PH | STYLE FOR LESS: Kipling's New York Lite Carry-On Wheeled Luggage VS Voyager's 5167

THE SPLURGE: Kipling's New York Lite Carry-On Wheeled Luggage ($249.00 / Php11,209.00*)

Kipling's a brand we've all come to associate with quality and durability.  Given how much unnecessary junk we usually place inside our totes (guilty here), it sure helps that Kipling bags weigh so little, yet still feel secure enough to take on that heavy load.

Like any Filipino traveler, I too have the tendency to try to pack in as much clothes and pasalubong as I can fit into my luggage bag.  But with the bag itself adding much to the overall weight, don't you just wish that they was one that weighs so much less than the normal types you find in the stores?  Sayang ang extra kilos noh!  J

SOURCE: Kipling website

PH | Holiday Inn & Suites Makati: One Kid-Friendly Hotel

We've been very much blessed to have enjoyed staycations in a number of hotels around the Metro.  They're great alternatives to out-of-town vacations if ever you find yourself pressed for time to get away from the city (and what we definitely do have lacking of is some quality vacation time with the Husband here in PH what with his busy schedule and all).  I've noticed, though, that very few can boast to be truly kid-friendly, except for a handful.

One such hotel that is indeed family-friendly is the new Holiday Inn & Suites in Makati.

SOURCE: IHG website

PH | Bang's Tony & Jackey Beauty Salon's Aqua Volume Rebond

I've always had ruly, unmanageable hair for as long as I can remember, hence the introduction of rebonding services here in PH is a blessing.  I've been having my hair rebonded or relaxed once a year since 2002.  It's an expense that I make sure is always included in the yearly luxury budget.

Whereas before I used to have my hair rebonded at a David's Salon (since they always deliver consistently great results), I had to stop and look to other establishments when they eventually jacked up their prices (what used to cost me Php3,000 is now priced at Php5,000 to Php6,000, depending on the branch!).  Too much for my already hurting wallet.  Hence, the need to try other salons.  I've been happy with the results, so far.

The one thing though. that always gets me though is how lifeless and limp my hair tends to look when newly treated.  It's always the case wherever I have my tresses done.  It will look it's best at least a month or 2 after treatment.  It was only recently that I learned I could forego this agony by a undergoing a Volume Rebond instead, which for now only a handful of salons offer.  One of which is at Bang's Tony & Jackey Beauty Salons.

SOURCE: Bang's Tony & Jackey Beauty Salon (SM Bacoor branch) website

PH | Easy To Learn (ETL) Books: This Mommy’s Best Friend

I started reading to the Little One when she was but 3 months old.  It started off with the Pat the Bunny Sleepy Bunny book.  Later on, we progressed to picture books (aside from continuing simple story ones).  And now she is enjoying full story books. 

It’s a good activity that I always recommend to all parents as I believe this helps little ones appreciate books more if you start them off early.  And I’ve been seeing the results, too.  She now knows all her letters and basic mathematics plus knows simple words by sight.  So happy!  J

But now that the Little One is a 2-year-old toddler, she has already developed her own story preferences.  Whereas before, it was so simple to just pick a book that will catch her attention (bright pictures being the top priority), now she won’t listen to a story unless it’s something she really likes.

For now, she’s absolutely in love with Dora the Explorer.  And as much as I would love buying her a new book at least once a week, budget permits me to be that extravagant.  Thank heavens, though, for Easy To Learn (ETL) books.

The Little One's ETL book collection

PH | Gymboree Play & Learn Classes

Time flies so fast!  Who would have thought the Little One's 2 now, turning 3 in a few months!  Where does the time go?  Huhuhu!  L

Taking care of her full-time has definitely been a challenge.  Trying to make sure that she's stimulated mentally and physically is hard, what with thinking of age-appropriate activities and shows that she can be allowed to do and see.  One thing I noticed, though, since she really has not much kids her own age for playmates (only us stuffy "adults" here with her at home), I find she has grown to be slightly shy when among other people (whatever the age).

And since school, for her, is still a year away, the Husband and I decided to enroll her in a Gymboree Play & Learn class for the meantime to get her to come out of her shell a bit.

Gymboree Play & Learn in Sofitel (Source: Gymboree website)

PH | A Taste of Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Is it just me or are we also being invaded by ramen shops nowadays?  Don't get me wrong.  I'm all for variety and am actually quite happy to see that the Filipino palate is getting more exposed to other types of cuisine.  I guess globalization is really upon us.

But I digress.  Ramen's always been comfort food to me.  It's the warm soupy goodness; the generous savoury toppings and noodles.  When before I'd usually go to Ajisen Ramen (it's one of our fave ramen places in Singapore, too.  Read about that in this here post.) to have my ramen fix, nowadays I just try to look for the new players in any of the major malls for variety and a taste of something different.

And one of those new players here in the Metro is Hokkaido Ramen Santouka.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka in Glorietta, Makati

PH | SUN Broadband Internet Settings for Android Tablets

We're quite lucky as our location here in Cavite has a good enough SUN Broadband internet signal, hence we decided to subscribe to unlimited postpaid package.  There are instances, however, that I would need to have internet access in our Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, too, for messaging, playing games and whatnot.

Not wishing to buy a wireless dongle router (or something to that effect), I simply switch and transfer our Sun Broadband Internet sim from its dongle device directly to the tablet.  The first time I did this, the tablet didn't automatically connect to the net.  And upon calling customer service, was informed that I had to physically drop by a Sun Cellular shop to have their people manually configure our device.

It was totally ridiculous!  Most especially since what their staff did was so simple that I could have easily done it at home if they were kind enough to have provided me with the settings through the phone from the start.

So in the interest of saving other Sun Broadband internet users the hassle of having their devices configured pa in a SUN shop, listed below are brief instructions on how to get your broadband internet working for your android devices.

Source: SUN Cellular website

PH | Pigging Out at City Buffet

A friend once told me that buffets are the best places to eat in.  There's something for each discerning palate, making it easier to make decisions on where to eat and what type of cuisine to try.

I admit, pigging out's a past-time.  An enjoyable one most especially when you're with family and friends who enjoy a good meal as much as you.  And it's a good thing that here in the Metro, those newfangled luxury buffet restaurants just keep popping out of nowhere, tempting you with everything they have to offer.

And one of the fairly newer ones is City Buffet Restaurant, located in Robinson's Galleria.

City Buffet Restaurant in Robinson's Galleria

PH | Eyebrow Threading at Lay Bare

I've never been too high maintenance when it came to my looks.  I don't wear make-up on a regular basis (even prefer not to wear some if it can be avoided) and my hair style should be the wash and wear type.  Yes, I'm extremely lazy that way.

But there is one thing I never fail to do regularly.  I just have to have my eyebrows threaded and groomed once a month.  Where before I used to have it done at my favorite hair salon (read my painful post in this here link), I realized that it was better to have it done in places that specialize in the trade.  Hence, I gave Lay Bare Waxing Salon a try one day.

Lay Bare Waxing Salon

I've never had my brows done anywhere else since.