Ara Mina is my dear sister-in-law. Her dad and my husband’s dad is one and the same, and even if she only met the Mathays just a few years before my husband and I got married, Ate Hazel and I have always been super close as if we've known each other all our lives. Most probably because she's kind, thoughtful and just like me, is allergic to negative people. We are happy girls ;)
I have seen how she has blossomed into an admirable mom to my beautiful goddaughter Mandy. Last Sunday over family lunch, we were chatting how motherhood has changed her. Here are some parts of our convo and get to know the mother and the other side of the actress and entrepreneur we know as Ara Mina.
RIKKI: Ate, what do you enjoy the most being a mommah?
ARA: Everytime I wake up, sya (Mandy) yung nakikita ko kasi ngayon nakakapagsalita na sya ng “Mama”. Tapos aangatin nya yung eyepatch ko, iki-kiss nya ako, kasi lagi sya ang unang nagigising. Then minsan para magising ako, susundutin yung ilong ko or kukurutin yung talukap ng mata ko. I just feel so inspired everyday. I can’t explain it but the joy being a mom is just different.
I have seen how she has blossomed into an admirable mom to my beautiful goddaughter Mandy. Last Sunday over family lunch, we were chatting how motherhood has changed her. Here are some parts of our convo and get to know the mother and the other side of the actress and entrepreneur we know as Ara Mina.
RIKKI: Ate, what do you enjoy the most being a mommah?
ARA: Everytime I wake up, sya (Mandy) yung nakikita ko kasi ngayon nakakapagsalita na sya ng “Mama”. Tapos aangatin nya yung eyepatch ko, iki-kiss nya ako, kasi lagi sya ang unang nagigising. Then minsan para magising ako, susundutin yung ilong ko or kukurutin yung talukap ng mata ko. I just feel so inspired everyday. I can’t explain it but the joy being a mom is just different.
RIKKI: What are the difficulties you experienced when you became a mommah?
ARA: When I was breastfeeding especially when I was adjusting how to feed the baby. Yung every hour or every 2 hours gigising ka para mag breastfeed.
RIKKI: How long did you breastfeed?
ARA: One year and one month.
RIKKI: Wow! Over a year? That’s awesome. (*I am anyway a breastfeeding advocate) Were there other challenges especially when you went back to tapings and became a working mommah?
ARA: I would bring Mandy with me to my tapings before especially when I was still breastfeeding. Pero nung naka-ipon na ako ng milk, naiiwan ko na rin sya sa bahay lalo na nung nagsimula syang matulog nang maaga. As in 6PM pa lang natutulog na sya.
RIKKI: What is Mandy’s schedule now that she is 1 year and 8 months old?
ARA: She is already sleeping by 6PM and wakes up at 7:30 the next day na. But I still give her milk in between: at 10pm,midnight, 2am and 4am because she doesn’t drink milk at daytime. Mas gusto nya na kasi ang real food pag gising sya. She takes a nap at 10:30am and wakes up in time for lunch at 12noon!
R: What food does she like now? Baby food or real food na talaga?
A: Real food na talaga! Lahat gusto nya kahit nga minsan yung mga diet food ko na pinapadeliver kinakain din nya!
R: What's her favorite food nowadays?
A: Tinolang manok, nilaga and anything with soup. Pero mahilig din sya sa mga crackers like my soda crackers. She would even point to the box of soda crackers on our dining table and make baby sounds asking me to give her a little piece!
R: How much did you gain when you got pregnant?
A: From 148 pounds, I reached 181 pounds!
ARA: When I was breastfeeding especially when I was adjusting how to feed the baby. Yung every hour or every 2 hours gigising ka para mag breastfeed.
RIKKI: How long did you breastfeed?
ARA: One year and one month.
RIKKI: Wow! Over a year? That’s awesome. (*I am anyway a breastfeeding advocate) Were there other challenges especially when you went back to tapings and became a working mommah?
ARA: I would bring Mandy with me to my tapings before especially when I was still breastfeeding. Pero nung naka-ipon na ako ng milk, naiiwan ko na rin sya sa bahay lalo na nung nagsimula syang matulog nang maaga. As in 6PM pa lang natutulog na sya.
RIKKI: What is Mandy’s schedule now that she is 1 year and 8 months old?
ARA: She is already sleeping by 6PM and wakes up at 7:30 the next day na. But I still give her milk in between: at 10pm,midnight, 2am and 4am because she doesn’t drink milk at daytime. Mas gusto nya na kasi ang real food pag gising sya. She takes a nap at 10:30am and wakes up in time for lunch at 12noon!
R: What food does she like now? Baby food or real food na talaga?
A: Real food na talaga! Lahat gusto nya kahit nga minsan yung mga diet food ko na pinapadeliver kinakain din nya!
R: What's her favorite food nowadays?
A: Tinolang manok, nilaga and anything with soup. Pero mahilig din sya sa mga crackers like my soda crackers. She would even point to the box of soda crackers on our dining table and make baby sounds asking me to give her a little piece!
R: How much did you gain when you got pregnant?
A: From 148 pounds, I reached 181 pounds!
R: How did you become sexy again? I think you’re even hotter now than you were right before you got pregnant?
A: Talaga? Hahaha! Hmmm, well, nung naging single mom na ako. Hahaha! Nagkaroon na ako ng motivation at enough time para magpapayat. I go hiking, I went back to yoga and went to the gym three times a week for 1 whole year.
A: Talaga? Hahaha! Hmmm, well, nung naging single mom na ako. Hahaha! Nagkaroon na ako ng motivation at enough time para magpapayat. I go hiking, I went back to yoga and went to the gym three times a week for 1 whole year.
R: Do you have a diet?
A: I only eat 1200 calories during the weekdays. But if there’s something I can’t avoid, it’s carbs! Thats why I exercise because I love to eat. I don’t like feeling deprived (of food). And since I lost weight gradually, the chances of me rebounding are very small unlike when you do crash diets.
R: Have you reached your ideal weight?
A: Not yet. I still want to lose at least 10 pounds, only because you gain 10 pounds when you're on TV. But if I don’t appear on TV, I’m actually already okay with my weight. I also use a corset and do waist training. Now my waistline is down to 25 inches! Pag hindi ako nakakakain, nagiging 24 pa.
R: What are your weight loss tips?
A: Just don’t deprive yourself. Measure your rice, like I only eat 1 cup of rice. Hindi ko tinatanggal ang carbs kasi ayoko magmukhang haggard. Kasi rice makes me happy e! Hahaha!
R: What is your advice for those mommahs who want to work?
A: Kung ano ang passion mo, yun ang gawin mong business. You will have more drive and focus if you like what you do. With my business, Ara’s Secrets, syempre I have to look good so I will have more projects. At syempre, hindi porket mommy ka na dapat maging losyang ka na! Super sarap maging mommy, pero masarap din na marinig na “Uy! Parang hindi ka nanganak!”. May time na hindi ko na akalain na maibabalik ko pa yung figure ko.
A: Just don’t deprive yourself. Measure your rice, like I only eat 1 cup of rice. Hindi ko tinatanggal ang carbs kasi ayoko magmukhang haggard. Kasi rice makes me happy e! Hahaha!
R: What is your advice for those mommahs who want to work?
A: Kung ano ang passion mo, yun ang gawin mong business. You will have more drive and focus if you like what you do. With my business, Ara’s Secrets, syempre I have to look good so I will have more projects. At syempre, hindi porket mommy ka na dapat maging losyang ka na! Super sarap maging mommy, pero masarap din na marinig na “Uy! Parang hindi ka nanganak!”. May time na hindi ko na akalain na maibabalik ko pa yung figure ko.
R: Any additional tips for other working mommahs?
A: Love yourself, love your children and learn to move on from the past so you can have a new beginning. Like with me, Pat and I are good friends. Magkasama pa nga kami mag yoga. And, don’t forget to look good and work on your passions.
Any other working mommah you want to be feautured here? :) Just message me and will find a way!
Love,
Rikki Mathay
Love,
Rikki Mathay