I didn’t think I would be able to join Mommy Moments this week because nobody in our family has a jump shot yet. But I don't give up easily, so I tried and tried taking jump shots of my son after we attended the Sandalias Festival 2010 at Trinoma last Sunday.


Our first attempt at our building lobby


Another try!


Almost!


Success!
I know, I know, that wasn’t really much of a jump shot, but hey, my four-year-old can’t jump high yet, so this will do for now.

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I mentioned in my previous post that I lost a total of 6 lbs in 3 months (from May to August of this year). When I went to my cardiologist last week, I discovered I lost another pound, so I was able to shed off 7 lbs in 4 months (from May to September). Nope, that’s not because of weight loss diet pills. That’s a product of sheer will and determination.

Because my triglyceride, bad cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels were high in May, I was advised to exercise and observe a low-rice, low-cholesterol diet. I did all those religiously hoping that I’d have normal lipid profile results on my follow-up visit to my doctor which was last Thursday.

The good news is my triglyceride level is now normal. Yippee! The bad news is my bad cholesterol is still a bit higher than normal, but it has significantly improved. Because my bad cholesterol is still above normal, my total cholesterol level yielded a higher-than-normal result, too. My doctor prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication again for one month. I’ll also have to repeat my lipid profile tests in December.

We went to Megamall last Saturday and decided to eat first at Pho Hoa Vietnamese Noodle House before going home. We ordered simple viands to go with our white rice and tried their fresh (brewed) iced tea.


Vietnamese Fish with Yellow Beans, Php220.00/$5.00

Caramelized Chicken Drumettes, Php165.00/$4.00

Pho Hoa Fresh Iced Tea, Php85.00/$2.00
My husband was still sipping the last few drops of his iced tea when he saw something inside his glass. He wasn’t sure what it was at first, but when he showed it to me, I knew instantly what was inside his iced tea glass; it was a baby cockroach!


Look! A small cockroach in my husband’s iced tea!
We called one of the servers, and her immediate response was to simply replace my husband’s glass of iced tea. We didn’t let her do that, of course. We demanded to talk to the manager, but there was no manager on duty that day. We ended up talking to their supervisor who apologized profusely and offered to deduct the cost of all our iced teas from our total bill.

We told her that paying for what we consumed was not the issue; it’s their restaurant’s hygiene and sanitation. She asked us to fill out a feedback form where my husband lodged his complaint, and the supervisor assured us that management will be informed of this incident. She even asked for my husband’s cell phone number, but until today, nobody from Pho Hoa called us to rectify their blunder.

Even if we liked the Vietnamese Fish with Yellow Beans that we ordered, we won’t eat at Pho Hoa ever again!

An outfit isn’t complete without accessories. The simplest clothes can look chic and sophisticated with just the right accents. Donning fashion jewelry can significantly enhance one’s look.

If you want to attain a stylish and elegant look, try wearing Murano Glass Jewelry. Murano Glass and Murano Glass Jewelry are known for their elegant design and excellent craftsmanship.

Each piece is handmade, and no two pieces are identical. This means you’re getting a unique piece of art each time you buy a Murano Glass jewelry piece. That will certainly make you stand out from the crowd!

I’ve just checked out a gallery of some of the finest-looking Murano Glass Pendants, and I simply can’t take my eyes off this exquisite Patricia Aubergine/Gold Pendant.


Lovely, isn’t it? And it goes well with this intricate Passione Violet/Aubergine Murano Glass Bracelet, too.


I’m smitten! I want to snag them right this minute, but I can’t because they’re quite expensive. I won’t give up that easily, though. I have two options right now. First, I’ll save up for these Murano Glass pendant and bracelet. If I won’t be able to save enough until December, I’ll beg my husband to buy them for me. I’ll be a good wife, promise!

I got an invite from ELRO Corporation through Michelle of My Mom-Friday to attend the culminating activity of the Sandalias Festival 2010 at the TriNoma Activity Center yesterday afternoon.

This two-day event aptly themed “Step Into Some Love” allowed guests to enjoy a Brazilian style soiree while finding the perfect sole mate to match their personality and lifestyle.


Event hosts Josh Ylaya and Anna Domingo


Patxi Elizalde, Managing Director of ELRO Corporation, distributor of Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha and Rider.
The Sandalias Festival once again delighted sandal lovers with a fabulous showcase of Ipanema for the eternal beach bums, Ipanema Gisele Bundchen (GB) for social-conscious women, Grendha for charmed urbane belles, and Rider footwear for the active adventurers.


Sandalias Festival 2010 brought life to the dynamic colors and styles of footwear fashion that is Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha and Rider.


Steps Dance Project rendered a superb fashion-cum-dance spectacle that creatively played out tropical inspired lifestyles.
Every purchase of Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha, and Rider from September 1 until 12 noon of September 26 entitles anyone to a free event pass to the Sandalias Festival. Guests enjoyed free foot or body tattoo, nail art, and foot massage. There was also a photo booth that allows guests to take home souvenir photos with exciting destinations as background.


Foot/body tattoo


Chic women were treated to free hand pampering and nail art to match their Brazilian sandals.


Tired of sole searching, guests received free foot massage from Ipanema.
Sporty guests who aced the climbing wall and the gyrating mechanical surf board, Ride ‘N Surf, took home cash prizes and gift certificates.


Wall climbing


Sporty guest attempts to conquer Rider’s Ride ‘n Surf challenge.
The ultimate attraction was the Giant Piñata, a larger-than-life flip flop with lots of freebies and goodies inside. It unleashed a great shower of prizes including gift certificates from Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha, Rider and sponsors (Lay Bare, Planet Sports, Nivea Sun, magazines from Summit Media, Orly Nail Lacquer), an air ticket to Boracay from Cebu Pacific Air and a 3-day, 2-night accommodation at Patio Pacific, Fairways and Bluewater and Discovery Shores. Other sponsors were Us Girls, Essensuals by Toni and Guy and Terra Wellness Spa.


Giant Piñata
I wasn’t as lucky as the others because the only prize I got was one FHM magazine. Sigh! I enjoyed the cocktail foods, however, from Via Mare, and I was glad to see other bloggers, too, at the event.


Pehpot, Tetcha, and Salen
Just like in the past two years, the Sandalias Festival 2010 was a huge success. According to Patxi Elizalde, Managing Director of ELRO Corporation, exclusive distributor of Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha and Rider in the Philippines, “Mounting the annual Sandalias Festival is part of our continuous effort to bring our brands closer to the market. This is our way of establishing an emotional connection with our patrons. We want them to not only experience our products but also be immersed in the culture and lifestyle that inspire the collection of our footwear.”

The launch of Bambu TriNoma, their third concept store which features all their Brazilian footwear brands, coincided with the Sandalias Festival. Other Bambu outlets are located in Glorietta 4, Makati City and Marquee Mall, Angeles City, plus a kiosk in Alabang Town Center.

Thank you again, Michelle, for the invite, and thank you, Cel, for being so accommodating!

Last Thursday, September, 23, Justin’s school held an animal parade. Nope, the kids did not bring live animals to school. Rather, the students were asked to come to school dressed up in animal costume or to wear a shirt with an animal picture or print. They also had to bring a toy animal to school (the BIGGER, the better!). My son wore a dark green tiger-print T-shirt. He also brought his big Barney to school on that day.


Posing with Barney at home


With Diego, one of his best friends in school


With his classmate Juaquin


With his classmates inside their classroom
The kids really enjoyed this day. The parents, too, moms especially, had a grand time taking pictures of their precious little ones in school.

My four-year-old son and I arrived to school early last Friday, so he had time to play with his friends before classes started. Normally, I would walk him to his classroom and he would give me a kiss on the cheek before he joins his classmates inside.

That particular day, however, was different. My son told me, “Mommy, I’ll go to my classroom on my own. You just stay here, Mommy.” Because this is the first time I was hearing this from my son, I asked him again, “Are you sure?” to which he replied, “Yes!”

Ouch! That hurt! Just when did he start not needing Mommy?

I asked him later that day if his teachers talked to him about going to the classroom without Mommy. He said, “Yes, you don’t have to walk me to my classroom anymore because I’m a big boy now.”

I said okay, but that still hurt!

If there’s one thing I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing, that would be rain boots. I’ve seen rain boots worn by my elders when I was young, and they’re not the most fashionable things around. They usually just come in black or orange, so there’s really not much choice.

But rain boots has come a long way since them. Now, there are lots of colors and patterns to choose from. You can even choose the height of the rain boots that you want, and you can even shop by brand. Isn’t that marvelous? Now, I’m raring to try a pair of those stylish kamik rain boots.

My son’s favorite snack in school and at home is Yan Yan, a Japanese snack food consisting of cracker sticks with dip. His favorite dips are chocolate and vanilla.


A few weeks ago, he took a liking for Koko Crunch. He liked eating this cereal with milk, and he likes to have it after he’s had rice for lunch and dinner. His fondness for this snack food dissipated so soon. He doesn’t ask for it anymore.


His all-time favorite snacks are ice cream, French fries, and pasta.






What about you? What do your kids eat for a snack?

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After my son’s class last Wednesday, I took him to his pediatrician to have his cough and colds checked and to request a prescription for his maintenance medication (Montelukast) and nebulization medications (Ventolin and Budesonide). We needed a prescription for those drugs so we could charge them to my son’s health card.

My husband has health insurance courtesy of his office that extends to me and my son. Our health insurance provides 80% coverage for hospitalization, medical procedures, laboratory tests, and medications.

If not for our health insurance, we wouldn’t be able to afford my open-head surgery in 2004 and my husband’s choledocholecystectomy (removal of the gall bladder) in the same year. Our health insurance offers maternity benefits, too. I wonder if a health insurance in NC provides the same coverage.

I will be going to my cardiologist today for the results of my triglyceride, total cholesterol, good cholesterol, and bad cholesterol levels, which I had re-checked last September 4. Because I went on a low-cholesterol and low-rice diet for 3 months and started exercising, I’m hoping to get significantly improved results later. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

The clinic opens at 2pm, but I have to be there early because patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. I expect to see a lot of patients like last time, and I know I will have to spend 3 to 4 hours waiting for my name to be called.

Now, I’m hoping I have Smart Bro (or Globe Tattoo) so I can bring my laptop along to make my waiting time productive. I could use that time to do advanced work, finish my writing tasks, update my blog, check emails, or look for free acne tips online, among others.

I’m going there alone, which means I don’t have anyone to talk to, so I’ll either be busy with my cell phone or I’ll just sleep the time away. Wish me luck, guys!

Do you have patches of dry, itchy skin appearing in different parts of your body? You might be suffering from eczema. Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a very itchy rash that looks like dry skin. Scratching makes the intense itching worse and increases the chance of infection. It is hereditary, but it is not contagious. Eczema also primarily affects people with allergies.

For mild cases, the following measures are recommended: (1) washing with moisturizing soaps, (2) applying moisturizers, and (3) using hydrocortisone cream. If it gets worse, however, it is best to go to the doctor who can prescribe more effective eczema treatments.

Last night, while Justin was sitting on my lap and we were both watching TV, he pointed to a zit on my face and said, “Mommy, you have a pimple.” I said, “Okay.” He didn’t stop there, however. He continued touching the zit at the base of my chin, and then he asked, “Why do have a pimple, Mommy?” And I said, “Because you keep on touching my face, and your hands are dirty!”

I think the reasons why my skin keeps breaking out are: (1) I’m going to have my monthly period soon; and (2) I haven’t had a good sleep these past few days because Justin’s allergic cough had been acting up, which kept him and me awake most nights. I should find a remedy for my pimples soon or the little boy won’t keep his hands off my face. Is tea tree oil for acne any good?

Because I wanted so much to unwind after a hectic work week and because my husband and son are raring to go out again, we all decided to watch the movie Despicable Me at Movieworld, Robinsons Galleria yesterday afternoon.

Before we could even buy our movie tickets, Justin’s interest was piqued by this movie poster/movie still of Narnia. This was a good opportunity to take pictures, and Mommy was, as always, ready with the camera.




We bought our snacks at Burger King, and one of the staff put this paper crown on my son and gave him lots of drinking straws to play with.




After eating our snacks inside the movie house, Justin started getting a little restless. I put him on my lap, so we can all finish watching the movie. It didn't take long for my son to fall asleep, and I dozed off, too. Ergo, only my husband finished the entire film. The bad thing is Justin and I missed the good part of the movie. We paid a hefty amount just to sleep inside the cinema! LOL!

We didn’t let this dampen our spirit, though. Instead, we roamed around the mall, checked out some stalls, and bought a few things for ourselves. Justin wanted a Spiderman watch, and I bought a new bangle for myself. We had ice cream, too!

I lost count of all the calories I consumed that day from the burger I devoured earlier and the ice cream (it’s not sugar-free! ) that we all had before going home, not to mention the sumptuous lunch and dinner we had at home. Do you think I need Lipo 6 Hers already?