mum's thoughts, Tips and Tricks

Entertain The Kids With These Cool Kids Academy Apps On New Year’s Eve!

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Getting the kids occupied and entertained in the midst of the bustling activities and the preparations for New Year’s Eve is no easy feat. Trust me, I have tried and failed quite a few times. I guess the little ones are also giddy and excited about the New Year that they are finding it hard to focus or relax. It would be good if you can ask them to help around the home with simple and easy tasks but for the little toddlers, or the pre-schoolers, it is not advisable quite yet.

So how do we get the little ones preoccupied and out of our way as we go about the tons of stuff to do and prepare before we welcome the New Year? Tucking them to bed early so they can wake up at midnight will be the most ideal but for mums with very energetic kids, like me, getting them occupied with toys, movies, or their gadgets is the next best thing.

By this time, the little man has probably grown tired of watching his favorite cartoons on the telly as he has been doing that for a few days already. He might be able to keep himself entertained until 2014 ends with the help of the new toys he got for Christmas, but what I am more excited about are the updated Kids Academy apps I’ve stumbled upon not too long ago. I am sure the little one will enjoy playing the updated versions as well as the new fun and educational games and activities in these apps and I have a very valid excuse to let him use his gadget for a little while longer.  :-))

Here are the 3 Kids Academy Apps I am sure your little ones will enjoy, too:

1. Preschool & Kindergarten Books, Songs & Early Reading Games App

mum finds, mum's thoughts, tips + tricks, educational apps for children, apps, educational activities for children, Happy New Year, Kids Academy

Here is a short review I wrote for it on iTunes:

This Book App is Just  :heart: 

Update: Reading is a legacy that I would love to pass on to my son that is why any app that allows him to enjoy reading and explore different characters, stories, + books is all good in my book! This book + reading app for kids is simply a must-have. The storyteller is very engaging, the graphics + illustrations are all too appealing. I also love that the little one can easily work his way around the app with little or no supervision from me! Now the problem lies in how I can limit his gadget time to 2 hours each weekend with this app around! 

My old review: This is yet another gem from Kids Academy, the little one enjoyed singing along to the song. Music sure is an effective tool to teach + let he children learn + Kids Academy achieved that with this app. It not only offers hours of musical fun, but also lets little children get familiarized with new words. Having this on his iPad gives me more peace of mind knowing I’ve made tablet-time safer + more fun for my kiddo! Just cool! 

Get Preschool & Kindergarten Books, Songs & Early Reading Games App on iTunes

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mum's thoughts

Thankful Thursday: Merry Christmas!

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mum's thoughts, mum inspires, Thankful Thursday, gratitude

Can you believe it is already Christmas? So before everyone gets busy and before I get tied up with a gazillion of things to do after Noche Buena, let me greet you a very merry Christmas. May you all get what you wished for this year and may we never forget what this wonderful holiday is all about. More than the gifts we receive, let us be thankful for the wonderful people in our lives who love, understand, and incessantly care for us. Let us pray that we might all look forward to the New Year with hearts full of gratitude and hope for what lies ahead.

There are easily so many things to be thankful for today but what tops my list include:

  • my small but wonderful family {need I say more}
  • for the simple feast we were able to share at midnight earlier
  • for the little gifts I was able to wrap under the tree 2 nights ago
  • for the loves of my life  :heart:
  • for the highly-anticipated holiday break that will allow us to get well-rested before the school opens again
  • for the little one’s successful first Christmas party at school
  • for the unexpected gifts that arrived on our doorstep
  • for my wonderful readers for all your support
  • for the many little yet wonderful reasons to celebrate the holidays and life in general
  • for the most treasured Christmas memories of my childhood {which makes me miss my Mama and Papa the most during this season}
  • for a wonderful year
  • for all the blessings that i received this year!

It would be a lovely thing to recall a few things you are thankful for today as we celebrate Christmas. Always make sure to keep a grateful attitude and to remind ourselves and our families about the true meaning of Christmas ~ the birth of Jesus Christ, our very first special gift!

Here’s wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!  :-))

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Announcement, lifestyle, travel

Visit Artist Olivia d’Aboville’s Eco-Friendly Holiday Blooms At SM Aura

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announcement, lifestyle, travel, SM Malls, pr
A forest made up of 90 larger than life light flowers, Olivia d’Aboville’s Giant Dandelions installation is a brilliant masterpiece where people can freely walk through and take photos. 

The spirit of caring that embodies Christmas is the inspiration behind the plastic Giant Dandelions installation recently unveiled at the Sky Park of SM Aura Premier in Taguig City. Famed textile artist, Olivia d’Aboville, thought there is nothing nobler that caring not just for loved ones, but for the one thing that has nurture us the most in more ways than we can imagine ~ the environment.

announcement, lifestyle, travel, SM Malls, pr
For their holiday launch, SM Aura Premiere partnered with famed French-Filipina textile artist Olivia d’Aboville, as the mall held a light show showcasing the artist’s art installation called Giant Dandelions. 

Oliva, a young French-Filipino artist based in Manila, is a staunch supporter of environmental efforts. She specializes in tapestry and textile structures, as well as adapting various techniques to create her very own woven forms and recycling had already been a major component of her pieces even while she was still a design student in Paris. She is drawn to mass-produced objects and has found a creative way of manipulating and recycling plastic spoons, water bottles, cocktail stirrers, and a whole lot of other materials create new work. She is also mostly known for ocean inspired works and is very sensitive to light, fluidity, and movement.

When asked about the nature of her art, Olivia shared, “I do a lot of recycled art and then progressively incorporate different materials to my work. Plastic is really an element that I like working with, and also the fact that I am a textile designer makes everything I do have some sort of textile technique within the piece.”

Giant Dandelions Blossoms in SM Aura Sky Park

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