Top 5 Things I'm Loving Now - May 1, 2012

If you’re an avid visitor of spot.ph, an entertainment and lifestyle website, you would be familiar with this format. In fact, I watch out for it every week. It’s a Top 10 list with random things that the writer is loving at the moment. It may be neat gadget, a yummy drink or popsicle find from their nearest 7Eleven or a cool event that’s happening in the metro. It’s as random as can be. That’s the format I’m trying to incorporate in this blog.



So here’s my very first Top 5 Things I’m Loving at the Moment. I really wanted to write about 10 initially. But in order to have more updates, I though I’d resort to 5...for now. ;-)


Number 5: Southern Blend Iced Tea from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

 For their tea of the day, I had the choice between the Southern Blend and Vanilla Ceylon. I was going to get the latter but it’s a good thing that I decided to ask the cashier what the Southern Blend exactly is. The cashier was going to enumerate it. But when he first said the taste of flower petals, I was already sold. I didn’t bother to hear the rest. I love Jasmine tea and Chrysanthemum. This shouldn’t be far off, I thought. Well, it isn’t. The drink is nice and refreshing. Just the right amount of sweetness and it goes down very smoothly. If you’re not a fan of tea because you don’t like the tannin aftertaste, that won’t be a problem for this drink. It’s not too noticeable. If you’ve been to Memphis, this drink is exactly like their Sweet Tea there. Really yummy!


The drink only costs P95 for the regular size. Pair it with the Triple Decker Cheesecake at P135 a slice like I did and you should be off to an indulgent and well-deserved afternoon treat!


Number 4: SM Bonus Liquid Floor Wax




Sorry the bottle looks icky. You can tell it's being used a lot! ;-)

 You probably don’t know this about me. But I’m really OC or anal when it comes to cleaning the house. Naturally, there are particular cleaning products that I lean towards that do the job as it should. Often, I have the mindset that the more expensive it is, the better it cleans. After discovering SM Bonus’ liquid floor wax, I was proven wrong. I always went for Pledge. It does fine but SM Bonus’ liquid wax does it better.


The purchase was an “accident.” Working for BDO, my husband was given Sodexo GCs after Christmas. Our only option for grocery shopping was SM Hypermart. And since SM, for obvious reasons, is loyal to their own SM bonus brand, they wiped out the other competition. That is precisely the reason why they don’t sell brands like Colgate, Pledge, and the like. Needing liquid wax badly at that time for my OC weekend cleaning, I was ‘stuck’ with the SM Bonus brand. And I’m glad I was. The SM Bonus liquid wax really does make the floor so shiny! I could almost see my reflection our wooden floor! It stays shiny longer too than Pledge. I can’t remember the exact price but I’m pretty sure it’s at least P20 cheaper than Pledge?


Number 3: “Decorate: 1000 Professional Ideas Design Ideas for Every Room in Your Home” book



Source: http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DECORATE-book1.jpg



I’m always fond of going to bookstores when I need to kill time. My recent find is “Decorate” by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick at the National Bookstore in the PowerPlant Mall. I’m sure this book is available in other stores and branches.


I say that this is one of the things that I’m loving at the moment because the book is truly inspiring! Upon skimming the whole book, it made me want immediately run home and redecorate! The book is loaded with pictures for inspiration and their design sense is almost Ikea-ish. The rooms they feature look lived-in and not like model homes (which often do not have televisions!) I mean, really, do you know anyone who doesn’t have a television or two at home??!?? They feature modern homes that still look homey. There are bits and splashes of colour everywhere and most of all, all the homes have character! These are not intimidating homes though. You can easily be inspired by the pictures to make tiny changes in your home that are inexpensive but will draw a lot of impact.


The book retails at P1,545. Decorate away! ;-)


Number 2: Ink eMagazines at http://www.ink-live.com/

I found out about this website from another blog that I frequent. It was one of the links that he included in his entry to forward us to an article that he wrote. Anyway, I became giddy as I explored the website. What a gem! And it’s all free! All you have to do is register, really.


In a nutshell, this is a website that allows free access to airline magazines. When you fly with Cebu Pacific, they have the Smile magazine right? Well, this is available here – back issues included! To top it all off, other magazines like TimeOut Singapore, Thomas Cook’s Travel, Jetstar, Air Macau, Holland Herald and 45 others! Upon registering, just make sure to click on “Update Profile” on the top right corner, then “Select Magazines” so you can add the magazines that you wish to have access to. Such excellent travel resource! In particular, I love reading those destination blurbs in the Smile magazine near the end. Each domestic and international destination that Cebu Pacific flies to has a little section. The contributor is a local of that place and they talk about their most favorite secret breakfast place, bar, best food recommendation, and the like. This is sooooo helpful if you’re the assigned itinerary creator in your trip like I am. ;-)


Although you can access this as well in any mobile device like your iPad, just a note that you really need a fast connection to access this. Otherwise, it’s easy to get frustrated. I wish that they would allow downloading of their issues straight from the website into the iBook or something. This way, you can access them and read them even when you’re offline or even if your wifi is slow.


Number 1: Golden Euphoria Cake from Maitre Chocolatier

When looking at any restaurant menu, it’s very rare to find the actual food serving looking better than it is in the picture. Especially when it comes to dessert.

Well, Maitre Chocolatier really did impress! Not only is their food better looking than their pictures but the cake that we had was truly amazing! I’m talking about their Golden Euphoria –Ferrero Hazelnut Cake. The name alone begs for high expectations already. And the ohhh the pictures! The actual dessert? Real orgasmic. ;-) Hahaha! The texture mixes smooth and crunchy really well. Chocolate is everywhere in different levels of sweetness and texture. Meant to be savored one tiny though indulgent bite at a time and definitely NOT meant for sharing! Trust me on this or else a fight might ensue! ;-) Hahaha! This one definitely made my list of Top 5 dessert of all time.

A slice of the Golden Euphoria costs P218. I’m trying to remember but I think we had to pay extra for VAT and Service Charge. Maitre Chocolatier is along Jupiter Street Extension in Makati. Coming from Makati Avenue, go to the Jupiter part heading to the MRT. It’s near the Starbuck’s there. Enjoy your orgasm! Oooops, I meant dessert! ;-) LOL

A Gift Idea for Anyone and Everyone!

Lately, I've become fond of joining online contests. I'm not usually lucky when it comes to things like that. You name it, I've never been lucky in lotteries and contests in all forms and sizes. In my life, I've never gotten more than 2 numbers right in the lottery (though I don't really play that much!), I lose all of my money in slot machines to casinos without winning a single round, and heck, I never even find more than 5 eggs during an Easter egg hunt! Jojo's little nephews and nieces have a bag full of eggs (that goes with a prize each!) and there I am with five that fit comfortably in my two hands! Like I said, I've never really been lucky with stuff like that.

But now, there seems to be a wind of change! ;-) I joined an online contest HERE and guess what -- I was the 11th person that won! There were only supposed to be 10 but yes, as luck would have it, they made it 11 and I was the 11th! ;-) It's not a huge prize but really, there's nothing better than getting free stuff! ESPECIALLY when the free gift that you're getting is as informative and useful as the one that I got.

I'm talking about a book -- a local publication called "Insider Picks: Manila by Day." I've seen it at bookstores before but even with the bright orange color, the book just wasn't as inviting. I didn't really pay much attention to it, especially when the copies I found at Fully Booked or Powerbooks were all sealed. I couldn't even take a peek! Anyway, it retails for 495 pesos. After having skimmed through it, frankly, I think the book should cost more! ;-)

My prize (the book!) was couriered to me last Saturday. I haven't read it page by page but I was able to skim through it. And let me tell you, this is one book that every household should have. It's perfect for those who:

- are spendthrifts and would like to get value for their money (isn't that everyone?)

- often have 'emergency' parties and get togethers at their places

- are sick of malls as shopping destinations

- don't have a directory of reliable shops and service providers and would like to find 'sukis'

- are in need of ideas of exciting places to go and activities to do with a significant other or the whole family

- would like to take classes (be it dance classes or photography or those centered on outdoor activities) to develop themselves but don't know where and how to start

- have a sweet tooth and would like to be introduced to great finds from unknown home bakers in the city

- enjoy online shopping and bargain/outlet store shopping and would like to be informed of hole-in-the-wall places to go for unique finds.

Well, frankly, the list just goes on and on. These are some of the things that made my heart skip a beat when I browsed through the book. Did you know that there's a Schu Factory outlet store that sells their shoes at 50-70% off right in the heart of Makati??!?? Who knew that there's a place in the netro that provides sabre fencing lessons? And for only 1,700 pesos per month at that! Ooooh, and did you know that there are four shops all over Manila that sell Ikea items? As for restaurants, are you aware that an Italian-Filipino fusion restaurant exists here in Manila? Yes, believe it, there's one over at BF Homes called Chi's Oven Baked Kitchen. And from the blurb on the restaurant, it says that they serve, prepare for this: pizzas topped with balut! For non-Filipino readers, 'balut' is a fertilized duck egg (embryo) that's a delicacy here in Southeast Asia. There's a ton more of these type of interesting places listed in the book. I think it's the only Manila guide/directory that I'll ever need. Each entry has the name of the place, a description and examples of services/items that they provide, an idea of price range, the address, phone number, email, and in most cases, the website too. Forget online research. It's all here. ;-)

Interested? Copies of "Manila By Day" are sold everywhere. But I found a whole table display and piles and piles of this book over at Fully Booked at Rockwell. That's if you're interested in buying in bulk. ;-) Otherwise, single copies should be available at any National Bookstore, Powerbooks, A Different Bookstore, and of course, Fully Booked branches.

PHOTO SOURCE:

http://dessertcomesfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/Manila-By-Day.jpg

Giving the House Some Love....

I'm on the latter part of my 10-day semester break at work and I had a lot of time to organize at home. In fact, I've put up our Christmas tree and decor too. I was able to get rid of some of the things that we don't need anymore. And as for the things that I decided to keep, they've been put in their proper places together with similar items and labeled. Wow, I felt like a complete Martha Stewart! ;-) I consider it a great accomplishment and as you can probably tell, I'm very proud of myself. ;-) So let me share with you what I did and some great finds that helped me do the job!

There are four magazines that I subscribe to. That's Real Living, Good Housekeeping, Yummy, and Travel Life magazine. So over the years, you can imagine how fast they accumulate! But it's just so hard for me to let go of them. That's especially when I use them as resources for deciding what to cook, where to travel next, and a trove of ideas and inspiration on fashion and decorating. With this dilemma, what is there to do? Well, for one, I did not let go of any of my magazines. ;-) I just decided to be smarter when it comes to storage. I bought these colourful magazine file folders from National Bookstore for 19 pesos each! Not all National Bookstores have these as they quickly run out of them. I actually bought half of them from the National Bookstore at Cash & Carry. As for the other half, I got them from the Metro department store at Market!Market! Just go to the third floor near the Kids' section.

See the labels on the magazine folders? Aren't they cute? ;-) Well, I found these from the Kids' section as well. But this time -- at Landmark! I found it quite odd that they didn't have these on the main floor of Landmark. You know, where they have all the paper and gift wrapping supplies. You'll have to go on the third floor as well. As I said, it's in the Kids' section -- by the toys and near where they display pencil cases and the like. I got these for P54.75. One set has 12 pieces and they come in three different sizes. What a find, hey? ;-)

Aside from hoarding magazines, I also hoard writing utensils, pretty binder clips, greeting cards for all occasions, notebooks, gift tags, and many others. Heyyyy, you never know when you'll need these! It's good to be prepared right? ;-) Admittedly, before getting them organized, I just kept on accumulating them without having the chance to use them. It's not because I never needed them. It was because I couldn't find them! They were all over the place. It was high time for me to put them all together and organize them for easy access. My solution to this? Put them together in pretty boxes, label them, and place them in the guest's bedroom! ;-) The boxes had to be cute and pretty so that they would complement the decor. Although it's not being used in the mean time, I didn't want to turn the guest's room into a storage room. Essentially, it is that but the pretty boxes surely mask it. ;-) So where did I get my pretty boxes? The colorful striped ones were from Ikea. It's a set of 3 and they cost 80 HKD. That's about 480 pesos. As for the other one, it also came in a set of 3 but I got them at Glorietta. I can't remember the name of the store. But it looked like a Gourdo outlet store. It's beside Burger King on the second floor. You'll find it on your way to SM from Glorietta 4. The set only cost me 200 pesos.

Along with magazine folders, I placed the box sets in the guest's room too. Since the furniture and chandelier in the guest's room are all white, the boxes and the magazine folders surely added the much-needed color in the room. Everything's looking good together! ;-)

For even more color, my husband and I also bought this retro radio from Dimensione. I fell in love with it when I saw it! They were selling it for 10% off so the radio only cost 986 pesos! It has an AM/FM radio and you can also plug your MP3 or iPod in it. You can choose to plug it to an outlet although you have to buy the power adaptor because the radio doesn't come with it. Or during blackouts, you can put 4 AA batteries instead. We're really loving it! I was teasing Jojo, my husband, that the guest's room looks so nice now that I plan to sleep there instead of the master's bedroom! ;-) Hahaha! ;-)

Not only is my stuff all over the place, my husband's too. He's got all these home improvement supplies like nuts and bolts, tape (tons of them!), rope, tools, and so many other "guy" stuff that I don't know what to call. ;-) All these were just plopped inside our two ottoman chairs. We got those with storage inside. To organize Jojo's 'guy' stuff, I put them in these Ikea zip lock bags that we got in HK. These bags come in two sizes and in a box, there are about 50 bags in all. We got these for only 20 HKD. That's roughly 120 pesos, I think. What a steal huh! You might be able to find these at Mobler here in Manila.

Here in the Philippines, the Christmas season (the longest one in the world!) -- officially started last September 1st. With that standard, I feel like I'm running behind! My in-laws had their tree up more than a month ago and finished most of their shopping too! Wow. I'm nowhere near that. But I have decided on our color motif this year. The previous year was apple green and gold. This year is a bit more colorful. We, or rather, I decided on pink, apple green, and silver. ;-) My husband wasn't too sold on the pink part. But when he saw the tree, he loved it! I was so hung up on pink that I literally toured the major malls in the metro to find my pink balls. ;-) I normally buy our Christmas decor at the Metro department store. I find that they have the best selection and they're the cheapest too. In fact, that's where I got the silver decor for our motif. One set of silver balls cost under 200 pesos and the leaf decor (?), I got in SM for around 30 pesos. This year though, where's the pink? I had to scour Makati, Taguig, and Pasay to find them. Thankfully, I found them at my last stop -- over at Landmark. I bought the pink ribbons there. They cost around 300 pesos, I think for one roll. To get the six ribbons, I needed two rolls. As for the Christmas balls, the pink ones came in a large set. Around 24 pieces? I don't know the exact price but they were definitely under 300 pesos. I just recycled the apple green decor from last year and it all worked out perfectly. I LOVE our tree! ;-)

I was able to start buying a few Christmas presents too. And in true Martha Stewart fashion, of course, the gift wrapper and ribbons have to match the tree! ;-) I opted for pink and silver-striped wrappers which we got at Divisoria. As you know, you have to buy everything in bulk there. At least 25 pieces of the same type of wrapper. Not only did the wrappers have to match the tree, but I had to find ones that I could use for other occasions too. Clearly, 50 wrappers would be too many! So, the solution to that was to get these type of wrappers. I decided to make them more festive through the ribbons. The gift wrappers were only 3 pesos each, by the way.

After seeing the collection of ribbons at Morning Glory in Divisoria, I literally went crazy and bought tons! The ribbons were sooo beautiful! So many possibilities! With all these ribbons in stock, I thought, why stick with one or two types of ribbons? I can still follow our Christmas motif with an assortment of ribbons right? As long as the wrappers were the same. Anyway, I went for a bit of the polka-dotted theme too. There's the white ribbon with black dots and the pink ribbon with white dots. I also went for plaid. There's the apple green and white kind and also the black and white one. The ribbons ranged between 180 and 250 pesos. Our Christmas wrapping this year isn't too loud when it comes to the colors. But altogether like that, don't you think they look pretty? ;-) Sorry...you just gotta love your own right? I'm very happy with how everything turned out. Now if only I can finish my Christmas shopping already! ;-)

There you go. It's been a productive week by my standards! ;-) I hope you enjoyed hearing about my great finds! ;-)

My Book Finds (aka as my Christmas Wish List!)

Those that know me are probably aware of the fact that I have a short attention span when it comes to reading. It's a real shame to admit it. But don't get me wrong. I LOVE to read. Just don't expect me to be reading Dostoyevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' anytime soon. ;-) When it comes to prose or fiction, I get really impatient and can't, for the life of me, resist the urge to peek at the ending. I think that the longest that I've ever resisted was when I read Murakami's 'Bird Chronicles.' I read it up to Page 196 before finally giving in to read the ending. Mind you, that's not a huge 'accomplishment' considering the fact that the novel has 607 pages!

I've just learned to accept this about myself. So when I visit Fully Booked or Powerbooks, off I go to the non-fiction area. I have my choice of purchasing Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, craft books, or those inspirational books with a short story in equally short chapters! ;-) In my recent visit to the book store, I found that there's a LOT of interesting new reads for people like me. I haven't purchased any of these books yet so I haven't read any of them from beginning to end. But I did get a chance to browse them all -- enough to be convinced that the book is indeed, a great find! Let me share my list with you. Books always make excellent gifts and maybe you have a friend or relative who will appreciate these too. Here you go, Nina's Top 5 Book Finds: ;-)

God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours / Regina Brett

Genre: Inspirational

Price: 560 pesos

My take on it: The book has 50 little chapters where each chapter details the lesson learned and accompanies it with heartwarming stories and anecdotes. The author -- Regina Brett, is a woman who has gone through so much in life. She was an alcoholic at age 16, was a single mother at 21, single and unhappy for 19 years, and finally, battled Cancer when she was 41. For so many years, she felt like God overlooked her and 'blinked' as she experienced all these hardships in her life. Gaining wisdom from all these challenges and experiences, with this book, she attests how God NEVER blinks and is always there. It's our attitude and outlook that needs to be changed. It's really serious stuff. But Regina Brett excellently shares her experiences with complete honesty, wisdom, and lots of humour. Here are some of the chapter titles that caught my eye:

- "Frame every so-called disasters with these words: 'In five years, will all these matter?' "

- "Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now"

- "Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple"

- "Don't take yourself seriously. No one else does"

- "Life isn't tied in a bow. But it's still a gift"

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts / Martha Stewart

Genre: Arts and Crafts

Price: 1,375 pesos

My take on it: Inspired. That's the best adjective there is to describe how I felt after browsing this book. The pictures were amazing and everything was just so pretty! When I did a quick stop at BGC's Fully Booked, my intention was just to take a break from Christmas shopping. But after I came across that book, so many ideas just came to me! Now, I've decided to create half of the presents that I'll be giving this year! Not only will I save a few pesos on the gifts, but making them will be so much fun too!

Sure, you might be saying how you don't have that creative streak. But Martha here (we're on a first name basis now! ;-), makes everything so easy! From learning how to write calligraphy to painting glass, creating scrapbooks, etch glass, make greeting cards -- the topics cover everything 'crafts-y!' It's the true bible of crafts. Now the question would be: If you were to only buy one copy of this book, would you really give it as a present or keep it for yourself?!?? ;-)

The Little Black Book of Style / Nina Garcia

Genre: Fashion

Price: 640 pesos

My take on it: Nina Garcia has other books on fashion. They all seem very informative and straightforward. But if I were to only get one of her books, "The Little Black Book of Style" would be the one. First off, I really like the fact that this book is not like a rule book of any sort. In fact, there's a chapter devoted to figuring out your style and style icon. The book seems to encourage you to find who you are first before refining your style choices. Nina Garcia will talk you through editing your wardrobe, simplifying, and dressing with class and confidence. I like that. The other books that she published follow a similar thread but I found them a bit 'rigid' in topic. One is about the 100 pieces that every girl should own and another called Look Book -- a guide to dressing for every occasion. I think The Little Black Book of Style is more comprehensive. Not only do I want this book, but I NEED it for when I do my annual closet editing for the new year. This book ought to guide me on figuring out which clothes to get rid of and give away...

The Eco Lifestyle Handbook: Over 2000 Tips for the Home and Garden / Sarah Callard

Genre: Health and Well Being

Price: Shouldn't be more than 800 pesos (Sorry, I forgot the exact price!)

My take on it: There are so many books on eco living that fill bookstores right now. I guess it just emphasizes the need for all of us to go green NOW. I've always wanted to get a book on eco living that shows a number of practical tips that I can apply in my life. I've browsed a lot of these books but sadly, not a lot of them give new information. The tips they have in those books are tips that I already know about and have been implementing. What else is there that I can do?

After browsing through "The Eco Lifestyle Handbook," I came across a lot of information that made me go "Ohhhhh...I didn't know that!" Like for instance, the book lists the ingredients in toiletries and cleaning supplies that you can do without. Which ones are bad for your health and which ones take longer to process and manufacture -- therefore are harmful for the environment? The tips are indeed practical and the changes they talk about there are not so major that it will make it hard to commit to them. The actions are small-scale but when done repeatedly and over a number of years, will really make a huge difference. Honestly, I think every household should have this book. If you have the budget, why not give this book to everyone you know?

The Woodrose Family Cookbook / Various

Genre: Cooking

Price: 400 pesos

My take on it: A lot of other schools have come up with their own recipe books. It's mostly the alumnis' way of commemorating their alma mater's 25th, 40th, 50th or whatever length of time their school has been around. Out of the other recipe books out there, this one really caught my eye. First off, the recipes seem very simple. They don't use fancy ingredients that will be hard to find in any random grocery store here in Manila. Apart from that, you can tell from the combination of ingredients and flavors that the recipes will truly suit the Filipino palate. The recipes seem tried and tested. In fact, most of them were recipes passed on from their mothers or grandparents or aunt, etc. There are some recipes too from the school cafeteria. Like for instance, their "mass produced" spaghetti or what-have-you. Just from browsing the book, I can sense that there's a certain value in all of the recipes. It seemed that if you went to Woodrose, making a certain recipe and eating it would conjure pleasant memories of childhood, friends, and family. Now, I didn't go to Woodrose School. But I'm intrigued and would really love to try some of the recipes. I'll let you know once I get my hands on that recipe book! ;-)

*Note: The image above is not the actual book cover for the Woodrose Family Recipe Book. I couldn't find a picture of it so I just put in the Woodrose school logo instead.

Well, I hope this list gave you a few ideas. If you plan to get the book for yourself, enjoy reading! And if you plan to buy it for someone else, happy shopping!!! ;-) Just a reminder. We have 58 more days to go before Christmas! ;-)

SOURCES:

http://cocoandlowe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/123.jpg

http://www.kdl.org/image_attachments/0001/2852/51svtnzoqkl.jpg?1235746677

http://www.allaboutthepretty.net/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/23/the_little_black_book_of_style.jpg

https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/imagegallery2/bds/201023/9781847325198.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Woodroselogo.JPG

Mark Your Calendars!

The 'ber months officially start tomorrow. And of course, as we give way to Christmas, along with it comes the bazaar season! It's definitely my favorite time of the year. All four MONTHS of the year, that is! ;-)

Mark your calendars now as there's a lot to look forward to in the month of September alone! And we're not only talking about shopping here. Have a look at the list below and sing with me: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." ;-)

FOOD AND DRINKS ASIA 2010

WHAT: According to ClicktheCity, it's an "international exposition on Specialty Foods, Delicatessen, Confectionery, Beverages, Beers, Wines & Spirits in conjunction with Food Franchising 2010." It's open to all -- whether you already have a food business, or are interested in having one, or is just simply interested in food. ;-) That means it's open to everyone. Who isn't interested in food anyway? ;-)

WHEN: September 2-5, 2010

HOURS: Thurs 11 am-7 pm, Fri/Sat 10 am-7 pm, Sun 10 am-8 pm

WHERE: World Trade Center, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: Click the City site

ASIA FOOD EXPO 2010

WHAT: According to the Clickthecity site, it's an "international exposition on Food Processing, Packaging and Handling Machinery Equipment and Technology in conjunction with Food Serv Asia 2010 and Bakery Asia 2010." I remember going to one of these a few years back. Please note that they might require visitors to wear closed shoes because of the fact that there are baking, cooking, and assembly-line type machineries at the expo.

WHEN: September 8-11, 2010

HOURS: Open to everyone on Saturday, Sept 11 from 10 am-6 pm; Open to trade business operators on the other days -- Wed, Sept 8 from 11 am-7 pm and Thurs/Fri, Sept 9 and 10 from 10 am-7 pm

WHERE: World Trade Center, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: Click the City site

13TH CINE EUROPA

WHAT: The schedule and movie line-up are not posted yet. But from the poster, it says that the Shangrila Cineplex will feature movies from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, UK, Denmark, Finland, Greece, and many others. Admission is free but it's on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHEN: September 10-19, 2010

WHERE: Cinema 2, Shangrila Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City

FOR MORE INFO: Shangrila Website, DELPHL Website

MANILA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR 2010

WHAT: It's a trade fair that brings all publishers and book suppliers in one place. You can also find suppliers of school materials, educational supplies, and facilities here. Along with that, there are a number of launches, seminars, talks, contests, and storytelling for children, teachers, librarians and all book lovers.

WHEN: September 15-19, 2010 from 10 am-8 pm

WHERE: SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

FOR MORE INFO: MIBF site

ROSEWOOD WELLNESS FAIR AND BAZAAR

WHAT: We are having a wellness-themed bazaar at our community. There will be sugar-free goodies, healthy treats, organic fare, natural beauty products, free massages and treatments, and any other product or services related to promoting your general well-being.

WHEN: September 18, 2010 from 9 am-10 pm

WHERE: Rosewood Pointe Clubhouse, Brgy. Ususan, Taguig City

FOR MORE INFO: This is actually a shameless plug since I might be one of the bazaaristas. ;-) If you have other questions, just leave a comment on this entry.

THE 9th SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

WHAT: If I were to list the top 5 things that I look forward to each year, I would have to include the annual Spanish Film Festival as one. I think I look forward to it more than my actual birthday! ;-) Anyway, I see Spanish directors and writers as the most talented in the world. They showcase their best and most popular movies in this film festival. See the best for only 65 pesos per movie! ;-)

WHEN: September 30-October 10, 2010

WHERE: Greenbelt 3, Makati City

FOR MORE INFO: Pelicula Website, Instituto Cervantes Site

Photo Sources:

http://www.clickthecity.com

http://wellness.ucsd.edu/images/wellness2.jpg

Your 45 Pesos Can Go a Long Way (Literally!)

I often go to the bookstore when I need to while away my time. It's the perfect meeting place, or in my case, the perfect place to be while waiting for my ride (ie: husband). ;-) Traffic can be unpredictable and oftentimes, I end up waiting longer than the expected pick-up time. Yesterday was one of those days. I was at Fully Booked browsing and there was one particular magazine that caught my eye. I had to do a double take because I couldn't believe the price. It was a magazine sold for only 45 pesos!

I'm talking about the Sidetrip Travel Magazine. This is different from all the other travel magazines in the market, not only for its price, but also because its articles focus mainly on travel within the Philippines. It's about time we have one of those, isn't it? The only downside is that this magazine is only published quarterly. So the one they have in stores now covers July to October 2009. It said that it's their 7th issue. So they must have been around for about a year and a half now. I really hope that we can support this magazine. It would just break my heart if this magazine is discontinued. In fact, Sidetrip Travel should be published monthly!

I haven't read the magazine cover-to-cover yet. But so far, my favorite articles include: Old Restos in the Metro (A review of 2 restaurants that have been favorites for half a century now!), Great Weekend Escapes (covers 4 weekend destinations for Manilenos including suggestions on where to go, what to do, where to stay, what to buy, where to eat, and what to order!), and a special on Laguna as a tourist destination (explains how Laguna can be enjoyed by all kinds of people and all interests). Add to this a number of restaurant reviews, travel tips, shopping finds (this quarter, they have an article talking about ukay-ukay), event calendars, "People, Arts, and Culture" articles, directories, and even bus schedules! It's a small magazine (just a little bigger than Reader's Digest in size) but it's packed with soooo much information! Jojo's ever "enlightening" comment to me when he read the magazine is this: "This magazine is perfect for going to the loo!" Hahaha! ;-) Oh, MEN...;-) But you know he's absolutely right. It's not only for its sheer size but there's so many interesting articles in there that can amuse you and entertain for however long it takes you to do your business! ;-)

We're now in the beginning stages of planning our weekend getaway -- taking in suggestions from their "Great Weekend Escapes" article. Grab a copy of this magazine and plan your trip as well! There are sooo many beautiful places here in the Philippines. It's too bad that we, as a country, are not given due credit and exposure internationally as a travel destination. Let's explore the country ourselves and spread the word...