Halloween Trick or Treatin' Activities

Halloween is brewing with fun at TriNoma
October 30, 2008
Trick or Treat
10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Hip Hip Hooray! Today is candy day!

Come in your spooky costumes to claim your Halloween loot bags at the Concierge near the TriNoma Activity Center and begin your Trick or Treats quest!

Only a limited number of loot bags will be given out.

Halloween Treats Jack-O-Lantern Photo Station
Glorietta 3 Park
October 20 to 31

Halloween Fun Craze
Activity Center, Glorietta
October 31
10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Park Trick or Treat
Glorietta 3 Park
October 31
12:00 - 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 - 6:00 P.M.

How to be part of this Halloween Event:

1. Kids 12 years old and below are invited to attend Glorietta's Halloween Fun Craze.One (1) companion is allowed per kid.

2. Registration will begin when the mall opens at 10:00 A.M. on October 31,2008 at the Glorietta Activity Center.

How to get your Special Treats:

A. All participants will be given an activity passport upon registration. This passport will entitle you to visit our interactive booths. Each booth visited will be marked/stamped. Upon completion, present your passport to the event marshalls,. This will serve as your raffle ticket. All passports should be submitted by 11:15 A.M. and 4:15 P.M. Raffle draws will be at 11:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M.

2. Kids in Halloween costume will be given a lootbag stub upon registration.

3. A maximum of 1000 lootbag stubs will be given away to a first-come, first-served basis.

4. Kids can claim their lootbags upon exit on October 31, 2008


Bonifacio High Street
Have a Spooktacular Halloween! October 31, 2008
Spook Troupe
Costumed buskers will be roaming around to perform tricks and to give away treats for shoppers.

Trick or Treat
Store after store with candies galore, just look for the Spooktacular sign!
Trick-or-Treaters meet up at the Tickled Pics area between B5 (near Figaro) and B8 (near Aldo) at 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.

Tickled Pics
For every Php500 purchase at Bonifacio High Street, get to pose with members of the Spook Troupe and get a Spooktacular photo souvenir!
From 4:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M.

Mechanics:
a. Receipts must be dated October 31, 2008 to qualify.
b. Present single or accumulated receipts amounting to P500 from the participating merchants of Bonifacio High Street to the tickled pics booth (located in the covered walkway near Figaro and Aldo).Qualified receipts will be stamped and returned to the customer.
c. Each customer may have a maximum of four photos upon presentation of receipts to the redemption booth.
d. Present the stamped receipt to the redemption booth to claim photo/s. October 31, 2008 Bonifacio High Street

Cute Halloween Costumes

The other day I have nothing to do, I surfed the net for halloween costumes for my kids. Then, I found these pics posted below, they're so cute. I suddenly missed having a baby. Speaking of babies, my good friend Feng is now havin' one. She's pregnant again, yehey! Congrats Feng. Enjoy it my dear.


lion


monkey


Winnie D Pooh

Tagged: Kids' Names

Aiza of Typing Free tagged me to do this meme, this is about the story behind or the meaning of my kids' names. Since I have four kids and each of them has 3 names, all the girls have Maria on their name. Here's what I've got;

Maria- after Mama Mary's name, means the perfect one (in Hebrew), I also have Maria on my birth certificate and I chose this name for my girls.

Aurora- (Latin-Italian origin) after my mom's name, means daybreak/dawn

Nicole- (French origin) named after the famous Australian actress, means victory of the people

Cristina- (Spanish-Italian origin) means a christian, hubby chose this name

Gabrielle- (Hebrew-French origin) means heroine of God, I chose this after the name of one character in Sunset Beach and it also reminds me of Gabriela Silang

Angelica- (Latin-Italian)-means angelic messenger, hubby chose the name for our youngest child

Beatrice- (Italian origin)- means joy, I really like this name, it goes with Maria Angelica

Pio- named after Padre Pio, hubby chose this name for our only son

Miguel- (Hebrew-Spanish origin), means "who resembles God", after hubby's name (Michael)

There, I'm done. I'm not tagging anyone, feel free to do it. Do you know the meaning of your kid's names? Do your research. Have fun.

A Day at Dampa

Last Sunday, my family went to Dampa at Macapagal Avenue. It's been awhile since the last time we all ate there. Since me and my kids are seafood lovers, we were so happy when hubby decided to treat us there. You can just see the smile on Pio's face. First, we bought the seafoods on the market and have them cooked at Mom and Dad resto. The resto's staff suggested the dish they can do with our chosen seafood.

The resto is so clean (same with the bathroom), staff are friendly, service is good and they really cook well. Here, take a peek of what we had at Mom and Dad resto.

Pio opening his dalandan soda


Bea sipping her buko juice


crab claws cooked in butter and garlic


sinigang na sugpo


salmon sashimi


prawn tempura

La Mesa Ecopark...Picnic with Mommy-Bloggers

Last May 23, we, mommy-bloggers and our kids trooped to the La Mesa Ecopark (Fairview, Quezon City) to have our first picnic together. We were thankful it didn't rain that morning. Actually, we were all hoping and praying for a good weather. At the park, mommies feasted on pancit malabon, fried chicken, lechon manok, grilled daing na bangus, pichi-pichi, fish fillet, hotdogs, fruits and lots of chips. Our kids also went biking around the park. After we have eaten so much, we decided to go up to the Shell Flower Terraces. Up there we saw the La Mesa Dam reservoir. It's truly a wonderful sight. Here are some of the pics, the first three I took a week before the picnic, all the rest courtesy of Julie (Teacher Julie), Cookie (Scrooch Chronicles), Cess (Occupation: SAHM) and Chats (Imomonline). Mommy-bloggers Lynn (Everything and Then Some) and Feng (From Dusk Till Dawn) were also there.

paintball field



wanna go wall-climbing?


the boating lagoon...


the view, who would think it's in the city...



come on mommies, you can all make it to the top....
boy in yellow going downstairs is my son who went up again for the 2nd time


see, that's Cookie with her kid Gaby....and the view from upstairs
(Shell Flower Terraces)


resting and posing after climbing 130 steps....



kids on the log....


mommies with kids, all smiles (busog na eh, burp...)

Things I Want My Kids To Live By....

Cookie tagged me to do this meme, things I want my kids to know and to remember before they grow up and see the real world.

-----If you don't have something nice to say, zip your mouth.

-----Don't ever let anyone put you down, wag magpapa-api.

-----Don't ever start a fight but don't run from one.

-----Respect begets respect.

-----Learn to save for the rainy season.

-----Do not be friends with liars and don't tell lies.

-----Learn to differentiate real friends from bad influences.

-----Don't do things just because everyone's doing it.

-----Share your blessings.

-----Try to do something good to a stranger.

-----Always thank the Lord for all the blessings you have.

I really like this meme, it really kept me thinking. To my mommy-blogger friends, please share your thoughts on this tag.

Allergies- -13 Ways to Feel Better

My kids have developed allergies mostly due to dairy products, fur or the unseen dusts mites around. Worse, these allergies trigger asthma attacks also. The worried mommy always makes sure there's always an antihistamine in our home. Though there are simple things to avoid the occurence of allergies. The following tips are designed to help reduce the discomfort caused by the most common allergies.

Avoid the culprit. The best way to reduce the discomfort of an allergy is to avoid exposure to the allergen as much as possible. Take all practical measures. If you are allergic to cats, avoid visiting homes of friends who own them or make the visit as short as possible. Avoid eating food (that you know you're allergic to) that would cause all those itch and hives in your body.

Rinse your eyes. If your eyes are itchy and irritated and you have no access to allergy medicine, rinsing your eyes with cool, clean water may help soothe them.

Try a warm washcloth. If sinus passage feels congested and painful, a washcloth soaked in warm water may make things flow a little easier. Place the washcloth over the nose and upper cheek area and relax for a few minutes.

Use saline solution. Irrigating the nose with saline solution may help soothe upper-respiratory allergies by removing irritants that become lodged in the nose, causing inflammation.

Wash your hair. If you've spent long hours outdoors during pollen season (abroad), wash your hair after you come inside to remove the pollen.

Take a shower. If you wake up in the middle of the night with a coughing, sneezing allergy attack, a hot shower may wash off any pollen residues or dusts you've collected in your body the whole day that you're out.

Wear sunglasses. It may help shield your eyes from airborne allergens.

Beware of the air. Air pollution may augment allergies and may actually induce people to have allergies. As much as possible, stay indoors.

Make your house a no-smoking zone. Don't allow smoking in your home. Tobacco smoke is a notorious irritant causing respiratory allergies.


Keep the windows shut. Closed windows keep unclean air and dusts from going inside the room.

Dust with a damp cloth. Avoid using feather dusters, instead use a damp cloth in cleaning.

Dehumidify. Dust mites grow very well in humid areas. Try investing in dehumidifier, air conditioner or an exhaust fan will do.

Bust the dust. Wash your beddings, clean your bedrooms at least every other day, avoid overstuffed furniture. Choose washable curtains. Don't use the bedroom as storage space and clean out your air-conditioners and heating ducts.


Source: The Home Remedies Handbook

Photo Hunt: Candy

Join the hunt here.


Gabbie with her cotton candy


cotton candies, a common sight in kiddie parties

Saving For The Rainy Season

Early on, we taught our kids the value of saving. They first started collecting loose change and putting them inside their coin banks or the piggy bank. Soon they have the bills, given on special occasions by their aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers and godparents. They also put it inside their toy cash box. We also gave them money for their baon on school days, whatever change or extra they have, goes to their savings. One of my kids don't spend much in school because she brings sandwiches/cookies and juice in tetra pack for her snacks. She's really bent on saving. A month ago, we decided to introduce to them the idea of banking. So we opened a savings account on their names in the nearby Banco de Oro branch. Here's her first transaction...

Gabbie's turn to make a deposit...



waiting for her passbook....

My Son Pio Is Waiting For This...

Nicole's 11th Birthday

Today, my eldest child, Nicole is celebrating her 11th birthday. To you my loving daughter, Happy Happy Birthday. We wish you excellent health, sound mind, more blessings and I hope all your wishes come true. You give me so much happiness my child. I'm so lucky to have you and I'm so proud of all your accomplishments in school.

We love you...

Going Up Day/ Pio's Graduation Day

My only son Pio Miguel, had his graduation from Prep last March 28 at the Catholic Filipino Academy (CFA), a home school provider. The Catholic Filipino Academy is duly recognized and accredited by DECS. It is being managed by Brother Bo Sanchez, a well known-Catholic preacher/ writer/ publisher. While my two girls, Nicole and Gabbie both received silver medals (one point short of getting the gold) in their school's Recognition Day last March 27. My kids told me a day before my birthday that these awards are their gifts for me. Of course these awards/medals are the best gifts I've ever received. All CFA pictures courtesy of Teacher Julie. Thanks Julie.


Pio with the other graduates and Brother Bo Sanchez



getting his medal, a character award


Pio receiving his certificate as Best in Science


Pio's grad march


Nicole and Gabbie received silver medals on their Recognition Day

March PICS

Ms. Jasmin, este Beatrice (American Idol wannabe)


Gabbie joining in some games (b-day of friend's kid), March 14


Bea bumming around, doesn't want to join the games


the infinity-like pool (Ayala Hillside Estate's clubhouse)


another view of the pool


kids playing, enjoying the cold water on a hot day


I took this pic of my cousin Althea last March 15 an hour before getting married in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (got hitched at the age of 27, another late-bloomer, same as moi).


kids getting lootbags from the clown, Kalvin's (cousin's kid)1st b-day party celebration at the Red Barn, Fun Ranch-March 16


at the Fun Ranch


Pio took this pic on my b-day (March 18)

How to Give a Great Kiddie Party

Can your child’s party be a success without having to spend the money that should go to his tuition? It is possible to set up an old-fashioned, homemade party – with games, prizes, cake, ice cream and hats – without finding yourself wrung out at the end, as long as you design a party that matches your child’s level of development and encourages children’s active participation. What’s more, a home-made party will certainly cost less and have a more personal touch.

Limit the number of guests. The younger the child, the fewer the guests. Large groups of children tend to over stimulate one another in a party situation.

Plan a series of activities. To assure the smooth flow of the celebration, don’t leave chunks of unfilled time. That’s when children run amok. For instance, play few games, do an easy project, eat, and then end with something quiet-like a song or a story. Older children enjoy a special outing before heading back for the cake and ice cream, such as bowling or biking in the park.

Involve your child in planning. Let your child have some say about the flavor of the ice cream and the cake, color of the icing and what to “say’ on top. Children enjoy choosing napkin, plates, and flavors. A two-year old can help fill the party basket. A four- or five-year old may enjoy making invitations. A six- to ten-year old can choose games and help select a special outing.

Prepare one simple project. Pre-schoolers enjoy making things to wear. Why not consider making crowns or party hats?

SOURCE: NESTLE CLUB WEBSITE

Happenings Last Year (2007)

Just posted some pics from last year, showing my kids bumming in our newly-opened laundry shop, posing with the giant tree at the Shang mall, eating their fave carbonara at home, opening gifts on Christmas day, family reunion at a Calamba resort on New Year's day and the very enjoyable pre-Christmas mommy-bloggers' dinner get together (with Myrna a.k.a Anna Manila (Ode to Old), Chats (imomonline), Cookie (SchroochChronicles), Cess (Occupation: SAHM) and Chesca (Skindiving) plus special thanks to Toe (KUROKUROATBP) for her handmade soaps. The year 2007 was really a good year and I'm very thankful for all the blessings we have received and wonderful friends gained. Cheers to that!