June Birthday Party 2

Two weeks after my Sweetest's birthday celebration, we had B's 12th Birthday Party. This year I did a MineCraft Theme party.

Just like last year's Dino Video War theme party, I made his birthday invitation which I sent online this time since we don't have much time to mail them anymore.

This year, instead of candy bar I made "S'mores Bar" so we can make our own s'mores.

I got 3 different sizes of marshmallows.

And a propane lamp to toast the marshmallows. The kids enjoyed making s'mores and so did my Sweetest.

And just like every birthday party he had in the past, I made personalized party favors.

I made some "Microwave S'mores Kits" for the guests to bring home. I found something like this in Pinterest. But I made my own version.

I put together graham cracker, Hershey's chocolate bar and marshmallows in a plastic favor baggie and tied it with a string and a special instruction card in MineCraft theme too.

I also made some personalized chocolate candy bar wrappers in MineCraft Theme (same as his invitation card) and wrapped them in Hershey's chocolate bars.

Then I revised the writings on the back of the wrapper. Notice the part where you see the "Ingredients". LOL.

AND I was able to commission my Sweetest to make me a watermelon jug to put the lemonade. I supposed to make the watermelon juice or a concoction of such but I didn't have time anymore so I just put lemonade in it.

B's sisters made The Crawler Cake. As always, they come up with something really awesome and yes, something that B can relate to.

Of course we need candles to blow. I didn't want to ruin the cake so I came up with gumballs in mason jars and put the candles in it so B can blow them to make a wish.

My Sweetest is a Dad too

It's Father's Day and this is my tribute to the best DAD to the 3 most adorable Gregoire children.

 

Happy Father's Day to You!

Busy Mode

I was out of touch again for more than a couple of weeks ago because I help my step-daughter with her wedding preparation.

 

One of the Invitations I custom-made for the couple.

No I am not complaining. In fact I loved it because I was able to put my creative side into action again. Here is some of the things I did and I will surely come up with a series of detailed posts to discuss the wedding once I get the "go signal" from my SD.

The Invitation for the Reception.

Dino Video War Party

Brandon turns 11 years old today. We had his birthday celebration last Sunday. He wanted a Video War Game Party and Dinosaur Theme in one. So as always he got his wish.

I made him a personalized invitation cards...

I also made matching Happy Birthday banners...

Name banners and banners bearing his pictures through the years.

And matching Party Favor bags.

His sisters heather and Steff did an awesome Dino Cake.

And I set up a Candy Bar...

A Sundae Bar...

 

A Lemonade/Fruit Punch Stand...

A Burger/Hotdog Bar.

And yes, I made my very first "cake pops".

It was a very intimate party attended by only family and closed friend. He got only one kid guest, Maya who never fails to come every year since he was 6 years old.

It was tiring but enjoyable. I never realized that throwing a party is fun. I would like to do something like this again.

The Cuddly vs. the Cutie

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puppies vs. Babies for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
A friend of mine asked me a favor I cannot refuse last weekend. She and Hubby celebrated their 2^nd Wedding Anniversary and wanted to go on a date. She asked me if I could babysit her 9-month old little princess who happens to be my Godchild too. Well, what can I do? I so love the little one to pieces so I said – yes. But there is a catch. Together with the little one, she also asked me to watch their newly adopted puppy from the shelter. That – I cannot refuse too.

So there I was trapped in my home on a nice warm Saturday [where I was planning to go for a run] taking care of a cuddly baby and a cute puppy. It was such a wonderful sight to see them sleeping on the opposite ends of the couch. Too bad, I didn’t have a camera to take their photos. My Sweetest borrowed it the other day.

The awesome sight reminded me of the Puppies vs. Babies online contest where you can vote for the cutest photo of the puppies or the babies. Well, if only this opportunity came earlier and if I had the camera then, I would have taken their photos and join the contest. Who knows I might win the $5,000 cash prize. But since the submission of entries is already over I just voted and wrote some comments. The contest is open for voting till the 23^rd of November only. For those who are dog and baby-lovers

I so love the photos of Puppies vs. Babies there. I actually voted for one baby who captured my attention for his captivating smile. He made me smile too when I saw his picture.

So if you are a dog and/or baby-lovers why don’t you check out their site and vote today. And while you are there, share who and why you are voting for in the comment section. Yes, we do love to hear from you. So come on because you still have time to participate in this awesome opportunity.

SuperMom writes too

I had a chance to get interviewed by blogger-children's book writer mom Anna Denskins a few weeks ago. And it was indeed a wonderful opportunity to be featured in her blog. So here I am returning the favor. Here is the excerpt of the said interview.

Your children's book, The Adventures of Smitty looks magically. Tell us about it.

It's the story of a magical island of little creatures called Smilies and the mischievous little main character, Smitty. He's such a naughty boy. Haha!  All the moms and kids I've shared it with have been giving me such a wonderful reaction. I cannot believe it.  I have to tell you how excited I am to finally have a life-long dream come true. Writing The Adventures of Smitty was really about finding a story that I would want to read to my children at night. It has to be exciting but not scary so that my two daughters can go to sleep.  Basically, I was looking for that perfect blend to read to my kids at night and decided, "Why not try writing my own?"

We've had a lot of changes in our life recently, so I want to make sure that when I put my daughters to sleep that they feel safe.  I have short chapters because I know how busy we moms are but if you can just sacrifice 5 minutes at night reading to your kids, it makes a world of difference.  Your kids will never forget it. And although we're running around the whirlwind of life, our kids grow up so fast, and that time that we'd rather finish watching what happened in our favorite soap opera instead of reading to our kids will never come again.  I hope that The Adventures of Smitty and books like it help moms do exactly that.

And it's only 99 cents this week. That's what I love about it. Now, You are recently divorced. How have you been able to continue writing when going through such a change?

Yes, it is by far one of the most challenging points in my life. To see a marriage you thought would last forever to not last forever was difficult for the two of us. I really learned a lot about myself and most importantly, it's brought me closer to my daughters.  I think that's what really motivated me to finish this children's book no matter what. When you're going through changes in your life like this, you need something to hold on to. There's a part of you that wants to prove that you can make it, that you will be a success even if it's not with the partner you originally imagined building a life with.  I had to keep writing, for my kids. I want to show them that they have to keep strong, no matter what.

We as women, as moms really need to stick together to support each other and our dreams. We're living in an age when I think we're finally realizing, although we want love, the men in our life aren't the answer to everything. We have to stand up on our own two feet and keep going. True love will happen, but until then, we have to keep moving forward. Our children depend on us and we depend on us.

In addition to being a children's book author, you're also a small business owner. How do you juggle taking care of two daughters and at the same time running a business?

Yes, I am a fashion designer and have a retail store. Any type of creativity is what I'm passionate about. That's why writing The Adventures of Smitty was so important to me.  Let me tell you, running a small business in today's economy isn't easy especially when raising two girls at the same time. But somehow, it seems someone's watching over me because my dreams are coming true no matter what. To have that many moms glowing about my children's book, means so much to me. And I know my girls are proud.

When do you ever have time to write?

You mean, in between laundry, running a business, chasing my girls around the house, cleaning the house, and flying back and forth from Miami to New York? Haha? That's one thing I've learned, when you really want to do something, you find a way.  Things fall into place if you just go for it and that's what I want to encourage all the moms who are reading this right now. Whatever your goal is, you can do it. Don't let the challenges in your personal life stop you from going for your dreams.  Just go for it and it's almost magical how things fall into place.

Where can we get a copy of "The Adventures of Smitty"?

Right now, it's available online by going to: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94655 You can also visit my website: http://www.AnnaDeskins.com where you can read more about my writing process, my recommendations for other books and my own adventures in Mommyhood.

I'm so grateful for your support and the support I'm getting from so many wonderful moms who dream of writing children's books one day too.  Writing The Adventures of Smitty has been such an emotional experience for me, a true journey as I was going through so many changes while writing it.  It's truly been a blessing in my life.  It, along with my daughters, and that guy upstairs have really pulled me through a challenging time.

Thanks for the interview, Anna. And let's go out and support a fellow mom by getting a copy of The Adventures of Smitty today. I know I will!

This Time of the Year

I feel a little edgy lately. I can't help it. It was around this time of the year when I miscarried.

It has been 3 years already and I'm still not over it. I still grieve. I still cry every now and then especially when I hear stories about miscarriages. Though, I became a mom for a brief moment, it was such a wonderful moment in my life.

Three years have passed, but I still feel the pain of losing my precious little one. 

But I try move on though I still grieve, it doesn't necessarily mean that I am hopeless.

And I try to be happy though I still cry, it doesn't always mean that I am lonely.

Then, I try to be free though I still feel pain, it doesn't really mean that I have given up.

One day, I will let this time of the year pass by... celebrating the joy of acceptance.

Generic Formula... anyone?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was googling something in the internet a while ago when I stumbled upon this news about Similac recall. Apparently, it was found out that the infant formula may contain beetles or their larvae. Ewww… I can’t imagine myself feeding my baby milk with beetle or its larvae in it. Can you? Well, glad that I am not a mom so I don’t have to worry about it. But I have a baby niece and friends’ babies who are so dear to me so I am really worried too.

So I googled some more and found out that there is such thing as generic formula too. And knowing "generic", I know it is much cheaper than branded formula. I believe buying this infant formula is more practical than buying the branded ones which are basically the same in terms of benefits that they provide. Besides, according to Dr. Barbara Levine of Weill Cornell Medical College, “all formulas are subject to the same regulations governing manufacturing and ingredients as stipulated by the Infant Formula Act.” If this is so, the only difference between the branded and the store brand formula is… the price.

The good news is you can find a lot of generic infant formulas from your local store. Take for example Parent’s Choice which you can buy from Walmart. Like any other formula, Parent’s Choice baby formula is nutritionally complete and it meets the nutritional guidelines determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so you can be confident that your baby gets the health benefits that he gets from its more expensive counterpart. And more importantly, you can save as much as $600 a year if you switch to generic formula.

Here is some additional information on Parent’s Choice Infant Formula that you might find interesting.

Moms have found premium quality Parent’s Choice Infant Formulas in-store. Now they can find Parent’s Choice formulas on-line, ready-to-ship to home!

- Case sizes only (4 or 6 units)
- Powder and ready-to-feed formulas available
- No additional charge for ship to home
- Easy to find on Walmart.com’s Baby Center

Parent’s Choice Formulas:
- Meet all FDA nutritional standards, like the national brands
- Offer complete nutrition for babies 0 – 12 mo.
- Are available in a range of formulas to address common feeding issues

So if you love your baby and you want the best for your child, maybe it is time to switch to generic formula and save money as well.

For Happy Babies

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

My friend just gave birth to a bouncy baby boy. He is the cutest baby so far especially when he works on his smiley blue eyes on me. My friend being a first time Mom is always worried about simple things. I can’t blame her. It is her first time and he is her first baby. She only wants the best for his new bundle of joy. One day she was crying on the phone and I panicked. I thought something bad happened to her baby boy. I drove to her house only to find out that her baby blue eyes has diaper rash. Big deal! Yes, indeed.

If you have a baby, there is nothing more important than knowing that your baby feels comfortable and rash-free. So I drove back home and took the Boudreaux's Butt Paste which I supposed to send to my sister-in-law for my 1-year old niece. I gave it to her and will just buy a new one next time.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste® is an amazing product for babies. Mommies who have little ones should never run out of it.

For additional information about the product, read on:

Boudreaux's Butt Paste® is recommended by most Pediatricians and was specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care.

It goes on and cleans off easily. It is available in handy travel size and convenient sizes of 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, and 4oz tubes, 16oz jar and comes in flip top cap (tubes). It has a pleasant scent and skin protectant like 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam. And treats diaper rash and soothes irritated skin.

This product was featured on Oprah Show, the Tonight Show, the Today Show, the People Magazine, in ESPN and While You Were Out in TLC.

So if you want your baby to be a happy and comfy, always have Boudreaux's Butt Paste handy.

Off to the monkey bar again

So the kid who had an accident last Friday went to school yesterday. He was up and running again after Mom dropped him off together with his younger brother in school. He was active again as if nothing happened. How did he do it? I was jealous of the kid's energy. I wished that I had his so I can do more when I get home.

And so we had to go out again in the playground that morning because it was indeed a lovely day. It was only a quarter before eight but the temperature is already in the 60s. There was no way I would keep my kids in the cafeteria playing board games or building puzzles and legos. What they need is to build up their muscles.

When we were there in the playground the incident of last Friday came back as soon as I saw the same kid running towards the monkey bar again. As soon as I saw that I ran as fast as I can and holler at him... you don't think you want to smash your head again on that pole! And he turned around and just laughed at me and went on.

Hmmmm... kids!

The Bottom Line

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

My sister-in-law in the Philippines gave birth to a cute baby girl last year who happens to be my… little look-alike. Yup, she is my “mini-me”. She is my exact replica when I was a baby based on the old photo that we have in our living room. So given that premise, she is as adorable and as pretty as I used to be. LOL

Since I don’t have a kid of my own, I just shared my brother and my SIL’s excitement and anticipation of their fourth child. And as excited as I am, I started buying baby stuff as soon as we found out that my SIL will have another baby girl. So when she was still pregnant with her, I sent her some baby products and baby clothes in preparation for the baby’s most-awaited arrival.

I bought a lot of pink baby clothes and booties and cute hats. I bought a lot of baby blankets and little toys. And I bought a lot of baby products from body wash to body lotion… from thermometer to little spoons… from wipes to diaper rash ointment. And with regards to diaper rash ointment I specifically looked for Boudreaux’s Butt Paste because my friend who has a 3-month old baby recommended it to me. She said that it is the best product that she tried so far. Well, it turned out that it is true because the other day, my SIL asked me if I can send her more Boudreaux’s butt paste because she already ran out of it and she cannot find it in any of our local stores in the Philippines. Apparently, she bought whatever was available there and she was not happy with the result. So, I am sending her more tubes for her stock.

Here are some of the additional Information on Boudreaux’s Butt Paste:

Diaper rash ointment, skin protectant, helps to prevent diaper rash, protects chafed skin, and seals out wetness. Boudreaux's Butt Paste® spreads on easily, cleans off quickly, and has a pleasant scent. It is available in drug, discount or grocery store chains nationwide in convenient foil pack, 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, 4 oz tubes and 16oz jar. And it is featured on:

• Oprah Show

• Tonight Show

• Today Show

• People Magazine

• ESPN

• While You Were Out TLC

And if you want to get your very own free sample of Boudreaux’ Butt Paste… click http://www.blairex.com/BLButtPaste.php.

on keeping safe

I had a not so good day today despite the balmy weather. It was in the high 60s. The clear blue sky was an indication of a warmer day compared to the past few days. The warm breeze was soothing to the soul. And the cheerful laughters of the kids that filled the playground seemed like music to my ear. It was almost a perfect day until one of the kids under my care hit his head hard on the monkey bar pole and passed out on the ground for few seconds.

I was freaking out but I need to contain myself because emergency calls for it. I am trained and certified in First Aid and CPR but whatever I learned from the training seemed to go down the drain. I thought I was going to pass out myself. But no... I need to be strong because the kid had an accident under my watch. Good thing that I was able to remember the first few basic things to do when faced with such incident. I was able to contained myself and kept the kid conscious until the 911 call was placed... the school nurse arrived and the ambulance responded. In less than 30 minutes me and my staff were tailgating the ambulance on Route 202 on our way to the hospital.

Of all places... we thought that the playground is the safest place for the kids to play. But no... a lot of accidents happen in the playground. And yes... when there are kids involved... accidents do happen not only in the playground. That is why I never go anywhere without my first aid kit when with kids at work. And good think I never go anywhere without my presence of mind. It saves me from worse case scenario.

Dora and Spongebob... save my day!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.

As you may already know, I am a stepmom to a special child with special needs. My stepson is an 8-year old boy who has asperger syndrome. And with his kind of temper… I have am so glad that I have a support system – Dora and Spongebob. LOL

Well, being a special kid he doesn’t have the patience for TV schedules. When he wants them on TV… he wants them right away. Okay, let me tell you a secret. You may not know it, but if you have Charter digital, you have “On Demand”. And it’s free to access. With On Demand - there are over 6,000 movies and shows to watch anytime you want. No waiting, no schedules. You won’t miss one of your favorite shows like Heroes, 30 Rock, The Office. There are many of your favorites the day after they air on TV. And yes, they are - Free!

If you're a busy mom like me, and it’s hard to get in the car and get a movie, you don’t have the time to wait for the DVD in the mail. Having this service at my fingertips is such a breeze. Having this On Demand helps me fight less and reason out with my stepson. And now that HD is the thing, I’m finding that we do the HD shows more often. There are hundreds of them.

So if I were you, learn more at charter.net/ondemand and get updates and fun extras on Charter’s Facebook page so you will get updated and won’t be left behind.

Nothing but the Best for the Little One

A friend of mine just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl a couple of days ago. She is her first child. Since she announced that she was expecting 7 months ago, her friends and families were so excited for her and the baby inside her bulging belly. I know the feeling. I once expected too.

Anyway, as a good friend I threw her the Baby Shower that all expectant mothers are looking forward to. Of course, since I was the mastermind for such memorable event, I made it sure that the gifts I gave are nothing but the best because I got her Baby Bedding from BabyBeddingPlace.com.

Today's Everybody's Game

I have not been doing a lot of blogging lately because I was doing Tetris online. However, since Brandon is into video games too, we kinda have to work out on a schedule for gaming time to have peace around the house.

Video games is today's everybody's game. Kids and kids-at-heart are drawn to video games. It's very amusing that is why it is very popular nowadays. So if your kids are into video games go check out BuyMMOAccounts.com where you can buy world of warcraft subscription for only $29.99 which is good for 60 days.

Why Does God Make Moms... keep it to yourself

If you have noticed by now, I have not really posted any descent article as I used to. Yes, I have an alibi. I was busy. Oh, screw that! I am running out of ideas... for real! Work is taking the toll on me and I am more into paid posts to earn few dollars for additional income.

But until now, I still can't think of anything good to write but my friend handed me out a piece of paper giving me a warning not to laugh so loud... and I thought of sharing it with you with the same warning... DON'T LAUGH TOO LOUD AND KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

Answers given by 2nd Grade school children to the following questions:

WHY DID GOD MAKE MOTHERS?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

HOW DID GOD MAKE MOTHERS?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE MOTHERS MADE OF?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice int he world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string. I think.

WHY DID GOD GIVE YOU YOUR MOTHER AND NOT SOME OTHER MOM'S?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

WHAT KIND OF A LITTLE GIRL WAS YOUR MOM?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

WHAT DID MOM NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DAD BEFORE SHE MARRIED HIM?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

WHY DID YOUR MOM MARRY YOUR DAD?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

WHO'S THE BOSS AT YOUR HOUSE?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOMS AND DADS?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic. They make you feel better without medicine.

WHAT DOES YOUR MOM DO IN HER SPARE TIME?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE YOUR MOM PERFECT?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR MOM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Oh well, our kids do really have a broad idea of what we are. In there eyes we are really special and they truly make us feel how special we are... with a dash of humor. Happy Mother's Day... in advance.

Dancing in the Right Tune

My nieces dream to be ballet dancers when they grow up. It could be in their genes since their uncle, their mother’s half-brother is a premier ballet dancer in the Philippines. They love ballet since they both started walking in tip-toes. Now that they are little older, my sister-in-law enrolled them in a ballet school. They just love it.

I enjoyed watching ballet myself that is why I am very supportive of their dream. And just recently, I got them new Ballet Slippers from CapezioDance.com. CapezioDance.com offers high quality dance outfits online from bodywear to legwear to footwear.

So if you are into dance and looking for quality dance outfits, check out Capezio and you will surely be dancing in the right tune.

I got shot

I finally got my flu shot today, so I’m all set now for the winter season. I cannot afford to get sick so I have to get vaccinated by Inactivated Influenza Vaccine to protect me from the Influenza Virus that is common during this season. Well, I assume that you all know what I am talking about. My arm where I was pinched is a little sore right now but other than that I’m doing ok.

I also got a flu shot scheduled for Brandon next week. More than anybody else in this household, that kid needs one. This vaccine is very important to children. Read here for more information about the vaccince. Usually the school requires their students to get vaccinated due to obvious reasons. Last year, Brandon had already been vaccinated before they announced that all students should be vaccinated so Brandon got an “A” for that and I got a tap on my shoulder for that too.

My only problem now is Hubby. Of all people he is the most stubborn and hard-headed when it comes to medicine. He didn’t get a flu shot last year and I bet I will not be able to convince him again this year. I don’t know why men are such hard a** when it comes to medicine, doctors, check-up and everything associated with them. My other problem is that when he is sick he would be bitching and complaining a lot and won’t take medicine to get well too. So tell me how will he get better? That is one thing that I am avoiding that is why I want him to get a flu shot… which I will not be surprised at all if he will not have one. Oh Men!