Santa Baby?

Just want to share these cute pics of Sam. Actually, it's just an experimental shots. I was just trying some of my satin curtains to use as backdrop sana then get some shots if it will look ok. All of a sudden, Sam thought that we'll going to have a shoot again. She immediately grab her santa headband...thinking that it's a christmas shoot maybe because of the red backdrop...then stood in front of me...btw, I still don't have the cam that time yet... then mega pose na sya...haha! She's really waiting for me to get the cam because she's really not moving and posing still...lol! I don't want naman to spoil her mood and she really looked pretty in her pose kaya I took some shots na din. Too bad because I wasn't able to get a good setting kaya yan..medyo blurry. Just wearing her usual pambahay...i didn't noticed that her pants was baligtad pala!..as you can see, nakalabas pa yung tag!..ayayay!...hahaha :p

my fave shot

a tiring but exciting photoshoot day...

Finally, the most awaited day of the first day group photoshoot of Kidstime little models has been arrived. The photoshoot for the Stella's Clothing Line group went off smoothly. I think some of them didn't make it. As far as i know, the headcount should be 12 for the Stella's, but they were just 9 of them during the shoot. The girls wore these dolly-like satin colorful dress from the said clothing company for the formal wear shot. Sam really like the dress and refuses to remove it after the set...haha! Everybody poses their sweetest smile in front of the cam. Even the youngest in the group did very well. The studio was jam-packed with these kids and the ever excited stagemoms. You can really hear the woos and coos of the mommies even outside the studio!...haha...ang ingay! :p I hope that daddy Chris didn't get annoyed with us, the ever so ingay stagemoms..hehe After the shoot, we were asked to wait outside for the meantime to giveway for the Polka tot's group.

formal wear shot

The 2nd set was a bit more casual. They still wore these clothes from Stella's. Sam's wearing a red soft pants matching her tops. The others wore a casual dress that really looks so comfortable. Everybody had a great time. Noisy mommies on the loose again!..haha

casual wear shot

It was also nice to finally meet in flesh our ever dearest "Contest Queen", Mommy Ro!..haha Though Mommy Kat & I already bumped to each other once during the Trinoma exhibit...I'm really happy to meet you again and had this little chikahan. I also met some GT moms from the forum and group. Pardon me if I forgot the names...hehe! I'm not that active kasi sa forum. I usually visit the site just to get some news about the contests and mag winners...I'll try to be more active now to make connection with the other stagemoms.

with mommy Ro and mommy Kat and our cuties

with my fellow stagemoms and gt moms

mommy Zharina cuddling her bunsoy

And finally, a very big thanks to this mom behind all of these. Thank you so much mommy Zharina and to your ever loving and very supportive hubby, daddy Chris and to the rest of the staff of Kidstime and Children's Ave. It's really a great opportunity working with you guys and I'm looking forward for the success of your "Twins." After all your hardworking days and nights and the completion of your models, you made the first photoshoot a success. Though there are some misunderstanding about model categories, you were still able to work it out. I understand that sometimes you need to make a change and hope that some concerns have been fixed for the benefit of all. Good luck more sis for these coming two days of exciting photo shoots. More cutie kids, more crying..hehe...more noisy moms...and more precious moments to capture. :p

At the Zoo

credits to folllow...

Cheerleader wannabe!

my little chubby cheerleader!..lol

Got a little photoshoot again at home with my little brat while the rain continuously pour outside because of typhoon "igme". She really like this cheer leading costume that my parents sent from the states last year. She just asked me to buy her a pair of pompoms to complete the outfit. I think she was inspired by the movie "bring it on" that we watched last time. She was so amazed while the cheerleaders dances and produces amazing stunts....gusto pa nga sanang tumambling tumbling....haha! She's really in the mood to pose in front of the cam with matching dancing pa...haha! Super hyper na naman ang ate ko! :p

LP # 2: Pag-aaral

Ako ay labis na nasisiyahan na makita ang aking anak na babae na nagugustuhan nya ang eskwelahan. Wala akong pagsisisi na ipinadala ko agad sya sa eskwelahan sa murang edad, sya ay tatlo't limang buwan na taong gulang pa lamang. Ang aking munting intensyon ay upang matutunan nya kung paano makipaghalubilo. Ang pag-aaral kung paano magbasa at magsulat ay dadating din. Si Sam ay ang nagiisang bata sa aming tahanan at wala syang ibang kalaro na pwedeng makipaglaro. Sa eskwelahan, makakgawa sya ng mga bagong kaibigan at matututunang makipaghalubilo sa ibang bata na kapareho ng kanyang edad. Noong una, akala ko na puros paglalaro lang dahil ang edad ng mga "nursery" ay nahuhulog sa eded na pagitan sa tatlo hanggang apat na taon. Hindi ko naisip na ang pag-aaral kung paano magbasa at magsulat ay kaagad na parte na ng kanilang kurikulum. Sya ay may limang aklat, mayroong arawang gawaing aklat at dagdag na gawaing pambahay. Hala!...ang mga bata sa henerasyong ito ay nagiging masyado ng nauuna. Isa pa sa nakakpagpasaya sa akin ay ang makita na sya ay may nagagawang maganda sa kanyang klase. Palagi syang merong mga tatak ng "Very Good" at "Behave" sa kanyang mga kamay tuwing matatapos ang kanyang klase. :)

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I am very happy to see that my daughter is really enjoying the school. I don't have any regrets that I send her at an early age, she's only 3.5 years old. My only intention was to improve more her socialization skills. Learning how to read and write will surely come at a latter part. Sam is the only kid in the house and doesn't have any playmates to play with. In school, she can make new friends and will learn how to interact with other kids of her age. At first, I thought that it's only more on the playing part since the age bracket of nursery falls between 3-4 y/o. I didn't realized that learning how to read and write is already part of their curriculum. She has 5 books, having their daily workbook activities plus homeworks. Oh my...the kids in this generation is getting more advance. What makes me more happier is to see that she's doing very well in her class. She always have these Very Good Star and Behave stamp on each of her hands every after class. :)

Sam Rocks with Hannah Montana

We were able to watch the "The Hannah Montana /Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds 3D Concert" @ disney channel last June 21. Sam starting to like Hannah after she watched her concert. She really likes the songs and even imitates her move while watching it. A few weeks later while strolling at The Block of Trinoma mall, there's an event about Hannah Montana. They're promoting the said concert and selling different Hannah Montana merchandise as well. I think there was also this application/audition booth for the Hannah Montana singing contest? I'm not sure because I wasn't that interested at all. All I can remember was that the contest is open for little girls ages 6 & up I think. The people from the said event was giving some 3D eyeglasses for the by passers inside the mall. We've got 3 pairs. They remind us to watch for the said Hannah Montana 3d concert on June 21 @ Disney Channel. And we did! i think It is much better to watch it in a big screen tv, mas realslisric for sure and 3d effect. :p

Sam is so fascinated with "Yo Gabba Gabba!"

Sam has a new favorite tv show nowadays @ Nick Jr. It's the Yo Gabba Gabba show, a new children’s show that looks like it was created in some sort of time warp to both the future and the 1970’s at the same time. She's very fascinated with the chracters, maybe because of their very colorful costumes. She dances and sing especially if the "Party In My Tummy" song is being shown, she really loves the beat! :p Too bad, because she'll be missing to watch it already because her school just started. It is being aired daily @ 10:00am on Nick Jr, Sam's class schedule as well. I'll just try to get her a dvd collection of this new show so she can watch it after school. :p

Yo Gabba Gabba! is a fun live-action program for young children ages 1 and up. Join our host DJ Lance Rock as he introduces us to friendly toy monsters in a magical land full of music, dance, colorful cartoons, and simple life lessons that will get you and your children up off the floor to learn and dance along. Just say the magic words! YO GABBA GABBA!!

Meet the Cast!

DJ Lance Rock. He's our host, and in each episode he gets the show started with the magic words, "Yo Gabba Gabba!"

Muno, the red cyclops. He's very friendly, mild-mannered, but sometimes slightly impatient. He loves to learn and is very outgoing. Sometimes he can be a bit clumsy and has been known to break things.

Foofa, the pink flower bubble. She's giggly, outgoing, happy, bubbly, and likes things that are cute and cuddly. But sometimes she gets a little moody if things don't go her way.

Brobee, the green little one. He's cuddly and cute, but also cautious and needs constant reassurance. He's sometimes scared to try new things. Music, singing, and dancing help give him confidence and help him to learn.

Toodee, the blue cat-dragon. She's very smart and independent. She's also athletic and mischievous. Sometimes she gets too excited about things and can be selfish.

Plex, the yellow robot. He's always there to provide music, teach lessons, and use his wonderful magical powers to beam guests into Yo Gabba Gabba Land. Like a parent, he typically knows how to solve problems.

They're all ready to sing, play, and teach whenever you are. Just say the magic words! "YO GABBA GABBA!"

Sam's New Pet!

Sam is going to school already this monday. And her school stuff are not yet complete!Gosh!..lol! Since we're already running out of time, I decided to take a short trip to the mall with my little girl. We headed to National Bookstore to shop for the rest of her school supplies. When we're done, we took our lunch first then we stroll around the mall for a while. Sam always requesting to drop by to Toy Kingdom to check some toys. After checking some toys, she was amazed to see a girl with this animal foil helium filled toy. The girl really enjoys her "pet" playing and running with this balloon type toy within the mall. Though Sam is not the type of kid that "what she wants, she should have", I decided to buy her her own. She was delighted to see that were heading back inside the toy kingdom. Approaching to these foiled animals, her face already filled with this awesome smile! I asked her choose your pet Sam & Mommy will buy it for you. She immediately choose the dalmatian design dog and handed it to me... "I like this mommy!" After paying the purchased dog at the counter, she said.."Thank you mommy!" ...aaaw! It really melts my heart that she appreciate my small gift for her. She already can't get enough of her new pet!. She's really happy playing and even talking with this toy even we're already heading home. I'm happy to see her also for giving her an instant playmate. Just need to maintain the helium inside every 5 days to retain it's shape. Cost P149.95 /Toy Kingdom.

It's a "Farm" mommy!

One night, hubby and i were talking about our sudden plans to visit the zoo. Since we're staying at my in-laws, Manila Zoo is the nearest zoo where we can go.

Me: Hey baby, you want to go to the zoo?

Sam: wow! ( as in very delighted, imagening already what she can see inside the zoo!)...let's go mommy!

Me: No, we will go there tomorrow. So you better go to sleep early. Look at daddy he's sleeping na. (just pretending..hehe)

Sam: tomorrow morning?...the cow..and the tiger...and the elephant sleeping na?

Me: Yes sweetie, they are already sleeping. Tomorrow morning, they are going to wait for you so you better go to sleep now...ok?

Sam: ok mommy...( trying to sleep but still making kulit with her dad)

The next morning:

Me: (trying to wake her up to prep her) Sam...wake wake up!

Sam: noooo!...sleep pa! (covering her face with her "nutnot")

Me: remember, we are going to see the animals today.

Sam: (very delighted on what she heard) ...going to see the animals? (with a big smile on her face)

Mommy: Yes baby... get up now.

Sam: suddenly seats up! and said yey!....let's go to the "Farm" na..

Me: later sweetie, we're going to eat first then then take a bath... and it's not a Farm baby...it's a Zoo!

Sam: no...Farm...with the different animals (then she suddenly say...iyaiyayo!!!)

I suddenly realized that she's talking about Old MacDonald had a farm song!...she's pertaining to the different animals inside the "Farm"...haha! Oo nga naman, farm nga nman at hindi zoo...di ko agad na gets!...lol! :p

It's Finally Ours!!!

At long last...after a couple of questions and endless requests to the admin of Trinoma, they agreed (with the sponsors approval first) to finally give the showcased portraits to us...the winners of the mall's photo competition Portraits: Mom & I @ Trinoma!...yey! As you can see, we already got ours...hehe. I just asked my bro to pick it up for me yesterday which is good thing I did! I didn't realized that it's really big. Now, I'm still thinking where to put it....is it on the living room or in the bedroom?...hmmm...help me decide! :p

Showcased Portraits @ Trinoma Mall

me & Sam beside our huge portrait

We were able to drop by finally @ Trinoma yesterday afternoon to check out our winning portraits that is being showcased until the 8th of this month. Sam & I were accompanied by some of our good friends and online buddies. Thanks Irish as on of my on the spot photographer...ganda ng mga shots mo mare!...haha :p And to Kat who joined us making kulit in front of the portraits. Also to Stef who spare some of her & Keanna's time to join us. And lastly to sis Thet, that we were able to meet in person at long last!...It's really nice to meet you sis and pretty Iya as well. Too bad that Nina wasn't able to stay for a while because of some important reasons. Thanks for all the support guys!...luvsyah all...muah!

sam was really amazed to see her big photo

Sam Decorates Her Own Krispy Kreme Doughnut

"We all love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts"

with the trinoma team

Sam was able to experience on how to design her own Krispy Kreme Doughnut. Good thing she's really in her good mood that time when one of the crew approached our table and invited our little Sam to join them and be part of their little crew. Actually this was the second invitation. The first time was last december pa. Anyway, she cooperates well with Kitkat (store crew) and goes with her for the doughnut decoration. Daddy was the one who took the pictures. The rest of the staff were so amused of her behind the counter. The best part of it was she got her decorated doughnut for free na! Thanks Krispy Kreme! :p

sam with ate kitkat

3rd placer - "Portraits: Mom & I @ Trinoma" Photo Competition

Yey!...I didn't expect that my entry will be still included in the photo contest of Trinoma's Portraits: Mom & I @ Trinoma. I just received a phone call today and an email from Anne Nayve, Marketing Dept. of Trinoma informing me about the good news. Competition was very stiff and I was really lucky that the photo we've submitted was still chosen and has been selected as the 3rd placer. Here's the winning photo entry entitled "By my side"...

"By my side" (photog and title courtesy of Sam's daddy)

We won the following prizes:

• P2,000 worth of Ayala Malls eGC's
• gift pack from The Body Shop worth P2,000
• The Spa Wellness Cards worth P2,500
  

Photography is not cheap, and it will never be...

Photography is not cheap, and it will never be, unless you consider “snapshooting,” photography. Most people perceive photography as a business and money-making opportunity, a venture to earn big bucks out of the unlimited shutter clicks on each digital camera. Businessmen, who know nothing other than profits, cash, and company checks, assume the same – for as they say, “digital naman.”

Photographers indeed make money out of their crafts, but they do so precisely because they deserve to be paid for their skills and artworks. They have earned their way to learn and perfect a craft, a not-so-easy feat to begin with. Chefs cook, doctor’s cure, actors act, professors teach. Like these professionals, photographers too spend years, and maybe even decades, learning and mastering the art. Just like an ordinary person, photographers too spend money (that most don’t have enough of, by the way) for this craft. Photographers too spend time, energy, effort, and passion producing an output, something that will always be a part of the photographer as an artist, and something that will identify the work as a product of the artist. This identity from the artist is what makes each piece unique, what gives each piece an attitude and character, what makes each work important. this identity is the “essence” of the artist, if you may – the “essence” that is largely connected to the special talent and skill needed to translate the passion within into a tangible piece of work, into an 8x10 that you hang on to the wall or put in a gold-gilded frame waiting for guests to ooh and aah.

Secondly, someone’s got to pay the rent.

Double Winner!

I'm starting to get hooked already joining in the different magazine contest available in the metro. After my little Sammie's first (hopefully not the last...hehe!) appearance on SP Mag (Aug 2007 issue), i considered to join her as well to different magazine contest i know. It was just this year when I started to send different photos of her to different baby and parenting mag contest. Trying out any luck to win at least one. Thanks to Mommy Steff for reminding me about the ongoing mag contest in wmm c/o girlytalk. I sent Sam's photo and luckily, though not chosen as the ultimate winner, was already a winner for me because she was included in the gallery (wmm baby face for the month of March2008) :p Since then, I started to send more photos of Sam and ensure to send those before the mag's required deadline.

This month, Sam's photos won the Moms Today's Precious Moments and Milestone contests. Yes, she won on both categories...Yehey!!! :p I'm so happy when Steff informed me the good news. I just grabbed the scanned copy to our GT group because I still don't have the copy yet. I'm so proud of my little girl for winning twice at the same time in the same magazine. One thing that amazes me more was the prizes install. MT mag is so generous enough to give all these exciting prizes to all the winners! Imagine that? Sobrang galante diba, unlike the other mags, the main winner was the only one entitled to have the special gift packs. ...oopsie, no offense. :p Oh well, I'm not after with the prizes and gifts packs naman. For me, just seeing my little girl's photo printed in different parenting magazine is indeed a grand winner already! :p

Sam's special gift pack from Sanofi-Aventis Lactacyd and Dryeprs for winning in the Precious Moments contest

Sam's special gift pack from Wyeth Phils. and Enfant for winning in the Milestone contest

my little winner!

Nickelodeon Weekend Carnival Fun!

We were able to experience the Nickelodeon Weekend Carnival at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field in Taguig City (behind NBC Tent) last April 26 (Saturday). The free entrance carnival tent opened from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Nickelodeon turned the place into one exciting theme park that sets you on a trail to everything gooey and adventurous. The splatter-filled fun started with Nick signature games, inflatable fun and other sizzling hot stopovers including a face painting station (which smother those who love Go, Diego Go with camouflage or animal prints or lightning bolts for Danny Phantom fans). Way out and more daring Nicksters tried the Jimmy Neutron style paint-on glasses and the wacky color-your-hair station. Sam wasn't able to try these stopovers because of a very long waiting line. There was also this bouncy trampoline rideat Danny Phantom’s Fright Flight that Sam really wanted to try. Of course we didn't allowed her though she's willing to try it...haha! Very brave indeed! There's also the Fairyland-inspired tent where you may catch must-see Dora The Explorer episodes. Of course, nothing beats summer but a “splash down” into Bikini Bottom at SpongeBob SquarePants Bubbling BikiniBottomtent. Here, kids will surely enjoy the bubble show, bubble blowing and of course, a “dive under the sea” of sponge and foam to look for SpongeBob’s pet snail, Gary. Sam and her dad were able to try the "catch patrick star" game where she accumulated some stamps and a cute stickers as prizes. There was also this Aang of Avatar’s Four Nation Action Area where a free-for-all play with earth blocks (clay molding), air balls shooting (balls-in-a-hoop game), knock down fire power balls and hit the bulls eye with your water squirters. Of course, this station was a hit to the little boys.

All throughout the event, Nicksters really made some noise and joined the Nick Parade led by the drum and bugle corps. The kids were awed by stilt walkers, fire eaters, on-stage games and a fascinating fireworks display that ends the exciting day. Too bad, we weren't able to wait for Dora & Boots and watch the fireworks as the grand finale. Sam was already cranky and were already hungry, we leaved at around 7pm. :p

few of the highlights of the carnival fun

Experience Jurrasic at Dino Island

Since hubby is home, we ensure to go out and bring our Sam to different kiddie places around the metro as much as possible. He'll be staying for more than a month with us and hopefully we can provide our Sammy her chance to go somewhere she'll truly enjoy. And one of our agenda was to bring her to Dino Island. We were able to visit and experience the biggest Dinosaur expo in Southeast Asia just located inside Star City in Pasay. Come and see the life size moving dinosaurs inside the 3,500sqm Jurassic setting. Sam was truly amazed to see those big robotic dinosaurs. The Dino Island Park will definitely provide a great form of entertainment for us aside from giving us a bird’s eye view of the distant past when humans were not yet walking on this earth!

Happy Easter

Hope everybody's having a nice Easter celebration today. Too bad, I wasn't able to bring Sam to at least one of those egg hunt events I mentioned from my previous posts. Oh well, I'm not just in the mood to go out and really feeling so lazy today to go somewhere else. The weather is so annoying too! I guess, Summer is really starting and it heats up everything it touches. The air is very humid and it's really exhausting, making your body really sticky...eww!..haha!! I just don't feel to go out with Sam and decided to better stay at home instead. Good thing we did because rain suddenly poured in the afternoon. Don't want to be laid in sickness again, especially my little one. It's realy really hard. Anyway, I just made some Easter layouts for my little bunny-girl. She just love wearing those bunny ears!...isn't she lovely:) Happy Easter everyone!!!

credits: Easter Mini Kit by Melany Violette

credits: LorieM Designs Easter QP

credits: LorieM Designs Easter Kit