A Beachless Summer

This is one extraordinary summer for me and my family. Often times, as early as October, we already have plans for summer. This has got to be an experience to remember with summer being beachless.

It all started when we received a call late last year that we're already approved to move- in our new place. We got all excited and executed every plan for our home. Planning was easy, but the roll out got a little delayed because of the requirements we needed to submit in order to do the finishing touches. Having a friend who is a contractor is a blessing because he made things fast, sure and easy for us. With all these, it looked like our summer will go around with the adjustment and fixins of our new condo. But all is good for the whole family because we have a large pool to enjoy as part of the amenities of the community we chose to live in.

Every week, we go swimming. To a point that it feels like we're in a resort, only we don't pack our things to go home, we're here permanently and that's awesome! It's summer but the pool is often empty. We were told that most residents are balikbayans or prefers to hangout somewhere else or even go to the beach at this time of the year.

Not only that, we didn't have to enroll  our son for swimming lessons, because with a pool around, my husband personally instructs our son. And still to our surprise, a famous swim school  offers swimming courses here in our place. Perfect! we'll never run out of choices.

Summer 2015 may be beachless, but we sure do love the fact that anytime we want to freshen up from the tropical heat, we'll just take an elevator down and yeah, SWIMMING!

Summer Getaway List

I know, I know, the new year just started, but you see, here in the Philippines, the beach is considered as an all year round destination. As early as now, my husband and I are already planning for our summer outings. That includes the beach and schedules when we will invite guests for a pool party in our new place. But I'll let my husband handle the bookings/ reservations and I'll do the checklist of the essentials we need.

This year, I've added a few things in our Summer Getaway list. It's like re-filling our usual beach bag with the old and some new items.

A new pair of Havaianas Slims and Sanuks. They're the most comfortable ever especially for outdoor fun. Nothing major, but these footwears are just perfect for almost every summer activity.

New swimsuits for everybody!!! We're kinda stuck to our old swimwears for the past 2 years. It gets tighter or it loosens. Any of the 2 means that we need to buy something more comfortable to wear. It's a different story for me. Even for a stay at home mom, I still want to look good, beach ready.

We all have our own style and preferences. For me, I still plan to wear a tankini or a one piece swimsuit to hide my "mommy bulges". I'm just taking advantage of the fact that I'm still fit to wear at least a one piece swimsuit. Remember my shopping experience from Zalora? Since then, Zalora has been my go- to guide when it comes to the latest trends.

There are so many stylish swimsuits at ZALORA that I was completely spoiled for choice. I think I might get one from here.

I fell in love with this Cheska Corset Maillot. I'm so into anything nautical. This will fit my body well, it's not too eye- catching, looks comfortable and it's stylish, perfect for my personality.

Last on our list is a Go Pro which I think is a good choice than buying a waterproof digital camera. I mean, we already have an SLR. Plus, we have kids, we love going on family adventures, sudden outings and road trips,  and we're into taking pictures everywhere we go, so yeah, a Go Pro definitely. I will post about it later on, once we've used it and watch out for my chosen Partner for Summer 2015 (wink!).

How about you, have you planned anything for this coming summer? it's 2 months away... can't wait!

Sunday Spent At The Ayala Triangle Gardens

I was out with my family last Sunday. We met up with our relatives at the Ayala Triangle. The kids had fun running around, while the adults savored some moments of catching up. We chose Ayala Triangle over the weekend because there, you will find peaceful mornings and afternoons compared to its usual busy evenings. It is also the perfect place to take our pets for a walk.

Just like what Kat told me, Ayala Triangle is the "Central Park" version of Makati. It's like an oasis in the middle of the city.

It was pretty humid when we went out last Sunday. Boy, this sudden change of weather is making it even worse. Good thing that there's a lot of restaurants to choose from. To cool down, we decided to chill with some gelato from Caramia Gelateria.

As always, I like something minty, rich, thick and chocolatey. Mango Mint and Cioccolato: perfect combination.

My Gelato Moment

We spent the rest of our cool afternoon strolling around and taking pictures with our phones. For Mothers Day, I want to treat my family including our Beagle Emo for an early morning walk at the Ayala Triangle then breakfast. But this time, I'll make sure to bring a camera.

Ayala Triangle Gardens Guidelines

Dream We Worked Out --- A Simple Life

This week is all about self- expression. It just so happen that my husband and I are going to be celebrating our 6th Wedding Anniversary, 10th year of being together and our sons 2nd year in school as Senior Kinder. 3 Milestones in a week. But what the heck with counting years and months when it comes to anniversaries.    Being together forever is a dream we worked out to come true. We maintained a simple relationship, we treated each other as best friends and so is our families. So here we are living that dream. An extraordinary togetherness for life. But the moment our son Franky came on board, life immediately became his. It's all about Franky. The three of us as a family. An upcoming 2 day road trip is on its way, packing our snorkeling gear and this time with an underwater camera. This trip is for our son. We never went anywhere for the past 2 months. After moving-in our new place, it's just school and adjustment for him.

Let me share an Inspirational Thought. This is a re-post, it is my favorite affirmation post. These  affirmations serves as inspiration to me. I read it almost everyday. The right words to start a nice day and to live a better life each day. This is also to pay tribute to the Simple Life I Am Living To The Fullest. Thank You Lord...

CLEARING BLOCKAGES

photo: By Earlette on Flickr

I give thanks often. I appreciate all the beautiful things in my life.
I remember my dreams. They show me answers and solutions.
I allow myself to have more than I ever dreamed possible.

I believe, once in a while, we should just let go of all the earthly things that usually holds us  and be free to enjoy nature, family and life as it should be.

A Cool Summer

It is a hot--hot--hot summer guys. Here are some tips for protection to make your summer cool:

It is painful, unattractive and can spoil your holiday. Sunburn can double your risk of skin cancer.

Did you know that....

As with sunscreens, sun protection from UVB rays provided by clothing and fabrics is expressed in terms of an SPF rating.
Research on clothing and UVR protection has found that:

One hundred percent (100%) polyester has the highest SPF of all fabrics, providing 2 to 3 times more sun protection that any other fabric.Darker colored clothing has a much higher SPF than light colored clothing (black clothing provides 5 times more protection than white clothing - a white T-shirt has only a 5 SPF rating).Apply at least a SPF 15+ sunscreen to all exposed areas of the skin.Sunscreen should not be relied upon as the only form of sun protection. No sunscreen, no matter how high the factor, can offer 100% protection.Sunscreen should be reapplied liberally every two hours.

When Are Sunnies Useful:
On A Very Hot, Sunny Day
When at the beach or near water.
When outside at high elevations.
Or even participating in snow sports.

A $20 pair of sunglasses can look pretty similar to a $150 pair, so why pay more? The difference is in the technology, which offers more comfort, durability and performance. For around-town wear and while driving, an inexpensive casual pair may be all that you need. But for regular outdoor activities, especially high-impact ones such as cycling, performance glasses are usually well worth the investment.

A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection for your eyes, ears, face and the back of your neck – areas that are particularly prone to sunburn.
Drink Plenty of Water
Bring an umbrella! (as for my advise hi!hi!hi!)
Foundation Is Out- Moisturizer Is In!