Twinning is Fun with Your Fun Onesies

Having twins is like having instant celebrities. Whether we're just strolling around the neighborhood or in the mall, people will surely turn their heads twice to check if they're seeing double or they're actually seeing adorable twins right before their eyes. Parents of multiples know exactly what I mean. 

Before I had my twins, I had some questions in mind. I never really knew the answers until I'm a mom of twins myself. The question is, why do parents dress their twins alike? Why can't each of them have their own identity? Now, I realized the answer is so simple. It's because they are twins or more (triplets, quaruplets, etc.)! They were supposed to look alike so might as well dress them alike while we can. Because when they grow, they are going to build their own identity anyway. 

With Dale and Drei, the truth is, only their faces and their OOTDs are usually the same. As they grow, I realized how different they are in so many ways. Gone are the days when I can't even identify who's who. Right now, I am fine with buying them the same set of clothes, but for the sake of others, I usually buy two different colors of the same design. So when I am asked who's who, I just simply say Dale is wearing this color while Drei is wearing that color.

I found this online store that personalized onesies for babies and toddlers. It's YFO Your Fun Onesies. They have a lot of designs and colors to choose from, so it's possible to buy the two colors of the same design, exactly what I needed for my twins. If you're the cool new mom who organized a monthly pictorial for her baby, then you should check out their full year set and avail their set price instead of the individual price. They also have a full week OOTD. Or if you want your child onesie to be shouting with the statement "I have the best mom in the world!", they can also do that for you.

Twins OOTDs :)

Daily OOTDs for a week :)

Here are my "Little Big Bosses" with their super cute statement onesies from Your Fun Onesies:

Their onesies say it all! They are the "little brothers" of the family. Twins OOTDs also from Your Fun Onesies:

Thank you so much to Ms. Kathy Redondo for my twins OOTDs. Check them out on Facebook, YFO Your Fun Onesies and Instagram, @yourfunonesies.

Our Rainy Season Must Haves to Avoid Mosquitoes

Dengue fever, Zika virus, malaria and  the most talked about Japanese encephalitis that alarmed most moms especially here in Pampanga, these are the top diseases that can be acquired by a simple mosquito bite. Mosquitoes may be small but they are actually dangerous and deadly.

Rainy days bring more mosquitoes since they usually breed in water. More mosquitoes means more panic to parents. Aside from Japanese encephalitis vaccine which can't be afford by all and is currently out of stock in most pediatric clinics here in our place, here are our rainy season must haves to avoid mosquitoes in or outside our home:

Our anti-mosquitoes must haves!

1. Control Freak's Control:Mosquitoes. It is a water-based spray on the skin and clothes with different scents to choose from. Most of us know that the scent of citronella shoo away mosquitoes, but did you know that there are some other scents that are hated by mosquitoes? Control Freak almost have them all: Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and of course Citronella.  Our personal favorites are Lavender and Peppermint spray. We actually spray them on clothes instead of cologne, they smell so good and at the same time we know that we are mosquito proof especially when going out. My girls don't go to school without the smell of Control:Mosquitoes on their uniforms. I spray it on the twins too. Definitely safe even on babies since it is made of natural ingredients. To those who doesn't like the sticky feel of lotion or oil, I recommend this.

2. Indigo Baby's Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me Home Spray and Lotion. Both of these contain citronella so no doubt that they shoo away mosquitoes and other insects too. I use the home spray on cribs, under the table and chairs, in rooms and almost all parts of our house. The good thing about the home spray is that it is safe to spray the house with it even if we are actually home because it doesn't contain nasty chemicals. Both products contain natural and organic ingredients only. Addy personally loves the lotion because according to her, it makes her skin soft and smooth, but the most important thing for me is, she's protected from mosquitoes.

3. Hanns Philippines Insect Trap. I call it the "electric katol" (mosquito coil) without the unpleasant smell and smoke from it. This model is their most affordable and most handy insect trap. It can even be used without electricity provided you have a charged laptop or powerbank. It works best on dim light. We use it every night and place it on one corner of our living room. It traps insects well but mostly, mosquitoes of course.  Here's how it works:

Here are also some tips from DOH and WHO on how to avoid mosquitoes at home and our sorroundings:

Find our rainy season must haves here:

Instagram: @controlfreakph, @indigobabyshop and @hannsphilippines

Facebook: controlfreakph, indigobb and hannsph

Bear in mind that not only our kids can get sick but also us. Products with dreadful chemicals may be effective but they may harm our bodies in some ways so I recommend the products listed above instead. We don't want to acquire a sickness while protecting ourselves from another one, right? Our must haves are proven safe, natural and effective products to shoo mosquitoes away from our families. How about you? What are your rainy season must haves to avoid mosquitoes?

Modern Bahay-bahayan: Li'l People and Li'l Bouncer

When I was young, me and my sister together with some other playmates would play bahay-bahayan (pretend house or town) under the table. We used pillows and blankets to build a small town with a house, a hospital and a grocery store too. It was fun to pretend!

Nowadays, with modern technology, kids can run a whole town by just using their index fingers. However, let's make them feel that it's more fun to play when they're moving their whole body and they get to interact with other kids.

My kids were invited to visit and play at Li'l People and Li'l Bouncer. When they saw this huge playground inside the mall, they were instantly energized. They were sweating and were moving a lot, and the most important thing is they were interacting with other kids. I was just watching them from a distance and was waiting for them to get tired, but I have waited for so long that I have to encourage them to go home because it was already night.

Here are my thoughts on Li'l People and Li'l Bouncer as a parent:

1. I have trust issues when it comes to the safety of my kids so I don't usually leave my kids alone that's why I never really left my children while they were playing. The good thing about these playhouses is, parents actually have a choice if they will leave or stay. You just need to pay an extra amount if you stay though.

2. I specifically love Li'l People's concept, it's like having a small city for kids. There is a hospital, a grocery store, an iPad store, a fire station, etc. Children can actually play pretend, costumes are also available.

3. I love that they have options, there's a ballpit and there's also a corner full of stuffed toys.

4. Li'l Bouncer on the other hand is a safer place for active children since it is a giant inflatable slides and more.

5. If parents are looking for a place where they can leave their children for an hour or two to do some grocery shopping, I recommend Li'l People and Li'l Bouncer. I know this might contradict my statement no. 1, but leaving our children for a reasonable time with trained people (which they have) can actually help our kids develop their social skills and independence.

Here are some photos taken from the different branches of Li'l People:



Here are photos showing how my kids enjoyed their stay at Li'l People and Li'l Bouncer:



Pampanga moms, you may visit SM Clark and SM Pampanga branches of Li'l People and let your kids enjoy a modern "bahay-bahayan" experience. They also provide rides for our little ones while inside the mall through their sister companies: Cartsville and Li'l Ride. Li'l People and all its sister companies are actually available in most part of Luzon, so find one in popular malls near you.

Product Review: Kuchi-kuchi's Baby Bottom Balm and Calming Massage Oil

The twins were starting to learn how to remove magic tapes from their diapers that's why I started to switch into diaper pants. Unfortunately, the first brand that I have bought wasn't gentle on my twins' bums and left some rashes. I can say that these rashes were quite a lot than the usual. I was a little worried and was thinking of using my over the counter diaper rash cream, but in the end I opted to use an organic product sent to us by Kuchi-kuchi. 

Things you need to know about Kuchi-kuchi's Baby Bottom Balm:

1. One of its main ingredients is virgin coconut oil. I have personally tried and tested VCO's soothing property so I trusted that it'll do the same for my babies.

2. Other ingredients include aloe vera oil, shea butter, calendula flower oil and jojoba oil - all were proven to be good for the skin.

3. Most importantly, it is paraben free and no nasty chemicals included.

4. It is fragrance free.

5. It claimed to treat diaper rash effectively.

With these facts on my head, I used the product on my twins for the first time. The result was amazing. Overnight, diaper rash were starting to disappear. I made sure to apply it every diaper change, and voila, within 24 hours, rashes were gone. Also, because of its ingredients, I also used it on bug bites. Bug bites gone as well. With all honesty, I am recommending this product.

From babies to toddlers, I feel that my twins are not only growing but are also gaining more and more energy. But at the end of the day, they still love being cuddled before going to sleep. I still continue our skin to skin contact through massaging with the help of Kuchi-kuchi's Calming Massage Oil.

Again, it is made of pure virgin coconut oil blended with french lavender oil and chamomile oil, both known for their calming properties. It can also be used as a natural remedy for colic on babies, cradle cap and even eczema.

I use Kuchi-kuchi's Calming Massage Oil every night when I give my kids, including my girls, a back rub. They love the scent of it, and I noticed that they sleep better during the night. I can also say that a small bottle can go a long way because a back rub only requires two to three drops of this oil.

A tub of Baby Bottom Balm cost 350php while a bottle of Calming Massage Oil cost 300php. Still economical to use because only a small amount is required for every use. You can get yours here: Kuchi Kuchi on Facebook or @shopkuchikuchi on Instagram.

Giveaway Alert: Next 2 Nature Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Hello there moms and dads! Another giveaway from our sponsor.

Get the chance to win this 100ml bottle of Next 2 Nature Extra Virgin Coconut Oil by simply following the mechanics below. There are two ways to win:

Through Instagram:
1. Follow @next2natureph and @meettheagarans.
2. Repost the photo above found on my account and tag 3 or more friends, use #agaransmeetnext2nature.
3. On your post, tell us why you need a VCO in your household. Don't forget to tag @next2natureph and @meettheagarans on it.

Through Facebook:
1. Like Next2Natureph and Meet the Agarans by The 24/7 Mommy.
2. Share my review link found on my FB page and tag 3 or more friends, use #agaransmeetnext2nature.
3. On your post, tell us why you need a VCO in your household. Don't forget to tag Next2Natureph and Meet the Agarans by The 24/7 Mommy on it.

Comment down below for any questions. Announcement of winners in on August 25! Thank you! xoxo

Breastfeeding Month Special: Getting to Know Your Parenting Station by Abe-Abe Moms

I am a mom of four. With my two girls, I thought that when you are a working mom, you should automatically bottle-feed your baby. Not even the hospital where I gave birth recommended or educated me about breastfeeding. Even pediatricians I chose in the past didn't give me much information. In fact, they recommended formula milk right away. My mom and my OB-GYN encouraged me to do so, but I guessed encouragement was simply not enough. 

When I was pregnant with my twins, I was so eager to breastfeed them. Online support groups had influenced me a lot. I have educated myself well with breastfeeding do's and don'ts. I have read a lot of articles about breastfeeding and all things connected to it. I've done so much research. In fact, I felt I became obsessed to it. Unfortunately, the hospital where I chose to give birth is not breastfeeding friendly. I wouldn't want to get into details but my twins first milk was formula. They had to stay in the hospital for three more days. I was in pain, we didn't have a car, I couldn't go to the hospital to give them milk so they had more formula. At home, I would love to ditch the formula but I was alone with my four children most of the time because my husband had to work. I just couldn't get the tandem feeding right. And the stress went on and on, my milk was gone no matter how hard I've tried to bring it back. In the end, I had to choose to save myself from post-partum depression. I blame no one for what happened. I am still proud that I have breastfed my twins for four months! 

I may not have been successful with my breastfeeding journey but I still call myself a breastfeeding advocate because of my will to help other moms to be successful in theirs. Moms, especially those who lives in Pampanga, I would like to introduce you to Your Parenting Station by Abe-Abe Moms. 

Your Parenting Station by Abe-Abe Moms specializes in breastfeeding basics, baby wearing, cloth diapering and parenting. It is owned by Ms. Marlene Deang-De Mata, a breastfeeding advocate. It offers lactation counseling and consultation with certified health care providers and counselors. It also sells breastfeeding products and other supplies such as Medela, Baby Leaf, Honey Suckle, Baby K' Tan, Snug-a-Hug, Mamacare and a lot more. 

With the very accommodating Ms. Marlene.

Visit them anytime from 10am to 6pm from Mondays to Fridays and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. It is located on G/F Nadeco Meifoods Commercial Bldg., Magalang Road, Corner R.A. Canlas St., Pandan, Angeles City.

Note that their one-on-one counseling is by appointment basis. You can contact them via mobile: 0908-863-6154, email: abeabemoms@gmail.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/abeabeparentingstation/, and Instagram: @abeabemoms.

Moms, be informed that you are not alone in your breastfeeding journey. When you think your support system is not enough, or you just want to be prepared, now you know, Your Parenting Station by Abe-Abe Moms is just within your reach.

Art is Fun with Play Paint Philippines

My kids love art, that's not new to everyone already, but even when they do something that they love, they still get wearied in using the same materials over and over again. Moms, if you have preschoolers and grade schoolers, welcome to the world of endless searching for fun and educational activities for your kids. Their imagination is beyond our control already. Not to mention their growing addiction to screens, which I always state in my past posts that I want to at least lessen.

When my girls received tempera paints from Play Paint Philippines, they were so excited to use them. It was their first time to use tempera paints at home because only pencils, crayons and water colors are always available. They were a little bit disappointed though when they saw that they were only given three colors. I reminded them by singing, "When you mix red and yellow it makes..." "Orange!", Kiera shouted. And so the fun begun after that. They were so happy painting and mixing colors.

Thank you Play Paint Philippines for these primary colors for my girls!

Mixing colors, they already made orange and purple.

They chose to paint their past drawings which they haven't colored yet.

These tempera paints can be used with or without water, but my girls asked for a little water to make the mixing easier.

These girls don't have a problem at all on sharing the paints :)

Sometimes Kiera paints alone. This time she mixed colors plus water to make colors lighter when needed.

Play Paint Philippines provides non-toxic, easy to wash and kid friendly tempera paints. It is safe even for one year old kids, with supervision of course. Since it is easy to wash, it can also be used for hand paintings, it's also non-toxic so it's safe on the skin. We'll try hand painting one of these days.

Try these tempera paints now and you might just love them as much as we do. Follow @play.paint on Instagram to see more of their products.

Winner: Organic Beauty Products from Cleopatra's Secret, Laurent Cosmetics and The Happy Organics

Sorry for the delay of the winner announcement, my twins are sick but are now getting better. Anyway, thank you to all who joined my giveaway contest. A big thank you to our sponsors: Cleopatra's Secret, Laurent Cosmetics and The Happy Organics!

Watch this to know the winner:

Having trouble watching the video? Try this link: WINNER

Congratulations! To the non-winners, don't worry, I have a lot more to giveaway so hang in there! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @meettheagarans and I will be launching my Facebook page really soon! Lots of love! :)

A Need in Every Home: Next 2 Nature Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

I was sent a 100ml bottle of extra virgin coconut oil by Next 2 Nature and to be honest, I didn't know what to do with it first. It stayed unopened for two days. The first question that came into my mind is, what can this oil do for me? I started using the product with the knowledge of its usual benefits, here's the list of what I've done with VCO:

Next 2 Nature Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I call it the versatile wonder oil.

1. I used it as a natural way to treat my hair and scalp. I am blessed to have a naturally straight hair. However when mommy duty calls, I tie my hair with anything I see first that can hold my hair up high, may it be a rubber band, a garter or a straw, even a pencil (lol but true) plus the dandruff caused by stress. So yes, hair and scalp treatment is a must. But then again I don't have the time to go to the salon so thank you VCO. I can now treat my hair and scalp at least once a week. Also tried it on my kids' hair.

My girls' hair after using VCO.

2. I used it as a moisturizer for my skin and even my lips. Yes, I literally covered my whole body with VCO. Just when I thought I'll be sticky with oil all over my skin, I was wrong. After a while, the sticky feeling was gone. I feel like my skin had absorbed the VCO, even the one on my face. The result was really impressive. My skin feels soft and smooth, just the way I like it.

Me right after applying VCO all over my hair, face and body. 

3. I used it as a massage oil to all my kids. This one is very common. Almost all moms in all mommy groups I am in, uses VCO to massage their kids especially babies. 

That's all that I know until I've researched and the list goes on and on. Here's the list of the uses of VCO that I would love to try:

1. As an anti-aging. Mixing one tablespoon of baking soda to two tablespoon of VCO can form a paste that can be used as a mask to achieve younger looking skin. 

2. As a home remedy for cold sore, cuts and scrapes. VCO can be used as a replacement to antibiotic creams.

3. As a treatment to dry and scratchy throat. Since VCO is edible it can be swallowed directly for an instant relief or add it to a calming tea.

4. As a balm to bug bites and stings. A small amount of VCO can relieve discomforts cause by bug-bites and stings.

More uses of VCO in our daily lives:

1. As a carrier oil for the very famous essential oils these days.
2. For medicinal uses. You can research and seek doctors' advice on this one.
3. As an all around household essential: cleans and conditions woods and leathers, removes rust on metals, greases up small motors, etc.
4. For our fur babies: conditions our pets' fur.
5. And many more.

Thank you so much Next 2 Nature for your very versatile wonder oil! Want to learn about Next 2 Nature's other products? Follow them on Instagram @next2natureph.

Heigh Ho the Derry-o My Little Farmers

When my girls were invited to join Fresherb's Little Farmers Day, I was quite uncertain if I'll say yes. Soil and worms - I definitely think they wouldn't be happy to meet and most of all touch these. Despite my hesitation, I said yes to the invitation because I love the idea of exposing them outdoors. To set their mind about the whole thing, I excitedly announced to my girls that we are going to the farm soon. To my surprise, they were delighted about my announcement, but then they started talking about cows, chickens and horses. Oh no! They were thinking about the big farm! So I said, the farm that I was talking about is a little bit smaller. They're not going to meet farm animals but they would see different flower, herb, and vegetable plants plus a lot of insects. Their faces were we-don't-want-to-disappoint-mommy faces so they said okay, they're going.

July 22nd was the very first Little Farmer's Day at Fresherb Garden. It is a farming workshop for kids where they get to experience hands-on farming for two hours. I am thrilled to share with you our (Yes, our, because I had my own share of farming and gardening too!) dirty yet fun-filled learning experience at the farm:

Workshop starts at 8:30AM but we arrived at the Fresherb garden a little bit early. They were amazed to see the flowers, the plants and even the butterflies. I let them explore the place. They followed flying butterflies, they smelled the flowers, they were astounded with the different colors and forms of leaves and flowers. I couldn't contain the joy in my heart and they haven't even started the workshop yet. I've predicted that they'll have fun in the workshop.

Mr. Carlo Aguilar, the master of the workshop and the owner of Fresherb Garden gathered the children to set the kids expectations. When teacher Carlo mentioned soil, the children shouted "eeeww" in unison. Then he mentioned worms and we heard even louder eeewws. We, parents, were looking at each other and wondering if bringing our kids into this workshop was really a good idea. But we just laughed at the situation instead.

Carlo lectured the children first of the basics - parts of the plants, how a seed grows into a plant, and the basic needs of a plant. This time, children were starting to be attentive and participative. Thus, making them curious about farming.

Their first activity was to feel the different kinds of soil. At first, the children were skeptical to touch the soil but when one volunteered to touch it, others followed. My girls were also good at following their teacher Carlo's directions. I also reminded them that it was okay to be dirty that day.  

The next activity was mixing the soil. More children were brave to touch the soil this time. But teacher Carlo made sure that all children participated in this activity.

One of the not so brave souls was my little girl Addy. I had to assist her in getting the soil from the pail but she did the mixing all by herself, which made me very proud.  I felt that it wasn't really easy not just for my girls but for all the children to embrace farming. It was something new to all of them.

Another activity was filling those small pots with soil. This time, the children no longer cared about them being dirty. I guessed their getting the hang of farming now. Even us, parents, were helping our children in filling the pots. Finally, no more eeewws.

The eeewws were back when teacher Carlo showed  the worms. After a while, children started to touch and even let the African night crawlers crawl (ANC) on their hands. I have known my girls to be scared of anything crawling and flying inside the house no matter how small these are. That's why I am so happy that my Addy even bonded with her newly found favorite pet. Yes, she even wanted to take it home. On the other hand, it took minutes before I finally encouraged Kiera to touch the ANC and she had done a great job too!

We also experienced to harvest some eggplants, chili and finger peppers, and okras. In here, not only the children had fun but also the parents. Teacher Carlo taught everyone the right way to pick the eggplants and which are the right ones to pick.

The fruit of our harvests altogether.

Of course, the activity wouldn't be complete without the children planting on their own. They all filled their pots with soil then listened to teacher Carlo's instructions on how to plant the seeds.

Kiera was poking the soil to make room for the pechay seeds while Addy and I were starting to put seeds on the soil-filled pot. Everyone was doing the same thing. Then, we watered the plants and covered them with plastic as instructed. 

The gang! Everyone went home with additional fruit of knowledge. Thank you so much teacher Carlo and Fresherb Garden for accommodating us. My girls and I had so much fun.

After three days, the seeds began to sproute. The girls are watering their plants religiously and check them upon waking up in the morning. I can say that Little Farmers Day really made them love farming. In fact, they are encouraging me to buy some pots and seeds so we can plant some more. Unfortunately, we do not have a garden or a backyard but buying pots is a good idea. 

The workshop costs only 200php per child, but the experience has made a big impact to all the attendees. They learned that even them, the little ones, can actually contribute in preserving mother nature. As they say, not all can be learned in the four corners of the classroom, so I encourage moms to let our kids explore and experience farming on their own. Let them put down those screens and get dirty once in a while. Let their hands get busy with the real things that will make them see actual results which they can be proud of. 

Also, mommies who love cooking. You might want to consider buying real herb plants instead of the powdered forms. Fresherb also sells potted herbs for only 75php to 100php per pot. The price is equivalent to one bottle of powdered herb which needs to be refilled but with an herb plant, as long as it is being nourished, we might not need to buy it ever again.

I would also love to share with you another write-up about Little Farmers Day by a co-parent, Ms. Carolyn Gutierrez-Abanggan, whose children also attended the workshop. Here's the link to the article: https://www.facebook.com/notes/carolyn-gutierrez-abanggan-author-speaker/why-farming-is-great-for-your-kids/912560182230522/.

Feeling the need to take your child into this kind of workshop? There's another one on August 26. Reserve a slot for your kids now. Visit and like Fresherb Facebook page for more details. You may also want to follow @carlothefarmer on Instagram. 

Lastly, thank you to Fresherb for allowing me to use some of your photos for my blog. I got so busy during the second part of the workshop and I forgot that I am planning to post about it on my blog. I have to admit I have enjoyed Little Farmers Day as much as my girls did.

Giveaway Alert: Organic Beauty Products

Mommies, are you ready to bring back the mommy confidence in you? I am giving away these products from our generous sponsors: Laurent Cosmetics, Cleopatra's Secret and The Happy Organics!

Lip & Cheek Stain and Eyelash Serum from Laurent Cosmetics, Pink Lips Detox Mask and Anti-aging Face Mask from Cleopatra's Secret and Fruity Peel Skin Resurfacing Bar from the Happy Organics.

There are two ways to win:

I. Via Facebook. Here are the mechanics:

1. Like the following Facebook pages: Laurent Cosmetics, Cleopatra's Secret, and The Happy Organics.

2. Share this post, Bringing Back the Mommy Confidence featuring Laurent Cosmetics, Cleopatra's Secret and The Happy Organics, on your Facebook account with the hashtag #iamaconfidentmommy. Don't forget to set your post to public so I can validate your post.

3. Tag 3 of your mommy friends on your post.

II. Via Instagram. Here are the mechanics:

1. Follow @meettheagarans, @laurentcosmetics, @cleopatrassecretph, and @thehappyorganics on Instagram.

2. Repost my Instagram post that contains the picture above with the hashtag #iamaconfidentmommy. Don't forget to set your post to public so I can validate your post.

3. Tag 3 of your mommy friends on the photo.

Remember, one entry per mommy only. You can only choose one social media platform, don't do both. Hope everything is clear! Announcement of winners is on Friday, August 4, 2017. 

Bringing Back the Mommy Confidence featuring Laurent Cosmetics, Cleopatra's Secret and The Happy Organics

In a perfect world, moms are expected to always look pretty and neat all the time. They should dress nicely and smell good. In reality, moms are being puked on, peed on and even pooped on. Hair's being pulled, sometimes face is being leaked or bitten by our little ones too. Most of the time, we forget to brush our hair and sometimes sleep without even taking a bath. In as much as we want to be pretty all the time, we just can't, simply because we're moms! 

As a mom who shifted from being a working-mom to a stay-at-home-mom, I have experienced a drastic change on my daily beauty routine. Back when I was a working mom, I made sure I moisturize my skin, I used sunblock to protect myself from the sun and I am required to wear full make-up at work. My hair was always neat, I even curl it sometimes. I've done all of these because I need to, they were necessities for my job. Now that I stay at home, my daily beauty routine are taking a bath and brushing my teeth all in five minutes or less. Sometimes, even when I go out to do some errands, I just tie my hair, dab a little baby powder on my face then go. Until I felt the need to change my routine not to meet other people's expectations, not even to please my husband but I simply has to do it for myself. There were times that I literally hide myself from people I know when I see them in malls because I'm not ready on what they have to say about me. Usually, when we accidentally bump into people we know, they would leave us with comments we will never forget and may either make us or break us. Some of them are, "Uy, tumaba ka ata?" (Hey, you look like you've gained some weight!) or "Gumaganda ka ah!" (You look more beautiful!) or "Tumanda ata itsura mo?" (Don't you look quite older than your age?). I realized I am not ready for any comment, especially if it's a bad one. I lost my confidence, but now, I'm ready to win it back.

I won't necessary be like the mom in a perfect world, but I will at least find time to take care of my face, skin and hair. I will also try to make a five minutes or less make-up routine whenever I leave the house to run some errands or when I go out with my family and especially when I'm out with my friends.

I'm not really a selfie person but I feel so confident in this photo so I'm sharing it with you. Guess what? I'm actually about to clean the kitche here. LOL

Of course, I would like to encourage all moms to do the same. Let me share with you some tips that I personally do regularly (or at least I'm trying to). These are all done at home considering the fact that I can't go to the salon and spa with my mommy situation.

1. I wash, tone and moisturize my face at least twice a day (morning and evening) with products that match my skin type.
2. I use extra virgin coconut oil for my hair at least once a week for deep conditioning.
3. I treat myself with face mask at least once a week for hydration, to remove excess oil and impurities and to minimize my pores.
4. I'm not really a fan of lotion so I use body oil to moisturize my skin. I do this whenever I feel the need to.
5. I ask my husband to give me a back massage or a full-body massage at least once a week, I also do the same for him.
6. Of course, I make sure that I take a bath at least once daily.

For my less than five minute make-up routine:

1. I only use four products: lip and cheek stain, mascara, eyebrow make-up (because kilay is life, lol), and powder (can be loose or compact).
2. First, brush a thin layer of powder on the face and neck.
3. Second, do the kilay (eyebrows).

4. Third, put your favorite lip and cheek tint for an "au naturel" look.
5. Fourth, put some mascara on.
6. Lastly, brush another layer of powder to set the look.
7. In addition, style your hair as desired.
8. Wear a nice OOTD. :)

Here are some of the products that I have used, my review and where to find them:

Cleopatra's Secret Anti-aging Facial Cleanser and Brightening Papaya Face Mask. My husband and I are currently using the facial cleanser. It's 100% natural so it's very gentle on our skin. No sting feeling at all. It removes excess oil on our faces but leaves our skin moisturized and soft. The brightening papaya face mask has a cooling effect which made us feel really relaxed. 

Here's the reason why the face mask is empty. We used the full 30 gram package and as you can see, my husband didn't want to waste any of the product so he used it even on his neck and shoulders. Thus, 30 grams can be used by up to three persons. This is our before and after photos. We also used the facial cleanser before putting the mask and used it to wash the mask. The result, soft and fresh looking faces.

Next 2 Nature Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I used this to deep-condition my hair and also to grow back my post-partum hair loss. The oil stayed on my hair for one hour before I washed it thoroughly. The result is shinier and healthier hair. This can also be used as a body oil to moisturize the skin, I only use a little amount but it feels smooth on my skin. Lastly, we also use it as a body massage oil. It's a wonder-oil. It has many uses.

The Happy Organics Lavender Green Tea Body Oil. Another good oil for the skin. I love the mixture scent of lavender and green tea, so relaxing. It's a body and massage oil in one. It is made of organic argan and sweet almond which can both do wonders on skin. I love that it doesn't leave the skin with a sticky feel but adds a natural glow on it.

Laurent Cosmetics Lip and Cheek Stain. This product can make you look great in a minute or less. Since I've received this product, I used it religiously when I go out. It's thin on the lips and cheek, it doesn't easily fade and it gives me a natural glow. It's also organic so it's safe to use even on my sensitive skin.

Here's my Laurent Cosmetics Lip and Cheek Stain look (photo taken during the day).

The Happy Organics Lip and Cheek Stain. Another organic product for my less than five minute make-up routine. I love that aside from giving me a natural glow look, it also smells tutti-fruity good.

Here's my The Happy Organics Lip and Cheek Stain look (photo taken during the night).

Laurent Cosmetics, Cleopatra's Secret and The Happy Organics offer a lot of affordable, 100% natural and organic products for our skin. Visit and like the following Facebook pages:

Laurent Cosmetics

Cleopatra's Secret

The Happy Organics

and follow their Instagram accounts:

@laurentcosmetics

@cleopatrassecretph

@thehappyorganics

I am so happy to announce that one lucky mom will get the chance to try their products. Watch out for my next post for more details. Moms, let's bring back our mommy confidence because we deserved it!

Little Miss Rainbow Educational Toys Giveaway Winners

Hoooray! Thank you for these three beautiful and special mommas who joined our Little Miss Rainbow Educational Toys Giveaway. I used random.org this time to determine what toy you'll be receiving:

Winners! Congratulations!

Your number will be paired to the toy you have won.

Of course, thank you to the beautiful and special momma behind Little Miss Rainbow Educational Toys.  xoxo