New Year Plug

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! :)

Christmas Plug

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! :)

Tita Rose's Basic Spaghetti

My boyfriend's mom makes a really good spaghetti; it's one of those not too saucy, not to sweet varieties that's chock-full of meat and hotdog slices, very reminiscent of childhood. And with it being one of my boyfriend's favorite dishes, society dictates that I am inclined to master such a dish.

Super meaty spaghetti (the meaty-ness was totally by accident)

FLOW Workshop Day 9: Final Workshop Session and Graduation Day

Due to events related to the fact that I am a biological female, I missed our very last session and 'workshop graduation'. 

If I had been bummed at missing one of our gym sessions, I was damn near suicidal about missing this one. It's like not being there for a very important milestone, an amazing opportunity lost. Buuut, after sulking for over a day, I finally found the silver lining on this cloud, and that it's simply another motivation to keep training, joining jams/gym sessions and workshops in th future. 

I mean let's face it: how many people would say, "Okay, got my certificate, I'm good to go, mission accomplished", and walk away, never to look back and consider another workshop or training session. With an unfinished business hanging over my head like that, how could I NOT do something about it? After all, I've much to learn.

And so, my endeavours in overcoming my personal fears and exploring the art of Free Running, in that territory between the earth and sky, far beyond my beloved sea, are far from over at this point. 

There will be more workshops in the future, and more gym sessions to join. Hopefully by then, I'll be able to join the final outdoor session and jump that famed Lapu Lapu Gap (well okay, that one will take longer; it's a pretty ambitious goal especially for me. I mean have you seen that thing??)

For now I'll have to make do with scrambling up the divider in our office (as a make-up final exam) so I could claim our certificate. 

Oh hey, I'm a "Runner" :D

The workshop has been finished, but the experience is incomplete. Even so, it has been an amazing and invigorating time for us, and each day was a test of courage, perseverance and humility. We were blessed with good (and patient) teachers who made the whole thing fun and memorable for us. Biiiig thanks to you guys! 

Til next time! ^_^

FLOW Workshop Day 8: Outdoor Jam Session

Parkour and Free Running Urban Application - Getting to know your Urban Gym

Location: Quezon City Circle

Injuries:my hands, they BUUUUURN! T_T

Faceplant: none

Urban Evaluation: more practice, less fear!

Resulting Muscle Pain: oh gawd, muscle-pain mondays are back!

The Verdict: Urban is different from the gym in a way that there are no cushions, and I better remember that @_@

Quick Fix Beef Siomai Mami

I toyed with the idea of adding 'stuff' to my usual bowl of instant noodles.

My uncle used to do that with his Beef Mami; saute some onions and slices of beef, then mix in his favorite mami packet. It wasn't 'authentic' mami but definitely more delicious than the usual instant fare. 

I don't have beef nor onions at hand in the office though, let alone a frying pan and working stove, so had to make do with something simpler.

siomai + mami = yey!

Quick Fix Stir-Fry Pancit Canton

One thing that's probably better than good old instant pancit canton is stir-fried pancit canton. I had one once at a free taste stand in the supermarket; I can't remember the brand but I do remember liking the way they stir-fried the noodles in hot oil until they became crisp (almost crunchy).

I tried making my own version at home and came up with something pretty good :p

Easy-cook

FLOW Workshop Day 7: Free Running Session 3

I missed this week's session, thanks to a combination of take-home work, piled-up household chores and a tummy ache associated with irresponsible binging the day before. 

From what I gathered from those who were able to attend, last session included some additional moves such as the Front Flip and Butterfly Kick, as well as a review of the previous Free Running lessons. Similar to our Parkour 'practical exam', the trainers had them perform mini exhibitions using learned Free Running tricks.

They also played agawan base, for some reason XD XD

Words cannot express how bummed I am at being unable to attend that one session. I guess this just serves as a lesson that no matter how hard you try and how badly you want something, you still end up missing out , and you just have to catch up.

Next week we will be going back outdoors for our urban session, as well as the second-to-the-last workshop day.

Creamy Garlic Dip

I'm not just bragging - my mom makes one of the BEST garlic dips I've ever had. It started out as a craving to have something with our chips at home and my mom started mixing ingredients together, tweaking and adding more stuff with each creation, until she came up with our new staple.

Mom's Creamy Garlic Dip garnished with dill and mustard dollops, served with potato/cassava chips

We love having this with a variety of potato chips and even plain crackers. No need for strong flavors though - the dip itself is already very tasty. Speaking of which, better bring a toothbrush when you dig into this; the dip doesn't go stingy on the garlic so it's got that spicy, super-garlicy kick.

Jim's Pancakes

This dad is so sweet! He makes pancakes more fun for his little girl, and he's so creative with way he makes them, using food coloring and squeegee bottles to make those perfect shapes.

Jim's Pancakes: just trying to make some cool pancakes for my daughter

Look at that cuuute turtle! ^^

On the other hand, he makes my Mickey Mouse pancakes look really boring T_T

Omakase Restaurant

The problem with loving a certain type of food so much is that you tend to eat a lot of it any chance you get. Japanese food, for instance, has always been one of my favorites ever since I got my first taste of sashimi at age 10 (yes, I've been eating raw tuna dipped in soy sauce-wasabi at 10 years of age...with a chopstick). Since then I've been trying to get my hands on any sushi/sashimi - and eventually any tye of Japanese food - by going to any Japanese reataurant available at a reasonable budget; and if you've got a limited budget, you soon end up going to places that serve the same things all the time.

Don't get me wrong. I'm your everyday bento-loving, sashimi-seeking, wasabi-addict girl, but when you get that food burn-out, you need something a little different. 

So it's a good thing a friend of mine recently had her birthday lunch-out at Omakase.

Pampanga Tacos

Yes, I swear, there is such a thing as Pampanga Tacos, as I found out a few weeks ago.

I loove the whole Mexican/Tex-Mex affair, from burritos, tacos, salsa, nachos...maybe not guacamole though - I hate avocados, yech. It's all about that tomato and tortilla (and jalapenos! oh boy); tacos from Pampanga are just like that, minus the tortilla.

Pampanga Tacos with the works! And loads of hot sauce

Instead of those pre-made tortilla taco shells, these tacos shells are made from good old lumpia wrapper, two pieces layered on top of one another and deep fried on a stainless steel mesh mold and stuffed with meat, onions, tomatoes and shredded cabbage. The shells are made on-the-spot to ensure that they are fresh and crisp, and these things are sold at a stall for Php40 apiece (Php70 for a BIG one).

I actually like this type of tacos better because the shells aren't as brittle as the usual tortilla ones, making them easier to bite into without large pieces breaking off - you can get to eat more than half of the taco before it completely falls apart. If you're not the type to miss the corn-y tortilla taste and texture too much, I suggest you try this alternative.

UPCFA Art Fair 2010 "Open Studio"

Last November 27 marked the annual Art Fair "Open Studio" 2010 for the UP College of Fine Arts at Bartlett Hall.

Event Banner. Oh very smart, forgot to take a photo of the actual banner, so I have to make do with this tiny photo >.<

The event showcases the various works of students, professors and professionals alike through the exhibits,
demonstrations and talks throughout the day. For us alumni, it was also a chance to reconnect with old friends and show our support for our Alma Mater

Ahhh, the faculty room. So maaany memories (good or bad, you decide XD)

FLOW Workshop Day 6: Free Running Session 2

QM Application - Monkey Wars!!

Location: Club Gymnastica

Injuries: rug burns on my hands, that annoying knee-twinge

Faceplant: not applicable?

Flags Stolen: none, hehe

Resulting Muscle Pain: hmmm, not too bad

The Verdict: I need more practice in terms of speed, focus and agility (while moving on all fours)

Roast Beef Wrap ala Maetwine

My boyfriend likes the roast beef wrap they sell in the kiosk inside the gym where he works out - so much that he decided we should be able to make one at home. So with some help from his memory and a trip to the grocery, we came up with this.

 

Recipe by Melvin

*this also marks our first venture into 'cooking'.

This Is Why You're Fat

Another food-related link I like to browse, although this one is a bit more...ah...extreme >:D

This is Why You're Fat: Where dreams become heart attacks 

It's complete with photos and recipes of 'inventive' food items (so to speak). Some are downright gross but there are others that are actually pretty cool, and probably delicious. With plus points for creativity, like this one:

Chocolate mousse for the 'burger' and shortbread for the 'fries' - isnt that cute?

FLOW Workshop Day 5: Free-Running Session 1

Basics of Free-Running

Location: Club Gymnastica

Injuries: rug burns (again), and that palm spin gaffe really f*cked up my arm >_<

Faceplant: 2, hehe

Cartwheels and Flips: eh, needs work

Resulting Muscle Pain: they're back! T_T

The Verdict: free-running basically means you spend a lot of time being airborne, which is something I'm normally terrified of. So if I'm ever going to get over that fear, now would be great XD

Casa Xocolat

I've noticed we've been having our meet-ups (and birthday treats) at Casa Xocolat Katipunan branch lately. But who can blame us - seriously, it's a chocolate cafe :p

The Katipunan branch is one of those 'homes remodeled to accommodate a cafe' establishments, meaning it has that warm, homey look, complete with mismatched furniture, a little garden and cute novelty/artsy decor - I really love these type of cafes. It's all really nice and cozy, perfect for a date (perhaps the outdoor area on a cool night would be the better option) or a meet-up with friends.

(left to right) lots of nifty decor; ooooh, multicolored paddles?; our tabletop of chipped tiles; the cafe's counter featuring the menu scrawled on a chalkboard

It's obvious from the menu that this is a 'strictly (or mostly) chocolate' fair; even the savory dishes have a little chocolate/cacao element in them. Admittedly, we've never had the savory dishes, because we only went here for dessert, but maybe next time - I heard they were pretty good too.

Pictured: the obvious :D I also like the fact that it's all on one page so you dont have to keep flipping them over when trying to decide what to get

My Comfort Food: Instant Yakisoba

Okay so I have this addiction to instant pancit canton - there, I said it.

Not a very healthy choice (again), but, to each her own poison right? I dont smoke, I only drink occasionally, so yeah, I think I'm allowed this one little vice. 

Especially this:

Nissin's Yakisoba in Spicy Chicken

Also today's breakfast. So easy to whip up even in the office, you just leave it for 3 minutes in a bowl of hot water, drain, mix, and voila - yakisoba at it's finest. One of (my) life's simple pleasures.

My Personal Treat: McDonald's French Fries

I know, I know: Fast food is bad for your health. 

It's crammed full with preservatives and other suspicious elements. And so on...

But come on, you gotta admit, you get a serious craving for some good old, death-defying fries every now and then. And nobody does 'em better like McDonald's

 

French Fries in their largest serving, devoured by yours truly. I do this only once ever two months, I swear

I dont even know why I love this stuff so much; a lot of other fast food chains out there have more 'unique' french fries, but I guess I just like the simplicity of this one. Plain cut, fried and dusted with salt - what more could you ask for?

Mint Chocolate Sticks

I'm a BIG fan of the mint-chocolate flavor line. Most people hate it, but I just love the combination of the cool, minty goodness and sweet chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

I found this recently at a grocery store

It's around Php99 for a box of approximately 30 sticks; I'm not sure if this is available in other grocery stores yet, I've only seen it in one so far. 

Delfi Chocolatier's Dark Mint Chocolate Sticks

These thin, cigarette-length sticks of dark chocolate are filled with a peppermint flavored fondant; the texture is more crisp than fudge-y, so it's not messy at all. I love their proportions because one stick gives you that 'serotonin shot' plus the wake-up zing of mint, and you wont be compelled to chow down on the entire box right away.

I keep a bunch of these in my bag, and nibble on one or two sticks to perk me up. Better than a pack of cigarettes, I'd say :p

They also have these in orange and vanilla. I'm not a very big fan of the orange-chocolate combo, but I just might give it a shot in this one...

FLOW Workshop Day 4: Parkour Gym Session 3

Practical Exam!! (aka Parkour Tag)

Location: Club Gymnastica

Injuries: my toe hurts :(

Faceplant: none! :D

Parkour Tag Run Time: I dunno, but I definitely wasnt the fastest; on the other hand, no 'tags'

Resulting Muscle Pain: again, not too bad, but I've been wrong before 0_o

The Verdict: Unless you're a seasoned traceur, you cannot automatically do all those moves you just learned during a speed run, especially when being chased XD

Pretty Foods!

Got this link from colleague Saowee (who obviously knows me too well already)

Pretty Foods and Pretty Drinks: too pretty to eat, too lovely to drink 

And look at this food shot! Scrumptious @_@

Grabbed from Pretty Foods

Despite what the tag line says, I'd still eat 'em :D 
And this site will probably serve as my inspiration for my future food shots

Cowboy Food

My dad cooked this last weekend. I dont actually know what it's called (and neither does anyone in the family who has ever made it), but it's basically white beans and sausages (longganisa) cooked in a rich broth. The beans were generally soaked overnight and then stewed in the broth until they get all soft and mushy.

Mmmmmidnight snack!

My uncle was the first one to make this, when I was about 7; he called it 'cowboy food', probably because of the beans, and it's been my favorite ever since ^_^

It can be eaten with rice as an ulam, but I prefer it eaten in a bowl with a toasted bun; you just break the bread into pieces and dip into the stuff. Yum :p~

Maybe I'll ask my dad to teach me how to make this next time...

FLOW Workshop Day 3: Parkour Gym Session 2

Ramping up the Basics

Location: Club Gymnastica

Injuries: rugs burns, rug burns, RUG BURNS!

Faceplant: none! :D

Vault Score: my Kongs were a little wonky, Dashes were okay until I started thinking and Bar Vaults were fun because you had something to hold on to XD

Resulting Muscle Pain: surprisingly not as bad as the previous weeks...

The Verdict: apparently, if you think too much, you get this seriously inhibiting mind-f*** that prevents you from doing a move successfully. But if you dont think at all, you get an accident. Whut? 0_o

Lunch at CONGO GRILL

Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of Filipino Food Restaurants. Seeing as I get to eat lots of Filipino food at home, I do try to go for 'something else' everytime I go out to eat. Besides, if I get a taste of restaurant-grade caldereta that didn't quite hit the spot like my mom's homemade caldereta, I'd get sorely disappointed.

That's not to say I don't eat at Filipino-themed restuarants at all, especially with a boyfriend who happens to gravitate towards foodie spots with the words ihaw, ensalada and the like. So come one weekend, we sat ourselves at Congo Grill for lunch. 

Blueberry on Vanilla

Seriously, if you have a bottle of Blueberry Preserves and some vanilla ice cream, how can you NOT put them together? XD XD

sweet and simple

Flow Workshop Day 2: Pakour Gym Session 1

Conditioning Exercises and Practicing Proper Forms

Location: Club Gymnastica

Injuries: rug burns on my hands and arms, small bruise on shoulder and lower leg, big nasty bruise on my knee T_T

Faceplant: none! :D

Handstands: 2 (barely), and I was scared to death @_@

Vault Score: I did better on the Lazy Vault than the Side Vault. I think my legs really get in the way >_<

Resulting Muscle Pain: hey, I can move! But it still hurts...

The Verdict: this craft requires just the right amount of caution, and a huge sense of freedom in movement. Right now all I have is caution - must work on stripping down my inhibitions...

Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream in a Mug

Aaaaand, nothing spells heaven like a mug of Selecta's Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream on a late afternoon.

Selecta Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream

...even if it's a dark, rainy, pre-typhoon afternoon. But chocolate is chocolate right? Especially chocolate ice creams that's drizzled with hot fudge and mixed with these delectable chunks of truffles.

Okay so thinking about it, we have stuff like Frozen Hot Chocolate, but is there such a thing as Hot Chocolate Ice Cream? Which would probably just be a really creamy hot chocolate drink...right?

I suddenly have this urge to heat up a bowl of Chocolate Truffle ice cream and drink it up...

FLOW Workshop Day 1: Introductory Session

Urban Introductory Jam

Location: QC Circle

Injuries: a cement burn on each palm, bruise on right leg, another bruise on my ego :p

Faceplant: almost - thank goodness for spotters

Walls Climbed: .5 (yeah I need to work on that one)

Vault Score: I did better on this one, expect for that close-call faceplant - I have long legs, they get in the way >_<

Resulting muscle pains: *pops another Alaxan*

Verdict: Must summon my inner cat, and let my inner mermaid be, for now *sob*. Less Waterbending, more on Earth and Air

I guess you could call this the 'preface'...

So, yeah.

It occurred to me that I haven't gone blogging in a while, mostly because I've been waaay too busy with all sorts of things (mostly work) and found myself wholly occupied with so many thoughts (mostly about work T_T)

But why should that be an excuse not to write anyway, especially since I do love sharing stories and what-not. And let's face it - I need a hobby. One that isn't related to - gasp! - art and drawing. Not that I've grown tired of that - that is, after all, my first and greatest true love. But why don't we go and spread out a little more eh?

So what else do I love? 

FOOD! Yes of course, lots of food and anything, and I mean anything, related to it.

And traveling, going to far-off places, especially beaches. Anywhere with the sand and sun and sea. Trying out new things for a change, having a little 'adventure' every once in a while.

Combine that with a penchant for taking pictures and a hand for writing, and I got myself a nifty photo blog in the works.

One meant for simply sharing what new things I tried, a cool place I went to, an exotic beach or two, a tasty culinary find...the possibilities are endless, really.

Besides, Ana said I could put those torturous food photos of mine to good use in a 'foodie blog', not to mention my excessive gabbing about this or that restaurant, haha. 

So, cheers to my return to the blogging world ^^

PS: I really do hope I can maintain this one, this time :p                                                                                                                       

Alright, let's do this...

So...back to blogging it is. Or something like it

Let's see if I can keep this one up XD XD