February 06, 2025

Valentine Layered Card

When I had my Cricut Maker, my family stopped buying cards, so if they needed one, they could just get it from my stash. Kahit na ako pa yung bibigyan nila ng card, ang importante naman yung message na isusulat so I don’t mind receiving my own homemade cards. February is also our wedding anniversary month, so I made a lot of cards for more options.

All of Me Loves All of You Tent Card 

The All of Me Loves All of You Tent Card is from My 3D SVG site, this is a shadow box but I used it for a tent card to display on my computer table. 


The following four cards are designed by Craft with Sarah. I uploaded all the SVG files on Cricut Design Space, changed a few colors, and cut. 








February 05, 2025

Unlimited Japanese Barbeque at Sumo Niku

It’s been a while since we visited unlimited barbecue or barbeque restaurant, I was checking my blog, 2022 pa yung last kain namin sa Korean Restaurant; we ate at Oori and Romantic Baboy. Nagsawa and tamad na rin kami magluto kasi. Hehehe! 

Just this week, we had an appointment with our ophthalmologists and it meant, new eyeglasses again so we went to SM Sta Rosa to buy eyeglasses frames. After purchasing our frames, it was time for lunch so we looked for a restaurant. MagBistro restaurant na naman sana kami kaso sa February 7 pa daw yung next na 50% off. 

And since ang haba pa ng waiting time namin before our appointment, we decided to try the Unlimited Japanese Barbeque of Sumo Niku. Pero wala naman ako nakitang difference between Japanese and Korean Barbecue restaurant. In fact, may kimchi pa sa Sumo Niku. Hehehe! 


All Day Rate of PHP599, you can eat unlimited 7 kinds of pork, 4 kinds of beef, 2 kinds of chicken, 2 kinds of seafood, rice, side dishes, soup, and mozzarella cheese. 


Before we enter, the staff informed us na hindi available yung Japanese Kurobota Ham but we still ate kahit kulang ng isang meat. Sayang lang kasi konti lang yung meat from Japan tapos kulang pa. 


To place your order, just fill out the order slips. We ordered all the side dishes and for meat, we only ordered pork and beef. We tried the US Premium Beef Teriyaki Sauce, US Wagyu Beef, U.S. Marinated Beef, Chuck Eye Steak, Kurobuta (Japanese Black Pork), and Black Pepper Pork Belly. I also added rice and miso soup. 




Service is fast, nadedeliver naman agad yung order. I was slightly disappointed lang sa cheese, kasi sabi mozzarella cheese but when I saw the color and tasted it, hindi siya lasang mozzarella. We always buy mozzarella cheese kasi because I like the creamy and milky flavor and yung stretchy when melted. Hindi ganun yung cheese na meron sila. 

Anyway, customers can stay strictly for up to 3 hours only but we were done eating in less than an hour.

Restaurant Policy 

Customers can stay strictly for up to 3 hours only 
No leftover. No takeout. PHP320 will be charged per pax for leftovers. 

Sumo Niku Rate 

PHP599 - adult 
PHP 295 - children below 4ft 
FREE - children below 3ft 

Gyuniku (Beef Menu) 

US Premium Beef Thin Cut 
US Premium Beef Teriyaki Sauce 
US Wagyu Beef 
US Marinated Beef 
Chuck Eye Steak B5 Limited Offer 

Butaniku (Pork Menu) 

Pork Belly Thin Cut 
Unmarinated Pork Belly 
Kurobuta (Japanese Black Pork)
Black Pepper Pork Belly 
Pork Belly with Teriyaki Sauce 
Spicy Pork Belly 
Japanese Kurobuta Ham 

Torimono (Chicken Menu) 

Teriyaki Chicken 
Japanese Spicy Chicken 

Shifudo (Seafood Menu) 

Japanese Crab Stick 
Japanese Fish Cake 

Side Dishes 

Buttered Corn 
Coleslaw 
Mashed Potato 
Fruit Salad 
Seaweed 
Lettuce 
Kimchi 
Atchara 

Sumo Niku 
SM City Sta. Rosa Tagapo 
Sta. Rosa Laguna 4026

February 03, 2025

Lunch at Kuya J Restaurant

Last month, my friend sent me a message, informing me about the 50% off Set Meals of Kuya J restaurant and I told her, wala na si Echo diyan. Hehehe! Feeling naman lagi nasa restaurant si Jericho Rosales


A few weeks later, my husband and I had lunch at Kuya J and availed of the 50% off Set Meals. There are three choices, and we chose the cheapest set, Set C for PHP600. The set includes Grilled Pork Belly, Sinigang na Bangus, Crispy Pinakbet, Kakanin Trio, Plain Rice Platter, and Iced Tea Pitcher. 


While waiting for our food, we were surprised kasi may complimentary snacks na pala ang Kuya J. 






The meal is good for 2-3 persons and we thought, hindi namin mauubos yung food pero naubos pala namin. And my husband ordered Halo-Halo PHP68 pa kasi 50% off din. 


So far, kada visit ko sa Kuya J, paiba-iba yung menu nila pero sobrang sulit yung 50% off Set Meals.

February 01, 2025

Valentine Coloring Cards

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching so it is time to make cards. Insert card was my favorite project when I started to explore my Cricut Maker. I can no longer count how many insert cards I made over the past few years. 

But now, I am into coloring and converting my insert cards into coloring cards. I started doing this last year when I made my Teacher’s Appreciation Cards and Christmas Cards.

Materials and Tools: 

Cricut Maker 
Cricut Pen Cardstock 
Ohuhu Markers 
Glue 




I am joining the Cricut Philippines Made with Love and Cricut Challenge and submitted the Butterfly and Flower Cards as my entry.  Check my IG Reel. 

A few years ago, I purchased the Butterfly and Flower Card Bundle but if you have a Cricut Access Subscription, these designs are available on Cricut Design Space. I shared them on my profile, just in case you want to recreate them. 

Butterfly and Flower Card Bundle






I made the Valentine Insert Greeting Card last year but now I changed it into coloring cards. 


These two Valentine’s Cards are designed by The Bearded Housewife. It is part of the Made with Love Summit last year. These two are insert cards too but I changed it into coloring cards.


January 23, 2025

Lunch Buffet at NIU by Vikings SM Aura

We’ve been to different travel expos already but this was our first “Great BDO Travel Sale” experience. Actually, I had no plans of going to this event because I knew that I can book online pero nagpasama si hubby and since wala naman ako gagawin, sinamahan ko na. 

While we were waiting for our number to be called, we were busy checking flyers and watching ads on the screen. Then we saw the “30% Off Dining Feast Promo” of BDO. My husband told me na kakain daw kami sa NIU after magpabook. 

"From January 9-12, 2025, 30% off to CIBO, Greyhound Cafe, NIU by Vikings, Paper Moon Cafe, and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Minimum purchase requirements, maximum discount, and qualified cards vary per restaurant."


Funny story, sa bahay pa lang sinasabi na niya sa akin, samahan mo na ko tapos date tayo sa NIU and I told him “Diet nga ko tapos buffet na naman”. Pero after namin magpabook, nagutom talaga ko sa pila so nagbuffet talaga kami kasi sayang ang 30% off. #marupok Hehehe! 

My husband knew na matagal ko ng gustong kumain dito kaso ang layo naman kasi and bihira kami sa SM Aura. Imagine, NIU by Vikings has been around since October 2014 so more than a decade di ba, bago ako nakakain. Well, my husband tried this restaurant for the nth time because of company events or celebrations and always positive ang reviews niya dito.

Anyway, based on my research, I found out that NIU means nine in Old Norse or Old Icelandic Word. NIU has nine different stations serving a variety of dishes that range from Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Mediterranean cuisines. NIU by Viking is located on the highest floor of SM Aura so you feel like you are on a cloud nine. Oh di ba, puro may nine talaga. 

Lunch at NIU by Vikings 

We did not stay long at “The Great BDO Travel Sale” event because we were already hungry so after we booked my husband’s plane ticket, we went straight to NIU by Vikings restaurant. Since I’ve been to other buffet restaurants already, iba nga yung feeling sa NIU by Vikings, parang hotel yung setting.



In less than 5 minutes, the staff put a wristband on our wrists and ushered us to our table. No table number and the staff just wrote our table number on the placemat just in case we wanted to order something. 

When I saw the buffet spread, I felt overwhelmed, ang daming choices and hindi ko nga alam kung saan ako mag-uumpisa. Parang mas marami pa buffet spread nila kaysa sa Seasonal Tastes. Although, mas marami tao sa NIU, so depende sa inyo kung more food or less crowd. 










Overall, sulit ang pagbuffet ko. Naenjoy ko yung tempura station, meat station, and dessert station. Good food and good service. I hope magkapromo ulit para makabalik. 




Check below some of the Viking Group Restaurants that we tried in the past. 


NIU by Vikings Promo 

Celebrants Eat for Free 

Bring 1 full-paying adult on the day of your birthday. Bring 4 full-paying adults on any day within your birthday month. 

Celebrate Big! Up to 30% off. 

Discounts will depend on the day and number of guests. Available Weekday Lunch only. Not valid on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or holidays. 

NIU by Vikings - SM Aura Buffet Rates 

Weekday Lunch 

PHP1,138 - Adult 
PHP438 - Kids 3-4ft/4-7 years old 
PHP748 - Kids 4’1 - 4’6 ft/ 8-10 years old 

Weekday Dinner/Weekend Holidays 

PHP1658 - Adult 
PHP538 - Kids 3-4ft/4-7 years old 
PHP848 - Kids 4’1 - 4’6 ft/ 8-10 years old 

NIU By Vikings 
6/F SM Aura Premier, 
26th Street corner McKinley Parkway, 
Bonifacio Global City 
Contact: 478-3888, 0917-586-6888, 0919-999-6888 

Open Daily 

11AM to 2:30PM 
5:30PM to 10:30PM

January 22, 2025

Lunch Buffet at Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico

 A few months ago, my friend invited me for a lunch get-together and told me na ako na bahala sa venue kasi for sure daw pupunta na ako. Hehehe! It’s been a long time since I attended our org-get-together. Since we did not have any travel plans last Christmas Break, I said yes. 

Eight years ago, I suggested Hogs and Cattle Steakhouse and for our recent get-together, I suggested Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico so we could stay for 3 hours. This buffet restaurant started in 2013 pa, ganun na siya katagal but as usual, kapag nasa probinsiya, hindi natatry agad. Actually, I forgot about this restaurant, naalala ko na lang siya nung nagyaya yung college friend ko nung last get-together. namin.

Since we are a group of 16 people, we needed to make a reservation. I checked their calendar on their website pero walang weekend. Magchange na sana kami ng venue, good thing my friend called the restaurant and was able to reserve. To confirm the reservation, a 50% downpayment is required via instapay or bank deposit. 



Fast forward to our get-together, we left early para iwas traffic but surprisingly, walang traffic so ang aga tuloy namin. Quarter to 11AM, the staff announced na pwede na daw pumasok yung mga may reservation and they opened the buffet table 5 minutes before 11AM. For our group, two separate tables kami. Okay sana kung nasa isang room. 



Anyway, you need to wear a face mask before going to the buffet table and this is a managed buffet pala so kailangan ko pa sabihan na konti lang ang ilagay. Take note of the “Clean Plate Policy” - PHP100 for every 100-gram leftover. 


Late ako sa pagpila so hindi ko nakunan ng maayos yung buffet. My personal favorites sa buffet spread are kare-kare, lechon belly, shrimp, honey glazed ham, and yung dessert station.








My friend paid for our get-together meals but looking at the buffet rate, I can say that it is budget-friendly compared to other buffet restaurants so it is not surprising na marami talaga kumakain. 

Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico 
87 P. Guevarra Street cor Argonne St. 
1500 San Juan, Philippines 
0998 881 3200 
guevarrassales@gmail.com 

Business Hours and Buffet Rate: (Daily) 

Lunch 11AM to 2PM = P879 
Maagang Salu-Salo 5PM to 7PM = P799 
Dinner 7:30PM to 10:30PM = P879 
Weekend Late Lunch 2:30PM to 4:30PM = P799 
Weekend Breakfast 7:30AM to 10AM = P599 

Delivery (Daily) 
9:00am - 6:00pm
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