Get Your Creative Juice Flowing with Canva [Press Release]

Now is your chance to tap on your creative self and check out this awesome and cool website that will allow you to design and create your own Christmas cards. I have to warn you though, this can get pretty addicting. I didn't even realize that I spent so much time on the website just because there's so much options to choose from and believe me, I am going to keep coming back.

PRESS RELEASE

Put those postage stamps away: these Christmas cards deliver in style

Sydney, Australia — 2/12/13 — Each year Filipinos spend hours waiting in checkout lines, licking dozens of icky stamps and worrying that snail mail won’t get their holiday messages to friends and family in time. And all in the name of the humble Christmas card.

Perhaps that’s why less cards are being sent now than ever before. And sheeeesh, the decline isn’t slowing down: the number of greeting cards posted has dropped 24 percent in the past decade. But no surprises there — it’s often the last thing on our mind with countless family gatherings, presents to organise and the mad holiday shopping rush.

So what if you could say a heartfelt ‘Happy Holidays’ to the people you care about with a personal design that’s just as sentimental as a handwritten note, but super quick and simple to create? Forget the text message; hold that Facebook post. Heck, why not make this Christmas a bit more special…

Simple online design platform Canva has a cracker of a Christmas surprise this silly season. The folks at Canva believe they can anyone into a designer with their free drag-and-drop design tool. The company has today launched a collection of entirely customisable, beautifully designed Christmas cards. Want to know how to create a spectacular looking card with Canva? Here’s the 1, 2, 3…

1. Choose one of the 20 stunning hand-crafted designs
   
   
   
   
   
2. Customise the card however you like; add family photos, write a personal message, change the graphics, or create your own from scratch
   
   
   
   
   
3. Pick who you want to send it to, and… badda bing -- you’re done!

Canva has been in exclusive closed beta for the past two-and-a-half months, but are now giving you the chance to join the more than 110,000 people who for the first time have been able to create their own designs without spending thousands of dollars on frustrating desktop software that takes years to learn. Hey, don’t take our word, here’s what others have said:

“Canva enables anyone to become a designer” — PSFK

“A graphic design platform anyone can use” — TechCrunch

“Canva could very well become an industry disrupting household name” — Web Appstorm

“The easiest to use design program in the world” — Netted by the Webbys

According to Canva CEO Melanie Perkins the company wants to make it easy for people to create and share their own designs with people they care about, and receiving personalised Christmas cards is something everyone appreciates.

Together with the world’s best photographers, designers, and illustrators, we’ve set out to introduce beautiful design to everyone," she said. 

"This Christmas we want to give more people the ability to craft something special for family and friends. Designing with Canva is as simple as choosing a layout, searching our library of 1 million images and graphics, or uploading your own, then clicking ‘Publish’.”

Make this Christmas a little more special by heading to www.canva.com/christmas.

Planet Mom Discovery: Pigeon Sakura Baby Toiletries

A couple of days ago, I received a package from Pigeon Philippines containing their new products -- their Sakura Baby toiletries. I was excited to try it out and I know that they're going to be great because Pigeon is one of those trusted brands when it comes to baby products. My cousin-in-law raves about their products and that's how I actually knew about them when I was still pregnant with my daughter. Aside from our regular purchase of silicon nipples when both my kids are young, my son loved his Pigeon Magmag and our recent favorite, the Pigeon Baby Lotion.

Happy to receive his new set of toiletries.

Sakura sounded like a strange word but it's actually the name of that beautiful and fragrant flower from Japan. They are popularly known as Cherry Blossoms.  This brand new range of baby products from Pigeon contains Sakura extract. I've read that Sakura extract has anti-inflammatory properties that makes it suitable for sensitive skin. This makes sense because any baby product should be mild enough so it would not cause any skin irritation.

The Sakura baby toiletries consists of the Baby Wash 2-in-1, Baby Shampoo, Baby Milk Lotion and the Baby Powder. I immediately got my hand on the 2-in1 Baby Wash. See, I'm a huge fan of baby washes. Simply because all you need is just one bottle to use as a shampoo and a soap. Lol. Definitely a no-brainer.

The baby wash came with a pump and all I needed was a good peso-sized amount of liquid and it was enough to lather all over my son's body. I figured if you have a girl then maybe you need more. I love how the scent of cherry blossom filled the bathroom. It smelled sooo good! And even if I already rinsed off all the soap, I can still feel how soft his skin is. If your baby has a short hair then a 500ml baby wash can last for months. I have yet to find out how long before we finish off this bottle.

The Baby shampoo is just as great as the baby wash. You don't need much and it rinses off pretty easily. Another great thing is that both the baby wash and the baby shampoo are tear-free. My son's hair is so soft and so fragrant after using both products.

Ever heard about layering? It's when you use a shampoo, body wash, lotion and cologne of the same scent so you smell good for a long time. It's exactly what we did! After his bath, I applied lotion on his arms and legs which he enjoyed. It doesn't feel sticky at all. And the powder was applied on his back and his chest. My son became a walking scent of cherry blossom after his bath and I just want him beside me. That's how good he smelled. Uhm...who needs cologne when you got these?

Our own version of layering.

Babies can smell good for a long time because they don't really do much except to drink milk, sleep and drink milk and maybe coo. Toddlers are different. Their energy is so high that sometimes it's almost impossible to keep up with them. Case in point -- my son. He's my energizer bunny. So I let him do what he does best which is to run around and play with mud. I just had to find out if I can still smell any traces of cherry blossom at the end of the day. Surprise surprise! I can still smell cherry blossom on his hair. Another big check for the product.

Here are a few more facts about the Sakura toiletries:

• Hypoallergenic
• Paraben-free: Parabens are chemicals that can be too harsh on baby's skin
• Sulphates-free: Sulphates are foaming agents that is often found on shower gels and cleansers and this can also cause skin irritation.
• Free from coloring agents
• pH Balanced
• Tear Free: This is true for both the Baby Wash and the Shampoo

Find out more about the Pigeon Sakura Baby Toiletries by visiting their Facebook fanpage.




*Disclosure: I received the above products for review and all these opinions are solely my own.

Movie Nights at the Bacolod New Government Center

Watching Rio with best bud Nico

How about some cheap but enjoyable movie night with your kiddos?

I've brought my son to watch several movies in a movie theater and he enjoys the experience each time. However, I have to admit that doing this very often could be a little costly. So when my good friend Yols texted me and said there's a free movie at the National Government Center (NGC), I didn't think twice and immediately brought my son there and I'm so glad I did.

There was a huge screen display and people comfortably sitting on the grass. Very relaxing and laid back if I may say. We brought a blanket, bought popcorn and the boys comfortably settled down watching Rio, a story about a bird who got smuggled in the U.S.

After the movie, the boys played on the grass, ran around while we talk and made plans about the club and the shop. We learned that until the 24th of December, they will be showing one movie every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7pm -- definitey a great idea for family bonding and playdates. Just bring your blanket, some snacks and off to NGC you go.

Isn't this a great idea?

Planet Mom Recommends: Smart Steps Baby Bottle Cleanser

When I had my daughter eleven years ago, I never really thought about buying bottle cleansers. We used one of those antibacterial dish washing liquid to wash all her bottles. We just had to make sure that the bottles are thoroughly rinsed because sometimes the bottles still smell like the dish washing liquid. It almost kind of made me think whether the bottles were properly cleaned at all.

Fast forward to when I had my son, we discovered Smart Steps. I remembered my husband persuading me to buy a bottle just to "try it out," and me agreeing to it because, I got nothing else to lose. One bottle is relatively cheap because we bought them on sale. We got one of those 400 ml pump dispenser and an extra refill for only Php 260.

My son was bottle fed and breastfed. Because I had to work on a graveyard shift, I had to bring my Avent breast pump and a couple of Avent Via Cups with me to work.  All these plus my son's sippy cups being washed with a dish washing liquid before we bought Smart Steps Bottle Cleanser.  How was my experience?

• First, I like the sweet bubblegum scent. It's very mild and I actually enjoy it. After rinsing, you can hardly smell any residue. 
• Second, after the bottles, breast pump parts and breast milk containers were sterilized, you couldn't smell the scent of the cleanser as soon as you open the sterilizer. Unlike when we were using the dish washing liquid where the scent lingers.
• It can remove the unwanted odor. Take for instance the pineapple juice incident that I had with my Playtext Twist N' Click Straw. I figured that using the right bottle cleanser can make a difference. 

Smart Steps Bottle Cleanser has an easy rinse formula. It has no dyes nor phosphate. It is safe to use in washing not just your bottles, pump parts or sippy cups but you can also use this in washing fruits and veggies that your child is eating.

It has been a year since my breast pump retired and the bottles all given away but up until now, I am still using the cleanser to wash my son's sippy cups. This product has my seal of approval.

Visit their Facebook Fanpage or their website now to get more information.

Planet Mom Recommends: Pigeon Baby Lotion

I'm not a big fan of lotions. I only use them at work where the air conditioning system is centralized to prevent my skin from drying up. I don't use lotion on my kids too. My daughter feels sticky and my son feels uncomfortable. Blame it on our country's weather, I guess. I just couldn't let them use any product that will make them feel icky, sticky and sweaty in the middle of the day. Perhaps the only lotion-like product that I had them use is the Bite Block Insect Repellent although I'm not sure if that will count as a lotion.

Thankful to Pigeon Philippines that the organizers were given product samples and I got the Pigeon Baby Lotion. I was a little hesitant to get it at first because I thought none of my kids are using lotion regularly anyway.  However, I got interested with its consistency. It was like water. I knew I just had to try it out.

The Pigeon Baby Lotion contains natural ingredients that is safe for baby's skin. I was right. It is watery and it smells like powder. I so love the mild scent. It reminded me of how my son smelled like when he still hasn't discovered the outdoors.

I too used the lotion before I left home to attend a PTA meeting. I love that it doesn't feel sticky at all despite the sunny weather. It is watery but it is a lotion because my skin didn't feel dry or look dry. Now there's three of us using it -- me, my son and my daughter. I wonder if my husband will do too. Lol.

Another cool discovery -- do you know you can use it as a cologne too?

Find out more about Pigeon and their products by visiting their Facebook Fan page.

Bimby and Ryzza Awarded as Golden Kids of the Year 2013 [Press Release]

My Little Bossings stars James “Bimby” Aquino Yap and Ryzza Mae Dizon were awarded as the Golden Kids of Year by the biggest family event of the year, the BABY AND FAMILY EXPO PHILIPPINES 2013, happening on December 06 - 08, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex.

Following the footsteps of his mom, Bimby is now very active in showbiz - print and television commercials plus his first upcoming movie My Little Bossings have proven that the child star has what it takes to be in the acting world. “Thank you for the award and the recognition” says Bimby to the Baby and Family Expo Philippines, while Kris Aquino expressed that they would love to be at the awarding on December 7, but can't be there personally, because of their scheduled trip to Cebu. Kris even posted a thank you note on her www.facebook.com/krisaquino.net page. Ryzza adds “Thank you po sainyo lahat” after accepting the award.

Organized by MediaCom Solutions Inc. and co-presented by Cordlife, the country’s premier biggest family event of the year to family development and child care dubbed as “Welcoming Life, Love and Care” will cover the stages of family growth from pregnancy, maternity, newborns, toddlers and early childhood.

James “Bimby” Aquino Yap Jr. and Ryzza Mae Dizon together with Baby and Family Expo Philippines 2013 organizer David Abrenilla after receiving the Golden Kid of the Year Award.

 Ryzza Mae and Bimby proudly hold their Golden Kid of Year Award from the Baby and Family Expo Philippines 2013.

Ryzza Mae Dizon and Bimby Yap accept the Golden Kid of Year Awardfrom the Baby and Family Expo Philippines 2013.

 Kris Aquino and Bimby pose with Baby and Family Expo Philippines 2013 Organizer David Abrenilla after receiving the Golden Kid of Year Award.

Congratulations Kiddos!!!

Be part of this star-studded family event by registering for free at the BABY AND FAMILY EXPO PHILIPPINES website www.babyexpo.ph. For queries and updates, call +63.2.843.2174, +63.915.660.8748, email info@babyexpo.ph and join the community at www.facebook.com/babyexpoph and www.twitter.com/BabyExpoPH

BABY& FAMILY EXPO 2013 and GOLDILOCKS bond 10,000 Families [Press Release]

No birthday celebration seems complete without a cake. The perfect birthday cake is the one that makes them happy - tasty decorated cake with a candle stuck in the middle. Every birthday celebration is an event to celebrate a milestone in your child’s life. Providing the perfect birthday cakes is a source of stress for some parents but with Goldilocks through the Baby & Family Expo Philippines 2013 on December 06-08, 2013 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, parents will now discover how to make their child’s birthday a memorable one.

In every Filipino family, celebrations like birthday, anniversary or graduation are best celebrated with a cake. Recently, Goldilocks introduced an addition to their bakeshop products - 'Decorate your Cake.' During the Family Olympics, happening on the second and third day of the Baby & Family Expo, young children ages 5-8 years old will unleash their creativity skills in the Decorate your Cake challenge. Together with their mother or father, each child willdecorate their dream cupcake using a DYC (decorate your cake) package materials.

Kids enjoying decorating their cake.

Thousands of families are expected to join this three-day event, wherein the country's top bakeshop will also offer an exclusive 10% booking discount to Baby Expo visitors.

Organized by MediaCom Solutions Inc. and co-presented by Cordlife, the country’s premier biggest family event of the year to family development and child care dubbed as “Welcoming Life, Love and Care” will cover the stages of family growth from pregnancy, maternity, newborns, toddlers and early childhood. The event will also feature educational talks and seminars, fun-filled activities and exclusive discounts from over 200 exhibitors.

Gear up your preparations by registering for free at the Baby& Family Expo Philippines 2013 website http://babyexpo.ph/registration.php. For queries and updates, you can call +632.843.2174, email info@babyexpo.ph and join the community at http://www.facebook.com/babyexpoph and http://twitter.com/BabyExpoPH.

Goodbye Cloth Diapers?

I'm a huge fan of cloth diapers. I see them as my life saver because back then when I got sick and was on medical leave, they saved me from the headache of having to get the funds to buy disposable diapers to my then 2-year old toddler. So why am I saying goodbye?

My little boy no-more are showing signs that he's ready to potty. Two weeks ago, I decided to give him his presko time. One is because he's got rashes on his bum. He didn't say that he pooped and when I checked, it already dried in his nappy and so it caused the irritation. Second is because he's pretty much adjusted here in Bacolod. I read from a book that you shouldn't introduce potty training when your child is under a lot of stress. Moving from one house to another can be stressful to a toddler hence the delay in potty training.

one of his very first nappies

happily wearing his training pants

On day one he learned to pee like a man. On day 2 he said he wanted to do number two and he did...inside the bathroom on the potty chair. Even I can't believe how easy it was to train him. Now he only wears cloth diapers at night. Pretty soon I'm going to say byebye. I should be happy, right? But I will miss those days when I have my banderitas of cute nappies hanging on the clothesline. (sigh) Good thing I've taken loads of pictures of them.

One of the many pictures of my "banderitas"

I guess I should be excited about him getting character briefs.

Realities of Working From Home

It has been 5 months since I started working from home and so far, we're managing. Making the decision to work from home is not to be taken lightly because believe it or not it's not as easy as it sounds. You have to be prepared -- not just emotionally but also financially.

I agree. Working from home may sound like a great set up. After you finish your task, you can just turn your computer off and then do whatever you need. 
But let me share with you the challenges that you could face when working from home.

Temptations are everywhere.  I know my laptop is supposed to be my friend but oftentimes it's not.  It is one big distraction.  I itch to check my Facebook page everyday and this is something that I am trying to control so I could be more productive. This has never happened before because when I was in the BPO industry, Facebook cannot be accessed using my work PC.

You notice EVERYTHING.  Turn to the left and you see an unmade bed.  To your right is the laundry and the bathroom that you're dying to scrub until they are squeaky clean.

Babysitting while trying to write a few articles.

Distractions.  Quite a different set up when you're at the office because there's no toddler running around looking for "Mama" there.  Then again these are sometimes good.  I love those days when I work on my articles and my son would just hug me from the back or give me a kiss.

You work with yourself. You brainstorm with yourself. I kind of miss those times when you draw out several ideas by talking with your teammates and colleagues.

So, are you still considering working from home?

Bacolod Mom & Baby Fair [Press Release]

The Bacolod Mom & Baby Club (BMBC) is a breastfeeding support group founded in July 2013. Our primary focus is on increasing breastfeeding rates one mother at a time not just in Bacolod but all over Negros.

On October 27, 2013, the club will be hosting the Bacolod Mom & Baby Fair. This event aims to educate mothers. mothers-to-be and their families about the benefits and importance of breastfeeding, babywearing and cloth diapering. It also aims to support mompreneurs who will be showcasing their businesses during the said event.

We have several activities lined up for that day. In the morning, La Leche League Leader and Certified Lactation Counselor Abbie Yabot will facilitate a discussion on Advanced Breastfeeding and Attachment Parenting. In the afternoon, we will have talks on Cloth Diapering and Babywearing.

The event is brought to you by The Bacolod Mom & Baby Club, District North Point, Cordlife, Cetaphil and Mommy Matters. Co-sponsored by Philips Avent, Pigeon, Medela, Smart Steps, Nursing Mom, Mommy Treats and Latch a Babe Nursing Wear.

Exhibitors for the event are: Bright Kids Preschool, Cordlife, Go Green, Krazelle, Little Panda Shop, Medela Moms, My Baby Dragon, Proactive Nanay, Pigeon, Saab and Meelo, Tickled Moms and Sugar Central.

Learn more about the Bacolod Mom & Baby Club by visiting the Facebook Fanpage -- www.fb.com/bacolodmomandbabyclub

Good Change? Bad Change?

Anyone can pretty much do anything online. It’s funny how much things has evolved in such a short span of time. I can still remember using the internet just to chat with friends at MIRC and doing a few research here and there. Now you can do a gazillion things.

Research. Internet has probably changed the way students do their research. Before, we used to stay beyond school hours at the library and browse through books and encyclopedias just so we have the information we need for school the next day. I even remember borrowing 2-3 reference books at the same time. Now, almost anyone have internet connection at home and Google is such an easy site to use. You just type the topic and in seconds, hundreds and hundreds of information can be pulled up.

Work. I never considered working from home. I always see myself wearing corporate clothes, all made up and going to work; until I met a few women who made a living at the comforts of their own home. This made me re-think about my priorities especially when I got really sick last year. So guess where I am now! Yes! I am now a work-at-home mom. Websites like Odesk, Elance and Online Jobs PH provide such opportunities. I got extremely lucky that I found great employers at Odesk. The perks are endless too! I can wake up early, pull my hair together, have breakfast and then open my laptop and go to work. You read that right. There are even days that I work before I had my bath. Ha ha! Aside from the perks, there are disadvantages too. Have you tried working with a toddler running around? It takes a lot to keep them distracted.

I work better when the toddler's asleep in bed.

Shopping. Forget about crazy crowds during mall sales, there are hundreds of deals available online. Online shopping is the easiest way to get the stuff that you need without leaving your home. You can either go to one of those group buying sites like Cash Cash Pinoy or one of those online shopping stores like Zalora Philippines. They offer a wide range of products from clothes to skincare to accessories. You don’t even have to have a credit card to be able to shop online. Zalora Philippines allows you to pay cash (on selected cities) upon delivery. How convenient is that?

Communication. Gone are the days when you wait for the mailman so you can get your mail. Now you can send emails anytime anywhere and your message gets sent in seconds. I must admit though that I miss those days when I head to the bookstore and buy those uber cute stationeries. And how can you not think about the social media sites like Facebook and Twitter? I’m probably one of those people who couldn’t let one day pass without checking my accounts because that’s how we communicate with my relatives in the US and my in-laws in Manila.

What about you? What do you think about the changes?

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls joins the fight against breast cancer with Pink Power

This October, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Eastwood City join the fight against breast cancer with the launch of Pink Power, a month-long information campaign that aims to empower women with the tools they need to help reduce breast cancer risk.

The campaign kicked at the Pink Power Cancer Forum at the Eastwood Mall Atrium. Done in partnership with Icanserve Foundation, the program hosted by Issa Litton included appearances from breast cancer advocates and health and fitness experts.

Guests were able to hear the story of Melissa de Leon-Joseph, Breast Cancer Survivor, and were able to get the facts on breast cancer from Dr. Katrina P. Ferrera, who discussed breast cancer myths and risk factors.

“Don’t be scared,” encouraged Melissa de Leon-Joseph. “It is better to have yourself checked and have peace of mind.” She also shared about how she and her friends held mammo parties, where they go to the hospital together to get their mammograms and then have coffee afterwards, to make the experience less frightening.  

Meanwhile, Dr. Ferrera advised women as early as 20 to start doing breast self-exams or BSE monthly, while women in their 30s should not only do a monthly BSE but also have an annual clinical breast exam by a doctor or trained health worker and those in their 40s should continue their monthly BSE, have an annual clinical exam and a mammogram every year.

Aside from family history, some of the risk factors include early menstruation (before the age of 12), late menopause (after the age of 55), not having children or not having children before the age of 35, and lifestyle factors like being overweight and smoking.

To help women start living a healthier lifestyle, the Pink Power Cancer Forum also included a fun exercise break from Fitness First and a talk on nutrtion from Fitness First Nutritionist Fergie Icaro. Curves Eastwood’s Leizel Gilbero, a 3-year Curves Coach, Certified Zumba Instructor and Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian, also talked about the importance of exercise in reducing breast cancer risk.

“Breast Cancer risk is decreased by 15-50% among physically active women,” Gilbero shared and added that “Most studies suggest that 30 to 60 minutes per day of moderate to high-intensity physical activity is associated with a reduction in breast cancer risk.”

Curves is a facility especially designed for women featuring a complete 30-minute cardio

and strength-training program that has been proven to be clinically effective with a positive effect on body composition, metabolism, and resting heart rate.

“Women will lose weight, gain muscle strength and aerobic capacity, and raise metabolism rates – all these in just 30 minutes, 3x a week,” said Gilbero.

Tokyo Posh, the only brand in the Philippines specializing on hair extensions and hair enhancements, has also joined the fight against breast cancer. “For now. we help by providing up to date styles for full wigs that will instantly give back the confidence usually lost when going through cancer. We want them to feel beautiful and happy and this we believe will help them through their fight with cancer and journey towards healing,” said Denise Aquino, owner of Tokyo Posh.

She also advised women battling breast cancer to not be afraid to try and use wigs or extensions, putting on make-up and dressing up, which she feels will also help drastically change one's outlook. “Women should not avoid going out because of the disease, they should live life as normally as possible and enjoy it to the fullest,” she said.  

Guests also took home prizes from brands that supported this life-saving advocacy through trivia games and were later invited to make a statement and join the fight against breast cancer at the Pink Power Statement Wall.  

The Pink Power Cancer Forum was sponsored by Curves, Detoxify Bar, Fitness First, Jcuppacakes, Pandora and Tokyo Posh.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ also unveiled its other Pink Power activities during this event. On Oct. 25, 6pm, Lucky Chinatown will be playing host to the Pink Power Zumba Party. Shoppers can learn more about breast cancer at this event and also get started on a fitter lifestyle through a free Zumba session from Gold’s Gym. Interested guests can pre-register at the Lucky Chinatown Concierge for the chance to get fun prizes from participating brands.

The Pink Power promo which will help shoppers get started on a healthier lifestyle. For every single or accumulated receipt worth P3,000 from any Eastwood City, Newport Mall, Lucky Chinatown and Venice Piazza establishment from October 14 – 20, the customer is entitled to a pick-a-prize and win a gift certificate from participating sponsors David’s Salon, Big Apple Express Spa, Curves, Bikram Yoga, Pink Parlour, White Space Mind and Body Wellness, Body Worx Spa and Fitness Club and Bioessence.

Receipts can be presented at the redemption booths located at the Ground Floor of Eastwood Mall, at the Ground Floor of Lucky Chinatown, Binondo, at the second floor of Newport Plaza, Newport Mall and at the Venice Piazza Atrium in Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill.

The Eastwood Mall signage (fronting Eastwood City Walk) will also be turning pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month; guests can show their support by getting their photo taken those locations and tagging Megaworld Lifestyle Malls at #MegaworldPinkPower @eastwoodcity on Twitter and EastwoodCity on Facebook.

To learn more about Pink Power at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, guests can call the Concierge at 709-9888, 709-0888, 0917-8380111 or visit www.megaworldlifestylemalls.com.

PER DTI-NCR PERMIT NO. 4807. SERIES OF 2013

Planet Mom Discovery: The District North Point Family Lounge

For the nursing moms in Bacolod, this post is definitely for you.  I have featured several breastfeeding stations in Metro Manila and the airports in Iloilo and Bacolod before so this post shouldn't be any different. I am just extremely excited that I have discovered this family lounge inside The District North Point in Talisay.

The community center is located along the national highway adjacent to the Ayala North Point in Talisay. The place has a very laid back atmosphere despite it being a commercial building.  I learned from my friend and breastfeeding mom, Jireh, that they have a family lounge which she suggests that I visit.  She describes the place as amazing. Curious about what it looks like and intrigued because I thought it would be a great place to feature here, I took my son with me at the second floor of the building.

Note at the Attendant's Table

I was greeted by the friendly attendant who asked if I am a VIPinoy or BPI cardholder. I said no and I asked if I can use the breastfeeding room.  She said yes and asked someone to lead me to it.

Inside the breastfeeding room are two smaller rooms with sliding doors that you can close if you need privacy. I also like that even if you are inside, you can still faintly hear the music being played inside the mall. Did I mention that the place is sqeaky clean?

A very comfortable and inviting couch greeted us but this is not the nursing station yet.

Surprise! There's a play area behind that comfy couch.

Love the breastfeeding room. Comfy couch and sliding doors for privacy.

It is indeed a lounge meant for relaxing. There are magazines that you can read. The couches are comfortable and the breastfeeding room exceeded my expectation. I later found out that nursing mom can freely use the space if they need to breastfeed.  Senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities can stay and rest for a while too.

Drop by the family lounge if you visit the mall. When you do, let me know what you think about it.

Planet Mom Recommends: Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent

I first found out about Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent when we attended several events hosted by the Mommy Academy. Prior to trying their detergent, we were just using one of the "regular ones" in the market to wash my son's clothes.  It was actually my husband's idea to try out the product and because it's new and interesting, we bought a pack.

Smart Steps is a laundry detergent that is clinically proven safe and mild for babies. It is tough enough to deal with stains yet mild enough for your babies' skin. It has no dyes, no bleach and no optical brighteners which makes it very safe for you to use on your cloth diapers.  What I like most about it is that, it is a very effective laundry detergent yet it is very affordable.  I am not really a big fan of buying really expensive stuff and the cost of Php 254 per 1.5 liter of liquid detergent is very well withing my budget. I noticed too that the clothes smell nice even if I don't use a fabric conditioner. :)

Purchased Smart Steps products on Sale at the SM Grand Baby Fair

Since I started using cloth diapers on my son, Smart Steps has become my laundry partner.  Although I ocassionally try out other "newer" brands to find out which detergent work best for my cloth diaper stash, I keep coming back because for just a fraction of the cost, I am able to get the quality that I am looking for

Learn more about Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent by visiting their website and their Facebook Fan Page. 

Dengue Terror + Bite Block Giveaway

Photo credit: Mrooczek262 from morguefile.com 

Here's the reality:
Nationwide, there is a total of 14, 837 dengue cases including 89 deaths as of June 2004 according to the Department of Health

In Metro Manila, the dengue cases has increased by 121% in the past three months compared to the same period last year.
In Bacolod, dengue cases has reached 904 with Barangays Taculing and Villamonte having the most number of dengue cases.

Personally, I don't want to part of those statistics nor will I want any of my family members to be one of those numbers. It's scary and it's life threatening.

Dengue, known as breakbone fever is an infectious disease caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.  These mosquitoes typically bite in the early morning of the day or in the early evening.  Dengue is one of the common illnesses that anyone can get infected with during the rainy season.  That's because mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant waters.

Do you know that a female mosquito can lay 100-200 eggs?  That's 100-200 mosquitoes that can potentially transmit the virus and infect you or your family.

The good news is, dengue can be prevented.  One way to do that is to use an insect repellant.  There are different ones available and I have narrowed down my favorites.  One product on my list is Bite Block Insect Repellent and you can read why I love them here.

I've got another good news. Bite Block has sent over goodies for my readers.  You know what that means? It's giveaway time!

There will be 4 sets of winners:

One winner from Bacolod and one winner from anywhere in the Philippines will each get 2 (two) 100 ml Bite Block Kids, 1 (one) 100 ml Bite Block Daily and 3 (three) 5 ml Bite Block Daily.

One winner from Bacolod and one winner from anywhere in the Philippines will each get 2 (two) 100 ml Bite Block Daily, 1 (one) 100 ml Bite Block Kids and 3 (three) 5 ml Bite Block Daily.

The winners from Bacolod should be willing to meet up with me at the District Northpoint Ayala.

Prizes up for grabs

I will have two sets of rafflecopter on my page so make sure that you follow the instructions and use the correct rafflecopter.

The Bacolod winners will be announced on October 25 so we can meet up on the 27th. All winners should reply to my email within 24 hours. Otherwise, a new winner will be picked.


If you're located anywhere in the Philippines, use the one below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck everyone!!!

Moms on the Floor [Press Release]

Mommy Mundo, Manila’s go-to resource for young and modern active moms invite all pregnant moms, mom with babies 0 to 1yr of age, and mom with kids 1yr to 6yrs old to Moms on the Floor, happening on October 05, 2013 Saturday at The Loft at the Manansala Tower, Rockwell, Makati.

Attend this floor-based activity and GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR!

That means 1) Fitness, 2) Bonding and 3) Fun! While learning more about having a healthy baby and happy pregnancy!

It's true that everyone will literally be ON THE FLOOR just like what we did last year. My daughter, my niece and I had a blast during the event. 

Zumba fun!

the SoMoms and their kiddos

Now on its 4th year, Moms on the Floor will definitely be another fun-filled event with exciting activities for all moms, divided into three portions:

10:00am- 12 noon For Moms with Babies
Baby Play by toddlers and Teachers Inc.
Infant Massage by Rome Kanapi

1:00pm-3:00pm For Pregnant Moms
Preparing for Birth with Rome Kanapi
Prenatal Yoga with Urban Ashram

3:00pm-5:00pm For Moms with Kids
Kids Yoga with Michelle Aventajado
Zumba Kids with Roxy Araneta

The MOMS ON THE FLOOR is co-presented by Shop Mommy Matters, Philippine Association of Childbirth Educators (PACE), GlaxoSmithKline, Sponsors include, Cycles Mild Laundry Detergent, Cradle Bottle and Toy Cleanser, Philips Avent, and Primaries by Rockwell Land.  Also supported by Crystal Clear, Imagine Nation Photography, Wang Videography, Urban Ashram, Toddlers Teachers Inc., Sky Cable, and Digiprint. Media Partners include Working Mom Magazine, Lifestyle Network, Moms Today, Health Today, Crossover 105.1 FM, N@W, WhenInManila.com, Mompreneur Manila, Urban Mom Magazine and Mommy Pages.

Don’t forget to bring your exercise mats, mommies and kiddos!

Come to The Moms on the Floor on October 5 at the Loft at the Manansala Rockwell Makati City.  Participation is free but pre-registration is required, to register text 0908-8657245 the following details: your name and which portion you will join. Registered participants will get a confirmation text or email.  J

For more info visit www.mommymundo.com
Moms on the Floor event Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/events/385271304908305/.

Planet Mommy Discovery: Tiny Buds Natural Baby Bath

I found out about the Tiny Buds Natural Baby Bath after my son was named as one of the Tiny Buds Baby Ambassador last February 13, 2013 . Although I've been using a different baby bath for my son, I got one of them immediately after I learned that it's already available. Tiny Buds has Planet Mom's approval in terms of providing effective and baby safe products and this is one product that I don't want to miss.

The baby bath comes in a 200 ml package and just like any other Tiny Buds products, it featured one animal.  This time it featured the whale and two really cute ducks that my son adored; although the Penguin from Tiny Buds Scratch Off remains his favorite.  

Tiny Buds Natural Baby bath is both a shampoo and a body wash which is exactly what I look for.  It's made from all natural ingredient that is safe for your baby's skin.

As soon as I received the package I immediately used it on my son's next bath.  The product is true to its label that its indeed mild as water.  He didn't get irritated when a little bit of water and soap would go to his eyes.  However, the scent is just too mild for an active 3-year old toddler who loves to run around whenever he can.  If I had a baby, I would definitely get this.

Get more information about the different Tiny Buds' products by visiting their Facebook Fan Page.