Back To School Night

It's back to school night at my daughter's school. Paremts were invited to attend and visit their kids classrooms. First part was a PTA meeting where teachers and administration are introduced. The principal went over with the rules and regulations of the school. Right after, parents went to their kids' classroom with their respective teachers.

It was my first time to visit Isabella's classroom. I remember, we did not make it during orientation because we were away for vacation. I took some pictures of her classroom while the teacher talks about her curriculum, schedules and activities for the school year.

Now I know why she was asked to bring two pictures to school. These name tags are hanging on the classroom walls.

We also got a little gift the kids made during the day. This cut out kid was seated on each child's chair welcoming us as we enter the classroom. They kids have written some notes for their parents which are all very sweet with a portion where we can write our own message to them. The packet includes the calendar for the whole year, a day schedule, list of classmates, reminders to parents and a lot more.

Parents are not allowed inside the building and be a spectator during classes. That is a no no. Now I have an idea on how my child's day go by from 8:35 am to 3:05 pm.

Jack's Quest

The fall season is officially here since last week. Other than the beautiful foliage we will be seeing around, fall has a lot of activities in store for the families. This is also the time for hay rides, mazes, apple and pumpkin picking. But to start off, we have the Halloween which is the kids’ favorite. I do not think Halloween is just for kids because we adults enjoy the festivities as well. I only started trick or treating when I had my little girl and it was always a lot of fun. It is something I look forward to every year.

I am sure you still have your Halloween adventure pictures, videos, stories like I do. This is your chance to win some prizes for the Best Halloween Adventures from Jack’s Quest. Jack , the hip and young character from Halloween Adventure is inviting everyone to join his quest by sharing your photos, videos and stories. There will be 100 prizes to the top ranked Halloween adventures which will be chosen by Jack himself and you. Yes, all of us can be a judge on this quest by voting the best adventurous photos, videos or stories. By joining this contest, you are also automatically awarded shopping discounts from Halloween adventure.com plus more prizes.

Do not miss the Jack's Quest by registering at quest.Halloween adventure.com before it ends on October 25th, 2009. However, if you cannot make it on time, you still have a chance once the contest resets on November 5th, 2009 for the 2010 contest. For more information and list of prizes, please visit Halloween adventure.com.

PRESS RELEASE:

"Coming this fall - Jacks Quest. Let the Halloween Adventure begin!:
Boothwyn, September 7th, 2009 - Halloween Season has begun, and so has Jack’s Quest for the Best Halloween Adventures. Anyone who is looking to spice up their fall season and win some fabulous prizes need look no further. Jack, the hip, young spokes character from Halloween Adventure, invites Americans to join his Quest and to share their individual Halloween adventures. Whether these adventures involved a child’s first Halloween, a terrifying Haunted House, or even the look of surprise on a boss’ face when he saw an employee clock in to work in a gorilla suit, Jack wants to know about them.
Everyone who joins Jack's Quest, by submitting their stories, pictures, or videos, will be automatically rewarded with a shopping discount and will be eligible to win even more prizes. Everyone can help Jack choose winning entries by voting on the adventures; everyone is a judge in this Quest. And because Jack is taking the Quest seriously, he is giving out over 100 prizes to the top ranked adventures chosen by YOU!

Ready to join Jack's Quest? Log on to the Jack's Quest website (http://quest.halloweenadventure.com/) to enter your adventurous stories, pictures, or videos. Claim your award for joining and post a "Vote for me button" on your blog, MySpace page, or FaceBook profile to attract people's attention and gather support for your adventure! But hurry, Jack's Quest begins September 7th and ends October 25th 2009. You don't want to miss the start! The contest will reset on November 5th, 2009, when it opens to submissions for the 2010 contest. For complete list of prizes and rules, visit Jacks Quest at http://www.halloweenadventure.com/!

Hope You Are OK

We have been following since saturday via tfc the storm "Ondoy" and how it destroyed metro manila and the nearby towns. I have not seen or remember any storm that have left this much damage to manila close to what "ondoy" did. I just hope and pray that none of my friends or readers in the Philippines got affected by this BIG flood. Hope you are all OK.

Win A 2010 Camaro 2SS From Charter

Every time I am on the road and I see a 2010 Camaro 2SS, all I could do is wish I am driving that hot car. What do you think my husband would say if one day he will see a Camaro 2SS parked at our driveway? Thanks to Charter, one of the leading internet, cable and telephone providers for bringing the Camaro Sweepstakes. Charter always bring the best prizes on its contest like the Honda Civic hybrid, an HDTV, Xbox 360’s and laptop every day for two months. Now, this is our chance to win the 2010 Camaro 2SS, one of the fastest cars in the U.S. with 429 horse power. No purchase is necessary to join this contest. All you have to do is visit charter.com/camaro to register and view all the rules, specifications on this Camaro Sweepstakes Contest. If you order any of the Charter services online, you are automatically entered to join and in addition, you get a free $100 gift card if you order cable+internet+phone, a $50 gift card when you buy 2 services and a $25 gift card if you buy one. Please register as soon as possible because this contest runs only up to November 26 noon. Do not let this slip away. I am sure there will be more contests from Charter. Do not miss any contests, updates and news by following Charter on Twitter or be a fan of Charter on Facebook.

Charter, Can I drive that Car?

The Lunchables

This is my daughter favorite after school snack. Among all the lunchable combinations, she only like pizza. She always have fun making her own pizza. After I opened the package and cut the pizza sauce pouch, she does everything on her own. She will just call me once it is done, for me to put it inside the oven. In two minutes pizza is ready!

Modern Bunk Beds

If you are buying a house, this is the best time to buy one to avail the $8,000 credit the government offers to buyers. My friend just got the keys to her first home after they had the closing today. The new house is not that far to their rented apartment. This weekend, we will be helping her to do some painting and cleaning. The new house does not need any work and it will be ready by next week. The only furniture she really needs to buy is the Bunk Beds for her kids. She showed me the voyager contemporary bunk bed she ordered at http://www.spacify.com complete with a loft bed and a ladder to climb. I am so impressed with the craftsmanship and beautiful designs by spacify for your home and office.

Goodbye Summer

Today is the first day of fall/autumn. Summer is gone. We will be expecting colder days and nights ahead. Every day, daytime is becoming shorter by a minute.

One thing also that marks the fall season is when you see these halloween, thanksgiving and christmas decorations at the stores.

My Ipod Speaker

I finally found a tiny speaker for my ipod. I bought it from ebay. It is a mini portable speaker for ipod video. If you see in the picture, the speaker is the tiny thing attached at the bottom. The volume control is on the speaker too. It does not give you a very loud boom box sound but just enough for my own personal music while at work. I have seen several portable speakers from bestbuy and marshalls but they are a bit cumbersome unlike this one, it is like just attached to the ipod.

Personalized Portraits As Gifts

On my way to work this morning, I heard the first Christmas song being played on the radio. I just realized we are already in the middle of September and once the “ber” months start, it only means that Christmas season will be here before we know it. Christmas is one of my favorites. I like the gift giving. I always put my personal touch on my Christmas presents and I take time to wrap my own presents. This year, I think of giving something more unique to my family and very close friends. I was just reading a women’s magazine and it featured allPopart, an online store that makes unique gifts and custom portraits from your photos in pop art and other portrait styles. Of course I am not telling my family and friends that I am doing this for Christmas. I want to surprise them that is why secretly now I am collecting their recent photos that I can use. I can either make personalized portraits or transform their photos to canvas portraits. All these can be done by allpopart.com and they can even do your personalized invitations and cards. To order is very easy. You can place your order online or by phone then just upload or mail your photos to them. After three days, you can preview your order and it will be ready in 3-7 days with free shipping on all U.S. orders. So if you are interested to have a personalized pop art portraits and custom canvas gifts from your photos, go to allpopart.com to browse the different styles and pick your own designs. Gift cards and worldwide shipping is also available.

Toll Fees To New York City

A lot of my friends are always asking me how much is it to go to the city, meaning, New York City? I live in New Jersey and for us to go to NYC, we have to cross the Hudson river either by car, train, bus or ferry. Well, I do not really know how much for all modes of transportation but since we were in New York City few days ago to watch the U.S. Open, I can only tell you how much if you go by car to the Billie Jean National tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, NY.

For tolls and parking:

1. George Washington Bridge EZ Pass - $6.50 to New York – coming back to NJ is free.
2. Throgs Neck Bridge $5.50 x 2 = $11.00 – you pay two ways
3. Parking $18 at Citifield Stadium – if you are driving a Lexus it is free since they are one of the sponsors of the U.S. Open.

Total - $35.50 exluding gas. Tools and fees vary depending on your destination.

My HP Laptop

I have been in the dark for how many hours now but I need this rest. I know in a few minutes she will be home from work then it is time for me to work. First, she will start working at the dining table while she cooks dinner and at the same time watching the evening news. As soon as she wakes me up from deep sleep, she checks her email then her blogs. Sometimes, I can hear the daughter asking her if she can use her HP laptop (that’s me!) to play games. If she has a lot of tasks to do, she will ask her daughter to use the desktop but usually she will lend me to her daughter. They like me a lot because they can move me easily around the house. I can only stay in one place once dinner time is over. If she sleeps late, I also sleep late but I have no complaints at all because I have the energy and strength to do whatever tasks she needs to be done. I have never disappointed her. At one instance, my screen went black, she did not realize my battery was low but I was still able to hear what she said to her husband. She was like, “Oh no! What happened? I just bought you from the store!” In a few seconds, she noticed that the power cord was disconnected which gave her a big relief. I felt like I am so loved and surely will be missed if I am gone.

I heard this morning that she wants to buy an HP notebook for her daughter. I am sure she can use the $30 off orders of $150 or greater at HP Home Store by using the coupon code SV2132. This offer is valid through 10/31 or while supply last. Restrictions and exclusions apply. I am also inviting you guys to take advantage of this $30 stackable site-wide coupon.

First Tooth Out

Finally her tooth came off while she was brushing her teeth this morning. It has been hanging for a few days and I can't wait that it will come off. She caught it with her hand and run to me right away yelling that her tooth came off. I feel like she is starting to have her permanent teeth a bit early. My daughter will be 6 this coming december.

This is her first toothless picture. She got some $ from her toothfairy.

It's Back To School

It's school time again. My daughter is now on Kindergarten and yesterday was only a half day meaning they get off at 1:05 pm. She is so much different now compared to her first days of pre-k. I cannot forget last year on her first day of pre-k where she she left the school building without telling her teacher looking for me. After I dropped her off, she thought I was coming back and when she realized I was not still back she left the building, They found her at the parking lot. When I asked her why she left, she thought I got lost!

I am so thankful for pre-K. She is more excited with school and not a cry baby anymore. Her pre-k days made her ready for the bigger world. Now she is full day in school, from 8:30 to 3:05. They have breakfast and lunch in school but I still made some snacks for her. Today is her first full day and let's see what happens later when I pick her up.

Catching Up

I'm still catching up for the few days I was out of the blogosphere. This only happens during the U.S. Open here in New York. We were there for two days - Monday (Opening day) and Tuesday. This is a yearly thing for us. I am on vacation but we come late and tired so I did not get the chance to do my visits. So, here I am now trying to make up and return all the favors. Thanks guys.