Hope This Helps You

Kiddie Artwork

2009-07-14T21:30:00.003+08:00

A friend directed me to JacksonPollock.Org, a site where even babies can create artwork. With just clicks and movements of a mouse, you can change spatter size and color. Plus, the site doesn't seem to require much from a computer to be enjoyed. No need to install, pay or subscribe to anything. For sure, your mac memory can handle it. You may need to do a lot of print screens though so you can save your masterpiece.

This is a really nifty thing to distract kids from tantrums with.

Free Art Workshops by Faber-Castell Up North

2009-07-14T08:40:00.000+08:00

For parents of 7-12 year olds looking for something else to do aside from mindlessly going around the mall, Faber-Castell is still holding FREE art workshops. Remaining dates and venues include:

SM Pampanga- July 18, 19
SM Clark- July 25, 26
SM Baguio- Aug. 1, 2

Art Workshop is held at 1:00pm to 4:30pm and Faber Castell provides all art materials. This is a great opportunity for your kids to get interested in art and turn cardboard displays at home into something more. One other plus factor is that whatever mess made will not be done in your home so there won't be cleaning-up issues.

Source

Major Rerouting of Caticlan Flights

2009-07-13T23:46:00.000+08:00

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have both issued advisories that they have rerouted their Caticlan flights to Kalibo till September 30. Everyone who has made plans of going to Boracay via Caticlan should call their respective airlines and make the necessary changes to their itineraries and flight schedules.

Supposedly, Seair and ZestAir can still fly the Caticlan route but travellers are still advised to call their airline and verify. Also inquire where and how you check-in for your flights to be entitled to the free transfers from Kalibo/Caticlan to Caticlan/Kalibo provided by the airlines to passengers inconvenienced by the runway problems at Caticlan.

Source

Help Kids Spell

2009-07-13T10:22:00.003+08:00

I found this wonderful site that offers a fun way to improve kids spelling for free. Kidspell.com offers some 6,600 words to practice with. This way, when your child is already doing his own research for things he is passionate with, he won't be typing "skaetboard ramps" like this. After all, misspellings and typos affect the amount and quality of searched sites generated (although yes, Google often asks if we meant another thing).

But the surest way to practice a child's mastery of spelling is to do it with them in a fun way. Setting aside a spelling time with them might not always work, but going about the things you do together and spelling some of the words related to your activity should help more than you'd expect. You can even point out certain spelling and grammar rules without the pressure to learn during these times.

Example:
"See baby, the water is calm so we can go swimming without worrying about the waves. It's calm, c-a-l-m, and you pronounce it as kam because the L is silent or very light. It means there's no wind to disturb the water."

Multiple Policy Discounts

2009-07-12T23:27:00.003+08:00

Whenever you pay your car or home insurance, be it after bonus time at work or before school enrollment for the kids, it will still cost you and you will still feel robbed somehow. But these are necessities and not really luxuries that we have to really save for and allot a budget for.

One way we can save money with these things is to look for a company that offers both (and other insurance you might need). Many insurance companies offer multiple policy discounts to their customers as an incentive. This also means you get to save on two or more annual fees which can add to your personal savings or be redirected to maintenance and beautification purposes of your home and car.

Just compare what reputable companies offer and don't be shy about asking your agent for them.

2009 Call Center Mega Job Fair

2009-07-11T23:13:00.000+08:00

Call centers in the country are supposedly looking to hire 80,000 employees. So fresh grads and everyone unemployed who are keen on a career in the call center industry should hie off to the SMX Convention Center on July 15-16, 2009 for the 2009 Call Center Mega Job Fair. The Job Fair will run from 8 AM - 6 PM.

For details, you can also call 856-0557 or e-mail events@ccap.ph or visit www.ccap.ph

Consider Sign Language with Babies

2009-07-11T10:20:00.002+08:00

There are a lot of things people learn on their own, like playing a favorite game or mastering an art. There are also a lot of things people learn for themselves, like the advantages of a Blue Cross North Carolina over others. But communication, the ability to, is something parents foster in a child. The sooner a child realizes that he can get his ideas across, the earlier he gets empowered to explore his surroundings and be his own person.

So do consider sign language with babies. This removes the pressure for them to verbalize but allows for maximum interaction and possibilities. Consider signing time videos or learning on your own and start communicating as early as you guys can. The rewards in your relationship are just really astonishing and sign laguage does not impede verbal development. It just boosts socioemotional development early.

Sign language is also really great for kids with special needs.

Protect your Computer

2009-07-10T10:44:00.000+08:00

Many of us now have digital cameras and just have choice pictures printed. So we either hand over our SD card or save digiscrapped pictures in a memory card to the printers. The thing is, those printing centers' computers are usually filled with viruses that may threaten our own computer memory. No matter how much they scan at their end or how much we scan in ours, we risk contamination.

One wise thing I practice is to save pictures I want printed in the smallest available memory card I have and then immediately reformat that card after. This way, I don't store many files in an 8 gb thumb drive and risk getting all of those contaminated.

Hotel Indah Manila

2009-07-10T09:44:00.004+08:00

Hotel Indah Manila is a new hotel neatly tucked away from the road along J. Villegas St. One is surely going to be surprised because the bigger, more easily seen buildings in the area (SM Manila and Manila City Hall) may actually make one wonder if such a hotel exists. Told you, it's tucked away from the street.

The lobby is pretty cozy and unassuming. There is Wifi internet available. And the packages are cheaper than other hotels. It's a convenient, budget-friendly hotel to stay in Manila if you're after the sights and the shopping and it's also great for receptions. The food borders on good to possibly great but the snack portions are huge and the staff are just really very accommodating and friendly.

They have a small venue (good for 10 maybe) for meetings in the first floor, just off the lobby and they have the 7th and 8th floors as well as the rooftop for grander affairs. Rooms start at P2,000 and they also offer hostel accommodations for a minimum of 4 pax at P300 each. That's certainly savings for more shopping money, a grander reception or just to buy your Decaslim pills.

For inquiries:
Hotel Indah Manila
350 A J Villegas Street
Ermita, Manila
Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: +63 (2) 536 1188 / 536 2288
Fax Number: +63 (2) 536 5973
Email Address: reservations@hotelindahmanila.com

ZestAir Manila-Caticlan Flights Rerouted

2009-07-09T08:12:00.003+08:00

Because a ZestAir plane overshot the Caticlan runway last June 25, Manila-Caticlan-Manila flights have been rerouted to Kalibo till July 12, pending further notice.

The upsides to this downside is that:
1) Shuttles will await ZestAir passengers in Kalibo to take them to Caticlan and vice versa free of charge

2) Passengers may get earlier flights (subject to availabilities) to make up for the additional 1.5 hours of land trip from and to Kalibo

For inquiries and changes in your itinerary, call 855-3333.

Visayas-Mindanao seat sale for as low as P488 all-in

2009-07-09T07:00:00.000+08:00

Cebu Pacific is at it again, selling seats for as cheap as P488 all-in for Visayas-Mindanao routes.

The seat sale starts now until July 11, 2009 and is valid for travel from August 1 to September 30, 2009.

Fly for as low as P488 ‘Go lite’ fare from Manila to Kalibo and Virac, Cebu to Bacolod and Roxas, and Davao to Cagayan de Oro.

We're extending a P688 ‘Go Lite’ fare for flights from Manila to Roxas, Cebu to Cotabato, General Santos, Siargao, Legazpi and Ozamiz, and Davao to Iloilo and Zamboanga.

Moreover, a P1,188 all-in promo fare is available for flights from Manila to Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Davao, General Santos, Ozamiz and Zamboanga.

Start planning your itinerary now and check out their site to make those reservations!

SLKH for colds and sore throats

2009-07-08T22:42:00.000+08:00

SLKH is a recipe shared to me by a fellow LATCH Mom who based it on Nanay Innes' recipe (the one who runs Arugaan). SLKH stands for sampalok, luya, kalamansi and honey (I guess it should have been SLKP because honey is pulot in Filipino).

Anyway, here's what you do:

1) Boil about 4 sampaloc (tamarind) with a thumb-size of luya (ginger) and 2 glasses of water

2) Strain and add 4-6 calamansi

3) Sweeten with honey according to taste

4) Sip to your heart's content, but not on an empty stomach

Congo Grille Receptions

2009-07-08T08:28:00.000+08:00

These pics are taken at the branch in SM San Lazaro. I believe P10k covers 30 people in their usual reception package. The food is good (the crispy pata was overflowing) but the space was major cramped. They squeezed three batches of people in long tables in one area.

Service was good and none of us were kicked out even if we stayed a little longer than necessary for some chat.

Buying Off Season

2009-07-07T20:23:00.002+08:00

Halloween may still be very far away. But chances are, costumes are still on sale nowadays, those left over from last year. So scour shops for those bumblebee outfits and fairy wings. The department store at Market, Market usually carry superhero ensembles. And if you want your Tricker for Treats looking one of a kind, now is the time to shop for materials and designs for riding outfits and breeches. Feel free to make them yourself to add to the fun.

Racks

2009-07-05T12:41:00.002+08:00

Racks offers this Steak/Grilled Sampler that costs P750 and doesn't seem that great to look at but is actually very, very good. All meat cuts are just rightly seasoned and kept tender. It comes with corn bread (which is very filling!) and beans. definitely not something you order everyday, otherwise, even the best best diet pills won't work. It is, after all, pure protein and fat.

But it is really very tasty and tender, even after you take it home (because it's good for at least four people!) and reheat it using an oven toaster.

Zoobic Safari Promo Package

2009-07-04T04:52:00.000+08:00

received in my e-mail
===================================

--------------EXECUTIVE VACATION CLUB-------------

Pay Only P3,990 instead of P7,000

HURRY!!!! for a limited time only .....

And you get the following :

ACCOMMODATION

-- 1 FREE overnight accommodation for 2 persons .You may choose from any of our hotels :
-Residence Inn Tagaytay
-Blu Bianco ( Clark )
-Zoobic Lodge ( Subic )
-Azotea (Makati City)
-- 2 Coupons for a 50% discount on room accommodation on your 2nd and 3rd room (good for 2 persons)

ENTRANCE

--6 Coupons for a FREE entrance at Zoobic Safari (good for 1 person each)
--6 Coupons for a FREE entrance at Res.Inn Mini-Zoo (good for 1 person each) and
--6 Coupons for a FREE entrance at Paradizoo Theme Farm (good for 1 person each)

DINING

-- 2 Coupons for a FREE Lunch at any of the following outlets
-Residence Inn Tagaytay, Paradizoo Theme Farm and Zoobic Safari (good for 2 persons each)
--10% discount when dining in maximum of 12 persons

OTHERS

--10% discount when you purchase at our Zoovenir Shop, Photo Shop, Vegetables, Fruits (Paradizoo, Res. Inn and Zoobic Safari)
--10% discount on rental of our Tigers on the Run coasters, vans and cars.
--10% discount when availing our Conference Packages
--5% discount on animals and party package

For further inquiries, please do not hesitate to call or txt Ed
Pascual @ 0922-8844175 or Khitte Tablan @ 0920-496-3983

Thanks and God Bless,

Ed Pascual

Star City

2009-07-03T07:30:00.000+08:00

For those who haven't been for several years, like me, prepare to be happily surprised.

One of the bigger change made is that most of the kiddie and family-friendly rides are now located indoors (except the Viking one). Hopefully, they turn on the air-conditioning full blast when the place is crowded but really, it's a cool, nice area to hang around. And there are so many food stalls to fit any budget.

What's more, there is a huge playground with rubber matting for flooring, a great place to let your child run about and play if he's not into rides yet.

And I love the Peter Pan world they created.

It's P60 for entrance only, P250 for three rides and P300 for ride-all-you-can tickets. Babies below 3 feet get to enter and ride free (since the rides they can enjoy are pretty limited anyway). It's only open on weeknights and the Wild River wasn't operational when we went there.

There are strollers, umbrollers and push carts for rent for babies.

the playground (2nd floor)

inside Peter Pan's world

the Viking ride

the Surf Dance

Sales Job Search

2009-07-02T19:19:00.002+08:00

A sales job search done via Google may work. But maybe it's better to look at the Classifies section of major message boards like Pinoyexchange.com, Manilatonight.com and Femalenetwork.com because real openings are posted here by real HR people or headhunters.

Other great sites to look into include Sulit and Buy and Sell.

You can also check your Facebook, Twitter, YM and Plurk alerts because people also usually post/shout about it.

Accounting Assistant Urgently Needed

2009-07-01T13:24:00.002+08:00

TOWA Semiconductor Equipt. Phils. Corp. (located in 121 East Science Ave., LTI-SEZ,Biñan, Laguna) is currently in urgent need of an Accounting Assistant with at least 2 years experience in general accounting. He or she must also be able to work with minimum supervision and possess good oral & written communication skills.

Interested applicants can e-mail their resume to jacka @ towa-ph. com

No Phones for Kids

2009-07-01T00:44:00.002+08:00

Because of the convenience it affords and the fact that kids nowadays are very tech savvy, parents are now wondering if they SHOULD give their children cellphones.

The truth, however, is that it is not necessary at all. Sure, one often thinks that phones equipped with gps systems will be very handy should your child forget to tell you where he is, or worse, kidnapped. But then not all kids are going to be kidnapped. And there are other things that are already wrong for a child to put himself in a position where he will be lost, kidnapped or run away from home. To be lost essentially that would give rise to a need to be tracked.

Cellphones take a lot away from real communication. Parents and children need to talk about the rules of their daily lives and what their expectations are. Orders to defrost something can just as easily be taped on the fridge door and told before separating in the morning. Reminders to bring lunch boxes home, keep track of pencils, copy homework, etc. are also all best said the night before a school day and in the morning when the kids are dropped off.

And words of love, as well as words of hate, should be spoken face-to-face where verbal cues and tone of voice will also be enlightening and reinforcing.

I am not saying kids shouldn't get cellphones ever. But do consider the added cost (purchasing it, loading it, charging it) and whether the perceived benefits are real, or just hoped for.

The First Years Clean and Simple Sports Bottle Sippy Cup BPA Free

2009-06-30T04:44:00.000+08:00

A friend gifted us with this one when my son turned one. Took us several months before I decided to use it but after using it and realizing how spillproof it is, I gave away or threw all my son's other sippy cups and bottles.

This is perfect for bringing our own water when we go out. I did put juice in it one time but either I didn't wash the bottle soon enough or the plastic really absorbs some of the flavor of the juice. Didn't have problem when I used this to give milk to my son.

It's really an effortless bottle to use. You just have to screw the cap in. Both parts are very washable. It looks cool. And like what I said earlier, it's very spillproof.

I was a little confused at first though, wondering how my child will get to his drink (because the nozzle seemed closed). I even started picking on the plastic thingie there till I got the brilliant realization that one has to suck/sip at the nozzle to be able to drink. Good thing my son has no problem doing that and so, he loves this bottle. I can just stow it in my bag with the exta clothes and diapers and not worry about spills and leaks.

Really, really great and highly recommended.

Read another review here and source of picture is here. I'm not sure though where it is available locally (because the one who gifted me with it has a husband who flies to different parts of the world) but do try the usual baby stuff stores (SM Baby & Company usually carry a lot of The First Years products). Also try friends/family going to Australia.

Answer and Win A Chance for a Weekend Family Date

2009-06-29T16:05:00.003+08:00

Momcenter.com.ph is taking a survey of its members to help improve their site. So yes, you may have to register if you're not a member yet. But the survey does not require any other thing apart from that and it generally just asks what people (especially mothers) are interested in so that the site can improve its offerings.

There is a question there about whether or not members would like to be able to shop from their site so I wouldn't be surprised if soon, you can get organic baby products, funky preggy and nursing wear and the occassional custom tote bag or bangle from the site.

Oh and make sure you interact with the other members in the forums and HELP ME DECIDE portions of the site.

4th Urban Job Fair

2009-06-29T01:09:00.003+08:00

The 4th Urban Job Fair will be held by VGCom at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City on July 10 and 11, 2009. It is projected to be bigger than the one they held in SM Mega Trade Hall last April so those who are on the lookout for call center positions (as it's still the most lucrative, despite the recession), information technology vacancies and banking jobs as well as sales and maybe human resource should do well to be there with their resumes.

Companies who want to participate or sponsor, however, can contact Ms. Joanne Tamayo for proposals at the following:

Tel. No:706-1889, 706-1933 loc. 14
Fax No: 706-3147 loc. 12
mobile number: 0919-6007567
email: joanne_jmft07@yahoo.com

Breastfeeding Club's Class and Playgroup

2009-06-25T19:27:00.002+08:00

received in my e-mail
=====================

inviting you to breastfeeding club's 303 class and toddler playgroup...

Class will cover weaning, toddler breastfeeding, attachment parenting, pregnancy and
breastfeeding and much, much more. Plus there will be a toddler playgroup after
the class for your active toddlers. It would be great to see breastfed children
play with each other in a structured playgroup.

To register, please text your name, child's name & age to 09178822243. Breastfeeding club members are free.

date: june 27, 2009, saturday
time: 2-5 pm
venue: medela house, new manila, quezon city (very near magnolia ice cream house)

Tuna Pasta

2009-06-24T23:50:00.000+08:00

Ingredients:
500 gms cooked spaghetti
3 small cans of Century Tuna Solids in Vegetable Oil, drained
3 big cans of evaporated milk
1 whole garlic (crushed or chopped)
1 white onion, chopped
pepper
olive oil
1 small pack of Maggi Magic Sarap

Procedure:
1) Heat olive oil and saute garlic, then onion in it till a little brown.

2) Add the tuna and saute, till the tuna flakes also browns a little.

3) Add the milk, pepper and Maggi Magic Sarap. Simmer for 5 minutes, stir once in a while.

4) Season further to taste.