August 2013 Monthly Roundup

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- The Matched Series (Matched, Crossed, Reached) by Allie Condie
- Currently reading: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
- Never Let Me Go
- The Croods
- The Rock

What special days did I celebrate and how?
- MIL's birthday
- Jayda's Baptism
- The little girl's Buwan ng Wika
- Early birthday celebration in Seoul

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- I'm very thankful that migraines this month weren't too bad. But as usual I had allergies and colds.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Dinner at the inlaws' house to celebration MIL's birthday
- Fellowship with household at CenterStage
- Kids had their KFC Kids' Camp this month. Yey!
- Went to Seoul, Korea with Hubby

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- Dinner and Wine at Poco Deli
- Ramen Cool
- Early Bird Breakfast Club
- Restos and Coffee Shops in Seoul

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- A few pasalubong for the kids and family in Seoul

What were this month's disappointments?
- Typhoon and floods were so scary! No classes for kids and no work for us for 3 days.
- Still no Yaya as of the moment

What were my accomplishments this month?
- I'm learning to appreciate my life more. I'm loving every minute of it. Thank you, God! (*smile*)

Our Wonderful Hotel Room at Misibis Bay

We couldn't wait to settle down our room because we were so tired from the trip but our rooms weren't available so we had lunch first. Finally after a couple of hours and after a grand time at the lunch buffet, we were able to settle down into our gorgeous hotel room.

LOOK!





And look how big our bathroom was...






This room is definitely ONE.OF.THE.BEST.!

Our Sumptuous Lunch Buffet at Spice Market Restaurant (Misibis Bay)

While we waited for our rooms, we decided to have lunch first. Since everyone was so hungry and tired after our flight and almost 2-hour road trip, we decided to avail the lunch buffet.

Oh boy, most of the options were so good. But I was too full to try them all.

The highlights?

The seafood noodle soup which was especially made for me...


And the dessert spread...


It was a good lunch! Now we are ready to retire to our hotel rooms!


Oh, Misibis Bay, You are Beautiful!

We knew it the moment we arrived from our almost 2-hour road trip, Misibis Bay was indeed B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.!



The weather helped too, because it was perfect! When the kids saw the pool in the middle of the resort, they wanted to jumped right in.


I couldn't blame them, because I wanted to jumped right in too...


Oh, Misibis, we definitely fell in love with you the first time.



♥♥♥

Arriving Sorsogon. Hello Mayon!

We finally arrived Sorsogon.

And as always, we were mesmerized by the beauty of Mayon Volcano.


Who wouldn't?

We saw the tip of the volcano this time! Hello, Mayon! (*grin*)



As soon as we got our baggages, we left the airport and a crew greeted us. We waited for a couple of minutes then we rode the Misibis Bay van. Talk about great service!

Off we went to the resort!




Our Flight to Sorsogon, Bicol last May

When my in-laws told us that we were going to Misibis Bay to celebrate their 45th anniversary, we were ecstatic! We knew that Misibis Bay is one of the best resorts in the Philippines and we knew that there is going to be a pool and the beach. We declared that this trip is going to be one of the best!

Last May 17 (Friday), off we went to the airport by 6AM for our 9AM flight to Sorsogon, Bicol. The kids were so excited seeing their cousins at the airport. All of them were so looking forward to this trip for months!

We were so thankful that our flight was on time, we boarded a couple of minutes before departure time and then the plane departed. We safely arrived Sorsogon. Woohoo!

Thank you, dear God! ♥

Sharing a Song this Sunday: Everybody

Sharing a very nice song about love by Ingrid Michaelson...


♪♪ Everybody, everybody wants to love....Everybody, everybody wants to be love. Oh, oh, oh... ♪♪

Oh, I love this song! Let's all celebrate L.O.V.E. today! (*wink*)

A Fun Get Together with Cousins

My cousin invited us to celebrate her wedding a couple of weeks ago, so off we went to Casa Filipino. I was really excited to see my cousins again...


After dinner, we went straight to Historia for a couple of drinks.


It was indeed a fun get together. Hope to see my cousins again soon!

Catching up with my Friend over Coffee

Finally, after almost a year of setting a coffee date, my friend and I, finally met last June.


We haven't seen each other for a year but still, it didn't matter. We were still friends. So we catched up for a while and then just like the old time, laughed each other out.

Good times! Glad to see you friend!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. The little girl's Linggo ng Wika celebration
2. Weekend with family
3. My brother is here!
4. Kids' Camp
5. Vietnamese food
6. 2-hour naps
7. Coffee
8. Holiday today! WOOT!
9. Family Time
10. Blogging is preserving memories

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Malaya's First Birthday Party

Last summer, the kids were invited to join Malaya's first birthday party. They were so excited because it was at Active Fun, Ortigas. They knew that there was a playarea for them.

I was also excited because I'm going to meet my highschool friends!


It was a fun party! The food was good, the program was short enough for the kids to play outside and short enough for the Moms to be able to chat with each other. (*grin*) We all had and so was Malaya.

Happy birthday again, little girl!

Red Velvet Cupcake + Coffee from SLICE = Heavenly!

I was so happy I got extra time after my massage so I went to SLICE to have a red velvet cupcake fix...


...and coffee too!


Yum yum yum! How I wish I could go to SLICE, everyday!!!

Sharing a Song this Sunday: When can I see you Again?

A nice song I discovered after watching the nice movie - Wreck it Ralph.


I hope you are all having a great day, peeps! Have a nice Sunday!

Flashback FRIDAY: Our Honeymoon (2005)

I'm missing the beach, that's why I wanted to share our honeymoon photo taken in Boracay last February, 2005.


This honeymoon trip started it all. We were traveling a lot after this one and we never looked back. We just love traveling so much! ♥

Our Favorite Pancake House

When the going gets tough, there's Pancake House! Yes, pancakes, tacos, chicken and spaghetti are our comfort food. So when Hubby and I are stressed out with daily errands/routine, kids' school projects and requirements and house chores, we simply go to Pancake House.


My personal favorite meal: Chicken, Spaghetti and Taco.


I never go wrong with this order.

Plus soft and fluffy pancakes...


Ooooh, it was a happy "pancake house" day! ♥♥♥

Benefits of Hiring a Catering Service

If you want to host a large party or get-together for your family and friends in your home, hire a Chatsworth catering service to do all of the hard work for you. They will plan, prepare, and serve the meal, so that you don’t have to.

The Main Menu

Sit down with your caterer to plan out what you want served at your party. If it is going to be a small event with a minimal amount of people, you can easily have a sit down dinner served to you and your guests. If the event is going to be a little larger, plan on a buffet style, so that your guests can have many options right in front of them. This gives everyone a choice and a chance to enjoy some yummy tasting foods. Choose a menu based on the event. If this is a family gathering, maybe pick entrees that involve your culture or heritage. If you are celebrating someone’s birthday, serve their favorite foods and treats to honor and celebrate another year with them. No matter what you do, everyone will be delighted to attend your grand party.

Easy and Relaxed

One of the best benefits of hiring a caterer is that you do not have to worry about preparing or serving the food. You also can watch someone else take charge of the clean-up, which can sometimes be very tedious and difficult. This is great, especially if your event is taking place in your home. You don’t have to bother with the messes or the hassles that can come with throwing a big bash that involves food. This will now give you the time to be with your guests throughout the night instead of slaving over a hot stove for hours on end.

A Wise Choice

Before you plan your next event, think about hiring a Chatsworth catering service to be in charge of
preparing and serving the food. With rates that are reasonably priced and fare that is divinely delicious, you will be able to relax at your party and partake of the incredible bites.

Oh, Maple!

I'm sure you already noticed that we've been eating OUT for days now. Well, simply because we are too stressed out. I know not a reason. But there is no need to have a reason to try Maple Restaurant in the New East Wing in Shangrila.

So off we went one weekday and forgot about our diet for the night...


I had the best eggs benedict (so far!) - their signature topped with Canadian bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce served with crunch country fries.

Hubby had prime rib tapa with egg and fried rice - A traditional Filipino breakfast favorite taken to new heights. A marinated prime rib served with garlic rice, two eggs prepared the way you like.

Oh the meal was diviiiine! Would love to go back again hopefully we can bring the kids too!

The Advantages of Looking at Furniture in Furniture Stores

When you go to one of the furniture stores in St. Petersburg, FL, you will most likely find a massive room with different sections. In each of the sections, you will find different furniture. If you are looking at bedroom furniture, they might have different bedroom sets all put together with accessories and bedding. If you are looking at living room furniture, they might have a whole living room set up, complete with televisions and rugs. Towards the back may be the mattress sets and the kids’ bedrooms set up. A salesman will come over to find out if you need any help, and if you are just looking, they will leave you to yourself so you can wander around and get ideas. If you do know what you want and have prices in mind, they will also be happy to direct you to what they have that might meet your criteria.

Better than a Picture

Being able to see a bedroom set on the showroom floor and to be able to walk through it is much more effective than looking at pictures of the individual pieces on a website. You can open and shut the drawers and doors in the bedroom setups. In the living room setups, you can sit on the furniture and recline on the couches to see if you fit and are comfortable in them. Seeing the colors of things also will help, especially if you bring in paint and flooring samples that you are trying to match the furniture to.

Warranties

When you buy furniture new, you should educate yourself about the warranty that comes with the furniture. There are extended warranties that you can pay more money to get, but be sure to read the fine print to see if the warranty is for you. Some warranties that you get from furniture stores in St. Petersburg, FL, are only good if the furniture is still in the possession of the original buyer. There is wording in the warranty about what normal use and proper maintenance constitutes, and if they determine the problem doesn’t fit in that category, then the warranty doesn’t apply. Warranties can save you money in some cases; just be careful to pay for the right warranty for your particular circumstances.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. MIL's birthday
2. Sugarhouse's Coffee Torte Cake ♥
3. Relaxing Weekend. I was able to take a nap last Saturday and Sunday!
4. Wreck it Ralph Movie
5. Yellow Cab's Dear Darla
6. College Friends
7. Another baby was welcomed in the Christian World!
8. My family. My life. My joys.
9. Household :)
10. Videoke time at Centerstage

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Unforgettable Lunch at Balay Indang

Another thing that I love about Balay Indang is the restaurant. It was huge yet there is still the coziness that you find in Tagaytay restaurants.


And of course, the food which was the highlight of our chapter team building...I love that everything was cooked in a unique way. I haven't tasted anything like it before.

Shrimp Skewers


Chicken Relleno

Seafood Omelette - My Fave!

Tuna Pasta


Now just looking at these photos makes me want to go back as soon as possible! I also love that the food was healthy and I didn't worry about the number of pounds that I would be gaining after lunch.

Hopefully we can go back to Balay Indang again one of these days.

Lalaloopsy Loooove...

My little girl discovered her love of Lalaloopsy just recently...





This is her reward for being a good girl all throughout the summer vacation. Her first Lalaloopsy and it looks like this is not going to be her last one.

Sharing a Song this Sunday: When I'm Gone

Such a nice song to share on this beautiful day...


Have a nice Sunday, everyone!

Long Weekend means Food Trip!

Aaaah, another long weekend for us to rest and enjoy our family. So we had yellow cab last night, our fave!


Dear Darla + Chicken Wings + Twice Baked Potato Halves.


Now this one is what you call a food trip! ♥

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone!

Flashback Friday: Guess Who?

Who do you think this is?


Guess, guess, guess!

Chapter Team Building at Balay Indang was so much Fun!

One Saturday in June, we went to Balay Indang for CFC Chapter's team building.


I heard a lot of good things about the place like it was so relaxing and quiet. So I was really excited and looking forward to this team building.

When we saw the place, they were right. LOOK!

Where to!?

When I saw the pool, I wanted to jump right in...

Yes, there is something like this inside the compound

Cozy, isn't it?

This is perfect!

Oh how I wish we had more time to explore the place. We will definitely go back and hopefully we can stay at least one night.

The Spa is still my Fave

I realized that there have been lots of places to go for spa and relaxation but I still find The Spa my favorite.


Since I was not able to have my "me time" during Mother's Day, I "redeeemed" my day a few weeks after. I chose The Spa since booking with them is so easy.


This is definitely my comfort place. The Spa is still my fave!

Online Training Software and Programs

Online training software continues to soar in global popularity. In fact, these programs are utilized by countless businesses across the world. Whether it’s training new or existing employees, web based software is the easiest way to generate productivity and performance. In the past, employees received training via hands on instruction or paper manuals. While this is still in practice today, most companies
have automated their training procedures and protocols across the board. This not only saves time, it also saves businesses a lot of money. With centralized e-learning and training platforms, new and existing employees can access a wealth of timely and pertinent information. This includes company policies, along with in-house procedures and learning manuals.

Prescreening Services

When it comes to training new workers, you want to make sure they understand and master all work related materials. These applications allow you to pre-screen all employees before hiring. They also allow managers to monitor the progress of their prospective employees from remote or domestic locations. This ensures your new and existing workers have learned the materials necessary to perform their tasks in a professional manner. While this concept is not new, it has been streamlined and centralized over the years. In the past, e-learning concepts required a number of hardware components and software programs. Today, one simple application is all you need to train and engage your workforce. These applications are also compatible with social media pages. This enables companies to post any new changes on their social media sites for clients and employees to see.

Electronic Learning

Online training software is available for all types of endeavors. This includes company training for workers, along with new protocols and initiatives. With the latter, employees are given a site or program that allows them to access new company goals and objectives. This can include changes in business policies, as well as new tasks to meet organizational goals and directives. If you are pressed for time, web training programs can meet your needs within time and budget. These applications can easily be
modified to reflect the training protocols and changes you want your workers to adapt. All it takes is a little research to find the best programs that are suited to meet your needs.

Another Healtthy Dinner at Pho hoa

When we crave for Vietnamese food, we definitely go to Pho hoa. So one night, we just wanted to eat out and made sure it was a healthy meal. We opted to go to Pho hoa again.


We had our usuals: Seafood noodle soup, fresh spring rolls and chicken BBQ. We all enjoyed it. ♥

Information and Benefits about Swim Lessons

At some time during everyone’s life, they will encounter water. They may even have to get in the water and maneuver through the water without drowning. There are many places to learn how to swim; all you have to do is find them. There are some things to consider when looking for swim lessons. Swimmers are separated by age, swimming ability, what time of day the lessons need to be scheduled, and where the swimming lessons are held. Private lessons are also available if you want to have oneon-one time with an instructor, which might cut down the time required to gain the proficiency you are looking for in your swimming skills.

Swimmer Designations

Even if you are a beginner and are older, you can choose to be put with older adults; if they allow it, you can join the little ones as they learn to swim. If you are a more experienced swimmer, there are lessons that can accommodate you. There is always something else to be learned or skills that can be sharpened and improved on. If you have a fear of water, there is help for you. There are many modalities that help people get over their fear of water and it will serve them well if they ever find themselves in water and need to be safe.

Lesson Content

Swim lessons are not usually very long. Your swimming practice sessions can be as long as you want them to be. The instructors are usually in the water the whole time and are very patient and encouraging. All of them are trained in water safety and rescue, and you can rest assured that you are safe. Being committed to finishing the lessons is important to learn what the lessons were meant to teach you. Simply learning to swim may help you overcome your fear of the water. Swim strokes you might learn at your lessons could be the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle, or combinations of all of them. Swimming is a healthy sport to get proficient in, and at the same time it is fun to do. It also will come in handy if you want to water ski, cliff dive, or play in the water with your family.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

Happiness is...

1. Relaxing weekend with family
2. Taco Bell!
3. Matched Series by Ally Condie
4. Quick trip to the mall
5. Water
6. Good news
7. Mornings
8. Kids
9. Sunshine
10. Coffee

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Adding to our Priority List: A Sturdy and Round Knob

We've been putting off this particular errand but I think it's time to look for those phenolic round knobs. There are doors and cabinets in our house that need these knobs. We've been using the doors without knobs, shower handles without knobs for months now. It's probably time to look. I'm thinking of looking at Reid Supply. Since I've heard about them for months now, I'm sure the products that they have are of good quality.

Hubby's Post Birthday Dinner with the Whole Family

A week after the Hubby's birthday, we met up the whole family to have dinner at Gloria Maris. We were so looking forward to it (especially the kids) because we haven't seen the whole family for weeks now.

It was a nice dinner. We had the...

- Birds nest with chicken birds egg soup
- BBQ cold cuts combination
- Sauteed broccoli with shrimp & scallop
- Gloria Maris fried chicken
- Fried spicy spareribs
- Oyster sauce with 3 kings mushroom
- Gloria Maris fried rice
- Taho

We also ordered Crispy Noodles, Chicken Lemon, Steamed Fish Fillet apart from the set menu.

Too bad, I was so busy eating, I wasn't able to take photos. Except for one.


Happy Birthday again, Sweatie! (*wink*)


It was a "Taho" Kind of Weekend.

...which means only one thing, we just stayed home and made the most out of it by sleeping.


I miss weekends like this. And I long for weekends like this, just staying home and rest. It's been months since we enjoyed a weekend at home and I'm so thankful.

Sharing a Song: Count on Me

A nice song for a nice day. Perfect to sing out to loved ones...


♪ You can count on me, like 1, 2, 3, I'll be there...♪

Enjoy your Sunday, peeps! (*wink*)

Flashback FRIDAY: My Baby Girls

Since I've been looking at some photos for the past few weeks now, I can't help but reminisce on the good old days plus my babies too. So I'm doing a flashback FRIDAY photos starting today.


Oh, look at these babies. I just can't believe how much they've grown over the years. Sigh.

It looks like this FlashbackFriday is going to be fuuuun! (*wink*)

July 2013 Monthly Roundup

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Shiguro
- Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

What movies and/or TV shows did I watch this month?
- Four Sisters & a Wedding
- Despicable Me 2

What special days did I celebrate and how?
- Hubby's 35th Birthday!
- Julian's 7th
- Isabel and Natalia's 1st
- Tommy's 1st birthday
- Louie's Civil Wedding

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- I'm very thankful that migraines this month weren't too bad.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Dinner at IHop. Thanks Mamu!
- Drinks with the old upper HH
- Watched Despicable Me 2 Movie to celebrate Hubby's birthday
- Dinner and drinks with Adrales cousins
- Hubby's birthday dinner at Gloria Maris
- Went to Lazer Extreme for Julian's 7th
- Celebrated Isabel at Natalia's 1st birthday at Philippine Army
- Went to Tommy's 1st birthday party at Enderun College (good food!)

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- iHop
- California Pizza Kitchen
- Casa Filipino for the wedding celebration
- Drinks at Historia after
- Lazer Extreme Party
- Gloria Maris
- Enderun College McKinley

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- I'm good after the end of season sale. (*grin*)

What were this month's disappointments?
- Still no Yaya as of the moment

What were my accomplishments this month?
- This month went by just like that. We were busy with events while surviving the second month of the school year. I would say, everything is falling into place. I thank the Lord for that!