Sunday, April 27, 2008

Silence

This blog has been silent for a while because I have been more active with my multiply site.

Ijjou desu.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Oolong-Cha

As I live with the walking evidences everyday, e.g. slim and beautiful skinned women and even men, healthy oldies (heck, my manager who is past his 60 is still active in the business and even monkey-business and his menopause-d wife is even healthier than my mother who haven't reached that stage yet), I couldn't help but believe that their tea-drinking habit is the key to their health and beauty secret.

I hardly see the Japanese drink plain water, they usually quench their thirst or pair their meals with a cup of green tea or the brown-colored Oolong tea. It's even easier to find an Oolong tea container than a normal water jug or "pitsel" from the hundred yen shop. Green tea is popular around the world but Oolong is the household tea here. They serve it in restaurants, fast foods for free. Even in anime, you see the characters drinking a glass of brown water. These are what triggered my curiosity with Oolong-cha.

The taste is kinda weird but I'd love to give this tea a chance in our daily diet. I was about to buy a pack but because it's not as cheap as the green tea because it always comes in at least 30 bags (no trial pack). I figured I had to research about more about its health benefits and see if it's worth it.

And this is what I found:

Weight Loss
  • Scientists from Japan's University of Tokushima School of Medicine found that people who regularly consumed oolong tea experienced more than twice the calorie-burning results compared to those who drank green tea.

  • A study published in the Journal of Medical Investigation found that women who consumed wu-long tea directly after a meal increased energy expenditure by 10%. This compared to an energy expenditure of 4% for green tea drinkers and 0 for water drinkers.

  • Researchers at the Suntory Research Center in Osaka, Japan found that drinking wu long tea 15 minutes before eating foods high in carbohydrates curbed rises in insulin, thus reducing some of the fattening effects of carbohydrate intake.

Better Skin Condition

  • Researchers from Japan's Shiga University of Medical Science found that drinking wu long each day helps to clear up skin problems within one month.

  • Dr. Kenichi Yanagimoto and colleagues from the University of California found that people who drank wu long tea on a daily basis experienced a fifty-percent reduction in free radicals within 15 days.

    Free radicals are damaging substances in the body that contribute to signs of aging, including wrinkles and dark spots that are caused by ultra-violet rays, chemical food additives, pollution and stress.

Healthy Teeth
  • A study by the Department of Dentistry at Japan's Osaka University showed that regular consumption of oolong tea strengthens teeth and helps prevent tooth decay by inhibiting the build-up of plaque.
Stronger Immune System
  • According to a study published in Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, test subjects who consumed wu long were found to have stronger immune systems and a reduced risk for infections.
I guess I have to start filling my pink Oolong jug not just with water but with a bag of this promising tea.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Penne in Tomato and Cheese

I had a craving for Sbarro Baked Ziti, but since it's impossible to find that here, I wanted to make anything Penne. I have a Penne Pasta, my friends left me with fresh tomatoes from the last party and I have a bag of Mozarella Cheese, what to do? So after searching the net I found this recipe which originally requires baking but because I don't have an oven, I used the oven toaster instead.

My camera phone ran out of battery so I wasn't able to take a picture of it, also I thought it would come out just okay and not worth blogging about. But I was wrong, it turned out delicious and if I just added more mozarella cheese and salt, it would have came very, very close to baked ziti. I now love toasted mozarella cheese. Even reminded me of Pizza Hut... yum, yum.

Again here's something vegetarian for a change, and fitting for the lenten season. It's so, so easy pa I swear!

Ingredients:
single serving of Penne Pasta (basta ndi marami, yung tama lang for 1 person)
1 fresh tomato, sliced in to cubes or 1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon of dried Oregano
garlic and onion
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
salt and pepper
lots of mozarella cheese (at least 1/2 cup)

How to:
  1. If you're using fresh tomato, the first step is making the tomato sauce. In a heated casserole, put in the sliced tomato, mix it, flatten the tomato cubes, put 2 tablespoons of water and the sugar, when you think the tomato has been juiced out, meaning there are more juices and less tomato cubes, set it aside.
  2. Cook the Penne Pasta like any pasta.
  3. Heat vegetable oil, or any cooking oil, saute the onion and garlic.
  4. Pour in the tomato sauce, and add the oregano, adjust the taste with salt and pepper. Then simmer.
  5. Turn off the fire, add in some of the mozarella cheese.
  6. Mix it with the cooked Penne Pasta.
  7. Put it in an aluminum plate or bowl and put the rest of the mozarella cheese on top.
  8. Place inside the oven toaster and heat it for 7 minutes.
  9. If you're a cheese addict, you can sprinkle it with parmesan cheese upon serving or eating.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Eggs and Buffalo

I'm in search for light meals that doesn't require pork or beef in accordance to this season of lent. I found this Egg in Tomato Sauce recipe which is just perfect. I tried it, it tastes goood but because I have no talent in cooking eggs in any style(they just manage to appear ugly), I opted to post the pic from the blog where I got the recipe instead.

I followed the recipe (saute garlic, put the tomato sauce and the rest of the seasonings, then break the egg) but I made changes with the ingredients because some are not available here.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
tomato sauce
dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt, black pepper, & cayenne pepper or chilli pepper to taste
1-2 eggs per person (up to eight)
parmesan cheese

Try it for your breakfast, or light dinner... i now love the taste of egg and tomatoes together!

**********

Because it's just impossible to satisfy my hubby with just an egg for dinner, especially when he only had bread for lunch (yeah bad wife), I made him Buffalo Wings which I just discovered is easy to make. Yes it's the same buffalo wings we enjoy at Don Hen's or Hooters in Singapore.

Ingredients
chicken wings (cut the small part of the wing)
oil for deep frying

for the chicken breading:
1 dash pepper , Ground
1 dash garlic powder
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon paprika or chilli pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

for the chili sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup hot sauce (or depending how hot you want it)

Mild: Use 3/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup hot sauce.
Hot: Use 1/4 cup butter and 3/4 cup hot sauce.


Directions:
  • mix the breading
  • wash and dry the chicken
  • completely coat the chicken with the breading.
  • chill for at least an hour (This will help the breading to stick to the wings when fried.)
  • deep fry the chicken until brown
  • place in a paper towel or strainer to drain the oil
  • Then melt the butter, mix in the hot sauce
  • pour the chicken into the pan to coat it with the butter and hot sauce mixture
  • serve hot
I served this during our house warming and little Chelsey's mexican themed birthday party.. and the guests loved it! I am sure you will love it too! =)

Bad Hair Days

I called the Salon to make a weekend appointment for haircut and hair color, then I realized my dry scalp also badly needs of moisture so I added hot oil. Since I'm already at it I figured to just do a complete overhaul with a facial, manicure and pedicure. So there, I was slated for an early 10 am appointment for the next day, it's rather early but I have to make it on time if I am serious about beautifying myself, you know how strict Japanese are with appointments.

But alas! the following day I woke up at 11 am... I was so so late! Before I could grab my phone to take my chance on my appointment, I realized it's just a dream, heck I can't even speak nihonggo to make that appointment! And of course, I don't have that money to waste for those kind of services.

I guess my subconscious is missing my regular salon visits back home, as well as my aching ingrown toe nails. How I miss our condo in MET where my favorite salon was just in the ground floor. For only P100 I could just ask Bong, the stylist to blow dry my hair straight if I just feel like having a straight hair for the day. He is also the best colorist I know coz hindi "nangangalawang" yung color even if 4 months have passed when I had it done.

I have been wanting to grow my hair long but I didn't realize it's so hard to maintain a very, very curly long hair without the help of those trims and hot oil treatments. I didn't even bring my ever reliable virgin coconut oil! Every day, it takes at least 10 minutes to untangle every strand and now, I can't sleep without the hair clamp Rose gave me because I had to tie it up while sleeping or else that 10 minutes will become 30 minutes just for the hair alone.

I love my hair now, but I think I have to give it up. Not that I'll go bald, but I am thinking of having my hair shorter for easier maintenance. I wonder if these styles will work for me, hehe.



Friday, February 22, 2008

Egg Tart

the box says "Please enjoy our taste!", oh I surely did!!


Let me share to you the most delicious egg tart i've ever tasted. We were ordering Cooc pizza for dinner when I saw the egg tarts on the brochure, it's been a while since I had one so I ordered a box. It costs Y299 (113 php) for two small rounds but it was definitely worth it!

It was still warm when it arrived which lasted even after we have finished the pizza. The crust is like a soft biscuit, it's crunchy but you won't be afraid to lose a teeth when you bite it like the normal pie/tart crusts I have eaten. It breaks on your first bite and the egg filling practically melts in your mouth that you don't need to chew it. The caramel on top gives that sweet after taste.

To give a better picture, it is an egg tart that tastes so much like a creme brulee.

I love it! I love it! from now on, we're surely be ordering pizza more often. =D

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Top 1

I was very, very shy and anti-social back in gradeschool and because of that I only made 1 bestfriend then. She was rowdy, tactless and "burara"(which is why after 5 yrs the boys in our batch got the shock of their lives when she was crowned Mutya ng Dabaw), very opposite from my passive persona which I forgot how we were able to bond, but we managed. And she is the longest/oldest (how would you describe that) friend I have.

Her being studious influenced me to do better in school. I think I have never studied harder in my entire life. We even spent our recess and lunch breaks at the library studying. Ever since I made friends with her, I became consistently in honor roll and graduated in top ten. We never competed with each other, however there's this girl she wanted so badly to beat. This girl is our top 1 and she gets upset whenever she slips in her race.

When I asked her why she couldn't be happy with her top 2 spot, she answered that because her dad promised to stop drinking if she was able to land on class' top 1. See, her dad couldn't make a day pass without at least a bottle of beer. He wasn't a bum or a drunkard, he is actually a doctor and a very good father. As a child who descended from a family of doctors(her mother is also a doctor), she knew very well that this is bad for her father's health. While I enjoy the P10 my grandfather pays me per honor certificate, her efforts are all for a more serious cause. There was a time that I wanted to ask miss top 1 to study less and let my bestfriend go ahead, or maybe I asked her that and she just smiled at me. I forgot. Well anyways, my bestfriend still failed to land on that precious spot.

Last Sunday night, my brother broke the bad news, my bestfriend's father died of liver problem probably all those alchohol took its toll. It was said to be sudden, one day he just went in coma then died the next day. And these memories loomed over my head when I heard about it.

The last time I talked to tito was during my wedding preparations when I went to their house to look for my friend. And he gave me pointers about marriage. Well, you never really know.

It makes me sad thinking about her and how she is right now. I asked my bro to buy flowers or mass card but I want to call her or send her a message, but what would I say? When you know there's nothing you can do to make her feel better. Oh what to do... =(

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day

Unlike in the Pinas, UK, US or Singapore where all my friends were whining about how hearts and commercialism about this day flutter all around the places, it is the complete opposite here in the land of the rising sun. It is as mundane as usual, quiet and no im-so-sad-i-don't-have-a-date-today faces splattered on the streets.

But the stores are filled with chocolates though, because on this day, the girls actually have a chance to send their feelings across a clueless man with a pretty box of chocolate, hoping that at the same day next month they will reply with another box of chocolate or flowers if they are lucky.

Days before valentines I get fliers for a session of chocolate making lesson or valentine cake baking lesson. And the hundred yen shop is brimming with cute wrapping stuff and baking ingredients that are not ordinarily available. While stocking up on confectionery sugar, dried fruits, peanut crush.. etc.. which I don't plan to use for valentines but just contingencies in case I will need them in my future cooking or baking attempts, I see lots of giggly high school girls shopping for their ingredients and wrappers for the chocolate they were going to make. All these because if you want to send your feelings across with a stronger impact, the chocolate should not just come from a store's shelf, but should be lovingly made with your own hands from scratch. If Maria Clara have known about this, it would definitely make her gasp for air in protest.

One may see this as a male chauvinistic part of their culture, but after seeing those high school girls smile with excitement and after a walk down the memory lane, I wished we had a day like this back home. A day where girls are given freedom to say how they feel without fear of being judged. If we just had a day like this, it could have saved a lot of young and not so young hearts from suffocating which is much worst than breaking. I personally think it's fun too.

I think this is the only part of the planet where the commercialism of the Heart's day cannot penetrate. Maybe Japanese are just too stoic for that or maybe they just want to keep it real. I never hated valentine's day, even if I am no longer the "I AM NOT BITTER" kind person that I used to but I still hate the commercialism that engulfs the whole meaning of Love which is the reason for the celebration. The pressure and expectations that are pumped to the limit cheapens everything and make you wonder if it's real or obligatory.

I spent this day working, actually forgetting that it's the V-day if not for my friends back home who greeted me. I had no expectations because I am in a V-day twilight zone, if the day ended without a date or flowers, I'm perfectly fine with it. Workday ended with a plan to just cook for dinner and make my Hubby a heart shaped strawberry cake. But Hubby took me to Hotel Centraza, with a reason that he had to meet a Japanese client, he is a bad liar but I believed him still because he always meets with clients so I thought this is just one of them. But instead of meeting another Japanese to impress, I was greeted with a table with a "Reserved" sign on it. He made reservations to that expensive restaurant I have been wanting to go! The place was not full but he insisted on making a reservation because he said it is more special. I was suprised and very happy, especially with the buffet of crabs, incredibly tender steaks and the DESSERT table that can make you cry. And he just grinned from ear to ear saying "akala mo hahayaan ko na wala tayong valentines?". We left the restaurant with very full bellies so we opted to just walk home. It was romantic.

I had no bouquet of flowers to boast this year, but this time the day was unexpected and more sincere and special. I think this is how we should celebrate it, it doesn't really matter if its with friends or loved ones, as long as there's no expectations, no pressure... just love.

just one of those on the dessert table

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

ADDU HS

got this from my brother, about our High School way way back

1) section mo nng 1st yr high ka?
• 1-Red

2)eh nung 2nd yr high?
• 2-Blue

3)3rd yr?
• 3-Red

4)4th yr?
• 4-Red

5)anong best year for u? bakit?
• 3rd yr. kasi that's the year I got out of my shell and made my barkada. Atsaka marunong na ako tumakas at mag malling.

6) Kung naabutan mo si Sir Calotes,like mo ba siya? miss mo na ba xa?
• yes and wala ata ako natutunan sa kanya hehe.

7) san kau kumakain kapag lunch?
• Sa canteen or sa classroom, pag may extra cash or craving for pancit, punta sa Magallanes para kumain sa isang cheap bakery.

8) san tumatambay after skul?
• front field at magpa-dooding sa mga gwapong soccer players or CAT commanders.

9) lagi ka ba late pagmorning?
• oo, hanggang ngayon kahit ndi na ako highschool

10) nasuspend ka na ba?
• wala

11)Bakit?
• kasi I see to it na 3x lang ako ma-late sa isang month

12) masaya ba pag fiesta days?
• super! walang pasok and daming activities and pwede akong pumunta ng school pag gabi.

13) have u ever danced on stage?
• sa stage wala. pero sa gitna nang covered court oo. yung inter-year folk dance contest 2nd year tapos nagchampion kami.


14) nagka bf/gf ka ba nong highschool days mo?
• how I wish but then, buti na lang hindi

15) sinong all time crush mo nun?
• dalawa actually, si Erwin Santos nung 1st year, and si Carlo nung 3rd year and many more years after.

16) would u go bak?
• Definitely!

17) ano lagi mong binibili na panwich?
- tuna panwich

18) overpricing ba ang tali s hair??
• oo! P2 for one tali sa hair.

18) nakakita ka n ba ng multo s skul?
wala

19) u ever sang on stage pag may program?
• wala

20) fave subj?
• Theology by Fr. Reyes, English by Mrs. Baldovino(the best!)

21) Nabagsak k n ba?
• Hindi pa

22)have u ever been sent out?
• Yes, Theology class nung 1st year by Brother Alex, bestfriend ko noon kasi muslim kaya ayaw niya ng Theology kaya nag cchika lang kami during classes. Na-high blood si Brother.

23) feel mo ba malau ang HS bldg till kanto bnda s space burger?
• wala pang space burger noon. Pag hindi close ang Acacia gate, malapit lang.

23) have u ever ran the oval??
• wala pa ring oval noon... teka, meron nang oval ngayon??, sa front field lang ako tumakbo punishment for being late.

24) varsity??of wat?
• wala

25)do u miss addu high??
• I really do. I also miss the Ateneo HS wooden building... syet naabutan ko pa ang wooden!

Monday, February 4, 2008

Home Sweet Home

We just finished moving to our new house in just one weekend. Thanks to the help of our pinoy friends here who helped Dan carry all the heavy stuff and Juliet's bf who donated a washing machine(that works faster than an ordinary one) and a decent light set!

We also bought second-hand stuff from an american guy who left for Korea, they are mostly kitchen stuff (stove, rice cooker, toaster, and lots and lots of pots and pans), and since he loves to cook he left us with lots of gadgets for cooking which I luuuvv!! By tinkering with the stuff, I learned that you can schedule the rice cooker on what time to cook rice for you. Just set its clock time correctly, click the "予約" (yoyaku, or appointment) and set what time it will cook. Of course don't forget to put the rice inside. No worries, coz contrary to what Lola warned, the rice here doesn't turn into lugaw even if left emerged in water for hours.

Adding fixings to the house is the easiest thing here in Japan because everything you need and can think of can be bought from the hundred yen shop. Like there are endless types of cleanser you can choose from like kitchen oil stain cleaner, kitchen anti-fungus cleaner, refrigerator cleaner, furniture cleaner, etc... and different types of hooks, basta everything! Just a few trips to the hundred yen shop and our house is clean and fixed, and you wont even see messy wirings.

To solve our dilemma with the lights, we found this light socket set from Bic Camera, it's a bulb socket with a pull string for on/off (wala kasing switch dito for lights, so we need that string), and we only plugged to the light socket on the ceiling. No fancy fixture, just that which costs only Y1000 and a light bulb for only Y580 and we now have a light for the other room! I learned that even light bulbs don't come cheap here because the only brands you can choose from are National, Toshiba and other popular Japanese brands which spell E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. Ironically, the lights in the house gave us more pain in the butt than the aesthetics.

Also, our bathroom is changed to a more modern module from Hitachi, with a bigger ofuru or bathtub and a computerized water heating system! No more twisting and turning of knobs, just one click of a button and we instantly have hot water. The previous owner also left his airconditioning unit, so we're looking forward to one cool summer. Our verandah is also bigger than the usual, as in it's big that we can have a party there or set up a kiddie pool.

My life here in Japan is almost perfect. I have a house that I love to bits, lots of genuinely helpful friends and enjoyable get togethers, we have the world's best and most systematic transportation system, we don't have to pay for house rent, electricity, gas and water are all taken cared of by the company, I love the food here and I have mastered doing grocery and finding the ingredients that I need without nosebleeding from all the overwhelming kanji and thanks to Maila, I can now cook a gyudon comparable to Yoshinoya's!

If not for their work culture, I can live here forever, I might even get inspired to get serious in studying their language. Oh why can't everything be perfect!

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Light up Our New House

Since I arrived here last September, Hubby and I are sharing the house with a colleague. Actually, nakikitira lang kami since the unit we wanted was not yet available. But starting tomorrow, we are going to move our things to our new house. It's a rule here for every condo/mansion to repaint, replace wallpapers, tatami, tiles and etc.. whenever a unit has been vacated, that is why we had to wait for a week before we could use the unit.

It's on the 3rd floor, with verandah(as usual), 3 bedrooms and a corner unit! It's actually the reason why I wanted to wait for it than look for another one. I like a corner unit because it has lots of windows which will become a blessing when summer comes and I like a bright house.

I heard the unit costs only Y60,000/month (P21,600), pretty cheap but the company will shoulder everything except for the appliances that is why Hubby and I have been busy looking for things to fill our house. As in from lights(that's one thing weird here in Japan, hindi kasama sa unit ang ilaw!) to curtains. We went to Yodobashi this afternoon to look for lights but I was shocked to find out how expensive lights here are! The cheapest one we could find is a bedroom light for Y8000! So now we are searching for second-hand lights for sale or giveaway in the buy and sell forum. I can't possibly spend Y24,000 for all the lights in the house!

Since the 3 bedrooms are too much for the two of us, we are planning to use one bedroom as our walk-in closet, yipee! dream come true! hehe.. and the other one as bodega or guest room, if we ever have guests. So whoever wants to visit Fukuoka, rest assured that you have a place to stay.. just bring your own light.. hehehe =D

Monday, January 28, 2008

Women's Clinic ala Spa



I became alarmed when my right breast is painful than the usual and decided to find a gynecologist to have my long overdue breast exam after 3 years. At first Hubby and I went to this women's clinic in Tenjin because the doctor speaks english daw, but actually he only knows basic english conversation like "where are you from?" or "what is wrong with you" so we still had a hard time understanding him during the examination. He only did "manual" breast examination and referred us to this women's hospital in Hirao (another town) that specializes in breasts. All that for a whopping Y8500! (I am never going back there again).

After reaching Hirao and studying the map, we finally found the Oikawa Women's clinic. It was one quiet and clean hospital, it looks like a hotel really. Unlike a normal hospital, you won't see patients, doctors or nurses busily roaming around the lobby because the patients have special waiting rooms designated according to the specialty they need. Only the patients who are waiting for their bill or their companions stays in the lobby to wait. Since it was a women's clinic, they have this special waiting area for women and children only. Hubby and I stayed there at first because of the more comfortable sofas but we were escorted to the other area because it was strictly for women. And we don't know why they have to have something like that.

After filling up my forms, I was called to this room which I assume was the breast examination room. With the dim lights, the smell of scented oil that fills the room, and the relaxing music made me feel I was transported to a spa. Then I was lead to this very small room with locker, closet to hang my clothes, shoe rack, mirror, cushioned stool and magazines where I was asked to change into a chocolate brown gown (that doesn't resemble a hospital gown at all), and wait there. Plus, their comfort room was like a victorian dressing room, the toilet bowl was hidden by a divider with lots of flowers, which makes the room smell of flowers, then it has a charming dresser with mirrors and lights around it. Para talaga akong nasa Spa and waiting for my massage attendee!

So I was called back to reality and had another "manual" breast exam, the doctor even drew circles on my breast which I assume are the cysts and measured them (pwede pala yun?). Hubby was strictly not allowed inside the breast examination room so I was all by myself with my survival nihongo because it was not an english speaking hospital. But I managed from the mammography, which by the way is I think one of the many painful things women had to go through, sakeeet! until the ultrasound. Unlike in Pinas where we had to wait at least a day for the mammogram result, after a while I was already called in to the doctor's room and my mammogram and ultrasound was already displayed there while the doctor explained to me the findings.

Thank God it was just Fibrocystic breast tissues and I have nothing to worry about. Buti na lang din that the doctor could understand english medical terms so I was able to ask if it's already Fibrocystic adenoma (which needs surgery) but thank God again it was not! He basically told me the same thing I heard from all the doctors that examined me, that this problem on my breast will clear up once I bear a child and start lactating. So there was nothing to worry about daw. Uhuh.

The whole exam costs only Y11,000 and every cent was worth it. It was indeed a world class medical service right from the state of the art machines to time efficiency. I am not worried anymore, para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib, and a with service like that, I will never have second thoughts again on having this exam regularly. Susundin ko na si ma'am nurse na dapat every year!

hubby trying to answer my all-nihongo patient form



Saturday, January 26, 2008

Friends Ba Kayo ng Ex mo?

Got this from a friend through friendster, I know I shouldn't be answering questions like this but I can't sleep and I have nothing to do and I think it's kinds fun din and I want to tag some of my friends.. bwehehehe... ang hindi sumunod sa tag pangit.

1.Friends ba kayo ng ex mo?
♥ hindi

2.Ma ayos ba kayo nagbreak?
♥ maayos namanm, tapos naging hindi

3.Naging masaya ka ba sa kanya?
♥ minsan

4.Sa tingin mo naging masaya siya nung kayo pa?
♥ malamang hindi

5. Namimiss mo ba siya?
♥ hindi rin

6 Love mo pa?
♥ definitely not.

7.Musta naman lovelife mo ngayon? may bago ba?
♥ very happily married to a man with sexy chest hairs hehe

8.Hinihintay mo parin ba siya?
♥ hindi na

9.Kung mahal mo siya, bat di mo balikan?
♥ binalikan ko nga noon, pero ayaw na niya kay Sheryl Cruz =P

10.May bago bang bf/gf ex mo?
♥ happily married na rin

11. Nagtagal ba kayo?
♥ Sa awa ng Dyos umabot naman ng 4 yrs.

12.Natatakot ka na bang magmahal ulit??
♥ natakot after a series of wrong guys after him

13.Umaasa ka ba na may taong magmamahal sayo?
♥ meron talaga! lovable kasi ako! =D

14.Pano kung kayo rin ng ex mo in the future??
♥ impossible

15.Galit ka ba sa kanya?
♥ hindi na

16.Wat if, one day sabihin niya na mahal ka pa niya??
♥ malamang on drugs sya nyan

17.Ano kanta mo sa kanya?
♥ "Mr Dreamboy, Mr Dreamboy, ako kaya ang nasa isip mo.."

18 .Nagawa mo na bang maghabol? sa knya?
♥ yep, and thank God! he was in his right mind and did not take me back

19.Nakikita mo pa ba ex mo???
♥ hindi na

20. anu ba tawagan nyo?
♥ labskie (eewww)

21. bkt mo siya nagustuhan?
♥ kasi feeling ko ako si Sheryl Cruz

22. sa tingin mo cnu ang susunod sknya?
♥ may mga sumunod na ndi ko naging boypren. pero ang totoong sumunod ay si Sergio... kaya si Marimar na ako ngayon!

23. my communication pa ba kayo?
♥ wala na

24. kailan ba naging kayo?
♥ hala, nakalimutan ko na.. June or July ata yun, tanong ko muna si Jaja, sya kasi nag rremind sa akin noon pag anniv.

25.kailan kau nagbreak?
♥ hala, ndi ko na rin maalala

26. bakit?
♥ because destiny had to lead us to better partners, that will make us better persons and we both deserve to be happy.

27. Anong message mo sa kanya?
♥ friends?

I am tagging Georgia, Ysilona, Poeticnook, Claire, Madz, Mau, Dee, Chellie

What a Friday Night!

Maila and I had a date after work, we had ramen, window shopped, shopped at Daiso and had coffee and made some chiklets at Veloce until the cafe closed at 11. It's been a while since we last had a night like this since we became very busy with our lovelives, and it's also been a while since I had my bowl of the most delicious ramen in the world - Ichiran Ramen!! Actually, when she invited me for a "gimik", I hesitated and would rather curl up in bed because of the cold weather, but since it's my chance to eat ichiran ramen, I pushed my lazy-couch-potato mood aside (what a friend! hehe).

Well, hubby doesn't like eating at Ichiran because he doesn't get full from the Y650 a bowl. Konting dagdag na lang daw, pwede na kami mag eat-all-you-can.. which explains my weight gain.

looks harmless, but so deadly delicious!


Maila is not taking a test, she is just eating her ramen =p

When I arrived home, I found my hubby busy on the skype talking design stuff to his developer in Pinas. Then I saw that we had all our laundry washed and hanged and our bedsheets, pillow cases, futon cover and winter blanket fresh and cleaned from the laundrymat! He did all that while I was away and I was very impressed on how productive he is. Thank God for the PSP that kept him company while at the laundrymat. And thank God for a husband like him. =D

There is also good news tonight, because Claire is now in labor! We're very excited for the arrival of the first VPAL baby! Baby pa, bongga na, kasi tiniming niya ang pag "out" niya sa last day of work ng nanay niya!

I am so excited, I hope Darrix will keep his word to post the pics as soon as the head comes out.. ooppss ayoko ata makita vajayjay ni Claire, sige, when the baby comes out na lang! And I hope Claire will still remember us after the epidural wears off... sabi kasi nila nagiging makalimutin daw yung side effect nun... it's just like saying she will get total amnesia.. hehehe =p

Also, a long lost friend confided something to me tonight... hmmm, which I really can't tell yet. But I am so happy! I am just writing it here to mark a very special day. =D


Friday, January 25, 2008

The Good Daughter

I wrote a letter to my tita in the US because my mom told me to and because my tita wants to get my Japan postal address. I heard she and her husband is going to Europe (again!) for a vacation, so for conversation sake, I told her that Dan and I are also planning to have a vacation there because we still don't have a honeymoon yet. See, "planning" is different from "going" because with "planning" still entail "saving", "saving" and more "saving", plus "applying for vacation leaves", "applying for visa" which may either lead to actually "going" or "not going".

Then she replied like we are actually "going" and told me not to forget about my parents and that my mom told her about my "promise" to bring her and papa to Singapore. You see, I just told mom before that there's a promo fare to Singapore on May and Hubby's whole family is going there. So Hubby offered to pay for my parents so that we can get together in Singapore hopefully. And that was before all these expenses for papa's hospitalization and other stuff came in. Plus we have to book in advance to get the promo fare, but with my dad's ongoing recovery it's just impossible to do that.

Since hubby has given a LOT already since what I have is not enough for their needs, I will assume that Singapore trip they are hoping for. The fare is easy, but the pocketmoney is a different thing. And I have other things to save for this year, so it will not be an easy task for me.

What actually irks me was how my tita told me, "do not forget your parents" when I told her I may be going to this grand vacation. Am I supposed to feel guilty if my husband do able to save for our dream vacation, but I won't be able to bring them to a Singapore trip?

It even reminded me of how another aunt told me last year, "tulungan mo papa mo, ano ka ba, wala ka bang naipon?", when my dad was diagnosed with this disease and at that time might require operation. It was so hurtful to hear those words like you never did anything, like I am laying golden eggs here.

I do want to give my parents a long deserved vacation, but I just don't want to be pressured on it and I don't need the guilt trips. It makes me feel so sad that after all you have done, kulang pa rin.


Roller Coaster

I thought when you find the right person, get hitched and settle down you are finally saved of riding that emotional roller coaster ride. But I was wrong, because after finding the right person, got hitched and settled down I realized it's not yet the end of my fairy tale after all. Because I was not a princess who slept for 100 yrs nor an orphan slaved by my stepmother and sisters, well this is not a fairytale land after all.

Okay, okay before you jump into conclusions or before my lawyer friends offer me their Pro Bono divorce/annulment services, let me make this clear that I am talking about my career.

I have come to a point that I already know what I want to do with it, after 7 years of hardly threading on my chosen career path. I found the technology where I want to specialize in but it wasn't enough. This happened a year ago when I talked to the vice president of this certain firm and he told me something that confirmed what I have been thinking about for a long time but chose to ignore (because I am so lazy to move my butt), he said if you want to stay longer in this field, you have to master an industry because technology changes, but the business rules in an industry don't. It may be just part of his salestalk to lure me, along with the others, to his company but I know part of it is true.

Now, I found the industry I want to focus on and which path to choose (if there are options). I thought it was just a whim but after months of finding myself seriously looking for a job in one, it's gotta be something serious. Initially, it was just the money that I am after but after a while, I can feel it's something more than that.

I had a chance to be in a big company before I came here, but I wasn't ready and not sure if it was something I want. Plus I was still a new bride who just wanted to be with her husband. And now okay, so I know what I want but the problem now is, that something is being so elusive! To date, I have flooded my resume to all of the industry's job site, and I have talked to 5 different recruiters. I have even talked to recruiters from London and Singapore, I'm not yet sure where they got my resume and to think I only posted for Tokyo jobs (because my hubby loves working here as much as I hate it, but then I have to be with him). But all of them either rejected me, ignored me or never called again.

My first rejection was with this very big multinational company, and they have this opening in Tokyo. After the first interview, they rejected me because for them, I have an unstable employment history. I was so disappointed and it hit me like a bedrock, I sulked to my friends like a girl who just lost this almost perfect man because my records show that I am afraid of commitment. At least this man told me straight why he doesn't want me, through a very formal and beautifully written email. Then hubby tried to comfort me with "it's okay, just wait, maybe God will give you the 2nd best company." and I answered, "but I don't want the 2nd best!". See, so like a brokenhearted girl.

I feel like I'm on the dating game again because the feelings to deal with are so alike, the hopes, expectations, frustrations, waiting to death and rejections. It's also as exhausting.

Inspite of it all, I am not losing my faith. I pray for it and doing the best I can, what happens to it is not in my control already.

I am still on my journey and the roller coaster ride is definitely a part of it as well as the happy ever after.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Instant Starbucks


I'm not sure if we have this one in Pinas but I was surprised to see cups of Starbucks coffee casually displayed at a convenience store near the office. I haven't tried one yet, coz I am trying to stay away from caffeine, but if I am a coffee addict like my other friends, this would be good news for me. If you're craving for a cup of Starbucks but you don't have time to waste on a fancy coffee shop nor wait for your name to be called, for only Y210 you can get one in a dash - minus the cute barristas though.

Heaven

This is one of my favorite desserts in the whole world, Strawberry and Cream mochi. All the goodies that I love are rolled into one rounded treat, it has cake, cream, mochi and strawberry. It's not too sweet, perfect for a not-so-sweet-tooth-but-loves-desserts person like me.


They said a piece of mochi is more fatenning than a 3/4 cup of rice, but whattheheck this goody is available during winter season only and it's worth all the fats it will add on my already big hips.


Costs only Y250 and comes in a pretty take-out box. Yummy! it gives me one good reason to look forward to winter.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Bday,Bday...

I planned many new recipes to cook for Hubby's birthday, because he likes anything sweet I decided to try my hands on baking for the nth time. Cookies and Cream cupcake and chocolate cake were among the list. But on the day itself, my body hurt so, so bad from the skiing the day before. As in when I woke up I couldn't move from the pain and I was crying! I never had that kind of "pamaol" or muscle pain before, and what's worst was the Alaxan we had at home are expired. I had the day off, coz I couldn't possible bike nor walk from the pain. I may have a lot of time to cook and bake that day before Hubby got home, but most of the time was spent agonizing on the bed, I couldn't even chat with my friends coz my fingers also hurt.

Hubby did get home very early from work, bringing with him a box of japanese "salompas" that truly, truly relieves the muscle pain(for about 3 hours I think). I was also able to drink Mefanamic Acid donated by a pinay friend. It was my hubby's bday and I couldn't possibly just let it pass without even a small celebration. Even under his strict order for me not to go out so the "salompas" will work longer, I snuck out of the house while he was napping and went to the nearest grocery(Thank God for Sunny 24 hrs supermarket that's all over the place!) and bought some stuff to cook. For longlife, I cooked a very special spaghetti with mozarella, oregano and basil eklat chuvaness, with garlic bread(cream the butter, then pour in some garlic powder and salt and pepper, spread on a loaf bread and toast). Because there were no available cake in Sunny, I bought some vanilla ice cream instead, showered it with Oreo cookies(his favorite) and M&Ms chocolate (his new favorite), put on some candles and voila, an ice cream cake! (a cheaper version of Cold Rock ice cream in GB that costs P395 a cup).



Tuesday, January 15, 2008

27 Things I Love About Him

  1. He has the most beautiful eyelashes which I envy. It is so thick that even the Shu Uemura eyelash curler couldn't curl.
  2. I hated chest hairs but surprisingly, I find his ala Sergio chest hair really sexy.
  3. He is very intelligent.
  4. I have never met anyone as passionate and dedicated to his craft, a total opposite of myself.
  5. In less than a year, with hardwork and "charm", he is able to master the Japanese conversation and now speaks like a native (even speaks nihongo in his dreams!).
  6. But when I brought him to Makati Med Emergency, and was on drugs (the pain and muscle reliever drugs the doctors put him in), he was talking in straight english all night until the drugs wore off.
  7. At grade 3, he was able to make a simple database system for his mother's office and even made his first P5,000 for it. At grade 5, he started teaching computer classes (to adults) in his tito's computer school.
  8. At 27 he is able to establish his own company which he started 4 yrs ago (with his friends Ben and Georgia's Harley to help him with his first client), made deals with clients in US, Singapore, Japan and Philippines. Also, because of no.5, he singlehandedly, able to bring his developers to live and work here in Japan.
  9. Inspite of no.8, he always tells me we are poor and we have no money (so kinda like Claire!), and I should simplify my lifestyle.
  10. He knows what he wants in life and had it all planned out, but then being the businessman that he is, he already have plan B, C, D for unforseen circumstances that might happen. (actually he always have plan A, B, C, D in everything)
  11. Even with no. 9, whenever I'm in trouble with my credit card or there is emergency at home, he provides for me with no qualms at all.
  12. Not just No. 11, but when I say I really want something and I couldn't afford it, and he thinks it will make me really happy, he will surprise me with it. (and will still remind me that we have no money so I should still simplify my whims)
  13. But he loves to gift me with personalized, hand-made things he made by himself, inspite of his busy schedule. That is why they are definitely more priceless!
  14. On our first valentine, and he was in Japan for a business trip, he still made it a point to be memorable for me by asking his most good looking developer to dress up and go all the way from Taft to Makati to deliver the biggest bouquet of flowers I have ever seen in my entire life, which he himself designed through the power of laptop, digital camera and wi-fi.
  15. At work he is a stern boss, but at home is is literally a baby. Talks and acts like a baby, for all those asking me, that is the reason why he calls himself "babyng smol" because at home he said he is still a small baby. It is annoying, funny and cute altogether.
  16. He is not a sporty person, and I like it coz I wouldn't have to force myself to like to climb walls, crawl, or play this and that.
  17. He may not be sporty, but he is so good at biking (one hand, no hands, fly, even wants to try unicyle).
  18. We are just two lazy people who loves to stay home and cuddle, and we both prefer to explore a city than a beach.
  19. He is very supportive of my interests and he is the main reason for my new found love on cooking and (hopefully) baking.
  20. Also when I go shopping, he is not like normal men who passively sits on a sofa or rushing me to finish, instead, he helps me choose, fit or decide, no matter how girlie the stuff I am buying.
  21. He is very, very, very, very, very, very, very patient.
  22. Because of no. 21, we only had 2 fights on our more than a year of being together.
  23. With all his achievements and responsibilities, he still remains simple, uncomplicated person.
  24. Inspite of no. 23... it takes a very understanding, very secured woman to love and stand by him. *wink, wink*
  25. With his unimposing ways, I learned how to be patient and compromise.
  26. When we were just starting to be boyfriend-girlfriend, my mom warned him about my temper and tantrums, but because of his patience and "strategies" I was able to overcome this "sickness" I have since I was young. He said this is actually his greatest achievement.
  27. He is two years younger than me, and I am a year older than her eldest sister. But he is way, way more matured than me.
Today, the man who owns to all those things I listed above turns 27. The man whom I believe God prepared me for. God couldn't have gifted me a more perfect husband than him.

I love you baby more and more everyday!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Bad Dream

This might be a season of bad dreams.

Last night, I dreamed that Hubby and I had a big fight and because of that, I got back to one of my exes (guess who!). I don't remember anymore what happened in that dream but when I woke up this morning I was crying and scared that I was looking for my husband whom I gladly found at the end of the bed dressing up for work. He hushed me and told me to get up and start getting ready for I was running late for work.

Ah, I was so relieved to be back to reality.

Too much sleeping is indeed bad for your health.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Friends

7 noon, 3 na lang ngayon...

I got so engrossed with the hustle and bussle of juggling the roles of being a wife and an employee that I forgot the other life that I was missing until I saw the pics of my highschool friends' holiday in Davao. I forgot that December is also a time of many reunions and get togethers and catching up on each other's lives. Seeing my barkada in their all-girls nightout (minus the bfs of course), doning on their sexiest gimik attire, checking out the latest hip places and reconnecting with highschool batchmates made me feel a little envious, coz I used to be present in all those events. It is just weird to realize that this is my first time to miss one and I didn't even remember that we usually have one!

I have also become too wrapped up in the technical world that I haven't touched based on my other side, coz with my high school friends, I can never talk about Java, IT companies, salaries, not even the latest PSP or Wii, otherwise, they will just give me a blank stare. It was just plainly being kikay and all that. No wonder I have become a little grumpy at times, kelangan ko na ata mag reboot. =p

I think I really have become domesticated, oh no, I am just becoming a wife... what will happen if I become a mother?

the Ateneans in green?


"highschool life oh my highschool life..."

Prayers and Camera

We say our prayers and we are awed as we see them answered. And we become happy and thankful.

But last Wednesday, I saw how it was to be on the other side, to be the instrument in making a prayer happen. Thinking about it, made me all the more believe in prayers and all its amazing ways of making it happen if it's meant to be given to you.

A month ago, a friend jokingly asked me for a digital camera, kahit na daw yung mapulot ko lang sa basura dito. Apparently, people back home still believe that the streets of Japan are filled with trashed but still usable electronic goods. Well, maybe a long time ago, but not any more now because they already put up a rule against that and they had to pay the government or sell it to a recycle shop if they want to dispose it.

I know it was just a joke but I also know that she really need it for her band's gigs and her children's activities. As much as I would want to give her one, I just couldn't spend Y20,000(cheapest I could find) or more for a gift these days as my dad got sick and all.

Last payday, I asked hubby to withdraw money from my bank so I could start my christmas shopping and send money home. When he came back, I was surprised to find the amount in my passbook to have Y10,000 more than my expected amount. I didn't exactly know where it came from, maybe it's the interest I earned all those times that my account had been idle, since my husband provides for everything I need here, I rarely withdraw from my bank unless there is emergency back home. or realistically speaking, maybe I just forgot the exact amount of how much I have there.

Then I also received a call from a pinoy friend who told me that there was Canon Powershot 7 mega pixel digital camera on sale at Kitamura for only Y10,000. Anyways, I thought I have an extra Y10,000 and a cam right on the budget, so why not seriously buy one for my friend. I know it is still too much a cost for a single gift, but I'm really supportive of my friend's calling of spreading God's love through her music. And I couldn't thank her enough for all the prayers she said for me when I'm in trouble. I was so ready and excited to grab one of those dirt cheap cameras, but unfortunately, they were sold out already when I got there.

But, but, last Sunday when I had nothing to do while waiting for Hubby to finish his meeting with his Japanese clients, I found myself in one of the recycle shop here. There I found this super cute Fine Pix camera, old but still looks new. It is also way cheaper than the other one, this may be second hand but it is still in perfect condition. So I bought it right away and because it was New Year they had this raffle at the store where I won extra store credit which I used to buy myself a hello kitty hand bag!

As I excitedly told my friend I already bought her wish, I was touched to know that it was indeed included in her kids' prayers every night and it was an answered prayer for them. I know they need it as anybody does but I never thought that they seriously wanted one. No wonder, everything just happened smoothly until I found one that is perfect for them and for what I could only afford.

This may be a simple story, but it's a simple way of reassuring us that God indeed listens to our prayers. Especially now that it's the start of the year and many of us are already making plans, or even confused on how to plot their lives for this year. Some of our prayers might be answered, some may not. But if it is meant to be, it will happen.

Years back, I didn't understand my friend's decision of choosing her life now than all those tempting offers laid before her(she could have been in showbiz now), but that is where her heart is and where she believes she should be. She said she may not have a lot but she is sure that He will provide. The camera is just one simple thing and she had been through a lot more that will really prove that He indeed provides.

Each of us has a purpose and a path to take and we have goals we want to achieve, and we can also stumble upon challenges along the way, but if we just continue praying and believing, then we have nothing to worry about.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

I Miss Cebu too...

While reading Mau's blog about Sinulog and the new happenings in Cebu, I felt a tinge of nostalgia and there is no more denying that I really miss that beautiful city where I lived for 4 years. How I left the place left some not so good memories and experience that there was a phase that I was so afraid of going back there and face the mess that I left off. But now, oh boy I really, really wanna go back there again and check out the place, and of course attend the much awaited Sinulog!

Aside from the non existent pollution and the urban but laid-back life, I love Cebu because that is where I first learned of independence. I stepped foot on that city for the first time 7 years ago with no idea on how to do the laundry, ironing, cooking, ride the jeep, budgeting or even cleaning my stuff for I was so used to having maids around me and parents and grandparents telling me what to do, where to go... I couldn't even speak Cebuano very well, I didn't have any plan of learning it coz I grew up with the notion that speaking in bisaya is baduy (well that was how it was in Davao or at least in my school). I was also overwhelmed with the freedom I had, for all my life I was always too sheltered and life was too routinary. But I was often found crying because I missed my dad, and my guy housemates would tell me their comforting words, "kelangan mo lang ng boyfriend.". And that was how the metamorphosis started (with a buffet of freedom plus the need for a boyfriend, you know what happens next) ;P.

Now, I can perfectly survive by myself and I can even feed another mouth with my cooking skill. I can speak Cebuano better than Tagalog, and very comfortable using the dialect (well if you want to survive and enjoy the city and its fabulous inhabitants, you gotta master the dialect or else mabaligya jud ka). The closest people in my heart are those fabulous ones I made friends there. Plus, I managed to go around with their very complicated Jeepney Route System by... learning to ride the taxi! Hence, I really can't say if I finally learned to budget.

But the most important things I learned from my stay there were the lessons on life and love, which would have been impossible to learn if I was just safely tucked in Davao. Cebu was my brewing pot where all the right decisions and mistakes I made that rooted from all that freedom are what built my character now.

When the Hongkong honeymoon Hubby and I planned didn't push through, I suggested that we go to Cebu instead, but he didn't want to and asked me, "hindi ka pa ba nagsawa sa Cebu?".

Well, I guess you'll never have enough of home.

To Ski or or not to Ski

The pinoys here are planning to drive up to Tenzan Highland in Saga for some skiing adventure. The price is a little steep for Y6000 (or 2300 pesos) per beginner plus we have to chip in for the gas so I am contemplating if Hubby and I should go. I am not kuripot nor have I sulked in to my shell and bade goodbye to adventures BUT it's just because of these horror stories Hubby tells me about skiing. He said he saw one person who learned to split instead of ski and tore her pants in the process. And I don't want that to happen to me kasi kakabili ko lang nung pants ko sa GAP and it's so darn hard to shop for a pair of pants! and also he told me that I'll get body sore after and I will surely be absent from work the next day. When I said, I'll just rent a sled, he just teased me more with "sinong hihila ng sled mo?" and when I said I will just sled like that video I saw of Jan W., he said "mag sled ka pababa tapos ndi ka na makahinto, tuloy-tuloy na hanggang sa pinakababa hanggang mawala ka na." - que horror.

So what should I do? The closest ice activity I had was ice skating in mega mall, and that wasn't even a nice experience to relate to, that is why I'm not sure if all his stories can really happen to me coz I don't have a single idea on skiing.

Is it worth trying? will I enjoy it? should we go or not?

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Frozen Delight

Last Sunday we went to Canal City to return our Coleman air bed because after 2 months of use, it suddenly gave up on us. We just woke up that morning, sank in the floor. Our other pinoy friends who bought the same air bed also had theirs returned for the same reason but they had theirs exchanged with new units right away. But on our case, Coleman had to investigate it for some time due to the many returned cases, all by pinoys. (ano ba kasi ang ginagawa ng mga pinoy sa kama nila) =p Well, yesterday, Coleman gave us a call and informed us that they're giving us a replacement but it will be the last one. So now, hubby and I are cramping ourselves in our single futon while we wait for the our new bed, not that we're complaining hehe.


Anyways highway, on our way to the store we passed by Glico Ice cream vendo! It's our favorite ice cream, I personally like it better than Hagen Daaz actually (mas barato man gud hihi). So even if it was freezing cold, we still couldn't resist the inviting vendo lights. We gave in to temptation and grabbed two for our hearts content, may heater naman yung mall so ma-eenjoy pa rin namin yung ice cream. Oh it's been a while since I last had a stick of my super favorite, Glico Chocolate Mint Ice cream! That sweetness of chocolate and the right tinge of mint, makes me want to live here in Japan forever or better yet, buy myself my very own Glico vendo. What I like about this ice cream is, it doesn't melt easily, so I can take my lovely time eating it without having to worry about being bulingit.

simple pleasure for Y120

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Holiday Shots

How we managed to celebrate our first holiday together...

went to our favorite Yakiniku place after a very, very busy work day

traditional xmas party with manito-manito with pinoy friends

goofing around with my best gift ever

eat again at New Couria buffet restaurant

shopped for my boots! (fatness is the result of all the eating)

another strolling and shopping at Tenjin Chikagai (subway)

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Go With the Craze

This is how the queue at the cashier at the Games Department of Yodobashii looked like awhile ago. Apparently, the Japanese are not yet done with their New Year shopping. And this is the busiest floor in the store, where people are lining up for the latest DS Lite, PSP Slim, Wii Fit and game softwares. We also bumped into a pinoy friend who was buying his Bleach Anime Figures.

I guess it's the DS Lite, PSP fever that brought the people here. I am not a game lover and didn't have any plan of partaking with the craze, but last night during the party that we attended, everyone had their own PSP Slim (because Sony just released the PSP Slim Deep Red Value Pack) and were busy playing Tekken. And the other friends kept lending me their PSPs and convincing me to make Dan buy one for me or for us. I thought I was a hard nut to crack on this one, but when they showed me that I can play The Sims 2, with my very own pink or lavander colored PSP Slim plus I can also connect to Wi-Fi and surf the internet, I conceded. It's not that expensive here anyway, so hindi masakit sa budget.

So this afternoon, I went with the flow that lead me to Yodobashii. I originally wanted a pink PSP, but Hubby asked for a compromise, since he said anything but pink, I chose Lavander.. =D
It is soo beautiful, so cute... I haven't played with it yet but simply looking at it makes me swoon.

As of this moment, Hubby brought it at Lex house to downgrade the software so it can play P games. Since he is the only one around here who can do it.

As I've said, i'm not a gamer so let's see how long this baby is gonna last on my hands.
Lavander PSP Slim

VPAL Global Kriss Kringle Result

Hehe parang lotto result. =D

Anyways, congratulations my dear VPALs for our first successful Kriss Kringle! I never thought we could pull this off so well even with some glitches on the side. Speaking of side, here's a side note: I officially hate the Philippine Postal Service! My gift to Mau hasn't arrived yet and I'm no longer expecting it will. Stupid me for being optimistic on our Notorious Postal Service and sent the gift through ordinary parcel mail when the Japanese postman promised that the longest it will take to arrive in the Philippines is 20 days for a futsu mail. My wiser kunsensya was telling me "lumluman pa na sa custom and kung magustuhan goodbye na", while the kinder one hoped, "hindi naman takaw sa mata ang box ko, plus sa Makati naman ipapadala and I still believe that Filipinos are still worth dying for.." But, 48 years na ang nakakaraan wala pa rin. And what made it even worse was when I asked my cousin to call Makati Post Office to inquire and this is what the person on the other line said "Ma'am kung ordinary mail wala pong assurance na makakarating." Itaga nyo yan sa bato, even better, gawin nyong motto before even thinking of sending something back home. I couldn't believe it, our Postal Service couldn't even promise to deliver the most fundamental reason why they are there. So when I lost all my hopes, I crammed to buy Mau another gift in the middle of a very, very busy work week, so Maila could bring it when she left for her christmas vacation.

Oopps, I got carried away with my side note. I just actually wanted to thank my Mommy Claire for the fabulous gifts from the fabulous US of A. Obvious talaga ang pagkakikay ko sa gifts niya. A complete set of Morning and Evening Olay Regenerist plus 3 kinds of Burts Bees tinted Lip Balm! from the wishlist talaga.


Since santa said I've been good this year, may bonus pa na package from Europe! Royal Mail pa, which made me feel like the wife of Prince William na may matching messenger pa na naka kabayo hehehe.

Salamat Georgia!

2 in 1 perfume with bolang krystal or sosyal na bato ni Darna?
(kidding aside, the smell is like you're fresh out from the shower)

Plus I also received a snail mail christmas card from Maricris, since it was addressed to Dan and Me, it was officially the first christmas card we received as a couple.

Call me old-fashioned but what made the gifts and cards more exciting was it came in snail mail which we very seldom use nowadays. The hand-written envelopes, and cards gave it a more personal touch, I even found myself telling Hubby "ito pala writing ni Crys noh?" or "pang electrical engineer lagi writing ni Georgia." and of course it made me miss my friends even more.

To VPALs, thank you for the wonderful years of friendship!

Sale, Sale, Sale

I just found out the best time to go shopping in Japan, it's after the New Year (I think Jan 2-3) where all the stores go on sale and I mean super sale! I was surprised to see Tenjin overflowing with people bringing along lots and lots of shopping bags. One thing that is popular now is what they call the Happy Bag, it is a bag or box of goodies from different brands that actually costs around Y30,000-Y50,000 but sold for only Y10,000. The brand that was sold out first was Nike, where you can have a sweat pants, jacket, sweater, etc(I forgot the other stuff inside) for only Y10,000. I got Hubby a Dunlop Bag with a more formal, business styled jackets and shirts inside for his birthday. If only Shu Uemura or Bobbi Brown had a Happy Bag, I could have gotten one for myself hehe.

Bic Camera also had their own version of a more exciting Happy Bag, they had ipod for Y4,990, 8 mega pixel Digicam for Y19800, Digicam plus a printer for Y23,000, Laptop plus a printer for i think Y90,000 or less. I wanted to buy their Happy Bag of 5 mega pixel digital camera for only Y9800 (a gift for my friend in davao sana) but they ran out of it when we got there. Umaga pa lang daw naubos na, zannen desu ne.

GAP was also on sale and it was so filled with eager-to-spend Japanese. I didn't buy anything coz I have already finished buying gifts for my friends, and I didn't find anything interesting enough to make me squeeze in to the long queue. Louis Vitton was also interestingly crowded, parang SM lang sya sa Pinas that it didn't look like the goods cost an arm and your two legs.

Nakakahawa ang energy ng mga Hapon kanina, but too bad I had no reason to shop anymore(plus Yahoo Dome flea market is just a week away), but I know better now so next year I will wait for the after new year to buy my gifts. =)

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Cold Pasta Salad

I discovered this dish new to my taste buds when we were in this fab buffet restaurant at Canal City, and the line to the tacos was long, so I tried this what they call Pasta Salad for appetizer instead. I don't really like pasta on mayonaise but surprisingly, I loved it. I love the taste of garlic, vinegar, cucumber and tomatoes together.

Last night, I had a craving for it, so I made my own version of Cold Pasta Salad. Hubby hates anything with mayonaise(like he never touches macaroni salad) and vinegar, but he got curious of what I was eating, tried it and was able to finish one bowl and just then did I tell him the truth which he answered with a shock, "huh? may mayonoaise at suka pala yun??" then shrugged it off with "sige gawaan mo pa ako ng isa pa please..".

Oh my, one of my resolution for 2008 is to lose weight, but I can't help it, I just love cooking and eating. The New Year hasn't quite kicked in yet and I'm about to break one of my resolutions. tsk tsk.

Anyways for those who are curious to try this Pasta Salad, let me share with you the recipe.

Ingredients:
Pasta (spaghetti, curly, macaroni, etc..)
Cucumber cubed (optional)
Carrots minced (optional)
Tomatoes cubed (optional)
Bell Pepper minced
Parsley
fried bacon

for the sauce:
1 cup mayonaise
2 tsp cider vinegar
dash of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
onion powder
garlic powder

How to:
Cook the pasta. Mix the vegetables and bacon with it. Then cover it with the sauce. Shower it with parsley and lots and lots of Parmesan cheese! Add some croutons and chill (or not, you can eat it right away if you want).

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year, New Shoes

Thank God the japanese take New Year seriously, at least we can celebrate one normal holiday (coz we had to work during Christmas). We have almost a week off and free from work related stuff! That is why I was so excited to make my first Buena Noche, I didn't mind the very strong wind and the drizzle of snow(masakit pala tumama sa mukha ang snow) while I biked to the nearest grocery to get some ingredients. Added bonus to my bravery was most of the things in the store was on sale! I was able to buy 300g of ground pork for Y70, half a kilo of fresh strawberries for Y147 (that usually costs Y400-Y700) , Beef meat for Y350, 5 bell peppers for Y200 (believe me that's already on sale, I'm not sure why bell peppers are always expensive anywhere) and 4 carrots for Y100.

I made Pork Embutido and Beef Mechado for the main course. I highly recommend the Mechado recipe I got from here! It's delicous! I followed the recipe to the T and just added sugar and cheese to suit my taste. Hubby kept reheating the Mechado leftover until there was none left. About the embutido, well I love all embutidos, so I'm not the best judge for that, but I gave some to our Pinoy kapitbahays as New Year gift, and they are still alive and never called in for some complaints so I guess I did a pretty good embutido.

The best part was, I made my first ever cake! Emphasis on the word "made" coz I didn't bake it. I just bought a ready made chiffon cake, powdered whip cream which I just mixed with milk and vanilla. And Loaded it with lots and lots of strawberries inside. When I was piping the frosting, I realized I have no calling at the pastry department. I just couldn't make a decent shape so I just asked our housemate Jhen to do the honors in decorating after I painstakingly covered the cake with icing. (ang hirap pala!). I also bought a ready to use pencil icing (it's just a pastic shaped into a pencil with colored pink icing inside) which I intended to use for lettering. But the cold weather froze the icing inside that made it so hard to write with. So ended up writing "Hapi 8" instead of "Happy New Year 2008". My sweet toothed Hubby finished the cake faster than New Year to finish.

my first ever cake


After dinner, Hubby and I went to Canal City to see the New Year countdown, but because of the bad weather it was canceled. So we just walked around showered with snow, and my feet was kept warm with my new boots Hubby bought for me as a New Year gift. Yes, I finally found a pair of boots that fit my big "bagtak". Actually, I already gave up the search when yesterday after mass, while walking around Tenjin, Hubby and I passed by a shoe store that was on sale. Where I found this pair that according to the price tag originally costs Y9500 then dropped to Y5000, then to Y3000 until Y2900 when I found it! It fits so great and so comfortable to walk on. It feels sexy wearing them. =)

"look ma, boots and skinny jeans that fit!"

Happy New Year indeed.