the canDIshhh tales

I am a person who likes to list things.  I like ballpens so I like writing down stuff on paper!  Lists make life easier if you ask me.  It makes life more organized.  Hahaha!  Yes, the OC in me is typing away! When I hear of friends who are pregnant for the first time.  I send them my baby checklist and a list of things to bring to the hospital.  I voluntarily send it to them (even without them asking!) because I know it can and will help them somehow.  I can be pushy, but what the heck if it gets to help them right? My Panget relied on Amazon's bestseller list for babies.  It helped him a lot because it eliminated the process of researching here and there.  Since there was a list, at least your work is cut short and narrowed down - all you need to do is research on the particulars. Smart Parenting magazine has been around for quite a while now.  And it's so nice that they finally did the Best for Baby Awards! I think i...

Would you believe that Starbucks has been in the country for close to 17 years now?  Yes, that's how long they've been serving us with wonderful coffee!  This year, I was witness to the first ever Starbucks Reserve store in Tomas Morato.  Starbucks Reserve upped the ante by giving us with exotic, rare, ultra premium and exquisite coffees from around the world! This is the newest Starbucks Reserve store in Signa Residences in Makati. Isn't she a beauty?  I was so marveled when I saw the store!!  It felt like I was transported to a cafe somewhere far away.  Look at those jars that are on display - those are 300 jars of coffee beans!  I think the high ceiling was the trick - and it's beautiful!  I had the pleasure of meeting Nina - she does the store renovations for Starbucks - and I told her how much of a good job she has done because all the stores look so nice and inviting!  Good job, Nina! What is special about this particular sto...

Last weekend, we were very early in Megamall - as in really early.  We got there while the mall was still closed (but they were letting in cars in the parking areas).  It was my first time to be early in SM - and they were very strict, ha!  No one could enter - as in NO ONE.  When the clock struck 10am and right after playing the 'We've Got It All For You' song - they started to let people in. Our first stop was Active Fun.  I previously let the kids play there and they enjoyed their time there so much.  So after paying for their playtime - my kids were made to wait.  I wondered why, so I asked the attendants who were cleaning.  I asked them 'What time do you open?' and this was the reply I got - 'We're still cleaning'.  One of my pet peeve is poor listening skills.  I then was irked and told them 'I was merely asking what time you opened, so that next time - I can bring my kids at that time so they won't need to wait'  The nic...

For the past year or so, I have been seeing so many bento meals for kids in my social media feeds.  I know for a fact that bento is something Japanese but it has evolved now to what I know - as a creative way to make a kid's meal more fun! Last month, Kailee and I attended a Bento workshop by The Bento Mommas and Oreos.  I swear, I have a new found respect for mommies/daddies making bento meals for their kids.  It's not an easy task - I mean, you have to have (major) creativity and ingenuity and patience and lots and lots of time. I initially thought that it was easy, well - do this and that - voila, a bento.  But it's more than that - one should be able to plan what kind of bento to prepare, the available ingredients, tools to use.  During the workshop - I've a gained an admiration for the parents who make bento.  It takes a lot of getting used to .  The cutting, the preparing, the molding and the presentation.  The meal planning too! ...

We so enjoyed our meal in Green Pastures more than a month ago, that we decided to come back last Sunday.  Here is my previous post on Green Pastures .  We were ready for the wait - we got there at 11am and the place was still empty.  I left my name and funny that the staff remembered it, strange right?  I guess, I am not forgettable and very charming?  Just kidding.  So I told her that we'd like to be listed for the 12noon and she obliged.  But after walking around the mall, my Panget realized that it was nearing 12noon and we walked to Green Pastures.  When the staff saw me, she immediately led the way - we had a table!  Yahoo!! Ordering was quite a task.  I wanted to get everything on the menu.  I was so confused on what to get that ordering for both me and my Panget took a while.  We got the Autumn Salad, Duck You Fries, Duck Fat Fried Chicken, Porchetta and Fish and Chips.   This is the Autumn Salad and it...

Autumn is my favorite season.  I know there's no autumn in Manila, but I was lucky enough to witness it in Beijing when I lived there for half a year.  Autumn is the most beautiful season for me because you can see the leaves turn from green to yellow to orange to red to dark brown.  When you see the changing of the colors day by day - you will be amazed with its beauty.  It's so beautiful that you will stop in your tracks to admire nature.  I wish though, that we have that - so everyone will appreciate the beauty of the seasons. Starting tomorrow, September 16 - Starbucks is launching the new Autumn Starbucks card. Isn't she a beauty?  Get this and add it to your growing collection of Starbucks Cards! Together with the launch of the Starbucks Card are the new featured drinks: The ones on top are the Dark Caramel Latte The ones at the bottom are the French Vanilla Latte I'm very excited to try these new drinks tomorrow!! Oh! ...

Obviously, I like to eat.  So when I see food pics on my IG that interests me - I get curious.  This is what happened when I saw Michelle of MyMomFriday' s IG post on Garlic and Lemon.  It got me so curious that I ordered.  Karen is such a pleasant person to text with - she suggests and is very candid.  A few days after placing my order, the goods arrived and here they are!! The picture above is the Wonton. It was frozen when it was delivered and I suggest you place it in the freezer immediately too!! Just be careful in thawing because when I thawed mine before cooking, the skin was sticky and was falling off the wonton ball.  But nevertheless - it tasted good.  Below is a my version of a wonton noodle soup. The wonton was good enough.  I wish though, there would be more shrimp - since I knew that when one says wonton - it should be made of shrimp with a little meat.  I guess here in Manila, it's the opposite!  Hahaha....

Mid-Autumn Festival is an event looked forward by most everyone - simply because of the moon cakes (and also the dice games!  hahaha..)  The past few years, I have seen many variations of the moon cakes.  Different ingredients, different versions - and now Viking's is presenting their own version of moon cakes to their patrons, from hot dishes to delicious desserts! These special moon cakes will be available on ALL weekends of September! Beef Bourguignon Mooncake with Cahron Sauce (on top) is so meaty good.  I especially loved the Choron sauce as it made this particular beef mooncake's taste stand out.  The Minced Goat Cheese Mooncake with Mango Coulis (the one at the bottom) is also good - if you like the taste of lamb, the goat cheese's flavor is very strong, thus I'm sure you're enjoy it. This is the Salted Lotus Mooncake.  If you enjoy the traditional mooncake - then this is for you!! On the left is the Asado Mooncake - it h...