Michi Photostory

It was holiday last Friday so we went to my grandmother for a quick visit and we immediately went to Asian Hospital for my phototherapy session but unfortunately the Dermatology Laser and Light Center was closed. Waah! I forgot that they are closed during the holidays too. 

We went to Festival Mall to eat our lunch, we ate at Super Bowl of China. I’m not fond of Chinese food so it took me a while to try this restaurant. It was already past 1PM but the restaurant was still packed. I thought it was just a small restaurant but I was surprised to see a lot of tables inside. 



While perusing the menu, they gave us complimentary tea and chips which my son immediately ate. So they gave us another chips while waiting for our order. Hehehe! 



The meal is good for 2 to 3 persons so we just ordered Lechon Macau P350, Rice and Drinks. Since our bill is more than P500, we got this Pancit for P1 only. 



Well, the food is just ok for us, the lechon macau is crunchy but a little bit salty and dry. It is very far from the Lechon Macau that I’ve tasted in Macau.  The Pancit is just ok too. 

The service is good, even there were a lot of diners, it took them several minutes to serve our food. The staff will greet you once you enter and leave the restaurant.

Every year, I always look forward to the list of Philippines holiday and school calendar so I could plan for our long weekend. I want to know if we could plan a travel trip or home renovation on those dates. It is really nice to take advantage of those long weekends for a family trip if budget permits. Anyway, we still have six remaining long weekends for the second half of 2015. #walangpasok

July 17-19 - EID’L FITR on July 17 (Friday) 
Aug 21-23 - August 21 is Ninoy Aquino Day (Friday). 
Aug 29-31 - August 31 is National Heroes Day (Monday) 
Nov 28-30 - November 30 is Bonifacio Day (Monday) 
Dec 24-27 - December 24 is Christmas Eve (Thursday) and December 25 is Christmas (Friday) 
Dec 30 - Jan 3 - Dec 30 is Rizal Day (Wednesday) and December 31 is New Year’s Eve (Thursday).

I’ve just learned this yesterday so mark your calendar. Though this is not a long weekend. Palace declares November 18 and 19 as Special Non-Working Days in NCR for the APEC Summit (Proc 1072).

For the longest time, Feb. 25 is always a working holiday but the school has no classes but this coming 2016 “Palace declares Feb 25, 2016 as Special Non-working Holiday for 30th anniversary of EDSA revolution.”

Time incredibly flies so fast and I didn’t notice that it’s been seven years already since I resigned from my work. I can’t imagine that I will find joy in being a stay at home mom because I never planned to be a housewife. 


When I resigned from my work and I need to fill up some forms, it took me a while to write HOUSEWIFE in my position. It is not that I’m ashamed of it but I’m not just used to it. But that was before because now, I don’t mind writing housewife and telling people that I’m a full-time mom.

Since I’m not used to not having my own salary, I became a mompreneur, I sell books, organic products and preloved stuff in Multiply site then I stopped. After that, I tried working as a ghost writer. I was a work-at-home mom for less than a year only because I felt guilty of not having enough time with my son. I spent most of my time on my laptop, trying to finish all my deadlines so I reminded myself the reason why I resigned from my work. So I decided to focus on my son and be a full-time mom. 

For the last seven years, I always say I’m a housewife, stay at home mom or full-time mom but I have no idea that some working moms were annoy reading and hearing “full-time mom” because for them there is no “part-time mom”. They are working moms but it doesn’t mean, that they are no longer mothers when they are in the office. If there is no such thing as a full-time wife or part-time wife then there is no full-time mom.

I got their point but have they also consider the feelings of stay at home moms whenever they hear “I’m a working mother”. Do you think that housewives are not working? Like Jane Sellman said, “The phrase working mother is redundant”. 

We may not be in the corporate world but it doesn’t mean that we are not working. We have a lot of work to do at home like cooking, cleaning, tutoring and many other tasks. The bottom line is all mothers are working. 

Working moms, work at home moms and full-time moms are all mothers. Let us not focus on the labels. If moms who are working in the corporate world want to be called working moms, so be it. If moms who are working at home and taking care of their children want to be called work at home moms or mompreneurs, so be it. If moms who chose to resign from their job and want to be housewives, full-time moms, stay at home moms, domestic goddess, a homemaker and whatever labels they wanted, so be it.



It is just label. At the end of the day we know that all mothers have the same goal in life, we want to be the best mom that we are meant to be. We need to love, teach, discipline and guide our children on the right path. Let us be happy and respect mothers in their own chosen career whether working moms, work at home moms and full-time moms. #mindyourownmotherhood

"Motherhood is not a battle against mothers. Motherhood is your journey with your children"

My friend gave me Garlic Salt and Italian Seasoning last week so I decided to have roast chicken and beef steak this week. I already cooked roast chicken last Tuesday but when I saw our beef steak, it was cut like breakfast steak or bistik tagalog. Waah, my husband thought I will cook bistik tagalog. 

You might be wondering why I was shocked when I saw the beef. Well, I’m so blessed to have a husband who goes to the wet market every weekend to buy our weekly stock. All I need to do is write our menu and things to buy. He will asked the vendor to cut the meat according to our menu. 

So I have no idea about the current price in the market, feeling ko tumataas kasi konti sukli or wala na sukli after mamili. Hehehe! Anyway, because the cut is to thin, I decided to cook steak bites instead. 

I sliced the beef into bite sized, seasoned with garlic salt and cracked pepper. Melt the butter in a pan and make sure you cook the meat in high heat. Cook according to your degree of doneness.


My photo doesn’t give justice because it looks like beef tapa hehehe! But my family loves it.

Since we live in South Luzon, Tagaytay is our go-to place for food tripping, staycation or if we just want to unwind. There are so many restaurants in Tagaytay and I’ll be sharing some restaurants that we have tried in Silang Cavite, Tagaytay and along the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road. 


Where to Eat in Tagaytay

1. Leslie’s Restaurants

We dined here for the nth time already; we love the ambiance, view, and food. This restaurant is always packed with diners so sometimes the waiting time is so long. I don’t know why I always forgot to take some pictures.

We never fail to order their bulalo, of course when you’re in Tagaytay you want soup. We visited their new branch at Sky Ranch last month 

2. Buon Giorno  

I’ve read so many good reviews about this restaurant so we tried it. I love the ambiance, view, and food too. It is located in Cliffhouse. 

3. Josephine’s Tagaytay 

After our Paradizoo, we tried Josephine’s restaurant, just in front of Summit Ridge. Again, I love the ambiance, view, and food.

4. Mano’s Greek Taverna

If you search the internet, you will always read good reviews about their food and true enough we loved the food. 

5. Viewsite Restaurant

We always passed by this restaurant on our way to Caleruega so last 2011, we tried this restaurant and we love the ambiance, view, and food. 

We tried this again two months after our first visit but we were so disappointed, it took them more than an hour to serve our food, after numerous follow-ups.

6. Bag of Beans

Bag of Beans is one of the favorite restaurants in Tagaytay but we were disappointed with our order when we first visited the place. There’s nothing special about the food considering the price.  Or maybe we have high expectations because of the good reviews online. 

For the second time around, we visited the restaurant and tried the breakfast menu in Bag of Beans, and the same fate, we were not satisfied. 

But we love their raisins bread. 

7. Hawaiian BBQ

I always want to stay in Boutique Bed & Breakfast but I still don’t have the budget so we just tried their Hawaiian BBQ restaurant. We liked the food, though it is quite expensive but it’s worth the price.

8. Viewpoint Restaurant

Viewpoint Inn and Restaurant has an overlooking view of Taal Volcano so if you want a good ambiance while eating, you can try this restaurant. Hubby and son enjoyed their sinigang na maliputo. 

9. JVF Bulalohan 

This is quite far from Tagaytay Rotonda but we have no choice but to eat here. It was Good Friday and most restaurants were crowded. 

10. JT’s Manukan Grille

If you are craving for Bacolod Chicken Inasal you don’t have to worry because there’s JT’s Manukan Grille along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road. The place is huge so it can accommodate a big group. 

11. RSM Binalot Sa Dahon 

I know that RSM is serving good Filipino dishes so I did not have a second thought of trying it but unfortunately we are not satisfied with our order. 

12. D' Banquet 

We celebrated Mother’s Day here last year. The meal is affordable and serving is good too. You can also buy Amira’s Buco tart and other pasalubong here. 

13. Marcia Adams

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here. The meal is on the pricey side but if you want a new dining experience you can try this restaurant. Do not forget to make a reservation. 

14. Carlos Pizza

My friend suggested this restaurant but when we tried it, the food was just ok for us but they have a good view of Taal volcano.

15. Breakfast at Antonio’s

This restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Tagaytay though it is already far from Tagaytay Rotonda. The price is expensive but I still recommend the place because most of the food they serve is homemade. 

16. LZM Restaurant

This restaurant is known for its bulalo so that’s what we ordered. The food is good and the price is not expensive but the service is quite slow. 

17. Tootsie’s Tagaytay 

The restaurant is good for family food trip because the serving is huge. The food is good and the price is reasonable. 

18. Santis Delicatessen

Santis Deli Cafe or Santis Delicatessen meal is quite steep but I did not have any regrets when we dined here because we were very satisfied with our meal. The restaurant sells cheese, sausage, and other imported products. 

19. Baek Yuen Korean Restaurant

This is where we celebrated Mother’s Day and we were very satisfied with our meal. It was a nice dining experience at a reasonable price. 

20. Balinsasayaw 

You will see this restaurant before reaching Tagaytay. The place was not inviting if you will look from the highway but you will be surprised na there are nipa huts where you can dine. 

21. Lyleth’s Eatery at Mahogany Market

The Mahogany market is also popular because of the bulalo eatery there. If you are looking for affordable bulalo you can give it a try. But manage your expectation because the place is open like carinderia and it is in the market. 

22. Cafe Veranda at Taal Vista Hotel

We went to Taal Vista Hotel just to eat a buffet breakfast in Cafe Veranda. We tried their buffet breakfast before when we had staycation a few years ago. 

23. La Finca Tagaytay

One of the new restaurants in Tagaytay located in Domicillo Design Hotel. The place has a good view of Taal Volcano too. 

24. The Farm Organics

The Farm Organics is located in Twin Lakes, they are offering a brunch buffet every Saturday and Sunday. 

25. Verbena Restaurant at Discovery Country Suites 

If you want privacy, eat at Verbena Restaurant. They accept walk-ins and the place was not crowded so you will enjoy your food trip. 

Read: Buffet Breakfast at Restaurant Verbena

26. Green ATS Bulalohan & Restaurant 

This restaurant started operating in the year 2004 but it was only last week we were able to try it (2018). The restaurant looks nice, it has Taal volcano view, the food price is reasonable and the service is good too. 

27. Starbucks 

If you love coffee, then Starbucks is one of your choices. This cafe has a good view of Taal Volcano too. 

28. Cafe Voi La

You will see this restaurant before going to the Crosswinds Resort Suites. The restaurant is very intagrammable. They served different dishes but the rate is on the expensive side.

29. Balay Dako

Balay Dako is one of Antonio's Group of restaurants in Tagaytay. This restaurant serves Filipino cuisines so if you love Filipino foods or if you have balikbayan guests, this is a good choice of restaurant. They have buffet breakfast every weekend and on selected holidays. 

30. Napa at Crosswinds

Last month, the clinic staff texted me that we need to reschedule our dental appointment because the dentist has a medical mission on that date so I replied that I’ll go back to the clinic to reschedule because my son has classes already so weekdays is not possible. 

When I learned that June 19 is a holiday “Laguna Day” so no classes in his school. I went back to the clinic and reserved the date. It was Friday so hubby is in the office, I was really worried because last year, we had a hard time convincing my son to lie down on the dental chair. But I was glad that my son cooperated. 



Since this was the second time, the dentist already cleaned his teeth. Last year kasi parang toothpaste and brush lang. Dentist said that my son has no cavities and no permanent teeth yet. I was advised to have x-ray if by 8 years old wala pa rin permanent teeth. “Permanent teeth begin to come in around the age of 6 and ends at around the age of 12 or 13.”

I’ve been loyal to Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownie mix for the last three years because my family loves these brownies. It is so easy to prepare and the brownies are really good. 



Last month while we are doing our grocery in S&R, my husband saw this Duncan Hines California Walnut brownies mix and he said I should try it. I’ve tried other instant mixes of Duncan Hines before like the Devil’s Food and Red Velvet and the taste was just ok so I was a bit hesitant to try this mix.



Anyway, I bought a box and I baked it two days ago. Just like the Ghirardelli instant mix, all you need to do is add egg, water and oil then bake. Surprisingly, we love it! These brownies are not sweet and we like it because there is walnut too. The taste is close enough to Fudge Brownies of Purple Oven.  Now we have a new favorite, I will buy Duncan Hines California Walnut mix again.

Read: Red Velvet
          Devil's Food Cupcake

Today is first day of July and just like that, half of the year is over. I was lazy to blog for the past few days and we have no internet connection for almost three days so I know it is late to post this Father’s Day Book. 



But since we celebrate Father’s Day every year, you can use this in the future. I was checking Pinterest when I saw this Father’s Day Book printables and I printed it immediately. It is 6 pages book where you can write things about your father. 



I let my son write things about his daddy and I just helped him with the spelling. 



Click here for the printables. 

I admit that I have very little knowledge when it comes to beauty products and services. I’m not really updated on what’s new so it was only last month that I’ve learned about haircial treatment. I joined a blog giveaway and I was lucky to win 2 gift certificate to try haircial treatment at Dermclinic. 

We took advantage the holiday last Friday and went to Alabang Town Center. We’re supposed to watch Jurassic World first but no more seats available at 1:15PM so we went to Dermclinic to use our gift certificate.

I did not make any reservation but I was glad that they accommodated us. The only problem is, they only have one equipment for haircial treatment so I went in first. 



According to the flyer, medical haircial treatment is a specialized treatment created to thicken and nourish hair and scalp from the roots, strengthen the root system and hair structure, improve blood circulation to the scalp and promote a healthy environment for hair growth. 

The staff will ask what is your concern, they have treatment for anti-dandruff, anti-hairfall, and anti-white hair. I have scalp psoriasis so I chose anti-dandruff. 

The room is quite small and very little space to move, I’m glad that I don’t have claustrophobia. Since it was my first time, I was asking the staff the step by step and what she’s doing. Sharing to you my experience. 



1.First she washed my hair. 
2.Then she applied scalp cleanser and hair treatment.
3.After the application, my hair was steamed for 5 minutes only. The time is very limited because from what I’ve read, it should be 20 minutes to release toxins and stimulate sweating. 
4.After the steam, she hand massaged my hair. I was waiting for the hair massage machine but there was no machine. 
5.Next she washed my hair and blowered just to make sure that my scalp is dry. Then I went inside the PDT (photodynamic therapy) for 5 minutes to kill fungi or bacteria in my scalp. I’m used to this because I always experienced phototherapy for my psoriasis.
5.Lastly, the staff applied Fluoderm in the affected area. 

The haircial treatment lasted for less than an hour. I don’t feel anything during and after the treatment. I was expecting that my scalp will be massaged for blood circulation but the stafff was so hinhin na wala kami naramdaman. Lol

My experience was a little bit different compared to the blog that I’ve read or maybe it depends on the branch. Anyway, their service is good. They are kind, soft spoken and willing to answer all my questions. My husband availed the anti-hairfall and I don’t know step by step. 

Dermclinic 
Basement Level, Alabang Town Center 
Alabang Zapote Rd, Las Pinas City 
8072169/7721170

We had our first taste of BonChon Chicken three years ago and since then, it became one of our favorite chicken meal. Though we are the only group of 3 persons, we always order a group meal which is good for 4 persons. My last visit was January 20, 2015 after my KUB IVP test. 

The restaurant is known for its famous crispy and flavorful chicken but they also serve other dishes like chops and fish. Last Friday, we revisited BonChon Chicken because we saw the poster of Seafood Platter Group Meal at P655.



We always order their chicken group meal, so for a change, seafood naman. The group meal includes seafood platter, (calamari + crispy shrimp +crispy fish) 4 rice, 4 drinks, 2 side dishes, and 1 chapchae. 

Iced Tea and Pineapple

As always, we’re satisfied with our meal and off we went to the movie house to watch Jurassic World. 

I don’t understand why my son loves watching dinosaurs and he never gets tired of watching the Jurassic Park series. He watched Jurassic Park 1, 2, and 3 over and over again for the last two years.

And because he loves dinosaurs, we were supposed to go to Dinosaurs Island last summer but there was a sudden change of plan. It is still on my bucket list because my son loves to go there but I just don’t know when since Pampanga and Baguio are miles away.

Last summer, my son watched the Jurassic World trailer on YouTube and I was not surprised when he told me that he wanted to watch the movie. I thought he will forget about the movie after a few weeks. 

But I was wrong, this time he really wanted to see the movie on the big screen. Knowing us, we don’t really watch a movie on the big screen because it is so expensive, movie ticket + food. 

Since my son is already 6 yrs old, he is so aware of dates so since Monday, he kept on telling me, “Mommy, lapit na June 10, Jurassic World na”. “Mommy, no classes on June 12” 

So we spent Independence Day in the cinema. We went to ATC to watch Jurassic World, we ate lunch first but it was a bad idea because when we fell in line to buy the ticket, no more seats available for 1:15PM so waited until 3:30PM just to watch the movie. 

But it was worth the wait because we enjoyed the movie, it was fun and exciting. Imagine, the Dinosaur Amusement Park that John Hammond planned 20 years ago has been realized. 

My son loves theme park so he really enjoyed the movie, it would be nice if our Dinosaur Island is like that. There are trains, boats, and other rides that you can use to tour the amusement park. The theme park is really good if there are no genetically engineered hybrids. 

Though nothing beats the original that I watched when I was still in elementary days. I would consider Jurassic World as the second favorite in the series.

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you need to be a smart traveler to ensure you have a good time and stay safe. Being a smart traveler doesn’t mean you have to have every minute of your itinerary planned and every activity booked in advance. However, some planning and research ahead of time will make your trip run smoothly. These four tips will help you become a smarter traveler on your next adventure abroad.

1. Be Organised

To be a smart traveler, you must first be organized in the lead up to your trip and while you are away. Before you board the flight, make sure you have your passport, foreign currency, visa applications and any accommodation booked and paid for, and keep all of your reservation documents in your carry-on luggage. It is also important to ensure you have purchased everything you need for your trip at least one week before you depart. Essential items include power adapters, weather-appropriate clothing, toiletries, and guidebooks. This is especially important if you are heading to a region that has limited access to these supplies.

2. Be Flexible

When you are on the road, everything that can possibly go wrong possibly will. Build some adaptability into your travel plans, and don’t set everything on a strict schedule with little room for movement. A smart traveler is flexible when things go wrong and can easily adapt their plans to suit changing circumstances. Being flexible will also help you ensure you get to do and see everything you plan to. This way you can spend more time on an activity you find you enjoy more than expected and then only move on when you have seen enough. There is nothing worse than missing out on an unexpected highlight because your sightseeing schedule was too inflexible.

3. Use Good Luggage

Smart travelers will tell you that the key to a successful trip lies in the luggage they take with them. Decide in advance whether a backpack or suitcase is best for your destination and travel plans, and then find the best you can for your budget. If you’re after a good quality suitcase, look for luggage specialists such as Luggage Direct for a range of suitcases and carry-on bags in various colors, shapes, and sizes. Make sure your luggage is suitable for your type of travel and that it will hold your belongings without exceeding the luggage weight allowances for all of your flights. It is also important to check that you can manoeuver your luggage on your own with ease.

4. Do Your Research

Finally, to ensure your trip runs smoothly, it is vital that you do your research before you leave. Familiarise yourself with your destination and its lifestyle, culture, language, people and traditions. Research sites and attractions, restaurants, tour companies and hotel hubs before you book your trip so that you have realistic expectations of what you will do at each stop. It is also wise to look into restrictions, health and safety issues and other tourist information to ensure you are dressed appropriately, have the right currency, acknowledge local customs and behave in a manner that is respectful to the local community.

If you are organised and flexible, you have done your research ahead of time and plan to travel with the right luggage, your trip will run smoothly. Be a smart traveller who makes plans before their trip and also thinks quickly while away. What are your tips for smarter travel? Tell us in the comments below.

I bought this Paper Clay Art last December but it was only last Sunday that we were able to use it. 


The kit contains paper clay, stick and board.


Since it’s been 6 months that I did not use it, the paperclays were dried. According to the package, if the paperpclay dries up and doesn’t stick to the board, just add few drops of water and mix. But in our case, I have to add a lot of water just to soften the clay. It worked except for the white color because it is hard as stone. 


My son and I finished this artwork using the available colors. 


The result doesn’t look good pero pwede na. #motherandsoneffort Next time if ever I will buy paper clay art, I will use it immediately.

Two years ago we went to Crosswinds Resort Suites, this resort is known as Swiss Luxury Resort and you can see some flags of “Welcome to Switzerland” inside the 100-hectare property. I don’t know why because I’ve never been to Switzerland but one thing is for sure, once you enter the Crosswinds community, you will feel that you are in a different place. 

Some people thought that I was in Baguio when I posted the pictures on Facebook but Crosswinds is situated in Tagaytay City. The 20,000 pine trees will welcome you so don’t forget to pull down your car windows to enjoy the crisp scent of the pine trees. 


I checked the rates of Crosswinds Resort Suites and it is on the pricey side so when I saw their promo in Deal Grocer last month, I called my husband and asked if he wanted to celebrate his birthday in Crosswinds. He said yes so he called the resort to check if there was still an available room. Then I purchased the voucher and emailed Crosswinds to reserve. I received my confirmation the following day. 

I bought the voucher at P2850 and the package includes 

- Overnight stay in a studio room for 2 
- Room and amenities good for 2 
- use of a fully-equipped kitchen inside the room 
- free use of view deck, swimming pool, and car service within Crosswinds. 

Klook.com

If you are in Tagaytay, most of the time you will crave for bulalo and Leslie’s Restaurants is one of our choices if we want bulalo. It started when we went to Caleruega for the very first time in year 2008. 

We went back when we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary in Tagaytay and we kept on coming back after our visit in Caleruega (every Holy Week). It lasted for few years, then we decided to try other restaurants in Tagaytay. The restaurant is always packed and sometimes you really have to wait long just to get a table. 

We were in Tagaytay last Friday and we can’t decide where to eat when we saw Leslie’s Restaurants at Sky Ranch. It was our first time in this branch. 



Since we always order bulalo, we decided to try other dishes so my husband ordered Sinigang na Maya Maya P399, Pinakbet Con Lechon P275 and steamed rice is P49 per cup. Leslie’s Restaurants is known for huge servings so it is really good for family food trip. 



When the food came, we were so disappointed because the taste is so bland. I can’t taste the tamarind and I think they forgot to put salt in Sinigang na Maya Maya. The dish has few ingredients too, I can really count the vegetables. Lol. The Pinakbet Con Lechon is just ok for us. 



And because of that experience, if ever we will go back to Leslie’s, we will just order bulalo again. 

Leslie’s Restaurants 
Les and Ries Garden Ranch and Restaurant 
KM 60 Kaybagal South, Tagaytay City 
Cavite City 4120