budding friendships

Simone, Joaquin, Andie, Joaqui

I love this photo! I hope they become really good friends when they grow up, just like their moms. ; )

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer remains a significant health concern for women throughout the world. It is the leading killer of women ages 35 to 54 worldwide and more than a million women develop breast cancer without knowing it and almost 500,000 die from it every year. The Philippines has the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in Asia and is today considered to have the 9th highest incidence rate in the world. Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after the age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last 10 years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol. Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.

October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Education is empowerment. Learn the ways on what tests you can do to determine your breast health.

ark of avilon zoo

After we went to Salcedo Saturday Market we headed off to Ark of Avilon Zoo in Tiendesitas. Joaqui got scared of the sheeps...but he enjoyed chasing after the chickens and looking at the fish tank. There were not a lot of people that day, to think it was Saturday and it was quite hot inside. Here are some pictures from Ark of Avilon.

salcedo saturday market

I have heard and read a lot about the Salcedo Saturday Market but never had a chance to visit until yesterday. It's a good thing Concon mentioned it to me last Friday and since we do not have plans this weekend, I dragged my husband to Makati and brought Joaqui along. I do not frequent the markets, but I am always intrigued by these kind of markets where there are fresh produce, homemade specialties and organic herbs and vegetables. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and we arrived there at 11 a.m. Since it was already late and we plan on going to Avilon Zoo later that day, we just went around and bought cooked foods and had lunch in one of the tents there with chair and table setup.

There are native items, much like the ones sold under the Quiapo bridge.

This one sells siomai, siopao, cuapao, etc....looks yummy

There were lots of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even plants.

There are a lot of stalls selling barbecues and this one is from Dela Rosa's Deli.

What we also like about Salcedo Market is their nice playground. We let Joaqui and his yaya Jane play here while we went around. Joaqui had a grand time playing on the slide.

I have noticed that there were a lot of families who go there and have their little picnic in one of the tents, from the grand parents to their children and grandchildren. It was nice seeing families get together and Jeff and I thought it was a good idea to spend Saturday mornings there when the weather is good. I would also want to visit the Legaspi Sunday Market and compare it to Salcedo ; )

practical tips and more

As a work-at-home mom, my work entails me to sit infront of the computer and access the internet often. The internet has become my handy dictionary, map, almanac, recipe book, diary and what-have-you's and it always provides quick answers for questions that I have. It's a good thing that I always read practical tips and more. It is a very helpful website for moms like me who are not just looking for tips but sensible advices on a wide array of topics like food, shopping, money, health, etc. What is refreshing to know is that it is written by a mom like me (and a doctor too), so I know that we have the same concerns with regard to providing the best for our family.

What I like about this website is that it provides information and tips that actually work and sometimes makes me say...yeah, why didn't I think of that. It helps me a lot especially on the best ways to save money, tipid tips and online business and sidelines. So if you're looking for more than just tips, visit www.practicaltipsandmore.

YES

...say YES to something that scares you. Moving out of our comfort zone is the only way to expand our horizons.

This was from the Gay Times Magazine (a magazine for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders) that caught my attention while I was doing an abstract. So true...

ed's blogsary contest

It's fellow Pinay Blogger Eds Blogsary and she's giving away prizes. Check it out for a chance to win!

It’s Eds Blogsary! Join her contest and have some moolah on your paypal!

My Precious Niche

Just Me… Eds

Eds Mommy Life

Contest will start on September 25, 2008 (12noon) till October 25, 2008 (12 midnight) Phil. time. I will announce the lucky winners on October 27, 2008 MONDAY!

propagating friendship award

Thanks to Lani, Sheila, and Emz for this award...

I love the blogs of these people and I'm glad to pass this award onto them! All they need to do is to leave the following message on their post when they pass the award on to their chosen eight bloggers.They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut or that they propagate? Then let's try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this.

I am propagating this award to Eds, Arpi, Irmee, Jody, Jown, Sheryll, Ruby, and Joey.

Creative Award

Thanks to Mec for this award...

The rules are:
* The winner may put the logo on his or her blog.
* Put a link to the person you got the award from.
* Nominate five blogs.
* Put links to the blogs.
* Leave a message to the nominees.

I am passing this tag to Jacque, Con, Joanne, Mari and Rhea.

party planning 201

Plans for Joaqui's 2nd birthday party...

VENUE: Even though Joaqui's 2nd birthday is three months away, I've already booked the venue. Just a side note, I thought that since it will be a Jollibee party, I would encounter no problems in reservations or in dealing with suppliers, but the Jollibee staff in Ever Ortigas proved me wrong. Since we anticipate that we will have more than 100 guests, I have been inquiring about getting 2 function rooms. When we inquired last August, a SMART personnel told us that to get 2 function rooms, a minimum of 15K for food expenses is required and the date of the party should fall on a weekday. I have contemplated on the dates since December 28 falls on a Sunday, but since it is important for us to get 2 function rooms, we decided to hold it on December 30 which is a Tuesday. When we went there two weeks ago, we were presented a higher requirement for food expenses (20K) and we were asked to wait for their December schedule since December is a peak month. We would have not been furious if the manager herself told us so, but we were accommodated by a crew who goes in and out of the manager's office to tell us the answers to our questions. I am an objective person and if in the first place they told us it would be impossible to book a party for December, I would have exhausted other resources. Long story short, I confronted the manager and detailed to her what I have been told by their not-so-SMART personnel and gave my reasons for booking this early, which is obvious because December is a peak season for everything. In the end, I got the date I wanted and confirmed our reservation.

THEME: Jollitown

FOOD: We already decided on our food choices from Jollibee's new party packages.

INVITES: At first I really wanted a more personalized invitation, but since hubby keeps on reminding me that it is a Jollibee party, we just got the themed invites included in their package.

ENTERTAINMENT: When we attended a Jollibee Meet-up and saw all five mascots (Jollibee, Hetty, Twirlie, Popo and Yum) dancing and entertaining the kids, we were excited to have them all in Joaqui's party. You get the idea ;) I also plan to hire a face painter.

VENUE DRESSUP: I still wanted to make it extra special by having extra balloon setup and tarpaulin for the venue. I have asked Jacque of Party Boosters to do this for us and no specific plans are still made.

CAKE: I'm not yet decided on this one because I am not quite satisfied with the Jollibee cakes. I am looking at possible cake suppliers and I'll see what we can come up to.

LOOTBAGS AND SOUVENIRS: Jollibee items care of my SIL who works in Jollibee. ;)

GUESTBOOK: I am thinking of having a personalized guestbook made.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Having had a professional photographer at Joaqui's 1st birthday party, we know how important it is to have someone capture those memorable moments during the party. Still looking for one that fits our budget ;)

I hope everything works out well for Joaqui's 2nd birthday party and we are so excited as our little boy turns two.