Melissa for My Little Girl

I have a confession to make. I am a Melissa addict.

I am not really one to hoard designer bags or find the need to always buy the latest trend in fashion, but when it comes to Melissa shoes, my will power seems to go away just like that. Through the years, i have accumulated almost 20 pairs of Melissa shoes. Most of them from the Vivienne Westwood collection.

A portion of my shoe cabinet

My first Melissa is this green pair which i bought back in 2008. It looks almost as new as the day i bought them! And mind you i wear my Melissa shoes all the time. I wear them to work on a daily basis and to church on weekends. So it's not like they're rarely worn. What i like about Melissa is that it retains its shape and can be washed and cleaned after each use. They're very comfortable too!

Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon collection

So when i had my baby girl in 2011, one of my friends who knew me well gave her a pair of Mini Melissa. I was ecstatic! I did not even realize then that they had Melissa for kids! Oh, the joy! I have tried buying other less expensive shoes for my daughter but they often just get broken soon after. Melissa shoes may be a bit more pricey but it's worth every penny. It's stylish and long lasting. No need to keep on buying a new pair of shoes ever so often.

So a few weeks ago, my daughter and i were invited to the launch of Mini Melissa's animal line. Each pair is just as adorable as the next.

Doesn't she look like Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon? Adorable!

This was my daughter's first pair but in another color. So cute and dainty!

Rhino boots! Who doesn't like boots?

White Rabbit, anyone?

Perfect with that sweet summer dress

Mini ballet - coming out in December! Watch out for it!

Cuteness overload! Gingerbread cookie for the holidays!

All little girl loves teddy bears!

Baby Melissa! Perfect for that new baby girl inaanak!

All of the above Mini Melissa pairs come in a variety of colors. It's time to grab a pair (or two) for your precious little girls' tiny feet!

Mini Melissa Shoes are available at Geleia (Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, Mall of Asia, Shangri-la, SM Aura, Greenbelt 5, Magnolia, Megamall), Rustans (Makati, Shangri-la, Alabang Town Center), Mothercare (Greenbelt 5, Glorietta 4, BGC Active Fun, Magnolia, Shangri-la, Eastwood, TriNoma), Flatshop (Eastwood and Greenhills), Selected Shoe Salon stores, Shoe Thing (Highstreet, Greenbelt 5, TriNoma, Eastwood, Lucky Chinatown).

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Protect Your Stem Cells with Mustela

Just when you think Mustela is already the holy grail for all baby products, it just got even better! They now have a new formulation that protects the stem cells of the skin. Yes, stem cells!

Stem cells are really popular these days.  I'm sure most of us have heard of the wonderful benefits of stem cells these days. But what exactly is a stem cell? I did a little bit of research and found that stem cells are actually a reserve cell with the capacity to grow and multiply to replace dead or damaged adult cells. Some, but not all, organs and tissues in the body have a supply of stem cells. Skin is one organ that contains stem cells. Skin wounds are repaired by skin stem cells so it is very vital to retain them in our skin.

Two weeks ago i attended Mustela's launch for the reformulation of the Mustela Bebe line.  During the event, i learned that a newborn's skin contains a rich cellular reserve of stem cells at its highest potential. The problem is that this remains extremely vulnerable during the first few years of life while our skin's barriers are still being formed (usually until the age of 2).

The good news is that Mustela's new active ingredient, Avocado Perseose, supports the development of the barrier function and more importantly, protects the stem cells in the baby's skin. Once safely preserved, the original stem cells can continue to play its role of restoring and maintatining the skin throughout life.  

Mustela event held at the 2nd floor of Stacy's at BGC



Van Santos of Seek the Uniq hosted the event



Sharlene of Mustela Philippines talked about the new ingredient in Mustela Bebe



Cute table setting with Mustela borchures and the signature Stacy's colored mallows and popcorns

Cai of applesanddumplings, Tita K of LiveLoveLolz, Jen of Attachedatthehip, Eli of ThePaintersWife, me, Jen of MyMommyology



 

Yes, Mustela is from France, Tita K!

This new ingredient is available across all products in the Mustela Bebe line. Since my previous blogs on the Mustela products that our family has been using (Read about it here, here, and here), i have found more products that our family is now using.

1. Baby Shampoo

With my 2-year old's growing hair, i found it important to use shampoo now instead of just using soap all over. The shampoo makes her hair soft and more tangle-free.

2.   2 in 1  Hair and Body

This was actualy recommended to me by the Mustela sales assistant in their Glorietta 4 branch. The smell lasts longer than the other Mustela washes so this is just perfect for my very active 5-year old. I like that his hair still smells nice after the end of a very busy day.

3.  Facial cleansing cloths

I found this to be particularly useful for my daughter who loves to thumbsuck. i use this to regularly clean her hands while we're out of the house. I like that i can trust Mustela's ingredients and not worry that the wipes i am using contains harmful ingredients that my daughter may ingest.

4.   Agua De Colognia

Try it and you'll understand why our family loves it!

5.  Cold Cream

Tammy Tancinco of Mustela Philippines gave this to me as a gift after our trip to Korea during the winter. My husband's elbows were peeling and very dry so he decided to test this. We're very happy with the results and Dens' elbows have significantly improved. This is also very good to bring during your winter holidays where lips and skin become extremely dry. Great for the whole family.

So what are you waiting for? Rush to the nearest Mustela branch and start protecting your baby's stem cells!

Mustela is avaiable at the following locations:

Ayala Trinoma, 1st level (beside Mary Grace Cafe)
Robinsons Manila, 1st level Midtown wing (beside Topshop)
Glorietta 4, 3rd level (in front of Gourdo's and Play & Display)
Shangri-la Mall, 4th level (in front of Mothercare)
Megamall A, 2nd level (in front of Esprit)
Greenhills Shopping Center, The Shops, 1st level (in front of Watson's and Mary Grace)
Alabang Town Center, Upper Ground Floor, Connector Mall (in front of K & C Company)
SM Mall of Asia, 2nd level, Main Mall (near Osh Kosh and Periwinkle)

All Rustans Department Stores
All Landmarke Department Stores
Mothercare, Nationwide
PureBeauty, 2nd Floor Serendra, BGC and Harbor Point, Subic
Medela House, New Manila, QC
Chimes Specialty Store, Davao City

www.mustela.ph
Mutela Hotline 0917 895 9988
mustelaphilippines@yahoo.com
Facebook: Mustela Philippines

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Kiddie Essentials for Your Winter Holiday

We just came back from the fun and freezing Korean weather!  It was a wonderful vacation amidst the negative 16 celcius temperature.

A lot of people have been concerned for our family since we brought our two kids (4 years old and 1 year old) with us. If you know me well, you will understand that there is no way I am leaving my kids behind on a vacation. The only time I get to travel without them is during my business trips. Not exactly the most ideal scenario, i know. But until i learn to be better at parental detachment, they will just need to come along whether i am flying to a dessert or blizzard.

So anyway, here are a few travelling essentials for your kiddos when you plan to go on your own winter wonderland vacation.

1. Layering

TOP

1st Layer - Thermals
2nd Layer - Long-sleeves shirt
3rd Layer - Fleece Jacket
4th Layer - Bubble/Winter Jacket

BOTTOM

My 2 kids have varying tolerance for cold. My son takes after his father who loooves the cold weather while my daughter is just like me who easily gets cold. So for her, i added another layer of tights before her pants to ensure her legs don't get too cold. On colder days, i even added leg warmers.

1st Layer - Thermals

2nd Layer - Jeans

2. Windburn

First, you have to try your best to avoid windburn by moisturizing and covering your face as much as you can. This is especially difficult if youre kids are like mine who refuse to wear face masks. I moisturize their faces daily but after 2 days of cold weather, their cheeks were all dry and painful.

Skin that thas been [wind] burned sting when you put sunblock or moisturizers! One that worked truly well for us was Mustela's Stelatria. Unlike the other moisturizers that i've tried, my kids did not cry or complain from the pain whenever i applied Stelatria on their cheeks. I tried them on myself and can confirm that it's pain-free! This proves that Mustela is truly very ideal for sensitive skin and is free of harsh chemicals.

3. Dry Lips

For the kids' lips, i only used VMV's Boo Boo Balm. It proved effective and they didn't have chapped lips all throughout the trip!

vmvhypoallergenics.com

4. Gloves

For days when you know you will encounter snow, you need to use water-proof gloves. Those knitted gloves will only be good when your kids do not wish to touch snow. My kids cannot avoid playing with snow so these are true essentials!

http://shop.hellyhansen.com

5. Bonnet

Choose one that covers the ears. Makes all the difference, believe me.

Hope the above suggestions will help you in planning your own winter vacation. Preparation is key. If you go prepared then you can still enjoy amidst the freezing weather. Have fun!

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One Sad December Morning

I still remember it vividly. The dreaded phone call that woke us up on that early December morning. I answered the phone and the nurse told me 'Mommy, punta na kayo dito. Nahihirapan na huminga si Tyler' [Mommy, you have to come quickly. Tyler is having difficulty breathing]. I immediately shared the news with my husband who was axiously sitting beside me. Without saying a word, both of us jumped out of bed, grabbed the nearest set of clothes we can find and rushed out to the car.

We hardly said anything on the way to the hospital. I remember how my hands felt so cold wrapped in Dens' hand. When we got to the parking lot, Dens' cellphone started to ring. I looked at the screen and saw that it was our pediatrician calling. Both of us were already out of the car but the doors were still open.  My heart sank and i gave Dens a terrified look. He stared at me and slowly answered the phone. He just said 'hello, dra?...okay...okay...bye' then he looked at me and i knew he wanted to embrace me and tell me it's going to be okay. But the car was between us and Dens looked stunned and couldn't move. I immediately knew what the pediatrician said. I collapsed to the ground and kept on asking Dens to call the pediatrician back and tell her we're already here. I wanted to tell her 'Please, wait for us! not yet!'

After those few seconds that felt like forever, Dens and i closed the car doors and started running up the hospital to the NICU. I was running and praying but i really didn't know how else to pray. When i got to the NICU, all the nurses and pediatrician were in Tyler's room. They were huddled around his little crib crying. I saw our lifeless baby boy wrapped in the light blue blanket that we had excitedly bought for him several happy months ago. He looked like he was just sleeping. I carried him and cried like i never cried before. I asked him to wake up but he never did. It was the saddest day of my life.

That was six years ago on December 9. Four days before my birthday. 16 days before Christmas.

Last night as Dens and i were about to go to sleep. We were laughing as we were viewing some pictures and videos of Troy and Dawn on my iPhone. I told Dens how blessed we are to have them. As i was about to sleep, i just couldn't stop praising God and thanking Him for our two beautiful children. I closed my eyes and smiled - God truly loves me. And my children are His reminder to me every single day. I just felt so happy.  Yesterday was December 9.

It's amazing how God restores. He restored my joy and my peace. He has turned our lives around by His love and grace.

Some of you may be going through a difficult time right now. Just like me, you may be thinking you will never be sincerely happy ever again. Know that God is amazing. He can touch your heart like you never thought possible. Don't lose hope.  Have faith in Him. I assure you He will never fail you!

Psalm 30:11 "You turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy"

I leave you with the best Christmas presents i can ever receive!


Best holiday store display in my opinion

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Are You Ready For Your Date?

When was the last time you went out on a date........with your kids?

Before I got married, I have read so many books saying couples tend to forget each other once the children are born.  The focus would normally shift from the spouse to the children and the schedule would usually revolve around them.  With that, Dens and I promised to have a date night every Friday to also make sure we have time for ourselves.

 

Last Saturday, i learned something new from our New Beginnings talk with Coach Pia. You will also need to schedule date nights with each of your child. Just like your spouse, you're together most of the time at home but the bonding is also different when you go out on dates and experience new things together.

 

Then I remembered seeing some parent-child date pictures on Facebook from my good friends Jackson and Ann.  Their date nights are particularly special because they have 7 kids! Imagine that! Joshua (11), Jericho (10), Ariana(9), Jacob (7), Jonah (6), Andrea (16 months), Angela (1 month). I truly admire how they have raised very behaved and well-mannered kids. Ann stays home to take care of the kids and tutor all of them. You would think their home would be chaotic but it's amazingly not. Both of them have done a wonderful job raising confident and happy kids.

I decided to interview Jack and get a dad's perspective on how he manages to let each child feel unique and loved.

 

How do you manage to provide individual attention to all 7 kids?

 

[Jackson] I make sure we have simple bonding moments after their school activities. Joshua has guitar and math classes, Jericho has student council meetings, and Ariana has piano classes every Saturday morning. I would pick them up and it would be a good opportunity to spend time with them.

 

Jacob and Jonah usually spend time with me a home, playing and enjoying games. Our favorite right now is working on our Lego collections and our "Tickle Time".  For Andrea and Angela, I make sure to provide time to bring them and Ann for a stroll during Sundays. 
 

I remember seeing pictures of your dates with your children, why did you think of having this?

[Jackson] Presence matters. What I have learned is that ordinary moments may become the biggest treasured memory for our children. Having one-on-one dates with our kids provide them our full attention which they so desire. This gives them a sense of security that they are important no matter what their place in the family. They know that you care for them and love spending time with them individually. 



Date with Joshua

Love for them is spelled as "Quality Time" and you cannot do that with all of them at the same time! It is during these one-on-one dates that we can fully understand their personalities, behaviors, and even their secrets.

As a father, you get to instill the right values in them. You get to talk about faith and help them have strong convictions when they grow older. You get to really know them and allow them to also get to know who their dad is.  But most of all, to plant in each one of them a strong family identity built around Christ. I want my sons to know they can approach me anytime they want, with full access and no inhibitions. I want my daughters to know that her first love is daddy, and that the word "I Love You" is spoken every time at home.

Besides getting to know them more, what other benefits do you see in spending individual time with each child?


Date with Jericho

[Jackson] Wow, the benefits are life changing! You begin to better understand the call for fatherhood.  I want to build a legacy based on my faith in God and His instructions.  Our kids will grow in confidence and in love. That will be their guide as they grow older. You put the matter of self-worth in its proper perspective - that is, Christ's great love for our sons and daughters. 

 

Doesn’t the other child feel jealous when it’s the turn of his/her siblings?

[Jackson] There are sibling rivalries once in awhile.  But as long as we explain that everyone gets a chance to be with daddy, everything turns out to be okay, I guess (hahaha).  Ann is doing a great job educating them about time sharing.  They get to do fun things while their brother or sister spends time with me. 

Any other tips on giving attention to kids?

[Jackson] Share A Hobby! We love Lego's! And this is where we get to spend time together.  We also use it as a teaching tool for kids!

Thank you, Jack, for sharing your fatherhood experiences. 

I personally like what Jack shared about self-worth. I find this especially true when dads go on dates with the little girls. By the time our daughters grows up, she will already know how a lady should be treated on a date because her dad has set the benchmark. She will have more self worth and not be attracted to guys who disrespect her. Sometimes, uncles or grandfathers can also step in as the father-figure when the father is not present. (Think Rory of Gilmore Girls).

Here are some additional tips i have learned from our New Beginnings talk with Coach Pia:

• It should be one-on-one. This means that either Mom with child or Dad with child. If both parents go, the tendency is for the parents to talk most of the time so the value of the date with the child is diminished.
• Let the child make the agenda for the date.  Ask them what they want to do and where they wan to go.
• Start your dates when the child knows how to communicate already. This is usually around 1.5 to 2.5 years old.
• Don't use the dates as a bargaining tool for discipline. Some parents might say 'If you do not do your homework, we will not go out on the date!'. The child has to know that this is something that you personally look forward to and are not just doing it for them. It's better to say 'Please finish your assignments already. Mommy will be so sad if we can't go out on our date tonight'.
• Label It! Let the child know that this is a 'date'. If you don't tell them, they might not recognize that it's a date with them.
• Finally, thank them for the date when you get home! You can say 'You know I really had fun tonight.  Thank you for going out on a date with Mommy'.

So what are we waiting for? Start scheduling your week and planning your dates with your children. I know it takes some effort to consistently do it but i can assure you that it's tremendously rewarding.

Happy Dating!
 

 

 

 

 

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I Heart Mustela

Do you ever wonder why we have more and more cases of infertility, cancer, and all sorts of new diseases these days? 

I do.

After we lost Tyler in 2006, i started hearing about Natural and Organic products. I knew it was almost impossible to go 100% natural but i was determined to keep our family's exposure to toxic chemicals to the barest minimum.  We never truly found out what caused Tyler's problem but hearing the older generation repeatedly say 'Wala naman mga ganung problema dati' [We didn't have that kind of problem before] makes me believe that it has something to do with all the chemicals that we are now frequently exposed to.  So i went on a quest to find the best natural products in the market - from soaps and shampoos to make-up.

When i gave birth to Dawn in 2011, my good friend Tammy Chua-Tancinco of Mustela Philippines gave me a bottle of Mustela baby wash. I wasn't familiar with the product at that time so i went online and did some research. As i learned more about the product, i also got more and more interested. I learned that Mustela is manufactured by Laboratoires Expanscience, which is the 6^th largest independent laboratory in France, and ensures its high quality products that are free from paraben, phthalate, phenoxyethanol, alcohol, chlorphenesin and essential oils. Priority is given to ingredients of natural origins ranging form 80% to 98%. Mustela continues to create a legacy of unparalled skin care.

So when Tammy called me up one weekend and invited me to lunch and hear about Mustela Philippines, i said yes in a heartbeat. The talk was held at the Premio Restaurant of the Best Western Premier F1 Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City.

Tammy and Martin Tancinco of Mustela Philippines

Liz Almoro 

The very pregnant but still chic Amanda Griffin-Jacob 

Lexi Schultz hosted the event

Sharleen CuUnjieng, who is co-owner of Mustela Philippines, talked about how the product has helped clear her baby's rashes after trying several creams and ointments in the market to no avail.  I have my own Mustela story with Dawn and you can read about that here.

Lexi interviewing Sharleen of Mustela Philippines

All of us were listening intently

They also invited a pediatrician, Dra Vienne Valentin Saulog, to discuss the benefits of Mustela

Rowena (http://animetric.blogspot.com), myself, Liz Almoro, Tammy Chua-Tancinco

With the Mustela Philippines ladies, Sharleen and Tammy

After Dawn was healed of eczema, i started using different Mustela products and have accumulated my own stash at home.  I will discuss how i use each of the product in a separate post.

Mustela has been an essential part of our family for over a year now. If you're new to the brand, this is the perfect time to check it out. They have just slashed their prices last June. Make the shift. Your family is worth it!

Mustela is available at the following outlets:

    Ayala Trinoma, 1^st Level (beside Cafe Mary Grace)

    Robinson's Manila, 1^st Level Midtown Wing (beside Topshop)

    Glorietta 4, 3^rd Level (in front of Gourdo's and Play & Display)

    Shangri-la Mall, 4^th Level (in front of Mothercare)

    Megamall A, 2^nd Level (in front of Esprit) 

    The Shops, Greenhills Shopping Center 1^st Level (in front of

    Watson’s and Mary Grace)

    Alabang Town Center, Upper Ground Floor, Connector Mall (in          

    front of K & Company) 

Distributed at the following:

    PureBeauty, 2^nd Floor Serendra, BGC

    All Landmark Department Stores

    All Rustan's Department Stores

    Numa Echo Baby Store, QC

For more information:

    MUSTELA HOTLINE:

    0917-8959988

    Email: mustelaphilippines@yahoo.com

    Website: www.mustela.com

    Facebook: Mustela Philippines

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Co-sleeping, anyone?

Before we got married, one weird but sound advice that a friend gave us was 'BUY A KING-SIZED BED'. He said it will come in handy when we already have kids. After 8 years of marriage, i will officially say 'He spoke with wisdom'.

Our kids have their own bedrooms but my husband and I are firm believers of co-sleeping (at least in the same bedroom) so they only use their rooms for afternoon naps. Come night time, both kids sleep with us. We want some level of independence so even if we are all in the same room, our 4-year old still has his own foldable mattress on one side while our 1-year old daughter still sleeps in her crib.

Every night, we start out with just the 2 of us on the bed. Around 1am, my daughter would wake me up and request to be transferred to our bed.  How, you ask, at 1 year old? She would call me (not crying but literally call me - 'mum' or 'mommy') and i'd wake up to see her standing inside the crib holding on to the railing. She'd point to our bed and when i lay her down beside us, she'd just go back to sleep effortlessly. A couple of times i tried bringing her back to the crib but she would just cry or shake her head saying 'no'.

I go back to sleep and would usually wake up around 4am for my daughter's midnight feeding. By then, my son would already be sleeping on our bed - well, more like the edge of the bed, beside his dad. There is very little space but he would always manage to squeeze himself in and amazingly never falls off the bed!

So by 5am, there will already be four of us on the bed...and guess who takes up the most space?

How could someone so little take up half the bed? The body pillow beside her is where i normally end up sleeping right before i wake up.

What about you? What's your family's sleeping position?

Thank you http://daintymom.com/ for this illustration



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