Viva 2013

Happy New Year, bitchez!

Do you like my V Magazine cover? I know.

Have fun!

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Pictionary: Anvaya My Lord

It was my first time to go to Bataan. On the same trip, I played my first game of Monopoly. The first time I saw the beach, I was already captivated. It was serene, quiet and just secluded. The place is soothingly beautiful.

Instead of having a typical Christmas party, my bosses decided we go out of town instead. Too bad one of them couldn't go. It was a really fun trip, nonetheless. We stopped by Subic to get some essentials (read: booze) and some lunch on the way to Bataan. I've been to Subic, Pampanga and Bulacan before but I never realized the way is so scenic until now. I love the greenery, the meadows, the mountains, and even the dry river in Porac which was once the disaster site during a volcanic eruption.

I honestly didn't expect a lot from Anvaya Cove. The website doesn't do the place justice. The property is massive, well-maintained, and although very laid back, packs a lot of activities and attractions so it's never boring. The food is good too and the service is nice and quick. And can I just say, a lot of the staff are easy on the eyes. I wish I took a picture of Gerry, the trainee at the restaurant.

It was such a relaxing yet eventful trip. When we headed back to Manila, we saw some monkeys on the highway in Subic. Our boss also brought us to this Mexican place in Pampanga called Iguana's (formerly Zapata's) where I had the most memorable Mexican meal. It deserves a totally different post.

What an indulgent, cool, fun trip that was. It made going back to the city very difficult.

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Yuletide Blues

Christmas is just never the same without family. I'm home but it doesn't feel like it. I've been really waiting for the nice, fuzzy feeling this season brings to settle in but it just hasn't happened yet. It sucks. I miss my family so much.

It's cool though. I got this.

Noche Buena

There's really still a lot to be thankful for though. Also, I've been bitching about how stressful shopping has been but I really like handing out gifts to loved ones--kids, especially.

Oh well. I may not achieve that same nice feeling I remember enjoying as as a kid but I'm certainly having a moment, thanks to The Carpenters.

Happy Holidays!

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Holiday Break

Vacation has finally started and there's no better way to kick it off than by frolicking at the beach.

Just two days of debauchery.

No, it's not Boracay (again), thank goodness.

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Rushing and Restless

Hello, I'm still alive.

It's been totally crazy in school with finals and all and it's been hectic in the office as well with the closing of our next issue. This week, we had to go on overtime for four days, going home as late as 3 am. It was actually pretty fun though. I have cool colleagues. We laugh a lot.

Speaking of cool, yesterday was the last official working day for me. I celebrated the early start of my vacation by sleeping for over nine hours. This doesn't mean that I get to laze around doing nothing though. I am so not yet done with my Christmas shopping and there are also errands that need to be accomplished before I leave town for the holidays. But for now, I think I'll enjoy my bed a little longer, sans bath and breakfast.

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Pierre Hermé vs. Binatog

So our boss just got back from Europe--look what he brought us from Paris!

Thanks to my other boss for this pic!

I've come across a lot of raves about these famous macarons so I was really excited. I tried four including the two-toned one and another, which must have been coffee, plus these other two below.

I love how smooth and light it is. The shell is just right, not so hard but brittle enough on the surface to add a likable texture, while the generous filling is flavorful but never too sweet. My favorites are the ones individually pictured above.

From work, I went straight to school and was greeted by my friend, Jen, with this.

It's called binatog, a native delicacy made of corn topped with grated coconut. She brought it for me and our other friend Nikki because the two of us once mentioned we have never tried it. We don't have this back in Visayas, you know. Anyway, it's not bad. I just wish it was served with sugar instead of iodized salt which was very LA Lopez, I thought.

Don't you just love free food?

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