Michi Photostory

I’ve been checking the weather forecast since Sunday because of the impending typhoon Glenda. I’ve been hearing stories na parang Yolanda or Milenyo daw sa lakas so I was checking for the typhoon signal. I felt that I was prepared for the typhoon because we’re done with our groceries last Saturday, bought our weekly menu in the wet market last Sunday, and still went to the grocery last Monday sa mga kulang pa. While waiting for the class suspension announcement, I was also preparing for my son’s assignment like 1x1 picture and smart casual attire for his graduation portrait. 

No classes last Tuesday because Laguna was under Signal 1. The weather was still fine though there were occasional rain showers. During our dinner, my husband said, nakakatakot sa labas sobrang tahimik. Which is true, wala hangin and wala malakas na ulan. I checked for class suspensions again, no classes again because we’re under Signal 2. 

After dinner, we do our usual routine without knowing that after a few hours, typhoon Glenda will strongly hit CALABARZON. At 1AM , I was awakened by the howling wind outside and I was so scared that I couldn’t sleep anymore. No more electricity around 2AM. I filled our water buckets with water para may ipon kami kahit konti. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced this kind of wind so I was thinking na hindi ito Signal 2. 

It is not a secret here anymore that I always experienced Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. In a span of 7 years, last April is the 4th time that I’ve experienced it. I don’t like it because the severe abdominal pain is no joke. That’s always the sign that I have UTI so I always request urinalysis before going to my OB-Gyne. 

Treating my UTI is not easy maybe because of the Methotrexate that I’m taking for my psoriasis, it is also the reason why I always have UTI because it weakens my immune system. It took me six weeks to cure the UTI and I was really tired going to the doctor and undergoing lab tests every week such as urinalysis, urine culture, and KUB ultrasound. Last year I even had a transvaginal ultrasound to check if I have lumps.

My doctor always advised me to drink cranberry juice but I didn’t follow, lagi ko sinasabi na pwede ba coconut juice na lang because I don’t like the taste of cranberry juice. But I realized if I wanted to prevent UTI I should try drinking cranberry juice. I searched the effects of cranberry juice and now I understand why my doctor advised me to drink it. According to organifacts.net, the health benefits of cranberry juice are...

1. Anti-aging benefits
2. Prevents Lung Inflammation
3. Prevents Scurvy
4. Prevents Peptic Ulcers
5. Prevents Kidney Stones
6. Good for Obesity
7. Cures Cold
8. Strengthens bones and teeth
9. Prevents Cancer
10. Avoid Respiratory Infections
11. Prevents tooth decay
12. Sustain Cardiovascular Health
13. Antitumor effects
14. Prevents Urinary Tract Infection



Healthy Balance Cranberry Juice (less than PHP200)
Fontana Cranberry Juice PHP82

Florida's Natural Grower's Pride Cranberry
Tipco Mixed Fruit Juice & Cranberry PHP105

As I mentioned, I don’t like the taste of cranberry juice so I tried different brands so I can choose. So far, I tried Healthy Balance, Florida’s Natural, Fontana, and Tipco. The winner is Tipco, I like the taste. 

Yakult is part of my childhood days, I always buy Yakult in our suki lady who pushes Yakult cart every morning when I still live in Manila. At that time Yakult is only P2. Hehehe! I was lucky that I was able to visit their factory in Laguna when I was in grade 5 because it is part of our field trip.

Until now Yakult is part of our life, it is always included in my grocery list because we love it. In fact, it is my son’s every day baon in school, Yakult + Water for his drinks. Two weeks ago I saw Yakult light in the grocery so I tried it. 




Hubby: Bakit Yakult Light? 
Me: Para less calories. 
Hubby: Di naman need ni Ethan ng less calories. 
Me: Bakit si Ethan lang ba umiinom ng Yakult sa bahay? 
Silence. 

Honestly, the difference is very unnoticeable from the original Yakult. The taste is still the same, just a little bit less sweet. Actually, my husband said, “pareho lang ng lasa”. hehehe! From now on, I will buy Yakult light because it is less calories and zero fat. Yakult Light is P50 for 5 bottles.

Honestly, I’m not really a fan of Transformers because I prefer romantic-comedy, drama, or real-life story movies. I was able to watch Transformers 1, 2, 3 on TV, and my son liked it. That’s why he enjoyed the Transformers The Ride in Universal Studio Singapore.  

I’m fully aware that it is recommended to visit the dentist by the age of 1 yr old or as soon as the first tooth of your child comes out but it didn’t happen to my son. We have a dental card that we can use but every time that we will schedule an appointment they always decline my son because they don’t have Pediatric Dentist. We’ve been to different clinics but still, the answer is the same or “pwede ma’m kung makikipagcooperate”. How can you expect my son to cooperate agad di ba. 



When my son was three years old, naku mas mahirap na because he is already aware and he doesn’t want to visit the dentist, only mommy, and daddy lang daw. I don’t want to force him at baka magwala lang sa loob ng clinic at may masira pa. So every six months na pacleaning namin ni hubby, I try to persuade him and finally yesterday he experienced his first dental check-up. After 5 years nagamit din ang dental card. 

He is pointing to the "Brush" thing. Brush lang daw teeth niya.

This is not the first time that my son will be checked by a dentist because for the last two years they have an annual dental check-up in school. It is just a simple check-up where the dentist will write her observations if cleaning or filling is needed. But this was the first time that he will sit in a dental chair and I felt that he was really nervous. It took us time to convince him to lie down and open his mouth.



The dentist checked if there was a cavity or tooth decay, fortunately, no cavity and tooth decay so she just cleaned my son’s teeth. We will be back in six months. I was happy that my son conquered his fear. I believe that every person deserves a great looking and healthy smile. Click here!

***

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is in my bucket list but because I live in South Luzon, it is not on my priority list. My friend invited us to attend his son’s 7th Birthday in Bataan since it is too far from Cavite, I suggested to my husband that we stay in Las Casas para di pagod. 

I emailed Las Casas but they replied, “please call to reserve” so my husband called, and unfortunately, no more Studio De Luxe rooms are available. We don’t want to book other rooms because PHP4,050 room rate is already steep for us and the next lowest available room is P5,850. 


We decided to have a day trip instead, we left Cavite around 4AM so we still have enough time na mamasyal before attending the birthday party at 3PM. I posted here our sidetrip “Bataan Road Trip” before going to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Resort. 

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage park or heritage resort in Bagac, Bataan. It is owned by Jose Rizalino “Jerry” Acuzar who is an art collector and architect. Jerry aimed to showcase cultural heritage through the restoration of the houses.

At the gate, the guard gave us an entry pass to be given in the reception area. I was thankful that my son is still free.

Day Trip Entrance Fee of Las Casa Filipinas de Acuzar

Day Trip Rate

Package 1 (set meal) P1,200 nett per person
Package 2 (buffet meal) P1,500 nett per person
A guaranteed minimum of 30 persons is required to avail of the buffet arrangement.

Inclusions:

Welcome Drinks
30-minute to 1-hour Guided Tour of Heritage Houses
Entrance Fee and Use of Beach Area
1 Lunch, Afternoon Snack, 2 Tetra Pack Juices, 2 Bottles of Mineral Water
Vicinity Map
All Taxes and Service Charge

Other Options:

Option 1: Entrance Fee with Snacks

P850 - adult
P425 - kids

Option 2: Entrance Fee Only

P685 - adult and 5 years old and above
FREE - toddlers

Upon entering the Heritage Park, you will feel that you’ve been transported in the past. It is really nice to see how big and beautiful the old houses compared to the trend now. 


We were a few minutes late for the Heritage Tour but we don’t want to waste our time waiting for the next schedule so we asked them if pwede pa humabol and they gladly assisted us to locate the tour guide. 

Schedule of Heritage Tour 

8:30 AM
9:30 AM
10:30 AM
11:30AM

1:30 PM
2:30 PM
3:30 PM
4:30 PM

Baby Shower is a way to celebrate the approaching birth of a child where the expectant mother is showered with gifts. It is traditionally given to the first child of the family but nowadays parents experience more than one baby shower. Sadly to say, I’m not one of those parents because I did not experience any baby shower, I don’t have friends. Hehehe! 

When I was pregnant, I was planning for my own baby shower because I know that my friends will not plan something for me. I did not have bridal shower nga so baby shower pa. Lol But it did not happen because I had Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy aka PUPPP but that’s another story. 



Moving on, when my son started going to school. I met moms who are also full time mothers like me and we became friends. One of our mommy friend got pregnant so we decided to throw a baby shower. 



I asked my pregnant friend for her available schedule so we set the date, time and place. Like I said, I did not experience any baby shower so I have to research and research. It is like planning for my own baby shower. We’re only 8 moms in our group so I have to plan and prepare everything para naman may “element of surprise” pa. I sent a digital photo invitation and informed them that the event is potluck. 

One of my friend made this diaper stroller

Sharing to you the things that I’ve prepared

1. Invitation 



2. Guest Page - I used the extra page from the banner 

3. Banner 




4. Games - I prepared Guess the Baby Picture, Baby Trivia, Bingo Game and Bottle Chugging.



I asked my friends for their baby pictures so I can print it but unfortunately not all have their own baby picture. 









5.Wishes for the baby 




6. Giveaways 



I was thankful that there are free baby shower printables so planning and preparing for a baby shower was not difficult. My pregnant friend offered to buy prizes for games. 

For my potluck, I brought Amira’s Buco Tart. 



Baby Shower Printable Sources:

Baby Shower Printable Set
Baby Trivia  
Baby Bingo 

Our family loves to eat and if we want to try something new, I always search online for reviews and recommendations. I read different food blogs and food websites. One of the websites that I like to check is Munchpunch, I do check the menu, price and location of restaurant but little did I know that Munchpunch offers VIP membership. 



I had an offer to try Munchpunch VIP membership last May. I signed up and immediately browse the VIP menu. VIP members can get freebies and perks at over 150 locations. You can simplify your search by using the tab buttons, I always use the location tab because I live in Cavite and my nearest location is Muntinlupa. 

How it Works? 

1. Browse the VIP menu and pick an item.



2. Click Get Code and wait for the text message. 



3. Show the text message code to staff upon ordering the VIP item at the restaurant. 



I’ve been getting code from different restaurant but because we're so busy as a bee, we were not able to redeem it. We’re supposed to try this Buy 1 Take 1 promo of Cafe Eight at Crimson’s Hotel but there was sudden change of plan.

Birthday Celebration sana

Anyway, if you want to be a VIP member of Munchpunch you can register for free. The free trial is good for 15 days only but if you want to extend the membership, you can renew it for P299 for 60 days. You can pay via paypal, credit card or cash at any 7-11 store.