Borrowed Heaven: Blog by Shenski

Before the year ends..

2014-12-26T03:27:00.002+08:00

In 5 days, 2014 will end and another year will begin. I have been neglecting writing on my blog as priorities change. I am sorry. I used to love writing on my blog, but work have been very demanding this year, and when we moved to a new apartment close to work, AJ had to change school to go to a big school for Boys which demanded my time everyday afterwork to become "nanay-teacher" since they have assignments everyday. But since I am on break for the next 10 days, I'm going to do a wrap up for 2014 and a promise to keep this blog alive in 2015. That's one of my goals next year... adding it to my 21KM marathon by end of December 2015.

How about you, have you made your goals already?

New year's resolutions are so outdated.. so 80's.. sometimes we just go back to where we were last year... but goals makes us more productive because it means you need or forced yourself to start it if you want to achieve it.

xoxo,
Shenski

How to Stay happy at work

2014-02-17T09:38:00.001+08:00

Interesting read i found online...i know ive shared a thing or two to friends and colleagues how to stay happy at work since i have been working for the same company for 13 years. There's really no secret according to this article...just stay positive, try new things, don't compare yourself to others and leave your personal baggages at the door. Oh yes and have a clutter free workspace. hehe!

Read along....

If Mondays are bad, Sunday evenings are even worse. The thought of returning to work the next day can easily dampen your mood, making it difficult for you to enjoy the last bits of the weekend. With such a mind-set though, you can’t expect to have a satisfying week ahead. Work shouldn’t end up being something we dread, especially since we spend plenty of our waking hours at work. Here are 5 simple tips that could help you stay motivated and happy at work.

1. Make your workspace special. It doesn’t matter how many meetings you attend. At the end of the day, you’re still going to come back to your very own cubicle. A workspace scattered with unorganised documents and a heap of trash can be uninspiring. To make your workspace cozy and comfortable, try adding simple decorations and personal mementos, such as family pictures, motivational posters or even your favourite Star Wars figurine.

2. Surround yourself with positivity. Do you have an incredibly optimistic colleague at the office? You might wonder what their secret recipe is to staying positive. Truth be told, this ball of energy is probably optimistic by choice. They have set their priorities right and that’s what you should do too! A good way to avoid negativity is to dismiss baseless conversations, gossip and unhappy colleagues. Instead, surround yourself with supportive colleagues and pals.

3. Avoid comparing yourself with others. Everyone begins from a different rung and has unique strengths. If you start comparing yourself with that highflyer from the office, you could lose sight of your strengths and abilities. Plus, it just fuels other unnecessary emotions such as jealousy and bitterness. Don’t put yourself down for a reason that doesn’t exist. Remember that you are your own competition. Therefore if there is anything that you should be comparing, it is your past and present self.

4. Leave personal problems at the door. A person who leaves his or her emotional baggage at home will always be more content at work than the one who is shackled by personal problems at the office. Unpacking your emotional baggage at work is not ideal as it raises tension amongst colleagues and hampers productivity. Remember that life is seldom smooth-sailing, so make it a habit to compartmentalise your emotions.

5. Try something new. Routine can result in boredom, which contributes to work dissatisfaction and unhappiness. This is especially prevalent in employees who have been at the same job for years. Get the enthusiasm back by trying something new at work. For example, you could volunteer to train or mentor new staffs. You could even ask colleagues from other departments if they need help. Such efforts will help you to gain new experiences and make your job scope more interesting.

With that said, happiness is not something readymade – it comes from your own actions and how you choose to react to your surroundings. Sometimes the only thing stopping you from being happy at work is actually yourself.

From Yahoo! SG

http://ct.moreover.com/ct?haid=ab041d31c910d6511392357568967d8fc5c34fb54a98&co=f000000014336s-3420426311

There's always room for Desserts

2014-01-04T22:44:00.001+08:00

Its always nice to do catch up with friends that you don't get to talk to nor see everyday. Mary, Raffy, Joyce, Kitchie and I as busy as we are... make time to get together for lunch on Thursdays to keep in touch and enjoy food. However, our schedule just couldn't find a free time for everyone... (my friend Raffy even sent us a google calendar appointment to confirm our availability haha) we have postponed this lunch several times because of meetings and prior engangements, doctor's appointment and even traffic were some reasons of cancellation. But the only way to see each other before the end of the year is to break our usual Thursday lunch schedule to Sunday.. however, we are still not complete 'cause Kitchie couldn't make it... I always look forward to Thursday lunch with these guys...and since the first time Momma Mary is 6 months pregnant, conversations has been about baby tips and baby products...

Lunch was served at Casa Verde (beef ribs are very tasty just too much fat ) I was too hungry to take pictures and for us there's always room for dessert at Cafe Shibuya in UP Town Center in Katipunan Quezon City

Next Thursday Group Lunch will be about baby making tips.. as Joyce and Hubby will be flying to the US for a much needed R&R and operation: project baby this January. Until next time guys

Our Christmas Holiday

2014-01-03T21:52:00.001+08:00

Christmas Day and New Year's day falls in the same day. And that's Wednesday. And since its in the middle of the week, there is this work day that is being sandwiched called Monday. But hubby and I decided to use our leave credits to spend a bit of quality time with the family...

And so Christmas eve and Christmas Day was spent at hubby's grandparent's home in Batangas so our son can spend time with his cousins and while waiting for Noche Buena, the husband and his cousins where having some drinks and some catching up. Also while listening to the stories of their cousin who had a first hand experience surviving the Typhoon Yoland and what led them to leave their home and lives in Tacloban... i still have goosebumps everytime i recall his stories... the kids were up by11:45 pm and were waiting for what seems to be the longest 15 minutes of their lives to open their gifts... after all the gifts have been opened and stomach have been fill with food... we hea to bed and the next day we spent the whole day lining up at the cinema to catch the MMFF screening of Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy.

For the New Year's Eve, we decided to spend it at a studio hotel in Makati to be free from the firecracker noise and pollution (both my boys have allergic rhinitis and my little guy has asthma) and some accessible shopping with Greenbelt 5 just across the street. Though its unfortunate that no fireworks were visible from our window which i know my son would enjoy... but he did get his wish to play some bowling on our way back home.

So I hope you had a restful and peaceful holiday with the family. And God bless us in 2014.

And next holiday, we will be doing this again but in a diffrent place with visible fireworks from our hotel window ... (note to self, book months before)

For now, Just want to share some of our family photos during the holidays :)

Condo Living... Soon!

2014-01-03T01:42:00.000+08:00

This is a late post. I wanted to post these pics but then my phone died on me and cannot retrieve my photo files from dropbox cloud. Good thing hubby still have these photos. This was taken during our tripping at Tivoli Gardens in Makati. Not the exact replica, but close enough (this was the only 3 bedroom available for viewing at the time) The one in the photo is only 66 sqm but the one we got was 83 sqm with balcony).But basically the fixtures, tiles and paint will be the same. We had to be able to visualize ourselves living in a condo before we make any life changing decisions....Lets take a tour shall we?

Hubby checking out the living room.

This unit is only 66 sqm, a smaller area than the one we purchased which was 83 sqm with balcony,

Heading to the bathrooms and bedrooms

Master's Bathroom would look like this.

Its the shower - the deal breaker

the communal bathroom for the 2 other rooms

Master Bed, Queen Size is just right for the size of the room.

Bedroom # 2

Bedroom #3

The kitchen, its small but I can work around it. (my Space! Mine)

Dining Space

Dining Space and Kitchen

Roof deck view

Ventilation, Check! not the wall to wall hotel type of hallway

Gardens on every 5th floor of the building

Roof top lounge

After our tripping, I've updated my pinterest and pinned some condo interior ideas ... and our theme...gonna be a modern minimalist :) is it 2019 yet?? haha!

xoxo,
S

Pandesal Hawaiian Pizza

2014-01-02T12:29:00.001+08:00

When you have kids, you want to be ready when hunger strikes. I envy those parents where their kids eat whatever is served. But my son is a very picky eater. He does not eat the normal snacks /food that kids enjoy... he prefers to eat slice cheese (no bread just cheese), does not like chocolates, but enjoys popcorn, does not like spaghetti but likes to eat ice. He loves oatmeal but does not eat any other fruit aside from banana. At a fast food, He only eats cheeseburger (no pickles) and fries and pineapple juice and it should be McDonald's. But what i'm proud of is that he eats vegetables but only those with soup (sinigang, nilaga, tinola etc.) not those with tomato sauce nor any thick sauces for that matter.

I long for that day when i get to enjoy a lunch or dinner out in a restaurant with him...Without me ordering at McDonald's first with his usual order.

One day i decided to do homemade pandesal pineapple and ham pizza (Hawaiian) knowing that he loves cheese i hoped he will love this one... i failed! Oh well maybe next time.

In case your kids are not as picky as mine.. here's how to do the Pandesal Hawaiian Pizza:

6 pandesal slice in halves
1 pack del monte Italian pizza sauce
1 Small can of pineapple tidbits
Pack of cooked ham
Cup of grated Cheese

Prepare ingredients. Spread the Italian pizza sauce on the pandesal, put in the pineapple tid bits and cooked ham. Topped with cheese. Preheat oven toaster for 5 minutes and toast pandesal pizza for 10-15 minutes or until cheese melts.

Serve immediately with favorite drinks

Bon Appetit,
S

2013: a year in review

2013-12-31T18:59:00.000+08:00

2013 came in fast (kinda in a blur) maybe because there were too many things going on. It was definitely a busy year. It has its share of challenges, triumphs and tears. But looking back, I am thankful to all of these because they made me strong, they made me appreciate life, they made me re-think my actions and made me better, a better person, a better mother, a better leader.

As a mother:
A milestone this year was that my son was awarded 3rd Honor in their class of Grade 1 students. It came as a surprise to me because I didn't know. What the teachers told me is to get him a nice polo for the Recognition Rites for the school year 2012-2013. I was expecting just a special award, a best in Math or something but not this... the nights and weekends of studying paid off and I am just so proud of my little guy for such an achievement at a young age of 6 years old.

in my Career:
I did't consider my promotion to Supervisor to be that special because i worked my ass for it for more than 5 years, double hat and OIC and all. I applied for it, got rejected, and I had to prove my worth. They say when you want it that much and waited way too long... its like the excitement and sparks dies with it in time. Don't get me wrong I was happy to be finally recognized, but at the back of my mind... I was saying "its about time damn it!" unfortunately my antagonist was no longer in the company to witness that promotion. But after 2 years in this position, I finally felt genuinely happy for my promotion to Sr. Supervisor. Because I did not apply for it, I was not rejected, I was recognized for my efforts and hard work... genuinely thankful for the trust and confidence that I can do the job.

in my Married Life:
When I was a kid, I thought when I get married, I'll have that perfect house with a white picket fence. I still want that. But I am not having it, not now...Because they said that marriage is a work in progress and full of compromise. And I believe that. And this year, that dream house of mine, though not with picket fence, but instead a high rise condo, will be a reality... in 6 years. I have waited this long... what is 6 more years right? But I am gonna have that white picket fence in Batangas one day... just in time for retirement :) I am just happy that we started this investment and not waited for another year to pass us by. I am just too excited and I wish I can fast forward to 2019.

As the new year comes closer... new challenges are already in my view..but I am a gladiator in heels who is infinite, powerful and fun-loving and I trust in God that I will carry on until the next 2014 year in review.

God Bless us all in 2014!

xoxo,
S

Typhoon Yolanda Victims still need your help

2013-12-30T14:43:00.000+08:00

Today when i opened my email, I saw an email from UNICEF, its a Thank you email. I know it has been almost 2 months after Yoland has devastated the Visayas region but they still need our help. Let's stop complaining about our government and start helping. We don't achieve anything by pointing fingers and blaming others. If you want to make a change and see change... start doing it in your own way. big or small. it counts.

Visit http://www.unicef.ph/ and donate.

Children affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) need your help NOW.

On November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) ravaged the central part of the Philippines, affecting an estimated 14 million people; 6 million of them are children. They urgently need access to safe water, hygiene supplies, food, shelter and a safe environment to recover.

Our resources are stretched from responding to three emergencies in a row within two months: armed conflict in Zamboanga, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol--and now, super typhoon Yolanda. We urgently need your help so we can aid those who are severely affected by this latest disaster. - Unicef Philippines Website.

SEND YOUR HELP NOW. Lets make them feel that there is hope this New Year.

XOXO,

2013 Annual Birthday and Christimas Wishlist

2013-11-22T12:29:00.000+08:00

Its Friday.. Thank God It's Friday!! and as i listened to the radio earlier today, I realized that its the 22nd of November. Exactly 1 month before my birthday... And thought to do my annual blog tradition today :) As i list down my Birthday and Christmas wish list for 2013, I remember that last year's List was a sweet success (#PostcardsAroundtheWorld). So many friends and family members are scattered all over the world... and thanks to social network sites... they read my wishes and they made them come true... I still feel giddy thinking about it even up to now (even after a year has gone by).

Hubby said that gifts should not be expected and should not be asked... (since I am pressuring him to get me that wish #1 haha!) but I said, I'm not asking or expecting... these are just the things to help out those (family and friends) who are planning to give me something but don't know what to give. This saves them time and they need not wreck their brains out in figuring what I will like for my birthday and Christmas.. I'm efficient that way.. haha! But really, with or without gifts... its the thought that counts.. And hey, tradition is tradition.. (my blog tradition anyway) whether I get it or not, I know I'll still have a happy birthday and a merry Christmas :)

So (drum roll in the background) in no particular Order, My 2013 Birthday and Christmas Wishlist are:

1. ~~Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses (Gold/ Gradient Brown)~~ (size:M) (ehem! hope my hubby's reading this haha! But he knows... he knows!) (UPDATE: Its in transit!! will get it in February when my MIL visits from the states :) - your the best hubby!)

2. Waffle Maker

3. ~~S View for Galaxy Note 3 (Purple, Teal, Old Rose~~) - i got the purple one (thanks to myself! haha!) NEW UPDATE: My MIL got me the pink one :) yejhey! Thank you Mama Ems!

4. ~~Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Moroccan Mint Tea~~ or Genmaicha Green Tea (UPDATE: Thanks Abi!! it was a surprise when i saw this on my table! Love you!!)

5.Gym Bag - that does not look like one :) just like this Fred Perry and it doubles up as a luggage for an overnight or weekend stay too.

6. Victoria Secret Cologne / Body Mist - (No colognes and perfumes - my boys have allergic rhinitis)

7. Pandora Charm Bracelet

8. Ticket to 2014 F1 Race in SG (kahit Walkabout lang) on 19, 20, 21 September 2014

Getting our F1 Tickets back in 2011 with my 5 year old Andre

9. Get Pregnant (preferably baby girl)

10. Donate to UNICEF Champions for Children - Because the children are our future and aside from education, good nutrition is what they need now to survive. HELP NOW!

And that wraps up my Birthday and Christmas Wishlist this year :) Happy Birthday to me and Merry Christmas to all!!!

xoxo,

S

My Phoblet called Samsung Note 3

2013-11-21T12:44:00.002+08:00

I got a new phone because my son kind of did something to it that it won't charge anymore after he used it. My 7 year old calls it my phone tablet, my IT hubby says it is a phoblet. And I guess it is. My Phoblet is the new Samsung Note3, courtesy of the retention program of my telecom provider. Its my 10th year with them so I guess its time to celebrate with a fab phone, tablet, Phoblet. (oh and I got promoted recently too.. so double celebration!)

At first I said I will use it during meetings to take down notes… since it’s a Note (and i expect more meetings that comes with that new position title on my email signature haha! ) . But after a day of testing it, I think I will stick with the good old notebook for this particular purpose. The Note3 is still too small for these long meetings.

However, I discovered 3 distinct features that I uber love.

1. The Scrapbook. Doodling on pages of the websites that I find interesting and NOTE-worthy. I’m having fun using it. My current project is for the #OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) Theme of our company Christmas party. I have this MNG dress given by my MIL (mother-in-Law) recently and I thought of wearing it in this event… I don’t usually dress up on day-to-day basis but Christmas party we need to make an extra effort (hey its just once in a year you know..).

With the help of the Scrapbook and Pinterest, I get ideas on what look do I want for the event.. shoes, belts, accessories, Hair, bags, tights or no tights? (haha!) add notes to self on where to buy, brand etc. And the most important thing is the convenience that I bring this scrapbook anywhere I go and can refer to it anytime.

2. Story Album. A pre-set layout where you can save your photos, create captions and order album prints. I actually just discovered it a few days ago and had my first crack of it during my officemate’s Birthday Tea Party. Though slide shows can only be seen (with music) using the phoblet, you can share the layout in jpeg or in pdf and send via email or upload in social media.

3. Sound & Shot. Though I have not tried this yet (I’m still waiting for the perfect time to take this shot) I think it’s an awesome way to take photos and I can’t wait to try it out.
Will definitely post it when i get the chance :)

Making memories with these gadgets are so fabulous... Create and post :)

xoxo,

S

8th Year Anniversary

2013-09-03T00:41:00.000+08:00

Does this mean we have surpass the 7 year itch without a glitch? Will 8 be our lucky number? Is it the start of infinity and beyond?

I hope so and I'd like to believe that in this world of uncertainty, our love is our saving grace (with God's grace of course). It's not all bed of roses... I was once asked if we ever had a fight or have a misunderstanding. Like normal couple, We have our fair share of issues but we always compromise. I sometimes give in just for the sake of... 'putting an end to it' but I'm glad that I don't need to put out my non-negotiable card. Not yet... but i hope I would never have to in the future.

I'd say I'm a lucky girl to have found a person that loves me just the way I am (plus size with post pregnancy weight) and luckier to have wonderful in-laws :-) And on this 8th year anniversary... I finally (almost within reach ) my favorite wedding anniversary gift so far.. (again we compromised) We will be signing off on our very own condo unit. But I really dreamed of a house in a lot... so we compromised (as i have said), I'm getting my house in his lot in Batangas when we retire :-) but for now, we'll work our ass off to pay for our 3-bedroom Condo Unit in the metro.

As i search my blog, i have not posted any of our wedding photos... so I'll do that now. Enjoy!

Yes, I was crying the entire walk down the aisle... good thing Caleruega is a chapel . I was saying to myself, hold it, hold it, don't cry... i was having a chest pain holding it off...but it was out of control i just had to let it out. Still makes me laugh every time the memory crosses my mind ....what a cry baby!

meeting my parents midway (see the rain outside? that's Typhoon Jolina)

finally saw my groom for the first time that day

I am a cry baby...and its tears of happiness.. and Fr. Dexter Mojares was funny too

Mr. & Mrs

The Entourage

My little flower girls

As candid as it gets

The entourage (Take 2)

Time for some Wedding portrait poses

Thanks for that light... a sunset improvise

Hello Guard??? PhotoBomb! hahaha!

The official Wedding Portrait

Now lets get out of here and Party!!

Spread the Love,

XOXO

Totally Unique Thoughts: The Note from The Universe

2013-08-18T12:16:00.000+08:00

Have you discovered the Note from THE UNIVERSE?

I was intrigued when I came about a twitter exchange about person A reading similar messages all over twitterverse and person B said that she got it from TUT.. A Note from the Universe. So i went to search on what this is about.... The website explains that TUT (Totally Unique Thoughts) believes that everyone's special, that every life is meaningful, and that we're all here to learn that dreams do come true. We also believe that "thoughts become things," and that imagination is the gift that can bring love, health, abundance, and happiness into our lives.

Hmmmm.. thoughts become things... reminds me of Henry Ford: 'If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.'

Look at this photo and tell me what is the first feeling that comes to your mind?

Everyone needs to be motivated and words are more powerful than actions...right? I have been receiving, my inspirational TUT for almost 2 weeks now and it has given me quite a good perspective. I've always describe myself as positive and optimistic.. I am Miss Bright Side as I wrote on my twitter Bio and i think it has greatly help me, not masking my true feelings, but dealing with the challenges in my life.

In the past 12 months, I have learned that I have an immune-mediated disease called Psoriasis which is a lifelong condition without cure. (oh my gee!! NO CURE! wouldn't that devastate you? ) I lost my father on his birthday at the beginning of this year (He was only 67 years old, too young to die right?) But I was able to cope up with it because of my attitude towards life. I choose to compartmentalize my emotions and not dwell on the negative but look at the positive side of things. Its hard (of course it is) but you just have to think that life has to go on and these events in your life does not have to define who you are. It's how you deal with them that defines you. So what am i saying here? I'm saying that your attitude towards a thing or an event will have an effect on how you decide. It may be positive or negative. And we are given our own will to choose. Its up to us to choose the right one.

And these weekly reminder of how I should look at life helps gain back that positive perspective that sometimes I forget because of the numerous things you have to think about to survive life...

Sharing with you my TUT for the week:

Usually, the best way to find the yellow brick road of your life, Shenski, is to start out on the dusty, dirt one.
And then let yourself become so preoccupied in making the best of it, having fun, and challenging yourself that you actually stop paying attention to the path.

Until, one day, not so long from now, with a new best friend, wearing cool clothes, feeling awesome, a teeny tiny bit taller, fresh from a WOW vacation, looking for the path you just left, you'll notice that it's 24 carats... baby.

And you'll wonder for a long, long time, sipping on some exotic fruit drink, when the transformation actually took place...

Tripping, The Universe

Learn more about the TUT, visit their website and subscribe to get a doze of positive juice in your life. everyday. (http://www.tut.com/)

xoxo,

S

TWG Tea Salon Experience

2013-08-10T04:00:00.001+08:00

As Tea Lovers, Keevee and I often exchange notes on our different tea experience. Once we did a Mini- Tea -Party at the office, where I brought my Japanese Tea Set and had tea during an afternoon break at our pantry with matching pastry (i think its Dew Berry if I'm not mistaken). She had mention to me about the TWG Tea Salon at Greenbelt Makati which I always passby whenever i'm in the area but never really got myself to enter the store... maybe because I was intimidated by the crowd. But agreed we'll try it out someday. And that someday came sooner when I had to join a meeting with her client for a possible long term contract deal. And so it was planned that we will stop by Rockwell, where they have another branch, before going back to the office.

The meeting went smoothly than we have expected... (we expected the worst!) and to our delight, the possible long term deal became a reality and so i was more than fitting to celebrate our closed deal with tea-time. It was Lunch time and I was expecting the place to be crowded just like in their Greenbelt branch, but it was almost empty except for 3 tables that were occupied.

A display of mouth watering french macarons greeted us at the entrance, they look so delicious that I felt like I was in a trance (reliving that first bite of a Laduree macaron). Keevee and I are just so excited when we were greeted by the hostess and was escorted in our table. I was impressed with the customer service (offered to get another chair for our bags to sit, pulling of the chair and the table attendants are very courteous) which I should expect since they are selling "world’s finest luxury tea brand".

French Macarons lined up at the entrance

The Wellness Group Tea Company, usually shortened to TWG Tea, is a Singapore-based tea company. It began in 2008 and primarily sells tea and light snacks.

And so we were given the menu and i was overwhelmed with the choices... they're could have been 1000 different flavors of tea in that menu. So we asked for the best seller... we were give a lot of choices and had the chance to smell the tea leaves as our attendant patiently explain to us what constitutes that particular tea... So I settled for the Happy Hour Tea ( P195 ) and Keevee got the Happy Birthday Tea (P195) .. which i guess was just appropriate being this is what our state of mind was at that time (HAPPY!).

Way toooooo many to Teas to choose from

Keevee and her Happy Birthday Tea

Me, waiting for my Happy Hour Tea

Can I take you home Mrs. Potts?

And then we ordered the macarons (P55 a piece), we chose Napoleon Tea & Caramel, Camelot Tea & Praline, Vanilla Bourbon Tea & Kaya and the Earl Grey Fortune & Chocolate. And to my horror, the Earl Grey Fortune & Chocolate was not just as hard as a cookie that my knife can't even cut it without flying to the next table (i had to use fork and force to slice it) but it tasted like a bark (maybe because it smelled like dried leaves too so I immediately associated it with a tree). The Napoleon Tea & Caramel wasn't as bad (maybe because of the caramel) but its as hard as a cookie as well. Vanilla Bourbon Tea & Kaya was not as hard as the first two but it didn't have a distinct taste either, it was okay. The only one that we liked was the Camelot Tea & Praline it was not hard but it was not soft either, it was again okay. I think the Praline saved this one.

Looks can be deceiving.. This is true even to a French Macaron

Over-all, I had to say, the Tea tastes good but the price its just too much for commoners like me. And I was expecting that when additional hot water is added to the pot, we'll be able to enjoy a second round but I was wrong. No second round here... you need to order another pot. And try other pastries, they might taste better that the stone-like french macaron.

xoxo,
S

The Burger Bar

2013-08-09T01:26:00.000+08:00

I was invited to join a dinner with the hubby and his former boss + friends and the IT wives (being married to IT geeks). There's a place in Greenbelt 2 where they serve big burger single/double patties where you can make your own which they call "you're the Boss" or choose from the variety of their signature burgers which they call "The Tributes".

With its small space and laid back interiors, it has a friendly feel and easy going ambiance. And what surprises me is that they use DIY painted cans as condiments and tissue organizer/holder. How cute! (and eco friendly not to mention!) They also use old jars as drinking glasses (see what I mean?) It was different and I'm loving the uniqueness of it all.

I ordered something safe. The one with garlic aioli and bacon strip called the Piggy. But while we wait we ordered Onion Rings with Garlic powder as appetizer. (Don't forget to order Sauce #3 on the side, its good with the onion rings).

And about 15- 20 minutes the patties arrived... And we are all in awe and excited to taste our burgers..but we have to resist for a few more minutes (and keep our drooling saliva to ourselves) so take a snap at each other's orders.... so we can share them all to you.

The verdict is Satisfactory. Everyone agreed that this hobby of ours is a very expensive one but it was worth every bite and penny. Just need to watch out for your cholesterol level. (a friendly warning).

The Bleu

Onion-griddled double patty steak cut blend of sirloin and chuck, blue cheese sauce, fried crispy leeks, blue cheese crumble, caramelized onions, lollo rossa greens all on a brioche bun

Single Patty P 235.00 Double Patty P 345.00

The Cheeseburger

A single quarter-pounder house blend all-beef patty with American cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and sauce no. 3 on a sesame seed bun

serving price: P195.00

The Double Cheeseburger

The house blend all-beef double patty on freshly cut toppings of lollo rossa greens, American cheddar, sliced tomatoes, onions, and sauce no. 3 all on a sesame seed bun

serving price P285.00

The Hangover Burger

Onion-griddled double patty big game blend of hanger and brisket, yellow cheddar, crisp prosciutto, fried egg, arugula, caramelized onions, BBQ sauce and house aioli all on a sesame seed bun

Single Patty P 285.00 Double Patty P 370.00

Double Patty

Single Patty

The Lamb Burger

A 6.5oz. house-ground lamb shoulder patty, feta cheese, harissa, sliced cucumber, yoghurt, pickled red onions, house-made aioli all on a bricohe bun

serving price P 385.00

The Piggy

Double patty beef bomb blend of chuck and short rib, mozzarella, fried bacon strips, house-made bacon jam, lollo rossa greens, garlic aioli all on a sesame seed bun

Single Patty 245.00 Double Patty 345.00

For combo meals (Add on Fries & Drinks) are Rated GP (P85) and Rated 18 (P105 or P190)

The Rising Shroom

Mustard-fried double patty steak cut blend of sirloin and chuck, fried oyster mushroom tempura, white truffle creamed cheese and sauteed mushrooms all on a kaiser roll

Single Patty 280.00 Double Patty 375.00

The Bar Burger

A double patty big game blend of hanger and brisket, smoked scamorza and gorgonzola cheeses, fresh prosciutto, watercress spiked with sriracha aioli, crowned with crispy onions rings all on a brioche bun -

Single Patty 290.00 Double Patty 395.00

TIP:

Call to make reservations if its a planned dinner/lunch to save time on waiting in line.

BurgerBarGreenbelt 2
G/F Greenbelt 2, Esperanza St cor Greenbelt Dr Ayala Center, Makati

(02) 625-2792

Bon Appetit!

xoxo,
S

RenaiXance

2013-06-21T13:01:00.001+08:00

Ever since I had that relaxing experience at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney nearly a year ago, I want to go to galleries (which are more accessible to me than museums) when time and opportunity permits. For me, its the cheapest way to relax, especially if entrance is free.

And the opportunity came when I went to Megamall for a Jobfair and saw the gallery featuring the RenaiXance art exhibit. I recall, Jim Paredes (1/3 of the APO Hiking Society) mention his work will be featured in this exhibit so I was intrigued and wanted to see them. So I planned to drop by after my spying duties at the job fair :-)

The RenaiXance Exhibit is on going until June 29, 2013 at Megamall 4th Level. So do drop by when you are in the area.

I was greeted by a huge sculpture of a sitting child, where there are chalks on the side, which implies you can write on it. And so I did wrote my twitter handle.

@mumshens was here

Scrap is art when you are creative enough to re-create something out of it... Like the airplane that I thought my 7year old son would love to have like a chandelier inside his room.

The photographs by singer Jim Paredes were displayed at the left corner of the gallery which I felt very personal and was captured beautifully. That little girl is her grand daughter.

Photographs by Jim Paredes

Below are other photos from the exhibit that caught my interest too. I don't think i have the talent for making art... but i sure do have the talent to appreciate them.

This art is brought to you by Letters A-Z and Numbers 0-9. Look closely and you know why.

This is used to be a part of a door. now its art. and who would have thought it could be one? only a true artist can.

The full view of the child sculpture. Can you see the chalks around it? Its was my opportunity to vandalize an art so i did what everybody did :) it was fun!

So Relax.... Don't watch a movie but instead go and appreciate ART!

XOXO,
S

My Ladurée Experience

2013-06-02T13:01:00.001+08:00

My curiosity about macarons, specifically the Ladurée brand started with that bathtub scene with Blair Waldorf where she was munching a green macaron. It was the one thing that can keep her mind off Chuck and her heavenly satisfying "no-care-in-the-world" look that made me want to try what she was having (or maybe Leighton Meester is really a good actor). The search was on! I blogged that back in 2010.

Fast Forward to 2012... While on a 9-day visit to Sydney, I passed by the Ladurée shop at Westfield... And boy i was too tempted to buy but I'm on a budget and a $3.20AUD per macaron (PhP134.40 each) was just not part of the plan. So i settled with $1.20 worth of Bon Bon Truffles (which was good btw).

Feeling Blair Waldorf, noticed my headband?

But this year, when Hubby was called to go back to Sydney for the third time, I've only have one thing in mind... the Ladurée Macarons...Unfortunately, they only have 12 flavors available... No Lime & Basil and Rose Petals...however, The Strawberry poppy tastes and smells floral enough to pass as Rose. The black macaron Liquorice was scary to eat because it was the fear of what will a black macaron will taste like.. But it was delicious! just the right amount of sweetness. The Raspberry was like eating the fruit itself.. a mix of sweet and sour. The Salted Caramel is sweet and gooey.. as its should be. Any caramel lover would love it. The Chocolate macaron has a classic taste of cocoa, that rich cacao taste that when it leaves your taste buds, you end up wanting for more. The Almond Marshmallows didn't leave that much of an impression on me except that its nutty. I've never been a fan of Vanilla but the Ladurée macaron was as classic as it is. you will never go wrong with Vanilla if you want to play safe. The Coconut was just like as the name it implies the filling is coconut so it was like a "sosyal na macaroons" (with the double O that we Pinoys are familiar to). Coffee was just too plain for me it was like a cookie with a mocha filling.The Blackcurrant Violet, aside from its my favorite color, its berry taste is natural and just like the raspberry, its like eating the real fruit, but with chewy, gooey texture. Strawberry marshmallows like the other berries tasted the sweetsour flavor of the berry but the marshmallows kept the sweetness intact. It was subtly sweet. And a unanimous winner (feeling foodie expert) is the truest purest flavor of Pistacio we have ever tasted in a macaron. Now I know why this is Blair's favorite... its Love at first taste.

Overall, what i love about Ladurée macarons is the filling. So many shops might have replicate the crust and might even have perfected them too to taste the same as Ladurée but the one thing that sets Ladurée apart is the filling. They stay true to the flavor (especially pistachio and the fruit flavors) and it does not harden even if you put it in the refrigerator... it stays chewy and gooey.

perfectly boxed up

Ladurée box of 15

Ladurée Macarons & Tea Party

eat only with tea

Bucket list checked for Keevee

Shenski's Top Laduree Favorites (in no particular order):

1. Liquorise

2. Pistachio

3. Chocolate

4. Fruit Flavors (you'll never go wrong with these)

And don't forget to have your favorite hot tea with your Laduree Macarons.

xoxo,

Shenski

Lemons: Who knew!

2013-05-30T12:02:00.001+08:00

FREEZING LEMONS - WHO KNEW

Amazing frozen lemons. All it is.....is a frozen lemon.

Many professionals in restaurants and eateries are using or consuming
the entire lemon and nothing is wasted. How can you use the whole
lemon without waste?

Simple.. place the washed lemon in the freezer section of your
refrigerator. Once the lemon is frozen, get your grater, and shred the whole lemon (no need to peel it) and sprinkle it on top of your foods.

Sprinkle it to your vegetable salad, ice cream, soup, cereals, noodles, spaghetti sauce, rice, sushi, fish dishes, whisky.... the list is endless.

All of the foods will unexpectedly have a wonderful taste, something that you may have never tasted before. Most likely, you only think of lemon juice and vitamin C. Not anymore.

Now that you've learned this lemon secret, you can use lemon even in instant cup noodles.

What's the major advantage of using the whole lemon other than preventing waste and adding new taste to your dishes?

Well, you see lemon peels contain as much as 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice itself. And yes, that's what you've been wasting.

But from now on, by following this simple procedure of freezing the whole lemon, then grating it on top of your dishes, you can consume all of those nutrients and get even healthier. It's also good that lemon peels are health rejuvenators in eradicating toxic elements in the body.

So place your washed lemon in your freezer, and then grate it on your meal every day. It is a key to make your foods tastier and you get to live healthier and longer! That's the lemon secret! Better late than
never, right? The surprising benefits of lemon! Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy.

Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge profits.

You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy.

How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large corporations?

As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes.

You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc. It is credited with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on cysts and tumors.

This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types. Some say it is very useful in all variants of cancer. It is considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure which is too high and an antidepressant, combats stress and nervous disorders. The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of
the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate,
lung and pancreas. The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells.

And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells.

So, give those lemons a good wash, freeze them and grate them. Your whole body will love you for it!!!!!

Jing-Si Aphorism

2013-05-02T08:27:00.001+08:00

Weekly words of wisdom from our CEO. Thought I'd share it with you.

-From my Email

XOXO

Small Portions

2013-04-27T17:47:00.000+08:00

Now that I'm (trying) to go back to getting my groove back a.k.a. post preggy bod (yes, my target is 120 lbs), I'm trying to get into this so called small portions only for every meal.. and since weekend is the only time I get to be the Boss in my kitchen, today, I made our favorite ( I + hubby) taco salad and garlic baby potatoes and mushrooms... It was a big hit in our dining table :)

For the Taco Salad:

Bag of Mexican Yellow Corn Chips
Shredded Cabbage
Diced Ripe Tomatoes
Diced Onions
Grated Cheddar Cheese

For the Meat:
Saute the chopped onion is 2 tablespoon of olive oil. add 1/2 Kilo Ground Lean Beef and cook for 5 minutes, add 1/4 cup of red wine and let it simmer until the beef absorbs the wine. add 2 table spoon of tomato paste. add salt and pepper to taste. mix then add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder. Mix and serve hot.

Lay corn chips on plate, topped with meat and veggies and finish with grated cheese. Ole!

For Garlic Baby Potatoes and Mushroom

Clean and boil Baby Potatoes in water with iodized salt.

Saute 1 clove chopped garlic in 2 tablespoon Olive Oil (do not burn it!) remove from the pan once its golden brown. Using the same pan, saute mushroom (canned or fresh) and add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt with parsley (i used Lawry's). add the boiled Baby Potatoes and drizzle with 1/4 cup butter. dash with Thyme before serving.

My mother-in-law gave me this Lawry's garlic salt,
McCormick has the same seasoning available in our local supermarkets

Bon Appetit!

xoxo,
S

That fan girl inside of me

2013-04-26T18:03:00.000+08:00

When I was a kid, TV is the closest thing I have to be in the same room of someone famous like hollywood famous. Then when I was in high school, I branched out to these imported teen magazines .. Tiger Beat.. anyone? And spend daydreaming for hours with the guys of Beverly Hills 90210, Saved by the Bell, Blossom, etc.. Afterwards, I get to go to concerts once I could pay for them and see artists live on stage... Sometimes I'm lucky and get to see them for free ( I'm saying A-List Zac Efron & sexy vampire Ian Somerhalder on stage).

But the cut above the rest, is when a tweet of mine gets noticed by Hollywood actors that I looooove and admire. Technology is so awesome that I never have imagined that there will come a time that I get to experience this. That's why I love Twitter more.. it gets me connected to my favorite Hollywood stars.

Piper Perabo and Chris Gorham stars of CW's Covert Affairs and Patrick J. Adams stars as Mike Ross in Suits

Shane West of NIKITA / A Walk to Remember, re-tweet my message after reading his sisters' novel

Hope you'll get that fan girl tweet of yours soon ...

xoxo,
S

Fit to Hit

2013-03-29T22:38:00.000+08:00

Fit 2 Hit! This is our company's campaign to health and wellness. After the annual medical check up of its employees, the result was that a staggering number of employees are either over weight or obese or have a high blood pressure... and so the challenge begins. A 6-month long project, where the biggest loser and biggest losing team (in weight of course) will win 40 grand! well well well... its not really about the money, and in the rate that my team is going, we are no way close to getting that price money... I'm doing this for me, for my son and for my husband. I want to live long to see my son grow up and realize his dreams and of course for my husband to not dare look at other women...i'd cut his if he even thinks it.. But that's another story...kidding aside, i want to get that same level of confidence that i have when I was still at 120 pounds... a baby and 8 years of marriage after, my BMI is at an obese level already. and that is my wake up call.

so lets do this together with my gym buddies.. my hubby and my teammate keevee.. AJA!

one of our friday date nights... too tire for the camera babe?

with keevee at Gold's Gym Holiday Inn

at the locker room after my workout!

xoxo,

Post Cards from Around the World

2013-02-22T09:57:00.001+08:00

My Birthday project was a success! I know I have friends in different continents but the effort of friends who went out of their way to get their friends (who doesn't even know me) to send me postcards as well is so damn sweet! Don't you agree? So a special mention to Maya and Jacq and their friends from Switzerland, Barcelona and Brisbane. Thanks for the love ladies...Love you back! xo

So, which part of the world did my postcards came from? Well, in no particular order:

1. Vatican City (Maya & Emmy)
2. Rome, Italy (Maya & Emmy)
3. Dubai, UAE (from Raine and Cousin-in-Law Grace)
4. Brisbane, Australia (Jacq)
5. Manila, Philippines (Carlo)
6. Hong Kong (Jacq)
7. Dublin, Ireland (Nica)
8. Switzerland (Maya)
9. Barcelona, Spain (Maya)
10. Singapore (Rui)
11. Indonesia (Raffy)
12. Toronto, Canada (Edith)
13. Perth, Australia (Jen, Jay & Jazz)
14. Seattle, Washington ( cousin-in-law Kristine)
15. Honolulu, Hawaii (Erwin)
16. Tokyo, Japan (Sonny)

Though there were postcards that didn't reach me... But thanks for the thought and effort, Keevee, but I'm still hoping it will reach my home one day.

The feeling of getting these cards are as special as getting any material gift but more precious because I know that it was sent with quality time spent writing the message especially for me and the effort of going to the post office to get stamp and mail it to me. So thank you to everyone who have sent their birthday and holiday wishes. And I hope to receive some again even if its no longer my birthday.

Keep 'em Coming!

Xoxo,
S

Off the Record: Why you should treat your employees like kids

2013-02-05T15:51:00.001+08:00

Off the Record: Why you should treat your employees like kids
By: Sabrina Zolkifi, Singapore
Published: 1 hour 48 min ago
OFF THE RECORD MANAGEMENT
Before I was a journo, I spent a year and a bit as a pre-school teacher, and if there's one similarity I had to draw from both experiences, it's that we never grow up.
When I signed up to be a pre-school teacher, I had absolutely no experience and had no idea what I was actually signing up for. It took me a while to get used to managing small classes of four and five-year-olds, but looking back, a lot of what I learnt back then helps in the professional relationships I'm building now.
Allow me to elaborate.
Adults, much like children, have short attention spans. Leave someone doing the same thing for too long and there will be tantrums. When you're a kid, you'll cry, stamp your feet around and maybe refuse to move from the corner you're crying in.
Adults react, most of the time, by quitting.
The easiest way about this is variety. Back in the pre-school, we never used a lesson plan for more than two weeks. While I acknowledge 14 days may be too short a duration for a project in the real working world, it's worth keeping in mind variety is still the spice of life.
On a similar note, I would also like to point out tantrums, crying and throwing up have little to no effect on me now. Any parent will tell you that after a while, you grow immune to it. So the way I deal with the slightly more, shall we say, difficult professional relationships is the same as I would with a child who is refusing to pick up his toys after play – I reason.
Often, conflicts in offices are caused by miscommunication. Your end goal and your reasons on why getting there 'your way' is the best way hasn't necessarily been put across as clearly as it could have to the other party. If you find an employee sulking around and performing below levels, take him aside, explain your point of view and –here's the shocker – listen to why he thinks he might be right.
As parents, teachers and, yes, bosses, a lot a times the biggest mistake we make during conflict is to impose our views on the other party.
When I was teacher, telling a kid doing something my way without explaining why usually pushed me three steps back, rather than a step forward. Kids are defiant by nature and to a certain extent, so are adults (it's called ego, for the uninformed).
So the next time you find yourself in an argument with someone who is stubborn, narrow-minded and myopic in their decision making, it might be wise to take a minute to listen to why they're doing it a certain way and explain why you think your method might be better. Note I said might, because there might just be the off-chance you're not.
Which brings me nicely into this friendly reminder: Everyone's learning. I may have been the teacher in those classes but every lesson taught me something new. I know I haven't been working very long, but my line of work has given me the privilege of mingling with and picking the brains of leaders from some of the biggest brands, and they often tell me a good leader is someone who is isn't afraid to learn.
The world is moving at such a fast pace that there's no shame in admitting someone lower down the corporate may know more about something than you might. Increasingly, companies are taking on reverse mentoring roles, where senior leaders are paired with graduates or executives to gain a different view on things.
I'm not saying you should head out into your office and demand the new kid attach himself to you and impart all his knowledge on social media, but be open to ideas and concepts that you may otherwise neglect.
The biggest thing I took away from my experience as a teacher is to always celebrate the little things.
For children, every thing is a discovery. A new ball, a new stuffed toy, even a new hairstyle is something to shout and dance about. Taking that into the office, don't forget that staff need tiny boosts of encouragement and recognition, too. Congratulate a new deal, celebrate a project completion or spend an evening at a team dinner to reflect on the month's accomplishment.
Baby steps, guys. Baby steps.

--

My Annual Birthday and Christmas Wish List

2012-12-02T00:31:00.000+08:00

20 more days before my birthday. And if its not your first time in here, you'll know that I keep this one blog tradition... where I help my friends pick out gifts for me. (go ahead type in the search box above "Annual Birthday and Christmas wish list" or here 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004) ... I know how hard it is when there are just too many people on your list and you don't know what to get them.. not because you don't know what they want or like... but because there are just too many options. In my annual Birthday and Christmas Wish List, some of them I got, some of them I don't... but as they say, it's the thought that counts.

For for this year, I have been thinking of what I want for my Birthday and Christmas... And to tell you honestly, I can't think of any material things... well maybe except for that RED KEDS Sneakers (worn by Taylor Swift) that crossed my mind. But other than that, there's none.

But an inspiration came to me when Keevee, ask permission to go to the post office so she can mail her do-it-yourself postcard swap! And I said I want one too! I remember back in October when I sent out postcards to my friends Sonny, Keevee and Anni (she wants a Koala so I sent her one! hehe!) I was so giddy to send postcards for the first time and how happy the recipients where when they got them.... I want to have that too... that happy feeling when you received a snail mail... since in this technologically infested world, we start to become lazy in stuff like these....

And so the only thing on my Birthday and Christmas wish list this year is to get POSTCARDS from friends, family and even strangers (if they care enough to wish me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, they are all welcome to send one) from all around the WORLD. It would truly make me a HAPPY Birthday Girl!

May it be a do-it-yourself postcard or from a newsstand or from the neighborhood bookstore... it doesn't matter, because its the thought that counts and the effort too :)

Message me on Twitter and I'll DM you my address xx

xoxo,
S

Multiply.com Shuts Down Blog/ Photo Sharing Service

2012-12-01T01:20:00.000+08:00

I've bid farewell to another social network that I have come to love. Multiply.com has changed its platform to a marketplace online, thus last quarter, they have announced that they are shutting down the blog/photo sharing services. I have been a member since 20 September 2005 and I have shared thousands of photos both for my site and my son which I created a few months before I gave birth 11 May 2006. A lot of memories on this site. I have registered as premium member to be able to upload hi-res photos so I can share them with friends and family (Facebook then was in the shadows of Harvard).

But as they say, good things had to come to an end. But the end was never easy, especially if you need to back up thousands of photos. Multiply gave tips on how to download the media that members uploaded (via Chrome or Firefox) but none of them was successful enough to complete the task. So I had to go manual.

1.From Media Locker
2. Click Photos
3. Choose the photos you want to Download
4. Click Download and save zip file on your hard drive.

They said that they'll shutdown the blogsite by December 1 ,2012, but I can still access my 2 accounts. So if you haven't finished saving or downloading your files, you can still continue to do so. Until when? that I don't know.

My Borrowed Heaven

The World According to Andre

Thank you for the 7 years Multiply.com

xoxo,
S