A Baking Weekend

One thing that I look forward to when I have my own kitchen is to be able to bake goodies with my girls and for my girls. (Okay, the husby can also have some, hehehe)... One weekend, with all the eggs the we gave to my folks, I decided to bake. Yssa suggested that I make cupcakes (with her tried and tested super yummy and sinfully rich recipe) and I'd have Elissa help by putting on the sprinkles...

Cupcakes while cooling


It's actually nice to have Elissa do this as aside from it being an activity that would help enhance her fine motor skills and improve concentration ...


its definitely a bonding moment for us


I hope that we do this more often... With Katrisse, perhaps?

Eli.... want to taste?


Finished cupcakes with Elissa's sprinkes


Papasa na bang Nigella Lawson? Hehehe...

Kat's New Leggings

Kat's yaya has always requested that I get leggings for Katrisse. I don't know if she just wanted to go along the latest fashion trend but I also wanted to veer away from the usual jeans (although kids look so cute in jeans). Since Katrisse does not really look like a "girly-girl" because of her hair, I guesed that leggings paired with a cute top, would look good on her.

I went again to my multiply seller in Alabang and got her four pairs (yup, they were that cute! reasonable too)... She wore three out of four, two Sundays ago and it seemed that she had fun with them. Most likely Yaya Nita also got excited with them that she changed Kat's outfit many times that day.

Bagay kay Kat diba? :)

Katrisse by the foot of our bed


She just loved walking (sometimes running!) down that corridor


Pretty Kat with Auntie Yssa and Wowo Dads by the stairs


Change outfit! And playing with Auntie Guia

She's Really a Size 11! (Or maybe a passable 10)

Ok, I'll admit. I'm addicted to Multiply. I like posting pictures, blogging and surfing around my contacts' sites to see if they have anything new. One thing that I discovered are Multiply sellers that post their items and as you order, you can pay via bank deposit then the items will be delivered to you. I just find this so convenient and with the higher gas prices, I don't have to spend much to go "malling".

Sometimes though, in as much as I know the size of my girls, there are times that you cannot get them right. Once a bought Katrisse a pair of leather shoes and some dresses, intending for her birthday, but when they were delivered, the shoes were just right, almost making her toes curl inside. It was a good thing that the distributor was also multiply seller (in my contact list!) and I was able to arrange for an exchange to a bigger size (actually, their biggest size!)

Katrisse in her exchanged shoes

Although most of them do not do meet-ups to check the actual sizes and items, there is one seller whose warehouse is in Alabang. Perfect for me as it's just a short drive away and I really like the things that they're selling - affordable clothes for the girls (branded items), some toys and other kid-related stuff. I'm glad that they allowed me to go to the warehouse as I am able to actually see and even fit the item/s, if needed.

My first (and I hope not the last) time there, I brought my two girls some shirts and a skirt for Elissa and a dress for Katrisse. While fitting, I saw this pair of sandals that were really super cute! I wanted them for Elissa. She already needs a new pair of sandals as the ones that fit her are already 1) overused and 2) almost tight.

Elissa in a size 8 shirt


And size 10 sneakers

I asked for the biggest size, a size 11 that normally fit 4 or 5 year olds. As sometimes expected, but I was initially hopeful, it was tight :( Elissa's feet are "matambok" (can't think of a better English term... feet entrance are too high?) so not all shoe styles fit her. Sometimes, one cannot believe that a two-and-a-half year old would have feet that big (or her size for that matter) but I guess, with her genes and a healthy appetite, I am not surprised. I'm just glad that she's a super active kid and that whatever she has been eating, gets burned up somehow.

Elissa's new outfit, bought from the multiply sellers - George size 7 shirt; size 8 red cheerleader skirt; size 11 Gap shoes (a little big because its wide but fits anyway)

The problem with with this "convenience shopping" is that I just might end up buying so much, so soon! Of course, my justification is that the girls are growing up so fast and they need something to wear! :) And I'm not breaking the bank --- yet! ;)

Elissa, my English-speaking toddler

Elissa goes to school three times a week at Toddlers Unlimited and one thing that I look forward to is her teachers' weekly anecdotal report. Sometimes the teacher mentions about Elissa liking the train toy and how she would be "extra playful" (aka magulo?) and would get to settle down during singing time.

Recently, the teachers mentioned that her words were clearer now and that she'd name the animal first before playing with it, such as "cow", "pig", etc. I wasn't so surprised with that as I knew she was very familiar with the usual animals and their sounds. In fact, she knows most forms and shapes of animals that when she saw a lechon earlier at Tita Ahlee's party she had to shout, "Look Mom! Pig!" Oo nga naman... Hehehe...

Elissa, admittedly is very conversant in English. I think I have myself to blame as I talk to her in English, even her yayas speak to her in English! Not to mention her TV watching and books are all in English. Her common expressions are "oh man!" similar to Swiper of the famous Dora cartoons and "wake up Daaaaaaddy!!!" Which can be very very cute :)

Funny moment, one of Adrian's cousin's mom-in-law was talking to Elissa in straight Filipino. Elissa replied, "sorry". Gosh. Was she sorry for not being able to understand or not being able to speak in Filipino? Or she just had nothing to say so "sorry"? Haaay... Need to teach her the language now! Besides, this should be the best time to learn a new language :)

Playing with the Girls

How fast time flies! Elissa is almost two and a half and Katrisse is turning 1 next month... These videos are so precious! It's a good thing that with the digital age, it's so easy to capture special moments such as these...

Katrisse walking and Ate Elissa making pa-cute



Kiss Mommy, with beautiful eyes



Dancing Queens

Katrisse's Hospital Pics

I was not able to take pictures of Katrisse in the hospital. Good thing Bea brought her camera when they visited... Please see the pics from her multiply...

Visiting KatKat in the Hospital

Side story: On their way to Asian Hospital, the car broke down. Good thing they were in a gas station with a Jollibee outlet so that they were able to rest, even take an afternoon snack. Adrian and Uncle Ferdi's driver had to fetch them there to go to Alabang... Good thing they didn't get stuck on the road!

My Rant about the Huggies Christmas Promo

(If you're from Kimberly Clark if you know of someone, please forward this their Customer Care, especially if they value customer feedback)

Just before Christmas just last year, Huggies came out with a Fun Time for Mommy and Baby Christmas promo where one can earn and save points if you buy certain Huggies diaper packs in exchange for some Chicco toys. Since both girls were still wearing diapers and I did have the preference for Huggies Comfort Dry for their sensitive butts, I thought that saving up points would be easy. Plus if I had saved 50 points, I can get a Chicco slide at 50% off. It would be the perfect Christmas gift for the girls.

I actually started saving points late so when they extended the promo to January, I just continued to save the points and called the hotline to redeem my toy. And here is where my rant begins.

I called the hotline (or should I say not-so-hotline as it was so hard to call!!!) in mid-January 2008 and gave them my personal details, what toy I'd like to claim and that it'll be picked up in Chicco, Filinvest. I even thought of maybe Megamall as it was nearer the office but the final decision was Filinvest as it might be a bulky item and the nearer I was to home to drag it, the better.

I was told that because of the demand of toys, the slide had ran out of stock and that I had to wait til March. Gosh. Christmas promo in March? It didn't matter anymore since it wasn't to be a Christmas gift. Of course I was disappointed but I suppose the law of supply and demand was in place -- too much demand, they didn't expect the numbers, hence the scarcity. No worries, I told myself. I'll wait for their call in March.

March came and passed, it was already Holy Week, I have not received any call. Again, I called them and they apologized and promised that I will have my slide. I was already complaining to the hotline operator, almost demanding to talk to an officer of Kimberly Clark. I was told that they are of a different company and that they were only hired to do the marketing and the promotion of this project. Of course I already gave them a piece of my mind and mentioned that they had better do something soonest as I didn't not spend thousand of Pesos on a possible promo that will not deliver.

End of May I received a phone call from Huggies that my slide has arrived (hurray!) and may be picked up from Chicco Filinvest by the next weekend which was about May 30 or 31. I had asked Adrian to pick it up from Filinvest the Tuesday after and guess what -- it wasn't there yet! Haaaay... Sobra na akong nainis talaga.

I called Huggies again and I was informed that there still was problems with their delivery and that I should be able to expect the slide by June 6. So I said, so in case that I go to Filinvest on June 7, I should be able to get it? "yes, Ma'am. I promise". Anyway, since I have been waiting since March, what's waiting for another week, right? Haaay...

Because of Katrisse's accident, this slide was the last of my concerns until I received this nice phone call from Huggies on June 11 -- that I could get my slide in Chicco, MARKET MARKET, FORT BONI. OMG. I don't even remotely remember that I had even mentioned Market Market as an option among the many, many months that I have been talking to them. I remember the conversation went something like this:

Huggies: Ma'am this is Huggies and we'd like to know that you can get your slide in Market Market
MrsKookie: What? Market Market? Di ba dapat sa Filinvest?
Huggies: Ah, Filinvest ba?
MrsKookie: (exasperated) Yes. You told me that I could have already picked up my slide last June 6. Now you're telling me, June 11, that it's not yet there? So if I had gone yesterday I would have been disappointed, again, because it's not there?
Huggies: We're really sorry (blah blah as I could not anymore take the excuses) Kailan nyo ho ba balak kunin, ipapadala na lang namin from Market Market to Filinvest agad
MrsKookie: Eh di ba dapat June 7 pa nga kukunin? So, just make sure that it is in Filinvest ASAP so that when I decide to pick it up tonight, tomorrow or even next month, when I feel like getting it, nasa Filinvest yung slide. Ok?
Huggies: Yes ma'am.

Taray ba? I swear my patience was wearing very thin. To top in all, I get a phone call June 14 (so that makes it three days after the June 11 call), saying that finally, my slide is in Filinvest already. That day. Had I tried (again) to pick it up the day before, it wouldn't be there. I told the representative to tell Kimberly Clark that I have STOPPED buying Huggies for both my children who are not yet toilet trained and have shifted to Drypers and EQ Dry because of this experience. And in case that I really really need XXL, I will seriously consider Mamy Poko, even if it's expensive, just not to buy Huggies. And I am posting this to hopefully bring it out into the world wide web that such promos can really affect the purchasing habits of buyers. My case though, was the opposite of what most companies want to happen.

My message to Kimberly Clark - please make sure that whoever you decide to handle such promos deliver the goods to their customers because it's not easy to part with hard earned money to buy your pricier diapers in the hope to get a nice toy for our children. Most parents are willing to spend more, sacrifice their spending to give more to their kids and this is what this promo did to some of us. We bought Huggies, which is a tad more expensive, possibly spent some of our Christmas bonus to buy in bulk just to earn the points in time for the promo deadline. Then you tell us that we cannot get our toy because of supply and delivery problems. Plus it's your company brand and name that's at stake.

I'll probably get the slide at Filinvest soon before my children get to be too old for it. I just hope that they didn't give it away.

New Year's Eve, 2008

It's been some time since we celebrated New Year's Eve in Manila. For the past years, we usually go to Punta Fuego to escape the smoke and dust that is usually associated with the fireworks on the eve. Plus, we get to appreciate the fireworks of the other people on holiday at the neighboring houses and resorts. We bring our own bottle of wine, grapes and cheese and just lounge around in our casita or in the main dining hall.

When I got married, we joined my family last year for the celebrations and because Elissa was sick at that time, the weather and air was just perfect for her to recover.

This year, with Adrian's folks in Boston, we were going to celebrate it with my side of the family again. I don't know if Daddy was not able to reserve at Fuego but we saw ourselves celebrating the New year in their new house at Ayala Hills. I thought it was fitting especially that it is a new house and we try to incorporate our New Year traditions in the new house.

It saw my Dad buy the usual torotots and firecrackers (what? No "sawa", Daddy?!?!? And watusi? Only Judas belt??? Hehehe...) with the requisite katol to use to light up the fireworks. I missed putting the coins all around the house for years and it was nice to see all the coins on the stairs and inside each rooms. They say that these coins are supposed to attract more money for the next year. When the clock struck 12, all had to jump (they said that we needed to jump to grow taller) and we ate our 12 M&M's - 12 for each month of the coming year and M&M's being round, are supposed to be "lucky"). We received our "mini-ampao's" also at midnight and I kept them in my pocket as I'm supposed to have money "all-year-round"... But one thing I noticed - why is that my Mom only gave coins to us kids but gave a bigger amount to Dad and vice-versa?? Hehehe...

The big difference this year is that the kids are not us anymore but they're MY kids. Its nice to see the passing of old traditions to the younger ones, my sisters the ones helping out Daddy with the fireworks and putting the coins all around the house. In fact, I didn't do much, except to take pictures and shout "Happy New Year" at midnight all throughout the house (and still jumped like a rabbit in the hope that I'll grow taller)...

And, for once in a long time, it was nice to sit down in a proper dining room, to celebrate the Media Noche with good old Hizon's ensaymada and hot chocolate. Not to mention the queso de bola and ham - our staples for New Year and Christmas Eve dinners... I'm sure my Mommy must have been tired as she has not prepared New Year Eve in a long time but it was nice to spend it in the good, traditional way.

Now if only Ate Luz was able to make the palitaw...

Going to the Market

I prefer to surf the net than to watch TV. I suppose it's my multi-tasking habit. If I watch TV, then I would have to switch channels or endure the commercials. With the internet, I can choose to ignore the ads, read and reply to email, chat, read websites and the news, upload photos, get entertained by the videos and if I can even watch TV if I want to.

One of the websites i frequent is Market Manila. His blog layout is pleasing to the eyes, his writing style is easy to read and his topics - from food, markets, kitchen gadgets, flowers, recipes (some of which I have yet to try), holidays, experiences and rants on customer service and local politics - are all interesting. What's nice is that he regularly updates so there is something new all the time.

Recently, he had a Christmas fund drive to provide free lunch to public school children. I was more than willing to donate as I believe that children need to be fed the right food, to develop their brains. Kids in our public schools are most often malnourished or undernourished so this was a worthwhile cause. Imagine if each child just eats better, he'll do better in school, hopefully get encouraged to learn, maybe finish school and finally, be more productive to society. So I purchased some shirts and two totes, the plan for the latter to be my staple Alabang Saturday market bag.

Let's go to the market, Mom!

I have been going to the Alabang Saturday Market for a few weeks now. I used to accompany my Dad to the Sidcor, now Lung Center Sunday Market to buy fish, vegetables, breakfast food for the week. It was our little bonding every week, not to mention pre-breakfast as I'd be eating barbecue (Ineng's!) while walking.

When I got married and moved to Alabang, I missed going to the market and I'm glad that there is a "mini-Sidcor" here. Now, it's my bonding time with Elissa, with the usual barbecue and puto to keep our tummies full, lest we start buying more than what we need.

Elissa's Marketmanila Suki bag

The Alabang market is not as extensive as the one at the Lung Center as it does not have my favorite tapa and fresh fish. But it's good enough for the usual veggies, breakfast and cooked foods. And at least they have breads (I get this really good foccacia from Monster Bread) and kesong puti (from Mrs. Oppen with very good bibingka)! I wasn't able to take pictures as I just wanted to take a photo of Elissa with the bag... Maybe next week...

Now if only I can wake up earlier to catch the Salcedo Market....

Elissa and the Breastpump

This is proof that kids initially learn by imitating others. Us grown-ups really need to watch what we say or do... See Elissa and her attempt at breast pumping!!!

Oooohh... Mommy's shields

Need to put up my shirt

Now where does Mommy put it?

Need to put both of 'em on

There's the pump! Lets put our shirt down...

Where's the switch?