Acuatico Beach Resort Weekend Getaway

"Soak your moments of leisure under its magic charms and exotic beauty. Its balmy tropical setting and the deep-blue crystalline waters of the sea..." (from the official website of Acuatico Beach Resort)

The resort's centerpiece infinity-edge pool

Last November, I was already dreaming of going to Acuatico after I heard lots of good things from friends and browsing through their website.  This premiere leisure resort is located along the sandy coastline of Laiya in San Juan, Batangas. We originally planned a year-end trip to Acuatico but our preferred villa and target dates were already booked, so we headed to Tagaytay instead.

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Mom-Finds: Ballerina Flats

Last Friday of the month:  Mom-Finds under P500

I bought my first ballet flats when I was in high school.  It was from the late 80s "It" shop called Sari-Sari Store in Greenhills (now I feel old!).  They used to carry just one style, made from soft synthetic calf leather, in different colors. I think it took me a few months to save up for a white pair, and then later, another in classic black. 

Ballet flats and sling-backs were all the rage back then. And since I am taller than your average Asian girl, these round-toe flats were the perfect, flattering choice and became my favorite footwear. These stylish flat shoes made a comeback five years ago and they are still very much in fashion to this day. Halleluia!

It's the last Friday of the month once again, and my Mom-Finds are these ultra chic and comfy ballerina flats from Shoe Gallery.  Made from faux snake skin in various colors, these dainty be-ribboned shoes are now on a BUY 1, TAKE 1 offer at P600.00 (approx. US$13)!  That's only P300 for a pair. Can you believe that?!

Faux Snake Skin Ballet Flats :  @ P600 - Buy 1, Take 1 (P300 / pair!!!)

We were at Tiendesitas in Pasig the other day where Shoe Gallery holds shop. As I went in to check out their wares, the 'Buy 1, Take 1' sign just called to me and this deep aqua blue flats on display caught my eye instantly.  The sales attendant entertained my curiosity and told me they are just moving the inventory for this style so they will be on sale until supplies last. It was a steal for P600 and I can't let that pass. Would you? So I held my breath as I ordered for my size and thought if they were still available, then these babies were meant for me. I happily brought home this blue pair, plus a black & white one.

For busy moms and gals always on-the-go, style and comfort is the way to go especially for footwear. The quality is just as important, but with a price like that, I'd be very happy if these would last me a year.  Just for comparison, I brought out my other similar-looking pair to check out the materials and make.  As expected, the leather (faux reptile skin) and sole of the imported pair looked and felt more durable, with a seamless finish.

Quality notwithstanding, these fashionable footwear will surely add color and spice to my wardrobe whether I'm going grocery shopping, malling, or just bringing the kids to school.

I failed to inquire if this special offer is available at all their branches. It you're into these types of shoes like me, you might want to check them out now before they run out of your size ;-)


Shoe Gallery
Stores:  Greenhills, SM Valenzuela, Tiendesitas, Trinoma

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Misua Soup with Meatballs and Patola (Loofah)

I rarely buy this vegetable that is known in different names:  sponge gourd, vegetable sponge, Luffa acutangula, angled luffa, and more popularly, patola or loofah (lufah).  It was never part of my market list.  Surprisingly, when my mother made soup with patola a few months back, the kids actually liked it, and finished a bowl! My initial attempt to replicate was not encouraging, in short, it was blah.

Until recently, I never even attempted to prepare this soup again.  Bland and unappealing, I later found out that patola is rich in iron, calcium, and phosphorous.  

Misua (fine rice flour noodle) is also not my favorite type of noodle.  I prefer the firmer, wider varieties.   But after thinking about the week's menu and making our usual rounds at the grocery, this long, lean, firm, green gourd caught my eye from the produce section, and in an instant, I grabbed one and headed straight to the meat section for a quarter kilo of lean ground pork.

With my fresh young patola (it should be smooth, no hallow pockets and firm all over when pressed), ground pork, and a small pack of misua in the cart, I got one dish down.  It has been a while since the last failed attempt.  So yesterday, the kids and I had a satisfying lunch of beef short ribs adobo with this light and healthy soup, perfect even on a warm summer day.

Misua Soup with Meatballs and Patola (Loofah)

Meatballs:
250g (1/4 kilo) lean ground pork
2 tablespoons finely chopped carrots
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 medium-sized white onion, minced
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

200g (approx. 1/2 of a 16-inch gourd) young patola, chopped to bite-size pieces
1/2 medium-sized white onion, chopped
125g misua (add more if desired)
1 1/2 to 2 liters water or chicken broth (water with chicken cube or soup base)
sesame oil

To prepare:
In a large pot, boil chicken broth.
While waiting for the broth to boil, prepare the meatballs.

To prepare the meatballs:
In a bowl, combine the meat, carrots, garlic, onion, and seasonings. You can use a fork, spatula, or simply mix by hand as I normally do. Add 1 egg which acts as the binder. Some may prefer to add breadcrumbs in the mixture, which is optional. Blend well.

Spoon and shape into small balls. You can prepare this ahead of time and freeze. I did not prepare the meatballs in advance and I just roughly shaped the meat mixture with a spoon as I drop them in the broth one after the other.

To cook:
As soon the broth reached a rolling boil, carefully drop the meatballs.
Cover the pot, lower fire to medium, and wait for at least 10 minutes. You will see the balls float as they are cooked.

Once the meatballs are all floating, pour in the chopped patola and onions.
Cover and let it cook for at least 5 minutes, or until patola is soft and tender.

Finally, add the misua. Stir and loosen the misua immediately as it will tend to clump together once its in the liquid. Then, add just a few drops of sesame oil. Stir. Leave for another 5 minutes before serving.

You can add liquid seasoning if you want flavor and make it a little more salty. Garnish with toasted shallots if desired.

 

Even for toddlers, parents can serve this wonderful soup as part of baby's first foods, introducing meat to your tykes.  This dish allows them to explore the different food textures from the minced meat, carrots, soft and fibrous patola, and starchy misua.  Just omit the spices from the recipe and remove the flat seeds from the patola as you feed your babies.  A bowl of this hearty soup is a complete meal by itself.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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The (Prep) Graduate, Class 2010

Third Friday of the month: Event

"Better and wiser, give thanks because in every trial God is molding you.

Your life will be happier if you count trials as blessings

Your burden will be lighter if you see everything as God's blessings..."

This is a verse from my son's graduation song, "Count Your Blessings".  Today, he graduated from Preparatory Class and with a special award for Logical-Mathematical Intelligence.  The whole family is very proud of him.

 

Graduation is a major event in any student's life. As the song goes, we should count trials as blessings, and having gone through the challenges of pre-school, it was a great accomplishment for our boy of 6, and for us parents too! Graduating from pre-school marks the end and the beginning -- end of a child's early school years, and the beginning of a new and exciting journey to "big school". 

My dapper boy at their Graduates' Cotillion -- all dressed up for their waltz and farewell luncheon party at school, held earlier during the week.

With his very loving adviser, Sr. Norma of DML Montessori School

The child's first 6 years is also called the "Golden Years".  It is a critical stage of every child's growth and development. What children acquire and learn during this phase in their lives will be the foundation of what they will become and shall create an impact on their well being. As parents, we are tasked to nurture and support our children through proper nutrition, good education, promote socio-emotional development, and instill good moral and spiritual values that they will carry through adulthood. This is a pretty heavy, and scary, responsibility for any parent!

Waiting for the graduation rites at Mt. Carmel Church

I can only hope and pray that my hubby and I have done more than enough during this "golden years" to prepare and mold our eldest for this new chapter in his young life. We are also thankful to DML for the nurturing and stimulating learning environment that have made schooling a very wonderful and positive experience for our active young boy. His stay was so pleasant that he doesn't want to leave DML and even asked why they don't have elementary levels!

And so a new adventure begins for my spirited young lad, all smiles and ready to move forward. My promise to you, my boy, is to continue to hold your hands as long as I can, to be your rock, to lift up your spirits and lead you to the right path until you find your own road to travel.

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Baby's First Foods, part 2

Feeding your baby for the first time will be a moment to remember, for any parent. It is a developmental milestone and for me, it has to be recorded in the baby book! Sitting up on the high chair with their spanking new bib, all ready with a colorful set of spoon and fork, it's time to awaken their senses with the sight, smell, and taste of this strange new food in front of them.

Chocolate coins and chestnut -- to PLAY with, NOT to feed a 10-month old baby! =)

Starting your baby on solid foods can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time, both for the parent and the child, as there are a number of choices, as well as restrictions, and endless lists of things to remember. After posting a sample food chart on my previous post, I will now focus on the safety checklist and allergy risks that new parents need to be aware of.

I have culled a few clippings from an old issue of Parenting magazine (USA), which I often referred to during my babies' introduction to solid foods.

      SAFETY CHECKLIST

• Until your baby is at least 7 months, don't puree your own beets, turnips, carrots, spinach, or collard greens because they may have large amounts of nitrates which can cause anemia in young infants
• Until your child is 1, avoid honey - it can contain spores that may cause life-threatening infant botulism
• Until your child is 4, don't feed him these choking hazards: nuts and seeds, popcorn, raw vegetables, hard or sticky candy, chewing gum, whole grapes and cherries
• After your child is 1, cut up firm round foods (grapes, cooked carrots,chunks of cheese or meat) into very small pieces, about quarter of an inch, before serving
• At any age, if your child experiences rashes, vomiting, bloating, gas, diarrhea after a new food, stop giving it to him and talk to your doctor. Your baby may have an allergy or food intolerance

Honestly, I was not able to follow these to a tee. I was guilty of feeding my kids whole, peeled, seedless grapes even before they turned 3. They love grapes! It's very high in vitamins and minerals, and they just can't stop popping these juicy berries in their mouths. I only made sure they bit and chewed each one properly to avoid choking.

Here's more of what I've gathered:

The average infant has about 5% chance of developing food allergies by age 3. 
If you or your baby's dad has asthma, hay fever, eczema, or food allergies, the risk goes up to 20 - 30 percent. 
If you both do, the risk is 40 - 70 percent. 
If there's a family history of allergies, once your baby is born, follow these recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Breastfeed exclusively for 6 months (If you use formula, buy a hypoallergenic one, i.e. Nutramigen or Alimentum; though NAN 1 Hypoallergenic is more popular in the Philippines).  Even after he's eating, he'll still need breast milk until he's at least 1.
• After 6 months, introduce solids -  but avoid the foods that cause most food allergies, i.e. peanuts, tree nuts, cow's milk, and shellfish.  You may also want to skip wheat and soy.
• After age 1, you may introduce whole cow's milk, wheat, and soy (if you've avoided them) - do so one food at a time, and wait a few days before introducing the next one so you can watch to see if there's any reaction
• Wait until your child is at least 2 before feeding him eggs, and at least 3 before giving him seafood or nut products

A sour surprise -- her first taste of lime at 20 months

I have been reminded over and over by pediatricians to:

• Allow our children, even babies, to decide how much they eat
• It's okay when, for some meals, they may not each much, and sometimes they may be ravenous
• Parents should only need to stick to a consistent time and sequence of baby's foods and you can improve his overall health and nutrition

MORE FIRST FOODS SUGGESTIONS

For 4 to 7 Months

• cooked warm rice cereal, oats
• finely strained or pureed fruits and veggies - apples, potatoes, squash, peas

For 7 to 10 Months

• finely chopped meat, poultry, or fish
• mashed sweet potatoes
• scrambled egg yolk
• minced chicken and plain rice

 For 9 to 12 Months

• cooked pasta - macaroni, spiral, spaghetti noodle
• finger foods that dissolve in the mouth without chewing - baby crackers, cooked frozen veggies
• pasta with cheese or tomato sauce
• plain yogurt
• soft fruits like peaches, mangoes, and chopped bananas

Check out part 1 of Baby's First Foods, with food chart

Grapes photo:  NutritionResearchCenter.org
Checklist resource:  Parenting 2006 (magazine)

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Baby's First Foods, part 1

Second Friday of the month: Babies

Baby's first smile, first coo, first time to 'close-open' his fist...these are just a few of our baby's many 'firsts' that we don't want to miss. And getting a taste of his first 'solid food' is another milestone that parents, most especially moms, prepare for and tend to obsess with.

What's healthy, what's safe, when to feed certain foods... these are just some of the questions I had in my head when I had my first born. And just recently, these same questions pop up as I am surrounded by new moms who are preparing for this somewhat daunting milestone of baby eating his first foods.

Comfy babies on the bouncer, the boy and the girl had their first taste of rice cereal at 4 months.

I used Nestle Cerelac Rice Cereal (plain white rice).

Several months ago, I had posts about breastfeeding and the baby boom in my circle of friends.  Back then, I knew about twenty or so expectant women. Before 2009 ended, I already counted past 30, and most of them were first time moms!

As we ushered in the new year, breastfeeding joys and woes were the hot topic, and then questions and conversations were moving towards baby's first foods. So, I thought now is the best time to share this food chart given to me by our pediatrician almost seven years ago. This chart proved useful for me as a very practical guide on the stages of feeding for my baby's first 12 months.

I took the liberty of re-creating the chart for a quick and easy reference. Take note of the general rules.
Feel free to print out a copy.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is best to introduce solid foods when your baby is between 4 to 6 months. Both my children had their first cereal at 4 months. For some babies who are not yet developmentally ready, it is fine to start a little later until 7 months.  Most doctors advise solid feeding at the age of at least 6 months, especially for babies with a family history of allergies.

Babies only require breast milk until about 6 months, providing all the nutrition that they need, after which certain nutrients from solid foods are required. In the first six months, water and juice is generally unnecessary as baby gets all the water he needs from breast milk (or formula, if you choose to). By the time he starts eating solid foods, you can offer a few sips of water between feedings.

I did my share of homemade baby foods for my boy and girl, and here are a few of their favorites which any busy mom or care taker can prepare for the curious, the difficult, or the ravenous infant.

MASHED RIPE BANANA
Start with half a banana
Cut and mash on a sterile plate or bowl, with a clean fork
Serve immediately

This is a favorite among babies since bananas are naturally sweet, fragrant, and has a soft texture when mashed. I don't see the need to prepare in advance nor stock up on this since mashed bananas will turn brown quickly. Besides, this is the most simple, instant "super food" that anyone can have. Widely available and most easy to prepare.

By 10 months, chop up bananas and serve as a great finger food!


PUREED SWEET POTATOES (Camote)
Peel, wash and cut in cubes, around 1 cup
Boil in a pot of 1 cup water, cover
Simmer until fork tender, around 15 to 20 minutes (add a little water when it's getting dry)
Transfer to food processor or blender and mix until you have a thick, smooth consistency.
Cool and transfer to a clean jar or food keeper.
Spoon a portion on baby's bowl
Mix breastmilk or formula just before feeding

For a thinner, smoother consistency, simply add milk, as needed.

There are a few varieties of camote in the market and I prefer the orange variety which has a sweeter taste. Squash, carrots and potatoes can also be used for this recipe. By the time my babies reached 8 months, I have already combined carrots with either potatoes or squash.

This mashed butternut squash tastes like camote (sweet potato)

Aside from the blender, I also used this Braun submersible hand blender (below, left), and a manual baby food mill / food grinder (the brand escapes me at this time) -- Munchkin is the brand. I have the exact one below. Just grind, detach the mill, and serve without transferring to another bowl.

APPLESAUCE
Peel, wash and cut in cubes, around 1 cup
Boil in a pot of 3/4 cup water, cover
Simmer until fork tender, around 15 to 20 minutes (add a little water when it's getting dry)
Transfer to food processor or blender and mix until you have a thick, smooth consistency.
Cool and transfer to a clean jar or food keeper.
Serve warm or cold.

Pears can also be used for this recipe. The texture will not be a smooth as apples though.

Whenever possible, choose fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables in season. You may refer to the chart for the right time to start.  In my experience, buying jarred baby food didn't hurt either as it offered more variety for baby, and the convenience when traveling.  I just made sure I alternate in serving homemade and store-bought foods.

Resusable food jars

A few things I learned while preparing baby food:

1. Make sure you use sterilized utensils, cutting boards, plates and bowls.  Assign an exclusive set if possible to avoid cross contamination of raw food bacteria to the prepared baby food

2. Have a set of small, clean plastic food keepers or glass jars on hand. When I buy jars of baby food, I keep the glass containers and reuse them as I portion the prepared food in each jar. I saved on buying new food keepers and I don't even have to transfer the food to a bowl anymore 'coz I just feed directly from the jar. Unfinished portion are kept in the fridge only until the next feeding, after which, leftovers from the jar should be discarded.

3. Ice cube trays are also handy in portioning your homemade baby food. Just pour and freeze. Put frozen the food cubes in plastic bags and they are ready anytime you need them. You can also check out my friend's tips on making and storing baby foods here.

4. Prepare enough food to last at least 3 days, or 3 individual servings per variety. Since it is advised to wait 3 days before introducing a new food, I thought this is a practical solution to monitor, at the same time control the portions. I keep them refrigerated up to 3 days only to maintain freshness. If you are able to produce more, stock them in the freezer.

Feel free to share your food and feeding tips here. It's always nice to learn something new from each other!

Part 2, continued here


Note:
Braun product photo from Braun.com
Munchkin product photo from Amazon.com

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Who Is Mom-Friday?

Mom-Friday (noun):  multi-faceted, queen-of-all-trades; a go-to lady; a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or purpose; a derivative of Girl-Friday (a female assistant with a range of duties).

Moms wear different hats:  care-taker, teacher, friend,playmate, working mom, cook, driver, among others. Thus, I coined the name Mom-Friday, as defined above. I say, all moms are mom-fridays!

My Mom-Friday:  a personal blog that celebrates the many facets of being a mom. I shall chronicle my adventures in parenting, post great finds for the family, feature dishes that are quick and easy to prepare, and share personal discoveries and knowledge I gain as I go through this happy-crazy life called motherhood.

My Mom-Friday shall also reflect my interests in food, fashion, design, travel, and photography. My childhood friend, who's also a great travel/lifestyle blogger, has influenced me to start a blog of my own. Here's my first post ever.


So who is Mom-Friday?

Being a mom and homemaker defines my life at this point in time, and this made me decide to blog about being one. I'd like to consider this a family and lifestyle blog.

I am:

• an urban mom to two adorable kids, a boy and a girl
• a wife and a homemaker
• a part-time mom-preneur
• a bargain-hunter and practical shopper
• a home cook and foodie
• a frustrated (fashion / interior) designer
• a shutterbug
• a borderline social media addict

I spent 10 years in the advertising and PR industry, and planned a handful of events, and weddings too! Since I'm now active in social media, if I have the time, I still entertain and accept online projects, and blog-related functions.

Coincidentally, I was born on a Friday, some 30-something years ago. Friday is also my favorite day of the week.

I have committed Friday to be my official blog day, unless the homefront demands less of me during the week (then you can expect more posts).


What am I blogging about?

Click on 'What' (see menu tabs) for my Fridays and special features.

I hope you can follow me through my adventures as Mom-Friday.  Leave your thoughts and let's exchange ideas. I love getting comments and feedback, they make my day!

Thank you for reading up to this point.  I hope you enjoy my entries.  Do drop by again, or better yet, stay connected:

Subscribe by email to receive instant blog updates

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Happy reading!

Michelle a.k.a. Mom-Friday

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What Am I Blogging About?

I have decided to organize my entries according to the following schedule and hope you continue to follow me through all my Fridays, and in-betweens (",).

I am committed to only write about my personal experiences, thoughts, discoveries, products and services that I truly like and believe in, and share my interests and passions with you.

Here are My Fridays:


1. FIRST FRIDAY of the Month:  FOODIE FRIDAY

Food, Mom-Cook (Recipes) and Dining

I am far from being a good cook, though I consider myself a foodie. I am quite adventurous with my food choices, but having a family with two growing kids calls for a totally different menu.

I am a struggling home cook who needs to whip up a balanced and delicious meal on a day to day basis for my family. That, for me, is an unending challenge.

Mom-Cook: Recipes - a collection of easy-to-cook meals to help busy bodies like me. Most of the dishes you will find here can be done in 30 minutes of less.  Some are inspired from cookbooks, food blogs, restaurant fares, and my mom's cooking which I desperately try to replicate.

I shall also feature other food finds and our dining experiences, pleasant or otherwise.


2. SECOND FRIDAY of the Month:  FAMILY FRIDAY
Kids, Home, Health and Family life

After getting married, being pregnant, giving birth, raising two beautiful children, working part-time and managing our home, I believe that in my own small imperfect world, I have gained nuggets of wisdom along the way.  Hopefully, these tidbits I will share in this blog would help other moms, dads, and even singles, in their own journey to building a happy and healthy family life.  So, expect anything from baby food to schooling, health to home improvements, marriage and parenting woes.


3. THIRD FRIDAY of the Month:  FUN FRIDAY
Leisure and Recreation, Travel, Events
Family travel tales, entertainment, personal hobbies, happy occasions and events, and other forms of leisurely activities that we get to experience shall be chronicled here.

This will be all about fun and memorable moments that make our lives more colorful.



4. LAST FRIDAY of the Month:  MOM-FINDS & FAVES
Good Finds, Shopping, and Raves 

Mom-Finds - features non-food products and services I discovered, purchased, or have availed of, cool bargain items and great finds for the enjoyment of my family and myself.  This will also be my pay-day weekend post.  Moreover, I'll showcase items that cost P500 (US$10) or less, if I find one worth raving about.

I consider myself a practical shopper and I take pleasure in sharing some of my good buys to friends and loved ones.

Special Features:
MOM-STYLE / Kid-Style : putting the spotlight on mothers with style and substance; posts on my personal fashion and design inspirations; and trend-spotting for moms and kids (and maybe for dads too).

MOM-GROCER : grocery finds; a random post of the good, the bad, and the rotten, but mostly about the family's favorites and my kitchen staples

HOME-STYLE : a special section where I get to share my love for beautiful interiors and home design; shall feature design inspirations from real homes, with real stories behind the furniture pieces, accessories, theme, or colors that make up a beautiful dwelling for couples and families.

What if there's a FIFTH FRIDAY in a month?

If that's the case, 5th Friday = LAST Friday of the month = Mom-Finds and Faves

In effect, the 4th Friday for that month will be FREESTYLE FRIDAY. Anything goes...well, sort of.
I will take this opportunity to post anything that strikes my fancy at that moment -- maybe a giveaway, or some inspiring images that reflect my interests in fashion, design and photography.  Less words, more pictures. Consider this a pleasant break from the usual write-ups.

What about the OTHER DAYS of the week?

As I have mentioned on my Who page, if the homefront demands less of my time during the week and I can stay up a few more hours at night, I'll write an entry, or two, in between Fridays (",).

Feel free to leave your thoughts on any of my posts. And if you liked any of my stories, please pass on the blog-love and share it with your friends and loved ones.  :-)

I do hope you'll like my features.  Thank you for taking time to read this blog.

Click here to know how this blog all started.

Stay connected thru my Facebook page and Twitter.
You can also Subscribe here via email and follow me on Google Friend Connect so you won't miss a post!
You may also communicate with me thru mymomfriday(at)gmail(dot)com .

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A Prosperous Sunday Lunch

First Friday of the month:  Dining

As part of my "blog renovation", I have made a regular topic schedule for all Fridays of the month which is in the 'My Fridays' menu tab above (though it's not quite working yet) on the sidebar. Therefore, beginning this month, every first Friday, the topic will be all about food.  And since today is the first Friday of March, here's my first food post. (And by the way, since it coincided with my announcement of the Top 3 New Header Candidates, it is also a first for me to have 2 posts in 1 day! Maybe that's why I feel under the weather today!?!)

It's a tradition in our family to have Sunday lunch at my parent's place, together with my brother and his family.  Dining out is usually reserved for special occasions, hosting get-togethers, trying a new resto nearby, or when mother simply wants to take a break from cooking for us (",)

Last Sunday, my brother thought we should try this recently opened Chinese-Cantonese restaurant just a few blocks away from my parents' house, called Prosperous. We also invited a couple of relatives to join us for this mini luncheon get-together, and I'd say, we were quite a happy bunch that day enjoying a Xiamen-style feast of good eats!

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Mom-Friday Make-Over: Top 3 Headers

Yay!  Finally, after a full week of anxiously waiting, carefully selecting, rationalizing, and making the layout, I am proud to present my 3 favorite candidates for my new image header contest.

These three are completely different from each other. Each one caught my eye and made quite an impression when I first saw them.

Presenting, my 3 fab finalists, in no particular order, with my personal interpretation:


Entry of L.T., Philippines

This header is a combination of two entries from sender L.T.  Both were very colorful, very detailed and looks hand-crafted, and the artwork reminded me of my boy and girl so I instantly gravitated towards this beautiful card.  I also like to do arts and crafts so this reflects a part of my personality. Adding to the appeal is its warm, autumn shades. So I layered them together and came up with this scrapbook-shabby chic design.


Entry of J.L., Canada

I just found this photo so attractive, so vivid and colorful, and quite symbolic too.  These Russian nesting dolls, a.k.a. Matrioschka dolls, are true representations of mothers -- carrying their child, nurturing them and giving life...one after the other, literally (",)  The original photo has a vertical orientation so I just cropped the best portion and made a simple, clean layout for the image to stand out.

Entry of C.D., Singapore

Poetic. This was the word that came to mind when I first saw this photo. An arresting photo that I didn't feel the need to edit it save for some saturation adjustment and cropping it to size. I just made my own interpretation of this very simple yet dramatic shot of a lone flower amidst a lifeless surrounding.  Just like this single bloom, a mother can bring hope, light, life and love in any situation.

So there.  Now comes the most difficult part of choosing the winner.  Which one do you think I should put up here?  I told you they are all so different, they're like opposite poles from each other with their own unique charm and appeal.  Eeny, meeney, miney, moe... maybe I can let them share the limelight and split the year among the three, hmm...

 

I decided I may still revise the fonts and tweak the layout as needed after choosing "The one". Only a weekend left for me to decide so I'd appreciate any feedback and let me know what you think.

TO THE FINALISTS, please DO NOT LEAVE A COMMENT.  I want to allow other readers to be objective on any feedback they may have (",)

Good news is, you will each receive your own personalized JEL Stickers.

Again, Thank You to everyone who supported me on this "project" and for sending your precious photos and works of art.

Watch out for the announcement and launch on the 9th!

Why I had a Make-over Contest? Click here 

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Mom-Friday Make-Over Photo Contest - Mystery Prize Update

Three more days and I will be presenting the top three "candidates" for my new image header.


I am so thankful to those who responded to my first ever blog contest. It's still anybody's ballgame and keep those entries coming! Your image might be the one I'm looking for as my new Mom-Friday blog site header.

And as promised, I still have a mystery prize in store for the winning entry which will be announced and featured on the header on the 9th as my birthday post.

The winner will be chosen from the Top 3 (each one will receive a pack of personalized JEL Stickers) and shall receive a copy of GoodHousekeeping Limited Edition (mini) Cookbook, plus one (1) Gymboree Gymplay Coupon (IF winner is from the Philippines).

On top of these prizes is a bonus Mystery Prize:

Winner will receive this cool and amazing DesignGO 100% Waterproof mp3 Pouch!

 

Made from durable matte finish plastic, with 3 zip locks and top Velcro enclosure, this waterproof pouch is a practical and handy solution for carrying your mp3 (or iPhone) anytime, anywhere, under any weather!  It also has an adjustable neck sling, and internal stereo jack for your electronic unit.

DesignGo - protection from sand, sea, and snow. It keeps your valuable mp3, cellphone, or even a small digital camera safe from the elements.

I've been looking for this kind of product since I saw a similar clear pouch last summer. I finally found one at The Travel Club boutique. I can't wait to use it on the beach or when going outdoors. Now, you too can have this sleek, waterproof pouch delivered at your doorstep. 

iPhone in sample photo not included =)

So what are you waiting for?  Join in the fun and send me your best Mom-Friday images now!

Deadline of entries is on Thursday, March 4.

Click here for details, complete mechanics and updates.

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