Spying Over Burn After Reading

I want to see this movie simply because I'm such a huge fan of Brad Pitt and George Clooney. I have never missed their movies. Am sure, this movie would be fun to watch.

And of course, I want to be with my fellow Nuffnangers.



Click here, to check it out.

The Day I Started Blogging...

My daily morning ritual would begin with a cup of coffee then have my full heavy breakfast, read The Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer, check my mails and surf more. One day while reading the paper, I came across the name of Sassy Lawyer. Got curious, I started going to her site. Oh boy, she's really one sassy lawyer, writes so well and a very loving wife and mother. From then on, my day wouldn't be complete if I don't read her blog. I tried to leave some comments, followed the instructions and actually saw them printed right away in her post. This is exciting especially when I see her reply to my comment right away. Feels great...Way back, I refer to her post as an article, her blog as a website. I still didn't know what a blog is...I admit I'm a technology-challenged individual. We don't have computer classes in high school neither in college. The first time I actually spent some time on the computer was when I encoded and printed our group thesis at home a month before our college graduation.

Going back, I was really enjoying my time reading, commenting in the Sassy Lawyer's blog. Then I tried to click innocently on the names of some people who leave their comments on each post/topic/article. Suddenly, I was in another website. I remembered it was Teacher Julie's site. Now my blog reading addiction has grown from Sassy Lawyer to Teacher Julie. Instantly, I felt connected to Julie who happens to know some of hubby's nephews. We exchanged emails and eventually became friends. Prior to that, while on the course of my readings, I started clicking on the names on Julie's blog roll. There, I've discovered so many wonderful blogs, so many great writers, fascinating life stories and lots of good natured people who share the same passion in writing. It all happened last summer. Before I've discovered the blogosphere, topics in our home ranged from my kids' studies, politics, some showbiz stuff, business, movies, sports, weekly schedules and errands. From then on, I can't help tell my hubby about the posts/blogs I've read from Heart of Rachel, Occupation: SAHM, Touched by An Angel, Imomonline, Ode to Old, The D Spot, Scrooch Chronicles, The Shadow of Abaniko, Homeworked, HipnCoolMomma, Avocado-Express, Greymom, An Apple A Day, Kwentong Walang Kwenta, Wifely Steps, Alone-In-My-Thoughts, Gypsy's Haven, Sassy Mom's Corner, Under the Canopy, Beyond Normal, Preacher in Blue Jeans, Skin Diving, My Hideaway, Simply Belle and so many fascinating blogs. For the links to the mentioned blog, please click on my blog roll.

Thereafter, I decided to make my own blog, went to Google and followed the step by step instructions. Voila! I have my own personal journal, my blog. Newly-found friends Rachel and Julie helped me so much in improving my blog. Dine even gave me some writing tips early on. My blogger-friends have grown so with my blog roll. This brought me so much joy, excitement and happiness just when some of my closed friends have left the country, or been busy with their families and careers, I've gained new friendships.

As a bonus to my overwhelming joy on this new hobby, some well-meaning bloggers encouraged me also to try sponsored posts and I'm thankful I've found another source of income while doing the things I love, reading and writing. Now, the blogging bug has bitten my sisters who are into blogging also, my cousins and even some college classmates. Not only that, now I never run out of stories (from the blogs I've read) to tell during meal time, interrupted once in awhile to issues on the current global food crisis, the U.S. primaries, political bickerings here, stories of Hannah Montana, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Dora the Explorer...and sometimes of Shaun the Sheep, ha ha...

No guys, this is not my anniversary post, not yet. Wait 'til next month, I'll celebrate it for sure. Some friends are asking how and why I started blogging, that's why I wrote this post. And my sisters' colleagues would like to start their blogs too. And to all of you my blogger-friends, Happy Blogging!

Dial-A-Movie

For movie buffs like me, this is a must in my wallet or cellphone directory. All numbers are landline contacts, choose your fave cinema and you can add it in your cell phonebook or click here for the current movie schedules.

SM MEGAMALL - 6331901

SM NORTH EDSA - 9295452

SM FAIRVIEW - 9350749

SM STA.MESA - 7161416

SM BICUTAN - 7763055

SM SAN LAZARO - 7862488

SM MANILA - 5239240

SM SOUTHMALL - 8066888

SM VALENZUELA - 2933917

SM SUCAT - 8294975

SM BAGUIO - 074-6197838

SM DASMARINAS - 046-4323201

SM STA.ROSA - 9012025

SM LIPA - 043-7840354

THE PODIUM CINEMA - 6389781

IMAX - 5564629

MALL OF ASIA - 5560104/05

Ayala Malls Cinemas, Glorietta 4 - 7527880/83

Alabang Town Center Cinema - 8508931, 842-2289

Market!Market! Cinema - 8867515, 8867516

Trinoma Cinemas - 9013695, 9013596

Greenbelt 1 - 7504180

Greenbelt 3 - 7573860/61

Shangri-la Plaza Cineplex - 6332227 or 6337851

Chocolate Chip Cookies For Summer

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is such an easy chocolate chip cookie. No special equipment, no creaming -- a perfect cookie to do with kids. We love how versatile this dough is, too. It makes an awesome rocky road bar cookie.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips, or chunks
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine salt

Evenly position 2 racks in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. (on convection setting if you have it.) Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone sheets. (If you only have 1 baking sheet, let it cool completely between batches.)

Put the butter in a microwave safe bowl, cover and microwave on medium power until melted. (Alternatively melt in a small saucepan.) Cool slightly. Whisk the sugars, eggs, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth.

Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in another bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon; take care not to over mix. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks.

Scoop heaping tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared pans. Wet hands slightly and roll the dough into balls. Space the cookies about 2-inches apart on the pans. Bake, until golden, but still soft in the center, 12 to 16 minutes, depending on how chewy or crunchy you like your cookies. Transfer hot cookies with a spatula to a rack to cool. Serve.

Store cookies in a tightly sealed container for up to 5 days.

For a Rocky Road Bar:

Lightly butter a 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Make the batter as per cookie recipe and fold in 1 cup chopped walnuts along with the chocolate chips. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake until the edges are light brown and the batter sets, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly and cover surface with 4 cups marshmallows and 1 cup chocolate chips. Broil at least 8 inches from the heat until marshmallows turn golden brown, about 2 minutes. (Keep an eye on the marshmallows, and turn the pan frequently--they go from golden to char in a wink.) Cool, cut and serve.

Source: Food Network

Tagged: Movies, Movies

Lynn tagged me to do this meme - movies my family have enjoyed watching. The last movie we have watched was Alvin, the Chipmunk. My kids really enjoyed it. But nothing can compare to the movie Cars, which we have watched ten times over here at home. My only son loves Lightning McQueen so much and he never gets tired from watching it even eating his meals in our room while watching it for the nth time around.

Cars



Aspiring-champion race car Lightning McQueen is on the fast track to success, fame and everything he's ever hoped for until he takes an unexpected detour on dusty Route 66. His have-it-all now attitude is thrown into a tailspin when a small town community shows McQueen what he's been missing in his high-octane life.

I also enjoyed watching the Oceans' and Bourne series. I guess I'm a fan of Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and of course, George Clooney.

Ocean's Eleven



Dapper Danny Ocean is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the charismatic thief is already rolling out his next plan -- the most sophisticated, elaborate casino heist in history. In one night, Danny's handpicked 11-man crew of specialists - including an ace card shark, a master pickpocket and a demolition genius - will attempt to steal over $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos owned by Terry Benedict, the elegant, ruthless entrepreneur who just happens to be dating Danny's ex-wife Tess. Coincidence or motive? Only Danny knows for sure. To score the cash, he'll have to risk his life and his chance of reconciling with Tess. But if it all goes according to Danny's intricate, nearly impossible plan, he won't have to choose between his stake in the heist and his high-stakes reunion with Tess... or will he?

The Bourne Identity



The spy thriller opens as an amnesiac is rescued at sea by the crew of an Italian fishing boat. Nearly dead, he carries nothing but the bullets in his back and the bank account number embedded in his hip. Although completely without identity or background, he possesses an array of extraordinary talents in fighting, linguistics and self-defense that speak of a dangerous past. In the present he is disoriented and wary as he is propelled into an urgent search to discover who he is and why his life has taken a perilous turn. A Zurich safe deposit box yields an assortment of passports, a hefty load of cash, an automatic weapon and a name--Jason Bourne--with a Paris address. What it means remains a mystery, but Bourne quickly realizes that although he knows no one, there are people who recognize him--and do not wish him well....

There I'm done...I love watching movies. In fact I've watched movies on a daily basis when I was working and still single (thrice a week way back in college), to unwind and to de-stress my overworked (underpaid) self. I would be posting here more movies I've watched and really enjoyed. Thanks Lynn for the tag, had fun doing it.

I Love Watching Movies

Way back in college, my good friend Alona was my movie buddy. We would always go to SM City (North Edsa) after our morning classes in UST ends. During our 1st and 2nd year, we have half day classes. Classes usually end at 12 noon. Off we go straight to the mall (that's the one nearest), eat our lunch and watch a movie. I think we were able to watch a movie thrice a week. I was enjoying this schedule, I even narrated to my mom the movies we've watched. She didn't object my doing so, she knows I'll be taking up Communication Arts as my major in college and venture on film making or advertising later on.

I cannot count how many movies I've watched. Some are real or true to life movies, intellectually scripted while some are considered trash (mostly Pinoy produced movies). Wondering why Pinoy directors and producers did not get new ideas for their stories back then and until now....Why can't we have movies like The Godfather, Big, Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman, Ransom, The Rock, My Bestfriend's Wedding, Troy, Gladiator, Catch Me If You Can, Ocean's Eleven, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, Moulin Rouge, Evita, A Walk to Remember, The Passion of Christ, and many more real good movies....

How I wished more producers (including writers, directors) would make good quality movies that we can all be proud of. When the right time comes, I wish (and dream) I can also make even an indie movie.