The Perfect Lunchbox

Since my son started schooling, I have been on the look-out for the perfect lunchbox for him to use.  I want a straightforward container that has partitions for his food but sadly, the search has been very difficult.

As much as possible, I would like my son to eat a balanced meal even in school.  Fortunately for us, our son is not a picky eater.  He eats everything we serve on the table.  He sometimes asks for sausages or fried egg but would ALWAYS eat the available viand with his cupful of rice.  I guess we have trained him rather well because he is the kind of kid who eats any vegetable and is a fruit monster in the making.  This works to our advantage because his little sister looks up to him as a role model, and that means that whatever Dade eats, Lexie eats, too! :)

During Dade's FS1 year, we would frequently get notes from his teacher advising us to pack healthy snacks for him. We were told that he would often ask for snacks from his classmates and teacher, especially when they are eating apples or other food that he fancies.  At that time, we were only packing biscuits or crackers which he probably never really enjoyed.  It was rather embarrassing getting these notes from the teacher so we decided to send him proper, nutritional snacks to school for recess thereafter.

Now that he is in first grade and his day is longer compared to his pre-school years, I've decided to send him rice in school for him to eat during his 40-minute break.  The rice meal would also be accompanied by crackers, veggie slices or fruit.  I had him use a Lock and Lock lunch kit meant for adults but I didn't like it that much because he had to open two containers and the plastic on the partition was flimsy looking.  With the limited choices we have here, I made do with what was available.

Until a few weeks ago, I saw my friend, Shelly post in IG her son's new lunchbox that he is using in the States (they have moved there just last year).  I was quickly drawn to the lunchbox's design -- it is exactly what I needed for Dade!  And cutely enough, it is appropriately called Yumbox.

It is sadly not available in Dubai so I had to order one from Amazon.  I had asked my son's godfather who was at that time on a holiday in the US to bring it home, and after a few weeks since I placed my order, I got my hands on this super cute bento lunchbox in Myrtille Blue.  

so excited to use it! 

It is a 6-compartment leakproof lunchbox that I have tried and tested myself.  It includes a tray insert with Pirate and Mermaid themed illustrations.  The 6 compartments are equivalent to 1/2 cup portions each of the following food groups: dairy, protein, fruit, veggies, grains and a small dip well.  This made things very easy for me to plan my son's baon for school because I now have a guide on what I should throw in his lunchbox.  It guarantees a balanced meal with healthy portions which makes it quite attractive for an OC Mom like me, hee hee!

uber cute illustrations

One of the major selling points of this lunchbox is that it is made with food-safe materials.  It is bpa-free and phthalates-free.  Bpa and Phthalates are two things I watch out for in every container that touches my kids' food.  

first Yumbox bento for Dade

wiped out! hooray!! 

the next day's meal.  yep, my boy eats ampalaya!

This lunchbox is designed by Moms and its patent is currently pending.  Yumbox is recommended for picky eater kids because it gives variety and a parent can be creative in terms of putting things together to make the meal more attractive and fun.  Whereas I don't think it is lightweight enough, it is handy to bring to picnics, travel or camping.  I have ordered for the original Yumbox but there is a version called Panino which has 4 compartments and is more apt for kids 8 and above.  It has a bigger section which can take on a full sandwich, salad or pasta serving meant for older kids.  

I plan on ordering another Yumbox for Lexie when she is ready to go to school.  This Spring, Yumbox will release their pastel line with slightly bigger compartments.  I will definitely get one for our princess, and I am already eyeing the pink one!

Benefit Loot

This is what boredom can do to you. 

my holiday order

  

Three weeks ago, I was leisurely surfing the net and found myself browsing the Benefit website.  I have been a Benefit user for over a year now having started with their Brow Zings brow shaping kit followed by the Rockateur cheek powder which I both love to bits (I am using them now as I am typing this!)

I was delighted to discover their Sweet Shoppe Holiday Limited Edition sets and instantly fell in love with the Sugar Glam Fairies, which I only got for $45 (originally priced at $97).  The set comes with the following products and are in a cute coffee shop tin can that I can use to store some knick knacks for Lexie:

• full size They’re Real! mascara
• full size The POREfessional
• full size Hoola
• Benetint medium

festive tin can

what's inside

I also ordered some of their other bestsellers for my besties for Christmas.  Can’t wait to share my bene-happiness this holiday season! 

bestsellers

They also had a promotion on free international shipping when you order above $125.  My total order was $124 and I had to find the cheapest item I could to avail of the free shipping offer.  This is what I found for $5, haha!

my new dual sharpener

And to top it all off, I get this lovely make up case for free among the free testers they threw in to my loot.

in my favorite color!

testers

So happy with my purchase, and most importantly, I was very much relieved that they came right on time. 

It's gonna be a happy Christmas indeed! :)

The Perfect Hair Curler

My hair has grown longer than I have planned, and I intended to have it cut short (like shoulder length) for easier maintenance.  However, getting an appointment at the salon is not as easy as I thought because they are usually full after office hours.  I guess that was a sign that I should keep my hair long because finally, after many weeks of search, I have found the right sized curler I want from Babyliss.

The curler I specifically want must:

•  be 1.5” or 38mm sized for that big curl effect
•  be made of ceramic
• have temperature control

Luckily, the one I chanced upon at Carrefour has all these plus more!  It’s a 2-in-1 straight and curl pro hair styler with titanium ceramic coating, which is made of high density ceramic for professional use.  It’s got a proper on and off switch button, and rapid preheat setting with a maximum of 200ºC.  For its price, it is quite a steal especially since it saved me from shipping charges had I opted to order online.

my new Babyliss love

As I had spent so much time in bed yesterday for my afternoon nap (4 hours, man!) and couldn’t sleep for the night, I grabbed my new pro curler and test drove it on my hair at 11:45 pm since I had nothing better to do, haha! 

These are my selfies using my iPhone 6 camera so please bear with the photos’ quality. 

messy hair don't care

with my new beauty tool

voila!

I love how my new beauty tool curled my hair!  Super straight forward to use, and in just 15 minutes, my hair was all done.  It’s definitely worth the dirham I paid for!  I give it 5 stars right off the bat.

My Nappy Bag Is Here!

After so much thought and contemplation, I decided to get this nappy bag for Baby L:

funky nappy bag

This bag has a funny story behind it that I'll share with you even though it's boring, to be honest, haha!!  It was on sale a couple of weeks ago at Katespade.com. It was a surprise 2-day sale, and I was almost sure I was getting the bag. When I was checking out and paying for my purchase, my UAE credit card was rejected by the website. I was heartbroken!  I hate you, Kate Spade!!  This is discrimination!!! Huhuhu!!! 

Anyhoo, my colleague, L offered to use her UK debit card but unfortunately, It didn't have enough credit so transaction was also rejected. I decided to just let go and move on by searching for the same bag on eBay. Patience is indeed a virtue as a week later, I got the very same bag for a little more than half of its original price. I was so thrilled when I won the auction. At only USD 220 with free shipping to NY, it was a steal!

I couldn't tell you how happy I was when Aramex came to our office last Thursday to deliver my new bag. I never thought she'd be so pretty in real life! Me happy preggy Mommy! :)

She's a striking bag that's so funky and feminine! Plus she's super spacious. Depth is 8" and filled with pockets and compartments. My Dwell Studio Large Travel Case fits her perfectly, and with more than enough space for more stuff.  I can easily throw in a blanket and toy for the little girl with ease.

Thanks to father dear for this lovely gift for me & Baby L.  We love you, Lolo Dad! Mwah!!

Baby Bedding For Baby L

Most people say that when you are having a baby girl, it is much easier to buy stuff because there are a lot more choices for you.  I thought it would be a breeze for me to pick out items for our little princess but ironic as it may seem, I find the items for baby boys much more appealing.  

As Baby L will be using Kuya Dade's cot when she comes out, it is only but fitting to get a special bedding that would fit a princess. After showing my 3 options to dear husband (he abhorred anything pink & brown for the nursery!!), the only bedding set that met his standard is this lovely warm pink, mint green and aqua blue (whew!):

bright & happy set of beddings

Ain't it super girly? Oh, the set would beautifully match the white cot from Ikea plus the letters I got from Pottery Barn that would spell out our little girl's name! I so can't wait to start decorating the nursery!

I tried to order it from Amazon the other day but was disappointed to learn that they were out out of stock. I was determined to get the set at no more than $99 so when I saw this being sold on final clearance at Babyviva.com, I quickly bought it without thinking twice. I got it for $79.99 + $13 Fed Ex shipping to my address in Aramex Shop & Ship NY.  It should arrive next week, and I'm super excited to receive it! :)

The Perfect Nappy Bag

After a lot of soul, er, online searching, I found the perfect diaper bag for our little princess.

I so love this Gramercy Park Kate Spade Stevie diaper bag!!!  Just look at the colors...so fun and girly! Now the question is where will I get it from??  They're out of stock from katespade.com plus they're nowhere to be found on eBay. Sad :(

My next option is this Noel Kate Spade Stevie bag so that I can use it even after Baby L has grown older.  This is sort of my Plan B bag, in case I don't get my hands on that colorful Gramercy Park bag.

Of course, there's a third option -- the Chestnut Ridge Bag.  It's currently on sale at katespade.com.  I love the texture of the bag -- so chic!

Waaahhh!!  I'm confused!!

By the way, here are the specs of the bag for those who are curious about the dimensions, material and what it comes with:

• over the shoulder with zip top closure
• 14-karat light gold plated hardware
• comes with changing pad, coin purse (only for the Chestnut Ridge Bag) and stroller straps
• wipable lining
• ksny blind embossed signature on resin license plate
• 6.75'' drop length for Chestnut Ridge Bag and 9.0" for Stevie Bag
• size: 11.7''h x 14.0''w x 5.1''d for Chestnut Ridge Bag / 11"h x 18.0"w x 8"d for the Stevie Nappy Bag

A Welcome Freebie

One of the things I love about living here in the Dubai is the shopping experience. You literally get the value for your money. Discounts are massive and the stores usually give further mark down to the prices nearer the end of their scheduled sale. Plus the items put on sale are almost always in good shape. That’s why it is quite easy for people here to fall into the trap of succumbing to debts because of all these tempting offers.

I have 2 working credit cards here, one of which is an emergency card that we got for free. The account is just there, sitting nicely with a substantial credit limit but zero balance all because we did not activate it…haha!  The other card I’m carrying is my first credit card here in the UAE which I have been using for most of my purchases. Earlier last year, I have requested to have its credit limit reduced to the minimum amount they would allow, which is just enough for me to purchase our family’s air tickets when going home. I had several other reasons why I requested for that but they deserve a separate blog entry.

As my card is tied to a point-generating card called Airmiles, I get to receive points every time I use it. In addition, I get to incur double points to certain stores that have partnership with Airmiles.  So if I use my credit card, let’s say at Chili’s to pay for our food bill, I get points by using my credit card plus I get another round of points if I present my Airmiles. Great, isn’t it?

my valuable card ;-)

Now here’s the best part – the redemption of points. I know people might think of me as tacky but I do use my points to get presents for family and friends. Well, I'm practical like that, haha! For instance, back in 2006, I got my best bud a hairdryer as birthday present because that’s what she wanted. So far, the Philips hairdryer is still working great and is now a staple to her everyday life. Then in 2009, I redeemed Ryan’s Kitchenaid Artisan mixer, which Airmiles gladly delivered to my office within 3 days after I've placed my order. I was heavy with Dade then and couldn’t afford to spend so much on a birthday present so I checked on my points to see if there’s any item I could snag from their catalogue. Ryan was pretty happy with his gift and was over the moon to see his dream mixer come true.  Now recently, I was put in the same scenario of finding an anniversary gift for the husband. Since my Dad gave my husband a spankin’ Beats Pro over-ear headphone, I was pressured to get him a proper iPod since our iPod Nanos are pretty old and were either given as presents or handed over as a prize at work. New Beats and old iPod Nano just don’t seem right.

wicked ear phones

But then, I have no budget for a new gadget. We just returned from our holidays and are recuperating from all the expenses. We are also saving up for our upcoming move to a new apartment plus preparing ourselves for the costs of hiring a nanny the proper, legal way. On top of that, we are looking into the prospect of selling our current car to get a bigger one in time for the arrival of the new baby. So you see, I literally don’t have the means to buy a new iPod. That is until I had a lightbulb moment.

I was cleaning up my office drawer yesterday when I saw an old statement of my Airmiles card. Curiosity hit me so I checked online how much my points are. I was so happy to learn that I have more than enough points to get me some vouchers from Arabian Centre which has a Sharaf DG 4U store. Realizing that I could get the iPod Touch from there, I immediately dragged the husband last night after work to get some vouchers. Silly goose me gave a lousy excuse that I won some vouchers so we need to drive there straight away. And because it was too cold last night, he and Dade decided to stay in the car while I made my way to the Customer Service section of the mall.

I almost jumped up and down when I was told by the sales person in Sharaf DG 4U that they have stock of the 32GB in white!  I quickly claimed my vouchers, came back to the store and took home hubby’s present.  I even got a free AED 50 voucher plus several discount coupons in Forever 21 and Sanrio stores.  I was also asked by the lovely lady from the Customer Service kiosk to go back to her after I've made my purchase so I can present my receipt and add more points to my Airmiles card.  On top of that, I got 6 raffle coupons for a chance to win some shopping money.  How cool is that?

free new gadget -- hooray!!

As soon as we got home, I gave the new toy to my husband who happily tinkered with it.  He said he knew I was up to something but couldn’t point a finger at it.  He is an unassuming person anyway so I knew I'd be able to pull it off without giving the surprise away :)

Here he is checking out his new gadget while Dade was watching Curious George in his iPad. Such techie boys!

Apple fans

So yeah, when i’m desperate, I always check on my Airmiles points.  They do come in quite handy :)

The Master Baker

Hubby got his baking mojo back, and I couldn't be happier!  Since our new cooker with oven was installed over a week ago, he has baked 3 times already (not minding the sleepless nights). One batch was for my colleague who was leaving the company, while two batches were paid orders – 384 pieces of butterscotch bites given as tokens for a kiddie birthday party by a good friend and 100 pieces of chocolate crinkles for home consumption by a local colleague. Wow, right? The husband is saving up for a Mac Mini so his earnings went straight to his technological update fund. He’s super happy! :)

Everyone tells me how extremely lucky I am to have someone who can bake for me at a drop of a hat. Well, not really. Sometimes I have to bribe him you know, haha! I'm super proud of him! As a supportive wife, I do my best to show my appreciation and I try as much as I can to purchase the essential baking tools and equipment he needs.  Like for instance, a few birthdays ago, I got him this mean machine:

Kitchenaid Artisan in matte grey hue.  Looks like concrete & oh, so masculine!

And then just last year, I got him this weighing scale:

the better to weigh you, my dear!

Plus this rolling pin:

the better to whack you, er, roll the dough with my dear!

And this baking mat:

silicone mat

Then last month, this spanking new cooker with convection oven:

an Ariston cooker -- dream come true!

If there’s one thing that I contribute to the baking bit he does is that I do the packing! Yep, I am the master motherpacker in our household! :D I wrap, I jar, I box!  The good side of it is that I get to choose how his baked goodies are handed over and presented to his customers. with our collection of boxes, cellophanes and goody bags I hoarded from Chocolate Lover in Manila, not to mention my growing collection of ribbons from satin to the grosgrain kind, he never fails to make a good impression on his goods. So yeah, I do support him in every way I know possible.

Oh, and did I tell you I'm his guinea pig, too? Yup, motherpacker na, taste-tester pa!

The New Ride

After careful thought and consideration, the husband and I decided to finally put the Quinny Buzz stroller to rest for the next baby (although I am not preggy yet, just to set the record straight) and get a new one for our little boy’s current use. We’re concerned he might end up wrecking the stroller because he is so active now, even when seated. Since we invested on a pricey but super stable stroller, which thank goodness came as a gift, we thought it’s best to maximize its use 'til the next baby.

So last weekend, off we went to Babyshop to get him a new Quinny Zapp during their weekend bonanza sale. We were extremely happy with this purchase because we were able to use our Mashreqbank WOW points and we only threw in a couple hundred dirhams to buy the item. Quite a steal, right?

One thing we liked about the Zapp is that it is sturdier compared to most umbrollers. We were contemplating on getting a Maclaren Quest or Triumph because it is much more compact but considering Dade’s fussiness in the stroller, we decided against it. Hubby was very pleased at how the Zapp folds compared to the Buzz. We now have more than enough space at the back of our car. whoppee!! traveling will be a lot more easier for us. It’s also quite easy to maneuver – I can even use just one hand. The new Zapp models no longer have the carry bag, but it does have the shopping basket now, which is more important for us.

pensive look

Above is a recent snapshot of the little boy in his new rebel red ride taken last Saturday in front of Ikea. We were then waiting for his Ninang B who promised to get him a table and chair set as a super advanced birthday pressie. He looks impatient here, I know but as soon as Ninang B arrived, he was back to his sweet, pa-cute self.

The Wee One's New Buddy

Dade has a new friend. His name is Chip.  He is an adorable monkey who tags along with Dade whenever we’re out and about.  He helps us keep Dade safe especially now that he frequently skips the use of his stroller and prefers to walk instead.  Next to Ernie, Chip is his favorite plush toy to lug around.

sorry for the blurred photo -- this kid is just too fast for us!

Chip in a Box

Chip was a birthday present from Ninang S, my dearest cousin who adores him so much. Whenever we use this harness at the mall, we always get asked where we got it from. Unfortunately, Eddie Bauer harnesses are not locally available here.  My cousin got it from the US when she did some online shopping for her baby (she’s due to give birth anytime soon, by the way).

Hubby and I love Chip but it is Dade who loves him the most.  He hugs and kisses him whenever he sees him inside the car and he’s always so excited to wear him.  He thinks it’s more of a toy than a harness to restrain him, which is good for us.

Thank you, Ninang S for this great gift!

My Baby Can Sign!

When Dade turned one, my friend Mandy gifted him with a Baby Sign Language book.  It came with a fridge magnet that shows 4 basic signs that are commonly used, and we’ve placed it in the kitchen where we can find the magnet instantly and refer to.  I was ecstatic because I wanted my little boy to learn how to sign.  I got interested in baby signing after I learned its benefits -- can help the kids learn how to speak and expand their vocabulary, more advanced mental development, and enhanced parent-child relationships. But what made me buy the idea is the reduction of tantrums out of frustration (because the parent or caregiver cannot comprehend what the baby wants or feels).

Last night on our way home from the mall, our darling Dade signed “eat” to my delight. I fed him a huge jar of Hipp Pasta Twists with Courgette & Mozzarella and he finished it in no time. He was in a happy mood while eating because I was able to quickly tend to his need. No more clothes tugging and crying because we can now communicate properly when he’s hungry and wants to be fed.

I have to give credit to my husband who has been teaching Dade how to sign. He’s always been good with kids, and now he’s putting that gift to good use.  He teaches patiently to Dade which is why it’s not a surprise that the little one learned all his tricks from his Dad.  I’m sure my husband is quite happy that he’s the first to discover the many new things that our little boy does.

Just Kidding Loot

Ok, I know my son has already loads of stuff to fill his room, but the Mom in me just couldn’t help buying him treats when I saw that Just Kidding was having a clearance sale both in their online shop and warehouse in Al Quoz.

I've always wanted Dwell Baby stuff for our Dadelicious but I admit I'm too stingy to spend on toys that are worth more than AED 100 (USD 28).  When I saw that their prices went down to as low as 70% off their regular price, I did a mad dash to the Al Quoz Warehouse last Saturday to check out the items.

I scored a couple of hand puppets that are only priced at AED 18 each (barely USD 5), originally with a AED 75 price tag. I’m glad Dade adores them!  I bought extra pieces to be given away as gifts.

love the modern patterns!

I also got him this cute Babylicious bib for only AED 20 (a little over USD 5), which is adorable, but super useful.

I wanted to grab the Dwell Baby Mind Blocks, a classic toy which they added a twist to. However, I was taken aback when I learned that they’re offering only 25% discount in their warehouse.  I know for a fact that it’s 50% off from their online store so I decided to just leave the item and order online instead.  That evening, I did order for a set which are just the cutest blocks ever!

We also ordered the Skip Hop Swipes, which is a useful case that keeps the wipes moist and prevents them from drying out.  It can be hooked to the stroller or be placed in the bag, whichever the parent prefers.  It has a quick-draw opening which makes it super easy to grab a baby wipe with one hand when you’re on the go.  Isn’t that neat? Oh, and it’s BPA-free, phthalate-free and PVC-free, too!


I never imagined I’d be so hooked with baby/toddler stuff shopping.  It’s an absolute joy for me as a parent to find stuff that are dirt cheap, but uber functional and at the same time stylish.  I know a lot of Moms can relate to me but I’m sure the Dads are raising eyebrows already…haha!

Grocery Shopping

Whenever we need some small items for our pantry which we run out of or are not available in the hypermarkets that we frequent to, we always run to Spinney’s.  It’s just a stone’s throw away from our place which is super convenient for us to go to before heading home after work.

Last week, we did a quick grocery shopping and used our wee one’s new Infantino shop & play grocery cart cover that he got as a gift for his first birthday (a shoutout to Aunt Shelai &Uncle Lito for this dandy pressie!).

Allow me to share with you how the little man is enjoying his new take-away “upholstery”.

ooh, a banana!!

looks yummy!

hey, what's that?

can we go over there?

Not only can it be used for the grocery cart, but also for high chairs when in dining in fast food shops and restaurants.

I bet you can tell he loves bananas, haha!

Quick Pick Me Upper

A compliment in the morning can always start your day with a smile.  Hearing people say how nice your outfit looks on you or how your make up blends well with your skin color can totally make your day.  But my most favorite compliment of all is hearing people (yes -- men, women & in between) say they love my shoes.  I get all cheery and giddy excited! (yep, i'm that shallow, too, haha!)

Yesterday, I wore my purple shoes from Zara to match my lavender top & black pencil skirt. But today, since I’m wearing my navy blue dress (which i got from Unica Hija from back home), I decided to break in my new pair of navy peep toe pumps from my favorite store, Zara.  Even before the clock hit 9:00 o’clock this morning, I already got 5 compliments for my new pumps. And you wouldn’t believe these people: they ask me if I get my shoes from the Philippines! Yes, they think shoes made from my home country are among those with nicest styles they’ve seen (whoopee!!)

my new 4.5 inch pumps :)

I just LOVE shoes!  If you’re a frequent visitor of my blog, you’ll know how wound up I get whenever there’s a new shoe purchase.  Double excited if I get them at a steal price. I may not have bought my first Manolo, Choo or Louboutin yet, but I promise to own a pair of each in this lifetime. Better check out the Brands For Less and see if there’s a treasure I can find in there :) 

Dream Luggage

For someone who lives halfway across the globe from her home, I am the type who makes it a point, no matter how expensive it may be, to fly home on a yearly basis to see my family and friends. Having said that, I would need a reliable set of luggage to use whenever I travel, whether to Manila or to other cities, because for me, a luggage that is only good for less than 10 flights is a total waste of money.

Don't get me wrong, I love, love our set of Lojel luggage, which has travelled with me to five countries already including the US.  It's super sturdy and really practical.  But if I have the money to spare, I would invest in a good set of luggage like Rimowa.



This is me being realistic because I guess I'll never, ever own a set of luggage from LV in my lifetime (unless I win big in the lottery which is also not possible in this part of the world!) Besides, I don't think I could ever pull off traveling with at least one LV luggage and eventually sit in coach, haha!

Humidity Level's Up

It’s almost summer here.  I can feel it in my bones.  It’s scorching hot now with temperatures rising to almost 40 degrees in the past week.  Last night it was 42 degrees outside. Whew!  Talk about being in an outdoor sauna.

The humidity levels in this part of the world goes up to more than 70%.  We became wary of its possible effects not just on our health, but also in our home that is why I always keep a stock of dehumidifiers of the desiccant type found in Carrefour, the largest hypermarket you can find here. this is how it looks like:

dessicant box

Because humid air can cause mold and mildew to grow, we keep a stock of these and keep them in our baby’s changing table and in our closet where all my bags are kept. A weekend ago, I took this out of the closet 3 months after I’ve placed it: 



Here’s a picture of an unopened dehumidifier and a used (and full) dehumidifier side by side:

before & after

Scary, huh?

Now that we have our little one,  I am super tempted to get ourselves a proper dehumidifier for our home.  Summer’s just nextdoor, and it would be good to arm ourselves with this just to be on the safe side.

Scratchy Happy

Whenever my son feels sleepy or exasperated, he scratches his face for reasons I don’t understand. Three weeks ago, I finally took off his mittens after he started showing signs of gnawing his fist. I wanted him to feel the soothing experience of sucking on his bare fingers but I didn’t know he would also use his fingers for something else. My poor little boy ended up with a number of unsightly scratches on his face and head…so kawawa! Even if I regularly trim his fingernails and file them even, he still ends up having those grazes. So to prevent him from adding more lines and small cuts across his cute li’l face, I decided to bring back the mittens until he gets over from his scratchy happy phase.

As I didn’t want to put the usual antiseptic for his scratches on the face at this early stage, I researched for something more milder to use. Good thing I remembered this line of products I used to use back in my college days, and found this balm from their line of baby products made especially for sensitive skin. Thanks to my Mom who went all the way to Robinson’s Galleria to buy this and drop it off at my cousin S’s room at Crowne Plaza in time for her flight, my son now has VMV’s Grandma Minnie’s The Big, Brave Boo Boo Balm.

Made of ingredients with natural healing properties such as Petrolatum, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, and Glyceryl Laurate, this product sure is a better option than the usual topical antiseptic we use on our skin. It's skin friendly, and is proven to be as effective as isopropyl alcohol for killing micro-organisms sans the dryness. Considering how sensitive baby's skin is, I wanted to make sure that it's kept soothed and moisturized and that no weird sounding chemicals are applied on his skin. apparently, It's also great for pregnant and lactating moms so my son and I can share this product :)

So far, this balm has done wonders for Dade's skin. It helped quickly heal the grazes on his face. I love this to bits! Oh, and did I mention it's a local product from back home? Yay VMV!

Daddy's Birthday Gift

Big thanks to my Dad who gave in to get me this spiffy camcorder for my birthday (actually, he's paying for 2/3 of the actual price...not bad, eh!):



This is so much better than the Sony I wanted! First of all, this is HD (yeah!). We compared this to its Sony counterpart, and we were totally sold to these features & specs:

Standard Definition or High Definition	High Definition
Power Consumption	4.0 w (SP mode)
Image Sensor	1/3.2" CMOS Sensor, RGB Primary Color Filter
Total Pixels	Approx. 3.3 Megapixels
Effective Pixels	Movies: Approx. 2.07 Megapixels (1920x1080) Still image: Approx. 2.76 Megapixels (1920x1440)
Maximum recording time	8 GB SDHC Card LP (5 Mbps) 3 hours SP (7 Mbps) 2 hours 20 min XP+ (12 Mbps) 1 hour 25 min FXP (17 Mbps) 1 hour -Allows 1920x1080 Full HD Recording. Greater recording time is possible with a higher capacity SDHC memory card.
Lens	Zoom Ratio 12x Optical/200x Digital Focal Length f=4.8-57mm Zoom Speed Variable/3 Fixed Zoom Speeds Max. F/Stop f/1.8-3.0mm Filter Size 37mm
Focusing System	Instant AF, Through the Lens/Manual Focusing Possible
Manual Exposure	Yes
Programmed AE	Auto, Program, Av, Tv, CINEMA, Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, Fireworks
Max Shutter Speed	1/2000 1/500 (card)
Auto Date/Time	Yes
Record Search/Review	Yes
Minimum Focusing Distance	10 mm (wide)/1m (tele)
White Balance	Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Auto, Manual
Image Stabilization	SuperRange Optical (lens shift)
Viewfinder	None
LCD Screen	2.7" Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD (Approx. 211,000 pixels)
Recording Media	SD/SDHC Memory Card (not supplied)
Video Terminal	component (output), composite (output)
Audio	Dolby Digital 2ch (AC-3 2 ch)
Accessory Shoe	mini Advanced
Supplied Video Editing Software	Pixela ImageMixer 3SE
HDMI Terminal	Type C 480i/480p/1080I Format Supported
Microphone Terminal	3.5 mm Stereo Mini-jack
AV Mini Terminal/Headphone Terminal	3.5 mm 4 pole Mini-jack
Dimensions	(WxHxD) 2.9 x 2.5 x 5.1 in (73x64x129mm)
Weight (not including lens and battery pack)	13.4 oz (380g)

Canon has released the Vixia HF200, its newer, upgraded version but unfortunately, it's out of stock. The limited budget we have could only afford this little piece of machine so it didn't really matter. By the way, this camcorder came with a 2 free Class 2 2GB SD cards and a tripod, so we're extra happy. All we need to do now is get ourselves a Class 6 16 GB SD card from ebay, and we're ready to roll! :)

To this new addition to our toy collection, welcome to our growing Canon family! Let's make memories (and capture them) together! :)

The Much-coveted Frame

While having lunch, my Pinoy family at work surprised me with this digital photo frame that I have long been yearning for:

my very own Kodak Easyshare P720

What a lovely birthday gift, no?

Hubby acknowledges my love for picture frames and photographs but he just doesn’t see the need for me to get one these when we already have photo frames in boxes still waiting to be displayed in our bedroom. I am just so happy that my wish has finally been granted! I cannot wait to start filling the memory cards with our pictures and Baby D’s!

My heartfelt thanks to my Pinoy colleagues who remembered my special day (on Saturday) and took time to get me a gift this precious. The next time you come and visit us at home, you will definitely find this frame displayed with our captured memories in it.