Chiqui & the Dog Trainer

Got a dog trainer for little Chiqui. Check out her new trick! She's learning a lot especially getting used to the leash and going where she needs to go than just where she wants to go. :)
She's learned to stand and walk with her two feet, jump through hoops, push her ball with her two front feet, crawl, sit properly, and get used to the leash.
She's a pure joy and I couldn't have asked for any puppy else! :D





Food Reviews:
1.) Som's Noodle House
Add: behind Rockwell's Power Plant
Cuisine: Thai
Recommendations: Green Curry Beef, Tom Yang Soup
Price: $
Verdict: Yummy!!!
**You can take

2.) Duo
Add: Serendra
Cuisine: Continental with specialty of steak & seafood
Recommendations: steak, seafood (especially fish), pasta and salads
Price: $$$
Verdict: Good good good!

3.) Zumi
Add: GB5
Cuisine: Continental with specialty of steak & seafood
Price: $$$
Verdict: efficient and attentive service; food is so-so; Good place for kids and pets due to the garden front


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Kit: A Cutesy Kind of Love by Deanna Patterson/Shabby Scrap Designs
Font: Rosewood Standard
Program: Adobe CS3

Foodie Foodie Foodie

Food Trippings:
Tokyo Café (TC)
G/Lvl. South Wing, Main Mall Bldg, Pasay City, Metro Manila
(632) 556.0517
I have this philosophy, line-ups are the best. Base on the line-up we saw at TC's Mall of Asia and the colorful and mouth-watering sample food displayes, E & I were curious.
TC is exactly like it's previous resto - Kohikan, at Greenhills Promenade (Perry Chicken now). TC is Japanese fussion family resto with a Western twist. The menu of TC is impressive, wherein pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, crepes, drinks and burgers are immense. The selection is quite unexpected for a restaurant of such type. The cafe uses the traditional and elaborate Japanese Drip method, wherein exact temperatures must be used to make a good cup of coffee!
They also have their own signature coffee mix, giving a distinctive flavor.

Best Sellers:
Yoshi's Burger - the top favorite with its juicy beef burger patty, Cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato and meat sauce
Creamy Ebiko Pasta (P255)
Hamburg and Shrimp (P235)- juicy burger patties with breaded black tiger prawns
Mango Chicken Salad(P150)
Kani Crab Sandwich (P140) - a zesty assembly of Kani sticks on ciabatta bread
Dripped Coffee: Sumibi Yaki (P84) - boasts of a bold and distinctive flavor, and Tokyo Blend, a fusion of various origins of coffee beans that taste both sour and smooth. Note that the Sumibi Yaki hot coffee is distinctively bold and is different from the strong coffees Filipinos are accustomed to with the Barako.
Other Specialties:
1.) Shrimp Agli Olio, pasta with hot green peppers, garlic and shrimp sautéed in olive oil
2.) Wafu Steak, Tokyo Boneless Chicken, Unaji and Tokyo White Pizza
3.) Crepes and cheesecake galore
4.) Other coffee concoctions - Tokyo Ice and hot and iced espressos
Range: P300/pax

Terrace at 5th
1/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila
(632) 729.6860
In Makati , Chef Ronald Manalo is part of the team that just opened The Terrace at the 5th Restaurant and Bar in Greenbelt 5. The restaurant features family treasured recipes from the kitchens of Maricris Zobel, Carol Garcia, Menchu Soriano, Ching Cruz, Ivy and Cynthia Almario, and Cecille Ysmael along side specialities from their favorite chefs. The place serves grilled items (including a Ladies’s Choice cut of only 300 grams) and modernized Filipino food.
Grams, Ma, E&I went there last night, we got the Grill Lamb Chops and the Crispy Pork Belly to share. E found the Lamb a bit on the salty side but everything else in it was great. I love the Pork Belly with Balsamic Vinegarette reduction sauce. It was a winner for me & Mom. The meat was tender for both dishes but I would vote for the latter. Price of the lamb was far more (extra P200) compared to the Pork. Grams had the Chicken Binalao, which is similar to chicken nilaga with some extra .
Range: roughly P500/pax

Ten02
43 B Scout Ybardolaza St., Sacred Heart, QC
(632) 412.-7572, (63) 915.569.5419
E&I checked out this resto/live act venue last Friday (Jan09) and had dinner there. nice pasta dishes that I/E loved and would surely come back for more. I had the house specialty Ten02's boulonnaise spaghetti. A neat twist to a classic Itallian dish. There are a lot of short orders also for the ones that come after dinner to listen to the live band performances. Referred to us by our photographer, eBe, Ten02 is small, quaint and cozy. I love the stage with the curtain backdrop.
That night we went was tribute night for Anabel Bosch, the lead vocalist of Analog, who suffered an aneurysm on Jan01. Although she fought tooth and nail for the first few days after her surgery, despite the aggressive treatments provided for her by her doctors and her sister, Dr. Marlies Bosch, Anabel passed away, quietly, ten days later, in the early morning of Sunday, January 11, 2009.
The local music industry was out in full force to contribute/support this great cause with acts no less stellar as the clear starry sky that evening by Noel Cabangon - Johnny Alegre (Affinity), Akasha (Mar Dizon, Henry K., Dave Harder), Lynn Sherman and Skarlet, Balooze (Ricky Gonzalez’s jazz quartet), Corporate Lo Fi, Helen, Reklamo, Color It Red, Ms. Emee Fortuno (wife of the legendary Ed “Bosyo” Fortuno).
Too bad, E&I had to wrap things up early since we have important appointments the following day but overall - highly recommended place to chill and enjoy great local music flavor.
FYI: the owner, Scarlet, packs a mean jazz scat!

Background: exerpt from the FB tribute account
Ever the rock goddess, Anabel chose to fly away when the moon was literally at its biggest and brightest. It was also the same night that her 11-year-old daughter Mishka had her first-ever major 'gig', backed up by no less than the legendary Blue Rats, at a benefit show held for Anabel at Hobbit House.
For those of us who were lucky enough to have spent time with her during her all-too-brief life, Anabel was the strongest, most loving, fiery, and passionate woman we knew. Her blog (http://dizzychick76.multiply.com/) was testament to that.
Anabel was a bright, burning phoenix, yes, a rock goddess, yet made of very real flesh and bone. She figured as one of the most important female musicians in our local industry, having worked with such bands as Tropical Depression, Electrikoolaid, Spy, and Analog. More than that, she was (and will continue to be) a great inspiration to many people, because she lived her life with such vigor and intensity, doing her best in everything that she did, be it as a focused, hard-working writer and editor, or as a dedicated mother to young Mischaela, or as a dutiful daughter and sister, or as an absolute whiz in the kitchen, or as a caring, loving friend.

Check These Out
I bumped into this website that I think you guys will find really interesting. :D - La Tartine Gourmande. I know the photos looked yummy!

Want to check this place out some where down the road...Acuatico Resort, Batangas Laiya

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Cardstock: Bazzill
Patter Papers: Chatterbox's Scrapbook Walls
Buttons: Buttons Galore
Woven Photo Corners, Metal Accents, Sticker Definition: Making Memories
Alpha Chipboards: Mon Petites Chipboards & Making Memories
Definition/Dictionary Boarder Sticker: Pebbles Inc
Sayings: K&Co's Words to Go and 7Gypsies
Vellim Pocket: Sticko
Ribbon: unknown

New Addition & PP Scrapping (again)

A few weeks ago, we got a new addition to our would be growing family. She's a wonderful joy though a pure adjustment to all (and I mean everyone in our family)...a long-haired Chihuahua named...Tootsie Taffy Chan. Her name is still in debate with the following: Chesnut, Cooper, Choco, Coco, Lady, Truffles...etc.
She's 1.5yrs old (thankfully done her main shoots and teething) and is a long-haired Chihuahua. I was told that she has reached her size already; if ever she will about another inch. :)





She's got a wonderful disposition that everyone and i mean everyone in the family loves so asking people to babysit her is not a problem.
How did I get myself into this situation is a funny one or a "leap of faith" as I think about it.
I can say...she's the world to both E&I. Yes, it's a huge responsibility but it will surely prepare us to taking things to the next level.
Schedules and priorities have changed in so many ways as of date. :D

Currently quite busy with work but looking forward to the long weekend since we are all (including our Tootsie) are taking a trip out-of-town. :)

With Christmas around the corner, I'm looking forward to just spending some quiet time with the family. Ed will be away a few days before and it will give me some time to bond with my folks and grandparents. I'll be spending next week at my folks' place. It will be like singlehood again. :D

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Paper, Pin Accent, Ribbon: Making Memories
Cardstock: Bazzill Cardstock
Photo Corner: EK Sticks (Architexture)
Tailored Tabs: Scrapworks









Charmed Words, Ribbon: Making Memories
Pattern Paper & Vellum: Made to Match by American Crafts
Cardstock: Bazzill
Handcrafted Papers: Mini Scraps by Provo Craft









Cardstock: Bazzill
Pattern Papers: Basic Gray
Tailored Tab: Scrapworks
Text Stickers: Stickopotomus
Words to Go: K&Co.





Below is an album I'm giving one of my gal pals who doesn't have much time to really scrap now that she's got a more hectic work schedule. I hope she likes it!
There are a lot of random supplies but it was surely great to be able to finish an album (even if it's just a mini album) again. It's been so so long!

Metro Weddings: Most Outstanding Weddings in 2008

Some more wedding related news...our wedding was featured at Metro Wedding's Most Stunning Weddings of the Year (Best of 2008). It was truly an honor. The magazine wanted to focus more on the details and the wedding in general than the preparations so I provided more photos on details, decor, etc. It was nice and different. Oh...and my supplier list is a like a mile long. I thought they were going to sift through and decide what would be relevant to the readers and space. I didn't know that they would have it all in there. :P
Check out the article below.
(BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUT to N-G who's featured on the 4th page, my wonderful bridesmaid!)

 

There were some typos/mistakes:
1.) exchanging my mom's shoe supplier with mine. I love my shoes and it's by Rene Caovilla.
2.) some of the quotes were either "Joy" and "Cheryl"...both the same person...me!
3.) fyi - the photoshop/edit of the cover photo was odd...I don't remember it being that way. Oh well...

Other featured weddings are:- (*previously at WE's magazine)

• Way-Out-of-Town Weddings
  Nara Sulisto + Orange Aberin (Bali, Indonesia)
  David Jacob + Amanda Griffin (Bali, Indonesia)
  Leo Po +  Marielle Santos (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia)


• Out-of-Town Weddings
  Raymond Rufino + Anna Palabyab (Tagaytay City)
  Raj Moreno + Kai Prieto (Calatagan, Batangas)
  Joseph Juico + Trisha Chua (Tagaytay City)
  Les Romero + Erika Alba (Baguio City)
  Tonito Gonzalez + Tyra Trebol (Tagaytay City)
  Px Mx + Mx Gx (Tagaytay City)
  Jon + Yacuy Villanueva (Tagaytay City)
  Sig Castro + Rhea Lio (Tagaytay City)*
  Mark Reyes + Karina Garcia (Tagaytay City)
  Hans Montenegro + Marilen Faustino (Cebu City)
  Migs Camacho + Criscy Bautista (Boracay)
  Jojo Silverio + Jenny Serrano (Nasugbu, Batangas)
  Andrew Parker + Julia Abad (Basco, Batanes)*


• In-Town Weddings
  Rob Pengzon + Sunshine Pue
  Noli Legarda + Bledes Fores
  James Chiongbian + Nina Ynares
  RB Roa + Patricia Morato
  RJ Ledesma + Vanessa Pastor
  J Calma + Tricia Bermudez
  Anthony Kierulf + Patty Cojuangco
  Jorge Bocobo + Chi Datu
  Nino Alejandro + Michelle Katigbak
  Nathan Azarcon + Ina Serrano
  Mark Mauricio + Aimee Murillo
  Lesly Bergonia + Miselle Peñalosa
  Miguel Peña + Jerianne Ejercito
  Miguel Silos + Roxanne Ancheta
  Dondon Gelido + Bianca Dinglasan
  Leyton Lozada + Mia Cabawatan
  Ben Colayco + Autumn Cho
  Mike Sinco + Jamie Chun
  Ed Wong + Cheryl Chan*
  Ace Stimeiher + Gela Laurel*

On the home front news, I was able to find our couch (a really striking one) for our living room and I was able to finally get my "dream coffee table", the Naguchi coffee table in black. :) I wish the purchase of our couch was as easy and seamless (in every way) as the coffee table. The couch took forever to arrive compared to an hour for our table upon purchase. I guess it helps a lot if you are near the latter's shop warehouse. :P I'm so loving the living room now...even if there's still tons to go, I'm looking forward to having people over!

With the stress of work, scrapping and keeping sane, I've mustered up the energy and time to start playing golf more regularly again. I need to get some exercise in my regiment since I sit in front a computer most of the time. Slowly...once a week first before I get my feel and then maybe twice a week. I hope to be able to keep this up till maybe summer. I normally play less during the really hot months. So far, decently getting back to the groove. :)

I'd like to promote a fellow blogger friend's site: Mabuhay Project
Crop Dreams aids to promote Filipino culture and talent through digital scrapbooking!
They got a lovely design team this 2008! Keep scrappin'...

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Title: 7 Things
Kit/Designer: Trimming the Tree by Daniel Designs and Doodleboogs
Template: 12x24 Happiness Is by Doodleboogs
Program: PS7.0
Font: Herald
**2-paged layout

Parties Galore for October

BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS!
This is continuation of the last entry since I was overly excited about the magazine launch. :) It was surely a busy week. There were so many birthday parties from start to finish aside from the magazine launch during the week.
I would like to send birthday wishes to the following people:
Oct 06 - to my brother, Jay; great treat - gotta love that Jap food!
Oct 10 - to my cousin, Jenilee; it was a rockin' party! Great food and great treats...check out the souvenier picture on the left. :D
Oct 11 - to my BFF, Tam; hope you were "surprised" with the work done by your hubby to celebrate your special day. :) Glad you liked your gift a lot!
Oct 19 - Happy Happy Birthday MOM!!!! I'm so proud to be your daughter! :)
Oct 23 - to my Cuz Ken, Happy Birthday and may you have tons and tons more birthdays to come! :) Great party!
Oct 24 - Happy Birthday, Sister Rhea! May you have many many more birthdays (and maybe babies) to come!
Wishing all of you a wonderful and great year ahead!

LANE CRAWFORD HOME
This is what I miss about Hong Kong...random invites to interesting shows, previews like this one. Did I tell you that I totally love the new Lane Crawford Home in Pacific Place? Well, I do love it to bits! Every square inch of the store is filled with wonderful and "my styled" furnitures, decors, amenities, etc! Ah...the Luxe Life indeed...
I love the contemporary theme of the place...tres chic!
It's also one of the places to get my fav tea brands, Mariage Freres, from France, which is the tea brand served at Agnes b Cafe and considered one of the best tea brands in the world.
I remember purchasing one of the unique woven pillow covers there too...still looking for the perfect couch to pair it. :P
Lane Crawford Home is an essential visit when you go to HK, especially Pacific Place. :)

SWONG: WISHING YOU WELL...TILL THE NEXT FOODSCAPE
My BBF pal, Swong, will be heading to DC next month to start a new chapter (a new life and job). I'm so going to miss her. She's my big sister in HK when I was there all alone so I'll surely feel very lost whenever I go to HK since we had so many cool excursions - Stanley, Discovery Bay, Repulse Bay, Tai Tam, Cybermall, Happy Valley, etc.
Although it would be a nice thing to visit her in DC when the time comes... :D

Etsy.com Feature
It's been awhile since I checked out Etsy but I'm glad I did today. I haven't seen the latest season of Project Runway (Season 4) but it was exciting to find out who won, because Etsy wrote an article featuring Etsy items that represent the new winner. So cool! I feel the "eco-beauty" of the creative sellers of the site. :D
**Warning- the article is a big spoiler…so unless you still want to keep Project Runway 4's winner a secret, I suggest you cover your eyes and just check out the sample photos below. :D
Ode to Project Runway's Contestant
My favorites are the following

(1) Micro Tile Hydrangea
(2) Aqua-licious scallop dish
(3) Custom Order, Medium Coffee/Cocktail Table

Do you see a pattern? I sure love my circles and curves. :)

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Title: Aiden & The Ice Cream
Kit: Cafe Mia by Shabby Scrap Designs (Deanna Patterson) Font: CK Becky
Photo Credit: Vivian Chung Photography

WWWWWWWWEEEEEEEE!!!

**News Flash**
This is surely an exciting entry!
Our wedding was one of the 30 couples that were featured on this year's Wedding Essentials (WE) magazine's annual issue of Beautiful Weddings. The magazine launch was just this October 08 at the Loft, Rockwell Power Plant.

**Now I know how Sister Mandy feel...though we were not as lucky as she did since we aren't part of the cover page. :P

1.) the loot bag of freebees for attending the launch: our cover magazine, a various compilation cd, a travel coffee mug, Artistry sheer lipstick, Manila Bulletin's Travel magazine

2.) our souvenier photo by BaiCapture

3.) the official cover of Beautiful Weddings 2008

4.) our own unique and personalized cover of Beautiful Weddings 2008 with our wedding photo as the cover for contributing to the feature

5.) Henry Pascual's advertisement in the magazine...it's our whole wedding decor!

6-8.) our wedding's cover story (photo credits: Patrick Uy and Eddie Boy Escudero)

Check out the 30 specialized covers of the other lucky couples featured:

(click a thumbnail for a larger view of a particular cover)

Please see the below for the full write-up:

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Confessions of an Overseas Bride

Ed and I were classmates from Saint Jude. I remember him to be the naughty boy constantly being punished while I kept to myself. I didn’t expect to bump into him after I moved to Canada for high school.
It just so happened that about six years ago, we met up again at our 5th year high school reunion. We made an impression of each other that day. After a very memorable Alabang first date, numerous emails and text messages, we officially became a couple six months later.
Ed and I never discussed marriage in our relationship until he proposed in late 2006. At that time I had just moved to Hong Kong, and we were having a long distance relationship. I was thrilled but planning a wedding was a daunting task for us, with me in Hong Kong and Ed in Manila. Luckily we had supportive parents and friends who helped us with setting up meetings and booking suppliers. My mom was the main driving force in this wedding – from my dress design to the theme.
There was no doubt in my mind where I would like our church ceremony to be. San Agustin Church was the obvious choice for its vintage and antique feel; it’s also the place where my parents were married at.
Food was another important factor and we booked the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for our reception. We had a few special requests regarding food, décor and planning that my account officer accommodated with great results. One of our main dishes was paired with a special sauce created by Mandarin’s Tivoli, Caper Calamansi Beurre Blanc, which became a big hit with our guests.
Searching my wedding gown was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had. When my best friend in Hong Kong found out that I was engaged, she took me bridal dress shopping all over town. I tried on so many good ones but the one I finally settled on was a Reem Acra ivory princess cut gown, which my mom found in a magazine ad. At first, it was tricky to pick a gown based only on a photo but luckily Central Weddings was able to find an in-store sample gown with a similar cut to reassure me of the fit. When my gown came, they were able to custom fit it to my size perfectly! It was seamless service!
The theme was harder to decide since I switched around from simple classic to Asian on a weekly basis. It was only after I finalized my gown design, with its elaborate details, that my mom suggested we explore a lavish, festive and rich Middle Eastern motif, perfect for a December wedding.
Half way through preparations, I had to change my florist. Although, I had ample time for this unexpected change, I had to screen suppliers all over again. Henry Pascual, one of the referrals that I seriously considered, won my mom over on the first meeting with his over-the-top creativity and proposed story board. The ideas he suggested went way beyond flowers and encompassed the whole motif. After that meeting, I knew we finally found not just a florist, but our event stylist.
The big day arrived and after a good night’s rest, I woke up ready to take on the world and a new chapter of my life. I recall being all relaxed from the time Jing, my make-up artist, came until my big walk behind San Agustin’s carved doors. I remembered wanting the doors to open faster but after seeing everyone looking at me when I was to take my first step, my legs buckled and my knees felt like jell-o! It was the extreme opposite of how I felt a few hours ago, but as I saw the sea of friends and relatives in full attendance, I kept my poise, walked slowly and smiled at the same time. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and solemn but passed in a flash and before I knew it, we were at Mandarin Oriental entering the grandest ballroom that I have ever seen. I was blown away with what Henry did. It was pure magic; it was as if I were transported to The Kasbah.
As a surprise to Ed, I was fortunate enough to have veteran balladeer, Jose Mari Chan, and noted concert pianist, Raul Sunico, as our honored guests. They both performed and made our wedding special for everyone.
Our wedding did not focus on just one thing. Each and every detail were well thought out and never compromised. Seeing our guests’ faces upon entering the ballroom with its “wow factor” definitely made all the effort worth it. It is pure flattery to be told by our guests and friends that ours is the benchmark of a successful wedding party.