Holiday Fun in Taiwan - Window on China Theme Park

XIAO REN GUO Theme Park a.k.a. Window on China Theme Park was in our must-visit list while I was planning the itinerary for our holiday trip to Taiwan last December. J insisted on it. I've never heard of this until J told me about it. Childhood dream daw niya na makapunta dun, kasi he was fascinated by this miniature theme park ever since he learned about it when he was a little boy. I was reluctant at first because with all the Taiwan tour recommendations I've read, not one source have mentioned about this theme park. True enough, this Window on China (WOC) still exists and is thriving. WOC is the oldest theme park of Taiwan, located in Taoyuan City, which opened its doors in 1984.

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Holiday Fun in Taiwan - Part 2

We spent a relaxing holiday in Taiwan last December and I'm sharing with you the simple day tours I planned for the family. Last month, I featured part 1 here where we covered the northern coast with a private car and tour guide. For day 3 of our trip, we skipped the guide and booked a car with driver via Ownrides.com. Our day started at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial.

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Holiday Fun in Taiwan - Part 1

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! I truly believe it is and what I always look forward to during the yuletide season is getting together with friends, relatives, and planning a family getaway, whether it's a simple staycation or a few days out of the country. Last year, we went to Tokyo. This year, we went on a 5-day vacation to Taipei, Taiwan.

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Pasko na, Bonus Time na!

Every December, when I was still working, I always look forward to my Christmas bonus. Siyempre after 12 months of toiling, year-end bonuses are the icing on the cake talaga. While I am no longer working, I still earn from projects that come my way, and of course, ang bonus ni husband ang inaabangan namin, heehee! Having something extra to look forward to this month, I already try to plan on how we can spend wisely, and how we can surprise our family and friends as we share our blessings.

I think we can all agree na mas magastos talaga pag holiday season, so we should always find ways for our hard-earned money to go a long way. After covering all the basic needs, how do we spend our extra from year-end bonuses? Here are the usual suspects, in no particular order:

• Travel
• Jewelry
• Gadgets
• Pampering services
• Fine dining
• Surprise gifts for the family
• Home improvements
• Specialty foods and beverages

After watching this fun and entertaining video by our Star for All Seasons, Vilma Santos, and his lucky boy Luis, I am reminded that as a homemaker, I need to be frugal and always discerning when it comes to spending. Para laging may extra pa to save and to surprise our loved ones as we create memories with them! 

You should watch and share this video to know what I mean. =) Nakakatuwa itong PUREGOLD "concert" with #ViLucky!

While there are times when we like to splurge on certain things, most often, I want value-for-money with my purchases, even with my groceries. This is always the case when we shop at PUREGOLD, always panalo! Sulit na sulit kasi when I buy our dry goods there, especially when in bulk. I know a lot of people who make PUREGOLD their shopping destination because of the amazing deals they can find. It's a one-stop-shop too. Kaya this Christmas, let's all make the most of what we have and share with our families. Pasko na! PUREGOLD na! =)

Be sure to like and follow Puregold to get updates:

Facebook Page at facebook.com/puregold.shopping

Instagram @puregold_ph

Visit Puregold online for special offers at www.puregold.com.ph

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again! 
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Tokyo Winter Holiday, part 3: Shizuoka - Mt. Fuji and Snow Town Yeti

The closest to snow we ever got to experience was at Star City Snow World several years ago. When the kids tried ice skating, nag-collect sila ng shaved ice, formed into balls and pretended it was snow, hahaha! Since then, they kept asking when we can exerience actual snow. It was only last December that we got the chance to visit a ski resort in Tokyo, saw the snow-capped Mt. Fuji, and witnessed a (light) snow fall on our last day. Swerte! Very memorable talaga especially for the children.

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A Year of Many Firsts -- Thank You, 2017!

"It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful."

2017, you were awesome! I think this is one of the best years for my family, and for myself. I have so much to be thankful for and I honestly don't know where to start.

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Staying Healthy this Holiday Season

Christmas is just around the corner and we are all so excited for our upcoming holiday vacation in Japan! It's gonna be our first trip there so I want to make sure everything will be in order and we'll all be in the best of health in the days leading to our trip. Kaya todo vitamins na ang mga kids and I'm trying to keep our environment clean. Mahirap na... I don't want any of us to get sick during this most wonderful time of the year.

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Pre-holiday Fete with Mothers Who Brunch and Uashmama

Whenever my friends Mish and Sab from Mothers Who Brunch (MWB) invite me to their events, I really make an effort to attend simply because I know they'll prepare something truly special, and we'll have a wonderful time together (aside from the fact that I'll discover amazing products from their presentations, and most importantly, they feed me well.... heeheehee). As expected, the recent MWB gathering was such a treat as I learned about this innovative Italian brand of washable paper products by Uashmama.

Brunch was held at the beautiful Viking Range Showroom in Alabang. I'll consider this my first holiday party this season kasi everything felt and looked so festive! The venue was transformed by the Badoy sisters of Boqueria Lifestyle Market, spruced up with an assortment of Uashmama paper bags that fit right into the different settings. This newest #MomFindsPH is so simple yet versatile. Stylish too! And did I mention they're completely washable?

Spot the paper bags on the table setting.

What is Uashmama?

Pronounced as "wash-mama", Uashmama was born in 2011 in the town of Montecatini in Tuscany, Italy, run by the Marconi family.  All of the products are 100% made in Italy. The family started out by producing traditional bread bags made of this new washable paper and sold it in their local community. With the versatility of the material and positive market feedback, they’ve grown the product range to include home, table, and fashion lines.

To this day, the iconic paper bag remains to be the best selling item across continents. Now, Uashmama is available in the Philippines, thanks to the official distributor, INEXPH Inc.

Uashmama paper bags are made with eco-friendly virgin cellulose fiber. They come in pretty colors and different sizes, used here as bread bag and countertop produce storage, as well as for fresh greens for our salad and even potted herbs and plants!

To add some excitement during the event, our hosts cooked up a creative challenge for us to style an area and showcase the use of Uashmama the best way possible. Winning group will receive Uashmama bags!

With my teammates Patty and Maget, we were assigned the coffee table and this was what we came up with.

Pwede na diba, kahit medyo naubusan na kami ng Uashmama bags and props to use. :D

The "bathroom group" won the challenge with their smart use of different bags around the space. Congratulations, ladies!

MWB will not be complete without good food, right? So, as expected, kitchen divas Mish and Sab prepared some delectable dishes like creamy polenta and the egg and mozzarella loaf using organic vegetables and pantry supplies from EarthOrigins Marketplace. They also presented ideas on how we can gather at home for the holidays using Severin kitchen appliances like the spiralizer (for the salad) and sous vide machines (for the steak). 

The Italian-inspired brunch was catered by Joy of Yogi Brunch, who lovingly made the vegetarian menu. Well, we really felt and tasted the love, Joy, because everything was superb! My favorites were truffled butter spread on toast, arugula-basil pesto and roasted garlic aioli with pasta. I even bought a jar of pesto to bring home. Grabe sa sarap -- I never expected na wala palang meat dish sa buffet! The sous vide steak was perfectly cooked by Nino, the better half of Mish.

Aside from our happy tummies, awesome prizes from the sponsors were raffled off as well, kaya mas masaya pa! =)

Hooray! I was one of the lucky few to win a Uashmama purse (which my girl sequestered when I showed it to her)! Of course, I was not able to restrain myself from shopping that day, so I got myself this lighweight Uashmama Otti Metallic handbag with detachable shoulder strap. I've been using it everyday since.

Thank you, MWBxUashmama for the lovely brunch and all the amazing goodies for us to enjoy! I was in very good company that day which made the trip all the more memorable. What a way to usher in the holiday season!

Learn more about MWB at Facebook.com/MothersWhoBrunch
Follow Instagram @motherswhobrunch
Check out Uashmama and shop online at Facebook.com/uashmamaph
Follow Instagram @uashmama_ph

Note:
All unmarked photos provided by Mothers Who Brunch.

***

Take a look at my first holiday gathering with MWB: Mothers Who Brunch Holiday Potluck Party

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Also on Google Friend Connect, or Subscribe Via Email.
I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again!
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7 Things to Love About Hotel H2O

Who doesn't love a staycation? It's a mini vacation without going too far away from home and we're so fortunate to have experienced different accommodations from top hotels in and out of the metro. One such memorable weekend for us was spent at Hotel H2O in Luneta, Manila and that was four years ago. While we've stayed in other hotels since then, Hotel H2O remains to be unforgettable especially for the kids, and let me share with you again why. Some weeks ago, we were invited to revisit this unique establishment. Perfect timing, kasi it was the last weekend before school starts for the girl, so one last hurrah to close the summer break.

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Our Preview Stay at Okada Manila

I first learned about Okada Manila late last year as they prepared to welcome delegates from the Miss Universe pageant. What really made me took notice was how they described their rooms and amenities. Touted as the biggest integrated resort development in Manila, each luxurious room and suite in Okada features a Jacuzzi and advanced in-room technology. They also house the world's largest dancing water fountain and soon, an indoor beach club with white sand!

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A Later Bloomer's Appreciation for Beauty and Wellness

A new year means getting older, and hopefully, wiser and healthier! Age does matter. Priorities change. But the funny thing here is that I've never been more conscious about my looks than when I hit 40. Parang biglang nagpakita yung mga fine lines, white hair, blemishes, and eczema out of nowhere! Weird no? Late bloomer kasi ako. =) Siyempre, as I got older, I've learned to embrace my uniqueness (flaws and all), build on my strengths, and seek out products and services that help me look and feel beautiful, inside and out. Food and clothing aside, beauty and personal wellness have been at the bottom of my priorities for the longest time. Well, not anymore.

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My First Cookie Swap Party

First Friday of the month: Food / Baking

Happy New Year, everyone! =)

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break filled with memorable feasts. May we all crave for more epicurean delights and share new foodie discoveries this year. This is my first blog feature for 2017 and it happens to be Foodie Friday, so let's start with something festive and delicious to welcome the new year, shall we?

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'Tis the Season for #SmartLove, Win Weekly Prizes and Surprises

As a bearer of good news, I'm so excited to announce that SMART is spreading more love this season by showering us with lots and lots of surprises! Open a different surprise every week until January 2017. Seriously, umuulan talaga ng free trips, amazing products and services from Smart, kaya register now to enjoy #SmartLove!

Prizes at stake:

Fly off to Indonesia and Singapore to watch concerts

with DJ Snake, Zedd, Yuna and Guns N' Roses!

Hangout session with JaDine

Free data, discounts on Lazada, Uber, Zalora and more

Smart Love Promo Mechanics

• Open to all Smart Prepaid, Postpaid & Broadband subscribers.
• Promo is from November 15, 2016 to January 15, 2017.
• Every week, SMART will announce a reward /set of rewards that will be open for redemption.
• Subscribers may choose to receive any of the available weekly rewards
• Smart Prepaid & Broadband Prepaid must have loaded at least P50 at the start of the week to claim 1 reward
• Smart Postpaid & Broadband Postpaid accounts are currently active
• Accounts that can still make incoming and outgoing calls, text, and data, regardless of account treatment in terms of credit limit and payment status
• There is no required number of rewards points to join.
• There will be 2 portions for the promo:  
  Raffle and Reward
• Claiming of Rewards is not required to be able to join the Raffle, nor is it required to join the Raffle to be able to claim Rewards.
• Subscribers may choose among the available raffle/s to join and rewards for the week (as detailed in the website)
• For the trips to Indonesia and Singapore, subscriber must align with the following requirements to enter:
• Must be at least 18 years old to join
• Must have an existing passport valid for 6 months from date of concert

Dial *888 for Smart subscribers if there are any concerns regarding this promotional activity

 Watch and see what's in store for you from #SmartLove

RAFFLE

To join the raffle, subscriber must first register using the following format:

Smart Subscribers: Text SMARTLOVE<space>REG<space>NAME/AGE/ADDRESS to 9999

For Smart Broadband Subscribers, follow these steps:

1. Connect your gadget to your Smart Bro Pocket WiFi 
2. Open a web browser and access your Device Settings page. Type: www.smartbrosettings.net 
3. To login and type smartbro for both username and password. 
4. Check the menu on the left side of the interface, and click on the SMS function—new message. 
5. Text SMARTLOVE<space>REG<space>NAME/AGE/ADDRESS to 9999

Registration is free of charge and may only be done once, but will be eligible for ALL raffles.

Additional raffle points may be earned via the following:

• Smart Prepaid & Smart Bro Prepaid: Every increment of P50 is equivalent to 1 raffle entry
• Smart Postpaid & Smart Bro Postpaid: Every increment of P50 based on monthly service fee is equivalent to 1 raffle entry.

Go to www.smart.com.ph/smartlove for the complete Raffle mechanics and prize details.

REWARDS

Smart subscribers may redeem via SMS:

Text SMARTLOVE <space>REDEMPTION CODE to 9999

For Smart Bro subscribers, redeem by following these steps:

1. Connect your gadget to your Smart Bro Pocket WiFi 
2. Open a web browser and access your Device Settings page. Type: www.smartbrosettings.net 
3. To login,type smartbro for both username and password. 
4. Check the menu on the left side of the interface, and click on the SMS function—new message. 
5. Text SMARTLOVE<space>CODE and send to 9999. 
6. View the reward by clicking on SMS function—inbox.

Go to www.smart.com.ph/smartlove for the complete Rewards redemption codes and details.

This is a very early Christmas treat from SMART so take advantage of this opportunity, share the love, and feel the spirit of giving from #SmartLOVE!

Note:

Video and image from SMART.

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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My Mom-Friday on Facebook
Follow @mymomfriday on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat
Also on Google Friend Connect, or Subscribe Via Email.
I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again! 
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Pre-Holiday Gadget SALE from Digital Walker Starts September 30

Christmas comes early this year with this awesome tech and gadget sale by Digital Walker store! I rarely post sale and promo announcements here but this one is hard to pass up since we are customers of Digital Walker and my gadget-geek hubby and kids are already eyeing several items to shop for this weekend. Sharing is caring, so I'm sharing this great news and giving you a sneak peek at what you can expect during this 3-day sale starting September 30 at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall.

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Foodie Friday: Masaganang Bagong Taon

First Friday of the month: Food and Dining

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! 
I hope you all had a memorable and meaningful yuletide season spent with loved ones. Today is the first day of 2016 and the first Friday of the month. You know what that means -- Foodie Friday here on the blog. With that, I'd like to begin by giving thanks to the Almighty for a bountiful year that has passed, and hoping for continued abundance in the next twelve months.

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My Top Foodie Hits from Alaska Merry Crémas Festival 2015

It's December, and I can already feel the holiday spirit! Have you started decorating your home? Are you planning for your noche buena and Christmas potluck parties? The holiday season gives everyone a reason to eat and be merry, literally. It's when we get to enjoy all the specialty dishes that our parents and grannies used to prepare. And when it comes to holiday dishes, one of the most in-demand ingredient is the all-purpose cream. Just think of the delicious possibilities!

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Moms' Pre-Christmas Night Out at The Bayleaf in Intramuros

First Friday of the month: Food and Dining

Umpisa na ng mga Christmas get-togethers. My December calendar is getting filled and I can already feel the festive mood in the air. I haven't completed my gift shopping yet (panic mode) but I've already blocked the dates for holiday dinners and parties. The first for this season was a night out with friends at The Bayleaf hotel.

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Fun Friday: Mothers Who Brunch Holiday Potluck Party

Third Friday of the month: Celebration / Holidays

The holidays are fast approaching and I am frantically drawing up my list for gift-giving, and blocking off dates from my calendar for get-togethers and events. If you're one to celebrate Thanksgiving, then you need to plan your menu now. Here are some ideas on potluck party preparations, from food to table settings, during the Mothers Who Brunch Holiday edition held at the Viking Range Showroom in Alabang.

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Family Weekend Destinations and Staycations

Metro Manila will enjoy a long weekend starting tomorrow until Monday, in the event of the Papal Visit. It is truly an honor for the Philippines to have Pope Francis and for sure, millions will join the celebration and the mass to be held in Manila and in Palo, Leyte.  For most of us observers and non-participating section of the population, it's a good opportunity to travel or plan a getaway with the family.

If you can go abroad, why not? But a leisurely road trip would be just as pleasurable. I have compiled some local destinations that we've been to that I know the whole family would enjoy. You might want to check them out and plan a quick trip during this long break.

Click on the names of the places to get full details and locations.

RECREATIONAL PARKS and FARMS

BALAY INDANG and YOKI'S FARM, Cavite (Tagaytay)

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Family Friday: Cherished Holiday Gatherings

Second Friday of the month:  Friendship / Family

I love the holiday season.  I think all of us do, even if it's also quite stressful. Christmas is our favorite time of the year because of the festive mood, and bonus of having a cooler weather. It's when family members near and far come together, old and new friends wine and dine, children are showered with loads of presents, and a time for more generosity and thanksgiving.

With my oldest and best-est friends -- together since 1988!

We've only been into the first week of the new year, which means I still have a holiday hangover, heeheehee...it's just so hard getting out of bed when the weather is still chilly, and erasing the Christmas mood while our tree is still up (yes, until Chinese New Year)! Maybe next week I'll be back to "normal". Maybe. =)

Blogging mamas... real friends online and offline

Anyhoo, since I'm just easing back into blogging, I just wanted to share this short post on memorable moments with friends and loved ones over the holidays.

With our friends and family, it's all about spontaneity and simple get-togethers. No frills. It's really what I treasure most during this time of the year -- enjoying the company of people near and dear to me, reconnecting with old friends, or having a rare chance to get together with those who live across the seas.

With my balik-bayan cousins

With J's friends and our growing families 

Who had the most fun during the break?  These four kids!

I think this last holiday break was the busiest and most fun for them, having spent more time together playing, going on outdoor adventures, having a sleep-over, and trying new things -- like doing a song and dance number during our new year's eve dinner! That's something to look forward to, hopefully every year na!

How about you, what are your cherished moments during the recent holidays? =)

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again!
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