Posts from — January 2009

With two rather young kids, playing games as a family is one of our regular activities. That would include outdoor games, board games, and of course, video games. The group video games are our favorites. Wii console games are quite entertaining as it gives us the chance to simulate a variety of games in the comfort of our living room. We can play sports, drive on a race track, or even have a shoot out. Game gadgets have also expanded to include tennis racquets, steering wheels, and rifles. Who knows, in a short while, there will even be Nikon rifle scopes to take the shooting games to the next level.

We tried arranging a last minute hotel booking for a quick holiday getaway. However, we realized that it is still school holidays making most local holiday destinations in Australia quite packed up. In short, we didn’t get what we initially planned. Lesson learned is to plan holidays well in advance. That includes transportation, accommodation, and even travel insurance. Anyway, we had some backup plans which worked was still quite happy in the end.

The following awards/tags are from my true friend Joy .  Thank you Mommy Joy I really appreciated it.

A True Friend

And I’m passing this lovely award to: Rachel, Gracey, Christine and Mich. Thank you guys!

This Blog is Fabulous

The rule:
I need to list 5 addictions that I have and pass this tag/award to 5 more fabulous blogs

Here’s mine:

Internet Surfing ( blogging, social networking, chatting, latest news, blog hopping…etc)
Watching TV (movies and reality shows)
Activities and Recreations (beaches, holiday trips, fishing, cooking, baking…etc)
Photography
Food (Chinese, Japanese and Filipino food)

Now, I want to forward this meme to: Jean, Shiela and Shinade

White Rose

What does a white rose represent? White is a color symbolic of many positive things, such as marriage, purity, virtue, and innocence. White is linked to emotions of harmony and serenity. The breathtaking purity and simplistic beauty of a white rose can’t be beat. White roses signify deep, clear emotions. They are given without reservation or ambivalence. The red rose signifies lust or passion, but the white rose goes much deeper to suggest an infinite love that goes to the very core of one’s being. It carries an almost spiritual significance. White roses symbolize devotion, kindness, and deep friendship in love

Now, I want to tag this meme to: Rocky, JoyD, Christine and Ritchiela

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Thank you Shinade sharing this beautiful poem and thanks for being a friend.

We need friends for many reasons,
all throughout the season.
We need friends to comfort us when we are sad,
and to have fun with us when we are glad.
We need friends to give us good advice.
We need someone we can count on,and treat us nice.
We need friends to remember us
one we have passed sharing memories that will always last.

Spreading The Friendship Poem to:  Joy, Cielo, Rose and Ruby

Thank you guys!

After all the feasts during the Christmas and New Year celebrations come the time to spend on the weighing scale. Though really, even a simple look at the mirror will probably testify to a weight gain thanks to the sumptuous meals during the holidays. And will all the activities lined up, the time for the good old exercise may have been one of those bumped off the calendar. Well, no time to fret. It’s time to bring the exercise back on 2009 and perhaps a little help from some diet pill?

After I’ve written the post Mamma Mia I remembered how I tried solving the puzzle as to who Sophie Sheridan’s real father was. The clues were all about equal making the task of finding a definite answer quite difficult. I was glad that each one was treated equally at the end. Though with today’s technology, a quick paternity test would have provided the definite answer.

While we were in Gold Coast, we thought of getting some wine to complement the Christmas dinner. However, due to several reasons (well, alcohol age restriction wasn’t one of them), we ended up to be wineless during that period. Neither myself nor my husband are really wine drinkers but on some occasions, we do take a sip (literally). Here in Australia, there are just a huge range of wines that a wine-lover would surely enjoy. In fact, having a wine of the month is something someone can look forward to.

Mamma Mia! Here we go again! My daughter CN is now singing a few ABBA songs, thanks to the hit film Mamma Mia! which we watched a few nights ago. As a musicale, the movie did not fail at keeping everyone glued to the television while humming the ’still famous’ tunes. I have to admit that it is the first time I get to ‘digest’ the lyrics of the songs. Anyway, it is a good funny film. And though may not be fit to be labelled a ‘family film’, it is good to keep everyone entertained with a little guidance from dad and mom.

This school holiday, our family has already gone for a series of theme park visits. Though myself and my husband are not really theme park ride fanatics, it is definitely refreshing to visit one… and all the more to visit many! As parents, nothing beats having a good look at the eyes of our children having fun all throughout. And besides, you don’t get to visit a theme park everyday anyway. In our case, these wonderful theme parks are also a thousand kilometers away.

Actually, I realize that even if the theme parks were just a short drive from home, it would be difficult to be a ‘main stay’. The cost of tickets would have to struggle against other items in the budget. One way to save cost is to take advantage of offers being made by theme parks in order to make the visit as pleasurable as it can get. These would include annual pass, or even multiple-entry pass.

Of course, discounted tickets cannot be beaten. Morey’s Piers is one of the best water parks in New Jersey and is currently offering its annual holiday sale. Now that makes a sweet deal for a Jersey Shore beach vacation. I’m sure that such offers would help in making the theme park experience available to more families.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, we recently went for a holiday at Gold Coast, QLD. Gold Coast is not only known for its seemingly endless beaches, but also for its theme parks. During the week when we visited, the weather forecast indicated some showers towards the end of our trip. Hence, we decided to go and hit the theme parks early on.

First stop was Warner Bros. Movie World. The kids were full of energy at this point, since it was just the start of that long holiday. The Shrek 4-D show was a knockout as it presents a whole new meaning to the words ‘watching a movie’. The bumper rides are also a hit to our kids. Our 4-year old CN did not make the heigh requirement to the big bumper cars but took her turn on smaller bumper cars type of ride. Capping the WB Movie World day was a ride on Wild West Falls where RD braved riding on her first ’scary’ ride. CN was too small to go on that ride so it was only RD and my husband C who took the drop. Anyway, at the end of the day, everyone was happy and tired… though still had a lot of energy for the next day at Sea World!

A number of advertisements (print, television, internet) have injected a great level of creativity to easily catch the attention of its audience. Some would touch on something personal while others make things light and funny in order to promote a sale. Call it ‘anything goes’. It is for this reason that we parents should be on our toes when it comes to ads our children get exposed to.

We celebrated the coming of the new year 2009 with some friends as we watched the fireworks display at the Sydney Harbour. The event is a real crowd drawer so we opted to go to a less crowded park with a decent view. Though the spot we went to did not give a full view of the Harbour Bridge, we still enjoyed the fireworks display.

So Happy New Year everyone! I hope this is not too late. I guess it isn’t. After all, it is still a new year!

Tagalog Translation:
Sinalubong namin ang pagdating ng bagong taon 2009 kasama ang ilang mga kaibigan habang pinapanood ang mga fireworks sa Sydney Harbour. Ang pagdiriwang na ito ay talagang dinadayo ng mga tao kaya nagpasya kami na pumunta sa isang lugar na di gaanong maraming tao ngunit kita pa rin ang ‘fireworks’. Hindi kita ang buong Harbour Bridge ngunit nasayahan pa rin kami sa pinanood naming ‘fireworks display’.

Kaya Manigong Bagong Taon sa lahat! Sana hindi pa ito huli. Palagay ko ay hindi pa nga. Kasi nga naman, bago pa rin naman ang taon!

Over the past few weeks, we had some extra calorie intake because of the holiday feasts. But with all the walking we have done on theme parks and beaches, we have probably burned up enough calories too to keep the weight gain in control. Though, at the end of all the walking, I feel that my feet has had enough. Things could be worse for someone with Plantar Fasciitis. So I guess have to give my pair some TLC to keep in in shape.

As the holiday season wraps up, several shops have put a wide range of merchandise on great bargain prices. Even with the economic challenges, it does seem to be a good time to do some shopping and perhaps save up a bit. For moms, the timing may also be right to give the home interior some new accents for the new year. Votive candle holders are interesting pieces that would surely lighten things up.