It was all yellow...

Last February 11, Sophie and I painted the UP Hotel yellow to celebrate two milestones--my 30th and her 4th birthdays.

So, as with the yellow theme, we got yellow centerpieces, yellow balloons and an amazing yellow cake. We opted to do the party at the UP Hotel because it is nearer everyone, reasonably priced and the food and service were amazing. The ambiance music was a combination of Switchfoot and then later in the afternoon, played our family favorite The Beatles.

I was expecting--hoping there would be more guests than the actual turn out but Sophie had a blast running around and playing with all those amazing kids. I knew she had fun. And that's fun enough for me :)

Hi, I'm Christine and I am an Aquarian.

I used to read horoscopes daily. Not just horoscopes actually. I used to have so much "pamahiins". Then I attended church. Which is very good. Now I leave everything to prayers and His guidance.

Nonetheless, I came across an aquaintance's blog and we share the same zodiac sign. Its pretty interesting so I posted it here. Here goes...

************************

"For those born Aquarius 2012 year of Dragon will be a year of action. There is an ample amount of energy needing release. 2012 is time to make your move. Sound your battle cry and use a little of the unique originality you were born with. Your creativity is being summoned for the greater good. A coming of age transformation, no matter how old you are, is under way, and it is happening fast. How exciting! 

You can expect much action and focus on communications, with Mercury, the Moon, and Pluto occupying this 2012 year the area of your horoscope that relates to siblings and short trips, and anything that assists this, like cars and kindles, ipods and androids. Our world is rich with communication devices in ways never seen before on Earth, (that we can remember). The lost continent of Atlantis is said to have surpassed our technological advances. There is a supportive trine aspect with mars that is truly a blessing. You will feel called to humanitarian causes, perhaps you will be a spokesman for these causes. There is an urgent sense of needed change, an enough is enough energy that will agitate you into speaking out. This impatient energy will be well-grounded as well. There is something you are building on, a solid foundation is being laid for you to stand upon. 

Being an Aquarius you are mostly going to enjoy all this fast action and energy. Uranus is your ruling Planet granting you with the urge to be free, truthful and independent. Aquarius is often the rebel genius, who enjoys shocking others. A trait that helps you to thumb your nose at convention. Pluto, one of the indicators of the soul’s evolutionary path, is also out to transform your communications. This 2012 year of Dragon you will feel drawn to create harmony through your words or art, self-expression is much needed and with Pluto contacting Venus in your 5th house of creativity you can bet something beautiful will come out of you; this situation is harmonizing. 

Neptune in aspect to Saturn will help you feel a sense of structure to a very unstructured transformation. This 2012 year you may not be used to having to discipline yourself, it’s so restricting, but with Saturn, the task master, in your house of identity, you will come across as very grounded and dependable- this energy will add an air of authority to all you do. The discipline will make sense now and you will feel grateful for the boundaries. 

Chiron with Venus will provide you this 2012 year of Dragon with very healing experiences relating to children, creativity, or romance. Perhaps you will meet someone now who helps you heal this area of your life. If you were stifling your creative self for any reason now you can expect a liberation of sorts, a liberation that may take some effort on your part- resist resistance and you will make fabulous strides towards your positive evolution. 

Jupiter, planet of expansion, faith and Vision in 2012 is in your house of partnerships and negotiations With Jupiter here you can expect luck relating to these areas of your life. A buoyant expansion of activity will leave you feeling blessed with a sense of wonder. Expect synchronicity that shifts your perspective and opens your mind to formerly unseen possibilities. Your sense of self is going to be changed as well. A more creative, perhaps a much deeper you is emerging through all this lucky expansion. Use your discretion when forming new partnerships, but do expect serendipity to arrive at some point this year. You will be learning much about partnership which can be tricky for an Aquarian, but all the magic surrounding these lessons will help you accept the process and appreciate partnerships in new ways. 

2012 year of Dragon is certainly a year with many developments. Exciting changes will keep you busy and your sense of purpose will be clear. You will not be able to stop yourself from rushing in and making a difference, follow your instincts and you will not be lead astray. Your originality will be noticed and your relationships will be productive, supportive, and rewarding. Hard work and originality will pay big dividends this 2012 year. Any transition can be difficult, good or bad, but the Aquarian parts of you will be reveling in all this newness. You are changing the status quo, just like you were born to do, and you will feel that sense of right all the way down to your toes in 2012." Shouts & Murmurs

Buddha Bar dining

Last night, the roommate, my new BFF and I went to attend a food tasting of sort at the what is to be the hottest upscale lounge and bar in this side of town--Buddha Bar. 

Lobster with noodles 

Buddha Bar Chicken Salad, Foie Gras and Lobster with noodles 

Chocolates at 10 PM is really a bad idea, but who cares? ;)
Warm chocolate  pudding,  creme brulee trio and caramelized chocolate something with avocado ice cream

Lamb Curry with Mango Sauce 

Pigging OUT!

Buddha Bar Chicken Salad 

Midway month 1 of 2012

Kiddo and I, day before Christmas in our first home...

How time flies and how amazing so many things can happen in a span of one year! So how was 2011 for me? It was bittersweet. I finally get Charles Dickens on how some season may be the best and worst of times at the same time.

As I write this blog, room mate, kiddo and I have moved to our condo unit, some thirty minutes away from our office. Oh the price of freedom. Steep but worth it. Most of the financial rewards we got last year was spent on our furniture, appliances and beddings. It was good to at least start somewhere, isn't it? I can walk/run, swim and go to the gym whenever I want to--ideally.

I have been promoted to Senior Account Manager in the firm I am working on, and I must say it was such a wonderful thing to experience, especially when you know you are seriously passionate about what you are doing. Although I can say that this year may be a turning point in my professional career as I have other plans, this firm is one of the best things that ever happened to me. Where I worked hard and got acknowledged for it--well, 70 percent of the time. I love most of the people I work with, my boss and I love my clients. In a few days, I will be flying out of time--Cebu and Davao for a roadshow of media launches. With that, I am so back :)

So, what is there to look forward to in 2012?

A lot. That deserves another blogpost all together. So for now, I hope you had the happiest holidays!!

Tomato Kicking and then some Bookay Ukay

So last weekend was a treat as it was 4 glorious days of nothingness. So what do you do when you dont have anything planned? You eat of course.

So, room mate, with yaya and kid in tow decided we ought to try the restaurants in UP Village, not having tried it ever--despite studying in the area for 5 years. So, first try, we picked Tomato Kick.

Tomato Kick is a quaint  restaurant located along Maginhawa St., in UP Village. It is located atop the al fresco deck of the building and it had the indie vibe so I made a mental note to try the place at night. According to inquirer.net, Tomato Kick is owned by Moonstar 88's Paolo and Mara Bernaldo.

Anyway, kiddo wanted rice so I got her Chicken Alfredo. I also ordered fajitas, rice fajitas, quesadilla and room mate got chilly cheese dog--which is probably his staple "safe" order. The Quesadilla was quite disappointing. It was so thin and there wasn't much cheese. The Chicken and Beef fajitas were quite sad as well. It was too salty and salt  masked the taste of the chicken and beef.

I like the chicken alfredo though because it was so creamy and the chicken was just right. Room mate also like his chilly hotdog.

Tomato Kick's Chicken Alfredo is yum! 

Tomato Kick's Chicken Fajitas with Rice 

Whats left of the Quesadilla

Tomato Kick Fajitas--I like mine un-wrapped though  because it leaves me  room to select whatever stuff I want in it 

Artsy fartsy signange. Try their branch along Katipunan too. 

We also went to the next door bookstore--Bookay Ukay which offers the most interesting array of second hand books and trinkets. Its so easy to get lost in the whole book experience, but with a kid in tow, you are always reminded.

The sign said "Rage Against Conformity. Rise Above Mediocrity. Read." And I say, Amen.

Bookay Ukay sells books and other interesting whatnots. They sell  beer bottles too. No kidding. 

Oooh! A REAL typewriter! I know someone who will love this. 

Bookay Ukay's wall.

Tomato Kick 
# 55 Maginhawa St., UP Village QC
www.tomatokick.multiply.com
(02) 4895503

Bookay Ukay

www.bookay.multiply.com

More Tomassi Please?

In Italian, Tomassi must have meant tomato (most obvious translation at least). In Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Tomassi is this recently opened little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant that offers an alternative to the Italian restaurants that have surprisingly mushroomed around the metro.

So, one spontaneous afternoon, upon the recommendation of our foodie friend, girlfriends and I went. The place still smells of fresh paints ha. That's how new this place is! First thing I noticed are the walls. Very much like the other Italian restaurants in town, Tomassi has the obligatory mural wall, but theirs is faux painting (mottling?). Even the bathroom looked pretty with all the faux flowers.

It took a while before my dates arrived so I ordered minestrone soup and some appetizer because I was famished (the name of which I totally forgot). Soup was good. It was pretty but properly sour which I really loved. I thought, well, it looks promising this restaurant.

I was almost alone that afternoon, save for another lady in another table so the service was pretty fast! The waitress was also very friendly and she even helped me connect to a wifi.

Tomassi's Minestrone soup is love!

Italian eating  is best done with girl friends with seriously good appetite =)

Anyway, when my dates arrived, we ordered two Clementina Chops and Pesto pasta. Since I am not very fond of rice, I had mine replaced with anything but. So the waitress offered more buttered vegetables instead, which is really very nice of them. They even gave us loads of free breads and dips while waiting for the main course! Oh, carbs galore.

Tomassi Clementina Chops

The chops were huge, for Php 180++ but it could use a little more pressure cooking  and probably, marinating time. The buttered vegetables were likewise cold and the butter  have almost solidified to a point.  The pesto pasta was likewise huge but they probably used a little too much oil.  

We would have wanted to try the dessert but we had to run off to the coffee shop and we've to be somewhere else. Maybe next time =) 

Passing Time

So, Friday, we meet again.

I've dreaded Fridays for a while now, well, ever since I started feeling empty, longing to do something else or be somewhere else. Remember that night I almost slept in the office because I was sooo...oh emotionally unstable, as my intern calls it, then offers me vodka afterwards.

Anyway, tonight feels different. I am starting to feel that overwhelming sense of independence again. That feeling that I do not have to be with someone else, with you even (apart from kiddo, who is spending Fridays and Saturdays with the in-laws till we move--but that's another story which deserves another post altogether).

Remember I told you Friday is the saddest day of the week? Well, its beginning not be be like that anymore. Tonight, I feel like I can survive it, alone. I planned to shop away, but a looming big ticket move prevented me from doing that. So I opted for a quiet place in the middle of the busiest place in the whole of Metro Manila. Lucky me, I found two spots where I can stay in peace.

Remember when I used to be so emotionally dependent on you. But I am starting to change. I still have moments when I feel like I need to be with you--and I feel that almost everyday still, but I can handle them all now. Trying is more the operative word. But despite the independence, I feel sad still. Sad because you don't seem to care. Sad because nothing matters anymore. And sad because I feel empty. But what can I do? I need to pass time. And I suppose, in the same manner, you do too.