Babypalooza Bazaar Giveaway!

Let's start the week with a giveaway, shall we? :) 

I've blogged about the Babypalooza Bazaar before and I'm here to tell you about it again!

WHAT: Babypalooza Bazaar
WHEN: November 30, 2012 from 9AM to 5PM
WHERE: Walter Hogan Conference Center, ISO, Ateneo de Manila University, QC campus

This bazaar focuses on items and services for babies, toddlers and expectant moms. It features both preloved and brand new premium items from widely trusted local and imported brands. Items from Phillips Avent, Vulli (Sophie the Giraffe), Carter's, Dr. Brown, Calvin Klein, Tiny Buds, Red Tag, Gap, Human Heart Nature, Osh Kosh and tons of other stuff produced by Manila-based mompreneurs and from well-known brands will be sold on-site at negotiable, parent-friendly prices. A lactation consultant will also be on-site to offer FREE breastfeeding tips and counseling.

Special feature of this bazaar is its Vendor Protection Program (VPP). The VPP ensures that items that will be sold by one Babypalooza vendor will not be sold by another. This will ensure that buyers will not see the same stuff from several vendors over and over again, making their visit and shopping experience much more fun and worthwhile J

Items that will be sold are baby clothing, shoes and accessories, gear, strollers/baby furniture, feeding bottles, nursing wear, breast pumps, skin care and cleaning products. Services such as umbilical cord banking, bronze casting and pregnancy/breastfeeding massage will also be featured. Edible products such as organic baby food, pastries, pasta and other food items will be sold on-site. 

Venue is fully air-conditioned. Free parking and entrance.

List of brands, items and more bazaar information can be found on www.babypalooza.com.ph

And for this giveaway, Primigravida, one of the vendors for this bazaar, is hosting!

Primigravida aims to serve parents who are budget-conscious yet are unwilling to compromise on the quality of their babies' needs. Each item is carefully selected based on consumer reviews and/or on personal experience.

Primigravida is giving away Php810 worth of prizes!

Prizes:

(1) Gyro Bowl: gyroscopic bowl that moves with the movements of your toddler.  Prevents spills and messes. Comes in fun colors and with a cover. Price: P230.00

 

(2) Desitin Multi-Purpose Ointment: Newest Desitin variant that goes beyond diaper rash treatment. Can be used to treat minor  wounds, burns and diaper rash. Also helps relieve discomfort caused by dry, chapped skin.

Price: P580.00

Joining is very easy! Just use the Rafflecopter widget below!

One important mechanic for this giveaway is the winner has to pick up the goodies at the bazaar. Plus we'd love to meet you! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
or go this Facebook App https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apples-Dumplings/285690774870700?sk=app_228910107186452

Do you know AVA?

I've been hopping from one online shop to another looking for great bargains, possible Christmas gifts and interesting new finds. I'm really tamad to go out and shop nowadays. If I can buy it online, I will buy it. Saves me time and gas, right?!

Have you heard of AVA? Do you know AVA?

AVA is a curated marketplace of well-loved premium brands. With a tightly-edited collection of apparel, shoes, bags, accessories, jewelry, home, art and design objects, we want you to discover coveted pieces carefully selected by our team of taste makers. 
Our mission is to make life beautiful, everyday. We do this in several ways:
AVA Shops are permanent online boutiques for coveted and hard-to-find designer labels. 
AVA Sales are limited-time flash sales that only go for a few days.

I always check AVA for great deals! Now they've added permanent brands that you can buy anytime! They got some of my favorite labels like Brown Belly, Anthology Shoes, and more!

Brown Belly Bed Jacket

Anthology Hamptons

Aranaz Bag

Suelas Flats

Nice stuff right? Click this link now and sign up on Ava and get these exclusive deals!

My Maternity Photos - The Stork Studio

I'm sharing you today my maternity photos. Yez. But I'm still going to hide my fez or side view lang Hehe... Too shy. I'll just show you my belly and Y.

During the first time I had my maternity shoot, I had no idea what to expect. I didn't even prepare for it. Meaning no make-up, no hair fixing, BARE in short. I just went to the studio with my sister. I looked boring. Haha! BUT I'm happy I did it. 

I had no monthly photos of my belly, I hate having my picture taken, these were the only ones I have. 

When I got pregnant the second time, I told the BOS if I should have another maternity shoot. He said it would be unfair naman to R if I had photos when I was pregnant with Y and not with R. So I booked another session with Sofia :) This time the photos were so much better! I came prepared with outfits and photo ideas hihi! And this we also had a family photo!

I got my prints just last week. Can't wait to put them in picture frames and hang it in our room!

Check their FB Page and website for their rates, packages, and their portfolio!

http://www.thestorkstudio.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/storkstudio

FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheStorkStudio?fref=ts

Can't Wait For The Weekend!

This weekend will be a busy and fruitful one. Glad that Friday's a holiday so that's 1 more day left and it's officially a weekend, a long weekend at that!


I didn't prepare for Halloween because I'm attending the It's a WAHMderful Life workshop on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to this! Excited to learn and meet fellow mommies!

I'm hoping to take the kids out for Trick or Treat this year. I still didn't prepare this year. Yeah I'm lazy.... :p Sana next year hindi na ako tamarin. But I feel bad for not being prepared so I think I'll take them to the nearest mall for Halloween. I'll think of a costume! Procrastinating... Cramming! Argh!

Bahala na si Batman for the Halloween costume. You never know, baka bukas I'm buying a costume at the mall!

My Family Makes Me Who I Am

I really feel blessed for my kids today. I never thought I'd have kids but the universe heard what I really wanted and gave them to  me. :)

This may not be the set-up I want to be in, a working mom, and sometimes I can't help but be a bit green with envy with my sisters (one is a housewife, while the other work-at-home mom) and they have all the time in the world to spend it with their kids. That's why weekend are sacred to me, even if I wanted to go out with my friends or just go to the mall, I chose to stay at home with them. No regrets.

I'm a wife, homemaker and a mom in progress. I don't know how other women juggle all these roles. And some doesn't have a nanny pa. My budgeting skills are nowhere near any of you, if you see my Excel file, it's empty. Haha! I wish the BOS and I can have more date nights instead. Ang lapit na ng Lucky Chinatown sa amin. No need to go to Makati for a date.

I've been busy with something. Finding my niche. Igniting my passion. I'm really hoping for the best. Crossing my fingers, legs, eyes, lahat na! LOL!

And at the end of the day, my inspiration, my family is still the one thing makes me who I am, makes me whole. There may be ups and downs, toddler meltdowns, baby colic, plus things really get crazy in this house, but it's the only place in the planet where I always want to be.

Afternoon Pampering at Manos Nail Lounge

Spent one Tuesday afternoon at Manos Nail Lounge for a nail sparty with other mom bloggers (will post another entry about the event!).

I've been hearing a lot about Manos Nail Lounge and I've been checking their website ever since I got the invite to the nail sparty. I was in dire need of a mani and pedi and this was the first time I went to a nail salon after giving birth (4 months ago).

Here's a tidbit about Manos!

From Press Kit:MANOS (literally "hands" in Spanish) is the brainchild of three friends that wanted to create a unique spa experience by being one that offered more than just pampering and relaxation -- but also promoted social and environmental consciousness.

What I liked about Manos is that it's cozy and gives you a homey feeling! I love that they have their own cafe/bar where you can order coffee, iced tea, cocktails and more! Now let me you a tour to the place!

Upon entering, you'll be greeted by their cafe!

Their announcement blackboard where some photos of celebrities are posted!

Saw a photo of Martine of daintymom.com and Liz Uy & Georgina Wilson

Other goodies you can buy at Manos: Human Heart Nature, Theo Philo chocolates, Zoya, and Ziggy and Zooey sandals!

where the pampering happens!

More photos from press kit!

Another tidbit: All of their furniture and decorative items are sourced locally! I love how they support and showcase the local industry.

For those times when you want some private pampering session and want to muni-muni hehe! But these chairs are turned around during events and sparties like when we're there.

For that afternoon, I chose to have the Signature Manos Spa and Manos Iced tea as my choice of drink! You can their menu and rates here, here, and here!

She did my foot spa! Forgot her name though :( #momnesia

Foot Spa arsenal!

Getting my feet soaked!

I had a super relaxing foot spa! In the middle of my session, Jackie arrived! Yay! May ka-chikahan na ako! We had a hard time from choosing our choice of nail polish! They have Zoya, Essie, and Chanel! Manos only use formahydelyde, toulene, and DBP-Free nail polish brands. So it's totally safe! Zoya is a vegan brand pala, it's camphor-free as well!

I also had my eyebrows thread and we (Jackie and I) had our nails done too! I was there for 4 hours! Haha! Major pampering talaga! We were the last ones to leave hehe! Making it a more fun experience were the Manos girls who were really nice and great, ma-chika din sila! It was really a treat! Thank you and sorry to the people from the PR company who waited! 

Me, Jackie, and Ning

You can also have the perfect sparty at Manos Nail Lounge, may it be birthdays, showers, or corporate events!

I will definitely go back and take Ninang G with me for some great pampering and chikahan!

For more info on Manos Nail Lounge, check their website here!

Follow them on Twitter: @ManosNailLounge

Like their FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ManosNailLounge

Caring For Your Baby's Bum

About a week ago, I noticed R has diaper rash! :( We've been using cloth diaper at home but we still use disposables at night and when we go out. We change his diaper (cloth or disposable) every 3 hours except at night time. Maybe that caused the diaper rash. But since that diaper rash, we now also use cloth diaper at night. When Y was a baby, she also had diaper rash around the same age as R. We immediately used diaper cream on her and the rash was gone in a week. But with R, the rash is still there even after a week of using diaper cream.

This is Y at 2.5 months, I think.

R at 3 months

I'm really worried! I want the rash to go away! Mommies, we should always remember that babies have a thinner epidermis and are 10 times more reactive to stimulus. Their skin is sensitive and have faster moisture loss. So mommies, always change your baby's diaper every 3 hours or when you feel your baby's bum is wet. Other factors that can cause diaper rash: fecal enzymes, skin friction, candida albicans (yeast infection) and unidentified chemical irritants.

During the talk I attended last August, Dr. Ma. Victoria Dizon of the Pediatric Dermatology Society of the Philippines gave some points on the cleansing regimen. Frequent diaper changes, zinc oxide is necessary for skin recovery, use of powder has benefits and remove skin contaminants and restore the physiologic skin

pH value are all encouraged.

Good news mommies! Johnson's Baby has a Complete Care Diaper System (which you can view here) for your baby's bum which is very easy and we're practically doing it already but this comes with special care of Johnson's Baby.

Here's a video of the diaper system!

And this is our diaper system at home!

Steps 1-2-3

Step 1: Wipe with Johnson’s Baby Wipes

• JOHNSON’S BABY Skincare Wipes helps prevent rash like a diaper cream as it cleans and coats baby’s bottom with baby lotion. Johnson’s Baby Wipes protects your baby’s bum through a protection meter gadget where they show moisture retention

Step 2: Dry and protect with Johnson’s Baby Complete Care Powder

• JOHNSON’S BABY Complete Care Powder actively repels wetness  that causes diaper rash.

• Iwas-basa, iwas diaper rash.

• Contains 2 active ingredients

   • Zinc Oxide – Anti-Bacterial

   • Magnesium Steareate - Effective in repelling wetness

Step 3: Change the diaper

I've been using the wipes for when we're out. I love the scent! Amoy baby! But I only started using the complete care powder last night, because I've always been hesitant in using it. You know how our pedias, moms, or grandmas would say it's not good to put powder. But it's totally safe pala! You must also remember that when putting powder on your baby, Johnson's Baby recommends to apply the powder on your hands first, away from the baby's face, then apply to the baby's bum.

Here's a proof that JB Complete Care Baby Powder keeps your baby's bum dry and safe from diaper rash!

Here are answers to you questions on talc risks:
1. In over 100 years of use, no case of lung damage to consumers from normal use.
2. The US National Toxicology Program, the US Occupational Safety & Hygiene Administration (OSHA) do not list or classify talc as known or suspected human carcinogen.
3. US American Congress of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recently classified talc as "not classifiable as a human carcinogen".
4. Studies have been done with talc miners and millers in Italy and France where they have been exposed to several hundred times normal cosmetic body-powder use. No effects have been seen.
5. Conclusions in an FDA symposium in 1994 and 2000:
   • Reviewed lifetime exposure to rats & mice concluded that at doses 300 x human exposure no adverse effect
   • At 1200 x human exposure effects seen in female rats
   • Summary: no likely adverse effect to humans consumers in normal case.
   • Talc in normal use does not adversely affect the lungs

For more info on the Complete Care System, visit:
http://www.babycenter.com.ph/advertorials/diaperrash

And don't forget to like Johnson's Baby Philippines Facebook Page and get updates on promos, contests and more!
https://www.facebook.com/JohnsonsBabyPhilippines

Hong Kong Sojourn Part 3

This is the last installment of my Hong Kong Sojourn series. This is my 3rd and last day in Hong Kong. 4 days is just right for a nice trip. 3 days is bitin! Hopefully next time I go back will be with the kids for a trip to Disneyland! :)

I didn't take much photos on the 3rd day. I met with my college barkada who were also in Hong Kong for a food trip TRIP! G and B came to my hotel around 11AM, we had a little breakfast at IKEA (again), then they had a look around while I bought Y and R's toys. I was suppose to buy a duvet cover but I can't remember the measurement of ours so I didn't. I brought my things to our hotel room and headed out again.


Our agenda for the day was to find Cath Kidston shop, H&M and Cotton On in Central. But first, LUNCH! I took them to Tsui Wah (yes, again for me) hehe! Then had ice cream at Haagen Daz and meet with the Jubilee boys! We met them at the new mall in Causeway Bay, Hysan Place which is just in front of SOGO. I'm surprised to see more and more American brands in Hong Kong, there's a Hollister, A&F and Gap! We didn't go around the mall anymore, I don't know why. We then went to Times Square to check City Super and buy make up for a friend of Achi's. We were supposed to meet with my mom and achi before going to the Cath Kidston store but they're still at the post office so kami na lang.

I didn't know where the Cath Kidston store is. All I have is the address, thank God for Google Maps and WI-FI in malls! We eventually found the quaint little store! Sorry no photos as I was busy picking what to buy. I can't choose between the bags I liked so I just bought I came there for: a new wallet, which I've been using since we came back!

We then headed to Central to H&M, Cotton On and M&S where I shopped mostly for the kids and the BOS. We met the boys there then had dinner at Cafe de Coral. It was nice catching up with them! :) After dinner, we went our separate ways and met my mom and achi back at Causeway Bay. We did some last minute shopping, ate dinner at went back to the hotel to pack our things.

Asado and Soy Chicken with Rice

Day 4 came, we woke up later than usual as we finished packing at 3AM. Took a bath, achi checked us out while I went to IKEA again to buy some Swedish meatballs for achi. We ate breakfast in the room before heading out to wait for the Airport Express bus so we can go to Central for city check-in which is super convenient except when you're flying with Cebu Pacific.


After checking in, feeling ko may kulang! My breast pump was accidentally left by my achi in the bus! My gulay! I was already mentally readying myself that I would have to start pumping manually when I come back to Manila! But good thing when we went to their information desk, they let us checked a bus they thought we rode. They called the driver to ask if a bag was left inside the bus, they told us that the bus just went out and would be back in 20-30 minutes so we waited. Whew!!! I got the pump back!

Yes I do! Giordano store at the airport!

By the time we got to the airport we're super hungry na. Went thru immigration then off the restaurants we go! I ordered my lunch at Saboten! I've read it from Chuvaness. I always order at Ajisen Ramen or Popeye's so this time I wanted to try something new so I ordered their mixed katsu. Super yummy katsu, never mind that it's  expensive! Hehe!

And had my last cup of HK Iced Milk Tea from Tsui Wah. Oh how I miss you so!

We had a few hours before our flight so we went around the shops in the airport. While they still had energy to walk, I was so tired and excited to come home. I love how HKIA is so breastfeeding friendly!

Changing and Breastfeeding station near our boarding gate

Me and achi's precious BMs and breastpump

Our plane while waiting for boarding

I had a great trip! Though we didn't really cross out what we had for our agenda, I had a great time eating and shopping! See you again soon in HK.

Pumping in the plane.. Gangnam style!