Home Away From Home

One of the biggest attractions in Subic are the beaches.  When it comes to spending a day in the beach, Subic is always the best option as you can choose to go directly to Subic Bay Freeport Zone or try something more adventurous going through the beaches in Subic town and the various beaches from the provinces in Zambales.

If you want to explore the beaches inside the Subic Bay, you will never ran out of options when it comes to your accommodation.  There are so many beautiful hotels for families, couples, or singles especially along the Boardwalk area and each offers a truly unforgettable experience.  Just take the case of Light House Marina located at Moonbay Marina Complex, Waterfront Road Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  This, I guess is considered to be one if not the best accommodation in Subic Bay.  We had experienced the best adventure when my family attended a beach wedding by a family friend.  We were amused with the grand facilities offered by the resort.  Both my son and daughter were secondary sponsors and my daughter was so overwhelmed with their yacht photo shoot experience.  The venue was styled elegantly and every detail was carefully looked into.  The beach area is really nice with all the decors set up.  My son had a great time taking photos at the beach. The wedding ceremony started late in the afternoon and a simple cocktail party started right after.  I think this is to give time to the bride and groom to freshen up.  After almost an hour, the program started and we were amazed at how organized everything was. Kudos to the event organizer, imagine a complete set up from fire dances down to the fire works and the foods, yes the foods… that was the best part. The buffet set up was so lavish and sumptuous.  We were seated at the VIP table since I was one of the principal sponsors and that the bride is a good friend of my husband .  We were really served the VIP way.  We had several waiters assigned to our table pouring wines and delivering every food from the buffet table from the appetizer down to the soup, the main courses and the desserts.  Really a five star experience.  The waiters would always check with us if we still want some more and always willingly obliged to our every request. The event host was commendable, he was funny and was able to attract the attention of every guest at the reception.  There were parlor games, dances, speeches and the traditional toast for the newly wed.  The live band who performed during the event was also good although not that great compared to what I’ve experienced on other events I’ve attended.  Needless to say, we had so much fun.  Our favorite part was the fire works display. It was really amazing and captivating.  My daughter sighed in amusement and jokingly told me and his brother that she wishes to have the same wedding which made us all laugh.

As to the facilities of the resort, the rooms were so spacious and the hotel lobby was big,  beautiful and elegant. The hotel staff was very attentive and friendly.  Even the guests’ comfort room at the lobby is huge and very clean. The choice of the furniture is also very distinct.

Perhaps, one of the major attractions at Light House Marina is the Light House itself.  You can appreciate it more during the night time when it is lighted.  I could proudly say that the newly wed did not disappoint their guests with the carefully planned wedding ceremony and reception.  The choice of the venue was excellent.  I could even hear other guests talking how they admire everything, the venue, the preparations, the set up and even the program.

For these reasons, I think this Light House Marina experience was an unforgettable one and I would not hesitate to recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a weekend get away or even a venue for any event. For those who prefer to explore and extend their budget, you can always consult Lonely Planet for more affordable options.

For those who want to visit Light House, you can find it at the Moonbay Marina Complex, Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. You may want to get in touch with the hotel’s front desk through their trunk line (6347) 252-5000 or (6347) 252-7545 or at their toll free Manila Number (632)711-0019.

    

Garden Experiment - Organic Fertilizer

I was filled with awe seeing my potted Sampaguita plant almost dying. No, not again. I guess this is the fifth time that I've repotted Sampaguita plant and as expected, leaves become dull and dry after a few weeks and there are some brown spots all over the leaves.  I was challenged with this failure...I am a gardener wannabe and I will never give up.  I've read a number of articles online and found out that coming up with your own organic fertilizer is not really that difficult.  As a matter of fact, everything can just be picked up from your kitchen scraps.

I've decided to give it a try. I've concocted my own mixture of organic fertilizer by mixing egg shells, banana peelings, vinegar and coffee grounds. I used a blender to thoroughly mixed all these ingredients, kept it in a jar overnight, then I started to use it with my newly repotted sampaguita plant.  

This is how my plant looked like before I applied the fertilizer:

BEFORE

I mixed my organic fertilizer with the soil on the pot making sure that this touches the roots of the plant.  Then I make sure that it gets a little water everyday.  After two weeks, this is how my Sampaguita plant looked like:

AFTER

You will notice that it got more leaves now and the color of these leaves are bright green and looks shiny.  I was really happy seeing this big change.  This only shows that I was successful in my newly concocted organic fertilizer.  My Sanpaguita plant now looks very healthy and as of this writing, it still continues to grow more leaves.

To be honest, I intend to use this organic fertilizer for my upcoming vegetable garden since I want to make sure that I would successfully grow my long planned vegetable garden. This is indeed a challenge since, I am looking at container gardening and vertical gardening for my vegetables, so keeping them healthy is really a must.

Now, I became even more determined to push through with my plan and I am going to start working on it very very soon.

  

4 Ways to Redecorate Your Bathroom

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When was the last time you redecorated your bathroom? If it's been more than a few years, it's time to break out the polish and get to work. Not only will a fresh new bathroom make you feel better about your home, but it will also be healthier and more hygienic for your entire family. If you're ready to say goodbye to rust and hello to rejuvenation, here are a few tips for improving your bathroom.

1. Replace Your Tile

If you have porcelain, replace it with limestone. If you have vinyl, replace it with linoleum. Some people even have bamboo bathrooms, so the sky is the limit when it comes to material types! Just make sure that you don't limit yourself to conventional flooring ideas when you're looking for a renovated bathroom; if you can dream it, you can lay it down.

2. Scrub Your Fixtures

Between sinks, tubs and toilets, you've probably accumulated a lot of grossness around your frequently-used bathroom fixtures. The good news is that they don't have to stay dirty. White vinegar is a miracle worker that can clean just about anything, and where natural remedies fail, there are even stronger commercial-grade cleaning products. You can also find services like tub refinishing Durham NC for difficult items.

3. Paint the Walls

You'd be surprised by how much a simple coat of paint can change the feeling of a room. The secret is to use bright, bold colors instead of variations of the same whites and blacks. Paint your ceiling blue; stencil your mirrors with gold; give your windows pink-and-green trim. Treat your bathroom like any other room when it comes to color palettes and possibilities.

4. Add Decorations

Last but certainly not least, add some decorative pieces to your bathroom. Most people save "the good stuff" for guest-oriented places like the living room and the den, but your bathroom can benefit from a few cheap trinkets if nothing else. Hang a pretty shower curtain; put colorful mats on the floor; display a couple of ceramic frogs on your toilet bowl. You'll appreciate the final effect.

These are just a few ways to jazz up your bathroom. As you can see, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on time-consuming remodeling projects to make a real change in your home. All you need is a little determination and a willingness to take risks!

Decorating With Plants

I guess decorating with plants is the easiest and cheapest way to decorate our homes.  It does not only make our homes environment friendly but it also makes us feel more relaxed and stress free.  If you have a green thumb, you will have a greater advantage since you can propagate your plants more easily.  I have found some inspirations online and I would like to share it here for anyone of you who wishes to freshen up your space.  I'm pretty sure that adding more plants in your homes would surely delight your senses.

Here are few of the design inspirations: 

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I am in fact in the process of adding more potted plants at home especially that we have added a new porch outside our dining are and I can't wait to share my own design here in my future posts.

How to Create the Perfect Outdoor Space

When you have a nice yard and patio, you are able to enjoy many benefits. You have a nice place where you can entertain friends and family. You have a nice place where your kids can play. You have a perfect spot where you can enjoy your morning coffee. And you have a great place where you can plant flowers and vegetables.

Creating the perfect outdoor space takes a little bit of work. However, this work is well worth it. Some individuals decide to do all of the landscaping on their own. In order for the landscape to turn out right, you need to make a plan and then figure out each step in order to reach the end goal. Others decide to leave the overall planning to landscaping professionals. They will tell the landscaper how they would like the yard to look more or less when it is done, but the professional is the one who will put together all the details and actually do the work. After the landscaper has finished the job, you may decide to do the maintenance on your own.

The type of landscaping you decide on will likely depend on your interests. If you want a big yard where your kids can play, you will probably have trees set in the back of the yard and then a big lawn. If you are more interested in creating a relaxing space where you can enjoy the cool mornings, you may prefer something with more trees, shrubs, and flowers. You may even want a pond or other things in the yard that will attract wildlife.

No outdoor space is complete without a nice place to sit down and relax. The right outdoor furniture London Ontario is also going to depend on what you will do with your outdoor space. If you are primarily going to use the space to entertain guests, you will need a large picnic table or other furniture where many people can sit down. If you want a place to read and enjoy coffee in the morning, you will likely want outdoor furniture that is more comfortable to sit on. No matter what, the outdoor furniture you choose should be durable and easy to clean. You will want something that is attractive and will last for a long time.