Foodgasm

When it's too hot people go to Tagaytay to savor the cool breeze and experience great food. I am no exception. This is my go to place whenever, I feel the need to relax and unwind from the polluted & stressful Manila. Aside from the provincial feel of the place, which we all miss from time to time...food is also the reason why I love this city.

This post is to name my top four restaurants/cafe in Tagaytay.

First on my list is LZM.

Biggest fried fish I tried...the flavor will make you crave for more.

Fans of the putok batok chicharon will love this place. They have the best on my list.

Location: Cavite Magallanes Square, Maharlika East, Tagaytay City

You may visit their FB page here

Second on my list is RSM Lutong Bahay

Dine while enjoying the view. Best of all, let the local group of singers entertain you while you savor the food

We ordered sinigang na isda, kaldereta and talong with bagoong. I went to heaven after tasting it.

Third on my list is Bag of Beans

Garden setting...perfect for events like weddings and debuts. I tried the famous blueberry cheesecake and in house special coffee. Food was great but the view is better. Bring a camera when you go here. Every corner is worth a snapshot.

Visit their FB page

Location: General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway Mendez Crossing West, Tagaytay City, Tagaytay-Nasugbu Hwy, Tagaytay

Last on my list is Tagaytay starbucks

This is an unexpected one since we have Starbucks scattered everywhere in Manila...but the view here is divine. The cool breeze that touches your skin while you sip your favorite hot coffee is not an everyday experience...it is something new yet familiar :)

Next on my foodtrip list:

 Java Jazz - I read good online reviews about it. Plus, they also have a place to stay if you plan to sleep for the night. Location: 442 Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Sungay West, Tagaytay City, Cavite

Antonio's Group of Restaurants -  read that it has a very nice ambience, classy interiors and of course great food. I want to try their eggs benedict and beef in morel-truffle sauce. Of course cocktails wouldn't hurt too.         

         Beakfast at Antonio's

         location: Aguinaldo Highway, Barangay Bagong Tubig, Tagaytay, Philippines +63 (46) 413-0738

         Facebook page

         Antonio's

         location: Purok 138, Barangay Neogan, Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines

         monile number:  +63917-8992866

         website

         Facebook page

        

         The Grill by Antonio's

         location: One Destination, Aguinaldo Highway Tagaytay City

         Facebook page

Morielli's Inn & Diner Restaurant - love the restaurant's tag line " Eat Much, Laugh Often and Love Much" - I would love to try their famous lechon, tapa and tawilis. Visit their Facebook page here

Mahogany Market Eateries - Bulalo lover's heaven. Need I say more? :)

location: Cavite E. Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika East, Tagaytay City

         Facebook page

Hope you like this post. Please do share restaurants that you know by commenting below. Leaving you a picture of the beautiful Taal Volcano before I doze off to neverland

South Salon Digital Perm Experience

I've always been fascinated with curly hair. Women donning them looks sexier, free spirited and effortlessly stylish.

I had my first perm way back March of 2013. For my post about that, pls refer to this link. Anyway, I had it done at Beauty Brick Salon before and my experience was ok but not that great. I still went to South Salon after to have it treated and Menchie, my favorite hairstylist in the world had to do her magic (precision cutting & hair color) to make my then curls look more natural and soft looking. Anyway, now that I know better, I went back to them and this time chose to let them do all the process. I wanted a shorter locks this time around and my peg of choice were that of Ema Stone and Bea Alonzo.

First, Menchie gave me a haircut. Mind you, my hair grew longer than I expected - around waist length - before I had the time and moolah to go back to 'em. Second, they treated my hair to remove the buildup. Next, the perm was done. The whole procedure lasted for six hours. I was instructed to go back a week after for hair color, because doing them on the same day will damage my hair. Here's the end result.

my hair before the procedure

my hair post procedure

The pictures doesn't give justice to the haircolor but I'll take better pictures of it and post them here next time :) It was a 3 color combination. Dark brown for the base, red and honey blonde for the highlights. I've been receiving a lot of compliments about it (I tell you) 

For maintenance, I was advised to use any shampoo and conditioner of my choice. They also taught me how to dry my hair properly to make my curls look more lovely and manageable. They also suggested this strengtheng hair serum from Malaysia which I truly love. The price is around Php600-700. Not bad for a 250 ml packaging.

Before I end this,let me just clarify that this is not a sponsored post. I went to the salon and paid for all the services which cost me around Php13,000. This review is therefore unbiased and purely based from experience. So if you're interested to get a perm try them out. I'm betting my life that you won't rerget it :)

You may like their fb page here

You may visit their website here

Salon locations:

UGF-A Westgate Tower

Investment Drive Madrigal Business Park Ayala Alabang

Muntinlupa City

Today 9:00am - 7:00pm

Phone 809.9363 | 809.9486 | 576.9044(makati)

Email southsalonmakati@yahoo.com / thesouthsalon@gmail.com

South Salon Makati

2F A.Venue Lifestyle Center Makati Ave., Makati City

0917.8515577 | 5769044

Six Months Post Perm

My perms are 6 months old today and I'm happy because the curls still look great. Here's my most recent picture with it:) What can you say?

Sorry for the crappy photo

As I've said in my previous post about my digital perm experience...I'm not really experimental when it comes to my hair but I'm feeling bored lately and I'm contemplating whether to cut my locks short this time and still get a perm. I've gathered some pics from the net and here are my pegs. My favorites would be Jessica Biel's (with side swept bangs) and Bea Alonzo's.

Good thing that our hair grows back because if not I will probably settle for the safe long hair look. However, I really want some change...let's just say a new look for the new year. What do you think? yay or nay? 

The Art of Juicing

Today is officially 95 days before Christmas Woohooo!!! I'm loving the cool climate that we have right now (except for the moody downpours) but what I'm excited about is the nearing end of 2013. New Year = fresh start. You know what I mean :) 

Anyhoo, you can tell that I'm trying to be witty with my blog title but hey I can't think of anything more appropriate than this...after all, color has always been associated with the word art right? Don't you love all the colors you are seeing on this pic? This is what's keeping me busy right now...juicing, exercise and other health related activities you can think of. Today though, let me share with you one of my juicing concoctions.

Spinach, malunggay or moringa & carrots for vegetables + mango, pear and grapes for fruits. I usually use apples but today I decided to use pears because I ran out of apples. Juicing is pretty easy especially when you're using a good juicer. My favorite brand is Braun because of it's durability. Can you believe that this has been with us since 2003? My mom bought it when she underwent a cleansing program to treat her cancer. To those who are curious..she's perfectly fine now. 

Moving on, I make sure that the vegetables are cleansed well. I soak them in purified water for 3 to 5 minutes just to satisfy my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). After that, I put them in the juicer...doesn't matter which comes first just as long as it fills one glass then that's good enough for me. When it comes to proportion, I make sure that if I have 3 veggies, I also have 3 fruits to balance the taste. I'm no veggie lover! In fact, if fries and burgers are proven healthier than this...I'll never ever touch them...so I need to do juicing. It's one tricky way to appreciate the green family.

Here's the benefits of my ingredients:

Carrots - improves vision, cancer prevention, anti-aging, healthy glowing skin, prevents heart disease, cleanses the body, healthy teeth and gums, stroke prevention

Malunggay or Moringa - strengthens the immune system, strengthens the eye muscles, heals inflammation of the joints and tendons, prevent intestinal worms, diabetes prevention, promotes good night sleep, treats fever and asthma, helps heals ulcer

Spinach - protects the body from free radicals, excellent source of iron,  loaded with flavonoids which act as antioxidants, heart-healthy food, outstanding source of vitamins C and A, promotes gastrointestinal health

Mangoes - prevents cancer, lowers cholesterol, clears the skin, promotes eye health, alkalizes the whole body

Pears - reduces risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, prevents stomach and lunch cancer, protects against Alzheimer’s disease

Grapes - cures asthma, improves bone health, relieves migraine, 

eliminates constipation and indigestion, prevents fatigue, protects against kidney disorders, cataracts and cancer

Credits to Mr Google for the information :)

And finally...the finished product:

I've tried a lot weight loss programs from the Master Cleanse to the GM diet but they have all left me so famished that I end up eating more. LOL!! Right now, I'm controlling my carbs intake but when I get too hungry, I alternate cornflakes with low fat milk, prunes and yoghurt with raisins for my snack. Sometimes, when I'm feeling too deprived...I cheat especially on weekends...but in moderation. So far, this has been working out for me.

For exercise, I'm doing aerobics and samba at home at least five times a week. I tried running but it's not for me. No offense to all the avid runners out there but I prefer my body especially (my legs) toned and not muscular. My favorite part of my body would be my legs...they're not perfect but I get complimented because of em :) So yeah, I think the best exercises for me would be yoga, aerobics, zumba and brisk walking..nothing really hardcore because as I've said..I like a feminine, curvy and toned body 

So that's about my current fitness plan. Hope this will lead to a healthier me come 2014 :) 

A Secret of Love

Sharing with you a random topic for today which I find so romantic. I hope all men can be as supportive and patient like Brad :)

Brad Pitt about His Wife Angelina

A Secret of Love

My wife got sick. She was constantly nervous because of problems at work, personal life, her failures and problems with children. She has lost 30 pounds and weighted about 90 pounds in her 35 years. She got very skinny, and was constantly crying. She was not a happy woman. She had suffered from continuing headaches, heart pain and jammed nerves in her back and ribs. She did not sleep well, falling asleep only in the morning and got tired very quickly during the day. Our relationship was on the verge of break up. Her beauty was leaving her somewhere, she had bags under her eyes, she was poking her head, and stopped taking care of herself. She refused to shoot the films and rejected any role. I lost hope and thought that we’ll get divorced soon… But then I decided to act on it. After all I’ve got the most beautiful woman on the earth. She is the ideal of more than half of men and women on earth, and I was the one allowed to fall asleep next to her and to hug her shoulders. I began to pepper her with flowers, kisses and complements. I surprised her and pleased every minute. I gave her lots of gifts and lived just for her. I spoke in public only about her. I incorporated all themes in her direction. I praised her in front of her own and our mutual friends. You won’t believe, but she has blossomed. She became even better than before. She gained weight, was no longer nervous and she loved me even more than ever. I had no clue that she CAN love that much.

And then I realized one thing: “”The woman is the reflection of her man”"

Brad Pitt

Dilemma

I’m sure everyone has a bad customer service experience to share and unfortunately, I had my worst just this month. Let me start with my obsession with Apple. I love the sleek design of their products/gadgets so to fulfill my desire; I went straight to Festival Mall one fine day to buy the very famous IPhone.J With an attempt to get the most out of my budget, I hopped from one gadget boutique to another and settled with the store who offered the most reasonable price. I originally wanted to get the phone from POWER MAC but the price is steeper at around PHP2000 so I ended up getting it from Modern Gadgets, a small gadget boutique located at the 3^rd level of Festival Mall. The Php2000 I was able to save went to an authentic red leather case and a matte screen protector. I went home feeling ecstatic. I remember getting giddy downloading all the applications I wanted to use especially, Candy Crush. Anyway, my dilemma started on the first week of May. There were horizontal orange lines that appeared on the message screen of the phone. I didn’t mind it at first with hopes that it would disappear on its own. However, a few days after, there were bluish gray lines that appeared as well. Aside from that, I also noticed that whenever I take pictures the shots will have green and orange pixels on it. This got my attention. I started to research and according to Mr. Google this is a common IPhone issue and normally the suppliers will have to replace the item.  I was relieved after reading this and went to SWITCH in Alabang Town Center a few days after with my warranty and receipt in tow. I did not go to Modern Gadgets purposely because as I have mentioned, they are just a small boutique while SWITCH is an Apple seller that has their own service center at the same time. I thought that the situation will be handled right away but I was mortified when the technician told me that MODERN GADGETS is not an authorized dealer of APPLE so they won’t be able to accept my phone for repair. I was advised to go home and do a couple of self-diagnostic test but the problem was not resolved. I went to Festival Mall the following day and the same guy who sold me the unit made me wait for a freaking 1.5 hours and went back only to tell me that I have to leave my phone for 3 days so that they can do a diagnostic test on it. Being a true blue OC, I instructed the guy to take extra care of my phone. I didn’t want any scratches on it once returned to me.  With not much of a choice, I left the store unhappy, desperately missing my phone. L I called them after three days to check on the status of my concern but the guy was apparently on day off so I was advised to call the following day. I waited and called but got disappointed even more when he told me that the repair center has not given them any updates yet. Thus, I need to wait again for a few more days. To cut the story short, they made me wait for 2 weeks before I got an answer. This was very inconvenient for me as I had to spend a lot of my time calling them back again and again, looking for the guy who sold me the unit who is usually on breaks (I tell you) or if not, speaking with his manager or a customer. And did the answer satisfy me????? The answer is a big NO!!!! They wanted me to pay PHP1000 for LCD replacement because according to their diagnostic test, I somehow crushed the LCD of the phone. ME???? So the fault was on me!!! I created a scene there. I told them I wasn’t buying their fake diagnostic test. I told them I went to SWITCH and found out they were not an authorized dealer. I told them, it’s impossible to crush an IPHONE especially when it’s protected with a hard leather case. The guy kept on apologizing but my concern was disregarded. I ended up agreeing on their offer to replace my LCD for free in severe frustration. I was advised to go back after a few days and as always, they played the waiting game on me. When the day came that I had to pick up my phone guess what happened? The LCD screen which was supposedly new had a chip on the left side and worst, my phone had scratches everywhere. I was beyond mad and at this point, I was able to speak to the manager who was very rude to me by the way. She even had the nerve to tell me “Ma’am pinalitan na nga po yung LCD ng walang bayad, ayaw nyo parin tanggapin?” I told her off. I told her that I was working in the customer service field for quite some time now and so far, she was the only manager who doesn’t have the initiative to give disappointed customers a call. To appease me, she disappeared to make a call and a few minutes later, made the poor guy talk to me instead. They will finally replace the unit but I have to go back on a certain date.  (YES AGAIN!!!!) Fast forward to that day, I called them to follow up and the guy said they won’t be able to replace the item because their supplier did not agree on it. They will just replace the LCD again. I had enough of it. I raised my voice over the poor guy in my dire attempt to get the number of their supplier. He got so scared and gave me what I needed. I spoke with a certain Ms. Dan and told her that I will be filing a complaint against their store if they don’t replace my item. She probably got scared because that same day I was advised to go back to their store to get my new IPHONE.

Modern Gadgets Store, Festival Mall

So far, I am happy with it but just a week ago, the charger and the USB connector stopped working so I had to go back to them again. Luckily, this time …they replaced it the same day – must be because they were threatened with what I can do. Oh, and let me share with you that there was an old man screaming to one of the saleslady when I went there and judging from their conversation, the old man bought a tablet which was damaged. They replaced it and after a few days, the item stopped working. Anyway, my conclusion is that they repair damaged IPHONES and other gadgets then they repack it and sell it to their customers as brand new. This is just a conclusion…but more than anything else, I hope this serves as a warning to you, my dear readers not to buy from this store. I’d say choose MAC or other authorized dealers even if it’s pricier, so when problems arise, you’re covered.

Resolution

I know, I know...it's too early for a New Year's Resolution post but I can't help it. 2013 is not a lucky year for me as everyday feels like a struggle to live and get by. I am not complaining though, because "adversities are gifts wrapped in unattractive paper." - got this line from youtube. I've been watching a lot of inspirational videos lately to uplift my mood. Thank you God for blessing your people with creative minds. Because of Your gift, Youtube was invented and your everyday messages are made available across the world wide web. Anyway, here's my resolution:

1. Be Healthier

Try to abstain from eating processed foods which I absolutely love :( Exercise more ( enroll in a yoga class or start to jog maybe?)

2. Be a smart shopper

Do not over indulge in sales. Do not hoard things which I will not use. SAVE SAVE SAVE!!! - Do I need to say more?

3. Buy a Car

Short term goal: Honda Jazz

Long term goal: Montero

I probably need to allot a portion of my savings for LOTTO lol :) Kidding aside, nothing beats the sense of fulfillment you'll get when you are able to buy something you've truly saved for.

4. Get a house/condo unit

I've got a long way to go but I am not giving up on this dream

5. Save for a new DSLR

It's nice to immortalize memories through crisp pictures. Nuff said.

6. Travel the Philippines

I have a scrapbook of places I want to visit in the Philippines. If I get lucky and win the lottery..I will definitely buy an island and live there. A certified beach bum here.

7. Travel to Greece, Italy, Paris, Europe, South Africa and China

Looks liks I'll be poor as a mice after this but the wisdom and experience you'll get from travelling will be worth every penny spent.

8. Keep on learning

Enroll in a Fashion or Advanced Makeup Course and attend business trainings/seminars. Life is more meaningful when you keep on learning.

9. Start a business

This is related to number 8. Improve my online shop!!!

10. Pay it forward

Give Back. Make sure to share a portion of my earnings to charity.

Only ten items. Not a lot but will definitely need a lot of effort to achieve. So, help me God. Btw, before I end this post. If you are interested to watch the video I was talking about. You may view it here

God bless us all :)

Diet on the Go

Have you ever experienced looking at your College pictures and smirking at your old thin self??? I am guilty of that! When I was still a teenager, my metabolism was like that of a monster. Kidding aside! I can eat two  burgers and a spaghetti meal in one sitting and still fit into my size 26 jeans. My weight was around 98 pounds then and that does not include the fact that I had PCOS (Polycystic Ovary syndrome), a disease which supposedly makes a woman fat. Fast forward to 2013, I had gained a lot of weight and the fats concentrated on my problem zones: the belly, the bust and my arms. :( I started becoming meatier when I took Diane 25, the contraceptive pill used to treat PCOS. I took it for more than 6 months and it made my bust size larger. My appetite also doubled and my cravings for fatty foods became uncontrollable. Aside from that, I was also working as a customer service representative which was on night shift..so yes, I also didn't have the time to exercise. Until one day...tadaaaa...all my clothes bade their goodbye to me. My self confidence was very low during those times. There were so many things happening...so many firsts..so many things to adjust to. Thus, little by little I succumbed to the unhealthy lifestyle I've grown accustomed to. Of course, I tried some fad diets in between (GM and Paleo Diet.) It'll make me lose 3-4 pounds in the process but I always end up binging and gaining all my weight back..sometimes even double of it. 

Of all the diets I tried, I can say that Master Cleanse (the famous Beyonce diet) was the one that worked for me. My new job then, which was on day shift also helped me because I had more time to exercise and do extra currical activities which served as my diversion from eating. However, some unfortunate events happened. I had to resign, go to New Zealand and things didn't go well for me there. I returned home a few months back depressed, jobless and heavier. Now, I am trying my best to return to my Master Cleanse Diet but believe me when you are jobless - dieting is really hard because you don't have anything else to focus on. Hence, all you think about is food, food and food. LOL! My sleeping habit was also a disaster. I am now a certified insomniac and at night, when everybody is asleep, I go down for some midnight snack. Talk about zero percent self discipline! Anyway, I have now decided to end my journey to yo-yo dieting not just because I want to fit into my size 26 jeans again but because I want to be healthy. Scrap the idea that we should love and accept our body as it is. If you really love yourself, you should have a conscious effort to take care of it and that includes having a healthy lifestyle, exercising more and doing activities that will nurture your emotional and spiritual being. Am I right? :)

At present, I'm now on my day 5...though I cheated a bit yesterday teehee :) I finally found the diet that works for me. I started by removing carbohydrates on my diet (totally no rice, bread and pasta unless it's wheat) I make sure to eat small portions of vergetables and fruits whenever I am hungry. When the craving is insane, I eat white or lean meat. When I want sweets - I eat yogurt and lastly, I drink lots of water to keep me full and hydrated. I try to avoid colas as much as possible to avoid sugar and when I drink green tea, no sweeteners are added. I don't want to deprive myself of food right away. This is like, my preparation before I do Master Cleanse again. Once I lose about 7 pounds then I will start with the juice diet. Pls. wish me well. I really hope this time I won't fail. :) If you wan't to know more about Master Cleanse pls visit this site. You can buy the ingredients for this diet at any Healthy Options Store.

Moving on, I found this cool website. Ever heard of Nasty Gal? I love their clothes and best of all they offer free shipping worldwide. You can also change the currency based on which country you live in, so you'll see the price of each item in peso. How coollllliiioooo is that!!! Check their website out and let me know which items you are digging :)

Oh and before I end this post, let me share with you my ebay site. I sell branded clothes, shoes, bags etc. here for a reasonable price. Below are some of the items up for grabs. Enjoy shopping :)

Peacock's London Leather Jacket

Forever 21 Dress

Chloe Bag

Chinese Laundry Bag

Topshop Moto Jeans

BAG HAG

Sorry for my long absence. I was busy preparing for an international singing contest that didn't push through in the end. :( Sad but I am relieved knowing that I could finally look for a job. YEY!!!! I miss the feeling of being busy while getting paid at the same time. Anyone who could suggest a back office day shift account?? Anyway, I've been on a shopping ban for more than 6 months now. This started when I cleaned my closet a few months back and saw several items with tags still attached to it. Some faux leather bags and shoes were already peeling off and I felt really bad for my hard earned moolah that went to waste that day. I have learned my lesson in a hard way and so I vowed that I will never ever sacrifice quality over quantity moving forward. :) Lesson number one: invest in bags and shoes made of real leather. Think Rockport, Hush Puppies, Pabder, Rabeanco etc. They are quite pricey but you're sure to get your money's worth from it. Lesson number two: Don't get too excited on the word SALE because this is almost equivalent to unnecessary hoarding. Lesson number three: Think before you buy. Make sure that you will be able to wear that item in many ways. Example: Buying a black blazer over a pink blazer would be more logical because it is a universal color and you can pair it with almost anything in your closet. I am not saying that you should be boring. If you have extra money then why not get it in all colors. :)

Speaking of quality, I am madly in love with the bags of RABEANCO. The price of their real leather bags is not bad compared to that of other high end brands. You may check their FB Page to view more of their items or you can also go to their store at Alabang Town Center. See the items that I am lusting on below

Do you know any other affordable brands that sell real leather bags? Please comment if you do...so I can check them out. Meanwhile, I have finally updated my ebay account. If you have the time, kindly check my ebay listings here. I sell imported clothes, bag, shoes, books etc. at a very reasonable price. Enjoy shopping and have a great weekend. Lastly, Happy Fathers Day to all Dad's out there. May God Bless us all.