Chocolate Walnut Fudge by Red Ribbon...

INDULGE IN A 5-STAR DESSERT WITH THE NEW RED RIBBON CHOCOLATE WALNUT FUDGE WITH HERSHEY’S DARK CHOCOLATE

Over the years, Red Ribbon Bakeshop has come to be known as the leader and innovator in cakes. With its best-tasting signature cakes like the Black Forest, Chocolate Mousse and Chocolate Marjolaine that Filipinos have come to love and enjoy, Red Ribbon has become an essential part of every gathering. Aside from these signature cakes, Red Ribbon has not failed to surprise us year after year with innovative and delightful cake offerings that have instantly become dessert favorites and instant additions to any gathering—from the family favorite S’mores Chocolate Cake to the feel-good comfort of Cookies and Cream with Oreo and, most recently, White Forest which brings everyone’s favorites together.

As we usher in the Holiday Season, all of us are bound to be looking for that extra special cake for the season’s much-anticipated gatherings with family and friends or to gift to our loved ones. And, just as we thought we’ve seen and tasted everything, Red Ribbon caps off the year with yet another delightful offering, perfectly in time for the season of giving and celebration—the new Chocolate Walnut Fudge with Hershey’s Dark Chocolate.

Chocolate Walnut Fudge with Hershey’s Dark Chocolate is Red Ribbon’s newest addition to its Premium Selection line. It is made of a layer of creamy chocolate mousse on a bed of moist fudgy brownie, both loaded with chopped walnuts and finished with dark chocolate ganache, sprinkles and long chocolate curls all made with Hershey’s Dark Chocolate to make it even more irresistible.

So, as this season calls for a more special dessert for our gatherings and gifting needs, we need not look further than Red Ribbon’s new Chocolate Walnut Fudge with Hershey’s Dark Chocolate. This ultimately indulgent cake is guaranteed to make any gathering more special.

The new Chocolate Walnut Fudge with Hershey’s Dark Chocolate is available in all Red Ribbon stores and select booths for P680.00. Offered only this holiday season, it’s the perfect ending to any celebration.

Another Christmas Cake....

A VERY SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT WITH RED RIBBON’S SANTA’S WISH CAKE

Make your loved ones delightfully merry this holiday season with a unique gift as Red Ribbon Cakes by Design introduces a beautiful cake made especially for your Christmas festivities, the Santa’s Wish cake.

Inspired by the beloved icons of Christmas, Santa Claus, with his cherry-red hat, twinkling eyes and fluffy white beard, who brings joy and cheer to children and adults alike and Christmas trees that call to mind the one standing proudly in your home, Red Ribbon’s Santa’s Wish cake lets your loved ones revel in the joy of the Christmas spirit unlike any other. A truly special holiday cake, the Santa’s Wish cake is sure to bring much delight to any Christmas celebration.

Red Ribbon’s Santa’s Wish cake is made with moist and dense rhum butter cake with a layer of creamy caramel filling and covered in soft and smooth icing. The deliciously festive flavors combine for a true Christmas symphony of taste, certain to elicit appreciation from your loved ones this season.

To help you avoid the Christmas rush, Red Ribbon’s Santa’s Wish cake will be available on a pre-order basis at any Red Ribbon store from November 27 – December 15. Order now and add an extra special touch to your gift with a personal dedication on the cake.

Red Ribbon’s Santa’s Wish cake will be available off-the-shelf in all Red Ribbon stores from December 22 – 24 at only P550.

Mommy Bloggers' Get-Together at Burgoo...

After weeks of staying at home, I finally attended a bloggers' event. This time it's mainly a get-together. A good friend, Racquel arrived from Germany. We met and dined again in Burgoo at the Podium. And for the first time, I've met Salen and Aileen. As usual we had endless chats while enjoying the food. Plus the non-stop picture-taking. A Burgoo crew instantly became our official photographer using nine different cameras...and I tell you, it's not even tiring to smile.

Thanks Racquel, we really had a great time.

mommy-bloggers' get-together (pic from Rachel)


mommy-bloggers havin' fun... (Salen, Rachel, moi, Chats, Jane, Dine, Myrna, Julie, Noemi, Aileen and Racquel)

My 39th Birthday...

Last March 18, I turned 39. As I was about to check on my kids, I was surprised to see these...


the banner (in their messy room, ha ha)


the cards, gifts and my kids' names on the heart shaped paper


the birthday poster


pop-up card made by Nicole


personalized birthday card


a note from Bea


a shampoo and bath soap from Gabbie


Nicole's gift

They really made me so happy. I didn't know they were up to something when I tucked them to bed and kissed them good night. Two days after my special day, they gave me another gift, a notice from school that my kids are awardees for Academic Excellence and would be receiving medals on Recognition Day. I couldn't ask for anything more...Thank you Lord.

Memorable Valentine Experience

This is my entry to the Filipino Mom Blog's Love Month Meme...

My hubby is not so keen on celebrating the V-day. He's not into gifts either though I've given him a sports car, some pieces of jewelries, fighting cocks, a KTM sports motorcycle, travels abroad and some "things" before (some of which he later sold when we were gypped in an investment scam). And he's Ilocano and Chinese, maybe that explains why, he he. But he has given me priceless gifts on Valentine's Day. Guess what...I conceived my three kids on this love month. All of them were October born. My first child though was born on April (that's unplanned, wink here).

So I guess that was my most memorable Valentine experience. No candle-lit dinner, roses and chocolates, expensive gifts or not even a Valentine card...but that's ok with me, as long as I know hubby loves me more than his life (that's what he always says)...

Gabbie's 1st Communion

Last Thursday, January 29, 2009, my eight year-old daughter Gabbie had her 1st Communion at the Good Shepherd Cathedral Shrine officiated by Fr. Gerry Tapiador and Fr. Albert Delvo. About sixty students received their holy communion. Hubby and I together with our only son Pio Miguel attended this memorable event, another spiritual milestone for our dear child.

Posted below are some pics I took with my camera phone while am still waiting for some more from the photographer.

this is also the church where Gabbie was baptized


lighted candles


profession of faith


happy to have received communion


good girl...


with classmates


the whole class with the teachers and priests

The Filipino Mom Blog's Christmas Party

the FMB mommies, Cookie, moi, Cess, Chats, Lynn and Julie


pics from Teacher Julie


kids exchanging gifts (pic from Lynn)

Holiday Greetings

Comments & Myspace layouts

And the Heavens Smiled on Us

Last night on my way home after watching Twilight with my kid Nicole, we saw a smiley face in the sky. I was amazed by the sight that I stopped driving and admired this once in a lifetime event. Hurriedly, I went home, asked my kids to go out and drove around to see a clearer view. We are so happy and felt good about this real good sign from heaven.

As I began plurking about it, my fellow plurkies and bloggers are also looking in the sky. It turned out, as astronomers say Venus and Jupiter and a crescent moon formed a smiley face last night, with the planets forming the eyes and the moon forming the mouth.

Venus and Jupiter have appeared side by side in the evening sky over the last week or so, but last night was the best night when the "face" appeared, astronomers say.

Viewers in Western Australia saw the best view of the effect, with the moon appearing closer to the "eyes".

Stargazers in Europe and Africa missed out completely. By the time the sun sets for them, the moon appeared between the planets.

In the United States, the effect was inverted and appeared as a frown.

David Widdowson, from astronomy calendar website Astrovisuals, said the heavens might be trying to send us a message to shrug off bad financial times and be happy.

How to Go on a Holiday Binge Without Showing It...

This is a re-post from Nestle Club website.

During holidays, anywhere and everywhere, there is just so much good and tempting food that watching one’s weight at this time is either impossible or a complete torture. But it need not be.

Actually, you can still be very much a part of the festivities – yes, even the part that says, “Eat! Eat! Eat!” – without necessarily gaining a lot of pounds. Here are a few things you might want to bear in mind:

Attitude. Be a little less hard on yourself. If your aim or ideal weight is, say, 120 pounds, during the Holiday season, maybe you can raise that target to about 125-130. Stay within the limits of what is healthy, though, and what is easy to get rid of once the holidays are over. Don’t feel pressured to eat more just because it’s Christmas. Have fun without pigging out during parties; this does not make you a killjoy. Some people, sad to say, overeat not because they’re that hungry or they find it hard to resist food, but because they feel that it’s the normal thing to do during the Season, or that it’s impolite to refuse food from one’s zealous hosts. Set aside a rest day or days—that is, at least one day or two in a week when one will, if not cut back, at least eat normally.

The Party. Eat a little something before you go, some crackers or fruit maybe, or take a low-calorie beverage to acquire a sense of fullness. If you hit a party starving for food, chances are you’re going to eat considerably more. In a buffet line start at one end of the table and make mental notes of what is there. Save your calories for new and interesting dishes; if you are not the adventurous kind, go for something you really like. Go for variety as much as possible, so you won’t overdo any one item. Make experiencing a variety of tastes you objective, instead of stuffing yourself. It is also one way to educate one’s taste buds. In a sit-down dinner, try to sit beside someone you like. By doing so, you can talk more and eat less.

Holiday drinking. Drink alcoholic beverages only after you’ve eaten. If you drink before you eat, you’re asking for trouble. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions (including your will-power) and it also increases hunger. Keep away from sour whiskey, beer, eggnogs, and the like. Instead, go with lower calorie white wine, vodka, and gin. Or better still, either stay away from alcohol completely or nurse one drink to last the night.

Routine. Eat within regular meals and snacks. This is better than cutting back during meals but snacking endlessly on candies, cakes, and sweets during the rest of the day. If you are a regular exerciser, maybe you can add more to your routine or to the time devoted to exercise. At the very least, try not to neglect your exercises. Remember, you are trying to burn more fats and calories. You might want to try jogging or brisk walking after Simbang Gabi. The chilly air and Christmas atmosphere make this exercise not only easy, but fun and exhilarating as well.

* food pics from Triple V site

Halloween Party for Bloggers

What: Clear Black Night, a Halloween Dance Event
When: October 31, 2008, Friday, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermarket, Mall of Asia)
Attire: Come in Sexy Black (no need for costumes!)
What to expect: Just be in party mode and get a chance to win instant prizes!

To register, click here.

Cute Halloween Costumes

The other day I have nothing to do, I surfed the net for halloween costumes for my kids. Then, I found these pics posted below, they're so cute. I suddenly missed having a baby. Speaking of babies, my good friend Feng is now havin' one. She's pregnant again, yehey! Congrats Feng. Enjoy it my dear.


lion


monkey


Winnie D Pooh

MORE VACATION PICS

VACATION PICS

SUNSET AT THE WESTIN

apat na maria with my kids

my parents, sisters, kids at the Westin lobby

with my BIL, John and Dad's kumare, Susan Roces

Nicole and Gabbie's favorite singer then, Regine

my kids and nannies with Juday at Cafe Plaza

Pio Miguel with my sis Budeck at the Treasure Island

Nicole at the poolside, by the bay

my sisters and moi in blue dress

The Suite Life

My kids Nicole and Gabbie are so fond of watching The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. The twins who live in Tipton Hotel with their mom, who is also the resident singer at the lounge. I remembered my childhood days when for months, we would stay in a hotel to spend our school break/vacation. Since my mom and dad are both born and raised in Manila (grandparents don't have houses in the province either, only distant relatives have), we don't have any province to go to every summer. My ever-loving Dad would check in a hotel and there we would bum around, watch tv, swim, play our tea-set and shop with my Mom.

My favorite is the Westin Philippine Plaza, the lagoon-shaped pool and the breath-taking Manila Bay, the sumptuous meals and the very efficient staff. We were there during our elementary school breaks, high school vacations & college semestral breaks. In fact some of the staff have grown old and they still remember the apat na maria (have 3 sisters). Who would forget four girls who all wear the same style of clothes. And I would always wear the green one, my other siblings would wear red, yellow and pink respectively. We would run around the hotel and treat it as our park. My sisters and I would fight over the stationeries and pens available on every table. We took home all the shampoos, small towels, soaps, box of match, hotel slippers as our souvenirs.

We also stayed at the historic Manila Hotel, The Holiday Inn (the hotel stationeries are inside a thick-leather binder, this binder is actually chained to the night table), Silahis Hotel (remember the stargazer disco) now renamed The Grand Boulevard Hotel, the Century Park Sheraton Hotel (in front of Harrison Plaza, which meant more shopping for my mom), Copacabana Apartelle (we didn't like it there, furnitures are quite old)...

After my first communion, we celebrated it at the Bayview Park Hotel with my teachers. My eldest sister had her debut at the Westin while my other sis had hers at the Manila Hotel. I opted to have the money than celebrate it that way. My youngest sis had her wedding reception also at the Manila Hotel...I don't know why we really like to stay in these hotels during vacations and special occasions, maybe the ambience and the superb service it offers and doesn't require long travel. When my kids wanted to relax after school ends, I brought them back at the Westin. They should have given me a loyalty rebate after all these years we've been patronizing them.

We also tried the new Hyatt Regency Hotel (has a new casino), the Makati Shangri-la (which offer buffets in long tables same with the Westin's), Oakwood Premier Hotel (actually a condotel, has a gym facing the big pool, staff are so friendly), the Renaissance Hotel (formerly New World Hotel) and the Discovery Suites in Ortigas (which by the way, has a wonderful spa). I think these hotels have tie-ups with the RCI, Marriot or some time-share membership accounts abroad. So if foreigners or Pinoy balikbayans are looking for a good place to stay, they can use their timeshare exchange holiday system in these hotels here in Manila. I can assure them high standards of accommodation, facilities and services as I have actually experienced.

This is such a sweet "suite" life...

my parents, sisters and my kids celebrating Christmas at the Westin

May 14 Elections

This is a bit late, I'll post just the same.

I woke up early so with my kids. After a heavy breakfast, dressed up and "flew" to Pasay. Imagine an almost empty Edsa, I drove from our home here in Quezon City to Pasay in about 20 minutes. It was 2 hours before voting ends at 3pm. My sister and I found our precinct easily, went inside and voted. Since I'm not really active now in Pasay politics, I just voted all female candidates running for the council. I can't say though whom I voted for mayor, vice mayor and representative because I knew/met most of them vying for the position when I was still doing consultancy work for the city government way back...

My senatorial list (as I've prepared the night before) includes Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Noynoy Aquino, Chiz Escudero, Edgardo Angara, Loren Legarda, Allan Cayetano, Joker Arroyo, Miguel Zubiri, Antonio Trillanes, Manny Villar, Ping Lacson, and Dr. Martin Bautista (Kapatiran).

My eldest sister isn't happy, her name wasn't on the list. We looked for any Comelec employee in the school. No one was there. We decided to go to the city hall where the comelec officers hold office. Even on their computer files, her name wasn't there. We are so frustrated. The comelec officer (a young lawyer) was of no help either. She even told us that she's new on the job, not less than 30 days daw. My gosh, what an excuse...She cut us pa while I'm trying to say something. She said this is more important than your case (pointing to her cellphone). I heard her say, "the Deped Asec. issued a memo that all Cayetano votes will be considered stray votes". It's actually in her desk (the memo). I wondered how the memo got to her on a holiday. But she changed her statements, telling her caller (the Pasay School Superintendent, I assumed) to just tell the teachers to do what they want with the Cayetano votes. Confusing noh? We stood up infront of this lady-lawyer and she remarked we can't do anything about your problem, it's already 3pm, it'''s moot and academic. I shot back, "kung di pa 3pm me magagawa ka ba". She answered none daw, "it's up to the Comelec main office to answer for the missing voters' names on the list". It's really useless to argue with her...I wonder how she passed the bar exams, tsk..tsk.

Anyway, we just went to the Mall of Asia and ate Tropical Hut's halo-halo and Colette's buko pie (bought at Hypermart) at the foodcourt. We also had some picture-taking with my kids at the skating rink (this is not our 1st time in the mall). My mom's house is very near the mall that's why my kids are always tagging along whenever I have meetings in the area. We had a great time this election day...I was able to exercise my right to vote and my choices are winning in the on-going canvassing (except for one, deserving though).