Lucky you!

Julia is one year old today... well, almost.  She was born 7:59am.

As promised, I will announce the lucky winners of my blog giveaway.  If you specified in your blog comment the item you want to receive,  then, your wish is my command :-)

For those who didn't mention what they want to win, I trusted my instincts in selecting an item for you :-)

• 3 Winners of Sassy Hairsies

NINA GAERLAN-REVECHO

JAMIE REYES RIVERA

MAI DANGANAN
(Surprise Design from Sassy Hairsies)

• 3 Winners of Post It Gift Pack

FRANCES PABLO
KATHERYN VALLESTER
RACHEL CANALES

• Starbucks Gift Certificate

JENIFFER GANGAN
(P200 worth)

• Nail Spa Gift Certificate

AJ GANANCIAL-BUSTAMANTE
(Express Hand and Feet Treatment)

Congratulations to you all and thank you for joining my blog giveaway!  You have to reply to my email  so I'll know where to send the item you just won :-)

Check out results by Rafflecopter in my original post.

Nail Spa: My Ultimate Me-Time Destination

While waiting for Don last night, I went to Nail Spa Shangri-la Mall for my much-awaited me-time.

I have been a client of Nail Spa since its pre-toile de juoy-accented interior days.  I go there 2-3 times a month, depending on my schedule.  It is also a preferred date venue for Don and I.

Exclusive area for Bliss service clients

The comforting bubble soak, the thorough scrubs, the relaxing massage, the wide selection of imported nail polishes and the free nail kits are not the only highlights of my visits at Nail Spa.  I have been a client since 2008 because:

• The receptionist recognizes me and greets me by my first name.  She is genuinely sorry  whenever I cannot be accommodated because they are fully booked.  But she would sometimes squeeze me in the schedule if I badly needed a pedicure.  (I suggest you call first and make an appointment.  They have a lot of regular clients with an appointment that makes walking-in during weekends and holidays next to impossible!)

• Belen knows exactly when to talk because I want to chat or when to shut up because I want to sleep.

• Belen is not on auto-pilot.  She is genuinely concerned about my nails!  She would advice me not to apply nail polish whenever my nails are dry and yellowish.  If I have a party or event to attend, she would remind me to remove it after.

• During my i-need-a-pedicure-right-now moments and Belen is on day-off, I am always confident that I get the same level of service from other nail technicians.

• I can sleep or declutter my mind without interruption because I don't have to worry about my nails getting "murdered".

• If Belen is busy with another client, other nail technicians assist me as I wear my sandals/slippers to make sure my nail polish doesn't get smudged.  

• I don't have to buy magazines because they have a wide selection of magazines.

• They have lots of pink nail polishes to choose from!

My hard-earned money deserves a quality product or service.  That's a given.  Therefore, loyalty is not built solely by consistently providing a quality product or service.  The client has to feel important and special ALL THE TIME.  

That is exactly how I feel every time I go to Nail Spa.

Menu of Services

5th Floor Shangri-La Mall

EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard

Mandaluyong City

687-4991

Unit 106 First Midland Building

109 Gamboa Street

Legaspi Village, Makati City

817-3128

5th Floor The Block

SM North Edsa

EDSA corner North Avenue

Quezon City

441-0323

Join my blog giveaway and get the chance to experience the kind of pampering you deserve!

Must-Bring When Travelling with Julia

I don't travel light.  I'd pack clothes good for 6 days for a 2-day trip.  So, I absolutely understood Don's horrified look when I finally booked our ticket to Davao last year (we celebrated Christmas there).  He probably thought, Mommy + Julia = a lot of luggage! Literally and figuratively, ha!

For our Davao trip, he was extremely pleased when we did not exceed our 45 kilos baggage limit at Cebu Pacific.  But he frowned a bit when he saw our car trunk and front seat full of bags when we went to Tarlac to celebrate the new year.  Hey, there's no excess baggage to pay for, so I can bring more, right? ;-)

Believe me, I wanted to bring Julia's (and mine!) entire closet.  Aside from clothes, here are some essentials that we brought with us:

The upcoming weekend is another opportunity to bond with our family.  Any plans?  What important and convenient things should you bring when travelling with your baby?

Post-It®

I mentioned in my on-going blog giveaway that Post-It® is one of my favorite things.

Yes, I'd be lost without Post-It®.  That is not an exaggeration!  You see, I easily forget things.  And I can't blame the spinal anesthesia because even before my CS delivery, I always write my to-do, to-buy, to-discuss, to-announce, to-pay, to-pack, to-approve, to-clean lists so I won't forget!

In my job, I receive calls and emails, talk to my colleagues, get instructions from my boss and sometimes think of ideas while working on my laptop.  That is too much for my memory to handle! :-)


So, you will see Post-It® Notes scattered in my work area.

My laptop...

My phone...

My documents...

Of course, inside my drawer...

Aside from its functionality, I prefer using Post-It® because of the variety of colors and the reliability of the repositionable (I just call it "tanggal-able") adhesive.  According to their global website:

The Post-it® Note was invented as a solution without a problem: Dr. Spencer Silver developed a unique, repositionable adhesive, but the 3M scientist didn't know what to do with his discovery. Then, six years later, a colleague of Dr. Silver, Art Fry, remembered the light adhesive when he was daydreaming about a bookmark that would stay put in his church hymnal. The rest is history.

I use it at home, too... for phone messages, grocery list, labels for Julia's things, "Don't Forget" reminders, etc.  My box full of Post-it® has the size appropriate for every need and the color fit for every mood.

A box full of Post It® Notes, Flags and Arrows inside my cabinet at home.

This "invention by accident" is definitely a must-have for all busy moms like me.

Get the chance to win a Post-It® Gift pack... join my birthday giveaway now!

Check out the history and fun facts of Post-It®s.

Sharing my Blessings

Today, I am a year older.  My life is not perfect, but my blessings from the Lord are beyond measure!

To celebrate my birthday and to spread the love and happiness, I am sharing my blessings by giving away some of my favorite things :-)

• Sassy Haisies Headband

Donna  (1 winner)

Jill (1 winner)

Surprise  Design (1 winner) 

•  3M Post-It Gift Pack

Various Post-Its (3 winners)

• Starbucks Gift Certificate

Starbucks Gift Certificate worth P200.00 (1 winner)

• Nail Spa Gift Certificate

Express Hand and Feet Gift Certificate (1 winner)

You have until January 29, 2012 to join.  Just follow the instructions from Rafflecopter below.  I will announce the winners on Julia's 1st Birthday, February 4, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Stork Studio: Super Like!

I was so excited to receive in my email the thumbnails of Julia's photo shoot last November 27 at The Stork Studio. It was our third time this year.

The first time was for my maternity photo shoot.  I was 34 weeks pregnant and it was our 7th wedding anniversary.  I usually shy away from the camera so kudos to Sophia Genato for making me feel comfortable.  She was so good that she was able to convince Don to pose with me for a few shots!

Julia was almost 2 months old when we scheduled our 2nd photo session at The Stork Studio.  It was a challenge but we had fun with Stanley Ong, who patiently adjusted to Julia's mood that day.
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Remember this outfit?  This was Julia's Halloween Costume at the Gymboree Trick or Treat Activity.  This is one of the great shots from last weekend's photo session.

This is my personal favorite.  Julia was wearing a beanie made by her Aunt Michelle.  She was giggling, laughing and clapping her hands.  It was a perfect ending to a fun-filled photo session.   

Beanies for Sweaties by Michelle Osman.

Sassy Julia

My daughter is a happy baby and people always tell me that she's charming.  But they always notice that she doesn't have much hair yet.   So I decided to accessorize Julia's hair with headbands.

With the surge of online sellers, there were a lot of choices! But I value referrals from friends.  And that's how I came across Sassy Hairsies.  I first bought Beatrix and from then, I'm hooked!

Julia wearing Beatrix at 2 months old during her Child Dedication.

I couldn't stop buying from Tin, the sassy mom behind Sassy Hairsies.  She has a day job but can still manage to create headbands that are handmade with love!  Each creation is neatly made.  You can feel the love in each headband.  Not only that, the packaging is impressive.  The products are not stuffed in a courier plastic, like what other on-line sellers do.

Since Julia was born, I have already purchased about 12 headbands.  With Sassy Hairsies' awesome new collections, I don't think I'll stop at that number!

Julia at 2 months old during her photo shoot at The Stork Studio.

Julia (7 months old) loves to spend time with Daddy.

Julia wearing Allie (8 months old).

Giggling as she tries her new headband.

My favorite so far is Jill.  Its a combination of different colors of genuine wool blend felt with a Swarovski pearl at the center.

Enjoying the day at the park with daddy

Anne, Donna and Martee are the latest additions to Julia's Sassy headbands.  It was delivered yesterday and  I can't wait to see Julia wear them.

Told you I won't stop...