One Market Day

Hindi niyo naitatanong and I don't mean to brag but I'm a palengke queen. Palengke as in wet market. I rock the palengke world!

To give a short background, you have to know I am maarte. As in nuknukan. Hindi na kailangan sabihin because everybody knows that. I never went to a wet market before because I am scared of all that poor, butchered cows and pigs. I pity all those wide eyed fishes on the table. I cannot look at all that intestines hanging from wherever. I despise the talsik that my legs get from the muddy water on the floor. And I get really irritated with all that shouting.

But after bringing home almost spoiled meat and not fresh fishes from the air conditioned supermarkets too many times, I decided to give the wet market a try and I am loving it there ever since =)

Thanks to my MIL who taught me the ins and outs of the La Huerta Wet Market. She introduced me to her sukis. She has one for meat, chicken, fish and veggies. She didn't need to teach me how to make tawad because I have mastered that art from shopping in tiangges. She taught me how to know if the product is fresh and how to pick the right vegetables. After a few hits and misses with what to buy, Fleur the Palengke Queen was born.

Anyways, two weeks ago before the holy week vacation, I brought with me one of my best friends to teach her and hubby how to shop in a wet market. I'll let the photos do the talking.

Welcome to the La Huerta Wet Market!

This is my best friend Janis and her hubby Mark. Wet market virgins. Hehe.

Fishes here are fresh and cheap. This boneless bangus costs Php 120 only.

Me and Janis at the fish section. Pardon my look. That is my palengke get up. We bought a lot of fish because it was going to be holy week and it's not nice to eat meat until Easter Sunday.

Fresh oysters and mussels! Yum yum!

When you're going to a palengke, you should have a bayong like this. You're OP (out of place) there if you're not carrying this.

Check out the boots of one of the tinderas. Very fasyon with the animal printed boots!

Fresh fishes in all shapes, sizes and color!

ME: Mare, ilan ba kumakain sa inyo?
JANIS: Kaming 2 lang ni Mark plus si Jam and si Ate
ME: Eh bakit parang namamakyaw ka ng isda? Holy week ang parating ateh, hindi fiesta! Pakain na nga lang kami ni Alvin sa inyo!
Hahaha!

Fresh chicken. When you touch it, you can still feel that it's warm.

And here are their heads.. (Off with their heads!!!)

Meat everywhere!!! Name any part of the animal, I think they sell it.

The "billing". Hahaha!

It's really more sulit to do palengke rather than buying in the grocery. The products are fresh and cheaper somehow. Yun nga lang. You have to go past the noisy crowd, the smell, the faceless heads of the cows and the haggling. 

It's fun! Try it! =)

New Havaianas!!

No, I didn't buy a pair. But after reading this you'll feel how badly I want to!

You see, I stopped buying Havaianas fit flops after I reached my 20th + pair. I realized I had so many pairs that they almost all look new for not using them that often. Well, except for my black high pair and my white flat slim pair na super gamit na gamit that its value has already depreciated to negative piso na siguro already. Anyways, I was so obsessed with them. I remember back in the days (before motherhood) when I was stressed, I would collect all my Havaianas and line them all in my room and I would just stare at them. Nakakaginhawa ng feeling. Yes. I'm abnormal that way.

I admit that until now, it takes effort for me not to buy Havaianas fit flops. Ewan ko ba. Brazilian siguro ako nung past life? Or rubber? Ewan. All I know is that whenever I pass by the store, I stare straight ahead. I do not look inside the store. Baka ma-tempt pa bumili. Mahirap na. Ipapanguya na talaga ni Alvin sa akin ang tsinelas pagbumili pa ako ng isa.

So as I was saying, I am living now in a "no more buying of new Havaianas fit flops until each and every one of my 20 pairs breaks or disintegrates, whichever comes first" life. That is until I read about this uber fasyon and adorable pairs that I saw online. 

From Jenni Epperson's Blog, I saw these Missoni Havaianas. You can read about it here.

Ang ganda ganda diba? *sigh!*

It comes also with a Missoni bag from Italy. Chuchal!!

I super like grabe!! They have 200 pairs lang daw which you can buy in Adora in Greenbelt 5. Double chuchal! Kaloka. How much kaya itech?

Not only that. I also found online through Saab Magalona's Blog about these super duper cute Slim Kokeshi Havaianas! 

The Kokeshi doll that comes with the slippers
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It comes with its own doll charm attached to its' strap
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I read that a pair of Kokeshi slim costs around Php 1,400 each.
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Nakakaloka!! It's taking all my will power not to buy...

..or baka pwede naman kahit one each for my collection's sake divah?

Help!

How Anika Wakes Her Tatay Up

I dunno if all male species are like this but I really have a hard time waking hubby up every morning for work. I pat him gently to wake up, kaso unsuccessful. I tickle his armpits with my toes, kaso unsuccessful. I make him yugyog, still unsuccessful. Nale-late tuloy kami.

But all that changed after Anika discovered how to play horsy-horsy.

You see, I co-sleep with Anika in our bed. (Malamang. Alangan naman I co-sleep with Anika in her crib diba?!) Anyways, at around 6am, I wake up with Anika's face in front of mine while she, most of the time, not too gently pats my face. So gigising na din ako. What I do now is to tell Anika, "Anika, go play horsy-horsy with Tatay!". Then Anika smiles her adorable two tooth smile and waddles towards her Tatay. And then, she will put her leg over hubby's neck and ride it while screaming with delight.

That sure wakes hubby up!

I asked him if this irritates him but he said no. He loves waking up to Anika's laughter and giggles. It really makes his day. Because after Anika plays horsy-horsy, she hugs her Tatay and plants a very wet kiss on his cheek.

Effective di ba? =)

Payless Shoe Store Weekend Loots

I was so bored at home last Black Saturday that I almost forced hubby, Wowa and my brother Toots to go out. We were supposed to go to Tagaytay but Taal Volcano is showing some activity so we chickened out the last minute. Katakot noh! Remember when Mt. Pinatubo erupted?! The ash fall was really heavy I thought it was snowing and the Philippines' atmosphere was so polluted that was why snow came out in grayish color that day! I was 10.

Anyways, we went to Powerplant Mall in Rockwell instead. 

After having lunch at Burgoo, we went around and found ourselves in Payless Shoe Store. We had so many fabulous finds! Lemme show you.

Summer shoes for my brother Toots, around Php 900 only.

Summer shoes for hubby, around Php 900 only

Uber comfy black peep toe sling back for me, around Php 1, 200

Black shoes for Anika, Php 725

Violet (her favorite color!) comfy flats for Wowa for less than Php 1,000

Black low heeled office shoes for Wowa again! Php 2k +

All of us were very happy with our purchases. One can really get quality at a very reasonable price at Payless Shoe Store.

The shoppingera baby is very happy with her new shoes!

How about you, what are your latest fab finds? -Anika

Anika's Video at Cuts 4 Tots

I have uploaded two videos here taken when Anika was having her first hair cut experience.

See how behaved our little girl was! =)

Even during the time he was cutting her bangs, behaved pa din!

Konting background: Anika halos never sits still! Especially when she learned how to walk, she's everywhere. She reaches for anything and wants to touch all things. She's a very active and curious baby. 

Kaya imagine our surprise and amazement when everything went smoothly that day.

Basta ka-artehan talaga, behaved na behaved ang Anika. Nanay very proud while Tatay is shaking his head.

LOL!

Anika's First Haircut

I know I said I'd like to have Madonna to do Anika's first haircut but since I don't have a US Visa yet to go to the Land of the Free (hehe), I brought Anika to Cuts 4 Tots last Sunday. I was thinking to let her hair grow longer before we bring her a parlor but as you can see, sabog na sabog na ang hairstyle ng anak ko.

Di ba?!

Plus it's so freaking hot nowadays kaya wawa naman si Anika because she gets really irritated with her messy hair.

When I told Wowa about it, she wanted me to take Anika to Toni & Guy. She was super impressed with the hairstylist that she wanted her apo to have her first haircut there. I really wanted to take her to Toni & Guy but (1) the place smells of pangkulot (what salon doesn't?!) which is super not healthy for a baby and (2) Anika is a super hyper active baby who will not sit still for even 5 seconds. Seriously.

So we went to where babies get their haircuts, the Cuts 4 Tots in Glorietta, Makati.

When we entered, there was this baby boy screaming his head off because the guy was shaving the sides of his head. We didn't want Anika to get scared so hubby took her out first. I took photos na lang muna of the place.

Cuts 4 Tots is especially designed for kids. They have this play corner where san sila nililibang before doing their haircuts

After the little boy stopped crying, it was Anika's turn already.  They made her sit in this red toy car.

This guy cut Anika's hair. Don't worry for those who believed in pamahiins. I accidentally cut Anika's hair before so malamang she'll grow up like me. Patay tayo diyan! Haha!

I placed a lampin under that thing that they put over kids for hygienic purposes.My uber OC BFF Janis will be proud of me =)

Next the guys asked what Anika watches so I told him, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He got a CD and popped in a dvd player and Mickey Mouse's face showed up in the TV. Tuwang tuwa ang Anika!

My fear during Anika's first haircut is baka magwala siya. Anika has quite a temper and she doesn't like being told to sit still. So imagine my surprise when she was so behaved all throughout her first haircut experience.

I super thank Mickey Mouse for that! =)

 End results? Here!

Parang napaikli masyado ba ang bangs ng baby ko?!

Doesn't she look like Matilda?! So adorable! What do you think?

The haircut costs around Php 290, I think. For me it's very reasonable given that they exert effort talaga to entertain kids para they won't be magulo during haircuts.

Cuts 4 Tots located at the 3rd floor of Glorietta 3

Here is our newly tabas baby girl with a toy given by Cuts 4 Tots after her haircut =)

I took videos also and I will uploading them in a while here too! =)

Till next time!

Pssst... Forever 21 Will Be On Sale Again! =)

OH EHM GEEE!!!!

SOURCE

The Forever 21 store in SM Megamall will be on sale this weekend!!!!

Wasakan na naman ng wallet itech!! hahaha!

But do you also know what that means?!

Everyone will be at the Megamall this weekend therefore, konti lang ang tao sa Forever 21 in SM Makati!

Finally! I can shop na there!! Hurray!!!!

Enjoy guys!!

Planning A Birthday Party Advices

To help out more, I have these few tips to mommies who are currently planning or will be planning their babies' birthday parties:

Do not be affected by other people. Keber mo sa kanila. Believe me, I have been judged by more than two people while I was planning Anika's birthday party, including my mother. Kesa daw Anika is too young to remember it kaya I shouldn't spend that much. Tinaasan ko na nga lang ng kilay. Hello! That's what photographs are for!! Also, Alvin, me, Girlie and other guests will be there to tell her about her wonderful first birthday party when she's older. Kwento ba. And as long as you know you saved up for it and didn't bother anyone for the money you spent, go go go! Wala silang pakialam. At ang mudra ko? Enjoy na enjoy sa party! Nakakaloka! Harhar!


Think about the theme carefully before you decide on it. I advise you a trip to Divisoria first to canvass if you can find prizes, lootbags and whatevers connected to your theme.

Invest on a good host, event stylist (if you decide to get one) and good food. These three are the make or break of all na pinaghirapan mo in planning for you baby's special day.

Try to Do-It-Yourself some of the items. For example, the invitations (like I did!). Not only it will help lessen the expenses but also it creates a special and personal touch to the event.

Do not be lazy to canvass suppliers. Or ask around. Ask your other mommy friends for referrals with the suppliers they got for their own kids' parties. Be a member of Newlyweds at Work. The supplier ratings that they have there are super duper useful!

Do a RSVP. Seriously. We live in a country where people take RSVP for granted. You know what to do? Call them. Make them kulit if they are coming or not. During Anika's baptism reception, 150 people were invited. 120 said that they will come (so i prepared food for 120 guests). 80 guests showed up. After the party, namimigay ako ng bila-bilaong pancit to the guests. Super daming leftovers! Super sayang. I know better now. For Anika's first birthday party, I invited 110 guests. 85 confirmed. I asked the caterer to prepare for 80 guests. May mga leftovers pa rin after the party! See the pattern here? 

When they say you need at least 50 pieces of game prizes, they are not kidding. When Bing told me to prepare at least 40-50 game prizes, lumaki mata ko! Buti na lang there are a lot of good toys for 20 pesos in Divisoria! I bought 60 pieces, combination of minor and major prizes. Ubos. Kids very happy!


Hotdogs with marshmallows and ice cream are always a hit with the kids.


Dress the birthday celebrant comfortably. You do not want the main celebrator fidgeting and to be uncomfortable with what they are wearing. They will surely become grouchy. They have to deal na nga with all the guests staring at him or her, we don't want to add more stress to the little one. Make them as comfortable as possible. Also, remember to bring enough milk and snack for the birthday celebrant.

It is best to schedule the party around time your baby is awake. For example, Anika sleeps at 10am to 1pm. So we scheduled the party at 2pm =) She wasn't that grouchy at all =)

Prepare a separate loot bag contents for kids with ages one and half years old and below from the older ones. They will surely appreciate it.

Do not be shy in telling your friends what your baby needs when they ask what gift they can give. You do not want to end up with 10 pairs of baby shoes or three exact same dresses that your baby already has in her closet, would you? Tinanong ka naman nila eh. Hindi ka nagprisinta. Okay lang yun =)


Lastly, do not forget to enjoy the party with your hubby and baby! =) This event only comes once in a lifetime for you and your baby. Enjoy it!!

BRAVIA For A Cause

Click for a bigger view of the poster

I received this in my email. I wanna share it to you. Since it is Good Friday, good deeds are always welcome:

"It has been over a month since the tragedy in Japan, but aftershocks are still being experienced by the residents and there’s the nuclear threat to be dealt with.  As a leading Japanese based company, this tragedy is very close to our hearts. We hope to get your support in this endeavor. Aside from the BRAVIA purchases, there are other means to help - please click on this link for more details - http://www.sony.com.ph/microsite/AprilNewsletter/BraviaCause.html"

 

"This will run from April 15-May 15, 2011 – For every purchase of a BRAVIA unit, Sony Philippines will give PhP100 for the Japan Relief Operations.  Other ways to help is by dropping cash donations at Sony Centres or depositing donations in the specified Sony account."

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One can use a fantastice BRAVIA unit in their home, don't they?! =) You get superb viewing quality, you get to help Japan too! =)

For questions, you can contact:

Avvy Orthia C. Hernandez

Account Manager

Virtusio Public Relations, Inc.

810 Annapolis Wilshire Plaza

Annapolis St. Greenhills

San Juan, MM

Tel No.: 7275251

Cel No.: 09228228774 / 09178060312

Fax No. : 7244188

Sombrero Family Portrait

 

Mark, one of my bestfriend's photographer, took care of taking photos during Anika's birthday party. My favorite among them are the family portraits that he took =)

It's advisable to hire a professional photographer during events. It helps you take your mind off having quality photos to remember the occasion by. You get to enjoy the party more and entertain the guests better =)

I love our family photos for that day =) It's very seldom that we get photographed all three of us dressed up like this. Usually, hubby's behind the camera so almost always, it's just me and Anika. Not that I am complaining ha (hehe) but for a sentimental person like me, I will treasure these photos for ever and ever and ever =D