I'll be seeing you real soon, Ellen DeGeneres!

I am scheduled to take my vacation leave this coming October, and I'm bringing my DD Cassie, and my DH Paolo.  We are going to LV, be with my sister and her family...  This is going to be exciting...  Since it'll be September in a few days, my mind can't stop thinking of this much needed vacation.  Haven't visited the US in 5 years!  And when was the last time I was in LA?  U-oh, it has been 13 years already!!!  So much has changed I believe... 

Since this vacation is a little bit expensive for me, I decided to make it worthy by watching my favorite show on Earth, hosted by my favorite host in the world, 

 Ellen DeGeneres!!!!!!!

I didn't think it was impossible...  I tried to focus on seeing myself in that studio...  But how???
At first, I had no idea how to get tickets for her show.  I went to her website, I added it to my favorites, and waited for the schedule of ticket availability.  Patiently, I visit her website everyday to monitor the dates.  At last, yesterday, my chosen date was highlighted.  That means, I can book tickets for her show on that particular day, and started typing all the info they need for my ticket requests.  It was clearly stated that filling up the forms online is not a guarantee that I'll be granted tickets.  I have to wait for their call for the confirmation and verification of the online application.  

I expected them to call at least a week later after the submission.  But to my surprise, they called me the next day and gave me the confirmation already!!!!  I almost fell off the chair when they asked if I was still interested!!!!  I almost yelled, of course!!!!!!!!!

The friendly staff gave me instructions and verified my mailing address for the tickets...  

This has been the best day of my life...  I wonder how I'd call the day when I'm on the show already???  

The "best" would be an understatement I guess...

Sorry for this long and shallow post...  I just had to blurt it out!!!!

Food Blog: Spasso

We all have different sets of friends...  I have grouped mine...  Of course they are all very nice, loving, sincere, and caring to me...  But they all come from different stages in my life so I had to categorize them...   I'm pretty sure you guys do the same too...

I have Travel/Coffee Friends....  These are the group of friends that randomly spends coffee nights at UCC, Starbucks, etc...  And we see to it that we travel out of the metro once a year to at least, relieve ourselves from the stress we get from the business...

Last Friday, they invited us to join them watch  

Acoustic Indulgence at Spasso (Italian Tapas & Enoteca).

Spasso is located at the Luxe Residences, 4th Avenue corner 28th Street, 

The Fort (Fort Bonifacio, Taguig). 

We had tapas, vino, dinner, and dessert while enjoying the music of the trio... 

Spinach Frittata

Chicken Diablo

Herb Crusted Chicken

Aglio Olio with Truffle Oil

The last one is my favorite!  I love garlic and olive oil...  The truffle made it more superb!!!

What's more interesting is, I love listening to Acoustic Indulgence!!!  

They played songs of Corinne Bailey Rae, Alanis Morisette, Alicia Keys, and other lounge music that made me feel relaxed sitting comfortably, 

with a glass of fine Bordeaux in my hand...

The Bag Genie turns 30

What do Pete Sampras, Aga Muhlach, and Dennis Robles have in common?  They are all August 12 Birthday Celebrants...  And what else???  They're all famous for their own talent, craft, and ability...  Dennis is, as how Mega Magazine described him, the Philippines' Bag Genie, and as an inspiration to Jeffrey Campbell who called him, the "Bag Connoisseur".

  He loves to travel, and does it in first class...

He loves to collect, and gets the top of the line...

He is unsinkable...  

His timing is superb, and he knows when to stop...

It is an honor to be invited to see his new home, and I call it, 

Molto Costoso Casa (a very expensive house, It.)

I know a lot of people who buys expensive stuff for themselves for the purpose of showing off.

(bags and cars?) But when you look inside their houses, "A Mess" is definitely an understatement.

The Bag Genie's house is a clean, small abode with everything on it! 

I can live and stay there for a month!

I am so proud of my friend...

Thank you for the wonderful dinner and overflowing booze...

Here's what the Purse Ladies got for you!

The only framed picture in the living room... And that's us!!!

Photography:  Peegee Silo of Digiglimpse

Do short people need to have short hair?

They say that shoulder-length is universally the most flattering length. Think about it: No matter how tall or short you are, no matter how fat or narrow your face is, no matter how frizzy or curly your locks, you will look good in shoulder-length hair.

Long hair generally means below the shoulders. Women with long straight hair are usually the gifted ones (sourgraping) who has oval and square faces, and who are thin...

Super-short people (ehem, me super short?) don't usually grow their hair long because it tends to make them look shorter.

But actually, choosing on how to wear your hair is up to you... I have friends who are shorter than I am but have very long, luscious hair and they seem to carry it with confidence. I think this is where the face shape comes in.

For us with round shaped face, it is advisable for us to have a bob hair cut in layers so it won't look like a big mass of hair. It's good if our hair moves flawlessly when we turn our heads left and right... If we want to grow longer hair, say, below the shoulders, we need to have the front part (lip and chin) layered so as to make our face a little longer. Adding side swept bangs also helps to create an illusion...

Here are some pics of women who has round shape faces and look great on short hair...




I am short and I want to grow my hair long.... Say below the chest area... I'm determined to do so because this is the first time I am doing it and, for years, I have had a bob cut. So far my friends seem to love my present hairstyle. Since I have natural wavy hair, I had the top part cut in layers, and trim down until the ends. Making the ends soft and wavy.



I am happy with my hair and eventhough I am on the "short and plump" side, I believe I can carry it with confidence. I have also learned that "a good hair cut masks your downfalls and promotes your best features".

How about you? Which haircut do you think works for you???

10 ways to look slimmer on photos

Because almost everybody is on Facebook, almost everybody has a camera... And since everyone has a camera, everyone needs to have a copy of a group picture taken, and it takes forever to get all pictures done. I feel awkward at times when our group asks a waiter to take our picture and hand him around 6 to 8 cameras!!! It's a little distracting especially to other people who are on the same venue... And a lot of times, the waiter needs to rush off, but he couldn't get everyone's attention, so he feels a little pissed, waiting for us to settle down, before he clicks the shutter! One more thing, sometimes, if the camera is way too professional, the owner has to instruct the waiter on how to click the shutter, and how to focus, how to zoom and how to put us in the middle of a square, etc... haha, it is endless...

But that's how it is... There's no way we can change it... We are happy with that, and when we see the pictures on Facebook, it brings back good memories, laughter, and more things to talk about... That is why it is always good to look slimmer on photos...

Since I am (totally) not slim, I have somehow mastered the art of hiding from the camera... Here are some useful tips.

1. If you're in a restaurant, don't sit right in front of the photographer. Choose a location where you can stand behind who's sitting.

2. Turn partially sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot.

3. Pull head forward slightly to minimize any appearance of a double chin.

4. Hold arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening out.

5. Pull shoulders back, chest forward and gently suck stomach in. Be careful not to suck stomach so far in that your ribs show.

6. Use objects you are holding to your advantage by placing them in front of parts of you you'd prefer to hide. A purse or corsage in front of your belly. A jacket slung over the shoulder.

7. Wear Spanx. (Lovin' it)

8. Put on some bronzer. (makes your face look smaller)

9. It's not just black that makes you look thinner. Wearing an entire outfit of just one color will do the trick as well, whether it be white, beige, brown, blue or red. One color tends to elongate your figure.

And this one last tip, not just to make you look slimmer, but makes you look naturally beautiful, try the look away trick. Here's the way to do this, (1) project, (2) look away from the camera, then (3) turn towards it, breaking into a smile just before the camera clicks. Your smile will appear fresh, not frozen.

There you go... You'll always look fresh and fabulous on your photos from now on...

Bring my "mojo" back...

It's been almost a year since I last blogged... So much pain, guilt, and regrets have gone my way, was hurt, was insulted, was laughed at... I chose to keep it low, remained calm, remove myself from the blogosphere...

Last week, I started reading blogs again, and it inspired me... Made me miss blogging, and motivated me to move on...

I realized that I've grown older, wiser, and more optimistic than before... And this time, I am saying NO to Negativity...

You will see no more negative things on my blog and will try my best to make it worth reading...

Thank you to all who inspired me in bringing back my "mojo" again...