i am no fangirl ♥

MOVED!

2012-01-08T16:36:00.001+08:00

I have moved.

http://notjustsillythoughts.blogspot.com

See you there! :)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-27T21:01:00.001+08:00

I'll get back to blogging real soon. The holidays have been so busy that I barely had enough time to compose some entries especially since my mom is in town. I hope you're having fun with your respective vacations. Got any New Year's resolutions yet?:)

Party pooper.

2011-12-18T20:41:00.000+08:00

Flu chose the worst possible time to manifest itself… on the day of our WFM Christmas Party! No matter how hard I tried to convince myself it was simply a mind over matter type of sickness, my body gave in eventually. I slept the entire three hours I was at the venue. What a waste, right? There goes my contribution for the year. :(

The venue was perfect, the food was great, everyone was in high spirits. I cannot believe I missed all of that. I apologized again and again for ruining the mood of the party. My brother was kind enough to take some shots using my camera. But he’s more of a candid moment type of photographer so I apologize again if there are some embarrassing shots uploaded on Facebook. Heehee!

Good thing my manito managed to lift my spirits up. He gave me the item I listed on my wish list! Yes folks, I now have a sandwich maker. Yayyy! Thank you so much, Jayvee.

Happy Endings: Not quite there yet.

2011-12-11T23:27:00.000+08:00

I’m very protective of my favorite shows. To me they’re in a league of their own. It’s blasphemous to even compare them with another show of similar format that hasn’t reached their caliber yet. I guess this is the reason why it took me sometime to warm up to Happy Endings. The half-hour series, described as an ensemble comedy about a group of friends living in Chicago, is already touted by critics as one of those shows with the FRIENDS magic.

I have never seen the first season. Just recently though, out of curiosity, I decided to download the first five episodes of its second season. My verdict? It’s a hit and miss for me so far. There are episodes that I love while there are some which lacked the oompph! needed. One good thing is that the actors have already settled into their characters and the chemistry is much more evident. I have no favorites yet. Penny comes close but she has this annoying quality of over-exaggerating on things. She’s very relatable though. I can totally see myself in her shoes.

I have to give credit to this show for making Elisha Cuthbert likeable again. (Kim Bauer, who?^___^) Who would’ve thought she’d do really well in comedy? Although they’re not quite there yet in terms of FRIENDS standards, I’m giving them a chance. After all, I ended up liking HIMYM after ignoring it for almost four seasons.

To a decade of friendship.

2011-12-09T23:14:00.000+08:00

The last week of November was one of the most memorable days for me this year. I love it when my friends are in town. We don’t live in the same city anymore so it’s a rare instance for all five of us to be together. What was agreed upon was that the next reunion after the semi-disastrous summer escapade was not supposed to happen until 2012, but Harry Potter and a wedding intervened with fate. I welcomed the distraction. I was in need of a break again from my usual work routine.

The weekend’s best surprise was probably us running into a former college classmate while we were having Sunday lunch at Zubuchon. Funny thing was, prior to that, we were in a discussion about when and how did all of us become friends a few years back. Little did we know that Ann would soon pass by our table unknowingly. I think she recognized my sister first, then saw me. It took her a while to realize she actually knew the other three (Gen, Reah and Isa) who were seated together with us. So surreal and hilarious. Don’t you just love chance encounters? :)

The lady in pink is Ann. Too bad Xtian couldn't join us for lunch that day.

I love how these ladies are the only ones who can make me wear a dress without feeling conscious about how I look. That’s how comfortable I am in their company. My mom would be so proud. Haha!

Our favorite photo! Would this pass for a Christmas electronic postcard? Hehe! ^__^

The Harry Potter marathon never happened. But we made a lot of new memories in those three days to mark a decade of our friendship. I am proud to call these ladies my best friends and I know we will remain this close even if one of us gets married (one already is!) and starts a family.

Wishes, wishes, wishes.

2011-12-04T00:38:00.003+08:00

Don’t you just love the feeling when December kicks in? I felt like this year flew by so quickly I didn’t even realize we’re nearing the end of 2011 in a few weeks. How’s your Christmas shopping going? I haven’t even started mine. I was too wrapped up in the weekend getaway I had with friends last week that I’ve even pushed back the setting-up of the tree at home. We promise to get it done soon otherwise Mom would definitely throw a fit when she finds the house bare of any decorations.

Speaking of gifts, I finally came up with my wish list this year. I decided to throw in something frivolous just for kicks. But as Krissy mentioned in her post, more often than not, I will end up buying some of things on the list for myself.

A new pair (or two) of flats. I am in desperate need of a wardrobe overhaul. My style can actually be compared to that of a college kid who’s still stuck in that “jeans and sneakers” phase. Blame it on the casual dress code I have at work. I love it… but sometimes you have this urge to actually dress your age and it sucks when you don’t have everything within arm’s reach.

A Modalu bag. I am no fan of Pippa Middleton, but I instantly fell in love with the bag she was photographed with the day after her sister’s wedding. How I wish I can carry that style!

Sandwich-maker. Any brand would do. This is actually what I’m asking from my Secret Santa at work. My sister and I love to fix midnight snacks for ourselves and this would save us the hassle of using the toaster. Grilled cheese sandwiches, here we come!

iPad 2. Okay, okay… I’m a sell-out. I swore before that I would never join the Apple bandwagon. Guess what? The iPad’s lure is just too hard to resist. Bear in mind that this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. My sister and I carefully researched the pros and cons of the gadget compared to its competition. So yeah, we have our reasons. :)

FRIENDS DVD Boxed Set. It’s been almost seven years since the finale of the show and I still have to complete all seasons on DVD. With its timeless appeal, the show never gets old with viewers. We will always laugh and cry at the misadventures of these six individuals from Manhattan. Good thing a friend gave me the Harry Potter DVDs so I can strike that from my wish list this year.

And for my frivolous wishes this year…

Xabi Alonso jersey. Yup, this was on my list last year as well. So far no friends of mine have been planning to go to Spain yet. If they do, this will be all that I’ll ask from them as pasalubong. Heehee!

A new puppy! Gwen could definitely use a playmate, or a surrogate child around here. I’ve always wanted to own a beagle but dogs with breed cost a fortune. I’ll probably save up for it sometime in the future unless a kind individual would actually give me one out of the blue.

How about you? Anything special that you plan to purchase for yourself this Christmas? :)

Me <3 my Harry Potter DVD set.

2011-11-30T14:26:00.004+08:00

When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiered last July, my friends and I felt it was the end of an era for us. That was it. No more movie installments in the series to look forward to each year. To cure our 'senti' mode, a suggestion was brought up. How about we marathon all eight movies the next time we had a get-together? Perfect! And so began less than six months of planning through Facebook.

All of that would’ve been last weekend. We initially planned to do nothing but watch all the movies in the span of two days.

Sadly, we forgot to bring a portable DVD player to the hotel where we were staying. So we decided to go food-tripping instead and took lots and lots of photos. On the bright side, guess who got herself a DVD set of all eight movies?:) One of my friends who’s now based in Dubai bought 4 sets, one for each of us who were based here in Philippines. (We're a group of five. She's the only one based abroad)

BEST. GIFT. EVER. Thank you, Gen. You truly made this reunion even more special.

Psyched for the long weekend.

2011-11-24T23:24:00.001+08:00

My best girlfriends are arriving tomorrow and I can’t wait to spend the long weekend with them! Yup, that’s Happy Thanksgiving for me. We’re just staying in the city to hole up in some hotel while we catch up and make chika about everything that has happened for the past six months. Believe me we can talk endlessly for hours and still have something new to discuss about. I wish I can be more like them though… travelling every once in a while to de-stress. I was always ‘the one who never uprooted herself’. So by next year, mark my words, I’m making it a personal goal to travel more outside of Cebu.

Between running some errands and meeting with my girl friends, I’m hoping to squeeze sometime into catching up with New Girl. Zooey Deschanel is hilarious! Her quirkiness works for me because I see my sense of humor as being somewhat like Jess. Maybe I’m just too easy to please? I dunno. Even Winston is okay with me when he’s being panned by netizens for being nothing like Coach (the roommate in the pilot). But the best character for me, hands down, has to be Cece. Don’t you just love her deadpan sense of humor?

My sister, on the other hand, is catching up with Once Upon A Time. I’m glad because finally she can relate whenever I babble every time a new episode is on. She loves ~~Charming~~ James and Snow. Josh Dallas and Ginny (I prefer calling her that over Ginnifer) Goodwin have effortless chemistry. I cannot wait for more backstories regarding this main couple. It was cute how they were actually friends with Cinderella and her prince in the fairy tale world. My main ship though, is Graham and Emma. I hope the sheriff doesn’t kick the bucket anytime soon. Rumors are rife that they are killing off a character before the show goes on winter hiatus. Oh noes. My ship has to survive!

One thing off my culinary bucket list.

2011-11-15T20:32:00.003+08:00

My sister realized that the only way to shut me up regarding my obsession with rice rolls is to actually make one for ourselves. So began our quest to make kimbap. It wasn’t easy. The ingredients were hard to find in our usual grocery stores. Thankfully, a friend of mine suggested ASSI Mart. I should’ve listened to her in the first place. It would have saved us the time and effort of grocery-hopping just to complete everything that we needed.

Only two rolls sliced so far...

For a budget of less than a thousand, including the basic condiments, we were able to make 10 rolls. How’s that for eating kimbap to your heart’s content? :) Definitely saves me more money than ordering it from a Korean restaurant where a roll would cost you anywhere between P130 – P160 pesos. I just had this for dinner. ONLY THIS. So yes, I’m shutting up now.

The ingredients alone allowed us to make 9 rolls. NINE ROLLS!!!

I'm bringing some as my baon ^___^

In fact, I’m saving some as my office baon for later. How does a rice roll diet sound? Hehe! This is one of the good things that came out of me reading So Delushious. You get so inspired to cook. Can’t wait for our next culinary experiment!

Oh to be young and in-love!

2011-11-13T22:59:00.002+08:00

Source: fuckyeahemmagraham.tumblr.com via Rose on Pinterest

Just when I’ve given up hope on my TV ‘ships, these two come to save the day. Hotch/Prentiss is a no-go on Criminal Minds while Gossip Girl writers can’t seem to make-up their minds about Dan/Blair (yes Humphrey, it’s probably about the ‘hairstyle’). Thankfully, the Sheriff/Emma interactions on Once Upon A Time are pure gold and definitely something to look forward to. I love how their story is playing out. It’s cute how he has this crush on her but she’s just nonchalant about it. And we’re not even on yet to the secret behind her birthright (she’s Snow White’s daughter) and his possible fairytale counterpart (I still stay, The Huntsman).

OUAT is one of my guilty pleasures this season. I thought I would hate it, but I have come to love their modern spin on the classic fairytales we all loved as kids. It sort of reminds me of Shrek with all these storybook characters interconnected in some way. Oh, and after seeing some spoiler pictures from the seventh episode, my love for these two above grew exponentially. How can you not love the adorable Jamie Dornan and Jennifer Morrison?

Confused? I suggest you check out the show if you can. I'm sure you will all love it as much as I do. :)

Elusive culinary experiment.

2011-11-07T17:21:00.005+08:00

It frustrates me that we can never seem to complete the ingredients in making kimbap/gimbap. We’ve been on it since we tasted one during the Korean day celebration last month. Because I couldn’t stop blabbing about it, my sister figured it would be best if we tried to make our own. It was easier said than done. The nori sheets were easier to find but the bamboo mat was elusive. I couldn’t find any at the grocery store. This leaves us with no choice but to try a Korean grocery that my friend suggested. Hopefully we can have that accomplished this coming weekend.

The Seoul Restaurant's (@Gaisano Country Mall) Gimbap - P150

I personally prefer it more than sushi since you can work with many variations on the filling. Plus it doesn’t need any sauce at all. Hopefully once we can perfect our own version I’ll get to bring one as my office baon.:) It’s a great diet… and not that messy.

Let Starbucks be the first to greet you… Happy Holidays!

2011-11-05T23:01:00.003+08:00

Four stickers now and thirteen more to go. This #starbucks2012planner project is turning out quite well than I expected.Quite an achievement for someone who’s a first-time sticker collector.:) *wink* I considered doing Seattle’s Best first but ultimately decided against it since Starbucks had the better design when it came to the planners.

Four stickers, thirteen more to go...

The best part about this whole promo? The establishment’s well-patronized Holiday drinks are back in season! I now get Tina’s love for Toffee Nut Latte, although my personal favorite is the Peppermint Mocha frap. There’s something indescribable about these drinks that will leave you coming back for more.

Toffee Nut Latte for me, Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha for my sis

I’m looking forward to completing all 17 of my required stickers before the year ends. It shouldn’t be that hard since my best friends are coming over to Cebu on the last week of November for a much-needed girl bonding. :)

Remembering our dearly departed

2011-11-01T22:16:00.001+08:00

We finally made it to Cempark since I was on leave from work today. Ahhh, the downside of working for a BPO… paid time-offs don’t happen at the snap of a finger! :) To make the most out of my one day-off, we paid our respects to my grandma and my uncle, all the while secretly praying that we get no heavy downpour on our way to the cemetery.

Now I can’t help but reminisce. Gone were the days when the entire family would troop to Memorial Park on November 1. We’d meet up with some relatives, spend the whole day chatting and catching up on each other’s lives. It was a welcome reprieve from whatever toxicity work had to offer. But now it’s different. Everyone’s just so busy.

Occasional visits are all that we can offer our dearly departed nowadays. I won’t deny them that. It’s the least I can do after all the good things they did in their lifetime. We promised to be back over the weekend for a more solemn visit. Perhaps by then the weather would finally cooperate.

BAMF: Person of Interest’s Jim Caviezel is ♥!

2011-10-27T22:03:00.005+08:00

I am slowly warming up to Person of Interest. I don’t know how or why it suddenly got my attention. Perhaps it was the fact that Jim Caviezel is one of its leads. Hey, the man still commands attention with his mere presence. The salt ‘n pepper hairstyle + the suits + his skills = one BAMF protagonist. I am totally digging his more mature image these days.

It's Edmond Dantes and Ben in one TV series!

Person of Interest pairs him up with LOST’s Michael Emerson, and together they make quite an unlikely tandem out to stop crime before it even happens. It’s an ambitious plot, but I think Jonathan Nolan and JJ Abrams have their cards played out right. Think of it as Minority Report for TV + Big Brother. I’m currently on the second episode and I am forever amazed by how suave Reese (Caviezel’s character) executes every mission given to him by Finch (Emerson).

Wow, one more show on my weekly viewing list this year!

Dear readers, what shows do you follow lately?

Charmed by Mystic Falls

2011-10-22T15:07:00.009+08:00

When The Vampire Diaries premiered almost three years ago, I simply dismissed it as another CW show out to cater to its teen market. I wasn’t sucked in by the hype because I tend to be cautious of shows marketing cheesy vampire love stories. *cough*Twilight*cough*

They survived two seasons.

Team Stelena? or Team Delena?

Now on its third year, the drama set in the idyllic town of Mystic Falls has managed to enthrall viewers not only because of a forbidden love affair between a human and a vampire, but also because of its eclectic mix of residents. Where else can you find a place where vampires, werewolves and ghosts actually (albeit unknowingly) co-exist? I finally realized that in order to appreciate a certain series, it’s best if you don’t lean towards a specific ‘ship. Enjoy whatever coupling the writers throw at you. If there’s one thing that Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec and their team of writers have proven, it’s their knack for tightly-written scripts that leave you breathless with each episode.

Six episodes down and they show no signs of slowing down. I’m loving the addition of Klaus this season. He’s a very effective villain, and so charming to boot. I think I’ll enjoy learning about the backstory of the Originals in the upcoming episodes. And who here thinks that evil!Stefan oozes with appeal lately? I like how he gets under Elena’s skin with his whole ‘Klaus-sent-me-to-protect-you’ drama. I do hope he gets his humanity back someday.

Fellow TVD fans, are you loving the third season so far? :)

American Reunion: Still naughty as ever…

2011-10-17T11:22:00.007+08:00

Jim and his friends are back! For me they were the characters who truly defined the American Pie series. I’d rather think those straight-to-DVD ones never existed in the first place. :) Just recently, the first teaser had been released for American Reunion. Jim and Michelle are now married and have a kid together. The humor is still naughty as ever but I don’t think this will discourage people who grew up in that generation from seeing this next year. Don't you just love nostalgia trips?

It’s so nice to see the original cast-members reunite for this. Although Tara Reid looks surprisingly good in the photo, I cannot say the same thing for Mena Suvari. And what happened to Thomas Ian Nicholas’ boyish charms?!? Stifler’s mom will definitely make another surprising appearance in this flick and that I cannot wait to see.

Fantastic + Fabulous Sunday

2011-10-16T23:46:00.004+08:00

The Sundays of October have been nothing but great so far. I’ve been out and about with friends for dinner, catching up with what’s the latest in our lives these days. Isa and I have agreed to make this a bi-monthly event, given that we’re the only ones from our circle of friends who happen to live in the same city until now. Sometimes you have to take an extra step in the name of friendship. Xtian’s visit this week was an added bonus. She was in town to celebrate her big 3-0. Can you believe that? My friends and I (save for one who’s celebrating hers in December) are now officially three decades younger.

It was a full-packed Sunday spent starting with a mani-pedi session at Hollywood Nails, then off for coffee at Starbucks before killing time at Xtian’s hotel room while waiting for the 7PM dinner with former college classmates.

Our nails after that mani-pedi sesh at Hollywood Nails. No nail-art for me...

Isa and Xtian w/ my sister (Sheila, who's a KJ in front of the camera ^___^)

My sister took this shot at Xtian's hotel room

The group right after dinner at PINO Restaurant

It’s funny how dinner conversations go about lately when we have our get-togethers. From individual careers, the topic usually shifts to planning trips abroad with the group by next year. I nod absent-mindedly knowing for a fact that I do not have a passport yet. Maybe this is a sign that I should get one before the year ends.

To end, I chose to remember this day for the good vibes it brought me and my sister. People who wish to pull our spirits down will never succeed. After all, there’s still November to look forward to.

Cebu City celebrates 1st Korean Day

2011-10-09T00:50:00.001+08:00

My sister and I were fortunately in Ayala Center Cebu when we chanced upon the celebration of the city’s first ever Korean Day last October 1. With their growing population in the city, whether as tourists or residents, what better way to introduce their fascinating culture to their adoptive city than setting up a celebration in one of the biggest malls in the area. Bibimbap, gimbap, Korean pancakes, topokki, kimchi… the basic things that make Korean cuisine famous were offered by participating stalls at the bazaar.

Somehow I regretted splurging over lunch before we made a beeline for the bazaar. By then we were too full to sample the free food tasting offered by accommodating stall owners to curious patrons. We ended up trying only the Topokki (stir-fried rice cake) even if I was raring for some bibimbap (too full!) instead.

One of the participating stalls at the bazaar

These ladies prepared my Gimbap order

Topokki a.k.a. stir-fried rice cakes for P50/cup

Gimbap (original) for P130... I ended up taking this home since we were still full from lunch

Can they make this a monthly thing? :) I wouldn’t mind. It’s a good start considering we’re not that into food bazaars/weekend markets yet. Who knows, another Mercato Centrale or Banchetto will rise in the Queen City of the South in the near future.

What’s cooking with The Kitchen Musical?

2011-10-03T13:32:00.004+08:00

The Pan-Asian musical drama series starring Karylle, Christian Bautista and a slew of other Asian artists finally premiered its pilot episode last night on ABS – CBN. Before that, viewers were treated to a primer of sorts as they showed behind the scenes footage from the 4-month shoot in Singapore.

The cast of The Kitchen Musical

It’s all about fine dining and chasing your dreams as the story takes us to the struggles of restaurant heiress Maddie Avilon (Karylle), who returns home to work at her father’s restaurant after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her idealism is quickly shot down by The Avilon’s executive chef Alex Marcus. Somewhere along the episode it is hinted that it was her who recommended him (most probably to her dad) for the job as head chef of The Avilon. She was his biggest fan. But he shows no fondness for the favor. To him she is nothing but a spoiled princess whose opportunity was handed to her in a silver platter because of her name.

So how did the pilot episode fare? Nice. But still a lot to improve on. Maddie reminds me a lot of Rachel Berry, a misunderstood overachiever who’s eager to please the higher-ups. She’s very polarizing as a character which is why you’d either love her or hate her. Karylle’s at her best when she’s feisty. When she switches to pa-tweetums mode, the character of Maddie becomes really irritating. Stephen Rahman-Hughes, on the other hand, registers well on-screen as Alex. I don’t know if there’s some sort of romantic connection to happen between him and Maddie in succeeding episodes but I’m not looking forward to it. I’d rather they focus on a mentor-student type of relationship instead with her getting the respect she finally deserves from his as a fellow chef. Christian Bautista though was surprisingly the one who shone best as Daniel, Maddie’s childhood bestfriend and fellow sous chef. He was convincing enough with the accent and could actually manage some decent moves on the dance floor.

Speaking of dance moves, was it only me who felt that the ‘Boom Boom Pow!’ movements were a bit contrived? I wish they stuck with the ‘4 Minute’ dance routine (from the unknown pilot circulated in YouTube months ago) instead. But other than that, the (re-arranged) songs were lovely. ‘Unwell’ has to be my favorite although ‘For Your Entertainment’ comes as a close second. The series shows a lot of promise, so I hope they can sustain the momentum with the succeeding episodes.

Asian talent, FTW!

Day 30: I’m done!

2011-09-22T23:02:00.002+08:00

Source: tokketok.com via yvonne on Pinterest

Ah yes, minor cheating aside… I’m finally done with my 30-day blog challenge! Pretty tough to actually think of a topic to blog each day so it is quite a relief to be typing this post. This should help me improve my blogging pace. No promises. I’ll take it one day at a time. Otherwise I’d have to resort to some tweaking again in case I fall short of what I planned.

Speaking of which, I’m getting the hang of Pinterest lately. Makes it easier for me to track photos that are worth blogging about. Follow me there? I should be updating it very soon.

Day 29: New building, same company

2011-09-21T17:58:00.000+08:00

They’ve finally moved my stuff over to the new building. Yay! Our account is now officially based there since last week and they had been transferring people by batches. I was one of the last few to move. The new place is like a huge blast freezer. Everyone’s been wearing layered clothing you’d think we weren’t based in a tropical country. I hope the temperature normalizes soon. I’m getting a case of the sniffles already and I’ve only been there for a day. :(

Day 28: Who’s in The Secret Circle?

2011-09-20T16:03:00.003+08:00

Britt Robertson is Cassie Blake

Now who would’ve thought I’d actually enjoy The Secret Circle’s pilot, huh? I’m a bit cautious with series catered to young adults lately since I’m way past my teenage years. Haha! But surprisingly, the mysteries that unfolded in TSC’s first episode had me intrigued. Britt Robertson was okay as Cassie Blake, the main protagonist who’s first introduced as an outsider to the mysterious town of Chance Harbor.

After a while it seems she was fated to return to this town all along… to know her true heritage, which for some unknown reason her mother chose to keep her away from all these years. The teenage cast is good especially the resident mean girl, Faye (Phoebe Tonkin), who reminds me of a young Miranda Kerr. Diana (Shelley Hennig) is another interesting character. The quintessential good girl and leader of the teenage coven, she appears perfect yet unknowingly is the daughter of the man behind Cassie’s recent misfortunes.

If there’s one thing that’ll keep me glued to this series it’ll be the backstory between the parents of the current Secret Circle. What caused their falling out many years back that had Cassie’s mother leaving town? Why is Charles Meade after Cassie?

Day 27: Mike/Quinn… a.k.a. my Glee crack ship

2011-09-19T23:49:00.003+08:00

I seldom ‘ship couples in a TV show and when I do, they’re not really canon. So I refer to them as my crack ‘ships… couples who give me even the slightest reason to watch the show even if I was never interested in it in the first place. Mike and Quinn is the perfect example. Why? Because Harry and Dianna just have awesome chemistry to begin with even if their characters barely acknowledge each other’s existence.

See? I wish TPTB would have their characters interacting more often this season. Have Quinn hang-out with Mike and Tina. A lady can dream, right? :)

*photo swiped from Daylife

Day 26: Fleeting fancies

2011-09-18T21:06:00.000+08:00

For about a day or two, I toyed with the idea of getting an e-Book reader or a tablet PC for Christmas. Just one of those fleeting fancies I have at random times. It was just so tempting to finally de-clutter my bookshelf and place everything in one device that I can bring anywhere. But being the OC freak that I am, it didn’t take long for me to give up. The formatting just didn’t suit my taste. I wanted it to mirror the exact book itself and not all (free) e-books are like that. :)

Oh well, I guess nothing beats the feeling of holding a real book in your hands. It’s really all a matter of preference. Some people maybe comfortable using a Kindle/iPad/Galaxy Tab for reading while others are not. If ever I’ll get a Tab (IF, being the operative word) it’s most certainly not for the Kindle app.

Day 25: Online friendships

2011-09-17T17:00:00.000+08:00

It was so nice to see Jesser again after three years. The last time we met up, she was with Cai and they had just come from Bohol on a vacation. Our online friendship goes a long way back. They were among my first friends in LiveJournal, thanks to our mutual love for Harry Potter. Today we are still Twitter and FB friends… forever bounded by technology. Heehee!

You see, it’s very rare that I get to meet with an online friend since I live in Cebu and most of the bloggers I know are based in Manila. But it’s cool how we interact through each other’s blogs. I really make it a point to comment especially if I can relate to the entry. Sometimes it feels like you’ve known each other forever, right? :)

Hopefully I get to meet each and everyone of you in the near future… if by some sheer coincidence I end up in Manila again.

Day 24: Pizza, anyone?

2011-09-16T22:38:00.001+08:00

Source: yellowcabpizza.com via Rose on Pinterest

The big bosses are in town and we had a pizza party last night at the office. If there’s one thing the Cebu team loves, it’s food. :) Haha! We’re not social drinkers and only a few of us smoke. But when it comes to good food, then we have a common interest. I guess this explains why our body mass index is higher than that of our Manila counterparts.

The get-together was done at our new building and needless to say, I’m pretty much excited about moving in. Our account has started its transition and I move either tonight or next Monday. It’s a new environment (in the same company) so hopefully it’ll bring about a fresh start.

Day 23: This is not a story about forgiveness

2011-09-15T20:42:00.000+08:00

Now this is one series with an interesting plot line. Former Brothers & Sisters’ star Emily Van Camp returns to primetime via Revenge, a new television drama from ABC. The story centers around a young woman’s return to The Hamptons to take revenge against the people who caused her father’s death and destroyed her family. Here’s the twist, she returns with an entirely different identity. Very Count of Monte Cristo-like, huh?

Aside from EVC, two other familiar faces drew me to watch this with anticipation… Nick Wechsler (who can forget Kyle Valenti from Roswell?!?) and Madeleine Stowe (still a timeless beauty). Feedbacks have been favorable. Now let’s see how this whole ‘revenge’ plotline will unfold.

Day 22: Sinfully delicious!

2011-09-14T22:24:00.001+08:00

Surprise! After weeks of constantly wishing for it, I was finally able to order some red velvet cupcakes to satisfy my craving.

I’m not really sure how it happened, but I found myself one day browsing through the Facebook page of The Cupcake Theory: Gourmet Cupcakes and Hand-carved Cakes looking through their selection of specialties. I had given up trying to find the cupcakes at the mall. It was either no pastry shop had them, or they were simply out of stock. Part of me kept on wishing Starbucks would at least have some red velvet cake but I had no luck whenever I dropped by at their branch in Ayala. So I decided to give TCT a try.

The Cupcake Theory's Red Velvet Cupcakes

The lady behind this successful venture, Arvy, was an angel. She was very accommodating and gladly answered all of my inquiries before I placed an order for a dozen of her best-selling cupcakes. And boy it did not disappoint!

One should never be surprised these babies are her bestsellers...

The cream cheese frosting was my favorite. Its sweet n’ salty flavor complemented the cake really well that you can’t help but crave for more. Now I know why they say it’s addicting. If we did not have any self-control, all twelve would’ve been consumed right there and then. With a seal of approval from my dad and sister, it’s a no-brainer to say that we’re definitely ordering this again next month.

Oh and just a tip, the cupcake is best enjoyed shared with someone. :)

Day 21: Way to go, Shamcey!

2011-09-13T14:23:00.001+08:00

People weren’t kidding when they say that the Miss Universe pageant is the bekis’ (read: gay people) own version of Pacquiao boxing matches. As early as 8AM of the pageant day everyone at the office was rushing to go home to catch the live telecast from Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was a rare occurrence. Something that happens only when Pacman is scheduled go up against another hapless opponent in the ring. I made it home by 9AM, just in time for the announcement of the Top 16 on Star World’s coverage.

The country’s representative, Shamcey Supsup, sailed through the Top 16 all the way to the Top 5 with a breeze. She was a fan favorite as well as evidenced by the fan scores flashed onscreen during the pageant proper. Then came the dreaded Q&A which can make or break a contestant’s chances (remember ‘Major, major’?). To be honest, I felt that her answer was underwhelming. It was a polarizing question and opinions were bound to be split regarding her answer. But I admired her spontaneity and the fact that she was the only one who never used an interpreter among the Top 5 contestants. For that alone, she was a winner in my book.

Way to go, Shamcey! You did well and made your countrymen proud. That’s all that matters.

Day 20: BOATLIFT–An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

2011-09-12T21:27:00.001+08:00

When Pottermore finally allowed me to choose my wand, one of the questions asked was regarding what characteristic of myself do I value the most. I chose resilience. I don’t know why but it just felt right. Maybe because I’ve always been able to bounce back after experiencing setbacks both personally and professionally speaking. At times when I felt like giving up, I constantly remind myself that I will get through this unscathed.

9/11 taught us how powerful human resilience can be. It’s both sad and amazing how it brings out the best of humanity at times when you need it the most. ‘Boatlift’ tells us of the untold tale of those who helped evacuate thousands from Manhattan on the day of the attacks. Be amazed at their story.

Day 19: Where were you 10 years ago?

2011-09-11T23:07:00.001+08:00

I’m watching 9/11 tribute shows on TV as I type this entry. Pretty overwhelming, and I don’t know which one to prioritize. But it will never change the fact that innocent lives were lost in a cowardly act of terrorism perpetrated by people blinded by their beliefs. I still cry every time I watch the memorial service commemorated year after year since the tragedy. It’s heartbreaking. Parents losing their children, children losing their parents, wives losing their husbands, babies born who never got to know their fathers. The list goes on.

I still remember that fateful day (night, for us in this time zone) like it was just yesterday. I was watching TV with my sister when my uncle rushed into the room and asked that we change the channel to CNN. He said the World Trade Center was on fire. No one knew yet that a plane had hit the North Tower. I remembered even saying that they should be fine since we all thought a fire had simply broken out on one floor. A few minutes later, we all realized it was an inferno caused by two planes crashing into the towers. The rest, they say, is history.

We ended up watching the news until way past midnight. It was the talk of the town at school the next day. Who knew all of those happened a decade ago? It’s surreal. Some of those fatalities were even younger than I am today when they died. They will never get to live their dreams anymore. But I will hold on to the thought that they are at peace knowing their legacy will forever be remembered.

NEVER FORGET.

Day 18: Auntie Anne’s pretzels

2011-09-10T23:02:00.003+08:00

My sister and I decided to try out something new when we went to Ayala today. So off we went to Auntie Anne’s and sampled what they market as ‘hand-baked soft pretzels’. Real pretzels! Pretty new for someone like me who’s only used to the Jack n’ Jill ones.:) Haha!

For starters, we ordered their Pretzel Treat #1 which consisted of an original pretzel and iced tea. I included a caramel dip as well just for extra kick. My sister was pleased. The pretzel was indeed soft, and was bursting with flavor even without the dip. I love how they’re generous with their drinks. No small cups that could barely even quench your thirst after eating.

Conveniently situated at the 2nd floor of the mall’s activity zone, Auntie Anne’s is the perfect place to hang-out with friends or colleagues especially if you’re meeting for a quick catch-up before other appointments. Consider it an alternative to the crowded coffee shops these days.

Day 17: He’s So Legendary…

2011-09-09T22:46:00.000+08:00

Can Puss In Boots be more adorable? :) I spent a few good minutes laughing over this new trailer they released. Antonio Banderas, FTW! I can never picture him now without associating him with this adorable feline. And yes, we are so watching this in cinemas once it’s released. PIB needs all the love! <3

Day 16: Food trippin’ at Spaghetti Factory

2011-09-08T23:17:00.003+08:00

Why is it that whenever we decide to go on a food trip, I always end up not bringing my camera? I should really find a bag that’s more handy otherwise I’ll end up missing a lot of great ~~food~~ photo opportunities.

One such example is the Spaghetti Factory at Ayala. We love their pasta so much that we keep coming back any chance we got. This was already our third visit, but I have yet to bring Yogi along. So forgive the crappy photos from my Blackberry.

My sister's order: Mama's Pasta w/ fettuccine noodles

That visit also made me realize I can never consume a serving of lasagna by myself. I was already full halfway through the meal and several helpings of garlic toast. But perhaps I wasn’t that hungry at that time. Their Béchamel sauce was amazing and it complimented the pasta really well.

Spaghetti Factory's Lasagna - see the sauce? It was HEAVEN!

Garlic Bread - nothing special. We could've done away with it in this meal

I’ll be back, Spaghetti Factory... and with better photos!

Spaghetti Factory
3rd Level, Ayala Center Cebu
http://www.spaghettifactory.com.ph

Day 15: Buffy’s back with… Ringer!

2011-09-07T22:37:00.001+08:00

I’ve never been a fan of Sarah Michelle Gellar during her Buffy heydays. Her voice was just too nasal, plus she got to marry Freddie Prinze, Jr.! Yeah, I’m a bitter fan. :) Heehee! Eight years after BtVS bid adieu, SMG is back on the small screen with her new project Ringer… playing twins nonetheless. And I must say, the trailer had me impressed.

I love how it gave us a background of the story without revealing too much which in turn encourages more viewers to check out the pilot to see how this whole mystery unfolded.

Oh and one more thing… Ioan Gruffud!!! Isn’t he reason enough for someone to check out this show? Tsk! Lucky, lucky SMG!

Day 14: Sorted… I’m a Gryffindor!

2011-09-06T13:20:00.000+08:00

My Pottermore email has finally arrived informing me that my account is now ready. Being the eager beaver that I am, I just had to explore it immediately. Never mind the fact that I was due for work in an hour. People weren’t kidding when the say the site is addictive. Here you get the chance to experience what Harry and friends went through during their first year at Hogwarts. The flash site is impressive. You even get the back stories of some characters from the books.

But what I was really excited about, was to find out which Hogwarts House I’d be sorted into. Judging from the reactions of those who were recently sorted, I had my mind set on going to Hufflepuff. But surprise, surprise… guess where the Sorting Hat placed me after answering all those questions?

Maybe my personality traits are really Gryffindor-like, huh? I can’t wait to further explore the site. It’s bound to be a challenge… it took me a couple of tries (okay, seven!) to perfect the potions-brewing practice! What if I don’t earn any house points? :(

Crossing my fingers that my sister gets her email soon. She’s been checking for it for the past few days and I can tell she’s very excited to start exploring the site on her own account already. Hopefully we’ll get to be housemates too!

So, who’s on Pottermore? Add me up: QuaffleSky99. Don’t forget to tell me your username as well so that I’d know it’s you. :)

Day 13: A day of firsts…

2011-09-05T14:19:00.000+08:00

Definitely my favorite from the photo booth we had last Sunday. It was a day of many firsts for me. I zip lined for the first time and it was an exhilarating experience. Again, I regret not bringing my camera to the event. It would’ve been so nice to capture my reaction or even take a picture of the surroundings as I was suspended in mid-air.

First time ko rin makapag-photo booth. I am such a n00b! Heto ang nagagawa pag hindi social creature. I get so amazed by a lot of things. Heehee! For once, I actually went out with non-WFM folks from work. Truth be told, I was getting this reputation of being a party-ditcher so I decided to conform for once… and I had so much fun!

Thank you, Miss Cherryll for inviting me to your birthday celebration. It was truly an event that I will always remember.

*photo courtesy of Big Chiz

Day 12: Zip line, baybeh!

2011-09-04T22:08:00.001+08:00

Today I had my first ever zip line experience. I thought I wouldn’t survive the ordeal, but it’s different once you’re already up in the air. How I wish I actually went for a second round but it was getting quite dark since we arrived late in the afternoon. My only regret was not bringing Yogi with me hence no decent photos of me zip lining except for the part where I was getting prepped up.

The experience has taught me that I had what it takes to conquer my own fears. I should be willing to take risks and learn from them because only then will I become a better person. So what’s next? Bungee jumping? :) Nah, I have yet to gather the right amount of courage for that. Maybe next time. Heehee!

Day 11: Taste some macarons --- check!

2011-09-03T23:01:00.002+08:00

Probably not as good as the French ones from Pierre Hermé or Ladurée. But since we have very limited choices in my corner of the country, I just had to try what Vanille Patisserie had to offer when it comes to macarons. Who knew these little creations were so tiny yet bursting with so much flavor?

We opted for three on our first try: tableya (cacao tablets), caramel and espresso. I was not disappointed. Tableya perfectly captured the blend of bitterness and sweetness in its filling that it overpowered my taste buds by the time I took a bite out of the Espresso. My sister, on the other hand, loved the Espresso one although she was a bit disappointed with the actual size of the thing.

Perhaps we’ll definitely comeback in the future. The visit was only to shut me up since I couldn’t stop babbling about wanting to taste macarons and red velvet cupcakes, the latter of which still remains elusive to me until now.

Paging Mercato Centrale or Banchetto organizers! Can’t you do a one-time weekend set-up here in the Queen City of the South? Or perhaps come-up with a counterpart here? I’d gladly spend my rest days sampling all that you’ll be offering in that event. Heehee!

Day 10: Harry, Ginny and kids (A Potter family portrait!)

2011-09-02T12:49:00.002+08:00

Now this is just lovely. Granted that David Yates already screwed up Ginny in the movies, a photo like this still makes you miss having a Potter movie to look forward to each year. I love it, despite criticisms on the ageing make-up, because the casting people managed to find great kids to portray Harry and Ginny’s children. Will Dunn is a charmer. Arthur Bowen’s features look like he could really be Dan and Bonnie’s son. Daphne just reminds me of little Bonnie from Sorcerer’s Stone.

The epilogue better get a special feature on the DH2 DVD! Now where’s the family portrait for Ron, Hermione, Rosie and Hugo? :)

*photo credit to Oclumencia’s twitter

Day 9: The -BER months are here!

2011-09-01T21:33:00.005+08:00

Oh how fast time flies! I can’t believe it’s September already. Soon we’d be hearing Christmas carols over the radio. :) Which reminds me to start saving up in time for the holidays. I don’t want to panic when it’s time to do some Christmas shopping. Plus I have Project 2011 to think about. We’re going low key this year, most probably a Kodak Playsport or Playfull so that I’ll have something handy when it comes to random trips with friends.

For happy thoughts, here’s a random photo of the Stark kids (from Game of Thrones) that I found in a message board. Most probably they got it from Tumblr as well.

Too bad their hottie brothers, Robb and Jon, weren't with them. Hehe! I'm still depressed. Can't get over the fate Robb meets in A Storm of Swords. NOOO! I want Richard Madden to stay until the end of the series. :(

Day 8: Today feels like a Monday…

2011-08-31T20:39:00.001+08:00

I’m back to work again after a one-day birthday leave. But it’s cool because I accomplished what I planned to do during that period. Had dinner last night with Isa, the only one among my college friends who still lives in the same city as I do. It’s funny how we never really run out of things to talk about. That said, I hope the reunion with the girls pushes through in November. We have to do that Harry Potter marathon we’ve always planned about! :)

I’m done with my Annual Physical Exam as well. What took me three hours last year only took me about less than an hour earlier today. I guess it pays to be early at the venue after all. And never go on a weekend! I learned that the hard way.

So how did you spend the long weekend?

Day 7: Blog-a-log for Nuffnang's Blog Day

2011-08-30T23:58:00.002+08:00

In celebration of my birthday, allow me to share with you six fabulous blogs that I regularly visit whenever I go online. I worship the ground these bloggers walk on. Crafting a content for your site is never easy, much more coming up with something witty that will automatically catch your reader's attention.

A Koala’s Playground (http://www.koalasplayground.com)

What's to love: Miss OC Koala rules the world of K-drama blogging. Her recaps are witty and very engaging, it's almost like you're watching the whole episode unfold before your very eyes. She also has mini-updates on your favorite Korean, Japanese or Taiwanese A-listers. How's that for versatility, huh? :)

Eat, Drink & Be Loved (http://steveandmickie.wordpress.com)

What's to love: The ultimate guide on where-to-eat if you're planning to visit Cebu. Mickie sets their food blog apart by including a photo of the menu from each restaurant they visit. Consider it your head start in knowing what to order when it's your turn to visit the establishment.

Con La Roja (http://conlaroja.wordpress.com)

What's to love: All the updates about our favorite La Roja guys! Xabi? Sergio? Iker? Juanin? Javi? You name it! My sister discovered this gem of a blog during the FIFA World Cup 2010 and we've been avid visitors ever since. If you're a fan of Real Madrid FC, her other blog Una Madridista, is also worth checking out.

Mommy Fleur (http://mommyfleur.blogspot.com)

What's to love: I’m no mommy yet, but Mommy Fleur’s witty chronicles of her everyday life makes it a fun read for everyone. Her OotD entries are something to look forward to as well as her little anecdotes about the family princess, Anika. But can I let you in on a secret? My favorites are the Girlie and Jekjek posts. Oh what a hoot those two would’ve been if they were our neighbors.

Dramabeans (http://www.dramabeans.com)

What’s to love: The mother of all K-drama recap blogs. Consider the drama lucky if the team chose to add it on their current list of projects. Again, I tip my hats off to those who painstakingly post recaps of each K-drama episode almost as soon after it aired in Korea. It’s never easy doing screenshots and writing your thoughts all the while knowing that hundreds of readers are awaiting your next update.

Krissyfied (http://www.krissyfied.com)

What’s to love: Admittedly one of the bloggers who inspired me to start blogging again, Krissy’s busy schedule these days makes you wonder how she manages to fit all those events into her social calendar considering she has a day job on the side. Truth be told, I admire her for living a life I’ve always dreamed of. :) She’s a fashion icon, writer and working girl all rolled into one.

How about you? Got any blogs to recommend? Join and post it over at Nuffnang as well. Less than 24hrs to go before the deadline!

Day 6: Red Velvet Dreams

2011-08-29T21:24:00.002+08:00

Why, oh why is there a shortage of pastry shops in Cebu that sell these lovely creations? I’ve been craving for one ever since I read entries from Mommy Fleur and Eat, Drink & Be Loved. Had I known earlier, I would’ve placed this on my birthday wish list. Hmmm… maybe I’ll try ordering it from The Cupcake Theory once I get some extra moolah on the side just to shut me up. Or, I can always check out Starbucks or Vickie’s for their red velvet cake instead. *sighs* If only we had a spiffy kitchen at home. I’d be doing baking experiments every weekend.

*Image swiped from Picky Cook

Day 5: Why so cheesy, Wonder Woman?

2011-08-28T22:10:00.002+08:00

When word got out that Wonder Woman was being adapted as a television series, a lot raised their eyebrows in doubt. Much more when it was revealed that David E. Kelley would be its showrunner. A guy, famous for his procedural dramas, doing a superhero show? This was either going to be a hit or a miss for everyone involved.

Then the upfront happened and the show was never picked up. Reviews branded it as cheesy. I was heartbroken. I couldn’t believe it suffered the same fate as Aquaman (whose pilot I absolutely loved). But after seeing the WW pilot, I think I know why the network chose to pass on this. Wonder Woman had too much angst in her system you’d think her nostrils would flare everytime she spoke. Another nitpick was that there was no air of mystery towards Diana (her human alter-ego) because everyone knew she was WW. Superhero shows don’t work that way. There always has to be a thin line separating your personal life from your crime-busting pursuits.

It’s a pity, really, because I loved the cast. Adrianne Palicki and Justin Bruening need to be seen more on television. Granted that WW was picked up and the writing stayed the same, it would’ve been a complete and utter waste of their talent to stay involved with the project. A good project and a more coherent script is all they need to make it big.

Day 4: Jeyne and Ygritte sure are lucky gals!

2011-08-27T23:33:00.004+08:00

I’d gladly take any of the brothers if I were given a choice. But knowing how majority are fawning over Jon Snow, my heart’s pretty much set towards Robb Stark. How can you not love the accent? And Richard Madden’s eyes! *swoon*

Speaking of which, I still have some Game of Thrones catching up to do. (the TV series, not the books) I got into it pretty late and currently I’m on Episode 5. Team Stark FTW! But boy do they have a gazillion of characters to remember for this series. Season 2 is set to introduce new ones as well. Can they still replace the actress they cast for Jeyne? :) Just feeling possessive over Robb, that’s all. Haha!

I wonder if there are plans to cast Ygritte too? They’d better pick a good one otherwise Jon Snow fangirls will raise hell.

Day 3: Cheesecake Heaven

2011-08-26T21:31:00.003+08:00

Mochaccino cheesecake from Dessert Factory is <3! I had this for dessert after a much-deserved lunch date with my sister. We seldom go on food trips lately so I make sure I only order what I love best from a restaurant. And cheesecakes never fail me. Whether it be the blueberry or the plain ol’ version, I cannot get enough of it.

I could do without the caramel sauce. The cream cheese alone blended perfectly with its chocolate base while the whipped cream balanced the sweetness of the dessert. I’d definitely order this again if I get to dine at Dessert Factory in the near future.

Day 2: Wi-Fi, at last!

2011-08-25T21:04:00.002+08:00

We’ve been intending to buy a wi-fi router at home for as long as I can remember. But it has never materialized because we cannot seem to allocate a specific budget just for that purchase. With all the expenses, buying a router wasn’t the top of everyone’s priority list.

Enter my telecom provider. They provided me a free router in exchange for an upgrade in my internet connection. What would’ve cost me a thousand (or more) was given to me for three hundred bucks only. (the router, not the subscription) Quite a steal, eh? Or at least that’s how I see it.

Finally, no more taking turns at the laptop. We can go online all at the same time!

Day 1: It’s a challenge!

2011-08-24T21:29:00.003+08:00

I’m keeping this short, but today I’m taking up the 30-day blog challenge. No themes, no guide questions… just random thoughts and whatever catches my fancy. This is going to be interesting since I never write entries in succession. I’m the first one to admit that I am such a lazy blogger.

Call me inspired. Reading the entries of Mariel from NYMinuteNow doing her own challenge (her third year, imagine that!) gave me the much needed boost to start my own. Who knows? I might make a habit out of this once I get to the 30th day. But for now, let’s see how long I can sustain this momentum. Wish me luck!

August 21 = DISASTER

2011-08-21T20:25:00.002+08:00

No internet, no water… on a ‘tingbits’ (read: no money) weekend. Could things get any worse? Shallow rant on my part, I know. But the universe owes me at least my internet connection because I’m staying put instead of going to the mall.

It’s ironic how I’m suddenly having this internet problem (again!) after I agreed to an upgrade for my broadband DSL. And the tech support isn’t of any help. I’m being fed the standard apologetic and template-y response when customers complain about their connection. Troubleshooting did not get us anywhere because I know the problem isn’t on our end. And because this happened on a weekend, tech visit isn’t until tomorrow. Gahhh! I hate being an irate customer because I was nothing but kind when I was an agent with my current company.

Please let my luck change by next week. It’ll be my birthday weekend and I hate to spend it with bad vibes bouncing all over the place.

I <3 Xabi Alonso

2011-08-15T14:21:00.002+08:00

Because he’s a midfielder, the love of my life scores like… once in a blue moon. So forgive me if I’m getting all fangirl-y about him lately. First was the penalty kick for La Roja against Italy and now the equalizer for the Super Copa match between Los Blancos and FCB. The guy’s on a roll!

Why so flawless, Xabier? <3

One Day + La Roja

2011-08-15T00:32:00.004+08:00

Forgive the week-long absence. Things at the office got pretty hectic at one point and by the time I arrived home all I want to do is sleep. Naturally, a lot has happened in my fandoms. Let’s see if I can remember them all in a quick rundown:

The trailer for One Day. I love romantic flicks, much more if the main OTP has off-the-charts chemistry. While I’m on the fence regarding Anne Hathaway (don’t like her, don’t hate her either)... Jim Sturgess is reason enough for me to be on-board this flick. Not really sure if I’d rather read the book first while waiting for the movie to be released here.

Speaking of romantic flicks, I should really find a copy of Something Borrowed (the movie, not the book). Saw some being sold in Colon DVD stalls last Saturday but I think it’s better if I borrow instead from an officemate who already has one.

Oh, and La Roja had a friendly last August 10 against Forza Azzurri (Team Italy). They lost. Nothing surprising about that considering their track record in friendlies. The only good thing was that my bebe Xabi scored the lone goal for Spain in that game! Yayyy! The man is perfection personified as always.

Crossing my fingers that they do better once they play another Euro qualifying game in September.

Pottermore: I’m finally IN!

2011-08-02T20:51:00.003+08:00

I am such a klutz for not figuring out Pottermore sooner when the first clue was released last Sunday. By the time I knew how it worked, it was too late since I am usually asleep every time they release a clue each day until August 6. As a Potter fan, I couldn’t very well let this chance pass up.

Then my prayers were answered. So thank you, Jesser, for helping me register. I owe you big-time! :)

Say hello to QuaffleSky99! (I really love that username, honestly)

Kitchen Chronicles: Beef Steak w/ margarine

2011-08-01T00:19:00.007+08:00

Sounds weird? Believe me, it tastes otherwise. My mom introduced us to a new secret ingredient she’s been using for her beef steak over the summer. I was so used to the traditional way of cooking it that I was apprehensive how margarine would factor into the equation. But surprise, surprise… it made the dish even tastier… and more fragrant too! Since then I have been requesting it every once in a while from my sister. She’s the real cook in the family. :) I merely plan and photograph the dishes afterwards.

FYI: If you’re on a diet, better skip this dish for you’ll consume several platefuls of rice without even realizing it. I'm the living proof. Hehe!

BEFORE: marinated beef

Preparing this dish is fairly simple. Just marinate the beef in soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi juice, grated ginger and grated garlic. Use margarine instead of cooking oil when you cook it and add star anise afterwards. Top with onions once done for plating. Pair it with steaming hot rice plus your favorite beverage and you’ll be one happy foodie.

AFTER: beef steak w/ margarine topped with onions

Speaking of food trips, I’m really craving for Zubuchon right now. It doesn’t help that a former classmate of mine posted a photo of her recent dining experience in one of their restaurants here in Cebu. Hopefully next weekend we can finally sample what Anthony Bourdain had been raving about in his No Reservations show.

Something Blue!

2011-07-24T23:12:00.003+08:00

It all started when Cyd had me listen to ‘A Little Too Much’ by Natasha Bedingfield. The song was used in the trailer of Something Borrowed, a chick flick based on the novel of the same title by Emily Giffin. It was love at first listen. As the song played on heavy rotation in my phone, it soon snowballed into a desire to read an Emily Giffin book over the weekend. It’s been a while since I last bought one for myself. I figured, a little indulgence wouldn’t hurt right?

So guess who got herself Something Blue last Saturday?

The book provides us closure to 'Something Borrowed'

Yayyy! I’m currently halfway through the book and I’m still hating what a self-centered bitch Darcy is. Yes, the jilted fiancee from Something Borrowed is now the novel’s main protagonist. Not to say that she isn’t relatable though. She has her moments. I’ll post a full review once I’m done with the rest of the chapters.

Kitchen Chronicles: Mashed Potatoes

2011-07-23T23:16:00.011+08:00

Mashed potatoes remains to be my favorite side-dish ever. Whether it’s at KFC or Red Ribbon, I simply can’t get enough of it. So I thought, why not try making one at home? Thanks to Mommy Fleur’s blog, I was able to find an easy DIY recipe that we can re-create ourselves. The ingredients are pretty simple: potatoes, Nestle all-purpose cream, cheese, butter, salt and pepper to taste.

Ingredients: Grated cheese, butter and all-purpose cream

The results turned out pretty well much to my relief. It was a hearty Saturday night dinner for the family as we feasted on fried chicken, ginisang sayote and mashed potatoes. Although I think I went overboard with the cream (you can just use half of the pack if you want). My siblings loved it though. From their reactions I guess this is going to be a weekly dinner staple from now on.

friend chicken and ginisang sayote... yummy!

mashed potatoes + fried chicken = FOOD COMMA

So is this good-bye, Harry Potter?

2011-07-18T00:14:00.011+08:00

Never mind the 4 hour sleep, it was helluva freakin’ worth-it to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 on IMAX last July 14. We opted for the first showing since I was coming straight out of a shift. I was with my sister, the person whom I credit for introducing me to the series a decade ago. At SM we met up with Isa, one of my closest friends from college who’s a fellow Potter fan like us. I would’ve loved to watch this with the TKC girls but sadly we’re islands (and countries!) apart. Remind me to suggest having a marathon of all eight flicks when we’ll have our get-together again next year. DVDs are on me. :)

The whole experience was bittersweet. I started reading Harry Potter when I was already in college but it never stopped me from appreciating the wonderful world that JK Rowling created. I bought the first four books in paperback. After that we (my sister and I) made it our goal to get the succeeding ones in hardbound, expenses be damned. That was much of a sacrifice since we were still students then.

Now, seven books and eight movies later… has the time finally come for us to say good-bye to Mr. Potter? Needless to say, I cried during the movie. Only two Potter movies had me sobbing this hard ever… Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows Part 2. If you hate spoilers then I suggest skipping the post below:

Neville and the Trio warns you of spoilers... and rants!

Daniel Radcliffe has improved leaps and bounds ever since he started doing the series. The Harry Potter in this flick was finally the take-charge kind of guy with Ron and Hermione duly designated as his wingmen. His strongest moments were probably those at the forest and the one with his son in the epilogue.

When it comes to secondary characters, it was Neville Longbottom’s turn to shine in this flick and boy did Matt Lewis deliver! Kudos to whoever added that fan-service part about him and Luna. ( you know what I mean *wink*)

Unpopular opinion: I will always love Bonnie Wright and her portrayal of Ginny Weasley. C’mon, the girl has managed to make do with whatever material has been given her. It’s not her fault that Kloves (or even Yates) failed to realize early on that Ginny was always meant to be with Harry hence giving her scraps of dialogues and scenes from the earlier movies. Why also blame her for the fact that she managed to grow taller than that shrimp, Daniel Radcliffe? :) JKR has already set it in stone, and I don’t think throwing bitch fits about how book!Ginny > movie!Ginny is going to change the fact that they will still end up together in the end.

Don’t even get me started on those who think that Daniel had more chemistry with Emma. This is Harry Potter. Everyone knows how JKR had it all end in Deathly Hallows. Magdasal nalang kayo na sana magka-movie silang dalawa na sila lang. [/end rant] There, I said it. My allegiance will always be to OBHWF (Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione).

Oh, and the editing still hasn’t changed. I scratch my head every time Mark Day gets a nomination for his work on the series when his shoddy editing ruins the transition of emotional scenes. Case in point: the deaths at the Battle of Hogwarts. Clearly, the guy still hasn’t dropped out of the Ryan Murphy School of Editing.

And last but not the least, the redemption of Severus Snape had Alan Rickman simply bowling everyone over with his portrayal of the long-suffering, conflicted yet heroic professor. Oh the perils of unrequited love! It was, and will always be, about Lily after all these years.

With the eight movies finally done, I hope we’ll get decent extra features on the DVD for Deathly Hallows Part 2. More like, Goblet of Fire-generous if you must David Yates. And please… not Hermione-centric ones.

I want a Kodak Playsport!

2011-07-12T20:45:00.001+08:00

My birthday is next month, is it too late to make a wishlist? I'm really obsessing about this HD pocket video camera that I saw in Patty Laurel's blog. This would've been the perfect accessory to our San Remigio get-away and that #flyinflyoutmanila trip. Not that there's anything wrong with our DSLR. I just think home videos are quite fascinating too.

Trivia: Back in college, I was the designated videographer of our block. My (late) uncle was kind enough to let me borrow his trusty camcorder whenever we had school projects or class outings. But it was purely home video-style. I had no knowledge of video editing softwares and shots were spliced the old-fashioned way... through VCRs! Imagine how LOL-worthy our presentation on the life of Mao Zedong was for a PolSci class.

That said, I want to explore that interest again. From photography to directing. Nakkks! I'm aiming towards buying either a Playsport or a Flip mino before the year ends as my own Project 2011. Sometimes I scare myself. I'm so maluho with gadgets yet I never earn from them.:) But at least this is much cheaper than a DSLR which cost us an arm and a leg and a few months worth of savings.

Look who’s back on Criminal Minds?

2011-07-11T14:47:00.003+08:00

I need happy thoughts to distract me from the fact that I just lost 500 bucks at the grocery earlier. Katangahan galore, I know. This experience taught me never to stuff bills again in my pockets whenever I’m wearing skinny jeans. *sighs* But it’s no use crying over spilt milk anymore. Whoever picked up my 500, I hope you’re happy now with the extra grocery money you’ve got.

For good vibes, I’m setting my thoughts on the Harry Potter movie this week. And look what I found while going through PEx earlier?

My Hotch/Prentiss dream lives on! Hahaha...

I’m loving the scruffy look on Hotch. And yayyy for Prentiss ditching the bangs! It made her look old, IMO. I hope she doesn’t revert to that horrible hairstyle again mid-season. Such a warm feeling seeing the cast complete again, huh? It was never the same without Prentiss and JJ in the group.

*photo swiped from SpoilerTV

See you on the 14th, Harry!

2011-07-10T22:00:00.003+08:00

I could hardly contain my glee when we finally purchased our tickets to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last Saturday. Yes, I am watching it in IMAX with my sister and Isa. First showing, y’all! I would love to go on VL for that day but considering how stressful the account is recently with the current headcount, maybe I’ll just come in late. What’s the use of having a flexi schedule, right? :)

It’s just lovely how on Facebook, me and my friends from college could barely contain our excitement for the movie. Great minds think alike. I’m happy I convinced them to read the books almost a decade ago. The same way I got them to watch Star Wars Episodes IV – VI after seeing The Phantom Menace. Haha! I can be pretty convincing at times.

Watching the videos from the world premiere isn’t doing me any good. It makes me all the more hyped up for July 14. And yes, I’ve broken my promise of staying away from spoiler clips until I’ve seen the movie. Harry/Ginny ones are just hard to resist! But to be fair, I’ve only seen two and vowed to not watch anything else. Here’s one of my favorites:

Click at your own risk! It’s just a 26-seconds clip anyways but I love how they managed to get Ginny’s character right here. No dialogues, the action says it all.

JK Rowling’s Big 7

2011-07-08T20:54:00.003+08:00

Thank you, JK Rowling, for recognizing this core group that made the movies even memorable. The trio will never shine without their friends and Harry’s rivalry with Draco was really something for the books. Dan, Rupert, Emma. Bonnie, Matt, Evanna and Tom… we will all miss you too. Thank you for bringing to life Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna and Draco. *cries*


The Big 7

Crazy, crazy day!

2011-07-06T13:56:00.004+08:00

What a way to start your week after a holiday! This is why I should never take Mondays off. (I never learn!) Things get a little crazy once you get back to work the next day. And yeah, lesson learned? Spoon-feeding is the way to go.

Perhaps this was the price I paid for that little white lie. But on to the good stuff… look what we experimented on over the weekend!


pasta w/out the toppings! (from Yummy's July issue)

Our very own version of Yummy's Breaded Spanish Sardines w/ Garlic-Basil Pasta

Yummy magazine’s proving to be very handy these days since we’re running out of dishes to try out. This pasta turned out okay despite our reservations however I think I preferred our version of the Pasta Puttanesca more. Zaragoza spanish-style sardines, FTW!

Albert and Charlene: The (Other) Royal Wedding

2011-07-03T22:23:00.006+08:00

I missed out on CNN’s coverage of the religious ceremony because I could barely keep my eyelids open that evening. The next morning, I was into Getty Images and The Daily Mail reviewing photos from the event. Monaco’s bachelor prince has finally settled down! His bride, Charlene Wittstock, managed to walk down the aisle despite earlier speculations she planned on bolting the wedding.

The prince and his bride say "I DO"

You all know my fascination for royal weddings. It’s such a treat to see all these royals come together for one of their own. And boy, Monaco’s royal wedding did not disappoint! It was a guest list of who’s who in European royalty.

The Casiraghi siblings: Pierre, Charlotte and Andrea looking all regal and dapper for the wedding reception

Equally gorgeous siblings: Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine of Sweden

I would love to see William and Kate, or even Harry, attend events like these in the future. I’m getting tired of seeing Prince Edward representing the British monarchy whenever there are royal weddings. But then, budgetary constraints might not allow it. Siiigh! Even the wedding (W+K) was running on a budget… not all the royals I expected were able to attend.

Milestones and HPDH2

2011-07-02T22:47:00.001+08:00

Guess who’s having a long weekend? Thanks to the fourth of July, I’m getting Monday off next week. So I’m catching up on missed mall dates with my sister that were abruptly halted when I got sick. And yes, catching up (again!) on my blogging. It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway into the year. Where did all those months go?

July, though, is a month of many milestones for me. It was the same month last year when I was told of my promotion. OA na kung OA, but I was full of good vibes that month especially since Spain recently bagged the World Cup championship a few days prior to the announcement. Everything fell into place after that. Twelve months later, I’m still here --- continuously learning and definitely getting better at what I do.

The seventh month is also something that I usually associate with Harry Potter. This year, we bid goodbye to the movie franchise as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 opens on July 14. We’re watching this on IMAX, as promised! But SM Cebu is just too far that I’m having bouts of laziness in reserving the tickets. Guess I’ll just have to purchase them personally (at SM) when we do watch it then.

Sick… and not lovin’ it!

2011-06-28T14:35:00.001+08:00

I fell ill over the weekend. So while my officemates were busy making lakwatsa enjoying their payday, I was at home… barfing my guts out. Not a nice way to spend one’s rest days, I swear. I didn’t even get to enjoy Colon with my sister because I was trying to fight fainting spells under the heat of the sun.

Thankfully, my appetite’s back. Yayy! No more throwing up for me. One the bright side? I’m two kilos lighter because it. Not much, but it’s a good start for our Biggest Loser campaign. Haha!

Now if I can just finish this whole shift bid brouhaha this week then I’ll be one happy camper. I think it’s the stress from having to plot all these schedules and fitting them into the Fourth of July week that knocked me down over the weekend.

I need a happy thought!

We should’ve won… joke!

2011-06-18T23:53:00.001+08:00

Presenting my team during the recently-concluded WFM Summit at work. The captions say it all.

Weekend in Manila–comic style!

2011-06-16T13:45:00.004+08:00

Haha… how’s that for my first attempt at Comic Life? Props to Aryanna Epperson’s blog for introducing me to this very cool software. I’ll be sharing this strip to my officemates later and might as well get a good laugh from the misadventures we’ve had last weekend.

Fly in, fly out… Manila!

2011-06-15T13:43:00.004+08:00

It was one of the quickest trips I've had in my lifetime. Over the weekend, me and eight of my officemates flew to Manila to meet with our counterparts for the first ever summit organized by our department. It was a full-packed Saturday afternoon as we were distributed to different teams for the Amazing Race - Makati edition. The activity gave us the chance to bond with each other and know the people we work with, some of whom we've only met for the first time that weekend. How cool was it to finally put a face to people you normally talk to over the phone?

Photo-op! We were at the airport by 3AM for our 5:55AM flight...

Never mind the muscle pains, or the fact that I carelessly chose to wear flip flops while racing all over Makati. Everyone had fun... even if competitiveness was rearing its ugly head on some of the participants.

First stop... at the Stock Exchange building

Double time! The blue team is catching up.

We all trooped to Center Stage Family KTV and Resto Bar later that evening for a party to cap off the celebration. Some were boozed up while others chose to simply dance (or sing) to their heart's content. Dinner was nothing extraordinary but the pica-pica platter was just awesome. I can't recall how many calamares I must've had that night, or the cheese sticks, or the fries... even the tuknenengs.

One of the many pica-pica platters that evening...

Such a bummer though that we were only given the weekend to stay there. It would've been nice to meet up with some friends and explore the city for an extra day or two. Hmmm... maybe I'll come back one of these days with my sister, or the girls from TKC. After all, travel memories are the best when you're with people closest to your heart.

Group picture!

Thank you, Manila! I actually enjoyed our fly in, fly out weekend although it was too bitin. Hopefully we’ll still get the chance to host the next Amazing Race/Summit here in Cebu (or Baguio first, perhaps?).

SOTD: Love, Love by Take That

2011-06-10T10:07:00.003+08:00

a.k.a. the song that played at the end credits of X-Men: First Class.

How ‘bromance’ can the title be, huh? Although the lyrics say otherwise, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Charles and Erik every time the song plays. Hehe!

Yes, I have super-high standards

2011-06-08T13:53:00.005+08:00

McFassbender - The new OTP... haha!

Our Fassbender love is growing leaps and bounds as the days pass by. It has reached a point where my sister frequents Tumblr more often these days as she diligently searches for a torrent of the Jane Eyre version he's in. The man has been everywhere, can you believe it? Yet it's only now, because of X-Men: First Class, that he's starting to get noticed. Band of Brothers, 300, Inglorious Basterds... ahhh, must review those flicks again. Or better yet, find a DVD (bootleg) of X-Men: First Class. Heee!

Xabi got to wear the captain's armband again

And while we're on to the love of our lives... my dear Xabier finally scored a goal earlier during the friendly between La Roja and Venezuela. Yayyy! But I'm a bad fan, you know. I never get to watch their games since it's always scheduled whenever I'm at work. The one time I could have watched a friendly through TVE (last Sunday – against the US NT), I woke up a tad too late. Oh well, my chance will soon come.

It was funny though that when Xabi finally became a trending topic on Twitter... his name was spelled wrong! Tsk, tsk... know your Spaniards, people.

This is XAVI, people...

~~Not Xavi~~ This is ~~the love of my life~~ ~~the man I want to marry~~ XABI Alonso

*All photos swiped from Daylife

X-Men: First Class… are you one of them?

2011-06-05T22:53:00.004+08:00

After much thought (and watching clips from YouTube), I knew we couldn’t let this weekend pass without watching the latest X-Men flick. I was quite hesitant of this ~~installment~~ reboot given that the first three flicks ruined the X-Men of my childhood. Singer’s versions, I can tolerate. But when Ratner killed off Cyclops, Jean and the professor I was fuming mad. That is no way to treat legacy characters of the series! I gave up and couldn’t care any less for Wolverine’s spin-off.

Thankfully, X-Men: First Class has successfully restored my faith in the franchise. Matthew Vaughn’s take on the early beginnings of the Charles/Xavier friendship (and eventual fall-out) have garnered favorable reviews from both critics and viewers since it premiered. After seeing it earlier with my sister, I can say the movie definitely lived up to its hype. James MacAvoy and Michael Fassbender’s chemistry as the young Charles and Erik was so palpable you couldn’t help but swoon at their ‘bro-mance’ moments.

But really, their friendship has always been something I admired since the X-Men cartoons of the 90’s. They may have opposing views on their stand regarding humans vs. mutants yet they argue in a civilized manner. Plus, they also respect each other’s capabilities.

Fassbender now is undoubtedly the film’s break-out star. His interpretation of Magneto has made the viewers sympathetic towards the character. How else would you explain comments on social networking sites about how they swooned over Erik’s accent and kick-ass, metal-controlling powers?

Story-wise, it was a nice tweak to have Raven as Charles’ foster sister in this adaptation. That plot actually worked for me. Another character I loved was Hank McCoy. In this film we see him as a geeky scientist who has his own emotional struggles before he transformed into the furry Beast we all loved. I can’t help but think this is where the first three films failed… by not casting Beast until the third one when in fact his character is synonymous to the X-Men as Storm, Jean and Cyclops were.

If you have not seen this, better do so within the next few days. It’s totally worth every peso you’re shelling out.

Phillip/Syrena is ♥!

2011-05-28T23:59:00.005+08:00

The new Will/Elizabeth?!?

I watched Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides earlier with Xtian, Isa and my sister devoid of any expectations. After all, I wasn’t a die-hard fan of the Pirates’ franchise. The flick managed to somehow amuse me. Penelope Cruz was a pleasant addition. I love her banters with Johnny Depp. Angelica was the perfect foil for Jack Sparrow’s antics.

But it was Phillip (Sam Claflin) and the mermaid Syrena (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) who captured my attention. How cute is it that they actually got a poster together for this film? The mermaids were fierce!

Back to reality, and an overdue update…

2011-05-28T22:39:00.002+08:00

In stark contrast to my very productive blogging in April, I could only manage two entries so far for May. It was a very busy month indeed. I had things to do almost every other weekend. Not that I’m complaining. It was nice to finally have something in my social calendar for once.

One of the best things that happened this month was the chance for me and my closest friends from college to bond for two days in a resort down north for some much needed R&R. I see these ladies every once in a while but the last time all five of us were complete in the same city was way back in 2002 during their college graduation (I graduated a year later). Right now only one of us is married, one is in a relationship, while three are still swinging singles (joke!).

I can now truly say that when you’re with friends, you will never run out of things to talk about. We reminisced about our college years, talked about our present lives, and envisioned several ‘what if?’ scenarios for the future. It’s funny how we still get kilig talking about previous crushes. Or how much of an impact our college years played in turning us into the persons we have become today.

Only a decade of friendship can do that. And for that I am thankful.

I already miss you, girls...

The hunt for that commemorative issue…

2011-05-09T00:49:00.003+08:00

Why so elusive OK! Philippines? Fate is never kind whenever a certain book or magazine catches my fancy. Chances are, they’re always out of stock or have been sold-out within hours prior to my visit. Paper Cuts was one example. It took me two week before I could even get my hands on a copy of that book because apparently stocks weren’t delivered to that branch yet.

And now this commemorative issue for the Royal Wedding! As soon as I read it from Topaz Horizon’s blog that it was out, I made it a goal of mine to purchase a copy over the weekend. But sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. NBS had no copies and so did Watson’s. I thought I’d have my luck at the grocery but they don’t have the latest issue as well. Quite a bit frustrating. You know that urge when you just want to buy something but ended up empty-handed in the end?

Must try again this Tuesday.

Oh what a busy week it has been!

2011-05-06T14:39:00.002+08:00

I am on a blogging backlog. The past few days had been so hectic I barely had time to keep up with my entries here. For starters, the ‘rents are currently in town for the summer. It’s fun because they brought my younger cousin as well so it’s basically a full house in this otherwise gloomy residence before. Mom’s keeping us all busy. I love it when she’s around because the house looks impeccable, plus we get to taste home cooked meals again! With a work schedule like mine, the only time we ever get to cook decent meals before was over the weekend… when I’m on a rest day. Otherwise it’s most carinderia food or take-out. Oh the woes of a yuppie!

Also, my weekend was packed. Saturday was spent on a team building activity with my officemates and I was their designated photographer. We proceeded to Mountain View Nature’s Park right after shift. Surprisingly, I had fun. I only wished I came better prepared since I forgot to pack some slippers and was in sneakers all throughout the day. Given the park’s terrain, it’s best that you go there wearing comfortable clothing since you’ll be walking most of the time especially when scouting for photo opportunities.

Our manager's treat... Cang's Spicy Lechon! Yup, those are true-blue silis stuffed inside the pig.

I'm getting the hang of taking jumpshot pics! :) Finally, I have willing subjects to my photo schemes. Hehe!

I’m glad I actually went to the outing despite having only four hours of sleep the day before. The Manila trip may have been postponed (long story…) but it was worth spending those hours away from city life and just enjoying the moment with my officemates.

William and Catherine: The Royal Wedding 2011

2011-04-29T19:10:00.010+08:00

I am running on 4 hours of sleep as I type this entry. Yes, all for the love of the Royal Wedding. While most couldn’t care less I just had to see the event as it was taking place. I will not ramble on much more, let the pictures do the talking:

Prince William waves to onlookers outside the Westminster Abbey

Prince Harry looks on as his brother waves to the crowd

Catherine Middleton makes her entrance escorted by her father, Michael

The dress! I love it!

No clear photos yet of the bride so I’ll have to make do with the photo above. I love her dress! It’s so simple yet it manages to exude elegance all over. People say this was inspired by Grace Kelly’s own bridal gown when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Oh, and just a trivia: she isn't supposed to be addressed as Princess Catherine because she was a commoner before she married into the royal family. Hence, the reason why the Queen bestowed them title as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was for her to be officially addressed as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge after her marriage. Weird, huh? I think this rule applies within the British monarchy only. Princess Catherine would've been nice to the ears. Buti pa si Prince Daniel.

Best wishes, William and Catherine! Next up: Royal Baby Watch!

Photo Source: Daylife

He’s been a bad kitty!

2011-04-27T09:56:00.001+08:00

"I know you want me..."

Harry Potter's ending in July so this should be one movie to look forward to in November. Don't you just love Puss-in-Boots? Antonio Banderas is a hoot! Boses pa lang, matatawa ka na. That and Salma Hayek voicing his love interest, Kitty Softpaws, should be one interesting combination to look forward to.

How Globe almost ruined my Holy Week…

2011-04-24T00:16:00.001+08:00

Last Wednesday’s fiasco with Globe was strike two on my list. Our internet connection chose this prolonged weekend to die on us and it was pure torture. Thank goodness I still had my Blackberry. It was hard to stay unplugged when we’ve become slaves of technology. After four days of getting an earful from my calls (irate customer –> ME), technicians finally dropped by the house this afternoon to fix our connection.

So now we’re back online, but the connection is still far from satisfactory. Can anyone say dial-up?

I’m trying to catch-up big time on all the things I’ve missed for the past four days. Next week’s bound to be a very busy one for me. For one there’s The Royal Wedding – I’m very excited for this (parang a-attend naman!) but it’s a bit overkill how networks are trying to milk the event for all its worth. And please, stop with the Diana – Kate comparison. You’re not making it easy for the lady.

Today we’ve also finished buying the basic necessities I need for my quickie trip to Manila on April 30. Yes people, the trip is finally pushing through. But it’s all business, a team building of sorts as what they say. It’s a quickie trip because we fly in on the 30th and leave on the evening of May 1st. Haha! Good luck if we can squeeze in some malling in between.

So how was your Holy Week?

JJ’s back!

2011-04-17T17:55:00.001+08:00

It’s official. AJ Cook just confirmed via Twitter that she’s signed back on for Criminal Minds for not just one, but two years!

This comes as great news for fans who were devastated when she was let go at the earlier part of the season. JJ was an integral part of the team. Not having her around was like having a gaping hole that can never be filled by any replacement they bring on-board.

Now if only they can bring Emily Prentiss back as well. I can dream, right? ^___^

Summer = Burnout?

2011-04-14T15:30:00.002+08:00

What is it with summer and burnouts? Lately it has become a repetitive cycle in our company. People start to get bored and yearn to get out between March to May. Once it normalizes around June, those who stay now wait in anticipation of the 13th month pay and the perks of the holiday season. Then it's back to square one again when the new year comes in.

Is it really that hard to find contentment nowadays? Or people just yearn for growth too much? All these talks about leaving make me sad. I never handle goodbyes well. More often I choose to face it blindly, as if it’s the white elephant in the room. But I know that there will come a time for me to seek greener pastures outside my comfort zone. I just hope I’ll be ready by then… and that it won’t be too hard for me to say goodbye.

16 days before the Royal Wedding of the Decade!

2011-04-13T10:40:00.001+08:00

Forgive the enthusiasm. I don’t know why I am so fascinated with royal weddings. Is it the fashion? Is it the newlyweds themselves? Or is it presence of royal families from all over Europe arriving to to celebrate this joyous occasion with the couple?

Two weeks from now, William of Wales will marry Miss Catherine Middleton in what is touted to be the wedding of the decade. And it falls on a Friday! Bummer. I’m actually thinking of filing for a leave on that date just so I can watch the televised coverage together with my sister. Yeah, couch potatoes FTW!

But prior to the big day, Lifetime will be releasing a television movie chronicling this famous couple’s love story starting when they were students at St. Andrew’s University. Funny how TV!William barely resembles the real one even with that accent while TV!Kate’s (errr, better start calling her Catherine from now on) features are stronger than that of her real-life counterpart.

Are you as excited for the wedding as I am?

Food coma at Bigby’s Café and Restaurant

2011-04-12T12:44:00.002+08:00

Last Saturday, as promised, I treated my sister to brunch at Bigby’s Café and Restaurant. We were in the mood for a food trip and since she wanted to eat there I gladly obliged. The thing with Bigby’s is that I can never decide what to order and when I finally do, I end up regretting it in the end. But it was cool since my sister clearly enjoyed our food coma.

I had Deep Sea Pasta. Bad choice. I was not in the mood for aligue sauce that day. I ended up feeling bloated afterwards.

My sister had Shrimply Divine Pasta.

Dippy Doodle Doo was a bad choice; should've opted for Blossoming Spinach Dip instead.

So for dessert, off we went to Red Mango. There’s nothing like good frozen yogurt to comfort me after a week at work.

Froyo topped with cornflakes and cheesecake

Next time I’m definitely insisting that we spend it at SM since I already know Ayala like the back of my hand. Besides, I’m missing The White Hat too.

The Kennedys: the other side of America’s Royal Family

2011-04-09T09:16:00.001+08:00

After countless searches for torrents, I was finally able to download the 2-hour premiere of The Kennedys. This 8-part mini-series chronicles America’s most famous political family during its early years and what drove Joe Sr. to live his ambitions through his sons. Prior to the premiere this series was not without a controversy. First, the History Channel refused to air it because dramatic interpretations in the script were not fit for a history brand. Reelz Channel came to rescue but it almost tanked because they couldn’t find any advertisers.

So how did the first two episodes fare? Too many skeletons in the closet. It’s no wonder prominent members of the family lobbied to have this shelved. But the casting they’ve gathered for this series is truly epic. Forget Katie Holmes. It's Tom Wilkinson, Greg Kinnear and Barry Pepper who run this show. Although underrated actors, they embody the charisma to portray the ambitious, vulnerable but cursed Kennedy men.

I missed the name of the actor who portrayed Joe Jr., but he was equally engaging as the doomed heir apparent of Joe Sr.'s legacy. His untimely death had served as a catalyst for the spare (JFK) to carry on with their father's plans of achieving political glory.

I still have 6 more episodes to go. But from what I've seen so far, this series deserves an audience. Just learn to distinguish fact from cinematic adaptation.

Thankful

2011-04-07T12:01:00.001+08:00

Last night was judgment night, a.k.a. ‘Hello-meet-your-appraisal-letter’ moment for our department. Everyone was anxious to know how they fared for the previous year. Some were disappointed, others were satisfied. I guess it helped that I kept my expectations pretty low. I ended up thankful for the little blessing that came my way that night.

Oh why so difficult, Summer?

2011-04-06T09:19:00.002+08:00

I seem to be jinxed when it comes to travel-related concerns. Remember that Manila trip I had blogged about a few weeks ago? Yup, you guessed it right... cancelled! Not that I'm sulking about it. I was kind of relieved actually. It's hard to push through with a trip when the people you'd be with are half-hearted about the event you'll be attending. Let's leave it as cryptic as that. At least I got to spend the money on something more useful.

Another dilemma that came up recently was the choice of summer getaway for me and my college friends this coming May. We cannot seem to agree where to spend those two days together! Chances are, the destination will be a spur-of-the-moment choice of the group by May 26th. Oh well, I just hope this one will push through. I definitely need a breather and I could use their company even for just two days.

Dear Summer, be kind to me. I know I'm not an outdoor-type of person but I really want to enjoy this year and I hope you'll cooperate as well.

All by myself… at Red Ribbon–Ayala Center Cebu

2011-04-03T17:52:00.001+08:00

Red Ribbon Ayala holds a lot of memories for me. Back in college, me and my friends would usually eat there whenever we would hang-out at the mall in-between classes. I love their menu choices. Who could say no when they include a slice of cake to cap off a hearty meal?

Just this year, they decided to renovate the store’s over-all look to accommodate more customers and dine-in patrons. I’m loving the spacious interiors! So when I went to do the groceries earlier today, I decided to try out their pan-grilled pork chop meal. Yup, I ate alone. My sister was sick and had to stay at home. I even forgot to bring Yogi (our Canon 1000D) so forgive the blurry photos from my Blackberry.

The meal was quite a surprise. The vinegar (w/ chopped garlic bits) complemented the pork chop really well. I loved how the meat was so tender that it was easy to separate the bone while eating. And the cake! I chose the S’mores Chocolate Cake because it has been a favorite of ours since we had it for Christmas years ago. You can never go wrong with Red Ribbon cakes. There’s always one that will suit your taste.

Overall, I was a happy foodie by the time I was done. I’d take this over the Kenny Roger’s meal anytime. Totally worth your every cent.

I miss Sweet Valley High! (the TV series)

2011-04-03T00:24:00.004+08:00

Goodness, if that e-Book was the real deal… please tell me Francine Pascal didn’t write the epilogue for Sweet Valley Confidential? The writing felt like it was straight out of the world of fan fiction. But then again, I sort of loved the closure for the twins at the conclusion of the book. ~~Almost~~ Everyone gets their happy ending and I’m not complaining. Yes, I’m still buying the book once it’s released here. Just for posterity because I will always credit that series for being a huge part of my teenage years.

In the meantime, let me leave you with this video I saw in YouTube. Anyone here still remembers the Sweet Valley High TV series back in the 90s? I remembered it was shown here on ABC5 (now TV5) and I used to look forward to it every Wednesdays. (or was it Fridays?) Nah, my memory’s getting rusty.

I think I lost interest in the show after Todd was re-cast. Ryan Bittle will always be Todd Wilkins for me. Jeremy Garrett somehow never captured his charm when he joined the cast for the third and fourth (final) seasons of the show.

The Hainanese chicken rice experiment

2011-03-29T13:06:00.001+08:00

Having a grandmother and a mom who are both Home Economics teachers, it doesn't come as a surprise that me and my sister love to experiment with recipes. We're a team when it comes to recreating our own version of any dish that catches our fancy. I prepare, she cooks. It's both fun and time-consuming but we enjoy it a lot.

Just last Sunday, we decided to try our own version of the famous Hainanese chicken rice. I had been craving for it after I read about it on some blogs and the Kenny Rogers experience did little to satisfy my palate. So off I went to the grocery to shop for ingredients.

You'll need:

1 whole dressed chicken
onion
garlic
lemon grass
spring onion
ginger
4 pcs. chicken bouillon cubes
calamansi
soy sauce

F@#% you, Canon!

2011-03-29T10:04:00.001+08:00

That's it, this should serve as a lesson for me not to trust any freebie campaigns in the future. Guess what Canon Customer Care replied to me yesterday after I made another follow-up on my freebie and warranty card?

Oh the nerve! You couldn't even get your date right? My sarcastic self kicked in and I furiously typed a reply...

I googled this little misleading promo and apparently I'm not the only one dissatisfied with the way they're handling customer service for freebies they offer. Some receive their stuff three months after registering on-line and sometimes, the photography book isn't even included. Friends, again the freebies aren't the issue here. It's transparency.

They should've made it clear to their distributors that the promo was only until December 31, 2010 (if that's what they really meant in the email). When we bought the camera, we were told that as long as we register the purchase on-line then were are eligible for the promo.

So there. If you've made it this far, sorry for having to read through my rant. I just needed to blow off some steam. This will be the last time I shall ever talk of this issue. Good thing I bought a camera bag already. Maghihintay lang pala ako sa wala.

Unplugged + my Hainanese chicken experience

2011-03-26T15:47:00.002+08:00

Less than 24 hours after our modem’s plug exploded, we’re back online! Thank you Globe for that fast turnaround time on our request. Now I can catch up on my blogging and the backlog we’ve missed over those hours that we were unplugged.

Speaking of which, allow me to share these photos I took yesterday when we tried out Kenny Roger’s Hainanese Chicken. I’ve been raring to try any version of this famous chicken recipe since I’m too broke to go abroad and I know of no restaurant here in Cebu who offers it. I tell you, food photography does wonders!

The actual dish was underwhelming (size-wise) but it still managed to satisfy my palate. Now I know why they always use a whole chicken for this. 1/4 will never be enough.

Looks like we’ve finally found our next culinary experiment.

Sweet Valley, a decade later…

2011-03-23T14:06:00.002+08:00

Why, oh why did I not know about this until today? The latest Sweet Valley book, Sweet Valley Confidential, hits the stands on March 29 and this will explore what our favorite characters have been up to after high school. Suddenly I became a giddy teenager once more. The books had been such a huge part of my teenage years that I grew up wanting to be like Elizabeth Wakefield. It was only when I got older that I realized she was such a Mary Sue character. Jessica, on the other hand, had much more depth since she wasn’t really depicted as a goody-two-shoes type of teenager.

Based on the preview chapter, Liz is now living in New York and does not seem to be in good terms with her twin. A re-hash of the conflicts in the Elizabeth series? What did Jessica do this time to incur her sister’s wrath? What happened to Todd, Enid, Lila, Bruce, Winston and the rest of gang?

I hope the book doesn’t turn out to be a disappointment like SVH: Senior Year (I hated the new characters). I wonder when it’ll be released in the Philippines, huh? *makes mental note to email Fully Booked and NBS by next week*

Why hello there, Mr. Alonso!

2011-03-22T09:40:00.001+08:00

This, my dear readers, is the reason why I will never fawn over any Azkals no matter how much I adore football. He has set the standards quite high. Hehe!

Isn't the accent quite charming?:) No wonder he is a favorite when it comes to interviews among players. The man has a good head above his shoulders, not to mention he's quite the eye-candy as well. If only you can be cloned, Xabier!

Still waiting…

2011-03-22T09:26:00.002+08:00

It's been 2 months and 14 days since we bought Yogi, but until now I have yet to receive my 3 year warranty card and the freebies (Tamrac bag + photography book) that were supposed to come with my purchase. Frustrating is an understatement. I've emailed Canon's customer service ~~countless~~ 5 times already and I keep getting the same generic answer. So what's a poor customer left to do? Wait, of course.

One thing this experience taught me was to stretch my patience a little longer, especially after a friend mentioned that she received her stuff three months after she had registered for it. I'm close to the threshold... what's another two weeks, right?

Canon better make good with their promise to deliver those stuff once they have the bag available. Freebies aside, I fretted because they never delivered as what was promised on the website. The three-week waiting period stretched for weeks and is now nearing the three-month mark. As a customer, wouldn't you be frustrated as well?

For the meantime, I'm buying a back-up camera bag.

HPDH2 preview: Weasleys, FTW!

2011-03-19T12:38:00.006+08:00

I’m posting this because of sheer delight that Ginny actually makes it in a preview clip and that it looks like we’ll get some considerable Weasley family time in the finale for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. For those who don’t want to be spoiled, here’s a quick rave on what is shown in this 97-seconds clip from ABC Family:

Just Their Luck

2011-03-19T12:09:00.002+08:00

Now where's Lady Luck when you need her the most, huh? The results of the 2010 Bar Exams just confirmed my worst fears. No, I wasn't one of the examinees. I've decided ages ago that law will never be a career option for me. But my friends? They've set their heart into this. They've hurdled four grueling years of law school that it breaks my heart not to see them on that list for three years now.

Was it because they never took it all-together? (one took it a year later)

I went through the results countless of times. Even my sister helped in double-checking. I saw some familiar names. But none of those I really wanted to see. A few phone calls and text messages later, we managed to clear the air. I don’t think they’ll have another go at this anytime sooner. Everyone has had enough. The bright side of everything? This might just be the sign for them to pursue other interests than a law career. The justice system’s loss will definitely be another industry’s gain.

Which is why I can’t wait for our get-together in May. The trip itinerary is still hazy. But it doesn’t matter where we’ll go actually. What’s important is that I spend some quality time with my best gal pals in the world.

All work and no play…

2011-03-13T06:58:00.001+08:00

Makes me a dull girl? Hmmm, almost. I just realized I never once took a week-long vacation last year. No beach outings, no out-of-town trips... nada! I was stuck being a corporate slave. Or maybe I was just too much of a homebody.

But nevertheless, I'm working on changing my luck this year. Summer is meant to be enjoyed, right? And I'm doing just that. For someone who has never been out of the city in like eight years, I have a trip to Manila planned in April (work reasons). Yayyy! So excited to see my friends who are already based there. Plus I have this summer outing of our department to look forward to. Woohoo, beach time!

Then by May, it's reunion time for me and my best buddies from college. The fact that we've been friends for almost a decade now is still so surreal. One of them proposed that we go to Coron to celebrate the first time that all 5 of us will be together. The thing is, I'm not sure my budget would permit that. Kuripot na kung kuripot, but I have some bills to pay noh! I’ll just have to cross the bridge when we get there. Bahala na si Batman. I’m sure we can work something out.

Dare to DAIR?

2011-03-06T19:09:00.002+08:00

I know not many people share my fondness for this ‘ship, but I credit Dan/Blair for finally making me watch a show I had been avoiding for the past three seasons. Yes people, they are this show’s Pacey and Joey whether you like it or not. They may not be the endgame couple but the reaction to their build-up wasn’t as negative as many had expected. In fact, they may have dragged former viewers into watching the show again.

I personally welcome this development because I am probably the only one not enamored by the character of Chuck Bass. Yes, he and Blair make a dynamic, twisted couple but there’s too much negativity between them already. It would be healthier if both spend time apart from each other.

So yes, I’m enjoying my Dair scenes while I can. The 6 weeks wait for the next episode is too agonizing to think about. Plus, we get Prince Louis again. Is this turning into a three-way fight for Miss Waldorf?

The Oscars: almost a week after...

2011-03-05T09:12:00.002+08:00

Good thing Rush decided not to wear a hat...

In my super-dooper delayed Oscars post, let me just share my ecstatic reaction over the victory of The King's Speech. They won in 4 of the 12 categories they were nominated in! Regardless of what haters may say, I loved that flick. It was inspiring. Flicks about royal families always have that effect on me. (Yeah, elitist bitch-mode lang) It would've been lovely if Geoffrey Rush won in the supporting category as well because his performance as Lionel Logue was equally as affecting as Colin Firth's George VI.

My only disappointment was that 'I See The Light' lost in the Best Song category. The winner proved to be a worthy competitor though. It is understandable why the Oscar nod went that way. But how gorgeous were Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi in their performance? They should've performed the song in its entirety!

Why does he look tanned? The picture doesn't do him justice. :(

I'll skip the gown posts this time since a gazillion blog entries have already been devoted to that. Don't you just love awards season? It's always a welcome change to see the stars dressed to their nines. Now for next year's ceremony, can they get Sandra Bullock as a host please?

There’s the silver lining!

2011-03-04T10:03:00.002+08:00

I had been in a foul mood for the past few days. My BB Social subscription screwed up and I couldn't login to both UberSocial and Twitter for BB. Yes, I have a lot of Twitter clients on my phone. Haha! That's because I tweet most of the time when I vent out or rave about things when I'm too lazy to blog at the moment. My sister googled every possible solution but none managed to solve the problem. I restrained myself from throwing a fit whenever "no access token" or "twitter services are currently unavailable" alerts would appear on the phone's LCD.

I don't know why or what happened, but today the silver lining I was looking for finally manifested itself. Maybe it's because we switched to the new twitter? It's the only reason plausible because battery pulls (I did countless of those!), updating the OS and reinstalling apps never worked. Oh well, I am just so happy. Today's Friday and I'm in a good mood. I even bought my favorite Cornetto flavor to celebrate the occasion.

At last, Fried Oreos!

2011-02-28T07:48:00.002+08:00

This sinfully delicious dessert first caught our attention during Cycle 15 of America’s Next Top Model. Yeah, blame Ann Ward for this. Haha! A fried cookie may sound repulsive at first but once you taste it you’d end up eating your words. To prepare you just need the following:

pancake mix
Oreo cookies
cooking oil

Freeze the Oreos for at least an hour, this is to make sure they don’t disintegrate once they are coated. Prepare the pancake mix according to package instructions. Heat oil. Coat cookies in the mix and deep-fry until golden brown. Others prefer to dust the cookies with confectioner’s sugar after frying but I prefer mine as is.

It’s fun to experiment once in a while with recipes you see on TV. Oftentimes you’d be surprised at how it’ll turn out afterwards. Fried oreos should be a good snack alternative over the summer when my younger cousins come and visit. Word of advice, just take it in moderation.

Happy eating!