Found: Toddler Bowl

When it comes to feeding kids, I really do not have the patience for that.

I don't like the feeling of waiting for a kid to finish chewing just so I can give him another spoon.

Reason why I train my kids with BLW or baby-led weaning. They feed on themselves.

Monica is such a hassle-free baby. I like calling her that.
She is so hassle-free, she started eating on her own at 6 months and now she's 2 years and 5 months.

As for Mateo, I understand he is a boy, but I don't wanna make that as an excuse. I hate double standards.

He's 1 year and 2 months and still learning how to feed on hiw own properly. It's a struggle that ends up in crying.

He would spill food. He does it intentionally. He likes it. Wherever did he learn that? I have no idea!

I bought a food bowl with suction cup from Munchkin and he would still force it out of the high chair. Result? Spilled food.

Now this I found over at Think Geek

It says:

The Loopa Bowl is a weighted bowl attached to an outer ring. That ring is attached to another ring. This outside ring has handgrips for your geeklings to tote it around. Looking something like the planet Saturn ('cause of the rings, duh), this multiple ring system keeps the weighted center bowl upright. And if it's upright, it shouldn't be spilling its goodies all over the place. If the world's space agencies were run by children, the Loopa Bowl would surely be the bowl to accompany babies into space.

Ain't that sweeet?
Priced at $10

[imgsrc]

What To Expect

Do expect to view more nonsense posts.

Hahaha.

Nonsense, in the sense that, (huh? ang labo!) I will just be posting some goodies that I have found online that I find appealing or interesting.

Do watch out as I try to decide if I should publicize my other blogs.

Much love,
Lil

My Dugyot Boy

Sometimes I think he's not my son. That he's not part of our little family.
Hahahaha. Mean Mom.

Why?

Because he likes to get dirty. He loves touching messy stuff. He likes being in messy places.
He finds pleasure in scattering things and toys.

You see, my love and I, we are very neat (feeling!) and dislike disorganization. Wait, did I say that right?

Point is, we hate waste, dirt, and mess.

Now my baby boy Mateo has a favorite spot in the house.

He'd always sit there and rub his legs and feet. He'd tinker those grooves on the tiles with his fingers. Yuck!

But at night, before going to sleep, he's such a sweet boy cuddling me and his sister.

San Miguel By The Bay

I don't find this place appealing at all. Not at all.

I don't care if Mall of Asia is one of the biggest malls in Asia. Though I love their parking lot.

I feel like it's too far and it feels cheap even if there are a lot of high-street brands there. I don't really care.

PLUS they are totally not family-friendly.

On the three times I've been there, they really don't allow strollers on the escalator. With a two-storey mall, like that, you have to use pa the elevator!!

HASSLE!!

Don't they know I'm such a pro? *snicker*

Anyway, we went there last week to have dinner in one of those paluto restaurants which I'm not really fond of.

At Home

This is what Monica does at home when she's not playing with her iPod Touch.She keeps walking around, carrying bags, putting stuff on her hair, over her shoulder, around her neck. She pretends that she will go to S&R, High Street, Glorietta and school.

That's been her usual play since she was about 1.5 years old. She hasn't changed at all.

Do you notice that I still make her wear onesies? Hahaha. Those are too small for her but works as a shirt.

The CRUZ cousins. In Chateau Elysee

Mateo's having fun playing horsey with Yves

A rare photo of mine in this blog. Maybe I should start posting more?

A Failed Attempt

When my yaya went on vacation (supposedly), I sorta promised myself to not go out of the house.

But knowing me, I really don't have palabra de honor for shallow stuff like these. Hahaha. When I know it's nothing serious and not life-changing, I don't hesitate on taking back my words.

Day 1.
I gave in and decided to go out.
Weekends are just too hard to resist. The family went to Serendra and I treated them for dinner in Abe.

Monica too sleepy to walk. She has the most awkward sleeping positions ever.

In Marta's insisting to decorate her own cupcake. Who am I to say "no" to a very creative and smart 2-year old?

There's her finished product. She kept adding colors, then eat them, then add some more.

The toddler cousins. Vamee, Julio, MONICA, Nia

Then we went to Fully Booked, which I think I have blogged about earlier

So there's my failed attempt number 1 of just staying at home.

Car Maintenance

Nope, not mine. Thank goodness.

By next week, my parents will be getting a Ford Everest straight from Ford Philippines.

It's not brand-new. It's been used for only a year.
My brother-in-law who works in Ford as an AVP leased it and decided to have an upgrade. And with that, the company places the leased units up for bidding. But since my BIL requested, the unit will be sold directly to my parents.

The unit is in perfect condition. The good thing about Ford is when a unit is leased, Ford takes care of everything. As in everything.

Reason why my father is sort of busy looking at some diesel fuel pump just in case they might need it in the future.

If you'll ask me, I'm not too fond of Ford Everest, getting in the third row is such a hassle. and it leaves little room at the back for strollers and other cargo.

On a side note, ze husband and I are dreaming of owning a Range Rover someday for our little family. And probably a BMW just for the two of us.

I said, dreaming, ok?

Well, it's more of secret-ing. Hahahaha!!

Ebook

Last weekend, on a spur of the moment, I took the family out for dinner in Serendra.

Conti's was as usual jampacked so we settled for Abe. We settled on a very long table outside which is very convenient for our big family with noisy kids.

Take note that I didn't have a yaya that time and I practically had to take care of my two kids alone. I just can't depend on others. I feel like it's against my principles.

Anyhoo, after the usual dinner, we went to Fully Booked for the kids' regular/ required visit.
They have to visit or it's war night.

Whenever I go inside, a single whiff of the air from inside gives me a natural high. I just love, love, love the smell of books and papers and pens.

I left my kids in the reading area while I did my rounds in the family, health, relationships, fitness, and philosophy sections. PURE LOVE and LUST.

It's hard for me to resist books. My only rule is to not exceed Php 2000.
But I do feel guilty after a book spree. Especially that I'm not the one who works for the money.

Which brings me back to this idea of just doing pdf search online. I'm sure I could find something and it would cost me nothing!

But of course, I'm gonna check if they're legal.

Pathetic Blogging

Been busy writing articles. Will be back to regular blogging really soon.

I HOPE!

Anyway, here's a photo from a week ago.
Monica is such a girl.
She did that all to herself.

Not a single help from me. I swear!

Cheap Thrill

Who could ever resist this??

Now this is what I call Natural High.
The pack of 5 note pads at only Php50!!
Pack of 4 ring pads at only Php50!
Those cute sticky pads at Php 160!!


Heaven!!!

Spice Girls

I'm the biggest fan EVER!!
Maybe not. I'm sure there's more out there more die-hard than me.

I was such a fan I bout all the magazines that featured them. I/my mom wasted a lot of money over Spice Girls.

I even got into an accident and broke a bone for Spice Girls!

So, I MUST say, I AM the BIGGEST fan!

I received this over a decade ago. My tita was so generous to buy me this. So sweet. It's actually the first ever present I got from a relative. I was still a kid then, I never played with this. It was so precious to me.

I'm surprised that I got to keep the letter. Epic!

I think it's time that I pass it on....

Keeper

That's the thing, I have so many storage boxes, small ones, big ones that i forget where I put them. It takes years before I discover them. I'm such a good keeper! Hahaha.

This box, no matter how small, means soo much to me. I have a thing for hair accessories. Cheap or overly expensive. You can see, they are still untouched. Still with their tag prices on.

I don't wanna use them. They will stay on that box.

I'm Weird

Since Mango opened its doors here in Manila, i've never been able to resist their clothes.

Topshop came and it was only in 2007 that I started appreciating each and every collection.

Zara arrived and in 2008, I was hooked.


But Mango gives me a different kind of seizures every time I step in their stores.

I bought these over a month ago and I haven't used any of them. Same goes for all the other clothes I bought from the above-mentioned brands.


I'm not sure why I don't wanna wear them.
I'm so OC I don't want to remove the tags.

You see, I want my stuff to look like how they were the day I bought them.
Not only for clothes but for EVERYTHING.

I'm weird like that.

I want the butter neatly scraped. Peanut butter bottles' brim must be clean.
Books with no page folds or wrinkles.

I sometimes buy in doubles or three's so the other one can be for backup/ unused-- just to fulfill my compulsion.

I am a WEIRDO.

Susmijo Corazon!

Just about 5 minutes ago, I hear my daughter say


"Oh god!"

when she dropped a book.

It's Time

With everything going on in my head..

• Monica having to go to school by next year
• Aiming to get our own place
• Targeting to either work or put up our own business (not just invest in other people's biz)
• Foreseeing a board exam in a couple of years

ALL THESE.

They could only mean one thing.

Gastos. Money. Expenses. Or investment-- whichever way you look at it Budget. Priorities.

They are all frying my brain cells.

It's so hard to absorb every thing, every consideration, every reason for every objective that we have.

I don't know, maybe we are rushing things?

I don't think so.

Isn't it that we should start early while we are still young?
But while we are young, our babies get older and start schooling.
Do our dreams/ targets have to take a back seat?

If we do put them on the back seat, it only means we're gonna have to wait for more or less 20 years.

Since 20 years is what it takes for the kids to finish their college education.

But wait, once they graduate, maybe we should start saving up for our retirement.

Aah, I told you, see. My brain tends to get REALLY overactive.

It's hard to keep up most of the time. I find it hard.

YES, I think it is time for me to make a Mind Map.

So good bye for now.

Today

On a spur of the moment, i decided to ride with my sister going to Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas while she gets a treatment from Facial Care Center.
It was a surprise for me to witness a mall like Galleria to actually not be able to run on generator!!
I've been meaning to go there for Saizen and Topshop but shopping was just too impossible! Saizen decided to just close since you won't see a single light in the store. It was so dark!
Topshop on the other hand was just too hot. Super!
So Monica and I just decided to share on a White Hat Yogurt.

But i will go back there. I promise to myself. Maybe next week.

Good Ol Days

Ah, happy days. Carefree days.
I miss it terribly!

This was a CANDID shot taken in Gerry's Makati.

Gosh, look at my arms! Soo thin! KimChui thin.

Can I ever go back to that stage?

Can that be my wish for Christmas?


ANYTHING for me to be back to 99lbs.
Currently weigh 108lbs.

Monica Says

After going to the potty, Monica goes right out and says

"Wow, that's a lot of pee."

And now, while I'm choosing which picture to post, she goes

"Hahaha. That's funny!"

Just Saying....

I wonder if they have the same web designer? or Webmaster?

That's the header of Spot.ph. A locally maintained info website. Supposedly to inform you of what's happening around the metro.

And here is Thrillist

Claims to "find the best cheap grubs in the hood"
It covers Atlanta, Boston, chicago, NY, and more...

Outfit 1

Maybe I should add this content here.

Since giving birth last 2007, I've been breastfeeding non-stop. Yes, even when I was pregnant, I was breastfeeding still.

This resulted my wardrobe to be very boring. VERY boring as in.

I started dressing down. And more dressing down as months and years went by. My concern was, why would I invest in clothes that I know would just be pulled and stretched by my babies?

I can't imagine my clothes being tortured.

I used to have a REALLY BIG closet but now I'm reduced to a quarter of it. Clothes went to garage sales, to the yayas who have come and gone at home and some served as rags already.

I think it's right about time to get my groove back.
I need to be fasyon again!
I used to have style, you know. Just a little bit. *winks*

I used to be adventurous. And trendy. And classic. And effortlessly stylish. Hahaha.

I'm now taking it ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Investing in some classic pieces before I dip my feet again to being eclectic.

Let's make this public so I can strive more!

Top and shorts: MNG
Shoes: Charles & Keith
Bag: Aldo Accessories

The shoes, I've forever been in love with flats and t-straps!
The bag, I love how much stuff I could put in there though it seems so small. I needed a bag I could still wear even if I'm carrying my babies. This is just perfect!

While On Facebook

Monica saw this on Facebook...

And one by one she pointed,
"Mommy look, this is burger, pizza, cake, and bread."

Yun lang. Just sharing.
I like it when she can identify things even if they're pictured so small.

United Colors of Benetton.

Admittedly, we have our own share of fights, big and small ones.

A day won't end without us fighting.

But I seriously love my little girl. She is so close to my heart just because she is a girl.
Don't get me wrong, I love Mateo just as much, it's just that Monica will always have a special place in my heart. Am I making sense?

Dear Kids, please don't think I favor anyone. Just in case you read this.

Anyway, my darling Monica is growing up real fast.

Just this week alone, she's showing signs of growing up. Moving up.

We were in High Street yesterday, inside the Benetton store for Christmas presents when she started pointing to all the letters.

I was so shocked!! And proud at the same time of course.

United Colors of Benetton.

One by one, she pointed to all the letters.

So far, she knows numbers, colors, shapes, and letters.

And today, I was again surprised to see this "tower" she made while I was not looking.

I like how she arranged the blocks. Hmm, what's the word, proportioned?

Christmas Shopping 2009

October has just started and I'm happy to say I'm halfway done with my list. Hooray!

I've started with the not-so important people, otherwise known as low-budget people. Hahaha.

I like doing Christmas shopping early because that way I can manage my finances better. I get to extend my finances.

I'm currently squeezing my brains to think of presents I can give to the more-important ones and oh, yes, I am preparing my wallet for it. Hello deferred payment! Hahaha. You are such an angel!

Gift giving is very special to me that I'm thinking of having custom christmas cards aside from the gifts I'll be giving.

And before I forget, I'm also finding ways of wrapping them up the "green" way.

For three years in a row now, I wrap the presents in either used paper bags OR pages from old magazines. But they are sooo not presentable.

Off I go to research!

What Should I Buy? ver. 2.2

Have you read this?

Then I thought, would these pocket camcorders produce good still shots?

So I looked back at my previous want list and it got me more confused.

Why am I torturing myself?

Let's begin.

CANON IXUS 980 IS

• Approximate Retail price: Php 22, 700
• I have a love-hate relationship with it's form
• 14.7MP
• shoots .mov at 640x480 30fps. Just like Nokia N95.
  

CANON IXUS 100 IS

• Approximate Retail Price: Php 13, 000
• I love how sleek it is. It's so hard to choose between red and black
• 12.1 MP
• Best of all, it shoots in full HD 1280x720 30fps
• slimmest IXUS at only 18.4mm (!!!)
  

CANON IXUS 120 IS

• Approximate Retail Price: Php 15, 300
• It's so slim, 20mm and features wide-angle lens!
• 12.1 MP
• shoots in full HD as well
  

The selection just got easier. Forget about 980 IS.

It's gonna be either 100 IS or 120 IS. The only problem is, if i buy this, how will I ever be able to use my dSLR? I don't wanna sell it and I have no plans EVER!

These cameras are too pretty plus I am so sure, I can get these on Pay Lite not like the pocket camcorders in Amazon, straight payment, OUCH!!!

What should I do?

But wait, let us not forget about my ultimate dream camera

The Leica D-Lux 4. Enough said. imgsrc
Priced at $700 in Amazon. It's almost the same price of a dSLR. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is just a prosumer. Whatever, I still want this before I die.

My 304th Post

Oh, wow! I've come this far! I bet that's what will come out of my mouth on my 500th post. Hahaha!!!

Serious mode now.

On one of the many times I open Facebook everyday, I saw my OB and her business fan page. Without hesitation, I added myself as a fan and sent a friend request. Take note: I really don't send out invites. I don't know why, but I just don't feel like it. For me, if the person really wants me then he should look for me and add me. Enough about that.

Anyway, a few days after, I viewed her wall and something struck me. It was so powerful I couldn't get it out of my mind.

"To tithe is to trust. It is to acknowledge that God will provide, that God will protect.
When you give to God you create an investment in your own spirituality, your community, your family,
and your faith. "

She told me this before on one of my pre-natal checkups with her. We always talk about things other than pregnancy that's why I love her to bits. She even convinced me to buy a book by BO Sanchez, which I did.

Admittedly, I had a hard time grasping that idea. I knew I had to give back/ share my blessings but at that time, I didn't take it seriously. As human nature calls it: selfish.

Ondoy had to happen just for me to understand the essence of that line.
When I read the lines, it all made sense to me. I felt inspired. I was itching to do grocery every single day. I got frustrated not being able to volunteer. I knew that if I didn't have kids, I would have spent my time helping to pack relief goods. I've always had a benevolent side of me, in case you don't know.

I wanted so much to be in the evacuation centers and interact with the poor and homeless. I've always thought I can learn so much from them and vise versa.
ON a side note, I've heard some twitter news that some politicians are actually giving away free business cards or more like vote for me cards. Ugh!


Here is Monica waiting for us to finish.

I have never seen Market! Market! this crowded. Not on a Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. This is the FIRST time. Trust me. I know.

It's so overwhelming to see SOME people purchase donation stuff while MOST are hoarding, panic-buying for typhoon Pepeng. I don't really know why they get so carried away. Oh well, maybe I'm just too lax.

Yes, I made a sacrifice. I did tithe, in case you ask. And it feels SOOOO good! Not that I'm bragging just for me to document (ding! ding! ding! this is my web LOG), I also included diapers, clothes, feeding bottles, underwear, and a lot more. I am proud of myself. It took so much courage for me to let go of my stuff.

Found!!

Someone commented in my previous post inviting me to sign up for this "new-to-me" site of blogging from home. I'm too glad and giddy when I went to the website and instantly signed up!

It won't be long before I invite my friends to sign up.

Actually, now is the time!!

Friends!!! Head on there now!

It's so easy! First you must own your own domain. You should have a .com
Then sign up so you can get opportunities that you can write about and get paid!

So simple!