proud of you, mom!

My mom was mentioned in an article by Reggie Aspiras in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Egg flan

For the debut, Representative Lorna Silverio brought egg flans she ordered from Eya Cabanos all the way from Ilocos Norte. They are real eggs drained off their content, filled with flan mixture and steamed. A novelty!

Cabanos also makes saluyot pancit canton noodles and the famous Ilocos garlic longganisa.

She sends them fresh from San Nicolas as you order (tel. 0918-5299085). The eggs make perfect Christmas tokens.

If there's even any doubt about my mom's kitchen prowess one needs only one look at any of her four children to quell it. We are all trying to lose weight! I've been living alone in Manila for the last five years, away from my mother's glorious cooking but it takes me months to recover from the devastation on my weight loss regimen caused by holidays and birthdays that I do make it home to Ilocos. 

Read the rest of the article here:

To Do

I used to like making lists. I was obssesive about it. I think I should pick up the habit again, it might be the only way for me to actually accomplish what is truly, truly essential.

1. Read more books. Le Sigh. I haven't the time! Books are my dearest friends. I mean it. While getting over a particularly nasty break up I would force myself to read to help keep the depression at bay. It was the summer after college, no school or work to throw myself into. The slightest shift of mood and I would grab the nearest book/ magazine/ pamphlet/ instruction manual closest to me. To think I don't normally read instruction manuals.

2. Finish all the Books I've started. This would have to include my collection of nat.geo that I have yet to read from cover to cover. So many books. So little time. And my eyes, my poor eyes. They're not as young as they used to be. I'm getting all sorts of pains, aches and fuzzy spots when I strain them too much.

3. Watch all the good movies in the world. Most likely, this will never happen. But trying should be fun.

4. Lose 100 pounds. Effortlessly Ok, maybe not 100...

5. Study. Don't ask me what or where or who's paying. Sometimes I feel like chosing one thing will close the door to everything else. Such sense of permanence is scary and this deciscion deserves more reflection than my usual, impetuous self would give.

6. Cook that 6-course meal I've been planning since forever. Cooking takes too much time. But anything less is cheating. Long live the slow food movement.

random beach nostalgia...

In the middle of updating my online portfolio I was hit with a sudden longing for the sand and surf, which, in itself, isn't surprising since I was uploading pieces I did about/related to in some way to Boracay, the beach destination du jour. However, I'm not exactly a big beach person. I can't stand the sun, nor the sand, nor the masses I end up sharing the shore with (at least in the more popular beaches). Maybe it will all change once I get the bikini body I've been dreaming of since...its been far too long!

I just realized, the last time I went to the beach it was (December)2008! Meh...beaches, deserted ones, aren't that bad.

Here's something I found in my multiply...

I spent the tail end of July in Boracay with my favorite person in the world and best travel buddy ever, ever, ever.

Here’s to first among many, Toni <3

I vowed once before never to visit during the summer months and I mean it. The island teeming with people loses much of its appeal. It’s gorgeous, to be sure. None of Boracay’s famed beauty is exaggerated but until recently, I never thought it was magical.

Last time I was there was exactly a year ago when I was at my most depressed. I remember crying on the beach and crying myself to sleep and charvic getting so wasted she almost missed her flight back. I cant believe I walked the same shoreline a year later the happiest I’ve ever been, ever, ever, ever.

Toni and I didn’t get to swim until dusk on the day we flew in. Right at that moment when the sun has gone down but the stars have yet to pop out, according to him. True to form, the little prince wanted to catch the sunset but his rose took too long arranging her petals.

It was the most perfect of nights. After all, its not every day we get to take a twilight dip in a deserted stretch of the very embodiment of a tropical paradise.

He lost his shirt. The sea took it away. I told him to leave it on the shore but he wouldn’t listen. The next morning the sea almost got his shades after a massive wave. I saved it. Yay.

He also let me smoke but the sea kept on putting it out. For all intents and purposes I quit smoking after his birthday. And after 3 years of smoking, my body doesn’t even look for it. Not the nicotine. It is a hard habit to break, nonetheless.

We went home without a tan but with 28 hours worth of memories from our first tonkatsu trip after 5 glorious months of being together. Thanks to Patty for coining our compounded couple name. I wont apologize for the mush. I know you all can understand. Sigh…love…Woe betied the poor creature not afflicted.



Toni in Boracay

002. I Love This Site!! www.cuteboysmakemenervous.blogspot.com

Actually, cute boys don't make me nervous. I'm not one to fall head over heels for a pretty face. I need personality, verve, humour. and wit!

Nonetheless, being pretty wont hurt your cause.

I sent Toni's pic to Cute Boys Make Me Nervous

He makes my toes curl!!!

001. I Love This Site!! www.looklet.com

Let me tell you a secret. I never grew out of paper dolls and Barbies and playing dress-up. I think I never will. Its just too much fun! Its not hard to imagine why I took to www.looket.com like a duck to water!

This is the very first look that I created...



And this is my friend's... we picked the same moodel



A look by Mena....I'm loving the Doc Martens!

holding out for a hero...

my boyfriend shares a slight resemblance to Milo Ventimiglia aka Peter Petrelli of Heroes. A friend even went as far as to dub him Toni Petrelli, Peter and Nathan's Filipino-born half brother.

Anyway, I have pieced together a montage of photos of both guys because I didn't go down for lunch because Toni has been really, really perfect lately. *tear* I don't know Milo but he seems like a sweet guy too. :p

"Kiehl's" is Love

Is Kiehl's cheaper in Singapore? Is it? Is it? I hope it or or my boyfriend will feel bad. :(

He got me this...



...during a recent trip.

Actually what I really wanted was this...



But you know what, it doesn't matter. He's a man's man and the fact that he braved walking into Kiehl's alone, well, that's really brave and noble of him.

In any case, I love it! My peepers have never looked more refreshed and rested. I goes well under make up. I think I'm going to become a Kiehl's Junkie....*woebegone sigh* My poor wallet....

That's all I have time for today....

One of these days I'll make an honest to goodness review of the best products I've tried.