Mommy Ginger

It took a while before I could finally decide on what my one word was going to be this year. Finally, I have decided on a word that will encapsulate everything that I am planning to do and achieve this year. I chose the word…

My one word 2013 is LEARN

Why LEARN?
After a conversation with a friend last night, I realized that one of the things that I want to focus on this year is learning, creating avenues for learning and sharing my learnings with others (over probably a cup of coffee… thus the coffee stain in the poster). I realized that a lot of my goals and plans for this year and even my life list have a lot to do with learning.

LEARNING in the Family…
I’m about to be a mom and I know that I can’t be a perfect parent or wife, but this year, I will try my darn best to learn and strive to be a good parent and a loving wife. I’ll strive to learn as much as I can by attending workshops, reading books and even trying out things that I have never done before (make an effort to learn cooking…). I will also try to learn more about breastfeeding through others and through personal experience. I will be patient and really try to breastfeed until Zeeka is 2 years old.

LEARNING with Friends…
I will actively pursue creating workshops for ManilaWorkshops.com (even those that I will offer for free: I was thinking of a free Photoshop workshop) so as to help friends and acquaintances learn with me. I want to bring inspire other people to continue learning.

LEARNING more about my Faith…
I will learn to be more spiritual. I have started reading passages from the Bible again and I have started praying every evening, too, with my husband. I promise to learn more about the origins of the Catholic religion, which my hubby, is so fascinated by.

LEARNING from mistakes…
I will go for things that I have not done before. I want to seek new challenges and learn from these. If I fail, I want to learn and share what I have gone through with others.

By the end of 2013, I know that if I stick true to living my word, which is to LEARN, I know that I will have had a fruitful, productive and well-lived year.

What’s your one word for this year? BTW, i’m linking this to One Word 365 Community.

Love,

Mommy Ginger

I can’t believe it! I can already see the features of my Zeeka. We went to the Women’s Health Department of Asian Hospital yesterday. We had our 4D Ultrasound scheduled. Ej and I were so excited to meet Zeeka.

The 4D ultrasound at Asian costs Php 4,550. It comes with a CD of the pictures and a video of your baby. Our appointment was at 10:00 am, but the doctor who was in charge of scanning us, advised me to go and hydrate and eat! This is actually a tip for moms-to-be who will have 4D Ultrasound appointments. Be sure to arrive with a full stomach! Drink a lot of fluids and eat food. Doctors or the one doing the scan will want to have the babies alive, awake and enthusiatic for this procedure.

I went down to have a bagel and two glasses of water. I didn’t go to the restroom anymore before the procedure. The more liquid that you take, the better, since it creates space so it would be easier to find the parts of the body of your baby like the face, limbs, etc.

We were called in at around 11:30 am. Zeeka is still in breech position.

Baby Zeeka, I hope you turn around just in time. Mommy wants to have a normal delivery. hehe!

During the first few takes, Zeeka was smiling with her hands cupping her chin. Talking about a Koreanovela pose! Way to go, girl! Actress in the making. Maybe you could fulfill mommy’s dreams of being an actress. A few seconds later though, she made a fist and hid her face. Aaaaaaw! She then hid also under her umbilical cord.

Pictures from Zeeka’s 4D Ultrasound

We couldn’t take any more nice photos of Zeeka. The doctor was kind enough to offer me another 4D Ultrasound schedule Thursday next week, so that we could take better photos.

We then just continued the ultrasound by measuring the body parts and taking the weight of Zeeka. Chubby cheeks Zeeka is now at 3 pounds and 4 ounces. She’s also definitely a girl! The doctor checked again and she was sure.

We left happy. I have the printed out black and white photos, but I still have to come back on Thursday for another $D ultrasound. It’s okay! That means i’ll get to see Zeeka again. I’ll go with my mom and dad, too, on Thursday. They’re super excited!

I am, too! Again! 🙂

I love you, Zeeka! You have mommy’s nose.

Love,

Mommy Ginger

Just like any new parent, we wanted to have everything ready when the baby comes, Ej and I decided to have our baby listed already in different baby registries. We had baby Zeeka registered with Baby & Co. and Rustans. Last December, I also read the blog entry of my sister-in-law, Neva from ManilaMommy.com on Baby GAP Baby Registry. I wanted to try it out so we went to the Megamall branch of Baby GAP.

When we got there, I approached one of the ladies there. She asked me to wait for a while. I think they were having a SALE, so it took a few minutes before she returned with the form. I filled out the form and then the lady asked me to choose 30 items. I only got to choose 18 items, as my preference were those with sizes from 3-12 months.

The lady got the items and then encoded it. It took a while though, since I think the girl we were talking to was new. She also gave me a list of the items that I chose (although the list that I got was handwritten, not like the one shown in ManilaMommy’s blog, which was typewritten). She then gave this bag. It contained the freebie, which was a canvas diaper bag and the 18 invites that I can give out to family and friends.

What a colorful shopping bag!

The cute and nice diaper bag from GAP.

The invites that you can give your family and friends.

I’m really excited on receiving the things that I chose from Baby GAP. They had great and fashionable items for a baby girl. I can’t wait to show you some of the items. Hope people get baby Zeeka something from the GAP.

Love lots,

Mommy Ginger

An Interview with Momtrepreneur Angelica Dimayuga, Mompreneur/Owner of Honeybaby

Mommy Angelica is mom to baby Kiel, who is 1 year old this January. Angelica always wanted to start a business, but never knew what kind she wanted to create and build. “I didn’t really want to be an employee forever, if you get what I mean..” Angelica says. At that time, Angelica was a Landscape Architect who used to work for an outsourcing company for an international firm. When she and her husband decided that she’d be a full-time housewife (to breast feed and be a hands-on parent), she had it in the back of her mind that she also wanted to be a WAHM someday. This was to still be able to help her husband earn for our family. Putting up an online shop is one thing she was set to do, aside from her job as a virtual assistant.

Momtrepreneur Angelica Dimayuga and family

Honeybaby Online Store

Hoot Hats

Here is my interview with Mommy Angelica.

Ginger: Hi Angelica! First of all, can you tell us more about your business? What is it about and how long have you been in business?

Angelica: The store’s tagline: Mommy-picked, one-of-a-kind baby/kids hats, headbands, and hair accessories, I think briefly describes what the brand/business is all about. Honeybaby is an online boutique of various toppers, from the quirkiest to the most adorable, well, at least I’d like to think so.

I just launched my shop June of 2012, so it’s fairly new. So I still consider myself a newbie in the online business. I get my products from different suppliers/manufacturers both locally and abroad. I am still in the stage of trying out different products, checking and comparing which has the best quality and what the consumers are most fond of. And so I am constantly on the lookout for other adorable baby hats and headbands that I could add to my selection.

Ginger: Who do your think your target market is?

Angelica: Modern-day (quirky) parents like my husband and I, who are fond of trying out new things for their little ones, especially if it adds to their “cuteness” factor (haha).

Ginger: It’s quite and interesting concept. How did you come up with this idea?

Angelica: It was actually my husband who thought of the idea. It started when we had a photoshoot with our baby, and the studio had a cute bear hat that we (secretly) wanted for ourselves (hihi), because it was so cute! I tried looking for hats similar to the studio props, but there were none available locally. There were fancy crochet hats online, but just as I was about to order, hubby said why not try selling them here and be the one to offer them locally? I think it was just him thinking out loud, but it sounded like a bright idea back then. And it clicked, thankfully!

Ginger: I’m sure that you encountered some obstacles along the way when you decided to pursue becoming a momtrepreneur. What are these?

Angelica:
• Capital. First off, you need money to start a business. Since I was a fulltime mom (who recently quit her office job), I had to ask my husband if he could “invest” in my business. Good thing, he’s very supportive.

• Marketing. Since the product is “new”, most parents would think twice (or many more times) before they’d buy a hat! I must admit, it’s quite a hard sell, and I have to be extra “convincing” how I present/market my products, especially at bazaars! You have to be (extra) active in Social Media Marketing (SMM) just to get the word out. Getting referrals from happy customers is always a joy. I also got to make friends with mommy bloggers, photographers, and some of my customers.

• Last but definitely not least: Juggling motherhood and business. I have been an “independent” mommy ever since, and by that I mean, I have no yaya at all since I gave birth. But that’s a different story… I have had my crazy days when my time and attention is split between the business and taking care of my baby, breastfeeding to boot! But along the way, I’ve learned some “tricks” and developed an ideal routine..and it’s still a learning process, especially now that my son is almost a toddler.

Ginger: What is your long term dream for Honeybaby?
Angelica: I plan to design my own hats. I’m actually looking for local manufacturers/suppliers, because I want to support our local craftsmen. I also want to see my products in baby stores 🙂 This is why I started my online shop in the first place, because no local stores retailed quirky hats.

Ginger: What are three traits that you think a momtrepreneur should have when starting their own business?

Angelica:
• Passion and Perseverance. I think these go as a pair. Any business needs the passion to start it and perseverance to keep it going!

• Creativity. If you plan to be an online seller like me, build an eye-catching website that is user-friendly. My husband and I conceptualized and did the site ourselves. Think of a catchy phrase or tagline that is true to your brand, and a simple but memorable Shop Logo to go along with it. Be creative in all your marketing strategies, like host giveaways or offer something new.

• Optimism. You always have to think positive however bad a situation may be. Like, if you didn’t make a sale this week, if packages get delayed etc. Just breathe, and don’t let the stress get to you. Like the saying goes, “Keep calm and carry on”. Before you know it, you’l be busy processing orders the following week.

Ginger: What advice can you give to other Momtrepreneurs?

Angelica: Always have time for your family. Yes, keeping an eye on the business is important but family still comes first. Besides, you also need a break! Remember that you are first and foremost a wife and a mother, it is your number one responsibility.

Don’t loose it! You can never escape persistent customers, however annoying they can be sometimes. Be very patient with them, after all, you’re trying to please them. It’s not just about the sale, but about making (and keeping) connections. A good feedback from your customers is always very helpful.

Ginger: Thank you so much, Angelica! We learned so much about you and your business today. I know a lot of moms learned and were inspired by your story.

Honeybaby Contact Information:
a. Website/Multiply site: http://honeybabyonline1.wix.com/shop
b. Email address: honeybabyonline1@gmail.com
c. Mobile Number: 09436790081
d. Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/honeybabyonline
e. Twitter account: @honeybabyonline
f. Blog (for promos, giveaways, and events): http://liquesantics.blogspot.com/search/label/Honeybaby

*Note: Honeybaby was mentioned by Smart Parenting Magazine as one of the new finds for new moms:
http://honeybabyonline.multiply.com/journal/item/1/ABOUT
Also, Honeybaby’s Hoot Hat is a finalist for the Multiply Origination Awards Most Original Mommy Management Idea:
http://shift-interactive.com/multiplyorigination/poll/mommymanagement.php

A Farewell Letter to my dear “Manong” Collins

Dear Manong Collins,

It was 2:00 pm. I was sitting at the couch in the loft area of my in-laws’ house, when I felt my heart palpitate. I couldn’t breathe. I tried twisting my body, so that I was leaning on my left side, but still. I couldn’t breathe. I asked my nephew, DW, to call “Tito EJ” in the other room, but he was busy playing that I don’t think he really listened to me. A few minutes later, Ej joined me in the couch, and I told him that I wasn’t feeling well. We both entered the room to lie down. It was then that I got the phone call from my sister that you were rushed to Vets in Practice and you were in critical condition. I just knew that something was truly wrong.

The drive from Quezon City to the vet seemed so long. I felt numb. All I could remember were the shadows and patches of light from outside the window. We were still in the QC area when my sister texted me that you were gone. She texted (as they were already in Vets in Practice ahead of us), “manang, andito na kami. wala na talaga si Collins.” (We are here aleady. Collins is really gone.) To that, I replied “:'(” I didn’t know what to text back. I felt tears rolling down my eyes. The ride home was a long one — a long one where I could really think the times you were there for me.

Collins, what a cute face!

My memories of you started when I got you when you were just barely 2 years old. I was so happy to see a blue grayish pitbull like you. As I clearly remember, you were tied to a steel pole, during the time we visited you and took you home. You were imported from the States by our friend Rommel from a guy named Ray Certified in the United States. I bought you from him. I was so proud of you! You were my first imported dog. I remember you, being so cute and cuddly! You looked like a polar bear (people still say that you do).

I remember that you had many “firsts”. You were the first Pitbull that was micro chipped. You were also the first Pitbull Champ in a joint dog show of two mainstream pitbull clubs, NPTC and PPC, during that time. You were the first pitbull icon used by NPTC in their membership card. But aside from all of these achievements, you were also the first dog to be allowed by mommy to stay inside the house. You were called “manong” by us, since you were the first male dog to be wholeheartedly embraced to be part of our family. You were our little brother.

You had so much love to give, despite your fierce barks to strangers. I remember the times when I would sit beside you on our dining area floor, while crying, during my younger years. You seemed to understand me. You listened and placed your head on my lap each time. You allowed me to cry it all out until I had no more tears. I will never forget those times. Thank you.

Collins: Cover of Good Dog Magazine December 2012 (just before he passed away)

Until your last months and days, you thought about our family. You made us all proud as you stood in front of the camera for Good Dog Magazine. I know that you were tired, but you continued on and gave us your best smile and pose. Thank you for making us proud.

As I watched you twitch continuously yesterday after an awful seizure, I prayed that you would get well, and get well fast. I couldn’t bare the thought of you suffering anymore. Then the vet came to the house and everything seemed alright. We were all optimistic that you would get better.

I was shocked to receive a text from Mom this morning that you had gone into a coma. I was still hopeful that you would slip out of it in the afternoon, but I guess, you were thinking about us again. You didn’t want us to suffer anymore. You didn’t want to make us worry anymore. And I guess, that’s the reason why you left us so soon.

As we let you go, we would like to thank you, Manong, for all the great memories. Thank you for all the love. Thank you for being so generous, always thinking about us even before thinking of yourself. We know that you will be happy playing with Chubaka, your buddy, in dog heaven.

We love you. Still with a heavy heart, I know I have to let you go.

I’m now letting you go.

Love,
Manang

In Memory of SBK’s PR Collins Jan 16, 2002 – Jan 6, 2013
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/27399

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera

Mommy Ginger

One Word 2013: Learn

Pregnancy Week 30 – Meeting Baby Zeeka through a 4D Ultrasound

Baby GAP Registry

Angelica Dimayuga from Honeybaby: Quirky Hats and Hair Accessories

Farewell to my dog, Collins…

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