Sick!

So the little boy has been sick a lot lately. His throat lining must be so thin, it gets scratched easily. Just when I thought we were finally off the nebulizer, the nanny tells me I need to get more Ventolin because he has started coughing again. All he had were mangoes. And he was fine that day. I'm thinking, allergies? I hope not. He loves mangoes!

We haven't been back to see the kids' pediatrician in months. I know, I know, I'm a bad mom. I am blessed to have a doctor/surgeon for a neighbor though, (Hi, Rin and Doc!) and he's my go-to person when it comes to small medical issues. Thank you, Lord, for Doc A!

Hmmm... why do some doctors charge an arm and a leg for services anyway? Just last month, with the Measles outbreak scare, I had called another pediatrician's office (reco'd by a friend) to ask if the kids can go get their shots. I was quoted a whopping amount for it! I need to give up a month's worth of groceries just to get my kids' boosters updated! And to think the neighborhood health centers are giving those shots out for free. I need to seriously invest in Health Insurance. Argh! It's so hard when you're the sole provider. You have to give up one thing to have another.

My mom says health is a great investment, and I shouldn't even think twice when spending for it. You only live once, right? My emergency fund has been put to good use last year. I just hope none of the kids get anything serious this year.

Speaking of doctors, here's a doctor I'm sure your kids love! And she's part of this week's giveaway! Why yes, it's DOC MCSTUFFINS! I know, I'm a few days late (I had to search the attic for it), but better late than... well, next week. LOL!

WIN THIS DOC MCSTUFFINS PURSE!

I sold toys for Christmas last year (a breadwinner's gotta do what a breadwinner's gotta do). This bag came from the second batch of toys my aunt sent from the US. This is original Doc McStuffins merchandise from toysrus.com! Anyway, I've always wanted to use one for a giveaway (given the lack of Doc McStuffins merch in the Philippines), plus I thought it fits the post. The giveaway will end on Monday night, February 24, at 1159PM. I will announce the winner the next day. This giveaway is open to anyone with a Philippine address.

How to join? Just follow what the Rafflecopter app tells you to do. The more options you follow, the more entries you earn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The Coca Cola Glass is Back!

Yup, where else, but at McDonald's! Get yours for only P25 when you buy any McDonald's Meal (except the Happy Meal)! Hurry and collect 'em all!

Pucci, I can't wait to get mine! Woohoo!

| facebook.com/mcdo.ph

Why?

In recent years, I have noticed that merchandisers and buyers do not care if they are selling the real thing or replicas (read: fake goods) in their stores. I don't know if DTI folks are watching, or if they are doing anything to protect consumers and brands, but it is disheartening that even the big stores (non-tiangges) have resorted to being pirates.

Even my brother's business Get Blued isn't exempt from pirates. Fake shirts have been seen being sold at this mass market department store. My brother and his partner called the attention of the store only to be told that they will no longer order from their supplier once the shirts sell out.

A few months ago, I received an email with a photo (one that circulated on social network sites) of a replica bag being sold at, of all places, a high-end department store chain. I mean, why? I'm sure these merchandisers know it isn't the real thing, and I am sure that their fashionista merchandisers handling clothes and other non-food brands would know these are replicas, if not similar to designs of big brands.

Today, I saw this on Facebook.

Skip*Hop Replicas. If these were original, it would have said so. 

I don't get it. You're pretty much a big department store. Hey, you're the biggest in the Philippines! Why promote the sale of pirated goods? O_o

If the Department of Trade and Industry cannot control even the big stores from selling fake products (or in this case, using them as promotional items), who's saying how they regulate anything?

See the original Skip*Hop bags here. Is this piracy? You tell me. Hey, Big fish, WHY?