Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts

November 11, 2025

Meadow at The Villages at LIMA: Where Every Square Meter Holds a Legacy

The idea of “home” is changing—no longer just a structure to live in, but an environment that nurtures purpose and longevity. At Meadow at LIMA Estate, this shift is more than a trend. It’s intentional. Aboitiz Land has created a place where every square meter is designed for legacies to grow.

An Address That Feels Permanent

Unlike developments that promise the future but are still catching up to it, Meadow at LIMA Estate offers a setting that feels established. It stands as the only premium residential village within the 1,500-hectare LIMA Estate—Batangas’ first and only privately-owned industrial estate to evolve into a full-fledged central business district. For families and investors alike, this adds a layer of certainty that many master-planned developments can only hope to emulate.

This sense of permanence stems not only from LIMA Estate’s scale and infrastructure, but also from its intentional evolution. It’s a community built by design, not demand. The positioning of Meadow at LIMA Estate at the heart of this community means homeowners are immediately integrated into a dynamic ecosystem where commerce, education, lifestyle, and leisure already co-exist.

Space That Grows with You

Meadow at LIMA Estate lives up to its name. The lots are larger, the layouts more generous, and the village plan more relaxed. Every decision here supports the idea of spaciousness—not just in the literal sense, but in the way it enables emotional and generational growth.

Larger lot cuts allow homeowners to explore more meaningful home designs. Whether it’s adding a dedicated workspace, multi-generational annexes, or landscaped gardens for quiet family gatherings, Meadow at LIMA Estate encourages expansion—not just in square meters, but in the quality of everyday life. This becomes especially valuable for families thinking beyond their own lifetimes, planning to pass homes down or share space with aging parents or growing children.

Low-density planning adds to this atmosphere. Wide internal roads, pocket parks, and ample setbacks between homes give the community a breathable feel. This promotes privacy while preserving a sense of neighborhood connection—a balance that’s increasingly difficult to find in today’s fast-paced real estate market.

Seamless Connection to Essentials

What sets Meadow at LIMA Estate apart is not just its internal planning but its seamless integration into the daily needs of its residents. LIMA Estate isn’t a far-off promise—it’s already home to major business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, manufacturing firms, academic institutions, lifestyle centers, and more.

Families living in Meadow at LIMA Estate benefit from a routine that’s naturally optimized. Schools, such as De La Salle Lipa and The Outlets at Lipa, are just minutes away. Major commercial areas are close enough to run errands without planning an entire day around them. And with LIMA Exchange, LIMA Park Hotel, and health facilities nearby, wellness and convenience remain within easy reach.

This integration of everyday essentials doesn't just reduce travel time—it increases quality time. Parents can spend more hours with their children, not in traffic. Professionals working within the estate can walk to work or reach offices within minutes. This kind of living reduces friction and improves overall life satisfaction—something more and more homeowners are prioritizing in their search for the right community.

A Green Future Built into the Present

Sustainability is often an afterthought in suburban development. But at Meadow at LIMA Estate, it's a core design principle. The entire LIMA Estate is master-planned with green infrastructure in mind. Aboitiz Land’s approach incorporates tree-lined roads, water management systems, and pedestrian-friendly pathways to promote eco-conscious living.

Residents of Meadow at LIMA Estate aren’t just buying into a home. They’re becoming part of a future-forward vision where the built environment harmonizes with nature. It’s a small but crucial step toward ensuring that comfort and convenience don’t come at the planet’s expense.

Green living is further supported by the generous open spaces and parks that surround Meadow at LIMA Estate. These shared areas invite residents to connect with the outdoors—to walk, jog, bike, or simply take in the view. In a world where digital fatigue is real and fast-paced routines dominate, having a pocket of nature to return to each day can be a game-changer for mental and emotional well-being.

Investment with a Future

For savvy investors, Meadow at LIMA Estate isn’t just a feel-good purchase. It’s a future-proof one. Real estate values within the LIMA Estate have already seen significant appreciation, and as the Central Business District continues to mature, the upside potential grows even further.

The value of proximity to schools, commercial hubs, and employment centers cannot be overstated. In a market where people are actively choosing locations that reduce commute times and elevate lifestyle convenience, Meadow at LIMA Estate hits all the right notes.

Moreover, the reputation of Aboitiz Land adds another layer of security for buyers. Known for developing long-term, thoughtfully designed communities, the company’s track record in other successful residential projects gives confidence that Meadow at LIMA Estate will continue to be nurtured well beyond the initial sale.

Built by a Trusted Name

Aboitiz Land’s presence in LIMA Estate is no accident. The company has long held a reputation for developing communities that offer more than just houses. They create environments that improve lives. Their vecino-centric philosophy ensures that every development considers the people who will live in them—not just as buyers, but as long-term stewards of the space.

This reputation has been earned over decades, with notable developments in Cebu like North Town Homes, Pristina North, and Mahogany Grove. These projects, known for their exclusivity, strategic locations, and long-term value, serve as proof of Aboitiz Land’s ability to transform a location into a legacy.

With Meadow at LIMA Estate, that same care and intentionality is now extended to Lipa. It’s a powerful signal that the estate is poised not just for growth, but for generational impact.

Where Legacy Takes Root

At the end of the day, what sets Meadow at LIMA Estate apart isn’t just infrastructure, investment potential, or even aesthetics. It’s the long view. This is a village designed for people who are thinking beyond quick wins. Those who want to create homes that hold meaning, memories, and milestones for decades to come.

Legacy, after all, isn’t built overnight. It’s cultivated slowly, intentionally, and with care. Meadow at LIMA Estate gives families the space to do exactly that—nurture their stories, shape their surroundings, and leave something meaningful behind.

The true value of Meadow at LIMA Estate isn’t just in the land. It’s in the life that unfolds upon it.
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April 29, 2024

Shopping at Mandaue Foam Las Piñas City

For the last several days, we’re spending most of our time in our new house, parang hindi matapos-tapos yung paglilipat at pag-aayos. Pagod na pagod na yung katawang lupa ko kakapack, unpack at organize pero wala naman ibang gagawa kaya push lang.

This week, back to online classes ulit ang anak ko so I will take advantage of this time to blog habang may stable internet pa kami. After class, maglilipat ulit kami ng gamit. If money is not an issue, parang gusto ko na lang lumipat at bumili na lang lahat ng bago pero masakit na nga sa bulsa yung pagbili namin ng ibang gamit sa bahay. Hehehe! 

Anyway, I mentioned in my other post that we did not buy a bed frame at Uratex Alabang Showroom so we visited the Mandaue Foam Store in Alabang. Feeling ko kasi mas marami mabibili doon kaysa sa Sta. Rosa branch nila. I’m also thankful na meron sila sale during our visit kasi laking tipid din yung 30% off discount. I think the sale is until May 12, 2024 so if you are planning to buy something, visit their store. 




We purchased a sofa set, dining set, bed frame, coffee table, lights, and ironing board. Some of the items that we purchased were not available so it took them two weeks to deliver all the items. We paid PHP3,050 for the delivery fee, ang mahal pero inisip ko na lang, wala naman bayad yung pag-assemble. They just delivered the items yesterday and will return to assemble the dining set, bed frame, and coffee table later. 

Update: Scheduled time is 4-6PM. The installers (two persons) arrived quarter to 6PM and finished around 7:30PM. 






Just like our last visit, they still have complimentary drinks for the client. Hindi ko ito napansin sa Sta. Rosa branch nila, I will check nga on my next visit.

Mandaue Foam Las Piñas City  
487 Alabang Zapote Road 
Brgy. Almanza Uno 
(02) 556 5621 or (02) 556 6086
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April 25, 2024

Shopping at Uratex Alabang Showroom

This month is pretty hectic na hindi ako napipirmi sa bahay sa dami ng alis, kung kailan naman napakainit, na gusto ko lang magkulong sa room. But I’m thankful for the holidays and online classes kasi nakakaalis kami na hindi kailangan magleave ni hubby or mag-absent ng anak ko. 

Today I am taking a break from packing, cleaning, and unpacking our stuff. We’re slowly moving our stuff to our new house, ang ginagawa ko per room so para hindi overwhelming pero nakakapagod pa rin, Malapit ko na matapos yung sa kitchen, ang naiwan na lang dito yung every day na ginagamit pa talaga namin. Ilang rooms pa tatapusin ko, Waah! 

This month, we’ve visited several home and furniture stores, including Uratex Alabang Showroom. How time flies, it is more than a decade na pala since we bought our bed at Mandaue Foam Store. Our present bed is still okay but we no longer want a queen-size bed and we want to try a new type of bed. 

Uratex has been around for 55 years and is one of our go-to brands. In fact, our first bed was from Uratex, if I remember correctly, Uratex Classic yun and wala pa 10k yung Queen size. That bed was still okay pero pinamigay na lang namin kasi we wanted a thicker bed so we bought the Gala Bed Chiropractic at Mandaue Foam.



Uratex Alabang Showroom 

After more than a decade of using our bed, it is time for a change. We visited the Uratex Alabang Showroom so we could personally see and try their beds. They have several bed collections depending on your budget and preference. They have Uratex Classic, Trill Collection, Perfect Serenity Collection, Senso Memory Collection, Orthocare Collection, and Premium Touch Collection. 


They have a designated room where you can try these beds, yung room na meron pampatulog na background music and dim light pa talaga. Bibigyan ka pa ng staff ng pillows para feel na feel mo na talagang matulog. 



There are so many choices but we chose the Premium Touch Collection. Our options are Uratex Premium Touch Viscoluxe Mattress, Uratex Premium Touch Sublime Mattress, and Uratex Premium Touch Cozy Latex Mattress. After trying the 3 beds, we purchased the latter, the price depends on the size of the bed. 

Premium Touch Cozy Latex Mattress Price

Single - PHP26, 899.75 
Double - PHP31,199.75 
Full Double - PHP33,399.75 
Queen - PHP36,599.75 
King - PHP48,399.75 

The Premium Touch Cozy Latex distinctively luxuriates in reassuring comfort, allowing a cool and soothing feeling all day and all night. 

* Made of Smart Reflex® pocket springs that cleverly adjust to the body’s every move. 
* The top layer features natural latex that is naturally elastic and highly resilient adapting to the movement of the body, correcting spinal alignment, and promoting good blood circulation and pressure relief. 
* Uses mattress cover made from Tencel®, a natural cellulosic fiber that regulates moisture and body temperature. 
* Treated with Sanitized® which effectively protects against the growth of bacteria, odor, mildew, and dust mites, keeping the mattress clean and hypoallergenic. 
* Power Edge® support foam provides a supportive seating edge. 
* Trusted and approved by the Philippine Orthopaedic Association. 

We only purchased the bed kasi wala kami na gustuhan na bed frame. The bed is out of stock so we need to wait and it was delivered after 8 days. We only paid PHP340 for the delivery fee, sana all ganyan lang delivery fee, ang mahal kasi sa iba. In addition, they gave us two complimentary pillows. 


Also, may complimentary drinks sila sa showroom so habang naghihintay kami ng turn namin sa cashier, busy kami sa pag-inom. 


We haven’t tried the bed yet but I’m crossing my fingers that we’ve made the right choice kasi ang mahal ng bed ha. Hanggang senior years na itong bed na ito. Hehehe! 

Uratex Alabang Showroom 
Km.23 East Service Rd. 
SSHW Bo.Cupang Muntinlupa 
Contact Number: 09178334195 / 0917 5799284
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April 22, 2022

Hot for the Summer? No Thanks, Stay Chill With These Juice Recipes Instead

Oh sweet, sweet summer. We love it, but don’t we all love to hate it sometimes, too? While there is nothing quite like this season in the Philippines, we all have to admit that it can be pretty challenging sometimes, especially with the scorching heat! 

But why be against it in the first place? We say, start embracing it! There’s definitely no shortage of good things to appreciate during these sweltering months—case in point: fruit shakes and smoothies which seem to just have an extra dash of magic in them when enjoyed during this season. 

Whether you’re planning to stay in and cool down or take a trip to the beach, everything gets so much better when you have a delicious, healthy drink in hand. Need ideas for the best summer drinks that can quench your thirst? Get your juicers and blenders ready for the recipes below.

Coco Twist Smoothie Perfect for A Date in the Park 

Remember those tasty coconut juices peddled by sidewalk vendors every weekend at the park? You can easily recreate those and add an extra twist to them with this Coco Twist Smoothie Recipe infused with mint leaves and real coconut meat! Bananas and mangoes give this healthy shake natural sweetness while the refreshing coconut water ties everything together. 


Ingredients: 

1 cup coconut water 
1 cup coconut meat 
1 piece ripe mango 
2 pieces banana (saba) 
5 pieces pechay 
8 pieces mint leaves 
3 cups ice cubes

Preparation: 

1. Wash the pechay and mint leaves thoroughly. Cut the mango and remove the skin of the banana. 
2. Put all ingredients in the Breville blender jug and process through the smoothie function. 
3. Transfer the smoothie into the glass and serve. 

Tropical Detox Smoothie and Watermelon Lemonade Perfect for A Day at the Beach 

What’s a beach getaway without cradling a refreshing drink in your hand while sunbathing by the sand and waves? The Watermelon Lemonade is the perfect thirst-thirst quencher with its extra fizz while the Tropical Detox Smoothie is ideal for those who want something healthy but delicious still. 


Watermelon Lemonade Ingredients: 

0.5 piece Yellow Watermelon 
1 piece Lemon 
1 cup Soda Water 

Preparation: 

1. Peel the watermelon and lemon. 
2. Process the fruits using the Breville Juicer 

Tropical Detox Smoothie Ingredients: 

236 ml Almond Milk 
236 g Pineapple 
1 cup Camote Tops 
1 piece Banana 
15 g Chia Chaff 

Preparation: 

1. Freeze pineapple chunks and peeled bananas overnight. Chill the almond milk. 
2. Wash the camote tops thoroughly. 
3. Put all ingredients in the Breville blender jug and process through the smoothie function. 
4. Transfer the smoothie into the glass and serve. 

Dalanghita Mojito Mocktail Slush and Quick Quencher Juice Perfect for  Summer House Party 

Who says you need to go out to have fun? The Dalanghita Mojito Mocktail Slush and Quick Quencher Juice will bring the glam of summer to your home with their refreshing flavor profiles! 


Dalanghita Mojito Mocktail Slush Ingredients: 

1 kg Dalanghita 
1 piece Cucumber 
1 pack Mint Leaves 
1 can Soda Water (Schweppes) 
1.5 cup Honey 
1.5 cup Ice Cubes 

Preparation: 

1. Cut dalanghita into half, squeeze in dalanghita directly into the Breville blender through the citrus cone
2. Add the cucumber, mint leaves, honey, ice cubes and sparkling water and process through the smoothie function. 
3. Transfer the drink into a margarita or mojito glass. Garnish with sliced dalanghita and mint leaves. 


Quick Quencher Juice Ingredients: 

0.5 piece Pineapple 
35 g Squash, Local 
1 piece Cucumber 
1 piece Chayote 

Preparation: 

1. Wash all of the ingredients thoroughly. Juice everything and enjoy! 

One Pine Day Juice and Lemony Sweet Juice Perfect for A Casual Hangout with Friends 

Chill and lay back with your friends while sipping on these juices that will chase your thirst away. 


One Pine Day Ingredients: 

2 piece Apple 
3 piece Celery Stalk 
1 piece Lemon 
15 g Herb, Parsley 

Preparation: 

1. Wash all of the ingredients thoroughly and peel the lemon. 
2. Process all of the produce using the Breville Juicer. 
3. Pour it into a glass and serve. 


Lemony Sweet Juice Ingredients: 

2 piece Pear 
1 piece Cucumber 
1 piece Lemon 
3 piece Celery Stalk 

Preparation: 

1. Wash all of the produce thoroughly. Peel the lemon. 
2. Process all of the produce using the Breville Juicer. 
3. Pour it into a glass and serve! 

Of course, it’s always a good idea to enjoy drinks that you make on your own because you can easily customize the ingredients to suit your taste and health goals, too! Fortunately, you can now easily craft your own high-quality drinks with the help of equally top-tier kitchen partners like Breville’s Juicers and Blenders. Breville Philippines’ Kinetix Twist, for example, is a superstar of a blender that can be used to create velvety cocktails and smoother smoothies thanks to its innovative central blades that blend from top to bottom. The Juice Fountain Max, on the other hand, makes whole fruit juicing as easy as 1, 2, 3 with its unique juicing disk. It can even juice whole fruits and can extract up to 30 percent more juice and 70 percent more nutrients according to the National Measurement Institute (2003, 2011). 

Jazz up your summer and beat the heat with these tasty and healthy juices that you can make in a cinch. Looking for more recipe ideas? Visit FoodThinkers by Breville for some fresh inspiration! You can also check out their website to find more about their products or follow their official Facebook and Instagram channels.
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January 03, 2022

Shopping at Mandaue Foam Sta Rosa

Happy New Year! Vacation is already over and today is the first day of school but my mind is still on vacation mode. For the last two months, I’ve been busy with my holiday preparations and end-of-the-year errands so I have less time to blog but this year, I will try my best to finish my backlogs. 

Anyway, I’ll start with our first visit to Mandaue Foam Sta Rosa. I’ve learned that they have a new branch but I thought it is far from us so I was really surprised when I saw this store just in front of the New Sinai MDI Hospital. It just so happened that last October, my mother-in-law was confined in the hospital and my husband dropped by at the cashier to pay bills. So this was my view while waiting at the parking lot. I’m happy that we don’t need to travel to Alabang just to visit Mandaue Foam. 


But since we don’t have the budget for shopping yet so I promised myself that I shall return. Hehehe! After a month, my son has a table appointment project in school so I decided to check Mandaue Foam Sta Rosa and I was glad that they are on sale for up to 30% so I bought some kitchen stuff for our home. The store has two floors and marami rin naman mabibili. Sharing some photos that I took. 









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July 23, 2021

Things to Consider for Your Apartment Hunting

First-timer or not, apartment hunting can be exciting and overwhelming; exciting because it means that we are growing up and moving out from our parent’s house. Overwhelming because it is not easy as we think, there are so many things that we need to consider before renting an apartment. Even experienced renters find it challenging to look for the best deal so I’m sharing some things that might help you in finding your own apartment. 


1. Know Your Budget 

Knowing our budget is very important because it will give us an idea of how much can we afford. Monthly rent is not only the expense, there are some payments that we need to consider before, during, and after renting the apartment. Allot a budget for apartment hunting, processing papers, advanced payments, security deposit, and apartment utilities or amenities. Compute the possible expenses so we will know how much can we pay without breaking the bank. 

2. Location, location, location 

Next to budget is location, it is a very significant factor because it would help us to decide where to start our apartment search. Answer these questions so we have a realistic idea of what kind of neighborhood do we like. 

a) Is it near or far from my office or school?
b) How much will I spend on my transportation? 
c) Is it a safe neighborhood? 
d) Is it accessible to malls, markets, restaurants, hospitals, or other establishments? 

We have to keep in mind that the price of the property varies per location too. Are we looking for an apartment in one of The Most Expensive Cities Around the World to Rent or not? Hong Kong, San Francisco, USA, and New York USA are on the top list.

3. Apartment Preference 

It would be easier for us to find an apartment if we know what are we looking for. There are several types of apartments, the common types are studio, loft, duplex, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments. It varies on the floor plan, style, number of bedrooms, and others. 

4. Research 

Once we know our budget, preferred location, and apartment, it is time for us to do our homework. Looking for a place is quite challenging so it is very important to make some research. Lucky for us because we can do this online, depending on the location, I’m pretty sure there are user-friendly sites where we can do our rental research. 

If you live in the USA, Zumper will help you in finding your own apartment, condo, house, or room for rent by filtering the price range, location, and how many bedrooms do you need. You can discover affordable, expensive, and popular neighborhoods in specific areas like New York. Based on their data, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in New York is $2,700 and the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,900. Does it fit your budget? 

5. Apartment Tour

Researching online is just part of the process, let us not forget to visit the apartment and make our own self-inspections. We need to take pictures and check water pressure, power sockets, cabinets, the presence of mold, and of course, the neighborhood. 

These are just a few things that you can consider in finding your apartment. Don’t rush, take time to do your research, read more reviews, and visit the space at different times of the day or week so you will have a better sense if you want to live there.
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May 18, 2021

Cricut Project: Easy Iron-On Pillowcase

I don’t like COVID-19, but I won’t deny that because of this global pandemic, my love for crafting is back. So aside from blogging and designing, I started exploring different projects that I can do with my Cricut Maker. My husband’s anniversary gift keeps me busy, even though I am stuck at home. The only downside is, it is an expensive hobby because I keep on buying tools and craft materials. 

“My problem isn’t that I buy too many craft supplies; my problem is that I shop faster than I create.”


Anyway, I bought Heat-Transfer Vinyl last year, but I am a little bit scared to start a project because I don’t have Cricut EasyPress 2 yet. The heat press is too expensive for my budget, and I am not sure if it is worth buying since I only do this as a hobby. But when I learned that there is an expiration for vinyl, I immediately started an Iron-On project. 

Last month, spiral artwork was trending, so I tried making this project. I just chose pictures and uploaded them to the Spiral Betty website, downloaded the files, and uploaded them to Cricut Design Space. Good thing that I did not have a hard time cutting and weeding, but since I don’t have Cricut Easypress, I only use a regular iron. My first try was not so successful,l but I still kept it because it is my late sister's memorabilia.

After my first try, I finally ordered Cricut Easypress Mini at Amazon USA so I can do more Iron-On projects. For my second pillowcase project, I used the Stay Home and Summer Time SVG files. My first try was not perfect because I immediately peeled it off, so the design was lifted too, but I’m thankful that the Summer Time turned out okay. I even washed the Summer Time pillowcase, and so far, so good. 

I am still looking for a plain shirt so I can use the Wife, Mom, Boss, and Best Dad Ever SVG files. 



Instructions may vary depending on your materials, but these are the instructions of the Heat Transfer Vinyl that I got from The Happy Station. 

Standard Iron-On Vinyl, Glitter Iron-On Vinyl, Flock Iron-On, and Sunlight Changing Iron-On Vinyl

1. Position the cut vinyl on the item you want to iron it on (with the plastic backing on top).
2. Set your home iron to the maximum heat setting.
3. Using your iron, press down on the vinyl for 20 seconds. Do not move the iron back and forth.
4. Remove iron from the vinyl. Let Cool.
5. Peel off the plastic backing. 

Soft-PU Iron-On Vinyl

1. Position the cut vinyl on the item you want to iron it on (with the plastic backing on top).
2. Set your home iron to the maximum heat setting.
3. Using your iron, press down on the vinyl for 20 seconds. Do not move the iron back and forth.
4. Remove iron from the vinyl, then peel off (hot peel)
5. Peel off the plastic backing. 


But if you are using Cricut EasyPress Mini, here is the guide for the pillow cover 

Preheat Cricut EasyPress Mini to medium 
Place the pillow cover on a clean Cricut EasyPress Mat 
Preheat the pillow cover for 5 seconds 
Place the Iron-On protective sheet over the iron-on 
Press while moving with firm pressure at a medium setting for 5 seconds 
Flip the pillow cover over and press for 5 seconds 
Slowly remove the liner when cool to touch. 
Allow 24 hours after application before washing 
Wash and tumble dry inside out 
Do not bleach.
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March 28, 2021

Is it a Smart or Dumb Decision to Buy a New House During Pandemic?

One year had passed already since the global pandemic happened and until now, I don’t know when this will end. This COVID19 has dramatically affected our everyday lives and it gradually changes our perspective. We’ve been stuck at home 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, our humble abode became a school and workplace at the same time. 

We are living in our townhouse for the past decade and I can definitely say, we are completely satisfied with our present residence. We are just a family of three so we don’t need a huge one. Reminiscing our normal lives, my husband used to travel a lot because of work and my son spent more hours in school so, during the day, the house feels empty. I thought that our tiny house is enough for us so buying a new property is not a priority.


We have no idea that this virus will change the way we see our own home. After being confined in the four corners of our shelter for the last several months, it made us rethink the kind of house that we want to live in. All of a sudden we realized that we need a bigger space and we want to have our own quiet corner for school and work.

Thinking back on the preCOVID19 days, we just wanted to renovate some part of our house but during the pandemic, we let go of the idea of home improvement. Instead of renovating the house, we started dreaming of a new dwelling place. It is easy to say “we want to buy a new house” but with our present situation right now, we had second thoughts. 

We even read one article in Bloomberg “A Pandemic is a Terrible Time to Buy Real Estate” so there are so many questions in our head. Is this the best time for house-hunting? Is it a wise decision to invest in property during a global pandemic? Can we afford to buy a new home? Should we wait after the pandemic? 

Investing in a new property is never an easy decision especially now that we are dealing with uncertainties. We know that foods, drinks, health, and job security are more important than buying a property but our desire to move to a more comfortable home is also important. We weigh the pros and cons, we think the worst-case scenarios and we used a mortgage calculator to make sure that we can afford to pay for our property. 

After contemplating for one month, we finally bit the bullet and we invested in a new property last year. Buying a new house in the midst of a global pandemic is either a smart or dumb decision that we’ve made but there is no harm in taking a risk again. Thirteen years ago, during the financial crisis, we also invested in our present home. During that time, it was a big risk because I just recently resigned from my work, and living on a single income while paying rent and mortgage is a challenge. But looking back, it was the best decision that we made because we are no longer renting. 

Now, we took a big leap and bought a new property. You may be wondering why we did it? Well, after being trapped in our home for several months, we accepted the fact that COVID19 is not an easy battle. And because of this, I’m pretty sure that we need to stay in our house for the next few months. No travel trips for us but we can use the money to invest in property while the amortization rate is low. Even after the pandemic, we already prepared ourselves that we may not have any travel trips because we have our new priority. Nevertheless, we can’t wait to move to a bigger house so we have more space to move around even there is a lockdown. 


"Don't wait to buy real estate, buy real estate and wait" T. Harv Eker

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March 23, 2021

Cricut Project: DIY Vinyl Decals for Our Trolley Cart

My husband gifted me a Cricut Maker last June but I rarely use it so this year, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to explore my cutting machine and create more Cricut Projects. I already bought a lot of crafting materials so I have to make time and use it because they are not cheap. I’m proud to say that I’ve done a lot of projects already and I guess before the end of the year, lahat ng parte ng bahay namin may label na. Hehehe! 

“I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies” 


We live in a small house so obviously, our kitchen is small hence we have very limited storage space for groceries and kitchen stuff. I can’t wait to move to our new home so we will have more space pero matagal pa yun. Hehehe! For now, I have to organize the clutter inside our home so I bought storage boxes and a trolley. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that my happy place is IKEA and I try my best to visit their stores if ever we will go to another country. I failed to do this when we went to Sweden, kung saan pa talaga nagsimula ang IKEA hindi ko pa napuntahan. Then our Taiwan trip was canceled last year because of the pandemic so wala na naman IKEA trip. 

I love buying organizing stuff in IKEA because they are budget-friendly and there are so many uses just like the IKEA Raskog cart that I bought in Singapore. I know that there are stores selling this kaso ang mahal plus shipping fee. I’m happy that I discovered Shopee and Lazada last year so I found this trolley that is quite similar to the IKEA trolley cart. It is so easy to assemble, my son is the one who assembled this. 



Since the start of pandemic kasi, my husband only goes to the grocery once a month so maramihan na bili and yung mga boxes nakatambak na sa stairs namin since hindi naman kasya sa kitchen cabinet namin. So I bought a trolley cart to store our juice, softdrinks, milk, and chocolate drinks. I put labels so my son will know where to put them, minsan inuutusan ko siya na mag-organize ng groceries kasi. It is just a simple project but I’m glad nawala na yung tambak na boxes sa stairs and they have their own space na.


I love trolley because there are so many smart ways to use this, you can use it to store your groceries, fruits and vegetables, crafting materials, school supplies, baby stuff, and many more. There are wheels so you can move this around without effort, I’m planning to buy another one for my craft supplies. You can buy the trolley here or here. 



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March 15, 2021

Cricut Project: DIY Vinyl Decals for Fridge Bottles

Time swiftly passed by and today is our first year anniversary since Community Quarantine has started. I can still count on my fingers how many times I went out of the house and so far I’m not yet crazy, thanks to Netflix, Shopee, Lazada, and crafting. 

Since the start of the year, I’ve been doing a lot of projects, I already shared some of my home pandemic projects like making photobooks, photo tiles, and canvas air, organizing my printed photos, and getting rid of my paper clutter. 

Now let me share my DIY vinyl decals for our fridge bottles. For the past few years, I’ve been replacing our water plastic bottles with a glass; we are using IKEA Vardagen Carafe Glass Water Bottle and I planned to buy IKEA Korken Glass Bottle to replace our small plastic bottles. Unfortunately, IKEA Philippines is not yet open and there is a travel ban so we can’t visit IKEA. 


I can’t remember where I bought these small plastic bottles, kung sa baking supply store ba or sa party supply store. All I can remember is, I bought these bottles per pack, 6 pieces in one box, more or less PHP200 per pack. We’ve been using these bottles as water bottles and to store our leftover drinks. 


Water bottles para kung ayaw mo maghugas ng baso at magrefill ng pitcher, you will get the small bottle. If I prepare juice in advance, I will put them in these bottles, one bottle per person. What nice about this, you can bring it in your work station or study table na hindi ka natatakot na baka masangga at matapon kasi may cover siya. Iwas sa alikabok din because you can cover the bottle after you drink. Sometimes we bring them when we have road trip din, we just put them in a cooler. 

As I’ve said before, I also used this to store our leftover drinks para hindi masikip sa fridge. For example, if we open juice, milk, chocolate drinks, or softdrinks, instead of putting the tetra pack or big bottle. we transfer it to small bottles to save space. If ever we have leftover coffee or tea na ayaw na namin inumin, we transfer it to a small bottle before putting it inside the fridge.


I still have 3 plastic bottles left that I haven’t used but I decided not to use them anymore and buy glass bottles instead. Luckily, I discovered these square juice glass bottles when I bought my herbs and spices jars. I was nervous because I will order it online, yung IKEA bottles nga sa hand-carry luggage namin nilagay para iwas basag. But I was glad that all the jars and bottles that I’ve ordered arrived in good condition. 



I already have a Cricut Maker so I made my own vinyl decals, I used frosted white glitter, matte, and glossy black vinyl stickers. I have a lot of fonts but I always end up with Butter and Garlic Font, favorite ko na siya. Hehehe! This was my project last January, hindi ko lang mashare kasi hindi ko naman nakukumpleto yung 12 bottles na may laman, most of the time 5-6 bottles lang nasa fridge namin but for this blog post sake, nilagyan ko lahat sila ng laman. hehehe!




Note: You can also use these bottles to store your herbs, spices, and condiments.


P.S. I have Blue Mason Jars din but it is too bulky so I'm happy that I found these glass bottles. 

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March 11, 2021

How to Get Rid of Your Paper Clutter

Do you like keeping receipts, bank statements, bills, invitations, gift tags, and other paper stuff? Maybe your wallet is so thick because of receipts. Maybe your fridge or desk is full of bills to pay. Or maybe you don’t realize that your storages are full of paper clutter. Well, you are not alone because I tend to commit this mistake. 


Paper stuff tends to accumulate if we do not do something about it so it is very important to let go of the things that won’t serve us anymore. Sharing some tips on how to get rid of your paper clutter. 

1. Go Paperless 

We live in a digital age so the paper bill is already a thing in the past. It’s been several years already since I slowly shifted to paperless billing, it started in the year 2013 when I received our internet bill with PHP25 additional charge. Yes, we need to pay PHP25 for our Globe internet paper bill so we immediately signed up for electronic billing. Since then we started enrolling other bills too if there is an option, as of this writing we only receive water and electric paper bill. 


I don’t know why Meralco is still sending us paper bills when I already enrolled in paperless billing. With regard to our water bill, after few months of community quarantine, we started receiving text messages and we have an option to view our bill online but they still send a paper bill. For the bank statement, I unsubscribed so I no longer received my quarterly Statement of Account. 


2. Reuse, Recycle or Repurpose your Paper 

My husband has a lot of paper works so I always reuse, recycle or repurpose those papers. I used those papers to print my son’s worksheets or mock reviewers. And because of community quarantine, online distance learning na so my son use those papers to print his lessons. He rarely uses his notebooks and he just prints the slides because, during exam days, he won’t be able to access the online lessons. I don’t buy notepad because I take home the complimentary notepad at the hotel or resort where we stayed. I also make my own scratchpad or notebooks. 


3. Purge your Bills, Bank Statement, Expired Warranty Card or Any Personal Documents 

I’m guilty of this because I always keep receipts, bank statements, and bills because I feel that they are important proof that I’m paid. And in case that I need to complain about my credit card bill, I have my credit card slip. I’m supposed to throw receipts monthly but I always end up throwing them quarterly or at the end of the year. 

I have no problem with receipts because I really throw this away. This year, I finally let go of my old bills, receipts (for warranty), bank statement, expired warranty card, and other personal stuff that I was keeping for a very long time because in my mind “I can’t throw them”. They have their own storage so it did not bother me at all, hindi naman makalat. Second, I feel lazy throwing those personal documents because I don’t just throw them away, I use a pentel pen to erase personal information or I cut those papers. Iisipin ko pa lang nakakapagod na. Lol 

Solution? I finally bought a paper shredder, I’ve been meaning to have this at home but it is too expensive but I found a cheaper version, a manual shredder. You can buy this at Shopee or Lazada but I personally bought my A4 Manual Shredder here. My son helped me with shredding but it took us several hours and we had a garbage bag full of paper trimmings. I did not throw it because my husband used it for our mini garden. 

Note: There are some documents that we need to keep forever, some documents that we need to keep for several years, and some documents that we need to shred or toss. 

4. Let Go Your Newspapers or Magazines 

Newspapers are not my problem because I don’t buy this but I have a few collections of magazines like Yummy, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Ok! and travel magazines. But I finally let go of them except for my travel magazines because I no longer read them and I'm pretty sure, they are already available online. 

5. Donate your Books

When my son was in his toddler years, I always buy books to keep him busy. Suki ako ng Booksale and  nagpamember pa ko sa isang company so I can buy books at a discounted price. But when my son hit grade school years, I gave away his books and even his preschool books. 

But I'm not sure if they are using the books so two years ago, I went to SM department store to donate my son's book in exchange for shopping coupons. I planned to donate my son's book last year but COVID19 happened. 


How about you? Do you have a pile of papers? 
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