Free Lancome Makeup Sessions at Rustan's

Here is a treat for all moms out there who are in dire need for a makeover. Lancome is setting up free make-up sessions at select Rustan's stores. Got this one from a fellow N@Wie. Stop playing with your xbox 360, get out of the house and make sure to check it out!

Free consultation on proper skin care, base application, eye color advice and more! Try Lancôme’s newest Onyx Splendor 2008 Fall collection, and our new makeup products — Color Fever Dewy Shine lipsticks, Ombre Absolue eyeshadows and Virtuose Black Carat mascara!

Call 813-3739 (Rustan’s Makati) or 633-4636 (Rustan’s Shangri-la Plaza) and ask for the Lancôme counter to set up your free makeup session with one of Lancôme’s Colour Experts!

GELA LAUREL-STEHMEIER
September 12 in Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza
September 19 in Rustan’s Makati

SABS HERNANDEZ
September 26 in Rustan’s Makati
September 27 in Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza

TATIN YANG
September 13, 20, 27 in Rustan’s Makati

MARIS DELOS REYES
September 12 in Rustan’s Makati
September 19 in Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza

STACEY TAN GANA
September 13, 20, 26 in Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza

Breastfeeding Classes by the Breastfeeding Club

Breastfeeding is one way to lose all of that weight you gained during pregnancy, which is why weight loss pills aren't much of an option. Of course, this is just one of the many benefits of breastfeeding.

To help maximise your breastfeeding experience, make sure to attend these classes organised by the Breastfeeding Club.

When: 30 August 2008, Saturday

Where: 1503A West Tower, Tektite Bldg., Ortigas Center, Quezon City, Philippines

0830-0900 Registration
0900-1100 Breastfeeding 101
1100-1200 Lunch
1200-1400 Breastfeeding 202
1400-1600 Breastfeeding 303
1600-1800 Meryenda Cocktails & Celebration

To join, simply text your name & contact number & sessions you wish to attend to Abbie at (63)9228292268 or Cindy at (63)9228824639. membership to the breastfeeding club is P500 which will entitle you access for the whole day and all benefits of breastfeeding club members. To attend one class only, it is P300 per class per couple.

Venue can only accomodate a maximum of 25 couples so early registration is a must to reserve your slot. Just a gentle reminder, when you do register, we really hope to see you so that we can accomodate as much students as we can.

Of course there will be giveaways, some prizes and the best breastfeeding support you'll ever have for a full day...

Hope to see you there.

Abbie

Note:

• Breastfeeding advocate certificates will be given to those who will be attending or have attended the full 3 sessions.
• Breastfeeding club members can also claim their id's in this event.

Relationship Advice

So how did your weekend go? Did all those exercise tips I dished out last week not go to waste? Or did we do any shortcuts with Apidexin? I know. It really can be tough but as they say, "No pain, no gain!"

Anyway, today is our anniversary as I previously mentioned in my last blog post. Three years people, but it feels like a lifetime! Time sure does have a way of tricking the mind. I guess it is because we've done quite a lot in our married life which makes it appear as such.

In celebration of this special day, let me share with you some great advice I posted earlier in our other blog. I hope this helps all you couples out there to somehow keep it together.

Never go to sleep angry.
You won’t be able to sleep comfortably anyway because the other person is beside you and you’re both digging this little trench on the bed that not even the hem of your nightgown is supposed to cross.

There are habits you CANNOT change.
If he is messy, then he is messy. Don’t create wrinkles that will add to your derma bill. Even if he pretends to clean up it will only be for a month. Same thing applies to you anyway. You’ll never be able to kick that habit of shopping for your nth pair of shoes.

Your spending and saving habits need to align. Or at least agree on a %age. Really.
If you both believe in seizing the moment, then blowing your bonuses on a trip to Vanuatu is cool. But if one is a compulsive saver and the other is in love with the concept of a sale then building up a fund for a home is going to be tricky.

Don’t forget to take some “ME” time.
Take care of yourself. You won’t be able to take care of anyone else in the long run if you don’t. Don’t feel guilty about it. He loved you for your independence. Don’t lose it just because of a Mrs. prefix or a hyphenated surname.

Create space between yourselves.
Trees grow better when they both catch sunlight.

Like nature, a marriage has seasons.
Keep the memories of summer in your heart when you go through a harsh winter. Remember you will get past it if you keep faith long enough till your next spring.

Keep God in the Center.
If there is something which will be instrumental in the success of a marriage, it is your relationship as a couple to Him/Her. (Oh, and add to that your mom-in-law or equivalents thereof at the periphery :-) )

When you pray for your husband, pray for yourself too.
Sometimes when you ask God to change this or that about the love of your life, you actually need to ask Him/Her to work on you.

Talk. Wait — COMMUNICATE.
Over the years the definition of the word “husband” will evolve as your relationship grows deeper. Part of the evolution is in how you discuss the profound and the mundane . . .

In the long run, it’s the ordinary everyday that matters.
Flowers, gifts, and big celebrations are great. But that’s just the icing on the cake. Make a REALLY good cake.

Let's all try to keep the fire burning!

Couple Time

Yes, the husband and I will be having a little couple time today. Being a full-time mom and wife while hubby works during the day leaves us barely any time for husband and wife. That is why we have taken time out for today, especially since we are celebrating our civil wedding anniversary on the 26th.

We're having our niece babysit our little girl for us, while we go out for some lunch and probably a movie as well if there's anything worth watching in the cinemas. We hope all will go smoothly and our daughter won't give my sister-in-law a hard time so we won't have to cut our date short. Or God forbid, something untoward happens and we'd need to go home early (and probably consult Chicago personal injury lawyers).

Anyway, I really am hoping to have a really good time even if it is just for a few hours. For those who are also in the same boat as we are, you may want to check this out for more tips on how to get more out of your couple time.

Losing that Mummy Tummy

Having a baby can certainly have its effects on a woman's body. It's just not the same anymore. And one of the few things that I have found to be a little bothersome is that 'Mummy Tummy' that I've grown over the past year ever since I gave birth. It can be annoying to see, especially when you try to fit in back into your old clothes, which I realise is sometimes impossible without having to do some exercise and diet.

While I am getting great results from doing all those cardio and toning exercises from imitating all those moves on the workout videos I bought, I decided to do a little bit more research to somehow improve my regimen so I wouldn't have to go the Ephedrasil Hardcore way. And boy, was there a treasure trove of information out there! Don't you just love the world wide web?

Anyway, here are just a few of them, which I think will be most helpful:

• Postpartum Fitness
• Flatten Your Belly
• 6 Moves to Shrink Your Belly
• 4 Ways to Flatten Your Belly
• Sculpt Your Core Muscles
• Breakthrough Belly Flattening Plan
• Goodbye Belly Fat
• The Best and Worst Belly Flatteners

There are oodles of exercises there to help eliminate that Mummy Tummy, so it is just a matter of picking out the ones that are right for you and being committed in doing them. Oh, and make sure to print those pages out because they may not be on the 'net forever! Good luck to all of us moms! :)

Feeling Guilty

And tempted as well. I have not exercised for two straights days now. I have been slaving in the kitchen yesterday, baking not one, but two desserts! And now that they are done, I am so tempted to take a bite. Argh! :(

We have been attending a couple of parties since Wednesday, and I have been trying my best to stick to my diet. Well, as if there was any! But seriously, I am trying not to indulge so much, as I am sure all that hard work and sweat I've invested in the past month will just go down the drain. In fact, that Phentermine is starting to look very enticing. Oh dear, I have got to get back my focus ASAP!

Childproofing our home

The little girl is getting more curious and curious as each day goes by. And as she is more mobile now, walking all over the place, we have to keep an eye on her all the time, lest she pick up or touch something dirty or worse, hurt herself.

It has come to a point that we need to hide everything now or put things in places where she cannot reach them. The exposed HDMI cables need to be hidden now, and all breakable items must be out of her reach. You can safely assume now that our house is certainly not in order and it looks like a hurricane just went through it. Well, not quite. LOL.

We've purchased a few safety devices from the mall, such as corner bumpers and safety latches. I've also got to remember to get outlet covers and a smoke detector installed as well. As they say, it's always better to be safe than sorry, right?

But it is also important for us to get more storage space using cabinets and shelves so things are a bit more organized. This is my favorite part, as it is another excuse for us to do a little shopping. ;)

All this adjustment for the little girl sure is difficult, but at least, we will have more peace of mind once all has been laid out for her in the safest environment we can give her.

Related Link: Childproofing Your Home - 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children

Fittingly Well

I have been out the loop for quite some time now. It's been pretty hectic on the homefront, with motherhood, chores, exam reviews and exercise all crammed up into my tight busy schedule.

Yes, you heard me. Exercise! It has come to a point that I could not look myself in the mirror because I really did pack in some weight, especially since Erin stopped breastfeeding from me. I have been exercising daily now for a little over a month, and I can tell you that I am seeing very good results, even if it is just 30 minutes cardio activity with a little toning. I have not enrolled in any gym so I just bought a couple of exercise DVDs to help me out at home. I will probably take up brisk walking when the weather's a bit warmer over here, which is just another good excuse for me to shop maybe for some new MBT shoes. ;-)

Although the weighing scale does not tell much, my clothes certainly do! All my post-pregnancy clothes are loose now, and I am starting to get back into some of the pre-pregnancy ones, which up to now, delights me to no end! :)

Now I realise that a little hard work does go a long way. And I am not about to stop now because I tell you, I am on a roll here! It just takes a little commitment and time but the results are definitely rewarding. :)

Cool Mama

I was bored to bits, surfing the net about mobile plans and car insurance online, when a light bulb moment struck me. It's meme time! Love the result on this one! :)

You Will Be a Cool Parent

You seem to naturally know a lot about parenting, and you know what kids need. You can tell when it's time to let kids off the hook, and when it's time to lay down the law. While your parenting is modern and hip, it's not over the top. You know that there's nothing cool about a parent who acts like a teenager... or a drill sergeant!

Would You Be a Cool Parent?

A Loyal Fan

I have a confession to make. I am a loyal Johnson and Johnson product user. I don't know about you guys, but I have always been a regular user of their products, whether it is for personal use or for my little girl's. Maybe it is because of the quality of their consumer products. I reckon they are just one of the best ones out there, which is why they have earned my loyalty.

I mean, what is not to like about them? Apart from the hundreds of great products they offer (yes, I am biased!), they are also active in supporting community-based programs and in saving the environment. Being a multinational company, I think it is wonderful that they give back what they get. We need more companies like these!

I am an online diva!

Just when I was getting bothered with all the chores and where to get cheap auto insurance, another meme comes along. I got this one from Joey. Thanks!

{start copying here}


The button is a Flair created by Litzie!

Rule:
1. Post the button in your blog.
2. Please link back to the person that gave the button to you.
3. If you have more than one blog, please post this to all of your blogs so your other blogs can be listed to the master list too.
4. You need to pass the button to at least 4 people that you think are also divas in any way.
5. Come back here and leave your post url so you can be added to the master list and help increase our rankings.
6. Please add to the list below a reason why you love being online all the time.

Online Divas:
1. All Merging in the Path of My Life
2. My Big Picture
3. Walk on Red with Me
4. Supah MaMa Wannabe
5. The Stories of a Now SAHM
6. When Mom Speaks
7. Kathycot Cooking With a Twist
8. Me, Myself and I
9. Online Raket
10. Joey M.D.
11. Practical Tips and More
12. The Working Mom
13. Tsinay
14. Mommyhood
15. A Matter of Perspective
16. Ang Therapist
17. Freebies Australia
18. Endometriosis and Fertility Resource Page

Reasons why I am an Online Diva:
1. Litzie - It helps me pass time when I’m at work and don’t have any patient to attend to.
2. Kathycot - Because it serves as my past time plus it gives me moolah for my kapricho's
3. Joanne - It keeps me awake at work and of course, extra ka-ching! ;)
4. Joey - It fulfills my secret wish to be a writer, without too much of the pressure, and it's going to help in the household expenses.
5. Leah - I love blogging and keeping in touch with friends online.

{end copying here}

I'm passing this on to: Tricia, Era, JoyD, and Jigi.

The Miracle of Life

To bring forth a human being into this world is a miracle in itself. Imagine the different processes that a single fertilised cell will have to undergo to become the beautiful angel that you receive in your arms after nine months. For me, whether a child was conceived the natural or assisted way, they are all miracles! :)

Anyway to celebrate life, here are a few facts about conception that you might find interesting.

The chance of conceiving in one cycle is 20-25% in normal couples.

Sperm can last for up to 5 days in the female reproductive tract but the egg only lasts for 12-24 hours – mistiming intercourse is a major reason for failure to conceive!

Fertility is a couple issue, not a woman’s issue!

Prior to ovulation, it takes 3 months for an egg to mature. A healthy environment is crucial for the egg both during this period and also during the early days following conception when a woman may not even know she is pregnant. Preconception care will help support a healthy reproductive system and a normal conception, and experts say women should behave as if they are pregnant even when they are trying to get pregnant.

The entire process of sperm formation takes approximately 3 months – today’s ejaculation is a product of a man’s health over the past 3 months!

A woman’s fertility is reduced with age due to a decline in egg quality & quantity, decreased uterine health, and hormonal changes.

Male fertility also declines with age. Sperm quality starts to decrease from age 35.

Male factors contribute to between 30 and 50% of all infertility cases and the male factor is the single largest reason for Australian couples to undergo IVF.

Approximately 15% of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage, often with no known cause.

Infertility, or the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, affects 1 in 6 Australian couples or 3 million Australians!

For 25% of infertile couples no definite cause will be found after medical testing.

It is now widely accepted that lifestyle factors impact significantly on fertility. These include the effects of age, illness, medications, toxins, social drugs, poor nutrition, and weight problems.

» Lifted from Preconception.com.au

Miss Talkative

I just enjoy listening to our little girl talk. Yeah, for the most part it is jargon, but man, can she babble away! I reckon this little kid of ours will be a non-stop talker when she does manage to find the correct words to say. I am sure we will be bombarded with enless questions from her, but heck, it is something worth celebrating and not to be complained about, if you ask me. The celebration may just be a dinner out on the town, and not necessarily be a trip abroad with accomodations at one of those reno hotels to boot. LOL.

Anyway, I digress. According to BabyCenter, now is actually the time when...

Your toddler understands much more than she can speak. (The challenge for toddlers is not understanding speech, but coordinating their lips and tongue and breath well enough to make themselves understandable.) You may discover this accidentally one day when you're, for instance, asking the family dog where you possibly could have put your car keys, only to have your child point to the hook where they're hanging. Or you may ask your child to go get her shoes from her closet and watch in amazement as she trots down the hall and returns with them a minute later. You're not imagining it — she really does know what you're saying.

And I do think the little girl is just doing that. It is actually amazing to see how she tries to communicate her thoughts, with all her gesturing and jargons. Gosh, our baby is truly a big girl now.

Thoughts On Bras

Sports bras, that is. As we are on the topic of exercise and working out, don't forget that it is important for us women to get the right kinds of bras. Did you know that the wrong exercise bras can damage our breasts? You heard it right. It is not enough that we wear any kind of bra while we work out. The right one for the job is the sports bra.

This is what researchers found out.

Led by Dr Joanna Scurr, a breast biomechanics expert, the scientists in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science found that some women’s breasts could be damaged and fragile ligaments irreparably stretched by wearing the wrong bras. The team tested about 50 bra designs on hundreds of women over the past three years and studied the movement of women’s breasts. The tests included measuring precisely how much breasts moved in all three directions, as well as more subjective tests about how women felt about the fit, the shape, the strap design and the underband and so on. The researchers found that breasts move up to 8.26 inches during exercise and they move up and down, in and out and from side to side. Most bras are designed to limit just vertical movement.

Source: Ergoweb.com

Well, there you go. I have never owned a single sports bra in my entire life. Until now, that is, as I have taken up a daily regimen of cardio exercise and I am purely committed to it (sorry Fentraphen!). You should get one for yourself too if you know what's good for you. Happy shopping! :)

Read more of the above article at ErgoWeb.

2008 Mommy Milkshake Marathon

Here is another event to show your support for World Breastfeeding Month. Get off your used Harleys and join the Mommy Milkshake Marathon. The name speaks of fun itself! :)

When: 10 August 2008, Sunday (registration starts at 6:30 AM)

Where: Assembly area is at The Fort Strip (open area infront of Zong)

Click on the above photo for more details.

Guidelines for the MMM are as follows (lifted from my newlywed e-group newsletter):

1) The fun run is open to everybody. Registration and participation is for free but pre-registration is a must. Participants may pre-register by calling the Mommy Milkshake Marathon secretariat at 780 9898.

2) The Mommy Milkshake Marathon is a fun run for the whole family to promote breastfeeding advocacy. It is not necessary to compete with other runners and there are no cash prizes to be given away, although the Organizers will give special awards for the runners. (E.g. Most Pregnant Mom/Runner, Oldest/Youngest Runners)

3) Pregnant moms who wish to join the run should consult their OB-gyn prior to the race date to ensure that they are fit to join the race.

4) Participants below 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult or waiver must be signed by the parent.

5) Participants may run, walk or rest upon their discretion, provided that they do not leave the route of the fun run nor ride in vehicles.

6) Water stations and a medical ambulance will be on standby in case of any emergency.

7) The Organizers reserve the right to refuse participation of any individual or group for whatever reason it may deem valid.

8) The Organizers reserve the right to use any photographs (including those of the participants), motion pictures, recordings, or any other media records of the Mommy Milkshake Marathon for any legitimate purpose, including commercial advertising, without giving monetary consideration to any participant.

9) The Organizers will take every precaution to ensure the safety of the participants. But by signing the waiver on the registration form, the participants will not hold the organizers liable for any injuries or accidents that may occur during the fun run.

10) Runners are encouraged to wear pink! :-)

I wish I was still back in Manila. I would have definitely signed up to join the run. :)