Being a true blue Southerner, i could say that the thriving Filinvest City in Alabang is probably one of our favorite go-to escape when we needed to shop, eat fancy or perhaps stay the night away to spoil ourselves with the most needed rest and relaxation. Weeks before my birthday my husband's asking what's my plan. And i said, all i ever wanted for my birthday was to REST and to shop (a little) for the holidays for the kids and our family as well. I was looking at my bucket list and was contemplating if we should to go back to Crimson Hotel which is my favorite, or perhaps try other hotels on the list, until i came across Somerset which was the newest in the area. So, there we agreed to book a room for my birthday.

It was funny and ridiculous, how i'd thought of planning a runaway-from-home scenario weeks ago. I was like grasping for some air and i thought of going out somewhere with my kids, while recuperating from a flu virus which caused me some emotional strains and anxiety the past days. Too much stressful situations lately made me gaunt physically and poignant resulting to some unstable kooky-ness! Yes, it happened, because i am human. So, undeterred where to head and stay for the night, while parked in a gas station, i remembered Microtel in Sto.Tomas which is just an hour drive away. I booked it online, using my smartphone that instant and was surprised to receive immediate confirmation!

It was two weeks before my birthday and i still haven't planned anything yet. Why is that so? Well, the busyness of life occupied me so much and my recent deactivation from social networks due to some false friendship attacks (intriguing huh?) caused me to stay away from everything, unplugging myself from all source of news and even social gatherings. Still, my instagram account is always updated in case you don't know. (Paano ba yun ideactivate for a while?) 

Anyway, i used to celebrate my birthday every year. I never want to pass it without having a very simple and intimate party with my closest family and friends or if not, i will celebrate it with my kids and my husband, by staying in a hotel and just spoiling myself with all their love and warm presence- no gifts, just having them beside me is PRICELESS. For some, celebrating their birthday isn't something to look forward to, most moms would prefer to prepare ahead of time for their kids birthday (yes i do that too), but just like any birthdays in my family, i also prepare for my birthday- because the life i was living now is my second life and i just wanna be thankful, for God has been so generous with the life He has given me. Isn't that enough reason to celebrate? (Now the second life series is another story to tell...) 

Our first staycation for this year as a family (because it's the first time that our kids are with us) and the last staycation for the year, officially kicks off at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. Let me thank my ever loving and generous husband for the birthday gift! Hahaha! As much as we wanted to travel a lot, (which i have mentioned in my earlier posts) there are priorities that we wanted to stay focused and i really thank God for hotel privileges, which can suffice the need for a total rest and relaxation without flying. 

Here's another series of staycation we had on a weekend in Manila! If you'll notice, me and my family love hotel-cations once in a while. Staying in a hotel for a night or two gives me a total breath of comfort and relaxation away from all the bustles in life. But apart from that, i need to confess that i really have this obsession with hotels, and one bucket list i have is my 100 hotels to visit before i die! Now, how was that?

Our summer staycation for this year officially kicks off at Acacia Hotel Manila. If you'll notice, i am becoming obsessed with hotels. One of my goals is to at least visit 1,000 hotels before i die. How possible?! I may sound funny but hotel gives me feeling of home less the chores. Thanks to the the widespread buying site subscriptions we had today, scoring promos and discounts are just a click away!