diary of a stay-at-home-mommy WANNABE

Hailey's Many Prizes!

2012-01-06T10:24:00.002+08:00

2011 was a fruitful year for Hailey... in terms of online promos and contest. I joined a bunch of contests on the internet to be able to win something for Hailey and I was soooo thrilled that I won each and everyone of them! :)

1. Badabadaboo's Father's Day Contest
This was my first attempt in joining a Facebook photo-liking contest. I knew I had a chance of winning that's why I joined. I won a pretty pair of Skidders Pink Zebra for Hailey. Now that's one of her favorite foot wear. I also bought another one from them since it was so cute. :)

winning entry in Badabadaboo's Contest

the cute Skidders prize

2. Spoiled! Store's I Love School Contest
Another Facebook photo-liking contest which I got from Badabadaboo's site. This is a real treat because I won almost 3k worth of clothes from Motion Wear! When we got to the store, Hailey saw a bunch of toys and since they were so generous in giving us the prizes, we bought some stuff over there too.

winning entry in Spoiled! store's contest

motion wear jacket - one of the prizes

3. Disney Live! Blog Your Disney Experience
This was a real surprise for me. I saw this on Facebook, I did the blog on my free time at work while waiting for my Elmer. I really did not think I was going to win, which was okay since we bought 6 lower box tickets already months before. I was so excited that I won - 2nd place! Elmer was more excited that the 4 VIP tickets comes with a cash prize of 3k. :) Thanks to Vivre Fort Entertainment!

4 VIP tickets

excited to watch!

after the show!

4. Milkita Birthday Treats
I was really hoping and praying that I'd win this one for Hailey's party. So receiving their notice 2 days before the party was a real treat! They were so generous in giving 275 pieces of yummy Milkita and Unican candies. The prize included flyers that we place inside the loot bag. Some of the guests thought that the party was partly sponsored by Milkita. We just said yes. :)

275 pieces of Milkita and Unican candies

lollipops and candies made Hailey's party a sweet success!

Although there are tons and tons of online contests, I do not just join them. I screen each one of them carefully and make sure that it's legit. Also, I am very careful that the contests I enter with Hailey do not exploit the kids and will not harm them in any way whatsoever. I want it to be a fun experience for Hailey and I, and Elmer too. :)

Home Made Paint

2011-11-14T11:54:00.001+08:00

One of my bonding activities with Hailey is painting. We often go to the nearby bookstore here at home and buy painting supplies - paint, brushes, paper. Then I realized it was getting a bit expensive doing that every month! Then I remember fellow N@Wie Clarice mentioning to me that she makes home made paint using only flour and food coloring. So I decided to make one myself.

It was such a wonderful activity for us! Hailey enjoyed mixing the flour with water and see the colors transform! And it is cheaper, and safer, than buying pre-mixed paint. You need several coats though on the paper for it to be bright.

materials needed

mixing red

blue paint

freshly mixed paints!

(from the top) green, red, yellow (although it looks orange!) purple (yup, that's purple!) orange and blue! This was my first try. The second time I made these, I asked my sister to mix them and they were much much brighter! :))

using the pretty paints

At 2 years old, she can already write her name! :)

Home Made Paint Recipe:
- flour
- food coloring (use primary colors - red, blue, yellow)
- water (I used hot water first, then cold)
- a bit of salt
- mixing sticks
- small containers

What I did was mixed flour and water in a bowl. No exact measurement. Just mix them to your desired consistency. Then add a pinch of salt. When flour mixture is cool, transfer them into small containers then drop a bit of food coloring. You can make the color brighter by adding more food coloring. Mix it then start painting! Make sure to put them in the ref after using so it won't spoil. For us, it takes about 3 days for me to make a new one -- or until Hailey decides to mix them ALL together in one tub. :)

Next project, home made clay... That's more tricky so I have to prepare. :)

Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival

2011-10-14T12:33:00.000+08:00

After the show, Hailey said, "One more!" It was that fun. And seeing the sparkle on her eyes all throughout the program was priceless. I am so glad I entered the Blog Your Disney Experience Contest because I won 4 VIP tickets plus 3,000 pesos in cash a week before the show, which bumped us up from the Upper Box B seats that we originally bought 3 months ago! Thank you Vivrefort Entertainment!


our original tickets

our VIP tickets

excited!

our seats was supposed to be way up there!

enjoying popcorn with daddy before the show starts

show's about the start...

the gang's here!

Hailey: MICKEY!!!!!!!!!

Princess Jasmin and Alladin

Ah... Mommy wants to watch also!

Princess Ariel


Hailey: Mommy you okay?

With fellow blogger and N@wie sister Kaje Salvador and baby Abi - first place winner

with Mama

Hailey badly wanted to catch the confetti. She cried when it didn't reach us.

Having her confetti fix after the show

encore!

It was truly an enjoyable experience for all of us. Too bad Aunt Ghed was not able to come with us (I only won 4 tickets!) There's going to be another Disney show this coming December - Disney on Ice. I wonder if there's a contest that I can join. :P

"I want to go back to Disneyland!"

2011-09-12T20:25:00.000+08:00

Hailey in Disneyland!

Ever since we went to Hong Kong Disneyland, Hailey has been bugging us to go back - like it was one easy thing to do. :P We spent her second birthday there. She was thrilled to meet Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the gang! At first, Elmer and I said that we'll only take pictures with Mickey, Minnie and Pooh since these are the characters we THOUGHT Hailey knew. After taking these pictures, Hailey said, "Pluto time!" She knew who Pluto was! So we went ahead and took pictures with Pluto, Donald and Goofy. She had the time of her life.

So it breaks our hearts whenever she watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and tells us, "I want to go back to Disneyland to talk to Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy!" She gives us a sad face whenever we tell her we'd go back another time. Sometimes I feel that she thinks we're just saying it and that we do not want go back to Disneyland. She asks us "Why mommy?" I explain to her that it's not that easy to ride an airplane. She's still too young to understand.

Happy Disney Birthday!

Then I saw through a friends' facebook page that there's going to be a Disney Live! show here! I immediately told my husband I that we should not let the opportunity pass. We were keeping it a secret from Hailey but she saw the TV ad and she said, "I want to go there! I want to go there!" This time, I was very glad to answer her, "Yes anak, we will go there!" I told her to just wait a few more days then we will see Mickey Mouse again. The look on Hailey's face was priceless.

Here it is... Just a few more weeks! Yipee!

DISNEY LIVE!

A NEW BRAND OF LIVE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

FROM THE PRODUCERS OF DISNEY ON ICE

COMES TO MANILA AND CEBU CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME

Mickey Mouse and his band of friends, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy will be performing in a music mash-up of mega proportions as Disney Live! comes to Manila and Cebu City for the first time with its newest stage show Mickey’s Music Festival. Concert goers will hear greatest hits from the blockbuster movies, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story remixed to rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, jazz and country, among other jams. Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival brings the biggest concert experience to hit live family entertainment. This show is presented in the Philippines by Vivre Fort Entertainment Inc., Guess Kids and Fox International Channels.

“One song can touch millions of people around the world and Disney has been at the beat of this concept for years by making music a main ingredient of storytelling,” said Producer and CEO of Feld Entertainment Kenneth Feld. “In Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival we are celebrating with the Disney characters to a soundtrack of the latest sounds and chart-topping hits. We want our guests to walk away with lasting memories and singing these unforgettable melodies long after they leave the show.”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival, featuring an all star line-up of more than 25 Disney characters, begins with audiences watching a state-of-the-art video projection of the frenzy backstage which spills onto the stage as Mickey welcomes guests to his concert tour. Soon thereafter, they will be transported to a new world of hip hop beats, dizzying acrobatics, flying carpets and magical transformations with Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie. Underwater is where the crowd will meet up with Ariel, Sebastian and their nautical pals to groove to the reggae rhythm. And, family and friends will stomp to the beat as Woody, Buzz and Jessie teach them how to boogie rodeo-style. Anyone can be a member of the band as giant-sized balloons fall from the ceiling in one scene and then in the next, Disney characters are dancing in the aisles.

“We’ve created an environment where audience members will be able to connect with the Disney stars,” said Alana Feld, Producer and Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment. “Within each concert moment are elements of personal interaction and they will be harmonizing, dancing, laughing and having an outrageously good time with the characters right there in their city.”

Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival was built with a global audience in mind and a goal of being as universal as its featured music. The father-daughter production team, Kenneth Feld and Alana Feld, has hand selected award-winning creative talents whose credits span from working with Madonna to winning a Latin Grammy® Award to designing hundreds of costumes for Disney theme park shows:

· Director/Choreographer Fred Tallaksen is the award-winning choreographer of Madonna’s “Sorry” video and the finale of her Confessions World Tour. In 2008, he earned a Latin Grammy® in the Best Video category for Juanes’s “Me Enamora.” Tallaksen was also skating choreographer for “Austin Powers III-Goldmember”

· Writer Jeremy Desmon’s credits include The Girl in the Frame, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie & Other Storybooks and Curious George Live! He received the 2007 Kleban Award for excellence in Musical Theatre Bookwriting, and is also a recipient of the Dramatists Guild's Jonathan Larson Fellowship

· Scenic Designer Rick Papineau is the vice president of Scenic Elements at Feld Entertainment and is credited for leading the creation of life-like versions of the characters from Disney/Pixar’s Cars that move on ice for Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy

· Costume Designer Cynthia Nordstrom designed costumes for more than 15 original dance shows in Downtown Disney from 1996 until 1999 and is credited for designing costumes for Disney On Ice

About Feld Entertainment

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP (DTG) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises. Through Disney Theatrical Productions, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! , DTG brings live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries. Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, TARZAN® and Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh and The Little Mermaid. Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney On Ice and Disney Live! For the past 30 years, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 70 countries worldwide through productions such as Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Princess Wishes and Mickey & Minnie’s Amazing Journey as well as Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show and Three Classic Fairy Tales. In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local, school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International.

We all can't wait for this event... Especially Hailey! She gets so excited whenever she sees the ad on TV. I know she will be thrilled to have the chance to meet her favorite Disney characters again! :)

Click Disney Live! for more info.

Umeksena sa 5th Floor Editing

2011-09-09T12:25:00.001+08:00

ang daan sa kaginhawaan...

4pm. It was an ordinary day in the office. Holiday, Aug 30 so wala masyado tao sa office. Pero something was different. Yung TV for preview na nakalagay sa table dati, nilipat nila sa isang wall mounted TV rack na nasa taas. So ang ginawa ko, kumuha ako ng 2 upuan at kumportableng umupo ng naka-taas ang paa. Off to preview two 30-minute news shows. Pero hindi buong isang oras eh naka "slouch" ako sa 2 upuan. Tumatayo ako para mag CR and para lumapit sa editing bays para makipag usap at mag revise ng episode...

After preview, edit, revise... Exporting of material na. 15 minutes nalang, aalis na ako sa office. Magka-text na kami ng aking asawa na nasa TriNoma noon. Gutom na kami pareho at parang ang sarap mag eat all you can sa Yakimix. Yeah... Set na.

Me: May MRT ba pag holiday?
Mark: Oo, meron... ... ... Ata...
Me: Haha... Sabay bawi...

Set. Mage-MRT nalang ako...

After 20 seconds...
Biglang sumakit likod ko. Dineadma ko muna, pero parang sumakit na talaga. So tinext ko si Elmer ng, "Extreme back pain. I think I need to go home." Tapos, humingi ako sa editor ko ng gamot.

Me: May alaxan ka ba?
Tzard: Wala eh, di na ko tinatablan nun eh. Arcocia na tinitira ko.
Me: Wahahaha. Ang lakas nun ah! Hahaha...

After 30 seconds...
Sumakit na ng todo todo likod ko. Hindi na ko makahinga tapos nasusuka pa ako.

Me: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...
Editors: Oh, anong nangyari sa'yo?!?!?!?

Napahiga na ako sa floor ng editing. At siempre, nataranta silang lahat... Tinawagan ni editor ko si hubby para sunduin ako sa GMA...

After 15 seconds....
'Di ko na talaga kaya... Kaya nagsabi na ako na kung pwede, pahatid naman sa hospital... Buti nalang ang mga nakaduty na editors ay mga big boys! Paano nalang kung ang shift na yun eh puro babae, inanay... Ang nasabi ko nalang sa kanilang lahat na bumuhat at umakay sa akin ay, "Pasensya na, pasensya na talaga sa inyo..." Inakay ako ng video editors at audio editors. 5 silang lalaki. Eksena kung eksena 'di ba?

Parang pelikula na ang nangyari. Kinuha ni Tzard kotse nya, sinama si Irene na editor ko din. Ibinilin kay Jep na isa ding editor ang hindi na namen na dubout na show... Sa St. Lukes ako dapat dadalhin, kaso parang di ko na kakayanin ang travel dahil ang sakit sakit na talaga... So sabi ko sa Capitol nalang...

Dun na din kami nagkita ni Elmer... At nagpasalamat na siya sa mga editors na naistorbo ko dahil sa moment ko...

Sinaksakan ako ng ewan ko kung anong gamot na nagsisimula sa letter T. After 15-20mins daw mawawala na pain... 30 mins na, namimilipit pa din ako sa sakit... Sabi ko, bakit hindi pa din nawawala ang sakit... At hindi na talaga ako makahinga...

May doctor na lumapit sa akin. Sabi niya, papalagyan daw niya ako ng oxygen. Sarap ng oxygen. Pero sa pelikula, 'di ba ang merong oxygen eh 'yung mamatay na?! OH LORD PLEASE 'WAG MUNA!!! Kung ano ano nang pumapasok sa isipan ko. Baka symptom na ito ng kung ano man?! Dasal na ako ng dasal...

Dumating ang isa pang doctor. Nagtanong ano daw nangyari, check check. Wala pang isang minuto nung kinapa kapa niya ang likod ko... Tapos dumating si nurse na may dalang liquid heaven... Valium.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

After 1.5 hours, nagising na din ako... Kinausap na si Elmer ng doctor. Ano daw ang nangyari, Muscoskeletal Strain. In other words, Muscle Spasms. Parang... pasma... CHAKA. Pero grabe naman kasi ang sakit. Sa upper back ko, parang nanigas ang muscles, tapos parang hinampas ng dos por dos na may limang milyong karayom... Sorbrang sakit talaga.

Ayon sa back-exercise-and-pain-relief.com:

Muscle spasms in the back can often be caused by a twisting or strain on one of the back muscles, which in turn causes involuntary muscle contractions. Although this often occurs when tense, tight back muscles are present, it can happen in any circumstance.

As a result of the contraction people often complain of having symptoms of either a "locked" back, or a "knot" in their back.

Among the most common causes of muscle spasms in the back...

a sneeze or cough
lifting heavy objects
incorrect sitting posture
muscle overuse, or injury
dehydration

Nadale ako ng incorrect sitting posture... Damn. Sabi ng Doctor bago ako umalis, "Mag-stretching ka muna bago ka manood ng TV." Sabay smile. HINDI AKO NANUNUOD NG TV. NAGTATRABAHO AKOOOOHHH!!!

I seriously thought magsa sign off na ako last night. Buti nalang nag color bars lang ako ayon sa kaibigan kong si kay Jake. Umeksena tuloy ako ng bonggang bongga sa 5th flr editing. Maraming salamat sa mga magigiting na editors ng GMA international sa pagtulong at pagsugod sa akin sa hospital (Tsard, Irene, Jep, Terrence, Mark, KJimboi and the newbies) at sa mga nagagandahang APs at si MChynds ng GNTV Expansion at sa mga kaibigan ko sa GMA for the concern na sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung papaano nila nalaman ang nangyari sa akin. Well, nagtataka pa ba ako eh sa network ako nagta-trabaho...

Sa ngayon, may physical therapy ako, 3x a week for Thoracic Strain. I was also given a muscle relaxant and pain reliever - Arcocia. Yung pinatatawanan ko na malakas na gamot. Hmp. It is interesting to note that the two editors who took me to the hospital also underwent rehab for back pain! Uso ata talaga sa mga nage-edit ang humihina ang likod. I so belong to the group now. Kaya they say they understand... Asawa ko din nagka slip disc... Buti nalang may medicard!

Taxi din ako forever, hindi muna ako pinapag-jeep ng asawa ko at 'di pinapayagan umalis mag-isa dahil baka atakihin daw ako kung saan. Ang cute. Nagsu-sumixteen ako... at magastos ang cab ha!

Pagnaiisip ko siya ngayon, natatawa nalang ako... At ramdam na ramdam ko na mas nagaalala na ang mga tao sa office sa akin. Parang lagi nila akong dapat alalayan...

I hope this does not happen to anybody... Major major nakakaloka siya... And feeling ko pa nun, kumportable akong nakaupo. Ayan, nagmaganda kasi ako...

Hailey Ballerina

2011-08-29T14:08:00.002+08:00

Hailey has attended different enrichment classes like play, music and cooking classes. We send her to these classes for her to learn new things, help in her physical and emotional development and also, for her to be able to interact with other kids. This time, we decided to send her to ballet class. Elmer first told me about this idea a month ago but the school is in Fairview which is quite far from our place. Then my mom saw this promo in Cash Cash Pinoy for a dance class in Katipunan. Since it was near our place and the deal was good, I bought 8 sessions for nursery ballet. I initially thought we'd end up wasting 7 sessions (minimum sessions for ballet is 8) because she might not listen to the teacher and she'd ask to leave. But we're very happy that she enjoyed her class. Day 2, she already knew what room to go to and greeted everybody with a warm, "Hello!" Pictures were taken during her first session. We were allowed to go inside to take them. For the succeeding sessions, we can't go in anymore so I took some pictures just before their class started.

stretching

Hailey's listening! :)

Hailey: I can't reach my foot!

She's enjoying the ribbon! Thinking of making one here at home.

fairy wand...

reward time after class!

writing Hailey's name

enjoying her ballet class

The school originally is located in Shangri-La Mall. They are now in Katipunan. Classes are 50% off until the end of October, even without the Cash Cash Pinoy voucher. So we'll probably get another set of 8 session classes for Hailey... and ballet shoes! :P

The School of Performing Arts

Unit 521, 5th Floor, Elizabeth Hall Building, Katipunan Avenue, 1109 Quezon City, Philippines

09175615788 / 9754419

spa.schoolofperformingarts@yahoo.com

Mommy, you read many, many, many books!

2011-08-05T15:24:00.003+08:00

Hailey: Mommy, you read books.
Me: Okay, what book will I read?
Hailey: You read many books. Not one, many, many books! (with hand gestures!)

So I decided to count just how many, many Hailey's books are... Tinamad ako! So picture nalang. :P

Hailey: Don't take pictures! READ!!!


Little Golden Books bought by my mom when I was still pregnant. Collection is still growing!

10-30 peso books from Book Sale. Short Stories and fun to read.

Quick read before Daddy goes to work

The 2 Wiggles books in front are from Australia... The rest are books from different Book Sale branches. Hours of looking through the shelves! Old versions pa, with Greg as the Yellow Wiggle. Major tiyagaan talagain looking for these books.

What's a library without Dora!

Hailey's book shelf - still plenty of room for some books. :)

Chef Hailey

2011-06-01T16:30:00.001+08:00

Hailey just finished a 3 week summer workshop on cooking. We enrolled her at Lilliput Academy's iCook Workshop last April 25 'til May 10. Since the workshop is free, I wanted to enroll her in 2 classes, iArt and iCook. But seeing at home that she prefers to play with her cooking toys, I decided that it's best to enroll her in the cooking class. She gets her "art fix" in her Saturday play school anyway. My mom even made her 2 cute aprons to use!

It was such a wonderful experience for her. The class cooked/ prepared Pizza Pan de Sal, Mini Burger and Mashed Potatoes (this is sooo yummy!), Pastillas, Turon, Fruit Salad (Hailey can't stop eating on the day they prepared this) Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich Sushi and Smores. We have yet to do one of these recipes here at home. Chef Vince of Cravings and Teacher Jonah were very patient in teaching the children. Hailey sometimes just wants to play and she keeps on eating the ingredients before putting them into dish! :)

first day - warming up time on the first day

grating cheese with teacher jona

pizza... yummy yummy

a piece for daddy!

she can spend the whole day inside this trampoline

preparing the bananas for the turon

she told Chef Vince to prepare the pastillas for her. she doesn't like her hands sticky!

a discussion with Chef :)

After the workshop, there was a culminating activity wherein all the students of the different classes(iCook, iArt, iDance and iRead) performed for the parents. It was a happy event for all the kids and their proud parents.

iCook class performing B.I.N.G.O.

certificate of attendance

Teacher Jonah with Colleen and Hailey

with her favorite classmate, Kuya Jamie

Hailey is still too young to go to a regular school - at least that's what I think. I will wait for Lilliput Academy's short courses. Hailey can't wait to jump up and down their trampoline in the play area.

that's hailey preparing pizza in the school's sign :)

Lilliput Academy, where each child is a giant!

Address: 12 Ricardo St. Carmel 1 Subdivision, Project 6, Quezon CityTel. No: 922-9900
Mobile No.: 0928-5060185Email Addresses:

www.lilliput-academy.com
check out their facebook page too!

Mommy Events

2011-04-15T14:23:00.001+08:00

"Wala bang daddy events? Bakit puro mommy lang?" Naawa naman tuloy ako ke Elmer... :P :P

The last two weekends was super fun for both Hailey and me since I love going to mommy and kiddie fairs. Unfortunately for my husband, I don't think there are a lot of Daddy events out there. So from this day forward, I promise to search for Daddy events so my husband won't feel left out... Pero madami na rin naman kasi siyang mga sporting events so I guess, ok na din yun, hehe...

02 April - EXPO Kid (Mommy Mundo event)
Rockwell Tent, 10am-5pm
Fee: Php50 entrance fee

We went here after class so Hailey was soo sleepy already. But she did go through all the booths and tried out a lot of things. We didn't get to stay long also but we were lucky to snag an Expo Kid backpack. I signed up for a Mommy Mundo card also.

bouncy bouncy booth

Mad Science booth - blue slime!

My Masterpiece booth

Mama Else grabbed a bag for Hailey!

09 April - Mommy Power (Moms Today event)
Dusit Thani Hotel, 1pm-4pm (lasted 'til 6pm!)
Fee: Php175

It was a holiday so Hailey didn't have play class. Good thing because she stayed in Antipolo for the week so we were not pressed for time. I signed up for the afternon session because the flyer said that it was for moms with toddlers. I didn't know this was going to be loooong seminar! I thought it was an "activity day" like Moms on the Floor. But all is well because the loot bag was overflowing and I won a raffle - cookies from Lotte.

Lotte booth - kids' holding area. Hailey didn't stay much here.

purple hippo!

snack time

overflowing goodie bag and freebies!

10 April - A Summer Affair: Children's Workshop Expo (Working Moms Event)
NBC Tent, 10am-7pm
Fee: April issue of Working Moms = 4 expo passes

This was a blast for Hailey because Dora was here! Elmer suggested we go early para madaming makuhang freebies, hehe. Sa invites they said merong "Meet and Greet with Dora and Spongebob." Hailey is a Dora fan so yun lang talaga pinunta namen dun. In the registration booth, there were 2 lines. I went to the shorter line and noticed the girl there handing out "Spongebob" tickets. On the other line, "Dora" tickets were being given. When my turn came, I asked:
Me: Miss, pareho lang ba itong Spongebob ticket sa meet and greet with Dora mamaya?
Girl: Yes ma'am, pwede yang ticket na yan ke Dora or ke Spongebob.
Me: Ok... pero miss pwede bang yung Dora ticket nalang ang ibigay mo sa akin kasi yung anak ko gusto si Dora eh...
Girl: Ay okay ma'am, no problem.
So she got a Dora ticket from the other table. I didn't read the fine print on the ticket. I was just really happy to hand out a ticket with Dora's face to Hailey.

And then Dora came. "Only with those with Dora tickets can have their picture taken with Dora!" Chaos. Ang dami kasing parents na naghintay kay Dora tapos di naman pala pwede yung ticket nila ke Dora. That's when I read the fine print, only 1 ticket per child and 1 character lang. I thanked my Guardian Angels for whispering to me na kumuha ako ng Dora ticket. Dahil kung hindi, hindi ko alam gagawin ko dahil ang tagal din nameng naghintay ke Dora. 70 tickets lang pala yun....

so happy with her Dora ticket!

Make Believe booth. I like this one. Will consider when Hailey gets a bit older.

Barbie booth

Maya Kitchen booth - Hailey's cupcake!

hi Dora!

goodie bags galore.

Overall, it was a fun activity for all of us. Will definitely keep an eye for more events like these. It is best to come in early so you don't get to miss out on goodies and you will have an idea of the program early on so you can plan your day. Also, you're sure to get limited access to special activities like "Meet and Greet."

More pics here!

Play School: Habits of the Mind

2011-03-25T12:57:00.002+08:00

my happy Hailey with her classmates and Teacher Rina

Last February 26, we went to Habits of the Mind Enrichment and Tutorial Center in Timog. It was God's sent talaga. I was on my way to a shoot, nag traffic in front of the building. Napalingon lang ako sa kaliwa and there was this huge banner that I never noticed before, eh lagi naman kami dumadaan dun. I got the contact details and texted right away to inquire about their Toddler Play Class. Good thing they have a Saturday sched! Three weeks passed before I was finally able to send Hailey to the school for a free trial class - kasi nagkasakit, me pasok ako, ako naman ang may sakit, etc. Haaay...

Hailey's first day

First day, she was all alone. 'Di pumasok yung mga classmates niya. Which was good kasi she was able to get a feel of the place. Dire-diretso lang sya sa classroom. When she saw the room, she told me, "Like go inside. Remove shoes." Ayun, super play na sila ni teacher Rina. I, Elmer and Mama Els were just standing outside, looking through the glass window. Since mag isa lang siya, iniwan muna namen siya and came back after the class. We were given Hailey's "Play Plan" for the day. She said she wanted to cook. So they painted an apple and an orange, and played with the cooking toys in class. Mukha naman ok so we decided to enroll her the next Saturday.

Next Saturday came. Eto na. 4 na sila sa class. Primary reason why we wanted to enroll Hailey was 'di na siya gaano sanay sa kids. She was doing well when she was still enrolled in Gymboree. When we stopped at wala na siya gaano kids na nakakasama, she would hit when she gets close to a child! She didn't hit anybody but she would not share her toys. Major drama, crying, haaay. We had to remove her from class for an hour and bought her a Happy Meal first. When we went back, she wouldn't let go of me. I was in the class the whole time. Good for me I was able to take good pictures. :)

Third Saturday, wala ako. Epic 26 hours straight editing! Natapos na magclass si Hailey, di pa ako tapos mag edit. Daddy Elmer was with her. They did art naman. This time, no drama. (picture next time. On Daddy's phone kasi)

Fourth Saturday. Perfection. All is well. All her classmates were there. I even heard Hailey call Jiro, the cute boy who was getting all her toys during her second class. I was very happy seeing her. 4 Saturdays lang, she was able to learn na...

they're singing "Ice Cream." Hailey sings,
"Ring A Round the Rosie"

This is what goes on in class. It is from 10am-12nn. They start with play time. Madaming toys, books, so the child can just choose what s/he likes. Then they read. They are being taught the letter sounds, not the letter names kasi this helps them to read. Nung nag inquire ako, napa isip ako dito kasi sinabi ito sa akin. Oo nga, dapat letter sounds ang tinuturo. And for that alone, nag go ako sa school. Then after reading, they do art. They paint, put paper stuff on colored paper... mga ganung type. Then they display the art work in an area in the school. After that, snack naman. All the kids go outside the classroom and eat. Ang cute cute when I saw them for the first time kasi they share their snacks. Hailey knows how to share na! :) After snacks, reading time ulit, then the fun part - singing and dancing. They do actions songs, Barney songs. Nagrequest pa nga si Hailey ng Ring-A-Round-the-Rosie song. Ida-download daw ni teacher Rina next time. :) Then they end the class with a prayer - another plus for me. We are in the process of teaching Hailey how to pray so I was happy that they pray in class.

After each class, the teachers come to us and give feedback on Hailey. All is good! Her speech is off the charts for her age. One proud momma in the house!

Teacher Joanne advised me better if we can enroll Hailey for a 3/week session. Unfortunately we can't because of work. We just enrolled for 12 sessions, every Saturday. I am happy with Hailey's social skills development... Buti nalang na-traffic ako that day. :)

Habits of the Mind Enrichment and Tutorial Center
2/F ESNA Bldg., Timog Ave., Quezon City
4821074/ 09175199858
www.habitsofthemindtutorial.com
Facebook: Habits of the Mind Enrichement and Tutorial Center

Toddler's Play Class
1.5-3yrs old
MWF - 1030am-1230pm
T-Th - 1030am-1230pm
Sat - 10am-12nn
Php4,500 - 12sessions
Php1,800 - 4 sessions (Saturday only)

more photos here. :)

1 Blog = 1 Tree! Make Your Blog Green!

2010-10-21T23:46:00.000+08:00

I was aware there are a lot of organic products in the market but I didn't really pay much attention to them until I decided that I wanted to become a mom. My cousin who's a nurse in the US told me to use organic products only so that when the baby comes, my body will be "clean." So I had her buy me organic make up and I stormed a health store to buy me all the organic stuff I need. Now that I am a mom, my organic mode is in full gear as I use organic items for my daughter. With that mindset, you begin to take care of yourself more and the environment by using what nature gave you.

So having an "environment friendly blog" would be a nice, no GREAT idea! I was thrilled to find this in the internet. Imagine, just post this on your blog, they plant 1 tree, therefore making your blog carbon neutral.

Here it goes... from http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/1-tree-1-blog-how-it-works/

How does a tree neutralise your blog’s carbon footprint?

How much carbon dioxide does your blog create?

According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g (0,0008oz.) of carbon dioxide for each visit. Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 3,6kg (8lb.). This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems.

Does your blog have more than 15,000 visitors a month? Just e-mail us at CO2-neutral@kaufda.de. We make sure we neutralise your blog too.

How much carbon dioxide does a tree absorb?

Unfortunately, no precise answer is possible. The carbon dioxide absorption of a tree can differ a lot. The amount of carbon dioxide that a tree can absorb depends on the type of tree, light exposure, length of the vegetation period, latitude, water balance, and the soil conditions.

There are many different calculations for the saving potential of a tree. The assumed values vary between 10 and 30kg (20 and 70lb.) for a tree each year. It is certain however, that in its first two to three years a tree absorbs relatively little carbon dioxide. In the growth phase following this, the absorption rate increases rapidly. During this time, the tree safes a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. The absorption rate decrease again from the age of 18.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assumes a yearly absorption of one tree of approximately 10kg (20lb.) carbon dioxide emissions. “Make it green”, the environmental programme of kaufDA, is using a yearly absorption value of 5kg (11lb.) for its “My blog is carbon neutral” initiative. This is a very conservative calculation, ensuring that the neutralisation of each blog is achieved.

One tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog

As demonstrated in the above calculation, the atmosphere can be relieved by an average of 5kg (11lb.) carbon dioxide every year by planting one tree. An average blog causes 3.6kg (8lb.) of carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, a tree neutralises the carbon dioxide emissions of a blog. Since a tree lives for an average of 50 years, carbon dioxide emissions of your blog can be completely neutralised for this time period.

Here’s how you can participate!

Just write a short blog post about our programme “My blog is carbon neutral” and include one of the buttons below on your site (ideally in the sidebar). Send the link to your blog to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de and we plant a tree for you, neutralising the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog. The trees will be planted planted from spring of 2010 through late summer of 2010 by the Arbor Day Foundation. After the reforestation of the Plumas National Forest the tree planting will be continued in another National Forest. So for now, you can confidently state that your trees are being planted in Plumas unless you hear differently from us! For more information about how and where the trees are planted, see the NEWS section.

Just a few easy steps to make it green:

Write a blog post about the initiative + insert your favourite button
E-mail the link to your post to CO2-neutral@kaufda.de
We plant a tree for your blog in Plumas’!

Note: We plant a tree for each domain. Please copy the html-code and paste it in your blog. Make sure the carbon-neutral button works, the html-code must not be changed. Use the carbon-neutral-white button for a white background or the carbon-neutral-transparent button for different colored backgrounds. If you need help, please contact CO2-neutral@kaufda.de. We are looking forward to planting your tree!

i heart Human Nature

2010-10-14T15:13:00.003+08:00

When I got pregnant, I changed almost all my beauty products to organic ones. I frequented Healthy Options to get my soap, shampoo and deodorant. I got my make up from a cousin in the US. Honestly, some are a bit pricey. So while I was on bed rest for a month, I stumbled upon a "Pinoy" organic site - Human Nature! Was thrilled so I got myself some shampoos and other stuff. When my baby finally came, I ordered her a baby wash. Out of the blue, my mom became a dealer! She was happy and told me to order a bunch of products, to which I replied, "Matagal na akong gumagamit n'yan!" Haha. Well, better late than never...

Here are my favorites (not in order!):
1. All-Natural Deodorant (Rosemary & Sunflower Oil) - though not antiperspirant, it's such a good buy.
2. All-Natural Femine Wash - so happy they made these!!
3. Body Scrub
4. Watermelon Lip Balm
5. Aloe Vera Children's Shampoo Watermelon
6. Pocket Hand Soap (50ml) - so handy to keep in the diaper bag for "poop" moments =)
7. Super Fruits and Black Rice Facial Scrub

And here's my human nature wish list... Hope they come up with these soon:
1. Baby Oil - specifically for baby's use
2. Bath Soap - so that my husband will use it. He doesn't really like to use "bath puff" everytime for the body wash =)
3. All natural lipstick/tinted lip balm - with different shades. The organic one I use is quite expensive (Burt's Bee)
4. anything with lavender (though not sure if these are grown here in the Philippines...

Am so excited to use their make up. My mom was able to buy 2 during the Human Nature Summit. Unfortunately, it's not my shade! Grrr... My sister and mom uses it now.

I'm helping my mom sell these products. In a little way, we are helping our less fortunate brothers and sister in different Gawad Kalinga communities by using the products that they lovingly made...

The 10 Secrets of One Unflappable Working Mother

2010-10-01T20:29:00.000+08:00

I got this from yahoo. May I be able to do it also one day with flying colors. :)

by Michelle Slatalla

Last Thursday, as I walked into the house after a business meeting followed by a 30-mile round-trip car pool, I smelled something delicious wafting from the Crock-Pot. On my way to the kitchen, I looked in the mirror, gave a thumbs-up to my dependable black pants, and thought, There now, being a working mother isn’t so hard. That day, like most, involved a lot of working and a lot of mothering, often at the same time. Ever since giving birth to my first daughter, 20 years ago, I have intentionally blurred the lines between work and home. That’s just what the experts tell you not to do. But I credit the overlap with helping me stay reasonably calm. Here are my tried-and-true ways to keep domestic (and professional) chaos at bay.

1. Do work at home; do home at work. You need to accomplish a certain number of things during a 24-hour period. Where you complete those tasks is beside the point; you just need to check them off the list in order to free up time for the things you want to do. Pedicures come to mind. And reading. So go ahead: Pay your bills at the office during your lunch hour, and check your work e-mail at home while you’re waiting for the kids to show up at the dinner table.

2. Juggle strategically. Sure, try to accomplish A and B and C simultaneously, but don’t do it all by yourself. Instead, get A to accomplish B, so you can take credit for C. For instance, I like to sit at the kitchen table and work on a laptop next to a child of mine doing algebra. While A does worksheets (and I write my newspaper column), she is being mothered by me. Also, I can change gears fast to Google the “quadratic equation” if A gets stuck. Child aces her math class, and I meet my deadline. Score two points for the working mom.

3. Make your home office a command center. Those pesky experts say that to get any work done at home, you have to be cordoned off in a room far away from anyone who can nag you. This makes me wonder how many experts have children. Instead, figure out which location in the center of your house provides some privacy, while reminding everyone you are a presence to be reckoned with. From this spot, you should be able to stir a pot of simmering soup or assist with a history project that involves the use of glitter (by nixing the glitter).

4. Ignore the latest parental fear-mongering literature. I don’t want to catch you reading anything with a title like Either I Should Be Drinking More or Less Chardonnay Out of Sippy Cups at Work and Home. Instead, stick to the classics that remind us, with great wit, what we like about this business of being an adult with a complex life. For example, Shirley Jackson’s Raising Demons will help you decide whether it’s more fulfilling to spend the weekend doing housework or playing cards with the neighbors. (Hint: Think mixed nuts and drinks over a few rounds of bridge.)

5. Getting out the door in the morning (without anyone in tears) is the only thing you have to achieve before 8:30 a.m. Stop trying to organize everything. Your only goals are to leave the house looking good and without your first-grader sobbing because she hates getting dressed in the morning. If that means you put her to bed in her school clothes to avoid a 7 a.m. tantrum, I think you’re a genius.

6. Arm yourself with secret weapons. Mine include a ream of copy paper (hide it in your underwear drawer so no one can cut it up into snowflakes), an instant thermometer, and emergency high heels (keep a pair stashed in the car).

7. Go with your gut, and don't second-guess it later. If you’ve spent days preparing for a meeting that starts in an hour and the school nurse calls to report a painful, though not hospital-worthy, monkey-bar injury, there’s no one right thing to do. On any given day, your instinct might be to skip the meeting. Or suggest that the nurse apply an ice pack and send Shorty back to class. Make a snap decision and then―this is key―don’t question it later. Let it go. Really. I mean it.

8. Leave your kids (and the stories about them) at home. While I’m sure your coworkers love hearing about Sophie’s ballet recital or poison ivy, you can keep them begging for more by limiting updates on family life to one per week (unless your kid gets a perfect score on his SAT, in which case, keep the good news to yourself forever). Remember―bragging about your kids is what family parties are for.

9. Don't obsess over things no one will remember in five years. Come 2015, no one, not even you, will still be angry that the PTA insisted on scheduling meetings during the workday. Or that your child was the last holdout against potty-training at preschool. I learned this from a nursery-school director named Susie Meisler. She used to peel screaming 3-year-olds off their parents, carry them into her office, and call over her shoulder to the fretting parents, “Get a cup of coffee. Everything will be fine.” And Susie was right.

10. Stop thinking of yourself as split into separate but equal roles: mother, worker, me. Listen to philosopher John Locke, who said that a person recognizes himself as the same being throughout his life, in different times and places. You are one person, indivisible, who just happens to wear many hats. And while I get that the weight of all those hats can wear you down, at least be happy you’ve got something important to do.

Heart Breaking

2010-08-26T15:07:00.000+08:00

When Hailey saw the hostage drama on TV last Monday, she said, "Bus!" We told her, "Something happened to the bus." Probably upon seeing the shattered window glass, she said, "Bus fell down!" We just said yes...

Oh how that bus fell in ways we cannot imagine... If she only knew. How do we explain an incident like that to a 1 year old? We cheered as we saw hostages being taken out of the bus alive. She cheered and clapped with us, not knowing how heartbreaking it is for us at the same time. How i wish can preserve this innocence of hers.

I was just in Hong Kong last week, and I had a great time working while enjoying the sites, sound and smell of Hong Kong. I kept a mental note of the new places I visited and where I'd like to bring Hailey and Elmer this December - that's where we'll celebrate Christmas, Hailey's birthday and New Year. I've been to Hong Kong 3 times already and I've always said that if I had the money, I'd like to live in Hong Kong. That is why it is so painful to watch what happened last Monday. So many whys and what ifs and what could've beens enter my mind all the time. That should've never happened.

If ever there is someone in Hong Kong who would be able to read this, please, in behalf of our country, I would like to apologize. No amount of apologies could probably take away the pain of losing one, let alone five of your countrymen. But I echo most of what Filipinos are saying now, this is an isolated case. None of us wanted it to end this way. We all prayed that this ends peacefully. Sadly it didn't. As a nation, we humbly ask for forgiveness.

I do hope that in time we will all put this behind us. It is going to be a long, long way, but I know in time we will get there.

My Favorite Baby Products

2010-08-04T15:54:00.003+08:00

I have to admit, I am a little "praning" mom. When I gave birth, I said, "Dapat lahat ng food ni Hailey ay organic kasi darating ang panahon na kakain na siya ng kung ano ano!" And boy that day came so fast. Now at 1 year and 8 months, Hailey eats pasta, french fries, fried chicken - the works! But I am glad that she still eats some organic stuff. I was also very careful on the baby products that I used on her, checking the labels carefully and when I see "paraben," I immediately put it back on the shelf.

So with this blog, I am sharing some of the stuff that I recommend for new moms out there who are also a bit "praning" when it comes to their kids...

DISCLAIMER: Not everything here is organic. Some of it are my tried and tested products which my baby and I both love using. Also, I am not a spokesperson for these products. :) These are in no particular order.

1. Earth's Best Baby Food

Where it buy: Healthy Options
When I was looking around the store, I was surprised na di naman pala siya ganun kamahal. I had this notion na mahal and lahat ng organic products! Bottles are from 29.75 - 69.95php.
What I love about it: Obvious ba, it's organic! Hailey loves it too! There are different mixes of food/flavors per stage. I buy in bulk! This was her food until she was I year old.
Would be great if: There are more choices of flavors/recipes.

2. Bioneem Ointment (for Insect Bites)

Where to buy: I bought mine from happybabies.multiply.com (ad says from leading Mercury Drug outlets eh ang dami dami ko ng napupuntahang Mercury Drug ala pa din ako makita!) 260php per pc.
What I love about it: It lessens the dark marks! Di ba pag nakagat ng lamok si baby nangingitim? This is the one product that minimizes that. Also, it is organic so no worries of side effect! Smells good too.
Would be great if: This can be bought anywhere.

3. Giga Baby Cold Rub

Where to buy: I bought mine from their stall in SM Megamall. If I remember correctly, it costs 120php.
What I love about it: I read an article that Vapor Rubs which are readily available in the market and which are very popular here in our country are not good for babies because it can cause breathing problems. Hailey had a cold when I saw this so I bought it immediately. We don't really give her a lot of medicine, and her Pedia recommends na Salinase Drops lang pag me sipon, so this product was a great help in soothing her. It's base is Virgin coconut Oil and has peppermint.
Would be great if: This can be bought anywhere.

4. Earth's Best Organic Juice

Where to buy: Healthy Options, 29.75php
What I love about it: It's a single serve pack, very convenient to bring around at all times. It has 3 flavors - apple, apple-peach-banana and strawberry-pear. Hailey can finish the whole box in one sitting! Once she takes a sip, there's no stopping her.
Would be great if: There are more flavors.

5. Earth's Best Strawberry-Banana Organic Cereal Bars

Where to buy: Healthy Options, 129php per box (not sure as of this writing. I forgot eh, hehe)
What I love about it: It is individually packed, so you can bring a couple anywhere. When we eat out, we put this on a plate and Hailey eats from there, so parang kumakain na din siya ng restaurant food. :) It is fortified with calcium, vitamin B, iron and zinc. No preservatives also.
Would be great if: There are more flavors.

6. SNR Malunggay Juice

Where to buy: SNR Grocery, 300php, 1 kilo pack.
Why I like it: This is not organic. It has sugar and I guess a couple of preservatives. But, it's main ingredients are Malunggay and Kalamansi. I give this to Hailey (super diluted with lots of water) when we're out of the organic juice and just a very small amount. I still think this is better than those so called vitamin-enriched-with-less-preservatives-and-natural-ingredients store bought instant juices.
Would be great if: They sell it in half kilo packs.

7. Messy Bessy The Little Warrior All Around Disinfectant

Where to buy: Beauty Bar, 70php (50ml)/ 500php (1 liter) - this is what I buy, mas mura. Can also be bought in Rustan's Flower Shop and Sesou (they sell it here for 525php/L)
What I love about it: This one is made locally, hooray! This is made of sugarcane alcohol, aloe vera extract and green tea oil. Whenever I spray this on Hailey's hand, she licks it! Tamis ata for her. :) Of course we tell her not to lick her hand, but I know that it's okay since it is non-toxic and biodegradable. I carry one all the time and I spray it on hands, toys, tables, high chairs, shopping carts, bags - just about anything that I think should be disinfected.
Would be great if: Beauty Bar carries the less 10php off when you have your 1 liter bottle refilled instead of buy one bottle again.

8. Cradle Feeding Bottle Cleanser

Where to buy: Landmark, SM Hypermart (some groceries don't carry this!) At Landmark-240.85 (700), 200++ (500ml refill - which I think is crazy. 40 pesos nalang 700ml na, me dispenser ka pa so we always buy the 700ml.)
Why I like it: Bottles smell good, hindi kumakapit ang amoy. I was a fan of another feeding bottle cleanser which you can also buy in the groceries, mas mura di hamak sa Cradle. Until we noticed, na parang nag iba na yung quality niya kasi para siyang nabubulok. Bumabantot dun sa dispenser mismo. So we threw it out and opted to use Cradle na lang. It is made of natural ingredients which i good for the baby and the environment.
Would be great if: They do a price review on the refill. Di ba dapat refill mas mura na.

9. Johnson & Johnson's Baby Milk Bath

Where to buy: Almost all leading groceries sell this.
Why I like it: I just love the smell of Hailey after using this on her bath. This is definitely not organic and there is much, much debate on the safety of J&J products, I have yet to find a product like this that works for us. Yung organic baby wash kasi na binili ko, bumantot agad si Hailey. I'm glad to see that on the label, wala ng parabens. Plus, it's tear free.

So there. Here are just a couple of the products that I often buy. Though a bit pricy, it's all worth it...

Lazy Blogger

2010-06-05T21:05:00.000+08:00

It has been sooooo loong since I last wrote on this page... A lot of things have happened... I sorta got my wish of wanting to be a stay at home mom last January after the television show where I work for, SiS, ended after 8 years. But it was just temporary because after a month I was back on tv production work again.

And as I am writing this, I am at work, updating the blog site, texting my hubby and asking for updates on what my baby girl is doing - and missing them terribly... So again I start this journey of writing my blog...

Sale, Sale, Sale!!!

2009-12-08T23:07:00.001+08:00

Two weeks ago, Elmer and I went to three popular warehouse sales - Gingersnaps, Richwell Trading and Toytown.

GINGERSNAPS
This is the first sale we went to (Nov 19). We went there at 11am in the morning. Wala naman masyado tao. The items are ok. Pero dapat super tiayaga ka to find good items. In fairness, it was Elmer who found most of the items that we bought. He saw a cute hoodie and 2 blouses for Hailey. Ako, skirt lang. Medyo na frustrate nga ako kasi ako hindi makakita ng pwedeng bilhin, hehe. We also bought 2 onesies na pang regalo. Those are the only items that we bought. They replenish stocks every 3 hours. But we couldn't wait for that. Medyo kainis din kasi the onesies that I bought 100php nakalagay. Tapos nung humingi ako ng bagong stock, naging 150! Pinalitan nung girl na medyp pataray kaya medyo nairita ako. Buti 50php lang naman.

RICHWELL TRADING -- the pictures I took are stolen so medyo magulo framing :)

Last year we went here medyo late na, mga December 20 na ata so wala na kami masyado nabili. Ngayon we decided to come early (Nov 22), baka naman kasi makakita kami ng magagandang items. As always, ang dami ulit tao and the boxes of most of the items are damaged kaya medyo nakakahiya ipang regalo. But, we are so happy we went here kasi ang tagal tagal ko ng naghahanap ng lalagyan ng toys ni Hailey. We were able to buy a Dora the Explorer Wooden Toy Chest for more than half the price! Kasi nung unang nakita namen, 50% off. 3,750 yung isa so 1,875php dapat. Sabi nung girl, nagi-isa nalang daw yung toy chest so we had it reserved kasi mag-iikot pa kami. Tapos si hubby may tinuro na same items dun sa ibabaw nung mga shelves. Sabi hindi daw sa kanila yun ang those were excesses. So since hindi naman namen alam yun, we said ok. Pag-ikot namen, aba, yung mga toy chests na nasa shelf, 1,500php! Sayang din ang 300! We asked another girl what is the difference between the toy chests in the shelf and the ones on display, sabi niya, panget na daw yung boxes nung nandun. Eh aanuhin ba naman namen yung mga boxes?! So kinuha na namen yung nasa shelf and left the one we previously had reserved. We also bought Barbie dolls, 20 and 30% off and some Hot Wheels cars. When we got home, tuwang tuwa si Hailey sa Dora Toy Chest niya!

TOY TOWN

After the Richwell sale, tinuhog na namen ang Toytown Warehouse Sale. Ang layo ng itsura niya sa Richwell. The items are in good condition and are properly placed/ stacked in shelves. Marami din staff to assist. Maganda din ang location, with aircon pa. We were able to buy a lot of gift items for our inaanaks here - Highschool Musical Toy, Toy Story rockets, small Dora toy and Transformers toys (although etong Transformers, meron din sa Toys R' Us kaya medyo inis si Elmer kasi akala niya nakamura siya, hehe). Meron ding Christmas decors. Mas pleasant dito mag shopping, hindi gaano stressful gaya ng sa Richwell, pero limited ang items. We want to go back sana if our schedule permits it.

All in all, we were happy with the warehouse sales we went to. Mas happy lang siguro kung mas malaki ang budget namen, hehe... :)

Things that Changed Because of Your Baby

2009-11-25T10:23:00.003+08:00

When I read this article, I said, "This is soooo true!" All the entries seem to apply to me! So I am sharing this with other moms out there... I love being a mom! (Italicized comments are my own.)

Forty-two things that change when you have a baby

by Rebecca Woolf
Last updated: June 2009
http://www.babycenter.com/0_forty-two-things-that-change-when-you-have-a-baby_1452535.bc?scid=momsbaby_20091124_B:2&pe=2UwfKlz

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be: What doesn't change? Here, writer and mom Rebecca Woolf lists her most notable post-baby observations. Then scroll down to read our favorite comments from readers about how their babies changed their lives.

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid. [See a reader's perspective in #22, below.]

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices. ~ so true! I had a difficult pregnancy but I am willing to go through with that again to have another baby - but not now, hehehe.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own. ~ yes yes yes!

7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

And from our readers...

1. "You discover how much there is to say about one tooth." — Ashley's mom

2. "You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth." — Anonymous

3. "You now know where the sun comes from." — Charlotte

4. "You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have." — Sophie's mom ~ we find it hard to buy things for us kahit kailangan na namen but when it comes to hailey, ang bilis namen mag decide!

5. "You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers." — Roxanne

6. "You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night." — Kellye

7. "Silence? What's that?" — Anonymous

8. "You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having." — Brenda

9. "You discover an inner strength you never thought you had." — Ronin and Brookie's mom

10. "You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule." — Thomas' mom

11. "You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one." — Jaidyn's mom ~ yes! I used to be annoyed when I hear screaming kids. Now I say to them, "It's okay..."

12. "Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog." — Kara
[Many readers begged to differ, saying things like, " I disagree with number 12. My dogs are my additional children," "Nothing about previous babies, whether two- or four-legged, changes when a new miracle comes along," "My dog will never be 'just a dog," and "This is sad to me. My dog is still my baby too."]
~ This sadly applied to me. We don't have time for our dogs na... huhuhu... But we're slowly re-connecting now that Hailey's turning one. Pwede na sila mag laro!

13. "You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late." — Tracey ~ So true for my husband!

14. "You learn that taking a shower is a luxury." — Jayden's mom

15. "You realize that you can love a complete stranger." — Dezarae's mom

16. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place. — Arizona ~ Kaya nakakatakot ang 2012!

17. If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do! — Ciara

18. You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution. — Anon.

19. You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart. — Brooke&Boys ~ so true. Nakaka-awa ang mga kids sa news.

20. You just plain love life more - everything comes together and becomes better because of one tiny person and your love for them. — Anon. ~ AMEN!

21. You finally find out the real reason you have those breasts. — Anon. ~ haha! I have small ones and I am proud I put them to good use!

22. In response to #2 [above], I'd say that where you were once afraid, you're now fearless. I was always very timid and shy and let myself get walked all over … but now where my kid's concerned, I'll speak my mind and really connect with my inner "b"! — gummismom

23. The support you get from other people surprises you, because the people giving it are not always the ones you'd expect. — japanese_macaque

24. Nothing is just yours any longer. You share EVERYTHING! — DylanLsMom ~ our cellphone is hailey's, the car is hailey's, the bed is hailey's, the laptops are hailey's!

25. No matter what you've accomplished in life, you look at your child and think, "I've done a GREAT job!" — Anon.

26. You want to take better care of yourself for your child. — Treasor

27. You can have the most wonderful conversation using only vowel sounds like "ahhh" and "oooo." — littlehulk2008

First Day High!

2009-11-24T11:12:00.004+08:00

Last Saturday was Hailey's first day in "school." She's attending Level 3 class in Gymboree for ages 10-16 months. When we first went for a preview class, Hailey was sleeping so we did not push through and just looked at the on going class. There were 10 kids at that time but last Saturday, they were only 5 kids which was okay. Good thing Gymboree has a promo on the day that we came, the Bubble Pass, which allows us to have Unlimited Gym-class and Gym-play! So we'll skip this Saturday's class and Hailey's bubble pass will start December 3. We plan on attending 2-3 classes per week para sulit ang bubble pass payment! :) Here are some pictures!

Hailey loves Gymbo!

Toys to help motor skills.

The class.

Hailey's favorite - the log push!

Bounce, bounce, bounce!

Learning how to climb. After this when we got home, Hailey tried to climb everything!

Bubbles for Hailey!

For more info on classes, click here.

Mommy Moments: Yummy!

2009-11-20T06:17:00.000+08:00

It's Friday once again mommies! This week we're sharing "yummy" moments of our kids.

This was Hailey's first taste of solid food - mashed potatoes! She liked it eventually. She now loves to eat solids more than drinking milk!

Hailey looooooves to eat her hands! We often talk to her and tell her, "yummy hands?" We find it too cute. :)

Other yummy moments here.

Best Mom Award!

2009-11-16T18:22:00.000+08:00

I am honored to received this award as it is also given to me by another great mom, Chris! I got this award soooo long ago but I didn't re-post it because I don't have a blog then. So now as a thank you to all the great mommy bloggers out there, am passing this on...

Rules:
1. Show the award logo in your post.
2. Pick a picture you have with your kiddo/s.
3. Post should include your best experience as a Mom.
4. Nominate other blogger moms out there that you consider the best mom, like yourself.

I am loving each and every moment of being a mommy to my baby girl. I never thought that I can feel and give this much love. I thank God every day for giving me the gift of mommyhood.

So cheers to all the Best Mom in the World!

New Look!

2009-11-14T20:14:00.000+08:00

Last Tuesday, I didn't have work so I took the time to update the look of my blog. When Hailey took a nap, I started to look for themes that would best suit me. I thought it was going to be easy! I probably spent the whole afternoon looking for one! I searched almost all the blogger theme sites there is. There were some themes I liked but it was a bit difficult to edit. Some were a bit complicated to install for me. So after searching high and low, I found a site by lena and settled for this Lovely Lilac theme. I first saw this theme on sis Tin's blog site. I picked the second version but I don't know why the header's the same. I tried to look for another header but I got a headache trying to figure out how to edit it...

So here's my new theme. How I wish I learned how to save the widgets I had on my previous theme. Also, I wish I took a picture of it so I have a remembrance...

To my blog friends whom I promised a link, I fortunately have a hard copy of your sites. Will add them as soon as I have time...

Bug Bites!

2009-11-10T12:11:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday when I woke up at 6am to change Hailey's nappy, I saw insect bites all over her right leg! Ang dami! Pwede kang mag-connect the dots! I didn't know what to feel. I felt like crying, cursing, got really confused. Naawa ako sa baby ko. She didn't seem to feel itchy or anything. I kept asking her if she's okay and it looked like the bites didn't mind her at all. But of course as a mom, I knew that it was not okay. The bites were red, swollen and quite big. She had 8 of them on her leg, one on the arm and (gasp!) one on her forehead!!! I saw the bite on her forehead first but it was small so I thought it was just baby pimple. But looking closely, it was a bite mark.

When Hailey took a nap, I immediately posted an SOS at N@W to ask for help from my n@wie sisters. I told my husband, I was ready to apply steroids to the bite marks because before, our pedia said that pabayaan nalang ang mga kagat if it does not bother Hailey because most creams available in the market contain steroids. I wasn't really looking for an organic cream but I'm glad that I came across a site which listed several ointments in the market and it included Bioneem Insect Bite Ointment.

Our pedia prescribed Bioneem Insect Repellant Spray for Hailey (which we did not use on that fateful night!) Good thing my multiply contact HappyBaBies sells the ointment. I said to myself, I can probably wait for two days for the package to arrive. But lo and behold, Aleah of HappyBaBies does pick ups! Where? Near our house!!! Thank God! God is just sooo good. I immediately sent a text message and when everything was ready, Elmer and I together with Hailey drove to Congressional Ave and met Aleah and got our goods (we also bought another bottle of lotion.) When we got home, I applied the cream. The next day, the redness and swelling was gone! The dark spot was also significantly smaller. I was really happy with my purchase!

What's good about the product is that it is organic. No added chemicals and preservatives to harm your baby's skin. All natural, safe and not that expensive too! So moms, I encourage you to GO ORGANIC!

Mommy Moments: Let's Pretend!

2009-11-06T06:58:00.000+08:00

Another Mommy Moments Friday! This week's theme: Let's Pretend!

This was Hailey's first costume party at Gymboree TriNoma, during their 2nd Anniversary. It was a party with a cause for the benefit of C.R.I.B.S with a Community Helpers theme. Hailey was dressed up as a doctor. She was 6 months old at that time.

Just last month, we went to Fun Ranch for Hailey's first Trick or Treat. We dressed her up as a Flower Princess.

Picture with Aunt Ghed, Mama Els and Fairy Janna.

During Trinoma's trick or treat, Hailey also wore this costume.

Picture with Daddy Elmer.

For Hailey's last Trick or Treat event, Hailey wore a Baby Pirate costume for Gymboree's Under the Sea Halloween Party.

A week before the Gymboree event, Hailey also wore this costume during Timberland's Halloween party. Mommy Hazel is also in costume! :)

Cute kids in costume seen here!

Last Halloween 2009 Hurrah!

2009-11-01T22:35:00.000+08:00

We attended the last of our Halloween events on October 30 - 2 actually. We were scheduled to attend Gymboree's party only, but we learned that TriNoma mall also has a trick or treat event on that day so we decided, rather "I" decided that we join also. :)
I thought that the 2000 kids quota was a bit too much, but I was surprised to see that there were soooo many participants. Sabi ko mukhang kulang na tuloy ang 2000 after seeing so many kids. We arrived at 10:30am and the registration line was very long. When we started, there were stores with no more candy left. We thought, kawawa naman yung iba who registered after us kasi ang haba pa ng pila! It was a bit tiring, going up and down the whole mall and getting candies from participating stores. But we adults had fun doing the whole thing!

Long line at the registration area in TriNoma.

Elmer with Hailey getting goodies at Handyman store.

Aunt Ghed (my sister) getting loot bag from Fully Booked.

We finished at 12:30pm and went home to give Hailey a break. At 4pm, it was back to TriNoma again for Gymboree's Under the Sea Halloween Party. There were only 20 slots for the party so we're glad to be a part of it. They had a kid friendly program with activities fit for Hailey's age. It started with a parade along the kids' section of TriNoma and ended with the kids going home with a loot bag with biscuits. Finally, goodies that Hailey can eat!

Parade

Hi Nemo! Meet baby pirate Hailey!

It was a very tiring day for all of us. Elmer said that this year served as a "dry run" for the coming Halloween events that we'll attend as Hailey grows up. We learned that:
1. It pays to register early.
2. It pays to come early and line up.
3. Look for events in the internet early to plan your schedule.
4. Never buy costume too early because the good ones come out late.

We got excited by the thought of the coming years to come when Hailey will be able to enjoy all the goodies and pick out costumes that she likes. We feel very thankful and blessed.

And what a way to end the season by celebrating Hailey's 10th month birthday!!! More on this on my coming blog. :)

These are our TriNoma mall trick or treat pictures, and here are our Gymboree party pictures. :)