May 08, 2012

Most Fashionable Places in London

London is absolutely brimming with attractions, including theatres, museums, galleries, and many beautiful parks and gardens –  but where are the best places to go to experience the height of fashion and indulge in some retail therapy? Here are just a few suggestions.
Covent Garden

Situated in the heart of ‘Theatreland’, the historic Covent Garden market dates back hundreds of years and houses the world-renowned Royal Opera House. Today, its quaint cobbled walkways, charming piazza, and Grecian-style buildings are home to a delightful indoor market selling hand-crafted goods, homemade preserves and fashion accessories for women. There is a huge choice of cafés and restaurants around the piazza, and street performance artists are often seen entertaining onlookers with their wild antics.


Camden Town

Camden, in North London, is the capital’s hub of alternative culture: markets and shops are buzzing with visitors no matter what the season and the area’s numerous boutiques and indoor stalls are never short of weird and wonderful clothing – it’s the place to be for anyone into the punk or goth scenes, who will find leather, studs and rock paraphernalia in abundance.


The King’s Road

For the ultimate high-end shopping experience, a visit to the King’s Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not to be missed. Stretching from Sloane Square and running through Fulham, the road is famous for its fashion scene, largely thanks to legendary designers Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant. Boutiques, designer fashion houses, and the occasional French-style patisserie are staples in this highly affluent area, surrounded by Georgian and Victorian mansions.


Spitalfields and Brick Lane

Famous for its thriving silk markets, fresh fruit and vegetable produce in the 1600s, and later disused but since regenerated; Spitalfields is one of London’s most trendy areas. An Aladdin’s cave of history, the area is the best place to go for arts and crafts, vintage clothing, and independent boutiques. For a delicious post-shopping meal, visit nearby Brick Lane for some of London’s most mouth-watering curry houses.

If you’re planning on visiting London’s most fashionable districts for some well-deserved retail therapy, an American Express Gold Card or Platinum Card is the ideal shopping companion. You can earn reward points on virtually all your purchases, and take advantage of exclusive membership benefits.
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May 07, 2012

Live the High Life With Luxury Ski Packages

Sometimes in life good just isn’t good enough and only the very best will do. For times that call for an extra special holiday luxury ski packages is a fantastic choice. There are several options to turn your skiing holiday into a luxurious experience, including:

Book a Luxury Hotel

 When considering skiing holidays Europe has some of the best ski resorts in the world to offer. Why not choose a luxury hotel in Andorra or the Alps, to ensure that you’ll be skiing in style.

 The five star Sporthotel Hermitage hotel in Andorra is an incredibly luxurious example and is sure to make you feel like snow queens and snow kings for the duration of your stay.

 You’ll enjoy a sumptuous interior, three-course evening meals, a lounge with fireplace and free room service, and all that is just for starters. This all-suite hotel has beautiful rooms with satellite TV, balcony and spa baths as standard.

 Those who love their whirlpool baths will be even happier to learn that this hotel has an impressive five-floor spa offering spa baths with panoramic mountain views, several pools, heat experience rooms and a wide range of treatments.

 Upgrade to a Super Service Chalet


Neilson Holidays offers super service upgrades on selected catered chalet packages, for when you want to really spoil yourself. Expect a whole host of additional treats including a welcome drink on arrival, an extra course at dinner, wine choices and mulled wine with afternoon tea.

 Travel in Style


Why not start your holiday as you mean to go on by arriving in style with a private transfer? You could even upgrade your flights on selected routes, meaning that your hard-earned holiday begins from the minute you depart.

 When you’re in the mood to treat yourself there are some fantastic options to add a touch of luxury to your trip. Don’t forget the duty-free champers to continue the holiday once home!
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May 04, 2012

Cellphone

Last December my husband received a call from Smart, Customer Service Representative told him that he is qualified for iPhone 4S as his retention plan. Then last month he received a call again, CSR told him if he says yes, the phone will be delivered straight to our house. But until now, my husband is still undecided because he doesn’t like the plan, I guess P1000 for an unlimited data plan and P300 consumable, (not so sure). He doesn’t need the unlimited data plan. He inquired in Globe and it seems that they have the same offer.

Every month he keeps on bugging me if he will grab the offer or not. But I always say the same thing “whatever” or sometimes I will tell him to accept the offer and exchange it with my phone. Hehe! I’m not really into gadgets; all I know is iPhone 4S is very popular and expensive. There are so many brands and models in the market and I don’t even know what the latest is. I have no idea about cables, LG faceplates, adapters or cool cell phone accessories

Well, let’s wait and see what happens, maybe after 48 years he can make up his mind. Are you using iPhone 4S? Do you have any positive or negative feedback that you can share?
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Final Decision

Last Saturday on our way to “Healthier Moms, Happier Kids” event, my sister-in-law asked us if we know someone who needs a job because they have an opening for a finance position. Then all of a sudden my husband told me to update my resume and submit it to my sister-in-law.  I asked him, who will take care of our son? He immediately said we will hire a nanny and he will ask his mom to move into our house so my son won’t be alone with a stranger.

 Ok, fine with me! It seems that he has a plan already. But I won’t apply in financial position because I don’t like that job, I had an OJT in the finance department and I witnessed how stressful their job so I’m absolutely sure that Austin bookkeeping and quickbook Dallas job won’t work for me. I used to be a bank teller (first job) and I did not enjoy it.

Yesterday, I asked my husband again if he’s really serious about it and the answer is still the same. So last night, I was updating my resume, checking available jobs online and reading my “interview” file. Then suddenly, my husband changed his mind. He was convincing me that “I don’t need to work, he is happy that I’m dedicated to them and he could not ask for more”. The final decision, “he wants me to stay at home”.

Time will tell if ever I will work again or not but as of this moment, my son needs me on his new chapter. He still needs me on his first day of school. 
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May 03, 2012

Back to Work

It’s been four years since I resigned from work, and I admit that there are times when I’m thinking if this will be my destiny, if I will be a full-time mom forever. There are moments when I’m also thinking if I could still get my life back. Don’t get me wrong, I have no regrets in choosing to be a full-time mom because even though it is not easy, I enjoy being with my son. Motherhood is really challenging; there are times that I want to give up, but at the end of the day, I’m still thankful because I have the privilege to be with my son.

I did not dream of being a stay-at-home mom, but when I had my son, everything changed. There are two reasons why I chose to be a full-time mom.

1. I could not leave him with a stranger alone; I’ve heard and read so many horror nanny stories, and I don’t want it to happen to my son. My husband wanted to hire a household helper, but I always declined because I had a bad experience with my brother’s household helper. (She stole my jewelry, camera, and money).

2. It is not a secret anymore that I did not grow up with my parents, and it wasn’t easy, especially when I’m sick, when I need someone to attend my school activities and meetings, when I need help with my school projects, and when I need someone to attend my recognition and graduation day. Those were the times when I was looking for my mom. I was so jealous of my classmates because their parents are always there. I don’t want my son to experience those things, so I want to make sure that I’m just here whenever and wherever he needs me.

But if my husband wants me to work again, I’ll get back to work as soon as possible, but I just hope I can hire a good nanny, and I will be available if my son needs me. I hope I still know how to make a resume; it’s been years since the last time I made one. Maybe I should hire a resume writer or look for resume services to help me. 
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April 30, 2012

Healthier Moms, Happier Kids

I’ve mentioned before that I’m gaining weight, and I promised myself that I need to do something about it. Maybe I should check my eating habits and consider having a healthy diet, I don’t really eat that much, but I must admit that my eating habits are not healthy. I’m a full-fledged meat eater and not a fan of vegetables, so diet is not really for me.  It is already the second quarter of the year, and still no changes; you can call my diet “bukas na diet” because I keep on postponing it.

Every time I read something about healthy living, I always remind myself that I will do it, but as expected, nothing happened, so when I got an invite to attend the “Healthier Moms, Happier Kids” event, I did not think twice. Good thing it was a weekend event, and my husband was willing to accompany me. So last Saturday, off we went to Makati.


I’m glad that I attended this event, listening to Dyan Castillejo and Matthew Castillejo makes me cringe because I’m totally opposite from them. A nine-year-old boy has 85% healthy eating habits and 15% only for non-healthy foods, so at least he can taste soda and processed foods like bacon, hot dog, or any food that other kids enjoy. 

 I admired their lifestyle; they are very active, fit, and healthy. How I wish when I reach my 40s I will be like her. Dyan Castillejo is already 45 years old, and she feels like 25 years old. OMG, I’m 29 years old, but I feel so old because I can no longer do the things that I used to do when I was still in my teenage years.

 There are more inspiring stories I want to share with you, but I don’t want to bore you. But Dyan Castillejo’s lifestyle gives me more reasons to remind myself that I need to start my healthy living.

I asked Dyan Castillejo, how many glasses of wheatgrass she drinks every day and if there are any side effects. She said she drinks 10 glasses of wheatgrass, and the side effect is glowing skin and a healthy body. Her son started drinking wheatgrass 4 years ago, so Matthew was five years old at that time, and he drinks 2 glasses a day.

 After the talk, they introduced us to the Easy pha-max wheatgrass products. There is a juice dispenser where you can enjoy wheatgrass and honey. I was hesitant at first to try the drink, I’m not fond of green foods or green drinks, I don’t even like the taste of Green Tea Frappe, but surprisingly, we love the taste of wheatgrasshoney, and it is not a joke.

During the event, we drink:

Hubby: 7 glasses
Me: 2 glasses
Son: 1 glass

They give wheatgrass polvoron to all the kids, and my son loves it too; he ate 2 pieces of polvoron. 

Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass cleanses, alkalizes, and nourishes your blood and body with just one sachet a day to give you the maximum benefits of this wonder food.

 1. It has the highest chlorophyll content among other greens. It detoxifies the blood, promotes blood production, prevents anemia, and assists in wound healing.
2. It is a great source of fiber that promotes regular bowel movement and prevents constipation.
3. It is loaded with antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and fight aging.
4. Enzymes in wheatgrass help the liver break down harmful substances in the body and bloodstream.
5. It neutralizes acids in the body pH, which prevents bone problems, blood disorders, and promotes healthy cell growth.
6. It promotes healthy blood circulation and better blood circulation.
7. It is a superfood with 13 vitamins, 10 minerals, 17 amino acids, chlorophyll, and fiber, which the body needs to function efficiently.
8. Rich in abscisic acid and an enzyme called P4D1 that helps prevent the formation and growth of cancer.
9. Aid in digestion and faster metabolism.
10. It promotes better body functions, muscle growth, and energy.
11. It stimulates growth hormone production, aids in male fertility, and relaxes muscles in blood vessels, allowing better blood flow and preventing high blood pressure.

Products

Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass with Honey
Skywheat Bio Soy Milk
Insupro Forte
Skywheat Biocoffee
Skywheat Wheatgrass Plus
Whea Gee tablets for kids
Wheatgrass Ready to Drink w/Melastoma

If I have the budget, I would love to try the So Easy Colon Cleansing & Slimming. The So Easy Colon Cleansing is a nutritionally balanced, safe, natural, and healthy way for detoxification and weight loss at the same time. It helps in discharging major toxins called mucoid plaque from our body in a short period through 3 steps.”
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April 27, 2012

Calamansi Cupcake Recipe

I’ve watched Julia and Julie movie last holy week and it inspires me to enhance my cooking and baking skills so we bought cook book but it did not happen. I don’t feel like cooking and baking because of the oven-like heat we have this season. I’m so lazy especially now that I feel so burn out. 

 But my son was so demanding yesterday. He never stop saying “mommy, cake please”. I called my husband and told him to buy cake or mamon but still I bake cupcake.

I always bake banana bread or banana cupcake so for a change I bake calamansi cupcakes. I got the recipe from the Manila Mommy site. It was my first time and I was happy with the result, it’s soft, moist and not sweet. 

 But I was a little bit sad because hubby and son did not like it. My son was so excited to taste the cupcake but after one bite, he quickly went to our trash bin and pukes the cupcake. Imagine, I spent an hour baking this cupcake and this will be his reaction. Maybe, he doesn’t like the calamansi taste. I asked my hubby for his verdict.

Me: anong lasa?
Hubby: lasang sauce na niluluto mo para sa salmon
Me: Hollandaise sauce!?! Don’t tell me, mas gusto niyo pa rin yung banana cake.
Hubby: oo

Over sa reaction ang aking mag-ama but honestly, I like this cupcake, I’m pretty sure they will not include this in yummy magazine if this is not yummy. I told them, I will bake more calamansi cupcake, lemon cupcake and lime cake. (basta may maasim na taste) #pang-asar. I was able to bake 24 pcs of calamansi cupcake. (Maybe, I will reduce the calamansi juice)


Ingredients 

 1 cup softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar 
4 large eggs 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1/3 cup calamansi juice 
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 
1 tablespoon baking powder 

 Procedure: 

 Preheat oven to 350°F 
Line muffin pan with paper cups 
Sift flour and baking powder together 
Cream butter and sugar until light and smooth 
Add egg one at a time to the cream mixture 
Add the flour mixture a little at a time 
Add the vanilla  
Add the calamansi juice
Incorporate all ingredients together 
Pour batter into your muffin pans.
Bake for 20 minutes.

 Read: Real Coffee and Tea Cafe Boracay
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Nostalgia: Wedding Day

I've just attended a wedding last Saturday and I can’t help myself but reminisce about our wedding day. Did you know that I had two weddings in one year? Well, we did not plan it but when my husband learned that his father will be going to the USA, he decided to have a civil wedding as soon as possible. He wants his dad to be present on our wedding day. 

 I have no idea about his plan, he just informed me after he talked to his parents. I was really shocked because we only have two weeks to prepare but I still said yes. Good thing that we have marriage license already, I applied early because I need my mom’s signature. I did not do anything, my hubby’s family prepared everything for the wedding, we just gave them money and our marriage license. And because it was a rush wedding, I only invited my immediate family.

After our civil wedding, we’re still busy preparing for our garden wedding. Some people advise me not to continue our garden wedding and just save the money for our future house but I did not listen because I really want to have my dream wedding. Not a grand wedding but I want my family, relatives, and friends to be there. We already paid down payments 14 months before the original date of our wedding and it’s non-refundable so I don’t want to waste the money.

And of course I want to have a souvenir; I want photos and videos of our wedding day. I love pictures so I got a package that includes two photographers and one videographer but I was so disappointed because I have very limited pictures after the wedding. I only had two family pictures. We even had more pictures during our pre-nup than on my wedding day. So I won’t recommend them, I hope Minneapolis photographers are not like them.

I’m checking some wedding sites and I’ve learned about Minneapolis wedding DJ. A wedding jockey on your wedding day sounds cool. Too bad I did not know about this six years ago. 

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April 26, 2012

Lunch at Pancake House

It’s been a while since the last time we dined in Pancake House after we had a bad experience with them in their Boracay branch. Then last Saturday, we tried Pancake House again, and we ordered chicken and pasta.


We enjoyed our meal, but since we are in a hurry, I told the waiter to take out the mac and cheese, and I asked for the bill. Hubby and son went to Starbucks to redeem our free drinks; he was surprised when he came back because I’m still waiting for the bill. After paying the bill, we immediately left the restaurant, on our way to the wedding, I remembered my take-out food. Lo and behold, I forgot the mac and cheese, I paid P120 for that, and I left it. I’m not happy about it because it seems I always forget something. I left my son’s black shoes when we attended a debut, I left our take-out food, and I also forgot the yellow shirt of my son.

I was also disappointed with Pancake House, sa tagal ko ba naman naghintay sa bill, hindi nila binigay sa kin yung take-out food ko. But I’m also thinking if I need to take vitamins for my memory. What do you think? Signs of aging?
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Go Organic

Since 2009 I’ve been using organic products, I even registered to become a member of Greencow to avail discounts and until now I’m still using these products especially the insect repellent lotion. I always bring this lotion everywhere we go just be sure that we are safe from dengue.

Last year, I had a chance to visit Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm and I’ve tried these products. Compared to Greencow, Ilog Maria is more affordable. I love their massage oil and lip balm.

I’ve received Human Heart Nature products 3 years ago; it was a gift from a friend. Then last December my son received HHN products and he is still using the HHN shampoo and baby wash. I was so glad when I won two giveaways because I have new stock of HHN products. =) I love the anti-bacterial pocket soap and sanitizer.

How about you? What organic products are you using?
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April 23, 2012

Florida on Sale?

If you’re looking for a great value trip to Florida for the ultimate family holiday, you can find a great range of low-cost packages and cheap USA holidays to suit even the tightest of budgets at a price that won’t break the bank.

You might not find a trip to the States at Spain holiday prices - let’s face it, if you did you should be asking some serious questions about your tour operator - but with a bit of planning you can still enjoy cheap holidays to Florida complete with all the trimmings and with a good standard of accommodation.

Like supermarkets, major tour operators are always competing against each other to win your custom which means they regularly discount the cost of holidays to draw you in. This is great news if you’re searching for low-cost holidays - especially if you’re traveling with children during the school holidays as this is often during peak season.

If that’s not enough, when considering a long-haul destination like Florida it’s usually worth booking well in advance. If you can book with the launch of a new season you’ll often secure early bird deals or helpful discounts such as free kids’ places, as well as the opportunity to spread the cost of your holiday and pay it off in installments.

Failing that, if you’re looking for something departing soon you may benefit from a last-minute booking. Package holidays usually drop in price the closer you get to your departure date, so if you’re the impatient type this could be right up your street. Just be prepared to be flexible on your preferences as the later you book, the less availability you’re faced with - so you may have to alter your choice of resort, hotel, and even your departure airport.

It will be worth it though and the more money you save now, the more you’ll have to play with when you arrive.
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April 18, 2012

Time is Gold; Respect Other's Time

Last week was really stressful because my son started his summer class so I have to adjust my schedule. It’s a struggle to wake him up and get him ready for school. His dawdling makes me so stress so every day I also adjust his wake up time so even he moves so slow, we won’t be late. I have to cook in advance so by the time we get home we have something to eat and of course I have to do some household chores. It is really obvious that full-time mom is not a bum. 

Well, I just want to stress that time is gold and every second, minute and hours are very important to me so please learn to respect other’s time. I will give some example that really pissed me off. Last Friday, we attended a debut, according to the invitation the party will start at 6PM but we already informed them that we will be late because my hubby will be coming from Makati, he’ll be out by 5PM. 

 My son had his moments again, he doesn’t want to wear his clothes so we left the house with my naked son because we’re already late and dahil sa pagmamadali namin, I left my son’s shoes. We reached the venue 7:30PM, lo and behold we’re not late because the party will start at 8PM but it started 9PM and no dinner yet. OMG! I left my son’s shoes and we skipped dinner so we can be there as early as possible because my hubby was part of the 18 thousands (not familiar with 18k? minimum of 1k cash gift #brightidea but I’m not liking it).

 We did not finish the party because my son was sleeping already; we left at 11:45PM after the 18K program. I don’t really understand why you have to put 6PM when the party will start at 8PM.

 And last Sunday, it happened again. I was told that reunion will be at 11:30AM but everybody was late again. This was not the first time, it happened every year (reunion). The sad part is I don’t hear any apologies. Anyway, no matter what they say, I won’t bite it because it’s already a habit. I can still take 15 minutes late but more than 1 hour is not acceptable. I don’t really understand why you have to set a meeting time when you cannot commit.

 Now, whenever I see an invitation I’m really thinking twice whether I should be on time or not because this happened several times, two more scenarios.

 1. Christening at 8:30AM, I travel from Laguna to Bulacan just to be there at 8:30AM, only to find out that baptism starts at 11AM.

 2. 1st Birthday party at 1PM, I travel from Cavite to Q.C., arrived at 12:30NN and Jollibee staff told me na 2PM pa daw yung party.

Not all people follow Filipino time, you are just punishing early bird guests. I admit that there are times that I’m late too but I really have a valid excuse and traffic is not included. I see to it that I inform the other party if I’m running late. Every day we only have 24 hours and we need to use it wisely. Please respect other’s time. 
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April 16, 2012

Things You Should Never Say To A Stay at Home Mom

We had a reunion last weekend, I suggested Sambokojin but they wanted Dads, Saisaki and Kamayan so I gave in. Meeting time is 11:30 and I was there 11:45am, it was really my plan not to be on time because my friends are always late and as expected they came past 12:30nn.  

 They suggested the venue and time but they did not make any reservation so I was really disappointed, because I thought there’s already a reservation since it’s weekend. So imagine our waiting time just to be seated. We left the house at 9:30am so we’re really hungry.

When my friends came, I asked one of my friends why she did not make any reservation and she said, “Busy ako noh, bakit hindi ikaw? wala ka naman ginagawa at nasa bahay ka lang buong araw”. I did not say a word because I choose my own battles but deep inside, I was deeply hurt, it is like a slap in my face that I’m very unproductive. 

 Yes, I am a full-time mom but it doesn’t mean that I have so much free time. It doesn’t mean that I’m not doing anything. Full-time mom is also a busy individual, I’m not just watching tv, eating, sleeping or checking facebook, I have my own work too, it may not be in the corporate world but still, I work. 

 I won’t resign from my part-time job if I have so much free time. I have neither Yaya nor helper and I’m doing my best to manage my time so I can finish my chores and just to have my own “me time”. If I was the one who organizes the reunion, I will definitely make a reservation even it’s a long distance call.

 So please, if you have a friend or you know someone who is a full-time mom, be careful with your words. Here are some things you should never say to a stay at home mom: I’ve read this last month at Mommy Fleur’s blog.

1. When the kids are older, do you think you'll get a real job?
2. How June Cleaver of you!
3. Oh, so you don't work?
4. Since you have extra time on your hands, could you whip up a few dozen brownies for the bake sale tomorrow?
5. All day with your kids? I can't even imagine.
6. I'm jealous. I wish my husband were rich so I wouldn't have to work either.
7. What do you do all day, anyway?
8. I'm sure you're not the only one who's ever wasted money on a college degree.
9. That explains why your son is so clingy!
10. Weird. I assumed your house would be ssuper clean

"I can't wait for people who don't have kids to start having them so they can eat their words and opinions."
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April 15, 2012

Taytay Falls

As I mentioned before, this was really an unplanned trip, after our visit to Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery, I told my husband to go back to my grandmother's house because I don’t think this is the best time to go to Taytay Falls. 

 But he was really determined to swim so we continued our journey. After 3 hours (almost) of traveling from Victoria, Laguna we reached our destination. We had 3 stopovers along the way; some people are asking for donations for fiesta daw, you have no choice but to give kasi naman hindi ka makakadaan at may harang talaga na tali.

Entrance fee: P20 each no charge for my 3yrs old son.
Parking: P30

There is a logbook at the entrance, just write your name, pay the entrance fee and they will give you the stub. You have to bring the stub on your way to the falls; there is a guy who collects all the stubs. From the parking lot, you will pass a few sari-sari stores and carinderia where you can buy food and drinks. But it is best if you can bring your own food.  


You need to walk about 15-20 minutes before you reach the falls, it depends on the traffic and how fast you walk. 

Traffic na, pababa pa lang!

paliit-ng paliit ang pathway

It was Black Saturday so the place was really crowded. I don’t really plan any summer outing during Holy Week because I dislike traffic and crowded places. As far as I can remember, we only had one family outing during holy week. We had a day trip in Golden Sunset and it was my hubby’s decision.




Anyway, Taytay falls is just small falls compared to Daranak Falls, Three Falls, Mt. Pico de Loro Falls, Katibawasan Falls, and Kawasan Falls. So far, this is the 6th waterfall that I’ve seen. 

 Read: Amazing Waterfalls in the Philippines

Ten or eleven years ago, I was supposed to be here but I did not join the trip when I learned that most of the participants were boys and it was an overnight trip. I don’t see myself sleeping in a tent and I’m not sure if there’s a comfort room in the area. 

But if I joined the trip, this will be our first meeting (hubby and I). He was one of the participants and according to him "maganda daw ito and nagtrek talaga sila mula baba. Akalain mo pwede naman pala magkotse, nagpakahirap pa sila. Hehe! Sayang daw, sana daw sumama na ko nun kasi ang laki daw ng pinagbago ng falls kasi ngayon commercialized na."


I must agree with him because I did not enjoy our Taytay Falls trip. The place was really packed; there were tents and trash everywhere. I had a hard time looking for a good spot where I can stand and take pictures. I don’t know if this is the scenario every weekend or dahil holy week kami nagpunta. We only stayed for one hour including our walk from parking to the falls and back to parking.

 But if you can't take the summer heat, visit Taytay falls. Ang lamig talaga ng tubig. :)

traffic din palabas

I felt sad when I saw the falls, sana lang malagaan nila. From Taytay falls back to Victoria, Laguna, we traveled 1 hour and 30 minutes (wala ng side trip).
Note: Taytay falls is also known as Majayjay Falls or Imelda Falls.
There is a shower room and comfort room in the area but I have no idea if it is clean. Hubby and son did not take a shower after the swim because of the long line. Good thing that we are less than 2 hours away from my grandmother’s house. 
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April 14, 2012

What is your Dream Home?

I believe that all people dream to have their own place where they can spend their lives, a place that you can call home. But looking for a dream home is not easy; it entails a lot of effort and time to find it. There are a lot of things that we need to consider such as location, size, style and price.

Some people prefer condominiums like Austin condo, some people prefer a house and some people might prefer a fixer-upper that can be renovated by a company like Summit Point Roofing to their liking. I guess it depends on our needs, wants and lifestyle. 

 When I was still single, I was looking for a condominium near my workplace to lessen my travel time. But I have no idea that a studio room would cost so much so I just chose an apartment which is much cheaper than renting a condominium. There is no one-year contract and no home owner’s association fee.

We also rented an apartment after our wedding but of course, priorities change when you have your own family. When I learned that I was pregnant, we started to look for a house. Hubby and I prefer a house than condos Austin because we want more space. 

 We are not looking for a big house; all we wanted is a house that fits three people. Thank God that we did not have a hard time looking for it, though I cannot say that this is already our dream house but I’m glad that we have our own place and I can definitely say that this is our home.

How about you? What is your dream home?

Read: Tips for Finding a Home
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April 13, 2012

Viaje del Sol: Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

Do you still remember my Viaje del Sol post last year? It is one of my goals to visit those places and I’m glad I was able to visit Nagcarlan Undergound Cemetery last holy week. We did not plan to visit this place but on our way to Majayjay Falls, we saw this church.


Nagcarlan Church – The first church which was made of light materials, was built by Rev. Tomas De Miranda, D.F.M., who was assigned to this town in 1583 as resident priest. The second church of brick and stone was built in 1752 but it was partly destroyed by fire in 1781. A choir loft was added to the reconstructed church in 1845 by Rev. Vicente Velloc, who built the Nagcarlan Cemetery and its underground crypt. Rev. Tomas De Miranda was pioneer in the successful cultivation of wheat in the uplands of Nagcarlan.



While checking the church, we read about the Nagcarlan Cemetery so my husband asked the vendor how to get to Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. Sorry, I can’t give you the exact directions because I wasn’t listening but the landmark is Shell Station. The underground cemetery is just in front of the gasoline station, 10-15 minutes away from Nagcarlan church.


Sementeryo sa Ilalim ng Lupa ng Nagcarlan – Ang naiiba at nag-iisang sementeryong ito sa Pilipinas ay itinayo ng mga misyonerong Pransiskano sa pangangasiwa ni Padre Vicente Velloc noong 1845, kasabay ng pagtatayong muli ng pinalaking simbahan ng San Bartolome at pagtatayo ng kumbento. Dito nagpulong nang palihim ang mga pinuno ng himagsikan sa Laguna noong 1896. Sa bisa ng Kautusan ng Pangulo bilang 260, Agosto 1, 1973 na sinusugan ng Kautusan bilang 1505, Hunyo 11, 1978. Ang sementeryong ito ay ipinahayag na pambansang palatandaang makaysaysayan.


 Unfortunately, it was closed so we just took pictures outside, and we went to Majayjay Falls or Taytay Falls.
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April 10, 2012

Holy Week 2012

Now I’m back from my hiatus, how’s your long weekend? We had a blissful week, finally, we were able to rest in my grandmother’s house, a sort of staycation. Here’s the summary of my holy week.

Holy Thursday

We stayed in the house to finish our household duties before going to my grandmother’s house. We cleaned the house, finished the laundry, and ironed all clothes. Quite tiring but we did not mind because we will be having our much-awaited staycation.

Good Friday

As expected, we went to Caleruega and we left early to avoid the traffic. Surprisingly, there were more people who visited Caleruega this year compared to our previous trips. It is really hard to take pictures because you have to wait for your turn. =)

Then we went to Victoria, Laguna where my grandmother lives.

Black Saturday

I was enjoying my staycation when all of a sudden my husband wanted to go to nearby falls. This is really an unplanned trip because we don’t have any swimwear. We left the house after lunch without a map; we just asked questions along the way.

Our joy ride brought us here,

Nagcarlan Church


Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery


and finally Taytay Falls or Majayjay Falls


Easter Sunday

My grandmother was wondering why we had an extended stay because we used to “eat, sleep and run” the following day. Whenever we visited her, we will just eat merienda then dinner, sleep, eat breakfast, and go home so this was the first time that we really stayed long.

But we really enjoyed our stay; it was our sweet escape away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can have a good sleep without aircon and we even turned off the electric fan. Of course, it’s not all year round. There are days that it is really hot but during our stay, we’re blessed with good weather.

view at the back of  my grandmother's house

view from our room

My husband loves to stay here because he can have a good rest and there are times that he will suggest to visit my grandmother.

Hubby: hon, punta tayo sa lola mo.
Me: bakit? Ano gagawin natin dun?
Hubby: matutulog
Me: matutulog? Pupunta tayo dun para lang matulog?
Hubby: para maiba naman. =)

And of course, he loves my grandmother’s dishes. We always look forward to ginataang fish and vegetables. To tell you the truth, we gained pounds again during our staycation. 

As much as we want to extend our vacation we have to go home. We dropped by Isdaan to check the place but we left immediately when we saw the crowd.


Day of Valor

Back to reality, household duties again, and time to finish our errands. 
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April 04, 2012

Why is it Important to Check your Receipt?

Do you always check your receipt whenever you buy something? Do you really examine the amount printed on the receipt? Or you don’t care at all. If you’ll ask me, I always check my receipt but there is one instance that I did not check my receipt after I purchased some items. When I got home and checked my receipt, I found out that the “buy 1 take 1 item” that I purchased was not charged as B1T1 so I bought the items at regular price. 

I was so disappointed because I only bought the “Little Einstein” CD because its buy 1 take 1 for P120 or P150. But I did not go back to Festival Mall because going there is more expensive (gas, tollgate and parking) compared to P120 or P150 that I overpaid. I can easily notice this if I only bought the cd. So lesson learned, don't forget to check your receipt.

 Another instance is when I paid our credit card bills in SM payment center, I paid two credit card bills for the same credit card company

Ex.
Credit card 1: P5000
Credit card 2: P7000

pero napagpalit ng cashier yung amount.

Credit card 1: P7000
Credit card 2: P5000

Good thing that I checked my receipt before I left the counter, I informed the cashier about it and she made some adjustments.

Then yesterday, I went to SM to buy some personal stuff, I saw some Buy 1 Take 1 shirt for my son so I bought two sets of B1T1. I checked the monitor screen to ensure that I really get the discount then I noticed that the B1T1 item was charged as regular item. I called the attention of the cashier.

Me: Miss, hindi yata nagrereflect yung Buy 1 Take 1 ko
Cashier: Ma’m pag natotal na po natin saka po makikita yung discount.

So I paid the items and she showed me the receipt, “ma’m ito po o, may 50% off na”. I said ok and left the counter. While walking I’m still checking my receipt and I was right, I paid the B1T1 items for regular price of P199.75 each so I overpaid P199.75.

 I went back to the counter and told the cashier about it but she insisted na nagreflect yung B1T1. I told her that I have two B1T1 items and I only see one discounted price. Good thing that the supervisor was there and she checked my receipt; they unwrapped my stuff and checked the items.

And the supervisor said sorry for the inconvenience, they called someone to inform about the error. One guy came and he said, he will just issue DRA (not sure sa term). I waited again, the guy came back and gave the cashier a slip but the cashier needs a code but no one can give her the right code.

 I’ve been waiting for more than 40 minutes and you know that I hate waiting so I asked the cashier if I could just cancel the B1T1 item and replace the items worth P399.50. I used my credit card so there’s no way that she could give me the amount in cash. I know that she can call the credit card company to cancel the amount and re-enter my purchase but I don’t want to wait anymore. So I get 1 queen pillow and 2 pcs of M&M and pay the difference.

It is really important to check your receipt.Thank God that I just came from my staycation so I was able to wait for more than 40 minutes and still smile kahit naiinis na rin ako. Buti na lang may Free SM jelly bag ako.
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