How To Kiss a Chocolate

Yes, I love Starbucks' Mocha Frappe but I cannot call myself a Starbucks fanatic. My best cafe remains to be The Chocolate Kiss.

True, The Chocolate Kiss has a limited selection of coffee offerings so in that sense may not be at par with Starbucks. But for the sweet-toothed me, I love Chocolate Kiss for their sumptuous array of cakes and pastries. My all-time faves include Devil's Food Cake & Texas Square Sundae. I still have to try the Choco Chip Cheesecake. Looks so good! I also love their pastas. Another must-try? Chicken ala Kiev. It may seem like a regular dish to most of us, but it is so delish and really marvelous. And when you are lucky to stay beyond dinner, soothing live music (in sax & violin) will entice you all the more to stay, relax a little longer and order more figure-busters.

Chicken ala Kiev

Choco Chip Cheesecake

The Chocolate Kiss was a witness to many of my college hang-out memories (and cutting classes? lol). Thus, ten years later, my college buddies would often pick it as a choice venue for our mini-reunions because we so love the food and ambiance. Now, my MBA-biz partner friends identified it as our perfect business meeting spot every week. Yey! How lucky can you get!

Just in case you would want to try it out (I haven't tried out the Roces outlet so that's a perfect branch to visit), I am willing to take you there as long as I get a free Devil's Food Cake!

My Christmas Resolution

As I alight from the elevator into my office floor this morning, guess what graciously greeted me? Two lovely Christmas trees yanked at opposite corners of our floor lobby. Yikes! Christmas is almost here!

Just when I was about to list down and add as sidebar entries my Christmas Wishlist this year, those decors have somehow put a pressure on me. For one, I need to prep up and plan for my Christmas giftlist. Last year, I remember putting up my list and nearly, only nearly, followed my list to the letter. However, as usual, I found myself caught in the holiday rush. Having been tooooooooo busy with the project's Christmas party preps that was scheduled on December 23 (a Friday) and Noche Buena for the people on duty on Christmas Eve, left me with such little time to attend to my Christmas to do's. Thus, I was able to do some last minute shopping on the 24th for my dear little baby, niece and nephews and other family members and pushed the buying of gifts for friends days after Christmas. My excuse? Christmas is still Christmas a day or two or weeks after December 25. Thank God it worked! (lol)

Okay, okay. So that experience actually drives me to adhere to my Christmas 2006 resolution: I should do my shopping earlier! I hope to complete my list in a week or two and finish shopping by the end of November, or first week of December at the latest. I am not a big fan of Divisoria (I was lost in the midst of crazy Divisoria five years ago!) simply because there are good alternatives around. I am thinking of coming to Clark for the good buys that my sister mentioned.

And to put extreme pressure on myself, I found a good Christmas Countdown banner! Look at the bottom of my page for a sample and link.

Of course, of course, Christmas is not about gifts nor new clothes. We are all grown up to realize that. However, there is such a heart-warming feeling to be able to give (in whatever form or amount) to your loved ones, don't you agree? One of the best gifts you can give is something you made out of your own crafty hands.

Finally, for those who won't make it to my list, I am ready to give warm hugs and kisses!

Feast One Hundred & Seventeen

Appetizer
Create a new candle scent.
Chocolate Mint, or a combination of Strawberry, Honey & Mint

Soup
Name one way you show affection to others.
I create poems for my friends--I do now mostly for my lil one.

Salad
What is your favorite writing instrument?
I used to love sign pens (blot-free please) especially when I do calligraphy.

Main Course
If you were given $25 to spend anywhere online, from which site would you buy?
Amazon.com or eBay for baby items or books ;)

Dessert
Are you dressing up for Halloween? If so, what are you going to be?
Er, no, but just in case I would, I'd love to be in a Half Angel/Half Devil costume--a halo + devil's tail + angel's wings + pitchfork!

For more servings, come & visit Friday's Feast.

Love Thursday: Waking Up to Someone You Love

Who wouldn't love to wake up to a little girl's precious smile, chinky eyes and chubby cheeks? You wouldn't want to close your eyes again.

Spread the love every Thursday.

Sisig, Calamares and Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross

Me playing the role of Mary Magdalene on stage? Quite unthinkable!

I don’t know how it started but my guy friends toyed with the idea of me

being considered as Mary Magdalene for their planned local JC Superstar Lenten production next year. I thought it was nothing but a joke. Who would think it was serious? It was discussed over sisig, calamares and bottles of beer!

I haven’t been on stage for eons and haven’t even practiced my, er, vocal prowess (as if I have one!) for many years. Mary Magdalene is a dream role, a thousandfold more challenging than the role of Virgin Mary herself. And I personally find Magdalene’s I Don’t Know How to Love Him extremely haunting.

In any case, I still think these thespian friends of mine were under toxic influence and so were in no way serious at all. Lest they are otherwise, I might need to reconsider, don't you think?

Quotes on Queue 1

There are two dilemmas that rattle the human skull:

How do you hang on to someone who won't stay?

And how do you get rid of someone who won't go?

The War of the Roses

~ o O o ~

Good to know: Beginning today, I will pick out beautiful quotes from all over and share them with you. This will be the first in my Quotes in Queue. Of course, comments on such are very much welcome.

A Snapshot of My Lil One

You don't really understand human nature

unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round

will wave at his parents every time around

- and why his parents will always wave back.

~William D. Tammeus

For the first time
I saw you ride the carousel on your own.

It melted my heart seeing you
With such innocent smile
And a chubby little hand waving at me.

Pure bliss it was
That only a child’s heart can fathom
All things so novel and cheerful and colorful.

Heaven it was
For me to see you, my Little One
In that moment.
I shall keep nothing, no single photograph
But a priceless snapshot in my heart
That shall last a million lifetimes.


~ October 22, 2006

Feast One Hundred & Sixteen

Appetizer

What is your favorite beverage?

Fruit juices, fruit shakes and iced coffee

Soup

Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.

A rubber stamp bearing my name, Starbucks coaster & a double-sided mirror

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?

There’s a portion of me which I still want to keep to myself so I’ll be an 8.

Main Course

If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?

Paris! I’d name it Parissimo. More classy. ;)

Dessert

What stresses you out? What calms you down?

My stress-inducers: tons of workload coupled with deadly deadlines.

My perfect life ingredients each of which has a calming effect: Nikki, music, chocolate & ice cream!

A Woman and Her (Other) Man

I find this piece very intriguing. For the sole reason that it reminded me of a few girlfriends. Similar but not quite.

Yes, I do have a few married girlfriends who confided they have had another man at one point in their life, with one of them still on it. I would understand if some would raise eyebrows and say I am tolerating my friends’ illicit endeavors. Hear the story of Lara* first.

Lara* has a very promising career in a field dominated by men. She is married to Marco*, and they have a yound child. He is very responsible, sweet & intelligent, he himself has a thriving career and loves his family so much. She came to me one night to divulge one well kept secret—that she is seeing another man. I was surprised because, all along I thought everything was going smoothly in her married life. To a certain extent, it IS going smoothly. Thus, she doesn’t know how and why her affair started. She started seeing Luis* early this year and they hit it off, but they have been colleagues for a little less thaan 10 years now. Luis, by the way, is a separated man.

I prefer not to unveil more details because of the risks. The night she revealed herself to me marked the beginning of a very intimate friendship. Over time, in our talks, we were able to identify the crux of her situation. She has become more open and more in touch with her feelings, at certain times crying before me when situations go bad, or when she realizes how she has been undeserving of her husband Marco’s love. One thing she is sure of: while she knew she loves Luis more than Marco (you read that right), she could not afford to leave him and their child just to be with Luis. Right now, they are still together, Lara with husband Marco, and Lara with the other man, Luis, but their relationship was not as intense as before.

I learned that the last thing that you could offer another woman with the same predicament is this: prejudice. The hard part is that it is easier said than done. Women like Lara do not exactly need an advice; my contention is that, mature as they are, they know what to do and when to do it. The best I did for them was to accept and understand them, playing the devil’s advocate when needed.

* not their real names

~ oOo ~

The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. ~Henny Youngman

Love Life

Taken from Capones Island, off Pundakit coast in Zambales (May 2005).

develop interest in life as you see it;
in people,
things,
literature,
music -

the world
is so rich,
simply throbbing
with rich treasures,
beautiful souls
and
interesting people.

forget yourself.

~ henry miller

This Baby is Not Yours

This postcard from PostSecret convicted me! Or should I say, it is because I am partly guilty?

My life has been an open book to many who came in and out of (not to mention those who stayed in) my life. In fact, I have retold my story here. But no, I never denied who the father of my child was. What moved me here is the fact that I may be guilty of forbidding her to experience a few special moments with her father.

Am I being selfish? Is there a tinge of guilt within me?

Feast One Hundred & Fourteen

Appetizer

Name a song you know by heart.

"Get Here" - I can sing it over and over again.

Soup

What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?

Uhm... pick my nose. Or scratch my privates. Eek.

Salad

How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?

I don't really use one, but am planning to buy one soon. I'd love to have Listerine.

Main Course

Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...

I sing out of tune in front of people, which happens when I'm tipsy. lol

Dessert

What was the last food you craved?

Ice cream! I always crave for ice cream... yum.