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!"