The past year had been very very good to us. Blessings came in many forms, through angels disguised as humans, and conveniently so at the most perfect of times. Truly, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” -Ecclesiastes 3:1
My Lovey’s 16th birthday was spent at Spectrum, Fairmont Hotel with a fabulous Lego Sunday Brunch for the entire family. Kap’s birthday was celebrated at Circles, Makati Shangri-La Manila where we had a romantic dinner for 2. Ate‘s birthday staycation was spent at the lovely Club Room of Hyatt City of Dreams Manila. And finally for my Babyson’s 18th birthday, we had a Staycation at B Hotel QC with a back-to-back Lunch at Four Seasons Hotpot & Buffet. We were blessed beyond measure by wonderful, generous friends & my heart simply overfloweth from their love
Before the year came to a close, we once again received some pahabol love & blessing, this time by Kap’s good friend of many years, JESSIE, and his family. I have always wondered what The Spa & Lodge at Tagaytay Highlands looked like but never got a chance to go inside as it’s a strictly “Member’s Only” lodging. Membership fee (when a slot becomes available) starts at 750k on top of the Club or Golf Share, with lodging benefits equivalent to only 21 stays/year/member. Hindi namin afford! 😛
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How lovely to wake up after a good night’s rest, look out your window, and see this magnificent view! <3 Kap likes waking up to the sound & sight of sea, while I prefer waking up to a view of the forest. Magkaiba talaga kami. Which landscape is more romantic ba?
Kap’s happy news was met with squeals of delight by the GOppets as he surprised us with a staycation for not just 1 room, but 2 last week courtesy of Jessie! Honeymoon galore kami ni Kap. Ang saya-saya! ;))
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Even Kap has to admit that the Country Club Share we got at Tagaytay Highlands is most sulit. The view is just spectacular! Hindi nakakasawang tignan at puntahan, kahit pa pabalik-balik. <3 After our staycation, baka mauto ko syang kumuha na rin ng Spa & Lodge membership, teehee!
Tagaytay is around 1.5-2 hours away from home so we made a Buko Pie stop along the way (and a much needed wee-wee break!). The best Buko Pie for us is The ORIGINAL Buko Pie Bakeshop in Laguna. Siksik na siksik sa laman, and served piping hot from the oven.
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It was a late foggy afternoon when we finally arrived at our destination. Brrrr! Conducive to loving-loving. 😉
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The Spa & Lodge
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Tagaytay Highlands, with its tall majestic pine & fir trees, really looks like a Christmas village. <3 Every nook & cranny is just instagrammable.
The Spa & Lodge, with its structure made entirely of Western Red Cedar logs, stands mighty & proud in the heart of Tagaytay Highlands. It has 25 well-appointed rooms with a continuing woodsy motif throughout.
God is so good! <3 Just over a month after my mom’s massive stroke, she is now up & about requiring a little assistance. God’s love & light shines upon her, she is truly favored! <3
One night at The Spa & Lodge is bitin. I can get used to living here. So tranquil & serene! <3 Now this is glamping at its finest. Pwede sa GOppets gals! \m/
The Spa & Lodge is one big log cabin that smells like the woods! <3 No need for artificial air freshener. Ang bango-bango!
The 2 mudras (who are now super tight BFFs & have become inseparable) came along for a day trip. Tagaytay is too cold & windy for their liking so they went home after dinner. Nasolo ako ni Kap sa malaki naming banyo, lol! 😛
Room service is available. When you stay at The Spa & Lodge, be prepared to just laze around & do absolutely nothing! Relaxation after all, is the name of the game.
Jessie was so sweet to give us 2 rooms so we won’t be crowded. He knows we never leave home without the kids. So Kap & I had privacy for a night. KABOWG! ;)) Or so we thought..
But as usual, the kids came a-knockin’ and opted to stay with us to rule over our bed! @_@
It was a super breezy night at the Golfer’s Lounge. Perfect for some bulalo soup & Tagaytay Highland’s very own farm catch of Jumbo Bangus.
Giant! Dambuhalang bangus I tell you!
Garlic fried ried rice calls for a couple’a orders of crispy pata.. Yum! <3
It just so happened that my mom’s new helper was celebrating her 20th birth anniversary that very same day. We made sure to make her natal day special with a gift, a treat, and a song! 🙂 Mahirap ang mawalay sa pamilya. Happy birthday, JOY! :-* Kaso mukhang hindi sya mahilig sa cake hehe. She only ate half. Hindi pa sya sanay kumain ala GOppets. Humanda ka Joy, we will train you well!
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After the mudras left, we went for a joyride & found ourselves at Mushroom Burger just before its closing time. Though still so full from our recently concluded dinner, of course we had to have some ‘shrooms since we were already there!
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Mushroom Burger. Tagaytay City Km. 60, Brgy. Kaybagal Tagaytay, Philippines Monday-Sunday – 7:30 am to 11:00 pm Tel: (+6346) 483-1330
Tried a Mushroomburger Regular 42 php made from beef and mushroom for folks like me who enjoy the classics. And a side dish of Mushroom Fries add 47 php.
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For breakfast, the kids opted to skip the one at The Spa & Lodge and go for brunch at Breakfast at Antonio’s instead. It was the perfect decision allowing us to wake up late & move around at a leisurely pace..
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The kids & I tried the new Omurice at Breakfast at Antonio’s. Super filling & a big serving. Great value for money.
Ate was craving for the cookies she had last time, so she ordered a bunch and ATE THEM ALL. Truly! Even I was shocked. They must be really REALLY good!
Because our stay was a gift, and he must have had a good night’s rest, Kap was feeling benevolent & let us choose our resto of choice. Good mood si Kap! ;P
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Loving the december sweater weather. <3 Happy new year from the GOppets! :-*
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Thank you so much Jessie & Pie for this wonderful holiday gift that we enjoyed immensely! <3 Sana maulit muli hehe! 😉
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Happy new year, everyone! <3 Let’s all wish for bigger, brighter, and better things to come this 2016!
14 Comments
Alam ko na bait good mood si Kap! May naganap the night before hahaha!!! Happy to see your Mom na parang di nagkasakit. PS. nakita ko yung coleman sa table habang kumakain kayo ng buko pie. Kaps idea? hehe
January 4, 2016 at 8:19 amHAHAHA! oh yes. Op cors Kap’s idea. May bitbit yan anywhere & EVERYWHERE we go! zomg. ;))
January 4, 2016 at 8:31 am-Jane! Ang ganda-ganda naman diyan! Bilis, bili na kayo ng share, tapos imbitahin mo kami, hahaha…
-parehas tayo, mas gusto ko din ang forest view kesa sa beach
-I’m so happy your mom is already up and about. Praying for her continual health
-gusto ko ng mushroomburger! kaso lang ayaw ni TP diyan, huhuhu…
-wow, may omurice sa Breakfast at Antonio’s… must go back for that
-JANA ATE ALL THE COOKIES??? Bakit ang super sexy pa din niya? Life is so unfair, huhuhu… hehehe…
Have a great week, Jane! Mwah!
January 4, 2016 at 8:31 am– lezzgo dati pa kitang niyayaya inisnab mo. REMEMBER?? 😛
January 4, 2016 at 8:34 am– thank you Niel for caring about mommy :-*
– wag mo nang ambisyunin mag-mushroomburger ok. Take it from me. TAKE IT! TAKE IT! 😉
– No, kinagatan lang nyang lahat tapos ako na ang umubos hehe. Thus my sexy bodeh!
– Back to normal. Have a great year agead Niel. Love you! <3
Here in my hometown, whenever we eat in restaurants my British husband ( we retired here for a year now) always observe how the people treat their maids/nanies and often they are not allowed to eat or eat what ever is left on the table this is painful for him to see and always ask why take them out if you can not feed them I told him I don’t know because it’s not done in my family. when I saw the picture of your family and staff in one big table with all the food I showed it to him and told him most filipinos treat their staff well. Thank you Jane it shows your Mom had brought you up well. All the best for 2016♡♥
January 4, 2016 at 2:01 pmAwwww thank you so much for the affirmation for my mom Gezel. <3 My heart swells with pride. Yes we always eat together, they are part of the Goppets family. Happy new year to you & your husband! :-*
January 4, 2016 at 2:45 pmHappy new year, GOppets!
January 4, 2016 at 3:02 pmI’m so glad your mom is ok and continuously getting better.
Natuwa din ako to see how you treat your helpers. You are blessed because you are a blessing to others as well.
May God bless you more! ?
Thank you Cherryll! Happy new year mwah! :-*
January 4, 2016 at 3:46 pmSARAP ng staycation aka honeymoon-ulit 🙂
Mommy Jane, I must agree with Kap that the sights and sound of the sea, sun, and surf (wow, puro S) is more romantic. I’m a beach baby and always will be. Curious ako what the Goppets’s choice is. Hehehehe…
I LOVE Orient’s buko pie. Buti they opened an outlet na sa Sta Rosa/Tagaytay road. It’s so much more accessible and convenient. When I was little, we would schlep all the way to Los Banos to their original site (beside the DTRI outlet which sold heavenly chocolate milk) just for the buko pie. So many good memories.
So happy to see you and the Giblings (and mudras) having fun and chilling out.
Happy 2016, Mommy Jane. See you soon! :*
January 5, 2016 at 4:07 pmHaaay same as you the goppets babies are also water babies! Talo ako sa botohan hehe. Yes, see you with ze lechon! #walangbawian HAHAHA! :-*
January 5, 2016 at 7:50 pmBut aavvccooorrsssss! Saken ang lechon, sayo ang Lipitor! 😀
January 6, 2016 at 3:55 pmgreat to see your family and MILs having a great time miss jane!
si dad ko rin lagi may baon coleman nakakatuwa.
miss jane, may i ask anong van gamit nyo dun sa pic (toyota alphard ba or starex yun?? looks spacious. we are looking for one family car kasi.
January 6, 2016 at 10:20 amWe used mom’s starex anna. 🙂 Spacious naman. Pero sorry wala ako idea about toyota cars hehe. (or any car for that matter lol)
January 6, 2016 at 11:00 amthanks miss jane! check ko nga starex mukhang maluwag 🙂
January 8, 2016 at 9:51 am