Make Brushing More Fun With The Minions

The most challenging part of parenting --other than making your kid eat vegetables-- is making him brush his teeth. Brushing is such a chore and a bore! Boo! No fun! Despicable!

Well, moms, you came to the right place. You have reached the fun time mecca for cleaning those cute little pearly whites --and your kids will love it! Count 'em. Three Fun Brushing Tips:

1. GET THEM INTO THE GAME.

Nothing thrills kids quite like getting their hands on things parents won't usually allow them to. So let him brush his teeth all by himself! Let him SQUEEZE the toothpaste, let him BRUSH like a boss, and let him RINSE like a hyper-pumped geyser. The more you make it a game, the less it becomes less a chore. Take it from my yellow friend here. He's got pearly whites to die for.

2. GET HIM HIS OWN FUN GEAR.

Since we're on the topic of giving your kid free reins of his brushing activity, heck, give him his personal tools to get the job done. No, not job. The FUN done!
Check out Colgate's Minions Toothbrush and Minions Toothpaste! Now we're talking. I mean, seriously, what kid does not ROFL on the Minions? This is the perfect pack to make him look forward to brushing all the time. And since it's from Colgate, you know you're getting a healthy quality toothpaste and a state-of-the-art, feast-for-the-eyes kiddie toothbrush. It's a win-win!
This special comes in a Colgate Minions Kids 2-5 Years Old (Junior) Oral Care Pack and a Colgate Minions Kids 5-9 Years Old (Youth) Oral Care Pack.

3. GET HIM ALL PACKED FOR FUN!

Well, don't stop there! Get him this fantabulous toohushing cabinet which he can call his own. It's a special number from Colgate featuring the Minions. It looks exactly like that adult medicine cabinet you have on top of your sink --except 500 times more fun!

It comes complete with Minion-decked swinging doors for privacy and joy.

Sliding see-through panels for your kid's toothbrush shelf and toothbrush shelf.

And those fun brushing instructions to boot!

It's kinda like a board game with all the pieces that will guarantee a bubbly kid from after dinner to bedtime.

If you're ready to put the fun into brushing, Colgate and the Minions got your back --aaand your kid's teeth, laughs, and giggles. Check out this Colgate special in your favorite supermarkets now!

#YolandaPH: How can your kids help

Us parents will always have the tendency to shelter our children from the ills of the world. That's natural. But at some point, you will have to allow them to realize that life is not all unicorns and rainbows. You will have to open their eyes (in a PG kind of way) to real issues that happen around them. Specially those where they can actually make a difference.

We showed photos of the Yolanda disaster that befell Tacloban, Philippines to our boys. And told them that they can help the little kids who have lost their homes. And their toys. They were more than willing. These are simple ways, but they do go a long way --for the kids in Tacloban and for your kids as well.

1. Your kids can help by deciding for themselves which of their old toys they're willing to donate.

2. Your kids can do the sorting. One box for baby toys, another box for older kids' toys, and so on.

3. They can personalize, like the photo above. This is just a touch that my boys wanted to do and I think it adds a ton of heart to the effort.

4. If your kids are big enough, they can join their school's donation repacking drive for Yolanda victims. This usually happens in school after classes or over the weekend.

These may look like little things, but they're huge for your children. That sense of responsibility and compassion to help others in need is just bigger than anything else.  Plus, you've made a bunch of other children smile.

Lowdown on Nickelodeon Takotown

The Nickelodeon Halloween Event is like our holiday mecca. There are other Halloween parties we attend, but THIS is the big thing we look forward to. It's like Octoberfest. But with candies.

This year, Nickelodeon billed its event as TAKOTOWN, the Pinoy Halloween.
By Pinoy, this meant...

A creepy welcoming committee of demonyos, impaktas, tiyanaks, and aswangs perched at the gate --throwing bags and bags of candies at you. This was the bomb!

An array of game booths called Sari-sari store (which has you hitting targets on shelves using a slingshot --FUN!), Vulcanizing shop (which has you tossing balls through tire hoops), and Barberya (which has you donning bald dolls on barber chairs with wigs while blindfolded --how whacked is that?! Lol!)

And one of the hosts wearing a barong.
Yeah.

Other than those, this Nickelodeon fest is still what it's always been.

Long lines of fantabulously-costumed kids.

Hefty loads of sweets! We got a lot from Kinder Joy and Lipps --my boys' favourites!

And a dance number by --no, not Spongebob this time-- THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!!!! Yes, they're there! You just can't see them much because... DOY! They're ninjas.

Now, the lowdown. While Takotown gave us better access to treats than last year's Fright Fest, Fright Fest was a lot more festive in feel and decor. Takotown's walls were a little bare for my Halloween taste. So I guess Nickelodeon's 2011 Planet Scream still rules our Nick list. See why here.

Don't get me wrong. We still had fun. But it could have been ...you know, FUN-er. Here's hoping for a Planet Scream Repeat next year! Woohoo!!!

The Village Sports Club Halloweekend

I hyperblog every Halloween. That's because I hyperbook my boys to every event that catches my hungry-for-Halloween eye.

This year, the persistent hunger took us to the Village Sports Club's Halloweekend. Boy, it was fun! And the fun comes from the fact that this event was waaay too organized.

Once you enter the main hall, you're handed your own Trick or Treat bag (no need to lug those plastic pumpkins around), a Bingo-esque activity checklist, and a Trick or Treat map.

The checklist takes you to a bunch of fun game booths and pocket entertainment nooks like an arts and crafts corner and a tattoo parlour.

You're also treated to your choice of uber classy food or fun picnic food. 

And then the show rolled out. It started with the energetic Cherifer Boy dancing to Psy's Gentleman... I kid you not. There were stage games, a magic show, prizes for the kids, and a raffle for the parents.
Which eventually lead to...

A Village-wide Trick or Treat!

We followed the map and went on hoarding sweets, balloons, and toys from the Pool area, the Bowling area, the Gym, the Tennis Court, the Dance Studio... WHEW! This went on until night time. So you can imagine how much goodies we got and how sore our happy feet were. :P

So did we enjoy this day? Was it overloaded with fun? 

Pshaw! Is that even a question?

The Village Sports Club Halloweekend. An event that just made it into our Halloween staple. Thanks for having us and see you again next year!

*Some photo creds to Village Sports Club on Facebook. Like it!

This weekend, 'Wreck-It Ralph' it!

Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), Wreck-It Ralph is the Toy Story of video gaming.

As it was in Andy's room, we have an arcade where kids' play things come to life as soon as human's aren't looking.  As it was in the blockbuster enterprise where popular toys did cameo roles, here, we have popular video game characters popping in here and there to tickle kids and adults alike with warm, fuzzy familiarity.
(I gotta admit, seeing gaming pioneers like Street Fighter's Ryu and Ken, Pacman and the Blue Ghost, Super Mario's Bowser, and Sonic in a full-length movie gave me goosebumps.  I'm a geek.) 

As it was in Monsters Inc, Up, and Brother Bear, the movie's lead characters, Ralph and Vanellope, presented that Disney tried-and-tested, most heartwarming visual and emotional dynamics of Big and Small.
As it was in Finding Nemo, Wreck-It Ralph's hour and a half mission from one adventure to another was Finding Medal.

Buuut... despite riding on animated film formulas, Wreck-It Ralph does have something fresh to offer.
Its story is hinged on acceptance --and it was delivered pretty tight.  From Wreck-It Ralph's wanting to be accepted as a hero rather than a villain, to Vanellope von Schweetz wanting to be accepted as a true blue Sugar Rush racer, to madman Turbo wanting to be re-accepted as the gaming world's top game, to the dorky Fix-It Felix wanting to be accepted into the steel cold heart of Sargeant Calhoun.  It's all about wanting to make a huge difference in your life and actually breaking some molds to do so.

It's an empowering movie with a spattering of nostalgia and a huge dose of sweet success.

Plus, Sergeant Calhoun whom Jane Lynch voices looks EXACTLY like her.  How's THAT for the ultimate formula!  Haha!

It's the perfect package that should have you and your kids getting to the theaters this very instant.  Catch Wreck-It Ralph today!

Papier Macheniacs on FB!

YAY!  We finally decided to put our biggest Family Project Weekend work/play on display.  Minus exhibit venue and invite printing costs.  Thank you, Facebook!

Welcome to Papier Macheniacs!

Here, you'll find anything and everything we decide to make out of paper on a weekly basis.  You'll also find us throwing in tips on proper papier mache-making and care.  Are you using the right glue, the right paint brush, the right frame of mind?  Lol!  We're also debunking the stereotype that papier mache is just for display or pinata action.  There's more to it than that.  There's film-making, role-playing, ultimately great family bonding.  And you won't believe how much creativity spillage can happen once you give your kids full hands-on in it.

If you've ever been stumped on arts and crafts ideas for the kids on weekends, well, here's where you grab ideas as you go.  And all you need is paper, and a tank full of imagination. 

Papier Macheniacs.  Like us.  Because we... like... you.

Mind-Blowing Mind Museum

Oh, wow!  Where do I begin?  Writing about the country's biggest interactive science museum is just as overwhelming as when we were there to see it.  There's so much to say.  And not enough words to give the extraordinary experience justice.

In a word:  BIG.  We're taking about 2 levels of vast floor space with over 250 exhibits you can enjoy hands-on.  The sanest way to do this is to present the awesomeness by galleries.  So brace yourself as I take you through my family's mind-blowing Mind Museum encounter.  I guarantee it's going to be a helluva ride.

It starts off with the cutest welcoming committee --the robot, Aedi.  See the sweet red bow? 

Then, a prelude to greatness as you walk into the Hall of Philippine Science.  The best part here is the native animal knowledge game where you get to put each specie in its proper habitat.  Loads of fun!

Now, the real action begins!
Welcome to the Story of the Atom.

This gallery is larger than life --literally!  It takes you down to the size of a speck to experience what it is to be the smallest unit in existence.  I bet that chocolate bar is saying, "Who's your daddy now?!".

The Story of Life features the biggest brain exhibit in the history of science.  It lights up as you touch areas and annotates how each part of your mind functions.

 

Along with this majestic display is a peep into the natural habitats of other life forms, as well as an actual 'breaking down of molecules' and an in-depth encounter with DNA.  You get to check your own BP, too.

The Story of the Earth is by far our second favorite area.  I mean, a 40-foot T-Rex?!  Who doesn't dig that!  Dig.  Get it?  Hehe...

(This T-Rex is Stan.  You can read his life story written on the walls.  Very moving.)

Here, you get to look at real life Jurassic Park relics through microscope orbs.  You get to simulate natural calamities, too!  The earthquake and whirlpool simulators are guaranteed big hits among kids 1 to 92.

Now we enter the Story of Technology.  Aedi's cousin Mimo --a motion sensor robot-- runs these parts.  It roves around the area striking up conversation with people and chases you if you even dare ignore it.  Lol!

Bouncing off lasers to hit a target is a fun sport here.  That x-ray pad beats the iPad 2 anytime!  And that light bridge is a trip down glorious info overload lane. 

But I'd have to give props to the alternative power section.  Running around a wheel to heat water.  Winding up a hand generator to power a city.  Solid proof that man's ingenuity is the shiznit when he uses it for good versus evil. 

The final frontier but definitely the first on our gallery love list --The Story of the Universe... universe... universe...

Fancy a voyage through space right here, right now?  This foot bridge will take you to that exact feeling (minus the lack of oxygen, of course).  The galaxy walls turn, and so will your stomach.  What about manipulating the solar system on your own?  Controlling the moon's phases according to your whim?  Listening to space sounds that only astronauts can here in the comfort of a space age audio orb chair? Those happen here, too.
A good last stop would be the Space Shell.  A lie-down planetarium that shows space movies.  No, I'm serious.  You do lie down on moon cushions to watch.  You do lie down to watch the stars, don't you?

That's the low down and the complete high at the Mind Museum!  5 and a half hours perfectly, mind-blowingly, spent in a geeky family's life.

Tickets are sold online.  To book a visit schedule, you can choose from several 3-hour blocks right here.  But my recommendation is to take the All Day Pass for a few more extra bucks.  Why?  Because science cannot be contained in a mere 3 hours.  And, going in with that VIP orange band is kinda snazzy.

Book Day

I love it that my sons' school --although just as high tech as a lot of schools nowadays-- still champions the printed word.  In this day and age when kids mostly read from Macs and V-Techs, you don't see kids running around with books in hand.  But today, I saw these kids.  Lots of them!

The school's Oral Communication class asked each child to bring their favorite book to read to class.  This was a lovely idea on so many levels.  First off, through this exercise, a child hones his reading skills.  Also, his communication and presentation skills (which my boys sincerely slayed at!).  Lastly, this became the venue for each child to share a bit about themselves to their peers.

Miro chose books that he wrote himself.  The teachers and the students already knew that Miro wrote books 3 years ago but never have they actually seen him read these originals to them.  Although Miro was shy at first, it was empowering to be able to tell a story that's more personal to the author than any book he may have gotten from a bookstore.  His books got passed around after his storytelling session.  He wouldn't admit it, but this made him proud.

Kenji's exposition was a lot different.  He chose to bring his treasured Complete Thomas Trailways Collection.  A box of 4 Thomas and Friends classic episodes.  Not only did he present each story with calculated expertise (and a huge, beaming smile all throughout, according to his teacher), he also managed to reveal a side of him that's mature for his age.  More than a book reader (and a very animated storyteller), he's an avid collector.  

To cut the long story short (Get it?  Story?  *nudge-nudge*), Book Day was a success!
I can't wait for more self-enriching gems like these from my boys' school!