~ Quick halu ~

Test post from a new phone app! Gosh, i miss blogging so much!! :(

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Home-based: How to make Squash Soup (with pics!)

Hi friendships!! I promised a weekend post last time but unfortunately, I was too busy doing a lot of daughter duties for the parentals over the weekend - just couldn't squeeze blogging in! Aww! Anyways, I hope I get to post this soon, haha! I keep on falling asleep every time I try to blog!

I did a post a few months back on how to make squash soup at home, but I felt that that post needed a few pictures to whet your appetite! Besides, I got a better camera now, so here's a visual guide to making this simple but nutritious and absolutely divine soup!

On this rainy Saturday afternoon...

I am fixing up this Android device a friend gave to me as a present. I just found lugging around my iPad everyday a little too heavy for my shoulders, and all I can seem to do during the ride home is to watch videos. I would love to blog a bit during traffic, but I find myself too exhausted at the end of the day. Sigh.

Anyways I will do a blog post this weekend, just wait for it! :-)

*test post over and out*

posted from Bloggeroid

Adjustments...

 

Wow. I've been so quiet this past few days - I can't believe I haven't had a single post in almost 2

 

weeks! Well, professional changes are in play... not that I don't like it, but it pays the bills. Hehe.

 

Now my challenge would entail actually making time for personal pursuits - which I couldn't afford

 

when I was at my old job.

 

 

Hopefully this time, I get to have a life finally. But first, I have to up my ante and put my best foot

 

forward. Wish me luck, guys! I'll try to post soon! :D

Nailed It: Opi Nail Lacquer Liquid Sand Collection - Can't Let Go

When I visited my suking Nail to Toe nail spa a few months back and was browsing through their nail polish collection, their super-efficient front desk manager Jenny suggested trying out a color from Opi's Liquid Sand Collection. I looked for the Liquid Sand Collection nail polish swatches, and found that this collection has a rough matte, glittery finish. I was hesitant to try it because I always wanted my nails to have a smooth finish, but I'm glad I decided to try it!

Home-based: Pork Leg with White Beans and Camote Tops/Leaves Stew

This is a dish Mommy J says is with Ilocano origins (she's an Ilocano, by the way), but Ate T cooks this with so much aplomb, kala mo ilokana sya! Ate T says that in Iloilo (her hometown), pork leg is stewed with monggo beans and green papaya - I wonder how that tastes, hehe!

Anyways, only a few people know about this dish, so I'm sharing with you the steps on how to make this sinful yet so delicious dish!

The Tuesday Kind of Love is What We All Long For...

"I don’t want to dream through our lives together, don’t want to sleep in, don’t want to put on my sunglasses and pretend that life’s a vacation. The fantasy is that I want to exist in reality; the fantasy is to be there for someone on a Sunday morning but also on a Tuesday night, when the haze and laze of the weekend has worn thin and seems far away as ever. I want a Tuesday kind of love." (Stephanie Georgopulos, Thought Catalogue)

Was browsing through my email blog feeds when I came across Tara's post last Friday on 'a Tuesday kind of love'... I got so intrigued that I clicked on her link, read and was hooked. Just like that.

A really good piece of writing tugs your heartstrings. Whether it evokes happy or sad memories, a beautiful piece just reels you in. It makes your world stop for a while, with dormant feelings and memories rushing as every word sinks into your consciousness. And I must say - my heart couldn't help smiling in agreement with wanting this kind of love.

Eating Out: Korean Dining at Bulgogi Brothers 2X!

Hi friendships! As promised, here's part dul 둘 (two in korean) of my very good dining experience in Bulgogi Brothers (BB), this time with brothers J and R, and Ate T at its SM Mall of Asia branch last February!

Eating Out: Korean Dining at Bulgogi Brothers

I've been hearing raves about this resto for quite a while, but it was just late last year when Mother J, brother J and I found ourselves in Alabang Town Center to do something (at shempre nakalimutan ko na kung bat ba kami napadpad doon), and since it was dinnertime, we decided to go Korean for a change.

All Over: Moringa O2 Malunggay Herbal Moisturizing Lotion

Hiya folks! Wow, haven't blogged in a while pala! Ewan ko ba, just some writer's block... no inspiration lately (as if meron talaga no. Hihi.) - and this heat is just making me go LAZY! Grabe! Juan Tamad ang peg! My eyes just gets sleepy all the time sa init! But thankfully, the weather's getting better na with the afternoon thunderstorms (which scares the heck out of my dogs), medyo lumalamig na ng slight. :)

Anyways, enough about the weather. I've been meaning to write about this great lotion I'm addicted to right now - Moringa O2 Malunggay Herbal Moisturizing Lotion! *hinga* - haba ng name! I tried this out at Sample Room a few months back... and I remember writing a neutral review about it. But after almost emptying my first bottle, my impressions have changed!

- Eating Out: Snacking at Daisee's Bakeshop! -

It's always been a habit for me and Ate T to snack our pre-dinner stomach grumbles away after our occasional hospital check-ups (di kami mahilig sa hospital. Pramis. :p) Since most of our doctors' schedules fall late afternoon, di na kami nakakapag-miryenda before we leave the house... actually, it's just my excuse to eat at my favorite local bakeshop - Daisee's!

- Eating Out: Do it My Singapore Way!

[from My Singapore Food Street Facebook page]

Treated my friend IDR a day before my birthday at SM Megamall last March... I was curious about My Singapore Food Street being blogged about by foodies, so I invited my friend to check it out with me.

- Pinterest Quotes: Knowledge vs. Wisdom -

Pinterest source

This always cracks me up big-time. Hehe! Just a short post tonight...good night folks!

published with blogsy

- DIY Off the 'Net: Decorating Your Space! -

Was lazing around this very, very, VERY hot sunday afternoon in front of my dresser, reading up on emails and links until I saw this:

[Source; originally from www.abeautifulmess.com]

- Home-Based: Comfort Breakfast :) -

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. It's when I can make my weird concoctions - just mixing food I like to eat, or discovering new combinations on how to make my scrambled eggs more interesting. :) But there are just those blah days where I just wanna sit down, relax and eat a really simple but comforting meal that warms my tummy and reassures me that everything in the world is gonna be ok. Haha! OA no? Ganyan talaga ang effect sa akin ng masarap na pagkain!

- Reveal: The BDJ Box for April 2013! -

Hi friendships! Haven't blogged in a while, daming things clogging my brain. Plus writer's block and katams (laziness) hit me head-on, so wala talaga akong maisulat. But I am back, and I've got loads of stuff to write about, so lemme start with this one. :)

If you remember, I raved about the March edition of the BDJ box... and thus I also bought the April box.

- Eating Out: the Adobo Connection! -

I love adobo. And so do a lot of Pinoys, being the pinakasikat among our dishes. I have a kumare who loves adobo but can't stand the smell of vinegar because it triggers her asthma (nakakaloka diba?!)... but shempre, kung gusto - may paraan! There was this one time she wanted adobo so badly... ang ginawa ko, I used unsweetened pineapple juice in cooking adobo para makakain sha! In fer, masarap! Ganyan talaga ang love natin for adobo!

- Eye Love: Nichido Eye Pencils -

More often than not, I'm just so lazy to put on eyeshadow - maybe because I haven't really practiced my eye shading seriously. I just put them on kapag marami akong oras before my lakad and I can afford to redo my eye makeup. Besides, late bloomer ako pagdating sa eye makeup.

-My First (Hopefully the Last) Trip to the E.R.-

I have always been thankful that I have never had to be brought to the hospital for any sickness. My 2 younger brothers have had hospital confinement during their younger years, but their ate's a toughie. There's no sickness I can't handle. Siguro kasing tigas ng ulo ko ang aking mga warrior cells sa katawan, kaya bihira ako mahawa sa kahit anong sakit. :)

[Alert: may contain too much info. Hehe.]

- Chiaroscuro : light and dark -

*Chiaroscuro (English pronunciation: /kiˌɑːrəˈskjʊəroʊ/; Italian: [kjarosˈkuːro]; Italian for light-dark) in art is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for using contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects such as the human body.[1] Similar effects in the lighting of cinema and photography are also often called chiaroscuro.* (source)

I took these photos of my hands - nope, make that my nails, hehe - late last year, as it was my first time having matte nails and I planned on blogging about it then (but as you guys know, the blogging part was delayed. Hehe.). :) But the pictures turned out to be more artistic than for 'technical' review, so here they are:

[ I love matte nails. But I haven't found the perfect gray shade yet.]

- Dessert Love: I Scream for (Salted Caramel) Ice Cream! -

I am an ice cream gerl - has been, and always will be! Nothing beats the swirl of cold and sweet creaminess on a hot summer day - or to cap off a ginormous full meal! Soshal na fried ice cream, dirty ice cream, yogurt ice cream, gelato - kahit ano nalang basta ice cream! Kaya yung mga display ng gelato shops sa mall ay ang ultimate eye candy ko - I could stare for hours and never make up my mind! Nagiging excuse ko na nga ang pagkain ng ice cream para hindi ako uminom ng milk - I tell people I'm lactose-intolerant. Hehe.

Anyways, like a good food lover, I am always on the lookout for new ice cream flavors... and look what we have here!

[ Nestle Temptations' Flavors of the World - French Salted Caramel! ]

- Deals : Yabu Feast for a Steal! -

Got an email from DealGrocer this morning, advertising a deal for the newly-opened Yabu branch at SM Southmall. Ayos! We've been meaning to go to Yabu Southmall once it opens - and what better way to celebrate its opening through a coupon, right?

[ Deal Grocer email sent to my Gmail account ]

- Project : Fix your Lipsticks! -

I confess... of all the make-up there is in the world of beauty, the one thing I can't stop hoarding are lip products. Yes, I am a lipstick junkie - adik na adik ako sa kahit anong lip product na ilabas. Lipsticks, lip balms, lip glosses, lip scrubs... I buy them all! Kahit di ko nagagamit! #wastage #takawmata

Minsan, when I go to the mall and wala akong money for shopping or I can't find anything to buy, bibili ako ng lip balm - kahit anong brand lang - and I am ok with that. Ganon lang ako kababaw, hehe! :)

As a result, here is my lipstick collection:

- Nailed It: Orly's Mysterious Curse -

I've been veering away from my usual reds/browns nail polishes these past few months, and trying out colors that I don't usually choose. I rarely choose blue nail polishes 'coz I think I'm not fair enough to carry blue polish, but this one I really liked!

[ Orly Nail Laquer in Mysterious Curse - Source ]

- Pinterest's Quotable Quotes: Looking Good Inside-Out -

[Repinned]

What is truly within us can never be hidden; it will always show itself to the people around us. So think happy thoughts, think good deeds and smile like you've got the sun inside of you!

Good morning! :D

 

published with blogsy

- Reveal: Virtual Shopping at Zalora! -

Last month, I discovered na naubusan na pala ako ng facial wash. I wanted to try new facial washes, so I decided to poke around my favorite online shopping sites... then I remembered signing up for Zalora, so i went searching on their site for facial washes. Ansaya! There were new (to me lang naman, hehe) facial washes - on sale! So click, click went my mouse on the products - sale yun eh! :D Tapos, I read that they offered free shipping - for a minimum of Php 1,000!

And you can guess what happened... ang target kong Php 500 lang ay umabot ng isang libo! Hayst. Me and my non-existent EQ. I was thinking nalang that it was my birthday month, so I reasoned out to my konsensha na that was my gift to myself... aside from my March BDJ box. Harhar. As mentioned in a previous post, it's so hard to be really good at techie stuff and shopping in the midst of searching for work, so fail ako sa pagtitipid. *long sigh*

I submitted my order March 15 by COD (cash on delivery) payment scheme, coz the site wasn't accepting my BPI E-credit Mastercard (panic attack!) - and by March 17, my very first Zalora box was at my doorstep! #happiness

- Pinterest's Quotable Quotes: Kindness as Weakness -

I got this from pinterest and pinned it to one of my boards... and I like how it suits me perfectly, especially at this point in my life.

[Repinned from pinstamatic.com]

Boom.

 

published with blogsy

- Eating Out: The Yabu Fever! -

Last December, after reading through so many food blogs, I requested (more like commanded, harhar) JU, RU and Ate T if we could eat at Yabu - The House of Katsu at SM Mall of Asia kasi everybody was talking about it.

I told them that we can have an early dinner before going to the condo. We got there around 6 pm, quite early for dinnertime... and apparently, lahat ng tao ganon din ang iniisip. Sheesh. Hehe. There was already a queue - a long one at that - and the restaurant was full of people! Nakakaloka! I think at that time, Yabu still had a few branches that's why there was so much hype about it.

- Flora: Little Colored Pops of Happiness called Flowers -

Taking pictures of flowers has been a hobby for years now, and I've amassed quite a number of flower shots. Honestly, I didn't know where to share these pictures... thank goodness for Instagram. And those bloody brilliant photo-editing apps which made my life so much easier. Bow. Haha!

Here are some pretty inspiring pops of color that can brighten any place, any mood, any day. :)

- All Over: The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit Soap

I am particularly drawn to certain fruity scents - specifically pomegranate, grapefruit and peaches. I'm so addicted to these scents! There's this grapefruit-scented oilies sheet- Clean & Clear's Oil Blotting Sheets - that I keep on buying and using because it's so invigorating to have the scent on my face, kahit di naman mashdo oily face ko. Hehe. I'm currently using Body Shop's Pomegranate Hydrating Body Spray and Yves Rocher's Peach Shower Gel - addict diba? ;)

- Eating Out: Luk Foo Cantonese Restaurant -

Early part of March, after coming from the wake of a relative, we decided to pass by my favorite Luk Foo branch at Puregold Qi Central along E. Rodriquez St. in Quezon City. I don't know why, but we always eat somewhere after a wake to ward off "spirits" that might've clung to us while visiting the dead. #superstitiousmuch ;)

- In a Nutshell... -

 

Simple, fuss-free explanation. Don't you think so?

[Shared from Jin's blog... thanks so much Jin!]

 

published with blogsy

- Reveal: My Very First Belle De Jour (BDJ) Box! -

Late last year, I got interested with the sudden hype on samples and sample boxes... I read blog after blog on how beauty samples were made available to the public for a fraction of a price! For someone like me who's hunting for a job and a techie kikay girl with a penchant for online shopping (very bad combination, I kid you not), this piece of news was just too good to resist! Imagine... you get almost full-sized products and get to try them first if they suit you before you get the real full-price product! Saya, diba? Even the most expensive products have very good sample-sized products! And what's exciting is, you really don't know what products these boxes will be featuring! Nakaka-adik mag-online shopping! #patayin-ang-wifi!!

I've already purchased sample products from the Sample Room (sampleroom.ph) and bought the January box from Glamourbox (glamourbox.ph; Php 595). I wasn't blogging back then, but I have kept shots of samples I bought, so I can prolly make reviews about it pag sinipag ako. Hehe.

I wasn't too happy with the Glamourbox items I got, so I scouted for another box until I saw the Belle De Jour's (BDJ) February box featuring Shiseido products! OMG! I hurriedly made an online profile on the BDJ website (bdjbox.com) then paid online for the February box... pero super fail! Di ako umabot, huhu! But I did make it to the March box (Php 480)... and methinks its a good box!

["Because you're worth it! #alamna!]

- Experience this: 4th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition 2013 -

[From the Philippines' exhibition (23 March) - Amazing!]

I am a sucker for fireworks. Ever since I was a kid, nothing would keep me amazed/dumbfounded/quiet except for these amazing displays of light that fly across the sky and ear-shattering booms that resound through the night. Fireworks during New Year's Eve give me goosebumps, as these beautiful lights inspire hope for a better life in the coming year.

So on a whim, my bros, dad and I decide to watch the first night last 16 February of the 4th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition held along the Seaside by the Bay area of SM's Mall of Asia. The entire Seaside Boulevard (where all the restaurants are situated, at the back of SM MOA) was closed for the event -- so just imagine the TRAFFIC. #stuckforever

- Eating Out: Ramen Fix at Kokoru Ramenya -

I have a brother RU who's in med school and lives in a condo during weekdays. On Sundays, we usually troop over to his place to get his clothes for washing, clean, bring him his cooked ulam for the whole week, and join him for dinner. As we (me, my other brother JU and our super ate T) all love to eat, we sometimes deviate from our usual routine of eating home-cooked dinners to discovering new lafang places around town. And so, after reading reviews about this hidden restaurant, off we went to Kokoro Ramenya.

- Home-based: Creamy Pumpkin/Squash Soup -

I love ordering soups for starters. That warm, delicious soup sliding down my throat preps up my tummy for an equally great meal! But admittedly, I reluctantly skip this fave of mine to cut down on my dining costs in restos. Hay.

Well, who says we can't have fine dining at home? Am sharing with you one secret recipe that's simple, delicious, nutritious, tastes expensive - and something I can actually cook. Hahahah!

Arggh. Now I'm craving for one but I'm just too lazy today. Hehe.
Nakakatakam no?! Ready? Lez gowh!

- Fauna: Meet Justin :) -

     Aside from writing, one of my greatest passions is taking photographs. Yeah, I've got an Instagram account as well (follow me? Hehe.), but it's just different with blogging. It's just me though. Also, I don't want to maintain different social accounts (I've deactivated my Facebook. Really.) and I'm too lazy to set-up a Tumblr account, so I'll be featuring once in a while my photos here.

    Guys, I want you to meet my biggest baby boy, Justin. He's a almost-7 yr old mixed breed (we're guessing German Shepherd, Siberian Husky and St. Bernard). Don't let his looks and very big body deceive you -- he's just a big, big baby in disguise. I love him to bits.

- Nailed It: Wet 'n Wild's Megalast Nail Color -

I love going to a nail spa for my 'me-time'. Aside from the free internet and relaxing spa music, nothing beats the feeling of having someone pamper your hands and feet - and take out entirely lahat ng dry skin ko sa toenails! Kung ako lang, di ko abot ang toenails ko - at sasakit lang ng bongga ang likod ko! And malamang sugat-sugat ang sides ng kuko ko kakasnip ko ala-Edward Scissorhands with the nipper! (fine, old school nga ako. Hehe.)

Sometimes, I do get tired of salon nail polish colors... so I set out to find colors I really like, then ask my suking ateng manicurista to apply it after my usual cleaning. I went through a gray nail color phase late last year and amassed different shades of gray nail polish... but I couldn't resist picking up this pretty color from Wet 'n Wild's Megalast line aptly called Haze of Love.

- For my Crowning Glory: Yves Rocher Raspberry Rinsing Vinegar -

During the 3-day sale at SM Southmall in Las Pinas, while walking around and trying so very hard not to even window-shop, ewan ko ba naman at nahila ako sa Yves Rocher store. I've always been a fan of their products - from their bath gels down to their soaps. Super like ko ang kanilang peach shower gel... it's so hard to find a peach shower gel na amoy peach talaga. And Yves Rocher's version just hit the spot!

Since i was really on a budget and just wanted to satisfy my visual cravings for kikay stuff, I decided na umikot lang talaga around their shop and look at their sale items. Lo and behold, i saw something that Kira of Elegantly Wasted once featured - the Raspberry Rinsing Vinegar.

 

- Project: Lightbox -

     I wasn't really feeling happy yesterday... I was so disheartened at somebody's insensitiveness. And what made it worse was that this person was somebody I never thought could do something hurtful to me. So, in my attempt to stay away from social networks, I finally sat down and got around to doing the project I've been targeting for weeks - a DIY lightbox!

     I love taking pictures of everything. May it be food, make-up, trinkets, landscapes, dogs - I'd click and click till I get the perfect shot! Having the perfect shot meant good composition and most importantly, getting the best light that would be right for whatever theme you want to achieve with your shot!

- Chika + Food = Great Saturday! -

    I met up with Cecille, an ex-officemate/barkada, last Saturday to catch up with the latest happenings sa office - particularly office chismis, hehe! Buti nalang the afternoon weather was great for having chikka, and i miss going out narin. We spent 3 hours in Starbucks along the back part of Southmall (love ko talagang ang relaxing ambiance ng al fresco part ng Food Street!) while her husband and kid played at the per-hour PS3 rental near the Food Court at the 2nd floor.

     Eventually, nagutom din kami dahil we only had coffee and hangin sa tyan (sa kakakwento)... So after accompanying her in buying the stuff she needs, we all went to French Baker to have dinner coz they miss eating daw there.

- 1st post :D -

Hi there! I've created this blog to share my new discoveries under the sun - may it be food, beauty, travel, or just about anything that catches my fancy - which hopefully, can help you decide on stuff! Happy reading!

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