Envirosax vs Zola

I read about Envirosax reusable shopping bags through Manila Fashion Observer's blog last year.  I really wanted to get one from the brand's Travel Pouch series mainly because of the bag's design, hahaha!  But I thought we have enough reusable bags at home (which we got from department stores and supermarkets) that there is no need for another one.

On our way back home from Tagaytay, Zola's Dad and I dropped by the outlet stores in Paseo de Sta Rosa and saw one shop (I'm sorry the name escaped me) which was selling these bags.    I read their brochure and what caught my attention was . . . it described the bags as "super strong and can hold 44lbs"!  (I think the ones we have at home can't hold this amount of weight)  So I got one but still wondered if the bag can actually do so.
   
One day, hubby and I thought of putting the Little One in the bag (she weighs 30 lbs), just to see if the brand's claim holds true (okay, we were challenging it! haha!) and . . . .Tadahhhh

I was actually waiting for that ripping sound! Hahaha!

Just to show you Zola's Dad's hands up close ---
He was carrying her with all his might!

It goes without saying. . . that in this durability challenge, Envirosax wins!  Heehee

Envirosax Bags are also available at The Travel Club.  I'm sure you'll have a hard time choosing from all the designs they have!  (I picked this one because this shade of green reminded me of our wedding's color motif)

For more info about Envirosax, you may visit their website and you may also check Envirosax Philippines' Facebook page

If you're doing some shopping this weekend, and if you have a reusable shopping bag at home, don't forget to bring it!  If you don't have one, I encourage you to use one.  Reusable shopping bags reduce plastic bag consumption. . . Just one of the simple things we can do to help and save our environment. =)

An "Awwww" Moment

This picture says it all . . .

One morning, while looking at Hubby and Little One while they were sleeping (I'm sure you do that or have done that too! Haha!), the Little One just suddenly reached out to her Dad's arm and laid her cute little hand over it. . .I can read it in so many ways . . . like "Dad, everything will be alright". . . or "Dad, I'm scared" or "Dad, you're doing a good job"  or she wants to feel the warmth of our love or she just simply wants to know that we are there beside her.

Awwww.  .  .It was such a heartwarming moment and I'm glad I was able to catch it.

Here's to more tender loving moments everyday of our lives! =)

Home Day Care

Zola's cousins came over for the day. . . .let's do the math shall we?

A sweet 8 month old baby + A curious1 yr old + A moody 2 yr old + A smart 5 yr old

equals to

One.Happy.Crazy.Day!

Hope you all had a fun-filled day just like I did =)

Two lines?

I took a pregnancy test and was giddy with excitement while waiting for the result. . . .

And just when I was about to look at it. . . .the Little One slapped me in the face that WOKE ME UP! *sigh* 

Oh well, it would have been nice to know what the result was. . . who knows it can be a sign of "greater things" to come, HAHA!

I may only have the Little One (for now), but she is double trouble!  (and I'm saying that with fondness)

Have a great (and dreamy) week ahead!  

She's Baaacck!

It's been a while since I posted something about Iya, Zola's 5yr old cousin.  I've posted about our "chubby" conversation (and a few more about other stuff) before.  Well, now that she's a little bit older (and wiser!), she has learned what chubby is . . .and what is another word for it. . . FAT!

She was spending the day with us today and I noticed that she has become thinner (because she got taller).  My Dad noticed it too.

And this was how our conversation went . . .

Dad: Iya, dapat magpakataba ka pa ha
     
Me: Oo nga Iya, dapat kahit kaunti, pataba ka naman.
     
Iya (turning to me): Kasing-taba MO?


(Ouch!  Just in case you don't know, I'm a plus-size! heehee. . . 


Me: (Speechless, with my mouth wide open) Hindi naman, slight lang!  (And with a raised brow, Hmph!  Haha!)


Oh well. . . Kids do say the darndest things. . . and the truth! Haha!

Hope you're having a good weekend!  =)

"Seafood Diet"

We had our fair share (more than fair actually, haha!) of meat during our stay in Ilocos (Have I mentioned Bagnet and Vigan Longganisa?  And thanks to Lola who prepared Zola's Dad's fave - Dinuguan and Warik-Warik) that I just miss eating Fish!!! 

Going back home home from Ilocos, we thought of having lunch in Matutina's, a popular seafood restaurant and one of the more famous stopovers in the North.  The original restaurant started in Dagupan and has since branched out to other parts of Pangasinan, Tarlac and there's even a branch in Baguio, making Matutina's more accessible to travelers.  We went to the branch in Tarlac City called Matutina-Gerry's Seafoods Restaurant.    

While browsing the menu, the waitress gave us some complimentary buko pastillas.  The candies couldn't have come at a more perfect time as we were already hungry!

Zola's Dad ordered a refreshing buko (young coconut) shake.  We ordered Sinigang na Malaga  (a house specialty), Bangus (milkfish) sisig, Buttered Garlic shrimps, Inihaw na Liempo (Zola's Dad just had to have his meat, haha!), Grilled Boneless Bangus and Adobong Talaba (oysters).  (Told you, we were hungry! Haha!)  

Just in case you're wondering if it's just Zola's Dad and me shared in this sumptuous lunch, no, there were four of us! 

I couldn't pick which one was my favorite since everything was good!  Another "happy tummy, happy mommy moment"  =)

By the way, the restaurant also sells their buko pastillas, boneless bangus (both unseasoned and marinated) for Php 300/pack (there are 3 pcs in a pack) and other pasalubong (gift) food items from the North.

Dining in Matutina's was indeed a perfect way to conclude our road trip!

I'm ending this post with a diet joke which you may have heard already. . . When you're in a "Seafood Diet", it means, when you see food, you eat it!  (Okay, you can laugh now, haha!)    

Matutina-Gerry's Seafood House

MacArthur Highway, San Sebastian, Tarlac City 

(near SM Tarlac)

Our Ilocos Adventure

One of the things Zola's Dad and I want to do is bring the Little One to Ilocos Sur (Northern part of the Philippines) to visit his grandparents (both of whom are in their late 80s).  The last time we visited them was two years ago.  They have only seen the Little One through the photos I've been sending them.  Now that Zola's dad is back home for a vacation and that the Little One has turned one (a better time for her to take a long trip), we decided that it's time for his grandparents to meet the Princess.

So we took the 316 kms road trip a couple of weeks ago (Point A to Point B on the map below). . .

 I usually travel light. . . but since it's my first time to travel with the Little One, I would rather over pack than hit myself for NOT bringing something I need!  I have yet to learn the art of packing for a family vacation, Haha!  

We left home at 6:30 AM and traveled for 8 hours (we had 4 stopovers). . .and I'm so thankful that the Little One was manageable during the trip!  (She slept for the most part of the trip!  Must be the rainy weather that day)

We also had a great view of the South China Sea along the way. . . 

Upon reaching the grandparents' ancestral home, we were welcomed by an excited aunt and grateful grandparents.

 

Never mind that we weren't able to do some touristy things we were hoping we could, like trying out Ilocos culinary delights and sightseeing (save for a super quick stop at "Baluarte", a zoo/wildlife sanctuary), but knowing that the Little One has brought so much joy and smiles to her grandparents (such priceless moments) makes the trip worthwhile!