Music To My Ears: Dirty Loops - Sexy back

Dirty Loops covered Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back in an extraordinary way. Reminiscent of Jamiroquai mix with Stevie Wonder and a dash of rhythmic complexity. It's hot!

I'm bringing sexy back

Them other boys don't know how to act

I think it's special what's behind your back

So turn around and I' ll pick up the slack.

Take em' to the bridge

Dirty babe

You see these shackles

Baby I'm your slave

I'll let you whip me if I misbehave

It's just that no one makes me feel this way

Take em' to the chorus

Come here girl

Go ahead, be gone with it

Come to the back

Go ahead, be gone with it

VIP

Go ahead, be gone with it

Drinks on me

Go ahead, be gone with it

Let me see what you're working with

Go ahead, be gone with it

Look at those hips

Go ahead, be gone with it

You make me smile

Go ahead, be gone with it

Go ahead child

Go ahead, be gone with it

And get your sexy on, on, on

And get your sexy on, on, on

And get your sexy on, on, on...

Zoobic Safari

The word SAFARI is often linked to an expedition or animal sightseeing. We interact with animals and feed our brains with so much information when it comes to the nature of the animals and their surroundings. Our Zoobic Safari is one good example. Our first activity in Subic was to go on a Zoobic Safari. My whole family went even our baby Mikee. But I advise not to bring your babies, not unless they like sleeping the whole day. My son slept through most of our journey, that's why I didn't have a hard time.

It was a very hot day I must say. In any safari, it's best to wear light clothing.

ZOOBIC SARARI Rates

White tigers are often mistaken as albino tigers but they're a mutant variant of an existing tiger species, the Bengal Tigers.

There were several interactive activities for the tourists, especially for the kids. They fed animals such as birds, camels and even crocodiles. You can purchase a basket full of vegetables and fruits at php100 for the animals to feed.

The boys tried the bow and arrow (php10) for every set. With that small amount we're making a big contribution helping Aetas with their livelihood. It was fun, you just want to try it over and over again aiming for the farthest mark.

 Waiting for our Tram

 It's Here! Our tram!

 This tram took us around Zoobic:

Aeta Trail & Show

Croco Loco

Savannah

 Tiger Safari

The highlight of every ZOOBIC visit is the Tiger Safari, where we get up- close and in a way, personal with the tigers, because we get to feed them. I was seated by the window. I got scared at first because the tigers are so big and I can actually feel their breath at the back of my head. It was amazing to experience these cats come to us freely than the usual caged animal.

At the Tiger Safari Cafe

Aside from various souvenirs and stuffed toys, there are travel points within the safari where they sell refreshments.

ZOOBIC Cave

with Khams and Bryan inside the ZOOBIC Cave

Inside the Zoobic Cave, you will see preserved actual animal skin and stuffed animals presented as if they're in their natural habitat.

Another highlight of our safari was the Aeta Trail and Show. They treated us to 3 tribal dances: the Monkey Dance, Butterfly Dance and War Dance. Along the trail you will also see an Aeta Village. It's actually their homes.

 Most souvenirs I saw were made by the Aetas.

There's so much to explore in ZOOBIC, activities we missed because we have an infant with us. I promised my son Franky that we will go back, just in time Mikee's big enough to even enjoy ZOOBIC himself. Our ZOOBIC SAFARI experience was a memorable because we spent it with our relatives from America whom we haven't seen in years.

Music To My Ears: Rocketeer

The kids are still sleeping on this summery Wednesday morning, I'm all by myself preparing breakfast...I just love it when I start my day with some music... listen to the beat of the Far East Movement and have a great day ahead!

Here we go, come with me 

There's a world out there that we should see 

Take my hand, close your eyes 

With you right here, I'm a rocketeer

Let's fly... Up, up here we go, go Up, up here we go, go 

Let's fly... Up, up here we go, go 

Where we stop nobody knows, knows

Where we goin' we don't need roads, roads 

And where we stop nobody knows, knows 

To the stars if you really want it 

Got, got a jetpack with your name on it 

Above the clouds in the atmosphere, phere 

Just say the words and we outta here, outta here

Hold my hand if you feeling scared, scared 

We flying up, up outta here

Here we go, come with me 

There's a world out there that we should see 

Take my hand, close your eyes 

With you right here, I'm a rocketeer,

Let's fly... Up, up here we go, go Up, up here we go, go 

Let's fly... Up, up here we go, go, 

Where we stop nobody knows, knows

Baby, we can stay fly like a G6 

Shop the streets of Tokyo, get you fly kicks 

Girl you always on my mind, got my head up in the sky 

And I'm never looking down feeling priceless, yeah 

Where we at, only few have known Go on the next level, 

Super Mario I hope this works out, Cardio 'Til then let's fly, Geronimo

Here we go, come with me 

There's a world out there that we should see 

Take my hand, close your eyes 

With you right here, I'm a rocketeer

Nah, I never been in space before 

But I never seen a face like yours 

You make me feel like I could touch the planets 

You want the moon, girl watch me grab it 

See I ain't never seen the stars this close 

You got me struck by the way you glow 

I'm like, oh, oh, oh, oh I'm like, oh, oh, oh, oh

Here we go, come with me 

There's a world out there that we should see 

Take my hand, close your eyes 

With you right here, I'm a rocketeer

 [ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/rocketeer-lyrics-far-east-movement.html ]

Smooth Ride To Subic Via SCTEX

It's been 7 years since my last travel to Subic Bay Freeport. It was a long travel back in 2005. We passed through the old route that took us a total of 3 hours. Not to mention the slow traffic we got into for every town proper along the way. With our trip this 2012, it's different. The old travel time of 3 hours was cut to 1 hour and 40 minutes, which was really awesome because we didn't have to rush.

We took the road via SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway). As always, it's easier to travel if you bring your own transportation. Going to Subic via SCTEX, take Nort Luzon Expressway all the way to San Fernando Pampanga, Dau, you'll reach the point in SCTEX connecting to SUBIC.

North Luzon Toll Rates

SCTEX was made available to the public in 2008. This was my first time to travel to Subic via SCTEX. We entered NLEX around 5pm. Prior to that, we needed to drop off Emo (our pet Beagle) to my parents' house.

With green scenery, good roads and no traffic at all. Like, there were no cars at all. Funny for a summer weekend. We took our time taking pictures of the mountains, saw the majestic Mt. Pinatubo, it was a refreshing road trip.

We were in Subic around 6:30 in the evening. First stop, outlet shops. Well, we were actually looking for a grocery store so we can buy something for the baby. The duty free shops were pretty inviting.

Finally, our home for 2 nights... Forest View Residences.

Here, we met up with a family from America... Bryan!

TARAMINDU BEACH GARDEN INN

Laiya Batangas has been a regular destination for my family all year round. Anytime we want to go to the beach considering a great amount of privacy and a white beach, Laiya is the best location near Manila. But for the past year, as I was looking on booking at the very same resort we're we always go, I found out that they've "ridiculously" increased their rates. Imagine, the php5,550 overnight room rate went up to php10,700 with a maximum of 4 people. Exceeding heads will be charged php1,500 each.

Our first adventure this summer was still in Laiya. We didn't make any reservations, hoping that we will find a resort along the way  that offers more reasonable room rates. And we found one...

TARAMINDU BEACH GARDEN INN

Location: Laiya San Juan, Batangas

Taramindu was named after an 80 year old Tamarind Tree which is located within the heart of the resort.

Tamarindu is even more peaceful compared to those expensive resorts within the area. We love Laiya because even with a crowded beach, we still get some privacy. Considering that summer has already started, our visit to Laiya mid-March of 2012 was very unusual, finding an empty beach when we arrived.

The trend in Laiya goes around the no outside food allowed and cooking policy. With this, they add the food costings per head aside from the entrance fee. For an overnight stay, a room, inclusive of food will cost around php8K-11K for a family of 4. In Taramindu, we spent php5500 for a room, overnight stay and an additional php600 per head for our food, which I still find way cheaper.

Our room:

• Php5500
• 1 queen- size bed and a double deck bed.
• Hot and cold shower
• WIFI

The Taramindu Restaurant

 All we have to do is go to the Taramindu restaurant which has a relaxing view of the ocean. They'll hand you their menu and you can order anything within the price range of 600. Anything that goes beyond is additional cost. But again, even their restaurant menu is packed with delicious choices that are well priced. Over-all,  we spent a total of php7,500: a nice room with food included and our +++ spent in the restaurant.

Taramindu was a quick answer that offers same high level of comfort. If we're going to talk about having privacy, Taramindu has it. I suggest to make reservations ahead, they have a limited no. of rooms.

Whether you paid for Php10-21K for an overnight stay, it doesn't matter, because you will still walk along the very same shoreline, swim in the fresh waters of Tayabas bay and cherish the very same sunrise in the morning. I mean, do we go to the beach just to sleep in a more luxurious room? We go to the beach to have fun under the sun and even under the moonlight.

More info here: http://www.batangas-philippines.com/laiya.html

That Cream and Black Flats

This particular flat shoes is considered classic. Simple yet it can go with any shade of clothing. I made this post because just the other night I went through my Lucky Magazine and found this perfect version of a cream and black flats. It reminded me that I have one myself.

Only, mine is a slingback flat shoes and it has a cute bow on top. The material for the black top  is velvet (love it...). My slingback flats is already 3 years old. I bought it in 2009 and it was a rare find. "I accidentally" found it within piles and piles of Parisian shoes in SM. I have no intentions of buying anything the day I found it. But when I saw it and in my size, I just got to have it. Well, I thought that it will take me years to be able to find one again.

It is an old flat shoes but it is comfortable to wear and still looks brand new to me. I never had issues when it comes to brand names, designers, tiangge stuff and cheap finds, because I believe that usage will depend on the owner. I'm still on the look for the regular cream and black flats as seen from the magazine picture above, I sure hope I can find one...

2012 Visit To Mt. Carmel Church Lipa City Batangas

Hello! Here I am again, finally, I was able to bring my family back to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lipa City Batangas. It took me 9 months since my last visit. I was 2 months pregnant then with my second child, that was May of 2011. I promised the Lady that I will be back as soon as I can right after giving birth to consecrate both my 2 sons and my whole family to God. Doing this gives me and my husband inner peace as we go through some instances when we both need to make sacrifices for the sake of the whole family.

Looking at our pictures as I make this post gives me that extraordinary level of happiness, especially I now see 4 individuals standing right in front of me. When before, there was just 3.

Watching my eldest son pray his heart. I don't know what he prayed for, maybe he asked God for something or maybe he was just talking to God. This whole image below is heart- warming.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lipa City Batangas is the place where Mary Mediatrix of All Grace appeared to a young Nun in a garden within the convent. It is famous for the shower of rose petals and for the continuous apparitions of Mary.

The highlight of our visit was to finally see the apparition sight with our very own eyes.

It is such a blessing to be able to see and pray right in front of the apparition sight. Our visit in Lipa this year is considered as the most sacred because we were able to pray in thanksgiving to the very spot where Mary appeared.

Me Time Is Nail Time

Me Time is very seldom for the past months. I greatly consider any small situation spent by myself and one of them is painting my nails.

Chosen shade for the week: Bobbie's Premium Glaze Terracotta

Glaze Terracotta is the combination of the shades I often use. The color in- between red, brown and bronze. To make the reddish part come out, I tweaked with it a little and had 3 applications. Don't worry, even 2 coatings isn't enough with the light texture of the nail polish.

I like red for my nails. You will never go wrong with any shade of red. The glazy part made it more captivating, and it dries faster and it's easier to apply. The color is perfect for summer. Please bear with the nails though, I keep it short for my babies :D

Have A Great Day!

Putting Fashion Pieces Together

The wedding is on September of this year. But as early as now, I've been putting things together in order to come up with the perfect outfit. My sister-in-law's helping me out with this one by the way and we're almost done putting the right pieces together. The dress was a knockout, I mean, my sister-in-law asked me if I like it, all I can say was... I Love It! When it comes to formal events, I prefer wearing long gowns and dresses. With the right hairstyle, it lessens the need to accessorize.

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The hot pink clutch was also my sister-in-law's suggestion. Not only it matches the dress and gives an extraordinary kick to the whole outfit, the pink clutch is also perfect for everyday use. I have 2 choices for my shoes. Actually,  I was given several links online so I can choose the pair I like. From several, I narrowed it down to 5 pairs, then the choice between 2 pairs which is shown above.
This is what we've come up with. All I need to do is to confirm my size :D
Even if my sister-in-law is miles and miles away from me, we're able to put up an amazing outfit together. I sure miss the times spent with my sister -in -law hanging out sharing our thoughts on fashion, window shopping, shopping, eating out and simply having a quiet conversation at home... So thank God for online shopping, it can make people spend quality time together even virtually.