Happy new year to everyone reading this!  Thank you to all my blog readers and long-time supporters for still being there and visiting my blog for new content.  As you've read in my last blog post for last year, 2018 had been a pretty good year for me even if I've written lesser compared to the previous years.  But writing is LOVE so I never really stopped. 

Becoming a yayaless stay-at-home mom as a new full-time career made me realize so many things and taught me many lessons.  It also made me appreciate more my mom's sacrifices for us, like when she decided to turn her back on her career to focus on us her kids, make a home-based living, put up a small business when we were all teenagers to send us to school, and eventually took care of my kids as a loving and hands-on lola.  But too late, I couldn't thank her anymore, rebuild a more matured relationship with her, and let her know that I fully understood everything she was doing for us.  Truly, you'll only know the one's worth and true value when someone's gone.  So don't be like me, huhu!  If your mothers are still alive, MAKE TIME and EFFORT to talk to them, appreciate them, and love them. 

Anyway, having said that new career of mine, it made me focus more on what is truly important in my life - my family.  It made me spend on what is essential, the needs, and learned the art of delayed gratification.  I also accounted for the money I used to splurged on coffee breaks (oh my!) on daily parking fees, on lunch outs, and on gas expense.  Ang laki pala ng expenses ko which I could have just saved.  Because I don't go out everyday to get to an office, I spend very little on these things nowadays that even if I don't have a regular pay now, I am still alive, surviving, and still living comfortably.  I thought those expenses were just normal - haha!  Hindi pala!  So now, I know better and I am more awaken by the reality, the truth about finances and even people, I want to share with you a 2019 Mom Starter Kit to kicking off 2019 positively.

1. List down your goals for the year!  You could even come up with a Word For The Year from which you will anchor all your choices for the year.  Personally, my husband and I talked about our goals for our marriage.  It's a healthy and even kilig exercise between husbands and wives.  We promised to be more intentional to each other, that he will love me more, that I will submit to him, that we will be more intentional as parents to our kids and spend more time talking and playing with them.  We also listed our family dreams and goals like the dream house we've been praying for, our business transactions, that they may all be closed deals if God wills them to happen.  We also want to go back to being fit and eat more healthily because we want to do this for our children. Lastly, we want to be able to serve God more through our music ministry and be able to share God's love and how He comforted us as individuals and as couples to other people around us. 

2. Bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit as you fulfill different roles in your lives.  Top role for me is being a mom.  Mahirap maging isang nanay lalo if you have a baby/toddler/kids who are demanding of your time, energy, and all of you.  Our kids could sometimes get the best of us especially if makulit sila, so it's really important to PAUSE, PRAY, and BREATHE before uttering any word to them which could break or hurt them when hastily said in anger or frustration.  In everything you do, at home, at work, in business, practice the virtues of Love, Joy, Patience, Self-Control, Gentleness, Peace, Kindness, and Forgiveness at all times.

3. Simplify your life.  We tend to complicate things around us, by simplifying everything, we lessen our stresses in life.  Things tend to be more practical and convenient for you and for everything and everyone around you when things are simplified.  This applies to your household chores system, to daily work to-dos, and just about in everything you do.  There's beauty in simplicity.

4. Financial literacy.   When we talk about financial literacy, sometimes the terminologies used could be overwhelming and threatening.  Heard of Philippine Index Fund or Equity/Balance Funds or VULs or UTIFs or COL/stocks?  Seeing or hearing these jargons could be intimidating that you just shy away from them right?  But the main objective of these all is for us to SAVE/INVEST or multiply our hard-earned money over the years.  Growing our money over the years, that's what all these meant, iba-iba lang ng profiles or risks for investing.  The important thing is to educate yourself to know what fits you, your risk appetite, and even the amount you can sustain to set aside for saving.  But before anything else, pay off debts muna. 

5. SALE ba kamo?  I usually gush over SALES because I wait for the items I've been eyeing for or needing to purchase to go on sale or be on discounted price.  I don't splurge on impulse just because it's on SALE.  I always have a mindset that if it's on SALE and if I don't really need it, then it's still an EXPENSE and another accumulated item that would be eventually a clutter in the house.

6. Declutter - Have you read any Mari Kondo books or quotes or watched her on Netflix?  She's a guru when it comes to decluttering.  I always live by the "declutter or let go of things if it doesn't spark joy" anymore.  This inspired me to start with my closet a few years ago when I started capsule wardrobe-ing.  I kept what fits me, let go of what doesn't or just sits there (in my mind masusuot din kita kapag size 24 na ulit ako!) taking up closet space, gave away clothes which don't make me happy anymore.  With kids' toys, I did the same, I included them in the process of decluttering, I made them decide if they still want/need the toy before letting them go or giving them away.  I don't want to hurt their feelings.  When I clean the house, everything that I pass by which I feel is not pretty or has no us anymore, I let go.  It has become a hobby for me to throw away things.  I am no longer a prisoner of material stuff.  Decluttering applies to people.  It doesn't necessarily mean burning bridges, but keeping relationship on the down-low especially if these people don't influence you to do good but rather the opposite or if they bring you down when you're enjoying your little success or don't bring the value in your relationship.  But here's what you can do, PRAY for them, FORGIVE if they've hurt you, and in the future, help them know God or become more positive as well.

7. Self-Care - We tend to do so much as moms for our kids and as wives for our husbands that we forget to look after ourselves.  Because chores and responsibilities pile one after the other, we put aside love and time for ourselves.  WRONG.  Self-care is not being SELFISH.  It's rewarding yourself after giving ourselves selflessly (sometimes too much) to our loved ones. Self-care is not at all expensive.  It could be as simple as bathing without any disturbance (the works, shampoo-conditioner-hair-spa/ body wash, body scrub, facial, with scented candle and your fave mood music) to going to the salon for a quick mani-pedi (if there's still time add foot scrub) or a haircut or hair treatment to the spa for an hour of massage.  Self-care also pertains to daily devotional time or reading your favorite book. Don't feel guilty, moms deserve self-care.  When we feel good about ourselves, we can give more to others joyfully.

8.  Pray. - Start your year right by praying for everyone and everything to God.  You may follow ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication).  Remember to just TRUST HIM in everything.  Sometimes His plans are better than our plans that's why He answers our prayers with a YES, NO, or NOT YET.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).

Hope these Mommy Starter Kit for 2019 helps and inspires you to have a great year, to be the best person you could ever be for God, yourself and your loved ones and to fulfill all your dreams as well!

For everything else you can plan and there's nothing wrong with it, starting the year with a new planner is a great start to jot down your schedules, your dreams, Bible verses that touched your hearts, birth dates of people you love, expenses, and anything under the sun.  Best if you jot all these on a FREE PLANNER right?

That's why, I am sharing with my loyal readers and social media followers 2019 planners to equip you all in starting the year right! 

Mommy Mundo's Mom 24/7 2019 Planner

2019 Planners from National Book Store

2019 PLANNER GIVEAWAY MECHANICS:

1. Follow/Subscribe to Mommy Practicality on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and YOUTUBE.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mommypracticality
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mommypracticality
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mompracticality
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ldfandino

2. Earn as many entries by the following methods:

• Comment on this blog post your 2019 Goals or Resolutions or Dreams and how will a planner help you achieve them.
• Repost the Instagram Photo and on your caption, tell me what your 2019 Goals or Resolutions or Dreams and how will a planner help you achieve them.  Tag three friends to join and include the hashtag #MPPlannerGiveaway2019.  Make sure your post is public.
• On Facebook, comment on the blog post link your 2019 Goals or Resolutions or Dreams and how will a planner help you achieve them. Share the post on your timeline publicly, tag three friends to join and include the hashtag.

Before the year ends, let me greet you all a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!  Wow!  2018 is over and it had been a good great year for me due to certain pivotal events in my life which changed my direction, my outlooks, my purposes, my plans (if I still have any because I now entirely entrust my life on God's plans for me!), and even my identity.  I have so much to say and I wish I had shared more about it on my blog every time a milestone happened in the past year - almost all of which were life-changing or game changers.  But I guess, I was busy embracing them all.

My life this 2018 had been totally different from the life I had been living for years. I am more in tune to myself.  I now know better what my life's real purpose is.  I've fully embraced my role as a submissive wife and a focused mother - a homemaker.

Just like everyone, there were times I doubted myself, my place in this blogging world, my capabilities, my relevance, and even importance to my loved ones.  But whenever I come to this point, God sends people and messages to me to remind me not to worry, not to be a servant of this world, and not to keep on pursuing the wrong things like my selfish plans due to selfish motivations.  Then I would just come to my senses and realize how foolish I had been worrying too much.  God from the very beginning had planned out everything for me, all I had to do was obey.  He made things, many great things, happen to me this year.  I thought I didn't do well, but with Him now I know, that I am  loved and that I am enough.

Allow me to share with you some of the blessings or milestones that made my 2018 an awesome year!

In February, I turned my back from my 10 year corporate life from a prestigious telecommunications company which very well-compensated me and brought me to many places around the country.  I could say that I lived a fulfilled life of a campaigns strategist/specialist.  It was a happy ending so to speak because I truly prepared for leaving my working-mother-life whole-heartedly.  To this day, I never regret my decision nor even missed it.

I wrote about this major life decision here: Why I Left My Corporate Job.  My story reached many moms who were contemplating whether to leave work or continue to balance their lives as a working mom.  Now that I'm on the other side of the corporate world, I can say that one has to be truly prepared and ready for a busier life.  This decision should also be prayed hard for.

Throughout the year, as a blogger, I did several campaigns with different brands I truly use and believe in.  I am beyond grateful that these brands trusted me and my blog to be somewhat their extension, their voice.  I also know that being part of these campaigns was no accident.  All were planned by Him alone.  I also had some recognition from Feedspot Blog Reader and a surprise nomination for Top Parenting/Family Blog in Nuffnang Philippine's Nuffie Awards.



For these, I give glory to God.

Sharing with you these campaigns:



GRATEFUL FOR THE YEAR THAT WAS
Thank you God for a life-changing 2018! Thank you to everyone I connected with this year, hope I made an impact in your lives no matter how small, like how you made in mine. If ever I've hurt or annoyed or irritated or offended you, please accept my sincere apology. Let's start 2019 right.

2018 was a year I totally surrendered to Jesus my life and let Him control the wheel. I got tired contolling my life and other peolple, planning my future, worrying about almost everything. I've learned that God has GREATER plans for us. We don't know what it really is but His plans are to prosper us and never forsake us. For all the trust I laid on Him, He's never failed me. His daily provision took care of me and my family. I'm never empty-handed in fact projects come non-stop as His way to provide for me. I never regret leaving my corporate job, a regular paying stint with complete benefits, because God was faithful to His promise that He will take care of me. And He will definitely take care of you too!

VALUABLE LIFE LESSONS:
Here's to a great 2019 for all of us! Sharing just some of the lessons I learned to all of you:

1. Trust God with everything, stop worrying. He got you. Nakakatanda ang magworry.

2. His timing for your life is ALWAYS PERFECT. Never late and never too early.

3. You have no control over 90% happening in your life, you can only do so with 10% which is yourself, your heart, your reactions, your thoughts, and your actions. Yung asawa mo, you can't control him, but prayers do work wonders. Tignan niyo asawa ko bumait LALO. Haha.

4. Married women should submit to their husbands and make their children her ministry.

5. Learn to live each day with love, peace, joy, self-control, patience, gentleness, and forgiveness.

6. It's better to lose your pride (and the argument) than to lose your loved one because of pride.

7. Be more tolerant and empathic towards others, for we are all broken or once broken. Bring comfort to others just as how we were comforted when we were down.

8. Be the salt and light. No matter how cruel this world could be. Ika nga ni Catriona, look for the silver lining, be that light in the dark.

9. Use your talents, your skills, education, even your fame or fortune for the good and multiply them. God rewards those who are good stewards of His riches.

10. Our life here is temporary. Aim for eternal rewards. May everything you do glorify Him alone. Never be a servant of this world.

Greeting everyone a Blessed and a Happy New Year! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

As a tradition, my family sees each other for Christmas to have a lovely meal together, bond, and exchange gifts as well.  I guess it's pretty the same for most Filipino families.  Our culture is all about family. The mandatory family reunion happens not just once or twice a year, but every chance possible. From Birthdays to graduations all the way to the grand Christmas reunion, family gatherings are always filled with food, catching up, and loads of wholesome family fun.
 Sadly though, we’ve seen many changes in traditional family dynamics — from a simple meal to dance numbers by the grandkids. Families are reaching out to friends and relatives abroad through technology. While technology can be used to connect people, it can also become a wall between family members.  I noticed that kids do not do actual play, but their heads are down looking at a gadget they are holding (which is sometimes bigger that their faces) to play.  Cousins in circle chat with another person online, instead with each other to ask how's everyone doing or to simply play a game.
I am glad though that we made a conscious effort not to make this a new norm whenever we see each other during reunions.  We intentionally put down our phones and be really present during the gathering ang connect with our loved ones.  The times we take out our phones are when we need to take photos.  I am happy that El Real pasta also believes in making REAL connections this holiday.  It isn't really completely giving up your created social media life but to at least save the dining table from it — to keep shared family moments Real again.
El Real is a pasta brand that plans to espouse this habit of safeguarding the dining moment from gadget distraction. As a beloved family brand, El Real will position itself as the champion for Real Family moments. The brand focuses on a typical family where we see the journey from the time the kids are growing to present time in order to dramatize the big shift in the way things are. The absence of technology encourages real bonding between siblings and their mother while in the present, gadgets have isolated each one from the intended bonding that should happen during the family reunion.
This advocacy is a good positioning for the brand El Real as it puts purpose to a very familiar product: pasta and sauce. Spaghetti and Macaroni being a staple in most Filipino gathering, can remind us that there is so much for us to share with everyone and that each enjoyable moment is an opportunity to create real moments. The plan is to launch the advocacy campaign this holiday season by using the traditional Christmas reunion but eventually to progress to other family bonding moments. Here we are faced with an opportunity to create new traditions, which will reflect each family’s desire to have a more real meaningful connection that’s free from any distractions.

This is just the beginning for El Real in its pursuit to make real relevance to Filipino families. Let’s start creating Real Moments with El Real. Make REAL moments this Holiday Season. #REALunion #Realmoments

For more details, like and Follow El Real’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/iloveelreal/

Christmas is fast approaching!  It's indeed the most awaited and most wonderful time of the year for our family, especially the kids.  We have Christmas traditions we follow every year.  Mostly these traditions had been passed on from one generation to another.

Traditions like putting up the Christmas Tree together, lighting up our parol, kids writing to Santa their gift wishes, filling up their stockings with treats, and of course, Noche Buena.

Ah, the cool breeze, the warm smiles and happiness brought by family reunions here and there are what makes the holidays a lot more special for our family.  We love gathering over lunch or dinner, talking endlessly, updating each other of what's happening in our lives or what's new - all these make our Christmases merry and bright.
This year, I made a few twist to our Christmas tradition.  One is making the kids list three gift wishes to Santa (so that just in case Santa won't be able to provide the first one on the list, he has options 2 and 3!) and creating a special cheese board (for we've acquired wine drinking and toasting to add to the merriment this season brings!) using Danes Cheese Ball.
Wine is best paired with cheese, crackers, freeze-dried fruits, nuts, and even cold cuts.  For the cheese part, I've created our lovely yet easy-to-do cheese board using Danes Cheese Ball.  Even kids will love to munch on something on this wonderful and attractive cheese board (something we haven't done in the past actually!).  That right there is a new tradition we will definitely keep and pass on for generations to come.
Danes Cheese Ball is a creamy cheese with rich cheddar taste which will make any dish an instant favorite come Noche Buena. It’s a deliciously festive way to add a festive touch to any pasta, salad, or meat dish! Now that it's a new addition to our Noche Buena table, it's definitely a whole new focal point to talk about, to enjoy, to celebrate as well! :)  The cheese platter will also serve as an appetizer while waiting for the clock to tick until midnight, when it's time for Noche Buena!
I believe that meaningful connections and conversations with every member of the family has diminished through the years with the introduction of technology, so why not put down the gadgets for a while, be present with your loved ones as in really present, and enjoy snacking on cheese with crackers (kids version) or Danes Cheese Ball cubes/strips with a glass of wine (for the adults) and let them know how much they are loved.  The holiday is the perfect time to also say your appreciation and even apologies (if there's a need) to your family.  Go ahead and talk, laugh, and enjoy great food!
Danes Cheese Ball is available in all major supermarkets nationwide. You can even purchase it through your smartphone using the HonestBee app and have it delivered to your doorstep with just a few clicks! Now you can enjoy more cheesy goodness without dealing with the holiday traffic, long lines at the grocery, or the hassle of finding a parking spot.
This year, make Noche Buena even more delicious and festive – make fun and new traditions with Danes Cheese Ball. Happy HoliDANES!  For more information, like Danes on Facebook (@DanesCheese) or follow their stories here: #HoliDANES

What is the meaning of Christmas for you?  How do you celebrate it?  What are your family traditions that no matter what happens, you try your best not to break it?

Let me answer that quickly and my answers are: birth of Jesus Christ and Noche Buena/reunion lunch with the family, kung saan salo-salo lahat kami.  Annually, the whole family gather in our house to see our parents, ngayon parent na lang because hindi na namin kasama si Mommy.  But it's a tradition that no matter what happens, we don't break it, and this is whether we had an abundant year or a lean one.
Christmas is also a season for giving which means, gift-giving is another tradition we don't break.  So whenever it's Christmas season, we really save up for the holidays or depend on our Christmas bonuses.  Ang saya tuwing nakakatanggap ng Christmas bonus(es) right?  We do our budgeting for gifts and what to buy for Noche Buena with it.  And even if it's a lean year for us, we still do our usual Christmas shopping for new clothes, gifts, and food or groceries.  Whether the objective is to stretch our Christmas bonus or not, isa lang pinupuntahan namin, Puregold.

Why?  As a practical mom, in all my purchases, whether malaki ang budget or sakto lang ang budget, I always look for my money's worth - yung value for money.  It's not really being too frugal but rather, getting quality out of something without spending too much.  So the past pang-Noche Buena, as well as this year's, sa Puregold ko nagagastos ang Christmas bonus pambili ng panghanda pati iba pang last minute Christmas gifts.  Halos one-stop shop na rin kasi dun, groceries, appliances, toys, school and office supplies, and other household items.

Look at these Christmas Packages which you could give as meaningful gifts to your loved ones, which you can actually customize based on your budget din.  This is a very practical gift to families using your Christmas bonus diba?  Panalo talaga right?


Just like how Luis Manzano, the one and only Lucky to his momskie Ms. Vilma Santos in Puregold's recent Christmas video, watch the light and super nakaka-relate na video:
Nakakatuwa ano?  I am sure bukod sa nakarelate ka, naki-kanta ka rin?  Again, the most important thing is, this season, as well as all year-round, show your love to your family by spending time with them.  Time is short.  Drop your prides and say sorry if you offended anyone, be ready to forgive as well, and lastly, give your time to your family.  Make Puregold a part of the holiday season.  Spend your Christmas bonuses at Puregold for your gifting and Noche Buena needs, whether malaki o maliit ang budget.  Sa Puregold, Always Panalo!

The fact that you're reading this means you are blessed because you have access to internet right?  We are blessed more than we think we are.  Our kids go to school, we spend weekends with them to go out for some recreational activities such as dining out, going to the park or going to an indoor play area such as Fun Ranch.
Not all kids experience what our kids enjoy or are provided learning experience through play outside their classrooms.  With this in mind, Fun Ranch came up with Project Happy Kids.

ABOUT PROJECT HAPPY KIDS
This year, they take a step further by spearheading Fun Ranch Day through the Project Happy Kids.  The initial objective is to make at least one hundred kids happy through the help of their community and project partners, Pepsi Cola Product Philippines and MovED, a foundation that aims to provide early childhood education to children in underserved communities across our country.

Students of beneficiary pre-schools will be treated to a Fun Ranch Day consisting of rides, play, snacks, souvenir for each child and a special Magic Show.  Fun Ranch, with the help of its community will shoulder the cost of the activity including the transportation of the kids and their adult companions.  Event date is on the second week of March 2019 right before the school year ends.

THE COMMUNITY
That's us.  This is a perfect idea for us to give back and make more kids happy by sponsoring a child!  How?  For an additional Php50 on our child's Unlimited Play wristband, we help sponsor a beneficiary child for a special day in Fun Ranch.
Visit any Fun Ranch branches:

• Ortigas - Frontera Verde, Ortigas Avenue cor. C5, Pasig City 
• Alabang - Westgate, Filinvest Alabang, Muntinlupa City
• Pampanga - Paseo Las Palmas Building, Jose Abad Santos Ave. (JASA), San Fernando, Pampanga

I am a self-confessed practical techie Mommy/Tita who takes advantage of the convenience of technology and innovations especially when they make our busy mommy lives easier and help us manage our precious times wisely. 

Thanks to honestbee, grocery shopping especially this Christmas season (hello Christmas rush and traffic!) is made stress-free and hassle-free! 

Recently, The Marketplace, a partnered with them to bring to our tables premium grocery selections to make our Christmas dinner tables more special.
The Marketplace has a wide selection of local and international products including fresh produce, deli items, and exclusive wines and spirits.  Now through honestbee, their first-ever online partner, these unique selections could be delivered straight to our doorsteps making our online grocery shopping experience an awesome one! 
During its launch, we were even taught how to make the Noche Buena more special by exerting a little effort to style the food. 

Some tips I learned:
These food styling tips for sure will be very useful for every household especially this Christmas season.  For all unique and premium ingredients, shop on The Marketplace via honestbee.

More photos of the event with these beautiful mommas:

So, are you ready for your Christmas gatherings?  Don't fret our grocery shopping partner honestbee is more than ready to give us world-class, high quality, fresh products from The Marketplace to elevate our Noche Buena experience this Christmas. 

Download the honestbee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign up for an account.  For more information, visit www.honestbee.ph.

I always say, nothing beats first!  Wes and I had a grand time during our very first slime-making activity at Elmer's Grand Slime Time Fair held a few weeks ago at Eastwood Mall Atrium.  The event and workshop was FREE of charge to all attendees.  Participants just bought their materials to be used to make different types of slime.