My First Airbnb Experience + Tagaytay Food Trip.

Last week, our sixth-graders had their spiritual retreat at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City. Worried about the fact that our kids will be out of town, on their own, for the first time in their lives (yes, yes, we're paranoid stage mothers like that, lol) my mom squad and I tagged along. We did not spend the night with them at the retreat house, of course. But we did stay close by, at a vacation home along Kabangaan Road which we rented through Airbnb.

Roadside sign to show you the way.

Secured fence + front entrance to the balcony.

Listed as 'Modern Splendor Tagaytay', this charming bungalow is everything you'll want in your dream home - immaculate interiors, posh furnishings, wide hallways, a spacious and modern kitchen. I fell in love with the place as soon as the caretaker, Kuya Dan, ushered us in!

The living room with extra beds on the side,
plus a 55-inch curved Smart TV with Netflix.

The dining area and kitchen.

Side by side fridge with ice cubes dispenser.

Kitchen bar counter.

Love their fully-equipped kitchen!

And the Himalayan Salt Lamp for that zen effect, haha.

The house has 2 bedrooms fully en suite (ergo, there's an adjoining bathroom), each with beautifully dressed beds. Both rooms are air-conditioned, as well as the common area. 

One of the rooms inside Modern Splendor.

The bathroom, complete with towels for the guests.
There's hot water, and a hair dryer, too.

Guests are allowed to cook in the kitchen, and can use all the utensils in the kitchen cabinet. We chose to dine outside, though, but we did use the some of the plates and cutlery, and the electric kettle for coffee and tea, which were provided by the hosts, Letecia and Donald.

Pool table + outdoor dining area. 

Garden + undercover carport.

This swing seats two! :)

Aside from the classy interiors, Modern Splendor also boasts of an outdoor entertainment area complete with a pool table, dart board, videoke machine, and a barbecue grill. There's also a wicker swing to complete that country home feels!

With my Mom Squad. :)

Groufie mirror shot!

Sweater weather. :)

My mom squad and I truly enjoyed our overnight stay at Modern Splendor. Our hosts were nice and very responsive to my inquiries, and the caretaker was quite attentive to our needs. The place is cozy and commodious, and is situated in a quiet area that's close to the city market, restaurants and convenience stores, and just minutes away from Picnic Grove. I would definitely recommend this home if you need a place to stay while in Tagaytay.

Oh, and speaking of restaurants, here's a glimpse of our Tagaytay food trip. We pretty much did nothing but eat and shop in Tagaytay, I felt like I gained a kilo overnight, haha!

Carmela's Banana Cakes.

Banana Chips by Carmela's.

Lining up for Ube Jam at Bahay Pastulan.

Special Ensaymada by Cecilia's.

One of the best buko pies in Tagaytay.

Grilled Seafood platter.

Crispy Pata.

Bulalo.

Dinakdakan.

Best piaya ever at Balay Dako.

Balay Dako Deli.

Pasalubong goodies at Balay Dako.

Shopping for flowers while watching the Tagaytay sunset. :)

We had planned to have dinner at Balay Dako, but alas, the restaurant was closed because they were having their staff Christmas party that night. We visited them the following morning so we can buy piaya for take-out. My friend's mom had raved about their piaya so much, and boy oh boy, she was not kidding. Balay Dako's piaya is exceptionally good! Another reason to visit Tagaytay again soon! :)

Top Tips to Help your Home Reflect your Style.

If like me, you feel your home could do with a bit of a makeover, one of the first things you need to think about is what style you’d like to go with.

Ideally, you should choose a home décor theme that matches your own personal style. This is what makes your home unique to you. Creating more personalized décor will help you to relax more after a long hard day.

However, it’s not always easy figuring out what your personal style is. I, for one, had a lot of trouble identifying what my personal home décor style was. If you’re struggling to identify yours then the ideas below will help.

1. Country girl at heart
If you’re a country girl at heart, your main goal should be to focus on warm colours. Browns, reds and blue are all great colour palettes for a country style home. My particular favourite part of a country theme is the heavy wooden style. Wooden furniture and exposed beams often play a large part in country homes.

Photo credit: Honduras Business.

If you are aiming to decorate your home in a country style, you may want to consider sash window refurbishment. The windows of older style homes tend to be slightly different to newer homes so a refurbishment can help to bring them up to date.

2. Eclectic
If your personal style is slightly out there, you’ll find it quite easy to decorate your home. My own personal favourite style is eclectic. To achieve this look you basically choose furniture and accessories that you really like that don’t necessarily go with anything else in the room. They also tend to stand out quite a lot too with bold, unusual patterns.

Photo credit: Indecora.

3. Art lover
If you’re a lover of art, you don’t need to spend a fortune on your home makeover. It’s possible to find artsy accessories and furniture at local markets. The flea market in Camden, London is a particularly great place to shop for antique style furniture on a budget.

Yin Yang Furniture by Kenneth Cobonpue.

These are three of the top styles that people aim for. It’s important to identify your style before you start your home décor project.