Here are some photos from that memorable and happy event.
Sunday, February 08, 2015
My McDo Party Photos
Birthday parties in McDonald's are almost always for kids. However, for this year's joint celebration of January and February celebrants in my Victory Group, the organizers decided to hold a McDonald's party.
Here are some photos from that memorable and happy event.
Here are some photos from that memorable and happy event.
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
Rainforest Park at The Rave in Pasig City
Because we were quite bored of the usual mall stuff week in and week out, and because we don't have enough time to go all the way to Tagaytay last weekend, we decided to try dropping by the Rainforest Park in Pasig City. We've been hearing, seeing and passing by it many times whenever we were in the area but never occurred to us to go inside. Anyway, last weekend we went.
First impression, it was crowded. Well it was a Sunday afternoon so what do we expect. There was no entrance fee so of course it should be crowded. The guys manning the ticketing table for the various attractions weren't as cooperative and approachable as they should. They're the first staff members visitors would encounter and they're just plain uninterested in answering guest queries. Because of that, I felt like we weren't welcome at all. I can only imagine what the impression of balikbayans and foreign tourists could be.
Overall, the place wasn't well-maintained. The play area was dusty and rusty. My 7 year old kid wont even dare touch the monkey bars even if I know she wanted to play. The streets were full of garbage, candy wrappers and chips wrappers all around. Most attractions require a fee (affordable at P10-P20 per person), but it wasn't worth it.
There not much food stalls and the few that were there don't offer much. Anyway, it's just a nice thought to know that people in Pasig and neighboring towns have a place to roam around and relax for free. That's the only nice things about this.
First impression, it was crowded. Well it was a Sunday afternoon so what do we expect. There was no entrance fee so of course it should be crowded. The guys manning the ticketing table for the various attractions weren't as cooperative and approachable as they should. They're the first staff members visitors would encounter and they're just plain uninterested in answering guest queries. Because of that, I felt like we weren't welcome at all. I can only imagine what the impression of balikbayans and foreign tourists could be.
Overall, the place wasn't well-maintained. The play area was dusty and rusty. My 7 year old kid wont even dare touch the monkey bars even if I know she wanted to play. The streets were full of garbage, candy wrappers and chips wrappers all around. Most attractions require a fee (affordable at P10-P20 per person), but it wasn't worth it.
There not much food stalls and the few that were there don't offer much. Anyway, it's just a nice thought to know that people in Pasig and neighboring towns have a place to roam around and relax for free. That's the only nice things about this.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
5 Ways to Stick To Your Grocery List (and avoid over-spending!)
I must admit, I very often overspend during grocery shopping. I love going through all the shelves and checking out new products and reading labels and comparing and being intrigued with nice packaging.
Groceries, like bookstores and thrift shops are my happy places. I always look forward to going to the supermarket, even if it is only to buy a bottle of banana catsup.
But then, because I love grocery shopping so much, I tend to overstay and therefore, overspend. I try to stick to my budget, and for many months now, I can say that I have succeeded, most of the time. So what are the things I have done differently resulting to my no longer spending more than I have planned?
1. Write a grocery list. If you are already familiar with the lay-out of the supermarket you frequent, try to write down your items according to the supermarket lay-out. I mean, if upon entering the supermarket, the first shelf you’ll see is the canned goods section, list all the canned goods you need to buy first. If the next shelf you’re going to find is the condiments and cooking supplies section, write down the stuff from those shelves that you need. This way, you don’t have to go back and forth and be tempted to loiter in those shelves and alleys you don’t need anything from.
2. Take note of the brands. Frequent grocers like me, most often than not, are already familiar which brands offer quality but are less expensive. Sometimes, though, it does not necessarily mean that if something is less expensive, it is already the better choice. Be discerning of the reputation, pricing and size of the product you are buying. Be wary and discerning of marketing strategies, too. Do not be tempted to try a new product just because its TV ad and jingle are so entertaining.
3. If you only have a few items you intend to buy for that day, opt for the shopping basket instead of the pushcart. This way, you will not be pressured to fill your cart with unnecessary purchases.
4. For those who are trying to make the healthier choice when it comes to grocery shopping, I suggest head for the fresh produce section first. Ever since I have become more conscious with what my family eats, this is what I do. I buy the veggies and the fruits and the chicken and other meat products first. By the time I have rolled my pushcart towards the middle of the grocery, where the dry goods are, either I am already tired, or my mind tells me I have reached the budget limit for that day. So the tendency is I just buy the very essentials in the dry goods, then I head for the counter and pay. This way, I have walked away from the temptation to overspend, plus I have chosen the healthier path for my family, too.
5. During days that I am on a tight budget, I prefer not to bring my daughter along when I go buy our grocery supplies. I am able to discipline myself more when I am not with her, because kids would always want this cookie and that bag of chips, these candies and those mallows… most of which are not important and necessary. I also find grocery shopping with my husband more helpful because I tend to buy only the necessities whenever he’s around.
Groceries, like bookstores and thrift shops are my happy places. I always look forward to going to the supermarket, even if it is only to buy a bottle of banana catsup.
But then, because I love grocery shopping so much, I tend to overstay and therefore, overspend. I try to stick to my budget, and for many months now, I can say that I have succeeded, most of the time. So what are the things I have done differently resulting to my no longer spending more than I have planned?
1. Write a grocery list. If you are already familiar with the lay-out of the supermarket you frequent, try to write down your items according to the supermarket lay-out. I mean, if upon entering the supermarket, the first shelf you’ll see is the canned goods section, list all the canned goods you need to buy first. If the next shelf you’re going to find is the condiments and cooking supplies section, write down the stuff from those shelves that you need. This way, you don’t have to go back and forth and be tempted to loiter in those shelves and alleys you don’t need anything from.
2. Take note of the brands. Frequent grocers like me, most often than not, are already familiar which brands offer quality but are less expensive. Sometimes, though, it does not necessarily mean that if something is less expensive, it is already the better choice. Be discerning of the reputation, pricing and size of the product you are buying. Be wary and discerning of marketing strategies, too. Do not be tempted to try a new product just because its TV ad and jingle are so entertaining.
3. If you only have a few items you intend to buy for that day, opt for the shopping basket instead of the pushcart. This way, you will not be pressured to fill your cart with unnecessary purchases.
4. For those who are trying to make the healthier choice when it comes to grocery shopping, I suggest head for the fresh produce section first. Ever since I have become more conscious with what my family eats, this is what I do. I buy the veggies and the fruits and the chicken and other meat products first. By the time I have rolled my pushcart towards the middle of the grocery, where the dry goods are, either I am already tired, or my mind tells me I have reached the budget limit for that day. So the tendency is I just buy the very essentials in the dry goods, then I head for the counter and pay. This way, I have walked away from the temptation to overspend, plus I have chosen the healthier path for my family, too.
5. During days that I am on a tight budget, I prefer not to bring my daughter along when I go buy our grocery supplies. I am able to discipline myself more when I am not with her, because kids would always want this cookie and that bag of chips, these candies and those mallows… most of which are not important and necessary. I also find grocery shopping with my husband more helpful because I tend to buy only the necessities whenever he’s around.
5 Ways to Avoid the Morning Rush
Moms of school-age children will agree that the hour… or for some, the less than an hour of preparations before going to school is always the most stressful part of our daily routine. The moment we have to wake our kids up, may I say is one of the most challenging. Who would want to be disturbed from one’s sweet sleep anyways?
In our home, my alarm goes off at 5:45am, but I usually press the snooze button twice. So realistically, I get up at 6:15am. I go downstairs to check the preparations our maid has done, then I fix my daughter’s school lunch and snack, then I go back to the room to wake up my child. I am blessed to have a reliable maid who does most of the work in the morning but I see to it that every night, before I sleep, I write down everything she needs to do. From what to cook for breakfast, to where to find the juice tumbler my daughter prefers to bring for that particular day. I make my child wake up at 6:30 am, and am I glad that it only takes a couple of minutes for her to get out from the bed.
So anyway, coming up with this smooth routine resulted from hits and misses in the past. But I am happy that we’ve been stress-free for some time now.
Before going to sleep the night before, here are the things I do:
1. Make sure all my child’s homework, to-do’s and to-bring’s to school are all ready for the next day.
2. Plan what to wear. School uniform for Monday and Tuesday as well as Thursday, Girl Scouts uniform for Wednesday and PE uniform for Friday. I make sure the maid already knows what shoes, accessories and socks go with those specific uniforms. The Girl Scouts uniform come with badges, pins, a cap, so those should be ready in the living room where my daughter dresses up every morning.
3. Plan what to cook for breakfast, snacks and lunch. As I said earlier, the maid does the leg work, I write the instructions. Some days when the maid goes to school (she attends highschool classes once a week), I instruct her to prepare everything she can before leaving early in the morning, then I do the packing. My husband brings breakfast and lunch to work so those are also in my daily instructions.
4. In our case, we don’t turn on the television during school days. Or at least in the morning before my daughter goes to school. Television stalls her and slows down the way she eats, moves and dresses up. It only took me one morning two years ago when she was only in Kinder and that’s it. I declared a no-TV policy on school mornings.
5. My daughter eats very slowly thus I make her take a bath first before breakfast. This way, she becomes alert and is more awake when it’s time for her first meal. I can even put on her socks and fix her hair while she eats.
There. With this kind of routine that we’ve been doing for the past couple of years already, mornings in our home aren’t as stressful as in other households. I hope you build the perfect routine that’s best for your family, too.
Happy Mornings!
In our home, my alarm goes off at 5:45am, but I usually press the snooze button twice. So realistically, I get up at 6:15am. I go downstairs to check the preparations our maid has done, then I fix my daughter’s school lunch and snack, then I go back to the room to wake up my child. I am blessed to have a reliable maid who does most of the work in the morning but I see to it that every night, before I sleep, I write down everything she needs to do. From what to cook for breakfast, to where to find the juice tumbler my daughter prefers to bring for that particular day. I make my child wake up at 6:30 am, and am I glad that it only takes a couple of minutes for her to get out from the bed.
So anyway, coming up with this smooth routine resulted from hits and misses in the past. But I am happy that we’ve been stress-free for some time now.
Before going to sleep the night before, here are the things I do:
1. Make sure all my child’s homework, to-do’s and to-bring’s to school are all ready for the next day.
2. Plan what to wear. School uniform for Monday and Tuesday as well as Thursday, Girl Scouts uniform for Wednesday and PE uniform for Friday. I make sure the maid already knows what shoes, accessories and socks go with those specific uniforms. The Girl Scouts uniform come with badges, pins, a cap, so those should be ready in the living room where my daughter dresses up every morning.
3. Plan what to cook for breakfast, snacks and lunch. As I said earlier, the maid does the leg work, I write the instructions. Some days when the maid goes to school (she attends highschool classes once a week), I instruct her to prepare everything she can before leaving early in the morning, then I do the packing. My husband brings breakfast and lunch to work so those are also in my daily instructions.
4. In our case, we don’t turn on the television during school days. Or at least in the morning before my daughter goes to school. Television stalls her and slows down the way she eats, moves and dresses up. It only took me one morning two years ago when she was only in Kinder and that’s it. I declared a no-TV policy on school mornings.
5. My daughter eats very slowly thus I make her take a bath first before breakfast. This way, she becomes alert and is more awake when it’s time for her first meal. I can even put on her socks and fix her hair while she eats.
There. With this kind of routine that we’ve been doing for the past couple of years already, mornings in our home aren’t as stressful as in other households. I hope you build the perfect routine that’s best for your family, too.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
DIY Planner
Ever since I can remember, I've always been someone who love lists. Things to do lists, specifically. I dislike wasting my time, I get upset whenever a day passes without me accomplishing anything. As early as when I was in gradeschool, I remember scouring the bookstores for the perfect calendar. A few years later, planners have been invented and I was an instant fan. I love writing down what I needed to do for every single hour, sometimes even every half hour. At night I'd record what happened during the day.
As years, okay decades passed by, my taste for the perfect planner levelled up. And there just wasn't anything available in the stores that fit my needs and my lifestyle perfectly. Either there aren't enough spaces for my records, or the alignment isn't according to my taste, or the color of the cover isn't my style. Ohwell.
So this year, I have decided to make my own planner. For about 3-5 years already, my husband always receives at least two planners for Christmas. And since he's not the type who'd use one, he always end up giving me those. I am a happy wife each time he does, because that saves me a hundred or so pesos to purchase one for myself. But then again, most of these planners have very, and I mean, VERY limited space.
Okay, I digress. As I was saying, this year I am making my own planner. My husband, again gave me around 3 notebooks this year. Two are planners, and one is a hardbound, leather notebook. Because the latter was lightweight and looks nice, it won and is now my 2015 DIY Planner.
I have yet to take pictures of it, but just to give you an idea, here are the portions/segments/corners I have included on a week to week basis:
Month
Dates of the week
Main Focus and Project for the week
Days of the week with space space space for my daily activities
Personal To Do-List
Work To Do-List
God's Word Page (this takes more space as I tend to write a lot depends on what the Holy Spirit tells me to)
Notes/Doodles/Ideas Corner
Highlights of the Week/Gratitude Corner
And for every quarter, I have devoted a special page for Analysis and Progress.
Also, on the first few pages of the planner, I have written down my WORD/THEME for the Year, and my Scripture Verse for the Year.
As well as a Vision Page where I write down how I see myself in:
one year, three years, five years, ten years, twenty years, forty years.
So there, making mental note and including in my list now that I have to take a photo of a sample page to share with you.
In the meantime, here's to all of us LIST LOVERS and PLANNER FANATICS!
As years, okay decades passed by, my taste for the perfect planner levelled up. And there just wasn't anything available in the stores that fit my needs and my lifestyle perfectly. Either there aren't enough spaces for my records, or the alignment isn't according to my taste, or the color of the cover isn't my style. Ohwell.
So this year, I have decided to make my own planner. For about 3-5 years already, my husband always receives at least two planners for Christmas. And since he's not the type who'd use one, he always end up giving me those. I am a happy wife each time he does, because that saves me a hundred or so pesos to purchase one for myself. But then again, most of these planners have very, and I mean, VERY limited space.
Okay, I digress. As I was saying, this year I am making my own planner. My husband, again gave me around 3 notebooks this year. Two are planners, and one is a hardbound, leather notebook. Because the latter was lightweight and looks nice, it won and is now my 2015 DIY Planner.
I have yet to take pictures of it, but just to give you an idea, here are the portions/segments/corners I have included on a week to week basis:
Month
Dates of the week
Main Focus and Project for the week
Days of the week with space space space for my daily activities
Personal To Do-List
Work To Do-List
God's Word Page (this takes more space as I tend to write a lot depends on what the Holy Spirit tells me to)
Notes/Doodles/Ideas Corner
Highlights of the Week/Gratitude Corner
And for every quarter, I have devoted a special page for Analysis and Progress.
Also, on the first few pages of the planner, I have written down my WORD/THEME for the Year, and my Scripture Verse for the Year.
As well as a Vision Page where I write down how I see myself in:
one year, three years, five years, ten years, twenty years, forty years.
So there, making mental note and including in my list now that I have to take a photo of a sample page to share with you.
In the meantime, here's to all of us LIST LOVERS and PLANNER FANATICS!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Weekly Savings Challenge
In my mommy group, we have been discussing and challenging each other to start a weekly savings goal. I love this challenge and am hoping I'd be able to make it to the finish line.
Sharing here the chart that they sent the group as a guide.
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Sharing here the chart that they sent the group as a guide.
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Welcome 2015!
After much prayer and waiting on the Lord, I have finally come up with my theme/words for 2015. And my theme is FOCUS and SECURITY. Focus on God and on the priorities He has set for me, focus on what He wants me to do, focus on attaining my God-inspired goals; Security in all aspects of my life, in family life and career. While the Scripture verses that the Holy Spirit has impressed upon me and will serve as my guiding verses for the new year are Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Excited for 2015, excited for God's blessings.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Freedom Bazaar at Club Manila East
Okay, for those who have been visiting my blog on a regular basis, you can say that I am such a bazaar addict. I love going to thrift shops and I get a nice high whenever I am in tiangge. I don't have to buy anything to be happy, just being there makes me feel so elated.
So for the last quarter of this year, I have gone to Club Manila East's Freedom Bazaar in Taytay, Rizal for not less than 10 times already. My favorite purchases there are sando for men which is for P50 only. My husband practically has ALL the colors and designs as he loves the cloth from which the sandos are made of. Plain blouses are at P100, while the printed ones range from P35 to P150. Long sleeved corporate looking tops for women range from P100 to P350 while kimonos and cover-ups are usually at P70-P150 only. Characters shirts and dresses for little girls are at P100 only, and may I just mention that I found these exact dresses at the malls and they are selling at P350!
During my most recent trip, I bought 6 pieces of pambahay tops for my daughter for P25 each! Now do the math and you'd be thrilled you'd want to hoard all designs!
I also found a stall customizing and selling paracord bracelets for P50 each, and sleeping eye masks for P35 only. Mind you, these eye masks are for sale at the malls for P39.75-P70 each!
I could go on and on about my wonderful buys but nothing beats the high of being there yourself.
For directions on going there by commuting:
From Ortigas, take the G-Liner of RRCG bus with the signage SM Taytay. These buses should reach CME or Club Manila East. From SM Taytay, it wont take more than 7 minutes before you can spot a Jollibee, then a McDonalds at the right side. Few meters from McDo is the Freedom Bazaar. The colorful and numerous makeshift tents are just so hard to miss.
For the holidays, most shops are open everyday. But the usual schedule of the bazaar is only on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I was told, but have not verified yet, that they are open as early at before 6am. They usually close at 5pm. But I would suggest going in the morning as most stalls close up once they're reached the sales quota for the day.
Bring an umbrella to fight off the heat, and the rain since the stalls are not tightly built together. Wear comfortable footwear, sneakers preferably as the floor can get muddy when it rains. Bring an ecobag as their plastic bags are not as sturdy as they should be and can easily tear up. I have never brought my 7 yr old daughter here, too as I know the crowd, the heat and the mud are not for fussy kids.
For snacks, there are a lot of street food for the not so-sensitive tummies, but if you want to cool off in an airconditioned establishment, there's a McDo, a Chowking (and I think a KFC) across the street.
Happy shopping!
So for the last quarter of this year, I have gone to Club Manila East's Freedom Bazaar in Taytay, Rizal for not less than 10 times already. My favorite purchases there are sando for men which is for P50 only. My husband practically has ALL the colors and designs as he loves the cloth from which the sandos are made of. Plain blouses are at P100, while the printed ones range from P35 to P150. Long sleeved corporate looking tops for women range from P100 to P350 while kimonos and cover-ups are usually at P70-P150 only. Characters shirts and dresses for little girls are at P100 only, and may I just mention that I found these exact dresses at the malls and they are selling at P350!
During my most recent trip, I bought 6 pieces of pambahay tops for my daughter for P25 each! Now do the math and you'd be thrilled you'd want to hoard all designs!
I also found a stall customizing and selling paracord bracelets for P50 each, and sleeping eye masks for P35 only. Mind you, these eye masks are for sale at the malls for P39.75-P70 each!
I could go on and on about my wonderful buys but nothing beats the high of being there yourself.
For directions on going there by commuting:
From Ortigas, take the G-Liner of RRCG bus with the signage SM Taytay. These buses should reach CME or Club Manila East. From SM Taytay, it wont take more than 7 minutes before you can spot a Jollibee, then a McDonalds at the right side. Few meters from McDo is the Freedom Bazaar. The colorful and numerous makeshift tents are just so hard to miss.
For the holidays, most shops are open everyday. But the usual schedule of the bazaar is only on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I was told, but have not verified yet, that they are open as early at before 6am. They usually close at 5pm. But I would suggest going in the morning as most stalls close up once they're reached the sales quota for the day.
Bring an umbrella to fight off the heat, and the rain since the stalls are not tightly built together. Wear comfortable footwear, sneakers preferably as the floor can get muddy when it rains. Bring an ecobag as their plastic bags are not as sturdy as they should be and can easily tear up. I have never brought my 7 yr old daughter here, too as I know the crowd, the heat and the mud are not for fussy kids.
For snacks, there are a lot of street food for the not so-sensitive tummies, but if you want to cool off in an airconditioned establishment, there's a McDo, a Chowking (and I think a KFC) across the street.
Happy shopping!
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Another Scholastic Warehouse Sale, woot woot!
Yay booklovers! Scholastic has opened it warehouse again for another sale this year! Selected books as low as P20 and P40! Hardbound Harry Potter books at P49.00 Yup, and that's not a typo error! Regular priced books are at 20% discount.
Once again, the warehouse is along C. Raymundo, Pasig City.
Happy shopping and reading!
PS: For those who've been regular Scholastic Sale goers, you might be asking if they again have the box all you can promo... unfortunately, they don't have one this time. But still! :)
Once again, the warehouse is along C. Raymundo, Pasig City.
Happy shopping and reading!
PS: For those who've been regular Scholastic Sale goers, you might be asking if they again have the box all you can promo... unfortunately, they don't have one this time. But still! :)
The Off Price Show Sale in Metrowalk
Okay, mainly because of the proximity, I decided to check out The Off Price Show sale in Metrotent in Metrowalk last week instead of the Kids Craze Toy Sale in Scout Rallos. I was, however, turned off to know that there is a P50 entrance fee. I really don't mind having to pay for this, as some other bazaars charge the same (or even lower), but I was expecting to find interesting stuff inside. Oh well, there wasn't much. You can scan the place in 10 minutes and that's it.
There were clothes, a few shoes. Some Melissa and Doug products which are not really at a lower price, and shoes by Barbie, Elle and I think Chico's (not sure with this last one).
Just so I wont feel my trip don't get wasted, I bought my daughter a pair of Barbie boots. Not bad for P900, but there wasn't much choice anyway.
So there, in case you're near the area and still want to check this out, it's ongoing at the Metrotent in Metrowalk, Pasig City.
There were clothes, a few shoes. Some Melissa and Doug products which are not really at a lower price, and shoes by Barbie, Elle and I think Chico's (not sure with this last one).
Just so I wont feel my trip don't get wasted, I bought my daughter a pair of Barbie boots. Not bad for P900, but there wasn't much choice anyway.
So there, in case you're near the area and still want to check this out, it's ongoing at the Metrotent in Metrowalk, Pasig City.
The 2014 Richwell Toys Warehouse Sale
It's that time of the year again when warehouse sales are everywhere. In my facebook feed alone, I get an average of 3-4 sale alerts every week!
A few weeks ago, I blogged about our trip to the Blims Warehouse sale. A street away from that is the Automatic Center Appliance Sale, also in Pioneer, Mandaluyong. Might drop by this weekend, as I learned their sale has been extended.
For now, let me just mention that the Richwell Toy Warehouse Sale is ongoing. I haven't visited though but I was told both toys, kiddie apparel as well as school supplies are on sale there. Brands as Barbie, Elle and Crayola have stocks you can purchase at discounted price.
The warehouse can be found at #102 Timog Ave., Quezon City. They are open on Nov 27-28, Dec 4-6 and Dec 11-13 from 10am-6pm.
Make sure you come early as it can get crowded by noon onwards. Parking is a challenge, too and as what I always say whenever I go to warehouse sales, always wear comfy clothes, don't wear jewelries, bring a bottle of water, fan, hand sanitizer and face towel.
Additional tip: I don't bring my daughter along as she can get really irritated with the dust and the crowd. You wouldn't want to get distracted from the high of shopping because you have to attend to your child's whining, don't you? Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to bring small kids especially in toy sales as you might end up having to buy more that what you really intended to.
Happy shopping!
Oh and by the way, a gentle reminded that the Christmas Season isn't about toys and sales and shopping. Remember what we're really celebrating this season, okay? Merry Christmas!
A few weeks ago, I blogged about our trip to the Blims Warehouse sale. A street away from that is the Automatic Center Appliance Sale, also in Pioneer, Mandaluyong. Might drop by this weekend, as I learned their sale has been extended.
For now, let me just mention that the Richwell Toy Warehouse Sale is ongoing. I haven't visited though but I was told both toys, kiddie apparel as well as school supplies are on sale there. Brands as Barbie, Elle and Crayola have stocks you can purchase at discounted price.
The warehouse can be found at #102 Timog Ave., Quezon City. They are open on Nov 27-28, Dec 4-6 and Dec 11-13 from 10am-6pm.
Make sure you come early as it can get crowded by noon onwards. Parking is a challenge, too and as what I always say whenever I go to warehouse sales, always wear comfy clothes, don't wear jewelries, bring a bottle of water, fan, hand sanitizer and face towel.
Additional tip: I don't bring my daughter along as she can get really irritated with the dust and the crowd. You wouldn't want to get distracted from the high of shopping because you have to attend to your child's whining, don't you? Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to bring small kids especially in toy sales as you might end up having to buy more that what you really intended to.
Happy shopping!
Oh and by the way, a gentle reminded that the Christmas Season isn't about toys and sales and shopping. Remember what we're really celebrating this season, okay? Merry Christmas!
Monday, November 17, 2014
Blims Warehouse Sale 2014
Once again, the Blims Warehouse Sale is ongoing starting Nov 14. The warehouse can be found along Williams Street in Mandaluyong. Coming from Shaw Blvd, take Pioneer Street. You wont miss the huge tarpaulins they've set up at the corner of Williams and Pioneer.
Drive a little bit more and you'll find the Automatic Center Holiday Sale. On my way to Reliance Street the other day, I also saw the Ethan Allen is also on sale.
But last weekend, we decided to drop by Blims and here are some photos.
Drive a little bit more and you'll find the Automatic Center Holiday Sale. On my way to Reliance Street the other day, I also saw the Ethan Allen is also on sale.
But last weekend, we decided to drop by Blims and here are some photos.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Sta Elena Fun Farm
The first time we went to Sta Elena Fun Farm in Laguna was on Mothers Day this year. We had fun because we were really craving for something to do and somewhere to spend this day aside from the mall. My daughter's favorite was the play area set up by Waldorf School, since she loves pretend play. She liked the cooking toys so much and the rag dolls, too.
Her second favorite was the fishing area and animal feeding area. Feeding the bunnies with carrots was an experience for her. She did enjoy the carabao ride, though it took us more time to wait for our ride than the actual "tour." Foodies like us enjoyed the wide variety of food stalls and choices. But since they're mostly organic, most of the food options area of course, more expensive than usual.
For this year's school excursion, Sta Elena was our first stop. My girl, being the only second timer there in her class, was feeling "tour guide" haha! She also tried a lot of other stuff that she didn't dare try during the first visit. She rode the horse alone, and took the carabao ride with only her classmates. I was thrilled that she was facing her fears and trying to conquer them.
The boat ride was fun, too, though I was the one who was itching for the boat ride to be over. Just looking at how icky the water looked makes me cringe!
But the highlight of this second visit was when she rode the ZIPLINE! Oh how nervous I was! She didn't want to try it at first but I knew she was just giving herself time to calculate the risk, haha! I was praying silently while waiting for her turn, I was half-expecting she'd back out the last minute. But when she wore the helmet and the harness was being attached to her and she wasn't showing any signs of backing out, I knew she's ready for another milestone. And so she did... she took the zipline and she made it! I was prouder than her, actually! I was so enthralled that I texted my husband and my mom right away!
So there, to sum up our Sta Elena experience, I must say it was a good experience.
Her second favorite was the fishing area and animal feeding area. Feeding the bunnies with carrots was an experience for her. She did enjoy the carabao ride, though it took us more time to wait for our ride than the actual "tour." Foodies like us enjoyed the wide variety of food stalls and choices. But since they're mostly organic, most of the food options area of course, more expensive than usual.
For this year's school excursion, Sta Elena was our first stop. My girl, being the only second timer there in her class, was feeling "tour guide" haha! She also tried a lot of other stuff that she didn't dare try during the first visit. She rode the horse alone, and took the carabao ride with only her classmates. I was thrilled that she was facing her fears and trying to conquer them.
The boat ride was fun, too, though I was the one who was itching for the boat ride to be over. Just looking at how icky the water looked makes me cringe!
But the highlight of this second visit was when she rode the ZIPLINE! Oh how nervous I was! She didn't want to try it at first but I knew she was just giving herself time to calculate the risk, haha! I was praying silently while waiting for her turn, I was half-expecting she'd back out the last minute. But when she wore the helmet and the harness was being attached to her and she wasn't showing any signs of backing out, I knew she's ready for another milestone. And so she did... she took the zipline and she made it! I was prouder than her, actually! I was so enthralled that I texted my husband and my mom right away!
So there, to sum up our Sta Elena experience, I must say it was a good experience.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Yexel's Toy Museum
For this year's school field trip, included in the itinerary of my daughter's excursion was a trip to Yexel's Toy Museum. Since it's a museum that involves toys, both me and my girl are so looking forward to it. We were thinking we might be able to buy hard-to-find toys there both for her, and as gifts for Christmas. But of course I did some research on the very day that I heard about this, and I must say it didn't excite me.
So on the third week of September, off we went with the entire school. This toy museum was the last stop for the day, and in my humble opinion, it wasn't wow enough as a field trip climax. 3 minutes inside and my daughter, as well as her close girl buddies were already bored. 10 minutes inside, with all those busts of Batman characters and my daughter was already begging to leave.
Some photos...
So on the third week of September, off we went with the entire school. This toy museum was the last stop for the day, and in my humble opinion, it wasn't wow enough as a field trip climax. 3 minutes inside and my daughter, as well as her close girl buddies were already bored. 10 minutes inside, with all those busts of Batman characters and my daughter was already begging to leave.
Some photos...
Fun at Kidzoona
When I first heard about the PISO per hour promo of Kidzoona, I knew we have to avail of it. My daughter, a sucker for play areas in malls, will definitely love it there. And me, the ever practical mom who just loooves promos knew I have to bring my darling to this Kidzoona place. Another greeeat thing about it is that it's just inside Robinson's Galleria. Our fave mall! So fave that we're there EVERY SINGLE Sunday! Well of course, our church is in Galleria, so we practically spend almost the entire day in Galleria most weekends, plus we love that it's never too crowded, even during sale days.
So as I was sayin' my kid loves Kidzoona so much we were there on a Sunday, then went back two days after, then went back, a day after! Yep, that's three days in just one week! And a total of 6 hours of play. And how much did I spend? Do ask me, dear because I'm just so so proud to say that I spent P6.00! Okay, P5, because there was a time when my daughter handed out a peso from her pocket, haha!
Enough of the words, now. Let me just share with you some our our snapshots while inside this new play area in the Metro. Oh, let me just point out, though, that the Piso per hour promo is over and it's now P200 per hour. For the Pretend Play area, kids up to 8 years old are allowed. But I think they allow up to 12 yr olds for the inflatables and giant slides.
So as I was sayin' my kid loves Kidzoona so much we were there on a Sunday, then went back two days after, then went back, a day after! Yep, that's three days in just one week! And a total of 6 hours of play. And how much did I spend? Do ask me, dear because I'm just so so proud to say that I spent P6.00! Okay, P5, because there was a time when my daughter handed out a peso from her pocket, haha!
Enough of the words, now. Let me just share with you some our our snapshots while inside this new play area in the Metro. Oh, let me just point out, though, that the Piso per hour promo is over and it's now P200 per hour. For the Pretend Play area, kids up to 8 years old are allowed. But I think they allow up to 12 yr olds for the inflatables and giant slides.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
The Good Ol' United American Tiki-Tiki
Up to this very day, I can still remember and sing the tv commercial jingle of United American Tiki tiki. The tv ad always comes up in between my viewing of Sesame Street when I was a toddler, and I remember asking my mom for my daily doze of it because of all the vitamins she used to give me, this one tastes the best.
Now that I'm already a mom, I still give this to my daughter, and as expected, she loves it. I alternate it with Appebon and Cherifer Forte every other month or so..jpg)
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Now that I'm already a mom, I still give this to my daughter, and as expected, she loves it. I alternate it with Appebon and Cherifer Forte every other month or so.
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Robinsons Galleria Weekend Workshop for Kids
My daughter had fun doing crafts at the Kiddie Workshops held at Jumpstreet, Level 3 of Robinson's Galleria yesterday. We had fun, too, plus the workshops are free!
Activitives include Vegetable Puppets Making, Potted Plants Making,
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As well as Cupcake Decorating, Bracelet Making and Paper Flower Art.
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The flier says they're having another one like this this coming weekend, October 18-19, 2014 as well.
By the way, looks like Robinsons Galleria has lots of things happening this month. There'll be a Giant Sale of up to 70% off on selections from participating stores from Oct 15-19, a Street Fair on Oct 23-25 at the Activity Area, a Stamp Making Contest by Philpost on the 24th, and a halloween event titled All Treats, No Tricks on the 26th. There'll be a Creepy Crazy Halloween happening, too at the Activity Area on the said date.
Enjoy, families!
Activitives include Vegetable Puppets Making, Potted Plants Making,
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As well as Cupcake Decorating, Bracelet Making and Paper Flower Art.
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The flier says they're having another one like this this coming weekend, October 18-19, 2014 as well.
By the way, looks like Robinsons Galleria has lots of things happening this month. There'll be a Giant Sale of up to 70% off on selections from participating stores from Oct 15-19, a Street Fair on Oct 23-25 at the Activity Area, a Stamp Making Contest by Philpost on the 24th, and a halloween event titled All Treats, No Tricks on the 26th. There'll be a Creepy Crazy Halloween happening, too at the Activity Area on the said date.
Enjoy, families!
Thursday, September 25, 2014
HMR Bargain Finds
It's been years since I last went to HMR. I recently remembered checking out the stuff there and so last Sunday, me and the hubby and daughter went to Reliance in Mandaluyong to see if there are interesting finds we could buy for the house.
Nothing much changed since my last visit, except that there's already a Tasty Tucker restaurant beside it.
Here are a few of the snapshots from my visit.
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Anyway, since Halloween is just 'round the corner, you might want to check out their selection of halloween costumes for your kids' trick or treating!
For commuters and coming from Shaw Blvd, take a tricycle from Tropical Hut and the riders already know where HMR is. The jeepney with the "Crossing United" sign also passes in front of said warehouse. For private transport, just trek down Sheridan Street and when you see the Mcdo, it's already right across it. Happy shopping!
Nothing much changed since my last visit, except that there's already a Tasty Tucker restaurant beside it.
Here are a few of the snapshots from my visit.
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Anyway, since Halloween is just 'round the corner, you might want to check out their selection of halloween costumes for your kids' trick or treating!
For commuters and coming from Shaw Blvd, take a tricycle from Tropical Hut and the riders already know where HMR is. The jeepney with the "Crossing United" sign also passes in front of said warehouse. For private transport, just trek down Sheridan Street and when you see the Mcdo, it's already right across it. Happy shopping!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Our Silka Stay
A few days ago, me and my family went on a vacay in Hong Kong. We stayed at the Silka Far East Hotel. I got to decide on this hotel after weeks of research and emailing back and forth various other hotels. Being the obsessive compulsive that I am, I want everything smoothed out before I book anything. We used to always stay at Guang Dong Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, the one in Prat. But because this year's trip is on a tighter budget, I went to for choices. On my short list were Regal Airport Hotel, Metropark Hotel, Aubergine and Dorsett Mongkok. Various factors made me decide on Silka. On top of the list was client reviews, proximity to public transportation, the price and the presence of shops around.
Silka Far East in Tsuen Wan offered a huge discount on the day I was browsing about it. Agoda, Expedia and Booking.com all had good rates then, but had the best deal. Plus, they charge no booking fee, and the free cancellation due date was only a few days before our scheduled trip.
So fastforward to our actual stay in Silka Far East... it was conveniently located in Tsuen Wan. We had to take the Airbus A31 bus from the airport. The lobby was huge, but as expected, the rooms were tiny! This is the tiniest I've seen in all our travels. But the good thing was the cleanliness and the nice, sleek interiors. The staff was helpful, too, though they don't smile a lot.
There were shops around, a nice mall (Citistore) nearby, a couple of 7-11s and another convenience store called K Circle, a resto that serves yummy Chinese dishes called 89, bakeries like Taipan, A-1 Café and Bakeshop, and even a Daiso branch.
All in all, our stay was comfortable. I would recommend this hotel and will to stay here again the next time we visit Hong Kong.
Silka Far East in Tsuen Wan offered a huge discount on the day I was browsing about it. Agoda, Expedia and Booking.com all had good rates then, but had the best deal. Plus, they charge no booking fee, and the free cancellation due date was only a few days before our scheduled trip.
So fastforward to our actual stay in Silka Far East... it was conveniently located in Tsuen Wan. We had to take the Airbus A31 bus from the airport. The lobby was huge, but as expected, the rooms were tiny! This is the tiniest I've seen in all our travels. But the good thing was the cleanliness and the nice, sleek interiors. The staff was helpful, too, though they don't smile a lot.
There were shops around, a nice mall (Citistore) nearby, a couple of 7-11s and another convenience store called K Circle, a resto that serves yummy Chinese dishes called 89, bakeries like Taipan, A-1 Café and Bakeshop, and even a Daiso branch.
All in all, our stay was comfortable. I would recommend this hotel and will to stay here again the next time we visit Hong Kong.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Yema Cake! Yema Cake!
Just two weeks ago, my husband went on an out of town trip and brought home a roll of yema cake. It was yummy, but not memorable. Just yesterday, an online group of moms of which I am a member brought up the topic of ordering yema cakes from Quezon Province. I wasn't into it at first because waiting for cake for almost a week (due to delivery schedule) doesn't appeal to me that much. But when one of my friends from the same group mentioned about this bakery near our place that makes super yummy and not too sweet yema cakes, I started to drool! I googled their bakeshop and intended to drop by yesterday. But it took me more time in the bank than I expected so I ended up going home after my errand. But while I was putting my daughter to sleep in the afternoon, I still couldn't stop thinking about the prospect of ordering. I texted them and was super glad to know they deliver to our place! Woohoo!
So today, my first delivery of Kuya Jun's Yummy Yema Cake came and I'm just waiting for my daughter to get home from school, and my husband to wake up from his nap and then we'd attack this mouth-watering piece of creation! Anyway, in case you're curious, the bakeshop has a branch in Cubao, and another one in Rublou Building, near Brookside Hills, Cainta. One whole roll costs P300 while the half roll is P150 (I think!). For deliveries, inform them via text or facebook a day in advance. Let me just mention, too that their rider was also very kind and accommodating.
Here's some photos of the yema cake:
So today, my first delivery of Kuya Jun's Yummy Yema Cake came and I'm just waiting for my daughter to get home from school, and my husband to wake up from his nap and then we'd attack this mouth-watering piece of creation! Anyway, in case you're curious, the bakeshop has a branch in Cubao, and another one in Rublou Building, near Brookside Hills, Cainta. One whole roll costs P300 while the half roll is P150 (I think!). For deliveries, inform them via text or facebook a day in advance. Let me just mention, too that their rider was also very kind and accommodating.
Here's some photos of the yema cake:
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