Mommy Practicality

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Friso Four, The Gift Of Proper Nutrition

As parents of this generation, we would like as much as possible to monitor and keep a tab on all our children’s milestones. Even if in our case, we’re both full-time working parents, we make sure we are still on top of the developmental stages of our kids.

But sadly, sometimes we can’t be there all the time so we rely on help of our family members, caretakers, support from school, and the nutrition which comes from the food and drink we give to the kids. We cannot expect this process to be perfect all the time, there are stumbles and falls. But these mishaps are part of their learning and help build stronger character for them. But should my kids experience bad situations in school or at home when we’re not around, I don’t see this as a failure. But as an opportunity to teach them how to cope and adapt easily so they would grow confident and assured of themselves.

For me personally, parenting is also about spending quality time and ensuring they grow in a healthy and happy environment and are given proper nutrition. Fruits, Vegetables, and Milk are non-negotiables when it comes to my children’s nutrition. We’re blessed to have kids who don’t dislike these foods, in fact, it’s part of their daily food consumption, and we don’t have to force it to them. They are growing healthily and strong as they go about their daily activities at home and in school.
As our little one continues to explore his physical capabilities through play, it’s important that we give him milk that will help him develop stronger bones and muscles. Friso Four has been one of his allies in making this happen.

It’s a pro-digestion milk formula which uses LockNutri, a way of preserving the natural structure of protein, making it easy to digest and lessen the risk of constipation. He’s never had problems in this department and I know how painful it could be for children to be constipated (I experienced this when I was younger.)

By making sure he gets the full nutritive value of milk, we as parents, are assured that he grows healthily which will allow us to experience more bonding moments together, just like how we did it with his Kuya. Plus, by being the always-present-parents to him, he will grow up to be a happy, secured, smart, and confident child.

Giving them proper nutrition is also a gift we should always give to our children. As much as we want to be with them 24/7 to protect them and ensure their safety, we can’t. By giving them the proper nutrition, we can be assured that as they explore the world on their own, they are protected. One way that gives us peace of mind when nutrition and protection is concerned is giving him milk every day. We give our little one Friso Four. We also make regular visits to his pediatrician.

You may also visit your child’s pediatrician to claim your Friso Four Kit, which includes an exclusive Mercury Drug card. By purchasing Friso Four from any Mercury Drug Moms get the chance to win perks and prizes, exclusively from Friso Four (final list of prizes and partners to be published in friso.com.ph).

How about you loves? How do you show your love to your children even when you’re not around? Do you also believe in the importance of milk in their nutrition?

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Why I Love Shopping At SM Kids (Sale Alert!)

When shopping for children's fashion and basic apparel, I always go for practicality. That means, getting quality items which pass my mommy-meticulous taste and comfort test - ALL without breaking the bank or hurting the pocket. That's why, I regularly take my kids out for shopping at one of our favorite shopping places, SM Kids!

Why I love shopping at SM Kids:

Good Number of quality brands to choose from. You can never go wrong when you shop at SM Kids because almost all the brands that manufacture good clothing or accessories are there. My eldest shops his items in Just Tees, Dude, Garfield, Beverly Hills POLO Club, Snoopy, Palomino, SM Basics to name a few. So my preschooler takes after his kuya and also likes what his brother chooses.
There's something for kids of different stages. Just like my children who's seven years apart, we didn't have to hop from one store to another. There are wide selections for kids of different ages. I'm a happy shopping mommy of more than two kids of different ages with big gaps, that SM Kids has something for their ages.
It's a one-stop shop for your kids' needs. Rainy day essentials, Back-To-School needs, Halloween or Christmas season needs, I shop for them at SM Kids. Shopping there saves me time and effort, plus it's practical too!
SM Kids Sale - On top of all the reasons I mentioned above, this is the best - The SM Kids Sale! Imagine our favorite kids' brands available at discounted prices! When I say discount, prices are slashed up to 50% off! I die! Imagine how far my Php3,000 shopping budget could go whenever there's an SM Kids Sale.

GOOD NEWS!!!! SM Kids Sale is happening on March 1, 2017 (that's TOMORROW!) until April 2, 2017 in all SM Store branches nationwide. Take advantage of this super sale to buy Summer outfits and needs or shop in advance for the next school year or whatever your shopping purpose may be, NOW is the best time to do it at SM Kids moms!

Sharing with you some of our previous shopping finds at SM Kids:

On Wes is Beverly Hills Polo Club White Polo Shirt which we also bought at 50% off in one of SM Kids Sale event.

Kuya Dandre loves wearing his DUDE jacket especially on colder days. He said it makes him look pogi!

Wes on Bossini Kids and Dandre on DUDE and Just Tees

I'll definitely be seen in SM Kids with my boys during this sale and will share my shopping loot on the blog too! For more info or update about SM Kids Sale, like them on Facebook or follow them on Instagram and Twitter loves!

Sunday, February 26, 2017

NEW Star Margarine Fairy Bread, A New Baon Idea!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

2017 SUMMER WORKSHOPS AND SPORTS CLINICS FOR KIDS IN METRO MANILA

Friday, February 10, 2017

Collect All 8 McDonald's SING Happy Meal Toys

Tuesday, February 07, 2017

6 Reasons Why Bloggers Stop Blogging (And What To Do)

Hello... It's me. I was wondering if after all these years.... (admit it you sang to Adele's song!) you're still there and supporting my blog.

It has been quiet here lately. This post has been on my draft since January 10. It's the first time in many years of blogging that I haven't finished a blog post for more than three weeks. Actually, I haven't been active either on my social media accounts as much as I used to.

Photo Source

WHY?

I also asked myself that question. What has happened to me? Why even if I have a long list of blog topics, products and services for feature and review, inspirational and helpful tips in mind, I can't seem to start typing my thoughts whenever I click New Post button? I start with a high energy but when I see the white empty space, my mind gets lost in that space and I am left staring at the screen. The next thing I knew, I just click the close button. And posts in draft get piled up.

But I told myself, I have to brave that empty space, fill it with my thoughts and just type away. I have to otherwise, I wouldn't get my groove back. This hiatus has to stop.

It's not just me. I'm sure many other bloggers out there at one point in their lives almost gave up on blogging or had a hard time making a comeback or just felt they don't want to be too present in the online world anymore.

The reasons for this could be anywhere between "I can't find time." or "I don't feel like it." Let me share with you some and also what to do to address them (warning, some reasons may be lame, but if you're a blogger and you do have the same reason as mine, could you cheer me up and comment that you also feel these too?!)

HOLIDAY HANGOVER - Sure, it's already February and it's the love month already and here I am still reminiscing about new year and even CNY celebrations hence, I can't make this hangover a valid reason for not updating the blog. But give me the benefit of the doubt, maybe my hangover from the holidays filed its overtime or indefinite break until the blogging mojo comes back. Having a hangover makes a person quite lethargic about things which makes going back a hard start.

What To Do: Wake up and accept that the holiday is waaaaaaay over. Face the new day, new week, new month, and new year! This reality should be plastered on your face. Remind yourself by looking at the calendar, looking at your planner, and looking at your blog and the last time you posted. These should remind you to get up and write something.

CAN'T FIND TIME - Honestly, since baby #3 came beautifully in our lives, I rarely find time for myself. The haircut, manicure and pedicure I've long wanted to happen for months, just took place last weekend (and my nail polish already chipped by the way as of writing!) Days became busier as he grows older month by month. I have two older kids who I prepare for school early in the morning and of course a husband I need to make coffee and eat breakfast with everyday before going to work. Yes, I go to an 8-5 job in Makati by the way. The break times I used to spend drafting a post are now occupied with my pumping schedule. By the time I come home, I have to attend to my husband, a teenager, a preschooler, and a baby. If I still have little time for myself, I just choose to spend it breathing in and out deeply to relieve stress. I don't even watch TV anymore. So these activities, among other things, occupy my day. So I think I can legitimately say I really can't find time.

What To Do: But still, if I really want to blog, I will and should find time! That's me talking to myself. Well yeah, that's one motivation to get up and write. If you can make time for other activities, then you can fit blogging into your busy schedule. We don't need to publish posts everyday anyway. Start by content planning (which I already did), plot it on your calendar, draft the post, edit as necessary, then publish. You and I just have to keep on doing these steps repeatedly until it becomes habitual.

NO INSPIRATION - Do you rely on inspirations to be able to create a personal or event a sponsored content for your blog? Do you feel less compelled to write a quality post when you feel down or when your offline life is not doing great? If your answer to this question is a yes, then we're on the same page. Sometimes, I tend to delay finishing a post (or posts) when there's something going on in my life that is least likely to be shared online. I may be an active blogger, but what I share online doesn't necessarily reflect my life offline. Personally, when I'm not feeling great, my blog postings are affected.

What To Do: Get inspiration elsewhere. It's true what's been said that it's all in the mind. If the heart is not well, then let your mind work double time. Let deadlines be an inspiration. Stick to the WHYs of your blog. Make your readers your motivation to keep on creating content. Feed them with the info you'll be sharing through your posts and be their source of inspiration instead. Always think that your blog brings value to other people to make you continue blogging.

OVERWHELMED - When you are pressured to write or produce a post whether a blog or vlog because you honor commitments, there are deadlines to meet or you just want to tick them off your to-blog-list, sometimes you tend to feel too overwhelmed which leaves you point blank. The tasks or topics to write keeps on adding to the point of haunting you already to get the work done. The more it piles up, the more you're stuck up and just couldn't think because you're too overwhelmed. When this happens, sometimes you don't know which task to take on first that you end up not doing anything at all.

What To Do: Being visual at this time gives you help more than you think you do. Make a blog calendar, plot on the dates of the current month the topics or features you need to write about at a schedule that's workable for you. It may be overwhelming yes, but once you cross out one published post after the other, it's such a relief. Keep on doing it until it becomes regular and a habit and sooner or later, you won't feel too overwhelmed anymore. The key here is to just START with one post. When you start with that post, concentrate on that alone. Don't think of the many others following it, because you'd just panic. Just start with one. Then another... then another.

COMPETITION - I haven't been too long in the blogging scene compared to those I look up to like Martine de Luna of makeitblissful.com or Frances Sales of topazhorizon.com, but I've been around long enough to witness the sprout of new and aggressive bloggers in the recent years who have the energy, time, and even technical skills to thrive and move ahead fast in the blogging scene. Personally speaking, I felt insecure and discouraged for a while, which I think is normal should you also feel this way. I felt this way because I don't have enough time as much as other bloggers do because I work full time and my hands are tied with the new baby and new household schedule. Because I work, I also cannot attend all the events I'm invited to even if I really want to make myself available for it. I used to sulk and be envious. The competition is getting tougher. I don't compete to begin with just to set things clear. But I could feel other bloggers competing with each other and although indirectly with me, sometimes I tend to leave the race and again, get stuck up. I also compare myself as a blogger, my blog's reach or influence, and even sometimes the manner how I write.

What To Do: If you also feel the competition eating you up, which is just normal and even healthy, here's what we could do. Instead of thinking of others, focus on your own blog. Go back to when you started especially on the WHY you started. Revisit your blog's core. What is it that inspired you to put up your blog anyway, get that back. As it is with fashion, be comfortable with your own blog's offerings. Write for you and your readers and not to compete. Personally, every posts I publish are still read by more than 500 people, so this just means I definitely matter to my audience. Sometimes it's really all in the mind and the worst critic is ourselves.

LAZINESS - This is not an excuse. But we all feel lazy at one point in our blogging careers. And it's okay, of course as long as it's temporary.

What To Do: Just don't get used to it too much that you don't blog at all or even think of which topics to write or publish even if the queue's already long. You've got to shake off that laziness and think that your readers are waiting for you to feed their social media timelines with useful information, bemome their daily reading inspirations, and satisfy their need for life hacks that would help them get through their every day. Your readers are precious and they count on you, they count on us.

So, now that I've FINALLY finished this post, it's time for me to get up, stand up, and blog the year away! I just hope I was able to reach out to you as well. You a blogger like me, whose blog is currently on hiatus or hibernating or on pause. Let's empower and bring out the best of each other! Happy Blogging!