Tips on Properly Brushing Your Teeth

I saw yesterday a lady vigorously brushing her teeth.  I wanted to tell her to be gentle to her gums and teeth but she seems not to be the kind who will take an advice from a stranger.  To spread awareness, I'm writing here instead.

When my family visited our dentist last January, I was so relieved when she praised my pearly whites. She said "Very good ang teeth ni mommy!"  I know mothers who lost some of their teeth during or after pregnancy.  Phew!  

Shupeas, the Most Versatile Baby Shoes in the World! (Plus a Giveaway)

Baby C has tons of shoes.  When I say tons, I mean about 40 pairs of shoes.  12 pairs of these shoes were already outgrown by Baby C, 12 pairs are currently being used and the rest are still big for her.   By the way, almost all her shoes were given as gifts by relatives and friends or hand-me-downs from her cousins.  Doc A forbade me to spend much on baby's clothes and shoes.

Photo by Life at Imagination Photography

Baby C's Quest: The Search for the Missing Keyhole

Baby C likes playing with keys.  She watches intently everytime we open our car.  This morning, Yaya Leah gave Baby C a set of keys.  I followed them outside wondering what Baby C is up to.

Yaya Leah and I had a good laugh as Baby C tried each and every keyhole she can find in search of the right one.  

Skills developed in this quest/activity:

1. Dexterity of baby's little fingers and hands

2. Hand and Eye Coordination

3. Problem-Solving

Paternity Leave Benefits

Are you married, pregnant and about to give birth or recently had a miscarriage?

If your answer is yes, continue reading the Q & A below to determine if your husband is entitled to seven (7) days paternity leave with full pay during your period of recovery.

What is paternity leave?

Paternity Leave refers to the benefits granted to a married male employee entitling him to his full pay for the seven (7) days during which he is allowed not to report for work, on the condition that his spouse has delivered a child or suffered a miscarriage for purposes of enabling him to effectively lend support to his wife in her period of recovery and/or in the nursing of the newly-born child.

Baby Wizard PH and a Giveaway!

I'm sure many are waiting for the giveaway to be sponsored by Mommy Joy of Baby Wizard PH.  Your long wait is over, finally it's here and I have good news for you my readers! Mommy Joy will not just sponsor Baby Wizard Cloth Diapers, but will also give Babywhiz Company store credit!  Yehey!  So watch out for my next giveaway which will be posted immediately after the announcement of this giveaway's winner.

About Baby Wizard PH

Baby Wizard PH is an online store selling Baby Wizard Cloth Diapers.  The owner, Mommy Joy is an authorized distributor of Baby Wizard in the Philippines.  She welcomes resellers.

Baby Wizard Distributor Certificate

Facebook Online Support Groups for Mommies

Almost everybody uses Facebook!  I myself read news on Facebook, shop online on Facebook, I chat with my friends on Facebook, I search people on Facebook, I join contest on Facebook, and so on.. 

Since I don't have the time to surf the internet all day to find the right information that I need, I started joining Facebook Groups. 

I would like to share with you some of the mommy and parenting groups on Facebook which I've joined to help me to be continually abreast with the latest information about parenting.

1.  BREASTFEEDING PINAYS

Medela Moms Brings you "Seeing Doubles" Multiple Support Group

Breastfeeding is a challenge for some moms.  I have friends who struggle with their milk supply and their babies are just singletons.  Although I am blessed with abundant milk supply for Baby C, I salute moms with twins who are exclusively breastfeeding their babies.  When Baby C was 6 months old, she can consume 25 to 32 ounces a day plus direct latching at night.  If I have twins, I need to produce around 64 ounces a day to make sure they will have enough milk supply when I am at work. 64 ounces expressed milk a day?! Wow!

If you were able to read one of my first blogposts entitled "My Pumping Paraphernalia at Work", you probably know that I recommend Medela Swing Maxi for working moms.  I bought mine from Medela Moms Inc., the exclusive and authorized importer/distributor of Medela Breastfeeding Products in the Philippines.  Medela Swing Maxi played and is still playing an important role on my breastfeeding journey.

We Love Babywearing

Below are photos of our family babywearing Baby C.  Me, Doc A and Yaya I.

Baby C at 6 months.  Recently I was told that front facing should be made with caution.  After that, I never carried baby front facing again.

Doc A babywearing Baby C using a Next 9 pouch.

Breastmilk Storage Guidelines Specifically for the Philippines

While still pregnant, I got confused with the different breastmilk storage guides I learned in seminars and read in books and in the internet.  In the end, I made my own time frame for my expressed milk and of course, I trust my nose and taste buds.

Last May 2013, one of the admins of Breastfeeding Pinays on Facebook posted guidelines which is specifically made for the Philippines.   This guide has helped a lot of breastfeeding moms especially those who needs to transport their milk or those working with no refrigerator at home. For those not yet members of Breastfeeding Pinays, sharing to you this breastmilk storage guidelines from the Trainer's Reference Manual "Gabay kay Nanay sa Tamang Pagpapasuso". 

Baby C's First Birthday Party Suppliers (Part 1)

Baby C's first birthday bash was a success!  Friends and relatives' feedback about Baby C's 1st birthday party is heart melting! Everybody, old and young enjoyed the party! Some kids even asked their mommies or titas when they will attend Baby C's next party.

So far, almost all the birthday suppliers were able to deliver and some performed even beyond my expectation.  Below is my list of suppliers and my rating for the first 5 suppliers, 5 hearts being the highest and 1 heart the lowest:

1.  Food: Verleo Catering

2.  Food Carts: Precious Party Needs

3.  Venue: North Greenhills Clubhouse

4.  Event's Stylist: Pink and Peach Party

5.  Host/Magician: Chayno

6.  Videographer:  Sophiaphotography 
7.  Photographer: Life at Imaginenation Photography 
8.  Cake and Cupcakes:  Hearts and Bells

9.  Photobooth: Snap Patrol Photo Booth

10. Souvenir:  Handicrafts atbp

11. Face Painting and Kiddie Salon: c/o Pink and Peach Party

OOTD: Purple Dress

Who loves playing Barbie Doll?   Well.. I do.  Errr.. I played Barbie until I was 14 years old because I love dressing her up.  I even sewed and knitted some of her dresses.   My sweet elder brother would always buy me a Barbie dress every payday.  It was only P50 per outfit way back 1990's.  

Now that I have Baby C, it was expected that I'll make her my Barbie Doll.  I started by making her cute hair trinkets.  Since I don't have the time to sew her dresses, and Doc A forbade me to spend much on her clothes..  I settle with whatever my friends or relatives gave her as gifts.  I mix and match and that's it.  

I've been wanting to post her OOTD since the day I started blogging, but I want her pictures taken while she's standing up.  Ohh well, baby can now walk unsupported but she won't let me take her pictures standing up.. alone!  So for now, here's her OOTD.  We took these pictures when we were on our way to a nearby church.

Look at Doc A wearing a purple t-shirt!  Nakiterno pa!

12 Months of Sweets

How do you celebrate your baby's monthly birthday?  

We celebrated Baby C's monthly birthday with a cake and I take lots of pictures.  I regret I failed to take a monthly picture of her beside a stuffed toy to compare how much she has grown every month, I'll just do that for our next baby.

Baby C's monthly birthday is our excuse to indulge in sweets.  Majority of her cakes were bought at the nearby Goldilocks Bakeshop.  When Baby C turned 10 months, Doc A started baking her chocolate cakes.  For Doc A's yummy moist chocolate cake, please click HERE.

Cloth Diaper: Our Story

I started buying cloth diapers when I was 6 months pregnant.  When Baby C was born, I have a stash of 22 cloth diapers.  We started using cloth diapers when she turned 3 weeks old since the smallest size that I have is still too big for her.  With 22 pieces, we have to wash every other day to make sure we won't run out of clean diapers.  I have 21 pocket diapers and 1 all-in-two (AI2).

Baby C at 3 weeks

Baby C at 5 months

Product Review: Define your Curls with Monea!

Who's curly?  Meeee! and I am loving it!

Last September, after suffering from post-partum hair loss, I had my hair digitally permed at Tony and Jackey Salon 168 Shopping Mall Branch.  Read about my it HERE. After the falling hair episode, my hair became very unruly and I have lots of tutchang.  Everyday is BAD HAIR DAY that I have to do something about it! 

After the perming session, the hair dresser offered for sale 2 bottles of hair products to maintain my curls which I politely declined.  I can't remember the exact price but more or less P2000 for the 2 bottles good to last for more than a month.  I know.. so mahal!

Chooks-To-Go Kwelavan

Last Saturday, The Binondo Mommy and I attended the Blogapolooza at SMX, SM Aura and Chooks-to-Go caught our attention.  They were having an interactive kwelavan and the bloggers were enjoying the games.  We also joined the fun and guess what?  We both won the grand price - a whole Chooks-to-Go Chicken!  Yehey!!

Chooks-to-Go Interactive Kwelavan

Posing with their mascot

We ate the chicken for lunch the next day and as expected, the chicken was malambot and juicy!  Indeed, Chooks-to-Go is masarap kahit walang sauce!  Doc A weighed the chicken and the result is .75 kg.  For only P194.00 each, Chooks-to-Go Sweet Roast Chicken is so sulit!  

Yummy Chicken!

Chooks-to-Go has sweet roast and pepper roast chicken.  They also offer other products like Fried Chooks Supersize, Chix 22 Bucket (22-piece Fried Chicken in a bucket), Chix 22 Half bucket, Juicy Liempo, Cooked Necks in a Bucket, Pork Barrel, and other frozen items like Spicy Necks, Chicken Nuggets and Chicken Licken Chicken Hotdog.  For a brief description of their products, please click HERE.

Chooks-to-Go now also delivers within Metro Manila. Their delivery hotline is 687-1010 from 9am until 8pm and the fee for every transaction is P30.00.

Do you also like Chooks-to-Go?  Show some love by liking their Facebook Page. 

This is not a sponsored post.

We Want to go to The Mind Museum!

As soon as I got home from the Blogapalooza yesterday, I showed my husband, Doc A and Yaya I the brochure of The Mind Museum at BGC, Taguig.   There are so many interactive exhibits to see and we know that a day will not be enough to explore everything.  Then we started to debate which gallery is the most interesting.  We debated and debated but there is one thing that we all agree on.. we want to visit The Mind Museum!

Ceelin Plus Syrup

Baby C was exclusively breastfed for Six (6) months.  She did not take any vitamins, water or solids.  Just pure breastmilk.  Breastmilk is sufficient as the sole source of nutrition for the first 6 months.  However, after 6 months, baby's diet needs supplementation by introducing solid food.  

When Baby C turned Six (6) months, aside from solids, I also started giving her multi-vitamins.  I thought this was enough until Baby C caught a bad cold giving her cough and congested nose.  It was so severe that her pedia prescribed antibiotics and we even bought a nebulizer for her.  At first I don't want to give the antibiotics because she was just 8 months then but I was advised that it might lead to pneumonia.

Barely a month had passed, I saw the symptoms again - congested nose, coughing and lost of appetite.  My sister-in-law, Florence, advised me to give Ceelin Drops.  To my relief, the cold symptoms went away after 5 days.  Since then, I have been religiously giving Baby C 1 ml of Ceelin Drops everyday together with her vitamins and lots of nutritious food.  Ceelin Drops is pure ascorbic acid.

Blogapalooza 2013: Join the Fun!

Calling fellow bloggers and business owners to attend Blogapolooza 2013 where bloggers will meet business owners, big and small.  This is the biggest event of the year for bloggers and this is the best place for business owners to be who want to effectively advertise their products and save at the same time.

To know more about Blogapalooza 2013, please click HERE.  

Hurry!  Only few slots left.  See you there!

You can Homeschool and a Giveaway

Can I homeschool?  This was the question I had been asking myself eversince I was pregnant.  After attending the homeschooling seminar conducted by The Learning Basket held sometime early this year where I heard testimonials of homeschooling parents and after talking to their smart children, I finally decided to homeschool Baby C.   

Baby C showing her tongue when she saw this flashcard for the first time.

BDO Junior Savers Club and Metrobank Fun Savers Club

I can still remember how my mom taught me how to manage my money when she opened a bank account for me.  My dad also taught me how to earn my own money when he helped me with my "samalamig" business one summer vacation way back 1993.  All my ang paos (cash gifts in a red envelop) and all income from my "samalamig" business were personally deposited by me on my bank account.  At an early age, I already learned the value of money and saving for the future.

Tutorial: Hello Kitty Bow Headband

I love DIYs!  For Baby C's Sanrio Birthday Party, I've decided to make a Hello Kitty Bow Headbands for little girls.  If only I have the time, I would DIY everything.  Eventhough I hired a party organizer, I still want to give the party a personal touch.   

Today was spent doing this Hello Kitty Bow Headbands.  I started at 10am and finished at 4pm.  All in all, I was able to make 32 pieces.  If I still have the time next Sunday, I'll make some more.  I'm sure these headbands will look cute on all the little girls in the party!

Hello Kitty Bow Headband

Kiddie Party Ideas IV: Giveaways by Handicrafts Atbp.

They are here!  The oh so cute kiddie stools I ordered from Handicrafts atbp for Baby C's Sanrio Birthday Party! 

70 pieces Ministool II

Kiddie Party Ideas III: Prizes

If I were a child again and I will attend a birthday party, what are the things that I want to see in that party so I will go home still raving about it?  These are the things to expect at Baby C's Brithday Party!  I won't enumerate them because this will eliminate the element of surprise since almost all my friends who will be there are reading my blog.  But for now, I will share what's no. 3 on my list..  PRIZES!

Missing my Spectra 3 Breastpump

I had my Spectra 3 sent for cleaning today, and I am terribly missing it.  It's barely a day since I last used my Spectra but I can now feel a plugged duct on my left breast.  I love this breastpump. 

Spectra 3 Double Electric Breastpump is sold at Babymama.  This pump has high suction power (but can be adjusted) and empties my breast faster than any other pumps.   This pump likewise dramatically increased my milk production.

Kiddie Party Ideas II: Sanrio Party Invitations by ART RECIPES BY MRS Q

Few weeks to go before Baby C's birthday celebration and it's time to send the party invitations.  While I frequent 168 Shopping Mall where there are lots of printing shops, I've decided to leave everything to my event planner, Pink and Peach Party. A week after sending the pictures of Baby C to Pink and Peach Party, I already received the invitations made by Art Recipes by Mrs Q.

Moringana Malunggay Leaf Capsules

I started taking malunggay capsules when I was 7 months pregnant with Baby C.  This was prescribed by my OB-Gyne in preparation to breastfeeding.  I diligently took 2 capsules a day and entertained only positive thoughts of having lots and lots of milk.  As I have shared on my previous posts, My Breastfeeding Miracle Story and Our Lady of La Leche, I am among those women who were gifted with abundant milk.  Until now that Baby C is almost 1 year old, I am still donating milk to other babies.  I believe that a mother's diet has a lot to do with abundant milk.  Although supplements are not necessary in order succeed in breastfeeding, to ensure that I stay nourished and in order to boost my immune system, I take Moringana Malunggay Capsules everyday. 

Source

Tuna Pesto Pasta with Chorizo Bilbao

I love pasta, I like the taste of chorizo and yesterday, I was craving for a canned tuna.  I gathered all the ingredients available at home and decided to cook a Tuna Pesto Pasta with a twist!  That is.. with King Sue Chorizo Bilbao.   The Chorizo Bilbao complemented the tuna pesto and added flavor to the dish.

Declared Holidays for 2014

Five (5) days ago, President Aquino signed Proclamation Decree No. 655 declaring the regular holidays, special non-working days, and special holidays (for all schools) for the year 2014.  There are 18 declared holidays next year plus the date of the Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha which will be declared after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined.  November 2, December 24 and December 26 are declared additional special non-working days.

Tony and Jackey Salon Makeover

To REBOND or to PERM?  That's what I've been comtemplating to do for months!  Now that Baby C is more that 10 months and breastfeeding experts said that breastfeeding mommies can rebond, perm or color their hair, it's about time that I do something about my unruly hair.

My last chemical treatment was way back August 2010.  I had my hair permed at Soyeux Cheveux and it lasted until October 2012 when I finally chopped off the remaining curls.  I enjoyed my curls back then because there was never a bad hair day.  I really want a perm but it is high maintenance compared to rebond.  Since I'm a busy working mom.. should I have a rebond or a perm again?

Moist Chocolate Cake by Doc A

We buy a cake every 8th day of the month for Baby C's monthly birthday celebration.  Since Baby C's 10th month fell on a Sunday (his cooking and baking day), Doc A decided to bake her a moist chocolate cake.  Doc A approximately spent only P350 - P400 for the ingredients.  Modesty aside, this is the best moist chocolate cake I have ever tasted.  Not so sweet, the cake was just as good after the last bite as with the first!  

I invited a chocolate addict officemate and her daughter for some slices and three days after, she was still raving about the cake.  She narrated that her daughter likes the cake so much that when she left the cake at school and found it the next day in the lost and found, she still ate it (without her knowledge but with the consent of the yaya).