#RLfunnies | COME AGAIN?

In bed, while waiting to doze off...

RL: "Mom, what does 'come again' mean?"
K: "Come again? You mean to welcome the person back someday?"
RL: "Hmmm... So why does my teacher say it all the time? Even if we're not going anywhere?"
K: "What do you mean?"
RL: "Sir J always goes 'Come again? Come again?' when someone is talking to him..."

Sus. Generation gap. #sigiripit

#HoarderDiaries | EXPOMOM GOES SOUTH!

I told my friend Janice how I really, really wanted to go to this ExpoMom. Why? Well, aside from it giving me a fair enough reason to drive South and see dear friends (ehem!), I learned from Janice, the great mompreneur behind ExpoMom, that this particular ExpoMom is going to be a little different. "This ExpoMom is going to be more intimate - with different areas catering to the different aspects of mommyhood," Janice told me at her recently concluded ExpoMom at Glorietta. Yes, friends, think mommy seasons. There will be four different areas of interest - Attachment Parenting, Pregnancy, Baby Care, and Kids Stuff.

This Expo will also feature FREE all-day arts and crafts activities for kids so that Mommy (and Daddy) can shop with ease.  These activities will be facilitated by Kids These Days MNL, Make My Day and Crafts and Party Bucket - experts in keeping little ones (and the not-so-little ones) busy and entertained.

Crafts & Party Bucket

Kids These Days MNL

Make My Day

If you want your kids to join any of these activities, you must pre-register for them by texting 0998.5399212 or by filling out the online form on the link.

I am sad because aside from all the activities, Janice mentioned there will be new product picks featured here. Wish I could be there this Sunday, but I am flying out to Oz for work! I will be missing out on a number of activities this weekend. Sad. So sad.

But! YOU DON'T HAVE TO MISS THIS! Head on South this Sunday, and catch ExpoMom at the Crimson Hotel, Filinvest City, Alabang. This is a one-day-only event so make sure you catch them while they're there!

EXPO MOM GOES SOUTH

June 28, 2015

Sunday, 10am to 6pm 

Crimson Hotel, Alabang

| mommymundo.com

#MinionsAtMcDonald's | UNBOXING THE MINIONS HAPPY MEAL SET!

I know I have been blogging a lot about McDonald's. Please excuse the flooding of McDonald's posts but my kids are just too excited about the Minions being back at their favorite fast food joint.

Last Saturday, we were invited to attend a McDonald's event. True enough, they featured the Minions! The little boy was so happy!

McDo's Adi Timbol

According to Adi Timbol, McDonald's Philippines PR and Communications Manager, the Minion toys are here for a LIMITED TIME ONLY, so if I were you (and I didn't get to pre-order the whole set, like someone I know), I would buy 10 Happy Meals on Friday when they are released to the public!

Yes, the Minion toys will be available with the McDo Happy Meal starting Friday, June 26, 2015 at all McDonald's stores nationwide. There are 10 Minion toys in this set for you to collect:

• MINION VAMPIRE
• EGYPTIAN HULA MINION
• GUARD MINION
• LAVA SHOOTING KEVIN
• MINION CAVEMAN
• GUITAR STRUMMING STUART
• CHATTING BOB
• MARTIAL ARTS MINION
• GROOVY STUART
• MARCHING MINION SOLDIER 

Watch the kids unbox their McDonald's Minion Set! This is their very first video. Do leave comments on YouTube!

In addition to the toys, McDonald's is launching something special on Friday as well! Watch this space for more details.

Thank you once again, McDonald's for always thinking of the kids. RL says thanks as well for his complete Minion set!

| facebook.com/McDo.ph
| twitter.com/McDo_PH
| instagram.com/McDo_PH

#MommaDiaries | FATHER'S DAY (Part One)

And just like that, Father's Day came and went. This year, the kids went about the day without much reference to their absentee father. And although we were pretty busy that day with family activities plus a BentoMommas workshop at Rustan's, I must admit I didn't encourage any form of reaching out. I mean, we've done all the reaching out in the past. Now if this man truly wanted to spend time with his kids on the day fathers are celebrated, his efforts would go beyond that one missed call.

I can hear my MIL telling me "Ikaw naman, pakipot ka pa. Tumawag naman pala, di mo lang sinagot." But see, I've gone through this several times in the past. He'd call. I'd answer. He'd promise. We'd believe. He'd show up late. He'd fall short (insert all other disappointments here). We'd compromise. He'd go home. And then silence. Nothing. No calls. No text messages. Repeat cycle after two weeks or whenever he feels like it.

After going through the same cycle for the past 6 years, A is finally fed up. She doesn't even think of sending her dad a greeting. When he sent the usual "balita?" text Saturday night, she replied with a spam text she copied from a spam message we received earlier that day. "He keeps sending us the same one-liner, it's irritating. Doesn't he have anything else to say?" Yup, you can't fool a teenager. My 13-year-old knows better.

RL, on the other hand, still doesn't know what he's missing. Or maybe... he just doesn't miss anything at all. At Kid's Church, the kids were tasked to make a Father's Day card. I have often wondered what RL would do if he came across a situation where he would be asked about his dad or anything of the sort. After church, he came bouncing happily with a card addressed to "Angkong" (grandfather in Fookien/ Chinese). He proudly showed me that he even signed it from "K, A and RL."

That evening, on the way home from Rustan's, I waited if one of them would ask to call their dad to greet him. One block away from the house, I finally asked in case they were waiting on my go signal. But RL was quick to answer with "No. I already greeted Angkong a 'Happy Father's Day'. I also greeted Jesus. Because today, He is my daddy, because He is the One taking care of me."

"A Father to the Fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5 NIV 

#iloveLKK | COOKING IS EASY WITH LEE KUM KEE!

I practically grew up with Lee Kum Kee.

Seriously, Lee Kum Kee products are staples in my household. It was the same when I was growing up. Like I said, I practically grew up with the brand. I have fond memories of my childhood and my favorite Lee Kum Kee product - the Fine Chili Sauce. I ate everything with it - Pork Chop, Inihaw, Chinese Lumpia, Noodles - even Cheese! Remember that Lee Kum Kee jingle? "...Bring out the Lee Kum Kee! Bring out the Lee Kum Kee..." Yup, I knew that song by heart. I still do.

Oh, and who could forget our favorite go-to sauce - the Chicken Marinade - with simple instructions on how to cook a chicken: 1) Brown chicken in pot with a little oil, 2) Pour Chicken Marinade, 3) Bring to Boil, 4) Simmer until cooked, and 5) Enjoy! So simple, even kids can cook with it.

Now if there's a household brand I believe in, it is this. Especially now that I am married and have kids of my own. Lee Kum Kee has always made life easier. For a full-time working mom like me, Lee Kum Kee has helped me create delicious dishes in so little time. I am telling you, their sauces are lifesavers!

Moms and future moms at the #BetterMe Recipe Swap with #LKK!
(from L-R: Neva, Shiao Chew, me, Didi and Louren.

A few weeks ago, I got invited to a recipe swap hosted by Lee Kum Kee. There, I, along with other moms and future moms, learned more about Lee Kum Kee and its history in making quality sauces. Shiao Chew Chan, Lee Kum Kee's Southeast Asia Regional Category Manager for Soy, explained the tedious steps the brand has been taking to ensure their sauces are top-notch - even culturing their own oysters to make certain their Number One product, the Oyster Sauce, is of the best quality.

Shiao Chew re-telling LKK's history.

Lee Kum Kee is a family corporation spanning four generations. I can just imagine the heart that is put into this business for it to have lasted in the family this long!

Moms who demonstrated their cooking skills with LKK sauces that day: (from L-R: Eliza, Michelle, Suzi and Mish)

Anyway, during the recipe swap event, four moms shared their special recipes making use of Lee Kum Kee sauces. These were sooo good, and sooo easy to cook! This is seriously making me reconsider cooking special viands for my bentos, even in the morning before school. Lee Kum Kee makes cooking so easy!

Suzi Abrera's Thai-inspired Omelette. I love anything with eggs! And cilantro! 

Michelle's Grilled Salmon. I love how you can also bake this. This was so good!
I am sure RL will love this. He loves fish!

Michelle's Tofu Saute. So simple, but so delicious. I wanted to eat the whole plate!

Another super easy recipe! Would you believe Eli doesn't like to cook? This was nommy!!!

Inspired by these moms, I whipped up a quick recipe for you to try out as well. I make this regularly for my kids. It is a mix of chicken and veggies. I make it just the way I remember my mom making it for us. This recipe is from my childhood. I do not have the exact measurements (I cook just like my grandma, no recipes! Just stories!), so feel free to taste your cooking and adjust as you see fit. The measurements, however, I place in my recipe below is an approximate of the amounts I used. It shouldn't be too salty. But my kids love this just the way it is.

CHICKEN AND VEGGIE STIR-FRY

Ingredients
1/4 kilo Chicken Breast or Thigh Fillets, cubed
1 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce

1 tbsp. Cooking Oil

1 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Freshly Minced Garlic

1 pc. small Onion, diced

2 slices fresh Ginger

1/2 c. Button Mushrooms, sliced in quarters

1/2 c. Baby Corn, diced
1 pc. small Green Bell Pepper, seeded and diced

2 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce
1/2 c. Lukewarm Water
1 tsp. Cornstarch
Dash of Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil

Procedure

1. In a small bowl, marinate chicken fillets in Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce for 5-10 minutes.
2. Take a wok, heat cooking oil. Add Lee Kum Kee Freshly Minced Garlic, Onion and Ginger until fragrant.
3. Add marinated chicken and brown until half-cooked. 
4. Stir in mushrooms, corn and green bell pepper. Stir-fry.
5. Add Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce. 
6. In a bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water. Add to pan. Stir-fry.
7. When chicken is cooked, add a dash of Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil. Stir-fry. 
8. Turn off stove and serve over hot rice.
9. Serves 2.

This recipe is making me hungry! Omnomnom! Told you cooking is easy with Lee Kum Kee!

~~~ * ~~~

Lee Kum Kee is running a contest on Facebook! Get a chance to win P25,000 worth of kitchenware Gift Certificates! So easy to join! Here's how:

1. Like the Lee Kum Kee Philippines Facebook page. 
2. Upload a mouthwatering photo of your dish beside the Lee Kum Kee product you used. 
3. Name the dish and use the hashtag ‪#‎LKKRecipesByMe‬ and #(Lee Kum Kee product used) (Example: ‪#‎PandaOysterSauce‬). 

Promo period is from May 27 - June 24, 2015. Terms and conditions apply. You still have a week to join the promo. Get cooking with Lee Kum Kee and join today!

#iloveLKK!

| Lee Kum Kee Philippines on Facebook
| philippines.lkk.com/en/Kitchen

#HoarderDiaries | 5 SIMPLE STEPS ON HOW TO PRE-ORDER MINIONS!

My uber-detailed post on the Happy Meal Minion Pre-order too complicated? Here are 5 Simple Steps to understand the procedure in a glance!

Step 1 - Visit any McDonald’s store from June 15-20. 

Step 2 - Pre-order the complete Minions Happy Meal set in the front counter of a McDonald’s store. 

Claim Stubs!

Step 3 - For only Php949, each pre-ordered Minions Happy Meal set includes a Claim Stub Set for all 10 Minions Happy Meal toys and 10 Happy Meal food stubs composed of: 

• Four (4) Burger McDo with fries Happy Meals 
• Two (2) Chicken McDo Happy Meals 
• Two (2) McSpaghetti Happy Meals 
• Two (2) Burger McDo Happy Meals 

Step 4 - Happy Meal food stubs may be used upon purchase or until August 19. 

Step 5 - The complete Minions Happy Meal set may be redeemed at any McDonald’s store starting June 25—before the Minions toys are available individually in store.

Go to a McDonald's store near you today and pre-order your whole set of Minions now!


| happymeal.com.ph
| mcdonalds.com.ph

#HoarderDiaries | THE MINIONS ARE COMING!

In case you haven't heard... the Minions are coming back to McDonald's this month!

What's more exciting is this: YOU CAN PRE-ORDER YOUR MINION HAPPY MEAL TOYS! Yup, that guarantees you the whole set!

When: From June 15 to 20, 2015 only 

Where: Available in all McDonald's Stores nationwide (except Boracay)

Price: Php 949.00 only 

Inclusions: 

Complete set of Minions Happy Meal Toys (10 pieces) 

4 Burger McDo with Regular Fries Happy Meals 

2 Chicken McDo Happy Meals 

2 McSpaghetti Happy Meals 

2 Burger McDo Happy Meals

HOW TO PRE-ORDER (taken from mcdonalds.com.ph):

1. Go to any McDonald’s store from June 15 to 20, 2015. 
2. Pre-order your complete set of Minions Happy Meal at the Front Counter. 
3. You will be handed a claiming stub, which you must keep along with the original receipt of pre-order transaction. 
4. Each person can only pre-order a maximum of 3 complete sets of Minions Happy Meal toys. 
5. Applicable discount: 20% for People with Disability (PWD). No PWD, no discount. Senior Citizen Discount is not applicable. 
6. Pre-Order is not available in Boracay stores.  

HOW TO CLAIM THE MINIONS HAPPY MEAL TOYS:

1. Claiming starts on June 25 and ends on August 24, 2014. Beyond these dates, coupon may not be claimed anymore. 
2. Go to the McDonald’s store where you purchased the pre-order. 
3. Surrender the claiming stub and show the original receipt of the pre-order transaction. 
4. You may claim your toys via Front Counter, Drive-Thru, and Take-out Counter of the McDonald’s store where you purchased the pre-order only (indicated on the front of the stub). 
5. Subject to store’s open hours. 
6. Claiming is not available via McDelivery or Desserts Centers. 
7. Valid for one redemption only. 
8. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promos or offers. 
9. Not exchangeable for cash and/or other McDonald’s products. 

HOW TO CLAIM THE HAPPY MEALS (FOOD ITEM ONLY) 

1. Claiming period of the Happy Meal is from June 15 to August 19, 2015. Beyond these dates, coupon may not be claimed anymore. 
2. Claiming of Happy Meals may be done all at once or at different times. 
3. Subject to store’s open hours. 
4. Surrender the stub and present together with original receipt of the pre-order transaction to redeem the offer. 
5. Available from 10:30am to 4:00am only (subject to store’s open hours): 2 McSpaghetti Happy Meals / 4 Burger McDo with Regular Fries Happy Meals / 2 Burger McDo Happy Meals
6. Available any time (subject to store’s open hours): 2 Chicken McDo Happy Meals 
7. No stub and original receipt, no redemption. 
8. The Happy Meal stub can only be redeemed via Front Counter, Drive-Thru, and Take-out Counter of the McDonald’s store where you purchased the pre-order only (indicated on the front of the stub). 
9. The Happy Meal stub does not include a Happy Meal toy. 
10. Claiming is not available via McDelivery or Desserts Centers. 
11. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promos or offers. 

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 8593, Series of 2015. McDelivery

Simpler, easy-to-understand steps here.

| facebook.com/McDo.ph

| twitter.com/McDo_PH

| instagram.com/McDo_PH

#RLStories | PLAY FOR REAL WITH JOHNSON'S BABY

It is no secret that my little boy is addicted to his gadgets. I suppose it is momma's fault. But in this digital age, where even schools encourage and include the use of tablets, what can we do as parents but allow them to use it?

Watching Youtube videos early in the morning.

On the gadget even when we are out of town.

Playing Minecraft at a Blogger event.

Playing NBA Live while at my mom's house.

I try to justify his gadget use by convincing myself that not all of it is bad. There are educational apps that help kids learn phonics, and in fact, RL watches Youtube instructional videos to do arts and crafts.  And I try to implement a time limit.

Testing himself with a phonics app.

Looming while watching instructional videos on Youtube.

But like I said, it has reached a point where I can say RL is addicted to it. In fact, I had to ground him recently because all he did this past month was play on his gadget from sun up to sun down. I am at work most of the day, so this summer, when he is home from his reading classes, he just took advantage of the fact that I wasn't around to regulate his gadget time.

We were invited to attend a Johnson's Baby event recently. And RL was introduced to a whole new kind of play. Not that he doesn't play much this way, but because of his gadgets, he tends to keep himself cooped up at home either with a gadget in hand or in front of the boob tube.

I shall let the little boy do the retelling on the #playforreal event. He enjoyed that day so much, he has been bugging me to move to where we can have a yard for him to play in. We live in a town house with so little play space. The only place he can run around in is the courtyard we share with seven other homeowners. We don't even have a patch of grass, and there is not enough space to ride a bike!

~~~ * ~~~

RL: "My mommy took me to a Johnson's event. I like going with her because I can play with the kids of her friends. She said I should bring extra clothes because I was going to get wet. I don't like getting wet. When we got there, someone gave me an iPad to play with. Yes! I was grounded that day. It was my chance to play Minecraft. They didn't have the paid app though."

RL: "When the program started, they let us out to play in the park. The teacher told me to build something out of the empty Johnson's Baby bottles. I decided to build a rocket ship."

RL: "This was my favorite activity. I like building things."

RL: "Auntie Didi was making a car for K and C. My mommy also helped me with taping my rocket ship together."

RL: "After this, I went to the gardening area. I wanted to plant a tree, but they only had small plants. We have a lot of plants in pots at home, and I like helping out my mommy when she takes care of her spinach plants. This is always fun to do."

RL: "This is my plant. I forgot to bring it home."

RL: "I wanted to play here but the other kids were enjoying the play bins."

Photo courtesy of mymomfriday.com. Thanks, Michelle!

RL: "So I went around and decided to build a bee with the bottles again. Then I went to play with water. I was so careful because I didn't want to get wet. But mommy said it was ok. So I got really wet and dirty! Hahaha!"

RL: "The other kids were all hanging around the water sprinkler. I wanted to play also but had to wait my turn."

Kaye's Note: After this, we were called back in. I had allowed RL to go play some more. At one point, I had to change his shirt because he was dripping wet with paint all over. One of the teacher facilitators told me that RL even managed to lie down on the grass next to the sprinklers. LOL! Here was a kid who wouldn't even dare get himself wet. I guess he enjoyed too much!

RL: "I had so much fun at the Johnson's Baby event! That was my best summer day ever!"

~~~ * ~~~

Studies show that while kids can indeed learn from gadgets in many ways, they learn more from active sensory play. It is through sensory play that their five senses are awakened, and they learn to discover the world around them.

"Active play is integral and essential in the holistic development of children... As a brand, this is something we would like to keep reminding parents of. With the information and products we offer, parents can let their children turn playtime to a time of learning while they #playforreal," says Trina Tanlapco, Johnson's Associate Marketing Director.

Did you know that the brain grows up to 90% of its adult size from birth up to five years old? This is why Fiona Sandoval, a licensed clinical psychologist and play therapist, insists on the importance of stimulation for all five senses, especially in activities like active play where the neurons and brain connections are formed better. "Children develop fine motor, language and cognitive skills through sensory play," she adds.

Ever since that day at the park, RL has been more into sensory active play. When I think about it, he is only hesitant with active play mainly because we don't encourage it, protecting him from getting hurt or dirty. Oops! But he enjoys it every chance he gets.

Because it is the digital age, and like I said, even schools encourage gadget-use, the key to letting kids enjoy both is setting a balance. Today, RL is only allowed an hour of gadget play, and only on weekends. After which, he is encouraged to get his hands busy with other toys and activities - yes, even getting wet and muddy!

Playing with the sand at the beach.

Puzzles challenge him. He has been putting together 100-pc puzzles since he was two!

Building Lego sets is his favorite activity.

Building with big blocks!

Playing with water and learning how to wash his playhouse at the same time! Hehehe.

During the event, I was telling Didi and Cai how last summer, my kids convinced me to get them water balloons. We filled two buckets with balloons and played catch outside in our little courtyard. By the time we were done, I was spent! I remember vowing to myself to never buy water balloons again. I didn't realize I was doing so at my kids' expense. Children need real play. My little boy needs to be out there more.

I am making a commitment to allow my child to #playforreal more. Even the simplest activities can be more enjoyable and meaningful than the gadget - especially when we do those activities together.

How about you? When was the last time you allowed your child to #playforreal?

Johnson's | The #playforreal transformation
Kids learn from gadgets. But watch what happens when they #playforreal.
Posted by JOHNSON'S baby on Thursday, April 16, 2015

| facebook.com/JohnsonsBabyPhilippines