November 14, 2013

My Lola’s 75th Birthday

Every month I always visit my grandmother in Victoria, Laguna, and last month, out of the blue I asked her age. I know her birthday but I don’t know her birth year. When she said that she's turning 75, I decided to save the date so we can visit my grandmother on her special day. It’s a diamond birthday and not everyone reaches that age so it is something that we should really celebrate.

When I got home, I message my mom and siblings about it. Para naman marami kami di ba and they agreed to attend my grandmother’s birthday except for my mom of course because she’s not here in the Philippines. But she sponsored some of the food so that’s fine. Hehehe! My sister informed my aunts about the 75th birthday.

So it is like a reunion, the funny thing is hindi kami nag-usap ng mga dadalhin na food so we ended up having a “Pansit Birthday Celebration”, for long, long and long life talaga. My grandmother cooked pansit bihon, I brought 2 bilao of pansit bihon and one of my aunts brought 1 bilao of pansit palabok. We’re only 25 people including adults, kids, and babies, sobra-sobra sa pansit. Hehehe! 


Sana pala spaghetti na lang binili ko since I bought the cake at Red Ribbon. I was glad that Red Ribbon in Paseo De Sta Rosa is already open as early as 8AM. =)


There’s no specific party time so since our family was the first to arrive and lunch time na rin wala pa yung iba, nagstart na kami agad. My grandmother was really happy, even though she was not feeling well on her birthday. Good thing I was still on my way to Los Banos when they texted me to buy medicine or else dadayuhin pa nila ang Mercury Drug.


It’s almost a whole day of celebration and a whole day of eating pansit. =) By the way, I did the birthday banner, click here to check my DIY post.
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DIY Birthday Banner

My grandmother celebrated her 75th birthday last Sunday. It was just a simple celebration in her house. I did the Mickey Mouse Banner of my son so I decided to make birthday banner too for my grandmother. I don’t know what the usual color of diamond birthday is so I just used the leftover materials from my son’s birthday invitation. So it is red and white.

Materials.

Printed letters
Cartolina
Yarn
Double Sided Tape
Puncher

1. Cut the printed letters.



2. Make triangle pattern.


3. Paste the letters.

4. Make a hole.

5. Insert the yarn.

After the birthday, I received a message from my cousin asking me, where did I buy the banner? Deep inside I smiled because it means that the banner looks nice. 

 A repost from my old blog Michi's Home Sweet Home
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November 11, 2013

Super Typhoon Yolanda


I don’t know what’s with the year 2013 because it seems that this year is not a good year for the Philippines. The country experienced war in Zamboanga, flood because of habagat and typhoon Maring, earthquake in Bohol and nearby provinces and just recently almost 2/3 of the Philippines experienced the super typhoon Yolanda.

No classes last Friday and I was monitoring the weather update because we have free movie screening at that time. As I mentioned in my previous post, we were able to watch Thor movie because the weather was not bad in Metro Manila.



Then last Saturday, I was watching the “Bagsik ni Yolanda” of ABS CBN and I was really shocked. Seeing the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda is enough to break my heart. I was so sad to see those victims who lost their homes, property and even loved ones. Mala tsunami + tornado ang aftermath. I’m thankful that we did not experience this but at the same time I feel so sorry for the Visayas region. Imagine, nakanood pa kami ng movie while there are people na wala ng house, food and drinks.

I know there are no words good enough to console and comfort those people because I was not there and I did not experience it. Actually, I was asking myself if I live in Visayas, will I be able to survive? Am I strong enough to experience that because honestly, signal no. 2 pa lang super takot ako. I’m so scared hearing the sound of the wind and I can’t sleep sa sobrang kaba. How much more signal no. 3 and 4, baka nahimatay na ko sa takot.

But like CNN said, Filipinos are bunch of survivors so in time we will rise again. Lord, please help us, strengthen us and heal our land. Remind us o Lord, that You are in control and You will always be faithful.



Sharing to you this information if you want to help.

Ways to Donate

1.Philippine Red Cross

Monetary Donations
-Send cash or check donations to the PRC National Headquarters in Manila or deposit to the following banks.

Account Name: Philippine Red Cross
Banco De Oro: Dollar Account: 453-0039482
Peso Account: 453-0018647
Type of Account: Savings
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

Metrobank: Dollar Account: 151-2-151002182
Peso Account: 151-3-04163122-8
Euro Account: 016-201650005-9
Yen Account: 151-2-15130001-9
Type of Account: Savings
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

In-Kind Donations

Send to PRC-National Headquartes in Manila.
Arrange for donation pick-up

Note: PRC only accept goods with expiry date of not less than 6 months. It does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods.

Donate Through SMS

Text RED <space> AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart)
Denominations: Globe: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000 Smart: 10, 25, 100, 300, 500, 1000

Vital Hashtags

#ReliefPH Resource Coordination
#RescuePH Urgent Rescue Needed
#SafeNow Resolves #RescuePH
#FloodPH Damage Reporting
#TracingPH Report Missing People
#YolandaPH Media storm coverage


Note; Do not use #RescuePH unless you are a local citizen in urgent need of assistance.
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November 09, 2013

Thor: The Dark World Movie

When my husband asked me if I wanted to watch Thor at Resorts World Manila, I immediately said yes because I haven’t experienced watching a movie in RWM. This was the first time that he will avail the free movie screening of his company. Good thing at nakahingi siya ng extra ticket because only two complimentary tickets per employee.


Yesterday, we’ve been contemplating whether to watch the movie or not because of typhoon Yolanda, signal number 2 was raised in Metro Manila. I’ve been monitoring the weather update til 5PM and since the weather was not that bad, we pursued our movie date.



My son was super excited, as in super excited that he wanted to go inside the movie theatre kahit hindi pa time.



Ethan: Daddy, let’s go na.
Daddy: Let’s go home na?
Ethan: No, let’s go inside.
Repeat 100 times.

When we went inside the theatre, my son asked: “Daddy, where’s my popcorn?” Demanding ang bata, di ba complete ang pagwatch ng movie ng walang popcorn.



Anyway, we enjoyed the movie, I’m thinking which movie is better kung 1 or 2 and we have the same answer of my husband, pareho lang na ok.  
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November 08, 2013

Holiday Options: Staying in a Hotel vs Roughing It

So you've decided to go away on holidays. If budget is an issue, the traditional option has always been to roll up your tent and bedding and set off on a camping trip: after all, you get the Great Outdoors, at a fraction of a price of a hotel stay.


But is this always true? With so many hotel discounts and offers available online these days, it’s easier than you may think to find hotel deals which won’t force your budget out of the window. So should you stick with the creature comforts on holiday and opt for cheap hotels over low-cost campsites?

 Cheap Versus Cheapest

In terms of cost, camping is a winner. You can find incredibly cheap camping grounds all over the place and these often include basic amenities such as water, toilets, showers and even electricity supply for well-provisioned parks. On the other hand, it’s always worth seeing what kind of roof you get over your head by using comparison websites, and looking at cheap B & B options, as well as low-cost hotel chains.

Luxe Versus Rustic

When you're sleeping on dirt there's no room for glamorous affectations or fussiness. In terms of sleeping arrangements, it's basically a 'like it or lump it' situation. Lumping it generally means sleeping on whatever’s lying on the ground, but for nature-lovers, the bonus is waking up to marvel at the magnificent countryside scenery.

If on the other hand, you believe a holiday is all about fluffy bathrobes and hot running water on-hand, you may be surprised at the level of luxury you can afford. Book last-minute, or hunt out hotel vouchers, and you could be sunning yourself in a Spanish resort within a matter of weeks. And if you check out all-inclusive deals, these sometimes include dinner, entertainment, and drinks as well.

Unwelcome Visitors

If you camp, you can enjoy the whole remit of camping activities like canoeing, hiking, bouldering, cycling and so on. It’s unsurprising that many families enjoy this kind of break. But what happens after nightfall?

In parts of Europe, the Americas, and Australia; poisonous, predatory or just plain terrifying creatures will try to share in the warmth of your bed, or take a bite out of you. If you prefer a more benign type of visitor, try a hotel. You may get disturbed by a cleaner attempting to enter at the wrong time, but that's all.

In conclusion, pick your accommodation carefully. If you’re the outdoorsy type, it may be that you’re happy to disregard the less pleasant side to camping, in favor of a bit of low-cost fresh air. But if relaxation equals comfort in your mind, try shopping for a hotel deal first before you that a smaller budget means you can’t afford some time by the pool.
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November 06, 2013

Semestral Break Getaway

We’re frequent travelers of Tagaytay so it is not surprising if we went here before the end of the semestral break which is last Saturday. After being stuck at home for almost a week, I wouldn’t allow my son not to have happy memories. He deserves to enjoy his semestral break.

We first dropped by at Bali Village Hotel to make a downpayment for December reservation. I even referred to this hotel when my friend asked me for a hotel recommendation. We met there before they check-out.

 Then we went to Mahogany Market for lunch. I’ve been reading a lot of good reviews about their bulalo. I’ve been meaning to try this so finally last Saturday, we were able to try it. I looked for Lyleth’s Eatery because I’ve read it from a blog.

I was disappointed kasi ang konti ng bone marrow, not even half of the spoon, and the meat is not tender, sana beef nilaga na lang order ko. The taste is just okay for us. I’m still searching for best bulalo in Tagaytay. But not bad for the price of P350, next time I will try the gotong batangas and papaitan.

Di rin appealing. 

After lunch, we went to Sonya’s Garden, if you still remember my post before, we love the Hispanic bread of Sonyas P120 so before going to Residence Inn Zoo we decided to buy this bread. Then off we went to the zoo. I will share our zoo experience in my next post.




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November 01, 2013

Duncan Hines: Devil’s Food Cupcake


Semestral break is ending soon and so far I’m stuck at home since Sunday, as in maski sa labas ng main door namin ay di ko natatapakan. Hehehe! Holiday = household chores so I became busy cleaning the house in preparation of Christmas season. Halloween is over so hindi na “in” ang mga spider web sa ceiling namin. Well, I’m not finished yet because half of the house is waiting for me to clean and declutter. Whew! Isipin ko pa lang napapagod na ko.

Anyway, since I’m just at home sinipag na rin ko magbake but not from scratch. I bought Devil’s Food instant mix from Duncan Hines few months ago and decided to bake it just in time for Halloween. I added chocolate chips and sprinkles.


The cupcake is soft and fluffy but it is not sweet. I guess that this cupcake really needs frosting. 

 Read: Red Velvet
       California Walnut Brownies
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October 29, 2013

Running for the Beginners

It is not a secret here that I’m not into sports and I’m so lazy to exercise and stretch my body. I know that running is included in my goals for years and until now I’m still not doing it. Well, I tried walkathon but I did not pursue it at all. You can call me lazy, as the quote says
“The hardest step for a runner is the first one out of the door”

But honestly, I’m not giving up my goal yet because I know time will come that I will start running. In the meantime, I’m busy reading articles about “benefits of running” to convince myself that I should start immediately because running offers several health benefits such as

1. It build strong bones.
2. It strengthen muscles.
3. It will improve cardiovascular fitness
4. It will help you to maintain a healthy weight.
5. It will burn plenty of calories.


I’m also searching information like “running for beginners” so I would be prepared. Sharing to you some information that I’ve found all over the web.

1. Decide and set goals 

 Of course the first thing we need to do is decide. Decide when to start running and set your goals. Are you going to run in the morning or evening? Every day run or weekend run? Are you interested in participating fun run or marathon in the near future?

2. Plan your route 

 Safety is very important when you run so make sure you choose the right route.

3. Wear the right gear 

 If you think that dark coloured clothes are good then you are wrong. Director Felicia Hubber said we need to “dress like a Christmas tree” for safety issue. It means we need to wear bright colors or put some reflective accents. I was checking TheClymb site, looking for different running apparel and gear.

Aside from clothes, shoes are very important so buy an appropriate pair of running shoes. My husband bought me running shoes last month and hopefully I can use it soon.


4. Create a mantra – running mantra will inspire us in order to achieve a certain goal. Some mantras I’ve found are

“If I run now, I can feel good about it all day. If I skip it now, I’ll feel guilty all day”

“A few moments of discomfort now, a day’s worth of elation later”
You can create your own mantra and because I’m not into running yet my mantra for now is “I can do this”.
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Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

For years I slept on an uncomfortable mattress and a fairly unforgiving pillow. Being rather British, I simply put up with it, thinking myself lucky to have a bed at all. As I was also living away from home for the first time, I swept the problem into the general bracket of ‘Things which annoy me but which I cannot afford to change’. Paying for bills and, most importantly, food, seemed rather more important at the time!


However, when I hurt my back at work, I had to sit down and reconsider how I was living my life. Often I would dash about like a mad woman and lift things that were probably far too heavy for me. It was only after a trip to the chiropractor that I realized I needed to do something about the bed in particular, as it turned out my back and neck were slowly moving out of line.

So, out went the old bed frame which, we discovered, had a crack in one of the slats. We bought a much sturdier frame and we invested in an Air Foam mattress, specifically designed to support your spine. To be honest, I started to feel the difference almost straight away. The problem was where I had once been waking up with a sore back, now it was my neck which hurt instead!

My other half hadn’t thought that we would need to change the pillows as well, but I begged to differ. I thought it was about time that we got some lovely soft pillows, so I took matters into my own hands. Knowing absolutely nothing about which pillows are best to sleep on, I headed on to my iPad.

A little internet research proved fruitful, as I realized the benefits of natural down pillows. These pillows are made of feathers or down from geese and ducks. They form a curve of your neck and head so they can provide really tailored support. As they are made of a natural material, natural pillows can be re-cased and rejuvenated so they will last for long. Down pillows also ‘breathe’ easily, which means that you will have a comfortable flow of air around your head and neck at night. Plus they’re really soft and cuddly!

My friend had recommended cushy.co.uk for pillows, so I went online and had a look. All the pillows looked rather enticing, but in the end, we opted for a pair of Surrey Down - Goose Feather & Down Pillows. They arrived in no time at all and I slept better straight away once we had made this last change.
In the future, I think we would always opt for natural filled pillows, as they seem to have so many benefits. It is such a relief to be able to sleep properly, and not to worry about waking up everyday with aches and pains. Being comfy and cozy at night can, it seems, make all the difference to how you feel throughout the day!

Contributed by Isabella Ramos, a freelance writer from New York
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October 24, 2013

DIY Halloween Treats

Tomorrow is my son’s last day in school and before the semestral break; they will be having Trick or Treat. It was a simple celebration inside the classroom so we’re required to bring Halloween treats or goodies for the kids.

Fortunately, my son has only 13 classmates so it is not difficult to DIY everything. I just bought candies and printed Halloween labels. I got my free sticker here. 


I pasted the printed material in linen paper to make a Halloween tag.


Then I checked my supplies, I used baking cup, ice plastic bag and thread.


I put all the goodies inside the baking cup.

Put it inside the ice plastic bag, place the tag inside the thread and tie it around the plastic. That’s it!

A repost from my old blog Michi's Home Sweet Home
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October 21, 2013

Tagaytay Trip and More

Last Tuesday was a holiday and a holiday = family day. Since it was a holiday, we went early to Asian Hospital Derma Laser for my therapy again, good thing they are open from 9-12nn. Then after that, we went to Tagaytay, we wanted to check if there were Halloween costumes in Ukay-Ukay #kuripot but unfortunately, we did not find any costumes.


We had lunch in RSM Binalot sa Dahon, we chose this because we thought it was cheaper than fastfood and para maiba naman. So we ordered Grilled Liempo P130, Tocilog P108 and Turon P70. The meal had no drinks included so we ordered 1.5 liters Coke for P90.


They gave us free bulalo soup while waiting for our order. After eating our meal and paying our bill, nagkatinginan na lang kami ni hubby. We both knew that we were not satisfied with our food and sana nagfastfood na lang kami, mas mura at masarap pa.

The only good thing that happened was we saw a poster of Bali Village Hotel Resort and Spa in this restaurant so we asked if they had flyers so off we went to Bali Village to check the place. We’re currently looking for accommodation because we will attend the wedding in December.

Surprisingly, the place was good so we reserved a room already.


We also checked Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay if they have a promo for December but as of now no promo. But we’re having second thoughts because of the location; it is too far from Caleruega.

Then we went to Nuvali but on our way there, we saw Good Shepherd so we had a quick stop and bought ube jam P 130 and cuchipan P50.


At Nuvali, we’re looking for Halloween costumes and formal clothes for Ethan but we did not buy this because I don’t know the wedding motif yet.

After checking all the stores in Nuvali and Paseo De Sta Rosa, we did not find anything so we decided to go home. On our way home, my mother-in-law texted my husband to pick up his brother in Binan and ihatid sa Cabuyao, Laguna. Wheww! Di pa tapos ang road trip, so we were on the road for 10 hours. Stressful but fun. 
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October 18, 2013

Cebu Island Hopping Information

When you want to go and visit Cebu and want to enjoy everything about this beautiful island, you should totally go and try the Island hopping. Cebu island hopping is one of the best activities to do in Cebu but finding a reputable travel agency in Cebu that offers this ocean adventure other than just taking a tour in Cebu Philippines, will not be that difficult. However, it would be totally helpful in finding the appropriate agency to have this activity with when you do a little bit of research. Also, it will surely make you feel excited about this adventure when you get to hear more about it. So, below are the couple of sites we’ve found for you to get the best details, photos and a total sneak peak of what you will experience when you go for a Cebu island hopping tour.

Trip Advisor


Trip Advisor should give you tons of information on travel agencies in Cebu that offers the best experience for Cebu island hopping activities. You should be able to see real reviews and opinions on the best businesses to utilize for island hopping. You can either check the reviews or go to the forum part of Trip Advisor. If you decide to go to the forum part, you should make an excel spreadsheet and determine which businesses are mentioned the most. This will help give you an accurate idea on what the best businesses are. You should also check to see if the pricing is in line with what you are quoted when you call or email.

Lonely Planet


You should be able to find tons of information and real user reviews on Lonely Planet. Tons of people comment every day on Lonely Planet, and you should be able to find the exact information you are looking for. They have forums that are designed to give you tons of information and travel tips. You can ask your question in the forum and wait for responses. Or you can simply search for island hopping ideas and/or businesses and see what has already been said.

Third Party Forums and Social Networks


You should be able to find tons of information by searching on third party online forums and social networks. You may have a couple of contacts or friends that have gone to Cebu and actually used different travel agency in Cebu and through them you may get the best referral for this adventure. You will be able to see exactly which companies to use and which ones to avoid because they’re not surely paid to say so to you and you know them, so surely they want you too to have the best experience when you go for this Cebu island hopping tour. This will give you second hand knowledge that you need to know in order to make a well informed decision. Remember, when you are searching for an agency that could provide you for the best experience, you want to be sure that the business is reputable before giving them your money and relying on them to provide you the service that you want to experience. This is not just your any take a tour in Cebu experience, but this will also let you enjoy the tropical heat and enjoy the water world of Cebu!
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October 16, 2013

Damaged Heritage Sites

Yesterday, around 8AM, we’re busy preparing for my therapy so we could reach Asian Hospital at 9AM. On our way to the hospital, we’re listening to the radio and we were shocked about the earthquake news. Intensity 7.2 is considered a destructive earthquake and we remembered the Baguio earthquake before. I was in grade 2 at that time and living in Navotas, I was on my way to the sari-sari store nung nag earthquake, feeling ko nahihilo lang ko so I decided to go home na lang and I saw my sister rolling in the bed, walang kamalay-malay, may earthquake na. While my husband was in school somewhere in Dagupan so he experienced the intensity and aftershock of the earthquake.

We’ve been on the road for almost 10 hours so I’m not really updated with the news. When we got home, I was really shocked when I saw the pictures of the damaged heritage site in my news feed. I’ve seen and visited three of these churches, it is so sad to see that it was severely damaged now.

I’m thankful that I have memories of these churches and hoping that it could be restored again. I’m praying for all the kababayans, hope all is well. 




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October 11, 2013

Mickey Mouse Birthday Party


When my husband celebrated his birthday last June, my son and I baked a cake. While baking a cake, my son said that he wanted a Mickey Mouse birthday cake and since then he always remind me about his cake #repeat100times till he celebrated his birthday last October 4, Friday.


He even drew this picture to show me his theme so deep inside I know that he really wanted a Mickey Mouse Birthday Party. I was planning and surfing the net last June for possible ideas, I ordered some party materials online and started my preparation last week of August. I witnessed the joy and excitement of my son every time he sees me preparing for his birthday.


We gave the invitation few days before his birthday. Day before his birthday, I was not feeling well so I decided that we will not go to school so I could take a rest. I took medicine to prevent it and thank God because I was able to go with them the following day.





When I entered his room, he immediately hugged me and said “I love you, mommy”. He was indeed happy because finally he will celebrate his birthday. #thelongwaitisover It was just a simple birthday celebration together with his classmates and teachers.

Mickey Mouse Cake from "Say it with a Cake"

Initially, I wanted to bake cupcake but since my son wanted a Mickey Mouse cake, I just order this from a friend. The party started with gift giving, then blowing of the candle, eating time, games and lastly group picture. Before I left the room, my son hugged me again and said “Thank you, I love you mommy”. I was really touched, sulit pagod ko sa pagprepare because my son enjoyed his simple birthday celebration.

Click here to check for DIY Mickey Mouse Party.
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Aveeno Lotion

I have psoriasis and because of that I have to moisturize my skin always. I’ve tried different brand of lotion before but when I saw this Aveeno Lotion at S&R, I immediately bought it because it was on sale P900 for 2 pieces. So far I love this lotion and will definitely buy again.

Like

1.It is non-greasy lotion and skin absorbs it quickly.
2.No added fragrance.
3.It prevents and protects dry skin.
4.Moisturizes for 24 hours.

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