Ten Things I've Learned About Parenting Through a Parenting Talk in School

Last month, I attended a two-hour parenting talk at Holy Angel University. It was attended by my co-parents in Laboratory Elementary School (LES). The talk is entitled, How to Raise a Physically and Psychologically Healthy Child.It was facilitated by Dr. Mac R. Macaraeg.

From generation to generation, parenting styles have changed. Our parents "parenting" on us might not work on our children anymore. I, for one, who's raising four children together with my husband, know that although I was brought up well by my parents, we have our own style when it comes to instilling values and practicing discipline to our children. The world is constantly changing, there are times that old style still works but most of the time and as a whole, parenting is still a trial and error kind of thing.

Let me share with you ten things I've learned on this parenting talk. Note that these are my own thoughts, opinions and realizations based on what I've heard. I was not asked by anyone to write this nor was I paid to do so. I was just happy that I have learned a lot from this talk and would love to share it with you.

1. Parenting is telling your children that "I've got your back." This one seems so easy because, of course we'll always be there for them, no matter what. But when we've got their backs, we stay behind them and that is where parents should stay all the time, behind their children. Not in front of them, telling them what to do or dictating them of their actions. When parents are in front of their children they become barriers, though we think we are protecting them, but unconsciously, we are covering their faces to see the beauty (and the cruelty) of the world. We stay behind their backs because we are the one who should push them to move forward. When we are behind them, it's easier to give them a pat on the shoulder and tell them, "good job, I am so proud of you!" or give their backs a little rub and tell them, "ooops, you've got it wrong this time, you can always try again, remember I'm just behind you."

2. You are a spouse before you became a parent. In fact, we wouldn't be parents without our spouses. I remember our officiating priest during our wedding telling us that there is no such thing as compatibility between a man and a woman until they become one and have children of their own. Your children are your only compatibility, he said. The thing is, when we become parents we become overwhelmed with our responsibilities to our children that we sometimes forget our spouse or make him/her our last priority. Remember that we are our children's role model. Treat your spouse the way you want your children to treat you and other people outside your home. How else will they know love than to see it happening between you and your spouse, right? So dating your spouse without the children every once in a while isn't a bad idea after all, isn't it?

3. Leave and cleave. A home is where a family lives. This home should only have one head - the father and one heart - the mother. As parents, it is our responsibility to build a home for our children where they can recognize each family members' role. So living under one roof with extended families is not an ideal set up.

4. "Parenting is a 24/7 job and it's irrevocable." Yup, it's parenting, meaning it's a mommy and daddy kind of thing, and not just a mommy thing. More often than not, mothers are labeled by the society as care takers of the family while fathers are the provider. Though, this is of course true, let us not forget the fact that parenting is a shared responsibility of both the mother and the father. Obviously, it is a 24/7 job, there's no quitting. It is irrevocable, we can't take it back. We can't just tell our children, "I can't stand you anymore. I'm outta here!" (Though, we really want to tell them these sometimes, right?) But remember, there is such a thing as "pause". Whenever we think our kids are just too much to handle, pause, breathe and ask your spouse for help.

5. "Men are not endowed with the patience designed for taking care of children." You might feel that this is contradicting to number 4. But what this actually means is, mothers are special. That's why we are the heart of our homes. Carrying a growing life inside us for 9 months or so, enduring hours of labor, bearing the pain of delivering a child - these are all God's way of stretching our patience and preparing us into the wonderful (yet chaotic) world of Motherhood. This is why, a mother's patience to her children is longer than that of a father's. So even if parenting should be shared, a mother's role in the family is exceptional.

6. Do not forget the basics. We all want physically healthy children. Give them healthy food and supplements and let them sleep at least 8 hours a day. These sounds so easy to tick on our check list, but what we forget is how we allow them to eat fast food whenever they do not like the food on the table. Or how we let them sleep late at night because they still want to watch tv or play the tablet. Sometimes, we just want to give in to what our children want because we are too tired of telling them to do the right thing. Even if it's so difficult, let us not get tired of letting them eat the right food, or telling them to sleep on time. There could be cheat days, but let's grow physically healthy kids on most days.

7. Parenting starts the moment you were pregnant. As a pregnant mother, it is your responsibility to take care of yourself - take prenatal vitamins, visit the OB-GYN once a month or as needed, eat healthy, quit smoking (if you are smoking), etc. You owe it to your unborn child to stay healthy. The role of the husband here is of course, take care of his wife and their unborn child - this includes being patient to your moody wife and giving her her weird food and other requests. Making your wife happy and stress free is also part of being a good father to your unborn child, appreciate her more and tell her encouraging words when needed. Remember a happy wife means happy baby too.

8. Teach your children to communicate with you. Let them know it's fine to express their feelings in front of you. Know what makes them happy, sad, mad, and scared. Let us all practice positive parenting. It's not that easy though. We don't want our children to think that we are their bestfriends and they can do anything they want, as in anything (uh uh). We also don't want them to follow us just because their scared of us. Since communication is a two-way process, let us listen to our children when they talk and teach them to listen when we talk. By listening we mean, there's no cellphone on our hand or no eyes on the tv. Let's make it as simple as a"thank you" deserves a "you're welcome" or an "I'm sorry" deserves an "it's okay". Let's walk the talk, if we are teaching our children to humble themselves, let us also be humble. Remember that "I'm sorry" is not only for children. In addition, let us make our house rules simple. Let us practice that all house rules should be followed by all the members of the family.

9. Eat together. So simple yet so hard to do these days. Nowadays, even dinner should be scheduled and the schedule must be agreed by all the members of the family. This should definitely be a part of the house rules. This rule should be followed by another rule, no gadgets on the table. So moms, this is also a challenge to all of us to prepare delicious yet nutritious food which our husband and our children will look forward to. Good luck!

10. Make God the center of your home. And everything else will follow. No further explanation is needed.

Most of these are notes to myself as well. I'm guilty of prioritizing my children over my husband at times. I have told my children to find another mother especially when I'm really angry. Guilty also of serving them a lot of fast food and sugar, letting them watch a lot of Youtube at night too. Again, parenting is a trial and error. I personally feel the guilt on a daily basis. I have four children and I see parenting as a challenge I have to face every single day, yet I look forward to it. Parenting is a mixture of comedy and drama with sprinkles on top. I guess listening to talks like this or reading a parenting book or magazine article is like a breath of fresh air. Sort of a reminder that nobody is indeed perfect, yup, even parents.

Food Review: Good Cravings Ph

All About Proudly Pinoy Products

They say, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." This saying doesn't only refer to the men as in gentlemen, but to humans, as in men and women, as in everybody. I mean, who doesn't love eating? Family gatherings, celebrations, parties, meetings - all of these, in one way or another, involved food. So what could be a better Holiday present to our loved ones? Yes, you've got it right! Food!

However, I understand that not all of us have the time and maybe the talent to cook, bake or prepare a dish or a pastry for a present. Well, worry no more, this is when All About Proudly Pinoy Products come in. Make your own Christmas or Holiday basket using the various food in a jar, gourmet in a jar and food in a pouch of All About Proudly Pinoy Products. They have a long list of Pinoy food products which everyone knows and loves.

Fortunately, I had the chance to taste some of their bestsellers. Gourmet tuyo and gourmet sardines were both delicious with steamed or fried rice. For my next purchase, I would like to try both bottled gourmet with pasta. We paired both yema spread and crunchy peanut butter with hot pandesal in the morning. My girls (and I) personally loved the yema spread. It's just like eating yema candy. In fact, there were times that we ate the spread alone and didn't pair it with any bread (LOL). It's a good dessert too! Crunchy peanut butter was not our ordinary peanut butter, it has real peanut bits which made it even more delicious. What we have enjoyed most was the crispy mushroom. It was like eating flavored chips without the guilt because we were actually eating mushrooms which are filled with nutrients. My kids didn't even notice that they were eating mushrooms, because if they did, they would probably stop eating. If you love crispy chicharon, you'll definitely love crispy mushrooms without the bad cholesterol. :)

From left to right: Gourmet Sardines, Gourmet Tuyo, Crispy Mushroom, Crispy Peanut Butter and Yema Spread

Check the list of All About Proudly Pinoy Products on Instagram @allaboutproudlypinoyproducts or if you're from Pampanga, check @goodcravingsph, an authorized distributor of All About Proudly Pinoy Products owned by Ms. Raquel Mallari. You may also visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/goodcravingsph. There are also physical stores here in Pampanga where you can find these delicious products, in Metro Supermarket at Marquee Mall Angeles City and Wooden Table Restaurant in Clark, Pampanga.

All About Proudly Pinoy Products, Metro Supermarket in Marquee Mall Angeles 

All About Proudly Pinoy Products, Wooden Table Restaurant in Clark, Pampanga

Good Cravings Ph is currently looking for resellers here in Pampanga. If you are interested to be a reseller, contact Ms. Raquel Mallari at 09228913212 or send a private message to their IG account and FB page given above.


People's Champ-O-Rado

When I think about happy food, one thing that comes first into my mind is of course, chocolate! A good food on this almost cold holiday weather is champorado. My whole family loves champorado, we eat it at least once a week. What makes a good champorado? Of course, chocolate! So can you ever imagine champorado without chocolate? The next question is, is that even possible? The answer is yes with People's Champ-O-Rado! The only cocoa-free champorado I have ever tasted. At first I was hesitant to taste it, but when I did, WOW, I can't stop eating. It is not only cocoa-free but it is also a healthier version. Its two main ingredients are brown rice and black rice. See this infographic to find out why you have to taste this amazing champorado.

People's Champ-O-Rado is located in Marquee Mall Angeles City, 2nd floor. It is first in Pampanga! So what are you waiting for? Visit People's Champ-O-Rado and try their nutritious and healthier version champorado.

People's Champ-O-Rado, 2/F Marquee Mall Angeles City

Product Review: Kimochi Aroma Pillows

When I first saw Kimochi Aroma Pillows on Instagram, I was thinking of the head pillows we use for sleeping with just a scent on it. Of course, now I know I was totally wrong. Kimochi Aroma Pillows are not use for sleeping but they are more useful than I thought. The first thing I have noticed when I received the pouch with these pillows is the scent. The scent alone is so relaxing, spa-like-scent - this alone made me excited to use the pillows. 

Kimochi Aroma Pillows are herbal pillows. They are made of organic and all natural ingredients making them 100% safe and effective. They can be used hot or cold. Pop it inside the microwave or steam it, then use for hot compress to relieve back pain, stiffed neck, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. Or, freeze it for cold compress to skin inflammation and bruises.

Kimochi Aroma Pillow have four sizes. The 3 Cut Wrap Around (Size: 6x17.5 inches, Php 530.00), suitable for the back, shoulders and other large areas where there is discomfort. Next, is the Medium Type (Size: 6x8 inches, Php 330.00), can be easily hand held on the neck, joints, ankles, etc. The Wrist and Eye Pillow (Size: 3x7.5 inches, Php 140.00), best to be used on wrists and eyes, of course. The last but not the least, the Hand Warmer (Size: 3x4 inches, Php 80.00), suits hands perfectly.

From left to right: Hand Warmer, Wrist and Eye Pillow, Medium Type and 3 Cut Wrap Around

I now regularly use the 3 Cut Wrap Around on my back to relieve me from back pain caused by long hours of computer works. It works like a charm. I can feel the heat passed through my back which makes the pain go away. There was also this one time when I had a really sharp pain on my wrist due to typing on my laptop for hours. The Wrist and Eye pillow rescued me from the pain. I am very thankful for these pillows because they work really well.

Aside from me, I asked three other people to use Kimochi Aroma Pillows and asked them what they felt after using them. One of them is my husband who always complain about his back strain due to prolong standing, he's a trainer, by the way. I laid the hot 3 Cut Wrap Around flat on his spine and he felt the relief just minutes after. He also added that even after the pillow was removed, he can still feel the heat working on his back. Really amazing!

My husband enjoying the benefit of the "hot" 3 Cut Wrap Around on his back.

I personally delivered the Medium Type pillow to my friend Rose and asked her to give it a try. She has severe neck and back pain. Here's what she has to say after using the pillow. “Have a neck problem and a continuous headache, used the product and it relieved the pain for a few hours. When pain is unbearable, i take the pillow out and pop it in the microwave to use. Very convenient to use and very relaxing. Also love the scent!” In fact she plans to purchase more pillows. Yay!

Nowadays, with the cold weather during the night, my kids' yaya couldn't help but complain about her rheumatism. I asked her to give the Hand Warmer pillow a try. She said it gave her a faster relief than her medicine. She's using it regularly now.

For me, Kimochi Aroma Pillows should be present in every home because in reality, moms and dads and most people working can't go to a spa regularly for a whole body massage. These pillows come in handy, just microwave/steam or freeze depending on your situation and voila, instant relief and relaxation! It might save you a lot of money, too because they are reusable.

Click here: Kimochi Aroma, to visit their official site and to know more about their other products. They are also available in physical stores if you happen to be in the Metro, Make Room BGC and Rockwell and Hey Kessy Stores in UP Town Center Katipunan and Alabang Town Center.

Thank you so much Kimochi Aroma for giving me the chance to try your products and share its goodness to my loved ones too. 

Finally, Blogging Again!

First of all, I would like to apologize for not updating this blog for more than a month now. I apologize to all my readers and to all my sponsors with whom I have pending product reviews. Rest assured that I am still going to post my reviews in the next few days, thank you for bearing with me and for your patience.

 October is one hell of a month for me and my family. Our helper had to leave for a while. We just had her back last July. She didn't take a single day-off so I totally understand her two weeks vacation. However, I wasn't prepared for all the exhaustion that I had to bear, again, without her. Having a helper had saved me some precious time for errands, for my homebased job, for a walk in the park with my kids altogether and most importantly for NAPS and DATES. When she was gone, I had to juggle my time again for my kids, the household chores, my homebased job, my husband and yeah, no more naps and goodbye dates. Then, a really unfortunate incident had happened...

One early morning when my husband was on his way home, he was robbed and beaten. Thank God he managed to escaped and got home but with bruises and a little blood all over him. Not wanting to get into details, the most important thing is that he's alive and he's OK now.

Our helper is back but two days from now, it's Kiera's 7th birthday. I hired an event coordinator to take care of everything, but then again, the small details matter, they have been keeping me on my feet or actually, keeping running for the past few days. Not to mention the small event which my mommy squad had put together for our small mommy community in Pampanga, you can read about it here while I draft my own insight about it: PCM Family Day and Mompreneurs' Fair.

Before I end this quite long explanation, I would like to share with you that I have bought two books which I am so excited to read and share with everyone. The first one is The Messy Grace of Parenting by Laura Kelly Fanucci and the second one is 6 Sacred Rules for Families by Tim and Sue Muldoon. I intend to read them, of course, but unfortunately, I haven't got the time to do so. I will hopefully in December.

Lastly, I am planning to migrate my whole blogging thing into a Facebook page. It's still a plan though, I'll let you know when it's all set up. But I would like to communicate with everyone more, to show you a glimpse of my beautiful family on a daily basis, and I think a Facebook page is a great fit for this vision. Also, a great camera phone should come in handy, I still don't have it as of this writing, but hopefully soon. Any suggestions? 2018 can be a great way to start this plan, who knows? For now, here's my latest favorite family picture which I want to share to all:

Gastronomic Adventure at Berong's Izakaya at Casa de Okasyon

Dads, treat your family to a nice dinner this coming weekend and be updated with your wife's stay-at-home-mom adventures or your children's week-long activities in school. Whatever it is you need to talk about, head over to Berong's Izakaya at Casa de Okasyon for some gastronomic adventure!

Last weekend, I spent a night with a good mommy blogger friend, Mama Adventures and her family for some food tasting at Berong's Izakaya. 

It was a nice and relaxing place with a little touch of old spanish theme.

If you feel the need to dine in a nice and quiet place, choose the dining area.

Or, if you simply want some fresh air, dine outside, in their garden.

Here comes the mouthwatering part:

Our feast :)

Crabby Mango Salad is my personal favorite. It was so tasty, the mixture of  the salad dressing with the mangoes, the veggies and the crab meats was so perfect. I can eat this all night :) For only 195php, you'll get one bilao (circular basket) of this salad. I can say it's the best salad I've tasted so far.

BBQ Pork Ribs at 369php which can be shared by up to 5 persons. Yes, that's how big their serving is. I have always love the baby back ribs in one of our favorite restaurants here in Pampanga, and I can say that this one is a contender. Yummy barbecue sauce and tender meat, just the way I like it.

Grilled Pusit at 185php. Aside from the creative plating, I like how the squids were tenderized here. I was expecting the usual gummy pusit that I always get from most squid dishes, but this one beats them all. It was so tender but it didn't compromise the taste. 

Buffalo Wings: 3 pcs. at 169php, 6 pcs. at 250php and 12 pcs. at 398php. This one's great for rice meal, finger food and it can even be matched with your favorite drink. 

Isaw Spartan at 139 php. Another great food for "pulutan". It's a sisig with a twist. The taste is sweet and spicy, very unique indeed.

All these food were their best sellers! I couldn't agree more with their customers! But I look forward to taste each dish in their menu with my family soon. Since they really serve much in one plate, all their dishes are good for sharing, really a family or barkada treat.

Wait, there's more! They also have a function hall, the Casa de Ocasyon, for all types of occasion. It can accommodate up to 150 guests. Here are some sample photos:

Planning to have your next event? Inquire with them here: Berong's Izakaya at Casa de Okasyon.

The man behind the place, the concept and the food of Berong's Izakaya at Casa de Okasyon is none other than "Berong" himself, Mr. John Geverome Chua. Thank you so much for accommodating us!

Opens daily from 10am to 2am in the heart of Angeles City. Here's a location map for your next gastronomic adventure:

Food Review: Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes

Have you ever heard of gourmet tuyo? Or maybe the right question is, have you ever tasted gourmet tuyo? I have seen famous celebrities eating and cooking this dish on their social media accounts, so I decided to try cooking it for myself few months ago. I researched for the right recipe and I changed my mind (LOL). For a work-at-home-mom with four children, I just can't do the flaking part, haha! Thankfully and in just the right time, I was sent some product samples for tasting by Juanico Food Enterprises, Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes or commonly known as gourmet tuyo (dried herring).

Here's what I've received, Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes in Original and Spicy flavor :)

As one of the "masang Pilipino", I love tuyo. While some prefer to eat tuyo with champorado (sweet chocolate rice porridge), me on the other hand loves to eat tuyo dipped in vinegar with fried rice or steamed rice. It's a good thing to know that Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes is made of dried herring flakes and 100% pure olive oil, no other oil and no food coloring added. Since both me and my husband are spicy food lovers, we tried out the spicy flavor first. We had steamed hot rice and Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes in Spicy flavor for lunch. That's it, no need for any other dip or seasoning. It was delicious and addicting! We just can't stop eating until it was all gone (hehe). I guess I have to buy in big jars next time. The next day, we tried Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes Original. This one tasted like Spanish Sardines. Though, again, since we love spicy food, we prefer the spicy flavor over it. The good thing about eating gourmet tuyo is that we don't need to flake, no fish bone whatsoever, eating one spoonful to another is not a problem. Pairing it with an iced cold soda or iced tea is also a good idea.

Rodolfo's Tuyo Flakes in 40z jar, both spicy and original flavor is at 130php each.

Tuyo Flakes in 225g is at 170php each.

They also have the filleted tuyo in 250g at 245php each

I highly recommend moms and dads, to try gourmet tuyo. You have two options, make one for yourself - buy a jar, a pack of tuyo, olive oil and other spices, then cook, flake and mix. Or just simply buy Rodolfo's Tuyo. Of course, I'll choose to buy one. In fact, Rodolfo's Tuyo offers discounts for bulk orders and they are open for re-sellers.

Grab your phone and visit their Facebook and Instagram accounts for your orders: www.facebook.com/rodolfostuyo and @rodolfos_tuyoph. 

Winner: Next 2 Nature Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

This is a sooooooo late post but don't worry, I have already informed the winner days ago. However, I still want to make a public announcement of my giveaway contest winner.

Thank you to all those who joined. Will be posting a lot of giveaways soon. Special mention to my generous sponsor, Next 2 Nature PH, thank you so much!

Here's the winner:

Congratulations! See you on my next giveaway mommies! xoxo

Product Review: Crayzee Crayons

Nowadays, with so much competition of all kinds happening, everyone wants to be unique or at least have something unique. That's why when my kids saw Crayzee Crayons' dino-shaped crayons, they were so amazed.  They immediately got their drawing books and started drawing and coloring. While watching my girls using Crayzee Crayons, I list down some observations:

1. They play while they color. Addy pretended that a walking dinosaur was coloring her work thus making coloring more fun.
2. Unlike ordinary crayons, these dino-shaped crayons do not have paper covers so they can be used in any way - top, down, sides, etc. It really doesn't matter as long as they color the drawing.
3. The crayons are as good as jumbo crayons because they are almost unbreakable.
4. These are ordinary crayons turned into extra-ordinary ones. My kids love anything extra-ordinary and so, I can see that they are in love with their new set of crayons. In fact, Addy left her jumbo crayons and brought this set in school instead.

The dinos are marching onr by one, hurrah hurrah!

Addy while using Crayzee Crayons for the first time.

Okay, to clear things out, they don't only sell dino-shaped crayons. They have a lot of shapes and kinds to choose from. They can also be cool and unique party favors if you're looking for one. Here's a sneak peek of their Instagram account:

Follow Crayzee Crayons on IG @crayzeecrayons and like their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/crayzeecrayons/.

Crayons alone bring joy to my kids but crayons in different kinds and sizes, my kids have one word for that, awesome!

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