Money Matters for Kids is back!

Three years ago, I took N to an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila to jumpstart her financial education.  I wrote about our experience here.  N was about 3.5 years old then and admittedly, she wasn't mature enough to fully appreciate the activity.  I wanted to bring her back when she was a bit older but there wasn't any there scheduled exhibit until this year.

Activities for August Breastfeeding Month

Breastfeeding Awareness Month is happening next week!  As always, it is packed with activities to promote, support and protect breastfeeding and further the breastfeeding advocacy.  Let me start with L.A.T.C.H.'s big event this August -- Breastfeeding Uncovered 2014: Mission Possible.  LATCH has expanded to Cebu and Davao cities and we decided to bring back Dr. Jack Newman to visit 3 major cities in the Philippines.

His first visit last year was well-attended and with the release of his new book, we hope that more healthcare workers, breastfeeding supporters and breastfeeding mothers can hear him speak.   

A #BetterMe Make-Up Session with The Painter's Wife

Make-up is not my strongest point.  Save for 1-2 eyebrow pencils, all of my make-up items are given to me as gifts or as part of swag bags.  My mom was not fond of make-up and had the barest minimum and I guess I learned by example.

However, being a professional, I realized the need to learn how to put on make-up.  Did you know that my former boss gifted me a make-up kit (hint! hint! I should start putting make-up more often!) which until now I have never fully utilized?

Summer with Owl Coffee Philippines

Phew! I'm in the middle of a career change and although I decided not to work full time this summer, I feel as if I am busier than ever.  I realize that ferrying the kids to their summer classes and doing activities with them take up a lot of time.  I know I haven't written a lot for the past couple of months and I hope to make up for this in the 2nd half of 2014 (crossing my fingers!)

A Mother's Day Raffle with Elin

Mother's Day is coming up and I want to do a raffle for readers of this blog to celebrate.  I've had my Elin affiliate link up for about two months now and I am very thankful to my readers for clicking on it whenever they shop at Elin.

As I shared in my previous post, Elin has been my go to brand for chic casual pieces even when they were not yet carrying maternity clothes.  I was really pleased that they included nursing wear in their catalogue, providing classic and affordable pieces for their clients.

Owl Coffee Now Available in the Philippines

I first encountered Owl Coffee at one of my regular visits to Little Store in Gilmore more than 1 year ago.  I was curious about instant Singaporean coffee.  I've tried the Singaporean style coffee in Ya Kun Kaya and Toast Box but haven't had instant coffee, Singapore style.

I immediately purchased several packs in different varieties - Teh Tarik, Nanyang White Coffee and the Kopi Tiam Roast.  Not bad, not bad at all for instant coffee! I need to have my daily coffee at the office and I was very happy with the wide variety offered by Owl.

so many choices!

Sunday Slowdown at Spiral Manila

Several Sundays ago, N and I were invited to join the Mommy & Me brunch at Spiral Restaurant at Sofitel Manila (Thanks Jackie!).  I had a bazaar that day so I was yaya-less as both my yayas had to set-up for the bazaar.  E had to tag along with Achi and me. Fortunately, he cooperated.

Stan and I spent our last anniversary at Spiral Manila.  I also purchased an Accor Advantage card early this year and in fact, we will be celebrating N's graduation at Spiral this week.   Thus, when we received the invitation from Blessy and Jane of Sofitel's E-commerce group, I immediately said yes and brought both kids along.

Join the Nurture Run for Breastfeeding + Giveaway

Last week, I attended the Bloggers for Breastfeeding event at Recess by Chef Chris.  The event was to promote the upcoming run for breastfeeding - Nurture Run 2014 spearheaded by Beauty Brains and Breastfeeding.   More details in the poster below:

World Down Syndrome Day

Today is World Down Syndrome Day and I would like to share this beautiful video with you:

Quick Cooking with Tiger Corporation's Tacook

Tiger has been a part of kitchens in all the households that I have been part of.  When I was a child, growing up in Davao City, I remember my mom's kitchen filled with Tiger appliances.  When buying a hot pot or a rice cooker, my mom always reminded me to buy only the brand Tiger.   My own kitchen has Tiger thermos, a small Tiger rice cooker and various Tiger food and drinks containers.  Even my mother-in-law has Tiger addiction - every trip back from Singapore includes a Tiger product in her luggage.

When I started bringing packed lunch, my first container was the insulated Tiger lunch box.  I also had drinking flasks from Tiger so I could bring my own coffee to the office.  E received this thermal jar which I previously used to bring home taho.  Now, we make our own taho and E uses this flask to keep his taho warm.

Mom Pop Up Goes to Rockwell!

Since the success of last year's Mom Pop Up, we had been after Rone to organize another one.  After months and months of pangungulit, this summer's Mom Pop Up is finally happening on 16 March 2014 at Hidalgo Place, Rockwell, Makati City.

What I especially love about Mom Pop Up is that it is an intimate event at a small location.  Plus, the hours are short - so not too tiring for this part-time mompreneur.  There is a fair number of shops who will be participating.

LATCH at NNC-NCR's Breastfeeding Forum

In mid-February, I was fortunate to be invited to the National Nutrition Council - NCR's Breastfeeding Forum and Photo Exhibit held at the Kaban ng Hiyas in Mandaluyong City.  I met the NCR's Nutrition Officer Meren Francia through breastfriend Kate Demetrio - also a Nutrition Officer of the NNC.  Meren and I worked closely on the Nanay Bayanihan project so when she asked me to share about the Milk Code, I readily agreed.

The Breastfeeding Photo Exhibit was the showcase of the various projects of 16 cities and 1 municipality covered by NNC-NCR to protect and promote breastfeeding.  Did you know that each of these cities (and municipality have breastfeeding support groups?  The members of the community-based BFSGs now number more than 3,000, resulting in the gradual increase in breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates in the NCR.

showcase of LGU's breastfeeding activities

Lunch with Cheska Kramer for Cycles Sensitive + Giveaway

It's the last day of the love month and let me end it with another giveaway from Cycles Sensitive.  Cycles Baby has been a part of our life for the past 7 years.  When we had N, we were conscious about the products that we use on her body and her clothes.  My early research showed Cycles Baby laundry detergent to be the mildest product for baby's use - and so we chose that laundry detergent for N's clothes.

Eventually, I was surprised to find out that Eveolution, Inc., the company behind Cycles Baby, is owned by college batchmates - Dennis and Emily.  With 5 kids, they found themselves having had to import products from abroad to suit their sensitive kids.  They decided to expand Cycles Baby and develop a bath and body line to meet their needs - and so, Cycles Sensitive was born.

Cheska with Dennis and Emily

Bebe Chic Diaper Bag Giveaway

It's time for the long over due Bebe Chic Diaper Bag Giveaway! The owners of Bebe Chic, Catherine and Mike Dy are long time friends who I met during the first bazaar I joined.  As I was going through my draft posts, I realized that Catherine had first asked me to do the giveaway back in May 2012 - almost 2 years ago!  (Sorry Catherine!!)

Painting Her Destiny

I first learned about Nice So when fellow SoMom Tiffany of Breakfast with Tiffany posted pictures of her artwork in our group page.  Tiff also shared that Nice had been diagnosed with lupus.  But instead of feeling sorry for herself, she paints to support her medical treatments.

Gingersnaps is 20 years old!

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed several recent posts I shared showing N in this floral Gingersnaps outfit.  This outfit was chosen by Stan on occasion of Gingersnaps' 20th year anniversary!

Did you get carried away? The F.A.B. Babywearing Fair

What a Saturday!  The tropical storm Santi was within the Philippine jurisdiction and we had 2 events happening that day!  The first activity was LATCH's Save the Best for LATCH which I will post about separately.  This was followed by the F.A.B. Babywearing Fair - Get Carried Away!  Friday night, I was really worried about having to cancel especially since we had paid a non-refundable fee to the venue and supplies.

Fortunately, Santi decided to leave the Philippines earlier.  Weather significantly improved and by Saturday afternoon, it was just drizzling.  Since everything was booked and set-up, we decided to push through with the event.

We Love Mustela!

If you follow me on Instagram, you will definitely notice that my favorite brand of skin care products for my kids is Mustela.
I first discovered this brand when my daughter was diagnosed with lichen striatus.  I was using another product recommended by her pedia-derma.  However, the product did not have any list of ingredients. After further investigation, I found that it contained parabens!!  No wonder the company didn't list any ingredients on its label!  Sadly though, other products under this same brand is being marketed as being the best product for newborns.

Mustela Display at one of the bazaars

Thank you Estee Lauder for this Sibling Date

My sister and I are one-year apart and are very close.  In our home in Davao, although we had separate bedrooms, we never slept apart.  Both of us slept in my bedroom until we moved to Manila for college.  We only started using our separate bedrooms now that we each have our respective families.  

A low cost lactation clinic in the Philippines?

This merits a special post.  I am writing this post to support Kalusugan ng Mag-ina, Inc. and help them obtain funding from Grand Challenges Canada to establish a low cost lactation clinic in the Philippines.  One of the criteria is vote-garnering using a 2-minute video.

The video voting period is from 12 September 2013 until 15 November 2013.  We need your help!  Here is the write-up of Dr. Lei Alfonso, project proponent:

We need your help to be heard Breastfeeding saves lives. While it is free, our mothers and babies need a supportive environment to receive its full benefit. Our proposed solution - A LACTATION CLINIC that will provide a low-cost, evidence-based, and community-based breastfeeding support for mothers. Increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding impacts newborn and infant survival. 

You can vote by visiting this link:
http://applications.grandchallenges.ca/en/viewVideo/28735E6AA3EC3CB5D1B5B03A

short link - http://bit.ly/votebreastfeeding

Then click "LIKE".

I cannot overemphasize the need for trained counselors who are easily accessible by mothers.  With this project, I hope that dream will become a reality.  I have seen Dr. Lei in action and I know that she has the capacity and capability to make this happen.

Will you help?  Please vote, share the link and spread the word!

Edit:  Please note "LIKE" is not enough.  There must be public interaction so please register and comment.  Thank you!!