Sweets on a cruel day

It was as random as 1,2,3

Someone was feeling dismal one afternoon and decided to flood twitter with lugubrious thoughts of love and deception.  Being as random as A, B, C, I decided to invite her to our house to get her mind off things.

Kaye and I baked, wined and dined in the middle of a drencher. The weather did not dare cooperate with Kaye’s depression. But at least the food did. Or so I hope.

Red Velvet Sandwiches | Batter being mixed at medium speed | Kaye pouring flour mixture into the finale | Pesto pasta I made for her to take home as a snack. She always wanted me to prepare ‘baon’ (Filipino version of snacks to go) for her, and so I had the opportunity to do so. 

Kaye wanted a bit of a fizz at midday, but I did not have any strong liquor in store for her in our cabinet, I tried to suffice the craving with white wine. It was actually good, I loved it. It was a beginner’s wine as I would call it, it’s not too dry in the mouth and it’s sweetness is a natural quencher.

Lifestyles of the Young and In Love

HAHA. I did this last September 8, 2012.

 

At midday while I was organizing bits and pieces of furniture in our house, I had the sudden urge to daydream about future homes. Growing up, I never really had the chance to suggest to my family ideas on how I want our spaces to be decorated. The only room I had the opportunity to explode my creative juices to was my room, but even then my conservative parents had rules on how my stuff were to be arranged. Still, no complete freedom there.

I went from one site to the other, drooling on every interior I could find. I browsed from white washed apartments to retro-themed flats. I wanted to build a house of my own and throw every crazy concept I had on the furnishings.

I had a batty brainstorming frenzy while I was going through the layouts. I complemented the designs with the styles of my friends. We have four existing couples in the group, and I humorously patterned every design on my perception of them as a team. I WAS BORED.

In the Philippines, people are very conservative and keen on close family-ties. Only a few people actually ‘live in’ with their partners. But for the rest of us, it’s the leave and cleave set-up – get married then start a home from there. But nonetheless, I pictured the future houses of my friends, including mine.

I am a fan of white touches that are complimented by shades of brown. The marrying combination of cream walls with antique furniture is just heaven with a twist of earthy mood tones. It is perfect for me and Mikee’s laid back tandem. We are not the screaming wild couple who celebrate the lifestyles of the young and the reckless. We just kind of go with the flow. We like things that are simple yet classy.

 

Kaye and Mac is the representation of a sweet, young and new couple. Their relationship bursts into vibrant colors which are still arranged in perfection. Kaye is the most feminine of the so-called ‘posse,’ and I really think her style will overrule any given area. I pictured their rooms to be in touches of purple, blue and pink, because that is who she is.

I had fun doing Kat and Raffy’s! They are the living testimonies of couples our age today – the upbeat, life enthusiasts who are always out to explore the world. They are fearless when it comes to taking risks and these interiors best describe who they are. I love retro modern art! next to the clean conservative designs, this is second one I love best! I envision walls covered with posters and random furnishings that do not match each other. That’s art, that’s life.

Aj and Gina’s are leaning towards the happy colorful family room, since they are the first to start one in the group. They are a toss between conventional and liberated. The compositions of interiors are not too striking, but it’s not too bland either. It’s a brilliant combination of the two with walls filled with family photos and areas catering to a kid at play.

It’s another boring Monday

Oh Darn, it’s Monday AGAIN.

Usual routine first thing in the morning – Twitter, favorite Chocolate Macadamia coffee in my favorite cup

Boracay expenses | McDonald’s pancakes for breakfast | What is news? BryanBoy is | Arranged condiments and whatnot in the kitchen

Mr. Honda’s Grooming Day, I do not think he enjoyed it at all.

My dad’s lunch for tomorrow. Thai Chili Beef with Basil. Cooking is therapy for the brokenhearted. 

Our dog looks stoned.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Agave + Starbucks = Love

There is pleasure in eating alone at times.

I slept with a heavy heart last night because a. I was missing my mom and b. I was not getting the comfort I needed. Perhaps I was being a bratty controlling 24-year old and no matter how people tried to console me, my heart cannot be pacified. As my mom would put it, “your spoiled generation is getting harder to please nowadays.” I have standards and maybe it’s unleashing the worst in me. I woke up at 7 am with puffy eyes for soaking my pillow for 3 hours. I felt like I was in a soap opera, crying every second I pick up a thing that reminded me of my mother. It was CRAZY. But everything got a little better the next day.

I felt relieved when I knew I was going out for lunch, somehow I needed a breather and our house was just too small for me to get some air. I needed a huge space, a hearty meal and lots of people. Thankfully, I got an invitation to go to Eastwood for a simple chow time. For for food trips, Mikee and I usually call each other, it’s already automatic that we are hungry partners in crime.

Because I seldom go out, I make it a point to look my best. It is my way of flaunting my style and creativity. I love frilly fashion pieces which emphasize my femininity, like boho skirts, ribbons, spaghetti straps or tank tops, flats and accessories. I am an avid fan of gold jewelry! These classic accents never get outdated, you’ll never go wrong with them.

Clinique stay-matte sheer pressed powder, Clinique New Chestnut Blush, Clinique Sunkissed Bronzer, Maybelline Unstoppable Shiny Black Mascara, Maybelline Ebony Black Eyeliner and Lancome Ombre Subtile Eyeshadow

For a short stroll in the mall, I prefer to go light on cosmetics. I stay clear of smokey eyes and red lips. As much as possible, I stick to lipgloss just to avoid the cracked lips look. For this, I simply used the essentials – powder, blush-on, bronzer (to highlight my color), creme colored eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. You need not look so glamorous especially in broad daylight. Simplicity is still the best policy (made that up.)

I do not usually go for branded make-up but because my skin is super sensitive, I painfully have to remain loyal to Clinique products, that way I avoid skin acne. Hassle.

Mikee and I ate in Agave because we were craving for Mexican. I think we really did not make a good choice here, but in a way we still enjoyed our meal.

I ordered a Chicken Quesadilla with Guacamole on the side. I guess I was being biased and inclined towards a more favored restaurant which was Army Navy. But don’t worry, for those who are a fan of Agave, who work there or even own the establishment (just in case,) I still found the food pleasurable.

Mikee ordered the Steak Burrito. Hmm, for a meal amounting to 200 + bucks, I have no idea why the chips on the side are so limited. If you are going to put them, might as well add a few more? they make the plate look so empty. It just looks asymmetrical(?) well, what do I know about the balance of food when it comes to plating. I make the dumbest critiques at times haha! That’s just how I see it. But going back to the taste, it was satisfying.

I admire the interiors though! The dim lights set a more enticing mood for savoring the appetite. There is something about dark spaces; they give me a relaxing vibe for some reason. It gives me the idea to slow down and actually enjoy what I am eating.

The restaurant is like a modern day cowboy saloon. That’s how I see it.

Mikee choosing long and hard on what to eat. It took him time to decide only to pick the same dish at a different venue. It’s always the Burrito. Make that steak, medium well.

We ended the day with a tall Signature Iced Chocolate and a grande Caramel Frappuccino from Starbucks. Same spot for three years, same drink. HAHA.

Filipinos are natural law breakers! HAHA. I think we’re the only country who take the time to make public signs like, “please do not urinate in this area” or “please do not cross, someone has already died doing this.” Only in the Philippines.

Thank you for the sweet surprise, baby! I have always been a fan of Cinnamon since St. Cinnamon, Cinnabon and Cinzeo! I can gobble one in minutes!

I end the day with this: I AM ONE HAPPY GIRL despite my traumatic experiences. Thanks to people who go out of their way to make me feel special. I send out all my love to you.

Mid-week Birthday Celebration

Chelsea Market and Cafe | clickincity.com

Mikee and I celebrated his birthday in the noontime of September 4, in the midst of an assiduous schedule – beating deadlines and the window time (10:00 AM to 2:00 PM) for Metro Manila’s color coding scheme which states that for a certain day of the week, some vehicles are prohibited depending on the last digit of the plate number.

Months prior to this lunch out, we’ve been planning to eat in a very natty yet comfy cafe nestled in the middle of one of Makati/ Taguig city’s busiest stretch of restaurants, Global City at the Fort. Do not be fooled by it’s snazzy look, on the contrary the menu was very budget friendly! We left the place with a bag of left overs because we were so full yet still with enough money to spare.

pmgmendoza.blogspot.com

Whenever presents come to mind, I see to it that I give him something that he needs rather than something that he wants (but sometimes I give in to his guilty pleasures just for an added bonus, like a cherry on top so to speak.) Mikee’s been dragging an old ragged pair of slippers wherever he goes, because our dog’s been lavishly craving for his flip flops every time. He’s been drooling on a certain pair of Havaianas, which I was able to get for this special occasion. On the side, I gave him a Mocha Motion cupcake from Sonja’s, a little sweet store at the Fort which is actually a big hit to its customers. I did not have time to buy him a cake, I just hoped a smaller one would suffice. Hey! it’s the thought that counts, right? But nonetheless, if there is something my boyfriend will never reject, it’s food in all shapes and sizes.

foodiefromthemetro.blogspot.com

The sun was definitely at rage that day. It was so hot that the moment I stepped out of the car, sweat started trickling down in all parts of my body. Talk about vanity moment? I was really perspiring! But I managed to look decent as much as I can. Even if we’ve been together for almost three years, I try not to be complacent when it comes dressing and carrying myself.

We reached Chelsea Cafe 15 minutes before noon. It was not difficult to find a table because of the restaurant’s huge seating capacity, and also because majority of the people come in past noon. We sat across the door to observe people who enter to take a bite to eat. The customers’ character profiles are so multifarious as the list of dishes in the menu. Some would go in groups, like foreign business men in suits, yet on the other had there’d be couples like us dressed in random comfortable clothing. But I must say, my date really spruced up his style. Whenever Mikee would go out in a checkered polo or any long-sleeved shirt for that matter, you know he’s out to impress! True story. I’ve known that to be true of him. He really sacrificed comfort for fashion. It must have been a good 31 degrees Celsius that day, and yet his arms were covered with thick cotton.

When we got a hold of the menu, it was very difficult for us to decide which to get. We were the type of couple who were so into food that we wanted to try everything, but we only had a budget to spend. We have always been a fan of burgers and we wanted to try as much burgers as we can from different food establishments. So far, the best was TGIF’s Jack Daniel’s burger! nothing has topped that yet but we were on the look out.

Risotto Cakes

To whet our appetite, we started with a heavy appetizer that can actually pass as a main course! We made a mistake on this one! It was too creamy that it almost overpowered our ultimate dishes. But it was really good that we could not resist taking a bite over and over. If you are in the mood for a cheesy overload, try this.

Carbonara

It is a no-no for Carbonara to be a subsequent to Risotto cakes! it’s just too much cholesterol and carbohydrates. Both dishes can stand alone and must be eaten apart from each other. The pasta is very rich and mouthwatering that I have no regrets in ordering it because I was satisfied to the very last bite.

Angus Beef Burger

Chips down for the finale! The burger complemented the creamy dishes we had prior to this. We still thought TGIF was the best, but this was a capital choice as well. We were glad we picked this from the menu. The fries were not soggy and were deep-fried to perfection. I preferred wedges to thin strips. The sauce was also gratifying! Over-all I gave it an 8!

We ended it with this, a simple two-hour celebration over lunch time, nothing special really but those frills and extravagant details are not necessary to say that you had one awesome birthday, right? As long as you are with the person you enjoy spending it with, then you’re set! Wherever that may be and whatever you got planned.

Happy Birthday baby boy! I love you.

Fete de la Tuss

It was a night of many celebrations: a vivid fete where our stamina, energy, and bursts of jovial youth took flight.

Jose Cuervo graced us with his presence as we drank to several occasions: birthdays, inaugurated love and the foundation of an existing friendship bound to experience a whole new set of adventures in the days and months to come.

All we needed was the right time, the right venue and the right set of people to make one night an epic one to remember! and maybe this was it, until we head to the beach two months from now. But till then, these are the faces that will be etched in my heart forever.

CHEERS.

Four people very close to my heart celebrated and will be celebrating their birthdays. I have been attached to them for as long as I can remember – Mikee, my boyfriend; Kaye, my co-writer and awesome friend; and two people I have come to love through thick and thin – Gina and her boyfriend, Aj (who is also Mikee’s childhood best friend.)

We had our solid get together in an airport terminal themed bar in the middle of a busy district up north of Metro Manila. A resounding strum of guitar and acoustics can be heard from outside Flight Lounge as you make yourself enter an environment which reeks of smoke and alcohol. It is a very upbeat setting of music, Asian fusion cuisine, yuppies and of course, BOOZE!

Most of us cannot really remember what happened that night, until we saw the photos the next day!

Gina and AJ

Gone stag: Bogsie and Ogh

Raf and Kat

Mikee and I

TIpsy Nel

Twin buddies Jim and Bam

with the rest of the crew!

Bottoms up!

After our session in Flight Lounge, we took a short trip to Mezza Norte, Quezon City’s version of Mercato (the night food bazaar.) Most of the stalls were already closed but we managed to chow on a few remaining food that were still being sold at a surprisingly expensive price.

We ended the fiasco at around 4 am. It was a good stress buster filled with extraordinary people with extreme personalities.

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” ― Anais Nin 

Just Do It

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.
– Robert Frost

Never has been Nike’s popular go-getter motto, “Just Do It,” been real to me since the day I lost my best friend and ultimate mentor, my mom. It’s been exactly two weeks of surviving in life camp and I feel as though I’ve been failing inadvertently. Every step I make sends me diving from heaven back to earth and my bones shattering in pieces as I crash and burn face first on the floor. Everyday is a challenge to get up and start over.

Robert Frost, the man behind the acclaimed, “The Road Less Taken,” speaks to me with discernment through the quote I posted prior to my expression of grief. Everyone I rubbed shoulders with for the past days had only one thing to say, “it takes time, but you’ll get there.” No, my experience cannot be sugarcoated by any Hollywood movie produced capturing the death of a loved one. I never saw my pain in widescreen cinematic measures; mine was different in odd heaps. Which is why the decision to move on drastically is a goal I have been pressing on to since my mom breathed her last.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.
– Erma Bombeck

Today, God weaves a new chapter in my history. One where my dad and I struggle to live a new, day after day. It is a good thing that I have a close relationship with my dad, he is my support and strength when situations are too impossible to bear.

I am excited for what He has in store for me, even if what I am about to embark on will be painted with tears every now and then. Joyce Meyer says and I quote, “Do what you believe is right, follow God’s leadership to the best of your ability, then leave the outcome in His hands.”

This is something I choose to arise from, not wallow in depression as expected after losing someone. Such expectation is overrated and really not necessary for grieving period. It may happen but it should not last a lifetime! Joy must immediately take place after a momentary solitude.

I am grateful for friends who have been filling my stomach with ‘gastronomic combustion’ and my thoughts with happy memories. I could not stop laughing whenever I am with them and for a few I forget the loneliness I see myself in.

With them, adventures are always something I can look forward to, no matter how bleak the future may be. Thanks guys for giving me a million reasons to smile!

To my one and only love, thank you for being there for me every step of the way. You have made every struggle lighter and worth enduring. I love you with all my heart.

Mercato, again.

Here’s a quick post to complete my co-blogger’s entry for this day.

Gina and I decided to return to Mercato after finishing  her Milk tea from Tokyo Bubble Tea. I was really craving for MedChef‘s Red Velvet cake and Moist Chocolate cake (the reason behind our come back) since we got disappointed from our supposed to be “Isaw tripping” at Mercato. I was a bit excited to buy a piece of the two cakes that will satisfy my cravings for that night. We rushed to MedChef‘s corner inside the place and I saw the last piece of Red velvet cake from the table (well, I was not surprised). The two flavors has been the “best seller” that I came to witness since I first got there with my family. It’s deliciously sweet and classy! (I took the pics from iPad, forgive me for the quality of the pic)

Afterwhich, we wanted to go around the place and check out some food in line for our next visit. And this charcoal- grilled burgers from BIG BOB‘s really catched our eyes because of the meat’s revealing juiciness. We just can’t help but try it! For the win!

TUSS CREW, Mercato us? Yes? FOODTRIP!!! 🙂

TFER. ♥

Mercato for the Second Time

When it comes to driving to Bonifacio Global City past midnight, it seems as though I suddenly grow a birthmark in my bum. A popular fish wives’ tale term, “may balat ka sa pwet” refers to people who are jinxed because of having a birthmark in their ass (excuse my french.)

For some reason, we cannot seem to get our random food tripping right! or maybe that’s just me?

In another entry I mentioned that due to the fact that we were not able to go to Mercato last Sunday because it was closed, the three of us will try again in the succeeding week. That day happened yesterday and though Mercato was open and was bursting with people and smoldering scent of grilled meat at that, we STILL did not have the EXACT feeling that we expected. As I quote Kaye, “gusto ko sumaya!” (I want to be happy) it is a very melodramatic sentiment yet we still did not get what we came there for. This my friends I blame on myself.

It was certain that I sometimes intend not to tell my dad of my whereabouts even three years ago for the very reason that I will not taste the excitement of youth and bask in the enjoyment of my age, which is early 20s. People from my generation frolic and gallivant in renowned bars of the city even before the age of 18. Though I am not really a fan of bars ever since, I still want to be out at night to at least chill with my girlfriends in a cafe. I was always an introvert with the lack of social skills so any coffee place will do, as long as it is quiet and less crowded.

With this in mind, my boyfriend deliberately assumed the role of being my vigilante. It is a very sweet gesture of him to somehow protect me knowing how naive I can be at times, but that would mean that he should always be in the know of where I am and who I am with.

For some God appointed reason, it skipped my mind to tell him that I was going to be out that night with the girls. When I got out of our house I had a series of phone calls from him that made me tell the truth of my current state. It must have been a momentous event for him to get back at me with anger for all those times I snapped at him for being out late into the night even if he was just within the village with his buds.

I felt bad as I could hear on the other end of the line that he felt betrayed. Unlike me, he was quiet yet I could sense that my unnecessary lie broke him. His manner of frustration is very much like my dad’s – the silent killer. His inability to tell me how he really feels is worse than snapping back at me.

Anyway, we eventually sorted things out before we slept but thing is, I ruined a perfectly orchestrated gettaway.
I am so sorry girls.

So, Mercato.

That was the first main reason why things did not go as planned, the second was less worse but we could have avoided it.

Isaw or intestines in English are a delicacy here in the Philippines.
Most of the time it is being sold in streets together with other meat inards that are being grilled to perfection. When we saw it being sold in one of the tables in Mercato, Gina and I had the urgency to purchase and devour. The long winding string-like
“pulutan” or pica-pica in Spanish (food that goes well with beer) is best eaten with vinegar. Goodness! If it was cooked properly, the chicken or pork intestine will sinfully melt in your mouth. I am such a huge fan. So, imagine our my dismay when we took a bite to eat out of what we bought.

Gina and Kaye can very well incur of my statement that what we were having was saltwater and that we were mermaids food tripping under the sea. It was too salty that we can no longer reach for the stick to take another bite. It was charred and it being immersed in sourness did not pacify the saltiness. Really, it was as though you were muching on grains of rock salt. We gave it back to the vendor who gave us new sticks and assured us that
they were okay. He struggled to explain that maybe the ones we ate were marinated too much. What kind of a reason is that! How can you marinate food too much? It should be “too much.” Either your mixture is salty or too bland. It has nothing to do with the marinating process. The second serving was just as worse and so we left.

Our excitement died down at the sight of people, the lack of ventilation and the taste of the only food we bought for 30 bucks. But Mercato is really awesome if you wear the proper clothes and if you have money to spare. It really is meant for a night long chow down.

Gina’s quench for Milk Tea made us resort to chilling in Bubble Tea instead. We were opting to grace Resorts World with our presence but because of my lack in common sense and Mikee’s dissapointment with me, it was called off. Maybe we should all go together? Tuss Crew invades casinos will be more like it.

We called the night by taking photos along Burgos Circle.

But we still managed to have a great time, nonetheless!

Channeling Poses

I am writing as I take a quick break from stress-dom. For the past few hours I have been going up and down the stairs, making calls and accomplishing my to-do list for various events which I have no idea why it was approved by the upper management in the first place.

In my previous post I mentioned that Kaye and I were trying to reach a thousand hits by this month but for some reason, in two days we got a staggering 1,025! thanks for your undying support guys! We are truly grateful!

I was thinking of something to write and thought about blogging our most recent escapade. Since It has something to do with our future photoshoot, so to speak.

Kaye, Gina and I met with each other last Sunday night in an attempt to go to a midnight food bazaar, which happens to be very good and popular here in Manila. I shall blog about it soon, when we get the chance to finally visit an OPEN market. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we thought Mercato was open during Sunday nights, apparently, we were surprised to see a dimly lit Global City and an empty tent to confirm that we were wrong of our decision to go there. 

To make our journey and taxi fare worth it, we decided to take outfit shots instead! We did not want to waste our effort to dress up! Such girls.

Gina and Kaye did not plan their outfits, it was just a coincidence that they were wearing almost the same combination. Since we live in a tropical country, we are very fortunate to sport a pair of shorts, may it be denim, washed out or black. We usually combine our fashion pieces with closed shoes, seldom do we wear slippers.

Moving on, we crashed the guys’ village up north instead. We were almost sure that they were still awake past midnight and very alive at that. Due to our tight budget, we were hesitant to take the cab and was planning to ride the bus instead. We took a cab in Burgos Circle and to our surprise, the driver was kind enough to take us to our destination at a cost much lower than expected! We owed him a lot that night! We were not expecting someone kind enough to accept the ample money we had with us.

There we resumed our random click happy moments.

Kaye was teaching us how to pose for a photoshoot we have been planning for a long time. Yet, to our dismay, we leave that field of expertise to her.

I cannot seem to do it properly. LOL

We ended the night well! We got home at around 3 am!

We are thankful to Bogsie for adopting us at such short notice that night when we did not know where to go.

Here’s to our photoshoot! I am hoping good things will come that day.