Fab Familia Photos from Studio 2716!

On Sunday early morning at a hotel at Clark (Angeles City, Pampanga) I woke up to pee, with the intention of going back to sleep again soon.  Not even the thought of getting up close to the hot air balloons made me want to rise early.  But then I saw my cellphone blinking–I have a message!  It was Em.  Her message said:

Dew!!  Ang gwapo ni Raviv :) Check your FB.  The photos from Studio 2716 are there na!

It got me all giddy and I could no longer sleep!  Kaasar ‘coz our hotel room didn’t have Wifi–I’d have to go to the lobby pa!  I was really excited because the teaser photos were ah-mah-zing!  People loved our family wacky photo!

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Keber na na kitang-kita ang gilagid ko (papa-braces na talaga ako after summer!) at ang crow’s feet ni Randy, perfect ang Baby Bear (new name ko kay Raviv) ko rito!  I lurve this photo of us!

Since we were rushing to the Hot Air Balloon Festival, I no longer had time to stay in the lobby and connect to the Wifi.  And so I just had to wait to get home.  Upon reaching home, one of the first things I did was check out the rest of our family photos.  And they did not disappoint!  Here they are: [Read more...]

Product Review: Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask

It’s been ages since I had a decent footspa and pedicure at a parlor, brought about by the grueling summer and then by the lack of household helpers.  Moreover, I had other activities and projects that kept me from going to the parlor.  So when I saw this foot peeling mask at Festival Mall during The Raviv Day, I got curious.

Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask

Foot Appeal Foot Peeling Mask

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Review: My 2012 Oscar’s Gown Picks

I still have a Kung-ngayon-ako-nag-prom hangover, thus what the celebrities wore in the Academy Awards (a.k.a. the Oscar’s) excited me.  Here is a countdown of my Top 5 favorites:

5. Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Image courtesy of harpersbazaar.com

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Valentine’s Randy-vous in Tagaytay Part 1

Last Sunday, I heard someone say that it is the women who love celebrating Valentine’s Day.  That may be true for most people, but not for us.  May I just say that I have the sweetest husband?

With the pile of work we have, I was willing to sit out this Valentine’s:  I was OK with just staying home, watching a movie on our TV and a nightcap.  But Randy insisted we have a date.  He told me that we should always celebrate Valentine’s like new, so-much-in love couples, not like an old, married, jaded-about-love couple.  Feeling so lucky that I married such a man,  I agreed.  I remembered the voucher I bought from Metrodeals last September (that was when I first discovered  Metrodeals–I was excited that I wanted to buy EVERYTHING): Tagaytay getaway at Las Ventanas for two for just P1,999, with free dinner, breakfast and massage!  Thinking that this was really a steal, I purchased it right away to save for a special occasion.  And the occasion called No-Plans for Valentine’s presented itself.  I called Las Ventanas last Friday with a small ray of hope that something would still be available on Feb. 13 or 14.  And what do you know, there were still slots for either night!  Randy and I decided to head to Tagaytay on the 13th and go home after lunch on the 14th.

Yesterday, I felt guilty leaving Raviv just with his nannies.  I wanted to bring him with us.  But we definitely could not have a romantic Valentine’s Eve and Day with him in tow, right?  The thought of bringing his nannies sprang into our minds, but when only Yaya Isay expressed outward jubilation about going to Tagaytay with us, Randy decided to leave Raviv home with strict instructions to everyone left (he wanted the other nannies to be excited to come with us).

We left at about 5 p.m. and arrived at our first stop at around 7 p.m.  First stop was dinner at Restaurant Verbena at Discovery  Country Suites.  Since it was a Valentine’s Eve dinner, I wanted fine dining.  We did not choose Antonio’s (most popular in Tagaytay) because we’ve already eaten there before.  Bago naman :)

On the way to Tagaytay….

Randy:  (condescending and nang-iinis na tono) Iba-blog mo ba itong date natin?

Me:  Oo.

Randy:  Naku dapat maganda ang mga sabihin ko kasi ikukuwento mo nanaman sa blog mo ‘yung mga pinagsasasabi ko (sabay tawa na nang-iinis pa rin).

Welcome to Restaurant Verbena!

The restau was cozy to begin with (country style), but made even cozier by the fact that it rained practically the whole day.  Plus the soft yellow lights really set the mood.  And since it was raining, there were quite a few patrons (Randy:  Nagpa-reserve ka pa, konti lang naman tayo!)  Soft yellow lights + rain + Tagaytay breeze + few guests + window near the cliff with foliage seat = melancholy mood. And melancholy mood is synonymous to romantic to me.

I love, love this ambiance!

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Restaurant Review: Isdaan Floating Restaurant in Calauan

OK, I know, this must be the millionth Isdaan Restaurant Review.  I rarely visit personal blogs but I’ve already seen a handful of blogs featuring it.  But I can’t help it:  Isdaan is worth mentioning.

As a Los Banos resident who frequents Sta. Cruz, Laguna, I’ve seen its facade a bazillion times.  Guess that’s why it took us sucha long time to actually visit it:  it is “just there”.

But on Tuesday, my Mom and bff Cristy Salem (whom we’ve been calling Mama Cristy since forever) were here.  As I’ve mentioned on my Raviv’s Roarin’ Jungle Safari First Birthday Party Part 3 entry, she’s one of the most generous person I’ve ever known.  Randy and I wanted to make sure she’d feel our love for her, thus despite our busy sched these days, we decided to bring her to Isdaan for dinner.  Joining us were Raviv’s Yaya Isay and Yaya Jocelle, plus my brother TJ, his wife Ruth, baby Yoona, and Yoona’s Yaya Tet.

Upon our arrival, I immediately was in awe of the big, booby mermaid statue.

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