Sweet Devotion

Reading the story behind Ferrero Rocher made me love the brand even more.

The brand's founder - Michele Ferrero - is a devout Catholic and a firm devotee of Our Lady of Lourdes. In fact, the word "Rocher" means "rock," and it refers to the grotto in Lourdes where our Lady appeared.

This makes the story of this chocolate even sweeter.

Bake it 'til you make it!

Baking is a part of our family - even at a very young age. Back in my grade school days, I'd buy those pre-packed Devil's Food Cake mixes and try to make it at home. Some would succeed, others would look like burnt cakes on the outside but liquid inside. 

The interest came from my Mom who's a good baker. She'd make apple pie and empanadas for merienda when we were kids. And they were spectacular! Ate Lissa is also a good baker, and her specialty back then was macaroons. 

There was a book at home called "Cooking it up with Nora," written by the legendary Nora Daza. It had a section on cakes and baking, and I'd find myself reading the recipes and imagining that I'd make them.

When I was in high school, my interest in baking was still there. And around that time, I was determined to make that interest something real. So, with money saved from my allowance, I bought my first baking cook book.

And that cook book is still with me until now - 35 years after I bought it.

This book helped me become more confident in my skills. Through this book. I made my first Caramel Butter Tarts (which later became my specialty), my first Mud Pie, and my first attempt at making Dark Fruit Cake. 

Opening the pages of this book brought back so many fond and fun memories. More than that, it made me want to try making these recipes again.

One of these days, I'm going to make those Caramel Butter Tarts again.

Decisions, Decisions

To eat or to sleep? That's the pressing issue today's Monday cat is facing.

Looks like sleep won.

Madrid Madness

Chocolateria San Gines, an uber popular chocolate cafe in Madrid - has opened its first branch in Podium.

They're bringing in their famous chocolate and churros, a combination that's been around in MNL for quite sometime.

And as expected, the lines are cray!

They're not the first big churros brand in MNL. Just a few years ago, La Lola Churrria was a popular hang out spot, but they lost their steam a few years after. They're now trying to make a comeback through The Bistro Group. 

There's also the OG - Dulcinea. Now, this is the churros that we grew up with.

Honestly, I'm curious to see if the taste is the same as the original one in Madrid (but it's been almost 2 decades since my last trip there). But I'll wait for the crazy lines to subside before trying it.

LFLTAT: Stuck on Rugby

During my stint in HKG, one of the things that Hong Kongers would anticipate was the HK Rugby Sevens. It's a sporting event that became part of pop culture, and people would show up - costumes and all - to watch the rugby games.

That's why around April, you'll see a lot of Rugby themed merch floating all over the place. 

I'm actually a fan of Rugby shirts, and I've always had 1 or 2 in my closet. Right now, there are 3 in my rotation - 2 from Bench and 1 from SPAO.

While passing through SM Cubao, saw a Rugby shirt that was on-sale. Conveniently, there was a pair of baggy jeans that had the same colour story as the shirt. Those 2 sale items gave birth to this outfit.

This is so sporty and fashionable. The best part, it rang up to less than P1000!

Let's play Rugby!

FMM: Behind her

Today's Friday Magic Madness song is bittersweet. It's a song that's 20 years old, and the title has a colour which is also the name of a friend who we recently lost.

Hazel is one of the IUJ girls who I met during that time I surprised Mark in Urasa. I was sitting on a bench outside SD2, waiting for Mark, and this group of 3 girls passed by. I overheard one of them ask if the other 2 knew who I was, and what country I was from. That girl turned out to be Hazel.

It was during that same night, at the Karaoke party, that we were formally introduced. After that first meeting, we became friends. Being friends with Hazel was easy because she had a very friendly personality. She was bubbly, accommodating, and she always had a ready smile. 

Whenever she'd see me alone and waiting for Mark's class to finish, she'd stop and take time to chat and keep me company. Whenever we'd go to Yummy Ice Cream or JUSCO in Muikamachi, her presence would always light up that place where we were.

After their IUJ stint and they were back in Manila, we'd still occasionally see each other. Some were planned meetings, like when her daughter was baptised. Some would be accidental, like seeing her in the NEDA building in Ortigas. But no matter how many years have passed, she was still the same bubbly, accommodating and friendly Hazel from IUJ.

It was last Friday when we heard the news that she was in the hospital, and last Wednesday, we heard the sad news that she passed on. It's shocking since she's still young, and it's saddening because we won't be able to experience the friendliness and warmth that was uniquely Hazel.

So, for you, here's Kelly Clarkson's 2005 song which was one of the songs that kept me company during my first few months of living in HKG - "Beyond these Hazel eyes."

Vaya con Dios, Hazel. 

3D: Double Dark Denim

Although denim is a fashion staple, I've been noticing more and more denim pieces coming up and out these days.

Plains & Prints dropped their DNM Studios collection recently, and per usual, there were a lot of covetable pieces.

Just like this pair:

Yup, it's so good, I had to buy it stat!

The pants are cuffed, dark denim pants with side button details. The top is a loose, sleeveless top with a boxy silhouette. And together, this outfit gives a very nonchalant but cool vibe.

It's so cool, Ate wore it immediately.

And that's the sign that the outfit is doubly good.

Picture Pair-fect

I've been eyeing this cropped denim top from the Stella brand at Robinsons Department Store, but they don't have Ate's size. I've been looking for it at their Galleria, Magnolia and Ermita branch, but to no avail.

So, I asked Mark to check if they have it in RGS, the place to be. Here's the picture I sent him.

Then, a few days, he sent me this picture:

Woohoo! They have it!

But what's more amusing is the fact that our photos look alike, considering we shot it in different places and different times.

Yes, pairs do think - and take photos - alike.

Pinoy Pairing

I'm a fan of the solihiya pattern.

I'm a fan of Pinoy prints.

And SM has a barong that pairs these 2 nicely.

Would this be something I'd wear? Not really. It's a tad bit too flashy for me.

But it really is a nice barong.

Turn around

No, this isn't a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" post.

It's another cat post. It's a Monday after all.

And today's cat is facing the wall.

Makes me wonder why this cat has his back turned against all the onlookers and passers-by.

Maybe he did something wrong. Maybe he just doesn't want to see people.

But one thing's for sure, this cat sums up our feeling this Monday.