Mommyluscious

Keeping Your Baby Healthy During Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:10:00 +0000

Doing what you can to help keep your baby safe pre, during and post pregnancy is important. For example, your diet and fitness regimen can have an impact on the development of your baby during pregnancy, and once the baby is born preserving the cord blood at a cord blood bank is a way to help safeguard the future health of your child. Cord blood banking can help in the treatment of a number of immune and metabolic conditions, as well as other diseases. Considering steps, such as these, can help ensure your baby gets off to a health start and stays on a health road. Let’s examine some of the most common steps for a mom-to-be to take:

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Caffeine: Caffeine is not good for a developing baby. Expert studies have indicated that caffeine in high levels can be harmful to the fetus. Some studies suggest that ingesting caffeine can lead to low birth rate and miscarriage. Since coffee is a stimulant and diuretic, physicians do not recommend it during pregnancy.

Alcohol: Drinking during pregnancy in moderation was used to be acceptable but now alcohol in any amount is considered unsafe. Alcohol is known to increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which can lead to mental retardation and birth defects.

Seafood with High Mercury: Fish contains mercury that could potentially harm a fetus if too much is consumed. Mercury contamination could harm the nervous system of the developing fetus. Pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid seafood that is high in mercury.

Foods to Consume During Pregnancy

Folic Acid: Foods that are high in folic acid are recommended during pregnancy to decrease complications with development of the spinal cord and other development issues. Without these foods, conditions like anemia may develop or the inability to absorb nutrients may occur. Leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, broccoli or okra are high in folic acid, as are bananas, lemons, or mushrooms.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A will help prevent malformations in fetuses. Carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes or yams are all high in Vitamin A.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is found in food such as strawberries, oranges, lemons and broccoli. According to studies, pregnant women need 70 mg of vitamin C a day.

Fitness

Fitness is necessary to promote the healthy development of the baby. Expecting mothers should engage in exercise on a regular basis, according to their doctor’s specifications. Every woman’s pregnancy is different and will require a different level of fitness for proper development.

Women need to remain cognizant of what they ingest in order to aid in the proper development of their baby. Expecting mothers should consult with their physicians to develop a healthy regimen to ensure that fetuses develop into healthy babies. Mothers should also consider eating healthy prior to conception for the best chances of a healthy newborn.

This article was written by Alan Cassidy, an active writer within the blogging community covering maternity and childbirth, and always advocating for infant and children’s health. Connect with him on Twitter @ACassidy22

Ensuring the Future with Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:31:00 +0000

I've long wanted to get insurance for the family and my interest has only grown since I came across Term Life Insurance (TLI Family Insurance). The US company offers cheap life insurance quotes, family insurance coverage, whole term life, and life insurance plans that are really attractive for parents like me.

Being on my third child, it naturally crosses my mind that we really need to provide for emergencies and unforseen incidents that would affect their future (cross our fingers nothing like that ever happens!). Especially since I keep running medical emergencies when I'm near my term! It sometimes terrifies me that my kids and RF would be left behind saddled with grief plus a financial burden they may not be able to deal with properly. I don't want to leave them behind totally overwhelmed, if at all!

I'm glad that TLI also provides several different options and ways on how to lower your premiums. All information are readily explained and easily understood even by people like me. I don't like being lost in terms I don't get and the company certainly avoids the intimidation that complicated jargon brings :) You are able to make an educated and informed decision about what best fits your family budget and needs!

All in all, coming across Term Life Insurance assures me that there are a myriad of possibilities out there that would secure my family's future and protect them from any financial responsibility I would leave behind (should anything happen to me, God forbid!). I would encourage everyone, especially those in the US to look into this and seriously think about what steps you want to take to ensure you and your family are taken care of, for your own peace of mind!

2011 The Year That Was: Oona and Her Dark Cartoons

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:40:00 +0000

Reposted from 14 January 2011 Oona and Her Dark Cartoons

Based on an old stat message I found: 17 August 2010 at 01:49 · View album.RemoveLaya Isabelle Garcellano Florendo is watching igor with oona. After she watched coraline. My daughter, she of macabre humor and taste.

Until recently, Oona has been quite fearless. She wasn't afraid of the dark, had no concept that monsters are scary (thanks to the cuddly Sully and funny Mike of Monsters Inc.) and found humor in Igor. She even watched Igor a couple of times and found Eva nice 'when she's not sick and her eyes don't change and she's bad' (long story short: Eva the girl frankenstein is a nice sort-of monster, got tricked into getting her evil bone activated and her eyes turned black-green-evil. But sunlight and true love win in the end and Eva is saved). She also watched the New Orleans voodoo-inspired Princess and the Frog and the creepy Coraline.

I thought she could very well handle some of the more nature Nick Toons then. She liked the funny craziness of Spongebob well enough and although Flapjack was too gross for me (reminded me of Ren and Stimpy), she liked the friendly little boy with the whale mommy.

Unfortunately, one episode had our hero Flapjack running from monsters. The only way to escape is to tickle the scary things until they laugh and become hearts. Flapjack and his friend the Captain would have escaped too but there were just too many monsters. In danger of being overwhelmed and engulfed by a flood of monsters, another friend appears and helps tickle away the scary monsters, the gloomy skies and creepy landscape. Rainbows and a happy day appears. Bad thing is, the idea that bad monsters can get you had already lodged its filthy claws in Oona's mind.

The next few weeks had us trying to process it through nights she'd wake up yelling at dream monsters or crying. Once, Oona got up from bed and locked the door. She stood there pushing firmly against it, saying that now the monsters can't get in, while she was bracing herself for them to try. When I said there were no monsters around, that's when she fully awoke to tell me she dreamt of being chased. I told her to tell the monster to stop and that it was being bad because it was scaring her. I told her to send the monster to the corner or call the monster's mommy. Or me. Or her daddy. Because we have powers and monsters are afraid of us. Daddy rf also told her that she can use her powers to tell the monsters to 'shoo away, monster!' like she shoos away mosquitoes. (How's that for Daddy empowering our little girl? :D) However, it still took some time and few huge tantrums before she felt brave enough to venture alone into dark rooms and quit dreaming about chasing monsters.

Nowadays she's can differentiate reality from what a dream/nightmare is. And the worst she does is wake up grouchy to tell me she had a bad dream. I then tell her to go back to sleep so she can rest because bad dreams can be tiring and that she needs to be rested to have a good day. She always tells me she needs me to be beside her so I hug her to sleep.

Other parents may not agree with exposing kids Oona's age to cartoons like these but it's always a fine line. Like RF says, we can't shield them forever with how media is nowadays. The best we can do is always be there for them and be with them when they watch, so processing the experience and their questions are immediate. You're always on the same page too and you're able to understand where the other is coming from.

These cartoons are also serving as our common ground for allegorical/comparative material for life lessons.

Like:

1. Not all monsters are bad. They just look different but some are really good. Some are even just misunderstood. (Monsters Inc.)

2. Some monsters are bad because they're sick. They just need sunlight, to be talked properly with and friends to help them. (Igor)

3. It's not nice to be snippy/masungit. People you love and friends go away if you do. (Coraline)

4. Being industrious is good, but having a bit of fun is not bad either. You need to rest too. Too much playtime is bad too. (Princess and the Frog)

5. And my all time favorite: Love heals. (All of the above.)

Oona is a bright kid, not easily scared or intimidated. She asks a lot of questions and expects answers that would not insult her natural intelligence. She's also a little kid who's discovering the world and that monsters exist. The best we can do is help her learn that not all who look like monsters are bad and that she has her own powers over those that are truly out to get her.

If all else fails, Dad has a shotgun and Mom has a shovel. Monsters should be scared of her parents!

2011 The Year That Was: My Very Own Cheer Squad

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Reposted from 13 January 2011 Cheer Squad

It's one of those days when I feel like curling up in bed and hiding away from the world. I feel sad and broken these days. Tired. Restless, too. It has something to do with change and waiting for things to happen. I feel like I can't move yet until other things settle down and that's driving me crazy. I guess I don't play the waiting game too well.

Enter Olly, intruding on my pity party, flopping over in characteristic baby Ollyness. She surprises me with a drooly mouth-fart on my arm, mischievously grins at me and laughs when I do cos it really tickles!

Enter Oona from checking out Lola Espie downstairs, singing to herself, 'I like to moov it moov it! I like to moov it moov it! Moov it!'. Infectious vibe, really giving it all she's got! She flops beside us and tickles Olly. General laughter erupts and my heart begins healing.

You don't know if kids somehow know how you feel. It's been said that since they're pure, innocent souls, they're naturally attuned and sensitive to others' feelings. Especially of those closest to them, like their parents. Whenever you're happy, angry or sad, they sense it and respond accordingly.

Times like these, Oona tells me she loves me, out of the blue. She gives me a hug and kiss and once, when I asked her why, she cheekily told me, 'Wala lang! (Oh nothing!) I love you e!' and she kissed me again. My heart was fit to burst.

I've noticed the same sensitivity in Olly. Young as she is, she manages to show her affection with her limited, although growing repertoire of expressions. She coos, babbles, laughs smiles and yes, mouth-farts. She tumbles all over you, tries to engage you in play and generally infects you with intense sunlight.

With this duo, it's impossible to be morose for long. They manage to banish dark thoughts to the nether regions with the light of their love and inner joy. Even if this feeling rears its ugly head time and again, they have never failed to comfort me, bringing me solace and much needed sunshine.

2011 The Year That Was 2: BLAST FROM THE PAST!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:27:00 +0000

Reposting from 1 January 2011 In Retro: What The Hell Was I Thinking?!

The end of the year always brings a rash of retrospectives, introspections, reunions and resolutions. Looking back and inward is supposed to bring us closer to maturity and provide insight, and perhaps inspiration, for us to move forward.

It's not always pretty, though. Especially if you've been putting off facing your issues for a long time.

My latest epiphany was brought about by a magazine photo. Waiting for RF to finish a meeting at the office, I was hanging out with the kids at a nearby cafe. While Olly was bouncing on the couch and trying to chew the armrest (yuck!), Oona got me a magazine before running off with her toy train to chug under chairs. I almost dropped Olly when I flipped open the magazine and right there, where it matters, was the photo of someone I knew from a past life with the title of Big Cheese. (Yes, I'm being deliberately vague.) I already heard he was, but seeing it in print with his smug mug was truly something else! I was flabbergasted. He couldn't even write two cohesive paragraphs in school, how could he be involved with a magazine? What was the world coming to?!

So what, right? Right.

I consider writing to be hallowed ground and I was indignant that someone who couldn't even write a grade school composition to save his life would be occupying a place of power. Words are power, to be treated with respect and veneration. I questioned his right to be there. And yes, I was also comparing myself to him. I was the better writer by far, with intellect, grace and experience. Why was he there and not me?

On another level, seeing him reminded me of how badly I walked the wild side when I was younger. (Ooh! Hot tabloid gossip on Mommyluscious!) Who didn't, right? Like my other best friend Jonas would say, I used to run with the bulls. However, one of my biggest mistakes was running into Big Cheese when he was still Bad Boy. I had this huge fantasy that he was my friend and friends don't use friends. I thought I was the exception to his hard and fast rules about serial dating. Apparently, I was nothing special and to make matters worse, he thought nothing of shattering my illusions. Needless to say, the experience shook me to the core and I began running in the opposite direction with trust issues. I haven't faced him since then.

Until now. (In a manner of speaking.)

After the shock and indignation wore off, I found myself blurting out, 'What the hell was I thinking?!' How could I have let someone exercise so much power over me? I let my shame rule me so long that I avoided putting myself out there for fear of being too exposed, that others would see the dirt instead of the beautiful things I could do. I was afraid of being laughed at, shamed and publicly ridiculed. (And of course, I was also wondering whatever possessed me to think he was attractive. There's really no accounting for taste, is there? RF agreed and assured me that my taste had improved since then, his gorgeousness daw being testimony to that. Haha.)

Okay, so maybe I'm partly being petty, not just a little jealous, immature and small-minded about the whole thing. People change and it may only me being trapped by the past because of my fears and insecurities. He might have been changed by our run-in too, hopefully for the better, right?

So what's the point of all this rambling?

The New Year symbolically brings us another shot at so many things. Seeing that face from the past made me realize how much I've grown. I never would have seen it from this persepctive a few years ago. I would have been paralyzed by fear, as if he were looking over my shoulder, waiting to shame me. Now, I feel slightly ridiculous. It's not really just about him, but me too. My shame, my inability to forgive myself for putting myself in such a situation when I should have been wiser. My fear over what what he could say about me. My anger over my own stupidity and how I/our friendship didn't seem to matter to him. My jealousy over his success and accomplishments which I felt he does not deserve since he was a jerk and I feel like a better human being. Haha. Anyway, not so generous of me right? (Where's the moral ascendancy there, Laya?!)

Why did I let fear of him hold so much sway over me? I was young and foolish, but isn't that the folly of youth? I should let go of the fear and anger now, forgive myself and set myself free. It's about time to live the adventure instead of being roped down by jealousy. After all, this is about me and my life, not him. He may not even remember I exist so why let him exercise control over my existence, right?

Apparently, him being in my head is a bad habit to break even when I hadn't realized he was there in the first place. From being an event, he grew even bigger to being an entity and symbolic of my fear of being in the light. On that scale, I realized that people like him, or past events, become OUR excuse for hiding away. They may have hurt us then, but what we do after the incident is what truly matters. It's all up to you to get up and not be afraid. When I realized the full extent of this, when I faced all THAT and my deep shame at my contribution, I knew I had more courage than I thought I had to finally put myself out there.

I'm glad to feel more assured of myself that even if I trip up in public, so what? Will it matter in another year? The people who matter to me won't stop loving me and my real friends won't be ashamed of me. I needed to live through the wisdom that one should believe in one's own intrinsic value and that I shouldn't let anyone make me feel less the child of the universe that I truly am. That we all are. (Okay, including people who need a few more rounds on the incarnation wheel to evolve.) In short, I had to believe that I was not a pathetic, worthless piece of trash undeserving of life's good things and the association of good, decent people.

This year, I am not going to wait for the planets to line up and the stars in the sky to arrange themselves. I'll place them in order if I have to, but I will not sit in the sidelines anymore. I will make my own fortune and hitch my own wagon to my own dreams which I will shoot past the moon to land in the heavens. I will go make my beautiful things and what others say be damned cos I know my stuff is the shiznit. I will not be jealous of others because it is their journey and I have my own. I will be brave, be bold and courageous. All because I deserve as much good of this universe as anyone else.

Now, as for do I want to reach out to him? (No.) Fear again? Maybe...but better safe, in this instance, than sorry. I don't want to be disappointed again. But more importantly, it's because I learned that moving on sometimes means leaving things behind, back in the past where they belong. Moving forward with years of bad baggage can slow you down and leave little room for the better things that the universe keeps putting in your way.

Perhaps, because the world is such a small place, Big Cheese and I would bump into eachother again. I really wouldn't know what to say to him when that happens, I can only hope that he too has put it behind him and he has changed for the better. Or if the worst does happen and he attempts to put me into an undesirable situation with unacceptable references to our past association, may I have the grace, wit and humor to respond in such a lady-like manner as to level him to treating me with as much respect as I am demanding now.

Or maybe, it would already suffice to smile and deliver a velvet-clad gauntlet with the sucker-punchline, "I know, right?! What the hell was I thinking back then?!"

2011 Reposts The Year That Was 1: Daddy and Oona

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:08:00 +0000

Re-posting from 9 Feb 2011 Dad and Oona and Boys

RF has been moping that Oona was growing up.

Since we co-sleep, meaning we share one bed with the babies, RF is one end, then Oona, me and then Olly. The babies normally squash me in the center and all RF and I can do is touch feet or hold hands while I'm smothered under beddings, pillows and babies. Waking up with kinks in my back and a crick in my neck happens, but what can you do? Since Oona has been our wittle babypotpot for the longest time, RF got used to her snuggling up to him when she was a baby. Nowadays though, her concept of personal space has evolved. Now, without her say-so, she doesn't want to be hugged too much, kissed, tickled, snuggled or babied like she used to be (mostly by him since RF is more playful than I am). Every night when she's about to doze off beside me and RF comes to say goodnight, she'd get irritated and say she only wants Mommy to snuggle with. Sometimes she'd throw a last minute tantrum because Dad would just lie there beside her, looking at her to tease her and she'd be pikon: she'd yell, thrash and end up waking the baby or being scolded and general mayhem would ensue with me giving a murderous glare at a tiptoeing-away RF for leaving me with two howling babies to put to bed AGAIN. Sometimes though, after a bad dream from which she'd wake up crying, she'd ask him to hold her until she falls asleep. I would always tell him to let her fall asleep on her own since she's gotten too heavy to carry, but Daddy the Softie would always say it's okay, smile blissfully and say that it's his rare chance to baby his little girl.

So I'll let them be.

I told RF not to keep teasing her and that when she says No, she means it and that's what we're trying to teach our girls. Respect personal space, let others know boundaries and No, means no. It starts the foundation for being firm in their decision-making process and implementation in the future. One that I hope would be effective enough to thwart hormonally overactive teenage boys without resorting to penile injuries (which I will teach them to deliver when they're old enough to know when to use it). Of course Daddy teasing and being playful is different from what we're building up to with overeager boys, but you get my drift. Besides, I told RF, we know she's not the sporting sort enough (pretty much like me) so why keep pushing her buttons, right? I know where she's coming from when she gets pissed off because she takes more after me than RF when it comes to being teased. Or pretty much a lot of other things...I believe she looks like hubby but the details are all me.

Anyway, last night I came upon them talking about it before going to bed. I was pleasantly surprised when RF informed me that he and Oona were having a serious conversation about how she wanted to be held and what was good for her. She said she didn't want a hug that's too tight and that his arm shouldn't be too heavy when he hugs her. RF was asking her questions and she was seriously holding her own, offering her opinions about his different hugging suggestions like he shouldn't squash her tummy, etc.

Listening to them, I kinda felt weepy and happy at how my little family's growing. I was relieved too that the situation didn't have to reach Do-I-Have-To-Think-Of-Everything-Myself proportions. I wasn't even annoyed that the idea didn't come from me and that I was in no way involved in facilitating a "grown-up" exchange between them. I was glad I didn't have to do anything but watch my little girl, our baby, blossom into expressing herself clearly and firmly. After all, I think all she wants was to feel in control of herself and the situation, be understood and her input accepted. That, and her personal space recognized, her persona, her being respected. I realized how momentous this otherwise "small" occasion was, for her and for us as parents. RF is in effect teaching her about communicating her wants and needs in a no-nonsense way, firm in knowing that it's her right to be treated fairly and her feelings and opinions taken seriously. Self respect and valuing oneself, right here! I could only hope that she doesn't forget about this when she's older and boys become part of her awareness in the hormonal way. Of course I am fearful, but I am praying that we are able to ingrain a strong sense of who she is and how precious a human being she is, not to be trifled with or taken advantage of.

As a precaution, though, I am enrolling her and Olly in self-defense classes as soon as they're able and teach them the value of a good kneeing.

Anyway! I was so proud of them both. I really felt happy and I knew, no matter what we are yet to go through, muddling through this business of being a young, growing family, we'll be okay. :) Surprises, adventures and all.

Getting Everywhereness Anytime-ness

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by TracFone. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tracfone Means Nationwide... - Click here for funny video clips

I sometimes wonder what the world would be like when the girls grow up. Will they still have trees? Will they know what the sand feels like on the beach? Will there be flying cars and would the stars still be visible at night? I wonder if I would be able to talk to them when they’re at *that* age when talking to Mom and Dad is a suggestion they’d rather not take us up on. I wonder if I’ll have to secretly implant tracking devices or hire someone to follow them around to make sure they’re safe (if I don’t do it myself!). Paranoid much?

Senior Value

I guess I can only hope that someday, we’ll still be able to keep in touch when they’re at the beach with their friends and they won’t think it’s weird or distasteful. I'd probably be an old fogey by then, but I’d willingly shell out for fones like Tracfone especially during the summer. Right now, it costs very little to get all the kids a Tracfone so we can stay in touch.

Get into Everywhereness
Coming across TracFone, it offers the least expensive way to own and use a cell phone in America. There are no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancellation fees. No surprises! It also has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity. No excuse for being in the middle of nowhere!
Their fone choices are reliable too, brand name phones from leading manufacturers like Motorola, Kyocera, LG, Nokia and Samsung. They can choose from simple "CandyBar" phones, to Bluetooth®-enabled "Smart" phones. There are simple phones for simple needs with calling and texting capabilities for under $10.00 and great phones packed with features like camera/video recorder, web access, app capabilities, mp3 player, and full QWERTY keyboard, for $29.99.
Get into Everywhereness
I’m also pretty sure that with their monthly plans, we won’t have to break the bank. Check them out:
1. Pay-as-you-go online or with cards available at thousands of retail stores across the country.
2. 1 year service cards give you so much more. Receive double minutes for the life of your TracFone, and 800 minutes, for only $119.00
3. “Double minutes for the life of your phone” is a feature that can be purchased separately for only$19.99, but some phones include it!
4. Choose monthly plans with 200 minutes for under $30.00, and as low as $9.99 for 50 minutes.
Get into Everywhereness
They also have an incredible International Long Distance service! So far, it’s the only wireless service where you can call internationally, for the same price as any other call. You can call over 60 international destinations directly from your TracFone at no extra cost! And with the International Neighbors program, you can provide family and friends in Mexicoor Canadaa local phone number in those countries to reach you at your TracFone in the U.S.I’ve never heard of any other service that provides that!
For more information on the features these phones offer, please check out these YouTube videos:
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For more information on other things TracFone offers, check out these videos!
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I sure wish that when it’s time for the girls to march out there and conquer on their own, wherever “out there” may be, I won’t have to implant tracking devices just to know where they are and if they’re okay. I hope they’ll be able to pick up a Tracfone and tell me themselves that the stars are gorgeous, the beach is beautiful and they’re thinking it would be so cool if we were there with them too. :)

TracFone is Get Everywhereness <3

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:01:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tracfone Means Nationwide... - Click here for more blooper videos

Recently RF went out of the country and I was a little upset because my celfone service got cut. I couldn’t call or SMS him and he had a lot of trouble trying to get in touch with me. Of course there was email, but when his laptop batteries ran out, he couldn’t access his email through his current celfone service. Bleh. At least he was only gone for a short time and just incommunicado for a day.

It got me thinking about the kids of course! Fast forward to the horror of being incommunicado when they’re old enough to be out and about on their own!

Get into Everywhereness

I hope there’s still something like TracFone when the time comes! I read up on available, reliable plans because of this particular incidence and so far, I like the benefits.

Get into Everywhereness

Tracfone is a big help during the summer when the vacation mode sets in. It costs very little to get all the kids a Tracfone to stay in touch. As for the cell phone bill, TracFone offers the least expensive way to own and use a cell phone in America. There are no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancellation fees. No surprises! It also has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity. No excuses not to get in touch with Mom and Dad from the middle of nowhere :D

Senior Value

And the brand names they carry aren’t bad either! They have phones from leading manufacturers like Motorola, Kyocera, LG, Nokia and Samsung. You and the family can choose from simple "CandyBar" phones, to Bluetooth®-enabled "Smart" phones. You can get simple phones for simple needs, like calling and texting capabilities for under $10.00 or pick out other great phones packed with features like camera/video recorder, web access, app capabilities, mp3 player, and full QWERTY keyboard, for only $29.99!

Get into Everywhereness

Check out their monthly plans:

1. Pay as you go online or with cards available at thousands of retail stores across the country.

2. 1 year service cards give you so much more. Receive double minutes for the life of your TracFone, and 800 minutes, for only $119.00.

3. “Double minutes for the life of your phone” is a feature that can be purchased separately for only$19.99, but some phones include it!

4. Choose monthly plans with 200 minutes for under $30.00, and as low as $9.99 for 50 minutes.

Yes, they have International Long Distance too. This is the only wireless service where you can call internationally, for the same price as any other call. Call over 60 international destinations directly from your TracFone at no extra cost! And with the International Neighbors program, you can provide family and friends in Mexico or Canada a local phone number in those countries to reach you at your TracFone in the U.S.

For more information on the features these phones offer, please check out these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.dailymotion.com/vid…

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/…

I’m really gunning for a Tracfone for all of us. Tracking devices for each member of the family would cost much, MUCH more :P

Straight Talking Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

With domestic goddess duties, the girls growing up, and the new baby beginning to make its presence felt in my innards, it’s a wonder I haven’t sprouted six other arms yet. (I’m about to, I think.) And as usual, budgeting is driving me batty on a monthly basis.

Juggling numbers is as challenging as juggling duties so I’m always looking forward to easing the load somehow. Take cell phone bills for instance, with how much we are paying, I only use it for emergencies, texts and barely for picture messaging. I can only surf the web on my mobile if I’m on our home WiFi because using my current service’s connection would cost me both arms and two more arms I wish I had.

My original hope was to be able to use my cell to keep in touch with the outside world with quick calls to friends, mobile blogging and facebook status updates or chats. I also wanted to keep hubby happy with pictures of the girls’ daily adventures while he’s away at the office so he would feel that we haven’t forgotten about him. But no thanks to budget, those hopes remain cherished dreams.

Hook, line and sinker Just recently, I read about Straight Talk and I am SO envious of those who are already on it! I love the idea that I would feel richer with Straight Talk because I can immediately cut my cell phone bill in half. PLUS, I don’t have to be on a contract to get everything I need!

I can just imagine how much I could save switching to Straight Talk! I could put the money away for that family vacation we’ve all been wanting to have! Or go SHOPPING!

There are also no hidden costs, surprise bills and absolutely no credit checks. It features great nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity. I might even be able to call someone underwater!

Everything you need The “All You Need Plan” (I don’t just need it! I WANT!) meets the needs of heavy users (like me!) with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data. The Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, including calls, text, picture messaging, and web. But for A WHOLE YEAR, imagine going unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for only $499.00! 411 calls are included at absolutely no extra charge and it’s all free from activation, reactivation, and termination fees!

Call a friend Straight Talk also has an International Long Distance Service. It’s a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates. It makes keeping in touch a whole lot easier (and cheaper!) with friends and family who are out of the country.

Hook, line and sinker Everyone WINS on their phone selections too! Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung with amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®. Kids and teens can also have reconditioned phones that are available from $10.00. It’s all with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability.

Todo lo que necesitas How’s that for budget and maximized usage? :D I won't just have to use my cell for emergencies! I would actually be able to use it to keep my loved ones near and bring them even closer to us!

For more information on what these phones offer, please check out these YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

For some real Straight Talk customer testimonials please check out the videos below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

Straight Talking: Feel Richer By The Minute!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

Since the advent of the cell phone, I have always found it an amazing way to communicate and reach out. Especially on emergencies. When I was a teenager and cellphones were the size of a shoe, we used our friend’s bulky cell phone to call our parents when we were stranded somewhere. Calling from the middle of nowhere was more acceptable versus the consequences of not letting them know we needed rescuing. Of course, there were still consequences but being chewed out was better than hiking the dark highways in the middle of the night.

When I started working and I needed a cellphone to keep in touch with the outside world, I decided on a plan. Little did I know that all that “keeping in touch” via text and voice call minutes would kill my paycheck and bury me in debt! It coincided with my boyfriend going out of the country, so you can imagine how we racked up the bills. We tried to be meticulous about the minutes and the promo rates but somehow, little “surprises” cropped up in the billing. So after paying that off, it was go pre-paid for me (which still ate up a lot)! I ended up using my cell for texts and emergencies only.

Now, for all my readers State-side, here’s a plan I’ve just heard about called Straight Talk. It actually makes you feel richer by cutting your bill in half without sacrificing calls, texts or even surfing the net from your phone! What’s more, you don’t need a contract, there are no surprise bills and no credit checks!

Hook, line and sinker I could actually spend the money I’m saving on something else for the kids! Or me! Better yet, maybe put it into the vacation fund! Yay!

Everything you need With great nationwide coverage and incredible reception/connectivity, their monthly plans cover great deals even for the heavy phone users. The “All You Need Plan” has 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data. The Unlimited Monthly service is only $45 that includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web. Then for a whole year, you can have unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for only $499.00! 411 calls are included at no extra charge and it’s absolutely free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees!

Call a friend Straight Talk also has an International Long Distance Service that features an incredibly flexible prepaid calling service. It allows you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates. This would have been really useful when the boyfriend was out of the country! Imagine what I could have saved up for with all that we spent calling each other back and forth!

Hook, line and sinker Finally, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung. You can even choose from a wide array of smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®. And for the kids, there are great reconditioned phones available from $10.00 with a camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability.

Todo lo que necesitas Gosh! Where was this when I was stuck in the middle of nowhere?! I wish this was already available back then! If this had existed before, my cell wouldn't be for emergencies only! (Attention, ex-boyfriend-who-is-now-my-hubby! Take the hint! :D)

For some real Straight Talk customer testimonials please check out the videos below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

Blogging At A New Home

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:51:00 +0000

Please check me out at my new dotcom: Mommyluscious :D it's still me and the kids!

Spice Up The Food Trip!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 01:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family loves food. We take our food quite seriously while having fun experimenting with different flavors and cultural food traditions. Some people go out of town for sightseeing or extreme sports adventures but my family goes food tripping :) Sometimes on a lazy day or a special occasion, we'd order in, be it Chinese noodles and dimsum or special mushroom burgers and kamote fries. However, the all-time favorite would be a hot, fully-loaded, meaty pizza with four cheeses and a stuffed crust! (Or if we're trying to be health conscious, an all-vegetable pizza with all the cheeses known to man!)

Whatever it is we eat, we love to spice it up with TABASCO® Original Red. Have you had it with pizza? Eggs? Mac & Cheese? The options are endless! It's so much more than hot. Especially on pizza, meat is meatier and the cheese is so much more cheesier! My mouth waters just thinking of the juicy flavors TABASCO® Original Red unlocks and enhances so you get the best of every tasty bite.

Staying in during movie nights or a game night is much more fun with good food readily on the table. I know it's football season and the Super Bowl is right around the corner so why don't you round up friends and family for a game-watching marathon? Check out the Game-Day Party Menu and Pizza Perfected for recipes and great ideas to help make TABASCO® Original Red part of your game day traditions! (Or any day for that matter!) They have great pizza varieties, dips, finger foods, chilis and wings!

Whatever the menu and wherever it is we food-trip, on the road, the living room or a restaurant, TABASCO® Original Red makes the experience extra special. We even keep those little sachets from the pizza deliveries as our emergency stash! :) So whenever we feel it, wherever we are, we always have TABASCO® Original Red on hand :)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Original Red was the first sauce introduced by the McIlhenny family back in 1868 and continues to be their most popular sauce of 6 total sauces.

• Additional Information: TABASCO® Original Red is not about heat for heat’s sake. It’s about what heat does to the flavor of food.

• The simple combination of salt, red pepper, and vinegar are perfected in a 3-year aging process that produces a hot sauce with the uncanny ability to bring the most out of your food. Other hot sauces add their own specific flavor to food. TABASCO® Original Red simply enhances the flavor of food.

Fire Up That Pizza!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 01:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whenever there's a special occasion, the family eats out or orders in. Since we love food, it can be anything from Chinese noodles and dimsum to the classic burgers and fries. But of course, the all-time favorite would be a hot, heavenly, fully-loaded pizza with the works (meat, sausages, cheese, tomatos, peppers BUT no anchovies please!). For sure, it'll disappear in 15 minutes flat with my brothers around! My babies are still too young to demolish a slice on their own but Oona's working her way up to half a slice of a family size!

Of course, the pizza won't be complete without TABASCO® Original Red on it. I find that the sauce just brings out the flavor of the meat and cheese! Meat is meatier, cheese is cheesier and if you put it on eggs, they're even...eggy-er (Whut?! Haha!). It makes my mouth water just thinking about it now. It's really so much more than hot. TABASCO® Original Red unlocks or enhances the flavor of food so you can get the best of every bite. M Mm M M The possibilities of TABASCO® Original Red+food is positively endless!

Now that it's football season and the Super Bowl is right around the corner, why not make pizza and TABASCO® Original Red YOUR very own game day tradition? Visit Pizza Perfected for recipes and ideas to make your pizza extra special!

And why stop at football season? Game day can happen any day, for any game, be it basketball, hockey or even scrabble! It's a perfect excuse to have a family day and have a party of sorts! If the family wants more food, check out Game-Day Party Menu for ideas and recipes that I'm sure everyone's going to love! There are wings, chilis, dips and more finger foods for actually any occasion you can think of!

Of course, the most important thing to remember is for the family to eat together. That's truly what makes any meal and any tradition special!

FUN FACTS

• Original Red was the first sauce introduced by the McIlhenny family back in 1868 and continues to be their most popular sauce of 6 total sauces.

• TABASCO® Original Red is not about heat for heat’s sake. It’s about what heat does to the flavor of food.

Butt Paste, Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

I know it sounds weird but really, what else would you call diaper rash creams? :D Anyway, Oona had a lot of problems with rashes when she was still in nappies. So much so that she still remembers how irritating and sometimes painful they are. Now that she's older, she's really fastidious about her personal hygiene (wearing clean underwear, washing after using the potty, wiping dry and making sure the toilet seat is clean with sanitary sprays and wipes even in private CRs). I'm glad, not only because she's a girl, but also because I don't have to worry about things other than just rashes now that she's bigger (which could mean nastier skin problems).

I think we ran the gamut of rash creams, from ordinary zinc oxide, petroleum jellies and the more expensive ointments. What was really effective was the Boudreaux's Butt Paste my friend sent me one particularly painful time (for howling baby Oona's butt and our ears!). Specifically formulated by a pharmacist and a respected pediatrician, it has 16% Zinc Oxide to treat and help prevent diaper rashes and Peruvian Balsam to soothe irritations and promote healthy skin. It didn't dry and chafe her sensitive skin and continued protecting her sore bottom even as she wet her diaper again. And since Boudreaux's Butt Paste is pediatrician recommended, I have no worries for using the New All-Natural Formula they came up with for Olly.

Featured on shows like Oprah, The Today Show, ESPN and TLC, I was intrigued to see that they've developed other products as well, like a lip and cheek moisturizer for infants. You know how sensitive skin gets dry sometimes! They also have a shampoo and body wash!

The Butt Paste has a pleasant smell and is readily available in convenient and handy travel sizes of 1oz, 2oz, 3oz and 4oz flip top tubes, with a 16oz jar you can keep on the diaper changing table. It goes on and cleans off easily though it can stain clothes a little, so be careful!

To try it out, just click on over to their site and get your FREE SAMPLE! You can even use it for yourself! ;)

Baby Butt Paste!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:01:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

Diaper rashes have long been my nemesis. It can keep the baby up all night and diaper changes are a struggle. You can't use just any diaper rash cream because sometimes the baby ends up worse with an unknown irritant from the cream!

I know Boudreaux's Butt Paste sounds funny but it does its job really well! At first I thought it's just one of those novelty products that would be here today but eventually disappear from the shelves. However, they've been featured in a lot of shows like Oprah, Tonight, People Magazine, ESPN and While You Were Out TLC! They've even developed other products along the baby care line like a body wash and an infant lip and cheek moisturizer.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste® was specifically formulated by a pharmacist and a respected pediatrician to protect baby's skin. It has 16% Zinc Oxide to treat and prevent nasty diaper rashes and Peruvian Balsam to soothe baby's irritated bottom and promote healthy skin. With a nice scent, you won't even mind using it on your rashes and sensitive skin.

In flip top cap tubes and handy travel size, it goes on and cleans off easily (though it might stain clothes a little, so just be careful). It's available in MANY convenient sizes of 1oz, 2oz, 3oz and 4oz tubes, and a 16oz jar to stand by on baby's diaper changing table.

Check them out for your FREE SAMPLE! :)

The Reason For The Season

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

This year marks Oona's first real, "conscious" Christmas season. She's finally noticed the profusion of Christmas decorations, the big kids caroling from house to house and the stuff we're buying and wrapping for friends and family.

Shopping with two kids and my mother in tow are both a fun experience and a nightmare as Christmas Eve nears. The malls are open until 12 midnight but the sheer volume of rabid shoppers will beat you down. So it helps to have a solid game plan when you're out and about: have a list, target a store, go in and out in ten minutes. Total TOLERABLE shopping experience a day: Two hours a location. Whew!
Going to Pier 1 helped a lot. I was able to get ideas for BOTH kids and grown-ups! I picked out a couple of great bargains I've both seen in-store and on the website! So hint, hint...if anyone still doesn't have something for me, take a peek here and rest assured, anything from here would send me to the moon :D

Although, the gift that is my fast growing up Oona is enough for my little momma's heart. She really did me proud! She picked out stuff that she thinks "our" friends would like, including wrapping paper we'd use to wrap the holiday gifts. She also thought of specific family members and offered her opinion on what she thinks they'd like ("That ____ is his/her favorite. He/She will like that, Mom!"). And best of all, when it came to the toys and goodies for other children, she merely asked for whom they were for and did not appropriate them for herself! She didn't even ask if there was anything for her. She was happy that we have things to give even to the carolers and the people going door to door asking for help and some holiday cheer. She would always proudly say with a huge smile, "Mom I gave the kids biscuits! I'm sweet!"

I'm happy to say that the true meaning of Christmas is living in my baby's heart. Sharing, giving and loving! We're teaching her that giving of ourselves is also a great gift, much more than the tinsel and the boxed gifts. Help continue this holiday cheer by supporting Toys for Tots by dropping off unwrapped toys and/or making cash donations at the Pier 1 register. OR, 'Like' Pier 1 Imports on Facebook! For every new fan they get, they will donate $1 to Toys for Tots. Make a lot of children happy with a new Christmas lovey to hug on Christmas morning!

Share the reason for the season! Happy Holidays all! :)

Gift Giving Inspirations

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every year, picking out presents seem to ping-pong from extremely easy to extremely hard and never in between! What was perfect for someone one time is now a huge no-no: the child who liked dolls now rolls her eyes at Barbie and would love a make-up kit even if she's just twelve years old. *Sigh* Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, sweetie!

Stocking stuffers and gift baskets are the best solution, it's really a handy dandy kit or care package to show you care about the person's needs AND wants. It also says a lot about the thoughtfulness of the giver (ME! haha :D). I love the idea of little handy, useful things that one can just grab in the nick of time. Stuff people won't just stick in the back of their closets or recycle for next year's gifts like lip gloss, a handy mirror, a mug, coin purses, catch-alls or even those cute paper clips for receipts. Pier 1 has great bargains in-store and on the website that would make your toughest gift enigma get all googly-eyed!

As for wrapping, the container should be as useful or reusable as the holiday gifts that keep on giving :D Forget about the paper bags, the bows and boxes! Minimize your carbon imprint and help reduce pollution (Do you know how much waste material is generated after the holidays? TONS! Imagine how much gift-wrapping paper is disposed of in one single Christmas weekend!).

I like this one to hang on the mantel for myself rather than the old-fashioned Christmas stocking! Well, for the kids, the huge, happy snowman decorated socks would be fine but for adults, THIS IS IT. I'm sure Rei, my best friend, would agree! A high-heeled boot, no less. But no, you can't wear it.

Stuff this one with pens, a small notebook (I'm old-fashioned that way for for jotting down grocery lists and pediatric appointments), a small pair of earrings (to go from Frumpy to Dressy in an instant), a bracelet, eyeliner, a purse hanger and whatever else moves you to give a Mom with kids to make their life a little easier and a bit more special and Oomph-ier (Scented Bubble Bath goodies and Aromatherapy candles!).

If it all don't fit in the boot, take the boot and stuff a basket or a bag instead! Since there's more space, there's more room for goodies a Mom can be shown how much she's appreciated :D

Like this bag of Mommy treats, for instance ... Scented goodies, tea, a mug, an ornamental accessory organizers, bangles, a purse and I'm pretty sure there's a shawl, a book and other surprises in there somewhere!

Plus the bag is huge and durable enough for the tough duties Mom bags go through in the course of a day!

Whatever gift you give, no matter the monetary value, just be inspired by the person you're giving the gift to. I'd like to think that during the course of the year, from one Christmas season to the next, our family and friends are sort of "provided for" with the little thoughtful things we felt would help them through every day. Be it a practical sort of thing, or the kind that would make them feel a little better after a long day.

After all, it's always the thought behind the gift, right?

And while we're at it, let's continue the holiday cheer by liking Pier 1 Imports on Facebook! For every new fan they get, they will donate $1 to Toys for Tots. You can also go a step further and drop off an unwrapped toy at any Pier 1 outlet or make a cash donation at the register. Spreading a little love is always the best gift!

Happy holidays all! :)

Escaping With A DOVE®

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:43:00 +0000

With my two little bosses on an afternoon out
at the Sunken Garden, UP Diliman.

My little girls are growing up strong, fast and furious.

Keeping up with them has been tough and quite the challenge I never dreamed it would be. Needless to say, I run out of time and energy to take care of myself. For moms like me not to lose our sanity and to remain efficient, it's really necessary to have some me-time for a relaxing breather. Though few and far between, we learn to maximize these precious moments, be it the lull while the kids are napping or the quiet playtime when they're both preoccuppied and satisfied that I'm just within view.
My favorite time is during late afternoons while they're napping. We lie under thick blankets in bed, arms wrapped around eachother, listening to the quiet, steady hum of the AC and our soft, rythmic breathing. Oona finishes her bottle and Olly drifts off to sleep, feeding at my breast.

That small window of time stretches infinite for me with the many possibilities I'm suddenly free to indulge in. Will I read? Watch a show? Will I surf the net? Do I nap too? Or, do I indulge myself with a nice, luscious treat?

Ahhh...breaking out a bar of DOVE® Dark Chocolate or DOVE® Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut, Almond & Raisin while reading a book is my ultimate Me-Time Moment. I am in my own little world, lost in another dimension of adventure, taste and excitement, far removed from the everyday routine. One bar lasts me as long as my babies sleep and my energy reserves are replenished.

Sometimes though, they sleep longer than usual. So that leaves me free to have one more! :D

Little glorious bars of silky, smooth DOVE® chocolates are designed to last and linger. Epitomizing precious, peaceful and personal Me-Time Moments that women on-the-run so often crave, DOVE® chocolates are packaged in a single serving bar to-go.

DOVE® is available at all local supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores. retails at P45 and is available in:

DOVE® Milk Chocolate (43g): Enjoy a pure moment with silky smooth DOVE® Milk Chocolate.

DOVE® Dark Chocolate (43g): Yield to the devilishly dark DOVE® Chocolate.

DOVE® Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut, Almond & Raisin (43g): Get luxuriously indulgent with DOVE® Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut, Almonds and Raisins bar

DOVE® Chocolate with Crispy Rice (4og): Enjoy mouthful of surprises with DOVE® Chocolate with Crispy Rice

What's your favorite Me-Time Moment with your favorite DOVE® chocolate?

Getting Ready For The Season's Eating!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:47:00 +0000

As of today I have lost 16lbs. since I started on my Luscious Dare. I plan to continue losing more with the proper diet and the exercise I have added to my daily routine. Moreover, I am unafraid and unfazed at the temptations I'd have to face with the upcoming holidays :D

It's important to stay fit ESPECIALLY during the holidays with its parties, holiday food and generous gifts of sweets and Holiday goodies. There's really no need to fast or keep yourself from enjoying what the season has to offer. What's important is only putting on your plate what you really want to eat and can finish. You can always go back for seconds anyway, but bear in mind that you should eat in moderation and only until you're full.

Also, don't let your exercise routine go on holiday either! From my friend Jessica at Gymsource, here are 10 Easy Exercises we can do to enjoy the holidays and not regret it after!

So, what's the best form of exercise? The one you'll actually do!

As long as your fitness program:

A. Raises your heart rate

B. Has a strength training component

C. And is done at least thirty minutes a day five days a week – you'll experience significant health benefits.

Variety is the spice of life; it keeps you motivated and works better for your body by working different muscle groups. You don't need to go to a gym and use fitness equipment. In fact, here are ten simple, yet effective exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home that can help prevent putting on holiday weight:

1. Take a Hike/Stroll

It's also simple, low-impact and easy on the joints – just put on a comfortable pair of shoes, step outside and walk at a fairly brisk pace around your neighborhood. It's a great way to clear the head and improve your mood – it may be cold, but will give you an opportunity to enjoy all the lights and decorations for the holiday season.

If you have babies like I do, break out the stroller and push away at the nearest park. It'll give you the chance to show your kids what the world looks like during Christmas season. Just be sure to bundle up the little ones, pack biscuits and water, hand sanitizers and wipes. (Oh, diapers too!)

2. Jump!

Act like your kids on Christmas morning! Jump up and down, or do some jumping jacks. They're a great way to get the heart pumping and the limbs loosened up. 15-20 repetitions with a minute or two of rest between sets for thirty minutes should be sufficient. This will increase endurance and work on toning your thighs.

Jump with your hyperactive toddler or let her do the counting with you. It's a great way to teach her how to count!

3. "Drop and Give Me 20, Soldier!"

While the babies are playing on the floor, you can join them by having your own floor time workout.

Push-ups confer all the same strength-training benefits of bench presses with barbells – without the risk of handling heavy weights and need for a "spotter." You can adjust the intensity by elevating your feet. Push-ups do more than work your arms, they are a total body workout.

4. Lift That Leg

This provides a strength training workout for the thighs and adductors (muscles that attach the upper leg to the hip). If you can't manage leg lifts with a straight leg, bend the knee. I actually do this while breastfeeding Olly, sitting in the rocking chair or lying on either side on the bed.

5. Washboard Abs?

You may not get "ripped" by doing crunches, but you'll definitely work your ab muscles – and this will award real benefits to your back as well, and you will see an improvement in toning your abs.

6. You Can Keep Running In Place...

...and you should. This is an exercise you can do while watching TV, making the "boob tube" actually good for something. You can also do it while stringing popcorn on the string for the tree.

7. The Squatters...

No, we don't mean settling land that isn't yours – it's what you do every time you sit in and get up from a chair. Just do it several times until you "feel the burn...", and for added weight training, you can do it while you carry the baby around. I do this every time with Olly and she falls asleep to the rhythmic motion.

8. Household Weight Equipment

Cans of food, milk and water jugs, sacks of flour (even the baby!) – you'd be amazed at how much weight training equipment is just sitting in your pantry or refrigerator. (Who knew your could actually lose weight with using your holiday baking ingredients?)

I actually use two cans of corned beef and a can of luncheon meat in a plastic bag as weights. They don't sound like much but after a few reps and sets, it's what my aching muscles would call a "heavy meal"!

9. Roll Up The Carpet

The latest craze is dancing off the weight, but not all of us can get to the classes when they are offered and the videos cost more than Christmas. Instead roll up the carpet, and crack up the tunes, whether it's Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" or whatever is on the radio, dancing will increase your aerobic hear rate, and help with endurance training.

My three year old Oona is the best dancing partner anyone can ask for. She's just a bundle of infectious energy and joy that it's impossible to feel tired when you're dancing along with her. You keep laughing too so that's an added lung workout!

10. Steppin' Up

Finally, you don't have to buy a bench step and sign up for a step class to do step. Chances are you've got a step or two around your home. So while those cookies are in the oven, run the stairs a few times. The timers will make great intervals and keep you fit while baking!

Again, doing this with Olly every time. She's kept amused by Mommy bouncing up and down, I get added weight training, and Oona can play with her towers in peace (Olly loves toppling things now as much as Oona loves piling her blocks as high as they can go).

The fact of the matter is, that all of these are not difficult, and do not require patience, or a long drawn out explanation. They are simple and they WORK. So maybe you aren't getting fit on treadmills, or ellipticals, but the end result is the same and you will have a lot of extra cash to go and spend it on holiday gifts, or a treat for yourself!

There are really a lot of ways to fit getting fit into your schedule. It's really just up to you to decide what you want for yourself. I really want to be healthier and physically fit to enjoy my children's childhood with them, that's why I'm doing this. It's not an overnight thing, but keeping at it really works. That, for me, is the best holiday gift ever!

Happy FIT Holidays! ;D

Toddler Theatrics

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:00:00 +0000

And the Award for Best Actress
in a Dramatic Role goes to....

My three year old has decided that life is her stage and she is determined to throw herself into the ultimate performance of her young life. Watching her, I'd have to say that she really does have potential to be her generation's best dramatic actress! She immerses herself so totally in her role that she IS the role! Her method of portrayal, her characterization, is so complete that she convinces her audience and herself of the reality and depth of the performance. All in all a powerful, moving and disturbing thing to watch.

For the first time in her life, our Oona has been afflicted with a mouth sore or singaw as we call it. And her 10 decibel pain, is my pain, is everybody's pain within a 3 mile radius.

She is The Pain.

We've all moved, as a family and as individuals, from various degrees of involvement and varying emotional reactions.

First, pity for the child who's never experienced the stinging pain of a mouth sore and its medications. Then, distress as she starts crying when it becomes unbearable for her to suffer in whimpering silence. Next, stress levels escalate in worry as nothing seems to soothe her anguish and a quick remedy isn't quick enough. Nerves begin to fray when one realizes that the child is playing it to the hilt. True it hurts but not enough to warrant full waterworks and each sentence to be punctuated by an empathic 'Owww!'. Extreme annoyance hits at this point when one realizes one has been had and the actress in question continues to ham it up for the audience that matters: Daddy (who gives in to demands to be carried around like a baby) and Grandpa (who hovers in worry, growling that his granddaughter is suffering and something MUST be done!).

Mommy and Grandma roll eyes and facepalms.

Normally when she does her whining and theater exercises, I run the gamut of talking to her through it, scolding, or ignoring it until she stops. On bad days when I'm running short on temper and she can't seem to stop, I get mad, we have a scream-fest and I ultimately send her to the corner. She usually stops, says she's sorry and says she's tired that's why she's starting to act up. We talk, make up and have quiet time or sleep.

This time, with the mouth sore, of course it's different.
Mouth sores are caused by bacteria and can happen to anyone. Oona bit her inner lip by accident and the little nip got infected. Falling asleep with her milk bottle still in her mouth and forgetting to brush her teeth did the rest. Yes, I do feel guilty for not being extra vigilant. Just this one time when I thought I could relax a little, the sore happens and we pay for it!

At first I made her gargle Bactidol, Listerine, and a salt and water solution. It was ok but then she seemed to get worse so we went to my dentist Aunt Grace who gave her an oral care gel. It seemed to work until night hit and her lip seemed to be swollen. By midnight, she couldn't fall asleep anymore as her mouth dried and as she yawned in sleep, the sore stretched and she kept waking up in pain. She even woke up Olly with her crying and as they both started crying, I wanted to cry too. It had been going on ALL DAY, the crying, whining, owww-ing...I was getting so irritated, I knew I'd reached my absolute limit. Poor RF woke up, dazed and tired because the little girls were crying and I was yelling for Oona to stop ("It's going to hurt you more!") but Oona was too far gone: really sleepy, tired, in pain, frustrated and unable to stop herself.

I wanted to go out in the middle of the night to try and find the new-fangled instant remedy that I saw at the drugstore earlier. I would have bought one right then just to give Oona some relief and us some peace, but it was out of stock. RF and I were looking at each other, my extreme annoyance breaking into exasperation and inexplicably, I felt a stupid smile on my face. The things they don't tell you about parenthood! Haha.

Desperate times. We decided for desperate measures.

I was hoping not to have to resort to the all-time favorite, old-skool remedy of putting ground tawas (alum) on the sore or gargling with it in salt and water. Hurts like h*ll but the sore would be banished in an instant. I was afraid it might further traumatize her, but in this case, prolonging the pain was probably worse. Plus, she woke up the whole household, growling Grandpa included ("Tell your Aunt to give her the strong medicine! It'll hurt once and then she'll be fine! Tawas doesn't work!").

Aunt Gly was thoughtful enough to give us a mixture already prepared with kalamansi. She squeezed kalamansi juice over ground alum and when it dried, it looked like golden brown sugar crystals. Oona was screaming, her theatrics turning into hysterics when I asked her to open her mouth for the medicine. I told her it was going to hurt but it would utlimately make her feel better.

Just a pinch but it *did* hurt like hell. And if she could swear, Oona would have put a sailor to shame and I would have grounded her for life for being a potty mouth. But all she bravely did was keep her mouth open like I asked her to while I put on the tawas, RF holding her while she cried and cried and cried :(

After a few moments, we had her gargle with water to wash out the alum. And almost instantly, the pain began to fade as her lip went numb. In a few minutes, she was quiet and when I asked her if she felt better, she was already able to reply (whimperingly) yes.

Sigh.

It took two more applications before the sore was gone completely. She still cried and groused about having to put medicine that she knew would hurt, but she was very brave and trusting enough to let me put it on her.

Writing this down now, I feel like I want to cry. It sometimes sucks to be the one to dole out the tough love. Deep down, even while she thrashed, yelled and cried, Oona trusted my word that what I would do would heal her even if it hurt her badly. Her faith in me makes me feel so small and humble. I'm sorry that it hurt or that she had to have that sore in the first place, but I'm sorrier I have to hurt her first to make her feel better.

Now she knows better than to go to bed with a bottle and without brushing. She drinks more water, especially after eating and drinking milk or juice. She says it's so her teeth will be happy and her mouth won't have germs anymore.

We now have some peace, of course and she's her sweet but spicy little self again as opposed to Olly's totally sweet nature. Her theatrics have gone back down to almost nil or only when she hasn't had her afternoon naps. What hasn't changed though, I've noticed, is that the theatrics come on when Daddy's around or Grandpa's eligible to be dragged outside to play.

Whenever that happens, I leave the menfolk to her "tender" mercies and I tune out to save my sanity! After all, that doesn't require tawas and Mommy's tough love to deal with.

Christmas Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:25:00 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner and we at my mommy group were hankering for a partay! Of course the inevitable exchange gift was discussed and it put in mind what one would want for christmas aside from peace, love and hope for all mankind.

For myself I'd like:
A Laptop, capable of graphics work
Wacom pen tablet, the reliable graphire would do if they still make it!
A small, fast external portable hard drive, a terra most preferably!
A dslr with a tripod, macro and zoom lens, flash and hood.
Portable sewing machine, child and idiot proof!
An adjustable easel, since I gave mine away or it got lost.
Aquarelle watercolor since gouache is too heavy for me.
Nice, heavy textured watercolor paper and paper tape
Watercolor brushes, since i gave the good ones away and the ones i have left have given up the ghost.
Child-safe paints for mural painting with thick brushes for small hands.
Rembrandt chalk pastels in that nice wooden box and paper in eggshell and cream.

Makeup. By mac and nishido or mary kay.
Hair makeover with highlights.
Shoes in wedge and like espadrilles, with lots of ribbons for tying up. Think amazon goddess. Worship or die! Black betty boop pinup heels won't hurt either.
Frilly undergarments. I like frills.

Bikes for me, rf and oona with safety gear.
Skechers shape up rubber shoes for me.
Ab rocket. Haha.

*** will continue as the days unroll :D

Choosing A Holiday Ham: The Premium-Cut Ham

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:32:00 +0000

One of the most important food of the Noche Buena table is the holiday ham. While there are a number of meat brands everyone is familiar with, there are three things that makes the the premium-cut ham a cut above the rest.

First, the Holiday Ham should be made from one whole boneless meat from the hind leg, the best cut of pork for hams. Hind leg ham is tastier and meatier compared to the more common shaped hams. Shaped hams are already processed and although brands would use meat from the other parts of the pork, nothing can beat the goodness found only on the hind leg of pork.

Second, the net marks attests to a high-quality smoked ham. Only whole-meat hams can be smoked in ham nets because if it isn’t, pieces would fall off.

Lastly, no extenders. The appearance, taste and texture tell the truth. The ham is meat, juicy, and flavorful, and consumers really get the best value for money.

Learn more about Holiday Ham on http://holidayham.com.ph/ and ‘Like’ it on Facebook http://goo.gl/CAqCv.

Apple iPad up for grabs

To make the holidays a cut above the rest, Holiday Ham will be giving out an Apple iPad tablet computer. Interested parties need only to register with their name, Facebook page URL, mobile phone number, and email address. It’s that easy!

The registration is on the Holiday Ham website http://holidayham.com.ph/subpages/promo.aspx and is open until December 20, 2010.

MAINTENANCE! Transferring to a new host :)

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:41:00 +0000

I love blogger :) But I have to transfer spaces for expansion purposes! Mommyluscious goes dotcom! Watch out for a new, revamped site in a few days! MWAH!

You're Invited To ACTIVE FUN SM North's Christmas Party!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:19:00 +0000

Mommies!!!

Active Fun SM North EDSA is inviting us and the kids to their Christmas Events on Dec 16 (Thursday) and 17 (Friday). It's a whole day of FUN for the children. They'll enjoy Unlimited Play, a Whimsical Magic Show, A Photo Op with Santa (receive a FREE 5x7 photo), face painting, photo booth, snacks, games, prizes, loot bags and so much more!

So it's a sure day of FUN FUN FUN!

I'm hoping those yummy Soyami snacks would be available too! :D

See you all there!

Christmas Lights Up Cubao

noreply@blogger.com (Laya Isabelle Garcellano-Florendo) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:28:00 +0000

When we were kids, my family made a yearly Christmas season tradition of going to Cubao to see the lights and the annual COD Christmas show.

We'd have an early dinner, bundle up in christmas themed sweaters and pick up cousins, aunts and uncles in the family jeep. We'd join the crowd milling in front of the Araneta mall, looking for a good place to park, where our view sitting on the roof of the jeep would be unhindered by anybody and anything. We'd be munching on chips and sipping cold Coke in plastic bags, trying not to gobble everything up before the show even started. Below us, a sea of people expectantly watch for signs that the show was about to start, as vendors with balloons and cotton candy weave through the crowd. Other enterprising souls set up shop in the fringes of the crowd selling popcorn, hot street food and cold drinks. Sometimes though, we'd be out of luck and the jeep would have to be parked out of the line of sight, us kids would take turns getting shoulder rides from our fathers and uncles when the mechanical wonder show began.

When the lights come on and the music starts, there would be a babble of excited voices, young and old alike, yelling, "Ayan na! It's starting!". And all eyes would turn to the tableux way above our heads, mouths agape in wonder. There would be angels, kings, giant toys, clowns and flying animals in bright lights, music and an amazing background with snow, candy canes and gift boxes.

I could only gaze in wonder at the magical scene before me and long after the show was over and we'd be in bed, we'd still be talking about it in the dark. For us, the COD Christmas show was the great sign that the Christmas season had truly begun. From there, we could properly do the countdown til Christmas day arrived with its presents, parties, family gatherings, food and various Christmas family traditions.

I'm sure many of my generation can remember those days and can empathize with how I felt when COD closed down. Of course, now that I'm older, I know that nothing lasts forever. I still couldn't help but feel so sad that a childhood symbol of my Christmas would be nothing more than a fond memory to share with my kids.

At least the Christmas lights and displays of the Araneta Center still continue according to tradition these days. Now that Cubao is being spruced up and energized by new developments and malls, it's heartening to see that the Cubao of my childhood is not going to be lost to grime and neglect. (I was so happy that the Giant Christmas Tree tradition was still on!) My rediscovery of Cubao and the many Christmas memories I can share with my kids coincides with Coke's newest slogan of shaking up and waking up happiness. The COD Christmas show may be gone, but there are still other Christmas traditions still alive to enjoy and new ones to make with this generation.

I find it comforting, as if recovering a part of my lost childhood, that Coca-Cola's Christmas Caravan kicked off with the annual Araneta Center Giant Tree Lighting last November 12, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum parking lot with "Shake up the happiness. Wake it up, wake up the happiness. It’s Christmas time!".

From our friends at Coke :)

Kicking off the day’s funfair was a grand parade led by a convoy of Coca-Cola Christmas trucks carrying Coca-Cola ambassadors Kim Chiu and Enchong Dee with teen celebrities Empress Schuck, Joseph Marco, Matt Evans and the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash of 2010 housemates Ivan Dorschner, James Reid, Ryan Bang, Bret Jackson, Tricia Santos, Jenny Sol, Devon Seron and Fretzie Bercede, Starstruck idols Kris Bernal, Steven Silva, Rocco Nacino Enzo Pineda and Diva Montelaba along with the Philippine Navy Band which marched along and rocked out the Araneta Center with lively renditions of popular Christmas jingles.

Right after the caravan spread cheers across the upbeat hub, more and more surprises were opened up as the energetic duo of Nicole Hyala and Chris Tsuper welcomed guests to the various game, activity and photo booths lined up by Coca-Cola just before the official tree lighting ceremony started. The renowned Love Radio tandem DJ’s bonded and shared an early Noche Buena feast with the celebrity guests, granted some of the guests’ heartfelt wishes and gave away raffle prizes to lucky folks all through out the afternoon.

In no time, all the rush and thrill finally led to the much-awaited lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree situated at the heart of Araneta Center, a celebrated custom since 1981. The exciting countdown to the “it-moment” was joined in by officials from the local government, Araneta Center and The Coca-Cola Company along with Kim Chiu and Enchong Dee along with other personalities and celebrity guests. Standing at almost 100ft. this year’s tree is bedecked with more than 10, 000 lights and hundreds of stars and Coca-Cola Christmas balls, with huge ribbons and colorful gift boxes as accents. Through the years, it has been a beacon of hope among the Filipinos; a most cherished icon that signals the beginning of the holiday season and reminds us to always believe in the magic and happiness it brings, the same way Coca-Cola inspires.

Unlike in the previous years, Coca-Cola gave the amazed partakers more reasons to light up happiness among themselves and others around them as it held the first-ever simulated lights and sounds show. The magical harmony of lively Christmas anthems and dazzling beams that sparkled among the Coca-Cola caravan up to the giant tree culminated to a fireworks display, which left guests in high spirits.

Indeed it was a day of wonderful surprises, moreover when Coca-Cola also launched the Coca-Cola Contour Glass promo. “The Coca-Cola contour glass is one of this season’s fun, ultimate merry must-haves that will surely complete our Noche Buena bonding and allow us to keep refreshing ourselves with the deliciously fizzy cola drink we all love. It’s available in five perky colors such as red, yellow, violet and green and the latest addition to the bunch, the aquamarine contour glass. Let’s make moments count this Christmas by sharing them together. Let’s make it more colorful with an ice-cold Coke and these cool contours,” says Coca-Cola ambassador Kim Chiu.

It’s so easy to take home all five Coca-Cola Christmas Contour Glasses: Buy Coca-Cola, Coke Light, Coke Zero, Sprite or Royal Tru Orange in any of the 500ml, 750ml, 1L, 1.5L and 2L packs. Look under the Santa cap for the “Coke Glass” text and collect 2 more regular Coca-Cola Santa caps and exchange these caps for one Coca-Cola Christmas Contour Glass from any 7 Eleven store, selected sari-sari stores or public markets and Coca-Cola Sales offices nationwide. You may redeem from November 15 to December 31, 2010 only.

This Christmas, let us all open and celebrate magical moments together shared with nothing less than the irreplaceable sparkle that uniquely refreshes and makes us happy- Coca-Cola. Energizing Christmas Spirit.

Open Coca-Cola, Open Happiness.

*Greenhills has a Christmas On Display show every night.
*Ayala Triangle has a light and sound show too!

Make your own Christmas traditions :) Watch the shows with friends and family, share the special moments and keep the Christmas spirit alive!