I'm Back, Beeches!

I really miss doing this. I miss blogging about the daily grind, how uneventful my life is (it still is, by the way) but you know, life. And work. I guess it's actually a good thing that I don't have too much time to blog, haha. Although I wish I'd be quick in translating my thoughts into words.

First up, new restaurants I've tried ☺ Yes, my passion haha. Shet I'm so baboy. Anyway...

Tex-Mex

My first purchase from Tex-Mex- chicken quesadilla. I wasn't really expecting much but put two of my favorites together, cheese and cilantro, then I guess true love was bound to happen. I tried the beef one but they didn't put as much cilantro so I'm sticking to chicken next time I order. I was also able to try their chicken but when it comes to Mexican-style roast chicken, my heart belongs to Pollo Loco.

Paper Moon

Perdón the picture because as of late, it seems I do not have the patience to edit my pictures except when they were uploaded via Instagram. So AC and cousin and I tried Papermoon. I know I usually keep my expectations low but if people are lining up to buy something that costs that much for a slice, then it really must be good. I tell you, it's not. We tried the Original Mille Crepe at 225 per slice. 225! PER SLICE! Magma-mango Bravo na lang ako. But I guess I have to try their other flavors but based on their supposed bestseller, waley.

B&T Mexican Kitchen

Again, Mexican fudamchi. Delicious and reasonably-priced and portions are big enough to satisfy two, very hungry gluttons. I was expecting more cheese in the quesadilla though.

Casa Italia

Happiness is... two kinds of ice cream! If I remember correctly, I had After Eight (mint) and Swiss Mountain Chocolate. Because they say that ice cream is best eaten on a cone, I paid an additional P30 for the waffle cone. Good ice cream but man, I was not digging the cone :(

Seol hwa and Ho Bing

Gaaaahd. Bing su is my current addiction. Ang mahal lang but man oh man, I waaaant! The mango cheesecake bing su is love but sometimes their mango is a bit sour. Of course hindi maiiwasan na minsan may maasim na mango but I hope I'll always get the bowl with the sweet mangoes. I'm super in love with the mango flavored ones that I'm scared to try the other flavors for fear of being disappointed (and with that price per bowl, I want to be sure that I'll be able to satisfy the craving).

Halo-halo from Taal, Batangas

I hate halo-halo because I hate beans (blech!) but halo-halo, I looooove ♥ At first I was not too crazy about trying this halo-halo because of the aforementioned but since it was part of the itinerary and it was already paid for, what the heck. I was delighted and suprised ☺ I am actually craving for another one but alas, to get a glass would mean traveling all the way to Taal which is 2.5 to 3 hours away. And 500 pesos in gasoline and 700 in toll fees.

Which leads me to my Taal Escapade with friends ☺

What supposed to be a Pinatubo adventure turned into a Taal escapade and it was actually a nice experience. I totally had zero expectations for this trip plus organizing this trip had been very stressful for me (all that drama!) but thankfully, everything went well and what I was expecting to happen, didn't happen. It did but two days after and not on my watch so medyo okay lang haha.

After almost four hours on the road (na walang hingahan dahil hiniram ko lang ang bagong kotse nila V na wala pang plaka dahil hindi na daw kaya ng gulong ni Honda at ang magdri-drive ay ang pinsan kong self-confessed na nagzo-zone out while driving and it must have been a while since he has last driven), we were already in... Taal, Batangas (Philippines!!)

A little introduction upon arrival. We were toured around the host/guide's ancestral house

And lunch was served shortly ☺ LUNCH! I already forgot what we had because that was a more than a month ago and I really have bad memory and the only picture of the food that were served was this

Haha! Nahiya ako ng unti at gutom na talaga ako :P Lunch was delicious ☺ I don't remember what the dishes were called but my favorite was the pork one na parang adobo but I think that wasn't the adobo dish.

After lunch, we were off to the Villavicencio ancestral house.

Pamimintana was the favorite past time back in the days

What I love about old houses are the big windows. I love how people were so open and transparent before- I mean, you could literally see from your window what your neighbors were up to. Kung chismosa ka nga, marami kang masasagap. Haha! At feeling ko hindi pa masyado uso ang lamok dati.

We also went to the miraculous well of St Lucia

We also visited the home of Marcella Agoncillo, the maker of the Philippine flag.

and this picture was taken outside her house

It was under construction so we weren't able to go inside the house. It's okay. I am happy with how my pictures of the flag turned out. And oh I have a little trivia- Marcella Agoncillo had six daughters and none of them got married nor had children.

And speaking of old maids, I didn't know that many ladies remained single back then. Also, I didn't know that infertility was already a problem way, way back. Akala ko ngayon lang problema yan na people start families later in life. Apparently, people were already dealing with the problem even before.

Aaaaand... this is the Estacio house. This was where we had the best halo-halo I've ever had. Another trivia: this was where Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Romualdez slept (in separate rooms, mind you), when the ex-dictator was still wooing the first lady.

Beautiful house. I wonder how do they maintain
wood flooring that shiny?

And last in our itinerary was the Taal Basilica

View of the sunset from the Taal Basilica

Taal Basilica under a full moon
now wouldn't this view be so much nicer without those pesky power lines?

It's almost 3 am and I'm super sleepy already and I'm afraid if I don't post this today, I might not be able to post if ever, eh I want to share my pictures. Sayang. I could've posted and blogged about it when it was still fresh in my memory. Eh wala na. Memory gap. Tulad ng order na for delivery na dapat bukas at hindi ko pa nagagawa. Sorry at sabaw na talaga ako.

In a nutshell, the Taal tour was a nice experience. I enjoyed it and I reckon other history (chismis) buffs would, too. Now we have discovered another activity for our balikbayans to do cos seriously, Tagaytay's so last season. Nyahahaha.

I Need A Vacation From My Vacation Pt.1

Hello there! It's been a while. I missed you, dear blog.

When AB arrived, I again assumed the role of her tail and followed her everywhere she went. I am not complaining, it's just that her schedule was exhausting. Walang pahinga! Day 1 we all went to Nuvali for a little staycation with the family.

First up upon arrival, we had lunch at Mama Lou's.

fried mozzarella sticks. pizza margherita. spaghetti con tuyo filleto.

Delicioso. But muy caro, as well. As the designated treasurer, I watched every peso get spent. Ang bilis bilis ng pera but I guess we work hard so we can enjoy the good things in life. That is what I need to come in to terms with- enjoying the fruits of my labor. Anyway, back to our family vacation.

home for the night

We stayed at Seda Hotel in Nuvali. I didn't bring any bathing suits because there's no way I am wearing a swimsuit in this state my body is in which is fat and usually swimming pools are strict with their "dress code." So pampang beauty ang drama ko.

perdon ze fugly feet with chipped polish

While the nephews enjoyed swimming, I enjoyed lounging around and when I got bored just watching them swim, I went up to our room and slept. Ang boring ko, no?

The next day, we took the kids to fish-feeding, still in Nuvali.

On our way home, we paid Auntie Madre a visit. Of course hindi kumpleto ang homecoming ni AB kung hindi magbibigay-pugay sa elders. I think we got lost on our way there- one of the few times na binigo kami ni Waze. Home at 8pm and we were all craving sleep on our own beds.

The next day, sabak na uli sa Meet & Greet ni AB. Lunch with our cousin at Balboa in Shangri-la.

now you see it...

now you don't *burp*

I wouldn't have tried Balboa on my own because I am not adventurous when it comes to trying out new restaurants and knowing that it's a little pricey, I wouldn't try it without any guarantee it'll be worth my moolah. Thanks to my cousin who suggested this place because their pizza was scrumptious ☺ Even their salad was yummy- anything with goat cheese, I looooove ♥

For dessert, we walked over to Megamall. Coffee and choco-cro at St. Marc Cafe.

Didn't like the texture of the croissant against the chocolate. I don't understand the fuss over it but to each his own, I guess. We ate again at this café with mommy and the other sisters and I ordered Egg Salsa that time and I loved it ☺ Now I have another favorite. Hooray to LDLs! Not.

After dessert with the cousin, we headed back to Shang for AB's Meet & Greet with her college friends. So it goes without saying, eating time again. Dinner was in Corazon and since I already posted about Corazon before, no more pictures and further che che boreche.

The next day I after a visit to the dentist (which left me disappointed because I had two cavities which had to filled in. But in fernez sa akin, five years after my legit visit to the dentist, I only had two cavities and my gums didn't bleed when I had my dental prophylaxis), accompanied AB to SM Aura for another Meet & Greet. Since it was a Friday, sweldo night, almost all restaurants were packed. We settled for Magnum Manila, which honestly, I didn't even know served real food apart from ice cream.  This was what they ordered-

I totally had no expectations so I was delighted and surprised when their food tasted yummeh! So yuuuuh, this is why I'm fat. Coffee afterwards at CBTL and after hitting jackpot the last time when I ordered Morrocan Mint Latte and they actually had it in stock, this time this particular branch didn't have it yet. I actually found it surprising that the whole time AB was here, we didn't go to Starbucks, not even once.

One of the reasons AB came home was Mommy's 70th birthday. We organized a small salu-salo for this milestone. We are very, very lucky that both our parents have reached this age and both are healthy ☺

Buti na lang they were very busy with entertaining her guests and with ballroom dancing, she forgot all about her "program." She wanted us to sing and dance and all that showing-off-of -talent stuff. I really hate standing before an audience, lalo na speaking and performing in front of an audience.

Food was yummy ☺ We also had lechon from Elar's- best lechon ever! I regret I did not make pamasaw as much as I wanted to but I guess that's a blessing in disguise na din since I do have fatty liver and I shouldn't be eating lechon actually. The party ended a little over 9pm. We have to go home and pack for our Palawan trip the next day.

I Need A Vacation From My Vacation to be continued...

Let me bore you

Officially welcoming the month of March even if this is actually my fourth post for the month ☺ It's already the third month of the year and it's almost May. Come June, I need to apply again for my annual bazaar thing then it's production time for Christmas season again. Kabilis naman ng panahon.

Anyway, twas not the end of reunions and scheduled catching-up to do. After delivery last Tuesday (Gratitude List Item #1: Another bulk order. Yipee), V and I went to Mega to meet with Manang M. It's been awhile since I've had these talks with Manang. We used to talk about life often but that has been put to a halt these days because, you know, life...

We had lunch at Linguini Fini and since it's my first time eating there- here's the mandatory food shot

clockwise: complimentary foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar & olive oil dip; papardelle nose
to tail bolo; manila caprese and lardo roasted half chicken

Oh yes, gluttony is STILL my favorite sin. In fair naman sa akin, I lost 10 pounds (and still need to lose twenty more). Linguini Fini is love, my friends, but it is a hazard to the wallet. Haha. But I guess it was worth it. It didn't feel like I was ripped off my money and that papardelle one was heaven ☺ Liked the chicken as well, although first love ko pa rin Amici's pollo arrostito. Keri lang ako sa pizza- I'll have Friuli's margherita over this pizza any time. Did a little strolling then coffee afterwards then back to barracks for me.

Okay, so here's another reason why I go out often these days- market research, y'all. Because I fell in love with a nail spa's sloughing lotion, I have become obsessed with finding a sloughing lotion in Watsons, the grocery, EVERYWHERE(!!!) and I just get these weird looks when I tell them what I'm looking for. Finally found two brands online and bought them just in time for AB to bring them home (Gratitude List Item #2: Sloughing Lotion ♥). I actually made my own and while it worked (it worked!!!), I'd have to rub the product extra-hard to slough off the dead skin and I need something that can be removed with minimal effort. That said, I'm so excited for my sloughing lotions to arrive ☺

Wednesday was another unplanned lakwatsa as I had to deliver samples again in Makati. Wasn't able to see AD, just left the samples with reception. Originally, I was going to wait for her to get off work and hitch a ride going home but AC called and asked me to come with V and family, mommy and her to CCP to watch the Jilin Art Troupe. With regard to the Jilin Art performance, isa lang masasabi ko: GMA Supershow!

Anyway, my highlight for Wednesday was watching the latest Daniel Padilla movie with Kathryn Bernardo- Crazy Beautiful You. Wasn't too crazy about that title but hey, it's not a song title so keri-keri na. AC has seen it already and although she said it was 'maganda,' I still didn't expect much from it cos as they say,

the key to contentment is lowered expectations

Despite the title, I loved the movie. Oo, loved talaga. I remember watching She's Dating the Gangster, expecting it to suck, then being surprised and delighted with the movie. I am not a fan of the pairing but I have to say, their chemistry is undeniable. So with this movie, I was still skeptical of the story kasi nga chaka ng title but again, I was surprised and delighted. Hindi sayang ang P230 ko. Hindi sumama loob ko na sana hinintay ko na lang ang movie pass ko. Also, I will admit this only here in this blog so I think walang ibang makakaalam- guilty pleasure ko si Daniel Padilla. Haha. I don't have a crush on the boy; natutuwa lang ako sa kanya.

And oh here's an update of my room decluttering project:

December 2014

March 2015

Well, nothing much has changed but there's now actually space for me to sleep in. Removed my Teen Vogue mags from the shelf but I am not ready to part with them yet. And oh, our walls are now light gray in color. A lot of fixing up, organizing and filing to do which I always put off for another day.

I still have a lot to do but I'm sort of delaying everything because I'm trying to enjoy whatever's left of my "free days." When we transfer location and there's more at stake, I need to be there most of the time which means less time to invest in "recreation therapy."

And on that note, I need to end this now and what better way than to end it with this:

source: somewhere in Google

I will tell myself this every time.