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Parenting 5:09:00 PM

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The Biggest Business-to-Blogger Event: Blogapalooza 2015!

Parenting 3:46:00 PM

It's bigger, it's better and it's certainly has more palooza to offer!

Disclaimer: Photos and Videos are Not Mine. They are property of and borrowed from Blogapalooza website.

Last year, I never got a chance to join Blogapalooza due to financial reasons (no pamasahe no lakad) but this year I'm more than prepared (to make utang if I have to, hahaha!)

Blogapalooza is simply the biggest "Business to Blogger" event where bloggers are invited to come and meet, see and get freebies from businesses of all kinds. Last year's Blogapalooza harbored 50+ businesses and over 700 attending bloggers which occupied two halls at SM Aura's SMX in Taguig!

What's In it for the Business/Entrepreneurs?
A chance to get really exposed on social media. If you're not aware yet, bloggers are becoming some of the most influential people online.

If a blogger writes a great review, your products get instant popularity. If that blogger flunks your product, on the other hand, you still get social media recognition: publicity. Good publicity, bad publicity...it's still publicity and your product/service could use it. Read more on how this works out for you here.

What's In it for the Bloggers?
Freebies. Network. Making giggles with blogger friends as you hop down the street with your fabulous fabulous new items that, have I mentioned, are freebies?

I'm shallow, I like stuff that are free, be honest... you do too. Besides, there's lots of fun activities and music and Bogart the Explorer. Interested now?

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I'm a Blogger I Want to Join!
Unfortunately this isn't one of those "come on and walk-in and register at the door" kind of events. Nope, you need to register prior to the event, which by the way is on October 25, 2015. Save the date!

Register here and wait for an email invitation. Blogapalooza usually screens bloggers depending on how old their blogs are and/or how dedicated and passionate they are in their blogging.

Blogapalooza posts regular updates on their lineup of attending bloggers. You can check this update here to see if your blog is on the list, if you've already signed up. Just make sure you don't register "beating the red light" style.

Learn more about your concerns in Blogapalooza's FAQ for Bloggers.

I'm an Entrepreneur/ I have a Business I Want to Participate!
Likewise, you need to register here first. Wait for an email confirmation and you can further discuss with Blogapalooza what the rates are going to be. That's right, there's a fee for signing up your business. The price rates depend on a lot of things but it's mostly affordable.

You can learn more about that through Blogapalooza's FAQ for Businesses.

Please visit BLOGAPALOOZA for more information, photos, videos and lots of stuff to convince you further. Hope to see you there!

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Mommy Must-Haves for the Cold & Rainy Season

For the Mums 10:31:00 PM

This year, we've been experiencing very confusing weather. It's hot and humid one moment and then it rains like hell the next. At noon you can get so parched you think desert and then when afternoon rain comes you're shivering in your summer shorts. What the hell, right?

But seeing that October is here, followed closely by November and the wintry December, it's almost safe to say that the cool season has arrived. This summer I made a post on a Toddler's Guide to Beating the Heat. This time around, it's a mother's must-haves for this cool, rainy season. It's time for indulgence and there's no better season to reward yourself than the Fall/Rainy season.

Blankets as Soft as Sleep

When the cold and rainy season rolls in all I ever really do, and wish could keep doing, is snuggle in my blanket every morning and say "5 more minutes" for the next hour.

Imagine yourself finally going to sleep after a long day's parenting and/or work. If it's cold you need to get warm, and nothing makes warm better than your loved one's hug...okay, let's be realistic: Fat Blankets.

I'm fantasizing over a cashmere blanket from parachutehome.com

I'm not talking about any kind of blanket. I'm talking about fleece or fat, stuffed bedding turned into a blanket, or cashmere even and the idea of wrapping yourself up into a cocoon with it. Yep, you'll never want to get up in the morning.

You also need it because your kid won't be able to stand the cold weather any better than you. Providing your kid with a comfortable blanket that he can snuggle into at night or for nap time will prevent him from getting fuzzy. So basically, that means undisturbed time off for you.

Soup as Warm as a Hug (or Porridge)

Since our body needs heat, not just on the outside but inside as well, having soup is a great way to warm up the heart every morning. You know how the saying goes, "chicken soup for the soul"?

My son enjoys soup a lot, and I think it's because it emits the warmth of a hug because the heat just spreads all over your chest. In fact, it's also a great way to motivate yourself to get out of bed and bear the cold.

The Perfect Socks

During sleep time I'm a blanket kind of person, I love covering up even though it's summer. I always feel the need to keep my legs warm and covered, and when it gets reaaallly cold I turn into a socks kind of person too.

Children, especially babies, need to get their exteriors heavily protected from the weather. On cold, rainy weather it's important to cover their hands and feet to keep their little toes and fingers from freezing up. Do you really want a little child to experience pins and needles and possibly that heavy, alienating feeling of numbness in the fingers because of the cold?

Besides, with socks (for us moms) you don't need to worry about constantly having to tuck your feet back into the blanket. I really hate those tiny moments when my husband or son turns and the blanket slides short and exposes my toes to the harsh coolness.

It's like ice touched my feet and I have to shrink back into the blanket like a turtle each time. And all I really want to do in cold weather is sleep like cat, warm everywhere especially my feet.

Pie as Fat as Your Heart (Of course not you!)
Fall and rainy weather is the season of eating! The best way to keep a person warm is through his heart and the brain demands food for that kind of work. And I'm never gonna go on a diet on a cozy, indulgent weather like this! If I can stay for hours under a cashmere blanket, why can't I eat apple pie when I do get out of it? Fall is my time of indulgence! I will not back down! I will eat PIE!

A Cup of Warm Coffee or Cocoa
Each freezing morning, a cup of coffee gets me through the sleepiness and gives me enough jolt to get me working. During the cold afternoon and early evening, it's always a cup of hot cocoa that takes the stress away.

My son enjoys hot chocolate a lot, so much that he asks for a cup or two every night. If he enjoys it on any occasion, he'll definitely still enjoy it on a cool evening while reading a book. Which reminds me...

A Good, Casual Book
Not the best-selling, heart-wrenching, soul-disseminating kind of books that wreck you to your core. Reading a story about a matchstick and a girl on a cold evening won't make the cool season feel any warmer.

Instead, read something heart warming but not too life-serious, an autobiography. No, seriously, some are really lighthearted and friendly like Yes Please! by Amy Poehler or The Green Man Anthology (it's my favorite)

Fluffy Slippers
Walking around barefoot isn't fun during the winter, rainy or fall season. You could cover your feet in thick socks but it gets soaked when you step into the bath and takes an infinity to remove too.

Fluffy, puffy slippers are my ideal feet comforters while on the move. It also makes me feel like I'm in a big bedroom and that's good when the weather is cold like this and all you want to do is never get out of bed.

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Philippine Homeschool Conference GIVEAWAY: Is Your Child Ready for the World?

Parenting 7:46:00 PM

*this is an affiliate post
When someone mentions "Homeschooling" Lindsay Lohan's Cady Heron quickly comes into mind and how incredibly good she is at calculus. Of course, each homeschooled kid would have a different set of skills.

Do People Homeschool in the Philippines?
It may be surprising or some, but Yes, actually people today are homeschooling their children. There are more moms out there who are doing this, more than you realize. Here are some homeschooling mommies who I have taken inspiration and guidance from (indirectly):
Mariel Uyquiengco of The Learning Basket
Donna Cruz of Homeschooler Kib
Tina Santiago Rodriguez of Truly Rich Mom

Can I, Not a Teacher, Homeschool My Child?
Of course, in fact most of homeschooled children don't have parents who are teachers, just ordinary folks like us and some of them work from home. Yep, that's right widen those eyes some more.

Is Homeschooling Effective?
Many studies have come up positive on homeschooling effectiveness. In fact, research shows that homeschooled students have the highest average academic achievement. Another set of research showed that homeschooled children score around 50 to 70% higher than their grade on subjects like reading and math.

Is there a Community for Homeschoolers?
I'm glad you asked, because there is. There are more communities forming today, especially with how easy it is to communicate online. Here are some of the many communities I found online:

In addition to that, I would like to invite you to the Philippine Homeschooling Conference happening this October 17, 2015 at the SMZ Convention Center, SM Aura.

This October 17, Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands, Manila Workshops and The Learning Basket brings you the largest homeschooling conference this year – The Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015: Ready for the World!

As a precursor for the Global Home Education Conference (GHEC) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in March 2016, The Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015: Ready for the World! features two well-respected homeschool advocates and speakers from the US:

Michael Donnelly, Director for Global Outreach HSLDA and GHEC 2016; and Rachael Carman, best-selling author, publisher-Apologia Series, and mother of 7 kids with her husband David Carman who is a founding member of the Homeschool Now USA.

Aside from this, we also have sought-after speaker and homeschooling advocate Edric Mendoza, host of On The Money and homeschooling dad of 5 kids with his wife Joy. In addition to that, Chinkee Tan will be grazing the stage too!

Registration and Fees

To be held at Samsung Hall, SM Convention Center SM Aura (Meeting Rooms 4-6), from 8:00AM to 5:00PM*, Ready for the World! will be packed with inspiration and information that will empower parents to homeschool their children well. There will also be workshops besides the Expo.

All Access Pass (pass to go in and out of all three venues, including the exposition venue) - Php 1,200 per person.
All Access Pass Group Rate (Group of 5 or more) - Php 1,000 each
All Access Pass for College Students (Scan Valid School ID) - Php 500
Exposition Pass - Php 50
Workshop Fees - Php 500 each

* Registration will start at 7:00 am.

For more information on the Workshops available during the conference and the schedule of the program, please visit ManilaWorkshops or their official registration page here.

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM HERE: PROGRAM-READY_FOR_THE_WORLD

If you want to win an All Access Pass to the Philippine Homeschooling Conference, Join my Giveaway Below! Have Fun!