Sunday at Caleruega

I've been to Caleruega once to attend my husband's cousin's wedding. I love the place and in fact, this church was one of my choices for my church wedding too. I went back last May 18 with my whole family to hear Sunday mass. The place is really solemn. The small chapel really gives you that feeling of being truly blessed. Ok what's more to ask if you have your husband and family praying with you? I am in deep joy to hear my Kyle sing most of the liturgical songs during the mass. He memorized most of them from his First Holy Communion. Sigh. He's a grown up now - really. The homily was indeed inspiring as well. The priest talked about an old couple that got married in Caleruega last Easter Sunday. They were there for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Really old and very in love. I hope to marry my Jp (again) 50 years from now - in Caleruega :)

I love all the details in Caleruega. Too bad it was raining at that time so we weren't able to walk around. My mother in law and mama had to stay inside the office while we quickly took photos. Hehe! the rain can't stop these camwhores!

My family at the altar of Transfiguration Chapel in Caleruega after the mass. I never enjoyed my family as much as I do now that I am married. I get frequent visits from my mom and brothers every weekend. We usually plan out something to do together which we don't normally do before. Haha, I feel they are missing me & Kyle so much:D

I love this photo of my brother Jc taken by my friend Tricia. Luvet!

Yeah, it was raining the whole time that weekend. The priest actually said, kahit bumabagyo, mga layas daw kami! :D

Honeybee Farm

Yahoo! I finally got to experience Ilog ni Maria, a honeybee farm located in Silang, Cavite. I am loving this place and all their stuffs. My personal favorites are the Honey Propolis Shampoo and the Honey Glycerin Soap which I am now using for about two weeks already. Both have natural ingredients that smoothen the hair and skin. The soap has sampaguita smell -but surprisingly not the 'lola' type of smell ok?! :D It is quite difficult to get to the bee farm. There's a dirt road that you will have to pass through to get there. This I feel makes the trip really worth it when you're finally there. Good thing my husband was very much cooperative during this trip :) Thanks love! :)

While the boys & lolas went to tour around the bee farm, me & my friend tricia enjoyed -just shopping. My friend bought soaps to bring home in Ilocos. I think she began using the soaps already and she's loving it so much!. My husband got himself a Virgin Honey. As per product description, this is all-natural. Extra virgin- unheated and unfiltered for maximum healing action. He takes this everyday before breakfast as it says that it cleanses your digestive system. Hmmm, let's see if its works :)



Honeybee Farm
Silang, Cavite
Open Tuesdays-Sundays

project

travel

I love to travel. This is peace and serenity for me. No work,no problems, no nothing. My husband and I agreed to set aside extra budget that will serve as travel funds. When finances are better & more secured then maybe we can travel abroad also but for now, we are trying to enjoy what our country can offer. I am surprised and proud to discover wonderful places in our homeland. Yes, I work in the travel industry but I haven't been to all the tourist destinations in our country. Little by little, I am exploring her treasures and loving it more! I hope to visit places at least twice a year with my husband or family. I honestly think that we both deserve it for working so hard the whole year.

This year we both experienced Boracay the first time.We went to the island last January for our honeymoon. It was a very different & memorable experience for us. It was our first time to go to the beach together and travel on our own.




We have planned another trip sometime in July this year. We are going to an island with my husband's cousin and his fiance. We are looking forward to another exciting experience.:)



For short travels, we were able to explore more of Tagaytay with both our families last weekend and hopefully we can find time & extra cash to visit other places in Luzon. Would exciting and memorable for everyone! We can visit Ilocos (again & again! much love!), Baguio, Subic, Bicol & Quezon. One at a time of course :)

happy

Yehey! David Cook won! My sure bet and favorite right from the beginning of American Idol :) he definitely rocks!!! :) Got myself a new case for my digicam. Was planning to buy Golla but I couldn't find the right design /color that I really want so I ended up buying a Case Logic brand. Cheaper but I got the same quality that I want from Golla :) Good buy I guess! :D Hubby bought me a new book from A Different Bookstore in Eastwood. Thanks babe :) will start reading soon :)

My family enjoyed Tagaytay last weekend. Will try to post more about our trip before the week ends :)


Gotta go back working...

weekend

FAST FORWARD WEEKEND!!!

I can't wait for tomorrow. My family is spending the weekend at Tagaytay. My mama & mother in law already left this morning with my two brothers & Kyle but since husband & I still have t work today & half day Saturday, we'll just follow. I'm excited

I hope to have time to pass by Greenhills tonight after my work. I plan to get a case for my digicam at golla. I hope to find something like this later The color is very me HAPPY & surely lovin my life!

Unlike our usual Tagaytay weekend with Jp's family, I planned something productive & fun for my family & my adopted friend.

Saturday: visit Sonya's Garden ,dinner at home (my mama will prepare dinner) 8pm, we can have coffee/tea @ Starbucks One Destination or BAG of BEANS .

Sunday: breakfast at home, Sunday mass @ Calaruega or Chapel on the Hill,visit Honeybee Farm/ Gourmet Farm, lunch at home for my mama's cooking and swimming at RoyalTagaytay in the afternoon(para magamit naman ang consumables nila Jp) ...or just laze at home

We plan to leave for Manila around 4-5pm , have dinner in SLEX or early dinner at Mushroom Burger Restaurant or TAJ of TAGAYTAY.

SANA DI UMULAN! I'm excited!

banapple

My friend Naomi is leaving for her sister's wedding in Paris this weekend so we decided to meet up and have dessert/dinner somewhere near my house. We went to Banapple, a neighborhood dessert cafe that me & my husband loves next to Gateau de Manile (White Plains QC). I love their food also but since I already ate dinner at home, I settled with two desserts for me and Tricia to share.


Banapple is located at Katipunan Ave, fronting Kopi Roti & Freska Restaurant. It's actually a house converted into a small cafe. Very cozy, it's like eating dessert in your very own kitchen.

They offer a variety of cakes such as Blueberry Cheesecake P700, Two-Nut Caramel Cheesecake P700 , Chocolate Chip Walnut P480 Banoffee Pie P480 (I love this!), Apple Caramel Crumble P500, Snicker Fudge Cheesecake P800, Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake P700, Cadbury Old Gold Oreo Cheesecake P1020, Classic Pecan Pie P800, Honey Carrot Walnut Cake P650, Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake P650, Super Caramel Fudge Cake P700.

Other than their cakes, I love how their freshly baked cheese and mushroom pie as well & the signature banapple smoothie. My husband and I usually order this for merienda on Saturday afternoon.


Last photo with my foodies. Banapple coffee is not so good and pricey so we settled at home for brewed coffee & more catching up after.

BANAPPLE
225 Katipunan Ave. Blue Ridge Quezon City
Tel: (632) 439-2675
Open Monday to Sunday 7:30am to 11:30pm

My Happy Birthday

"when it rains, it pours" as quoted by my tita Lydia when I started getting worried because it began to rain so hard last Saturday . I started cooking & preparing after lunch, I even had candles lighted & teapots for my guest tables in the garage area- but you really can't have the best of everything.. it was a heavy downpour at 7pm when my guests started arriving so we had to rearrange and set-up inside the house instead. In short, nawala ang ambiance :( But inspite of the heavy rain, my friends and family were all there to celebrate with me. Am blessed because it rained :)


To my dear husband, thanks for helping Kyle with the surprise gift but next time don't forget to keep the receipt ha!?? hehehe! Love you & Kyle so much :) You mean the world to me. :)


My birthday menu (at least some of it :D wasn't able to take pics anymore of the other food kasi). Baked Rosemary chicken, Gateau de Manile's white chocolate mousse cake from my tita Lydia, Roast Pork and corn cob on the side and a pasta recipe from "No Reservations" :) Proud FYI: I did the cooking :)

With my loving family & in laws :) Kulang nalang talaga is another baby. Kyle must be excited. Sana talaga we can be successful this year :) That's my birthday wish (wink)

My highschool & college friends who made my birthday extra special. Thanks guys! I hope to have you in the house more often. Since I am the only married here, then sge I will do the cooking for now because I know all of your are busy with your gimmicks :) Come to think of it, I realized o nga lahat kayo single!!! :D


I love surprises & opening gifts! parang wedding at bridal shower ko ulit hehe :) Thanks for the wonderful & thoughtful gifts. Everyone gave me what I want & needed. 'goes to show that you guys know me that well talaga :)

It was a very happy birthday on a rainy summer! :)

Happy Mother's Day

I'm craving for Sonja's for about two weeks now. (Hubby, I really want one please xx) I hope I can drag my family on Sunday after our Mother's Day lunch. Meantime, check this out:

Sprinkles Cupcakes

The cupcakes looks so yummy and perfectly baked. I hope someone from LA can bring home some for pasalubing :D Oh well, nonetheless, I can settle for Sonja's :)

Photos courtesy of Sprinkles Official Website.

I am huge Sarah Mclachlan fan. I was influenced by a special friend back in 2003 and since then, I never grew tired listening to her songs. Her pop-jazz compilations are definitely my feel-good music & comfort songs. I'm happy she came out with a new album recently. B-sides, Rarities and Other Stuff was launched in the US and Canada late April this year. Can't wait to grab a copy of her new album.


My favorites among her albums are SURFACING, MIRRORBALL (1st row photos), FUMBING TOWARDS ECSTACY, AFTER GLOW (2nd row photos). My ever loved songs?? FALLEN (my super fave!!!), ADIA, BUILDING A MYSTERY, SWEET SURRENDER, ICE CREAM, I WILL REMEMBER YOU & BLACKBIRD :)

lovin' the songs of JAMIE CULLUM too particularly HIGH & DRY (TwentySomething) and EVERLASTING LOVE(CatchingTales) :)

can't wait for Sat! :D

oh yeah, it's moms' day on Sunday so just in case you want to be extra sweet to your moms, please check this out: www.cestcagiftworks.com


Life is beautiful :)

Lipstick Jungle

Lipstick Jungle! another series that will surely be loved!
'been wanting to cut my hair but I don't want it short. I think I wanna try Lindsay Price's (right most) hairstyle. What do you think trish?? :)

Sunday Cooking

(l-r) my mom, friend Tricia, Kyle, Jp & mother in law

I love Sundays.

I invited my mom, brothers and my friend Tricia who is in the city for her NCLEX review to have lunch with us yesterday . I get to practice my cooking only on weekends when Manang Linda, our cook is on a day-off. On a daily basis, I only prepare our weekly menu and she'll manage to prepare it very well and delicious for us.

My mom cooks so good and I hope to learn and master all her recipes. She's a "kapampangan" so her menus are very "pinoy". She cooks kaldereta, bulalo, sinigang, karekare very well. My friends who have tried her cooking will always leave the house with a thumbs up! One of our favorites at home is her buttered garlic prawns. Very Yummy! I included that in my menu last Sunday , only I made it spicy. The family said its sarap :)- except that it had too much sauce (husband said , mukhang spaghetti daw huhu) I guess I got too excited with the sauce recipe :D Nevertheless, everyone were busog and satisfied:)

Spicy Garlic Buttered Shrimps -tried mom's recipe :)

Peppered Rosemary Marinated Grilled Porckchop

Sweet & crispy indian mangoes. My mom's pasalubong from Ilocos.
My all time favorite fruit! perfect with sweet & spicy bagoong!

Creamy chicken & corn soup - Yaya Mila's contribution hehe!

These are the things that I love most about married life. Everyday is a challenge and inspiration. I feel happy seeing my boys very excited too! :)

Can't wait to start my baking :)

A Day with Chef Heny Sison

This is Chef Heny Sison herself, the instructor for this one-day baking class that I attended yesterday. She was very casual and it was like having this class in your very own kitchen. It's like mommy teaching me her classic "kapampampangan" recipes. I cook but I don't bake. I love desserts. I've been wanting to learn how to bake but I don't have enough days and opportunity to engage on it because my time is mostly devoted to my work and family. My husband is all support this time, told him I want to try this out and maybe start a home based business later on :)

learned 5 basic cake recipes from this class :)

Chocolate Fudge with Fudge Frosting

Butter Cake with Butter Icing

Sponge Cake with Whip Cream Icing

Mocha Chiffon Cake with Mocha Icing

Lemon Chiffon with Boiled Icing

A career that I always wanted but due to the fact that going to a culinary school is very expensive and I have other important financial responsibilities, I have to set this aside for now. Hopefully when my little boy gets older, I can still pursue this career.
It's not bad to dream after all :)

http://www.henysison.com/

What KRISTINE Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?