Basic First Aid Training for First-Time Parents

I guess it's safe to say that whenever our kids get a booboo, no matter how small, we all get a little panicky at first. We want them to learn on their own. We want them to see what hurts and what doesn't. We want them to rise back up when they fall. Yes, we want it all but at the same time, we don't want to see them hurting. #yearofthewhogoat

There are a lot of ways for us to help them with this and personally, as a first-time mom, I have no idea where to start. I even get to the point where I get all paranoid and think "Oh no, I won't be able to help my daughter. I might screw this up...I might screw HER up."

Good news to all (paranoid) parents like me: There is a workshop to help us refresh our first aid training back in highschool (where we should all start in terms of helping them recover from EVERYTHING that will hurt them deeply... #yearofthewhogoat talaga!) that - I am pretty sure - you didn't take seriously, too.

Manila Workshops, in partnership with Best for Families, Inc. and the Philippine Red Cross, is conducting a 4-hour, intensive seminar for first aid training called First Time Parents: Basic First Aid. All you need to know regarding first aid will be presented to you by professionals from the Philippine Red Cross.

First Time Parents: Basic First Aid will be held on March 14, 2015, Saturday, from 1:00 PM til 5:00 PM at the Best for Families, Inc. headquarters located in #29 1st St., New Manila, Quezon City.

Registration fee's at PHP600 for one person and PHP1000 for couples. You can pay via BPI, Unionbank, and Paypal. To register, you can visit this link and put in your details. Kindly use SMCFTPBFA1 in the referral code in the registration form to let them know you got to know about this event from Supermommy Chronicles.

For more information, you can contact Ms. Donna Donor of Manila Workshops at donna@manilaworkshops.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates regarding the workshops and seminars that they are and will be holding.

Brianna's 4th Birthday Celebration

Sharing Brianna's 4th birthday Jessie the Cowgirl celebration photos at the KinderCrib Learning and Childcare Center last Thursday. She had fun but she kept on getting the urge to cry and we don't know why. We assumed she was just so touched by her teachers and classmates. Haha!

After greeting Brianna a happy birthday, they played 2 games: Musical chairs and this game where they tuck a ball in between their legs and they race around chairs and pass it to the next person in line. 

After the games, we sang the Happy Birthday song:

And she blew out her candles...but not without letting go of my hand. That's why you can spot my hand in the photo below.

She also didn't get to blow them all in one go so she pulled me in to help her with them.

After that, eating time of course!

And then, gifts and giveaways time, their (seemingly) most favorite part of any party. They were all too excited to receive the lootbags, a lot of them kept going to the lootbags and the teachers had to make them sit one by one. I really admire the patience of preschool teachers...

And there you have it; Brianna's birthday party. The birthday girl wants to thank you all who greeted her (pati narin yung mga humahabol pa).

Day 1, Part 3: #TeCasIlocosTour2015

(You can read Day 1, Part 2 of our tour here.)

Before heading to Pagudpod, we passed by the Cape Bojeador Light House and the Bangui Wind Mills. On our way to Cape Bojeador, we stopped over at this place that sells salt. Some of us went down to see how salt from Ilocos are made but most of us stayed inside the van because we were parked on the side of the road and we didn't want to be like that roadkill I mentioned before.

After that, on to Cape Bojeador, which was breath-taking. I don't know why old buildings have this kind of effect on me.

It was raining when we got there so we didn't spend much time there. Although there wasn't really much to see there. The view, though, oh my gosh:

This photo was taken by a foreigner, probably a Swedish guy. After taking this shot, he asked us to take one of him and his Filipina date. They were so cute, they kept on laughing the entire time.

After that last shot, we literally ran to the van because it was beginning to rain hard. We then went to the Bangui Wind Mills. We didn't really get to enjoy the place and take loads of pictures because by then, the rain was pouring down hard on us. Brianna was also too tired by that time so we stayed in the van while she slept. The warriors that were my family and the Castañeda family went through with their picture-taking session by the wind mills:

They were shivering when they entered the van. They were too wet because of the rain/mist from the sea and the wind was blowing so hard at the same time. We had to turn the air conditioning unit of the van off for a few minutes so they could recover from the cold.

After their chilly Bangui Wind Mills experience, we headed to the Saud Beach in Pagudpod where we settled and ate early dinner in - SUPER SARAP NG FOOD OHMYGOSH - so we could sleep early.

Our first day's quite tiring. The trip from Manila to Ilocos itself is tiring, add that to the full itinerary we had and that will equate to an early night in. If you will be booking with the agency we booked with, N.E.C. Tours, you most probably will have the same itinerary.

Our second day's quite chill, though...

For the birthday girl...

To my dearest baby girl,

Happy 4th birthday, Brianna! You are growing up so fast, I wish I could grip whatever it is that's making you grow and just ask it to slow down a bit.

I am so proud of all the things that you are doing and all the things that you are trying to do. No matter what happens, kahit sobrang naghihigpit ako sayo (sabi nila), please know that I've got your back - and your well-being in mind - all the time. I will support you through everything you will ever decide upon on from now until the end of time because I know that you are a smart girl. That you know what you should and shouldn't do. Yes, even at the tender age of 4, I trust your intuition and your decisions. Sometimes I disagree with you and force my thinking on you and for those times, I apologize. I guess it's human/mommy nature to nag but know that I am doing everything I can to improve my "mommy-ness" everyday. Susubukan kong hindi maging nagger and assuming talaga kasi sa lahat ng ayaw ko, yang dalawang yan talaga. I will try to be that mom you can confide everything - literal, 'nak, everything kahit sex life mo pa yan - in and that mom you would be proud to "share" with your friends.

I am so happy that you are growing up to be that respectful albeit shy little girl (at first) that you are now. There's nothing wrong with being shy, despite what other people are telling you. Keep that in mind. I love you for who you are and I won't change anything, Lovey. You are perfect in my eyes, despite all the "imperfections" that other people seem to see in you, a little girl.

Thank you for making Mommy feel better whenever I feel sad. Your simple "Mommy, why are you crying?" is enough to put a smile on my face. Your hugs make me feel loved despite all the wrongs in our world. Your attempt to literally wipe away my tears helps me build the strength to just keep going despite wanting to give up and just end everything. You are truly the reason why I am here and why I am pushing through all the hardships.

My wish for you is for you to grow up to be the best you truly are meant to be and for you to grow up  healthy, loving, respectful, strong, and courageous. I also wish for you to follow your heart's desires, no matter what they may be. I will be right behind you 100%.

Thank you, honey, and I love you so much. We will get through everything together and come out victorious in the end.

Happy birthday, Brianna Angelica!

What’s Happening This Weekend at Medela House: A Yaya Seminar and A Support Group Meeting for Moms with Multiples!

Parenting is a journey, and is one that should definitely not be done alone. We all know that the support of those around us is extremely important, and that’s why this weekend’s special events at Medela House are all about giving moms and dads the support they need.

Help your yaya learn how to support you through the Yaya Seminar on Toddler Care

If you’re a parent with a toddler who is left in your yaya’s care most of the time, this is one seminar that you should definitely let her attend. Remember, your yaya can support you best if she is “equipped” with the skills and knowledge to do so!

The speaker from Peek-A-Boo Housekeeping Training Agency will cover topics like feeding, bathing, dressing, sleeping, playing, safety, caring for toddler toys, and food preparation.

The yaya seminar will be from 9.00-11.30 a.m. on February 7, 2015 (Saturday) at Medela House (No. 29, 1st Street, New Manila, Quezon City). For rates*, and to register a slot, call or text 0917-8110821.

*Note: Medela pump customers who bought their pumps from MedelaMoms Inc., Rustans, Mothercare, Babyland, The Oak and Acorn, “Modern” Mama Baby Shop, Abe Abe Breastfeeding Club, and The Parkview Clinic at Salcedo Park are entitled to a discount upon registration.

Are you or someone you know a parent of multiples? Get the support you need this weekend at “Seeing Doubles”!

Seeing Doubles is a support group for parents — especially moms — of multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) that was launched by MedelaMoms Maricel Cua and Beng Feliciano last year. Its purpose is to provide encouragement and practical tips for those who are raising multiples. Beng is actually a mom of twins herself.

Get the support you need as a parent of multiples, and learn from veteran mommies of multiples, too.

Snacks and treats will be provided by Archie Chuachoco of Sun Life Financial and Theresa Orteza of Mommy & Baby Essentials. To register for the support group meeting, just text/call 0917-8110821.

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About Medela House

Medela House in New Manila, Quezon City, is fairly well-known as a “center for learning,” among other things. It is actually the business office of Medela Moms Incorporated (MMI), but the moms who set it up actually had other plans for it from the very beginning.

"More than being a business office, Medela House is a haven for breastfeeding moms where we share experiences, learnings, tips, friendships and other parenting concerns," Maricel Cua, co-owner of MMI, shares.

Maricel and her partner, Beng Feliciano, are committed to helping parents on the exciting and sometimes “bumpy” road of parenthood, by helping provide support in different ways.

One of the ways they do this is by partnering with different businesses, organizations and groups that can hold learning events at Medela House.

If you want to learn more about the different events held at Medela House, please send an email to medelamoms@gmail.com or mmi.tinar@gmail.com.

Our Nuffsaid Grand Gathering Experience

I am not much of a car enthusiast. I appreciate a nice, sexy, clean car, yes, but if you ask me what a stance set-up looks like or what 17x9 205/40r17 means, I'd be staring at you like I stared at my Physics teacher back in highschool. So how did Brianna and I end up in one of the biggest car meets of the year? My dearest boyfriend is a part of the Nuffsaid Society, the group that organized this grand gathering of car clubs.

We got to the One E-Comm parking lot at the Mall of Asia at around 3pm and we were 286th in line. They were expecting 300 cars to be a part of this event. By the end of the Nuffsaid Grand Gathering, they had roughly 500 participants.

We met up with the gang and we hung out, ate TONS of chips, and watched the kids dance:

(Everywhere we go, hiphop music was blasting through cars' speakers, I had a great time soundtripping as well. Yes, I'm a hiphop/RnB kind of girl. Kung di lang nakakahiyang magsasasayaw dun, I might've done it.)

Since this is a car meet, there were tons of cars in the area. I mean, duh, Ale. Right? Anyway, a whole lot of them were set-up, Fast and the Furious-style. It's so cool. I mean, I watched the entire franchise - sooooo excited for Furious 7!!! - and the Nuffsaid Grand Gathering looked something like that minus the drifting cars and Vin Diesel. Here are some of my favorites:

But I guess this one's the best one for me:

While Brianna and Hannah seem to have enjoyed this car:

Before the event ended, they gave away the awards to the winners. The trophies look too cute:

Now, I still don't know what car meets exactly are for but I can tell you for sure that both Brianna and I enjoyed our very first Nuffsaid Grand Gathering experience.

Thank you so much, Nuffsaid Society! Looking forward to attending our next Nuffsaid Grand Gathering!

Nuffsaid Society t-shirts, car stickers, and other merchandise are for sale on their Facebook page, for those who are interested. So mommies, if you or your hubbies love cars, you might want to drop by the Nuffsaid Facebook page. So much sexy cars to drool over, I promise you.

Photo credits:
Jec Santiago
John Paul Luis

Avoid the ticket ruckus with Rukkus.

I am a huuuuuuuuge Ne-Yo fan but for some strange reason, I just learned of his Manila concert a few days ago. Despite my many desperate attempts to get myself a couple of tickets, I am still ticket-less up to now. Huhuhuhu. City of Dreams, why aren't you so keen in getting me into the concert of my dreams?!

Anyway, I just hope that there's a ticketing company here in the Philippines like Rukkus. Rukkus is a live entertainment search engine and marketplace that has the cheapest tickets to concert, sports, and theater events in the United States. They scout for the whole web and their network of private brokers to give their customers the tickets at the cheapest prices.

What's cooler about Rukkus is that they are the only website where you can see the view of the ticket seat you're buying so you can make that crucial decision in choosing the best seat in the house for you.

(To be quite honest, now that I've put it out there, it's going to be a challenge for Philippine ticketing companies to adopt this kind of system to the Philippine concert scene.)

Rukkus will be holding a giveaway for those who are living in the US or those who are traveling there. They will be giving away $250 worth of concert, sports, and theater tickets. If only Ne-Yo's Concert of Dreams tickets were available with Rukkus, I would no doubt join this giveaway.

For those who are interested to join this Rukkus giveaway, here are the mechanics:

1. Write a haiku about your favorite concert, sports, or theater event you’ve attended and send it to giveaway@rukkus.com (+1 entry)
2. Tweet “I just entered to win $250 in event tickets from rukkus.com #jointherukkus” (+1 entry)
3. Tag us on Instagram at a concert, sports, or theater event with the hashtag @jointherukkus #jointherukkus (+1 entry)

Their giveaway will officially open on February 2 (US) and will end on February 16th (US) so if you've been planning to watch a game, a show, and a concert, write those haikus and update your Twitter and Instagram pages now!

For more information about this giveaway, you can visit their website at http://rukkus.com. Their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ pages can help you out, too! You can also download their app; they're available at the App Store and on Google Play.