Happiness in a Tub

Do you know what is one of the hardest things that a parent does . . . get kids to drink their medicine!

It's stressful enough that they are sick.  It becomes more stressful when you see them up in arms, kicking and screaming and crying hard (sooo hard that it makes them yack, which means you have to start again!).  

Giving meds to kids becomes more challenging as they grow older.  When Ate was a baby, we only needed a dropper (it is best to place the dropper at the side of the mouth, the cheek pocket as Babycenter calls it) or we mix the medicine with the milk.  Now that she's a toddler. . .hayyyy *heavy sigh*. . .we have to be more creative, more patient and more cold-hearted!  Haha!  It kinda gets to me when I see Ate cry that I have a hard time giving her the medicine.  I actually ask other members in the family to do it for me, haha!    

The past three weeks were a struggle because giving medicine to Ate entails two things: the drama and change of clothes (there are times that taking a shower is needed) after everything!

But I'm happy to say that she is better in taking her meds now.  Oh, she still cries.  But it has become manageable.  We use an oral syringe to give her the meds but we tried using a regular spoon and we found that it worked better for her (for us too! Hehe) because there were less spit ups.

You know what else helped?

The promise of a sweet ending!

Well. . . there's nothing a tub of ice cream can't cure, haha!

Hope you're having a good weeekend!

A Pet Peeve

This world would be a better (and happier!) place  . . .

IF ONLY we follow rules  . . .

and be considerate of others . . .

And show that we care about everyone. . . especially to those who need it most.

I do not own this photo-- Saw this in my friend's FB wall
If you own this photo, please let me know so I can give you credit for it =)

If we can all be the things I've mentioned above (and more!), can you imagine how beautiful and peaceful this world is going to be?!

Have a good weekend!  

P.S. If you go somewhere and have to park your car. . . please do it the right way. =)

Trick or Treat!

Have you ever experienced being too excited over something that you started planning early only to find out that things aren't going to happen the way you expect?! 

Ate has a Costume Parade/Trick or Treat at school next week.  Since it's her first Trick or Treat. . . I'm excited!  (I'm probably more excited than her!)  So I started thinking of her costume as soon as her classes started!  Okay, that was an exaggeration, Haha!

I bought her this orange bucket a couple of weeks ago for her Trick or Treat.  Since it's Halloween, I would like to call it a "cauldron" . . .ala Harry Potter, heehee.

Then I got a letter from the school . . . .

They asked the parents for a shoe box which will be made as the kids' trick or treat bags.  So there goes my pretty orange cauldron, haha!  But I love and support the school's idea of going green by recycling the shoe boxes.  

If you like to make your own Trick or Treat bag, I found one online which uses a shoe box:

Image from www.craftingagreenworld.com

To see the full instructions, please click on Crafting a Green World's link.

Trick or treaaattt!!!

Boo!

PicMonkey, my favorite Photo Editor came out with their Halloween theme so I thought of playing with it. There were several choices:  Zombies, Day of the Dead, Witches, Demons and Vampire.  Since I want to feel how it is to be Bella Swan (Haha!), I picked Vampire and came up with this.

 There's actually an effect for an alabaster skin (think of the Cullens) but when I used it, we just looked like a bunch of clowns, with ultra-thick foundation, haha!  (Only shows I'm not good at doing make-up, heehee)

By the way, looking at Baby J, he reminds me (sort of) of the baby in Addams Family!  Well, minus the moustache =)  

Image from laraandthereelboy.wordpress.com

If you want to try making your own Halloween-themed photo, please click on PicMonkey's link. =)

Any plans for trick or treating?!

Crazy Over Clay

To minimize Ate's use of her tablet and at the same time, to awaken Ate's innate creativity (and I hope she has some, unlike me, haha!), I've bought a few Art materials for her like watercolor, fingerpaint and my most recent purchase, clay!  Among all the things I've mentioned, my favorite is clay!  It kinda serves as a stress reliever for me too, haha!

My first attempt. . . .

You know you did a good job with your clay impression when a toddler gets it!  Woohoo!

Then she asked me to make her baby brother . . . and I wanted to tell her that making one requires more than molding and shaping a clay!  Heehee. . . .Anyway, for her request, I tried my best but I came up with a gingerbreadman (in a jumper!) instead of a baby. 

I love flowers so I made one too . . .

Next in line. . .Apple which I thought was another easy subject . . . 

Then I challenged myself . . .why not make a fruit basket?!

I posted this fruit basket in my FB wall and one of my good friends liked it especially the "Cashew".  The problem is, there was no "cashew" in the basket!  Haha!  I told her that the yellow one was a Mango.  Guess what, she was actually referring to the RED fruit, the Apple!  OMG, we weren't even talking about the same thing!  Haha!  I know, I know I need more practice.  And then another friend of mine thought it was a cashew too!

To prove a point, I thought of looking for some pictures of a cashew (as a fruit and not the ones you eat from the can, heehee).

Image from www.123rf.com

Okay girls (D and C), YOU have a point, haha!  As what my friend D said, my apple looks very, VERY good, that it can pass off as a really good-looking cashew!  

Now you know who is enjoying playing with the clay a lot more than Ate. =)

Wishing everyone a happy and colorful day ahead!  

All About Joyce

I'm baaacckkk!!!   

There are a couple of reasons why I haven't blogged for a week. . . writer's block (okay, I don't really consider myself a writer, i'm just using this term!  Heehee) AND things have just been pretty busy lately at home. =)

I have something to share with you, something close to my heart and one of my favorite topics . . . food! Haha! This post is all about  "Joyce" . . . Joyce's Homemade Foods!

I got a taste of some of her goodies last weekend at the Bakers' Dozen Fair at the Rockwell Mall.  I think the Mall has this food fest every weekend.  There were so many food stalls that sell their goodies like Costa Brava (known for their Caramel Cake, but I love their Marshmallow Cake more!  Because it reminds me of the "old school" Birthday Cake I grew up with.  Oh and their Chicken pie was also good), Bronuts, Cru Kitchen (I love their fudgy bites) to name a few.  

One of the stalls where I tried and bought a few things was Joyce's Homemade Foods.  There were three dips/spread that you can try:  Quezo de Bola, Dulong in Olive Oil and Portobello Mushroom.  Everything is good!  I don't eat Dulong but I liked Joyce's because the "fishy" taste isn't overpowering.  But it was the Portobello Mushroom dip that won us over.  (Mom just made her own Quezo de Bola pimiento spread, the only reason why I didn't get one of Joyce's!) 

Ate loved their Melba Toasts!

Portobello Mushroom Love!

Mushroom + Garlic + Olive Oil = Happiness in a Bite! =)

Just when I was about to leave, I saw that Joyce's Butter Rum Cake was included in Inquirer's 24 Best Desserts.  So I got a mini bundt that we can try.

Light, Buttery and Moist --- Now I know why it was in the list!

Below is a list of Joyce's other goodies (got this from their FB page) which we can try and something to consider when looking for gifts ideas for this Christmas. =)

For more details/inquiries, please visit their FB page.

Late Post: Monday Blues

When I was still working, I always get the Monday blues. . . that awful, lazy feeling you get after enjoying your weekend, that it makes you don't want to go to work (or go to school).  

How can you beat the Monday blues?

1) SMILE!!!

2) Find something to LAUGH  about (and someone to laugh with). . . no matter how babaw or silly it is.

That was how I started my Monday! =)  

Spread some Love and Happiness!  Have a great week ahead!