Mommy Ginger
Let's talk about Business, Beauty and Babies!

Parenting Pals Workshops for September

As an expecting mom or a new mom, I understand how it is to be overwhelmed with all the stuff going on. I know, because I am a new mom myself. I hear my mom and titas and lola tell me that things are now more complicated for an expecting and a new mom. During their time, they would say, there were not a lot of gadgets and products available. My lola was telling me that during the time of her mom, if her mom didn’t have enough milk, her mom would get help from a wet nurse. My mom didn’t breastfeed. I’m a formula fed baby. She tells me that breast pumps during that time were really painful and there were not available nursing covers. Also, there were no workshops to help expecting moms. She had to get a midwife to help her raise me (I’m her first born).

So, see! We are very lucky to have all the ‘support’ available. So for Manila Workshops, we created a series called Parenting Pals. Parenting Pals is geared towards creating workshops that would help both moms and dads in raising their child/children. For our first two workshops (we have two workshops this September), we have the Baby Sign Language and Safe Sleep Workshop and the How I Learn Workshop.

The first of the workshop series is quite interesting, as our partner speakers from Baby Signs Philippines and from Halo Philippines, discuss two of the most interesting parenting topics: Baby Sign Language and Safe Sleep.

Baby Sign Language and Safe Sleep

Baby Sign Language and Safe Sleep

The instructor for the Orientation on the Baby Signs Program will be Sharon O. Agoncillo-Galang. She is the Managing Director of Baby Signs® Philippines. She is also an Independent Certified Instructor of the Baby Signs® Program. For Safe Sleep, our speaker will be the President of Halo Philippines, Ives Lim-Esteban.

This is a FREE workshop, but we have limited number of seats. To sign up for this workshop, please fill out this form:

The other workshop is about Early Childhood Developmental Milestones and Learning Abilities.

How I Learn

How I Learn

During this workshop, you will learn about the developmental characteristics and milestones of children from birth to 6 years. Age-appropriate learning activities and play materials will also be discussed and how they are used to support your child’s interests and development. This is a great opportunity for parents to understand more about how their child is growing, and help them achieve his or her full potential along the way.

This workshop is at Php 250 per person. Please sign up now using the form below:

Both Parenting Pals workshops will exclusively be held at Babyland, 548 Facilities Center, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

The Baby Sign Language and Safe Sleep workshop is Co-presented by StemCord Philippines, Inc. Our Major Sponsor is Dainty Ashley. Our Minor Sponsor is Cycles, and our booth sponsor is MomBaby Fabric.

The How I Learn workshop is Co-presented by StemCord Philippines, Inc.

Also, we invite you to be part of our community of parents. We have a group in Facebook called Parenting Pals. Add us up here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/389968447779979/

Join us on September 7 and 14, 2013. I hope to see you and meet you there!

Mompreneur Jackie Caniza of Business Hat Inc.

I met mompreneur Jackie Caniza through my yoga instructor, Nature. Apparently, Nature who used to be in business development for Globe Telecoms is now a success coach under Business Hat, Inc. (apart from being a yoga instructor). Business Hat Inc. is the business of Jackie. It’s quite interesting! Let me share with you my interview.

All About Mompreneur Jackie

Mompreneur Jackie CAniza

Mompreneur Jackie Caniza

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Mompreneur Jackie Caniza is married to a banker. They have two wonderful kids — one is 13 and the other one is 9 years old. Both are girls. Jackie just recently became a mompreneur. She had spent more than 15 years working in a corporate environment. She mostly worked in Human Resources, but later on joined the business development team of the company she was working for.

Jackie has always wanted to help people handle ‘transitions’ and challenges in their lives. This passion led to a business idea.

Interview with Mompreneur Jackie Caniza of Business Hat Inc.

Ginger: Hi Jackie! Can you tell us more about your business? What is it about? How long have you been in business?
Jackie: My business is called Business Hat Inc. and I launched it last July 2012.

Business Hat Inc.

Ginger: Who is your market?
Jackie: My market is anyone who is adjusting or undergoing ‘transitions’ in their lives. It may be people undergoing promotions, movements to another company or to a higher position, marriage, teens searching for the course to take in college, or people who are retiring, we can help them.

Ginger: How did you come up with this idea? What made you decide to start this kind of business?
Jackie: It really started as an advocacy. I really want to help guide other people make important decisions in their lives. Through Business Hat, Inc., we help clients find better life balance and career satisfaction by using practical business concepts to train and coach them with. I started the business by training abroad to get a certification in coaching. When I came back, I started marketing my business. After sometime, more and more clients came to me, so I had to find a group of trainors, from different fields and I trained them so that they could help me in this business. I usually do the initial interview with the client then I pass them on to a ‘success coach’ who can best fit him or her.

Ginger: With all these clients and with the business booming, do you still get to find time for your family?

Jackie: Yes, definitely. Although, I’m busier now than I when I was working. I find myself working until late in the evening. I’m grateful though that my family is very supportive. In fact, my two daughters helped me create the logo for my business. They were the ones who suggested that we use the hat and use the three colors. If you’re familiar with the Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono, the colors are from three of the six hats. Green is for new ideas. Blue is for the process, yellow is for creative thinking.

Ginger: What have you learned from being an entrepreneur?
Jackie: In being an entrepreneur, you learn so much about yourself. In a structured environment, you do what you need to do. On your own, you realize what styles work for you. You have to motivate yourself ‘enough’ to get things going. I love talking to people so I personally struggled from the fact that I had no one to draw energy from.

Also, who you partner with is really hit or miss.

Ginger: What would you advise other moms who want to start their own businesses?
Jackie: Have a plan and be deliberate about it. If you want to start your own business, then create a plan and try to achieve that. Small steps and tasks that you accomplish each day brings you a step closer toward your goal. It’s really your decision on what you think is important for you. For me, I enjoy the working from home. I love the flexibility.

Also, try to get the right support — from your family, friends and even from success coaches like us. That’s why we’re here.

Ginger: Thank you Jackie for your time!

For those who want to read more about Jackie and Business Hat Inc., I have created another article on this here: http://manilareviews.com/2013/07/business-hat-success-coach-jackie.html

Jackie would also like to invite you to join this:
lifedesign copy

Business Hat Inc. Contact Information:
Website: http://bizhatinc.com/

 

Suggestions for the Philippines’ Maternity Box

I admire The Finnish government for their efforts of making expectant couples feel comfortable. It is known that since 75 years ago, the Finnish government has been providing a “maternity package” or a box filled with items for baby. It’s big enough that moms use the box to lay baby down inside it. Check out http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/2012/11/things-i-love-in-finland-maternity.html for more images!

Image from MILA'S DAYDREAMS blog

Image from MILA’S DAYDREAMS blog

Read more about Finland’s Marternity packages here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22751415

I hope that the Philippine government prepare something like this for expecting parents. Having a baby will require couples to really prepare for the delivery. If the basics are given to the couples, then the couples are off to a good start. Also, this will allow the government to be able to monitor the development and the progress of the child. It will help promote breastfeeding and help drop the percentage of infant deaths in the Philippines, since couples are more relaxed and more prepared for obstacles and challenges.

If I were to make a box of items, here is what I would include:

1. St. Patrick’s 100% breastfed sando and brief set at php 399.75

2. Beginnings White Tie-sides

Beginnings Tie-Sides

Beginnings Tie-Sides

3. Lulu Mittens: I love the garter of their mittens. The mittens don’t come off easily

4. St. Patrick Onesies (particularly this design) We need a little motivation to continue breastfeeding!

*Picture from Numa Baby Facebook page

*Picture from Numa Baby Facebook page

Baby Z in her St. Patrick Onesie

5. Plain white frog suit (from Rustans Baby Club) I really love the design of this frog suit!

Rustans Baby Club Frog suit

Rustans Baby Club Frog suit

6. Wipes from Pigeon
Pigeon Baby Wipes

7. Safety First Grooming kit with nail cutter, hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, etc.

8. Chino Pino Cloth Diapers with Velcro

Chino Pino Cloth Diapers with Velcro

Chino Pino Cloth Diapers with Velcro (image from Chino Pino FB page

9. A Nursing cover from any of these Mompreneurs:
Nursing Covers from Mompreneurs

These are some of the things that I would like for us to have if ever we do get to have a Philippine’ Maternity Box! What other items would you want in the Philippines Maternity Box?

I hope that they will really have this passed as a law. I’d love to help out if this gets implemented!

xoxo,

Mommy Ginger

Mommy Ginger

Tickle Me Mondays: Comic Strip #8

Today’s Tickle Me Mondays picture is about my cute baby model. Baby Z loves posing in front of the camera. I can’t believe that she’ll be 6 months from now. Time flies so fast! I’m just so glad that I have pictures like these to document every moment.

I truly wonder what goes on in Baby Z’s mind everytime I take a picture of her for her Baby OOTD.

Life of a Model

The Model’s Life is Hard

Do you have funny or cutie pictures of your baby? Join me in Tickle Me Mondays and tweet about it using #ticklememondays! 🙂 I will follow you on Twitter! 🙂

Defining Food Rules in the House

Today I just reprimanded one of our maids. She’s new. When I interviewed her the first time, I also explained some household rules that she should follow. One of these rules is never to get from our food. I give each household helper Php 2000 a month (4 weeks) or php 500 a week for their food.

That’s more than enough if you know how to budget well. I never had any problem with past maids. I always had two: one all-around and one yaya. Their ‘diskarte’ was to combine budgets so that they would have more than enough for each of them. Very good idea, actually (you can leverage on buying more or in bulk when you want to bring down the cost).

With this new maid, she requested for her budget to really be separate because she wants to buy her own food. Okay, fine by me. It really is her money anyway. She even said that I shouldn’t worry because she won’t get from our food.

Anyway, last night, I had a get together at my place and bought food for the guests. Obviously, there were a lot of leftovers. One of which was Baby Z’s brownies. I keep food well since we eat it for the succeeding days. It’s a way also in which we try to save. Going grocery shopping is such an expensive necessity!

Baby Z baking brownies!

Baby Z baking brownies!

This new maid got two huge slices of the brownies behind my back and ate from the barbeque and even wanted to get from the spaghetti. I found out about it when my yaya told me about it.

And to think all she needed to do was ask me. If you know me, as an ‘amo’ and household manager, i’m not really strict. They can actually ask me and i’ll agree to almost anything, for as long as it’s not illegal. So, if she just asked me for a slice or even the whole plate, I would have given it to her.

So I confronted her and told her that what was broken was trust. I told her too that I don’t want Baby Z to see this kind of behavior from them.

O well… How about you? What food rules do you have at home. How do you do it with your helpers? Is there a better way to do it?

Love lots,
Mommy Ginger