Long Distance Relationships

What I'm about to write next is extremely biased, so please, if you're reading this and do not agree with my views, please live and let live, as I do not see myself changing my opinions anytime soon and have no plans of getting into a debate of any kind.

I simply do not want a long distance relationship. I'm not saying with finality that long distance relationships do not work, but from what I gather, this is what I strongly believe in.

The thing is, whether we like it or not, people change. They change because of their peers, the environment, their experiences, their choices, and a whole lot of other reasons. And being apart from someone for a long time, not going through the changes with him/her, changes the relationship as well. For me, the essence of having a relationship with a person is enduring the same challenges, encouraging each other, empathizing and sympathizing with each other. My problem will be his problem, and his problem, mine, too. I do not mean that we have to literally go through the same thing, but that we share the experience. Being there for each other through the ups and downs is not at all the same as being a supportive audience. Would you want your loved one to come home very different from the one you knew? Of course not. The little things matter. These little things accumulate into big character changes.

Also, nothing beats being able to see your partner after a long day for a hug, a kiss, and/or an occasional lunch or dinner. It's what relieves you of your stress, makes you forget your office problems, lightens the burden of whatever made you suffer during the day or week. And who would not want a comforting embrace after petty misunderstandings, someone to wipe your tears off when things get to be too much, a listening ear, who will never judge you?

Another joy is being able to try and enjoy new things together. Not just once or twice or thrice a year, but everyday. The pleasure of exploring even the littlest new things with the most special person in your life is priceless and incomparable to anything else. 

Gastronomic exploration. Felix @ Greenbelt. 01.22.14

I don't want to be too busy preparing (to the point of compromising happiness) for my future that my present ends up to be one gigantic sacrifice. So, why would I trade that for a job or for money?

Good Food, Good Life

I love food... and usually, I can't get enough of it. Ergo, the problem of gaining weight. Why oh why do my favorite food have to be fattening?

On our last monthsary, Marc and I had dinner at Cerchio. It was our first time there. We tried their salad, nachos, buffalo wings, and cake. Everything we ordered turned out to be good, except for the cake, which was a bit dry. I am not about to go into detail on all of these, but let me focus on the salad. It was healthy, it was fresh, it was crunchy, and undeniably oh so good! It was fairly simple to make, so I decided to make it for our baon.

It's fool proof! ^_^ and really really good.

Good enough to repeat.

Under Sun and Rain

Before the rainy season officially starts, our department went out for that final summer outing. Naambon resort at San Juan, Batangas isn't exactly what you call paradise, but if you're looking to rest, relax, enjoy the sound of crashing waves, and get away from the hustle and bustle of work (read: no mobile signal), it's the place for you.

Yes, absolutely no signal.

The place isn't ideal for swimming despite the beach because three steps from the shore, you'd find yourself surrounded by corals sharp enough to break the skin. It's good for snorkeling, I guess, since varieties of fish are already visible within a few feet from the resort edge. As with every place that has limited distractions, it is highly recommended for team bonding, may it be over alcohol, frisbee, or boodle fights.

Definition from www.urbandictionary.com

A downpour after our short swim made a perfect balance of sun and rain on this getaway. I think I really need that waterproof camera soon.

Mother's Day at Tagaytay

The past weekend was spent eating... a lot! Of all things, I find maintaining a healthy diet for a flattering figure the hardest. What is it with food and me?

Anyway, we spent mother's day in Tagaytay. Late lunch buffet at Celina's Cafe. While the food and indoor ambiance was not that spectacular, the overlooking view of Taal, was as usual, breathtaking. I envy the guy who has the luxury of waking up to this every day.

The outdoor setting is not bad at all.

What is a trip to Tagaytay without dropping by Bag of Beans? We had coffee there and more food, then cousin-bonding over Achtung, a fairly amusing ipad game.
 

Achtung is a multiplayer game with the objective of being the last surviving line. It's kinda like the old Nokia snakes game where you can't crash into walls or yourself, except that instead of a moving one, your line here gets longer. Strategically, you can block other players' paths causing them to crash into you and lose. I actually suck at this game, but losing doesn't make it less fun.

Before heading home, we found this parked outside. And here I thought the Hello Kitty car I once saw was over the top.

As if we weren't filled to our throats with food, we bought more munchies on the way home. Kesong puti, goat and carabao's milk, jackfruit, gummy worms, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, and more.
 
Happy Mother's Day!

Simple Joy #8 Cooking

Did not go to work today and made buffalo wings instead. Totally worth it!

Went to the supermarket to buy chicken wings. You'd want thawed ones, not frozen. For this, I used 10 of them, cut into 2 to make 20. Clean them thoroughly, make sure you remove feathers and whatnots. Make your cuts, if desired. I got rid of the tips. (You may use them for broth/stock for other dishes.)

Marinate and refrigerate. I used Worcestershire sauce and some other stuff I'm not allowed to divulge for the fear of losing my inheritance, as if there is any to inherit. (This is strictly a family secret, my father says.)

While chilling, prepare your breading. You can do without this, as some prefer. You can see the ingredients in the pictures. Usually, recipes don't call for thyme, but I'm addicted to it, and I put it on everything. Anyway, I don't really have the habit of measuring stuff, so I kinda taste it as I go along. Use a separate clean, dry, spoon or finger to avoid contamination, and spit the flour out after tasting.

Mix in the chicken, adding a little water if required. Coat every piece and deep fry. I've watched somewhere that soybean oil is the healthy choice for this. You'd want to do the frying in batches so you don't crowd everything in. They tend to stick to each other so you'd need stainless tongs to give them a little toss. Try to drop them into the oil slowly and as low as you possibly can to avoid splashing and burning yourself.

Make sure you wait for the oil to heat back up before putting in the next batch to ensure crispness. When the wings float, they're done. Leave them a bit longer if you want a darker brown color.

Next, make the sauce. It's fairly simple. Use your choice of hot sauce, add garlic powder, heat them over the stove with some butter. When it starts to bubble, it's done. Toss in your wings and serve with your choice of dip.

I haven't quite learned how to do a proper blue cheese dip yet, so I'm using homemade aioli, which tastes as good. Also, I separated some of the wings (right plate) before tossing the others (left plate) into the sauce for those who are not big fans of spicy stuff.

Hashtag for the day: #dietfail

New Things

Item 1:
Out of practicality... (yeah, let's call it that :D), I bought a new phone. It's a Cherry Mobile P9. Here's my justification: I desperately need an mp3 player for my jogging / running needs, and a 2Gb Mp3 player costs around 3,000 php. This little thing set me back 1,300 php and I can plug in an 8Gb micro SIM for media. As added bonus, I can have my Smart SIM plugged in for basic calls and texts. It even has bluetooth and radio functions. The best thing about it? It fits the palm of my hand.

Item 2:
I bought new shoes. They've been tried and tested. Walked through Rockwell Mall and Ortigas Park to Pearl Drive on these and my feet didn't die. Wedges with fun colors are LOVE!!!

Item 3:

It's an old new thing / new old thing, I guess: biking. I learned to bike at an early age, when my dad used to take us to CCP for this. A few years after, I kinda forgot how to. When we moved to Paranaque, I relearned it within a week. I'm not sure if that proves you can actually forget how to ride a bike, but anyway, n years after, with n being more than 10 years, I tried to ride a bike again. This time, it's like getting reacquainted with an old friend. The first 5 seconds were awkward, but then, everything's the way it was after that. I loved the wind in my hair and the rush when you go a bit fast. I'm actually thinking of getting my own bicycle. A simple and sturdy white one, not for racing... just for leisure riding. Basket optional. ^_^

Item 4:

I have a new godchild. She's the cutest thing ever, and she looks just like her dad, my close friend Mark. She has her mom's nose, and hopefully her hairline. Haha. I have yet to carry her.

Item 5:

Sir RP and I tried this new Jap Resto at Galleria: Moshi Koshi. While the food is not on the to-die-for level, it's fairly good and the serving is just right. Considering the price range however, it's not fit for an everyday habit, unless you're an executive.

Sir RP had the tempura, and I had the katsudon. As our baseline acceptable reference was Asian Bites, the katsudon was compared with theirs. The pork was definitely a bit thicker than Asian Bites' paper thin slice, but the smell of AB's was more appetizing. I missed the onion leek strips, but the taste was not that far off. While Moshi Koshi is acceptable, I'd still prefer AB.

Item 6:
My belated birthday surprise. I love my girls to bits!!! Every one of them: Mami Dada, Rovi, Jean, MJ, Sarah, Ana, Carla, including the almost always absent ones: Norie, Gio, Donna, Jona, Rica, Tina, Dian. I thank God for the coffee tiramisu, the colored-pen-wishes, and Joseph's coat pen case. (You'd have to be there to get it.) I'm so blessed!

Item 7:

Commuting's a b****, and I have yet to learn to adjust. I am yet again late for work today. I have been taking the bus recently and haven't figured out what time I should leave home to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Compared to taking the train, waiting time is more than an hour less, but the duration of the travel itself takes it's toll on me. Another good thing though is that I am comfortably seated from Kamuning to Ortigas, as opposed to MRT's standing ovation from the end of the line in front of KFC to my 28th floor office in Ortigas. My conclusion: I want a house of my own. I need to move somewhere nearer.

Cheers to wonderful new things, and here's hoping for lots more to come! The start of my 28th rocks!

Christmas Comes but Once a Year

I don't know what it is, but there's something about doing wishlists...

Here's mine for 2012:
1. I currently have an awesome Fossil watch already, but since I've recently revived my running, I would like a sporty one with a timer. G-Shock GR-8900-7DR or G-8900A-7D:

They'd probably be too big for my flimsy wrist, but hey, me want!

 

2. Now that I have more time for myself, I have been reading tons of books lately. I want the old Kindle. I don't really know if this is still available, or which version this one actually is, but here's a pic:

 

3. I want to go hiking. I've been wanting to since last year. Maybe it's time. 

 4. I want a vacation, peferably by a beach. A quiet place to relax and stop worrying about everything.

 

5. Additional 3 more checks on the list. (items 3 & 4 also here)

 



For the Sake of Posting

i've been wanting to post some updates, but as usual, fighting my lazy bones have been oh so hard.

anyway, since my last post, i have been hospitalized.. first time ever in my life, i think.

stayed there for two days, diagnosed with gastritis and severe dysmenorrhea. crappy girl thing. still currently doing follow up checkups. tsk.

then i got sent to marinduque for work... i don't have any pictures as we were not able to go anywhere apart from the hotel. by the way, marinduque apparently doesn't have jollibee or mcdonalds. still better than the office. haha.

new shoes from so! f.a.b.

after that, dampa dinner at home depot with officemates and ex-officemates. good food, great friends, we should do it again soon.

last friday, we became the unexpected champions of the office bowling event. yey.

last but not least, watched batman with rovi and jean yesterday.

overall, a pretty balanced month of july.

Healthy Living Day 2

everyone will attest to the fact that i function so much better with caffeine in my system. i have been thinking of adding it to my e-mail signature already.

so when a coffee dependent officemate offered to bring in his coffee maker, we immediately bought ground coffee beans, and brewed a few cups. health benefits include cancer prevention, depression lowering effects, and increased metabolism. of course too much of anything is always bad, so i'll try to limit my intake to three cups a week.

for lunch, as promised yesterday, i went back to cafeteria verde and tried the mozzarella panini. i was so excited, i took a bite out of the bean & cheese taquitos before i remembered to take a snapshot.

the mozzarella panini tasted so much better than the veggie burger i had yesterday, and i swear the bean & cheese taquitos taste yummier with each succeeding bite.

wonder what i'll have for monday's lunch? still can't believe i'm eating healthy. can't wait!

There's Always a First Time for Everything

i've always liked trying out new things. especially food.

so guess what i had for lunch?

tada...

i actually had a healthy lunch consisting of a veggie burger and bean & cheese taquitos. my drink was a watermelon mango slush with tapioca. here's the verdict:

• veggie burger: according to internet research, it's actually made of mushroom and tofu. the pattie crumbles on first bite. not really delicious, but it didn't taste bad, either. (of course, my standards are super duper ultra uber high since i've tasted charlie's grind and grill black angus burger) considering this was the first time i've ever tried an actual no meat burger, i'd say it'll take some getting used to before i accept what i just had as a "burger".
• bean & cheese taquitos: even though the texture would probably take some getting used to like with the veggie burger, this one actually tasted good. especially with the aioli dip. but then again, i'm a sucker for anything that has cheese in it.
• watermelon mango slush: it has mango in it. of course it's good.
• price: at 99php, i'm satisfied. the whole thing was surprisingly filling.

tomorrow, i'll probably be back to try the mozzarella panini and/or the pasta.

Simple Joys #5 and #6 with Shrimps

i simply feel the need to get pampered today.

after a week of downtime due to the not-so-sure-but-looks-like-it mumps, i thought i was ready to get back to work and slave my ass off again. apparently not. a week of work sent me right back down haggard lane. i sat at my cozy office nook this morning and thought that it has been a while since i had my last pedicure. come lunch break, off i went to have my usual at california nails and day spa. turns out, i've been missing my used-to-be-monthly pedi for more than "a while". california nails and day spa has been boarded up closed. i ended up trying luxe nail lounge still at robinson's galleria. simple joy #5: pedicure.

due to the unexpected turn of events, i was not able to take pictures of the said lounge. as always, the first thing i noticed was the smell. the place smelled nice --a soft scent like fabric conditioner or light baby lotion. the ambiance was relaxing. not homey. not clinical. during the whole process, i kept thinking why haven't i tried their services before. the comparison with california nails inevitably went on and on in my head. while i had little to no complaints with the service i used to get, this was hands down better than what i was used to. i still got the perfect cleaning, but this time without the wince worthy digging on the sides of the nails. the polish was evenly applied and they had the quick dry thingy as well. at 220php plus tips, i am very satisfied.

moving on, my hair has been frizzy due to the stress, so i purchased what i hereby present as simple joy #6: dove's nourishing oil care serum. it actually smells like a lightly scented dove soap so i had no qualms about applying it to my hair. what i especially like about the product is that 1. it doesn't weigh my hair down llike other oil based leave ons and 2. a pump or two is enough even for my long hair.

we'll see if i get to use it all up in the days to come.

next topic: i've been craving shrimp for over three weeks now. here's what i got for lunch last friday...

despite being categorized as "rabbit food" in my mind, this was surprisingly filling and really yummy. now, if only i could get my hands on more shrimps...

Asparagus to Studded Heels

was reading one of my old cookbooks and came across benefits of opting for organic food. tried researching nearby organic food stores, failed miserably, ended up browser shopping for heels. epic fail. how i ended up looking at studded heels from researching food products boggles even my mind. go figure.

so why was i leafing through my old cookbooks? once upon a time, i had the balls (pardon the term) to wear sleeveless tops to work everyday. today, a pair of flabby arms shamed me and i immediately regretted wearing my old black sleeveless top.

where do i start? the skinny bitch recommends having meatless mondays, or some other day for a start. this i am willing to try. which day though? thursdays? other than that, organics are always always better than the regular thing. unfortunately, because of our fast food dependent generation, almost if not all organic stores are extinct.

the plan is to get off my lazy bum ass and plan 2-week healthy meals, and stick to it without cheating. not exactly depriving me of anything, just making better choices. at the moment, i'm still a complete stranger to what i'm about to do. baby steps. real cute, tiny, baby steps. that ought to get me started.

if i don't post anything about losing a couple of inches and/or pounds for the next month of so, alam na! lazy bones > vanity. ^_^

Crappy Dinner

curse you, biggest loser!

i seriously don't remember what possesed me to join the bigget loser thing at the office. less than a month from the big weigh in day, and i've gained two pounds from my original weight. crap.

is diet cramming same at crash dieting? let me know.

dinner:

Pink Salmon

with gluttony being my topmost sin, i'm a bit baffled at why i haven't blogged much about food.

anyway, i've been addicted to salmon lately and have tried making salmon pasta (white sauce) and oven baked salmon. the first one i made for valentine's lunch and the latter i made for my birthday lunch. ^_^ here's my lunch today:

i think 3/5 for the pasta, 4/5 for the oven baked and the latest pan fried salmon.