The Cake

it's josef's 1st birthday. join him in his little cake adeventure.

josef:  what's this? choco bread with candle?

momi: your cake.

josef:  huh? where's my 2-tiered cake?

momi: that's your cake sepi.

josef: hmmm...i don't like the look of this...i want my cake with toppers and flowers!!!

mommy: josef, taste your cake. it's good!

josef: eew!. you can't make me.

mommy: trust me. you will like it.

josef: argh! i hate nosy moms! but it looks tempting...

josef: aaaaaaaaaaaaaa...

josef: hmmm....(chewing...)

josef: hmmmm.....mom, wait! i still have something inside (outside and around) my mouth. duh!

ang kuleeeeeet!!!

pero ang sarap...isa pa nga...

josef: yan! happy mom?! weehee! sarap ng cake =)

happy birthday josef!

* the cake is Hazelnut Loaf from Chocolat, Mall of Asia *

Razon's Halo-Halo by the Bay =)

Halo-Halo is a staple dessert or merienda among Filipinos especially now that it's summer (hmmm...but it's raining!)...

One restaurant that serves the ulitmate Halo-Halo for me is Razon's.  It has been a favorite for quite sometime now.  Being a kapampangan, I've grown to love the simplicity of their Halo-Halo - macapuno, banana and leche flan.  You won't see colored-gulaman and sago in your glass when you order one. 

[caption id="attachment_316" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Val enjoying her halo-halo"][/caption]

Their halo-halo is I think around P80 per serving.  They have branches in different malls like Robinson's Midtown, Greenbelt 1 and MOA (by the bay).

Razon's also delivers!!! =)

[caption id="attachment_317" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="banner"][/caption]

Sumo Sam

I've always wanted to eat at Sumo Sam, Rockwell.  I pass by this resto everytime I deliver accessories at Dressing Room (free plug =) I had the chance to eat there when my friend Maya invited me to come to the birthday lunch of her daughter, Kamy.

[caption id="attachment_306" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sumo Sam"][/caption]

My first time at Sumo Sam was terrible. The service is extremely poor. We were supposed to eat there at 1pm (by reservation since lunch time is usually jam-packed).  The people who occupied our "reserved " table left at around 12:40.  I was thinking that the waiter cum bus boy will clean the table right away since it's almost 1pm.  Unfortunately, he didn't. He was busy taking orders from other customers, cleaning other tables except ours =( By 1pm I was feeling kinda hungry already and as it is, our table wasn't ready yet.  Used plates and glasses were still there.  We were standing in front of the resto for almost 30 minutes and honestly my legs are starting to feel tired.  So I went to our table and decided to sit.  I was looking at the waiter already, giving him dagger looks.  When he continued to attend to the other customers and "deliberately" avoided my stare I called his attention already. I told him that maybe he can finish what he was doing first before attending to other people's requests.  He should finish cleaning our table because we were already waiting for almost 45 minutes!  Thank God he understood me or else I was on the verge of calling their manager already.

I understand that they don't have enough manpower, as what the manager said but it's not the customers fault that we should suffer (having lunch at 2pm can be considered a sacrifice already ha...)  Management should do something about this.  If they lack workers which I understand can be a struggle for the kitchen and dining staff when it's packed for lunch and dinner, they should hire additional help. The quality of their restaurant is being compromised because of their poor service.

Let's now talk about the food.  Well, the the serving is ok - good for 3-4 persons.  It should be since their prices are quite expensive too compared to the other Japanese Restaurants like Teriyaki Boy and Kimono Ken.  Our host ordered their platter - which has Japanese Rice, Chicken, Fish with Cream Cheese Sauce, Beef Steak (I think), Oysters, Tempura and a Sushi Plate (crabstick, sushi and maki). This costs 1,500++...



Sorry for the photos.  I was so hungry already that I forgot to take photos of our food before we started eating! =)

The food was ok although there's nothing special about it.  Their presentation is nice but the taste is not satisfying.  Another funny thing - soup was served after the Main Platter!!!  Aren't they supposed to servethe soup at the beginning of the meal? Hmmm....

[caption id="attachment_309" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="All-Meat Soup"][/caption]

Buti nalang it's a free lunch!!! =) Thanks Maya and Jake. Happy Birthday Kamy! =)

[caption id="attachment_310" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Jake and Kamy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_311" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Birthday Girl =)"][/caption]

Marta's Cakes

My sister and I went to Serendra early Sunday morning to deliver Josef's birthday invites to some of her friends.  Most of the stores are still closed.  We didn't know that the stores there open at 11:00 =)

Anyway, we decided to eat at Marta's Cakes because I read that their cupcakes are good. Of course I ordered my favorite cupcake flavor "Carrot with Cream Cheese Topping" then my sister tried their "Chocolate with Chocolate Cream Topping" (hmmm...chocolate is her fave! obvious ba??? =)

[caption id="attachment_298" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="carrot cupcake with cream cheese topping"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_299" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="chocolate cupcake with chocolate cream topping"][/caption]

Marta's cupcakes are really good, very flavorful.  Not too sweet, very moist and not too expensive.  Their cupcakes range from P50-P80.

Kids will surely enjoy visiting Marta's Cakes because they have the so-called "Do-It-Yourself-Cupcake/Cookie." 

[caption id="attachment_301" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="cupcake decor"][/caption]

We also tried their Strawberry Milkshake and I'm telling you that it's really good! Just the way I like it! And it's only P50. Super sulit!! =)

The next time I go there I will surely try their Ice Cream Cones and Pound Buttercream Cupcake. Yum!!! =)

Jack's Loft

Last Thursday,  I ate at Jack's Loft with friends.  I've been wanting to eat in this restaurant for quite some time now. Good thing I had lunch with some friends at Midtown and we were able to try the food at Jack's Loft.

I was excited to try their Fish Bowl Iced Tea so that's what I ordered.

Wow! The glass is like a mini fish bowl, about 11 inches in height.  I lav et!! Although it's not my favorite Lemon iced tea, the flavor is more of Four Seasons.

We ordered a lot since Jane and I were both hungry.  We tried their Carbonara...It's okay. It's creamy and cheesy.

We also ordered their best seller - chicken salad sandwich - which my friends didn't eat  anymore since they are so full already =) Of course, I wanted to know if it's good so I ate my share inspite being so busog already...

I didn't like it that much because of the overwhelming taste of the mayo.  I like their chips though...

Jane liked their Chicken Fingers.  I like it also although  my favorite really is Friday's Chicken fingers =)

Overall it was okay.  More than the food of course I enjoyed the company of my friends.  We ended our day with....

Tadah!!!! White Hat yogurt =) The perfect way to end the day. Haha! Of course I ordered my favorite mango-cheescake combo.  This is my 9th order so on my next visit I'll get my free White Hat! Yipee!!! =)

My friends tried Cheesecake at Cheesecake Melliza.  They ordered Mango Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse.

Verdict. Hmmm...I love my White Hat!!!

A Busy Day in the Life of the Teachers

Our Summer Workshop will start on Monday and as always the teachers at Growing Place are all busy preparing their respective classrooms for the kids.  We only have one school helper, Ate Chari, who in reality, can't do all the cleaning so the teachers are always eager to help. We are really lucky to have great teachers who don't mind getting down and dirty with these chores...

...some can still smile inspite of the hard work

[caption id="attachment_278" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="queenie and her scrub"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_270" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="queenie"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_271" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="sheryll"][/caption]

...some show impatience =)

[caption id="attachment_268" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="edna scrubbing the cubbies"][/caption]

...and some are starting to fix their classrooms

[caption id="attachment_272" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="irene & rache"][/caption]

BUT after the hard work, there's FOOD!!! What the GPP teachers all LOVE - EATING!!! =)

Thanks to Cris who bought merienda for everyone

[caption id="attachment_273" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="cris and wife michelle"][/caption]

Our snacks...

[caption id="attachment_274" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="MCDO"][/caption]

***had Banana Split with Edna after school at Kenny Roger's.  I didn't like it that much because the banana that they used were not yet ripe plus I find the chocolate ice cream and syrup bitter...

[caption id="attachment_276" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="KR Banana Split"][/caption]

But Edna seemed to enjoy it after all the cubbies that she scrubbed! =)

[caption id="attachment_281" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="edna "][/caption]

=)

Black Saturday

As I had a very late Friday night, I didn't have the heart to go out today. I wanted to stay in bed and be lazy the whole day.  But then...got an early text form my sister, Kris, "ano oras ka punta dito?" Argh!!!

Being the eldest and "caretaker" of our family (my lolo, sister and her son, Josef plus our very clueless yaya) I always have to visit them.  Always, which means, ALMOST EVERYDAY!!! Sometimes I wonder why I still have to rent my own place?!? Anyway, I don't want to bore you with details of my NOT SO charmed life...

We went to makati for snacks.  Our choice: DADS glorietta. they serve Eat All You Can merienda buffet =)

[caption id="attachment_258" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Banner of the Eat All You Can Merienda Buffet"][/caption]

There are over 25 dishes to choose from: Arroz Caldo, Tokwa't Baboy, Palabok, Spaghetti, Fetuccini (my sister said fetu-sini; copying her culinary teacher's way of pronouncing the word=), Adobo Pandesal, Pancit Bihon, Ginataang Bilo-Bilo, Dinugaan, Puto, Puto Bumbong, Halo-Halo and many more!!!

[caption id="attachment_259" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My plate of dinuguan and puto"][/caption]

I had two servings of their dinuguan. I like the taste but my lolo didn't.  He still prefers the kapampangan (we are) way of cooking dinuguan - more sour because of the vinegar.

[caption id="attachment_260" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Line in the buffet table"][/caption]

Judging by the line in the buffet table, I therefore conclude that Filipinos have big appetite! Harhar!

We also dropped by the Eye Shop (forgot the name! LOL!) to have my sister's eyes checked. She's been complaining about it for the past few weeks already.  Actually, I was in denial (and praying so hard that she doesn't need to wear eyeglasses!)  because I know that this would entail me (again and again) to spend money!

[caption id="attachment_261" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Kris having her eyes checked"][/caption]

Unfortunately, despite of my non-stop "praying", my sister needs eyeglasses. Her right eye needs 275 lens grade while her left needs only 75.

Before going home we decided to let Josef ride his favorite ride - Thomas Train!

[caption id="attachment_262" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Choo-Choo =)"][/caption]

I think he enjoyed the ride more now than the first time...He independently held on to the train bars and he balanced quite well too. Proud tita! =)

[caption id="attachment_263" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Our "Sepi" =)"][/caption]

So that's it! My Black Saturday =)

Personalized IT!

Customize your own Google Page if you want your windows to open in your personalized google. Check this site: pimpmysearch.com



Just follow the instructions in their site.  It's super easy =)

My very own personalized Google page with my shop's name on it =)




Try it!!! =)

Oishi!

Let me just share with you my favorite junk food as of the moment.

[caption id="attachment_248" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Oishi Pods"][/caption]

Most of my friends don't like the taste but I do =)  It's a vegetarian snack offer from Oishi. It's baked.  It's cheap.

Have you tried Pods? =)

My friend, Harman

"A true friend is someone you don't see nor talk with everyday but remains a friend till the end..." ~anonymous~

This quote, actually a text message i got from a friend months ago, is so true.  Even if it's Good Friday, I didn't pass up the chance to see my friend, Harman whom I haven't seen in months. When he invited me to have snacks. I agreed right away.

Harman and I have been friends since College.  He studied in UST and I in St. Scho. How did we meet? Rowing. We hang out during training at the bay. A very nice guy. funny. sincere.generous.  We became closer when he started courting my best friend. I love Harman with all my heart.  He has been like a member of the family. He loves my lolo and my lolo loves him. He brought him bread from their bakery when we all can't go out because of the typhoon (He used the elf truck from their hardware just to be able to go to our house).  He has been with me during my "puppy love" days =) He used to drive me to my crush's house, slept in the sofa while my crush and I made "kwento" to each other.  He also accompanied me to my late-night gimmicks with friends so that my mom will allow me to go out...Hay... great times!!!

We remained close even when he decided to live in Batangas years ago. We kept in touch through text and now in Facebook =) Harman is one person that I intend to keep as my friend forever.

***since it's Good Friday and most restaurants are closed, we ended up eating at KFC. Had a fully loaded meal! Chicken, rice, chicken bbq melts and side order of  fries and coleslaw. I'm not fasting at all! HAHAHA!

Let me just add that I also had KFC's yummy brownies! I love, love!!!

We also bought Wendy's Iced Tea after eating at KFC just like old times.  Who remembers the "Buy 1, Take 1"  ice tea promo of Wendys?  =)

Have a meaningful Good Friday everyone!!!