May 2014 - Touringkitty

30
May
2014

Touringkitty Travels: Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay

categories: Travel

It’s almost the end of May, but of course this month would not be complete without a summer getaway!

The Schatzi family, plus my mom and sister, went on a weekend trip to Tagaytay.

Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay is located at Amadeo Road, where the coffee haven of Tagaytay is situated. — Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay is located at Amadeo Road, where the coffee haven of Cavite is situated.

The hotel is accessible by public transportation. From Pasay-Buendia, we took a bus going to Nasugbu at DLTB along Taft Avenue, and you just get off NBI/Mahogany area, then take a tricycle to the hotel.

We actually went here last year already, but I knew I had to come back. And we did!

This was last year's trip. Landscaping was just being done. — This was during last year’s trip, March 2013. Landscaping was just being done.

Here it is last weekend. Same spot. — Here it is last weekend, last weekend of May 2014. Same spot.

Look how she's grown in a year! — Look how she’s grown in a year!

Just like last year, I purchased the overnight accommodation through a coupon company. I purchased this early this year, and found the last weekend of May free for the five of us. I got a Premiere Suite for four persons. Last year, the coupon was on sale for half the price. This year, it was less than 50% off, but since I really loved the place and the service, I really decided to purchase the coupon again for another trip this year.

This lobby greets you. — This spacious lobby greets you as you enter the hotel.

I like Hotel Kimberly because you can:

Watch TV. In this case, they have cable TV. AND they have Disney Junior!!! See Hi-5 there? I love this hotel =) — Just stay inside your comfy room and watch TV. In this case, they have cable TV. AND they have Disney Junior!

The TV was especially helpful when nighttime comes and she’s feeling homesick. In this case, she did feel homesick, and did not want to sleep in the bed! So, I was carrying her the whole night.

Enjoy the view. This was our view though, the playground area. There was a company having their teambuilding activity.

Take a dip on their pool. They have a kiddie pool (3 feet) and an adult pool (4 feet). My kid super enjoyed our time there, we swam on both days of our stay!

Or eat by the pool. They have Cafe by K which serves a variety of food.

Lounge in the pavilion. They have movie nights held here for the kids and kids at heart. This can be a good wedding reception venue. They have indoor function rooms as well.

Try out the playground. Aria spent most of the afternoon here.

The path that leads to their farm! They have all sorts of plants and animals.

Potted herbs. Pardon the apostrophe! The sell for at least P60. — Potted herbs. Apostrophe alert! The sell for at least P60.

Chicken and ducks roaming around. I also saw some sheep and turkey.

If running around the farm and swimming on the pool isn’t enough, visit their game room where you can:

Burn some more calories in their exercise equipment.

Play on their different table games. There's pool, table hockey, ping-pong, and fussball. You can borrow equipment for one hour from the reception lobby. — Play on their table games. There’s pool, table hockey, ping-pong, and fussball. You can borrow equipment for one hour from the reception lobby.

The hotel offers massage services. I joined their Facebook contest earlier this month, and I was able to avail their free one hour massage. Well, my mom did, I let her use the voucher which they emailed me. But she said I should try it, too, and so I did! Thanks, mom! Warning though: massages are done inside your own rooms.

We brought dinner food, actually we were stuffed during lunch, which we had at Skyranch. Will tell about it on the next post.

This buffet breakfast greeted us the next morning. My daughter woke up at 5:30AM! Too early, I know. But she had activities in mind already, like eating and swimming and playing. Who could prevent her from waking up?

Being first in line means having first touch on their food. Freshly prepared and yummy food. Yes, that’s squid you’re seeing!

Omelet and waffle station. Your call on what fillings to include and they will make it for you. — Omelet and waffle station. Your call on what filling to include and they will make it for you.

After breakfast, we swam, then ate, then swam again, before it was time to leave.

Our family photo! My sister, my mom, my daughter, me, and my husband. It was a fun trip with you guys again! Where to next?

You can request for a car to service you going to the bus stops.

Service! This took us to the Junction where we had lunch and took the bus going home.

Thank you, Hotel Kimberly, for making our stay super fun and safe. Your staff are truly friendly and helpful. The guests, even if they are strangers, gain friends among other guests because of your nice service.

Am I coming back next year? Let’s see if there will be another coupon deal selling.

How did your summer go? Do you know of any places in Tagaytay or a nearby province which might have these facilities as well?

~ Touringkitty

28
May
2014

Toilet Training Aria: CHECK!

categories: Uncategorized

One of the things I really am happy about, now that I am a stay-at-home mom, is that my daughter, at 3 years 9 months, is fully toilet trained.

That was one of my goals this year. I gave this stern warning to her two months ago that she should not be wearing any more diapers when she turns four in August. She quickly obeyed.

Prior to toilet training, she was super constipated. Either that, or she was just controlling the urge to poop. Crossing her legs, pooping only with diapers on, and almost passing out because she was just having a difficult time. Anyway, I thought it was the best time to toilet train.

I have set one day in March to deliberately start toilet training. Even if against her will, I immediately put her on her potty the moment I sensed she’s about to go. But after that one day, she has not had a hard time passing out poop, and has done it in our toilet everyday.

I consulted this to her doctor because she’s had this problem despite being fully breastfed. At first, I though she was just grunting as a baby, but the grunting became super difficult for her that she’d spend most of her day just trying to pass out poop. To the dismay of whoever is in charge of her, and to my anxiety when I’m away from her. But now that she’s learned to actually sit down while doing the thing, it was easy peasy for her, and she does this in the morning regularly. She is eating well, even the foods she disliked before, like grape juice.

Likewise, we had her two front teeth fixed with baby caps and her molars had fillings as well. So she has been eating super well. She’s got weak teeth, that’s why we are super careful not to give her chocolates and too much sweets, though sometimes just a little treat would be fine as long as she brushes thoroughly and drinks water or milk afterwards.

Goodbye diapers! You have served us well the past almost four years. We are still using sometimes though, when we go out of the house, but I know sooner we shall give you up totally.

How did you toilet train your littles?

~ Touringkitty

20
May
2014

FrancoPhil 2014: a little something for all your senses

categories: Art and Culture, Concerts, Food, Press Releases

Touringkitty experienced France! You can, too.

See, hear, taste, and experience France. Here in the Philippines.

Yes, you don’t need a ticket to Paris to do all these. The Embassy of France in Manila and the Alliance Francaise de Manille is bringing France to our country through these activities:

Brave New Worlds: My Utopia in Your Dystopia
Contemporary art exhibit
April 26 to June 12, MET Tall Galleries, Metropolitan Museum of Manila

A collection of 50 artworks by 24 European and Filipino artists, this exhibit showcases the parallelism of practice among Filipino and European artists, and how they create art in the verge of cultural breakdown. Painter Manuel Ocampo curated the exhibit. The exhibit opened April 26 and will run until June 12, as the country celebrates Independence Day.

In line with the exhibit, French artist Fabrice Hybert will be coming to Manila for a meet-and-greet session at the MET on May 21. French video and film screenings will also happen in May at the METlab. Sign up for the meet and greet here. I’ll be there so I hope to see you there, too!

Visit the MET at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. Museum hours are from 10am to 5:30pm, Monday to Saturday; and closed on Sundays and holidays. For more Email info@metmuseum.ph, Facebook page: www.facebook.com/metmanila, Website: www.metmuseum.ph

Pockemon Hip Hop Dance Concert
May 28, Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier

The Pockemon Crew pays tribute to cinema and the origins of hip-hop in New York during
the 1940s through an electrifying dance performance.

Launch of “Photographing Heritage”
June 9, Alliance française de Manille

Renowned French photographer Ferrante Ferranti will be visiting the Philippines in June to photograph the UNESCO World Heritage declared Baroque Churches of the Philippines in Intramuros, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Iloilo. To raise awareness on the issues of the preservation of heritage and climate change, he will also be visiting Bohol, Cebu and Samar, areas affected by the supertyphoon and earthquake last year. Ferrante will be leading a
series of conferences in the country about ‘Photographing Heritage’.

French Film Festival
June 9 to 15, Greenbelt 3 cinemas

Bringing the best of French cinema to Filipino audiences for almost 20 years already, this year’s much awaited French Film Festival is set on June 9-15.

Quatuor Parisii String Quartet Concert
June 10, Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier

Classical music lovers will be treated to a concert by Quatuor Parisii String Quartet on June
10 at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. The string quartet, composed of top prizewinners in instrument and chamber music, was formed in 1981 and is extensively touring the world, bringing both classical and contemporary repertoire to many audiences. This will be their first concert in our country.

Fete de la Musique
June 21, A-Venue Open Parking Area in Makati and Plaza Maestranza, Intramuros

Fete de la Musique is a much anticipated event in France. I remember passing by one event during one of our concert tours with the Madz. This year, watch out as two venues play host for this rocking event.

Tete d’enfant Modern Circus Show
October 7, CCP Little Theater

Finally, this will push through! I heard about this project last year when I was still working at the CCP. Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino would be an interesting venue for this circus act.

Semaine du Goût – French Gastronomy Week
October 16 to 24, Manila and Cebu

French and Filipinos speak the same language–that is, food. “Gastronomique”, the two-week Semaine du Goût, or French “Week of Taste” will be celebrated in Manila and Cebu from October 16 to 24 to promote the art of choosing, cooking and eating good food in the Philippines through a series of seminars, workshops, dinners, and food markets. Renowned experts in winemaking and gastronomy will grace the festival.

So, mark your calendars! And share this with your friends and family, too. Activities like these open doors to different cultures without the need to travel abroad.

For further information about the events:
Sabrina Durand, Cultural Coordinator
Alliance française de Manille
0917 892 8986 / 895 7585
sabrina@alliance.ph
www.alliance.ph

16
May
2014

Preschool Hunt: In search of my daughter’s preschool

categories: Education, Parenting

I spent the whole of March searching for my daughter’s preschool. Though I thought it was still too early, I already started because time indeed flies so fast. My daughter’s turning four in August, and I want to keep options as open and as varied as possible.

Currently, we’re taking it slow on homeschooling, as you could follow my Instagram posts (Follow me!). We’re following an online program for math and reading and basically filling her day with coloring, tracing, and more reading. She loves to sing and dance and make music.

I checked on the following schools and systems and here’s what I have gathered:

1. Gymboree Preschool at Sofitel. Aria has been attending Gymboree classes since she turned one, though not regularly. We make sure we get coupons online or wait for discounts in their branch. We attended their open house and that was the first time Aria was left alone with a class and a teacher whom she was not familiar with. Tears well up both our eyes as we parted ways–I was just at the next room where the orientation took place. The teacher brought her to me and showed a well written worksheet of the letter A (note that she does not write yet). I was proud. But I knew it was not for us. It was just waaaaaay expensive. We enrolled her in their classes because I got another discount from them.

2. Catholic Filipino Academy. I attended their orientation and was inspired by the other parents there. I think I was the only one who attended alone, and the only one who had a preschooler. All of the others attended with their spouses, some even brought their children in tow, some are in highschool already. They have a preschool program which I can enrol Aria in and a reading program wherein you just follow a set of worksheets and activities without enrolling the child to a regular homeschool program.

3. Preschool homeschool workshop by The Learning Basket. This I have been doing for a couple of years already, and my daughter reaped its benefits. Especially that I stay at home most of the time, I get to supervise what should be taught, what interests her in a specific day, and what materials at home I can use. We do not have a specific program, but as much as I can, I try to put a little structure to her day, so eventually she will get the hang of a regular school, whether homeschool or brick and mortar school. It was fun meeting moms, dads, and kids that day, and ideas really can be endless.

4. Brick and mortar school. I was able to visit one in Taguig, a Catholic International school. And is the first of its kind in the country. I liked how the school is so small that everyone knows each other. It feels safe and secure. But then, they do not have preschool yet. They offer K-9 levels this year. I must check out other preschools then.

So, have we enrolled Aria? Technically, no. But she studies, at home, with me as her teacher. We will carry on with homeschooling her. As long as she is well fed, well loved, and growing up with the proper values, we are fine. She will go to school in the proper time. Try asking Aria if she goes to school. You’d be happy to know what her answer will be.

~ Touringkitty

15
May
2014

Touringkitty Travels: Beauty and the Beast…auf Deutsch, bitte!

categories: Concerts, Travel

Cos this article circulated the web yesterday (click the photo!). Curtains are opening January 2015 at the CCP. — Curtains are opening on January 2015 at the CCP!

Were you able to read this article? It quickly circulated through the web and social media, that’s why most of us are asking how much will the tickets be.

My daughter was quick to remark that she saw this on Movie Stars Cafe (click this link to get a 10% discount on your visit!).

I saw this musical with the Madz back in 2007 in Berlin. Only it was in Deutsch! And we understood it since we have watched the cartoons as kids.

Free days are most treasured during our Madz tours. One free day during our Berlin stop in 2007 was spent watching a Disney musical live at the Potsdamer Platz theater. We were in for a treat–the one doing Belle was a Filipina, and we had a theater tour!

Not to be a spoiler, but I want to show some photos of our backstage tour. The production was kind enough to show us what’s happening before the show.

Let's begin with Belle's dressing room. Ain't it cute? — Let’s begin with Belle’s dressing room. Ain’t it cute?

And, this, my friends, is Belle. =) She is Leah delos Santos. And she's amazing! — And, this, my friends, is Belle. =) She is Leah delos Santos. And she’s amazing!

Leah shows us their costumes! This is where they do quick changes.

My friend, Mavic, tried to be the drawer.

Madz sopranos batch 2007 watching the show. Mavic, me, Karlene, Bianca, Liaa, Rhina.

It was purely in German, but we did have a great time watching! Here’s some after show photos:

Beauty and the Beast with Touringkitty! Yngve and Leah (they're real-life sweethearts, too!). — Beauty and the Beast with Touringkitty! Yngve Gasot-Romdal and Leah delos Santos.

And then we pretended to be like them:

Contestant number 2: Enrico and Mavic! Haha. They're the clear winners =) — Contestant number 2: Enrico and Mavic! Haha. They’re the clear winners =)

I will try to find the other photos of this series!

Dinner with the Madz gang and Leah. — Dinner with the Madz and Leah and some hosts the day after.

It was an honor meeting a truly great Filipino artist making waves abroad. Philippine performance soon, perhaps?

I’m really excited to see the English version in January. Are you watching, too?

~ Touringkitty

15
May
2014

Touringkittyps: Five for the Passport Applicant

categories: Uncategorized

Have passport, will travel.

It can be such a daunting task whether you are applying passport for the first time or renewing it. Just as with any athletic sport, you need all sorts of preparation–mental, physical, financial, and emotional. It can also be a whirlwind of emotions on the appointment day.

A few days ago, I was such a lucky girl being able to renew my passport in less than 60 minutes, from time time I entered the building (7:50 AM) until I came out (8:45 AM). By far, it was the quickest process I have been in a local government facility.

How did I do it? Here’s how I did, and probably you could use these tips as well.

1. If you are not in a hurry traveling and your passport is expiring the following year, schedule your application during summer. I did mine this May, when most people are already on vacation.

Tip: On most months, especially the busier ones, you could probably schedule on a midweek. Tuesdays or Thursdays would prove to be unpopular days, so squeeze your application during workdays.

2. Get the earliest time possible. 7:30AM is the earliest, so plan ahead and arrive at least 30 minutes before your timeslot. The staff are still alert and awake, though one guard was already “masungit” to me at 8:00AM.

Tip: When you have your kids with you, make sure not to bring them during their naptime, or they will be cranky. If they will not apply for passport, better not bring them with you.

3. Needless to say, take care of your personal belongings! One man left his documents folder on one of the chairs in front of me. As we were moving on the queue as if playing “musical chairs,” no one wanted to pick up the folder. So when I approached that seat with the folder, I picked it up and shouted the surname written on the application form. The man turned toward me, smiled (or should I say, smirked), got his folder, without even saying thank you. Such kind gesture you got, man.

4. Make sure you have complete photocopies and original copies of all your documents. Just to be sure. You don’t want to go through the hassle of going out of the line again to photocopy. There’s one, at Gate 1, which charges P3.00 per page photocopied.

TIP: The first and last page spreads of your passports must be photocopied. A lot of people in front of me forgot the last page (well, I almost did), so make sure you have photocopied both spreads.

5. Eat a good meal before your appointment. You don’t want to wait hungry. I actually was not able to eat a decent breakfast, so as soon as I exited, I looked for a place to eat. There are lots of restaurants across the street.

Anything else to add on my list? Share yours on the comments section!

~ Touringkitty

14
May
2014

Ex Libris Philippines: a Book Club with a helping hand

categories: Books, Press Releases, Uncategorized

If books can talk, they will have a lot to say.

Since books cannot do the talking, book clubs came to be. Book clubs whose members share the same love for reading by sharing stories about their favorite reads.

One book club that I discovered does more than reading books. They help send students to college.

Ex Libris Philippines, is a nonstock, nonprofit organization for book enthusiasts. The group believes that the nobility of ideals and great vision should not just exist in the pages of books or in the minds of authors long-dead and gone, but in reality. Their Scholarship Project helps send deserving but financially challenged U.P. students to school. Their past four fundraisers have helped fund the education of 22 scholars, some of whom have graduated with honors already.

Gabriela Francisco, the valedictorian of our music graduating batch in 2008 and fellow voice degree graduate, talks more about her book club and NGO, Ex Libris Philippines.

Touringkitty (TK): When did you start Ex Libris Philippines, and what is the club’s purpose and goal?

Gabriela Francisco (Gabi): Ex Libris Philippines began in 2007 as a book club, but one with a mission: to live out the ideals we read about in books, in daily life.

TK: Who started it? Your backgrounds? How did you come up with this organization?

Gabi: The founders are from UP Diliman. Natasha Francisco, the Founding President, also founded the college org, Ex Libris U.P. Most of Ex Libris Philippines’ members are also from UP. (Natasha is Gabi’s twin sister–TK)

TK: What projects do you have? What are your plans for this year and for the next years?

Gabi: Currently we have annual fundraisers for our Scholarship project, but in time we hope to have several more. We were also in the last event of National Book Development Board (NBDB) held at High Street, Bonifacio Global City. We had a book swap booth.

TK: Who are your scholars? How do you choose them? Are they all from UP? Will you open to other universities as well?

Gabi: Right now we can’t afford to help those in other universities like Ateneo because their tuition fees are too expensive. So we aim to help those who REALLY need help. Ours is more of a need-based scholarship, than a merit-based one. But of course, grades DO matter. And so we have several scholarship grant recipients who graduated with honors already.

TK: What does your organization champion? Who are you in service of?

Gabi: We are a book club with a mission, a conscience. Sure, we meet and discuss books like all other book clubs. But it’s not enough, for us. We need to LIVE OUT what we read about. We exist to help others. In the end, that’s what literature is all about: loving words, and living out that love with concrete acts.

And this is one of their projects we could all support.

Ex Libris Philippines will have a blocked screening of X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST on May 24, 2014, Saturday, 7:45 pm, at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati.

Watch the movie (I know you’ve been waiting for it!), and give a helping hand to deserving UP students.

~ Touringkitty

For more information about the blocked screening and the NGO:
Gabi Francisco 0920-9470835 gabitwin@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/exlibrisphilippines

09
May
2014

Touringkitty’s Top Ten Mr. C songs

categories: Music, Uncategorized

On May 3, Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab, or Mr. C to many, celebrated his birthday eve with a tribute concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The concert, led by conductor Gerard Salonga and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, featured true OPM gems like Hajji Alejandro, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Celeste Legaspi, Mitch Valdes, and the newer ones like Noel Cabangon, Bugoy and Morisette, Piolo Pascual.

I was a proud wife and aunt, happily watching with my mom and daughter. My husband was invited to sing with the Ateneo Chamber Singers, while my niece (daughter of my cousin), Leana Tabunar, sang a song from the musical Katy, where she acted as the young Katy last year. It was first time for her to sing with a full orchestra, that’s why the whole Macanaya clan is proud of her. Check out a video of her performance here:

As part of the orchestra’s Spotlight Series, they featured an all-Mr. C repertoire, which brought so much nostalgia to many OPM babies, like me. But not all Mr. C songs that I like are OPM, or Original Pilipino Music. I also liked his choral works, some we have sung with the Madz, and some with my children’s choir.

So, without further ado, here are my favorite Mr. C songs in random order. Full credit goes to the owners of these videos. Thanks for sharing and posting on Youtube, especially the older video clips:

1. A questa me guiaba/O noche que guiaste. The text of this piece is from the poems of St. John of the Cross. We sang this in the Florilege Vocal de Tours in France in 2006, the competition where we earned the spot for the European Grand Prix the following year. Listen to the sudden unisons and key changes, they are quite challenging to approach.

2. Aba Po, Santa Mariang Reyna. Another favorite of competing choral groups, I first heard this song when my husband (then suitor) sang this with the Ateneo College Glee Club back in 2000. I immediately fell in love with the dissonances of the female in the beginning. I remember the story of this song. Madz founder Prof. Andrea Veneracion, or Ma’am OA, asked Mr. C to write a new work for the Madz, and this was it.

UPDATE: This is a most recent version of the Ateneo Chamber Singers. Have always loved their rendition of this.

3. Kailan (Smokey Mountain). I was a young seven years old then, and we were in a trade fair at then PhilCite at the CCP Complex (don’t compute my age!). I was a super fan of Smokey Mountain (yes, Geneva Cruz, James Coronel, Tony Lambino, Jeffery Hidalgo, I was a fan!!!) and of their songs. My dad entered me in a mini-talent showcase in one of the trade fair’s events, with the late great Pepe Pimentel as host. I told him I will sing the song Kailan (When, in English), but he teases me as to when I will sing! I got to take home gift packs after I finally sang…after all the teasing!

4. Paraiso (Smokey Mountain). Another Smokey Mountain song I like is Paraiso. I loved it more when I sang it with the Madz. Here’s our New York performance in 2007:

5. Gloria (from Misa). My husband was the soloist for this song during their 2000 Ateneo College Glee Club tour for one of their competitions. I was able to watch it during their farewell concert, and he definitely gave a great performance! (Now, if only there was a video of it!). But here’s an audio recording from their 2000 tour.

6. Hibang sa Awit. Umiikot, sumisirko. (Twirling, tumbling.) This is definitely a “Tatak Korus” song. Korus is the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, who adds challenging choreography in their singing. Here is their performance during the group’s 50th Anniversary and reunion concert in 2012. Check out the inset, same choreo and energy through the years!

7. Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika. An award-winning song synonymous to a singer named Hajji Alejandro. This won the 1st Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Metropop) in 1978, and as this song opened last Saturday’s concert, it still proves timeless, beautiful, and classic.

8. Can this be love (Smokey Mountain). This was sung again by Sarah Geronimo as theme song for the Sandara Park-Hero Angeles movie of the same title.

9. Kumukutikutitap. Famous director Joey Reyes wrote the lyrics of this Christmas favorite. Check out a video of my choir’s performance during the Christkindlmarket in 2012 (the beginning of the song was not taken, though, and this video included other repertoire). To whoever uploaded this on Youtube, many thanks! (PS: Spot my little princess!)

10. Prayer of St. Francis (from Mass for Peace). I first encountered this when I was a freshman at the UP College of Music. The librarian was selling only a few copies of Mass for Peace and I immediately got one. My choir still sings this during our masses. Here was our performance in our concert at the GSIS Museum last October.

What’s your favorite? Any other Mr. C. songs in mind? Would love to hear from you!

~ Touringkitty

08
May
2014

Mom’s Basket: A basketful of stories through cookies

categories: Breastfeeding, Press Releases, Working Mama

Sharing is caring.

It all started with sharing her homemade lactation cookies to someone who is a total stranger, but was in dire need of foods which will help increase her milk supply.

Dea Macachor-Mesa is the mom behind Mom’s Basket, her small home business which she started last year. Visit her Instagram feed and read actual testimonials of moms who have benefited through her yummy, healthy, lactation cookies.

Mom’s Basket logo (taken from her Facebook Page).

I got her to answer some questions (thanks, Dea!) for us to know how she started and what does she plan to do with her blooming business.

Touringkitty (TK): Is Mom’s Basket your fulltime business? Any other ventures/jobs?

Mom’s Basket (MB): This is just my sideline. I’ve been working full time as a writer for a US-based website for almost three years now.

TK: Why the name Mom’s Basket? How did you start it?

MB: A few days after I gave birth, my mom came home from the wet market carrying a bag full of veggies and meat; she planned on making a lot of soup to help increase my milk supply. I remember the feeling of reassurance I got from seeing her come home with all those ingredients for me. That day came back to me while I was thinking of a name for the cookies. Okay, she actually used a green SM ecobag, but Mom’s Ecobag didn’t have the right ring to it, so Mom’s Basket it is.

I started baking my own lactation cookies when my daughter turned 6 months old. My milk supply dwindled as soon as she started eating solids. I always made extra for my sisters-in-law and a couple of close friends. One day, a mommy posted in the Breastfeeding Pinays Facebook group desperately asking for help on how to increase her supply for her premature baby who was still in the NICU. Since I had a lot of extra cookies that day, I offered to send her some. That mommy posted about the cookies on the BFP forum, and that day I got a lot of private messages asking me if I took orders. I replied to every one to say that I don’t and gave them the recipe instead. At that time, I could barely meet my work requirements because I was too busy with the baby. However, I thought of nothing else that night. I thought to myself, “Why not?” The very next day, I set up a Facebook page, did costing on the cookies, and messaged all of those moms back to say I was ready to take orders. They were some of my first customers. That was October last year.

TK: What products do you currently offer?

MB: I have classic oatmeal (P299), chocolate (P339) and chocolate chip (P339), and red velvet (P339). They come in packs of 28 pieces that are good for 1 week. I ship nationwide.

(My personal favorites are red velvet and chocolate chip!)

TK: Plan for the product for 2014? What should we watch out for?

MB: As far as my offerings go, these are probably it. My husband keeps telling me to expand to other baked products, but limiting my product list to just cookies means my production is more efficient, there’s less cleanup to do afterwards, and there are fewer ingredients to stock. I will probably come up with limited edition flavors every now and then because I like to experiment with new cookie recipes. Personally, I would like to be trained as a lactation peer counselor within the year. Majority of my customers are mothers like myself who have issues with their milk supply, and I would love to get the training to be able to support them and help them out as best as I can. I’m in the process of registering my business.

TK: How do you juggle motherhood and the business?

MB: I get by with a LOT of help from my family. My husband, my mother, and my siblings take turn watching over my baby girl so I can do some writing and bake cookies. I have no yaya, I don’t want to get one, so I have to rely on my family to help me.

Also, I have to prioritize, and at the end of the day, my baby is my #1 priority. Many times, I’ve had to postpone deliveries because I’m not able to bake or buy ingredients. It helps that my customers are all mothers and are very understanding. But I make it a rule to always, ALWAYS be honest with my customers if ever I won’t be able to deliver.

TK: Top three tips for breastfeeding working moms?

MB: 1. Don’t give up. Breastfeeding and working are not mutually exclusive. You can accomplish both if you’re determined to do it.

2. Get all the help you can get. Involve your husband in your breastfeeding journey so he can support you. Connect with other breastfeeding mothers so you can also get support from them.

3. Learn how to hand express.

This is a sample pack with all the flavors. Thanks for sending some, Dea! The whole family loved it.

~ Touringkitty

Visit her Facebook Page and Instagram account to know more about her products, to order, and to read the many testimonials of moms!

08
May
2014

Find your bliss through a weekend retreat

categories: Press Releases, Working Mama

Dear Woman,

Have you found your bliss?

Make it Blissful and the Exuberant Life might be of help!

Join the Life Bliss Weekend on May 24-25 at Casa Luminaria in Lipa, Batangas. Spend two full days of finding your bliss, knowing yourself more, in a beautiful garden backdrop.

Learn more about the event here: http://makeitblissful.com/life-bliss-weekend-a-creative-living-retreat-for-women/

Invest in something that will give you another perspective in life, work, and the things that matter.

~ Touringkitty

Month: May 2014

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