Starbucks Free Lifetime Pass

You know you're a coffee addict when you jolt right out of bed upon reading a group message saying that if you share a link to your newsfeed and friends, you'll get a lifetime pass from the coffee expert, Starbucks.

The link says that if you share the link to your Facebook newsfeed and to five of your friends or groups, you'll get a lifetime pass to Starbucks. It's in "celebration" of the coffee shop's 44th year anniversary.

I was so excited that I immediately shared the link on my newsfeed and sent it to some of my friends. Then when the "Click Here To Get Your Lifetime Pass" button didn't work, I decided to check Google for more information.

Turns out, it's just a survey SCAM.

A lot of people fall victim to these kinds of scams and honestly, we can't blame them. Often, the offer is too tempting to pass.

Anyway, for me, it's a lesson learned. I'm so embarrassed when I told my friends to ignore my message. I also had to go to the group pages to delete my posts.

So from now on, believe what the wisemen say: if it's too good to be true, it probably is.


Want to know more about this scam? Read it here.

The Pros and Cons of Working from Home [by a Work from Home Mom]

I have been telecommuting since 2009 and a lot of people tell me that I'm so lucky to be working from home. I agree. There are so many reasons why I love working from home, but there are also moments when I feel like I just want to throw myself back to the days when I still worry about what to wear and getting stuck in traffic.

That's why there's what we call, Work-Life Balance.

Contrary to what most people think, working from home is not as awesome. There are also things we wish we can do, and things that we envy from people who work in an office. Here are just a few of the Pros and Cons of working from home.

Cover Up: My Dilemma of Breastfeeding in Public

Stuck in a semi-conservative era, folks here in the Philippines are still easily offended when seeing a mother pull her boobs out to feed her baby. Even abroad, I know there are still places where breastfeeding in public is forbidden.

To some mothers, public breastfeeding can sometimes cause embarrassment (especially here in the Philippines). Why? Well, let's start with the famous argument of "morality". If you're a breastfeeding mom who breastfeed in public without cover up, you know how easily you "attract" quick glances and sometimes stares from strangers. You know, those quick glances coupled with a smirk or [hungry] stares from maniacs waiting for you to show more flesh. Annoying, isn't it?

I have been breastfeeding my little Euri since day one. It is a very challenging task - constantly praying for her to latch well so my nipples won't hurt, waking up every 2 hours at night, pumping/milking my two melons to produce enough milk so my heavyweight champion won't go hungry.

At home, I couldn't care less if I walk around the bedroom with my boobs exposed. My nannies must be so used to seeing me hand-expressing that they just probably roll their eyes behind my back. But when we're out and about, my dilemma is always the moment when Euri cries for milk.

Baby Wearing: Ergobaby Carrier

Baby wearing is the new trend for Moms here in the Philippines. Aside from having our little angels being (literally) closer to our heart, it has so many benefits for the little ones. Investing in a baby carrier can be easier to the pocket too (depends on the type and brand of your carrier), compared to buying a stroller... though I still believe having a stroller has its own perks.

Euri's been colicky since she turned 5 weeks. It was difficult to calm her down, especially when she finds it hard to burp. Feeding her would make her stop crying for a while, then she would spit up milk (a sign that she's overfed), then cry again. I would put on aceite de manzanilla (anti-flatulence) or give her Restime (simeticone drops, advised by Euri's pediatrician) hoping that it would stop her from being upset but it would take several minutes to an hour before the (already tired) baby starts to calm down and (finally) sleeps.

Now, though the colic episodes lessen, my just-turned-2-month-old little princess loves to be close to Mommy and still demands to be cuddled when we're out at the mall or even at bed time, hence, the crib/playpen ended up folded and kept in our storage room and the beautiful Capella stroller looking like new. The nanny and myself however, have started to develop dark circles around our eyes, coupled with firmer muscles on both arms -all thanks to my heavyweight bundle of joy.

To solve this problem, I decided to do my own little research on how to calm a colicky baby and how to lessen (if not avoid) her being carried around too much. Turns out, one way to calm a colicky baby is to swaddle and cuddle her close since they miss the warm temperature when they were still inside our tummy. So in short, we can't really avoid the almost 24/7 "karga-hele-sayaw" scenario.

Solution? A baby carrier that would free our hands even for just an hour, enough to do some household chores.

UTI Panic!

My lovely and brave little Euri at JDMH

Yesterday afternoon, after a week-long stay in the hospital, we finally got home just in time to celebrate our little princess Euri's 1st month birthday. The little girl got infected by UTI (urinary tract infection) and the doctors (and my ever beloved mom and mom-in-law) are blaming no one else but me. I was taking antibiotics for my UTI two days before giving birth, so Euri's pediatrician confirmed that although it should have manifested right at birth, there are instances that UTI manifest within month after birth (term: late onset).

It was Friday last week when I noticed that Euri stopped asking for milk every 2 hours. My chubby newborn feeds 2 ounces of milk every two hours, and for some reason, she had lost appetite and slept more. There was also a less need for diaper change which bothered me since I know babies should pee a lot. Then came Sunday afternoon when I noticed that Euri's skin color is a little too red and her temperature seems high. The nanny said that the baby's temperature is normal, but I trusted my instinct and took her temperature -- 38.3C

The Benefits of Breastfeeding and Getting a Lactation Consultant

When Euan was born, I did try to breastfeed, only to fail a few weeks later because I was discouraged with my milk supply. For almost a month of pumping and trying to latch my premature little boy, the most amount of milk I got from my useless 38C breasts is a disappointing 2oz. So for four years (until now), Euan drinks formula milk - an item in our grocery list that we could have avoided if only I continued breastfeeding.

So when I got pregnant with our second child Euri, my husband made me promise to give breastfeeding a second chance. I was more than eager to give it another try as budget is extremely tight, so it is only right to avoid additional expenses such as milk. Also, aside from saving a lot of money from buying expensive formula milk, breast milk has a lot of benefits for both mother and child.

Painting by Gioia Albano

Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. - www.webmd.com

Fruit Crepe Recipe

It's been exactly ten days since I gave birth to our little angel, Euri. The sacrifices of limited sweets, carbs and weekly getaways are all worth it. To celebrate our little angel's tenth day (and the end of my gestational diabetes), I cooked my favorite peach-mango crepe!

A photo of my peach crepe from last year... (Jan. 17, 2014)

Since I'm feeling generous today (as if crepe recipes aren't in any websites yet), here is my easy crepe recipe.

Giving Birth at Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital

Euri Dirwen, 23 April 2015 @ 8:29am, 9.9lbs

I finally gave birth to a bouncy 9.9lbs baby girl Thursday, the 23rd of April at 8:29am. The hospital stay was okay as it was much better than I expected, though the pain of giving birth the second time around was not as tolerable as the first.

We arrived at the hospital Wednesday afternoon (April 22), so I can be admitted and have my scheduled CS operation by 8:00am the following day. By some weird kind of luck, ALL private rooms were fully booked, all wards were occupied and the only rooms available were two suite rooms which were thrice the price of the private rooms, and 2 remaining beds in the last available semi-private room. Out of practicality, we chose the semi-private room, hoping that there will be an available private room the next day.

Diaper Bag Choices

For months, I've been bugging my husband to "allow" me to buy a new diaper bag. The stingy husband refuses to buy a new one since the one that we have for four years is still okay apart from the rusty handle rings.

I am talking about the Carter's diaper bag we bought last 2011 that literally traveled with us everywhere. It's been to a lot of beaches, malls, out of towns, etc. This soldier is a "war veteran" already!

Carter's Everyday Tote Diaper Bag

The Carter's Everyday Tote diaper bag is very spacious. It has two front pockets, two side pockets and 1 back pocket where you can put the changing pad. The interior has pockets and lots of storage space, also included is a small transparent bag where you can put baby's small things.

The Carter's diaper bag is cheap compared to other branded bags and is easy to clean too. The only problem we had with this is it's heavy, but since it's very durable, it felt like the value of the bag is more than what we've paid for. :-)

Now, since baby Euri's arrival is just a few days away, and we unfortunately can not find the ever reliable four year old diaper bag, my husband FINALLY agreed to buy a new one to replace it. I've searched the internet tirelessly for a new diaper bag that looks fashionable, lightweight, spacious and of course, reasonably priced.

Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital vs Capitol Medical Center

At last, I am scheduled to give birth via C-section on the 23rd of April at Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital.  It took us months, to finally decide on the hospital. I was torn between Capitol Medical Center and JDMH, but chose the latter only yesterday.

For those of you who don't know, Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital is a " Level IV General Hospital" located in Tomas Morato, Quezon City. It used to be a maternity hospital, so it is small and still has very few doctors. Though customer feedback is high at 90% (according to their website), there are a few negative things I noticed in this hospital, including overall hygiene.

Photo Credit: from Jesus Delgado Memorial Hospital

Choosing the Perfect Stroller

Goodbaby High Impact Stroller

Buying a stroller is one of the most difficult part of my nursery shopping. With so many strollers to choose from, it is harder to decide on the right wheels for the baby. I consider the stroller as an investment as it is one of the most important gear my husband and I will purchase for our little one. Our first born spent a relatively long time in a stroller, traveling from one place to another, using the stroller as a napping place and as a high chair etc, so it is important for us to choose the safest and most comfortable one that fits our budget.

So for fellow moms who are currently looking for the perfect stroller, here are the important things to assess before paying for your baby's four (or three) wheels:

• Capacity: The very first question I ask the salesman when buying a stroller: "What's the capacity?" We need to consider what age, weight and height the stroller can handle.
• Recline: Infants can't hold their head up or can not support their neck yet, so it is important that your stroller seat can fully recline. Also, even if the baby is a little older, they may want to fully recline their seat so that they can sleep or drink milk comfortably.
• Canopy: Most strollers have a canopy, but for me a stroller with full canopy is awesome, as it can shield the baby from light and other elements, and also work as a quick cover from sudden drizzle.
• Storage Basket: It is the basket just below the seat. For someone who travel and shops a lot, the bigger the storage basket, the better.
• Car Seat: Can the stroller accommodate or attach an infant car seat? It's a nice feature that allows you to move your baby from your car to the stroller, without having to remove (and wake) the baby from the car seat.
• Easy to Fold: This is a vital feature for parents who love to move quick and are prone to travel.

The important features of a reliable stroller. This one is the Capella Adonis series.

Easy Ice Scramble Recipe

Ice scramble is my favorite Filipino street food in the dessert category. It is the perfect and undeniably one of the cheapest desserts to beat the summer heat. The pink, sweet marshmallow-y goodness of this flavored crushed ice is a taste of heaven.

A few years ago, ice scrambled took the market by storm. I mean, you can see several stalls serving ice scrambles in big shopping malls! It's literally a dream come true, especially for me who needed to wait tirelessly for "manong" to pass by the front of our house so I can buy a cup of this thirst quencher. But then like any fad, the ice scramble stall business died. There were less stalls in malls, until there was none. :-(

Ice Scramble image from Pinterest

So to celebrate my birthday, I am treating myself to a homemade ice scramble! The recipe is very simple:

How to Control Sugar Cravings During Pregnancy

One of my many problems is this uncontrollable LOVE for sweets. Sugar is the love of my life.

Unluckily, diabetes runs in the family. My maternal grandmother died of complications from diabetes, my maternal aunts and uncles are diabetics, and yes -my mom is diabetic. It's no surprise that I am also a diabetic and most probably, my two older sisters are diabetics waiting to happen too.

We are a clan of good cooks. My mom, my aunts, my sisters and I are all good in cooking, whether it's pasta, traditional Filipino dishes or desserts. Now, there's this belief, "When you love to cook, you love to EAT" -- and EATING is what our clan does best. ;-)

Obviously, our love for food is the main reason why our blood sugar is up the roof. We also have poor self control when it comes to controlling our appetite for carbohydrates and sugar. My cousins are all pasta addicts while I have a major weakness for anything S-W-E-E-T. Cake, ice cream, candies, chocolates, these are all staple food in my party list -- and I consider desserts as my "weekly" self reward.

Dear Lord, I am craving for this right now...

Upon knowing that I am pregnant to our second child, my husband demanded that I see an endocrinologist/diabetologist to ensure that I am not suffering from gestational diabetes like in my previous pregnancy four years ago. You see, my husband dislike the idea of spending money on blood glucose test strips and insulin injections - plus me whining. He hated the fact that he would need to constantly remind me to check my blood glucose, inject insulin and CONTROL my sugar cravings.

Checklist: Newborn Essentials and Other Basic Needs for Baby

The bucket list...

I am now on my 34th week of pregnancy and like most excited mothers, I am in a stage where I can't stop moving around to fix things. Aside from constantly putting the crib sheets and pillows on and then removing it again (it might get dusty) then deciding to put it on again the next day, I am finding it hard to resist the need to check the baby's list to see if I am still missing some items.

I've been bugging my ever supportive husband (much to his dismay) to go to the mall almost everyday to check the purple stroller, the purple comforter, the purple this and the purple that -but like any one living on a strict budget, buying all those things I want for my baby is out of reach, so I have no choice but to be practical and buy ONLY the things that we should prioritize first.

To help fellow OC (obsessive compulsive) mothers, here's a list from Baby Company of all the things we need to prepare for the birth day of our little tummy passenger/s (the ones in green are the items which I think are important, as the rest of the items you can buy when baby is a little older):

10 Tips to Prevent Bad Hair Days

A "bad hair day", according to the Urban Dictionary is "a day when everything is going bad. It has nothing to do with how one's hair really is, it's just that everything is going wrong. The term "bad hair day" derives from how psycho one feels because everything is going all wrong on a particular day!"

OR it may literally mean having your crowning glory behave like sh*t. Let's admit it, when we find our hair unmanageable, we often end up ill tempered.

Fortunately for some lucky women, they get the bouncy and shiny hair of their dreams during pregnancy... but for some unfortunate pregnant ladies (as if morning sickness, mood swings, extra pounds, countless new zits and dark underarms aren't enough to torment us), dull, sometimes frizzy and lifeless hair is the result of that sudden boost in hormones.

Tips on Surviving Unemployment

Being pregnant and unemployed is one of the most stressful combination. I mean, worrying about where to get the money to pay for my doctors' professional fees and how to pay for the hospital bill once I give birth is a total headache, especially since we've spent most of our savings buying meds for my gestational diabetes, prenatal checkups and ER bills (I've been in and out of the hospital due to asthma). Unfortunately, my husband is not earning much and I've earned basically nothing for the past months due to my [unpaid] sick leaves/absences. To top it off, my husband and I are in serious debt.

So what to do? I know that our situation might sound hopeless, but rather than mope around and drown in self pity, today, I decide to swallow it all up and ACCEPT that I am unemployed but NOT helpless. You see, I like to believe it's all in the mindset. So starting today, I'm going to set a personal goal: to survive.

Get up and make things happen!

Mrs. Unemployed

And so yesterday, I finished up working with my company of 4 years. I wouldn't say I was happy about it, after all, it provided my family bread and butter since 2011, but I was somehow relieved from all the dramas and stress at work. Though I am now officially part of the 7% unemployed folks in the Philippines, is now a PAL (n: palamunin) by profession and due to give birth in a months time, I think I don't have much choice but to enjoy this "career" for a while.

Now I can take my OB's "bed rest" advice more seriously.