How to sample baby products on the cheap

Are you due to give birth any time now? Have you recently welcomed your new bundle of joy into your life and are just starting to get used to the new normal in your household? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions, then there is a good chance you are also coming to realize just how expensive baby products can be. Not only that, but so many of these products are necessary and needed, so it’s not like you can just choose to skip buying them.

How to make colorful ginataang halo halo

Merienda time again! Was craving for ginataang halo halo since my social media feed is full of different versions posted by friends. And so I commissioned my three little kitchen helpers (helpers nga ba o kalat magnets? 😂😂😂) to help me with the bilo bilo to cut my prep time short.

And while the original objective of cutting my prep time short did not happen as expected (took longer plus additional hours of tidying up), got them busy for couple of hours lovin the extra *homemade clay* from the galapong or the bilo bilo itself.

Colorful ginataang halo halo

In any case, we have all been happy with the yummy turnout although we do not have ube nor kamote and sago for the ginataang halo halo. At least our cravings has still been satisfied!

For newbie cooking mamas who may want to replicate this dish here is an easy procedure to follow:
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Easy colorful ginataang bilo bilo recipe

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1. Make the sticky rice balls by combining one cup of glutinous rice flour and 1/3 cup of water. Add food color if you wish to have colorful bilu bilo. Roll into balls and then set aside.

2. Cook sago according to package directions (we have no sago so you wont see it in the photo but you can of course add this. Tapioca is an original ingredient of this dish).

3. In a pot combine two cups of coconut milk, 1 cup of water, an about 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Adjust sweetness according to your preference.

4. Bring to a boil.

5. Add in the rice balls and on the 5th minute add in the sliced saba bananas and kamote and langka.

6. Cook for about 7 to 9 minutes or until the fruits have been thoroughly cooked. Add the sago and then serve.

Kain na po tayo! For more recipes hope you can check out our mealplans and recipes section here in the website. You may also follow our Pinterest Recipe Board and hope uou can browemse through our FB recipe albums. We also upload our recipes regularly via IG so i hope you can follow our account as well. Thanks and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Cant wait for munggo day Friday so here ya go, a twist on the usual munggo gisado. Here is the recipe for your usual ginisang munggo wiyh a twist!

Ginisang munggo with ground pork and spinach.

This recipe is not too soupy but yummy enough for my children to like so since that is all that matters to me, i consider this dish a win!

For newbie cooking mamas who may want to replicate this dish here’s a rough procedure:

How to cook ginisang munggo with spinach

1. Soak the mung beans the night before and wash it well with salt water.

2. Boil the mung beans till tender inwater that is enough to cover the beans. This will take about 30 minutes. I like my munggo real tender to I use the back of a spoon to test the tenderness of the beans after about 20 minutes of boiling and then every 5 minutes after that.

3. In a pot, saute onion and garlic. Add the ground pork. I usually pre boil ours but it is fine if you choose not to. Brown the pork and season with patis and pepper.

4. Add the boiled munggo and about half to 3/4 cup water. Boil and simmer for about ten minutes stirring once in a while.

5. Add the spinach leaves. Cover and simmer for three minutes.

6. Serve with chicharon on top!
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For more recipes, please check out our recipes and meal plans section. You may also browse our Facebook easy recipes album or check out our Pinterest recipe board. Hope you can also follow our IG account where we regularly post recipes and and local parenting stuff. See you there!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Super easy smores dip recipe

Please pardon the lighting but sharing with you one of my kids’ favorite desserts, our 10-minute smores dip, inspired by @jammy.cruz with very slight changes to her recipe.

Super easy smores dip

For mommies who want to indulge their littles to this dessert — and spend a lot of time doubly brushing their teeth because of the sweety-sticky goodness of the mallow and chocolate combo– here is a rough procedure:

10-minute easy smores dip

When the craving strikes, easy smores dip to the rescue!

1. Preheat oven to 250c. Get your oven proof container in there as well so you can heat it up enough for it to melt the butter later once you get it out of the oven.

2. Split the huge mallows into half. If you will be using small marshmallows there is no need to split them.

3. Prepare chocolate chip pieces. In our case we use our favorite choco bar and we broke it into small pieces. Yes you can use cadbury, hersheys or even goya if that is what’s available to you and if you do not have choco chips at home.

4. Get the preheated container in the oven and melt a tablespoon of butter on it making sure all surfaces have melted butter on it.

4. Put on the chocolate in one layer and then layer the halved marshmallows on top of it.

5. Bake for about 3 minutes checking every now and then to avoid getting the mallows burnt.
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4. Serve with graham crackers and enjoy!
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Hope youll like it. For more quick and easy recipes please check out the meal plans and recipes section of our website. We also have uploaded facebook albums of our various recipes. Hope you can follow our pinterest recipe board and IG feed. See you there!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

4 Things Moms Need to Have at Home to Relieve Stress

Sitting on a couch in front of a TV is not a valid stress relief strategy. Therefore, as a mom, you need to develop better coping mechanisms that will allow you to relax and restore your inner balance. You can make this much easier if you stock up on items that have the actual power to relieve stress.

Dangers of Stress for Moms and Babes

If you think stress relief is something you can put off because you are too busy, think again. Being stressed is extremely dangerous not only to yourself but also to your baby. According to studies, parenting stress is associated with developmental delays and a variety of other problems in children. Those problems include emotional maladjustment, substance misuse and psychotic disorders.

Another important study reveals that working mothers are at least 40% more stressed than their counterparts who stay at home. This means that if you are one of those moms who have to work full-time, you will have a desperate need for stress relief. Therefore stocking your home with things that can help you to achieve this fast is the best way to help with your mental health.

Simple Aids for Stress Relief You Should Have at Home

Exercise equipment to relieve the stress of baby weight gain

Gaining weight during pregnancy is a natural biological process. However, losing it later is rather challenging and one of the main stress factors for moms is their changed body.

Therefore, losing that baby weight is a great source of stress relief all on its own.

To do this fast and whip your body into a beautiful shape in the process mommies need to start exercising at home. Obviously, you need to stay with your baby, so going to a gym isn’t an option. Therefore, you’ll need to fill your home with various exercise equipment that will help diversify your workouts and tone up every of muscle group. If you are on a tight budget start small with a pair of dumbbells and an ab roller wheel. These will be very effective in helping you to fix the flapping skin on your arms and get rid of the mom pouch.

Coloring books for adults to relieve work-related stress

Did you know that moms can have fun and relieve stress by joining their kids in coloring some beautiful pictures? Children do this to develop their hand-to-eye coordination and precision of movement. However, a study suggests that the same activity for adults helps protect mental health as well as relieve stress.

Today you can easily enjoy this activity even if you are on a budget and cannot afford the expense of fancy adult coloring books from a store. You can find many free images online – print them out and have fun to your heart’s content with your kids’ crayons. Do this together as a family bonding activity. You should also consider keeping a few pictures waiting to be colored at your workplace. This technique is great for immediate stress relief and can help you to concentrate before attempting difficult tasks.

Aroma lamps or scented candles to help in any situation

It’s a proven fact that scents influence your mood and can help relieve stress and even pain in some cases. Therefore you should be using the power of essential oils to relax after a hard day. This will also be a great help when you are trying to meditate. Incense can help you to focus and clear your mind.

Aroma lamps are the best tool to use when you want to fill your home with the subtle aroma of essential oils. If you want something stronger, you should consider using incense sticks or even burning herbs, such as sage. Scented candles are also a good option. These will offer the additional benefit of relaxing lighting, which can create a very soothing atmosphere.

If you have a developed sense of smell and this method works well for you, you should use small sachets of dried herbs to suffuse your entire home with a soothing aroma. At the very least, use a small lavender pillow to put under your actual pillow. It should help you to sleep better.

Soft blankets to use when all else fails

A soft plush throw blanket is an invaluable stress relief tool. It doesn’t have any proven benefits for mental health as essential oils or coloring books do, but it cannot be denied that curling under a soft blanket when you are feeling down is extremely soothing and can help relieve your anxiety.

Having these four things at home will definitely help relieve stress in moms who may have too much on their plates. Thanks for stopping by and till next post.

A happy homemaker is a happy pinay mommy!

Quick and easy beef yakiniku recipe

When i have almost zero time to prepare lunch i run to my yakiniku slices, season and fry them and voila! Ulam in less than five minutes!

Where to buy beef yakiniku in Manila

Beef yakiniku slices can be bought from specialty meat shops, a Japanese grocery near you or even your favorite big grocery store.

My kids love this because it can also be used with homemade tapa marinade for mornings, or cooked yakiniku style anytime of the day (or night!). When paired with corn fried rice my kids think they are havin food from that sizzling pepper rice food outlet whose name is slipping my mind right now or even fastfood joint Yoshinoya.

Easy Beef Yakiniku Recipe

Anyway for those of you who would like to replicate this five minute yakiniku recipe, here’s a rough procedure:

1. In a small bowl mix three tablespoons of honey, three tablespoons of japanese or sushi vinegar, three tablespoons of soy sauce, 1.5 tbsp of oyster sauce, a bit of grated garlic, pepper and a tbsp of sesame oil.

2. Pour the mixture into fully thawed beef slices (up to half a kilo or one pound).

3. In a pan heat a bit of olive oil and add in a tablespoon of butter. As soon as the butter melts fry the yakiniku slices, wait a bit for it to turn brown and remove from heat immediately. Just add in more iil and butter as needed until you finish frying everything.

4. Pour the remaining marinade into the pn. Bring to a boil and simmer a bit. This will be your extra yakiniku sauce that you can pour over your rice. Enjoy!

Five minute beef yakiniku recipe

For more quick cooking recipes hope you can visit the meal plans and recipes swction of our website happypinaymommy.com, or browse our facebook albums, or follow us on IG or check our pinterest quick cooking recipes board. Thanks and see you there!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Quick french toast recipe

Breakfast time! Hope you are all having a great Tuesday so far. Capt B requested for some French Toast yesterday and so I served him this before he left for work this morning. The littles are still asleep so we were able to enjoy a plate of each without our iced coffee getting too watery because of melted ice and pangungulit 😂
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Anyway, this breakfast is easy to pull off: scrambled egg, sausage and basic french toast sprinkled with powdered sugar and drizzled with a bit of raw wild honey.

Quick french toast recipe

For newbie cooking mamas who may want to replicate the french toast here is a rough procedure:

Easy french toast

1. Choose any type of bread you like and slice accordingly.

2. Beat 2 eggs, 2 tbsp of milk and add in a dash of vanilla extract.

3. Heat butter in a nonstick pan. Dredge the bread slices in the egg mixture and fry each side.

4. Sprinkle sime powdered sugar and drizzle honey or maple syrup over the toast.

5. Serve with a side of scrambled eggs, sausage and your favorite fresh fruit. Enjoy!

Happy breakfast in our household

Hope youll get to try it and let me know how it goes. Till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Baked chicken inasal recipe

Forgive my long absence as #nanayduties have been back-to-back-to-back. Here’s a new recipe for you mommies, pasensya na po wala ng plating plating 😂😂 BAKED CHICKEN INASAL for the mom who does not have the space, time and patience to grill.
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I used chicken thighs because it is a lot juicier and yummier when baked, but you can actually use any part you like. For newbie cooking mamas who want to try this dish, here is a rough procedure:
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Baked chicken inasal

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1. Preheat oven to 220c.

2. Cook chicken thighs in two cups of water, 3/4 cup of cane or coconut or apple cider vinegar (i used apple cider), juice of 4 pcs calamansi, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp salt and pepper, minced ginger and garlic and lemongrass. This should take about 15 minutes. Set aside.
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2. In a sauce pan, add three tbsps of olive oil, 1 tbsp of butter, and annato powder. Add a bit of salt to taste. Once the butter has been fully melted and you reach a bright orange color, turn off the heat. Why olive oil? Siguro para less guilt when you add some drops of it in the rice 😂

3. Baste the chicken thighs with patis, and then baste using the chicken oil mixture. Arrange the thighs in a baking pan and bake in oven for at least 12 minutes. Some notes: next time i will be including the garlic and ginger and lemongrass i used to boil the chicken so that the aroma can flavor the chicken further while it is baking.
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4. Turn the chicken thighs over and baste once again with patis and then with the chicken oil. Bake for another 8 minutes.
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5. Turn the chickn over once again. Baste with patis and chicken oil. Bake for another 3 minutes or until the skin reaches your desired color.

6. Serve with spicy suka and rice!
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Hope you’ll like it. For more recipes hope you can check out the mealplan section of our website happypinaymommy.com (link in bio), or browse our Fb albums, check out our IG feed, or follow our Pinterest recipe board. See you there!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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#bakedchickeninasal #chickeninasal

Achieving work life balance can indeed be elusive as some say it is and I am talking here as a part time work from home mom. I have been a full time working mom for about a couple of years and I know how hard it is really to find that balance. I can say it can be the holy grail of any working mom. Here are some ways we can try to achieve work life balance and this goes as well to those who are still transitioning from being a pregnant working mom to a fulltime and first time working mom.

How Moms Can Achieve Work-Life Balance

Although the global gender gap is still an issue in many countries, as a Filipino woman, you can rejoice that you have full parity in political and economic leadership. Furthermore, the Global Gender Gap report confirms that only four other countries have full parity in this area, and the Philippines ranks as the ninth most gender-equal country in the world. So it seems that Filipino women are standing strong in the gender stakes, and there are ways in which you can gain a work-life balance once you enter motherhood. It’s important to plan, be disciplined and consider other job options such as freelancing.

Work hard and plan

With it no longer being mandatory to retire at 60, many individuals may be choosing to work for longer. However, what about if you could retire earlier and do all the traveling you had always planned? If you put in the hard work and save for your future when your children are young, you could potentially retire early. You will need to maximize your earning potential, reduce expenses where possible, and – most importantly – plan. What you do for a living will need some careful thought.

Your old job

If you worked before you had children and you are looking to return to that role, then speak to your employer before your return. Discuss part-time working so that you can combine work life and family life and still spend time on each. Try and stick to your core hours, and where possible, refrain from checking work emails when you get home. When you are home, it is time to spend with your family. As working parents it is important to share domestic chores, so that one person does not find themselves trying to do everything.

Changing jobs

It may be an opportunity to retrain when you have children. Perhaps it’s not feasible to return to your old job, or maybe it’s time to follow your dreams and do something you have always wanted to do. Make sure you research your options and how the financial and personal challenges will affect you and your family. If you choose to freelance, think about how you will ensure you are fully competent in your role, how you will find customers, and how you will financially manage when initially the funds don’t flow in.

Working from home

Not every job can be carried out from the comfort of your own home, but it may be possible to do a day a week or now and again from home. If you solely work from home, ensure you try to work to a routine. Give yourself set hours to work when the children are in school or childcare, and accept that you are working during this time, not doing house chores. Allow yourself meal breaks, and ensure you have an ergonomically safe desk and chair set up so that you don’t give yourself posture issues or pains. Try to give yourself time off and holidays, and don’t work late into the evening when your brain may become too stimulated to allow sleep. It’s impossible to give your best to your family and work if you are functioning on very little sleep.

There is no set way to gain a perfect work-life balance as a mom, but there are options to consider. Flexible working is becoming more common the world over, and enhanced technology makes it easier to work from home and remotely. If you have to travel for work, try and keep trips short and irregular, and keep in touch with your family while you are away. It’s not easy to manage it all, but work hard with both family and work time, and aim for a comfortable work-life balance. Thanks for reading on and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

A day in the life of a work from home mom

Just wanted to give you a peek of our daily life. Here is an entry in one of our almost-daily Instagram posts that represent snippets of our lives, and the food that I serve on the table:

A day in the life of a wahm

Anong kaguluhan toooooooh? Now this is what happens while you cook lunch. here you are trying to wahm around while taking care of the kids and the house and hahahaha small feet literally tramp on your work.

Anyway, the picture above captures our funny everyday life. Me trying to freelance write part time for my sanity and diversion 😄

My unico hijo trying to be macho — he may be wearing a digital camouflage cloth diaper BUT his macho nappies are no match with the heartsy onesie his sisters have handed down to him. Sorry na my leaning tower of tupiin has not been tackled yet 😂😂😂 and this was what is on top.

Yayaless Mom of Three

So again, a yayaless mom-of-three post. Hopefully for the singles and first time moms out there, my #buhaynanay and #nanayduties posts would not make you think twice about going further to multiply. It is fun to have a couple of littles running around a tiny home, but there are really crazy days too.

The ups and downs are all wrapped with love and joy though. Strength comes from Jesus and the coffee He provides this usually happy mama day after day 💚💚💚

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Thanks for stopping by and till next post!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

In the Philippines, a new baby is born every 13 seconds based on up-to-date information from Worldpopulationreview.com. To safeguard the future security of your child, you should follow a few proactive steps.

Proper financial and estate planning will make it easier for you to ensure that your child has security later on in life, when you may not be there to love and protect your son or daughter (or children). When you do some planning, you’ll find that your careful and caring preparations are the key to making your child’s life easier for him or her when he’s older.

Invest in a good life insurance policy

National Guardian Life Insurance asserts that choosing an insurance policy with your own child as a beneficiary will be a practical decision which ensures that your child will have some degree of financial stability in the event that you pass away. While none of us likes to think about mortality, anything can happen, and smart parents in the Philippines buy life insurance early on, as a protective measure, for their children’s sake.

Many insurance companies also offer services whereby customers may set money aside to cover end-of-life costs and get money to beneficiaries almost immediately. The Republic of the Philippines offers a list of insurance companies which are government-authorized. Check the list to find a suitable provider.

Create a nest egg for your child

Life insurance is important and so is putting together a nest egg, via a savings account, that your child may inherit. Safe investments serve the same purpose. For example, investing in real estate which is someday passed down to your child may be a great way to build future financial security for your son, daughter or children.

Real estate is often a secure investment, if property is in a desirable location and in good condition. You may also want to consider investing. You may be able to get stable returns from stocks, bonds, annuities, bank products and investment funds, such as mutual funds. Once you create a plan to put together a nest egg, you should consult with a lawyer about estate planning. A good lawyer will help you to maximize your child’s inheritance.

Add money to a college fund

The last step is starting a college fund for your child. How early you begin the fund will impact how much money you add to it regularly. You’ll need to crunch the numbers in order to determine how much should be saved annually, to cover the cost of post-secondary education and related expenses.

Tuition generally increases in cost by ten percent per year, so factor the cost of inflation into your college fund plan. Then, multiply the cost of tuition for a preferred school (with inflation factored in) by the number of years it will take for your adult child to get a degree. Add the cost of related expenses. Once you have a total, divide it by the number of years until your child is eligible to enroll in a post-secondary educational facility. The final number is what you should save each year. It may not be possible to save as much as you should, but you can try your best.

Start planning for your child’s future today

Financial and estate planning for parents may seem tricky. Starting with life insurance, saving and investments will make it all easier. No matter what you financial situation is, you should take the recommended steps to ensure that your child will have a stable financial future. Buying life insurance is essential. Savings, investments and college funds are smart ideas if you can afford them. The earlier you take steps to ensure the future financial stability of your child, the better. Thanks for reading and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Tips For Keeping Your Family Safe While On A Road Trip

How time flies, it is almost vacation season, and im sure some of you are already planning road trips and vacations with the whole family come April or even starting the end of march!

In 2018, it was estimated that 44% of Millennials planned to take a family vacation. Among the millions from each generational group who plan family vacations, a sizeable portion opt to take a road trip. Wherever you choose to travel with your family, road trips can be a fantastic way to experience attractions, food, and other sights that would otherwise be missed by using air travel. However, when traveling by vehicle, there are essential tips to take to keep you and your family as safe as possible.

Whether you’ve been planning your road trip for months, or end up booking a last-minute trip, vehicle safety should be one of your top considerations.

Roadtrip safety for the family

Explore these three tips for keeping your family safe during your next road trip:

Double check car seats to ensure that they are installed properly

No matter whether your family vehicle is a truck, car, SUV, or minivan, safety must always be top of the mind prior to (and during) a road trip. If you have little ones, the best place to start is ensuring that their car seats are installed properly. Why? According to Safe Kids Worldwide, over half of all car seats are installed incorrectly. Having an improperly installed car seat can put your children at risk in the event of an auto accident. Although car seat makers include detailed instructions as to how to install a car seat, you can also look online at trusted sources for this information.

Educate your children on the importance of seat belts

Despite what is known about the importance of wearing a seat belt, there are still millions of individuals who do not wear their seat belts regularly. Whether you regularly wear your seat belt or not, it is crucial that you always wear it on the road with your family. When your children see you model this behavior, they are more likely to wear seat belts in the future. This is immediately true for older children and teens. In addition to demonstrating appropriate seat belt use, be sure to educate your children on the importance of seat belts. Let them know that this one safety measure saves thousands of lives each year, and that it is the law in many areas.

Make a maintenance calendar for your family’s vehicles

Blown tires, worn brakes, and malfunctioning windshield wipers are just a few of the potential safety hazards that can occur on your vehicle. If these items are ignored, you could be putting your family at risk. Before your next road trip, create a maintenance calendar for all of your family’s vehicles. Complete any needed maintenance, and be sure to keep up this habit upon returning home. When your children see you taking care of your vehicles, they will also be more likely to do so themselves in the future.

In order to have the best time possible on your next family road trip, it is crucial to take steps to stay safe. Properly installing car seats, educating your children on the importance of seat belts, and practicing regular vehicle maintenance are all essential steps in keeping everyone safe while at home and away. Enjoy your vacations and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Here is an easy and three-ingredient crunchy fish fillet recipe

Sharing with you ladies, a three-ingredient crunchy fish fillet recipe that all thtee of my children enjoy. It is supet easy to cook, very affordable, and nutritious as well as i usually serve it with steamed green beans and rice.

Here’s a rough guide:

3-INGREDIENT CRUNCHY FISH FILLET RECIPE:

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1. Boil or steam choice fish fillet for 20 minutes. I boil and precook so that I wouldnt need to overcook when frying just to make sure that the fish is cooked all the way through.
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2. If all of your children are beyond 2yo, season with salt and a bit of pepper. If there are toddlers below two then have a separate unsalted fish.
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3. Beat eggs in a bowl, and in a separate plate prepare panko bread crumbs. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan (easier to flip and chances of the fish crumbling is reduced when cooked in a non-stick pan).
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4. Dip the fish in the eggs, then coat with bread crumbs and fry until golden brown.

5. Serve with a side of green beans and lemon wedge.

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Super easy three ingredieny crunchy fish fillet recipe:

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Hope you’ll like it. Kain na po tayo 😊😊😊 let me know your thoughts once you have tried it – you can get in touch with me through any of our social media pages.

A Happy Homemaker is Happy Pinay Mommy!

Have you noticed ladies that February is already fast approaching and next thing we know after celbrating CNY we will be crmebrating Valentine’s and then it will be Easter soon? Sharing this Guest Post with you written by Mark Berry on adorable ways to pack candies this coming easter.

5 incredible ideas for Easter candy packaging

Easter holiday will always be incomplete without any candies. The biggest question we all come across before Easter is, how are we going to give the candies to our loved ones? Do we just put them in a shopping bag and awkwardly present them that or do we go an extra mile and plan something special? Here are some ideas for your Easter candy packaging.

Mason jars

In every home, there are multiple mason jars stacked in the storage and are not serving any real purpose. Time to take those glass jars out! Fill your mason jars with chocolate rocks, candy eggs, edible grass, and marshmallow bunnies. In the end, complete the look and tie the jar with a festive ribbon and attach gift tags so your guests can enjoy your package at home.

Honey Jars

We are positive that your loved ones will love your candy packaging! Have a wonderful day!

Is your mom’s birthday fast approaching or is it your MIL who is about to celebrate her birthday. Regardless of who will be turning a year older, here are great suggestions from fellow blogger and parent Anthony Henson on great gift ideas for mothers.

You can have the perfect excuse to make your mom’s day by giving them a gift! But what do our moms need? The answer is not very complicated, but it is not that simple to decide on a particular gift either. There are many online sites that offer reviews on different products. So you can do your research on what options are available, and then decide on one. Go to Helpful Reviews for details. We have narrowed down some gift ideas for you that we think your mother would really love, have a look!

Home Helper

With a robot vacuum, your mother can read and do yoga and exercise without worrying about cleaning the house. An iRobot Roomba is probably one of the greatest inventions in recent years, where the task of cleaning is taken cared of. For a mother, most of her days are spent cleaning the dirt off the floor and sweeping the bread crumbs off the carpet. Our moms should be able to do more than just cleaning, a task that can be done by anyone. All the hard floors and carpets in the house will be effortlessly clean with a robot vacuum. An iRobot Roomba has easy Wi-Fi connectivity. With the tap of a button, your mother can ask Alexa to clean her home while she will have plenty of time on her hands to do other chores.

Tote Bag

Whether your mother has a job outside the home, or she is a stay at home mom, she will need a bag that is big enough for all of her things. A big bag is a blessing because there are so many things you need when you are out and about. Get a beautiful tote bag, that is not only attractive to look at, but it also has plenty of space for your mother’s keys, perfume, wallet, and other things. If your mom has an office job, she will be happy to have a bag, because there is no such thing as ‘too many bags’ for a working woman.

Dutch Oven

If you don’t have a Dutch oven in your kitchen yet, you don’t have to look for any other gift to get because this will change your mom’s life. A Dutch oven makes cooking so much easier and gives it a professional touch. Mothers, especially the ones who are obsessed with cooking, will appreciate this gift. This pot is perfect for making casseroles, deep-frying anything, and roasting meats or vegetables. The holiday season will now be more fun because your mom won’t have to worry about making all those special dishes that she had planned.

A Day At Spa

Moms work all day and still do not get the appreciation they so truly deserve. After all the hectic and busy day, mothers are bound to get tired. This amount of dedication calls for a day of relaxation. Nothing relaxes your body and mind better than a day at a spa. Get your mother a voucher or get her a booking of a spa where the only job she has is to relax! Some pampering and body massage is the perfect gift to give your mother where she will have the me-time she has desired for so long.

A New Blender

A blender can make the smallest of the tasks much easier, but if your blender is old and cheap, it can malfunction every other day. Give your mother a blender that will not bother her anymore. All the smoothies and shakes can now be made with the help of a button. But it is not just any blender we are talking about, but a blender that is the best at what it does. Get a blender with razors that do not take time to crush that ice or chop those vegetables.

Hair Dryer

While our moms work so hard all day, they also deserve to look good and be comfortable. A good hair dryer will do both these things as your mother does not have to wait for your hair to dry out in winters when you can do it in just a few minutes. With a few tutorials, your mom can also learn how to make different hairstyles with her hair dryer. No need to waste her time in the salon, when your mom can just make a hairstyle of her choice when she is going out!

A Digital Assistant

A smart speaker will help your mom do a lot of things and make her day easier. It is small, attractive and can easily sit on the kitchen counter! With her new virtual assistant, she can have it play her favorite music, read her recipes, control smart appliances, check the weather, and so much more. You can check for these smart speakers at Amazon and get the best one with a variety of features.

We are positive that these gifts will not only make your mother happy, but they will actually be useful to her.

About the Author:

Anthony Henson has been covering consumer technology for a decade now. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert, reviewing TVs, media hubs, speakers, headphones, and gaming accessories. He regularly writes blogs at https://www.helpful.reviews/en.

Hope you were able to pick up something from the above guest post fellow mommies! Till next blog entry.

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Today I would like to share with you our usual pica pica cheese platter, New Year’s Eve edition. Yes, this is a late post of our homestyle Charcuterie last NYE and for this year we are so glad that the green grapes we got are not as tangy as last year’s!

Anyway, we enjoy having a charcuterie board every now and then because it is easy to prep and is uncomplicated. It may not be the healthiest though but we just pair it up with red wine to somehow balance the fats off the sausages in it.

So for those of you who want to make your own homestyle charcuterie board, know that it all depends on what you love to nibble on. You can choose the cold cuts that you love, the cheeses you like most, the dried fruits and nuts that you prefer. If you have small jars of jam or jelly or pate or caviar or brown butter at home thay will be great too. Soda crackers or toasted sourdoughbread is our usual choice.

Where to buy the ingredients? Santi’s will be your bestfriend and one stop shop for all this. If you are too lazy to prep or do not have time they can prep it for you too. If you dont have a Santi’s near you then you can always check out a Rustan’s supermarket near you or an S & R branch.

So what is in this homestyle charcuterie board?

-Gouda Cheese
-Aged Edam Cheese
-Camembert Cheese

-Blue cheese
-Duck Liver Pate
-Chorizo
-Beef Pastrami
-Jamon de Bola
-Pretzels

-Dried Mangoes
-Green Olives
-Seedless Red Grapes
-Seedless Green Grapes
-Pistachio Nuts
-Crackers

Ang saya lang because we have left overs na kinukutkot namin once the kids are in bed 😊😊

Quality Time

Before I end this blog post allow me to share a somehow related story – I was just touched that the mister told me that we should make a conscious effort to choose to spend more time with each other despite the demand of raising little children. Moments like red wine and cheese night. I may be guilty of choosing chores once the kids are in bed or catching up on writing or just zone out in my phone once the kids are snoozing. Kasama naman sa pagod ng parenting but like what Capt B said we should try to make time and prioritize each other too. Salamat for that paps 😙😙😙❤

So another new year’s reso post pala ito and sorna for yet another lengthy caption. Here’s hoping that you and the love of your life will share more happy and precious moments this year! Cheers to love, Cheers to Happiness!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Hi there mommies! Sharing with you a guest post from Henry, a fellow writer and digital professional. He is sharing with us a write-up on his suggestions for unplugged activities for older kids like teenage boys. Hope you enjoy it!

Teenagers are sometimes sensitive, hyperactive, and budding seekers. Mostly, parents start neglecting their teenage children as they are sensible ‘grown-ups’ who should learn to take care of themselves. Try not to overlook your little attention-seekers. Instead, be their guiding light and they will adore you for life.

Moreover, at this stage of life, life-skills such as emotional management, time management, and team management are developed. It is a stage of life where a child is made or broken. Leaving them on their own in front of digital screens is simple destruction of their personalities.

Offline activities for teenage boys

Invest your time to help them build confidence, learn some life-skills, and feel self-important. Give them a direction in life and, later on, their passion will drive them forward.

Below are the five unplugged activities that you can get your boy involved into. However, avoid forcing them into something they have no interest in.

Youtube Vlogging or Video Making

Teenage boys can teach their unusual skills to the world via Youtube Channel. Be it an art or science, they can share their lives and interests with the world easily. The audience’s feedback will prepare them to handle negative and positive criticism smartly. With time, they will learn how to follow the trends and stay on top. The financial aspect is another huge plus. It can be a starting point for them to get into the business world and handle the market competition. For vlogging, not only you would need a camera but also a tripod. Your child can make videos on your phone as well. Before investing or making an actual purchase, learn a bit about the best cameras and tripods used by YouTubers on cameraseals.com

Pay Them for Every Job Done Well

Get beyond the usual appreciative remarks as they become less effective after a certain time. Ask them to complete a certain job or task and pay them for completing it on time and doing it perfectly. It will develop smart habits of time and money management in them. You must encourage them to be more and more creative in their project of garden maintenance, room cleanup or house renovation. The more creative they are, the better they will be able to handle tasks at a later stage of life. Furthermore, it can keep them unplugged and engaged for hours.

Encourage Outdoor Activities

Outdoor activities such as football, swimming, surfboarding, basketball, tennis, archery, bike riding, and hiking are some of the best activities for all the boys out there, belonging to any age group. Encourage them to go out and spend some time under the sun. Start early so that they enjoy a particular sport or game. As they will master the skills and start winning the games, their confidence level will get a huge boost. After that, they will be driven by their interest to go out and play.

Building or Crafting

Why not encourage your child for circuit building, woodworking, DIYs, arts and crafts? Boys, with an interest in construction or building, desire to build something huge and for real. Give them the supplies, wooden slabs, and help them create model houses, bridges, skyscrapers, etc. Trust us on this one; it is something that would help them a lot in the practical life later on.

Monopoly

Monopoly is one hell of a classic game that develops a business sense in young kids. It answers all the questions of investments, financing, buying, and selling in the corporate world. So why not start early? Get your kids off the plug and start learning and earning in this amazing game!

About the Author:

Henry Taylor is an IT expert and a researcher. He is obsessed with all the digital accessories and photography. He takes a keen interest in Vlogging and loves to share his photographs on Instagram. He regularly posts at https://cameraseals.com/.

Thanks for reading our gueast articke everyone, and till next post!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

New year means another year of breastfeeding, and I thank God for the blessing to nurse my babies every single day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FELLOW MOMMIES! Sharing with you Shobe’s depiction of me breastfeeding little guy. Little guy is holding the *artwork* so that I can take a picture. Prior to this, Shobe was quietly drawing me nursing little guy while the nursling was standing up 😄 took a photo of it to remember to usher in another year of breastfeeding.
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It is in funny depictions like this that I all the more feel God’s love for me. For giving me adorable and energetic children, who wear me out but fills my love and happiness tank every.single.day.

There’s not a day that I dont thank the Lord for the blessing of being able to stay home, breastfeed non-stop since my eldest’s birth up to this day (tandem nursing my younger two), and the ability to pursue my passion for writing albeit part time and in the comfort of our own home.

Ongoing parenting journey

I remember the days when My panganay was almost three month’s old and I had to return to work after my maternity leave and was torn every single day that I left her until the day that I finally resigned from my corporate job about a year after. My motherhood journey aint perfect, and is not all pink roses, rainbows and unicorns – there are a lot of days that I feel am in the parenting trenches, but still God’s love fills me and the awareness of His embrace calms my tired and anxious mothering heart. At the end of the day, it will always be our choice to be happy 💚 Again, happy new year fellow happy pinay mommies!

Nag emote nanaman ako sorna 😉😉 Maghahappy new year lang. Hoping that 2019 will be bright, healthy, happy and fabulous for all of us.

A happy homemaker is a happy pinay mommy!

Treatment options for chronic joint pain.

Moms like us can suffer from chronic joint pain, and like anyone experiencing this, we will do all that we can for relief. This pain can be debilitating, and keep you from doing what you love. There are many treatment options out there. You will just have to take your time and find the ones that work best for you.

Below are some suggestions that will help you to relieve joint pain.

Pharmaceutical Options:

There are many pharmaceutical options out there today. These will help to alleviate the pain that you are suffering from. Drugs include opioids for pain, and drugs for inflammation like NSAIDS. The benefits of these drugs are that they can help to get rid of the pain for a while, and they can help control the inflammation in your joints. They do have some side effects though. Prescription pain medication can cause constipation issues, as well as some other health issues. These types of drugs also have an addiction risk. If it does become an issue there are places for rehab in the Seattle region and across the USA. You will need to work closely with your doctor to ensure that you do not have any problems with this type of option.

Over the Counter Remedies:

There are many over the counter remedies that may help with arthritis and chronic joint pain. You will want to do your research and speak with your doctor before doing anything, even over the counter options. These include things like CBD oil, glucosamine, essential oils, and herbs. These non prescription treatments are generally all natural, with minimal side effects. There are a few cons to this type of treatment. Certain over the counter options can interact with pharmaceutical medication, so you will need to speak with your doctor beforehand. They can also be expensive depending on what you use. All in all, though, there are a variety of OTC options that may help alleviate your pain.

Physical Therapy And Massage:

If you are suffering from joint pain, another option that you can try is physical therapy and massage. A therapist can work to help move your ailing joint around. This can improve circulation and help to alleviate pain. Massage can help as well, and will often improve the joint issue. The downside to this option is that physical therapy, as well as massage, take time. You will need to do this frequently to get any benefits. This option may be expensive as well, but if you have health insurance, this may be covered under your insurance.

Treating Joint Pain With Food:

This treatment option is a wonderful way to improve your pain level simply by adjusting the way you eat. If you are overweight, this can add to your joint pain symptoms. Your joints do not need to be carrying around any extra weight. Losing a few pounds, by dieting can help you to feel better and to alleviate pain. There are also many foods that are full of antioxidants. Foods like blueberries can help you to have a reduction in pain and inflammation. Consider doing some research into possible food treatment options. You can create a wonderful diet plan that will help you to lose weight and decrease the inflammation in your body.

It is never easy dealing with joint pain. It seems like there are days when you cannot get relief. One treatment option may not work for you. You may have to try several different treatment options to see which works best for your arthritis and chronic pain. Try some of these treatments today to see if you can experience relief.

Till next post!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!