Hair Happiness!!!

One of the best things about having a baby girl, is that she is sometimes the extension of a mother's happy childhood! Remember your favorite dolly? The one you love to dress up and style hair? It's like she has come to life... in your daughter!!!

When I was looking for sample hairstyles that I would do to Ella on my brother's wedding, I found out about princesshairstyles.com wherein a mommy posts hairstyles that she does on her daughter and how to do them. Since then, just about the same time that Ella started school, it has been my addiction to always make sure her hair is styled (that is...only when I'm around). Not only does it tame her curly baby hair, but it also adds a little glam to her everyday uniform. Here are a few photos of what we've done so far:

classes were suspended because of a storm...off to the mall!

ready for school!

home after school

I know it's not as beautiful and complicated as the one in Princess Hairstyles but they sure look pretty on Ella, don't you think so? I hope I could do this every single day... *sigh*

your every woman,

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Potty Training Part 3

Wow! It's been a while since I last posted something about this... Just a recap, Ella can do number 1 and number 2 already. However, she can't seem to keep the fluids in when she's asleep! ...Especially when it's cold!

Then a friend suggested that we schedule wake time for peeing at night. I thought it was a very good idea because almost all of Ella's training had something to do with schedule! We had to wait until Ella is old enough not to be cranky when we wake her up... which is now, when she's halfway past 3 years old.

I scheduled Ella's wake up time for 12am, 3am and 6am. I didn't wake her up like I wake adults though. At first, I'd have to carry her half asleep self, let her sit on the potty and support her while she's peeing. We've had accidents, yes! But a potty trained daughter is definitely worth a stinky bed!

Then just recently, I was surprised to hear Ella waking me up and asking me "Mommy, where's the potty?" (Looks like she didn't remember where it was on the times she was half asleep!) I showed her where the potty was, and just observed. She peed! But then she might have found the potty a little late.

Ella: Where's your phone mommy?

Me: I don't know... (still very sleepy)

Ella: My panty is wet, mommy... Where's your phone?

Me: (looking for the phone)

Dad: (awakened by all the fuss and feeling under the pillows) Andiyan o!

Drew handed me my phone and I gave it to Ella. Ella pressed a button, went to the other room where her closet was, and got a clean panty! In a house with no lights on! Hahaha! She used the phone as her flashlight, just like her daddy taught her to do! Way to go Ella!

your every woman,

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Squashtillas!

July is nutrition month. At Ella's school, parents were asked to present how to prepare any nutritious food in class yesterday. It was a good thing that the event fell on my rest day so I agreed.

Drew and I had chicken soup in mind. However, when I asked the teacher what the other mom is going to present, she said it was soup. I don't know what else to make that would have veggies in it but would still be a hit to 3-4 year olds. Big thanks to Jamie who suggested that we make pastillas out of squash!

Squash pastillas??? Well, here's how:

Ingredients:

2 rinds of squash, cut into squares

3 cups of evaporated milk (I used Carnation evap because it's thick)

2 cups brown sugar (wash)

2 cups powdered milk (I used Alaska powdered milk)

1. Steam the squash. It retains the nutrients better compared to when it's boiled. Another thing, it makes the squash soft with less water in it.

2. Completely mash the squash and place in the saucepan. Add evaporated milk and 1 3/4 cup of brown sugar.

3. Cook in low fire until mixture is pasty. Stir constantly. Be careful not to stop stirring because as the mixture boils and thickens, it can spatter so far that it can reach you. Believe me it reached and burnt my right eyelid. Let the paste cool.

4. When paste is cool, add 1 1/2 cup of powdered milk. Mix thoroughly.

5. Using 2 spoons, get bite size servings of the squash paste and roll in a mixture of 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup powdered milk. Cover with cellophane and store in the fridge or freezer.

Cool huh?! And the best part is, it's ACTUALLY delicious! The kids loved it so much that almost everyone asked for more after being given a piece. Moms should try this!

your every woman,

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Spreads, Dips and Sauces: Strawberry Cream Cheese Spread

I've tasted this concoction in a finger food at a bar on one of the RnR's of the company I work for. And because I love cheese so much, I just had to make it! Here's how:

Ingredients:

1 heaping tbsp of strawberry jam

2 heaping tablespoon of melted cream cheese

1. I used the strawberry jam from Good Shepherd's, the one we got from our recent Baguio trip. Just mix it with the cream cheese and enjoy! Perfect for toasts and crackers!

Oh, and by the way, you just have to multiply the ingredients to as much people as you'd like to serve it to because this recipe is single serve!

your every woman,

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Help!!! My Lips Are Not Ready for A Baguio Trip!!!

I have extremely dry skin. And if you are a reader of this blog, you probably have come across my battle over eczema. I say now that it's a battle and not a win because eczema apparently never heals. So by the time I stopped medication, it just returned after a while...and now both ankles have it! I can't continue using a strong steroid cream the whole year round!

So, the last thing I need is dry lips! Having to slather moisturizer on EVERY part of the body and reapplying at least twice EVERY single day is just terribly tedious... and now, lip balm?! Come on!!!

Anyway, here's a photo of how dry my lips are:

(notice dry patches of my face too?)

That and I'm in Manila! Imagine how sore and chapped my lips would be when we go up north and stay in Baguio for 5 days later this week?!

I've been using Burt's Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai berry and even though it's a good lip balm, it doesn't really work for the kind of lips I have.

I'm torn between buying Carmex or Vaseline Lip Therapy...Your thoughts?

your every woman,

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