Tagaytay Tripping

     Actually my mom does not even have to ask twice whenever she asks me to tag along with her to anything. I don't mind being her designated alalay. Besides, it's always a welcome break anyway from my cranky teenagers and H.

     Recently I went with Mom on a Tagaytay day trip with her friends?  I am talking about my mom's farmer friends who also love to eat. Remember them? Click here! Food tnor plants though were no first on the agenda that day.  We were going tripping.  (Secret as for whom.) Anyway, traffic was tolerable escaping Manila so we got to Tagaytay early enough to see the first development we were gonna do an ocular on.  The first one was Kasa Luntian by Alveo Properties. It is a condo type development. The developer itself speaks well of the project off-hand BUT the toilet in the showroom was yuck. So.. anyhoo....Back to...It is a beautiful condominium type development. It is good for families who want a weekend getaway without the hassle of hiring a caretaker or to worry about security. It is huge and I can imagine it to be a party type of place during Holy Week and Christmas.

      I loved the kiddie room of one of the model units. It was nautical-themed and oh so cute. Next development please. 

      We drove some 20 minutes more towards Nasugbu and nestled in a quiet, gated community is Tagô by Mañosa Properties. The visitor's lounge was already impressive but then again I am a fan of Arch't Bobby Mañosa. My own parents live in a Mañosa home. (So don't listen to me. ) Their guest washroom was clean too so 2 points extra for Tagô.
 

     We were able to tour the model unit which is amazing  It is well=planned, cozy, yet airy. Look, guys! 

Living and Dining Areas

Family Room

Second Bedroom

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Love the seating area by the landing. I can sit here and read a book or watch my dramas. Haha!

                 Look how beautiful! This is modern Filipino architecture at its best!. Coco, if someone buys from this blog you owe me dinner! Hehe!

     Security is not a problem of course and if you need to have your house cleaned before you arrive, they can do it for you. And if you need a helper during your stay they have butlers on standby. Wow! Shut up already and take my money! (Duh? What money?)

     Anyhoo, all these salivating over something I can't have made me hungry for food and so were the golden girls so off we go to Balay Dako Yippee!!!! 

     I need not say more! We had a good, yummy lunch! Not bad for alalay's pay for the day. When is our next outing, Ma? 

Smile, all you diabetic ladies! 

    Which reminds me I haven't called my mom today......
     

I Am Watching You

     I know it has been ages.....

     I have not blogged in so long and I can't think of an excuse. I can only blame it on change. My  kids are now terrible teenagers (Believe me worse than the twos. ) Our household has undergone several rounds of re-staffing, changing of guards whatever you call it, health concerns have come up.... etc, etc!!!!!

     I have not forgotten about blogging though and always wish to get back at it... like NOW. 

     Life is overall pretty much the same though in its usual mundane, everyday way but I like it like this. no drama, no hysterics.... Speaking of dramas.... I now have a new pastime which is watching Korean dramas. Okay, so judge me! Take a moment....

      I have always loved watching TV especially when I was a kid. I loved the old LVN and  Sampaguita movies in black and white that used to show over and over in the afternoons.  I remember reruns of Boy in a Plastic Bubble on RPN 9. of course Sesame Street, Donnie and Marie Show,  Little House on the Prairie, Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven Club...Geeez, I was practical glued to the TV set! Yikes!!!  When I decided to incorporate Waldorf Parenting principles while raising our then toddlers. I gave up TV. I didn't miss it one bit. That was a good 8 to 10 years of no TV. My kids had nothing to share when they would go to school the next day after a big show was aired. (But High School Musical, I let them have it! haha!) The Korean dramas made me love watching again. They are actually very good in terms of story, acting, production..I know I am so sold. Haha!

     It was work that led me to watch my first  Korean drama. Long story but it was a time when I was project-less since I resigned from a big double project because of death threats (Another long story!)  Anyway, what was it? My Love From Another Star.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoeSJBzYx5c  Watch!

     A little over two later I have been to Seoul, love Korean food and guess what plays occasionally on my Spotity......

     Sure, JUDGE ME BIG TIME! 

     See you, guys soon!

Rustic Mornings are Made of These

     I came to know about Rustic Mornings by Isabelo from an Instagarm post by my high school classmate and fellow foodie, Yvonne. I was so intrigued, I googled it, invited some friends and loved it. 

This door is simply saying, welcome. Don't you think?

     I have no qualms about it being tucked away in Marikina because my business partner in crime, Babes is from there and it is not far from where I live. 

     Our group was greeted by this lovely, lovely place with so many oh-too-cute vignettes. 

      Those are just shots from the garden, They also have an indoor space that is equally pretty. No one can get enough of blue and white....

      Somehow as you look through all the little collections scattered around the place, you'd think the owner is sharing so much of herself to her diners like she is out there. So intimate and personal.

     But the place is just half of the Rustic Mornings by Isabelo experience because the food was great too. 

     These cupcakes did not disappoint and so did their Frozen Brazo. Yums!

     I actually did not want to share this place but I am so excited I will be eating there again soon, I started looking at the pictures and said what the heck for my dear readers only! 

     Check out their website for more info. 

Good morning!!!

Spring to Pottery Barn (2013)

     I love it that a Pottery Barn store is just walking distance from my mother-in-law's place in the Bay Area. 

    Since I am always there on family vacation, stepping into a Pottery barn store is like meeting someone who totally gets me amidst the packing, unpacking, jet lag, homesickness, kids' whining, husband whining....Okay back to Pottery Barn....

     What was up in Pottery Barn this spring? Look. look and see..... Enjoy!

Pretty, seaside and fiesta place settings! 

Relaxing vignettes!

 

     But I really could not afford most of the stuff there. So I just mentally "pinned' ideas..... Hee!

  

..... and make an in-store Wish List

Whut? I can. Can't I? Here it is!

 

This serving carousel which was the last one 

and they refused to let me have it. =-((( SOB!

So adorable drinks dispensers!

 Shells!

Lovely but I am against snapping them from our beaches.

Wait, are these even real? I guess they are, right? 

 Too pretty pillows. But $50 each? C'mon!

That's it! Enough salivating. Let's go home, H!

H?

H??? 

Lots of Lovah and Pavlova: An HK House Tour

     I was in Hong Kong for three days with family this week. Though this is not my shortest stay in the former British colony, this trip has given me the worst hangover since the Disney trip I shared with H and the kids years ago. This is probably because I had so much fun; bonding with my cousins, bullying Doro and getting fat. But all the fun was not the sole purpose of the trip it was to be a huge send-off party for my cousin, N who was migrating with his partner to another country. They will be farther away and the mere  thought of the longer distance is enough to spark a bittersweet last hurrah Hong Kong sojourn amongst us, crazy cousins.

     One of the highlights of the trip for me was visiting my cousin's Hong Kong flat. It gave me glimpse of the life they have had in HK. It was as if to celebrate and share with us all that has been and will be...

     I was told the set-up was just for the evening for parteh! 

     First thing that caught my eye though were these Marimekko paper napkins. My cousin N said he remembered me when he bought them. Kilig! THAT'S IT! I will buy some for myself next time. haha!
 

     The flat is a fun mix of bold beautiful art, travel finds and Ikea! OMG! My fave combination!

Part of the evening's set-up the dining table with a mix of army chairs and white plywood chairs.

 

 

     The buffet table. Luckily half of the team that lives here is an uber talented chef. We enjoyed the YUMMIEST dinner!

These were just the appetizers. Luckily I forgot to eat lunch. Wink!

THE FOOD! These tasted much better than they look. Trust me!

   That night I died and went to pavlova heaven!

      The next day, people kept telling me how drunk I was at the party. Why? Was the drink spiked? I don't drink you know.

Our happy, crazy group that night; evictees, winners, losers, drunks et al!