How To Plan A Family Vacation That Everyone Will Enjoy

7 / 19 / 18

Family vacations if fortunate enough to take one yearly are something that every person in the family will remember long into the future. Not only are these fun but they are a time for the entire family to have fun and relax as busy families rarely have time to do this together. Planning the perfect family vacation will take being proactive as grabbing the last available tickets can lead to discomfort both physically and financially. The following are tips plan a vacation that everyone will enjoy and remember for years to come.

Take Everyone’s Input Into Consideration

Making the kids feel like they have a choice in the destination of the family vacation can do a variety of things. They could do thorough research on destination which can save you time and allow them to feel responsible for an incredible trip. One unique idea is allowing each member of the family to pitch a location then allow everyone to vote. With this being said, allowing the kids to pick a limited number of locations will avoid multiple country trips that overzealous children will try to pitch.

Take a Professional Tour

Going around on foot is sure to make children complain which can ruin an entire day. Taking some kind of professional tour whether it is on a trolley or privately is going to save you a headache as a parent as kids can get tired and cranky. This can be done through research or simply asking a travel agent to do this for you. Not all tours are perfect so doing this research will be a better indication of how the tour will be. Agents often get a kickback for booking with a tour group they have a relationship with so it is better to avoid this unless they have glowing reviews.

Schedule Relaxation Days or Afternoons

Vacations are to see new things as well as relax as the hectic day to day of everyone in the family is tough for each person individually. Set up spa days or a few afternoons to relax so you do not go home feeling more tired than when you left for vacation. While essential oils offer a myriad of benefits carrier oils make it easier to go out immediately after application due to the less intense smell. This will cause you to love carrier oils as they have so many benefits but can be used directly before going out to do something. Not only will these help with skin health but they can also help with hair health.

Plan Activities That Target Each Family Member

The most important thing to stress is not to try to make last minute plans on vacation or figure it out once you arrive to the destination. This is a recipe for disaster as everyone should participate in activities that they enjoy during the family vacation. With this being said, there are going to be things that you do as a family that everyone enjoys. Turning a vacation into something educational without the kids knowing is not as difficult as it may seem. If visiting a new place they might have questions about a variety of things.

As you can see you need to take a proactive approach if you want to plan the perfect family vacation for everyone. Start researching now as this can help save money as well as let you book some of the most popular things to do in a certain destination!

Winter Blues? Plan a Trip to California That Will Entertain the Whole Family

12 / 13 / 17

Long months of snow and cold can really take a toll on one’s wellbeing. Many families are looking for a way to escape it, even if it’s just for a little while. California is one of the first destinations that comes to mind, as it allows for warm temperatures even in the winter months. And what’s not to like about its cinematic sunsets and relaxed atmosphere it became known for?

Atmospheric diversity at its best

While most of California’s regions are warm, there are some spots where you can find snow during the colder months. This allows you to mix it up to your heart’s content, and choose the appropriate setting for whatever your current mood may be. In any case, your kids will love some ice-skating activities, and whenever they feel tired, you can always pack up and drive away to a warmer place. How cool is that?

Whales

During the winter months, something marvelous happens along the California’s coastlines: they become a freeway for migrating gray whales. Since they travel relatively close to the land (a couple of miles, give or take), it’s easy to spot them from the shore, and seeing such marvelous creatures with your own eyes will make a trip your entirely family will treasure until the end of time.

Skiing and surfing in the same day

As crazy as it sound, in California, you can ski and surf in the same day. This will require you to put in some miles by either traveling by car or some other means, but it’s indeed doable, and it will certainly make for an unforgettable trip. Of course, you can also combine it all together and enjoy Christmas under a palm tree, which is as original as it gets.

Bike rentals and sightseeing

It’s important to allow yourself to experience everything California has to offer at your own pace. Virtually every corner in San Francisco has a place that allows you to rent a bike, and your whole family should take advantage of this to explore this beautiful city in peace. That way, you can cruise around Fisherman’s Wharf and other places of interest. When you’re done for the day, San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the most popular local hotels that’s located nearby, is always there for you to rest your feet.

California’s cuisine

Name a kid who doesn’t like a good hamburger. It just doesn’t happen. Luckily, California is full of fast food places that will make your mouth salivate at the thought of biting into that fresh piece of meat. In January, there’s also a cheeseburger week, a festival that’s dedicated to the burgers we all know and love. If you come by at just the right time, you will be able to stuff your mouth full of these almost for free.

Conclusion

California can either be an escape from the winter’s grasp, or an enhancement of what winter can offer. In any case, gathering your whole family will make for a once-in-a-lifetime experience full of adventure that is soothing and relaxing at the same time. Have you mapped out your trip to California yet?

Parenting is wonderful when you have bingo as your companion!

2 / 23 / 16

‘Parenting is beautiful’- the saying which every parent on earth would surely agree to. Parents have to go through lots of patience and sacrifices for proper upbringing of their kids but a child’s presence simply makes their life worth living.

It is true that it involves many roles or responsibilities on the parts of both father and mother to raise their children. It so happens sometimes that you end up spending sleepless nights due to your kid’s sudden yell or disturbed sleep or a need to change their diapers at intervals. Now this is really a challenge for you, particularly after having a tiring day at your office and home.

A feeling of complaint or boredom often tends to touch the lives of parents due to every day stresses and worries. But being a mother of twins, I honestly confess that parenthood is infact the most wonderful phase of life if you really know well on how to rightly balance between your work and play.

You can compensate for your sleepless nights by sleeping earlier and for more hours in those nights when your children get their usual peaceful sleep. To prevent monotony from setting upon you, you can engage yourself in interesting activities that does wonders and perk you up in minutes!

Personally, I take some hours off from my daily routines to indulge in the things I enjoy doing. The range of my recreational activities vary from one to the other according to my mood every day. One thing that remains constant as my chosen mode of entertainment regularly is playing or spending a quality time with my kids that just acts as a perfect stress buster.

My other areas of interest include watching some good movies or throwing a surprise party for my friends or watching fashion videos in YouTube. My list of favourites still continues with stitching new dresses, cooking new dishes, baking cakes and playing fun-filled games.

My next day worries of sending my kids to school early morning or getting their breakfast box ready with the right amount of nutrition- all simply seem to vanish away whenever I play bingo games on my favourite New Look Bingo. The site has in store free bingo games which you can play on simple sign up. You can also relish on a range of exciting games like bingo, slots, casino and freebets.

So, if you are a busy mother today then just come forward and hit the site’s unique bingo rooms in your free time! Shout your bingo winnings, sense the perfect fun and am sure very soon this game will also make you feel- parenting is simply awesome. Do not forget to laugh out loud with your cheerful online friends and chat hosts that simply inculcate more amusement to your bingo hours.

Family Bonding Moment

9 / 25 / 13

One of the things that our family do during spare time (no classes or weekends) is to do some fun activity that the whole family will enjoy.

Mall hopping. Whenever budget permits, we do go to the mall and tag the kids along whenever we do shopping. Kids love it whenever we also do grocery shopping as they get the chance to choose their favorite snacks to school, they also love to line up in the cashier whenever it’s time to pay the groceries.

Dining out. Food tripping that is! We make sure to try out what’s the latest craze in food section and restos. 🙂 Buffets, milk tea craze and more.

If and when we’re on tight budget, we just stayed indoor and do something creative! Kids love to do some arts and craft. To keep the whole family involved, we do play game boards like Monopoly, scrabble, twister and more.

Infographic below shows game boards that keeps family on a fun game nights!

familygamenight.net

Family game nights are fun ways to keep family bonded and the kids very happy without hurting your pocket. Nothing beats being at the comfort of your home and in the arms of your loved ones! So time to set up a family game night every once in awhile. 😉

Long Weekend

8 / 25 / 13

We are currently on a vacation mode until tomorrow, Monday (August 26) in Lieu of the National Heroes Day Holiday. Yesterday, I was able to enjoy laundry-ing our clothes when Mr. Sun finally showed up brightly until late afternoon.

But it rained hard again last night and I thought of another horrible flood, just like what happened last week that led to suspension of classes due to monsoon rain enhanced by Typhoon Maring for about 3 days.

A 4 days total of no classes which includes the Ninoy Aquino Day last Wednesday (August 21). Classes resumed last Friday in our place, Tuesday next week for other areas in the Metro.

The little boy got a terrible colds last Wednesday, he was stuck on the bed the whole day. We made him this:

Fresh Dalandan

Dalandan Water!

Aside from cough and colds medications, this really worked well for him. He is up and active the very next day and were able to go to class last Friday! 🙂

Hooray for a sun shiny Sunday morning today! continuous rain makes me really feel gloomy. I hope it goes for the rest of the day and until next week as I am really looking forward to a meet up with blogger friends.

Food Treat at Alex III

6 / 23 / 13

Ate Irma invited the whole family to a dinner treat at Alex III, Robinson’s Galleria last June 12. She was here for a week long semi vacation, she has a speaking engagement at UP and to attend their organization’s 40th anniversary (with Ate Irene and her hubby).

Most of the kids were present since it was a public holiday (Independence Day). The usual, we were full and can’t breath with all the yummy foods on the table.

Sinigang na Bangus

Grilled Chicken

Crispy Pata

Chopsuey

Desserts:

Leche Flan

Macapuno & Ube ice cream

Here they are! Yours truly was the one taking this group shot! 😀

Tummy full, all smiles!

Long Weekend

8 / 19 / 12

We are currently enjoying our long weekend. Though we’re not going somewhere on an out of town vacation, just at home! 🙂 makes me giddy excited. You know, just getting around with my family at home doing nothing extra special is enough for me. Just the thought of having four days away from office work gives me the sense of peace and relaxation.

Yesterday, we went to a nearby hypermarket to do the grocery. We spent a lot of time going around, checking on what’s new in the home and appliance section. Had a great time eating on Lugaw (rice porridge), carbonara, Mc Float and Mc Flurry. What a great combination! Ahaha!

Ate Gabby enjoying her Mc Flurry

My Jumbo bowl of lugaw 😀

and my Monster Mc Float! it’s been ages since the last time, so I had it all by myself. lol!

Daddy slip on the terrace during those rainy past weeks and almost break his arm. He did try out the ball shooting and proudly told me that he almost beat the score. So no more achy arm there I guess!

While Ate Gabby is still fond of those “uga-uga” rides! 😀 We were teasing here that she’s too big to fit in there.

We also both tried the piso games,I just forgot to take a picture while playing as we were both enjoying it. It’s actually like the colored games were you have to place your bet and guess the color in which the money will appear. I think we won around P20 there.

The little boy is not with us here because we actually avoided having “chaos” 😀 whenever the two are together. But he’ll surely be included in the future lakad~:) I am so looking forward to the next long weekend!

A Much Needed Break

5 / 13 / 12

… happened for three days this week. We were able to go on a vacation with the whole family away from the busy city life. Hearing and seeing only the waves of the sea, a cool breeze of wind on an early morning walk along the bay.

Witnessing the sunrise and sunset by the beach, a savoring moment indeed…

Kids enjoyed the sand and the beach, a priceless moment indeed!

Rarely we got the chance to go for quick getaway like this, that’s why we are so happy that we were able to spend quality time to bond together as a family. We are so thankful to Ate I for inviting us once again on a free vacation trip. So looking forward on our next summer getaway! 🙂

I Love Weekends

5 / 5 / 12

Long hours of sleep, that’s what I love about weekends! The only time I could catch up with sleep and rest without thinking of any rush work to do’s (except online tasks). My Saturday morning is filled with household chores, cleaning and laundry.

After lunch, I spend time going online to catch up with online activities and goes for late afternoon sleep 🙂 I just love the weather today, just enough rain to make the whole afternoon a comfortable one. No icky feeling brought about by hot and humid weather! Kids are busy playing around on weekends, taking the pleasure of having their free time this summer. Relaxation and being with my family is what I always look forward about weekend. 🙂

Kids Christmas Loots

12 / 30 / 11

Finally, I had the chance to do some updates here. Yesterday was the last day at work for 2011. We’ll be going back to the office on January 3 next year. We started this morning doing the general cleaning. Yes, I believe in folks when they say that new year should be welcome with a clean house to sweep away the bad luck of the preceding year and make way for the new luck and opportunities of the coming year 🙂

Let me share with you what made the kids got giddy last Christmas. Here are their Christmas loots.

Cupcakes!

Angry Birds on their Santa hat cupcake toppers

These little cupcake toppers just really made the kids (especially the little boy) happy! They asked me to take lots of pictures and specifically a solo shot of each and everyone. Ahaha! This is their Christmas breakfast. Thanks to Ate Irene for making these wonderful gifts for them. It is indeed their favorite gift 🙂

This market-eco bag contains goodies (cookies, chocolates, biscuits and a bear toy) that DD got from my bil’s office where she went to join in for the employees’ kids Christmas party.