Saturday, December 21, 2013

Of Dogs and Nightmares

Have you ever had a dream where you get into a fight with somebody close to you and you wake up crying? Or worse, someone you love dies?? 

I've had more than my share of nightmares this 2013 - family members dying, getting into crazy fights with my parents and being cheated on by my boyfriend. Most recently, last December 19 (which was my birthday!!), I dreamt that one of my dogs died. Mikko, my favorite, was really sad one morning, so I tried playing with him but he didn't care. I remember holding him in my arms when he told me he was dying! His exact words were: "konti nalang, konti nalang mamamatay na ako." And the worst part is, other members of my family didn't care. My mom and my aunt were even laughing at me because I was crying!

Here are the most recent photos I took of Mikko, a week before I had that awful nightmare.
Mikko <3Mikko <3
I was crying my eyes out when I woke up. And would you believe that that was actually my second nightmare that day? Of all the days, birthday ko pa. :(
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Not sure why I decided to share this. Sorry for spreading so much negativity and sadness this close to Christmas. I promise to post more positive stuff after the holidays, pagbigyan niyo nalang ako today. I'm really gonna miss our dogs when they're gone. They (Mikko and Mikki) are already seven years old, so I'm just praying they don't leave us too soon. 
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To dog owners everywhere, love your dogs, don't take them for granted. Remember, "he might be only part of your life, but for him, you are his everything, the only person in his whole life."

Monday, December 16, 2013

Friday Lunch at Pino & Pipino

A few weeks ago, my sister and I had our gown fitting for my cousin's wedding. She doesn't have school on Fridays so we took our time to head out to Makati that morning - unfortunately, we got caught in traffic, but not so much that we finished just in time for lunch.

We decided to eat at Pino Resto Bar / Pipino along Jupiter Street. My sister has never tried their food, and I've only been to their Malingap branch once so I thought it'd be a good bonding experience for us to try something new together.

I went with Pino's Seafood Aligue Pasta.
Pino Bar
I liked that it was creamy and not malansa. My sister Pauline liked it too, even though she's not a big fan of pasta - so, plus points for that, Pino!  


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

G2G: Got to Give

Let's make this Christmas more meaningful!

 "G2G (Got to Give): A Christmas Bazaar for Leyte" is a massive 2-day bazaar of pre-loved, good quality items.
All proceeds of the bazaar will go into the construction of a school in Leyte.

 In the spirit of giving and of bayanihan, we encourage you to donate your clothes, bags,
accessories, and home decor to this worthy cause.

 For interested parties, please fill out this donation form.

 For more information:
Like their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Got2Give
Follow them on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Got2Give

Thursday, December 5, 2013

House of Lasagna by Chef Erick Congmon

Whenever I visit a restaurant and see lasagna on their menu, I immediately think of the words "expensive" and "small servings." It's quite unfortunate because I've loved pasta ever since I can remember, but I can't recall the last time I had a plate of lasagna and actually felt like I got what I paid for.

So when I laid eyes on House of Lasagna at J. Abad Santos last year, I just knew I had to try it out. I mean, there are a lot of restaurants that serve lasagna, but none that actually specializes in it (and offers more than five different kinds) until now. So when Mike and I finally found the time to dine there AND meet the person behind it, I was excited, to say the least.

Their best-selling Beef Lasagna (P250) House of Lasagna


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Run BGC: TAKBOnifacio


Inviting everyone to take part in Run BGC: TakBonifacio - a one-of-a-kind afternoon run that coincides with the 150th birth year anniversary of Andres Bonifacio - of course, happening on November 30, 2013. Dress up as a Katipunero or in any Pinoy costume and run away from Gwardya Sibils lining the race route!

You still have today until Saturday to register for your slots! ;)
Note: All registration fees will be donated for Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts.

Check out the video:

Sounds fun, right? Read about the obstacles you'll be facing below! (open the image in new tab to maximize)
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What are you waiting for? Sign up now! Here's how:

Registration fees:
Adults – PHP 500
Kids – PHP 150 – Kids (5‐12 years old) 
Residents and workers of BGC get it at less PHP 150
Groups that form a battalion of 150pax will only have to pay PHP 150 per pax

Where to register?
- Toby’s (Shangri-la, Mall of Asia, and Glorietta)
- RUNNR (Alabang Town Center and Bonifacio Global City) 
- Brooks (SM North Edsa)

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I'm gonna be running at 4pm (wave 1). Hope to see you there! :)

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Nami Island

My siblings and I (along with my brother’s girlfriend and her relatives) went on a five-day tour of South Korea last April 2012. Nami Island was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go around the entire island because we had limited free time and had to keep moving to cover as much ground as possible. Nami Island is privately-owned, and was also the shooting place for the popular television series (Koreanovela), Winter Sonata. Today, Nami Island is frequently visited by both foreigners and locals to unwind and relax in the loving arms of nature.

Love & Peace
Nami Island


Saturday, November 23, 2013

The World As I See It

SunsetSunsetSunset

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place." 
- Kurt Vonnegut

I love that quote. Also sharing an article from tinybuddha.com - 35 Ways to Make the World a Beautiful Place.
Read and be inspired! Happy weekend, everyone! :)

Monday, November 18, 2013

Katipunan BaHAIYANihan

It's been almost a week since my last update, sorry about that. I've been doing my part by helping pack relief goods for the victims of typhoon Yolanda at the Ateneo de Manila University. To be honest, my neck and shoulders hurt, but what's that compared to the loss that Eastern Visayas experienced when the strongest typhoon in 2013 hit the country last November 8. What happened to the Philippines is really terrible, so I admire how strong the country is and how everyone (the whole world!) is helping out in their own way. Thank you so much for that! :)

Anyway, just a quick share for tonight since I'm heading over to Richie Fernando Covered Courts at Ateneo again in the morning (do come if you're available!). Got all these from Wanderrgirl's Facebook page:

"A small isolated island was wiped out by Typhoon Yolanda - and they need our help to rebuild! Malapascua is a little island in northern Cebu and it is one of the best diving spots & marine life sanctuaries in the country (and the world!).  And because it is such a tiny, isolated piece of land - Yolanda/Haiyan wiped them out - and it is suspected, even their coral reefs. :( 

And so we are holding katipunan baHAIYANihan! Katipunan baHAIYANihan is a collaborative community bazaar and arts night to help rebuild Malapascua."
Katipunan #BaHAIYANihan

"Think of it as a large-scale garage sale! It hopes to help by: 1) Providing a centralized selling area+date for people who want to sell their things for cash to donate to the cause, but don't have a venue for it (you give us your wares, we make it happen!), and 2) Forwarding 100% of proceeds to Save Philippines Seas, our official partner & beneficiary.

But this is not just an ordinary bazaar. There will be a bit of music, a bit of poetry, some games and a whole lot of HOHOL. It’s a space for regular Katipunan-goers to participate in the rebuilding of our nation! 

WE NEED DONATIONS! Do you have pre-loved clothes, bags, accessories, shoes, gadgets you’d like to share? You know what we’re talking about. The stuff in your closet you’ve only worn once, you’ve outgrown, or those you don’t even remember why you bought them. The ones you say will fit you ‘soon’ or ‘once you lose 15 pounds.’ Or! Maybe old books and magazines? Or what about artwork? Photography prints?

We’ll do the dirty work (sorting, pricing) and sell them for you! 100% of the proceeds will go to Malapascua via Save Philippine Seas."
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It's a pretty interesting event! So if you have time tomorrow, please do drop by from 4pm-10pm to donate or buy stuff! :)
Katipunan BaHAIYANihan is happening at 47 EAST, #47 Esteban Abada St., Katipunan, QC

See you there!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Instaxed: At Cathy's Wedding

My first three entries this month were all dedicated to Cathy's bridal shower (see one, two, and three), so I figured I might as well continue my streak by posting about her wedding! :)

I was excited to see Cathy walk down the aisle and also catch up with the block mates I haven't seen in years, so I brought my Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 to capture as many moments with them as possible - and I couldn't have done it without the help of my boyfriend Mike!

Since the wedding was going to be held at Mary the Queen Parish, we decided to leave the house early to have lunch at Banapple first before heading to the church.

Here I am in my #OOTD (I call this photo Ghost in Red. Haha!) 
Instaxed: Cathy's Wedding
I really should remember to switch my instax's settings from time to time. :p


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Girls' Day Out: Part Three

After our quick coffee/dessert break at EPIC, we headed to our next stop. Like all bridal showers, there comes a point when you give the bride-to-be something that she can use on her wedding night. Can you guess where we went next? :)
La Senza


Thursday, November 7, 2013

An EPIC Coffee Shop Discovery

After our brunch at Milky and Sunny, we decided to bond over ice cream and drinks at the coffee shop next door named EPIC.

EPIC Coffee Roastery
Oh, Cathy. What a face.


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Brunch at Milky and Sunny

My friend Cathy is getting married in a few days. And because we are such awesome friends (haha), Steph, Denice, Joy and I decided to free up an entire weekend to spend with her. She had no idea what we had planned for the day - all she knew was that we were going to pick her up and that she had to pack clothes for the night.

Once she was in the car, her maid of honor, Steph, brought out a bride-to-be sash and a crown for Cathy to wear the entire day! She didn't have a choice - because prior to this, she already promised Steph that she'll be up for anything, as long as it doesn't involve a stripper. So yeah, to those who were expecting a naked man on my blog, sorry, maybe next time. At Denice's bridal shower maybe? Haha :)

Moving on - we began our day at Milky and Sunny - an all-day breakfast place in Kapitolyo, Pasig.
Milky and SunnyMilky and Sunny


Thursday, October 31, 2013

Calling All Garlic Fans!

Calling all garlic fans!

Check out Mad for Garlic located at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig!
 Mad for Garlic


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Halloween 2013

Over the weekend, Mike and I attended a 90's icon-themed Halloween party. Guess who we dressed up as? :)
Bario and MuigiBario and Muigi 
The Mario Brothers!


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Crazy for Katsu

Mike and I visited the UP Town Center supposedly to have lunch there, but since we couldn't decide on a place to eat, we headed to Crazy Katsu in Maginhawa Street instead. No complaints here though, because Crazy Katsu proves that you don't have to spend a lot to eat great food. ;)

Just check out how happy Mike was with his miso soup (P30)!
Crazy Katsu


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Missing Japan

I flew to Japan for two weeks in December 2011. I had been dreaming to go there for I don’t know how long already, and seriously, I just have to say, it was the most amazing trip I’ve ever been on. No doubt about it. The only downside is that we weren’t able to visit many tourist spots, but still, Japan is such a beautiful country. I hope I get the chance to visit again soon, especially during cherry blossom season (March/April). Below are some of the photos I took during the trip: 

Bento box during the tour



Friday, October 18, 2013

It's the Freakin' Weekend!

"It's the freakin' weekend, baby, I'm about to have me some fun!" - Ignition, R. Kelly
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It has been a pretty hectic week for me, so I've decided that I'll be spending this weekend at home to work on my backlogs (yes, working on backlogs is fun). :) I can't wait to post about the stuff I got to do the last couple of days! Hope everyone's having a great week! xo
Happy Weekend
P.S. Can you guess where this photo was taken? :) 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Cookie Crazy!

A day before our visit to our lola in Pampanga, I decided I'd bake her some cookies. It took me 3 hours to make 63 pieces (because I only used a square cake pan that fits 9 cookies at a time) and I missed lunch over these, so I'm glad they turned out well. :)
Cookie CrazyCookie Crazy
I really need to buy a proper baking sheet soon. /wrist


Sunday, October 13, 2013

One of the Boys

Last Sunday, I had lunch with the guys after their football game in UP.Banapple
Being that I was the only girl in the group, they let me decide on where we should eat. Aww, sweet niyo, guys! *tears*


Friday, October 11, 2013

Say Hello to my New Hair!

For a while now, I've been wanting to do something new with my hair. In the last years, I've had it bobbed, permed, relaxed, colored and re-colored. Recent salon visits, however, mainly revolve around getting my hair trimmed and the occasional treatments, and honestly, I'm getting bored with my hair. Haha. I figured maybe it was about time that I change it up again, so that's exactly what I did.
Soiree Salon and SpaSoiree Salon and Spa
I eventually decided on getting a digital perm and lucky for me, Soirée Salon and Spa was there to save the day! :)


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Happy Hump Day Wednesday!

IMG_2369
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I woke up to a beautiful sunny morning, so I thought I'd share this lovely photo to spread the good vibes. The last two days have been amazing and I'm definitely looking forward to great things to come! Can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store for me :)

Have a lovely Wednesday everyone! ♥

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Pancake House: A Happy Place

Exactly a month ago was my dad's birthday, and to celebrate, we had lunch at Pancake House!Pancake House
My sister had been asking us to eat there to satisfy the pancake craving she's had for weeks already. And though I enjoy their pancakes as well, I felt like pigging out at the time, so I decided to order one of their special sets instead.


Friday, October 4, 2013

My Experience at Royal Lake Spa

FEBRUARY 11, 2014 (UPDATE): Royal Lake Spa officially closed their doors last February 6 (Thursday). To everyone who still haven't claimed their Metrodeal vouchers, you may call their office at (02)823-1955 so they can refund you with Metrodeal credits or through your credit card. Hope this helps! :)

Royal Lake Spa


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Yummy Smudgies!

Smudgies

I'm trying hard to keep my promise to bake something new every week. So even though my experiments do not end up looking the way I want them to, I'm still going to post about them here. Like for instance, these S'mores Fudge Brownies (Smudgies) which I honestly had a difficult time taking pictures of. They did not look pretty, I tell you that. But I was really excited about them because they smelled really good in the oven and they came out perfect - crunchy on the outside but chewy on the inside. It was great because my parents liked them (FYI my dad is not a fan of brownies). My boyfriend's family liked them, too! His mom even asked him where he bought them. Teehee. *blush* But seriously, this is the only good photo I have of my Smudgies and I have no clue how I'm going to make them look better next time. 

Oh well, I'll eventually figure it out. For now, I have my next masterpiece to discover. Haha! :P Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Twinkle Toes: Comfortable Everyday Sandals

First of all, can I just say how happy I am to have a boyfriend who I enjoy shopping with? For the longest time, I've always preferred shopping alone. When I'm not, I tend to get self-conscious and avoid walking around a store for too long, because I don't like to keep people waiting. Sure, I take a look at the racks, but once whoever I'm with - may he/she be a family member or a friend - has finished looking around, I stop too. In my mind, I can always come back for whatever it is I like and buy it then.

But not anymore. Since we started dating, Mike has become my permanent shopping buddy. I love how opinionated he can be and how well he knows the types of clothes I wear. I like that he enjoys shopping, as well. A lot of times, I'm actually the one who's accompanying or waiting for him and not the other way around. Haha! Not that I mind, of course. :)
Twinkle Toes
So anyway, to my real story. A couple of weeks ago, the best shopping buddy ever bought me a pair of sandals from Twinkle Toes. It's a new line of women's footwear that started with four entrepreneur students with an aim to bring something unique to your everyday sandals.


Thursday, September 26, 2013

Hello, Happiness!

It's turning out to be quite a busy week, but I'm not complaining. I'm actually pretty happy about it, especially on days when I end up at places like Relish with people I love! :)
Relish


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Mang Toots: A Thomasian Favorite

Last week, Mike and I explored UST while we waited for his brother's class to finish.
UST
 There we met up with his friend Sayc, who took us to Mang Toots for lunch.


Saturday, September 21, 2013

I Heart Earrings

I've always been a fan of wearing earrings. They give you an extra oomph - a certain level of attitude or sophistication - depending on what type of earrings you're wearing, of course. For me, pearl earrings have always been my ears' best friend, just because they work well with pretty much anything. 

But recently, I've been keeping my pearls in my drawer for more colorful and unique options. Like these gorgeous laser cut glitter acrylic heart earrings that Teal Deer sent me last month.
Teal DeerTeal Deer


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari 2

I promised a second entry to my post on The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. A bit late, I know. I just had some entries I needed to go through first before this one. If you're interested in learning more about this book, check out my first post. :)
TM
I already started on the next book, The Secret Letters of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. I might do more similar posts in the future since it was fun digging through my hard drive for photos to use. And I really need to read more often. :p


Monday, September 16, 2013

Pudding Republiq: A Unique Treat

Are you ready for another foodie feature? 
This time, the spotlight's on Pudding Republiq! :)

Mike and I discovered them at the Eid'l Fitr Food Festival in Trinoma last month. We were looking to try something new, something that you don't see everyday. Lucky for us, Pudding Republiq was there to satisfy our cravings.
082513


Saturday, September 14, 2013

Never Stop Dreaming

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis
DREAM
Finally completed my DIY project for September a few days ago. Just did the finishing touches yesterday by painting the sides and the backs :) Wheeee. So happy with how it turned out! 

Thank you so much to Mich of Party Starters PH for my washi tapes and of course, to Joana of ARTees Collection for the paper mache letters :) Check out their Facebook pages for more cool stuff!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Sci-Fi Café: A Toy Haven

Mike and I headed to Sci-Fi Café at Robinson's Galleria to celebrate our 18th month together. :)
Sci Fi Cafe
For some of you who’ve been to toycon, this place might seem like the same thing. Some of you will also think that a guy just didn’t know what to do with his toys, so he decided to open up a cafe and use them as some cheap attraction - but that’s not it at all. Sci-Fi Café offers more than just the opportunity to eat with someone’s toy collection.


Monday, September 9, 2013

Bukilat Cave

The Philippines is a country blessed with so many beautiful places that, unfortunately, not many people know about. Last year, I was able to spend two nights in Camotes Island, Cebu. We went around the island on a motorbike and our first stop was this cave.

Bukilat Cave
Bukilat Cave


Saturday, September 7, 2013

The Instax Craze

Instax cameras are all the rage in the Philippines right now - maybe even all over the world. People have gone absolutely cray-cray over them, me included. I was so happy when I purchased my Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 last January. Imagine, you just press the shutter and your photo comes out insta(x)ntly! Plus they come in different colors and designs! Mine has red stars all over, but there were other colors that I wanted too. I've brought Polly (yes, I call my Instax "Polly") out a number of times since - to take photos of my preschool students, to random dinners with friends and family, and most recently, to Boracay.

Because more and more stores are selling Instax cameras and accessories, it's getting harder for me to resist spending on them. :p Luckily, one of my friends flew to Singapore over the weekend and was kind enough to get me some accessories for Polly! Last week, I only had these photo albums to go with my Mini 8. Now I have these as well:

A transparent case and some stickers! :)Instax Accessories


Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Last year, I bought a book entitled The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma - an inspiring tale of how people can fulfill their dreams and reach their destiny. It tells a story about a man named Julian Mantle, "a superstar lawyer whose out-of-balance lifestyle leads him to a near-fatal heart attack in a packed courtroom. His physical collapse brings him into a spiritual crisis that forces him to confront the condition of his life. Hoping to find happiness and fulfillment, he embarks upon an extraordinary odyssey to an ancient culture, where he discovers a powerful system to release the potential of his mind, body, and soul and learns to live with passion, purpose, and peace."

For a long while, I forgot I actually had a copy of his next book The Secret Letters of the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. I left it in a brown bag on the shelf (to keep it looking new since I hadn't covered it in plastic yet). Now here I am, about to *finally* start a book I bought a year ago. But before I do that, let me share some lines I highlighted from The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari first. Posting in two parts so it's not too lengthy.
TM


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Yabu: House of Katsu at SM North Edsa

When we heard that Yabu was opening a branch at SM North Edsa, Mike and I got super excited! :) We had a great first time at their Megamall branch. I ordered their Hire Miso Katsu while Mike got the Menchi Katsu set. Even though I didn't enjoy my katsu as much as Mike enjoyed his, I still left with a very happy tummy because of the unlimited cabbages and miso soup! I just love the combination of the gomu dressing and shouyu on the cabbages, which tastes a lot like Japanese mayonnaise. Pretty sure I had at least three servings of cabbages that night. Haha :)

Though I wasn't able to take pictures our Yabu Megamall experience, I remember it pretty well. Especially because of the super nice waiter who took the time to explain to us what the sesame seeds and the sauces are for (I didn't get your name - but whoever you are, thank you!). 
Yabu


Sunday, September 1, 2013

Man U: Blue vs White

Tried my hand at sports photography when I brought my Canon EF 75-300mm lens to Mike's game this morning. Their new jerseys made a debut in a Blue versus White team-up, so I figured it's a great chance for me to take out my 3-year-old-yet-still-new lens. I never get to use this lens because it's heavy so I don't really like bringing it anywhere. Haha :p

Taking action shots was a new and fun experience for me. I got to watch the game through my viewfinder, but it's not an easy task. As I mentioned, the zoom lens is a lot heavier than the kit lens (which I'm more used to) so I kept putting down the camera to rest and missing photo opportunities. Another thing is that my 400D has a problem with its autofocus, so I had to switch from AF to MF every so often. I really need to get a new camera soon. :p

Anyway, onto the pictures - starting with my handsome boyfriend Mike ♥
Blue VS White