Alvababy France

Bonjour à tous ! I have extra Alvababy double gussets diapers and I am selling them. Kindly message me if you are interested. Thank you. pinaymaman@gmail.com 

Detergent for cloth diapers

This is very helpful --> http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html 

I use noix de lavage (its like soap nuts) for washing cloth diapers. It's great BUT it can't take off hard stains.   

Pas de photos

My husband and I decided that I would not post our pictures here. I think I have posted pictures of our baby but she was facing on the side. Désolée. 

I made an Insta account. Follow me: pinaymaman

Merci !

Medical certificate of the child

Leave for sick child - 3 days / year if the child is under 16
                                  - 5 days / year if the child is less than one year or if the employee has sole charge of three or more children under 16 years
                                  - Unless agreement or regulation more favorable disposition, leave for sick child is not subject to compensation.
                                  - Inform the employer of his absence
                                  - Send the employer a copy of the medical certificate.

Leave for parental presence - Leave for an initial period of four months and is renewable two times, so the maximum length of leave is one year. 

                                                - No remuneration is paid by the employer. However, an employee may receive an allocation of parental presence, replaced since May 1, 2006 by the daily attendance allowance parantale (AJPP), paid by the CAF. The amount of the allowance, after deducting the CRDS is:

                                                - € 856.54 per month if you live in couple or € 1,017.16 if you make one (e) the care of the child, in case of full suspension of activity

                                                - € 260.94 per month if you live as a couple and € 345.06 if you make one (e) the care of the child if reduced to a period of between 50% and 80% activity a full-time - € 428.29 if you live in torque and 535, if you make only 36 (e) care of the child when reduced to limit activity of a part-time 

                                                - Tell 15 days before the commencement of the leave for parental presence, the employer by registered letter with acknowledgment of its intention to benefit

                                                - A copy of the medical certificate of the child stating the need for your presence to the sick child. If you want to take one or more days off you must first inform your employer at least 48 hours in advance 

Sample agreements more favorable provisions concerning leave for sick child.

- Collective agreement of the bank

Article 60 of the Convention provides a paid leave of absence for the father or mother:

• 3 days per year to care for a sick child under 14 years

• 6 days if the employee bears the burden of two children aged under 14 years

• 9 days for 3 or more children aged under 14 years

• 2 days per calendar year for hospitalization including day hospitalization of a child under 14 years.

The Convention itself provides for authorization of additional unpaid leave of absence to care for family members such as spouses, parents, provided they submit a medical certificate stating that his presence is required from the patient.

Caution! The right to leave conventional does not apply when the spouse of the employee already on leave for sick child during the period of absence.

information from here. 

Done with the first one

I had my DILF exam last Tuesday and thank God it went well. But the result will be released in one month because they said it's nationwide exam. My husband and I decided that I will have a month break before I go back to French Class to proceed to the next level, which is DELF A1. 

Attends

I have been busy studying for my French Exam on May that's why I have not updated this blog. Sorry. I will post again soon. 

From 400 hours down to 189 hours

I'm sad and disappointed with how the OFII (Office Français de L'Immigration et de L'Intégration) cut the hours of French class of the immigrants. When we went to OFII in Dijon to have my first Carte Sejour, the madame there said that I am on DILF (Diplôme Initial de Langue Française) basic level and I am entitled to have 400 hours of French class (free). 

Today in my new French school (since February) my professor told me that I won't be having 400 hours, it's down to 189 hours. I did 132 hours in my previous school and 21 hours in this new school, that leaves me 18.5 hours. I don't need to go to French class anymore after I complete the remaining hours, and my DILF exam date is on the 7th of May 2013. If I want to have French class on DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) the next level, I will have to pay for it. 

My professor doesn't know why the OFII changed the hours; I wish she knew so she could explain it to me.

The OFII didn't even send a letter to explain the new change/s.

Oh well. C'est la vie ! 

Time change 2013 (France)

Spring 
Sunday, 31 March 2013, 02:00:00 clocks are turned forward 1 hour to 
Sunday, 31 March 2013, 03:00:00 local daylight time instead 

Autumn 
Sunday, 27 October 2013, 03:00:00 clocks are turned backward 1 hour to 
Sunday, 27 October 2013, 02:00:00 local standard time instead 

Fresh indeed

You should check out this supermarket if you're looking for good vegetables and fruits in France. 

2013 Soldes

Winter Sales: January 9 - February 12, 2013. 
Summer Sales: June 29 - July 30, 2013. 

20/01/2013

Time flies! :) 

Protective sheets for Cloth Diapers

My mother-in-law bought this in Magasin Bio. 

This can be used between the cloth diaper and the baby's skin. It's soft and prevents solids to soak and stain the cloth diaper. 

Price: 6-7 Euros. I forgot the exact price. 

Cloth Diapering again

I was 6 months pregnant when my sister shared to me that she's been using Alvababy Cloth Diaper with her 2nd child. She told me that it's cheap and the quality is good. I saw on the webcam that my niece was wearing a leopard print cloth diaper, and I thought it was cute (I'm a fan of leopard print). So, I asked my sister to buy some for me from the same online seller she bought her cloth diapers. She sent it to me thru DHL (when your family in the Philippines will send you package here in France, make sure the things inside are worth no more than 45 Euros. Otherwise, they will charge you.) 

I started using cloth diaper with my baby when she was a month old (I was also using lampin and pampers baby dry that time). I stopped using it September last year when we moved to our new place because I was busy cleaning and moving things. I didn't have time to wash it. And now that we are settled, I am back using it. 

(alvababy 3.0 minky)

(alvababy 3.0 solid color)

(just to give you an idea what the inside looks like)

(insert for 3.0)

(solid color and minky)

Alvababy 3.0 cloth diaper has hip snaps, waist snaps, 3 sizes adjustment snaps (small, medium, large), and single gusset. I love the minky because it's soft and cute. The leopard and zebra print are my favorite. As you can see in the picture, I have two leopard print. I also have a 3.0 dark blue and camouflage (not minky), they're in the laundry basket. 

(alvababy 4.0 color snap with double gussets) 

(this is why it's called color snap)

(with double gussets. for no more side leaks)

(insert for 4.0. there's a snap so you can attach it to the cloth diaper and keep the insert intact) 

(color snap with double gussets)

Alvababy 4.0 cloth diaper has hip snaps, waist snaps, 4 sizes adjustment snaps (extra small, small, medium, large), and double gussets. I prefer 4.0 than 3.0 because of the double gussets and its insert, but they don't have girly designs. So, I always use the 3.0 minky ones. 

I decided to use cloth diapers because we can save money on disposable diapers. But I still use disposable diaper during bedtime. I use Pampers Baby Dry, it's good up to 12 hours and our baby never had rashes with it. I use cloth diaper during the day until before bedtime. 

Late 70's French Cloth Diaper

I saw this Cloth Diaper last month during our vacation at my mother-in-law house. The texture is quite similar to lampin. My mother-in-law told me that she used this with my husband when he was a baby. It would have been nice to use it with our baby, so I can experience using it. But it's too late now. 

There's Yakult in France

We bought this Yakult in Monoprix. We never thought we would find it here because we don't see it in E.leclerc, Géant Casino, and in other supermarket, only in Carrefour in Nevers.

We bought it for 3.59 Euros. 

Treatment for my cracked dry skin

I made an entry about my problem with my hands, they were dry and cracked. I told my husband about it and he bought me cold cream soap Vendome (my husband said that cold cream soap is good for dry skin), cream Cicabiafine, and gloves (I use it whenever I wash mugs and plates that cannot go in the dishwasher, I used to wash them with bare hands). 

Vendome 

Cicabiafine

i put this on first before the rubber gloves

I used them for only 3 days and my hands were better.

9 January 2013  

Ang Phil Emba ay hindi na bukas kada unang Linggo ng buwan

Pumunta kami sa Philippine Embassy sa Paris nung Linggo, nagbakasali lang na bukas sila dahil nakalagay sa website nila na bukas sila kada unang linggo ng buwan. Pero sa kasamaang palad pagdating namen doon, may nakalagay na note sa gate na nagsasabi na simula sa Enero 2013 ay hindi na nila maitutuloy ang serbisyo kada unang linggo ng buwan dahil may mga nagreklamo na mga katabi nila sa abala. 

Bumiyahe kami ng 2 oras papuntang Paris (plus 2 oras pabalik), para lang malaman na sarado sila. Kasalanan din namen hindi kami tumawag nung Biyernes para maconfirm kung bukas sila, pero sa sobrang busy at pagod na din sa biyahe nung bakasyon, hindi na namen nagawa. Sana lang alisin na nila sa website nila na bukas sila kada unang linggo ng buwan, para hindi na rin mangyari sa iba. May nakasalubong din kami na pinoy na papunta Embassy noon, buti siya taga Paris lang, kami taga Bourgogne pa. 

Website of the Philippine Embassy in Paris 

9 January 2013

25 Décembre et 31 Décembre 2011

25 Décembre

We spent Christmas Eve at my belle-mère house in Nevers, just like last year. My husband relatives were also there. We opened the gifts first before we had special dinner (the majority voted to open the gifts first. It wasn’t like this last year, it just so happen that some relatives weren't there and we were only 6 including our baby). I don't believe in Christmas but I respect my husband's family in celebrating it.

24 and 25 décembre menu

24 décembre

24 décembre dîner

cadeaux 

25 décembre déjeuner

31 Décembre

We spent New Year's Eve at my husband uncle in Dijon, other relatives were also there. Last year we were at Paris with my mother's friend who lives there for more than 20 years. In Philippines, almost everyone play loud music and fire fireworks at midnight. But it's not the same here in France, the neighbors weren't noisy. After we opened the gifts, we had special dinner, and then we waited for midnight to greet everyone a happy new year, kiss, raised our glasses for 2013 and santé !  

cadeaux

2013 gateau. i didn't get the chance to take a picture of the new year's eve meal because i was busy with our baby

9 January 2013

Sh*tFrenchPeopleSay - FrenchFriedTVEpisode1

My friend shared this to me on Facebook. Click here to have a good laugh. Enjoy! 

HowToFakeFrench

My friend shared this to me on Facebook. Step two is my favorite: Oh la la ! Enjoy. :) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edYHlnhxyOI