The Investment Bag

A few years back, my sister gave me a book called, Spanx The One Hundred, a Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia of Project Runway (at least that's how I knew her).  My sister actually got it for herself and turned it over to me when she was done.  And for a non-fashion person like me, it was quite interesting.

This copy is actually a special edition that features only 25 of The One Hundred.

One of the things on Nina's list is the Investment Bag.   Ok, so I'm not exactly into the Investment Bag thing.  (Hey, no judgement on those who are into luxury bags.)

I guess it's more because I'm not a bag person.  I just use one bag until it's all worn out and then I buy the next bag.  However I must admit, it used to be that I won't spend for a bag if it costs more than P1,000.  So you'd see me in those cloth type bag types and even faux leather (gasp!).  I was also limited to the size that would just be enough to keep a small wallet and a mobile phone.  And it'd be black.

But following my office makeover, I've decided to get my own Investment Bag (and because I got it at 20% off).  No, it's still not one of those monogramed bags but to me it's already an investment!  It's from our very own homegrown local premium leather brand, Fino. 



Look Ma, it's not black and 10x bigger than a wristlet.


What I like about Fino?  It's got really good quality.  I've owned a Fino wallet and it's probably 10 years old and still using it.  Likewise, my sister left her Fino bag when she migrated in 2008 and the bag still looks great after soooo many years!  Also, it's not as expensive as them luxury brands.  And I don't think you'll find a fake Fino in Greenhills.  :P

For the curious, Nina Garcia mentions four bags that are worth your big bucks. If you want to know what they are and what she says about these bags, you'd have to buy the book (or I'll have to lend you my copy) lest I be charged for copyright infringement.

Fashion Begins at Forty

I'm not quite forty yet, at least not for about half a year more but that's not what this post is about.  It's about fashion or more precisely my lack of fashion. Ha!

For people who've known me longer than the past few months, you'd know I'm not really into fashion.  In high school, when I wasn't in school uniform, I would be content with oversized t-shirts (preferably black), jeans and creepers.  In college, I was still the t-shirt (not so oversized), jeans and sneakers type of person. 

When I started working and maybe til about late last year, my idea of work clothes would be a collared blouse and slacks.  Occasionally, I will be caught wearing a proper blazer.  Oh, I'd be wearing heels but would prefer flats.  It wasn't til about 5 months ago when I started "dressing up at work."  

URC Days, late 90s. Wearing jeans, shirt blouse and a borrowed oversized blazer.


So why the sudden change? Let's call it peer pressure.  (Kung kelan tumanda saka nagpa-peer pressure!)  Actually none of my colleagues were pressuring me.  But if your younger colleagues start looking better than you, baka mapagkamalan kang assistant nila!  Hindi happy thought yun.  Hahaha!

During a Singapore business trip in 2006.  Wearing long-sleeved shirt, slacks and slippers! 
(I can't remember if I just changed my footwear here coming from the session.  I hope so.)

My transformation started slowly and small.  I started my fashion change with shoes, that is, wearing heels.



I discovered 3 1/2" heel arch is still comfortable for me. Also, wedges and platform helps a lot! :D


Also, I started wearing blazers more often.  I found that wearing a jacket gave me a more formal office look even if I was actually just wearing a t-shirt underneath that jacket.

And lately, well, I've taken to wearing dresses!  I  actually have 3 dresses that I can wear to work in my closet!  ha!

First office dress I got at an export overrun store. Super sulit at P700! :D

It's still not a complete transformation.  Mostly I still wear my traditional collared blouse and slacks but this time I make sure I stop wearing them when they're all faded out.  :P

Happy Thoughts Preserved

In this age of digital cameras, we take hundreds and even thousands of pictures at every event or trip.  However, the irony is we hardly print pictures anymore.  So even if we have tons of photos in our hard drive, we hardly  get to see them after the first time we view them.  I still try to print out photos but when I got introduced to photobooks, it totally changed the way I looked at printing pictures.  It wasn't just about having a printed copy of photos I took, it became a way to tell a story through the photos.

To date, I've only done two photobooks. 

The first photobook I made was Miguel's baby book.  It contained milestones and relevant events from his conception (ultrasound photos included) until a little bit after his first birthday. 

The second photobook was about our family's US trip in 2008.  The pictures I printed got soaked during the flooding in our house caused by Ondoy so when good friend Kathleen gifted me with a voucher, I saw it as an opportunity to re-tell the adventures of that trip.

What I love about photobooks:

• book-quality binding (kaya nga photobook ang tawag eh! hehe)
• it allows you to be creative --- you can choose to do scrapbook style design, choose or create your own layouts, fonts etc.
• it's so easy to add captions, anecdotes or any trivia you might want to go with the photo
• it has an easy to use program:  there are available layouts to choose from and you just simply drag and drop your photos.
• they deliver ultrafast! (I get giddy excited everytime I got a notice of delivery.)

Is there a downside to photobooks?

Well, it can be quite pricey vs. regular photo printing but Photobook Philippines pretty much regularly have a discount coupon being sold at beeconomic or metrodeal so it somewhat evens out.

Also I noticed sometimes, pictures tend to have darker prints but I've kinda expected as there are times I'm too lazy to edit my photos.

The binding of my second photobook wasn't perfect but still good.

Just the same, I can't wait to do my next photobook.  I'm planning to make a Family Yearbook for 2012.

Anyway, sharing with you some of my favorite lay-outs below (I took pictures below using my mobile so don't mind the poor quality)  :-)

  

Photobook Philippines
http://www.photobookphilippines.com/

p.s.  I was not paid for this post.  I wish I was!  hehehe.

Clark Food Trip: March 14, 2009

(Note: I'm only posting this now coz I've been meaning to add pics but still haven't gotten around to it so here goes...)

My sister is in town from Seattle and having been away for over year, she definitely misses food in the Philippines.  She has a list of food/restaurants she wanted to try:  Behrouz, Pepper Steak, Lechon, Pancit Palabok etc.  There were also some food/restaurants I wanted her to try.

Food trip actually started in Makati.

Bacolod Chicken Inasal (http://bacolodchickeninasal.com/home.html)

This one is on my sister’s list.  Chicken is almost a staple to me.  If I can’t decide what to eat, Chicken is the default as it tastes consistent however way it’s cooked. Inasal however gives chicken lovers a different twist.  That’s why, Insasal to me is really comfort food more than anything.

After lunch at Inasal, we met up with Mike and Kathleen.  From Makati, we drove to Clark for our Food trip proper.

Aling Lucing’s Sisig

My sister's been asking me about the Aling Lucing along Pasong Tamo but sisig was best eaten just off the sizzling plate.  We didn't exactly know where the original outlet was located in Pamapanga but we were lucky to find a Food Court outlet in Robinson's San Fernando.  

The verdict:  only unique experience to me was the grilled taste of the meat.  Interesting but not all that.

Zapata’s Authentic Mexican Food (http://www.angeleseyes.com/zapatas/)

488 Don Jucio Avenue
Angeles City, Pampanga
2009 Philippines
Phone 63-45-892-0859

Since my recent trip to Seattle, I’ve been on the search for authentic Mexican Food in the Philippines.  Mexicali isn’t bad but it’s not authentic.  Tia Maria gives you the restaurant feel but I realized that it's really BAD Mexican food.  An office friend mentioned Zapata’s to me one time and I went to look for it on the net.  Reviews were wonderful.  And food pictures posted on blogs had an authentic look.  It looks like the way it’s served in the Mexican restaurants I've been to in the States! Hahaha.  Finally we were able to find the quaint little place along Friendship Road with no hitch. 

The verdict:  Authentic it is!  The pita was home made.  The enchilada, the burrito, chili con carne and beef fajitas we tried was muy delicioso! Best I’ve tasted in the PI.  The downsides:  sloooow service and the place reeks of smoke!  I guess there are no ordinances against smoking indoors in Angeles, Pamapanga.  However for authentic mexican food, it can be worth the lung cancer. :P

Frozen Yogurt

Coming from the Duty Free shops, we swung by the Frozen Yogurt en-route to C Italian Dining.  Only two flavors were available when vanilla and strawberry. 

The verdict:  It was frozen soft with just right tangy taste.  It was perfect to clean my palate and prepare my mouth for our next stop.

C Italian Dining (www.citaliandining.com)

Don Juico Avenue (Perimeter Road)
Brgy. Malabanas, Angeles City
+63 45 8924059
+63 45 8926993

I've been to C Italian once last Feb when Mike and I went on a day trip to Subic with Bob and Joy.  We really liked it but thought it expensive. 

The verdict:   C Italian brings a different Italian dining experience with the Panizza.  The ceremony that goes with rolling  alfalfa sprouts and arugula leaves into each strip of the rectangular shaped, very thin crusted panizza is quite memorable.  Each bite is certainly most enjoyable.  However need to make a mental note, the pasta's just ok.  Need to try something else in the menu. :-)

During this visit, we got to talk to Chef Chris Locher the owner of C Italian and were sad to hear that plans of a Manila branch might not happen. 

Anyhow this just means three additional excuses to swing by Clark aside from just the Duty Free shopping.

Pike Place Chowder (http://www.pikeplacechowder.com/)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Other
Location:	1530 Post Alley, Seattle WA

I met up with my friend Manolet last January 4. He just moved to Bellevue, Washington last end November 2008 and has never been to downtown Seattle. So I decided to take him to the famous Pike Place Public Market as he's never been there. (Naks! Ako na tourist guide. hehe. It's only my 2nd time there. And my brother-in-law and sister actually dropped me off on their way to Costco. hehe.) We met where his bus tops at West Lake Center.

Anyway, walking 4 blocks in the cold winter, one starts thinking of hot soup to warm up. And when you're in bay area Seattle, the answer is simple Pike Place Chowder.

It's multi-awarded New England Clam Chowder made the place famous so of course I had to try it. Clam chowders I've tasted before tend to be watery and too fishy tasting and so I was not exactly a fan. But this was creamy and thick and yummy to perfection. The creamy soup covered the fishy taste of the clam but without losing it altogether. The 8oz cup size was actually quite filling. They have it available in other cups too and if you want it, it can also be served in a bread bowl. Manolet got the Scallop Seared Chowder instead.

Ordering at the counter, they have several chowders to choose from and if you can't decide, you can actually taste a spoonful to help you make your choice. Hmmm...maybe I'll try the other chowders next time I head out to Seattle.

Ivar's Salmon House (http://www.ivars.net)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Seafood
Location:	401 NE Northlake Way Seattle WA

Day before I went back to Manila, my brother-in-law's Uncle Ted and Auntie Elsa were so sweet and kind to take me to Ivar’s Salmon House for dinner. They had hoped to bring me there for Sunday Brunch Buffet but unfortunately time did not permit.
Ivar's Salmon House is wonderfully located at the shore of Lake Union where guests can arrive via car or boat! It also has a wonderful view of Seattle’s skyline and you can also enjoy watching boats cruising the lake when you sit outside near the shore (when not too cold) or even inside (where we sat) by the shore-side windows.
The website describes the restaurant interior as a "wood cedar replica of a Northwest Indian Longhouse." To those like me that don't know what this means, the interior consisted of Indian wood carving, art and drawings, historical pictures of Indian tribes people, and pretty much everything you need to know about Salmon. It even has real long canoe-like boats hanging from the ceiling. I wish I brought my camera to take pictures. It almost felt like a museum but just the same it had cozy, homey feeling to it.
I ordered the Banana Squash Soup and of course, salmon, in the form of Alder Grilled Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (pancetta wrapped, served over spinach salad with mushrooms, onions and slivered tomatoes). The soup a bit spicy and gingery. It was good but it's not going to be my favorite. And though I've been eating salmon pretty much every other day since I got to Seattle -- from grilled salmon to sinigang salmon---I really enjoyed the salmon dish I got. I'm told by the waitress that the salmon was topped with bacon strips and spices, wrapped in paper before it was grilled to perfection. It gave a twist to the salmon without losing the creaminess of the fish. The spinach salad allowed me to refresh my tongue in between bites of the salmon. Yes it was good though a bit pricey - $28 for the salmon!
Anyway, 3 stars for the food + 1 star for the great location and interiors. I hope next time I can try the famous Sunday Brunch.

Tempero do Brasil (http://www.temperodobrasil.net/)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Other
Location:	5628 University Way NE, Seattle WA

Part of what I enjoy about traveling is trying out new cuisines.
Tonight, I met up with my old college friend Le, who's based in Seattle. He and his partner Mike brought me to this authentic Basilian restaurant along University Way. They've been there about 4 times and love how authentic the food tastes.
It's a quaint little restaurant much like a small house converted into a restaurant. It's quite a small structure compared to the other small buildings in the vicinity so one can easily miss it when you're driving by. But just the same the space is adequate and cozy with nice dark wood chairs and tables that give the place an intimate feel. (Picture here is from their website and not sure if it's due to the winter that the front porch-like area is currently covered with temporary walls so as to keep the place free from draft.)
Anyway, Le and I shared an order of Moqueca de Camarao (prawns simmered in coconut milk, onions and tomatoes, palm oil) as well as the House Special (stew of 3 types of meats with black beans and some greens on the side). Both served with rice. The prawns were perfectly creamy to my taste and the stew had such tender meats and sausages that easily complemented the black beans. Really mouth watering. I didn't know which was the last taste I wanted to leave in my mouth! Really yummy!
Only reason I rated it 4 stars is that I have yet to try the other dishes. And well, it's a bit pricey with appetizers at around $6 and the main course at $19 but just the same, I wouldn't mind going back once in a while. :-)

Thanks again to Le for treating me to such a wonderful, memorable meal.