cravings

I've lost a few pounds. Kaya naman, I turned the closet upside down to look for my old stuff a couple of pounds ago.
Yesterday, I did the same thing with our fridge. Hahaha! I turned it upside down and saw this old favorite given by someone so close to me.

Peanut Kisses and Peanut Fingers!!! I recall being given before a box full of these goodies some years ago. They are from Bohol. I ate all of what's in the photo...Grabe! Maisusuot ko pa kaya yung mga nahanap ko sa closet? Never mind! I enjoyed munching anyway.

This weekend, I will ask my BH if we can go to this place in Bulacan to get "inipit". Eurobake!!! They sell the best inipit (those in the supermarkets taste very plain).Their main shop is in Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan.

Photo from google image

The sweetness stays in your tastebuds as the filling melts in your mouth. Gloriously yummy and great with coffee!

Photo from google image

Bulacan has another version but I haven't tried it yet. It's made by Enlin's Bake Shop. Their main shop is in Malolos City.

Image from www.enlinsbakeshop.com

I guess I will have to try this too. I love looking at the green one. Para siyang bamboo. Maybe it's pandan flavor.

X

discovery: microfiber gloves

microfiber gloves (read: basahan) . . . soft and effective . . . i sprayed the fuchsia with a mix of water, powder-scented liquid detergent and a drop of zonrox . . . fucshia gloves on the right hand, dry-apple green gloves on the left hand . . . wax in, wax out . . . hahaha!  wiped almost everything in our room clean . . . P50 at ace hardware

Z

fab! . . . or not so fab, for a 5-year old girl

i was at s&r last saturday to grab a few groceries . . . i saw my former dean (na tinaguan ko . . . hehe) . . .i saw haydhen (comment: parang mas gwapo sya dati; or mas gwapo dun sa kanyang mga videos . . .hahaha! grabe ang tangkad!)  then i saw this cute little girl wearing a b/w dress paired with a tory burch reva! 

US$100 flats by a 4/5 year old girl . . . wow!


but then, may tatalo ba kay suri?  heels at 3.  correction, christian louboutin, repetto etc. at 3. 

bow-wow-wow (with a bit of jealousy. . . hahaha!) . . . suri, who turned 5 last april . . .

i vote fab for the 5-year old in tory flats but not for the 5-year old in heels  (especially not for a 3-year old in heels). . .cute na kung sa cute, but is this even safe for toddlers?

suri is still cute even in divisoria kung fu shoes . . . basta born cute, cute talaga . . . (with hint of bitterness again . . . hahaha!!!)


while i adore suri's ka-cute-an and fashion, i am a true-blue-shiloh fan . . .

                      

not as cutie-cute-cute and pretty-cute as suri, but astig :)  love your porma, idol ka, haha!


Z


(all photos from google images)

Green world

"Green, Green, my world is green"

This is the only hue that pleased my eyes a day before weekend and the whole weekend.Busy, busy... Party, party!

It started Friday morning when I was about to leave the house for work, I saw this creature belonging to phylum  arthropoda (according to DS). It's having a grand time looking at its "glorious" reflection on the side of my car.

I don't know what happened to the poor creature.

At work, I took out my snack (Skyflakes Oat Fiber) and I just can't help but open it before coffee break. Before consuming it, I took a pic again. It looks lovely and it's supposed to make you fit and SEXY???!! Hahaha! Wish lang!

Next day, we went North to attend to two (not just one but TWO) birthday parties. I saw this car speeding along NLEX. I can't figure out it's make so I thought of taking a shot. We were overtaking it but I asked BH to slow down. "Di pwede, I'm on the overtaking lane". Fine... Ok, relax! I took a shot anyway. 

It's green baybeh! Remember Chick in the movie "Cars"?

Sunday, it's party time again! Before going to our relative's house, my cousin-in-law suggested that we drop by in another cousin-in-law's place to get banana leaves. We're planning to have a boodle fight. I stayed in the car while they're busy "dismembering" the banana tree. I saw this strange looking plant on the fence. Alam ko to eh, but can't recall what it's called. I used to eat it's sweet ripe fruit back in the province. It's a vine and the fruit is enclosed in a hollow membrane. So, I took a pic using my CP. BH educated me...Hahaha! It's called "kit-kitiwit" in Ilocano. Yes, now i remember.

We headed to the party. Ihaw-ihaw galore! Everything's so yummy! We didn't use the banana leaves anymore coz table was almost ready when we got to the place. My in-laws gave me this drink with a catchy green label. It tasted like Zesto (apple flavor). But it's beer! Alcohol content is only 3%. I sampled on the Lemon flavor but I like this better.

Today is a blue Monday. Not because it's my least favorite day of the week, but because I'm wearing blue and used my blue shawl. Hmmm...I'm hopeful that this is going to be a cool and light work week. Cross thine fingers, dear readers.

Ugh, can't find my Pak Fah Yeow for my morning routine.


X

bwahaha. . . good luck, X. . . i just saw your boss at the hallway!  bwahaha! :) 

Z, Yup, got 2 missed calls already. It's mancomm "panic" time again. hahaha!       X

houston, the ogre is down

another controversial call against the serena williams at the us open women's championship early this morning. . . the ogre was slapped with a warning and what does the ogre say to the chair umpire during the changeover? 

if you walk past me in the hall you better look the other way because you are out of control . . . you're unattractive on the inside. . . i never complain. . . you give me a code violation for expressing my emotions, we're in america!"

i never complain?! hmmm . . . 2 years ago,  highest ever fine slapped in women's tennis history . . . errr . . . duhhh . . . vitamin b, dude!

the former no. 1 and 27 grand slam title holder . . . such a remarkable achievement but definitely not the likings of a champion and a sportsman (yes, i would rather say "sportsman" than "sportswoman") . . . the ogre did not even shake the chair umpire's hand after the game as is usual in every match. . .


a couple of days ago the great roger federer lost a 5-set thrilling semi-final game against novac djokovic and just as a true champion and sportsman, he congratulated and lauded djokovic for his victory. . . and sincerely at that. 

the ogre lost to ausie sam stosur 2-6, 3-6.  the 2011 us open is sam's maiden grand slam title, an amazing victory --- especially since it's a battle against the ogre!  (when the ogre was asked before the championship if she could win the title, she replied: "yes, just don't put nadal or djokovic on the court." djokovic is currently the men's world no. 1 and nadal currently world no. 2 . . . so feeling ni ogre papakainin nya ng alikabok si sam, ganun?! take that, hmp!  and again, i believe you should be in the men's division!)  


pasensya na poh, letting my steam off.  kasi naman monday dawn, i open my tv to catch the us open and i see this corpulent gorgon ranting and raising her voice at the chair umpire . . . de javu, i thought . . . but my tv says "live" . . . the ogre does it again . . . kakainis ka na . . . 


Z

Z, I prefer "gorgon" over "ogre". Ogre is so subtle. When I saw the pic you posted last week, I thought of the female ostrich in your farm. Imagine Ostrich Joy instead of Chicken Joy. Superb! Hahaha! X

how about gargantuan gargoyle! bwahaha! ostrich complaining: we're just big but still cute . . . si ogre- corpulent gorgon-and now the gargantuan gargoyle (haha!) --- katakot, ewan kung anong saving grace.  i have a book of hers which i bought at fullybooked last year . . . di ko pa nababasa gusto ko na i-shred ngayon!  speaking of, i need a new shredder.  tsk . . .tsk . . .

congrats to sam stosur! berry good! sam and the gargantuan gargoyle . . . david and goliath . . .

telegraph.co.uk

. . .and this just in . . .  http://www.gmanews.tv/story/232134/sports/us-open-serena-williams-under-investigation-over-outburst 

discovery: shoe gel protector

i was taking a picture of my shoe gel protector to email to my friend who is going to HK when Y saw me.  i was going to ask my friend to grab a couple of these effective and comfy protectors at mannings (with a store/branch very conveniently located at the airport!) . . . the one in the picture is about PhP234 (HK$39 x 6) . . .there are all sorts of kakikayan for the shoes pa but i don't have the budget  :(   in any case, Y gave me an idea to post this . . . ha,ha,ha!  (but, will save it for next week to meet our mandatory 3 posts-per-week . . .ha,ha,ha!). 

anyway, Y told me the other day that watson's here is selling something similar. . . watson's . . .hmmm. . . another place to be (other than cdr-king, fullybooked, muji, make room, dimensione, alessi and all other butingting places) . . . wipeee!

Z

(9sept11 for next week!)

Z, this is good. I'll look for one sa Watson's. Since my childhood, I only use Bandaid. "Shana" kasi. Hehehe. X

fab! planning for 2012

I intend to stick to my Moleskine 2011-2012 planner until its end and, thus, I will not be shopping for any planner for this coming new year.  Well at least, for myself!


Planners make for great gifts, although I feel a bit getting into one's personal space giving this as a gift if that person would be forced to use it out of deference to me (hehe feeling, no). 


Although, some planners can be used as notebooks as well especially if there are enough space to write on.  In fact, all my Starbucks planners ended up being used as notebooks.


So I have been contemplating on giving my little boy's teachers this Christmas some really nice planners or notebooks, but the type which I am sure will not be thrown away or recycled as gifts.  I found some good candidates.  They are within my budget, and look simple (so will not be misinterpreted as some sort of a bribe for good grades hehehe), but special at the same time (sincerely on my part as I cannot be grateful enough for their part in raising the little boy).


First candidate:  Cath Kidston Bath Flowers 2012 Diary

I like how Cath Kidston products combine polka dots with floral prints.  The zip lock case is also a very good idea to protect the diary from all things inside your bag.  (I can imagine mine with charge clips and some important receipts)


Second candidate:  2011-2012 Lilly Pulitzer Pocket Agenda - True Navy Bloomers

This one has colorful tabs and a bit of sorority - preppy - school setting feel  which partly makes it a suitable gift, in this particular case.


Since the little boy has more than 1 teacher (Adviser, Christian Ed, etc.), why not get a couple of each?


Y

fab! me, myself and dieting

If there is one thing that I am scared of, that is getting fat.  I have nothing against how fat people look, but I know I will just look better when I am not fat.  I have a round face so I guess that won't look very nice if I get really fat. 


Looking back, I think the earliest I became conscious about my food intake was when I was in college.  There was a time when I would not eat meat at all.  My breakfast would just be fried eggplant or tofu (and rice, I love rice!)


Google Images



Google Images

These simple fried dishes are still some of favorites after all these years... #confession


A few months before my wedding, I would eat a balanced breakfast (protein and carb) and then feed on Skyflakes, low-fat milk and banana until the evening.

I also enrolled in a gym, and even attended one or two Cosmic Cycling classes, which almost killed me, by the way...

Google Images

A few days  before my big-day, I got addicted to Dance Revolution on playstation! wahaha!  I am not a graceful dancer, but I lost 1 or 2 pounds with all those jumping, skipping, hopping.  Talk about cramming!!!

After I gave birth, I bought a magnetic (manual) treadmill, and walked/jogged on it for 20 minutes every single day.  That exercise really made me sweat a lot and there's not much pressure on my knees because I always set it on uphill.  Because of this, I easily got back my pre-pregnancy weight + around 5 pounds which is not so bad, considering that I would be carrying my baby a lot.  I also limited my rice intake to just brown rice. 

The last 2 years or so is the period where I tried the most number of diet programs / weight-loss programs.


1.  In the office we had this bet where we pay a joining fee, which goes to the pot money.  The biggest loser will get the pot money.  Another bet would be organized, one after another, and the mechanics would get more and more complicated.  I never won in any of those bets.  I know huhu, hahaha!


2.  I also tried the Morning Banana Diet for a while.


3.  I did some Bikram Yoga.  At that time, my sister had been doing it for about a year already, but I never tried despite her prodding.  Then Z did it also.  And so, with the peer pressure coming from Z (good luck nalang) Hahaha!

(digressing a bit, sorry, but I could not resist no sharing this stunning wall art, using computer components.  This looks like one position in Bikram Yoga, though not quite.  But to read further about this wall art:  http://www.home-designing.com/2011/09/stunning-wall-art-created-from-electronic-components?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+home-designing+%28Home+Design+Ideas%29)


Going back...  I stopped mainly because it takes so much of my time (traveling to the studio, 1 1/2 hour session, cleaning up before going home).  My hands are full with responsibilities at home, and officework, and going to Bikram even once a week exhausts me.


Z and I bought our own copies of this book:

I used it to polish my execution of the poses at home, and for a couple of times during the summer, I even tried to set up my own heated room using a hair blower (hehe).  I cheat on the counting and at least I don't have to curse hahaha!   


4.  The ultimate diet I had was that General Motors 7-Day Diet which I did with Z.  The result was very visible on the 5th day, and it went on for 2 weeks or so.  After that, I noticed a general slowdown of my metabolism.  I now find it harder to sweat on the treadmill.  I get bloated after some meals.  And I never want to taste brocolli, asparagus and cauliflower ever again! 


5.  After that mega-fad diet, I decided to just cut my rice intake, just like most dieters do.  For 2-3 weeks I stopped eating rice, and just ate lots of vegetables, fish and some meat.  I noticed some weight loss, but alas I was not able to sustain it.  I am proudly Asian, so I can't give up rice, ok?


Now, I think I am at my heaviest.  I have been eating like there is no tomorrow for a while.  And I think it is now time to get back on track again.  I want to wear flat shoes again without feeling conscious that I look fat.  I want to wear real slippers like Angeline Jolie does, and not platform slippers.  Hehe.

(Oops sorry got a bit carried away.. wehehe)


But I'd like to believe that balanced diet, food in moderation and everyday exercise is still the way to go. 


And I am going to start tomorrow! Or on Monday?  No, TOMORROW!  mwahahahaha


Let us see if I can keep it for the next two weeks.  Game?  Game!!


Y


Y, monday, monday! :)  bet?! wahaha! :)  -  Z


i am not sure if angeline jolie is wearing tkees in the picture above but if so,  here's one for our chika minute ---  jennifer aniston loves wearing tkees --- advertised as "cosmetics for your feet."  hmmmm. . .  something in common, again! haha! these comfy and slim flip flops are about $48 in the US and about P2,300 in manila (there's a shop in greenhills selling these, sorry i can't recall -- basta green yung facade nung store).  

well, i think if we (X, Y and Z) are to be identified as slippers,  Y would be the tkees, i would be fitflops and X would be havaianas . . .  


rationale:


tkees look slim, smart and definitely for girls only . . . the simplicity highlights its elegance;   tkees are also categorized as cosmetic types -- liners, foundations, lipsticks, blushes etc.  . . .  somewhat kikay and all-in-all like Y :)  hahaha!


as for me -- fitflops are soft (and on the chubby side, hahaha!) and appear to be a "flatfooted" footwear just like me . . . hahaha!  it also has extreme lines like shiny-shimmery thongs, "platypus" looking clogs, smeakers and also boyish leather boots . . . parang ako depende sa mood (topak, to be more accurate, haha!) . . . i can be girly-girlish and tomboyish. . . well, oftentimes on the boyish-side ata. . . hehe  (effect of having no sister) . . minsan din frustrated chef and bob-the-builder. . . haha! 


havaianas are very practical yet stylish (with several hollywood celebs even pairing these flip flops with evening dress!);  havaianas are also predominantly happy and colorful, but can at times be plain and serious na parang i mean business, quiet muna kayo dyan, work muna ako :)  most of all, havaianas rocks! reminds me of X . . . ha,ha,ha


(hmmm . . . might be in trouble when i see X and Y . . . lagot . . .  baka makumpleto ko ang angry bird set of friends ko . . . haha!  ok na din kesa plants and zombies ang nakapalibot sa akin . . . wahaha! btw, images are from coolspotters.com)


love,
Z