My Mom-Friday: June 2009

6.28.2009

Sepia Moments on a Cloudy Afternoon

The kids were fascinated seeing the underbelly of this spider,
which is actually crawling on the outside of the glass window

little lady instructing mommy to scribble with her...

...but doing quite nicely on her own

our cool, vintage-looking radio with CD player

some serious gaming on his brand new Nintendo DSi

Mama's Bar Cookies

I was in 'sick bay' last week with the common flu. So I quarantined myself and just spent the weekend at home. And I apologize for not posting on my official blog day last Friday since I am still nursing a terrible drum-sounding cough. Though Friday was not totally uneventful, I was completely uninspired to write. As the doc puts it, it's flu season and anybody can be hit with it. So load up on the vitamins and take lots of rest and fluids. And rest I did. Thankfully, I am better now.

Now on to sweeter things.

Early this week, my mom baked a sampling of her bar cookies for a friend of mine who opened a coffee shop, and she also prepared a box for me to take home to the kids. She still makes batches of these home-baked treats by order.

To be honest, I had too much of these sugary delights in the past and I have grown tired of them already. Although it has been a while since I had some, I still did not feel like taking a bite into those sinful little squares. But for some reason, as my little girl literally dipped and poked her fingers in the chocolate and meringue frosting, I was tempted to pop one bar in my mouth in that instant. And now it's going, going, gone...

It took several bars to disappear before I remembered to whip out my camera and take a few shots before I have nothing left to share with you, even just a glimpse of my mom's delectable baked goodies at the very least.

Moist and chocolate-y Almond Brownies, Kahlua-laced Cappuccino Bars, chewy Choco-meringue, Carrot Bars with choco-chips, and a slice of luscious Chocolate Cake... a sampling of her best-sellers lined the box as we devoured it, one bar at a time.

It's pretty clear which one stood out for my girl, as you can see here (what's left of them), the snowy-white meringue-covered bars became "topless" in seconds! She loved the sweet, flaky top layer. But I think I got the better deal here leaving me with the chewy "naked bottom" part of the bar.

I guess seeing my girl savor every nibble and bite made me enjoy my mama's yummy bars even more. So if you are craving for some soft, sweet, chewy bar cookies, ring her up and order a box or two. These are great as gifts too! You can just leave a message and I'll take your orders ;)

For Orders:
A Taste Of Manna
Tel. 414-4427
New Manila, Quezon City

In Living Color: Double Take

For a parent like me, and to soon-to-be parents, seeing a picture of your bundle of joy always puts a smile on your face. I value those precious moments that I capture for posterity, as those images will be your keepsake for your children.

I am not adept at the technical aspects of choosing the right digi-cam (or video-cam, or any other gadget for that matter), heck, my hubby J just browsed through product reviews and get the best one. For the tech-savvy, you know what to get. But for most of us, we just choose one that will work best for our needs. Be it a point-and-shoot or SLR, consider it a great investment and trusty partner that will encapsulate those priceless moments in your child's life.

Before my son was born, my hubby bought us a brand new Fuji FinePix 2800Zoom digital camera -- one of the better models at that time with very good picture quality.

I really loved this cam and we still kept it a reliable sub unit to our Panasonic Lumix TZ3 which we got two years ago. I also had a short yet sweet partnership with a Sony T3 in between (which I left and lost at a restaurant!). This FinePix cam was my best friend for almost three years -- capturing the birth of my son and all other significant events thereafter, and even the not-so-eventful days in our family life.

I truly treasure those times when I try capturing their many "firsts", every smirk, every toss and turn, smiles and cries of my babies.

It was just recently that I tried to archive and organize those five years worth of pictures (the downside of digital images for me is I feel so overwhelmed with the volume and forget to print). Soon, I discovered that I took several very similar shots of my angels in different stages of their young lives.

I am no pro in taking photos, but I thank God for the digital technology and Photoshop! Photography has never been the same again. Now, I have a better appreciation for photography with our humble Lumix, and maybe soon, I can move on to owning a DSLR and better myself at this craft.

Here's hoping you enjoy these treasured images and inspire you in making your child's milestones truly memorable.

Click away!

Well, that's me in the middle owning my mother's fab sun glasses... like mother, like daughter (and son)

Most of the baby stuff you will see here were all bought for baby #1 (notice the blue colors) and got a second life with baby #2, which made them all worth the money. Surely you will notice similar poses, same clothes, same bouncer, same crib, even the same angles... :)

BOY on the Left, GIRL on the Right

yawwwwn...@ 6 weeks

bath time @ 6 & 9 weeks

first smile @ 2 months
These were both very tricky to catch as I had to hold steady for minutes while fetching a smile from them

first solid meal of rice cereal @ 4 months

holding up their bottles @ 7 months

the fleece-like frogsuit for a chilly or rainy evening

posing to stand in the crib @ 9 & 8 months

in the bigger baby tub with their rubber squeaky toys

look, we're playing house!

with mom

with dad

This post is dedicated to all my expectant friends, new parents, and parents for the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time around.

You might want to check out some of the baby stuff from my Baby Checklist here.

Bling It!

The mom-preneur is taking over this specific post and moving on to business. As a former advertising practitioner, it would be a sin not to take advantage and maximize such free media to promote your products for sales and marketing purposes.

Therefore, please allow me to dazzle your visual senses with a showcase of my luxury-wares, and hopefully tug your emotional senses to desire them, and ultimately, to own one.

Reward yourself. Also ideal for gifts and engagements.

So, let's bling it on!

There is only one of each kind available. Items may change without prior notice.
Loose stones by order only.

(Loose diamonds in various shapes and sizes - prices will depend on grading of diamond stone)

1.09 ct. Natural yellow princess-cut diamond center

with round side stones,
set on white gold = US$7,100.00

Cocktail rings - Illusion-cut diamond center set on white or yellow gold = starts at US$1,900.00

Yellow and white diamonds combination, set on white or yellow gold = starts at US$4,900.00

.35ct. Illusion-cut diamond center, with studs on raised prongs, set on white gold = US$850.00

1.06ct. Brilliant-cut diamond on white gold = US$4,800.00

(price available upon request)

Interested? Let's work something out.
For more details, please email me at: mymomfriday@gmail.com

Soy Silky Smooth

Let this be my first post on our (brainchild of Folie a Deux author, Jen) attempt to start Sweet Sunday Treats - sharing our own discoveries and sweet creations to all of you.

I just emptied a box of this healthy beverage and thought I'd put this in. Though this is not really considered a 'sweet treat', I am recommending this satisfyingly smooth, subtly-sweet and healthy soy milk to everybody. A good milk substitute as well to cooking or baking needs.

Silk Soy Milk is made with (as listed on the Vanilla box) organic whole soy beans, filtered water, organic evaporated cane juice, natural vanilla flavor, sea salt, carrageenan and vitamins & minerals. Other variants include Plain, Very Vanilla, Chocolate, and Unsweetened, and priced a bit higher (but worth it) than other imported brands currently in the local market today.

This brand was first introduced to me by a mom from my boy's pre-school when I was in search of a non-dairy/casein-free milk for my son, whom we suspect to be 'allergic' to gluten and casein. Soy milk was her recommendation and Silk was her brand of choice for her own kids.

I'm adventurous with food and drinks and I've tried several brands of soy milk in the past. But after my initial introduction to Silk, I was a fan. Silk is the best in terms of taste, manufacturing process and health benefits. It claims to be FREE of: lactose, dairy, eggs, casein, peanuts, gluten and MSG -- so no worries for the allergy-conscious population, moreover, it's vegan and certified kosher. Delicious and healthy. What more can you ask for?

Do try their yummy Vanilla and Chocolate flavors, our favorites. It's the best-tasting of all brands I've tried, and Soyfresh (we like Malt, Strawberry and Chocolate) comes in second.

To harp on the 'sweet' aspect for this post, their chocolate flavor is my bet with just the right sweetness. And considering it's non-dairy (ergo less creamy), the rich cocoa flavor wouldn't make you think you're drinking soy milk.

My kids now happily prefer and have grown accustomed to soy milk, though I still believe this is an acquired taste. This is just my personal experience with the product and hope that once you try it, you will like it too. I am sure some of you have certain aversions to this, or even barf by just the idea of drinking it, hehe.

Cheers and let's drink to (sweet) health!

Dreary Independence Day

Happy Independence Day to all Pinoys!
But for this holiday, ours is such a lackluster day...all of us are down with either colds, cough, or fever.

I guess I was the culprit, having hit with colds first, then hubby J, and eventually the kids. Blame it on the crazy sunny-rainy weather. Sadly, my boy had the worst week with on-off cough-colds, and now a fever. Let's just pray he will be in his normal, playful self come Monday for his first day of Prep school.

It is always unsettling when a family member is under the weather. All we could do is take proper medications, provide comfort, wait, and hope they get better.

Here's my girl taking a relaxing warm bath with this eucalyptus-scented Soothing Vapor Bath liquid soap from Johnson & Johnson's (thanks to my sis-in-law who sent it over from the U.S. of A.). Just getting a whiff of its mentholated vapor is enough to provide even a temporary relief from her stuffy nose. And I love it too!

Since I promised you that I will blog every Friday, please excuse me for writing my shortest blog to date, as I struggle to keep my eyes open for a few more minutes before I retire to bed.

With this post comes a sweet lovely blog award from a very dear old friend, Jen of the fab site Folie a Deux.

I happily accept this award. Thank you for the encouragement and for supporting my blog.

How to pay it forward if you have received one:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog, together with the name of the person who has granted the award and link back.

2) Then pass the award to 15 other blogs that you enjoy.
3) Remember to contact the blogger to let them know about the award.

Here are my blog loves:
(Not even near 15, so sorry I haven't explored the blog world yet, and will add to the list as I progress)

Folie A Deux
Our Phenomenal Life
Chase Villamor
Teacher Tina's Blog
Our Awesome Planet
Mom Exchange

What's Your Mothering Style?

A few days ago, I got this email from Babyzone (I subscribe to their newsletters since I was pregnant with my first child). I really enjoy browsing through their highly informative, well-designed site so I always recommend this to my expectant friends and parents like me.

I don't usually answer quizzes or surveys, but this one made me quite curious about 'my style'. Surprisingly, I discovered a few things about me as a mom and how I deal with different situations on child-rearing. The results are quite accurate for me.

There are only 10 questions so it only took a few minutes to get to the results. Below are 3 Types defined by the site which generally describe mothering styles. Try the quiz or you can skip to the results below. I am a combination of Type 2 and 3. So which one are you?

1- You're the The Enforcer Mom, the type of mom who enjoys order and routine. You have clear expectations for your children and most likely your children understand the parameters which you've laid out. Logic, fairness, responsibility, and objectivity are important to you and you strive to teach your kids these traits.

Pro: You are The Enforcer Mom and enjoy parenting your children with a firm but caring style. As a result, your children both love and respect you.

Con: Be careful to not alienate your child with too many rules or to quell creativity with too tight of a schedule. Balancing affection and discipline may be hard for Enforcer Moms.

Taking JT for a scheduled amusement park ride, as promised

2- You're The Independent Mom and love to give your children space and opportunities to grow and develop by themselves. You are most comfortable introducing things to your children and then letting them develop their own ideas and concepts without much influence from you.

Pro: Self-sufficiency, respect, and creativity are all important to you and chances are your children learn by the good example you set.

Con: It's important to balance the freedom you give your children with boundaries that they can understand. Be sure that you do set parameters for behavior and help your children understand what you expect from them. Discipline may be difficult for Independent Moms.

Picking local aratelis (?) berries from the park grounds

Rarely does he get his hands dirty, I was totally surprised with my boy digging through dry dirt!

3- As The Carefree Diplomat Mom, you’re able to act as mediator as well as be creative and interactive with your children. Chances are you encourage child-led activities, but aren't averse to jumping in and playing, too.

Pro: You're fair and just and will use discipline when needed, but encourage your child to work things out on her own.

Con: Be sure to assert yourself as the adult. Creative Diplomat Moms may forget to separate themselves from their children, creating confusion as to just who's in charge.

Here's M, barely a year old, "trying on" some of my lip gloss

Playing horsey, with lots of hugs and kisses

Parenting styles differ as each child is unique. We have our own ideals and always want the best for our children. I've only been a mother for five and half years and I know I am just beginning to learn - it's a trial-and-error process. What works for one family may not be effective for others. But with everyting else, the support of our spouses, friends and family members (plus the vast resources and information available at a click of a button) are what's most important to make us well-equipped and confident to be the best parents to our children.

6.28.2009

Sepia Moments on a Cloudy Afternoon

Mama's Bar Cookies

6.19.2009

In Living Color: Double Take

6.17.2009

Bling It!

6.14.2009

Soy Silky Smooth

6.12.2009

Dreary Independence Day

6.05.2009

Sites of Inspiration

6.03.2009

What's Your Mothering Style?