Life After Breakfast

Sunday7: The First Week of March

2012-03-04T11:05:00.000+08:00

ONE.The summer craft book project with Macy & Mikko is almost done! :)

I'm so excited to see the finished product.

TWO.My make-your-own-10thFloor-snack at Sofitel's Club Millesime. I love buffets because you can mix and match condiments and dressings. When the chef found out I was veg, he sent out a plate of roasted vegetables, which included delicious mushrooms and tomatoes. I stuffed them in a pumkin seed bun and added some horseradish and mustard.

THREE.March 3 was officially the first day of summer, with temp reaching 34 degrees C!

FOUR. I spent the morning by the pool and my white tat saw some sunshine.

Goodies from Amazon have arrived, thanks to Tita Florian!

FIVE.On the left is my first (empty) bottle of Monoi de Tahiti, given by my cousin Tiffany from France. On the right is the new bottle I bought online. Best tanning oil I've ever tried!

SIX.A box of vegan chocolate chip cookies from WholeFoods, which I'm willing to share.

Holler if you want some ;)

SEVEN.My silver has arrived! Time to make accessories again! :)

My summer resolution: to have regular craft sessions, whether alone or with friends.

Friday Freebies from BeyondYoga!

2012-03-02T13:15:00.001+08:00

Remember this post from a couple of months ago? Well, BeyondYoga, the same company that brought Anti-Gravity Yoga to Manila, is giving lucky readers the chance to try all their classes for one week--- think: Yoga-All-You-Can--- with their One (1) Week Unlimited Yoga Pass! This is perfect for those who wanna get fit for summer, for those who want to relax after the hectic school year, and for those who simply love yoga and would do it 24/7 if they could! ;)

How to get the pass:

1. Follow @igobeyondyoga on twitter.

2. Tweet this:

@alessandralanot, I want that Unlimited #Yoga Pass from @IGoBeyondYoga!

You have until Sunday, March 4 to send in your entries.

Winner will be announced on Monday!

Bread Bag Pandesal Bar

2012-03-01T16:56:00.000+08:00

Ask any Filipino who is now living in another country, and I'm pretty sure that they will say good ol' pan de sal is one thing that they truly miss. Freshly baked, toasty warm, chewy comfort in a cute little bread roll. Carb lovers in the Philippines are lucky (and could be the reason!) for the rise in the pan de sal kiosk industry in the country, but have never been happier now that the ORIGINAL CASA MARCOS PANDESAL is back. What? You didn't know that?! They're right in Ortigas Home Depot, at Bread Bag Pandesal Bar. I visited the place yesterday for an afternoon snack with my friend Muffin.

The original owners' grandson, (Muffin's big bro) Jigger partnered with his friend Kevin, and together they have raised the pandesal bar in the country. Fostered in the Casa Marcos tradition, Bread bag offers a variety of sandwiches with fillings that are common to Pinoys, such as Adobo and Sardines. The bread is pugon-baked in the kitchen, and can be bought in regular or miniature sizes, by piece or by the dozen.

Bread Bag Pandesal Bar is located in Ortigas Home Depot along Julia Vargas St.

The backbone of the business is the original Casa Marcos Pandesal, the recipe of which has been with the Del Rosario family for many years.

We ordered a basket of mini pandesal...

...and paired it with yummy Mushroom Adobo from the Casa Marcos menu, which can be ordered there, too! (Casa Marcos' main restaurant is at Burgos Circle in Bonifacio Global City.)

Bread Bag favorites include Chicken Mushroom and Pan ala Cubana fillings.

I had the Kesong Puti and Pesto pandesal sandwich. Best paired with their crispy camote chips!

Writings on the wall: my grade school (bopis!) friend Danica is a frequent customer.

This work week (like all the weeks of February) has been the craziest, and I have to thank Muffin because this midweek afternoon break has kept me sane.

Aaaaand look here; today is your lucky day! Bread Bag is offering the perfect summer sandwich deal. Get 3 sandwiches for the price of two! Bring along third wheel, or a very hungry date! Best to buy now and stock up for maximum summer savings. Hurry, because the deal is almost ending. Sandwiches can be redeemed at the resto from March until June.

But if you can't wait, of course you can head over there now!

Or, call them and enjoy Bread Bag sandwiches in the comfort of your own homes.

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Bread Bag Pandesal Bar

Unit 20-A/B

Ortigas Home Depot

Julia Vargas St., Pasig

F121 Forbeswood Heights

Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Baguio Market Finds

2012-03-01T08:28:00.000+08:00

I spent the weekend in Baguio to see the Panagbenga Flower Festival, but every afternoon, my mom and I would squeeze in some time to shop at the market. Here are some of my favorite finds from the weekend:

I could spend hours walking around the market's dry goods section.

So much crafty stuff for the home!

Goodies for the kitchen: Square kamagong plate, Chopping board / Cheese platter, Round wooden bowls (only P40 each!) and Pasta serving forks

Treasure chest-style jewelry boxes

An expanding wall rack, which I think I'll paint. Will use this to hang my necklaces!

Woven fabric

A malanding pink broom and regular brooms with nice patterns

And of course, what's a market trip without bringing home some fruits?

Lastly, I bought an old school name plate bracelet. Was thinking of having it engraved right there at the market, but I decided I don't want the engraving to be in script (which was their only option). So... will have to search for an engraver here that does sans serif. I also got some chains for the silver pendants that I make. Yay!

29 Leaps

2012-02-29T08:36:00.000+08:00

They say it's the little repetitive things that make the most impact in our lives. In celebration of Leap Day, why not do something different and shake your life up a bit? Take any (or all!) of these 29 leaps with me. 2012 is the year of Courage!

1. Discover a new cuisine, or eat something you've never tried before.

2. Invest in a business or idea that you believe in.

3. Expose yourself to a different kind of religion or belief.

4. Make a new friend.

5. Make peace with someone who has hurt you in the past and let go of all negativity.

6. Smile at all the street kids and beggars you see.

7. Say yes to all invitations.

8. Shut off your phone for one weekend.

9. Fight for a cause.

10. Have a date with yourself: eat out and watch a movie in the cinema alone.

11. Sit down and have your portrait sketched.

12. Learn a new sport.

13. Plan a fun day together and ask your crush out on a date.

14. Donate half of your income this month to charity.

15. Take art lessons.

16. Have your fortune read.

17. Hop on a provincial bus and go on a random day-trip adventure!

18. Do a juice or fruit cleanse.

19. Purchase an artwork.

20. Write a letter to the teacher who changed your life in high school or college.

21. Write a book.

22. Get an Organ Donor Card.

23. Get a (third) tattoo.

24. Go 100% organic.

25. Say what you think and feel, and don't lie or sugarcoat.

26. Invent a 30-day challenge for yourself and see it to completion.

27. Collaborate on a project with a stranger.

28. Open a bank account specifically for your travel fund.

29. Make another list and start from the top! :)

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Happy Leap Day, folks! What are you doing with your extra day this year? :)

Tuesday Download: March 2012 Printable Calendar

2012-02-28T16:36:00.002+08:00

Psycho weather the past couple of days signals that summer is almost here. Print out this March 2012 calendar and start mapping out your beach trips!

Download the printable version here.

Enjoy! :)

Happy Birthday, Love!:)

2012-02-25T15:47:00.001+08:00

PJ is one the most simple guys in the world. I knew this from our first few conversations when we were just classmates back in college. "Nice guy" is what you give to those dudes who look squeaky clean, smile often, and give up seats for you. But PJ makes even those "nice guys" look bad. He will give his 'last money' for the commute to feed a street kid even if it means having to walking an extra 45minutes going home. He will never say anything bad about anyone, and always tries to see the good in every situation. He never, ever complains, and instead, is always thankful for where he is and for what he has. One time, he flew from Iloilo to Manila and stayed for less than 12hours before going back to a hosting job there, just to be with me on my birthday. He will never miss the opportunity to tell his family that he loves them. He truly is one amazing person. And all of us who are in his life are so lucky to have him.

You all know how much I love birthday parties, and every year, I suggest to have themes and cute birthday stuff for PJ's birthday, even if he always tells me he wants it to be simple. A lot of people our age don't like celebrating birthdays anymore because it announces to the world how old they are. This year though, PJ made a resolution to "celebrate birthdays with the enthusiasm of a 4-year old child" which is how it really should be. Instead of sulking because you are a year older, we should all celebrate life with the ones we love. And that is exactly what PJ did this year.

We started off with a salubong the night before his birthday at Pipino with his college friends, followed by a lunch celebration at The Burger Project with family and friends, and then capped off the night with an inuman at The Projects with his highschool buds.

Thanks to all those who came to celebrate with us! Happy birth-month to my man who deserves nothing less than all the love in the world.

Follow-Your-Dreams Friday: Pipino Vegetarian

2012-02-24T08:01:00.000+08:00

A few weeks ago, supervegan (and my godsister) Raya Mananquil braved south-to-north traffic to taste Pipino's newest dishes. She was joined by her friends: vegetarian Isabel Roces and semi-veg Valerie de los Santos.

The article was published yesterday. If you have a copy, check the Feb23 D-1 section of the Philippine Star.

Of course, you can just read the article online! Click here.

Thank you to Raya, and of course, to Tita Millet! :)

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It feels like only yesterday when Patty accompanied me around New York to eat in my favorite vegan restaurants. It was 2008, and that time, I had shared with her my dream of putting up my own vegan restaurant in Manila. In the beginning, I was just planning to put up a food cart, which would only require a small capital. When I got home from the States, I reconnected with PJ and we started dating. (And for the record, you know a relationship is right when you become the best version of yourself AND dreams suddenly start falling into place.) Fast forward to 2010: in between work and planning our wedding, we were also building my dream vegan restaurant, Pipino.

This morning, Patty texted me the sweetest congratulatory message, I guess because she saw it all: from my kalat days and simple daydreams to where Pipino is today. We're still learning the vegan resto biz, and there are still lots of areas to improve on, but I would like to thank the Pino Team: PJ, Ed and Star for making this dream come true, and to every single person, vegetarian or not, who has dined in the resto or has tried our food, for sharing this dream with me.

Ayun. Sume-senti! ;P

My Week of Absence

2012-02-23T18:37:00.000+08:00

An entire week of unannounced blog break? Juggling no less than 15 projects rights now, I must come to terms with the obvious fact that I am no superhuman. I promised myself I'd blog at least 5 times a week but I have now passed what has been my longest non-blogging streak since I started in October.

Work, work, work. I have been spending most of my waking hours in front of the computer but finding zero time to blog (and very little time to tweet!) Out of the 15 projects, 4 are for different local magazines that will be published April onwards. Above are photos of an early morning shoot in Manila Hotel and some watercolored typography for a food magazine.

We had a houseguest last weekend! Kai stayed in our house and we played and painted and played some more. My cousin, his mommy Noey is taking a break with her other mommy friends in India. In less than an hour, Kai, Julian and I switched from basketball, to soccer, to bowling, and then painting! All that, before 10 am.

Oh, and I got an iPhone! I've been using an iPod Touch for years, thinking it was enough for me. I didn't realize I was missing out on all of the cool iPhone features! Right now, I am loving cinemagram and the panoramic camera application. FYI, all photos in this post were taken using the phone's camera.

Panoramic shot of Bonifacio HighStreet Extension

We had dinner at Beso for my cousin Ralph's birthday. I am so happy to have found a Spanish restaurant that has quite a number of vegetarian options! They had yummy vegetarian flatbread with artichokes (and I love it because it didn't have any cheese) and vegetarian paella! We also ordered the garlic portobello mushrooms, which were gone before I managed to take a photo (they were that good).

Congratulations & Best Wishes to Roi and Marga Palafox! It's always a beautiful wedding when the groom cries. Haha. But seriously, we all had fun! PJ and our friend Pao hosted the reception, which was held in the Rockwell Tent. They had the best giveaways, too: potted plants!

Thank you to Roi and Marga for requesting for a vegetarian meal for me! Exclamation points!!! I think this is the first wedding where I ate everything on my plate!! :)

My tablemates: PJ, Ed, Ochie, Pao, Erin, Mo, Muff, and Don

Lastly, our kitchen is almost done, and is semi-functional. I can at least cook. Today, I made French Toast Pandesal. I dipped the sliced bread in an egg replacer mixture, soymilk, coco sugar and cinnamon powder, and pan fried it in grapeseed oil. Drizzled some coco sugar syrup (literally, diluted coco sugar in hot water) over it and shared it with my dad for merienda. Not the best lookin' photo but definitely hits the spot! Breakfast food is love.

Hope you all had a good week, too! :)

SEE: The Mountain Thief, Manila Premiere

2012-02-16T08:01:00.000+08:00

Celebrate leap day and the last day of the month of hearts with your loved ones while helping raise funds for the children of Payatas. The Mountain View, a multi-awarded film by Gerry Balasta will be screened in Manila for the first time on February 29, 7:30 pm at The Block, SM North EDSA.

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The Mountain Thief premieres in Manila!

International award-winning film, The Mountain Thief, is finally coming home to Manila after its successful film festival run, bagging not only numerous awards and nominations but also the hearts of its sympathetic audiences. Filmed entirely at Payatas disposal facility and acted by scavengers selected and trained by the filmmaker, the film depicts a sensational tale of murder, love and survival in the mountains of trash. The actors portrayed characters similar to their own, adding an overwhelming power to their performances. It is great passion and sincere intention that brought a startling insight into a nightmarish world, made more remarkable because of the glimpse of the ever-enduring human spirit.

The film’s social context and its undeniable power to initiate change instigated microphilanthropy. The project was initially aimed to raise funds for a child actor who was in dire need of surgery and to provide scholarship funds to another child actor who needed special education. Today, the project has evolved into extending livelihood assistance to actors and their families. From the project’s successful beginnings, the founders were encouraged to further the cause by using The Mountain Thief as a catalyst for philanthropy. Thus, the New-York based Mount Hope Project, Inc. and now the Philippine-based Mount Hope Initiative, Inc., were founded. Both entities are non-profit organizations with the overall aim to help the Payatas community of waste pickers and their families. Because of the power of the film, there is an opportunity to make a direct impact, not only in the lives of the actors, but also in the entire community, that it may serve as an agent for change and a source of hope for a better future.

This much-awaited homecoming brings to light two major endeavors; the premiere of an international award-winning film by Filipino-American director, Mr. Gerry Balasta, and the opportunity to fund an educational scholarship program for the actors’ children.

The premiere of “The Mountain Thief” is made possible by the Quezon City Local Government, the Bunge Emissions Group and Pangea Green Energy, in cooperation with the Payatas Poverty Alleviation Foundation and other corporate and individual sponsors. The benefit will be held on the 29th of February 2012 at SM North EDSA, Cinema 2 from 7:30pm to 9pm. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the work of a world-renowned Filipino talent and earn a chance to change lives!

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Tickets are available at Pipino, 39 Malingap Street, Teachers Village, QC.

For ticket information, please contact +63.949.7467826 or (02) 913.4988.

Visit http://mountainthief.com for more information on the movie.

Who's in for a movie date? Hope to see you there! :)

Fuerza Bruta in Manila

2012-02-15T18:43:00.000+08:00

Patty, Pat, PJ and I decided to spend V-day watching Fuerza Bruta in Manila Hotel. You'd think we'd be bummed out that the 60-minute show was shorter than the trip from QC to Manila, but Noooo we were totally fine with that (haha), since the show is like a suspense movie + art film + installation + lights/water/air show + rave party rolled into one LIVE psychedelic dream sequence. What a trip!

This is not the waiting room; this is the actual tent where the show takes place. The audience is parted and moved around throughout the show to make way for the props and performances.

Double-dating and not really knowing what we are in for. Hanep sa Valentine's day date! In fairness, puede na ring romantic kasi mapapakapit ka talaga sa date mo sa kaba!

First sequence palang, mapapa-isip ka na ng "What is the meaning of life?"

And the craziness (and kalat) has only just begun...

Ang show na ito ay isang sampal sa mukha: ah ganun, artsy ka pala ha?! o, eto'ng sa'yo.

Haha but seriously, you all HAVE to experience this!!

Hop over to www.hoopla.com.ph for tickets

and catch Fuerza Bruta while they are here in Manila!

Tuesday Download: Valentine Mixtape

2012-02-14T11:21:00.002+08:00

Remember the days when cross stitch was the shizz? Haha!

Happy day of hearts, everyone! :)

Download the playlist here.

Wabi-Sabi Noodle House & Vegetarian Grocery + Cooking Class in Bangkok

2012-02-13T07:07:00.000+08:00

This weekend, I was craving for only two things: pizza or ramen. On Saturday, I got my vegetarian ramen fix at one of my favorite places, Wabi-Sabi in The Collective. I've heard a few rumors that it had already closed, but I texted their number listed online and was happy to know that they were open until 11pm on Saturday. Although it was kinda sad because when we entered The Collective, all the other shops were closed. Did I go at a bad time? But it was a Saturday night! I really do hope that people will keep supporting local art, music, food and design so that those businesses stay afloat. We need more cool places like this in the country (that are NOT shopping malls).

When it comes to Asian cuisine, it's difficult to find anything that can compare to dishes that are prepared in their own home country. I've eaten the best ramen in my life in Nagoya, Japan, in this restaurant that served ramen and ramen ONLY. (Yeah, THAT's how confident they are about their product). The best Pad Thai I've tasted is from the cooking class Patty, Muffin and I attended in Bangkok, taught by Angsana Anderson. It was so good that when my mom went to Bangkok, I asked Angsana to send my mom some noodles and tom yang goong to her hotel room, just so that my mom could finally taste what I had been raving about.

When in Bangkok, sign up for a cooking class at www.thaihomecooking.com

and taste the best pad thai in the world! ;)

Patty, Muffin & me

Anyway, back to reality. There are but few places in Manila that are both simple AND delicious: no frills, not too artsy fartsy plating, reasonable prices, with food that tastes just as it should. Wabi-Sabi goes straight to my "I could eat here everyday!"-list of restaurants. If only I lived closer to it. ;P

Harumaki = Spring rolls with banana blossoms

Veggie Cracklings served with vinegar = chicharon

I had the Viet Pho.

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Wabi-Sabi Noodle House & Vegetarian Grocery

Suite B, The Collective

7274 Malugay St., San Antonio Village

Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

(+63 918) 450-1714

Operating Hours

Monday - Thursday 12:00pm - 9:00pm

Friday - Saturday 12:00pm - 11:00pm

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark

2012-02-09T15:10:00.003+08:00

Today is the first day of the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark! Time to head to Pampanga (until Feb 12) with your family and friends! The best part is waking up at the crack of dawn to sing the national anthem while skydiving men jump off a plane with a giant flag, and of course, to watch the hot air balloons take off!

Here are some photos of our trip to the festival from a few years ago.

And then while you're in Clark, check out the other activities you can do this weekend!Zoom in.

For heritage walking tours and free art exhibits/cultural performances,

contact Museo Angeles @ 045-877-4703, 0926-987-6655, 0923-441-7126.

For more info, go to http://www.angelescity.gov.ph/

Will you be my Valentine?

2012-02-08T15:55:00.003+08:00

Ganso Shabuway

2012-02-08T07:34:00.002+08:00

I can't count the number of times my best bud Gin and I have eaten at shabu-shabu restos. I guess the mix of cooking + waiting for your food to cook + slow eating just goes so well with all the kwentos and catching-up. My dad, for example, isn't too fond of the idea of going to a restaurant AND having to cook your own meal, and PJ will never list it at the top of his restaurant choices (except maybe for Shangrila in West Ave!). Men are from Mars, and obviously, there's no hotpot there! :P An all-girls lunch with Patty, Nicole and Gin at Ganso Shabuway was just the perfect call.

It was my first time to try the resto. The electric cooktop is impressive; it brings the soup stock to a boil really quickly, and you don't have to worry about spills. I ordered the Mushroom set.

Mixing awesome-sauces.

Happy tummies!Patty, Me, Nicole & Gin.

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Ganso Shabuway
2/F Greenbelt 5
Ayala Mall, Makati

Sunday Morning Craft: Marbled Nails

2012-02-06T08:59:00.001+08:00

While PJ was out inspiring a thousand young minds with a Marketing101 talk (on a Sunday morning?! Boo...), I helped improve mankind with manicured marbled nails. ;P

Raaarrr.STEPS:

apply base coat + wrap fingertips with tape, leaving out the nail, of course + dip in marbled nail polish & water + dry + peel off tape + coat with clear nail polish

And there you have it: koi-like nails in MyLittlePony-inspired colors!

FLOW SurfYogaSamba is going to BALER!

2012-02-06T06:47:00.003+08:00

Learn to SURF, YOGA & SAMBA

at the 7th Flow:SurfYogaSamba Weekend Retreat

this summer April 28 - 30, 2012

Aliya Surf Camp, Baler Aurora!

Package Rate: P8,750 * Early Bird Rate: P8,000 (deadline Feb.29, 2012)

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS:

1 Vinyasa and 1 Yin Yoga session with Monica Manzano

2 Surfing lessons at Aliyah Surf Camp

2 Brazilian batucada samba drumming with Escola de Samba de Manila

Roundtrip private transfers MLA-Baler, Baler-MLA

3D/2N aircon accommodation at Aliyah Surf Camp

Healthy meals and raw food snacks

Introduction to raw food

Flow shirts and tote bag with freebies

For more information,

follow them on Twitter and Like them on Facebook!

Follow-Your-Dreams Friday: TISH Philippines

2012-02-03T09:47:00.001+08:00

Even before I graduated in 2004 (with a degree in Communication), my mind was already set on a job in graphic design. Unfortunately, there was no graphic design course in Ateneo back then, but I took my electives seriously and signed up for classes that could help me build a career in design: photography, creativity, graphic design, public relations, etc. I even cross-registered in the Computer Science department for a multimedia class, and at the Fine Arts department for the visual communication class. None of my friends know about this, but I borrowed ALL the library books that had to do with print design, and photocopied them. I also started doing little design jobs for my classmates (like designing their resumes for P200 so that they would stand out during job fair week!). Off campus, I signed up for any kind of class that could help strengthen my skills, like a bootcamp course in Dreamweaver & a Flash course in Meralco (I didn't even know there was a school in there). This job was a decision I made over a long period of time, and until today, every step I take supports that decision.

Ok, enough blabbing. All I am saying is, if you have burning love for something, you will work hard for it, and if you work hard enough, it will happen. Even if it's not right in front of you, you will search for a way, or even carve your own path just to get to it.

In this special series of posts, I'd like to share with you inspiring interviews with fellow freelancers and entrepreneurs. With so much heart and passion bursting at their seams, these people broke away from the mold, and stood by their dreams.

Today's featured designer is TISH.

NAME: Patricia Sevilla

NICKNAME: Tish

BRAND: Tish Philippines

WHAT DO YOU DO?

I design RTW and custom bags & scarves. I am also a talent under modeling agency Reco.

WHEN DID YOU START DESIGNING?

When I was 7, I would make my own Barbie doll purses. My family was in the garments industry and at 14, sewed my own canvas bags and sold them to relatives and friends. I started designing bags and scarves 7 years ago, but it wasn't until 2010 when I launched Tish Philippines in Philippine Fashion Week FW2011 under Lyle Ibañez.

WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FROM?

From everything I see! From travel, and from friends.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS.

I start with sketching the bag, and then execute a simple mock-up. I try to explore what can be done on all parts of the bag, before I finalize it and send it to production.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOOLS FOR DESIGNING?

Paper, pencil, a sewing machine and synthetic leather.

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE.

Very classic with a little bit of edge.

HOW MANY BAGS DO YOU MAKE EVERY YEAR?

For my limited edition collections, 30 pieces. But I have several massive production collections for foreign clients. For custom bags, it varies, depending on the clients.

WHERE/WHEN CAN WE SEE YOU NEXT COLLECTION?

Philippine Fashion Week in May!

WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?

Banana Republic, Gap, Marc Jacobs, and other foreign clients which I can't really name. In Manila, I have designed and made custom bags for local celebrities and socialites.

BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?

Meeting people, and gathering ideas/inspiration.

5 YEARS FROM NOW?

I want to have several stores in Asia and Europe!

IF YOU WEREN'T A BAG DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING NOW?

I'd be a Chef! I took up culinary before and actually specialize in Filipino food, and pasta.

TIPS FOR ASPIRING DESIGNERS?

Persevere. It's a lot of hard work, so you must love your job with all your heart.

I WANT A CUSTOM BAG MADE! HOW DO WE GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU?
You can reach me at +63.932.8588474, or e-mail me at tishphilippines@gmail.com :)

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TISH is giving away

this canvas & leather satchel

to a lucky reader!

To send an entry, all you have to do is:

1) Follow me on Twitter, and

2) Tweet this:

@alessandralanot, I want that bag! #TishPhilippines

~~You've got until Sunday to join! Good luck! :)~~

Update: This Giveaway is CLOSED.
Congratulations to the winner, Angelie Ani!

Memory Foam Mattress Heaven!

2012-02-02T09:08:00.001+08:00

PJ has been complaining about lower back pain caused by our really old mattress. We had been searching for our options online and all around the metro for a while now, but only decided to make the purchase the other day. We knew it was going to be quite an investment, and we were preparing ourselves for the "damage" it would do to our wallets. We were eyeing Tempur's memory foam mattress topper, which costs about P50k (not including a new regular mattress), or Westin's Heavenly Bed (available online) which costs over $2k for an entire set, including the bed frame + heavenly pillows. I guess that's why we put it off for so long--ang mahal ng taste namin, haha! But an excellent bed is an investment because we spend a third of our day sleeping, and maybe half a day for PJ. Haha. Teenager ang peg niya.

I shared our problem with our friend Clems while I was working at their condo the other day. She immediately suggested we go to Uratex. She found the local foam supplier's website and we learned that they have a shop along Marcos Highway, which is just 5 minutes away from where we live. The following day, PJ and I decided to check it out.

Upon entering the gate, we were greeted by this fun graffiti wall.

The security guard at the door gave us a piece of paper on which we were supposed to list down what we wanted to purchse. We stepped into the store and at this point, I decided to document our whole mattress-shopping experience: the place eerily reminds you of shopping at Ikea!Except that almost everything is made of plastic & foam. ;P

Those monoblock chairs actually come in cute colors (cute, for monoblocks). And they even have some Ikea-ish home accessories, too.

At the end of the store, there are modular seating foam blocks with WeWillDoodle's artwork on them. Snaps for Uratex for their collabos with local artists!

We walked up to the second floor to check out the "Premium Mattress" collections.

Uma-Ikea talaga!

You can also see & feel the different types of pillows there.

All the mattress types were on display. There was no one on the second floor to help us choose, so we decided to lie down on all of them. We were ready to buy this 'regular' foam mattress, Trapunto, which is a Uratex x Rajo Laurel collaboration.

But right beside it, Kris Aquino's pretty premium pink mattress was calling out to us. PJ flopped on it and realized it's a memory foam mattress!!! I was just kinda iffy about it because of the hearts. Haha.

So we moved onto the next display, and this is where our search ended.
We were in memory foam mattress heaven!!! Dizizit!
Do you know how a memory foam pillow's comfort feels like?
Multiply that feeling by a thousand.

This is what we got (and only for a fraction of other brands' price!):

8 inches of pure memory foam!

Okay, so it's only been two days since we've had the mattress, but we are extremely happy with it. As in, "I can't wait to sleep" and "I can't wait to wake up tomorrow because I know I'll have had a good night's sleep"-kind of happy. Somehow, it feels na parang life has just begun.... HAHA, OA!!!! But seriously, on the first night, PJ, who normally sleeps past midnight, fell asleep before 9PM, and had 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep! It's so amazing, we decided to name our mattress, "Sofitel" because feeling namin sa hotel kami natutulog! Hahaha! But we also like to call it other names--because as we all know, when you're in love with something/someone you want to give it a hundred different terms of endearment--and call it our very own "Tempur-atex!" Haha! If you're not sleeping on a memory foam mattress yet, I suggest you buy one now! :) Maski Feb 2 palang, I dub thee Best Purchase of the Year! :P

Celebrate Valentine's Day at Pipino!

2012-02-01T14:51:00.000+08:00

Got plans for V-day? Be our date at PIPINO and celebrate the month of love with a special 5-course meal to be prepared by Chef Edward Bugia & me! :) Bring your parents, lovers, siblings, friends, or special friends (wink, wink!) and feast on a delicious 100% plant-based meal.

We are now accepting lunch and dinner reservations for February 9 to 19. E-mail us at pipinovegetarian@gmail.com to save your seats!

Tuesday Download: February 2012 Calendar

2012-01-31T08:34:00.000+08:00

Nerds like me are rejoicing because it's a leap year and that means there's one extra day for work! Haha! I love my job(s) and 24 hours in a day / 7 days in a week is just not enough to do everything that I want and have to do. There was a time before when I tried to re-invent the wheel by sleeping 3 times in 2 days, and thus creating 3 productive mornings instead of 2. It worked, but it also ruined my body clock, I felt like I was floating from one task to another, and I couldn't tell 4am from 4pm anymore. Psycho-ness. Of course, I'm never doing that again.

Anyway, January has surely been a busy month for all, and just before it ends, I bring you the February 2012 printable calendar! I know it's the month of love, but sorry, I don't like hearts in my calendar. You can draw the hearts yourself, or make February the month of whatever-you-want-it-to-be. ;)

Enjoy! :)

Download the printable version here.

Kai's 4th Little Indian Birthday Party

2012-01-29T10:07:00.003+08:00

My mom created themed birthday parties for me every year, and I was the happiest kid. No matter how simple, I truly encourage all parents to have themed birthday parties for your kids--don't just do it for the 'milestone ages' (1, 5, 7, etc), do it every year! Pretty pictures will help them remember what a special childhood they had, and they will thank you for it later (thanks, Mom! ;P).

Last Friday, my nephew Kai celebrated his 4th birthday, and his ever creative Mimi/Mimy (Mommy) Noelle, created a magazine-worthy Little Indian Birthday Party for him.

Noelle created a teepee just for the party!

Yummy veggie food. We had mini burgers and mac&cheese from Pipino, but Noelle prepared everything else + a make-your-own taco bar. Check out the "Indian Cider" above. I was teasing the kids "Uh, oh, you're drinking beer!!!" And they all shouted back at me, "Nooo!!! It's apple juice!!" And you can imagine at that point all I wanted to do was squeeze their super cute little indian cheeks!

Yummy crunchy apple sandwiches with granola inside.

Teepee and cactus table centerpieces

A make-your-own feather headpiece station for the kids

At one point, I lent Kai my camera and allowed him to run around and take photos. It's quite a cool thing to see his birthday party through his eyes!

Here's a peek into the little man's POV:1) Monix & Santi with the cake. 2) Watching the kids make headbands. 3) Mimi Noey with party guests Kiddo & Baby Cadey. 4) The food table. 5) Playing with the toy car. 6) Tito Ralph taking a photo of Kai taking a photo of him. 7) Daddy Luke. 8) Indian Cider.

Kai's S'mores birthday cake: Chocolate cake + marshmallows + Graham Crackers

Time to blow out the candles!! :)The aftermath (which was, like, 5 seconds after the candles were blown out!)

All the kids took home this make-your-own s'mores loot bag!

Happy 4th birthday, Kai!! We love you! :)

My List of Creative Goals for 2012

2012-01-28T08:01:00.000+08:00

I am 29. Shiyet.

Today is January 28 and there are exactly 265 days before I turn thirty. <--That was a whisper.

Where did those 100 days go? Oh, I know. To my first 100 blog posts! ;) Hurray!

I began this blog so that I would be pushed to do something creative each day. So far, I think it has been working positively for me, but I realized that there are still a whole bunch of things I want to do. These lists are that which fill the little notebooks in my bag--things that I don't normally share with just anyone. Today, I ~~wrote~~ painted my 2012 dreams down in one comprehensive list, because as my friend Em said, "writing things down gets things done".

This is my list of Creative Goals for 2012.

52 things for the 52 weeks of the year.

watercolored this list using a 0 size brush

zoom in.

Anti-Gravity Yoga

2012-01-27T11:00:00.000+08:00

"I have trust issues," was the first thing I blurted out when we set foot inside the anti-gravity yoga studio at Centro last night. Hello, there is a reason why I didn't join the corporate world, you know! Hindi ko kaya yung "trust fall" sa mga team-building sessions!!!! Hahaha! But seriously, I am sort of ashamed to admit that I'm such a control freak. For example, I absolutely HATE it when I have a fever (thanks to a plant-based diet, that doesn't happen very often!) because I feel so weak and can't control my own body. So when Muffin invited us for a free anti-gravity yoga trial class for her pre-birthday celebration, I was scared shit. "Just let go," the instructor said. You can just say that; I can't just do that! But looky here, we've got snapshots to prove that I did learn to let go, even just for a night ;).

Happy birthday, Muffin!!! :)

Please know that Patty and I did this FOR YOU. Haha ;P

Patty, Me and Muffin

We took the class with our other friends Lady and Monique.

The inversions will feel unfamiliar in the beginning, but are not as difficult as they seem.

See, I did learn to let go. But I learned the hard way that too much swinging can be nauseating.

The fabric assists you in doing the usual yoga poses.

Muffin, the natural. ;)

Flippin' like she does it every day!

The birthday girl, blowing out her candle on a slice of vegan chocolate cake.We love you, Muff!!!

After class, we pigged out on healthy vegan food at Pipino.

----------------------
Beyond Yoga
3F Il Terrazzo

Tomas Morato Avenue corner Scout Madrinian St., QC

+63-917-5BEYOND (0917-5239663) or (02) 921-6070

inquire@igobeyondyoga.com

Pipino

39 Malingap Street, Teachers Village, QC

(02) 4411773

pipinovegetarian@gmail.com