Christmas on a budget!

After the All Saints Day, some people are worried for it's Christmas again. Some say that they all need money to spend for Christmas. It is so sad that people think of money every Christmas. Why we need to think of money with Christmas? Christmas is a season of love not money. But reality bites, so I will share some budget tips on how to enjoy Christmas without spending too much.

Christmas is time to remind us of God's love to us and reminder of everything beautiful about the birth of Jesus Christ. This is a time of Christmas Tree again, Christmas lights, Parols, Christmas nativity, Star lights, Christmas gifts, Christmas parties, Christmas Carole, etc. But, we can celebrate and be happy with Christmas Celebration without over spending .

For my kids, Christmas is the most exciting part of the year. So, I always make a way for them to feel that every Christmas is special to us and spreading love is the most important part because of Jesus.

Here are some budget fitting ideas for everyone to celebrate best Christmas ever!

Budget Decor
Every Christmas, my kids and I are excited to make our Christmas decor for our home. Last Christmas my husband and I tried to make our own white Christmas tree, made of torn trees that we picked from the backyard of our neighbor.
My husband was home last Christmas so it is easy for us to pick torn trees and build it as Christmas Tree. We painted it with white paint. My family really enjoys decorating that theme Christmas tree that we placed in front of our door. Kids enjoys to helped us by putting old Christmas balls and Christmas stars to it. Adding white Christmas lights gives beautiful glows to our self made Christmas tree. Relatives and friends who came to visit are really astonished. We have fun decorating it that is the most important part of it. This year I am thinking of something like it but changing some designs.
Total budget :
Torn Tree Branches                                     - For Free
Two 100 bulbs Christmas Lights                 - P220
One Quart White Pain                                  - P130
Old Christmas balls and stars                       - For Free
Total Amount we spend for decor in 2014   - P350

Thinking Christmas decor and celebration with family can make everything more meaningful and lovely

Christmas Dresses and Shoes
Christmas would not be complete for all kids without new dress and shoes. All kids somehow wants to have new pairs of shoes every Christmas. I know every mother can relate with that thought.
As a mother of a teenager and a nine-year old, I learned that they can change shoes and dresses so fast for they change their height, body type and feet size every month. So, why will you buy extravagant shoes or one time Christmas dress?
I always told my kids that you can be beautiful and look expensive without spending too much with dresses and shoes. I am so blessed that my kids are trained to understand the value of money and spending too much for clothes cannot make you more look good.
Last Christmas, we bought a beautiful silver and green dress for my youngest daughter, and a neon pink dress for my teenager in a mall's year end sale before December. We bought their dress in advance, we choose better dresses, and shoes in advance. We save money for beautiful pair of shoes last Christmas and we are planning to do early Christmas shopping this year again.
Total Buget  
Beautiful silver & green dress of my youngest - P600
Beautiful neon pink dress of my eldest             - P400
White Ballet Shoes for my youngest                 - P300
Doll Shoes for my eldest                                   - P299.75
Total Christmas outfit of kids                            -P1,599.75

My two girls with their Chic and Beautiful Dresses last Christmas 2014

Christmas Gifts
Every month I tried to buy reserved gifts. Every time I go to malls, I tried to look for items or something that I can give to someone as a gift. This way I can keep more gifts in advance for my friends and relatives. By doing this, I can always save time for Christmas rush for I already bought some gifts in advance.
The clue is think of someone in advance for your gift giving and you can always save time and money for buying gifts in advance. Some items are more expensive during Christmas seasons. Also set budget for buying gifts. Not that you are being stingy about it but you need to think of budget for Christmas. All money out for the season is not good at all. Remember to save something for the rainy days.

Christmas Season Enjoyment
Christmas enjoyment is not all about money. As family or even with your friends you can visits good places where you can enjoy Christmas season without spending at all. Beautiful memories are all free, you just need to be creative on how to make one.
Try to visit the parks and city like of Makati who started to light up the street of Makati City last November 3, 2015 for Christmas. They feature the different churches of the Philippines ages 300 years and above with historical value. In a press release of greenbulb the Executive of the Ayala Land Inc.,led the ceremonial lighting. They have Christmas bazaars and you can enjoy all light presentations of old churches made from all lights for free. 
You can also visit malls and they sets some area of the malls for beautiful nativity every Christmas, it is good for photo opportunity, you only need to be creative by taking your pictures. 

The Ceremonial Christmas Lighting of  street of Makati City featuring 300 years old churches in the country

Christmas Night
Every Christmas Eve, my family always go to church to celebrate Jesus' birth. In our church at Cathedral Of Praise , Christmas is the most anticipated service of the year, where we gather as a family to enjoy Christmas Songs, Christmas Dances and Christmas service. Kids are very excited to this event every year for they are always blessed to be part of Christmas presentations and also my husband and I as part of the choir. The Church Service is absolutely free, so all we need to do is ready ourselves to be part of this biggest celebration of the year. Why not spend your Christmas in the church with your family?
Total Budget : 
Fare P50 each x 4 of us - we only need  - P400

The true meaning of Christmas is to spend it with your family and love one.

Christmas Dinner
Every home prepares food for family for Noche Buena. But aside from this Noche Buena, we also prepare dinner for our family. With my family, we are always attending church service so we don't need to prepare a dinner meal in the house, we usually eat light meal or sandwich or salad at the church before the service starts. And we will go home to prepare our Noche Buena.
Total Budget :
Light meal       -  P300

Noche Buena
Of course, Christmas wont be complete without the Noche Buena for the whole family. Filipino families are very known for its love for food. Usually its Pancit, loaf bread, fried chicken, lechon, different cooked pasta, different kind of salads and etc.
For my family, I usually prepare simple Noche Buena since we cannot eat a lot after church. Sometimes, I just cooked pasta, a chicken meal, and fruit salad.
Noche Buena do not need to be expensive. I don't know with others but I can only cook food that can be eaten. Not much, but cook just enough for your family. It will be waste of time and money if you will cook plenty of food for Noche Buena and then throw it. Usually on December 25th you are out of your house and celebrate with your relatives and the food you cooked for Noche Buena will not be eaten.
Total Budget:
Chicken Meal           - P156
Cooked Pasta            - P250
Fruit Salad                - P300
Total Noche Buena   -P706

Christmas is here again, all are excited to celebrate it for sure. Work in a budget for your family for you don't have to spend much to be happy. Be with your family and do everything together this season that can make you feel more happy and fulfilling. Always remember that Christmas is not just for expensive Christmas decor, Christmas gifts, Christmas dress and shoes, or over spending dinner or Noche Buena. What matters is you celebrate every Christmas with your family and love one. Who says you can't celebrate Christmas without over spending.

"Over spending on Christmas season is a choice. Why spend too much if all beautiful moments in life are free."  

NO to Halloween Celebration!

Many people celebrates Halloween. Nowadays they call it fun!

I've seen so many parents, especially mothers entice with the idea of partying for Halloween; buying scary costumes and toys, make-up and dressing their children with Halloween costumes; putting on their own kids with horror outfit, the more scary the more fun. But, what is fun and exciting in making yourself or your child scary and horror for Halloween?

No to Halloween Party!     

Today, I received an invitation from the property manager in our subdivision to join a Halloween Party Celebration this coming weekend. The letter invitation said my kids should come with their Halloween costumes, but as a Christian, I already know that I am not suppose to join this party neither my two girls. With no hesitation, I said no to the invitation. 

Yes, I am glad that the homeowners invite us to come for the party since the invitation also stated that it will also give chance to all homeowners to fellowship with one another, but Halloween party is not venue for good fellowship.

Halloween should not be a cause of party. Do not be mislead for satan wants people to praise him by throwing parties by means of Halloween (1 Timothy 4:1-2 demons wants to mislead people by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons.)  Halloween focuses on celebration of death and death is satan. 

As Christians we should focus in life and light. As Jaime Morgan, Pastor of Life Church in Williamstown,N.J., give points in his article on charismanews.com Why Christians Absolutely should Not Celebrate Halloween   "God is God of life. but Halloween focuses on death."

What is Halloween? 

According to wikipedia.org Halloween or Hallowe'en a contraction of "All Hallows' Evening", also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries every 31 October, the eve of the feast of All Hallow Days. The word Holloween itself is a celebration, a feast. 

The typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending scary costume parties, decorating the party venues with horror designs, in America they do decorating and carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, and fortune telling games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films in many parts of the world.

Halloween is not fun

What is fun or exciting of Halloween? 

In my life time now, I know that beautiful things, wonderful times and happenings in our life comes from the Lord, like Birthdays, Christmas (Birth of Jesus), New Years Eve, it symbolizes life, new beginning, happy memories, excitement, blessings (we are blessed when worship the Lord ~Psalm24:3-6) and love (God is Love ~1 John 4:16). 

What is fun in celebrating death? It gives me heartache and crying every time I remember my parents who past-away due to illnesses. I don't like the idea of celebrating this holiday at all (as part Filipino culture celebration of Halloween to visit the tombs of the dead family every All Saints Day) it only reminds me of pain and sadness. Of course I will always remember and cherish my parents in my heart, I always remember our happy moments together, their wisdom even the sad ones, but I know that they are in good hands now with the Lord no more pain and sufferings. But

I can hardly think of my self on the way to cemetery to visit them during this holiday, it only makes me sad and helpless.

About the Halloween party, whats good in seeing kids with beautiful faces with make-up of a witches just to win a huge pack of candies? I never enjoy the view of kids marching on streets with scary outfits and scary mask for candies. It is not cute at all! 

I am scared to see how parents loved their child be dressed like satan, witches, mummies, dead bodies or Frankenstein. Why will you want your beautiful babies to dress like tiyanak , kapre or Zombies? Butterflies, fairy or dead doll? Why will you dress your little girl with witch or fairy costumes or your little boy with satan clothes and accessorize with horn and black spear? Do you realize that this alone is pleasing satan? This is evil and God hates who do evil ( Psalm26:5) do you want your child to be called a child of satan?

It is not Just a Party

All believers of Jesus Christ should not be part of this Halloween party or celebration because Halloween is holiday of Wiccans (the religion of witchcraft) and we should not participate in it. Witchcraft is detestable to the Lord and we should be blameless before the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:6-14.) 

"A Christian celebrating Halloween would be like satan worshiper putting up a nativity scene at Christmas while singing, happy birthday Jesus!" the two just don't go together. Jesus has nothing in common with satan (2 Cor.6;14) and neither should we." Says Pastor Morgan.

Wake Up 

The Bible clearly says that there is no darkness in Jesus (1 John 1;5) so don't allow the works of darkness to us like celebrating or worshiping the images of death. This celebration does not bring glory to God and we should ascribe to the Lord the glory due him (Psalm29:1-2.) 

So, why waste your time to make efforts on those scary costumes. Our time and worship should be reserved for God alone (Exodus 34:14.) 

All beautiful things comes from the Lord, beautiful kids, beautiful blessings, memories, and seasons. God also gave us so many reasons to celebrate life. Why did you want to add one scary day to it? 

Confession of not a Dog Lover

I am no dog lover, I don't like dogs either. I think dog is only for people who will have time to take care of it and have a patience to teach them. Well, I have no time and I have no patience, I said I will just consume my time teaching and cooking for my two daughters until I bought from a dog breeder friend, our Nikon, a Shih Tzu puppy.

My kids are begging me for a long time to have one dog; I am not fond with dogs so I never wanted to and I did not have a plan, but my eldest, Sofia keep asking about it and promised, she will not bother me to take care of it. After long years of convincing me, finally on her 13th birthday we surprised her a gift, a Shih Tzu whose only two months old that time and she named her Nikon.

My kids and Nikon on her two months, first picture with us.

Dog Hesitant Me

I don't like a dog. I don't want it so I set some rules for my daughters before I agreed to have one:

First, I will not clean its mess, meaning I will not clean any wiwi and poop. It is clear with my kids that they owned Nikon, since they want her, they are the one responsible cleaning up its poop and wiwi, since she is not yet trained to do it on restroom, one area or out side the house. But after quite sometime now, Nikon is used to poop and wiwi outside the house at a certain time, sometimes she still wiwi in the sala, but kids are very good in cleaning it right away. I told them its poop and wiwi may leave bad odor in the house if they will not clean it ASAP.

Stephanie with Nikon at her three months

Second, no dog on our bedrooms, specially on my bed. Speaking of poop and wiwi, dogs have an animal smell that it cannot be removed even you bath them regularly and that's what I am afraid of. I don't like my bed to smell like a dog every time I wanted to rest. Good Thing Nikon has no bad scent, we ask her vet what's the best soap and cologne for her to not to stink like a dog, of course she still smells like dog, funny if she smell like a baby but at least she smells clean for she is always cuddling and playing with my kids.

Nikon During her bathe time

Third, She will stay in her room. I specifically say the Nikon can't stay inside the house, so we buy a small cage for her, I call it her room so that the kids will never cry bringing her in, I said the cage is her resting place, I told kids each one of us has a room so does Nikon too. We put it in the veranda next to our room for immediate checking if she is okay.

Getting to Love Dogs

Of course kids would always get her out of her "room" and play her in the sala, my rule number three has been broken that Nikon can't just stay inside the house. She never bark, she is just playful dog and wanted to be trained with tricks. she makes me happy every time she learned new tricks with the kids. It is fun to see my girls having fun with Nikon, music to my ears when they laugh for every accomplishment of their dog.
So now, I never mind Nikon playing around the sala and to every rooms of the house, my second rule has been broken also that dog is restricted on every room but not on my bed. Nikon is so sweet she always follows us around the house, she always sit beside Sofia when she standing doing her chores. Nikon always calls our attention by small bark when she wanted to wiwi or drink water and cutie sleeping under under our bed when she is tired. How can I resist her?

Nikon giving me puppy eyes

All my bad thoughts about having a dog are erased now while seeing our Nikon growing with us. She is only five months today but she gives us simple joy everyday, how much more when she grew up more. She knows now how to wiwi and poop outside the house so I never bother about the house scent now. We maintained bleach and mopping every corners of it to remove the dog scent everyday. I am the one who gives her bathe every two days, so I smell her every time she needs a quick bathe, funny for she will just follow me in the bathroom if she want to take a bathe, I am loving her now.

Loving Dog

How can I resist to love Nikon now for she is so sweet and loving dog. When she see, me she will throw her self at my feet to give her hug and waving her tails, biting my toes to scratch her tummy

When I am out and back home she will bark to recognized me.
When I am hugging her she will leaned her body towards me like telling me "iloveyou".
She is fond to be with for she will show her tricks with your friends, like shes showing you that she learned it from you. I am looking for her if I don't see her around with my kids.

Yes I am beginning to love dog, I am loving our Nikon.

Be Blessed everyone...

Zoomanity Best in Tagaytay

"Mom this is the best Sem-Break, Ever!! "
These are words from my kids after we enjoyed our day in Residence Inn, Tagaytay last week while other people busy enjoying their holidays at cemetery.

I am glad that I accepted the invitation of my friend Arnel Bautista of kahitanodito.blogspot.com during the holiday at Residence Inn Tagaytay to experience Zoo at the South. The event is so timing for long holidays and a perfect event that I can bring my kids with me to enjoy their semestral break too.

My kids and I was very surprised that not only mini zoo is the offered of Residence Inn, Tagaytay, we enjoy the scenery of  break-taking overlooking view of Taal Volcano and the other animal shows and thrilling ride in the zip line and cable car.

Our amazing experience on Zip Line

Watching my girls, I can say that they enjoyed the experience of seeing wild and farm animals alive in the mini zoo that Residence Inn had to offer.
The mini zoo has lots of python snakes, donkeys, a camel, big tigers, lions, different kids of fish, different kinds of birds, turtles, monkeys, lambs, crocodilles, rabbits, ect.

Zoomanity at its best!

Iam happy that they see on thier own eyes these animals and had a great encounter not only from textbooks.
Until now my little one still imitating the sound of the wild pig and monkeys. Talking about how big the Lion and Tiger was, and my eldest Sofia never stopped talking about our experience of ridding the zip line and cabble car, that how cold was her hands while the operator putting on her the harness.
With all the smiles my girls wears all week --really priceless!  I know they had a great semester break far from what they are expecting. I must say that this place is not just a mini zoo after all, they left  big and a wonderful experiences to everyone who visited them, a great escapade to share with family and friends.

enjoying with Residence Inn Tagaytay, staff 

Residence Inn, Tagaytay is a perfect getway destination for family all the to South and it's a part of Zoomanity Group who offered Zoobic Safari at Subic, Zoocobia at Clark Pampanga,  Paradizoo at Mendez, Cavite and ZooColate at Loboc, Bohol.

Kutless Rock for Jesus in Manila

Last night we have a great time watching Kutless Christian Rock Band in Cathedral of Praise, Auditorium Manila. My heart pound with joy seeing people response to altar call, cried through prayer by our Pastor. It is a great feeling to see people walking through God's call, priceless! For me it is amazing to be in a place where you can see people born again in a jampack Christian concert!

I am blessed to be a member of the church ministry who believes that the word of the Lord need to share to everyone for free, and my family is very fortunate to watch Kutless for free and experience the move of the Lord in Cathedral of Praise.

Kutles live at Cathedral of Praise Manila Philippines

This is the second time of Kutless in our church and they always make the crowd jump and sing for their every song. This must be proof that they are the number one Christian Rock Band in the world and gaining high respect among christian community. 

During the concert they sing all their hit songs and my personal favorites such as What Faith Can Do , Sea of Faces, Give Us Clean Us, Believer, Even If , Strong Tower and If It Ends Today.
Says who that we cannot rock our praises to God by singing rock songs. I am christian and I rock my praises to my Jesus with my favorite christian rock band like Kutless.  

Kids discipline to World Wide Web

After second periodical exam, my eldest daughter Sofia brag me about opening her Facebook account. Because of her wonderful twinkling eyes "Mom please please!!!" of course I say yes to her to access her Facebook.
Then after a minute my seven year old Stephanie also said "Mom can I log in to YouTube? She ask permission since I used my Google account to registered her name to Superbook   to watch her favorite Bible story cartoon show. I wonder if my kids are not disciplined to ask permission to use Internet at home or if I am not aware of them using wifi to log in Facebook or YouTube.

My Stephanie and her favorite site.

Facebook and YouTube are just a few websites that kids loved to surf now but there are also many dark web corners that need to tone down for your children. Now that internet is common among household,  its easy for kids to use their cellphones, tablets, computers to access internet for Facebook, YouTube among others. It is also rampant the topic of cyberbullying, with craze of internet how can we protect our children?

Discipline your child
It comes from the verse in the Bible Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Every mother or parents would agree that they want their children to be safe in using internet  but how can we do that if we cannot totally guard our kids 24/7 using safe internet or safe website?
Disciplining your child using Internet connection is one way to f protect him.

•  Give him or her the right time in using computer or gadget at home. After school homework  is more convenient so they can  also learn to prioritize school first. Weather you see or not their assignment, ask their decision too if its OK to them to open computer or gadgets. Remind them of their school works like quizzes or spelling to memorize or recitation that needs to study first. In doing so, you offer them free will to do what is more important with their time.

• Teach him or her to ask permission in using Internet. It is OK to teach kids to ask. My house, my rules! Not that you became authoritarian, but setting rules in your house makes kids think first before doing so. Children can learn how to obey your rules like simply asking permission to do something in your home like using internet, like teaching them to ask if they can watch television. I don't know when it started to set this rules at my house but  kids simply ask my permission to open television  and wifi. Maybe they seen that i am not a television or web person. Simple rules can rule and you will see it works.

• Tell them that you need to see the websites that they need to open. With right explanation on why you need to see their prospect site, photo or video will mark to kids that you have control over it. Explain to them that you need to see it too because you want them to be safe. And if its not good, explain to your child immediately that the site, the picture or the video is not good for him or her.  I once told that kids are bright. When you thought that they don't know, they know. You cannot hide things from children, they know good and bad, so it is more okey if you will explain to them right away the things they don't need to see or know.

• Teach your child to be careful on the Internet. Once your child started to brows Internet or starting to use Facebook, remind them of whats good and bad post. I always tell to my daughter to watch out of the posts on Facebook, especially those pictues of adult content, videos of harassment, bad words, secular songs, bad jokes among others. Tell them that don't just post or click. Think twice before posting and think before you click likes.

• Safeguard your Internet connection. Gladly there is a sites now where parents can safeguards the Internet activity of children like the Norton Family  and KuruPira WebFilter to help you  monitor and control your child's activity over the Internet.

Weather we like it or not its all over the Internet, we cannot safeguard our children 24/7 but we can discipline them so that he will not depart from it even in Internet browsing.

Tips on How to help Kids in School Exams

School exam week again and I cram for my youngest child. So many lessons to review in her Mathematics, English, Science, Christian Living, Language, Music, to Filipino to Sibika at Kultura, from Computer to Physical Education, but Stephanie simply said "I can do that mom," with her sweet smile. 

I cram because of list of pointers to review found on her school diary, wow ang dami! After I see diptonggo and talasalitaan on her Filipino pointers to review. It is more on the feeling of "do I still know the subject?" helping her to review makes me go back to school again and I am nervous if I can't teach her all of these.
How can I review my child if I don't understand these lessons? Meaning, I also need to review from all her text books before our exam...I mean her exam.
OMG! I am studying again the parts of the eyes, nose, tongue, and ears.

This what mommies do, we guide our little ones for exams as they review, we also review like we will take exams too. Here's some simple tips how to help your child during exam week:

Some of my little girl's text books

1. Everyday check the school diary of your child 
Even you are busy, check your kids school diary. Teacher always put their instructions in students diary. It is a communication tool between you and the teacher about your kids work in school. Teacher often put remarks and note for parents for up coming quiz, assignments or spelling schedule.
I am guilty about this. One time I did not check my child's diary for she says she has no assignment,  only to find out  the next day that she got 8 score for 1 to 15 spelling, I missed
the spelling schedule.

2. Review your kids lessons everyday.
Never miss a day asking and read all the text books of your child. check her work in school. My kids text books are also their work book, they usually do their seat work after each lessons. Ask your child what does she learn from the seat work.
If it's a Science like parts of the eyes, better to ask her each one of the parts for her to memorizes them soon or even for Christian Living that they usually memorize memory verse.

3. Know your child interests. 
After a long day in school check your child's interest in school. Know her favorite subject of the day. (My child change her favorite subject everyday depends on activity of the day.) Know her interest of the day. In that way you can find out what academic subject you need to focus on for her advance review.
For my second grader, she hates Filipino and Computer. We memorized long enumeration of  early computing device and electronic devices and its uses in advance. Filipino diptonggo and talasalitaan.

4. Advance review makes no panic for exam week.
I always says this to my eldest daughter Sofia now in Grade six. "You will not cram in school test or even in quizzes if you always review your lessons everyday." You may think that I am strict mom, but I always remind my kids to check their assigments or memorize subjects that needs to be memorize  in advance.

5 Right study habits everyday.
From the start of school years of your child teach them the right study habit.
I stop reviewing my eldest for school examinations, spelling and quizzes when she was in grade three. When she already knows how to read a whole paragraph on her own and understands its thought. I am bless that until now she still in the top of her class and I am not worrying  reviewing her anymore.

6. Give them the right food everyday specially during exam week.
As much as possible start your kids school days with healthy food. Nutritious food can help them make the day in school without being sleepy specially during exam week.
Example, oily food can make them sleepy during reviews. Make them snappy by given them fruits and vegetables.
For my kids I always give them fresh natural juice mix of carrots, apples and cucumber. Our family doctor said it is better for everyone, specially to kids to have better digestion, eye sight and smooth skin.

Nourish and happy kids can be wise child. As parents gives them all the support that they  need as they grow and as they learn to study on their own.

7 Ways to Find a Nanny

The news spread a face of a yaya (nanny) who hurt a three months old baby caught through CCTV.

CCTV footage from ABS-CBN NEWS http://youtu.be/_turRp2u8Ak

What in a world can someone like this nanny hurt an innocent baby? I am very disappointed  nanny's relatives depending her telling that she can't do that. It has been caught in a CCTV, she did shake and spanked the three month old baby. This yaya  needs to learn her lesson so that every nannies will not do such a thing too.

But what really a qualities of nanny should have before hiring them for your baby? I have some tips for you:

1. Background check your Yaya 
It matters that you know the background of your nanny. You will ask her to take care of your child and it is important to know everything about her too. Of course it is a basic to know the details of her bio data, name, age etc., but it is important to know the additional details like ; where she lives (if you have chance to visit her place where she stayed before hiring her check) what she do before she applied for you, why she needs the job of taking care of your child, ask her why not be a sales lady? These basic information will help you listen to her reasoning.

2. Psychological Background.
Not that your being paranoid of background check but you have to know if she fits the qualities that you are looking for a nanny. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Psychological background is important in hiring nanny, for you to know her more before hiring a caregiver. You are about to give her your confidence of taking care of your child. You must at least sure you live your baby in good hands not in a lunatic.

3. Check the validity of her answers.
You must be sure that she tells the truth before hiring her. I did this with our nanny before hiring her for my 2months old baby before. I make a point that I interview too the person who recommended her and ask why the nanny needs the job. Where can I locate the parents of the nanny, what she do on her province before going to Manila to be a yaya.  For me these question will establish her needs to be hire and her focus on the job if you sustain her needs and benefits.

4. Check health conditions of your nanny.
 Have your family doctor check her medical conditions before letting her touch your baby. For me it is a must that I know my nanny is healthy. No medical conditions that  needs to be alarm for like Hepatitis. She will be holding my baby most of the time and I have to make sure shes not carrying any transferable diseases that can cause my baby sick while on her care.

5.Cleanliness is next to goodness
For me yaya  needs to be clean at all times. She will be holding my baby at any given time. She needs to have clean nails all the time and  it is important she dint have body odor. Please!

6.Care for your caregiver too.
We must understand that a Yaya, a nanny or a caregiver is a person too. You have to take care of her too, give her a decent place to stay to in your house. Treat her as important as part of your family. You are there to help her too. Give her all the benefits for her to sustain her personal needs too,  good food for her no reasons to miss her task with your child, make sure you talk to her about your child before the day end.

7. You need to bring Yaya to church.
When you hire your nanny, make sure you point her the importance of your relationship with Jesus in your house. You go to church every week and she needs to come with you too. For me and my husband, we simply say with nanny that she needs to be with us in church every week.
We believe that as we bring her to church, she will learn the teachings of how to value her work as blessing, she will learn that my child is not a task but a blessings that needs to be  take care of. We believe that if she learn this she will love us even more and she did until she got her own family.

Finding  a right nanny is not easy. I know because since my beloved nanny left us to get married when my baby turn six years old, I cannot find someone like her anymore, I have to give up my career in print media to be her replacement. So, if you find one make sure its the right one, remember its your child is always at risk.

Three characters of a wise child

Today I want to talk to youngster, kids and teenagers. I want to share something that can make your parents happy and be proud of you: Simply just be Wise and possess these characters traits from Bible teachings.

Three characters of a wise child:

1. Listening - A wise child always listen to their parents. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:1 A wise child heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. 

Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. 

As a mom I can say: What a joy to parents to know their children listen to them. I always  told this to my 11 years and 7 years old daughters, "remember that no father and mother would ask their child to be bad."

A friend will be there for you, but your parents is100% always be there for you no matter what happen.Sometimes parents made mistakes too for running everything in your life but I am sure 99.99 percent of the time parents love their child and they always wants best for you. Believe it or not listening to your parents can make you do right thing 99.99 percent. It also says Proverbs9:8  listen, my son to your fathers instructions and do not forsake your mothers teaching. 

kids with their cousins and grandmother Rebecca last summer

My kids with their cousins and grandmother Anita in a family dinner  

2.Also works when there is something to be done. Child help your parents. The least you can do as child is to help your parents doing chores in your house. Think that these chores will also help you be responsible. For example clean your room, change your bed sheet every three days, it would be a great help you know.
As mom, I always asked my daughters to help me fold the laundry, and rearrange their cabinet. For me teaching my kids folding laundry makes them responsible of their own clothes,  they know where to put dresses and pants, under wears. If I ask them to get one, they don't need to ask me where to get it because they are the one who take care of it.

It always a good feeling to see kids helping me doing my chores. It makes me smile when I see their room neat,  it's like a feeling of accomplishment that they listen to my instructions.
How about you how you make your mom smile lately?

3.Bring joy - Proverbs10:1 A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.  Every child birth is a joy to his parents and believe me all parents wants to keep that joy even after you become parent your self.
Proverbs 23:15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad.
As parents nothing I can explain for these words to my kids but: Be wise in everything you do my child: In having friends, in following discipline, be responsible in every actions you do, face the consequences of your actions, be good and always have a pure heart in everything. This make my heart glad as parent.
I am sure every mother and father agree when I say that every parents speaks " I always want the best for my child" and in able to do this as child you need to obey your parents for this is right  Ephesians 6:1.
Proverbs27:11 Be wise my son and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

Having great relationship with your parents is something that you can always do everyday and I am sure every parents agree that they want their children to be friends with them even they grow up.
Be wise and make your parents happy for the rest of their lives.

How to be a Father?

Now my kids are growing up the more I realize that I need my husband beside me to help me raising our two girls. But due to work abroad as seaman, he always needs to leave us and come back every after 10 months and leave us again after six weeks of rest/vacation.
Sometimes, I envy some kids that they don't need to grow without their father beside them.

I am sadden in the situation that the father of my home needs to leave us to give our children a better future. More moms can relate with this, but we need to be strong to times that we cannot talked to him, be at peace with time we are not together, keep praying  and watch my children grow with my own discipline ways and teaching.

My husband and two girls at the airport last December2012

 I am truly glad that there always been a help from our relatives and teaching from our church Cathedral of Praise where I can get inputs on how to be father/parents to my girls, I will surely share this to my husband and to everyone:

1. Instruct your kids- No one can carefully instruct your kids like you do. As a father you have the right and responsibility to give instructions to your kids while they are growing up.
 It is in the Bible that father must give faithful instructions to their kids so that they will not be astray (Proverbs18).
Always teach them the fear of the Lord (Deuteronomy6:7-9). While they are small train them in walk with God (Ephesians6:4).

2. Provide for your children - As a father it is your responsibility to provide for your children.  Meaning every father should work hard for the needs of their children. No BUT'S! No questions ask! It is not a mother's part. It is written in the Bible that father should work for the family (1Timothy5:8). It is frame ware of a father to be a provider.

3. Discipline your child - If you love and care for your child you must discipline him. Not that you are you re going to spank him all the time he made a mistakes but be there to teach him a lessons and consequences of his actions. What kind of a father you are if you would not think and care to discipline your child (Hebrew2).

4. Father needs to lavish love for there children - (1John3:1) It is clear lavish love for your children. I believe in the words that we should enjoy our kids while they are young.
Same as father, you have to let your love be felt by your child. Always give your boys a bear hug, tell them that you are always there for them, tell them that you love them not only in work but speak it in words.

Kid's needs a loving care of their father not only a mother. This is a strong word that all men should know.
As parents we should always be praying for our kids, for above all materials things they needed in life, your prayer is all they need for always. Being a parents is a responsibility not a work title.

Train up your a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs22:6

Junk Food: Chichiria, Soft drinks are not allowed in Schools

I am so happy to hear from the news that Chichiria, Carbonated drinks and artificial flavored drinks are not allowed in school canteens anymore.
I asked my kids to watch too, for the news applies to them.  My thought, at least I made clear with my children that junk foods like chichiria and soft drinks are not allowed in school.
What a great news!

Photo from http://freshhealthyvending.com/

In my understanding, and imparted to my kids, all school canteens are not allowed to sell everything that is bad food, unhealthy food and chichiria, carbonated drinks and artificial flavored drinks are bad for the health of students because it cannot help them participate well in school.

According to Department of Health  (DOH) chichiria is not allowed because of too much salt, this includes variety chichiria, though they did not give specific names but my kids aware that chichiria are like Chippy, Tortillos, Taqiutos, Clover, Oishi products, Pringles, Lays, chocolates are not good.

It may sound boring to everyone but chichiria are not allowed in our house and I am glad not in school now too. Thats so good news to me.
What I have in mind; now my children will think twice before eating junk food in school, because they also learn from the news that chichiria cause children not just to eat properly but also cause them to be weak in school and they don't like that to happen.
Not that I don't allow my children to taste chichiria; even I, love to eat such food on my "cheats day" but recently my youngest daugther Stephanie visited her pedia due to not eating well. And the doctor said she does not allowed to eat any chichiria and juices because shes loosing her appetite, and it end up giving her expensive vitamins now just to eat well.

Photo from http://terriskitchenuk.wordpress.com/

On carbonated drinks, it has too much sugar; Stephanie asked, "mom what is carbonated drinks?" My eldest daughter Sofia answers her;  "these are Coke, Sarsi, Royal, Sprite, Pepsi, 7up, Sprite" I am glad she knows it because these drinks not only bad for children but for adult too.
Now that my Stephanie needs to eat more, we hardly drink soft drinks, even we are out, we always bring jar of water to make sure they drink water in a day.

For artificial flavored drinks such as Zesto juice drinks, Sanglo, Jungle Juice etc. These drinks has also lots of sugar too.
Since my Sofia went to school I don't put these drinks on her lunch box not even now for my Stephanie.

Luckily the school of my girls practice no bad food in the canteen ever since, they actually sell rice, viand and merienda for kids who don't have baon.
I don't have to worry about food for my kids for I always bring them lunches.
I don't even allowed my kids to bring money, though my eldest is already requesting now since she's already in grade six. I am boring mom? No, I just don't allow my kids to eat unhealthy food without me seeing it and asking them to drink plenty of water afterwards, I am glad the DOH make it mandatory and clear to kids so that I will not need to explain further.

How about you? Are you glad that junk foodies are ban in school canteens?

Blogger Mixer: FILED ColorBurst launch

My daughter and I attended the first Blogger Mixer event- FILED Colorburst organizers launch held at Saint's Alp teahouse Katipunan Quezon City, Philippines few days ago.Thanks to earthlingorgeous.com (check her blog for story too) for sending me, I am happy to meet these young entrepreneurs headed by Stephanie Lim.

The FILED Group

Young Entrepreneurs

Warm interns in the registration.

FILED products introduces to bloggers, consists of colorburst filed folders, pencil cases, fold able bags, filling envelops and doodle organizers in time for school opening this June 2013.

I was trilled talking to Stephanie the part owner of Filed, she mentioned that the business only started in 2008 after their graduation in Ateneo and it's their first time to make an event like the Bloggers Mixers event that introduces their products to bloggers.

My Stephanie enjoying modeling of the products

Originally products of Filed organizer/folder business made only for thesis project and after seeing the whole Ateneo campus used their product they decided to make it as business and sell it online at first.

Hearing story like this makes me more excited for these young generations of businessmen and woman.

FILED expand now after years of studying the products and make available to bookstores nationwide.

As the colorful story goes over the years they have more designs now and more vibrant colors to choose from.
The prizes starts at P299.00 to 595.00 available only on Power books and Book sale nation wide.

Check colorburst  that blends your style.

Join Free Parent Tech-Talk Seminar

Is your kid a tech-savvy? I mean a computer geeks, cellphone geek, Apple iPad, tablet, PS3 users.

Do you want to know how will you interact with you're kids about technologies of today in Biblical way? 

Get involve with you're kids life in latest technology, join the Parenting TheTech-Talk seminar at Cathedral of Praise, Taft Ave.,Manila visit cathedralofpraise.com.ph for all details and teach your child the way he should go.

Six ways for a child to grow wonderfully!

By Christine del Rosario

Naturing your child is the softest and hardest job in the world, because as your child grow you will see yourself growing old too! Every parents would agree that giving the best for your child is one thing you want to do alot while watching them grow.

Teaching your child the best attitude makes them wonderful!

As parents we would like to give them all material things that money can afford to, best gadgets, all the comfort that they need and quality education from most expensived school to teach them well. Ofcourse all the best for your child!

But did you know that there are only six ways in the Bible that teaches us for a child to become a wonderful person when she or he grow up?

Heres how:
1.Don't send away your child!
Every child do something that can make you feel mad and sad, intentional or not intentional children are born to that. But never ever say to your child to "go away!" when you are mad.  Always remember that kids are young and they want to learn everything; thats why they need you to guide them and be with them all the time.
A child needs to be assured that you are with them no matter what happened. Jesus called by God, "My Son, whom shall I please" (Matthew 3:16-17). Every child needs to belong to you, guaranteed them that you will never leave them in times of thier mistakes.

2.A child must hear that they are loved!
These words must come literary "I love you." Saying i love you really necessary to boost the confident of your love to your child. I love you even in public is one way to lift their hearts because they are assured that you are there to love them and you make it known to everyone (Luke 20:13).
Why will you be shy to say I love you to your child, anyway?

 3.Tell your kids "I' am please with you!"
If you scold your child by thier mistakes,and sometimes forget that you scold them in public, you should need to praise them in public too (Matthew 3:17). Give them a tap on their shoulders when they do good and address their name publicly that you are, "very proud of them" of the good thing he or she did. In returned they will extend their ways to do  good more.

4.Say "I trust you"
In everything your child do, put an assurance that you trust them with their ways. Child need to have a sense of responsibility while they are growing up.
Teaching them to become responsible now makes them more responsible in doing decissions in later life (John13:3-4). Let them decide to do's and don't. With guidance, make sure they know that they will learned the consequences of their actions if they do this and that.

5.Your words are valued.
Believe it or not your child listen to you when you are talking.
But when they are talking too listen to them (John13:4) You need to teach your children to express themselves. Their opinion is important too.  In a family situation, let them talk. In the family gathering let their opinion be heard, let them learn to express themselves in giving their opinion and give credits if this is good one. Parents should be the number one listener of their opinion. If they are not heard in the comfort of your home, how do you expect him/her to give opinion out side with friends.

6. Say to your child "I want to teach you"
In everything that your child do, show and teach them the things that they dont understand! Show them everything, (John5:20-23) let them understand the things you decide with.
No secrets in the family! Did you think that you can really hide from a 13  year old kid? I don't think so! Those little ears hears and knows everything.
Your child is a part of your family they deserve to understand everything, like your financial situation. Rather than hide it,  talk to them and explain to them the situation so they can understant what you need to be done as family, let them be part of your decission.

Prayer is important!

Above all things that had been said, prayer for your child everyday is very important!
You always pray to have the things that are needed like clothes, shoes, tuition fee, etc., but why not pray for them to grow to be a trully wonderful person inside and out.

Wishing words is ok, but if you pray for them it results of life time assurance of God's love to your little ones.

Six simple ways to make your mom special

By Christine C Del Rosario

Making your mother special is one of the things we often forget to do everyday.
Knowing that your mom always around, seeing every details of household, organizing  all affairs with every member of her family.
From early doing chores, laundry, making you ready your school, cooking the best food she knows to serve you from breakfast to your dinner. She really deserve an everyday Mothers day special.

My family last year mother's day

How to make your mommy feel love and special in five simple ways everyday:

1. Hug mommy tight: Hugging your mother everyday makes her feel so love. According to www.SixWise.com hugs are good for the heart. If you want mommy to smile first thing in the morning hug her. Hugging also helps lower blood pressures and lessens the stress that your mom felt during the day.

Hugging can make you feel mommy so loved.

2. Kiss for mommy: Give your mom a kiss everyday, when she cooks for you, when she clean your room, when she folds and rearranged your clothes cabinet, or even when she is just doing anything but thinking. Do you know that kissing your mom can remove her wrinkles away, it helps your mom to be healthy according to www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7768/5-benefits-of-kissing-10-reasons. It is also shows in studies that through kissing we use over 34 facial muscles and 114 postural muscles www.wiki.answers.com/Q/Muscles_used_for_kissing which helps to keep muscles smooth and tight and prevent your cheeks from sagging.

Give your mommy a boost!

3. Make mommy feels shes important everyday: Just saying "mommy I want to eat beside with you."  And it will make her stop all the things that she is been busy doing all day and she will make you feel she's available for you again. Making her feel that you need her make her confident everyday.

4. A helping hand : By simply helping her doing her chores everyday, you make your mom's tiredness away. In this action of yours, you can make her feel so loved because of the joy that you want to help her and even more seeing you while doing her chores.

Talk to your mommy like your best friend

5. Talk to your mommy:  Mothers our most important person in our life. Just being with her and to know that you want to give attention to her it makes her feel very important in your life. Start making a conversations to her.Tell her about your friends, where did you go, what do you want or how do you feel today?

6. I love you mommy : Saying i love you to your mommy is music to her ears everyday. You always see her, but not a word has spoken. Surely, your mom knows that you loved her, but it is more magic when mother's hear you say "I love you mom" to her. It is only three words for all you know.

As the saying goes, mother's love is constant it never fails in anyway. It is for you to treat her with your best effort to make her feel so loved too everyday. Mothers always waiting for you to give a simple thank you and i love you for the things she do for you without any word, but instead oftentimes neglected.

  "Even it is not mother's day, make your mom feel so special, don't wait occasions every year to make your mom feel loved. It is easy to make mommy smile, six simple ways everyday."