Archive for 2014

Page 365 of 365

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December 31, 2014. Page 365 of 365. The last page of the book of 2014. :)

2014 is about to end. Some people may have been lucky this year, yet some are not. However, what matters most are the learning that the ending year has imparted to each one of us. Personally, 2014 has been a roller coaster ride for me but I was able to withstand all the obstacles and be triumphant with all my success.

2014 taught me to:

LAUGH. That whatever comes, be positive with it and just laugh. :)

FORGIVE. I didn't pair it with its common partner, which is to FORGET, since this thing somehow much harder to do. Why forgive? It is to give you that peace of mind as we all welcome the new year.

TAKE CHANCES. I learned that it is okay to take risks. I need to be strong so that people will see it as my strength.

SMILE. That is the best make-up a girl can wear. I learned that smiling will brighten my day. And who knows? Someone may be falling in love with it. :)

CHANGE. It is considered to be the only permanent thing in the world. I learned to change FOR THE BETTER. :) Some changes may be hard, but we have to accept that changes will make me, US, the best person that we could ever be.

CRY. It's okay to cry. :) Cry if you're sad, cry if you're genuinely happy.

IT'S OKAY TO GET HURT. That's life, I guess. It's inevitable. There will be people that will come to our lives to hurt us. And if they do, accept it. What I truly learned about this is that you have to be strong enough so that others won't be able to underestimate you.

LOVE. We have so much to give, only we have to be generous and give it to people who really deserves it. :) Love until you can. Love as if it will be the last.

And lastly....

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. Enjoy the things that are around you. Love the people that surrounds you. Value life, as God has given you that gift so that you can use it for a purpose. :)


Year 2015... I am ready for you. :) Bring it on!! ❤❤🎉🎉

Doing the New Year's Celebration the FILIPINO WAY

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2014 is about to end, and obviously most people are busy preparing all the things for the celebration. For Filipinos, New Year is a big event, that's why many traditions are observed during this time to welcome the upcoming year with prosperity. To give you an idea, here are the top 10 Filipino traditions and superstitions, as influenced by the Chinese traditions, that will give you luck in 2015.

1.     Make as much noise to drive away bad spirits and bad luck.

Photo via wutc.org

Blowing horns, lighting up fireworks, and a lot of more are done to scare evil spirits. These loud noises will somehow protect you from bad luck as you welcome the new year.

2.     Open all windows and doors for good fortune.

It is believed that opened doors and windows will invite all the good vibes to enter your houses and will make all the bad luck to leave yours.


Unlifood, All the Way!

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There's nothing more precious than eating in a restaurant that serves unlimited rice. 😜 And one place to enjoy that luxury is at Giligan's Restaurant.

We celebrated my brother's birthday yesterday, December 14, by treating him with foods. 😃

We went to Giligan's Restaurant located at SM City Sta. Rosa. We just thought that eating in such places will satisfy all our cravings.

I'm Back to Singing! :D

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oh well, yeah. It took me four months before I have updated my SoundCloud account, again. :P

Since a part of me is a fan of Taylor Swift, I decided to do a cover of one of her songs, which is entitled Blank Space. Well, I just hope that you enjoy listening to it! :)




Follow me on SoundCloud! :)

soundcloud.com/mari-de-jesus

New Christmas Colors for 2014

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In less than a month, we will be celebrating again the merriest occasion of the year --- CHRISTMAS.

Have you ever thought of your theme color for this year's yuletide season? If you are still undecided, here are great suggestions that can be very helpful in creating your Christmas theme. No more traditional Red-and-Green theme, and be different with this festive holiday color schemes.

  • Technicolor-Themed Christmas

Experiment using different color palettes as your theme for Holidays 2014. Dazzle up your home decors by making your own mini Christmas tree using multicolored balls glued together to form a tree-shape.

Photo via turbosquid.com


Photo via trustme.pavelvais.cz
Photo via minimalisti.com

  • Go Green and Blue.
Mix your greens with blues, and create a  relaxing Christmas atmosphere.

Photo via mosta2bal.com

Photo via etsy.com

  • Dazzling Silver and Gold.
Achieve a royalty look by pairing Gold and Silver for your home decors. This will give an antique and sophisticated impression. You can add textures by creating layers among other decorations like wreaths to create a visual impact.

Photo via housedit.net

Weekend Escapade: LA LUZ BEACH RESORT

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Being known for its beaches and resorts, Batangas is one of the top destinations of tourists and beach goers, well including us. :P

October 18, 2014. Definitely a date to remember as we head on to Laiya, the heart of Batangas beaches, to have our company outing. This was our first choice, however we also consider Baler and Vigan to be our destination. But since we need to get back to Laguna on the same day, we decided to stay with our first choice. :) We have considered different beach resorts in Laiya, and finally we chose La Luz Beach Resort.

It almost took us roughly three hours to get to La Luz Beach, but it's worth it as the scenery is really breath-taking. At the reception area, we were served with welcome drinks, I guess that is buko pandan. :D



Writing 101

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Being a writer is a serious thing. Somehow, people will rely on what your article is talking about. it becomes their reference. Being that way, you should be writing your contents with credibility and of course, originality.

Writing for Essays.ph taught me that you can't just write anything by merely copying from other sources. I actually admit that when I was still studying, I can't help but to do the "Copy-Paste" thing for my write-ups. Well, that's a big NO-NO.

When I write for EPH, and when my articles get accepted, the editors will give some comments about the mistakes they saw in the article. I want to share some of these comments.



Multiple Intelligence Test

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Find out what type of Intelligence do you have. :)

This is a 10-question quiz to discover which intelligence is your strength.

Check out this link to try. :)

Multiple Intelligence Test 

 Good luck! :)

10 Must-Try Life Hacks

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Life hacks have been very popular today. They may seem funny and weird, but they definitely make our everyday lives easier.

I've been researching for the most useful life hacks, and I list ten of them that for me is very useful and worth the try.

In no particular order, let's begin for search for the best life hacks.

1.    Tennis ball as an instant hanger.
Just make a horizontal cut on the ball, and voila! You got yourself an instant hanger for your keys and other stuffs.

Photo credit from thumbpress.com

2.    iPhone Holder
Got an iPhone and you got no place to hold it for you? Then worry no more because you can now use the old-time cassette tape holder to keep it in place.

Photo credit from welldonestuff.com


A Story of a Writer. :D

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This was a video made for Meme Competition at EPH. And it was just so aweeeeesoooome. :D Funny how a writer can be demoted just like, though it's just a mockery. :P

Have fun in watching! Have a good laugh! :)

Progress at Work

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As my writing gets better and better, my job as a writer for Essays.ph gets more enjoyable. At first, I was hesitant to take more assignments since writing is not really my forte. But EPH helped me to change that thought.

As I said in my blog post about EPH, I joined that writing community last May. When my application got accepted, I immediately took my first assignment. The topic was about concrete roofing tiles. It was quite hard for me since I am not that familiar with the topic. No one in the Philippines is using that kind of roofing, right? :D I have to write five different articles with the same topic. That's the challenge since it is a requirement that each article should be unique. You cannot copy a word from the your sources. Writing that article almost left my brain dead. I thought I would not able to submit it on time. (Imagine that there is only a minute left when I submitted it. Geez.)

Well, after I passed it, I took another one. This time I have to make five articles but with different topics. It's easy that time. :) Hmm. After I was able to submit my first two assignments, I have to rest from my writing gig for a while since I got hired for my current work. :)

Blurred Lines

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"Blurred lines.. I know you want it. I know you want it."


Hmm. Actually, I am not pertaining with the song. I just thought that song title is perfect for my blog post today. BLURRED LINES. I mean it in the literal way. Everything's blurred. My eyesight is blurred.




When did my vision start to blur?

As I have already said, I am a big fan of books. I love to read. Maybe, I can account my blurred vision to that fact. I can call myself a "Stubborn reader" since I read anywhere I want to. Even in dark places. Maybe that's the reason why my mom is always scolding me when reading in the dark. She said that it was my fault why my vision get blurred.

I started to feel my vision getting blurred as early as grade school, roughly about when I was in 5th grade. My head starts to ache and sometimes, I am having double vision. But I never opt to wear eyeglasses. My parents told me that it will only worsen my vision.

LESSON 2: Is Happiness the Purpose of Life?

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"One must practice the things which produce happiness, since if that is present we have everything and if it absent we do everything in order to have it."
--- Epicurus

All of us want to escape suffering. Who wants it anyway? No one ever wakes up in the morning saying that, "I wish I suffer today." We do everything to get that happiness that we all wanted. The only thing that confuses us is that, we don't know how to differentiate a genuine happiness from superficial happiness.

Everyday, we look for new ways to build relationships, grow friendships, love others, enrich ourselves, protect our loved ones, and keep ourselves from any harm. We give our time and effort in doing these things for we believe that these will give us that sense of fulfillment.

Whatever term we name it, we always go back to this question: "Isn't happiness the goal of all goals?"

Final Layout

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So, yeah. I have finally decided for the final layout for my blog. No more changes, promise! :D

I already finalized my watermark logo and other elements needed for my blog. :)

I'll be updating my posts as soon as I finished my other priorities. :)
Ciao for now! :D

Project Awesome PRESENTS: Philippine Ice Bucket Challenge

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It has been all over the social media sites. It almost took over everyone. No wonder that it is now the most viral challenge. It is definitely the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

This activity helps to promote awareness about the disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations for research. Many have been dared to do the challenge, including the PHILIPPINES. And as Filipinos, we are ready to take on the challenge.

Qatar has challenged Philippines to do a nationwide ice bucket challenge. To prove how game Filipinos are, we are answering the call. Project Awesome introduces its 8th mission: The Philippines Ice Bucket Challenge. This event will be happening on September 07, 2014 (Sunday), 3:00 PM at the Quezon City Circle Football Field.

This is a free activity and everyone is encouraged to join. All you have to do is register your attendance at http://www.projectawesome.ph/missions/8th-mission-philippines-ice-bucket-challenge-sept-7-2014/. Be there on September 7, 2014. Don’t forget to bring your own bucket. Water and ice tubes will be provided during the event.

For more information, you can contact Mastermind Paul at 09175069839.

Let others know about the event and share this to your friends! Share this link, http://www.projectawesome.ph/missions/8th-mission-philippines-ice-bucket-challenge-sept-7-2014/ with hashtag #icebucketph.

It is now the time to let your philanthropic spirit be felt and join the team as we set a new world record and help spread ALS Awareness. Again, this is a free event but donations for the ALS Association will be highly appreciated.

 See you there!


New Books! Yey!

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Oh well, yesterday I was at Festival Super Mall to bring stuffs to someone. (Yeah, I'm getting a little blushy here. :P) Anyways, back to the topic. And since I still have more time, I decided to stroll around the mall, hoping I would find something interesting.

At first, I was planning to buy new clothes so that I have something new to wear at office. But then, I just don't feel the designs I am seeing. (I know, I get a little picky sometimes. :O) So, I decided to just go home, after all I have an appointment with my dentist. Then, I pass by the BOOKSALE store. I can't help but to enter the store. And my eyes just got wide to see those books around me. There are fictions, novels, educational books, pamphlets, magazines, and many more.

What I love this book store is that all books are on sale. Yes, ALL books. And to tell you, they are all original. And what should a bookworm like me would do if you are in this kind of place? Of course, buy books! :D

I am searching for Mary Higgins Clark books, but unfortunately I wasn't able to find, only one. :( S I opt to buying other books, but with the same genre. I always love reading suspense-thriller themed books. I get to find a book with that theme. Then I got to find a romance-themed novel, so I bought it also.

I get to purchase only three books since I can't hold more books since I got no bag with me that time. So these are the three books I bought:



  • Weep No More, My Lady by Mary Higgins Clark. Her biggest best seller novel ever. It is a tale of mystery and suspense.
  • Ambitious Love by Rosie Harris. A story of a girl who is longing to find true love.
  • The Rosewood Casket by Sharyn McCrumb. A story about a family strife, dark secrets, and eerie legends among mountain people torn between tradition and change.
So there. I am excited to read these books. :D I am sure I'll be going back to that store soon. :)


If you want to visit BOOKSALE that I went to, you can locate them at:

Festival Mall 1
GF Festival Supermall near Food Court
Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Festival Mall 2
Space #K101 - GF Festival Supermall
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel. 807-5630

Cheers to Essays.ph!

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I am a self-confessed wild reader. From fictions, textbooks, even product labels; I read them all. Reading has been a part of my life since when I was only at grade school. But then, a realization hit me after I heard about Essays.ph.




Essays.ph is an online writing company where their hired writers can interact with their fellow writers while working with their freelance writing jobs and get paid in an instant. Today, it is known to be the only online writing gig in the Philippines. For over six years now, the company was able to hire over 50, 000 writers and counting.


Essays.ph is powered by Wooka Interactive, a Philippine-based online marketing company that focuses on online visibility for their clients, local and abroad. The company services include article marketing, SEO/SEM, PPC, social media optimization, and a lot more.

Easy Treats for A Happy Tummy!

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I've been so inactive for days. Been busy with other things. :D

Anyways, I have just undergone an oral surgery and I am advised to avoid eating some hard-to-chew foods for at least a week. Meaning, I'm now on a soft diet. :P And that kills me. Hah! For a person, like me, who loves to eat, it's really a "pain in the heart" that I have to deprive myself from eating such foods.

Photo credit to www.prevention.com


So what's the purpose of my blog post today? Well, I'll be sharing with you some treats that I love eating during days and nights. Exceptions are the usual meals a person take in a day. I will be dividing them from foods I eat at the morning, afternoon, and night. So lets begin! :)

MORNING


I like to start my day with foods that are very delicious. It really kicks my day off. During mornings, these are the treats that i love to be served with.



  • Pancakes


Perfect treat to start a day. I really love pancakes. Well, that's obvious, I even make my own pancake recipe. Click here to view the recipe. :) Plus, if you pair with a good cup of black coffee. Perfect!

  • Toasted Bread and Nutella


Who could resist this combo? This is perfect when the bread is a little more hot to allow the Nutella to melt. Also good if served with Fresh Milk. Perfect when you are movie-watching. (Just like what I have done. :D)

  • Rice Cakes


Filipinos are known to be heavy eaters of rice. Carbohydrates are good to sustain your energy for the day. Rice Cakes are traditional morning treat for Filipinos. Made from Galapong (Rice Flour), these are perfect to keep you full.



Tomato-Stuffed Grilled Milkfish

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I made this dish about a month ago, so this was kind of a late post. Huhuhu. But I will still post it, because it is all about food. :D

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Here is another delectable seafood recipe from my virtual cook book. Hahaha.

Tomato-Stuffed Grilled Milkfish

 Ingredients:

  • 1 whole Bangus (Milkfish), scaled and cleaned
  • 4 Tomatoes, diced
  • 1 Onion, minced
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
Procedure:
  • Prepare first your griller.
  • Stuff your fish with tomatoes and onions. Season it with salt and pepper.
  • Cover the fish with aluminum foil.
  • Put your fish into the griller. Grill each side for at least 25-30 minutes before turning.
  • Serve with soy sauce with lime as its dip. Enjoy!



Hope you try this recipe of mine. Feel free to share your thoughts about this dish with me.
Good Eats!

LESSON 1: What is Happiness?

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Every man  wants to be happy, but in order to be so he needs first to understand what happiness is.
--- Jean-Jacques Rousseau


This is the opening quote for our topic today. This is the one million dollar question that should be answered: WHAT IS HAPPINESS? Or should I rephrase that; WHAT IS REAL HAPPINESS? We sometimes thought that we only become happy when we get the things that we desire. Yes, a part of it contributes to our happiness, but it is more than that. Happiness is not measured by the things we see or feel. It comes from within.

Photo credit to nevalalee.wordpress.com


Happiness at Its Finest

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Are you happy? If yes, where is that happiness coming from? If not, what things are keeping you from that happiness? If you don't know the answer, then I'll be here to guide you to know them.

Recently, I started reading this book about happiness. The book is The Art of Happiness written by Matthieu Ricard. What I love about this book is that it guides you in getting your happiness, not just by the things that satisfies you, but by also fulfilling your inner desires.


This is just an introduction to what I am going to blog about. Lets take each step in achieving happiness. these steps will be written just like a school lesson. Each lesson will be tackling about different topics about happiness.

Together, let us search for the true happiness--- Happiness that is genuine and incomparable.


"Happiness does not come automatically. It is not a gift that good fortune bestows upon us and a reversal of fortune takes back. It depends on us alone. One does not become happy overnight., but with patient labor, day after day. Happiness is constructed, and that requires effort and time. In order to become happy, we have to learn how to change ourselves. "
--- Luca and Francesco Cavalli-Sforza




Updated: August 16, 2014

Pancake Sandwiches

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it will provide you the energy that you need to do your activities throughout the day. But even if this meal is important to start our day right, we take it for granted. We usually skip this meal. and that's not good. According to some studies, skipping breakfasts will make you gain weight. So to avoid this, you should make your breakfast meals interesting.

I admit, sometimes, I don't eat take my breakfast, too. I find my meals boring and always repeating. Like for example, I was always served with the traditional bread of the Filipinos which is called Pandesal, paired with egg and coffee. Sometimes, I eat fried rice but cooking it will take me a lot of time. So I searched for tips and tricks on how I can innovate my meal, making it interesting.

I love pancakes. They are easy to make and delicious. But eating them like the usual is quite boring. So, I made an experiment recipe using them. well, instead of just plain bread and eggs, I substituted the bread with pancakes. Quite different, huh? I tell you, it really is good! And guess what, I am going to share you my recipe. So let's get down with the details!

Pancake Sandwich

10 Tips and Tricks For A Better Sleep

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Sleeping will not be called sleeping if you are constantly getting awake at 3:00 AM. Then during the day, you find it hard to keep with your activities because you always feel that drowsiness due to lack of sleep. Actually, having a sound sleep is all under your control. Unbelievable? Then I make a list of tips that can help you establish a good sleeping habit.


  1. Set a sleeping schedule.
Photo credit from vitalitybrands.com
Make it to a point that you have the same sleeping and waking time everyday. This will set your internal body clock. Meaning, your body will automatically adjust with time, when it is already time to sleep and when it is time for you to wake up. Consistency is the key for this.

    2.   Create your pre-sleeping routine.

It is important that you set activities that will make it easy for your body to adjust with the transition from being awake to going to sleep. Keep in mind to AVOID strenuous activities hours before sleeping. You can try relaxing bedtime rituals like reading a book, listening to music, or take a warm bath. Don't worry about the belief that taking a bath at night will cause low blood. well, studies proved that is not true.

    3.  Take less nap, or if possible don't nap at all.

Many people take power naps as part of their day. Actually there's nothing wrong with this. but if you are really finding it hard to sleep at night, it is recommended to lessen your nap time, or if you can, omit it from your daily routine.

    4.  Don't take heavy meals at night.

No-Bake Soft Chew Brownies

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Chocolates. One of my guilty pleasures. They are irresistible, aren't they? And when I got time to bake, I make sure that chocolates are my star ingredient.

I started baking when I was still in high school. I learned about the basics when my school back then introduced the Electives subject, and I get to pick Culinary class as my subject. And since I am a self-confessed foodie, I was able to learn it that quick.

Anyways, I am doing baking in a different way. Since many easy-to-do baked goodies mixes are already out in the market, I always look for alternative ways of baking goods, perfect for those who are, I might say, lack of equipment and ingredients.

When we say baking, this includes cooking foods with an oven. But who would have thought that you can do baking with the use of steaming process. Well, you will be surprised that you actually can! And i will show you how. J

This is my own recipe of brownies, and take note, no OVEN-USE,  just the power of steaming. What is nice about this recipe is, it leaves the brownies gooey and moist. Almost like a cake already. This is easy to prepare, you can have this treat any time of the day! J

 So let's get started!


ON-TRACK: We Can't Stop

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Since I wasn't able to post last week, I'll make it up this time. :)

The week's featured song for On-Track is WE CAN'T STOP by Miley Cyrus.

SONG LYRICS:


It’s our party we can do what we want
It’s our party we can say what we want
It’s our party we can love who we want
We can kiss who we want
We can see who we want (2x)

Red cups and sweaty bodies everywhere
Hands in the air like we don’t care
Cause we came to have so much fun now
Bet somebody here might get some now

If you’re not ready to go home
Can I get a hell no
Cause we gonna go all night
Till we see the sunlight alright

So la da di da di, we like to party
Dancing with Miley
Doing whatever we want
This is our house
This is our rules

Dandy's Snacks: Captain Curls Cheese Puffs

12:03 PM 0 Comments A+ a-

Who wouldn't love cheese? With its tangy taste, you will surely have that unique bite. And when incorporated with a snack, you will definitely could not resist it.

Two days ago, some of my fellow technical team members went to Subic to do some company marketing and on-site calibration job. My superior brought home to us a big container of cheese puffs. And I must say, they taste wonderful!

But before I get into details, let me just CHEEZIFY your minds a bit.


  • The French term for cheese puff is "mais gonfle."
  • Did you know that there are a lot of cheese puff-related pop quiz all over the net? And it may surprise you that these quizzes are about cheese puffs becoming giants, then eating people. Weird, huh?
  • Cheese puffs can be made in two ways: the first one is using choux pastry, while the second one is through extruded corn dough, which is usually used for commercial marketing.


As a said, my superior brought home this large container of Dandy's Captain Curls. Again, I never get to take a picture of the real thing, as we get too excited munching on them, I forgot taking a picture of it. Hah! Well, this treat is perfect for sharing with your family and friends. Its crunchy bite and totally big puffs will give you the best cheese experience.

They were able to buy this cheese puffs at Subic Royal Duty Free for only $2.43 (that is roughly about Php105.00). and with that kind of price, you are really getting your money's worth, or I should say it's more than that.

To know more about Captain Curls and other snack products offered by Dandy's Snacks, feel free to visit their Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/dandysnacks.


P.S.

Well, aside from this, since Subic is known to be a free port zone, we can't forget buying chocolates, of course. We got some Hershey Kisses treats. Yum! :)


More of Subic, soon! :)

When your Mind is Bombarded with Ideas

7:52 AM 0 Comments A+ a-

When this happens? It explodes.

I have these ideas on my mind, but I don't know where to start. I have this, I have that. In the end, I've got NOTHING.

I just felt writing this one to release the stress in me. I feel like floating in nowhere. I need a break, actually. Where I can just sit and write everything I wanted to say.

This is not going anywhere so I am going to cut this off. Two more days and I'm off to my safe haven. :3

P.S.
By the way, I've got a unique recipe for brownies so better check out for it. It will be posted as soon as I have my day off.

 Yeah, the real purpose of this post is just to plug. Naaah. Kidding!


Hope you all have a great day! Ciao!

Goldilocks' Coffee Crumble Cake

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Birthdays are one of the best moments to be celebrated. We surprised our co-worker with a cake as he celebrates his birthday today.

We chose to buy a cake from Goldilocks. Goldilocks is one of the premier bakeshops in the Philippines. As it is known to be making sumptuous cakes, we purchased one of their new cake products which is the Coffee Crumble Cake.

The Coffee Crumble Cake is made up of chocolate chip mocha flavored chiffon cake, frosted with coffee-flavored icing. It is garnished with two-toned icing rosettes (coffee and choco buttercreme flavored), topped with coffee bean-like chocolate decor.

When we have indulged ourselves with the cake, we really tasted the coffee flavor, but it is not overpowering. Actually, the cake has two layers. In between the layers, there's a hint of banana-like taste. I'm just not sure if it is with the frosting, or with the cake itself. But that doesn't matter for it compliments the taste of the cake.

Since we are too excited to eat the cake, plus the fact that I am too shy to take a picture of it, I will not be able to show you the real cake. But from the bakeshop'site, here is what the cake looks like.

Photo from goldilocks.com.ph

Overall, this cake has a very unique taste, perfect for those who are looking for a new taste for their palate.

You can contact Goldilocks at: Goldilocks Cake Plant
                                                498 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
Contact No.: +632 532-4050

Love Language

12:00 PM 0 Comments A+ a-


In this world we live in, we are surrounded by many people yet we still feel being lonesome. Each one of us has an emotional tendency to feel loved. When we felt it, we get to reach our maximum potentials. However, if we didn't, it is as if we are living just to exist.

In order to love and to be loved, one must know what love language is to be used. It is dependent of what personality does an individual has.

I just read a book of Gary Chapman entitled, The Five Love Languages. This will be a sort of a book review, but I will be only giving a brief discussion about the love languages.

What is the right language?


Of course, we can speak any love language that we want. Naturally, we speak of a love language that will make us feel loved. But the problem with this is that, even if we speak of a certain language that we prefer, if it is not the love language of the person we are expressing it to, then the thought would not mean the same as what it meant for us.


This is when frustration comes in. That is why it is important to learn not only our personal love language, but also someone's primary language in order to feel loved.

The Five Love Languages


Learning to speak of a language that you and others would understand is that best way to develop and succeed in any human relationships.


The five love languages are as follows:

  • Words of Affirmation
  • Gifts
  • Acts of Service
  • Quality Time
  • Physical Touch
Each will have an in-depth details and let's see what language are you using.

Chef Tony's Gourmet Popcorn: Belgian Butter

10:30 AM 1 Comments A+ a-

Who would resist munching on popcorn? I guess, there would be none. And I would attest to that, especially if you are served with Chef Tony's Gourmet Popcorn.

We are given with Chef Tony's Belgian Butter flavor. It is one of the classic flavors of Chef Tony's. And I must say, it is that sumptuous. It has a light, buttery flavor, with a little touch of saltiness to give the popcorn its signature taste. The aroma alone will make you excited to dig into it.

This treat is a sure stress-reliever and will give you an exciting popcorn-eating experience.


Chef Tony's Belgian Butter: Php 175.00 (Net Weight: 350g)

Visit www.cheftonys.com for more information.
You can also contact them at telephone number +632 414-4462 / fax number +632 410-0378
For local concerns: inquiry@cheftonys.com
For international concerns: international@cheftonys.com


Every Child is Special: A Review

10:46 AM 4 Comments A+ a-

Movie Publicity Poster

 I love watching foreign movies, especially those movies that are inspiring and really impart life lessons to its viewers. One movie that I really loved is the Hindi movie, Every Child is Special. Actually, it was recommended by a good friend of mine. And I must say that this movie is worth watching.

 Every Child is Special, with an original Hindi title, Taare Zameen Par, and reissued as Like Stars on Earth for Walt Disney, is a 2007 Indian drama movie. This movie was directed by Aamir Khan as his debut film.

 After its international release, Every Child is Special has received numerous critical acclaims for its one of a kind story offering.  

 Movie Cast and their Characters:

 Darsheel Safary - He played the role of Ishaan Awasthi.
Aamir Khan - Ram Shankar Nikumbh, Ishaan's Art Teacher.
Tisca Chopra - Maya Awasthi, Ishaan's mother.
Vipin Sharma - Nandkishore Awasthi, Ishaan's strict father.
Sachet Engineer - Yohaan Awasthi, Ishaan's elder brother.
Bugs Bhargava and Shankar Sachdev - Sen Sir and Tiwari Sir, respectively. Teachers at New Era High School whose attitudes changed towards Ishaan when he is already accumulating high grades.

ON TRACK: Royals

6:30 PM 0 Comments A+ a-

ON-TRACK
This blog segment will be featuring songs every week. It will tell about everything about the song like its release date, singer, music video and cover video. What will make this blog series unique is that, I will post my own version of the song. :D

 So, let's start with our very first featured song..


 "And we'll never be royals...."

 Familiar with the lyrics, right? Well, it came from the famous song, Royals by Lorde. This will be the week's featured song for ON-TRACK.

 Song Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address,
In the torn-up town, no post code envy
But every song is like gold teeth, grey goose, tripping in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashing the hotel room
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like crystal, Maybach, diamonds on your time piece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.

Filipino Classic: Sinigang sa Miso (Tamarind Soup in Miso)

4:59 PM 0 Comments A+ a-

Aside from Adobo being a very popular Filipino dish, Sinigang (Tamarind Soup) shares the spotlight. This dish is originally tamarind-based, but other versions may include using guava, calamansi or unripe mangoes to derive its sourness. Tamarind-based seasoning powders are also used as alternatives for natural fruits.

 Meats used for Sinigang are usually pork, beef, fish, and shrimp. Vegetables commonly used for this dish are okra, taro, radish, water spinach, eggplants, and string beans. Sometimes, green finger peppers are added to enhance its flavor, while adding a touch of spice. Sinigang is best served when hot, and during cold weather.

 With this version of Sinigang, I'll be featuring fish as the main ingredient. I'll be using Tilapia for this. A twist with this version is that it is incorporated with miso.

 Here's my own recipe of this Sinigang version.

 Ingredients:

  • 1 pc Tilapia, scaled and cleaned
  • 1 pc Onion, sliced
  • 1 stalk Mustard Greens
  • 2 pcs Tomatoes
  • 1 pack Tamarind Soup Mix (you can use fresh tamarinds, just boil them to release its oils then incorporate it with the dish)
  • Water
  • Miso Paste
  • Cooking Oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Green Chili Finger
Procedures:
  1. Saute together in oil onion and tomatoes. Add in the miso.
  2. Add water and simmer for 3 minutes. Add the tamarind mix, after which, put in the fish. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Before turning off the stove fire, add the chili and the mustard greens to avoid wilting it.
  4. Serve with rice.
Here is the finish product of my recipe. :)




Feel free to try this, too. :)
Happy cooking! :)

BE PREPARED: Emergency Survival Kit

7:04 PM 5 Comments A+ a-



Being prepared every time is one way of surviving a natural calamity such as earthquake, typhoon, and a lot more. These disasters strike with no notice, they come from out of the blue. To avoid serious effects, it is better to START PREPARING NOW, for we might never know when these unexpected event will happen.

 An Emergency Survival Kit is like your "Go Bag," where all your family's necessities are included. This kit is designed to sustain your needs for three days. I listed down 10 things that is SHOULD BE IN YOUR KIT.
1. DRINKING WATER

I would say that this is the most important thing in your emergency kit. In your kit, each person should be kept with 3 Liters of water. This would be enough for three days. It is important to never forget this for an average person would not survive if not able to drink water after 3 days.

 2. READY-TO-EAT or NON-PERISHABLE GOODS

Of course, aside from water, you need to feed your body with food. Canned goods and instant noodles are your best options as emergency food supply for they are easy to prepare and readily available.

 3. EXTRA CLOTHES

Extra clothes are essential especially if you are needed to be evacuated to safe place. Place your clothes in a bag or plastic bags so that it will not get wet.

 4. TOILETRIES

Even if there's a calamity, one should not neglect to still maintain their personal hygiene. Toiletries should include body soap (I would recommend to use antibacterial soaps to avoid bacterial growth), shampoo, anti-bacterial deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair comb, powder, and cologne/perfume. For girls, do not forget to include sanitary pads and feminine wash. For those who have babies with them, don't forget baby diapers.

 5. BLANKETS

Blankets are important to keep your body warm. You can also use sweater jackets as an alternate.

 6. FLASHLIGHTS/CANDLES


These are essential especially when the power is out. These will be your light source. Just make sure to include extra batteries for flashlights and match sticks for the candles. Be careful with using candles to avoid fire accidents.

 7. EXTRA CELLPHONE

Aside from your personal phone, if possible, include an extra phone in your emergency kit. Make sure to keep it in a zip bag so that no water can penetrate it. It should be fully charged and should be loaded with credits so that you can contact anybody who can help you.

 8. EXTRA MONEY

This will serve as your emergency fund. This is important so you can purchase products if ever you run out of supplies. Just like with the extra phone, make sure to keep it in a zip lock to protect it from getting wet.

 9. IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

These are considered as your precious belongings so you better include them in your kit. These include birth and marriage (if any) certificates, property titles, passports, school records, employment documents, government ID's, and medical records. Keep them in a plastic organizer.

 10. FIRST AID KIT

During calamity, sometimes, injuries may be inevitable. That is when a first aid kit comes in handy. This will provide you with supplies that are needed in treating minor emergencies.

 Your first aid kit should have the following components:

 Dressings and Bandages:

  • Adhesive bandages (e.g. Band Aid)
  • Gauze Roll
  • Sterile cottons and cotton-tipped swabs

Medicines:

  • Paracetamols
  • Antihistamines
  • Pain Reliever
  • Antacids
  • Antibiotics

Equipments and other supplies:

  • Thermometer
  • Antiseptic solutions (e.g. Betadine, Hydrogen Peroxide)
  • Antibiotic ointments


Remember the saying, "Prevention is better than cure." The same applies with being ready all the time. BE prepared. BE READY.

Typhoon Recovery

6:31 AM 0 Comments A+ a-

JULY 16, 2014. The day I really won't forget. A scary day for my family and even to the thousands of Filipinos from Luzon and the Bicol region. Typhoon Glenda, with an international name of Typhoon Rammasun, hit Luzon, with its strong winds, causing a massive destruction on agriculture, business enterprises, and residential areas.
Satellite image of the typhoon over Luzon

 It shut down Metro manila and nearby provinces. In my place, in Laguna, we have no electricity for almost four days. Adding to the agony was our water supply was also cut off. It was really hard coping with the situation.

 Now that everything's going back to normal, I will be able to share you (finally! :D) our activities during those days that there is no electricity. Well, we can't just wait until the power's back. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING to make each day productive, as if everything is normal.

 Another storm is coming, which is Typhoon Henry. According to the news, it will bring strong rains, but the good part is, it will not hit the lands. Thank God. :)

 So, I'm back to blogging again. :) I hope everybody's safe. God bless the Philippines!
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