I don’t know if this feeling is cause by the come back of my PCOS but I really feel so emotional these past few days. I recently found out that I have PCOS again (Yes! Bumalik ang dating nawala!) when I undergo TranV last May. I used to visit my OB Gyne because my monthly period became irregular again and my doctor found out that I have PCOS on both side of my ovaries and the fact na I have retroverted uterus again. #Saklap

Anyway, to make the long story short I got emotional whenever I look at my kids. They are growing up fast, I can’t believe that Rhian will turn 3 next month and Rhaine is now 1 year and 3 months already. Asan na ang mga baby na hinehele ko noon? Yung mga baby na halos karga ko lang lagi? Yung mga baby na naka unli latch sa akin at ayaw bumitaw sa dede ko? Hayz. This is reality, time really flies so fast!

It’s just like yesterday when I gave birth to them and now look at these cutie patoties, ang sasayang mga bata. Sometimes when I have a conversation with our panganay, kala mo kumakausap na ko ng matanda eh. Ganon na ba talaga ang mga toddlers today? I’m not perfect person but I must have done something right to deserve them in my life. We are facing difficulties in life, marriage and financial aspect but by looking at them give us strength na kaya namin to at kakayanin for them.

I feel so guilty whenever I got home late and hindi ko na sila naaabutang gising, then aalis pa ko ng bahay for work ng tulog pa sila. My kids need me, my full attention, my love and everything. While writing this post, I got teary eyed because last night I scolded my kids because I’m so tired, tao lang rin naman ako at napapagod rin. My kids are crying non-stop and it’s already late in the evening, honestly, naubos ang pacensya ko kaya napalo ko yung bunso not knowing that they only need me, they want me to be on their side before going to sleep, that they want me to sing a lullaby song and comfort them but what I did is definitely wrong and not acceptable and I’m so sorry for that as they don’t deserve that kind of treatment especially from me.



I cannot promise that I will not do it again in the future; instead I vowed to be more patient and be reminded that they are the greatest gifts that God gave to me. Rhian and Rhaine are my life and my everything. Again, I’m not perfect but I can say that I’m the best mom for my children. 
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Calling all Mommies and Daddies! This is your chance to visit the Land of the Rising Sun courtesy of MamyPoko!


Here's how to join in this promo.

1. Buy any Mamy Poko product at http://www.lazada.com.ph/mamypoko-official-store.
2. Enter the voucher code FLYTOJAPAN which entitles you to 1 raffle entry.

Prize:
Round trip flights for two (2) from Manila to Japan
Airline: Cebu Pacific
Round trip ticket (MNL-TKY-MNL)
3D2N Hotel Accommodation (3 star hotel)

The winner will be selected at random on January 13, 2017 at 5pm, at the main office of Lazada Philippines.

Promo period: November 7 to December 31, 2016

Promo is open to all Lazada customers residing in the Philippines who purchase from the official Mamy Poko Shop and will enter the code "FLYTOJAPAN" upon check out.

For more details, click here.

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Last November 12, I was invited to attend the Nido Mommy Carnival, thanksgiving and year-end party held at Century City Mall. This is the first time that I attended an event na 2 lang kami ni ChingChing and I must say na nakakapagod pala pag walang kasama, although I enjoy the moment that we were together all by ourselves. Kung baga parang it’s #MommyandChingChingsDayOut.


My husband dropped us at the mall then he left to attend our bunso. Alam nyo nap ag weekend, pahinga ng mga nag-aalaga sa mga bata. Anyway, we arrived at the venue on time and roamed around the area to check what they prepared for the media and the kids. So let me photo blog it for you.

Giveaways for the Mommies/Parents
Mommy Rackell and ChingChing
We were given a passport card for us to complete it. Here are some of the activities you need to finish, don’t worry even if you didn’t win in the game, they will still give you consolation prize.



I made a pledge at the pledge board while my daughter is so busy in coloring activities together with her new found friends, Chelsea and Ysa. (Note: ChingChing is not in the mood when we arrived at the event, sleepy kasi sya kaya ganyan ang mga ngiti nya, pilit. But when she wake up from nap, ang taas naman bigla ng energy na halos ayaw tumigil sa kakasayaw. Na LSS sa new commercial song ng Nido. Hehe.)


In this event, NIDO® 3+ introduces the new and improved NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+, packed with higher levels of essential nutrients made especially for children in their crucial growing-up years. Rhian is a NIDO drinker since she turns 1 and I must say na nagustuhan nya talaga ang Nido, can you imagine she drinks 35 ounces of milk per day. Wow!


We were so glad to meet Sarah Lahbati and Zion in this event. She also explain to the guests that we should always “Check the label” of the products that we purchase and make sure that it contains nutrients like DHA, PREBIO 3, Iron, Zinc and other essential vitamins and minerals that help support immunity, growth and development of our kids.


With just one look, moms can easily identify and learn about the unique combination of nutrients found in NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+, which contains DHA, PREBIO® 3, Iron, Zinc, and other essential vitamins and minerals that help support his immunity, growth, and development. It also comes with Lactobacillus PROTECTUS®, now with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a different strain of probiotics that helps support digestive defenses. 

ChingChing while holding Flavored Marshmallows
with Gummy (Daughter of  Bettina Carlos)
Thank you Nestle Philippines and Nido for these freebies.
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About NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+

NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+ is specially formulated with a unique combination of nutrients to help support growth and development during his pre-school years, above three years old. It has DHA, ALA, LA, Folic Acid and Taurine together with Vitamins A, B, C, D, Iron, Zinc and Selenium to help support immunity and brain and body development and is the only one with PREBIO® 3 and Lactobacillus PROTECTUS® to help support child’s digestive defenses.

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***This is a sponsored post. I have been compensated for this post with either a sample product and/or payment. All opinions are mine and were not influenced in any way.***

I love to travel. This is one of my favorite things to do in life. In fact, my husband and I already visited several places within the Philippines and Asian Countries and I say that travelling builds us strong relationship. #RelationshipGoals #MarriageGoals

And being adventurous couple, before we travel I make sure to check the things to do in specific place. I also read some reviews about the place and even search for the available discounts or coupons so we can save money and maximize it. One time during my idle time, I got a chance to visit Groupon and I got surprised when I saw that they are offering huge discounts for travel, goods, food, things to do which is the easiest way to find activities and new experience for your next destination. Nice! It’s like a one stop shop for mom like me. Look what I found in Groupon Things To Do section; this is very timing as we are planning to travel again next year with the kids.


So let me share with you some of the affordable deals that they offer.


So what are you waiting for, sign up now (this is for FREE!) and log in to be notified on the Groupon Things To Do. If you already tried the Groupon, what can you say about it? Share it now. 

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NIDO® 3+ introduces the new and improved NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+, packed with higher levels of essential nutrients made especially for children in their crucial growing-up years.


MANILA, Philippines – NIDO® 3+ makes it easier for moms to #CheckTheLabel and make sure their little ones get their age-specific nutritional needs with the new and improved NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+.



“We understand the ever-changing needs of mothers for their children, that’s why we continuously improve our products. And in line with our advocacy to make checking food labels a habit among moms so they make smarter and healthier choices for their kids, we simplified our pack and made it more informative,” said April Apsay, Consumer Marketing Lead for NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+ .

With just one look, moms can easily identify and learn about the unique combination of nutrients found in NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+, which contains DHA, PREBIO® 3, Iron, Zinc, and other essential vitamins and minerals that help support his immunity, growth, and development. It also comes with Lactobacillus PROTECTUS®, now with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a different strain of probiotics that helps support digestive defenses.


The release of NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+ following the launch of the Check the Label campaign is a testimony to the commitment of the brand to support moms who aspire to raise kids who are happy, healthy, and capable of reaching their full potential through their love and support.

                                                                                      
To continuously remind moms to #CheckTheLabel, NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+ also recently released a catchy jingle headlined by Sarah Lahbati and son, Zion. Visit the NIDO 3+ Facebook page to watch the video.






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About NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+


NIDO® PROTECTUS® 3+ is specially formulated with a unique combination of nutrients to help support growth and development during his pre-school years, above three years old. It has DHA, ALA, LA, Folic Acid and Taurine together with Vitamins A, B, C, D, Iron, Zinc and Selenium to help support immunity and brain and body development and is the only one with PREBIO® 3 and Lactobacillus PROTECTUS® to help support child’s digestive defenses.
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The kitchen used to be a scary place for young people and cooking was a daunting task reserved for mothers and household helps. But technology played a role in guiding people around the kitchen. Nowadays, new cooks search online for cooking videos or check out “food hacks” to be able to produce any dish they want that they can, in turn, show off on social media.


Young celebrities Kathryn Bernardo and Liza Soberano also enjoy cooking for their loved ones. They are the newest tandem to endorse AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning. Apart from what can be found in the Internet, Kathryn and Liza became more confident cooks because they can rely on a brand of seasoning to make delicious home-cooked dishes by bringing out the natural goodness of food. Experienced cooks or kitchen newbies can make AJI-NO-MOTO® their best friend in the kitchen – an ally in serving nourishing and enjoyable dishes for the whole family. 


The new AJI-NO-MOTO® TV Commercial features three (3) dishes to show the versatility of the product in making all kinds of dishes delicious. Among the dishes are the Omurice, a Japanese-inspired meal composed of rice and omelet, Kathryn’s Adobong Puti recipe, a different take on the classic adobo without soy sauce and the all-time favorite comfort food Beef Nilaga.

AJI-NO-MOTO® can be widely used in a variety of dishes because it has no smell or specific flavor of its own and can therefore be used to enhance the original flavor of food. This is a safe and quality product that is made from natural crops like sugar cane, corn or cassava and manufactured through the natural process of fermentation. AJI-NO-MOTO® enhances taste of food by providing umami taste. Umami is the fifth basic taste also described as rich, savory and ‘malinamnam’ derived from food rich in glutamate like tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, ham and seafood. 

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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Established in 1958, APC lives by its promise to provide consumers products that will always give the delicious taste to healthy and nutritious meals as embodied in APC’s slogan Ajinomoto® “Eat Well, Live Well.®” APC’s complete line of quality food and seasoning products are produced by international affiliates and local toll manufacturers using Ajinomoto’s license, quality standards and technological expertise. APC’s products include AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® Brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, AJI-SINIGANG® Cube, Ajinomoto® Brand Chicken Powder, PORKSAVOR® All-in-One Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY® SEASONED CRUMBS®, TASTY BOY® All Purpose Breading Mix, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix and “amino Fres-C” Instant Drink Mix.


OMURICE



INGREDIENTS:

Rice Mixture:
1½ tbsps vegetable oil
¼ cup     garlic, peeled, minced
¼ cup       onions, peeled, minced
½ cup       ground pork
½ cup       frozen carrots
¼ tsp        ground black pepper
2 cups       cooked rice, short grain
1 teaspoon      soy sauce
1 teaspoon       AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning

Egg Mixture:
1 tablespoon  vegetable oil 
3 pieces         eggs, small, beaten
1/8 teaspoon   pulverized black pepper
1/2 teaspoon AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning
1/8 teaspoon   iodized salt

PROCEDURE:

Rice Mixture

1. Heat oil in a pan, sauté garlic and onions for one (1) minute over low heat.
2. Add ground pork and cook until brown.
3. Add carrots and black pepper.
4. Add rice and stir-fry for another minute over medium heat.
5. Add soy sauce, mix well.
6. Sprinkle AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning and mix well. 
7. Remove from fire, mound the rice on plate then set aside.
Egg Mixture

1. In a bowl, beat the eggs until the whites and yolks are well combined.
2. Add pulverized black pepper.
3. Sprinkle AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, mix well.
4. Heat oil in a pan and fry the egg mixture.
5. Remove fried eggs out of the pan and mold it well on top of the rice.
6. Serve with catsup.
Makes 2-4 servings

Nutrition Information: Calories 457    Carbohydrates 44g    Protein 14g   Fats 25g


ADOBONG PUTI



INGREDIENTS:

½ kilo chicken, adobo cut
½ cup vinegar  
1/3 cup garlic, peeled, crushed  
1 piece bayleaf, crushed
¼ teaspoon peppercorn, cracked
½ cup water
½ cup cooking oil for deep frying
1 teaspoon AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning
1 tablespoon refined sugar
1 teaspoon     iodized salt
PROCEDURE:

1. Combine chicken, vinegar, garlic, bayleaf, peppercorn and water in a pot.
2. Let boil and lower heat. Simmer until tender.
3. Drain the chicken pieces from the broth.
4. Heat oil in another pan and deep fry chicken pieces. Return to the broth.
5 .Simmer until liquid has been reduced to half.
6. Sprinkle AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami seasoning and sugar. Simmer for one (1) minute.
7. Add salt and mix well.
8. Serve hot.

Makes 4-5 servings

Nutrition Information:      Calories 461   Carbohydrates 5g   Protein 18g     Fats 41g


NILAGANG BAKA  


INGREDIENTS:

2 ½ liters         water 
1 teaspoon       black peppercorns
2 pieces           onion, medium-size, chopped
½ kilo             beef shank, cut into serving pieces        
2 pieces          corn, cut into five per piece of corn
2 pieces           potatoes, medium-sized, peeled, quartered
½ piece           small cabbage, quartered
1 ½ teaspoons   AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning
1 tablespoon     iodized salt 
PROCEDURE:
1. In a casserole, put 2½ liters of water; add peppercorns, onions and beef. 
2. Boil beef until tender.
3. Add corn and potatoes; boil for 2-3 minutes.  
4. Add cabbage, mix well.
5. Sprinkle AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning and simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Add salt and mix well.
7. Serve hot. 


Makes 4-5 servings

Nutrition Information:  Calories 195    Carbohydrates 21g    Protein 21g    Fats 3g


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My Gosh! Where did time goes by? I wish I could freeze the time or go back in time and watch my kids grow up all over again because it is just going by too fast. Ang bilis talaga ng panahon! I can’t believe that in next months from now, I will have children ages 3 and 1. Parang kelan lang, 1 lang ang anak ko then few months later 2 na sila. O db ang bilis talaga! Having two kids is different than having one.


I am proud of many things in life but nothing beats being a mother of two lovely and sweetest babies. There are lots of pros and few cons of having kids with a very small age gap, mahirap, challenging but very fulfilling. Well, the truth is, there is no right age gap for your family because whatever age gap you have, it’s always up to you and find ways of making it work. Ang talagang problema lang dyan is the people around you who easily judge you for having children with small age gap. Yan ang mga taong tsismoso at tsimosang na walang ginawa maghapon kung hindi pag-usapan ka. Moving forward, double the kids means more than double the work but double dose of happiness, Iba talaga ang dala pag may baby / bata sa bahay and I know you will agree to on what I am saying.

As much as we can, we always spent our weekend with the kids because we realized when we have children is the fact that they grow up so fast, they go through their development milestones one after another so quickly and if we miss any of that, we’re never going to get back that precious time or moment. Kaya I’m proud to say na kilala namin mga anak namin and we can distinguished the differences of the two.

My children bring s so much joy and happiness in our life. Minsan nga kahit na super liit lang ng bagay, ang saya-saya ko na. Seeing my kids happy, watching them while dancing, laughing with them about something, taking a nap with my kids, singing loudly in the car na kahit asawa ko napapakanta, seeing my children eating their food I prepared for them, role-playing with the kids and most important, when they stop crying and then smiles when they sees me. Ang galing lang parang automatic na agad yun.

Now, let me do the photo blog about how time flies so fast.

The first time Rhian meets Rhaine

Welcome Home, Rhaine Sophia

Parents remember this - Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them. So make sure to spend some quality time with your family and kids because children need our presence much more than they need our presents. Our children learn who we are by spending quality with us and lastly, spending quality time with your children is always the right decision. 
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