Musings of the Teenage Mind

(I wrote this post two weeks ago, but forgot to publish)


My daughter came to my room just a few minutes ago. We just had dinner and she was going to start writing her article for her school paper, of which she is the sports writer.

She plopped herself on my bed, and goes, "Ma, I have kwento for you. I forgot to tell you earlier..." 

I interrupted her, "Wait! Is this good news or bad news?" 

She thought about it, "Uhmm, it's just kwento, but it's kilig." 

Uuyyy! Now she has my attention! 

I sat upright, "ok, go tell me about it!" 

But she hesitated, "ah I'll kwento later na, mga 10pm when I'm done studying para full effect." 

FINE.

Ogalala World: A System in Play

"If they can't learn the way we teach, 

then we teach the way they learn."

 - O. Ivar Lovaas

Child Development Expert

Because I have three wonderful kids with different personalities, I am made aware that each child grows and learns at his or her own pace. Children who achieve certain milestones early are not necessarily smarter or healthier than children who achieve them a few months, or even years later. The range of what is normal development is quite wide.

I have one child who started talking at nearly 2, but when that child started, she was already talking in sentences. Yes! Plural... sentences talaga! Super daldal. In fact, she is the chattiest among all my kids now! She graduated from grade school early this year with high academic honors.

With proper nutrition and guidance from us, our kids will achieve their own milestones at the right time because not all kids develop at the same time. The wide development range is one reason that it is important to pay attention to each child’s abilities and to plan activities that match and expand those abilities.

It is with that in mind that Ogalala is formed.

Ogalala is a multi-branded System in Play developed by Internationale Globale Marques Inc. (IGM), distributor, manufacturer, and licensee of leading children’s global brands for the past 30 years. Taking its cue from play and parenting insights that integrate learning to play, Ogalala’s Play and Learn System develops the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional skills of a child from birth to 12 years.

{Phenomenal Tip} DIY Handpainted Canvas Bags by Whimsical Sushi

Since the kids were really young, summer has really been all about DIY crafts, baking, cooking, drawing, painting... basically all kinds of creating going on around here. 

I am just really loving this beautiful bag hand-painted by my daughter. 

I love the combination of colors and the design. And basically the very idea of how she thought of re-purposing an unused canvas bag into something so pretty.

Teacher's Appreciation Gift: Personalized Gift Tags

I do not send my kids to a tutor after school; rather, I have chosen to personally help my kids with their homework and help them review for their quizzes. I started this the moment they stepped into big school because I wanted to train them to study on their own eventually.

It's not easy to teach young kids since they cannot keep their focus for long periods of time.  When they were younger, our tutor session were a big source of frustration on my part, especially since I had several to tutor.  Over time, the kids needed less supervision as they were able to adapt and maintain the study habits. For now, I am just helping my youngest, and my other kids can manage on their own with very good results.

I make sure during Teacher's Appreciation Day my kids come to school bearing tokens for their teachers... because I know it's not easy to be a teacher.  I do not really like to give extravagant gifts, but instead I always let the kids bring something we did with our own hands... something thoughtful and handmade!

I am intentional in training the kids that the best gifts we can give is something that involves OUR creativity and time.  I usually give something that I made in the kitchen, and let the kids wrap them. The gift tags we used are also something that I personally did in Photoshop. Here are some of the gifts we've given their teachers through the years:

Home-baked Cookies and Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

Home-made Triple Chocolate Cookies and Lipton Milk Tea.

Home-made Banana Muffins and Lipton Milk Tea.

For this year, I thought I'd take some time off from the kitchen, and design personalized gift tags for all their teachers. I am always so busy in the kitchen that I haven't found time to tinker with Photoshop lately.  I figured this Teacher's Appreciation Day gifts would be a good excuse to indulge my design cravings.

Also, every year, the tags get as much attention as the gifts, or even more... teachers always tell my kids that the personalized tags are so cute. So I just thought why not let the gift tags be THE gift instead!:)

I did this in Photoshop, and sent it to the printers to have them printed out.

 I love them so much that I am thinking of doing some more for my own family.  We always run out of gift tags because of the number of friends my kids have to give gifts to.  It's never a bad idea to have some spare on stand-by.

One more photo because I can't stop looking at them.:) teehee!

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{An #EpsonForMoms GIVEAWAY} EPSON LABELWORKS AND PICTUREMATE

 GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!!     

Get a chance to win one of the following: 

PictureMate PM245 or LabelWorks LW-400 or LabelWorks LW-300. 

 Read through the rest of this post for how to join the giveaway. 

I love to label. It keeps my home organized. When everything is labeled, it avoids confusion for my husband and kids and everyone knows where to put everything back. So when Epson invited the SoMoms for a morning of labeling fun, I knew immediately it was an event I would enjoy!

There are many ways to label, and I've tried making my own via Excel, Word and Photoshop. But that takes up so much time, so I usually just end up handwriting labels, but it doesn't really look that nice. But now that I have my own Epson LabelWorks, I know I won’t procrastinate on labeling anymore. Epson LabelWorks make labeling so effortless and convenient. For one, I do not have to turn on my PC and then printer. Second, I am not obliged to fill up the entire piece of paper if I only need a few labels.

The Epson LabelWorks run on both battery and electric outlet.

The Epson LabelWorks is an easy-to-use solution for my every labelling need. I can choose to print as many or as few labels as I need as it can store up to 30 custom designs so that I can easily reprint label designs when necessary.

Of course, the fist thing I labeled was my Epson LabelWorks! 

Why I love the Epson LabelWorks:
    ~ offer creative flexibility with up to 14 font types and 10 different styles (bold, shadow, outline, etc), 457 symbols and 87 frames,
    ~ can store up to 30 custom labels, supports vertical & mirror print and can print on 2 lines

    ~ simple to use because of its ergonomic buttons and high-quality LCD screen

    ~ can lift and reposition standard labels within 24 hours

    ~durable lables that can survive extreme temperatures and wet conditions. (so I can use this to label my kids water jugs and swim equipment)

     ~ wide selection of high-quality labels in a variety of styles, sizes and colors - in standard, metallic and pastel colors, patterns, and even specialized applications such as iron-on, glow-in-the-dark, cable wrap and index tapes.

This crafty mama is in heaven!  Thank you Epson for the LabelWorks complete with 4 media cartridges to play with!

Aside from printing on regular sticker media, the Epson LabelWorks also prints on special Epson Iron-on label and ribbon.  I love the iron-on media most especially. My kids are competitive swimmers and they join competitions once a month. Team jerseys have been mixed up a few times with their team mates in the past. But now that I have the LabelWorks, this is now a thing of the past.

Here are some of the ways I label:
     1. Pantry shelves and pantry items. I label directly on the shelves so everyone in the house knows where to get and return pantry items.
     2. School supplies and sports equipment.  My kids have all sorts of sports equipment that they use for their swim training. Labeling them is a breeze with the Quickly and easily label your kids’ school supplies and sports equipments with their names.
     3. Tools and parts.  Our tool box and plastic bins in our storage area are labeled with the things that are stored inside to keep things organized.
     4. Medicine Cabinet. I labeled the containers into:  First Aid, Vitamin Supplements, Medicine
     5. Documents and Paper Files.  With a big family, paper documents have piled up and I manage these files by labeling every envelpoe and folder.
     6.  Plugs and Wires.  There's no more confusion which plug belongs to what electronic.  There are four iphones and 2 iPads in this house, and chargers are now labeled with the owner's name.

***Epson LabelWorks printer retails at P2,025 and the Epson LabelWorks cartridges range from P600-1200, and are available online at Printers2Go (www.printers2go.ph) or email: printers2go@gmail.com.

EPSON PICTURE MATE

And as if the Epson LabelWorks is not enough, they also gave us our own Epson Picture Mate PM 245!  I have three kids and every start of the school year, we troop to our neighborhood ID studio for their photo ID's.  Not to mention that whenever they qualify for every level of the Palaro Games, that's another visit to the studio each time.  Long story short, I am the ID studio "suki."

But not anymore!  I can now print ID photos at the comfort of my own home.

Offers direct printing even without a PC via the built-in memory card slot or connect your digital camera directly using PictBridge or USB Direct. The tiltable 2.5” LCD screen lets you view and make last-minute effects before printing.

I can also use this to print out the DIY invitations I do for the kids' intimate birthday parties.  The possibilities are really endless!  

Reasons to love the Epson PictureMate PM245:
~ It can produce customized prints in seconds. You can prints various sizes depending on your needs - 1x1, 2x2, wallet size... no problem! As long as it fits in the 4R photo paper.
~ photo printing convenient with PC-less operation. And with just one click, you can print multiple copies in multiple sizes
~ can print smudge, scratch, water and fade-resistant photos with or without border in 37 seconds
~ produce 150 4R prints with a picture pack that costs only P1200 (P8/ 4R print)
~ uses Epson Claria™ PhotoEnhance, so you can adjust skin tones, color casts and exposure levels. You can also add cool effects and clipart, reduce red eye and so much more with the built-in features at a touch of a button.

~light enough to carry around the house, or even outside the house.

***Epson PictureMate PM245 retails at P7,995, which includes a free ink cartridge and photo paper bundle good for 20 prints. The refill packs cost P1,200 with 150 4R prints, which comes out roughly at P8/ print.

And now here comes the fun part!!!  Epson wants to share the experience of turning the ordinary into extra-ordinary.  One lucky reader who comments on this blog post will win one of the following:
 (1) PictureMate PM 245 OR  (1) LabelWorks LW-400  OR   (1) LabelWorks LW-300.

Read the giveaway details below!

HOW TO JOIN THE GIVEAWAY:

Follow the simple steps via Rafflecopter to submit your entries.

a. Leave a comment in this post with your:
~ FULL NAME as it appears in your valid ID which you will be asked to present to claim your prize,
~ EMAIL ADDRESS so I can contact you if you win,
~ comment with the phrase “I WANT PICTUREMATE AND LABELWORKS …(state your reason why).  No need to think of an elaborate reson.  Simply just state what you want to use it for.
example: “I WANT PICTUREMATE AND LABELWORKS so that I can creatively feature my children's milestones on the scrapbook I am making for her.

b. Join the giveaway using Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
c. You can only comment once.  Multiple comments from the same person will only be counted as one entry.  But you can earn BONUS points by doing the extra steps in Rafflecopter (Follow The Phenomenal Mama on Instagram, Tweet about the giveaway, Share this giveaway on Facebook)

d. Raffle will end on March 21, 2014 11:59 PM.  One winner will be chosen at random.  Winner will be notified with a confirmation email first week of April with details on how to claim the prize package.

e. Giveaway is open to ALL Philippine residents.  Yes, this is a nationwide giveaway!

f. Help me spread the word!!!  Help me get to the top three (3) mommy bloggers with the most number of valid comments so I can give YOU the chance to win one of these.  The contest will only open if I get to the top three so let's help each other!:)
Most number of valid comments:  (1) PictureMate PM 245 (worth P7,995)
2nd most number of valid comments: (1) LabelWorks LW-400 (worth P2,835)
3rd most number of valid comments: (1) LabelWorks LW-300 (worth P2,025)

CONTEST IS DONE!

Please wait for the announcement of winners.

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Rainbow Loom Craze

If you are a mom to girls, then surely you know about Rainbow Loom. It is the newest craze for girls, and most have gone wild with it. I remember during my time, friendship bracelets were the rage, that is pretty much what Rainbow Loom is for my daughters and their friends. B's friends have been making, buying, bartering, wearing, and generally going crazy for these colorful stretchy bands. I remember B asked me for a small amount of money last December when her class had an entrepreneurial project where they would make and sell any DIY project they decide on. When I picked her up from school that day, she showed me this colorful stretchy bracelet in her favorite colors, which she bought from her classmate. She was so in love with it; using it alternately as a bracelet and ponytail.

And then during the Christmas holidays, we were gifted a set by the Rainbow Loom Philippines. My girls were over the moon with happiness!!! As a parent, it can be fun to spend time with my kids by being a "loomer," like them.  I treat it as learning a new skill, or simply call it as it is; having fun with my kids!
There are also levels of difficulty, so their skill level can also be challenged as they move on to more complex designs. images below via

The instructions that come with the kit are easy to follow. My girls easily mastered the basic single bracelet in just a few minutes. The manual doesn't give any instruction to do advanced strokes but there are hundreds on online tutorials you can find at YouTube.

via

And if bracelets aren't your thing, you can make an octopus with this tutorial right here.

Boys can have fun looming also! Click here to get looming instructions for this action figure.

When your kids are done with their projects, encourage them to share pictures of their finished projects on Instagram and Facebook, and use #officialrainbowloom hashtag. Rainbow Loom Philippines holds weekly raffles where they give out FREE refills to the lucky winner.

WARNING:  Make sure to buy the original Rainbow Loom as the rubber bands are certified safe by the Department of Health. Counterfeit products may contain lead and other harmful substances. Click here to redirect you to the Rainbow Loom webpage on the danger of counterfeits and how to spot them.

To make sure that what you have is an original, only buy from these stores: Toy Kingdom, Toys R Us, Rustans, Toy World. You can also order online directly at their Facebook page.

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iPad App {Sketches}

a sketch done by my 13- y/o daughter

Do you have any rule on how your kids use electronics?

My kids are not that addicted to electronic gadgets, but I think when left to idleness they could easily get captivated by it. I monitor the use of their gadgets, and try to keep a suitable balance by encouraging them to finish a creative pursuit before they play with their iPads or X-box.

This is easier to keep an eye on when school is on; during summer and Christmas break, it takes an extra effort to keep them off electronics. I am lucky that I have dutiful kids who have been blessed with obedient hearts; as such they already know that the best way to spend their time is to engage in recreation with things that remain inanimate until they put them in motion - Lego, sketching, coloring, etc. I have spent years guiding them that this is the best kind of play.  But of course, initially they would compare with their friends and ask, "how come so-and-so gets to play with the iPad even during school days?" or "But so-and-so can play with the iPad the whole day during weekends!"  But because through the years I never gave in, they have accepted it fully now.

And so while we have, so far, only purchased one app for their iPad (Minecraft); nevertheless, I also understand that the iPad can be also used as a gadget for productivity with the right kind of apps. It's just a matter of looking for the right kind of app that my kids will be interested in.

During the last Christmas break, my daughter was able to make good use of her iPad by doing some amazing sketches using the app also called Sketches. 

Sketches is a FREE app, and is by far one of the best drawing app that we have come across.  It is fairly easy to navigate so even a child can finish a sketch in no time.

Here she draws a word art for the year 2014

 

 Her take on "us" girls

I think she already has summer on her mind with her sketches of the beach and ice-cream!

And this Japanese girl is my favorite sketch so far! I just love how dainty it looks. If you pay more attention, you will notice how she was able to create different textures within the artwork by using the simple technique of shading.  I have been drawing and painting with my kids every summer since they were this tall, and it makes my heart burst with affection to see that all those summer art lessons have not gone to waste!

If you have kids who are also inclined toward the arts, what iPad apps do they use to cultivate their interest?

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