MrsMommyHolic

Stumbled upon this restaurant when hubby and I were looking for a place to eat lunch in Molito. If you've been to that area, you probably know that looking for parking during peak hours can be such a hassle! We originally wanted to eat somewhere else, but then the only parking we could find was in front of Burger Geek so we went here instead.

Anyway, I liked the minimal and modern look of the place. Simple but nice.

kitchen area

this periodic table was so cute!

different interesting facts on the tables

Anyway, here's their menu:

They gave out kropek as complimentary appetizer, which was so addicting! My son didn't want to try it at first because of the green powder, but once he tasted it, we had to ask for another serving lol! ;p

Hubby ordered the CLASS PRESIDENT burger (P310) which has American cheese, smashed patty lettuce, tomato, crispy bacon, shiitake mushroom, onion rings, and BBQ sauce. It was really good! The bun was soft, burger was juicy, plus all the ingredients worked well together.

I got the UMAMI CHICKEN (P295) which is 2 pcs. Southern fried chicken, umami corn, and rice. You can choose from either Kimchi rice or Korean yang chow. I wanted yang chow but it wasn't available. The Kimchi one was spicy daw so I just opted for plain rice. And this takes 20-25 minutes serving time since they only prepare and cook it when ordered.

The chicken was really flavorful and reminds me a lot of Bad Bird at Hole in the Wall. I didn't even need the gravy.

We also ordered some sides - Onion Rings and French Fries (P65 each). The only bummer was that these items were the last to be served! But good thing the taste made up for the wait.

Overall, I'm glad we ended up here because I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. Will definitely be back. :)

Burger Geek
Unit 16A Molito Complex Alabang Muntinlupa
Operating Hours: 11AM - 11PM
Instagram: @burgergeek_ph

Last month, my kids and I were invited to the launch of Security Bank's Smart Saver Kiddie Camp. Here, we learned that we should start the financial journey of our kids as early as possible. We should train them to be savers and teach them the difference between needs and wants, as well as the value of hard work.

I brought my daughter and my son, and we learned a lot about money, saving, and investing from FQ (Financial Intelligence Quotient) Mom Rose Fres Fausto. I think the one piece of advice that really stuck with me was to buy luxury only if you can afford to buy at least 10 pieces of it. Smart right?

educational talk from FQ Mom Rose Fres Fausto

love all these inspirational, financial quotes

La Pomme station to keep the kids busy

decorating their plush piggies

mason jar piggy banks for the kids

To further teach your children about money at an early age, you can sign them up for the Smart Saver Kiddie Camp. It's a three-hour financial literacy program specifically designed for kids 7 years old and above. In the camp, kids will get to participate in workshops, listen to financial experts talk about the value of saving and experience a bank tour that will introduce them to basic banking. The camp aims to teach children different saving techniques using fun and kid-friendly learning methods. They will have venues in Alabang, Quezon City, Ortigas, Davao, and Cebu coming soon.

To learn more about the Smart Saver Kiddie Camp, visit any Security Bank branch nearest you, click HERE, or call the Security Bank Hotline at (02) 88-791-88.

After Security Bank's Smart Saver Kiddie Camp event, I was really intrigued when they told me I could open an account without having to leave my house. The service is called the "Human Switch Kit" and all I needed was to log on to www.securitybank.com/switch-kit to set an appointment. Then, Security Bank will send someone from your preferred branch to personally assist you with your account opening. This means that this person will schedule meetings with you to claim your necessary documents and facilitate your account opening. After your account is opened, this person will also deliver your passbook and/or ATM card to you.

I was a bit apprehensive at first, but it was hubby who encouraged me to give it a try. So I went online and filled up the needed information which was just my name, mobile number, email, and preferred bank branch. That same afternoon, I got a text from a bank representative asking me what was the most convenient time and place to meet. How will you be sure this is legit? Well, the person will also provide the unique reference number sent to you by the system after you signed up online.

here's how the online appointment form looks like

When we met, the sales representative gave me his business card to identify himself. If you're still unsure or praning, you can always check his company ID and even call your branch for confirmation.

Btw, you should ask what requirements you may need since it varies for the different types of accounts. I opened a Junior One Account for all my kids. I love that it just has a P100 maintaining balance and comes with a passbook and an ATM card.

Anyway, you can opt to pick up your passbook and ATM at your branch or have it delivered to your home. Of course, I chose the latter for convenience. I still can't believe I was able to open an account in the comfort of my own home! Thumbs up Security Bank for making me feel like a VIP! It really was a personalized and better banking experience. :)

Try the Human Switch Kit and get started HERE!

Hubby and I took a quick trip to Bangkok last March and spent most of the time doing what else, shopping! If you know my husband, he's really allergic to going to bazaars or anywhere crowded. Case in point, I've been bugging him to drive me to Divisoria for years, and he just won't do it! But for some reason, he was really game this time around to check out the Chatuchak Weekend Market. We've both been here a few years ago (not together), so I was really excited to go back and experience it with him.

Anyway, Chatuchak is one of the world's largest markets, covering 35 acres of land with thousands and thousands of market stalls and visitors per day. You can get just about anything and everything here: clothes, accessories, handicrafts, art, antiques, live animals, books, music, food, plants and flowers, and more!

The weekend market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 - 18:00, and Fridays 18:00 - 24:00. Plant sections are also open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 7:00 - 18:00.

We went on a Sunday and took the skytrain (BTS) from Chit Lom, which was the nearest station from our hotel, to Mo Chit station.

Then we took Exit No.1 and followed the crowd until we reached the outside of the market, where there were already a lot of stalls selling clothes, bags, and food. We continued to follow the crowd until we saw a small entrance that leads into the market (clothing section).

Free maps are available from one of the information kiosks, or you can download it online to help you navigate the different sections since it can be very confusing. But hubby and I just winged it and went where our feet took us. We weren't really looking for anything in particular anyway.

the clock tower in the middle is the famous meeting point in the market

One thing was for sure, it was HOT! Make sure to wear light clothes and comfortable shoes. Have water or something to drink readily available. And bring a backpack or a couple of those reusable bags to carry your purchases.

Anyway, I really like how chill it is to shop in Bangkok. The sales people just leave you alone when you're looking, not like in other Asian countries where they really bug you and even run after you after you've said no. You can bargain, although they'll usually give you discount when you buy wholesale (usually 3 or more).

There were covered sections as well, but these could get a bit claustrophobic at times especially if it got too crowded. But the plus side were that some stalls were air conditioned! We would make tambay here and pretend to look at the stuff so we could cool ourselves lol! ;p

There were a lot of food options as well, but we were just so tired at one point that we just ate at the first place we saw with available seats.

I definitely don't think we were able to go through the entire market, let alone even half of it! It was just too big. And if you're eyeing something, get it na. You'll probably get lost looking for it later on (which is what happened to us countless times lol!). Anyway, my favorite buys from the market were these embroidered bags and hanging lights.

Personally though, if you prefer to be comfortable and are mostly just shopping for clothes, just stick to Platinum Mall which is like an indoor version of the Chatuchak Market. It’s fully air-conditioned and comes complete with a large food court as well as cafés and fast food chains. You can practically get everything here as well - like souvenirs, accessories, kids stuff, home decor, etc. As for the prices, honestly there's very little difference for me when it came to clothes. I guess depends on what you're looking for though. But if you've never been to the Chatuchak Market before, I think it's a must in Bangkok just to experience and see it for yourself.

Website: www.chatuchak.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChatuchakMarket-900902286644149

Do you want to experience some of the most exciting and innovative products from Taiwan?

Come visit the Taiwan Excellence Experiencing Zone at SM City Mall of Asia Atrium on July 8 to 10, 2016. Organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under MOEA of Taiwan government, the Taiwan Excellence Experiencing Zone will showcase Taiwan’s most dynamic brands, which bears the Taiwan Excellence seal that confirms their high quality and product superiority. Covering the ICT, Home and Living, and Sports and Leisure industries, mall goers will get the opportunity to discover Taiwan's best brands and purchase from a wide selection featuring more than 200 products from 54 brands like Acer, ASUS, D-Link, Sakura and Transcend.

For this mall event, variety of Taiwan’s sports and fitness equipment will also be showcased including KYMCO’s motorcycles that redefine transportation means; Pacific’s bikes that continuously provides inventive ways to make biking more exciting; and Johnson’s fitness products that can be your partner in maintaining your personal health.

For added excitement, there will be a dance group performance by Coven PH and a fashion show to keep you entertained while going through the assorted items on display. Watch Daryl Ong, Morissette Amon, and KZ Tandingan as they render a show-stopping performance. Model actor Mikael Daez and cosplayer sisters Ashley and Alodia Gosiengfiao will also be present to greet exhibit guests.

Join the booth navigation tours and brand presentations, and see how the featured products can complement your lifestyle. Brands such as Asus, Heartway, and MSI will offer their products at a discounted rate. There will also be games and lucky draws, wherein prizes will be raffled off to lucky guests.

Save the date and discover the possibilities that Taiwan brands can bring to your life!

About Taiwan Excellence
The symbol of Taiwan Excellence honors Taiwan’s most innovative products that provide tremendous value to users worldwide. All products carrying this symbol have been selected for specific Taiwan Excellence Awards based on their excellence in design, quality, marketing, Taiwanese R&D and manufacturing. Initiated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), R.O.C. in 1992, the symbol of Taiwan Excellence is recognized by 100 countries.

Organized by Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT), MOEA
The Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), R.O.C. is responsible for implementing policies and regulations governing foreign trade and economic cooperation. Established in January 1969, the BOFT's role and position have been adjusted regularly to meet the needs of the ever changing international economic and trade environments. The BOFT has been guiding and working with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) in numerous promotional trade projects and activities both internationally and domestically. Having worked closely with TAITRA for many decades, the BOFT continues to commission TAITRA for various critical government projects relating to business, trade and investment, while promoting Taiwan internationally.

Implemented by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
Founded in 1970 to help promote foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the foremost non-profit, semi-governmental trade promotion organization in Taiwan. Jointly sponsored by the government, industry associations, and several commercial organizations, TAITRA assists Taiwanese businesses and manufacturers with reinforcing their international competitiveness and in coping with the challenges they face in foreign markets. TAITRA boasts a well-coordinated trade promotion and information network of over 1,200 international marketing specialists stationed throughout its Taipei headquarters and 50 overseas offices worldwide. Together with its sister organizations, the Taiwan Trade Center (TTC) and the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), TAITRA has created a wealth of trade opportunities through effective promotion strategies.

I've been hearing about Puzzles from my other mommy friends for quite a while now. So finally, we were able to check it out a couple of days ago!

I really love the whole concept since I grew up playing board games. I remember my favorites were Snakes & Ladders and Monopoly when I was a kid. But now, I think most games are just being played on the iPad or online! So I appreciate places like this that encourage hanging out with family and friends the good old fashioned way without the use of technology. And I think board games are really getting more popular again nowadays, don't you think?

Anyway, Puzzles is open from 3pm everyday, so we went on a Tuesday at around 4pm. We were surprised to find the place quite full so early on. And people were really having a blast, some laughing out loud while playing the different games! :)

They have over a hundred board games to choose from, which ranges from the kiddie ones to the more complicated ones. You just need to pay P100 per player and you can play for as long as you want.

They also have food of course. For others who will just eat, no need to pay the P100/player fee.

Here's their menu:

We got some fries and a chicken pesto panini which were both good. Definitely can't wait to try the other stuff they have.

Choosing what game to play can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at first. Especially if you have young kids who aren't really familiar with how to play board games.

But what's nice is the staff are so friendly and you can ask them for recommendations or help in playing a game. They'll explain the instructions and rules and even show you how to play. This is what one of the girls gave us and she said this is what they usually suggest for kids or first timers.

Anyway, we also had fun trying out some of the other games. But to be honest, the kids weren't really seriously following the rules (more like making their own hehe). But it was ok, since the point was to enjoy and that's what they did!

And of course, try to clean up as you go for the next users and so you don't mix parts with the other games. Although I noticed that some games were a bit worn out already and missing some parts.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience here. The kids keep bugging me to go back since they had so much fun. Definitely a great place to hang out with friends and family!

Puzzles Board Games Lounge
287 Aguirre Avenue BF Homes Paranaque
www.facebook.com/PuzzlesBGL
www.instagram.com/puzzlesbgl
puzzlesbgl@gmail.com
Operating Hours:
Sunday to Thursday 3:00pm - 12:00mn
Friday and Saturday 3:00pm - 2:00am

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is home to a couple of celebrity chef restaurants like those from Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck, and David Thompson to name a few. I've already eaten in Mozza the last two times I was in Singapore, so we decided to try Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen this time around.

Bread Street Kitchen in Singapore opened around June of last year and is located at the the south promenade of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. The restaurant also has branches in Hong Kong and Dubai.

Set in an industrial warehouse-designed restaurant and bar, Bread Street Kitchen is modelled after its London counterpart, serving a British European menu with fresh seasonal produce in a lively and bustling space.

the glass panels on the right provide a lovely view of Singapore's skyline and water promenade

bar section

love the floors

I really appreciate restaurants that provide something to entertain the kids! Here, they were given a coloring book, some crayons, and a paper chef's hat.

Here's the menu when we dined there:

this was their kiddie menu

We were given complimentary bread (of course!) to start off our meal.

And also some detox fresh juice made of apple, spinach, kale, ginger, cucumber, green bell pepper, and lemon to taste. It was really refreshing.

For starters, the spicy tuna tartar's seasonings worked well together, especially with the deep-fried wonton crisps.

Spicy tuna tartar, chili, garlic, sesame oil, wonton crisps $19

Of course, we had to order fish and chips which is one of his most popular dishes. Well, I'm no food critic, but personally, it tasted kind of bland. It was just ok, nothing amazing. To be honest, I like the one from Fish & Co. pa better! ;p But the crushed peas added something different to this dish.

Traditional fish & chips, crushed peas, tartar sauce $26

The pork belly was better in my opinion. It was tender and very flavorful.

Slow-roasted Dingley Dell pork belly, spiced apple puree $28

Their burger was a bit small, but quite filling. Again, nothing mind-blowing. The fries were really good though, crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

BSK short rib beef burger 7oz. Monterey Jack cheese, spicy sriracha may and chips $28

We had some tea after and I really like their china! So pretty. :)

Well, if you ask me, I definitely have eaten better (and cheaper) food elsewhere in Singapore. Like even some dishes from the food court or hawkers were more satisfying lol. But at least I can say I've already eaten in one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants right? I just think maybe there's too much hype which doesn't live up to the expectation. But on the plus side, the ambiance and service deserves a thumbs up. ;p

BREAD STREET KITCHEN SINGAPORE

Website: www.marinabaysands.com/restaurants/celebrity-chefs/bread-street-kitchen.html

CUISINE:
British European

LOCATION:
Bay Level, L1-81
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

OPERATING HOURS:

Breakfast:
Saturday & Sunday 7:30am - 10:30am

Lunch:
Monday to Friday 11:30am - 4pm

Brunch:
Saturday & Sunday 11am - 3pm

Dinner:
Sunday to Wednesday 5pm - 10pm
Thursday to Saturday 5pm - 11pm

Bar:
Sunday 7:30am - 1am
Monday to Thursday 11:30am - 1am
Friday 11:30am - 2am
Saturday 7:30am - 2am

DRESS CODE:
Smart casual

My daughter's school will be celebrating Book Week, and they'll be having a parade where the kids should dress up as their favorite storybook character. She actually has a lot of Disney princess costumes already, but I sort of wanted her to wear something different this time. Anyway, I was looking online for some inspiration and decided that an easy option would be Little Red Riding Hood.

At first, I was just planning on using my son's cape from his Superman costume and just adding a hood to it. But then, I watched a tutorial on YouTube which seemed easier. And it barely even took me half an hour to make. Here are the materials you'll need:

For the fabric, I bought a yard for just P90. I think a jersey material works best since it doesn't fray when you cut it, so you don't have to hem the edges anymore. And I like the stretchiness since it falls really well on the body, plus it doesn't get wrinkled easily.

the measurement of my fabric

After you lay your fabric flat, cut a 2-inch strip from the bottom which you will use later on for the ribbon of the hood.

Then, cut a 10-inch wide piece of cloth which will be the hood part. Set aside the bigger piece of cloth for now.

The cloth for the hood measures 36" x 10". Fold this in half:

Close one end of the folded part as seen below. You can use fabric glue if you have some, but I just sewed it together using a quick running stitch.

Then, fold the open part upward about 2-inches. Use a pencil and ruler to measure 1" for the first mark, then 2" for the succeeding ones.

Cut small slits where you marked on the fabric. Set aside for now.

Now, get your bigger piece of fabric and fold this in half. This will be the cape part.

Fold the bottom part upwards about 2-inches and mark the same way as you did with the hood part. 1" first then 2" after. Cut small slits as well.

Now, get the hood that you made and turn inside out. Get the strip of cloth from the beginning of the project and loop it through the middle slits.

Get the cape part, lay it down flat and align with the middle of the hood. Then connect the two pieces together by looping the ribbon through the slits on the cape as well.

It will look like this after you've looped through the whole thing:

The finished cape is quite long and is actually adult size. But you can make it as short as you want, depending on the person's height or preference. In my case, I just cut the cape the same length as my daughter's dress.

For her outfit, she already had all the pieces in her closet so all I really spent for was the P90 fabric. You can use any red, white, or even black dress for this. Or maybe even a white shirt and red skirt (or vice versa). The pegs I saw online made use of a white apron, but since I didn't have this, I just layered a white skirt over her dress. Then, I just used her black school shoes and white socks to complete the look.

And there you have it, a super easy Little Red Riding Hood costume! I also found a basket from when she was a flower girl and she insisted we really put cookies inside. ;p

And good thing we brought the cookies because someone got hungry after our photoshoot hehe!

Are you celebrating Book Week at school too? If not, this can be a great costume for Halloween as well. Now I'm thinking maybe her brother can be the big, bad wolf! ;p

Find Out How and Where to Get Good Deals When Online Shopping and Win $100 Gift Card From Sephora

If you like online shopping like most of us do, well then let me share with you three valuable tips on how you can save and where to score the best deals.

3 valuable tips on how you can save when online shopping:

The cardinal rule in smart shopping is to avoid paying in retail. So my first tip is to hunt for coupons before making a purchase. Couponing is the best way to save when shopping either in-store or online, and luckily, there are now sites that are solely dedicated for coupons. There are actually quite a few sites but the best one out there is DEALSPOTR.

Dealspotr is the “Wikipedia of deals” with thousands of community members posting and curating deals for 65,000 brands 24/7. In fact, it has 54% more working coupon codes than the other known coupon site, based on recent study.

(To know more about Dealspotr, you can visit and sign up HERE.)

Next tip is to stack coupons whenever possible.

Some retailers, allow you to use multiple coupons per transaction so maximize your savings by entering the codes strategically. So for example you have a coupon code for a $10 off purchase and another for a 15 percent discount off — enter the 15 percent discount code first, then the $10 code so you’ll get 15 percent off the full price of the item, before the $10 discount.

Lastly, avoid shipping fees. Most online stores offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount so take advantage of that. But in case you’re falling short of that minimum, search DEALSPOTR and more often than not, you’ll find a free shipping coupon on your favorite store.

Now that you know these handy tips, Dealspotr together with moi, LipstickandChopsticks.com, RonnaBonifacio.com, Krissyfied.com, Tauyanm.com, and RochelleRivera.com want you to experience the “shopping high” so we’re giving away a $100 SEPHORA GIFT CARD to one lucky winner.

To join, do all the mandatory steps on Rafflecopter (loading my take a while).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will start today and ends on August 15, 2016.

The winners will be notified via email. Failure to respond to the email notification within 3 days will invalidate the win. Good luck everyone!

I'm back to posting about our Tokyo vacation since I'm currently getting itchy feet again and wanting to travel! Anyway, if you have kids or just simply a kid at heart, a visit to KIDDY LAND in Japan is a must for you. :)

Kiddy Land's flagship store is located in Harajuku along Omotesando St. and has 5 FLOORS filled with all kinds of toys, goodies, and character items!

floor guide

Located in the basement is Snoopy Town where you can find, what else, everything Peanuts!

At the 1st floor is the K-spot where you can find seasonal goods, new characters, variety toys, mobile accessories, stuffed dolls, hair accessories, umbrellas, and more!

The 2nd floor is where Disney Avenue is located, as well as Studio Ghibil, The Bear's School, Kapibara-san, Miffy, Monchhichi, Cheburashka.

The 3rd floor has the Star Wars Galaxy, as well as Lego, Tomica/Pla-rail, Anpanman, One Piece, dolls, and other figures.

The 4th floor houses the Hello Kitty shop and Rilakkuma store.

Hubby and I loved it here, just exploring the different floors and of course buying pasalubong for our kids. If the Harajuku area is part of your Tokyo itinerary, definitely drop by Kiddy Land and bring out the child in you!

KIDDY LAND - Harajuku
www.kiddyland.co.jp/en/index.html
6-1-9 Jingu-mae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
TEL: 03-3409-3431
Monday - Friday: [Open] 11:00-21:00
Saturday, Sunday, and holiday: [Open] 10:30-21:00

Personally, I think the best place for you to buy souvenirs in Tokyo is the Oriental Bazaar in Harajuku. It's located along Omotesando St. and is just a few steps away from Kiddy Land which I also blogged about HERE.

This is one of Tokyo's largest souvenir shops and it has a red and green facade that mimics traditional Japanese architecture.

The shop has three floors where you can get almost everything related to Japan such as kimonos, dolls, tableware, furniture and samurai related goods.

floor guide

The store is very spacious and there weren't that many people at all when we were there. Don't be intimidated by this and think that the items are very expensive. In fact, I was surprised to find that some items were cheaper than the stuff from the street bazaar at Asakusa!

I usually buy shirts as pasalubong but the cheapest ones I found at Nakamise Street cost 980 Yen or about P400 each. Here, I was able to find some for about 560 Yen, with even better designs and quality! Shirts are organized per size and they have samples on the rack. They allowed us to try on the shirts over our clothes too.

And of course, lots and lots of kimonos in various styles and designs, for both kids and adults.

I got a Jinbei for kids (the kimono that comes with shorts) for around 2,000 Yen. The price depends on size though, as the smaller ones are cheaper compared to the larger sizes.

Here are all the other stuff you can find in the store:

Daruma & Lucky Cat

pens

sensu fans

dolls, sake sets, coasters

Kokeshi dolls

paper dolls

Samurai swords

magnets

more magnets

antique goods and furniture

towels

hand bags, hair accessories, pouches

card cases & mobile phone straps

glasses case & coin purses

postcards & lacquer boxes

coin purses and mirrored boxes

stationary sets, pencils, playing cards

artwork

placemats and table runners

As you can see, they practically have every kind of souvenir here! You really don't have to look elsewhere since this is a one-stop shop. Aside from Japanese Yen, they also accept US dollars, Euros, and all major credit cards.

ORIENTAL BAZAAR
9-13 5-chome Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo
150-0001 Japan
Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed every Thursday
Tel: 81-3-3400-3933
www.orientalbazaar.co.jp/en/

Oriental Bazaar is located near the following three stations:
- JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station - approx. 5-min. walk from the Omotesando Exit
- Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Omotesando Station - approx. 4-min. walk from Exit B4
- Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station - approx. 3-min. walk from Exit 4

Do you have a lot of broken crayons which you end up just throwing away? Well, this easy craft can help you recycle those pieces in a snap!

This DIY activity is such a creative and fun project which your kids will love! And it only takes minutes to do with beautiful results. Actually, you can also do this with perfectly fine or new crayons, and you just want to give them interesting shapes or simply combine colors.

Anyway, first thing you have to do is peel off the wrappers and break the crayons into smaller pieces. It was a good thing my kids did this since I think this is hardest part of the project haha! They did leave a huge mess on the floor with all the bits of paper though! ;p

Then, I just put 4 random colors together in a small muffin tray.

I popped the tray in our toaster oven for about 5 minutes, or until all the crayons are completely melted.

You can wait for them to cool on their own or you can put them in the refrigerator for a few minutes until solid.

Then TA-DAAAAA! Our creation is done! :)

These were surprisingly easy to pop out of the tray, and they were super cute! I almost didn't want to let my kids use them haha! Well, not at least after I've taken pictures. ;p

Personally, I think using 3 to 4 shades per crayon will work best so the colors are more defined. But you can also do different options like using just one color, combining 2 contrasting colors, or grouping similar shades to create an ombre effect.

You can also use those muffin trays which come in different shapes like stars or hearts to make it more fun. Oh, and if you end up breaking a piece, just pop it back in the pan and reheat for a few minutes. It'll be good as new again!

Aren't these the cutest? And yes, they work great! I think this is also perfect for much younger kids who are just learning to grasp things. Plus, its new shape makes it fun to stack and play with (not to eat though! lol!).

So what are you waiting for? Start collecting those broken crayon pieces and reuse them now! :)

We usually stay in Crimson Hotel when we're in the Alabang area, but this time we finally decided to have a staycation at Acacia Hotel.

We booked a Deluxe King room for about P5,500 which includes buffet breakfast, free 24-hr wifi access, shuttle services within Alabang area, and the use of swimming pool and gym.

rooms have a 40-inch flatscreen TV

This was the view from our room. That's the Commercenter building on the left.

I loved the spacious marble bath with separate shower and bathtub. Crimson Hotel doesn't have a bathtub, so this was a big plus for me.

The pool was on the 3rd floor and you get to pass by this outdoor garden area. I think they do a lot of their wedding pictorials in this spot.

Their pool was quite small. The one at Crimson Hotel was bigger and nicer (but windier since it was on the 8th floor).

kiddie pool

we love the rubber ducks they provided for the kids to play with

What I love most about Acacia is probably the location. It's so close to so many establishments which is so convenient. We didn't even need to use their free shuttle service since everything was walking distance. Right in front of the hotel were McDonald's, Jollibee, Project Pie, and IHOP. Commercenter is also just across, where you can find Army Navy, Yellow Cab, Black Pig, and other restaurants. They also have cinemas here if you want to catch a late night movie. South Supermarket is also nearby which made buying water and other necessities so easy!

Their buffet breakfast had a lot of choices. I believe cost is P895nett per person.

All in all, we enjoyed our stay here. Pros for me were definitely location and the bathtub. Will definitely book here again in the future. :)

ACACIA HOTEL MANILA
www.acaciahotelsmanila.com
5400 EAST ASIA DRIVE CORNER COMMERCE AVENUE,
FILINVEST CORPORATE CITY ALABANG,
MUNTINLUPA CITY 1781, PHILIPPINES
TEL NOS.: ++63-2 720 2000 / ++63-2 588 5888

It's the month of August already and for school kids, that means Linggo ng Wika! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to buy a baro't saya or Maria Clara outfit for my daughter since there wasn't one available in the mall I went to. I had to leave for a trip soon and didn't have time anymore so I just had to improvise. :)

Well, what's funny is that I remember a lot of my classmates when I was Grade School wore this type of costume when they didn't have anything else to wear. It's so easy kasi to do!

Basically, all you need is a plain black top and leggings. Luckily, we already had these in my daughter's closet.

shirt from Uniqlo, leggings from SM

Then, get a scarf or shawl in a tribal print if you have one. I got this striped one since the other designs available just didn't work. And it was 50% off from SM which amounted to just P150!

I also got this metal headband for just P129.75.

This necklace I bought from Kultura in SM Aura a few weeks back. Good thing it fit perfectly with the look I was going for.

Lastly, I just bought some sandals (P99.75 from SM) which she can also use afterwards.

Then, just put everything together and finish off by draping the scarf over the shoulder. And now you have yourself a princess from Mindanao! I just love how cute it turned out and also how comfy it is since she'll have to wear this the whole day at school. And the best part is, every single thing from this outfit can be used again. Like I can wear the scarf and also the headband haha! So there you go, hope this gives you an idea for an easy Linggo ng Wika costume if you don't have time to buy one. :)

Since my brother-in-law and his family were here in the Philippines for a vacation, I knew I was finally gonna get a chance to go to Divisoria since it was part of their itinerary! Good thing my SIL was really excited about going so my poor hubby had no choice but to drive us there haha! ;p

Anyway, thank goodness for Waze since we were able to avoid most of the traffic. We left at about 7am on a Thursday and got there in about an hour. We parked at Lucky Chinatown mall which was really convenient since it's just a few steps away from 168 Mall. Only downside is that the rates are quite expensive at P50 for the first 4 hours, then P20 for every succeeding hour (if I remember correctly). We spent about P110 for parking.

We spent the whole time at 168 Mall and it's still pretty much the same from the last time I was there. Here's what I ended up buying:

wine glass charms for P80

fans at 3 for P100

this stamp was too cute!

and if you haven't guessed, I have a slight obsession with Matryoshka dolls

love the print on these umbrellas even if they have the word AVON on them lol (P100 each)

finally got a phone case with that ring holder at the back

time to change our kids' iPad cases

thought it would be fun to buy these usb fans for the phone (P70 each)

Hubby bought this powerbank for just P100. As expected, it didn't even last for 1 use haha! ;p

Found a small tripod I can bring on our trips. This was P330.

Hubby was so happy when he bought this ukelele for about P600

got this McDo set for the kids

There was also every kind of Lego knock-off you can think off in Divisoria. From Star Wars, Angry Birds, Lego Friends, Disney Princess, Minecraft, Avengers, and Ninjago to name a few. The boxes even look the same as the original at first glance! We bought these for my son for about P350 for both na.

Surprisingly, the quality is really good once you've formed it. Of course, it was quite difficult to assemble because the instructions were quite hard to follow and the parts don't fit as easily as original Legos. But still, it looks pretty good! My fingers hurt like hell after I assembled everything, but for the price, I'll take it haha!

I also bought some clothes. The others are still in the laundry though, but here's a couple from my loot.

Anyway, thanks again to my hubby for driving and accompanying us to a fun filled Divi day! Good thing there's already the Lucky Chinatown mall where guys can hang out at while the girls shop. Can't wait to be back soon!

I haven't been to Rockwell in quite some time, so I was happy to meet some friends there for merienda one afternoon. And where else to get dessert, but The Dessert Kitchen!

The Dessert Kitchen is a franchise from Hong Kong & a cafe dedicated to desserts known for their all natural, wholesome & tasty treats made fresh daily. Their first branch here in Manila which opened earlier this year is located at the 3rd floor of Power Plant Mall in between Fully Booked and Muji.

open kitchen

cute interiors

love this wall!

The Dessert Kitchen offers a wide variety of desserts like ice creams, parfaits, sundaes, shaved ice, puddings, and many more that use high-quality and healthy ingredients. Honestly, it was so hard to order since there were so many choices! We really wanted to taste everything. We asked what their bestseller was and they said it was this, Purple In Love.

Well of course we had to get it! This award winning dish is made with Kyoho grape seaweed balls, grape shaved ice, mini rice balls, grapes, and taro mochi ice cream. It definitely looks so pretty right? I'm more of a chocolate lover, but I liked the overall grape flavor of this dessert.

Purple In Love P258

Cocoa Kiss is more my thing with its chocolate ice cream, coffee jelly, cocoa crisp, banana, chocolate pearls, and vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Cocoa Kiss P168

We also got a savory dessert called Bacon Dracula which is made of bacon eggette and comes with a cheddar cheese sauce. I liked the eggette which was really light and sort of reminded me of a crunchy pancake. And of course, anything with bacon is a winner in my book. ;p

Bacon Dracula P228

Hubby loved green tea so he got this Taste of Uji made of green tea syrup, mini rice balls, red bean, and warabimochi. Again, it was very light but still quite filling.

Taste of Uji P188

I also had to get this mango sago cream with pomelo. Very refreshing, although not as sweet as I would have hoped.

Chilled Mango Sago Cream with Pomelo P188

My daughter wanted some chocolate ice cream so we just asked for a cup. My mistake is that I didn't even ask for the price. I was surprised when I saw the bill and it was P128! For that one scoop! Well, it was honestly delicious but she didn't even like it since it had some choco bits (she's a very picky eater). We should have bought na lang from the grocery downstairs the regular Magnolia one, baka half gallon pa un equivalent ng price lol!

Anyway, desserts are quite pricey but definitely good for sharing. We had a great time here since the ambiance was also very nice and chill.

THE DESSERT KITCHEN
3/F Power Plant Mall
Rockwell, Makati
Philippines
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedessertkitchenph
Website: www.dessertkitchen.com.hk
Instagram: @thedessertkitchenph

I've already been to a 3D Art Museum in Korea about 2 years ago, which I enjoyed very much. My kids loved looking at all the silly pictures of their dad and me, so I jumped at the chance to visit Art In Island so they could experience it for themselves.

Art In Island is the biggest 3D Museum in Asia (with regards to the number of 3D paintings) and is located in Cubao, Quezon City. Admission is P500 for adults and P400 for students, PWDs, and Senior Citizens. Children below 3 feet are free. They also have a Birthday Promo (free entrance on your birthday, a day before, and a day after) and a Group Promo (minimum of 15 pax gets 20% off).

I actually didn't know that shoes were not allowed inside, so make sure to have socks or you can bring your own bedroom slippers. They sell socks inside as well for I think around P100 per pair.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised since the artworks looked like the ones I saw in Trick Eye Museum Korea, some even identical. I believe Korean 3D artists were the ones who worked on the paintings. The whole place was HUGE and very spacious (there are 2 levels), the floors were clean (you can actually go barefoot), and the aircon was very cool (bring a light jacket if you're lamigin).

My kids had a blast running around and looking at all the paintings. It was actually a challenge making them pose and stand still haha! ;p

There are sample photos which you can draw inspiration from, or just create your own wacky poses! There's also a "photo point" on the floor so you can get the best angle when taking pics.

Anyway, here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

If you get hungry, they have an in-house restaurant on the 2nd floor and I love that the art theme continued even here. The walls, floors, and tables were splattered with graffiti.

We were pleasantly surprised that the food was really good. And the presentation was super cute too with the wooden trays and tin plates with handles.

Chicken Rice

Donkatsu Omelette

Hawaiian Omelette

Spaghetti

There's also a cafe on the ground floor which serves coffee, ice cream, and nachos.

We had a wonderful time here in Art In Island! I'm glad they have this 3D museum here in the Philippines already, so you don't even need to go to Korea or Singapore to experience it. The kids keep bugging me to go back, so will have to plan another trip here soon! :)

ART IN ISLAND 3D Art Museum
15th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 421-1356
Facebook: www.facebook.com/artinisland
Instagram: @ArtInIsland
Operating Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 9:30am to 9:30pm

Found another steak place around BF Homes, Paranaque when hubby and I were craving for some burgers one night. Cobi's Wagyu serves American Wagyu & Certified Angus Beef Steaks & Burgers at a budget friendly price.

According to this placemat, Wagyu beef is considered the most tender, succulent, and tastiest meat in the world. Wagyu (also known as "Kobe") offers superior flavor, a melt-in-your-mouth texture and has a significant health benefits over other meat. It has been deemed good for your health since it has a much higher proportion of the desirable monounsaturated fats (better for cholesterol) than other breeds of cattle.

The place was empty when we dined there, and I honestly don't know if people know about this place. It's located at the 2nd floor of the EastWest Bank building along President's Ave. and is not really visible from the street.

The place was quite cozy but what threw me off was the mix of Asian design elements. Parang hindi bagay un theme with the American food concept.

Anyway, here's their menu. They had a lot of choices at affordable prices.

We ordered a Wagyu Steak, Wagyu Burger Meal and some Chicken Tenders. Well, the food especially the steak was honestly just ok. It wasn't the melt-in-your-mouth experience I was hoping for. I've definitely had better. The burger was the best out of everything we ordered in my opinion. And hubby ordered a beer but they didn't have any readily chilled.

For the price, I'd say we got what we paid for. Not really sure if I'd eat here again, but you're welcome to give it a try. :)

I just watched the closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympics, and got so excited when I found out the next summer games will be held in Tokyo, Japan! Hubby and I seriously fell in love with this city when we visited last year and can't wait to be back. Anyway, was reminiscing about our vacation and realized I still hadn't posted about some of the places we went to, including Shinjuku.

Shinjuku is a large and vibrant entertainment, business and shopping area. There's so much to see and do in this part of Tokyo alone, which is why we chose this as the location of our Airbnb. Here's some of the places we went to when we were there:

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office

You can visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for its FREE observation decks which provide good panoramic views of Tokyo and beyond. The 243 meter tall building has two towers with observatories on the 45th floor, each with a cafe and a souvenir shop. We went there at night so only the North Observatory was open.

HOURS:
North Observatory: 9:30 to 23:00
South Observatory: 9:30 to 17:30 (until 23:00 when North Observatory is closed)
Admission end 30 minutes before closing time

CLOSED:
North Observatory: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month (next day if national holiday)
South Observatory: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month (next day if national holiday)
Both observatories: December 29 to January 3 (except January 1)

Omoide Yokocho

We were just walking around Shinjuku on our first night and stumbled upon this alley filled with lots of hole-in-the-wall restos. We didn't know then it was the famous Omoide Yokocho, also known under its more colorful nickname "Piss Alley". We would actually pass this place every night on the way home since it's along the tracks northwest of Shinjuku Station. Restaurants are typically open from 5pm to midnight, although some are open for lunch.

this looks like a map of the restaurants found here, but no English version

Anyway, the narrow lanes are filled with dozens of tiny eateries serving ramen, soba, sushi, and yakitori. Most restaurants consist of just one counter with some chairs, while others have a couple of tables. It was hard choosing where to eat, but some were really full and crowded. We ended up in a yakitori stall and the food was really so good!

Shopping

There are lots of department stores, malls and electronic shops around Shinjuku. One of the most popular is Isetan, which consists of ten floors, including restaurants on the top floors and a food department in the basement. Other department stores include Takashimaya and Odakyu. Then there's also Don Quijote, a discount store that sells just about everything and Tokyu Hands, another a large variety goods shop.

love all the colorful art on the building

Isetan's window displays remind me of Rustan's

Shinjuku Gyoen

If you want to experience nature and some quiet in the city, head over to Shinjuku Gyoen which is located just a short walk from Shinjuku Station. This is one of Tokyo's largest and most popular parks and I blogged more about this beautiful place HERE.

Kabukicho

This is actually Japan's largest red light district and features countless restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. At first I was a little worried since our Airbnb apartment was located in this area, but Japan is really very safe. We actually enjoyed the walk home every night since everything was so alive! Although there were a lot of guys trying to get people into their clubs, they never bothered me and my husband. Probably because I was with him lol! ;p

In the middle of it all is Hotel Gracery, which features a 12 meter tall Godzilla head peeking out from the 8th floor terrace of the hotel.

source

Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest railway station. It was such a rush everytime we would step foot here, with all the people trying to get to the different platforms. The station is HUGE and you can find lots of stores here, like Lumine which is located both next to and above Shinjuku Station's South and East Exits.

Food!

And of course, you will never go hungry in the Shinjuku area since there are so many restaurants everywhere! I don't think we even had a bad meal in Japan. So fun to explore and try as much as you can.

Shinjuku is definitely a great area to stay in when in Tokyo. You'll never run out of things to see and do. Anyway, adding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to my bucket list! :)

I found myself in Shangri-la Mall one weekend, and this was a treat since I'm rarely in this part of town. After checking out the vast choices of restaurants, hubby and I decided to have lunch at Spatzle Euro Market Cafe.

Spatzle is located at the 5th floor of the mall's East Wing. I guess what initially caught our eye was the bright, open space and lovely interiors.

For our appetizer, we ordered these Bacon Mozza Logs which are smoked bacon rolled on crisp stringy mozzarella logs served with housemade marinara sauce (P298). I really liked this, especially since I'm a bacon lover. ;p

Of course, we had to get some spatzle right?! Originated in Southern Germany, spatzle is a soft pasta or dumpling usualy freshly made. We ordered the Quattro Spatzle which is a sampler plate of their spatzle hits; bolognese, truffle mushroom cream, carbonara, and pesto (P495).

Mind you, this dish is good for about 3-4 persons and it's quite filling. My favorites would have to be the truffle mushroom and pesto flavors.

truffle mushroom cream and bolognese spatzle

carbonara and pesto spatzle

For our main dish, we got the Roast Pork Belly which is part of their weekend market special. We didn't order rice anymore since we had spatzle. It was quite sweet and I liked the crunchy skin.

We also got the All-Natural Citrus Cooler Soda which is citrus fruits with honey & mint leaves in sparkling water (P145).

Overall, we enjoyed our lunch date here. Good food, service, and ambiance. :)

Spatzle Euro Market Cafe
5th Level, East Wing, Shangri-la Plaza Mall,
Edsa corner Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
+632 654 7296
spatzleinc@yahoo.com

Burger Geek, Molito Alabang

Security Bank's Smart Saver Kiddie Camp

Security Bank's Human Switch Kit

Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok

Taiwan Excellence Experiencing Zone at SM MOA on July 8 to 10

Puzzles: Board Game Lounge in BF Paranaque

Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay in MBS Singapore

DIY Little Red Riding Hood Costume

Giveaway: Win a $100 Gift Card From Sephora!

Tokyo Travel Diaries: KIDDY LAND in Harajuku

Tokyo Travel Diaries: Souvenir shopping at Oriental Bazaar

DIY Rainbow Crayons

Our staycation at Acacia Hotel Alabang

DIY Linggo ng Wika costume

Divisoria Buys 2016

The Dessert Kitchen in Rockwell

Art In Island 3D Art Museum

Cobi's Wagyu Burger 'N Steaks at BF Homes

Tokyo Travel Diaries: Things To Do in Shinjuku

Spatzle Euro Market Cafe at Shangri-la Mall