Eat, read, enjoy: a cooking demo and book fair

Everyday Mommy Diary's resident pastry chef and owner of Mama Chows Raquel Chua with husband chef Jon will be holding a free cooking demo called Gourmet Healthy Baon at the Medela House on Oct. 19 at 11:00 am.

Chefs Raquel and Jon are seasoned speakers, and the free demo is their way of giving back the many blessings that they have received. Raquel's lactation goodies through Mama Chows have helped a lot of breastfeeding moms increase their milk supply so that they may continue to provide for their little ones. Each cookie, cupcake, and ensaimada that she bakes is packed with galactagogues or ingredients that have been associated to boost milk supply in humans such as fenugreek, brewer's yeast, and oats, among others.

Attendance to the demo is free, but the seats are limited to 50 due to space so registration is required. Interested participants should send in name, mobile number, email address, and instagram name to mamachows@gmail.com. 

Also on the same day and place, the Learning Basket will be holding its first book bash from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

The Learning Basket is your online resource for pre-loved children's books. All books have been lovingly chosen by owners Mariel Uychiengco and Sanne Unson to provide reading and learning pleasure not only for your tots, but for you too.

Brand new books, toys, and gift items will be made available as well.

"It will also be a great time to just chat about parenting, books, and homeschooling!" exclaims Mariel.

It's another free event, but registration is required so the organizers will know how many persons to expect.

Please register here: http://www.thelearningbasket.com/events/the-learning-basket-book-bash

Aren't those enough reasons to look forward to Saturday?

Fun and learning are guaranteed. Just don't forget to register!

- Mommy Smiley

Sent from my iPhone

Singapore Math for preschoolers

What is Singapore Math? Is it more superior than other math curricula out there? These were my initial questions when I signed up for a Singapore Math seminar for parents of homeschoolers K to Grade 2 held at the Medela House in New Manila. Halfway through the talk and I am already asking, "When do I start with my two-year-old?"

A brief history

Singapore Math (simply, Maths in Singapore) is a curriculum that has been developed by the country's Ministry of Education and implemented nationwide beginning in 1980. It only gained acclaim 15 years later when Singaporeans topped the Trends in Math and Science Study (TIMSS) held every four years. Worldwide recognition followed when it bagged first place again in TIMSS in 1999, and in 2003.

The framework

Singapore Math teaches children to persist, to think critically, and to solve problems.

According to Joanne Tabora-Sison of MatheMagis who conducted the seminar, the right attitude is to teach kids that it is not always easy. That challenge is good. And that it is ok not to know at first.

She says," Parents need to model. It's ok to show you do not know. It's ok for kids to make mistakes. But know the kids' thinking process so you can address the mistakes."

"We are not focused on speed, but on the analytical skills," she adds.

The theories

Sison highlighted three book authors whose theories will serve as a guide in teaching Singapore Math.

Briefly, Zolten-Dienes (1960) teaches the importance of multiple embodiments which children can explore a concept. For eg, in teaching a number, show it in various forms such as "1" "one" and use different representations - a bear, a block, and so on.

Jerome Bruner says topics can be represented using manipulatives (something that can be touched and manipulated) and visual (other objects to replace manipulatives which are also representational) to bridge the symbolic or the abstract which is the goal. 

Richard Skemp's focus is the relationship of the how and why. Know the why first and then the how so children can explore many ways to solve a problem.

Singapore Math for Kinder

"For preschool, it is as much about concepts as it is about vocabulary," says Sison.

She adds that it is ideal to teach the numbers 1 through 10 for a year. Some children may get curious what comes after 10, and it is perfectly all right to feed their mind. But it's equally important to not rush them. 

Later on, they will move on to shapes, patterns, length and size, weight, capacity, and compare sets.

Addition and subtraction come in Kinder 2 as well as the introduction of numbers up to 100. No pluses, minuses, or equals are used as these are abstract terms. Children are taught with words - what is five less one or who has more?

Do not rush

After the almost four-hour talk, I am convinced that I will be teaching my girls Singapore Math when they are old enough.

Sison says they start accepting students in MatheMagis as young as four years old when the child is developmentally ready. Rushing a kid to learn earlier may mean more work for the parents, and a time less for the child to play which is crucial at his or her young age.

Whether you are deciding to homeschool your child or not, knowing the framework of Singapore Math will always be an advantage. Math is a skill that needs constant practice. Even if you enroll your child in school, you still need follow-up practice at home.

"Ten minutes a day is enough for four year olds," says Sison. 

And remember, keep it fun. Learning is fun.

- Mommy Smiley

Sent from my iPhone

Playing with fondant

My love-hate relationship with fondant continues. But when one of my girls is marking her birthday, I set aside my differences with fondant and go ahead and make her a cake, covered with fondant and complete with 3D decor.

I may have a long way to go in terms of fondant decorating, but it's still better than my piping skills. And all cake needs a beautiful frosting finish. Without it, it's a bread. So, fondant it is for my Via who's turning 1.

It is difficult to make fondant. It takes time, and a very patient person to slowly stir in the icing sugar into the melted marshmallow. And that's already the easiest recipe. You want it as smooth and as white as possible. I have recently dropped the vanilla extract and replaced it with lemon to make it immaculately white. I have also skipped the salt to prevent it from feeling grainy. Then it is time to knead, and knead, and knead. This could be an enjoyable experience, depending on how good you prepped your fondant. The rest is child's play.

For Via's cake, I came prepared and watched videos online to teach me how to make alphabet blocks and a clown. It's another Gymboree party for our youngest!

And I think I got this one in the bag. 

Did you also know that fondant makes a good clay for your toddler to play around with?

When I am experimenting, I let Caitlin have some fondant for her to roll out and make into all sorts of shapes. That also means she lets me be because her hands are busy. 

Fondants aren't as bad as when I first began making it after all. I am growing to love it more than I hate it. And I hope fondant will love my daughters more and vice versa.

What are you playing with lately?

- Mommy Smiley

Sing your books

When I began reading rhymes to my eldest, the surest way for me to memorize them is by inventing a tune. I was happy to hear during my child's Kindermusik class that this is encouraged. So I sing some more books to my two girls now. 

It's easy, I think you ought to try. As a form of encouragement, I also learned that, in your child's ears, no singing voice could parallel mom's.

Happy singing!

I love singing Mama Mama by Jean Marzollo to my youngest. Sometimes, my eldest sings along with me.

- Mommy Smiley

Join us on a bear hunt

Books that let your toddler get up and move enhance her gross motor skill. They are also a good way to introduce new and fun words to her.

An example is "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, that the girls and I are enjoying reading. It's one of the books included in the Before Five in a Row "curriculum" that we are using. 

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" is a fun-filled, adventure-ridden book that sees a family go through a meadow, river, forest, and even brave dirty mud and swirling snowstorms to hunt for a big bear. It's high in drama as you need to act out most parts in order to fully experience the story with your tot. By all means, skip, carry, huddle, and let your child ride piggyback like how it's done in the book. Sometimes, my toddler even let her stuff toys join us in the hunt.

Because of the action, however, I am finding it hard reading it because I need to hold the book up, support a baby who's just learning to walk, and sometimes hold hands with my toddler. By the time we get to the part where we need to go through the thick, oozy mud, I am already out of breath.

I thought of writing cue cards to help me so I need not use the book, and sought help from my toddler who said she wanted to draw the mud scene. So we drew all the scenes instead and put in the words to help me. Then we pasted each sheet all over the house. By the end of our second run of bear hunting, the baby's all knocked down and the toddler's asking for some rocking time. 

Now, I am thinking of hunting again at night with daddy as the big bear chasing us all over the house and maybe we can make the girls go to bed a bit early. A mom can hope. 

What are you reading to your child now, mommies?

Join us as we go on a bear hunt.

We go through the long and wavy grass several times.

My toddler's version of the thick, oozy mud.

We stumble and trip as we go through the big, dark forest.

Going inside the narrow, gloomy cave brings us to another part of the house.

- Mommy Smiley

Mommy Tips: Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu for June 24 to 30

If you have been reading our blog and chance about our post of who we are I made mention that I am into planning our weekly menu. Why??? because I wanted to save money. I don't like wasting food and other resources. I wanted our household to be very kin on not wasting anything. It's not only the food that I am very particular about. I also save on electricity and water. I always close the lights when it's not needed (unless my husband comes in and opens all the lights, which I close after him! hahaha). Open our veranda doors for air instead of the electric fan.

For about a year now I have been successful with this planing of menu. =) We have managed to cut our grocery purchase down to half (beaming with pride!!!) and I have also managed to cut down cholesterol counts, sugar counts and sodium from our quarterly blood-test. =) Today, I have decided to share with you guys our weekly menu. I hope you guys can learn something from this.

Monday:
Breakfast: 
Beef Tapa with Cucumber and Tomatoes side dish, 
Egg (optional), Fried Rice, 

Drink: Coffee or Hot Chocolate (I like Antonio Pueo Hot Chocolate Drink) 

Lunch: 
Sinigang na Hipon with kangkong and labanos, 
Plain Rice and Fried Bangus Belly
Fruit: Ripe Mango (1 slice only)

Dinner:
Soup: Soup of sinigang from lunch with veggys
Tortang Talong, Fried Chicken and Rice

Fruit: Papaya

Tuesday:

B: Oatmeal with fresh apples, Spam and Coffee or Soy Milk

F: Mango (1 slice only)

L: Pork adobo, Rice, Beef clear soup with carrots
Gisadong Baguio beans with giniling or shrimps
F: Papaya

D: Amapalaya guisado, Steamed Lapu-lapu with soy sauce or Fish fillet with (I like Jufran) Sweet Chilli sauce, Rice and Nido soup
F: Orange slices

Wednesday:

B: Chicken Arozcaldo or Tokwa Arozcaldo

F: Apples Slices or Banana

Lunch: Breaded Liempo, Rice, Paksiw na bangus with Talong and Ampalaya
F: Melon/Orange slices

D: Pork or chicken Menudo, Grilled Bangus Belly with Tomatoes, salt and onion stuffings, Steamed okra with bagoong or other veggy
F: Melon/ Avocado

Thursday:

B: Ham and Cheese Sandwich with coffee

F: Banana / Papaya

L: Chicken or Beef broccoli, Fried Tilapia and Misua Soup with garlic (optional)
F: Avocado

D: Korean Beef Stew with carrot wedges, Toge guisadoa and Fried Dilis.
F: Melon

Friday:

B: Longsilog with coffee and cucumber salsa

F: Banana

L: Mongo guisado with beef or pork ribs and dahon ng ampalaya and Fried Tinapang bangus
F: Kiwi

D: Fried Chicken, Cream of mushroom soup, mashed potatoes and Steam corn
F: Kiwi

Saturday:

B: Oatmeal with Ma-hu and coffee

F: ponkan

L: Chopsuey with chicken liver, shrimp and pork slices and Beef nilaga with pechay and Repolyo
F: ponkan

D: Eat out (bonding) 

Sunday:

B: Fried Dangit with cooked kamatis (as sauce), egg, and garlic fried rice with coffee

F: Pomelo

L: Pancit guisado, grilled pork bbq and halabos na hipon w/ ginger
F: Pomelo

D: Eat out.

As a rule of thumb for every 1 kilo that is good for 10 people, of-course in small servings =). If you are on a diet you may substitute the White Rice to Red Rice. In our house we use Red Rice. You may find the red rice a bit hard. What I do is we wash the rice and the measure the water and let the rice soak on it for a good 30 minutes before we cook it. This will allow the rice to soften.  

If you are pregnant and is on a strict diet or maybe suffering from Gestational Diabetes, my nutritionist Dra. Virgith Buena suggest that I take fruits first before every meal, followed by soup, then veggies (salad or regular cooked veggies) and proceed with my meal. Before you can even finish your main meal your already full.

If your on breastfeeding incorporate more Clam soup, Tinola Soup with Malungay Leaves and other leafy vegetable.  

As a healthy alternative you may want to use lean Pork, Lean Chicken or Lean Beef. If your not keen on using lean part specially the chicken you may buy thigh fillets without the skin. We also use Free Range Chicken or Native Chicken for our soups and Chicken Dishes. 

I hope in some way I have help you. =) I will try to upload another menu next week. =) Again I said I will try! hahaha! =) 


~~~Mommy Raquel

Welcome to my room ~~~ Saffron

Sometime last week we were supposed to have Mommy Smiley and her kids over. When I told Saffron about it he was excited and so is his yaya! hahaha. Yaya said to me..."Ate ayusin natin yung room" In our house nobody is allowed to move stuffs except me. Why????
1. Because I have good memory so I know all the stuffs.
2. I am the woman of the house.
3. I am good at this. hehehehe.

So we spent the day fixing Saffron's room. Now I will share it with all of you.

Upon entering you will be welcomed by this shelf, on the side of the shelf is another play pen 

(back of coke can) this play pen we use when we go out of town.

 it's super compact and his basket ball ring. 

Mats from Baby and company

This baby use to be besides the shelf, now it stays outside of the room. Too big. =) 

Shelf on the right was previously owned by my husband. =) This shelf serves as storage for toys. 

His study table we got from S and R

Easy access to coloring materials (please do not leave your kids unattended, when using colors)

Wooden toys are more welcome in our house. =) The clock was from Jon when he was still a kid. Another heirloom piece. The other wooden toy was a gift from his Godmother Ivy. 

We got this 2 foldable storage from SM. Black storage store pillows and the Iron Man storage bin from Toy Kingdom stores bedsheets. 

The three tier storage bins are from Baby and Company. Stores more of the little trinkets like bowling pins, small balls, cooking stuffs (yes we have cooking stuffs), animals, cars etc. 

The cooking stuffs and other stuffs.

We own this Uratex memory foam bed topper that we don't use anymore. 

We folded it down to its 1/4 size and wrap it with 

Spiderman blanket as lounging chair that Sam and his baba

 uses when they read a book. 

On nap time we unfold it in half and cover with a different bedding. Converting it as his day bed. 

Day bed with his pillow and favorite blankie. 

Saffron has a 3 in 1 wooden crib which is inside our room. We decided not to put it in his room since it would take too much space and since we also co-sleep. =) Sometimes Kuya Tristan (my nephew) uses it when he sleep with us. 

his bookshelf/toy shelf: This piece was from me. This use to be my book shelf. 

Pardon the laundry basket. hehehe! foldable laundry basket from IKEA 

Closer look at the shelf:

George showing some love with his Sam's photo. 

His 1st business attire photo taken by Stanley Ong during our Ankong Val's Dbay

VCD, CD and Cassette tapes. Those cassette tapes still works all from his baba. 

The Gang: Sponge bob his current fave, 

Shrek (handme down from kuya Carlos), 

Elmo (handme down from Tristan)

Mcqueen was his 1st stuffed toy purchase at rustans

Cookie monster his 1st purchase from Toy kingdom

Scout gift for the Villamiel's =)  

Framed photos: the on the brown frame thats Jon's baby picture. =) Carbon copy. 

This is by far the most expensive purchase we got for Saffron. Much expensive than his crib. hehehe. 

Top part is really a changing table, but we decided not to use it as changing table for safety reasons. =)

Top counter were we store diapers, vitamins, cottons, etc... 

So maybe your wondering how can we fit all his stuffs inside those drawers? Here's how...

This is how we fold his clothes. We fold it down to its smallest size as it can be. 

Insert shirt with its pair. why? So it's easier to get. It always comes in pairs.

to avoid discoloration of pairs. 

We always use the pairs. If the shirt was washed we wash the shorts too.  

And then we store them vertically to save space, easy access and easy checking. =) 

2nd row of drawer holds his Lampin,  socks and clothe diapers

Storage bins from Uratex, Study table turned shoe storage from his baba. 

Storage bins stores different types of hand puppets. 

Welcome to his comfort room: 

Bath area. I encourage you to install hand rails. Since Sam is bigger and he can not fit inside his tummy tub we bought him his new tub. We are now using okbaby tub available in Mother care. 

His sink with a free rubber duckie from Lactacyd 

Bath soaps: We use Cetaphil Restoraderm since he has sensitive skin. 

Kuya Tristan uses Breck kids and J&J

Mushroom and the boy bastos from baguio. =) we have to put some little trinkets to make it fun for him 

His chinesse. hehehe 

Tita Michelle De Guzman gifted us this very useful potty trainer. =) Available in Babyland 

We also use this as his ladder for brushing his teeth or washing his hand. 

Towels (and it has to be blue???) 

This is how his room looks like when it's still clean. hehehe! 

After fixing the room, the next day I was down with fever. 38.5 fever. I often joke my friends that I can only walk maximum 200 steps, over that I will get sick...So my husband said...next time don't fix the room. hahaha! So I was down with fever and called Smiley that I have to cancel our meeting since I don't want her kids to get sick. Today...yaya said... "Ate, hinde na dumating yung bisita natin ha. Sayang naman ayos natin ng room ni Sam" hahaha! To Smiley...I hope you can visit us soon. =) 

I hope somehow you learned something from us =) 

~~Mommy Raquel