November 2015 - Mumwrites

books, from my mailbox, mum finds, tot schooling

Unboxing Our November #BuriBox

November 30, 2015 25 Comments

Fueling the little one’s passion for reading and learning is something this mum is committed to. But with his penchant for the telly and his gadget and games, especially during weekends, I need to work overtime to distract him away from them and quick! That is why I am always on the look out for any materials that would pique his interest and any book that would encourage him to read even more.

I have read a lot about curated subscription boxes for children that include books, worksheets, and other educational materials but most of them are not available here. How I wish someone will come up with a local version so mums here can easily subscribe and have them delivered straight to our doorsteps!

I think you can very well imagine how excited I was when I discovered the all-new BuriBox. I was even more delighted when I found out about their introductory promo. Can you imagine getting a box filled with books, arts and crafts supplies and activity sheets and I only had to pay for the shipping! I wasted no time and subscribed to the little man’s very first BuriBox!

BuriBox in a nutshell

books, from my mailbox, mum finds, tot schooling, educational products for children, books for children, subscription boxes for children

The BuriBox is especially-designed by Adarna House for the Filipino family to build a library of stories and a treasure trove of educational activities at home.

The box comes in 2 types:

Toddler Box ~ with 4-5 kid-tested preschool books and multiple activities and worksheets for children aged 3-5
Young Reader Box ~ filled with 5 award-winning books and multiple activities and worksheets for the beginning readers 6-8 years of age

I opted for the latter as it is more suited for my young bookworm. Each box is priced at Php799/month, inclusive of free delivery around Metro Manila! Initially, they only accept orders from Metro Manila, but I know you’d be interested to know that they know deliver to anywhere in the Philippine! I paid Php150 for provincial shipping. When I subscribed, they were only accepting Paypal payments but I do hope they can include other modes of payment as not most people have a Paypal account.

Subscription to BuriBox is easy as pie using their website. You can also unsubscribe anytime you like, in case you opted not to get a box every month. I might just do the same since I also purchase books for the little man from different sources from time to time and scour the world wide web for printables, activities and worksheets that fit Jared’s current interests and inclination.

Unboxing the November BuriBox

tips and tricks

5 Great Christmas Gift Ideas For Our Loved Ones

November 30, 2015 30 Comments

Can you believe it is just a few weeks before Christmas? Our most favorite time of the year is finally here and yes, unfortunately, it is also the busiest, and for some, the most stressful. But do not let all the excitement and the many lists of things-to-do, not to mention the horrendous traffic everywhere, dampen your excitement about the merriest season of all.

Here are a few thoughtful Christmas gift ideas to get you started with your Christmas shopping:

A photo posted by Vix Parungao (@mumwrites) on Aug 13, 2015 at 3:02am PDT

Health Kit ~ most people, especially mums, will appreciate this thoughtful gift as the Christmas season is also the time of cough, colds, and other weather-related illnesses. You can simply get a clear box and fill it up with vitamins and medicines from your trusted brands like Unilab {just like the ones in the photo}. I recommend Biogesic and Solmux, as they can come handy this time of year. You can be as extravagant as filling the kit to the brim, or you can also opt to just include a couple of items the receiver will most definitely use.
Power Bank ~ who will not be delighted to receive a power bank? Everybody needs one to stay connected to their loved ones or social media on their mobile devices, or keep up with all their online games even while on the go without worrying about their batteries going dead. I highly recommend the ASUS Credit Card Size 10050mAh Quick Charge Power Bank, as I totally love using it! It is very handy and can be easily stashed in your purses or bags while traveling. It is also quick-charging and can easily charge 2 gadgets with its 10050mAh capacity.
Books ~ anyone will appreciate a good book and I do not they will ever go out of style. It is a perfect gift for book lovers, as well as for children to encourage them to read. Mums will also appreciate them, as they sometimes do not have enough time to buy something off the bookstore shelf for themselves whenever they go there to shop for the children’s school stuff. And just a tip, if you are planning to give books to your inaanaks or your loved ones this year, there is no better way to get them than at the Scholastic’s The Big Christmas Blowout Warehouse Sale where you can get children’s books for as low as Php20! I have already been there over the weekend and I cannot wait to share my shopping haul with you. The sale will be up until 23 December, and they will be open from 9am-6pm. I shall include more details in another post, so watch out for it!
the little man in our previous visit to Kidzania, where he cannot wait to go back
Awesome Experience ~ gifts carefully wrapped under the tree are not the only thing you can give your loved ones and friends this Christmas. Great experiences, like outdoor adventures, amusement park visits, or travels are also awesome and thoughtful gifts to give. The Christmas break is the most perfect time to do these wonderful activities as everyone in the family is at home. It is a great time to bond with everyone and create beautiful memories that everyone will surely remember for years to come.
anyone would appreciate a lovely trip to the spa
Relaxation ~ the whole year had been busy and bustling with activities, especially for those who keep a 9-5 job or for mums who has school-aged children, that they will surely appreciate the gift of relaxation. This can be in a form of a Gift Certificate to a favorite salon for some pampering and relaxation or a day of bonding at the spa for a whole body massage or foot spa.

We do not really have to shell out a ton of money to make our gifts for our loved ones this year unique and special. A little touch of creativity, a ton of thoughtfulness, and making sure the gift is tailor-made for the receiver and I am certain your Christmas gift will be a big hit! Enjoy spreading the holiday cheer! 😀

food

Why Chicken Works You Ask?

November 25, 2015 No Comments

I have always believed that chicken is the healthier option among meat varieties and am really relieved that the little man has taken a liking to this poultry product much more than the other meat. Apart from the usual fare of friend chicken, one of his favorite dishes in the world is chicken tinola, so we have than dish every single week. I have no complaints, though as chicken does work. If you are still in doubt about chicken, here is an infographic of a number of reasons why you should be opting for it, too, if you haven’t already.