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Hi...

 I'm sure you're wondering why I've been on hiatus for the longest time! Partly, because I was too preoccupied with "life" in general, haha, and we've had no helper ever since so I've been extra busy around the house.

 But the main reason is because I am turning over a new leaf and moving to another domain.

 I have mixed feelings as I write this... a bittersweet moment for Lique's Antics. Because I am here to say goodbye.

 But wait! Not for good...

 First, a few reasons why I am letting go of this blog:

 One, I lost my writing mojo for quite some time. I have a number of posts pending in my drafts, and a couple of ideas waiting to be written. But I never got to publish them eventually. I just didn't feel like writing anymore. Don't get me wrong, I loved keeping posts about our antics. This blog started off as my online journal anyway, and it's nice to write stories and get to share them with your readers. But there came a point when I just wanted to stop.

 Two, I don't feel as comfortable sharing about my family and my kids as much as before. My husband and I have had that talk about privacy and security, which is even more crucial in this technological  day and age.

 Three, I decided to pursue my passion for design and, therefore, I've been working on my other website. Yes, I am moving and rebranding! I've moved past the mommy blogger phase and am now focused on my creative pursuit.

 As I say goodbye to Lique's Antics, I hope you could still follow me on my new journey at www.liquedimayuga.com


Don't fret, when I said that I'm not saying goodbye for good, it means I'll still be sharing with you some of my motherhood and homeschool chronicles and other antics over at my Instagram Feed and at my Facebook page, @liquesantics.

 I will also be sharing some party antics and DIY crafts in my new website - those topics which I'm very happy to keep sharing with you guys. You'll also find me over at the @ldcreativepursuits Instagram and Facebook page.

 Finally, I want to say thank YOU (yes you!) for keeping up with my antics and dropping by this lil' ol' blog of mine.

 Here's a little bonus: 
Subscribe here!

See you on on the other side (of cyberspace)!

 Blessings,
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Hello again!

 It's been a while, and I have a couple of pending posts that need attention! But hey, mommies are always B-U-S-Y right?

 But I have a couple of minutes to squeeze this special little post in, just because...

 Don't be alarmed with the blog title... NO, I am NOT PREGNANT! hehe, but my sister is! And I'm excited for her! My kids are excited to get a cousin too! Yay!

 I also have friends who are expecting or just gave birth, and it makes me happy seeing them carrying those baby bumps and experiencing the miracle of birth.

 I can still remember when I was pregnant and gave birth to my two little darlings. Each experience was different, but both were simply joyful.

 That being said, I recently shared a photo of my sister on my Instagram account, and with it, shared my thoughts about the Beauty of Pregnancy.


 Don't you think it's amazing, that a mother can carry life inside her? And how that belly grows into a nurturing home for nine months, at most?

 I was simply happy that my sister asked my to shoot her grown baby bump. Of course I said yes! Oo na, feeling photographer-slash-stylist nako. Or trigger-happy lang talaga. But I had a lot of fun doing the shoot.

 Also, I wanted to return the favor, since my sister took shots of me too when I was pregnant. Yes, ganon kami mag-bonding, pareho kami mahilig magpicture at magpapicture, haha.

 So I'm happy to share some more of her photos. 








We didn't have a fancy location, just here at home. She did her own makeup, picked her own clothes, basically styled herself. We didn't have any lighting, just the beautiful morning sun. And the photos, I'm proud to say, turned out pretty good :)

 I shared in my post a while back, about why every mother should have their maternity photos taken: 
...[I think] as a woman, having a maternity photoshoot, whether at home or at a studio, is necessary. But you don't have to do complicated poses or pick fancy fabric...just pose and smile! Be proud of that precious miracle!


To add to that statement, I think women should also be proud about the changes that pregnancy has brought about in their body, and that they should have a memory of that, through photos.

 Care to share your thoughts on this post? I'd appreciate any feedback, just leave some on the comment box below.

Talk soon.
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I'm a frustrated chef and baker. There, I said it! I watch Cupcake Wars, Giada at Home, Barefoot Contessa, just to name a few... and I just enjoy watching them cook and bake!

 I even included enrolling in a cooking and baking class in my Life List... Thinking that, someday, I'm going to have an amazing kitchen, so I better have the skills :)

 So last Saturday, Kiel and I attended a baking class together. Yes! It was a Parent and Child workshop arranged by the celebrity mommy-slash-baker-slash-entrepreneur Bettinna Carlos.

 I have been her avid follower on Instagram, and we she announced that she was going to have a baking class, I immediately signed up! 

I wasn't going to miss the chance to learn how to bake, have some bonding time with my child, plus be able to meet Bettinna herself and her daughter, Gummy!

 And what made it even more exciting and impressive, was that mommy Bettinna and Gummy personally prepared everything, from the buying of ingredients and materials, making the hand-outs and certificates, and prepping the class kitchen and everything else!








Another thing I admire about Bettinna is her strong Faith, that's why she has all that energy and perseverance to prepare all this (“I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13”). She mentioned that she has been praying for this before she finally decided to teach and share her love of baking, which I'm glad she did :) Thank God!

 We woke up early Saturday morning because the class starts at 9AM. The little boy was excited to learn to bake too, so he woke up extra early for this.

 The Venue, CCF Center, is right beside Fun Ranch. The Entrance is at the back, near Avilon Zoo.

 When we got to the kitchen, we were given our handouts and hairnets. 

 Bettinna was very down-to-earth, that's how I describe her... Parang hindi artista yung kaharap ko, because I can tell that she is very passionate about what she teaches and she was very humble. We said a short prayer before the class started, and then she proceeded to sharing about why and how she planned this workshop, by the Lord's grace. 

 After that, she taught us the basics of baking, some terminology, which were all in her handouts by the way. Gummy helped of course, she even had her own visual aids, so that the kids present can understand too :) 



Mommy Bettinna then made a demonstration of the 4 goodies we were about to bake, and she was very hands on, walang kyeme kyeme. She was really a teacher to us that day.

 Needless to say, we enjoyed our day baking, plus we learned a lot! And we're very happy to bake such yummy goodies! Promise, masarap! I especially love the chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cupcakes, which Bettinna shared with us her "secret" recipes.

 All participants got certificates at the end of the day, and three mom and child pairs were awarded best baking buddies and got to take home a wooden tray from Kids Furniture Hub.

 That's 2 things crossed off my Life List (attend a baking class and bake cookies and cupcakes... plus banana bread and brownies pa!)

 Now, next step is to get a good oven... Bettinna suggested La Germania or Elba :)





If you want to learn to bake with your child too, Bettinna still has 3 upcoming classes!

 Learn to bake these yummy goodies:

  1. Moist Bananutty Bread
  2. Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  3. Red Velvet Cuppycake
  4. Dark Fudgy Brownies

When: February 27, March12, and March 19
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Where: CCF Center, Frontera Verde, Pasig
Fee: 3000php (1parent and 1child) - includes hand-outs, ingredients, live-demo, hands-on work
What to Bring: Aprons, kitchen and hand towels, lots and LOTS of containers for take home goodies!

 To reserve a slot or for other inquiries, text or viber 0917.861.BITE(2483) 

 To learn more, just search for the hashtag #BakingwithGummyBites in IG

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 post signature


Well hello 2016! 

It's only been a few days since you began but it seems a lot has happened already.  

 Just recently we attended a friend's wedding, and I know more things are yet to come for me and my family this year. 

But before anything else, I'd like to make a quick reflection on my 2015...

 Cherish.

 Ah, 2015... where do I begin? Let me just mention the most important, memorable moments for the past year.

 First, let me recount the things or goals I've/we've (my family) achieved:  
  • It was my first time to travel abroad! Yes, after 27 years, I got to experience travelling beyond the Philippine Islands, and it was a happy experience of course, being with my family. (You can read about our Singapore Getaway HERE)

  • We bought a new car! August of 2015, we got our new SUV, an Isuzu MU-X. It was only a dream for my husband and I to upgrade our sedan to a more family-friendly vehicle. Now, it's a dream come true :)
This is not our house ha. Hehe. But behold, our new car, yay! Thank you Lord!
I will cherish these experiences:
  • We let go of our yaya/helper of 3 years in the middle of 2015. I know, it's hard to find a helper these days, but it we couldn't take anymore of her "attitude problem". But being yaya-less (and counting) has taught me to be resilient and I became more systematic with how I manage our little household. Besides, we appreciate the privacy and the savings (because of that, we got to buy a new car)! Although we had to sacrifice our frequent couple dates, but we're a happy family, and that's what counts :)
  • We enjoyed a staycation for our 4th wedding anniversary at Hotel H2O at the Manila Ocean Park (You can read about our staycation HERE and HERE) 

  • I got a special day out plus pampering, thanks to Luminisce.
I admit, I usually join online contests, just because... it's easy to join, why not, and wala lang 😄 I've won some, here and there... But this is like THE jackpot for me! I was able to join beautiful ladies over lunch at @lejardinmanila , and got to talk about beauty, inside and out. The ambiance was a pretty, chic Parisian theme, styled by @heyholidayph . And the food was delicious I rarely get to go out, because I'm a stay-at-home mom of 2. So thank you to my wonderful husband for letting me go to this event, even though we had a birthday party to attend to later that afternoon, we eventually made it work, I attended both events 😉 Aside from lunch and the inspiring talks, we were treated to an afternoon of relaxing, luxurious facial treatments and tea. But since I was a bit of in a hurry to leave, I did not get to have my one-on-one consultation with the amazing derma behind it all, @drkayceereyes Thank you again Luminisce, Dra. Kaycee, @audreyangcos and to all the Skinvestors that day @stellapastores @ina_feleo @wilsonmaggie @bea.Santiago @iamsofiaandres ... This is an experience I will never forget. I even got to make new friends, kahit mga bagets pa sila haha, feeling bagets narin ako 😄 I would love to visit your beautiful clinic once again PS. When my husband came to pick me up later that day, he said I look fresh and flawless 😉😄 Ganun ka-effective yung treatments nila! (Photos from @luminisce_official Facebook page) #skinvestorstreat #luminisceevents
A photo posted by Lique Dimayuga (@liquesantics) on

And I shall always remember these moments:



Hope.


 For 2016, I hope and pray that our country will have good, deserving leaders in the government. I want my children to experience a great country, have bright futures, and that Filipinos finally get the prosperity we deserve.

 I also hope to holistically improve this year: mind, body, heart. Of course, I want to get fit, I need to stay healthy and strong for my family. May God grant me more Patience, Wisdom, and the ability to be the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, that I can be. 

 Stay Focused.

 I have a number of goals this year, and I wish I could want to Stay Focused. One of those, is being able to expand my services and work on Artique. 

 I also really want to get fit this year, and I want to join a marathon this time, if the schedule permits, hehe.

 I am also aiming to learn a couple of new skills this year, perhaps get to attend workshops. 

 We are also planning to enrol my son (hopefully in UP) this coming school year. I'm teaching/reviewing him the things he needs to know, basically writing his full name and knowing his alphabets and numbers.. fingers crossed!

 My husband and I are also determined to stick to a workable schedule for us, so that we could achieve our little goals. We've also started to commit to our daily Gospel reading and praying the rosary.

 Also, hopefully we'll get to lessen our debts this year, little by little, I know we will get there.

 And perhaps, start planning for our house this time? Who knows. In God's time :)

 How about you? What are your cherished 2015 moments? and what are your hopes for this new year?

 Cheers to a blessed and blissful 2016!
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Every one of us undergoes some major change at some point in our lives, and, whether if it's good or bad, we become a stronger, better person than we used to be. 

 For me, that major change would be becoming a mother. During pregnancy, I underwent physical and emotional changes: My hips expanded and my shoe size and cup size increased, I became picky of what I ate, I took extra care of my body, I was physically and emotionally sensitive... my whole world suddenly changed. And when I finally met my baby in person, I was determined to become a hands-on parent: I breastfed, I co-slept, I became a stay-at-home-mom.

 And now, I have two little ones to look after, and Motherhood, for me, is a constant learning process. 

 Isn't it nice to have support throughout those stages of Motherhood? I'm not only talking about support from family or friends, but as well as personal essentials, like belly bands, nursing bras, and shape wears.

Fortunately, Urban Essentials provides just those for the modern mom. 
Urban Essentials is a company formed to cater to the needs of all women at any stage in their lives. The company has a goal of providing the essentials of womanhood by giving them products that are of the highest quality and have been tried and tested. To set itself apart from competition, the primary target market of the company is moms and females in the mid-market segment and up, who are sophisticated and in tune with the latest trends in keeping themselves fit, healthy and beautiful. However, these women are also money-sensible, who would want to enjoy the best value for their money when investing in garments or accessories so they feel their purchases are more acceptable when it is more than for cosmetic or vanity purposes only. (Urban Essentials Facebook)

Urban Essentials aims to provide the modern mom's needs for Pregnancy, Post-pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Beyond! They carry the following trusted brands:

1) Nursing bras by Ingrid & Isabel support a woman, during and after
pregnancy. You can choose between a drop cup bra, which has no back clasps, or a crossover bra, which has absolutely no clasps for a more comfortable breastfeeding experience.
Oh, isn't it wonderful to have a bra that you can use during and after pregnancy? I would want that... I had to buy bigger sized bras when I was pregnant, and since I wasn't fully aware of breastfeeding and its benefits, I didn't get nursing bras yet. So I had to buy ones when I already nursing.

 The Nursing bras by Ingrid & Isabel look very comfortable and are great for support. Nursing moms now quite well how hard and painful it is when we get engorged, so better get a bra that can support well while providing easy access come nursing or pumping time :)

 Go here for more information: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/nursing-bras/

2) Wink Shapewear can help women flatten their tummy, support posture, and give them a sense of returning to their pre-pregnancy body. Made from medical grade compression material, Wink Shapewear has been proven and tested to slim a woman by 2 sizes and is an ideal post C-section support garment. 

 It was my mom who gave me a girdle post-pregnancy, because I didn't bother to think of buying one (Thanks ma!). Shape wears help moms post-partum, not only to help get back your post-pregnancy body, but also for support for your back and C-section scar.

 I've heard of Wink from friends and even celebrities before, so I know that this is a well-trusted brand. Their shape wear covers the whole abdomen, including the hip area, which expands during pregnancy. And best of all, it is seamless under clothing! Nice!

 Go here for more information: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/wink/
3) Bellaband is a handy tool that allows a woman to keep wearing her
pre-pregnancy pants by simply placing a band over the pants. This means you no longer need to shop for different-sized pants at each stage of your pregnancy! You can even wear it post-pregnancy for support and transition.

 Now this sounds cool and handy! And yes, I had the maternity belt, like the little garter you use to extend your pants button, and it didn't really work for me. When I was pregnant, I preferred dresses and leggings instead. If I had these before, then I probably could still wear any of my jeans easily :)  

 For more information on Bellaband: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/bellaband/

4) Look stunning and feel amazing while pregnant with Blanqi's maternity tanks. It helps you stay active by giving optimum back support, and alleviating pressure through the built-in belly support.

Talk about full support! This is perfect for the active moms or if you want to get that extra support and lift for your big belly. I know it can be hard to walk around with a pregnant belly. This seamless, comfy maternity tank might just be what you need :)

 For more information on Blanqi: http://urbanessentials.com.ph/blanqi/

 If you're interested in getting your own essentials or giving a friend or loved one some of her own, you can easily get them at the Urban Essentials website:



Or stay connected and updated through the following social media accounts and contact details:
Facebook: Urban Essentials Inc
Instagram: @urbanessentialsinc
Mobile/Viber/Whatsapp: 09178336967
Email: ask@urbanessentials.com.ph
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 Good News! You can win your own Bellaband just by sharing a Christmas photo (old or recent), or you can win it for a relative or friend. For more information about the contest, go HERE, at the AllPromos.ph facebook page. 

 Cheers to motherhood,
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Disclosure: Lique’s Antics has been asked to help promote the Urban Essentials website by All Promos Philippines. The feedback and opinions expressed in this post are purely the writer’s own. Read more about this blog’s Disclosure Policy.

Motherhood has brought about a lot of changes in my life: physically, emotionally, and mentally. I have my own fair share of ups and downs in parenting, and I'm sure I'm not the only one... that's why I have so much respect for my co-parents, and most especially for my own parents. Sorry if I was a naughty kid Ma and Pa!

More often than not, I honestly think I am doing a good job. As long as I begin and end the day with the kids being fed, cleaned, and healthy-slash-alive, I feel I've had a successful day already. 

 There are just those times where things seem to go out of hand... when both kids run amok, squeal and scream, or worse - they cry and throw tantrums! But hey, tantrums aren't much of a biggie anymore, I know how to handle them... or do I? 

 On the worst of days, the screaming and crying go along with me being tired from lack of sleep or having just too much to do in a day... that's when I feel helpless and feel that I have failed. 

 But then something happens... whenever I feel crappy, my kids would always find a way to make things better: they look at me with those sparkling eyes of admiration and love, amidst the dungis (dirty faces), like I am their hero. Hugs and kisses never fail to make things all right again with the world.

 You know the saying that moms are super heroes? I thought it was overrated, until I realized that I had some super powers of my own...

 What am talking about? Well, let's just say that my children made me realize that even though there are those crazy days, I still manage to go through them every single time! And they made me realize that I am more than just a mom...

 My super hero credentials include:

 1. Ouchie healer - I make booboos heal quickly with just a kiss and a prayer.

 2. Monster shield - I scare away the boogie man, ghosts, and monsters with my power hug!

 3. International Baby Translator - I translate the alien language of my toddlers to the common people... I'm like the baby dictionary of googoo gaga!

 4. Shape-shifter - Sometimes I'm a horse, sometimes a rocket ship. I can be whatever my kids want me to be, I'm flexible that way.

 5. Sanitation Manager - I have a knack for keeping things clean (or at least I try my best), especially when your kid tries to taste everything he touches! I spot germs and spray them with alcohol or remove them with my powerful baby wipes.

 I change diapers in a snap! Not to mention that I clean baby butts more than 3 times a day... I mean, can you handle a mega poop-splotion?! I dare you!

 6. Heightened and Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) - I can smell a dirty diaper from meters away. I sense when things will get messy, especially when you drink chocolate milk in the car.. never again! I grab and hide sharp objects even before the little one sees them, ha!

 7. Sharp Memory - specifically for nursery rhymes, Disney songs, and a wide range of book and cartoon characters.

 8. Super fast reflexes - Never mind what you're doing, you just run and try to catch the falling baby... or in most cases, catch your cellphone in midair!

 9. Super human strength - Try carrying kids plus your bags on a regular day out... or stepping on their little action figures.. or a lego! True tests of strength people!

 10. Mom M.D. - I am the doctor that is on-call 24/7. Cough, colds, mild bruises... for every ouchie and owie, doctor mom is here to save the day!

 11. Chef - I keep the little humans fed and healthy with my domestic cooking skills. Plating skills = making a smiley face. Nutrition value = feeding them fruits and vegetables.

 12. Detective - No lego is too small, no puzzle piece too tiny for mom to find! It's hard to sleep without solving life's mysteries, you know? Where, oh where is that block?!

 13. Cheerleader - When mom says "you can do it!" or "I'm here for you", kids get their instant boost of confidence :) I know this, because I get a boost from my mother's words of wisdom every time.. Thanks Ma!

 14. Professor Mom - Moms have the answer to almost every What, Why, When, and How.

 15. Girl scout - Extra clothes. Check. Diapers. Check. Baby wipes, alcohol, insect repellant, sun hats, towels, bibs, socks, crayons, pencils, drawing pads... check, check, check! Ok, we can go now, hooray! :)

 16. Milk maid -  I make milk, 'nuff said :)

I don't know if my kids really see me this way, but I'd to think that they do :) And I wouldn't mind being Super Mom for them for as long they need me to.

 How about you? What other super mom powers do you think you possess? Please share, I'd love to know about them.

 Ending this post with one of my favorite mom quotes:
Love this quote! (source)
Cheers to you Super Mom!
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Hello again!

 It's been a while since I posted about our homeschooling journey here. Honestly, we have been skipping most of our lessons, the ones I try to plan every week for us, mainly because we've been yaya-less (no helper/nanny) for 4 months and counting now. It's harder to keep up even with a routine, because I have my 1-year old to look after and breastfeed while also cooking and cleaning around the house. 

 Nevertheless, I make sure we do our read alouds and story time before nap time, and we do some worksheets or activities at least 10-20 minutes a day. And the one thing we never forget to do is our arts and crafts time, which we all love. Yes, sometimes my 1-year old joins in, she mostly just copies her kuya, hehe.

 I previously shared about our simple approach to the Letter of The Week Curriculum, and how we enjoy doing our Art projects. I have also mentioned this in my article in The Learning Basket: Learning Through Play. I admit, I may have strongly influenced my children in my love for Art as we mostly do drawings and doodles, coloring and painting, and DIY crafts. Why not? It's a lot of fun! And it serves as distraction from my work and chores, hehe...

 So let me share with you our complete Letter of the Week Projects.

 You may notice how we tried different media and materials, because I want it to be something new every time we do our projects. We tried:

  • Painting: with q-tips, paintbrush, fingers
  • Cutting and pasting
  • Drawing and Coloring
  • Stamping
  • Lacing (particularly with letter Y)
  • Crafts

Alphabet introduction: finger painting letters

I also introduced his nickname, he had fun using stamps

Letter A involved cutting and pasting

Letter B butterfly and bee

Letter C cat and caterpillar

Our dotted D dinosaurs

Our Eagle on an Egg (made from eggshells) and elephant

Letter F fence (from popsicle sticks), finger-painted frog and a fly

Letter G Garden and grass. The small g grapes made from stamping bottle caps

Letter H house and horse. Kiel had fun with the house, and played for a few minutes with it, just because he was fascinated with the flap-open windows and door

Letter I island and indian. Kiel showed his early drawing skills here, he drew Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Captain Hook

Tried out crafts this time, with our letter J jellyfish and jack-in-the-box

Letter K kite, Kiel, and kangaroo

We gathered leaves and colored over them for letter L.
And made a little lamb craft with crumpling crepe paper

Letter M mountain, moon, mouse, and monkey

Letter N night and nest. Kiel insisted on writing the labels himself, and I just helped him by spelling them out

Letter O octopus and owl

Letter P pirate and penguin

Letter Q queen and quail

Letter R rabbit and rainbow

Letter S spotted snake and seahorse, with seaweed and shells

Our watercolor tree and tiger (outlined by pens)

Letter U umbrella and Up

Letter V vegetables and vase

Letter W watermelon and worm

X is for X-ray. We made a pretend one by tracing his feet and arm, and pasted q-tips as pretend bones

For Y, we tried lacing yarn

Letter Z zebra and zigzag

Art projects help develop fine motor skills in young children, which helps them further to develop the tripod grip (pencil grasp) so they can draw and write properly.

 Plus, they also develop creativity and imagination of course! Other than that, I have observed that art projects improved my child's inquisitiveness and perseverance. 

 Let me end this post by sharing this beautiful quote, from The Artful Parent's page:
(Source)
Like this post? Bookmark it or Pin it for later:

 Follow Lique's board Letter of the week preschool art projects on Pinterest.

Hooray for Art!
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