My 3 Things: Photography

#my3things #photography

Cameras.  The tools of the trade.  In my case, these are my "tools" for blogging, and more importantly, to capture life's moments.

If you've been following my blog and social networking sites, you know I enjoy taking pictures - the pathological picture-taker, that's me! =)  Then came Instagram, my current craze and where #my3things began.

As a hobby, for my blog, for sharing images on social media, I alternately use all three cameras (well, one happens to be a phone with a cam):

1. Canon EOS 500D (Rebel T1i) - I started blogging in 2009 and used a Lumix TZ3 for my photos.  By the end of that year, I got my wish - a dSLR as a Christmas gift for myself.  I love it!  It's user-friendly, takes crisp images, and the weight is lighter than most dSLR.  I often use this baby during social events (blog events included), trips, and family celebrations.
2. Lumix LX5 - After two years of toting the bulky 500D everywhere, I knew I wanted a more compact camera since our old Lumix broke.  We don't have a spare camera except hubby's iPhone.  Besides, he doesn't like using the big one either.  Christmas of 2011, we got our second Lumix.  Features and picture quality are outstanding as well. And I like that it's white.
3. iPhone4 - I'm a late bloomer when it comes to smart phones.  I just had one last July and it changed me forever! =) Instagram is my stress reliever.  Somehow, looking at IG photos relaxes me and puts me in a good mood...and helps me get sleepy at night too, hahaha! With the built-in camera, I can now take pictures of whatever, anytime, anywhere, and sharing them instantly on my social network.  The apps are just as fun to use!

Are you a shutter bug like me? What's your #my3things #photography?

* * *

#my3things

To shoot and share photos of groups of things that I use together or consume regularly.  

If you are following me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, you will see #my3things instantly. 

On the blog, you'll learn more about each one, and know the story behind them.  I'll be sharing one photo at a time.  This is another window into the life Mom-Friday. =)

Join me on Instagram and share your 3 things.  Don't forget to use the hashtag #my3things and tag @mymomfriday so I can see them too! :)

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Mom-Finds: Dizzy Dress Forever™

Last Friday of the month:  Shopping Finds / Fashion / Kid-Style

"Oooh... it's big and twirly!" 
That's the first thing M said as soon as she put on her birthday dress last January 8.

It's been over a year since Tricia, the creative genius behind this fun twirly dress, introduced me to her dresses by inviting me to one of her trunk shows (is that what you call it?) in Alabang.  I wasn't able to go at that time, and the girl was not so much into dresses and prefers leggings and pants so I held off from buying a dress for her.  Truth be told, I wanted the dress! =)

3 adjustable sizes: Ages 2-3 (small), 3-5 (medium), 5-9 (large)

Fast forward to November last year, Tricia launched her Dizzy Dress Forever™ - "one big happy reversible, twirly dress, jumper & skirt!"

As soon as I saw it on Facebook, I quickly showed it to M and asked if she'd like to wear something like that.  Of course, with all the spinning and twirling photos, she wanted one too!  We both agreed I will buy it and reserve the dress for her birthday since she already asked for lots of gifts for Christmas.  It was a done deal.

Last December, I was finally able to buy a Dizzy Dress™ for my girl as an advanced birthday gift.

Dizzy Dress Forever™ (large size) - PhP 2,200

Dizzy Dress™

The first and only pretty, twirly, reversible, adjustable, DIY decorate-it-yourself dress that moms and kids will love.

Dizzy Dress™ contains some or all of the following materials: cotton nylon & rayon spandex and a range of woven cottons and cotton blends like chiffon, organza, tulle mesh, chaliss, batiste, muslin, voile. Loads of stretch means loads of growing room.

M doesn't want to model for me so I just took photos of the dress on how to wear it in different ways.

How to wear the Dizzy Dress Forever™:

• Printed sundress with adjustable spaghetti straps
• Fully reversible - if you want a plain dress
• Wear as full skirt
• Wear as tube dress with halter straps
• Sundress with criss-cross straps at the back
• Wear as jumper over a plain shirt

What I like about Dizzy Dress™:

• Fully reversible
• Vibrant prints
• Made with soft, quality fabric
• Unique, versatile, and timeless design
• Adjustable straps with room to grow in
• Wash and wear
• Generous amount of material for maximum twirling fun! =)

I also love that this Forever dress come in paisley prints, combined with a denim-like material.  The dress is not cheap - more than double the price of an ordinary dress, but it's not just one dress... everything I listed up there makes the Dizzy Dress™ totally worth it.  You do get what you paid for, and the fun factor is priceless.

I posted this shot on Instagram the first time she tried it on (as a jumper) and twirled 'til she went dizzy, literally!

Watch her spin and twirl in this 14-sec. video:

M was excited to show off her Dizzy Dress Forever™ in school on her birthday, as featured here:  The Girl is 6.

Once it's on, it's so hard to stop her from twirling!

This is the ultimate mother-and-daughter-approved multi-way dress for girls!

More photos on how to wear DD Forever here in Facebook.

Visit Dizzy Dress™at www.dizzydress.com

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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My 3 Things: Spreads

#my3things #breakfast

We are not big on breakfast, and I personally don't prepare a full spread for the family.  When I was in college until my early years of working, my mother served rice meals in the morning.  They're usually left-overs the night before or the regular breakfast fares of bacon, luncheon meat, or hot dog with rice!

After I got married, breakfast for us has been bread with a variety of spreads, with a warm cup of coffee or chocolate drink.  Oatmeal and eggs cooked in different ways are a staple too, but most days, we're good with sliced bread and our favorite spreads like peanut butter.

1. Biscoff Spread - Lately, my girl and I have been sharing this jar.  This cookie butter craze hit us big time, and we're hooked!
2. Peanut Butter - My boys still prefer peanut butter - Skippy here is gluten-free too.  
3. Nutella - I, on the other hand, break the usual cycle with Nutella.

I tried my boy's all-time favorite breakfast and snack - Peanut Butter - Banana French Toast with Nutella and Biscoff, and they're equally delicious! Try it out!

What's your #my3things #breakfast?

***

#my3things

To shoot and share photos of groups of things that I use together or consume regularly.  

If you are following me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, you will see #my3things instantly. 

On the blog, you'll learn more about each one, and know the story behind them.  I'll be sharing one photo at a time.  This is another window into the life Mom-Friday. =)

Join me on Instagram and share your 3 things.  Don't forget to use the hashtag #my3things and tag @mymomfriday so I can see them too! :)

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Fun Friday: School Birthday Party Planning

Third Friday of the month:  Event / Parties / Birthday

Party planning is nothing new to me.  I've been an events planner since the 90s, organizing corporate events, private social functions, and weddings.  It's never a walk in the park.  They gave me a lot of stress and fulfillment at the same time.  With children's birthday parties, however, there are different dynamics and elements to it.  I did not attempt to go into that anymore.  I only planned my own kids' parties, and suggest ideas when friends ask for my help with theirs.

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My 3 Things

#my3things

That's the hashtag I use when I post photos of random groups of stuff I regularly use, or consume.

My basic accessories.

I enjoy taking photos immensely - did I mention I'm a self-confessed pathological picture-taker and also an Instagram addict? =)  Whatever catches my fancy, I try to take a snapshot.  I love taking photos of food, articles of clothing, accessories, nature, and especially my kids.  However, since both are getting older, and my girl will be in big school soon, I am now trying to avoid sharing frontal shots of them to keep their privacy.  Since I'll be sharing less of my kids (particularly their faces) and myself here, might as well share more of the things around me, right?

Last month, I re-posted this photo below on my Facebook page when I decided to add My 3 Things as a new section in the blog.  This was my first #my3things post on Instagram last October.  I thought I was the first to use the #my3things hashtag, but discovered there were two other Igers who used the hashtag before me.  Anyway, I knew I wanted to post more of my 3 things.

How it all started:

It was a typical school day, and while in the car on my to fetch the boy, I usually apply my basic make-up: 

1. Kate Mineral Powder Foundation
2. Burt's Bees lip shimmer
3. Lash Curler

On the spot, I took this shot and wrote:  3 things #FOTD everyday (for those not familiar, FOTD is "face of the day").  I then added the hashtag #my3things since I want to tag this and post more group shots on IG.

3 things #FOTD everyday

Second #my3things post with the usual colors you'll see me wear on a typical day:

1. White top
2. Blue jeans
3. Vieta brown bag

That's me.  (OOTD is "outfit of the day")

My typical colors #OOTD

Third #my3things post last New Year's Eve:

1. Vieta brown bag - bought on sale last October
2. Braun Buffel - my 10-year-old wallet
3. Longchamp - roomy red coin purse, a gift

May they always be full this 2013...

The top photo was my most recent #my3things post.

1. Tag Heuer - watch was part of the engagement gift almost 11 years ago, and J has the men's size.
2. Pearl studs - gift from my mother
3. Wedding ring - my hand just feels different without it on my finger

I use them together almost every day since these accessories can go with anything I wear.

The objective is simple:

#my3things

To shoot and share photos of groups of things that I use together or consume regularly.  

If you are following me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, you will see #my3things instantly. 

On the blog, you'll learn more about each one, and know the story behind them.  I'll be sharing one photo at a time.  This is another window into the life Mom-Friday. =)

Join me on Instagram and share your 3 things.  Don't forget to use the hashtag #my3things and tag @mymomfriday so I can see them too! :)

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
Get instant updates:
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What's Your Water?

It's a simple question but weird to answer.  The type of water we drink has never been a concern for me until I became a mother.  I grew up drinking boiled tap water, and I think we turned out fine and healthy.

There are so many types of water available now, and it's quite confusing, to be honest.  As a mom, I'm responsible for what we eat and drink, even outside the home.  I try to educate myself on finding what's best give to my family, water included.

Going back to the question of water - we don't have a water filter at home, so we consume boiled tap, and order alkaline water since the adults, myself included, are acidic.  But when we're not home and there's no other option but to buy water, I choose Absolute distilled water.  Distilled water is considered the purest form of water that's free of contaminants.  You can learn more about distilled water here.  Since I can't control what water is available outside the home, I know distilled water is my safest bet.

For medical reasons, I also buy Absolute.  Just recently, my girl was prescribed an antibiotic suspension, so I bought Absolute since distilled water was called for to dilute the powder.

There are so many bottled water in the market and there really is no assurance that they are clean and safe.  We just have to trust that the manufacturers are honorable and honest with their claims.  That said, I'm glad I was tapped to do this post because I learned that Absolute Pure Distilled Drinking Water is certified pure and safe by NSF, an international health and safety organization recognized by the World Health Organization.

Absolute Pure Distilled Drinking Water

• the only brand in the Philippines certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF)
• the only bottled water brand in the country that has passed the standards of FDA (Food and Drug Administration), IBWA (International Bottled Water Association), and NSF
• has undergone thorough purification and distillation process, making it the cleanest water for your baby's and family's safety

So what is NSF?

NSF International helps protect customers by certifying products worldwide and writing internationally-recognized standards for food, water and consumer goods.

As an independent, non-profit, global public health and safety organization, NSF is committed to improving human health and safety worldwide.

Knowing this gave me peace of mind.  I checked the certification of Absolute from NSF and found it here.  That's our guarantee that Absolute distilled drinking water is pure and safe.  In the end, we all need to make informed choices for our family's health and well-being.

How about you, what's your water?

Get updates from Absolute Distilled Water on Facebook.
Learn more about NSF International in their official website: www.nsf.org

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Family Friday: Our Holiday Stay at Acacia Hotel

Second Friday of the month: Kids / Family / Parenting

The most wonderful time of the year is over, and now we're starting another year.  Time flies so fast and the next thing we know, we're counting the days 'til Christmas again!

My post on Instagram

The recent holiday season was festive, stressful, joyous, and tiring all the same time - at least for my family.  One awesome thing that came out of the break was a welcome respite at Acacia Hotel Manila, where my family of four was treated to an overnight accommodation after Christmas.

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The Girl is 6

Today, my darling girl is 6 years young.  She's growing up to be one feisty, smart, creative, assertive, talkative, and independent little lady.  And this one got all her wishes (wants) for her birthday.

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Foodie Friday: Macarons and Cupcakes Overdose

First Friday of the month:  Food Find / Dessert / Snack

Over the holidays, I think I've been competing with the hubby in terms of who ate too much sweets between us.  If you can only see our mid section, you'll know we've had one too many to satiate our sweet cravings!

What I'm trying to say is... we ate too much! We had too many desserts, chocolates, cupcakes, macarons, to name a few, over a period of one month!  In my case, one culprit would be Bellefleur by Beatrix.  But who can resist these sinful sweets?

I'm a sucker for macarons, and I can finish these off in one sitting if I don't control myself.  My girl is actually competing with me on that department.  She gets to choose what color/flavor I should not eat and leave them for her to enjoy.  I'm now craving as I type!

What I look for in macarons are the crisp yet dense texture, chewiness, fragrant nuttiness from the almond flour, and the distinct flavor from both the cookie and the filling.  These I found in our favorites -- Lemon, Cappuccino, Salted Caramel, and Earl Grey.  The girl also liked the taste of Cherry Almond, aside from it's reddish pink color! Bellefleur has 12 flavors on offer -- check out the flavor guide here.  

We also received an abundance of cupcakes and other baked goodies from our friends, and I'm the only one eating most of them! Bellefleur also sent a tray of six cupcakes.  The Salted Caramel is a winner!  I especially love the pinch of sea salt that topped off this moist cupcake.

A surprise hit is this Lemon Meringue Cupcake that my girl loved, and even requested to be included on her birthday celebration next week!  It's light, sweet, lemon-y, and fluffy.  I was "ordered" to bring rainbow cupcakes for her classmates, and these lemon cupcakes for the adults.  There's your seal of approval.  Macarons and cupcakes -- a deadly and decadent combination!

For orders or inquiries, head over to Bellefleur By Beatrix on Facebook.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it! Get instant updates: My Mom-Friday on Facebook
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Fireworks to Welcome 2013

I got that quote from my cousin's text greeting and I think it is so fitting for this New Year post. Whatever happens this year, let's all hope and work towards happy endings.

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