Frugal Shopping at Robinson's Metro East

When I decided to become a stay-at-home mom two years ago, I also accepted the fact that shopping will be inevitably elusive. That's fine with me; after all, I'm not that of a bag-dress-shoes woman. Believe it or not, I'd rather spend money on food and books and travel. However, my chromosomes are kinda kicking me inside and are actually telling me that my clothes are worth a throwback post already. LOL. I will soon do myself a favor and have a wardrobe makeover but for now, I have a kikay preschooler to mind.

Her Pixie Hair

Ta-da! My little popstar punk now sports a pixie. Or so I said it is. It was a bit tiyahin-ish attending a homeowners' meeting when she woke up this morning. LOL. Anyhow, I still like it. This is her anti-lagkit, anti-asim, anti-tangles 'do! It took me almost a month to convince her to have her hair this short. Although she had this cut when she was two but she was too young to refuse. Anyway. You see, she's my ultimate girly-girl. She adores pink, sparkly, princesses, dresses and anything that screams kikayness. I have no problem with that! There is nothing wrong about embracing her femininity. What I worry though is that these things might control her ideals, principles and faith in the future when I can finally call her a woman.

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: 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. 

Back-to-School: First Day and Free Time

I hope I won't sound like a witch mom pushing my daughter away but really, I'm relieved that today marks my daughter's 2nd year in school. Does that mean 3 hours of me-time? 3 hours of silence and peace? Yes, maybe. But no, I found myself cleaning and fixing the house; then eventually prepared for early dinner. Actually, as I type these words, I can hear the squeaky sound of my 4-year-old Ondoy-survivor washing machine. I have separated the clothes first, earlier before we left, from whites to pastels to coloreds to pinks (we have too much of it, it has its own group). The coloreds went first as it don't require much effort. I didn't want to tire myself yet as the thunder's teasing me --- always like that, raining when I wash. Pfft. Anywayyyy, so below's my little firework's first day of back-to-school outfit. Doesn't she look so timid, fragile and very lady-like? Hah! She was everywhere, sweating and even took off her dainty headband minutes we stepped the school premises. 

Cardies from The Little Bugger, Sandals from Elle Kids, Headband from Rain Bows,

Bebengisms Turns One: Bug and Kelly Giveaway

Are you ready for more blogoversary giveaways from this castle? *batting my eyelashes*

Going DIY with Xai Ribbons and Craft Store

When I was younger, I really like abubots na. As in, I was teased by my sisters na I'm a rat daw 'cause I have too many anik-anik. I remember giving Lola L a letter for Mother's Day made from an old diskette. Remember niyo yung colorful diskettes dati? Yun. Grabe, we're getting old na talaga. Haha!

Anyway, I have started loving crafting and doing DIYs because we can't afford to buy everything that was in trend. But siyempre, we have to be resourceful. And it was tested more when I became a mom. Actually, from the baby shower pa lang, I went DIY already --- the backdrop that looked like a highschool project, 10 pink balloons that I inflated by myself and the Hello Kitty souvenirs that I wrapped using colorful sandwich bags. Now that LB is already a preschooler, mas dumami na ang chance to exercise my crafty hands. Eto nga, I have this peacock costume project na hindi ko makatulugan sa pag-iisip. We can have someone sew a costume naman for her, kaso mahalia, mothers! I'm a SAHM naman so I can do it instead. 

The Little Bugger: Where Little Divas Belong

Yo, all the mommas with little girls, put your hands up!

When I knew I was pregnant with LB, I actually felt since day 1 that it's going to be a girl. And it thrilled my inner senses that I would have like a real life-sized doll that I can prep up for any occasion. My guts didn't fail me. On my 5th month of infanticipation, an ultrasound confirmed my baby's gender. I started to hoard pretty things for her --- Hello Kitty, pink stuff and everything for my little diva. I never thought that my diva treatment to her will make her such though. Haha! Now, let us not be mistaken that I am totally raising a spoiled brat here. Say, diva in a 19th century definition but with a modern twist. Something like a princess of the new millennium. Alright?

Something like Shiela Baluyot aimed to have when she opened The Little Bugger.

Marie Antoinette Baby & Co. {+ A Giveaway}

This isn't one of Marie Antoinette's scandals about fashion, flirting and finance. This isn't a biography of sorts about the last queen of France. But there's one word that makes the Affair of the Diamond Necklace subject and this featured online biz similar --- glamorous. 

I recently discovered Marie Antoinette Baby & Co. in Facebook and was shocked ecstatic to see little girls glammed up in sparkly flats and peachy purses. It was love at first sight. If you have a daughter (or niece or little sister), I know you will feel the same way when you visit the page. You will definitely imbibe the owner's will in making every little girl a princess. My instant thought was of the same concept with most baby/kids businesses around the cyberlandia; that it is owned by a mom, who wants something unique for her baby. I was wrong. Marie Antoinette Baby & Co. is owned and managed by a fabulous single lady! Oh, I didn't have the guts to ask her if she has a boyfriend, is engaged or what though; but yes, she is a beautiful (I'm not making her bola; see for yourself!) 25-year-old young entrepreneur who provides classy and affordable pieces for our little heiresses of our kingdoms.

Outfit Extraordinaire, Not Expensive

If there's one more thing I'd like my little girl to know when she grows up (because I have tons to tell her, actually), that is, to be brand-unconscious when dressing up. I do not have anything against those who could spend a thousand bucks or more for a simple shirt; when in fact, you could buy one with the same quality at a more affordable price --- they could afford, they can't help it because they're rich. Well, if I have the means too, I'd love to see my very hyper preschooler donning her Gap leggings everyday at home so her legs are covered; that when she goes out, she can have Guess shorts for grocery-shopping. But mother, those leggings and shorts are enough for her month's food allowance. Gotta be wise. Or else, my husband's eyes would pop out from insanity.

Her outfit in the photo is special not because it's above her regular outfits for school, but because of how she got it. And doesn't she look so girly and pretty? ♥

Baby Carnival Bazaar: The Aftermath

I am very grateful that the event organizer, Ms. Jade Ceres-Dolor, sent me an e-mail few days back telling me about the Baby Carnival Bazaar that was held at the Filipinas Heritage Library yesterday. I was thrilled by the idea that someone really took notice of my blog & invited me. High five! So I came. I tagged along my daughter who will be so kawawa if I leave her at home. And since I know she will be a handful & I'm basically invalid to do super strenuous activities, such as walking around Makati with a hyper kid (to my OB & husband's dismay for sure), I told Ate Maritess to join us.

The Teleserye Princess in her Pink World

Today, I was the one who went with Sophia to school & not Ate Maritess. We got an invite yesterday from one of her classmates who celebrated his birthday today in school. Happy 5th birthday, Kyle! So I needed to buy a gift that's why I let some Marikina sunshine touched my skin. The invite that we got was a Spiderman card. Hmm. So Spiderman ang ireregalo ko. I went to a nearby gift store after I made sure my LB's in the safety of her classroom. I looked for a Spiderman toy & saw lots of it. Bumili ako agad-agad. Dinagdagan ko ng marker pens & Spiderman drawing book. Voila! All below Php100. Kasama na ang paper bag. Hihi. Wais na misis. Hello, petsa de peligro. 

This is what she wore yesterday. She wore it the whoooooole day.PINK is my fev-rit, Nanay! ♥ 

When I got back to school, I tapped their glass door to ask for Sophia, who was in the middle of an argument with her Teacher Pau. It looked like she was in her maldita streak again. She went out to get her gift for Kyle. I saw a trace of tear in her left eye. I asked her why she cried. She said she wanted the PINK marker pen. Pinapagawa pala sila ng birthday card for the birthday boy. She said she can't find the PINK marker pen. Howmaygoolay. Bad influence na ba ako sa anak ko? Na hindi siya gagawa ng card kung hindi PINK ang marker pen? Kaloka. Yun lang iniiyakan na? Pag-aartistahin ko na talaga yata 'to. :p

Review: Celestina & Co.

I only had one original Barbie doll when I was a kid. I used to have like 4 or 5 dolls from Uniwide Sales (Haha! 90s) but this one from Mattel, Inc. was my favorite. My childhood friend Ikay gave it to me. I wonder where she is right now? Her family manufactures fancy jewelries that can be bought in SM department stores. I never got her full name as I was a careless 7-year-old. Really careless that when I turned 12, thought myself as a full-pledged dalaga, gave all my dolls including that one & only original Barbie to my younger cousins. If I only knew I will have a daughter, I should have kept my toys. Well, at least I made some souls happy. And who cares about that one from Mattel, Inc.! I now have a live Barbie doll. ;)

Sophia Monique is my pint-sized super model. Dressing her up is a privilege. Though when she turned 3, she kept on insisting to wear what she picked. Trust me, her mix & matching was kind of out of this world; but at least she has her own sense of style at such a young age. Now that she's 4, it's a lot easier as long as it's something girly, sometimes floral & mostly pink. Well, she came from a kikay womb. What can we expect? ;)

The only problem is her hairstyle. This is so humiliating. I have a mommy confession to make. I can't do braids --- the one that sticks to the scalp. Sigh. Of course, I can do the easy kind but it looks lame. I might try doing the "fishtail" when Sophia's hair gets longer, but I'm afraid it'll just tangle up. Ugh, what an awful feeling. That's why I keep her hair in medium length so I won't get too frustrated because I can't do anything with her long hair, aside from the boring-super-usual pigtails. These overrated pigtails hairstyle is my last resort especially when it gets too humid to just let her hair laid down. But on usual school days, I love putting cute colorful clips and headbands to her straight & shiny hair. Until I came across Celestina & Co., I suddenly had a change of heart in styling Sophia's hair.

Fashion Friday: Disheveled Ballerina

There really is something about little girls, ballet flats & tutus. LB (Little Bebeng or Little Ballerina) isn't an exception. She now has 3 tutus in pink, violet & red. Since she was a baby, I like dressing her up. She's my little doll. I didn't care about what other mommies have to say about how I dress her up, it was just a joy to see my tiny fashionista. She was one year old when I made her wore a polo shirt from Baleno & white shorts from Moose Girl. She looked preppy. SIL said "di'ba bawal sa bata ang polo shirt?" Smiling but a bit annoyed, I said "sino nagsabi na bawal?" Maybe she meant that regular babies do not wear such clothes as it might suffocate or irritate them. But my then 11th month old Sophia wasn't complaining. My arms in fan mode were in maximum level, you know. I was ready for some serious sweaty armpit challenge. Haha!

I didn't like her top but she chose that.
Pretty hairbow from Celestina & Co.

She'll be turning four this month; for a year whenever we dress up, I always have my combative self on as she manipulates her closet and tells me what she wants to wear. Sometimes I let her wear her boyish shirts from Ninang Suzie's travels (SG & Vietnam souvenir shirts). But there are times that I totally disagree with her mix&match of pants & top. Floral & animal-print together?! Imagine my Toni Gonzaga jaw shaking. I get dizzy when we argue so I've learned to choose my battles. Now I have discovered that it's all about mind-set. I lay down her clothes on the bed before bath time so she has something to look forward to. And I sell my styling to her, a la fashion mavens Liz Uy & Jenni Epperson. Like, "nice leggings no? Cyril (her classmate) will really like it, too." There we are, a peaceful mother-daughter tandem. Until, "Sophia, will you stop moving!?" Sigh. Or so I hoped. Fixing her hair is such a big production number. That's another story to tell.