My new hobby - baking galore ^-^

Finally, I found time to bake... The super excited "me" giggled at the taste of my creations ^-^

A novice at baking...  I bought the following baking tools (I think these are the most basic if you want to try baking).  Sharing my own list.

1. 1 set of mixing bowls - different sizes (S, M, L); choose the deep bowls
2. Plastic scraper set
3. Wooden spoon
4. Measuring spoons
5. Liquid measuring cup
6. 8" round baking pan - 1 only for small cakes
7. Muffin baking trays - 2 trays
8. Sifter
9. Paper cups (for cupcakes)

I don't have a mixer. I spent approx. php1,400.00 for all the tools.

I tried two cupcake recipes before I went into cakes. The first one I tried was red velvet cupcakes. The verdict? Yummy. I got high fives for this. However, I got differen opinions for the cream cheese frosting. My fault actually because I used regular sugar instead of powdered sugar. The next recipe I tried was choco muffins. Taste? Perfect. For the cake, I baked moist chocolate cake with choco fudge frosting. The cake was definitely moist and yummy. The frosting tasted just right.

Trick or Treat

Just came back from a fun-fun-fun holloween party of my sis-in-law's company. Children showcased their spookiest and cutest costumes... There were games for the kids and adults... and lots and lots of goodies for all the kids and kids at heart. 

I made my baby's banda from scratch, using an extra cloth, garter and silver blings. I paired her tutu with a red tights i bought from a tiangge for only Php60. I just adjusted the seams so that it fits her perfectly. I forgot to take her pic without the tutu, but I actually wrapped a black sash around her waist.  

Me & my baby in our pirate get-up

Bought these items at a craft store for my bandana and my liitle one

The Tutu Set I ordered from Tiddletots

A Splurge

My hubby and I saw a Polyfoam Play and Grow baby seat sold at Php1,999.75. It was way cheaper than another brand sold at Php3T. It was very similar with the expensive one and is soft to touch. I was undecided to buy it at first because it was unplanned. I also thought it was not really a necessity. But, my hubby was keen on getting one and he was so excited to see our little angel try it. So, I relented... It was so cute to see our baby try the seat.

We also found these affordable shape sorter sold at Php199.75 and a 6-pack squeeshable toys sold at Php129.75.

Lastly, since my 8-month old baby can sit unsupported we thought that we can start on 'toilet training'. So, we bought a 4-in-1 potty trainer from Baby Company for Php299.75.

Beauty Talk

I had a 101 skin care basic training by my ooh lala, pretty and hot mama, Ron yesterday. She shared her beauty ritual using tried and tested skin care products... Hopefully, it will work wonders on me too (crossing my fingers) 'coz unlike her I have big pores plus oily skin. So, I am more prone to cyst like pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, all kinds of bumps or whatever you would like to call it.

Moving on to make-up... I am an avid fan of eye makeup. Lately I experimented on the palette shades of the Urban Decay Eye Shadow Box (from Ully). Since the shades are glittery/shimmery its perfect for an evening out. You can also use the nude shade to make your eyes more striking for a day look. Honestly, I'm a novice and still at the learning stage (I'm turning 31 in two months and yet I am still learning the ropes hehehe).

So far my basic make-up tools for my everyday look are the following:
Ellana Concealer
Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil
Bare Escentuals Foundation
Ellana blush
Maybelline Lipstick
Body SHop Lip Balm
Faceshop Eye liner
Fanny Serrano eyebrow pencil 

That's it. There's so many good quality make-up brands I wish I can try. Some of the items I'm hoping to acquire are the body shop highligther, Stila primer, Nars palette and brushes...

Cutie Pirate

I'm so happy ^-^ I found the perfect top for my baby's holloween get-up. Actually, I'm going for the pirate princess look. Its her first holloween party so I want her to look really cute, the pirate way hehehe

Sushi Bar shirt @Gingernaps on sale for onlyp130

Bone patch @ a craft store for Php79.75

The patch on one of my baby's plain shirt (really nice)

I ordered a themed classic tutu from a multiply seller, TiddleTots. I just gave instructions that I want mixed colors (red, black, and white) for the tutu. The tutu set I ordered include a brooch, a hairclip and a headband. I am expecting to receive it on Monday. I am so excited.

To complete the look, I'm scouting for black and red stripe leggings or if I'm fortunate maybe a skull printed leggings. 

Costumes on Sale

For mommies or anyone who are looking for costumes for the upcoming holloween, a themed party, or just for fun. Check out the costume sale at Bumble Bee.

Reposting this from Maita, a co-nawie ^-^ 

Shop and Play at Imagine that! creative playspace center.
2nd flr, unit 201 three salcedo place, salcedo village, makati.
date: oct 21 and 22 from 10am to 5pm only
09397875136 ( please call for directions only)

discontinued costumes at 50% off.
buy together with your friends and get 70% off on selected designs.
bring your child and get 30mins play for only php 75 at the play zone.
***cash payments only***

You may also check the poster at the Bumble Bee Facebook.

My Baby's Milestones @ 8 months

I'm a proud mommy. My baby can now seat unsupported, crawl fast, stand while holding on to something, and has been eating five times a day (3 main meals and 2 snacks). She seems heavier everyday. I even got a bruise when I carried her for more than an hour.

My baby loves....

• her Baby Einstein book (she loves to explore with her mouth and look at colorful pictures even if the book is upside down hahaha)
• when I read aloud and point at objects
• when we play peek-a-boo
• when we hide under the blanket
• when she hears the words "good morning" 
• the song "my head, my shoulders...", she giggles with delight when she hears the song
• watch "Baby Can Read"
• playing with her hair brush

Babbles a lot when she's sleepy and most of all she loves just about everything that she finds interesting.

Mommy loves everything about her.

In search for the perfect holloween costume

The party is on the 29th and I still haven't found an outfit for baby M (sigh!)... I still can't go shop since I still have a paper to finish.

Hmmm... ballerina, cherub, fairy, animal... these are common. I want something unique since its the first holloween party that my baby will be participating. Being a first time mom, its even more exciting...

Hopefully, I can look for the perfect outfit within the week. Have to focus on my paper first (sad face)...

Books on sale at NBS

children's books

Last day of NBS Warehouse sale today... I was able to find few books for children and for myself... The place was crowded and there were so many books to choose from. I'm just sadden that I wasn't able to shop on the first day of sale. I'm sure I miss a lot of good stuff. Anyways, I just want to share a few of the things that I bought at a very low price ^-^



Nicholas Sparks book @Php30 & Aronson book @php75



Accessory Finds

I'm just happy to share these nice yet affordable accessories that I found in Alphaland Mall... ^-^

Wooden beaded bracelet at a tiangge store



@Magarbo shop for only Php130



My 6 month old baby food recipe

My baby started on solid food at 4 months. But, she only tried it for two weeks. I stopped feeding her solid food because I felt that she was not ready and so I stopped even though her pedia recommended that it was okay to start feeding her solids as early as 3 months old. I did not worry since my baby is fully breastfed.

At 6 months, I resume feeding her solids, taking note of the 4-day rule. That is, introducing only one type of food for 3-4 days to check for possible allergic reactions. Below are a list of foods that I prepared for my baby.

Week 1: Organic whole wheat cereal (Earth's Best) and carrots
Week 2: chayote and pumpkin
Week 3: potato and banana
Week 4: ampalaya and cereal, camote

I like Earth's Best whole wheat cereal. It comes in several sachets in a box. Its so easy to prepare and very "tipid". A single sachet is enough for 3-4 feedings (I guess depending on your baby's apetite).

The list of food above were quite easy to prepare except for ampalaya. For carrots, chayote, pumpkin and potato, I just prepared it togethr with my "sinaing". I just peeled the veges then placed on the steamer of the rice cooker when cooking rice in the morning. The amout of veges depends on you if you want for a one day feeding. I usually prepare mine good for 3 days. The cooked vege is then mashed using a regular fork. The stocked mashed vege is then placed in a clean container and then refigerated (not freeze). To prepare a single meal, I just scooped the desired amount and then add (distilled) water or expressed breast milk to get a smooth consistency.

The banana is the easiest to prepare. No need to cook. Just get the desired amount for a single feeding, mashed and ready to serve.

The ampalaya is I guess the trickest. I slice the ampalaya thinly, sprinkled salt, then extracted the bitter juice by pressing hard with my palms. After making sure I extracted all the bitterness of the ampalaya. I then blended the ampalaya meat with distilled water for smooth consistency. The serve the prepared ampalaya by alternating it with the cereal. Feeling ko kase sobrang natabangan si baby hehehe

At first I only fed my baby breakfast and lunch. When my baby reached 6 months and 3 weeks. I tried feeding her 3 times a day (at 6:30am, 11:00am, and at 5:00pm). Her milk time is given on demand since it sometimes varies because her changing nap time.

My golden rule when feeding my baby is... she decides when she's full or when she had enough. When she no longer opens her mouth, that for me is a sign that she's full already. After feeding, I give her water on her sippy cup... At 6 months and 2 weeks, my baby no longer drinks using the sippy. Also, make feeding time, fun time for your baby. Be prepared for a messy yet fun meal time.

Miel @ 7 months

My baby is now 7 months old. We do not practice monthly celebrations but my hubby said that its a lucky number, so we should somehow celebrate it. We just prepared our all-time favorites.... fried chicken and Filipino style spaghetti for dinner. My sis-in-law then bought choco mousse from Red Ribbon. Just a simple celebration for our little princess.

My baby's milestones at 7 months old:

• Able to sit unsupported for several minutes 
• Drags or grabs hold of objects she finds interesting
• Lunges forward (in a crawling position)
• Searches hidden objects 
• Pick things up with thumb-finger (pincer grasp)
• Babbles  

A Rash-free Bottom

Three weeks ago, I was aghast to see an angry looking rash on my baby's bottom. It was red all over and there were tiny red bumps on her front and back. This was partly my fault because I did not follow the pedia's advise to use on my baby a lampin during the day and diapers at night... bad bad mommy. To all parents out there, just admit it, its so much easier to just use diapers 24/7.

Anyway, I immediately used ordinary lampin or plain white shorts on my baby during the day. I just wash her bottom with tao water whenever she's wet or after she poops. Then I make sure her botom is dry before applying  an ointment rash... ( I used calmoseptine oitment, available in sachet at php40/pc in mercury drugstore). Then late afternoon and during the night, my baby wears diapers. I just make sure that whenever she pees or poops, I change her diaper right away or else the rash worsens.

In just one week, I have seen a big difference... no more rash. I just instucted the yaya to continue using lampin or plain shorts during the day to keep my baby's bottom rash-free.

Though it would be messy sometimes, using lampin not only kept my baby's bottom rash-free but also lighten our expense on diapers.

Nursing and travelling with a 6 month old baby

My baby's first time to travel ^_^ Me and my hubby were super duper excited foe her. Though it was only an hour flight to our province and then land travel by bus for 1.5 hours we were excited for her. Ganun talaga siguro pag first-time parents.

I just want to share our experience on travelling with our 6 month old baby girl ^-^

I have been breastfeeding my baby exclusively for almost 2 months (note that I fed her solids when she was 4 months around 2 weeks only), so I just feed her whenever she's hungry and just have a shawl ready that I use as a nursing cover.

For our trip, my baby wore pink shorts and a shirt. Since we took the fist flight @ 4:30am, my baby also wore a baby jacket, a cap, and leg warmers. In our hand carried bag the essentials I think were: an absorbent towel, extra shirt and shorts, diapers, baby wipes, alcohol, blanket and a changing mat plus her fave toys. I also put in my baby's bag my kikay kit hehehe (para naman looking fresh lagi si mommy).

What I forgot to bring which would have been very handy was a baby carrier/sling and a rocker so that I do not have to carry her all the time at our destination.

The changing mat and blanket were very useful because I can just put my baby anywhere when she's asleep. Just make sure you are at her side so that she won't fall.

For the mommies, I find that a sturdy sling bag is very useful when travelling with your baby. Choose a bag that you can easily accessed with one hand your ID, money and tickets. I even knot my shawl on my bag so that I can just easily get it whenever my baby is hungry.

For breastfeeding moms, make sure you wear clothes that are easily accessible. I do not have nursing tops but I just make sure that I wear tops that I can easily open. I think you should bring extra breast pads, lampin, and padded nursing bras (for leakage).

Don't worry, I use my other hand to support her... the minute she woke up, syempre carry agad.

On the plane

while waiting for our flight

On the bus, si daddy talaga...

A Family Celebration ^-^

My family planned and organized an intimate renewal of vows at my parents house held on August 29, 2010 on a Sunday at the terrace of my parents' home. It was also a perfect time to celebrate the 56th birthday of my dearest father.

My Auntie and I talked about this event a lot since January this year when my Papa was confined for several months due to complications of his diabetes. But everything was organized about a month before the event. The wedding was held at my parents' home to prevent unnecessary stress on my father at the same time to cut costs. We were on a tight budget due to the bills incurred from hospitalization, medicines plus dialysis of my father.

Sharing our "kwento" on how we organized the wedding and birthday event:

Theme and motif
Theme: Garden wedding
Motif: Fuschia

Officiating Priest
My father had a priest in mind months before the event. A foreign healing priest at the hospital where he was admitted. He's originally from Nigeria but amazingly he speaks our native dialect fluently. He promised my father that he will officiate the wedding. He had a car so we did not have to worry on his travel to the venue. On the day of the wedding, he was late for almost an hour since he got lost. But then the wedding definietly turned out great. He delivered a touching homily and we laugh eveythine he says "Ang amigo ko, na gwapo, si Ramon" (hehehe) By the way, my father's name is Ramon.

Decor
My Auntie's hubby brought a tarpaulin that we used as a backdrop. We decorated the place with balloons (pink and white). My parents had an L-shaped table in their kitchen that we used as the buffet table. My Aunt just covered it with white linen and use pink for the skirting. We borrowed a tent from a neighbor. Rented tables and chairs. Then placed tealight candles with rose petals as centerpieces.
For the altar, we used a white linen and a golden runner. We then placed two glass candles and a cross.

Food
We hired a cook instead of acquiring catering services. We computed for the costs and it was way cheaper if we just get a cook.

Lechon - provided by my cousin
Goat adobo (yumyum)
Goat meat curry - the goat meat was provided by my Kuya
Papaitan
Pina Rice
Fish with white sauce
Fried Chicken
Spaghetti
Cupcakes: Labor of love; baked by my Aunt and decorated by my sis-in-law and pamangkins
Chocolate Cake: bought in Cebu
Chocoate fountain: DIY

Drinks: Wines provided by my ninong; provided 8oz softdrinks

Photographers
Labor of love by my Auntie's hubby and my dearest hubby ^-^

Videographer
Labor of love by my sis in law

Men's attire
Barongs were bought in divisoria for Php300 each. Groom's barong cost at Php2500.

Women's attire
For the women in the family, we bought ready made dresses at Tutuban Mall.

Bride's attire:
Bought fabric and had it sewn at a local seamstress. My Aunt just got my Mom's measurements. Buti nalang walang problema sa fitting.

Girl's attire:
Bought fabric in Tutuban and had it sewn at a local seamstress.

Flowers
Ordered a bouquet worth php500 (imported roses) and long stem red roses for the altar flowers.

Mass offering
Mass wine, host, fruits, etc.

Choir
We requested our community choir to sang at my parents wedding. Game naman sila since kilala naman nila family namin.

Make-up and hair stylist

My aunt and me hehehe

Wedding Rings

Gift from my Aunt

Ring Pillow

Our own pillow from our wedding ^-^

Other DIY

I copied from the net a program for the renewal of vows. I also designed and printed a certificate for the renewal of vows.

My pamangkins showcased their talents after dinner... It was a wonderful celebration. Napaiyak si papa sa homily ni father at kahit sobrang bumuhos ulan during the ceremony proper it went well as planned. The happy faces of our parents were priceless... Kudos also sa Auntie ko na all-around from baking, decorating lahat yata na career na niya hahaha  

Kuya Dennis sumakit lalaluman sa pag ihip

Mass offering (Fruits, Mass wine, host, etc.)

Television watching - Is this bad for babies?

I have read from several articles that television watching is not recommended for babies below 2 years of age. There are even studies supporting the negative effects of television watching to children.

We made a house rule that television is a No-No for our baby. If there's a show that we want to watch. What we do is positioned my baby's back facing the tv. It is important that this rule will be agreed by everyone in your home, most specially the yaya. Read maintaining healthy family habit.

Programs that I let my baby watch as of yesterday is an eductaional set of dvd's I bought at a discounted price at SM... A Vocabulary Builder by BabyBumbleBee which contains 5 volumes in 3 DVDs. I only let my baby watch it for 15-30 minutes. The background music is classical and it repeatedly shows common objects with real ones and says aloud the name of objects shown. We do not leave her to watch alone, instead we interact with her while watching.

Baby watching "Baby Can Read"

Below are links to two articles I find very useful.

TV Watching Guidelines for Toddlers
Should Babies and Toddlers Watch Television
A Guide for Watching Television: Tips for your Family

My baby's Milestones from 0-6 months

It wasn't long that she was still in my womb and now she's an active 6 months old baby who loves to explore her toys or anything she can grab into her mouth. I'm a proud and happy mommy. Until now her source of nourishment is only from. The only trouble I got was when she had colds other than that just rashes, insect bites and now a diaper rash (partly my fault because she wears diapers 24/7 will talk more on  this on my next post)...

Will just back track on my baby's development...

My baby started to turn on her tummy on her own when she was just 3.5 months old, by then around 4 months she would love to roll over and over. So, we surround her with pillows to prevent her from falling over. She drools a lot when she turned 5 months and tries to grab at objects at 4 months. Also, her eye sight has improved alot around 4 months I think.

My baby squirms and kicks when she's excited or when she's happy. She makes a funny face when she's so focus on something. Like when she's playing. She loves to make bubbles with her saliva and make funny sounds at 5 months. She only fussy when she's sleepy or hungry (well, we noticed that she was like this when she was 5 months before that she cries usually in the afternoon and we have no idea why).   She reaches out when she wants to be carried. She seems to have a favorite toy.

That's it. If only I can be with her all the time so that I can witness all her firsts. But a working mom can only do much and has to delegate a trusted yaya to look after her baby.