Loving my sweets

Sweets are my fave! Cakes, ice cream, cookies, kakanin, desserts, pastries, sweets are what keep me alive. No, really...I can't live without my sweets! I can eat a whole cake for a day and not worry about my calories. In fact, I just don't care about anything when I'm enjoying my sweets. I can be extremely selfish with my sweets. But, one thing's for sure, I feel like I'm in heaven when I'm having them. Oh yes, I am certified sweet-a-holic and being one, I can definitely have my cakes and eat them, too...always!

Join Certified Foodies’ First Anniversary Giveway where you can win gift certificates, food gift packs, cash prizes and even a food trip date with the foodie siblings! To join, click on the banner above. And we’d like to thank their partners…

Partners:

Hot Fun Stuffs / Food and Fashion Blog / Baguio Girl / Mahlzeit / Ruthilicious / jared’s little corner / Stay at Home Blessings / Shy Girls Own / Travel Monologue / Delight My Appetite / Vector Dad / Pinoy Holistic Healthcare / {cherry} everyday / Jefrox News / The Misis Chronicles

The Cookie Jar / Familia Foodie / NomNom Club / Let’s Go Sago / Noob Foodie / Philippine Travel Promos / GEORYL: Welcome to Our World / Techie She / Wentot’s Thoughts / LEVYousa / Living Life to the Fullest! / Food and Happy Things / Impulsive Buyer Goes Organic / YipeeMedia / Filipino Blog / Kizuna / The Life Encounters / My bric-a-brac / The Food Encounters / The Geek Side of blankPixels / A Woman Remembers / Adventuring Foodie / Nash Goes Chenelyn / Deej Speaks / Certified Pinoy Reviewer / Kwento Ni Toto / MAG of My Life / Delectable Ideas / Joy’s Flair / Home Buddies / Mike Mamaril / Fedhz on the Go / Easy on Yz / Yz Little Steps / Samu’t Sari Online Store / Your Filipino Virtual Assistants / Filipino Virtual Assistant / Ken Avenue / Shop Pinay / Day Dreaming Mommy

Join Jared's Liitle Corner Birthday Giveaway

Jared's Little Corner is turning 1 year old and to give back to its reader in its own little way, it is holding a giveaway through Jared’s Little Corner Birthday Giveaway!

Here’s how to join:

Aside from the blog turning a year older, Jared is also turning a big TWO, so he'd love you to share any ideas, suggestion and tips to make his birthday celebration in a unique and exciting way. Whoever gives the most creative answer earns additional 5 points for the raffle.

So, here's a simple suggestion coming from a practical mom:

It would be more meaningful to make everything simple yet very meaningful. If you can, just invite your closest friends and hold your party in an intimate venue where your friends can all participate in and enjoy the fun games. Prepare simple and healthy snack food / merienda. Just limit the party to an hour or 1 hour and 30 minutes since you are all toddler and you can get easily tired and irritable. Let your mom prepare a very simple token for everyone. If she can bake, let her bake cupcakes as giveaways.

Now, the simple steps to do to join the giveaway can be found here.

This giveaway wouldn't be possible without the following sponsors:

Major Sponsors

mumwrites Wellfuture

Minor Sponsors

Pinay Mommy Online Wonderful World of Melandria The All-around Mom SAHM's Notebook Thoughts Online LEVYousa Mommy Manila {secondhand} philosophy I Embrace LIFE! M.O.M.

General Sponsors

Beauty Brite My Little Angels in America Corsame Lane Techie She GEORYL: Welcome to Our World The Life Encounters The Food Encounters Brown Pinay My Point of View iwahm Filipino Virtual Assistant Chizmiz to the Max SAHM Writes Ken Avenue Nshima Servings transfor.MAY.tion Walking News Paper Air Force Blogger My Thoughts in Letter My GOD-send Gifts Shengkayful: Life is Beautiful SAHM's Online Diary working mama The Food and Travel Buff Pinkvillle: Pink and MTG Convergence Zone

My 3 fave spots in the Philippines

Because of the many priceless moments that have been created during our visits to these spots, these 3 places have become so special to my family and me.

Boracay

I couldn’t help but be awed by the beauty of this island. This place never fails to awaken the inner child in me.

The beach is spectacular. I enjoy lounging on the beach chairs and just gaze at the vastness of the skies and the ocean while our kids would busy themselves building their masterpiece sandcastles.

The last time we were here, my toddler had a time of her life walking barefoot and feeling the powder-like sands on her feet.

Boracay is for everybody. It is a paradise on earth.

Pagudpud

It is like an oasis at the end of a very, very long ride. The journey to this oasis is already an experience on its own because you get to bond with your family during your exciting road trip while enjoying the many beautiful sights along the way. It’s a long drive but well worth it.

Traveling to Pagudpud gives life to the famous quote that says, “It’s the journey, not the destination that counts.”

We surely enjoyed the destination as much our journey to that destination. The road may be too long but in the end... the journey is the destination.

Subic

What I love about Subic is the fact that you can have a feeling of “out-of-town vacation” without being really so far away from home because it’s just a two-hour (or less drive) from Manila.

The beaches in Subic may not be that inviting compared to other beaches. Nevertheless, our kids still enjoy playing and building sandcastles on their beach. And when they're not building their sandcastles, they're busy flying a kite.

In Subic, we love to stay at the Lighthouse Marina Resort. This is like our home away from home when we’re in Subic. Seeing a lighthouse up-close is such a surreal experience.

Note: This is my official entry to Let's Go Sago 3rd Anniversary contest.

Harry, where are you?

We were suppose to have dinner at Harry's Bar at the Venice Piazza in McKinley a while ago to avail of the GC I won from a contest. But, when we got there, we saw Harry's Bar alright but it was closed. We found out later on from the security guard that Harry's Bar has been closed for sometime already. Sayang, so what will I do with my GC?

At the Venice Piazza in McKinley Hill

Anyway, the kids had fun in the play area and we were able to try a restaurant for the first time and it was just beside Harry's Bar - Tokyo Cafe. The food was okay and their price is reasonable.

It was still a bit early for dinner that's why we were able to choose good seats. They also have free wi-fi.

I had the Ten-ju (Shrimp Tempura), my hubby tried the Katsu (pork katsudon) while the kids had a large Pepperoni pizza all to themselves. I love the mini side salad dish that goes with the meals we ordered. I wanted to try the Tokyo Ice drink which according to the server is an iced-coffee drink but we were planning to have dessert at The Fort Starbucks (the one with the drive-thru), so I opted to forego that Tokyo Ice.

Ten-ju (Shrimp Tempura)

Katsu (Pork Katsudon)

Pepperoni pizza

As we were about to go to Starbucks for dessert, the kids suddenly got sleepy. So, we just decided to go home and continue our bonding at home. This time around we were sure to have Harry for us to bond over --- a Harry Potter DVD movie. Yes, it's another Harry Potter movie night weekend! We're on the 6th series-- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

What a week that was!

I just had an exciting week... at work. Although it was a toxic work week, I did welcome the pressure and turn it into another opportunity to challenge myself or push myself a little bit harder. Well, just a little bit, ok. Since Monday until Thursday at work, I hardly ever get up from my seat. My eyes were just transfixed to the numbers and data on my screen. But those days, I still managed to leave the office at 5:30 PM.

When Friday came, I was excited to go to work and just scream and shout "TGIF! TGIF!" Hehehe. I thought I would go crazy. I did shout those letters in my thoughts - "TGIF! TGIF!"

But better than shouting, I decided to treat myself to a breakfast - a Seattles Best White Chocolate and Orange Javakula plus a Ham & Cheese Croissant. This was really a treat because it is so seldom that I have breakfast.

I guess I couldn't get enough of coffee yesterday that when I met with my niece after lunch, I again had another coffee treat. This time it was a Starbucks Hazelnut Mocha Frap with Jelly add-on.

Upon reaching home and as I got off from a tricyle, I noticed the beautiful full moon and I couldn't resist the temptation of taking a photo of it. It was like from the Twilight movie. Ahhooooo!

Nice the full moon, no?

Now that it's Saturday, I still thank God it is Saturday. I just came from an afternoon of bonding with my family. And yes, I get to blog... see.

So many goings-on in my life these past few days. I'm pretty excited about them. I guess, God has a way of making our lives a little bit more exciting each day. And yes, He really moves in mysterious ways.

Love the way they play

I get this sense of joy when I see my kids happy and enjoying life. I bet all parents are like that. My daughters bring out the best in me and also the worst in me. I learn from them as much as they learn from us, adults.

Noelle and Nala - having a picnic while watching Playhouse Disney. They were eating real corn.

I learn from them the simplest things in life which when you think about them, are the things that make life worth living. They are natural charmers and teachers. In their eyes, the world is their playground.

Noelle, pretending to be a teacher. Her students - pig, tiger & bear.

Nala, attempting to get inside our mini-ref.

Noelle & Nala, enjoying the afternoon playing picnic-picnic while eating corn (again) and watching Disney Junior.

Playing with their toy in our attic, which has been transformed into a mini playroom.

I thank God for my 3 young daughters who keep me so alive, youthful and ever so playful despite my not-so-young age anymore. Oh how I wish I can always see the world through their eyes.

Looking forward to Sundays

I look forward to Sundays. It's a day to worship our awesome God and be nourished by His words. It is the time to fellowship and pray with our brothers and sisters in CCF. It's also a special day where we bond as a family outside our home.

For the past weeks, CCF's topics center on "FAMILY" and "PARENTING". My husband and I take to heart what we've been learning from all the messages and try the best as we could to apply them in parenting our children.

After worship service, the kids look forward to lunch. It doesn't really matter where as long as they enjoy the food.

After having lunch, we usually go to their favorite place in the Philippines -- Toy Kingdom. There they get to play to their heart's content. Even my hubby loves to go there, too. But he goes straight to his favorite section in TK- the miniature cars.

Then, it's time to indulge ourselves with a treat - Starbucks treat (courtesy of HSBC).

Nothing really beats spending weekends with my family. Nothing really beats preparing for the week ahead worshiping our God. Oh, how I love Sundays!