Living Life to the Fullest!

Earth Friendly Garbage Bags

2012-05-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

Here in Manila, we are still allowed to use plastic bags for our groceries, this is one of the reason why there are a lot of plastic bags in garbage dumps everywhere. I hope that Manila wil soon follow other cities who already banned the use of plastic bags.

My mom lives in Alabang, and Muntinlupa is the first city that I know who banned the use of plastic bags in every establishments there. The problem she told me about not having plastic, is she doesn't have a place to put the wet garbages. They just put it directly into the trash can and if it is not collected everyday by the garbage collectors, it can became really smelly.

Last time I went to the supermarket, I saw this garbage bag that says that it is Earth Friendly.

Based on it's packaging, it says that this bag will degrade into water, carbon dioxide and organic residue when exposed to sunlight and heat.

I forgot how much is the cost of this bag, but cheap or not, as long as it is good for the environment, then I am all for it.

Next time, if you will go shopping then go check this out. Or better yet, do you have any idea where to put wet garbages better? Please share it with us.

By Nature Handmade and Organic Products

2012-05-29T02:40:00.000-07:00

I love to take a bath every morning and night and sometimes even thrice a day if I feel uncomfortable because of the hot weather. Because of that, I can feel that my skin loses it's moisture, I don't usually put lotion since I felt greasy and sticky, so I think it adds up to decrease of my skin's moisture.

I am currently using my son's organic baby wash and although I like it so much, I am more used to using soaps which is why I am on the hunt for a natural and hand made soap that will somehow restore the lost moisture of my skin.

When I saw that Michelle of My Mom Friday is having a give away contest of this homemade brand named "By Nature Handmade Soaps" I didn't think twice in joining (besides the mechanics are so easy just like sipping a cup of coffee hehe) and luckily... I won! Yippee!!!

I received 7 items from By Nature Handmade Soaps, and these are the following: (descriptions quoted from their website)

Regular: Golden Honey Oats - 100% NATURAL (unscented)

Enrich your skin with the excellent emollient qualities of honey and beeswax that soften, moisturize, and heal the skin. Also blended with oatmeal for some mild exfoliation. Your skin could not ask for anything more.

Special: Poppy Love- 100% NATURAL

Stimulate and revitalize sluggish skin with this bar and have that youthful glow. Essential oils of cedarwood, pine, and thyme are all natural antiseptics. Poppy seeds are added for some mild and stimulating exfoliation. Also contains aloe vera extract to moisturize your skin even more.

Premium: Olive Beauty- 100% NATURAL

Using this castile soap everyday will keep your skin soft and supple. Olive oil is known to nourish the skin and help it retain its moisture. It also provides protection for all skin types, especially for dry and sensitive skin. This olive oil-enriched bar is so mild that it is safe to use even on infants.

White Salve- The perfect salve to prevent and heal diaper rash. Apply liberally on your baby's bottoms after cleaning and before putting on the diaper to keep the skin protected from wetness. Frequent application will keep baby's skin moisturized as well. This may also be used as an intensive sunblock for the face and neck. Serves as an aid for healing wounds, too. Use as often for best results. For external use only. Keep away from direct heat.

Baby Salve- Use this salve for most baby concerns - diaper rash, insect bites, eczema, dry patches, and even small cuts and booboos. Simply apply on affected area. May also use all over your baby's body instead of lotion. It is easy to bring along everywhere your baby goes. Even mommies can use this as an evening moisturizer and wake up in the morning with softer skin. Use daily for best results. For external use only. Keep away from direct heat.

Disinfect Spray- Made with the purest and toughest essential oils that fight and kill germs. Use this when water and soap are not available. Spray on dirty hands then wipe dry. May also be used to clean and disinfect dirty objects and surfaces. Be careful not to spray on the face, especially on the eyes. Shake well before every use. For external use only.

and lastly a Wooden Soap dish is included in the package.

Choosing what kind of soap in the Regular, Special and Premium kind is very hard because there are lots of varieties to chose from.

If you will ask the difference of the 3 kinds of soap, here is a brief explanation:

Regular- contain fragrance oils that give them their yummy and lovely scents. They all keep your skin moisturized after every shower. Your skin will feel softer and look healthier with regular use.

Special- contain pure essential oils that will treat your skin with their therapeutic properties. Plant and fruit extracts are added to give your skin more botanical benefits.

Premium- these bars have a lot of olive oil in them. They also contain special moisturizing organic oils of castor, jojoba, and sesame, giving them that extra nice emollient quality.

Two weeks ago, I tried the regular soap - Golden Honey Oats. My skin felt smooth and soft after using it. I also used this soap for my son, it is 100% natural just like his baby wash so I am confident to try it on him. He has some scratches on his skin because he gets iritated of insect bites and because this soap claims to heal the skin, I tested it on him. Surprisingly, his scratches dried up after several washes from this soap.

Today, I opened the premium soap - Olive Beauty, and I tried it on my face. Just like the Golden Honey oats, it gave me the feeling of having a soft and supple skin. I am loving this soap, and I think I will use it for a long time. With the nourishing effects of olive oil, I hope I can have a youthful glow as times goes by of using this product.

As I have said, my son have some scratches on his skin because he gets iritated of insect bites. When I read that Baby Salve can be used for insect bites and rashes, I tried if it's effective on him. Again, I was surprised to see that it instantly soothes the affected area of my son's skin, so bye bye to prolonged scratching.

The disinfectant spray doesn't feel like any alcohol and it does not have an irritating smell. The ingredients are: distilled water, pure tea tree oil essential oil pure lavender essential oil, pure antibacterial and disinfecting essential oils, acapulco extracts and Vitamin E. I used it on my son's toys to disinfect it from germs.

I haven't used the white salve yet, but I am excited to try it once our sunblock is emptied.

I am glad I found out about By Nature products. I will be one of your loyal customers from now on.

For those who want to try out their products, check them out at the following stores:

Metro Manila

EchoStore Sustainable Lifestyle (Podium)
EchoStore Sustainable Lifestyle (Serendra)
Jojiberry Wellness, Inc. (Mother Ignacia)
Medela House (New Manila)
Mercato Centrale @ Bonifacio Global City
Midnight Mercato @ Bonifacio Global City
Robinsons Place Manila (Malate)
Soderno @ Molito Lifestyle Center
Sidcor Sunday Organic Market, Eton Centris (Quezon City)

Mindanao

Joys of Life Marketing (Zamboanga City)

Visit By Nature website to check their other items - http://bynaturehandmadesoaps.com/

Sore Eyes Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

2012-05-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

My son had a sore eyes until today, it started last Saturday morning. We noticed it when he woke up, he had lots of secretion in his eyes.

As of now, I didn't put any medications on it. I am afraid to put anything that is not prescribed by his pediatrician because it could only make things worst.

These are some causes of sore eyes:

excessive rubbing of the eyes
airborne irritants, including dust, smoke and smog
other environmental factors, such as exposure to chemicals
too much sun
prolonged wearing of contact lens

and here are some of the symptoms of sore eyes:

Redness of the eyes
Discomfort Burning
Gritty sensation
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Having difficulty in opening the eyes after sleeping
Eyelids are stuck together when waking up
Water-like discharges
Soreness

Treatment for sore eyes:

I have read that applying warm compresses to your eyes for 5-10 minutes three times a day can relieve discomfort. But I think the best thing to treat sore eyes is to ask for medical advise, which I will do tomorrow if my son's eyes will still be swollen.

How to Prevent Sore Eyes?

Frequent and thorough washing of your hands with soap and water.
Avoid touching your eyes and face when you haven’t washed your hands first.
Do not share towels, eyeglasses, sunglasses, or make-up/cosmetics, as this may only lead to transfer of an infection.
If you can disinfect surfaces that are usually held by different people, such as door knobs, counters, and other surfaces with diluted bleach solutions then do it.
If you will use eye drops or ointments, be careful that the tip of the bottle will not touch your eyes.
If you are not the one infected, but someone close is, make sure to disinfect and wash all surfaces, clothes, towels, pillow cases, and anything else that may have come into contact with that person to reduce the chance of transfer.
If other symptoms are occurring besides the ones involving the eyes, it is best to stay away from others to prevent the spread of infection until the symptoms are relieved and treatment is successful.

I hope that my son's sore eyes will be gone soon.

Thank You Dear Nanay!

2012-05-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

This is my Nanay

You don't know her, so let me introduce her to you using these simple illustrations so that you will have an idea on how a wonderful person she is and that I am really grateful that I have a mom like her.

Here it goes:

We had a complete and happy family for nine years.

Yup, I had my dad for only 9 years because we lost him early. My mom became a widow as young as 36 years old.

She had all the reasons to be sad, get mad, stop living and she can even send all of us to an orphanage but she didn't do any of that. She did her best to give us all the things that we need, eventhough it means setting aside her own personal needs.

Her only source of income was her salary from a sewing factory, and since that is not enough to support us (me: 9 yrs old, my brother: 5 years old and sister: 3 years old), she sells almost anything she can think of as an additional income: cosmetics, appliances, clothes, underware, anything legal.

She chose not to go abroad to take care of her young kids on her own while she works at the same time. During lunch break, she runs from the factory to the house to check out her kids that will go to school.

Since she was still young when my dad died, there were also some men who courted her, but she rejected all of them since she wants to focus on us more.

With all her efforts and hardships, she was able to send all of us in college on her own. She always believed that finishing school was the only thing she can give us.

That is only a FEW of the reasons why I think my mom is the BEST MOM in this world.

I never wrote her a letter or even said how much I love her personally since we are not the type who speak out our affections with each other since we believe that action is better than words. But, I think for once I should put it in words and tell her how important she is, that is why I am writing her a letter.

Dear Nanay,

I will start this letter by saying SORRY for not telling you personally how grateful I am to have you as my mom. I can never go through life this far and able to face the challenges that came my way without having you to guide me when I was young. Even though you are a working mom and struggling from one tasks to another, you still had the time to check out on each one of us. At the end of the day, even if you are already tired and need a rest, you would rather prepare our things for school the next day. Even when we are already asleep when you get home, I know that you are the one that always put a towel on our backs.

Nanay, I would like to Thank you for raising us to be God fearing people. Now, I realize that the reason why you did not give up on us eventhough you don't have dad to help you anymore, is because God provided everything and filled up the missing spaces in your life.
When I was young, I envied our neighbors who have playstations and VCD's and that we only have a small TV. But later on, I realized that the reason behind that is to have a small electric bill and for us to be more active and meet other people outside and not to be glued in front of the tv all day.
You always tell me that I should be independent and to not depend on anybody. I realized now, how important this is, so I am doing my best to have my own income and not just leave everything to my husband.

I don't know how you did everything you did for us, but I am really proud of you and thankful that God gave you to our life. If I will have another life, I will still chose you to be my mom whatever the situation will be.

I will FOREVER love you, and I hope I can also do all the sacrifices you did to raise us. Now that I have my own family, I appreciate what you did for us even more.

Thank you Nanay!

Say your Thank You Nanay message just like what I did at Thank You Mom Facebook Page. Share to the whole world how much you adore your mom, and thank her for the things she did for you.

This Video inspired me so much, check it out:

Mommy Bloggers: Talks about Kids Tantrums, Circumcision, UTI and more

2012-05-23T01:58:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over, and this is the best time of the year to have your almost teenage kids to be circumcised. My son is so young to have this procedure, because normally, the boys that are being circumcised are ages 8-12 years old here in the Philippines. I am glad that Mommy Mauie posted some tips of how we can Prepare our kids for Circumcision. After reading it, I gained some knowledge on what to do and what to expect when that day arrives, so I hope you can check it out too.

I was surprised that when I read Maui's post she mentioned that circumcision can prevent UTI or Urinary Tract Infection. Boys don't usually get UTIs unlike girls, I know, because when I was pregnant that became my health problem. Mommy Sam, posted on her blog on how we can Prevent UTI, hope you can drop by and check it out also.

Missed monthly menstruation is one of the signs I know when I got pregnant. I have a regular cycle so when I missed a month, I already bought a pregnancy kit to check. Mommy Jem talked about other Early signs of Pregnancy on her blog besides missing a period. If you are expecting to have a baby, then go check it out.

Raising a toddler is not that easy. Toddler years are the time when kids wants to have all the attentions and get what they want easily. Having tantrums in public is really embarrassing because people judges you on the way your kids behave. I know, because my son had it once in while. Mommy Pehpot who has 4 young kids, explains in a very simple way how we can help our kids overcome Tantrums in Public Places. If this is your worry, then read her post.

Did you know that Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson, Wolfgang Mozart have in common? They are all allegedly suspected to have Aspergers Syndrome.

You may ask, What is Asperger Syndrome and how it affects one's life? What can you do to help someone who has it? Check out my post to know more about it (click HERE)

DepEd launches Brigada Eskwela 2012

2012-05-21T01:38:00.000-07:00

I woke up early today to witness the opening of the BRIGADA ESKWELA 2012, at the school near our place - the Justo Lukban Elementary School at Paco Manila.

Brigada Eskwela or National Schools Maintenance Week started last year 2003. This program brings together teachers, parents and community members every third week of May to work together in repairing and preparing public schools for school opening.

I went to a public school in my elementary years, and I have seen and experienced the lack of proper sanitation in public schools. We also don't have enough books in our library and some chairs and tables are useless because they are broken. With Brigada Eskwela, these problems can be resolved in the spirit of Bayanihan. During the week-long event, volunteers take time out in doing minor repairs, painting, and cleaning of school campuses.

I am surprised to know that Brigada Eskwela does not accept cash donations. What it needs are volunteers who can help them paint the classrooms, repairs the chairs and tables, fix the leaking roofs and faucets, as well as cement the walkways and spruce up the garden and surroundings. They solicit repairs and cleaning materials and other non-cash assistance.

DepEd can use the saved expenses from labor and maintenance of the school facilities to other things like: additional classrooms, text books and hiring more teachers that the children need the most.

To inspire the community to participate and help boost the morale of the volunteers, different sectors opened the programs : LGU and Barangay officials, DepED district/division officials, PTCA and School Governing Council members, Private Sectors.

Br. Armin A. Luistro (DepEd Secretary)

The event was attended by prominent people like:
Dr. Ponciano A. Menguito (the one on the right wearimg yellow)
Hon. Amado S. Bagatsing (the one in red at the middle)
Mr. Ricardo de Guzman (representative of Mayor Alfredo Lim- the one in yellow at the left)

Teachers, Parents and Volunteers attended the event

To guarantee the school children of an environment conducive to learning, Brigada Eskwela is a year round undertaking. I salute DepEd for having this kind of program. This will help more children to go to schools that can provide a quality of education.

Hubby and I went to Korea

2012-05-19T06:58:00.001-07:00

I wish! teehee :)

Last Wednesday, my husband and I had a date. Usually, we plan to have a date every month, but this year, I think this was just our second date (first was Valentine's). It was his post-Mother's day treat to me, so he decided to let me have a taste of Korea hehe.

We had a lunch at Bon Chon Chicken (check out my food review HERE). It was our first time to dine in there and the chicken did not disappoint us, so we will definetly go back there often.

We then had our dessert at K-Pop, a kiosk that sells Korean Ice Creams (click HERE to know more). It was also our first time to try Encho Ice Creams and we loved it too.

We then checked out some Korean products at the Skin Food and Face Shop.

After that, we excitedly bought tickets to the movie Avengers (I know it's not Korean hehe).

Overall, our date was so fun. Hope next time we can really visit Korea.

What is Asperger Syndrome?

2012-05-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

What do famous people like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson, Wolfgang Mozart and even fictional character like Mr. Spock (fictional character in Star Trek) have in common? They are all allegedly suspected to have Aspergers Syndrome.

Asperger Syndrome is one form of Autism. People with this syndrome have an average or above average intelligence, so it's hard to see who has it until you interact with them. They has difficulty in social interaction, social communication and social imagination.

Let me break out the 3 difficulties for you.

SOCIAL IMAGINATION

it's hard for them to imagine alternative outcomes to a situation and they find it hard to predict what will happen next.
they find it hard to understand or interpret other peoples thoughts, feelings or actions.

If you have a young kid with Asperger, practice pretend play with him/her to develop his/her imagination skills.

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

They have difficulty understanding jokes, figures of speech and sarcasm. They may be confused when you say "a piece of cake" when you mean that a task is simple. They take what ever you are saying literally.
It is also difficult for them to understand gestures and facial expressions or the tone of someone's voice.

To help them understand you, use exact and simple words and keep your sentences short.

SOCIAL INTERACTION

become withdrawn and seem uninterested in other people, appear to be a loner
find other people unpredictable
behaves in inappropriate manner
finds it hard to make friends and maintain friendships

Short stories can be useful in teaching social skills. Use one page visual aids that teach about listening to others and keeping quiet and still while they talk.
I like how the experts of this syndrome sees it:

People with Asperger Syndrome often have advanced vocabularies, recognize patterns others do not, and pursue ideas despite evidence to the contrary because they are not easily swayed by others' opinions. Their ability to focus on details and their inability to see the big picture means they can often come up with solutions to problems others overlook. Aspies are often willing to spend long hours in laboratories and in front of computer screens because they do not mind being alone. All this enables them to make tremendous contributions at work and school. - Dierdre Lovecky

One such person is Dr. Temple Grandin, an adult with autism who became a successful engineer, academic and speaker. she believes that her disorder is an asset. She once famously called NASA a sheltered workshop for people with autism and Asperger Syndrome. She believes that people with autistic spectrum disorders are the great innovators, and "if the world was left to you socialites, nothing would get done and we would still be in caves talking to each other."

I agree with Dr. Temple Grandin that their deficits can be their assets. They do not manipulate people but speak out frankly and honestly. They are incapable of backstabbing because they are sincere truth-tellers.

If you have a child that have an Asperger Syndrome, here are some tips you may want to consider:

1. Keep it SIMPLE. Kids with Asperger are smart, but they have difficulties understanding complicated words. It is advisable to make your dialogue short, precise and free of jokes and riddles.
2. Find the CHILD'S INTEREST. In order to engage them in a conversation, talk about something that he/she likes the most like his favorite toys or subjects at school.
3. RESEARCH. Don't get tired of educating yourself about this syndrome. Think ahead of the time on what to expect and what to do in some unexpected situations.
4. Be PATIENT. Give your child some time to process the information that you have given him/her so that he/she can respond appropriately.

references:
http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/benefits.html
http://www.ehow.com/
http://www.autism.org.uk

Mommy Bloggers Round-Up: Online Reputation, Love on Reading, Typhoid Fever and more

2012-05-10T22:15:00.000-07:00

Here is another mommy bloggers round-up that I hope you can check-out and at the same time let's all learn something from these mommy bloggers.

Some interesting facts about Typhoid Vaccine, mommy Jem shared on her blog who and when is the right time to be vaccinated against Typhoid. Don't take Typhoid fever for granted because it may cause high fever, stomach pains, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, and even some rashes.

My son loves to read, maybe because he sees me reading most of the time. We usually visit National Bookstore, Fully Booked and even the Booksale to scan some books. Mommy Pehpot on her blog shared 10 Smart Parenting Tips On Encouraging Your Kids To Love Reading Books, check it out and I know it will help you to teach your kids how to love reading.

I can see that in the future when my son is already on his teenage years, social media will be more rampant. Mommy Mauie, for having a teenage child now posted on how we can help our kids to built and take care of their Online Reputation.

Also, please check out my post on how we can help our kids Improved their Fine Motor Skills. Learn on how important fine motor skills is, and see simple instructions on how to develop it.

See you again, next week for the next mommy round-up! If you have some suggestions like topics you want to know more, please leave some comments and we will do our best to research about it.

Villar Foundation's Clean and Green and Livelihood projects

2012-05-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, selected bloggers were invited to visit Las Pinas City and see what Villar Foundation is all about, and what it has to offer.

I am an advocate of green living and in this blog you can read a lot about what I do (click HERE and HERE)and what I want to happen for our environment (click related stories HERE and HERE).

I have learned a lot from our tour and I hope by sharing it here, you will learn something also, so stay with me from start till the end of this post.

Our first stop is the Coconut Coir at Barangay E. Aldane. We were welcomed by Engr. Dexter Gonzalez that is with the Villar Foundation company for more than 16 years now. He told us few stories about this livelihood project and how it all started.

The problem about coconut husks started when coconut buyers in Las Pinas and nearby cities increased thus the coconut husks piled up on the sidewalks of Las Pinas and even on their River. But thanks to Dr. Justino Arboleda, an agricultural engineer by training and DEAN of the Bicol State University DOA, he designed a decorticating machine, a twining machine and hand loom. These machines helps the residents to be able to make a coco nets.

What is Coco Net and how it became useful to the environment? Coco net is a superior and more cost-effective alternative to concrete rip rapping to prevent soil erosion. They have used it at Las-Pinas and near the Zapote River to avoid floods in those areas.

How did this livelihood help the distressed families at Las Pinas? The Villar Foundation buys the coco rope at P1.50 each and the coco net with a size of 1x50 meters are bought at P1,100 each. The average number that 1 family can make in a week is 3 rolls so that will give them an income of P3,300 per week/family. As of now, there are an average of 40 families per Barangay at Las Pinas that benefit from this program.

Vista Land buys these coco nets for their slope protection and soil erosion requirements, they buy 1 roll for P2,000 each.

this is the decorticating machine that separates the coco fiber and coco dust.

preparing fiber for twining

twining (this young girl is with her mom and lola)

weaving of coco net

The profit that they get from Coco Net was used on the second project that we visited which is The Handloom Blanket Weaving Enterprise located at Bernabe Compound in Barangay Pulang Lupa.

personalized woven blanket

Ms. Rhoda Lodronio, the Project Coordinator of this livelihood, told us that the staff of Senator Villar were purchasing large quantity of China-made mats which were being distributed whenever there is a disaster or calamity. When Congresswoman Cynthia Villar found out about it, she decided why not make their own handloom blankets? This way, the idle women of Las Pinas will do something productive instead of playing tong-its or chit chatting the whole day.

One blanket (single size) was bought at P65.00 each and the average output of one worker is 3 blanket a day. In a month they can earn up to P4,680 net income since they don't have to pay for transportation because their houses are just around the corner. Besides, they can still look after their children while they are working because they are free to come and join their moms.

Our 3rd stop was the Solid Waste Management at Barangay Pamplona Dos. Here, we are being attended by Brgy. Captain Roberto Villalon.

He told us that they educate the residents to segregate their waste from wet and dry (it's easier to remember than biodegradable and non-biodegradable, right?).

A Bio-Man collects the kaning-baboy (kitchen waste) everyday. Then they put it to a compressing machine to remove excess liquids.

transferring of the compressed garbage to the mixing plate with coco dust (that came from the coconut coir center)

and then the kitchen waste will be crushed using the hammer mill

after that, it will then be put in a composting machine 24/7

They will then air dry and filter the compost and pack it in desired pack sizes. The compost is used to produce organic vegetables and regreening and tree-planting programs all over Las Pinas.

For the waste in yards such us fallen branches, yard trimmings and plants, these will go to the Vermicomposting Facilities. It is the process where they use worms to process organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.

My favorite part of this tour is the transformation of Plastics (that are not being bought by junk shops) into a construction materials, this is the first time I ever saw this kind of innovation.

shredded plastic bags were included to make hollow blocks and pavers, isn't that great?

the finished product were being used in Barangay beautification pojects

We also went to see the River where all these projects started. It is a connecting river of Bacoor and Las Pinas. You can transport from one place to another for only 1 peso per head.

They are preserving this dam and other historical places for Tourist destinations.

Last but not the least, we visited the Las Pinas Arts and Crafts. Here we saw different products made from bamboo, and water hyacinth (water lily).

We had lunch at Villar Residence after the educational tour. We meet Congresswoman Cynthia Villar there and while eating, she answered our questions. Oh yes! she doesn't want to waste time so she eats while she answers our questions.

She said that we should change our mind sets, habits and cultural traits and we should also appreciate and improve what we have to develop Nationalism.

I adore all the projects of Las Pinas. I even asked Mrs. Villar to help my city to do the same, and she said that she is very much willing to help as long as the people are willing to learn. She will teach anybody, as long as they are motivated to help the environment and are dedicated to do the job.

The Villar Foundation is at it's 20th year now, so I can say that they are already experts in their advocacies to help the environment.

If all the cities in Metro Manila or even better if the entire Philippines will follow this example, it will have a huge impact in our environment.

Kudos to the government of Las Pinas for doing a great job! I hope that other cities will follow as well.

Mommy Mundo: Expomom 2012 Overview

2012-05-06T00:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the 2nd day of Expomom 2012 at the Rockwell tent. I went there to check what is in store for all moms: expectant, hands-on, entrepreneur and even techie moms.

I have a Mommy Mundo privilege passport that I bought last year so I am FREE to enter the bazaar. If you don't have one yet you can get one at the entrance by just filling up a form and pay P75.00, it is valid for 3 years (more details HERE). If you don't want to have the card, you can choose to pay P25.00 to enter the expo.

I got a Mommy Mundo bag with freebies inside on the registration booth. Compared last year, the Mommy Mundo's bag now is bigger and also has a zipper too and I like it more.

When I entered the tent, the Zumba instructor: Rowena Jose is already doing the Zumba demo dance at the stage.

The event was hosted by Ms. Patricia Hizon

I went around to see the booth sponsors, I was glad that the tent is more spacious now compared to the Expo Kid event last March.

I bought a rice baby powder from Tiny Buds, since I heard that it is an effective sweat control, which is a perfect powder during these hot days.

Ms. Janice Villanueva ( the organizer of Mommy Mundo event) was there also, so when I saw her, I did not hesitate to ask for a photo opp.

and lastly here is a peek of what is in store for you when you are going today. They are open until 8PM today so you can still catch up and drop by.

Benefits of Wheatgrass, and why we and our kids should take it

2012-05-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

The Easy Phamax room at Cityland Makati was full of laughter when me and my niece entered. In front was Ms. Dyan Castillejo with her only son Matthew. She was telling stories about her healthy lifestyle and how she had also influenced her son to eat healthy and be active in sports just like her.

Matthew grew up joining his mom at her tapings. He always saw what she was doing and whatever she was eating and that is the reason why this little man is also a health buff.

Dyan told us that she doesn't like to be seated in front of the computer or TV or just doing nothing, she wants to move all the time. I was surprised that Matthew, as young as 9 years old, already tried many fearless adventures. Dyan lets Matthew explore the world, and she is very much confident that he will be okay.

She said that Matthew eats 85% healthy foods and only allowed to eat bacon or drink iced tea a few times. She lets her son do anything he wants and she support him all the way. My heart was touched when this little man said to Dyan that he is proud to be her son (wow!).

One question that went through my head at that time was: How did this young boy catches up with all the activities at school? He said that he takes Easy Pha-max Whea-Gee Chewables and loves to drink Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass Honey.

Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass is a Super Food with 13 vitamins, 10 minerals, 17 amino acids and more than 100 enzymes. One sachet of wheatgrass is as nutritionally valuable as 10 kilograms the choicest vegetables! Wheatgrass is loaded with antioxidants that keep cells protected and healthy. It promotes regular bowel movement and improves digestion with the use of natural oligosacharides that promote growth of good bacteria in your child's digestive system. Wheatgrass has more chlorophyll and alkaline minerals than any other green vegetable, protecting your child from sickness. It aids in their mental and physical development too!

The Easy Pha-max Whea-Gee Chewables maximizes your child’s potential by combining the wonders of WHEATGRASS plus the benefits of COLOSTRUMS in a chewable tablet that your kids will surely enjoy! Colostrums contain nature’s perfect balance of Immune Factors and Essential Nutrients to protect your child from diseases and support optimal growth and development.

My niece that I brought along at the event likes the taste of the Wheatgrass Honey but did not like the chewables. When we arrived home, I gave my son the Whea-Gee Chewables to see if he will like it's taste or not, and I was surprised that unlike my niece, my son loves it so much.

Dyan said that Matthew gets sick seldom, maybe only once a year. That being said, I think I will continue to give Ren the Whea-Gee chewables and I hope just like Matthew, he will not get sick often, well of course that is possible if he will also have an active lifestyle (oh well, my son is so active so that is not a problem at all LOL)

Matthew, my niece-Allenase, me and Dyan Castillejo (photo courtesy of Vix of www.mum-writes.com/ )

Unilab Run United2: Mommies let's bring our family!

2012-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

Unilab Run United1 was a success, and now the second leg is fast approaching.

Mommies, I know that we are responsible for our family's health and diet. If they are healthy, we are the ones who are being complimented and when they are sick, we are also the ones who are very much affected. Having an active lifestyle is one way to be healthy, so let's start it by joining a fun run like Run United.

By joining this running event, we will also help the Gawad Kalinga and Children’s Hour.

Run United2 will happen again at Mall of Asia on June 17, 2012.

My son will surely run again at the Ceelin 500-meter dash which is open for kids 12 years old and below.

I hope this time, my husband will join us and run either for 3K, 5K or 10K (I know he can't take the 21K run yet)

This time the participants of the 21k category will have a different singlet color design (the blue color on the side) which makes the runners extra special, aside from the freebies that they will get during the race expo in BGC and the 2nd piece of the collectible medal and finisher shirts. A personalized RunRio Timing Card will be exclusively given to them, they just need to present their old IPICO timing chip during the registration to get the replacement.

The 21km runners will also get to enjoy running the Bonifacio Global City to Mall of Asia race route,
giving them a chance to improve their PR (personal record) for Run United 1. Shuttle services will be provided from MOA as pick-up point for 21km runners.

Active Health Sport Events Executive Lester Castillo said, “As we have always done in the past, we continuously improve Run United series to give runners a better experience and encourage them to keep running. Through our partnership with Coach Rio dela Cruz, Run United has become one, if not the best, running event in the country.”

REGISTRATION VENUES:

ONLINE Registration: April 16 to May 27, 2012
Online registrants will receive their complete race kit including the singlet during the Race Expo.

In-Store Registration:

RIOVANA

BGC - 9th Ave corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City - Mon to Thurs, 11AM to 9PM, Fri to Sun, 10AM to 10PM
KATIPUNAN – 3rd Floor Regis Center, Katipunan, QC (infront of Ateneo de Manila University) – Mon to Sun, 10AM to 8PM

TOBY'S

SM Mall of Asia – Mon to Sun, 12PM to 8PM
Sm North The Block – Mon to Sun, 12PM to 8PM

REGISTRATION FEES:

click to enlarge

ASSEMBLY AND GUN START TIMES:

click to enlarge

For more Information visit: unilabactivehealth.com and/or www.runrio.com

Mommy Bloggers Round Up: Prevention is better than Cure!

2012-05-01T21:52:00.002-07:00

A hands on and smart mom must do everything to give to their children the best in this world. Well, that doesn't mean that you will give them all the things that they want but rather to give them things that will help them grow and be a better person when they grow up.

I know as early as now, my son will not understand it yet, but I am hoping that he will when he is more matured.

My husband and I, as first time parents, are always on the look out for things that we can do in the present that will benefit my son in the future. We believe that prevention is better than cure, that is why we are very careful on what we do in front of our son.

We are trying not to fight in front of him so that he will respect us and not to be rebellious. I hope that he will understand the things we are doing for him when he grows up. Just like mommy Phoebe I have my share of ups and downs with my mom, and I understood parenthood more when I became one.

When I was pregnant, I was very conscious on what I ate. I didn't drink iced tea, colas or any other food that I know which can harm my unborn child. Mommy Sam is currently pregnant with her second child, in her blog, she posted about tips on eating while pregnant. For soon to be mommies, this is a must read.

I admit, I am guilty of letting my son play with gadgets at an early age. With this modern world, I can't resist not to give in with his request to play with his gadgets especially when I am working online. This tips of mommy Pehpot about gadgets and kids is very helpful. You can choose what day is no gadget day and I am not talking about just the kids here since most of the time they imitate what they see and that is why parents should also do the same. We tried it yesterday and guess what? we had so much fun!

Speaking of yesterday, we went to my husbands' clan farm. I heard that the temperature will rise up to 37 degree Celsius, and since it is windy and cooler in the farm where we have a huge open space, we stayed there the whole day.

Kids went swimming in the river nearby and my in laws got some much needed sleep in the nipa hut. I was surprised that when we got home, it was raining in Manila. With this changing weather, kids will get sick easily. I am glad that mommy Nicquee posted some tips on how to prevent coughs and colds this summer.

As I have said, the kids swam yesterday at a river near the farm.

The river is colored brown because the sand underneath is colored black. It is hard to see the kids when they drown, that is why we can't let them go to the areas that are deep since they don't know how to swim yet. My in laws and I are thinking to enroll our kids to a swimming lesson, just what mommy Kat did when she enrolled her toddler this summer.

and as I have said, prevention is better than cure, if you think you're kid is delayed compared to other kids his age, then you should check out my post about the importance of early intervention and how it will help your kids to cope up with his peers.

Join "Goodies for Mommies Giveaway!"

2012-05-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Goodies for Mommies Giveaway!

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.- Rajneesh

Jade of Happy Home and Family would like to celebrate Mother's Day by giving 5 lucky mommies some goodies. This giveaway is hosted by Happy Home and Family and Diva Fabulosa fashion blog

Sponsored by: Mama Never Told Me ,WhatToExpect.com , How to Rock Your Baby, Dryper's Wee Wee Dry, Health and Beauty Diva and Best Vacation Places

There will be 5 package at stake. Each winner will get the following (prizes will be sent separately by the corresponsing sponsor)

$20 in CASH or AMAZON GIFT CODE
Mama Never Told Me books by Emily Van Do - Retail Value $9.95 each
A Choice of What To Expect Books by Heidi Murkoff - Retail Value $ 8.97 - $19.11
How to Rock Your Baby - $10.19
Dryper's Baby Shirts (For Philippine residents only)

Goodluck Mommies!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Improve your child's Fine Motor Skills

2012-04-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Fine Motor skills are the skills that we perform with the small muscles that are found in our hands. Whenever we write something down, use our fingers to pickup objects, using a spoon and a fork when eating or even when we are just unbuttoning our shirts, these are a few activities that require us to use our fine motor muscles.

When my son started to attend a session with an Occupational Therapist 2 years ago, his fingers were so weak that he can't even scribble and hold a pencil for a long time. When his OT asked him to color, he usually rolls the crayons or just read the colors written on them. He doesn't want to hold it at all. The OT gave me some tips on how to make his fine motor muscles stronger.

Playing with clay - make different objects with the clay. Press it, roll it, cut it or simply squeeze it, these things all require the use of the hand's small muscles.

Tearing some paper or crumple it - my son loves to do this, but make sure to use scratch paper in doing this.

Cutting paper using scissors - Begin by drawing a straight line that will be his guide when cutting. As he gains more experience, you can draw curved lines next. Be sure to use child-friendly scissors.

Using spray to water the plants - You hit 2 birds in one stone with this one, by using the water spray - he is already helping you in watering the plants and doing so can help him have stronger hand muscles. At first, my son used two hands in doing this, one to hold the bottle and the other one press the spray, but after a while, he can already do it using just one hand.

Lacing - I bought wooden lacing animals and alphabets at Toy Kingdom for him to practice. You can make one yourself if you can't find one. Get a board, cut out animal shapes, fruits, or anything you want. Punch some holes on the edges and then ask your child to thread a yarn.

Peeling stickers- I usually buy books that have a sticker sheet.

Lego/Megablocks/Dominoes - or anything that they can use their imagination to build something.

Peg Boards/Puzzle games - This will improved his hand eye coordination too.

Paint/Doodle- I have a lot of choices for this activity. I allow him to put his hands in water color and then I ask him to use it to draw his favorite cartoon character or anything in a manila paper or cartolina. Sometimes he use brushes and sometimes a water doodle (read about his water doodle HERE)

Scooping game - We use macaroni shell in doing this. I give him a bowl of macaroni and then he will transfer it to another bowl using a spoon. This will help him to practice holding the spoon properly while eating.

Sorting game - Make him sort objects based on their colors, shapes or sizes.

You need to be creative in helping your child. My son easily gets bored so I am always on the look out to find new and exciting things and activities for him to do.

Do you have some activities at home that help your kids develop their fine motor skills that I haven't mentioned here? Please share it with us.

Join Summer Amazon Gift Card Blowout!

2012-04-30T09:00:00.005-07:00

Oh yeah! We did it again! This time Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with SaleCamel to bring you a super-D-duper giveaway for 3 amazon.com gift cards! Yes, 3 lucky winners will each win a $200 Amazon gift card! Be sure to finish all the entries so you increase your chances of winning! This giveaway runs from April 30 until May 21. This giveaway is sponsored by SaleCamel and hosted by Acadiana's Thrifty Mom and Baby Coupons & Stuff. Enter the simple rafflecopter form below.
GOOD LUCK!This giveaway will be open to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway is, in no way, affiliated with Facebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How can you support your child as he faces the bigger world?

2012-04-29T07:54:00.001-07:00

The generation that we live in is different nowadays. I agree with the graduation speech of Lourd de Veyra's at the UP Mascom class 2012. He said:

Hindi ko na siguro kailangang sabihin kung gaano kayo kapalad na mapabilang sa bagong henerasyon. Nabubuhay kayo sa mundo na wala ka nang karapatang maging tanga, maging mangmang. Dapat may maglabas ng ganyang slogan sa advertising, “BAWAL MAGING TANGA.” Nagtatampisaw tayo sa baha ng impormasyon.

The learners of today faces more sophisticated means of learning than before. As change is constant and inevitable, your child will face continuous challenges as he progresses in school and in life.

Last Saturday, a Kumon Press Launch was held at Chateau 1771, Greenbelt 5. The event was hosted by Ms. Jasmine Mendiola (blogger and mom to Mio of http://www.miofightscancer.com/)

A question was raised while I was there " Is your child ready to take on the challenges and changes in our country’s educational landscape? How can you support your child as he faces the bigger world? "

Kumon Philippines, Inc. is aiming to help every parent support their child in achieving their full potential to triumph in any tests of life. They are all set to once again deliver values and insights for the parents and educators of today through their annual Kumon Philippines Education and Parenting Seminar (KPEPS) to be held on May 19, Saturday, 2:00 - 4:30 pm at Cinema 4 of SM North EDSA, The Block. With the theme “Achievers of Today, Ready for the Future!” (How Parents Can Guide Their Children Amidst the Changing Landscape of the Philippine Education),

KPEPS 2012 is set to share with the parents the current scenario of our country’s education system along with the possible enhancements to be implemented and how all these can affect the learners of today. To be joined by industry professionals, KPEPS will provide helpful insights for parents in guiding their children as they face the challenges of today and the future.

Mr. Henry Tenedero, an Education Reform Advocate who is the Board Director of the Executive Council of the International Learning Styles Network (ILSN) and President of the Center for Learning and Teaching Styles Philippines (CLTS, Phils.), will articulate the different challenges that children currently face and the possible changes in our education system such as the introduction of the K to 12 program in the local education setting.

Ms. Susie Tsoi, a Kumon Instructor for more than 10 years, will give parents helpful tips on how they can effectively guide their children in facing the current challenges in the educational system and the changes prompted to come in it's progression. With Teacher Susie’s extensive experience with students of varying ages, and the countless times she has witnessed how every child can be an achiever, she will share real stories on how parents play an important role in helping their children succeed in school and in life.

With passion for excellence and sincere belief in every child’s unique capability, Kumon has been steadfast in spreading the Kumon Method of Learning to as many children as possible, making an impact on the lives of parents and children of different generations around the world. Inspired by the belief that every child is an achiever, Kumon Philippines, Inc. continues to work hand in hand with parents and educators to help every Filipino children harness their great potential towards the realization of their dreams.

The event will be hosted by mother and TV personality, Ms. Chiqui Roa-Puno and admission is FREE .

Here is what you need to do to register - email your complete name, mobile number, and general address to parentingseminar@kumon.ph or call 885 0226.

I want to dance with my father again!

2012-04-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

I lost my dad when I was only 10 years old. I have very few memories of him but they were very good memories. I remember, that he was the one who taught me how to dance cha cha and I think I was only 8 years old back then. If only I knew that it would be my first and last dance with him, then I would have recorded it on video so that I can play it again and again.

Yesterday, I heard the rendition of Jessica Sanchez of the song "Dance with my father again".

When I heard it, I can't stop myself from crying. I miss my dad so much! He only went on stage with me when I was in my preschool years, he never saw any of my achievements after that, he never saw even my failures, my own wedding and even my son. I am missing him terribly now.

My siblings and I grew up without a father. We don't know how it feels like to be disciplined by a father. My youngest sibling was only 3 years old when my father died, so she doesn't have any memory of him at all.
`
We were so blessed though to have a responsible mother who did not abandoned us. We all were able to finish school with only 1 parent and I can say that my mom raised us to be a good person.

I will be forever grateful to have you dad even for just a short time. I hope you are proud of all of us. Continue to be our guardian angel. I miss you so much!!!

Run Green, Run Fun Join the Forbes Park Earth Run 2012

2012-04-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

I want to run together with the fifty young ladies of Ms. Philippines Earth 2012, I also want to feel the atmosphere inside Forbes Park, take home a very nice race shirt that has a reflector in the back and glow-in-the-dark details on the sides, and of course support their project for PnP legal aid, Wish a Limb for Kids, and Gawad Kalinga community, that is why I am joining the Forbes Park Earth Run 2012.

This will be held on April 29, 2012 (Sunday) 5:00 A.M at Forbes Park Village Pavilion.

In the same intent as it's first staging last year, this event aims to have one thousand health enthusiasts participating in a “Buddy” fun run in 3 categories: the 3K; 5K; and 10K runs. Participants in the run will be amongst the seven Makati Village residents and guests.

EVENT DISTANCES
3K, 5K, 10K (all buddy or team runs)- you can register as a solo runner but unfortunately you are not eligible to win

REGISTRATION FEE
Per registrant:
3K: 800php
5K: 900php
10K: 1000php

Buy your race kit at the following GNC outlet:
1. Glorietta IV (8176324)
2. Greenbelt 1 (8930936)
3. Rockwell Powerplant Mall (8971405)
4. Rustan’s Shangri-La (0923-7293908)
5. SM Megamall (6342703)
6. The Podium (5708752)
7. SM Mall of Asia (5560865)
8. Alabang town Center (8507844)
9. Trinoma (9013857)
10. Greenhills Parklane (7264427)
11. SM North Edsa (3767680)
12. Robinsons Ermita (0923-7097407)

You may also buy it at the Forbes Park Clubhouse. Here is the running tee size chart:

Here is a good news, 200php discount will be given if you either:
- present a senior citizen's card
- present a valid student ID
- present your shirt from last year*

100php discount (can be applied on top of the 200php) when you present a GNC purchase receipt worth minimum 1000php!

*Those that will choose to avail of the 200php discount for the shirt cannot avail of the senior or student discount. They must pay in full upon registration and wear their shirt from last year on race day, where they will get a 200php refund. Runners who avail of this cannot claim a shirt from this year.

Runners have the chance to win great raffle prizes after the run!

RAFFLE MECHANICS:
1. Runners must be present to be eligible to win in the raffle.
2. Runners must drop the raffle stub on their race bibs into the fishbowls to participate in the raffle.
3. A team of runners may only win once, but they may have as many chances to win as there are members in their team.

For more information, visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/forbesparkearthrun

How important is Early Intervention in kids' development?

2012-04-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Top Mommy Blogs.

The critical age in a child's development is between birth and age 48 months according to research. During these stage, their minds are like sponges and the window of opportunity is widely open. We should be aware of the things our child is expected to do in these times. If you have observed that your child is delayed in some areas, then be responsible enough to bring him/her to a developmental pediatrician.

The Developmental Pediatrician will guide you on what you can do to improve your child's skills. I know that going to a developmental pedia scares most parents since we are afraid to know that there is something wrong with our child, but doing nothing is even scarier. You should know who to listen to, especially when your child's condition is at stake, and for me, I only trust the expert. The Developmental Pedia will recommend you to a therapist if your child need an early intervention.

Early intervention programs lessen and in some cases prevent delays in development of infants and toddlers with learning delay or disabilities. Early intervention can decrease the need for special education and related services when a child enters school, and it can increase independence and productivity. Children whose needs are identified and addressed during these crucial early years have a greater chance of reaching their full potential.

Programs are designed to provide support for the child’s ability and therapy to improve the child’s weaknesses. In some areas, services are offered at your home, while most require going to a center.

A thorough early intervention program addresses five areas of development, with specific services customized to meet each child’s particular needs:

Occupational Therapist for 1. Cognitive development 2. Social-emotional development 3.and adaptive/self-help skills development
Physical Therapist for 4. Physical development which includes vision and hearing
Speech Therapist for 5.Language, speech, and communication

My son is undergoing once a week occupational therapy, once a week speech therapy and a play therapy to improve his social awareness. We started his therapy 2 years ago when I have noticed that he doesn't speak much compared to other kids his age. Some relatives told me to relax since he is a boy and that boys mature slower than girls, but I don't want to wait any longer, so I brought him immediately to a developmental pediatrician. There are few developmental pediatrician in the country so it took us a month or two to have a slot. A session to a Dev Ped cost around P2,500-P3,500. If you go to a public hospital like PGH, I heard that it cost around only P800. After my son was diagnosed, we were referred to see an Occupational Therapist twice a week. Getting a slot to a therapy center also took us another month. A session at Occupational Therapy cost around P600-P500. At PGH, I heard that they also offer therapy at a minimal amount of P50.00.

It is quite expensive, especially for middle class families like ours, but I can tell you that it's all worth it. I saw a lot of improvement in my son. When he first started at OT, he can only say is his ABC's and 123's, now he can already speak 3-5 words per sentence, and he can now tell us what he wants. He managed and was able to cope up with a regular class and even got some awards. His therapist are all supportive of him and I believe that he will be productive as time goes by.

egg sandwich making at school

Pastillas making

Juice Making

Art work from Global Art

If you think financial aspect is a problem, worry not because there are some public hospitals like PGH that ask for a minimal amount.

Give your child a chance to be the next star at Promil i-Shine Talent Camp

2012-04-21T09:07:00.003-07:00

At first, I thought that I will be a stage mom when I saw my son for the first time. I saw a future Vandolf Quizon because he looks just like him. I even joined his pictures in some contest like the Pinoy Smile where he got the 2nd place spot. When I found out that he has developmental delays, I realized that he will have a different future than what I expected for him, and I know that God has a greater plan for our son.

my Ren :)

My husband and I are very supportive of Ren. We are doing our best to give him what he needs to help optimize his full potential. He likes to read books, so we usually bring him to bookstores where he can browse books for FREE and also buy him some books that he really like to take home. Let's see in the future if he can shine.

I believe that most parents will do the same thing to their children.

Well, here is a good news from Promil Pre-school, they are bringing the iShine Talent Camp this year in partnership with ABS-CBN.

Who can join?: Children 3 to 7 years old.
Qualified Talents: Singing, Dancing, Acting and Playing Musical Instruments or any combination of the four
How to join?: Parents can simply purchase any Promil Pre-School pack size, record a video of their child’s talent and enclose a valid proof of purchase. Entries can be sent to Wyeth PO box at P.O. Box 1207

or you can bring your child tomorrow at SM North Edsa Sky Dome for the last day of the FREE workshop (acting, singing, dancing or playing music instrument). Parent/guardian must bring any valid ID and birth certificate of the child auditioning and a copy of the receipt as proof of purchase. Here, your child can perform his talent live and use it as an entry to the i-Shine Talent Camp.

photo from promil preschool FB page

the first event was held today and presented to the press and some mommy bloggers. We saw Director Ryan Carlos of Star Magic, who told us that the iShine talent is not a competition but it's the first step for the kids to know what they can do and help them boost their confidence so that they will make it better in the future.

Direk Ryan Carlos of Star Magic

Ms. Dimples Romana hosted the event together with Xian Lim. She shared to us her experience on how her mom saw some potentials on her and how she nurtured it. Now, as a mom, she is also very supportive to her daughter - Christiana Amanda Lauren or Cal, that she encourages her to do the things she wants and support her all the way.

For more details on Promil Pre-School, contact the Wyeth Careline at 81-WYETH (99384) or the provincial toll-free number 1-800-10-884-2222. You may also visit Promil Pre-School’s Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/promilpreschool.

This mom will join Coach Jim Saret's FitFil Fitness Boot Camp

2012-04-19T22:59:00.000-07:00

I am joining Fun Runs, doing Zumba exercises and eating high fiber foods but my weight is still not noticeably changing. I think I need a total change in lifestyle and really be serious in being fit and healthy. To help me do this, I will be joining Coach Jim Saret- the trainer of the Biggest Loser Philippines and of various national sports teams on June 25 - July 27 , 2012 at FitFil Fitness Boot Camp, at The Fort.

His goal is to have 1 million Certified FIT Filipinos (FITFIL). He is recognized by media and experts alike as a top fitness coach here in the Philippines. His proven world-class fitness formula is used by elite national athletes, varsity players, celebrities, runners, swimmers, and even obese individuals.

The FitFil Fitness Boot Camp is a 12-15 sessions program running 3 times a week that will happen at the following locations:

Manila
June 25 - July 27, 2012
Monday-Wednesday-Friday (6 pm to 8 pm)
Fort Bonifacio High Street (grounds), Taguig City

Cebu
May 15 to June 9, 2012
Tuesday and Thursday (6 pm to 8 pm)
Saturday (6 am to 8 am)
The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City

I am excited to try TRX, boxing, yoga, pilates, circuit, P90x, and other newest workout techniques. The 15 sessions include exercise briefing, nutrition counseling provided by Nestle Wellness and fitness lectures. They will also provide games and raffle to add fun to the activity. I like that because every training day will never be boring. What makes me more excited is that the Biggest Loser Philippines former contestants Raffy, Hazel, Eric, JM, Winwin, and Leigh will also coach participants and share their experience in this 4 to 5 weeks program.

If you are interested to be part of this event, fill up the Registration form NOW! (click HERE). The registration will close on April 30, 2012 or when they reach the target of 100 paid participants.

Mommy Levy, What is G6PD deficiency?

2012-04-18T01:23:00.001-07:00

My son has G6PD deficiency. We found out about it through a newborn screening.

Ren is only 2 months old here

To those who doesn't know about this, let me explain it to you.

G6PD Deficiency or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenate deficiency is an inherited disorder that typically occurs in males. The said disorder is said to be the most common metabolic disorder affecting infants which requires strict nutritional and dietary care not only for the babies but also for their nursing mothers. It is often affecting the red blood cells which are responsible in the transportation of oxygen through the lungs and into the whole body. In this case, the body isn’t producing enough glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenate causing the disruption of red blood cells before they fully mature or hemolysis in medical term.

As an enzyme, G6PD is in charge in the process by which carbohydrates are broken down into energy. The said enzyme also helps in the protection of RBCs after the body’s system is exposed to medications, infections or other certain harmful byproducts. Hemolytic anemia is well thought to be the most notable indicator for the said disorder and is said to be caused by the intake of certain foods, medications or other substances that can trigger the stress. There is still no known cure until now but avoiding the substances that can trigger the symptom occurrence is recommended. Symptoms may include lethargy, fever, shortness of breath, jaundice, skin pallor or tenderness.

For you to be able to take good care of patients having this disease, you should always keep in mind that avoiding the triggering factors such as medications or other harmful substances should be in the top priority.

When we found out that my son has G6PD deficiency, we were given a list of foods and medicines to be avoided.

Foods to be avoided:
Fava Beans - also found in Mr. Bean and Dingdong nuts

photo via: weirdcombinations.com

Soya Food - Taho, Tofu or Tokwa, Soy Sauce
Redwine
Legumes - Habitswelas, Garbanzos, Kadyos or Black Beans, Monggo
Blueberry
Tonic Water
Bitter Melon or Ampalaya

Herbs to be avoided:
Cattle gallstone bezoar
Honeysuckle flower - present at Johnson & Johnson green powder
Chimonanathus flower
100% Pearl powder
Figwortflower
Acalypha indica

Chemicals to be avoided:
Mothballs
Methylene Blue- found in aquarium
Arsine
Phenylhydrazine
Toluidine Blue
Trinitrotoluene
Aniline Eyes
Camphor
Napthalene
Henna
Menthol -Alaxan Gel, Begesic, Ben-gay, Broncho Rub White, Efficascent Oil, Listerine mouthwash
Listerine Pocketpacks, Mediplastin, Megascent Oil, Mentopas Medicated Plaster, Metsal, Omega Pain Killer and even candies like Max's, Stork etc

Next should be the proper diet modification because through this you can control and minimize the risks of the child to suffer the symptoms associated with the disease. And since newborns having this disorder is said to be experiencing a lot more severe levels of jaundice, some mothers are suggested to temporarily stop breast-feeding for it can cause the liver to improperly conjugate bilirubin.

As a parent, here are some tips that you should do to prevent hemolytic crisis.
1. You should tell your child's doctor that he has G6PD deficiency. This is important so that the doctor will not prescribe oxidative drugs in case your child gets sick. The doctor would also be able to watch out for hemolytic crisis and would immediately know what to do just in case it happens.

2. Keep your list of oxidative substances in a handy place. Our list is in the refrigerator door, and we always double check food, beverage and medicine labels against the list.

3. Memorize the signs and symptoms of hemolytic anemia:

paleness
dizziness
headache
difficulty in breathing
rapid and strong heartbeats
tea-colored urine (dark brown)
abdominal or back pain

Bring your child to his pediatrician as soon as these signs and symptoms appear.

4. Do not ignore infections. Persistent fever signals an infections. Bring the child at once to his pediatrician.

5. Tell your child about his conditions as he gets older. Tell him to be careful about what he eats.

Presenting the Born Free Campaign by Human Heart Nature Baby Care

2012-04-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

My family is a fan of Human Nature products. I love their strengthening shampoo and conditioner and also their best selling Sunflower Beauty Oil. My son is using the Watermelon scented shampoo and body wash, the insect repellent lotion and spray sanitizer. We like Human Nature products because it smells good and it doesn't irritate our skins because it's organic and safe to use.

Last Thursday, yours truly was invited together with other mommy bloggers to witness the launching of the Born Free Campaign of Human Nature Baby Care in partnership with Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise and supported by Mommy Mundo. The event was held at Palm Grove at Rockwell Makati.

these photos are courtesy of mommy Pehpot

Ms. Anna Meloto-Wilk - Human Nature's President

Ms. Anna Meloto-Wilk introduced to us the newest products of Human Nature which is the 3-step baby care line. It is the first and only genuinely natural and affordable baby care products available to Filipino mothers everywhere for their children.

Step 1 – 99.3% Natural Baby Wash for Gentle Cleansing

- I tried this product for my son this morning because his skin is getting dry. I've noticed that it has a mild scent and it has a creamy feel to it. It is easy to wash and it doesn't feel slippery on the skin. I think he still need to use it a few more times to see any visible effect.

(500ml – Php299.75; 200ml – Php149.75; 50ml- Php49.75)

Step 2 – 100% Natural Baby Lotion to Moisturize & Nourish

- It is made with avocado and sunflower oils plus aloe vera to lock in moisture and provide skin nourishment. It’s the leave-on lotion made with all-natural goodness to keep your baby happy and rash-free.

After bath time, I used this for my son's skin, giving more attention on his elbows and knees. I like the powdery smell of this lotion, it also feels light and it doesn't feel sticky at all. I even used some of it on me.

(200ml– Php174.75; 50ml- Php74.75)

Step 3 – 100% Natural Baby Oil to Protect & Nurture

- This is the same with the Sunflower Oil (aka Miracle Oil). The only difference is the scent, which like the lotion, has a powdery like smell. I am using the sunflower oil to treat my son's rashes and scars since it helps lighten it. I am so glad with the arrival of this version because of the scent, it is more suited for babies .

(100ml – Php174.75)

New mommies are luckier today, because nurturing and caring for your babies has never been this easy, you have the choice to use safe products like Human Nature. These NATURAL and ORGANIC products are easy on the pocket and is available online at humanheartnature.com and at Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise branches (exclusively).

If I will have another baby, I will do my best to make it right from the start and chose organic products.