Mommy Goes To Market

So I've been active on Instagram and Facebook most of the time because those are the easiest media I can use while being on regular bedrest and on rare occasions that I'm out.

I've been spending the remainder of this challenging pregnancy doing things I haven't done for quite some time after working in corporate for around 13 or so years.

I'm back to getting my watercolor and calligraphy skills sharpened. I find that these help me take my mind off the worries, aches and pains plus the sleepless nights.

I'm already 35 weeks and 2 days. By Sunday, I'm officially 36 weeks and I'm due anytime next week onwards!

Because the contractions are getting more frequent and the pains are more severe, we're guessing I'll be giving birth between week 37 and 38.

I'm excited to see my little girl and scared because I don't know how her health will be.
I'll write about our journey and Raya's condition in another post with the hopes that other moms and dads might have or are experiencing the same thing. Faith and trust in God is what keeps my husband and I as calm as we can be plus friends and family who keep praying for our little one.

I hope everyone's dry and safe in their homes. I believe the recent typhoon flooded several areas.

There's so much to be thankful for everyday, it's one thing that I try never to forget.

Cheers!

I've been more active on IG as of recent as it's more convenient.
I'll be back to posting a lot of entries as soon as I wrap up several projects.

I have been practicing calligraphy again and it sure is such a stress reliever.
Hope to share new and improved versions of my work soon.

For now, have a great weekend and don't forget to spend time with Him and your family this Sunday.

Cheers and God bless!

Spectra M1 is Rechargeable, Portable and Silent
It has a massage function which helps produce more breastmilk in each pump
It also has a dual pump set
Get this from babymama.ph

I've been busy with work despite staying home to work.
The only time I really went out was during church last Sunday and 2 days before that, I was always at the doctor's for routine and special tests.

After church last Sunday, we had to buy special supplements in GNC for the baby (more about that in a later post). Along the way, we saw Expo Mom and it was their last day. Luckily, I saw the Babymama.ph booth which was at the front, so I had to go in because I have been planning to get the Spectra M1 Breast Pump Set, a birthday gift from the hubby.

I wasn't planning on buying that day because I had the money he gave me tucked away in my savings account that's not easy to withdraw. But they gave a special discount for that day only! And it saved me around Php1,300, which I would never get online. Luckily, mother dearest transferred funds over to my account and so I was able to get the set (because there were no banks open that day and I specifically only make cash available and planned during weekends too, so we don't overspend).

I've read so much about the Spectra Breast Pumps and Mr. Nardo (yes, that's his name) was very very nice and answered all my questions, he even assisted me as we went to pay via EPS.

I can't place my personal review yet about the product but I can surely attest to the kind of service we got from babymama during the fair/expo.

I won't think twice too to get some of the items I still need, like feeding cups, breastfeeding accessories, milk bags and more from their site soon.

Looking forward to exclusively breastfeeding my little Raya. Can't wait to see her this July!

More Mom and Baby finds and updates in my next posts!

Shop at Babymama.ph and check out their awesome product line-up

For now, Cheers and Keep Cool! (This heat is unbearable)

I think I became obsessed with handwriting and calligraphy when I was in high school. The neater your handwriting was, the prettier your notebooks were, the better. It was like a fashion statement altogether.

When I went to college, I had to learn to properly write in "drafting mode". Very technical and edgy. I loved it. My most favorite subjects were color rendering and drafting 101.

As I went into corporate, you can imagine my handwriting especially during critical meetings - chicken scratch! (kinayod ng manok). LOL.

I couldn't even recognize my own hand writing anymore!

When I went into full mode into pursuing a career in design again, my love for all things pretty, including penmanship, came back. A font expresses so much more than just words into an artwork. It dictates the personality and the tone of prints. That's why I'm so happy my work team is also so obsessed with details like that.

Being cooped up (mostly) at home these past 3 months because of my pregnancy gave me an opportunity to take a step back and rekindle my love for arts and crafts.

My "hoarding" and "packrat" thing came as a blessing because as I was about to do my annual declutter (throw-out, give away and keep process), I found so many things I could use and complete my crafting area with.

Although I need to get it finally done this June because its all going to be baby stuff in our bedroom, my craft room still needs a decent re-haul, hence, the non-posting of the progress of late.

So going back to the topic at hand, I found out my ink stash dried up...boohoo. With this heat, I can only imagine. (Also one of the reasons I can't move in to do my thing in the craft room..this HEAT! ugh).

I searched like forever in National Bookstore Glorietta nd Greenbelt. NO CALLIGRAPHY INK.
So my last resort was to turn online and yes I slapped myself because I should have ordered it with my US loot...

So lo and behold, I found a great site: The Craft Central
I have yet to receive my order this Tuesday so I'll update you on another post when I do.
I'm excited because I really need INK. hehehe.

I was however able to snag this in National Bookstore: ZIG Scroll and Brush Marker for Php90+
It's too thick for me but It's pretty good for practice and for bigger projects.

I only got the black. Not sure if I'm going to get the other colors. I think I prefer a more thinner kind of brush pen. I will post my practice sheets soon. Too embarrassing to post my recent ones today hehe.

Because this is the goal and the goal has not been met! LOL

So my haul would be

Dr. PH Martin's Bombay Black and White Ink
Got it for Php300

This very awesome and CHEAP Speedball Oblique Holder for only Php150. Got 2 in case I'm too lazy to change nibs all the time hehe.

Plus other little stuff like Hunt Nibs and Practice Pads.

If the transaction goes well, I'm coming back for more inks and pads. :)

Start a hobby, it's relaxing, you can do it at your own pace and free time, it's rewarding when you get to be good at it.

Cheers!

Photo Credits:
www.chereeberrypaper.com
papercrownokc.blogspot.com
www.jnbooksellerblog.com

I think the simplest of forms in furniture gives a lot of statement to a space especially if you position them just in the right corner.

Part of my vision board is to collect one-of-a-kind chair finds.

I'm particularly looking for accent chairs in the form of stools.

Here are some inspirations I've documented.

*Credits to the photo and designers

(On top: http://www.digsdigs.com)

I just love the use of leather on this one

This is perfect for various table heights

www.decoist.com

This Philippe Starck Gold Face Stool can also be a side table

Perfect for interiors that are all white or monochromatic

They call this the Bride's Veil Stool

I love the lines

http://www.phasedesignonline.com

I love that the colored foot rim adds both that detail and purpose

into the design

http://www.yankodesign.com

Then there's that touch of whimsy.

Would totally put this in a shoe store or in a more utilitarian area

to give it that flair

http://www.bassineco.com

And of course, I'd totally place these in my girls' rooms in the future

http://www.littlegatherer.com

Just another list for the vision board. :)

Cheers!

As a mom, you get your hands full almost everyday.
And I'm sure most moms will agree with me that kids get bored VERY easily.
I for one totally ran out of ideas last week.
Even limited credits to using gadgets didn't do the trick to keep boredom at bay.

So here's my second try at making the most out of this summer.

I'm sharing this calendar with you with the hopes that both of us will get our kids' diverted into activities that enrich their creativity and artistic side.

Feel free to download the art compilation I made for next week's art stuff. (First image on this post)
You can do two activities a week or do everything in the list, depending on what you can manage. :)

I usually leave out Sunday because we take the kids out by then.

Recycled Art is up for next week!

We've been wanting to do this and so we had to gather enough recycled materials for the past 2 weeks

*Photo and Idea credits to Google and all owners/crafters, a big thanks for sharing your talents

Cheers and Happy Crafting!

After scouring the internet and all possible bookstores, I finally caved-in and decided to order hard-to-find craft tools and supplies online.

I'm lucky that I have access to the items and that I can ship them here for an average of 2 to 3 weeks interval as needed.

I did a test buy last month and orders finally came in. I'm quite happy with how fast and smooth the shipment went.

So I went ahead and ordered another batch and made extra provisions. :)

I know that crafters and DIY enthusiasts out there may be looking for these things like I do and I wanted to share them with you.

Although the website is still being worked on, I've uploaded the first batch of tools and supplies that are coming real soon. Yes, this may seem like a shameless plug but I'm just so happy I found these items! :)

Bowdabra

Don't you just hate it when you've already spent an hour trying to make that ribbon or bow look elegant? Well after searching for some time, I finally found the perfect tool. I'll be posting a separate review per product.

Purple Cows 9-blade trim and score portable tool

No more changing of blades and bulky boards if you need one on the go.

It has 9 different blade types from trimming, scoring, perforating and more.

I really love this tool, plus, it fits more paper sizes than any regular trimmer or scoring tool.

Just perfect!

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue

I have been looking for this brand of glue for a LONG time.

Its a permanent glue when adhered while wet and a reposition-able glue when you dry it out first on the item you are applying it to.

It has dual tips from a Pen tip to a wide dabber beneath.

A lot of crafters are raving about this glue so I'm bringing in extract stocks for those who want. :)

Below are some more and the rest are in our FB page. Just click on the link.

Stamp-a-ma-jig Stamp Guiding Tool
No more crooked or mis-aligned stamps!
Easily make patterns with this tool

A ruler that helps you center and align mostly any craft item or element
you need to fix

Martha Stewart Crafts Ultra Fine Glue Pen for the smallest of crafting pieces

The Pen version of the Tombow Mono is LOVE

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
One of my favorite Tacky Glues for almost any DIY project in handy bottles
are also coming your way

Its also in Pen Form

I'll also be making some crafting machines and other tools available on a per order basis.

What's good is we are able to have pre-orders arrive every 2 weeks as needed.

We can even have per person's bulk order or special machine orders delivered per individual request.

These are just some of the imports we have.

We're also launching a lot of home-grown craft items and supplies in the next couple of weeks!

Cheers to DIY, Crafting and Creativity!

I can't imagine myself not being a mom.
At 12 I was constantly babysitting cousins, at 14 my youngest brother came into our lives and I cared for him like he was mine (till this day actually). So it was natural for me to really dream of having kids and I'm glad that dream came true.

There's a lot of will power needed to become a mom.
It's not always glamorous.
You'll find that I'm not the type of person who likes posting my own photos.
Tried blogging outfits and all once but It really didn't work out for me. It took work! So kudos to the very beautifully styled fashion bloggers, it takes hours and hours of prepping to get those gorgeous photos done.

What's thrilling for me is when I get to share the same interests as other moms, learning new things from crafting to gadgets, reading a good book and of course, seeing my kids happy and engaged in different learning activities.

I love DIY not just because it's a different feeling when you see something you've made finished and appreciated but it usually gives me an opportunity to involve my kids and they just love it when they get to help with what I'm doing.

One of my favorite bloggers and ultimate crafters is Lia Griffith.
My dream is really create designs and themes as chic and fab as hers.
I just LOVE her blog and everything she does.

The picture above was borrowed from her site.
I love it and I hope I had more time to make these sets before mother's day but I was packed with work too. Hopefully, the other projects I have in the pipeline will materialize soon (hehe, praying that time and energy permits).

I'm saying it again, I love being a mom. Though sometimes there's so much frustration that comes with it. Let's face it, we all want to be "The Best Mom Ever" but sometimes, we also run out of patience and energy. Despite those shortcomings, we find joy in the littlest things like when our kid says something funny, it totally makes our day even if other people don't understand. LOL. Those hugs and kisses, I can't get enough of those. I can't imagine the day when my kids will give me awkward faces when I hug and kiss them or when my daughter won't just lay her head on my shoulder or chest for no apparent reason, just to say I love you.

No material thing can actually replace those warm fuzzy experiences.

I won' trade this "job" for the world. Even if it gets though, the simplest rewards are the most precious.

So to all the moms out there, especially my Mom and my Nanay (Lola) as well as my Mother in Law who has always treated me like her own, my super big hug and thanks and appreciation.

With Love,

I used to have a baby monitor that we had a family friend buy for us from the states. We never really got to using it as much.

This time, given I'm working all around the house, I wanted something that's more economical yet even more effective.

My business partner and good friend had one installed just for monitoring their living area. I was amazed by it because he could access the camera via his mobile phone, from wherever he is.

It's called a P2P or IP Camera.

You can see the real-time monitored location just through an app in your mobile phone.

The IP address is unique of course and you will need to have an on-going internet connection during the duration that you are using it.

You can hear and see what's happening and the other person on the monitored end can also hear you in case you want to talk to them.

You can plug it via an RJ45 connector directly from your modem or it can also tap into your internet connection at home wireless.

I'm ordering one to try so I can monitor my kids while I'm out (for the ground floor) and if it turns out to be a good buy, I'm getting another one for the room for use as our baby monitor.

You can order this plus other versions in www.lazada.com.ph

Prices start at Php1,790 and up (depending on the brand and model).

Not bad actually for a CCTV camera.

Here's the link to the product I ordered: CLICK HERE

If you're new to Lazada, download their App and key in this coupon code before you do your final check-out/payment: LZDAPP250 so you can get Php250 off!

Minimum is Php1,500 purchase plus you get FREE shipping. (This is not a sponsored post. Everybody love getting a discount so might as well share this! LOL).

I'll update you on the actual trial run when we get the item.

Cheers!

After arriving from church, we immediately called Shakey's for a pizza delivery because we wanted everyone to enjoy the MayPac game without having to prepare the food and all that.

I called the hotline and I was told that the order will arrive on or before 11:28 or the order is FREE.
More than getting the free food, I'd rather get the food on time.

I kept joking with my husband that the food might come free as there was only 3 minutes left.

So the rider came and he was late, by around 5 minutes.
No big deal but I joked around and said "Kuya, eh di libre na yan?" because I wanted to find out if it is indeed true.

In my experience, even with a "FREE when late" guarantee, I don't get the FREEBIE. I just feel sorry for the delivery guy, I know traffic and weather can be harsh.

So the Shakey's delivery person said, in a very pleasant manner, "Yes ma'am. Sobrang sabay sabay po kasi ang delivery and hindi na kaya, so free na po yan. Pangalawa na nga po kayong late delivery ko..." (Yes ma'am, because my deliveries were loaded, your meal is free. In fact, you're the second late delivery I've had today).

I asked him out of curiosity, "Sinong nag babayad pag late yung food?" (Who pays for the food when it's delivered late?)

He answered, "Ako po ma'am and then half po is yung branch." (It will be me ma'am, then half will be paid by the branch)

I got appalled by the notion of having this poor guy pay for half of my food bill (and others'). Imagine , our bill was Php1,700. If he were to pay, it would be Php850 stripped off what he would earn from the day.

If he was on minimum wage and even if he got paid for overtime, my gosh, what would be left from his salary???

Other scenarios ran through my mind like more road accidents from these drivers because of too much rushing just so they won't need to pay for the late food delivery. Hayyy, I'm sorry but I don't think this is fair!

So obviously we paid him in full. Even if he was 10-15 minutes late, we would still have paid him in full. It's nice to get FREE stuff if a big corporation pays for it (I know because I came from corporate and there's such things like margins, marketing budgets and spends, etc. that don't need to be picked out of the pocket of the employees!) but not individual delivery guys!

Why not just give a FREE item or really good discount for late deliveries and get that from a marketing budget. You use the tagline after all to do so.

I think people will understand if you don't give your food for free.
Unless the food got totally ruined because it took an hour, then maybe in that scenario, just give a free replacement or something.

Now I'm thinking, are your riders even insured?
What will happen to them if they get into an accident?
How sure are we that you prepared our food well because there was so much haste just to get it delivered. Remember, no matter how stringent your policies are, people have their own way of coping.

Really on the verge of boycotting this company.

Cheers to the delivery guys and I hope you are given more benefits by the companies you work for.

Not all plastic items are safe to re-use!

That's why the best way to help the environment would be to use water bottles that are made of materials that will last a "lifetime" like stainless flasks and BPA-FREE bottles that are meant to withstand daily usage without leaking chemicals into your beverage or food containers.

Based on research, the following numbers (you usually find these numbers below the container) are safe to re-use:

#2 HDPE (High Density Polyethelyne) - safest, especially when content is liquid

#4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethelyne)

#5 (Polypropelyne)

So what do you do with bottles labeled outside of the safe numbered ones?

There are so many cool ideas on the internet actually! (Images below courtesy of google)