Christmas is less than two weeks away. I know people are rushing to complete their holiday gifts. With the amount of people going out to the mall I heard the traffic along the major highways are horrendous. So my advice is to complete your shopping in one go to avoid contributing to the traffic situation.
Or why not shop online to buy your gifts? Surprise your wife with a cute lingerie. It may sound unconventional in our conservative country but every woman would love some gorgeous lingerie ala Victoria’s Secret. And for sure you’ll love seeing her wear one too.
My first born child was a picky eater. It came to a point when we had to sit at the dinner table for two hours just so he could finish his food. So when our second baby was born I was determined not to make the same mistake. When Zack turned 6 months we started introducing him to cereals. We had a good start. He seemed to like his cereals.
But that didn’t last long. Soon he would eat less and less. Afraid that he wouldn’t get the nutrition he needed I began prodding him to eat more. It backfired badly. Pretty soon he didn’t even want to sit on his chair. Then I realized I was doing the exact same thing I did with my firstborn. So I changed my approach right away. Now, my baby is 1 year old. I can proudly say he is a happy eater. His last meal was a plate full of a combination of spaghetti, corn, and banana. I couldn’t be happier. I shudder when I think that I am just a few actions away from turning my second child into another picky eater.
Picky Eater Recipes
Picky eaters are made. If you are looking for picky eater recipes or food for picky eaters you are just fueling this behavior. I didn’t cook any special food for my children. I just changed my approach. Remember my first born who had the unfortunate luck of being born to a first time mother? I applied what I learned with him and he’s now a happy eater too. Since I can’t go to one of the California culinary schools anytime soon, I have come up with my own tips.
How to deal with Picky Eaters
When my baby had a bout with viral infection he ate even less. Our doctor said to make him eat anything he wants. “Well, he seemed to like french fries,” I muttered. “Then do it!” the doctor ordered. I cringed. The last thing I wanted to do was to feed my baby greasy french fries. But I had no choice so I did. He ate it. We were saved from a large bill from the hospital. And this mom learned an important lesson. So how did I deal with my picky eaters?
- Throw away the spoon. Let your baby eat with his hands. He loves putting things in his mouth anyway. It’s going to be messy for sure but that’s just a small sacrifice on your part.
- Serve picky eaters their favorite food. Is there one particular food he likes? Chicken nuggets, hotdogs, spaghetti, or fries? Then serve it to him everyday, every meal. Don’t worry about the nutrients he’s getting. This is just a start. In order for him to like eating he must associate it with something good first like seeing his favorite meals served at the dinner table.
- Ignore leftovers. He’s eating his favorites but there are leftovers. Ignore it. When he he’s full, respect it. It doesn’t matter if he only ate half on his plate. Chances are he’ll be back for more. It could be an hour later or maybe two but he’ll be hungry again. 90% of the time he is and would gladly eat again.
- Mix old with the new. The best way to introduce new (read: healthy) food is if it’s paired with his favorites. For my baby I would serve sliced banana (his all time fave) mixed with sliced papaya. Yesterday he threw the papaya but today one slice landed in his mouth. It’s a small success but in time I know he’s going to love it. For older children you’ll have to be more patient. It may take ten tries but it’s worth it.
- Set a good example. Yesterday, my eldest son declared, “I miss eating ampalaya (bitter gourd). Can we have that for tomorrow, Mommy?” I was so shocked I was actually speechless for a few seconds. How did my picky eater child become an ampalaya eating alien? It actually had something to do with his Dad whom he adored. Whenever we’re having vegetables he would loudly say, “Oh no, not vegetables!” When he realized how his behavior was affecting our son’s eating habits he began to change. Now he’ll say something positive like, “Wow, I love veggies!” and promptly have a serving. Our eldest was curious to hear something new from his dad. He didn’t eat ampalaya right away but he did allow me to put it in his plate. This incident happened just two months ago. Now you know how what happened next.
I want to thank all of you who have joined BC Blogger’s Secret. To date, we have helped almost 1000 blogs connect with each other. If you’re a blogger and want to meet people who share the same interest as yours you can join us by subscribing at my blog’s sidebar.
As a thank you to all our members I want to start featuring some BC Bloggers here in my blog. For now, I will be doing it on a monthly basis but I hope I can do it every week so I can feature more bloggers.
So let’s start with our featured blogger for the month of December. She is no other than Liz of Pinkville. Last February she quit her job to become a full time blogger and never looked back since. She is managing a mind boggling 40 blogs under her belt and she’s still making some more!
Hi Liz! I’m so honored to feature you as our very first BC Blogger. Can you please tell us more about yourself?
I’m Liezl but you can simply call me Liz or Lizzie because I hate it when people mispelled my name so I prefer to be called with my nicknames. I’m a certified Batangueña but I spend most of my time in Manila since my life revolves around this city. I graduated Cum Laude from Batangas State University with a degree in Bachelor of Industrial Technology Major in Computer Engineering Technology. That’s big thanks to numerous scholarship. I’ve worked with two different IT companies and right now, I have no plans of going back to the same industry. I’m enjoying my carefree life as a blogger. And I’m happy with my 4-year-and-still-counting relationship with my boyfriend.
To know more about me, you can visit my most updated blogs: personal blog -Pinkville and my money-making blog – Make More Money Online.
Every blogger started somewhere. Tell us your story. When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging way back college days, on my third year I think. My first blog post went live last February 10, 2005. My classmate and a very close friend (Roch) introduced me to blogging. She helped me setup my blogger account in our computer laboratory. She even helped me with the HTML codes and I first heard the word “blogroll” from her. Since then, I updated my blog once in a while. I love writing so I eventually appreciate blogging especially in Friendster. Then there came busy days and I was not able to actively blog until 2009. When I got my first job in Manila, I contented myself updating my Friendster blog. And as I moved to the next job by 2008, I started exploring WordPress and buying own domains. It then leads to setting up more blogs and I eventually got almost 40 blogs/sites. My blogging addiction rewarded me with money and lots of friends.
A lot of bloggers are doing this only as a hobby but you are different because you have been earning from your blogs. Do you think blogging can be a career for everyone?
Yes, blogging can definitely be a career but you have to be patient and passionate about it. I recommend reading my post about The Right Attitude to Keep Earning a Sustainable Online Income to get more inspiration. Just a heads up to aspiring bloggers and online earners… You should really love what you’re doing because just like any other work, if you are having fun, the pay is just secondary. I’m not saying that money is a wrong kind of motivation. It’s just that I didn’t start that way. This post might help, too: Blogging and Earning FAQ
Please share one (or two) of the most important lessons you learned as a blogger.
I’ve learned a lot from blogging and here’s the two most important lessons I’d like to share:
Lesson #1: Blogging can make or break you, or even the things around you.
I almost got a libel case because of what I posted on my blog against a hiring agency. It is when I said nothing but the truth yet the company wanted to take my post down and sue me. I even experienced psychological torture with them. But as long as you are a responsible blogger, there’s nothing to fear. I was able to handle the issue and ended up keeping the post in my blog. Until now, I am getting several “thank you” from people I’ve helped through that post.
Lesson #2: It all boils down to passion.
Yes, passion. It will keep you blogging without getting tired of it. As I’ve said in one of my previous guest posts, “Passion keeps me alive and kicking. Passion keeps the ideas flowing. Passion motivates me to blog.” True passion yields the sweetest fruit.
There is competition in every industry, how do you handle it?
What I love about blogging is the healthy community especially the group of mommy bloggers. Every opportunity is being shared among other bloggers and in terms of competition, you just have to compete with yourself to stay in the industry. It means that you have to continuously challenge yourself. A good example of healthy competition is when there is a direct advertiser looking for bloggers. Advertisers usually set requirements or qualifications for blogs and bloggers spread the word about it. To be qualified, you must meet all the requirements. If not, then it is about time to work harder to increase page rank or traffic until you meet the common qualifications.
How do you deal with negative comments on your posts or your blogs?
As the saying goes, “Don’t feed the troll”. I still publish negative comments if it will suffice them but I handle them just like a grown up woman would. You know how customer service works.
And if needed, I modify comment and put a note or reason why it has been edited before publishing.
I have one last question for you. I know you had a very difficult experience a couple of years ago when your blog was deleted by Google without warning. To bloggers, waking up one day with their blog gone is the worst nightmare. But instead of giving up and losing heart you fought back and did all means necessary to bring your blog back. I am glad that you succeed and ultimately Google brought it back. Can you tell us about your harrowing experience?
My PR4 blogspot blog was detected as splog or spam blog and it was taken down by Google without prior notice. It was really a disheartening experience but because I know that my blog wasn’t really a spam, I was so determined to fight for it. I sent numerous appeal until it was restored.
My first post about that incident was here.
An updated post with tips to avoid splog detection along with steps on how to restore deleted blog can be found here – How to restore deleted blogspot blog.
Thank you very much for this wonderful interview. We surely have learned a lot from you.
If you want to be the next BC Blogger’s Featured Blogger sign up here.
Z was excited to go to his school’s Christmas party today. He was so excited that last night he screamed up and down on top of our bed.
Z: Yahoo! Yahoo! Yahoo.com!
Me: Where did you learn that, Anak? You know I use Google.
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Meanwhile at night, Kuya has trouble sleeping. He tosses and turns for about an hour.
Kuya: Ma, I have 4 requirements before I can go to sleep. 1. The air conditioning must be turned on, 2. You or Dad must be beside me, 3. Lights off, and 4. Absolute silence.
I was speechless. I didn’t know he has such an extensive list in his head.
Me: Anak, try to imagine the other kids sleeping on the pavement without roof over their heads and with jeeps and busses roaring by.
A few minutes later he was sound asleep.
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When Kuya has nothing to do.
Z: Ma, can I borrow your laptop? I just want to take some pictures.
M: Sure, Anak.
The result:
Good afternoon!
Did I say I only got to shop for the kids yesterday?
Well, that’s not entirely true.
Because while hubby and the kids were resting their tired feet after 6 hours of non-stop malling I got the chance to look around. I was supposed to buy a new dress but I didn’t know where to go. If it were gold I was planning on buying I would have bought that online. All I need to do is search for Golden Eagle buy gold and I’m on my way. But dresses are more tricky because it might look good on a hanger but wearing it is a different matter altogether.
Anyway, as I was looking around the department store the Parisian shoes caught my eye. There were a lot of hype regarding this local shoe brand lately so I wanted to take a look. I was not disappointed because I didn’t come home empty handed. I don’t know why I’m buying a lot of footwear lately when normally I just settle for flip flops. It must be because of Victoria. haha
So here’s what I got. It’s a shocking electric blue heels from the local brand, Parisian.
I’ve never worn shoes with this rich blue color before but hubby said it looks great even with my jeans. It’s felt comfortable when I tried it but time will only tell if that will hold true.
Btw, hubby’s initial reaction when I showed this to him – he thought the heels are too high. I didn’t agree at that time but now upon reflection I think he is right. I’m not actually sure how high these are but one thing is for sure when I was at the store it looked pretty conservative. Everywhere I look there were platform heels. Since I don’t have the guts (and the balance) to wear those yet so I’ll settle for this for now.
What do you think of my velvet pumps and what do you think I should wear with it?
We just went shopping today. I was planning to buy a gift for dad but it was hard shopping with two kids in tow. So I only got to buy things for the kids.
I am particular excited with the baby tights I bought for Zachary. I got inspired by Baby Harper, Victoria Beckham’s baby, who was seen wearing tights in the picture below.
So when I saw that Darlington was selling tights I promptly bought one. I was disappointed because they only sell one color for boys while for girls you can choose between two colors. I had no choice but to buy the light blue with red stripes. Here he is wearing that. It has a cute picture at the back but Zack was in no mood for a photo op.
I know I look good but can I please sleep now?
This is perfect for Christmassy weather. He can wear it when we go out especially if it’s night time. He can also wear it while sleeping at night so I don’t have to worry about blood sucking mosquitoes biting his legs. This size can fit kids from 1 to 2 years old. I like it so much I almost bought two. The only thing that stopped me was that it didn’t come in any other color. You can buy this at SM Department store for P256.
And just because I want to show you what it’s looks from behind I waited for him to sleep them took a picture.
Sleep tight, anak!
Zack did! He officially turned one year old yesterday and today we’ll be celebrating it.
The night before he turned one we shot this adorable video.
In the video he was clapping while his Daddy was singing happy birthday. I was in the back trying to hide but failing miserably. LOL!
Gosh, he just loves to clap! His favorite activity is watching music videos. When he hears the chorus he claps with delight. His Dad thinks he’ll become a musician just like himself. Well, we have yet to see if that’s true. My hunch is he’ll turn into a mini-me since he looks so much like me already. Sorry, Dad!
I think he knows it’s his birthday. Yesterday midnight he was still awake smiling which was rare because he has been sleeping through the night for months. But there he was wide awake and smiling while watching his YouTube video. When he saw himself clap in the vid of course he clapped too. It was pretty hilarious!
Kuya is thrilled that his baby brother is turning one. He can’t wait for him to grow up so he can play rougher with him. For now he settles with the hide-and-bite game. It goes like this. Kuya hides under the blanket and Zack bites him until he comes out. I laugh till my sides hurt watching them play. I don’t know who loves it better – kuya or the li’l one.
I’m glad he’s back to his former self. He’s had a viral infection last week and now he’s back to perfect health just in time for his birthday. Doctor said the celebration should just be with family but we can’t help but celebrate. Sorry Doc, but we simply can’t resist giving him a treat.
The holiday season is almost upon us, and for most of us this means hours spent searching online and jostling through crowds at the mall, looking for gifts to get for our friends and family members. Whether we’re looking for a new smarthphone or an amethyst ring, a basketball hoop or a pair of running shorts, we’re probably participating headlong in the materialist culture that reaches its zenith around the holidays.
Of course, buying a gift for someone close to us goes beyond the issue of materialism and, instead, represents just one way that we can tell this person how much they mean to us. Most adults understand this, and realize that the act of giving can be far more valuable than the actual gift itself.
But, if you’re like me, most of your holiday season gift purchases are going to be given to your kids. Your kids will certainly enjoy and appreciate their presents, but they are less likely to understand the positives of gift-giving and more likely to get sucked up into its materialism. How can we combat this? How can we give our children gifts while also teaching them lessons of value? While it’s difficult to teach appreciation, it’s easier to use gift-giving as a way to make your children more responsible, less materialistic, and hopefully more respectful in the process. Here are some ideas I have in mind:
Make It A Two-Way Street
In many families, the parents buy presents for the children but the children offer nothing in return. This is understandable, in a sense, since your young kids probably do not have the income to purchase gifts or the driver’s license to go pick them out. But a gift can just as easily be a card, a picture, or a collage, and by encouraging your kids to make such presents for your spouse you can teach them reciprocity and the important lesson that it often truly is the thought that counts
Give Them A Budget
This is probably best suited for older children, but giving your kids a budget for their presents can teach them that nothing is free, nobody can get everything they want, and that all gifts have a value and should not be taken lightly. You can go about doing this by telling your kids before the holidays that they can make a list of present requests – but that the list, on an aggregate level, cannot exceed a certain monetary amount. While you won’t simply buy everything on the list (after all, getting a few surprises is always fun), it can help inform your purchases and hopefully accomplish the above objective nonetheless.
Teach Charity
The holidays are also a time to think about those who are less fortunate, as many Americans would agree, and it is always good to teach your children concepts of charity and compassion in the process. One way to do this is to require that your kids select one present of their choosing and donate that present to charity. While your children will likely choose the present they desire least, they will still be taught how to make sacrifices. Furthermore, it will also put their holiday gifts into perspective.
My family will be following these tips this holiday season, and I hope you consider doing the same with you. After all, the holidays are – and certainly should be – about more than just the material items we receive from others.
One of the celebrities I admire is Victoria Beckham. She is the wife of LA Galaxy star, David Beckham, who’ll be coming in Manila a few days from now. Okay, let me rephrase that a bit. I really adore her!
I didn’t like her at first. I kept reading about how she doesn’t smile and it’s true. I haven’t seen a recent picture of her smiling. But then you can’t really trust the pictures in the tabloids. I watched her interviews and she was engaging and funny.
Then she started her own line of clothes. Just look at how stylish her clothes are. She designs them and wear them too. I became hooked and now I’m her number one fan. Maybe someday I will even take some online college classes in fashion design so that I can design beautiful clothes like her.
When I heard she was pregnant with her youngest child I couldn’t believe my ears. She was just starting her fashion brand which is not a mean feat. I wondered how she would balance her career while taking care of a new baby. We now know she manages it effortlessly and with style. She even takes her baby girl wherever she goes. I can relate because I want to take Zack wherever I go too. I only wish I still look as stylish as she does. Victoria, can you teach me how to carry a baby and still look as fashionable as you do? LOL!
As if having a gorgeous hunk of a husband, having four kids, and being pretty and fashionable is not enough I learn that her clothes win Best Designer Brand of the Year at the British Fashion Awards. Way to go, Victoria! You’re a real inspiration to moms like me. I’ve been more conscious of the dresses I wear because of you and I feel I can be successful too while raising my kids. Now if only David will bring you to Manila so I can meet you in person… LOL!
As I was watching KC Concepcion cry her heart out on TV yesterday I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She obviously was a woman who fell in love with the wrong guy. She can have any man she wants but she chose someone who broke her heart into pieces. It just goes to show that the saying, “All is fair in love and war” is true. It doesn’t matter if you are the daughter of the Megastar. When you give your heart to somebody you can be hurt just the same.
KC and Piolo during happier times
So what have we learned about the KC – Piolo drama? Here are four things:
- Learn from your mother’s mistakes. KC made the exact same mistake as her mother’s – fall for the cutest guy in show business. The thing with guys like this is they make your heart a flutter at first but in the end they’ll make you cry because they love themselves more than they love you. Sharon got it right the second time around when she married Kiko. KC is still young and hopefully she learned a lot from this experience.
- Don’t ever think he will change for you. Men don’t change. Period. So you better learn to live with his traits whether good or bad. If you walk down the aisle thinking he’ll change for you because he loves you then be prepared to get your heart broken a dozen times. KC was actually smart to get out of the relationship before it’s too late.
- Be wary if he sweeps you off your feet. You might think he’s really in love with you but maybe they just have a hidden agenda. I will go for the shy type of guy anytime. The one who can’t look you into the eye and blushes when you smile than the one who will gallantly profess his love for you for all the world to see.
- When there’s smoke there must be fire. Why she didn’t notice that the most dashing hunk in showbiz doesn’t have a girlfriend when any girl would fall at his feet is beyond me. Maybe love is truly blind.
