Michi Photostory

How did ten years go by that fast? 119 months and 364 days had passed and I can’t believe that my son is now a decade old. I feel that it was only yesterday when I was pregnant and now I have a TEN-ager. His age is now double-digit and this is the last year that he can count his age using his fingers.


He is now 10 years old and how I wish that he won’t be in a hurry to grow up because his mom is not ready yet. He may not be a baby anymore but he's not too old for our hugs and kisses.

Happy 10th birthday to my favorite son. Always dream big, believe in yourself and make it happen. We love you so much.

Birthday Celebration 

A few weeks before my son’s birthday, I asked my son what he wanted for his birthday.

Ethan: Ayaw ko party, sa bahay lang.
Me: How about staycation?
Ethan: Ayaw.
Me: Why?
Ethan: Expensive yan.

I felt happy because my son knows that staycation is not cheap. I thought makakatipid ako sa birthday niya since ayaw niya magparty and magstaycation. He just wanted to receive gifts so my husband was planning to buy Playstation para daw hindi puro cellphone anak ko pag weekend, at least may bonding sila mag-ama. Pero feeling ko, mas gusto ng ama niya ang Playstation. Hehehe!

A week before his birthday, my son changed his mind.

Ethan: Mommy, for my birthday, I want to go to my favorite hotel.
Me: Hmm, what is your favorite hotel?
Ethan: Sofitel

Waah! I was shookt! Hindi ko ineexpect na may favorite hotel na pala siya. We just went to Sofitel last February for our wedding anniversary so naging favorite na pala niya. So I immediately inquired to Sofitel and Shangri-la Fort for their room packages. We’ve been to EDSA Shangri-la and Makati Shangri-la and hindi pa namin na try yung Fort branch. They have Adventure Zone kasi so I feel that my son will like it so I inquired. We compared the price and inclusions and we chose the Sofitel package.


Since my son’s birthday fell on a weekday, we celebrated it in advance. Ayaw ko din naman siya mag-absent sa school para lang magcelebrate. I will share our Birthday Staycation at Sofitel Club Millesime on a separate post.

On the day of his birthday, we bought small gifts, mini cake and I printed Pokemon Birthday Banner. I planned to have a small Pokemon Party sana for his birthday kaso nagbago isip niya so hindi ko na tinuloy preparation ko. lol

At the risk of sounding a little dramatic, we all know that a single cup of coffee in the morning can determine the outcome of your entire day. If you wake up feeling groggy and out of it, you probably leave your bed looking for that extra boost of energy from your morning cup o’ joe. Every coffee lover knows that this black gold can only be enjoyed if it is perfectly brewed. It is not every time that you will want to go to a coffee shop and rely on your barista to get your fix. Sometimes, you want to take your time and brew yourself a great cup of coffee so that you get everything just right.


Brewing coffee is a very simple and straightforward task. You need to note that every single detail needs to be just to ensure that the result is perfect. The best part about this is perfecting your coffee-making skills won’t be too difficult. You also need to remember that making and drinking coffee is a personal experience. You need to know what works for you so that you enjoy your coffee every single time. That being said, here are a few basic rules to follow when making your cup of coffee at home:

1. Go for the Best Coffee Beans 

Always keep in mind that the best coffee always starts with great beans. While the brewing process is also a huge factor, the type of coffee beans that you intend to use will determine the outcome of your coffee. As https://coffeeorbust.com/  states, you need to look at the roast date to determine the freshness of the beans. This will help you to ensure that your coffee’s flavor will not be affected or degraded by oxygen and other elements.

2. The Water 

The type of water used is also integral to the quality of your home-brewed coffee. If you are a coffee fan, you know that coffee tastes best when the water used is bottled or filtered. If you use tap water, your coffee will have a strong taste and odor that will just put you off. Tap water already has other flavors that don’t complement the coffee.

3. Measure Everything 

Let’s be honest: we all tend to eyeball it when measuring the ingredients for making our cup of coffee. However, the best results are achieved if you use some measuring equipment that ensures everything is balanced out to a tee. You can use the normal kitchen scale to measure the beans before grinding. Ensure that the ratio of ground coffee to water is just right.

4. Use Clean Equipment 

You will also need to ensure that your tools of the trade are extremely clean before use. Anything else will compromise the taste of your coffee. Rinse your filters, grinders and the removable parts of your coffee maker with hot water. You can also wipe down and then dry with an absorbent towel. Any traces of leftover coffee oil or dirt will make the coffee taste rancid and very bitter.

5. Observe Your Coffee-to-Water Ratio 

The rule of thumb when brewing a cup of coffee is to use one or two tablespoons of ground coffee for five ounces of water. Remember, coffee is very personal. Therefore, you can adjust the measurements to suit your preferences. Every brewer has a measurement indicator to guide you. Lastly, some of the water can be lost to evaporation depending on the brewing method used.

I can’t believe that we’re down to the last quarter of the year, ang bilis talaga ng panahon. Ber months are here and life would be busy again. I only have few posts starting last month because I’m preoccupied with my son’s exams, birthday celebration and lastly, tinatamaan ko ng katamaran. Hehehe! Thanks to my guest posts at may napopost pa ako.

Starbucks Tagaytay 




Anyway, last week out of the blue, niyaya ko ni hubby magTagaytay.

Hubby: Punta tayo Tagaytay.
Me: Why?
Hubby: Libre kita ng kape.


I find it funny because I’m not fond of drinking coffee but it's a date so off we went to Starbucks Tagaytay. We always see this Starbucks branch but it was only last week that we were able to pay a visit. It has a nice view of Taal Volcano but at that moment, may construction sa likod nila so you won’t appreciate the view.



This Starbucks is just beside the Discovery Country Suites where we ate Christmas breakfast last 2016 and 2017. And I guess, that was the last time that we went to Tagaytay so ang tagal din naman bago nakabalik. Since I’m not fond of coffee, I just told my husband to buy me Banoffee Pie. This was my all-time favorite whenever we visit Starbucks but now, sa dami ng pagpipilian, marami na rin kong ibang gusto.

Santis Deli-Cafe 





We did not stay long and we drop by at Santis Deli-Cafe at Silang, Cavite. It’s been five years since our last visit. We dined here after my son’s moving up and we had a good meal here. I knew that they sell imported products so we checked the store. I bought Hungarian Sausage because I’m craving for the sausage that we ate at Cafe Breton. I was glad that the taste is quite similar. I also bought Balocco Cubes which is similar to Loacker but much cheaper.

Read: Food Trip in Tagaytay
Staycation in Tagaytay

Jollibee Epic Fail 



Since we went to Tagaytay, I was not able to cook ulam for our lunch so we went to Jollibee Drive-Thru. We got our order and off we went home. I was disappointed when I opened my order because I ordered chicken palabok but they gave me chicken spaghetti. Hay, nakakainis! Lesson learned, always check your order. Di na kami nadala, last time naman yung ice cream sundae ang hindi nila nailagay sa take-out namin. Sayang money.

Looking Back

I remember when I had my son, never na kami nakalabas ni hubby na kami lang. Wala na kami date and alis na kami lang dalawa, it is always package deal. I’m not complaining because we have no yaya or helper and ayaw din magpaiwan ng anak ko sa iba so wherever we go, he goes. But now that my son is in grade school, we now have time for quick dates. We just make sure that we’re home before my son arrives from school.

P.S. Acienda Designer Outlet will be open on October 26, 2018. Malapit na siya matapos so we have another reason to go back to Tagaytay. 

Traveling is something that lots of people dream about throughout their lives. When the time finally comes for them to embark on a big travel trip, the excitement can be overwhelming. However, while it is great to embrace your delight, you should also remember that there are some key things to consider before you travel. Such things can affect the overall enjoyment of your trip if they are not tackled before you depart. This can mean that preparing for travel can be a chore. To ensure your excitement remains high and that you are fully prepared, you should take note of some important steps.


Combat any health problems 

Sometimes, it is easy to become blinded by your plans when it comes to your general health. Yet, you don’t want underlying health problems to catch up with you when you are trying to immerse yourself in a new destination. Ideally, you should visit your doctor before you leave to make sure you are in the clear, and to pick up any medication you may need. When it comes to your mental health, you want to be able to enjoy your time away to the fullest without it getting in the way. If you have developed a drug addiction in bad times, try a rapid drug detox programme to speed up the process.

Save enough money 

The biggest mistake many travelers make is assuming they can travel on a shoestring budget. While in rare cases this can bring a more rewarding experience to the table, it mostly leads to copious amounts of stress that you must encounter when traveling. The trick here is to save all the money you need for accommodation, flights, and estimated daily expenses. You should then add on an extra amount to make sure you have enough saved for surprise experiences and emergencies.

Learn about your location 

It could be that your travel trip takes you to the other side of the world. When this is the case, it means you could be encountering a whole new culture and way of life. Learning about local customs and laws will help you avoid getting into any trouble when you are away. You should also take the time to learn some basic phrases in the native language using specialized apps so that you can show your respect to the local people. This will also enable you to unlock some hidden locations that are off the beaten track, and which only locals are usually able to enjoy.

Book accommodation and flights 

There is a big misconception when it comes to traveling that you must book everything as far in advance as possible. In fact, there is a sweet spot for booking flights which means you may pay much less than you expect. With short-haul flights, you can easily book them up to two months in advance, and even last minute. If you are traveling further afield, you should book up to half a year before you depart to lock in the best price. Then, you can go about searching for hotel booking sites for the best deals.

Traveling is already costly so buying pasalubong for families and friends is an additional expense. My husband is a frequent traveler but we don’t expect him to buy pasalubong every time he has a business trip. But of course, we’re happy if he has pasalubong especially those foods or things that are not available in the Philippines.


Thailand is not only known for temples, delicious foods, or shopping malls. They are also famous for being one of the affordable countries that you can visit. We had a chance to visit Bangkok Thailand last summer and I agree that Bangkok is not that expensive compared to other countries that we have visited in South East Asia so you can stretch your budget and buy some pasalubong.

Read: 6 Days in Bangkok with Kids

Bangkok is a popular shopping haven, so I’m pretty sure that even if you don’t like to shop, you will visit at least one mall. You can buy souvenirs or pasalubong from malls, markets, and even at the airport if you have no time. If you love giving pasalubong or if you just want to buy souvenirs from Thailand, here are some of the best things to buy in Thailand.

1. Tamarind  

We have tamarind here in the Philippines but tamarind in Thailand has more flavors. Yes, you can buy sweet, savory, or even spicy tamarind. It is really a popular pasalubong, parang pag may pupunta sa Bangkok, expect na may tamarind na bitbit.

2. Dried Squid 

Just like tamarind, you can also buy dried squid and they also have different variants. We were able to try some of the delicacies because this was the pasalubong of my sister-in-law when she went to Bangkok a few years ago.

3. Durian Chips 

When I was buying pasalubong in Bangkok, I always see Durian products but I did not mind it because I dislike durian. Naku, amoy pa lang niyan hindi ko na gusto. I even told my husband na wag na bibili ng durian candy pag galing sa Davao. Kasi nasasayang talaga at wala kumakain sa bahay and even sa family and friends namin, wala may gusto. hehehe!


Then a few months ago, my friend said that she likes the Durian Chips in Thailand, masarap daw siya. So out of curiosity, I asked my husband to buy Durian Chips when he went back to Thailand last August. Since he had no time to go to the mall, he bought the chips at the airport. One pack is THB195 and to be honest, I find it expensive for chips, parang Irvin Salted Egg Chips na ang mahal. So I was really hoping that I did not waste my money.

While my son was reviewing for his exams, I opened the Durian Chips and surprisingly, there was no bad smell and when I tried it, it tasted good. My son said, “I don’t like durian” but when he tried it, halos siya na umubos. The packaging says "No Cholesterol" and "Salty" but it is not salty and not oily so you will feel less guilty about eating chips. Now I know, why people like this so if you are going to Thailand, buy Durian Chips and you will be amazed because you won’t think that you are eating Durian.

4. Mango Sticky Rice 

They say that people will travel anywhere for good food, which is true because Mango Sticky Rice is one reason why I wanted to go back to Thailand. We have mango and sticky rice here in the Philippines but I love the mango sticky rice that I’ve eaten in Bangkok. I have tried the mango sticky rice in The Terrace Restaurant and from Robinsons Supermarket and both taste good.



And because it became my favorite, my husband buys me mango sticky rice if ever he had a chance like a layover or business trip in Thailand. He always buys at the Suvarnabhumi Airport so the price is a bit higher, it ranges from THB180 to THB200. He only buys two packs because there is expiration so you cannot hoard. I eat it right away.

5. SIANGPURE Oil 


Oil is one of the trends now so I’m pretty sure that your family or friends will appreciate SIANG pure oil. Honestly, I’m not familiar with this brand but I saw this when we went to the supermarket and when I was at the airport so I bought it. SIANG pure oil is used for pain, inflammation, and insect bites. This is available in different packaging and I chose this one so you can bring it anywhere.

6. Lounge Pants and Silk Scarves 

As I’ve said before, Thailand is known as a shopping haven so you can’t help but visit malls and markets. During our trip, we visited MBK Center where you can find affordable stuff so if you have time, visit this mall. You can see a lot of lounge pants with elephant prints and silk scarves which is a good pasalubong. Jim Thompson House & Museum has a souvenir shop where you can buy silk scarves but the price is steep.

7. Namu Life SnailWhite Products 

While I was looking for souvenirs at Suvarnabhumi airport, I checked different stores and I even visited the pharmacy I was surprised when I saw foreigners who were buying Namu Life SnailWhite products. I got curious kasi basket of SnailWhite talaga ang binibili nila, kung makahoard sila ganun na lang. I thought mura siya na pwede pampasalubong but when I checked the price and it is not cheap, pangmaharlika. lol

Then I just learned that Namu Life is a famous brand in Thailand and Snailwhite is a popular beauty product in their country. This beauty product is good for repairing and renovating aging skin. They have different products such as facial cream, sunscreen, body wash, facial mask, mist, and the whipp soap.

Just this month, Snail White Whipp Soap is already here in the Philippines. Yes, you can already buy this soap in Watson or online shop but dahil sikat pa siya, lagi sold out. I’m also curious about trying the soap, maybe next time. I will ask my husband to buy this for me baka mas mura sa Bangkok. :)

Update: March 2025

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know for sure that I love IKEA. Even though there is no IKEA yet here in our country, I love browsing their website for home ideas that is perfect for our small house. Whenever we travel, I make sure that IKEA is included on our itinerary, so far I was able to visit their branch in Japan, Singapore and Thailand.

There are so many things that I want to buy but of course, our baggage limit is limited so I can only buy stuff that will fit our luggage. There is no IKEA in the Philippines but there are online stores where you can purchase IKEA products though price is a little bit higher. I discovered Furniture Source Philippines in the year 2016 and last year, we finally visited their store. If you’ve read my post before, we purchased 2x4 Kallax Cabinet and 2x2 Kallax Cabinet.


We did not have any problem when we bought our furniture last year so last August 21, 2018, off we went to Santolan Town Plaza. It was our first time in their store kasi yung last visit namin sa Granada St., QC pa yung showroom nila. Good thing they changed their location kasi mahirap magpark dun sa lumang store and maliit lang.


They have a website so you can place your order online but we prefer to see the items so even we live outside Metro Manila, dinayo namin. We checked their store and some of the items that we want are not available so we just bought the following.

1 Hemnes Daybed Frame with 3 Drawers P25,500
2 Uratex Mattress for Hemnes Daybed P5,900
1 Malekby Sofabed Right Arm Rest (Black/Leatherette) P21,900
1 Norris Gateleg Table (Birch) P12,990
Assembly Fee P500 (per furniture)
Delivery Fee P1500

Norris Gateleg Table

Hemnes Daybed Frame with 3 Drawers

Since we bought bulky items we chose delivery this time, they charged one delivery fee for all items. My husband can assemble the furniture but I told him to pay na lang para hindi sayang sa oras at baka abutin pa siya ng buong araw sa pag-assemble. My husband requested for weekend delivery so he doesn’t need to file a vacation leave. The staff said “I-note ko na lang po, after 4 days po makakareceive kayo ng message kung kelan idedeliver”.

We were surprised when we heard that, because in other Furniture or Appliance store, right there and then alam mo kung kelan nila pwede ideliver. Anyway, we waited for their text.

Aug 21, 2018 - went to Santolan Town Plaza to buy furniture
Aug 25, 2018 - received text regarding delivery schedule

Last August 25, 2018, we received a text regarding the delivery schedule and they informed us about September 5, 2018 schedule. We’re not happy about it, imagine 15 days of waiting from the time that we ordered the furniture. Even if you call their number, they will just cancel the call. So kahit anong tawag ni hubby to request for an early schedule, bigla na lang napuputol ang call so it seems that they are not entertaining any call, “Canceled Call”, alert. They said, earliest date na daw yun, so whether we like or not we just agreed with the date. My husband fixed his schedule so he will be home on the day of the delivery.

September 5 - delivery schedule

Fast forward to September 5, we are waiting for the delivery of the furniture and we are not receiving any text from them. Come lunchtime, my husband texted the number to follow up and he was shookt in their reply "they cannot deliver and will text for reschedule". WHAT?!? So we are just waiting for nothing pala.

We’re not happy about it because.

1. They are the one who scheduled it. We waited for 15 days and hoping that they will deliver our furniture.
2. We are waiting for the delivery and they did not inform us that they will not deliver, kung hindi pa kami nagfollow up, hindi namin malalaman na wala naman darating. They just told us that they will reschedule. Hmmm, kelan na naman?

Since this is not acceptable, my husband called the office to inform them about the situation and after a series of conversations, they finally told us that they will deliver the items the following day.

September 6, 2018 

We felt relieved when they texted that they're on the way to our house. They arrived past 10AM, tatlong tao ang nag-assemble, two persons assembled the bed and one person assembled the table and sofa. It took them 2 hours to assemble the sofa, bed, and table but it is not yet finished because one sofa stand was defective. I thought the stress is already over but since one stand of the sofa is defective, the staff said “Sir, balik na lang po kami, sira kasi yung isa”. When we asked them, kung kelan balik, they could not answer us.

Walang legs yung isang sofa so hindi pantay.

September 10, 2018 

After 4 days, we did not hear anything from them so my husband called to follow-up. We’re afraid na abutin na naman ng 2 weeks bago ideliver so my husband volunteered na ipick-up na lang niya but the manager told him that they already shipped the replacement and side table via Sea Cargo last Friday, September 7, 2018. 

They did not inform us that they will ship the item because as far as we know, the staff said, babalik na lang. We paid for the assembly fee so we’re expecting na ikakabit nila ulit yun. We just let it go since my husband can do it. I just told my husband to ask for the tracking number so at least I know kung kelan darating sa bahay.

September 11, 2018 - My husband asked for tracking number but they cannot provide, sabi lang “We’ll check on this”.
September 12, 2018 - Follow -up for tracking number but still no tracking number.
September 13, 2018 - They could not provide us the tracking number so my husband has this feeling na hindi pa nila naship yung items. So he told them, kung hindi pa naship, pick-up na niya. Finally, the manager told him that they already pulled out the item and will inform us once the item is ready for pick-up.
September 14, 2018 - I received a text that our item is ready for pick up, they provided an address where we could get the item, hindi siya sa showroom kukunin. At last, the stress is over. But because of Typhoon Ompong, we decided to stay in our house, hindi muna kami pumunta agad.
September 16, 2018 - off we went to the warehouse.

From August 21 - September 14, it took them 24 days to fulfill our order. This is the first time that we’ve experienced this, it never happened to us sa ibang Furniture Store or Appliance Store. Like I mentioned, we already ordered furniture from them last year and okay naman. But with our recent experience, we’re not satisfied. I’m just thankful that my husband was here and no business trip.


So I guess, if you want to buy furniture at Furniture Source Philippines, pick-up is the best option. With all the stress, delays and hassles, they gave us Complimentary Brimnes Side table. I just hope they will improve their delivery system, okay naman service nila sa Showroom and Warehouse.

“First impressions are important but the last impression we leave with the customer will leave the most lasting impression - Shep Hyken” 

Furniture Source Philippines 
Santolan Town Plaza by Rockwell
276 Col. Bonny Serrano, San Juan City,
Metro Manila Philippines

Read: Buying Furniture at Mandaue Foam Home Store
Buying Furniture at San Yang Furniture

I love crepe so I feel happy whenever I see crepe in the buffet spread whether in a hotel or restaurant. Several years ago, I tried cooking it at home kaso nakakasawa din, for a family of three ang hirap ubusin nung crepe batter. Even though I like crepe, I rarely buy this dessert lalo na pag nagtitipid, skip na ang dessert kung kakain kami sa labas. Hehehe!

But of all the crepe that I ate, there are two crepe stores that stuck in my mind, the Crazy Crepes in Boracay and Dipper Dan Cafe in Tokyo Japan. Here in the Philippines, I always see Cafe Breton but since I’m not a coffee person, deadma lang ko sa mga Cafe. My husband had tried this restaurant before and sarap na sarap siya sa crepe so he suggested na i-try namin minsan.


I guess, few years ago na yun and it was only last weekend that we finally paid a visit. From Mall of Asia, we decided to eat merienda at Cafe Breton before going home. I always see this Cafe whenever we visit Dayrit’s Burger and Roast Beef House, as in magkatabi lang sila.

Read: Lunch at Dayrit's Burger and Roast Beef House 

It was merienda time and we were the only customers when we arrived. The staff immediately gave us the menu and we asked for their best sellers. We choose one savory and one dessert crepe. My husband ordered Galette Paysanne P350, yun yung kinain na rin niya dati and I ordered Le Magnifique P265. We just asked for an additional plate for my son so we can share the food.


I haven’t tried a savory crepe so this was the first time that I tasted it and msarap naman pala. The Galette Paysanne has whole Hungarian sausage, sunny side up egg, onions, strips of asparagus and white cheese sauce. Now I knew, why my husband like this. San kaya nila nabibili yung sausage?


When I saw the Le Magnifique, I was hoping that it is not sweet kasi parang ang daming chocolate. But I was glad that it is not overly sweet. I love it. My son prefers this than the savory crepe and kulang na lang i-lick niya yung plate para masimot niya talaga. It is a combination of banana, chocohazelnut spread, whipped cream, almonds, and chocolate syrup. They have a crepe with ice cream but I prefer whipped cream.


After eating two crepes, gutom pa kami so we ordered Breton Mozzarella Burger P285. A simple beef burger with sauteed onions, mushrooms and mozzarella. When they served the burger, I was looking for the mozzarella, surprise pala siya. We also enjoyed this burger.


Aside from crepes, Cafe Breton also serves pasta, sandwiches, salads, and all-day breakfast. The price is not cheap especially for a dessert but you can order different crepes and share para matry yung ibang flavor though according to their menu, their serving is good for one. The food is good and as of this writing, I’m craving for their food. Good thing that Cafe Breton has several branches so we can visit Alabang, Sta. Rosa, and Tagaytay branch.

September 2019

Naexperience ko na mag-overnight sa Emergency Room ng Philippine Lung Center last week. Isang gabi lang pero ramdam ko yung pagod, antok at gutom. Sobrang busy sa ER so kahit gusto mo umidlip, hindi mo magawa. Nakakagutom magbantay pero wala ka naman mabilhan ng food dahil 7-11 lang naman ang alam ko na bukas sa Lung Center.


So after ng shift ko sa pagbabantay, nagbrunch kami ni hubby sa Cafe Breton. My default order is always Galette Paysanne. Buti na lang hindi pa sila nag-increase ng price. We immediately went home after brunch so I have more time to sleep bago umuwi from school ang aking anak.

January 2020

We took advantage of the vacation leave of my husband so we applied for Japan Visas. If you remember my post, we went to World Travel Expo last October and availed the 50% Japan Visa Processing. There is an expiration date for the voucher so we need to use it before the end of January. Sayang naman ang bayad namin if hindi namin magagamit. To make the long story short, our Japan Visas were approved and this time multiple entry for 5 years so to celebrate we had lunch at Cafe Breton.

As usual, we ordered our favorite Galette Paysanne P350, Le Magnifique P265, and Breton Mozarella Burger P285. And because nabitin kami sa Le Magnifique, I ordered La Viva Pinay. La Viva Pinay P220 is a crepe with mango, ice cream, and chocolate sauce. This crepe is just okay because the mango is not that sweet so the taste of this crepe depends on the sweetness of the mango. We finished everything naman, mas masarap nga lang kung matamis yung mango.






Cafe Breton 
Unit 3 Mega Center Bldg.
Paseo de Magallanes
Magallanes Village,
Makati City