MrsMommyHolic

I have 2 kids in grade school and I usually make reviewers for them whenever they have exams. One place you can go to online for worksheets and other resources is Education.com.

Take for example this creepy crawlies themed word search worksheet which is a fun way for your child to learn about prepositions. For more preposition practice, check out these resources. Enjoy!

Here's the answer key:

Another day trip we took when we were in Australia was to Kuranda. Known as the Village in the Rainforest, this picturesque mountain retreat is just 25km northwest of Cairns in Far North Queensland and is surrounded by World Heritage Rainforest.

I just booked our tour through our hotel the day before. There are lots of options for tours which include different activities, so it's up to you to decide which ones you want to see and do. Ours was to take the bus straight to Kuranda, have free time to go around the village, then we would take the scenic train going back.

first ones on the bus

Nestled in the mountaintop rainforest, Kuranda has been enchanting visitors for years. Today people flock to this tiny village to enjoy its stunning natural beauty and the relaxed atmosphere. There are so many attractions, restaurants & cafes, art & craft galleries, markets, and walking trails. A single day just isn't enough!

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is the largest butterfly light aviary and exhibit in Australia and the southern hemisphere.

See some of Australia’s most precious and beautiful birds in their beautiful rainforest habitat

Koala Gardens gives you the opportunity to see some of Australia’s most unique wildlife up close.

Australian Venom Zoo - see five of Australia’s deadliest snakes, plus a collection of spiders and scorpions.

Unique Dinosaur Skeleton, Fossil and Gemstone Museum

an airplane wreckage

there's also a playground which the kids enjoyed

Kuranda is world famous for its markets. There's two market locations, the Original Markets and the Heritage Markets, both of which are open every day of the year. Stalls offer a wide range of Aboriginal artifacts, handmade leather goods, wood, jewellery and many more unique souvenirs and gift items.

We just loved going around the markets and walking through the rainforest. It was also fun checking out the different roadside cafes and restaurants for a bite to eat.

art gallery

a life size replica of an Allosaurus dinosaur

there's even a church

There were also so many Instagram worthy spots everywhere!

After exploring the village, we then headed to the historic Kuranda Railway where we would take a scenic train ride which I'll be posting about next! :)

Website: www.kuranda.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kurandatourism

After exploring Kuranda Village, we would then ride the the Kuranda Scenic Railway back to Cairns. This train ride is a spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls.

This 120 year old railway is considered an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude even today. The railway is now Heritage Listed and a National Engineering Landmark. I just remember being so amazed when I saw the station and the train. I felt like we were transported back in time!

The train was just so majestic! I kinda felt like this was the Hogwarts Express and I was on Platform 9¾... haha! ;p

The carriages are very rustic and have been restored to look like the original ones. Inside the standard carriages, the seating is made up of two booths that face each other. It just really felt like we were in a different era! During the trip, a detailed and informative commentary of the railway's construction is provided.

Rising from sea level to 328m, this famous railway takes approximately 1 hour 50 minutes to wind its way through 15 hand carved tunnels and 37 bridges.

It also stops at a lookout with a sweeping view of the spectacular Barron Falls.

lookout point

Barron Falls

A number of smaller waterfalls are passed, including Stoney Creek Falls, just metres from the train.

Stoney Creek Falls

My favorite part is when we would pass by the bridges and you could see the back of the train through the windows.

We told the kids that if they were able to hold their breath the whole time we were inside a tunnel, their wish would come true! This was a fun activity for them since we passed by 15 tunnels! haha ;p

Anyway, the whole train ride was just amazing! We passed through gorgeous scenery, the rainforest, and the wet tropics.

Our journey ended at Freshwater station where our tour bus picked us up and dropped us off back at the hotel.

This was definitely one of the highlights of our Cairns trip for me. The kids said it was a little too long for them and kinda boring at times (what??) but I loved every second of it. It made me feel like I was back in time and experiencing history firsthand. Truly magical :)

Kuranda Scenic Railway
Address: Arara Street, Kuranda, QLD 4881
E-mail: ksrres@qr.com.au
Website: www.ksr.com.au

When you're invited to a Mothers Who Brunch event, you can definitely expect to have a lovely time with good food and great company. Sab of Sinfully Sabrina and Michelle of Momma ‘N Manila always make sure their guests are pampered, relaxed, and recharged after just spending a few hours with them.

I've missed their last two events because I was sick and then I was out of the country, so luckily I was able to make it to this one which was held at 81 Cafe and Bistro in Madison Galeries.

The place was very cozy and inviting. 81 Cafe and Bistro is a family owned, home style restaurant that serves dishes that will remind you of your Grandma's cooking. I wasn't able to take a photo, but all their tables are the Singer sewing machine ones. Super cute! Their location is also great because they have an outdoor area with a great view of the Alabang Hills parish church right across the mall.

Their menu is made up of the owner's favorite dishes and you'll find a huge selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, pica-pica, mains, and desserts. There's even pasta, pizza, and burgers! And everything's very affordable, like the price for the main dishes averages from P300 to P350 only.

Anyway, every MWB event starts off with the moms sharing a little something about themselves. This time, we all shared ways in which we decompress so we can come back rechared. Well, if you know me, then you probably guessed that mine's shopping haha! Seriously, I'm such a shopaholic that just browsing through stuff on IG / FB or other online stores relaxes me lol! And probably just watching movies or different TV shows when I get the time with hubby. And of course, traveling!

After that, Sab and Michelle made some Frosé (Frozen Rosé) for everyone.

It was sooo good! I hardly drink anymore nowadays ever since I had kids, but this was definitely an exception. It was really light and refreshing but I have such a low tolerance for alcohol now that I think I was buzzed after 2 glasses lol! ;p

And then it was time to eat. Everything was really yummy! It's just the type of food I like, simple, straightforward, and just delicious. And it I definitely can't wait to go back here with my family. :)

Chiztora Chorizo

Pork Sisig

Mozzarella Sticks

Gambas

Baby Back Ribs

Adobong Puti

Vegetarian Lasagna

Callos

Spinach Ravioli

Beautiful table arrangements were from Flowers by Yumi, the first Japanese luxury floral botique in Metro Manila that offers fresh homegrown flowers and preserved blooms. I love the shabby chic motif that's both classy and elegant.

this arrangement is made of paper flowers!

we all went home with huge, beautiful Ecuadorian roses

After brunch, we headed next door to Coco Nail Studio for some much needed pamper time. They used to be located at a nearby building which is where me and my daughter went to before. It still looks the same though, just in a smaller space.

We all got manicures from the new Orly Breathable line. This breakthrough innovation in treatment and color is free from 13 harmful ingredients usually found in nail polish! And what's great about it is you don't need a basecoat or topcoat anymore, just apply 2 coats to bare nails and you're good to go! It also features a genius brush with 600 bristles for that smooth and even application.

The Orly Breathable line comes in 19 gorgeous shades and I chose a pink color called "Happy and Healthy".

It was a great event as usual and I was definitely refreshed and recharged, ready to go back to my mom duties. Thank you again ladies for a wonderful time! Can't wait for the next one. :)

Mothers Who Brunch
www.facebook.com/MothersWhoBrunch
Instagram: @motherswhobrunch

81 Cafe & Bistro
3/F Madison Galeries, Don Jesus Blvd., Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
845-4523
www.facebook.com/81eats
Instagram: @81eats

Flowers by Yumi
The Bellevue Manila, Tower Wing Lobby
North Bridgeway, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
For inquiries or pre-orders, contact ‎‎0977 231 3344 (Globe), ‎‎0918 827 5928 (Smart) or email sales@flowersbyyumi.com
www.facebook.com/flowersbyyumi
Instagram: @flowersbyyumi

Coco Nail Studio
3/F Madison Galeries, Don Jesus Blvd., Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
www.facebook.com/coconailstudiomadisongaleries
Instagram: @coconailstudio

Orly Philippines
www.facebook.com/orly.ph
Instagram: @orlyph

You’ve worked hard all year long. The time has come to enjoy some time off. While you are browsing hotel booking sites and reading TripAdvisor reviews, you catch yourself thinking about your children.

How will they like what you choose? How will they behave on the boat trip you are booking? Will they allow you to get some sleep? The question whether or not to take the kids on a vacation is a tough one. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

Pros:

You Get To Spend Quality Family Time

You’ve been working hard and they’ve been going to school or kindergarten. How much quality time have you really spent together? The hectic evenings when you are conquering the house chores and they are doing homework don’t count.

Going on a vacation together allows you to enjoy time with your kids without the overwhelming hassle of everyday life. You can learn new things about your children while they can learn a lot from you.

Children Get To See New Places

While staying at home with a nanny might be a quieter way to spend a vacation, will the children learn anything new? Going to new places is a wonderful way to broaden your kids’ horizons. A trip to another city or country provides people of all ages with amazing emotions.

It seems as if robbing the kids of such experience is downright unfair.

Kids Can Become Smarter

We are not just talking about learning new things. Walks on the sand, breathing the fresh air, touching exotic trees, and tasting new food can make a child’s brain work better. The increased acuteness of sensory functions that kids experience on a vacation can help theirbrains develop faster.

You Can Save Money

Yes, you heard right. A great way to save money on a vacation is to bring your kids. Some all-inclusive resorts allow the children(usually under a certain age) to stay for free.

Accordingly, you can save a substantial amount of money on food and other amenities during your vacation. Look closely through the all-inclusive resort details to find out about such options. Most of them offer package details on their pages. Just make sure you’re looking at a family all-inclusive, not an adults-only spot. Your kids won’t be able to go to the former.

You Can Bring Your Family Closer Together

Vacation is virtually the only time the children see their parents completely happy, relaxed, and worry-free. This is a priceless experience for kids, which brings the whole family closer together. A 2013survey, conducted by the research firm Kelton, found that vacations help families bond. The emotional connection you can develop while nothing is distracting you is invaluable.

Cons:

You Are Limited To The Kid’s Pace

Vacations with kids are usually slow. Children don’t have the patience to run around cities, taking photos, and sightseeing. Most kids prefer a more“fun” vacation that includes swimming in the pool all day, going to amusement parks, and visiting zoos. Such a slow vacation might seem very boring to the adults.

You Don’t Get Any Personal Time

If you want to spend some“adult” time with your partner, you can forget about it. Children require your attention 24/7 and relaxing at the bar with a glass of chardonnay is possible only when they are asleep.

By that time, you are probably so tired you can’t keep your eyes open. When taking your children on vacation, you have to realize that you are not going on a holiday. You are taking a trip with your kids. Still, there is some romance in hanging with your partner and the kids. You get to remember what makes you compatible and why you decided to start this family together.

You Won’t Get Enough Sleep

If throughout the whole year, you’ve been dreaming about getting some sleep on your vacation, forget about it. Even if your kids are great sleepers at home, they’ll suddenly become early risers during the vacation since there is so much new stuff to see! Get ready to rise with the sun no matter how you spent the previous evening.

You Have To Bring Huge Suitcases

Traveling with children means you have tobring a lot of things. You don’t realize how much stuff the kids actually need until you start stuffing it all into a suitcase. This is especially true for younger children, who need diapers, bottles, toys, etc., but can’t carry their own suitcases just yet. Parents tend to spend half the night before the trip packing and still end up forgetting something at home.

You Experience More Stress

Vacations with children are often more stressful than relaxing. You have to worry about the children staying healthy, happy, well fed, and by your side. Kids have a way of ruining their parents’ plans so you have to be ready for missed sightseeing trips and 5-minute meals.

Lack of sleep, the absence of quality time with your partner, and failed plans have a way of adding up to a pretty stressful vacation. Many parents agree that a vacation with their children is hard work.

So what do you think parents, will you be taking the kids on your next vacation? ;p

If you're following me on Instagram then you probably know me and hubby went to Toronto to attend his cousin's wedding. We didn't bring the kids anymore since they had school and it's so hard to miss even one day with all the exams, lessons, and seatworks they have. Especially since they're also catching up with all the days classes were suspended due to storms before. Speaking of which, can't believe there are no classes again today because of the transport strike here in the Philippines! The kids were supposed to have a couple of exams today and we spent so much time studying yesterday. They'll be having their sem break already this week and it sucks because now it'll probably be rescheduled when they return to school...

Anyway hubby and I also figured that we should enjoy this time together just the two of us. I've always said I believe that you should give importance to couple time since that will make your relationship stronger and in turn make you better parents. And of course, sometimes you just need a break from the kids haha!

I've already been to Vancouver and this was my first time in Toronto, so I was super excited. One thing that really hit me hard was jet-lag though. Toronto has a 12-hour time difference from the Philippines so I was wide awake at like 3am the first few nights. That was 3pm Manila time so the good thing was that I was able to Facetime the kids when they came home from school and check their homework haha! And then I could barely keep my eyes open during the afternoon. The struggle is real I tell you! And then just when I was adjusted, we had to go home na waaaah! ;p

Anyway, we had a super packed itinerary since we had to cram everything in a short time. Plus of course we had the wedding and other family activities to include in our schedule.

Like the rehearsal dinner which was held in a Filipino restaurant called Tinuno. It was funny because it was my first time to experience a boodle fight and it was all the way in Canada pa lol! But the food was soooo good and the place must be really popular because it was packed.

This was also my first time to attend a wedding out of the country. The couple asked the guests to wear Chuck Taylors and it was so comfortable haha!

Love this dress which I got from Zalora. Did I mention it has pockets too? :)

They also wanted an "unplugged" wedding which was so refreshing. We were specifically asked not to use our phones to take videos or photos during the ceremony so we could all focus on the moment. And during the reception, there was no program or AVPs which is so common here in the Philippines. Their family and friends just gave heartfelt speeches which left me so teary-eyed. Honestly, it was one of the nicest weddings I've been to since it was so relaxed and personalized. Even the food was cooked by the groom (my hubby's cousin) and his friends since they are chefs. And it wasn't your typical wedding buffet, rather they served sliders, tacos, and mac & cheese. Super cool and yummy!

We stayed with hubby's cousins in Toronto and to be honest, at first I wanted to stay in a hotel so that we wouldn't impose and of course more freedom to move around. I had only met them once previously when they visited Manila and didn't know them that well. But I'm so glad we did because I was just overwhelmed with their generosity and care for us the whole trip. Their whole family was so warm and accomodating, that I was so sepanx by the time we had to go home.

hanging out at Centre Island

bowling night

with CN Tower in the background

I had an itinerary planned but I honestly wasn't sure how much of it was going to be followed. Since we were staying with family, of course sometimes we would be dependent on them for plans. But surprisingly, I saw most of what I wanted. The only thing I wasn't able to do was go to Ikea and Casa Loma. But so happy I got to see Niagara Falls, CN Tower, and Centre Island which I'll be blogging about in the coming days so stay tuned! ;p

Oh my gosh! I was seriously hyperventilating yesterday when we went to Festival Mall and I saw that Landmark's department store is NOW OPEN! Their supermarket has been open for a few months already and I've been eagerly awaiting for the rest of store to get finished... and finally it is! Hooray!!!

I have always LOVED Landmark for their home stuff and their selection of trendy and affordable clothes which makes you feel like you're shopping in Bangkok. When we moved to the south, I missed Landmark the most since I used to go there practically every week when I was still working in Makati. My building was The Enterprise and if you're familiar with the location, it has a walkway directly connected to the Landmark!

Anyway, now I would only get to go to Landmark Makati on super rare occasions. That's why when I saw that they were opening a Landmark in Festival Mall exactly a year ago, I really couldn't believe it!

There's an entrance connected to the new wing of Festival Mall in the 2nd floor which is so convenient. The grocery kasi before, you have to walk pa outdoors.

I thought there wouldn't be that much stuff pa, but they are FULLY opened! All 4 floors!

Layout is very much like in Makati. I don't know which is bigger but I feel this one is, probably because not much people yet. And it's so bright and maaliwalas. I feel like there's just more space in general, kasi in Landmark Makati medyo siksikan and dikit-dikit na un mga racks and displays. Here, everything's so neat pa. I hope it stays this way, ang sarap mag-shop. I can easily spend the whole day here! ;p

1st floor is MENS -

2nd floor is WOMENS -

3rd floor is KIDS and TOYS -

4th floor is HOME -

And there's also an ANSON's opening soon just like in Makati.

Ground floor is the GROCERY and FOOD COURT which has been open since end of July. I love going here since it's so bright and spacious and the variety and selection of food is great. If I'm not mistaken, cheaper pa than other supermarkets.

I'm just so happy right now, my life living in the south is complete na haha! :)

I was honestly late in planning the kids' Halloween costumes this year. I would keep asking them what they wanted to go as and they would give me a different answer everyday. Finally, I just decided on Mario Bros. which I've been wanting to do for a few years now. :)

I'd always envisioned my two boys going as Mario and Luigi and my daughter as Princess Peach. But for some reason, my 7 year old daughter doesn't want to wear anything girly, much less a princess costume. She actually wanted to be a zombie for crying out loud! So fine, the two older kids would now be Mario and Luigi and my youngest would be the mushroom or Toad.

The costumes are actually super easy to do especially if you have all the items in your closet already.

For Mario and Luigi, you just need a plain red and green shirt which you can buy in any department store. I actually found long-sleeve ones but I figured the kids might get too hot when trick or treating. So we went with the short sleeves instead.

Mario and Luigi wear overalls but we didn't have these. I didn't want to buy since the ones I found were almost P1k and they might not use them anymore after, sayang lang. I was just supposed to make them wear jeans and then blue suspenders.

But then I found these denim short jumpers in Landmark Makati (women's section) for just P270! And the best part was the shorts were detachable because they were just connected by buttons.

I just sewed the top part to the jeans and viola, instant overalls! And now, I had new shorts too lol!

Then I cut yellow cardboard circles and taped them to the top part.

I got red and green hats from SM on sale for P100 each. They had a small design in the front but doesn't matter since it'll be covered up anyway. I used white felt which I got from Metro Alabang (P130 a yard) for the circular logos. I sewed this on the cap and glued an M and L on top of the felt.

I also bought white gloves in Landmark Makati for P80 each.

If you want mustaches, I also cut shapes out of cardboard. I used double sided tape to stick them on their faces, but of course it was uncomfortable after a while. You can choose to just draw it on using an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner.

And here they are having way too much fun copying the poses they saw online!

For Toad, he wears a blue vest with yellow trim and white pants. I bought while leggings from SM and the blue shirt from Metro Alabang. I had yellow ribbon and I used double sided tape to stick it to the shirt.

The most challenging part was probably the mushroom head. But I found this tutorial on YouTube which helped me a LOT!

Step 1: make a base out of cardboard

Step 2: Get a circular piece of cloth (I just used some old lampins we had!) and use a running stitch to gather the edges of the material

Step 3: Put the cardboard base in the middle and put stuffing inside (I used some from an old pillow)

Step 4: I closed everything up by using masking tape

Step 5: glue red circles all over (you can use cloth, felt, or just paper cardboard)

And there you have it, a Super Mario Bros. Halloween!

Hubby wanted to join in the fun and used an old dragon costume we had and said he was King Koopa / Bawser.

I was actually supposed to dress up as Princess Peach, but as usual, the mom who worked hard on the costumes is also the photographer. And I was so tired and sweaty after taking these pics (trust me, it's not as easy as it looks directing 3 kids!) that I wasn't in the mood anymore haha!

But anyway, Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you get some inspiration from here if you haven't decided on a costume yet. :)

We took a quick trip to Cebu last week during the kids' sem break. To be honest, I didn't really plan an itinerary since we've been to Cebu so many times before and have already seen almost all the tourist attractions. However, one place we did visit was Temple of Leah, which is dubbed as the Taj Mahal of the Philippines.

I've seen photos of Temple of Leah on social media and was surprised to know that it was located in the Philippines, especially since it looks like a place in Rome or Greece. It was built in 2012 by Teodorico Adarna, grandfather of actress Ellen Adarna, as a tribute to his wife Leah, who died of cancer in 2010.

You can find detailed directions on how to get there on their website. We just took a taxi from our hotel (Marco Polo Plaza) which is in Cebu City. Take note that in their website, they don't recommend taking a taxi since usually the trip won’t be metered, but “pakyaw.” They say that most cab drivers who agree on going up the highlands would ask for fixed fare of around P800 roundtrip.

Our taxi driver agreed on using a meter and then he will just wait for us while the meter is running (we spent about 20 minutes inside). Then, just add P100 to the final fare. After Temple of Leah, we asked him to drop us off at Ayala Center Cebu and our overall fare was P300, plus the P100 extra, so P400. So I guess it wasn't so bad. We wanted to take an Uber kasi at first, but then we weren't sure if we could find an Uber going back down, kasi nga the place was on top of a mountain pala.

Anyway, Temple of Leah opens daily from 6am to 11pm. There is a P50 entrance fee per person, with free admission for seniors and children 10 years below. They also charge for pictorials starting from P2,500 up.

Anyway, yes the place is very grand but it's still partially under construction so you can see bulldozers to the side and other materials lying around. Medyo maputik din un floors. You have to find a good angle lang when taking photos and also para hindi masyadong kita un ibang people roaming around.

Personally, I haven't been to Rome or Greece so it was exciting for me that this place exists in the Philippines. I think it looks a lot better in pictures though, since there's still a lot of improvements to be done. Maybe it will be better to visit again when the whole place is finished already, and hopefully they can keep it clean and well maintained.

A 2.74-meter bronze statue of Leah Adarna greets visitors entering the temple’s main doorway.

The plaque reads: "I constructed this temple in the year 2012 A.D. as a symbol of my undying love for and ceaseless devotion to Leah Villa Albino-Adarna, my wife of 53 years. I adopted and architectural and structural design that can withstand time and still be appreciated for a millennium so this Temple will become a landmark of Cebu where future generations of the Adarna clan coming from her can come and trace the roots and heritage. All her lifetime collections are showcased in the 24 chambers of this Temple principally for the members of our family who cherish her memory."

The 24 chambers that house Leah Adarna’s vast collections remain closed to the public though, available for viewing only through the window grills.

I think the best thing about this place is the view of Cebu though.

Well, overall the place is nice to see especially if you like taking photos. And at least parang na-feel mo na nasa Europe ka haha!

TEMPLE OF LEAH
Busay, Cebu City, Philippines
0933 113 1755
Website: www.templeofleah.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TempleOfLeah

During our vacation in Toronto, we managed to squeeze in a short trip to Montreal which is about 5.5 hours away by car.

It was a super last minute decision and what was crazy is that we arrived in Toronto at 10pm and left the next morning at around 10am! We originally wanted to just rent a car but we couldn't find an available one that morning. So hubby's uncle was so kind to lend us his car for the trip. Of course we were still adjusting to the time difference so I barely had any sleep. I kept asking hubby if he was ok to drive and I guess he was, since he got us there in one piece (thanks also to GPS)!

road trip!

Distance between Montreal and Toronto is about 540 kms and to give you a perspective, Manila to Baguio is about 244 kms. So imagine, more than twice as far ang Montreal but it only takes about 5 hours to drive there. We were just on one main highway kasi the whole time, na dere-derecho lang talaga. So ang bilis lang ng travel time considering the distance.

Anyway, we arrived in Toronto the last week of September. And when I was packing for our trip, siyempre un outfits ko pang autumn feels na. But what was so weird was that there was a heat wave when we arrived so the temperature in Montreal was about 30°C! ANG INIT! Parang Manila lang huhu! But it was ok, at least I was able to wear my ruffle skirts (from Bangkok). And when we got back to Toronto, it finally became cold already (average 15°C). So ang weird lang nun weather talaga.

Well, all I can say is Montreal was beautiful! I never really though of visiting this place but I'm sure glad we did. It's like I stepped into Europe with French being the city's official language, cobblestone streets, and all the old churches and buildings.

I'll be posting more about the places we visited, but for now here's some of the lovely sights from Montreal.

Anyway, just a little trivia. Since French is the city's official language, did you know that in Quebec Canada, KFC is called PFK ('Poulet Frit Kentucky' - French for 'Kentucky Fried Chicken'), whereas in France it is still called KFC? Showed this to the kids and they said "Mom, that's a fake KFC!" haha ;p

Ahhh... so many days without school! Coming from a 2 week sem break, then a class suspension because of a storm (na walang ulan naman on that day!), then another week because of the ASEAN Summit. I've talked to so many parents already and everyone feels the same - we're all going crazy with the kids at home lol! And sayang ang tuition haha! ;p

Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only mom who's getting stressed thinking of activities for the kids to do. And I wasn't planning on going out of town this week because we already went to Cebu for the sem break. So the next best thing? A staycation!

I booked super last minute so almost all the hotels here in the south were fully booked already. Good thing I found an available room in Azumi Hotel here in Alabang (via Agoda).

I've been wanting to try Azumi Hotel for quite some time now, ever since I saw their very pretty lobby on my Instagram feed a few years back.

Azumi is a hip concept hotel providing relaxing getaways south of Manila. Minimalist, stylish, and smartly designed—everything in Azumi makes sense.

With the only saltwater infinity lap pool in the metro, it is the best place to relax and unwind.

Our rooms have floor to ceiling glass windows that allow natural light to brighten our rooms, Daiken Healthy Ceiling which minimizes heat and moisture, and Ecocarat tiles that absorb humidity and foul odors to keep air clean and refreshing.

We provide comfort with less clutter, maximized space, and even environment friendly features that are both beautiful and functional. All these to make sure your stays are cozy, convenient, and practical.

Since it was a holiday, there were a lot of people checking-in. We arrived at around 3:30 which is past the check-in time, but it still took about 20 minutes for them to process everything. I asked what was the cause of delay, hindi pa daw ready ang room since people checked-out sabay sabay so hindi pa tapos housekeeping maglinis. Oh well, I personally think they need to be more efficient during the check-in process especially during holidays when they know madaming tao. I just asked for late check-out and at least they granted it until 1pm the next day.

The lobby is quite small, but they have Romulo's Cafe and also a nail spa.

Romulo's Cafe

Nail Spa

Oh and their elevator walls were covered in faux grass which makes for a nice photo background ;p They only had 2 elevators though, so sometimes ang tagal ng wait or puno siya.

Anyway, we finally got to our Garden Room (which was the only available room type when I booked). Total room size is 47 m² and comes with 1 Queen Sized Bed with Day Bed and a balcony. Everything is very basic and minimalist, but still comfy.

queen sized bed + day bed

balcony

large mirrors on the wall

The bathroom has a huge glass window (perfect for couples lol). Good thing there were blinds, but it's still kinda seen from the sides. It might be awkward if you have a yaya with you lol! And especially with kids, they can just easily lift the blinds and peek inside. So take note lang.

Bathroom was small but very clean. We loved the shower head which was the clear, filter type.

I also loved how despite the size of the room, it still had a kitchen sink, big refrigerator, and microwave! They really maximized every inch of space.

And their mini-bar prices are very affordable!

We were supposed to eat out but when we saw how affordable their rice bowls were, we just got room service. The lechon kawali was so good!

They have a shuttle to Molito, ATC, and Festival Mall but with limited times only. But ATC and Molito is actually a very short walking distance from the hotel. And right across is a number of fast food options like Jollibee and Chowking.

Hubby and I were supposed to have dinner in Molito, but we decided to just eat in Romulo's Cafe. We ordered the lechon kawali again (and beef steak) because it was so yummy haha! Their servings are huge, so we had a lot left over which we just had wrapped. Good thing the room had a microwave so we were even able to eat it the next day. ;p

We got up early to swim to avoid the crowds. Azumi Hotel boasts of having the only saltwater infinity lap pool in the metro. Limited lang ang chairs though so when we got there, almost all the seats were taken na. It would be nice to stay here siguro when it isn't a holiday para solo mo ang pool. ;p

Breakfast for 2 was included in Romulo's Cafe.

Options were pretty limited (and no bacon boo!). Food choices were sausages, corned beef, pancakes, scrambled egg and fish. To be honest, breakfast was disappointing considering we super enjoyed our dinner the night before. Parang ang bland ng taste. I would prefer it if we had room service na lang again and ordered one of their rice bowls.

Anyway, the kids had a great time. They especially loved the day bed which they claimed and made a fort out of the pillows. Glad we were finally able to have a staycation here.

Azumi Boutique Hotel
2205 Market Street, Madrigal Business Park, Phase II Alabang Muntinlupa City 1780
Tel. No. +632 869 9888
Fax No. +632 894 2011
Website: http://azumi.ph
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AzumiBoutiqueHotelOfficial

Last November 15, Sab and Michelle of Mothers Who Brunch (MWB) hosted a get-together just in time for the holidays. I've said it time and again, I really love going to these events because of the yummy food, gorgeous decor, great company, and lots of giveaways!

For this event, MWB teamed up with Uashmama, an Italian brand who makes washable paper products that include paper bags, placemats, pouches, hand bags, and backpacks.

The versatile Uashmama washable paper bag is a stylish storage solution and a unique design piece rolled into one. They look like leather, wash like fabric and even flatten for easy storage. Their resilience allows them to be used over and over again, in different ways and for various purposes. This sustainability is what makes them the ideal piece for homeware and catering.

the paper bags were used to style the Viking Range showroom

the bags come in a variety of sizes and colors, and fits anything from plants, snacks, toys, and more!

gorgeous styling as always by Boqueria Lifestyle Market

can my dining table look like this for Christmas?

To start things off, we had a fun little challenge where we were broken up into groups and asked to style different areas of the showroom. Our team was tasked to style the bathroom and at first we were worried because the other areas seemed much easier like the coffee table or reading nook. But we still had fun decorating and working with the Uashmama bags.

with my teammates Leona, Jackie, and Nina

#bathroomgoals

The Uashmama paper bags are so versatile we were able to use them for different purposes. As towel holders, a make-up kit, a bin for tissue paper, and pots for plants.

And after the judging... OUR GROUP WON! Wheee! I think it was because we were able to effectively show the different ways one can use the product. We got Uashmama sling bags as prizes and I love it! :)

Team Banyo for the win!

Now the food! Michelle and Sab demonstrated easy and delicious recipes using Severin products. My favorite was probably the Spiralizer which can make veggies like carrots and zucchini into noodles. Unfortunately, I don't cook so going to these events always gets me so inspired to learn... and excited to eat lol! ;p

demo time

zucchini noodles = ZOODLES

the ladies in action

Look at that amazing Italian spread by Yogi Brunch. Trust me when I say everything was soooo good!

So again, thank you Mothers Who Brunch for having me. Now I can't wait for my own Christmas get-together! :)

I think a trip to Toronto wouldn't be complete without seeing Niagara Falls. It's definitely part of my bucket list and I'm so happy I was finally able to see the majestic falls up close during our vacation two months ago.

The falls can be seen from both the American side (New York) and the Canadian side (Toronto). Both falls are breathtaking but the Canadian side is definitely more beautiful because of its horseshoe shape.

the American and Canadian falls

American Falls

there's other activities you can also do here like ziplining

Canadian Falls or Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe Falls viewed from the other side

Of course, we had to ride the Hornblower Niagara Cruises which would take us right around the falls!

If I remember correctly, fare was $25.95 for adults and $15.95 for kids (ages 5-12). We just bought tickets right there and went straight to the boat.

They give you plastic raincoats before boarding since you'll definitely get wet!

We went here with our titos and titas but they've already done this before, so they just waited for us while we rode the boat. We just took our nephew (the son of hubby's cousin) with us since this was also his first time.

It was really an amazing experience! It goes by so fast, like I think it was just 20 minutes? And we saw so many rainbows! I don't know if my pictures do any justice to how it really looks in person, but it was just so... WOW!

Haha here I am getting caught unexpectedly by the mist from the waterfalls! FUN!

Super unforgettable and definitely one of the highlights of our Toronto trip!

I remember ice skating when I was a kid all the way in SM Megamall. I probably only got to do it 5 times in my whole life, and I even remember an incident when my older cousin fell and had to get stiches on her eyebrow! So yeah, that was probably the last time I ever went skating.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see a pop-up skating rink at SM City BF a few weeks ago. The rink is small, only 100sqm, and is located at the Main Atrium where Uniqlo is.

The kids had never been ice skating and they were really excited to try it out. Take note, you are required to wear pants and socks. Here's a list of their rules:

There's also a height requirement. Btw, the skating rink is not just for kids, adults are also welcome. So their dad also joined so he could assist them.

Here's the ticket prices. We just got 30 minutes at first since we weren't sure if they were gonna like it or not.

These were the skates. It's different from what I remember using before which were the ones with laces and looked like figure skates. These look more like hockey ones. Hubby said these were a lot harder using than what he remembered as well!

What's funny is that at first, we didn't get those skate guides (P50 for 15 minutes) which were the big bear figures you hold on to. But once the kids stepped inside the rink, we had to get them since they couldn't balance at all haha ;p And I really think they're such a big help for first-timers and beginners. Why didn't we have these back in the day?!

According to my daughter, this type of skate guide was much easier to use compared to the bears.

Good thing we only got 30 minutes, they were all so tired after a while haha! They were all sweating so much since it wasn't that cold also. So bring extra clothes just in case.

It was a super fun experience for them! My daughter especially wanted to come back and do 1-hour naman daw next time! But hubby said ako na sasama haha! ;p

There's also a Frozen Christmas display beside the rink. Skyler and I just took pics here while waiting for them since he's too small pa to skate.

Anyway, I think that this rink is the perfect size for kids to try skating. And it's great that you can get to watch them really close since the rink is open and doesn't have a glass around it. And their staff were really nice, helping the kids skate especially those that couldn't balance that well.

This pop-up skating rink will be operational until January 28, 2018. So for those in the south, go ahead and give it a try!

I really try to avoid online shopping as much as I can these days because you know, dangerous! But if there's a huge sale or a really good deal, then I can't help but give in!

Zalora is currently having their 12.12 (December 12) sale and it's a huge one since it's the end of the year and I guess they're trying to get rid of a lot of unsold stock. So there's really huge discounts I couldn't resist!

To be honest, I wasn't planning on buying anything at first, just "look" lang... But then there was this Buy 2 Get 30% off deal, then there was an additional 20% off on top of discounts, plus there was an additional 5% discount for using Mastercard. Wala na, iload na ang cart lol!

Basically, I bought 8 items and spent about P3k. What a deal right?! That's like less than P400 for each piece of clothing!

Of course, it's kinda hard shopping online sometimes since obviously you can't fit the clothes. But what's great about Zalora is you can return the item free of charge within 30 days. Pero I really liked the stuff I bought and I hoped they would fit since usually they only had one stock left na lang. Luckily, everything pretty much was ok, whew! And they all look exactly as they did in the photos, which was a huge plus!

Anyway, here's the stuff I got. Sorry for the crappy photos, I just took the pics when I was fitting the clothes a while ago. And I wanted to grab the photos off Zalora's site, but then most of the stuff I bought was already sold out and I guess they took down the link for those items na.

BRIDESMAID HALTER MERMAID MAXI DRESS
Size M
Price after discounts: P 379.24

This was probably my best buy since the original price of this dress was I believe almost P3k! Like whut??? How could I have paid just P379.24 for this! Winner! It's just a bit long but that can easily be altered.

EMBROIDERED MESH TUTU SKIRT
Size M
Price after discounts: P 413.54

This skirt is so pretty in person, especially with those embroidered bugs on it which I love! The design is just so whimsical don't you think? There's a version in black, but I think the white pops out more. And the original price is a whopping P1,799 and I got it for just P400!

PREMIUM TULLE TOP
Size S
Price after discounts: P 265.24

This was the last piece online and it was in a size small which I was worried about, but luckily it fits! Again I love the embroidered details and the original price was also more than P1k!

CONTRAST SHIRTING ASYMMETRIC DRESS
Size S
Price after discounts: P 367.54

Original price was P1499 and I really liked the contrast of the colors and the uneven hemline.

COLLECTION SCARF NECK TIE DRESS
Size M
Price after discounts: P 227.24

This is a super easy dress to wear and I like the pinstripes. The material is really nice too. This was also the cheapest dress I got after all the discounts.

COLLECTION COLOUR BLOCK PLEATED DRESS
Size M
Price after discounts: P 265.24

This dress was also super cheap after all the discounts so I just had to get it. I also like how girly it is espcially with the pleated skirt. And I mean, how could you go wrong with a dress less than P300!

COLLECTION COLOUR BLOCK PLEATED DRESS
Size M
Price after discounts: P 265.24

Got the same dress but in black this time.

MULTI TIERED MAXI DRESS
Size M
Price after discounts: P 827.54

This was the most expensive item I got and I guess I liked how it looked in the photos (sorry I just have the thumbnail from my order). Not sure how I feel about this dress though, I like it but hubby hates it haha! I'm thinking of styling it with statement earrings and heels so let's see how it looks when I'm all dolled up!

Anyway, I'm super happy with all the stuff I got! The quality of the clothes is great and the fact that I paid so little is even better! Makes you think why you even pay full price for stuff right?!

The sale is still ongoing until tomorrow (December 15) so it's not too late to catch some last minute deals. And if ever, there's always next year to look forward to!

And our annual Christmas card photoshoot continues! Again, I decided to DIY it this year thinking it would be easier since the kids are older... wrong! ;p

This was my set-up this year (to see last year's photoshoot, click HERE). I just strung some Christmas lights on the wall and covered our wooden bench with a comforter. Then I bought this white tree at SM (just P600) and covered it with my candy decorations. So I figured I'll have a "sweet theme" this year with the kids wearing pink.

Anyway, I was hoping the photoshoot would be a breeze since it would be easier to direct the kids and make them smile and stuff... But I guess any parent knows that having multiple children look directly at the camera at the SAME time is practically a miracle lol! I always had a kid looking somewhere else, or had their eyes closed, or had a fake/forced smile...

Of course, they all loved picking the decors from the tree too! Especially my bunso who loves ice cream!

At one point I was just like "FINE, do whatever pose you like!" And THIS is what they give me! LOL!

I probably have about 75% fail or wacky photos. But thankfully I got some good ones too. The trick is to just keep clicking away and you're bound to end up with a good pic! Anyway, here's the best out of the bunch. Will share the final card on Christmas day!

This was the last shot I took haha! Anyway, can't believe it's just 5 days til Christmas! Happy Holidays everyone. :)

Before seeing the Niagara Falls, we first headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake (the historic town ranked as Canada’s #1 Food & Wine Destination by TripAdvisor) for some sightseeing and wine tasting.

Our first stop was the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery, which is Canada’s most awarded winery. The place was huge, modern, and super beautiful!

I was so happy when I saw that the vineyards actually had leaves and grapes! The last time I went on a wine tasting tour was in Sydney Australia and it was during winter so everything was bare. But now this totally made me feel like I was in "A Walk In The Clouds" movie (one of my favorites).

Hubby and our other companions had a mini wine tasting session.

Meanwhile, I just wanted to stay here longer and run through the endless rows of grapes! It was just so beautiful!

And they also had a garden where they had GIANT cabbages! Look at the size compared to my foot!

Our next stop was this lovely beach area which I believe is Lake Ontario. It was really cold here, but the view was worth it. And we passed by lots of huge and beautiful houses too. I think it would be so nice to live here...

From across the lake, you can actually see the city of Toronto! That leftmost building is the CN Tower.

Our last stop was the historic Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Honestly, this was one of the prettiest places I've been to, and it reminded me of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

The Heritage District is made for walking, with its boutique shops, cast-iron planters bursting with flowers, and horse-drawn carriages transporting riders to another time and place.

Love all the huge plants and flowers that lined the streets! It was so pretty.

And the quaint shops and stores, with buildings made of bricks. Everything was so picturesque!

Of course, hubby had to try some beer at The Exchange Brewery. We actually ended up buying 2 bottles of craft beer.

Located right in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Old Town Heritage district, the Exchange is the area’s new premium brewery. Using local Niagara fruits, the Exchange’s craft beers range from classic American styles to sour and funky Belgian brews. All are on tap in the brewery’s tasting room.

For lunch, we ate at Corks Restaurant & Wine Bar, a local favourite located right on Queen Street.

fish and chips

Niagara-on-the-Lake was so beautiful and I wish we had more time to explore this lovely town. If ever we do go back, I would love to stay overnight in one of their bed and breakfasts for the complete experience.

And here's our Christmas card this year! If you want to see more photos and outtakes from this DIY photoshoot, click HERE. We're currently at the Bellevue Manila where we had a staycation to celebrate Christmas Eve! Will post more about that next time.

But anyway, hope you're all having a wonderful time with your family and loved ones. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

It'll be 2018 in a couple of hours, but first let me share with you some pics from our annual family Christmas party. This year, our theme was CRAZY CHRISTMAS HATS!

Our theme in 2014 was Ugly Sweater, 2015 was Asian, and 2016 was Disney. This year was easy since it was just hats we had to think of. I didn't have time to DIY though, so I just bought our hats in the mall. I found mine and hubby's hats in National Bookstore for about P170 each. The kids' hats were all from SM at just P50 each.

Here's some of the other crazy hats our family wore:

upper left family won 3rd place and upper right family won 1st place

Us, we won 2nd place lol! I think mainly because of the kids haha!

This Christmas was also the first year our parents (my mom and in-laws) were all in the States. So orphans kami haha!

with my sis who spent Christmas with us

It's so funny, now lang I found out what this hand gesture means! I'm such a tita na talaga lol!

It's also so hard to make everyone smile for a family pic, right? So hubby just said "sad face" and everyone cooperated hahaha! Kainis!

Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone! May 2018 be filled with health and happiness, plus a fresh start of brighter and more exciting journeys ahead. Cheers!

Ever since I got married, Christmas Eve has been spent at my in-laws where my MIL always cooks up a storm. We always have mass on December 24 which starts at 8pm, and then we have dinner after. Then, we wait until midnight to open presents!

However, both my in-laws and my mom happened to be in the States for Christmas, so hubby and I were going to be orphans lol! We just decided to book a staycation, which is one of our favorite things to do with the kids, so we could celebrate a little differently.

I think we've tried almost all the hotels in the south already, except The Bellevue Manila and Vivere. And when I looked for holiday promos, I ended up booking with Bellevue since they had a great deal.

They had a "Holi-Deal" Offer and I booked 2 Tower Deluxe Rooms for P6,111 each (all-in), since my sister and brother-in-law were joining us, as well as our 2 yayas.

Buffet breakfast was included as well as the ff:
- Php300 worth of food and beverage credits (excluding Hatsune and In-Room Dining)
- Special Gift
- 20% Discount on F&B bill: excluding Pastry Corner, Hatsune and In-Room Dining.
- 10% discount on Azurea Spa: Special perk for booking directly from our website.
- 10% discount on Laundry Service: Special perk for booking directly from our website.
- Free Access to PressReader: Digital Newspaper
- Free Parking
- Free Shuttle Service to nearby Alabang commercial and financial districts
- Free WIFI Access
- Use of Pool and Gym
- Waived Charge at Vue Bar: Waived Minimum Charge at Vue Bar
- Welcome Fruit Platter
- Welcome Drinks

The Bellevue has 2 wings, the Main Wing and the Tower Wing. I was told the rooms at the Tower Wing were newer, which is why they were also more expensive by about P1k. I got the Tower Deluxe Room which has a choice of 1 king or 2 queen beds. I requested for rooms with 2 queen beds and if possible adjoining.

However, I called the morning of our check-in and was told they didn't have any more rooms with queen beds. So they just upgraded me to the next room category which had a king bed, and they will just put an extra bed free of charge. YAY! The rooms were nice and big but they were located on opposite ends of the corridor which was a bit of a workout lol!

Anyway, here was the first room which we stayed at. You'll see later, the layout of the bathroom area is a bit different from the other room.

As you can see, there's a glass wall for the bathroom, but there's blinds naman for privacy.

The bathroom was gorgeous, with a bathtub and separate shower.

My only issue with this layout was this part only had a sliding door with no lock, so the kids kept opening it even when someone was in the shower lol!

We also had a fantastic view of the pool from our window.

Here was the 2nd room which our yayas and my sister stayed in. The layout for the bathroom is different.

Instead of glass, the wall here is closed unliked in the other room. And the view from this room is not as nice. But everything else is the same.

bathroom

love the huge mirrors in the closet for selfies ;p

living area

small ref by the door

The pool at the Tower Wing was nice but it was so cold!

kiddie area

there were also some koi fish

There was also another pool at the Main Wing which we just checked out. It was also nice, but if you are staying at the Tower Wing, it would be quite a hassle going here since you have to cross the lobby and go up the elevators again.

Anyway, it was our first time ever to stay at a hotel for Christmas and I didn't expect so much people to be doing the same. I thought mostly everyone would just be spending it at home with their families haha. We planned on eating at Phoenix Court, the in-house Chinese restaurant, but when I called to make a reservation after checking-in, they were fully booked na daw! We just decided to eat later than usual, at about 8:30pm and they had available tables na naman. We also got 20% off our bill as hotel guests.

After dinner, we took pictures at the lobby by the Christmas tree.

with my sister, kids, and our yayas

hubby and his youngest brother, galit na daw sila sa tagal ng photoshoot namin LOL!

we even saw Santa roaming around the lobby; kids weren't that happy though haha

Then, it was finally time to open presents! The kids were getting nervous at first because they didn't see any gifts daw. Of course we hid it well! I couldn't bring all their gifts since it was definitely a lot (and ang bulky!), I just brought 2 each so that they'll have something to open on Christmas Eve.

And the little boy was so happy since he got the final lion to form his Voltron! Hubby bought all 5 at the same time but we've been giving him each lion separately before Christmas as prizes for good grades, etc. And now it's complete! But in reality, I think Daddy really bought this toy for himself haha! ;p

The next day, the kids were surprised to find more gifts from Santa (and may letter pa)! Ang dami lang questions like how did Santa know we were there, and diba may CCTV un hotel? So may footage daw dapat lol! ;p

Buffet breakfast was served in the Main Ballroom since obviously they had so much guests.

puto bumbong!

And our package had P300 worth of food and beverage credits (so P600 since we had 2 rooms). We just bought cheese rolls and ensaymada at the Pastry Corner located at the Main Wing.

Pastry Corner

Overall, I loved our first Christmas staycation experience. Everything was so festive in the hotel. The promo I got was super sulit too considering the price and inclusions. I also liked how they had free cancellation up to 2 days before, and you will only be charged at the hotel already. However, I just realized there was no "Special Gift" given which was part of the package. And I had to ask for the welcome fruit platter, and was just given 2 apples and an orange late in the afternoon. But it's ok, I'll definitely still come back here at Bellevue next time for another staycation. :)

The Bellevue Manila
North Bridgeway,
Filinvest City, Alabang,
Muntinlupa, Philippines 1781
t: (+632) 771-8181
e: tbmnl@thebellevue.com
w:www.thebellevuemanila.com

Fun worksheets for kids

Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest (Australia)

Kuranda Scenic Railway (Australia)

Gather, Inspire, Feast with Mothers Who Brunch

Pros And Cons Of Taking Your Kids On Vacation

Pros:

Cons:

Toronto Trip

Landmark Alabang Department Store is Now Open!

DIY Mario Bros. and Toad Costume

Temple of Leah in Cebu

Montréal Travel Diary

Staycation at Azumi Boutique Hotel

Mothers Who Brunch x Uashmama

Toronto Trip: Niagara Falls

Ice Skating at SM City BF

My Zalora 12.12 #OnlineFever Shopping Haul

DIY Christmas Photoshoot 2017

Toronto Trip: The charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Merry Christmas!

Crazy Christmas Hat Party!

Christmas staycation at The Bellevue Manila