10-Minute Mediterranean Pasta

The Mediterranean diet consists mostly of healthy fats and oils, nuts and seeds, vegetables, whole grains,  fish, and cheeses. I believe this is one of the easiest way to cut down on unhealthy carbs and incorporate veggies in your meals without sacrificing taste.

I won't lie, I am a carnivore. I seriously can and would eat an entire cow if it was wonderfully grilled in front me. Sorry to disappoint you, vegans, but I see cows and lambs as perfectly grilled and seared steaks. I won't be all hypocritical and tell you to eat your veggies, cut down on meat lest you die of cardiac arrest. Despite my advocacy on healthy eating and living, I will not be a moral compass of sorts. For when it comes to food, ALL IS GOOD and only greed and gluttony is evil.

Happy Meals: Quick and Healthy 10-minute Meals

In between being a hands-on mom, running a household, two businesses, a day job, and this blog, I barely have the time for anything at all. I'm no supermom and I know I can never be. I doubt I'll truly be able to strike that perfect balance between family, and pleasure for I know if there's one thing I'd truly pour all my heart into that would be my child. I'm pretty sure most moms would agree.

So anyway, a couple of months ago, someone asked me if I cook. My ecstatic response was: A LOT, I LOVE COOKING! I don't remember a time when I didn't feel excited nor passionate about cooking.

Sorcery

I may be the biggest dork in the world for all I care but for the life of me I just cannot bear this stupid simulation games that asks you to build your own citu and they make you do all these stupid tasks like buy a pie or whatever. Meh. I am just ranting.

But seriously, I hate tat these games are programmed to be so annoying, tedious,  but highly addicting. OH THE EVIL SORCERY! 

Mommy Mundo Clearance Clear Out Sale 2013

Smart moms just wanna have fun! Calling all budget-savvy moms, gear up on the latest mom-baby products without breaking the bank at the 3rd Mommy Mundo Clearance Clear Out Sale happening on August 16-18, 2013 at the Rainbow Room, Fun Ranch Building, Frontera Verde, Pasig.

Get samples, stock outs, past season items, and discounts of up to 75% off from over 30 most loved brands for moms and kids. 

Participating mom-loved Brands Cluebebe, Crumbs & Grubs, Born Baby Stuff, Bug & Kelly, Tiny Tots, Silly Monkey Clothing, Tots & Toddlers, R. Trevi Concepts, Bulilit Bookstore, Little Luees Locker, Jejsy, Starkids, Wonderworld Toys, Indigo Baby, Shop Mommy Matters, Nurture Nook, Tomatoberry, Baby Shop PH, Nursingmom Manila, Mama & Me, Philips Avent, Goody, Aprica, Ants Pocket, Chicco, Safety 1^st , Ergo Baby, Elle Apparel, Hot Wheels, Pigeon, T-rrific by Inked/Chubby Cheeks, Shooshoos by Tyler Marketing, My Baby Dragon, and more! 

Shop 'til you drop and load up on your pre-holiday shopping with BPI Credit Card. 

Because this sale is especially for you moms, get a free gift from Mommy Mundo for every P1,000 purchase using your BPI Credit Card.

Retail Therapy: 24/7 Shopping

Shopping— it's one of the best therapy for women and a man's worst enemy! Seeing pretty things is definitely a top stress buster and if only I had the luxury of time to window shop/shop all day, I would. But alas, with the demands of my daily schedule with family, work, business, and  trying to juggle and balance all three along with my personal needs, there's really no time to be wasted travelling to the mall, huddling along the crowd, and waiting in long queues at the cashier.

Wonder Years

Lately I have been feeling like a stranger and alone in my own (and well, fairly new) world of motherhood. It's like those weird years when you were still trying to decide whether you want to stay being a kid or grow into an awkward and confused pre-teen.

This world of motherhood I somehow don't know how to fit in. To say the least, the amount of friends I have that are moms are like 2 or 3, and whenever I try to do mom-talk with them I tend to be too "motherly" and sentimental that everything just turns out to be too awkward for us that we just give up on the topic altogether.

The rest of my friends are either happily single, unfortunately single, depressed and single, single without a choice, in a happy relationship, in a relationship, in a im-so-head-over-heels-in-love relationship, and the oh so, in an annoyingly-too-mushy-get-out-of-my-face-and-get-a-room  kind of relationship. They talk about their boyfriends, girlfriends, failed conquests, and future conquests while I talk about my son. They post photos of them eating, drinking, kissing, and mushing all over social networks while I post photos of my son in every unimaginable sleeping position and angle possible. 

Discovery of the Week: Pure Lanolin

Magic in a Tube!

Pure Lanolin is used to heal and soothe dry and chapped nipples and dry skin/sore bum due to diaper rash. I had this annoying dry, sore, and cracked patch on my hand that won't go away despite the layers and layers of lotion and cream I slather on it. So last night, I thought why not try Pure Lanolin? If it's safe enough to be applied on nipples/ingested by babies, it's safe enough for my extremely sensitive skin, right?

Mood of the Day

Oh hey, Monday!

What They Taught Us In Kindergarten

Remember what they taught us in kindergarten?

The Working Mom: Making Moments Count

How do you make each moment count? By creating special memories that your child will never forget.

Image Source

Belly Blessed Fest 2013

Calling all expectant moms and dads! Celebrate the magic of motherhood and wonders of womanhood at the Belly Blessed Fest 2013!

Celebrate the many joys of pregnancy with Belly Blessed Fest 2013! A three-day event dedicated to expectant moms, Belly Blessed Fest will be held from July 12 to 14, 2013 at the 2nd and 3rd Level Atrium of The Podium Mall in Pasig City.

There’ll be exciting interactive stations to delight expectant moms and dads-to-be like the Pregnancy Portrait Booth, Clay Medallion Making Station, and a wishing wall where moms can write special messages to the miracle growing inside their wombs. Alongside the activity stations will be booths showcasing the latest mom and baby products and services in the market today. Moms-to-be can also browse and shop for essentials at the mompreneur booths.

There will also be products for toddlers and children, Crumbs and Grubs Lactation goodies and snacks for expectant and nursing moms. As part of the Mommy Mundo events' tradition, there will be raffles throughout the day.

Delayed Cord Clamping

It has been a while since I wrote about natural childbirth. I have been wanting to share about what I practiced (Delayed Cord Clamping and birth practices, in particular) when I gave birth to baby dragon, but lack of time got the best of me. Whenever we discuss my birthing options and plan, one of the things I was very particular about with my OB was Delayed Cord Clamping.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/o68j9jb

Delayed cord clamping is the practice of delaying cord cutting and clamping until the cord has completely stopped pulsating—about 2-3 minutes after birth. This is to ensure that upon childbirth, blood and nutrients from the placenta are transferred to your newborn. It provides your newborn additional oxygen, iron stores, stem cells, and an increase in blood volume about—1-2 months' worth of your baby's iron requirements. This is very important as iron is very crucial in preventing anemia and in aiding the brain development of infants. It is even more beneficial for preterm infants as it protects against against Sepsis and Hemorrhage. There are moms who even practice leaving the cord and the placenta attached to the newborn until it falls off on its own.

Beautiful Endings with Cif

What do we, moms hate most about housework? 

EXPECTATION:
How I wish I looked like this while cleaning.

REALITY:
A toned-down version of how I really look while cleaning.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica, I am terribly missing you! 

Cold Busters! Battling Colds the Natural Way

"Sunny days sweeping the clouds away. On my way to where the air is sweet." Well, sunny days have bid us goodbye and the rainy (or monsoon, as how we'd call it) season is here yet again. There is nothing like a long bout of cold or flu to welcome the season!

Better arm up with tons of vitamin C to fight the bad guys!

Check out my super quick and easy badass cold busting smoothie recipe that will definitely knock out those viruses before they can say "GOTCHA!"

Grab your handy dandy trusty blender and start of with some...

 How about them apples? 

Unpeeled Apples. Yes, with skin on cause we're badass like that. Seriously though, do NOT peel your Apples! Aside from the extra fiber, the peels contains natural substances that does wonders for your health! 

The Wonders of Reading + Look It's About Me Review

Whisk me away to a magical dreamland!

I am a self-confessed book addict (veering away from the name "bookworm" so it doesn't sound too dorky. Hihi). I love books. I carry them anywhere, everywhere I go. I could literally sit on one corner for hours on end and finish a good book or two. See, I have always been fascinated by the wonders of books and reading. Books have this special power of taking you to places within and beyond your imagination (and sky is the limit if you let it be!). They capture a certain sense of adventure, magic, and wonder that nothing else can replace. 

With every book I read, I know that within every page is an adventure waiting to come alive, a story waiting to begin, and a mystery waiting to be unfolded! Books are just one of the greatest things in the world.

This is why at a very young age, I am determined to share my passion of books and reading with my son. I have loved Dr. Seuss all my life! His works were actually one of the first few books I got for my son. Read more about it here. 

Whenever things start to feel a bit gloomy, I always look to Dr. Seuss for some inspiring words of wisdom.

See, one of the things that made me love books and reading even more is that there is no age limit to it and you only need your eyes and your sense of imagination and wonder. Children are never too young and adults can never be too old to go on an adventure. These thin sheets of paper creates a wondrous portal that provides every reader a very unique experience.

Now, this is somewhere I wouldn't mind getting lost in!

Amaize-ing Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Amaize Clothing contest!

Please send me an email or a private message on the Happy Mommy Adventures Page for details on how to claim your prizes.

Affirmative Parenting

I guess I never really thought about "Affirmative Parenting" until a friend commented on how so close my son and I are with each other and how we effectively communicate. I was practicing affirmative parenting without actually realizing it.

She commented on how happy, cheerful, and contented J seems. He's never been a difficult child (from pregnancy til now), he's just cheerful most of the time and smiles/tries to communicate with everyone he meets. She mentioned something about J and I being so connected and communicate effectively as I understand and quickly respond to his needs & cues.

See, I bring J everywhere I go- whether to work, events, spontaneos strolls, and of course, to mommy-baby dates. A lot of the people we meet comments on how cheerful and laid back the little man is.

Since he doesn't know how to talk yet, J and I communicate through body signals, cues, and through his little "baby words". As an infant, he would wave his hand when he wants to nurse. At 2 months old, he started speaking "baby words"/phonetics. He would say "Bababa" when he wants to nurse. He'd raise his arms and mutter "Geegeegee" when he wants to cuddle and take his nap. When he does something naughty or starts being impatient, instead of reacting negatively, I give him positive/affirmative words. Take for example when I am working and he wants to play-- when he gets impatient, he would start muttering words and express his frustration. I would tell him, "Sweetheart, please let me finish working first then we can play." As soon as I finish, I'd tell him, "Thank you for patiently waiting. You are such a good boy!" then play with him. Keeping him happy is easy as he knows how to actively communicate and express himself.

Sniffles and Boogies: BabyComfyNose Review

J is and was never a sickly child. I owe it all to breastfeeding and I am so grateful that he's never been ill since birth—given a couple of fevers from his initial vaccinations. He never got fevers with the succeeding shots. 

Since he has started eating solids, I gave him a whole egg for breakfast and he developed allergic symptoms that night. He was feeling so uncomfortable and kept waking up in between quick snoozes. He finally got so frustrated  gave in, and cried. He was crying so bad due to sleepiness and the discomfort caused by the allergic reaction that his nose started to run. His runny nose added to the discomfort which caused him to get even more frustrated and cry—and so the cycle goes.

I have 2 bulb nasal aspirators—a regular one in grey that came with his Safety 1st First Aid and Grooming Kit and a white American Red Cross-certified aspirator with added features such as a safety stopper (to ensure that it doesn't slip through your child's nasal canal) and a draining chamber. I have tried using both and I must say it's quite annoying and frustrating to use. It doesn't effectively extract/suction out mucus.

Our Bulb Aspirators: Safety 1st (grey) and American Red Cross (white)

Every Single Day...

It's almost the end of another work day. I anxiously watch the clock's every movement 'til it strikes 6.

I hastily grab my things and scramble to pack it all together as quickly as I can.

I can't wait to look into those bright, round eyes as I hold you in my arms.

I can't wait to ask you, "How was your day, love? What did you do? Did you have fun? I love you, sweetheart!"

Give Your Kids an Amaize-ing Day of Play

Kids. They just love to play, sweat, and get gritty-nitty down right dirty. For them, playing is a form of learning—which I strongly believe in! They achieve holistic learning through the mental and physical stimulation of playing. They are like tiny sweat machines running on curiosity, excitement, imagination, and wonder. Play is such an amazing, magical, and wonderful part of a child's life. When I say "Play", I mean the kind of play we as kids enjoyed—playing in the streets, getting dirty, stinky, and sweaty—because every kid likes to play and they really love to sweat!

Sweat. It's every mother's worst enemy. Not only do you get dirty and stinky kids, there's also a chance of them acquiring coughs, colds, and skin diseases.Chuck away your "bimpos", "lampins", and wet wipes. You can now chill out and relax cause there's a new and Amaize-ing guy in town to put all your "sweat fears" to rest.

To The Little Man Who Deserves It All

Dearest Little Man,

As millions of moms celebrate Mother's Day today, I could not think of a single reason why I deserve to be honored on this day, without thinking about you and how much you deserve this day as much as I do.

Sweetheart, I will always be grateful for having an amazingly wonderful little man in my life. No words can nor ever will be able to express how truly grateful and privileged I feel to have you in my life.

You have taught me unimaginable strength—fortitude that only a mother can truly understand. I can be the strongest and most fearless woman, yet I cringe in fear at the mere thought of you getting hurt. I am weak to your sweet little giggles and smiles.

Dream Bedroom Makeover: Handicrafts, atbp

Congratulations to the winners of the Handicrafts, atbp Dream Bedroom Makeover Giveaway!
Please send me an email (within 2 days) at thehappymommyblog@yahoo.com for details on how to claim your prizes.

Happy Hippy

Being a mother have made me a braver, stronger person. It has also caused me to be confronted with so many fears and worries for my little one.

One of my greatest fears is not being able to provide a good environment for him— a world where children once climbed trees, caught frogs in the pond, swam in the clear blue waters of the rivers and seas, and were nourished with Mother Nature's great harvests. 

I fear for the day that he will no longer know about the graceful and swift flight of the mighty eagle, to see the playful dolphins of the ocean— dancing along the clear blue current, to hear the orchestral chirps of the birds in the early morning, to feel the soft kisses of the fresh mountain air as the morning fog glides along his soft, chubby cheeks. I fear for the day that Mother Nature will no longer be the beautiful goddess that she is.

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” 

Aristotle

The Day The Machine Broke Down

I hate hand washing. I mean, for the life of me, I will not hand wash a single article of clothing. Like, come on, what use will the machine be for if not to serve its purpose?

It's not that I am lazy-it's just that I choose not to. Don't get me wrong, I know how to do housework. Heck, I am as domesticated as a stepford wife, throw in the OC issues and I am IT!

I am really loving how so sexist this poster is. It makes me want to grab a mop and  scrub the floor til it gleams, while making my man a sandwich!

What I hate about hand washing is that it's just too time-consuming; and with my schedule nowadays, time is literally GOLD. I would give up my love for Johnny Depp just to have another 5 minutes of uninterrupted snooze in between hitting the snooze button ( a million times, if I may add!) on my alarm clock and floating in a sleepless coma.

The Power is Within You!

There is something about a woman's intuition that is amazingly baffling. Perhaps it's because us women are more in tune with our selves--- particularly our thoughts and feelings. Isn't weird how so on point it seems? As if we have this weird "spider sense" that tingles everytime we feel "the sour sweet winds in the air" (pardon me, but in Seuss-talk, it means "trouble". Geez, I am such a dork!). But yeah, isn't it weird when you feel like something bad is about to happen and you just can't explain why things feel so wrong; then BAM! your "premonition" comes true! How many times has this happened to you? There is actually a word for it and it's called "intuition"- A thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning (thank you, all mighty Google!).

Nanny Rose's Anti Hairfall Winner

Congratulations to the winner of the Nanny Rose Anti Hairfall Giveaway!

You win:

1 Bottle of Nanny Rose's Anti Hairfall Gugo and Lawat Shampoo

1 Nanny Rose's Four Slices Raspberry Cheesecake Beeswax Lip Balm

and a Nanny Rose's Totebag!

Have a happy and hairfall-free summer, Melanie!

The Working Mom Diaries: Wednesday

Wednesday.

I was busy discussing our post-holy week strategies with the boss, revising an article that needed to be published, yada yada. Everyone was bouncing off the walls  with nervous and stressful energy. We all just wanted to get the week over with, just take these 4 precious days off to go home and be with our families.

I just wanted to finish all my tasks, log out of my email account, and shut down the computer. Yes, it is that single task that makes me feel alive at the end of every tiring day. It's like a confirmation that I still have a life beyond work, like killing off the machine signals freedom and peace.

Nursery Room Makeover + Handicrafts, atbp. SUPER Giveaway

In my previous entry, I was working on several design ideas for our baby's nursery room makeover. With so many design ideas to choose from, I found it a but challenging to pick one (as I loved all of them!) so I decided to go with my beloved Dr. Suess!

If you are a regular reader, you would know how much I love Dr. Seuss! I've been reading his works since I was a kid, up to now that I have a child of my own. Isn't it so great to get to share with your kid the wonders of your own childhood? I also wanted to impart with little J the magical benefits and value of reading, and incorporating Dr. Seuss' works into his environment would be a great start!

Check out the mood board I have come up for our super baby's Dr. Seuss-inspired nursery!

Our Very Own Project Nursery

Nursery rooms, babies, and room makeovers, doesn't that sound so exciting?! I don't know about you but whenever I hear the words: room makeover, renovation, design, and nursery together; thoughts come racing in and they turn into flashes of designs and oh-my-god I get all giddywiddy zoned-out like a kid on LSD!

Err, someone got too excited for a second there! See, what I told you?

Well, the little man is turning 5 months old next week, and as a form of tradition, we have been celebrating his birth date every month. This time, we wanted to give him a special gift that's practical and will last him through his toddler years.

Nanny Rose's Giveaway

Nanny Rose is giving away a goodie bag for moms suffering from post-partum hair fall!

1 lucky mom will win a bottle of Gugo & Lawat Anti-hairfall Shampoo, 1 Four Slices Raspberry Cheesecake Lip Balm, and 1 adorable canvass bag from Nanny Rose's!

Post-Partum Hair Loss

Let's discuss something that most moms with babies as J's age experience- Post-Partum Hair Loss. Grrrr, it's annoying, disgusting, and scary, all at the same time! Imagine taking a bath one day and finding HUGE clumps of hair clogging up the drain. Think about brushing your hair and seeing a handful of hair stuck in between the bristles, with more hair falling off your shoulders and on the floor. Totally annoying and terrifying. I thought something was wrong with me or that perhaps my shampoo was too harsh.

I shall not post any photos of my hairbrush nor the clogged drain as they are too graphic. It would seem like "It" from the Addams Family resides in both. So anyway, as it turns out, post-partum hair fall or hair loss happens to all moms who have recently given birth and it goes on up until your child reaches the age of 1. One year old, seriously???

Things I Love: Summer Must-Haves

Summer is here! Get your skin prepped with these lovely, all-natural products for that healthy, glowing, beach-ready skin!

1. Nanny Rose's Sticks and Pulls All-natural Honey Wax Hair Remover: Get ready to put on that bikini you have been wanting to wear all year long! Remove those unsightly hairs in the bikini and underarm area the natural way with Nanny Rose's Sticks and Pulls Honey Wax.

2. Nanny Rose's After Wax Salve: Show your newly waxed skin some love and slather on some after wax salve with a delicious and nourishing concoction of calming and soothing Chamomile, Sweet Almond Oil, and refreshing Cucumber. 

3. Mir and Ryvi Organics Beauty Soaps: Get that beautiful and healthy glow from nourishing face and body bath soaps from Mir and Ryvi. Made from all-natural and organic ingredients that nourishes your skin. Each soap is formulated to suit specific needs. The Tomato Soap gets rid of those annoying face and back acne, Papaya Soap gives your skin that wonderful bright glow, while the Banana skin has skin lightening and anti-aging properties.

With these products at hand, you are sure to get that beach-ready healthy glowing skin!

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Challenges and Answered Prayers

The little man is being quite a challenge these past few days. He's not one to be fussy nor high maintenance. A few days ago, as I was starting to get frustrated I suddenly realized something really funny.

A few years ago, I asked the Lord to give me more patience. In return, He gave me a little guy who would teach me how to be patient and more.

I asked the Lord for strength and He gave me a little man who would be my rock, as I would be for him.

I asked the Lord for prosperity and He gave me hands and a mind to create things, which in turn helps me earn a living.

I asked the Lord to teach me about love and He gave me a little man to love and nurture.

I asked the Lord to teach me about forgiveness and He gave me people who have proven to be quite a challenge.

What You Need to Know About The Number One Child Killer

Last February 23, we were invited to join other mom bloggers at Mommy Mundo's launching of PLAY. During the event, we learned about the importance of expressing your love for your child through bonding activities.

As parents, our main concern is to keep our children out of happy, healthy, and safe by providing a loving home for them and by ensuring their protection from any form of harm. We learned that one of the leading causes of death among children 5 years of age and below was Invasive Pneumococcal Disease or IPD.

Here are some important things you need to know about one of the leading killers of children, under 5 years of age and its most common form, Acute Otitis Media or AOM:

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Congratulations to the winners of the Crumbs and Grubs Lactation Goodies Milkin Pack and Strip It! Hair Removal Sugaring Kit!

Please check your emails for information on how to claim your prize.

What's In Your Diaper Bag?

Along with motherhood comes exchanging your make up bag/vanity kit for a diaper bag. It's an essential part of your "baby bag" so it's important to have your complete kit ready for those spontaenous days when you just feel like taking your baby out for a stroll.

A diaper bag need not to be so bulky and overloaded with diapers, rash creams, and other products. You also need not buy a special diaper bag or expensive changing kits. As long as you've got the basics covered, a tiny bag or purse will suffice. And come on, who would want to lug around huge bags while going about town with your little one?

No. HECK NO. I will not be caught dead carrying these.

Witching Hour

It's 4am and I have just finished working. The plan was to actually just check an email and I ended up working my way through the very last email, sending out inquiries, reports, requests, etc to clients and workmates.

As if I'm not being workaholic enough, my mind is being bugged by the thought that there's no weekend to look forward to as I have tons of baking to do.

Spunk it up!

As I was freeing up some hard disk space tonight, I came across some of my old files that I used to post on my previous blogs, pre-motherhood era. It felt like I stepped into a long-forgotten part of me. I felt like a total stranger stepping into a totally different world where Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, leprechauns, unicorns, awkward jokes, installation art, design, and random useless but interesting trivia existed.

Keeping my pimphand strong!

Weekend Warrior: Expo Kid Year 5

Young and old, alike has such a blast at the recently concluded Expo Kid Year 5: The Ultimate Summer Activity Fair at 500 Shaw Events Place, Madaluyong. This year's theme was D.I.Y/Handicrafts. Mommy Mundo gave us parents creative and fun ideas on how to make our summer productive with the various featured activities, booths, and programs that sparks one's creativity and imagination- from DIY craft from Craft MNL to fun worksheets from JackenPoy.com.

Expo Kid Entrance

Holistic Parenting: A Healthy Child is a Happy Child.

When it comes to protecting your child, how far would you go?

Last February 23, we were invited to Mommy Mundo's launching event called PLAY, a disease awareness raising campaign at the Playdium at Fun Ranch, Frontera Verde Pasig; along with 24 media moms and their children. PLAY stands for Protection, Love, and Activities for Young kids. It's about expressing your love for your child in a holistic approach-by providing your child with a happy and healthy environment.

How do you provide a happy environment for your child? By spending quality time with him through enriching and stimulating activities that promotes parent-child bonding. This is what the event taught us moms (and dad- hi, Marc!) through the fun activities they prepared for us. There was a parent and child amazing race/treasure hunt, a word scramble, and a puzzle game, among others.

Expo Kid 2013: The Ultimate Summer Activity Fair

For the past 5 years, Mommy Mundo has been actively promoting dynamic learning through engaging, fun, and mentally stimulating activities for kids every summer. This year, Mommy Mundo will be holding the annual Expo Kid at 500 Shaw Events Pavillion on March 2, Saturday. 

Expo Kid, now on its 5th year, will showcase a wide variety of activities, exhibits, demos, and programs for children of all ages! Together with this years event partners, there will be key event features such as Interactive activity stations from Jackenpoy.com, Craft MNL, Kids Klub, and Provenance Art, among others. There will also be on-stage programs such as ballet performances, sports, arts and crafts, and more. 

A New Adventure

Image from www.gettyimages.co.uk

As you can clearly see, I have been lagging so much on my posts. The past few weeks have been such a whirlwind of adventures and (misadventures) that I haven't had enough time to sit down and write...well, I haven't really had time to even sit down!

Last January, I started working. Oh man, it is definitely a whole new wide wide world! I never thought shifting from an entrepreneur to an employee would feel any different. Boy, I was wrong! It was definitely challenging. I'm used to being the one barking orders (errr, embarrassing as it is but I'm admittedly an OC slave driver...well, just a bit!). Although I still give directives every now and then, I now have a boss to answer to.

Honestly, my first few weeks on the job felt like hell.

Philippine Red Cross: Run to Save Lives

Million Volunteer Run Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Million Volunteer Run 2?

The Million Volunteer Run is a fruit of a successful first-ever Million Volunteer Run last December 2011. The run was staged simultaneously in 78 cities of the Philippines with a nationwide total of over 400,000 participating runners. With the incredible impact it has created in the recruitment of volunteers for the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), we have now declared it an annual event, thus, the Million Volunteer 2 will take place on February 10, 2013.

What is the goal of the run?

Our goal is to train all our volunteers as humanitarian soldiers when disaster strikes. In line with this effort to build the nation's capacity to cope with life-threatening emergencies, the funds will be raised for the Red Cross 143 Volunteers Training Program on disaster management, equipping the Filipino communities with life-saving tools. The Philippine Red Cross is completing its extensive network of one million volunteers in order to deliver our services effectively and successfully through this run.

Su-su-su-sugar town!

24 hours in a day definitely isn't enough, especially for new moms like me. If we could only stretch the hours and make so we could have enough "me time" (SHOWER, get pampered, SLEEP) and "mommy duty time" (chores), we would. When you're a mom or someone who doesn't have enough time on their hands, it's so easy to neglect ourselves.

When the Going Gets Tough

Being a (new) mom or a parent sure isn't a walk in the park. You have to always take into consideration your child's needs above all when scheduling activities. You also have to always keep yourself in check as you are now responsible for another person. You are now in-charge of taking care of someone else other than yourself.

A lot of first-time moms have such a difficult time when it comes to adjusting to their new lives. Giving birth and adjusting to a new routine requires a lot of energy that you rarely get to have time to even shower and do household chores. This is where hiring a yaya comes in. Personally, I am not against it. The idea just doesn't seem appealing to me. I am a first-time mom so I'm very curious and excited about everything baby and motherhood-related. I want to be as hands-on as much as I can, growing and learning along with my little man. This doesn't mean that the idea never came to mind. Daddy J have actually been bugging me to enlist the help of a yaya/housekeeper, so I won't have to do everything on my own. As a mompreneur, my instinct would be to save, save, SAVE. I instantly dismissed the idea and moved on. 

Sweet Sundays

The Best Gift: Gift of Knowledge

I had some "me time" today and went on a whim and bought books for baby dragon. I got him my beloved Dr. Seuss books! Oh, happy day!

I really want to impart my love of reading and Dr. Seuss to my little man. Hey, it's never too early to start learning! I believe that the Gift of Knowledge is one of the best gifts a parent can give her child. 

Milk Diaries: Breastfeeding is a Choice.

Breastfeeding is a Choice. I believe that and I respect it. But what if you choose not to due to lack of knowledge or support from family, friends, and even your doctor and medical institutions? Make the best choice.

Breastmilk is the best and only milk that is acceptable and sufficient to nourish a newborn/baby. Breastfeeding is one of the best gifts you can give your child, from birth onwards. Please don't get me wrong. I am not being self-righteous when I say this. I believe that breastfeeding is a choice, that every mother has the right to choose what she thinks is right for her child. I just hope that moms would give breastfeeding a chance and realize the countless benefits it gives to both baby and mommy. I believe that breastfeeding is THE better choice. It is one of the best way to bond and express your love for your child—this was a concept that was kind of vague to me when I was starting out with breastfeeding, and before I started pumping/indirect feeding. You see, there's this certain connection— an ultimate expression of love, a bond that only a mother and child can have; when you hold your child close, skin to skin and you feed and nourish him with food you and your body has produced. It's such loving, magical, and wonderful experience to create special moments of love and bonding with your child. 

Let's Get Physical...in 30 minutes! Circuit Training

For as long as I can remember, I have always been such an active person. My mom told me stories of how I was like my super hyper little man when I was his age. At home and at school, I would race my friends and played all day long, with my high energy level never ceasing. In grade school and college, I played football and was a member of the Women's Varsity Football Team. We played against burly women who played the sport professionally, and against our very own Men's Team. I also played amongst a Men's Team at the University of the Philippines. I was so brimming with energy even during my pregnancy that I ended up in the hospital, twice. I was moving around too much that I had strong contractions and almost gave birth prematurely (good thing my doctor was very cautious and prevented it)! A few days after giving birth, I was already moving about, walking all the way from my hospital room to the car.

Milk Diaries: My Breastfeeding Journey

It's 4:20 am and it's been an hour since baby has woken up from his day long slumber. He is at my breast, feeding, as I type this. It's almost been three months since baby dragon and I have started on this loving and wonderful breastfeeding journey. I can't believe we have come so far, inspite of all the hardships we have gone through. We came through, and boy, is it such a sweet achievement!

For new moms and breastfeeding "virgins", let me give you the lowdown— breastfeeding is not a walk in the park— BUT, only for the first few days to weeks, that is. This is not to discourage nor scare you, rather to arm you with the knowledge to empower yourselves and have the confidence in you and your body's capability to nourish your child. 

Spreading the Love!

Happy new year!!! I'm so excited to announce my first giveaway for this year. Crumbs and Grubs is sponsoring a giveaway for all pregnant and nursing moms. Read on to find out how to win a Mommy Milking Goody Pack from Crumbs and Grubs.

Modern Mom Successful Mompreneur Tips: Client Meetings

In today's fast-paced world, a lot of moms I know are into managing their own businesses. The modern mom is one who manages her business and household, while taking care of her self, like a well-oiled and groomed machine! It isn't easy multi-tasking, with taking care of the family/kids/home and running a business. Being a mom and an entrepreneur means you have to be constantly on the go and always on call, no matter what time of the day it is or whatever you are doing.

A New Year, A New You

Hard as it may be to believe, Christmas has come and gone again for another year. Now people across the UK are looking forward to 2013, and making resolutions for the new year. According to the Metro newspaper, the top 10 resolutions for 2013 are:

1. Travel
2. Get Fit
3. Treat Yourself
4. Quit Smoking
5. Sober Up
6. Lose Weight
7. Do Something Nice
8. Get a New Job
9. Save Money
10. Expand Your Mind

Medela Harmony Manual Breastpump Review

Medela is a brand well-known among breastfeeding mothers. It is one of the most widely used and most established brand of electric and manual breastpumps. The brand has also received numerous positive reviews . As a first-time mom, given the countless brands of breastpumps in the market, with price and quality in consideration, it was overwhelming to choose one that's best suited for my needs.

Medela pumps and/or most breastpumps, for that matter, can be quite expensive, with prices ranging from P3,000 up to as much as P100,000++, which is why it's very important to choose a pump that's best suited for your needs and will last a long time.