Tag Archives: home & living

Babies to Toddlers Online Store + Giveaway

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My little girl is growing up so fast. Too fast. She’s five years old and most days she’s like her Dad -the way she walks, talks and thinks. She’s even ambidextrous like Daddy. You should hear her talk about music and stuff my husband likes.

Some days she’s like my mini-me too, always busy making something from paper, candy wrappers and beads. When asked what she’s doing, she will tell you,  “I’m busy making something”.  Most days she finds me working on some orders or beaded wedding cords, or maybe sewing a wedding ring pillow or a necklace. She imitates me all the time. Those little things just warms my heart. Motherhood has definitely brought in so many beautiful surprises in my life.

It wasn’t too long ago when I was pregnant, a soon-to-be mom and very busy shopping for baby stuff. I only wanted the best for her and I was always checking online stores since the products sold locally were either of low quality or too expensive. I realized that there were a lot of products that weren’t even available here in Cebu or in the Philippines for that matter. Six years ago there wasn’t a lot of online retail stores selling hard-to-find items for babies or toddlers.

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Whether you’re new to parenthood or a veteran of the diaper-changing club, all parents know that raising a baby is not a simple matter. Fortunately, there’s an endless supply of toys, gadgets, and knick-knacks specifically made to make child-rearing just a bit easier. Question is, where do you find all these handy baby stuff? I’m pretty lucky I found one such place in cyberspace -  BabiestoToddlers.com. It’s a one-stop shop for hard-to-find items for babies and toddlers.

Products of BTT

Babiestotoddlers.com was developed and run by Filipina entrepreneur Teresa Rufino who happen to have two babies of her own. I’ve always admired women entrepreneurs who have a vision and this woman took bold steps to address that need in the market. ( I, on the other hand, am still taking baby steps toward my dream craft store, however, my little online shop gives me an excuse to do more crafts and classes). Teresa, when asked about her online store shares that “BabiestoToddlers.com is a no-nonsense online retail store made for busy parents on the go.”

I do a lot of online shopping myself and I find the site simple and easy to navigate, with all the features of the latest online stores sans the clutter.  There’s a standard landing page, which immediately showcases the company’s latest offerings and promos with colorful pictures. To the right of the page, there’s a toolbar neatly categorizing all the products into different sections. Having trouble teaching your two-year-old how to potty? Check out the bath and potty section? Looking for the latest in baby couture?. Click on the button for clothes and accessories.  They’ve got everything you could want for your baby and then some.

Aside from variety, BabiestoToddlers.com is also about convenience and reliability; featured on the landing page is the promise of free shipping within Metro Manila for purchases over a certain amount. And the site makes use of the nifty Pay Pal system ensuring safe and reliable online transactions. The site also features contact numbers for any customer concerns and a helpful FAQ page for newbies to Internet shopping.

The Giveaway

Great news for all the moms in the Philippines, babiestotoddlers.com has partnered with me and I’ll be giving away not just 1 but 2 products to two lucky readers of marrylallwrite.com:

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1. Aqueduck Chldren’s Faucet Extender – helps kids reach the faucet’s water flow, making hand washing easy for our kids.

2. Potty Cover – the only oversized potty cover which provides maximum coverage by covering the sides and front of the toilet keeping hazardous bacteria away!

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Click HERE to join the Giveaway:

You will be taken to my Facebook Page for the Rafflecopter mechanics. All you have to do is just click the number + 5 Entry and register to babiestotoddlers.com. You will get more chances by clicking the other numbers and just follow the instructions.

Click here now.

Babies to Toddlers Logo

Of Summers and Self-Discovery

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Summer vacation has officially started for me (*happy dance*). School’s over  and I’m back to the things that I love to do: spending time with my five year old and my hubby. Of course, no school means having the luxury of time to work on some orders and do more craft projects and classes. Since I am forever the student, I usually attend classes as well.

Last summer, I enrolled in short courses in basic gumpasting, fondant, Italian bread-making, balloon art, etc. Oh how I enjoyed joining those classes. Oh and summer 2012 also meant checking off two of my bucket / life lists – I joined a sewing class and had my first ever sewing machine.

As an educator, I’ve always believed that learning is life-altering and leads to self-discovery. Thus, in our household, the husband and I and surprisingly the little girl is very much into it. We encourage each other to learn or discover something new we can do. The little girl learns to mop the floor and discovers she can help make the floor clean by doing it. If you’ve read my previous posts, last summer the husband recently had his Aha! Moment too. He left his good-paying corporate job and went to law school. Yes, we are a crazy happy bunch, alright! We are forever the students.

I, too had my clarity moment last 2009-2010 when I worked in the US. Until today, I seek for new things to learn. I guess that’s the reason why I don’t know why everyone’s crazy about this soap opera of a certain “Sir Chief”. I can’t seem to find time sitting in front of the TV watching Sir Chief when my craft supplies or my little girl is calling me to play with her/them. How can I? :) (It’s summer so I guess I will have time to watch and swoon about Sir Chief and the pretty maid).

For moms, teens and all the women out there in Cebu, if you share my passion and want to discover your creativity, please come and join us for Beginner’s Bead Jewelry-Making Class on the 14th of April 2013, from 9:00 A – 5:00 PM.

Create your very own fashion jewelry by learning the fundamentals in stringing, looping, crimping to create your very own necklace, bracelet and earrings. Our Early Bird rate is 1, 599.00 only! When I joined a class a few years back, I paid almost P4,000 so this is really a very small investment compared to the class I joined.  The fee already includes all the materials, tools and lunch.

Please register online here.

For more details and other craft classes this summer, you may visit at Marryl’s Arts and Crafts Facebook page.

The Goal This Summer is To Find That Table

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I find myself drawn to vintage-inspired watering cans and tiny tin buckets lately. Come to think of it, I guess I like Old English Interior Decors. I have posted about my little collection of candle lanterns (7 and counting) which ties that up together with these tin cans (just 4 and still counting).  It just ht me now that I probably do like country-vintage inspired decor and style. But not too over-the-top though. I still gravitate towards clean-minimalist design.

But the reason I scoured the little shops and malls in Cebu looking for these cute buckets and watering cans is not for interior decorating. I needed some containers for my craft supplies. I’m going to try my best not to use those hideous plastic containers I had for years. I wanted something inexpensive but pretty. Now, where can we find an inexpensive, not hideous-looking containers these days in Cebu?  I found these cans in 3 different stores and I knew I had to have them because they called to me, hahaha!

Organizing the tiny craft room is getting crazy in our little house. It’s been over a year since we moved to our own place and we love it here (sans the terrible traffic :) ) We still have not finished organizing our craft/office room. To say that it’s a mess in this tiny room full of books and craft supplies is an understatement.  It’s getting crazy lately, what with the husbands law books piled up on the table among the bead stash and some felt fabrics.

There is a table underneath all those craft supplies and law books. The goal this summer is to find that table.

I’ve categorized this also under the P100 Challenge. The blue watering can is only P70.00 and I am more than amused.

Marryl’s Ultimate Chicken Salad / Spread

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I’ve made chicken salads or spreads before. When I want something sweet, I make the Filipino Chicken Sandwich spread that I’ve posted here. But this one I’m sharing is my go-to recipe for the ultimate Chicken Spread/Salad which I’ve adjusted to suit my taste. I’d have to say it’s The Best Chicken Spread I’ve made. Yes, BEST because hubby says so :) You can’t argue with him. We eat our way through life, remember?

It’s so quick and easy to make but the best thing about is that it’s oh so good, your friends will ask for the recipe. I’ve had many requests for the recipe.

Here’s what you’ll need:

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Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts boiled and chopped (I add 1/4 cup of white wine when boiling. I prefer breasts with bones in so I can use the stock for cooking. Add 1 bay leaf, 1 chicken cubes and some peppercorns when boiling)
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup of celery, chopped
  • 1 1/2 -2 tsp. lemon juice
  • 200 ml of mayo 3/4 cup and a tablespoon
  • 1/8 cup of sour cream (optional)
  • 1 small white onion, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • a pinch of salt

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I mix all the dry ingredients first: chicken, onions, eggs and celery. Season with salt and pepper.

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Add the rest of the ingredients like mayo, sour cream and lemon juice. Add a pinch of sugar. Pop it in the fridge and that’s it!

The best thing about this dish is that, I can have them for breads or crackers as a chicken spread and for vegetable salads as well.

After I boil the chicken, I divide it into two to make a spread and the other for a vegetable salad:

1. Vegetable Salad- chop  them in chunkier pieces and add lesser mayo. Mix it with romaine lettuce, apples, carrots, cucumber, etc.

2. Chicken Spread – put everything in the food processor so the chicken is finely chopped and I can have it as a spread. You may also just chop it finely and toss everything together and you have the best chicken spread that you can keep in the fridge and serve to family and friends for a party.

That’s why I call it my Ultimate Chicken Salad recipe.

Let me know what you think.

Sweet Little Things

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I am no fan of cupcakes, Nope! But I bake for my four-year old daughter. Anything that’s got chocolate, she just devours it. I swear!  But the mommy doesn’t get that excited about cupcakes at all. I love making felt cupcakes, clips and all that cute felt stuff but I don’t crave for cupcakes at all. When hubby and I accidentally found this little place, it just might change my views on this unassuming little piece of heaven :) Or, it may just be fleeting, hahaha!

Have I told you guys that I do have a love affair with desserts? And that I like to try new things. Thanks to the internet and TV, Cebu, too has its share of little secrets in food and new places to check out. For a real foodie and self-proclaimed food critic like me, the number of new places and interesting food choices in Cebu is definitely good news. There’s been so many we’ve checked out very recently but I guess I’m just too busy (Lazy is the operant word, I think :) ) to write about them. This is one of them. One of Cebu’s little secrets : Sweet Little Things at J Block Building, Apitong St., corner Escario.

About a week ago, hubby and I wanted to check out Sprockets Cafe over at J Block Building. The food was pretty good! I didn’t bother writing a post since I didn’t bring my camera (I told you I’ve been lazy :) ) Although that would’ve been something worth writing about.

While I was enjoying my Philly steak and pasta at Sprockets, I saw this signage “sweet little things” just right outside. I knew it had to do with desserts. I just had to check it out. Turns out, it was a little shop (you won’t be able to see it unless you’re like in front of it, it’s that small) that sold what looked like gourmet cupcakes like the ones I’ve tried in the US. I must admit, I got a bit excited looking at those cuppies. I had three of their best sellers to go.

This is their famous Flourless Mudpie. The husband and Bea gave it a thumbs up.  The chocolate on top just screams “eat me!” One bite into it and I can tell they’re using good quality cocoa powder or chocolate or both. It’s not too sweet which is a good thing.

This is their red velvet. If you haven’t tried this and don’t understand why the craze for such cupcakes, then this is the place to try one. It’s quite good. I can’t really say it’s the best I’ve tasted but here in Cebu, I would say it’s a must-try. You probably will jump into the red velvet craze after trying this :)

This one just might (might) convert me to start craving for cupcakes – Lemon Poppyseed. That hint of tangy flavor from the lemon just explodes in your mouth. What I love about gourmet cupcakes is that they are made by people who are passionate about making them and are keen on being creative. This is on top of my list. If you’re crazy about chocolates, then the mudpie is your best bet. But if you’re like me and want to try new, interesting flavors, then the Lemon Poppyseed it is!

There’s Bea enjoying the Mudpie.

I love how they’ve thought about the simple but pretty brown box for their packaging. I wonder where they ordered those? I could definitely use a personal packaging for my personalized Wedding Cords.

Note: Sweet Little Things is at J Block Building at Apitong, corner Escario St., Cebu City. You may contact them at 0922-8608600. Tell them that Marryl sent you, hahaha!