Pre-holiday Fete with Mothers Who Brunch and Uashmama

Whenever my friends Mish and Sab from Mothers Who Brunch (MWB) invite me to their events, I really make an effort to attend simply because I know they'll prepare something truly special, and we'll have a wonderful time together (aside from the fact that I'll discover amazing products from their presentations, and most importantly, they feed me well.... heeheehee). As expected, the recent MWB gathering was such a treat as I learned about this innovative Italian brand of washable paper products by Uashmama.

Brunch was held at the beautiful Viking Range Showroom in Alabang. I'll consider this my first holiday party this season kasi everything felt and looked so festive! The venue was transformed by the Badoy sisters of Boqueria Lifestyle Market, spruced up with an assortment of Uashmama paper bags that fit right into the different settings. This newest #MomFindsPH is so simple yet versatile. Stylish too! And did I mention they're completely washable?

Spot the paper bags on the table setting.

What is Uashmama?

Pronounced as "wash-mama", Uashmama was born in 2011 in the town of Montecatini in Tuscany, Italy, run by the Marconi family.  All of the products are 100% made in Italy. The family started out by producing traditional bread bags made of this new washable paper and sold it in their local community. With the versatility of the material and positive market feedback, they’ve grown the product range to include home, table, and fashion lines.

To this day, the iconic paper bag remains to be the best selling item across continents. Now, Uashmama is available in the Philippines, thanks to the official distributor, INEXPH Inc.

Uashmama paper bags are made with eco-friendly virgin cellulose fiber. They come in pretty colors and different sizes, used here as bread bag and countertop produce storage, as well as for fresh greens for our salad and even potted herbs and plants!

To add some excitement during the event, our hosts cooked up a creative challenge for us to style an area and showcase the use of Uashmama the best way possible. Winning group will receive Uashmama bags!

With my teammates Patty and Maget, we were assigned the coffee table and this was what we came up with.

Pwede na diba, kahit medyo naubusan na kami ng Uashmama bags and props to use. :D

The "bathroom group" won the challenge with their smart use of different bags around the space. Congratulations, ladies!

MWB will not be complete without good food, right? So, as expected, kitchen divas Mish and Sab prepared some delectable dishes like creamy polenta and the egg and mozzarella loaf using organic vegetables and pantry supplies from EarthOrigins Marketplace. They also presented ideas on how we can gather at home for the holidays using Severin kitchen appliances like the spiralizer (for the salad) and sous vide machines (for the steak). 

The Italian-inspired brunch was catered by Joy of Yogi Brunch, who lovingly made the vegetarian menu. Well, we really felt and tasted the love, Joy, because everything was superb! My favorites were truffled butter spread on toast, arugula-basil pesto and roasted garlic aioli with pasta. I even bought a jar of pesto to bring home. Grabe sa sarap -- I never expected na wala palang meat dish sa buffet! The sous vide steak was perfectly cooked by Nino, the better half of Mish.

Aside from our happy tummies, awesome prizes from the sponsors were raffled off as well, kaya mas masaya pa! =)

Hooray! I was one of the lucky few to win a Uashmama purse (which my girl sequestered when I showed it to her)! Of course, I was not able to restrain myself from shopping that day, so I got myself this lighweight Uashmama Otti Metallic handbag with detachable shoulder strap. I've been using it everyday since.

Thank you, MWBxUashmama for the lovely brunch and all the amazing goodies for us to enjoy! I was in very good company that day which made the trip all the more memorable. What a way to usher in the holiday season!

Learn more about MWB at Facebook.com/MothersWhoBrunch
Follow Instagram @motherswhobrunch
Check out Uashmama and shop online at Facebook.com/uashmamaph
Follow Instagram @uashmama_ph

Note:
All unmarked photos provided by Mothers Who Brunch.

***

Take a look at my first holiday gathering with MWB: Mothers Who Brunch Holiday Potluck Party

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My First Cookie Swap Party

First Friday of the month: Food / Baking

Happy New Year, everyone! =)

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break filled with memorable feasts. May we all crave for more epicurean delights and share new foodie discoveries this year. This is my first blog feature for 2017 and it happens to be Foodie Friday, so let's start with something festive and delicious to welcome the new year, shall we?

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Welcome to TICKLES Gift Shopping Wonderland

You know you're an 80s kid when you trooped to Greenhills and shopped for trinkets, gifts and novelty items at TICKLES. I was one of those girls who regularly check out this treasure trove for quirky finds. Since school is just minutes away, my friends and I used to buy stationery, stickers, cute school supplies, and other kitchy items we fancy. Fast forward to almost 40 years, a spanking new flagship store opens in SM Megamall and a new generation of shoppers will be in for a treat in this happy shopping place called TICKLES!

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Fun Friday: Bingo Night with the ICA Spirants

Third Friday of the month: Events / Celebrations

I've spent 13 years in an exclusive girls' school - from kinder through fourth year high school, where I had some of the most memorable experiences of my life. High school was the best, of course, mainly because those were the years of self-discovery and gaining lifelong friends whom I now treasure dearly. 

I can't believe it's been 25 years since I graduated from ICA! I'm proud to be an ICAN.

We are the SPIRANTS - Immaculate Conception Academy graduates of 1991. There's no denying, mga titas na talaga kami, and come November is our homecoming as silver jubilarians.

As we prepare for the homecoming of the Spirants, fund-raising activities and get-togethers have been organized to pool ideas and contributions for "ICAN Inspire" event. The most recent dinner was our Bingo Night held last February 5 to usher in the Chinese New Year. 

The sumptuous dinner was held at Choi Garden in Greenhills and while we wished that more could join that night, each of the four sections were well represented. Faith, Hope, Charity, Fidelity. Yep, we only had 4 sections then and if my memory serves me right, our batch is less than 150 students only.  

Here are the Bingo winners that evening, taking home kitchen appliances, gadgets, accessories, food and personal care products, and top prizes like a ceiling fan and an LCD TV.  Ang saya lang!

It's always good to see old familiar faces, to reminisce and reconnect. A few balikbayan batchmates also made it that night, and as expected, it was a riotous celebration filled with nostalgia and camaraderie. From the delicious meal to the nerve-wracking Bingo game, loud and endless chikahan, and lots of LOL moments, I'd say our CNY dinner cum Bingo night was a success.

Part of the evening's program was an update of our fund-raising projects and homecoming program. We hope you can support our projects for the benefit of the ICA scholarship fund and the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception.

Aside from the two successful garage sales last year, which will have a repeat this year, we also launched these cute and precious sterling silver ICA Charms and the leather-bound I Can Inspire Notebooks and Journals. Bili na kayo! =)

More photos and updates at: www.facebook.com/Spirants

Calling all ICA parents, students and ICANs in and out of the country, order now and own these limited edition #ICANinspire keepsakes or give them as gifts too! Share the love! 

Prices and details are on the posters below. For orders and inquiries, text or call 0977-2009134.

#ICANinspire91  #ICAcharms

Elementary and High School ICA Charms come in gift boxes

#ICANinspire91  #SpirantsNotebook

Journal - blank leaves, comes in Dark and Aqua Blue leather cover.

Lined Notebook in black leather cover comes with Aqua blue, Lime green, Purple, or Fuschia stems.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Kiwa Korean Grill Fine Dining Restaurant in Solaire

First Friday of the month: Restaurant / Foodie Finds

My family loves Asian cuisine. Whenever we think of family restos, we usually end up dining from favorites that offer Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes. It's always a safe bet for us, even on special occasions. For families like us who are always on the lookout for good Asian food, you can now include Kiwa Korean Grill, the newest fine dining destination down south, in your list of go-to Korean restaurants.

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Family Friday: My Birthday Girl is 9 Today

Second Friday of the month: Kids / Family

My not-so-little girl is 9. It's like every year after she started going to school, I say to myself that I don't have a baby anymore and that time flies so fast. Indeed, it has. While his brother is already in the tween stage, I am taking comfort in the fact that she still wants to remain "small" and to "stay a kid forever" -- her own words. She'll forever be the baby of the family.

When she turned 8 last year

We did not plan anything special this year except giving in to her request that she wants to go swimming with her cousins, just like how she celebrated her birthday last year with her (girl)classmates.  We'll do that tomorrow. Today, she'll treat her second-grade class to a simple lunch. Tonight, we'll have our traditional family dinner at a resto of her choice, and then candle-blowing on her requested ice cream cake at home.

Let me keep this post short and simple as I dedicate this to M on her 9th birthday. Here are some precious photos from years past and sharing my hopes and wishes for our little lady.

From here on, I hope you remain persistent and motivated to get through challenges and to achieve your goals. Keep trying, never give up.

Enjoy life's many adventures. I hope we can travel the world together. Explore!

Be humble. Show respect. Be kind, always. 

Stay curious. Keep asking questions. There's so much to learn and discover. 

Continue to hone your talents and pursue your interests.

I  hope you become more confident and self-assured. Don't be afraid to stand out and to express yourself.

I wish you find true friends, have the best times and create wonderful memories with them.

Be your brother's best friend. Love one another. Act silly together.

Always look at the bright side. Stay positive, stay healthy and happy.  

Remember that we all love you very much. We are always here to guide, to support, and to cheer you on. I know there's so much in store for you this year. Here's to being 9!

Birthdays past:

7 - http://www.mymomfriday.com/2014/01/planning-frozen-birthday-party-with-girl.html

http://www.mymomfriday.com/2014/01/fun-friday-what-to-prepare-for-frozen.html

6 - http://www.mymomfriday.com/2013/01/the-girl-is-6.html

5 - http://www.mymomfriday.com/2012/01/foodie-friday-rainbow-birthday-cupcakes.html

3 - http://www.mymomfriday.com/2010/01/girl-is-3.html

School party planning:

http://www.mymomfriday.com/2013/01/fun-friday-school-birthday-party_18.html

Update:

All about M on my Instagram today. =)

Here's the girl with her requested frozen custard cake (ice cream cake) I ordered from Rita's. During lunch at school, we treated her classmates to Shakey's Bunch of Lunch and a tower of Krispy Kreme doughnuts instead of her usual birthday cupcakes. Happiness!

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Moms' Pre-Christmas Night Out at The Bayleaf in Intramuros

First Friday of the month: Food and Dining

Umpisa na ng mga Christmas get-togethers. My December calendar is getting filled and I can already feel the festive mood in the air. I haven't completed my gift shopping yet (panic mode) but I've already blocked the dates for holiday dinners and parties. The first for this season was a night out with friends at The Bayleaf hotel.

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Fun Friday: Mothers Who Brunch Holiday Potluck Party

Third Friday of the month: Celebration / Holidays

The holidays are fast approaching and I am frantically drawing up my list for gift-giving, and blocking off dates from my calendar for get-togethers and events. If you're one to celebrate Thanksgiving, then you need to plan your menu now. Here are some ideas on potluck party preparations, from food to table settings, during the Mothers Who Brunch Holiday edition held at the Viking Range Showroom in Alabang.

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A Festive Salo-salo at KUYA J Restaurant with Jericho Rosales

I am a foodie at heart and I do appreciate a range of cuisines as well as how food was prepared. Filipino cuisine, with all it's Spanish and Oriental influences, is a fusion of exotic flavors. Comfort food for the soul. Admittedly, there are only a handful of Pinoy restos that I can claim to love and go back to. With that short list, I can safely say I've now added Kuya J resto -- a homegrown dining destination where families can enjoy a hearty Filipino feast!

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Birthdays with Dancing Iron Man (Men) and a Limo Ride

The past weekend has been especially exciting for the kids. The girl had an all-girls birthday playdate last Saturday, and come Sunday, the family celebrated the baptismal and first birthday party of my nephew. The events were filled with unique and unexpected surprises that made them more memorable.

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Easter Eggventure Island in Century City Mall

Hello everyone! How did you spend the (Holy Week) break?
We don't usually plan anything during the Holy week, and on occasion, we simply drive to an out-of-town destination or do a Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday. This year, we had nothing planned and only looked forward to the Easter Sunday event we got invited to at Century City Mall. We're excited because it's our first time to join an egg hunt and celebration like this! =)

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Family Friday: Cherished Holiday Gatherings

Second Friday of the month:  Friendship / Family

I love the holiday season.  I think all of us do, even if it's also quite stressful. Christmas is our favorite time of the year because of the festive mood, and bonus of having a cooler weather. It's when family members near and far come together, old and new friends wine and dine, children are showered with loads of presents, and a time for more generosity and thanksgiving.

With my oldest and best-est friends -- together since 1988!

We've only been into the first week of the new year, which means I still have a holiday hangover, heeheehee...it's just so hard getting out of bed when the weather is still chilly, and erasing the Christmas mood while our tree is still up (yes, until Chinese New Year)! Maybe next week I'll be back to "normal". Maybe. =)

Blogging mamas... real friends online and offline

Anyhoo, since I'm just easing back into blogging, I just wanted to share this short post on memorable moments with friends and loved ones over the holidays.

With our friends and family, it's all about spontaneity and simple get-togethers. No frills. It's really what I treasure most during this time of the year -- enjoying the company of people near and dear to me, reconnecting with old friends, or having a rare chance to get together with those who live across the seas.

With my balik-bayan cousins

With J's friends and our growing families 

Who had the most fun during the break?  These four kids!

I think this last holiday break was the busiest and most fun for them, having spent more time together playing, going on outdoor adventures, having a sleep-over, and trying new things -- like doing a song and dance number during our new year's eve dinner! That's something to look forward to, hopefully every year na!

How about you, what are your cherished moments during the recent holidays? =)

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