Hello loves!  As my blog turns three years old, I would like to celebrate this milestone by giving away some prizes from my blog sponsors which I am very grateful for.  Basically, the giveaway is just an icing to the cake and I hope you also see it that way.

Here it is loves, the moment you've been waiting for!  I'm launching now my 2nd Year of Mommy Practicality Birthday Giveaway!
I'm just so thankful for the life that's entrusted to me by God and as I wake up everyday and breathe in, I am humbled.  I couldn't say thank you enough to my loved ones, my friends and colleagues for truly celebrating happily with me! :)  I'm thankful for everything I have right now which brings me happiness, contentment and peace of mind.  With everything that I have, I feel so little and I know I have a mission to do more and be more, to serve HIM and others. :)

Speaking of celebrating life, one way to do this is to host a Birthday Giveaway! :)  I will not delay further, here are the mechanics:

STEP 1:  ELIGIBILITY

1. OPEN to ALL Mommy Practicality readers, followers and friends NATIONWIDE.
2. Service GC prizes will only be available to joiners residing in Metro Manila winners.
3. Prizes shall be sent to provincial winners with an option to pick-up in Makati City.  Residents of NCR shall pick up their prizes from Makati City.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hello Loves!  I am very excited to share with you that Mommy Practicality had been chosen as one of three blogger partners in the Philippines by a very prestigious, exciting, and well-known global brand.

Pause, let me BREATHE!  WHEW!  Continue...

I posted this photo on my Facebook page already and I want to share with you the story behind this photo.

I love everything about this set, comfy chair, colored brick wall and the cute owl plush!

Any blogger for sure, has a strong desire for their voices and point of views to be heard.  That's why we write, that's why we blog, that's why we share information on the digital platform.  I just had my voice literally heard all over the Philippines during an interview I had with Ms. Lala Roque (unfortunately for me, Ms. Susan Enriquez was out of the country that time, I would have loved to meet her) on GMA7's AM Radio Station DZBB 594 kHz.

Ms. Lala Roque and yours truly. :)

Hello!  As March 1 kicked in I hurriedly checked Nuffnang Philippines' website to see if their March feature is already up.  When I saw it, I was literally screaming out of joy.  You know the feeling of a child waiting for Christmas Day so that she could open her gifts under the Christmas tree?  Yes, exactly that feeling.

I almost fainted when I saw this on their home page.

Remembering a year and eight months ago, all I just ever wanted was to write, share my practical tips and mommy experiences and hopefully be able to find and connect with women and moms like me, who have the same love for parenting and living life practically.

I guess in my own little way, I was able to achieve that.  Slowly and (hopefully) surely.  All I have with me are these: a determined and passionate heart to inspire and help, my practical life experiences and stories to share and my writing skills.  With those, plus loads of commitment for this passion, I continued writing.

I also invested in blog coaching (which I am currently taking with my mentor Martine de Luna), in web design revamp (which took a backseat, but will soon happen!) and in attending workshops.  Investing in something you love doing helps in improving on your craft, bonus of it is you get to meet a number of like-minded individuals (which later become your friends) and you learn a lot from them too.

None of these would have happened also if not for the support of my readers and my online friends via Mommy Practicality's Facebook Page.

To be a featured blogger of Nuffnang Philippines is a dream come true for me.  Imagine being featured along side some of the country's celebrity bloggers (like Erwan Heussaff, Saab Magalona, Divine Lee, Victor Basa, Chuckie Dreyfus and Patty Laurel to name a few) and popular bloggers I follow (such as Jackie Go, Christine Dychiao, TSN, Earth Rullan, and Frances Sales to name a few) is such an honor and such a KILIG feeling.

Thank you my dear readers and supporters of Mommy Practicality.  I dedicate this blog milestone to all of you!  Without you, I wouldn't be where Mommy Practicality is on its blog journey.  Thanks also to Nuffnang Philippines for the feature.  I still can't believe I'm seeing my name and my face on their site. :)

Read about the feature, how I started, what I write about and so much more over HERE: http://www.nuffnang.com.ph/featured-blogger/louise-fandino.

I've always believed in investing in something you love.  Investing doesn't always mean monetary.  Investing also means spending time, effort and emotions.  When you invest on something, the returns could be unexpectedly brilliant.  There will be times though, that the returns are not what you wished for.  But what to do?  Take the risk and invest more or diversify.  It's just like any relationships, the more you give, the more you receive.  It could be a skill, a hobby or a talent.  Invest time in practicing and improving it.  When you do, you could use it to your advantage and use it for the greater good.

photo source

Let's take for example this blog which I love so much.  I am taking this one-year old baby of mine seriously and wholeheartedly.  That's why since last year, I've been attending blog and writing workshops organized by Martine de Luna of Dainty Mom, now Make It Blissful.   I yearn to learn more about my new passion, to improve on what I have started, to align all these to my practical working life, to make my features more focused on the brand and to be better storyteller.  I invested in workshop fees, in making time to write my stories and in attending the workshops.  Just recently, I decided to be mentored by Martine and also employ the services of Patricia of Fancy Girl Designs to revamp the blog's look.

Version 2.0 Coming Soon
Mommy Practicality's heart and soul is currently undergoing reconstruction.  My blog's design is also undergoing a beautiful transformation.  It will be a complete make-over and I am extremely happy and excited about it.  All these are the results of my valuable and inspiring takeaways from Martine's blog workshops.  I will be forever grateful that I took this path of blogging which is now a huge part of my life. Blogging has become a major catalyst for my personal improvement.  I never expected that it could affect me this much positively.  It helped shape the better and zen-like me since I decided to take it seriously.  I felt the inner responsibility and accountability to all my actions offline and what I share online.  I became more attuned to what I should be sharing on this blog, all for the pure intentions to inform, help and inspire my readers.

Yes loves, I will be transforming this blog, body and soul.  I hope you all are as excited as I am right now.  Gratitude goes all out to Martine for the blog inspirations and lessons I get from her.  I look forward to our coaching sessions soon.

Let me end this by sharing the blog mood board I came up with as a result of the last workshop I attended.  This will give you an idea on what look the blog will have after the revamp.

I cannot wait for the reveal - the launch of Mommy Practicality's Version 2.0.  Until then loves, hope you still support and stay with me as I go through this wonderful blog journey!

Oh by the way, I want to share Martine's schedule of creative workshops this year which you may want to attend to help you find your blogging bliss too:

I have great news for you my dears!  I am featured in one of the sincerest and inspiring blogs I read everyday.  I'm on Bebengisms' A Mom's Life.

Get to know about my kaartehan on scissors, the many hats I wear as a woman, a mom, a work slave, a performer (in all aspects you may think of! hahaha!) and a lot more.

Screenshot of Bebengisms' A Mom's Life #31

Denise of Bebengisms features MOMs from all walks of life who each has a different story to tell, with an intention to inspire other women.

Thank you Bebengisms for this feature!  I am honored!  To new friendship and beyond!  CHEERS! :)

How was your weekend everyone?  Mine was lovely.  Spent quality family time with hubby and kids which makes starting my Monday not that challenging.  If you know what I mean! :)  Most working moms almost drag themselves to work on a Monday hehehe! :)

Anyway, here's the last wave of my BLOG ANNIVERSARY BLOWOUT.  I'm very blessed by you my dear readers and by my generous sponsors for making this month long giveaway possible.  Ain't that great?

I'm also glad that Goldilocks is joining the giveaway again.  I almost thought they couldn't make it.  We have generous sponsors my dears.  Dunkin' Donuts and one of my favorite home-made customized cake/cupcake suppliers, Delishaes, are part of this giveaway.


To simply join, just follow the tasks enumerated in the Rafflecopter.  Here's the rest of the mechanics:

1. The Blog Anniversary Blowout is open to readers of Mommy Practicality in the Philippines.
2. To earn entries, make sure you follow all the tasks enumerated in the Rafflecopter.
3. You may also earn entries manually by doing this:

Good luck loves!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hello loves!  I am still very overwhelmed with the number of entries submitted to my recently concluded Pamper Package Blowout.  Which means I will be verifying tons and tons of entries.  As I've mentioned in my mechanics, I do hope the following were followed and noted: (1) Completed all tasks listed on Rafflecopter and (2) Willing to claim prizes from me.

So with that, let's not move on to my next package blowout!

Why do you think you deserve to win a Get Rich & Natural Package?

1. The Blog Anniversary Blowout is open to readers of Mommy Practicality in the Philippines.
2. To earn entries, make sure you follow all the tasks enumerated in the Rafflecopter.
3. You may also earn entries manually by doing this:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck Loves! :)

Hello Loves!  Today is THE day, the moment we've all been waiting for!  I'm launching my First Year Blog Anniversary Blowout!  As my way of thanking you my dear readers for supporting my humble blog since I started last year up to this very day, this is for all of you! :)

I would like to thank my sponsors which I mentioned over HERE once again for trusting me and for giving all these awesome prizes that I'll be raffling off.

Now, let me not excite you further, here's Mommy Practicality's Blog Anniversary Blowout:


Because my sponsors have been very generous to all of you, we're having FOUR (4) packages which you may have a chance to win!  In each package, there could be three (3) to five (5) winners.

Each package will be raffled off consequently.  You will have a chance to earn entries for a week.

Here are my wonderful packages:

Pamper Package: July 3 - 9, 2013

Health & Wellness Package: July 17 - 23, 2013



Sweet Indulgence:  July 24 - 30, 2013 

It's so easy to join and earn entries!  Here are the mechanics:

1. The Blog Anniversary Blowout is open to all readers of Mommy Practicality in the Philippines.
2. To earn entries, make sure you follow all the tasks enumerated in the Rafflecopter.
3. You may also earn entries manually by doing this:

          Follow Mommy Practicality

• on Facebook: http://www.mommypracticality.com/mommypracticality
• on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mompracticality
• on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mommypracticality
• on Bloglovin: Follow my blog with Bloglovin 

  Follow SPONSOR on Facebook

    4. For additional entries:

• Share the giveaway on your Facebook and tag 3 friends. At the bottom of the post, look for the Facebook Share button, click and copy this: Join @MommyPracticality 's Blog Anniversary Blowout to get a chance to win one of four (4) awesome packages.  Start earning entries here: 
• Tweet about the giveaway : Join @mompracticality 's Blog Anniversary Blowout to win one of four awesome packages! Earn entries here: 

    5. Leave your Name, Email Address, URL of your Facebook Share post and Link to your Tweet.
         To get the URL, click on the timestamp of your post, then copy the URL.
    6. Blog Anniversary Blowout will run from July 3 to 30, 2013.

Terms and Conditions:

1. Winners may win only once per giveaway package.
2. Winners will be notified through email.  If no reply received within two weeks from notification, prizes will be forfeited and another winner shall be drawn.
3. Prizes are transferable but not convertible to cash.
4. Winners or their representative should be willing to claim the prize at the following venues: M-F: Ayala Ave., Makati City (exact time and location to be emailed) between 10am to 6pm only; Sat-Sun: Gateway Cubao, Robinson’s Magnolia, SM Sta. Mesa or SM Manila (exact time and location to be emailed)
5. Winners/representative should present a printed copy of my email and at least one (1) valid ID when claiming the prize.
6. Mommy Practicality’s decision is final.

Are you ready?  Earn entries now for a chance to win a PAMPER PACKAGE:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join Now!  Good Luck to ALL!

Good Morning Loves!  I am very excited and pleased to announce that my humble blog, Mommy Practicality has turned ONE YEAR OLD today (enter balloon drops and confetti pops!)  HURRAY!

Looking back, I started Mommy Practicality after some soul searching on what topic I really wanted to write about and for whom.  Originally, this was louisefandino.blogspot.com, but I thought, oooh, that's not a really nice blog name, who cares about Louise Fandino?  But seriously, I was just writing about anything but leaning towards my pregnancy and welcoming my second child into this world.  The first ever post was about  anticipating the time I give birth to my second son and the last post was still about my bunso turning 1 year old.

After coming home from my happy forever anniversary date with hubby last year (June 28, 2012) I unbelievably can't stop thinking about blogging.  I don't know what came into me because although I like to share a lot of stuff online, writing is just a second love after singing.  So I came up with a blog name in mind and prayed hard for it.  If the name was already taken then, I won't pursue, but if it's still available, then it's a sign that I should pursue and make it big (someday!)

Mommy Practicality was born on July 1, 2012.  My first ever post, and highest stats of all time, was about my toddler's McDonald's Birthday Party Celebration.  365 days later, I have fairly written 188 posts basically covering topics on Kids, Moms, Food, Events, Money Matters, Practical Finds and Practical Fashion.  I advocate for having practical choices in life without sacrificing value and quality.  I also advocate for enriching a Mom's individuality and still pursuing her dreams while taking care of her family.  Hopefully, you my readers, could see that in the posts that I naturally write about.

Any anniversary should be celebrated right?  So with this, as my way of thanks to my readers, followers and supporters, I would like to give back to all of you!  I'm celebrating my blog anniversary with a BIG BANG!  I call it the Blog Anniversary Blowout or the B.A.B!

Because my sponsors are all supportive and generous, there will be not one, not two nor three, but FOUR waves or packages of giveaways beginning July 3! :)

BLOG ANNIVERSARY BLOWOUT (B.A.B.) PACKAGES

• Pamper Package
• Get Rich & All-Natural Package
• Health & Wellness Package
• Sweet Indulgence Package

DONE!  Your Bloglovin' account will show on your feed all the favorite blogs that you follow.  Now there's no need to worry that you'll miss out on updates.

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