With the recent change of passport application, getting a passport now is easier compared to the long queue before.

Looking forward of receiving my new passport bearing the family name of my hubby!

Hubby was in the downtown Dumaguete when the quake started. Steel buildings shook, windows broken, the walls cracked! I was still in shocked that prompted me to check on the local news and Phivolcs. Phivolcs has reported a strong local earthquake with a depth of 10 km occurred offshore in Negros Oriental at 11:49 a.m.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake hit 70 kilometres (44 miles) north of the city of Dumaguete on Negros Island at 11:49 am (0349 GMT) at a depth of 46 kilometers.

Be safe everyone! Be vigilant and stay strong!

1. Paper Chains

Children get excited about everything. They often start counting down the days in advance for birthdays, holidays, even the first day of school. Making a paper chain is a great way to involve your child in the countdown process. Cut one inch strips of paper. Glue the first strip together at the end to make a loop. Continue making loops out of the paper strips, making sure that each one interlocks with the one before it. The child can then remove a loop each day, watching the time disappear, along with the chain!

2. Cards And Books

Children love to be creative and express themselves. Let them make their own cards and books out of construction paper. It only takes one simple fold to transform an ordinary piece of paper into a special gift from your child.

3. Collages

Collages are especially fun for children if you let them help make the materials first. Take out various colors of construction or tissue paper, and let the child have fun ripping it into a bunch of smaller pieces. Give the child a glue stick, and let him/her arrange the different bits any way he/she wants, to form a collage.

4. Mosaics

Similar to the collage is the mosaic craft technique. Mosaics may take a little more time and concentration, so they are probably better suited for an older child. Let the child create his/her own picture out of little squares of paper. All of the squares should be the same size when making a mosaic.

5. Hand Puppets

Paper hand puppets are fun to create. The best part about making puppets is being able to play with them when they are finished. Brown paper bags are the perfect size for little hands, thus making them ideal material for puppets.

6. Origami

Origami is another great craft idea. While it can be a very difficult art, there are some simple things even a child can make. A paper fan just requires some back and forth folds, and most people can make paper airplanes.

7. Weaving

Weaving can be done with paper as well. This is a great way for a child to make his/her own placemat. Cut one inch strips out of construction paper. Use a separate sheet of paper as the base. Leaving a one inch margin from the edge, cut slits in the base at one inch intervals. Let the child weave the strips in and out of the slits to form a placemat.

8. Handprints

One final idea that is definitely worth mentioning is the handprint technique. This is a great craft idea for even the youngest artists. As long as the child will allow paint on his/her hand, handprints can be turned into anything. For the older child, the hand can be traced and then cut out to form the print. Handprints can become antlers, leaves, wings, flower petals and a great many other things.

The next time it rains, grab your child and give one of these techniques a try. There is a world of possibilities waiting for you. All it takes is a little bit of paper and a lot of creativity.

Working for a printer cartridge supplier in Manchester has allowed James to learn a lot about HP inkjet cartridges, printing and blogging.

Others collect with wisdom, though. While most collection will mean nothing for others or for the future, the practical people will think of something to collect for the purpose of “saving” them in the future like if women buy silver coins, it can be stored easily without care for delicate parts and can be sold also later when needed. Like myself, I have collected old paper bills and old coins. I stopped collecting when my 11 pcs of Arrovo misspelled bills were stolen.

For the past 5 days, I was always in Youtube until the wee hours just to watch this Korean Drama.

You should watch this! I know I am late but I guess I wasnt that stress before because I didnt look for him. lol. I guess my problems will not be over so soon, so I guess its time for me to look for another Lee Min Ho movie. Any suggestion?

This is my entry for the 366 Blog Photo Challenge.

We arrived last night from our two weeks holiday in my home province. Its my first visit since 1993 where I stayed long. I visited twice but was only to stay overnight or maximum two days. But this time around, we had the opportunity to introduce to my kids the real life in the countryside. My kids went swimming in Kulaman River, mountain climbing, visiting the farm and riding the carabao. We had a blast. Will be posting a lot of these in the coming days.

For now, I am in the mood and is excited to go back to work. Good luck to all of us!