Joei & Me

If there's one thing I don't do, it's bringing cash.  My sister and I were introduced very early to credit cards and checks so I wasn't really used to handling paper money.  

I know debit cards have existed for quite some time but I'm not 100% comfortable with the idea of using a card linked to my Savings Account to buy things. I've heard of a good number of horror stories and I didn't want to end up with my account all drained up.  But come this Christmas season, it's hard not to bring cash because stores give discounts and promos when you pay in cash.  And then I saw this video about the RCBC MyDebit Card and applied for one.  

The RCBC MyDebit Card is also a debit card linked to a Savings Account but it has an EMV chip that contains all the information needed to use the card for payment and has various security features which acts as a protection from fraudulent transactions. So now, I don't have to line up to withdraw cash in the ATM anymore.  I can just give my RCBC MyDebit Card directly to the store since it's a Mastercard which can be used in over 38 million MasterCard affiliated establishments and online merchants.

At the end of the post, I'm going to share with you a video covering my last minute Christmas gift shopping for family and friends.

Are you like me who still uses notebooks and planners for their day-to-day activities? If yes, check out Serenitea's 2018 Diary.  

Some say sweetness is their weakness and I thought that was true for me too. But apparently, mine is laughter. Through the years, I realized that all I need in this world to be happy is to eat good food, travel every so often to distant places, and laugh to my heart's content.

Jo Koy is the shizz. I watch his show on Netflix over and over and still laugh even if I already know what the punch lines are. T even plays Jo Koy's podcasts in the car to ease the stress of the daily commute, especially when traffic is bad.  So when I learned that Jo Koy was coming to the Philippines to do a few shows, I got really excited. Things got so crazy with wedding planning though that I wasn't able to buy tickets immediately. By the time I was able to check online, everything was sold out. I was so disappointed!

But how it always is for me, a person who rarely has a "want", the universe conspired once again to grant my wish.  T and I ended up watching Jo Koy at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu.

*To read more posts about this trip, click on the label US Trip 2015

I am still on a wedding high (does it even wear off??) and I can't wait to write about it but I realized I haven't blogged about this item I checked off my bucket list.. Skydiving! I was looking through my drafts and saw this post left unpublished.  So let me tell you first about my experience with Pacific Coast Sky Diving in San Diego, California before I go full blast about our wedding.

T and I finally did it.. We tied the knot!  It's been one crazy rollercoaster ride and there are so many things I want to write about but for now, I just want to give you a sneak peek into the happiest day of my life ♥️

Imagine coming up with an app and selling it for millions of dollars. What would you do? Most of us would definitely say travel and yes, that's what millennial tech entrepreneur Garett Gee did.

In 2014, Garett sold his technology company to Snapchat for $54million and went around the world with his family.  And guess what? Garett has Filipino blood! But he's never been to the Philippines so he's traveling here for the first time. His visit will be documented in the newest original series from Myx TV called "Discovering Routes".

These three words bring back memories of my grade school years while reading my Araling Panlipunan (social studies/history) books.  Little did I know that I will be seeing it many, many years later.

T and I are happy when restaurants open in Alabang. Although we are content with the usual go-to places in our home base, sometimes we are in the mood to try something new. One Sunday, after hearing mass at the beautiful Sacred Heart Jesus Parish Church near Alabang Hills and Hillsborough Alabang, we go to Madison Galeries to check out The South District Food Hall, which opened only last July.

The newest restaurant in City of Dreams Manila is Jing Ting Noodles & Dumplings.  It's an open kitchen, casual dining restaurant that offers Cantonese dishes.  I regret not being able to take a photo of the restaurant's exterior (because I'm in a wheelchair which is another story for another time) but it looks like a little house.  Actually, Jing Ting means little house or resting place and is inspired by the Chinese Hutongs, which are small areas of old buildings in Beijing.

I don't get to read leisurely as often as I used to because of the busyness of daily life.  But reading is one of the things I love doing so I decided to carve out even a little time each day for it.  Instead of browsing on my phone before going to sleep, I pick up a book or my Kindle.

Here are three books which I finished last month.  All of them are new releases so you might want to reserve a copy in Fully Booked or Powerbooks. I got mine from the US though so I'm not sure if all of them are available here already.

Are you familiar with the movie The Breakfast Club? The premise of this book is similar to that except that this one involves a murder.  There's the brainy girl Bronwyn who never breaks a rule, the beautiful Addy who is the picture-perfect homecoming princess, the notorious Nate who is a criminal and in probation for dealing, the sporty Cooper who is an all-star baseball pitcher, and the outcast Simon who is the author of a gossip app in their high school (which gives it an element of Gossip Girl too).  They all get detention but before the day is over, one of them dies. 

The book is a page turner.  Even if I read it only a few pages at a time (in the airport before a flight or while waiting in line somewhere), my interest in the story never wavered. One of Us is Lying would actually be a good teenage TV show which I would binge watch on Netflix.  The only thing I don't like about it is the lack of twists and turns. This book is very wholesome with only a little bit of adult content. I wish it were a bit darker like the TV show Riverdale on CW/Netflix.  

Image credit: Goodreads

After picking me up from the airport, T and I have dinner at Mr. Roboto, the newest restaurant to open at the Sykes Building in Alabang Town Center.  The first thing that catches our attention is the retro wall featuring 80's favorite comics and cartoons like Voltes V and Mazinger Z.  You can't miss it when you walk by.

Beauty MNL is a shopping mecca of curated skin care, make up, and hair products ranging from beauty staples such as moisturizers and sunblock to beauty trends such as snail cream.  They asked me to give their website a test run and here are the goodies I got.

I finally got to visit Container Turf in BF Homes Parañaque two weeks ago.  It's a food park with more or less 25 food stalls that sell different items.  I have a penchant for fair food (read my blog post about the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar) which is characteristically interesting but not weird or icky. Majority of what's available in Container Turf is sort of like that.  Every stall has its own unique concept.  It's difficult to take a photo of each and every one though because there are too many people, so let me just go through the food we've tried during our visits.

I've discovered a lot of things about Perla (yes, as in the laundry soap!) at the latest Mothers Who Brunch event in Westgate Alabang.  Let me share some of the tidbits I learned that afternoon with you.

Just wanted to say a quick hello to everyone!

In the middle of new ventures and wedding preps, I am doing a blog revamp as well so please bear with me. How do you like the lighter look? I also made the blog more mobile-friendly for browsing.  Comments are very much welcome since everything is still a work in progress.  I guess that's it for now.   My allergies are killing me and I need to get some shut eye soon.  Happy Thursday! Stay safe and dry from the rains.

Image credit: Pinterest

You might have seen this event in my Instagram stories two Saturdays ago.. Chef Shigeki Iimura performing a live demo of his special Japanese Serenade menu in Buddha Bar Manila.

Two weeks ago, I was invited to Skin 101 in Alabang Town Center to try their facials.  

Decathlon, Europe's number 1 sports retailer, is now in Manila.  Lucky me, their first mega store in the Philippines opened in Festival Mall Alabang, which is near us, so T and I went there last weekend to check it out.  There are so many great finds and the prices are not bad too! Let me share with you what I saw while going around.

Enjoy a night of Japanese cuisine prepared by Chef Sigeki Iimura (who is flying all the way from Japan) in front of a live crowd while a violinist plays a beautiful ensemble at Buddha Bar's Japanese Serenade happening this Saturday, July 8.  This is a once-in-year event you wouldn't want to miss!

For inquiries and reservation about the event, you can call (02) 856-6719, (02) 856-6859, or (0998) 983-3918.  Buddha Bar is located at Picar Place, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.  See you there!

I had a craving for fries one day and asked my Facebook friends for the best french fries they've had.  Here's a round up of the top answers, as well as my personal preferences, in no particular order.

1. McDonald's French Fries

Almost everyone mentioned McDonald's as their favorite.  Some like it soft and chewy but others like it well done and crispy (like me!) but we all agree that it's best when newly cooked.  T and I enjoy going through the drive thru of 24 hour branches late at night because we always get a fresh batch!  Dip it in McDonald's Hot Fudge sundae? Perfection.

Image credit: @mcdo_ph

Attention staycation fans! Acacia Hotel Alabang is having a flash sale for the upcoming long weekend. You'll also get a special bubble bath kit for adults and kids! 

Part 1 - Staycation at the Executive Suite

Part 2 - The Lobby at Acacia

Part 3 - Lurra Wellness Spa

Part 4 - A Steakhouse and Tree Top Lounge 

Part 5 - Breakfast Buffet at Acaci

Well, we have been for a while now but I haven't written much about it because we initially wanted to keep it on the down low.  But while scrolling through my old posts, I realized that this blog is a treasure trove of memories.  Reading about our past travels or culinary adventures never fail to bring a smile on my face so I've decided to do the T + J Wedding Diaries.  Let me start with the day we got engaged.  

Like many of you, I'm one of those girls who buy make up but don't really know how to use them.  It's just so tempting to go inside Sephora or Beauty Bar and buy everything right?? I know of the brands and their products but what use would that be if I don't know how to apply them correctly.

That's why I got excited when La Vie Institute and Benefit Cosmetics invited me to their Lifestyle Make-Up Workshop which is basically a 101 for everyday make up routines.  It's perfect and just what I need.

T and I were invited by 1771 Group of Restaurants to a back-to-back celebration.  It was the opening of Sentro 1771 and the anniversary of Flatiron in Uptown Mall BGC.  Flatiron, which opened its first branch last year in the said mall, serves American comfort food prepared on a griddle.  

All that I am today and all I've become, I owe to you.  I hope to be even just half the super mom you are to us when my time comes.  Happy Mother's Day! ♥︎

I'm sure most of you have heard of Okada Manila because it's the newest hotel and casino in Entertainment City and it houses the biggest multi color dancing fountain in the world.. Yes, in the world!  T and I paid a visit there a few weeks ago to check what restaurants and stores are already open so we can go someplace new for dinner.

I've heard mixed rior of Okada Manila's lobby so I wanted to see it for myself.  As soon as I entered, I got Princess Jasmine feels with the exotic decors, big domes on the ceiling, and splashes of pink and gold all around.  What do you think of it?

Two weeks ago, I attended the launch and VIP shopping night of H&M's Conscious Exclusive Collection 2017 in SM Makati with two of my favorite shopping partners, T and my friend Dianne Lee.

After biking and walking for almost three hours, we wanted only two things... To change out of our clothes and TO EAT.  All of us wanted something fast but still delectable so we decided to do the lunch buffet at Barbara's Restaurant.

I've been wanting to do a tour around Intramuros since I've heard of Carlos Celdran's walking tour but T and I haven't been able to do so.  Luckily, T's sister Michelle asked us if we wanted to join her and her friends so T and I were finally able to do Bambike's Intramuros Ecotours!