Ginger? On my hair? Really???

I’ve known for a while that this root crop has a lot of medicinal properties but this is the first time I’ve encountered its application to hair care.

Actually, many of ginger’s qualities that make it a superfood also make it a boon to hair.

Ginger has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe scalp problems such as dandruff, dryness and itchiness. It also helps regulate hair sebum secretions, addressing my concerns with oily hair.

To use, wet hair thoroughly and apply the Shaleve Ginger Anti-Alopecia Shampoo evenly to hair, massaging the scalp for two to three minutes until a slight foam is generated. (Note that this shampoo is not as bubbly or foamy as more mainstream shampoos.). Then rinse off with clear water.

Afterwards, gently massage the Shaleve Ginger Physiotherapy Hair Care Conditioner onto the scalp. Leave on for five minutes then rinse thoroughly.

Personally, I love the light and fresh feeling these products bring to my hair. They also leave a nice and subtle herby sent that stays on my hair all day.

These hair care products are imported and distributed by Berfly International Trading Corporation, a supplier of a complete range of beauty, body and bath-stuffs for discerning consumers in the metro.

The Shaleve Ginger Anti-Alopecia Shampoo retails at Php148 per 300ml bottle while the Shaleve Ginger Physiotherapy Gair Care Conditioner sells for Php174 per 300ml bottle.

Both of these products are available at Berfly’s showroom at 6th Floor LJK Building Km 21 Ortigas Avenue Extension, Brgy. San Isidro Cainta, Rizal or at the company’s online store at Facebook.

For inquries, call +63 966 1975536 or email berflyinternational@yahoo.com.

Ways for working moms to keep calm and carry on

There’s much to stress about with today’s busy urban lifestyle.

For working moms like us, juggling our multiple roles and responsibilities at home, at work, and in the community can be harrowing. Meeting expectations from superiors and colleagues at work, seeing to the needs of family members, and serving the communities we are part of do sometimes take their toll.

A chronically stressful lifestyle will have serious effects on both physical and mental health. Manifestations of stressful living range from headaches, stomach upsets and chest pains to lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping and anger or irritability.

Given all the demands on our time and attention, working moms can’t afford to be sidelined by symptoms of stress.

Some well-meaning folk would just give the advice to “keep calm and carry on.” However, that is easier said than done.

Among the ways to effectively handle stress, as advised by a Psychology Today article, are to:

Accept that stress is a part of life.
Keep problems in perspective.
Take care of physical health.
Look for a silver lining.

I discovered one such silver lining when my sister-in-law gifted me with a bottle Prosource Calming Oil.

In this handy 10ml bottle is a mixture of natural ingredients that include virgin coconut oil, ginger, lavender, eucalyptus and menthol. The bottle’s roll-on mechanism also helps in quickly applying the oil to alleviate discomforts and various effects of stress, such as:

Headaches
Neck, back and joint pains
Muscle pains
Gas pains
Dizziness and motion sickness
Colds and coughs

This calming oil is a boon to me whenever I experience driving anxiety. When I feel the headache and nausea coming when I’m behind the wheel, I rub some calming oil on my temples. The cool, soothing sensation on my skin and the fresh scent help to manage my discomfort, allowing me to successfully reach my destination.

This was also helpful when my little boy got sick; massaging it onto his back and chest helped in quieting his bouts of coughing enough for him to get a good night’s sleep.

Stress may be a part of life, but it need not be life-limiting.

Prosource Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is available in most Watsons and Mercury Drug outlets nationwide. It retails at Php120/tube.

Product Review: Belo Baby Cologne

Among the first batch of samples I got from Sample Room is a small bottle Belo Baby Cool Drizzle Cologne. Despite the unwritten rule that grown women should gravitate towards perfumes, I retain my preference for baby colognes. I guess it’s a combination of two factors: One, baby colognes are much cheaper than perfumes, a high-end cologne would, more often than not, cost less than many of the low-end perfumes. Two, colognes tend to have light fresh scents which I find a lot more palatable than the heavier and more floral scents of perfumes.

It is packaged in a handy 50ml spritzer bottle which fits in most bags and kikay kits. I like its fresh scent that lasts for a good couple of hours. It does not feel so astringent-y when sprayed on, owing to the glycerin component that helps to moisturize and chamomile-derived Bisabolol (known to have anti-irritant, anti-inglammatory and anti-microbial properties) that helps to soothe skin. Formulated without parabens, phtalates, EDTA and coloring agents, Belo Baby Cool Drizzle Cologne is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic and safe for all skin types, so it should be safe for you and your little ones to use. It also doubles as a hand sanitizer; that means we have less stuff to carry in our bags.

To use, spray a small amount on your hands and apply thoroughly as often as you like.

Belo Baby Cool Drizzle Cologne comes in 50ml (priced at Php64.75) and 100ml (priced at Php79.75) spritzer bottles. It is available at all leading supermarkets, department stores, groceries, and drugstores nationwide, and online via Zalora, Lazada and Cudsly.

To quote a wise man, Mr. Jonathan Van Ness of the hit Netflix show, Queer Eye: “It’s not vanity, it’s self-care. There’s a difference.”

Just because we are busy working moms (and even more so because of it), we need to take better care of ourselves, to feel good about ourselves, to give our kids a good example and to make sure we are at our best when we need to be.

The free sample was provided by Sample Room, an online community where you can “try before you buy” beauty and personal care products to get the ones which best match you. I just needed to pay for the shipping of the items I requested.

Why we should donate blood

I joined the Red Cross Youth org in my university during my college years. While I handled several projects for the org, I never got around to donating blood. At the time, I was afraid of the needles used, the sight of blood or the medical team sometimes had trouble locating the blood vessel in my arm optimal for blood extraction.

I started donating blood a few years ago. The employees’ union at my office had a bloodletting activity and, as a show of support and with some friendly competition among my coworkers, I joined those donating blood. It was fairly painless plus the union officers even gave me a mug and a shirt as a souvenir.

Since then, health and schedule permitting, I have tried to regularly donate blood at a nearby hospital. I even brought my husband with me once and we made the experience into a bonding activity. On my next donation this December, I plan to bring my eldest daughter so I can instill the habit in her as well.

My reason for donating blood is that it’s one of the easiest ways I can contribute to someone’s life. One pint of blood can be broken down into three components – red blood cells, plasma and platelets – thereby possibly saving up to three lives.

And don’t worry about your donation going to waste. There’s actually a lot of demand for donated blood. Yours may even reach the farthest areas in the country, and may help save lives in far-flung provinces.

Given the demands on my time and resources, I can’t contribute much to charity or volunteer at my chosen causes. Giving blood, however, simply involves a trip to the hospital and a few minutes at the blood bank, or some time away from my desk during the office’s blood donation drive.

Blood donation also affords me several health benefits:

A free mini-physical that checks my pulse and blood pressure as well as a free blood analysis that checks for the presence of infectious diseases.
Prevents hemachromatosis, a health condition brought about by too much iron in the blood. By maintaining healthy iron levels in the blood, the risk of certain cancers, liver and heart ailments are also minimized.
It helps in weight loss. Every donation burns around 650 calories, which to me is the equivalent to three hours at the treadmill.
It also stimulates production of new blood cells further contributing to the maintenance of good health.

To be eligible to donate, I needed to be the following:

In good health. You should be feeling well at the time of donation.
Between 16 to 65 years of age. If below 18, you will need your parent’s consent to be able to donate.
Weighing at least 110 pounds.
Having a normal blood pressure, between 90 and 160 mmHg (systolic), 60 and 100 mmHg (diastolic)
Able to pass the physical and health history assessments that will be conducted immediately before the donation.

After the procedure, I was given refreshments (usually a snack and a juice box which I should consume before leaving the donor area), and these reminders:

Rest and remain in the area for 15 minutes.
Increase fluid intake for the next 24 hours.
No smoking within the next 3 hours and no alcoholic beverages for the next 24 hours.
No strong pressure or heavy lifting on the donating arm for the next 24 hours to avoid bruising.
No strenuous activity or hazardous work for the next few hours.

Blood donation is a way for me to give of myself. It is my gift of life to whoever has the urgent need for it.

If you want to donate blood, check out the Red Cross website for more information.