FALS Foundation Day

Last week, B's school celebrated their foundation day but due to weather conditions, they had to cut it form 5 days to 3 days. Day 1 started with a parade and I played the stage mother. Only fail I did was that I wore heels. For some reason, the word parade just did not sink in and so I had to endure walking for more than 30 minutes while wearing 4 inch heels.

Eeekkk!

Here's my son looking like a warrior, albeit a colorful one. Hehe. I think he actually looks like a dwarf but don't tell him I said that. 

It was tiring but I'm glad that I was able to go and support him for his parade. :)

Toast Box

I went to Alabang Town Center last week with my family. I actually just really wanted to take B out but ended up bringing along my entire family. It was one of those days I guess.

We ended up having merienda at Toast Box. I chose the place because I have always been curious about it. I loved the interior and wanted to find out what it had to offer.

I ordered 3 of the sandwiches or toast that they had to offer which was the Floss Toast Set, Kaya Toast Set, and the Peanut Thick Toast Set.

Kaya Toast Set Php145

Oh my this was one of the best they had to offer. It was really good and the kaya was just pure joy inside your mouth. It was delicious. It was worth the Php145 to be honest.

Thick Peanut Butter Toast Set Php155

If you are a peanut butter lover, this is the one for you. Its thick, creamy. and just peanut butter all over. It's like they lathered the bread with peanut butter then decided to do it again 4 more times.

Floss Kaya Set Php165

This one I didn't enjoy so much. It felt lacking for me and it was just blah. The floss was okay but it just didn't give me the overall impact I was hoping for.

Teh (Hot is Php80 and Cold is Php95)

I personally preferred the hot version of Teh over the cold one. It was soothing and rich and it just glides down the throat. It was very rich and I could definitely see myself drinking this again and again.

My family and I enjoyed Toast Box. I can definitely say that this could be a go to place for us if we just want to have some simple merienda with some cute ambiance surrounding us.

CinemaJam: an outdoor Movie and Music Festival

I'm pretty stoked to have VIP tickets to the first outdoor movie and music event here in the Philippines on November 30. I'm bringing along my brother, my sister, and a family friend to this event which will show Love Actually and Limitless then feature the following artists.

Bamboo

Calla Lily

GraceNote

ItchyWorms

Moonstar88

All of this of course wouldn't be happening if not for our very awesome sponsors. Details below.

Crizal Transitions and World Vision underscore their vision for a better world with “Crizal Transitions Cinemajam,” a day-to-night movie marathon and music festival to be held November 30, 2013 at Event Circuit Makati.  Crizal Transitions Cinemajam promises an enlightening and entertaining festival of fun and togetherness with special back-to-back film screenings, performances by some of the country’s top rock and indie pop acts and a host of thrilling activities such as karting, bungee-jumping and kite-flying.
Crizal Transitions smart lenses adjust to changing light and provide the wearer optimal vision. Its message of “seeing life in a better light,” is emphasized in the event, which celebrates the illuminating power of the arts.
Proceeds of Crizal Transitions Cinemajam will benefit World Vision, to support its admirable work of helping children attain their dreams for a bright future. Tickets for Crizal Transitions Cinemanjam are at Php 1,350 at Ticketworld. Get two free tickets for every pair of Crizal Transitions purchased.

the longest goodbye ....

We officially broke up last April 16. Since then, there have been a series of goodbyes and hellos, hellos and goodbyes. It was like we were drawn to each other .... I couldn't stay away and he couldn't refuse me when I reach out.

It was that kind of love .... consuming and so we were consumed. It was a fire that just kept on raging and devouring everything in its path and the two of us were definitely right on its track. It hovered over us, licked us with its passion, bit us with a vengeance, and lit us up until there was nothing left but ashes and remnants of what once was a great love.

Quick to burn but not so quick to die .... truth be told, its still not dead but water needed to be poured for the ember to die. It had to. As he said, it had to happen.

This had to happen.

I asked for one day more and was given 6 more months of seeing him, being with him, and tasting every bittersweet moment that I spent with him. I treasured every minute that I had with him. Every moment that I could, I would tell him I love him. If that were the last time I would see him, I wanted him to know that I still love him and that I would take him back in a heartbeat.

However, it had to stop. He finally asked me to stop. As he said, he NEEDS me to disappear from his life but he's not sure if he WANTS me to disappear from his life. Confusing eh? I know. I'm confused and he's confused too.

He told me, "To love is to let go. To love is to not be selfish. To love is to not be controlling."

So I will stop being selfish and controlling and show him that I really do love him ... and if loving him means that I need to let go and let him explore the world on his own to find out what he really needs in life or who he really wants, then I need to do just that even if it hurts. I love him that much.

As I said to him before I left the car ... "I'm letting you go because this is what you need. If you are meant for me, if we are meant to be, you'll come back to me. I love you."

It has been the longest goodbye ... for now ... for the meantime ... or perhaps, forever.

Mystic Brew Cafe

I finally found Mystic Brew Cafe today. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was just meant to be but once I stopped looking for it, I suddenly chanced upon it.

I wasn't supposed to attend the parade of my son today. I wasn't even supposed to be part of the parade. There were a lot of things today that were not supposed to happen but for some reason, I found myself drawn to doing it and so I ended up here.

Hmm ... seems the place lives up to its name of being mystical.

First thing I noticed was the interior of the place. It was eclectic and had that old world charm with touches of modern life. It was homey and very welcoming. It was a place where one can feel like you're just lounging in the comfort of your home, albeit a more luxurious version of your home.

The other thing that stood out for me were the staff and the owners. To say that they were welcoming would be an understatement. I was entertained very well and all my questions answered candidly. Honestly, I love helping out establishments like this because I know that the owners are people who really love their business and doesn't just see it as another money making scheme.

While I was busy looking around and taking photos, my son took the initiative to order his favorite pesto pasta.

B loved it. It had all the things he liked in a pesto pasta. It wasn't dry, it had nuts, and the chicken. The texture of the pasta wasn't too soft nor too hard as well. It was al dente per his words. Yes, my son uses words like al dente. I think he's going to be a real big foodie when he grows up.

I also tried their Chili Mint Coffee. Now, I had my reservations about this one. Truth be told, I said to the staff, "who the hell wants to put chili in their coffee?" They told me that this was actually a crowd favorite of people who were a wee bit drunk since the chili adds some kick to the coffee. When I tried it, I didn't feel a kick.

I felt a taekwando, muay thai, aikido, and jujitsu kind of kick. It wasn't a kick. It was a KICK! Yes sireeee ... the chili was overwhelming and crazy! For the sheer experience, I didn't regret getting this coffee though I wasn't able to finish it. It seems I wasn't ready for the full blown adventure given by this concoction.

We also got the Wands in a Cauldron which is basically french fries but it was placed in a cauldron which I really, really liked.

For myself, I ordered the Spicy Beef and I finished all of it on my own. I liked the sauce, the meat, the rice. I loved everything period. Haha. It was filling and it wasn't an overkill. It felt and tasted right.

The Choco Chimp Freeze was also another winner. In fact, before we left, B ensured that there wouldn't be any left in the glass. He gulped down the last drop. I think that tells you how it tasted right?

This one was a gift from the owner of the place. This phantom smores were a sight for sore eyes. I loved how they used the melted kisses to make a ghostly face and how the graham crackers complimented the chocolate and marshmallow set in between.

Honestly, if it weren't for B, I would have finished the entire thing all by myself.

Overall, I was really happy that I got to try Mystic Brew Cafe. It was exactly what I wanted in a cafe and I can definitely see myself hanging out here more often. In fact, I'd much rather go here and spend an afternoon reading while sipping coffee than go to Starbucks. 

stuff I got from the Box Shop of Mystic Brew Cafe

infinity bracelet

Love love love the place. It's a must!

Facebook Page
Twitter
Instagram 

Follow //
▸ blog | http://lifeiskulayful.com
▸ instagram | http://instagram.com/mskathykenny
▸ pinterest | http://pinterest.com/mskathykenny
▸ facebook | http://facebook.com/mskathykenny
▸ twitter | http://twitter.com/mskathykenny
▸ youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/KathyNgo
▸ linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathykennyngo/

a broken doll ...

I am a living doll
I am pretty
with bright eyes
Rosy cheeks and a wide smile.

I laugh, dance, and sing.
I am ready to do your every bidding.
Ready to be played with
and then gently put on display.

I am a living doll.
I am pretty.
You can toy with me
You can mess with me.

I laugh, dance, and sing
A mere puppet in your hand
For I am a broken doll
And I feel nothing.

Goodbye Finn

Glee has been a big part of my life. For some reason, most episodes, perhaps 9 out of 10, there would be a song that they would feature that just correlates with whatever is happening in my life. This has been what was happening since Season 1 and why I have never let go of Glee.

When I found out Cory Monteith was dead, I was devastated. I don't even know him but I was. Finn, his character, was just someone I find myself having a crush on ... he reminded me of the funny man actually. Quirky, funny, crazy, but always loving. He has his jerk moments but he always makes up for it just like the funny man.

Finn is gone now. So is the funny man. See the correlation? Finn is dead ... the funny man has simply moved on from me ... from us. Watching today's episode of The Quarterback, I have shed so many tears and I know that a part of it is really for Cory who plays Finn but mostly, its for me ... and my love for the funny man.

His fear of me is so big that I feel like there will never come a time that he will come back to me and I feel like our love has died. It is such a great love but I marred it with violence and harsh words and he just can't find it in his heart anymore to believe that I have truly changed.

Rachel lost Finn to death ... I lost my Finn to my wrongdoings and because I have scared him badly enough that though he still loves me, he'd rather pursue a possibility with someone else rather than risk being with me again.

This, I believe, is one of the most painful truths I will ever have to accept.

I write this now and tears just won't stop flowing. I feel like I lost someone to death and that after that one more meet up, I will never ever see him again. I will never see him smile at me again. I will never feel his lips on mine. I will never hold him in my arms and have him hold me in his arms ... all because I was so stupid and so immature. All because I did not appreciate and treasure what I had.

Now ... it may be just too late.

Goodbye Finn. Thank you for al the smiles and the songs.

Goodbye my Finn ... my funny funny man ... thank you for everything. If I could just have you look into my heart and my soul, you would know that there is nothing to fear from me anymore but I can't.

Sadly, I can't.

consumed

Your hand on my body
I melt like ice on fire
I am consumed
You still don't care. 

what to expect when you're expecting Northern Big Bites

There are a few things one can look forward to when you visit the Northern Food Festival of Marquee Mall. As the title of the event says, you need to get ready to take some BIG BITES. Yes siree ... BIG BIG BITES.

First on the list and mind you, these are personal recommendations of mine based on what I tried yesterday. My gosh ... it was only yesterday that I was stuffing myself silly with so many food.

This is the Apag Marangle Sisig Wrap. It was so good that I regretted only getting 3 pieces. I know I could have downed 30pcs without even blinking. It was just so good ... imagine, fried sisig and fresh lettuce. HEAVEN!

Christy's Special Bulacan Chicharon is next on my list. I'm not even a fan of chicharon but I had about 10 pieces of this. It's already a lot because we were feasting on so many other things.

Sweet Heavens from Nueva Ecija's Leche Flan is to die for. I actually kept remembering Tito O, FM's dad because he's also a fan of leche flan and this one ... this one is definitely to his liking. It was smooth and creamy and oh so yummy. It was DELICIOUS. It was indeed heaven on earth.

We also had a taste of Kabigting's Halo Halo. Now I was thinking what the fuss was all about because is was just halo halo but when I was able to try it out, I finally understood. The filling inside was definitely a whole lot different from the standard halo halo. The pastillas, the bean paste, the combination of everything was just really great.

You can read all you want about my food adventures but as they say, its always best to try things on your own so why not head over to Marquee Mall in Pampanga on October 18 -20 and have the gastronomic experiences of your life.

this is me getting a surprise with grilled frogs

Northern Big Bites .. and boy did it bite me!

I was invited to be one of the media partners for the Big Bite Northern Food Festival. It was rare that I get to go to Pampanga so I took the chance and said yes. It was a decision I would not regret.

On the road, we were in a van with other bloggers and it was fun getting to know them. I'm glad my brother wasn't out of place at all. 

Finally, we got to the venue and this is what happened. I took my usual shot at the photo wall.

RJ Ledesma was apparently the host for this press launch and what I really like about him is that he makes an effort to talk to the media and press. He also doesn't discriminate between the bloggers and the traditional press people.

Now, since this was a food festival, it was bound to happen. I wasn't prepared but since I'm a foodie, I said to myself I will go for it. So I did.

I had a go at the exotic foods being served and first on the list was the stuffed frog. Ick. I was so apprehensive trying this one out because it was a frog and it was shaped like one. It wasn't just legs but the actual body. Still, I did and I can say that yes, it does taste like chicken. So there.

The next one I tried was the Camaru or what is more commonly known as crickets. Yes, those tiny insects that make a lot of noise at night. It seems that it is fried and sauteed in garlic. I hoenstly did not want to eat it because this was an entire insect. Head, legs, body, et al were all there to be eaten.

I did and it was crunchy. If you actually can stop thinking about it, its pretty tasty and good. Still, I can't help but think the whole time, "its an insect I'm eating. It's an insect. Ick ick ick."

3rd of the exotic item I tried was the egg of the lizard. Now this is not just a lizard but a pretty big one. Click here to see what it looks like. This one was something that I actually really liked. It was creamy and tasty. It was like chicken egg but better.

The last one was grilled frogs. This one ... uhm ... it wasn't to my taste. It felt a bit oily. Thankfully, I just has to take a bite and not finish the entire thing. 

There were a lot of other food featured but for now I just wanted to share the exotic ones. If you happen to be in Pampanga, do try these delicacies. It's worth the visit.

Every foodie will have to mark their calendars for “Big Bite!  The Northern Food Festival” from October 18-20 at MarQuee Park, Angeles City, Pampanga.  Get your gang ready, grab a date, bring the whole family along or have the office sign up for a road trip.    Big Bite! is the glorious Filipino food celebration that promises to surpass all food fests before it.  

drawn ...

like moth to a flame
like spectators to a circus
like blood to a killer
I am drawn.

No words ....

Kopiko's Low Acid Coffee

I've seen this sachet before and have been always curious if there was a difference in the taste from that of regular coffee. Today, I gave in and tried it.

The smell was definitely sweeter and the taste was smooth. I actually prefer it over the standard Nescafe 3in1 drink. Overall, it was a pretty different experience and if its really true that this is low acid, then here's to more cups of joe to help me stay up the night.

I gave this a go for a week and definitely, I had fewer acid attacks so yes, I will recommend it. 

I'd have to say that this one is a keeper.


Follow //
▸ blog | http://lifeiskulayful.com
▸ instagram | http://instagram.com/mskathykenny
▸ pinterest | http://pinterest.com/mskathykenny
▸ facebook | http://facebook.com/mskathykenny
▸ twitter | http://twitter.com/mskathykenny
▸ youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/KathyNgo
▸ linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathykennyngo/