Monday, April 30, 2012

remember this song?

Children of the '80s and '90s, remember this TVC jingle?

 

xoxo, Y

Loot from Z

Thanks Z for these items. I know she got them from Singapore. Trust her to always have these kikay and office supply finds even when she travels.

Now, removing nail polish need not smell like acetone. I am not willing to submit a memo to my boss though using these giant paperclips, as they are much too cute to part with. (note, I included a 25 centavo coin so you get an idea of how big these paper clips are). Of course, the Ikea shoe bag. As I said, one can never have enough reusable bags.

Love them Z.

xoxo, Y

Sunday, April 29, 2012

The Avengers action figures from Petron

I was just done posting about The Avengers when the Big Boy arrived with these 4 action figures toys with matching tumblers from Petron. He said he got them for P60 each, without presenting any receipt. Definitely not so shabby for 60 bucks.

xoxo, Y


The Avengers

We watched The Avengers last night. The Little Boy liked it and a lot! At first he was excited about seeing Captain America again. However, we walked out with him overly ecstatic about Incredible Hulk!

Who wouldn't be? Watch the clips below...

 

However, I couldn't shake off my mind the fact that Mark Ruffalo who is now Bruce Banner and The Hulk, used to be the Boy Next Door in the movie 13 going 30...

 

He was cute then too.

xoxo, Y

 

car wash

Because of this extremely hot weather (36 degrees Celcius recorded at 3pm last Friday, April 27, can you believe that!), I have been putting off getting a car wash. But then, yesterday morning, I could no longer postpone it.

So I went to my favorite car wash place 'Auto Magic Car Centre' along President's Avenue in BF. I only pay P120 for a car wash and vacuum. They are very efficient, and the garage is roomy, so it is very easy to move your car from the washing side to the drying-vacuuming side. I braced myself for a 30 minute agony of waiting in this hot weather. Thankfully they have wifi, I coaxed myself...

Much to my pleasant surprise, the car wash garage has an air conditioned lounge! I swear they didn't have this before!

Whoever furnished this nook is also very resourceful, if not creative. He or she converted 4 tires into a table... Nice one!

xoxo, Y

Saturday, April 28, 2012

chocolate cupcakes... again

I decided to bake another batch of chocolate cupcakes using Martha Stewart's recipe, because I still have 1 unopened sour cream in the fridge.

I am more confident this time because I have followed this recipe more than twice and so far I am satisfied with the result.

After I prepared the dry and wet ingredients separately, I went to take out the sour cream. Much to my dismay though, the best before date states April 21 or 6 days ago. I smelled it and it smells like sour cream. Nothing weird. Even the Big Boy agreed. However I thought that I'd rather throw away something that I simply got from the store, than risk having to throw away something that took me efforts to bake...

And so, I summoned Google my friend, to the rescue! Search: Sour cream substitute. Most results involve cottage cheese, which obviously I don't have either. And then I saw one that states, for baking, I can use 3/4 cup buttermilk and 1/4 cup butter. Sounds so simple because I know buttermilk substitute which is just 1 cup liquid milk and 1 tbsp white vinegar.

I thought for a moment... Hmmm, well I can live with that.

And so I did. The batter tasted close enough to the one based on the original recipe.

The recipe states 20-25 minutes of 350 deg F. I turned off the oven at 20 minutes and then left it inside for another 5 minutes.

Result is good. Not so moist and dense like fudge, but more cupcakey /spongecakey.

I topped 3 cupcakes with leftover cream cheese frosting from about a week ago, which is still good, and then with my baker self proverbial mini m&m's. I left the rest unfrosted, maybe I can make fresh frosting Sunday night... I am not promising X and Z but I will try... Wink wink

Bon appetit.

xoxo, Y

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

How to please a girl during a date...

...According to Rico Romantico, as heard on his radio show.

Da who!? Clue: 1. He's a DJ 2. He was a former celebrity housemate of Kuya (Big Brother).

Ok, here goes. Set-up a themed date. For example, go on a Mexican date.
1. Attire. No big sombrero please, because that could be embarrassing for some. You can wear ponchos.
2. Music while in the car. You can play La Bamba.
3. The Restaurant should go with the theme. Make reservations, it will make the girl feel important and she will appreciate it that the date was well thought of.
4. Excuse yourself to go to the restroom, and pay the bill without her knowing. Checking out, studying the bill and pulling out your wallet can definitely ruin the moment.
5. Leave a good tip. And a good tip is in hundred/s. That way, you will leave the restaurant with the waiters graciously calling out thank you sir!
6. Cap off the night with a nice theme-consistent movie.

After hearing these, I felt a bit bad... And short-changed... Hahaha! Pout pout.

Well girls, hope you find a way to make these be known to your men. Being treated like a princess won't hurt every now and then.

Xoxo, Y
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

Busog Trip 12: Meat Plus Cafe (Subic)

Before heading back to Manila from our brief Subic visit, we decided to have our dinner somewhere. A relative suggested Meat Plus Cafe. 
Hmmm,steak galore which sounded mouthwatering. Why not?

Meat Plus

One may opt to order over the counter or choose a cut from their freezer and instruct the staff on how you want your protein done.

BH and I ordered Topsirloin (medium rare) for Php260. Rice for X and mashed potato for BH.
I concocted my own dip (Hahahaha!) - A1 sauce and hot chili sauce for a little kick. Mmmmm!
They also serve pasta, burgers and salad. DS had lasagna and burger.
Combined with ice cold rootbeer....it's really heaven.

Here's a shot of what I had.

I didn't taste their gravy

Meat Plus Cafe is located at Sampson Road, Subic. It is just across the Subic Fire Bureau and near the Duty Free Shop.

A must try...!

X

Monday, April 16, 2012

Kamana Sanctuary (Subic)

A planned Subic day trip without itenerary brought us to a discovery. I actually heard of this place from a relative.It's a new resort and spa that can be found after getting through the forested areas of Subic, Zambales. Coming from the freeport area, it's on the right side going to Zoobic Safari.

Kamana Sanctuary Resort and Spa is actually owned by Tony Boy Cojuangco.



image from kamana's website
 It's new and accommodation rates are quite high compared to the other resorts in Subic. But the place is stylish ala-Greta (Gretchen Barretto) and tastefully built. The place was fully booked due to a wedding. Day tour is not allowed but you can dine in their restaurant and look around the place. Unfortunately, the resto is likewise full. They allowed us to look around instead.


accommodations


Rates below:



X

Sunday, April 15, 2012

One Direction

So this is what the hype is all about...

It's eye candy x 5 + swoon

I can imagine Simon Cowell thinking GBP GBP GBP while watching this.

And nice, the judges have maintained their composure all throughout and there's nobody doing a Paula Abdul dance or J LO cry-cry.

xoxo, Y

 

Friday, April 13, 2012

Camote Q (Sweet potato)


A generous soul from the office gave out deep fried dipped in sugar snack. Camote que or sweet potato. Smoking hot!Perfect for the hot Friday the 13th afternoon.

I am still waiting for the Coke Zero ...wishing that the generous air did not wear out yet.Hurry, I'm choked with thirst...!

Hahahaha!


X

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Ebook 7:Her Last Letter

I started with the book last April 1after returning from a wake. I got it for free. I checked it today and it's US$0.99.

image from Amazon

"Her Last Letter" is a story about three sisters Gwyn, Linda and Kelly. They were daughters of a sporting goods tycoon in Aspen and each inherited millions when their father died. Linda was married to Wolfgang a builder, while Gywn, the main character, is married to Trevor, a realtor. Kelly was single but had a boyfriend named Craig. Kelly was found dead and her boyfriend Craig had ran off since. The story revolved on the last letter of Kelly which Gwyn discovered. It revealed an affair between Kelly and the then boyfriend of one of her sisters. The said affair may have triggered Kelly's death.  Was it Trevor or Wolfgang or Gwyn's ex boyfriend Josh? Or was it Craig when he found out about the affair? It's up to the reader to find out.

Some parts are dragging that I just skimmed through. But this book by Nancy Johnson will definitely pass as a page turner. 

X

Sunday, April 08, 2012

Audible.com

I already wrote it and I am going to write it again. Gone are the days when I would dread heavy traffic or those long hours of driving home or to the office on my own.

I was already super satisfied with the text to speech feature of my Kindle 2nd generation. But here's taking it one notch higher. Audible!

I am now listening to Breaking Dawn. I know, I have read it before, but I kinda want to hear it again, as the 2nd part of the movie will be shown soon. That is the part which I am looking forward to, and it is the part which I enjoyed the most, after Bella was transformed and vampire covens from all over rendered their assistance to the Cullens.

And I kinda find it amusing listening to the narrator Ilyana Kadushin. I felt the Bella character in her voice. I am sure you will too.

xoxo, Y