Karaoke Tales

I'm up early and so I'm here. ;) I had like 6 hours sleep but felt so restful...plus when I checked my emails, I read one from a friend whom I have been wanting to hear from. It just made my morning...more beautiful!

My Tuesday's Tales for this week is with friends from my previous Company. Last week I was watching Duets with the IT Guy and so that left me with some Karaoke thoughts 'til now...

I never realized 'til I saw that movie that Karaoke is popular in the US. Here...ha, very much! Even before that Karaoke concept was even born. Filipinos just love to sing...and you'll hear us sing anywhere...anytime.

We have this place called Gimik and you can rent a room there with friends and just do Karaoke. Of course they serve food and drinks...

Almost 2 years ago I went with some friends from the Operations for some Karaoke and "drinking" session. LOL It was after work and since our work is on a night shift our escapade was in the day time. After work we head lunch then off we went o Gimik.

We were a bit too excited...that we got into this little accident. Lucky me...I was not the one driving! We hit a motor bike...no one was injured and I guess the damage was just some scratch and bumps in the car. I don't really know how to explain it. Sorry, I haven ot mastered the art of describing an accident yet.



So there! I'm the one with the yellow shirt and a red bag! I couldn't figure what my fashion sense was about that time....and one of the rare occassions that I wear jeans!

Anyway....whatever happened did not stop us from having fun...

Yes I drink beer...and wine and tequila...and others! LOL

Though IT Guy said I can't be an endorser of beer...because the way I hold my glass looks like I'm not drinking something bitter. (One of my quirks is my love for bitter taste!)

We have a nice beer here called San Miguel beer and most Americans and other foreigners here love it...but here we were drinking Red Horse because the girls wanted to get tipsy soon!

So here...is the Karaoke queen..NOT! LOL

If I remember right I was singing ABBA's Chiquitita.

Another post...after several rounds of beer. We still looked okay there, right?

Okay this is one post or one story most people just don't expect from me. I don't know why...but for some reason people just can't believe I have a life and can have fun. Ha ha ha!

So you do also go out drinking with friends? And I'd love to know if anyone of you loves Karaoke...

If you have tales to share...please sign up below so others can visit you and read your tales!

Light Fixtures

Let's talk about light fixtures as I always have this inkling to fix light fixtures! Ha!

Are you like me who is obssessed with ceiling light features?! Yes I am. So apart from shopping for shoes and bags...I also window shop alot of times for light fixtures. For whatever reason I just feel like when I repaint a part of the house goes with it is the light fixtures. Unfortunately here is hard to find everything you want in one place...add to that fact the canvassing of prices.

I found another cool "shopping portal"...yes, another one and they offer a wide variety of light fixtures from different suppliers. The best part is that it lets you search according to type...supplier and price.

So without further ado I did my search on ceiling light fixtures and behold I found several nice chandeliers. Okay I just can't change that every so often but what I find exciting is that I saw some which I can use at the porch...and in my room. Very cool!

Tips In Creating Special Characters

My Tech Tuesday today is about special characters. This is a character/letters not so common yet er get to use once in a while and as simple as it is I've met several people who just don't know how to create spanish character like N with a tilde (~).

So if you do not know how to make the following --

Ñ and ñ

Here is how simple and easy it is --

for PC

Ñ = Press Alt + 1 6 5 (in the Numerical Pad, that is the sets of numbers at the right part of your keyboard if you are PC)

ñ = Press Alt + 1 6 4 (in the Numerical Pad, that is the sets of numbers at the right part of your keyboard if you are PC)

for Laptop

Ñ = Press Fn (Function) + NmLk (NumLock), Press Alt + 1 6 5 (in the letters keys J, O, I)

ñ = Press Fn (Function) + NmLk (NumLock), Press Alt + 1 6 4 (in the letters keys J, O, U)

My Shopping Portal

Just got home from work...and my first day at work ROCKS!

I'll talk more about my work later but for now...let me tell you how amazing Internet is! Not that it's something you don't know yet. ;)

Everything is just accessible with a click! And well information is power they say and the more access to information you have the more more powerful you feel. Ahem!

My friends and my staff at work eversince always quote me with my famous line -- GOOGLE is a friend! That is referrring to one's initiative in finding information. Then we have Wikipedia...just read it and wow you can talk about a thing like an expert. Not that I'm advocating it as a pure source of information...but you know general knowledge on things will not do harm.

And now there's ShopWiki! WOOT! An amazing venue that allows us to search almost anything and carries a comprehensive list shopping sites. Easy access to stocks and prices...allowing buyers better options. You can even find information on things you want to buy for your small pets, dog care and even for birds!

Definitely I've found my shopping portal...

Take A Look Inside My Purse

It's Monday and well I'm feeling sick...

BUT excited!

Today is my first day at the new job! :)

Monday is never complete without Fun Monday and this week's host is no other than the Church Lady! And her task for this week is --

Post a photo of your purse and if you care to share, describe what's inside your purse. Do you carry everything but the kitchen sink? Or, do you prefer to go light and carry only the necessities, such as your money and cell phone. For the men who would like to participate, post a photo of your wallet and describe what's in your wallet.

Well...either I carry a purse or none at all! And when I carry one...I carry with me so many stuff. I also change purse almost everyday...but here is my favorite. And yes they're all about this size.

And...I most of the time carry with me the following items -- moisturizer (hand and body lotion), hair brush, chap stick, lipstick, lip gloss, face powder, eye liner and my wallet!

I don't carry cash with my most of the time...well I have few crisp bills in my wallet because I tend not to spend them...LOL

Okay...there are more...LOL

I carry several lipsticks...the reason for that is I use different shades depending on what I wear and where I go and my mood and most of the time I just put on my lipstick in the car so I have to carry different shades!

I am also inseparable with my sunglasses!

And sometimes I carry with me in addition to the eye liner, lip liner, mascara and eye shadows. Just because! Most of the time if not always I don't get to pull them out of my purse and use them as I am not a retouch person...LOL But it just feels right and good to know that you have them with you..if you get what I mean.

I also sometimes carry with my sanitary pads (Tampon is not just common here and I can't seem to make it work with me!). But since I'm a regular...I only carry them one day before my expected period. ;)

Most of the time my purse is more loaded with items like...Tylenol, Tissue, Feminine Wipes and Alcogel (sanitizer) but since I didn't have to go to work for the whole week...I did not bother to restock!

And well my favorite is that my laptop fits in my purse too!

There...folks! Another fun theme...

Please visit The Church Lady to see others' purses!

Wish you all a great week!

Sunday Evening Mutterings

It's 10 PM and I'm still for the IT Guy to text me or call me that his home...he is out getting a massage. I opted to stay home because I was at the salon for 6 hours and that was just too much for me. So I'm skipping massage this weekend. LOL

So while waiting for his call let me do my Unconscious Mutterings!

1. Divorce :: ...is something I don't want to go through.


2. Napkin :: Table napkin?


3. Camera :: A good travel companion!


4. Leather :: Shoes


5. Fractures :: Ouch!


6. Flip out :: I sometimes do. LOL


7. Coroner :: Forensics


8. Atomic :: Bomb!


9. Liz :: My friend.


10. Leave :: Of Absence?

Happy Sunday to all!

Just A Quick Post

I've been absent and I miss so many things I've been meaning to do...but oh well I guess I've been too manic with my blogging the past days that Friday morning I woke up just wanting to have a super lazy day...totally away from my laptop!

I'm trying to enjoy my free days as next week I'm going to join my new company! Woohoo!

Anyway...just got a call from a friend miles away telling me she needs me to help her find mortgage options. Ummm...I know I used to be good at it...I can still help but not when you are miles away from me! I need you to be in the same bank with me for me to assist you...

Turns out...she thinks I'm better in online research and wants me to investigate about Mortgage Loans. I was torn between helping her and hoping it's not really happening. I wanted to tell her it might not be a good idea...YET the IT Guy told me that if she really needs it then the most I can do is help her find options. So I did. I figured it's not just finding the best rate but also the best deal. And I really hope she gets both!

I'm not so familiar with how the finance sector works in the US and in other parts of the world. I imagine they operate in more or less the same rules. I'd love to hear about it!

I really pray this whole thing we're all going through ends...and that it ends well.

Virtual Age Generator

Care to know what your age as per health status versus your biological age?

Got this Virtual Age generator through Thom and people here at home have been crazy with it. The IT Guy is worst...he seems to try to see how the calculations change as soon as he modifies some of his answers. We were kidding ourselves to make this as our health consultant...like if we intend to increase alcohol consumption by some percent for example what percent will it take out from our life expectancy! LOL

So fun...

Anyway...here are my stats!

Biological age — 29

Virtual age — 25.

Average Life Expectancy: 74

My Life Expectancy: 77.2

WOOT! It says I'm younger than my real age...and well I hope to live 100 years so I guess I have to lower the stress level and hopefully when I start my new job it will be give an I love my job answer and will add more years...LOL

IT Guy's stats are way higher than mine. Reasons could be....he uses the seat belt and I don't....he enjoys his job and never mind mine! But I just quit... ;)

You may want to try it people...it's really fun!!!

Calling All WoW Enthusiasts

This is just a quick shout out --

I am so happy to know that WoW Game Cards can now be bought through PayPal!

Okay I maybe a bit late there but you cannot just discount my happiness. For one I don't want to use my credit card online for my online games...for whatever reason. So in the past what I did is dedicate one card for my online games...and just for that. I just want to make sure I can track all my spending and validates them easily. With PayPal I feel safer because there is not much there I just transfer enough funds there.

These WoW Game Cards are sold online at a retail online cost of around $29 and will subscribe any WoW account with 60 days of play time. Cool!

To all WoW enthusiasts...you may want to check this out and buy WoW cd keys through PayPal!

The Habit of Gratefulness

I just feel so inspired today! Maybe it's the Lengua de Gato and coffee...or maybe...it's another day to be grateful for and to wake up with a grateful heart is more powerful than any coffee in the world!

I am so overwhelmed with whatever I'm feeling right now and let me type quick what are the things I'm so grateful this week...

♥ I thank everyone for sending prayers and happy thoughts! I was not just so well yesterday when I did my WFW post. But with how down and confuse I was yesterday...I'd say I'm at the other end of the spectrum right now. I am just so happy it seems nothing can go wrong. Oh no...I'm not taking pills...or anything. Just my coffee and the Lengua de Gato!

I feel I've been lifted up in prayers...and I just couldn't thank you all enough!

♥ I did another set of Lengua de Gato yesterday with the Sis-in-Law and it was perfect! We got everything we wanted...crisp...melt-in-your-mouth texture...enough sweetness. People at home love it! And we will go buy some containers later and will bake more tonight. We plan to give it out to friends...Yay!

♥ I'm free the whole week so I take it as an opportunity to see friends...make that visit friends! And I'm not bringing them cakes anymore...just dessert cookies! They are way easy to carry around...LOL

♥ Mom is now better. She caught cold from the nephew last week and as sensitive as she is it complicates to cough and asthma. But thank God she is better now!

♥ IT Guy has been so supportive with me since and this past weeks he's been there with me. I'm also grateful with friends who are offering me advices on what to do with my former employer. Trust me they're not the type who makes you feel worst by adding flame to what's already been burning in my heart. It's always nice to have friends who assures you that you did fine and that whatever is happening is not your fault...not that I want an excuse or my way out...I just love to assess my situations and want honest feedback so I can better myself. Just that this time they told me to just focus on my plans...move on and not to look back. Hmmm...

♥ I am so thankful for having a very loving and understanding family! Need I say more?! ;)

♥ I'm grateful for Thankful Thursday! Being thankful everyday is great...but to actually sit and allocate time to think what are the things we're grateful for and to actually type them is a great reinforcement. This is one habit I'm grateful to have...

Happy Thursday everyone!


Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!

Closing The Gap

I missed my Tech Tuesday this week and well it's not Tuesday but let me talk about information technology anyway...

One of the things that I really love about technology is the fact that it allows people from different place to be connected. It just made the world smaller that it already is! The digital world closes whatever gap that divided people geographically.

I'm not a computer geek or something and my skills are not as great as most people in IT (add to that the fact that the bf is an IT Guy!). Yet I'd also say, ahem, with modesty set aside that I know a computer and I can definitely make it work. What I mean by that is...among friends...my computer grade seems higher! LOL So I end up sometimes helping them with their computer issues. Even with friends from other countries!

How?!

Well we can either chat and I tell what to do...or I go remotely to their computers and fix the problem.

Whoever thought that it is possible for me to turn on a video and install a software on a computer in let us say LA while I am in Cebu? I love technology!

But the problem is when there is a physical set-up required? What if the person needs to set-up a network? Set-up his TV to interconnect with his computer? Sometimes manuals are just hard to understand you know...

Here what we normally do is just call a friend (thus IT Guy gets to be called for help a lot) and let the friend do the physical set-up. There are just not just companies that offer this service to residential...and the need in the residential sector is growing!

I have to mention this because of a conversation I had with a friend last night. She needed me to help with her computers and all and more! I just can't virtually pull her cables and reconnect it back you know! Then she told me she can call a Computer Repair company to do it for her. She just want to make sure she understands what need to be done and she wants me to check after how things are. I was like...that is great! (I don't have to stay online talking to her and helping her read the manual! LOL) She added that the technicians from there provide fast, affordable business computer service and technical computer help - offering same day, weekend and even evening appointments. Sweet!

I'm amaze with how business adopt to industry's needs. Right now...home office and online businesses are growing and I am really happy to know that the industry acknowledges this by offering services that would cater to these small players. It helps close the digital gap in my opinion. Gone are the days when only the rich and famous can afford technology at the privacy of their homes! I believe this also spells progress and democracy.

Fun Quotes!

It's been awhile now since I did my last Thursday Thirteen.

Below are thirteen fun quotes for the new millennium...

1. The geek shall inherit the earth.
2. Fax is stranger than fiction.
3. Windows will never cease.
4. Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.
5. A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.
6. A chat has nine lives.
7. You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.
8. Too many clicks spoil the browse.
9. Oh, what a tangled website we weave when first we practice.
10. Don't put all your hypes in one home page.
11. Don't byte off more than you can view.
12. Know what to expect before you connect.
13. Give a man (or for that matter anyone) a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.

It's 8:24 AM here and I'm enjoying my Lengua de Gato with my coffee. Hope you're all having fun!

Am I Weird

...because I prefer to drive trucks than sedan?!

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate nice cars...I'm a fan of Mercedes Benz in fact! Just that if I am to choose I'd prefer big cars...and I love trucks...like pickup trucks.

One of the first property that I bought with the IT Guy...is a pickup truck. We love it. We use it always, especially when we drive south the island. Good for out of town trips. And I feel safe driving it. LOL Call that psychological...but oh well. Just my opinion.

Anyway the past days it's been raining and I asked the IT Guy if we can get a cover for it. When I said that I meant anything just to cover it. While he was giving it a thought I went on...but something that would dress the back rather than making it "covered".

I know that statement would ordinarily confuse people but well IT Guy reads me and he can read me well so he said -- "You mean a tonneau cover?"

I was like what is that?!

So I did a quick search and well found an article on Truck Tonneau Cover. So that what he means!!! Very nice...just exactly what I thought we need for the pickup. Just how the article puts it -- if pickup trucks are for practicality, tonneau cover is about versatility. It puts everything in my head in simple nice words! LOL

I Will Rise...

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
(Psalm 37.23-24)

My last day at work was last Monday and I'm taking this whole week as a time to rest...recharge and retreat.

Though I've tendered my resignation as early as May 4 and exerted efforts to have a smooth exit...looks like I'm still not done with my test on patience.

I do not want to turn this post into a rant but please allow me to share to you very briefly what happened as I assessment from others maybe helpful.

Last week I've made up my mind to stand on my intent to leave the Company I've been with for 3 years. After all I've tendered my resignation already and though they've asked me to extend my stay while they make their counter offer it only puts the effective date to a halt but I did not revoke it. So last week I informed the boss to make just finished the week and that's it. Though I offered my assistance 'til they find my replacement should she need anything urgent. She was nice and told me she's in desperation to keep me. It's her word. I felt awful that when she asked to stay another week and wait 'til she gets back to her office because she was at the airport then I just agreed. (I report to the Company's Director and she's based at the HQ which is located in another country.) Saturday morning the HR Manager called me to her office and told me to do immediate resignation and told me that my boss gave her instructions to do. So I took that as --I don't have to wait for her anymore...I can do my turnover and get cleared with it and move on. I informed the HR that my shift is over already and that I just overstayed for her. I told her I will let the It Department generate the list of files I have been working since that's all they need/want.

Monday morning I sent the HR Manager a message asking her what time she'll be at work and if I can process my clearance right then and there since that is customary in the workplace. She said, we can just do my exit interview but for the clearance they have to wait for the Director to get back for the turnover.

Now...that's the part I got confuse. Why hurry me on the turnover when I still have to wait anyway when I already agreed to wait! I wanted an explanation. A part of me was telling me something is wrong...they might be doing their old crap against me yet I resisted that. She called me up so flared when all I wanted was an explanation and then hanged up on me. She ended the call the way she started it -- RUDE and ABRUPT. With a follow text after that she is off my case!

Despite all I still opted to go to the office Monday evening. I went straight to the IT Department to ask them to do an inventory of my files. The advise I got from the System Admin was --

"Miss, I don't think there is a need for that since your files were already backed up since Saturday as requested by the HR Manager.

And your access is now deactivated."

Fine. I understand they have to deactivate my access. But why asked me to generate a list of files when the Company took hold of it already? Maybe she was hoping I'd delete some and then create a fuss out of it? I will not do that! Why? What for?

I have everything documented and 'til now I'm still waiting for them to reply to me as the when can I process my clearance.

It's not the first time she'd done something like that. It's not the first time she violated me. It's not the first time she violated an employee. But I ignored her because I always believe that truth and justice always win. And they always do. But human as I am I get pissed too. Am I wrong to think that she is taking me personally? If there is somebody there who wants me out it's her, yet I know she is bitter because I might be in a better workplace once I leave. Am I wrong to think that way? Am I crazy to think that she is taking me personally?

Today's verse may not give me the answer but I take comfort from it. I will not retaliate yet I will not allow myself to violated any further. I plan to seek assistance in another venue and take legal action should they refuse to communicate with me about my clearance and last pay.

I hope I did not tire you with my long and whiny post...thanks so much for your time!

God bless you all!

Celebrate with us
and join us
as we share inspiring Bible verse
at Word Filled Wednesday

I'm Going Prepaid

Remember one of my Fun Monday post on personal economic measures that I am implementing on my end with the current crisis?

Hmm...when we talk to cost cutting the very first thing that people around me would point at will be my spending on communications. I spend around $100 a month for my mobile alone. That is about an average household income for most people here. So this year I decided to make some drastic changes to it. I downgraded my plan to just $10 a month! And I was so determined to stay within that budget. For the past three months my bill has been around $30-40. Though way lower than $100, still off my target.

So I had to go and check just what made my bills bloat. Ah...international calls! Well...I call friends all over the world for chit-chat. LOL What do I do? I need to get connected with friends you know.

The IT Guy, ever understanding and supportive as ever told me that if I really need to make international calls I might as well check those cheap phone cards. He said those are priced way cheaper and no bills! No cash...no phone cards...no call...but no liability.

Smart! And well he did not ask me to stop it. He just asked me to be strategic about it.

I found a nice one...it sells phone cards which will let me call different countries. Well I don't have that much friends but it allows me to call major international places...so cool! And this is the nicest thing -- It offer cards that can be used from over 150 locations/countries around the world to call any other foreign country.

I just love it!

Anyone who spends so much on international calls might want to try it...I will get back to you on my progress with my lowering my phone bills once I start using a prepaid phone card! This is just fun. Mariposa going prepaid...at least for international calls.

Lengua De Gato

Last week I joined What's Cooking Wednesday for the first time and it was so exciting! Now I look forward to spending more time in the kitchen every weekend and I hope to share whatever I'm cooking/ baking there every Wednesday here.

So this post is a (not) WORDful (less) Wednesday and What's Cooking Wednesday in one!

Lengua de Gato is what these yummy crisp butter cookie wafers are known here. In French, it is referred to as Langues de Chat .

Shaped like a cat's tongue, Lengua de Gato is a thin, crisp butter cookie wafer that melts in your mouth and a favorite of my nephew! He likes it so much that the last time I brought him a box (which I bought from the airport), he had to guard it from the IT Guy who kept teasing him that he's going to eat them all...LOL

Last week the nephew was playing and found the box of the lengua de gato and came to me saying "Wow! Am...A-am!" He refers all his food as "am" and says "wow" to his favorites. IT Guy the ever sweet and thoughtful asked me if I wanted to go out for a coffee...which was odd because it was already after dinner...but I said yes anyway! Turns out he wanted to buy the nephew some lenguas and after driving around for an hour we gave up. We just couldn't find one!

Thus...we decided to bake some Lengua de Gato last weekend.




Let me share with you how Lengua de Gatos are done! Very simple...very easy!

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1-1/3 cups cake flour
2/3 cup sugar (Feel free to modify this according to your preference.)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup egg white (Usually you can get it from 2 pieces eggs, but since some eggs can be watery, I opt to measure them.)
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preparation

1. Cream the butter and sugar.

2. Add egg white gradually then fold in flour (with salt).

3. Add vanilla.

4. Stir until mixture is smooth.

5. Use cake decorating tube to form mixture into oblong shapes. Drop each onto slightly greased cookie sheet. (You may also zip lock bag with a corner cut out, and pipe the dough onto the prepared pans.)

6. Bake in 375 °F oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until light brown.

7. Remove immediately and let cool. Store in tightly covered jars.

These cookies are more of dessert cookies than snack cookies! It goes well with my coffee... ;)


Happy (not so) WORDful (less) Wednesday!


For more interesting photos, you may visit Wordless Wednesday and Wordful Wednesday...or go to The Fairy Blogmother for more What's Cooking Wednesday participants.

The Haircut

My Tuesday's Tales is a bit late than usual...I've been running late around here lately if you've noticed. LOL

My Tale for this week is not so long ago...but rather just a few months ago! And what prompted me to share this one for today was my conversation with my Mom early this morning. We were talking about haircuts and remember the first time my nephew had his haircut.

Here he sits waiting for his hair to be shaved off! LOL

I'm looking at this photo and had to stare. See those innocent cute eyes? Clueless of what's to come. I remember he cried...and he cried ALOT! And he was picking up his hair after...and it was like...he just lost lost the love of his love and was trying to pick up the pieces of it. Ha!

We let him enjoy his favorite spaghetti at McDonald's after...

He always exclaims WOW everytime he sees a spaghetti! Even with the mention of the word...

And that has been his haircut since...

Look!

And it is so funny because after he is alwaysproud with his head/ hair and seems to idolize the IT Guy because everytime he sees IT Guy he would always point to his head and then touch his and smile. Like he is telling him see...we have the same head! LOL

He loves to mimic the IT Guy alot...for whatever reason.

So...do kids always cry when they get their haircut?

Do you have any tale for this week? Sign up below!

Vacation

...is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer.

That is what the IT Guy told me this morning and yes, I think that is just what I need!

Just the other day my friend from Malaysia Skyped me and asked me when I'm coming to visit Malaysia...I've never been there for years now and I've been wanting to go back there. Good news...now that I'm out with my current employer (today is my last day!) I can go on vacations as often as I can...that is because their leave policy is more employee friendly and the fact that now I can afford to travel more...what a joy!

So Malaysia here I come!!!

But when am I going there? Well...as impulsive I am in shopping for shoes I am not just that when it comes to travel. I always plan. And I plan to travel this August! That will be a good birthday gift for myself...plus IT Guys birthday is mid-September so i guess...it will be a good gift for ourselves.

And since I'm now financially wise...ahem, planning ahead should let me save right? And sure it does because I just saw (and thanks so much to Internet!) Accor Hotels City Super Sale. (Hotel rates in 27 cities across 10 countries in Asia Pacific on super low low prices!) And wow a hotel along lakeside at around $44 a night? Oh my! You've got to see it yourself...here is Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside. I also plan to pass by Singapore to visit few friends and since this super sale is for a limited time only I have to call IT Guy now and let him confirm the date. LOL

And I can just so many things to do when I'm there...and oh no, not just shopping. I have friends to meet and places to visit. This time I just want to visit places....like visit place and walk around the city. There are a number of historical spots and architectural landmarks like the Petronas Twin Towers. And...ha...I'm going to Batu Cave! It is a large limestone hill shaped like one big mound, where the middle part holds the main cavern with 272 steps leading up to its entrance. Predominantly a religious site of worship for Hindus and in there are altars and statues. What I love most about that place is the opening in the roof of the hill, where sunlight filters in through into the cave. I'd love to be there again...

WOOT!

My Food for Life?!

Is it still Monday? I'm glad to most yes! Because I am sooo running late with my FUN Monday!

Fun Monday host for this week is M at M for Misanthrope and she wants to talk about FOOD!

If you could choose one “main course” item and one dessert item that would, just for you, contain zero calories for the rest of your life (or zero cholesterol, zero points, or whatever your most important dietary measure is)…what would you choose? Post a pic of your chosen items if you like, or just make us drool with a description!

Hmmm....remember my Fun Monday post on What's In My Plate? I featured there my favorite meal and as I said I can live with it everyday of my life...LOL

And I'm referring to sushi and sashimi!

And most especially California Maki...

And did somebody just mentioned dessert?!

Well my latest obssession at Dessert Factory, Piñacolada Cake!

I love fruits and it has plenty of it...and for the first time, this made me crave for a cake when I used not to care much for it...

Yes folks, these are the food I can live with everyday...

Hope everyone is having a great week!!!

Please visit M to see what others are cooking...I mean eating. :)

Monday Thoughts...

I'm a NaBloPoMo dropped out!

The past weekend was just amazingly busy that I've been tagged away from here.

I missed PhotoHunt and that is sad...

I missed Unconscious Mutterings, what a shame...

BUT,

I was able to do the following;

Rest.

Made some Ligua De Gato.(I hope to post about it for What's Cooking Wednesday)

Read. (I'm referring to online reads.)

I've been sitting in the dining table with my laptop since morning...and now it's 4pm and I have to get ready for my final turnover at work! What a joy! (But early this morning I've been fuming about it and I sure will find time to make a post on that tomorrow.)

Anyway...so far today I have not made a single post yet. I've been surfing and reading and I've learned a lot. Okay, I was on my other blog and was doing some techie stuff there. It's a professional blog which I hope to make as my venue for interaction with people coming from the same industry with me.

I have successfully got a domain for it which I think is awesome and now I'm just looking at getting a good web hosting company for it. Good for me means...cheap yet reliable. Yes I am looking for a reasonably priced web host...and the best to check I figured is to check feedback from its customers. Then I got to this web hosting awards which rates different providers according to categories such as best budget hosting, best blog hosting, best multiple domain hosting. This site also offers a good list of choices ranking them according to feedback, features offered and price.

Initially I am only looking at getting a hosting for my professional blog but the multiple domain hosting seems very tempting to have! I might as well get that and have all my other sites hosted there, right?

My only apprehension for now is this site has suffered in terms of PageRank since I switched to my new domain and I'm not sure if another abrupt change will do me any good. Not that it will kill me...just that I take pride of this blog...as this has been with me for many years now and I don't want to lose it and my readers. :)

I know several bloggers who had made this move already but I still have to hear from them on how they successfully switched to a new hosting. If you are one, please feel free to leave your comment here and it will really be highly appreciated. If you are with me...still a bit clueless on what to do...you might as well join me in my readings on this topic and hopefully we can learn and exchange notes.

Dilemma...

i wished for a raise
while praying for a new job
i got both, now what?!

Ever heard of the saying be careful with what you wish for?! Ha, better believe it because it has hit many times in my life...and damn it always hit me hard.

I mentioned last week that I got a new job. What I did not mention that my resignation was submitted as early as May 4 and has been put to a halt because my current employer is giving me counter offers.

The latest and most tempting was -- Tell me how much and what position and what else you want/need?!

WOW! Where was that when I was with you working my @$$ off too stress?! Tempting but oh well...I guess the prayer should weigh more than the wish, right? Or I'm just playing with semantics here and have really no clue on which is what...

By the way, my Local Love Friday and Friday Fill-Ins are below this post, kindly scroll down or click.


Please don't forget
to visit other
people's wonderful haiku
at A Mommy Story!

Local Love Friday: Dessert Factory

Jen of A2eastwrite is hosting a very nice Friday activity called Local Love Friday please visit her to know more...

For this week's Local Love Friday I'm be featuring...

Dessert Factory is located at The Terraces Ayala Mall, Cebu Business Park.

I can still remember the time when the Lim family opened their very first outlet at the Mahogany court along Banilad Road. I was working as VP for Sales at El Cafetero then and I was providing them a coffee machine as coffee always go well with desserts. In just a few months they opened another outlet in at the Ayala Entertainment Center. For years they've maintained two outlets and only recently they've decided to just maintain one.

As their name says...they offer good desserts! They have good cheesecakes and are famous for their unbelievably moist chocolate cakes and brownies. And they also offer meals...and I have my own favorite as well as the IT Guy.

Last weekend IT Guy and I had our lunch there before we did our grocery shopping.

Here is a typical activity that waiting for our food! Ha ha ha!

It was raining and was a bit and cold so we ordered creamy mushroom soup. (We normally skip the soup when we dine out unless it's fine dining!)

IT Guy loves their fish n' chips and we both love their kinamatisang kawali! (Unfortunately we don't have photos for the fish n' chips because the last time we went there we were so hungry that we both ordered kinamatisang kawali. LOL) Well for some reason which was not plan of course, tonight we decided to dine out and IT Guy wanted fish n' chips! So we went to Dessert Factory!

Kinamatisang Kawali is just the typical lechon kawali (pan roasted pork) sauteed with tomatoes and onions. I just love how the taste of tomatoes and onions blend well with the pork.

[ADDED]

So here is a photo of their fish n' chips!

Below are recent photos...of us! LOL Again...this is what we do while waiting for our food...every time.

My latest obssession at Dessert Factory is their Piñacolada Cake!

Here is a closer look! YUMMY!

And another thing that is very unique to this place is their food attendants' headdress! Something like in these photos...I know what are these but I don't know what they're called. This frame is hanged in their restroom! And I have to add, I'll give Dessert Factory 4.8 rating with 5 as the highest for their restroom as I don't really give perfect score... ;)

So that's it for my Local Love Friday! If you visit Cebu you may also want to check Dessert Factory and try it yourself.

Friday Fill-In #129

I'm UP so early...but well rested! So it is good. And when Mariposa is up, Mariposa blogs...LOL

Today will be a busy Friday for me here as I always have several Friday activities...and let me start with my weekly Friday Fill-ins.

Janet is still recovering from her surgery and this week's Friday Fill-Ins is courtesy of Tamy at 3sidesofcrazy. Thanks Tammy...and to Janet...get better soon!




1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting them to behave as they are told.

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a real winner.

3. Eating fruitcake is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.

4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy running their own lives and are too busy for politics.

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine moisturizer and bronzer to get that skin glow for the party! LOL

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without any herbs or spices in it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to shopping for a pair of shoes, tomorrow my plans include going to the grocery to make sure my kitchen is complete with things I'd be needing because on Sunday, I (want) am going to host for a small party for my Dad and I will be cooking!

I Thank God For My Parents!

It's Thursday and so many things to be thankful for!

But for this week...I just want to be thankful for one thing --

MY wonderful PARENTS!

Happy Father's Day Dad!!!

We love you...



Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!

Creamy Tuna Pasta

My Word Filled Wednesday post is below...

Thom tagged me but I'd say this post is more than that! This is rather a serendipity post for me and I will slowly explain to you why.

The TAG rule says --

1) Go to your photo files…Select the 6th photo folder
2) Select the 6th photo in that folder
3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.
4) Then challenge 6 blog friends to do the same! (I will not tag anyone but feel free to do this when you have the time...it's fun!)

This is the 6th photo in my 6th photo folder!

What a luck as this photo will let me do my (not) WORDful (less) Wednesday and the story behind it will let me join What's Cooking Wednesday for the first time!

This photo was taken very recently...just last weekend. This is IT Guy's recipe and I'm sure he'll be surprise to see it here...Ha!



I call this recipe Creamy Tuna Pasta as that is what it is! Most of my friends and my family love it and this is a good recipe for weekends and a good step away from the usual Spaghetti Bolognese (Which is so common to Filipinos!). At least for us.

Let me share to you the recipe as I can remember --

Ingredients

500 grams of pasta (IT Guy loves to experiment, so you can have fettuccine or just any!)
1 can of tuna in vegetable oil, drained
onion, chopped
garlic gloves, minced
2 tbsp olive oil (I guess non-fat butter will also work as I saw him use that in the past when we ran out of olive oil.)
250 ml thin cream
1 cup/can sliced button mushrooms (IT Guy loves mushroom!)

Preparations

1. Cook the pasta. (I know most of you know how!)
Boil the water, add a little oil so as not to make the pasta stick to each other. Add a little salt for the pasta. Once the water is boiling add the pasta until al dente (in English until it reached its tender crisp phase)! Drain and toss!

*If there is one thing I learn from the IT Guy it is to read the instructions in the package of the pasta as cooking time varies for each kind.

2. Add the olive oil into a large fry pan over medium heat. Add garlic. Don't over cook it as it will give a bitter taste. Just enough to get its aroma. Then add the onions and the mushrooms.

3. Add the tuna. While some people would opt to add the cream first I want the tuna ahead as I want it mix with the spices first. There is just something in the tuna which I want to neutralize to make it more palatable for me! LOL

4. Add the cream. Season to taste. We love to add a little of white pepper. Let it stay for 2-3 minutes while continuously stirring it.

5. Then add the pasta. Mix.

*You may also serve it with sprinkled chopped flat-leaf parsley.

And it's ready!!!

Happy (not so) WORDful (less) Wednesday!


For more interesting photos, you may visit Wordless Wednesday and Wordful Wednesday...or go to The Fairy Blogmother for more What's Cooking Wednesday participants.