It's tough being a mom of a teenager boy.  Raise your hand if you feel the same way (Yeah!  I see some imaginary hands up in the air right now!)  Let me share with you a little bit about him first.  He's my first-born and has always been interested in playing ball since he was one year old.  I saw his basketball potential when he started shooting balls in toy basketball rings continually.  So when he turned seven, we started to enroll him in basketball clinics.
Now he is a school basketball varsity player and we're proud of his achievement because he's always dreamed of this.  I can say that it's also product of years of summer basketball clinics, school training, and a lot of prayers, pep talks and goal setting with our son.  The road is not easy but it's doable.  We're happy he's into sports and he's doing what he's really interested in.  Basketball.  Malay natin someday he may be a PBA star diba?

Basketball has always been considered the unofficial national sport of the Philippines.  Just count the number of basketball courts – makeshift or otherwise – in any given city or barangay and you can surmise how popular the game is among Filipinos.  It is no wonder that more and more kids are picking up the sport at younger age just like my son.  In fact, right now, kasama na rin siya sa Barangay league to further develop his defense or shooting skills.
Just recently too, he tried his luck in the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 Manila Regional Selection Camp.  I'm happy that Alaska has again launched the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 to help nourish these young athletes’ love and skill for the game.  It's a perfect program to entice kids to put down their gadgets and pick up a sport instead so they could live healthier, energetic lifestyles.  And with the help of Alaska, have a nutritionally balanced lifestyle too!

Here are some highlights of the Jr. NBA NCR Regional Selection Camp:

More photos here:

HOW MOMS CAN SUPPORT YOUNG CHAMPS:
And as moms, you can help your budding basketball player reach his or her star athlete potential. Here's how...

Demonstrate SPORTSMANSHIP.  Not every game your champ will be in will be as clean as a whistle.  Kids will be kids. So, don’t be surprised if they play rough sometimes.  Teach your son or daughter to be the “bigger” athlete by taking the high road.  If for instance, your kid’s team loses a game or an important point, teach him to refocus instead of losing steam.  Train him to reassess what he could have done better and how he can apply it next time.

Learn the game further with your kid.  Brush up on some Basketball 101 by going online, watching games or just asking other basketball fans.  Before you know it, you both can comment on the directions of the point guard, critique the flow of the movement in the paint, and observe how the team executes zone defense and triangle offense like the best of them.

Emphasize the value of TEAMWORK.  Do you remember when you were a kid and you didn’t want to follow rules or just wanted to be let alone?  Well chances are, your child will also have a spell and will refuse to go to practice.  Be understanding, yet firm. Tell him that he is a crucial part of the team and that he should feel privileged to be part of it.  Help him realize the importance of commitment and teamwork.

Cultivate a positive ATTITUDE. One of the mistakes most parents commit is that they pressure their child to perform well and win the game.  Don’t overburden your child by focusing on the outcome of their game. Emphasize to them that what is most important is that they are enjoying every minute of what they are doing. Allow them to discover the highlight of the sport and to fall in love with every aspect of the game because once they’re hooked, their dedication, passion and performance will follow.

Give time and space.  Big name athletes didn’t excel in their sport overnight. They practiced, practiced and practiced.  If you want your child to reach his potential, don’t be afraid to give him the time and space to practice.  Let him dribble away during his spare time, watch and rewind recorded NBA games, or even bring his basketball with him wherever he goes.  
Highlight the importance of RESPECT.  In professional sports, athletes are often pitted against each other. While your budding star athlete is still young, make him realize that his only real competition himself.  Show him to benchmark against his own personal bests and not see or tag other athletes as “the enemy.”

You also need to become a good example. Leave the coaching to the coaches.  Let’s face it, it’s hard to shake off the game even when you get home.  Stop yourself from over analyzing each move point by point or from criticizing your kid’s play.  Your job as parent is to be their quiet strength and their pillar of support – even when they lost the deciding point.  Be an encourager and not their worst critic.

Remember, the most powerful yet simple thing a mother can do for a young athlete is to provide unconditional love and support. Nourish your child in and out of the court. Ensure that your child gets the proper food and nutrition while undergoing training. This helps them perform better by powering up their bodies to function at its optimum and has the “fuel” needed to recover after training day.

Drink Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink. It has energizing nutrients namely, magnesium, calcium and potassium that keep young athletes' bodies in winning form.
And as always, be their number one fan by telling your kid you love them before or after every game, whether they win or lose.

With your love, support, and the proper training and nourishment, your son and daughter has the potential to make it to the big leagues.  Help them reach their dreams.

To know more about the Jr. NBA program, follow them on Facebook http://facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.  For updates and promos on ALASKA, visit their website www.alaskamilk.com or www.playph.com

You can take away anything in my bag except these three things: my mobile phone, my wallet, and kikay kit.  My wallet and kikay kit are self-explanatory ladies.  But, I couldn't stress how my mobile phone with an excellent network and data connection plays a big role in my life right now as a wife, a mom, a career woman, a blogger, and as an employer too.

Here are some of the reasons why:

Intentional Communication With Husband - My husband and I agreed from the very beginning of our love story that communication is key to our relationship.  We're not together 24/7 so communication through our mobile phones is important.  We use all communication lines possible to stay connected like calls, texts, social media PMs/DMs, lahat na actually.  On days talking is not possible we get updated through our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and even IG stories.  We even reciprocate double-taps on IG or on FB posts!  Not that it's a requirement, but I guess that's one or two forms of our language of love, affirmation and appreciation.  An excellent data connection is a must for us, if not, aaargh, it could get a bit frustrating.
It's A Mommy Thing - Have I told you I have three children?  Yes!  All boys and of different stages - A teenager, a young child, and a baby.  Each child has different personalities and needs, but all of them has the same need for communication time!  Hence, I rely on my phone heavily to make this possible.  My teenager commutes to and from school.  He comes home quite late due to his daily basketball training, which means, I worry about him more than ever (especially after his first hold-up experience while commuting) when he's not home.  I only get a sense of relief after being able to talk to him to know his whereabouts and tell him all my reminders and list of things-to-do through FB messenger.  Now, my 6-year-old son is the most clingy of the three which means I need to constantly communicate with him through calls and even through video calls using WhatsApp.  I also use the same online channels to talk to my baby's caretaker to send reminders and get updates on baby's activities.

I'm A Team Player - I am a working mom who goes to the office five days a week.  On days when I work outside or need to update my colleagues. my project partners, and my clients, I heavily rely on my mobile phone for this.  I use the phone to stay connected, to be on top of things, to finish projects, and to be collaborative with different people in the work place.  I communicate through calls, texts, and also through Viber.

I Need Some ME- Time for Balance - When going to the salon or the spa is not possible, I spend my me time streaming or watching my favorite TV series or blockbuster movies.  I rely on iFlix or Fox+ (you can have a 30-day trial by the way for FREE!) for this quick Me-Time fix which I get to do when waiting in line or commuting in a van or riding Uber using my mobile phone. Oh such a life saver my mobile phone!
I'm A Social Animal - I am online the whole day - from the moment I wake up after praying to give thanks to HIM for a brand new day, to right before we cap off the night.  I update my social media accounts, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, my blog and I constantly check my personal email using my mobile phone.  This is why a BIG DATA allocation is a requirement so I may be able to get things done efficiently and fast.  While I'm happy with my network provider's data allocation, I know I can do a lot more with a BIGGER allocation siyempre.

I know, grabe my need for my mobile phone and a BIG data allocation, good thing the new Smart Postpaid Plan could cater to all these needs.


The New #SmartPostpaidPlans

The revamped Smart Postpaid Plans start with baseline subscriptions that come with superfast Smart LTE Postpaid SIM and bigger data volume. Even better, each plan comes with built-in features, such as unlimited texts to all networks; all minutes to all networks; and free access to Facebook Messenger, Viber and Whatsapp every month. You also have the option to add a handset to your postpaid plan, or subscribe to more services for a truly convenient build-your-own-plan experience perfect for your mobile lifestyle.

Smart’s new offers start at Plan 399, which now comes with 3GB data (up from the previous 1 GB data), followed by Plan 599 with 5GB data (up from 4GB), and Plan 799 with 8GB data (up from 7GB). Smart also offers Plan 999 with monthly 10GB data; Plan 1499 with 18GB data; Plan 1999 with 24GB data; Plan 2499 with 30GB data; and Plan 2999 with 36GB data – each with built-in call minutes to all networks, unlimited texts to all networks, and free access to Facebook Messenger, Viber and Whatsapp every month.

Now, starting with only Php 399 a month, you can build your very own Smart Postpaid Plan and enjoy the fastest LTE speeds.

I can see how the new Smart Postpaid Plans perfectly match my lifestyle needs!  And maybe it's time to also get my teenager his own postpaid plan!

How about you?  I know you want it too!  For more information, visit www.smart.com.ph/DataPlan or like SMART on Facebook for updates as well!

Are you a mom or a dad?  Have you found yourself in the middle of changing diapers or during a pretend play with your toddler or during a pep talk with your teenager if you are indeed doing IT right?  As a parent, you think you are being too strict or too cool?  Are you giving enough attention to the kids even if you're at work the whole day or you compensate the time you're away from them with gifts.  Do you use time-outs?  Do you spank?  Do you yell?  Do you feel guilty sometimes?  Do you sometimes want to give up work and just stay with the kids at home because of guilt?

If yes, that's normal.  We're normal.  My take on this is, parenting per household is unique because our children are unique from other children.  Parent them the way that you think works best for you and for the family.  Surprisingly, there's also parenting-style-war going around and if you've been a victim (those who tell you you're doing it all wrong or giving unsolicited advice), DON'T MIND THEM.  You are your children's parent and you should know better.  But it helps if we listen and attend a summit or talk from parenting experts who are there to HELP and SUPPORT not judge or prove our styles are wrong.

Good thing, the #1 Amazon bestselling author and international speaker Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag is organizing a parenting event: Hands-On Parents while Earning or H.O.P.E. Summit.

Hands-On Parents while Earning or H.O.P.E. Summit  April 22, 2017 | 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM  Bulwagang Haribon, Insular Life Corporate Center Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

"I had been running time management, goal-setting and work-life balance workshops for decades," Gumap-as Dumadag, a consultant who has traveled around the Philippines and in other Asian countries to conduct workshops, shares. "I’ve always enjoyed and looked forward to these kinds of workshops because I know that every time I run these workshops, I’m making a big difference not only in the lives of the participants but also in the lives of their family members.”

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE H.O.P.E. SUMMIT:

• Participants will be able to clarify their priorities and learn strategies and tips on how to live them out.
• Parents will be able to come up with a list of new habits that they can easily and consistently implement after the workshop so they can be more involved in their children’s lives. 
• Parents will discover ways to work smarter so they can free up more time in their schedules to bond with their children. 
• Parents will be inspired by the stories of the featured moms and dads (guest panelists) in the H.O.P.E. Summit and learn tips and strategies from them on how to be successful in their careers/businesses while being hands-on with their children.
• Parents will have an opportunity to meet and interact with other parents who also want to become hands-on parents while earning.
• Have fun while learning.
• Come out of the workshop more determined and committed to being a better parent.

Apart from the learning you will take home with you, you will also receive giveaways from some of the event sponsors. You also get a chance to win exciting prizes in the raffle like books published by Shepherd’s Voice Publication. Also the first 20 participants will get customized Hands-On Parent while Earning bags courtesy of My Little Ikbi.

GIVEAWAY:
Charged up to attend the H.O.P.E. Summit?  Here's one great news, I'm giving away ONE (1) Complimentary Ticket worth Php 3,000.00 to one you my dear readers.  It's so easy!

Mechanics:

1. Beginning today until April 20, 2017, just post a photo of you and your children on Facebook, Twitter or IG (make sure it's public)
2. In the caption tell me or share a quick tip on Hands-On Parenting while Earning that works for your and your kids.  
3. Tag me on your post and include the hashtags #HOPESummit2017 #iHOPE 
4. Copy and past the link of your post on the comment section below.

What past participants say about the H.O.P.E. Summit:

“It gave me the inspiration to become the parent that has freedom from corporate work while providing for our family through an entrepreneurial pursuit I am passionate about,” says Dennis Anguluan about the first H.O.P.E. Summit.

“I am inviting you to attend this second run of the H.O.P.E. Summit this 2017. I can guarantee that this is a must-attend seminar,” says Jenina Tuazon, a breastfeeding mom, blogger and a participant of the first H.O.P.E. Summit. “I am sure this is really worth every penny of your investment,” Tuazon adds.

The HO.P.E. Summit is co-presented by Full Life Cube Publishing and Events Services and Insular Life. The event is also supported by Payoneer, Kindermusik by Teacher Suzette and friends, Moringana by Organics Asia, Merry Macarons, Mom and Milly Educational Toys and KANSIS Made. Media partners include Experience of a super mommy, Lally’s Reflections, Mommy Bares All, Mommy Practicality, My Metro Lifestyle, My World by Mommy Anna, Roller Coaster Ride, Seminar Philippines, The Filipino Homeschooler, The Vine that Writes, Mums Daily PH and WhenInManila.com.

About Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag
TERESA GUMAP-AS DUMADAG is a Filipino mom who shares inspiration and wisdom through her books, articles, blogs (Mommy Bares All and When My Bridegroom Comes), talks, training programs and workshops. She’s the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller BREASTFEEDING: A Journey Worth Taking. She recently published her first children’s book titled Mommy Loves You Just the Same. One of her upcoming books is How to Be A Hands-On Parent while Earning. She works from home as a consultant for management, human resources and training solutions, a career coach and counselor and blogger. She is the President and Founder of Full Life Cube Publishing and Events Services (http://www.fulllifecube.com), through which she inspires and equips her clients to succeed in their businesses/careers while living out their priorities and life’s purposes. She does all these while homeschooling her two older kids and breastfeeding her youngest son who is now a toddler. Connect with Teresa through Twitter (@TeresaGDumadag) and Instagram (https://instagram.com/teresadumadag/).

My childhood days were filled with outdoor play, pretend play, eating sweet treats, and watching some of my favorite cartoon characters on TV, like The Smurfs!

And they are baaaack! And what joy it is knowing my children also love them like how I did when I was younger.  So like my boys, baby included, I'm sure your children will also find The Smurfs adorable! The good news is, The Smurfs toys are available at McDonald's!

So get ready for a fantastic adventure with McDonald’s new Smurfs Happy Meal toys! Collect all eight (8) Smurfs Happy Meal toys in vibrant colors for a fun playtime experience. Each toy features a specially designed Smurf house and two unique Smurf friends, including favorite Smurfs characters like Papa Smurf, Brainy Smurf and Smurfette, so you can complete your own Smurfs village.
Catch these adorable Smurfs Happy Meal toys as they arrive in all McDonald’s stores nationwide starting March 25. Each toy comes FREE with every purchase of a McDonald’s Happy Meal! Customers can choose from a Cheesy Eggdesal or 1-pc Chicken McDo during breakfast hours and 1-pc Chicken McDo, 4pc Chicken McNuggets, Burger McDo or McSpaghetti during regular hours. Happy Meals come with a choice of fries or corn and orange juice for a delicious treat!

Make your playtime extra magical with the latest McDonald’s Happy Meal collection. Share photos of your Smurfs village on McDonald’s Facebook page, or tag @McDo_PH on Twitter and Instagram.

A few weekends ago, my fun childhood memories were brought back in an instant when I came to witness the launch of Bonifacio Global City's My Street, High Street which opened its streets to people to rediscover the thrill of playing outdoors.
Do you remember how an afternoon felt for you as child, sweaty and even dirty and all, but you came home all smiles because you played with your neighborhood friends in the streets?  How my husband and I always wished we could let our children experience the same without worrying about cars passing by or ill-intended people posing danger to our children.  Now we can!  Thanks to BGC who brings us back to a time where the street was the only place where we made friends!

ALL Sundays of the year which beginning March, 9th Avenue will be filled with larger-than-life games which both kids and the kids-at-heart alike will surely enjoy!

Look at all these games you and your kids could play:
I'm glad that BGC through this program, they are promoting healthy and active street life for our children.  In this digital age where game consoles, social media, and gadgets are everywhere and could instantly catch our children's attentions, I'm a happy parent that BGC knows that having fun in the sun is what will make children more active, learn social skills, build self-confidence, encourage communication, critical thinking, and simply have fun without being too dependent on any gadget.

Kudos BGC for My Street High Street!  I'm sure many other parents applaud you for this campaign!  See you there one of these Sundays loves! :)

I'm excited for Belo Baby because they just turned one year old!  Happy Birthday Belo Baby!  This calls for a celebration! When I say celebration, a giveaway is definitely in order! Wink!
But before that, let me share with you our Belo Baby experience first.  Belo Baby's 1st anniversary also means it's been a year since they've been part of my and my children's bath time.

Here's my Wes from last year:
Here he is a year later, still a Belo Baby baby:
With so many kids products out there, old and new, the Belo Baby remains to be our staple bath essentials for the kids.  So much so that I also love using it on my skin after bathing.

WE LOVE BELO BABY
We love the Belo Baby line of products because it's guaranteed made from 100% natural ingredients and 0% harmful chemicals.  Because of this, meticulous moms like us are assured that it's safe to use for our kids and babies too
Did you know that baby's skin is 20-30% thinner than adults?  So this means their skin is highly permeable.  So nakakatakot if we use products that contain harmful ingredients like sulfates, paraben, Tertrasodium EDTA, phthalates.  These chemicals may strip off baby's natural moisture, breakdown skin's protective barrier, and leave it dry and irritated.  The long-term effects are scary actually.
That's why we only trust Belo Baby because it only contains natural ingredients which are:

• Free from synthetic chemicals and toxins
• Less likely to cause irritation
• Generally gentler and safer than other products with artificial ingredients.

100% NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Cocoa Butter is an ingredient that contains antioxidant qualities that protect skin from the outside. It keeps the skin healthy by strengthening and deeply moisturizing it. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it also relieves common skin irritations like rashes.

Shea Butter is a known superfood for the skin, as well as the hair. It heals, protects, nourishes, and moisturizes skin from damage and dryness. Because it is natural, gentle, and soft, it is suitable for all skin types especially the delicate and sensitive skin of babies. It naturally heals common skin conditions of babies like eczema and diaper rash.

Sweet Almond Oil has the ability to lock moisture into the skin. It is also a good exfoliator to help remove dead skin cells and stimulate the development of healthier skin. It is generally safe for all skin types, including delicate baby skin.

What we like about BELO BABY:

• We know it's safe for use on my children because of its 100% natural ingredients
• It has a light and natural baby scent, not overpowering or irritating scent
• Soap and Hair & Body Wash are both easy to rinse and leaves skin soft and still moisturized
• The Face and Body Lotion is quickly absorbed by the skin and it's not sticky.  It's not-greasy (which is a no-no when weather is hot!  ehem, Summer na!) and leaves our skin velvety smooth and soft
• Budget-friendly

BELO BABY GIVEAWAY
Want to experience a #BeloBabyMoment too?  Join my giveaway!  Belo Baby is giving away some  Belo Baby packages and you may be one of the lucky winners!

MECHANICS:

1. Open to all who are Philippine residents only.
2. Follow Belo Baby on Instagram
3. Follow Mommy Practicality on Instagram
4. Post a photo of you and your baby/child on Instagram and in the caption, tell me how you think Belo Baby may help you bond with your baby. 
5. Use the hashtag: #BeloBabyXMommyPracticality 
6. Make sure your post is public
7. Comment below your complete name and the link to your IG post and your
8. Giveaway will run until March 23, 2016.
9. Winners will be announced on March 24, 2017.
10. Gift packs will be couriered to the winners.

We've had several home renovations already since 2012 because we wanted to make sure we use the space in the house as efficiently as we can.  My husband and I want a functional family space which will reflect both our styles.

In these renovations, we considered Style + Function and I'd like to add one more, Comfort.  With already three kids, it's important that the space we share as a family is one which we'll all be happy to be in, that we all look forward to coming home to every day, and one that is clutter-free and COOL so that we could invite family and friends over anytime even on humid summer days.

Id' like to share some personal tips on creating that mindful space for the family too.

• On Style - Know what your personal style is and your living space should reflect it.  Get ideas or pegs from the internet like Pinterest and create a mood board.  Know what colors, to use and make sure these colors would set a good mood which should make you happy and relaxed.

• On Function - I love making use of every space in the house while still ensuring that it's clutter-free.  I highly recommend that if you're customizing your furniture such as cabinets, drawers, or event sofa, make sure you could also create plenty of storage for those small items you don't want to be visible in the eye to avoid clutter.  For the room or kitchen, if you're customizing your cabinets, it would be better if it's ceiling-high so things are kept neatly.

• On Budget - Renovating the house could get so addicting, once you start styling and mindfully creating functional spaces, sometimes we can't stop coming up with ideas to improve our spaces.  But remember, your additional ideas may also mean additional expense.  So the first thing to do, set a budget and stick to it.  Compare prices of materials before purchasing.  Lastly be conscious on your spending by listing down all your expenses in a simple budget sheet which you could do on Excel.

• On Comfort - Style and Function are great but never leave out the most important thing, Comfort.  Install a powerful, dependable and cost-efficient cooling system in your living space to ensure that your whole family can still bond inside the house even on the hottest days.  A floor-mounted air-con is highly recommended. Choose a stylish and cost-efficient cooling units such as the Carrier Klarwind or for really large houses, the Carrier XPower 2.  This will ensure that your living space would not only look good but also "FEEL" good, now that's the Carrier Experience.

The New Carrier Slimpac Series
The Carrier Klarwind has an innovative 270 degree swivel head motion that provides wider and faster cooling with reach of up to 20 meters away.  It's quiet, sleek, very modern, stylish, and cost-efficient too.  This inverter aircon comes in 2.5HP with a high energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 18.0 as compared to 10.8 of other leading brands.  It has a Power Saving Eco which saves energy by operating at 25-30C temperature limit. It also features a 3 step anti-bacterial, electrostatic and carbon filter.  It also dehumidifies while providing moderate cooling through its auto swing mode.  Plus compared to a wall split type air-conditioner, this requires less maintenance.
The Carrier X Power 2 is recommended for bigger spaces like your mansion (hihi!) or an office.  It has the same features as the Klarwind at 3 horse power.  It's really a powerful cooling system because it can cool a room in 2 minutes.  It has an energy efficiency ration of 17.7 which is a lot better than other brands with the same horse power.

Aren't these new cooling system innovation great?!  Now is the perfect time to have your place assessed by Carrier Philippines for free because summer is about to begin (imagine the scorching heat of the sun permeating your homes - sweat, rashes, irritability!).  Book an appointment through their customer care hotline at 836-5555 or check their website www.carrier.com.ph for more information.  You may also follow them on Facebook for updates and future promos https://facebook.com/CarrierPhilippines/ and their stories via hashtags #SophisticatedComfort #TheCarrierExperience

Summer is about to kick off in a few weeks and while moms and dads like you and me think of which workshop we're going to enroll our kids, I am also on the look out for fun Easter Egg Hunting Events in Metro Manila this 2017.

It's been my blog tradition (and I will do my best not to break it!) to share with you a roundup of egg hunting activities for our kids in malls, activity centers, hotels, and wherever there is one!  I like doing this for you my dear readers because I know how as parents we realize the importance of giving good and lasting childhood memories to our kids with these traditions and bonding moments.  But please also remember to teach the true meaning of Easter, that Jesus Christ has risen.

So without delaying further, (I know you're as excited as I am too with all the eggs with prizes you could get with your kids, and the food, and the fun!) here's the much-awaited and frequently requested 2017 List of Easter Egg Hunting Activities for Kids in Metro Manila:




As early as now, establishments around the metro are preparing for their Easter events and egg hunting activities.  Make sure to bookmark this blog post and come back for additional event listings! If you have any leads or if you want your own event to be listed here, please email me at LDFandino(at)gmail(dot)com.  Have fun loves! :)