Friday, August 29, 2014

Best Educational Electronic Toys

A lot of parents say that children shouldn't be playing with electronics at a young age. I say, "Why not?" Everything in moderation! I don't want my children glued to an electronic device at all times, but I do appreciate how helpful some educational electronic toys can be. That being said, there are also plenty that are totally not worth their money. Below is my list of recommendations.

  • VTech InnoTab - This tablet comes with learning games, interactive reading, activities, and engaging tools. It does not come with a camera like LeapPad, but it is also a lot less expensive, so you don't cringe quite so hard, if it gets broken. There is no shortage of popular characters on the available software either. Dora the Explorer, Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Hello Kitty, Scooby-Doo, and Thomas & Friends are a few my kids love.
  • VTech Tote & Go Laptop - Perfect for pre-school age children, this fun laptop has 20 learning activities already loaded that teaches numbers, spelling, shapes, and letters. You can also connect to a PC to download more activities.
  • LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet - I recently purchased this one for a birthday present for one of my kids, and it is really great. I don't recommend it for super young children because it is a little pricey, but it has a built-in camera and more than 100 educational applications, games, videos, and books covering an array of subjects like reading, math, and science.
  • LeapFrog Scribble & Write - Be kind to the environment and skip wasting all that scrap paper used to learn how to write. This handheld toy has a screen that even displays dots of letters, so they can connect the dots. The audio is very encouraging.
  • LeapFrog Learn & Groove Music Player - This device features four activity modes and encourages motor skill development. It has 20 upbeat learning songs. The only downfall is this thing is pretty loud, even on the lowest setting, and unfortunately there is no headphone port.
  • Text & Learn - Children love to mimic their parents. Since they likely see you texting, they will love this handheld gadget. The graphics are a little dated, but I love the oversized keys. Plus, it is the perfect size for in the car.
Big Joe Original Little LoungerLime
Kids love to have their own space. Rather than having to climb up on an uncomfortable sofa where their feet can't even touch, I recommend a bean bag chair. All of my kids have them now, and I wish I had bought them sooner. There is a great selection available online from stores like SoothingCompany.com.






Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Collage.com One-Click Photo Book 51% off Deal

Creating a photo book just got a lot easier. Try out Collage.com's 11.5x8.5 hardcover book for just $25! Collage.com's new One-Click Photo Book is the fastest photo book builder available. Their innovative auto-placement engine instantly suggests a perfect layout, placing photos of any size in chronological order over the desired number of pages. 
This puts your photos front and center - No more shoehorning them into prefab templates. Best of all, their aerial overview allows you to quickly swap and resize photos from any page instead of making you work one page at a time.
So why not create a professional photo book with a single click using Collage.com's One-Click Photo Book. Select photos of any size from Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or your computer and they will instantly suggest a clean, professional layout that you can further customize.

Deal: Use this link for 51% off a 20-page 11.5"x8" Hardcover Photo Book From Collage.com: http://bit.ly/collagepbdeal






Natural Bridge Caverns Ticket Deals

Have you ever been to Natural Bridge Caverns? Natural Bridge Caverns is naturally amazing! If you would like to experience one of the world's premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns is the place for you. Take the Discovery Tour and see what millions of others have seen - an incredible underground world of natural beauty. This 75-minute tour explores a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas.
The Hidden Passages Tour gives guests an up-close view of rare and delicate cave formations illuminated by a state-of-the-art lighting system and includes a total darkness experience. Pan for gems, minerals and fossils like miners panned for gold at the Natural Bridge Mining Company. 
Take on the Canopy Challenge--a 4-level, 60 foot high challenge course and zip lines! Climb, navigate and hang while secured from a safety harness before you "zip" over the Hill Country on one of 4 zip lines. Recently opened, Discovery Village has new food, beverage and retail spaces along with a beautiful courtyard and 5,000 square foot outdoor maze. Picnic grounds also available. Open year-round starting at 9am, with special hours in spring and summer.
My Readers Save $2 off an Adult and $1 off a Child's Discovery Tour ticket. Valid only on the Discovery Tour, cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit 6 per coupon.  For More information on Natural Bridge Caverns please visit naturalbridgecaverns.com today!






Thursday, August 21, 2014

Kagay-an Festival Marathon Participants

A big shout out to my brothers who finished the marathon! Great job, guys! I'm one proud sister. I wish I was there and join the fun.
 It was actually my big bro's first time to participate in a fund run. I'm sure he had a blast.
I can't wait to see them running again together.






Tuesday, August 19, 2014

7 Best Places to Explore Vietnam

Vietnam holidays can be filled with everything from grottos to rice fields. But what if you're overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities presented by such a diverse country? Where are the best places to go wandering in Vietnam? Here are just seven destinations that you won't want to miss.
1: Ho Chi Minh
Filled with crowds, scooters and street vendors, Ho Chi Minh is where you'll want to go to experience the hustle and bustle of a genuine Vietnamese city. Just don't leave without tasting some banh pho!

2: Cat Tien National Park
Located in the beautiful mountains of Saigon, Cat Tien National Park offers a thrilling look into one of Asia's only remaining rainforests. You'll see everything from yellow-cheeked gibbons to orange-necked partridges!

3: Mekong Delta
Take a step back in time by visiting the Mekong Delta. Not only is it dotted with plantations and sugar cane groves down every stream, but the villages are old-fashioned as well, offering friendly faces to everyone they meet.

4: Nha Trang
You can't visit Vietnam without experiencing one of its resort towns, and Nha Trang is by far the greatest. The beaches are pristine; the palm trees are picturesque; the hotels and office buildings gleam in the sunlight. If you're looking for a luxury vacation, Nha Trang is the destination for you.

5: Hoi An
Another Vietnamese classic, Hoi An has been around for two millennia, and its long history is reflected in everything from its architecture to its cultural heritage sites. You could walk for days and still not see everything!

6: Phong Nha National Park
If you've never climbed a mountain to the sounds of birdsong, here's your chance. Phong Nha National Park protects another one of Vietnam's forests, and after exploring its dense, lush trails and seeing all the fauna for yourself, you'll understand why the people take such pride in it.

7: Ha Long Bay
Try something new at Ha Long Bay! With literally thousands of islands to choose from, you can swim, surf or snorkel in the water before climbing ashore to explore caves and sinkholes. You can also take to the sky for hang-gliding or helicopter tours. There's always something to do at Ha Long Bay!

These are just seven places in Vietnam that every traveler should see at least once. Whether you're a first-time visitor or an old pro at Vietnamese cuisine, make sure these destinations are on your bucket list.






Monday, August 18, 2014

The Giver

Have you seen the movie "The Giver" yet? Hubby and I read the book, and we both enjoyed it. I have to say that the transition from the book to the movie was great.  I thought it's a good movie for the whole family to enjoy. 
We watched the movie the day after the premier, and we all loved it! You guys should watch it too! 
Synopsis:
This film, based on Lois Lowry's book, tells the story of a perfect world. Everyone here is happy. When Jonas is 12 years old, he's chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. He enters into training with an old man called The Giver. From the Giver, Jonas learns about pain, sadness, war, and all the unhappy truths of the "real" world. He quickly realizes that his community is fake. Confronted with this reality, Jonas faces difficult choices about his own life and his future.