Activities for Kids this Summer

     Summer is one of the happiest seasons for the kids and kids at heart! Think about not waking up early, staying at home and playing! I presume that parents are thinking of ways on how to make their kids' summer vacation productive and lots of fun by now.

     What is your child doing this summer? There are so many activities, workshops, and camps to join to make your child's summer exciting and full of learnings at the same time. My son joined sports clinic last year and he enjoyed it so much that why he's excited what's in store for him this year. Sharing some summer activities that your kids should try and the importance of this experience in developing their talents.

Activities for Kids this Summer
image from pexels.com

Feature: Presotea

     Being a self-professed milk tea addict, I've tried almost all what they claim to be the "best milk tea in town". When the milk tea craze started some 10 years ago, they were all rooting for the original pearl milk tea, then comes matcha milk tea, milk tea with foam and toppings ranging from pearl, pudding, jelly, beans, and other add ons that I forgot the name.

     Fast forward today, milk tea shops sprouted like mushrooms in every corner of the metro. Brands are still offering different flavors, toppings, combinations to entice the milk tea lovers palate but only one has a unique way of preparing them- fresh and healthy, enter Preso Tea. 

Feature: Presotea 
Signature Tea Latte with Pearl for me while Creamy Brown Sugar Milk Tea for Kenzo

How to Wear the Title of “Cool Mom” Without Sacrificing Parenting Skills

     When you’re kids are small, it’s your responsibility to take care of them, being that they don’t have the physical or mental capabilities to do so themselves. Being a parent during that phase in their life, was easy. If you made macaroni and cheese for dinner, they loved you to the moon and back for that (cool mom for the win), but as they get older, it gets a little harder.

     Once they hit the age of five to seven years of age, you have to get a little more creative in your entertaining efforts. At that age, kids enjoy coloring and things of that nature but now they’re also discovering their independence. So with them entering this new realm of self-discovery, you have to be very strategic. 

How to Wear the Title of “Cool Mom” Without Sacrificing Parenting Skills

Promil Four i-Shine Talent Camp 7

     Each and every one of us is unique and may show different ways of development especially during the early years of life. I believe that every child has a potential that needs to be nurtured as early as possible once the parents see that gift. I can still remember how my parents tried their best in nurturing the potential that they saw when I was growing up. They enrolled me in various classes and workshops to hone my talent in music but because they were busy with our business, the situation was not able to push what they've started to work onto. 

     I have no regrets that this happened BUT it is important to nourish the gift once you see it. So dear parents, unlock your child's potential. Start now and nurture that gift! Don't worry, there are workshops that will help you in developing their potentials and one of them is through Promil Four's i-Shine Talent Camp 7. I AM SO EXCITED! Yes, that's all caps because I'm so excited to see my son in one of the camp's program. Scroll down to see more details :)

Promil 4 i-Shine Talent Camp 7
One of the excited moms for this camp :)

4 Simple Ways for Mom to Have More Time for Herself

     Moms the world over are overworked. We have the most time-consuming, thankless jobs with no income to show for it. We get paid in tiny arms wrapped around our necks and sweet puckers from the little lips of the ones we work for. And we may think the job is thankless but it really isn’t; we just don’t see a return on our investment until 20 years later. The time, however… The time remains the same. And there is little for us.

     Moms need a break once in a while. We are superwomen, juggling so many different things that we can’t even stop to be amazed at everything we are capable of. Yet, when enough becomes enough, that’s when we’ve had enough! We don’t just deserve a break, we need a break.

4 Simple Ways for Mom to Have More Time for Herself
image from pixaby.com

Mommy Bloggers Philippines will Celebrate the Holidays in Style at ICON Hotel Timog

Mommy Blogger Philippines will Celebrate the Holidays in Style at ICON Hotel Timog

On it’s 5

th

year, Mommy Bloggers Philippines

(MBP)

will be celebrating their annual Christmas

party at

ICON Hotel Timog. In what seems like a

pre

-

destined

event, MBP will be at the movies

for this year’s

theme

and there is no better venue to hold this theme

d party

than

at

ICON Hotel Timog. With a hotel

that highlights various icons from around the world, the chosen icon influences and the hotel’s

elegant,

y

et affordability factor makes it most ideal for a celebration of holiday glamou

Mommy Blogger Philippines will Celebrate the Holidays in Style at ICON Hotel Timog

On it’s 5

th

year, Mommy Bloggers Philippines

(MBP)

will be celebrating their annual Christmas

party at

ICON Hotel Timog. In what seems like a

pre

-

destined

event, MBP will be at the movies

for this year’s

theme

and there is no better venue to hold this theme

d party

than

at

ICON Hotel Timog. With a hotel

that highlights various icons from around the world, the chosen icon influences and the hotel’s

elegant,

y

et affordability factor makes it most ideal for a celebration of holiday glamou

     It's that time of the year again! I'll be joining one of the most awaited Christmas parties in the blogosphere- Mommy Bloggers Philippines Christmas Party! This year's theme is exciting because we are going to dress up as one of our favorite movie characters and the venue for this annual gathering will be in a hotel with the same theme as our party.

     On its 5th year, Mommy Bloggers Philippines (MBP) will be celebrating their annual Christmas party at ICON Hotel Timog. In what seems like a pre-destined event, MBP will be at the movies for this year’s theme and there is no better venue to hold this themed party than at ICON Hotel Timog. With a hotel that highlights various icons from around the world, the chosen icon influences and the hotel’s elegant, yet affordability factor makes it most ideal for a celebration of holiday glamour.

Mommy Bloggers Philippines will Celebrate the Holidays in Style at ICON Hotel Timog

How To Throw A Birthday Bash At Home (And On A Budget)

     Parties come in all shapes and sizes. And the question a lot of parents ask is; can I throw my kid a decent party at home when I’m broke? The answer is yes, you can, and here’s how:

How To Throw A Birthday Bash At Home (And On A Budget)

Get to Know US Dehydrated Potatoes

    Who here loves to eat mashed potatoes? It's one of the staples that's easy to make if you want alternative carbs that are healthy and flavorful. But did you know that when making mashed potatoes, you can use U.S. dehydrated potatoes instead of fresh potatoes?

     US Dehydrated potatoes are a true blue US product made from premium, high-quality potatoes.

Know More About US dehy

Restore Kids' Energy with Potatoes USA

     My son loves fries and this gives him energy especially in times that he needs a quick snack in between school programs. This is great since potatoes are a good source of carbohydrates. However, we always find alternative ways to prepare his favorite veggie so he won’t get used to eating it just fried.

     As parents, we need to make sure that our kids are getting healthy and staying fit throughout the school year and I’m sharing here with you the reasons why you should start adding more potatoes in your kid’s diet.

Restore Kids' Energy with Potatoes USA

Go Double, Go Smart with Goya Double Hazelnut Spread + Recipe

     Making smart choices is a life skill that one must develop in order to set long-term goals. As a stay at home mom, being smart in all aspects of living makes life easy and sustainable. I don't need to be perfect, I just need to make smart decisions when it comes to important aspects of my mommy life: my family's health, proper education of my son, a healthy relationship inside our home, and the growth of each family member as a whole.

     Speaking of family's health, I always make sure to incorporate smart choices in the grocery stuff we buy and the food that we eat. I've mastered three simple hacks in grocery shopping that I'll be sharing after the jump. I also discovered a product that fits in one of the categories- Goya Hazelnut Double Spread.  

Go Double, Go Smart with Goya Double Hazelnut Spread + Recipe
image from pexels.com

Feature: Star Margarine App-My Star Kid Adventure

     When I was a kid, my grandmother would always tell me to sleep early and eat nutritious food so that I will grow healthy and tall. The default height increasing vitamin in our house is Star Margarine. I always see her mixing a tablespoon of the yellow colored spread in our rice or in my pandesal.

     I miss my grandmother, looking back at the past, methinks they are really doing their best to give everything that we need in order to grow happy and healthy. Life is so simple back then compared to a complicated life we have now. Modern technology is already a part of our lives and kids these days are so into gadgets and gaming consoles that in some situations, it hinders important aspect of their childhood- healthy eating habits and brain development. BUT, I discovered an app that will show you the brighter side of technology- learning while having fun with Star Margarine App- My Star Kid Adventure!

Feature: Star Margarine App-My Star Kid Adventure

MAYA Hotcake Art Easy and Fun Recipes

     Our default snack is hotcake and everyone in the family loves eating this easy to make flat cake for breakfast, lunch or dinner! We always buy our premix ingredients at the grocery and the default brand is MAYA Hotcake Mix that is so easy to make that's why preparing them can be as much fun as eating them. Eating hotcake can brighten up any day. With a little imagination and a few additional ingredients that you can find at home, you can quickly transform your typical breakfast staple into art, from animal shapes and birthday cakes! 

   It's time to add more fun and flavor to your hotcakes with #MAYAHotcakeArt with these three quick and super simple ideas, then feel free to dream up your own designs! With MAYA, your hotcakes will be mouth-watering and delicious, no matter how you prepare them! They’re super easy to do at home—and you can win P20,000 worth of MAYA products if you try them!

MAYA Hotcake Art Easy and Fun Recipes

SM Supermarket Kids' City 2018

     If there's one activity that we love doing, that is no other than walking the aisle of a supermarket. It's a weekly family bonding that we look forward to every weekend. My son is always excited to accompany us in buying our food and other grocery items at SM Supermarket and Save More Market.

     There are two SM Malls near our place and it's just a stone throw away from where we live. We buy our everyday essentials at SM Supermarket most of the time because of complete assortments and well-organized aisle. There's another thing that we love about SM Markets- the annual SM Supermarket Kids' City celebration. Know more about the biggest kiddie party in the Metro below :)

SM Supermarket Kids' City 2018
With my unico hijo 

How to Design a Sleep-Friendly Baby Nursery

     When you’re in the process of designing a nursery for your new baby, particularly if it’s your first, it can feel overwhelming. It’s difficult to know where to start. You’re probably also receiving so much advice and wondering what you really need in a nursery, versus what you can live without.

     When your baby is in his or her first few months, and even first few years of life, the primary goal of the room should be to serve as a place that’s comfortable for you, and one that promotes sleep. The following are some general nursery design tips and in particular, some tips that will help you create a space that will encourage your little one to develop healthy sleep patterns.

How to Design a Sleep-Friendly Baby Nursery

15 Minutes of Bonding #15MinuteCalpolChallenge

     Time is essential for a stay-at-home/part-time mommy blogger like me. It’s always a ‘so little time so much’ to do kind of day every day. That’s why if I have a spare time, I always make sure to bond with Kenzo even if it’s only 15 minutes.

     During the rainy season, it is extra challenging for moms to think of activities to do with their kids because doing anything outdoors is almost always out of the picture. With the limited time combined with the uncooperative weather, this significantly reduces their choices in making memorable experiences. Quality time with the kids is important and paracetamol brand Calpol shares some rainy days bonding activities that will brighten the gloomy mood.

15 Minutes of Bonding #15MinuteCalpolChallenge

4 Bad and Great Habit You Easily Get From Your Parents

     Whether you like it or not, your parents inculcate most of the good and habits you have today. The environment you grow up as a kid and your family has a major role in determining what kind of a person you are at present. Your parents are responsible to cultivate all the good qualities in you from your childhood. If you have experienced problems in your initial stages of life and you are impulsive, have poor communication skills and fear about even small problems, then this could be due to bad habits which you got from your parents. 

     A popular Medical Director, Dr. Bryan Druno has clearly stated that “Your Parents’ habits could be passed down easily to you during your childhood and your behaviour is influenced heavily by your parents and family members” It has also been proven by science that apart from picking up good and bad habits from your parents in your childhood, some habits may be inherited from your parents and family members through Genetics and DNA. 

4 Bad and Great Habit You Easily Get From Your Parents 

See Moana at Hong Kong Disney Land Resort

     Strong, independent, determined- three characteristics that parents want to hone their children these days. In the age of modern technology, I noticed that kids these days can't last a day without using their gadgets.

     I'm guilty of this because my son uses his iPad every day and when I try to lessen his gadget time, he will say that he's already bored. We cannot blame technology for this and as parents, all we can do is to set limits and teach important things in life that will bring out the best in them in the future. So how to inculcate this to them in an enjoyable way? Read more below :)

7 Tips to Help Your Little One Sleep in Hot Weather

     Summer’s here and temperatures are soaring. And of course, there are lots to love about it: the long evenings, the park days, the ice-cream, the tan, the great mood that everybody’s in… but there is a bit of a downside too. Like getting to sleep, for instance.

     With the welcome heat that comes during the day, comes an often stifling night. We spend the night tossing and turning, unable to get to sleep. And as the experts from the Sleep-Advisor blog maintain, sleep is one of the most important things we can do for a healthier, happier life.

7 Tips to Help Your Little One Sleep in Hot Weather

From A Mom to Mom- Safeguard's 'Pabaon Sa Buhay'

     I'm sure that all of you saw the heartwarming and inspiring video of Norman King- the first Aeta who graduated from the University of the Philippines. It's an achievement that all parents can be very proud of. I also graduated from UP and yes, my parents are so proud of me until now. 

     The Safeguard "Pabaon Sa Buhay" short film is a real-life story of how a mother’s ‘pabaon’ of life lessons & values protected her son’s indigenous identity in the outside world. The lessons of Warlita King enabled her son Norman to be the first ever Aeta to graduate from the Philippines’ premier state university. I'm sure that all moms have 'pabaon sa buhay' to their children and as a mom, I want to pass on the provisions in life that my mama taught me to my son.

From A Mom to Mom- Safeguard's "Pabaon Sa Buhay"

Feature: Why Cebuana Lhuillier?

     Back in my younger years, I always see my mom keeps on buying different kinds of jewelry from a family friend. She is one of the trusted jewelers in our area and seeing her every month in our house showing an assortment of earrings, rings, and bracelets to my mom stirred my curiosity. I know gold is a fashion accessory and little did I know that it's an investment, an important thing that my mother is taking care of after all these years because it will be a useful heirloom in the future.

     Can I say that I'm lucky that my mom has thought of that? She keeps on telling me that I will need those in the future, in case there's an emergency. Past forward today, now I know what she's talking about. Know more why an heirloom is important and why the saying "Pag nagigipit sa patalim kumakapit" is now "Pag nagigipit sa Cebuana Lhuillier dapat lumalapit" below :)

Feature: Why Cebuana Lhuillier?