Hawker Heaven and a Beauty Find at Resorts World Manila

Resorts World Manila is beginning to be my new favorite place. Never mind the fact that finding an available parking spot can be a nightmare in itself. Last Saturday evening, we had planned to go there for a nightcap. But seeing that there's no available parking in any of the 2 outdoor parking lots and of that one connected to Newport, we had to turn back, make a change of plan, and head to BGC instead.


Tonight was no different, actually. Parking is still a nightmare. But we toughed it out this time. We lined up at the parking lot across Marriott and waited until people left and parking spaces cleared out. When we got there, we were the 6th car in line. Thank God that two of the cars ahead of us backed out. We were fourth in line now and in total, we still had to wait 20 minutes. They really have to do something about this parking issue.


Well, enough of my ranting. ;-) Once we got inside Newport, everything had been forgotten. We were starving and we decided to have dinner at the Old Penang Restaurant to satisfy my craving for hawker fare. You can find the Old Penang Restaurant on the 4th floor of Newport. It's right across McDonald's and it's on the same floor as the cinemas.


There's nothing fancy about the restaurant's decor. There's little space between the tables and the chairs really aren't that comfortable. You're sitting on stools, actually. They're wooden and there's nothing to rest your back on. Except for the framed black and white pictures of old Malaysia, there's really no other decor in the place. It just has the bare essentials.

When we entered the restaurant, a waiter promptly greeted us and led us to a table. Within one short minute, the menus were quickly handed out, utensils were laid out, and the waiter was able to help us make our choices. We asked about their bestsellers and the waiter, without skipping a beat, said that it was their Char Kway Teow and Roasted Chicken that topped the list. Looking around, it seemed that these were the same things that the other patrons ordered. And they looked sumptious! We trusted the waiter and ordered these along with an extra cup of Chicken Rice (the Roasted Chicken only came with 1 cup of rice) and Iced Teh Tarik to drink.

After five minutes, the first to arrive were our beverages. I took a sip of the Iced Teh Tarik (PhP85) and it did taste authentic. It wasn't too sweet that it completely masked the tea. It was just right. But for PhP85 per glass, I found it priced a little too steep. I wish they had made the serving much larger or they could bring the price down a bit. After all, a third of the glass is really just ice anyway.

A couple of minutes later, the Hainanese Roasted Chicken Set (PhP245) plus our extra Hainanese Rice (PhP50) were served. We were also served a tiny bowl of condiments for the chicken. Mixed in there already is the minced ginger, chili sauce, and soy sauce. So what did we think of their Hainanese Roasted Chicken Set? First off, we were quite impressed with the serving size. The chicken is good for 2-3 people! The meat is not as tender as the ones at Wee Nam Kee but I think Old Penang's version is definitely much tastier. The skin is soft and bursting with flavor! As for the Chicken Rice, I've had better but all in all, it's really not bad. That's just me being picky though. ;-) Altogether, we were impressed. A mere ten minutes away from where we live, we will definitely be back at Old Penang to satisfy a Hainanese chicken craving!

Oh, but we're not done with the meal yet! Just as we were enjoying our Hainanese Chicken, the Char Kway Teow (PhP220) arrived just a couple of minutes after. It was piping hot and had all the toppings that a Char Kway Teow should have. It had enough scrambled eggs, a couple of large shrimps, bean sprouts, onions, chorizo, and a few greens. The other Char Kway Teows that I've had here in Manila often ended up being too greasy. The one at Old Penang, thankfully, was not. The noodles are as gooey and "slimy" as they should be but I wish they had put in more bean sprouts. I like how the texture of the noodles juxtapose with the crunch of the bean sprouts. As for the taste, I'm sure it could be better but it's close enough to how I've had it in Singapore. It hits the spot just right. ;-)

The food at the Old Penang is a definite two thumbs up. But what's even more remarkable is the service. We were really impressed! Their waiters and staff are not only quick on their feet but they're quite attentive too. We had asked for the bill already and the waitress had started clearing our table. Even then, I was surprised that she came back to hand me a cold glass of water. It's like she read my mind. I had a glass of the Teh Tarik and was feeling a bit thirsty. And without needing to ask, the glass of cold water was served. Another waiter was in charge with processing our credit card payment. Jojo and I were in the middle of our conversation when the receipt and credit card were handed back to us in one of those leather booklets. After Jojo signed the bill, the waiter took the time to remove the credit card and receipt from the booklet and personally handed it back to Jojo. I guess he was thinking that we might forget to take it out of the leather booklet so he took the initiative to hand it back. It's these small gestures that really count. We were really pleased with the service at Old Penang. They really go out of their way to please their customers. This is one of the reasons why you'll definitely see us back there. To boot, the food is great and the prices -- for the most part, are reasonable too. It's the perfect place for a satisfying meal that is sure to transport you to Hawker Heaven! I can't wait to try the other items on their menu on our subsequent visits! ;-)

This is completely off topic but apart from Old Penang, I'd also like to share a shopping find that I discovered at one of the shops in Newport. On a recent visit a few weeks back, we bought a couple of the PhP65 face masks that we found at The Face Shop just for kicks When we got home, we immediately tried it after I was able to successfully convince Jojo to put on the face mask as well. ;-) After all, I didn't want to be only "silly-looking" one. Jojo had to be silly-looking WITH me. ;-) Well, you know what? We liked the results. Jojo commented that the face mask gave his face a certain glow. ;-) It made our skin a bit more firmer too. Because of that, Jojo and I excitedly went to The Face Shop at Newport to buy more and try the other masks as well. I didn't know which one to pick since all the other masks looked quite interesting. There's a Mung Bean face mask, cereal, lemon, and so many other variants. They also have a special promo which I just have to share. If you buy five of any combination from the Jasmine and Fennel variant, Geranium and Everlasting Flower, and/or Tea Tree and Bergamot, you can get a free Oil Pore Minimizer Sampler Set. Each of the mask sheets cost PhP95. Buy five of these for a total of PhP475 and you get the sample set too. The sampler set consists of 30 ml Controlling Toner with Powder, 30 ml Controlling Emulsion, and 5 ml Controlling Essence -- all aiming to minimize pores. I have yet to try it to see how effective it is. But so far, The Face Shop hasn't failed me. I've tried their nail polishes too and I like how they stay on without chipping. My skin is very sensitive and their mask sheets hasn't caused my skin to break out. That's a good sign. I have a feeling their Pore Minimizer Sample Set might just be as effective too. I couldn't pass up a great deal. Five mask sheets and a sample set for only PhP475. What a steal! There's still more on stock. Hurry on in to Newport's The Face Shop to catch the deal too! ;-)

Pizza from my Childhood

As a major cheese lover, naturally, I enjoy pizzas with loads of cheese! It can be pizza with 'authentic' and imported cheeses. Or it can simply be the processed type that you find in local groceries here in Manila. For me, cheese is cheese. As to which one I prefer, it really depends on the day and my mood. ;-)

For the real deal when it comes to cheeses, we often go to hotel buffets for those. Or for pizzas with loads of mozarella, we either head to Yellow Cab or Brooklyn Pizza. But when I'm craving for processed cheese (you better believe it! ;-), we often head to our trusted Lot'sAPizza stall. Their pizzas remind me of the ones that I used to eat as snacks in our cafeteria when I studied in La Salle. I was only in that school until Grade 4 but nonetheless, I still had a lot of fond memories there. And it's these type of pizzas that bring back those many memories with my childhood friends, which, thanks to Facebook, I still keep in touch with up now! ;-) If you grew up in the Philippines, I think you know which type of pizza I'm talking about. They're the pizzas with thin and super soft crusts -- almost like bread, actually. It comes with processed ham to go with the processed cheese and sweet tomato sauce. ;-) Yes, it goes against everything that a pizza should be right? ;-) More than anything, it's catered to the Filipino palate that hates anything bland and subtle when it comes to flavors. For most of you, you might even feel a bit grossed out if you're not used to this type of cuisine. I'm not always fond of these flavors. I still opt for subtle flavors. But for my guilty pleasure, these type of pizzas are my go-to ones for comfort food. I just loooove them! ;-)

Well, for years, we've been going to Lot'sAPizza for these type of pizzas. We've been finding though that each time we order, the cheese keeps getting sparser and sparser! Even if we pay to add extra cheese, it's still not as cheesy as it used to be.

So you can imagine how excited my husband and I got when we came across this great find at Cash & Carry. Not only is the location convenient to us since it's in Makati, but the pizza is SOOOO much better than Lot'sAPizza's! Have a look at the family size Ham and Cheese Pizza that we ordered below. ;-)

It's from a stall called Patricia's Pizza on the ground floor of Cash & Carry. You'll find it outside the grocery store -- on the opposite side of National Bookstore. You'll find it on your way to the washroom.

That's how we found the stall, actually. On our way to the washroom, we got curious because there was a whole line up on this stall. And poor thing, there was only one guy acting as cashier and cook! Or should I say 'pizza heater'? ;-) The pizzas were all ready in their boxes and just had to be heated up. But don't be turned off by that. It seems that the turnover is quick. I'm sure the pizzas were freshly baked.

Anyway, would you believe that we got that whole thing for only 110 pesos??!?? And it's soooo good! The cheese oozes and when you grab a slice you can see strings of cheese resisting. ;-) The crust is a little thick yet soft and chewy. The sauce, on the other hand, just has the right hint of sweetness. Not overpowering at all. Best of all, they don't scrimp on the toppings. There's enough ham and the cheese is just all over! ;-) It was a family size pizza but believe it or not, Jojo and I finished it between the two of us. I had 3 slices and Jojo had the rest. (Sorry for 'outing' you hon!) ;-) We practically inhaled the whole thing in the car on our way to my in-laws. The whole thing was gone just right before we got to Pasay. ;-)

Why not give it a try and if you grew up in the Philippines, be transported to your childhood like I was? ;-) Who would have guessed how, many years later, the distinct smell and taste of school cafeteria food can give us comfort and a smile on our faces? ;-)

Curious yet? ;-) Check out the pizza box below to locate the nearest Patricia's Pizza outlet. ;-)

IMAGE SOURCE:

Lot'sAPizza picture = http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss332/dwindle18/IMG_0362.jpg

A 'Socially Responsible' Gift Idea For You!

Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? Or are you one of those people who prefer to do things last minute? Either way, I found another excellent gift idea for you. Because if you think you're done with your Christmas shopping list, think again. Did you happen to forget to add a few 'emergency gifts' on that list? From experience, I know for a fact that every year, I have "long-lost" friends and relatives that just show up out of nowhere. ;-) It's good to have at least 5 generic emergency gifts that's already wrapped, tied in a bow, and with a gift tag hanging off of it already so you can just easily write the recipient's name and pretend that you really haven't forgotten them and they were on your list all along! ;-) Hahaha! No one will ever know...;-)

Now what would make a great emergency gift? I already talked about the "Manila by Day" book on a previous entry HERE. That would make an excellent gift, actually. But then again, not everyone is fond of reading. So here's another alternative for you. What about getting the Messy Bessy sampler pack? ;-)

I saw (and bought!) this Messy Bessy sampler pack at the Mercato Weekend Market a few days ago. If you've been to the Mercato Market over at BGC, you know that Messy Bessy has a lot of competition there. There's a whole handful of other stalls that sell organic soaps, mists, environmentally-friendly cleaners, and the like. But among all these, it's this Messy Bessy sampler pack that immediately caught my eye. It's not only because it's very cheap at 300 pesos, but also because of the very neat and cute packaging of the bottles and the whole set! To boot, I love the fact that it has everything that you'll need while you're on the go. In fact, I think this would be perfect for a jet-setter friend or relative. The sampler pack comes with the following: a lavender linen spray, insect repellent, Aloe and Green Tea handwash, Green Tea hand sanitizer, and Vanilla hand cream! I LOVE it! ;-)

I got one set for myself and so far, I only got to use the hand sanitizer and hand cream. The hand sanitizer absorbs quickly and I like how it's gentle and doesn't dry your hands. It actually moisturizes it too since one of the ingredients is green tea essential oil! The neatest thing about it is that it's really not just a hand sanitizer, it can also be used as a disinfectant or surface cleaner. It's strong enough to do the job but gentle on your hands as well! Neat! ;-)

As for the scent, the green tea is not overpowering. The smell is faint but lasting. The scent stays awhile but it's not one to overpower your perfume. You'll have to put your hand close to your nose to smell the green tea. This could be a plus or minus for you. But in my opinion, I think it's a plus. Although the green tea smells nice, I'd rather that people smell my own perfume than the scent of the hand sanitizer. ;-)

As for the Vanilla hand cream, I tell ya, it certainly does the job. It moisturizes the skin so well without being greasy on the hands. Just like the hand sanitizer, the scent is faint too. Put your hands close to your nose though and you'll smell that vanilla-bordering-on-gingerbread-cookie smell. ;-) It's very nice.

So why is this Messy Bessy sampler pack a socially responsible gift? Well, for one, it's good for the environment. The bottles that these come in are all biodegradable. The ingredients used are all natural and organic too. So that makes it good for your health as well. No parabens and all that bad stuff. Most of all, did you know that Messy Bessy (the company), is part of a project called HOUSE? That stands for Helping Ourselves through Sustainable Enterprises. They're also in partnership with the Virlanie Foundation and the International Justice Mission. They help the poor and marginalized by hiring them and giving them a means for income, I assume. I think they also fund charities and help NGOs as well.

So there you go. The Mercato Market only runs Saturdays and Sundays. So the best place to go if you want to purchase would probably be their website HERE, or head on to the Echo Store at Serendra, or any Sesou stores at Glorietta, Market, Market, and other malls.

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

Finding the Puto Bumbong of my Dreams! ;-)

As you can probably already tell from the title of this post, puto bumbong is my most favorite Filipino dessert ever! I don't think it's because of the fact that it's a dessert associated with Christmas and therefore, have to wait in anticipation all year before I can have it. It's not that. It's because it's just soooo damn good! I like how the butter/margarine, muscovado sugar, and grated fresh coconut go so well with the soft and gooey sweetness of the puto bumbong itself. It's just heavenly! ;-)

Being a big fan of puto bumbong, naturally, I've had them in so many different places. I've tasted the food court-type puto bumbong, from a stall near the churches I went to after Christmas mass, to the fancy type in restaurants, and finally, even the ones that you can find in public markets. Out of all these, the one that impressed me the most is one that Jojo's sister, Del, buys us from Sta. Clara de Montefalco after Sunday masses during the Christmas season. This church is in Pasay City -- near the intersection of Pasay Road and Burgos Street. She gets them for the outstanding price of....20 pesos!!! And that comes with two long pieces of puto bumbong and all the accompaniment that goes with it.

I didn't think the puto bumbong there could possibly be outdone since it's really already very very good! It's smooth and with just with the right amount of gooey sweetness as it is. Well, you know what? It has been outdone and I'll tell you exactly where I found THE best puto bumbong in Metro Manila!

The answer? It's at Benny's at Rustan's Makati. It's across Glorietta 5 and right in front of Rustan's grocery store. One order comes with fine muscovado sugar, freshly grated coconut, and 2 pieces of the smoothest, chewiest, and yummiest puto bumbong ever!!! Most puto bumbong sellers use margarine as a topping but the puto bumbong at Benny's is a little more sinful and 'decadent.' They use butter! Woohoo! ;-) Combine all of these perfect little details and there you have it -- a perfect Puto Bumbong by my standards! ;-)

The price is a little steep in comparison to those sold near churches or inside public markets. One order at Benny's costs 60 pesos. Yes, that's 200% more than the usual but trust me when I say it's oh-so-worth it! ;-)

If you order it for take-out, it only costs 60 pesos. But if you choose to sit down and eat the puto bumbong inside Benny's, you'll have to pay additional for service charge. It's not a lot. For one order, you'll end up having to pay 66 pesos just like I did. It's still not bad.

I'm not sure if they'll be offering puto bumbong all year or it's only available for the holiday season. Either way, hurry on in and try out my most favorite puto bumbong in the metro. And if still, you find one that can outdo this one, PLEASE leave me a note and let me know where. Frankly, I don't think the puto bumbong at Benny's can be outdone. But this is one time when I would really like to be proven wrong...;-)

Cool Bazaar Finds

We did our bazaar rounds yesterday. I checked Clickthecity and Spot.ph and found out that there's at least 10 bazaar events going on in the city! My husband and I didn't leave the house until noon. After having lunch at Salcedo Market, we only had time to go to 4 bazaars. And at around 7 pm, we were just so tired that we called it a day and went back home. Namely, we went to the Marche Bazaar at Makati Sports Club, Esprit de Noel at A. Venue, the Brown Bag Market at The Collective, and the Karl Edwards Bazaar at the BGC (Bonifacio Global City). Esprit de Noel mostly sold clothes, branded overruns, toys, and perfumes. The Brown Bag Market sold bag organizers, books, a few dessert items, and clothes as well. These two bazaars were nice too but most of our cool finds were really from the Marche Bazaar and Karl Edwards. Here's a small list of my awesome finds from one afternoon of bazaar-hopping: ;-)

1.) Customized Jewellery Boxes

Every year, it always seems to be a challenge to find the most perfect gift for my in-laws. My mother-in-law, in particular, already has a large and varied collection of perfumes, bags, and shoes. Jojo's sisters (ie: my sister-in-laws) always give her watches and jewellery so that's out of the question too. She's got all the cooking supplies that she needs and she's not much of a techie person so gadgets might not be appreciated. What else is there to give?!?? ;-) Well, I had a big lightbulb moment when I passed through this particular stall at the Marche bazaar. The nice red texture of the jewellery boxes caught my eye. Heyyyyyy, why not give her a jewellery box?!?? ;-) I looked through the set and found them in many different sizes and uses. There's one for watches that come with small pillows inside already. There's another particularly for bracelets and bangles. And there's another where you can specifically store rings and earrings. And the best part of it all? They customize!

I spoke with the nice lady that manned the booth. I'm pretty sure she's the owner. She's so pleasant to talk to and she even gave us a discount! I told her I wanted a whole jewellery box set. One would be a really large one with a window and compartments inside -- 2/3 of the box with large compartments for bangles and bracelets and the other third, with much smaller compartments for necklaces. I wanted two smaller jewellery boxes too. Each of these will be half the size of the larger jewellery box so you can pile them all up perfectly. Anyway, one of the smaller jewellery boxes will be for watches -- 3 compartments with pillows. The other would just be for rings and earrings. To store them, you'll just have to stick them in these slots. All of the jewellery boxes will match, of course. They'll be in this bright red color --- my mother in law's favorite! Your jaw will drop after hearing how much everything is. They're all only 1,000 pesos ($40 USD roughly). She asked for a 50% deposit and she'll have them delivered for free too. That is, as long as you're in the Makati area. I got her to have them delivered at Jojo's office. The lady promised that by Friday (6 days later), Jojo should have the jewellery box sets already. Super cool! ;-) I regretted not having a whole set customized for myself too. Well, the good news is that although they don't have a physical store (except at these bazaars), you can order from them anytime. Here's her contact info if you want to order some for yourself or as gifts too! ;-)

Name: Kath Bautista

Website: santafactory.multiply.com

Email: kathbautista888@gmail.com

Phone: (632) 506-2523

Mobile: (0917) 587-5250

2.) Notepad Sets, Notebook Sets, Recipe Organizer, Calling Card Organizers, etc.

This is another stall that we found at the Marche Bazaar. It was one of the first that we saw, actually. Being a sucker for everything cute and pretty (of course!), it was the polka-dotted and damask boxes that caught my eye. They came in different colors too. The stall also sold box sets with pad paper in them. There's this cute green and pink box that had 6 small pads of paper with the heading "Things to Do." There's also another set that came in a different box with the heading "To do," "To Buy," and "To Call" right at the top. You can circle one of the three and there you have it -- a multi-purpose pad paper. I guess any pad paper can have multiple purposes. But isn't it neat to have it come with the heading already? ;-) Just one of those things...;-)

There's a bunch of other stuff there. I took a minute to browse through the stall and within that time, 2 ladies came by and bought in bulk! Between the two of them, I think they bought about 20 or 30 of these notebook sets that they had. A set came with three notebooks in a box for only 100 pesos! What a deal! I think they also bought a set of 10 handcrafted any-occasion cards that also came in a box. I didn't buy any of those so I don't have pictures. Although it was tempting to get them, frankly, I didn't have anyone to buy it for. I'm done with the girls on my Christmas list and I had to practice restraint. Boy stuff is what I needed to get. Anyway, you can order from them year round. Just give them a call, send an email, or purchase online! Interested? Check out their contact info below:

Name: Lilit Almendral

Website: boxesandprints.multiply.com

Email: lilitalmendral@yahoo.com

Phone: (632) 890-6954

Address: 3300 Zapote Street, Makati City

3.) Sugar Plum Bath Sets, Lotion, and other Toiletries

We found this stall over at Karl Edwards. Karl Edwards run their bazaars every weekend, I think. So if you want to, I'm sure you can still catch them and purchase straight from this stall. Anyway, it's really impossible to miss this stall. Not only will your nose lead you there (the stall smells very fruity and fragrant!) but the decor will catch your eye because it's really as girly as girly can be! ;-) Out of a better adjective or comparison, let me say that it was very 'Crabtree and Evelyn' but in a more girly and whimsical sort of way. I literally hyperventilated when I saw the stall and my husband can attest to that. ;-) You see, I'm also a sucker when it comes to bath sets, lotions, and anything that smells nice. And this stall had all of that. To top it all off (which is the reason why I hyperventilated a second time!), the stall was on sale too!!! Oh my! ;-) Let me just give you a rundown of the prices from memory. Their lotions were only 80 pesos each, bath sets (soap, lotion, and bath gel in a metal case or this small porcelain tub) were only 120 pesos, sprays and mists were only 150 pesos, and larger bath sets started at 200 pesos, I think. Everything was presented nicely with ribbons and all. Best of all, I found out that Sugarplum does not test on animals as it said at the back of the bottle. The scents range from Strawberry cream (my favorite among the lot!), Raspberry Vanilla, Sweet Pea, Cherry Blossom, and many others. I've had the chance to try their lotion and I like how the scent is not too overpowering. It smells very nice and it does stay, but it's not one to overpower your perfume. It absorbs fine and isn't greasy at all. I like it! ;-) By the way, they also sell scent diffusers for only 200 pesos. From our visit there, it seems that this is their most popular item. I'll just have to remember to come back and buy this next time. ;-)

4.) Inexpensive Perfumes, Lip Balms, Mists, Make up, and Gift Sets

You'll have to forgive me because I didn't get the name of the stall and we weren't able to take pictures as well. We were in a rush to go because we were trying to reach the credit card payment booth which closed at 7 pm over at the Karl Edwards bazaar. So how can you find this booth? If I remember correctly, it's near the middle part of the bazaar. You won't miss it because it's the stall that sells Burt's Bees lip balm, lotion, and other Mary Kate and Ashley make up at 3 for 120 pesos!!! They sell Victoria's Secret mist and lotion at 2 for 550 pesos! I also bought these mini-travel sets from Victoria's Secret and Jessica Mclintock (for the reason that this scent reminds me of my Mom!) for only 450 pesos each or 3 for 1,000 pesos!!! It was just crazy!!!! Sorry for all the exclamation marks, by the way. ;-) Oh, another way to find this booth? It's the one with a lot of people crowding around it. I really wanted to browse some more but I was peeved with all these girls crowding around the table like they're the only people in the world. Like, seriously! Don't they know that there's a hyperventillating shopaholic behind them??!?? ;-) Hahaha! ;-) I browsed through their stuff quickly and decided to come back to wait until everybody's gone. But when I came back, there was another group of people crowding around it! Well, as any crazy shopaholic would do, I squeezed in or at least tried to stick my arm between all these people and grabbed at all the items that I could. ;-) I ended up buying 6 things from the 3 for 120 pesos box and 3 of the travel sets. Apart from the 2 Victoria's Secret and 1 Jessica Mclintock travel sets, I mostly stocked up on the Burt's Bees products and this eye serum for eye bags. Check out the rest of my loot below. Sadly, I didn't get a business card either. I'm pretty sure this stall is a mainstay at the Karl Edwards bazaar. So check it out before the sale is over! ;-)

Happy shopping, everyone! In the spirit of the Christmas season (well, the 'commercial' gift-giving part of it, that is), my coming entries will revolve around gift ideas and themes that could help you in finally completing that list! Merry Christmas! ;-)

Time to change the songs on your iPod/MP3!

Last year, close to around this same time, I wrote an entry about some of my Christmas album discoveries. You can find it HERE. This year, I want to add to that list with a few more new Christmas album favorites. As my Christmas gift to you, I've also placed a link underneath to let you know where to download them. Enjoy! Maligayang Pasko! (That's "Merry Christmas!" in Filipino for your language lesson for the day!) ;-)

1.) Take 6 (The Most Wonderful Time of the Year)

Are you peeved with the Christmas rush? There's the traffic, crowded malls, long line-ups, and in most cases, a bunch of grumpy people! ;-) It's a very good idea to have this album playing in the car or your personal iPod because its arrangement of classic Christmas favorites are sure to get anyone back in the holiday spirit. Their songs are just soooo cheerful! They're all sung acapella with all of the "instrumentation" and back up sounds done by the members of the Take 6 group. The vocals and harmony are amazing! Their voices are so cool, crisp, and smooth!

There are 10 tracks in the album. I love them all but if I were to pick my favorites, it would include "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," (this is where they really show off the group's excellent and perfect harmony!), "White Christmas," (because they've made it into a great head-bopping song -- you'll know what I mean when you hear it ;-), and "Sleigh Ride" (because it's such a happy song -- perfect background song while doing your Christmas shopping!). ;-)

Click HERE to download this album.

2.) Jadon Lavik (Christmas)

This album is not your typical Christmas one with the classic arrangements. Yes, it has the same classic Christmas favorites like "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Silent Night," and 7 others. But out of a better term, Jadon Lavik has 'Jason Castro'-fied his songs. You're probably scratching your head about now. ;-) Let me explain. Well, first off, Jadon Lavik does sound like Jason Castro. Kinda similar to John Mayer too. It's the same type. As for the songs, Jadon Lavik's album has that acoustic vibe. They're mellow and very 'chill.' ;-) It's a good album to play when you have guests over for a quiet dinner during the holiday season. ;-) It's the perfect background music during conversation and when you're just about to wind it down. As you probably noticed, I do try to match a music album to a particular activity. ;-) My favorite songs in Jadon Lavik's Christmas album are: "O Come All Ye Faithful" (The arrangement is unique. I haven't heard this song arranged to sound so hip! ;-), "Christmas Time is Here" (Jadon Lavik's voice suits this song. It was sung in such a heartfelt way and his voice just makes me gush! ;-), and "Mele Kalekimaka" (It's the first time that I've heard this song. It's a Hawaiian Christmas song and it's just fun to listen to. Really catchy. The song might get stuck in your head for days and I don't think you'll mind...). ;-)

Click HERE to download this album.

3.) Jay R (Christmas Away From Home)

If you're Filipino, you know that this album has been around for a while now. But it's only recently that I really took notice of it and in particular, took notice of the artist named Jay R. Jay R is a really talented singer! I love his sweet and suave vocals. He's got a lot of soul and I love how he sings the high notes. Very smooth. I enjoy listening to him sing because it seems so effortless.

I know Jay R has another Christmas album aside from this. But as for the reason why I picked this one in particular for my list, I chose it because of his rendition of my favorite Christmas song ever --aptly titled nothing but "The Christmas Song." ;-) His voice suits the song really well. There's a hint of nostalgia, mixed with a bit of R&B vibe, and most of all, that sexy and smooth 'he makes me really gush' voice of his. ;-)
This album is a whole assortment of stuff. Admittedly, the selection just seems a bit random. Of the 11 tracks, 4 are instrumental, there's a couple that are R & B and pop-sounding, there's one that has Jazz music undertones, there's an upbeat version of "Drummer Boy," one personal ballad, and of course, classic arrangements of some Christmas favorites. But mainly, this album stays on the list because of one song: "The Christmas Song." ;-) Oh and I also like his version of "Winter Wonderland." ;-) It's good stuff. Hear some homegrown (Filipino) talent and download the album by clicking below. ;-)

Click HERE to download this album.

4.) Katharine McPhee (Christmas is the Time...To Say I Love You)

Frankly, I didn't really take notice of her when she was on American Idol. Although she sounded good, I didn't think Katharine McPhee was a standout. But when I heard her Christmas album, I began to appreciate her more. Katharine McPhee especially sounds good when she sings more somber and heartfelt ballads. The songs are very touching. My favorites include "Who Would Imagine a King" (great restraint and excellent expression! The crescendos and fortes are done in the most perfect spots and her voice just sounds amazing!), "O Little Town of Bethlehem/Away in a Manger Medley" (it's very heartfelt and I think the song is in the perfect pitch and note range that truly showcases Katharine McPhee's voice), and "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" (she goes a bit 'jazz-y" in this song and I think it really suits her. I see her more of a jazz artist than a pop artist anyway). There's really something for everyone in this album. Katharine McPhee goes a bit gospel in "Jingle Bells," full on classic Christmas in "White Christmas," pop ballad on "It's Not Christmas Without You," and jazz as well on a couple of songs. Since she pretty much has all tastes covered, this album is perfect to lug around with you during the Christmas season as background music for whatever activity or occasion. She didn't have rock and heavy metal covered but I think that this album should please everyone. ;-)

Click HERE to download this album.

5.) Straight No Chaser (Christmas Cheers)

This would have to be the funnest Christmas album ever! Most of the 15 tracks are just plain goofy! ;-) Take "We Three Kings" with the Mission Impossible-sounding intro. Oh and there's also the "Christmas Can-Can" -- the perfect holiday chaos song! Have you also heard "The 12 Days of Christmas" to the tune of "Africa"? ;-) Hahaha! And the most amazing thing of all? It's all done acapella! They all have such excellent voices. They've got chorale-type songs here too like "Christmas Time Is Here" where they show off their excellent vocal harmony. There's also something here for everyone in this album. It can be any occasion, or for any group with different musical tastes. For instance, I imagine their song "Who Spiked the Egg Nog" would be the perfect song for an office Christmas party! They also have "I'll Be Home for Christmas" which is very boy-band sounding for friends and family who are fans of NKOTB, Backstreet, and N'Sync. ;-)

Click HERE to download this album.

IMAGE SOURCES:

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