It's already the month March and don't we feel the heat of Summer already and and also feel the excitement of children as their school year's end is fast approaching?  I definitely do that's why, as early as now, I am once again, compiling a list of 2014 Summer workshops, lessons, and sports clinics for kids in Metro Manila.

As a practical mom, I'm sure you do not only save up for your children's tuition fee during the school year, but also for the summer lessons you plan to enroll them in.  From this list you'll be able to select from an array of organizations and schools offering summer lessons for your kids that will best serve their interest and fit your budget too.

I cannot stress the importance of learning, whether in formal set-up or through play.  These summer workshops, lessons and sports clinics will definitely hone their skills in social interaction, intellectual development and of course confidence building.

The list will include lessons for the following interests: Sports, Performing Arts, Academics, Personality Development and Culinary Arts Too.

Without further adieu, here's my compilation list of 2014 Summer Workshops, Lessons and Sports Clinics for Kids in Metro Manila:


Registration Period: February 14 to April 30, 2014
Registration Venue: All participating McDonald’s stores (see complete list here)
Registration Fee: PHP 595.00
Registration fee includes shirt, cap, bag, artwork materials, pins/badges at the end of every activity, certificate, and meals for 5 days
Php 500.00 McCelebrations Gift Certificate to be given during Grand Graduation
Workshop Period: March 24 to May 30, 2014
Workshop Schedules (2 hours): 8am; 1:30pm and 4:00 pm
Workshop Activities: Values formation lecture; On-the-floor training; Talent Workshop, Burger/Apron Making and more
Parents’ Orientation: Starting March 22 (Please confirm final schedule with the store)
To download Registration Form and for more information, visit McDonald's Website HERE.
Summer Camp 2014 at EDSA Shangri-La, Manila
Classes start: April 1, 2014
Coursed offered: Tennis and Swimming for kids and adults
Course fee: Starts at Php 6,400
Course duration: 8 sessions

For registration and complete camp details, please contact the Health Club reception desk at (02) 633 8888
Bert Lozada Swim School
Starts on March 24, 2014
Offers swimming lessons for: Infants and Toddlers, Kids and Teens, and Adults
Venues: 60 locations nationwide. Complete List HERE.
For more information, visit www.bertlozadaswimschool.com, like them on Facebook or call (02) 563-5532.
Aqualogic Swim Co.
Starts: March 31, 2014
Course duration: 10 days
Program/Lessons offered for: Infants and Toddlers, Kids, Persons with Autism, Stroke Efficiency for Adults, and Water Aerobics.
For Schedule, Location and Rates, please check HERE.
For more information, visit their Website or call +632.703.6386 and look for Ria Mackay or Norma Miranda.  You may also email them your inquiries at info@aqualogicswimco.com

Scientific Taekwondo Efficiency Program (STEP) 
Classes start: April 1, 2014
FREE TRIAL Classes on March 25, 27, and 29 at 10am to 12nn
Venue: Xtreme Boxing Gym, Penthouse of Sir Williams Hotel at #39 Timog Avenue

Futbol Funatics
Classes Start: April 2014.
Venue Options: Cuenca Park, Ayala Alabang| Meralco Fitness Center, Ortigas Ave., Pasig City | Urdaneta Village Park, Salcedo, Makati City | Tahanan Village Park, BF Homes, Paranaque City |BGC-TURF, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig | Philamhomes, Quezon City | Elizabeth Seton School, Cavite | FOIFC, Las Pinas City

For complete list of schedule, location and fees, please visit their website HERE or like them on Facebook.

Hello!  As March 1 kicked in I hurriedly checked Nuffnang Philippines' website to see if their March feature is already up.  When I saw it, I was literally screaming out of joy.  You know the feeling of a child waiting for Christmas Day so that she could open her gifts under the Christmas tree?  Yes, exactly that feeling.

I almost fainted when I saw this on their home page.

Remembering a year and eight months ago, all I just ever wanted was to write, share my practical tips and mommy experiences and hopefully be able to find and connect with women and moms like me, who have the same love for parenting and living life practically.

I guess in my own little way, I was able to achieve that.  Slowly and (hopefully) surely.  All I have with me are these: a determined and passionate heart to inspire and help, my practical life experiences and stories to share and my writing skills.  With those, plus loads of commitment for this passion, I continued writing.

I also invested in blog coaching (which I am currently taking with my mentor Martine de Luna), in web design revamp (which took a backseat, but will soon happen!) and in attending workshops.  Investing in something you love doing helps in improving on your craft, bonus of it is you get to meet a number of like-minded individuals (which later become your friends) and you learn a lot from them too.

None of these would have happened also if not for the support of my readers and my online friends via Mommy Practicality's Facebook Page.

To be a featured blogger of Nuffnang Philippines is a dream come true for me.  Imagine being featured along side some of the country's celebrity bloggers (like Erwan Heussaff, Saab Magalona, Divine Lee, Victor Basa, Chuckie Dreyfus and Patty Laurel to name a few) and popular bloggers I follow (such as Jackie Go, Christine Dychiao, TSN, Earth Rullan, and Frances Sales to name a few) is such an honor and such a KILIG feeling.

Thank you my dear readers and supporters of Mommy Practicality.  I dedicate this blog milestone to all of you!  Without you, I wouldn't be where Mommy Practicality is on its blog journey.  Thanks also to Nuffnang Philippines for the feature.  I still can't believe I'm seeing my name and my face on their site. :)

Read about the feature, how I started, what I write about and so much more over HERE: http://www.nuffnang.com.ph/featured-blogger/louise-fandino.

Hello loves, as mentioned before, I'm going to talk about our post-Valentine's lunch buffet date at Circles Event Cafe at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
I used the Luxury Buffet GCs I won from a contest in one of the events I attended last year.  I actually let my birthday and Christmas pass without using it because I was saving it for Valentine's Day.  Isn't amazing?  Isn't it?  :)
We made the reservation a week before the lunch date, just to be sure we have a table.  It's important to come on time because they only have 15 minutes grace period to hold your reservation, trust that the place gets full.

Circles Event Cafe is far from having an intimidating ambiance.  In fact, it has a very friendly and casual dining environment. Their dining area is very spacious which can sit a family, a large group or a couple comfortably.

Just like its counterpart in EDSA Shangri-La, HEAT Restaurant, Circles has fascinating open-theater kitchens where food are cooked and served hot and fresh.

Their open kitchens range from Asian and Western cuisines, to seafood, cold appetizers, desserts and more.  Choose from a generous range of delectable cuisine from starters, main course, desserts and beverages.


 Now, let me share with you what's on our plates:

Salad with Vinaigrette

Potato Cream Soup

Grilled Seafood

Risotto, Steamed Vegetables, Prawn Tempura and Well-done Steak

Lechon de Leche

Chicken Feet, Hakaw and Siomai

Fruits, Cakes, Mango Crepe and Ice Cream for dessert.  For beverage there's Iced Tea and water.

Coffee to cap the lunch buffet

Happy Customers! :)

Over-all Review

This is week three of our Dear Mommy Practicality.  Our story for this week (supposedly last week, but because of some reasons, this post was delayed, please forgive me loves!) is from a woman who decided to be a Single Mom and is faced with a relationship problem with the father of her children.

Let's read about her dilemma below and hope that you could share your advice as well below.

Dear Mommy Practicality,

My problem po kasi ako. Hiwalay n kmi ng boyfriend ko last year pa month of September.  May dalawa na kaming anak.  Ang reason ng paghihiwalay nmin ay nahuhuli ko pa rin sya na nkikipag flirt sa ibang babae at pagdating sa work pabaya sya at mabarkada pa.... kaya nagdecision na ako mkpaghiwalay. 

Kahit nung wala ap kaming anak flirt sya sa babae at hanggang ngayon ay hindi nya pa rin inaamin na nagkaanak sya sa iba. Siya yung tipo ng tao na kahit huli na, hindi talaga aamin.  Masyado na akong nasasaktan.  Hanggang sa mawalan na akonq ng nararamdaman para sa kanya. 

Mas pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang 2 anak ko. Ngayon madami sya sinasabi na magbabago na sya at mahal na mahal nya daw ako pero it's too late.  Hindi ko na talaga siya mahal.  Naawa ako sa 2 anak ko dahil umabot pa sa ganito.  Sana lang matanggap ng 2 anak ko ang sitwasyon namin.

Mas mahirap kung makikipagbalikan ako sa kanya pero hindi ko na talaga sya mahal. Magaaway lang kmi lagi. Nakakaawa lng 2 kifs ko kung lalaki sila na nagaaway lgi magulang nla. Mas ok na sa akin na dadalaw siya at least less away pa. Tama po kaya ang ginawa ko? Naging selfish ba ako?

                                                                                                 From:
                                                                                                 Sunshine 02


First of all, thank you for sharing your story.  The way I see it, you're examining yourself if what you've done is right or wrong or if it's fair for your child.  Believe me, I have gone through what you are going through right now.  I also questioned myself if I was being selfish or not.  I doubted my decision and was even harsh to myself because there were times I tortured myself of guilt, which shouldn't happen in the first place.  It turned out that YES, I was being selfish.  Selfish and unfair to MYSELF because I was holding on and letting the guilt feeling take over my life, even when I already knew that my decision was for the welfare of my child.  I don't want that to happen to you.

I've always been fighting for women empowerment and I say NO to abuse (verbal, physical or emotional) and no to choosing a miserable life just because you have children or just because the society dictates you to stick together as a family.  All the more that women should stand up and be strong for their kids.  We don't want our children to see their mothers sad, hurt or abused.  It will just leave a traumatic memory in their hearts and may even affect them psychologically which may result to relationship problems/fears in the future.  When your children are older, they will understand.  No need to hide the truth to them.  Just communicate in the level of their understanding.  Matatalino na ang mga bata ngayon.  Trust me, they will understand.  One more tip, don't speak ill of their father no matter how much he has caused you pain.

I don't know your partner, but if you're saying that you don't love him anymore because of his dishonesty and infidelity, then I think you made the right decision.  Don't look back and feel sorry for yourself, your children and your ex.  Stand up for yourself and your children.  I admire you for focusing on your children first.

Let me share a Single Mother Manifesto I read online:

Photo by Toni South of Small Key Big Door

On your ex again, it's difficult to accept someone in your life out of pity or out of what our culture dictates that a father, a mother and their children should stay together.  Besides, you are not married yet.  If God wills it that you'll be back together and that he really has changed for the better, God will move mountains for that to happen.  For now, just continue praying and just trust HIM in everything.  Stay strong Sunshine, for yourself and your beautiful children.

                                                                                                   Sincerely Yours,
                                                                                                   Mommy Practicality