Just came in from a vacation but boy, the saying goes that you need a vacation from another vacation holds true for me now. It is so hard to get back to the groove after a relaxing trip. In fact, I find myself checking online some next possible getaways including cruises, out of the country trips or even just renting one of those Kissimmee Vacation Homes. But with my current condition of being pregnant, we have to shelf first those trips under our bucket list. The husband promised we will tick off more places in the coming years. I look forward to that, much more to the idea of bringing the kids. Traveling just really gives me a sense of high. It makes me regain focus to life and strive more to achieve our goals to conquer more places. Oh how I just love to travel, travel the world perhaps! Excuse my day dreaming mode!

Now, I need to get back to reality…snap, snap, snap…back to work!

house where we stayed for 3 days in Lake Arrowhead, California. It’s such a nice house with 3 bedrooms. 3 toilet and bath, and even a little spa room with spacoverdirect spa covers. Amazing! I can live in such a cottage house. It’s very homey. And with the weather, it’s a lovely place to stay. When I went out the front door, I saw these…

And then we went to the Big Bear Mountain to enjoy mountain sledding…

And we just lounged around the park after…

And notice the icy lake…

The birds were walking on the lake!  Oh, I miss this place.  I wish to go back!

Uh-oh! What’s up with the weather lately? It’s been very hot the past few days and feels like summer already and now, it’s been raining like there is a storm. Time to dose up the kids with Vitamin C to boost their immunity. I hope we won’t get sick with this weather. It was so cold last night. I remember how cold it was when we were Reno last December. Our thermals cannot take it with negative 8 degrees in Celsius (-8) to negative 12 (-12) on some nights. My SIL had to lend me her mountainhardwear to cover up. We have to layer with multiple jackets as well.  But nevertheless, we enjoyed so much our stay there. We had so much fun in the Ski Resort.  We went to Squaw Valley Ski Resort.  Below are some of our pictures.  We look forward to go back there again!

Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost a month since my last post. Work has been tremendous recently and I cannot even think how to squeeze everything and try to finish all my pending tasks before we go for a major vacation before the year ends.

November got pretty busy since we had a couple of events. Most of it as well came in last minute. Not that I am complaining. I am actually grateful for the blessings from the One up above.

December will completely be the busiest month with me finishing 4 events before we leave and try to complete all turn over for all the events I will be leaving to my team while I’m away. I am now even thinking if I need to even lend my desktops to my staff as most of my files are there. There are tons of documents to even turn over to them.

Now, I am getting anxious for things to be done soon so I can look forward for the grand vacation with my family.

Before I read about the disability insurance which my aunt is asking me to review for her claim with Social Security System, let me share first the good news that the husband finally agreed to come and join for a quick getaway next week. Our family will be going to Cebu together with 4 other friends and their families. We are excited as it is our first out-of-town trip together. We will be staying in Shangri-la Mactan. I am sure the kids will have a blast. So we are all praying for a summer weather in the middle of the month of August.

Hoping August is a better month! Count down already for the December vacation! We are all excited!

From our recent vacation in Singapore, it was a total family bonding. I love vacations like those when it is not hurried and we just enjoy the company of one another. It was my birthday gift for my husband and he totally loved it. We stayed in Festive Hotel inside Resorts World. It was a walking distance to the Universal Studios. The kids of course love USS. We stayed the whole day inside the park from opening till closing. Great that the Festive Hotel is nearby so it wasn’t hard to retire that night. We also enjoyed swimming on the hotel’s pool. A day after, we moved to Marina Bay Sands. I have been planning to really stay on this hotel because I want to experience swimming on its SkyPark. It’s a beautiful place. Though there were really a lot of people, it was still a great place to stay in Singapore. My kids were beaming with excitement when they saw the infinity pool.

Indeed, it was one great vacation. We are thankful for all the blessings from the One above. We are grateful that our family can do vacations such as this.

It was a good decision to have a quick get-away with the whole family as an advance birthday celebration of my husband.  The trip is actually my birthday gift for him.  I booked the flights and the hotels without him knowing at first.  He was all happy with the turn-out and we are currently enjoying everything about this vacation.  I made the right choices on our hotel accommodation.  Will post about it further next time.  But for the meantime, I would like to share that I love the fire pit available on top of the hotel we are staying. It totally adds ambiance to the outdoor sky park. More about that hotel on my future posts

I always keep my list of things to pack whenever I travel. I find everything in order if I follow that list. Tomorrow, I am leaving for Bangkok, Thailand with my friends. In my list, I have the following: Camera and battery charger, toiletries, hair straightening iron, wireless headphones, iPad and charger, iPhone charger, extra tote bag, sandals, rubber shoes and socks, and of course clothes and undergarments that can last me through the whole duration of my trip.

I know this has been a long overdue blog but here it is anyway.  I availed of the Shangri-la promo in Greenbelt 5 last September 2010.  I was able to get an accommodation voucher for Php22k for 3 days and 2 nights accommodation in the said resort.  I really had intentions of using it on a February during the Edsa Revolution Anniversary hoping that it will be a holiday.  Apparently, it wasn’t declared as a National Holiday so we just let the kids skip class then.

We took the 8am flight from Manila to Caticlan airport via Cebu Pacific.  I was with the two girls and one yaya.  The husband followed us the following day as he cannot miss his Mancom meeting on a Wednesday.  I am going to rave about our experience with Shangri-la Boracay Resorts and Spa.  We love the whole experience.  We love their service.

Upon arriving in the Caticlan airport, which by the way is being renovated (I really hope they improve the airport), we were received by a staff from the hotel.  We were immediately ushered to the van that will take us to their lounge in the jetty port.  They took care of our luggage.  We were then brought in their lounge and was greeted by a refreshing welcome drink.

After few minutes, we were asked to ride their speed boat.  It’s traveling in style to ride a speed boat going to the resort.  It was my 5th time to Boracay and it was my first time to ride a speed boat.  We always take those regular motorized boat which are rented by the resorts.  The kids had a blast with the ride!

After 20 minutes, we were already in the resort.  Their buggies are lined up waiting for the guests.  Every group were shuttled in the main lobby.  The check-in process was a breeze.  We were in the resort at 10am and we were very happy to be accommodated for an early check-in.  That’s another point for them. The room is very nice with a day bed outside. It has two big twin beds and we requested for an extra bed for the yaya. I love the comfort room.  With L’Occitane as their products.

The kids wants to go swimming right away.  So in no time, we were already enjoying the resort’s pool.  Their service is superb! A hotel staff will immediately offer you a bottle of water after just taking your plunge in the pool.

We just had room service for lunch and then the girls took their nap.  In the afternoon, we went to Chi Spa to join the fish feeding session. The kids went to the Adventure Zone after and stayed there for more than an hour.  The use of that facility is free of charge.

Our first day was a great experience already.  We looked forward for the arrival of the husband the following day.

Here are some pictures on our first day…

This is a beautiful scene when the sun, the beach and the sand met all together. We are already in Shangri-la Boracay Resorts and Spa. It’s lovely here. The experience is all good since the time we arrived this morning. We are hitting the beach in no time as the kids are very excited already. We took the 630am flight via Cebu Pacific and bravo, it wasn’t delayed at all. Upon arrival in Caticlan airport (which by the way is being renovated), we were greeted by a staff of the hotel and ushered directly to our MB100 van shuttle. They took care of our luggage. We were brought in Mabuhay Lounge near the jetty port and were given welcome drinks. After few minutes, we were asked to ride the speed boat. The girls had a thrill ride with it. They enjoyed the splashes of water while in the speed boat. Everything is pleasant. We were asked to ride the buggy to bring us to the lobby lounge, where we checked-in. It was a breeze too. They allowed us to have an early check-in so we enjoyed our room right away. I ordered room service breakfast as I was starving. But the kids were insistent to go to the pool already and meet the family of my friend. So far so good now. I’m sure the husband will like the resort too when he arrived tomorrow morning.

we are going to Boracay. It will be my 4th time, the husband’s 5th time and the kids’ 2nd time. But it will all be our first time in Shangri-la Boracay Resort and Spa. So I am excited! Been wanting to try this resort since it opened two years ago because of feedback about their very good service. I hope Shangri-la Boracay will really leave up to my expectations. For the meantime, any suggestion on best hgh releaser? Well, not for me but the husband is already considering such.

I have so many travel plans. It’s crazy I tell you. Seems like I want to leave every month or least, every quarter. How I wish I could just do some payday advance so all the plans will push through! But nah! I need to work harder in order for me to fulfill the plans. For the meantime, we have 1 trip to the beach, 2 asian destinations and confirmed US trip by end of the year. The only problem now is “moolah” so support all these travel plans. And I am still hoping to have a down under trip! I wonder if the husband will approve much more when he learns that I am planning for one big trip for our 10th year next year! Real good luck for me please!

We did a quick get-away last holiday season. Thanks to an uncle who invited us over in a membership resort called Pico de Loro. The place is so beautiful. The kids enjoyed swimming to the max. The facilities are all new. We even played bowling while waiting for the kids finish their lapses in the pool. Then that evening, we stayed in a nice rest house in Terrazas de Punta Fuego.

Good thing we bought our Jetboil. It was already past 7pm when we arrived in the rest house and we had yet to do the cooking. Thanks to a fast, lightweight and simple solution for cooking. We had chicken gourmet and sauteed veggies.

We were just here few weeks back and my kids had a blast.  A Shangri-La Property never fails someone’s expectations in terms of service and resort amenities.  It was the first time of the kids here while it was my 3rd already.  The 3-day short vacation became extra special because the husband followed us on the 2nd day, when I thought he really cannot make it anymore because of his busy schedule from work.  Everything is perfect in the resort and it is well-contained with pool, a small cove for swimming in the beach, a spa, a Timezone and Adventure Zone for the kids.  We also enjoyed fish feeding.

We look forward to visiting more Shangri-la properties actually as we have lined up something for next year.  I hope we can also go to the one in Kota Kinabalu as friend said they do have those ATV (all-terrain vehicle) complete with Polaris Accessories that I would like to try myself.  It would definitely be an adventure.  For the meantime, I’m excited for our Boracay trip next February and we are staying in Shangri-la Boracay.

A couple of friends have been inviting me to go on biking and even hiking! I am not sure about the latter but I would like to try the first one. In fact, two of my couple friends went to this nice place over the weekend.

Yes, it is right by the Taal Lake. One of our friends even brought their gears and their bikes fastened securely on a yakima rack on our way down south.   I would like to bike on this kind of serene and beautiful area.

Off to a quick trip this month. It’s a combined work + pleasure getaway. Where are we headed? Will do an ocular and suppliers meeting in Shangri-la Mactan, Cebu and then I decided to bring the kids as well so we can all stay in this nice posh hotel. It would be the first time of the kids. So now, I am pressured to find the best weight loss supplements so I can still fit in my skinny swimsuits. Looking forward to getting a tan! Woot!

Heard so many good things about this beautiful resort.  I first read about it from the in-flight magazine of Philippine Airlines.  I then googled it when I got back in Manila and i was truly enticed to go there.  I have been planning and wanting until I finally got a wedding there this coming January!  Fantastic isn’t it?  I’m so excited!  I cannot wait to see more and experience the service here.  A friend said they provide a butler service to each villa.  I love it!  Though I would be going there for work, I am just ecstatic that I can finally be there.  Looking forward to finally be in Misibis Bay! Check out their site here.

Yeah, saw this cute panda in Ocean Park HK. They said this Panda is actually pampered, giving all its favorite food, with vitamins as well. My brother was kidding when he said that they are probably giving him a whey protein powder, since it looks so heavy and healthy. lol! It is actually inside an air conditioned glass room. It is such a cute creature. Wish my girls saw it themselves. Will bring the kids to Ocean Park the next time we go to HK. There are actually new attractions there already.

was spent with my brother and my parents.  We flew despite the hostage drama that took place about a 3 weeks ago.  Friends from HK assured us that it is still very safe to push through.  It was a well-spent trip and a much-awaited one for my folks.  It was actually my treat for them and I was so glad to have experienced it.  We never felt any hostile treatment from HK nationals since we arrived.  Immigration was a breeze and going around the malls was entirely safe.  I was a happy camper for shopping as well.  I won’t really get tired going to this city. Will definitely go back year after year after year.

I am in a destination where there is a sale in almost all stores.  These are last minute deals from the sale period last month.  Most of the stores have “last call” announcements on their display window.  So far, I bought the kids two nice V-tech laptops and perfumes for the husband as those are his instructions for me to get for him.  The trip is awesome. I really love this city.  Guess where I am? This is my royal retreat city.  It’s a must every year!

The above photo was taken during one of our stops on our road trips. This was in Hoover Dam. It was a tourist attraction once known as Boulder Dam, that is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado Rover. It is actually a state line between Arizona and Nevada. This was just about few days after we landed in Los Angeles and look how much weight we gained already just looking at our picture. That made me think to buy diet pills then. But instead of looking for one in Las Vegas as we were headed there after this stop, we ended up eating mostly buffet in Vegas hotels. So don’t ask how much weight did we gain from the trip ok?