Thank you 2011!☺

Lots of things has happened this 2011. Good, bad, great, worst, fun, weird, crazy and a whole lot more! I don't even know how to categorize the year that has passed. It wasn't as great as I hoped it would be but it also wasn't as bad as it can be. So for that, I thank the Lord above! 


There are tons of things to be thankful for:

• The joys in my life that made me wondering what I've done to deserve those. 
• The sorrows that made me stronger and wiser to carry on with life. In times of adversity, I always reminds myself these phrases: "Maybe God has a bigger plan for me than I have for myself." or "This too shall pass." Those words really help me cope up. 
• My immediate family that love me unconditionally and accept me whole-heartedly, it's not a perfect family, we all have shortcomings and issues we face everyday but they are God-given on purpose. I will not be who I am today without them.
• My extended family--cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents--I know they try so hard to understand me(my tantrums and decisions) and sometimes even if they don't get the hang of my bipolar mood, they still support me all the way. Always.
• My wonderful friends who are always there willing to listen and lend a shoulder when I need one to cry on, that really mean so much to me. We all have two sides of family--father side & mother side. I have three. My father's side, mother's side and my friends' side. They are my chosen family.
• My privileges--my studies, my gadgets, this internet connection, the fact that I'm experiencing some of the comforts of life. 
• My life, by merely waking up everyday, that's already something to be thankful for.

I believe that I'm not lucky, I'm actually so blessed and privileged. I am guilty of being so stubborn and selfish like a brat sometimes, when I tend to forget how blessed and privileged I am... When I tend to want the things I really don't need. I will try so hard not to be totally like that anymore.☺


Maybe everyone love new year because it tend to give us hope for the new adventures and beginnings in our lives! I'm so looking forward what 2012 has in stored for me. I believe that no matter how bad our year had been, it wouldn't hurt to hope for the best for the next! But of course, let's also not forget to prepare for the worst.☺


I don't usually write a new year's resolution because the last time I had, I haven't followed any. So I just have one statement for myself for 2012..

"I will try in every way to be a better version of myself, if not the best."

'Til next year!☺

Love,

A♥

      

Merry Christmas 2011!☺

Happy birthday Jesus Christ!♥

Merry Christmas to you!☺

Give love. Give time. Give hope.


Have optimism. Have trust. Have faith.

The best gift to give and to receive are the ones that money can't buy, the ones that lasts a lifetime, the ones that'll touch our hearts forever. Believe me, that's what matters the most. I know.

I'm sending you some love and a virtual hug!☺

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Life had been bearable through these..

Escapism is really effective to me, from the short break or escape from this roller coaster world--it kind a keeps me going. May it be through reading books(novels), getaways, eating, sleeping and last but not the least, watching movies and tv shows.☺

While thinking of what to post, I realized I have not yet shared my favorite tv shows ever. They had been a part of my life in some ways. I actually laugh and cry with them. A lot of tv series were born but I don't just watch anything.☺

  

This is the first ever tv show I've watched. One Tree Hill is the mother of all the tv shows I  eagerly watch every week. It's practically my first love. :p It's a complete package, it started in a high school setting and now they already have works and families on their own. It tackles about family, love, life, career, friendships, marriages, and a whole lot more that made sense.☺ Season 9 will be a tearjerker for sure, Lucas coming back is a happy though but ending the whole series, it's really saddening. I will always love, as in always and forever, Lucas Scott, Brooke Davis and Julian Baker.☺

Every girl watches Gossip Girl, because I think every girl wants to be a princess and being an elite is the closest thing of becoming a princess in democratic countries like U.S.A and the Philippines. GG is my true love!☺ On the early seasons, it's so fun to watch the characters scheming one another and making things go on their way(because they really can) but as the episodes grow in numbers, you can actually notice that the characters grow up. They do not think of themselves alone anymore. They have their life plans now,☺ I'm a Chair shipper and I'm in love with Charles Bartholomew Bass! :p I also like Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf's fashion sense. Should I just add that I can't be thankful enough that Vanessa and Jenny were not a part of the latest season anymore.☺

I've always dream of having a walk in closet and when I think about it, Sage & Rose's closet were in my mind. That computerized matching up of clothes is brilliant! I liked Privileged because it showcases two young, rich girls wanting to get their ways of life and one goal-oriented poor yet smart girl who guides those two little brats along the way.☺ It's so sad I haven't finished watching this series, and it's not as famous as the other ones I've watched.☺ I love Sage's name but I like Rose's and Megan's character.☺

These four girls is my 2nd 4-girl-friends favorite when it comes to series. When I started watching Pretty Little Liars, they already had 7 episodes for their season 1 and I finish it all before the episode 8 was shown. I liked it! I just couldn't stop watching even though I know who A is.☺ My favorite characters are Aria, Ezra, Hannah and Caleb and I hate Mona and Melissa.☺

I am now presenting my favorite four fabulous girls in the series world! Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes. i have already posted something about them HERE. If OTH is my first love and GG is my true love, SATC is my one great love. I'm serious.☺ I love the fact that there are no scheming here, just plain friendships among them. And they can talk about everything and anything and any time. And even when they already have their babies and husbands(excluding Samantha here), they are still in tacked. I want to have a friendship like that and I also want to have a closet like those! The shoes and bags are to die for! :p And let's not forget the love of their lives, it had been a long dating game before ending up with their loving husbands but it is so worth it! I'm crossing my fingers for a 3rd movie! Please please please.☺

"Maybe our girl-friends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with."

-Charlotte York-Goldenblatt, Sex and the City

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Go local!☺

One time last week, I had dinner with my cousin, Iris and friend, Dianne, some place called Balutin sa Sarap. It was our first time to eat there and all I can say is it's fine. Not that good that you're gonna crave about it but not that bad too. I still managed to finish eating the food.

This is how the food looks like when served.☺ I find it interesting..

..though I'm not thrilled about the fact that when you open it, it doesn't look anything close to appealing.

Not appetizing right? But I will still give this food place another chance, will eat there once again some other time. If it sucks like the first time, I can't do anything about it anymore. I personally know the owner of the place so I'm really just being transparent here. Merely sharing what I've experienced and what exactly my thoughts about the place.☺

This isn't hot enough to cook the egg properly. Sad! I know it's not an expensive food but I personally think that if you want the customers to keep coming back, you have to have a great service and at least good enough food even if it's cheap.☺

"What is food to one man may be fierce poison to others."

-Lucretius

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Love ko 'to!☺

There are days I wanna eat good food, and there are days I just love to eat fast foods. This has been one of my comfort foods for the longest time. And because Mcdonald's just open a branch here in Rodriguez, I'm kind a paying a tribute to it. Really, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for having a branch here. So near and accessible from my home now! I really love it!☺

Cheeseburger meal, fries & drink upgraded. I usually order this one or the double cheeseburger. YUM!☺

Hot fudge and Caramel Sundae Duo. This has been their greatest creation this year so far, atleast for me. :p I make it a point to get a sundae or oreo Mcflurry every after meal from Mcdo, I don't know but it just completes the deal.☺

Yes, I'm biased because when Jollibee opened a branch in Rodriguez I was not this ecstatic. Sorry but I can't help it, I really love Mcdonald's!☺

"I doubt whether the world holds for any one a more soul-stirring surprise than the first adventure with ice cream."

-Heywood Broun

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Wish, want, need -- LIST!☺

Everyone has already posted their Christmas wishlist so I thought of making one too but then I realized--with the things I wanted to have, it's too much to buy or get or wish for all of these things during this Christmas season alone. So this is merely my wishlist, not just this Christmas but until I already have it.☺

DISCLAIMER: All photos are not my property. I just copied all of it from google.☺

I wanted to buy this book for the longest time! I'm actually intrigued how they described every ingredient's flavor profile. I'm planning on buying this as a gift for myself this Christmas. Though receiving this as a gift would be perfect! *wink* It would make me dancing-on-air-happy!☺ *fingers-crossed*

My BaBe, Stormy, had been acting up these past few weeks so I really need a new phone. I don't want any other, I choose only BlackBerry because I don't think I could ever live without BBM or ubersocial! :p I really wanted Dakota but it's too expensive so I'm happily settling on Apollo. Can't wait to explore you, Apollo my love!☺

Not that I'm being greedy, yes my ipod nano 4th gen is still perfectly in shape but I badly want this because it's so chic. LOL! I'm not really into games but it wouldn't hurt to have an itouch so that when I'm stuck in traffic or I'm waiting for someone, I have something else to do and not just listen to music. I'm willing to give up nano's radio service for this 32gb white itouch!☺

The red one is from Aldo and the leopard is from Michael Antonio. I want both! I love shoes! It makes me happy. When I'm sad, I put them on or I look at them and then I feel a little better. There's something about women and shoes, I can never explain.☺

Blowtorch and Kitchen Aid. I need both! Those two are really useful in baking! My target is to get these two early next year! These are listed on top of my priority list as well as getting my diploma early next year after I finish my ojt!☺

I have wishes for myself, for my career, and of course, I also have a wish for my blog. I want to buy my own domain soon but I would only do that as soon as I already have my own camera for blogging. I usually just use my phone's cam so it would be a step up if I get any of these two cameras: Canon's G12 or Sony's NEX-5.☺

I only started collecting this December so I'm accepting lipsticks as a gift. *begging* LOL I I prefer MAC but any brand will do. I'm actually not choosy. I'm in love with red lipsticks but I'm so willing to try other shades.*wink*

I wanted to own one for the longest time but I'm too frugal to buy. Haha! I so wish to have tons of money to buy this in every possible color and lens. :p It's just perfect because it fits any face shape.☺

My dream when it comes to leisure is to travel the world!! This is my forever dream and hopefully, one destination at a time I can make it come true!☺

I can wish tons of material things in life but at the end of the day, when I'm all alone in my bed at night, I just wish one thing.. everyday! Wanna know what's my ultimate wish? This may sound too cliche but I just wish to be happy. Real happy with every aspect of my awesome life.☺

"Believe and it will happen. And in this case, believe and it will be given to me." :p

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Stress Reliever!☺

It's been quite a while now since I've posted something not concerning my food intake. Thus having this post for an ice breaker.☺

I just watched this over a dl-ed copy and the story is too cute! I'm really a sucker of rom-coms! I really can't help it! Chris Evans is so hot I wanna marry him everytime he gets his newspaper in the morning! LOL. Though i totally agree with the idea, "Being in love is being yourself." ☺

I have read the books, I have watched the previous movies, and this movie is some kind of a just-for-the-sake-of-having-a-two-part-film-series-ender. You get what I mean? Anyway, I still watched it on the cinema because the fact that they've just made the saga longer doesn't have anything to do with my love for Edward Anthony Masen Cullen. And fyi, I love Edward Cullen, not Rob Pattinson. I just want to make that clear.☺

Watched this on the cinema too and it's a good movie. I'm gonna watch the next film! Yes, it has a part 2 and I'm sure it's gonna be exciting! I love ancient times, especially their appearances. They're always prim and proper and their hair is always in place and those gowns, oh so lovely! ☺

I love hollywood films but I don't abandon Tagalog movies at all, this movie is too good to be true though! Yet I still love it! It's a rom-com where I really did laugh and felt twitterpated and wished to meet my very own Andrew.☺

I've read that some people didn't like this one, but I do! In fact, I like it more than Valentine's Day. I love it because it showcases different types of love, and then it tackled something about hope and serendipity and compassion. How can you not like a movie like this? I don't know if I'm weird or if I'm just an overly hopeless romantic gal but I really like this movie!☺

  

I LOVE THIS FILM! Maybe because I can very much relate with Queen Latifa's or Leslie Wright's character. This is not a common movie, I actually didn't know this movie I just happened to catch it on HBO when I can't sleep one night last week. It's about career(basketball & physical therapy), friendship, hope, love, and the standard "profile" nowadays.☺

  

I have one word for this movie, tragic. It's so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. This is a good movie, it's a must watch for those hopeless romantics out there or for everyone so that you'll realize that we're not supposed to waste any time, we have to go get our dreams! We have to show the ones we love, we love them, whatever the chances are because life is too short to hold back.☺

"Sometimes life is hard to those who doesn't fit the 'standard'."

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

KoCCo but not Chanel!☺

Last week I stayed and read in Kitchen of Cakes & Coffee during my break. Well, I intentionally planned that stay because I wanted to try a couple of their cakes and drinks. I stayed there 5 days of last week so you'll be expecting 5 cakes and 5 drinks..☺

Chocolate Truffle

This is a good enough cake, for my opinion. The chocolate flavor is promising though I had a little problem with its being a little crumbly than it's supposed to be.☺

Decadent

This is good! Really is! I like it but beware it's not your usual cake when it comes to texture! You'll know what I mean when you get to taste it.☺

Chocolate Praline

Out of all the cakes here, this is the only real downer. It's bland when it comes to flavor but I gotta say the bread of the cake was good, not too crumbly and not too moist either.☺

White Chocolate Sansrival

Just so you know, Sansrival is my most favorite cake ever. There's a local bakeshop near our place that makes good, I mean real good, Sansrival and it's to die for! It's actually my basis when I try different Sansrivals. I gotta say, this one is good and I like it! It's not as good as my basis but it's good enough for me to finish the whole slice.☺

Dulce de Leche

This got to be the best out of the 5 cakes here. I mean it! The texture, the taste, the presentation, I love it!☺

White Mocha

White Caramel

Genmaicha Tea

Maple Cinnamon Coffee

Matcha Tea

All these drinks were good, I love all of it!☺ I'm a coffee & tea person so those drinks worked for me smoothly. And why would I order something I'm not gonna be able to drink in the first place? :p

"There's always room for dessert."

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Buona forchetta!☺

Last time when I was feeling down, I wanted to eat some good food because food can really cheer me up. It has never failed me, mind you!☺ Actually, it can be in the means of cooking and baking or eating, well, I usually do the latter more often. And so I decided to go that day to my well trusted, Cibo. I so love their pastas but I don't wanna be routinary that day so I picked my food choice differently.☺

If you're wondering what the heck is the title of this post, it means a hearty eater and if you don't also know, Cibo means food, both are Italian terms.☺

Crema di Zucca, Pancetta

It's Cibo's version of squash soup. And I love it! Really did!☺ It's not your traditional pumpkin soup yet it's as good! The bacon bits complimented the soup incredibly(well naturally bacon has the power to make everything tastes better!).☺

Ossobuco Gremolata

I fall in love with this one! 3 of my favorites in one meal! It made me dancing on air happy!☺ The braised beef shank is so tender you don't need a knife anymore! And I personally love gremolata, the lemon-parsley combination is just perfection! You just get the right tartness of the lemon and the freshness of the parsley. And whoever doesn't eat rice, is missing a lot on life! The rice in this dish is pilaf. I have a confession to make, don't get me wronged, but I love pilaf more than risotto, there I've said it!☺ Going back to the dish, when you combine them all--BOOM! You literally can't ask for more!☺

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food."

-George Bernard Shaw

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Buddy's Pancit Lucban ☺

I met with my CEU-Dent friends yesterday to have lunch and catch up with our lives. We ate here at Buddy's, a well recommended establishment of my good friend, Nicay, because apparently it's their family's favorite and I'll never know if it's that good unless I try it myself right?☺

I fell in love with their interiors! It's so warm and happy! It can cheer someone's day up! And those lights were great for photos!☺

 

I told you the interiors were pretty good!☺

Pork Barbecue. ☺

Pancit Lucban. ☺

Pork Sisig. ☺

Budin. ☺

Complimentary corn and crab soup.☺

Buddy's is a good catch! It's cheap, delicious and has great-looking branches. We ate at their Timog branch but I heard they have lotsa other branches.☺ The foods were really good that I am so full afterwards and their serving is quite big! I love it! I'm sure as hell I'm coming back!☺

"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside."

-Mark Twain

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥

Sizzling: Yay or Nay?

Last November 30, my older sis and I went to Greenhills shopping center to do some early Christmas shopping and we tried eating here at Sizzling's..

The foods served in Sizzling were pretty fine for it's price. Just appropriate. And you can even find it delish when you're really hungry from all the walking and hoarding around gh.☺

I tried their spareribs meal and it's on the verge of fine and awful. Didn't quite achieved a "happy tummy" I wanted to feel.

Ate tried this and it's amazing! Their beef tapa is so tender I wanna eat it all(though it isn't mine).

I'm quite adventurous when it comes to food so I don't usually pick safe orders and I normally try something that would define the establishment's standing, well at least for me and my verdict with Sizzling is.. naaaay! Sorry, but I'm not in any sense impressed.☺

"Hunger: One of the few cravings that cannot be appeased with another solution."

-Irwin Van Grove

'Til next time!☺

Love,

A♥