It’s a blessing to be part of this awesome opportunity to share the love of blogging with other women. To be giving this talk along with such super bloggers like Martine, Jayme and Michelle is an honor.

Head over to Martine’s www.daintymom.com for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

Do you like watching plays? Read on! Here’s an interesting play from the UP Playwrights’ Theater coming this November 21. If you like colorful creatures from Philippine folk literature and mythology, you can most certainly enjoy “Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang.” The play is adapted from Gilda Cordero-Fernando’s children’s short story The Magic Circle, written by Rody Vera and directed by José Estrella. Aside from a crash course on Philippine folklore, the play is also a timely reminder of the urgency of caring for the environment and that all creatures big or small, whether from this world or another, are deserving of our respect and compassion.

Here are two sneak peeks!

The play runs from November 21 to December 9, 2012 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, University of the Philippines, Diliman. For ticket inquiries, contact Sam Clarin or Camille Guevara at the DUP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840.

Last month, Wifely Steps was nominated as one of the finalists for the Sangobion Mommy Blogger Awards. Many thanks Sangobion, for the opportunity to connect with more readers and for the recognition! It feels really good.

I didn’t win any of the top prizes nor could I make it to the awarding, but I got this awesome package from Sangobion. Take a look!

And the award goes to…

A capsule a day keeps losyang-ness away.

Oink! Super cute water dispenser.

SPA!!!

Woohoo! Lots of good stuff to keep me healthy. Sangobion is an iron supplement with a full range of vitamins and minerals. It also contains 50mg of Vitamin C to help in maximum absorption of iron. 1 capsule a day and this Sangobion Mommy is out to conquer whatever the day has in store for her! Please check out their website for more information: http://www.sangobion.ph

Interesting story. I’ll never forget the very first time my husband and I saw Sangobion’s first TV ad. The story was about a bunch of Moms looking really haggard in different ways — tired Mom, pale Mom… then this Sangobion Mom walks into the screen looking all alive and vibrant. My husband turned to me and said, “Wifey, parang kailangan mo niyan.”

Grrrr. I guess that’s when you know you’re looking REALLY haggard — when even the love of your life, who would love you no matter what you look like, subtly (or not so subtly) suggests that you need to look differently. Haha! Well, my dearest Husby, I’ve got a whole back of Sangobion vitamins now so vibrancy here I come! See? Sangobion and I were really meant to cross paths!!!

Thanks again, Sangobion, for the super opportunity to connect with more women through your campaign, and for the wonderful products that I know will help me be a healthier Mommy!

It’s the place where we always have to make a stopover. It’s the place where we always have to pass by before heading out the mall. It’s Timmy’s happy place, and actually, my husband’s happy place too! Toy Kingdom rocks! So when we heard there’s a Toy Expo this weekend, we quickly noted it down in our family calendar.

It’s going to have the latest toys, fun games, exciting activities, plus a meet & greet with kids’ favorite characters. Is it the biggest toy event in the country? You betcha. Toy Kingdom Toy Expo Philippines 2012, August 23 to 26 at SMX Convention Center, Halls 3 & 4, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Admission is free!

Ehem, Ninongs and Ninangs of Timmy, it’s his birthday party this Sunday so you may want to stop by the Toy Kingdom Toy Expo. Heehee.

How are you guys in the States celebrating? Happy red, white and blue!

Source: EasyFinance.com

When I have a major milestone in my life, Mama’s there to fix my hair!

First pic: My wedding day, May 2003.
Second pic: The day I gave birth to my son, August 2009.

Thank you for always making sure my hair looks nice. Happy Mother’s Day, Mama! I love you very much!

Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends – but only one mother in the whole world. ~Kate Douglas Wiggin

And a Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there!

It’s 11.54 in the evening and I’m supposed to be working. I need my nightly dose of procrastination though so I can work better once I get started. Know what I mean?

My boy and I had a debate today. It was an exchange of “No” (mine) and “Ta ta” (his), but we understood each other. I was firm about not letting him wash his hands too long, and he was insisting on washing his hands for a long period of time. Technically, he’s washing his toy car. While I wash his hands. You get the picture why he wants to spend time at the tap. That No vs. Ta ta ta debate, my friends, was the highlight of my day.

We watched Kung Fu Panda 2 today. TWICE. One in the morning, one in the afternoon. I know there’s a study on how TV is terrible for kids, so FINE, call me a bad Mom. I don’t care. Well, actually I do. I needed my peace and quiet while I finished up a presentation. Thank you Po for entertaining my child while I emailed assignments and coordinated over the phone. I’ll just compensate with the over TV quota today by not watching TV with the toddler this weekend. Hey, whatever works, right? I’m not perfect, just thankful I can get work done while the kid’s amused with Dreamworks movies.

What is the point of this post? Nothing. No tips, no advice, just a story of what happened today. I need to purge before beginning to burn the midnight oil.

Okay enough excuses. It’s time to work.

So, what’s up with you?

Who can resist tags? Who can resist being tagged by a gorgeous friend? (*waves to Nenette*) Memes are fun, especially if you’re battling two deadlines and are stuck in the procrastinating bubble. Erhm.

Here we go. IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE_______ FOR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

1. Condiment: Fish sauce a.k.a. PATIS. I hardly eat this now, but I used to love it on everything. Have no appetite? Get a bowl of white rice, mix in a spoonful of fish sauce, squeeze in half a calamansi and you’ve got yourself delicious sustenance.

2. City to live in: New York for now, only because I’ve never been there. I’m taking a virtual leap of faith!

3. Place to vacation to: Italy. I need insanely good food for a good vacation and I know Italy will not disappoint me.

4. Colour to wear: Turquoise. It instantly adds color to drab coloring, e.g. my ashen face after a night of deadlines or watching Top Chef episodes back to back.

5. Celebrity/Character crush: Scott Speedman. Forever and ever.

6. Dessert to eat: Chocolate cake. My original answer was my all-time favorite Panna Cotta, but having only that dessert for life can get a bit cloying. But who gets tired of chocolate cake? Who? Who? Who?

7. Book to read: Nigella Lawson’s “How to be a Domestic Goddess.” If it’s the only book I’ll get to read for life, maybe then I’ll eventually turn into a domestic goddess myself. Not a delusional domestic goddess I hope.

8. Television series to watch: Modern Family. GAH! That show never fails to crack me up! I want Cam to be my best friend and Lily to be Timmy’s playmate.

9. Cartoon character as a roommate: Lisa Simpson minus the saxophone. We’re both goody two shoes. Then we’d hang with Meg from Family Guy and the college version of Dora. We’ll be the nerdy versions of the women from Sex and the City. Look out New York! Zzz…

10. Type of food to eat (assuming that we can sustain ourselves easily off of one thing): PIZZA. This kind!

I am tagging Kay, Daphne, Mom-Friday, Dainty Mom, Faye, Rina and YOU if you’re supposed to be working but reading this post instead. *bubble!*

The Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards launched two years ago in Singapore. It was a wonderful and successful celebration among the blogging community, and it honored the best of the bloggers from across the Asia-Pacific region. This year, the awards ceremony will be held in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! 500 bloggers will be invited to this prestigious event. Will you be one of them?

How can you participate? Two ways: Nominating and/or entering a blog contest.

==Nomination==

Nominate your favorite bloggers for awards you feel they deserve!

1. Most Influential Blog – “the blogs other bloggers look to as the benchmark for comparison; the de facto leader of the pack, with the uncanny ability to set trends on the blogosphere.”
2. Best Micro Blog – This is a new award! This micro-blogger is “one you follow because of his/her interesting updates on their daily lives, or on any topics the micro-blogger often updates about.” (Note: Only public micro-blog accounts are eligible for nomination.)
3. Best Entertainment Blog – This blog is the one you go to for cool places, happening events, or to keep up with your fave celebrities.
4. Best Food Blog – This foodie blog contains trustworthy “food reviews, recipes for amazing home-cooked meals, and never fails to make you hungry immediately.”
5. Best Travel Blog – This blog is your favorite for vacation tips and learning about places whether local or foreign.
6. Best Fashion Blog – This blog is where you turn to get fashion advice and see what this season’s look is all about.
7. Best Photography Blog – This blog is your “inspiration… your go-to for photography tips, or just a blog you know will offer you gorgeous photos of both the extraordinary and the mundane.”
8. Best Geek Blog – This blog is your guru in the world of geek! From the latest technology to games, cars and gadgets.
9. Best Parenting Blog – This is the blog where you find “tremendous help and comfort on your journey, where you share tips and stories with other like-minded parents when you’re venturing down the path of parenthood.”
10. Best Lifestyle Blog – This blog “intrigues you with what the blogger is up to, from the places they’ve been, the experiences they’ve had, the things they love to the friends they’ve made.”
11. Most Original Blog Design – This blog “has a design unique to its ownself, with a template created from scratch and is not replicated in its entirety anywhere else.”
12. Hidden Gem – “This blog is something special, whether it be the spellbinding words, photos out of this world, an unbelievably quirky sense of humour, or anything else that catches your fancy; yet you can’t believe that nobody knows about this blog but you.”
13. Region’s Best Blog – “This category will honour one most outstanding blogger across the region; the crème de la crème, the best of the best.”

The nomination period starts 25 October 2011 and ends 7 November 2011. Submit your nominations here.

==Blog Contest==

Bloggers can participate in a regional blogging contest to win invitations to the exclusive Asia-Pacific Blog Awards in Kuala Lumpur. Foreign bloggers with winning entries will also get a unique Malaysian travel experience, accommodations provided.

The blogging contest starts 25 October 2011 and ends 11 November 2011. Submit your contest entry here.

Then what? Voting begins!

The Top 5 nominees for all categories will be announced on 13 November 2011. They will be shortlisted based on nominations and a panel of judges which includes Nuffnang, its partners and industry experts. Voting for the nominees will then begin. Voters are entitled to cast one vote in every 2 hours. More information on voting will be shared on the 13th.

Show your support for your favourite bloggers by nominating them now!

Here’s the link to the nomination form. (LINK!) You’ve got till November 7 2011 to nominate. Enjoy!

Last weekend’s Play Pilipinas event was a lot of fun. Congratulations to Paul and Sigrid Perez for spearheading a wonderful weekend. The speakers were insightful, the activities fun. Not bad for a first time event of such magnitude. Next year ulit!

I had the opportunity to conduct a workshop on “Keeping Playtime Safe: The Importance of Toy Safety” from a Mom’s perspective. Here are some pictures from the workshop:

Author! I’m an author! That’s been my lifelong dream since I was a kid — to be called an author. Lovez it!

Set up my props for the talk. Can you tell which toys are safe and unsafe?

Talking about choking here, and using a toilet paper roll as a substitute for a choke tube. Choking is the most common cause of toy-related death and injuries. Scary.

With the beautiful workshop toy guardians. They were really great participants. Thanks ladies!

After my talk, my husband and I went around the play fair. We got to see the award-winning playground designs.

Kids could play on the playground, but this one in particular was off limits. While made of bamboo and other recyclable materials, to safely use this the bamboo has to be planted in the ground. It looked beautiful nonetheless, and looks like it makes for an inspiring playspace.

This one the kids could really play in. Boy, they sure looked like they had a LOT of fun. I wanted to try it myself but I think only kids were allowed

This playground’s concept was making creative use of various walls.

Hello, hello?

This was really cute. My son would’ve loved this!

Making music out of bottles filled with different amounts of colored liquid.

Another playground concept using bamboo, this time in pastel colors. No kids allowed here either since the bamboo has to be in the ground for the stuff to be stable.

With Paul Perez, Director of Play Universal Co. Thanks to Paul and his wife Sigrid for inviting me to be a part of this awesome event.

I’m looking forward to Play Pilipinas — the sequel. Cheers!

Triggered by Manila Mommy‘s getting to know you post, here’s my take on the questions. And just as she said, there’s a twist at the end! (Feel free to skip to the end!) Hopefully we get to know each other better. I’d love to learn more about YOU, dear friendly reader!

1. Where you named after someone? According to my folks, a beauty queen in the ’70s.
2. How did you name your blog? From my Mom’s Mother of the Bride speech! She said she saw me take my baby steps, now she’s about to see my wifely steps… Thanks Mama!
3. Where did you meet your husband? Work! We were officemates.
4. How long were you guys dating before you got married? 11 months. <3
5. How did you bond? Timezone. Counterstrike. Food trips.
6. If there is one song to describe your life right now what would it be? “She Works Hard for the Money” sung Agador Spartacus style! Eh eh eh eh…

Hank Azaria on The Birdcage
7. What did you first notice about your partner when you first met? How he was so machika (talkative)! We were on a bus (company trip) and he kept chatting me up about my cellphone EVEN if there was another officemate between us. Style ba yon?
8. If you could have any superpower what would it be? I want to read minds.
9. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? 11 years old, Army Navy Club, singing recital. I sang “Thank you for the music” and “Someone’s waiting for you.” I remember I had terrible, terrible bangs.
10. As a child, what did you want to grow up to be? An author! My idol was Louisa May Alcott.
11. Do you remember where you first spent your paycheck? Dinner at Chili’s Greenbelt.
12. Favorite Social Network? Fezbook.
13. Favorite place in Manila? Starbucks somewhere. Secret. Hahaha, kainis.
14. What are your favorite TV Shows (local and foreign)? MTM — many to mention. Pero sige, let me enumerate since you asked! Chuck, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, New Girl, The Office, Top Chef, Top Chef Just Desserts, Masterchef Australia (Masterchef US stresses me out! So much backbiting, kaloka.)
15. What’s your silliest pet peeve? Mistaken use of “its” and “it’s” — I’m not sure it’s silly though!
16. What’s your favorite quote? “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
17. What’s your favorite smell? Baby smell!!!! I miss that.
18. Say a random thing about yourself: I eat my baby’s Cerelac when he can’t finish it (but only if it’s the Wheat & Banana variant).
19. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be? Duh, Scott Speedman.
20. If you could drop everything now and do something what would it be? Go to New York.

Now it’s your turn: in the comment box, answer one question AND if you want to ask me another question go ahead and do that as well and I’ll answer it!

If you do continue this chain in your blog, leave the link to your entry too. I’d love to read more about you.

Photo by Shattered Infinity c/o Flickr

Oh yeah! We rock! Wifely Steps is now part of Alltop‘s Top Mom News category. I am thrilled.

I’ve been using Alltop for awhile now — it’s a great resource for inspiration, information and nuggets that help take out the boring from your day. Alltop is like “an online magazine rack”. If you want to search a particular topic or industry, head on to its Alltop topics page and you’ll find lots of relevant reads right at your fingertips.

My favorite pages are on: Women’s Health. Children’s Litereature. Writing. Books. Life Hacks. Parenting. Babies. FOOOOOOD. And my favorite (even before I was a part of it!), Moms!

Go create your own Alltop page so you can cull your favorite topics and go back to them when you want something new to read. Here’s a video on how you can use Alltop:

But seriously…

That is really cool. Totally made my Friday. Thanks Alltop.