There's no doubt that Macky and I are food lovers and explorers.  From street foods to buffets and occasional fine dining, we'd love to experience them.  We both love to cook as well, but admittedly, Macky is a better cook than I am, so I let him take charge in our kitchen.  When cooking or looking for our next dining adventure, we look for inspirations from magazines or TV shows, because they are reliable resources.

Speaking of food, kitchen explorations, and shows, "Let's Eat" is the newest food lifestyle television show airing on Lifestlye Network hosted by our friend, the boss, Spanky Enriquez and Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi.
"Let's Eat," aired its first episode last week, with Street Foods as its first theme.  Both of hosts were so engaging to watch because of the rawness of the comments and reviews of the highly-opinionated and very articulate hosts.

Welcome to McDonald's Kidzania!  

McDonald's Philippines President and CEO Kenneth S. Yang and Ms. Maricel Pangilinan Arenas, State Governor for KidZania Philippines

It's a new Mcdonald's branch in town but it's nothing ordinary at all!  If you look closer, you'll see kid-sized kitchen with super cute young crew members having so much fun while making their own McDonald's Cheeseburger.

When my panganay Dandre was younger, I used to ask my Titas abroad to look for Nike shoes for him.  So we ended up spending for the shipment of the shoes and deal with the waiting game until it arrives.  Sometimes when we're not lucky, we get the wrong size or apparel with damages.  That's no longer the case now for us because of this great news!

I'm so excited to share that a few weeks ago, we were invited to attend Nike Philippines launching of the first ever Nike retail store dedicated to the athletic needs of Filipino children, at the newly opened Ayala Part Triangle BGC, Taguig, where the Nike Prodigy Young Athletes flagship store is located.  Nike Prodigy Young Athletes retail store is not only a first in the country, but also a first in the whole of South East Asia.

Nike Young Athelets Store Launching

Source

Stress.

Happy Stress.  Ngarag Stress.  Excited Stress.  These are the different levels of stress that I feel when wedding preparations are concerned.  The anxieties, excitement, and pressures I feel go uphill and downhill.  I don't know if this is normal, but based from brides I talked to it is.  But their number one advice to me is "Just make sure you keep the stresses H-A-P-P-Y!  You'll do fine.  Enjoy it!"

Big word(s).

Well, it's really easier said pala talaga than done.  That's what I realize now.  I may be a campaigns strategist who also handles events at work, but wedding is different.  I'm sure most of you married women reading this would totally agree.  Ako naman, while juggling my deliverables at work and home, and doing my duties to my slowed down blog (which I feel so sad about for not updating as frequently... ), I do all the research, contacting, negotiating, and scheduling of meetings with suppliers.  My better half who's also busy with work would do his tasks as requested, (we all know guys could only do one thing at a time.)

So, which brings me to sharing with you some realizations and tips on Wedding Preparation:

• Set rules of engagement with better half. - Save yourself from arguments and pointing fingers when things go wrong (or even right) during your wedding day.  Make sure you're all in this together,.  It's not YOUR wedding alone, remember that.  So a good guy fried of mine gave an advice to lay down cards with what you need and expect from each other during the preparation.  There were general rules that we set like, no saying "Ikaw bahala."  The decision to get this supplier or not OR to book this venue or not, should always be mutual.  Tools: Constant loving communication with your husband-to-be and time.

There's nothing more exciting for my four year old than to see the Disney characters he loves up close and performing LIVE!  Thanks to Sun Cellular for making this possible for me and the kids!

Back when my brothers and I were still studying, I would never think about how hard my parents had worked to send all four of us to good schools.

Shameless Grade school graduation picture!

Source

Well hello dear readers!  How was your week?  Mine was busy as usual.  If you don't know it yet, I work full-time in Makati (aargh, everyday traffic), plus I blog, plus I am preparing for our upcoming wedding.  So just imagine how insane I could get at times especially when I realize that I haven't done or asked our home angels to do the pamamalengke!  Nakakaloka actually.

We do all have duties and responsibilities at home and work, and if like me you have extra-curricular activities that you pursue because of your passion for that/those crafts.. then, chances are, you too get stressed out with expectations and deadlines to meet.  Waaahh!  So, if not the pamamalengke schedule ang task that you forgot to do, then it should be something else.. like the laundry?

I’m sure as a mom, you too worry about the health of your family, especially of our kids.  We feel emotionally and physically stressed whenever our kids get sick and oftentimes hear ourselves saying “Sana ako na lang ang nagkasakit.”  Ganyan tayong mga nanay.  That’s why, we do everything in our capacities to keep our children sick-free.  How?  By making sure they get the right nutrition and immunity booster from their food and drinks intake.  One way to keep them sick-free is adding fruits to their diet, such as pineapples.   Good thing, I found a more delicious way of making my kids eat pineapples through Del Monte Pineapple.

Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits and Chunks in cans.

Personally, I am fortunate my two boys eat fruits and vegetables regularly even if I do not disguise them into something else.  Their favorite is Pork Sinigang and they eat more of the veggies than the meat.  They have daily servings of fruits like bananas, mangoes, papaya, and pineapples too.  They got this from my dad, who at 75 years old, is illness free and in tip-top shape for his age.  Because of my children’s likeness to fruits and vegetables, they rarely get sick.  Being sick-free is almost synonymous to being economical because we don’t have to spend extra for hospitalization and medicines.  Plus, they don’t miss school days and opportunities to play, explore, and learn too.

Given this, I am honored to be trusted as an ambassador of a world-class and trusted household brand, Del Monte Pineapple.  We are a Del Monte household ever since I was younger, from condiments, to pasta dishes and other sauces, and of course pineapples.  I’m happy to be representing something our family uses and loves through the years.

Sharing my mommy experience on making my kids eat fruits and veggies.