Must-visit Bungalow 300 SALE in Alabang

Looking for unique pieces of furniture, great gift items or classic home accents? Visit Bungalow 300's first-ever SALE this weekend, November 14-15 from 9am-5pm at 300 Banahaw corner San Juanico Sts., Ayala Alabang Village.









Everything in the following photos is for sale:

They also have a lot of great items from IKEA care of Mobler. I already set aside sets of glasses, condiment dispensers, and scented candles! Very good selection and at great prices.

Bungalow 300 specializes in lovingly-restored found items such as this little table below:

The sale also features a lot of retro-modern items and retro furniture, lamps, and home accents.

Gorgeous lamp from Mobler!

It's tru's 5th Anniversary SALE !

tru is celebrating 5 years this September.

To reward customers old and new, Cristina (tru's owner) is putting everything in the Rockwell Power Plant store on SALE at 10-70% off from September 23-October 11.

Here are some photos of tru's beautiful leather bags taken at Cristina's Cupang area workroom:

For more information, check out their website http://www.trubags.com/

Get Sprinkle Ice Cream & Toppings for your next Party

Want something fun and slightly different for your next kiddie party? Don't get the usual ice cream cart, try Sprinkle! Your kids and their guests will surely love this fun buffet of delicious Fruits in Ice Cream flavors coupled with a selection of tasty toppings (fresh fruit, oreos, chocolates, sprinkles...).

Call Sprinkle at 0916-2709877 or send them an email at danella@sprinklefun.com or joel@sprinklefun.com for more information.

Ride Horses in BF Homes

Sign up for some horseback riding lessons for your kids or for yourself (great lower body workout) at my friend Janine's Riding School in BF Homes, Paranaque. She holds classes for kids and adults alike. My kids went for a trial session to see if they liked riding on real-sized (ie, not Baguio horse-sized) horsies and, well, they really enjoyed themselves.

Here's Janine getting my daughter on Peppermint, one of the smallest horses they had:

For more information or for class schedules and fees, please call Janine Santos-Felix at 0917-8122672 or email her at janinefelix@gmail.com.

Rockwell Club's Car Boot SALE

I know, I know... a SALE in Makati?? That's not even HCC territory! But this was forwarded to me by someone who actively supports efforts to clean up our poor Pasig River. So if you can, please go. It's only P25 a ticket and this goes directly to the Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig Foundation.

Her email goes on to say:

WHAT CAN YOU FIND AT THE CAR BOOT SALE?

Clothes, Shoes, Bags, Accessories, Books, DVDs/CDs, Home-made Food, Arts & Crafts materials, Housewares, Baking Tools, Plants and Organic and Eco-Friendly
Products and much, much more!

So in case you'll be in the Makati area over the weekend, help the Pasig River by shopping at the Car Boot sale!

Travel well with LUXE City Guides

The LUXE City Guide is the perfect travel companion. Beautifully-designed, discreet and filled with useful gems of information for over 30 cities around the world, these little pocket guides are the perfect present for your favorite friends, relatives, co-workers, and of course... yourself!

With all the discount flights now available (thank you Cebu Pacific), save on your airfare but eat and shop well when you get to your destination. LUXE City Guides can be purchased individually, or as a set (below is the Europe set of 3 guides)...

Or, for a perfect wedding present or gift to impress, you can choose to purchase one of the lovely Grand Tour boxes. From (L-R): The Europe Grand Tour, Asia Grand Tour or World Grand Tour collections.

LUXE City Guides are priced at P480 each and can be found at Fully Booked Stores, Powerbooks Alabang Town Center and Greenbelt 2, Manila Cigars at NAIA 1&2, all FIRMA stores and at selected National Bookstores.

or, you can purchase them directly from me, Kat. Please email me at katripoll@gmail.com or text me 0917-8930586. Delivery is FREE to Alabang, BF or Cupang areas.

Scarlet Begonia Flowers for beautiful blooms and arrangements

For Mother's Day this year, I received a memorably beautiful bouquet of hot pink roses from my husband and kids. They were from Scarlet Begonia Flowers, a relatively new company based in the HCC area.

Scarlet Begonia can fulfill all your floral needs -- whether it be a bouquet for a special person or to enhance personal occasions (birthdays, weddings, dinner parties) to fixing up a corporate event or even beautifying your office space. Their eye for detail and flexibility in terms of working with their clients will guarantee you'll come away happy.

For more information, visit their website at www.scarletbegoniaflowers.com or call Djuna at 0918-9181083

Ecomarket helps you go green!

I was at the Palms' bazaar last weekend and came across a booth selling all sorts of environmentally friendly and organic products. There were brands I knew like Messy Bessy and Plantex, and new ones like a great brand of kids' shampoos from Kids Heart Nature (made by the people behind Gawad Kalinga).

Ecomarket is a one-stop shop for a green mom's home and personal care products. The brands they currently carry are: Messy Bessy, INDIGO baby, Giga Ventures, Victoria Herbal Laundry, Planet Noah, All Organics, Wild Organics, Leyende, Dharma, Plantex, BotanyWorks, Ilog Maria, EcoSack.

Their current top selling products are:

1. Plantex Green Bath Soap 130g, Php60
2. Daila Thrifty Dishwashing Liquid 1 Liter, Php75
3. Nature's Therapy No Pain 12g, Php95

Visit Ecomarket's store -Ground level, Market!Market! (by the main entrance, across Mercury Drug) or check out http://www.ecomarket.multiply.com/ .

For the Cupang and Alabang areas, email them at ecomarket.ph@gmail.com or text 0915-5147534 and ask them to send you their comprehensive product list. Then text in your order and pick up Wednesdays or Saturdays from a home-based branch.

Great vegetables and more at the Thursday Organic Market

We've already posted about the Thursday Organic Market at ATC, but here are some photos to show you the great things you can purchase there. The tomatoes and peppers in the photo below are just gorgeous and taste as good as they look.



I don't purchase vegetables at the supermarket anymore because the selection at the market is pretty complete. Also, considering the veggies you get here are safer for your family (organic means no chemicals or pesticides), and that they're better looking and tasting, you only pay a fraction of the amount that you normally would at the supermarket. Their salad greens and cabbage heads, for example range from P10 (!) to P40 (as opposed to more than double that at the supermarket).

This booth (above) sells various organic, Philippine-made products like coffee, varieties of brown rice, organic eggs, muscovado and coconut sugar, bottles of natural vanilla, and fresh dairy milk and yogurt. The selection changes weekly so make sure to place orders of the products you like.

There is a French baker (a real one, not to be confused with the French Baker chain ; ) who makes delicious buttery croissants, danishes, olive bread, baguettes and my favorite brown "squirelly" bread (has nuts and grains) and my kids' favorite, chocolate twists.

Beautiful and delicious produce from an organic farm in Tagaytay:

So please visit the market every Thursday from 7am til about noon, at the ATC parking lot. Their website is at www.organic.ph. You may just become a convert like we are.

Green Cleaning Recipes

It's time to go back to basics and stock up on simple pantry items like baking soda, white vinegar, kosher (coarse) salt and lemon juice. These basic ingredients can make up a variety of safe and biodegradable household cleaning products that clean your home just as well as the highly toxic commercial cleaning brands. Here are some easy recipes from thedailygreen.com:

Glass Cleaner (for windows and mirrors)
Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, you can replace it with undiluted lemon juice or club soda.

For Wood Floors (how to restore natural glow)
Whip up a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 30 ounces of warm water. Put in a spray bottle, then spray on a cotton rag or towel until lightly damp. Then mop your floors, scrubbing away any grime.

Silver Cleaner

• Aluminum Foil, Boiling Water, Baking Soda and Salt: Line your sink or a bucket with aluminum foil, and drop in tarnished silver. Pour in boiling water, a cup of baking soda and a dash of salt. Let sit for a few minutes. The tarnish will transfer from the silver to the foil.
• Toothpaste: If you can't immerse your items or are otherwise inclined to polish by hand, rub tarnished silver with toothpaste and a soft cloth. Rinse with warm water and dry. Instead of toothpaste you can substitute a concoction made of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.

Bathroom Cleaner

• Baking Soda and Water (with kosher salt): Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease.
• Lemon Juice or Vinegar: Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.

Safe Disinfectant (great alternative to bleach)

Mix 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/green-cleaning-spring-cleaning-460303#ixzz0MioFVnGS

Visit the Taj Indian Grocery !

If you love Indian food or appreciate exotic cooking, then you must pay the Taj Indian grocery a visit.

At the Taj, you'll find bags and bags of authentic Indian spices, boxes of masala mixes, stacks of ready to cook papadums, tins of ghee butter, bottles of rosewater, henna powder, milk tea mixes, and a LOT more...



They also have a freezer section with vegetarian fare like veg-e-meat and frozen paneer. There are also ready-to-eat (heat in the bag) mixes of curries and instant versions of classics like the absolutely delicious dessert, Gulab Jamun - pound-cake like balls soaked in sweet syrup (this is a hit at our house).

If you visit the Taj on Sundays, you can buy freshly made (and really really delicious) Indian desserts like Gulab Jamun, Kulfi and Burfi (pressed milk curds with pistachios - mmmm).




A personal care section carries henna, soaps, witch hazel, shampoo and dettol (!) all straight from India...


They even have saris and scarves...

The home section has tiffins, serving dishes and copper serving spoons, and they even carry bags of those beautiful bright jewel-colored dyes like the ones you see in Jaipur photos...

The Taj is located in Cupang at One Legacy Place (where there is a Kumon on the 2nd floor), on Don Jesus Blvd. Call them at 809-3417.

Store Hours:

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: 9am to 8pm
• Mondays & Thursdays: CLOSED

Yoga at Allegre Studio, Alabang Hills

For some great all-over body stretching and ashtanga/power yoga, visit Allegre Studio at Ozamis St., Alabang Hills Village. Young and old, men and women (and even children!) are welcome to attend.

Class schedules are:

Mondays at 630 pm

Wednesdays at630 pm

Satursdays at 10 am

Just call or text 0918.918.1083 for their complete address and for more information.

New item - Hillshire Farm Kielbasa - now available from Meatpointe!

You can now order Hillshire Farm's delicious 16oz. Polska Kielbasa from Meatpointe, the people who are bringing in delicious meats and meat products from all over the world. It's so affordable at only Php 370 per 16oz. Kielbasa.

Remember to also try Oscar Meyer's Turkey Bacon at only Php 375 per 12oz. pack. It's so worth it!

To order, call Meatpointe at 807-3197 or 0917-5050308. Remember, they deliver in the Alabang and Muntinlupa areas (and of course Cupang is a premiere destination ; )

What's new at ECHOstore

I love ECHOstore. I gave a lot of their organic/free-trade/environmentally-friendly products out to friends last Christmas. We should support more initiatives like this -- if only they had a store in the Alabang / HCC area!

I regularly get their e-newsletter and here's a great new line of products now available at ECHOstore:




ECHOstore recently launched a new line of products called Second Life. Focused on supporting the environment, these products are made from old, discarded, or unused items. The items are recycled, redesigned, and recreated into new functional products, and literally given a “second life.” Second Life supports home livelihood to assist in poverty alleviation, women empowerment, and dignity of life.

The product line started with the donation of used tarpaulins from Rupert Salas (of Rupert’s Signs & Display Services), one of the country’s biggest billboard suppliers. He sent over tons and tons of misprinted tarpaulins and banners to ECHOstore, and wanted us to find good use for it.

Here are some of the items developed from the used tarpaulins:

Alphabet series

Abstract series

Nature series

Visit ECHOstore:

ECHOstore shares space with Kape Isla, Home of Philippine Coffee

G/F Serendra PiazzaMcKinley Parkway

Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Tel: 901-3485

http://www.echostore.ph/

Free Pizza Slice Promo at S&R!

The other day, as I was at S&R for my weekly food shopping run, the cashier looked at my Mastercard and nicely asked if I had a BPI Express Credit Card instead. Then she told me about this great promo:

Use your BPI Credit Card to pay for a minimum purchase of P3,000 at
S&R and get a FREE slice of pizza (any flavor) at S&R's snack
counter.

Not bad! The giant slice is much appreciated by my son, who usually brings it to school the next day. The promo lasts until September 15, 2009, so go, go take advantage of it, Cupang moms! ; )

Muntinlupa City Zip Codes

I've been living in this area for more than a year and I still remember my Makati and Pasig zip codes over Muntinlupa's. So, for the others who may also not know, here's a list of Muntinlupa City Zip Codes...

Muntinlupa City Zip Codes

* 1770: Muntinlupa CPO

* 1771: Bule/Cupang (woo hoo!)

* 1772: Bayanan/Putatan

* 1772: Soldiers’ Hills

* 1773: Tunasan

* 1774: Susana Heights

* 1775: Pearl Heights

* 1776: Poblacion

* 1777: Pleasant Village

* 1780: Ayala Alabang Subdivision

* 1799: Ayala Alabang P.O. Boxes

Great bread at Good Grains Bakeshop

Update! As of early 2011, Good Grains has moved to 121 Aguirre Ave. It's on the same side of Aguirre but this time it's located street-level in a new building closer to Elizalde. Call them at +632 381-9633.

If you're looking for delicious, quality European-style breads and baked treats, visit Good Grains Bakeshop on Aguirre Avenue.

The small storefront belies the great selection inside -- from dinner rolls to sesame loaves to pillow soft ciabattas and long baguettes. They also sell yummy iced cupcakes and muffins, but these sell out early so call to reserve! The nice thing about Good Grains is that they also are health-conscious, offering wholemeal and whole wheat options. Plus, I can honestly say that everything tastes deliciously homemade.

Call Good Grains at 825-8978 or call/text 0917.8919605 or visit them at 171 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque.

Marta's Cakes - adorably delicious!

Marta's Cakes makes the BEST decorated cakes. Not only are they visually stunning, but Marta Matute's baked creations really taste so so good. These are cakes that the fussy kids and parents love to savor even after the party is over.

Marta's Cakes is now at 3 locations:

• Alabang/Cupang: Marta's Cakes new head office, where you can place cake orders, is at the basement of Skunac Building on Alabang-Zapote road. Call 738-1026 or 842-1410.


• Serendra, Makati: Marta's Cakes is at Serendra, Bonifacio High Street in the Fort. Call 915-3802 or 856-1791. At this location, you can buy sweet desserts, have a coffee or hold your children's parties.


• Greenbelt 5, Makati: Marta's Cakes is inside the Kidz Station store on the 3rd Level of Greenbelt 5 Mall. Call 0917.8069984. This location inside a toy store is a great place to host children's parties.

Check http://www.martascakes.com.ph/ for more information