Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

10 Practical Travel Tips From A Mom Of 5 Kids

Traveling with kids is fun but it’s a not a walk in the park. What more, traveling with 5 kids and one is an infant. Imagine the extra baggage of diapers and baby essentials. Thank goodness I’m exclusively breastfeeding, that’s a big minus on my bag.

Also must read: Fun Time with Kinder Joy

We love traveling during the summer months (March to May) but we also travel during the rainy season. In fact, our longest drive happened in September. Months before it was declared as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the world, we had the chance to see Vigan.

One of the keys to traveling with keys is preparation. This includes packing ahead of time and taking out all the OCness in you. From our travels (accompanied by my OCness), I am sharing with you some practical tips that I guarantee will make traveling less stress and more memorable.

10 Practical Travel Tips From A Mom Of 5 Kids

Practical Travel Tip #1 Create a soundtrack. The idea of creating a soundtrack for a certain is really nice. Make a list of some of your favorite songs (it would be fun to include children’s song!) and make your own travel soundtrack at Spotify. Label it with your destination and year. Listen to your soundtrack every time your family is inside the car.

Practical Travel Tip #2 Make an itinerary. There is beauty in being spontaneous but you can explore more beautiful places if you plan ahead. And let the kids know your plan. Print your itinerary and give each a copy. I know it sounds like organizing a tour, well it actually feels like one and it’s how you can make the most out of your trip. You can also play your soundtrack while making this and even while packing!

Practical Travel Tip #3 Always ask for a corner room when booking. Most hotels listed in Traveloka are already discounted and though it is tempting to get plus more rooms for your kids, ask for a corner room instead. Corner room in hotels are usually bigger. Rooms with 2 queen size beds are great options for family with kids too.If you really need to book a hotel with two rooms, try asking for connecting rooms.

Practical Travel Tip #4 Plan your outfit. It’s not for OOTD post on your instagram. Planning your outfit and the kids outfit makes packing a lot easier. This will test your organizing skills but if you ace this one, you’re set for life. For bigger kids, let them pack their clothes. Give them a list of the clothes they need to bring and give them a bag each.

Practical Travel Tip #5 Pack in small bags. So how do you pack in smalls bags when you have more kids? As mentioned in #4, let them pack their own bag. Collect their bags and put it together in one big bag. Most of the times, my stuff and husband’s goes in one big bag and my kids’ on another 1 big bag.

Practical Travel Tip #6 Include small toiletries. Buy travel sized shampoo, soap etc and bring a set or two for your family. It should depend on the number of rooms you’re planning to book. Hotels provides toiletries but with kids, it will never be enough.

Practical Travel Tip #7 Bring a snack bag. Long travel + hungry kids is a disaster. Prevent it from happening by bringing a snack bag. Put 2 to 3 snacks for each kid. It should be light like crackers or snack bars.

Practical Travel Tip #8 Always bring small bills for tipping. In Philippine hotels, how much to tip the bellman? Most US travel sites I have read suggest bringing a lot of $1 bill. Basing from that, I guess 50 PhP bill is acceptable as minimum for tipping. It doesn’t hurt to give more though, specially if the bellman is very helpful to your family.

Practical Travel Tip #9 Take photos everywhere. When I say everywhere, it literally means everywhere. From the landmarks on the way, historical places you pass by to hotel facade to hotel rooms to all the place you will visit. Take photos of those, take photos with your family on it (bring a selfie stick and tripod always), take photos with only your kids. Take photos of each of the kids too. It eats time but it was worth it.

Practical Travel Tip #10 Print your photos. The experience will be forever in your kids’ heart and the fun times can surely make them laugh for a while. Make that memories last longer by printing some of your travel photos. You can also make an album and a scrapbook of your trip!

Kids+ well planned trip= Happy Family!

Better Safe Than Sorry: LPG Safety Tips From Solane

Para sa akin, pinakanakakatakot talaga ang leaked LPG. I do not want to imagine what can happen pag may leak ang LPG kaya talaga naman, all the safety tips I can find, sinasabuhay namin. Good thing, our friends from Solane, sent as a few safety tips. I am posting it here on my blog para naman lahat tayong mga nanay eh safe 🙂

LPG Safety Tips From Solane

Place the LPG cylinder in a well-ventilated area. Ensure that the area is not susceptible to rises in temperature and is kept away from flammable materials, like curtains and solvents. Avoid storing LPG in the basement. LPG vapor is heavier than air and any leakage will sink to the ground, accumulate, and may be difficult to disperse.
Secure the LPG cylinder in place. Position the cylinder upright and make sure that it is not at risk of being tipped over or damaged by children, and that the area is not prone to flooding and other natural disasters. If it is on its side, the liquid may escape.
Check the LPG cylinder for damaged or incorrect parts before using. Ensure that the cylinder has the correct valve, regulator and hose. Do not accept and operate the cylinder without the right and complete parts.
Observe safety when cooking or replacing cylinders. When cooking, keep your kitchen well-ventilated so that any leaked gas particles will not get trapped and accumulate around the kitchen. Never leave your cooking unattended because your pot or pan could overflow and extinguish the burners, causing gas to leak. When changing the cylinder, do not do it near sources of ignition because the naked flame, including cigarette butts, could ignite any released gas. Never forget to turn off the gas appliance and regulator when not in use.
Always keep the LPG cylinder in good condition. Check for any leak from time to time by rubbing soapy water on the cylinder for even a tiny leak can make a soap bubble. Clean the valve outlet using plastic plugs. Make sure that no dirt and insects get inside the valve outlet. Also, it is recommended to replace the hose every two years and the regulator every five years.
Never tamper with your LPG cylinder. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the use and maintenance of your LPG cylinder. If you suspect or find anything wrong, call your gas provider immediately and ask for assistance.

LPG is a versatile yet highly flammable fuel. To keep it safe and useful, always take good care of it and observe proper handling and storage.

With the Hatid Bahay service, Solane LPG provides the exclusive and free 7-point Safety Check to all its home delivery customers nationwide. Performed by Hatid Bahay riders, it involves the inspection of the environment and proper installation of the Solane LPG cylinder after delivery to ensure the safety of customers. For more information or delivery request, visit www.solane.com.ph.or call the Hatid Bahay hotlines at +632 887-5555 or text 0918 887 5555.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Kiddie Enterprise Fair

At a time when the local economy is considered fertile ground for business, many Filipinos are seizing the opportunity to build their own enterprises. Technology now allows for individuals to buy and sell products from the convenience of their own smartphones, information is readily available on the internet, and millenials are more assertive about their individual capacities and proactive in achieving their dreams.

As we continue to work towards a greater country, it is not only critical that we ride trends as they come; it is also very integral to inculcate in every Filipino fundamental values that will aid the growth of our nation. This foundation can, and should be, built early on in the life of an individual.

With this in mind, Brew Your Best Year, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®’s community for encouraging customers to be the best versions of themselves, put together a Business Bootcamp for Kids. Designed to teach kids the basics of business in an interactive and experiential way, it is a two-part activity that aspires to mold the youth into becoming the next generation of entrepreneurs who will continue to pave the way for a stronger economy.

For the first part of the bootcamp, Coffee Bean Kids underwent an Entrepreneurship Workshop facilitated by their partner institution, The Ultimate Learning Accelerator (TULA). During the workshop, the kids learned the foundational knowledge and skills needed to start their own small businesses. To provide an avenue where the kids can apply their learnings, the Business Bootcamp will culminate with a Kiddie Enterprise Fair. During the fair, the Coffee Bean Kids will be selling food and retail items with one goal in mind: to create successful business ventures and return their parents’ investments through their earnings.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® invites everyone to support the Coffee Bean Kids during their first business venture at the Kiddie Enterprise Fair on September 3, 2016, Saturday! The event will take place from 11AM-6PM at the garden area in front of their Bonifacio High Street store. The brand will also be selling their teas at a special rate and promises exciting surprises for all attendees.

For more information on The Kiddie Enterprise Fair, visit The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® (Philippines) on Facebook and FOLLOW @CBTLPH on Instagram.