Beach Problems: Sand, Sunblock and Water in the Ears

Photo Credit: Google

It's summer!  And summer for me always means the beach.  So far, we've been to Paradise and had gone island hopping since summer started.  And we're still planning our beach trips.

Do your kids love the water?  My kids do!  They are water babies! This was a term coined by a British pool mate of theirs who were amazed on how they love the water so much, even if they were still less than a year old. I think they took after me.  But going to the beach meant some minor problems for us (but a major problem for the kids).

When the twins were a bit younger, they were not comfortable with the sand.  This was our first problem.  Of course, the beach means sand, sand, sand! However, they did not like the sand.  It was, as they say, "Yucky!" (hehehe).  Eventually, they began to like the sand and play with it.  We bring toys for making sand castles.  But up until today, they have this "no sand  on my slippers" rule which means they can walk barefoot on the sand and not give a fuss about it.  But the moment they wear their slippers, they don't want sand getting into their slippers.  This is a bit tricky, believe me.

Our second problem was sunblock.  My twins have skin asthma (which the pedia says is not a correct term as there is no such thing) or as our pedia says, skin allergy.  They both have very sensitive skin.  So finding a sunblock was a bit difficult for us.  We settled on Hawaiian Babies because I read  in a magazine somewhere that it's hypoallergenic.  This is still the same one we use although we alternate it with Dermplus for kids.  So far, their skin's have not reacted to these products.

The third and recurrent problem is water in the ears.  I think we are all familiar with this.  I mean with adults, it's not really a very big thing for us.  However, for babies and toddlers, they get fussy whenever water gets inside their ears.  It used to be a jumping game for us.  Jump and shake the water off (lol!).  But a former boss of mine told me to just put a drop or two of baby oil inside the affected ear and then lie down on the opposite side (which means if the left ear is affected, lie down on your right ear side).  Wait for a minute or two and then transfer to the opposite side.  Viola! The water would trickle down the affected ear with the oil.

What about you, what are your beach problems and solutions?

Happy summer!

Make-up Love, Reignited!

I'm going to admit, I am going gaga over make-up lately.  I credit this to my good friend +Jasmin Caballero who reignited my love affair with make-up.  I used to like applying make-up when I had all the time in the world to do it (aka before motherhood).  But when I had kids and I am running late for a hearing, a class or a meeting, I had no choice but to just use face powder, blush and concealer.  The lesser application, the better.

So what reignited this love affair?  It all started with the Mac Archie Collection- specifically, with the lipstick.  When I bought the Betty Oh Oh Oh (I ordered from Carefree Shopper), I just started falling in love with make-up once again.  My good friend is a make-up junkie (admit it +Jasmin Caballero!).  So I had to ask her all sorts of questions to start building up my make-up collection.  She ordered me a Vichy Corrective Foundation and Ben Nye Luxury Powder from Digital Traincase.  When the items arrived, I was hooked!  I tried applying the foundation using a sponge and it was fine at first, but my friend suggested stippling or stipple brush.  She told me to order again from Carefree Shopper.  Since I couldn't wait any longer for shipping, I had to go to the mall and look for it.  I found one at SM.  I did not only buy a stipple brush, I bought all kinds of brushes from Marionnaud (lol!).  I can manage using these first while perfecting the art of applying make-up.  Maybe when I finally get a hang of it, I'll purchase those from Beauty & Minerals.  I hoarded make-up finds from Nyx, again at Digital Traincase, not knowing that it was available at Chimes (but their stocks have almost run out)- primer, concealer, eyeshadow palettes, eyeshadow base, setting spray, eyeliners.

They say practice makes perfect and everyday, I practice applying make-up.  Everyday I get better, I think (lol!).  I think I've perfected the foundation thing- primer, foundation, concealer, ben nye (believe me, this is easy).  I'm still practicing on the eye brows though (I ordered a palette specifically for this!).  The thicker the brows, the younger you look. And the cat's eye, I'm practicing this (a must, my friend says!).  And when I have perfected it, maybe I'd start applying those eyeshadows (which in all honesty, is a bit difficult to apply).  In the meantime, and on my spare time, I watch make-up tutorial videos on Youtube (seryoso na ito!).

While I am writing this, I actually just ordered again from Digital Traincase (ordering from them is a breeze and hassle-free).  What about you, are you a make-up junkie? (",)

The MAC which started it all! Oh Oh Oh!

Practice make-up application- last Sunday's look!

Happy 4th Birthday!

I carried you for exactly 34 weeks, 6 weeks short of being full term.  My pregnancy was difficult.  I was taking the bar exams, a stressful activity, while I was pregnant with you.  I learned I was pregnant with twins when I was already 5 months with you.  I was on bed rest from 6 months onwards.  I had to make sure we would all be okay (Mama is too small to carry twin babies).  Nevertheless, every ounce of pain and difficulty was all worth it.  Bringing both of you into this world is something that I never imagined in my wildest dreams (I only dreamed about having one baby at time).  I consider it an honor and a privilege being your mother.  Know that whatever happens, Mama will always be here.  Happy 4th birthday baby boys (Oh, you're not babies anymore!).  I will always love you.

Of pregnancy and babies..

At court this morning, I learned another friend of mine is pregnant at 7 weeks.  I've been having a lot of friends getting pregnant lately.  It's always a cause for celebration whenever I hear the words, "I'm pregnant!" and I get excited too, in the same way my friends get excited.  However, I always have a nagging feeling inside of me because normally I am questioned.  "What about you, when do you plan on getting pregnant?"

My first pregnancy was planned, although my husband and I were not yet married then.  At 28, I believed it was high time for me to get pregnant.  And so, this planned pregnancy of mine resulted to twin babies (who are now of course toddlers).  That twin pregnancy of mine is actually the cause of all my apprehensions.  You see, I did not have a difficult pregnancy, except in the latter stages when I had to be on bed rest from 6 months onwards.  But whenever I remember what occurred during the twins' first year- taking care of twin babies, working, countless expenses, the experience of having no yaya's, it makes me apprehensive of having another one.  And then I remember that the twins are almost 4 and I think if we decide on having another child, 4 years is a good gap.

So whenever my friends ask me that question, I always answer.  "Only when I can be sure that I will have only 1 and only when I can be sure when it's a girl."  This is my constant line.  But in all honesty, I miss the smell of a new born baby.  Just recently, a client came in with her 2-week old baby and I had to exercise restraint in carrying her new born one lest I succumbed to his charms and pressure my husband.    Hehehe.

So my dear eco-nanays, what about you, how many gaps in between children?  How did you know it was high time to have another one?

The Eldest..

The Youngest (who is now bigger than the eldest!)

On Breakfast..

I grew up being forced to eat breakfast.  I didn't understand the fuss about eating breakfast back then.  But I am very thankful that I grew up being forced to eat breakfast and I am thankful for having a family that understands the concept of breakfast.  I would remember a glass of lukewarm Milo on my side of the dining table.  I would have rice and any viand cooked and served on the table.  I do not remember eating bread for breakfast alone.  I would remember, though, eating rice and then having bread thereafter.  Power breakfast ang drama!

Time and time again, I have often read the importance of eating breakfast.  Breakfast should be one fit for a king.  That means madami.  I remember reading somewhere that breakfast is what sustains you the whole day.  You may skip lunch or dinner, but never breakfast.  In my case, I never skip the three, even if I am on a diet.  Ask my friends, they know how much I love eating.

Now as to my kids, that's a different story.  I have twins.  The eldest, we shall say, is choosy and picky with his food.  The youngest, on the other hand, loves to eat (a lot!).  So breakfast is not a struggle with the youngest.  It is, however, a struggle, for the eldest.  I therefore try to make extra effort when it comes to feeding them.  I make their breakfast, as long as time permits.  I am thankful that my husband allows me to wake up early to exercise so that I can have time to prepare the kids breakfast.  I make pancakes, bake cupcakes (the twins love this!) and cakes, and make or bake spaghetti.  If I run out of time, I toast them bread or make them a sandwich.  This I do to ensure that my kids eat and have a proper breakfast.  Sometimes I ask them what they want to eat for breakfast the next day, and if they ask for something exquisite, like cakes or cupcakes, I make sure I am able to buy supplies so that I can bake the next day.  All this I do so that my kids will understand that it's always good to eat breakfast.  Sometimes the kids ask me to bake them cookies and in all honesty, I have never perfected baking cookies.  Mine burns easily, just like the chocolate crinkles I baked last Monday.  Hahaha.

So what about you? What does your kids have for breakfast?

PS.

I read that McDonalds will be giving free muffins on March 18, 2013, from 5:00 to 9:00 am in commemoration of the National Breakfast Day.  Although I don't agree that food McDonalds should be your breakfast of choice (considering it's fast food), I am thankful that McDonalds also values the importance of breakfast.