Go Double, Go Smart with Goya Double Hazelnut Spread + Recipe

     Making smart choices is a life skill that one must develop in order to set long-term goals. As a stay at home mom, being smart in all aspects of living makes life easy and sustainable. I don't need to be perfect, I just need to make smart decisions when it comes to important aspects of my mommy life: my family's health, proper education of my son, a healthy relationship inside our home, and the growth of each family member as a whole.

     Speaking of family's health, I always make sure to incorporate smart choices in the grocery stuff we buy and the food that we eat. I've mastered three simple hacks in grocery shopping that I'll be sharing after the jump. I also discovered a product that fits in one of the categories- Goya Hazelnut Double Spread.  

Go Double, Go Smart with Goya Double Hazelnut Spread + Recipe
image from pexels.com

Feature: Star Margarine App-My Star Kid Adventure

     When I was a kid, my grandmother would always tell me to sleep early and eat nutritious food so that I will grow healthy and tall. The default height increasing vitamin in our house is Star Margarine. I always see her mixing a tablespoon of the yellow colored spread in our rice or in my pandesal.

     I miss my grandmother, looking back at the past, methinks they are really doing their best to give everything that we need in order to grow happy and healthy. Life is so simple back then compared to a complicated life we have now. Modern technology is already a part of our lives and kids these days are so into gadgets and gaming consoles that in some situations, it hinders important aspect of their childhood- healthy eating habits and brain development. BUT, I discovered an app that will show you the brighter side of technology- learning while having fun with Star Margarine App- My Star Kid Adventure!

Feature: Star Margarine App-My Star Kid Adventure

MAYA Hotcake Art Easy and Fun Recipes

     Our default snack is hotcake and everyone in the family loves eating this easy to make flat cake for breakfast, lunch or dinner! We always buy our premix ingredients at the grocery and the default brand is MAYA Hotcake Mix that is so easy to make that's why preparing them can be as much fun as eating them. Eating hotcake can brighten up any day. With a little imagination and a few additional ingredients that you can find at home, you can quickly transform your typical breakfast staple into art, from animal shapes and birthday cakes! 

   It's time to add more fun and flavor to your hotcakes with #MAYAHotcakeArt with these three quick and super simple ideas, then feel free to dream up your own designs! With MAYA, your hotcakes will be mouth-watering and delicious, no matter how you prepare them! They’re super easy to do at home—and you can win P20,000 worth of MAYA products if you try them!

MAYA Hotcake Art Easy and Fun Recipes

SM Supermarket Kids' City 2018

     If there's one activity that we love doing, that is no other than walking the aisle of a supermarket. It's a weekly family bonding that we look forward to every weekend. My son is always excited to accompany us in buying our food and other grocery items at SM Supermarket and Save More Market.

     There are two SM Malls near our place and it's just a stone throw away from where we live. We buy our everyday essentials at SM Supermarket most of the time because of complete assortments and well-organized aisle. There's another thing that we love about SM Markets- the annual SM Supermarket Kids' City celebration. Know more about the biggest kiddie party in the Metro below :)

SM Supermarket Kids' City 2018
With my unico hijo 

How to Design a Sleep-Friendly Baby Nursery

     When you’re in the process of designing a nursery for your new baby, particularly if it’s your first, it can feel overwhelming. It’s difficult to know where to start. You’re probably also receiving so much advice and wondering what you really need in a nursery, versus what you can live without.

     When your baby is in his or her first few months, and even first few years of life, the primary goal of the room should be to serve as a place that’s comfortable for you, and one that promotes sleep. The following are some general nursery design tips and in particular, some tips that will help you create a space that will encourage your little one to develop healthy sleep patterns.

How to Design a Sleep-Friendly Baby Nursery

15 Minutes of Bonding #15MinuteCalpolChallenge

     Time is essential for a stay-at-home/part-time mommy blogger like me. It’s always a ‘so little time so much’ to do kind of day every day. That’s why if I have a spare time, I always make sure to bond with Kenzo even if it’s only 15 minutes.

     During the rainy season, it is extra challenging for moms to think of activities to do with their kids because doing anything outdoors is almost always out of the picture. With the limited time combined with the uncooperative weather, this significantly reduces their choices in making memorable experiences. Quality time with the kids is important and paracetamol brand Calpol shares some rainy days bonding activities that will brighten the gloomy mood.

15 Minutes of Bonding #15MinuteCalpolChallenge

4 Bad and Great Habit You Easily Get From Your Parents

     Whether you like it or not, your parents inculcate most of the good and habits you have today. The environment you grow up as a kid and your family has a major role in determining what kind of a person you are at present. Your parents are responsible to cultivate all the good qualities in you from your childhood. If you have experienced problems in your initial stages of life and you are impulsive, have poor communication skills and fear about even small problems, then this could be due to bad habits which you got from your parents. 

     A popular Medical Director, Dr. Bryan Druno has clearly stated that “Your Parents’ habits could be passed down easily to you during your childhood and your behaviour is influenced heavily by your parents and family members” It has also been proven by science that apart from picking up good and bad habits from your parents in your childhood, some habits may be inherited from your parents and family members through Genetics and DNA. 

4 Bad and Great Habit You Easily Get From Your Parents 

See Moana at Hong Kong Disney Land Resort

     Strong, independent, determined- three characteristics that parents want to hone their children these days. In the age of modern technology, I noticed that kids these days can't last a day without using their gadgets.

     I'm guilty of this because my son uses his iPad every day and when I try to lessen his gadget time, he will say that he's already bored. We cannot blame technology for this and as parents, all we can do is to set limits and teach important things in life that will bring out the best in them in the future. So how to inculcate this to them in an enjoyable way? Read more below :)

7 Tips to Help Your Little One Sleep in Hot Weather

     Summer’s here and temperatures are soaring. And of course, there are lots to love about it: the long evenings, the park days, the ice-cream, the tan, the great mood that everybody’s in… but there is a bit of a downside too. Like getting to sleep, for instance.

     With the welcome heat that comes during the day, comes an often stifling night. We spend the night tossing and turning, unable to get to sleep. And as the experts from the Sleep-Advisor blog maintain, sleep is one of the most important things we can do for a healthier, happier life.

7 Tips to Help Your Little One Sleep in Hot Weather

From A Mom to Mom- Safeguard's 'Pabaon Sa Buhay'

     I'm sure that all of you saw the heartwarming and inspiring video of Norman King- the first Aeta who graduated from the University of the Philippines. It's an achievement that all parents can be very proud of. I also graduated from UP and yes, my parents are so proud of me until now. 

     The Safeguard "Pabaon Sa Buhay" short film is a real-life story of how a mother’s ‘pabaon’ of life lessons & values protected her son’s indigenous identity in the outside world. The lessons of Warlita King enabled her son Norman to be the first ever Aeta to graduate from the Philippines’ premier state university. I'm sure that all moms have 'pabaon sa buhay' to their children and as a mom, I want to pass on the provisions in life that my mama taught me to my son.

From A Mom to Mom- Safeguard's "Pabaon Sa Buhay"

Feature: Why Cebuana Lhuillier?

     Back in my younger years, I always see my mom keeps on buying different kinds of jewelry from a family friend. She is one of the trusted jewelers in our area and seeing her every month in our house showing an assortment of earrings, rings, and bracelets to my mom stirred my curiosity. I know gold is a fashion accessory and little did I know that it's an investment, an important thing that my mother is taking care of after all these years because it will be a useful heirloom in the future.

     Can I say that I'm lucky that my mom has thought of that? She keeps on telling me that I will need those in the future, in case there's an emergency. Past forward today, now I know what she's talking about. Know more why an heirloom is important and why the saying "Pag nagigipit sa patalim kumakapit" is now "Pag nagigipit sa Cebuana Lhuillier dapat lumalapit" below :)

Feature: Why Cebuana Lhuillier?

Jack ‘n Jill Plushies at Toys “R” Us

     This bed weather calls for a hearty meal, a movie marathon, and someone to hug and cuddle. But wait, there's one little cutie to cuddle and that's the plushie toy from Jack 'n Jill and Toys "R" Us.

    You can now score one or all of the Jack ‘n Jill cuddly collectibles, created exclusively by Toys“R”Us Philippines.

Jack ‘n Jill Plushies at Toys “R” Us 

4 Ways to Make Hand Washing Simple and Fun

     How many times you've seen the words hand wash, hand washing, germs, bacteria on my blog and social media posts? A LOT!!! I will never get tired of telling you that hand washing is very important, a practice that all are required to do and observe properly. It is also called hand hygiene that's why it must be a habit that you do, not once or twice, but as many times as possible!

     Germs are everywhere, inevitable, and already a part of our lives but we can prevent them from harming our family and inflict serious illnesses especially with young children who love to touch things here and there. Hand washing is simple and easy BUT do you know the proper way of doing it? Sharing tips on how to make handwashing fun for kids so that it will become a habit :)

4 Ways to Make Hand Washing Simple and Fun
photo from pexel.com

The Impact Car Seat Safety Can Have on an Accident

     Here’s a startling fact: Many parents are either not following or are unaware of the guidelines for car seat safety, putting their children at risk in the event of a vehicle accident.

     That’s according to research published in the August 2017 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and based on data from the 2007-2009 National Survey on the Use of Booster Seats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Impact Car Seat Safety Can Have on an Accident

Back to School with National Book Store

     What, wait, is it back to school already? Let the word back-to-school sink in my mind for a moment. Okay, it's June and I presume that kids are enjoying the last wave of vacation before bidding summer goodbye. The school year 2018 will finally resume days or week from now and here's a burning question, are you ready?

     If you'll ask me, it's a resounding YES!!! After enrolling my son for third grade last April, I was invited to do my back-to-school shopping at National Book Store. I went shopping for my son's back-to-school essentials at National Book Store SM North EDSA branch last May 15, 2018 and to my surprise, I saw new and exciting items on display that I've never seen before. Sharing my haul and back-to-school shopping tips after the jump.

Back to School with National Book Store

BIC Kids- Small Hands will do Big Things

     My son loves to draw. He's been drawing cars, trains, trucks, and even cute little faces since he was four years old. If he saw a crumpled paper or even a receipt, he will ask for a pen and draw random things.  This is one of his talents that we are so proud of. We are happy that at a very young age he appreciates art and makes drawing one of his past time. 

     "Pen is mightier than a sword" but letting your kids write and draw their dreams in the most creative way is more powerful. It is important in child development that he or she can creatively express his or her thoughts and feeling by putting ideas from pen to paper. Parents and teachers are helping hand and hand to build a child's confidence and self-belief through visualizing, drawing and finally displaying their creation and I'm excited to share that BIC launches a collection of coloring products designed especially for kids.

BIC Kids- Small Hands will do Big Things

FERN-C kidz: Top 3 Things Not to Skimp on Parenting

     As the years pass by, the word 'parenting' sinks in. Now I know the meaning of what my mama told me when I was a child. She would always tell me "pag naging nanay ka na, maiintindihan mo din bakit ganito, bakit ganyan" (when you become a mother too, you'll understand why this, why that). Now that I'm a mother, I've come to realize why these three things are very important for my son's overall wellness.

     As a mother, I will always do my best to protect my son from everything that may harm or put him at risk. However, no matter how prepared I am, there are just some things I cannot see when it comes to my son. That's why as early as now, there are three things that I do not want to scrimp on when it comes to parenting. Read more about what are the things that I will not skimp on for my son.

FERN-C kidz: Top 3 Things Not To Skimp On Parenting
photo from pexels.com

BIC Cool This Back to Shcool

     Back to school is around the corner and I'm in the middle of worry and excitement. I've already enrolled my son but we're still not 100% ready. The coming weeks will be a challenging one as I'll prepare myself to look for new uniforms and school supplies.

     I think it's finally time to say goodbye to the waves of summer because BIC Stationery is kicking off the school season with the right stroke! What's in store this back-to-school from BIC? Read more below :)

BIC Cool This Back to Shcool

WACOAL Passion for Product Sewing and Material Factory Tour

     The second day of our Wacoal Passion for Product Tour is one for the books. Our mission: discover how a brassiere is made and the intricate steps of making an undergarment- the Wacoal way! It's the day where we visited Wacoal Hokuriku Factory and Takeda Lace Co. Ltd. both located in Fukui Prefecture. It's an hour and forty minutes express train ride from Kyoto. 

     I'm so excited what's in store for me in these factories. I'm expecting that I will see the usual factory- unpleasant smell here, a messy corner there, and noise coming from machines everywhere. Upon stepping inside the factory, I was in disbelief with what I saw because it's totally different from the factory I knew. Read more below as I tour inside Wacoal factories and why the "Passion for Product" of Wacoal is becoming clearer now.

WACOAL Passion for Product Sewing and Material Factory Tour

Jollibee Jolly Racers

     My son is a fan of race cars that's why when he saw the latest kiddie toys from Jollibee last weekend, he told me that he wants to collect all! Have you seen the latest from Jollibee? I presume some of you have been collecting them already.

     This May, kids can have plenty of fun and an exhilarating playtime with their friends as they imagine being racers. Kids can speed around with Jollibee and Friends riding their Jolly Racers which come with every Jollibee Kiddie Meal.

Jollibee Jolly Racers