My 24th Birthday Part 1

To everyone who kept their fingers crossed for my Boracay birthday bash, thank you. Unfortunately, my requested leave was not approved, so that trip didn't happen. That's okay, though, because I got to spend my birthday with my family and the boyfriend instead.

Meet my quirky family!

My vain brother just had to have his hair cut and styled at Bench Fix before we had our family picture taken at a studio. While waiting for him, we snacked on fries, donuts and coke float.

Cheese and Sour Cream for the win!

Krispy Kreme donuts

McDo Management, bring back the Sarsi Float!

My family has this weird reflex: an overwhelming desire to eat whenever we step inside any mall. Seriously, all we do as a family is eat, eat and eat! We rarely shop unless we need to buy groceries, and even then, we still buy food!

The truth is,  around 75% of my paycheck goes to food.  I eat out at least once a week on the average and that's a bad habit I really am working hard to break. Birthdays are exceptions though, so I treated my family and the boyfriend to a simple dinner at Friday's.

Thank God it's my Birthday!

I know Friday's is so mainstream, but I can't try anything adventurous when my little sister is in tow. She is such a picky eater!

Who hasn't eaten at Friday's these days?

Now, some pictures of the food we ordered!

Jack Daniel's Ribs

I always order this whenever I'm at Friday's. I just love how fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy the meat is.

Chicken Fingers

I've tasted better versions, but because my sister is such a picky eater, I had to make sure she has something to eat should she dislike the other entrees we ordered. This dish was a sad choice though, because the chicken was so bland! I've ordered this many times before, and it used to be juicier and tastier if I remember correctly.

Chicken, Mushroom and Chicken

This looked so good on the menu, so I was quite disappointed after the first bite. Again, the chicken was quite bland and I couldn't taste the gooey goodness of mozzarella cheese that I have come to expect upon reading the description on the menu. The portioning was also quite surprising. This was more or less only 100 bucks cheaper than the ribs, but less filling and less sumptuous by miles!

Bacon Cheeseburger

This was a sure hit with my sibs who both love anything beefy and juicy that can be found between a bun. My brother loved the burger so much that he now claims McDonald's Quarter Pounder tastes like Burger McDo in comparison. Well, I kinda agree, because even a Johnny Rockets burger or a Charlie's Angus Beef burger isn't as juicy or tasty! 

Brownie Obsession

True to it's name, this dessert is truly obsession-inducing! The brownie was warm,  kind of tough on the outside, but chewy and fudgy inside. It somehow reminded me of the lava cake from Cyma, which I got addicted to for a time. I wish I can eat more, but alas, I'm sort of on a calorie watch! (Or so I would like to believe. Haha.)

Now, a picture of my vain brother who was also celebrating his birthday that day!

That's the hairstyle we waited around so patiently for!

And a picture of the silliest couple on the planet!

We met in High School, then grew up together thereafter.

I know my birthday did not turn out as I planned, but looking back, I realized that it was just how I really wanted it to be: a table filled with sincere laughter, good food and people I love! 

The stuff that perfect birthdays are made of! <3

Fun at Terazzas de Punta Fuego!

I've never been a fan of summer, but having just one summer getaway is quite inexcusable even for me! I know I went to Singapore last March, but with no sand and no beach, that was hardly a summer excursion.

This year, the only beach I've been to was the one at Terazzas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas. Since Club Punta Fuego is an exclusive resort and we went on a Monday, we almost had the entire place all to ourselves!

Karlo, our designated photographer

Clear, blue waters

It was so much fun spending time with my colleagues without all the hassles of the job. We frolicked at the beach, took the obligatory jump shots, played games in the pool, stuffed ourselves with more food than our stomachs can handle and lounged in the cabanas with a magazine on one hand and a glass of fresh fruit shake on the other. I absolutely love lazy days like that - lying on my back with the wind blowing on my face as I listen to the sound of raging waves. 

The obligatory beach jump shot!

This is how the pool looks like from a distance.

Goofing around in the pool.

We are such a crazy bunch!

The beach at Laiya is better, but Nasugbu's isn't too far behind. As a matter of fact, I would gladly choose the latter to avoid the summer crowd. 

We had the beach all to ourselves! Well, not really, but almost!

Come late afternoon, we took a boat to go island hopping. It was mighty fun jumping into the water, but I didn't dare take off my life vest because I'm not that good a swimmer. 

Frolicking in saltwater.

That day at Punta Fuego was such a welcome break from the monotony of work-home-mall days. I would have loved to stay there for the night, but I was on morning shift the next day. Don't ask me how I did it, but I got back to Manila at around 11PM and by 4AM, I was up on my toes, preparing to go to work! To be honest, that was bloody tiring, but I would gladly do it again just to get away from work-related stress!

This July, I have plane tickets for Boracay. I know it's not the best month for sun and sand, but please keep your fingers crossed for me and my friends. I'm really hoping and praying that our requested VLs will be granted because I badly need the time off. I've been venting in twitter a lot these days. Super negative vibes, I know, but I just can't help it. I'm exhausted!

Ten Things I Love

One of my favorite bloggers, Tisha Angluben tagged all of her followers to write about the 10 things they love. I have been meaning to write about a crapload of things, but I figured that I want to do this post more than all the others because writing about the things I love is a foolproof way to make me happy! Without further ado, here goes my love list for good vibes:

1. Traveling. Traveling will always be my one true love. Nothing excites me more than the prospect of visiting another place,  getting lost in a foreign city, immersing myself in a different culture and trying out all sorts of specialties from different countries and localities.

I guess my favorite memory would be the time I visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona way back in 2004. I remember standing before what seemed to be a huge canvas and staring in awe at the interplay of colors come sunset. Oh, I will never forget that glorious moment! 

2. Good Food. Now, this is the reason why I am super overweight (well, aside from my hormonal problems and my sedentary lifestyle)! I don't really spend much on clothes or shoes or bags or whatever people from my generation spend on these days. I deprive myself of a long list of things, but I don't think twice about spending a lot of money on food. I guess that's something I learned from my good old dad who once said that he works very hard not to buy us new things, but to put good food on the table. He used to say that he can buy us all the food we want, but not all the toys we want! 

3. Books. My love affair with books started way back in second grade, when I learned about the wonderful world of Sweet Valley  tucked in the shelves of our modest library in Colegio San Agustin - Makati (yup, this girl isn't ashamed to admit that she once read Sweet Valley in all it's cheesy glory). From then on, my relationship with books blossomed and waned depending on the amount of free time I have. I remember when I was in 5th or 6th grade, I read about 4-5 paperbacks a week and my mom would constantly complain about my reading habits. She said that if I continue to devour books at such an alarming rate, I would send my family to the desolate lands of poverty in no time. Ha!

4. Writing. I must admit, my relationship with writing is way, way different from that of my relationship with books. There are times when I am absolutely smitten with writing and the giddy feeling I get after finishing a piece, but there also times when I feel like it's a long lost love I'm hesitant to meet again. Given the chance though, I would leave my current profession to pursue a career in writing. 

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5. Patronuses. For all non-Potter fans out there, Patronuses are animal protectors that drive dementors away. These dementors are absolutely horrible creatures that suck hope, peace, happiness and good memories out of people. I have a long list of dementors in my life (financial issues, horrible people, violence, cancer, etc.), so I am very grateful to God that I have not only one, but three Patronuses that give me strength, hope and love all the time. As Frances Sales said, our Patronuses are the magic in our lives!

6. Lazy days. I absolutely adore lazy days at home spent with my family in my parents' bedroom watching movies, exchanging stories, reminiscing memories and having room service (yep, we have meals in our parents' bedroom sometimes!). Although my family is quirky beyond description, time with them is always something I truly treasure. 

7. Theatre. I was never a graceful performer, but I am very appreciative of musicals and plays. When I go to New York, the first thing I'm going to do is to watch a Broadway Production!

8. Cold weather. I was never a fan of the beach because I hate extreme heat. Uncomfortably warm weather makes me ridiculously and unreasonably cranky. I love cloudy days and drizzles because they allow me to curl up comfortably in bed with a good book and a cup of hot choco. I'd like to live a particular scene in the movies - snuggling in front of a fireplace. How romantic! 

9. Spas. Nothing relaxes me more than a day at the spa. Pampering myself with a massage or a body scrub every now and then keeps me sane. 

10. Photography. I cannot paint to save my life, but with one click of a finger, I can capture scenes and moments through photography. When I grow up (not bigger horizontally, but well, older and richer!), I'm gonna buy a good camera and do travel photography. You'll see!

Wow, writing about the things you love sure is fun! I'm tagging everyone!:)

The Tocarre Spa Experience

Last February, I bought a voucher for Tocarre Spa at CashCashPinoy. For 1,650 Php (approximately $38), I got a Valentine's Day couples package for two valid until April 30, 2011. The package consists of a welcome foot ritual, massage and dinner for two.

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Since my schedule is bat-shit crazy most of the time, the supposedly Valentine's Day spa date was moved and moved and moved until.... April! We waited so long to use the voucher and after two months, we finally have!

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Our appointment was at 3:00 PM, but we were there as early as 2:20 PM. The receptionist greeted us with a smile and proceeded to confirm our appointment. She asked us to select our preferred scent for the treatment room and massage oil. We opted for lavender and green tea.

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After confirming our appointment, the receptionist gave us our own locker keys and had someone usher us to the wet area, where the showers, steam bath, sauna and jacuzzi are situated. We were also given complimentary refreshments, bath towels, robes and the works as we waited for our foot therapy to commence. 

The Welcome Foot Ritual was a relaxing way to start the experience and I thoroughly enjoyed having my abused feet massaged and soaked in warm water. I liked my therapist, but I wish she didn't talk to other therapists as she worked.  It was mildly distracting and a bit unprofessional, but since it only lasted for a very short while, it's something I'm willing to forget about.

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When I bought the voucher, I assumed that we will be massaged in a couple's room because it was supposed to be a Valentine's Day promo of some sort, but as it turned out, that wasn't the case.We had to pay an additional Php 500 (a little over $10) to have our room upgraded to a couple's room. The room was well worth my money, though, as I felt instantly relaxed the minute I stepped into it. Add my very attentive masseuse and an invigorating massage to the mix and boy, I was so sold! I'm definitely coming back!

After that rejuvenating session, we were quite reluctant to leave the spa just yet, so we hung out in their cozy lounge for some time before getting dressed and having dinner. 

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Dinner was grilled pork belly with java rice for me and parmesan crusted fish with penne in marinara sauce for the boyfriend. The food was surprisingly good and it came with soup and a glass of iced tea. The boyfriend said he didn't want to eat Filipino food because he felt so sosyal after an afternoon at Tocarre Spa.

Hours after the experience, I am already longing to go back. Don't you just love group buying sites? Good deals, good times!

Tocarre Spa is located at the 4th level of Antel Spa Suites, 7829 Makati Avenue, Makati City.

Singapore Series: Our Singapore Sling in a Nutshell

I’ve only published one post in three months, an all-time low even for someone like me who makes it a point to blog about something at least once a month. I guess that’s a testament to how busy I was during the first part of the year. Now that the long overdue things (like taking the IELTS, updating my CV and having a well-deserved vacation) are all over and done with, I can finally update this blog once again.

So thanks to Cebu Pacific’s 10-10-10 promo, I saw myself flying to the Land of the Merlion last March 11.  We landed on Singapore soil well after midnight and proceeded to Pasir Bas to rest for the night.

Officially landed!

Our first day was spent familiarizing ourselves with the city on foot. They say Singapore is so small that you can see its entirety in a single day, but I beg to disagree. Yes, you can see Singapore in a day if you were merely a spectator sitting on bus taking pictures of the architectural wonders of the city. However, if you really want to explore Singapore, you have to get off the bus, go on foot and have a look around. Since we were not familiar with the MRT and bus routes yet during our first day, we were only able to explore Little India, Bugis Village, Orchard Road and Suntec City.

Fandom!

Watching my brother perform in a Broadway production at school left me feeling quite nostalgic. I wasn't born a star and I have no talent in the performing arts whatsoever, but school wouldn't be school if it didn't force you to dance, sing or recite an awful poem on stage.

I felt proud while hearing my brother sing the way he did. He was easily the best singer among the lot. I swear, I'm not being biased just because he is my brother. He really, really was awesome up there!

As Javert in Les Miserables

As Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera

As President Roosevelt in Annie

I shall upload a video of his performance in YouTube one of these days, when I have reliable and fast internet access. I swear PLDT's myDSL has gone bonkers where I live.

I hope my brother gets a big break. One of my dreams is to watch a Broadway production in New York and I want my brother to be the star when that happens. For now, I'm content watching locally produced shows, which are actually quite a joy to watch. I'm not an artsy fartsy person, but I do love theater. All the elaborate gestures, creative stage designs and awesome singing voices thrill me like no other. If I were as rich as Bill Gates or Lucio Tan, I would probably eat out every day, watch plays and productions every Friday night, travel at least once a month and build myself an extensive library! Oh, joy, joy, joy!