A Trip for You and Your Partner

A friend of mine is getting married soon and she and her fiance want to take their honeymoon to a very secluded place, something that can be very romantic and will give them privacy. So I suggested the Adults Only Mexico Resort in Karisma Hotels and Resorts, their El Dorado Royale Resort in Riviera Maya. I suggested they book a Casita suite and live the natural bliss of “Aquas del Amor” – the outdoor, ceiling-free showers that adorn the decadent Casita suites at El Dorado Royale. Surely they will love to hold hands and just walk on the unspoiled beach in 450 acres of tropical rainforest, the gourmet-inclusive resort for adults only is the signature property of Karisma Hotels, known for its creative approach to hospitality where whims are predicted and solutions ready to indulge and pamper. This resort was set up for romantics like them, about to embark a new experience and doesn't want any interruptions unless needed. We had our honeymoon in a cold place since we got married in December, unlike us who lives in a tropical country, going to a country with Winter was something memorable, but with my friends who lives in a place that rains almost the whole year and has Winter that is very troublesome. Going to a haven of sun, sand and water will be a perfect getaway.

Tips for Entertaining Toddlers on a Plane Ride

We will be traveling with our toddler son for the first time in January and I am a bit excited and nervous at the same time. Our son is such a trooper when riding a car, but riding on a plane will be much of an experience for him and we are hoping he'll be a trooper too. I saw some tips online that I want to share and take down notes too.

• Let your kids do something scandalous. The first 15 minutes of being on every plane ride can involve standing on the armrest, turning the overhead lights off and on. But you should impose the strict rule not to touch the flight attendant call button (usually orange). It will keep him busy, turning the lights on and opening and closing the vents. Oh, the JOY!!! Sure it's annoying but he gets it out of his system and doesn't spend the next 6 hours asking or trying to mess with the buttons.


• Bright lights. Buy a spinning top that lights up when you give it a turn or any toy that lights up when he plays with it. Anything that lights up is interesting. You can probably even get away with something that makes a little noise because the plane is usually so loud.


• Variety is the key. If you have a toddler, odds are that you are only going to get a few minutes of entertainment with each item. As soon as your child loses interest, put the item away and move on to something else. Just because your son grew bored with his cars doesn't mean that he won't be interested again in an hour. Taking something away also adds a little novelty when you bring it back out again. Before you go, take a trip to the dollar store and pick up stickers, coloring books and inexpensive silly toys. You can also packed up Playdoh (which made it through security with no problem) for emergency modeling and getting out extra energy by prodding, pulling and exercising little hands.


• Rely on old favorites. If your child likes a special book, do yourself a favor and bring it along with you. Any favorite is a must, never leave them at home.


• Bring a special blanket that reminds your child of home. Sometimes it's nice to snuggle up with the smell of "home" against your cheek. A small stuffed animal can also be used a pillow to rest weary heads on mom's or dad's lap.


• Take a walk. Some will argue that there is nothing grosser than a plane lavatory. That being said, there is NOTHING more interesting to a small child (other than the cockpit) for that same child.Take your kid on a little field trip to the lav after the first hour of the flight. Sure that it is relatively still clean (it's all relative, isn't it?) and the best time for an adventure. If you are taking trips to the lavatory and he is bored on his seatm you can even take him, jsut be sure to wash his hands, wipe it with baby wipes and put hand sanitizer or alcohol after the trip!


• Videos/movies. If your child likes the tv, this can be a lifesaver. Saving a special or favorite movie for the trip to play on a laptop or portable dvd player may give you a couple of hours of peace and quiet. Getting your child used to using earphones is a good thing to work on in advance. Investing $10 on a splitter/sound enhancer is a great investment because you can hear better and it allows multiple headsets to be plugged in. Maybe Elmo isn't normally something you would watch but you never know how bored you may get. Always keep new movies handy. He may have his faves but sometimes new stuff can be very entertaining.
  

Astoria Plaza

It was taken into consideration during my wedding, the reason why we didn't get Astoria though is their hotel lobby. We wanted a spacious one, a lobby where we can take pictures if we have too. That's the only reason why we didn't checked in there. But from our friends who already stayed there, they only have great feedback about the Astoria Plaza and by February of next year, we will see if it's true. Visit their site, I checked and it looks promising. Or you can book with Agoda, which my friend did and she even got the room rates cheaper.

From the Agoda site:

This four-star property in Manila is spread over 35 luxurious stories, with 292 spacious, fully-equipped guestrooms. This serviced apartment is ideal for business travelers or for holidaymakers looking to relax. Located in the busy area of Ortigas, it is positioned right on the doorstep of Podium, Megamall and Shangri-La. Conduct your meetings in style at either the boardrooms or the function rooms, which are all equipped to impress. Cafe Astoria offers all-day dining, presenting a range of local and international dishes both buffet and a la carte. There are enough facilities on-site to pamper guests, from the state-of-the-art gym to the stress releasing spa. A cosmetic surgery clinic as well as trendy boutiques are all within the complex.

See the nice photos below:

Blue Room

Brown Room

Green Room

Living Area

Swimming Pool

Kids Football

Football has been a great past time for the Americans. I actually got so interested with it when I was in College. Not playing but by watching the game on television. I certainly believe that of course, it's a men sport. The tough games certainly would not be good for women, unless you really want to play it rough. Which brings me to the question, do they have football for women? Not that I'm interested, it just crossed my mind. Anyway, I have a son who I want to be into sports and Football is a very good sport for him to practice discipline and sportsmanship. Because after the rough game, he needs to understand that’s it’s all just a game and they will come out from the field as sports friends.

I came across the NFLUNIFORMSET.com and found nice items that kids can use during the start of their training until they get so interested with the sport. In my case, I found something which I can use to introduce the sport to my son when he is ready. I saw a unique kid’s NFL locker that can be put in their room for storage. I haven’t seen anything like it, they resemble the real locker of a NFL player. There are also quality uniforms for kids who want to enter the sport. I also found cute uniform set that my son can wear during playing so he will know how it feels like to wear a NFL uniform. All in all, the site is a one stop shop for kids who are interested to join the league. Being good in NFL is something but you have to start from somewhere basic and being good also means you have the right outfit and equipment for it. This is a sponsored review.

Via Mare

My mom and I love Via Mare. She of course loves their bibingka, while I crave for their Puto Bungbong. They have the best kakanin in my opinion and I've known Via Mare since I was a kid. We used to go to the old Greenbelt or the Landmark branches to just taste their kakanin if we are craving for it. Their prices are a bit expensive for the kakanin you are buying but they are special so I guess, it's worth it.

Last month, well, yeah this is a very delayed post, I was really down and needed a pick me up. I had to eat lunch alone and I wasn't sure what to get when I went to Greenhills to look for food, I though I might as well go straight to Starbucks for a Christmas frapp when I saw the Via Mare sign. I knew I had to taste my classic fave...

I know! My cam doesn't give any justice on how appetizing it looks in real life. As for how it tastes, same as I can remember when I last tasted them.

And of course, I had to order something aside from my nice dessert since it's lunch, I had to try their Crispy Binagoongan,
The veggies came as a side dish for the pork. It came out tasting like Crispy Liempo with Pinakbet but I certainly love my order, I love the classic Binagoongan though.

Here is a link of their branches. Visit them and have a taste of Filipino with class.

Boston Laser

I have 3 cousins who have high powered prescription glasses and my sister in law has -4.00 D sph. for both eyes. I am aware of this because I'm an Optometrist by profession. They need to have their eyeglasses or contact lenses all the time or else they cannot see clearly within 2 feet. I always advise them to take care of their vision, when you lose it, it is irreversible. 3 of them are in the States so I just tell them to visit their doctors regularly, 1 to 2 times a year is ideal.

My cousin is actually thinking of having her eyes undergo the process of Lasik. She has no idea about the procedure and just googled about it and was so excited when realizing that she can have that 20/20 vision without the aid of any eyeglasses or contact lenses. She asked me for suggestions of where to go to for the procedure or just to assess if she is able to undergo Lasik and I remembered that a friend actually in the process of Lasik with the best Lasik Surgery Boston doctors. She lives in the Boston and is actually happy with how she is undergoing the treatment. She told me that in the first stages there is the assessment if she is able and from the looks of it, I think she is on her way. I asked about Boston Laser since my cousin is very interested and she has the best reviews for Boston Laser. Famous celebrities and athletes undergo this procedure to have the clearest vision to be in their field of sports and I’m happy that there are tons of successful surgeries, I will definitely encourage my cousin to have it checked there since she has the profession where eyeglasses or contact lenses will be in the way of her work. This is a sponsored review.

The Windy Ridge Hotel

I was looking around for a place to stay if ever we will be going to Tagaytay this Sunday and I think I saw a place I want us to stay in if ever we push through with the anniversary plan. You see this plan is just my husband's idea. I just want a nice day with him and our son at the mall and pig out the whole day but he suggested staying overnight In Tagaytay. Anyway, I want to share with you the almost new hotel near the Rotonda, The Windy Ridge Hotel.

Ten rustic, yet elegant rooms with hot and cold baths and private Jacuzzis await discerning guests, where you can likewise get pleasure from the world-renowned Tagaytay breeze and landscape. Each room features different theme with carefully crafted furniture for guests' peculiar tastes where guests can be treated to a personalized spa!

The hotel's master chef exquisitely integrates the Cathedral Lobby Bar and Restaurant's menus -- comprising of American and European cuisine, sumptuous up to its last bite. Indeed, an experience of elegant dining in a cozy ambiance along the ridge of Tagaytay.

Surely, if ever this plan will not push through this weekend, I will keep The Windy Ridge in mind.