Spinach shake, anyone?

I'm not kidding! Who wants Spinach shake? *raises hands frantically* me! me!

Yup. That's right folks, I made me a Spinach shake or what is commonly known as a "green shake". Why, you ask? No particular reason. Or maybe because I'm vegetarian and going the "healthy" route comes second nature to me. But then, maybe co'z I'm just weird and experimental like that.

Green shakes are good because if taken regularly, it boosts the immune system. It's also good for detoxification and is said to promote weight loss (don't ask me how). It's also a great way of incorporating vegetables in your every day meals. It's very natural and simple, really does make for a healthy alternative drink-- (yuh, I'm trying to limit my coffee intake to just one cup per day)

I've never tried a green shake before. I don't even know what it's supposed to taste like but the idea of drinking something so healthy is so appealing I just had to try it! Well, it turned out to a real success, I have to share with you my recipe! (oops, don't expect much, it's not a sophisticated "recipe" or something)

The next steps are super easy, you just have to blend everything together:

Pour water

Drop in the Spinach leaves

Add the pineapple chunks first. I like adding the bananas towards the end so they don't get too mashed up and watery.

 Blend well, and adjust taste based on your preference. For this batch, I used around 2 cups of pineapple, and 4 medium-sized bananas. I also added a tablespoon of honey just because I like honey. You don't need to actually co'z the fruits are already sweet on their own. So there you go! My very own green shake!

Fine, it doesn't look so appealing but it tastes so good!--actually, the taste is not hard to imagine. It tastes of pineapple and banana! It's like any other fruit shake. For some reason, you can't even taste the Spinach anymore. If not for the green color, you'd forget you put it in.

I am so pleased with this "discovery". Really, there are so many recipes out there which can convince you that healthy food doesn't taste bad. It's just a matter of trying it. Who knows, you might even end up loving and possibly craving the taste :)

Love always, Starbucks

And because I felt a bit guilty that I didn't get to show you all the items from Starbucks' Valentine's collection, I trooped to Starbucks during lunch and took pictures of the other tumblers (yuh, I love you all that much!):

Not as striking as the "All I need is you and coffee", but cute nonetheless. It's simple and like what it says, it's dainty and sweet.

This is one of the crowd favorites: Coffee = heart :) How true!

...while this one is my personal favorite

Why? Because one, it has roses on it and I am a huge sucker for roses and two, because of this:

 Pink insides!!! Gaaaah, I died! It's too cute!

Really, I am obsessing over Starbucks' Valentine's collection. This is the only time (ever) that I found myself liking almost all designs. I mean, I've been frequenting Starbucks more than half of my life but it's only now that I got this obsessed over their designs. Kudos to this year's designers! I am a fan! *clap, clap!

Again, if you find yourself liking any of the designs, BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. Take the "All I need is you and coffee" tumbler as example-- it's no longer available at the branch I went to. It sells so fast! So don't pause to hesitate, when it comes to Starbucks tumblers, it's always just "go, go, go!"

Falling in love at Starbucks

Okay. The title might be misleading. Sadly, no, I haven't found love at Starbucks yet. BUT I did fall in love with Starbucks' Valentine's day themed merchandise at first sight!

 All I need is YOU and COFFEE :)

...and it couldn't have said it better :)

There are two other tumbler designs, and two adorable mugs which sadly I didn't get to take a picture of :( Just a bit of advice, when you see a tumbler or mug or whatever at Starbucks, buy it immediately. Starbucks is one of those stores where you have to be impulsive because items fly off the shelves so fast, you don't have time to think.

Advance happy Valentine's Day y'all! Let me leave you Landon Pigg's Falling in Love At A Coffee Shop, which I know, hopeless romantics-slash-coffee goers would like:

Win a Boracay trip from Ensembles!

To welcome the new year, Ensembles is giving away an ALL EXPENSE PAID Boracay Trip for two! Just upload a photo of you wearing your fave Ensembles outfit, tell them why you chose this photo and ask your friends to like it. The entry with the best answer/caption and most number of likes by the end of the contest period, wins!

Easy peasy right? So what are you waiting for? Done your favorite Ensembles outfit, take a photo of yourself and upload it fast! 

Here we are wearing some of our favorite Ensembles pieces:

Cute pussy bow top from Ensembles!

from Ensembles' Debbie Co collection

Contest starts on January 16, 2012 (you still have time to prepare!) Go, go, go girls! Boracay beckons!

Click here for contest mechanics and other details: Ensembles' Facebook page

The Little Princess

I have a soft spot for The Little Prince. Unlike most people who read the book during their childhood, I got to read it in College. Yes, I know, it's a bit late but I think reading it when you're older is better because you find depth in the seemingly naive storyline.

I cried the first time I read it. It was to me, one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read about (at that time). To think it was a about an alien Prince and a rose (I'm such a hopeless romantic!) Well, I was browsing around the web when I chanced upon the Little Prince Store, or what is officially called, La Boutique du petit prince (say it aloud in your best French imitation!) and I died!!! I want everything in the store!

 How pretty is that scarf?? It looks so elegant and fun at the same time, me likey a LOT!

The medal pendants are just equally beautiful! I held my breathe for a second when I saw the silver one that translates "what is essential is invisible to the eye"

 ...oh my gawd the watches! I cannot control myself anymore! I like 'em a lot LOT lot!!! Don't even get me started on the bracelets (which sadly are out of stock at the moment)... seriously, this is crazy! Everything is so nice!

 I LOVE the mug. It's beyond words. SRSLY.

I'm hyperventilating and my pupils are dilated right now. Happens only when I see something I really, really like. Gaaaah, the little prince merchandise, you're breaking my heart! If not for the expensive price tags, I would purchase you all as swiftly as I could click "buy". BUT you're too expensive for me--for now. *sigh* ...and then "cries" huhuhu :((

To end this "semi-tragic" post, let me share with you my very first t-shirt design starring "the little princess":

You are not at all like my rose...
To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you.
But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: 
because it is she that I have watered; 
because it is she that I have put under the glass globe;
because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; 
because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three we saved to become butterflies); 
because it is she that I have listened to, 
when she grumbled, 
or boasted, 
or even sometimes when she said nothing. 
Because she is MY rose."

-The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Click here to check out the La Boutique du petit prince

Related post: Melissa shoes and the Little Prince