Touringkitty

Since it’s the last day of my favorite mother’s birth month (who else but Mama Mary! — and yes, my birth month, too!), I’ll dedicate this post to all the moms in the world, whatever shape, size, or stature in life they are in. Moms rock!

My mom is a great blessing. Aside from my husband, she’s one person whom I trust in taking care of Aria when I’m at work. She has been mother and father to us since Papa passed away nine years ago. And she did a wonderful job raising me and my sister. Blood, sweat, and tears, literally.

Then I gave birth, and my mom sort of had a “newborn” with my baby. It’s what they call nanganganay (or having a firstborn, meaning novice in everything) all over again. It’s a tough job taking care of my little ball of energy. If you’ve met my daughter, you’d understand what I mean.

Luckily for me, I have the technology to run to when I’m in doubt, which is almost ALL the time!

I’m blessed with friends. I text my mommy friends from high school and wedding ninangs if I have questions, ask for advise. In turn, I answer questions especially about breastfeeding. After a year of exclusively breastfeeding, I can say I’ve been there, done that, and I’m more convinced that breastfeeding is normal.

I started this blog July last year and have been reading blogs of mom bloggers (from hobbyists like me to professional bloggers, there are a lot!), looking for resources especially about breastfeeding, searching for answers my mom can’t answer, or verifying (which I always do especially after a pedia visit, man, do I still trust pediatricians?!)

Let me tell you why I admire these moms:

1. Jenny of Chronicles of a Nursing Mom

Her website is something every breastfeeding mom should turn to! When I’m in doubt, I’d always check her VIP (Very Important Posts) and most of the time I’d always get answers from it. She is a super working mom, juggling a full-time day job and an online store called MamaBabyLove where I made my one and only online purchase of nursing mom wear — the Undercover Mama!

I first met her in a La Leche League meeting last year, the same time I started this blog, and knew about her blog from there. Super nice, very accommodating with my many questions on twitter, and gives very relevant and informative links on her blog’s Facebook page.

2. Abbie Yabot, our La Leche League leader

This is really one supermom! She looks young but she has four kids and breastfed all of them. She talked to me over the phone during the first few weeks of breastfeeding and assured me that I should not be alarmed with baby’s spit-ups.

3. Paola of Mommy Treats

Paola was my seatmate in a La Leche League meet I attended early this year. During the small talk that we had after the meeting, I learned that she has a home business called Mommy Treats where she bakes lactation cookies and muffins. She is just as sweet as her yummy treats!

I’ve tried those treats myself. A former choirmate gifted me with a week’s supply of cookies after I recommended Mommy Treats to her to increase her milk supply as she is nursing twins. I noticed my milk quantity (more output when I pump) and quality changed (more milk-colored than translucent/buko juice-like). This week, I’m trying the muffins and brownies which are all so yummy!

4. Frances of Topaz Horizon and Mommytopaz

Like the other people who are fans of her blogs, I like reading Frances’ posts because she speaks from her heart. Her posts are simple, straight, and enlightening.

5. Benz of Mimmabenz and Weddings at work

She’s our Mimma in our small online community called W@Wies and N@Wies. She’s Mrs. Congeniality for me! She even sent me and my husband babywearing button pins (which I will show soon).

She started her blog just recently and I love her posts! I also like her husband Abet’s blog: AngPambansang.com

6. Cai of Apples and Dumplings

Cai is a first-time mom just like me, and our babies are born a few days apart. So naturally, I ask her so much about baby’s feeding and all those stuff. We haven’t met personally yet but we attended a La Leche League meet when we were still both pregnant. I admire her determination to fully breastfeed her baby even if she’s working full-time (imagine pumping at work round the clock!). And she did, for a full year!

7. Martine of Dainty Mom

Martine’s blogsite is super dainty! I like the pastel colors so much. And it’s super organized, filed according to topic for easier navigation. I admire her for being a work at home mom, and that she has the license to sit in front of the computer anytime just because her job is writing.

I’d like to have a job like that! But I have yet to master the art of not letting my daughter touch the laptop when I’m working. Even if she has toys of her own, she still wants to tinker with the laptop, so lately I do my writing when she’s asleep.

There ya go. I have more in my mind, but I’ll continue with another post next time. I have 30 minutes left before September ends (sounds like a song, eh?)

Thank you, dear mommies, for the inspiration. Looking forward to reading and learning more from you. Or maybe meeting some of you in person again and some for the first time.

Now it’s time to pray for all the mommies and sleep before this wonderful September ends.

~ Touringkitty

Happy Birthday to me! Thinking of what to give me, or maybe anyone whose birthday is coming? Here’s a quick rundown. I’m sure you could do one, or two, or everything if you feel like it!

1. Send me a text message, email, private facebook message because I restricted my wall posts.

2. Give me a call, if you know my number.

3. Pay me a visit! I miss friends and I’d love to have friends in our humble home.

4. Offer a prayer of blessing for me and for my family.

5. Follow me on Twitter @touringkitty

6. Read my blog Touringkitty

7. Give to charity. My favorites are Pondo ng Pinoy, Red Cross, and Children’s Hour.

8. Donate unused clothes, toys, and other stuff. I usually give old clothes to Caritas Manila’s Segunda Mana.

9. Do something green! Bring your own bag when shopping, recycle, use organic products.

Thank you and God bless you!

~ Touringkitty

Dear LRT/MRT Passenger,

Ayokong umabot tayo sa ganito!

Sa tagal ko nang sumasakay sa LRT at MRT, di ka pa rin natuto. Sa dami na ng plakard, signage, poster, pati ang paulit-ulit na recorded at live voice sa istasyon at sa mismong tren, pasaway ka pa rin.

Gusto ko lang ipaalala ang mga sumusunod:

No Spitting. Nakatagalog pa yan na Bawal Dumura! huwag mong gagayahin yung guard sa harap ko biglang nagpakawala ng eeeeeekkkkkyyyy saliva sa tracks.

Please do not step on the yellow platform edge. Pula yan pag nasa LRT ka. Siguro naman malinaw yun di ba? Kung ayaw mo magpahagip sa padating na tren, atras lang po ng konti.

Ito ay Female Area.  Eto naman yung tipong obvious na, may mga pasaway na sisingit o nagpapatay-mali. O nagpapanggap.

This lane/train is for the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, with children. Wag mo na ipagpilitang buntis ka (kung di naman talaga, o malaki lang siguro tiyan mo). Wag ka ring magpanggap na may kapansanan ka. Sige liparin ka ng masamang hangin, magkatotoo yan. Lalo na wag ka magpanggap na senior citizen. Ultimate na yan, ha?

Paupuin ang lahat ng nabanggit ko sa taas. Aminado ako, lalo na pag may bitbit akong malaking bag, pagod o maysakit ako, di ako nagbibigay ng upuan ko. Bakit, bawal ba mapagod? Nung sinakay naman namin ng mommy ko ang baby ko, ayaw nila kami paupuin. Fine. E di wag! Para sa mga lalaki, wag nyo na hintayin magpa-cute ang mga babae bago nyo paupuin. Please lang.

Please do not touch the emergency devices found above the door.  Meron din nyan sa isang posteng hawakan malapit sa pinto. May mga makukulit na chikiting na Curious George na pinipindot yun. Magtataka na lang yung driver kung anong nangyayari sa likod nya.

Please do not lean on the doors while the train is in motion.  Tandaan: nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

Upong otso (presyo ng dyipni ride) naman!  May ibang ayaw talagang magpaupo kahit ang luwag luwag pa. Memorize ko na po yan. Yung seats pang-anim, walo, o sampung tao, kaya binibilang ko talaga at makikiupo pag kulang pa. Nung minsan, may umupo sa tabi ko, pilit akong ginitgit hanggang sa nainis ako kaya tumayo na lang ako. Kanya na ang silya!

Wag makipaggitgitan at makipag-unahan sa pagpasok/paglabas ng tren. Common sense siguro na paunahin yung mga lumalabas di ba? Naranasan ko na kasi maiwan sa loob at lumagpas dahil napagsarhan ng pinto.

Dumiretso sa loob ng tren at huwag harangan ang pinto. Heto pa ang isa. Ang luwag naman sa gitna, nagkumpulan ang mga tao sa may pinto. Anong meron?

Mag-ingat sa magnanakaw. Nong isang araw lang, may nadukutan pagpasok nya ng turnstile pa lang. Ginitgit sya ng dalawang lalaki. Ayun, pinahinto nya ang tren kaya ang tagal rin bago kami nakaandar. Mukhang successful naman sya at nabawi nya ang cellphone nya.

Huwag maging flashy. Kung hindi rin lang naman importante, wag na maglabas ng cellphone o anumang gadget. Sandali lang naman ang MRT ride di ba? Enjoy the view of EDSA. *wink*

Huwag magtapon ng kalat kung saan-saan. Ang tracks ay hindi po basurahan. Bow.

Nobela ba? Pasensya naman!

Ika nga ng isang paborito kong kanta ni Ms. Charo Unite: “Kung ano ang di mo gusto, wag gawin sa iba.” Kaya kaunting disiplina lang sana. Para kung itataas man ang singil ng pamasahe, masabi rin nating sulit at masaya ang pagsakay sa LRT/MRT.

Wag kang mag-alala dear passenger. Ang susunod na post ko ay para sa administration ng mga tren na ito. Para di tayo lugi!

Baka may madadagdag kang experiences mo sa pagsakay. Iwan ka naman ng comment sa post na ito!

~ Touringkitty

Aria had a blast during her party. We decided to do it on the Sunday before her birthday, which is a Wednesday. Who would have thought that our dearest President would decide to make it a very loooong weekend?!

Filipinos generally will go for a quick holiday out of town if a long weekend has been declared. But thankfully, even when it was raining that Sunday afternoon, our guests came! Not everyone on the list, though. But a good number made it — almost 80 people, half of them are kids. We even had babies! It was so much fun, especially for Aria, who was both sleepy and playful that time.

The Venue and Food: McDonald’s Greenbelt

It was definitely a worry-free party venue. They had it all — yummy food, themed party complete with all amenities like traymats, party hats, lootbags, and game prizes, even the party host and program were all handled by them. No additional fees on electricity nor permits to be secured for bringing in photobooths and other suppliers. You just can’t eat food from outside, though.

The Photobooth: Click D’Fun Photobooth

My sister availed a photobooth through Ensogo for a good deal of P3,500 for two hours unlimited and gifted it to her favorite and only niece. The guests lined up a couple of times and enjoyed the friendly service of the crew as well.

The Cupcakes: IBake by Joy Alegro

My cousin Joy loves baking that she turned her hobby into something profitable. And Aria’s Birthday is the first time she handled a cupcake decorating session and it was super fun! The cupcakes were super yummy, too. I chose carrot cupcakes so that the kids won’t be too hyper with chocolate and so Aria can eat as well.

The Balloon Decor: Supermommies Parties and Events by Mary Ann Unay

This was gifted to us by Ma’am Me-ann. Too bad The Unays weren’t able to attend the party but she still sent her assistant to set up the balloon decor, and Kuya Tikboy did it for only 10 minutes! Cute balloons which some were taken home by guests.

The Photographer: Eric Tingatinga

You would not believe this photographer is a UP Professor and has a PhD in Civil Engineering! He took really awesome shots and used natural lighting. The room had low ceiling and it was quite dark outside because of the rains but the pictures were still fantastic, especially all the happy faces in the photos.

Our suppliers were all good, and didn’t hurt our budget, some of them offered their services for free! It was indeed a worry-free, budget friendly party for our little one, who herself enjoyed her own party, the way we parents wanted it to be.

~ Touringkitty

Friendship is forever, says Angelina Ballerina.

I don’t know why I believe that cutesy little cartoon mouse, but I think she’s right.

Three’s a company. That’s what we are.

This time three years ago, I started my first office job fresh from college. I had no clue that I’d end up a writer after taking up music for eight years. I stayed at my job for a year and three months, and now, all three of us walked different paths.

The past two days, I did what any normal friend would do — after a long time of being in absentia — catch up with both of them, but in two different occasions.

You see, K just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl,

And A was in the area, specifically at Mall of Asia.

We’re kindred souls, I believe. We always share a good laugh, we graduated from the same school, we eat lunch together in office, we love our families so dearly and we (K and I) now have families of our own. But we never lose touch of each other.

I’m glad I still have friends who are in Manila, as most of my dear friends are already abroad.

Trio pic waiting. See you soon, girls!

~ Touringkitty

6 August 2011

Dear Papa,

Happy Birthday!

It has been nine years since I last saw you. The last day I saw you was probably my happiest, and yours, too. Little did I know that you’d be gone two days after our last meeting, and on your birthday! You really made sure we won’t forget you.

I would have loved to introduce you to your beautiful granddaughter, Ariadne. She’s very smart and very amiable. You would have loved each other. You will surely shower her with much love like you did to us. You should have met my husband, Ton, too. You’d probably have a lot of things to talk about.

Your life may be short, but sweet it was, indeed. You made sure you’ve created enough memories for Mommy, me and Myk to cherish.

I miss you. I know I’ll see you again someday. We love you very much. Please continue guiding us, as you always did.

Your Tres Marias,

Luz, Mary Louise, Myra Lyn