Random Thoughts

Last summer, my kids enrolled in a summer sports camp. I let them choose which sport they wanted to learn and they chose soccer. They enjoyed it so, so much (even made it to championship) that they wanted to enroll again this summer. A few more days to go and it's summer already so now is the perfect time to decide. But you see, as their Mom, I wanted to allow them to learn a new skill EVERY year. So I wanted them to choose baseball this year instead. It looks like they are interested and it looks like it is going to be a GO. We are all very excited about it!

But, I know, BASEBALL? It is their first time and they are going to need a LOT of HELP. So I searched online if there are actually baseball batting aids that I can purchase to make their learning a little bit easy, and lo and behold, I found one from Call the Shot! Woot, woot! Now, this is why I love the internet so, so, so much. I can find almost everything I need in just a couple of search and clicks! Who would have thought that there's a product that helps and aids you in playing baseball.

CALL the SHOT is a baseball and softball training tool for kids and adults alike. This is available online so I'm pretty sure that purchasing it is a breeze. This tool will help coaches and players improve their skills in playing baseball. Yes, I know, amazing! With this powerful tool, it gives coaches, batters, and parents instant, visual feedback. Of course when you see feedbacks, you get to improve your play right?

When you use this tool daily, it will help you increase your batting average and RBI's. As they said, practice makes you perfect. I would say practicing with a perfect and useful tool would help your skills improve. Do you agree on this one?


I was amazed by this one - the CALL the SHOT tool, provides valuable feedback, from video reviews, to make swing adjustments. Yes you can actually do that too! With the tool, I feel like the coaches are the happy guys here because it will make their lives easier. Training would be a breeze. Feedbacks that are valuable will be given to both players and coaches. This is something that they need to be the best baseball player.

Another benefit from this amazing tool, helps your batters recognize the optimal target area. Yes, it serves as your coach too! It helps you aim for the target. It allows your batter to be a perfect one. This is just getting better and better. But, if you are already an experienced batter, it will also help you. How? The CALL the SHOT tool, helps more experienced batters fine-tune their swing. So yes, it doesn't only help beginners, it also gives benefits to the experienced batters too. Now I truly agree with the testimonials on their website, the CALL the SHOT tool is an innovative bat sleeve that is the answer to a coach's training dilemma. Yes, yes and yes!

Here are more descriptions of this amazing bat sleeve:

- An excellent batting training tool, for players aged 4-19+, both boys and girls
- Stretchable sleeve fits all bats: comes in 3 different sizes, for T-Ball/Little League, senior league and softball bats
- Slides on & off easily
- Cold water hand wash/air dry
- Can help protect expensive bats and potentially prolong their life

I believe that Baseball is a very interesting sport. That is why I'm just so excited for my kids this summer. And when I purchased this innovative, amazing and usefull baseball tool, I'm very sure that it will make my kids' baseball learning experience all the more interesting!

Now, I'm off to CALL the SHOT's website and see if they have stocks for my kids. Oh, this is going to be an exciting summer! I just knew it!

On our way back to the hotel, we were greeted with this beautiful temple and boy, we felt so lucky that there were no crowds in this area anymore!

DOn't you just love unexpected moments? This wasn't part of the itinerary at all.


And with this beauty, we couldn't stopped feeling grateful for the opportunity to see this.



I definitely recommend this one in Kyoto!

Our last stop for the day - Kiyumizu-dera Temple.

I didn't know it closes at 5PM good thing we were able to see it for a few minutes before it closed.

Kiyomizudera is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism, but formed its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. SOURCE.

It was definitely a BEAUTY.



We'll definitely be back here to see the entire temple next time!

Road Trips. I've been dreaming about these for months now. I haven't gone on a trip for quite sometime now. You see, lately I've been hesitant because of the impossible traffic that has been going on in my area. It is not funny anymore. So these days, I just stay home, cherish our family bonding moments and reminisce on our previous roadtrips too. We've been on a couple of road trips as a family. Every year we make it a point to go out and see the "world"! We would like the kids to see a bigger picture not just our world but experience more.

Here are our unforgettable road trips that we spent with friends and families for the last couple of years...

These adventures were worth remembering and up to now my kids and Hubby and I are still talking about it!

Of course, if there are road trips, a good, clean and well-maintained car follows. Since we are on the road for more than 5 to 6 hours, we had to make sure that our car is in good condition. So right before our road trips, we make sure that our we bring our car to the most reliable auto shop.

While I was browsing through some auto repair shops online, I came across auto repair Palm Valley AZ called Champs Family Automotive. This is so timely since my uncle in Arizona is looking for a reliable auto shop since he is planning for a road trip soon! Champs Family Automotive offers one-stop repair and maintenance for every type of vehicle (gas or diesel) including Cars, SUV’s, Trucks and Vans. I'm definitely recommending this to him now that they have 6 months special financing available for customers.

I was browsing through their website and I was amazed at the services that they offer like oil change, aircon, heating & cooling system maintenance, break systems and alignment. Well, I'm not into cars but here are the breakdown of their services that you might find useful:


OIL CHANGE:

- Oil & Filter, up to 5 Qts
- Brake Inspection
- 22 Point Visual Inspection
- Check & Top Off All Fluids
- Check Tire Pressure
- Lube Chassis


AC, HEATING & COOLING SYSTEM:

- AC Oil if Needed
- Check for Leaks
- Check Electrical System
- Check Cooling Fans

Alignment

- 2-wheel
- 4-wheel


BRAKE SYSTEMS:

- Disc and Drum Service
- ABS diagnosis and repair
- Master Cylinders
- Trailer Brakes
- Parking Brakes
- Air Brakes

And there are more! They also offer: Accessories – Exterior, Accessories – Interior, Air Conditioning, Alignments, Belts & Hoses, Brake Systems, Carburetors, Charging & Starting, Clutches, Cooling & Heating, Computer and Diagnostic, Drive Train, Emissions, Engine Repair and Replacement, Exhaust Systems, Fuel Injection, Hydraulics, Ignition, Lighting & Electrical, Oil, Filter, Lube, Performance, Suspension & Steering, Tire & Wheel, Transmission & Transaxle, Towing, Welding. I think with all of these I can say that they provide EVERYTHING that you need!

What is also recommendable with this company is that you can even keep the costly repairs to a minimum. When raising a family nowadays, with all the expenses for school, food and other activities, it's hard to include this in your monthly budget. You wouldn't want to surprise yourself with the repair costs! Good thing they have financing. With the financing for about 6 months, you get to at least pay in small chunks without sacrificing your daily budget.

I used to think that having a car is expensive with all the maintenance and repair, but now that I found out about Champs Family Automotive, and thinking about those roadtrips that we had, I think having a car and using it on roadtrips SHOULD be part of our daily lives. Do you agree? (*wink*)

This is by far my most favorite street in Kyoto. Just before going up to see our next stop, we strolled along Ninnenzaka Street...

...and tried these beef buns.

YUM!


Hubby and I also enjoyed the crowd and shops!



I was able to buy a couple of souvenirs and gifts to bring home to friends and family.


As I've mentioned, this is one of my favorite streets in Kyoto. ♥

I've been looking forward to see this actually. I thought it was the main attraction of Kyoto. But was a bit disappointed.

I'm not sure if this feeling was because of a rainy weather or there were just too many people walking along the bamboo forest.


But we didn't feel that serenity that they've been describing about this particular area.



So right in the middle, we just gave up, turned our heels and went to our next stop. (*wink*)

** You can access it directly from the main street of Arashiyama, a little to the north of the entrance to Tenryu-ji Temple. **

In my side of the world, there's a long break coming and people are starting to plan road trips, getaways, family adventures, flights and more. To those who planned early, I bet some were already able to book their flights through promos and the travel fair. Planning a trip can take a lot of time and effort, so it is best to plan your trip 6 months before. For people who are budget conscious (like me!), I usually plan a year before to save up and get cheap airfares. Now it's almost summer in the Philippines so I hope everyone booked and planned their getaways already.

Spring has also started in the other parts of the world. Just like the United States. This time of the year, I was in the United States in 2001. WOW. I didn't realized until now that it was 15 years ago! Time flies by so fast! I was sent by a company that was working for in Minnesota and I stayed there for a couple of months. I took the opportunity to travel all throughout the States. I went to California, Washington, Florida, New York and New Jersey. I was able to get good deals through red eye flights for these weekend trips. I didn't have to spend that much!

But the most memorable were the road trips that I took within the neighboring States. In a couple of hours I was able to go to Wisconsin to try their famous cheese. In 6 hours, I was able to feel the windy city of Chicago. Though the travel was long, it was well worth it! I would say touring on a road is definitely unforgettable!

So, now I'm looking at bus tours and see which one I can recommend to my sister who is going to America soon. Because being on tour is the best way to get around especially if it's your first time. All Aboard America! is offering First-Class Luxury Motorcoach Charters all over America. I know, amazing right? Your trip is going to be stressed free! There are different packages that you could choose from Day Tours and Overnight Tours. Now if you want a customized tour, they can definitely do that for you too! How convenient isn't it?

Yes, it is. Imagine they've been offering charters since 1936 so they know the drill already. Their entire team of professionals is dedicated to providing charter bus tours and travel experiences that ensure your safety and comfort. I think that's the keyword there, "safety and comfort" especially for the first timers. With their experience for years now, all you have to do is sit back and relax with total confidence that your trip will be more enjoyable than you ever expected. Now, that my friend is a real vacation.

As for me, I'm definitely going back to America. And I'm definitely going to avail the tours that All Aboard America! is offering. The tours that I'm dying to try are the following:

- Southwest Bus Charters through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas
- Phoenix AZ Bus Tours to the Grand Canyon
- Bus Charters and Tours to Las Vegas and San Francisco

I haven't been to New Mexico, Texas, Grand Canyon and Las Vegas so yes, yes and yes this is the perfect opportunity to avail of their customized tours. When I was younger I used to take a trip on my own. Now that I have children of my own who go with me whenever Hubby and I go, I think the best way to get are those bus tours. Not only will the kids enjoy their destination, but they will enjoy the journey, a couple of hours of comfort and luxury at those bus charters and a couple hours of naps too. These are the perfect recipe for a great family adventure!

Happiness is...

1. Happy Weekends
2. Our first kid's birthday!
3. First household
4. Blogging and Preserving Wonderful Memories
5. Summer is going to start SOON!
6. Gift of Family
7. Highschool Friends ♥
8. God's Will
9. Happy Family
10. Coffee

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Yes, Arashiyama District is really beautiful even their main road deserves a separate post. Just look at these photos, you will understand.

Beautiful main road isn't it? The cloudy and rainy weather even made it more beautiful.

Watch out for the Bamboo Groves on my next post! (*wink*)