Weekend at Hale Manna Beach Resort and Coastal Garden

One of the privilege when you're living in a tropical country is having the sun's smile on you all year long (just don't count the typhoon visits :D). And when you're in an island surrounded by beautiful beaches, what more could you ask for?
As for me, I need finances to indulge in this privilege...hehehe

Last month, we had a chance to spend weekend with friends at Hale Manna Beach Resort and Coastal Garden, Moalboal, Cebu. Located at the southwest part of Cebu, Moalboal is also known for white beaches, coral reef and fish sanctuaries. 
If you want to relax and listen the whispers of the leaves as they dance with the sea breeze or if you just want to escape the noise and pollution of the city, then, Hale Manna is for you. From the place (rooms are spacious and clean), the staffs (everyone is so accommodating and friendly) and even the food (yummy is the best word to describe it), it surely is a haven. I tell you 2 days and 1 night is not enough. Even my daughter wished she could stay for a year to enjoy the place. 

Here are our pictures. 
Photo Credits: Nat A. and Jimmy L.

Honey loves to swing in the hammock.

Jiggy loves the spacious garden for playing.

We tried kayaking.

Honey tried snorkeling.

Snorkeling with friends.

This team surely had so much fun.

Thank you Jim for flying all the way from Manila just to spend the weekend with us here in Cebu. Hope we can do this more often.

Thank you Paeng for recommending Hale Manna.

From city proper, you can either ride on a bus (from South Bus Terminal) or a van for hire (from CitiLink Terminal). The ride takes approximately 2.5 hours. From the Moalboal market, you need to have one more ride thru tricycle to reach the resort. We were not able to take on both options as Paeng and his family offered a ride :D.

Tips:
If you are saving, travel in the morning and bring with you your lunch. 
Travel by groups, the more the merrier.

Jiggy turns 2

This September, our little boy officially joins the team of terrible twos.
He loves to explore everything that surrounds him.
I can't get enough of his smiles and giggles for every time he display it, I will always be fascinated.

Toddler tantrums are more evident but not to worry (I guess not now???) coz I know he is still learning how to handle emotions and frustrations. (We need to work on this)
No more potty training as he is responsible enough to inform us when nature calls. However, I think frequent peeing in his pants is still considered natural for him...hehehe (Another item to work on :D)

Home is more cheerful when you came into our lives. 
Ate Honey loves and cares you so much. She now understand what responsibility means. 
Papa is always in a hurry to go home to play with you and Ate Honey. 
As for me, I thank God this blessing. I thank God for the gift of life.

Happy birthday little boy :D

August's Photo-A-Day Challenge

Yeey! Had successfully completed it! Whew! Thanks Chantelle of Fat Mum Slim.

Day 1: Something beginning with N

Its my nails, yeah nothing fancy here but I like them short and unpolished :D

Day 2: Incomplete

My cross-stitched project, this pattern is still incomplete :-(

Day 3:Skyline

Cloudy day!

Day 4: Fresh

Freshy baked orange muffin for Honey's baon.

Day 5: Early

Music playing early in the morning for our little Jiggy.

Day 6: This means a lot to me

The picture says it all :D

Day 7: A sign

Along Mandaue, Cebu road which causes traffic everyday. Calling DPWH, this obstacle been there for almost 3 months already :-(

Day 8: Peek-A-Boo

 Asking Honey to give me a peek-a-boo look :D

Day 9: 2 o'clock

The sky at 2 o'clock - still cloudy!

Day 10: Beverage

Only "beverage" available in the ref. Kid's favorite and mine too!

Day 11: I love doing this

Its actually "We" love doing this --> playtime!

Day 12: Macro

Macro shoot of this pair of earring given by hubby's friend, Coral :D

Day 13: Fast

Yep, F1 racing cars are indeed fast.

Day 14: Trash

Paper cut-outs after making Honey's school projects.

Day 15: The best

Family time is really the best.

Day 16: Cooking

Cooked sweet corn for siesta :D

Day 17: Exercise

A dinner treat from Marcus & Shing surely needs an exercise. Food is great at Lantaw, Busay.

Day 18: Someone you spoke to today

Teaching Jiggy the ABC's

Day 19: Lost

Does this bunny looked lost?

Day 20: Stairs

Our apartment's stairs

Day 21: Slow

When its color time, Honey takes much time :D

Day 22: A room

A peek on our room.

Day 23: Yellow

Trademark color of CAT Trucks.

Day 24: In the background

Yes, our walls are full of school materials during school days.

Day 25: Culture

Giving pasalubong (souvenirs as homecoming gift) is one of the culture of Pinoy's.

Day 26: Entrance

Apartment's entrance.

Day 27: 10 minutes from home

The road 10 minutes from home - its always traffic :-(

Day 28: Corridor

Playing in the corridor

Day 29: Lucky

Feeling lucky having you :D

Day 30: Cluttered

Clutters in my bag!

Day 31: Dangerous

I admit it, I'm so afraid of heights and renting on 2nd floor apartment especially having small kids with us really takes extra care and caution.

Chantelle's August Photo A Day Challenge

Want some challenge?
How about joining August Photo A Day Challenge by Chantelle of Fat Mum Slim.
Come! Let's join the fun.

Details on how to join can be viewed here :D

Coursera's "Just Cook" a Balanced Dish

I want to apologize for the late post of the last two week lessons I had with Maya Adam's Child Nutrition and Cooking, an online course offered by Coursera. Anyways, here are the topics discussed.

Backyard Gardens
I love to have a vegetable garden. For 7 years here in Cebu, we were just renting our place and coincidentally second floors best suit us. With this, having a garden was not considered until Maya stressed out that even a small space is already enough to have a vegetable garden. Hhhmmn… I will try to keep that in my mind, Maya! She adds that the joy of letting children pick and eat what they grow is so worth it :D and this hits me, real hard. So I'm trying my best to have one and let my kids experience that feeling of euphoria...(so hoping soon).

Soups
Preferably vegetable soup! Vegetable soup's main ingredient are vegetables :D. The more variety of vegetables in it, the better. Kids are attracted to colorful dish. A small amount of meat or chicken is enough to add flavor in a vegetable soup. 

Fish
A good source of omega-3 fatty acids which to everyone's knowledge is beneficial for the heart and brain development. Though moderation of fish is encourage due to concern on mercury absorption especially on larger fish. Having a variety of fish is also encourage. When cooking fish, cook it at high temperature at a shorter time.

Steamed Vegetables
When you can't roast it, you can steam it. I just recently know that putting a small amount of water in the pot is the best method in order to maximize the nutrient of the vegetables.

Stew
Stew, like soup, is another example of a balanced dish where the carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals are incorporated in it but unlike soup, stew is much thicker and takes time to cook over low heat from stove or low temp from oven. 

Salads
Use cucumber as the first step in introducing salads to children and instead of having a bottled dressing, its best to make your own salad dressing at home. Children are the best imitators, if they see adults eating salads, they will likely want to have it.

For the Week 4 assignment, we we're task to create a balance dish and below is what I submitted:
Tadah!!! its the family's all time favorite dish -- Red Spaghetti

(Just don't mind the mess...please!!!)

This wraps up Child Nutrition and Cooking course by Maya Adam. 
Try to visit Coursera or her videos. Her sharing this to us is a very big help as a first step in exploring cooking as well as stopping obesity problem to young children of this generation.

You can view Maya's lectures here.