Adventure Time Candy Kingdom Christmas at SM BF

So glad we caught this Christmas display at the Main Atrium of SM City BF before it ended (I believe today is the last day). Last year's display was "How To Train Your Dragon" and this year it's Adventure Time! Check out all our cute pics :)

Renewing my kids' passports

I just realized that my kids' passports were expiring next year when hubby and I were planning a vacation for this summer. I went online to schedule an appointment and the earliest date I got was January 27, 2016.

Good thing we asked at DFA Alabang and found out that kids 7 years old and below don't need an appointment anymore and can just walk in anytime. So off we went last December 28 and we were allowed to enter at once.

However, we couldn't line up at the priority lane since that was only for minors below 1 year old. There weren't that much people in the waiting section of the Processing Area, but this is where it took the longest at more than an hour. There were a lot of windows (I believe 8) but only 4 were manned and at times it would take so long for one person since there were still questions about their documents.

Anyway, for minors, requirements for first time minor applicants are still needed. Here's what we brought:

- Printed Application Form (on long bond paper)
- The kids' current passport and photocopy of the data page (page 2) and back pages
- Original Birth Certificate of minor in Security Paper issued by PSA (plus photocopy)
- Their school ID (plus photocopy)
- Marriage Certificate of minor’s parents duly authenticated by PSA (plus photocopy)
- Original and photocopy (page 2) of valid passport of parents

We arrived at 11:30am and finished by 1:10pm. I can't wait to see their new passport photos! Look at how cute they were when they were still babies. How time flies!

Oh, and if you noticed in the requirements stated in their website, it says the birth and marriage certificates should be issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). I got confused since the copies I had were from the NSO or National Statistics Office.

I emailed info@passport.com.ph asking about this and got this very quick response:

Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) is the new name of National Statistic Office (NSO).
You need to secure new birth certificate if the birth certificate you mention is more than 3 years in your custody.

Well, the ones I had were from 2011 pa so I really had to get new ones. Good thing you can get your NSO documents in SM malls too! I got ours in SM BF at the ground floor of the department store. :)



You can also read about how I applied for my baby Skyler's passport for the 1st time HERE.

DFA Alabang Consular Office
http://alabang.passport.com.ph
4th Floor, Metro Alabang Town Center,
Alabang - Zapote Road 1700,
Muntinlupa City, Philippines

The DFA Appointment System is also available via the hotline (02) 737-1000.
Call anytime from 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Saturday.

Our Asian-themed Christmas Party!

Hubby's side of the family always has a theme for Christmas. Last year was "Ugly Sweater" and I don't know about you, but I think we started the trend haha! I swear, I couldn't find any ugly sweaters last year and now they sell them everywhere like in H&M! ;p Anyway, the most awaited theme this year was Asian and we got the announcement when we were on our vacation in Tokyo. So naturally, we went Japanese!

The Tides Hotel, Boracay

For our trip to Boracay last month, I originally wanted to book at Discovery Shores since we were going to be with the kids (plus I haven't stayed there pa lol). But after checking the rates, I had to reconsider since I was sure there were other good hotels that were more affordable. We checked Agoda and we chanced upon a flash sale for The Tides Hotel.

Beach bums in Boracay

The family went to Boracay last month and everyone was so excited because it was going to be the kids' first time there. Plus, it was also Skyler's first airplane ride! We already booked this trip months in advance and luckily, we picked the date November 21 to leave. That's because if you recall, the APEC summit was held a few days earlier and so many flights got cancelled from November 15-20! We were already getting worried that the trip might not push through just in case there were more problems from all the cancelled flights. But thank God everything went as originally planned. :)

My first AIRBNB experience (Tokyo, Japan)

I think the first time I ever came across Airbnb was in Instagram. I remember seeing this gorgeous house from someone's vacation with the hashtag #airbnb or something. I did my research and checked the website and to be honest, I wasn't completely sold. Staying at a stranger's place just seemed scary for me. I would imagine crazy scenarios where the owner would go inside the place (I mean they have the key right?) and kill me or something (yes I have an active imagination). But still, staying in a hotel just seemed safer for me. And more convenient with the all the services like housekeeping, concierge, breakfast, etc.

Lazada's 3-day Grand Christmas Sale

Lazada Philippines, the country’s leading one-stop online shopping and selling destination will culminate its Online Revolution sale in a 3-day Grand Christmas Sale finale on December 10-12. Lazada broke its online sales records during the kick-off of the month-long sale event last November 11, generating 2.4 million visits and over 120,000 items purchased on its website and mobile app in a single day. The e-commerce giant expects to surpass these numbers before the year ends as it reveals further markdowns on its holiday bestsellers during the upcoming sale on December 10-12.

Deep discounts and Shocking holiday deals

Discounts during the Lazada Grand Christmas Sale will be up to 95% off and will feature new Shocking Deals, P12 Deals, and P99 Deals. Shocking Deals will feature popular branded items at half price including an Apple iPad Mini 2 Retina (16GB); other products include a Hoverboard and a MyView 40’’ Full HD LED TV with limited quantities as chosen by our customers on social media. The links to the 12 Peso Deal items will with be announced on Lazada’s social media accounts. Items that will be available for P99 include bestsellers like the Push Up Pro fitness gear and the popular Hands-free Toothpaste Dispenser.

Partnerships with Cebu Pacific, Hyundai, and BDO Cards

Lazada online shoppers are in for more exciting promos during the month of December. Purchases made during the sale period may qualify for raffle draws to win Cebu Pacific airline tickets to international destinations as well as a brand new Hyundai Eon in the grand draw. BDO cardholders are also entitled to additional discounts on December 10-12.

For more information, please visit www.lazada.com.ph. For updates on Lazada’s latest innovations, as well as activities, contests and promotions, connect with them via their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines).

Back from vacation!

The last few weeks have been so fun since we've been exploring and eating and enjoying... haaaay can we just be on vacation forever? ;p The whole family went to Boracay and it was the kids’ first time there. They super loved it especially the “sugary sand” and clear waters. We stayed for 4 days but it didn’t seem enough! The island life can definitely get addicting.

Right after we got back, hubby and I just had a day to rest then we were off to Japan! We’ve been planning this trip for so long and I’m so glad it finally pushed through. The change in weather was so extreme though, from being in sunny Boracay to the autumn cold! I’m super lamigin pa naman so even though I was wearing thermals and layers, parang kulang pa din! We just stayed in Tokyo for a whole week and there’s still so much left to see and do! We fell in love with Japan and we can’t wait to be back to explore Osaka and Kyoto.

But traveling is also super tiring and I'm still recovering from all the walking and lack of sleep. I haven’t even had time to blog for the past couple of days since right after we got back, we had other events to attend like my daughter’s dance competition!

I’m so proud of her for being one of the students chosen to represent her preschool. They danced to the song “We Could Be Heroes” and they were amazing! I’m still in awe of their performance (mana talaga sa mommy lol). Although they didn’t place, we’re all still so proud of them for doing their best and dancing their butts off!

We also attended the wedding of my good friend in Tagaytay just this Saturday. It was such a blast because it was like a reunion of the advertising agency I used to work for. Some of these people I hadn’t seen since I resigned years ago! And it was also super cold and foggy in Tagaytay already, buti na lang sanay pa ako sa Japan weather haha! ;p

Well, it’s back to regular programming now. But still so much to do like get started on wrapping Christmas presents! Plus I’m getting so confused with the schedules of all the December events and parties already lol. And I still have a ton of posts to write on our travels. Wish me luck!

DIY Christmas dinner decor ideas

Christmas is just around the corner and for sure most of us will be hosting parties and reunions in our homes. So I've rounded up 10 easy DIY projects that will definitely add some sparkle to your houses and dinner tables this holiday season.

The Stockpile

I hardly venture to the northern part of the metro, so when I do, it has to be something worth it. Well, one of my best friends was recently in town from Singapore so our high school barkada decided to have dinner at The Stockpile, located all the way in Ortigas.

We already knew we would be stuck in horrendous traffic going there on a weekend, but I was willing to let that pass for the sake of friendship lol! The Stockpile is actually owned by really good friends (same people behind The Sunshine Kitchen in the Fort) so I knew we were in for amazing time for sure.

Real Living online features

Our home was featured a few months ago in the August 2015 issue of Real Living. This time, they also published two articles about it on their website!

The first one is basically a photo gallery of the different areas of the house. Read the entire article HERE.

The second one has some DIY decorating tips including some of my own personal projects like making your own wall stickers and creating silhouette portraits. Read the entire article HERE.

So again, thank you to Real Living for all these features. Really makes all the efforts in making my DIY projects and decorating on a budget worth it! :)

Fall Fashion inspiration

I'll be going to Japan soon and I'm super excited since it will be my first time there! It's autumn right now though, so I've been searching online for some fashion inspiration. Honestly, I prefer the heat over cold weather since I tend to freeze so easily. I checked the weather forecast and the temperature when we're there will be about 14°C (warmest) to 5°C (coldest). So this will be a challenge for me to look good since if it were up to me, I'd be bundled up like an eskimo haha! But of course, I want to look good in my photos so tiis-ganda na lang lol! Check out my pegs for this trip:

Source: pinterest.com, wachabuy.com

Having ‘that’ conversation: teaching kids to stay safe online

As a parent, you’ll often find yourself in situations where you need to sit down with your adolescent children and have an important conversation about growing up, becoming an adult or choosing your future university or career. But with today’s digitally-connected world, parents should also be more aware of teaching their kids to use social media platforms safely. On top of monitoring what kind of content your children are exposed to, it’s also a good idea to pay attention to monitor what kind of content they publish and who gets to see their content.

Coco Nail Studio

A few weeks ago, I decided to have some mommy and me bonding time with my daughter by bringing her to the nail salon, which she loves! Luckily, I found a gift check from Coco Nail Studio which I received from the first Mothers Who Brunch event I attended.

Domex #WorldToiletDay2015 GIVEAWAY

Domex leads the fight against diseases caused by unsanitary toilets through the 1M Clean Toilets Movement. In celebration of World Toilet Day, Domex leads a toilet clean-up in East Avenue Medical Center, symbolizing our commitment in helping people, especially those who have been afflicted, to fight diseases through clean toilets.

To support the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement and World Toilet Day, I pledge to properly clean my toilet, to protect my family from disease caused by unsanitary toilets.

And in celebration of World Toilet Day, Domex will be giving away gift packs to 10 lucky winners. All you have to do is answer the following questions:

Who do you protect from disease causing germs? Who inspires you to keep your toilet at home clean and germ-free?

Then post your answer on Instagram with a photo of or with your loved ones doing a checkmark hand gesture using their left hand. See example below:

Make sure you follow me on IG and tag me @mrsmommyholic and use the hashtags #WorldToiletDay2015 #1MCleanToilets

See, it's that easy!

I will choose 10 entries on NOVEMBER 13 to win 2 months worth of Domex cleaning products. Winners should be willing to claim their prizes at the Stratworks office located in Makati. Prizes must be claimed by December 15, 2015.

Strategic Works, Inc.
2/F Zaragoza Building
102 Gamboa St., Legaspi Village,
Makati City 1229
Philippines

So what are you waiting for? Keep your family safe from diseases caused by unsanitary toilets. Trust Domex, the germ kill expert and join the 1M Clean Toilets Movement now!

--------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FF WINNERS!!!
@gellie.n
@edithgungab
@gaill18
@iamnela26
@sarift_
@mastermomspeaks
@jesllantino30
@miared.navarro
@ludivelrg
@iamwintle

Hallmark's MIX and MATCH x A Sweet Cottage

I'm one of those people who loves wrapping gifts. I find it so relaxing and therapeutic (read more about my crafty Christmas tips HERE and HERE). So when Maricel of A Sweet Cottage invited me to attend a gift wrapping workshop for Hallmark, I knew this was an event I didn't want to miss!

Join the One Million Clean Toilets Movement

Did you know that 443 million school days are lost each year because of unsanitary toilets?

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days each year because of diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including using unsanitary toilets. Simply put, this number of sick days is equivalent to all grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines being empty for one month. This sanitation-related concern hinders the children’s learning and significantly reduces their quality of life.

Illnesses due to poor toilet sanitation include diarrhoeal disease and parasitic worm infections which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, physical and mental stunting, and death. Every day, millions of children in rural communities and urban households nationwide are exposed to these health problems by using dirty toilets populated by disease-carrying germs.

According to Dr. Luisa Efren of the Philippine Public Health Association (PPHA), the simple act of proper toilet sanitation can help prevent the spread of these germs. However, children continue to be at risk from these deadly diseases because many households still use ordinary laundry bleach to clean their toilet bowls, which is not enough to kill all toilet germs.

“A toilet that looks clean to the naked eye may not necessarily be free from germs and bacteria. So, it is very important to properly sanitize all surfaces using a germ-kill expert with proven efficacy in eliminating bacteria, and not just any ordinary laundry bleach,” Dr. Efren warned.

For the past three years, Unilever Philippines through its germ-kill expert brand Domex, has been working with UNICEF and PPHA to champion the One Million Clean Toilets Movement. This advocacy program aims to educate Filipinos on proper toilet hygiene and the need for sanitized household toilets to keep their families safe against disease-causing germs.

On November 13, World Toilet Day, join the One Million Clean Toilets Movement in the fight against disease causing germs to save lives, one clean toilet at a time. To learn more about Domex and how you can stay safe from disease with a germ-free home, visit Domex Philippines on Facebook.

You can also help the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement fight against disease by spreading awareness on the sanitation issue caused unsanitary toilets. Watch and share the “Sick Days” video below to help keep your family and friends germ-free.

Halloween 2015

Sorry for being MIA these past few days, we've just been really busy taking advantage of the kids' sem break. Plus, I've also been fixing their requirements and applications for big school already. Gosh, is Miley really going to be Grade 1 already next year?! Where did the time go!

I've been so preoccupied lately that I haven't even decorated the house for Christmas (I didn't even put up Halloween decors like before!). We finally put up the tree 2 days ago, and I still have so much to do. These next few weeks are going to be so hectic since we have some family vacations lined up together with entrance exams and Christmas shopping which I haven't even started with! Ayayay!

Anyway, I'll leave that craziness behind for now and share with you our Halloween costumes for this year. I wanted it to be easy to do, cheap but cute, and something the whole family could be part of. So presenting... DESPICABLE ME!

Citygate Outlet Mall, Hong Kong

For our last day in Hong Kong, my girlfriends and I just went to Citygate Outlet mall to go shopping. I've already been here before last year when we went to Disneyland, but since we were with the kids I wasn't able to really go around as much.

A lovely time at Stanley, Hong Kong

I've been to Hong Kong a few times before and we would always go to the usual spots for shopping and eating. Standard areas would be Tsim Tsa Tsui, Nathan Road, and the night market in Mongkok. But for some reason, I haven't been to the Stanley area at all despite reading about it when I'd do research on what to do in Hong Kong. Luckily, my friends haven't been here as well so we all jumped at the suggestion to check out the place during our trip.

Housewives in Hong Kong

I just came back a few days ago from a trip to Hong Kong with my good friends. We're all housewives, so we have to thank our husbands for allowing us to take this mini vacation while they take care of the kids. ;p

Bornga Korean BBQ (VivoCity, Singapore)

During my last trip to Singapore with friends, we spent more time eating than doing anything else. One of the restaurants we tried was this Korean BBQ place called Bornga in VivoCity Mall.

Momzilla Bazaar at Rockwell Tent (Oct. 17-18)

Check out the Momzilla Bazaar this weekend at the Rockwell Tent. The concept of Momzilla is to give mompreneurs an opportunity to get their products out there for a weekend. The event not only aims to help the local selling industry but also to let moms and kids have the best products they can get their hands on in Manila. Happy Shopping! :)

A trip to IKEA Singapore (plus shopping loot)

When I travel, I try to drop by an IKEA if I can since I just can't get enough of their stuff! I've already visited their Singapore branch in Tampines when I was there a few years ago, so I was happy to check out their other store in Alexandra this time.

S.E.A. Aquarium Singapore

I've been wanting to go to the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore for quite some time now, and finally got a chance to visit during my trip last July.

Cocktail dresses from Dress.PH

A Great Dress for a Wedding at 84% Off!

A glamorous wear for weddings and many more occasions, this Pink and Yellow Chiffon Off Shoulder Short Dress is available in 3 more colors: White, Light Blue, Purple with sizes: Small/Big.

Carefor Baby

I was so happy when I got these new baby products in the mail from Lazada. Carefor Baby is a complete range of skin and hair care products for babies and mothers. It is safe and has no AES material, formaldehyde and dioxin contents. Most ingredients are natural, hypo-allergenic, soap-free, dye-free and alcohol-free, making it ideal for baby's sensitive skin.

Little Tycoons Playhouse

My kids were invited to a playdate at Little Tycoons Playhouse last week. To be honest, I've never heard of this place prior to the visit and I had to do a bit of research first to know where it was located.

For those in the south, Little Tycoons is located in the 2nd Level of Westgate Hub in Alabang, near S&R. The place is similar to other playhouses you would find in malls where you could leave your children for a couple of hours. What I liked about this particular establishment though is that it's designed like a mini city, which reminded me very much of Kidzania!

DIY Crayon Lipsticks

My 5-year old daughter loves watching YouTube makeup tutorials and her favorite gurus are Michelle Phan, Promise Phan, and Charisma Star. She actually showed me this video of Promise Phan making her own lipsticks out of crayons, so of course we had to try it out too! :)

Gardens by the Bay: Cloud Forest

After going around the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay, we then moved on to the Cloud Forest which has a completely different vibe. It features plants from tropical highlands between 1,000 to 3,500 metres above sea level and a 35-metre-tall man-made mountain (the “Cloud Mountain”) covered in lush vegetation.

Taiwan Excellence's Made to Enjoy Singing Contest

Show off your singing ability, broadcast your musical talent, and wow audiences all over the world in the Made to Enjoy Singing Contest, a new and innovative contest brought to you by Taiwan Excellence, with so many exciting prizes to be awarded. Made to Enjoy Singing will surely captivate the Philippines by discovering your hidden musical talents.

Gardens by the Bay: Flower Dome

I've been to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore before, but wasn't able to enter the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest attractions. Good thing my friends haven't been here as well, so this was on the top of our list during my visit last July 17.

Frozen Toys Rescue Mission!

I have to thank my friend Ange for giving me this idea when she posted a photo on Facebook of her boys doing this activity. All you have to do is freeze some toys in water and and have your kids find a way to "rescue" or get them out. It looked super easy to do and something I knew my own kids would love playing!

Pizzeria Mozza in MBS Sinagpore

I took a quick trip to Singapore last July to spend some quality time with my best friends (2 of which are based there). I've been to Singapore many times before but I never get tired of it. In fact, hubby and I would want to live here if we could. Anyway, the time we went was actually a long weekend since it was Eid’l Fitr or the end of the feast of Ramadan. I wouldn't actually choose this as the best time to go, but it was great for my friends since they had no work. I arrived on a Friday which was declared a holiday so there were so many people everywhere!

Our first order of business was to eat and everyone was in agreement to try the celebrity chef restaurant Pizzeria Mozza in Marina Bay Sands. If you're not familiar, it's owned by Mario Batali with Nancy Silverton and Joe Bastianich (you might know him as the former MasterChef judge) who brought the restaurant all the way from Los Angeles.

How to make your own playdough (no cook recipe)

My 5 year old daughter: Mom, I'm bored. What can I do?!

Me: Your homework!

Her: What???!!! I want something fun!

Haaay good luck to me when she gets to big school! Anyway, it's getting harder and harder to entertain her these days so I'm thankful for blogs and YouTube for giving me lots of ideas. My daughter loves mixing ingredients and as you know, I need a lot of help in the kitchen department. That's why when I saw this video she was watching, I knew instantly that we can make it since 1) it looked super easy, 2) all the ingredients were something I had on hand, and of course 3) who doesn't love playdough?

Champetre Boutique & Restaurant

My high school barkada and I got together the day after my birthday last month to celebrate and see our friend Pier who was visiting from Singapore. We are actually 7 in the group and we've fondly called ourselves PMF since grade school (don't ask what it means haha!). The last time we were all together was a couple of years ago pa since the others have moved abroad to work. So having 4 of us in one place is actually pretty great already! :)

Mothers Who Brunch Goes Asian

I was invited to the 3rd installment of the Mothers Who Brunch event, organized by Sab of Sinfully Sabrina and Michelle of Momma ‘N Manila last August 22. Again, it was held at the Viking Range Showroom in Westgate Alabang. It was actually raining pretty hard that morning so I was afraid the event was going to get cancelled! But luckily, the rains died down, so we were all able to enjoy this wonderful event with friends and good food.

Kuya J Restaurant (SM BF)

I'm not such a fan of Filipino food, but I have to say that Kuya J Restaurant has changed my mind. Somehow, whenever we're in SM BF and can't decide where to eat, we always end up here! :)

Our Kidzania Manila Experience

The kids had no school last August 13 so me and a fellow mommy decided to bring the them to Kidzania to take advantage of the cheaper rate while it’s still on soft opening (from August 7 until October 7, 2015). Plus, it was a weekday so we were expecting less people.

Sensory play with Gulaman

Are you looking for a fun activity your kids can do that can keep them entertained for a long time? Then just head on over to the grocery and buy a couple of packs of these jelly powder mixes! They're super cheap too at just P10 each.