“Little Steps is thrilled to announce our 2012 Regional Blog Partners! These in-the-know Moms and Dads have been handpicked by Little Steps as Top Mom & Dad Bloggers offering regional insight into parenting and playing with kids from Hong Kong to Australia and beyond. Meet them, read them, and welcome them to our ever-expanding community of go-to parents.”
- Little Steps Hong Kong

I’m mighty proud to be on this list of awesome blogging Moms and Dads! Click on the links to get to their blogs:

RAWTHENTIC FOODS: Hong Kong, China SAR

GLAMOMAMAS: The Philippines & Regional

BABY LOVES TO TRAVEL: Dubai, UAE and Global

LITTLE NOMADS: Australia (Daddy Blogger!)

BBBABYBUNDLES: Hong Kong, China SAR

A MATTER OF TASTE: Bangkok, Thailand

OUR EVERYDAY THINGS: Singapore

THE SAVVY MUMMY: Singapore

MUMMY IN A STRANGE LAND: Hong Kong, China SAR

MOTHERINC.ORG: Singapore

MAMAPUMPKIN: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

CHILDHOOD 101: Australia

PLANNING WITH KIDS: Melbourne, Australia

THE ROCK MOM: Hong Kong, China SAR

EDUNLOADED: Singapore (Daddy Blogger!)

THE J BABIES: Singapore

NUTRITIOUS N’ DELICIOUS: Hong Kong, China SAR

DADDY NIVLEK: Singapore (Daddy blogger!)

Little Steps is a free email newsletter and website that is devoted to delivering the inside scoop on what to do, buy, and discover in Hong Kong and beyond. I’m honored that they once again chose Wifely Steps to be part of their amazing list of bloggers. Thank you Little Steps!

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?

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!*

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!

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!

Get your play on! PLAY PILPINAS is the very first international play festival. It encourages everyone to promote and enrich playtime as part of kids’ growth, development and learning. Because PLAY=FUN, you can expect this festival to be a lot of fun for both kids and parents!

WANT WORKSHOPS?
We’ve got international speakers from around the world sharing their thoughts on how to enrich playtime. Dr. Lourdes “Honey” Arellano-Carandang will talk about “The Magic of Play”. Hitoshi Shimamura from Tokyo is here to talk about “Creating Inspiring Playspaces”. Professor Geraldine Naughton from the Australian Catholic University will discuss “Engaging Kids to Play”. Want to learn about “Popping the Bubble Wrap: Unleashing the Power of Play”? Professor Anita Bundy is here to inspire us. Ms. Kay Gibbons from Australia will be discussing “Nutrition and Active Play”. Dr. Maria Teresa Gustilo-Villasor will be sharing a talk on “How Adults View Play; Understanding the Developmental Stages of Play”. Are you wondering if that iPhone is good or not? Dr. Esther Esteban can help enlighten you as she talks about “Media and Technology: Friend or Foe?” PLAY PILIPINAS will also be joined by world-renowned industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and experiental education expert Marcus Veerman.

I’m honored to be part of this event. PLAY PILIPINAS has invited me to give two workshops on “Keeping Playtime Safe: The Importance of Toy Safety (A Mom’s Point of View)”. I do hope you can join my workshop! Here’s a list of more workshops you can choose from. Find the one that is most relevant to you. According to the PLAY PILIPINAS website, you can attend as many as you want!

Sensory Integration and Play with Prof. Anita Bundy, University of Sydney
Toy Analysis with Rebecca de Guzman, OTRP, University of the Philippines – Manila
Digital Toys: Friend or Foe with Ma. Blessilda de Asis, MA, Rizason Ng & Aileen Rose Jimenez (MLAC)
The Play Menu with Ms. Kay Gibbons, Head of Nutrition Services at Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Becoming a Playworker with Sigrid Sabarre-Perez, Play Universal
Creating Inspiring Play Spaces with Hitoshi Shimamura, Tokyo Play & VP International Play Association
Designing Safe Playspaces with Marcus Veerman, founder PlaYGroundIDEAS, Australia
Choosing Developmentally Appropriate Toys with Aina Arcilla-Lacson, MA
Grow out of Your Box with My Masterpiece
Keeping Playtime Safe with Toni Tiu, Author, wifely steps
The Play Mindset with My Masterpiece
Ideas for Outdoor Play with Paulino Servando III, Planet Zips
Integrating Play into the Curriculum with Dr. Amelia Fajardo, (UP Diliman)
Music and Play for Teachers with Marisa Marin, MA (MLAC)

WANT FAIRS?
You got it. PLAY PILIPINAS has a a TOY FAIR with over 50 booths, each featuring the latest tools and toys for active play. There’s a BOOK FAIR, showcasing recently released and the best titles covering play and child development. Sample healthy and nourishing foods for kids at the CHILDREN’S NUTRITION FAIR. Last but not least, check out the ENRICHMENT LEARNING SHOWCASE, a venue for schools and institutions to present their unique programs and demonstrate the ways they integrate play into their curriculum/activities/nutrition.

WANT TO SEE AN AWESOME PLAY SPACE?
Check out 5 new play space designs selected by a panel of expert judges which include International Play Association’s Hitoshi Shimamura, Marcus Veerman of PlaygroundIDEAS, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist and architect Isabel Berenguer-Asuncion, and the Philippines’ foremost furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

PLAY PILPINAS begins tomorrow! October 21 to 23, at the SMX. Check out the details at http://www.playpilipinas.org. Let’s unleash the power of play! See you there!

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

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.

Simply log into your Facebook account and click on Wifely Steps’ “Like” button to get started.

Share the love and let’s build our community on Facebook. I look forward to seeing you there!

I’m proud to be on this list of fabulous women! Get to know them too. Click on the links to get to their blogs.

The Rock Mom – Hong Kong, China SAR
Mamapumpkin - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
BBBabyBundles – Hong Kong, China SAR
Cat Wife in Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand
My Everyday Things – Singapore
The Savvy Mummy – Singapore
Motherinc.org – Singapore
Mummy in a Strange Land – Hong Kong, China SAR
Planning with Kids – Melbourne, Australia

Little Steps is a free email newsletter and website that delivers the latest news on parenting and kids happenings and good buys in Hong Kong and beyond. I’m flattered and happy that Wifely Steps is part of their awesome list. What a really wonderful honor. Thank you Little Steps. <3