Why it's #FamFirstAtSM

This summer's heat is so intense (yes, intense! haha) we wanted to be in an air-conditioned place all the time, wanted to have a nice meal without cooking and preparing it, and even without washing the dishes! Haha! And yes, we have malls! Tadaaa!

I remember my childhood with SM. I grew up in Antipolo, and I have relatives in Quezon City. Whenever we visit them, there are times we go to SM North Edsa to bond and eat out. Yes, that mall. And I honestly thought it was the only SM mall in the whole country! Hehe! Ah my childhood.

Now, we have a number of SM Malls in the country and my favorites are SM Aura Premier and SM Makati. SM Aura because it's nearest to our place, and the smell of that mall is just heavenly! We always wonder how they do it! Or what scent it is! Heehee! Care to share, SM Aura? Hehe! SM Makati, well, because I love it's beauty section, I would be lost in it, and even though it's pretty small, I love that I can find everything in it, without walking a ton!

One of the highlights of my summer this year is visiting "Weekends at the Courtyard" at SM Aura, it is also Mother's Day that day so it is extra special. The place's vibe is so different from the whole mall. I love Art, and I love that they are trying to reach the art to people, you know what I mean? It is easier to access and easier to see. Even the kids are enjoying because it's colorful. My kid appreciating art. This is one SM moment I would definitely remember!

What we did on that day was so many. We roamed around the mall, bought my toddler some shirts because it was sale! Yay! This was the first time she chose her shirts. And she carried it proudly! Haha! We went to the Skypark, this is where Maco ran around! I like that they have space like this, just grass and some water fountains. Kids love water fountains and to run around, so I really think this is just perfect for family bonding on Sundays or whenever! That time though, there's an installation of Fantastic Beasts art, and everyone is taking photos and enjoying a few activities, and yes, it's free. Who said nothing is free anymore? Btw, that moment at SM Aura's Weekends at the Courtyard, my toddler and I also had a portrait taken for free! It was Mother's Day that time, so. Heehee ;)

I remember when Maco was still young, when she needs to be breastfed, these malls are our go-to place if we needed to go to mall since they have awesome breastfeeding rooms! I love that it's family friendly too, not just for mom and daughter, since my husband could lounge while waiting for us to finish. Hehe!

I also like that they have high chair at their food court! Two thumbs up for this one! 

What I admire most with SM other than having affordable items, is that they have really friendly staff, no kidding! I haven't encountered anyone who's masungit. From SM Supermarket staff to their staff at SM Department Stores, and even those in the elevator, they're all friendly, and would answer your question with a smile, in fairness. Well, to the SM Malls I've visited at least, I haven't encountered a masungit one.

If you're still asking, why it's #FamFirstAtSM? Because apparently, they've got it all for us! ;p

Potty Training my 2-Year Old Toddler

Hell to those who did 3-days potty training! That sht doesn't work! Lol! Kidding! ;p

But if it did work for you, congratulations! But as for me, it did not, it took me weeks.

When Maco, my daughter, turned 2years old last December, I thought I could potty train her already because there were instances she'd tell me she'll go 'peepee' or 'wiwi'. Maybe it is also my fault because I would tell her it's okay since she have diapey on. There were also a few times that she peed in the toilet. But then, I noticed that she stopped telling me she had to pee. So when I was ready to really potty train her, it was hard so I thought to just let it be. I kind of stopped to potty train her. Sorry! I think I was being lazy, I didn't want to clean up her pee. Sorry!

Not sure which month of this year, but I think it was February or March, that I started to put my sht together and told myself that if I want to potty train my little girl, I should be patient with it. And it was so timely when I saw a post on potty training, I just forgot which site I read it! Damn it! But that blog post really motivated me to potty train my daughter. I was frustrated because some people were able to potty train their child for 3-5days! How is that possible! Anyway back to the blog post I read, she said there that what she did was that she told her child to tell her if her child had to pee, and she does not put on diaper/pants on her child. And so that's what I did, I didn't put on Maco's diaper and repeatedly tell her if she wanted to pee, she should tell me.

The first time, she was not able to tell me she had to pee, she told me after she peed. And so she peed on her pants, but that was fine. What was not fine was when she didn't pee for a long time, maybe she got afraid or something because she peed on her pants. Btw, I didn't shout on her when she peed on her pants okay! I just told her calmly that she should have told me that she had to pee. Husband told me that maybe our little girl's not ready yet, but I told him I guess she is, because there were times she'd tell me she had to pee. I became patient I guess. Lol!

And now, my little girl doesn't wear diapers already! Well, she does if she's going to sleep or if we're going out. And even if we're out, she'd tell me she had to pee, and I would tell her that it's okay since she's wearing a diaper. I can't let her pee on the mall's toilet because it's filthy. Lol! But true! Or maybe I could just bring disposable toilet seat cover? Would that work? Because there was a time we're out, she's not wearing a diaper and she had to pee, what I did was I carried her so she could pee and not sit on the toilet seat, but she didn't like to pee there. Lol! I just felt sorry for the place's restroom. Good thing it was just near home though, so we went home asap!

And so of course I've learned my lesson from this.

Number 1, that we have to be patient.

Number 2, that we have to be very patient.

Number 3, that we have to be the most patient.

I never knew I could be this patient. Lol!

via GIPHY

SM Aura Premier's 'Art in Aura' and Weekends at the Courtyard

Last May 4th, SM Aura Premier launched 'Art in Aura' at the Courtyard hence Weekends at the Courtyard was born. Weekends at the Courtyard is like an art fair with different artsy booths from local artisans to check out!

The campaign, in collaboration with creative assembly KAPWA Studio, was kicked off by a showcase of murals by notable local artists Anina Rubio, Mercedes Olondriz, Archie Oclos, and multi-hyphenate Dee Jae Pa'este, whose works can already be found all over the metro.

SM Aura aims to take the art out of the gallery and bring it to urban spaces, to make it more accessible to everyone.The movement started 3 years ago with Filipino-American artist, Jefre Manuel, with "Steel Safari", a public art installation of 4 animals  unique to the  Philippines, followed by a Christmas showcase featuring Olivia d'Aboville's "Giant Dandilions" and Leeroy New's "Astreopora". Both large scale installations were set to music at the Skypark lawn. The Aura Tower also features artist Eduardo Castrillo's "Colossal Growth". The Colossal Growth depicts the movement of mass from linear to horizontal. It represents the threshold by which a form, or energy crosses a path and explodes to grandness, redefining itself. It was reacquired from Evangelina Gella Luarca in 1989. The Artist kept it in storage and restored in 2013.

Art in Aura redefines the way one interacts with art, by using images and patterns that are rooted to our heritage. Art in Aura features three outstanding local artists by providing them mural spaces to share their expressive work. One of the featured artists, Anina Rubio, is a freelance visual artist whose art reflects her love for the outdoors. Her work, "Through the Cracks" can be seen at the SM Aura Grand Staircase, featuring common household weeds which she likens to Filipino characteristics like resilience and adaptability.

UP Fine Arts graduate street artist Archie Oclos, pays homage to our country's "National Treasures" through internationally-revered "mambabatok" Apo Whang Od and Lang Dulay, the T'boli Weave Master.

Saw Whang-Od here 👌 #ArtinAura #heymamacoi #mothersdayatSM

A post shared by Coi Contreras Ibañez (@coifishh) on May 14, 2017 at 2:13am PDT

Manila-based Mercedes Olondirz' "Flaura" to depict her goal to bring back organic elements into the urban landscape. It is also joined by digital artist, Ramenrocky, whose works illuminated the Courtyard walls during the launch.