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Shopping Tips for The Grand Baby Company Fair 2! January 27-29

Jan 13th, 2012

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Mommies, this is our chance to start the year with discounts and massive savings! The Grand Baby Company Fair last year was a major success that it’s going to happen again on January 27-29 at the SM Megatrade Halls 2&3. Up to 70% off on selected items! Read on below for some of my tips when shopping for baby and toddler essentials:

Save on shopping during this Baby Fair with these tips:

1. Make sure you have your SM Advantage card or if you already have the Baby Company Mom Card – the better! You may just earn valuable points and bonus discounts when you swipe those plastic cards.

2. Come with a list! Never shop without one. Identify big and small ticket items you will need for 2012 and depending on your baby’s age. Do you need a crib, high chair, stroller? This is the perfect event to buy them discounted but with plenty of choices. If buying big items, make sure you hit the mall early before the place is filled with more shoppers. You’ll also get to decide properly without being too hurried.

3. Small ticket items include the most important diapers, if you have extra money – buy as many as you can to save heaps! Your brand may have special offers like a pack coming with two extra diapers or with free toys/books. Make sure that your baby won’t outgrow the diapers though, be careful and estimate properly.

4. Other necessities you should look out for: baby wipes (follow the same rule as #3), clothes & shoes for important events, baby cotton buds, baby shampoos and washes. I’m sure you can name more!

5. Bring your green bag and if possible, bring your car with you if you plan to make the most of this sale so you won’t have to worry about lugging all your discounted hauls that will save you enough money for your savings account.

6. Pay in cash as much as possible, credit card machines may just be too busy during this time and what if they suddenly go offline? you get the picture! Plus, using cash lets you budget more.

Are you getting excited now? I am! So see you all there mommies

Posted in: baby, home and living.
Tagged: baby company · baby company fair · saving tips · shopping

Home and Living: Tiny Homes

Jan 11th, 2012

by admin.

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Whenever I need a break, I watch videos about tiny homes and it instantly unwinds me. I’ve mentioned so many times how I want to live in a smaller space, perhaps when I retire? Then I dream about writing my tiny house during quiet afternoons. It should really be quiet inside a tiny house eh? Watch this:

Because I think a house is just a house and most people give up their lives being slaves to their own dwelling. Imagine how many square foot you clean each day instead of living! A tiny home will present more time for living, adventure, and even resources Plus, it gives you less opportunities to hoard stuff you don’t really need and cultivate generosity.

Posted in: home and living.
Tagged: tiny home

Avoiding New Year’s Noise and Smog

Jan 5th, 2012

by admin.

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2012 is the first new year’s celebration I spent in a hotel, I always wanted to because I hate noise and pollution. Responsible mothers know that smoke from fireworks are dangerous for kids, especially babies. Last year, Ashton suffered from cough as soon as 2011 started.

Here are some handy tips I learned from my experience:

- Book a room in advance and as early as you can. You get better rates plus, a lot of families are increasingly keen to spend New Year in hotels.

- You can easily coordinate via email and ask for express check-in, provide the hotel with the info they need beforehand so you can skip filling up forms on the day of your stay.

- Check out the celebrations hosted by the hotel. Where we stayed at, there was a special New Year’s Eve buffet and a New Year’s countdown. Choose what’s best for you and your kids.

- Get the room wit a view of the city. So you can watch other people burn their money on fireworks

- Make the most of your accommodation package. Ours had a free New Year morning buffet so I urged everyone to wake up really early to enjoy breakfast.

Finally, enjoy a smoke-free night and day!

I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year, good luck to all of us in 2012 mommies!

Posted in: home and living, kids.
Tagged: 2012 · new year

Christmas with Uncle Sam’s Flying Circus

Dec 30th, 2011

by admin.

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We spent the day after Christmas with Uncle Sam’s Flying Circus inside the SMX. It was the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Christmas day and read: stress. If you’re a mother like I am then surely you know what I mean. So, it was a delight to be entertained by acrobats and clowns especially the thrilling stunts featured in the show.

Flying above the stage are acrobatic dancers with only draping cloths supporting them, no riding helmets or any protection whatsoever. There were plenty of times I felt like I was going to have a heart attack and my mom agrees. For the kids, I am sure they recorded how the performers jumped around the trampolines and how contortionists controlled their bodies. My 1 year old Ashton impersonated the performers by stepping on stuff and saying “tada!”.

Britney Spears and Lady Gaga were also impersonated and my mom bought a 500 peso disco stick for Ashton. It was great that my mom got to join us and she recalls very well how she brings my sister and I to the circus when we were small. My sister, the favorite pet (haha) had a picture like this but with Sesame Street’s Show poster. Mama insisted I take a shot just like so, this time – with her grandson Ashton.

We had a fantastic time at the circus and after, enjoyed a stress-free feast at Yakimix. All thanks to my sister Liza and Lloyd for taking care of the reservations. It felt just like how Christmas should be and I didn’t mind that it came a day later for me and my family.

Posted in: home and living, kids.
Tagged: ashton · circus · mama

Recipe: Herbed Focaccia Bread

Dec 19th, 2011

by admin.

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I’m an Italian food lover like most of us are. Pizza, pasta, and breads like focaccia, ciabatta, etc. And when you love something, you must learn how to make it if you want to save heaps of cash That’s my motto right there. So I bought bread flour from my neighborhood bakery at P50/kilo and tried making my own focaccia bread. I’m in luck as our pantry is blessed with dried herbs including rosemary (they are immortal) and Ashton’s grandma in the US sent parsley, basil, and garlic powder.

Focaccia Bread Recipe:

1 3/4 cups flour

1/4 cup olive oil (soak some rosemary in it if you have the time but don’t forget to strain)

1 tsp. yeast

1 cup lukewarm water

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 tsp. salt

more olive oil to drizzle and grease the bowl and baking pan

- Combine water, yeast, and honey and set aside for 5 minutes. Add olive oil and salt. Gradually add the flour in batches.

- With the hook attachment of your mixer, knead the dough for 15 minutes. Transfer to a greased bowl and leave for 45 minutes. Transfer to a greased rectangular baking sheet and let it rest for 5 minutes.

- Flip dough so that oiled surface is up and it’s easy for you to spread the dough out gently with your knuckles. Sprinkle choice herbs, mine had minced garlic, rosemary,basil, and parsley. Let the dough double in size for 1 hour.

- Drizzle with olive oil as you please and pop it in a pre-heated oven at 375F (Gas: 4-5) for 10-12 minutes. My technique is to turn off the oven once I can smell the bread from the living room

- Let the bread rest and serve as is or as a side dish for pasta.

Are you a pasta and bread lover? When I was younger, my sister and I loved Sbarro’s and we would go there after school while waiting for our mom to finish work. We ate so much we worry we’d have to wear plus size prom dresses but who cares right? Like what Wolfgang Puck would say, live, love, and eat!

Posted in: home and living.
Tagged: recipes

Maternity clothes – To keep or to give?

Dec 5th, 2011

by admin.

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So it’s been about two years since I was pregnant and I badly miss the feeling, more so when my maternity clothes jump out of the closet. They no longer fit, obviously – and it would be such a waste if I try my zero sewing skills on them. Should I keep them inside a trove or simply give them away?

If you’re a mom like I am, sentiments easily fill the house. I still have the belly belts, the wide shoes for women, and the XL under garments. So awhile ago I was devicing a way to get rid of them but not entirely, meaning I still get to see these momentous items. Giving them away to someone close is a great idea, especially this Christmas when I vowed to give “meaningful” presents instead of “new and expensive” gifts.

Remember, maternity clothes are normal clothes. It’s just that they are a size or two bigger than your ordinary clothings – so find someone of this size whom you know will appreciate them. I already have a person in mind and I am sure she will love them! I’ve barely worn my maternity dresses because Ashton came way too early.

What about you? Where are your maternity clothes now?

Posted in: home and living, pregnancy.

Shopping Tips for The Grand Baby Company Fair 2! January 27-29

Home and Living: Tiny Homes

Avoiding New Year’s Noise and Smog

Christmas with Uncle Sam’s Flying Circus

Recipe: Herbed Focaccia Bread

Maternity clothes – To keep or to give?

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