Saturday, 28 May 2011
I am not a fan of flower bouquets ever since. I feel that flower bouquets are a waste of money since I can't really eat them like chocolates or cakes and I can't hug them like stuffed toys.
Bouquet of Gerbera
Bouquet of Stargazer Lilies
Stargazer Lilies! My favorite!
Dried up and boxed up lilies :p
A dozen red roses
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Christmas is the most exciting Holiday for me. As soon as the year hits on the "ber" months, I really get excited. My heart leaps with joy whenever I hear Christmas songs and see Christmas lights and decors.
For Christmas 2010, I promised my little girl that I would set up a Christmas Tree for her since I was not able to do so the previous year. Early November, we started hunting for the perfect tree. I wanted it to be around 6 ft. tall but I wanted it to be a little compact since there is not much space around the house. Mid-November, we already found our tree! We got it from Metro Market Market. It was just what I was hoping to have.
We decorated the tree with small bulbed lights, silver ribbons and red balls - nothing too grand. Whenever we turn on the lights at night, Cherienne would get excited to the point that she would try hard to steal a ball or grab a light bulb. After several days of educating her of the danger, she gave up and just appreciated the sight with her little cute eyes.
Closer look - red ball with gold design
with the silver ribbon
If there will be people who will never ever leave your side no matter what you have done, whatever situation you are in, whatever circumstances you are facing, whatever mistakes you have made, through richness or hardships, through prettiness or ugliness, etc etc, they will be your family.
I am proud to say that I have the best family in the world! They may not be perfect but they have been there for me in every single battle that I've had since I was a little child. My mama, papa, my siblings - Crissy, Darryl, Dominique, Camille and Desmond - have been and continue to be very loving and supportive. We've been through all sorts of mishaps but at the end of each one, family bonds prevail.
Another family that welcomed me most warmly just when I needed it is my husband's family. They are a bunch of people with good heart. They never hesitated to treat me as their own. It will not be smooth sailing all through out I know as we settle our differences but it feels good to know that they are there for me and for my little girl Cherienne.
God has blessed me with so much. I can never stop thanking God for the greatest gifts he has bestowed upon me - Raymond and Cherienne. I've learned a whole lot from the 2 and a half years of everyday life with my hubby and I'm excited to learn more! I cannot live my life without him. Cherienne is the joy of my life. She has taught me to be strong and to keep on fighting. But with this, she also taught me how to slow down and appreciate life as it is. it's always amazing and refreshing to see life through the eyes of a child.
With them by my side, I know I can do anything and everything! 
12 Days of Christmas : First Time to Try
Posted by clapalisoc | | Category:
ben and jerry's,
btic,
dippin' dots,
froyo,
karamel sutra,
strawberry ice cream,
yo swirls
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0
comments
I know it's past Christmas but I haven't finished my blog series yet. I was so caught up with the holiday rush, parties and events last week that's why I did not really have the time to sit down and write. So, here you go! Last three blogs to go for my "12 Days of Christmas" series.
Ice Cream can cheer me up at anytime that I feel really down. I can finish a pint on my own in less than an hour. While joining the Christmas shopping rush last week, we passed by aDippin' Dots stand in Metro Market! Market!. It was one of the not so crowded stands in the mall during that time since people were huddling over restaurants, fast food chains and retail stores. I haven't really tried this "Ice Cream of the Future", as their tag line states, so I asked my hubby if we can just stop by and finally give it a try. I got myself a regular cup of Strawberry Ice Cream. The taste was "okay" but I think I should try some other flavors next time to appreciate it more. The texture was thumbs up! It was really smooth and creamy. It's worth the try and will go back some other time to check out their other options.
Whenever we go to a grocery store, I would always check out the ice cream corner to see if there is anything that I would like to have at the moment. There was this one day this December when we were at Shopwise Santana Grove in Sucat when I saw an unfamiliar ice cream tub in their freezer - Ben and Jerry's. Never heard about it. I showed it to Raymond and incidentally, he knew the product. On another occasion, we dropped by Rustan's Magallenes to grab a tub of ice cream and I was surprised to see Ben and Jerry's being sold there too! I was told by an officemate that he has been hunting for the same ice cream brand but couldn't find any in Rustan's Grocery Stores. Well, I guess since Shopwise is also owned by Rustan's it's but logical to find Ben and Jerry's there as well.
Here is a pint of Karmel Sutra. The taste is superb, texture is very good, it's creaminess is incomparable and the price is a little too much compared to a pint of a local ice cream brand. The milk that the manufacturers actually use is organic. Go and give it a try too! 
Yogurt is one cold selection that became very popular in 2010. Before, the only ice cream made of yogurt that I know is BTIC - Better Than Ice Cream. They have been in the market for ages. They use yogurt as a base instead of the usual skimmed milk. Even before yogurt stores came sprouting like mushrooms, we have this one favorite yogurt stand that we always go to - FroYo inside Hobbes and Landes in Bonifacio High Street. The place is inviting since we (Raymond, me and Cherienne) can just order a big cup of plain frozen yogurt with 3 different toppings and sit there as long as we want as we watch Cherienne enjoy the toys that they allow kids to play with for free. Then BTIC opened up their own yogurt store that also serves frozen yogurt at it's finest with two varieties - original and vanilla flavored. They also offer an assortment of toppings that you could choose from. The store is called "Yo Swirls by BTIC" and they have a good one in McKinley Hills. Here is my favorite combo - Original Frozen Yogurt with Mint Brownies as topping.
12 Days of Christmas : More More Books!
Posted by clapalisoc | | Category:
books,
laura esquivel,
nicholas sparks,
paulo coelho,
the guardian,
the valkyries
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0
comments
Books are my friends. I love them and can't live without them. They have been in my wishlist for every single exchange gift that i have had. Here are the books that I've got this jolly season.
Like Water for Chocolate
(Laura Esquivel)
The novel follows the story of a young girl named Tita who longs her entire life to marry her lover, Pedro, but can never have him because of her mother's upholding of the family tradition of the youngest daughter not marrying but taking care of her mother until the day she dies. Tita is only able to express herself when she cooks.
Esquivel employs magical realism to combine the supernatural with the ordinary.
The book is divided into twelve sections named after the months of the year. Each section begins with a Mexican recipe. The chapters outline the preparation of the dish and ties it to an event in the protagonist's life. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_Water_for_Chocolate)
The Guardian
(Nicholas Sparks)
Julie Barenson’s young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died – a puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now, four years later, twenty-nine year-old Julie is far too young to have given up on love. She may be ready to risk caring for someone again. But who? Should it be Richard Franklin, the sophisticated, handsome engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband’s best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she’s had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire . . . The Guardian contains all the qualities readers expect from Nicholas Sparks. But here, he adds a new electrifying intensity – and page after page of riveting suspense. (http://www.nicholassparks.com/LearnMore.asp?BookID=7)
The Valkyries
(Paulo Coelho)
This is a modern-day adventure story featuring Paulo's supernatural encounter with angels -- who appear as warrior women and travel through the Mojave desert on their motorbikes. Haunted by a devastating curse, Paulo is instructed by his mysterious spiritual master to embark upon a journey -- to find and speak to his guardian angel in an attempt to confront and overcome his dark past. The Valkyries is a compelling account of this forty day quest into the searing heat of the Mojave Desert, where Paulo and his wife, Chris, encounter the Valkyries -- warrior women who travel the desert on motorcycles, spreading the word of angels. This exotic spiritual odyssey is a rare combination of truth, myth, imagination and inspiration. Ultimately it is a story about being able to forgive our past and believe in our future. (
The Winner Stands Alone
(Paulo Coelho)
The Winner Stands Alone takes place at the Cannes Film Festival among the world of film and fashion. Igor, a misguided yet very successful businessman, is pursuing his ex-wife Ewa in the hope of rekindling their romance. Igor believes that he must "destroy whole worlds" to win back her affection and he is willing to do anything for her. The book also features the tales of of different characters weaved in together, who all serve a function amidst the film festival: producers, actors, designers and supermodels. This story shows us the dark side of what can become if everyone would give in to temptation and seek out hedonism at all costs. (
12 Days of Christmas : Bread Talk Shopping
Posted by clapalisoc | | Category:
bread talk,
gateway mall,
glorietta 4,
tree wise man
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When I was still in college, a new store opened up in Rob Place Manila that sells nothing but bread and some cakes - Bread Talk. The smell of newly baked bread goodies was so enticing that I can't help but go inside and check out what they have. They have bread choices that I have never seen before with price tags that were a little expensive for a college girl whose main source of money were her parents.
Each day I would drop by Bread Talk and try one or two of their selection and my goal is to try everything they have. When I started working in Eastwood, I would pass by Bread Talk in Gateway Mall each day to get to the mall's taxi lane. I would stop by the store each time and would buy several pieces for myself and for Raymond. Since then, Bread Talk has been my favorite bread store and none of it's counter parts, like Simply Bread, can match their products.
Sometime this year, I realized that I haven't visited a Bread Talk store for the longest time. One major reason for this is that there is no Bread Talk store that is very near our house our my work place. Because of this, a very brilliant idea came into my mind - to buy all the bread that I want in Bread Talk at one go! I instantly told my husband about it and good thing that he never hesitated to say yes!
So, morning of December 24,2010, we went to Glorietta 4 to go bread shopping at Bread Talk. I grabbed all the bread that I wanted though it was sad to learn that some of my favorite ones where not available. But nevertheless, I had a really good time! I ended up with several trays of bread, one of which had nothing but floss!
On this tray : Chicken Parmesan (the round one), Tree Wise Man (the brown one with powdered sugar on top), Winter Wonderland (the one behind Tree Wise Man), Choco smart Aleck (the long one), Standard Sausage Bun (the one with ridges), Beefy Bun (the one that looks like a small loaf), Cheese Floss (the one with pork floss on top :p) and Moshi Mushroom (the big one at the back)
12 Days of Christmas : Cherienne's first Starbucks
Posted by clapalisoc | | Category:
bcg,
cherienne,
expresso,
frappe,
pcc,
starbucks drive thru
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comments
Coffee is an addiction that I can never remove before I got pregnant. Since I was in college, I would sip several mugs of coffee to keep me awake so I can finish my home works, reports, researches and case studies. Coffee has also been my best friend during sleepless review nights for upcoming departmental and final exams. Whenever I loose hope of keeping myself awake while reviewing in our small flat, I would convince my roommates to go out of the building and review someplace else. During the wee hours of the night, we can only run to the nearest Starbucks since it has become a haven for students who desperately need some escape from the temptation of their beds while tiring their brains out. So, since then, Starbucks has been my constant review haven with Caramel Frappe (with extra caramel syrup) as my ever loyal buddy. 
After our Christmas Party yesterday at PCC BCG, Raymond and Cherienne fetched me. It was around 3am and the little girl was still wide awake. They didn't want to go home yet so they treated me out to Starbucks. We went to Starbucks Fort where they have this drive thru. That was actually the first time that Raymond and I went to Starbucks with Cherienne. It was also the first ever Starbucks of my little girl!
I ordered a Venti Signature Iced Choco for Cherienne and me. Raymond ordered a tall Espresso Frappe, no whip with mint syrup and a banana loaf. We went up the high stair case of the store and settled on the second floor space since the ground level was full. Cherienne liked our drink so much that she never wanted to stop sipping.
I never really liked taking pictures because I always want to be part of pictures. I don't really care about the angles in which the pictures were taken or the art there is. I only want the moments to be captured so I can keep them somewhere and have something to remind me of those great events in my life. Until I met my husband - Raymond. He is keen to angles and focus when taking pictures. He doesn't want to just click away but instead, he wants to capture the moment in a special way. As soon as we started dating, we realized that we both love to eat and try different types of cuisine. We took pictures of each new food we tried by using a cellphone or a digital camera. Problem is, he was never contented with the quality of the shots he made. As each day went by, he became more and more interested in getting a DSLR. Until a few months ago, I decided to get him one as soon as I receive my 13th month pay for the year. I told him that he would need to check on the latest DSLRs and do some research so when I'm equipped to buy him one, he would be ready. So, he researched all that he can research and decided on what DSLR to get - considering the quality and the price.
Last Saturday, December 11,2010, we went hunting for the DSLR that he has been dreaming of. We checked out the different options that the camera stores offered and in less than an hour, my 13th month flew away. I got him a Nikon D3100.
Nikon D3100 is a an entry level DSLR that is light weight and compact. It has a 14.2 mega pixel DX format CMOS image sensor, full 1080p HD cinematic video and comes with an 18-55mm VR lens.
First photo taken after buying the camera. Taken inside our van minutes after leaving the camera store.
Cherienne posing for daddy. Too much chocolate for that day. Evidence is all around her mouth :)
Home after the tiring mall day but they didn't want to go to bed yet. Cherienne enjoyed projecting in front of the camera. Woooohooo! Not so camera shy :p
And the day after...
12 Days of Christmas : Haagen Dazs Chocolate Fondue
Posted by clapalisoc | | Category:
chocolate,
chocolate fondue,
fondue,
haagen dazs,
moa,
rob place
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0
comments
I am a self proclaimed chocolate lover. I really get excited over chocolate fondues, big bars of milk chocolates, chocolate cakes and all other chocolate goodies! Sometime last year, while I was a non-working pregnant bum, I came across this blog from a teenage Malaysian girl about her experience of Haagen Dazs Chocolate Fondue. Her blog actually enticed me to try it myself. I looked for other references that would point me to a local Haagen Dazs store that offers the Chocolate Fondue but was not able to find one. I actually gave up on the possibility of experiencing it but every time I saw a Chocolate Fondue, I can't help but think of what Haagen Dazs has.
Early last month, we went to Mall of Asia to meet up with some of my college buddies. While strolling through the alleys of the big mall, we actually passed by a Haagen Dazs store. It was as if my heart jumped out of my chest in excitement! I went inside the store and checked their menu and was so happy to see that they do offer the Chocolate Fondue! Since we were so full from the big lunch that we just had, I made my hubby promise to take me back to MOA before Christmas to try their fondue.
Early last month, we went to Mall of Asia to meet up with some of my college buddies. While strolling through the alleys of the big mall, we actually passed by a Haagen Dazs store. It was as if my heart jumped out of my chest in excitement! I went inside the store and checked their menu and was so happy to see that they do offer the Chocolate Fondue! Since we were so full from the big lunch that we just had, I made my hubby promise to take me back to MOA before Christmas to try their fondue.Last Saturday, December 11,2010, we went to Rob Place Manila to get some stuff. As we entered the mall through the stairs from the basement parking to the Pedro Gil part of Midtown, I saw Haagen Dazs in the picture. I was so glad and looked at my husband right away. He had this "I know what you're thinking" kind of look and said that we can have desert there. So, after eating our Bacon Mushroom Melt burgers and Chili Con Carne rice meals from Wendy's, we went straight to Haagen Dazs and ordered their Chocolate Fondue.
The set has 16 scoops of Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, fresh apples, bananas and strawberries, bite size cake pieces, choco chip cookies, wafer sticks, chopped almond nuts and the rich Belgian chocolate dip. Hubby took several pictures before we started indulging. I must say, it's a knock out desert that everyone must try!
t my hubby bought a new cellphone was last 2007. He bought a Samsung SGH E890 - small. light weight touch screen phone with stylus and 3.2 mega pix camera. He dared to be different when the era dictates Nokia N Series and all those other bulky phones. He opted for a touch screen even if most would say that touch screen phones are hard to use and are in no way user friendly. He always wanted to be different and doesn't really care about what others would say as long as he's happy and contented. He would never give up on this cellphone and was determined to keep and use it as long as he can. Until this one hot December night, his SGH E890 gave up on him. It was not really easy for him to accept that he has to let go and move on. After minutes of convincing him to retreat and get a new phone, he agreed. So, we went online and searched for a phone. He didn't want just the ordinary full touch screen or a qwerty. He wants something not so usual. After about 2 hours, he found what he wanted! Its a full touch cellphone with qwerty keypad! Best of both worlds!
So, last Tuesday, December 07, 2010, I got him what he wanted. A Samsung B310 - Corby Pro. I couldn't be happier than to see him all smiles and excited to check out the features of his new phone.
I love you Raymond! You are God's greatest gift to me
Our little girl, Cherienne, is growing fast. She loves to learn new things, try new stuff and put anything that she can get a hold of into her mouth. She has learned a lot of new words simply by listening and imitating the words that she hears from Disney TV shows and from her educational toys. She also loves to sing and dance! Play Justin Beiber's song "Baby" and you can expect a total performance from her!
Weeks ago, Raymond and I have mentally listed things that we would love to buy for Cherienne. The list includes flash cards so she can get herself familiar to the letters of the alphabet, to numbers and to pictures of some animals and common things around her. We also thought of buying her posters for alphabet and numbers, educational and entertaining DVDs, more Leap Frog stuff, clothes for the holiday season, shoes and accessories and may more. In addition to this list, we also wanted to buy her a new and bigger Flat Screen TV where she can most certainly enjoy watching Michael Buble's concerts, Pocoyo and his friends, Mickey Mouse and the gang and many many more.
So, just this Monday after Raymond and Cherienne dropped me off the office, they went on a date and ended up in G5. There they passed by Abenson's and saw the TV that we have been eyeing to buy. Stocks have been limited due to the rush of the season so without second thoughts, they went ahead and bought it.
LG LD 460 37 inches (it came with a home entertainment package that has a DVD player, Subwoofer and 4 speakers; it also came with a free Samsung Cellphone xp)
12 Days of Christmas : Candy Cane Chill Blizzard
Posted by clapalisoc | | Category:
blizzard,
candy cane chill,
dq,
mega mall,
peppermint chip,
yuletide
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0
comments
Last night while we were in Mega Mall, I craved for some ice cream. And just as I wished for it, we passed by DQ and my eyes were suddenly drawn to the poster of Candy Cane Chill Blizzard! Without any second thoughts, I went right straight to the counter and ordered my 1st serving of Candy Cane Chill Blizzard for the year! The taste was nostalgic and simply perfect for the Yuletide Season. Cherienne and Raymond enjoyed it too!
The Corporate World tends to be stressful especially when things are just so crazy with rules not being followed and demotivation is everywhere. You can rant about everything but you certainly know that this will not change anything. You try to take a step forward but you are blocked by those who think they have the solution and will do everything to get what they want. It is tiring and draining. Work load is no problem but when the environment where you perform your tasks is all crap, stress will creep into you whether you like it or not.
Recently, I've been feeling all stressed out. First from the change in my schedule - from day shift to night shift - which I don't have a control of due to the nature of my work. Second is from the change in role - from a QAS to a QA Supervisor - which is really challenging and quite confusing due to the number of bosses that I need to deal with. Third is from the work environment I am in - just full of crap.
For the longest time in my life, I am breaking out with stubborn pimples all over my face. It's frustrating and sad. Good thing God gave me a very loving husband who cares so much on how I feel about everything and anything at all. He treated me to several sessions of Diamond Peel at Clarity Aesthetic Center in Market Market. I had my first session yesterday morning, Dec.02, 2010. The procedure lasted about 30-40 minutes, including the facial cleansing. After the session, my face felt so smooth though some pimples and marks were still there. According to the doctor, a continuous treatment is needed to achieve the desired result. So, I promise to distance myself, as much as possible, from all the negative vibes and just stay focused on what I have to do. And of course, I promise not to miss any of my Diamond Peel sessions!
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