It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Sing it with me!  

My daughters are enjoying the Christmas festivities.  If we have an aerial view of the city at night, we will most likely see colorful sparkles everywhere.  People walk around with a slight hop, smiles given to everyone like free candies on a Halloween night.

This weekend, we will start decorating the Hyacinth house over snacks and holiday movies.  This will be fun!

So how does it look like around the metro these days?  Here are some photos.

The giant Christmas tree in front of the City Hall

The City Hall's parking lot is transformed into a Christmas park

The colorful Polar Express train at the entrance of one mall

The Christmas castle

The decorations at the lobby of the Asian Hospital

How are you doing with your Christmas preparations?

 

Sweet Payback

Do you remember those days when your parents shed a quiet tear every time you do something naughty in public?  How about the first time you learned about the word "defiance" through practice? What about the sleepless nights you gave your Mother or your Dad or a relative each time you have school projects?

Do you know why I wrote the paragraph about?

Because sooner or later, you will have kids of your own... those that will most probably give you the same experience. Your folks will savor the sweet taste of payback when they see you working on projects or see your daughters' put make-up or talk about their "boy friends" with full gusto.

My mother and aunt just had the best seats in the house to watch my 5-year old give them  their payback.

I.AM.BEAT!

So so soooo tired but I still need to fix the rest of Portia's projects.  Five down, one to go! We can do this. 

I must just say that today is a milestone for me.  I made the most number of school projects at one time... and yes, they aren't mine. Heh.

My kindergarten's projects:

How can they have such complicated projects?  They are on kindergarten.

I need to make a turtle out of paper plate tonight.  Wish me luck please. :)

Do They "Rice" Up To The Consumer Challenge?

It's one hell of a week for this consumer.

  

Monday morning, I had to return one sack of rice to the local grocery store because it was mostly broken grains, smelled bad and tasted like newly-watered soil when cooked (no exaggeration, it was THAT bad).  I spoke with the person in their Customer Service Counter who then referred me to their Supervisor.  After a few questions, I was ushered in to choose the replacement.  Because I did the grocery shopping the day before, there wasn't really anything I can buy. So I asked them to just get me a replacement sack of rice.  

Going to the rice section, I noticed the display of the product I bought.  Apart from the smell and the taste, I noticed that what they gave me was mainly broken grains - this one had long grains.  I asked the guy who was assisting me and his answer gave me the shock of my life.  He said that on weekends when they have their palengke days, a "different" quality and brand of rice are sold - especially in bulk.  Since these products are discounted, the quality is different and normally not at par from the regularly priced one.  The regularly priced ones are then placed back in time for Monday store hours.  Same spot and label minus the three-peso per kilo markdown.   

Taken from All2012.net

I was happy thankful for the honesty of this guy but it sure sounded like consumer deception right there.  Is that even a good deal?  You get a discount on a product that is not even on the same quality of what you should be buying?  I paid extra and got the non-discounted rice.  Really... slashing 150 pesos off the original price does not put logic on giving low quality of products.

My note to self this week... Do not get anything perishable on weekend promo sale.  It is bound to give you a headache.

Innovation At Its Finest

I asked Pot if she can get me a tall glass of water.

"Certainly, Madamme!"

She went back with this:

Innovation at its finest!

Trust my girls to make me feel better in an instant. :)

What Do They Watch On TV?

I had the chance to stay at home with some vacation days from work and the long weekends/holidays here in Manila.  It was fun spending some time with the kiddos but I cannot help but cringe at the few changes I noticed.

While I was doing some chores, Pot ran to me all bothered because Celia, Carlos Miguel's girlfriend, died (or something like that).  Patay na si Celia, Mommmmmy!  Kawawa si Carlos Miguel! What the heck is this kid watching???  It turns out it is some afternoon telenovela that somebody is an avid fan of.  (insert some mumbling here)

In the evening, while the girls are playing, Nemo got upset and threw a stool in front of Pot.  Apparently, this is how it is done when people get upset in another TV show.

These television shows do not take the blame for what the children see because, for one, the proper guidance from the MTRCB are shown at least once.  What is bothersome is even if the warnings are there, no one cares.

This is one of those days when I wish I can just stay home and take care of the kids. 

Do you have mommy woes similar to this that you would like to share?  

Whatever You Do, DO NOT Close Your Eyes!

My daughters and I love role-playing.  Whenever we have the chance to play with their  toys, we always let our imaginations take us places, make us be who we want to be.  The pace and the plot, most often than not, will always come from them.

Waking up early on a holiday meant you are rising up to an all-day of fun.  After a quick shower and breakfast, my girls pulled me to the playroom, gave me some of their favorite stuffed dolls and started mimicking cartoon character voices.

Richwell Sale 2012: Christmas Shopping!

The schedule is finally out!

I am sure the mommies here in the metro are dying to know when the Richwell sale is.  The long wait is over!

Last year, I regretted not getting the toys that I am sure my girls will enjoy.  I will try my luck on getting them this year - hopefully at an even lower price. 

I sure hope they are still distributing Fisher-Price Little People toys.  My little girls are still into storytelling using their little people friends so I will need to replenish their collection.

Apart from toys, you can also get clothes, shoes, strollers, cribs, baby stuff (feeding bottles, baby wipes, sippy cups etc.) and, occasionally, even outdoor playhouses.

Some useful tips when you go to the warehouse sale:  

1. Do not bring your kids!  It gets very crowded and the lines very long so they will not like them.
2. Buddy up.  If you can shop with a friend or your sister, do so.  Have one fall in line while you shop and vice versa.  It will save you A LOT of time.
3. Last year's sale was in a new venue in New Manila (same as this year).  Bring a fan.  You won't like how you smell after you shop.
4. Bring a bottle of alcohol or hand sanitizer, having a towel won't hurt either.  Because this is in a warehouse, the boxes are mostly dusty.
5. If they have the same rules as last year, it is brilliant to have your own batteries to test the toys you are meaning to buy.  They do not test battery-operated toys.  It will save you another trip in case they do not work.
6. Bring your huge reusable bags.  Be nice to nature.  They do not have pushcarts but provide big-striped plastic bags to put your toys on.  
7. If you bring a car, it might be a good idea to park in Tomas Morato and walk to Scout Torillo.  Finding a parking lot near the warehouse will be a challenge.

That is all I can think of for now.  In case you have questions, you may call them on the number that is on their banner or add them on Facebook.

Happy Christmas shopping!