Second Batch of Winnings at Mom Center

Yey, we got 4 out of 5 categories for the months of March and April (pregnant moms, baby, family and newborn). Here are our winning pictures:

Pregnant Moms

Newborn

Family

Baby

My Baby King also won at their Facebook monthly contest. He got the most number of "likes". I was so happy of course, this was his very first online contest. Thanks dear friends for your unending support for my babies :)

Here are our prizes:

I would also like to congratulate my sister for winning 3 categories.

Thanks again Mom Center!

(Click here to view our first winnings at MC.)

Sweet Memories With Yoshinoya

I joined Yoshinoya's contest at Facebook last month. Here's my winning entry:

"If I win, I will invite my hubby Jomark Villestas to YOSHINOYA PHILIPPINES (YCPI) and order their best selling Gyudons! That would be a very nice treat for such a hardworking husband and dad like him."

We won 2 bowls of their yummy Beef Gyudon with drinks as a prize.

We were supposed to take a sweet photo but since wala kaming kasamang kukuha, eh, wala kaming magandang pic (nakakahiya kasing magpa picture sa crew, libre na nga, eh, hehehe). So ayun, 'di na kami sumali dun sa next contest pa sana.

But we were of course still thankful, syempre anything na libre, masarap! Kahit nga si Masheng na mahirap pakainin, eh na enjoy ang food nila.

She also had a taste of their Mandarin Orange ice cream. I've tried it as well, ang sarap!

Baby King was with us also, but of course, he couldn't eat yet, nanakam lang, takaw kasi!

Thanks Yoshinoya for such a delicious treat!

Marchelle's 16th Magazine Appearance

Katuwa naman, sunod sunod! Suki na kami ng Baby Mag!

The picture was taken at Eco Park. Obviously, masayang masaya ang water baby! Giniginaw na 'yan pero smile pa din :)

Click here to view her 15th Magazine Appearance.

Marchelle's 15th Magazine Appearance

Moms Today naman ulit. One of my fave mags kasi may prizes!

This picture was taken in Subic (2008). It was her very first beach experience that's why she looks happy and excited on the pic, (unang tapak nya sa beach sand).

Her outfit was a very cheap terno bought from a tyange. Actually short talaga yung nasa ulo nya. Since it was still too big for her then, ginawa ko na lang bonnet, hehehe...

Click here for her 14th Magazine Appearance.

Marchelle's 14th Magazine Appearance

It's her second time on Smart Parenting's Kiddie Greets...

Katuwa naman, last year, less than lang ata silang na - feature, ngayon mas marami na!

Click here for Masheng's 13th Magazine Appearance.

Our Fit N' Right Prizes

Guess who's behind the boxes... ^^

We got 2 boxes of Fit N' Right fruit snacks! Thank you so much Fit N' Right and Yehey! We'll absolutely be fit n' fab this sumer.

It was so nice to finally meet my fellow online mommies Esvi and Mia! Hope to see you again soon!

Fit N' Right Beauties ^^

Marchelle's 3rd Birthday (Barbie Summer Themed Party)

Since we didn't have a big budget for Masheng's 3rd birthday, we planned to just have a small celebration at home.

Actually, her first 2 birthdays were also held at home. Although, we spent more on those compared to this one. On her first 2 birthdays, we were able to invite more friends, while we were not able to do so this year. We just had a very intimate party with our relatives and some neighbors.

But of course, despite the budget constraints, we still wanted our little girl to have fun on her special day. So we thought of having a swimming party for her (Ooops, we don't have a big pool, we just used her infatable pools).

Being a water baby she is, we were certain that she would enjoy such a party. It was also very timely since the summer heat is already here. So from there, I thought of making her birthday celebration a Barbie-summer-themed party.

The tarp and the invitaion was made by me again of course (both were rushed and were finished just days before the celebration). This is something that I won't get tired of doing. And it's something that I'm really proud of. I may not have much money to give her the grandest parties but somehow, by doing such small things, I could say that everything's made and prepared out of love.

Just like what I did on her first two birthday tarps, I included her 24th month - 35th month pictures.

We've used all three. So it was like a display of her monthly pictures from birth to her latest month. I hope I won't fail doing so each year until she reaches 18. On her debut, I want all her tarps of 18 years be there :)

Here's the Barbie-summer-themed invite...

.... and her Barbie-summer-themed cake with the Barbie loots:

Cake was from my mom (thanks Ma!) and her treats were sponsored by Milkita candies ^^

The kids had so much fun! For her birthday photos, click here.

Click the link to view her 2nd birthday tarp and invite: http://almark71498.multiply.com/journal/item/127/Whats_for_Mashengs_Second_Birthday

Things That I've Discovered About Masheng During the Expo Kid Fair

It was a day of fun and learning not just for Masheng but for me as well. Through it, I got to discover more about my little girl's skills. It was very timely since weve been thinking of the best workshop or activity for her this summer. At least now, we have an idea of which among those she would really enjoy.

Here are the things that I've discovered about Masheng during the fair:

- She really loves being on the spotlight. Pagkakita pa lang nya ng stage, gusto na nyang umakyat kahit na may ongoing segment at maraming taong nanonood. When I finally allowed her to go up there, ayun, nagpo pose na at nagpa picture nang nagpa picture.

- She really loves the arts. That's why she enjoyed some of the art activities in the fair like jar painting (at Summit Media's stand), mask designing (at Kids Ahoy's booth), coloring etc... She even asked me to buy her art stuff. Muntik na akong bumili, buti na lang at naisip ko na mas mura pa rin at mas maraming choices sa National Bookstore.

- She enjoys active learning. She likes activities which would make her move. She loves dancing, jumping, running etc. Basta lahat ng activities na may kasamang laro, game sya. Kaya enjoy na enjoy sya sa activities ng Music and Me.

- Given na yung sobrang kalikutan nya. That's why I know that she would enjoy learning at kiddie gyms. Pero mas na convince ako when I saw her play at Little Gym's booth. She loves jumping, climbing, tumbling etc. Lahat na ata ng kalikutan, nagawa na nya. She doesn't mind getting hurt. Sana lang may mas mura pang playschools sa Gymboree and little Gym (suggestions please!).

- She's not so much into music instruments. She plays with them out of curiosity at first pero madali syang magsawa. Yung drumset nga sa isa sa mga booths, eh, halos dinedma nya. I'm happy with this discovery since Joms is planning to buy her one. Buti na lang at hindi pa sya nakakabili, kung nagkataon pala eh masasayang lang.

- She doesn't like sitting down for so long even when with a group of kids. She easily gets bored with activities which would require her to stay in one place for several minutes (like listening to stories, watching puppet shows etc). This means, she really isn't ready for a big school yet. We've been thinking of enrolling her next school year pa naman but since ganun nga, we better just wait until next year. She's just turning 3 anyway.

- Takot sya sa Hermit Crab. Sayang, gusto ko pa naman sana syang bilhan para may bago syang pet. ^^

It was indeed a day full of surprises! Kaya kahit sobrang layo ng Rockwell at medyo nahirapan kami mag comute eh, ok lang. Kung may next time pa, we'll definitely join again. Special thanks to Kids Ahoy since I've learned this event through them. 'Till next time!

For more pictures, click here.

Baby King's First Solid Food

Since nag 4 months na si Baby King, we gave him his first solid food na. Ate Masheng had hers kasi at 4 months din (she had it a day after turning 4 months old). They both had Gerber, different flavors lang (banana for ate and carrot for bunso).

Here is a scrap page that I made for Masheng when she had her very first solid food. My mom and my aunt were the ones who fed her (excited lolas, hehe). How time flies!

Syempre dapat may pics din si Baby King. This time, kami ng Papa nya ang nagpakain sa kanya. Ate Masheng was present din (parang mas excited ang ate).

With the whole family :)

He loved it!

Messy but still cute!

He wants more!

Sabi nang more pa, eh! Ayan, umiyak tuloy nung tapos na :)

Brag Bangles

It was last year when Masheng and I had our very first brag bangles. Since then, hindi na ako nagpapalit ng bangle tuwing umaalis kami. I got the gold edition brangle. It always catches people's attention since it's really unique and trendy. Everytime may nakakakita, they would ask where I bought it. I would just say, I bought it from a dear friend.

It took some time before Masheng got used to wearing hers (white naman ang sa kanya). She didn't like it at first, I think it was a bit uncomfy and heavy for her thin arms. But as time goes by, nasanay din. Sya pa mismo ang nagpapasuot nito tuwing aalis kami (together with a watch, ginagamit ko kasing pang harang yung relo para 'di mahulog 'yung bangle). But unfortunately, kung kailan naman ok na sa kanya, eh saka naman nya naiwala.

Masheng wearing her old brag bangle.

So I asked our mommy friend Tine kung gumagawa pa sya ng bangles. I wanted another one for Masheng and for me na rin. She told me that she doesn't make them anymore, but she said that she'll make one for Masheng ulit. Buti na lang at naisipan kong magpagawa na. She's about to leave na kasi.

Sa sobrang tuwa ko, nagpagawa ako ng 2 for my li'l girl. I requested for a toddler-sized one which is similar to what she used to have before and a much bigger one, para may gagamitin pa din sya when she gets older (Ifor me, these kinds of stuff are timeless). These are more special kasi this time, kasama na ang pictures ni Baby King.

Happy with her new bangles.

I also asked her to make 6 adult bangles. My sisters and my mom have been wanting it din kasi so I thought that it would be a very nice Christmas present for them.

I know my share of review about these adorable bangles is quite late already. I just want to express my appreciation and grattitude to it's maker, Mommy Tine. Thanks kasi pinagbigyan mo 'yung request ko kahit na super busy ka rin last month (since she's leaving na nga). Sobrang thank you for the time and effort. I was really touched when you told me that you were willing to make some again for Masheng (she stopped creating them na rin kasi). And thanks din syempre for giving me a discount. Promise, mas iingatan ko na sila this time (kasi 'pag nawala pa sila ulit, wala na kong kukulitin na gumawa ulit, hehehe).

Goodluck to you and your family.