Anything Mariel

For the longest time, we've never had any staycation and Easter egg hunting experience. My kids know about the egg hunting because of the movie "Rise of the Guardians". Last week's events made it possible, especially the weather really was getting into our heads and the only escape is to go someplace else. :) My wish from last week came true though ;)

STAYCATION @ VIVERE HOTEL & RESORTS

File from Google.com

This place is close to our hearts. When we got married, we chose Vivere for our wedding reception. Their wedding packages are the best and most affordable for me. The price is worth it. So for our first staycation ever, Vivere was the best choice because of affordability and *yeah I'm a little biased*, but of course, the value for money is important.

We checked other hotels nearby, but the rooms doesn't include children; instead of getting just 1 room for the 4 of us, we are required to get 2 rooms, which is not our option.

There were no changes *I guess* in terms of the buildings and stuff. It's the first time we actually were able to visit their other amenities because when we had our honeymoon, we stayed the entire night in our room. OF COURSE! lol. Anyway, my kids enjoyed the pool and their play house. And our room was very nice.

My kids rarely *as in RARELY* experience hotel accommodations and the space our room had, for them, it seems like it's really spacious. My youngest kept on running around, back and forth, sliding on the floor, checking his reflection on the mirrors. It's funny because he really liked the room, and my eldest loved the bed. They were so excited to jump in the hotel's Lama pool they kept saying it over and over that they needed to change to their swimming attires. :)


Our room was on the 22nd floor. :) In case we were given floor lower than 10, we'd request to be relocated at a higher one. Our room was an Executive Suite. Not bad :) I love it. Click here for more information about this room, and other rooms they offer.

Our view outside.

Lama Pool

Playhouse

VIEW AT NIGHT

The hotel also has an open access to its Rooftop Restaurant they call "The Nest". It was called Skyline before if you've been here before. :)If you feel like dining fancy and lazy to go somewhere far, Vivere's "The Nest" is a good choice. Nice ambience and food. :)

Of course, I didn't miss the chance to have my me time by soaking myself in the tub for almost an hour. haha. :)

This is all I can show you guys. Bubbles. :D

OVERALL EXPERIENCE:

We booked our visit via Booking.com. I used to go to Agoda.com, but I guess booking.com is more convinient and more transparent. They won't charge you right away. You will be charged when you check-out at the hotel. So that's a plus points for me.

Our experience for one night is superb. We were able to relax and enjoy our holy week, and the kids enjoyed it very much which is the most important thing for me. Vivere made it possible for my kids to just be kids and enjoy life. :)

Book your next staycation at Vivere, you won't regret it. :) Visit their site if you wish to know more :) http://viverehotel.com.ph/

Below is my review of the hotel. :)

Holy Week have gone and as old people say, we need to sacrifice during this event of the year and repent from our sins. I've been talking to God for quite sometime now, my eyes are swelling. =)




Be Happy.


I'm not sure if you've read Pope Francis' inspiring message last Easter Sunday. It's really inspiring you guys.

BEING HAPPY by Pope Francis
"You may have defects, be anxious and sometimes live irritated, but do not forget that your life is the greatest enterprise in the world. Only you can prevent it from going into decadence. There are many that need you, admire you and love you.
I would like to remind you that being happy is not having a sky without storms, or roads without accidents, or work without fatigue, or relationships without disappointments.
Being happy is finding strength in forgiveness, hope in one’s battles, security at the stage of fear, love in disagreements.
Being happy is not only to treasure the smile, but that you also reflect on the sadness.
It is not just commemorating the event, but also learning lessons in failures.
It is not just having joy with the applause, but also having joy in anonymity.
Being happy is to recognize that it is worthwhile to live, despite all the challenges, misunderstandings and times of crises.
Being happy is not inevitable fate, but a victory for those who can travel towards it with your own being.
Being happy is to stop being a victim of problems but become an actor in history itself.
It is not only to cross the deserts outside of ourselves, but still more, to be able to find an oasis in the recesses of our soul.
It is to thank God every morning for the miracle of life.
Being happy is not being afraid of one's feelings. It is to know how to talk about ourselves. It is to bear with courage when hearing a "no".
It is to have the security to receive criticism, even if it is unfair.
It is to kiss the children, pamper the parents, have poetic moments with friends, even if they have hurt us.
Being happy means allowing the free, happy and simple child inside each of us to live; having the maturity to say, "I was wrong"; having the audacity to say, "forgive me".
It is to have sensitivity in expressing, "I need you"; to have the ability of saying, "I love you."
So that your life becomes a garden full of opportunities for being happy...
In your spring-time, may you become a lover of joy. In your winter, may you become a friend of wisdom.
And when you go wrong along the way, you start all over again. Thus you will be more passionate about life.
And you will find that happiness is not about having a perfect life but about using tears to water tolerance, losses to refine patience, failures to carve serenity, pain to lapidate pleasure, obstacles to open the windows of intelligence.
Never give up .... Never give up on the people you love. Never give up from being happy because life is an incredible show.
And you are a special human being!"
A blessed Holy Week to you. You are a special human being. Remember that!

This baby is for sale at PHP 299.

How it looks on me. Sorry can't show the whole body. :P

This baby is for sale at PHP 625.00

Aren't they cute? Not too strappy, but not too lousy. So it's just right. :)

I think the heels are about 2.5 to 3 inches.

I've been looking for this style and finally found it. PHP 1,320 and already on SALE, and I'm like, What? Should be PHP 500 or below. lol. I saw a gorgeous pair of the same style, in BLACK and NUDE and without the gems, at SM Department store worth PHP 899 and I think, I will go back to buy them. lol.

Nice. But my veins aren't. lol. Heel height's about 4 inches.

Chooseday Madness: 

This blog will be about something that I choose. Whether it's a product, or a saying, or a movie or a thought or whatever. It'll be about the choices I made that made a difference, mattered, or even the wrong ones, or something. :)

You? Have you had a choice that made a difference or mattered? :)

It's Monday again and to be honest I really don't feel the positive energy the world is giving this early in the morning, so I have to force myself to keep it all together, else, I will end up miserable and again, sulking until eternity.




I said no carbs ever again, but there I was, an empty piece of a shell, minding my own world and bought Grande Hot Cafe Mocha and I just had one yesterday which I believe I haven't burn yet. But because I needed to boost myself up and fill my body with energy, I realized I might just have one.

First I thought of buying just a Tall cup, then changed it to a Grande because I just had to. lol. I had it with non-fat milk, no whipped cream to make me less guilty for having one. The barista was scribbling on my cup and when it's done, the words "Keep Smilling, Mariel" was written and I was like, "What is SMILLING?" hahaha anyway, I got the thought and I went "Aww.. *moment of silence and teary eyes* yes ate, I will never get tired of smiling, it's my best asset and yeah, will never get tired of it".


Until now I cannot forget that and really, we just have to keep smiling to attract positive vibes and at the same time, share it to those who need it as well. I will smile today, smiled yesterday, tomorrow and forever. Have a Happy Monday!

Show off your best smile today! Here's mine. :)

I placed it on the usual spot but then today, the unexpected happen...

I might be over reacting but I was very furious when it happened. I placed my phone on the usual spot, but then my son was jumping and accidentally, a glass bottle fell from the cabinet and fell straight down on my phone. I immediately went from calm mom to monster mom. I hope I didn't scare my son that much.



So that's how it looks like right now. It has cracks on its screen, looking a lot like the app with a crack to prank other people. Although, it still works, I can still use it, but the cracks might hurt me or whoever borrows my phone. My kumareng Karen suggested to have it checked and fixed at the Apple Store, and I might do that because I don't know where else to go. Hopefully they can fix it, or better, replace it. lol. What a day!

FIRST WEEKEND OF MARCH - Nothing special, BUT! I had my hair done so I'm going to tell you about it :)

1. Teaching my kid stuff is TOUGH.

2. Keratin Complex Treatment at Vivere Salon

Or you may visit here for a better view - http://viveresalon.com/services/

Keratin is a protein found naturally in skin, hair and nails, in addition to other sources. In human hair, it acts both as an external protective shield and an internal structural protein. Keratin is the first thing depleted when hair is damaged physically, chemically or from environmental factors such as the sun.

What about Keratin Complex? (source: same website as above)

Keratin Complex’s signature keratin is comparable to the keratin present in human hair. When used in product formulations, keratin helps condition, strengthen, revitalize and repair damage. Keratin gives the hair shine, elasticity and a more youthful, healthy appearance.

Why is my hair so messy and frizzy???

Healthy hair contains proteins (including keratin), water and lipids that work to moisturize and keep strands strong and smooth. With age and damage due to sun and environmental exposure, the hair loses some of these vital components, making it drier and more porous. To compensate, the hair absorbs excess moisture from the air (especially in high-humidity environments), causing the cuticle to swell and thus, producing frizz.

Which means...

Keratin Complex products and services replenish keratin to help seal the cuticle and prevent humidity from entering the hair.

First I thought, my hair will get straight like what rebond does, but technically it seems like it's not. So my hair should look really healthy after 3 days of no rinsing. And I hope it does because it's not cheap. Lol.

I will recommend Vivere Salon because... 

What I like about Vivere Salon is that they are accommodating, their shop is clean and has a good ambiance, their expert looks like a real expert, and seems like he really was and he was confident with his answers on all our questions and he wasn't suggesting anything we don't know or he wasn't trying to sell something we don't like to know. He focused on explaining the difference between Deep Repair Treatment and Keratin Complex Treatment. And we were convinced about the Keratin Complex Treatment procedure, which will last for 1.5 hours, but its effect will last FOREVER! Just kidding! Could last for months! SO I took it and well, it went really smoothly. Also, their assistants were not too insisting to have me buy their products, which is a total plus plus for them because I really hate those whose sales tactics are way beyond irritating. Like why don't they just let us decide when to buy them, right? So yeah.

Here are a few photos I took while I was being treated. I didn't take a lot of selfie because I was busy reading tweets about Aldub's Boracay Date lol! Anyway, on with the photos. Haha!

I had to wear a mask because it got smoky while she was ironing my hair.

Just last month, I learned my children looooves Leche Flan, so I decided to make one since I know how to make one myself. :) Cheaper, and more special since my kids saw me making it for them. They were excited and even tried to help me in the kitchen.

First, what is a Leche Flan? In the Philippines, we call it Leche Flan. Worldwide, it's known as Caramel Pudding.

Leche in Spanish means MILK. 

Flan means a baked dish consisting of an open-topped pastry case with a savory or sweet filling. 

So basically, Leche Flan means baked milk. :) Internationally, this dish can also be called Creme Caramel or Caramel Pudding.  My children loves this so much, baking 5 of it is not enough. :)

So I will share my recipe of this amazing food, not too soft and not too sweet, just right and tasty.

Ingredients:

• - 10 Large Eggs
• - 2 Cans of Condensed Milk (300 ml)
• - 1 Can of Evaporated Milk (370 ml)
• - 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• - 1 tsp. Lemon Extract / Or you may use Lemon Zest
• - Sugar
• - Water
• - You will also need Llanera Mold, Steamer, aluminum foil and rubber band.

Procedure:

1. 1. Separate the yolk from the egg whites. Set aside the egg whites.
2. 2. Beat the yolks carefully until blended.
3. 3. Mix in the 2 cans of Condensed milk and 1 can of evaporated milk.
4. 4. Stir properly until well blended.
5. 5. Pour in the vanilla extract and lemon extract or lemon zest. Stir until well blended. Set aside.
6. 6. For the caramel syrup: Pour 1 tablespoon of sugar in the Llanera Mold and 1 tablespoon of water. Put over medium heat and slightly cook it until it gets brown. Set aside.
7. 7. Once all Llanera molds have caramel syrup, pour the milk mixture halfway of the mold. You can fill up to 6 llanera molds for this recipe.
8. 8. Cover the molds with aluminum foil and seal with rubber band.
9. 9. Place them all in the steamer.
10. 10. Cook for 30 minutes or until mixture is firm.
11. 11. Put in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours.
12. 12. Serve with a smile. :)

Turn it upside down for a more "dramatically delicious" effect. :)