WOFEX 2014- Cakes!

I attended the Olympics for chefs the other week. Here are some of their amazing works of art:

1. I like this one just because it's yellow with peonies, carnations & roses. Dainty.

2. This reminded me of my first trip to the zoo (in Tagaytay) with Mama Renee as he was terribly fascinated with birds and the birds of paradise:p He says he gets inspiration from colorful birds 

3. The sparkle of the midnight butterflies is just enchanting. It features handcrafted fondant angels too!

4. Another angelic design fit for Notre Dame

5. hand-painted cherubs!

6. Aww..cute!!! "crawl me to the moon & let me play among the stars.." haha

7. Tranquility at its finest

8. Amazing dome/ rattle top!

9. Mommy, it's alive!!!:o

10. Intricately done. The flowers were all astonishingly handcrafted

Read More

Bb Pilipinas takes on Manila Water's Toka toka

I love water.  I love it so much I hardly drink anything else (this proves I'm not an alien, right?:p) I even carry a huge bag just to accomodate my tumbler. Believe it or not, I can spend an entire day watching fish swim in a pond, or sit an entire afternoon observing how rain splatter carelessly on plants and windowpanes. Fountains delight me, waterfalls excite me. Water is just amazing.

More than its capacity to amuse people like me, water is a major necessity and its sustainability throughout the trail system is essential for our survival here on this planet.  Major rivers and waterways deteriorate when residential septic tanks are improperly designed and/or are poorly maintained.  It's disheartening that three of our major water systems in the Metro were declared biologically dead: Marikina, San Juan & Pasig River (where my lolo used to dive in after school & where he translated love letters of American soldiers for their Filipina sweethearts who cannot read English :/)

So in 2012, Manila Water (in charge of the East Zone) came up with Toka toka to encourage everyone to take part in saving our rivers.

This year, in time for the rainy season, the Bb Pilipinas winners expressed their support in this campaign. They opened an exhibit at the Gateway Mall to encourage us all to act ASAP.

To the delight of onlookers, First Runner-up Laura Lehmann hosted the games of the event.

Her Bb Pilipinas sisters cheered on, emphasizing four ways of how we can take part:

1. Desludge your septic tank every five years- it's a service you pay for anyway. Might as well avail of it :)

2. Connect your home to a sewer line. You may call 1627 to check with Manila Water

3. Segregate trash religiously

4. Take part in Manila Water's cleanup projects& sports events

They even danced the Toka toka with Kuya Pat, Manila Water's friendly mascot.

It's more fun when it's Pat x2 :p

Read More

Cheatday Saturday

I preach the art of portion control when it comes to satisfying your cravings. Yet every Saturday (ironically the day we usually attend the anticipated mass), I intentionally forget the recommended serving size for each dish I encounter, relishing the company of family & friends.  Here is a list of stuff you might want to try on your cheatday:

1. Ronnie's Cafe, Greenwoods, Pasig

  

Pares na Pinagtalunan

       Ronnie's is known for their alcoholic beverages; it's cool that they now offer affordable meals too. I dunno if they also put wine in their pares because it is so addicting!

2. Tipple & Slaw, Forum, BGC

Pastrami Fries

       It's got tasty beef pastrami, sour cream &cheese! All the good stuff in one plate!

3.Sci-Fi Cafe, Robinson's Galleria

Nacho Libre

      Conquer any planet or galaxy with this supersized bunch! Amuse yourself with their toy exhibit & costume cabinet while you're at it!

4. Kettle, Shangrila Mall

Onion Soup

      This is no minion's onion. With the amount of cheese on top, you'd definitely be pleased.

5. Tim Ho Wan, MegaMall

Pork Buns

      Now I know why people scurry to fall in line. Reminiscent of cheese buns and asado rolls in Tipas combined with a French flaky twist, words are just not apt to describe it.

6. Mamou, Serendra

Truffle Flavoured Vegetable Mushroom
Dip with Whole Wheat Melba Chips

      Oh my..this was just nirvana. I almost forgot about the steak after.  I could relish this even without the bread; I enjoyed it so much I couldn't even remember its exact name.

7.  Bizu, Greenbelt3

Mini Cakes

      I cannot limit myself to just one flavor; every visit is a new experience. Their French mini cakes aren't overbearingly sweet nor annoyingly bland. For those who are trying to watch their sugar/gluten intake, they offer sugarfree & flourless treats too.

8. Bikers' Cafe, MOA Area

Adobo Flakes

      Despite not being fan of adobo (I guess I just had too much of it in my college dorm), I enjoyed the crunch of this one. It can actually be my potato chip substitute in the morning :p

9. Spätzle, Shangrila Mall

Flat Bread and All-Natural
Citrus Cooler Soda

        See the gooey cheese & fresh greens on the freshly baked flatbread? Need I say more?:) I'm also a fan of their citrus cooler & their olive inspired hand sanitizer.

10. TWG, Greenbelt5

Scallops & Prawn

      Subtle, creamy, and delicate, it reminded me of the elegant Rose (Kate Winslet) as she dined in Titanic. Perfect with their sweet tea.

Read More

Burts Bees: 30 Years of Hiving Happiness

I have a confession to make. I'm addicted to peppermint. 

Psychologically uplifting, it reminds me of the most remarkable figure in my childhood--my Lola Lyn.  She made me believe that I can banish every kind of pain & discomfort with peppermint--insomnia, headache, cramps & even heartaches! I just couldn't sleep or leave the house without it. Until now.

Burt's Bees lip balm

So love was just inevitable when I first kissed Burt's Bees lip balm with a nice hint of peppermint. Yes, I like it that much, I smooch it out of its container before applying my lip shade of the day.

Burt's Bees Acne Solutions

My sister Catie has another reason to love the brand. It helped her get rid of pimples when she stayed abroad for her OJT. She breaks out when she's stressed (oh I could imagine how sad her life was without me hahahahaha). So this moisturizer was actually her secret why it's not so obvious on fb that she missed us so much. She uses it until now.

Recently, I catched snippets of their 30th anniversary party.

They celebrated the bee that started their success.

Orange Essence
Facial Cleanser

I got to try more of their sweet smelling, time-tested originals. Their orange essence facial cleanser is refreshing to use even if it doesn't produce much bubbles. It's comforting too that it's 100% natural.

Their tomato toner smells nice too. It works well on oily & problem skin..perfect for my T-zone!

It is actually not advisable to wash one's face more than twice a day. So in between takes, facial cleansing towelettes serve me well. It efficiently removes makeup and helps prevent breakouts.

To cap off your routine, almond milk would surely quench your skin's thirst for creamy nourishment.

Happy 30th Burt's Bees! Our first kiss will always be memorable;) 

Read More

Bastille Day in Manille 2014

I wasn't able to catch any movie from the French Film Fest this year. Because of the weather, I wasn't able to attend Fete de la Musique either. But I was able to enjoy Bastille Day in Greenbelt the week after as H.E. Ambassador Garachon partied with premier French luggage brand, Delsey.

      I wore red & had my share of wine & cheese.   My outfit matched the luxurious lining of Delsey's top of the line bag, Honore.  Check out its built-in organizers!:)

   Its elegance suits the ambassador. Its matte outer shell has a “soft touch” finish and leather highlights. This 2014, it features the double wheel system so wheel rotation and stability wouldn't be a problem even for damsels in distress with weak arms like me :p. An ID plate on the rear of the luggage bears an individual code so that one can easily recover it in case it gets lost.

      Amb Garachon attempted to poke his new Honore but it remained scratch free!

Read More

Cozy Travelwear Fit for All Seasons

It's always fun to travel. This season, I'm actually grateful that we have more opportunity to sing in the rain & hold private concerts when it's traffic :p 

       Although it's quite a challenge to enjoy the great outdoors when it's bed weather, brands like Eddie Bauer come up with ways so we can still hike and bike in style and comfort no matter how challenging the weather conditions are.

      Recently, they opened a new store at SM Aura Premier. They showcased stuff that could protect us from the icky unpredictable weather that's classic enough for the office and practical enough for trekking.

      They also have light jackets that are more stylish and durable than plastic raincoats. These could be easily paired with candy colored shirts.

      And for those who opt to have their next adventure in a colder country, well fret not! Cozier jackets don't have to be drab and bulky.

   Have a blast living your adventure!:)

Read More

PAT Pizza Madness

My mom craved for pizza for 9months when she had me. Shakey's. Manager's Choice. She paired each greedy bite w/ ripe mangoes. 

So it was quite expected that I would love the same things too as soon as I learned how to chew complex food.

Here is my list of delectable pizza I've tried recently other than Shakey's thin crust & Pizzahut's cheesy crust:

1. Mad for Garlic (BGC)

      They claim the state of your breath wouldn't be compromised after devouring slices of this. They have developed a secret process in Korea of slowly cooking garlic to make it creamy & mild. I don't know if my friends were honest or just polite but they said mine wasn't so bad after :p Taste wise, it isn't overpowering, almost like potato snowflakes on a creamy thin crust.

2. Buon Giorno (Rockwell Business Club)

      I didn't expect the mushrooms on this pizza to be so flavorful. Truffle power. See, it was three slices after before I realized "I should capture this on photo"

3. Camaya (Bataan)

      For those who favor pizzas on the sour tangy side,this is your ideal beach babe. Try to order early in the day though; they usually have intense kitchen traffic. 

4. Olives (Thunderbird, La Union)

     I'm so happy we have this now in Makati :) Delectable Mediterranean cheese even while on the road.

5. Nomnomnom (QC)

    

      Filipino inspired flatbreads that would make you miss your grandparents. So good, you would forget it's healthy.

6. Project Pie (Shaw)

      As a toddler, I loved pizza making on Play Dough. But why not pour your love & devotion on the real thing? Create your own visual masterpiece & make your tastebuds join in the fun after. I love garlic, mushrooms & caramelized onions w/ red sauce.

7. Il terrazo

      I like this pizza only because it's pink &yellow. It lacks depth though. I tried squeezing a bit of lemon on top

8. 12 Monkeys (Century City Mall)

      Chito's Picha Pie would make you jam. Its flavors are reminiscent of your 1st love in the gradeschool canteen yet its crust would make you say, "ah no, this one's different."

9. Museum Cafe (Greenbelt)

      The freshness of their ingredients just stand out. But I want more tomatoes on this variant.

   10. Ang New No (Angono)

     Here, even their pizza is a work of art! I enjoyed their sisig pizza best while sipping on shake and admiring the restaurant's interiors.

<3 <3 <3 til our next pizza hunt!

Read More