Inspirational quote of the day

source

So true. The days I enjoy the most are when we're just at home, cuddled up on the bed with the kids, doing nothing. As they say, the best things in life are free. =)

Baby Beginnings Bazaar 2012

For all you pregnant ladies or moms looking to do some shopping this weekend, head on to Ateneo de Manila University on September 2 (Sunday), from 9am to 3pm, and catch the Baby Beginnings Bazaar. 

Brands such as: Avent, Dr. Brown, Vulli, Crayola, Human Nature, Fisher-price and a lot more will be sold at 30-50% off! 

This is a pregnancy-friendly bazaar because: 

• location is on the ground floor of the building (Room 1, Walter Hogan Conference Center, ISO Bldg., Ateneo Katipunan campus)
• clean rest rooms and parking areas are nearby, just a few steps away from the bazaar site
• the venue is fully air-conditioned
• and of course a lot of the items that you will be needing for your baby and your pregnancy will be available at really affordable (sometimes negotiable) prices! To preview some of the items that will be sold at the bazaar, please visit www.primigravida.com.ph, and view the Product Gallery.

P100 discount on any Primigravida purchase will be given to those who will post the flyer on their FB or Twitter page before August 31, 2012 with a caption: “I’m going to the Baby Beginnings Bazaar! Visit www.primigravida.com.ph for more details :)” 

To avail of the discount at the bazaar, your total Primigravida purchase must be at least P1,500. Please email link to your FB or twitter account with your name for verification of the posting. Discount will be honored at the bazaar only.

Happy shopping! =)

What I'm Watching: Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Ok, I admit it. I LOVE the krazy Kardashians! I've been watching their reality show since season 1 and I just love all the drama (real or not). I actually watch all the other spin-offs too like Kourtney & Khloe take Miami, Kourtney & Kim take New York, Khloe & Lamar, and also the wedding specials (I think I watched Kim's wedding about 10 times haha)! Yes, yes, I told you I loved them! ;p

What makes the show great for me is that despite all the conflict, arguments, and controversy, at the end of the day they seem like a really close-knit family. Even though they bicker a lot and have tons of misunderstandings, these siblings will defend each other no matter what.

I think their mom Kris Jenner is a genius for being able to successfully launch the careers of her other children and effectively making their family a household name. When you think about it, these Kardashians are famous for being, well, themselves. What they lack in talent, they make up for in looking good haha!

Now the latest season (7) is finally showing starting today, 9pm at E! (channel 57 on Skycable). I'm sure it will be filled with the all the usual craziness that only the Kardashians can provide. I definitely can't wait! =)

Happiness is in a pack of plastic balls

Miley has been dreaming of this place ever since she played here when we were in Cebu. Ever since then, I've been wanting to recreate this for her and Sabe at home.

So off I went and bought a pack of these plastic balls in SM, which they sell in the swimming pool section. A pack of 100 pcs. costs P550 for the smaller balls and P750 for the bigger balls (which I got). We placed them in the kids' old crib and it was pure joy and happiness for them! =)

The 100 pcs. don't really fill up the crib, I think I need 2-3 more packs. Hopefully, I find cheaper balls somewhere else. But the kids were jumping and rolling around like they were in an actual playground. Happiness! At least they're enjoying themselves and that's what matters. =)

JML Wet Straight Pro Titanium Flat Iron

Another item I bought during the SM Makati sale was a flat iron. I've been meaning to buy for the longest time, but I just wasn't sure which one. When I went to Watson's, one of the salesgirls asked me if I wanted to try the JML flat iron on my hair. I was a bit skeptical at first since I wasn't familiar with the brand. But I figured why not and it turned out great since I had a dinner later that evening and my hair looked fab! ;p

Anyway, she presented me with either the ceramic or titanium plate flat iron. My sister has the ceramic one, which is cheaper at P1500, and it works just fine. The titanium one however, which costs P2549.75, came with a free case (which you can buy for P250 separately) and has temperature settings. Plus, you can use the titanium one on wet/damp hair (hence the Wet Straight Pro name).

I did some research on the difference of the plates to find out which was better. I read online that titanium flat irons are preferred by professional hair stylists and hair salons due to their capacity of heating up in a flash. Titanium based plates are also scratch resistant and will last you much longer then a plain ceramic flat iron. (source)

So despite the price difference, I ended up getting the titanium flat iron. Since it was on sale as well, the price came down from P2500 to just under P2000.

I guess what really sold me to get the titanium one was the adjustable heat settings (140C to 210C). I don't want to use it at the highest setting since I freak out a little when steam comes out from my hair. I've been using it at 160C and it works great on my hair. And even though you can use the iron on wet/damp hair, I'm not planning on doing that anytime soon. I'm forever scared it will fry my hair even though it says its safe to do so. ;p

Anyway, some of the other features of this iron are the ff:
- Special ionic technology locks-in moisture, protecting and smoothing in one east step
- Anodised thermal plates heat up in seconds
- Ideal for all hair types, especially unruly hair
- 2m salon length swivel power lead

I also bought some hair sprays to prevent further damage to my hair when using the flat or curling iron. These cost P300 each also at Watson's.

Here's to more good hair days from now on! =)

10 Habits of Happy Moms

Here's a nice article I read which I think is worth sharing. It may be easier said than done, but its never a bad idea to keep these things in mind. =)

Here are 10 things happy moms do - so remember these tips in your day-to-day life!

1. Find time for yourself
Happy moms know they deserve a little time to themselves. When you know you're going to have a little room to breathe later on in the day, it's easier to take on everything that's in front of you. Our formula? Take 2 hours out for yourself every 3 days.

2. Don't make a happy baby, happier!
We all do it...you see your baby's head at what you're sure is an unnatural angle snoozing in their car seat. You just know they'll be happier if their head was straight. So you move them. And they wake up. Then they scream. Or, you see them playing happily in the sand. You just know they'll be happier if they played on the slide. So you interrupt them and move them to the slide. And they're angry. And they let you know they're REALLY angry. Here's the thing, they were happy. It can be hard to do, but if your kid's not complaining, leave them be! Happy baby = Happy Mommy.

3. Embrace the mess
So your house doesn't look like something out of a magazine. That just means it's cozy! Your children have hands coated in dirt from the playground and faces coated in spaghetti from dinner. It's not gross-it's an adorable photo op! Life is about how you look at things. Next time that pile of laundry that's been sitting on the chair for three days starts to get you down, just remember… it's probably feng shui.

4. Make time for your friends
Your family can survive without you while you make time to see friends. You are a woman with your own identity and its imperative that you and that identity go out for some margaritas once in awhile!

5. Stop blowing yourself off
While you may be the one taking care of everyone, it doesn't mean you can't also get what you want. Help your family realize your needs are as important as theirs and when mom is happy, everyone is happy, but when mom is not....

6. Get in the zone
Take 10 minutes to do absolutely nothing but rest. Take a break from your day, close your eyes, breath in slowly and deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat several times. Think about a place you love that is relaxing, spend 10 minutes there in your mind.

7. Remember your dreams and goals
Everyday we are encouraging our children to reach their full potential. But sometimes in the midst of being a parent we forget about our own dreams and goals. The best thing you can do to encourage a child is to lead by example -happy moms hold on to their dreams and goals and don't let go.

8. Be lighthearted
Don't be the uptight mom. Be silly and dance with your kids to their music or tv show tunes. Be romantic and pull your partner into a waltz. Dance in slippery socks in your kitchen while making dinner.

9. Bend the Rules
One of the best parts of making the rules is occasionally breaking them. Maybe it's taking your child out of school for half a day on their birthday, or waking them up in the middle of the night to see a sky of shooting stars. Happy moms know how to turn the mundane into fun.

10. Mind your own business
Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don't get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don't get caught up with gossip or name calling. Stop seeking the validation of others and be confident in yourself.

Gift Gate BIG Sale

Calling all Hello Kitty and Sanrio enthusiasts! The first ever Gift Gate BIG sale will be held tomorrow, August 25 at the NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig from 10am until 10pm. 

Kids and kids at heart will definitely enjoy this once in a lifetime event as Sanrio, with other characters and brands, offers them a wide variety of items such as plush toys, stationeries, bags, accessories, shoes, infant wears, jewelries, clothes, pillows and a lot more. 

Aside from cute and lovable items, they will also be offering discounts for up to 80% off! Different activities are also in store for loyal customers.

Entrance fee is P20. 2012 Sanrio Fans Club members and Banco De Oro (BDO) cardholders can get in plus one friend for FREE! 

Happy shopping! =)

Big, Little Tushies Diaper Store

Miley has sensitive skin like me, so ever since she was born, we've been very selective with the type of diaper she wears. We tried it all, from Pampers, Huggies, EQ and Mamy Poko, but she always ended up with a diaper rash.

Good thing a family friend gave us some organic diapers to try, which was also being used by her grandchild. Well, Miley was "hiyang" to the diapers so we've been using it ever since. =)

The Big, Little Tushies Diaper Store sell affordable and quality imported diapers. The organic diapers Miley started with looked like it was made out of a brown paper bag. But now, they have different, cute designs to choose from (depending on the size). What we especially love are their pull-up diapers. Don't you just find it so hard sometimes to put a diaper on a wriggling baby/toddler? Especially when you're out with them in a mall or a restaurant and you have to change them. Since pull-ups are like panties, we've actually been able to change their diapers really quickly and sometimes without having to use the public restroom (especially if there's no baby changing areas).

Here's how the packaging of the diapers look. For the price, a LARGE pull-up pack costs P277.50 (36 pcs), while a LARGE regular pack (with the adjustable tape tabs) costs P245 (36 pcs).

Their small store is located in BF Paranaque and it doesn't really look very visually appealing haha. But they also have an online store for those who live far from the area.

Big, Little Tushies Diaper Store
#53 President's Avenue
BF Homes Paranaque
425-4812 
0917-5203894
http://biglittletushies.multiply.com/

Thirty, flirty and thriving

And that's it. I've finally turned 30 last weekend! I didn't have a big, fancy party, but instead just spent it having a quiet dinner with the family. What's funny is that I love throwing big parties for other people, especially my kids, but I don't like it when the party is for me haha! ;p

the big 3-0!

I'm just so thankful that at my age, I've already been blessed with a wonderful husband plus two beautiful and healthy children. They are truly the best gifts I could have ever asked for. So hello to a  new chapter in my life and here's to hoping that my 30s will be even more fabulous than my 20s! =)

Forever 21 Sale

If there's one thing I love about August, it's the many sales happening this month! And if you're looking to do more damage to your wallet, the Forever 21 sale is still ongoing all the way until the end of August.

* Bring your Forever 21 MasterCard to enjoy special perks.

* Happening at ALL Forever 21 Branches in the Philippines: SM Megamall, Makati, Mall of Asia, Cebu and North EDSA.

SM Makati sale loot: Kids clothes

I went to the SM Makati sale last Friday with 2 things on the top of my shopping list: a full-length mirror for our sala and a sofa bed. There were many nice mirrors to choose from but the color of the frame just wasn't right (I was looking for either a gold or white one, but almost all were dark wood). I wasn't feeling the selection of sofa beds either. So did I end up buying either one? Nada. Instead, I just spent most of my time in the children's section. =)

Since it was on sale, I stocked up on basic sando/shirt sets. One thing I learned when I had kids is that you'll end up needing and using "pambahay" clothes more often than the going out clothes. When I first got pregnant, I kept buying dresses, frilly tops, leggings, skirts, etc. for Miley. It was only after she was born that I realized I was lacking basic clothes for her to wear in the house. After all, we were home most of the time and would only go out for doctor's visits or family gatherings during the first few months. Most of the outfits I bought or were given as gifts were barely or never used (so I need to have another daughter haha!). Anyway, I've been buying their "pambahay" clothes in SM ever since. I like that there's a wide selection of cute designs to choose from. Plus, they're super affordable too so you can buy a lot without breaking the bank (and you need a lot since you'll end up going through at least 2-3 changes per day).

Of course, I couldn't resist buying some cute clothes as well. The leggings for Miley and the collared shirts for Sabe were all just P150 each. Steal! And super nice quality too! =)

To be honest, I try to not buy too much outfits for the kids since they still have a lot from birthday and Christmas presents that have never been used. But when you're out shopping, its so hard to resist when you see something cute (especially if its on sale)! Before, I'd kinda feel guilty after buying so much stuff for myself. But now, whenever I go shopping for my kids, I feel like I'm shopping for myself only better, gets? haha! ;p

Enjoy the rest of the long weekend everyone!

Photo of the Day: Chocoholic

Who stole the Kisses from the plastic jar? Miley! She's the only one I know who can eat more chocolate Kisses than me, so really how can I get mad at her? I mean look at that face! ;p

DIY Silhouette Art

I came across silhouette art while browsing online for interior decorating ideas. I was amazed at how expensive they were when it looked like I could just do it on my own.

high end options (from L-R) Carter Kustera Portrait from Jonathan Adler $750, Jennifer Delonge $99, Love and Victory $78

First, I took a profile photo of each of us. It can be a little tricky making the kids sit still for a photo so I just snapped away as long as they were looking sideways. But if you can take the pic against a plain white background, that will make your life easier. =)

There are a number of ways you can do the silhouettes including using canvass or cut-outs, but I chose to make mine in photoshop hehe! I just fixed the contrast of the photo until the face was completely black, then just cropped away the background. Here's how it ended up:

If you noticed, I personalized if further by placing our names on the bottom corner. For Vins and myself, I also placed the year. For the kids, I placed their age as a remembrance since they're not going to look like this forever right? =)

Then, I printed them out on cardboard paper (or bond paper will work just fine)...

I purposely made the silhouettes black since I was going to put them in these colorful frames. Cute right? But you can choose to make your silhouettes any color you like. =)

Anyway, here's how they all look like together. Classic, inexpensive, easy to do art! Love it! ;p

SM Makati 3-day Sale: August 17-19

The SM Makati 3-day sale is happening this weekend! Remember, additional 10% off everything for SM Advantage card holders from 10am - 12nn this Friday only.

* Sale also happening at SM Bacolod, SM Cagayan De Oro, SM Fairview, and SM Pampanga 

On a related note, SM Homeworld is also on sale the whole month of August. So if you're looking for new furniture to spruce up your house, now is the time to go shopping. =)

National Bookstore's Cut-Price Sale

You can still catch the nationwide book sale happening until August 19, 2012. This is one sale I look forward to since this is the only time I completely splurge on books (especially hardbound ones)! Happy reading! =)

Dream shop: Urban Outfitters

If there's one more store I wish they'd bring over here to the Philippines, it would definitely be Urban Outfitters.

I browse their online store not for the clothes but for their home stuff. I am OBSESSED with their Apartment section, especially the rugs and bedding. Check out some of the pages from their super cute Home Catalog.

I love the prints and patterns, the colors, the design. EVERYTHING! Their products are eclectic, quirky, bold and fresh. So bohemian and free-spirited! When you put everything in a room together, you'd think it would be too much and yet it still makes sense.

So, I really hope they'd open an Urban Outfitters store here so I wouldn't have to worry about shipping costs and customs taxes if I'd want to buy something. For now, I'd just have to content myself with dreaming about these gorgeous pieces making their way into my home in the near future.

Ramen X

One of the new restaurants we've tried in Alabang Town Center is Ramen X. Most of the new restaurants are actually on the ground floor of the new wing so we were quite surprised to find this place tucked away on the upper floor with all the clothing shops (it's actually right beside Rip Curl).

They had very affordable ramen and rice bowls (prices were from P99 to P159). We actually wanted to try the Wafu Dogs but they didn't have it that time.

This is what we ended up ordering:

gyoza

shoyu ramen

minced pork rice bowl

good thing for rice eaters like me ;p

and they also have milk tea!

Overall, our meal was ok, nothing great. But I guess with the price, what can you expect. I wasn't so happy with my rice bowl, I wish I had ordered Katsudon instead. But it was filling and very affordable so it was good enough for me. =)