Disney Day

On our Disney Day, it rained so hard!  But that didn't stop us from having a fun time. E and I were the most unprepared for the rain, that we were forced to buy Disney raincoats.  It was E's first visit to Disney , and it was memorable indeed.

Dinner at Michelin star restaurant Din Tai Fung

What is a Hongkong trip without the food trip? For our Michelin star dinner, we chose Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung in Causeway Bay.

Celebrating 25 Years of Friendship in Hongkong

My college barkada decided to celebrate our friendship in Hongkong!  I have to admit that Hongkong is a favorite travel destination.  It's so near,  it has different seasons and so we can go at a time when it's not so hot, plus the window-shopping is fantastic!  So when we planned our 25th anniversary celebration, I looked forward to it for over a year.  The perfect trip with some of my most favorite people!

Photos of our first day:

We were on the same flight as the V family, and here's a photo of us at the airport waiting for the Airport Express to Hongkong Station.  We were so excited!

Met the others at Times Square for some window shopping

While some rested at the hotel, E and I went around Causeway Bay, and there's the new Apple building!

About to go to dinner at RW's home.

Finally we're complete at the W's lovely home!  E took the photo so he's not in the picture.  Had unlimited appetizers,  lasagna and banoffee pie prepared by RW, and unlimited pizza!

New Year 2013

E and I spent the whole Christmas season in Manila and it was great! We had so much memorable moments with our families. As much as we love to travel, we know that there really is no place like home.

To welcome 2013 , our family decided on an overnight stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati.  We got to stay at the Club floor which was just perfect!  Staying at the Club floor meant free cocktails up to 8PM and free breakfast the next morning.  Cocktails was our dinner!  We stayed at the lounge from 5PM to 9PM.  While other guests went on to their respective New Year dinners, we had the lounge to ourselves. We had unlimited wine and liquor too!

Christmas 2012

The perfect Christmas celebration is being with family. Our family spent Christmas Eve and the 2nd birthday of my niece A at the New World Renaissance Hotel.  We started out the celebration with snacks in the afternoon of take out Cafe Mediterranean pizza from Greenbelt.  We went to the Christmas Eve Mass at Santuario San Antonio in Forbes and then on to Noche Buena at the hotel.  New World M2M Cafe's buffet spread was quite good.  There was Japanese, roast beef and turkey carvings, smoked salmon, oysters and crabs.  And to top it all, unlimited drinks, which included red wine and champagne.  And free coffee or tea!

Ninong (and Yayo) E and Baby A

Happy Birthday Dear A!

Unlimited red wine!

At New World's lobby on Christmas Day

Dining at the Peninsula Manila

Our two night stay was quite hectic so we ended up having our meals at the hotel's restaurants.

Dinner at the Old Manila.

Dinner at Spices 

My prawns at The Old Manila

Buffet breakfast at Escolta.  They have salmon sashimi!

Business with pleasure

Had to stay at the Manila Peninsula for work but that didn't stop E and I from enjoying the hotel stay.The room is huge! Also took the opportunity to try Manila Pen's Spices Restaurant. Their Catfish Salad is good, but be careful when you say that you want your curry spicy...Tomorrow we try Escolta's breakfast buffet.

Rare date night at Chops, Greenbelt 5

E and I rarely go out for a nice dinner, but last Saturday, we decided to celebrate and went all out at Chops, the newest steak place in Greenbelt. The rib-eye was yummy, one of the best we've had!

Me Time

Finally, after several days of rushing presentations and reports, I got to enjoy some time doing what I love... being on the computer not for work but for keeping in touch with people :-)

My Favorite Things

The photo wall at home beats any piece of art.  Beautiful memories fill our home.

Our travel books not only serve as sources of information but also nice decor and conversation pieces.

E and I spend a lot of time on TV, be it watching a TV show, a movie or a marathon of TV show episodes.  I've recently rediscovered Grey's Anatomy, and  however annoying how some characters are, especially Cristina Yang, we still can't stop watching...

My MacBook Air is a gadget I can spend hours with.  Online shopping, blogging, facebooking, tweeting, emailing and just surfing...  I still prefer it over the iPad.

My big bags!  However hard I try to downsize and edit, I still end up using my big bags...

Definitely my favorite room in the house, our  bedroom.  I especially love our bed and have just recently only purchased white linen.  It's one way I've discovered to simplify things at home.  I no longer have to have a complete set every time.  Everything I pull out of the cabinet is white:-)

 Home Fragrance, found in all rooms of our two homes, and even my office.  Definitely lifts up my spirit.

Saving the best for last, my iPhone!  I can't leave home without it.  Besides getting in touch with my loved ones through SMS and calls,  I also use this for getting in touch through email.  I also get and post updates through Twitter, Facebook and Blogger.  And, it also serves as my camera!

The Joys of Condo Living

After spending most days for three months in a condo, I now understand why people would prefer to live here.  With the grocery and drugstore just downstairs,  I don't really worry about forgetting to purchase something.  Another plus is ordering food for delivery is a breeze,  I get my food within 30 minutes, maximum.  I also get home within 5 minutes, thus I have more time to unwind, sometimes sneaking in an episode of one of my favorite shows before doing some work.  Also getting two extra hours of sleep is the best.  The greatest benefit:  going home during my lunch hour to take a nap and relax.  A nice break from a highly stressful work environment.

Would you believe, the water bill is also lower, around a third of what we pay in our house.  Same with  the electricity bill!

Obsessions: Home Fragrance

Those who know me well, know that I have a thing for home fragrance.  My favorite brand is Bath and Body Works, but since it is only available in the US and Canada, I can't easily purchase items.  This led me to search for alternative brands in Manila.  For Home Fragrance Oil for burners, I found Aroomatherapy (available at Tarte Tartin,  Greenbelt 5), Mia Maison (available in Greenbelt 5 and Alabang Town Center) and Novu (available in Our Home stores).  For Reed Diffuser Oil, I found Potentilla (available at Bungalow 300 in Alabang and online at www.potentilla.multiply.com), Novu and Mia Maison.   Meanwhile,  I found an online seller here in Manila who sells Bath and Body Works Home Fragrance Oil (www.missingjohnny.multiply.com) a bit pricey though at P260 per bottle.  But I was desperate, and bought just the same:-)