I Am Back But Will Be Away Again...

I have been invisible for over a week. But I will be away again.

From ER
To confinement.
I will have to take a rest after several days in the hospital. (I'll talk about why I was admitted on one of my future posts, if I remember!)

Thanks so much for dropping by always and leaving warm and uplifting comments. Promise, I will be back, energized and raring to blog again! :)

A Mega Stop Over

Going to the province is one of my fave things to do. I like a breather from the traffic and pollution, and the kids like it, too.
Gabby and Sunday while waiting for our service (a.k.a. my sister's car!)
But when you're bringing your kids along, just remember: Bring lots of things that will entertain them or make the long trip or vacation less boring.
Let them enjoy nature. That's what provinces are for:
the abundance of anything green and brown! :)
Bring enough food. Or be ready for whims.
But this time, it was my sister who craved for Chowking Halo-Halo. We stopped over at Mega Station to refill our stomachs after a long journey.
Caltex Mega Station is in NLEX, San Fernando, Pampanga. Aside from other sports stores like Adidas, the Mega Station also boasts of the biggest Nike Factory Store in the country.
My sister bought his son a motorbike in Raptor Sports.
She also bought Sunday a Blender and Shake Kitchen set, and Gabby a toy car.

Buying from stores in far places like Caltex Mega Station has taught me valuable lessons. We were already home when I discovered that an important part in Sunday's Blender set was missing! Had I known, I wouldn't let my sister buy that. Sunday was able to use the Blender but not the Shaker. Regrets. :( It would have been a different story if the toy was just bought in a department store near our house. Next time, I will be wiser and I will inspect all the parts of the product I am buying before I purchase it. (As for the Raptor Sports, I am not really sure if they were aware that a part was missing in the Kitchen Set. I dont' want to judge. I just wish I am their last unhappy customer.)

But I'm the type who always try to see the good/positive side of things. I just thought then that the happy moments in the province overshadow that sad incident. And for that, I will surely be back in the province in no time!

QMC: Our Circle of Fun!

I have one simple vice. I love to visit different places especially on weekends. It can be a park nearby, a zoo in another city, or a new themed mall. You name it, it's either I already heard or read about it or it's already listed on my itinerary. I have such the itchiest feet when it comes to going out. The only restriction is the budget, of course. :)


The 66-meter tall Quezon Memorial monument.
(66 is the age of Manuel Quezon when he died.)
With Gabby and Sunday in tow, I checked out the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) in Quezon City one weekend last December. QMC is our park of choice when the kids were younger. But when we moved to another city, going there became a hassle. It was when I missed biking that I thought of visiting it again.

I was surprised by the rehabilitation QMC has undergone. It is now more alive and offers more activities for the park goers.


The Circle of Joy: my kids' favorite part of QMC.
It boasts of ten play areas that Gabby and Sunday just can't get enough of! Free entrance, mommies!

I like it when my kids enjoy these play areas.
Playing and running make their bodies stronger and leaner.

Playing in public play areas also teaches them patience,
tolerance and respect for others.

I overheard a parkgoer said that Circle of Joy is open daily from morning till 5pm. But we were there past 6pm and there were still many kids playing. Hmm, maybe the management just want the kids to fully enjoy the play areas. :)

As long as they're happy, I am for it. Simple things make my kids happy.
And I'm one blessed mommy because of that!

While the kids were playing, I had the chance to take pics!
This balloon vendor got tired from walking and selling his stuff.
Who wouldn't? A 27-hectare circular park like this would challenge
even seasoned runners!

Another area of the park has these fitness equipments to help us
shape up and lose unwanted pounds!

I didn't know that the QMC is still so alive come night time.
With kids running around and playing with their lighted toys,
no wonder QMC is the place to be for families who love to unwind.

This is what I enjoyed the most there. The light on the monument changes colors
while the water on the fountain playfully jets and sways to modern tunes.

For someone who has been playing with colors and forms for a long while
(just like me), this musical fountain is a source of inspiration!

There are so many things you can do at Quezon Memorial Circle. Biking, running, having a picnic, play badminton, basketball or volleyball, learn history in its museum, or just relax. Honestly, I prefer going there than going to malls where I am tempted to spend some hard-earned money. Surely, I will go back to QMC. It's my nature-meets-fun park! :)

Facing 2011 and Enjoying It

It's already 2011! New beginnings, new resolutions and new hope!

What better way to welcome 2011 than to feel fresh, rejuvenated and physically renewed! Days before 2011, I won an Aescultura Acne Clearing Facial GC from Kim of Beauty Addict. (Thanks, Kim!) I had second thoughts in availing it since the clinic is far from where I live. But I believe I deserved some pampering during the holidays, so off to Aescultura I went.

The Aescultura GC which Kim sent me through Air21
Honestly, what made me fret in going to Aescultura are the words Art and Science of Beauty. I don't know why. Maybe because as a graphic designer, I am so used to Photoshopping the models' flaws in the marketing collaterals that I design that I sometimes associate Art and Beauty with manipulation, digital or not. And with news of beauty operations performed by fly-by-night doctors left and right, I worry about coming out of that clinic with a scarred face! :)
But my worries are baseless. Sarah, the facialist told me that I have good skin and she didn't have a hard time treating my skin imperfections. She was also very careful and gentle. After that facial, I promised to get rid of my warts next. I have a bad number of them in my face and they really bother me. :(
With treatment rooms and beauty equipments like these,
I know I can get rid of my warts with as little pain possible. :)
This is me before the facial. I forgot to take a pic of me after!
I had tiny bumps on my face because of the treatment.
But the tiny scar and bumps were gone in a few days.

Yes, I feel refreshed after that facial. I also feel that this year is another great and wonderful year for me. May we all have a blessed 2011! :)
______________

Aescultura Art and Science of Beauty
Future Point Plaza One, 112 Panay Ave.,
South Triangle, Quezon City
+632 3765969 | +632 3724533