Searching the net for summer shoes for my children led me to Polliwalks.

Polliwalks are shoes for kids.

“Aha!” I told myself, this fun for feet shoes for kids would be perfect for my kids to use this summer!

Being a mom, I am concerned not only about cute, fun and playful stuff for my children. I am also concerned with how safe these things they use with regards to their health and well-being.

So I found these about Polliwalks:

• Polliwalks have Footprinting Bottom and color changing lips. Now these are fresh and innovative ideas for these “character” shoes.

• Judging by how the shoes look, these seem well-fitting and comfortable too aside from exuding playfulness, happiness and innocence which basically sum up what children really are.

• Playfulness is one characteristic that I can describe my children. I let them run around and have fun through play (with restrictions of course). One thing I make sure of is that the shoes they are wearing should be: comfortable, easy to clean, lightweight, fits well and slip resistant.

• Environment-friendly packaging (recycled paper for tags and hooks) as well as environment-friendly water-based adhesives were used in the manufacture of these shoes.

My youngest daughter would definitely love this pair of pink t-Rex shoes:

Where to purchase:

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Below was one of the photos I took on January 1st when I decided to do a daily 2010 project 365. Yes the blog posts may not updated but the photos are

It is fun taking photos because each photo has a story to tell, hence my blog name, Photo Stories.

Though the inspiration to capture what one sees as a good image may make one lose interest and get bored, for me, taking photos, albeit what I think for me are good enough , is better than reading about insurance quotes and waiting for the paint to dry.

Others may not consider my work as masterpieces. I don’t really mind at all, as long as I am happy and still able to take photos I find interesting. After all, photos are captured moments that can be enjoyed without sweating the tech stuff.

Have fun Photo Hunting, remember, taking photos is one of the many ways we have stopped time

photohunt

When I got the chance to watch a preview of THE RED SHOES  (A Love Story) last Friday night, I grabbed it and watched with my friends iMom and SassyMom.

Honestly, I was surprised when it was announced that the writer, director and some cast were present. “How could that be?” I thought, because movie is a foreign film. Turned out I was wrong.

The Red Shoes (A Love Story) is produced by Unitel Productions. Yes the same one who gave us Inang Yaya and Crying Ladies.

No, I did not get to watch both films. Truth is the last locally-produced movie I watched was that of a real-life sweethearts’ movie. Sadly, its leading man has passed away.

Anyway, The Red Shoes (A Love Story) is a love story of Lucas and Bettina that spanned several years. It is also the love story of the parents of Lucas.

Watch a teaser of The Red Shoes (A Love Story) here and here.

I will not dwell on the plot and spoil the fun for you. I will just give emphasis to the symbols that I feel are important in the story:

Shoes: For me, this is the focal point of the story: Imelda Marcos’ pair of red shoes that Lucas got from malacanang Palace. He gave the right shoe to his mother and the left shoe for his loved one, Bettina. Every character in the movie has a favorite kind of shoe to wear. Lucas’ mom, Chat, always gets a new pair of shoes for her birthday. In real life, we all wear different kinds of shoes, depending on what we hope to do, where we are going and what we hope to accomplish.

Bridges. Bettina loves bridges because her father used to build bridges. In the story, a certain bridge provided the setting for the highlight of the love story as well as the end of it. Bridges connect us with people much as it separate us from one another.

Spirista. When all else fails, we go to the spiritista, the one who will “talk” to our loved ones who passed away without telling us their last wish. Don’t we just wish this is easily done for our peace of mind, at least?

Home Altar. For  a predominantly Catholic country, home altars are common. Alongside these however are traditional Chinese thingamajigs like frogs or Buddha figurines. When a loved one died, it is also customary to “offer” food (called atang) to seek the favor of the one who died to intercede and ask help from the saints for a favor being asked. This is my opinion on this matter, by the way.

Moving on. Chat had difficulty moving on after her husband’s death more than two decades ago. This tackles how people deal with grief on their own terms. Or maybe because her intuition tells her otherwise that’s why she won’t stop until she gets a “message” from her dead husband. Moving on is one of the hardest things to do, especially after a sudden and/or tragic death of a loved one.

Jose Rizal snippet about slippers: Jose Rizal lost a slipper on a lake. What he did was throw the other slipper away so that whoever might find both would get to use the pair. There was something about this in the story and it moved me to tears.

Removing shoes/slippers when entering a big house. This used to be customary, as a sign of respect, especially if the one entering the big house is from a lower economic strata. This is a kind of demarcation line between the haves and the have-nots.

There are still a lot more to be discussed and I know this has gone too long.

Please go and watch the movie and I am sure you are going to love it.

The Red Shoes (A Love Story) will be shown in theaters on March 10, 2010.

There is no doubt that among local bloggers there are a few who stand out not because they are “popular enough” to get invited to events because they write prolifically, figuratively, poetically and will move you to tears after which or at the same will make you guffaw. There is one blogger who makes me feel that way Who is she? None other than Annamanila who writes at Ode2Old.

She is among all other things, a creative writer who weaves creative thoughts and reality seamlessly.

On retirement she writes:

“What I am trying to say is one still has to fill one’s days with a balanced fare — enjoyable and dutiful ; fluffy and solid; physical and cerebral. What I call the three Ps: Poetry, Purpose and Play. And, not to forget — Passion!”

She loves Anne Tyler:

When a book hits me hard, as a Tyler almost always does, I virtually go down on my knees at its end, kissing the book, blessing the author, and wishing her “Long Live!” that she may forever write and never stop filling and refilling the treasure trove of her works.

We come across a writer of this caliber once in a while and there is no doubt her works should be in print.

And it is now. The book is entitled “In Another Dress”

Annamanila’s daughter, Alina wrote about the book and the author. Momblogger friends iMom and Ann Khaye also wrote about the book in their blogs.

Here we are during her book launching, with a scanned article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Annamanila with iMom, Wenchie and Rachel and me.

Thanks to Rachel and my bro for uploading this in Fezbuk.

I could not have seen this without this scanned page since I do not have the newspaper itself AND a scanning software.

Stuffed toys are cuddly, no doubt about it.

Here is the Animal Alley in a Toys “R” Us store, that part where lots of plush and soft toys are displayed. I have other photos of the cuddly toys but my children are there. They don’t want to be shown in blog photos anymore.

We were here last Saturday and the kids hugged every stuffed toy they wanted. We went home without buying anything. Yes, it is possible!

They especially love the Disney character toys.

No need to go to Orlando theme parks to get these toys All we need travel would be around 15-20 minutes to see these toys.

It’s the time for Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Sadie, a Scottie won the best in show.

We love going to dog shows whenever we can. It is amazing to see dogs groomed and paraded for everyone to see. Most are oblivious to the cameras aimed at them and people ogling at how well they look. But there is always one that stands out, which turns out to be the best among the best.

Breeding dogs is not cheap.

When there are a lot of people who can’t even afford to purchase their basic needs like food, nor be able to get personal needs (things for hygiene like bath necessities, get adult acne treatment or weather-appropriate clothes), sometimes it looks “vulgar” offensive to some when these pets are given excessive pampering. Yes,this is big business after all.

We love dogs, in fact we have had several dogs but we chose a breed that will not drill a hole in the budget.

• Dogs bring out the good in people.
• Dogs help people relax.
• Dogs love unconditionally.
• Dogs are wonderful companions.
• Dogs give you a sense of protection.

These are just some of the benefits of having a dog. So there, maybe it is never always about the tag price that goes with taking care of these faithful companions but also the joy one feels in return.

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults.  Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment.  ~George Eliot