April's Happy Packages

Oh, c'mon. It's May today? Seriously, how did that happen?

I haven't even gone to the beach yet! #WAHMproblems

Anyway, I write about my grocery finds every month, but for this month, I have nothing to write about. There are three reasons why.

First, I'm trying to minimize buying processed and packaged food, so most of the time, I only buy fresh produce. It doesn't seem to make sense to write a post full of fruits, veggies, and meat.

Second, since the mortgage we have to pay for our house will be increasing effective next month (which is today pala!), I need to minimize my expenses. Especially on food.

Third, I really didn't find a need to try something new because I'm contented with the current brands I've tried. So I didn't really have a new "discovery" to feature.

Buuut I did receive a number of packages this month! Some of them I bought while some of them I received. I think they're rather post-worthy because they are useful not only during the summer (so hot!) but also throughout the entire year. Here they are:

Ready for the beach!

1. Sunblock - Coppertone Water Babies and Belo SunExpert

Sunblock's a no-brainer. In a tropical country like ours, sunblock should be used year-round. Yuri used to use Midori natural sunblock with an SPF of 30, which is frankly enough, but since paubos na, I felt the need to buy one with a higher SPF since this year's summer is just - grabe - drought level. I know Coppertone's not natural or organic, but it's the most cost-efficient for me. And I used it as a child so...

Meanwhile, the Belo sunblock is from - drumroll - Sample Room! This means I only paid for its shipping. I haven't tried it yet but I soon will!

Another addition to our library. Yay!

2. Bible Story Set

Ah, another addition to our growing library. I love this set of books because it's the prize I won from joining MomsterTeacher's blog givewaway. I was blessed too much because God allowed me to win three contests! What I love about these is the way the stories of the Bible characters are written in a simple way - perfect for kids.

I'm excited to introduce Yuri to Jesus; actually, I already did!

GIGA Baby Balm, GIGA Massage Rub, and GIGA Insect Repellant

3. Gifts from GIGA Philippines

I wrote and raved about the GIGA products I've tried, and they really are some of the best natural products I've used. Despite trying several brands of insect repellent, GIGA remains to be my favorite. And even as a toddler, we still use GIGA baby balm for Yuri's insect bites and minor cuts. Yuri just loves using it on himself and I'm not even kidding.

They didn't have to, but GIGA was kind enough to send me a small gift containing - what else - my fave products! They also included something I haven't tried yet: the massage rub. I love it! Perfect timing, too, since I'm looking for a minty balm just in case Yuri catches a cold. Nice!

My camera in a poor lighting condition. Hehehe

4. Samsung WB150F

Fun and Frugal Finds for February

I didn't realize it was March already when I blogged last Saturday! Oh well, I think February is used to this kind of comment. So what are my discoveries for this month (mostly from the grocery) that wouldn't burn holes in your pockets?

Soyfresh Soya Milk

Bought: Gaisano Mall
Price: Around P65 for 1 Liter

Story: Some of you know that I'm unabashedly giving Yuri fresh milk (we can't all be super parents); however, I immediately stopped it when I found out cow's milk is a mean phlegm former. So I switched.

I was really looking for almond milk because I also heard soy milk contains a lot of hormones. However, when I saw the Blue Diamond brand, Almond Breeze, nanghina ako. Around P120 for only 350 ml (not even half of a liter). Err, hormones it is!

(PS: I'm planning to buy cashews to make my own cashew milk.)

Verdict: Delicious! It's not as rich as cow's milk, but it does create a nice impression of chocolate. Even Nina, Yuri's ka-age friend, liked it!

SansFluo toothpaste

Bought: Gaisano Mall
Price: P90

Story: Wala lang, kailangan lang ni Yuri ng new toothpaste. I want to try another brand and this is the most affordable option that time.

Verdict: We're still waiting for our Tiny Fangs toothpaste to run out, and we haven't used it yet.

Breakfast Choice Cereals

Bought: Gaisano Mall
Price: Crispy Rice around P65, Oat Rounds around P80 - both buy 1 take 1!

Story: I'm a sucker for buy 1-take1, and when I saw that the cereal I used to buy was on promo, I didn't hesitate. I also got two other boxes for the price of one!

Verdict: I like both cereals because they're not sweet. Yuri snacks on the Oat Rounds as is (no milk), while I like making homemade rice crispies from the rice cereal.

Good Sense Strawberry Yogurt Pretzels

Bought: Gaisano Mall
Price: P110 - buy 1 take 1!

Story: I was looking for alternative snacks for Yuri because Sky Flakes, despite its yumminess, is simply not healthy. I stumbled upon this first on the regular-priced rack but, luckily, I found some on promo. Thank you, Lord! And did I tell you I'm a sucker for buy 1-take 1?

Verdict: Wow, yummy! The strawberry yogurt coating is not so sweet; it's just the right blend of sweet and tangy. Yuri eats a lot of these in one sitting, but it's okay because they don't have much sugar.

Kablon Farms Pineapple Jam

Bought: SM Lanang Premier grocery
Price: Around P65

Story: I was also looking for homegrown organic products and learned about Kablon Farms. Situated in South Cotabato, they manufacture products straight from the local farms. I love local farms in Mindanao because, more often than not, their products are organic. So next time, before you consider imported products from Healthy Options, support local first!

Verdict: Forget about commercial, sugar-laden jams. This is simply fruit in a bottle. The organic pineapple is crushed and, I think, no artificial syrup has been added so it's basically just pineapple. Yummy and refreshing!

Del Monte Fruit Snack

My New Samsung Wi-Fi Camera (UPDATED)

After 48 years, my new camera has already arrived! I've been feeling bad because I needed to review some products, one of which was delivered to me more than a month ago. However, I could not properly review them because my almost 2-year old camera already died on me.

So I scoured the online market for a replacement. True, it was very scary to buy gadgets online, so I made sure to look only at big and reliable websites. I found a camera that I really loved, Samsung WB150F. The first thing that attracted me to it was its huge lens. Next, I found out it had Wi-Fi. Finally, I read the online reviews and saw that most reviews were positive. I was sold.

Photo: http://tweakers.net/

Unfortunately, the camera was out of stock! I was waitlisted for more than a week, but I patiently waited for it. I prayed so hard for that camera. Last Thursday, I found out that the camera was already available, so I immediately reserved one. However, we were only able to pay for it on Saturday afternoon, which means the camera wouldn't be shipped until Monday.

Fortunately, they employ next-day delivery. Happiness! Yesterday, Tuesday, it arrived. Behold, my Samsung WB150F:

I had my eyes on the white one, but I still dig this black version. I think it's the only color available. Check out its lens. I'm sorry; my phone is the only other available camera than can take a photo of the Samsung. The photo below shows the camera with its maximum zoom setting:

It's no telephoto zoom, but I love how it can still take crisp photos of subjects 5 meters away! Nice!

Okay, so I'm supposed to upload the photos I took during that day. However, the internet connection is soooo slow! I don't have time for this! (flips hair) Charot. Anyway, I'll be out later to go to UP to claim my diploma (after 48 years din). Gagawin na kasi daw nilang pataba sa lupa. Charot ulit. Because of that, I really couldn't wait for the photos. Hopefully, I will update this post once the photos finally get uploaded!

PS: If you want to know where I bought this camera for cheap, feel free to shoot me an email.

A few minutes before I was about to leave the house, the photos were finally done uploading. Here they are:

Awesome zoom work: The photo above is shot from my office table around 5 meters away from the subject.

Anatomy of a Mom with a Toddler

I'm currently writing a post about how our Sunday went, but the photos take forever to load. Well, this should be expected because the post has more than 30 photos. Sorry!

Anyway, to make up for the lack of a post on a Monday morning, here's a "diagram" (emphasis on the quotations marks, please!) of what I look like each time I go outside the house with my little toddler, Yuri:

Actually, marami pang kulang jan, all of which are inside my diaper bag na iniwan ko sa bench. Mabigat kasi. But basically, this is what I look like outside the house.

1. Harness

The harness is a necessity for us because Yuri is a swift mover. This is one reason why I almost never let go of Yuri's house whenever we walk outside. Konting lingon ko lang wala na si Yuri. NKKLK. Anyway, if your toddler is a swift mover, too, or if you simply want to feel secure, do yourself a favor and buy one!

2. Cap

I always bring along Yuri's cap in my diaper bag just in case we have to go out in the sun. Yuri usually likes wearing his cap, but there are also many times when he would just throw it on the floor while running. That's why it's almost always in my hands.

3. Camera

I'm putting together nice photos of Yuri for his album, which remains content-less until now. 'Nuff said.

4. Zip-front Blouses

Even though Yuri rarely nurses from me in public now (he's too distracted to think of breastfeeding!), I still see to it to wear open-fronted blouses (zippers and buttons) just in case.

5. Cardigan

I also almost always wear cardigans just in case the toddler decides to breastfeed. And just in case I forget to bring a breastfeeding cover.

6. Comfiest Shoes

I used to buy any kind of flat shoes I like because I usually have a high-tolerance for pain. Well, tell that to my toddler kid! Yuri runs all day that wearing "any kind of shoes" does not suffice anymore. Thus, the need for a pair of Crocs.

7. Not in photo: Bottle of water, bibs, crackers, book or toy - all of which are inside the diaper bag

How about you? Do you "look" sort of like me when you go out with your toddler? 

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Yuri Through My Lens

I missed my camera! My mother brought it along with her in her 5-day business trip. Five grueling days without a camera! I can't even. But I know better than to tell my mom to buy her own camera. She never will. Haha!

Anyway, yesterday, I finally got my camera back. While I'm no photographer (far from it!), I love having my camera around to capture Yuri's moments. I was forced to take crappy photos from my phone for 5 days! But now, not anymore!

As expected, I began snapping right away once I had the camera back in my arms hands. And who else would I take photos of other than my favorite subject?

Of course, one photo is not enough. Hurrah to more photos of Yuri!

Profile shot (na magkasalubong ang kilay)

Another profile shot

Model ng Huggies shot?

I just found the perfect spot to take Yuri's OOTD shots! Hurrah!

Giggle, gigil!

While shooting this, my father kept saying, "Sus ang dumi pa naman jan!"

Picking strawberries from the field Rubbermaid bowl

Yuri's daily broom broom

Placing one chair on top of the other to reach the bed. Poor boy! :D

All blurred up: on the phone, nailing a business negotiation

The businessman with no clothes and chubby cheeks!

My Little Camera Woes

I have a lot of backlog. I've been meaning to blog more about Yuri, some product reviews, and an event I've attended last week pa, but I can't. It's not that I have time. The reason why I can't blog is that I don't have a freaking camera!

To clarify that, I do have a camera. It's not a DSLR; it's just a Samsung point-and-shoot, but it works just fine. I depend on it a lot for my blog posts. However, for more than a week now, I haven't been able to use it because it's not with me! All my photos are in there, and I can't take any new photos!

Of course, I can't use my Instax.

Last week, my mom lent it to her friend. It finally came back to my arms just yesterday night. And this morning, my brother asked to borrow it. Ano ba? We used to have another digicam at home, but nasira sya. So now, everybody's using my digicam. Ayoko na! Chos!

Instead of bugging them to buy their own cameras, I decided na lang to buy another one for Christmas. For me, of course. Only me. Hands off. Chos. That's why I'm so excited for Christmas already. I want to buy this camera:

Image source: http://www.lazada.com.ph/Samsung-NX1000-203-MP-Compact-System-Camera-w-20-55mm-Lens-Kit-White-59705.html#

This is the Samsung NX1000. Here are the specs from the Lazada website:

• 20.3 Megapixels 23.5mm x 15.7mm CMOS image sensor
• 2x optical zoom
• 3" TFT-LCD display
• High-definition video mode
• ISO 100-12,800
• Scene modes
• Up to 8 fps (frames per second)
• Auto, custom and preset white balance controls
• Flash modes
• Hot shoe
• Picture wizard
• Contrast autofocus
• Wi-Fi

Great, huh? Perfect for Instagram hahahaha. Seriously though, I think it's cool. Except for its price, which is a little under P30k. I think I could afford that, but I choose not to. Knowing my kuripot tendencies, I'll probably end up with another point-and-shoot camera like this:

Image source: http://www.lazada.com.ph/GE-Power-Pro-Series-G100-144MP-Digital-Camera-Red-61218.html

The  GE Power Pro Series G100, priced at P6,299. Here are the specs:

• 14.4 CMOS Megapixels
• 15x Lens Optical Zoom
• 6x Digital Zoom
• 28mm Wide Angle
• Full HD 1080p Video Recording
• 3.0 inch (460,000 Pixels) TFT-LCD
• Optical Image Stabilization
• HDR+ (High Dynamic Range)
• ISO Sensitivity: Auto, ISO 100/200/400/800/1600/3200
  
  

Or this:

Image Source: http://www.lazada.com.ph/Nikon-Coolpix-L310-141-MP-Digital-Camera-Black-33568.html

The Nikon Coolpix L310, priced at P7,699. Not a point-and-shoot, not a DSLR either. It's a bridge camera. Here are the specs:

• 14.1 Megapixel
• 21x Optical Zoom
• 3" LCD Screen
• 3-speed Sport continuous mode (H, M, L)
• Powered by commonly available R6/AA-size batteries
• Easy auto mode with Scene auto selector
• Smart portrait system
• Pet portrait mode
• Freebie/s: 4GB SD Card

Not bad, right? What do you suggest? 

No DSLR please. My diaper bag is already heavy as it is. :-)

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