Fun day at KidZania Manila For The Launch of PROMIL® FOUR's Talent Development Center

Last Friday, December 6, 2019, I together with my not-so-little-girls, Athena and Brianna was at KidZanila Manila for the official launch of PROMIL® FOUR’s Talent Development Center, to help moms discover and nurture their children’s gifts.

It's been a while since I last attended events due to our current set up, working at home, no helper. Good thing there were no classes that Friday because it was a day after their school field trip. Also, I would gladly attend and support events that I believe in, and this is one of them. 

That day and the day after, I flooded my Instagram stories with photos and videos of the fun Athena, Brianna and I had They were excited to try almost every "job" available at the establishment. Though tiring, it was a joy seeing them having fun. Also, through playing and portraying each job, I could clearly tell which one they enjoy the most. 

Best Beaches Near Fort Myers

 

Image Credit: Pexels

Fort Myers, Florida is one of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the state. Situated on the Eastern side of the state, Fort Myers is often overlooked when it comes to popular Florida vacation spots in favor of more popular cities like Miami and Orlando. However, anyone who has ever visited Fort Myers can attest to how breathtakingly beautiful it is. One of Fort Myers’ best assets is the abundance of beaches near the city. Whether you’re thinking about purchasing a piece of Fort Myers real estate or are simply planning to visit, here are a few of the best beaches the area has to offer.

Crescent Beach Family Park

Kicking off our list is Crescent Beach Family Park. Crescent Beach Family Park spans 2.25 acres of waterfront property in Fort Myers Beach, surrounded by 400 feet of pure white sand. The park is also known for being one of the most family-friendly areas in Fort Myers, as the beach is equipped with picnic tables, volleyball courts, and public restrooms, perfect for family outings. If you’re looking for a great place to spend a day with the family, Crescent Beach Family Park is a must-visit.

Dog Beach

For dog lovers everywhere, it doesn’t get much better than Fort Myers’ Dog Beach. Dog Beach is one of the most pet-friendly places in Fort Myers, and on any given day, tons of furry friends can be seen splashing around in the waves and playing in the sand. Note that you don’t have to have a dog to visit the beach- many animal lovers prefer to simply sit back and watch the pups play! If you do decide to bring your dog, the beach is equipped with shower stations to wash your pet before leaving, as well as a public restroom for humans.

Lovers Key State Park

Just as the name suggests, Lovers Key State Park is one of the most romantic beaches in Fort Myers. Accessible only by boat, Lovers Key State Park offers a more secluded option for anyone looking to escape to the beach for the day. The beach offers plenty to do for visiting couples, from kayaking and canoeing to bicycling and more. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or simply looking for something new to do as a couple, you can’t go wrong with Lovers Key State Park.

Newton Park

Newton Park is one of the most historic beaches in Fort Myers, making it a must-visit for history buffs. The beach is named after Jim and Ellie Newton, a husband and wife who were associates of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Charles Lindbergh. The Newton’s former home, the Seven Seas cottage, is still functioning to this day and is even available for special events! For a beautiful beach getaway with a little historical background, Newtown Park is not one to be missed!

5 Bonding Activities You Can Do with Your Children

"The bond between mother and child is unique and lasting, starting from pregnancy and influencing life well into adulthood. A mom is often the child’s first friend, playmate, and teacher."

In this fast-paced world, a modern working mom’s time with her child is incredibly limited. Being a work at home mom to 3 kids, without a household help nor a baby sitter, I see to it that I set time every day to bond with my children—and take every chance to turn regular activities into quality time for us.

There are various fun and educational activities moms can do with their kids every day. The kids will not only enjoy these activities but will also develop valuable skills and habits needed for life.

Cooking

If there’s one thing kids love doing, it’s eating! Since they already love to munch on their food, teaching them how to cook will make them appreciate what goes into their meal. This activity can make kids realize their dreams of becoming a chef—or help establish healthier eating habits at least.

Arts & Crafts

A child’s imagination and creativity know no bounds, that’s why it’s important to do activities that will help develop their artistic skills. Doing arts and crafts projects with your child will expose them to a world full of visual imagery, which can be a new channel of communication between parent and child.

Gardening

Growing a garden is a surprisingly relaxing way to teach kids about the importance of nature and the environment. It also teaches them to be responsible, as plants are placed under their care.

This activity might be a challenge for those living in small spaces or condominiums like us but it is possible. You can grow succulents or plants that can be planted in small pots. 

Playing Sports

Kids need to have fun and be active, and sports enables them to experience both. Physical activities such as running and playing badminton will give kids the energy and strength they need as they grow. Playing sports with your kids will also teach them how to play fairly and win a game with a ‘teammate’.

As for us, we love swimming and biking. I am looking into other sports that I could involve the kids into. 

Bath Time

One of the most relaxing and intimate bonding moments between a mom and her child is bath time. Bath time with the kids can be used as another means of communication between mother and child, creating conversations that both of them will fondly treasure. 

An activity as simple as bathing your toddler can create a lasting bond between a mom and her child. My kids could take a bath on their own especially our eldest, Tristan who is now 10 years old. But, sometimes, I still get to bathe with my 2 girls, Athena and Brianna. Making the most out of it while I still can!

Bath time with the kids isn’t only a great bonding activity, as it’s also one way of showing your kids the importance of taking care of their body, keeping their skin clean and from acquiring unwanted skin diseases. Cetaphil Baby further strengthens this bond thanks to their line of products that gently touches your toddler’s skin.

The Cetaphil Baby products are made up of ingredients that keep your child’s skin moisturized while also soothing sensitive skin, making it an ideal bath time essential for kids.

STRIPES RUN 2019: Run for Reading!

This year, McDonald's once again invites families and friends to pledge their support for children's literacy at Stripes Run 2019. Now on its 10th year, McDonald’s Stripes Run 2019 run for reading will be help on December 1, 2019 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

For the past 10 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in the Philippines has been the beneficiary of McDonald's Stripes Run. Proceeds of the annual fun run go to the Ronald McDonald Read to Learn - a beginning reading program for Grade 1 and 2 public elementary school students. In partnership with DepEd, it aims to eradicate illiteracy among Filipino children. To date, the Ronald McDonald Read To Learn program has reached over 12 million students, trained over 28 thousand educators, and distributed more than 367 thousand books.

Registration is quick and easy, with three possible options to choose from:

1. Register and pay online at mcdostripesrun.com.ph.

2. Download the form on mcdostripesrun.com.ph and pay for the registration fee at select McDonald’s stores.

3. Register and pay at select McDonald’s stores (View list of stores at https://mcdostripesrun.com.ph/how-to-join)

At an affordable price, you get a race kit with a Stripes Run shirt, 1 pair of Stripes Socks, 1 Race Bib, 1 McDonald’s Longgadesal, and 1 Race Map. Exciting game booths and activities also await the entire family and barkada during the run!

Kids and adults alike are welcome to run for reading with the various running categories to choose from:

• Kiddie stripes (1K) – 8 years old and below
• Young stripes (3K) – 8-15 years old
• 3K stripes – 16 years old and up
• Family stripes (3K) – 2 kids (15 years old and below) and 2 adults (16 years old and up)
• 5K stripes – 16 years old and up 
• Squad stripes (5K) – 4 adults (16 years old and up)
• 10K stripes – 16 years old and up

Get your family and friends to run with you at Stripes Run 2019! Share your experience by using the hashtag #McDoStripesRun and tagging @McDo_PH on Twitter and Instagram. For more information on Stripes Run 2019, visit mcdostripesrun.com.ph or follow McDonald's Philippines on Facebook.

How We Make Toothbrush Time a Hapee Time!

October went by so fast! It only seems like yesterday when I was dressing up the kids with their Halloween costumes DIYed by me, of course. This year, we celebrated Haloween here in the condo again, that's two times in a row already. Though this year, we didn't go trick or treating, the kids still got a lot of candies from the party! I haven't stored their pumpkin pails yet, as there are still candies in it! Yes, I allow my kids to eat candy, but only 1 to 2 pieces a day, there are days when they don't get any. 

And, just right in time after Halloween, we got this box of Hapee-ness filled with Hapee Kiddie toothpaste! With so many candies waiting to be eaten, this box is a perfect reminder for Tristan, Athena, and Brianna to brush their teeth.

Well, I don't have any trouble getting them to brush their teeth anyway.

Okay, I said, "don't" not "didn't." I've also experienced, forcing a crying toddler to get to brush their teeth at one point (multiply it by 3 lol). I've been there too, so I know the struggle. And I'm glad we got passed that stage. Right now, the only setback is when they forget to brush their teeth, so I have to remind them sometimes, and they'd do it without any drama. 

How We Make Toothbrush Time a Hapee Time!

How did we do it? Well, it took a reasonable amount of time, a handful of patience, and some good old' techniques to make it work. Let me share some that worked for us!

1. Ever heard of the phrase "brushing alone is not enough"? Took it literally, so we brush our teeth together! One way to get the kids to do what you want is to lead by example. This way, we also get to show them how it is done correctly. 

2. Brushing may be fun when we do it together, but we also have to teach them how to do it independently. Let them do it alone (still with your supervision, of course) even if they are not doing it right the first few times. Let them enjoy it, they will learn eventually. Now, both Tristan and Athena are teaching their little sister Brianna how to brush her teeth!

3. Teaching them the importance of brushing their teeth and the benefit they will get out of it. Let them know that a happy and healthy kid has a clean and strong set of teeth. Instead of scaring them and telling them, "your teeth will fall off if you don't brush" or "you won't have any of this if you don't brush your teeth." 

4. Play fun music or set a timer when brushing your teeth to make sure they brush their teeth for 2 minutes.

5. Let them choose their toothbrushes or buy the ones in their favorite color or characters! 

6. This may be the last, but I believe it is a vital one. Make sure to choose the right toothpaste for kids. Make it colorful and flavorful, because if kids say it's yucky, they won't do it. 

Aside from that, the right toothpaste for kids contains a safe level of fluoride, just like Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste.

Look at all the colorful packaging and flavorful variants you and your kids can choose from! 

Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste is available in fruity flavors; Apple Crunch, Juicy Grapes Orange Squeeze, Strawberry Bloom, and Tutti Frutti Twist. There are also other sweet treats that kids love- the Bubblegum Pop, and Cookies and Cream Ahoy.

Kids can have one flavor every day! Isn't that exciting?

#MakeBrushTimeHapeeTime and your kids will surely not look at tooth brushing as a dreaded task. 

If this won't make your kids look forward to brushing their teeth, then I don't know what else will! 

Find out more about Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste, you may visit their Facebook Page here.

Add color to your diet with Australian Navel Oranges + Facts

The main variety of orange is the Navel which is usually seedless, easy to peel, skin, very sweet juicy

flesh, and a small protrusion at one end that resembles a human navel (hence the name of this variety)

Australian Navel Oranges are available and in season from June to October each year. Hort Innovation’s Taste Australia campaign is bringing the highest quality Navel Oranges back from Australia’s southeast regions to the Philippines. It aims to cement existing trade relations and develop new partnerships between the two countries.

Only sourced from the highest quality crops, Australian oranges are at their prime and Taste Australia encourages consumers to make the most of the peak season and indulge in this colorful, sweet, juicy and nutritious fruit.

And just in time for Trick or Treat, we received a small box of Australian Navel Oranges. I added it on top of the candies the kids got from the Halloween party!

Health benefits

Australian oranges are famous for its high Vitamin C content and natural flu-fighting properties. They are also high in antioxidants, fibre, folate and potassium. Australian oranges have numerous health and nutritional benefits including:

● Nutrient density which is great for weight control

● Good source of folate which is perfect for pregnant women (may help prevent spina bifida) and the rest of the family (helps the immune system and heart)

● Great for blood pressure control with high potassium and low salt

● Rich in antioxidants which helps keep you fit and healthy throughout the year.

Application and recipes

Australian oranges are incredibly versatile, making them the perfect anytime snack or addition to sweet or savory dishes. Oranges are a great alternative to a quick fix sugary drink or a chocolate bar as they contain carbohydrates and B vitamins.

Must-try recipes can be found at http://www.oranges.com.au/recipes.

Selection and storage at home

1. Make sure to select fruit that has bright orange skin, is firm, and feels heavy for its size (avoid

dry, wrinkled or softer looking orangesas they do not ripen further after harvest.).

2. Oranges can be stored for up to two weeks at room temperature, and longer when refrigerated.

● Store oranges unwashed as moisture on the skin can lead to mould.

● Either peel or wash oranges in cool water before slicing. If cutting, use a clean cutting board to prevent cross-contamination.

● Do not freeze oranges or store them below 3°C.

You still have time to try this delectable fruit at in-store and sampling sessions taking place at participating retailers such as Rustan’s, Shopwise, Wellcome, S&R, Robinson’s, SM and other major supermarkets. Consumers can also find participating retailers, view trending recipes, learn helpful tips and tricks, or be involved in the latest conversations by following Taste Australia - Philippines on @TasteAustraliaPhilippines on Facebook and @TasteAustraliaPH on Instagram.

Henry and Sons introduces transparency platform for coffee

In the recently concluded World Food Expo Manila, Henry and Sons President and CEO Michael Harris Conlin launched croptomarket.com—a digital transparency platform that displays a detailed information of coffee from the farmers to the retail market.

During his presentation in the forum “A Taste of the Cordillera” recently, Conlin explains how customers can access the transparency report on every can of coffee purchased from Henry and Sons. By scanning the QR code on the can, the website will appear on the screen that shows information about the farmer where the coffee cherries were purchased, and the process of roasting and manufacturing of the coffee beans until it reaches its target consumers. It also reveals the breakdown of cost of the product—from crop to market.

In partnership with the Saddle Hartwell Lumbag Coffee Growers Association through the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence, Henry and Sons also introduced the Nano Lots coffee series featuring the backyard farmers from Itogon, Benguet namely Lolita, Cayamdas, Hilda, and Rita. These coffee cans are the pioneer products to utilize the platform.

The Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence is the advocacy arm of Henry and Sons geared to address the major issues in the coffee farming industry. Its connection to the farmers began when the foundation provided an aid to the residents of Itogon, Benguet after typhoon Ompong struck the town in 2018. Mining, which used to be the community’s main source of livelihood, greatly contributed to the landslide that left the town devastated. Learning this, the foundation started to work with the farmers to help their town transform into a fully sustainable coffee growing community.

Conlin, who is also a social entrepreneur, aims to demonstrate transparency, accountability and trust throughout the agricultural value chain and to positively impact the Philippine agricultural sector through the new platform. “Now, the consumers can truly see how their hard-earned money helps the entire value chain,” Conlin states.

The featured coffees will be available at Rustan’s Department Store, The Giving Café, and at Henry and Sons’ e-commerce website TheVault.ph.