Update on Random Things

Citrus Water with Home Made Turon

My version of DIY Citrus Water. This was inspired by Mary Grace Cafe. Another way to have your water smell and even taste better. I'm trying to cut off my intake of tempting Coca Cola Soda or Iced Tea.

Poured over some chocolate syrup and the joy of eating this home made turon doubled a thousand time. hehehe. I am really a certified sweets enthusiast.

Turon sprinkled with Hersey's Chocolate!!! Yum!

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Early Christmas Presents for Baby Jared

Mommy Jhan was a bit excited and have her few purchases for Baby J wrapped as early as October! hahaha. Mukhang mapupuno ng maaga ang aming Christmas Tree! :-)

Shopping Cart

SHOPAHOLIC? Yes I am!!! I can relate so much to Becky Bloomwood. (the lead character of Sophie Kinsella's book series on Shopaholic) But I am proud because i am better than Becky Bloomwood. I still can control my shopping expenditure. :D

In fact, I am incomparable to her in a sense that I am not a signature or branded shopper. As long as I have a purchase, even it costs less than P10 or a thousand box, the feeling it gave me is still the same. :P

For me, shopping is like an elixir that makes me on high!!! I remember, my boyfriend (now my husband) will put his hands on the side of my eyes (like those of horse's blinkers to make them focus on the road itself, keeping their eyes from seeing beside and behind) whenever we pass to Landmark, Glorietta, then to SM before we take the MRT. It is his sort-of-effective way of keeping me walking from point A to B with very minimal distractions of whatever items are on display. Hehehe. Makati girls who take the MRT (Ayala Station) can relate to me on this. Because the short cut or better say air conditioned long cut going to MRT is  from Landmark's 2nd level (Women's Floor from trinkets, shoes, apparels & bag, etc.) then to Glorietta and then to SM, Makati. Imagine the distractions or many "window shopping" I do every night. (Happy Me!!!) Then after taking off from North Edsa MRT Station, there are couple of malls again that brightened up my eyes. (Trinoma & SM North Edsa) Hahaha!!!

There was also this period in my life when A and I were already engaged (2009) and we were really trying to save every penny we earn for our wedding day, I literally avoided shopping malls. My almost everyday mall tour was put on hiatus. I tell you, it made me frustrated, down and blue. It was totally not healthy for me, physically (physically daw oh? well, shopping can be an exercise! Walking non-stop from one level to the other. From one boutique to the other!!! :D) and emotionally.

Like what I say, I really feel happy whenever I have a small bag or a new purchase with me before going home. Be it food, accessory, one tank top and even one ballpen or post-it pad!!! I am simply in a bliss.
I also don't mind where to shop. Be it in sophisticated malls like Rustans to the overly crowded Divisoria.
As long as I do my shopping (even Window Shopping) in a regular basis!!!

Sharing with you some of my latest mall find that I am so proud of!!! :D

Shower Curtain:  Peso Power = P150; I actually bought 3 with different designs :D

Serving Bowl: Peso Power = P55; I bought 4 different colors!!! :D

I am actually planning to go to Divisoria for my first batch of Christmas Shopping before people from all corners of Luzon flock their way starting Nov to Dec.

--- Shopaholic Mommy,

It's a Bronze!!!!

Yey!!! I earned my Bronze Boobie Award last week, Sept. 28, 2011. I'm exclusively breastfeeding baby Jared for 3 months and 3 days to be exact!

Whew! This is not easy job you know?! I am a working mom and just got back to work last Sept. 5. It is really challenging for me! VERY CHALLENGING!!! Why? Because I am always on meetings and going out a lot for client calls. To sustain my milk production, I need to express milk at least every 2-3 hours. But because of series of meetings everyday...and very long list of unread emails...i ended up expressing every 6 hours. There were couple of days, I expressed 8 hours in between. This was bad and resulted my right boob to decrease milk production. My regular produce will give me 4oz per boob. But on my 3rd week at work, my right boob produced only 1oz. It's a big No No for me. I was so frustrated and sad for being too focus on work. *Sigh*

Good thing, when I went to my OB for my 2nd dose of vaccine for cervical cancer, she shared with me some tips to help increase my milk production. I increased my in-take of lactating supplement from once a day to twice a day. Drink lots of water. Include soup in my main meals everyday. Not ordinary soup but soup with MALUNGGAY leaves. My husband is actually complaining that he is so (nasusuya) so sick of Malunggay now!!! hahaha!!! He said, he can be a substitute and can offer his own boobs for milk. hehehe. And, the most important of all is to make sure that I will expressed milk at least every 2-3 hours to help stimulate milk production.

True enough, with discipline and a lot of effort, I was able to revive and put my milk production back to normal. I'm producing a regular of 3 to 6 oz per boob!!! Yey!!!

So, I'm very very happy that when I reached 3rd month, I was again on high!!!

Kudos to other nursing mothers!!!

I am a proud Bronze Boobie and counting days to reach Golden Boobie Award!!! :P

Notes:

Nursing for 3 Months = Bronze
Nursing for 6 Months = Silver
Nursing for 12 Months or 1 Year = Gold
Nursing for 24 Months or 2 Years = Platinum

Celebrating Bronze Boobie Award!!!

1st Parteeehh!!!! part 2: The Cake

As mentioned in my previous entry, the chosen theme for our son's dedication is "Angry Birds".

First, I tried and inquire from our trusted local bakeshop Goldilocks and Red Ribbon to check if they have already theme cake for Angry Birds but apparently...None. They only have the regular baby cakes , disney, cars and Ben 10 cakes for boys. And so, the search for a good patissier (Pastry Chef) started. Knowing Multiply and Sulit, I've search and search for suppliers doing customized cake. Also bumped to a theme cake supplier "Cakes R Us" in Megamall whom the owner was very accommodating and helpful. I almost seal the deal with Cakes R Us, however, someone pledge to get my son his Angry Bird theme cake and so, sad to say, I have to backed out and withdraw my order.

I already have a sample Angry Bird Cake that I want the cake supplier to copy or at least customized for us. It's just a simple 8" cake. Not a fan of styro layered cakes! For me, all should be edible! :P
At first, I was thinking of having cupcake tower cakes with 8" cake on top. However, again, due to budget constraint, I have to limit my choices. *Sigh*

I even tried to look of a caterer who can do all the package from food, cake, tarpaulin and party favors similar to what Max's Restaurant offers. But even if caterers are willing to have such package, still, they won't be able to do customized theme cake.

And so upon searching, inquiries here and there, exchange of emails from one supplier to another, I settled and chose Icings 'n' Sprinkles. The owner, Anna Yap has suggested a theme angry bird cake design she already did for her previous client and showed it to me if I want it that way too. With the limited time left to place the order and decide, I said Yes to the available Angry Bird cake design. It is not made of fondant and gum paste molding but she promised me that same tasty and shelf-life quality will be preserved.

True enough, the cake was beautifully tasty. Everything edible. Well, except for the sticks that holds the Angry Bird cookie and the letters. c",)

I loved the chocolate cake. It's not too sweet and moist. The soft texture, just right. The icings are my favorite...it's really so yummy!!! The cookies, though hard (as expected) is delicious too!
If I am to rate, 5 the highest, it will be:

Presentation & Design: 4
Taste: 5 
Customer Service: 3
Peso Power: 4 (At P1,250 or approximately 29 USD, I find it sulit)

Here's the cake made by Icings 'n' Sprinkles

Munching on the Angry Bird cookie after the party!!! :P

Happy Mommy

1st Parteeehh!!!! part 1

work + demanding baby = busy mommy


Yes! That's ME :-)


I returned for work last Sept. 5. And for 2 weeks, I've been busy already (as expected). Meetings here and there, updates here and there and long list of unread emails that even added more pressure and stress.


Even before I return for work, I was busy thinking of possible party themes, looking for suppliers, and making my guests list, etc. in preparation for our son's dedication (Christian way of Baptism or Christening). I am so proud and happy of the outcome of my son's dedication happened on Sept. 17. I found out too na magastos din pala ang binyag!!! Grabeh!!! parang kasal?!!! hehehe.

BTW, A BIG thank you for family and friends who celebrated with us! ^__^


Anyways, I will write about baby J's dedication in phases. Let me start with my DIYs 'coz I'm proud of it. :P


Let's start with the theme. Basically, I just don't want a typical, blue baby boy theme. I don't want the typical disney babies, barney and baby stuff and so the quest for trendy theme is a bit of a challenge for me given just a month to organize it before I dwell or get too stressed because of office-works. But considering budget, (which is the biggest FACTOR) i told myself that if I pick a theme, I have to stand with it from invitation down to souvenirs. Time + Budget are two things made me juggle If I should make a themed party or just throw an out of the package party offered by restaurants (i.e. Max's Restaurant). 3 weeks before the chosen date, I trimmed down my choices to 2:


1. Simply Blue: A typical theme for a baby boy. I thought of blue Dots or Circles and teddy bears. Simple!

2. Angry Birds: This is one of the current, popular and enjoyed game characters not only of kids but even by adults. I'm excited doing this but is also challenged to add and or bring out cuteness in it for a baby party. I thought a baby theme is all about cuteness, happy, light, colorful and sweet but not ANGRY!!! hahaha. 


I must admit that in order for us to fit within the budget, DIY is of great help and value. And so, I tried to study photoshop and started to look for suppliers and websites that will help me pull all resources I need for the party.

I am so proud of my DIY invites and so I posted all variations I was able to make.

Here's one of the many reasons that kept me busy for the past month.

Ist attempt: theme = cars

2nd attempt: theme = blue dots

3nd attempt: theme = blue dots

4th attempt: theme = angry birds!!! version 1  ^__^

5th attempt: theme = angry birds!!! version 2  ^__^

6th attempt: theme = angry birds!!! version 3. The FINAL invitation!!! Isn't he cute? ^__^

This one was for the tarpaulin!!!
 Baby J says "Present!" :P

I'm so proud I was able to make cute not - so angry birds invitation and banner!!!

--- Proud and Happy Mommy