Tuesday's Tip Jar

For mommies who are groping for ways to keep your children entertained during summer while they are always at the house, here are some tips:

[1] Movie Matinees
When we went to see the latest release it was always in the early afternoon when the prices were discounted. Each child was given a limit as to what they could spend on snacks. While I know bringing food into the theater was frowned upon, I often did it. I had a special purse that was large enough to hold candy, cookies and sippy cups. The kids would get excited when they saw that bag on the kitchen counter because they knew it was movie day.

[2] Make Your Own Water Park
Kids are the best at having fun with a water hose and a piece of plastic. A slippy slide isn't expensive but it's small and when you have multiple children all wanting to use it at once, it can become a fight to the finish as to who gets to slide first or more often.

[3] Search the Internet for Local Fairs and Festivals
Children love to explore, so going to a local event is the prefect place for that. I used the buddy system when taking the children to fairs and street festivals. They were to always be together, no matter what. Mostly until they were in their mid teens they had to be within my view but the buddy system worked well for me at all age levels.

These are cheap too, if I might add.

Month-Long Birthday Celebration

Turning 30 has never been this happy or expensive. I've been celebrating with friends and family for the whole month now and even if I get to spend, I'm happy I get to celebrate it with them. It seems my party will extend up to July though. I haven't met my Mommy Blogger friends (MBAP) for a celebration. It is good that I share my birthday month with three other mommies - Jane, Jacqui and Jody - so we get to share in the treat too :)

Higher Learning Online

While most work online nowadays to save money on transportation and employers on additional office resources, schooling also going mainstream. It seems going online or on the web is the easiest and most convenient thing to do. Capella University, an accredited online university that is know to have the best masteral programs on the web, recently launched podcasts 15 minutes in length featuring students who share their experience with the university. If you are interested, Capella University offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, psychology, public health, and public safety, and bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, and public safety.

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Best Thing

What is the best thing about your weekend so far?
I had a great weekend because I officially turned 25 (and from there will stop counting years, FYI) and had a great and hearty lunch with my family. I was also able to go to a museum, something that I have been wanting to go to ever since. Good food, great company, nice place = great weekend.
Join here: http://thatsmyanswer.com/

Eight medicines you shouldn't give your preschooler

Young children are much more likely than adults to have adverse drug reactions, so giving your preschooler prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication – even "herbal" medicines – is serious business. Here are some medicines you shouldn't give your 2- to 4-year-old
1. Aspirin
2. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines
3. Anti-nausea medications
4. Adult medications
5. Any medication prescribed for someone else or for another condition
6. Anything expired
7. Extra acetaminophen
8. Chinese herb ma huang (ephedra or ephedrine)
Cautionary note: Chewables

Weather and Travel

The weather has been terrifying and strangely erratic lately. It sure can be traced to global warming. For this reason, weddings, beach trips and anything involving events held outdoors are hard to plan. The popular destination weddings in the Caribbean I hope are not suffering. The line of Karisma Hotels along the Riviera Maya, El Dorado Royale Spa Resort (adults only), El Dorado Seaside Suites (adults only), Azul Beach (family-friendly) and Azul Blue (family-friendly) and Hidden Beach Resort (naturalist), are sure open year-long round but are always busy during summer season on cold countries.I would want to try taking the family to Azul Blue Resort someday.

Title: Way to Raise a Confident Daughter

1. Encourage assertiveness.
2. Be specific in your compliments.
3. Make your praise match reality.
4. Help her understand why she sometimes gets left out.
5. Encourage competence.
6. Encourage her to play sports if she wants to.
7. Don't make assumptions about her strengths and weaknesses.
8. Encourage a healthy body image.
9. Prepare her for sexism.
10. Point out positive female role models.

"I Want" Wednesday

Today I want to be able to finish all my pending job assignments. I am also praying for good weather the whole week so I can finally go out and meet friends. It also ensures that Sandy will not get sick as cold weather flares up her allergies sometimes. I also want to be able to spend as much money without being guilty about it!

Join here: http://iwantwednesday.blogspot.com/

Remembering Wedding Favors

Browsing through The Knot website is currently on top of my list of things to do when I'm feeling stressed. Looking at beautiful wedding gowns, flower arrangement, destination wedding ideas and unique personalized wedding favors reminds me so much of my wedding that I instantly forget my work woes. Every year, wedding favors just keep getting better. I wish I'm getting married again so I can use some of the ideas. But since I am already married, I always make sure to bug every single friend of mine to let me help with their wedding. This includes printing wedding ideas, bridal gown photos, sending multiple emails on what's in and out on wedding ceremonies and basically re-live the preparations through them.

The first photo is similar to what we gave on our wedding while the second was from a friend who got married after us.

Since then, I've seen flip flops, personalized chocolate bars, tote bags, flask and even a matchbox doll. There were also card holders that looked like beach chairs, carriage styled boxes and a mini-playhouse where ants can live happily ever after.

Ms. Blair Waldorf

Saw these photos today while downloading new photos from our CF card.





Sandy loves Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl a lot so when she saw this picture, she immediately said, "Mommy, I look like Blair because our headbands match". She then started drawing Blair and Serena with matching dresses, earrings and stilettos. I will have to take photos of her drawings because she just gets better at it everyday. In fact, she rarely plays anymore. She just draws from morning till lunch, take a break and a nap, then draw again until nighttime.

Too Much Time

... in my hands today. But I've slaved away for so long in the last four years so I'm taking a break and not worry about finding projects yet. To prove how carefree I plan to be today, here's my to-do list:

• Watch Gossip Girl Season 2, episode 19-24 online
• Download movies that I've been dying to see and want to see again
• Read ebooks while lying down on the bed with Sandy
• Don't open my emails.
• Visit Facebook, Twit all day and order a double cheeseburger from McDonalds.