What's in my Bag: Cheap Items for the Hygienic and On-the-Go Mom

I believe there's a fine line between losyang and dugyot. Nobody would like to be called like those. What I meant is there shouldn't be an excuse not to be presentable, especially with moms. It's not for other people to like us. It's not for our husbands to go crazy about us. Those are just bonuses. I believe that looking good means feeling great. At the end of the day, it all boils down to how we managed to keep our selves presentable given our motherly duties.
I'm also a mom. I don't have a nanny. My husband only goes home every weekends for his work errands. It means I handle these mommy tasks all by my self. But I keep my self pretty, still. And I really don't spend too much with all my kikay stuff. Here are some...

1. Herbench Tickled Pink moisturizing lotion- keeps my hands and body smooth! And you'll love the smell as much as I do. It smells like Bench's cologne.

2. Rexona women deo-lotion- for the mommy-on-the-go!

3. Ever Bilena lipstick- In red-orange shade to add oomph to my lips
4. Watson's lip gloss/ cheek tint- a multi-tasking product which is nice to bring while on a travel
5. Avon lip gloss- I'm a sucker for lip gloss. This one's really shiny and in nude color
6. Maybelline Baby Lips Color- my favorite brand and my favorite lip balm in one package.
7. Colgate Plax- no more bad breath!
8. San-San Liquid Foundation- I only wear this when I go outside. I don't wear makeup often. But I got this one as it fits Filipina skin-tone.
9. San-San concealer- I always use this before, that it's almost empty. When I used to work at the call center, a concealer was my best friend. It helped cover my dark under-eye area.
10. Allue eyeshadow- I just find this cute that I bought it. Now I gave it to my younger sister.
11. Skin White Face Cream powder- it has a pretty coverage. This is so far the only cream powder I've ever used for my face.

So there you go. You saw what's inside my kikay kit. I will update you next time! Ola!

Blogging 101: Why I Named My Blog After My Name

This story I'd like to share today is a bit of history. Don't worry, this is not about me. It's all about my blog. To start with, let me inform you that the original name of this blog was Sugar Plums and Lemon Drops. It was pretty, girly-like, and sounds really glam as if I'm hosting a fashion blog. But my blog will never be a place for fashion or beauty. Yes, I do review beauty products but I can't be a true-blooded beauty or fashion blogger. I'd rather be a mom blogger. That's something I'd fondly call my self. So I changed it to Super Mom when I become a mom. But then again, that name did not really fit me. Now it's just Mommy Nimfa, my name with a fancy "mommy" tag--the simplest I could ever think for a blog name. But I do this on a purpose, and that I'd like to share to you.

photo from chicagonow.com

First, I wanted to be clear and concise on what my blog is all about. I am a mom and this is a mommy blog. I want my readers to think of me whenever they'd think of a good mom blog. (I know I'm ambitious). With that, I created a list of my projects for this blog, that I'll be posting later on so watch out!

photo from trionaguidry.com

As you see, I stopped believing that I am a "Super Mom". That's something I'd like to achieve but I realized it will take decades before I proved to people or to my self that I am one super mama. So I just gave up that dream, at least for now. All I know is that I am happy and alive even if I'm not a living and breathing Super Mom in real life.
But the most important thing I'd like to work on right now is monetize my blog as a business. This time I want to bring it to a higher level. I got rid of writing for other people. It's not about the cheap budget. It's the credit they get out of my works. So I just realized I will stop from freelance writing for a while. I'll focus on my blog from hereon.

One Bra Fits All

This is cool, it looks very comfy and I like that it's in nude-color 'cause I only wear nude-colored bras. It's actually a new Avon-product worth P499! Must-try hihi

Life Minus Excuses

I'm a mom. I have these stretch marks all over my tummy, zits all around my face, dark circles under my eyes, and a little confidence to show off. Then I saw this picture of Maria Kang few days ago.

photo from Maria Kang's blog

I read the texts along with this picture from Maria's website. And I'm really, really confused why there are people who do not like it. Guess what? I was kind of jealous when I first saw this. I secretly wished I have this fabulous bod, or just her abs. But I didn't say anything bad about her. In fact I like her, that I badly want to be like her. I'd like to be as inspiring as Maria Kang. Now I ask my self, "what's your excuse, Nimfa?"

I Cried

I cried this morning. I just...missed my life.I feel crazy and desperate.  I sit here in front of my laptop, lifeless, uninspired, unmotivated. What's wrong with me? I said I'll never write if I don't feel well or if I'm sick. I wanted my blog to be a happy place. But look at me. I don't even look happy. How can I make my blog a happy place? I know right. I lost my mind and I really need motivation and that I don't know where to find. Is it reading a new book? A new magazine? Cuddle with my son? A cup of coffee. I just wanted to rest. My goodness. I can't even do all that stuff no matter how fun it sounds. I just want to sit here. Wait until I found that motivation and hopefully I'll do. My client at work was really demanding. They want me to revise that Ebook I wrote last week. I just don't want to write for these people anymore. Okay too much for these. I'll get back and write here once I  found that motivation I'm looking for.

Mommy Checklist: Baby-proofing a House

No house is entirely baby-proof. But as my son Jairus grows up, he's now more curious on things. He's not yet inclined to playing a real toy. He has a ball and lots of stuffed toys but he still likes playing with some things he sees in the house. As it's better to be safe than sorry, I exert an effort to keep our house child-friendly. Here are alternatives I do on baby-proofing a house.

Buy covers for electrical sockets. This is to prevent babies from inserting their fingers on it. But since we are using an extension, I place it underneath the TV rack so Jairus won't reach it when he tries to pull himself over. 

Block the way to the staircase. Place a safety gate at the top and bottom of the staircase. Climbing up is as harmful as falling from the top. But Jairus walks using his walker and his usual target is the telephone, so a safety gate won't be appropriate to use. Instead, I use a high chair that he can't easily move.

Install non-slip mats on bathroom, if you bathe your little one in the bathroom. What I do is bathe Jairus outside to avoid accidents on slippery floor.

Keep cords like window blinds and drapes out of reach. This is to prevent strangulation. He likes playing with cords, and he'll cry if I get it. So I just look after him to make sure he won't eat it or get caught with it.

Small kids like prying open drawers. Put a safety lock on kitchen cabinets. There you can keep all the cleaning agents as well as other hazardous chemicals. 

Add safety locks on drawers. Instead of screws, try using a strong adhesive to hold the safety locks in place. It’s also a good idea to secure latches on sliding doors to prevent young children from opening it. To prevent accidental burns, you may put a barrier on kitchen stoves. Though it's still best not to let baby go in the kitchen.

Tip:
No matter what safety measure you put in place, it’s still best to supervise a baby

my nine-month old son on his walker

Pregnant Again

For the first time, I'm sharing a big secret here on my blog. I'm honest about the things I write here but most of the things I've shared so far are not so secret at all. I want my blog to be a happy place so I usually write about my son, his father, my freelance career, and all other little stuff that matter to me.

Recently, I've been writing a book about Oprah's formula to success. While I'm writing this Ebook, I learned about Oprah's self-therapy. The queen of talk likes sharing what she's going through even if it sounds difficult to share to others. Oprah was brave for saying that she was raped, got pregnant at 14, and dated older boys as a teen. But look at her right now. She's one of the woman I look up to! Inspired by Oprah's mantra to finally breathe and let go of this feeling, I'd like to break the news that I am pregnant, again. It was only me and Jhe who knew about this.

My son is only turning nine months this Tuesday. We found out about my pregnancy last week of August, so we count that I am on my second month now. I had my last period on July, and due to my husband's comment on my growing belly and missed period, we did the home pregnancy test.

The first test was confusing. The other line was not clearly seen. We tried another kit. And in just a minute, it showed two lines. We're positive! Silence filled the room for several minutes. Jhe's face was blank but I was sure he's nervous. I could feel tension and a roller-coaster of emotions between the two of us. I, on the other hand, was dramatic and awkward that moment. I cried. Jhe let me cry then comforted me afterwards while cheering me up.

In the end, we wanted this. It's just that it's not meant to have another child again. My mom could be angry, as well as my family. I knew they were just thinking about my good. But here in my belly is a life and a blessing. No matter what people will say, I'll love this baby as much as I love my first born.

A glowing, preggy me with my first baby

Getting Over Insecurities

Let me be honest about one thing I hate with myself. I am insecure. Ever since I gave birth, I started to feel losyang. Then when my husband talks about other ladies being beautiful, I start to become mad at myself. Mad that I cant be beautiful like them, sexy like them, or desirable like them. But after so many unwanted thoughts about my own self-esteem, I started to realize why...why I am feeling like this. What are missing? Why in the first place I became so insecure?

photo from nuttytimes.com

photo from Zaki Reza

Then I imagined how I like to compare things. This is better than that...this is worse than this and alas! I found the magic word. COMPARE. My insecurities came from too much comparing. Maybe those pretty girls my husband is seeing are truly more beautiful and sexier than reality. Wait let's revise. Those pretty girls are beautiful, and I am beautiful too in my own ways! If I am so ugly then in the first place he wouldn't want me to be his wife. I could remember him saying, "Kahit pangit ang ugali at katawan mo, mahal pa rin kita." (Even if you do have an ugly personality and ugly body I still love you.) That's hard! I understand him for saying this and I am sorry for all the hurting words I ever said to him. But these words are true, they might not be so sweet to hear. But he's just being true and that's what I like about him.

Top Five Things I Learned As A Call Center Agent

Health is wealth. That is the main reason why I left my previous job. My blood pressure went down to 70 over 50 from my normal 90/60 BP. Then I did have some serious issues with my cervix too. If only I haven't had all those complications, I won't leave. I enjoyed my call center experience but more than that, I am proud to say that I learned a lot of things. Here are some of them that I want to share to you guys.

photo from kalibrr.com

1. Multitasking is a sine qua non. A usual call center scenario? Queueing! I used to handle inbound calls wherein I just wait for a customer to call. It's way easier than outbound where you have to call an existing customer and mainly sell your product. But hey, I used to sell too! That's twice the stress. I was a technical support representative obliged to sell an extended warranty for the product I was handling.

photo from braingainmag.com

2. Accent is not that important. What matters most is what you say, obviously. Some call centers may be too strict when it comes to diction. But mind you, your slang might sound too good for you, but sounds like an alien to your customer. Not all customers are natives. They are in America but it does not mean that they speak pure American. Some of my customers were Indians, British, Japanese, and Filipinos. Too much accent will only have your customers asking to repeat what you've said. That makes the call longer and more complicated. Just speak naturally.

photo from 123rf.com

3. Befriend your team leader. Your team leader will be your saving grace from a million-dollar call. It means he will be there to help you if the call gets too hard to handle or if the customer simply wants a supervisor. But it does not mean that you just ignore your team mates. They can be your good friends too, in and outside the work premises.

photo from drlaman.com

4. Patience is a virtue, no matter what. Cliche right? But in the end, patience will save you from a bad call. When we say bad call, it's not just about a rude customer. It can be a very challenging call or nature's wrong timing (you're in the middle of a call when you feel your stomach gnawing or you feel like farting, etc.).

photo from rhresumes.com

5. Leave work-related issues in the work place. My break schedules were often inconstant. I used to have fifteen minute breaks wherein I would still go out and enjoy a cup of coffee. Then I was also given two days of rest a week. I spend that time enjoying my bed and dream land once in a while and of course bonding with my son.

Megan Young: The First ever Filipina Miss World Winner!

Yay! I think this is the first time I became really happy after a Filipina won an international beauty competition. I have nothing against other pageant winners. They are all beautiful in their own ways. But it's just with Megan that I feel so proud as if I know her personally.

Photo from gmanetwork.com

Perhaps it's because she retweeted one of my tweets before! It's a tweet about her blog, actually. She has a WordPress blog and she is a fellow nuffie! Megan looks very nice and approachable. Such a true beauty.

Do You Get A Penny Out of Freelance Writing?

Let's get to the point. YES. That's the answer to my question. I just want to make it clear, for pessimistic people emphasizing that freelance writing won't let you earn money. As a mere fact, freelance writing won't make you rich but at least it will not make you hungry.

Photo from tipsmakemoney

I wanna share to you guys some freelancers I know (though they do not know who I am; you might have read about these ladies). Two of the famous bloggers I look up to are Frances Amper Sales and Martha Sta. Barbara. I am a follower of their blogs. Frances was a magazine editor but now she's a full-time wife, mom, and writer. I like the way she shares her stories. You'll really get to know her when you read her blogs. Check out Topaz Horizon. Then, Martha is a renowned beauty blogger whose really inspirational. What I like about her is the positivism of her posts. I want you to check out her blog too--The Beauty Junkee. Lastly, let's venture to Stef  Gonzaga's world. I follow her on Twitter! Such a nice girl, she once replied to my tweet. She manages The Freelance Pinoy, a very good source of motivation for freelancers. Visit her blog to learn more about freelance writing and be inspired how freelancers love their careers even more!

Colorful Nails + Mega Food Trip

Moms, it's kinda tiring to be like us, right? I know you know how I feel. That's the reason why we deserve some pampering, whether it's a day at the spa or a food trip all alone! Yeah, I enjoy "me time" as well, and it can be as simple as eating a McSpicy burger.

 I love McDo! I really like this new addition to their yummy burgers. Although I admit KFC's zinger is more spicy. And if you're really into spicy food, you will find zinger a better choice. Still, I am a fan of McSpicy.

It was the first time I tried the Big Brekky. It's heavy but there's something about the egg and the coffee that I don't like. It also comes with a strawberry jam which I did not consume at all.

And here's another favorite of mine. Belgian Waffles are best served hot, with a cup of coffee or hot choco. 

What I enjoyed the most is my colorful nails. They're stickers! But they look like real nail art. There are so many designs of these cute and girly nail stickers you can also find at Eastwood tiangge.

NSO Birth Certificate Delivery: fast and convenient

Instead of spending half a day getting his birth certificate from the NSO office, Jhe and I just decided to have it delivered. We requested online. All we need to do is pay P350 thru Bayad Center, which is not really a hassle since it's just a short walk from the house. From the pay of payment, we were advised to wait for two business days for the birth certificate to be sent.

I went to Bayad Center last Thursday. As expected, I should receive the birth cert today, Saturday. And voila! It was delivered right in our house this morning.

Upon checking on the package, I saw this receipt saying that it just costs 140 pesos. In short, we just spared P210 for the shipping. It's worth it, anyway. It saved our time, effort, and patience falling in line just to get the NSO copy of Jhe's birth certificate.

What I Want to Receive for my Birthday

Just in case a genie passes by and ask me three things I'd like to have for my birthday (which will be this Saturday), I'm gonna save his time as I already have an idea in mind. Here are they:

Photo from Samsung website

1. A Samsung smart camera- my fantasy for Samsung Galaxy Camera vanished after seeing this smart camera. It's the NX 1000 model which has a built-in wifi and mirror-less interchangeable lens. In US, it usually costs around $600. But if you will browse Samsung's website, it's on sale for $349.99. That would be more than 15,000 pesos here in the Philippines.

Photo from Cath Kidston Facebook page

2. An authentic Cath Kidston bag- Lace and florals. That's what I think about this European brand. This autumn-inspired design that we have here is around 50 British pounds, more or less 3,000 pesos in Philippine money. There are too many class A versions of this bag but still, nothing beats an original and it's easy to spot a fake. Just look at the label. It should not be crinkled. 

Photo from Constant Contact

3. and my ultimate wish, a super pink closet like this. I like that it has many compartments. And there are drawers as well. I would like to have this kind of closet someday. And if my husband won't mind about our closet in full feminine color then I'll love him with all my heart. Hehe! 

We love simply bread

Last week, Jhe and I came across a newly-opened Simply Bread branch along Cubao. He tried the all-veggie bread which looks like a square pizza while I tried the all-meat flavor. While we were on the counter, the chocolate mousse caught my attention. It was mouth-watering. I bought it, not mentioning that we also bought a huge garlic bread after eating those pizzas. Jhe loved the food as much as I do. It was the first time we ate at Simply Bread and the we simply liked it!

 Yesterday, Jhe came home with these boxes of yummy treats from the bread shop. My lola was happy with it. She likes the ensaymada. As far as I can remember, this one is around 90 pesos.

 Jhe also gave us a cake by Chef Andrew. Who's Chef Andrew? By the way, the cake arrived too early for my birthday, which will be this week. Yey, I'm excited! I bet my guy will be giving me a cake from Dairy Queen, as highly requested.

And this is the cake roll which is more than a hundred peso I guess. It's less than 200 pesos. Affordable right? The cake tastes great as well. Go ahead and try. Much love here for Simply Bread. P.S. your breads and cakes do not look so simple. They look so yummy!

We "just learn to love again"

I personally like Pink's "Just Give Me A Reason". You might be thinking that I can relate to the song. Yes, I honestly do. The song is about learning to love again and holding on into a relationship despite all the fights and misunderstandings. And that's what every couple should put into mind.

This is me with Jhe. We've been together for more than two years now. We are like cats and dogs, our friends know that. But see, we're still together! Maybe we are not yet grown-ups, maybe our zodiac signs are not compatible, maybe we are not-so-meant-for-each-other. But we don't care. I know I am still in love and it's still him I want to grow old with. And that "reason" is enough to keep the fire burning!

Review: Maybelline Clear Smooth BB Silk Cake Powder

Maybelline is one of my favorite makeup brands. I started with Clear Smooth Extra, then shifted to Clear Smooth all in one. This time, I decided to try the BB Silk Cake Powder. It costs around 300 pesos in Watson's. Let me share to you my simple review on this foundation.

Pro: Price is not so cheap. If you are looking for foundations with medium to heavy coverage, this one is a good buy. You don't have to retouch every so often and it's not powdery or cakey at all. 

Pro: It comes with a cute, girly packaging. I like the mirror-like casing of this BB Silk Cake Powder.

Con: I am not sure if I got the correct shade. Maybe I should have picked a darker shade. This one is 03 Natural. Is there a shade darker than this? Sorry, I was in a hurry when I bought it.

Pro: The sponge has its compartment, which I like as it looks hygienic.If I would rate this, it's gonna be 4 out of 5. Will buy again? Yes. 

What's In My Bag: June 2013

Hi there! I miss my blog and you as well. What's up for today? Well I just feel like blogging about my junks. LOL. So here we go, my version of "what's in my bag?"

I feel like writing today. But honestly, I don't know what to write. So let me just share to you the contents of my bag. See? I don't have too much luggage. I left some of my makeups in my locker. The contents:
Nescafe Brown N Creamy which I forgot to consume and has been stuck inside my bag for a couple of weeks now; Company ID; Paul Smith Wallet which I exchanged with coins from Tom's World; Paganini Hair Brush; Allue Eyeshadow which I do not really use; NYX Louisiana lipstick that I bought from a tiangge in Eastwood; Fibrella umbrella; Ever Bilena tweezers; ponytail; and my recent favorite scent, Snoe Body Ritual in Cotton Candy. There we go. Adios!

Jairus: My flesh and blood

There are so many things that can make us happy in this world. But more than all of them, there are only a few that can make us truly happy. For me, there's this one guy who's the reason of my happiness right now. He's my little guy actually. You probably know him 'cause I often talk about him here in my blog. And he's the reason why I fondly call myself Super Mom. Well, it's normal for mothers to love their children this much. But let us be clear, not all moms truly love their sons or daughters. We know how painful or how tragic some stories are. Some abandon their children. Some even kill their own flesh and never gave those babies the chance to live and see this beautiful world. 

But my son is lucky, I am one of those moms who love their child more than they love themselves. I want to thank God for this blessing. No matter how naughty or how grumpy my kid becomes, I will make sure he will feel that he is loved. Jai, Papa loves you as well. Even if he's not with us all the time, I know one day we will stay together in the same roof and we'll make our household full of joy and laughter.

The Real Super Mom

For the past 18 years, I never took a chance to say how thankful I am to one woman who gave me life. I was too shy or maybe I'm just too coward to express what I really feel. When I was younger, I stomp when she scolds me. I do not respond when she's mad and it makes her more mad. I was a pain in the ass.

But I realize how amazing my mom was during the time I was giving birth. The moment I first saw Jai-Jai was surreal. Then I imagined how my mom bear the same pain 18 years ago. I was born breech. My feet came first. My mom struggled between giving birth and suffering from asthma. I cannot imagine how painful that is. The labor pain I felt before I gave birth to Jai-Jai was already unbearable; how much more if he was born in abnormal position like me? Now, I thank my mom for that. I will always be thankful to her, and sorry as well, for the times I was stubborn.

Mama, you are a beautiful person. Sometimes I envy you because people think we are just the same age. It's insulting mama, it's like they want to tell me I look older than my age. Maybe I don't have that same mega-watts smile like yours. Still, I am proud. I have a beautiful and loving mother.

This was my mom way back then. She joined a pageant, one thing I have never done and never will. Finally mama, I want to greet you a Happy Mother's Day! Jai-Jai and I love you so much. 

My Scent for Summer: VS Incredible Daring

 There are two reasons why we love Victoria's Secret. First, for their lingerie; Second, for their perfumes. I tried VS perfumes since elementary and the first scent I ever smelled was the one labeled as ginger. I cannot remember the name. Then I fell in love with Vanilla Lace, the one which smells like marshmallow. Now I got a new one from my mom. This one smells so feminine!

Incredible Daring comes in cute, girly packaging too, as you see here the combination of blue and pink is like an eye-candy. This perfume has main accords of white floral, musky, and citrus. As I know, this perfume is also one of the additions to Simply Gorgeous and Bombshell in Love collection. For price or online purchase, click here.

New Baby: Canon EOS 1100D

More photos, more fun!
One thing I love about blogging is that you can show people what you have in mind and how beautiful the world is. Aside from texts, pictures make a blog worth visiting. That said, I have always wanted to own a camera, not just the usual camera but the one that captures moments and stuff with more drama--brighter photos with auto-focus sans the editing, powerful lens, high quality imaging, etc. It's possible with other type of cameras out there but still, nothing beats Canon's lens. Looking forward to capture more of life's happy moments!

Cool Techie Inventions

A gadget or a home appliance that made you say wow? Well, technology is always advancing. Every now and then there's something about it to look forward to. I work for Sony. I grew up with that brand. We own an old model of Bravia and a home theater system at home. But it was too late when I learned about a Sony Blu-ray player that can connect to the Internet. That was amazing. I also find these inventions fascinating. Check 'em out!

Photo credits to For the Home

I haven't seen a wall outlet that has port for USB. This one's practical. Do you know any store here in the Philippines that manufactures this? 

Photo credits to Things I Want

A virtual keyboard is ideal for tablets. Just bring that magic cube with you and you're ready to go. But of course you need enough desk space to use that.

Photo credits to iPad accessories

iPad kitchen-mount? Sounds great for kitchen buddies. I'm not a big fan of gadget accessories but this one's nice.

Photo credits to Gizmodo

These earphones will make you look like a pencil is sticking  through your brain. Haha!

Photo credits to Stuff

Lastly, a coffee maker from Nestle. Star Wars and caffeine addicts! I know you wish to have this one. Cool right? There we go, my top five picks for cool tech inventions. I want to know yours!

It's A Happy Doughnuts Day!

Are you a J.Co fan? Yes, I bet almost all people I know love J.Co's doughnuts. At Eastwood City, J. Co is open 24/7 and there will be times there are long lines of customers! I like other brands too, like Krispy Kreme and Mister Donuts but it's just lately that I appreciate J.Co's doughnuts. Oh, Alcapone tastes really good. That's the first ever flavor I tasted from them. It's actually their signature doughnut. They also have other yummy flavors like the Choco Caviar and Don Mochino. What I like about J. Co is that you can buy an assorted dozen for only P350. Yummeh!

A New Horizon

I tell you last time that I was applying for a call center job. Good news! I was hired. I'm still adjusting though, especially with the graveyard shift. It's 7:30 am right now, I'm just blogging while I'm here in the pantry. The surrounding here at Eastwood is really nice, but of course I am not a party girl so I don't appreciate the night life. It's also great to meet new faces, well, coworkers. The only thing that's bothering me sometimes is leaving my son. Not that I don't trust my grandma. She's a real good nurturer. But the only thing I'm concerning as of this moment is the attachment between me and my son. He's growing up and growing old. I want to see everything he does but it's impossible now. I just have to be thankful that I'm away every time he sleeps at night. Thus, we still have time to bond during daytime. And that's one thing I'm thankful for, I can still keep track of his life's milestones.