The economy and the kids: Ingrid Callot on making kids understand

I, Ingrid Callot, worry about my son’s future, since our country is constantly immersed in economic turmoil. And I’m sure many of you would agree when I say that when parents are affected by this hardship, it’s likely that the kids are, too. Thus, you have to be ready when your little ones ask these innocent but meaningful questions: What does layoff mean? Are we going to lose our house? What’s a recession?

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How do you shield your children from needless anxieties without being overprotective? Here are some points to consider:

• Give straight answers. Kids these days are aware, to a certain degree, of what’s going on. They pick it up from friends or neighbors. When you lie to them, your credibility as a parent weakens.

Blogger Ingrid Callot has made a lifetime commitment of living a sustainable lifestyle with her husband Roger and son Jacob.

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• Give definite answers only when you’re sure of them. Don’t say “we will never lose our house” only to find out that the bank has sequestered your right to ownership. Instead, say something truthful: “We’re not sure about it, but no matter what happens, we will stick it out together.”

•Work together as a couple. Your kids need to know only what’s essential for them. Both you and your partner should be in agreement of what to tell the kids and what to be quiet about.


There’s no need to keep your children in the dark. They are part of the family; therefore they have the right to know. Not only will this make them feel important about getting involved, but this will also enhance your bond as a family.

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Ingrid Callot on losing weight and keeping it off

They call me the Green Queen, but I am also known as Ingrid Callot, mother to adorable 10-year-old Jacob and wife to dapper husband Roger. 

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I know that a lot of women out there would agree with me when I say that although I may find myself typical or ordinary, I still have the innate drive to change the world with baby steps and without the luxury of wealth or power. And in doing so, I have to start with myself, by committing to a healthy body and losing weight—permanently. 

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With hundreds of weight-loss programs and downright flimflams promising quick weight loss results, women find themselves at the brink of confusion, discouragement, and most of the time, failure. I, Ingrid Callot, say that a successful and long-term weight loss program is one that combines a healthy, calorie-controlled diet with exercise. This takes permanent changes in lifestyle, inner motivation, and a whole lot of positive attitude—not at all easy and quick, but the process of getting there is a journey women can savor and enjoy. Here are a few items that can help: 

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1. Lessen sugar intake in drinks. When the craving gets intense, just think that with every sugary drink comes lots of sugar, which causes blood sugar level to spike and the production of glucagon, a hormone which utilizes fat as energy, to stop.

2. Eat whole. Whole food like brown bread and rice, veggies and fruits are all-natural and fiber-rich. They tend to keep the body full for a long period of time. 

3. Get those healthy proteins. Like soy and chicken, protein-rich food have a high thermic effect, which helps the body to burn more calories. 

4. Exercise regularly. Dance, play a sport, or hit the gym regularly. 

 5. Chew food more. Chewing food 20 to 30 times before swallowing is a way to control the amount of food and aid digestion. 

6. Avoid eating boxed and canned goods. They contain either lots of sugar or salt, which are both fattening. 

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Ingrid Callot on housewarming gifts to newlyweds

“Ingrid Callot, we’d like to invite you to our housewarming party this Sunday.” My friend Demi, who just got back from her honeymoon, called me up two weeks ago with this invite. And because I love housewarming parties – among all other parties – I agreed right away and began thinking of what to give to the newlyweds.

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Housewarming parties are defined as “an auspicious event celebrated on the occasion of someone's entry into his new residence.” For newlyweds, it is something to look forward to because transferring to a new home is one of the first few ‘conjugal’ memories that they have as a wedded couple.

Initially, I, Ingrid Callot, thought of giving Demi a houseplant that I’ve grown myself. However, I still have reservations about this because my friend doesn’t exactly have the green thumb. So, I browsed online and came across a few articles that share some good ideas on what to give newlyweds for their housewarming party:

1) Painted portrait. A painted portrait is a wise alternative to the usual picture frames that couples receive as gifts.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: paintthispic.com

 2) Cozy blankets. Something that the couple can use outside when it’s scorching hot during summer and inside when they snuggle next to the fireplace is a pretty cool idea.

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3) A stash of self-help or DIY books. For me, nothing beats getting pieces of advice on different how-tos—examples are guide books on how to build a garden, how to repair the sink, and how to decorate the house.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: mindbodygreen.com

4) Personalized welcome mats. I am leaning toward this because of my love for anything DIY. What I have in mind is to buy a plain woven mat and paint it with a special message for the couple.

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Tips for new moms: Ingrid Callot on why life doesn’t end when lullabies begin

I, Ingrid Callot, know how hard it is for new moms to adjust to a lifestyle that is completely different from before. Although it happened to me a decade ago, the bittersweet feeling of the first few months of motherhood remains fresh, and quite true, up to this day.  

Pretty scared, pretty excited.  

Last week, when I attended an arts and crafts convention, I met a few soon-to-be moms. During the small talk, one of them blurted out that she’s afraid she won’t be able to survive the stress that having a kid entails. That particular statement inspired me to do this entry.


The mixed feelings that women have at the thought of giving birth and raising a child is completely normal. I, Ingrid Callot, felt the same way, and I bet millions of mothers did, too.

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Moreover, that phase, too, shall pass. To help soon-to-be moms, here are some things that they should expect to survive what is considered the hardest phase of motherhood:  

Lack of sleep.   Perhaps the most challenging of all, mothers lose the luxury of time to sleep and rest. This is solely because during the first few months—and in some cases, years—after they are born, babies do not have regular sleeping patterns.

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Less time to prepare food.  Cooking time may be hard to come by for new moms. With this, mothers are advised to stock up on healthy snacks and food that are easy to prepare because being healthy and having the energy is very important during this phase.


Ingrid Callot has a 10-year-old son, Jacob, who she educates about the matters of environmentalism, among others, early on in life.


Post-partum depression.  With the stress that this phase brings, new moms should know that they are vulnerable to what is called post-partum depression. To beat this, they should find ways to let their emotions out by having open communication with their partner or by asking friends to drop by for some small talk.  

Asking for help.  Mothers should know when to ask for help. Understandably, they want to be with their babies all the time, but everyone needs to rest. So having a nanny or someone who can cover for them just to catch up on some sleep can help big time.

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Animals on the move: Ingrid Callot and the benefits of organic farm party for kids

Hi, Ingrid Callot here. My good friend Ashya recently got into birthday party organizing. Here’s what I like about her new venture: she looks for eco-friendly ideas to incorporate in parties, just like hosting birthday parties on the organic farm that she owns. Given that my son Jacob loves being around free-moving animals, the greenery, and whatnot, it seems like an awesome idea to have his 11th birthday party next year on a farm. That would be a delight for me as someone who advocates clean and green living.

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The following are some of the reasons why I, the Eco-goddess and Domestic Queen Ingrid Callot, believe that an organic farm is a unique and perfect venue to celebrate life and Mother Earth at the same time:

• I love the idea of outsourcing my son’s birthday celebration without compromising my ideals in matters of food, play, and waste.

• Kids will learn about seasonal plants and can even bring home some, to plant and care for at home.

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• Aside from pony rides, other thrills kids may enjoy are geese and bird feeding, egg collecting, tractor rides, and other farm activities that they don’t see every day in the city.

• Talking with real-life cowboys and farmers will be a plus factor since the kids will learn a whole lot from them about plant and animal growing.

• It’s simple yet waste-free, natural, and preservative-free.

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Me, myself, and I: Ingrid Callot talks about the importance of ‘me time’

“With all the chores that I have to do, I can’t even find time to clean my nails, Ingrid Callot! I can’t even go out of the house!” one of my friends exclaimed when I asked her the other day if we can go out for dinner. Although inviting her to go out always freaks out this friend of mine, I still asked her anyway, in the hopes that she finally knew how to set aside time for herself.

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As a mother and wife who does various things on the side, I know how overwhelming it can get to wear different hats sometimes – no, wait -- all the same time. While some married women, particularly those with kids, never fail to blame settling down as the cause of longer having time for themselves, I, Ingrid Callot, just cannot make sense out of this ‘reason.’

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First off, ‘me time’ is important because everyone needs to stop and break their routines once in a while. According to this CNN article, breaking a routine is beneficial for a person’s overall well-being. It reduces stress, gives people time to think, and recharges them. With these benefits, women can do all their responsibilities better without feeling shortchanged.

Moreover, ‘me time’ doesn’t require doing it alone. It may refer to time spent with friends, and joining activities and pursuing hobbies for joy and fulfillment.

It also doesn’t have to be done for a whole day or for a long period. So I advise women to simply have at least two hours to themselves before starting their daily routine. Reading a book, gardening, exercising, or just walking around the community can make moms and wives feel better and more energized.

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Back to school: Ingrid Callot's healthy snacks for kids

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Hi! It’s me, Ingrid Callot, at your service once again. Now that my son, Jacob, is back in school, I have to come up with snacks he will love and enjoy eating. Of course, I want his snacks to be delicious, but they also have to be nutritious and easy to prepare. Although I take pleasure in creating snacks from scratch, I also hit the grocery for healthy and yummy treats that won’t spoil appetites before meals. Here are some of my son’s favorites:  

Roasted almonds

Good thing my little one is not allergic to nuts. I always include a small bag of whole roasted salted almonds in his lunch box. They’re not just crunchy, they’re also low in cholesterol and sodium. And they’re a good source of magnesium, Vitamin E, and manganese.

Ingrid Callot. Image credit: elanaspantry.com

Ingrid Callot is a mother and wife who loves to blog about eco-friendly tips on housekeeping.

Granola bars

This is a staple in our house. My hubby loves these and they’re Jacob’s favorite, too. I usually prepare batches of homemade bars at home. But if I don’t have the time to do so, I just hit the local store and get boxes of these. Jacob loves the chewy ones, but there is also the crispy kind.

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Apple cider-flavored juice

This calcium and Vitamin C-rich beverage is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Drinking apple juice improves my son’s digestion and helps eliminate harmful toxins from the tummy.

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