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.

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.

Stopover in Seattle

My trips to the US are always synonymous to outlet shopping and this trip is not an exception.  Actually, a trip to Seattle was not in our itinerary.  We were only going to be in Canada for 2 weeks and transferring from one place to another with 2 kids in tow, sans yaya, was something I didn't want to do.  However, since all of Stan's siblings would be traveling to Seattle and we've never been there, we decided to brave the trip, especially since it included a trip to an outlet.

A Nursing Mom's Shopping Guide: ELIN Maternity and Nursing Wear

I am excited to see more and more brands that offer breastfeeding friendly clothing to Filipina mothers.  I had been a fan of Elin when they were still focused on mainstream clothing.  When I found out that one of their partners was going to have a baby, I become more excited because I hoped that a breastfeeding friendly line would follow.  And apparently, I wasn't far off!  They had already expanded into the maternity line because they found out that a lot of their customers were using their clothes as maternity wear because of the comfort and fit.  Naturally, because Martina is breastfeeding (yay!), the nursing line followed.

My favorite Elin top during the launch of
LATCH's Snuggle Wuggle Wee

Mom Pop Up at the Fort!

I started my online store because I wanted to promote a natural lifestyle among fellow moms.  From breastfeeding, cloth diapering, babywearing, my new focus now is having a green or an eco-friendly period. You can see this from the variety of menstrual products I have in my store - ranging from several brands of cloth pads and menstrual cups.  

Online Shopping? Try Taste Central

As a full time working mom, I am addicted to online shopping.  My favorite local deal site is Deal Grocer.  I have booked several vacations through them - from Misibis Bay, Crimson Resort, Taal Vista plus countless of vouchers for lunches and dinners in various restaurants.

I was pleasantly surprised and excited when they launched a shopping site - Taste Central.  I am a huge fan of shopping sites such as Zulily, Gilt and HauteLook.  However, since these are US-based sites, I have to wait for months before I get my purchase.

Visit Next9 and Mamaway at the Grand Baby Fair (and report Milk Code violations)

Any shopping plans this weekend?  The Baby Company Grand Baby Fair is happening from 1 - 3 February 2013.  My friends from Next9 and Mamaway will be sharing a booth!  You can purchase Mamaway items at a discount.  Pumpease pumping support bands will also be available at a special prices! ;)
Meanwhile, you can catch next9 head mama Jen CC Tan and get tips on babywearing or simply ask for tutorials on how to wear your ring sling.  She will also be distributing her lovely babywearing postcards during the fair!

Grabbed from Next9's Blog

For Stylish Naima: Pois, Belly and Kids

With a photographer for a husband, the upcoming holidays are a perfect excuse for more family pictorials!  Since we do "themed" pictorials for the kids' monthly shoots, I am looking for a more "classic" look for the holiday family shoots.

Shopping Report: Mommy Mundo Bazaar

Finally done with the only bazaar that Mama.Baby.Love is joining for the Christmas season.  I try to limit the bazaar activities I join because E's yaya is my tindera.  So when we join bazaars, it really gets hectic at home since we have to do double duty.  

Mama.Baby.Love booth

E with Ninang Jonie in front of her booth

Thanks to babywearing, I was able to keep E quiet and secure while I checked out the shopping finds at the bazaar.  Guilty me was not able to give E a lot of solid feedings on Saturday.  When dinner came, he wolfed down rice and chicken like a big boy! I made up for it on Sunday and fed him a heavy breakfast - egg omelette.  For lunch, he had fish and potatoes at Kulinarya. Plus fish fillet as snack at the N@W's Christmas party and chicken and rice for dinner!

E tanks up at lunch. 

What I like about Mommy Mundo bazaars is that it offers not just targeted shopping opportunities but also the chance for me to catch up with my fellow mompreneur friends.  Because I've been joining Mommy Mundo since 2009, I've actually become good friends with several "regulars" like my neighbor - Nursingmom, Celestina & Co, Mommy Treats, The Eco Baby Boutique, Hatch and Latch, Chubby Cheeks Baby, Wonderworld Toys, Mommy Matters, Medela Moms, Googoo&Gaga, Manila Baby Shop and Babymama.

I'm seeing double! Audrey of Googoo & Gaga at her booth
and chatting with Tricia of Dizzy Dress

 I was able to meet Tricia of Dizzy Dress.  N has a Josephine Baker dress in large and she loves twirling about in it!  Still saving up for a 2nd Dizzy Dress.  I also tried the Next9 x Googoo&Gaga collab sling in Rising Sun.

Meanwhile here are some of my finds from the Mommy Mundo Bazaar:

Plush & Play toys from GK, yummy chocolate chip cookies from
Mama L'Oca and the Mustela line of products (we love the Stelatopia line)

 This booth was near the SoMoms booth so I kept going back to check out the products.  This started as a thesis project of some Ateneo students and eventually expanded to a "real biz".  What is unique about Amaize Clothing is that it is made of corn silk!  The owner shared that she uses their long sleeved tees for running and they give a dri-fit feeling.  They are currently focused on children's clothes because the corn fabric is hypoallergenic and is best for kids.  I purchased a ruched tee for N which came with pink pearls.

Amaize children's clothing from corn silk

 I also purchased a Gangnam shirt for N from Bug & Kelly.  Both my N and E are fans of Gangnam. N will be wearing the shirt tomorrow with Jen's K.

Gangnam shirt

 Meanwhile, I chatted up with Pink Lemon's Beth LimChu.  Beth owns a textile store and blogs as Divisoria Mama.  She is my to-go person whenever I have questions about where to find xxx in Divi.  Beth revived her clothing biz and now does children's line under Pink Lemon.  She can also customize children's clothes - perfect for the holidays!

Pink Lemon clothes for the holidays!

 Also found my yayas' uniforms which I bought from Snuza's Sheryl.  Also purchased this set of decorated wooden clips from Sitting Pretty. I enjoy looking at pretty things and I was influenced by Celestina's Ethel to buy!  Ethel purchased a magnetic board to hold her children's artwork.

Snuza, Fiddletops, Sitting Pretty and R. Trevi's booths

Claimed my Mom 24/7 planner - ready for 2013!

I was also intrigued by the MEG teddybear cellphone from R. Trevi.  It allows you to program 3 numbers and can be converted into a baby monitor! Costs P3,200 and I am thinking of purchasing it but worried about exposing N to too much cellphone radiation since it will be with her everyday.

Since there was a SoMoms booth, I also had fun chatting with my fellow SoMoms who shared the same time slot with me - Jen, Neva, Elai, Kris, Tin and Fleur   We were even graced by the presence of honorary SoMom - Oli!

2-day Bazaar was tiring but fun!  Looking forward to the next one in May 2013!

Introducing Mommy Mundo SoMoms

During the early days of N, the internet was my best friend.  I was always chatting with friends especially about breastfeeding and newborn care.   I also didn't work for the first 6 months of N's life and found that I had too much time on my hands.  I was micromanaging our household and bugging S to death.  I decided to bring in nursing bras because I noticed that there were very limited options locally available.

Where to Buy: Baby Carriers

Sleeping in a Maya

Interest in babywearing has grown by leaps and bounds! During our meets, we often get questions on where to buy carriers and what carriers are locally available.

Love our homemade abel wrap

Here's a list of brands locally available and where they can be bought.  If you find more carriers, do post a comment and share!  Click the names of the brands to be linked to the websites or Facebook pages where they are available. 

Slinging in a Hotslings AP

Ring Slings

Next9 - Click here to see list of retailers.
Mamaway
Tickled Moms

Bosom Buddy (see reader's comment below)
Maya Wrap - purchase from Abbie Yabot - 09178292268.  Can also purchase from The Medela House

Pouches

Blissful Babes Pouches
Mamaway

Indigo Baby (pouch) - special line available in Rustan's

HotSlings - from The Eco Baby Boutique and My Baby and My Sling
Peanut Shell
Lucky Baby or Suppori Sling from Japan

MeiTais
Ruxpin Meitai - purchase from Eden by calling 631-5629

Tickled Moms 

Dad loves the SSC

Freehand Meitai

Strolling in a Ruxpin Hybrid

Hybrids and Wraps

Saya
Ruxpin Hybrid - purchase from Eden by calling 631-5629

Bailey Wrap

Sleepy Wrap
Baby K'Tan
RaiTai Wrap

Soft Structured Carriers

Ergo - brought in by Richwell Trading, available at all Baby & Co. stores

Boba
BabyGearz Baby Cool G2

Get ready for a FAB event!

Guess what's coming up on the last day of March?

Giveaway: Marshmallow Mama's Milkin' Cookies!

Congratulations to Cyrene Ng and Michelle D Boras for winning the giveaway!

Early this year, fellow lawyer Joyce contacted me and asked me if I wanted to sample her milk-making goodies.  Joyce previously posted as guest on this blog while I was on extended vacation in April.  Joyce shared how she decided to move from being a full time lawyer to a full time mama.
Joyce has now ventured into a new business - baking - and has been making Mango Malunggay Milking Cookies since October 2011.  She has asked her breastfeeding friends to sample her products and was met with success!  Her friends reported that their milk output increased after 2 days of eating 3-4 cookies per day.  The main star of her cookies is the local malunggay, instead of the usual fenugreek and brewer's yeast.

OT: It's a Quirks Marketing Warehouse Sale!

Perfect way to start your Christmas Shopping!!

Save the date and stock up!  It will be on November 12, 2011 at Atlanta Centre, Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan.

Mothering Earthlings Feature

I'd like to welcome my newest blog sponsor, Mothering Earthlings.

This online store is run by one of the quirkiest blogger around - Rone Guerrero who maintains a really fun blog and tweets as Earthlings Mama.  The blog chronicles the crazy antics of her 2 earthlings and how she manages to cope with them.

N had this onesie!

She also maintains the online store Mothering Earthlings with a counterpart international store focused on bringing together various unique Filipino brands and making it easy for moms to shop for their own earthlings. The store also carries well-loved mommy brands such as Next9, Nursingmom, Indigo Baby and Mommy Matters.
But what makes this store stand-out would be their line of Earthling Gear! Currently, Mothering Earthlings is the sole retailer of my favorite baby clothing brand - Agoo Baby - alternative and edgy apparel for newborns and infants.  Aside from that, the store also has one-of-a-kind baby clothing from Azatri,  googoo&gaga and Planet Baby.
Still pregnant? Don't forget to sign up for the store's baby registry and you definitely won't be disappointed with the gifts you'll be getting for your baby.
Rone plans to bring more interesting Filipino brands to her store.  So don't forget to like Mothering Earthlings on Facebook and keep updated with the newest brand!

Sunshine Babies

If you haven't noticed yet, I have another new blog sponsor!  I'd like to extend a welcome to Sunshine Babies Boutique, one of my blog sponsors for September.

Sunshine Babies Boutique is owned by Em Malana, a mom of 2 who singlehandedly runs and manages the boutique.  Em launched her store when her interest in cloth diapers was piqued during her pregnancy with her second baby, Sophia.  She fell in love with the variety of cloth diapers available abroad and discovered that most of the shops she patronized were started and run by moms!

Hatch & Latch

I just want to welcome my newest blog sponsor - Hatch & Latch.

Hatch & Latch was started by Helen See, a breastfeeding mom who was frustrated with the limited products available locally for nursing moms. She decided to bring in the brands and products that she used and found helpful.

Just some of the ways you can wear the convertible dress

Her brands include Maternalove, a nursing wear brand from Singapore with a fabulous convertible dress - allowing moms to wear the dress in 10 different ways from maternity to nursing. I already purchased one in blue! Helen also brought in Motherlove, an organic herbal company specializing in breastfeeding supplements that help increase breastmilk. Prices are reasonable. I previously had a blog giveaway for the nipple cream where I shared that I bought the More Milk Special Blend in Hong Kong for HKD$390. The same product is locally available for Php1,950. Other products include the NiNi Toy Bungee and MilkBands Nursing Bracelet. Their newest product is the Bellybuds which allows mom to share the benefits of prenatal music with the baby.
Do check out the Hatch & Latch website and Facebook page today!

A Happily Ever After Story

*This is not a parenting or breastfeeding related post! :D

Last Wednesday, I coerced Stan to drive me and we braved Juaning to attend the book launch of Samantha Sotto-Yambao's Before Ever After.  Thanks to OCMominManila, we were lucky to be able to meet her at Cibo, Glorietta 4 before the crazy launch in National Bookstore in Glorietta 5.

photo from Manilamommy

Talk about 6 degrees of separation.  Turns out that Sam was married to The Painter's Wife's college friend who was the brother of my college coursemate!  Anyway, being the good students that we were, Manilamommy and I had finished the book before the coffee meet-up AND had a list of questions we wanted to ask Sam.

Shopping Guide: The Cloth Pad Diaries

I had been wanting to switch to cloth pads ever since my period returned at 19 months postpartum. However, I was hesitant to do so because I didn't know how to start and was unsure if I could sustain it.  Finally jumped the gun and imported several brands through my online store.   Use of cloth pads is still new in the Philippines but several brands are now available.

Unfolded cloth pad

Jane's Cloth Pad Stash

One of my mompreneur friends - Jane who runs The Eco Baby Boutique has 3 brands in her store - Fresh Moon, Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys.

Meanwhile, in my online store, I likewise carry three brands - Mama Patch, Luna Pads and Domino Pads.

So why use cloth pads? Jane shares "[c]loth pads are not only healthier, they're earth-friendly, budget-friendly (if you use disposable pads 5 times a day for 7 days each month for 40 menstruating years, it all adds up to quite a lot!), and so much more comfortable, too!"

Another recent cloth pad convert, Margaux shares that her period has become shorter and lesser compared to when she was still using disposable pads.  Imagine if you menstruate for 33 years (12-45 years old) and use up about 20 pads per month? That would be 20 x 12 x 33 = 7,920 - almost 8,000 pads being thrown away by each woman!  And that's not counting the pantiliners if you do use them!
I think a major concern that women have with using cloth pads is washing them.  Jane shares her laundry tips - "Washing is easy -- simply rinse them under running water, or soak them in cold water for 20 minutes, then throw them in with the rest of your laundry!"

Read more of Jane's laundry tips HERE. Just like cloth diapers you can choose to include your cloth pads with your laundry or handwash them.  I hand wash my pads and usually soak them overnight to get rid of the stains.  Right after using the pads, I scrub the stain with PERLA soap, then soak overnight.  I'm usually able to wash the pads clean the next day. For persistent stains, I scrub the stain with PERLA and let it hang outside under the sun.  The stains then wash right off!

My cloth pad stash

The choice of cloth pads is very subjective and use varies from woman to woman.  I'd recommend that you do your research about the brands locally available and try to buy at least one cloth pad at first.  Similarly, using cloth pads is not an all or nothing approach.  You can start with just one or two pads, then slowly increase your stash as your body adjusts and you find the best mix of cloth pads to suit your needs.

I didn't purchase all my cloth pads at once but built up my stash slowly.  Also, I started by mixing cloth pads with disposables until I found the best cloth pad to use for a specific time or day.   Happily, 2 periods before I got pregnant, I was able to use cloth pads fully during my cycle.  Now, my cloth pads are on a break until after I give birth and with my experience with N, it will probably be about 2.5 years before I get to use them again!

Check out the cloth pads available over at Mama.Baby.Love and The Eco Baby Boutique!

Mompreneur May!

Aside from maintaining this blog, I'm also a mompreneur and run an online store. Since my items are quite specialized, I prefer to join bazaars targeted towards pregnant women or moms with young children. I'm pleased to share that this May, there are 3 such bazaars coming up! With the growing number of mompreneurs, I hope this information will be useful in your business.

First is Expomom** at The Rockwell Tent on May 7, 2011. I have been joining this bazaar since May 2009 because it is well-promoted and used to be the only bazaar targeted to moms. However, rates are quite expensive (at least P6,850 for 1-day for a 2x2 booth if you are a mompreneur, signed up for their Mommy Passport and paid 2 months early!) and this is good for one-day only. Plus there is a prohibition on sales of nursing wear - so Mama.Baby.Love and Mamaway clients - in case you're wondering why we don't bring our breastfeeding clothes during Expomom, this is the reason why. If you're interested in joining Expomom, contact Mommy Mundo.

This is why I'm quite happy to see and will definitely be joining 2 more bazaars for May! On the 2nd week of May (May 14-15, 2011), it will be Along Came a Baby at the World Trade Center. Jonie of Mamaway joined the 2009 event and was quite happy. Fee is P9000 (P8500 if you pay before 28 February 2011) for 2 days for a 3x3 booth. If interested, you can contact the organizers for details.

Finally, there is Mommy Diaries on 28-29 May 2011 at the NBC Tent (Fort). This event is organized by The List Group, who also organized last November 2010's Port88 bazaar. Booth rate is P8000 for 2 days with an early bird discount of 10%. I think this is their first time to do a Mommy Bazaar but I do hope they market it well. Interested parties can email the organizers directly for details.

What I like about the last 2 bazaars is that the rates are cheaper (P3600-P4250 per booth per day) AND there is no prohibition on nursing wear/breastfeeding clothes. For Expomom, one of the co-presenters is a nursing wear brand which is probably why they don't allow other brands to join BUT what I don't understand is why there is another different brand that is allowed to join the event? Inconsistent policies don't you think?

Anyway, I'm glad that there are more activities for mompreneurs available out there. I hope the organizers are able to market their events well - but definitely, I will also market the events that I will be joining.

*Disclaimer: I have joined Expomom since May 2009. I will be joining Expomom May, Mommy Diaries and Along Came a Baby 2011 with Mamaway. Unless otherwise indicated, this post reflects my own personal experience.

**I asked Janice of Mommy Mundo for comments on this post regarding rates of her projects and here is her response:

We do hope that inspite of Expo Mom being "more expensive" in rental fees, that you will also recognize and somehow appreciate our sincere efforts in supporting and helping promote your business. This is why Mommy Mundo was set up in the first place, and why we thought of coming up with the Mommy Mundo passport, our Cebu and Davao events, and why we have our publications and websites. We work very hard to get the moms to know of us and of you, so that we can all keep our businesses running and we can be happy and fulfilled  mompreneurs.:)