Shopping Find: Eno Craft Kits

As a teacher, I'm on summer break at the moment. And one of the things I had wanted to spend time on during this break is doing crafts. I've always been fond of crafting -- in particular, paper crafts. For the past few Christmases, I've made my own gift tags and gift boxes. I've also helped friends and family conceptualize and execute their invitations and party favors during special occasions. 

Crafting has been very Zen for me and I do enjoy being creative. So you can imagine how excited I got when I found these Eno craft kits in Landmark Makati! Depending on the size of the kit, prices range from P79.75 to P219.75. A card kit, for instance, contains 15 coloured cards with many small sets of decoupage, pretty paper and embellishments such as buttons, ribbons, flowers, stars and so forth. Since I don't really write a lot of greeting cards, I've decided to cut these cards into smaller pieces so they can serve as gift tags instead. These sell at P199.75 to P219.75. 

Apart from greeting cards, they also sell kits so you can make embellished gift boxes. You can use these to put small gift items like monogrammed key chains, earrings, necklaces and others. In one pack, you can make 6-8 gift boxes and they only cost P79.75. It's ridiculous! Super cheap! 

Eno also has these photo album/scrapbook kits, book covers and frames. Possibilities are endless! You can find all these and more in what I call the "wasteland" area of Landmark. It's on the ground floor just right by the escalators. There are lots of pretty notebooks, tin cans and kawaii items here. I'm sure these items are also sold in Divisoria but really, they're already quite cheap here at Landmark. Enjoy! :-)

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! ;-)

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

Let's watch a movie at Resorts World??!??

That was my very first reaction, actually. I signed up at THIS site to be included as one of the thirty bloggers to watch the premiere movie showing at Newport Cinema at Resorts World. My husband, Jojo, has his own blog too. You can find it HERE so I also signed him up.

Coming back from Malaysia, I immediately see the semblance between Resorts World Manila and Genting Highlands. Sure, we don't have the cable car, the huge indoor and outdoor amusement park but it definitely has the same feel. It's no wonder. Resorts World Manila is a joint venture between Genting and Megaworld! ;-) Needless to say, they also have condos put up here. It's right behind the St. Lourdes Church.

Resorts World is strategically located across NAIA 3. This place holds a lot of promise if and when (I hope!), all of the international flights at NAIA 1 is transferred to Terminal 3. Add to that a path or underground walkway from the airport to the Resorts World area and we're all set! There's still a lot of construction going on and this area is really nowhere near done. But for now, you can find the Marriott Hotel, our only 6-star hotel in Manila: Maxims, and Newport Plaza. On the other end of Marriott -- the third building, is where all the casinos, shops, restaurants, and now, cinemas, are located.

From a recent trip in Macau, I could immediately see the Newport Plaza's similarity to the Venetian Macao Hotel. I kid you not. For real! The establishment has potential. Once it's done, you'll see designer shops lining the first floor. There's only about two shops open on the first floor, I think. One is a watch shop, and the other, a jewellery store? It's really exciting though. The same owner of Rustans -- The Store Specialists, will be tasked to open a number of high-end shops here. I imagine all the other stores will be up and running in 6 months? Maybe just in time for Christmas or sooner.

There's one casino on the first floor too. Although Newport Plaza, altogether, seems empty, there were a lot of people at the casino though. The place was bustling with sounds of slot machines, people, and a live band right in the middle. We didn't go in the casino but we could see all of these from the hallway.

The second floor has about four restaurants that are open already. One is UCC, Red Crab Resto, a New Orleans restaurant that serves ribs and steaks, and another one right beside it -- Republiq. The third floor has two shops open: Bench and The Face Shop. When I asked them how late they close, the saleslady told me that Sundays to Thursdays they're open until 10 pm. Fridays and Saturdays they're open an hour later than that. Cool! ;-)

On the topmost floor -- the fourth floor, are the cinemas. I think only two are open and running right now. We watched "Salt" at Cinema 2. It being a premiere, representatives of Resorts World talked about future projects. One that got me and Jojo really excited is their plan for Cinema 1. How wonderful! It's the first time I've heard of something like this. It definitely beats the Director's Cut cinema of Mall of Asia. They were saying that for Cinema 1, they will only have 80 seats inside. And get this: each seat can be fully reclined and will have a sort of cubicle for utmost privacy. With the ticket comes bottomless drinks and unlimited popcorn too. But that's not all! (Gee, I sound like an infomercial!) ;-) Each seat has a button. Press that button and along comes a 'butler' that's personally assigned to you! Wow! ;-) Talk about spoiling yourself. ;-) Although I wonder why you'll need a butler for a 2-hour movie. I joked to Jojo that maybe the butler can be called on if maybe you need someone to scratch your back or something...;-) Hahaha! No word yet on how much this whole thing will cost per person. I'm very interested though. I'll keep you posted once I find this out.

For now, I checked on the prices and Cinema 2 showings cost 200 pesos per person. Cinema 2 shows "Salt" and Cinema 4 shows "The Last Airbender." Cinema 4 showings cost 300 pesos because they're in 3D. I believe movies are running now between noon to 11 pm.

As for our whole movie experience, we really did enjoy it! You can't recline the seats in Cinema 2 but the back of the seat adjusts a wee bit based on the weight you put in front of it. Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is that they're not too sturdy so they're much more comfortable. There's a lot of leg room and it won't be too much of a bother for the people sitting beside you if in any case, you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the movie. There's enough room to pass through there without fear of stepping on their feet. There's enough room too so none of them will have to get up to let you through.

The screen though, I think, is taller than it is wide. As a consequence to this, you won't have that great of a view if you sit in the first five or six rows. We were sitting in the fourth row but I think our view would be much better if we had moved back. As for the sound system, everything was loud and crisp. You can really tune into the movie and drown out any rustling or any annoying side conversations.

I can't comment on the popcorn because we didn't get to try it. We were already full from the cocktails and hors d'oevres that were provided at the premiere. If the popcorn tastes like the one at Powerplant, I'll be one very happy camper though. ;-)

As I said, Resorts World is very promising. I can't wait until all the shops and restos are open. For now, I guess you should visit this place while you can still have privacy. Everytime you want to avoid the lines at Greenbelt 3 or PowerPlant, why not just hie over to Newport's cinemas? After the movie, you can have coffee and dessert at UCC or go to Velocity --Marriott Hotel's sports bar or play casino or hey, shop at Bench or The Face Shop. ;-) I imagine this place will get crowded someday. Enjoy it now while you can still walk around freely without all the crowds. ;-)

What else is going on this month, Manila?

There's a lot to look forward to this month. Not only are we heading to KL next week, but there's a bunch of things going on around the metro. Check these out:


LATE NIGHT SHOW WITH THE COMEDY CARTEL
WHAT: For 150 pesos, you can watch stand-up comedy like how it should be done! None of the corny, below-the-belt bashing that is common in local comedy bars. Take your friends, have dinner, a few drinks, and share a lot of laughs this Monday after a possibly long day at work! ;-)

WHEN: Monday, April 12, 2010 at 8 pm

WHERE: Spicy Fingers Restaurant, Greenbelt 2, Makati City

FOR MORE INFO: eCircle Entertainment website



JON SANTOS' FOR VOTER OR FOR WORSE
WHAT: This came highly recommended by a friend. Jon Santos, apparently, has done this show a number of times in the Teatrino Promenade at Greenhills. It was initially slated for just a couple of runs but due to a high demand, they decided to extend the show at a theater in Makati this time. In his comedy act, For Voter or For Worse, Jon Santos impersonates the likes of Noynoy Aquino, Kris Aquino, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Aling Dionisia (Manny Pacquiao's mother), Korina Sanchez, and many others. And I heard he's really good at it too. It sounds like this is sure to bring a lot of giggles! ;-)

WHEN: April 14, 21, and 28, 2010 at 8:30 pm

WHERE: PowerPlant Mall, Cinema 2, Makati City

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Call 898-1441 or 898-1441 to book your tickets.

FOR MORE INFO: Check out this SITE to see Jon Santos in action. Here you'll see videos and short excerpts of his impersonation of Korina Sanchez, Gloria Arroyo, and Joseph Estrada. ;-)



AWESOME PLANET'S ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 4.0
WHAT: Anton, the blog writer of Awesome Planet, has put together this event for start-up food suppliers who would like to break into the market AND foodies who would be more than willing to try what they have to offer and rate them. It's a win-win thing where food suppliers get no-holds-barred feedback as a way to improve their products and foodies simply get to awaken their tastebuds from all these yummy samples of food! On top of that, the St. Michael the Archangel Parish is happy too since 100% of the proceeds (P150/person entrance fee) goes to the building and construction of this new church at the Fort. ;-)

WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7 pm

WHERE: You will be informed of the location after your email registration. Just email rache@diaz.ph with your full name and contact info to join either as a supplier or a foodie.

FOR MORE INFO: Awesome Planet website



MALL OF ASIA SALE
WHAT: It's a mallwide sale with discounts of up to 70%! And if you have an SM Advantage card, you might not want to miss the special 10 am-12 pm sale that they have in the department store. You'll get an additional 10% discount on everything! And that's on top of the sale prices already.

WHEN: Friday, April 16-Sunday, April 18, 2010, 10 am to midnight (Friday and Saturday) and 10 am to 11 pm (Sunday)

WHERE: Mall of Asia, Pasay City



EARTH DAY RUN 2010
WHAT: Join a marathon and choose between 3K, 5K or 10K. Proceeds of this fundraising will support Design Against the Elements Competition. This competition is said to bring "innovative solutions to climate-vulnerable communities in developing countries."

WHEN: Sunday, April 18, 2010, morning

WHERE: near Mall of Asia, Pasay City

HOW TO REGISTER: Register online at http://natgeorun.com/ or go to Timex at the Mall of Asia or SM North Edsa to personally register. Registration costs 500 pesos for a 3K run, 600 pesos for 5K, and 700 pesos for 10K.



"MAS FLAMENCO" SHOW
WHAT: It's a fundraising show for the benefit of the Dance Scholarship Fund at Clara Ramona's school -- Centro de Danza Flamenca. Have a chance to see Clara Ramona dance. I've had a bit of exposure to Flamenco dance and I believe that Clara Ramona is the best there is here in the Philippines. She's very passionate and just completely breathtaking when she dances. For this show, she will also be accompanied by six other female dancers who she has trained and molded to become the amazing Flamenco dancers that they are!
For just 700 pesos, you'll get to see the whole show and enjoy Spanish tapas too.

WHEN: Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 8 pm

WHERE: Clara Ramona Centro de Danza Flamenca, 5062 P. Burgos Street, corner Guerrero, Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Call 899-1346 or 0915-434-5789 to reserve.


Photo Credits:
Juice website, http://www.juice.ph/nightout/event/jon-santos-in-kuring-gluring-syerrap-at-dyuning-election-is-nearing
Comedy Cartel, http://www.comedycartel.com.ph/
Eating Asia, http://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2007/09/index.html
Jun Acullador's Flicker account, http://www.flickr.com/photos/acullador/1377674349/
Running Pinoy, http://runningpinoy.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/national-geographic-channel%E2%80%99s-earth-day-run/
Life of Guangzhao, http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_35/node_112/node_264/2007/12/06/119692370831324.shtml

Thinking green (and white!) this coming weekend

I was just trying to get my schedule organized this week and realized that there are two things that I'm looking forward to this weekend. I thought I'd share them with you so that you can also take part in them.

First off, this Saturday -- March 27 is Earth Hour. It's a global event which aims to increase awareness and encourage responsibility for our environment and future. Whichever country you're in, turn off the lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm to show your support. You can even go the extra mile and turn off all your appliances too and other electrical gadgets at home. Based on their website, they said that 1 billion people from 88 countries participated in this last year. Of that, there were 10 million Filipinos who participated from all over the world! That's the most out of any other nationality! This year, they're aiming for 15 million Filipinos to take part. Hopefully we can reach this number or possibly, even surpass it! ;-) For more information, check out their website HERE. The website outlines the many other different ways that you can help.

The following day - Sunday the 28th, is another "Green" event over at Pasong Tamo, Makati. It's called the Whitespace Green Market. They hold this event every last Sunday of the month. I haven't been to it but my husband's client had raved about it. I also came across a website found HERE that detailed the various products and food items that you can find there. I LOVE discovering new things! And from Heart 2 Heart Online's website, I can tell that there's a lot to try! There's the paraben-free soaps and cosmetic products, healthy pastries and sweets, organic vegetables, rustic jewellery, environmentally-friendly bags, and clothes that are made of silk and pineapple fibers! There's a whole lot more to find there. I could see from the picture that Delimondo has a stall there. We've just been recently introduced to Delimondo's products. We tried the ranch and corned beef first and we were not at all disappointed. It's verrry yummy! Oh there's just so much more! Check out Market Manila's post on the event HERE too. He said that you can get a buffet lunch for as low as 200 pesos! Amazing! Check it out and we'll see you there! ;-)

"Beautifying" Your Closets and Drawers

My husband LOVES hardware stores! I'm not too fond of them but I tough it out because he does spend hours on end following me around when I shop for shoes and clothes. It's only fair right? ;-) While he's looking at halogen bulbs and snooze-worthy electrical wires, I just try to amuse myself at the Gardening section or the Kitchen Gadget aisle.

Yesterday was one of those days. We were at the DIY Shop at Greenhills. Jojo's latest home project is illuminating that area above our kitchen cupboards. He was trying to go for that homey and subdued lighting effect in the kitchen. It took a while to decide what to get, measuring the wires, figuring out the right intensity of light, the switches, etc. etc. Again, I just tried to walk around the store to try and amuse myself.

It's a great thing that the DIY Shop at Greenhills has this Japanese Store-type area within it. Everything is sold for 88 pesos there. Admittedly, there's not a whole lot of interesting buys there. They've got the usual plastic ware -- coming in different shapes, sizes, and uses. There's Japanese ceramics, a bunch of knick knacks, kitchen ware, and many others. It's just like any other Japanese store in the metro. Nothing too exciting. But there was one thing there though that caught my eye. I'm talking about these pretty, scented drawer liners. It comes in five different colors and scents.

Since it's presented in a hard-cover folder, it's actually easy to mistake it as stationery. But inside it, you'll see five 22.5 x 17" drawer liners with a floral design, folded nicely. One set is more than enough to line a whole closet, really. I only needed two sets -- one for the closet in the master's bedroom and the other, for the drawers in the guest room. It took me a while to decide since they all smelled nice. But I eventually went for the Lily-scented one in beige and the Bamboo and White Tea-scented one in green. Between the two, I prefer the scent of the Bamboo and White Tea one. It has that fresh linen fragrance. Nothing like detergent, of course. I guess a cross between fresh linen and a Victoria-Secret type mist or something. The Lily one has a mild floral scent. A little bit on the "talc-y" side. But not overpowering. To be honest, I chose it because of the color. The beige and white combination would go well on our wenge closet. ;-)

The best part of all is that I got the drawer liners for only 88 pesos per set! That's only 176 pesos altogether! I'm not sure how long the scent will last. But I do know one thing. My closet looks very pretty now! ;-) I'm really loving them. I'm thinking these liners will make excellent stocking stuffers for Christmas. For its price, you can give each of your friends or relatives all five sets and variants of the drawer liners! If they're as "OC" as me, I'm sure they'll be loving them too! ;-)