a birthday treat for Noelle & Nala at the Crowne Plaza

To tell you honestly, of all the hotels we stayed in, it was in Crowne Plaza Galleria where I experienced the fastest "check-in" in my life. And to think that our overnight stay was courtesy of a deal site wherein I bought a 50% off voucher from Deal Grocer. I just presented the printed voucher and after just a few seconds of verifying from their computer, I was given the card keys to our room. And to think that it was just 12 noon, 2 hours before our actual check in at 2pm. There were people checking in at that time and I even lined up but I dunno, everything was just fast and efficient.

We really like our hotel room. It was so spacious. It has 2 double beds and a recliner. It also has a nice and big computer desk/working area just in front of the beds. The furnishings are simple yet very modern.

After our usual photo ops at the hotel room, our kids got excited to roam around Galleria. Our first stop was at the food court where I just had pasta from Ravioli, while my husband and Nisi had sisig, and Noelle and Nala had McDo meals. Then we proceeded to Toys R Us.

Noelle chose a Barbie doll and Nala was just happy playing with all the toys around.

A Barbie doll for me!

Wow! Lots of Barbie dolls!

I like this!

And this!

Ate Nisi happily chose a set of Garden Tools as her gift to the two of them. Awww, that was so sweet of Ate Nisi. We went back to our room where they spent hours playing with their new toys.

Then, we went malling again. Guess who we bumped into? Marc and Rovilson!!!

Oh my, they're so handsome!

Pero pinakahandsome yung nasa gitna!

Dinner at TGIFidays! Nala was sleeping at this time. She was sleeping on her stroller.

We even went to a book signing after dinner.

We left our daughters at the first floor where they enjoyed browsing over some books.

That's Nisi in the middle, reading a book.

Can you find Nala? She's that little girl behind Nisi.

Noelle, walking back and forth at the kids' section while Nala was seated on the floor with a playmate.

Before heading back to our room, we had snack at Cerealicious Cafe.

Candle-blowing time! I bought a cake at the hotel cafe lobby at 50% off.

Noelle and Nala took turns in blowing their candles.

4 candles for Noelle

2 candles for Nala

The following day, just before checking out of the hotel, our daughters spent some time playing at the hotel's mini playground set-up. By the way, hubby and Nisi were the ones who took the complimentary breakfast since I wasn't up at that time yet.

I also requested for a late check out (at 2pm or was that 3pm? Can't remember anymore) and immediately, my request was granted. Again, that was fast! Check out was also a breeze.

We even had coffee before heading out of the mall. Hehehe.

We truly enjoyed our stay at the Crowne Plaza. It was our first time there and I was impressed by the hotel's efficient service. The location is perfect. Even if the pool area isn't that inviting, there's so much to do here since it's located at a mall where you can shop or window shop or do some restaurant-hopping or even have your hair cut or nails done or enjoy watching a movie. Plenty of things to do talaga... that is if you don't want to stay put inside your hotel room.

We look forward to spending a weekend here again with my family. And I hope Deal Grocer will come up with another deal just like this.

Simple Birthday Wishes

Two of my "preciousnesses" celebrated their birthdays last June, exactly one week apart. We had two simple yet special celebrations. For their birthday cake I opted to try something different and cute - I bought mini cupcakes from Classic Confections at 50% off (coupon purchased from Groupon Beeconomic). They're so pretty to eat. By the way, Classic Confections is where I also ordered the cookie giveaways during the baptism of our youngest daughter.

Classic Confections mini cupcakes
The photo above shows how they looked like before I brought the box home.

Wondering what they looked like when I got home? Read my side kwento about it.

This was the "handa" we feasted on during Nala's birthday: Doloras' Pancit Malabon (sarap nito, promise), pork bbq, Classic Confections 1 dozen mini cupcakes, Royal Tru Orange, Gardenia pandesal.

Nala loves to blow birthday candles on cakes (I think all kids love to do that anyway) and loves to sing the Happy Birthday song, that's why I knew it would make her really happy if she would blow candles on her mini cupcakes again and again.

We sang the Birthday song at least 10x just for Nala to blow the candles on her cupcake again and again.

This was the "handa" we feasted on during Noelle's birthday: Jollibee Chicken Joy, Jollibee spaghetti, Jollibee French fries (her simple birthday request), and (again) Classic Confections mini cupcakes (which she also requested to be her "birthday cake").

Side kwento about the cupcakes
While I was sleeping inside the shuttle van on my way home (I commute daily), I accidentally leaned on the box and destroyed the thin plastic window covering the box. So, the cupcakes ended up looking like this on Nala's birthday.

I chose those that still looked okay for the photo shoot.

A week later during Noelle's birthday, I went home again with a box of these mini cupcakes. As usual, I took the shuttle going home but I was now more careful in carrying the box. I even stayed awake the whole trip just to avoid crushing the cupcakes.

This was how they looked like when I opened the box at home.

Oh well, Noelle and Nala still loved them cupcakes, even though they weren't in "mint" condition.

Ahead of the Pack

I was No. 1! Just because I'm really such a mom, I had to wake up very early on an official holiday-Monday morning (June 20) to take part in Shopwise's Sunrise Sale. Diba moms love bargains and when we read the word "SALE", our hearts stop beating for a while? I'm like that.

It was last January when my hubby and I first experienced Shopwise's Sunrise Sale. We went there for two consecutive days - on a Saturday for the 50% off on all seafood items and on a Sunday for the 50% of on all meat items. For one month, our refrigerator freezer was jampacked. In fact, there was no room anymore for the crabs and the prawns I bought that I had to be content placing them beside my water bottles inside the ref. Taking part in this event saved me at least Php5,000 worth of meat and seafood items, not to mention some palengke and grocery trips.

This time, I found out all about the part 2 (for this year) a bit late. For that, I missed the meat sale. But the good thing was that I was still able to go to the seafood items and fruits sale. And I was even ahead of all the people who were there earlier than me. That's because I ran faster than everyone else who were mostly "lolas" naman eh (hehe). I told my hubby and my mom-in-law who were with me to take care of getting us push carts while I go straight to the seafood section.

When I got there, I was welcomed with an applause. Then, I was given the number 1 tag and an assistant who would help me with my seafood item needs or purchases.

It was more orderly the 2nd time around.

After I was done with my seafood purchases, we went to the fruits section and we got to bring home lots of fruits like, apples, oranges, grapes, pomelo, melon, and watermelon for 50% off. I love this Sunrise Sale so much!

At home, my hubby was so excited to arrange all the seafood we bought in our freezer.

We're very happy with all our purchases, most especially, the prawns and shrimps. Too bad, there were no crabs for sale this time.

Prawns I bought from the Shopwise Sunrise Sale.
My hubby cooked this...it was simply delicious! I swear, para itong inorder sa mamahaling resto.

Passport Application...even this was a family event

Last May 20, I took a leave from work as it was our scheduled family passport application. I, hubby and Nisi had our passports renewed while Noelle and Nala were first time applicants.

We had an 11:00 am schedule but we were required to be there 30 minutes earlier. We arrived at the DFA before 10:30 am and we were accommodated right away to our first stop which was the section where application forms are submitted.

Next stop was at the cashier located at the second floor. There was a line at the cashier but it took my hubby just 15 minutes thereabouts to pay. We paid Php4,750 for five passports. Just imagine how much money DFA makes????!!!!

My kids and I were seated waiting for him at the waiting area where there were plenty of steel seats. After paying, hubby got us a number for the passport picture taking. This is where we waited for 1 1/2 hours.

Our view from where we were seated while waiting for our number to be called for the picture taking.

There was wi-fi connection but I think there was something wrong with the connection... My hubby just couldn't connect which explains that face.

Goofing around with each other. Behh.

By the time we were done with the picture taking, we were all so hungry. We left the parking area at almost 1:30 pm and immediately drove towards Taguig. We went to Trellis at Market Market where we had our late lunch of Sisig, Liempo with kangkong and Spiced Spareribs. I wasn't able to take a picture of what we ordered because of the state of my stomach at that time.

After that, we walked towards Serendra and had dessert at Gelatissimo. I was back to my sanity at that time, that's why I was able to take pictures. Look below...

We were home tired at past 3 pm.

The dynamic duo doing a dynamite recipe (wehehe)

This post is supposed to be for Mother's Day. So, it means this post is already two months overdue. Anyway, I just like to share what my gimmick was last Mother's day.

My daughter and I went to Dusit Thani's Dynamic Duo Mother's Day No-Cook Recipe Contest where we prepared another one of my dessert inventions with mangoes and bananas.

Our dynamite recipe - a no-bake pie consisting of mangoes and bananas

My hubby, mother-in-law, our daughter Noelle, were there to give us some moral support. I even remember it to be the day Pacquiao won against Mosley. After the event it rained so hard.

But unlike Pacquiao who was declared champion that day, we didn't win the grand prize. Still we got nice prizes for being a finalist - an overnight stay at their deluxe room with breakfast buffet for two and 2 GCs for a Buffet Crossover lunch. Sweet!

Tuning in to Playhouse Disney

I used to watch a lot of cable shows, especially during the time when I was bedresting. I recall crying over "One More Chance" starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, even if I had watched it twice already. From the moment I would wake up until my sleeping time, our bedroom TV was tuned in to Lifestyle Network, ETC, HBO, Discovery Travel & Leisure, AFC, and other lifestyle and detective shows.

After I gave birth to our youngest daughter and went back to work after a 9-month hiatus, my TV viewing was cut down to the barest minimum. In fact, I only get to watch TV now at an average of 3.5 hours a week. I don't know the latest teleseryes, latest shows, latest commercial ads, upcoming celebrities, etc. I certainly have no clue which one is Mara and Clara or who the good girl is and the evil one in their telenovela. But, I do get my dose of showbiz chismis from online publications and some blogs I follow.

The only TV shows that I get to watch nowadays because of my little tots are those shows from Playhouse Disney Channel like WordWorld, Pororo, Timmy Time, Johnny and The Sprites, Jungle Junction, Angelina Ballerina and a lot more. I get to enjoy these shows with my tots. I sing with them, I laugh with them while watching. There were even times that I unconsciously just tune in to these shows when I want to watch TV, even when my tots are not with me.

I now love Timmy, the little lamb with a lot to learn;

Pororo, the cute little penguin;


and Basil, Ginger, Root & Lily of Johnny & The Sprites.


I have even memorized the theme song lyrics of many of the Playhouse Disney shows.

The morning I was stunned

There was one particular morning two months ago that I will never forget...EVER! It was when I read an email from a certain Ms. Katie Wilkinson informing me that I won 1,000 Euros for answering their online survey. I was stunned. For a moment I couldn't retract my eyes from the computer screen reading the email over and over again.

Here's the exact letter from her dated May 5, 2011.

Congratulations!

You recently filled out the ellesse survey via our facebook page or our website.
I am pleased to let you know that you are the overall winner and have won 1000 euros. WELL DONE!
Please can you send me your full name as it appears on your bank statement as well as the details of your bank and your paying in details so we can ensure the money safely goes into your account.

Once again well done and look forward to hearing back from you.

Kind regards

Katie

Katie Wilkinson
ellesse Digital Producer
ellesse International

Tel: +44 (0) 208 970 6275
www.ellesse.com
Face book http://www.facebook.com/ellesse
Twitter: @iloveellesse
@ellesseheritage

Yes, I did answer an Ellesse Online Survey which I learned from Primer Group of Companies last May 3, the last day of the survey promo. I do recall answering it 3-4 hours before the promo ended at 12am. The start of the survey had me answering the question: Which of the two prizes would you like to win? A) a pair of Ellesse footwear or B) 1,000 Euros. I thought it was a tricky question that required me to pick letter "A". But I chose from my heart, hehe, I picked the Euros even if the Ellesse footwear prize were made of gold.

I submitted the survey without any (as in nil) expectation to win. That was an international survey and besides, I have a bad record when it comes to raffle draws.

It was an early morning at the office, just two days after answering the survey, that I opened and read that email. I couldn't believe it. I didn't tell my husband right away, not until I was 50% sure that it wasn't a scam. I googled "Katie Wilkinson" and found her to be legitimate.

Later that same morning I finally told my husband about it (he, too, couldn't believe it) and replied to Ms. Katie Wilkinson's email regarding my bank details.

Since I haven't gotten any reply from Ms. Katie after waiting for it for 4 days, I called her up on her cellphone indicated on the email. I thought, Ms. Katie needed to hear my voice literally since it says there on her email - "...look forward to hearing back from you". You see, I analyzed the letter, hahaha! That was just how unbelievable everything was to me, then. Anyway, I was in my office cubicle in the middle of work when I called up her number. She answered after 2 rings. I wasn't expecting that again. I introduced myself as the one who won the Euros and she acknowledged it. She assured me of delivering the prize to my account. She sounded like a real nice lady. It was only then when I put down the phone that I started to believe that I really won.

I almost cried and I immediately whispered a loud thank You to my God who I really believe made it all possible. Even now as I'm typing this blogpost, I can't help but get teary-eyed.

Last May 24, I met some nice people from the Ellesse Philippines, Leslie & Donna; Primer Group of Companies and my fellow winners, Mylene and Gayle, during the scheduled photo-ops held at the Bratpack store in Greenbelt 5.

Primer Group of Companies also made an announcement about the winners through their Facebook profile: Ellesse Announces the Philippine Winners of its Global Online Survey Raffle

We were also featured in Philippine Daily Inquirer. I have a copy of that, too.

Finally, last June 22, the 1,000 Euros (converted to Peso) was credited to my account. The following day, I excitedly withdrew ten percent of that amount, which I eagerly and joyfully gave to God that Sunday.

Winning the 1,000 Euros is indeed, unexpected and unbelievable, but the experience has been very humbling since I know it comes from Him.

I know there's so much more blessings that He's going to give to me and my family and I'm just here patiently, excitedly and expectantly waiting to receive them with all my heart.

All the things that happened in the past two months reminds me so much of two of my favorite Bible verses:

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.