Ebook 5: The Willows:Haven

I am having this penchant for mystery-fantasy books lately. Browsing Amazon's free ebooks, I tend to look for books with paranormal or supernatural themes.


And look what I've got. "The Willows: Haven" by Hope Collier.

image from amazon

The story is about a rich young girl  (Ashton Blake) who grew up without her mother and was not so close to her father (Charlie). She never even knew her mother's name nor have seen any photo of her. Charlie shut every information or connection relative to his wife. On her 18th birthday, Ashton had a fight with her boyfriend Kevin Hawthorne and ran away. On the same day, she received the sad news from Harry Waterford, her father's attorney and bestfriend that Charlie died. Down with gloom, she ran away from California and was heading for Kentucky when she got into a accident, suspecting that she was being stalked. She met Gabe Willoughby. Mutually attracted, they decided to drop by Charlie's lakehouse before going to Charlie's funeral in Kentucky. It was in the lakehouse that she discovered everything about her mother, her identity and the people that surrounded her for 18 years. Gabe revealed that her mother's name was Edlyn and that she was a royalty in their world. Edlyn was a nymph, thus Ashton inherited her inclination to water. Ashton and her mother were called "Eleionomae".  She became more drawn to water when she turned 18.

I must admit that Collier brilliantly classified the characters (nymphs) in the book. There are different groups of nymphs depending on their dwelling. The "naiads" dwell on marshland,  "potameides"  reside around rivers, "pegaeae" live near springs, "limnatide" on lakes and "nereids" on the sea. Their surnames would tell someting about their kind. Examples are " Harry Waterford", "Gabe Willoughby".

On the other hand, those from the dryland or forests were called "Dryads". They were classified into "hamadryads" that dwell on oaks, "meliai" (from the ash trees), "epimeliad". Kyle Hawthorne, her bestfriend is the brother of Kevin. Kyle is a Hamadryad and she only discovered that the brothers were  forest nymphs when she was abducted by them. Kevin was called "Darach" in the "nymphworld."

The story basically evolves on the supposed arranged marriage of Kevin and Ashton. A treaty was concluded in ancient times between Naiads and Dryads. To avoid war, Edlyn was arranged to marry Darach before, but she fell in love with Charlie. Thus, when Ashton grew up, the nymphs from the two worlds pursued her to fulfill the provisions of the treaty.

Of course, the rest of the story is cheesy and predictable.

I wouldn't say you'll miss a good book if you will not read it. But it can surely entertain also. Some parts are dragging and specially those parts where Ashton shows her vulnerability to men.

Just check it out. It was free before in Amazon and checked it this morning, it's already $4.99.
Have a great weekend everyone!


X

Gearing up for Summer 2012

"Yuck Mommy, ang taba mo". (Yuck Mommy, you're so fat.)
DS said that! Last weekend we went to the mall and tried on some swimwear.
I asked him to stay outside the fitting room and when I asked his opinion on how I looked on a haltered top and board shorts, he uttered those words. I asked him to tone down his voice and laughter coz other customers may hear his comments. He kept on laughing!

Manang-mana sa pinagmanahan! Wagas kung mang-asar!

And yes, kids don't lie.I looked at myself in the mirror and I was really huge (in a sexy kind of way). Justify, justify, justify!
Looking for the perfect swimwear to flatter my curves (if there are... at all) in a department store was so frustrating. I particularly looked for 1 piece bathing suit but every cut's emphasis is on the waist. Grrrrr...

Anyway, I am trying to get ready for summer. We will be spending it somewhere north this April and somewhere east this coming May. Excitement mucho!

I made a mini list and wrote things down in my "Last Planner"

Call me OA (Over Acting). But when I travel, make sure I have everything from cotton buds to cellphone chargers.

No. 1 on my list is swimwear. Like I've said, it's so frustrating to shop when your body hides its curves. The rest are goggles, suncreen, slippers, shampoo, bag (waterproof) and a new suitcase or backpack.

The last one is optional, but preferred (subject to availability of funds). Bwahahaha!
I forgot, I need new tank top and denim shorts.

On swimwear, I searched (Googled) for swimwear and came up with Speedo and Sassa.
Choices were all designed for skinny swimmers. Speedo however, offers big sizes for the athletic built (which I'm not).

Then I saw Cyberswim Miraclesuit (look 10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds) Ows???

The swimsuits were lovely to look at on the models. I think I'd look good on them too. I am particluarly interested on the tummy control.
I am not sure though if they have a shop in the Philippines. I looked again and shocked to see the price for each piece.

BH will definitely wring my neck for getting an "itsy bitsy tiny winy" saplot for that price. It's worth one whole day boat ride to Donsol, Sorsogon. Hahahaha! Good thing they don't ship to the Philippines.

Solution: DIET!

Oh please, get real girl!!!

X

*images from http://www.cyberswim.com/

Busog Trip 9: CSB International Conference Center & Hotel (Coffee Shop)

Last Friday, 2 of my colleagues went around Malate area to look for a chef's complete outfit. We found Chef's Garb :Quality Kitchen Apparel and Accessories for Chefs, by Chefs (that's what it says). this is along Arellano Avenue, Malate (near St. Scholastica's and College of St. Benilde).

It was lunch time and we got really hungry. First stop was at a newly opened restaurant serving seafoods. Since we were the only customers, we decided to move to the CSB coffee shop just across the said eatery. It was a lunch treat by my officemate anyway. Hahaha!

CSB was then serving buffet lunch and the array of choices looked very promising. We decided to try their buffet. Wow!

According to one of the servers, the served dishes in the shop were prepared by students of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management of the CSB. It was a surprise because the dishes tasted like they were cooked by a hotel chef. They have well-trained tastebuds.

Since it was a Friday, the students assumed that most customers were Catholics so they only served seafoods and chicken.  

upper plate is kilawing tanguigue.
Just the right mixture of acids. Yum

closer look of my plate: paella, shrimp thermidor,chicken curry,
fish fillet with cream sauce and buttered  vegetables

desserts: i loved the mango graham and blueberry.
Cream puff yummy and choco mousse is a bit salty.

CSB buffet is every Friday only.
Will go back soon.

X

Capitol Couture and, brace yourself, nail polish

In the book Hunger Games, there is a place called Capitol, which is a fortress city where the wealthiest and most powerful citizens of Panem reside.

Fashion is very important to the people of Capitol. But not just fashion, Outrageous Fashion.

It is no surprise that people in the industry are now seeing this as a perfect opportunity to create a trend... Capitol Couture.

Check out this website - http://capitolcouture.pn/tagged/cover-story/ - to see more. All photos above were taken from this website.

But for the rest of us who will not wear these, we can just sport Capitol colored nail polish by China Glaze... So, may I ask, what will you be wearing at the premier night of the movie?

I say, wow! (i want Luxe and Lush. It is nearest to the color of the current Spring Summer 2012 trend.)

xoxo, Y

Red velvet not!

I am sorry X and Z. I did my best, mbut I guess my best wasn't good enough.

The big boy said that it tasted like 'puto' or rice cake. He ate it with cheese spread and was threatening to put ham on top. Hmmmpf!

I showed the recipe by Louisiana, Red Velvet cake with Splenda to my dear sister (confession: she's the true baker, and I'm the colorum), and here are her suggestions:
1. Not sweet enough. Splenda granulated is converted as 1:1 with sugar. It's no rocket science as it is written at the back of the package. Martha Stewart uses 1 1/2 cups, so definitely, 2/3 cup Splenda is not sweet enough.
2. I should have used more cocoa powder. Other recipes contain 16 tbsps of cocoa powder. My recipe is only 1 tablespoon. Martha Stewart's recipe has 2 tbsps of unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder. Well the type of cocoa powder might have spelled a world of difference.
3. I should have used more distilled white vinegar. Martha Stewart uses twice as much.
4. I should have used more oil.

I am heartbroken, to say the least, and Hokkaido Milk Tea with 2 Splenda and pearl from Serenitea did not make me forget. (Next time I will order Wintermelon Milk Tea, masarap pala...)

Tomorrow, I will follow the suggestion.

Lesson: not all recipes are created equal.

Sorry again, X and Z. Better luck next time.

Still sad,
Y

Busog Trip 8: Banana Cake (turned into muffin)

Yup it was an attempt to revive my baking "skills" (if there's any). Hahaha!

I bought this "Celebrations by Sharon". That's correct! The megastar.

from www.thebachelorgirl.com

It was supposed to be a cake but I made it into muffins. I just mixed 3 bananas and wow! This time, I got the mix right. Hahaha!

BH and DS liked them. One box can make 10 small muffins.

Ang sarap naman Mommy.

Thanks to Ate Shawie! Uy close!

X

Staycation

Today, a Sunday, we're trying staycation, as suggested in this TV commercial. It is claimed to be smarter than going on an expensive vacation.
We start with this improvised pool set up in the garden.
Maybe home-made baked cookies or cupcakes later, and then a nice rented movie (from Videocity, because I abhor pirated DVDs) before we go to mass ... We'll see!
Xoxo, Y

yummy: cafe ysabel

i am sleeping at the hospital tonight to look after my lolo; he was confined earlier today.

before my shift, hubby treated me to dinner...as if i was having my last meal!

we ate at cafe ysabel (since it's near cardinal santos) and it was my first time to eat there. [on the other hand, hubby frequents that resto for meetings, allegedly (haha!)]

i love the the warm flat bread they serve together with their own dipping sauce. extraordinarily yummy! my guess is that the dip has sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, EOO, garlic, balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper, thyme, salt, sugar and pepper...naks! As if! Haha!

i ordered lengua with mashed potatoes (while hubby got norwegian salmon with pasta). yum, yum!

will definitely go back to try the rest of the menu! if i get lucky, will be back for a short course at CACS, wohooo! iWish!

Z