If you'll notice my Instagram feed, the past weeks of my life was spent food hunting, cafe hopping and indulging into different family occasions. The flooding of food is just so hard to resist! Have you ever been into that situation? How do you manage? Ako? I just give in! Kain lang ng kain! Hahaha!
Kidding aside, there comes a time talaga that you'll really feel like craving for something extra special than the usual. Or perhaps, getting bored sometimes, resorts to some sort of binge eating. I, for one, loves the idea of checking out new cafes once in a while and coddle myself with good food or coffee, coupled with a nice and cozy ambiance where i could set the mood for some random musings and think about something that i wanted to write.
Oftentimes, they say that good food is all the sweeter when shared with good friends. I agree! Once in a while, it is always, always a good idea to visit new places, where good to great food is served paired with a good laugh with friends. One of the highlights of my September was a short and sweet fun away with two of my close pals. Our itchy feet brought us to the laid back district of Silang, Cavite where a nice European dining experience took our breath away!
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!
Born under the sign of Wood Rat, i must say that it somehow has something to do with my penchant for anything wood or wooden in nature. My friends and family can attest to, as our home is filled up with pieces of wood furnitures and the like. Anything that looks wood, made of wood, resembles a wood, color of wood and wood crafted ornaments are just so pretty in my eyes, hence i invest in collecting those kinds of furniture pieces one at a time.
Thanks to the long weekend! My son's long overdue birthday wish to visit The Mind Museum has finally granted along with the Dino Play experience! It was actually my kids' first ever visit to The Mind Museum, because i really doesn't find it fun for myself (forgive me please, hahaha!) so i always end up ignoring their request, not until i heard about the Dino Play (at a limited time only) and it was so timely that i chanced upon a promo at Metrodeal for a bundle perfect for my family at a really reasonable price so i grabbed it right away! Also, if not for my son's fascination about dinosaurs, this weekend trip with their cousins would've not been possible. So, as a self-proclaimed good mom who keeps her promises, there we go!
I was born and raised in the South (Batangas, specifically) and i must admit that i never regret any single day of my life living it here, in the province, where lush greenery, chilly fresh air, the farm to table kind of food (organic and fresh), awesome scenery and beautiful beaches still exist. Ofcourse, the noise and traffic of the metro and the posh shopping malls of Manila where i can get to shop my favorites is still another story to tell. But I love the South. I grew up here, i love its peacefulness and simplicity. And i will never trade Southern Living for anything else fancy and chaotic.
If i have foreigner friends who'll visit and would have to bring them out for a quick lunch in the metro or somewhere in the province, i wanna bring them to Buddy's. This all Filipino-Quezonian restaurant is one of my favorite. Their concept from interiors, all the way to their food is simply Pinoy. And it's so relieving to see the pride of Lucban, Quezon, making a good name in the food business around the city today with over 11 branches.
Last time, i blogged about my gastronomic experience at a bus-inspired cafe in my "When In Batangas" series. If you haven't read about it yet, please check it here. This time, on my occasional explorations around the nearby towns and provinces of the South, my itchy feet brought me and my family in the city of Tayabas, Quezon. Have you been there? Tayabas City was proclaimed as the City of Festivals, as they celebrate quite a number of festivals all year round. It is also known for some ancestral houses and old churches, native restaurants, resorts and my favorite from this part of the province, the Budin! (Cassava Cake)
There's a hidden cafe that i used to frequent lately along San Jose, Batangas. I was itching to go home as quickly as possible after a series of client meetings in the city of Lipa when all of a sudden, i got sleepy along the way, and obviously, it was not a good idea to continue driving. Thankfully, i spotted a commercial complex and saw Tuesday Cafe, so i stopped by for a while to take a dose of strong coffee.
Moms are great multi-taskers, right? As far as experience is concerned, i could say that i almost, if not fully, had perfect the art of juggling between mothering my kids, while balancing the stresses of running a home-based business as a mompreneur, plus a lot more of important work in between.
Have you ever dreamed of putting up your brick and mortar business and be your own boss but thinking how to get started and wondering what could be the perfect business for you is thought-provoking?
Some weekends ago i was invited to attend one of the Philippine's most sought after business event that happens every year, the Franchise Asia Philippines 2016 held at SMX Convention Center at Mall of Asia. It's a 3-day event that caters to a lot of brands from food, non-food and services all over the Philippines and in Asia.
