The Mommist

My Mom and Princess Diana

2013-06-17T19:56:00.001+08:00

I'm paying homage to my mom through Princess Diana. It's my mom's birthday today. She would've been 55 years old. Just like my dad, she passed away at such a young age. Actually, she died one year and one month after my dad did. They really loved each other a lot, I guess.

Princess Diana is my mom's favorite personality. She would always quip that she would have been the president of the Princess Di's fan club had she joined. She copied her every style - from her clothes to her coif. She bought every imaginable magazine and books about her. It was through her that I came to like the late princess. I get why she liked Princess Di a lot. She was truly beautiful, just like my mom.

The shots are taken by Mario Testino for Vanity Fair at Kensington Palace. Wasn't she gorgeous?

source

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This Week's Link Love

2013-06-17T15:52:00.001+08:00

Chris Evans will always top my list! *sigh*

The 50 books that will change your life! I've read 17 among the 50. How about you?

Different types of lovely braids for brides or for anyone who's into it, such as yours truly.

I want to live in this rustically appealing farmhouse!

Dreaming of doing the Inca trail trek.

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Diego Uchitel Revives My Obsession With Polaroids

2013-06-15T08:45:00.001+08:00

Polaroid camera was an integral part of my youth - or anyone else's, especially those who grew up in the 80's and below. It was the then counterpart of the digital camera; but instead of viewing the taken photograph from a screen display, the photo is processed into an instant film that comes out of the polaroid camera. That's for the sake of the unbeknownst kids today. I used to blow into the film or sway it a little to hasten its processing. That was the fun part for me then!

I see some of my Polaroid shots from time to time whenever I go home to my parents' house. Most of them have faded and a lot are missing. I managed to save some of my treasured films with stereoscopic viewer from my 1st birthday party though.

Argentinian-born fashion photographer, Diego Uchitel, revived my obsession with Polaroids through his book entitled, Diego Uchitel: Polaroids. It is a collection of all the shots he took from his Polaroid camera through the years.

The potency of Polaroid photos do not last long. As in the case of Diego Uchitel's photos, traces of fading and aging are very much visible, but this is what makes them extra beautiful!

Below are some of Diego Uchitel's amazing Polaroid shots. Seeing them makes me want to buy an instant camera again, such as this cute red one!

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Photo credit: huffingtonpost

Maple American Restaurant at San Antonio Plaza Arcade

2013-06-14T22:29:00.002+08:00

Our eldest son was itching for some waffles after our Sunday obligation last week at Santuario de San Antonio. Fortunately, one such place that served good ones was just a few short walks away. Maple American Restaurant is located on the second floor of the San Antonio Plaza Arcade, fronting the said church. It is a subsidiary of the Pancake House Group, along with Dencio's, Kabisera and Teriyaki Boy to name a few.

It was our second time at Maple San Antonio Plaza, but it was our first time to try two of the three dishes we ordered.

I forgot to ask if these bottles that line the walls of the restaurant did contain real maple syrup. I doubt it though. They look lovely, don't you think? Especially when illuminated from behind.

There was a bread plate and butter knife included in the table setting, but we weren't given any. We were served both during our first visit though. They probably just forgot.

Love, love lemon water!

Maple Iced Tea PhP 105

Aside from drinking lemon water, we also ordered Maple Iced Tea. It's infused with orange, which made it extra refreshing on a hot Sunday morning.

Spaetzle Jambalaya PhP 390

Maple Restaurant's menu is a hodgepodge of American, Creole, Mexican and Filipino dishes. One of the Creole dishes in their menu that spiked my curiosity was the Spaetzle Jambalaya. It was my first time to try a jambalaya that contains spaetzle instead of the usual rice. It was definitely a great substitute! Better than rice! Maple's jambalaya was very aromatic to begin with. The distinctive jambalaya flavour married well with the shrimp and Chilean mussels. I especially liked that it was not dry and the heat level was just right. The best jambalaya I've ever had was the one from Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This version is nearly as good!

Our eldest son was ready to go for the kill when the Banana Pecan Belgian Waffle was placed in front of him. His hunger pangs went on overdrive when he reached his tweens! I blame it on his hormones.

The waffle was a huge serving. The presentation was very much enticing and the flavour superb. It was topped with the same signature butter {which I love} from Pancake House, crushed maple-glazed pecans, slices of caramelized bananas and some maple syrup. For an extra free, you can drizzle real maple syrup on your waffle instead of pancake syrup. I found the inside of the waffle to be a bit dry, but my kid thought it was perfect.

Banana Pecan Belgian Waffle PhP 335

Hubs had one of his breakfast and brunch favorites: Eggs Benedict. This was a great combination of texture and flavours. The eggs were poached perfectly and the Hollandaise sauce did not overpower the taste of the whole dish. The flaky puff pastry discs - in lieu of English muffins - added a nice touch to both the texture and the taste.

Eggs Benedict PhP 315

The Crunch Country Fries was a real treat! As the name implies, it was perfectly crunchy and toasty on the outside but buttery soft on the inside. The seasoning was just right.

Quality: 4/5

Service: 3/5

Price: 3/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Cleanliness: 4/5

Maple American Restaurant

2/Fl San Antonio Plaza Arcade, 50 McKinley Rd., Forbes Park, Makati City

Operating Hours: Mon.-Sun. 6:30am-11pm

Facebook: Maple

Twitter: @MaplePH

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Isabel Marant: H&M's Newest Guest Designer

2013-06-11T18:53:00.003+08:00

source

The Swedish clothing company, H&M, caused quite a stir with the revelation of their new guest designer today. It's none other than the French designer who's upped the ante of effortless au courant style: Isabel Marant. The designer herself is very much pleased with the collaboration. She said that she is "flattered" because H&M "works with the best designers and this invitation is an exciting honour".

Marant does not play too much fashion theatrics with her collection; a mark of a French style icon. She's known for creating pieces that are not flashy and are actually wearable. I adore her personal style as well. A cool tomboyish look, but still with a touch of femininity.

A lot of great collabs has been happening as of late. H&M's are one of the highly anticipated because of their choice of designers. They have previously worked with Lanvin, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney to name a few. Collaborations are a great way for average fashion devotee {such as yours truly} to wear clothes made by famed designers for less.

The Isabel Marant X H&M line is said to be released come November 2013. Will she create competitive priced wedge sneakers? We'll soon find out!

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Black Wedding Gowns...Embrace or Disgrace?

2013-06-11T12:04:00.001+08:00

Brides are getting bold with their wedding gown color choices nowadays. A friend of mine got married last year in a manatee grey gown; another friend in a red gown. Those colors mentioned are still acceptable even for the superstitious few; black, however, is a taboo. A black wedding gown is said to bring bad luck to the couple. Majority of the wedding invites I received comes with a no black request.

I love black. Majority of my clothes are in this hue. It's figure-friendly and elegant. Even the chintzy designed gowns become tolerable in black. Picture yourself walking down the aisle in the Dior Couture black gown below {third photo} while the orchestra is playing Air on a G String; only the aisle is illuminated. Pretty dramatic, isn't it?

But, no. I still prefer the traditional white - ivory or cream - wedding gown . Not because of superstition or anything, but because I'm simply an old soul in many ways. What about you? Do you like black wedding gowns?

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10 Best Unsolicited Advice I Got From My Dad

2013-06-10T20:49:00.003+08:00

I love Shirley Temple! I used to watch her movies
with my Dad.

You know dads; even when you don't want any advice, they give it. My dad was constantly like that. Giving me advice every single time we had our prattles. His favorite time to give me all the unsolicited advice that my brain could ever handle was during our 45 minute ride from home to school. He would sometimes {when he wasn't busy or the driver was late} drive us to school. I dreaded those times; he, on the other hand, loved it! It was his chance to homilize the moment!

He was teaching me everything that I needed to know in life. Like he was really in a hurry to arm me with every possible thing to face both triumphs and adversities. I couldn't understand why until one unfortunate day back in 2005. He suffered a massive cerebral aneurysm at the age of 58. Gone too soon. Now I know why he was always eager to preach.

I want to share with you some of the advice he gave me. They maybe of help to you as it is to me.

1. Fail in anything, but never as a parent.

2. If you want less heartaches, don't expect too much from anyone.

3. To raise good kids will be your best contribution to the world. To be a lawyer, a doctor and a businessman is so easy. To be kindhearted is hard.

4. Always be grateful for whatever you have while striving for the best.

5. Be kind to everyone but don't take sh*t from them either.

6. Pick your life's mate well. Whether you like it or not, 99% of your happiness or sadness will come from this one decision.

7. Always be there for your friend at her lowest, not during her brightest. She has a lot of people in her life for the latter.

8. Always be in doubt.

9. Family should always come first.

10. Don't compare yourself to others. You will never go far if you do.

Your turn! What's the best advice your Dad has ever given you?

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This Week's Link Love

2013-06-09T00:03:00.001+08:00

Cute celebrity photobombs!

A great family trip to Sea World San Diego. I miss Shamu.

I've been mastering this no-heat soft wave curls for some time now. Getting there!

Sexiest camera yet. I really {X 1,000,000} want this!!!

Here's something caffeine addicts will appreciate. I'm still ambivalent on this one though.

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Cold Stone Creamery: Giving Manilans The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience

2013-06-07T22:43:00.002+08:00

Ice cream is most probably the one product that is a necessity in this side of the world given the hot weather. I was pretty much bummed about the death of the Häagen-Dazs chain, but that somber feeling was quickly turned to excitement with the birth of another Ice cream giant: Cold Stone Creamery.

I had my first encounter with the ice cream chain that claims to give the "ultimate ice cream experience" at Old Town Alexandria. I had two scoops of plain strawberry ice cream {my favorite Cold Stone Creamery flavor}. I didn't have that much expectation with the brand, but I was immediately smitten by their product.

I think that the extra pull Cold Stone Creamery has on customers, aside from their amazing ice cream, is the entertainment factor that goes with the purchase. They have this chilled granite stone where the mixing of the ice cream and all the add-ons are done. It's quite fun to watch!

STEP 1: Pick your flavor

You can go for the plain ones or for Cold Stone Creamery's Signature Creations. I suggest that you go for the latter. You can also create your own one-of-a-kind mix! The combinations are limited only by one's imagination. In fact, a Harvard Business School Doctoral student found out that there are about 11.5 million possible Cold Stone Creamery product combinations!

Flavors

Mix-Ins

STEP 2: Choose your size

	Ice Cream	Create Your Own	Signature
Lick It	95
Like It - 5 oz.	128	158	168
Love It – 8 oz.	158	188	198
Gotta Have It – 12 oz.	188	218	228
Mine – 16 oz.	368	398	448
Ours – 32 oz.	728	758	888
Everybody’s – 48 oz.	1118	1148	1288

* Amount is in PhP

You can also have the option of having your creation scooped into a waffle cone. The Plain Waffle Cone is PhP 35 while the Coated Waffle Cone is PhP 45.

STEP 3: Watch the magic

This is the fun part and the second best part of the ultimate ice cream experience! You can watch the Cold Stone Creamery servers mix your delicious creation on top of a special chilled granite stone. Mine's the one on your left. There is, apparently, a five second rule in mixing the creations.

STEP 4: The best part

Eating, of course!

I got the Our Strawberry Blonde while hubs ordered the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip. The former has the combination of an outrageously good ice cream creation: strawberry ice cream, graham pie crust, caramel syrup and strawberry chunks. One word: amazing! The heart {strawberry ice cream} of the creation itself is excellent. The ice cream is filled with intense strawberry flavor and is very smooth and creamy. The mix-ins made it extremely good!

I also like Cheesecake Fantasy, Mud Pie Mojo and Cookie Doughn't You Want Some! Ooooh, delicious!!!

Hubs has a strong penchant for mint ice cream; I don't. According to him, the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip is delicious. It has chocolate chips, brownies and fudge. I can't say that I agree with him given the fact that I don't have love for mint ice cream in general........at all. It's like eating toothpaste, don't you think? Well, to each his own.

Cold Stone Creamery also have shakes, smoothies, coffee and ice cream cakes on their menu. There is so, so much more to try! I hope that they'd open a branch in the Greenhills area soon! Speaking of which, the SM MOA branch will be in full operation come July. They will open a few more branches by the third quarter of this year.

Cold Stone Creamery is also in the business of giving. They support the Make-A-Wish Foundation and other charities as well. Cool, right?

Cold Stone Creamery Philippines

www.coldstonephilippines.com

Address: Ground Flr, Serendra Piazza, Taguig City, Philippines

Tel. no.: (632) 846.04.60

Facebook: Cold Stone Creamery Philippines

Twitter: @coldstoneph

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The Pay It Forward Giveaway

2013-06-01T19:13:00.000+08:00

- CLOSED -

I know that you don't want a long introduction for this giveaway, or for any kind of giveaway for that matter. I hear yah! Let's go straight to the facts of this so called "Pay It Forward Giveaway".

I have PhP 4,000 worth of gift certificates from SM Accessories{as shown above}. I'm giving it all to one lucky winner, but there's a catch. What the?! Of course! Because nothing worth having comes easy. But, this is a good kind of catch for you, not for me. Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask you to eat live chickens or walk on shards of broken glass.

I'm going to give you {the winner} a chance to do something good for another person. I feel that it's very important to do an act of kindness given the chaotic world we live in nowadays. So, it's going to be like hitting two birds with one giveaway. The fact that you're reading this blog right now means that you are luckier than some. You have the gadget to surf the net, vent out on Facebook, or post a selfie on Instagram. Most public school kids don't have that kind of privilege, so we need to extend some kindness to them.

How?

As mentioned above, one winner will receive PhP 4,000 worth of SM Accessories GC's. The winner should give some of it to a public school student of his/her choice. The amount will depend on the kindness of the winner.

I NEED PROOF

Here's the thing...I have trust issues. It's in my DNA, I can't help it. I need proof. The winner should send me a photo of the public school kid holding whatever it is that he/she bought from SM. I will post it here. Instead of giving a gift certificate to the student, the winner can also buy something useful from SM for the student. A nice pair of shoes would be great. Just a suggestion though. No pressure.

Summary

1. One random winner will get PhP 4,000 worth of SM Accessories gift certificates.

2. The winner will have to share some of the winnings to his/her public school student of choice.

3. The winner should send me a photo of the student holding whatever he/she bought at SM.

4. The contest will start on June 1, 2013 and will end on June 15, 2013 at exactly 12 midnight.

5. All residents of our great country {Philippines} are very much welcome to join.

6. The winner will be notified within three {3} days after the giveaway is over. If the winner fails to respond within the given notification period, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be chosen.

7. Please follow the rest of the blog giveaway requirements {like my Facebook page, tweet about this giveaway, etc.} via Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

READ THE FINE PRINT

No payment or purchase is necessary to join this blog giveaway. The SM Accessories gift certificates cannot be redeemed nor exchanged for cash. I {The Mommist} will pay for the courier fee, but I cannot be held liable if the gift certificates are lost during transit.

That's it! You're done! Thanks a lot for joining! G'luck! :-)

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One Breton Shirt, Worn Three Ways

2013-05-30T21:05:00.004+08:00

You all know how much I love classic pieces. They are a must in every closet. One classic shirt that I truly adore - and have at least six of - is the Breton shirt. The shirt was originally called marinière and was worn by French sailors. The first Breton shirts consisted of 21 stripes {each apparently depicting Napoleon Bonaparte's victories}.
Because of the comfort it brings and its ease of wear, the shirt was well loved by Breton workers, hence the term. The shirt was made famous by the purveyor of understated elegance, Coco Chanel. She made an entire collection based on it!
I like the fact that it's flattering on just about anyone and can be worn by both sexes. Breton shirts are like white shirts; you can never have enough! Here are some suggestions on how to rock it:

Which one's your favorite Breton look?

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Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe

2013-05-27T05:00:00.000+08:00

I learned about Larcy's Cupcakerycafe through my sister-in-law. Her family lives over there in the South and she really does know her way around the area. She was also the one who told me about Sam Won and the great restos along Aguirre Street in B.F. Homes.

Since we were already near the area a couple of days ago, I told my husband that we should stop by Larcy's to try out their famous cupcakes. A couple of minutes right after we had our family dinner, we went to the said cupcakery.

I was immediately smitten with the facade. I love canopies {especially the ones in black}! It's so elegant and beautiful to look at.

We were greeted by these gorgeous porter chairs. Kelly Wearstler loves to add these chairs to the places that she styles for a touch of romance and a whole lot of elegance.

Those hanging light bulbs {above} are really cute, don't you think?

We ordered Pink Velvet because it is one of their best-seller's according to the lady manning the counter. Though Larcy's is known for cupcakes, they serve other kinds of pastries as well. I was told that their Chocolate Obsession is a must-try too. I've yet to fill my belly up with that one.

They also sell ceramic products bearing their logo just like Starbucks.

We got the box of 6's {Pink Velvet and Banananutella} and two individual boxes for the Blueberry Cheesecake and Choco Vanilla.

The Pink Velvet was the one I found to be satisfactory. It wasn't too sweet and the cupcake, though not moist enough, was quite good. The rest are not. Due to the hype and given the price of the products, I was hoping that this would be at par with my favorite cupcake joint {Vanilla Cupcake Bakery}, but it's far from. I was really heartbroken with the Blueberry most especially. It was like eating a big dollop of airy whipped cream with a hint of blueberry.

It was our first time anyway. Maybe they have some good stuff to offer.

Sorry for the terrible quality of the photos. I only used my iPhone for all the shots. I forgot to bring my camera again!

Quality: 2/5

Service: 2/5

Price: 2/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Cleanliness: 4/5

Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe
178 Aguirre Street, BF Homes, Paranaque
Tel. No. (02) 478.28.49
Facebook: Larcy's Cupcakerycafe
Twitter: @larcyscupcakery

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Beauty Crush: Gal Gadot

2013-05-26T05:30:00.000+08:00

From time to time, my dear 'ol husband and I would debate about our girl crushes. And then, there are also those rare times when we would agree. I feel cheated sometimes because I always tell him my girl crushes but he won't fess up his man crushes to me. No fair, dude.
One of our mutual crushes is Israeli model and actress Gal Gadot. Our fondness for her has been rekindled recently thanks to Fast and the Furious 6 where she plays Gisele Yashar. We watched it yesterday. It's a great movie by the way. The stunts are amazing {as expected} and The Rock glistening with baby oil in every single scene is...what's the word...cute.
Anyway, there's really nothing much to say about Gal Gadot except for the fact that she....is....gorgeous!!! Perfect facial symmetry, which experts say is what majority of men find attractive in women. Asymmetrical face is not automatically a Quasimodo, by the way.
Check out her mesmerizing photos below and tell me what you think. As for me, well, I'd gladly drink the blood of a dozen damsels to complete my Gal Gadot morphosis.

source

Who's your beauty crush?

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Retired Japanese Couple Turns Home Into a Bookshop and Cafe

2013-05-25T17:23:00.005+08:00

Here's a lovey way to work from home. A retired Japanese couple has turned their amazing abode into a bookshop and a cafe. They sought help from the architects of Atelier Bow-Wow to design a home that will be open to the public. The store slash library is located at the Izu peninsula, hence the name Izu Book Cafe. The concept is nothing new. Locally, there is a man who has this type of setting in his home sans the cafe part. He lets his neighbors borrow his books and have them returned whenever they feel like it. Some don't even return the books at all! The natural wood beans that line the ceiling are amazing! It makes the whole place a place of serenity and comfort. There's almost like a spa-vibe appeal to this place. How lovely is it to be immersed in your favorite book here, right?

source

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Appebon Kid's Mom's Grocery Blowout Promo!

2013-05-24T15:26:00.001+08:00

May is mom's month! I don't know if that is official, but we mom's like to think that it is! Pampering mom's and making the them extra happy is what this mom's month is all about. Various celebrations have been done in honor of mothers and it's still not over yet!
Appebon Kid, daily nutrient supplement for kids, is giving away PhP 10,000 worth of grocery shopping spree! Now, this is something that I'm 100% sure mom's will really appreciate. This will be a big help given the bloating prices of commodities. Grrr!!! Okay, breathe and one, two, three....wooosaaaaah.
I'm not going to ask you anymore if you want to get a chance to win a cart load {or two} of your favorite stuff. I know that you want it as much as I do! Let's both head on over to Appebon Kid's Facebook page to get started.
Remember to like their page first to get to the contest proper! Let's go!

Hold on! Please hit my Facebook like button {look to the left} too before you leave. Thank you very much!

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The Farm Resto: Serving More Than Just Organic Beef

2013-05-22T23:31:00.001+08:00

Seeing delicious photos of burgers on Instagram care of Kariz Favis - wife of Tom Favis, owner of The Farm Organics and the restaurant - prompted me and my glutton crew to visit the new The Farm Resto a couple of days ago. It was just too enticing to resist, I tell you!

I've been a big fan of their products since I saw them on the freezer shelves of Rustan's Fresh Shangri-la Plaza Mall last year. Aside from the beef being organic, I also like the fact that they are vacuum packed {sealing the all important juices in}. It keeps the product fresh and odor-free.

Organic beef are those that come from cattles that are exclusively fed with 100% chemical-free grass. These cattles are not given antibiotics nor any form of enhancers such as bovine human growth hormone {rbGH}. The latter forces the cow to produce more milk with....wait for it....pus and a cancer enhancing hormone. Since they don't use fertilizers or pesticides, organically grown beef helps save Mother Earth as well.

Okay, enough with the organic beef 101; let's go now to The Farm Resto. The facade is very unassuming. I liken it to a Starbucks store; no matter where the store is located {even in a dump site}, the consumer is magically transformed into a different world once inside.

I love the interiors! The place is dominated by wood, making it very cozy and relaxing. We went there during a rainy day, so it was extra cozy. The whole place is simple but done to a tee. Hubs pointed out the proverbs written on a chalkboard. He likes that kind of stuff.

They also sell other eco-friendly products at The Farm Resto. They have Messy Bessy, Human Nature and Grandma's Secret to name a few.

I took a liking to these cute table number and candle container.

And now for the main event! I almost did a cartwheel upon seeing the words 'Bone Marrow' on the chalkboard menu! I love bone marrow! No, I'm not on a Paleo diet; I just like the stuff, that's all! I got it from my dad.
This delicious delicacy has been given a bad rep for far too long. I'm not gonna touch on the taste anymore because as we all know, it's deadly good! Bone marrow is a good source of calcium and protein. Yes, it contains fats, but it is polyunsaturated fat {the good fat} which can help lower one's cholesterol. This is not my way of convincing myself that bone marrow is good just because I like it. It's a fact. Of course, like all other things, the key here is eating in moderation. Over indulging is a sin...or not. It depends. *wink*

Organic Bone Marrow PhP 295

The fat was still sizzling and bubbling when the waiter placed the Roasted Organic Bone Marrow in front of us. I thought that it was overcooked, but turns out it was just the spices that looked burnt. As you can the see from the photo below, the inside it was cooked perfectly. The marrow was buttery soft and lightly seasoned. It was truly satisfying. I put some on my rice and hallelujah it was good!

Classic Cheeseburger PhP 240

Hubs and eldest son ordered the Classic Cheeseburger and Bacon Cheeseburger respectively. The burger patty itself was delicious, juicy and cooked really well. The bun was good, but I prefer a potato bun though. It would also be great if there are a variety of cheese choices or a cheese stuffed version of the patty. This would work well with a gruyere, comte, or monterey jack. Just a suggestion though.

Bacon Cheeseburger PhP 340

Our boys loved the French Fries a lot! The burgers doesn't come with fries, so you have to order this one as extra. They are thicker than the usual fries, crispy on the edges and soft on the inside. I appreciate the fact that they didn't sprinkle it with too much salt. This is a must-try!

French Fries PhP 80

My favorite amongst all is this lovely, lovely Rib-Eye Organic Steak! It needs no sauces because the meat is so flavourful, juicy and fantastic! All the good seasoning is infused in every single piece of sliced meat. Just like what Jamie Oliver said: "It's gorgeous!" It annoys me sometimes when he continuously utter those words though.

The prices at The Farm Resto are not bad at all. This huge chunk of goodness is PhP 795. That's for a steak...scratch that....that's for a great organic steak! It's reasonable enough for me. This is the larger order, which is approximately good for 2-3 persons or one glutton.

Organic Rib-Eye Steak {Large} PhP 795

To cap off the end of our good experience at The Farm, we each had a Nutella Cupcake. This is a real winner! I'm not a big fan of nutella {crucify me}, but this one I like! Our youngest was the one who picked this cupcake for dessert. It was so moist, fudgy and amazing. I bought more to go!

Bummed that we didn't get to try the Lemon Green Tea that day. They ran out. That's okay because we will be back to try more stuff. My sister is actually forcing me to go back there soon {like, tomorrow soon!}. I'm gonna try the smoothies, other burger variants and the bone marrow again!!! Booyah!

Quality: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Price: 4/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Cleanliness: 4/5

The Farm Restaurant Don Jesus Blvd.Alabang, Muntinlupa Tel. no. (02) 403-9130 Operating Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30am - 9.00pm, Saturday to Sunday 10:30am - 9.00pm
Website: www.thefarm.ph Facebook: The Farm Organics Twitter: @TheFarmOrganics

Don't forget to like us on Facebook {look to the left}! Thanks!

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Eco-Friendly Bamboo Cloth Nappies

2013-05-19T20:07:00.002+08:00

As the saying goes...start 'em young! In terms of healing the planet, that is. Our generation and the future ones are geared towards helping Mother Earth renovate from the abuse she has received from the past. I'm a supporter and a patron of sustainable, eco-friendly products. One such local environment friendly product that has captured my attention is these cute nappies from Dappy!

What's so good about these diapers?

Bamboo cloth doesn't irritate the skin because it's organic and breathable.
The fabric contains a natural antibacterial and anti-fungal agent called Bamboo Kun.
It is biodegradeable and compostable.
Bamboos are safer and better than trees because they grow without the need for fertilizers or pesticides. They're area a renewable source for products.
Part of the proceeds from each sold Dappy diaper will be donated to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Dappy have other products too! I'm liking this bamboo towel a lot! This one is not just for babies, but for moms and dads who have sensitive skin as well.

Lessen your ecological footprint! You can get your very own cute Dappy nappy here!

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A Retrospective Look at Sixties Decorating Style With A Twist

2013-05-19T01:39:00.002+08:00

I prefer homes that are a myriad of fine things that looks amazing when combined together. There's just so much character in these types of abode. It looks unruly at first glance, but its beauty emerges when stared at. I like homes where each piece is a conversation starter {not just for aesthetics}and has a story.
I've been heavily coveting on tweaked sixties style of decor as of late. The one below is a great example of mismatched styling done right. It's not a home actually. It's one of my favorite denim's showroom in West Hollywood: Citizen's of Humanity. It has the great components of a sixties styled home and is also peppered with bohemian accents at the same time. If David Hicks and Muriel Brandolini had a shared vacation home, this would be it.

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I love the different black and white framed vintage photos! It look great against a plain white wall.

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This one's an easy project to do. All you need are a couple of wall shelves to stack your plates, glasses, cups, and other wares into.

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A collage of photos pinned on a large framed cork board serves as a great background. Forever yearning for those DAW Chairs! Lovely in its simplicity. Large glass jars {below} are such a nice necessity to every home. I have one at home. I put all our soaps {all white} in it. It's such a versatile piece.

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So true.

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Don’t Read This if You Don't Want to Raise A Humble Child

2013-05-17T21:20:00.001+08:00

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In social media networks, parents are notorious for uploading pictures of their kids’ achievements; from winning a gold medal in a rhetorical competition to as simple as a potty training success. Most of it is justified, while the rest is just completely exaggerated and sometimes, annoying. There’s more to the I’m-just-proud-of-my-kids demeanor. A child’s achievement is clearly a reflection of one’s parenting. Their children are their bragging rights.

In tattling the glory of their children, have you ever seen a status that denotes anything about their children’s humility?

In restaurant today, I overheard an 8-year old boy bragging about his condominium and his gigantic television set talking to a middle-aged man. The kid’s father was smiling with pride as his son babbles about their material wealth to others. It was a cringe-worthy sight to see.

Kids are growing up in a world where they are constantly told that they are the best and that they can do anything, even conquer the world. They are given that enormous amount of confidence to overpower others for their very survival.

Tools for arrogance are in abundance. They are given the latest gadgets, the latest clothes, the best shoes, and the best anything that their parents’ money can buy. In an article on New York Times entitled “IsThis the Best Education Money Can Buy?”, a question was raised if humility exists in a school where crowning pompousness is the norm.

Is this a bad thing? Surely not! Giving the best life to our children – beyond what we've experienced – is one of the main essences of good parenting. Another fundamental part of parenting is teaching children the importance of humility in spite of having a frivolous life or lack of.

Lead by example

Genetic make-up and heredity plays a vital part in being humble, but, it can also be a learned trait. Who best to teach kids about humility than their parents? They are their kids’ best teachers. There’s no Humility 101 in a school’s curriculum. A child’s attitude depends on what he was shown and what he was taught by his parents. Circumstances may change one’s attitude over time, but if the background is solid, then the outcome will be good.

Boost a child’s confidence but don’t overdo it

There’s a big difference between making your child believe that he or she’s the best and making him/her believe that she/he's a god. It’s alright to give praises once in awhile; it’s good for a person’s well-being. Pick circumstances that are really worthy of a praise. Don’t be afraid to tell your kid if he/she didn’t do a good job. Follow that up with an advice on how to do it better the next time around. Your goal is to give them honest praises, not empty ones.

Believing in a Higher Providence

It doesn’t matter what kind of religion you have, what matters is the idea that there is someone higher than you, someone better, and someone greater. Teach your kids this notion for them to embrace humility.

Giving financial lessons

Teaching kids early on about money is one of the best ways to make them humble. As they age, they’ll know that money is the major tool to get their wants – be it a toy or an iPad. They may ask you a question such as “Are we rich or poor?” Help them understand that money is a tool to make lives easier, not a means to be superior towards others.

Saying sorry

Apologizing is one of the noblest gestures and one of the best forms of humility. Teach your child the importance of accepting his mistake and saying sorry. Again, this is best done through example. If you’ve done something wrong to your child, don’t think twice before you apologize.

Raise kind-hearted and humble rock stars! The world badly needs this breed. We have the power to make the future better by making our kids the best.

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Carey Mulligan - Stunning at The Great Gatsby Premiere in Cannes

2013-05-17T03:07:00.003+08:00

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Carey Mulligan proved that less is more...stunning, that is! She kept her style to a minimum at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

The Great Gatsby actress arrived at the Palais des Festival in a black Balenciaga jumpsuit from the fashion house's Fall 2013 collection. She paired it with sky-high mary janes of the same color and a lovely diamond studs. In keeping with her theme for the day, her make-up was barely noticeable. The simplicity of her overall look emphasized her beauty more! Minimalism is my kind of style. It's very regal, elegant, and exudes confidence!

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Carey Mulligan {literally} let her hair down come rainy nightfall. She donned a pale pink Dior Couture gown with a plunging neckline at the Cannes Film Festival's Opening Ceremony held at the Theatre Lumiere. Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!

Looks like she wore the same shade of eyeshadow and just added a pop of bright red lipstick. Actually, most of the women wore red lipstick, including Cara Delevingne at the premiere. The British supermodel, however, came "overdone". She wore too much of everything! She looked like she came out of an 80's shabby lingerie catalogue...but with bling.

Mulligan topped off her subdued chic look with a pair of radiant diamond drop earrings and bracelet from Tiffany & Co.

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Simply Chic Table Setting for Breakfast

2013-05-16T00:35:00.002+08:00

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. What you'll eat during this time will get through the rest of your day. Mornings are not only for nutrition; they're also about mental health and feeling good. One way to feel good in the morning is by setting the table in a way that's aesthetically pleasing!
Think of it as a sort of neurobics. Seeing something that's pleasing in the morning can resonate all throughout the day. Setting a lovely breakfast table is just simple thing, but it comes with a good impact to one's behavior and outlook!
If you don't have access to a good view, create one! Create a beautiful surrounding. It can help you and your loved ones be more grateful as you start the day.
1. Heath Coupe dinner plate
2. Salt and pepper shakers
3. French press
4. Vintage recycled milk bottle
5. Drinking glass
6. Table napkin
7. Vintage napoli placemats
8. Cereal bowl
9. Flatware set
10. Flower vase
11. Stainless steel coffee cup and saucer set

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Home Reading Nook Design Inspirations

2013-05-14T20:01:00.001+08:00

I'm a big fan of books. I don't really consider myself as a voracious reader, but I do read quite a lot {one book per week}. This is the reason why I rarely tweet or do much of anything actually. I'm reading The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson right now, by the way. It's all about tapping the right side of your brain - a.k.a the creative side - to formulate new ideas. I've yet to find out if it works, but loving what I'm reading so far.

My boys {the eldest especially} have picked up this habit of mine, thankfully. Books are good investments, so I encourage them to keep reading. I dream of fixing up a corner or a space in our home as a reading nook for us to share. It doesn't have to be much, but it has to have the essentials of a great reading area: cozy, comfortable, and quiet. A stunning view of the ocean, mountains, or a vineyard is optional but preferable. *wink*

I wish to God I have a space for a big library! I love to be surrounded by books! I love the smell and the feel of paper. I also like to highlight my favorite lines using different colored markers. If they can incorporate these in e-readers, I'd gladly buy one.

A girl sure can dream, can't she? I've compiled a couple of the reading nooks that I love. Most of them are simple chic designs in monochromatic hue. That's my kind of color for home decor.

In need of a reading nook design idea? Check out all the beautiful photos below and tell me which one you like best!

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Sarah Jessica Parker's Coming to Manila for the Grand Opening of SM Aura?

2013-05-13T18:34:00.000+08:00

Could it be true? Is Sarah Jessica Parker - best known for her portrayal of the style maven columnist in the HBO hit series Sex and the City - coming to Manila?

@thesmstore tweeted yesterday about a Hollywood actress who's coming to Manila to grace the opening of the brand new SM superstore, SM Aura Premier, this coming Friday, May 17. Many concluded that the woman in the photo's indeed SJP. I'm a big fan of both her real and reel personas!

Ms. Cecile Zamora-Van Straten a.k.a Chuvaness strengthened the assumption by showing a similar photo of Sarah Jessica Parker for Marie Claire's December 2011 issue.

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Eagerly awaiting the confirmation! SM will reveal the real identity of the woman in their teaser ad for SM Aura tomorrow, May 14.

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This Week's Link Love

2013-05-10T13:22:00.000+08:00

Do you believe in numerology? I do! Here's a site that's pretty accurate. Well, at least, the one I got was dead on. Care to share your number with me?

I love vintage lockers! Check out this amazing list of recycled vintage lockers!

Vegan nail polish anyone? It's true what she says on the blog. She really likes spa dates! We've yet to have ours. Soon, Martine!

A take on being a mother to a boy from a brilliant writer. I'm a fan!

A trip to one of my dream destinations in the world! The photos are amazing!

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Style Crush: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

2013-05-09T23:28:00.001+08:00

Effortless, timeless chic best describes Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's style. Her fashion sense was much like the mom-in-law she never met, my other style crush, Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
She's always seen in the most basic attire in the most neutral hues. She was never outlandish. Even in the simplest attire, CBK commanded an enormous amount of attention and admiration. Even her wedding gown and wedding itself was very simple, but oh so lovely! That's style power for you!
The photos below are my justifications for investing in basic and classic pieces. Even after more than a decade later, her ensemble still looks very good and not outdated. Her golden locks was almost always pulled back in a clean bun and with a thick tortoise headband. She rarely wore any jewelry, except for her wedding band and a pair of simple pearl earrings. She didn't need any. Her best accessory was her husband, JFK, Jr.
Her style is one of the easiest to copy and one of the best! Her staples are: flare jeans, khakis, black pants, white long sleeve shirt, trench coat, loafers, and black sunnies.
Not only did she have an impeccable taste in everything, she was also reported to be intelligent, and possessed a really good heart. Paying homage to the other queen of Camelot.

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The Mommist

My Mom and Princess Diana

This Week's Link Love

Diego Uchitel Revives My Obsession With Polaroids

Maple American Restaurant at San Antonio Plaza Arcade

Isabel Marant: H&M's Newest Guest Designer

Black Wedding Gowns...Embrace or Disgrace?

10 Best Unsolicited Advice I Got From My Dad

This Week's Link Love

Cold Stone Creamery: Giving Manilans The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience

STEP 1: Pick your flavor

STEP 2: Choose your size

STEP 3: Watch the magic

STEP 4: The best part

The Pay It Forward Giveaway

How?

I NEED PROOF

Summary

READ THE FINE PRINT

One Breton Shirt, Worn Three Ways

A Walk in the Park

Fall In

All Glammed Up

Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe

Beauty Crush: Gal Gadot

Retired Japanese Couple Turns Home Into a Bookshop and Cafe

Appebon Kid's Mom's Grocery Blowout Promo!

The Farm Resto: Serving More Than Just Organic Beef

Eco-Friendly Bamboo Cloth Nappies

What's so good about these diapers?

A Retrospective Look at Sixties Decorating Style With A Twist

Don’t Read This if You Don't Want to Raise A Humble Child

Lead by example

Boost a child’s confidence but don’t overdo it

Believing in a Higher Providence

Giving financial lessons

Saying sorry

Carey Mulligan - Stunning at The Great Gatsby Premiere in Cannes

Simply Chic Table Setting for Breakfast

Home Reading Nook Design Inspirations

Sarah Jessica Parker's Coming to Manila for the Grand Opening of SM Aura?

This Week's Link Love

Style Crush: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy