February 25, 2013

Breakfast at Bag of Beans





Pina Colina Resort has no complimentary breakfast but they have breakfast meal at P150. We decided to eat somewhere else so after check-out we went straight to Bag of Beans. They have two branches and the nearest one from Pina Colina Resort is in Olivarez. It is small compared to the original branch. It was Monday so there were few customers.

first customers kami
This was our second time in Bag of Beans, yung first time almost three years ago na. hehe! Read the story here, why it took us so long to try this restaurant again. We ordered Funny Face Buttermilk P130, Pork Tapa P220, Chicken and Pork Adobo P220, Hot Chocolate P115 and Café Mocha P120.






They have big servings but the taste of food is just ok. We disliked the drinks, café mocha is too bitter and hot chocolate is too sweet. Considering the amount of money we spent for this breakfast, I had this feeling na sana nag fastfood na lang kami. #overrated yata ang mga reviews na nababasa ko. Well, it is just my opinion. But we bought raisins bread P140 (small) again.



Related Post: Bag of Beans 2010

 Bag of Beans
Pinoy Toppings
Silang Crossing East Tagaytay City
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February 21, 2013

Staycation at Pińa Colina Resort




As I mentioned in my other post, we don’t have travel plans this year and no definite plans where to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Last week my son was not feeling well so we’re not really planning for our celebration, we just decided to eat somewhere.

Sunday came and my husband decided to celebrate, he wanted to go to Batangas but we can’t go there because my son has class and he can’t afford to be absent again because final exam is near. I know that he missed a lot of lessons during his five days of absences.

After breakfast, I was still scouting where to spend our wedding anniversary somewhere near, either Tagaytay or Alabang. We ended up with Pina Colina Resort; most of the rooms were fully booked so we have no choice but to book the remaining room which is Premier Studio. I packed our things and off we went to Tagaytay. On our way to Pina Colina Resort, we had quick lunch in Balinsasayaw.


I must agree that Pina Colina Resort is your affordable Tagaytay Hideaway because the rate is affordable especially if you are in group. You can stay here for your team building, family reunion or wedding event. The resort is still under construction due to expansion but as of now they have swimming pool, Jacuzzi and playground.

Excuse po sa nagkalat na socks and shoes ng aking anak
small bathroom
We reached PCR past 2PM; we left our bags and immediately went to swimming pool. I can’t remember the last time we swim so my son really missed swimming.




 After being stuck at home for almost a week, he missed the outside world so he played.

They have restaurant there so we just ordered bulalo for our dinner.

We checked-out early because we need to be in school by 10:30am. Overall, we enjoyed our short weekend getaway.

Good morning Tagaytay!
Pro’s

1. Affordable rate.
2. Big room with dining table and kitchen.
3. They have a mini sari-sari store where you can buy drinks and snacks at a reasonable price.
4. You can bring food and drinks without a corkage fee.

Con’s

1. Bed and pillows aren’t soft so better bring your own pillow.
2. No towels and free toiletries.
3. No telephones and wi-fi. My husband went to the restaurant to order our food.

How to get to Pina Colina Resort:

1. From SLEX, take the Sta. Rosa exit. Turn right after the toll booths going to Tagaytay.
2. After 20 - 25 minutes, along Sta. Rosa - Tagaytay Highway, slow down after you pass Ming's Garden on the right side of the road. Drive for about 350 meters more.
3. When you see the big, green Tagaytay Haven Hotel signage, turn right on the road just before the signage. There is a blue & yellow waiting shed on the corner.
4. After turning right on this road (Ulat road), go straight until you hit a road on the left. Turn left on this road. It's an uphill climb going to Piña Colina resort which is on the left side.

Piña Colina Resort
Tolentino-Ulat Road, Brgy. Francisco, Tagaytay City
Email: pinacolina09@gmail.com
Contacts: 0927.576.5455 / 0917.577.0277 / 788.9500 0922.882.4713 / 0932.888.2757
                        0939.910.6260 - Office Hours: 8am - 8pm
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February 20, 2013

Lunch at Balinsasayaw

Whenever we go to Tagaytay we always passed by this Balinsasayaw restaurant and parking is always full. We’re really curious why there are so many diners who visit this place because looking at the façade, it is not inviting. Out of curiosity, we visited this place to have our lunch before going to Pina Colina Resort.


I was surprised to see the entrance, hindi kasi siya kita sa labas. The parking is spacious, restaurant is big, ambiance is good and they have souvenir shop too.



Since it was lunch time all nipa huts were occupied so we settled in their main dining area. They have balinsasayaw and bilao packages good for big family and barkada but since we’re only three we ordered set meals, grilled liempo P89, grilled chicken P89, sinigang na salmon P285 and banana split P165.




The food and service are just ok. Price is very reasonable. The only problem with this restaurant is we need to shoo the fly while eating.

Balinsasayaw
Address: Emilio Aguinaldo Hwy, Silang, Cavite
Phone:(046) 865 3244

I guess they have branch in Coron, Palawan, 
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February 19, 2013

Lunch at Chicken Deli

Chicken Deli is one of the newest restaurants in SM Sta. Rosa, and we tried it last Saturday. We ordered the sulit meals, which are good for two, and an additional order of chicken. This is really sulit meals because you can eat kare-kare for only P159, with free soup and rice all you can. You can have drinks for an additional P10. We like the kare-kare but not the chicken. 


Update: June 27, 2015 

 After two years, we revisited the Chicken Deli restaurant in SM Sta. Rosa. It was time for lunch, so most of the restaurants and fastfood were crowded, and good thing Chicken Deli was not yet packed. 

They still offer a meal that is good for two persons, plus free soup and unlimited rice. We ordered the Liempo P209 and BBQ meal for my son. The price is affordable, and the taste is just okay.
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February 16, 2013

2nd year Blogversary

Now, I’m celebrating my 2nd blogversary! I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for two years already. Even though my time is limited these days, I’m still trying to update this blog. Thank you to all my readers who continue to read and comment on my posts—it truly means a lot.

In these two years, I’ve gained new ideas, met online friends, and learned valuable lessons through blogging. I’d like to share some of my experiences and insights with you.

1. Handling Negative Feedback

If you remember my very controversial Cebu’s Lechon post, that was the first time I received negative comments after six months of blogging. It affected me at first, but I’m grateful for the feedback because it enlightened me. I realized that, even if you’re just sharing your honest opinion, negative comments are inevitable in the blogosphere—and that’s okay.

2. Attending Blogging Events

Last year, I attended the “Healthier Moms, Happier Kids” event—the first blogging event I ever joined because it happened on a weekend. I felt out of place because I didn’t know anyone there, and most attendees were talking about events they had attended or planned to attend. I couldn’t relate, and it seemed like they had known each other for years.

I rarely receive invites, and I usually decline them. I’m not fond of attending events because most are in NCR, scheduled on weekdays, and just aren’t my thing. I realized that attending blogging events isn’t my priority—I started this blog to share my family’s story, not to cover events. Don’t get me wrong: if a great event comes along and I have spare time, I’ll gladly attend. But as a full-time mom without a yaya, it’s nearly impossible for me to enjoy events the way others do.

3. Lessons from Giveaways

Last August, I hosted a Favordeal jewelry giveaway. After researching the site, I saw I wasn’t the only blogger invited, and it seemed legit, so I agreed. However, after the giveaway ended, the organizer stopped replying to my messages, even after I sent the winners’ names and chosen prizes.

It took them a month to ship the prizes. Last month, one winner emailed me saying, “kulang ang nareceive niya.” I contacted my organizer again, but I still haven’t received a reply. I sincerely apologize to the winner who received incomplete prizes—I understand her frustration because I’ve experienced similar disappointments, having won two giveaways and never received my prizes.

This experience made me hesitant to host giveaways, and I declined two more offers afterward. But I realized not all companies are the same; I just need to ensure they are professional and reliable. My last giveaway went smoothly—once I sent the winners’ details, Abbey immediately delivered the ebook. The lesson here: “Don’t be too trusting, but don’t give up either.”

4. My Favorite Blogging Quote

I’ll leave you with my favorite blogging quote, which I shared in my post “Why I Love Being a Mom and Blogger”:

"Don’t live to blog or blog to live, but live, then blog."

Thank you again for taking the time to read my post. I hope you continue to stay and follow along on my blogging journey!

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February 12, 2013

Dinner at Café Lulu Restaurant and Deli

On our way home from Max’s EDSA Caloocan, my husband suggested eating at Café Lulu Restaurant and Deli for our early dinner. It is located in Bangkal, Makati City, right side going to SLEX. It is just a small modest restaurant.



Café Lulu serves European dishes so when we’re browsing the menu we can’t decide which food to order because it’s hard to read and pronounce the dishes. Hehe! We just ordered the dishes that we know, Frankfurter Sausage, Tomato Pesto Pasta and Chicken Fingers. I forgot the exact price but it is neither cheap nor expensive.


I love the place because it is not crowded and we’re the only customers inside the restaurant. The service is ok and the food is also good. 


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February 08, 2013

Book Review: To Bliss and Back E-Book Review


I love reading inspirational books so when Abbey offered me to read an ebook; I did not have any second thought because this ebook is the real-life story of bloggers. The first sets of books of Life Well Blogged are No Laughing Allowed, To Bliss and Back, and Holly Daze: and I chose “To Bliss and Back”.

I started reading this ebook without any expectations but I was hooked immediately and this is the reason why I have fewer posts on my blog because I’m busy laughing and reading this ebook.

I love this ebook because it is a real confession story of different bloggers, both men, and women. These bloggers are brave enough to share real-life experiences that can inspire readers. Stories that you can relate because they really happen in any couple and even single mom. It shows that you are not alone and there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, a perfect husband, and a perfect wife. Marriage is indeed a process; don’t expect that you will stay on the honeymoon stage because there are ups and downs. Be prepared because there are a lot of things that you will discover along the way.  

This ebook will not only make you laugh but there are marriage tips that may help you. I will be sharing some points or lines that I like.

1. Communication is really important but expects for communication breakdown and selective listening.

 “Some days it’s difficult to communicate effectively when so much is being said and left unsaid”


2. Things that you should teach your son “how to be a perfect man”.

“Put your family first. Making lots of money is great, being non-existent because of it, isn’t. Every day is precious. If you knew this was your last day on earth, would you work till 7PM? Would you really stop for drinks on the way home? Would you really just get your kids every other weekend like the court papers say? Or would you come home and wrap yourself up like a pretzel around the ones you love? Any old man will tell you the truth. Ask one what he regrets”

3. Learn to resurface.

 “Take some time off, take it, find time and make it happen”


 “Let him help you.”

“To the husband - Don’t forget her. Don’t give up on her. She is worth it. Remember her.”


There are more lessons and tips that you can learn by reading this ebook. This is not only for married couples, whether you are single, dating, engaged, or divorced I’m pretty sure that you will enjoy the stories.

You can buy this ebook on Amazon, click here or you can join my giveaway and have a chance to win a copy of “To Bliss and Back” ebook. Ebook for Kindle or Nook but it can be read on computers as well. I don’t have Kindle and Nook and I was able to read the copy (bookmark it).

Enter all your entries in rafflecopter. This giveaway is open worldwide and will end on February 8, 2012. Michi Photostory is not compensated to host this giveaway and will not be responsible for sending the prize. Ebook will be sent by Life Well Blogged directly to the winner of the contest.

 Don't forget to leave your name, Facebook name, Twitter name, and email address in the comment box. 

 Congratulations Mckay Sarte Cielo

 a Rafflecopter giveaway
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January 28, 2013

Blue Bunny Ice Cream


I never knew about Blue Bunny Ice Cream till I became S&R member.  I always see this in S&R fridge but I was having second thought if I will try it or not since I’m not familiar with the brand. Well, Blue Bunny is an international brand of ice cream. It is made in Le Mars, Iowa which is known as “The Ice Cream Capital of the World”. This ice cream is cheaper compared to other international brand of ice cream but it is still expensive if we compared it to our local brand.

Last month, we bought Blue Bunny Premium Pistachio Almond; it was on sale for P259.95. My husband loves this, for me the taste is just ok and my son dislikes it.

Photo from bluebunny.com


Then last Saturday we tried new flavor which is Ice Cream Cookie Creations White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. It is a little bit sweet but it was an instant hit to our family. You can really taste the chunk of white chocolate and macadamia nut cookie.

Photo from bluebunny.com

It is now my goal to try other Blue Bunny ice cream if it is on sale.  


Update: March 4, 2013

We bought Blue Bunny Toasted Almond Fudge last weekend; it was on sale because of the Early Bird Member’s Treat. Among the three, this is now my favorite flavor so far. I love the creamy taste of chocolate ice cream plus the crunchy toasted almond. But my husband prefers pistachio. 

photo from bluebunny.com



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January 22, 2013

Things to Consider When Planning an Itinerary

Travel itinerary is something personal because you have to plan and decide according to your preference, lifestyle, and budget. We always travel as a family so expect that our trip is kids-friendly. I’m not a shopaholic so shopping is not included in my itinerary. I am a budget traveler so most of the time we stayed in a hostel and guesthouses but there are times that we splurged too and try high-end resorts and hotels.


Planning an itinerary is not easy especially if you have limited time but let me share with you the things that I consider when I’m planning our itinerary. Every time I plan an itinerary. I have to consider seven things; Place, Days, Budget, Tourist Spots, Accommodation, Directions, and Weather.

Things to Consider When Planning an Itinerary

1. Destination 

Of course, I have to know which place we are going. Is it a domestic or international trip? If budget is not a problem, booking a private jet could be an option to take us to our destination in style. Plus, making use of a resource like this page about jet card pricing could help me to save money on the cost of this so that I could put it towards more luxury flights in the future. But the reality is that, more often than not, I am on a pretty strict budget so I have to check lots of different airlines where we can score cheap airfare to get us from A to B. 

Do we need a visa or not? If we need a visa, I need to prepare all the required requirements and schedule an appointment at the embassy or accredited travel agency. 

What is the location of the place? Is there a possibility that we can do some side trips? 

Example:

Hongkong – Macau,
CDO – Camiguin,
Bacolod, Iloilo, and Guimaras
Singapore - Malaysia
Oslo - Copenhagen and Sweden

2. Number of Days 

It is very important to know how many days I have to enjoy the place because if I have limited time I can’t do side trips and I will just stick to one place just like our Kota Kinabalu and Cebu trip. I have very limited time so no side trip in Brunei and no side trip in Bohol.

3. Budget 

As a budget traveler, as much as possible I do stick to a budget. I try my best to save at the same time enjoy our trips. I have to note if one tourist spot has no entrance fee or how much is the entrance fee. If there are special passes or tickets that we can avail so we can save money on exploring the city or visit different attractions at a fraction cost. 

4. Tourist Spots

I always list down popular destinations, attractions, and even must-try restaurants then I will choose. For example in Hongkong, here are the popular tourist spots that I can visit.

a. Disneyland
b. Ocean Park
c. Avenue of Stars
d. The Peak
e. Tsim Sha Tsui (Harbour City)
f. Mongkok Markets
g. Causeway Bay
h. Snoopy World
i. Stanley
f. Wax Museum
g. Other Museums
h. Nanlian Garden & Chilin Nunnery
i. Sky100

Since I only have four days to enjoy Hongkong, I chose Disneyland, Ngong Ping Village, Avenues of Stars, The Peak, HarbourCity, Nan Lian Garden, and Chi Lin Nunnery. Then I will decide which tourist spot is for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and so forth.

Day 1: 1881 Heritage, Clock Tower, Avenue of Stars, and The Peak
Day 2: Nan Lian Garden, Ngong Ping Village and CityGate Outlet.
Day 3: Hongkong Disneyland
Day 4: Hongkong Disneyland

5. Accommodation 

Depending on my budget, I will look for a hostel, hotel, or guesthouse. I have to consider the location of the accommodation. As much as possible, I chose a hotel that is accessible to different transportation so commuting won't be a problem. Since hotel foods are expensive, it is important that there are restaurants or fastfoods in the area.

Example: 

Yiu Fai Guesthouse – I chose this because it is walking distance from 1881 Heritage, Clock Tower Avenue of Stars, and MTR. It is near MTR so it is not difficult to go to Nan Lian Garden and Ngong Ping Village. Lastly, it is affordable too.

Hollywood Hotel – though this is expensive, we still reserve a room for experience and proximity to Hongkong Disneyland Resort.

 6. Directions 

I search for maps so I know how can I go to a guesthouse, hotel, tourist spots, and others. What is the cheaper way to get there, MTR, Taxi or hire a car or van?

7. Weather

Of course, don't forget to check the weather, is it winter, spring, summer or fall. You have to pack the right clothes and gear that you need to survive the weather during your trip. Don't forget to pack vitamins, medicines, and even a first aid kit.

Hope this helps. It may be an arduous task but I do encourage you to make your own itinerary and you will feel proud of yourself. "A little step may be the beginning of a great journey"
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January 21, 2013

Food Trip in Macau

I don’t have any list of must-try restaurants in Macau; all I wanted was to taste their Lechon Macau, so we ate whenever and wherever we wanted. During our first night, my husband bought food here.


On the second day, we had breakfast at McDonald's, and we took advantage of the free taste on our way to the Ruins of St. Paul.


We tried the famous Portuguese egg tart at Pastelaria Koi Kei. We were already full, so we just bought dumplings here for our lunch and went back to the hotel.

For dinner, we went to New Yaohan Mall to find the food court so I could taste Lechon Macau, but we couldn't find it, so we ended up at 7-11. They have rice meals which we like, so the following morning, hubby bought rice meals in 7-11 for our breakfast. 7-11 is a few minutes’ walk from Hotel Sintra.



I finally tasted Lechon Macau in Venetian Hotel Fastfood.


We bought Portuguese egg tarts again, but this time in Lord’s Stow Bakery and Café. I have no idea that Lord Stow’s egg tarts have been available in the Philippines since 1999. They have branches in Madison Square, Banawe, and MOA. 


For dinner, we ate at the airport. Macau International Airport is not that big, so if you’re planning for a Hong Kong and Macau trip, book Philippines to Macau and Hong Kong to Philippines because HKIA is big; there are so many restaurants and shops, so you will not get bored while waiting for your flight.

Note: Hong Kong Dollar is widely accepted in Macau, so we did not exchange our money to MOP. 1HKD = 1MOP
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January 18, 2013

Day 6: Macau Hotel Hopping


This was our last day in Macau so we still woke up early to finish our itinerary. After our breakfast we went to Grand Lisboa Hotel and Wynn Hotel, we were supposed to watch Prosperity Show and Dragon Show but unfortunately, it was under maintenance. 

 Imagine we’ve been in Macau for three days already and natapat pa sa Maintenance Schedule yung pagpunta namin. I don’t know the schedule of maintenance; if I knew it we will visit this on our first night or second day. Waah! Sayang, there is no entrance fee for this show. Pinoy Security Guard told me,

SG: Ma’m balik na lang kayo.
Me: Uwi na kami mamaya.
SG: Balik na lang kayo sa Christmas.

If I’m rich, I will definitely go back. hehe! So we went back to Grand Lisboa to ride the free shuttle going to Macau Ferry Terminal.

Next stop is Fisherman’s Wharf, which is walking distance from the Ferry Terminal.


Then we went back to Hotel Sintra for check-out. You can leave your baggage after check-out but we did not leave our baggage because we know that other hotels have their own storage area. We took advantage of the free shuttle bus from Hotel Sintra to City of Dreams.
City of Dreams

We left our baggage in City of Dreams’ cloak room and watched Bubble Show, this show is not free. MOP50 for adults and MOP25 for kids.

Venetian Hotel

We were hungry already so we picked up our luggage and transferred to Venetian Hotel. Again, we took the free shuttle bus from the City of Dreams to Venetian Hotel. Finally, I was able to taste Lechon Macau.

Venetian is quite big and sometimes we feel that we’re lost, good thing that there were so many Pinoy working in Macau, so may napagtatanungan kami. Pinoy Hotel Staff even gave a Venetian Hotel Map and assisted us in transferring our luggage from one storage room to main lobby storage room.

From the main lobby, we took a free shuttle bus again to reach the Macau International Airport. We did not spend a single centavo on transportation. Thank God for the free shuttle bus. 


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