Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Lemongrass

One of S and I's favorite cuisine is Thai. We love Thai food and it doesn't take much effort from both of us to invite each other to a Thai resto co'z we're both always game!

So with little prodding from S, we found ourselves in Lemongrass, an Asian fusion resto in Shangri-la mall
The interior is laid back and simple, it actually feels more like a cafe than a restaurant. Helps too that it has no doors so everything just flows.
As expected, we got our favorite, Pad Thai! Lemongrass' Pad Thai didn't depart much from the taste we're used too, but it didn't stand out as well. In a word, I say, it's "safe"
We also got fried vegetable rolls, just because I can never resist getting this when at Thai restos. Same thing with the Pad Thai, not bad but generally, unremarkable.
...And what is a Thai food experience without Thai Iced Tea? This one is a no brainer, we ALWAYS get this. Lemongrass' Thai Iced Tea is so-so. I like that the tea is not too strong nor is it too milky. It's the perfect balance.

How 'bout you guys, do you like Thai food too? What's your favorite resto and what do you usually get?

Lemongrass
G/f Shangri-la EDSA mall

Monday, November 28, 2011

DIY Christmas tree

Last week, my mom randomly asked me to make her a Christmas tree. Make? Gaaah, you must be joking mom!--but she wasn't. She really did want me to make her a tree...out of cardboard!

So okay, fine. I could use a little creative output anyway. So here goes... Presenting our family's amazing 2011 Christmas tree! *drumroll*
Ta-dah! Hahaha! I don't know if I'm supposed to be delighted or laugh at how the tree turned out. Still, allow me to show you the process I went through to create this *ehem* masterpiece:
It all starts with a cardboard box. Just cut two identical triangles from it to make the "tree", then follow steps 3-4
Cut squares in 3-inch intervals. You may adjust the specs as needed. The "tree" is supposed to look like the picture on the right. At this point, no glue, or tape is needed as everything fits like a puzzle piece
Now, decorate! You may use any color that you want; and any design that you fancy. Just go crazy with it!
...And voila! The DIY-ed Christmas tree is finished! Hooray for me! lol!
Merry merry Christmas!!!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Blue Coffee and Cream

Invite us to an event at a coffee shop and 4 out of 5 chances are, WE'LL BE THERE.

Here's what we wore to Saturday's fashion talk at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf:
Ninin
I am not yet over my browns and creams addiction, much more because Christmas is getting nearer and the vast amount of sweets haunt me all the time! Here goes my "browns" addiction paired with my default "black" weekend-wear preference:
I know it looks like I went a little crazy on the leopard print, my apologies, the caramel + black combination just called out to me!
 
 Top: Firenze | Shorts: Forever 21 | Bag: Mango | Shoes: CMG
 Sophia
The first and only time I got to visit Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Shangri-La, I got so cold because of their full-blast aircon and my iced white mocha. So when I heard that the event will be held at the same branch, I decided to wear something warm..
So, I decided to wear a Forever 21 sweater with lace detail, a Fudge Rock pleated skirt and some cream-colored accessories I've had for some time.
Now that Nin mentioned it (I saw the title she came up with. hehehe.), the gray skirt did end up looking blue-ish. Hehe. Moving ooonnn... :P
Spending Saturdays at coffee shops with good friends is really one of our favorite past times. We could spend hours and hours just talking about recent events, our pasts, our dreams and whatever comes to mind. Some people think coffee shop-goers are victims of consumerism but we don't care. It's our happy place! And despite how many bucks we'd waste on expensive coffee, we'd still frequent coffee shops just because we love it there-- and really, you're paying for the experience; think of it like paying for good seats at the theater or an opera.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Saturdate at CBTL

Last Saturday, Soan and I trooped to Coffee bean and Tea Leaf Shangri-la to attend CBTL's "Make me Over: A Fashion Talk and Make-over Session with Eunice Lucero".

For those who are not aware, Eunice Lucero is the Associate Editor of Preview Magazine. Both S and I were excited to see her in person, especially since it would be our first time to meet her. We were a bit late (okay, a LOT late) so we only got to listen to the last few minutes of the discussion. At that time, Eunice was already briefing the group on next season's fashion forecast.
 For Spring/Summer 2012, expect a lot of cropped tops, pastels, and 60s-inspired pieces.
Eunice's presentation was short and sweet but of all the things that she shared on beauty and fashion, one thing stuck with me, and I quote, (don't be scared of trying new trends) "It's just clothes, you can take them off at the end of the day". ---Super agree! I love this. Quotable quote indeed!

At the end of the talk, the 10-20 guests present were treated to gourmet coffee courtesy of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's single-serve system, the CBTL.
I've always wanted an expresso machine and the CBTL makes me crave it more! The machine is super! You just put one of those colored cups you see on the right, click a button and be ready to enjoy a cup of your favorite CBTL coffee/tea! Truly, an amazing machine! Anyone want to give me this for Christmas? 


Soan and I had a great time at the event. It was very refreshing to attend a small and intimate activity every once in a while. Thank you Jules Veloso of Geisler Maclang for the invite! Congratulations on a successful event!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Braided heart

Yesterday, I found myself obsessing over braids. This obsession turned into a brief episode of craziness as I tried my hardness to perfect the heart braid:
I made my cousin my dummy and didn't stop 'til I was satisfied with the "heart". It looks complicated at first but if you know how to do a french braid, then you won't have any difficulty. Here's a few steps to get you started:
 
Just part hair in the middle, get a portion of hair from the bottom and start braiding up. When you reach the front of the face, start braiding down.

You only need to get the hang of it, once you get the rhythm going, you'll breeze through the whole process. Just try your best to achieve symmetry between the two sides to get the perfect hair shape :)

Isn't it the sweetest? So pretty! I highly suggest this as the flower girls' hair during weddings or if you want, you can also braid your hair this way for prom.

Good luck girls! Hope you become successful in your attempt as well!

//pictures were manipulated to get a reddish tint for a better "effect"

Friday, November 18, 2011

Call your girlfriend (cover) - Erato

Ohmigooosh..these ladies sound so good! They're sooo good that I managed to shrug off the equally well-written yet unconventional lyrics of  the song that they covered, Robyn's Call your girlfriend.


Call your girlfriend
It's time you had the talk
Give your reasons
Say it's not her fault
But you just met somebody new

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Shoe-pping

Hi ladies! Sorry, I've been MIA for a few weeks now.. Anyway, Nin just posted about the Rajo Laurel for Parisian event she attended last week. I was supposed to go with her but I was stuck at a work thing. So to make up for missing the event, I trooped to Mega with my sisters to check out the collection and went home with this pair (plus two more pairs of shoes)...

Ando in Black/Tan - Rajo Laurel for Parisian | Leopard print brogues - Forever 21 |Black glitter flats - Parisian

I was actually a bit hesitant to get the pair because my feet and Parisian shoes are frenemies. It looks great but it doesn't fit my feet well (oh, a bit of a tongue twister there.hehe). But with a little push from my sisters, I decided to buy the pair. So now, I'm wondering how I could avoid getting wounded by the zipper closure part. Ahh, the things a girl would do to get to wear a beautiful pair of heels. Haha.

Anywaaay, have you checked out his fabulously stylish and oh-so-affordable collection? :)

Monday, November 14, 2011

Rajo Laurel for Parisian shoes

...and because I am a huge sucker for impromptu trips and surprise invitations, I suddenly found myself in SMDC for the launch of Rajo Laurel x Parisian shoes.


The show started with the Zombettes playing party music. The girls are so gorgeous!
Sanya Smith, Mia Ayesa, and Ornusa Cadness
Presenting some shoes from Rajo Laurel's fab collection:
Seriously, the fashion show was super hot! Gorgeous girls, sexy outfits and pretty shoes! Very chic collection and concept--very Rajo Laurel indeed!


I left immediately after the fashion show, I didn't get to see the shoes up close so I'm really excited to check them out myself one of these days (and probably get myself a pair or two).

There are 14 styles which  are available in 7 premiere Department Stores: SM Makati, SM Cubao, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Southmall, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Cebu. 

Saturday, November 12, 2011

I am woman, hear me rawr

For more than a year, I worked for Gender and Development. It was a very gratifying job because it was a campaign to equalize the playing field for men and women, with the idea that women are the disadvantaged group.

It's super easy being feminist. You just need to look at your mothers to realize how difficult it is to be a woman, what with all the responsibilities and having to live with stereotypes.

One huge example that always comes to my mind is this: Why is it that when men excuse themselves from work to attend to their children, they get lauded for it, while when it's a woman asking to leave work early to tend to her sick child, she comes off as irresponsible? Why the double standard?
I'm not saying women should start a revolution and go all out-amazona on men. Men have issues too and the whole point of gender and development is to achieve equality between genders. Men should understand and pay attention to women, while women should start recognizing that stereotypes on men should likewise be eradicated.
I am proud to be a woman, in fact my ultimate dream is to become a housewife. I think that is the pinnacle of success simply because for me, housewives are the fortunate ones-- they don't need to work because their husbands can support their family. They have the wonderful privilege of constantly being there for their children without the trouble of balancing work and family life. Plus-- I've always dreamt of seeing myself as one of those suburban housewives who stays home all day baking pies and crocheting-- really, being a house wife is the BEST profession for me.
To end this post, let me leave you a beautiful poem that I think best represents Gender and Development (I got teary eyed the first time I read this):

For Every Woman 
By Nancy Smith 

For every woman who is tired of acting weak when she knows she is strong, there is a man who is tired of appearing strong when he feels vulnerable. 

For every woman who is tired of acting dumb, there is a man who is burdened with the constant expectation of "knowing everything." 

For every woman who is tired of being called "an emotional female," there is a man who is denied the right to weep and to be gentle. 

For every woman who is called unfeminine when she competes, there is a man for whom competition is the only way to prove his masculinity. 

For every woman who is tired of being a sex object, there is a man who must worry about his potency. 

For every woman who feels "tied down" by her children, there is a man who is denied the full pleasures of shared parenthood. 

For every woman who is denied meaningful employment or equal pay, there is a man who must bear full financial responsibility for another human being. 

For every woman who was not taught the intricacies of an automobile, there is a man who was not taught the satisfactions of cooking. 

For every woman who takes a step toward her own liberation, there is a man who finds the way to freedom has been made a little easier. 

 Here's to every woman and man who ever dreamt of a discrimination-free and gender fair world!

Jacket - Liberte
Leopard print dress - Cherry Float Shop
Brown strappy sandals - Parisian
Gold studded waist belt - People R People

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Spongecola is love!

Me and S used to follow OPM bands back in college. We were huge fans then-- we went to gigs, made sure we talked to them and even have a couple of band members as contacts in Yahoo messenger and Friendster. Well, years after college, I found myself face to face with one of my favorite bands:  SPONGECOLA.
I don't normally blog about people/events that are work-related but I had to make an exception because the band is one of my favorites!!! They had a meeting at our office and boy am I sooooo glad I'm working on a project with them. I tried to be as professional as I can but gaaaah, I couldn't! I am too much of a fan!
Since I was their contact in the office, their manager Saul gave me a cd, which the boys graciously signed for me. Thank you, thank you!

I couldn't resist! YAEL!!! (haha, fangirl)
I will never, ever tire of following our local bands. Not only is it a show of patriotism, it is also about supporting REAL home grown talent.

To end this post, let me leave you their current single, which, has been on loop on my ipod for days a couple of weeks back:



Parang isang panaginip ang muling mapagbigyan 
Tayo'y muling magkasama....
Oh, kay tagal kitang hinintay

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Portable art

Quick post before I head out to work (busy, busy, busy!)

I just love how I am able to bring with me a piece of Art at all times! Woot! Loving my Freeway x Manansala tote bag!
This bag went with me during our site visit in Bataan-Subic-Clark
Thank you Freeway for making Philippine Art accessible (and portable!) Great job!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Waiting for forever

I know lately S and I have been on a "romantic" spree. We've been getting stuck on either a song, a movie, or whatnot. Our apologies, but I'd like to believe that this--whatever this is, is not a phase, as love, is always and always will be a relevant topic.

Well, still on love, let me share with you a movie I've recently watched. I believe this was not released in the Philippines given that it's an indie flick (and most US indie flicks don't get to our shores) but believe me, this one is worth watching:

This is a unique love story about friendship and looking at the world from a whole new perspective. Believe me, it's not mushy. It's simple and heartwarming. Also, the soundtrack is amazing!

Somewhere in every child hood, there's someone we can't forget.
 Somewhere in every heart, there's a way to come back.

I know my efforts would only prove futile if I try to tell you what the story is about. I can't. I really can't. I feel like I've been moved so much that I have no words to describe why I think it's a wonderful movie. Let me leave you instead, the letter that Willy sent Emma (and the scene I kept replaying over and over):

Dear Emma,
Those two words, ‘Dear Emma’ take me away to another time when we used to write to each other after mom and dad died. I used to tell you about my new friends and my new life. And you used to tell me about the grand time my mom and dad were having in heaven.
Truth is nothing. What you believe to be true is everything. And the main thing that I used to believe was that I would be with you forever. Forever. The reason it has taken me so long to write you is that I have seen that I have been a fool. I have spent my life fooling myself. Every letter I’ve ever written to you has been a love letter. How could they have been anything else?
I can see now that all of them, except this one, were bad love letters. Bad love letters beg for love back. Good love letters ask for nothing. This, I’m pleased to announce, is my first good love letter to you. Because there is nothing more for you to do. You’ve already done everything. I have enough of you in my head to last forever. So please don’t ever worry about me. I’m peachy! I really am. I have everything.
If I had one wish, it would be that your life brings you a taste of the happiness you have brought to me. That you could feel what it’s like to love.

Your friend forever,
Will






I wish you never cease believing in love :)  Have a good week everyone!

Here's the link to the full movie! Click here

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