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Note From The Editor
The first time that I got pregnant, my choices for
maternity wear were woefully lacking. Usually,
what I’d see on the racks then were shapeless
tent dresses with either pink polka dots or tiny
floral prints, sometimes with ribbons and bows.
For the life of me, I didn’t know why they want
pregnant women to look like little girls.
Fortunately, things got better as mothers took the
matter into their own hands, and started designing
pregnant fashion that’s adult, trendy,
and comfortable.
The same thing happened to children’s wear. When
designing mothers got into the picture, it resulted in children’s
fashion that’s bright, colorful, easy to put on and take off, and
more importantly, made for wash and wear.
Thank you and congratulations, Gerie, for being our
chosen letter sender! You win a gift from Zhazhiki!
Dear Urban Mom,
I have four kids so I enjoyed reading about Amina Aranaz-Alunan.
I remembered how it was when my kids were still younger. And I
could very well relate to her multi-tasking ways. Now that my kids
are older, I still find myself multi-tasking. A mother’s job never really
ends! Thank you for sharing her story, and hoping to read equally
interesting ones in the future. More power to Urban Mom!
—Gerie Lontok Bracewell
WRITE US! WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The chosen letter sender will receive a pair of Havaianas.
That is the power of the mompreneur who knows her market
all too well, products that knowledgeably answer the consumers’
every need. More power to the designing mompreneur!
Jing Lejano
“Actual prize may vary from photo”
UrbanMom
Publisher’s Memo
It’s been 10 years since my cousin Candice and
I set up Mommy Matters, our fashion line for
nursing moms. And it has been a fun and fulfilling
10 years. Recently, however, we realized this
painful truth: We are now designing clothes for
moms 10 or more years younger!
While it is always a challenge to keep our clothes
fashionable and current, we know that our best
asset is the fact that we are moms ourselves. No
matter what age, the needs of moms will always
be the same. So thankfully, after a decade, we still
get to enjoy the simple highs of seeing our fellow
moms in the clothes we designed.
Moms truly know what fellow moms need and want, and that is
the power of the mompreneur!
Janice Villanueva
JUNE-JULY 2011 | VOL 3 NO. 3
PUBLISHERS
Gary M. Villanueva
Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jing Lejano
MARKETING
Micky Darantinao
Tiffany de Guzman
Nicole Orlina
Diane Nikolai Lopez
LAYOUT
Anna Gutierrez
ADMINISTRATIVE
Angela De Luna
Arnel Banares
Cristy Aguda
CREATIVE CONSULTANT
Jaymie Crisostomo-Pizarro
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jar Concengco
CONTACT US
For inquiries, call 470.9925 or 0918.930.0313 or email, urbanmom.magazine@
gmail.com
Urban Mom is a lifestyle freezine for young, modern moms. Material appearing
here may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written
permission from the publisher and without proper credit. Urban Mom is
published by MommyMundo, a division of Creative Juice Communications, Inc.
www,mommymundo.com
Quiet Life, Happy Life
W
hen we arrive at the house
Chesca Garcia Kramer
shares with her husband Doug
and their daughter Kendra, it is the
towering cager who greets us. “She’s
on the way,” Doug says, adding that
Chesca is very sorry for running late.
And with that, he tells us to make
ourselves comfortable, asks the help
to bring us some snacks, and gets
back on the phone. Nosy journalist
that I am, I could hear Doug talking
to who could only be Chesca, telling
her that the crew is here and that
they’re OK.
Don’t you just love it when the
husband makes it his business to
ensure that his wife’s guests are
comfortable? I do! And as we’d learn
later on, that’s just how Doug is.
WE SIT DOWN WITH CHESCA GARCIA
KRAMER AS SHE PREPARES FOR AN
EXCITING FUTURE AHEAD.
STORY BY JING LEJANO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO
MAKEUP BY RAYMOND KO OF BENEFITS STYLE SALON
FOR L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL
CHESCA’S CLOTHES FROM CELLINE
KENDRA’S CLOTHES FROM BIG & SMALL
Indeed, when we finally get to sit
down with Chesca and talk about
their marriage, she just lights up.
“It’s our third year of marriage
and it’s really good… We’re very
close. We enjoy each other’s time.
It comes naturally, what we do for
each other,” she says.
We are at the Kramer home
somewhere in Pasig City, and the
vibe is a happy one. Having moved
from a fast-becoming-cramped
condominium, Chesca says, “Our
house, it’s very light. I am so happy
to be home whenever I arrive.”
The floor plan is quite simple, living
and dining areas done in shades of
brown and beige, which open out to
a small veranda.
Chesca says, “I am very blessed that
I have a quiet life with Doug and
Kendra.”
Bundles of Joy
Pretty soon, however, Chesca’s
quiet life will come to an abrupt end.
But the “noise” would come from
a most happy source: You see, we
just found out that Chesca is three
months pregnant.
This news certainly comes at the
most opportune moment. Kendra
will soon be turning two, and the joy
that she has brought into the lives of
Chesca and Doug have been
immeasurable.
“She’s such a smart baby girl. She
really amuses Doug and I. We like
to go to the mall together and eat
together… We read her stories. We
watch movies. We draw together.
She’ll say, ‘Mama, draw me a
butterfly.’ And I’ll draw her one and
make up a story,” Chesca says.
Last year, at Kendra’s first birthday
party, Chesca threw a big costume
party where daddies and mommies
also got to dress up. This year, she’s
thinking of having a parlor party
for Kendra where the girls can have
their hair and nails done while the
boys can have tattoo stickers.
URBANMOTHER
Before she knew that she was
pregnant, Chesca told us: “We love
Kendra so much and if we have
another baby, we don’t know how
we can love another the way that
we love her. But of course, it comes
naturally, just like being first-time
parents. At first, you don’t know, but
the moment your baby comes out,
you start learning so many things.”
“It’s sleepwear that’s sexy but not
lingerie. My cousin and I are
conservative when it comes to those
things. It would be sexy but it won’t
show your sensitive body parts,”
she says.
With another baby on the way, the
Kramer home would soon be filled
with even more love and happiness.
“Since a lot of girls like looking and
feeling beautiful when they wake
up, we decided to bring back how it
was during the old times when they
would make an effort to feel good
and look good when they sleep and
when they wake up,” Chesca says.
When It Rains…
Another thing that has got Chesca
excited is her first journey into the
fashion business. Along with her
cousin, Chesca will soon be
launching a line of sleepwear that
they have aptly called Dulces Besos
or Sweet Kisses.
These days, most women go to
sleep in shorts and tees, or in cotton
pajama sets. Chesca, however, longs
for the days when women paid real
attention to what they wore in bed.
She explains, “I’ve always had a
thing for sleepwear ng mga dating
panahon. I find it so elegant. Then,
they take so much pride in their
sleepwear. I was thinking that it
would be nice to bring back something like that.”
What she envisions is sleepwear that
could also serve as loungewear. It
would be stylish, comfortable, and
modest.
There would also be lots of eyelet
and cotton, fabrics that would let
your body breathe.
Doug, she says, is only too happy
for her.
“
I wanted to do
something different…
He knows the things that
are within my interests,
the things that I’m
capable of doing. And
so, when I finally took
the step of doing it, he
was very happy. This is
one side of me that I’m
discovering also.
“
There’s an inflatable pool on one
side, from where, we imagine, little
Kendra gets to cool off on
particularly hot days.
And as Chesca takes another step
towards the future, she says, “I’m
blessed that I know where I’m at and
I’m very secure with myself. I know
what I’m capable of doing and I have
a supportive family.”
“
I’m blessed
that I know
where I’m at
and I’m very
secure
with myself.
“
Work Life Lessons
Chesca has been working
since she was 12 years old.
Here, the thirtysomething mom
shares what she has learned
after all those years
of earning her own keep:
… to appreciate the value of
work at an early age
… to be responsible
… to know how to communicate
and interact with different kinds
of people
… to make the most out of
what you have
… to reinvent yourself, constantly
… to keep your feet on the ground
and not be influenced by
your surroundings or
what society dictates
… to have a good head over
your shoulders
My Favorite Place
NEST
Gem of a Room
By Michi Calica Sotto
The best part is that even if I am
busy with my designing, product
development, or meeting my
brides-to-be here, my kids
always know where to find me.
Working at home has made me
very accessible to them. I wanted
to make sure that while my kids
were growing up, they would
still know where to find me. I
am incredibly fortunate with this
set-up because my bridal gown
business has gotten extremely
demanding over the last ten
years. This was the only way to
balance my family and work life.
My favorite room at home is my design
studio. I am most prolific in this corner
of my home and I can’t remember
how many best-selling designs I’ve
created right here for my Bonne
Bouche boutique. Countless wedding
gown dreams have come true in this
gem of a room too.
The huge molave table used to be
our family dining table when we lived
in a two bedroom townhouse in
Balete Drive. We have since moved
into this circa 1945 home with lots
of light and space—all of 1,200
square meters. I’ll never get used to
compact spaces again.
I always have fresh flowers here from
my flower shop. I also love the lighting
in this room, the ceiling to floor picture
windows give me a view of our garden
and my husband’s pond where he
studies rare fish. This room always
smells yummy like lavender or freshly
brewed coffee.
Want to see Michi’s beautiful creations?
Hop on over to
http://michicalica.com/,
http://www.etsy.com/shop/toccata, and
http://flowersexpress.com.ph/
Get Inspired
Not Just for Bagaholics
What is it about handbags that could send a woman’s pulse racing like crazy? Is it the smell of
leather or the gazillion little pockets or the buttercup yellow shade of that handsome looking
satchel? In this definitive work by London’s Design Museum, the most iconic of our waking
dreams are brought to life on paper—from the 1960s cocktail bag to the 2010 Chanel clutch
bag. Surely, Fifty Bags That Changed the World is something that every girl must have.
Available at Fully Booked, P899
BEAUTYANDBODY
Date Night Glam
Going out with the hubby? Put your best face forward with these prettifying
moves from makeup artists Mac Fernando and Erin delos Reyes.
You just spent a frazzling day at the office while helping your gradeschooler do his homework over the phone. What you’d
like to do most is crawl languorously into bed, but wait, it’s date night! So, take out your kikay kit and put on your war paint.
We’ve got the moves to get you looking fabulous tonight!
Face “Before putting makeup on, it
is best to moisturize your face first. If
you have nice skin, a tinted moisturizer
would do,” says Erin.
Next, apply foundation that matches
your skin type, while hiding dark
spots with a concealer. Set with loose
powder or powder foundation. “The
ultimate goal here is to obtain a
flawless look,” says Mac.
Eyes Want to get the smokey eye
look that’s popular among celebs
these days? Erin suggests using two
dark colors like black for the base and
dark grey or silver to highlight. Apply
the base color on the eyelid and the
second color on the hollows, blending
it up to the crease. Don’t forget to
curl your lashes and put on some
mascara, says Mac.
Cheeks “Put blush on the apple of
your cheeks,” says Erin. “For light skin
tones, go for a pale or light pink color
to brighten skin. For medium to dark
tones, a bronzer is the perfect choice.
It will highlight your cheekbones and
give your
face that sexy
glow,”
says Mac.
Body Shop Honey Bronze Brilliance Powder
L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara
and Lancome Molten Shore Eyeshadow
Brows “Grooming and shaping your
eyebrows is a must. If you have thin
eyebrows, make them fuller by applying
a lighter color shadow using an angled
brush,” says Mac. “Thin eyebrows are
not so in,” adds Erin.
“
In makeup,
always
remember
that less
is more!
“
Shu Uemura foundation and Cinema Secrets concealer
Lips Mac suggests using a soft, neutral
gloss. “You want a balanced look. If
you have strong eyes, you must have
soft lips. Don’t use a color that’s too
distracting and takes away from your
eyes. Choose colors like beige
or light pink.”
Adds Erin, “For light
eye makeup, try a dark
shade of lip color like
red. For a pouty effect,
only put gloss on the
middle of your
lower lip.”
Lancome Coral Sand
URBANMOMQ&A
Loving My Fashion
We asked urban moms:
“What’s your favorite thing in your closet and why?”
One of my fave things in my closet are my
accessories, mostly my custom necklaces.
They give the final touch to my outfit for the
day and somehow, even just wearing a plain
white shirt and jeans can exude a certain
elegance when worn with some real nice
accessories. —Peachy Guioguio, mom of one
A pair of 7 for All Mankind
jeans: They fit me perfectly
which is next to impossible in
the jeans department for me.
I could live in jeans and this
pair makes me feel long and
sexy. Winner!—Rone Guerrero,
mom of two
An old pair of jeans that goes
with anything I wear. It takes
the brainwork out of dressing
up in a rush.—Christine Florida,
mom of three
I love my white tees. I have about a dozen in
my closet. They match perfectly with denim
and almost anything. And they’re made of
cotton so they’re cool to wear anytime.
—Mia Peneyra, mom of three
FAVEFINDS
All Dressed Up
Curls and Ribbons
Doll up those locks with these
twirly, curly clips.
www.multiply.
princessandtutus.com
Get your kids looking
oh-so fashion forward
with these goodies.
Animal Kingdom
For boys who love the zoo,
this cotton polo’s a dream
come true!
www.ilovebabinski.com
All Ruffled Up
Your babe will be the star
of any occasion with this
pink and lavender
ruffled romper.
www.multiply.
princessandtutus.com
Super Pooper
Here’s a one-of-a-kind onesie
with a sense of humor.
www.shoptinytots.multiply.com
See Them Run
Your very active
toddler will appreciate
a pair of Shooshoos
for their very flexible
rubber soles.
www.tylermarketing.
multiply.com
Pink Toes
Pediped’s foam
insoles and
cushions provide
a comfortable fit for
your little girl’s feet.
www.hobbesandlandes.com
Baby Whites
Introduce your baby to
the fashion world with this sporty
sneakers from Ralph Lauren.
E-mail [email protected]
CLASSIFIEDS
EVENTSINTHECITY
Lactacyd Baby Care Village Cebu
Lactacyd Baby Bath brought their successful
learning caravan to Ayala Center Cebu with
new games, new stations, and special treats
for Mums and Tubs Club members.
www.mumsandtubsclub.com
Neutrogena Hydro Boost
Skin care company Neutrogena launched its
Hydro Boost line, with its progressive 12-hour
release system, at White Space in Makati.
Fun Ranch Rainbow Run
Fun Ranch welcomed the summer
with a family run, participated by
moms, dads, and kids of all ages at
the Frontera Verde Complex.
Every year, 2.4 million babies
advertisement
Don’t let this happen to your baby.
Protect against rotavirus by 6 months of age.
O n e o u t o f 2 h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n s f o r d i a r r h e a a n d v o m i t i n g i s c a u s e d b y ro t a v i r u s 2 ,
w h i c h a f f e c t s b a b i e s a s y o u n g a s 3 m o n t h s o f a g e 1. B u t r o t a v i r u s i n f e c t i o n
i s h i g h l y p r e v e n t a b l e 3 . T h e f i r s t 6 m o n t h s i s t h e t i m e t o p r o t e c t y o u r b a b y.
D o n ’t m i s s t h e c h a n c e . A s k y o u r d o c t o r a b o u t r o t a v i r u s p r e v e n t i o n t o d a y.
References: 1. Glass R. Et al. Rotarvirus Vaccines: current prospects and future changes, The Lancet 2006; 368:323-32. 2. Bresee JS et al.
Emerg Infect Dis 2004; 10(6) 988-995. 3. Clark HF et al. Vaccines. 4th edition (USA): 2004; Chapter 51:1327-1345.
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