Koi Action and Water Taxi in Nuvali

Nuvali is a nice and refreshing place where you can dine, relax and unwind with family and friends. Aside from restaurants, it also has a multi-functional lake, outdoor trail and wide open spaces. Visitors can feel close to nature because of its green surroundings.

Nestled at Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Nuvali is becoming a favorite place by many. 

A great activity that you can enjoy in Nuvali is fish feeding. Fish feeds are sold for P15 a pack.  Take note that only Nuvali fish feeds are allowed.  So don't make a mistake of throwing a piece of bread or chip in the water.

I've seen Koi ponds before but this is the first time I've seen a lake with a massive number of Koi. Adults and kids will surely be delighted by the overwhelming abundance of Koi swimming and eagerly hoping for Manna from heaven.

The moment you drop some feeds in the water, the exuberant Koi will swim frantically to get some of that coveted treat.  It's an amazing display of fin flapping and fish tail movements. You might even see one or two Koi doing a cartwheel in the air. No kidding!

Perhaps the Koi are doing it on purpose so that you'll go back to the booth to buy some more of those feeds. ha! ha!

I surely fell for it because I went back to the booth several times to buy fish feeds.  It was worth it because my son had a great time feeding the overzealous Koi.

Fish feeding at Nuvali is from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM daily.

Riding the Water Taxi is another fun activity for the family.  The short boat ride costs P30 per head. 

Enjoy the refreshing wind on your face and watch birds flying nearby.  Expect to feel gentle water splashes as the boat makes a turn.

After feeding the Koi and riding the Water Taxi, my family settled for appetizing snacks at Conti's. Hubby had halo-halo, Yohan chose chicken empanada while I enjoyed a slice of Bananalicious Pie.

It was an afternoon well spent.

Soccer Summer Fun

Kids nowadays prefer to stay at home.  Inactivity among kids is often fueled by television, game consoles and computer games.

My son used to be a homebody.  His activities were not limited to television and computer games because I made it a point to interject activities like drawing,  painting, educational games and fun crafts.  However, I realized that something was missing.  He lacked agility and flexibility.

This summer hubby and I enrolled Yohan in soccer.  I admit I wasn't keen about the idea at first. I was concerned that the summer heat would be a problem since soccer is an outdoor sport. However, Yohan was insistent and his dad backed him up. I knew Jules would support Yohan's choice because he is after all, a soccer player himself.

I gave in and bought him soccer shoes. That sealed the deal. It was my way of saying yes. Both boys were happy. :)

I'm happy that Yohan chose soccer for his summer activity.  I've seen him in the field and I'm so proud of his developments. Soccer has definitely improved his motor skills. He is more agile and flexible. I also noticed that he has more endurance for physical activity. The running and sprinting will surely help build his muscles and strengthen his bones. The best thing about soccer is that Yohan is enjoying himself. He also made a lot of new friends.

I talked to Yohan's coach and he said that soccer will help the kids learn about coordination, determination and self-discipline. It's also a good way to promote teamwork and camaraderie.

Sports like soccer can help encourage kids to turn off the television, set aside computer games and get some much needed exercise.

Find out what sport your child is interested in.  There are a lot of great choices like soccer, tennis, basketball, badminton, Taekwondo, swimming and more.  Summer is a perfect time to enroll your child in one.

Yohanism #35

Yohan: "Mom, I feel cold."

Me: "Just adjust the knob of the air-con so it won't be too cold."

Yohan: "I have a better idea... body warmth."

He climbed on my lap while I was typing on the computer and gave me a tight hug.

Yohan: "I have forgotten how good body warmth feels."

Chipmunks Fun

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you enjoy watching Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel in the movie theater? If you did, I'm sure you would be delighted to hear that the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel DVD is out. You can even buy the Blu-ray version or if you prefer, you can get the Digital Download. It's a great purchase because the Double DVD includes a bonus disc featuring The Squeak Along. Let the family enjoy more fun music. The whole family and even your friends can have double the fun.

I watched Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel at the movie theater with my husband and son. We had our share of good laughs. The movie was funny, amusing and entertaining. It's a movie for the whole family.  Now that it's available on DVD, I can't wait to get my own copy so we can watch it all over again in the comfort of our home. Combine it with popcorn and it becomes a fun in-home movie experience. If you love the movie too, then you have the opportunity to buy it now.

I visited http://www.munkyourself.com and I tried to munk' myself! I enjoyed tweaking my Chipmunk character and my son had twice the fun. Give it a try.

I have always adored the Chipmunks. When I was young, my Dad gave me a Chipmunks cassette tape featuring different songs by the Chipmunks. It even has a Happy Birthday song by the Chipmunks. My younger brother and I enjoying listening to their cute songs. I told my son about my cassette tape and he was very interested. Cassette taps are now obsolete but the Chipmunks continue to remain in the spotlight.

Check out More Munk Mayhem to get access to Alvin, Simon and Theodore games, activities, gift ideas and a lot of family fun. Visit http://www.foxfamilyflicks.com and explore the fun things on the site.

Summer Sport

It's summer and it's a perfect opportunity for kids to enjoy a new sport. Jules and I gave Yohan some time to choose a sport that he finds interesting. Among his choices are badminton, Taekwondo, swimming and soccer.

Yesterday he made a choice. It's going to be soccer! We bought him a new pair of soccer shoes. Yohan is very excited. I'll share more about it soon.

Appreciating Preschool Years

Yohan graduated from preschool last Friday (March 26). I'm so proud of my son for earning three awards on graduation day. He received three medals namely Word Smart (English), Nature Smart (Science) and Academic Excellence. My husband and I took turns going up the stage to give Yohan his awards. It was a heartwarming experience.

Preschool is a fun and memorable part of a child’s early years. As a parent, I appreciate how preschool has helped my son learn new things, build confidence and harness his strengths as an individual. Preschool is also a great start for early academic milestones.

• Social Skills – My son is an only child and preschool gave him a chance to socialize with other kids. I witnessed how he learned to overcome his shyness. He learned how fun it is to play and interact with other kids.

• Self-Confidence - He gradually abandoned his timid self and became more sure of himself. I still remember how he enjoyed talking in front of the class about his favorite pet during Show and Tell day.

• Problem Solving - There are many preschool activities that let students think for themselves. This motivates preschoolers to solve problems and overcome challenges independently.

• Arts and Crafts - Yohan enjoys making art projects in school. He is always excited to show it to us when his he gets to bring home his work. He loves to draw at home. I always make it a point to buy bulk paper for his drawing inspirations. Even my husband and I enjoy conceptualizing costumes for Yohan's school activities.

• Math Basics - My son appreciates learning numbers the fun way.  Preschool has interesting ways of teaching addition, subtraction, time telling and fractions.

• Reading Books – Thanks to preschool my son is becoming a little bookworm. Every student has a ‘reading passport’ in class. It encourages parents to read to their children at least once a week. The parent records the title of the book on the ‘reading passport’ and the child also brings the book to class to share with classmates. I read to Yohan every night and I invest in books for him. The school also has regular Reading Festivals that the kids enjoy tremendously.

• Creativity - Preschool allows my son to express his creativity in a lot of ways both inside and outside the classroom.

• Music & Rhythm – Song and dance numbers by preschoolers during special events are worth watching.

• Listening – Young kids often have short attention span so preschool teachers incorporate fun activities with lessons to encourage participation and listening skills.

• Exploration -  Preschool is not confined inside the four walls of the classroom. Field trips give the kids a chance to explore new places and learn new things.

• Independence - The Preschool Camp gave my son a taste of independence. I admit it wasn't easy on my part to let him go but I'm glad I did because Yohan had a terrific time with his classmates and teachers. It was a learning experience for both of us.

• Writing – At the beginning, his unsteady hands slowly learned to write the alphabet. Now he can write sentences and even a short story.

There are many more great things that make Preschool memorable for kids and parents. These memories will live on and bring smiles to our faces.

Enjoying "Chili" Moments with the Family

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hormel Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sometimes after a tiring day spent working, whether at the office or at home, it's nice when you don't have to worry about what to serve for dinner. Dinty Moore and hormel products can be great dinner salvations. Imagine getting one from the cupboard and your dinner is ready in just a matter of minutes.

Aside from dinner, these products can be great movie companions too. My husband likes making Hormel® chili cheese dip. It’s very simple and easy to do. Simply open a can of 1 (15-ounce) can Hormel® Chili No Beans and add some cheese cut into cubes. Just combine both ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat. Remember to stir frequently until the cheese melts and the chili mixtures become hot and bubbly. Once the dip is ready, open your favorite brand of tortilla chips and start dipping. We also like using taco chips. For more great and easy recipes, check out http://www.hormelrecipes.com for ideas.

For 75 years, Dinty Moore® and Hormel® brands are first in mind when it comes to stew and chili, respectively. In the 30s,Dinty Moore® advertisements featured characters Jiggs and Maggie from “Bringing Up Father”. Later, signature thumbprints of a lumber jacked proclaiming “First name’s Dinty, last name’s Moore were placed on every can. Using celebrities helped Hormel® chili become well known. Print ads featuring Ray Milland, star of “Copper Canyon” also came out. The most striking one for me is probably the ad of pro football player Fran Tarkenton in the 80s when he promoted Hormel® chili.

I remember how my mom enjoyed preparing tacos with Hormel® chili and loads of grated cheese. It was such a hit with my high school classmates during study and project time. Check out my Tweet about their 75th Anniversary here.