What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- Soulmates by Holly Bourne
- The Good Girl by Mary Kubica (A Must Read!)
- Overseas by Beatrice Williams
- [VIP series] - Book 1.0 Idol by Kristen Callihan
- [VIP series] - Book 1.0 Managed by Kristen Callihan
- Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield (Boring)
- Flat Out Love by Jessica Park (nice catch!)
- Currently Reading: 39 Clues Series: Operation Trinity by Clifford Riley
- Currently Reading: You are Here by Jennifer E. Smith
What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
- The Girl on the Train
- August Rush ♥
- This Time (Jadine Movie)
- The Secret Life of Pets
- Passengers
What special days did I celebrate and how?
- Our Wedding Anniversary ♥♥♥
What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- Had my allergies again :(
What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Fellowship in Tagaytay with our CFC Friends
- Family Day Lunch and Dinner
- Played Soccer with kids
- Dinner and Movie Date with the Hubby
What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- Wagyu Steak. YUM!
- Wingman in Taguig
- Homemade Steak by the Hubby ♥
- Din Tai Fung
What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- Le Sportac Sling bag which is supposed to be Waterproof (it was ON SALE! WOOT!)
What have you learned this month?
- NOBODY is responsible for your own HAPPINESS but YOURSELF.
- Choose your TEAM. If someone is ANNOYING/NEGA and clearly not on YOUR TEAM, IGNORE that person. Be careful with what you plant in the garden of your family life. - Bo Sanchez
Yes, the Christmas holidays were just over and now I'm looking for the perfect again for the Hubby, this time for our anniversary. If you've been constantly visiting this blog, you would know by now that my Husband loves music, playing the guitar and drums, and more. Music has been part of his life. So I'm looking at these guitar center in store coupon that I might grab for this occassion. He will be ecstatic! (as always!)
I love that the music has flowed through my kids. The eldest loves to play the piano while the youngest loves to sing. ♥ It is so nice to have the music flow into our home every now and then. The house feels like a home. The house is happier, more positive and more livable.
With that, I'm thankful for the gift of music! ♥♥♥
Oh yes every parent can relate that kids nowadays do grow up waaaaay too fast. This is a perfect article for us parents who would love to freeze the time. Read on...
5 Ways to Keep Kids from Growing Up Too Fast
There has been a lot of concern about hyper sexualization or early sexualization of kids, especially girls. Toy marketers have been blamed for pushing sexy products, such as the classic Barbie and the new Bratz dolls, to children as young as four years old. Media images also always portray women in revealing clothes and come-hither poses that project the idea that women are just sexual objects.
With the past moving away from the present at such a furious pace due to the Internet and other media, children are becoming more exposed to such images and are becoming mature at an earlier age. Kids in makeup and heels and gyrating to lewd music have somewhat become acceptable in many households.
The American Psychological Association has said that this early sexualization is a cause of concern, and parents should work hard to protect their children from such ideas from cultural influences.
How can we keep our children’s innocence a while longer? Here are some ideas.
1. Let them play outside
Growing up with lots of gadgets can be fun, but it can also deprive kids of enough playtime that should be filling up their childhood. Instead of filling their schedule with classes after school, give them breathing space to play, think, and explore.
2. De-emphasize fashion
There are now so many cute and lovely clothes for kids that little ones are becoming their moms’ fashion plates. Oftentimes, these clothes are kiddie versions of adult clothes, with plunging necklines, high hemlines and even high heels. We should dress children appropriately and comfortably and seek comfort instead.
Children should always be playing (except in special occasions, of course!) and should therefore be dressed in clothes that they can run around in.
3. Screen what they watch
Exposure to images of skimpily clad women and kissing couples open the eyes of children to things that they are not yet ready to see. Screen what they watch, as even topics of popular pre-teen shows already revolve around relationships, fashion, and other themes for much older viewers.
Assign TV days when you can monitor what your kids are watching. Or better yet, just buy videos of age-appropriate shows.
4. Screen what they read
Though some kids can read books beyond their years, it doesn’t mean that they are ready to read those with content not meant for them. Be careful of what you leave lying around as curious kids can pick up books and read what they are not supposed to be reading yet.
Children’s minds need to be protected from a culture that wants to sell the idea of sex at an early age. Be mindful of the influences that you let your children get exposed to and work on keeping their innocence a little while longer than what society dictates.
SOURCE.
Here are more photos of the paradise a.k.a. the beach in Catanauan Cove.
Off to the paradise...
Enjoy. Lather. Soak. Unwind. This is the best day ever!
Look for the hidden starfish(es)!
Ah, yes, white sand, fresh sea air, beach. This is my "heaven".
And more photos of the whole family!
Fun, fun, day for all of us!!! (*wink*)(*wink*)(*wink*)
1. Relaxing Weekend ♥
2. Homemade Steak Cooked by the Hubby
3. Happy Weekend playing Outside
4. Friends
5. New eBooks
6. Movie Night
7. A Big Cup of Hot Tea
8. Household Meetings
9. Online Tasks
10. Impromptu Coffee Date with Friends
To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.
After a long day at the beach and swimming in the pool, we were so ready for a good buffet dinner.
So, off we went and guess what? Our dinner was setup in by the beach!
Perfect, perfect night for a chat and good food. ♥
There were other groups who were at the resort too so it felt like a party!
And during dinner, there was a band too!
Ah, yes, it was a beautiful night.
Perfect to spend with my family. ♥♥♥
Here's another wonderful article worth sharing from MomCenter.com.ph...
Keeping Kids Close To Their Grandparents
Grandparents have a special part in their grandchildren’s lives and vice versa. Grandparents find joy in young children; they feel reinvigorated and young. They get to love their children’s children with all their heart without the pressures and responsibilities of parenthood.
It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, and grandparents are a natural part of that village. They help in caring for the little ones and give good advice to hapless parents.
No matter the differences that you may have with your parents, it is still a good idea to try to bring your kids closer to their grandparents. After all, they are the people who love you the most, and your children by extension.
Visit them regularly
Even if you live in an extended household, chances are you are not living with both sets of grandparents. By scheduling regular visits, your children will get to interact with their grandparents. This allows the grandparents to hear stories first-hand and slowly get to know their grandchildren.
Set dates
Let’s face it: your parents may only have a narrow time frame to do this. If your children do not require to be chased around the room and the grandparents are up to it, scheduling dates will allow them to establish deeper bonds. Without mum and dad, children often show a different side, surprising you how well-behaved they can be.
Grandparents enjoy the time they spend with their grand-kids without the hovering parents around. It is their joy to spoil the kids to their hearts’ content, without fear of being reprimanded by the parents.
Utilize Technology
When distance truly limits being together, technology may be the answer. Video calls are now common and not science fiction like a decade ago. The sight and sound of their grandchildren are almost as invigorating as the real thing.
Moreover, for the children, these video conferences are a way to make sure that their grandparents are never out of their minds.
Make a Grandparents Journal
Encourage your kids to “interview” their grandparents. There are available grandparents journals in bookstores but you can also make your own. Design questions such as “When did you meet grandma?” and “What is your favorite childhood memory?”
Grandparents would love to reminisce and share about their own childhood to their grand-kids. Kids, on the other hand, will learn life lessons from their parents’ parents. It’s a win-win situation!
Invite them to your family’s celebrations
Grandparents have time in their hands when they are already retired. Invite them to your family’s special occasions, especially birthdays and school programs, to make them a real part of your children’s lives.
Oftentimes, we are busy leading our own lives that we neglect to think of our parents who have been such a big part of our growing up years. Don’t exclude them in your family life and show your children how much you value your own parents.
Grandparents deserve to know and have a relationship with their grandchildren.
As promised, I will give you a couple of feedbacks about what my friends and family were saying about the Wisdomantics that I recommended to them last Christmas! Well, they liked it. They love that it is not only a tool for family bonding, but it is also a tool to learn about the words and proverbs of Solomon. It is perfect for those families who are learning the Bible. It is a very useful tool disguised as a fun and entertaining game.
The Proverbs of Solomon have wisdom for family life. Since we are at a loss now because of distractions. We all wanted to go back to the basics. Live a simple life. Especially with our family life. We want to connect once again with our spouses, kids and even relatives. This is the perfect way to start that.
The Proverbs of Solomon have wisdom. Are you in need of advice? Some words of encouragement? Some answers to a couple of questions in what you are going through these days? The Proverbs of Solomon will be able to help you with that!
The Proverbs of Solomon have wisdom for finances. I know that there are people nowadays who shop and shop. With that their finances are in great danger. Through the Proverbs of Solomon, they would gain wisdom about what to do and what not to do. I'm not kidding! It is true!
The Proverbs of Solomon have wisdom about marriage. Yes, because many couples suffer from indifference, hate and jealousy, this is a perfect way to bond and learn about what Solomon say about marriage. It is definitely helpful!
The Proverbs of Solomon have wisdom about personal growth. Perfect for people who are looking for growth, maturity and more. Needs career advice? Future developments? This is the game for you!
You would want to try it yourself. So, download my favorite game, Wisdomantics, NOW... And don't forget to spread the word, peeps!
For iphone users...
For Android users...
Enjoy the game and let me know what you think! (*wink*)(*wink*)
After beach time, it was time to check out Catanauan Cove's infinity pool. ♥
It was a perfect day to swim!
We were all ready for water fights!
The water was perfect for the sunny day!
We just had to make sure that we were putting sunblock every now and then...
It was so, so, so hot but going out was so, so worth it! (*wink*)
1. Me time over the weekend while waiting for kid #1
2. Long Nap
3. Movie and Wine Night ♥
4. August Rush, beautiful, beautiful movie!
5. Family
6. Kids for Christ
7. Soccer Training soon!
8. FB online calls with the Lola
9. Never ending Blessings! Thank you Lord!
10. Friends
To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.
Two of my most favorite things in my life - Breakfast and Beach.
Aaaah, the food was good in Catanauan Cove. It was all Filipino Dishes. My family who came from US and Singapore were ecstatic!
After a sumptuous buffet breakfast and several cups of coffee, off we went to the one of the reasons why we travelled for 6 hours - the Beach!
This is our paradise, as of the moment.
This is the reason why we love our country, the wonderful beaches.
So I will stop right here now and reminisce on our trip. Will be back again with more photos and stories soon! (*wink*)(*wink*)
I love this...
What's your never that you can challenge today? This year? Or even on your lifetime?
Check out this article to know what I'm talking about.
I've been traveling with my kids for years now. Come to think of it, my eldest started traveling when she was 1 month old. Yes, when she was one month old, right after her Baptism, we went to Tagaytay then after a few weeks, we went to Subic.
When she turned 9 months old, we brought her to Macau. So can you image how huge our luggages are? It was a feat! But worth it I guess. We just couldn't leave her.
Here are nice tips from www.MomCenter.com that I you might find useful. Enjoy!
5 Tips On Travelling With Young Kids
Here are essential things to remember if you’re traveling with kids:
1. Plan your trip expecting the things that might cause delays, and yes that includes toddler’s temper tantrums. If you think a straight train or bus ride with no stopovers are best for your kids, then do so, but some parents find it easier to have stopovers and connecting flights. Kids can be cranky on long trips, it helps if they can stretch their legs and enjoy the change in scenery. While you may have smoothed out your trip to the very last detail, things happen to your kids – such as an upset tummy, missing a favorite toy, getting bored, or worse wanting to go home, right at that moment. That made me think of the next tip which is:
2. Do not forget to bring his favorite toy.
Kids, especially toddlers who might be used to routine at home, may suddenly find the whole trip unpleasant and demand to go home. Just tell them exactly where you’re going and how long the trip would take. Have a pleasant attitude yourself and radiate it so your child can feel your excitement as well. Bring his favorite book or toy to pass the time at an airport, during a long road trip. In this case, the best thing that you can bring is a gadget with pre-installed apps for kids to play. Never forget his security blanket, or security toy or security pillow. It makes him feel at home anywhere. Don’t forget paper and colored pens for them to draw while waiting for a flight, or the next bus. Get them to draw postcards of the places they’ve been to. Or just draw what they see.
Another surefire way of keeping kids pre-occupied during a vacation is an instant camera. Bring an instant camera that your child can play with. Let him take pictures as he explores new places with you. You’ll be amazed how pre-occupied they can get. You also might get amazed at the pictures they take from the perspective of a 3-foot tall photographer.
3. Place first-aid kit on top of your packing list. Prepare for emergencies. Prepare clothing for any inclement weather.
An upset tummy, an unexpected fever that goes away in 24 hours, dizziness due to motion sickness, headache and all kinds of pain may make your trip more difficult and we cannot just pray they don’t happen to you or your kids while in transit. Again, the best cure is prevention and preparedness. Bring anti-allergens, anti-histamines, paracetamol, fever kit (thermometer, towelette). Pack in anti-motion sickness medicines and make sure your kids take them an hour before the trip if they are prone to motion sickness. Have several plastic bags with you just in case, good for any rubbish too. Prepare several zip lock bags for all kinds of purposes – to keep snacks organized, to waterproof gadgets, to keep clothes from getting wet. Bring enough nappies for toddlers, milk in sectioned cups, and warm clothing (bonnets, socks) for cold weather.
Before the trip, take note of the nearest doctor or hospital’s number from your destination, and see the pediatrician at least two weeks before for necessary vaccinations and inquire about antimalarial if you need to.
4. Book your hotel or inn ahead of time, and have a plan B just in case it didn’t work out with your first choice.
No, you can’t drag your kids looking for rooms in a fully-booked in destination, unless you want to tire them out looking for an available room in peak season.
5. Last but not the least, have fun while traveling. Expect that there will be disappointments along the way but don’t let that ruin your day. Your child will pick up on the happy vibes and will be much more cooperative when you need him or her to be cooperative. See the world with adventure and joy in your heart, and your child will definitely pick up your vibes and may even teach you a thing or two about simple joys.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution when travelling with kids, especially if they’re still babies. Know your itinerary by heart, double-check the needful, and have a contingency plan in case something goes wrong with your original plan. Travelling with kids should be a breeze for the well-prepared traveler parents.
SOURCE.
Last summer, my family and I braved the 6hour drive to Quezon. This is particularly in the town of Catanauan. The travel was uneventful (praise God!) and we enjoyed it after updating each other and not seeing each other for months.
Here are a few glimpses of the resort...The infinity pool was gorgeous...
The beach looks good too!
... and they had a bar for night out drinks...
Watch out for more posts about our getaway, soon! (*wink*)
I always love listening to the music. It depends on the mood, though. When I feel like dancing of course I would go for Pop genre. When I'm working, I would go for R&B. So it all depends on the mood.
BUT, everytime I listen, I would always use a pair of earphones. That's why I was reading this shure se215 review and see if it would fit my lifestyle. For a branded earphones, the price of PHP5,291 is not bad at all. I'm pretty sure that it is of good quality, of good brand and it will last for years and years. So I'm willing to pay for that. And, who knows, maybe I might buy another one for the Husband?
I will review more and check my budget sheet. I'm pretty sure the Husband will be happy to receive this as an anniversary gift. (*grin*)
Well, after seven days in Tokyo we still felt that it wasn't enough. We need to GO BACK!
And hopefully very, very soon!
We LOVE everything about TOKYO. Everything was expensive though, but it was a good thing because I didn't get to SHOP. HA! Yes, it was a blessing in disguise, indeed!
So, off we went to the airport through this amazing Airport Express....
We just love everything in Japan. And we are thankful that we get to see this beautiful country. Hopefully, we get to go back and enjoy the food, the sights and the experience again. And hopefully very, very soon.
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I'm planning to give out my favorite game, Wisdomantics to my friends and relatives. You know why? If you've read my previous posts, it is because it was recently launched in Android! So even my dear Husband who is a die-hard Android fan will be getting this favorite game of mine, as well!
Yes, they even changed their homepage too. (Do check it out if you haven't!)
Sooo, feedbacks.
Well, I love giving gifts to friends and families. You would be surprised if I tell you that since August, I've been writing a Christmas list for them already. Yes, that's true! But when I learned that a new version of Wisdomantics is launching soon, I decided right then and there to give it as a gifts to everyone for 2016 Christmas.
And, they were ecstatic! Very, very happy! They just love the thought that the game can be played with the WHOLE family. And it was very easy to play too. Even the young kids joined us. (*grin*) My 10-year-old daughter looooves this game. She is actually the one giving me a lot of good feedbacks about the game. As my 8-year-old daughter, she will be joining us in playing the game, pretty, pretty soon too!
I will post more about my friends' and relatives' feedback soon! Download the game now if you are interested. You won't regret it! (*wink*) (*wink*) (*wink*)
1. Fun Weekend with Family and Friends
2. Quick trip to Tagaytay to Meetup CFC Friends
3. Back to Work!
4. Back to Decluttering Stuff. Bring it on, 2017!
5. Blessings!
6. Wagyu Steak for Dinner. YUM!
7. Healthy Lunch
8. Cappuccino
9. Short Naps
10. Looking forward to Movie Nights soon!
To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.
Aside from the FREE wifi, there was also one exciting thing we came across in Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center - the FREE traditional dance lessons and guess what? We get to dress up their traditional clothes! ♥
Nihon Buyo is a type of traditional Japanese dance that has a history of nearly 400 years. It is characterized by uniquely Japanese qualities of elegance and grace.You can wear a yukata and learn how to dance in this workshop.
They helped us dressed up and it was such a fun experience!
And here we are...
The experience was surreal and definitely unforgettable!
It wasn't part of the itinerary but I was sure that this is the highlight of our full stay in Tokyo. This is what they called the "Traditional culture and performing arts experience program". ♥
Check out this website - www.tokyo-tradition.jp/eng/ for more information. I tell you, it was the best experience ever! (*wink*)
Here's a wonderful thought to think about to start off the year, 2017...
Oh, look and check out our last day in Tokyo. The weather went down and it was soooo cold and raining too.
Too bad, because we planned on going around Asakusa for the last time. But it was more of a blessing in disguise because we came across Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. Beautiful, beautiful building that made our last day memorable!
There were so many in store in here. But the best part is that we got a place to stay while it was so, so cold outside. ♥
We also were able to check out the view of all of Asakusa from the top of the building.
And beautiful photo op spots inside...
Here are the major information that you might need if you visit this area:
Address: 2-18-9 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line:1-min walk from Asakusa Station
Toei Asakusa Line:2-min walk from Asakusa Station
Tobu Isesaki Line:5-min walk from Asakusa Station
Tsukuba Express:10-min walk from Asakusa Station
Phone: 03-3842-5566
Hours open to visitors: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Languages: English, Chinese and Korean
Wi-Fi: Available for free
Internet PC: Available for free
And you know that's the best part? We were able to sign up for a "Traditional Dance Lessons" after lunch! It was FREE! Best part of the vacation! Woot, woot!
Will post more about it soon! (*wink*)