Festival of Nation 2014 #Part 1 - St. Joseph Choir

This is a long over due post. The 6th Annual Festival of Nation celebration was held last March 14, 2014 at Weirton Millsop Community Center. We have been watching for three years now but this is the first year that our daughter have participated to the St. Joseph School choir. 

The Music teacher in school, Ms. Bernardi is responsible for assembling /forming the  group.  She recruits students who wants to volunteer  and  sing.  The St. Joseph group was the first one in line during the procession of the participants.

They sang many songs during their number and the little Miss  was so excited for participating on this event.  We used to just watch  the  performances but now, she's part of  what we are watching.

With one of her best friends in school, Lizzy.

I will post some more next time.

Creating a Holiday That Your Kids Will Remember For a Lifetime

You might not get that many opportunities to go on holiday with your children, and so when the time comes, you might be interested in making it as memorable as possible. You might think that in order for a holiday to be memorable, it needs to be expensive, though this could not be further from the truth. Using the right techniques, you can create an awesome holiday that will be remembered for years to come, without having to spend a ton of money.

Focus on Experiences

One of the best things that you can do whilst you are on holiday, is to place a focus on experiences more than anything. You might be tempted to buy your children a lot of gifts and souvenirs, though these will soon to gather dust. What they will remember, however, are the amazing sights that you showed them, and spectacular vistas that might not be available back at home. If you are not sure where to begin, maybe take some time to ask some of the country's residents what you should be aiming to do.

Do Activities As a Family

Though you might be tempted to let everyone do their own thing whilst you are on holiday, it might be better if you do everything as a family. Doing things as a family will afford you the chance to create an experience of which incorporates everyone, and makes them do activities that they would not otherwise think of doing.

Don't Do the Usual

When you visit a new region, it can be very tempting to do what other tourists are doing. Doing the usual, however, can often prove to be detrimental, as there is rarely any surprise. If you make an effort to figure out some of the more unusual spots in the region, you will be able to create a memorable experience, that might not even cost that much. 

If you'd like to, it could help to consult with popular tour companies, that can help you spot some of the hidden gems that might be in the country that you are thinking of visiting. If you are visiting a big region such as the USA, you'll find that Adventure World has tours of USA, of which will reduce the learning curve in terms of learning about new areas. 

When using a tour company, you might be surprised at just how much they can do, in order to help make your trip a memorable experience. If you are struggling for ideas, you should almost always see what kind of experiences a tour company can offer you whilst you're in a country of their expertise.

Made to Remember?

It can be hard creating a holiday that is memorable. However, by attempting to do some of the more unusual tasks on a holiday, and focusing on experiences rather than gifts, you'll find that it is not as hard as you thought. You'll want to be careful, however as you might do such a good job, that the rest of the family begs you to take them on another holiday!

Delta Airline VS US Airways

We flew through Delta on our way to San Francisco. Flying with Delta was awesome. They served us beverages and snacks (cookies, peanuts, and pretzels). The flight crew were very friendly and super nice too!  Our flight got there earlier than  scheduled.  I always love flying with them.

Minnesota  airport has a  very interesting setting.  The waiting area was  very crowded because   there is a food court where  you can eat and there are  stalls  that sells  souvenirs.  Every table has a built in  iPad (not sure if it was an iPad) which you can use to check  something online  while waiting for your flight.

While waiting for our connecting flight to San Francisco, we've waited at the area where it wasn't crowded and took some photos.

My kids have exercised their legs while walking on this Moving walkway.  They went through it so many times.

A quick snap when we landed at San Francisco Airport.

Going back, we flew via  US Airways.  The crew were very nice too and they served us beverages.  I thought that was  weird because flying with them is a lot expensive than Delta hehehe.

We had a connecting flight from San Francisco to  Charlotte, North Carolina.  Glad that my husband  bought a vegetable salad before we took off  because there is no snack with US Airways.  With our 5-hour flight, the kids would have starved  if we did not have  snack bars and the salad with us.

Our  flight from San Francisco to  Charlotte arrived  ten minutes late so we literally have to run because we only  have ten minutes to catch the plane to Pittsburgh.  I feel bad for my son because he was crying  due to  earache.  I hate when the connecting flight has a very short  period of time  allowance to catch your next flight but there's nothing we can do as we weren't the ones who  set up the  itineraries of our trip.   But given an option, I would choose Delta over  US Air.  It is cheaper and  snacks are free!

Saint Day Mass

These photos were taken on April 30th, when the kindergartner's saint day mass was held at the church prior to the Google special assembly.  It is so cute watching the kindergartner  read at the podium.  They also perform a religious  action song in front of the parents.

Involving the kids to the mass is a great aspect that I love about the school.  It's a nice  confidence booster for them.

I love all the flowers  in front of the altars.  I wish that my garden would have blooms like these lol.

Glad that Miss Burrito is starting to get comfortable in singing.  Before when she was just starting to sing in the choir, she was always nervous.  

5 Fantastic Honeymoon Destinations in Asia 2014

Disclaimer.  Photo Sources are indicated at the bottom of each photos that aren't mine.

After all of the stress, diplomacy and emotion that goes into planning a wedding, all most couples want to do once the day is done is escape to a tropical paradise, switch off from the outside world and relax.

Our HOneymoon in Maribago Blue Water Resort, Cebu City Philippine - 2003

And with its heady mix of sunshine, picture postcard landscapes and delicious cuisine, Asia is a fantastic choice for any honeymooners looking for that little bit of heaven.

So if you've got a wedding of your own coming up this year and are planning a honeymoon to remember, here are the 5 best destinations in Asia to kick your marriage off perfectly.

1. Bintan Island, Indonesia

The white sandy beaches, calm waters and friendly locals of Bintan Island, Indonesia, make it a fantastic destination for a holiday no matter what the occasion.

But with the sumptuous Sanchaya Hotel offering couples the very best in luxurious accommodation, the resort is a fantastic choice for honeymooners looking for that little piece of paradise.

For those who want to experience an extra bit of culture during their honeymoon, the city state of Singapore is only a short ferry wide away and makes a great day trip during a stay on Bintan Island.

2. Vietnam

Like many of the countries in the region, Vietnam has a coastline to be proud of with idyllic beaches, secluded coves and traditional villages to be found in abundance.

As well as the fantastic scenery, honeymooners will love the outstanding food, the exotic atmosphere and the welcoming locals.

3. Bali, Indonesia

Well known for its white sandy beaches, great atmosphere and array of luxury hotels, Bali has long been a favourite for honeymooners looking to combine a relaxing break with a bit of hedonistic fun.

For a more cultural experience, head to the island’s interior where the lush jungle and undulating landscape make for breathtaking views and an unforgettable holiday.  

Photo Source: https://turismoadaptado.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bedugul-is-a-mountain-lake-resort-area-in-bali-indonesia-located-in-the-centre-north-region-of-the-island.jpg

4. Hokkaido, Japan

Relaxing, peaceful and incredibly beautiful, Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, is a great alternative to bustling Tokyo.

In the winter, honeymooners can cosy up in romantic ski resorts, while in the summer months visitors can explore the island’s spectacular landscape and vibrant natural attractions. 

Photo source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Tulip_field_Kamiyubetsu_Hokkaido_japan.jpg

5. The Maldives

With its idyllic beaches, laid back atmosphere and top quality resorts, there are few places in the world that look as much like paradise as the Maldives.

Perfect for honeymooners who want to completely relax and unwind, the country boasts a wide range of beaches, some fantastic hotels and plenty of stunning landscapes.

On average, the winter months are dryer than the summer, but with the temperature rarely dropping below 27˚C, the Maldives’ tourist season lasts all year.

With so many outstanding destinations to choose from Asia really is the perfect choice for honeymooners looking to kick start their married lives.

So if you want to give your soon-to-be better half a holiday to remember, pack those bags, jump on a plane and head to one of Asia’s outstanding honeymoon destinations.