Crimson Resort and Spa, Cebu

After a few days of nursing our jet lag when we arrived in Manila,  we flew into Cebu to stay at the beautiful and new Crimson Resort in Mactan Island.  We stayed at one of the Garden Villas with a veranda in front.  Service  and our overall experience at the resort was excellent.  I loved the Aum Spa so much, I had to go back the next day and get another massage.  The resort is also child-friendly as they have an outdoor play area for the kids and as well as activity center  (with lots of kid's activities, toys, TV) with babysitting hourly rates.  Here are some pictures:

Overlooking the Infinity Pool from the upstairs reception

The Zen themed Gardens

Kid's outdoor play area

Pool and Lounge Area

Overlooking the Beach

King Sized Bed in our Garden Villa Suite

Luxurious Bathroom

Taken from the Veranda

View of the Saffron Restaurant

Resort World Manila

When I first entered this place, I thought I was walking into a Las Vegas Casino.  The interior definitely are at par with famous Las Vegas hotel/casinos.  I can't believe I was in Manila.

The Marriot Hotel right next to Resort World

I'd love to have this ceiling detail in my bedroom

The shops at Resort World

Newport Performing Arts Theatre

The huge Atrium with surrounding restaurants

I didn't get to take pictures of the casino though- not sure if that would be allowed.  

Resort World Manila

Back to regular programming....

My blog went on a hiatus as we travelled to Manila for our most awaited Family Holiday Vacay.  This is turning into a Travelogue as we travelled to a lot of places this year (the most we've travelled in years and hopefully not the last).  But please bear with me as I update this blog with places and recent inspirations I've encountered the last couple of days to weeks.  Manila sure has changed a lot since the last time I've been here.

Our travels and most hip places in Manila I've visited coming up on my next post....

A Winter Holiday Playdate

I purchased this Winter Candyland party printable over at Fresh Chick Designs for the kid's Holiday Playdate.  They loved spending time with their cousins and they will miss them celebrating this holiday season so we thought of a get together for a Winter Candyland Themed Playdate.  Here are some pictures:

Candy Station

Our White Easter Tree turned into a mini Chritmas tree

Dessert Table with some more candies

Labeled Water Bottles

Ginger bread House

Sugar Themed Cookies purchased from The Cookie Jar

Marshmallow penguin toppers from Oriental Trading

Favors for the kids, Penguin and Snowman pails from Michaels

I can't help but post pictures of the kids as well :)

Christmas around the house

Paper trees design I purchased from Fresh Chick Designs

Our Favorite Mouse Mickey

From our home to yours, have a blessed and happy holiday season with your family :)

Making our first Gingerbread House

Here are pictures of our first ever Gingerbread house.  My sister worked on putting it together along with decorating it with my daughter.

while the kids looked on

the finished product as a centerpiece for our candy table

LV Store Front Display

Pardon the dark pic as I only used my camera phone on this one

I can't help but take a picture of this LV Storefront Display at a Bloomingdales Store a few weeks back. I just love the mix and match of patterns and the concept itself was pretty interesting.  What do you think?

It's that time of the year again..

After Halloween and now Thanksgiving now past us, it's that time of the year again to bring out our Christmas decors, shopping for gifts, sending holiday cards to family and friends far away and getting things ready for the busiest and last holiday season of the year.  I do have mixed emotions about Christmas this year.  It's gonna be the most stressful (I think!) but at the same relaxing (in more ways than one).  It's just getting through that big hurdle of travelling a very long flight with 2 toddlers (I'm keeping my fingers crossed and probably cover my ears during the flight).  I will definitely miss Christmas at home this year. I will miss picking out our tree and decorating it.  Oh well..  I know it will be never be the same celebrating Christmas and New Year in your own home.  But I look forward to celebrating the Holidays this year with family and friends we haven't seen in a long time.  It is a welcome change afterall :)

Fab @ 60 Party!

Now that I have time to sit and blog about this party, I thought I'd share pictures from my Mom's 60th birthday party last summer.  A lot of hard work, planning, setting up and coordinating with my family members went into preparing for this event.  A party well deserved to the best Mom I know!! It was a labor of love not only from her kids but from her parents, siblings and nieces as well who helped out with the party.

As I said in my previous post here, my mom loves everything Red, Red Roses included.. As you can see it was dominant around the whole venue with accents of Gold (her favorite hue of jewelry) so we thought this would be the fitting color scheme for her party and I thought of the theme "Fab @ 60!" since there is nobody else I know who is Fab at this age as my Mom is.  She has been truly blessed with family who loves and adores her and  has great respect for her.  She has given so much of herself to other people that we thought of making her feel special and throw a  BIG and Fab party in her honor.  I've never seen her this happy and surprised :) As you can see in one of the pictures, she does really look radiant in RED.  It is truly her color.

I am so excited to share the pictures here: (courtesy of Uncle Rodney - a big Thank You!!!)

The Dessert Table, all desserts and pedestals are from Sweet and Saucy Shop

Lighting and DJ by Atmosphere DJ

Flowers made by my sis in law

Event Set Up

Portrait Courtesy of Uncle Rodney

Perfume Bar  for the Ladies

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Birthday Cake ordered from Sweet and Saucy Shop

Cake and Chocolate mousse

more chocolate mousse

The Guest of Honor in her Tadashi Shoji dress

Party Time

Gifts