deceptively delicious

When Mrs. Seinfeld guested at the Oprah Show to promote her recipes that involved pureed vegetables in kiddie favorites, I was sold. I excitedly told my husband about my dreams of doing the same for my son.

But wait. Are the food really as good as they were touted to be? One Mom says they were deceptively disappointing. And some others question the wisdom of deceiving your kids with something so important as the food they eat.

Others are quick to say, however, that this particular trick works best for really younger kids and that the older ones deserve to know. So maybe, before heading out to get a copy of the book, do your own experimentations at home first.

And actually, if you raise your children to love vegetables and fruits as main meals, desserts and snacks, you need not worry about tricking them when they're older.

Pediatric Urine Collector

Every household with a child one year old and below (or older, depending on baby's elimination temperament) should have one of these handy at home. Babies are prone to Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and Gastroenteritis aside from other infections due to their still developing immune system, habits, the environment and our parenting.

If baby seesm to have diarrhea, or had some blood in his stool, or is suddenly feverish, just put one on. Of course, you have to position it in the appropriate hole, and yes, you can also use it to get stool samples. Stool on a diaper will already be contaminated and it would be more tedious to catch urine or wait with a cup on your hand. Using urine collectors will also be less messy and more sterile, for everyone concerned.

Urinalysis and Fecal analysis are two easy ways to find out what's causing the illness, or to rule out the common illnesses that beset kids.

The adhesive around the hole shouldn't hurt your baby. Though it might give a different or weird feeling for the baby, it's still not enough to get your baby throwing tantrums so you shouldn't worry about it either.

Using a pediatric urine collector has been our saving grace in the instances when we had to check if our son is sick with something. When he got UTI, we just put one on him and went to the pedia and he conveniently peed while we're waiting.

Laboratories don't need a lot of urine or stool sample... unlike us who are required to fill a cup with our urine.

Pediatric urine collectors are also very cheap. They cost around five pesos (so $.25 will already get you two). If you end up never using it, not only are you lucky that your child is healthy, but you also need not cry over wasted money because it didn't cost much in the first place.

(photo grabbed from Google Images)

photography workshops this summer

If you're bent on learning the ropes on photography and also love larning from the experts... and also love travelling to some of the most beautiful places here in the country, then maybe Colors Travel Guide's Travel Photography Workshop is for you.

Go register now.

Junior's Cheesecake and Desserts

Junior's Cheesecake and Desserts are no longer something only New Yorkers can enjoy. Those in Manila can too, because they are now being distributed here.

They're a little on the expensive side, if compared to the usual Red Ribbon and Goldilocks cakes but I hear they're worth every peso. And if you check their website, they're actually a little cheaper or priced the same here (when you include the delivery charge). Saves you a plane trip to partake of sinful delights, right?

*~*

addendum:
tried their 8" sampler and the verdict is: the plain cheesecake is to die for! next is the rasperry swirl thing... it's really very rich and very delicious. And though it's expensive, you actually don't need big slices to get the same cheesecake high you're looking for... really highly-recommended!

The Education of a Photographer (Charles Traub)

advice for young photographers

Do something old in a new way.

Do something new in an old way.

Do something new in a new way. Whatever works, works.

Do it sharp—if you can’t, call it art.

Do fifty of them—you definitely will get a show.

Do it big—if you can’t do it big, do it red.

If you don’t know what to do, look up, or down—but continue looking.

Do celebrities—if you do a lot of them you’ll get a book.

Edit it yourself.

Design it yourself.

Publish it yourself.

Read Darwin, Marx, Freud, Einstein, Benjamin, McLuhan, and Barthes.

Construct your images from the edges inward.

If it’s the “real world,” do it in color.

If it can be done digitally, do it.

Be self-centered, self-involved, and generally entitled and always pushing—and damned to hell for doing it.


Don’t do it about yourself, your friend, or your family.

Don’t dare photograph yourself nude.

Don’t look at old family albums.

Don’t hand color it.

Don’t write on it.

Don’t use alternative processes—if it ain’t straight, do it in the computer.

Don’t gild the lily—a.k.a, less is more.

Don’t photograph indigent people—especially in foreign lands.

Don’t whine, Just produce.

Rockpoint Hotel and Spa, San Pablo, Laguna

I once raved about Rockpoint Hotel and Conference Center in Pansol, with its attentive staff, hot springs pool, cheap conference packages, wonderful food and tubs in every room (except the dorm-type ones).

So I really cannot help but wonder what it's like at the Rockpoint Hotel and Spa in San Pablo, Laguna. Their multiply site has their rates and contact info and map (offering barkada/family packages now too).

If you want to check out their facilities but don't really want to drive all the way to San Pablo, then maybe a video of their hotel will interest you.

Rockpoint Pansol also has a video you can check out, since it's nearer.

Some hotels and resorts charge a ransom. Rockpoint does not. So going there doesn't have to be this grandly planned affair. Both Rockpoints are relatively near so family gatherings, barkada gimiks, office outings or even birthdays can easily be celebrated here.

You can consider it for more formal affairs too. Check out this wedding.

*~*

Addendum March 27, 2008

I was e-mailed by Rockpoint's Managing Director in Pansol and she kindly directed me to Rockpoint's temporary website with updated rates for rooms and services. Do check it out.

godaddy domain on blogger hosting

I registered for this domain name two weeks ago, faithfully followed the instructions, but still no correctly published blog.

I hounded godaddy.com's tech support until I ended forwarding from both godaddy and blogger. I was at my wits' end, upset that I am unable to properly blog when am already paying customer. Tsk.

Thank heavens for YouDonkey.com which added the specifications/edits to blogger's instructions that I was needing.

I shall now blog away. And I hope YouDonkey & Company also helps you.