How do you dress up your kids?

Been such a long hiatus from blogging.  That was the time, I have been hanging out more into Instagram and Twitter and a whole lot of Facebook.

Let me start right out with something that I am deeply into now - dressing up the kids (well, because I do that for 3 almost 7 days a week!). For now, I am my children's fashion police. So, whatever mom says - it goes. Except for my twins who at 2 can already tell me what they want and won't (yes - they won't wear anything that looks itchy) to them.

Add some colors and a bit of layering.  They don't have to look like midget adults.

My thoughts on dressing up kids is quite simple - relaxed, classy and simple.  Anything that they would decide later on taking it out because it is bothering the way they play and move is deliberately eliminated (except during photoshoots).

 I love quality branded clothes but I am not brand-conscious.  I love and buy branded clothes as they have great fit and workmanship is truly quality. Most of the time, what they wear is based on their personality and the style which I feel best suit them and not just to "fit" in.

This was during my sister's Art Deco Themed wedding.

Now, I have added this portion on my blog on dressing up kids and simply enjoying them.

How about you, what is your fashion style for your kids?

My Little DIY Play Kitchen

After being so addicted with Pinterest, I have been wanting so much to do almost anything! Being a self-proclaimed master crafter since birth, it was my utmost dream to learn carpentry.  Yes - my hands are really my  busy bees and I want to learn how to make and create things!

I am so excited to show you my latest DIY project I've been dreaming to have my twins play with. Meet little kitchen!


Just an update (February 6, 2013): I was able to have it painted with a light pink touch.  Loving this and the twins are extremely delighted seeing it remodeled. So, here is the new Tiny Pink Kitchen!

The Tiny Kitchen gets a makeover!

The little kitchen I designed for my sweet 2 year old twin girls (before I had it repainted). So dainty!

For those of you who would like to know how to do it, read along so you can grab hold of the ideas. To start with, all I wanted was to look for an old side table that I can just upcycle but since I wanted my own design and the right height, I made the design all by myself and passed by a sash carpentry near our area and explained to them my design.  The total height was around 37" and the width was approximately 27" (sink and cooking area). I measured my girls height and just added around 4" high as to the height of the actual working table. I gave much allowance so they can still play with it even when they get taller.

I bought the basin, knobs (stove), and hooks (covered with plastic), and some washer so that the stove switches are loose enough to be turned around. The girls' really loved them!

So, after 3 days... I hauled on my truck a bare little kitchen I designed... I was so excited to finish it up that I furnished everything in half a day!

The bare kitchen without the painting, faucet, sink, etc. I sanded and prepared it to be varnished

I had some problems with the faucet, since the hole was smaller when I brought it home. I needed to make it bigger with plain sand paper. I don't even have a drill with me, so it took quite a long time to get the faucet in. Not to self: Buy everything to get the exact fitting.  Estimates don't always work.

The faucet was the main thing! This is a plastic (lavatory) kind of faucet (P134.00 at a nearby hardware store). It works and it looks pretty - I'm happy.

After I painted it, here are the tid bits of the little kitchen...

Those hooks are good enough. It was easy to place them in.  The utensils were bought from the department store. The cute Ice cube tongs, 2 ladles, flat ladle and the wooden ladles was around P120.00 all in all. I got a neat bargain for those! 

Being a Pinoy, the usual gas stove is something that looks like this. I bought this at P29.00/pc.  It is supposed to be a  tabletop cooler rack.  I secured them with screws in the middle.

The stove knobs are plastic cabinet knobs that I bought for P29.00 each at Ace Hardware.

I got this pretty floral kitchen towel that I bought on sale at Finds Department Store at P39.00/pc. The girls also made it into a table cloth which looks pretty sweet looking.

The french window inspired look of the inkjet printed  zen garden poster added a bit of realistic feel of a kitchen. I added the kitchen curtain which I sew and secured them with 2 small hooks and a string.

This cute kitchen timer adds a bit of homey touch to the play kitchen (P89.00 at Finds Department Store)

I just added their food, cooking toys to complete the entire play kitchen.

So, there they are! They went absolutely ballistic with excitement when they saw it. With so much excitement, they even woke me up at 2am that morning just to play with this little dainty kitchen. After this project, I zonked out to bed. Whew! I am just so happy they love them!

Perfect for twins!

Cooking the onion!

They learned to share...thank God!

The sink was a big hit!

Wiping the dishes

Just an update, me and my industrial designer (a bit OC) sister plans to update the painting of our kitchen. I will upload the photo once we're done.

Well, you can do your very own kitchen too! If wood would be a challenge, big cardboard boxes would be another option. So, do share your DIY play kitchen too!

A bad maid! Please share.

Mom's special magic palms - Infant/Child Massage

The most stressful days a mom could ever have are when her child is sick.  Seeing your child not acting his usual happy, active days would be the most grueling experience a mom could ever feel.

But, what I know best are my most natural loving asset - my bare hands.  Hands that care and produce miracles.  This is the main reason I discourage any parent to use their hands to discipline or spank a child.  Because, hands are for loving and nurturing and God gave moms the  power to ease her child's pain through her hands by hugging or a loving touch by massages.

I have read a lot about infant massages. It has been a great sleeping potion for my kids especially those cranky moments when they were still babies.  It's like a shot of sleeping capsules at night and a wonderful fever busting relaxing moment during those nasty days of colds or flu-like symptoms.

Just this afternoon, my 6 year old son suddenly had a fever.  It was almost spontaneous for anyone to give medicines to lower a fever, but I know it would be a lot better to relax my son first, and give him a nice short "no pressure" massage.

My son is used to massages, I've been doing this since he's a month old.  Where I would occasionally (at least 3x a week) give him an after bath short massages using Epoch Baby Ylang Ylang Massage (Which, I couldn't get anymore here locally).  The moment I signal my open hands to him (our sign of massage), he'd already look at me and almost agreeing with delight, waiting for a good rub.

Naturally, nothing is more precious to me but to see my magic palms become a loving moment to my son.  I asked him if he wants a massage, he said yes.  I've prepped the room to be very calming and relaxing for him and I took the Human Heart Nature Eucalyptus Massage Oil and applied it on my palms.  I love this product, it doesn't contain any harmful chemicals like petroleum or mineral oil.  I also love the mild scent.

Human Heart Nature - Organic Eucalyptus Massage Oil  is the perfect massage oil I've used for my baby massages

Started with his back, with nice circling "NO PRESSURE" massaging strokes.  Then, his legs and toes, Palms and fingers, then finally his head and face.  Areas they love would be the earlobes, hair/head, feet.

A lil' of it goes a looong way!

After a few minutes of massages and a nice soothing Eucalyptus oil, my little boy falls asleep at 6PM and woke up with an unforgettable massage from mommy.  So memorable, that he told his dad my massages killed the bad guys inside his body.

This is my reward - my son's restful sleep only my hands could give.

Massaging kids should be relaxing.  No pressure at all, it is not work.  They have to allow you to massage them, if they don't seem to like it - don't or stop.  If you are tired and you feel it is just a necessity to do it for whatever reason, then don't do it.  Massages for kids should be pressure-free.  From the time you spend with them, to the time your hands touch them, up to the time you actually massage their skin.  There should be no pressure on mommy and child.

Love the moment and you will savour it.  See it as tedious and stressful or unnecessary - then yes, it will be.  But, for what I've experienced with my children, it is rewarding and very therapeutic for them and especially for me.

There is no trick to a good massage, just light, loving touches.  You would know it's good when you see that they're liking it too.  The only thing that will be hard is when they all want you to massage them all at the same time.  Well, gotta go... my little Callista needs one in a while.

If you want to learn how to do some simple baby massages, you can follow this link:

• http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/how-to-massage-baby/
• http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/postpartum/infantmassage/index.php
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ4HPREfBgo

I love this quote...

I love this quote. Life not wasted, but life to the fullest.

Source: http://www.blessedlittlenest.com/2010/06/on-my-mind.html