Archives for December 2014

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

12.30.2014 by mumwrites // 26 Comments

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

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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Thankful Thursday: Merry Christmas!

12.25.2014 by mumwrites // Leave a Comment

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
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!

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

12.24.2014 by mumwrites // Leave a Comment

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.

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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Last-Minute Christmas Gift Ideas For The Special People In Your Life

12.22.2014 by mumwrites // Leave a Comment

This is it! It is only 3 days before Christmas day and if you are one of the many who simply are too busy to finish their Christmas list early, then here are a few last-minute gift ideas for your mums, dads, children and the special people in your life which you can readily find in the mall or in those online shops you frequent. By the way, while you are busy shopping for your loved ones, do get something special for the other people who made your life easier and wonderful this year, including your house help, the courteous school bus driver, your friendly neighbor, as well as the reliable postman! And always remember that gift-giving is not always about the price tag that comes with the gifts you give, but the wonderful thoughts, effort, and love that you wrap along with those items.

For Mums

Pampering and relaxation are rare for busy mums, so am sure they will appreciate anything that will help them to relax or enjoy their pocket me-time. Most mums will also appreciate GC’s for their favorite coffee shops as well as any items for the kitchen or the home.

Here are a few more gift suggestions I am sure mums of all ages would love to receive this Christmas:

Beautiful mason jars ~ i do not know about you but i simply cannot get enough of these beautiful jars and i simply love these shabby chic painted mason jars from Paper Straw Love. These pastel-colored jars are perfect catch-all for your bric-a-brac, arts and craft stuff, or school supplies. They are also great as flower vases. Meanwhile, mum can easily find a multitude of purpose for the other mason jar varieties.
Spa or salon gift certificates ~ since mum rarely has the time to pamper herself and relax in the midst of her daily grind, a GC to her favorite salon for a free haircut or to her favorite spa for that much-needed and well-deserved foot spa and mani-pedi session will be most welcome
Beauty and skin-pampering products ~ since mum cannot go to the spa or the salon as often as she wanted, these beauty and skin-pampering products sure will come handy for DIY home spa. My go-to skin treats will have to be The Cream Factory Bath Cream and Scrub-in-a-tub. These dessert for the skin allows me to pamper my skin at the end of a very long and tiring day.
Home organizers ~ any item that will allow mum to organize the home better is a great choice. Whether you opt to give her one of those multi-purpose storage boxes, or a dish rack, a closet or a bookshelf, am sure mum will appreciate it!
Planners ~ with the assortment of tasks mum has to do in a year, a planner to help her get more organized is a very thoughtful and practical gift. The Mom 24/7 and the Certified Positive 2015 Planners top my list of great planners to wrap for mum this Christmas!

For Dads

It might be a bit tricky to get something for dad but am sure you can get him the perfect gift for this Christmas. Here are a few things you might want to consider: [Read more…]