Monday, December 31, 2012

Eating Healthy at Edgy Veggy

My officemates and I have been trying to live healthier lives. So we've all been keeping an eye out for restaurants that offer healthy food. One officemate of mine has been inviting us to try a recently opened vegetarian restaurant at Brixton Street in Kapitolyo Pasig.

I'm glad we gave in to his request because everything was spectacular! It didn't taste like we were eating vegetables at all!
Our orders from L-R: Korean Meal (bibimbap kimchi brown rice, mushroom and tofu kalbi, bean sprouts salad), Truffle Pasta, Japanese Meal (brown rice, tofu steak teriyaki, bean sprouts salad), Moroccan Meal (brown rice, 2 pcs falafel, moroccan chickpea stew, salad) & Basil Tomato Pasta

When we went there, we were able to meet the owner, Denise. She mentioned that it's only their second day of operation and made us try their Vegan Oatmeal Cookies. The cookies were so good that the 5 of us were fighting over the last piece. She also mentioned something that made all of us smile, they do deliveries and offer Detox Programs. Looks like we'll be eating healthier dishes once work resumes ;)

Edgy Veggy is located at GF #3 Brixton St., Brgy Kapitolyo Pasig City. Near Ace Water Spa (if coming from United Street). It's at the same building as Urban Ashram Manila.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Mid-day snacking at Da.u.de

I saw these pictures in my phone (yes, because I just recently sorted my phone pics..hehe) and remembered that I haven't posted about my trip to Da.u.de!

Milk tea places have sprouted all over the Metro this year. You can say that Nin and I caught the milk tea craze (oh those yakult-flavored, matcha-flavored, wintermelon-flavored heavenly drinks). However, there's also something distinct and refreshing about Da.u.de (pronounced da-you-deh). They put much emphasis on the art of making tea, which would surely make you feel and taste its difference from the other milk teas around.

They also offer delectable dishes. We loved the Pork Banh Mi. But for me, the star of our trip to Da.u.de was our dessert, the macarons!

I loved these 3 flavors. My only complaint, for its price, the macarons are quite small! Hehe.

Da.u.de Tea Lounge is located at the corner of 4th Avenue and 26th Street in The Fort Bonifacio Global City Taguig.
Feel free to visit their site here.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Gifts Unwrapped

For Christmas, I decided to create my own wrapping paper by using kraft cartolina or kraft paper, stamps, washi tape and bakers's twine. Here's a simple technique I did, which I figured could be easily customized for other occasions.



I bought these rubber letters months ago in a bookstore's scrapbooking section.  After finishing a half sheet of kraft paper, I realized that I can try alternating stamp colors for the phrases or jumbling the letters up. Then I got another idea, I'd like to do something similar with the rubber letters but this time it'd say Happy Birthday or Congratulations or Happy Valentine's. The possibilities are endless! Haha.

To close this post and to give you other suggestions I'd like to share the other Christmas wrapping papers that I've handmade. It feels like I have stamping ADHD, I can't stick to one print!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Groove to the New Year

I've been wasting time listening to songs these past few days. It's been so long since I last took time to just sit in front of the computer and create playlists. This chilling at home thing is so much fun!

Well, I'm super excited for 2013 and I think songs always set the mood for a good time so I'm sharing with you my New Year's Eve playlist!

photo source: heraldsun.au

2013 New Year Hits by Nininja on Grooveshark 
 
Please feel free to suggest songs that will go well with what I've compiled. So excited for the new year! I can feel it's gonna be AWESOME ♥

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

I've been feeling incredibly sad today. It's just that it's the 1st Christmas that I'd have to spend without my mom around. I haven't been thinking about the sadness of that reality but while at the grocery, loneliness crept in and I found myself crying. I'm not really in the mood to be festive but as always, God knew how to appease me and I found myself attending mass at the Cultural Center of the Philipppines.
I was pleasantly suprised to find out that the Philippine Philharmonic Orhestra and the Philippine Madrigal Singers were performing. The mass was unlike anything I've ever attended! It sounded so beautiful and everything was just so tastefully executed. Leave it to the CCP to turn a mass into a world-class performance :) Thank you Jesus for allowing me to attend that mass, it really did perk me up a bit.

Here's what I wore:

I really like the "universe"-like print of the dress. I also like that it's peplum which is a style I've been really getting hooked on as of late.

Of the things I have on however, my favorite would be my clutch bag.
 It's a gift from my godsister from her recent trip to Cambodia. I looooove it so much! First, because it's handmade and from recycled material. Second, because it's so versatile and third, because the print is of Thailand (hehe, I have a soft spot for anything Thai). Thank you, thank you! I love it so much!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone! Don't worry about me, I'm sure I'd be better tomorrow :)

Dress - Oxygen
Nude sandals - Parisian
Clutch - gift from Cambodia

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Christmas Cheesecake

This is the story of a Christmas cheesecake-- kidding! ...or am I? Lol! No, really this is about a Christmas cheesecake. Featuring The CruKitchen's Quezo de Bola Cheesecake:

This cheesecake has already been featured in Inquirer Lifestyle's 20 Best Desserts of 2011 and rightfully so! It is so goooood! I am a big fan of Quezo de Bola so when I saw this being sold at Rockwell, it was a no brainer, I had to get it!

It is not very sweet and you can actually taste the saltiness of the cheese. The graham crust however was a little too moist (instead of crumbly) which made it difficult to pry loose from the aluminum plate-- hence the messy slice (hehe). Still, the taste made up for it. So good!

Now tell me, isn't this just the most perfect Christmas dessert?

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

*The CruKitchen is available at the basement, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati
8" round - Php1,200.00

Friday, December 14, 2012

Pilipinas Kitchenware

To continue with the "Pilipinas" themed items, let me share with you these most adorable cooking pans I saw on display at the mall:

Pinoy Pans! So cute!
The cool thing about these is that they are made of Teflon, which means they're non-stick and rust-free!-- and oh, the best part is, they're on sale!

I get trigger happy whenever I see items that promote the Philippines and these pans make me happy because Filipino food is one of the things I really want to promote. And since I believe that love for country should start within, I think these pans would help more Filipinos love our own cuisine :)

Hooray for the Philippines! Happy cooking!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Let's go Azkals!

Today is the away game of the Philippine Azkals vs. Singapore and I almost cannot contain my excitement! Our country is not a Football-playing/watching country and it has only been very recently that we learned to appreciate the sport-- this, being brought about by our strengthened national team.

I cannot be more prouder of our boys for getting where they are right now. Semi-finals. Wow. It may not be big deal for other countries but it is big deal for us.

Good luck Azkals!!! I am so excited! I am looking forward to the Finals and hoping that I could watch you again live here in the Philippines! (with Team Thailand! haha. I'm rooting for you Thais!) Go Azkals, bring home the cup!

First time to catch the game live! And it's the semi-finals! Soooo happy!
Catch the game on IBC 13!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Treat yourself to a Brazilian

I've been wanting to do something to my hair for the longest time but I didn't quite know what. I deliberated on getting it colored but based on my experience, my hair resists hair dyes and after a few weeks, it's back to its original jet black color. I thought of having it digipermed but since I've discovered the convenience of using a curler, getting it permanently curled no longer sounds enticing. So, what to do?

Get a Brazilian blowout.
Got my brazilian at Edwin Samot salon in Imus, Cavite

I first heard about the Brazilian blowout when I got a haircut a few months back and the stylist offered the treatment. She claimed that it would be good for my limp hair because it will smooth out the frizz, straighten it a bit and generally make my hair healthier. The moment she told me about it, I was sold! That's exactly what I need!

I researched about the treatment and the first thing that made me happy was when I learned that it will only take 1 to 2 hours. Yes! Just 2 hours! The last time I got my hair rebonded I had to endure being in the salon for more than 5 hours and I tell  you, it ain't fun!

The procedure itself is very simple. The stylist applied the solution which was just like hot oil cream on the hair. After around an hour, he blew dry and flat ironed it and voila! Perfection! (Sorry, no pictures! Everything happened so fast, I was done before I knew it! haha)

The peculiar thing about it is that the treatment is left on your hair for a day. You mustn't rinse it off. To be honest, I felt a bit bummed out about this at first because it was a bit sticky and I had a jampacked day then and I didn't want to look so unkempt. So big advice, if you're getting a Brazilian blowout, do it on a free day when you don't have other plans-- especially when those plans include getting photographed. Flat sticky hair on pictures is just the worst! And oh, don't worry about the smell, the solution itself smells good actually so even if you haven't rinsed it yet, people won't think you just came from the salon.

I rinsed and shampooed my hair the next morning and I was so happy with the results! It was so soft! Plus it didn't look like I had a treatment-- unlike when you get your hair rebonded and people can tell. My hair looked like I just flat ironed it. It looked so natural and beautiful :)

I cut my hair after this photo. It's a bit shorter but the effect is still the same.

The treatment is said to last just around 2-3 months, a bit short compared to other treatments but I'm okay with that. I absolutely love how beautiful and manageable my hair has become. It just feels so healthy and naturally beautiful, I don't mind getting another Brazilian in the next few months :P


Sunday, December 9, 2012

Starbucks Pilipinas

Was at Starbucks the other day and saw these:

*gasp!* Pilipinas tumblers!!!
So happy! I've always been  thinking of how drab the "country" tumbler of Starbucks was so I was doubly happy when I saw the design!

From these:
To this:
So pretty! I love that the colors are not cliche-- red, blue, yellow, white. It's more festive and the reference to the Philippines is so tastefully done, I absolutely love it!!!

These are limited edition you guys so if you want one, you better hurry! One thing I've learned with Starbucks tumblers is that they run out really fast-- and I'm not talking weeks. I'm talking days!

Thank you Starbucks for the cutest Tumbler! My collection is growinggg! Happy 15th!

...because at Starbucks, they always know me as Ninia :)
♥ your loyal patron,
Ninia

Friday, December 7, 2012

The Taiwan Experience

It's almost a week since I came back from Taiwan but I feel like I'm still in a Taiwan high. I met a lot of amazing people there which made the experience so much better. I started the trip feeling a bit lonely and homesick but after a few days I realized, no one is really truly alone. It's just a matter of perspective. Being alone allows you to widen your horizon, meet new people and maybe establish ties with some of the most wonderful people you'll ever encounter in your life.

So to all you young professionals like us, I say do not be afraid of the unknown. Step out of your comfort zone. Remember that every single experience is a life lesson :)

The view from below Taipei 101. It was too misty that time.
My experience in Taiwan is truly one for the books. I know I fall in love with almost all the places I travel to but I'm not lying when I say that I fell in love with/in Taiwan. It's a beautiful place and the people are so friendly, it is impossible not to fall in love.

It truly was a wonderful experience. To my new found friends, again, my heartfelt thank you. I know this is a once in a lifetime experience. That "once" qualifier is the sad part. But it's true.We'll probably not get together as a group ever again but despite that, I still hold on to the belief that our paths will cross again in the future. As my favorite German saying goes, "Jeder trifft sich zwei mal im Leben!"-- which in English translates, "everyone meets twice in a lifetime" :)

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