Me, Myself and I

Taal Vista @ 75 years

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 01:42:00 +0000

My husband and I celebrated our 7th year wedding anniversary in Taal Vista Hotel last weekend (will create a separate post about our weekend stay there). Coincidentally, Taal Vista is also celebrating their 75th year. Wow! Thar's been a long time. They have this wall in their lobby (if you're going to the viewing deck at the back, you will never miss this wall) which shows the rich history of Taal Vista Lodge as the first hotel in Tagaytay till present. Originally it was owned by Zamoras and I only get a glimpsed of Development Bank of the Philippines acquiring it in the 80s or is it in the 90s until SM Holding group finally owns it (so that's the reason why they have a promo rates for SM Advantage card holders....).

Anyways, in celebration of their anniversary they have special events and offers for their guests who will be staying for this week. Check this out:

Happening this week at Taal Vista

Still a part of their celebration is showcasing the Filipino dishes by their guest chefs. You can enjoy their wonderful dishes for lunch and dinner buffet on weekends at Cafe Veranda. See below the schedule of the guest chefs you may fancy. I'm sure you will see some familiar faces since you've seen them in commercials or cooking TV shows:

If there's a special occasion coming up, why don't celebrate it with food at Taal Vista Hotel. For Php 1350nett it's going to be worth your money and time.

Taal Vista Hotel
Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City 4120 Philippines
For inquiries and reservations, please call +63 (2) 917-8225, +63 (46) 413-100 or +63 0917 809-1254.
www.taalvistahotel.com
Facebook Official Page
Twitter and Instagram (@taalvistahotel)

Like A Virgin by Suor Cristina

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 23:42:00 +0000

I can't help but post this in my blog. Do you remember Sister Cristina (aka Suor Cristina) from the Voice Italy? She became a worldwide sensation due to the fact that she's actually a nun but decided to join a reality talent show. Isn't she amazing and cool?

She won the hearts of the many thus she was the winner of the Voice Italy 2014. As we all know the winner will get a record deal and here she is singing Like A Virgin from Universal Music Italia. As of the moment the video is at 98,000+ views.

Thanks to Daphne for sharing it in her Facebook page. I wouldn't know about this if not for her.

Shop your way with Sears

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 01:00:00 +0000

It's a must nowadays to live within a certain budget or if you can spend an extra luxury, the deal should be good. Come December a lot of people will spend their hard earned 13th month pay and this is the time that installment plans with zero interest are being offered left and right.

But what if you can shop all you want with deals, discounts and promos without stepping out of your house, are you up for it?

Sears, an American multinational department store chain figured out what everyone wanted and that's why they decided to keep up with technology and have their very own online store that offers sporting goods, furniture, appliances, home improvement, etc. It's like visiting a department store only you don't need to step out of your house and you can window shop anytime you want. No closing time.

Should you want to buy something for home improvement like faucets or showers, no need to worry about spending your money when you can use some Sears coupons.

Delta Faucet 19915-SBSD-DST Fuse Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
with Soap Dispenser Stainless/Black
Photo Credit: http://www.sears.com/

How about a J.C. Higgins sporting gear or Silvertone guitars for your brother or son? You can use Sears promo code to avail discounts which you never know exist.

Silvertone SS15-TS-KIT-4 Revolver SS15 Tobacco Sunburst Electric Guitar with Strap and Pick Sampler
Photo Credit: http://www.sears.com/

Should you have any queries or concerns, they have an n online chat support agent to assist you just like the a normal sale associate.

What are you waiting for? Give Sears a chance and explore their online department store and what they has to offer for you and your family.

~This is a sponsored blog post~

Shopping in Nordstrom

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:00:00 +0000

I'd be honest that for quite sometime I never purchased anything in a mall for my personal belongings. If my memory serves me right, the last purchased that we had was window blinds, cloth hangers, memo pads and decorative tapes. It's not thrilling I know but since most of my time is spent in front of a desktop with an internet connection, I ended up buying dresses, blouses and shirts online.

I'm pretty sure you all are no different from me. There is a convenience in shopping online especially on my end since the traffic here is horrendous. Not to mention that the holiday season is nearing and various malls are offering sale and people are clamoring to get the first dibs on the items. I've been there and done that thus I find it a relief that brands such as Nordstrom have an online shop that you can browse over and over again without a sales assistant getting impatient or glancing cautious looks on you. Thank you technology!

Some of you may have mixed-feelings toward online shopping. At first, I was hesitant as well but since I'm after convenience, I gave in. I was eyeing a few pieces in Nordstrom that I can give as a gift for my husband. I think he needs to update his wardrobe and since his a t-shirt kind of guy, I would love to see him wearing this:

The Rail Colorblock Pocket T-Shirt (2 for $30)
Photo Credit - http://shop.nordstrom.com/

Cool! The pocket t-shirt happens to be on sale. I wonder what are the other colors they have for this style. So you see, you can still get savings when shopping online. Just like the regular stores in a mall, they offer discounts and promos.

Oh, I love the color of this shirt (picture below) and I'm sure my husband will agree since he has a thing for color green. Should you see some items that are not on sale just like this, don't fret. There are Nordstrom promotion code or Nordstrom coupon to help you save money and keep your bank accounts healthy. Problem solved! I'm definitely going to use the promo code for this item.

Robert Barakett 'Georgia' Crewneck T-Shirt
Photo Credit - http://shop.nordstrom.com/

Isn't exciting? There are times that I find browsing through online stores or shops therapeutic. It gives me something to look forward to and I can plan what to get and give without leaving the comfort of my house.

Indulge and check Nordstrom online store and make sure to use their coupon codes/promotion codes for 2014 should you end up making a purchase. Enjoy and you are welcome!

~This is a sponsored blog post~

Mama Chows

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 14:14:00 +0000

Let's take a break from shopping and entice our taste buds with my discovery that I want to share with all of you.

Last August I volunteered to assist in a photoshoot event. I didn't expect much since I'm not really a part of the organizers so I was thrilled to be given some snacks by generous ladies to get me through the afternoon/ One of the snack is Mama Chows cheese cupcakes. I wasn't aware that I will be in for a surprise when I took my first bite on the cupcake. It's soft not spongy like the other cupcakes and the best part it's flavorful. The ingredients are not scrimped that's why it tasted so wonderful! It's definitely cheese cupcake and not a sub-standard one. Simply heaven!

Mama Chows Cheese Cupcakes
Photo Credit - https://www.facebook.com/MamaChows

After eating those cupcake, my standard for cheese cupcakes are set high. I can't get over with my feelings toward these pastries thus I ended up ordering a dozen as a "thank you" gift a few days ago. In addition to the cheese cupcakes, I also ordered a dozen of ensaimadas. It's also one of their best seller and I regret not ordering some for myself.

Mama Chows Ensaimadas
Photo Credit - https://www.facebook.com/MamaChows

I'm delighted and thrilled that the recipient of my ordered goodies were happy and have their tummies filled with good quality pastries...

Actual photo of my orders shared to me via Facebook

I'm so tempted in placing another order because of the photos but I have yet to wait for my next salary which is still two weeks away.

Mama Chows pastries are definitely worth sharing and giving this December or any occasions. I forgot to mention that she's also making pastries for lactating moms to help them produce more milk. Amazing right?

She was featured in Food Magazine and Kris TV. Apart from that, her team are the ones who served food for Aerosmith when they came here in Manila for a concert. That's how good they are!

Check out Mama Chows Official Facebook page and feast your eyes on her pastries. You need to place your order a few days early prior to your preferred delivery as she is making them fresh from the oven.

Burp!

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/MamaChows

Popping

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:25:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Miss me? I know it’s been a long time since I blogged and it’s my fault actually for not being industrious in creating my entries. I have so much to tell that there will be entries that are good for throwbacks. I’m serious in creating entries for Thursday which will be my backlogs for this year, I do hope that you won't be confused.

Anyhow, how are you all been doing? I on the other hand as you can tell am busy as a bee. Who says that working from home is such a breeze? I have to juggle two jobs and my household chores. It’s pretty tiring actually thus the lack of posts on my end.

But tonight, I’m definitely in the mood to write something that includes shopping! Yes, you heard it right. It’s very timely since Christmas is just a couple of months away and there are loads of sale in the metro everywhere. Sounds good, right? Sit back and relax and let me introduce you to a two brands that you can indulge your eyes and surprisingly can fit your budget.

Washi + Papercutting Workshop in Alabang

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 May 2014 17:00:00 +0000

Ever since I stumbled a store of washi tapes named Hey Kessy, I've been wanting to attend her various workshops she organized for hobbyist, crafters and newbies like me. The only issue though is the location since it's always being held in Quezon City area (or anywhere in the Northern part of NCR) which is on the other end of the map from where I am thus I disregard the idea.

So imagine my excitement when someone posted this in our FB group....

Workshop Fee is Php 1700

I hurriedly checked Hey Kessy's blog to see the details of the workshop and the fee is inclusive of the ff:
- a roll Hey Kessy washi tape
- craft knife
- personalized cutting mat
- different types of paper
- practice sheets and templates
- a DIY frame kit
- snacks

Finally the workshop is in the South! A few days ago, I've been contemplating on trying my hands on papercutting. I'm curious if it's that hard and what will be my creations during my first try. Someone from up above must have heard my thoughts and this is the answer which I effortlessly didn't looked for.

I know that some of you might associate papercutting to a paper being cut by scissors (that most kids do) but this one is different and way artsy. See some samples below:

Rob Ryan Paper Cut

Layout by Papr

Paper Cut Quotes by Ant Design Gifts

Don't you just love the papercuts? Who knows it might become a hobby of yours truly which I can turn into a business in the future.

For all the Mothers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 May 2014 16:30:00 +0000

"Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...

Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.

Her sons rise up and call her blessed.

Her husband also praises her:

Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised".

~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30

Photo Credit: www.happymothersdays.com

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO THE LIGHT OF OUR HOME.....

Awakened

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 May 2014 07:02:00 +0000

Hello everyone! It's been 2 months that my blog is in hiatus. Originally I was planning to just take a rest for a month but it got extended because of my laziness and the fact that my hands are always full nowadays. It's not easy working from home since I also need to do a lot of household chores (laundry, cleaning our room, feeding the dogs, etc). I end up getting tired even on weekends, making me wish that I have a vacation every two months.

So how you've been? Hope you will all stick by me regardless of my long absence. The past years I've been wanting to have a blog makeover since it's getting a little boring don't you think? The other blogs I've seen have these cheerful colors and they have social media buttons which obviously my blog is lacking. So before plunging deeper to that plan, I decided to sign-up for a workshop which will happen next Saturday and it's all about Getting to Know WordPress by The Happy WAHM.

Photo Credit: The Happy WAHM

My blog is in Blogger platform since 2008 and I'm in limbo if I need to change my blog to Wordpress platform since they offer a lot of blog templates to choose from. In addition, I'm still a newbie when it comes to the technicalities surrounding Wordpress.

On the email that I received after signing up, it says....

What to expect in this workshop.

Everyone will be given a hands-on experience to work on a self-hosted WordPress dashboard. Well, yeah, we can also create a free site with WordPress.com, but we want you to experience all the fun part of a self-hosted site, and fun has a name. It's called a plugin.

So you ask, what is a self-hosted site? And what is a plugin? Those, and a lot more of your questions will be answered at the workshop. After all, this is one full day of us being kids, asking all the whys and the what-ifs of WordPress.

I'm excited since I will have a blogger friend joining this workshop as well. So I already know someone and hope to learn from the other attendees. Let this be the start of my blog evolving into something hip and fun! :)

How We Welcome 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Oh my! Only a few more days and February is over and I haven't blog how our family spent the New Year. I'm so bad and lazy =(

If you still remember, I created a post about New Year decor printables/props that you can do right at your own home and use for welcoming the New Year and that's what we did.

Presenting our "super effort" to celebrate 2014!

Our DIY Photowall
We used a curtain and taped it in the wall. Then taped the printables into the curtain.

New Year printables are laid in the bench

Closer look of the printables

In every celebration, there's a party pooper =P

Look who's bored?

Our Media Noche (most of the foods were take out...hahahaha)

What do we have in common? It's obvious that Disney became a part of our childhood =)

It's nice to have cool parents!

My sister who is based in Kuala Lumpur is the only one missing in our New Year celebration but she promised that she will be here come the eve of 2015. That means I have my partner in crime to spruce up and take our New Year celebration to a whole different level!

In case you're wondering, all of the props are printed using our ever reliable Epson printer. As for the sticks, we used the balloon sticks which was a leftover from my sister's bridal shower. You can use barbecue stick as a replacement for the balloon sticks should you want to spend less.

Love Expressions Wedding Fair @ SM Southmall

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 07:22:00 +0000

Love is in the air since tomorrow will be Valentine's day. I asked my husband if we can just go out and have a date on 15th or 16th since I know traffic will be horrendous tomorrow (not to mention that it's a payday).

For soon-to-wed couples who are from the South you might want to check out Love Expressions Wedding Fair @ SM Southmall Feb 13-14-15, 2014. It's either I'm staying inside my house far too long or my memory is right but this is the first time that SM Southmall is having a bridal fair event. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Discover the best suppliers and event partners for your special day on this wedding fair at the Ground Level Activity Center, SM Southmall Las Pinas. Isn't it sweet and lovely that you will be having a date in a wedding fair in preparation to forever. So romantic!

Apart from the wedding suppliers and discounts that you can avail once you've made a reservation, enjoy talks on Love Languages, Dating and Relationships, Budgeting for Wedding by Bro. Mond and Leigh de Armas of Alabang New Life Christian Center. What's more you can get tips on How to Plan your wedding and How to be a Professional Host and Emcee by Jenne Rabe of Jack & Jenn Catering. To spice up the event, be entertained with performances by NTUNE Acoustic Band, Heart and Soul Quartet, A Band, Symphony of Strings, Amaya and many more.

PLUS! on February 14, 2014 at 5:00 PM watch the Fashion Show featuring the fabulous up and coming designers, Marco and Oyama and White Label Bridal.

Wedding Suppliers and Exhibitors include:
27A Flowershop
A Band
APVIL Printing
AskJenneToday
BA Studio
Bridalbook.ph
CD Worx Multimedia
Crumbs Cake
D'Lady Behind the Scene
Dermaesthetique
Diamond with Love
Gems by Me
Heart and Soul
Indemand Wedding Films
Mixology Events
Myke Make-up
Ntune Acoustic Band
Platteles
Queensland Catering
Symphony of Strings
White Label Bridal
Weddingsuppliers.ph

Here's the part that I love the most when attending bridal and wedding fairs, BOOK ANY OF THE SUPPLIERS AND RECEIVE A FREE GIFT FROM THE ORGANIZER plus GET A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR WEDDING SUPPLIER.

You can drop by today or tomorrow and on Saturday. Simply register here http://www.weddingfairphilippines.com/weddingfairregistration/

Celebrate love, celebrate romance, celebrate forever at the Love Expressions Wedding Fair.
"Love Expressions Wedding Fair is presented by SM Southmall, together with Jack & Jenn Catering, Rotary Club of Las Pinas East and Myther Events and Expo Inc. This event is sponsored by Booms Audio Sounds and Lights, Dermaesthetic, Gems by Me with Online Media Sponsors Bridal Book.ph, Weddingsupplires.ph, HalloHalloTown.com, and organized by Island Exhibit Events Management Inc".

Twins Separated at Birth Found Each Other

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 21:45:00 +0000

I woke up 40 minutes ago and decided to check my Facebook feeds then something caught my eye about a news of South Korean born twins separated at birth. Both of them are adopted. One is raised in France then the other raised in the US. One twin found the video of the other twin in Youtube then search her twin's profile in Facebook and sent her a message. Isn't it amazing how social media helps people reunited?

I decided to share it here since when I was a child, I was thinking and hoping that I may have a twin sister somewhere (the effects of reading Sweet Valley Twins). In reality, I do have a sister who is 2 years younger than me and people always mistook us as twins. Honestly I don't know why because are physical features are not the same. Maybe because our mother loves us to dress us up with the same style of clothing but different colors or the same haircut that we sport during our early grade school days (blame it again on my mother as she doesn't want us to have a long hair). I bet that I'm not the only one who is wishing to have a twin.

Anyways, get all fuzzy and be touched by watching their interview video in ABC News:

See more US News from ABC|ABC World News

It was mentioned on the interview that they are making a documentary about their experience, you can check it out Twinsters Facebook page.

Year of the Wooden Horse

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 22:33:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Obviously this is a late post which I completely forgot to finish. It's officially 2014 now by Gregorian and Chinese calendar standards. How was your 2014 so far? It's amazing how Filipinos were influenced by Chinese tradition that we even celebrate Chinese New Year and believe/practice Feng Shui. I myself is no exception as I'm drawn to Feng Shui and what lucky charms, amulets or ornaments will bring me luck each in every year. It doesn't hurt if you follow the principles so as long you stay positive and keep the negative vibes away.

Since I already mentioned about charms, here are some of the things I've gathered that will bring luck in the year of the wooden horse:
* Lucky color is green and red. I did wear read last January 31. Thanks to my husband's red tees that I borrowed.
* Horse figurine - may it be jade, gold, white, ceramic (it doesn't matter) so as long as the horse front legs are raised. It symbolizes victory or success.
* Charm bracelets which you can purchase from Php 400 and up depending on where you bought them. Best place will be in Chinatown located in Binondo, Manila. If you're too lazy to travel or Binondo is far from your place, you can check out legit online sellers which sell these Feng Shui items (example: Francesca's Charms).
* Lucky charms like amulets/ornaments depending on your Chinese Zodiac horoscope. There are amulets which helps you contradict bad luck and boost your luck. Don't you know they even have luck keychains?

In the eve of Chinese New Year, you may want to put some if not all of these items for a good year ahead.
* Candies to attract good spirits. They say that good spirits are attracted to sweets.
* a whole Chicken to symbolize abundance
* 12 round fruits to symbolize the 12 months in a year
* Cooked fish, make sure that it's whole (head and tail are intact). This represents savings.
* Cabbage or Chinese Cabbage or Bokchoi (Baguio Pechay). It symbolizes a hundred folds of luck.
* Tikoy, a Chinese new year wouldn't be complete without this. It is said that it will bring closeness in the family.
* Liempo means Prosperity
* Pancit which symbolizes long life and good health
* Pineapple symbolizes wealth

I was able to gathered four items out of the edible items mentioned above:

Closeness within the Family
Hundred Folds of Luck
Wealth
Inviting Good spirits at our home

To know more about your respective Chinese Horoscope for the Year of the Wooden Horse, check out 'Lucky' and 'unlucky' signs in Year of the Horse | ABS-CBN News.

Sky Ranch in Tagaytay

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:29:00 +0000

I bet most of you have seen this place along the highway in Tagaytay. You wouldn't miss this since the first thing you will notice is the giant Ferris wheel that serves as the landmark of Sky Ranch. If coming from Tagaytay Rotonda/Cavite, Sky Ranch is on the left side before Vista Hotel. If you're coming from Batangas, it's on your right after Vista Hotel. Hope my directions wouldn't confuse you.

I've been seeing a lot of photos from friends in my Facebook who took advantage of the Christmas holiday and weekends to drop by this place. Yesterday I was wishfully thinking that I was in Tagaytay, enjoying the cold weather and nature.

My high school friends and I have a mini-reunion and decided to visit Tagaytay on a Monday, that was last December 16th. We were hoping that the place is not too crowded since it's a weekday but we were surprised to see a lot of prep students having a field trip. Good thing that we can still move around despite of the crowd.

Entrance Ticket is Php 50 (US $1.10)

Terms and Condition of the Entrance ticket

Ticket Prices of the Ride

I want to tell you outright that I didn't pay for any rides since the only rides that I'd like are the kiddie rides and it's embarrassing if I'm going to ride alone. I'm not the adventurous type of person so I dismissed the idea of checking out Sky Eye (Ferris Wheel) and Super Viking (same as Anchor's Away in Enchanted Kingdom).

Skye Eye (Skyranch's pride and glory)

Carousel

Nessi Coaster aka mini Roller Coaster

Mini Pirate Ship
(I can picture myself riding this but the kids and parents will probably give me an incredulous look)

Red Baron (Airplane ride)

Wonder Flight (Air Balloon ride)
Personally, I'd like Enchanted Kingdom's version of the Wonder Flight.

Express Train for Kids and Adults alike

The express train will be touring around Sky Ranch so if your too lazy to walk, then this ride is for you

It looks like a ship calmly docked

But looks can be deceiving... Now the ship is swinging away!

Now I bet you'll say that it's just another theme park with the same old rides. Sky Ranch also offers activities to get your blood pumping.

Sky Jump...jump up and down and try to reach the sky

Do the Zorbing and test the stamina and agility of your body

Horseback riding! A trip to Tagaytay wouldn't be complete without this

After you've tried all the rides and activities, I bet you will end up hungry. No worries, restaurant/foodchains are lined up on the side of the Nessi Coaster to fill up your complaining tummies.

Restaurants/Foodchains to satisfy tired and famish peeps

Should you want to relax and simple enjoy the view, the place have gazebos that you can rent.

Gazebo Rules and Regulations

One of the many gazebos in Sky Ranch

Office / Admin/ Clinic/ Restrooms

The theme park has an admin office, clinic (which is a good thing should there be any accidents) and restrooms (male and female).

The Venue

The Venue is spacious which is perfect for concerts, birthday parties and wedding receptions! Yes, The Venue is open to cater and celebrate any memorable events in your life. I have no idea on how much it will cost but you can inquire with them directly.

A good view to boot

Whether you want to experience all the rides in Sky Ranch or simply have a bonding moment with your family, friends and relatives, it's not so hard to fall in love with Tagaytay with this picturesque scenery. You would wish that you wake up every morning with this view on your window.

Sky Ranch
Tagaytay City
Tel No. (02) 8570100 local 1450
Sky Ranch Official Facebook Page

Gift Idea: Sea Salt

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 04:18:00 +0000

It's obvious that this post is late since the Feast of Three Kings is over (that marks the end of Christmas celebration in the Philippines) but I thought that this particular gift idea is versatile. You can just give it anytime whether there's a celebration or simply you want to give it as a token to a friend or a relative. What's more this is a healthy and wellness gift without costing too much or burning a hole in your pocket.

May I present the discovery that I made 2 years ago...

Mina de Oro Sea Salt

I know what you're thinking. How can a simple salt be a nice gift idea? Well first, let's state the fact why sea salt is far better than your regular salt:

Photo Credit: Ai Designs for the sea salt tag

For further reference about sea salt, please check Sea Salt Versus Table Salt and Kosher vs table vs sea salts. Now that you know that sea salt is a healthier alternative than table salt, all you need is a nice packaging to make it more special. On my case, I've purchased clear jars and ceramic canister from the Japan Stores that offers Php 88/ Php 66 on their items.

Clear Plastic Jars (Php 88)

Ceramic Canister (Php 88)

Imagination is your limit on how you will make your simple sea salt to a fabulous gift. Ribbons and laces will not fail you when it comes to adding colors and finishing touches to any DIY craft or project you may have.

Dainty Packaging

Pastel Packaging

I've been giving sea salt to friends and relatives as a Christmas gift though there are times that I also give them as birthday gifts. As much as possible, I like to give gifts that are useful to the recipient and this one made the list of my affordable yet valuable items.

Should you be interested on where I purchase my sea salt, just leave a comment below and I will refer you to my supplier.

Our Version of 52 Weeks Money Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:46:00 +0000

Hello everyone! How's January treating you so far? Me, I'm busy as a bee. I can't complain since being busy means work and that means income. As I always tell my husband, more projects means more work means stable job :)

I've been seeing these past couple of days this particular link which encourages everyone to start saving (mostly in Facebook). The title is "52 Week Money Challenge". Every week, you will be required to save a specific amount following the table. Example, for the first week of January you have to set aside $5. Then come second week, it's $10 and so on and so forth. As weeks progresses, the amount of money you have to save increases. Not everyone has a positive perspective about this scheme of saving. After all not everyone can save that amount of money especially if you already have a fix budget every month for expenses (utilities, mortgage, insurance, etc.). Take time to read Frugal Find's opinion about this money challenge.

But then again, it doesn't hurt to give this a try. What's more you can tailor fit the amount that is doable on your part for the sake of saving for this year. I believe in baby steps towards financial education and this can be a great idea to teach your children, brothers/sisters, cousins, etc. the value of saving.

Since the original 52 week money challenge is in dollar, there are two websites that I found which is in Philippine Peso version that you might want to check out - http://www.kuripotpinay.com/2014/01/52-week-challenge-version-2-kuripot.html and http://minimumcompliance.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/the-mas-kuripot-52-week-money-challenge-earning-27k-to-137k-on-barya/. It's up to you which increments you want to choose so as long as you think that you can achieve your goal and desire to save.

My sister whose into investments and financial education created her own version of the money challenge. She encouraged our two younger siblings who are both students to try this by following the table she made:

My sister's version of the 52 weeks money challenge

My sister who made the table already started saving while I on the other hand will need to catch up as soon as my salary is release next week. I'm keeping my fingers cross to finish this challenge by the end of this year (even if my husband is pessimistic on my capabilities to save). Game on!

15th Ultimate Wedding and Debut Fair 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 15:39:00 +0000

That's right folks! It's just a few days when 2014 started and what could be more exciting that makes you anticipate the coming days than having the very first bridal and debut fair in the country! The 15th Ultimate Wedding and Debut Fair is happening tomorrow and on Sunday (January 4-5) in Megatrade Hall 3, Mega B at the 5th level of SM Megamall.

Photo Credit: http://www.weddingfairphilippines.com/

For soon-to-wed couples and debutants looking for their dream team for their special event, this is the place to get one. I know that some of you might get intimidated of the idea of bridal fairs but all of them offers a FREE entrance. At least this one is. How? Simply register online. Go to Wedding Fair Registration and accomplish the form. Or if you have an account in Ensogo, there's an ongoing deal for a free pass to this wedding fair, simply go directly to this link http://www.ensogo.com.ph/manila/island-exhibit-and-event-management-wedding-expo-12182013.html and avail the deal. Easy peasy right?

What to expect on 15th Ultimate Wedding and Debut Fair? Best deals and discounts offered by wedding suppliers with prices slashed to as much as 50% OFF!

Make your wedding dream come true as you book your suppliers with their special offers:
Suppliers with Special Deals available during the fair:

Jack and Jenn Catering offers FREE 30 Guest Catering for Pamanhikan or Despedida, when you book at least 100-guest Wedding Reception Catering
Eros Photography offers 50% OFF in Prenuptial Photo Shoot with INFRARED Technology
Diamond with Love offers 30% Discount on all Jewelry Purchases plus FREE Lifetime Cleaning and FREE Delivery within Metro Manila
Nowellyn Pahanel Beauty Salon offers FREE Prenuptial Make-up on Location (Metro Manila only) when you book Bride and Entourage Make-up worth 15k
and many more...
Wedding and Debut Suppliers at the Fair:
Venues: Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Le Blanc, The Royal Northwood Golf Club Inc., L’Orchard Garden Venue, Pacific Heights Tagaytay, Club Ananda
Photo-Video: Extreme Details Photography, BA Studio, R.V. Mitra Photography, Power Image, CD Worx Photography, Dantes Photo Image, Treasured Memories, Niceprint Photography, Eros Photography
Real Estate: Azalea Residence
Flowers: JomsFlowershop, Amarantus Florist
Hair and Make-Up: Mile High Hair and Make-Up, NowellymPahanel Beauty Shop, Marian Makeup, Hair and Make-Up Concept, Riza Mae Makeup, Ballisima Salon and Spa
Photobooth: I-Flick
Musicians: SJT Strings, Trinity Acoustic Band, Red Thread Entertainment, Ecoustic Soul Band
Bridal Cars: Decloedt Motors
Coordinator: Iamyourweddingplanner
Jewelry: Diamond with Love, Jemsbyme
Gown: Kimigo Wedding Gown
Catering: Jack &Jenn Catering, CM Catering
Emcee and Coordinator: AskJenneToday.com

So what are you waiting for? Register now or avail the deal in Ensogo. Don't let this event slip from your hands at the start of the year. To know more about this event or the organizer behind it, simply check out their official website and Facebook page (see links below).

Website: http://www.weddingfairphilippines.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weddingfairmanila

New Year's Decor Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:50:00 +0000

Oh my! In just a few hours, we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome 2014. It's a fast-paced life indeed that I'm amazed how we have grown in the family (I'm talking about the physical aspects and emotional aspects and of course we are growing in number because of our pets).

Today happens to be our mother's birthday so it will be a double celebration as always. But this time, I'm planning to have a few props in handy to celebrate the new year. Thanks to DIY bloggers who never failed to share their ideas. Some of the DIYs that caught my eyes are:

Photo Credit: http://www.iheartnaptime.net

I bet my sister and brother who are in their teens will get a kick out of this. You can even use these props even if it's not New Year. You can simply change the label on the hats and on the crown depending on the celebration you have in mind. To download the printables, go to http://www.iheartnaptime.net/free-printable-new-year-photo-props/.

Photo Credit: http://snapcreativity.com/

Ring in the New Year with party hats and tiaras. This is perfect for kids and kids at heart who are game to be silly on the very first day of 2014. I was thinking of putting the hat and the tiara to my two pet dogs who I considered my "children" but my problem is that they are afraid of the fireworks. I'm not so sure if they will gamely put this on their heads but let's see if I can persuade them. To download, go to http://snapcreativity.com/2014-diy-years-hat-crown-printable/

Photo Credit: http://www.the36thavenue.com

I found these printables and immediately thought of adding them to New Year Photo Props from IHeartNapTime. In addition, the chalkboard doodle will be a nice touch to the backdrop curtain I'm planning to use for our DIY photobooth inside our living room.

Photo Credit: http://www.the36thavenue.com

These chalkboard printables reminded me of Charlie Chaplin, classic but never goes out of style. Don't you agree? If you're leaning for black and white on New Year's eve, you can download these printables in http://www.the36thavenue.com/2012/12/chalkboard-free-printables.html.

Photo Credit : http://www.classyclutter.net

To cap off my props for today, I'm going to place a banner in the backdrop together with the chalkboard printable. I found this simple banner and it goes well with the other photo props that I posted here. I will need the height advantage of my teen brother to put this banner. Though the Orchid is the color for 2014, I can't help but use black, white/silver and gold for the eve of New Year. If you're with me in silver and gold, you can download this banner printable here http://www.classyclutter.net/2013/12/new-years-decor-ideas.html. Aside from the banner there are glittery gold garlands that you can add for a more glam touch.

I do hope that the ink levels in our printer is suffice to have all these printables printed. I'm about to start the printing right about now....

Gift Idea: Human Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 04:31:00 +0000

I bet all of you must have heard this line of products that even celebrities are using (to name a few, they are Amanda Griffin-Jacob, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde, Akiko Thompson, Suzi Entrata-Abrera). What's not to love with Human Nature since it's pro-environment and it's pro-poor which means they are helping our fellow countrymen in their livelihood. I've been a dealer for 3 years now and I must say, I even influenced some of my friends and my husband to trust this brand. One of the few goals of Human Nature is spreading the goodness! And that's my aim if it's not obvious enough in this post.

Every year, the November-December manalogue (magazine+catalogue) of Human Nature offers a wide selection of gift sets which will make your gift giving easy. For this year, they've come up with these:

Gift Bundles Under Php 199 ( US$ 4.5 and below)

You can even get their paper packaging for a hassle-free wrapping of gifts

Gift Bundles Under Php 299 (US$ 6.80 and below)

Gift Bundles Under Php 329 (US$ 7.47 and below)

Since I'm a dealer, I tend to mix and match the Human Nature products and create gift bundles of my own which I'm giving away to friends and family. These products has been my go-to supplier for our personal use. Even my teenage sister and brother are loving the deo and facial moisturizer of Human Nature.

To avail more discounts when purchasing their products, better sign-up and be a dealer yourself. It's very easy to be a member. When I signed up, I did the transaction online by sending them emails and paying the fee via bank deposit. To know more about Human Nature products (including reviews/feedbacks), just simply visit their website. You can have a chat with their customer service representative who are online if you have further queries.

Human Nature
Official Facebook Page
Official Twitter Account

Gift idea: Taste Central

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 05:26:00 +0000

Good afternoon everyone! I bet most of you are enjoying your Christmas vacation with your loved ones. As promised the other day (sorry I wasn't able to blog yesterday as my husband took over the desktop watching anime cartoons), I'm going to share to you where I bought my gifts for family and friends.

Let's highlight first this groupon site which I come to love - Taste Central.

I'd be honest that I was intimidated to see the items that they are selling since most of them are quite expensive for a middle-class person or for those who are in a tight budget but they do have SALE items that are less than Php 300 and you will be surprise. What's more the items they are offering are not the items that you regularly see in groceries, supermarket and department stores.

I enjoyed my first purchase and it's easy breezy paying my orders via my Paypal account. I had it deliver to my friend's house since they don't deliver outside Metro Manila which is a boo-boo but hopefully they will expand their shipping locations. In just a few clicks I was able to purchase these items:

My first purchase in Taste Central

They have a promo at the moment which is FREE SHIPPING until January 4, 2014. You have to grab this to save yourselves from spending Php 100.

Here comes my Taste Central package

I couldn't agree more!

Finally, you're mine!

A peek inside the box

Can't wait to taste this spread - La Cocina de Tita Moning Queso de Bola Spread (Php 350 each)

I hope that hubby's aunts will like this tea - Dilmah Green Tea with Jasmine Flowers (Php 100 each)

In any instant that the items you want is not available, no need to fret. There's an option on the item which says Wait List that you can click on. The items will go directly to the Worth the Wait List of your Taste Central account (see pic below).

My Wait List items which I'm planning to purchase soon

Once the items are available, Taste Central will send you an email to inform you about it. Isn't that cool?

Check out Taste Central now and see if you can find anything you fancy to be given as gifts or simply you want to keep for yourself. Happy browsing and shopping!

Taste Central
Official Facebook Page

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Haven't blog for how many days now and I'm so sorry for being busy but before it's too late, I want to wish you all a....

Merry Christmas!

Quickpages from - http://fbox.org/templates/7482-4-christmas-quick-pages.html

I was planning to blog about the gifts that I gave to my friends and relatives. It's me sharing you some gift ideas you can consider if in case you're still not done with the Christmas shopping. I hope it's not too late if I start blogging about it tomorrow. After all, Christmas celebration here in our country extends till January in celebration of the Three Kings.

Supposedly it should be today but since we have activities lined up, I will be a busy bee again so stay tuned for tomorrow. Hope you're still there to check out my blog.

SRPs for Noche Buena Products as per DTI

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:50:00 +0000

This information will be helpful for moms who are budgeting their money in preparation for the Noche Buena. Some of you might chance upon this entry and probably wondering what Noche Buena is. Well, Noche Buena is the night before the Christmas eve where there is a traditional dinner with the family. This practice is observed in Latin America, Spain and the Philippines.

During December, a lot of products being sold in the market and groceries used for the traditional dinner tend to increase their prices. After all these products whether expensive or not are still in demand and people will still want them to celebrate the Christmas tradition.

To give awareness to the consumers, DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) released a list of the Noche Buena products together with the suggested retail prices. I just hope that store owners and grocery shops will follow the figures.

Photo Credit - http://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/uploads/FINAL%20SRP%2011_04_2013%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg

You can go directly to the link posted above to view the enlarged list.

Educents - Educational Materials Online

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:43:00 +0000

It was shared early this year by one of the members of our yahoogroups. This website offers affordable educational materials for kids online. Most of the items are sold for a cheaper price and sometimes like today, you will see some free activity ebooks that you can download.

Though I don't have kids of my own, I started collecting some of the freebies and I was thinking that I can use them as a gift for my godchildren. I can just print the activity ebooks/coloring books and compile them. It's a cheaper alternative for buying books and coloring books in a bookstore. More importantly, I was able to help the kids learn while having fun. I bet that the parents of my godchildren will be happy about my DIY gift.

Some of the free materials that you can download for a limited time offer:

Snowman Math

This set includes 6 centers that build number sense with numbers to 100 or numbers to 1,000. Help your student(s) understand tens and ones, compare two digit numbers, add within 100, do mental math, subtract multiples of 10 and read & write numbers to 1,000! Skills practiced: -standard and expanded forms -comparing numbers -ordering numbers/greater than/less than -place value -applying rules/frames and arrows/function machines. - Educents

I Spy: Shapes

These I Spy: Shapes Brain Breaks are a great tool to get your students up and moving around the room. They also serve as a great quick assessment and review of skills: Can your students apply what they have learned by finding real objects around the room that match the skill?

This shapes’ pack includes both 2D and 3D shapes. Anytime your students need a brain break, you just pull a stick and have them play I Spy around the room! - Educents

Holiday Coloring Book

A wonderful holiday download that will engage the kids and give them hours of coloring delight! The coloring book includes: Santa, Christmas Tree, Snowflakes, Santa Hat, Gingerbread Man, Presents, Ornaments, Stockings, Candy Canes, Bells, Reindeer and Snowman. - Educents

If you haven't signed up, do it now. Make sure to subscribe to their newsletter as well so you can get the update which materials are on sale and which ones are for free. Click the banner below to register.

Photo Credits: Screenshots from Educents website.

The District Dasmariñas

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 09:55:00 +0000

Happy Monday everyone! Surprisingly it's a little humid for the day despite that it's December. While people are freezing on the other side of the world, I'm sweating away while creating this post. Climate change is getting scarier as time passes by.

Anyways, some of you might have read the post I created last January about the first Ayala Mall in Cavite province which is The District Imus. Well now, they have another store opened and this time it's for the people of Dasmariñas. It formally opened last November 22 but I only get to drop by last December 2. It's along Paliparan road and you will never miss it if you're coming from Daang Hari-Molino as you will see first on your left the Ayala Settings subdivision then right after is the District Dasmariñas (you will need to take a jeepney going to Paliparan). If you're coming from Paliparan, you will see Dasmariñas Cavite on your right (you can take a jeepney going to Baclaran, Zapote or SM Southmall).

The District Dasmariñas

Compared to The District Imus, this mall is a little smaller. There's no grocery around the area unlike in District Imus where right next to it sits Metro Department Store and Supermarket. Let's hope that next year they will improve the place and expand it. I would want to have an Ayala cinema near our area. You heard me right, District Dasmariñas is much nearer to my residence than the one in Imus (I only need to take one jeepney ride and pay the minimum fare).

Directory of the Mall

This is the first part of the directory. The other part is on the back of this directory and I wasn't able to take a picture as I'm afraid that the guard will scold me (see the lady guard looking at me and wondering what the heck I'm doing).

The Open Hall

From the name itself it's the hall of the mall and it's open. It's not enclosed in an aircondition environment which is same as the Music Hall of SM MOA but of course, this one is smaller. During this time that I made a visit of the mall, there was an ongoing exhibit about the city of Dasmariñas. The picture and names of the mayors who took over the city were on display. Yesterday, Dasmariñas Bayan celebrated the feast of Immaculate Concepcion.

The Garden

This is my favorite part of the mall as it's relaxing as you look on the path walk and the greenery of the grass with various plants spread on the garden. In the spirit of Christmas, they pit up Christmas lights in the artificial trees. I bet this area looks awesome at night.

Let's see some of the shops/stores inside this mall. Shall we?

Kenko World

This is the first time I heard about this shop. Either I'm outdated or this is actually a new shop to watch out for. I didn't go inside but it seems they're offering knick knacks for home.

Expressions

Finally an Expressions branch near me! Immediately I went inside and of course, got myself five decorative tapes that I will add to my growing collection. I will make a post about Expressions this month and the other things that you can do with decorative tapes.

It's the best time for Wendy's!

Yey! Now I can eat my favorite Bacon Mushroom Melt or Bacon Cheeseburger plus Frosty without going to Alabang. I should ask my husband next time to go with me here so we can satisfy our tummies here and burn calories in.....

Timezone! Daytona here I come!

It's been a long time since I played in arcade. During my early 20s whenever me and my husband will date, we don't miss a chance visiting Timezone. Either it's me playing in Daytona race or him playing Tekken.

Concierge

If you have any questions about the shops or stores in the mall, you can check out their concierge located at the second floor. You need to go inside the air conditioned part of the mall though which I know you'd be glad to do especially if comes summer time.

Let's see what stores are operating and which are soon to open:

Notice that majority of the stores are already open so those who are waiting for the other stores, be patient. I'm sure by the first quarter of 2014, all of them will welcome their customers in their respective spots of the mall.

Thank you to Ayala company for bringing another mall in Cavite.

Jessy Mendiola Surprises Lucky Guys

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 22:25:00 +0000

I bet you've watched the viral video of Jeric Teng and Jessy Mendiola where the basketball star of UST Growling Tigers got the surprise of his life in McDonald's Eton Centris branch. The dude's reaction was priceless considering Jeric is a celebrity himself.

Well, Jessy Mendiola aka Maria Mercedes strikes again! And on the same branch! What if your one of these lucky guys? How would you react?

I on the other hand will be speechless, starstruck and unable to move since that's my reaction when I saw Donita Rose in person when she casually walks in Jollibee Emerald Avenue branch just to order a medium sized iced tea. That was eight years ago though but still if Jessy is that pretty and hot in television what more in person.

Now you know where to eat your favorite McDonalds meal next time (wink!)