Tag Archives: lifestyle

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

The Goal This Summer is To Find That Table

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wateringcan

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.

Cebu’s Best Kept Secret Place: Old English Home Decor Shop

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birdcage

Today was my last day at work and summer vacation has officially started for me! Goodbye lesson plans. Hello Mr. Sun, Sea, Travel, blogging, crafting and craft classes :) Just writing that down makes me so excited, I can hardly contain myself (Tee! Hee!).

Right after work, I went to my favorite place for really pretty, country-inspired home decors. I wanted to check if the wooden mailboxes have arrived. They promised they will have some new stuff by the end of March. It hasn’t arrived yet I was told but there were new Bird cages on display. Too cute! Sorry guys for the low quality. It’s just on instagram.

I realized I haven’t posted anything about this secret place I frequent. For my dear readers from Cebu, you might think we don’t have shops in Cebu for hard-to-find things for self-proclaimed crafters, interior designers like you and me (operant word: self-proclaimed. No violent reactions necessary).

Yes we do have them, cute-artsy-little-shops-that-make-you-say-Oooh-Aaah-when-you-enter-you-want-to-buy-everything! That kind of shop :) I know where to find them, the cheapest bead shops, cute little wrought iron bird cages that is way cheaper than the ones found in Ayala, jute twines, cheap fabric…Oh the list is endless. If you just look harder, they’re all waiting to be discovered. The fun is in discovering these places.

I don’t wantto spoil the fun by telling you where they are so I’ll let you in on the fun by letting you find these places yourself.

Get back to me when you’ve found it.

I got a better idea: Why don’t we start a new category here for Cebu’s Best Kept secret places (We’ll just change that when we come up with a better title) so everybody can join in the fun.

To my fellow Cebuanos, share your new discoveries here or on my twitter account: Marrylallwrite.

:)

New Addition to the Family

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My Mama is home from Michigan for a very short visit because of my brother’s condition. On a lighter note, it meant some new craft supplies for me. In my part of the world, we don’t have Michael’s, Jo-Ann’s, AC Moore or Hobby Lobby. Yes, it’s so sad that’s why I wish I will have my own craft store here in Cebu someday…I dream big :)

My loot came in this pretty bag from Jo-Ann’s. I liked the tape measure-like handle. Sorry for the instagrammed pictures. Still too tired and lazy to take out the heavy dslr.

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After what seemed like forever, my cuttlebug is finally home. I love, love love my Cuttlebug! I’ll keep you guys posted and maybe show you a video what this little toy can do.

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What I usually do for craft supplies and products that aren’t found here in the Philippines, I  ask my Mama or brother buy it for me or purchase it online and ship it there in our place in Michigan and they send it to me or send it through balikbayan box (which takes forever!). I get mails regularly from Craft stores like Jo-ann’s or Michael’s and I use their coupons. These embossing folders and dies were on clearance at just $1.97 at Jo-Ann’s and the Cuttlebug was I think 50% off using the coupon at Michael’s. But I think you can use Michael’s coupon at Jo-Ann’s too.

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These unassuming little containers are my newest prized possession :) I will make magic with them pretty soon. Come back and I’ll keep you posted what these are.

That’s why I enjoy DIY & Crafts so much. I get excited what I can do with stuff. If you’re not into crafting, you should definitely try it. If you’re in other parts of the world like the US, Singapore, UK where you have Craft stores all over, you have no excuse not to be doing DIY & Crafts.

What’s your current project?

Beading is Therapeutic

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It’s been more than a week since my brother was in a motorcycle accident and he was in Intensive Care for 5 days. It was difficult and still is for the family but it makes a whole lot of difference when you have family and friends who extend their help and words of comfort. It means so much to us.  Mama had to come home from Michigan just to be with my brother. It may be rough for all of us but it made me see how important it is to have a good relationship with family and relatives. I feel so blessed and loved to be surrounded by people who truly cares for us.

It was so nice seeing my cousins, aunts and uncles. My brother is still in the hospital but thank God he’s now conscious. While at the hospital, I brought some craft tools and some bead stash so I can keep myself busy and avoid worrying too much. However, I couldn’t really bead as much. It felt like the first time I learned to do this craft, struggling but I just had to keep trying. It helped me get my mind off my brother’s condition and my tired body. During the first five days in the hospital, I was always running up and down the stairs buying medicine and all that.   Beading in the hospital (or sometimes just staring at my bead stash coz I was too tired to even pick them up) helped me a little to relax.  I did however finish an order of the ceramic bead necklace.  I think I posted this necklace that I made for myself and somebody asked me if I was selling it. I still need to do another one and a bracelet to match it. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish this order soon.

Thank you to my clients who were very understanding and patient. I’ll be working on them this week. I’m starting to find my inspiration again. This time, it’s not about color combination or texture and material. More importantly and surprisingly, I am inspired because of what I went through the past week.

My daughter always asks me, “What’s the big idea?” The big idea is to show Love and to experience Love.

Thank you for all your prayers.

I remain,

Marryl