Exploring the nice things about Manila, the Philippines, and the world!
Since I got tired of walking around the mall, I decided to have a quick break and have a cup of of coffee.
It was a great idea! After lining up for a couple of minutes at the cashier and a tiring day looking for gifts, Christmas outfits, having a quick break helped me think straight again. After the break, I was on the go again but with renewed energy.
We wanted to do something different for our 5th Christmas party with friends so we decided to go to Tagaytay and have lunch at Sonya’s Garden.
We left Manila at 10:30AM and surprisingly arrived Tagaytay by 12NN. We went straight to Sonya’s Garden for lunch!
As usual, it was a fun lunch with my good friends. We had the usual freshly baked bread, salad, pasta and dessert. Yummy!
Healthy Food + Cool Weather + Great Company = Perfect Christmas Getaway!
Sonya’s Garden
Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines
(near the vicinity of Tagaytay City, Philippines)
For reservations: call or text +63-9175329097 or +63-9175335140
Email: info@sonyasgarden.com
Every travel I would make sure that I bring a souvenir from every country that I visit. But now that the souvenirs accumulated, I’m thinking of having a customized cabinet for these souvenirs. So I looked for samples online and I found a couple of nice boxes which you can put cufflinks, jewelries and other collections. These boxes are called collector’s cases. I love it! There are a lot of nice, vintage look cases at CuffLinksDepot.com. I would love to buy one or two of those cases but i don’t think all of my souvenirs would fit into those beautiful cases. I will probably buy those cases for other things like watches, jewelries and more. After all, they can serve as a multi-purpose box.
So now, I’m off to look for another site where I can get a couple of shelves for my travel souvenirs. Any suggestions? I can go for built in cabinets but customized shelves would be better!
May good fortune abound and wealth increase in your New Year!
Happy Chinese New Year!
* Photo grabbed from 123Greetings.com.
My kids were so happy during the 2011 holidays because they got lots and lots of gifts. I can’t believe it either. I think for all the weekends of December, we had parties here and there and during those parties, my girls got lots of gifts too! They were ecstatic! Here are the gifts the they got for the 2011 Christmas holidays.
1. From our first party which is in Shakey’s, my girls got the Barbie Jewelry Box and My Little Pony
2. When our neighbor came home from the States, they gave us this as their pasalubong plus 2 cute pink shirts for the girls
3. From our 3rd party they got these…
4. Presents from my fellow Mommy Blogger, Mai. The gifts are from her kids’ Asher and Ashley.
5. And look what the Yaya gave to the girls – paper dolls!
6. Sweaters from Tita Ercs & Tito Cesar and Dolls from Tita Farrah & Tito Erik
7. They got toys again from us!
Crafty toys for A…
And this cute Rapunzel doll for AA…
Up to now the kids still can’t over the fact that they got ALL of these in ONE Christmas.
Thank you so much everyone for all the gifts!
This party was impromptu, good thing, Shakey’s El Pueblo was not yet fully booked on our preferred date.
We were too busy to prepare games and lootbags for the kids so we just availed of Shakey’s party packages. All we did is book the date and pay for the downpayment. We just paid the full amount after the party.
With this, we didn’t feel harrased or stressed out at all! Although the 2 hours allotted for the party was not enough. We wanted to stay longer and talk more but we needed to go.
We’ll just have to schedule another time for that.
Party at Shakey’s – highly recommended! And don’t forget to avail the giant pizza too! (*wink*)
Shakey’s El Pueblo
Ortigas Center, El Pueblo Complex
Julia Vargas cor. ADB Ave., Ortigas Center
Pasig City
(+63 2) 634-1548, (+63 2) 634-4871
Another holiday drink worth sharing during our 2011 Holidays in Manila is the Serenitea’s holiday drink.
They have the same drinks though, but they changed their glasses with a holiday design. So cute!
After trying almost all of the Serenitea’s drinks, I still opt to drink their Okinawa drink with 50% less sugar. Yum!
A Christmas holiday will never be complete without bingeing on FOOD! Yes, we technically binge after attending 8 parties for 2011:
1. Shakey’s party with Twitterafia friends
2. Get together with College friends
3. CFC Household
4. A’s School Christmas Party
5. YFC Friends at Sonya’s Garden Tagaytay
6. Office Christmas Party at Strumm’s
7. Highschool friends
8. Dinner/Party at the in-laws
It was definitely a busy month but also the most fun month we ever had in 2011.
Taken During one of our Christmas Parties in 2011.
Our Food for Noche Buena at my In Laws
If you are thinking if we’ve had ENOUGH after the 8 parties, NOPE! You were wrong. We attended several more parties by January, 2012. And we are loving every minute of it. Looking forward to more get togethers, birthday parties and getaways for 2012. (*grin*)
Ever since I started traveling, I always make sure that I bring my own medicines. You see, this is a must when traveling because you are not sure if your medicines are available in the country or place that you are visiting. This is important especially if you are prone to allergies, get sick easily or if you drink medicines for health maintenance. Supplements are also part of the things that you need to bring.
Well, these medicines are not that much anyway and won’t put up too much space in your luggages. It’s not like you are going to bring your entire medicine cabinet nor bring your own medicine carts in your destination. You are just going to bring the medicines that you usually drink and medicines for emergencies too. I find it really helpful when you are relaxed when it comes to your health and confident that if ever something happens to you, you have your medicine kit right by your side.
When I mentioned those medicine carts, I can’t help but noticed those nice carts from Howard Medical. Well, I don’t have much medicines (yet!) for maintenance. So far I only have supplements as my daily in take but those carts are tempting! I want to get one for our house. Or maybe give this out as a gift to my relatives. I’ve read that the primary uses of medical carts will be for caregivers. Hmmm, will have to check and see.
