A Birthday Celebration

Happy Monday to all. How’s your weekend, anyway? Last Saturday, we went to a BIL’s home to celebrate a nephew’s 5th birthday. The birthday boy looked disappointed at first as no one told him about the birthday cake and gifts.

Birthday cake - lots of blue :)

Happy birthday, Azman

The plan to surprise him was running well. After dinner with the whole family, the birthday cake taken out from the cupboard. He’s given lots of gifts that night.  The boy looked so happy. My husband created a framed mosaic of his pics, started since he’s still a baby. It became our birthday gift to him.    

Blue Monday

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Essential Camping Trips and Tricks

Camping can be fun and relaxing if you are well prepared and if you know how to set up a camping site. Otherwise, you might be in for an adventure that will forever ruin camping for you. Though you have to keep in mind that without proper preparation and planning, it will be extremely hard to set up camp and to enjoy nature in its full glory.

Related article : Survival tips

Always make sure you have shelter
Even if you are going to a camping site, it is very important that you find or prepare shelter. This will be especially imperative if you are not going with a camp house and if you want to camp with a tent and a bedroll. Finding shelter before dark will be essential as you will have not only a hard time setting up everything in the dark, but you will have to deal with any passing wildlife as well. Besides it is always better to have your fire burning by the time night falls, so that you are safe from anything happening during the night.

Read this also : building survival shelters.

You need to be clear with one thing immediately, a bigger tent is not going to be better at all times. And, in most cases it is best to carry a smaller tent so that you do not lug around a lot of your things. Though, make sure that you always check beforehand where you will go so that you can pack your gear to best suit your needs. Furthermore, always make sure that you choose the right tent because it will be beneficial if you can set up your tent quick and without any hassle.


Pitching your tent

Pack enough food that will last
Remember to pack light and easy to carry food with you, so that you do not have to bring a lot of perishable ingredients. It will go bad quickly without refrigeration, and it might attract uninvited wildlife. Moreover, learn how to prepare simple meals from canned and dried ingredients, it will be easier to cook it and to clean up afterwards as well.

Building a campfire without setting the forest on fire
A campfire is necessary to build, but it can quickly become a hazard if you do not pay attention. Before you set out on a camping adventure, you need to be sure that you can build a fire pit and that it will not endanger its surrounding, even if you forget to put it out. Always carry a simple set of flint and steel, so that you can light your fires without any trouble.


Be wary of your water supply
Unless you can be sure that you can refill your water supplies, it is best if you carry enough to last you your camping trip. Besides bringing enough jugs and water bottles, make sure to learn how to filtrate water on your own. Finding springs will be a great find, but often it is best to first purify water so that you avoid drinking any toxins. Remember that the easier solution to treat your water is to boil it.

Make room for any extra supplies
If you are going on a camping trip with a car, you need to make sure that you have enough fuel with you, and that you can use it. Make sure to install additional diesel tanks so that you can carry surplus fuel. In the long run it might become necessary not only to have enough so that you can drive in rough terrain, but also to feed your fire when it becomes absolutely necessary. Though bear in mind that you should not bring along too much, or it will only slow you down.

Check before you pack for camping
Make a list of essentials you must bring along the trip, so that you can double check it and make sure that you have everything. Moreover, practice setting up a campsite before dark falls, so that you have enough time to secure the perimeter and to get a fire started. Always plan ahead so that you can bring sufficient food and water and other supplies as well. In the end, your camping experience should be enjoyable and memorable.

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70th Independence Day

Every 17^th August Indonesian people celebrate the Independence Day; today is the 70^th ! Since a week ago, people start hoisting flags on their homes along with red-and-white decoration that can be seen throughout the city.

Indonesia is the place where I was born. The national spirit always runs in my blood. Indonesia is a wonderful country that should be proud of. Although there are still many complicated problems that seems blocking the way to prosperity and glory; we must keep struggling and moving forward.

Strong

We fought hard

we fought long

now you'll hear our freedom song

we're not bragging

we're not mean

sorry to say

its our time to gleam

freedom we wanted

freedom we got

everyones hardships will not soon be forgot

we help you

you help us

time has made us all strong

with a light heart and happy soul

when its needed

will tear thee apart

Source: Monica-poems-and-quotes.com

The day usually filled with ceremonies, festives and celebrations. Many communities and neighborhoods held fun activities and contests. Among many fun contests, panjat pinang is a very attractive to see game. Several men try to climb oily poles, to reach attached prizes above.

Image:blogs.voanews.com

Of course I love my country. Wish for the continuous freedom and peace as well as better prosperity for the whole residents.  Happy Independence Day!

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Teaching Your Kids to Care About the Environment

To really protect your environment, it is especially important that you take your time to teach your kids how to go about the environment, and, how they can become a better and greener person. However, it will not be easy to interest children in becoming more eco-friendly, and it will take some time until they understand what they need to do.


Try to reduce everything you use in your home
Kids learn best by example, and unless you give them a model to look up to, your children will not know where to start. You should firstly start to reduce the water you use around you home. In a lot of the households, water is not being closely monitored, and in most cases, water can be squandered away without even noticing it. Make sure to show your kids why you are doing this as well.

Reuse and refurbish
If you are going to preach about recycling and its many benefits, you should practice it yourself and make sure that you reuse your old things lying around your home. On the other hand, make sure that your kids understand the fundamentals of recycling and how it works. Moreover, you might even help in repurposing some of the old toys and helping out neighborhood kids.

Do not make it into a chore

Children will immediately dislike something if they feel it is a chore, and it will be even harder when it comes to doing something useful and practical in order to save the environment. Try to come up with fun and educative ways to teach your kids about being green, and how it will benefit them. Although, make sure that through fun and games, they learn the essentials.

Introduce to them to self-sufficiency
Br sure that your kids are familiarized with how they can actually harness nature and its resources without polluting anything. Moreover, if you work on using renewable resources together, it could turn out to be a fun project, and, making solar energy containers as step one of your solar collector powered house is a great way to get started.

Wearing clothes made out of environmentally friendly ingredients
It is not just about what you do, but, it is also about what you wear. Buying clothes which are eco-friendly, and which will not harm nature in any way will be a good way to emphasize on just how important it is to protect the environment. Furthermore, by using organic clothing, you can reduce your expenses on clothing, and they will last a longer time as well.

Passing on the knowledge
At the end of the day, your kids will learn something new, and they will be able to preserve nature as well, making them greener. Though, keep in mind that every small step you take towards reducing your carbon footprint will help the environment immeasurably. Nevertheless, keep on working together to become better at protecting your local environment, so that you can have a greener and cleaner tomorrow to enjoy.

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Streamline Tasks with an Online Family Planner

Organizing a busy family schedule can be overwhelming for anyone. Soccer practices, dance recitals, piano lessons, and more can leave parents exhausted and stretched to their limits. Are you including such parents who face full of activity agenda each day?

image:stridepost.com

If you’re feeling worn down from the daily grind of balancing the hectic schedules of your family, there’s hope! Stridepost was created with your needs in mind, and will help you and yours keep track of daily tasks while simultaneously helping kids develop key organizational skills.

If you’ve ever been curious about the benefits that you’d receive from an online family planner like Stridepost, there’s no time like the present to see for yourself. Stridepost will streamline time consuming organizational tasks, giving you more free time to enjoy with your loved ones. The to-do tracker, family calendar, and custom rewards planner are the three pillars to Stridepost’s success, and each offers its own unique organizational benefits. Stridepost is your family, at your pace.

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Gone Too Soon

Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon

Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon

Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night

Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon

Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon

Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon

Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night

Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon

Songwriters
GROSSMAN, LARRY/KOHAN, ALAN BUZ

Published by
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., ALAN KOHAN D/B/A ONE ZEE MUSIC

This post is a tribute to a new lovely friend who has passed away this Wednesday afternoon (August 12, 2015).  She died of a brain tumor that had just known. Her fiancé, parents, the whole family, and friends love her so much but God loves her more. That’s why God called her back home earlier.

I already plan to have a video call next month with her but it won’t happen since she left so soon. I believe that God will place her in the most beautiful place called heaven. We will miss her every day. Rest in peace, dear friend.    

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How to Spend More Quality Time With Your Child

It is very important that you always make time for your children, as it is crucial for them in order to grow up properly. Moreover, it will be imperative to show your kids that you really care about them, and that you will always be there for them. It will create a picture of you as a parent who is reliable and trustworthy, which is really important in order to become independent later on. However, sometimes it will be hard to find quality time to spend with children, which is why you must get creative.

Do not say no to silly ideas

When your kid is trying to show you something and play with you, it is a clear sign of craving for attention. And even if they want to show you something, or if they want to take you on a pajama walk, you should try to say yes to it. After all, you need to nourish their kid side, and having fun during the day will be important for you as well, which is why you should do it with your children as much as you can.

Find time to cook together
Cooking as a family is a great practice because you will be able to teach your children something along the way, and in return they will be grateful. Moreover, you might learn something from them as well, because they might add an ingredient you thought would be impossible to cook with. However, cooking together has more benefits than just making a meal, it will create a special kind of bond that children will deeply cherish. And after a while, it might even become a common practice so that your kids can make tasty meals for you as well.

Spending time when you are not there
Although it might sound weird, but it is not impossible to show your kids that you care about them, even when you are physically not there. Packing their lunches and leaving notes to brighten up their day is only one way of interacting with them. But, if you make their chores interesting with notes around the house, you will be able to give them a bit of fun. And later on children could communicate with you via notes as well, making it a fun game that only you and they understand.

Having some fun outside
If you have a big yard, it is important to go out as much as possible because not only will you be able to play more and have a lot more fun, but you will be able to enjoy fresh air as well. On the other hand, installing sprayer pumps to water your garden, and to run around in circles beneath the shower it creates can be loads of fun. Remember to let your children lead in these kind of games, as they will know best what it is to entertain them.


Go on a picnic with your children
You need to make sure to spend some time away from home as well, as this will be the ultimate gift your kids can receive. Having fun at home is fine, but in order to really bond, and to see the world together, it is vital to either go on a picnic or to just take a walk outside. Remember to indulge in a number of games, to keep your children happy. But always make sure to explain what you are doing, so that your children can understand what is going on and why they are doing it.

Always make time for your children
In the end it is not important if you spend a bit of time or even hours together, but the vital thing to do is to find some time to spend with your children, so that they can feel loved and cherished. There are many things you can do together, and you can even do some house chores together to spend some quality time together. On the other hand, do not try to neglect your kids’ imagination, make sure that you play along and most importantly that all of you have a lot of fun while doing so.

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