Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Monday, September 19, 2016

#MommaDiaries | RAISING COMPASSIONATE KIDS

I had the privilege of meeting my favorite daily vloggers a few weeks ago. I had won a trip to the US for VidCon, but unfortunately could not go. KY went instead, and got to have lunch with Judy and Benji Travis of itsjudyslife. This was back in June.

Early last month, I received an email from Judy telling me that they were flying over for work with Convoy of Hope - the charity they had supported for Dancember, and that there was a slight chance we could meet!

Of course I was excited. But since this wasn't a sure thing, I had to keep mum about it, and only told my girls.

Judy and Benji Travis have been running Dancember, a seasonal fundraiser to give back to community, from their home garage for the past 7 years or so. Last year, their chosen charity was Convoy of Hope - an organization that helps feed street kids in the Philippines and other parts of the world. The Travis couple flew in to check on the progress of one of their projects in Iloilo.

After their trip, Judy happened to show their eldest daughter, Julianna, who will soon be 4, a video of the kids they were helping at Convoy of Hope. This is the video below.




As a parent, it warms my heart to see Julianna's compassion for these kids. Because I am tuned in to their daily vlogs, I see how Judy and Benji try to raise compassionate kids, and how they make it a point to stress the importance of sharing. I often wonder how my own kids would react to something like this.

A few weeks ago, for Linggo Ng Wika, RL came home to tell us this story.

RL, as Senator Manny Pacquiao for Linggo Ng Wika Day.

RL: "Mom, my friend Carlos came to school wearing a vest. He had no other shirt inside and the kids were making fun of him."
KAYE: "Awww. Did he cry?"
RL: "No, because I spoke to my classmates and told them to put themselves in Carlos' place. What if their moms made them wear an Igorot costume, and they had no inner shirt. And then their classmates would laugh at them. How would they feel?"
K: "Then, what happened?"
RL: "Then no one laughed anymore."

Parenting is hard work. But with kids like these, I guess we are doing something right.


Tuesday, May 10, 2016

#MommaDiaries | RL AND ELECTIONS

We were in the car, on our way to the office last week, when RL noticed the streamers and buntings that lined our street. We live near the barangay and there was an LP campaign stop the day before. Today, another candidate was coming to campaign.

RL: "Mom, are these people enemies?"
K: "What makes you think that?"
RL: "Well, because they are putting the new posters of another man today. It's a different color. So are they friends? Are they going to fight each other? I saw _____ (he mentions a presidential candidate) talking on TV, he was saying bad things about _____ (mentions a rival candidate). Why are they destroying each other? If they are, then they are not friends. Because they are not saying nice things."

So I thought for a minute and I thought hard. How does one explain this to a 7-year-old? I proceeded to explain in the simplest way possible - an explanation I am sure he will understand.

K: "See, it is just like your friends in school. You are friends, but when, say, there is a competition, you have to compete against each other. And sometimes, you say things you don't really mean to say... just because you want to win."
RL: "Things like, 'Nee-ner-nee-ner-nee-ner, who is the loser??!"
K: "Well, yea, I suppose. Or like you know how you guys attend a party, and you are in a game. You guys play to win, and even if you guys try to outsmart each other to win the prize, after the game, you're all still friends."
RL: "But are they really friends? And are they going to remain friends after the elections? Because if they want a nicer Philippines, it is better to work together. Fighting is a waste of time. Just like in a game, it is more fun if everyone wins."

For the Philippines, I hope so. I sure hope so.





Friday, May 6, 2016

#MommaDiaries | NEWEST BABY ON THE BLOCK!

My little boy RL is no longer a baby. Nope, not at the age of seven. His activities involve more of the outdoors, so he tends to get sweaty a lot. He takes a shower in the morning, right before leaving the house, but less than two hours after, he already smells like sweat. I've been trying to find an ideal replacement for that baby wash he loves to use, but we always switch back to it since most shampoos and soaps in the market are either too harsh on his skin or unscented. He is prone to skin asthma and eczema, so we are careful with what he uses for his body.

Over a month ago, while shopping at Hi-Top, I chanced upon the new baby line from Belo - aptly called BELO BABY. Like I said, I was really on the look-out for new shampoo and soap for RL, so I thought I'd give Belo Baby a try.

New Baby on the block, spotted at the supermarket next door!

The Belo Baby guarantee caught my eye...

Read the label! I love the fact that their bath products contain cocoa and shea butter!
And look, no sulfates, phthalates and all those other harmful chemicals!

Yes, Belo Baby guarantees its products are 100% natural and 0% harmful chemicals. I was excited to let RL try this! I also took a whiff and although it has a mild scent, it also smells fresh!

Belo Baby Hair and Body Wash + Bar Soap = Perfect Bath Time Combo!

Trying out the Hair and Body Wash!
I love how RL's hair smells after using Belo Baby. He still smells like a baby, without trying too hard. And the products are gentle enough for his skin.

RL, happy with his sweet-smelling new soap!

Because I also suffer from Eczema, I thought I'd try out the soap as well. I love how it gently moisturizes and that it isn't unscented like the mild soaps in the market. I like how my skin smells after using it. Plus, I didn't get a flare up, so it is definitely safe for users with skin allergies and the like. The soap doesn't sting broken skin, either (RL didn't notice, he usually does, especially when he cleans out a scratch), so that is plus points for this Momma.

Was surprised to find out that aside from its bath products, Belo Baby also carries a Face and Body Lotion and three Cologne scents.

Trust Belo to come out with a baby lotion that is safe for use on both the face and body! I am in love with this product! I also received a small sample of this in my Mommy Mundo Kiddo Journey Box (more on this soon), and I used it right away to moisturize my elbows (they are prone to eczema). And it didn't itch all day! Yay!

Safe for both the face and body.
And those colognes! Can I just say how these made me reminisce the good ol' days?

1-2-3. Which cologne shall I wear today? 
Especially the blue Cool Drizzle variant! It reminds me of babies and cloth diapers. Back in middle school, I used to bring a cloth diaper with me everyday. I would spray baby cologne on it. Belo Baby Cool Drizzle smells exactly like it, only milder, so there are no strong scents. You can be sure that I will be hoarding this!!!

RL with my fave Belo Baby cologne scent!
These colognes are mild enough not to trigger sneezes and irritate RL, who also suffers from Allergic Rhinitis. So double yay for this Momma! And because of this, RL takes a bottle with him everywhere. He proudly announced so when he asked if he could play outside, "I am armed with cologne!"


Cologne in his pocket while he played ball with the other kids.

My daughter A has also taken a liking to the cologne. She already called dibs on the pink Sweet Snuggle variant. These colognes make me want to snuggle my no-longer babies! They smell so good, and yes, even after two hours under the sun!

Thank you, Belo Baby, for coming out with natural, safe and gentle (affordable, too!) products that leave my children fresh and sweet-smelling all day, everyday.



Belo Baby is love.


Belo Baby products are available at leading supermarkets nationwide!

| facebook.com/belobabylove
| instagram.com/belobabylove

Monday, May 2, 2016

#MommaDiaries | Celebrating 14 Years @ Miao Cat Cafe!

My not-so-little teddy bear is no longer a baby. She is now 14 - imagine that! To celebrate, she decided she wanted a small get-together at a cat cafe. So she did the planning, and we took her cat-loving friends plus RL to Miao Cat Cafe on Congressional.

We've been wanting to visit Miao since it first opened. This is actually our second visit, since we went to check it out in March. The hard part in inviting a small group is you need to carefully weed out your list. A hopes her other friends would understand that Momma's budget is limited, and she wanted her guests to enjoy the cats (not everyone loves cats. KY hates them so she did not go).

I had BentoMomma Moneigh call up the owner (they used to be officemates) so at least they knew the kids were coming. Miao Cat Cafe is a cozy little cafe hidden on top of Cake 2 Go on Congressional Avenue in Quezon City. They renovated last year, so it is now bigger than when they first opened.

This is my favorite nook at the cafe. So cozy!

The beautiful thing about Miao Cat Cafe is that it is home to a lot of cat breeds. They even have a Sphinx and a beautiful Maine Coon!

Meet Aubrey, the resident Maine Coon cat. 

Aside from all these purebred cats, Miao also fosters rescued Puspins (Pusang Pinoy or Pusang Kalye).

A and her fave puspin, Tiger.

Together they make such a happy place for cat lovers like my A and RL.

Meet Elfiya, the Scottishfold. 

Yes, we love boxes! And crates! And baskets! And all sorts of hiding places. 

We packed a cat-themed pouch with kitty goodies (we forgot the candies!). I had our baker make cat-themed sugar cookies, too!

Meowwwww... everything kitty cat.

The kids spent a good two hours (one shift) at the cafe. The entrance for each child is P150 per shift. I chose to pay the adult fee of P300 so they can order food and drinks as the entrance for adults comes with it.  The child fee only includes a drink.

A said the other kids were thrilled to be with the cats. Meanwhile, my daughter played host so well, she was too busy to take photos even though she had my camera.

RL with Cotton, the alpha male. 

If you're visiting Miao, do wear socks as you will be required to leave your shoes at the foyer and change to disinfected slippers. They also have a number of rules you will need to follow, plus a waiver to sign.

Happy 14th to my teddy bear, my panda, my A! We love you!  

Miao Cat Cafe is located at 2F, #7 Congressional Avenue (on top of Cake2Go), Quezon City. Please take note of their shifts throughout the day.

Shifts at Miao Cat Cafe.

Thank you, Miao Cat Cafe, for allowing my daughter and her friends to celebrate her special day with your cats. She really loves your place. We will be back!

| facebook.com/MiaoCatCafe
| instagram.com/miaocatcafe 


Happy Birthday, A!

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

#FamilySundays | CHINATOWN! (PART 2)

If you missed Part 1, click here.

We decided we'd catch a late lunch x early dinner right after shopping at Mandarin Supermarket. Yaya J and I didn't get to eat lunch so we were hungry. We passed by both Wai Ying and President's on the way to Mandarin, so after asking Cai, Didi and April, we settled for Wai Ying. The restaurant was full, and we had to wait a good ten minutes before the waiter found us a table. We waited another five minutes for them to clean it up. Really, really slow service.

Wai Ying's Take Out store next to their fast food restaurant.

The server took our orders. I wanted to see if their Roast Duck rice lived up to its reputation. Unfortunately, this was what they served me.

My pathetic-looking Roast Duck Rice. :(

I was, however, very happy with my Iced Lemon Tea.

The kids and Yaya J each got Asado Rice. A said it was "okay lang." Do they really serve their roasts cold?

Asado. Yes, that's the actual color.

RL, right before he dug in. Hehehe.

RL wasn't too excited that Yaya wanted him to clean his plate. He says he was full since he had a cake after lunch at home. A didn't think of eating his leftovers though, so that says a lot about how good (or bad) this was. She actually loves Asado. So for her to pass was a surprise.

Good thing A got an order of their Pork Siomai. This was good. Unfortunately, they made us wait another 20 minutes for the bill. Turns out, they was a shift change and the servers all disappeared as they were changing out of their uniforms. So I took my troop downstairs and paid at the counter. Sigh.

Pork Siomai.

WAI YING (this visit, 2/28/16)
Food | 3
Service | 3 
Cleanliness | 4
Wait Time | 3

April says I probably just ordered the wrong things. I dunno. Maybe. But my gauge of a good roast resto would be their roasts, of course. Will try President's next time.

Halfway through my meal, I was thinking about the Fried Siopao across the street. LOL!

Shanghai Fried Siopao. 

At P17/ piece, this was a clear winner for A.

The kids unwillingly tried the bicho-bicho with sugar. RL surprisingly loved it, and went back to get another piece.

Should have gotten fruits. They have gigantic strawberries!

We wanted to explore more, but it started raining. So we ran back to Masangkay Street to get the car, drove to Mandarin Supermarket to pick up our groceries, then went off to church.

It was an afternoon well-spent. I do not regret pushing myself to go downtown. I wonder if I should push myself a little more this Sunday? LOL.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

#FamilySundays | CHINATOWN! (PART 1)

Starting this series on Family Sundays - not that it will be as regular as I want it to be, but the kids and I have resolved that we will make it a point to explore more of the metro on Sundays. Well, I hope!

I haven't had a relaxing, no-work weekend in weeks! We didn't have catering the past weekend, so I slept my Saturday away. I needed to rest my back anyway, so who cares if I slothed around? Hehe. My friend Cai has been asking me to check out a supermarket in Ongpin for Hong Kong treats, etc. I've been wanting to go since she bought a pack of Hi-C Lemon Tea for me a few weeks back. If you follow me on social media, you would know how much I love this product!


Photo from applesanddumplings.com

So I found myself lazily planning a trip downtown on Sunday. I wasn't sure I wanted to go anywhere, but we also needed to get to Church, so I pushed myself to go after lunch.

After plotting down my destination on Waze, we made it to Masangkay Street around 2pm. Cai had advised to park along Masangkay or Salazar, since Ongpin Street would normally be full. The last time I went to Chinatown was way, way back when I was still in Sales, handling Convenience Stores for the food group. So this trip out to Binondo was a treat in itself! It was my kids' first time in that area - that is if you don't count our many trips to Divisoria.

Crossing the estero on Ongpin Street.

My kids were thrilled that the place looked and felt like another Asian country. Even Yaya J exclaimed that it felt like we were in Hong Kong (well, minus the smell, hehe).

Established in 1594, Manila's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in the world!

Classic Kalesa! A took this photo when we were still in the car. 

We were there with one goal: to get more Lemon Tea! So off we went to find Mandarin Supermarket on Ongpin Street.

Ah! We made it! I sent this photo to Cai and Didi right when we got to Mandarin Square!

Mandarin Supermarket is a haven for hoarders like me, especially since I really miss Hong Kong. It sells all sorts of grocery products from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and China. I was so overwhelmed that I didn't think to take more photos. Sorry! I even forgot to Snap!

Boxed Milk and Soy Milk selection.

Tea-k your pick. LOL!

What a pretty sight!

Would you? Preserved food and snacks from China. I'm talking vacuum-packed chicken wings, chicken feet, veggies, etc. 

I'm in noodle heaven!

The kids and I spent a good hour and a half in this supermarket alone. We ended up buying one huge box worth of stuff (my siblings asked me to get them Lemon Tea, too!). It was too heavy to lug back to the car, so I asked if we could leave it first then swing by for it later. It wasn't much of a problem if we wanted to explore first, because Mandarin Supermarket closes at 10pm!

Didi wanted me to post my finds, but since I didn't get to take a lot of photos inside the supermarket, I took photos of our Mandarin Supermarket loot when we got home.

Our loot!

RL's loot | From top left clockwise:
Prebiotic Drink (tastes like Yakult. Well, sorta...)
Thin Coconut Cookies (so good, but maybe because we love coconut cookies)
Hi-Chew Grape (RL ate up a lot already, so only three made it to the photo, LOL)
Woody Fan
White Rabbit Candies (the classic kind with the edible wrapper)

A's Loot | From top clockwise:
QQ Gummy Candies (P10 each!!!)
Glico Caplicocot
Meito Dessert Chocolat
Sakuma Fruit Candy Drops (Yes, like the ones in Grave of the Fireflies!)

My loot | From top left clockwise:
Serena Crackers - Seaweed, Vegetable, Green Onion, Spirulina
(My favorite cracker brand from Taiwan! Didn't think I'd find them here!)
Hi-C Lemon Tea (Our family's favorite - I bought 7 packs!!!)
Nissin Black Garlic Oil Tonkotsu Noodles
Nissin Curry Noodles
Nissin Hokkaido Tonkotsu Noodles
Toothpick
(the spiky kind my mom likes)

As you can see, I do not regret taking that trip to Binondo!

Mandarin Supermarket 
G/F Mandarin Square
777 Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila

(To be continued...)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

#MommaDiaries | McDonald's Burger Shop at KidZania!

A few months ago, the kids and I were invited to try out the new McDonald's Burger Shop at KidZania. I didn't get to publish the post right away, since I got entangled in the hustle and bustle of work, Sydney preps and BentoMommas. I finally get to sit down and write today. If you are a parent and you haven't taken your kids to KidZania, I suggest you save up and book a visit. It is worth it. Kids will enjoy the concept (you can read more about it here) and well, it trumps any other theme park in the country.

So when McDonald's finally opened its Burger Shop at KidZania, the kids were more than thrilled! Line up for the Burger Shop and have your child learn the ropes in making McDonald's iconic Cheeseburger.

McDonald’s President and CEO Kenneth Yang, Alonzo Muhlach, Play Innovations Industry Partner Director Cecille Mariño, and Play Innovations President and CEO Maricel Pangilinan-Arenas formally open McDonald’s Burger Shop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Yep, a new McDonald's store is in town but it isn't like any other burger shop! It is kid-size, where kids as young as 4 years old are crew members - learning how to make burgers the McDonald's way. Welcome to McDonald's KidZania!

Getting briefed on what the task ahead will be. The kids had to wear specially-made McDonald's aprons in order for them to feel like they are real crew members inside a real McDonald's kitchen.

Both my kids have had McDonald's Kiddie Crew experience. RL, who was part of the Kiddie Crew two summers ago (he had a bridging program for first grade this past summer and couldn't join Kiddie Crew at the branch near us), was giddy and excited (more like, feeling like an expert, hehe).

Just like at a real McDonald's kitchen, the kids were taught the proper prep procedures in making the popular Cheeseburger. But first, they were reminded on the importance of cleanliness and proper hygiene.

First step: Cleanliness and hygiene! All participants must carefully wash their hands in a kid-sized sink that resembles what crew members use in every McDonald’s kitchen. 
Then it's Cheeseburger-making time!

Cai's little girl Y learns how to put Ketchup and Mustard on the Cheeseburger bun.
With every Burger Shop visit, kids will get the chance to put together the Cheeseburger - complete with all of its tasty ingredients - the 100% beef patty, a slice of American Cheese, tangy pickles (my favorite!), minced onions, ketchup, mustard and perfectly toasted buns.

Tin's little girl B assembling her Cheeseburger. Like B, tiny workers get the chance to play and learn important life values at McDonald’s Burger Shop in KidZania. Key lessons incorporated in the activity are the value of hard work, responsibility, discipline, and even self-confidence and social skills. 

“Making a McDonald’s Cheeseburger is an exciting activity in itself, but the real treat for kids and their parents is the experience and values learned while doing the activity. Together with KidZania, our hope is for kids to learn and appreciate the importance of hard work and responsibility, at the same time building their social skills and self-confidence,” said McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Kenneth S. Yang.

Finishing off their cheeseburgers. A towers over the other children (and crew!). She's only 13!

The best part? They get to take home the Cheeseburgers they make!

Proud of their work at the KidZania x McDonald's Burger Shop! Next step: GRUBBING ON THEIR CHEESEBURGERS!

A and her Cheeseburger!
Funny RL and his cheeseburger.

“KidZania Manila is a place where kids can do big things and let their creativity run free,” said Maricel Pangilinan Arenas, State Governor for KidZania Philippines. “Here, they get to experience how a community operates, discover different careers, and learn while having fun by working closely with real-world brands that they know and love, like McDonald’s.”

Let your kids do big things. Have them experience KidZania!

KidZania Manila is located at Park Triangle, Bonfacio Global City. Open from 9AM-4PM on Mondays to Thursdays, and 9AM-2PM and 3PM-8PM on Fridays to Sundays. For more information, visit http://manila.kidzania.com.


Share your McDonald's Burger Shop photos! Don't forget to hashtag #McDoatKidZania!


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