All Natural Products

Another good find for me is the Indigo products which I chance upon during my surfing and my precious all around information n@w. When Bella is snoozing, I sometimes sneak for a few hours to go and look for good buys for her on the net. I make it a point to search for products which are natural and free of chemicals as I don't want her to be exposed to these kind of products. One of which are the products of indigo baby.

These are the items that I initially ordered from them

Free from Parabens, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals, Lanolin and other unnecessary synthetic ingredients!

The first product I search was something to protect my precious from mosquitoes that carry the deadly dengue. Good thing they have shoo fly 60 ml Spray bottle which is deet free. No need for me to worry about chemicals.

And for those of you tired of that strong citronella smell, this lavender, geranium, eucalyptus & citronella-based insect repellent is heaven in a bottle! Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me will keep those pesky mosquitoes away from you and your loved ones. This product is already proven to be effective, mine is almost finish so I will be ordering again anytime soon.

Another one from their list of items is the Jar of Love. A healing gel made from Peppermint pure essential oils. This minty superstar gel is great for cold, fever, flu, jet lag, motion sickness among other things related to caring for your little ones or yourself when times are rough! No wonder it is their best seller, it is really effective. Bella has cough few days ago but after several rubbing on her throat and back, its now gone. Plus of course she is breastfed so I am sure she has the anti-bodies to defend against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses and toxins.

Another innovative product from these yummy mummies is Jar of Hope.

Made out of blue chamomile essential oil, this gel is great for mommy and daddy burnouts, stress, insomnia, fussy babies, insect bites, motion sickness, inflammation, (relieves puffy eyes from sleepless nights) rashes, cuts and wounds. Also helpful with teething!

*Note that Blue chamomile is the most healing of all chamomiles due to its azulene content. It is truly a lifesaver gel to help ease life's little boo-boos for the whole family.

I also got their DIVINE INTERVENTION Room & Linen Spray which can be used as a hand sanitizer, room freshener, linen spray, yoga mat spray or a mild cologne. New formula of lavender and peppermint pure essential oils to pick you up when you need it.

This is really a good use especially for working mom like me.

And last but definitely not the least is their Roach Wars. I only bought the 50 grams in small ziploc bag since bottles are not intended for shipping.

It's a super secret home made concoction to finally rid of your cockroach problems. Made from all-natural ingredients this surefire total roach warfare powder is a MUST for every household!
The yummy mummies have no mercy against these pests because we know our babies crawl on the floors and we'd hate to see them have creepy crawler friends

Oh, they're chemical and deet free which makes you less guilty of killing them buggers ;)
How to use: Scoop a small amount and place on cardboard on corners or roach infested areas. Be surprised to see dead roaches the very next day! It works like magic!

With additional Php 50.00 for shipping, I got all my products in no time! - Some photos and information was taken from Indigo baby.

Relaksasi Day

Maybe I just can’t get enough of it. Before I started working again, I decided to relax myself to be ready for the real thing. I’ve been absent in the working environment since March and that would be like 5 months already. I needed to be ready for a new job, a new work, new environment and new people. And also this backache is really hurting me.

Same routine happened during my relaksasi day. I was asked at the reception what complimentary tea I wanted, and this time I picked the cold drink. I was shown to my room to prepare for my 15 minute sauna. The place was so relaxing, with the soft music on.

When I was done heating myself up, I was led back to my room. I was actually surprised because the last time my friend and I had shared the room for a massage, we had to go out since the bathroom was outside, but I discover that it is even nicer to have a room of your own because it already has an attached bath.

Also, I love their shower, this is what I wanted to have once we already acquire a place of our own.

And this time, I had a swedish massage. I like this even more than the “hilot” massage and it is even cheaper (P550.00). The masseuse just had the right touch for my liking. Not a hard one but definitely the right pressure. She even shared some few tips on how to massage my little bella. After that, she gave me hot towels and helped me remove some oil residue. Great service. For that, I gave her tip. Then my drink came. It was refreshing indeed but I had to say I love the hot tea even more.

There you go, another relaksasi day. I feel like drowsing off already.

Pumping Working Nanay

This week is a riot. I started working again last Monday, 10th August. Everything was just chaos. Few days before I report to work, I had to go to the mall to buy some new office clothes. I had to pump every now and then to have milk supply for Bella so she won't run out.

First day of office was ok. Still nothing to do so I counted the time till 3 - 4 - 5 5:30! Whoohooo! Time to go home. No one was bothering to clear their respective table and everyone seem to be too busy. I waited and waited. Damn. I can't do this. Bella is waiting for me at home. She has to have her milk from nanay in the evening. I feel like crying already. I know she can't find her sleep come evening time. From 5 to 7 PM, she wants to be with me and I with her. This is damn breaking my heart. I want to have my career and at least earn something but I don't want my daughter to suffer in the process. I waited for her all my life and the least thing that I can do is be with her every step of the way. If only I could do something to make ends meet without sacrificing her growing up years. I want to be the first one to see her first smile, her first word, her every first.

I know a lot of moms understands what I am feeling right now. Moms who wants to be the best mom for their kids. Moms who wishes to see their bundle of joy everyday but work and other stuff just won't make it happen. I sometimes envy my mom. She is the one taking care of Bella when I'm at work. She is the one seeing how my daughter's doing everyday. She sees her smile, her cry, her feeding, her eyes that stare. She may even be the one to her ALL FIRSTs. And all I can do is to listen to her story on how my daughter had been on that particular day. I wish I am her. But still I thank her for being a mom to my daughter when I just cannot.

At least, for consolation, my daughter is still purely breastfed. I religiously pump in the office every 3 hours for her next day's feeding and feel guilty when I had to delay my pumping time. I am a new employee. Everyone is still a stranger. But I dont give a damn. This is for my daughter. This is the only thing I can do for her in exchange of not being with her for more than 10 hours everyday.

I will find a way to be a work-at-home-mom. That I promised you bella. Just hang in there my precious.

Working Mom

This week is a riot. I started working again last Monday, 10th August. Everything was just chaos. Few days before I report to work, I had to go to the mall to buy some new office clothes. I had to pump every now and then to have milk supply for Bella so she won't run out.

First day of office was ok. Still nothing to do so I counted the time till 3 - 4 - 5 5:30! Whoohooo! Time to go home. No one was bothering to clear their respective table and everyone seem to be too busy. I waited and waited. Damn. I can't do this. Bella is waiting for me at home. She has to have her milk from nanay in the evening. I feel like crying already. I know she can't find her sleep come evening time. From 5 to 7 PM, she wants to be with me and I with her. This is damn breaking my heart. I want to have my career and at least earn something but I don't want my daughter to suffer in the process. I waited for her all my life and the least thing that I can do is be with her every step of the way. If only I could do something to make ends meet without sacrificing her growing up years. I want to be the first one to see her first smile, her first word, her every first.

I know a lot of moms understands what I am feeling right now. Moms who wants to be the best mom for their kids. Moms who wishes to see their bundle of joy everyday but work and other stuff just won't make it happen. I sometimes envy my mom. She is the one taking care of Bella when I'm at work. She is the one seeing how my daughter's doing everyday. She sees her smile, her cry, her feeding, her eyes that stare. She may even be the one to her ALL FIRSTs. And all I can do is to listen to her story on how my daughter had been on that particular day. I wish I am her. But still I thank her for being a mom to my daughter when I just cannot.

At least, for consolation, my daughter is still purely breastfed. I religiously pump in the office every 3 hours for her next day's feeding and feel guilty when I had to delay my pumping time. I am a new employee. Everyone is still a stranger. But I dont give a damn. This is for my daughter. This is the only thing I can do for her in exchange of not being with her for more than 10 hours everyday.

I will find a way to be a work-at-home-mom. That I promised you bella. Just hang in there my precious.

Auntie Anne's Pretzel

I had to run some important errands and need to get back home early in preparation for my daughter’s 2nd month birthday. I don’t have time to think and enjoy delicious meal at this time so I just grabbed a bite at the nearest food stand. I saw Auntie Anne’s at the ground floor of SM Megamall near Ice skating rink…

I really didn’t how much it cost as it is the first time I bought this. Far-ouT! always is the one buying me this stuff. As I was about to pay, I got five 5-peso coins from my pocket because I saw this digit from the POS machine. I was already handling the money to the cashier when he blurted out the amount…

This…Almond flavored and chocolate dip for P80.00

Unfortunately, the figure i saw was for another customer. Good thing, I already have a bottled water bought from the supermarket so I didn’t bother to order a drink. I was munching my foodie and all I was thinking was “sana nag Jollibee na lang ako.” *kuripot mode*

Flosss from Breadtalk

After a nice meal. I received a text from mom asking for a floss for dessert. This is not the dental floss, mind you. It's one of the bread from breadtalk. I believe it is one of their best. I even recommended it to a foreigner who approached me and ask what kind of bread I was holding. I told her the details.

That the floss has several version, Flosss, Hotchic, Fire Flosss, one of it is the one with cheese. It cost around Php 50 which is pretty expensive for a bread but it's definitely worth it, its soft, light bread subtly flavored with special cream and generously covered with pork flosss.

I also brought a chocolate bread for additional dessert. Nice.

Avent BPA-free storage bottles

Yey! I got my Avent BPA-free storage bottles.

This box contains four 4-oz. breastmilk storage bottles. This product is made from Polyether Sulphone (PES) – a BPA-Free material with a natural honey-colored tint. The ones I have had white transparent color. I’m not sure though, if that color indicates that it is BPA-free.

This is more convenient for me since it fits my Avent manual breastpump. It is easier for me to express and store. This can also be used directly as feeding bottles by simply replacing the sealing disc with nipple.

I went to SM Megamall (my favorite mall) few days back to check how much this storage bottles cost. It was P1500.00 same price with the multiply seller I bought this from, I just added additional P 50 for delivery for a hassle-free online shopping. For your information, the ones sold in malls are not BPA free bottles unless indicated. “Bisphenol A, a hormone disruptor that can cause reproductive damage and may lead to prostate and breast cancer in adulthood, is used as a building block in polycarbonate plastic, but not in the substitutes, such as polypropylene.”

“Previous study have shown that if your repeatedly scrub, dish wash and boil polycarbonate baby bottles, they release BPA.” This shows that when the same new and and used polycarbonate drinking water were exposed to boiling hot water, BPA, an environmental estrogen, was released 55 times more rapidly than before exposure to hot water.

Make sure that bottles you buy are BPA-free to lessen your contact to these chemicals. We may have been exposed to same substance since childhood but for as long as we can help it, it is better to be safe than sorry.

However, after several research, I am not sure anymore if BPA-free bottles are as safe as we thought it would be. You want to read the whole story?

This is frustrating. We only wanted our child to be safe from this harmful chemicals. Good thing, I only use plastic as storage bottles. On feeding time, I transfer the milk to glass bottle and thaw on hot water as it is the safest way. While I don’t use glass bottles for storage as there are some nutrients from the breastmilk left inside it.

Persia Grill

What a hectic schedule. I don't even have time to breathe. Every morning from Monday to Friday, I wake up at 5:30 A.M. Get ready for office, have a long walk / run, walk /run in Guadalupe, Take overpass, ride an ordinary bus going to Bicutan(airconditioned buses are limited and gosh! it will take you like forever to get you to destination). From Bicutan, take overpass again which is by the way twice the length of Guadalupe overpass. Take jeep going to Tanyag (If I'm lucky, the jeep will wait to have it full and I am there sweating and waiting and running late!). Take tricycle going to my office were what I do is update the pendings, call this, call that. Do this, do that, backtracked the backlogs. Go from one place to the other because I dont have my computer yet and many others. Uppps...pump it up...pump it up till my hands are hurting from pumping every 3-4 hours religiously. The clock is nearing 5:30 but unfortunately, no one wants to go yet, everybody stays as if there is no tomorrow. Going home time is 6:30 - 7:00. I had to rush because baby bella is running out of express milk.

Take a tricycle to get out from the area. Then ride a jeep going to Bicutan. Bus until Magallanes, then take MRT. Walk from mall to the jeepney terminal.

Home at last. Time for bella to feed...but I have to take a shower first (yes, pasma to the end power!) before getting any nearer my baby. Then right after our bonding moment, I eat dinner, wash bottles and pump parts. Sleep between 10 - 11 PM then wake up again at 12:30 for another feeding session on the breast and pump on the other one. Then, same routine around 3:30 AM. Grab few hours of sleep again then when the clock strikes 5:30...start all over again. This goes on everyday.

I don't know which is becoming the hassle, working? pumping? Or it is just the way it is.

Anyway, thank God there is Saturday! And when it's week end, I make sure i give time for a little treat just to keep me sane. This time I indulge myself in Persian Grill.

The first time I went here I was kindda hesitant since I saw foods wih curry! I've been in the middle east for quite a while and the last thing I wanted to eat is something with curry. But since Pia is the adventurer when it comes to food, I let myself be pushed.

And now I am back ordering the same menu.

Chelo Kebab (Php 199.00)

with a tall glass of refreshing strawberry shake.

This shake cost Php 60.00, isn't cheap? I love the taste of it, just the right amount of sugar and strawberry.

Let me tell you more about the main course. I am not a fan of spicy foods but since this menu come with chili and another condiments, you are in control of the taste.

Another trick is the grilled tomatoes plus another dip of eggplant and mayo.

And you know why it is even more intriguing?

They serve it hiding in the rice.

Breastfeeding Station

I just cannot think of a title for this blag! This is again a non-related topic but i cannot help my self but vent this out.

There are some people who are insensitive and inconsiderate. As Pia and I went for a walk in the mall, we encountered not one but two of them. And they are a couple mind you. The woman is a mother. Who’s suppose to understand the need of a fellow mom. The guy of course was a father who should be ashamed of himself.

As a breastpumping mom, I always bring my avent manual breastpump everytime I went out just to be sure that I will still be able to express milk every 3 hours to maintain my supply. Though sometimes this is a hassle for me, when I think of how my bella will benefit from it…all the more I am excited. Especially when I see how many ounces I produce.

Anyway, doing my usual thing, this day is a more exciting one because instead of using the comfort room, this will be my first time to use the breastfeeding station of SM Megamall located at the Ground Floor near Food court, just behind Greenwich area.

Pia and I went inside surprised to find a few people. One, was a lady breastfeeding her child. Then from the look of it, a family. A dad, a mom, her child and a yaya. This irritates me in an instant. I thought this place is exclusively for breastfeeding mothers?!! Why on earth will a man be inside this area?! And you know what he was doing? He was actually using his laptop.

Poor mother who was feeding her child. I know the feeling. It is really awkward doing this in public much more with a man present. We stand there for a while hoping the guy will excuse himself but he never bother. The wife was even more annoying because she was not doing anything at all! Why would she allow her husband to be inside? So thoughtless people! Finally, after several minutes, I decided to pump in one of the CR. The management should put a sign outside the door “exclusively for breastfeeding moms!” I don’t blame them for this incident, I’m sure, they didn’t think some people will have the nerve to stay in this area where they have no business whatsoever.

Hope the next time I went there, I will not come across people like these again.