Notepad Corner

Weekends are to families what a fallen morsel of bread is to an army of ants- they’re both something keenly looked forward to.   After a long and tiring work or school week, all parents and kids can think about is a much-needed respite.  If spending hours at the mall no longer sounds appealing to you, why not try doing something different together as a family- like cycling?  If the idea of cycling is totally alien to you, here are some tips on how to have an awesome time cycling with the family: Safety comes first Before anything else, make sure yours and the kids’ bikes are safe to ride on.  If you hardly know anything about bikes, have an expert do a safety check on your wheels before you hit the road.  The brakes should work, of course.  Comfort is also important.  The height of the bike should be proportional to your height, and suspension has to be sufficient, in order to cushion the blow when you hit bumps on the road. 

It’s just been days before Halloween and you find yourself at lost over how to put up an amazingly spooktacular Halloween party for your kids. The 31st day of October is of course the best date for it and a lot of preparations are in order so you won’t find yourself spooked by half-hazardly planned party. Don’t stress yourself, even with a limited time and money; you can pull-off a Halloween party with these cool ideas. My God-daughter Jerika Javien Barbero as Princess Dracula Halloween parties are about spooky costume contest, ghoulish face painting, zombies, monsters, witches, pumpkin carving and apple-bobbling games. The party should have that eerie and exciting feel to spook your guests. Involve your family in the party preparations to come up with haunting ideas, creepy decorations, music and mind-boggling menu that will make your party the most horror-rific in your neighborhood. 

You probably can’t stop pinching yourself to test your lucidity.  It’s because you can hardly believe that you’re not dreaming, that you’re turning the key, unlocking the door to your new pad.  Finally you have a place you can call your own.  Although your living room may seemingly not be big enough to do a decent burpee, you can still do something to make it look spacious and comfortable to move around in. Photo credits:  intarya.com Go glass .  Opt for glass pieces of furniture, as these reflect light, giving off the illusion of space.  And because they’re see-through, it has a barely-there effect to it. Modular matters .  Choose modular types of furniture, such as an L-shaped sofa.  This is something you can fit snugly in a corner of your living room, while still giving enough seating space.

The time has swung around once again. The family holiday. Instead of packing the kids into the back of the car, plying them with electronic games and portable DVD players, avoiding their pleas of stopping here and pausing there (or fielding petulant requests to just take them home already), discard your plans for another cross country/state/town trip and inject a little excitement into their lives. Once we reach a certain age, we stop being adventurous, favouring caution instead, but what if I told you that adventure will bring everybody closer together? No more forced bonding moments or tense discussion about stuff or school or friends you don’t like, actual mutual discovery and affirming moments. Sound fun? Great, keep reading. image courtesy of Sura Nualpradid - FreeDigitalPhotos.Net The Great Barrier Reef, Australia Take a dive Down Under and revel in the beauty of an underwater wonderland, bustling with life and colourful corals. The kids won’t have time to get bored,

September 25, 2013, the Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation 655 which released a list of holidays, special days and special nonworking days for the year 2014. You can now mark your calendar and plan ahead with your family getaway to take advantage of getting the special deals on early travel reservation or accomodation. Get the most of the 20 days break next year and enjoy bonding with your loved ones. Below is the List of Philippine holidays for 2014: Regular Holidays New Year’s Day - Jan. 1, Wednesday Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9, Wednesday      Maundy Thursday - April 17 Good Friday - April 18                                  Labor Day - May 1, Thursday                                   Independence Day - June 12, Thursday National Heroes Day - Aug. 25, last Monday of August Bonifacio Day - Nov. 30, Sunday Christmas Day - Dec. 25, Thursday Rizal Day - Dec. 39, Tuesday 

Now, before we get going here I should probably begin with a disclaimer: there is nothing wrong with vintage, traditional bathrooms. There isn’t! The ability to combine the best of cutting edge technology with classic style is still a fine way to go. It’s just not the only way… Yes, we are looking at contemporary bathrooms here, which is just as good a design path to take as traditional; it all depends on your taste and your home. But the trick is how to achieve a gloriously modern look in your bathroom while still maintaining the high level of functionality that you will need. image courtesy of bathempire.com Well, here are a few suggestions. Ceramics The suite elements of your bathroom are, undeniably, going to be the ones that really grab the attention. To this end, you must ensure that they correspond to modern styling. A back to wall toilet offers minimalism due to its concealed cistern, for instance, while take pains to pick out basins and baths that ev

It can be a bit difficult to find wearable trends for the coming Holidays and the same can be said for kid’s Christmas outfits. The season is considered as the happiest time of the year. It is when the family will come together for a massive Christmas feast and spend time in utter relaxation. It is also the time for the kids to feel festive for this is their time to show off. Usually, kids become entertainers in family gatherings thus parents stress over Christmas outfit ideas for kids. For both boys and girls, parents should go for comfort over style and designs when it comes to fancy costumes so that the little ones can enjoy themselves. Bright colors and Christmas hues will surely hit kids outfit store so be on the lookout for reds, greens, and some metallic trimmings on accessories. Little girls will look cute and elegant in velour or velvet party dresses. Though some parents would dress little their girls in pixie fairy or angel costumes, you should choose something