Weekend Footnotes

PLDT HOME DSL invited us to join them for the blocked screening of X-Men: Days of Future Past at the Shangri-La Mall last Friday.  The kids were so excited to watch the movie because the latest installment is said to be the best ever.  And to add even more to my kids' happiness, PLDT took care of their cinema bar food binge also.  Big thanks PLDT HOME DSL for making sure that we have family-sized connections both online and offline!

We went early and had dinner at Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen at the East Wing.

Saturday was spent by being very productive in the kitchen.  I made sure that everyone was kept busy with something. J made our lunch of Beef Tenderloin with Brocolli.  While I took the 2 kids with me and made them help me with making Spinach Artichoke and Spinach Mushroom Dip.  The Spinach Artichoke Dip is a special project of B - she wanted to make some to share with her friends.  While I made the |Spinach Mushroom Dip because I wanted to have something always on stand-by in the fridge for my hungry brood. The kids ate up the celery sticks without a word when I served them with some of the Spinach Dip. We still have some mangoes left and I decided to make some Mango Royale to be shared with friends.  Yes, none for the family this time. :)  But I did prepare Kani Salad with Mango for dinner.

On Sunday, the message of Pastor Peter was such a blessing, as usual.  Small problems, Big God.  If we encounter what is seemingly a big problem, then it is time for God to show us that He is ALWAYS bigger than any problem.  If you want to be blessed with his message, click on this link to listen to the service:  http://www.ccf.org.ph/videos/view/when-you-stumble-get-up-and-grow-up#.U4LEsfmSySo

We had lunch at Maple at Shangri-la Mall.

 After what they ate, I couldn't believe they still have some more room for pancakes!

I am loving J's outfit from last weekend.  But too bad, I couldn't borrow her shoes! Her feet has grown so big that even with a cork, or socks, or even double socks.. they wouldn't fit me.. no matter how hard I try! hahaha! She is 3 sizes bigger than me! Boohoo!

Sunday late afternoon, we brought the kids to one of our favorite places, outdoors!!!  We realized that summer is about to end and we haven't had a single day of biking yet!  B took to the bike the whole afternoon, while R decided it would be fun to try to ride two scooters at once... to go faster daw!  kulit!:)

That was our weekend!  Hope you enjoyed yours.  Till the next one!

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CAL Swim School

How is your summer shaping up? 

If you still haven't figured out what to let your kids do this summer, why not let them get active and moving- enroll them in swimming classes. 

CAL Swim School has been conducting Learn-to-Swim programs since 1999, and they have camps all over Metro Manila.  Their seasoned instructors include former and current varsity swimmers as well as licensed lifeguards.

What's more, at the end of summer the CAL kids have a mini-competition where everything is guaranteed to be fun.  The kids can showcase all the strokes they have learned and mastered over the course of the summer.  This is also a good time for the kids to asses if they would like to take things a step further and join the training camp which runs the whole year round.

For schedule and camp locations, visit the CAL Swim School webpage right here.

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Who Do You Follow?

For all you Instagram addicts out there, are you aware of Webstagram?  Webstagram is this awesome web interface which allows user to access their Instagram account in a desktop browser.  Cool, right?  Finally, I don't have to scrunch my eyes to see details of my favorite photos.  I can now view them on my desktop and laptop. All the Instagram features are available here and it is so easy to use, and most important of all, it's FREE, too!  Check it out by heading over to http://web.stagram.com/.

One of the people I follow at Instagram is my kids' swimming coach.  Now that I am on Webstagram, I can appreciate his photos more.  I follow him because he takes such amazing photos on subjects that I love...

....first and foremost among which are MY kids... Thanks, Coach!  I really LOVE the photos!

But other than my kids, I also love the photos he took of swimmers of all ages, capturing the swimmers in action...

 

His photos affirms what many of us swim-parents know all along - that for many young swimmers, happiness is simply being in the pool!

He captures the friendship and the essence that the pool is really one big playground for the kids.  A great venue to meet friends - many of whom stay on to become best buds ... for life!

 

 And here are a few more pool shots that are simply beautiful to look at.

And if you are the type who want a little something different, he also offers up interesting people photographed from an artistic perspective, with an edgy urban feel.

 

 

He consistently finds common locations and successfully transforms the mundane to interesting by coming up with new angles to shoot from.

 

 

 

Follow him at Instagram or Webstagram to see more of his wonderful photos.  His instagram ID is:  wengman.

Sherwyn used to be a bemedaled swimmer in his youth, and has since channeled his love for the sport into coaching a young but very talented swimming team.  As you can see, he is also an amazing photographer who
covers events (weddings, birthdays, engagement, corporate functions, et al) and product launches.  He also does one-on-one portrait services, pre-nuptial photo shoots on location, company product shots, and many more. 

If you have any need for beautiful photos, give his photo team a call/message at #0917.533.0727.

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Summer Road Trips

stay·ca·tion.  noun \ˈstā-ˈkā-shən\

 A vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer.

-Merriam-Webster Dictionary

If you do not have any plans of going out of the country this summer, why not take some time to discover the beauty of our own islands - take your brood for astaycation. 

For the circus that I call family, we go on staycations regularly, whenever there are long weekends/holidays that allow it.  Staycation ideas for families abound for us here in Manila; we are lucky to live in a country with diverse topography – all nearby.  There are road trips to do, mountains to climb, beaches to visit.  There are a number of attractions waiting to be explored. 

Take advantage of living in a tropical island and take a pick of any of our beaches.  Beaches feature a number of activities that the whole family can enjoy, such as kayaking, jet-skiing, snorkeling, etc.  Just imagine:  azure blue water, white sandy beach and verdant coconut trees…  

Slather on the sunscreen, put on those sunglasses and go out!

Here are some suggestions:
1.  Go on a Food Trip to Pampanga, the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. 

2.  Kids love to visit Ilog Maria Honey Bee Farm in Tagaytay

3. Tagaytay's Paradizoo is another must-visit place in Tagaytay

4. Tagaytay also offers a lot of restos, so you (and your pants) might as well squeeze in a Food Trip

 

5. Visit a Hydroponic Farm (in my post: Bees, Buddhas and Blackberries)

 

6.  Stop over at Nuvali on your way to any of the Southern destinations

7. Swim in the best infinity pool in Laiya, Batangas (Acuatico Resort)

8.  See Bataan in a whole new light by staying at Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Resort 

 

9.  Subic in Zambales is a joy to visit now because of the SCTex.  Visit Ocean Adventure, enjoy the rustic stables of El Kabayo, or pay the wild animals a visit at Zoobic Safari.  We usually stay at the Subic Yatch Club, but you can also read Mom-Friday's post about her Subic accomodations.

scenic El Kabayo taken from my pre-blogging days

10. Villa Escudero, in the border between the provinces of Laguna and Quezon, is also another option for your wanderlust toes.  Admission fee already includes:
~Lunch with your legs halfway dipped in flowing water as the dining tables are situated right below the hydroelectric dam 
~A visit to the Escudero family museum which is housed inside the Villa Escudero church contains the family's private collections.  

~ go around the plantation on a carabao-driven cart

~Kayak on native bamboo rafts along the peaceful Libasin Lake, home of the country's first working hydroelectric plant.

I bet I have you packing already…

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