Kids Have Remarkable Memory

Amazing how kids can remember things! Why did I say this? Our little boy shows us from time to time how he knows and remembers things and special events. 

Sometime last month we all went to the church then to the shopping center across where there's Kid2Kid and Doughnut Diner. To make our little trip special, after church we browsed through Kid2Kid and then after to the doughnut diner. Had a little snack and little J treasure that moment as our special treat time.

About a month later, we went to the same church again and to the kid shop. This time we were just looking for some formal outfit for an important event. We didn't have in mind going to the doughnut shop. Right after exiting the kid shop, J ran away from the car and further towards the doughnut diner. We asked where's he going, replied: we're supposed to have a special treat! 

We were stunned at the moment then followed him quickly. He knew where to go and even let himself in the diner and hurriedly looked onto the display. The lady remembered him as well so she gave the donut he chose upon seeing us. Me and hubs noted that incident and agreed that we'll do it once a month at least to keep it as a lasting memory for our growing boy. Another thing J remembers whenever we go there is the fireworks display last 4th of July. That is where we parked and watched the fireworks spectacular as well.

Baby Sized Yummies

Sometimes it can be challenging to make our little one eat. It takes much patience to have him settled and keep eating but with some little presentation, meal time can be fun.

Baby sized foods can attract kids to enjoy their food. Just like my little boy who's not even keen of eating blueberries. I made mini blueberry pancakes, used it to make salami and cheese pancake-wich. He gets to hold it perfectly and munch on it with  much ease. Having it small in size makes him feel like it's made really just for him, "the little baby boy". 

Special Treat

Our little boy is not too fond of sweet foods. He would want to have special treat from time to time, we don't mind giving him as long as it's noted as a treat and not a regular food to eat. 

Special treat can be when we're all complete and just relaxing,  a birthday or any other occasion, or something special given by a friend. He enjoyed some special yummy cookies tonight after finishing his dinner, a dear friend gave him what they made previously. What's nice is he even shared it with mom and dad :) even just for few little bites.

Dental Check-up

It's important for our little one to have a regular dental check-up. This can prevent tooth decay and cavities having a routine teeth cleaning. Of course not to forget how important is brushing their precious choppers at home, this is the basic thing to do. Oral hygiene must not be forgranted, so parents, please make it a point to help the kids understand how important it is to brush their teeth. 

Being Creative In Their Own Ways

Whenever we go to The Children's Discovery Museum, J ends up with a mess of a face. Regardless if mommy does the face painting, he will always have his own additions. It's supposed to be him who should paint his face but sometimes mommy steps in when we're rushing out of the museum to head back home. My boy isn't a minimalist when it comes to his face being painted, sometimes he would do his hands and arms as well.  It's still cute at this age so better just leave him be, it's good for his artistic development. 

Creating Our Own Minion Gift Box Together

Getting to your kid's creative side is very important, this motivates and teaches life's little values. Creating something together creates a special bonding with your little one, shows sharing and makes him more imaginative.

My little boy and I made a gift box for his friend who celebrated a minion themed birthday. With a gift box lid, glue, tape, markers and construction papers we were able to create a cute minion gift box. It wasn't hard at all because we were enjoying it so much. It turned out pretty good, what do you think? 

Post Break: Nano-iT, Revolutionized Cleaning Solutions

This post brought to you by Nanolia Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.
Cleaning is quite a task, as we all know.  It's not a relaxing thing that we would want to do every single day of our lives, but it's something that must be done.  This doesn't mean like a total aggravation to a daily routine, given the right aid cleaning should be easier than expected.

Good news to Safeway, Tom Thumb, Randalls ad Vons shoppers as they are launching the revolutionary Nano-iT brand of products.  To make it more inviting to try out these new cleaners, feel free to grab the coupon here and use it on your next shopping trip.
What's the hype with the line of Nano-iT products? The maker is a nanotechnology based company specializing in creating products which can help reduce usage of harmful chemicals in the cleaning process.  Nanolia have specialty products uniquely formulated wth nano based technology for safer and more efficient cleaning.

I dread cleaning the cooktop since I love to cook so much.  Thick sauce spills, grease and such make it quite impossible to clean it with much ease.  Nano-iT CookTop is an all-in-one cleaner and protector, utilizing nano based technology to work and clean at the microscopic level.  Nobody wants to use much chemicals which could be harmful for eventual cooking, having a biodegradable cleaner that does the job of removing grease without heavy scrubbing is a must to have.  Less scrubbing means your cooktop coating will also keep its shine and texture without abrasing it.
Cleaning doesn't only tackle sweeping, mopping and such.  This includes keeping the furniture dusted, cleaned and on tip-top shape.  For wood furniture, Nano-iT WoodPlus can help restore the original shine and luster of the wood.  Furniture exposed to sun fade eventually and get damaged, regardless if the wood is painted, unfinished or stained, Woodplus is a good solution to get that polished look back.
Not to forget most households have metal furniture as well.  Nano-iT Stainless Cleaner  is the perfect cleaner to keep that steel looking crisp and new.  It's an oil-based formula which provides a micro-thin layer proector against fingerprints and smudges, restoring that steel shine back again.  Cleaning made easy without fuss and having to use so many chemicals.  This leaves you with a safer and chemical-less home like how it should be.  Nothing that would be detrimental to your precious family's health.

To The Restroom We Go

Scenario: Doing grocery with my little boy and in the middle of shopping he tells me he needed to go use potty.

At least I know he's doing good with the potty training. That's the first time he really had to go potty in the middle of shopping, he was definite what he needed to do so we rushed and parked our cart somewhere in the grocery. He was right, he really had to go potty. 

I gave my boy good acknowledgement for being good with his potty time. Giving due credit is important to boost their confidence as well and make them feel potty time is good. 

Always On The Run!

Always on the run!  Yes, that's what toddlers do best. They are just so full of energy and at some point will outrun you if you're not ready.  

My little boy is not the type to sit still most especially at the parks or playgrounds.  He loves to run around and just be all over the place.  There are time though that he would slow down and happily play in the sand are or be mucky dirty jumping on puddles.

It's a good thing to keep toddlers active even if means mommies getting tired running after them.  Having said this, I have retired on my heels and wedges.  I embraced the comfort of having to use comfort shoes for women, such as rubber shoes for me!  Even my sandals would be the sporty type to be able to  cradle me with comfort as I chase my little monkey on the loose. 

Post Break: Rising From The Ground

This post brought to you by Allstate. All opinions are 100% mine.
In life, there are constant challenges that put us right on the edge.  Not everyday is a smooth sail and with just a wink of an eye, things can things can totally turn the other way around.  Fear, doubt and all negativeness surround us at some point.  It's natural to feel that way if things seem to take the wrong turn, nevertheless not the forget that you can make your way to drive through the right path afterall.
Some frustrations arise when people get burried deep down in debt but somehow it is you who creative that pit to fall in.  Have you ever contemplated if those unnecessary spending were never made, then you wouldn't be suffering.  Of course there are exemptions, sometimes there's just a dear need go get by and no other means can suffice.  Other than emergency need, living the simple life, by your means and just getting the things you need is what matters most.
Through the darkness we see light.  There's always a path for change, a path joy.  We need not to lurk and dwell in fear, hopelessness and trouble.  I remember the time when I needed much help finding an insurance who would accept me when I was pregnant.  Since it was not the enrollment season I was then declined by my husband's medical insurance to think I was supposed to be listed there even then.  We all know how expensive it is to avail any medical here, just to confirm my pregnancy and have an nitial check-up we ended up paying hundreds of dollars.  It gave us total fear thinking how would it be if no insurance would work on me.  Finally we stumbled upon AIM, a government insurance aid for those women with current condition.
Sometimes we stumble and fall but we should always try to get up and keep going.  Life isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean we can't make good things out of it.  It's the same concept as Allstate Good Life, we should focus on the positivity of things.  Nothing will change if we won't let change to happen with the help of good hands which can lead us to good path, and good life.  Why not start enlightening others by sharing your good life's moments?  Drop a comment or two and tell everyone things are not always as bad as it can be.

The Preschooler Age 26mos

Table manners becoming an issue?  You may be so used with your tot being so well behaved and sitting still while having family dinners and all of a sudden he or she suddenly becomes such a screamer of some sort.  Ok, the screaming and misbehaving isn't good but remember, kids behave in such a way to express themselves.

We have observed our little boy to misbehave a bit more and scream or do unlikely things while eating lately.  We kept observing and somehow figured out whenever me and my husband would talk about things our little boy can't relate with, he's likely to start doing things to cut us and focus on him.  Finally it made sense after I just read about kids that age acting in such manner on the table.

Since out little one started easting on his own, we give less attention on the table and start going back to our old routine which is probably old talks.  Our kid cannot relate to this thus making him quite furious and as a result would do something to distract and get out attention.  Understandable enough that the past 2yrs meal time would mean family time, out little boy being much more of a baby then and we made an effort to incorporated everything on the table for him.

I know it's hard when sometimes you and your husband just want to have some chat while eating, but not to forget the little one who's trying his best to keep up with mom and dad.  Conversations that he can't understand will definitely make him feel off and not included so reserved those delicate topics away from the table, instead show how much you enjoy the food and the family having a meal all together.

No More Shopping Misery

This post brought to you by Sears. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love to shop but since I had my first baby I had to halt my shopping trips.  It's not that easy carrying around your little one while trying to shop and search for items, I would have to just know exactly what I have to get and take off right after.  I had to find an easier and more convenient way for me to do my normal shopping, online is the solution.  It may not be the best option when you feel like trying on what you want to buy but definitely less stress than haggling with your little one to be patient while you're shopping.  There will be times when they will behave like an angel but you can't avoid some cranky days.  When this happens, the supposed to be relaxing and therapeutic shopping becomes more of a misery.

I have my favorite stores to shop for certain things but for those great brands like Nike, Michael Kors, Flexees and all other clothing for my little one like his cute pajamas, Sears tops my list.  Oftentime in-store shopping can be such a headache when you can't find any of the size you need for the styles you found, not online.  Sears carries more options online, more sizes and different varieties.  You'll get to review all your ideal purchase clippings with much comfort at home.  You may chose whether your purchase be delivered or the free easy pick up.  They will do the tiring shopping for you and all you have to do is get it once it's paid and ready.

I personally enjoy checking the featured marketplace offers  to know what's the trend.  Go try it yourself and see the newest arrivals for the season, don't forget to spread the news and give your frends and families a tweet. 

Post Break: VIPRE Internet Security

This post brought to you by Vipre. All opinions are 100% mine.

A computer hooked up to the internet will always be vulnerable to viruses, trojans, malware, spyware, adware, rootkits, the list goes on. One click to an unsafe url from an email that you thought was clean is all it takes for a computer to start it's downward spiral. I've seen computers that will not boot up because of viruses, and the worst ones are the ones that corrupt your data, rendering them completely useless. What if those data contained memorable photos? Or important legal documents? What if these files only lived on your computer and nowhere else? This is where the real frustration and headaches begin to hit you hard.

At the very least, a good anti-virus protection software such as VIPRE Internet Security should be installed in your computer. This alone will provide you with very good protection such as scanning, real-time active protection, threat definition updates and firewall. VIPRE Internet Security offers a wide array of tools and utilities that can help protect your computer from security threats. Installing is easy, and doesn't take long at all and is very easy to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the program is installed, it provides a very clean simple overview that displays the status of your scans, active protection, updates and firewall. Here you will also notice addition options such as the ability to make scheduled scans, enable email protection, easy updates and set up web filters. It's such a well rounded program and I encourage those looking for an antivirus solution to give VIPRE Internet Security a try. It is very easy to use and manage and does not hog your computer resources. Stay safe, stay protected and enjoy a clean, virus-free computer!

My Boy Takes Care of Me

It was a sudden stomach pain last night, had to lay flat on the floor near my little boy while he's playing.  At one point I thought he was riding my back horsie because of the jump on my back to sit.  Told him my tummy is ouchie and it hurts when he's riding my back so rough.  To my surprise I felt tiny little hands rolling through my back, rubbing back and forth.  Baby is massaging mommy!  He said he has to massage me to make me better.  He usually would copy me massaging daddy or whenever I request for a little back massage it would be a brief 15-30 seconds hand rolling.  Not this time, he was actually massaging me for a good 1 minute and after the back got off me and went to my side trying his best to roll me to lay flat on my back.  He said "mommy I need to massage your tummy".  He didn't stop until I let him. 

It was so sweet of my boy to show how much he cares by giving me such TLC.  That's not it, after a great massage from a 3yr old, he told me I need to drink water to make me better.  He rushed to the kitchen to get me some water, I heard some things falling in the sink but nothing that could break.  He successfully grabbed the cup then ran back to me asking me to fil it up with water.  I was just in much pain that I didn't want to move so I told him maybe he can check his Cars cup and I can share water there.  Off he went to put the cup back to the dish rack (which actually just fell in the sink) then grabbed the Cars cup.  Too bad no water too so he again asked me but I thought of his Thomas cup.  He rushed to the room and finally got one with some water in it.  He sat right next to me and shook the cup to make sure there's water, then opened the straw cover.  He gently placed the straw to my mouth and made sure I drank some water.  Funny enough that right after I sipped he took his turn and said "mommy I feel so hotter", which means he's feeling hot with all the running and working to get my precious water.  Last thing baby said to me was, "mommy there you go, water should make you feel better!"

The Preschooler Age 25mos

At this age most toddlers interpret how they understand the world around them.  Associating things to what they want to say makes it easier for us parents to understand them better.  Say for instance when your tot walks near the door giving you a gesture to go out or in.  Giving you his or her cup would mean a drink or showing discomfort with the clothes to let you know they want to be changed.  Simple ways but bridges us parents to better understanding them.

This age is quite hyper, learning how to jump and do some more active play.  They can keep going on and on as if there's no way they're getting tired at all.  It's actually funny seeing them practice and master their jumping, like you have hoppity frogs hopping all day long.  Encourage them to move, free play encourages development their mind and body need.

Is potty training a must at this age?  I'd say not really, it depends on whether your tot is ready for it so as you.  Not all tots get into potty training the same time.  Some start way early, if your tot hasn't started yet there's no reason to frustrate about it.  Potty training takes a big heap of patience, timing, coordination, communication and dedication.  It's not advisable to do it today then skip tomorrow.  It also takes time, at most accidents may happen.  The best cue that your tot is ready is when he or she recognizes feeling to go potty.  Once they fully understand it regardless wearing trainers or diapers, they will go potty the proper way.

Nutrition is very essential to your child's growth so giving them healthy plate of food is a must. Little steps at a time, while some fancy fruits and veggies, not all kids are the same.  Parents must eat healthy as well being the role models as they kids tend to see and copy you in every possible way they can. 

Post Break: A Little Getaway

Last year we had a great family time overnight in a hotel.  A simple way of celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary together with our little boy.  It's nothing lavish, having to be away for a night at least away from home and everybody gave us much peace of mind and relaxation.  Oh boy, I wish we could've done it this year but it's been too hectic.  It would have been nice if we had the chance to lounge again in the pool and just play with our little boy splashing in the water.

I think I have some kind of fondness with hotels, it has always been my dream to have a Spa Hotel of my own together with my dear bestfriend.  To go to a hotel and enjoy all the amenities they offer is something I enjoy a lot but to have one of our own would be such a hard task, it would take so much resources to build one.  Still, we leave an open mind when it comes to this great dream of ours.  Who knows if someday we'll have what it takes to put things in reality.

Being and Architect and designer, planning and construction won't be a problem.  Once everything's set then finding hotel supply online for the operations will be the next step.  Me and bes will be checking out PeachSuite.com (Atlanta hotel supply ) to get all the necessary equipment even the hotel bar supplies we'll need.  It's going to be exciting once this big projects comes to a reality but until then, we'll have to enjoy all other hotel places. 

How Much Would A Mom Do?

This is not about spoiling, it is all about pure love.  A mother's pure love for her kid.  Seriously, how much would a mom do for her kid?  It is something that can really be measured, you'll only know how far you'd go when the time calls for it.

I was so inspired with a story from Yahoo which I read tonight, it's about a mom whose son was taken and what it took for her to get him back.  She tried to shed all the money she had but it wasn't enough to get her son back to her.  Knowing that something has to be done, this mother put the ball on her hand and played the game.

How much do I love my boy and how far would I go for him?  I honestly don't know the answer in terms or numbers, I just know I would do everything for him.  Here's the story that I just read, Courageous Mom Rescues Abducted Son in Egypt check it out yourself and tell me how you feel about it. 

Post Break: All-In-One

Let's talk about:

First, Gates - Like any parent or homeowner, having a secured home is a must.  If you have kids more so that you would want to keep your property off prying eyes of strangers to protect your privacy.  While not every house has a gate or fence, some would prefer to have one to enclose their property.  Having smart gates can make life easier for those who prefer to be gated, something that can suit their function, use and style.  Of course you wouldn't want to have a gate which can be quite and eyesore.  Smart Gates provides stylish standard designs or custom designs to match your liking.  Driveway gates can be designed in modern fashion not having to use the manual force to open and close it, automated to do the work for you.  This is quite convenient without you and anybody else having to run to the gate just to open it.  To know more about Smart Gates simply check out this link: http://www.smartgates.co.nz/general/general/driveway-gates.html

Second, Automotive Repairs - Having a car is very important most especially if you have the need to always move around and go places.  With kids around, this is a must to make life more comfortable for you as well.  Sometimes taking public transport can be a pain when you have to carry along with you the kids and their baby bags (toys, lunch bag, and everything else), you only have two hands to hold everything at once.  Of course it is manageable but who wouldn't want that slice of comfort owning a family car?  Old or new it doesn't matter at all, as long as it is in good running condition then that pretty much is all you need.  Make sure to take your car to routine maintenance, this will ensure a longer life for your vehicle.  Changing shocks, alternator, CV Joints, oil and all other things that need replacement must be done in order to assure your car is in good running condition.  The least you want is to be on the go and then be stuck later on when your car breaks down.

Third, Online Advertising - Modernization has impacted people's lives, it opened up opportunities and new ideas.  Nowadays you would see people holding their gadgets and doing things online, almost everything online.  Some small and big businesses needed the help of technology to make their business a success story.  This is how Online Advertising NZ can make a difference in one's life who wish to have their online success to happen.  A dedicated internet marketing company who will take your business seriously, making every dollar you spend worth to make things happen.  How will you know the real status of your business?  Provided that their Google Web Analytics Team will be your expert eyes in monitoring how your website is performing.  Things that not everybody knows about or keen about to learn in such a short period of time.  It's true indeed that success can be achieved with hard work and dedication, it never says otherwise that it should be done alone.  A little help,a little nudge and an extra hand can make a big difference.

Mommy's Spring Gardening Buddy

This post brought to you by Scotts Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

Spring is the perfect time to work in the garden, nice warm weather and lovely blooms everywhere.  Gardening is a great bonding activity for mommy and baby, giving some simple tasks and responsibilities in the garden can give our little one a sense of pride.  The values that instill in their yound mind having to give a helping hand to mommy and being able to take care of the garden.  Say for insatnce giving him or her a watering can and making him responsible for those little pots ot plants.  This helps build the kid's self confidence being able to accomplish a task.

Aside from our trusty little one, mommy can depend on Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch  for sustainable gardening.  Since we're putting much effort in our garden, making sure the garden most especially the yards are well taken cared of as well.  Having Scotts Nature Scapes mulch  for the gardening supplies is a must to maintain a garden the easier way.  Who wants to keep weeding instead of just tendering the nice plants in the garden?  With Florida Select Mulch, plant area will remain weed free just make sure you apply 3" of mulch leaving several inches away from house foundations, trees, woods and any plants. 

Landscaping the yard is much more fun when we use variety of plants and mulches.  Having some contrasts can give your garden a better appeal.  It depends what kind of garden youwant to have, it can be a flower garden, fruit garden or vegetable garden.  Having all in one isn't a bad idea either.  How the plants are grouped or separated together can make the difference.  Scotts® Nature Scapes® mulch can be a great option for landscaping; having color variations  like classic black, sierra red and deep forest brown can give a color play in your garden.  Aesthetically it can make a big difference, not only that because it can also help maintain moisture, prevent weeds and create a nice landscape all year long with less maintenance needed.

Ready to go shopping to the Nursery with your most favorite buddy?  Here are the basic essentials to get started with the gardening:

~ garden tools: rake, spade, shovel

~ potting soil, fertilizer, seeds, Scotts Florida Select Mulch, rocks and pebbles

~ protection:  sun hat, sunscreen, gardening gloves

~ pots, planter boxes, watering can (perfect for the little one)

The Preschooler Age 24mos

At age 2, you can observe so many developments with your little.  Of course we have to keep in mind that not all 2 yr olds are the same.  We should not push nor expect our kid to do the same exact thing as the others.  At this age kids starts to adapt to habits.  You will notice that clean up time is something they enjoy doing.  Those days when they just flip a bucket full of toys down on the floor must still be anticipated but it will get better.  The best part of play would be cleaning up, kids enjoy it with us parents and a little song of course.

You may take this opportunity to teach your kid to help around the house.  Sometimes you won't even need to call for their attention to help you out, they will squeeze in whatever you're doing to give you a hand.  I admit, sometimes it drives me nuts when all the folded clothes get undone just because my little helper wants to fold along with me or simply gets attracted with the warm pile of laundered clothes.  When I'm really tired and this happens, I kind of flip but makes sure I don't scold my boy for helping me out.  I try to point out things rationally, according to his comprehension. Encouraging them to help and observe how you do things will give better results than throwing a big tantrum, besides in his eyes he was just trying to help mommy.  Things certainly take twice longer than you doing it alone but letting them be involved with you and some chores gives them a sense of responsibility and teaches them to help.

Dressing up is a good way to improve the fine motor skills, simple things like opening or closing the zipper, pulling pants up or down or wearing shoes.  The feeling of being quite independent and being able to do things like mommy and daddy gives them pride and self-confidence.  From here you'll be surprised to hear your little one say two to three words together.  This is also the age when "me", "I" or "mine" becomes quite dominant in their language.  How do you correct it?  Be a constant role model and keep a strict rule about things.  Don't expect them to really follow right through but in time you'll see them follow.  Some kids really talk way too early while some are way too delayed.  If it worries you then express your concern to the doctor to better assess the situation.

Winter Fashion

This post brought to you by No nonsense. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mommies have such an active lifestyle, keeping up with the kids alone can be hard work as it is.  Most of the time we'll have to sacrifice fashion in order to keep up running all over chasing our little one.  Winter somehow gives more flexibility when it comes to styling and mommy's fashion.  Having to wrap with nice warm and comfy, not to forget stylish cardigans or coats paired with tights is ever fashionable.  So effortless and yet gives that great style.

My fashion sense isn't so interesting and not striking at all.  Just like one of the moms who would wear whatever's comfy whenever we go out.  Of course there will be times when it's a must to give much more effort with the styling so splahing some colors with my usual dull enseble makes a difference.  That's how No nonsense colorful tights come in handy, styling made easy when matched with a nice long white cardigan.

No nonsense tights and leggings is very affordable, therfore great for frugal moms. To make the No nonsense line more interesting, Jill Martin who is a known sportscaster and television personality, collaborates with No nonsense giving her views on how to wear your tights.  Aside from the above mentioned credentials of Jill Martin, she's a known fashion Guru. A lady with style and great passion for fashion.

To all frugal moms out there who wants to be on top of the winter fashion, check out No nonsense on Facebook and twtter @benononsense.  There you'll get to see great ideas and be more up to date with the newline of No nonsense tights.  It's not hard at all finding a pair of No nonsense tights as you can find it in  mass retailersand even in food and drug stores. Wantmore to see?  Check this out!