A December weekend to remember with Medela

Ah Christmas time. The time of the year when practically each and everyone of us has someplace else to be not only because they want to but also because they need to. Christmas shopping, reunions, trips, what-have-yous will practically make your December calendar full so it's high time you include these Medela activities to the upcoming weekend:

Breastfeeding: A Crash Course for the Busy Mom

I am a breastfeeding advocate. I've breastfed Brianna for 2 years, 7 months before I weaned her off it and I highly encourage new moms to do it. It was easy for me, being a work-from-home mom but if you're a working mom, it can get quite tricky. Medela has teamed up with Babyland to organize a free seminar on Saturday, December 6, from 8am to 12nn called Breastfeeding: A Crash Course for the Busy Mom to help raise awareness for breastfeeding for busy moms. It will be held at the Babyland at Facilities Center, 548 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

The (1st ever!) Medela House Christmas Sale

After the seminar, you might want to drop by the first ever Medela House Christmas Sale on the same date to tick off all the items in your Christmas shopping list. Doors will open at 10am for regular customers and it will be held at the Medela House at 29 First Street, New Manila in Quezon City. Enjoy discounted items from brands such as TippyToes, HipSeats, Tummy Tub, and more! will If you pre-register to the event, you'll receive a lootbag c/o Medela!

The Learning Basket Community Fair

Kids can join in the weekend fun, too! The Learning Basket Community Fair - which will be held on December 7, Sunday - has all sorts of books available for kids and kids-at-heart alike. There will also be a storytelling session with Jomike Tejido and KaHone Art, Ma'am and Mom's Educational Hub, and many more will join in the merriment as well. The community fair will be held at the Best for Families Inc. headquarters located at 29 First Street, New Manila in Quezon City.

Have a fun weekend!

Brianna on a Monster High...high.

Early November's Happy Meal toy happened to be one of Brianna's favorites: Monster High. Personally, I am not so fond of these characters because they look like witches but Brianna adores them so much, I let her have some items with the Monster High characters. I don't let her watch the series, though.

Lucky for her, 4 toys have been released by McDonald's for early November's Happy Meal (which, apparently, already ended because I just checked the McDonald's app and they now have the penguins from the movie Madagascar):

And the bebe couldn't be any more happier (and arte-er):

Chilling Chamber Keeper

The first one we got was the Chilling Chamber Keeper. It's my favorite among the set. It came with 2 sheets of stickers, a few sheets of notepads, and some activity sheets which Brianna used, like, within 2 hours upon opening the package. The box was made of plastic and is pretty roomy for the way it looks. It won't fit a standard pen/pencil but it can fit Crayolas and colored pencils the size of the pencil that came with it (which was pink, by the way).

Ghoulfriend Locket

Brianna's favorite, the Ghoulfriend Locket, came with cardboard photos of the 3 characters and their pets (probably...I wouldn't know because I haven't seen the series). It's made of plastic, too, and I love the details on the locket itself. Obviously, Brianna loves this so much, she wants to bring it with her to school everyday.

Clawsome Magnet Clip

The Clawsome Magnet Clip, I have to admit, is cute although I can't stick it on anything in our room. It came with 2 sheets of stickers - looooove the cat with an attitude - and a few sheets with the Monster High logo, I assume: a skill with a fuchsia pink ribbon like a gothic Hello Kitty.

Spooky Specs

This red plastic Spooky Specs is one of the cutest things I've ever seen. The temple parts (I had to find what they were called!) could be opened as wide as you want to. They can be snapped on and off, most probably anticipating kids to somehow break it on the hinge part (huhuhuhu my Firmoo aviators). The specs also don't have any glasses on them for safety purposes, too, I assume. Anyway, I had to take a photo of Brianna wearing it because she was too cute!

See? I told you she's too cute!

This Monster High set is pretty cool, considering the McDonald's Happy Meal toys that came before this one and I can safely assume that both Brianna and I are hoping that the next toys will be as good as this set. We'll be more than willing to collect the set in one sitting, if that's the case.

(Please, McDonald's, My Little Pony and/or Hello Kitty - again! My Little Pony for Brianna and Hello Kitty for me. Hehe.)

Get yummy food via FoodPandaPH!

I guess every single parent knows how hard it is to balance work, friends, dating, me-time, and the kids. I know I do. Sometimes, it gets as worse for me as actually forgetting to eat...or remembering to eat but not having the time to actually get food. Good thing there's food delivery services available everywhere now. You don't have to worry about getting food at the end of the day, when you just want to sit back, put your feet up, and watch Primetime Bida 'til you can't anymore.

Internet has helped us have a more comfortable life, with almost everything accessible by just clicking a button and that includes getting food. I am so guilty of abusing online ordering systems and I've probably tried each and everyone of them. One of the better systems out there has got to be FoodPandaPH. If there are three words to describe the FoodPandaPH experience, they are easy, yummy, and fuhreakin'awesome. Yes, that's one word. Hihi.

FoodPanda.PH is an online ordering system that has a wide range of restaurants serving different cuisines in their portal where customers can order and have their food delivered at their doorsteps...or desks. Some popular restaurants in their portal are Yellow Cab, Gerry's Grill, The Aristocrat Restaurant, and Tony Roma's.

Ordering from FoodPandaPH is easy...especially if you learn it using this adorable comic strip I got from MommyBloggersPhilippines.com.

The FoodPandaPH website isn't the only place you can order food from your area. They have apps for iOS, Android, and Windows so you can order food even if you're on the go.

If anything, though, I just hoped that all the restaurants in FoodPandaPH didn't have a delivery minimum fee. I mean, I am pretty sure that there are times when you just want to eat, say, a bowl of ramen noodles on a cold Sunday night and it might be disappointing to find out that your favorite Japanese restaurant won't deliver unless you order Php450 worth of ramen noodles.

Now that it's out there, though, I want me some ramen.

Doc McStuffins Hugs and Snugs Contest

Lately, I've been on the mommy mindset a lot: thinking of where I'd get the money for Brianna's upcoming birthday party (in school), trying to budget what money I have now to last at least til the end of the year, scheduling different activities for Brianna, the boyfriend, and I to enjoy... It gets tiring a lot of times and I do quite a lot of nonsensical things whenever I take a breather from being a mom. One of those "nonsensical things" was join this contest in Disney Junior Asia called the Doc McStuffins Hugs and Snugs Contest and guess what?

WE WERE ONE OF THE WINNERS!!!

They sent us a bunch of Doc McStuffins toys as prize and they all came last Monday:

What we got were the following:

1. Doctor Dress-Up Set (which Brianna opened right away)
2. Musical Light-Up Mic
3. I Feel Better First Aid Kit
4. Big Book of Boo Boos
5. Doc & Friends (Stuffy)
6. Doc & Friends (Chilly)

That is one happy little girl!

I had her open one of the prizes right away, as promised. She picked the Doctor's Dress-Up Set and this is how she looks like in it:

A quick review of the Doctor's Dress-Up Set:

1. The white doctor's lab coat and striped inner shirt were too big for her right now, which is perfect for next Halloween (MUHAHAHAHA saved, like, 800 pesos for next year's costume).
2. The signature Doc McStuffins pink headband is not of standard size. I guess it would fit a kid with a cone for a head or something. It was that tight.
3. The doctor's name badge came with interchangeable inserts: There's one with Doc McStuffins' name on it and the other one's blank for the kids' name.
4. The pink plastic stethoscope doesn't make any sounds or even just light up. It's so cute, though.

I kept everything else so I can wrap them for Christmas. I explained to her how she'd have more gifts to open for Christmas if she didn't open everything in one go and she was immediately on board.

We already have some of the prizes (Musical Light-Up Mic, Doc & Friends - Stuffy, and Doc & Friends - Chilly) and Brianna, being the thoughtful girl that she is, told me we could give them to her cousins/titas (my baby cousins) as gifts this Christmas.

Personally, I can't wait to open the I Feel Better First Aid Kit. I've seen that one in Toy Kingdom the first time they had Doc McStuffins toys in stock and I immediately fell in love with it...okay, I totes love anything that comes close to being an organizer of sorts. Anyway, I am posting the reviews of the other toys after Christmas, once she opens them.

I love joining contests and I love winning them but most of all, I love winning them for my daughter. It makes me feel like I'm making her feel proud of me. Yes, right now they're just petty online contests but next time, I'll win in life and she will be so damn proud I'm her momma just like I am proud that she's my daughter.

The Supermommy has emerged from the breastfeeding station.

Thank you, Lord, for second chances, am I right?

It has been 2 years since Supermommy Chronicles was last updated and a lot has happened to both Brianna and I in my blogging hiatus but now, I'm back, packed with 2 years worth of insightful - albeit, frustrating - experiences that I want to share with everybody. (No, I don't know EVERYTHING, I'm not a know-it-all... #hugot101)

Anyway, along with the comeback are a few new updates for Supermommy Chronicles:

1. A new blog look. I got rid of the boxes from the old Awesome Blogger template and just went with the Ethereal Blogger template this time. I changed the colors to fit my preference and viola! A new blog look. It just looks so much better and neater now.
2. A new blog banner. I just had to get rid of the actual pink Superman logo from the old blog header because a friend ruined it for me. Plus I wanted to actually capture the essence of a Supermommy on my banner. I was thinking of including a shadow photo of the New York skyline on the banner but thought it was too pretentious if I did...also, my Photoshop (okay, you caught me...it's Picmonkey) skillz aren't enough for me to pull that one off. Credits to http://www.wannabeheroine.com for the Supergirl vector image.
3. Proud member of Mommy Bloggers Philippines. Yes, I actually joined a community for mommy bloggers to get the latest on parenting strategies, products for kids, and everything else I need to learn about in my attempt to become the super-est (eh?) mommy who ever lived.
4. Supermommy Chronicles social media accounts. I've finally gotten around to setting up the social media accounts for the blog. To be quite honest, this decision took, like, 2 full days of deliberating with myself. I just ended up telling myself "Meh. Hayaan mo silang okrayin ang grammar ko..." I just gotta suck it up. Anyway, just click on the icons to follow my online accounts (I've yet to set-up an Instagram account for the blog):

     So, there you go. Welcome to Supermommy Chronicles. Hope you pick-up a thing or two from me. :)

Brianna's First Haircut at Cuts 4 Tots

I know that it's been more than two weeks since Brianna got her first haircut but as we all say, better late than never!

I've decided long before Brianna was about to get her haircut that a professional would do it. The fact that she might have lesser hair than a usual one-year old didn't actually occur to me. Either way, I wasn't going to touch her hair anyway because I am one of those people who does not do well with scissors on her hand.

We visited Cuts 4 Tots at the SM Megamall Annex last July 2, 2012 for Brianna's haircut.

Last photos with Brianna's long(er) hair.

At first she was really calm and even played with the very patient employees but when she heard the snips of the scissors, she started panicking. She was crying the whole time - which was about 10 minutes, 15 maximum - and I was having a hard time trying to get her to sit on the car so I don't have photos while she was having the haircut.


I just had her buntot cut off because it looks really awful. Her bangs were cut, too. They just cut it straight so she'd look cuter. The result?

It doesn't look much in the photos but you'd know the difference when you see her in person.


Cuts 4 Tots also offer this Baby's First Cut Certificate and being the mom that I am, I availed it and after two weeks of processing from the haircut day itself, here's Brianna's certificate:

Everything cost me Php490. The certificate costs Php195 while the haircut cost Php295. Just enough for a kid's haircut if you ask me. It was worth it in my part, too, because Brianna was not really cooperating. I can't imagine doing everything on my own!


Children's haircut is not the only service they offer. They also offer adult haircut, bang trim, hot oil treatment and shampoo and blowdry. They also offer baby products like hand sanitizers, anti-bug sprays and styling gel for kids. Cuts 4 Tots is defintely a one-stop shop when it comes to all your baby's hair needs.

The Megamall Annex branch isn't the only branch that Cuts 4 Tots has. They have branches in Glorietta 4, SM Mall of Asia, V-Mall, Eastwood Mall, SM North EDSA, Trinoma and SM Pampanga.

Since Cuts 4 Tots are celebrating their 10th year this year, they are offering a 50% discount for their Baby's First Haircut Certificate. Just print the photo embedded below and present it to your Cuts 4 Tots employee to avail of the discount:

Coupon from Cuts 4 Tots website

You have three days left to avail of the discount so hurry now to the nearest Cuts 4 Tots branch and get your baby the haircut s/he so deserves.

Needed help. Got help.

(This is yet another reason for me to believe in the Law of Attraction.)

I needed help with the twins. Actually, I've been needing help with them since I got pregnant. My mom couldn't help me with them primarily because she's not a professional that could actually give me the greatest advice when it came to my milkmakers. My trip to Wacoal not only gave me much-needed help, they also gave me tips on how to actually wear a bra.

I believe in RawEmpowerment.ph's advocacy.

As a woman, and now a mom, I firmly believe that there is no such thing as a weaker gender. Women are just as strong, if not stronger, than men. The reason? Well, for one thing, women are given the task of taking care of a real person inside her body for 9 months. That in itself requires the strength of a hundred men. What more if you add building and nurturing for a family for the rest of her life while working a very demanding job, being a good daughter (and daughter-in-law) and still look like a beauty queen while juggling all of those things all at the same time?

If you believe in the strength of women and, like me, you'd want to let the whole world know how great it is being a woman, join the RawEmpowerment.Ph Faceboook page and break the barriers of marginalism by supporting their campaign.

Online store.

I am currently getting rid of some of the clutter in our room and I've found some things that we don't/won't use anymore and I've decided to sell them all online. If you are looking for super cheap breastmilk bags, running shoes and everything in between, I suggest you visit my online shop:

http://jellybeanness.multiply.com/

Just don't expect too much from it because everything is secondhand or just given to me that I don't use and will not use. It's nothing special, really.

Me Time.

Ever since Brianna came to my life, I've changed a couple of the routines that I do on a day-to-day basis. The one that has probably changed a lot since the baby came is "Me Time" and I am sure that all of us will agree on this one.

Me Time has not only been changed but I also had to reduce it because I now need more sleep than I needed before. Anyway, Me Time consist of the following now:

• Updating offline and online resumes (JobsDB, Jobstreet, oDesk)
• Downloading and watching TV series (currently watching the whole As Told By Ginger series)
• Reading tweets (I should really stop doing this...)
• Cleaning the bedroom
• Fixing the closet
• Running errands
• Online shopping

A friend of mine told me that I should be taking a break every once in a while. Visit the salon, have a coffee or any other activity that requires me to leave the house but I get all guilty even just by thinking about it.

Is anyone else having the same problem as I do or is there anyone who have experienced it before? How are you handling it? How did you handle it?