Real Deal Promo

After several attempts, finally was able to successfully book under PAL's Real Deal Promo. The airfare promo was really tempting ... imagine, trip to US at $415 all in! Really amazing low price! Though, as much as I want to avail the US promo, unfortunately, the travel period covers from Sept 1- Dec 25 only. I am on my last term of pregnancy by this time, and I don't think the husband (nor my OB) would allow me to travel anymore. Hehehe!

Nevertheless, since I am unstoppable for any possible last hurrah travel, I was able to grab the promo and booked for a short trip to my fave destination on earth ... Hongkong! my default international travel. LOL! Together with the kids, we are bound to Disneyland again to celebrate my birthday this coming June. I guess last hurrah also for the kids before they go back to school, and last hirit for me before I reach my full preggy term.

Booking online via PAL's Real Deal Promo proved to be very, very difficult and challenging. I've made several attempts online only to end up getting my confirmation through PAL's contact center. And instead of paying online, I ended up paying thru PAL's office. Just imagine the inconvenience of calling their contact center, and lining up for payment ... it was really frustrating! The online system sucks! And I wonder if their ticketing office even use a POS systems to improve their ticketing service. Haaayyy... the price you have to pay for being thrifty or should I say, barat! LOL.

summer get-away at Anilao

Back from our short summer get-away from Sombria Anilao, Batangas. The place was a complete haven ... ideal for R&R with families and friends. Quiet and very private place. Highly recommended resort if you want to have bonding and quality time with your loved ones and friends. Despite no TV, the amenities (pool, dart boards,billiards) and rooms really superb. The food was good, buffet price reasonable at P1,025 per head for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Travel time was a breeze, around 3 hours from Manila via Star Toll Batangas. Over all, place was good and we had so much fun here. Allow me to share some of our Anilao pictures and let the pictures below speaks for itself.

The C&P Team enjoying the sun ...

Fun in the sun and the sand with Ico and Sam. Simply perfect!

at the infinity edge pool ; sam taking the plunge!

at the beach front -- cool and clear water but not ideal for kid's swimming. too rocky.

gift of life

Preparing for the future. What better way to give your loved ones but security and peace of mind. The perfect gift, Blue Advantage Insurance. The company offers various insurance packages that would fit your personal needs and budget. From temporary health insurance, dental needs, term life and student insurance and medicare supplements, all being offered by NC Health Plans at a best value.

While reading the package offers, I am particularly interested with the temporary health insurance cover. Imagine, you can avail of an insurance package as short as 30 days, quarterly or annual coverage. It is fast and affordable way of getting health care coverage for individuals without health plans. A cost-effective solution for transfer students, individuals in between jobs, working individuals on a part time job or new employees awaiting for company group insurance. Perfect for working individuals on a budget. Do check out the NC Health Plans site, virtually, anybody will and can benefit from Blue Advantage. There is a package fit for everybody.

off to Batangas ...

for our summer get-away.

Instead of going to Boracay or Cebu, we've decided to go somewhere near and closer to home. And as we do cost saving measures this time, I've decided to bring the family to one of the premium resort in Laiya, Batangas. Tentative date end of April or 3rd week of May. My only problem, I heard the husband the other day doing some travel arrangements for Europe. Not sure yet if he will leave this coming May, but definitely he will leave for UK anytime this year. Anyway, going back to the Laiya resort, I browsed the web and checked the accommodation rates. Kinda steep for a Laiya resort, but I heard the place really nice and with brand new facilities. With infinity edge pool, excellent dive sites, jacuzzi and breath-taking beach view ... really a haven! Do check out http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/ for more details.

And for our annual teambuilding, we're off to the famous dive spot in Batangas, Anilao. We are booked this coming Friday and Saturday to Sombria Anilao (http://www.sombria.com.ph/). We reserved the entire resort for our team as we look forward to spending quality bonding time with our family on this day. More pictures and kwento to follow.

in search of supplier

Do you know where I can find custom rubber stamps supplier? My brother is looking for a trusted supplier since he was tasked by his boss to provide rubber stamp options for their company use. He's looking for volume order of rubber stamps with self inking capability, quick-dry ink and hand stamp options. Preferably, a reputable and reliable company that can provide volume discounts for large orders, flexible payment terms and offers quick delivery of rubber stamp orders. If you know other suppliers, please do let me know. Though I've recommended a good supplier I found on the web (www.rubberstampchamp.com), a local supplier would be very much welcome to save on shipping cost.

hooked on CSI:Vegas

I am an avid follower of Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) since it started some x years ago. I enjoyed each episodes and amazed with the complexity and intricacy of each episodes. But for Season 9, with the death of Warrick Brown and resignation of Gil Grissom from CSI, I never thought they would be able to pull it off. But surprsingly, last Wednesday's episode, they introduced a new character in CSI Vegas. Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Langston, crime professor who helped the team on the Dick and Jane murder case. And as Grissom leaves his CSI team to be re-united with Sara, Dr. Langston took his place as a new CSI Vegas member. Whoa! Really an interesting twist and something to look forward for season 9. Anyway, amidst all the murder and homicide stories in CSI, who wouldn't be thrilled with the posh Vegas scenery, beautiful girls in skimpy outfits, lavish Vegas hotels and of course, amazing twist in every crime stories of CSI Vegas.

summer heat

To beat the summer heat, we all trooped to Club Manila East last Saturday for a quick dip in the pool. With CME just ten minutes away from our place, this has become our impromptu resort whenever the summer heat is unbearable. Aside from the nice and clean facilties of CME, I heart the place so much with all the yummy fast-food like Jollibee, Chowking, Shakey's and Italianni's available for the patrons. Plus the new pool ammenties like the giant wave and dive pool. As a matter of fact, these new pool attractions were featured several times on TV as one of the hot spots this summer to do surfing. So do check it out ...

For our impromptu get-away last week, we just had few pictures. Blame it on my preggo blues, I was so lazy to take pictures. LOL! Anyway, allow me to share below "new shot" of the husband and sam, enjoying the kayak.

online sale

As I am checking for possible online baby sale, I found amazing notebooks on sale from buy.com. HP Notebok with Intel pentium dual core processor, 3GB memory and 320GB memory at $489.95! Really amazing. The last HP Compaq laptop notebook I bought for my son last month as a graduation gift was priced almost the same but with much lower specs than what is offered today by buy.com. Talk about being an eager-beaver! LOL. Anyway, given the good value and free shipping form buy.com, I am thinking of upgrading the husband's old HP notebook. Do check out the notebook below ... HP Notebook Intel G60-230US T4200

travel plans for the year

Despite my preggo status, I am still thinking of travel plans for the year. Yes, the itchy traveler in me still hopes to fly until my OB says No. So that makes me unstoppable 'til my 8th month! LOL. I've lined up just two Asian travel for the year, one as an official function, and the other as a birthday treat.

For the official business function, I was informed last week that our company is planning to be part of the Philippine delegate to Communicasia this June in Singapore. I am not sure how grand our particiaption would be this time, but definitely with or without the event, will be doing our usual business courtesy call in Singapore.

For my birthday treat, I am still pushing for travel to Japan or Guam. Well, first priority would be Japan. But thinking about my preggo situation by June (read: obvious baby bump), I don't think I can enjoy the rides at Disneyland and Disneysea. If I can't go to either of my two, I am more than willing to settle to my fave destination .. Hongkong. Hehehe, wouldn't pass up a year without going here.

Though the husband insists that I let go all my travel plans until I give birth by November, of course I don't want to give in. He's persuading me to re-consider all my travel plans and promised to reward me (as a push present) travel to the US instead. And since my aunt from NY will be moving to a Indiana next year, she promised to give us a tour before she leaves NY. Who knows, we might even have the chance to visit hubby's cousin based in Texas and probably stay in luxurious Dallas Texas hotels for the duration of the trip.

Anyway, at this point, nothing definite yet. I am still presenting my business case (a.k.a justifying my travel plans) to the husband. Let's wait and see for the final resolution. LOL.

at six weeks ...

Hi Miggy!

Hubby and I are optimistic that it would finally be a boy (but another girl would be welcome news) . All we are praying for is the health of the baby. This is the first glimpse of the newest member of the family. The baby's heartbeat is a sound to behold. Estimated baby's age is 6 weeks and 3 days. Sac size good. After calculating my LMP, it was estimated that I'll give birth between November 24-December 2. Thus, between today and December, look forward to a lot of baby-related news! For the meantime, need to check the web for effective acne skin treatment. With all these hormonal changes, I am getting a lot of zits lately.