What's Up with Apples & Dumplings....

Wow, it's been more than a month since my last blog entry! I took a mini break from all the stress that has been piling up from my work-at-home job. I took a break from that job and I'm lucky my boss is very understanding. It's also getting busier at Paper Chic as well, it's always this time of the year when everything is all about the holidays. It's less than 40 days away from Christmas! You can feel at the malls with all the decors and TRAFFIC at the parking as well... so I'm trying to finish all my shopping online and before November ends so I can focus on Paper Chic Studio.

I have so many ideas for products and I never really got to execute them or really develop my ideas into something tangible. I always have reasons and excuses for delaying them: kids, no yaya, house chores, my job... then I ended up seeing regretting not doing it before and now others are doing it as well. Nauna na sana ako diba? Kulang pa ako sa push! Now, I have a few products in line and I really have to push myself to finish it before this week so I can put it out on my shelves for Christmas. I have so much hope for Paper Chic every year and I really hope and wish 2018 will be the year I can get to revive the brand.

As for the future of this blog... hmm... I have a lot of entries lined up and I haven't written all about them yet. Our trip to Cebu, Hong Kong.. brands Biolane and Bobble Art... I hope I get to find the time to sit down and write. The no helper situation isn't really helping! While this blog is an on-and-off hiatus, I made a new IG account just for my current skincare obsession... I made a promise a few years ago to take care of my skin because I'm not getting younger and so I guess the obsession went full force this year after I fell in love with Korean skincare and now skincare in shapes and forms!

Follow me at @glowbycai

That's it for now! It's the kids' exam week as well so I will be really busy for the next few weeks! For now, hope to see you at my new IG!

How Globe's myStarter Plan Helps My Home Business

It has been four years since I started my business, Paper Chic Studio. It has grown bigger than what I expected! We have over 12k followers on IG and 19k likes on Facebook. And I want to thank everyone who have bought and supported the brand!

Paper Chic is a one-woman show most of the time but BOS helped me a lot when we have pop-ups and bazaars. He's my driver/kargador/booth stylist. Hehe! When we're not in bazaars and customers can't go all the way to Common Room also, they contact us through our Globe mobile number, Viber, iMessage or through the Facebook Page. All of these, I do in another phone with a different mobile number so it won't get mixed up with my personal business.

All of these pretties are available in Common Room in Katipunan or you can visit our Mother's Day Pop-Up at Power Plant this week (May 2-8) at the North Wing.

Because I didn't want the added responsibility, I got a prepaid Globe number. But it became such a hassle when I ran out of load. Customers send their inquiry through SMS, Viber, or FB Message and I can't answer because I didn't have load! Arrghhh! It can get frustrating and I don't like it when I make them wait and when the inquiry passes that also means lost income for me. But, all of these frustrations can now go away because I've discovered Globe's myStarter Plan!

I get a lot of messages on Viber too! So when I'm out and don't have load to go online, inquiries get unanswered and I want my customers to get the best service! And yes I use an iPhone 3GS pa! Haha!

What really made me like Globe's myStarter Plan is I can go from prepaid to postpaid without changing my number! I'm glad Globe is offering this service because I know a lot of people who wants a seamless transition from prepaid to postpaid without having to message everyone "Hi, this is Cai and this is my new number!" Diba? I did that! And it can take awhile to message everyone! With myStarter plan, it's still the same number, easy transition, but with better connection! myStarter Plan comes in Plan 300 and Plan 500, pick one that suits what you need!

With myStarter Plan, I don't need to worry about exceeding my plan's limit because of the guaranteed fix bill every month. And if ever I go over the limit, I can just add prepaid load on top of it. Pasok na pasok sa budget!

With Globe's myStarter Plan, I no longer have a reason to say "Wala na akong load!" and I no longer have to worry about unanswered queries. I can update Paper Chic's Instagram and Facebook Page whenever I need to (no need to wait for me to get home for wifi connection). myStarter Plan really made my mompreneur life easier, I can manage my business and also fulfill my mommy duties as well. And let's not forget, with myStarter Plan also makes it easier for me as a blogger to stay connected and update Instagram, Facebook Page and Twitter and answer email real time!

Switch to Globe's myStarter Plan today! Visit any Globe Center or visit Globe's website to apply!

Facebook: Globe Telecom

Instagram: @enjoyglobe
Twitter: @enjoyGLOBE

EXTENDED! A&D is 5 Years Old + #ADis5Giveaway!

This post is one month late, we're yaya-less again but here it is now! I started this blog to document my firsts with motherhood. 5 years later, the blog has evolved as I am as a mom. Honestly, I can't believe I am still here, blogging after 5 years even when there are times when I get too lazy to blog anymore but then I think of how I met some of my closest friends today through blogging, how blogging gave me opportunity to work with different people and different brands and I would not deny I love receiving products to try and most especially sharing all my experiences to my readers. For 2016, my wish is for this blog to grow even more. :)

Apples & Dumplings turned 5 last January 11. So... shall we celebrate A&D's 5th with a giveaway? I would like to thank the brands who have supported this blog and giveaway! And there will be five winners of great prizes and surprises! Yay! Thank you in advance for joining and hope you continue to read this blog!

Check out the prizes I'm giving away!

One (1) winner of prize #1 - Project Mom Book, Mom 24/7 Planner, Paper Chic Studio Goodies, a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards) and Girlstuff Forever Nail Polishes. 

One (1) winner of prize #2 - Project Mom Book, Mom 24/7 Planner, Paper Chic Studio Goodies, a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards) and Scents and Sensibilities Soy Candles and Home Fragance Oil.

One (1) winner of prize #3 - Project Mom Book, Mom 24/7 Planner, Paper Chic Studio Goodies and a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards).

Two (2) winners of prize #4 - Project Mom Book, Bloom 2016 Desk Calendar, Paper Chic Studio goodies and a set of McDonald's BOGs (Be Our Guest Cards).

Joining is easy! Just follow all the mechanics on the Rafflecopter widget below to join or if the widget is not working, you can go to my Apples & Dumplings Facebook Page to join! Thank you for joining and good luck! This giveaway is open for residents of Philippines only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For All You Craft Lovers, Common Room Is Now Open!

If you're new to this blog or if you don't know yet, I own Paper Chic Studio, a party and craft supplies shop. When I started Paper Chic Studio, Y and R were still little and BOS was still helping me out with all the bazaars and managing the shop. But when Y started going to school and BOS went back to work, my schedule suddenly changed. My focus was all on Y because I take her to school then also wait for her to finish and by the time we get home, I feel so tired that I've neglected Paper Chic Studio. I can't join bazaars and pop-ups because ingress time would always early. 

A lot of my friends have been asking if I am still selling, some are telling me not to let go of Paper Chic, I was not but I didn't really had the time (and I got a little bit of lazy!) until last June when Roma of Popjunklove sent me a message asking if I wanted to be a part of a new concept store they were putting up. Truth to be told, I wasn't sure at first but I told myself if I let another opportunity pass by and not grab it, I might regret it later on. So my last two weeks was super crazy, the opening weekend was the same week as Y's first quarter exam. I was in between reviewing her, counting my inventory, shuttling myself from the house to the bodega to get stocks and I was sick! But all of it went away when I visited Common Room for the very first time for ingress.

It's one of those you-must-drop-by shops! I fell in love with the shop at first sight!

I was literally in awe when I entered the shop. The feel, the vibe, it's different. Different good. I have been in a mommy role for so long and haven't worn my entrepreneur or crafter (I don't really even consider myself one) shoes in awhile. It was really a nice feeling but also because I only know a few of the makers, nahihiya pa ako. Haha! Then a week later after ingress, we had an intimate get together a day before the opening weekend for the blessing of Common Room and small salu-salo to get to know the faces/owners behind the 34 brands in Common Room.

Say hello to my Common Room family! I may not know everyone yet but I am excited to get to know everyone! Thank you Kaye for dropping by!

I went back the next day again with Cat to help out with the shop. And to take pictures because I forgot to put the SD card back the night before. Toink! Then I was able to try Equatorial Coffee which was right beside Common Room! Heehee! I now have a new hang out place!

From left to right: Me, Geli of Pluma, Marvz of Habil Crafts, Cat of Bedazzle Accessories, and Maan of Popjunklove! We don our Common Room aprons whenever we are at the shop! So please do say hi if you see me!

Let me give you a little tour to the shop and the brands Common Room houses! Some of the stuff in the photo may or may not be already sold.

Welcome to Common Room!

Left to right: Throw pillows from Popjunklove, Takas from Takatak Project, Crochet accessories from Nikita, and home accessories from Raw.tura!

Left to right: Succulents and cactus from The Green House Project, leather goods by Bags by Rubbertree, resin art by Kartwheel Creations and stamps and pillows from SQooiD.

Left to right: Pinoy comics from Meganon Comics, assorted accessories from Bedazzle Accessories, moss art and more from Habil Crafts, aprons and other cute little things from Milk Collective!

Left to right: Scents and fragrances by Simoy ng Haraya, assorted knick knacks by Crafts With Soul, notebooks and badges by Ella Lama and notebooks and coffee mugs by Pluma.

Left to right: Home, kitchen and travel essentials from Tweed and Twine, typography and decorative designs you can hang or display in your home by Walloh Designs, anything with chalk and chalkboards from Chalk & Cloud and of course my shelf, pretty paper products for your crafts and parties by Paper Chic Studio!

And of course, all of these wouldn't be possible without Popjunklove! These are not the only brands, there's more but my pictures ang blurry na kasi. Sorry! But you can always check Common Room's Facebook Page!

Our opening weekend was a success! The shop was always full of people! The response was overwhelming and I couldn't be happier! I am grateful for Roma and Maan of Popjunklove. If I didn't met them two years ago, Paper Chic Studio wouldn't have been a part of Handmade Market and Common Room today!

Shop na! 

Thank you to everyone who has dropped by!

If you see any of us at Common Room, please do say hi. We don't bite. Heehee!

Please do drop by Common Room when you have the time or when you're happen to be in the area! I promise you, you won't leave Common Area without buying anything! Here's a map to Common Room! If you can't find us on Waze, just search for Salt Bakery. We're right beside them! Heehee!

Common Room

#325 F.B. Dela Rosa St. Katipunan Avenue Quezon City, Philippines 

Follow and like!

Common Room Facebook Page

Common Room Instagram

#CommonRoomPH

It's Been A Crazy Crazy Two Weeks!

Well, it's actually been a crazy month! We still haven't found a new yaya/helper and although we are doing okay, I really could use a rest. But nooooo... there's no rest for this momma! It's Y's first quarterly exam, she's only in Kinder, but their lessons are what I study when I was in Grade 1. Kaloka! Tutoring her is like going back to school, my Mandarin is rusty but it's a good thing I still remember what I learned. But it also doesn't help when Y can be a bit stubborn and she told me her teacher told her to clean her ears daw (Eh ano pa ba ibig sabihin non? Hahaha! Chikahan galore sa seatmate kaya walang pumasok sa ears! LOLz)

Then I'm also preparing stocks for Paper Chic Studio because we have moved in into a new home! Wuhooooo! Paper Chic Studio will be available at Common Room! Paper Chic Studio has been on a hiatus ever since Y started going to school. Roma and Maan of PopJunkLove are the brainchild of this new concept store which houses 34 crafters in one shop! And I've been running around like a headless chicken fixing my stocks and thinking of how to "style" my shelf because honestly, I didn't think it would this hard! I'm cramming!!! Aaahhhh....

With Y's exam and fixing my inventory, sourcing for props and thinking of how to style my shelf, I cannot adult!!! Seriously, my multi-tasking skills is not working. It's either that or there's too much tasks and it's making me hard to multi-task. Ang labo na! Haha! This post is mostly babbling, I just need to let this out because it's really making me crazy!!!

Y's 4th Birthday In School: The Bento Mommas, Dome DIYs, and More!

Y celebrated her 4th birthday in school this year. It was her first birthday in school! And it was extra special because she shares the same birthday with one of her best friends in school, MK.

Her mom and I was talking one day about birthdays in school:
Me: "Kelan birthday ni MK?"
J: "September"
Me: "September din si Y!"
J: "Talaga? Anong date?"
Me: "6:
J: "6 din ni MK!"
Me: "O, sabay na tayo mag celebrate dito sa school!"

We decided to have Hi-5 as the theme so it can be both for boys and girls. I pitched the Hi-5 bento boxes because I really wanted Kaye of The Bento Mommmas to do Y's birthday! J was ok with it so yay!

 

Check @thebentomommas in Instagram too!

For the giveaways, I saw this PHP10 clapper in a stall in Puregold which reminds of the souvenir we got from the Hi-5 show last year. I made the Hi-5 logo by hand and took me two weeks to finish with the help of the BOS and here's our final product!

 Clockwise: Made a fan and a pinwheel for cake toppers; Hi-5 logos made out of specialty paper, traced , cut, and paste; and the PHP10 clappers from Puregold and Paper Chic Studio favor bags!

We celebrated their birthday in school a day before their actual birthday. We can only do their "party" during their 30-minute recess! Her classmates sang her Happy Birthday, blew the cake, picture taking with her classmates then ate their bento boxes! 

 

Red Ribbon Cake with my DIY cake toppers!

Spaghetti (Super yummy! Thanks for the extra, Kaye!), Hi-5 Bread Deco, Nugges and a Jupjup Sugar Cookie!

Happy 4th Birthday!

I also ordered a Hi-5 Headband for Y to wear to school that day, Princess Sophia headband as gift to MK from M + K = a! Plus Frozen clippies for Y!

Handmade by Tita Em!

Clippies for my little girl!! Thank Tita Em for the Sophia clippy!

 

Follow and like!

The teachers gave away the clappers during dismissal time. I was so happy that everyone was happy with the giveaway!

Can't believe she's 4 na! :( Happy Birthday again my loves!

A&D Weekend Guide: Type Kita Exhibit, Mom Pop Up and Manila FAME!

I'm adding more "sections" to my blog as I try to shift to another platform and make the blog more organized.

Weekend is just around the corner and I always look for places or events to go to whether it's a bazaar, exhibit, markets, etc. So here's what you and your family can visit this weekend!

Pop Junk Love organized an exhibit called Type Kita for the benefit of Yolanda survivors.

WHAT: Type Kita Exhibit

WHEN: March 15-16, 2014; 12pm-7pm

WHERE: 10A Alabama, Quezon City

TYPE-KITA: An Exhibit for the Everyday art

Typography is a form of art that is very much a prevalent part of our day-to-day lives. Everywhere you look, our surroundings are infused with typography. From taxi labels to jeepney signages, famous-brand logos, even your typical street signs are humble examples of typographic art. TYPE KITA is an exhibit that will bring focus to this often ignored art form.

On March 15 & 16, TYPE KITA will feature artists, letterers, penmans and other type-lovers to exhibit their own typographic pieces and installations. The showcase will be held in 10A Alabama, Quezon City. 

The exhibit itself is a fund-raiser to support for our brothers and sisters affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Artists can sell/auction off their works for the benefit of the survivors. By simply attending, visitors can already contribute to this cause. A minimal entrance fee of P50 will be charged as part of the fundraiser but visitors are welcome to give more to help.

How to get there?

For more information on this event, visit Type Kita's Facebook Page!

Want to shop? Looking for a bonding activity with your kids this weekend? Come to the second run fo the Mom Pop Up!

The Mom Pop Up is a one day shop of select brands by moms for moms.

Paper Chic Studio will also have a second run our our washi tape design session for moms and kids! Limited slots only so better register now with this link!

And you can get 5% off on all regular items from any of the merchants that day! All you need to do is flash this digital coupon below!

For more info about Mom Pop Up, please visit and like Mom Pop Up's Facebook Page!

And last but not the least, Manila FAME!  BOS and I like to look and appreciate furniture. I guess its our frustration kasi our house is still not furnished until now! Heehee! But Manila FAME is not only furniture, it also has clothes, accessories and more! I missed the last one and really really felt bad so I'm making sure I'll go to this one! 

Manila FAME, the Design and Lifestyle Event is the country’s premier trade platform for exports and design, providing opportunities for small and medium scale entrepreneurs to showcase their products in the world market. Manila FAME is one of the longest running trade shows in the Asia-Pacific, featuring the latest Philippine-made creations from artisans and manufacturers and is the only trade event in the country approved by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

All photos from Manila FAME's Facebook Page

Manila FAME is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export marketing arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Manila FAME will run from March 14-17, 2014 at the SMX Convention Hall. For more info, visit their website or Facebook Page.

Hope my little list can help you plan for the weekend! Hope to see you at the Mom Pop Up!