I've been blogging for quite sometime and one of the things that I love about it is I get to discover other bloggers who are exceptionally inspiring. They are bloggers who live their lives to the fullest and at their best in what they do. It shows on the way they take photos, curate their social media sites, compose their articles, and most of all, show how sincere they are to their readers and followers. It is but innate that who they really are shows through their craft. 

I am not ashamed to express my deep "fan-girling" to my favorite bloggers. It is my way of expressing my thanks and gratitude for making me very happy through the learning and inspiration that I get from them. 

Just recently, my most favorite couple blogger, Yogo and Cream also known as Lloyd Urbino and Me-An Clemente, had their first meetup and I was jumping for joy when I was chosen to be one of the 15 fans to be part of the said intimate event.

This was the invite that I saw on @yogoandcream's Instagram account that made my heart flutter.

All I wanted was to see them again in person and would be able to talk to them and tell them face to face that I really, really like them because when I saw them in Blogapalooza, I was starstruck and didn't have the courage to do so.



What made me more excited was the event would be the best time to meet amazing people who would love to talk about blogging, food, sight-seeing, photography, and love life/loving life--- the things that I consider interesting.




I seldom attend events but this one I made time for. It was indeed a memorable experience. For two hours, all my expectations were met. It was indeed a time well spent.

It was full of fun and opened doors for new friendships.

I felt young because most of the participants were millenials including Yogo and Cream. Their energy was contagious and it was nice to see charming and friendly faces. The meetup wasn't too rigid or structured. It was light and personal. The eagerness of Yogo and Cream and all participants to know everyone was evident. 

It was laden with a lot of inputs and ideas.

Yogo and Cream were very accommodating in answering our questions even if they were too personal. Even though I was a seasoned blogger, I learned so much from this couple particularly about the ins and outs of blogging which most, I must say, were similar to what I practice and believe in. Those made me admire them more.

Yogo and Cream consider blogging as a hobby first and they haven't thought that this endeavor could give them so much opportunities that they haven't expected. The simple love for food for Lloyd and travel for Me-An combined together have made their blog as one of the best source for food trips and travel destinations in the blogosphere. It is obvious that they love what they do. It doesn't feel like they are working that makes more brands notice them. More opportunities come their way and they deserve it.

Like I practice, Yogo and Cream don't post on social media or blog about the products that they haven't tried or liked. They don't deceive their followers. What you see in their sites are purely honest and true. 

They also curate their photos on Instagram well that revolve on people, places, and food, three things that describe their main focus as a couple blogger. I also curate my Instagram photos but they are randomly posted and I've realized that they don't look visually enticing. From now on, I will improve in curating my photos which will also focus on my niche as a blogger.

Bloggers have different motivations to blog and I share the same motivation with Yogo and Cream. Blogging is a lucrative business but it should not be a venue for individuals to solely get something out of it and fool people or even brands. It should not be an endeavor to compete with others but rather, it is a job to be enjoyed and treated with utmost passion, integrity, and professionalism. 

I experienced a  lot of firsts.

It was my very first time to explore Gateway Mall because I got lost. LOL!

Moreover, I wasn't a fan of milk tea but tasting Taro Milk Tea by Coco Fresh and Tea and Juice blew my mind! I told Lloyd and Me-An that I preferred Banana Chocolate Slush that was equally delicious and refreshing, by the way. It was served late and it was blessing in disguise that made me taste Taro Milk Tea. I will definitely go back for this! I've learned from Me-An that this brand is considered the best milk tea brand in the world! Now I know why. 

I always see Gold Stack Potato Chips on Instagram and I am so curious about how it taste. Yay! The Sour Cream and Onion variant is delicious and not too salty. I love it! I can't wait to try the other flavors!

It was love at first bite. Oh my, the foodie in me was unleashed again!



As an OC mom, getting a 6 in 1 packing cube from The Closet Savers Company as a raffle prize made me very kilig to the bones! It was my first time to hear about this brand and based on the products that I saw on its Instagram account, traveler and organizing enthusiasts could benefit from them by solving their packing and organizing problems.

I also had a chance to meet the man behind Say Cheese MNL, the event's official photographer. When you see his and his partner's portfolio on Facebook and Instagram, you would never think twice of hiring them in events and food photo shoots.

It was my first time to attend a blogger meetup. As a fan, I am truly blessed and glad to know Lloyd and Me-An better, up close and personal. I really found more reasons why I should continue following them. They have no pretention. They stick to their values and always put their feet on the ground despite being on top of their blogging career. They are genuinely candid and generous of their time, knowledge, and blessings. What  you see is what you get. 

Thank you, Yogo and Cream! Until next meetup! Kindly bring Mommy Irene with you! I am dying to meet her! More power and God bless you in all your endeavors and adventures! Looking forward to your next #lovefoodtravel posts!

Barbie is a doll that every girl's dream to own. It's perfectly beautiful and stylish. It can be dressed up in any way that makes it fit to do any role that a little girl assigns to her.

Barbie is more than just an iconic doll. She is the epitome of what every girl wishes to be. Every girl , like Barbie, can do anything and can be good at it because she is confident and willed to be the best person that she can be.

This was the mission of the event , Barbie You Can Be Anything, held in Lucky Chinatown Mall last October.

Kudos to Rich Prime Global Inc. for organizing an event like this. It was such a pleasure seeing those girls hit the runway and join the activities in store for them passionately and confidently. It was clear to me that they were getting ready to be a full-grown real Barbie dolls--- girls who would do anything to be the best that they could be.

If I remember it right, there were only four instances that I joined Nuffnang Philippine's Blogging Contest. The first time that I joined and won was when Globe sponsored the movie screening of Runner, Runner. For a person without beginner's luck, it was such a  great experience to join for the first time and win thereafter. I was looking forward to watch it and join other bloggers who won. Unfortunately, my kids got hospitalized and I even never had a chance inform the organizer that I would not be able to  make it.

I was still new to blogging then. I didn't know what to do and honestly, I was so nervous because I barely knew any blogger. An introvert in nature, I was so shy to interact with people especially those that I didn't know. That was me a long time ago but little by little, I started gaining friends from the blogosphere. 

I consider myself to be so blessed to meet good friends while gaining opportunities through blogging. This endeavor can make me do business with pleasure.

2017 marks my fifth year in the blogging industry and my fourth year as part of Nuffnang Philippines. I am so proud and happy to be part of this community because it has opened doors for me and other bloggers as well. It has brought 16,470 campaigns to be exact which includes hosting giveaways for reputable brands. It is giving away huge prizes like gadgets, staycation/vacation packages, movie tickets, and a lot more. The contests are solely open for their pool of bloggers that have signed up in their website. If only I can join in all, I would love to, but my hectic schedule never permits me at the moment. 

Not until I was asked by my photography mentor and one of my favorite food bloggers and good friend, Joy Gurtiza. She posted in her Facebook wall if there was somebody who liked to get three tickets for the advanced screening of Despicable Me 3. Without batting an eyelash, I immediately commented "Me!!!!" So she sent me a private message stating that for me to get those tickets, I have to join Nuffnang Philippines's blogging contest sponsored by Colgate. The requirements are clear and easy to do, intended especially for parents, so for me, I was good to go! Imagine, I could have a chance to win a prize in exchange of doing something that I love! Win-win!

Actually it was a diad effort between Paps and I. I asked him to guest post because I wanted to submit a unique article coming from a dad's perspective. I just placed personal touches and did the editing and we were able to submit our entry on time. After a few days, the result was posted and we were so lucky to be recipients of three movie tickets for the advanced screening of Despicable Me 3. Yay! 

Kuya and I were the only ones who watched the film. We gave our extra ticket to a friend who needed it because we didn't want her one loved one to be left behind. It was indeed a great feeling to share our blessing and make someone happy.

Here on this photo were the highlights of the event. We really had fun! Thank you Nuffnang Philippines for organizing this event. Kuya and I and the rest of the moms, dads, and kids who came had a wonderful experience--- another treasure to be kept inside our bank of good memories.

If you are a blogger, I encourage you to register and be part of Nuffnang Philippines. It is a venue for us to monetize our blogs aside from having an opportunity to join its contests. It is dedicated to building strong relationships among bloggers, its community, and brands. Nuffnang Philippines wants their bloggers to earn a passive income, gain more exposure and opportunities, and of course, have fun! By just getting an ad banner of your choice in your Nuffnang Philippines account and placing it on your website, your visitors' number of clicks on it can make you earn.

I already cashed out my earnings for the last four years for the first time and I'm currently waiting for my cheque. Isn't it exciting? You may visit www.nuffnang.com.ph and explore to learn more about it.

Like me, she advocates raising readers. Above all means of learning, we patiently teach our kids to read and love doing it. We are so blessed that our kids are growing up as bibliophiles despite the advent of the advancements in technology.

Kat and I started teaching our kids the love of reading while they were still very young. We would find time story reading aloud and expose them to the different kinds of books-  cloth or felt, board (especially the Peek-a-board books), and those who were hardbound or paperback. We experienced frustrations when our kids tore the precious books that we provided them. We didn't mind because it was part of growing up. We just didn't stop exposing them until they learned to read by themselves with a little assistance depending on our kids' capacity. It was such a pleasant sight to see them reading on their own and manipulating their books. It became a habit. I know even if there are eBooks, like us, they would go back to reading books made of paper that they could touch, feel, and smell. There is no greater experience of having books that are tangible. The texture and scent of their crisp pages can be imprinted on the reader's memory. This feeling indeed is part of learning through reading that can't be replaced by any other reading materials uploaded in gadgets.

My Box-All-You-Can Book Buffet Haul

These were my top picks.

I have this eagerness to share my love for reading and teaching kids how to read and their benefits to other teachers and parents especially to those who have students or children with speech delay. There is joy and beauty in reading aloud with kids and pointing the words to them so that they can eventually know how to read words in the story and say them loudly by themselves. When kids are already hooked in reading aloud with their parents, it can be noticeable that they themselves can be motivated to mirror what their parents are doing that's why it is very important to read to them properly. In my five years of teaching and 12 years of being a mom I have noticed that kids learn best when they confidently know how to read aside from giving them other activities to do that can enhance their holistic development.

In line with this, because some parents find books very expensive, I always suggest that they should visit Scholastic Warehouse Sale and avail the Box-All-You-Can Book Buffet to start their mini library at home. Not just parents, I also encourage teachers to start collecting books which they can use as tools in teaching their students. 

I started my collection of story books for kids whenever there was a Scholastic Sale in the school where I used to teach. I used those books in teaching my former pre-school students and for my own reading pleasure as well. Who would have thought that those books would benefit my own children? Amazing, isn't it? My collection keeps on growing through Scholastic Asia  through the years without breaking our tight budget to sustain my family's love for reading.

Yesterday afternoon, Kuya and I were happy to join other mommy bloggers and their kids at Gardenia Pocket Sandwich Pocket Full of Fun in Fun Ranch Ortigas. 

This fun afternoon was filled with games, food, prizes, magic show, mascot appearance, etc.--- a great way to spend quality time with our kids that made our tummies and memories full. 

The main inspirations of Gardenia to come up with Pocket Sandwich are the busy moms. Moms are the masters or multitasking. They are very efficient in juggling different roles like doing chores, taking care of the kids, handling finances, scheduling activities for the family, earning for a living (may it be working at home, business, or in a company/institution), taking care of the family members and their needs, and of course, planning and preparing meals. 

Iron- for normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin

Vitamin B1- helps release energy from proteins, fats, and carbohydrates

Vitamin A- essential for eye function

Most moms are the ones in charge with money matters at home. It is a saying na maswerte ang mga lalaking makakapag-asawa ng babaeng masinop sa salapi. I am not saying that I am close to perfect when it comes to handling our expenses but I am confident to say that I am learning. Just last year, Paps and I decided to save through Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF). His bank automatically deducts an ample amount from his account monthly and that money is being invested by the bank and not just being deposited to earn interest. Through this, we feel that we are able to save more and earn not just less than one percent a year. We also availed health insurance to have peace of mind in case that any family member gets sick, we know that everything is getting covered. Just the same, a few years of working as a teacher, Paps decided to save through the cooperative which he can't withdraw his principal savings unless he resigns as a member and annually he receives a dividend aside from getting an interest. 

We are doing all these for our family's future. Despite living on a pay check, we do our best to set aside a few pesos and hopefully more because in the long run, it will benefit us and we will have something to spend when we are not capable of working anymore. But I think, it's not enough. We are looking for other ways to save and we don't know how.

Yesterday morning, it was my chance to learn about more about money matters and the questions in my mind were finally answered. It made me realize that saving alone and UITF weren't enough for us to sustain our finances in the future.  Life is very uncertain and as parents it is our duty to keep our kids and ourselves secured. 

I was privileged to be part of Good Houdekeeping Money Matters held in Cafe 1771 in Ortigas. Together with Insular Life, the Philippines' leading and largest Filipino life insurance company, the talk aims to help modern moms make informed choices about money through learning more about financial literacy, investment, and insurance. This empowers moms to have more ideas on how to gain financial freedom and security.

The talks were led by two knowledgeable financial speakers. Aya Laraya, an investment advocate for more than 25 years of experience in different financial literacy and host of the TV show Pesos and Sense, spoke from his personal experience of improving financial literacy and finding out the best investment for a family.

Insular Life financial advisor and educator Maria Rosanna Sevilla also spoke about the benefits of savings, investments, ans financial literacy, and how insurance can work for moms. 

Here are the key points that should be kept in mind:

- We should not focus on saving in banks alone because we earn low interest through it but rather choose to invest money through a mutual fund or Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) where we become part of the company as investors and not as consumers alone.

- Insurance protects us financially in cases of death, sickness, and retirement. We can also secure our kid's future through availing an education plan. If we want to have the home of our own, a plan for the estate is one of the best options. 

In choosing a financial product...

Don't sell the product, sell the behavior. There are many ways to secure our future and invest to earn more but we need to change or improve our perception and habits to achieve financial stability.

4. Shop around for products.

When we buy, we should know what we want and what's important to us. What is applicable to someone may or may not be applicable to us or vice versa. Investment depends on our need or situation.

5. Sign only after reading and understanding the product or ask someone who understands.

6. Keep checking.

We should participate because it's our money that is involved here. We should talk about it with our family members. Our beneficiaries should know about our investments.

To learn more about tips and great finds for home and living, Good Housekeeping is available in newsstands, bookstores, and supermarkets nationwide for only Php120. For more vital parenting information and relevant content 24/7, you may follow Good Housekeeping on Facebook via @goodhousekeeping.ph, Instagram via @goodhousekeepingph, and Twitter via @ghphils.

Last Saturday, May 20, a group of kids ages seven to eleven attended the first run of Little Heroes: First Aid and Rescue for Kids.

This workshop that has its second run on May 27 aims to teach kids basic first aid and rescue which include the following: 

1. CUTS and WOUNDS
– Proper Handwashing w/ Demo and Return Demo
– Cleaning and Dressing w/ Demo and Return Demo

2. BURNS
– Dressing
– Prevention

3. STINGS and BITES
– Dogs and Cats
– Bees
– Jellyfish
– Sea Urchin

4. STRAINS and SPRAINS
– RICE
– Prevention
– Activity: Compression Bandage

5. BROKEN BONES
– Activity: Basic Splinting

6. HEAT EXHAUSTION/HEAT STROKE
– Recognition
– What to do
– Prevention

7. NOSEBLEEDS

8. HEAD INJURY
– What to watch out for
– What to do
– CT Scan and X-ray

9. HOW TO RESPOND TO CARDIAC ARREST
– Recognition
– Opening the Airway
– Calling for help
– Activity: Return Demo

Life is very uncertain. Accidents may happen whenever and wherever we are. It is a must for our kids to know how to do the above-mentioned skills when it is necessary. We encourage our kids to join kiddie crew, art, music, and self-defense training and workshops. Why not include this workshop before the summer ends because I believe that it is a must for our kids to be equipped with these life skills  . You may go to http://manilaworkshops.com/events/littleheroeskids for more details and how to join. 

Here are some snapshots of the first run. Thank you, Miss Veni Anabo of Manila Workshops for these. 

In this life we call a "journey", we have the power to choose what we want to be and the road that we want to travel. In my case, I always choose to take the road less traveled. I always believe that I am on the right track when the situation gets tough. All I have to do is to purge all my resources and energy positively to keep going.

Having a difficult and sad childhood up to the extent of being stripped off with everything in young adulthood while figuring out how to earn for a living as a breadwinner, summarizes the darkest days of my life until I decided to get married and build a family of my own. I believed in those moments that "It shall pass", and it did. I faced reality and held on to the truth. I trained my mind to find something good in every bad situation. Having distasteful moments could teach more than losing more. The most important aspect of it was I learned who my true friends were and faith kept my sanity intact.

My life has been a continuous struggle but it doesn't stop me from being self-directed and optimistic. There was one time that I had a chance to converse with a friend priest and I told him my life story. These were the exact words that he said, "If that situation of yours happened to someone else, he or she might get crazy." Yes, it was easy to just give up and be selfish. I was young and there were opportunities in store for me that could be attained by being alone... But I chose to stay and be with my mom and brother. I didn't run away from my problems. I initially chose to stay away from negative people and that helped a lot. 

I am now married to my best friend, the best husband and dad, the person that God has given me in those times that I've needed someone to understand me. We have two wonderful boys and the youngest has been diagnosed with Mild Autism Spectrum Disorder. We have so many blessings to thank for despite having a challenging family life. We may not be rich in material possessions but I can say that we are happy. Our togetherness is truly a gift.

Trials come and I can face them bravely and conquer them gracefully because I am surrounded with good people. But at the back of my mind, am I truly contented? Am I completely free from my ugly past?

Honestly, there comes a time when I feel that there is lacking despite planning my life purposefully in accordance to what I know that is best for myself and the people I love. I feel this way when everything turns out unwell despite being prepared and righteous. Maybe, subconsciously, I feel that life is very unfair despite doing my very best to make it fair for myself and the people that I hold dear. I have a strong faith in God and it's very wrong to ask Him "Why me again? All is well and good, but why another misfortune? Mabuti naman akong tao at wala akong inaapakan. Bakit ako na naman?" Well, I am not always thinking like this. It seldom happens but it hurts. I feel this way whenever I am bombarded with too much problems all at the same time.  Itutulog ko lang at nagiging okay naman ako kinabukasan. I keep moving forward. I stay optimistic and do the things that I trained my mind and body for including repression and suppression of feelings. But still, I feel that there's an empty space in my life that needs to be filled in. 

Learning about the upcoming e-course, "The Roadmap to a Fulfille Life" by Miss Viviene Bigornia, just came right on time. I seldom read posts on Facebook for a couple of days due to my very busy schedule and it was the first post that popped up! Maybe God was sending me a message. Maybe involving myself in this course could take all my unresolved issues away.

These four statements struck me the most when I visited the website that prompted me to take the course:

- Learn the foundation and the very first step in finding God's calling

- Know what is a fulfilled life and how to experience it.

- Unearth your past experiences and discover where God is leading you.

- Get yourself prepared to transition from where you are to where you should be.

I am totally submitting myself to this course. Enrollment starts today, April 28, and ends on May 15. Upon enrollment, I can get an access to the following:

- Free Ebooks
- Free Printables
- Exclusive Access to its Private Community

You may go to http://thefulfilledwomen.com/fulfilled-life/ for more details.  If you feel that you have a situation closer to mine or if you are still finding your purpose, I invite you to learn with me. I believe that this will help us break the chain of resentments and pain to find more meaning in what we do.