It's all Fun and Games

Parents today are inundated with all the hype of marketing to persuade them to purchase educational gizmo and gadgets , from electronic cards to latest computer games. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it???
PLAY is a very serious business for my kids, its one of the best way to learn about their world, about themselves and people around them. Playing is not just a past time but is is vital for the child's learning and development.
These are the types of play
QUIET PLAY Pictures books, bead stringing, peg boards, puzzles, doll play and drawing
CREATIVE PLAY Painting, drawing, problem solving, music , dancing, sand collage and use of imagination
ACTIVE PLAY Ball, slides, swings, push and pull toys, sand and water play, trikes and bikes, running, climbing trees , dress up clothes , cars and trucks.
COOPERATIVE PLAY Ball games, tag, see saw, playing dolls or house, block building, hide and seek
DRAMATIC PLAY trying out different kinds of life roles, occupations and activities
MANIPULATIVE PLAY Puzzles, crayon's, painting, using safety scissors and tools, stringing beads , block building, dolls and trucks

The most important is for parents to look for games that provide constructive learning, encourage group activity and solve problems and make decisions...

Also ,, give them a special attention... PLAY with your KIDS!!! enjoy them engage to their own world and soon you will be giggling like a child too... ENJOY YOUR KIDS!!!!

Thanks Sis JenL for the pics

I wanted a new Digital Camera

Our family loves to travel..

Traveling is good for us because it helps the kids gain more knowledge and experiences from the places that we've been through. If I like the place I always keep my camera handy with me so I can take a picture of it, I wanted to remember and preserve the memories of it.

When my sister came over here for a holiday , she just brought her new SLR Digital Camera with her.. It takes good photos and quite impressive with the quality. My hubby was able to use it too and I think he was convinced that we need to upgrade our digital camera.. We wanted a best digital camera that is durable for our family use. So we are looking for the best option for our needs ,we have to consider our lifestyle and there are things to consider ; If we are going for a  Big SLR  digital cam or just a compact one.

We are looking for a best compact digital camera that will be easy for us; we are also looking for best travel digital camera that we can just put in our bag and just carry on while we travel. Or go for a best wide angle digital camera that takes good photos and portrait. Since I love taking pictures of my kids.. Too many choices... I still have to look around and get peoples opinion about it....

Smile Bianca!!

As per request by my sister JenL  here is Bianca's Pictures..

My little  girl Bianca wasnt happy during that time...

It was too cold for her.. she cannot even smile for the camera..

We took her to the MILO club to learn ski, but she wasn't too keen of doing it.. But she can balance on the ski and go downwards for a bit..

O well, we will try again next year...

How to save on Ink

With the high cost looming around.. soaring petrol prices,, everything is going up, the best thing we do is to be wise with our choices in products and services,, we have to make the most of it.. I've got a home office to run and a daughter who is in High school and we have a great demand in using our computer, fax machine and printer. That is why I opted for a less expensive inkjet cartridge. I also use my fax machine most of the time and using a reliable  fax cartridge is a must.

So using a compatible toner is my way of saving heaps; the quality is not a problem and I can easily access it here in our place..

My Snow Men...

My Snow men!!!! Enjoying the falling snow at Snowy Mountain....

Our Snow Trip

It was such a fun week!!!!

It was a 4 1/2 hour travel from our place.. we reached Jindabyne NSW after lunchtime..

We were so excited that after we unpacked our bags , we went straight to Perisher Blue Resort which is 30 minutes away from the place that we are staying in..

the kids were so excited to see the snow.. It ws our first time to be there... 

So kids enjoyed making snow balls and throwing at each other.. It ws really cold because we were not wearing our snow suits because we still have to pick it up from the ski hire place..

The second day ,, we placed the kids in a Ski School, it was good because Joe and I had private ski lessons too... It was a bit unnerving because I am so uncoordinated and I always fall down .

Micah was good that she can ski all the way from the top of the mountain.

Braiden can ski and stop..

he is coordinated little boy and we were so happy to see him balance himself.

Bianca doesnt like skiing... She cried most of the time... Too cold for her..

Joe can ski  after 2 lessons... 

It took me awhile to master the art of balancing... I can go downwards and stop but still perfecting my turning skills... I was so scared to go up on the hills and ski downwards,, but after few falls and gained little bit of confidence,, I've done it..

On the 4th day it was snowing.. we pulled over on the side of the road and started doing snow man ; enjoying the snow falling on our faces..

It was one of the Best Holiday for us..

We are thinking of going back there again for a weekend and practice more skiing!!!!

I'm back

I'm back from our Snow Holiday....

It was such a Great Week for us ..

The kids enjoyed the snow and skiing...

I'll keep you all posted for the details.

Still busy unpacking and doing household chores..

Looking for a Ceiling Fan

It's winter at the moment here in Australia and its cold,,, but during summer time it is really hot,,,  and when its hot..you will really need to have something to cool you down..

 I remember my friend Erma; whose husband is complaining about the scorching heat last summer , they cannot take it anymore, that is why they decided to have a ceiling fan installed in their room..

She was quite happy with it because it's looks nice and her hubby is no longer complaining,, I told her that I wanted to see what kind of fan it was.. She told me that it was a casablanca fan and it looks like this... 

It was nice looking and gave me the idea of having one installed in our living area,, So I started to look for a nice design and style of a ceiling fan that will complement my room. there are plenty of styles to choose from; but I like the look of a craftmade ceiling fan with lights.. because I've got a native displays and sofa in my living room and I wanted to match the look... 

Gordon Ramsay

WOhoo... I've seen him personally  and he is so Charming,, we went to the Good Food and wine show in Sydney this morning just to watch his cooking demo.

Early morning I have to do things quickly,, dropped the kids to preschool early.. drove to hubby's work and from there we drove to the city .. It was such a rush because the show starts at 10 :30 so we have to beat the traffic and find a parking space.. We just came in time .. I thought we would miss the show ,, but we were lucky.

He got a stage presence ,, the girls are all screaming and giggling ,, there were big screen set up but I just kept on looking at him because he's got more charisma in person than on the big screen.

After the show I was feeing squishy ,, the exhibit was so packed and I didn't eat my breakfast, I was starving having a head ache... My mistake was I tested a free drink of Kahlua,,, and after that the whole time I was feeling really sick,, we had to go afterwards to eat brunch..  I was so sick that we have to go home quickly.. bad headcahe and upset stomach .. I should learn now that its bad to skip breakfast , rush and have alcoholic beverage...  Good thing my bro in law drove my car back home because hubby had to stay back to work. 

But I am still happy to see Gordon Ramsay

Visit my other site  The Way of Life in Oz   for more stories and the video that I took of him

Good Food Show and Wine Exhibit

This morning we went to a trade show exhibit... Its the Good Food show and wine exhibit at Sydney , this was my first visit on the said exhibit.. I was quite amazed because it was jam packed.. we can't even walk briskly .. There are around 300 exhibitors on the area showcasing best and quality products and trade...
It's amazing on how they catch peoples' attention throught their display,, they have to; because there are lots of stalls  and they need to stand out to be noticed,, One stall that caught my eye was the Fresh food section,, they have a very enticing table top display, it was well laid out showcasing their products. So we bought some fresh olives stuffed with chili and tomato.

So moving along the wine section , where the wines are finely presented on a very lively table covers that make the wine stand out from the rest.. It was a good tactic to attract would be buyers.. Of course we had a taste of the wine and it was really nice.

Above all it was busy morning for us.. having sampled some products and came home satisfied because we watched Gordon Ramsay cooked...

Apple Store in Sydney

Its the opening night of Apple Store in Sydney...

Some people are lining up just to be the first for the opening night.. Thurs, June 19, 5:00 pm
Address:
367 George St
Sydney NSW 2000
(02) 8083 9400
Come enjoy three floors of all things Apple. There's even an entire floor dedicated to personal training, technical support, and free workshops, including Pro Labs - advanced courses to help you take your creativity to the next level.

Well, I might pay this place a visit when I'm in the city....
I love my MAC...

I love apple products...

We've got Nano Ipod one for Joe and one for me,, Micah's got the Classic Ipod..

I've got Imac and Micah's got Ibook...

and I'm waiting for the release of IPHONE in July here in Australia!!!!!

My kids like apple too... they love to eat them but....

TOYS.........

Toys..... Toys.... Toys.....

Its half yearly clearance SALE,, the best way to buy classic toys for kids..

I love buying them toys especially when they are good...

My boy is into techno toys at the moment. Last Christmas we gave him Robotic toy / Spidersapien,, he loved it so much,,& his 5th birthday he got a Tyrannosapien he's so pre occupied  and  enjoys playing with it..

Play is a very serious matter for our children, Toys can improve  their social interaction, memory and imagination. So some simple tips that I can share is to consider your childs age,  benefits that the toy can give them like  perception, exploration , good for their fine motor skill, creativity, problem solving  and social language ..

That is why it is difficult to know what to look for in a toy especially when you are surrounded by walls of gadgets and toys in the shops... Sometimes what I do is to browse around the net to find what are which toys can give my kids plenty of fun and be beneficial for them,, whether if it is a Stuffed animals, action figures, electronic toys or building sets... so do your homework and look around to find a better choice,, research  and compare because there are endless choices. 

For me, when my kids are happy then I  am Happy too...

Happy shopping.....

Poor Little Bianca...

My poor Little Bianca is sick......

She was having a high temperature of 39- 40 C ,,, That is why I have to keep an eye on her,,

She still smiling and having a bit of play...

But I make it point to give her Panadol every 4 hours to keep on top of it,,,  I hate to see my kids sick... 

I hope that she will feel better soon,,, because I have to go on Friday and watch Gordon's show,, and Sunday we're off to the snow...

That is why I make sure she drink lots of fluid / juice and eat healthy like citrus fruits..

Above all juts to be loved and cuddled.. she likes lots of attention ,,, 

Looking for good family deals

Last  April 2008 , when my sister JenL was here we treated her on a nice weekend away to Sydney CBD , we stayed in a hotel.

My hubby and I had to browse through the internet to find some good special from Hotels Sydney .. we found a good deals and we were quite happy with it.. It was nice to stay in the city and be able to walk around and do sight seeing without rushing back home...



We  were able to enjoy Sydney at night... Walking around the city ; the night was lovely, alive and bustling with beautiful people...


As I mentioned previously from my blog about our dream of doing a  European trip ,, we are also looking around some cheap hotels that will cater to our family's needs.  We are also  looking at  Hotels Paris .. ahhh  most romantic place .

Aside from Paris ,, we would also want to see the Big Ben  in London , well I hope we can find some cheap hotels in UK . it would be lovely to experience it too...

So browsing around and finding good family deals is a priority for us,, We want to see those beautiful places and have a lasting memories .

Getting Ready....

I'm getting all the stuff ready for our holiday on the Snow.. We are going on Sunday for a 5 day holiday to Snowy Mountain in NSW Australia.. around 5 hour drive away from our place..

We are all getting excited because it will be our first visit to the snow.. I haven't seen a snow yet...

That is why I bought some winter jackets and snow boots , goggles, beanies , scarves and thermal clothes.. I always on the look out for SALE so that I can save more.. That is why I started buying some accessories one at a time, not just in one go.. because its too costly..... 

Even to hire all the skiing equipments has blown our budget. We've already gone to the ski place to be fitted , so we'll just pick up them up to the place where we're going to stay. It will be too bulky and to big to fit them all in our car.

Well,, thats the downside of it,, Its the Packing of clothes, since its going to be too bulky,, I might end up with 3 big luggages,, well,,, we don't pack light because we've got 3 children...

Anyways,,, We are just too excited,, I have to make list so that I wont forget anything....

Any suggestions or tips  my readers would like to share with me?? I'll will gladly appreciate it!!!

Planning our Trip

As I mentioned before, we are planning to go on holidays on December 2009 to the Philippines and Hongkong. That is why we are already searching for the international flights.

It's been 8 years now, and I haven't been back to the Philippines.. so this time we are all going and my hubby and I are very excited to go back to the Philippines. My eldest daughter Micah spent last Christmas there and she traveled with my Pinay friend as a companion,, and they had a great flights going there and back home.

We are not quite concern about the kids traveling overseas because they are used on going for a long travel ,,Braiden loves  riding on an airplane and he kept on mentioning about Jetstar  he remembers the Airline that we usually travel with..  And  we know that my kids are going to be good; We just have to keep them occupied and bring lots of toys and activity games so that they wont be bored during the flights.

 

So as this point; we are now getting more information by comparing and looking around for  cheap flights since our whole family is traveling,, we need to find ways to save heaps...

I'm going to see Gordon Ramsay

Yippee....I've got a ticket for Gordon Ramsay cooking demo at The Sydney Good Food and Wine Show at the Sydney Convention Centre on Friday June 20.. I've been trying to purchase tickets for almost a week now.. but tonight I got lucky and was able to find a ticket through Internet booking.... They must have added some more seating to accommodate the high demand for tickets.. We are at the back already .. so it means it selling out fast...

I blogged before that I love Gordon Ramsay... and yes I like his style.. so when I told my hubby that I wanted to see him live and told him that I want to book a ticket he did not hesitate,, because I know that he likes to see him too... We are taking along my brother in law who is on holiday here from another state.. he likes watching Gordon's TV show too... 

For sure it will be an entertaining show,, and I know that he will surely say his famous F WORD!!!!

How I wish...

Our family loves to travel.. every year we make it a point to go on a holiday,, its good for the family and very educational for Braiden because it helps him more by being exposed to personal experiences.. he learns to talk more and express his feelings.

Next year, we are bound to Philippines,, it's been a long while since I've been back home, this time aside from going around  Australia,, we are going to the Philippines and then to Hongkong.. It will be a good trial for the kids to travel overseas,, so we will find out how will they cope with the flight..
My husband has an Italian heritage ,, and we kept on dreaming of going for a European trip.. We would like to see Rome... we always see it on travel shows and it would be lovely to see it personally.. Aside from Italy, we would like to see The Big Ben where else but in  London. Well, since it is a European trip we have to go and see Dublin,  we want o see the St Patrick Cathedral and visit some well known pubs. The list wont be complete without going to Barcelona and be able to use my meager Spanish words..

How nice it would to be able to see those places,, so we are searching around for good deals and best hotels to stay in,, making some notes for future references.. so hubby can work harder to fulfill the dream.....

Happy Birthday My Love...

It was Joe's birthday last June 12....

He doesn't want to make a big fuss for his birthday , thats why there is no big celebration just us family.. we went out for dinner at the Golf Club with his brother Vince and after dinner went back home for his cake...

Joe was quite happy with the kids bday present.. very personalized..and the kids were so excited to give it to him...

Happy Birthday my Love,,, well 38 years,, there you go... for the whole cyberworld to know ..

I LOVE YOU and thanks for everything....

Have to change our work mailbox.

The other morning when my husband went to his work he noticed that the other mailboxes were knocked over by a car during the night.. We are thinking that someone maliciously did that in purpose or young teenagers mucking around..There are approximately 40 mailboxes in one commercial unit,, he had to inquire on the net to find another mail box.. He needs to change it quickly because that is where he gets his mail for our business.. What a head ache for him.. but good things he only have to change our business mailbox and not the others

He search on the net and came across a company that supplied mailboxes . There are heaps of style to choose from and when he made his choice he inquired about it.. 

He told me the other night that he is quite happy and satisfied with the price, service and the look of his new purchase. If he is happy I am happy.

My Little Artists

My kids are busy painting ... Ah,, my 2 little artists..... They're  doing something special for their dad,, because its his Birthday!!! so last wednesday afternoon ,, while my hubby's at work,, I gathered all the painting equipments and told the kids that they have to make a special painting for daddy to put in his office,, because its dad's birthday.. the kids were so excited and you can see their enthusiasm by combining all the colorful paints... Bianca lovingly put her hand prints on the canvass while Braiden proudly wrote his name on his ..
What lovely kids ,,Daddy will surely be elated and proud of his little Picasso......

I joined Bloggerwave

The joy of having a blog for me is to share my thoughts,, life experiences and my opinion… It is such a great pleasure to know that people are interested to know me better.. and they actually read my articles..
I owe it to my sister jennyL for sharing with me this wonderful experience..

I’ve been blogging for almost 4 months now.. still new and still learning .. Learning from others and sharing stories..

Aside from gaining more friends I can also earn from blogging and this is through Bloggerwave, yes I juts joined Bloggerwave and I am looking forward for more opportunities from them…
So check out the site ..

We Enjoyed the Movie..

Last Thursday my friends and I watch Sex and the City...

I've been looking forward to seeing this movie ,, I've seen most of the TV series and had been fascinated with the lives of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha...

It was 4 years now since the last episode aired and that was when Carrie was in Paris with Mr Big.. Well,, I'm not a big fan of Mr Big ( Carrie's boyfriend) is still like Aidan for her.. he wasn't in the movie though..

Even if you are not a fan of Sex and the City TV series,, You will still enjoy the movie..

In the TV series they were looking for LOVE ,, now ,, its how to keep the LOVE...

I recommend this one and it was a good fun... its MA 15 + because the movie have some intimate scenes or obscenity,, but hey... its SEX and the CITY...

Enjoy the movie,, relax and unwind.... We did,,, watched the movie after dropping the kids to school and after the movie had lunch a bit of shopping then back home to pick the kids and did our motherly duties.... :) we enjoyed the ladies out...

Be energy efficient

We should know how important it is to have a very good light fixtures at home... A good lighting can set up a the mood of the house.. At the moment I'm so disappointed with my lighting fixtures in my kitchen,,, We bought it 4 years ago and it didnt do a good job, the bulb kept on bursting and it is so dodgy.... So I really need to upgrade my kitchen lighting fixtures especially as the kitchen is the heart of the home,,, this is where we prepare our food ,, we need to have a good lighting to be able to whip out a good meal.... so as they say..

So I am reseaching for a good lighting fixtures ...I need to consider the reliabilty, efficiency and cost saving... We'll I have to do my bit for he environment ,, Here are some tips to consider:
Artificial lighting - energy saving tips:

Use the lowest wattage globe – choose energy efficient light bulbs such as the compact florescent and this is what I did with my home lighting
Use task lighting or special purpose lighting to supplement general lighting
Turn off lights when you leave a room – consider using timers or sensors rather than leaving lights on for prolonged periods
In places where lights need to stay on for long periods use compact florescent bulbs
Avoid using a single switch to activate several lights
Look at alternatives before choosing downlights – many lights are required to illuminate a room and holes in the ceiling and insulation contribute to heat loss
Keep lights and fittings clean – dusty globes and fittings reduce light output
Avoid multi-globe light fittings – you typically need six 25-watt globes to produce the equivalent light output of a single 100-watt globe

I've also got a chandelier like this one which looks really nice ,, just on top of the stairway,, and I also use energy efficient bulbs ,, its bright and creates a good ambience at night time..


So do your bit and find more ways to be efficient at home start with a proper lighting fixtures and you can save heaps ...

Marty the Eel....

Meet our pet Marty the Eel.. we called him Marty because he is a zebra eel and marty is the name of the Zebra from Madagasgar..
He is so fascinating ,, because he would always hide under the rocks and usually comes out at night time for a fee,, we feed him prawns every second night and you would know he is strong , because he just snap at the prawns with enough force...

He is a docile and never hurt any of the fish in the aquarium,, we even have some live shrimps in there ,, but even though he eats prawns he never even try to attack the shrimps... he is just amazing to look at,,, he would probably be less than a meter long now...
the kids like to see him... especially feeding time,,, they call him,, Come on Marty dinner time!!!!

I've got a new look again!!!!

Yes I've got a new look again...This one is much better... because its more personalized .. 

My niece Frances Marie did the drawing for my header and my nephew Jerel who colored the drawing....using photoshop...

Mu sister JennyL fix the layout ... hay ,,, very lucky I've got talented family....

Thank you guys.. Christmas is coming.... just let me know what's on your list....

Miss you all....

Golf Day

As I mentioned before it was raining the whole week ,, but last Saturday the weather cleared up and we took the kids the Golf range .. My hubby is teaching the kids to play golf and how to hold the club and the proper swing... Braiden and Bianca enjoyed it and Micah as well as she tried to undo her dad,, but Joe is quite good,, we cannot beat him...

My hubby said I'm natural and have a good swing for someone who never played golf .. Yippee,, now he can have a golfing buddy...

The kids always enjoy going out thats why Joe and I never get tired of taking the kids out,,, we enjoy taking them out ,,, every week we have to plan where to take the kids out..

The family that play golf together stays together..

Michael Buble Concert

My Hubby and I watched Michael Buble concert last thursday June 5 at Sydney Entertainment centre..It was the most awaited concert that I kept on bragging about.. and we had the opportunity to enjoy such a great performance ..... 

The concert was such a blast and we enjoyed every bit of it...  our minds were at peace because when we left the kids ,, they were so good.. especially Braiden .. it was such a big relief for my hubby and I when we received that reaction from him... he just said Bye mum and dad and gave us a kiss ,,  

hubby and I were thinking of going out for a date more often since the kids are settling well... yipppeee..

Please visit my site  Aussietalks to read more about the concert and watch the video...

Braiden's new Obsession!!!!

Yes this is Braiden's new obsession,,,, Playing Playstation 2,,, He is just hooked into it at the moment, he changes every now and then but we seems to really like playing with the games, especially during lazy Saturday afternoon ,, while we do our own stuff ,, he would be upstairs playing,, you would hear him call out for help,, when he is really having trouble with some games,, very good for his voacbulary too.. he is using more words and talking heaps,, I can hear him get excited and say more words,, his concentration is getting more longer,,

We've got this Playstation 2 about 4 years ago, we bought this for Micah for Christmas... so I am contemplating of upgarding it to Playstation 3 . This is the new technology,,,, I've been researching for it on ShopWiki.com and looking at how good it is in compared with other new game console.. Since I can also play my existing Playstation games and that is good... One feature that I like about Playstation 3 is that it has a wireless controler,, and that is very ideal for Braiden because he can move freely and further away from the tv.

Aside from playing the games Braiden loves to watch movies too,, this Playstation 3 can play DVD's too,, so there is no need for me to unhook the cable to change to a DVD player,,, and the new technology is the blu ray player which is a very good because it is a high definition and has more data storage...

Humm ,, I'm loving the new features of this Playstation 3 ,, so I should keep on reminding Braiden that he should be good because Santa might bring him a nice present for Christmas,,,We are half way through the year...... Not long now...

I Love Music

I love listening to music especially when I'm cleaning up... It keeps you pumping and going... I love to put on Disco music and up beat songs;; keeps adrenalin up and make your work more enjoyable and fun.... and one way to do it is to listen to boombox with cd player.

We also love to listen to a soothing relaxing music to unwind. We also used to put the boombox with cd player, in Bianca's room when she was a baby; while putting her to sleep we have to play a soothing music or a lullaby to calm her down.. and it worked wonderfully..  she is now  3 years old; she still loves to listen to music ,, and the other day; she asked me to put a Wiggles CD for her ,, and she was happy listening to it..

It is also durable to use ,, especially when having a birthday party for my kids,,, I just take it outside pop in the cd and kids can do a game called "stop dancing". keep them entertained and happy dancing around.... and whenever we have a gathering or barbeque,, it goes handy because while my hubby and friends are outside cooking bbq while drinking they can listen to the football or cricket game ,, so they can never miss a game... So its very convenient  to take it out.

I remember last chore that I did outside was to prune the plants and did some weeding on my lawn,, the boombox with cd player kept me entertained and made my chore enjoyable while listening to my favorite Michael Buble cd.

I know that there is some new feature that you can have an MP3 or Ipod connection,, so you can listen to your Ipod collection of songs loudly,, very cool....

Well speaking of music ,, got to go and start doing some housework while shaking my booty to the music.....  see yah...