My Favorite Things

My skin is already feeling the Ber breeze. Although I'm a combination-to-oily-skin type of girl and does not normally wear moisturizer especially on a hot summer day (but sunscreen is a must any time of the day, okay?), it's a different story when the Ber months come. Early in the morning I can feel the tightening of my cheeks and so I make sure I moisturize only my cheeks  before I head out to the car. The morning breeze (we leave as early as 7am), the car aircon and the office aircon (that's not designed for people but for machines!) can really dry my skin.

I swear by Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion (gels for the really oil type) for those combination to oily skin because it's doesn't feel heavy, it's very mildly scented and my skin doesn't break out at all. I've tried other brands (local and imported) but they tend to make my skin more oily, give me zits or just feels to heavy on the face. This one is (dramatically) different and it's one of my Favorite Things :)

What's Growing Nicely in My Garden 3

Two weeks ago, our Kalachuchi buds started to open up. I couldn't resist but take photos because the morning light was so perfect and worth capturing. 

Then last weekend, the flowers were in full bloom! God's creation in it's most perfect form :)

Reminds me of a Bible verse I always try to remember when the worrier in me kicks in:

Matthew 6:25-28 : ..."And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes...

Then I start to relax and let God work His miracles and wonders in my life. That's how I let go and let God.
Have a blessed Wednesday everyone! :)

What The Most Valuable Thing You Received For Free?

Yesterday, husband and I were listening to Mornings with Mo in the car on the way to work. This has been our morning ritual since husband discovered this show. Initially, I find the show disgusting and ridiculous but eventually I found it amusing (but still disgusting sometimes...). Anyway, one topic they had was 'What's the best thing you ever received for free and of great value?' Obligatory gifts (ex. education) are not qualified, prizes won at raffles also not! Those are lame answers. It has to be something that was given for no apparent reason. Some callers mentioned receiving a watch worth P20,000.00 by an officemate, a LV bag, etc.
Then it made me think, uhmm what did I receive that's free and of great value? The only answer that came to my mind was the First Years Electric Breastpump that my best friend from the States sent me when I gave birth to Sophie. It was so much of value to me as a breastfeeding mom simply because it helped me get through the phase with so much ease for a long period of time - 7 months ++ for each child. That's already a feat for a non-nice-to-six working mom. I carried it with me to work everyday and because it's electric, I only have to spend a few minutes to fill the containers. The kit includes an insulated bag but I bought a Coleman bag so the milk can stay fresher longer and I would just ask for ice from our friendly Figaro boys. Again, I spend long hours at work and I didn't want my milk to spoil and go to waste.

My bff also has a baby girl (named Sofie also :)) and she encouraged me to breastfeed for as long as I can that's why she sent me this kit along with other breastfeeding essentials like the milk storage pouches, pads and baby clothes in one big Balikbayan box! To further educate me on this very challenging but rewarding commitment that is breastfeeding, she sent the book Nursing Mothers Companion by Kathleen Huggins which became my bible for sometime. On breastfeeding, the book have a guide from latching to weaning, from co-sleeping to surrogate breastfeeding. It also contains a glossary of drugs, food and drinks that are safe and unsafe to take while breastfeeding. This is helpful because this is a much advanced research on medication in relation to breastfeeding as compared to what we have here in the Philippines. Sadly, even some of our doctors and health care specialists are not as widely educated on breastfeeding until recently. I'm just happy that the past year, I see some advocates of breastfeeding being more aggressive in this campaign. I try to become an advocate myself, encourage preggy friends and colleagues to breastfeed. I also pay it forward by letting my friends borrow the book. If they are willing I let them borrow the pump since I am no longer using it and I don't like seeing something as useful a gadget as this just gather dust. In the States, you have to pay rent for a pump if you can't buy one.
That's my most valuable free stuff. What's yours?

Pre-Christmas Shopping at Fun Ranch Mommy Mundo Sale and Metrowalk

It has been a weekend of pre-Christmas shopping for my family and me. Oh yes, I'm one of those early shoppers for the following reasons:

1.) Avoid the December shopping rush, horrendous traffic, mammoth of crowd in the malls, Divisoria and bazaars;
2.) Spending little amount each month for the christmas gifts means not having to drain the bonus come December. I quite have a number of inaanaks, relatives and friends, that's why. In the previous years, especially when I was single, come July I already have a box or giant plastic bag for the gifts I buy by installment. I would label these gifts with the lucky receiver's name before I drop them off the box then update my Christmas list. Actually for this year, I'm quite behind since I already started shopping September but, then again, a mom's schedule just gets busier each year;
3.)  Take advantage of the Clearance/Mid Year sale during July/August and the September / October. They call it so many names but year in and year out, there are sale during July and September, that's value for money and hassle free;
4. ) Also, we usually have a family out of town trip or two during the holidays so we also need to allot budget for that.
5.) So I can enjoy my Christmas bonus to the max! :) Less expenses for Christmas gifts on December simply means more money for my personal shopping during holidays! Yipee :)

So last Saturday, the whole family (with the nannies) went to Fun Ranch for our initial Christmas shopping and it was a success! At the entrance, I registered and a very nice receptionist handed me a loot bag with Lactacyd items on it and a free entrance flyer for the next sale in World Trade in think. We were able to buy gifts (mostly from Big and Small Co.) for 7  kids and shirts for Sam. All items with 50% discount each! Mall shops only tagged 30% discount last weekend.
Mommy Mundo Sale had nice shirts for boys and shorts/skirts for girls. I bought 3 shirts of different sizes with 'My MOM has Super Powers" written on it and I think these shirts will benefit the mommies more than the kids, hehe. Of course, I bought one for Sam :) I also bought Sophie a pair of black gamuza shoes from The Little Red Shoe. It was so classy and pretty! I wanted her to get the red one but Sophie prefers the black one (well, the user should get the last say). It was originally priced at P900 but we got it for P600.00, nice deal for a pretty pair of shoes. Did I mention already that she's a budding bag and shoe addict?
We got there a little before lunch and after a few minutes Sophie declared that she's already hungry so I had to take a break from shopping and ordered lunch. We decided to eat in Big Red Barn resto (by the way, this was the venue of Mommy Mundo sale) since it was just so hot to cross to Tiendesitas. We ordered chicken and fries, spaghetti and Beef Pot Pie. It was the reddest  and sauciest spaghetti I have ever seem! This is the kind of Spag that all of us enjoy. The Beef Pot Pie was great too, creamy and tasty and the chicken can go well without the gravy. My only comment during our dine their was that the service was poor :( It took them too long to get our orders, to assist customer's needs and for orders to arrive. It was obvious the staff were disorganized and seem not so used to full-table day. If it was Diner Dash, they wouldn't reach their target earnings that day, lol.

Sam's ready for his photo while Ate Sophie's forever making chika.
Sophie in her Marks and Spencer long sleeve shirt (despite the hot weather!) and Pois and Belly skirt (not in photo is her new shoes, she wont wear the shoes she came with anymore). Sam in Big and Small Co. Tie dye shirt and Basix khaki pants, socks from Mothercare and shoes from SM. 

Sam and Daddy on a yellow train ride

Sophie enjoyed the yellow train ride too! She also played the fishing game  and won prizes for Sam and herself :)

After Tiendesitas, we went to Metrowalk and I was able to buy 2 dresses for another inaanak and Sophie at a very good price. Well, the pink jeweled dress with drop waist was priced at P300 but I haggled for P250. At first the seller wouldn't give in since it's their special dress na daw but she gave in eventually. This is one reason I love bazzars, the haggling. Being raised by a modista mom and a regular of Divisoria, I was trained to be a great haggler (sometimes Stephen pity the vendors, I could've asked the item for free na lang daw haha!) Also, I know what kind of material is worth the price or not so if it's really a good material and workmanship, I don't haggle much.
After the bazaar trips, we went to visit Stephen's grandma Mommy Nilda and parents Mama Karol and Papa Rey in QC so the kids can bond with the grandparents. Mommy Nilda made Chami Guisado which was really delicious especially with vinegar.
It was a fun Saturday all in all. Tiring but fun :)