Noah says...

We were talking about the sizes of beds.

I said, "Ours is a king. [Your sister] Isabella's is a queen..." Noah tried to finish my statement, "And mine is a servant?"

Photos from annnniegirl.

Click here for previous posts from the Noah says... series.

rain, rain, go away

I hope the rain finally lets up...

... because I don't want another flood.

But if it doesn't stop raining...

... it's best to just stay indoors.

And on higher ground.

Stay safe on this dark & dreary day, everyone!

Photos from annnniegirl and sparklesandpretending.

Click here for the down-in-the-dots version of this post.

sea fairies

My favorite part of Manila Ocean Park is the attraction called Jellies. I didn't see such an attraction on our last trip to Ocean Park in Hong Kong. But maybe because that was so long ago (2004) coz I checked their site and they have the exact same thing now. Anyway, in the Manila theme park, I initially thought it was the novelty, the uniqueness, that attracted me to Jellies. But while writing this post, I realized there was something innately captivating about this attraction.

These translucent sea creatures in different colors were fascinatingly beautiful.

I quite liked the visual effect of the changing lights (I sure hope the lights aren't bad for them because I can't imagine having colored light in their natural habitat) and how the jellyfish semed to glow in blue light,

red light,

green light,

purple light,

and again, in blue light - this time with both Noah & Isabella posing in front of the jellyfish.

But when I got past the lights, I noticed how gracefully the jellyfish moved around in the water. They fluttered around the glass tank like elegant ballerinas. Probably because of their fluid movement and their glowing, translucent bodies - that I guess reminded me of fairy wings, I started to think of them as sea fairies.

Here's Isabella watching them so intently.

It was relaxing to watch them dance so gracefully. 

Indeed, the jellyfish exhibit was quite an enchanting sight.

Manila Ocean Park

Luneta, Manila

(632) 567-7777

Admission to Jellies is P150 per head (free for children 2 feet & below).

Monday to Friday: 10am - 7pm

Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: 9am - 7pm

No more tickets sold after 630pm

We've gone to Manila Ocean Park 3 times since it opened. There were busloads of people in the big lobby on both our weekday and weekend trips (probably scheduled field trips). Despite the crowd outside, the Oceanarium and the Jellies exhibit were not as filled up as I expected. Not empty, but not suffocatingly full.

Photos are my own and from heritage.  

Today, I am loving...

Summer is really over. The rainy season is here again. As you know from here, I've been unperturbed by the rain since I got my Plueys rainboots. I used to hate the rain for getting my feet (& shoes) wet & muddy. But now, with my Plueys, I feel invincible in the rain! I delight in the idea of being able to stomp in puddles if I wanted to. I don't think I've ever done that, but gone are the days of walking slowly and on tiptoe to keep the wet feet or shoes to a minimum. Now, I don't just live with the rain, I actually look forward to it. So today, I am loving... that it's the season of rainboots once again.

I've always been a lover of prints. So part of the happiness of wearing rainboots is the fun print accent that my Plueys give to my work outfit. But for a while now, I've been obsessing over these solid-colored Hunters.

I don't know if it's because I find the woman so attractive and so long & lean. I also really like the matte gray-green color and wouldn't mind it in a matte grayish navy color either. Plus, solid-colored Hunters might allow me to wear my rainboots all day at work (because I change out of my printed Plueys to my regular shoes when I get to my cubicle. The prints don't seem office-appropriate.). After all, I see a lot of foreign celebrities sporting Hunters even when it doesn't seem like it's raining - like one of the Olsen twins here.

And if the quirky Aquarian in me gets tired of solid Wellies, maybe I can draw on them with a Sharpie like Jo did (remember Jo's inky Starbucks cups here?).

Awesome, right? She tested it by standing in the bath to make sure the ink doesn't run. So it's really possible! :)

Print or no print -- today, I am loving... that it's the season of rainboots once again!

Photos from annnniegirl, acupofjo, here and here.

Click here for the down-in-the-dots version of this post - why despite the obsession above, I cannot buy another pair of rainboots. Click here for previous posts from the Today, I Am Loving... series.

one gustatory night

When our friend A comes home from Jakarta, we take him out for a gustatory night. Here are the highlights of one palate-pleasing evening (thanks to J & K, the best food & drinks itinerary planners).

We started the night off in Mangetsu on Jupiter Street. Their Sea Urchin Tempura (P295) is the best I've ever tasted!

Just a rundown of our orders during our dinner in this Japanese fusion restaurant, owned by Chuvaness' dad: Karaage Fried Chicken with 3 kinds of salt (P380; quite good!), Beef Sukiyaki (P420; I am generally not a sukiyaki fan, but Mangetsu's Sukiyaki is pretty delicious sukiyaki!), Pork Gyoza (5 pieces for P290; tastes like most gyozas but the plating was excellent), and Salt-Water-Boiled Broccoli with spicy cod roe mayo sauce (P295; I liked this a lot because I looove Japanese mayo).

Then we moved to Cova, a tapas & sangria bar on Jupiter as well. I think we tried 3 types of sangrias, but the best one was their Summery Peach White Wine Sangria.

We were stuffed from our authentic Japanese dinner but couldn't resist their Huevos Cabreados because it seemed like someone thought of all his favorite things and put them together in one dish! Shoestring potatoes, fried egg, chorizo bits, aioli. It was delicious bar chow.

Then we capped off the night at The Blind Pig. More than the drinks, I think what's more talk-worthy was the experience. 

The Blind Pig is a cocktail bar with a braille sign and a locked door. You will get buzzed in and upon entering, you will get a whiff of a spa-like smell which made us half-expect some blind masseurs. Instead, we were greeted by a very dimly-lit bar with a friendly staff. While they have a tiny card with their menu in 4-point font, they encourage you to get a personalized drink. They ask you what alcohol you like, if you like it say, sweet or sour. I chose vodka and adventurously asked for a salty drink. 

When my drink arrived, our server called me by my name (how's that for personalized?) and told me they made me a Gorbachev's Cup, a vodka-based cocktail with muddled cucumber, finished with sea salt and fresh-cracked black pepper. It was an interesting drink, largely because of the salt & pepper. Refreshing too, because of the cucumber. Next time, I plan to change my brief to "something candy-like". I wonder what they'll come up with?

It was definitely one awesome gustatory night!

Mangetsu

38 Jupiter St., Bel-Air Village, Makati City

somewhere between Makati Ave. & Fiama

(632) 4783292

*Prices quoted above are based on downloadable soft-opening menu on Mangetsu's website.

Cova Tapas Y Sangria

22 Jupiter St., Bel-Air Village, Makati City

(632) 478-9700

The Blind Pig

227 Salcedo St. Makati City

The door is perpendicular to the road so I sure hope you find it!

Photos from frommetoyou, here, subtleyetrobust, here, here and my friend A's.

Heart's Day

Just a few random everyday hearts in celebration of Valentine's Day.

Happy Heart's Day everyone!

Photos from annnniegirl, stopandpicture, sparklesandpretending and fromainsley.

happy birthday to me!

I am such a dessert person that cake isn't a special occasion treat for me. There are quite a lot on my list of favorite cakes. But the cake (which oddly, is not even called a "cake") on top of that list is Chateau-now-Cafe 1771's Coffee Pie. For some reason, when I eat a slice of this pie, I feel that it's a special day.

I wish I could have a slice of Coffee Pie today!

Photo from frommetoyou.

 

Click here for a post about my excessive birthday wishlist.

Click here for previous posts with moving photos like this one. My first few posts on animated gifs captured how enthralled I was with the magical subtle movement I first found on From Me To You so if you don't have time to read through all the posts, scroll down to the bottom for my absolute favorite ones.

Post-script: Thanks to my blogs' most avid follower - my Mom - I did get a slice of Coffee Pie on my birthday! Yuuummm! :)

happy new year!

Happy New Year everyone!

Photo from annniegirl.

Click here for previous posts with moving photos.

it's Friday!

Just a quick post to celebrate the end of the workweek!

Have a bright & fun Friday!

Photo from i'mjustsaying.

Today, I am loving...

Today, I am loving... my new Matroyshka doll Havaianas.

I have always been drawn to Matroyshka dolls.

I love matroyshka dolls as a print on wrapping paper, notebooks or pouches.

I'd like a set to prettify a bookshelf because I realize I don't own a set of these nesting dolls!



These dolls from Demi Moore's Harper's Bazaar shoot kind of creep me out. I guess I prefer that they're tiny.

Maybe that's why I am loving my Matroyshka doll Havaianas... This tiny Matroyshka doll embellishment was what made purchasing slippers during the -ber months irresistible!

And while I felt I would get more wear out of the navy or the bronze, I chose the sugar coral color because they made my feet look pretty!

Today, I am loving... my sugar coral Matroyshka doll Havaiannas slippers.

Photos from here, here, here, here, jcrewing and happythings.

Click here for previous posts from the Today, I am loving... series.

some polka dots i spotted...

I looove cheese. For me, the stinkier, the better. I love sharp cheeses. Blue, sharp cheddar, limburger, feta. Brie and camembert are not sharp enough for me (but this cheese-lover will eat them anyway).

I've never really attempted to assemble my own cheese platter. But I did learn a lot from these cheese posts from A Cup of Jo (here and here). The best of which is that cheeses should be placed in "clock order" on the board -- 12 o'clock being the mildest and 11 o'clock being the strongest. I wonder if the Santi's cheese platters follow this rule? If so, I now know to go straight to the 11 o'clock cheeses next time I'm invited to a wine and cheese party! 

But on a regular, non-wine-and-cheese-party day, here are some everyday cheeses I enjoy: (1) Microwaved queso de bola (the authentic kind - Marca Pato/Pina, not the cheddar balls posing as queso de bola). Lay out a few slices on a microwaveable plate (make sure they're not one on top of the other) and pop it into the microwave for a few seconds. The queso de bola gets saltier & tangier and becomes soft at the center and crunchy at the edges. You have to experiment though - try different times - to get to the best balance of the saltiness and consistency you prefer. (2) Cafe 1771 Tomato-Cheese Fondue. I loooove this! Even during its Chateau 1771 days. Still in El Pueblo Ortigas, the old Chateau is now a pretty cafe with whimsical interiors on one side and a homey room filled with walls of vintage books on another side. They now serve a smaller portion of the old cheese fondue, but it is still just as delicious. My son hates going there because the cheese is too stinky for him. So I get to go there only on Mother's Day or on a date with my daughter who loves cheese just as much as I do! (3) Starbucks' Grilled Ham & Three Cheese on Italian Country Bread. This is my mom's latest discovery (Haha, yes. 3 generations of cheese-lovers!). Have them heat it and eat it while the cheeses are in their gooey-melted goodness! Yuuummmm! (4) Cheetos Twisted Puffs. This you can only eat at home because no matter how carefully you bite it, cheese crumbs really fall on your shirt and create a big orange mess! Clover Chips Cheese is also another staple on my junkfood list. (5) And finally, Philadelphia or Kiri cream cheese on ciabatta bread or Ritz crackers.

Have a great cheesy breakfast!

Photos from A Cup of Jo by the amazing Jamie Beck of From Me To You.

Color Obsession: red

Louboutin chose red because "it is engaging, flirtatious, memorable and the color of passion." So true. Imagine the impact that majestic red Carolina Herrera coat had on the runway. Or Karlie Kloss' stunning red Lanvin gown.

Even the Resort 2012 collections showcase bold red passion pieces...

As Bill Blass said...

I realize though that I have nothing red in my closet. I'm not sure I'm ready for a solid, completely red dress. But I am quite smitten with the peekaboo red of this Carolina Herrera gown...

I hereby resolve to begin with a red accent this week. Perhaps a red belt or purse? Or maybe a red slip?

Or even a hat? Can you feel the wind of change blowing?

Okay, I couldn't resist to slip in another of Jamie Beck's moving photos. :)

Photos from From Me To You, I'm Just Saying and Vogue.