Cherry Blossoms in Singapore

Hello! If you're following me on Instagram, then you know we just got back from sunny Singapore & Malaysia a few days ago. But don't you sometimes feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? Haha I know hubby and I do, especially after traveling with the kids. To think we didn't even take Skyler along because at 2, I don't think he'll even remember the trip. And I honestly don't know how we can travel with all 3 kids without a yaya or other family members to help. Just Miley and Sabe were a handful! But enough about that for now, I'll be sure to blog about our many adventures in the coming weeks. :)

Anyway, most people were on vacation during the Holy Week and a lot of those I saw online were in Japan, enjoying the cool weather. And I'm sure more people will be going there since it's cherry blossom season! This is definitely something that is on my bucket list, and I guess I was one step closer since I was able to see cherry blossoms... but in Singapore!

Southern Dairy Homemade Gelato + Kitchen

Hubby and I passed by this dessert place along Aguirre Ave. one time, but they were still closed. Good thing we chanced upon the store again one night after dinner when we were craving for something sweet!

Tokyo Travel Diaries: Odaiba

Next stop in our Japan adventure is Odaiba, which is a large artificial island across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. There's a lot of attractions here but I have to say the main reason hubby and I wanted to go was to see the popular, life-sized Gundam statue.

Nurture Wellness Village, Tagaytay

Tagaytay is a very popular wedding destination and we were actually invited to two weddings there recently, both on the same day (February 24)! One was for my high school friend at Balai Taal, while the other was for my hubby's childhood friend at Nurture Wellness Village. Since both hubby and my daughter were part of the entourage of the latter, we also went ahead and booked a room at Nurture Spa.

Tips for traveling with kids

Traveling with the whole family is definitely fun but tiring as well. Especially if you have young kids or babies in tow. I have three kids currently aged 6, 4 and 2 and it definitely is not as easy as it looks, especially if you don’t have the budget to bring a yaya with you. You will be exhausted from carrying the baby bags, lugging the stroller, cleaning up after them, keeping them entertained, and so on and so forth. You have to put your kids’ needs first and accept that not everything will go as planned. Even if you have your whole itinerary prepared months in advance, it can all depend on your kids’ moods that day like if they suddenly get sick or throw a major temper tantrum.

We are actually on a family trip right now since it's already the kids' summer break. And I'm sure a lot of you are also getting ready to go on or are planning your own vacations as well. So to help other parents out there, here’s some tips for a fuss-free family travel based on my experience.

Solstice Bistro & Boulangerie

We celebrated my high school friend's bachelorette last February 22 by first having dinner at Solstice Bistro & Boulangerie in Rockwell. They're located right across Starbucks and just a short walk from Powerplant Mall. They had actually opened very recently when we visited and I think they were on soft opening that time.

Sofitel Staycation

My mother-in-law had her high school homecoming last February 20 at Sofitel, so she decided to book a stay there for the family so the kids can enjoy as well.

Tokyo Travel Diaries: Tokyo Skytree

During our visit to Japan, hubby and I were contemplating whether to visit the Tokyo Tower or the Skytree. In the end, we chose the Skytree since it was newer and there seemed to be more things to see and do within the building (like a shopping complex and an aquarium). Anyway, the Tokyo Skytree is the tallest building in Japan and the second tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion with a height of 634 meters.

Our 7th anniv dinner at Kiwa Korean Grill

It's been a month since our 7th wedding anniversary, and were actually here now in Bangkok for work plus to celebrate as well. But during our actual anniversary, we had dinner at the lovely Kiwa Korean Grill in Solaire.

Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort

Hubby's family always takes a mini-vacation when his tita from the States comes home to visit. So last month, we went to Stilts Calatagan for a 2 night stay (from February 1-3). I did some research prior to our trip and I got excited seeing the photos of the cottages above the water, plus good reviews on TripAdvisor.

Balay Dako, Tagaytay

Our family had a vacation in Stilts Calatagan a few weeks ago and on the way there, we stopped to have lunch in Tagaytay. My mother-in-law suggested that we eat in Balay Dako since she just ate there a few days ago and she was raving about how nice the place was.