Passport Renewal for me and my kids (DFA Alabang, January 2019)

If you aren't aware, there's a new system now in setting an appointment for your passport application/renewal. Now you have to pay first before your appointment can be confirmed. This new system was put in place to prevent scammers and fixers from getting all the available slots and then selling them for a much higher price which was the case last year.

KICCA Kids Cafe & Interactive Playground at Festival Mall

Christmas vacation is officially over when school starts tomorrow! But I'm happy we were able to do lots of activities over the holidays including going to KICCA, a Kids Cafe and Interactive Playground in Alabang.

DIY School Supplies Family Costume

It's Halloween time again! I admit I was a bit lazy at first with the kids' costumes this year. Usually I have a theme all planned out months in advance, but before I knew it, I realized it was October already and we had nothing! I just wanted to buy something but when I told my daughter to choose from an online store, she looked at me incredulously and said "You're NOT making our costumes?! You HAVE to!!!" Ooops, that's what I get from them being used to all my DIY projects haha!

Our day at Ocean Park Hong Kong

This past summer, we went to Hong Kong to celebrate my son Sabre's 7th birthday. It was originally supposed to be an entire Disneyland trip, where we would stay in the Explorers Lodge Hotel for 3 days and get the 2-day theme park ticket. But then I was surprised when my two older kids said they didn't want to go to Disneyland anymore (probably since they've already been there a few years ago) and would much rather go to Ocean Park.

The last time I visited Ocean Park was years ago when I was still a teenager. Hubby's last time was way back when he was 7 years old! Plus, hubby and I went to Disneyland a few months before to celebrate my birthday, so we were totally onboard with just going to Ocean Park instead.

DIY Harry Potter costume

It's Book Week again at school! And I didn't have to worry about my son's costume since I just recycled it from his sister's last year. ;p

Video game fun at PlayboxPH

My two older kids were invited to a video game party last weekend here in the BF Homes area. We've been to Puzzles before, which is a board game lounge, so I was pleasantly surprised to know that there was a simlar concept but for video games.

Our stay at Cala Laiya

I was looking for beach recommendations somewhere in Batangas and found Cala Laiya through one of my mommy groups in Facebook. I wanted to try it since it was new and luckily they had an available room when I inquired.

After I posted some pics in my IG, a lot of people messaged me asking about the place, so I made sure to blog about it soon ;p

Bounce Trampoline Park in SM Southmall

If you're a parent and it's summer, then you're probably always looking for activities that your kids can do. Whether it's enrolling them in various classes or workshops, planning vacations, or just trying to get them out of the house to lessen their screen time lol! ;p

I've been wanting to bring them to a trampoline park but the ones that initially opened are located quite far from us (there's Jumpyard in Pasig and Trampoline Park in Mandaluyong). So when Bounce Philippines finally opened in SM Southmall, now was our chance!

Our stay at Hong Kong Disney Explorers Lodge

For our son Sabre's 7th birthday, we decided to just go to Hong Kong for a family vacation. Personally, I think I've become more practical through the years since his Ate Miley also didn't have a big party when she turned 7. We just celebrated in McDonald's because she wanted to have her own room as her main gift. I guess going on a trip was also a good idea since Sabre's birthday is during the summer. So it was the perfect time to travel since they wouldn't have to miss school or anything.

Anyway, I definitely wanted to book in a Disney hotel even for one night since the kids had so much fun the last time when we stayed in Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. This time, I wanted to try the Explorers Lodge since it's the newest hotel which only opened last year (April 30, 2017).

Featuring an “adventure” theme, the resort’s third hotel sits on a breathtaking waterfront location and has 750 rooms, three restaurants, four gardens, and an outdoor swimming pool. The exploration theme expands to the four unique tropical climates of Asia, Oceania, South America and Africa.

Giant Ball Pit in SM BF!

We were in SM City BF a few days ago and on our way to the grocery, the boys spotted this huge ball pit in the ground floor of the main atrium. Of course what could I do but let them jump in!

A 7th Birthday Pool Party

For my son Sabre's 7th birthday, we just decided to go to Hong Kong for a family vacation instead of having a big party. However, he said he still wanted to celebrate with his friends so we just threw him a small pool party right after we got back from our trip.

A Pineapple & Flamingo Party!

My eldest turned 8 years old a few days ago and I really can't believe how time has flown!

Oldest, Middle, Youngest

My dear friend gave me these shirts for the kids last Christmas and I immediately did a photoshoot with them wearing it. It says "I'm the OLDEST I make the rules", "I'm in the MIDDLE I'm the reason we have rules", and "I'm the YOUNGEST the rules don't apply to me". Super cute (and true) right? ;p

All Aboard! A Train Themed Birthday Party

Skyler is now 4 years old, and as you all know, I love doing different themes for my kids' birthdays every year. Even if it's just a simple set-up at home, I still want it to be special so they'll have nice photos to look back on when they grow up.

Merry Christmas!

And here's our Christmas card this year! If you want to see more photos and outtakes from this DIY photoshoot, click HERE. We're currently at the Bellevue Manila where we had a staycation to celebrate Christmas Eve! Will post more about that next time.

But anyway, hope you're all having a wonderful time with your family and loved ones. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

DIY Christmas Photoshoot 2017

And our annual Christmas card photoshoot continues! Again, I decided to DIY it this year thinking it would be easier since the kids are older... wrong! ;p

Ice Skating at SM City BF

I remember ice skating when I was a kid all the way in SM Megamall. I probably only got to do it 5 times in my whole life, and I even remember an incident when my older cousin fell and had to get stiches on her eyebrow! So yeah, that was probably the last time I ever went skating.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see a pop-up skating rink at SM City BF a few weeks ago. The rink is small, only 100sqm, and is located at the Main Atrium where Uniqlo is.

DIY Mario Bros. and Toad Costume

I was honestly late in planning the kids' Halloween costumes this year.  I would keep asking them what they wanted to go as and they would give me a different answer everyday. Finally, I just decided on Mario Bros. which I've been wanting to do for a few years now. :)

Fun worksheets for kids

I have 2 kids in grade school and I usually make reviewers for them whenever they have exams. One place you can go to online for worksheets and other resources is Education.com.

Take for example this creepy crawlies themed word search worksheet which is a fun way for your child to learn about prepositions. For more preposition practice, check out these resources. Enjoy!

Here's the answer key:

Long weekend staycations

I haven't been blogging lately since I've just been enjoying time with the fam, especially with all these long weekends. We love going on staycations and I made sure to take advantage of all these rainy day promos the different hotels have been offering.