Happy Christmas 2014, everyone!

 
 Only two days left until the most wonderful time of the year! So, as early as now, allow me to wish all of you a happy Christmas and a joyful New Year!
 


Photo source: hdwallpapersfull.com

 What are you looking forward to the Christmas celebration of your family this year? :) I, for one, am truly excited because this is going to be my son's (Kevin) second Christmas! I know he'll have fun playing with his cousins, Titos, and Titas. Oh and yes! He sure would enjoy spending time with this Lolos and Lolas as well! :)
 
God bless us all! ^_^
 

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Basic Beauty Essentials for Stay-At-Home Moms!

Let's all admit it moms, we're so preoccupied (almost all the time) with our responsibilities at home or at work (online jobs) to the extent that we hardly have time to do things for ourselves (e.g., go shopping, enjoy the spa or salon, or even finish reading a book in one seating).

But, that's actually the beauty of being a responsible mom---regardless of not having and enjoying all the time we want for ourselves to do things that we love the most, we still enjoy life and living because we're able to provide everything our family needs.

Nevertheless, we must all remember that being "busy" should not hinder ourselves from staying "beautiful" in our own little way :) So, here are my two cents worth you might want to consider!

Stay-at-home moms should always keep these few basic beauty charms at hand just in case...you know. ;)

• Compact Powder

Being a stay-at-home doesn't imply that we should neglect the need to look "pleasant," while simply completing a grocery list or buying food from the market. We should always look presentable, minus the oily face. Ever Bilena's Advance Sheer Compact Powder is affordable, yet it provides one a simple and attractive look that's not overdone!


My compact powder for every-day use, helping me achieve an oil-free look

• Liquid Foundation/BB Cream

For moms who aren't that big on compact powders, I highly recommend Mary Kay TimeWise Luminous-Wear Liquid Foundation. This item is perfect to be applied when you're meeting up with a few friends for a cup of coffee or you have to attend a PTA meeting at your child's school. You may also want to consider Maybelline Clear Smooth B.B Cream to attain a classic, natural oil-free face.

These two are my favourite foundation/cream I frequently apply whenever I leave home

• Leave In Hair Mist

If there's an urgent need for you to pick up something from the grocery store or fall in line to pay bills, JTomas No Tangle Leave In Hair Mist is ideal to spray over a dry hair, allowing you to delight in a "beautiful hair day!" I love using this product (even I'm just at home) because it keeps my hair tangle free and soft.

I usually have dry hair, but thanks to this product I can have soft, tangle-free hair

• Facial Moisturizer

Being a mom requires us to worry about almost everything for our family. Thus, there's a tendency for us to develop wrinkles quickly. In this event, we should maintain a healthy, youthful looking skin by using a facial moisturizer. The one that I've been using daily for more than 2 years is Myra E's facial moisturizer. Thus far, I'm loving the result. :)

I've been a Myra E Facial Moisturizer user for over 2 years now. Happy that it works well for me!

• Lip Cream

We, moms, should not forget to add a little more charm to our look whenever we leave home. Do it with lip creams. I personally love Avon's Simply Pretty Color Magic Lipstick because it gives my lips a natural red tint, which is ideal for an unassuming beauty. Meanwhile, for a more glamorous appearance, I recommend Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream, which is in the latest beauty trend! (I got mine from @BeautyHub_ph [check out their IG account now]; thank you sis Mae for the fast and smooth transaction)

These lippies are irresistibly pretty and useful

• Eye Liner/Eye Mascara

The last beauty essential I could think of are for our eyes---yes, mascara and eye liner! Trust me,  these babies can beautify our eyes even more and can grant us a more stylish demeanor! Try out Avon Super Drama Waterproof Mascara and Nichido Waterproof Eyeliner, which have both served me well! ;)

As the sayings goes, "The eyes are the windows to your soul". Be sure to have dazzling eyes with these babies

Maintaining a charming look even at home is a considerable need for us moms, particularly in today's world. We should never fail ourselves to always look presentable because we're not just doing it for our children and husband, but, more importantly, we're doing it for ourselves!

 

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Rajon Kevin celebrates his 12th month at Fun Ranch!

Ha! It's been a while since my last post. I've been really busy for the past few months...juggling mommy duties, household chores, and online jobs---all at once! It's not easy, but we, supermoms, sure can manage (right? hehe).

Anyway, now that I had a time to spare...I thought of briefly putting my son's first birthday celebration in writing!

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First-time parents generally look forward to and significantly prepare for their child's 12th month birthday celebration.

In my case, well, I (and my husband) really made sure that Kevin had a great time on his special day.

In particular, my husb and I decided to observe such a special event in Fun Ranch, Ortigas branch.

This party place offers a wide range of affordable party packages from which parents can choose. These packages, which already cover the party venue, food, party theme, design, and so on, are so complete that you no longer need to worry or look for specific food caterers and party needs suppliers.

Moreover, Fun Ranch has two branches (one in Ortigas and one in Alabang), ready to cater to all your party needs whichever is more convenient for you and your guests. The Ortigas branch has over five party venues or rooms, in which you can commemorate any life event and create happy memories with your loved ones!

Kevin had his party in Blue Whale Ground Floor (Blue Whale Grill) that has a seating capacity of 100 pax and features a soft play area with swim ball (11 ft. x 8 ft.). The kids will certainly love the set-up of this party room, which is considerably spacious and exudes a happy vibe.

The complete program of the party (including the entertainment aspect and party activities)  is also not a concern to bother yourself with.

Fun Ranch will provide you with various options for your party program (who you want to host your event, whether you want to have magicians, clowns, etc.).--from party host, magic shows, kiddie salon, airbrush face painting, fire eater to exotic and python show! You just have to select the best entertainment/activities for your event based on your party theme and how you think your guests will enjoy!

Here's a quick preview of how Kevin's first birthday party went!

Invitation for Kevin's 1st birthday celebration party! This invite was made by my kumare and friend Donna Pahignalo

Obviously, Kevin had a Spider-man themed party! :)

Nice set-up for the party cake and cuppies :)

Proud mom and dad of Kevin :)

Delish food served by Fun Ranch, Blue Whale Grill :)

We opted to have a magic show for Kevin's party :)

Kevin's party favors. We had a separate supplier for this :)



We really hope Kevin and his guests enjoyed the party! :)

At Home in the City

Facing mom's worst kitchen nightmares

How to overcome the fear of cooking

Hey, mommies! If I ask you to name a few cooking fears, what would be on your list? 

Would it contain a handful of common ones such as the fear of making someone sick, fear of overcooking, fear of spoilage, or fear of recipes? Would it also count in your simple worry of getting cut or burnt while cooking? (Point-black, same fears would appear on my list if I am to make one too!)

Photo source: http://www.blisstree.com

Well, cheer up moms! Neither of these little phobias would make us pay regular visits to a psychiatrist’s couch nor would cause us to frequent a weekend workshop full of holding hands, singing “Kumbayah”. For all that, what these kitchen nightmares can actually do is prevent us from being better cooks than we are already.

The fear of cooking, clinically dubbed as mageirocophobia, is extremely common according to the Medical Review Board. It's a condition that can take many forms and is correlated with the possible outcomes of the cooking process. While these fears are considered simple and run-of-the-mill, they can get severe enough to interfere with one's daily life. As mothers, we don't want that to happen, do we? 

Just the same, if this fear of cooking always get in the way making us, the home meal planners, feel uncomfortable in the kitchen, how can we cook for our families?

Chef Marie Gonzalez, owner and chief vegetable whisperer of Kitchen Revolution, gives us a slew of recommendations that might help us face our worst kitchen nightmares and overcome them.

(1) Fear of causing illness

This is noted as the most common cooking phobia of all. It roots from the basic creeps of contamination, spoilage, and/or undercooking. In reality, there are number of possible foodborne illnesses which can be acquired by anyone—even our kids at home. This fact adduces why we must understand the reasoning behind many “food rules”. 

“Foodwise, a mother should follow proper sanitation practices—more so if her kitchen handles meat,” Chef Marie explains. “Raw meat is a breading ground of bacteria,” she points out. 

How to face the fear:

• Designate one chopping board for meat which should never be used to cut veggies and fruits.
• After using it, always wash with soap and diluted bleach to kill bacteria
• Disinfect kitchen surfaces with 1 capful of bleach in 1 liter of water
• Keep raw meat and seafood away from cooked food in the ref or freezer
• Don't leave out raw meat and seafood more than 4 hours in room temperature
• Rule of thumb: keep cooked food in the refrigerator only up to 5 days

(2) Fear of serving inedible food

It is true, mothers as cooks are quite overwhelmed by seasoning options. This is why, we, on occasion, fail to trust our own abilities to mix flavors and nail down the best choices for each dish. 

Chef Marie clarifies that inedible foods are those which are bland or extremely sweet, salty, bitter, or spicy.

How to face the fear:

• Always taste the food as you prepare or cook it
• For savory food, add a pinch of salt every time you add an ingredient to the pot
• For baked desserts, follow the recipe to a T. Add salt or sugar sparingly so adjustments can be made easily
• Learn what particular ingredients are bitter and use sparingly. (For example, kids won’t eat ampalaya greens so don’t serve it to them. If they can’t handle spice, don’t sprinkle in cayenne pepper at all)
• If something’s bland, add a pinch of salt, sugar, or citrus / vinegar. Too sweet, salty, or spicy? Dilute with water

(3) Fear of presentation

Let's face it, some of us are perfectionists even in the kitchen. We get bothered by presentation concerns such as how the food looks! Experts say “this phobia seems to be triggered most often when giving a dinner party or otherwise entertaining at home”.

“Colorful food is a sure fire way of a good presentation,” Chef Marie reveals.

How to face the fear:

• Make sure the food you cook has plenty of color: red from tomatoes and bell peppers, orange from squash and carrots, yellow from potatoes and camote, green from leafy greens and string beans, purple from eggplant and onions, white / brown from singkamas and brown rice
• Trust your creativity in terms of serving meals for friends and even for close family

(4) Fear of the cooking process

Most of us have this kind of phobia. We worry about getting ourselves cut or burnt, or having other difficulties with the process. We are even afraid of techniques that we don't fully understand, from blanching to poaching, which hinder us from cooking other savory meals for the family. 

Chef Marie notes that “if a cooking process seems daunting, Google or Youtube it!”

How to face the fear:

• Watch cooking shows 
• Follow recipes carefully
• Understand that the process involves great effort (even if it'll cause you a cut)

(5) Fear of recipes

Seemingly complicated recipes can be intimidating. That's why at times, we question our ability to perform all of the steps or fret that we might miss one.

“A recipe is a guide to help you successfully cook or bake a dish. Think of it as a way to avoid disaster in the kitchen,” suggests Chef Marie.

How to face the fear:

• Note that a recipe is a great way to expand your cooking horizons
• Also, consider it as your bestfriend in the kitchen so next time you have a fridge of leftover produce without a clue of what to cook, it can give you an idea how you can whip up something fantastic

“The families that eat at home together, stay healthy together,” Chef Marie believes. So if we, moms, want our kids to build good eating habits, we must avoid fast food joints and just cook and eat at home. 

We must not let our kitchen nightmares overturn our dream of keeping our family in the pink of health. So, whip up only the healthful and yummy dishes for the whole family!

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Activate your creative juices, moms!

(Create perky souvenirs for your kid's upcoming party!)

If you have the time, the resources, and the guts to actually do it, why not? Besides, creating something with your hands and seeing people delight over it is always a satisfying feeling.

So moms, for your little one's upcoming party why not make the favors yourself? Everyone—your guests, hubby, and especially your kid, will treasure it even more because it's made with a very special element..LOVE!

Sample of a unique, personalized, and crafty favor by Sweet Lil Soles

“Creating your kid's party favor is a labor of love, so it's more appreciated,” said Rhea Diputado, a momprenuer who owns Sweet Lil Soles, an online shop of handmade paper shoe favors and crafty giveaways.

An art lover who sees the value of delightful favors in any occasion, mommy Rhea shared with Baby on Board some tips on creating DIY souvenirs for the little one's party. So, read on and let your creative juices flow!

• Know it's value

A party favor or souvenir, for others, may always come in last in their “things to buy” list for their kid's baptismal celebration or birthday party. In the end, due to time constraints and inefficient budget allocations, they are left with mediocre ones that are dull and very ordinary.

Practically speaking, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just that, of course, as a mother it's best NOT to settle for anything LESS when it comes to your child.

Therefore, take note that the party favor is as important as the party invitation. It's your way of saying the sweetest “thank you's” to all those who joined in the celebration. Accordingly, it's apt and best to provide them with a keepsake that they can treasure for the years to come and that will properly reflect the joy of the occasion.

• Welcome crafty concepts

When you make your own souvenir, you have the power to do everything you want depending on how far your imagination can stretch. So, just let it loose! ALLOW yourself to entertain the craftiest ideas you can think of and make them real!

As what mommy Rhea clarified, DIY party favor “works out one's creative juices”. Consequently, don't be afraid to think outside the box. Remember, now that you know the value of giveaways, the more unique and creative they are, the BETTER!

• Make it personal

One thing that sets DIY souvenirs apart from those which can be bought from a party shop is that there's a PESONALIZED feel to it.

“When you make your own souvenir, there are so many possibilities in terms of design and how you can really personalize it for your party,” mommy Rhea explained.

You can use your kid's favorite color, his cartoon character of choice, or you can even add his latest picture in the giveaway. You can also use different kinds of material like recyclable small bottles or native baskets rather than simple art papers.

Moreover, if you love to bake or create sweets, why not add a delish treat to your favor? Say a cookie or yema just like what Sweet Lil Soles offers.

Sweet Lil Soles sells party favors that can go with different fillings like chocolates, mini cookies, gummies, and pastillas (which is mommy Rhea's specialty).

• Get ideas

In making your own party favors, mommy Rhea said it isn't something that requires you to undergo a thorough training.

“The internet is a very useful tool,” she shared. So make use of it. It'll give you various ideas and themes that can go well with your kid's party needs.

Mommy Rhea revealed that it's also where she got the idea to start an online shop of crafty favors.

Mommy Rhea loving her new role as housewife and momprenuer

“ I did a lot of research on the internet and racked my brain to come up with something. And then I saw these cute paper shoes. It was a light bulb moment! It seemed like it was something I can make and sell. Then, ideas flooded my brain,” she recalled.

Apparently, the internet is a great source of CREATIVE ideas. What more, if you haven't done DIY favors before, you can watch tutorials online.

• Do it with kids

Mommy Rhea admitted that making DIY party favors “can serve as BONDING activity with your kids if you do it with them”.

So, if time permits, do it with your kids! It will also be a training ground for them and will let their artistic skills be honed.

• Be inspired

Most importantly, remember that in creating DIY favors, it's best to be INSPIRED—as inspiration can be a “foundation for motivation”. Thus, it'll help you get everything done!

--

After reading this article, do you think you're now ready to create souvenirs for your kid's party? Well then, why not try these three links to some tutorial online which mommy Rhea shared, and find out?!

Baby girl shoe favor http://catchmyparty.com/blog/diy-how-to-make-paper-baby-shoe-favors

Cake slice boxes http://mypaperpony.blogspot.com/2009/09/cake-slice-box.html

Bag favor box http://rubberstamping.about.com/od/templates/ss/Handbag-Gift-Bag-Template_2.htm

Materials can be easily bought from national bookstore or any school supplies shop:

1. Board paper 180-220 gsm – colors that would match your party theme
2. Elmer’s glue
3. Pair of scissors
4. Template from the internet

Instructions:

1. Get the template from the internet or watch an online tutorial
2. Cut, assemble, glue the template as instructed
3. Design, embellish according to your theme

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Is there such thing as a cheat-proof relationship?

No Other Woman. The Mistress. A Secret Affair. My Neighbor's Wife. Love and Lies. And the list goes on.

You've seen them. May be not all; but, at least one which—admit or not, you were entertained and “moved” by the story. Whether you're on the side of the “original” or innocent party (because unfortunately you could relate to such situation) or you speak for the kabit, the point is you enjoyed the movie.

Then again, if you're going to think about it, why do film producers nowadays come up with such kind of spectacle? Is this some kind of a reflection of how things really are in real life?

photo source:
http://www.cosmo.ph/relationships/dating-tips/your-checklist-for-a-cheat-proof-relationship/

If that's what this is...the reason why they make such...well...it's both shameful and heartbreaking. :(

For the nth time: relationships don't last if both parties don't "work" for it to create a long lasting one. That's why it's a shame that many couple experiece rough times, finding the other cheating, which may entail that they're NOT “working” hard to save what they have.

Happy I came across this article online by Lisa Murphy. I think this is very helpful to keep relationships intact, and cheating-free!

Read on and learn the ways how to cheat-proof your relationship:

1. Touch each other

“Touch your partner non-sexually every day—it raises levels of oxytocin, the bonding hormone,” says Trina Read, a sexologist in Calgary and author of Till Sex Do Us Part: Make Your Married Sex Irresistible. That’s what Elizabeth in Toronto* and her partner do. “We always give each other little smooches on the lips and cheek or touch when we pass one another at a party.”

2. Make time to talk—and rock

“It’s important to make fun time together as a couple a priority,” says Beth Mares, a Toronto psychotherapist. But it can be equally crucial to chat regularly—weekly works for some couples—about managing your home, parenting and how the relationship is going, she says. Otherwise, our busy lives can allow unresolved conflicts to grow. “Every night, while lying in bed, we talk about our days,” says Siobhan in Dartmouth, N.S.* “It’s vanilla, but we’ve been happily together for 16 years, so we must be doing something right!” (Just don’t combine your problem-solving meeting with date night—resolving problems is no aphrodisiac.)

3. Use kindness, not curtness

It sounds obvious, but feeling unappreciated or put down can make a person open to cheating or an emotional affair, say our experts. A sincere compliment or a thoughtful gesture that really speaks to your partner’s interests—a ticket to a hockey game rather than chocolates or flowers, for example—can go a long way. (And will hopefully be reciprocated!) Likewise, be careful about being overly critical, save major criticisms or any issues your partner is sensitive about for a sit-down discussion. “There needs to be a rule that you don’t raise dissatisfactions at times when you can’t do anything about it—at bedtime or before work,” suggests Mares. Otherwise they can’t be resolved and will fester. “Sarcasm and mean-spirited jokes often have a grain of truth to them,” agrees Naomi*, explaining why she and her husband avoid put-downs, even in jest. Consider professional help if deep conflicts continue, however.

4. Reinvent your sex life

This isn’t about taking pole-dancing lessons (unless you want to), but something perhaps even braver: creating the sex life you want. “People invest no time—they have sex for 16 minutes every couple of weeks and expect miraculous things,” says Read. Connected, intimate sex means asking for what you want and moving beyond intercourse-only thinking, she says. Maybe you can just have a bath together or exchange foot rubs. (That’s what Louise in Oakville* says: “We give each other almost nightly foot rubs or back massages.”) Or, maybe you can talk about sex toys. What are important are physical closeness, open dialogue and investing time in your sex life. For a kick start, Read recommends having sex together every day for seven days. “You’ll be surprised by the results!” she says.

5. Think about why you love your partner (or don’t)

An April 2008 study from Florida State University found that men who spent time thinking positively about their relationships spent less time looking at pictures of other attractive women. So take a moment to appreciate what you have, like Louise does: “Periodically we get out our honeymoon diary and read it together over a glass of wine—it takes us back to those early romantic days together.” Or, mentally hash out what you don’t like. “If you’re dissatisfied, really think it through,” says Mares. “You may decide that you want the relationship, but only if it changes.” When acted upon, that honesty can be the first step towards a more committed and faithful bond.

6. Slow dance

“Every once in a while, when we feel a little disconnected, we light our wedding candle, put on our wedding song and dance around our dining room—sometimes even in front of the kids!” says Claire*. Physical closeness and looking into each other’s eyes—these things can boost intimacy, communication and desire and thereby reduce the likelihood of looking elsewhere, adds Read.

7. Give each other some space

It sounds counterintuitive, but having a support system outside of your relationship can make it more cheat-proof. “When people are too dependent, they expect more than one person can give and they quarrel,” explains Mares.

8. Dig deep together

“When the emotional part of a relationship is on a starvation diet, that’s when people start looking around,” says Johnson. Reconnecting requires asking some vulnerable questions about fights that keep reoccurring, what you’re afraid of and what you need most from your partner. As she says in her book: “Love needs attention. Knowing your attachment needs and responding to those of your lover can make a bond last until ‘death us do part.’” So, why not do your part to prevent infidelity and show this article to your partner? You’ve got nothing to lose and plenty of foot rubs to gain.

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