One of the things I enjoyed most when I was pregnant with my child is shopping! It wasn’t a chore for me and I enjoyed picking the right stuff for my daughter plus I get to walk around and exercise. I took a lot of time and effort to choose the right pushchair, crib, cots, playpens, clothing and other accessories for my baby that would best suit my baby, our lifestyle and since I intended to use it frequently it had to be of top quality and at a good price.

Here’s some tips I could offer for mom-to-be’s when shopping for baby pushchairs and prams.

• Decide what type of pushchair you need. When I checked out the stores, I was really amazed at the wide selections available. There are single, double, triple.. Your decision would depend on the number of children who will use it.

• If you will use one for travel and you want  lightweight and easy to carry stroller, you may want to check out umbrella type. This type of pushchair usually do not have much storage area for your baby bag or cups.

• For regular sized pushchairs you can also find lightweight choices if storage is a must. Most regular sized strollers have extra seat padding plus storage underneath and place for baby cups.

• If you plan to use the stroller for long walks, do check out the tires. Air filled ones are the best since they work as shock absorbers too.

I’m lousy in math and I’ve been thinking that I hated the subject because I’ve been conditioned to think its difficult. But I don’t want my child to be “math phobic” so I’m seriously considering enrolling her to an after school program with innovative math learning programs.

These programs are steadily gaining popularity because of their innovative ways to improve math learning experience.

It is reputed to be the world’s bigest after school mathematics and language learning program. This method was established in 1954 by Toru Kumon of Japan.

The method of curriculum has a very linear approach to learning. Once a concept is introduced with simple exercises, the difficulty level gradually increases in very small, incremental steps. The program has 23 study levels of 20 units per level.

What more could I say but Thank you and I hope you keep dropping here.

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These sites are also some of the one’s I regularly visit and I am really pleased that they take the time to return my drops and visit this site. Do check them out..

I loathe packing and my idea of packing is dumping whatever is within my reach with nary a thought if I actually need the thing or not. I usually end up buying a lot of stuff in my destination, which makes me so irritable… well, the money I spent could well go to other things like souvenirs etc. And not only that, my clothes end up so rumpled and who’d want to wear clothes that make you look like you’re just out of bed.

That was then. After some mishaps I’ve finally learned to have some patience with packing and its actually good I experienced those unfortunate things in traveling so now I am more diligent in packing. Funny though it was my husband who taught me the art of packing. He’s so meticulous when it comes to packing and since he travels really often he knows what should be done..I always keep this in mind – “Bring everything you need and make sure its wearable when it gets there.”

Here’s some important reminders when packing for a trip:

• Be organized. Make a list (yes! a list..) Do check out my list below, it might be of some help.

• Roll clothes not fold. This will minimize wrinkles. You can roll three to four pieces together. You can also wrap each bundle in dry cleaning bags.

• Use those small compartments in you luggage. Fill all crevices. Chunky fashion accessories and other small items usually fit in these slots. Your socks could go into your shoes, saves space right?

• Get yourself those small pill/medicine organizers. Great for your medication and buy another one for your small accessories like rings and earrings. That way they would avoid being tangled up and getting lost.

• If you are taking the plane then use the bulkier shoe, and just pack lightweight shoes like sandals and flip flops.

• Have a ready toiletry bag. Tote bags works best. Put your travel friendly makeup, and have some mini-bottles of perfume and lotions. Fill them only up to 2/3 full to prevent leaking especially if your taking the plane where there is air pressure.

• Bring dry cleaning bags. These are very handy in preventing crinkles on your clothes and can be used for soiled clothes packing once your trip is over. if you don’t have dry cleaning bags, clear plastic bags can be used too.

• Make sure you have some identifying marks on a luggage, a ribbon, a large nametag whatever you fancy. A lot of luggages look the same and when people are in a hurry, switching luggages can be a possibility. So make your luggage look distinct.

Here’s my Packing List:

IMPORTANT (stuff you wouldn’t dare forget )

To say that the Philippines is a calamity prone area would be an understatement. The country lies within the typhoon belt of Western Pacific and on average we get to have at least 19 typhoons each year. It doesn’t stop there, we are also on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are not rare.

Just recently Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) have wrecked havoc on our country and a capsized ferry leaving some dead, hundreds homeless and others missing. It’s really sad and I hope more would be rescued and I hope to see more survivors.

I grew up in Bicol Region and this area is one of most commonly hit by typhoons. And not only that, the region is also home to two active volcanoes. In my home province, Albay, we have the most active volcano in the Philippnes – Mayon Volcano. So when we have typhoon and continuous raining, lahar and mudflows won’t be far behind.

While the typhoon was ravaging Metro Manila area yesterday it brought back a lot of childhood typhoon memories. When I was less than 5 years old I was so ecstatic whenever I hear that a typhoon is coming. Why? Our place in Bicol has a big lot area with lots of trees, and my dad has lots of banana plants and after typhoon comes all banana trees are down as well as most of the coconut trees and me and my sister would pretend they are bridges and would have our “make-believe” adventures. At that time I didn’t understand the horrors typhoons brings.