Michi Photostory

May 16, 2012

Mother's Day at Taal Vista Hotel

As I mentioned in my previous post, hubby just came back from Shanghai last Saturday, so I know that we will not have any Mother’s Day celebration. Well, the truth is, it is not a big deal to me; I can’t even remember if we really celebrate this occasion. As far as I know, the year 2009 was the first and last time that we celebrated Mother's Day. A simple greeting from my family is enough, and if I could have a rest day on this day. hahaha!

Surprisingly, last Sunday hubby was suggesting that we could have an overnight stay in Tagaytay because he wanted to sleep, sleep, and sleep. #jetlag. I asked him what his budget and he said P500. Oh my P500 for an overnight stay in Tagaytay, I told him I would rather stay at home than stress myself looking for cheap accommodation. Today is my day!

But hubby was determined to pursue our overnight stay, so after lunch, I checked Pina Colina and Hotel Kimberly sites, but there was no promo. Then I checked Taal Vista Hotel, and they have an ongoing promo. The promo price is almost the same as Hotel Kimberly's regular price, but since we haven’t tried Taal Vista Hotel, we chose the latter. P4,075 for a superior room, but unfortunately, no more rooms available, so we have no choice but to get the Deluxe room for P5,075, less discount (SMAC or BDO Rewards) = P4,775.

After 50 minutes, off we went to Tagaytay (1:50PM). We reached Taal Vista Hotel at 2:50PM, so an hour travel time from our place.

For me, Taal Vista Hotel has the best view of Taal Volcano, but unfortunately, we can’t see it from our room; all we can see are building walls.

The most exciting part of the staycation is the complimentary buffet breakfast; I think this is open for walk-in visitors for P678.

foggy morning

Al fresco

During our stay, here are the choices: Hungarian sausage, beef tapa, bacon, fried silinyasi, chicken longganisa, steamed rice, fried rice, goto, and champorado. There is an omelet station, bread station, vegetable salad & fruit station, cereal & pancake station, and drinks station.

Bread: muffin, banana bread, white bread, ensaymada, and malunggay pandesal

Drinks: coffee, milk, orange juice, mango juice, and pineapple juice.

Our favorites from the menu are malunggay pandesal and goto.

After breakfast, we went to the swimming pool and spent the rest of our time at the swimming pool.

Likes

1. They really have the best view of Taal Volcano
2. Facilities and amenities are good.

3. I love soft pillows; our room has 4 pillows. The bed is comfortable.

4. Welcome drink is good for up to four persons, unlike in other hotels.

Dislikes

1. Since this is not a cheap hotel, I was expecting more from the service. During my overnight stay, I did not hear any “Welcome to Taal Vista Hotel, good afternoon, good morning, and good evening”.

The staffs are just ok. I’ve stayed in pension houses, guesthouses, hotels, and other luxury resorts, but this was the first time that I did not hear any greetings from the hotel staff. I don’t know if it is just an isolated case, but I don’t expect them to greet me whenever we bump into each other, but a smile and nod will do to make the guests feel welcome.

2. No bathtub
3. It was Mother’s Day and wala man lang freebies or greetings for mothers.
4. No Wi-Fi

So before we left the hotel, I filled out the survey form and gave it to the receptionist. I was not expecting good service anymore, but Raffy gladly assisted us during our check-out, and he was really smiling. He even asked if we already have a car pass, and if no,t he needs to sign our parking ticket. I just hope they have more staff like Raffy.

I received a call from Taal Vista Hotel because they read my comment in the survey form and asked if we had a bad experience in their Hotel. I told them that it was not really a bad experience, but I hope they improve their service. He asked if I would still visit Taal Vista Hotel, and I said yes. If they have a good promo, I will try this hotel again, but if not, I will just book cheap airline tickets.

Update: I received a call and an apology letter yesterday (May 22, 2012), and they informed me that they have launched a new smile campaign program to correct the error. I tried to reply to their email, but I'm receiving a Mailer-Daemon Notice. Anyway, it is good to know that they are seriously taking into consideration the guest feedback or comments.

Note: If you are reserving a room, don’t forget to give your SMAC or BDO rewards number so they can give you additional discounts (if there are any), and upon payment, give your SMAC or BDO reward card so you can earn points for your stay.

McDonald's is just in front of this hote,l and there’s a small stall beside PAGCOR where you can buy mami for P30.

Read: Trick or Treat at Taal Vista Hotel
Christmas at Taal Vista Hotel

Klook.com

Kids in the City: Newcastle

Newcastle isn’t usually the first place that springs to mind for a city break with the kids. Look online to find deals on a Newcastle hotel and take the family somewhere unexpected this summer. Consider central Newcastle hotels as a base to explore this impressive northern city; it has lots to offer children of all ages.

BBC Newcastle Tour

Do you have a TV star in the making? If your bairn was born to be the face of the next generation’s primetime slots, check out the Geordie home of the BBC. Families will learn about the production of popular TV programmes and the inner-workings of TV studios. Children will love seeing sets from Tracey Beaker, reading the BBC news and presenting the weather.

Book your tour at BBC Newcastle in advance to avoid disappointment on the day. This is a working studio and places are limited.

Discovery Museum

Whether your child loves history, science or simply learning about the world around us, the Discovery Museum in Newcastle is one of the best hands-on attractions around. If you have a large family you’ll be delighted to hear that the Discovery Museum is free to all, providing a completely complimentary day of interactive fun and learning for the whole brood.

Saltwell Park

Pack a picnic and take in the summer air at Saltwell Park. This common is an impressive 55 acres and is simply filled with activities to keep everyone entertained. From bowling greens to adventure parks and boating lakes to animal houses, this handy park is free for everyone.

For the more adventurous among us, learn a little about Saltwell before you travel and educate the kids on the Saltwell Towers and the history of Newcastle. Exploring the city with a family doesn’t have to be expensive. Go online to find deals on Newcastle hotels and spend your days indulging in some of the free attractions on offer.

May 15, 2012

Glimpse of Shanghai China

Hubby just came back last Saturday from Shanghai business trip, this was not his first time trip, if I remember it right, this is the 4th time that he visited Shanghai but this is the first time that I’ll be sharing photos of his trip. My husband is not fond of taking pictures so even though his work entails a lot of out of town and out of the country trips, he has no souvenirs (except for the expo trip in Shanghai). I’m not surprised because even team buildings and Christmas party events he has no photos unless someone I knew posted pictures on Facebook.

He always brings a camera to document his business trip but all photos are business-related. I always remind him to take some pictures so at least I have an idea of the place he visited. Whenever I asked him about his hotel, he will just tell me the same thing, check the internet. Well, he always stays in Marriott Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel, again no pictures inside the hotel.

I’ll be sharing some limited pictures that he took during his seven days trip so you can also have a glimpse of Shanghai. Shanghai is known for its architectural buildings and some popular tourist destination such as Oriental Pearl TV Tower located in Pudong, The Bund, Yuyuan Garden, and City God Temple.

Read: Shanghai Akasantei

Klook.com

May 08, 2012

Day Trip at Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa

I never thought that we would be busy this summer season and it is already the start of May and we still do not have any summer outings. Hmmm…so I will just reminisce about our past trip, hehe!

I’ll be sharing our Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa (now Mithi Resort and Spa) experience last December 2007, yay! five years ago already. Well, I was supposed to be here last August 2007 but my Supervisor just gave me one day leave, I already filed my leave five months before but still, she did not approve my 2 days' leave. I have no choice but to rebook our flight. (so expensive).

Fast forward to December 2007, we were able to pursue our trip, it was almost canceled because my husband still had no vacation leave, two weeks pa lang siya that time sa present company niya. Hehe!

I have no itinerary at that time so we just go with the flow. After our countryside tour we decided to have a day tour at Panglao Island Nature Resort and Spa. It is one of the best resorts in Panglao Island so this was our first choice to experience Panglao Beach. We just took a cab to get there; the cost of the fare is double so if it is P150 you need to pay the taxi driver P300.

We didn’t know that there was a cave (Cambagat Cave) inside PINR so we were lucky to personally see it. The service in PINR is just okay for me and the taste of the food is just okay, there is nothing special about it considering the price. Sana hindi na lang kami nag-upgrade to buffet dinner and ala carte meal is fine.

Anyway, the trip is still memorable, how I wish I can go back to Bohol and experience Island Hopping.

Read: Bohol Countryside Tour
Damaged Heritage Site

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.

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!

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.”

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

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.

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?

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.

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. 1^st 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.

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."

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 6^th 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. :)

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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.

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