Last Holy Week, the family went on a beach trip up north.  We're a bit tired of always heading south whenever we plan an out of town beach trip because of the heavier traffic that side.  I'm glad we let go of the white beach requirement and decided to have Bataan as beach destination because it was worth our almost four hours road trip.
It's a special beach trip to our family because I wasn't able to go to a beach last year due to my sensitive pregnancy AND it's the first beach trip of our little baby.  AND it's also our first trip to Bataan as a family!
There were a lot of recommendations which we considered but we sure did make a right resort choice when we selected Waters Beach Resort in Morong, Bataan.

Here's why:

View from a room in the second floor.  There's a wide grass area, the pool, eating area at the left side, and the beach!

There's a gated space in front of the resort facing the beach for events.  They are open to event bookings too!

The pool is divided to kiddie and adult deep.  It's covered by canvass to protect guests from the sun's heat.

If you come from the beach going back to the hotel, a concrete tub filled with water and dipper is provided so you could wash off the sand.  I like it that the owners/management thought of this idea. You come in your room clean.

The green grassed area balances the whites and the blue hues.  I love it!

The pool is cleaned every day before they open it to guests in the morning.

Aaahhh sunset. :)

OUR ROOM
There are two types of room accommodation in Waters Beach Resort: Standard and Family.  Standard has two queen-sized bed which is good for four adults and two kids provided the kids share the beds with adults.  There's enough space for an extra mattress if you're sleeping in more than four adults.  Bathroom essentials are complete like bath towels, hand towels, dental kit, soap, shampoo, lotion and toilet paper.  The Family Room has three queen-sized bed perfect for six adults and with the size of the room and beds if attached together, you could sleep in three to four kids.
I love the sight of the beach by the pool, it's so relaxing.  Of course what makes this view more lovable by me, is my husband and my little one enjoying their swim time!  It was a first for my baby so this moment meant so much to me! :)
Let me also share with you one of the best inventions in the outdoor activity department for babies: The Neck Floater.  Oh em geeeeee..... just look at my bebe enjoying his time moving around in the pool.  With supervision, baby could be left swimming by himself.  Watch in amazement while he kicks and moves his arms, tilt his head a bit (as if going for the backstroke!).  Galing!  I bought this Mambobaby Neck Floater on Shopee by the way.
THE BEACH
OVERALL REVIEW
Since I've never been to other resorts in Bataan, I cannot compare it to other nearby resorts, there are too many actually.  But if I compare it to others I stayed in Laiya, Waters Beach Resort is actually at par and could be even better (than a few) in terms of facilities, room/resort space, cleanliness, and ambiance.  Room amenities are complete.  Your stay will be welcomed warmly by their friendly and courteous staff.  You definitely get what you paid for.  If you're looking for a quiet destination that's family-friendly and not located in the south, then I highly recommend Waters Beach Resort in Morong, Bataan.

For room rates, other inquiries, and reservation, you may call the owner Ms. Dell Waters at  0918-4581236 or like and message them also on Facebook.

It's still May and I ought to post this before this Mommy month ends!  What's up with me?  Well, it's been a very busy past two weeks for me.  Imagine, I'm 34-35 weeks pregnant, with two kids that needed to be enrolled in school, with a baby stuff I need to prepare before I pop, and with multitude of workload from the office.  So much to do so little time!

It's still summer and if you want to have a short weekend getaway with family or friends to escape the city and the heat, then going to a place with cooler temperature or going somewhere to swim are your best options.  But what if you want both and somewhere not too far?  Then I have a recommendation for you!  Try River Mountain Breeze Resort in Tagaytay City.

Going there will take you about 1.5 to 2 hours away from Manila, less if you live in the south.  I could say it's a hidden paradise because it's not located along the main roads of Tagaytay and there isn't even one signage to direct you going there. You just have to easily rely on landmarks and seek help from Waze as well.

Why do I call it a paradise?  Let the photos tell you why.

Our room with queen-sized bed, mosquito net, and stained Capiz windows.

I'm on a month-long bed rest which means the family couldn't really go out of town during the Holy Week.  Besides, it's during this time when Metro Manila traffic is also on vacation.  So we decided to have a hotel staycation in Luxent Hotel, which is situated right in the very heart of Quezon City.  Don't worry, I asked my OB's clearance before I went out with the family.  She said, make the staycation, really a staycation by staying in bed. :)

Luxent Hotel's facade along Timog Ave., Quezon City

It's just a few days before Christmas loves.  I’m sure most of you who are working had most probably saved your vacation leaves to use them this holiday for that much-awaited vacation, right?  If only I had some more left, I would have done that too, like how I used to do in the past years.  But unfortunately for me, I have used up all my leaves for family getaways.

It was timely when I won a staycation GC at Seda Hotel Nuvali last June during Whole Mom Ph's launch.   We were supposed to book for an overnight stay (originally for two) in a hotel within Metro Manila to celebrate our anniversary, but it turned out that the universe didn't want me to spend for the hotel, so I got the Seda Hotel Nuvali staycation GCs as my raffle prize.  For that I'm grateful.

Seda Nuvali hotel is a lakeside eco-lifestyle hotel by the AyalaLand Hotels and Resorts Group

I promised myself, to my kids, that we will be experiencing a lot of things and go to many places when we can.  It's the closest thing I could do to homeschooling method which other of my mom friends are successfully rocking!  One of the things I want them, myself and hubby counted, is to visit as many places near Manila, which we haven't gone before.  A few Sundays ago, we decided it was Markina City.

My brother lives in Marikina for decades already.  We only go to their part of the world whenever there are parties.  We never really got a chance to explore it.  So finally, after hearing and reading so much good things to see, good restaurants to try, beautiful places to see, we woke up one Sunday morning, prepped ourselves for a city adventure.  Here were five places we visited in Marikina:

Rustic Mornings
I've read awesome reviews about the food and the place in my friends' blogs and when we got there, it wasn't a disappointment at all!  In fact, my optical and oral senses were in its euphoric state!  Here are some of the reasons why:

Visayas - A region which is getting closer to my heart as I have been visiting it almost every week.  I post my travel photos on Instagram with the hash tag #MPTravels (short for Mommy Practicality Travels) followed by the hash tag of the city I visit.  The most recent city I visited was Bacolod.

If there's a part of you yearning for simplicity, quietness, reliving the old or feeling historical, you will love Bacolod City.  I am thankful that I had an opportunity to travel there because of work.  But being the adventurous and curious person that I am, I would find some personal time to visit popular tourist spots in the city or experience the culture.  I love travelling, it fills my heart with so much joy to see new places, taste the cities' food specialties and get to know some locals.  If you haven't left Manila or anywhere you are right now, you better start exploring other cities in our beloved country while you still can.  Travelling could bring in new perspectives and it helps in opening your minds to life's mysterious possibilities.

It was Masskara Festival when I went to Bacolod City the second time.  I just had very little time (like one hour before my flight) to see some places during my first visit.  So last week, I made sure to experience Bacolod City some more.
1.  THE RUINS - Located at Hacienda Sta. Maria, Talisay City in Negros Occidental.  Perfect time to go here is a few hours before your flight because it's near the new Silay Airport.  If you have time, go here just before the sunset.  It's high-grade concrete were made with egg yolks making the walls shimmer when light strikes them.  This mansion was built in 1900's but burnt down by the US Armed Forces during the WWII to prevent the Japanese to occupy it as its headquarter.  One of the largest mansions built at that time owned by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson.  Entrance Fee is Php 60.00 for adults plus Php50 for passenger's car in short taxi/cab.  Php 20 for private vehicles and Php10 for tricycle or motorcycle.