Family Archives - Page 2 of 4

09
Mar
2015

Lemon Kiss: Pretty apparel for your little girl

It’s fun to have a girl for a firstborn. I seem to only replicate how my parents would dress me up as a young girl.

Even my husband loves prepping up our little one, especially for church. On Sundays, he would sometimes be the one to choose a dress for Aria.

I found out this apparel line for just what we needed for the next shopping trip: more pretty dresses!

Lemon Kiss is the hippest girls’ wear since it was launched in SM Department Stores in 2003. With its trendy styles in a reasonable price, you’d find just what you need, when you need them.

If I were to choose a dress for my little one, it would be this:

She will definitely like the burst of her favourite colours on this one.

So, whether it be for your tots or pre-teens, Lemon Kiss has designs and sizes that will fit them and suit their personality. Aside from dresses, they also carry blouses, pants, skirts, shorts, pedals, overalls, jackets, among others.

Lemon Kiss is available at most The SM Store outlets. Follow them on Facebook. They recently uploaded their Sweet Sun Kissed Fashion event, perfect outfits for the summer.

~ Touringkitty

17
Dec
2014

Touringkittyps: Five ways for a meaningful #MerrySMChristmas

categories: Church Life, Family, Press Releases, Uncategorized

Christmas is just around the corner, literally. Eight more days and we once again feast, celebrate, gather family and friends, and feel God’s abundant blessings.

Are you fond of making Christmas lists? If you haven’t yet, maybe you could include these five things that I hope would make Christmas more meaningful to you.

A meaningful Christmas is:

1. Thanking God for His gift to mankind. Have a few minutes of reflection at the start or end of the day, and recall how God’s love is manifested through the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. Giving back. As you complete your Christmas list, don’t forget to set aside for your favourite charity.

Our church, the Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life near SM Mall of Asia, has an annual Christmas fundraising project for the Shrine’s maintenance and repairs. Last year, my children’s choir donated and we’re planning to do the same this year, hopefully with a higher amount. Your P1,000 donation will go a long way. Contact our Shrine Office from Tuesday to Sunday for details.

3. Serving others with gladness. Be it volunteering for an institution, visiting the poor and sick, or sharing your talents and skills for the church. Sharing is serving.

4. Doing good. In the simplest forms, like not littering, recycling, supporting local products, showing courtesy, following traffic rules. There are a thousand and one ways to do good anytime, anywhere.

And teach others to do good. MY daughter did her own share of doing good by donating to the SM Cares’ Bears of Joy. P200 for two bears, in which one is given to charity. She chose to give both.

5. Connecting with family and friends. Especially those whom you have not connected with for a long time, even enemies! Give love on Christmas Day may just be a song, but it holds the real essence of Christmas, which is God’s love for us.

And from the mall chain that has got it all for us, here’s how they make a very #MerrySMChristmas! Visit http://bit.ly/MerrySMChristmas for more details, and watch “How #MerrySMChristmas Begins.”

Have a good one!

~ Touringkitty

30
Nov
2014

Citizen Services: One stop for your government document needs

categories: Family, Press Releases

Do you need to acquire a Birth or Marriage Certificate? How about a new or renewing your passport?

Worry no more, with Citizen Services, you could do this and so much more!

Citizen Services is your one-stop shop for all your government document requirements.

Since 2000, Pilipinas Teleserv has been providing dynamic services to Filipinos with cutting-edge customer management solutions and innovative business process outsourcing services. Primary of these solutions is Citizen Services, an integrated customer service solution that has changed the way people transact with government agencies.

Citizen Services is comprised of essential people-oriented solutions in partnership with the National Statistics Office, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the POEA, Civil Service Commission, BIR, DTI, PhilHealth, NCC, DOH, the Government Service Insurance System, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the DPWH over the last decade.

With Citizen Services you can:

Request birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and certificates of no marriage (CENOMAR) via hotline 737-1111 or website (www.citizenservices.com.ph) and these will be delivered right to your doorstep. That easy!

DFA Passport Appointment System: Efficient and fast. Really.

Set your DFA Passport Appointment via hotline 737-1000 or www.passport.com.ph, appear on the appointment date on your chosen DFA Office or Satellite Branches, and either pick up your passport or deliver to your home. My last visit to DFA to renew my passport took less than an hour.

And I said they can do more, right? So, here’s more:

Your requirements from the Securities and Exchange Commission now can be processed and delivered online at www.secexpress.ph or over the phone at 737-8888.

From September 2012 until March 2014, Pilipinas Teleserv managed the Philippine Government’s ambitious Contact Center ng Bayan project, a national helpdesk that utilizes citizen vigilance to keep government offices and agents accountable for their actions. Concerned citizens can lodge complaints and request for information via the hotline, SMS, and email.

Aside from these government services, they have a very informative website:

Which features blogs, tips, and tricks regarding your government-issued documents.

Congratulations to Pilipinas Teleserv for initiating this service in service of the Filipino family.

Have you experienced the services of Pilipinas Teleserv? Do share with us!

~ Touringkitty

28
Aug
2013

Someone’s turning three…

categories: Family

And she’s not going to have a party!

I’m sure she would not mind anyway. At least she knows she is going on a trip next month, and she is too excited about it!

But anyways, my gift for you, Ariadne, is myself, being your mother. I will try my best to give you my undivided attention, though you are already aware that Mommy needs to work (at home, or sometimes out of home) so that we have a little extra for the things we want, like books and toys.

I will savor each moment with you especially these tender days of your childhood. We’ll discover more of ourselves and of each other. I know I have eaten my words when I said I wanted you to be big already so Mommy could bring you around, but now I don’t want you to get big too fast.

We will continue breastfeeding. That’s our family advocacy. We’ll pay it forward by educating ourselves more so we could educate others well. We shall also start homeschooling a little more formally. But we’ll do lots of singing and playing of course!

I pray that the Lord will grant me more patience, more understanding, and more Mommy courage and self-confidence to be able to take care of you better. I pray, too, that Papa Jesus will always take care of you and send His Holy Angels, including Baby Ayo, your Tito, to watch over you. I pray for your continued good health, for wisdom, and for you to be a good girl always. I am happy that you love praying, praising the Lord, and singing church songs!

Daddy and I feel very blessed being your parents. You are our ray of sunshine and the rainbow of our lives.

We love you, darling Aria! Happy Birthday!

01
Aug
2013

I Love August!

categories: Breastfeeding, Family, Uncategorized

It’s not my birthday month, but I LOVE August! Lots of things to celebrate, such as:

Birthdays of Papa Mario(+)-August 6, Mommy Luz- August 29, Lola Estela-August 21, Lolo Ernesto-August 30, and of course, my dear Ariadne who wanted to join in the August Birthdays-August 31.

Holidays on August 9-Eid’l Fitr, August 21-Ninoy Aquino Day, August 26-National Heroes Day. Mark your calendars and plot out those mini-vacations!

Breastfeeding Awareness Month. I am a strong advocate of extended breastfeeding, which Aria does practice still at three years. I am getting some disapprovals yet again and some applauses as well for reaching this far. Trust me, mommies. It is not hard unless you give it a try!

In line with the last item, there are month-long activities several organizations have lined up to further increase its awareness. Check out Chronicles of a Nursing Mom, Atty. Jenny Ong’s blog, which lists down all activities happening this month. I will be participating in some, like August 3’s Hakab Na and August 31’s Talk of Dr. Jack Newman, which the tickets for it I have won through Eliza Ypon of The Painter’s Wife. Thanks, Eli!

You need not be breastfeeding to participate in all these activities. We want to raise awareness by promoting, living, and loving breastfeeding. If you join, I’m sure you’ll be a bearer of good news when you share the info to your family and friends.

~ Touringkitty

01
Dec
2012

Fam Photobooth Fun!

categories: Family

We don’t like iPad’s Photobooth App.

We’re CRAZY about it!!!

So we took our craziness in so many party photobooths already. Like these:

My sister gifted my daughter with of course, two hours of photobooth fun for her first birthday!

Got this during Chinese New Year in a department store. We had to purchase something to avail this.

This was during a party of one of my friend’s twin boys.

And this was the party of Aria’s cousin all th way in Pampanga! And the printout of this was high quality. Plus it was a talking photobooth! I wish they had this in Manila!

That’s my family’s little bit of happiness.

~ Touringkitty

06
Aug
2012

For Papa, in memoriam

categories: Family, Uncategorized

Wow. It has been ten years, Papa. We still miss you.

Eulogy for Papa Mario
Papa’s Necrological Service
August 10, 2002

In behalf of my mom Luz, and my sister, Myk, we want to thank from the bottom of our hearts, all those people who were there during my father’s stay here on earth.

Who was Mario Mendoza Macanaya when he was still alive?

As a son to his good mother, Enriqueta, he was very close to her to the point he became a spoiled brat.

As a brother, the youngest in a brood of 9, he was always affectionate and would always want to get the attention of everyone else.

As a friend, he was giving and had good public relations, sales and marketing skills. He was named “Don Mar” because of his being very open to other people.

As a father and husband, he was a good father to two children and husband to my mom. But there were events in life we all didn’t wish to happen, that brought tears, sufferings and pains.

Upon his death, on the day of his 47th birthday, the joys, pains, happy and sorrowful events that he would have experienced in this world has ended.

At this point, in behalf of our father, I, my sister, and my mom, would like to ask forgiveness from the people whom he had unintentionally done wrong. We hope and pray that you would forgive him and let us all pray for his soul. Also, I hope that my father has forgiven the shortcomings of other people to him.

We also would like to thank those who helped and extended their sympathy. To my dearest titos/titas/cousins, please do not shut your door on the three of us that my father’s passing will make us closer to you more than ever.

Dear God, thank you for giving us Papa Mario.

To Papa, thank you for all those memories. You know that we’ll always love you, the three of us, I know this is God’s will and I know that you’re happy and blessed, more blessed than any of us here on earth. I hope you’ll always watch over us. I’m glad now that you are at rest in God’s loving arms.

Papa, we’ll always love you, forever you’ll be in our hearts and minds – promise.

02
Jun
2012

The rain made me sad

categories: Family, Health

Pag-asa finally got it right. So it rained, twas a tropical storm even, making us spoil all our plans to hit the mall and eat with the family today.

The other night, while my officemate and I ran in the rain under a small umbrella just to get home soonest after watching a concert (how we love our job–free concerts to watch! And foreign acts even!), we saw a girl about ten years old sitting down, hands clasped around her body, in the middle of the pouring rain. My officemate told her she should have gone home. My question is, does she really have a home to go to?

And it made me really sad. I told my husband and my daughter about it, and we prayed for that little girl that she may have a dry place to stay for the night.

Blessed. That’s what our families are. For that we should never cease praising Him.

Aria slept early tonight. Good thing because she was awake way early than usual. So while the humming of the aircon was lulling my little rascal to sleep, I fixed our mountainous closet. Two weeks after the helper left and we’re coping with late night cleaning, ironing, fixing whatever we can while we get some peace and quiet with the sleeping toddler. Lately, she’s been quite a handful, two handfuls even, running around, falling, bumping, screaming, throwing things, not listening, what have yous. Terrible twos? Nah, make it REALLY TERRIBLE TWOS!!! And she’s not even two!

As I was folding clothes, I saw the plastic bag full of rashguards, swimsuits and trunks. We bought it two months ago supposedly for the Boracay trip that never was. Seeing those stuff made me sad. We never got to use it even if we’re disease-free the rest of May. I wonder if those will ever fit Aria next summer. I doubt they will, she grows at lightning speed after she got dextrosed. She eats so much now that she sometimes eats more than I do, though a quarter of the serving usually goes to the floor or table.

I kept blaming myself in my head as I was folding the rashguards. What did I do, what did I feed her? Why did it ever have to happen? I bought her one with a duck hoodie on it, the other a pretty rainbow colored one. She could have looked good on it. She would have loved splashing on the water. We lost a lot of money for this trip because of the cancellation policies of hotels and planes. No mercy for the sick baby indeed. Thinking of it makes me cry inside that I don’t want my husband to see me in tears because he would have told me, it’s so last month.

And yes, this past month has been filled with triumphs, trials, and blessings. We’re all safe, no one is sick at the moment, we’re eating well. We just have to be careful even more now that Aria is in her explorative year. Our little family is very thankful for the love we receive from people who care–my mom, my sister, my aunt, most especially, for making themselves available for Aria when we can’t.

We’re facing June energized, happier, and healthier. The stay-out helper will start next week. Mom will still take care of Aria when we’re out. Aria will not anymore attend toddler school after much praying and deciding. Our toddler is growing and the household should cope up with these changes. She is hungry for learning, so we’re exposing her to more interesting stuff. We’ll enjoy her babyness and naughtiness in the meantime. She won’t forever be like that.

~ Touringkitty

P.S.

But of course I have to use that rashguard, so an indoor pool outing must be on my list this month. Persistence is the key.

13
May
2012

My mother, my hero

categories: Family

Dear Mommy,

We’ve come to this day again when we honor you. It seemed as if it was only yesterday that we celebrated my first mother’s day as a full-fledged mom and you as a full-fledged lola.

But one day in a year is never enough. We want to honor you even on Fathers’ Day, Grandparents’ Day, your birthday, Christmas, Valentines Day, today, tomorrow, and every single day!

We love you, you know that. Even if we disagree on so many things. Even if we argue about parenting styles and choices, which I now realized is truly inevitable given the quarter of a century gap in parenting a newborn.

We know you love us, and that love extended to my family, especially to our daughter, which I will be forever grateful for. Ariadne is such a unique girl. She’s smart and playful, naughty and beautiful. She’s easy to love, though sometimes hard to take care of because of her playfulness.

I thank the Lord for giving me and Myk such a thoughtful and caring mother. We wish we could be as thoughtful and caring as you are. You’ve shown me what a mother’s love can do. And now, it’s my turn to show my daughter that this is how my own mother showed her love for me–that whenever the need arises, the world will stop and mother’s love will shield everyone from harm. You perfected that, Mommy, for the past 28 years and until now your love remained the same for me and Myk, even doubled! That’s how amazing you are. And if we could show the same love for our children, we really have ultimately honored you well and good.

I love you, Mommy!

Your daughter forever,

Em

11
May
2012

Few thoughts about parenting choices

categories: Breastfeeding, Family, Food, Parenting

Advanced Happy Mothers’ Day to all moms in the world! Whatever choices we make as a mother, trust that it’s best for your baby. We surely make our mother of all mothers, Mama Mary, truly happy in this wonderful day!

A few weeks ago, I told my husband how expensive it is to be a modern-day parent.

Sure, we breastfed, we attempted cloth diapering (as in the good ol’ lampin), we made our own baby food and bought only fresh veggies and fruits and meat for our toddler’s meals (no hotdogs, no processed, though sometimes we’ve succumbed to fast foods). And after doing the math, we therefore concluded it’s expensive to be a modern-day parent.

Luckily, I am now able to work full-time, thanks to my mom who volunteered to take care of our daughter (Happy Mothers’ Day, Mommy Luz! We love you!). Even my mom and I have a hard time bridging the 25-year gap of parenting a newborn, but we were able to get through it. At least that’s what I think.

Feeding the baby for the first year: breastmilk vs. formula

A manual pump would cost around P2,000. If you’ve been back after the two-month maternity leave (oh why is it so short?!), you could get a double electric pump which would cost at least P8,000. Add to that the bottles or milk bags, cooling bags and ice bags for keeping your milk fresh as you go home. Can be pretty expensive, right? That’s probably the reason why some families opt to formula-feed, which would cost around P4,000 for the powdered milk alone, not yet counting the bottles, clean water, sterilization of bottles.

Our choice: breastfeeding all the way. I would never have it any other way. I delayed full-time work for more than a year to focus on the baby mainly, but still do things that I love occasionally, like teaching, singing, and pampering of course!

;

Collecting booboos down under: cloth diapers vs. disposables

My mom wanted us to try it their way: lampin. So off we bought 2 dozens of lampins and almost always, at least almost all of it gets used up within one day. After a month, we totally dissed lampins and went on to use disposables, which cost us an average of P1,000 a month. I know we’re not being environment-friendly on this one, but it was the better solution than washing off all those dirty laundry!

Nowadays, cloth diaper makers have taken a step higher, or even ten steps higher, with all those cute designs and special absorbent powers that come close to a disposable. It could be quite an investment, but many have attested to its convenience. Something to consider with the next baby.

Our choice: given that we live in a small condo unit and there are constraints in washing clothes, disposables it is. Good thing our baby likes the cheaper brand more than the expensive one!

;

Feeding frenzy: freshly-made or instant?

Nowadays, almost everything comes in an instant, and we have the industrial revolution to thank for that. But we chose to give our daughter freshly made foods as her first solid foods. Every morning, we boil or steam veggies, mash it and mix with breastmilk and voila, better-than-bottled foods!

I’ve seen these gadgets that have been marketed for making baby food fast. They cost expensive and clean up could sometimes take time. What do we use then? A fork, what else!

And now there are also organic bottled foods which cost a little higher than your popular brands. I once tried but my daughter easily recognized the different taste and she didn’t like it. What I buy her is the organic cookies and puffs which she loves (and hey, their prices may be high, but it’s far better than the sugar-filled Marie!).

Now that I’m raising a toddler, her food should be always freshly cooked and nutritious. Our grocery budget sure skyrocketed (and we’re not even buying organic or free-range at that!), but my husband doesn’t mind at all. He’d prefer to spend on food, educational materials, be it iPad apps or books or toys, and vaccines which we get from her pediatrician.

Our choice: cook-it-your-own! I have learned to cook food, bake oven toaster cookies for snacks, and concoct simple desserts all from scratch!

;

After all these musings, I wonder how life was when it was my lola’s time. It definitely is not that expensive as it is today. I haven’t even mentioned the choice of toys nowadays — iPad or Waldorf toys or dirt on the ground? Take your pick!

;

~ Touringkitty

Category: Family

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: