Nanaygosyante 2013: October

My daughter's birthday will not be as fab as it was if not for the colorful intricately designed birthday tutu outfit that she wore during her party at school. I was the happiest mom to see my birthday girl having a blast with her classmates and teachers. 

Nanaygosyante of 2013: September

I posted about how threatening SIDS is and why safe sleep is important, which you can read here, all because this month's Nanaygosyante was really good in her advocacy. I met her one sunshiny Saturday in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City for a sparty she organized for her bloggy guests. She discussed how Halo® SleepSack® could help give your baby the safest sleep she deserves. 

Ivy Lim-Esteban is the mompreneur behind Halo® SleepSack® Philippines, which she started May of this year. The drive to start this business actually came up when she realized there's no one selling the product here, which she and her husband found out about when their first baby was born. She wanted to educate more Filipino parents about the threats of SIDS and that hopefully, through Halo® SleepSack® Philippines, more Filipino babies will have safe sleep. How passionate and caring is she, right? Read on and let's all find out how she is a woman, wife and mom.

Nanaygosyante of 2013: August

What I like most about being a SAHM is that I get to have extra time to create and re-create. What do I mean by that? Uhm, to make butingting. My mom used to scold me when I was in grade school 'cause I have soooo many kalat on the bed. Yup, I sleep with my "crafts" --- dissected floppy discs turned into greeting cards, origami stars in a mayonnaise jar, photo collage as a bookmark, etc. I'm not a Martha Stewart or something like those listed in Apartment Therapy's 10 Crafty Blogs in 2010, but I have a crafty side. I actually have Channeling Martha as one of my Royal Features. It is basically composed of my DIYs; just simple and little things that I could do with my not-so-skilled and artistic hands. Something that would not require my fine motor skills to be exercised too much. Hehe. Unlike this goddess of a crafter that I have for Nanaygosyante for August. Woot!

Nanaygosyante of 2013: July

I know everyone's been dying (or have already died lol) to go to Boracay and I won't be a hypocrite to say I am not one of those. However, my husband and I have mutually agreed on this: Palawan first before Boracay. Well, not unless if we don't need to spend at least a cent for that Boracay trip no. Why Palawan? 1) It's a separate island if you will base it on the map, so it's like being isolated from the rest of the Filipinos, hehe. 2) All I thought it's in Visayas, but it's actually in Luzon (yes I'm dumb blonde like that hihi). 3) Judging from the photos I've seen from friends who have been there, it's so calm and peaceful there. Yeah, unlike in Boracay that most of the photos I've seen over the net are party photos of almost naked bikini-clad sexxxxxxy women. Hmm. I'm now a family woman with a daughter who would eventually be a dalaga. So we need to veer her away , as much as possible, from the bad stuff this world could offer. Palawan is also where this month's Nanaygosyante will take us.

Nanaygosyante of 2013: June

Let me end this month with my June issue of Nanaygosyante of 2013. Whoa, I can't believe I'm nailing the challenge I gave myself 6 months ago. #feelingvictorious 

Anyway, when I featured Lhoydz of Xai Baby Shoppe on March 17, one of her loyal customers messaged me about a blog collaboration. I did not think twice about it when I checked her Facebook page. Her hairbow designs are lovely and she also has good ideas that made our partnership a light experience. I'm just so happy that I've been blessed to reach out to a lot of mompreneurs wanting to expand their business by being featured on a mommy blog, like mine. 

Nanaygosyante of 2013: May

We're almost half way done with 2013 and I felt like telling you something trivial about myself. 

I met Candy Magazine because of this month's Nanaygosyante. She brought a copy in school (we were gradeschool and HS classmates) and I borrowed it for a day. Since then, I became a Summit Media magazines fan --- Candy to Seventeen to Cosmopolitan then a little Marie Claire and Preview; but now GH-lovin' and fabulously parenting with Smart Parenting. 

So what does it have to do with this post? Well, it only meant that she can influence someone. I hope that my fellow SAHMs, who want to venture into business eventually will take Misella Badua-Tagorda as one of your momspirations. 

Nanaygosyante of 2013: April

It gives a special seal on relationships when people go matchy-matchy with what they wear --- watches, shoes, flipflops, shirts, etc. When my then-boyfie, now husband, had our first out-of-town trip, we bought matching slippers. When I had my daughter, I tried to always match my outfit with her; actually, until now. Though I know we would be looking like we'll go on a dance number, it gives me so much joy. 

It became a trend now as mompreneurs started to open their online stores to mommies who want nothing but the same as what their children are wearing. I usually see outfits for mommies and little ladies, and nothing for fathers and sons. Perhaps, we think men as macho and serious; that wearing the same shirt with his son might lessen his masculinity. Wrong. It actually gives them a more welcoming aura; the aura that is called fatherhood. Good thing one courageous wife of a lawyer broke that machismo goings-on in our society. She opened a clothing business that makes matching outfits for moms and daughters; and yes, for dads and sons, too. 

Nanaygosyante of 2013: March

Mothers are obviously commendable. What, morning sickness for 3 months (or the whole duration of pregnancy)? I don't think men can do that! Men curse they won't drink a single drop of brandy or beer after puking out in the gutter of the street on their way home. But preggo moms can't swear to not bear a child anymore. We can abstain but we can never make it sound as if we don't like the angel inside our tummy. 

To all the good fathers who might be rolling your eyes now in disbelief, please don't read after the crown if you won't understand my point. Yuhh, including you, Rhambo! ;)

~ ♔ ~

Nanaygosyante of 2013: February

Somebody asked me why I feature entrepreneurs and online stores in this blog as much as I share my life as a mom. Simple: to inspire. I believe that in order for you to be the person you want to be, you have to surround yourself with positive influence. And what's more positive than featuring them here, right? I do not have entrepreneur-friends so nobody could nudge me into going and taking a risk to open up my own biz. Yes momma, one of my many goals is to be a full-fledged mompreneur. I want to manage my own time so I could still be a wife and mom; but also earn money for our small family. My husband's salary could be enough, but it's always better to have extra. I would really be so happy to be the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31:16.

Nanaygosyante of 2013: January

2013 has started beautifully in our family as we had our first family trip of the year in Baguio City, riding in our newly-acquired pre-loved car then going home to a rented 2-storey, 2-bedroom apartment that we can at least call our own. So this blog would love to share its beautiful changes, too. One of the many beautiful happenings is the new section, meant for all mompreneurs in the country, called Nanaygosyante of the Month. Nanaygosyante is pun for two Filipino words --- nanay & negosyante; basically the Filipino translation of mompreneur. I admire women, most especially mothers, who decided to be their own boss and run a business; while managing home and family. I am also a big supporter of online shops, which I have showed through featuring them here for the past months and hosting a giveaway; that I hope had helped them promote their business. 

My pilot Nanaygosyante issue features an acquaintance back in Highschool, whom I've been with during our dalaga days --- having a drinking spree with our ex-boyfriends. Well, I married my ex-boyfriend and hers had a different ending. Nevertheless, she is a picture of a happy family woman in calm and bliss. Ladies, meet Mona, the mom behind Kaelyn’s Closet.