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Sabre's 7th birthday photoshoot

April 28, 2018, 1:27 am
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Sabre turned 7 years old last week and we all know this is a big milestone in any child's life. We didn't have a big party and just chose to go to Hong Kong for a family vacation. He did have a small pool party though so he could still celebrate with a few friends.


His sister Miley had a photoshoot last year for her 7th birthday and I definitely knew we were also doing one for Sabre. However, I decided not to hire a photographer anymore. I just used my Sony A5000 camera and did all the styling myself.


For the props, I just used various stuff we had at home from which I mostly got during our travels. I bought this teepee during our trip to Australia, the colorful lights were from Bangkok, the globes and letter S from Canada. The mat and pillows are from Landmark.


Just a tip, I went on Pinterest and looked for poses and angles we could copy. Sabre kasi just kept giving me the same look at first, just standing straight with his hands on the side. So once we had some pegs, it was easier for him to pose hehe. ;p














Again, happy 7th birthday Sabre! It's no secret that he's probably the closest to me and his dad because he just loves to go everywhere with us. He's also so sweet and probably a certified mama's boy, always saying I look pretty and sexy haha! I'm also training him to be gentleman at a young age and I love it when he opens my door and even helps me carry my stuff when we're out. Hope you never change Sabe! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
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Giant Ball Pit in SM BF!

May 1, 2018, 8:44 pm
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We were in SM City BF a few days ago and on our way to the grocery, the boys spotted this huge ball pit in the ground floor of the main atrium. Of course what could I do but let them jump in!


It's located right by Toy Kingdom, near Uniqlo. Entrance fee was P150 for 30 minutes. Definitely pricey but the boys had tons of fun!




I'm not sure when exactly this ball pit was put up, but probably only a few weeks pa lang since the balls looked clean and brand new. There's a disclaimer though that all equipment are guaranteed clean and disinfected from time to time. Hopefully it's true haha! And it was great how the boys had the ball pit to themselves at first. After a while, there were only 3 kids who joined when they were still inside, so it never got crowded naman.


Anyway, I was so tempted to dive in too, but I was wearing a dress and didn't have socks so maybe next time na lang. But look how much fun they had, especially my youngest! And I love how all the balls were color yellow, so nice sa pictures! Sige na, sulit na un P300 for 30 minutes lol! (actually it was about 40-45 mins kasi the guy said he extended them na, probably since there weren't that much people also)






Anyway, I asked until when will the ball pit be there and the guy said matagal pa daw. So if you're in SM BF with your kids, I'm sure they'll enjoy this!
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Our stay at Hong Kong Disney Explorers Lodge

May 6, 2018, 10:33 pm
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For our son Sabre's 7th birthday, we decided to just go to Hong Kong for a family vacation. Personally, I think I've become more practical through the years since his Ate Miley also didn't have a big party when she turned 7. We just celebrated in McDonald's because she wanted to have her own room as her main gift. I guess going on a trip was also a good idea since Sabre's birthday is during the summer. So it was the perfect time to travel since they wouldn't have to miss school or anything.

Anyway, I definitely wanted to book in a Disney hotel even for one night since the kids had so much fun the last time when we stayed in Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. This time, I wanted to try the Explorers Lodge since it's the newest hotel which only opened last year (April 30, 2017).

Featuring an “adventure” theme, the resort’s third hotel sits on a breathtaking waterfront location and has 750 rooms, three restaurants, four gardens, and an outdoor swimming pool. The exploration theme expands to the four unique tropical climates of Asia, Oceania, South America and Africa.




ONLINE BOOKING

I booked directly at the Hong Kong Disneyland website where you can find special offers. Price-wise, Hollywood Hotel is the cheapest and I believe has the smallest rooms. Disneyland Hotel is the most expensive, so Explorers Lodge is in the middle.

But Explorers Lodge is the only one that offers 2 Queen Beds, since Hollywood Hotel and even Disneyland Hotel only has 2 Double Beds (or a King Bed). So for me, Explorers Lodge is the most sulit for families.


I was supposed to get a Room + Park Tickets package, but then I was surprised when Miley and Sabre said they didn't want to go to Disneyland anymore. They've been there before and I guess they wanted something new naman. They got excited when I told them about Ocean Park and they decided they wanted to go there instead.

Anyway, if you're not aware, the Sleeping Beauty castle is under renovation plus there's no fireworks until probably next year. So it was okay lang pala na we didn't go kasi parang lugi right? Good thing I was still able to see the castle one last time and take lots of pics last August when I celebrated my birthday there!

I was able to get a Limited Time Hotel Offer deal for a total of 1,848 HKD* for a Standard Room (this includes taxes already) with Online Exclusive Privileges:
1) Free Room Upgrade - applies to the following room categories: Standard -> Deluxe
2) Attraction Priority Admission Pass to at least 1 park attraction
3) Dining coupons

* converted charge to my credit card was P12,513.93

Sayang we didn't even get to use these coupons since we didn't go to the park and we just ate in our room. But it was the room upgrade I was most after naman.


GETTING THERE

To get to the hotel, we took the MTR then boarded the Disney train at Sunny Bay Station.


Right when you exit the station you see the Hong Kong Disneyland arc, so of course we took pictures first. We also walked to the main entrance where the fountain was since we were there na din naman.


Afterwards, we walked to the shuttle area. We passed by the Disneyland Hotel first, then Explorers Lodge (last stop is the Hollywood Hotel).



HOTEL AMENETIES

We got to the hotel at 2:30pm and we were already given our room keys even if check-in was supposed to be at 3pm. Check-out the next day was at 11am.

lobby
love all the exploration theme details

The Trading Post which is the hotel's Disney store is also on the lobby level and offers special edition pins, toys, apparel, and collectibles for sale.


The kids ended up getting these - an Avengers bow and arrow set for Sabre (his birthday gift) and a bubble glow wand. The kids had been wanting this bubble wand ever since they first saw it at Ocean Park, so finally their dream came true lol! ;p


Complimentary wi-fi access is also available in guest rooms and in many public areas, including the main lobby and restaurants.


OUR ROOM

Based on the online booking, we were supposed to be upgraded from a Standard to Deluxe room. However, it seems we were upgraded to a Premium room since we were located on the 8th level (the topmost floor) Africa side. YAY!


To be honest, I really don't know if there's any difference in the rooms based on the size. I think it's just what floor you're on since Standard Rooms are located on 1/F, Deluxe Rooms are on 2/F to 6/F, and Premium Rooms are on 7/F and 8/F. All rooms have 2 Queen Beds and views of Garden or Landscape. The Sea View Rooms are the most expensive since obviously they have views of the sea.


Maximum occupancy of all rooms is 4 people. But I emailed the hotel and said I had 3 kids just to be sure and they said it was no problem.

2 Queen Beds and lots of floor space
view from our window

Just like the Disneyland Hotel, the Disney elements were subtle. But I preferred this because the exploration and adventure decor were more fun compared to the Victorian decor in the Disneyland Hotel.

above the beds are carvings of Mickey and Minnie

I liked the open closet with lots of hangers. There were 2 complimentary big bottles of water (although we also brought our own), a small ref, and water kettle.

above the mini bar is a picture of Daisy, Donald, and Goofy
Disney channel all day! More storage space in the dresser as well.
black-out curtains
the bedside lamps had dimmers so you could control how bright the lights were

For the bathroom, the sink area was separate from the toilet and shower. And there was no bathtub, unlike in Disneyland Hotel.


And of course I brought home all the toiletries and this cute tin can which contained the shower cap, shaver, toothbrush, etc.

Easter design for the tin box


SWIMMING POOL

The Rain Drop Pool is located close to the promenade and overlooking the South China Sea. It is open from 8:00AM to 10:00PM.

they provide lifevests for the kids and lifeguards were on patrol nearby

We went swimming at around 4:30pm and right when we got there we saw Goofy! He was just there dancing and taking pictures by the pool. Perfect timing!

It was great how the boys were the only ones swimming that time! There were lots of cabanas and lounging areas around the pool as well.
Ate Miley didn't want to swim so we just took a walk around the area


GARDENS

I got a chance to better explore the gardens the next morning with Sabre. We both woke up early and I decided it was a good opportunity to take pictures of him since we were celebrating his birthday.

There are four uniquely themed gardens that flank the four wings of the hotel:
Kevin Garden (Up) - the South American garden
Little Squirt Garden (Finding Nemo) - the Oceania garden
Hathi Jr. Garden (Jungle Book) - the Asian garden
Rafiki Garden (The Lion King) - the African Savannah garden






DINING

You have three in-house choices for places to eat:

Chart Room Cafe - This is their casual dining option with Western, Vegetarian, Snacks, International, Bakery, and Asian Cuisine. Still a bit pricey but this is the cheapest option in the hotel. This is where we ordered take-out and just ate in our room.





World of Color - They offer a large selection of cuisine from Western, Vegetarian, International, Halal, and Asian.


Dragon Wind - Serves International and Chinese Cuisine. I wasn't able to check the place out but this is where the character breakfast takes place, where you can have your photos taken with Mickey and Minnie in their adorable Explorers Outfits.


ADD-ONS

Btw, you can purchase themed room decoration packages for an extra charge. There was a “Celebration Room Decoration Package” for an additional 1,099.00 HKD.


This was around P7k and I personally thought it wasn't worth it considering we already have Mickey and Minnie stuffed toys from previous trips and the slippers were provided as part of the room amenities anyway (which I also took home of course). The balloons we can't take home as well, so I just decided to bring my own decors lol!

All these decors were less than P100 per piece from a department store. Just don't forget to bring a straw to inflate your foil balloons and masking tape as well. I was thinking of bringing our own Mickey and Minnie stuffed toys pa nga e, pero sayang lang sa luggage space haha! But you get the idea.

Happy 7th Birthday Sabre!

Final thoughts, we definitely liked it here more than the Disneyland Hotel. The room was spacious and the beds were big and fit all of us comfortably. And I just liked the overall adventure theme more. I'm glad we were able to maximize our stay considering our room cost P12k+. I mean if you're going to spend so much for the hotel, then dapat buong day ka talaga dun right? ;p


Sabre definitely enjoyed his birthday and as expected, the kids didn't want to leave the hotel. I promised them we're definitely coming back, probably for Skyler's 7th birthday naman. It was definitely a wonderful and magical experience, one that we'll never forget!
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Bounce Trampoline Park in SM Southmall

May 14, 2018, 10:01 pm
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If you're a parent and it's summer, then you're probably always looking for activities that your kids can do. Whether it's enrolling them in various classes or workshops, planning vacations, or just trying to get them out of the house to lessen their screen time lol! ;p

I've been wanting to bring them to a trampoline park but the ones that initially opened are located quite far from us (there's Jumpyard in Pasig and Trampoline Park in Mandaluyong). So when Bounce Philippines finally opened in SM Southmall, now was our chance!



Bounce Trampoline Park is located on the ground floor on the new SM South Tower building, SM Southmall, Las Pinas City. This dazzling 1225 sqm trampoline park contains 18 different fun activities for you to enjoy with family & friends. Here are the rates from their website:


I was able to get discounted tickets via Metrodeal for P179 an hour (weekday). Not sure until when this promo is ongoing but just check the Metrodeal website to avail.


We arrived just before 3pm which was right on time since sessions are scheduled every hour. I just showed the Metrodeal vouchers on my phone and signed a waiver. I just bought four vouchers (for hubby and the 3 kids) since my youngest was just 4 years old and children age 2 to 5 years old must be accompanied by an adult (me). I just had to pay P49 for the guardian entrance fee.

When wearing the wrist tags though, hubby was the one who wore the guardian tag (yellow). We then found out that the adult companion cannot jump on the trampolines pala! So we exchanged tags pa hehe. So take note, if your kid is 2-5 years old and you also want to jump with them, you have to buy the full price ticket.


Trampoline grip socks are required for jumping and are available for sale for P99 per pair, any size. You may also bring your own grip socks as long as they are in a good condition.


Before we entered, we were shown a safety video so you know how to properly jump on the trampolines and not hurt yourself or others. To be honest, the video just made me anxious since I didn't know that jumping on the trampolines could actually be dangerous (like if your foot gets stuck or if you land the wrong way yikes!).

briefing area

And finally we were ready to enter on the hour (at exactly 3pm). Here's more pics from the place and the fun we had:

jump for joy across the many trampolines
kiddie area for younger kids with slides, foam, soft toys, and a climbing frame
basketball hoops
everybody had fun jumping on that airbag
dodgeball/volleyball area
ninja course
wall climbing
gymnastics area
kids had fun battling on this bounce battle beam!

Additional thoughts:
- I was wondering at first if 1-hour would be bitin, but by 30 minutes pa lang everyone was so tired already haha! Hubby was saying it was indeed a workout!

- Expect to SWEAT so bring extra clothes, towels/pamunas, and lots of water.

- Only complaint - the aircon wasn't that cold when we were there so everyone was getting really hot especially with all the jumping and moving around. I don't know if it was because it's summer and the heat is really intense these days so baka di na din kaya ng aircon nila. We were there at 3pm so tanghaling tapat talaga. Maybe next time we'll go early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

- I appreciated the huge waiting area with lots of seats and tables where you can eat and have your other companions wait comfortably.

seating/waiting area
cafe/dining area
Shakey's meal packages

They also have party packages and hold glo in the dark DJ nights, Friday & Saturday when their LED Bubble balls & Bounce Surf boards are included for free.

Anyway, we will definitely be back since the kids had so much fun!


BOUNCE PHILIPPINES
South Tower, Ground Floor, SM Southmall, Las Piñas
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday 11am-9pm | Weekends 9am-9pm
All national & special holidays 9am-9pm
Website: www.bounce.com.ph
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bouncephilippines
Globe: 09279442860 & 09951490285
Smart: 09493578357
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Our stay at Cala Laiya

May 27, 2018, 9:19 am
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I was looking for beach recommendations somewhere in Batangas and found Cala Laiya through one of my mommy groups in Facebook. I wanted to try it since it was new and luckily they had an available room when I inquired.

After I posted some pics in my IG, a lot of people messaged me asking about the place, so I made sure to blog about it soon ;p



RATES

For inquiries and reservations, you have to call or message them (0917-8839900). They replied quickly to my text and asked for my email address so they could send the proposal.

I booked a Garden Casita for P7,000 (weekday rate) for 2 adults and 2 kids. Weekend rate is P8,500. At first, they charged me an additional P1,600 for an extra person. But I said my kids can just share the bed with us so no need for an extra cot.

Meals are part of the package and it's P1,500 per head for adults and P750 each for kids below 12 (free for kids below 2). This includes lunch upon arrival, merienda, dinner, and breakfast.

Our total was P12,650 and I paid 50% bank deposit to confirm our reservation and the balance I paid in cash when we arrived. As of now, they're operating on cash basis only since they don't have credit card facilities yet.



GETTING THERE

Cala Laiya is about 2.5 hours from Manila. They emailed me this map the day before and told us to give them a call if ever we needed directions.


BUT...

We used Waze going there and had no problem until we reached Porto Laiya. From there, it got confusing na since Waze couldn't locate Cala Laiya. We entered Porto Laiya (which is a new residential subdivision, still a lot of vacant lots and construction going on) and got lost inside (mga 10 minutes lang naman). We asked some workers and finally they directed us to this small dirt road on the left side which had a small sign for Cala Laiya. You will 100% miss it for sure lol. From there, it was a bit bumpy since they are still fixing the roads.

Anyway, when we finally got there I overheard another family also complaining about getting lost and asking why there weren't any signs to lead the way. The staff said that was also their biggest problem (since majority of the guests get lost) because Porto Laiya won't allow them to put signs daw. Well hopefully they could fix this in the future so it will be easier to get there.


THE RESORT

Cala Laiya just opened last February 2018 so everything looked and felt new. I loved the modern and clean design of the place.

Even though check-in is at 2pm, we made sure to get there early to maximize our stay. We arrived at around 10:30am and the kids immediately swam in the pool. It was after lunch (around 12:30pm) when they told us we could go to our room already.

What I love best about this place is that it feels private. We went on a weekday and there were only about 4-5 other families there. But most of the time, I felt we had the whole place to ourselves. Very quiet and peaceful.

Staff was also very courteous and helpful. They were attentive and we had no issues with service.

Wi-fi is available although signal seems to be strong only in the main pavilion/pool area (we didn't have signal in our room).

reception area
dining area
main pavilion


CASITAS / ROOMS

One of the things I was most excited about was staying in their unique casitas which are made from prefabricated materials. I love how the cabins are lone standing and spaced far apart so you really feel the sense of privacy. Best to ask for a casita nearest the main pavilion if you can (ours was like in the middle of the resort).


This was one of their 2-bedroom casitas which are located nearest to the main pavilion/beach.


Garden Casitas come with 1 Queen or 2 Twin Beds. Ours had the twin beds. Rooms are basic but very nice and spacious. I wish they had more pillows though.


There's a TV but there's NO CABLE so you can ask for a USB loaded with movies from the front desk. Good thing I read about this beforehand in one of the online reviews so I just brought our own USB with movies for the kids.

small ref, safe, kettle, French press coffee maker, glass bottle of water, and some Pik-Nik snacks
you can open the blinds, but it gets pretty hot in the afternoon

Best part was probably the HUGE bathroom! I was surprised at the size considering the limited space of the casitas.


Take note, they don't have any toiletries except for this liquid soap. So make sure you bring everything you need.


There's also NO PHONE in the room so you have to go to the lobby/main pavilion if you need anything. So make sure you ask na before going back to your room, especially if your casita is located on the farther end of the resort. Quite a hassle especially during check-out since it was so hot outside and we needed to call someone to help us carry our things to the car.


POOL

They have a 14-meter-long infinity pool which is a few steps away from the beach. Pool is smaller compared to other resorts so might get crowded if resort is fully booked. Luckily for us, we had the pool to ourselves most of the time.

Because it's summer though, the pool water was HOT. As in parang sauna lol! But the kids liked it so they practically stayed here the whole day. ;p

no separate kiddie pool so make sure you bring floaters/salbabida for the little ones
I liked how we could eat while watching the kids swim nearby


BEACH

Beach was small but clean and no strong waves. Sand was a bit rocky but water was clear.

I believe they can sometimes set-up the buffet dinner at this area, but not when we were there

I read reviews on Tripadvisor that some had a bad experience when people in the adjoining property started singing karaoke loudly in the afternoon. Good thing there was none of that sort when we were there so we were able to enjoy the beach in peace.


CABANAS

Probably the best part of the resort for me were the comfy and huge beachside cabanas! They have 6 which are perfect for relaxing with the gorgeous views around you. I loved the chic black and white striped mattresses! I have to admit, I asked hubby to take a ton of pictures of me here haha! ;p



There are other seating areas near the beach like this outdoor sofa set which is hubby's favorite spot.



FOOD

Food is pretty good and delicious but for P1,500 per head I find it overpriced considering they only have 2 main dishes. Set-up is lovely but they have NO FOOD WARMERS so best to eat once they serve it. The food was just on the table without any covers and I was worried about flies but good thing I didn't see any.

lunch - salad, veggies, chicken, and fish
merienda - turon and lemonade



ACTIVITIES


Hubby and Skyler used the kayak in the afternoon and it was beautiful especially during the sunset.

playing with the paddle board
kayaking
calm waters


We really enjoyed and had a relaxing time here and I can't wait to be back in the future, especially when the place is further developed. Definitely our new favorite resort in Laiya.

if you're wondering, my eldest daughter decided to stay home with lola na lang since she was tired of traveling na daw lol! ;p


CALA LAIYA
San Juan - Laiya Road, Laiya, Batangas Philippines
+639178839900
Website: www.calalaiya.ph
Facebook: www.facebook.com/calalaiya
Instagram: www.instagram.com/calalaiya
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Our stay at Pico Sands Hotel

June 8, 2018, 1:23 am
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Our last hurrah for the summer was a trip to Pico de Loro to celebrate hubby's birthday. We've been here several times in the past, but this was our first time to stay in Pico Sands Hotel.


We usually stay in a condo unit rented through Airbnb. But this time, I decided to check out their hotel rates and I got a pretty good deal when I booked direct via their website.

I booked two rooms since my in-laws were going with us. I got a 20% discount since I was able to avail of their 30 day Advance Purchase promo. Total for the two rooms was P12,080 including taxes and service charge.


I've come to realize that this is better than booking a condo unit since your stay at the hotel comes with breakfast and is inclusive of guest fees already.

If you book in a condo, you will have to pay the guest fees separately which is quite pricey especially if you just plan on staying overnight during peak/high season.


Our room was a Superior Mountain View (tip: mountain views are cheaper than lagoon view rooms). It was very spacious at 37 square meters with a 7 square meter balcony, and a king-sized bed. The room was well maintained, it was very clean and still looked new.





ref, electric kettle, 2 complimentary bottles of water
 



I wasn't able to take pics of the other room (Standard Mountain View), so I just grabbed this photo from the website. It looks the same, just a bit smaller at 35 square meters with no balcony, and has a queen-size bed.


We arrived at the hotel past 12 noon and was informed that the room would be available strictly at 2pm. I have to say though that their check-in process was quite slow, it took about 15 minutes per guest (good thing there was only 1 other person in front of me). They still input a lot of stuff on their computers, ask you to fill out a form, then give you your wristbands for pool/beach access. Basta, you think they could move along faster considering the number of guests. So the next morning, I settled everything pretty early since I was sure it would take forever if nasabay ako with all the other guests at check-out.


This was their restaurant/bar where breakfast was also served the next day. Breakfast was ok, there were a lot of options like Bistek Tagalog, Pork ala Cubana, Rosemary Lemon Chicken, Boneless Dilis, etc.



Pico de Loro is a lovely resort but just expect a LOT of people especially during the summer or peak season. If you want more privacy or peace and quiet, I suggest going to a smaller resort like Cala Laiya.

It was so funny when I posted our pics on IG, a lot of people commented on how empty the pool was since it's usually so crowded. Well, the secret to getting the pool to yourselves is to swim at the hottest possible time when everyone's avoiding the sun or having lunch haha (this was like at 1pm). So yeah, the crowds came out later in the day but since the pool area is very large, you still have a lot of space to swim around. And surprisingly, pool was still very clean and well maintained despite the number of guests.




The beach area is very wide, but the chairs get filled up pretty quickly. The sand is very soft although a bit brown, and the water is clear.








We had a great time celebrating hubby's birthday here, and I wouldn't mind going back during off-peak season so we can have more of the place to ourselves.

Anyway, if you want to see more of the Beach and Country Club facilities, check out my previous post HERE .


Pico Sands Hotel
Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast, Brgy. Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas, 4231, Philippines
Phone Number: +632 4647888
Email Address reservations@picosandshotel.com
Website: www.picosandshotel.com
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Video game fun at PlayboxPH

June 17, 2018, 11:02 pm
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My two older kids were invited to a video game party last weekend here in the BF Homes area. We've been to Puzzles before, which is a board game lounge, so I was pleasantly surprised to know that there was a simlar concept but for video games.


If you're familiar with the BF area specifically Aguirre Ave., Playbox PH is located right above the BDO branch near El Grande. It's also very near McDonald's.

The only problem with this place being above BDO is you will have a very hard time parking. The party was on a Saturday afternoon, but the bank was still open until 5pm. There were slots good for about 5 cars in front of the building and I was able to park right in front of the bank. But the guard promptly told me that the parking was for BDO customers only and I could park in the back of the building (which I didn't know where). Well, me and the celebrant's mother were able to charm our way into letting me stay in the parking slot (I mean, it's not like I was blocking anyone's car). So warning lang, might be better if you park in McDonald's and walk over na lang or something.


Playbox PH is a video game lounge but you can rent it out for a private party. The place is quite small, so perfect for intimate gatherings of 15-20 pax.


Here's their rates, but you can also check out their website for Party Packages:



You can choose from so many games (some are also for rent or sale), but I would think this is best suited for older kids. My children are 8 and 7 years old and they just played Mario Kart mostly. The celebrant kasi is 10 years old na, so he and his friends were playing NBA and WWE.

food and snacks are available

Anyway, the TVs and consoles all looked new and the couches and seats were very comfy.



The guy attendant who was there was very helpful and patient with the kids, especially with someone wanting to change games every couple of minutes hehe. And oh, I even played Tekken with my kids haha! Yan lang yata alam ko na game lol! ;p


Anyway, if you're from the south and looking for a new way to celebrate your kid's birthday, or maybe you just want to chill and play some video games, Playbox PH is definitely a good suggestion.


Playbox Philippines
2nd Floor Unit B, RGM Building, 
326 Aguirre Avenue corner El Grande Avenue, 
Phase 3, BF Homes Parañaque
Website: www.playboxph.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/playboxph
Phone: (02) 805-4930
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Finally got my driver's license card after almost a year! (LTO Alabang)

June 28, 2018, 9:31 pm
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I renewed my driver's license last year and as expected, the card itself was not available and would be released months later (I renewed August 2017 and release date was April 2018).


The renewal itself last August at the LTO Alabang Town Center branch was pretty painless. I remember going late in the afternoon on a weekday (an hour before closing) and there were only a few people left. Yun daw kasi ang style since usually everyone will be there in the morning, so in the afternoon naubos na un tao.

LTO ATC branch which is near Jollibee mall exit

After following all the steps - medical, getting my picture, data, biometrics taken, and then finally payment, I was then given the Official Receipt which will act as your Temporary License until the actual card is released. It was pretty quick, like less than 30 minutes tops.


Fast forward to April of this year, me and hubby eagerly went back to claim our licenses. We thought it would just be pretty straightforward, the cards would be ready and we'd just be in and out of there in a flash.

However, we were told we had to line up and have our photos/signature/biometrics/data taken AGAIN! WHY??? Then what was the point of our renewal last year when we had to repeat the process?! Plus, there was also a cut-off for the the number of applicants per day so we had to come back next time. It was all very confusing and a lot of people that were also there to claim were VERY upset. Hubby and I just resigned ourselves to the fact that we would never get our license cards.


Well, I had errands to run a few days ago and I decided I would go to LTO before they opened at 8am so I would be one of the first in line lol. However, there was absolutely NO parking in the Alabang Town Center vicinity! 8:30 or 9am pa daw mag-oopen un possible parking areas. Well, I just did my errands muna and came back at 9am when the Metro Department Store parking lot was open. I reached LTO at 9:10am and my number was 44. Based on the table above, estimated time for my number was 10:00 - 11:00am which wasn't bad.


I was asked to fill up a form for all my details again and I was surprised when I was called at exactly 10am for picture/signature/biometrics/data taking. And then in 10 minutes my driver's card was printed and released! Finally after 10 months! ALLELUIA! So all in all, I was there for exactly 1 hour from start to finish (9:10am - 10:10am). And it was perfect timing since the mall just opened also, so shopping time na haha!


I saw this sign and I think you can claim your license cards in these places as well (not the renewal process, just printing of the cards if you already have the OR). But better verify to be sure.


What was funny is the next day, me and hubby went back to ATC since we were gonna watch a movie. And we decided to have lunch in North Park which is near the LTO. So I told him why don't we check and see baka konti lang tao since lunch time naman. And lo and behold, there were only like 5 other people there! As in hubby was able to do everything and get his license in 10 minutes! Bwisit, sana sabay na lang kami diba? ;p

no NOON break
This was at exactly 12 noon. I've never seen LTO this empty!

So I don't know if we were just lucky that day but I'm just so happy we have our driver's license cards already. I don't really know if it's better to go early or late, depends din I guess on the amount of people that day. But it was pretty efficient when I was there so I'm just glad there's an improvement already.



Land Transportation Office (LTO)
www.facebook.com/ltoalabang
Ground Level, Alabang Town Center
Muntinlupa
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Giving our gate a fresh coat of paint

June 30, 2018, 3:00 am
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I've hardly done any DIY projects inside the house lately since I guess I've been pretty happy with how everything is so far. However, one thing I neglected was the outside. And that something was our GATE.


I've been noticing that a lot of the black paint has been peeling off, which really made the gate look gross. After giving it some thought, I decided to just do it ourselves since it seemed pretty easy.

our yaya helped in scraping off the peeling paint and sanding it down
Bought this BOYSEN Quick Drying Enamel paint (B-690 Black) in Ace Hardware. We just got the smallest can plus a couple of brushes.

Me and hubby were supposed to do the painting, but then Miley decided she wanted to help out as well. They did the first coat, then I was the one who did the second coat.

teamwork
BEFORE (back part)
AFTER (back part)
BEFORE (front part)
AFTER (front part)

And after a few hours, our gate looks new again. And it cost less than P500! Anyway, our whole exterior house also got painted but this time I hired professional painters already haha ;p Will post about it soon!

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Learning to sew at SEW EASY Studio

July 1, 2018, 10:54 pm
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I remember my Lola was amazing at sewing. She would make clothes for me and my cousins when we were kids, entire dresses with ruffles, puffed sleeves, and aprons! I wish I had asked her to teach me back then, but I guess it wasn't interesting to me when I was younger.

We then had sewing classes when I was in High School and I remember the machines were not as easy to use as they are now. Parang un hand wheel that you turn on the side reminds me of Sleeping Beauty's spindle haha! Joke lang, I'm not that old ha! ;p But it was more of just passing the class rather than really learning and understanding how to sew.

Fast forward many years later and now using a sewing machine is a skill I wish I had. I would just hand sew everything when adjusting hems on clothes to curtains and it takes so long! And sometimes, I would think I can make pillow cases or even a simple dress if I just had a sewing machine.

So it was just luck when I chanced upon Sew Easy's Facebook page and saw that they were having "June Half Price Saturday” promo classes for adults. It was for one session only (the usual is 2) and cost P2,500 for a 2.5 hour class. I quickly signed up for the last slot just in time.



Sew Easy Sewing Studio, owned by Anne del Rosario, offers basic sewing classes for kids, teens and adults in Paranaque City. It used to be located in the building where Starbucks is along Aguirre Ave. (I remember passing by and seeing their signage before). But now, Anne has moved the studio to her house in BF Homes. Her home studio was lovely, bright, airy, and super clean! The space made for a very comfy and conducive learning experience.


I needed to bring my own cotton fabric, thread, and nylon cord for the class. Bought this fabric in Cotton Depot Festival Mall for just P60/yard. The nylon cord and thread I bought in Metro Department Store ATC.


The class was from 1:30 to 4pm and Anne made sure to remind us to be on time. The class is for a maximum of 5 students only because of the available number of sewing machines obviously. There were only 2 of us that day which was perfect since we were able to benefit from a really hands-on session.

To be honest, at first I was intimidated with the sewing machine. But Anne is such a great teacher that she was able to explain all the parts and functions so easily. You can tell she's very knowledgeble and passionate about what she does because it comes across while she teaches.


The first time I stepped on the foot pedal was probably the most nervous and exciting part! It takes some practice to get the right amount of pressure for a steady rhythm but once you get it, it's so easy. We did practice runs of straight lines, turning corners, and closing stitches. Me and my other classmate were so kilig after we completed sewing a continuous rectangle on this piece of cloth!


Then after, we were ready to make our first project - a drawstring bag. And I can't believe I was able to make this after just a few minutes!


Anne then iron-pressed the Sew Easy logo on my bag which made it look more legit! ;p

yes, I MADE THIS!
felt so proud and accomplished after!

The class was super fun and so worth it! I learned so much in the short amount of time and can now say I can confidently operate a sewing machine (just need to buy one asap haha!). There are also workshops for kids and I will definitely enroll my daughter here next time. I'm so glad I was able to join this class and will recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to sew. Because now I can! :)

holding our finished drawstring bags with teacher Anne in the center



SEW EASY LEARNING STUDIO
BF Homes, Paranaque City
Website: www.seweasyforkidsmanila.com 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/seweasyforkids
Instagram: @seweasy
Email: seweasyforkids@gmail.com
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New Online Shopping Buys (plus try-on)

July 5, 2018, 1:32 am
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It's really dangerous to browse Instagram sometimes since you get sucked into online shopping especially if you follow all these IG sellers! And it's also sale season now, so a lot of them are having huge discounts which makes it even harder to resist. But buying online can be tricky since you can't fit the clothes, so read on to see which items were a hit or a miss.


Here's a round-up of my latest online purchases, all of which I found thru Instagram.

@THEBEAUTIFULCACHE

This is a mom and baby store with super cute twinning outfits that are very affordable. Average price is less than P500 and that's a SET na! I got these matching dresses and was super happy with the quality, maganda un fabric. My daughter is 8 years old na, but the size 4-7 still fit her naman which is their biggest kid size already. But to be honest, she doesn't want na daw to wear matchy outfits lol! But ok lang, I'd still buy even just for me since the price is so cheap. Also, usually free size for moms but for these dresses I got size S-M and super sakto lang.



@JHAJING

Jhajing Manila offers Bangkok and Korean items for retail and wholesale. I was hesitant at first to buy since I wasn't sure if the pictures posted would look the same in actual. But I chanced upon their 50% off sale, so I went ahead and ordered these items for such a steal!

This green dress actually looked liked the picture, but the fabric is a bit thin. But with the color and print, it's not noticeable naman. Really happy with this one.


For this dress, I actually wanted the purple color (lower left) but all that was left was black and navy. I got the black and was surprised how nice the fit was. The fabric was also thick and maganda un bagsak. A big thumbs up!


This skirt I wasn't so happy with. Fabric was super thin (can you see the silhouette of my legs?) and easily wrinkled (although let's see once properly ironed and with a slip underneath). Good na lang I bought it at sale price.



@DFL_DRESSFORLESS

I was also hesitant to buy at first because most of the photos didn't show the actual item. But the prices were super affordable (less than P500) so I went ahead and bought. They have a price match guarantee as well, if you find a lower price online they'll match it.

Which is what happened after I bought this dress, I found it on another IG store for just P350. I messaged DFL and she said she'll give me P99 store credit na lang. Anyway, I really love the color and the fit of this dress! This is a sideboob dress so the back is really low too.

daring back!

This jumpsuit is a bit different from the picture. The print is the same, but you can tell the fabric on the model is more shiny/flowy. But pwede na din, I just have to pin the chest area since my bra keeps showing.


This dress was a fail for me. It looks the same as the model's but the fabric is super thin (again can you see the silhouette of my legs?). The straps were also falling off and not sewed on well.



@TOPPICKSCLOTHING

This store has a lot of classic and corporate pieces. They recently had a sale and I was able to get this pink tiered skirt for 40% off (sale price was P468). Love the color and the fit!



@SHOP.MYKA.LIMCHOC

I met Myka in a Mothers Who Brunch event and her online clothing store sells basic pieces like tops and dresses perfect for moms. I ordered one of her best-sellers, the Harlow top in white and light tan, and I love how versatile and classy it looks. I can see how so many customers get addicted to buying different styles in all colors. ;p



@STYLE_ANA17

I'm addicted to skirts and Style Ana always has so many nice designs to choose from. The latest one I got was this striped number.


I also finally met the woman behind the brand, Sheryl, during a recent bazaar. I remember I was one of her first customers last year and it's so nice to see her business be successful and continue to grow.


Anyway, there you have it. Mostly I'm happy with what I bought, although shopping online can really be a risk. Hopefully you can ask for actual measurements or pictures but if not, at least most of the stuff I bought were cheap lang. So even if the quality ends up being not so nice, pwede na kahit if you just use it once lol! ;p
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Drive-By Taco Shop in BF Homes

July 16, 2018, 10:03 pm
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After my sewing class a few weeks ago, hubby and I decided to have merienda at Drive-By Taco Shop located in Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes.



The resto is right beside a car wash and across The Penthouse (you can just walk across to do some shopping after eating lol). The inside is quite small with seating good for about 10 people, but there are more seats and tables outside.

the view from our seats at the bar, their tortillas hand-rolled and made right in front of you

We ordered a variety of tacos - Ground Beef, Sirloin Steak, Chicharones, and White Adobo (can you tell I'm a meat lover? ;p). I have to say my favorite was probably the chicharones followed by the sirloin steak. But they were all SO good and flavorful, plus I loved that avocado slice on top. Personally, I actually liked their tacos more than La Chinesca!

Chicharones  P130
Boiled, air dried and fried crispy pork belly
Beef Sirloin Steak and Cubano Style Ground Beef
Beef Sirloin Steak  P120
Beef sirloin seasoned with Drive-By Seasoning

You can also request the tacos to be made into three bite-sized servings, perfect for sharing!

White Adobo Style Pulled Prok Butt P95
Pork butt slow cooked in pork fat, orange juice, white vinegar

We also ordered quesadillas, but it was a bit too cheesy for me.

Cheese Quesadilla

But overall, super yummy tacos! I've been craving for these for the last few days, and it's currently one of my favorites for a quick bite here in the South.


DRIVE-BY TACO SHOP
4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
167 Aguirre avenue BF Homes Paranaque 
09773489211
www.facebook.com/drivebytacoshop
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DIY: Turning culotte pants into a skirt

July 18, 2018, 5:00 pm
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I have this cute pair of culottes, but I never really liked the way it fit especially in the crotch and butt area (way too tight). But I really liked the striped material, so I decided to just turn it into a skirt!


This project was SO easy to do, I wish I had thought of it sooner! To start, just lay your pants down on a flat surface.


Then I just cut the inside seams all the way from one end to the other.


Then I turned the skirt inside out and aligned the open edges on both sides. Pin both sides together to form the unified material for your skirt.


The striped pattern helped me in pinning a straight line down both sides.


Then I just sewed straight down the left and right to close the sides. I used a sewing machine but handstitching it would also be ok. I also just trimmed the extra fabric on both sides and didn't hem it anymore (no need since the material didn't fray naman).


Then turn it right side out and the skirt is good to go! Super easy!


You can do this with any pair of loose pants you have, even jeans! So what do you think of my new A-line skirt? I even used the extra material I cut off from the sides as a belt. So happy I didn't have to let go of this piece since I really love the stripes!


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DIY Harry Potter costume

July 27, 2018, 9:56 pm
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It's Book Week again at school! And I didn't have to worry about my son's costume since I just recycled it from his sister's last year. ;p


My daughter dressed up as Hermoine Granger last year and good thing I kept all the elements I DIY'd so I wouldn't have to do it again.


I just reused the cloak, necktie, and badge, and got a new tree branch from our garden to use as the wand. To see more of how I did these elements, click HERE.


The only other major item I needed was the round glasses and luckily I found these in SM Department Store for about P180! It even had an "anti-radiation" sticker on it, so Sabe has been using it even in the house when watching iPad lol! ;p


And of course, I had to put Harry's scar on his forehead! I just used an eyebrow pencil to draw it on.


And ta-da, here's the finished look! We already had the white polo and black pants, plus he just used his school shoes. I didn't include a vest and scarf anymore since they'll be wearing the costume the whole day and it might be hot. But I've seen some Harry Potter merchandise being sold in a stall in Alabang Town Center before (near National Bookstore) which includes clothing items (scarves, bonnets, shirts, jackets) for the different houses.

Wingardium Leviosa!
getting ready to face Voldemort...


Now I'll just keep this entire outfit so my youngest son can use it when the time comes haha! ;p
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Alice in Wonderland costume for Book Week

July 29, 2018, 10:27 pm
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For Book Week this year, my daughter decided to go as Alice In Wonderland. She was Little Red Riding Hood for Grade 1 and Hermoine Granger last year. I've been wanting to do Alice for the longest time so I'm so happy she finally chose this character.


She actually had this blue dress and I was joking that she could just wear this instead and go as Cinderella. But of course she didn't want since it's not a costume daw!


The blue dress was the perfect color and base for the outfit so all I had to worry about was the apron. I actually ended up sewing this and I couldn't believe how good it turned out. I didn't have any pattern or anything and I was just winging everything as I went along. But I did watch some tutorials on Youtube on how to make a DIY Alice costume which were very helpful.


I found a couple of black bow headbands in the mall - the left one was from Landmark and the right one was from SM.


Then I just bought white stockings also in the department store. These are actually adult size but it fit my daughter well. Then we just used her black school shoes.


And there you have it, a simple Alice in Wonderland costume!


I actually decided that I wanted to do a little photoshoot in the park just yesterday. My daughter wasn't in the mood (she didn't want daw other people to see her lol!) so this literally was a 5 minute shoot! Anyway, I'm super happy with how the pics turned out considering the behind the scenes drama and even though I wanted her to do more poses. ;p

one fine afternoon
"I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!"
down the rabbit hole
oh no, I'm shrinking!
I'm lost!
to the tea party!
with the Chesire Cat

I really love this costume and how cute it looks! Now I wonder what character to do for next year? :)

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Our Rainbow Vacuum Demo experience (to buy or not to buy?)

July 30, 2018, 10:00 pm
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I've been referred to have a Rainbow vacuum demo a number of times before, but I've always said no since I know how expensive it is. But I've read such great reviews about it in online mommy groups, saying how it was SO worth it since the unit can last for decades and they have superb after-sales service. And since my family can be prone to allergy attacks, I figured it was time to see for myself if we should indeed get one.


We were recently referred to by our friends so we agreed to have the demo done one morning. The first thing the agent did was show us that the Rainbow vaccum is also an air filter/purifier. He showed us the dust particles floating around the air through this light. He then turned the air filter system on and we could see how the dust was sucked inside the machine.


So the dirt and dust are trapped in a swirling water basin and fresh water-washed air is returned to your home.

this is the dust captured by turning the air filter on for just a couple of minutes

They also have fragrances you can add to the water to eliminate household odors.


Next it was time to show how the vacuum works. I admit, I was excited about this part since the bed was going to be vacuumed. The last time we had it professionally vacuummed was more than a year ago!

you can shorten the handles if you want more control
I gave it a try and it was easy to use naman
dirt from the mattress!
Next up were the pillows. See the dirt on the red cloth?
He changed the attachment to an Upholstery Tool for the headboard
Floor and Wall Brush attachment

At the end of the demo, he showed us all the parts/attachments/tools that would come with the package.


And then the big reveal... HOW MUCH??? Actually, I already knew the price based from the mommy forums. He gave us further discounts which brought the cost to about P140,000.


Of course, you also have to give referrals and if someone you referred buys, you get points which gets you the following items:


Ok, first some thoughts about the demo:
- Demo is FREE and was approximately 1 hour.
- The sales agent was very nice and definitely knew a lot about the product.
- We were really impressed with the air filtration system since it's definitely an added bonus.
- I read reviews that they found the unit too big, but it wasn't as big as I was expecting. Definitely if you live in a condo, then storage might be a problem.
- It looked very easy to use based on the demo. The agent said if you buy a unit, you can have someone come over to teach your househelp how to use it. Pero if ganun kamahal un vacuum, parang I'd have to be the one to use it talaga haha!
- Based on what the sales agent explained with regards to replacements/repairs, Rainbow's after-sales service is top notch.
- I liked that the agent wasn't a hard sell or pressuring us to get the unit right away. He also wasn't makulit after the demo, kasi some sales people really call and text you everyday to follow-up right? I'm sure he knows it's a huge amount and something that we need to really think about.

SO DID WE BUY IT??? Well, not yet haha! Honestly, the price is just a bit too much for us right now. If it was half the amount, I think we would be more willing. But then again, we did see the actual dirt vacuumed from our room... ugh, so hard to decide!

What do you think? Do you have a Rainbow Vacuum? Do you really think it really is worth it?
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Our day at Ocean Park Hong Kong

August 2, 2018, 5:43 pm
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This past summer, we went to Hong Kong to celebrate my son Sabre's 7th birthday. It was originally supposed to be an entire Disneyland trip, where we would stay in the Explorers Lodge Hotel for 3 days and get the 2-day theme park ticket. But then I was surprised when my two older kids said they didn't want to go to Disneyland anymore (probably since they've already been there a few years ago) and would much rather go to Ocean Park.

The last time I visited Ocean Park was years ago when I was still a teenager. Hubby's last time was way back when he was 7 years old! Plus, hubby and I went to Disneyland a few months before to celebrate my birthday, so we were totally onboard with just going to Ocean Park instead.



Tickets at the website is HK$480 for adults (aged 12 above) and HK$240 for children (aged 3-11). But you can get cheaper tickets via KLOOK at ₱2,735 for adults and ₱1,479 for kids.


Going there was a breeze via the MTR South Island Line which stops at Ocean Park Station for direct access to park entrance.




The park opens at 10:00am and we made sure to arrive right before opening to really maximize our time. We arrived 9:45am and took a few pics before going in


There's so many things to do and looking at the map might feel overwhelming. Ocean Park has two main attraction areas: the Waterfront and the Summit. Ocean Park's main entrance is at the Waterfront side of the park and most people visit the attractions in this area first. But we decided to ride the Cable Car first so we can head up to the Summit (where the fun rides are located) while it was less busy earlier in the day.

kids were scared at first but enjoyed it after a while ;p
we also rode the cable car back down again later in the afternoon

The SUMMIT

The Summit is also known as the "Amusement Park" section of Ocean Park since it contains all of the Roller Coasters and Rides. Many of the attractions have height, weight, and age restrictions so me and Skyler just waited while hubby, Miley and Sabe rode some of the rides. The more thrilling rides hubby rode on his own while I babysat the kids haha!

FLYING SWING - one of their faves!
CRAZY GALLEON
FERRIS WHEEL
CHALLENGE ZONE
SOUTH POLE SPECTACULAR
SHARK MYSTIQUE - over a hundred sharks and rays!
SEA JELLY SPECTACULAR - over 1,000 jellies of all sizes
MARINE MAMMAL BREEDING AND RESEARCH CENTRE - animal care headquarters where we saw dolphins up close
VR COASTER - we wanted to try this Virtual Reality ride but the line was too long. Sayang!

We also had to ride the famous Escalator in Ocean Park (the second longest outdoor escalator in the world!) which is one of the things I can clearly remember from my last visit years ago. What a classic!



The WATERFRONT

We rode the Cable Car back down to get to the Waterfront area, which is where the main entrance of Ocean Park is. One of my favorite parts was definitely OLD HONG KONG, with the recreated streets from the '50s -'70s. There were so many Instagrammable spots!


The kids also wanted to play some games but it was so hard haha! Fastest way to lose money that's for sure haha ;p

GIANT PANDA ADVENTURE
nap time for the pandas
GOLDFISH TREASURES
GRAND AQUARIUM

Btw, you can bring your own food and eat in the many tables around the park. We made baon spam, hotdog, and rice for the kids. Para tipid din right?

Love this Snack N' Cooler which holds the fries on top of your drink! Genius! I think it was about HK$50.

Anyway, Ocean Park looks so different from what I recall! I only remember the cable car and the escalator, but everything else parang iba na! We didn't see any shows anymore since the kids wanted to explore the park and do more rides.

We left the park at 6PM and after 8 hours, we still hadn't covered everything since the park is that big! But it was still a very fun experience for the whole family, and hopefully we get to come back soon.

Happy Birthday Sabre!
Our only complete family picture that day. And Skyler is freaking out over the mascot haha! ;p

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First time at HMR Trading Haus

August 5, 2018, 6:00 pm
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HMR is your surplus store where you can buy furniture, appliances, clothes, and other general merchandise imported from retail outlets in Australia, Europe, and US. I've heard of it before from people who found some amazing deals, and it's only now that I got to visit a store.


It was funny because hubby and I just stopped by SM Hypermart in Sucat to buy something and was surprised to find HMR right beside it. So of course we had to check it out.


First of all, the place is HUGE! You would definitely need a couple of hours if you were to really go through all the stuff. There's furniture, appliances, clothes, shoes, toys, sports equipment, kitchen gadgets, and so much more!

HOME FURNITURE
OFFICE FURNITURE
DIFFERENT CHAIRS
TVs and other GADGETS
CLOTHES
MORE CLOTHES
SHOES
TOYS (what a mess though)
SPORTS EQUIPMENT
 
CAR STUFF
INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
VACUUMS
KITCHEN STUFF
wanted to get this SEWING MACHINE for just P499

We didn't buy anything since we were rushing and had to hurry home. But anyway, I think HMR can be a hit or miss depending on what you're looking for. I believe you will definitely find some treasures if you really take your time to look through everything. 


HMR Trading Haus
21 E Service Rd, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
www.hmr.ph
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Divisoria shopping loot 2018

August 17, 2018, 5:25 am
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I probably go to Divisoria once a year and it's usually when we have balikbayan relatives who want to go shopping there. Anyway, my brother-in-law and his fiancée are getting married next year and they wanted to check out Divi for stuff they can use for their wedding. So of course, I had to tag along!


This was last Monday, August 13, and classes got suspended the night before because it was raining so hard the whole weekend. Luckily, the weather got better that morning and we were able to go as planned! And Sabre even got to come along too. I keep saying he's my mini-me when it comes to shopping since he loves going to the mall as well. And he's a shopaholic when it comes to toys! So he was so excited when I told him there was a whole floor full of toys in 168 Mall. He even woke up at 5am, he was that excited haha! ;p


I guess it was a blessing there were no classes since traffic wasn't so bad going there. We left the house 7am and we were able to get there at 8am. We parked at Lucky Chinatown Mall as usual. And there weren't that much people in 168 Mall as well.

heaven!
even Yaya went with us para mag shopping lol!
he ended up buying this gun with sounds (about P300)

And I made sure to bring a stool so he could sit down while I was shopping. And it was a lifesaver haha! But I think this works lang sa new wing where it's more spacious. Sa lower floors kasi mas masikip un mga alleyways, so no more space to plop the stool down anymore.


Anyway, here's what I ended up getting. If you notice, I went crazy over all the unicorn stuff! If you're throwing a unicorn party, ang sarap bumili ng giveaways and decors here!

unicorn pens - P120 for 12 pieces
all the pens are sign pens, and they write really well (I was worried baka walang ink un iba e haha)
superhero pens - P120 for 12 pieces
most of the pens are for girls, so this was one of the gender neutral designs I could find
these mini notebooks are P40 per set of 4, and you can even separate them individually
these coin purses were P200 for a set of 12
lots of cute notebooks to choose from! this was P80 and even the pages had unicorns on them!
My daughter now uses my old iPhone5 and I found lots of cute cases for her! These were P200 each.
Superhero legos - P270 for a set of 8 (kulang na since my son already got 1 pack from each!)
utensils in a plastic case - P120 each
slim Starbucks water bottle - P150 each
P50 (bought one in SM for P100 before ugh!)
iPad case - P350
There were also a lot of squishies to choose from. I got this for P150 (made sure it was slow-rising for my daughter!)

I also bought other stuff like hangers and toys for the kids. For myself, I ended up just getting a pair of drawstring denim pants. Anyway as usual, bitin and I want to go back!
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DIY: Painting our front door RED

August 30, 2018, 5:59 am
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I've been wanting to give our front door a fresh coat of paint for the longest time, and it's finally done!


Just a background, we bought our house almost 8 years ago and everything was as is when we moved in. So we didn't really have a choice in the layout or materials used. And since we had already spent almost all our savings in buying the house, that didn't leave us with any more money to change things.

So that included our front door, which I probably wouldn't have chosen in the first place. But we just let it be and after all those years, the wear and tear from the elements have become really noticeable.

the lower half of the door is so faded already

Since it was just a door, I figured I'll just DIY it as usual. So off I went to ACE Hardware and asked what paint I should get for a wooden front door. The guy told me to get these paints - a primer, then I chose a semi-gloss finish for the color.


I also bought a couple of assorted brushes (1", 1.5", 2") and a small roller.


For the color, hubby and I were choosing between red, dark blue, and even a turquoise green. But in the end we decided to go with RED for that ultimate bold statement.

this paint was a bit expensive, but good thing there was a further 20% discount on the price that time
the white primer was a lot cheaper at just P164.75

I did some research first on how to paint an exterior door. You can find a lot of tutorials on different home improvement blogs and also on YouTube.

First thing I did was clean the door by wiping it with a wet rag. You can also lightly sand the surface to remove any rough spots or dirt, but I didn't do that anymore.

Then I taped the metal hardware and the edges of the door, since I only painted the front part.


I applied the white primer using only a brush. I worked in sections, first horizontally and then vertically.


I let it dry for a day then I went on to apply the red paint. I also worked in sections, first using a brush to paint the inset details in the door.


Then I used my roller brush horizontally on the flat panels...


and then vertically...


I believe I did 3 coats overall, and I also used a small brush to apply paint on the areas the roller brush didn't reach that well.


Final step was to removed all the tape I placed on the door. Since I waited until the paint was already dry to do this, some of the paint came off with the masking tape. I just used a small paintbrush to retouch these areas.


And now here's our red door, all shiny and brand new! I love how vibrant the color is and what an impact it makes when you walk in our house.


Here's some before and after shots. I just keep thinking I should have done this years ago!


I'm super in love with the red! And the fact that for less than P1,500, I was able to update and make our door look new again. But now that I know how easy this project is, maybe I'll change the color sooner rather than later. What do you think of royal blue next time? ;p

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