Cool beans!

The Philippines is well-known by many tourists as tropical paradise. Okay it's known for many other things, but most tourists who hail from cold countries flock to the Philippines to take advantage of the year-long tropical climate whilst getting a tan and a side of alcoholic summer drink. True it can be delightful having the sun all year-round. But for a pregnant woman like me, it is absolute torture.

Summer time in the Philippines takes place from late March until the end of May. While there are cooler regions in the country, the capital city which is called Metro Manila has its own thermal bubble. The past few weeks (or maybe even month) has been the hottest it's ever been--with temperatures reaching up to 97 deg F (36 deg C).  Ridiculous right? The only refuge and respite that we pregnant women have is either the mall, the car or the office--anywhere that's got air conditioning. But with the burgeoning baby bump causing strain on our backs and joints, it now also becomes essential to find a comfortable position: laying down, sitting down, leaning back, etc. The mall is only good for walking around or if you find a cafe that will let you lounge on their couch while you nurse the same decaffeinated blended drink for hours.

Precious 100% Organic Herbal Pillow

I found a nifty little thing that helps me cool down on hellishly-hot days like this one, without having to leave the comforts of my home. I call it "cool beans." The label and tag say Precious 100% Organic Herbal Pillows. It's got these tiny beans that have a mentholated aromatic scent, helping you relax and achieve a sense of calm. These lovely pillows (they're not soft at all like pillows you sleep on--think of Beanie Babies dolls, that's more similar to it). You can microwave it and use it as a hot compress for strained and tired muscles and joints (the baby weight can cause lower back pain and putting a little warm compress can help relax the strained back muscles). And you can pop it in the freezer for 2 hours or overnight and use it as a cold compress or to just cool you down. I've got it propped across my shoulders right now as I type!

I came across it at a Mom Expo at the Rockwell Tent a few weeks ago. It comes in small, medium and large sizes. I got the medium size and it costs about PHP650.00 (USD15.00). Not bad actually. The cold doesn't stay too long but it does work its magic. I feel more relaxed and much cooler (not in a hip sense but in terms of temperature). The pillows come in different styles and fabric designs to suit your taste. Give it a shot and tell me what you think!