Mad Dash at the Scholastic Sizzling Summer Sale

April 20, 2015 by

SATURDATE. Nah! More like SATURATED. It definitely was a looooong Saturday for us.  Piano lessons, drum lessons, a much-delayed appointment with the wedding photographer for the final layout of our wedding album, a trip to the dentist – and, yes, we still managed to squeeze in a mad dash to the Scholastic Sizzling Summer Sale.

It literally was a mad dash.  I told the kids to just get all the Magic School Bus books they didn’t have yet and get some Geronimo Stilton books.  I saw a Klutz Galaxy activity book and grabbed that one too before heading off to the cashier.  I could spend hours in a bookstore and spend an entire day in a book sale but we had a couple more errands to run so we really had to go.  We were there for less than 30 minutes and managed to grab only these:

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Hubby took pictures of the warehouse while the kids and I were choosing books.  The pics can give you an idea of what to expect at the warehouse.

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Booths outside are where you’ll find the lowest priced books – we got Magic School Bus books at 49 pesos each!

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Most books here are at 25% off. Harry Potter books were at 40% off when we dropped by.

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Check out the Grolier table!!! If you don’t have Fun Thinkers or Logico yet, now is the best time to buy them. 🙂

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I definitely want to go back and scour each and every shelf for good finds.  Good thing the sale runs until May 24 so I still have lots of time to visit the warehouse again.  If you’re going there too, you may want to avoid going at noontime when the heat can become unbearable.  For directions on how to get there, check my previous post out. 🙂

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Kids couldn’t put the new books down! These pictures were taken around 5 hours after our mad dash.

Filed Under: BookWorms, Explorations, Family Fun, Kids At Work, Products We Love

5 Backyard Activities for the Whole Family

April 14, 2015 by

Among all the rooms and spaces in your house, perhaps none can be as surprising as your backyard. A great backyard is a magical place – a private space where you and your family can do anything you want. Memories are often built here, and it’s the perfect place to spend some quality time with your loved ones. If you’re looking to make the most of your backyard, here are five activities to help you get started.

1. Eat outdoors.

Nothing brings the family together like a good meal, and even more so if it’s outdoors. There’s just something so special about eating with your family outside in the fresh air. And to make it even more memorable, treat it as a special event that your family can look forward to. Plan it beforehand and set up a time during the week to do it (Sunday lunches are what many families love to do). Then get your whole family to join in the preparations, from the planning and cooking to the cleaning up after the special meal. You can even set a theme for each occasion so that every event is different and exciting and watch from the man shed as your children and other family members play outdoor games.

2. Play outdoor games.

Backyards are the ideal place to play games and get active with your family. Not only does it provide ample space for outdoor games (i.e. sports, children’s games), but it also gives you the privacy to have any kind of fun you want. If your backyard has enough space, you can even set up equipment and tools that you’ll use for whatever games you’ll play. Much like eating outdoors, playing outdoor games with your family is almost always a fun and memorable event. If you and your family want something a little more challenging but fun, you may be interested in making your own backyard escape room. Interested in learning more or want some inspiration? You can visit escape room atlanta to find out more.

Image by Photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image by Photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

3. Do arts and crafts.

Backyards, decks, and patios are the ideal place for getting your hands dirty doing arts and crafts. Unlike inside the house, you won’t have to worry about making a mess in the backyard. This inevitably makes doing arts and crafts with your family much more fun and exciting. A friend told me that Jeanne Oliver provides some really fun arts and crafts courses that the whole family can enjoy. It might be a good idea for families that aren’t that experienced with arts and crafts. Try undertaking a big project as a family, where everyone contributes and helps out each week in creating a piece of work. Once you complete it, there’s no thrill quite like it.

4. Go camping outside.

If your backyard is grassy and ideal for camping, then spending a night there with your family can definitely be a memorable experience. It’s a fun way to use your backyard and the little ones will love your sense of adventure – even if it’s just outside your house. And if your backyard isn’t ideal for pitching a tent, a night out with your family in the deck or patio can still be just as much fun.

Image by Pakorn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image by Pakorn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

5. Read, nap, unwind.

Unwinding together in the backyard often brings families closer and creates many positive memories for the future. Making time every week to read, talk, play music, or simply relax together out in the backyard can be wonderful activity for any family. You could set times during the week to do this, or even just go out there whenever you feel like it. The more time you spend together, the closer your family will be.

Every backyard has the potential to be a truly special place for most families. They’re private, secluded, and provide the ideal setting for many family activities. If you need to spruce up your backyard or are thinking of building a better backyard, deck, or patio, then consult with those who know how do it best. Backyard specialists like Additions Building can recommend the best options for your property (click here to see samples of their previous work) and build them for you at fair prices. That way, you won’t have to spend much time worrying about your backyard – you’ll be busy enjoying it with your family.

Filed Under: Explorations, Family Fun

Kid Recommended Mom Approved Movies Based On Books

April 9, 2015 by

The kids’ summer lessons won’t be starting until mid-April, so we’ve been bonding over movies (lots of ’em) the past couple of weeks. I’ve been using https://avoidcensorship.org/ to access pirate bay, which I think is the easiest way to find films.
Since we’re also book lovers, we’ve been watching several movies that are based on novels we love. Here’s our list of Kid-Recommended Mom-Approved Movies Based on Books:

Chronicles of Narnia

Since 2005, Walden Media has released three film adaptations of the Chronicles of Narnia. This is a series of seven novels written by C.S. Lewis. We have a collection of the entire series and have already read the Magician’s Nephew, The Horse and His Boy, and The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe. Their familiarity with the characters and the stories are partly why the kids love the movies. Only three novels have been adapted into movies though: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian (Jade’s fave), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Jakei’s fave).

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The stories revolve around the Pevensie children and their adventures in Narnia – a world created by Aslan, a powerful and wise lion. There’s fantasy, adventure, mythical creatures, captivating scenes – just what every child wants in a movie! We both loved watching these but they were difficult to get hold of on streaming services. I considered using Proxies.sx after lots of recommendations, which is apparently a great way to watch films for free from a huge index, but I finally managed to find the DVDs hidden under a load of toys.

Bridge to Terabithia

Being one of my favorite books, Bridge to Terabithia was among the very first chapter books I read to my two little ones. They love the book but they love the movie even more. Jade says that the movie is “really good” and she loves “the wild imagination of Leslie and Jesse.” Jakei likes “the boy because he is good”.

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In this movie, the life of Jesse Aarons is transformed when he becomes friends with Leslie Burke. Together they create a magical forest kingdom and call it Terabithia. My kids can totally relate to both Jesse and Leslie as they also have wild imaginations and often create their own make-believe kingdoms.

City of Ember

This science fiction film starring Bill Murray is based on a 2003 novel by Jeanne DuPrau. The story is set centuries from today in a dying underground city called Ember. With power and supplies including food about to run out and the city’s structure about to collapse, two young adults find a way out. Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow bravely stand against a corrupt mayor and face various obstacles in their quest for a safe way out of Ember.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

If my memory serves me right, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was the very first chapter book that Jade managed to read on her own. Since that first Roald Dahl book, she has read half a dozen more of his fantasticilicious stories. Well, it’s no surprise that she and her brother love the movie adaptation of the Chocolate Factory.

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The film version that my kids saw was the one starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. I’d still love for them to watch Gene Wilder’s version of Willy Wonka though. Maybe I could ดูหนังออนไลน์ (watch movies online) in their older versions on accessible movie streaming sites from other countries, like Thailand. I mean I’ve looked almost everywhere else.

Wizard of Oz

Now who doesn’t know this wonderful novel written by L.Frank Baum? It may have been written a century ago but it still remains popular generation after generation. Proof of this is the many adaptations, both on stage and in the widescreen, that have sprung from the story.

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After watching Judy Garland as Dorothy, you may want to watch the Disney adaptation Oz the Great and Powerful.

Oz the Great and Powerful

The story is set 20 years before the original story of the Wizard of Oz. In this adaptation, we learn how Oscar Diggs (portrayed by the dashing James Franco) came to be the Wizard of Oz. We also find out that the Wicked Witch of the West wasn’t so wicked before.

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Michelle Williams who plays Glinda the Good Witch of the South also plays the role of Annie who would eventually become the mother of Dorothy Gale. Now, I’m hoping they would do a re-make of the Wizard of Oz. Just imagine how amazing the visual effects would be with all the technology available now.

These are just the ones we have recently watched. Among those that the kids have already seen and loved are the Harry Potter series (strictly parental guidance though as the kids have plenty of questions about the characters and the events), Alice in Wonderland, Forrest Gump (strictly parental guidance also and you may want to skip some scenes involving Jenny), and Matilda. I’m sure there are plenty more but my memory fails me. 😛

Then there are also those that we have yet to see but are definitely in my list: Oliver Twist, Charlotte’s Web, The Jungle Book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, James and the Giant Peach.

How about you and your kids? What movies do you love and recommend? Would love to read about your mom approved movies, too.

Filed Under: BookWorms, Busy Bees, Family Fun, Kids At Work

Affordable Summer Workshops in Marikina City

April 7, 2015 by

2,000 pesos for an art workshop with twelve sessions? Just 2,000 pesos?!  Unbelievable, right? I could hardly believe it myself but it is true!  I know for certain because both my kids are already enrolled in two classes. 🙂

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3,000 pesos for both classes already 🙂

The Marikina City Tourism, Culture and the Arts Office (MCTCAO) has been offering Summer Art Workshops for several years now. This, however, is our first time to join the workshops so I really can’t tell you what to expect.   What I do know is that this would be a great way to keep the kids busy this summer. The best thing is they get to learn a new skill!

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Poster from https://www.facebook.com/marikinatourismofficialfanpage

Schedule of Courses Offered

If you’re still looking for a summer program for your child, do check out the programs at the Marikina Summer Art Workshop 2015. Courses offered include Voice, Ballet, Modern Dance, Painting, and Teen Theatre. There are also several courses on instruments including Violin and Saxophone.  Here are the revised schedules they gave us today:

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Registration already started yesterday and will continue until the end of the week.  Orientation is on April 10 and workshops will begin on April 13.

How To Register

  1. Go to the MCTCAO (at the ground floor of Marikina City Hall) and fill up the necessary forms.
  2. Pay the registration fee at the City Treasury (directly across the MCTCAO).
  3. Go back to the MCTCAO and show your Official Receipt.

Workshop fee is Php 2,000 per course – definitely among the most affordable summer workshops in the country.

For families of government employees, the discounted fee is Php 1,500 per course.

You can get 300 pesos off if you enrol in groups of 5 or more. So, gather your neighbors and friends and enrol together so you can avail of the workshops at only Php 1,700 each. 🙂

 

 

*I am not connected with the Marikina Tourism, Culture, and Arts Office. For inquiries regarding the Summer Art Workshop, kindly call them directly at 646-2360 to 69 loc 208. 

Filed Under: Busy Bees, Explorations, Family Fun, Kids At Work Tagged With: , ,

A Glimpse of Pope Francis

January 20, 2015 by

An hour-long drive across Metro Manila, a tricycle-ride from Lucky Chinatown to Jones Bridge, a 20-minute walk from Jones Bridge to Padre Burgos Avenue, and a 30-minute wait along the street – all for a few seconds of watching Pope Francis pass by.   Our less than 3-hour sojourn is really nothing compared to the hours many Catholic faithfuls endured to catch a glimpse of the Pope and to listen to him as he officiated Mass and delivered inspirational messages.

My mom’s fervent desire to personally see the Pope and my Catholic friends’ willingness to endure long hours of waiting is definitely understandable; but, what’s a non-Catholic doing among the throngs of devotees yearning to see the Pope? Simply All For the Love of Mom!  🙂

My Mom’s a devout Catholic and I knew how much she’d love to see Pope Francis.  Although I was quite worried about the crowd and the long walk we had to take, I didn’t want her to miss the chance of seeing the beloved Pope in person.

Contrary to what I expected, our adventure (more like a pilgrimage for my mom) was quite a pleasant experience.  The weather was perfect with the cloudy sky and cool air and the crowd was not as thick as I feared.  My mom was filled with immense joy when she saw the Pope.  Tears of joy streaked down her face as it beamed with happiness.  The long walk was definitely worth it!

A dear friend of mine shared with us a media brief so we arrived at Anda Circle just several minutes before the Pope passed. If we had followed the schedules listed on popular websites, we would have waited there for more than a couple of hours.  To our dear angel (you know who you are), THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Here are the photos taken by my husband using his Samsung S4.

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These sacristans from Laguna who had been waiting there since 7am were kind enough to make space for us so the kids could stay right in front to see the Pope. The police officers in our area were also very pleasant and even exchanged a few good laughs with us. 😀

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Pope Francis’ charisma reminds me so much of the affable Pope John Paul II

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Yes, we were THIS close to the Pope!

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Filed Under: Events, Explorations, Family Fun
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