dear boyfriend ...

So there ... you're finally here, wreaking havoc in my not really quiet world. My life is colorful and now you have added dashes of pink, red, and every shade between red and pink. What I like about this is that its like nothing really changed.

I feel like I'm just with someone who knows me pretty well and deals. You can answer the million questions I have with your inane need to overexplain and overanalyze which in turn relaxes me. You do random texts and support my appetite. You find it cute when I have musical outbursts and though you have not seen my random dancing, you seem to think that I dance pretty well. Uncontrollable laughter happens even in the middle of our deepest talks and you are ready for everything else that I throw at you.

You have already broken my heart but you fixed it again. I know that you'd still manage to chip at it over the long run so I expect you to memorize the books that I like, know where to get the cheapest corn and peanuts, buy plastic balloons and get me the best milk tea to dry the tears in my eyes.

For big booboos that you will make, a Care Bear stuff toy with a huge bouquet of flowers will suffice.

I don't need grand gestures all the time. Once a month would be enough haha. Nah, I don't expect grand gestures but I hope you remembered how much I cried with that proposal thing you showed me. So yes, I appreciate those but its not a demand.

However, I do need you to make time for me. When I say make time, I expect to see you from time to time, not all the time. I have a life and you have a life and together, we also have our own little world. I want to meet the people in your world and would love for you to meet the people in my world but I want to make sure I can give you enough time to talk about me with your friends so that you can tell them how awesome I am and how lucky you are. =)

I expect faithfulness. I expect lots of laughter and great memories. I expect hugs and kisses, sorry and I love you. These are the things I expect and will be non-negotiable.

In return, I will take care of you, love you, respect you, and support you in everything. I will make you laugh, smile, and feel good about yourself. I will accept you just like you have accepted me. This I promise you.

one lazy weekend ...

So, this weekend is officially our first real weekend where we are not moving things, fixing things, throwing out things, fighting to have things not thrown out and what have you. This week was our first real weekend at home and this is how it was spent.

Just tidbits of things we do on a weekend ... I love spending weekends with my family.

not so funny after all ...

* this happened March 7, 2012

6 dates ...
6 different days ...
6 different places ...
Two people ... two strangers who never should have met, did.

Funny man (FM for short) and I have gone out six times. Always, the places we go to are not what you would call hang out places for friends and the last time we went out, I ended up meeting his family.

Finally right? No. On the way home, I had the courage to ask him what this was about. Well, fine, I didn't ask him but what I did ask was that if he was dating other girls and he finally gave me an answer which was something that went like this.

"Oh, we're friends right? Its nothing for me to bring lady friends to my house. I always do that. It's not a big deal. If you're asking if I'm interested in you romantically, no, I'm not. We're friends. Didn't I tell you that I just wanna meet new people?"

So, he answered. I wish he hadn't.

I was mortified. I was hurt. I was sad. I felt led on. I felt like he was part two of the previous guy I went out with ... yes, that K guy. FM it seems is just kitkat part 2.

Of course I didn't show him what I really felt. Why would I right? He doesn't need to know. He shouldn't know.

So, after 6 dates ...
6 different days ...
6 different places ...
Two people ... two strangers who never should have met, did.

One of them went home that night and slept soundly.
One of them went home that night and cried herself to sleep.
It seems the funny man wasn't so funny after all.

Studio Kitchen

It was a Monday and I initially had no plans of going out after work but when Purple Doll informed me that there was an Eats a Date event that will be held in Alabang, I immediately grabbed the chance to see her and partake of another Eats a Date.

I got lost and had to walk 3 blocks to get to my destination but I was so happy to be there. The place looked comfy and the aircon was blasting. I immediately took my seat and chatted the night away. We had to because that night, Studio Kitchen only had one chef to cook for the entire place and though it was a Monday, the place was packed more than usual for a Monday night.

I was immediately served a Ceylon Iced Tea and it was refreshing. After, the dishes started pouring in and boy were there many.

The Fresh Green Salad (Php300) came first followed by the Lapu Lapu Rossejat (Php595. and the Fresh Crab Salad (Php330.) However, it was the Funghi Pasta Ala Chitarra (Php490) that first caught my attention.

The mushroom was oh so yummy. Seriously! I wished they took out the pasta and just left the mushrooms there. It was that good. I can't remember for the life of me the taste of the pasta (not that it wasn't good, it was) but the mushrooms were just succulent.

Next that they served was the maple glazed pork belly (Php540) which deserves a description on its own.

Do you see how it glistens even on photo? Do you see it shining so much you can practically put your make up on and use it as mirror? It was that scary.

The oil and the fat were just too visible, too out there, too much in your face. It was crazy. Looking at it, it was already enough for us to shudder but we had to be brave and get over the idea of having a heart attack after one bite and took our chances.

Yes, we ate it ... we ate it and we lived. I lived anyway. I haven't checked on my friends to see if they too survived.

Nah, I'm kidding. However, it really was just a bit too much fat and a bit too much oil. I think this dish could be more enjoyable if they managed to take off the fat and lessen the oil.

Finally, they served us Braised US Beef Short Rib (Php695) which was so soft the meat literally fell off the bone and Dutch Veal Cheeks (Php925.) This one had a story on its own as well.

The server said to us that it was duck "cheeks" ... maybe it was just how we heard it but we were thinking the whole time, "seriously? they can cook duck cheeks this big?" It was funny.

The taste of this meal though wasn't funny. It was GREAT. It was soft and the sauce was just right and everything fit perfectly. It was one of those meals that make you go "oh yeah, totally worth it.!"

As with everything, they saved the best for last. The desserts were to die for. They should switch to serving just desserts because they have a knack for it. I could have devoured everything 

Laiskonis Egg (php130)

This egg looks so simple but the taste was so good. It was a combination of sweet, sugary, and chocolates all over. It was heaven in an egg.

The maccarons and the chocolate biscuit were also a treat. I'd definitely pass by this place with FM one of these days and get some for my Mom. It's oh so delish.

Overall, I would have to commend the chef for a really wonderful attempt to still cook up a feast eventhough it was a one man show. Hats off to you chef.

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* I was invited to review the food. I did not pay for my meal. However, the free meal did not in any way sway my opinion and everything you read here is MY PERSONAL OPINION. 

Goodbye Magick ...

She was our dog for 12 years. She's half spitz, half something (we don't know the breed of the father) but she was OUR dog. She was very sweet, loving, and caring. Whenever I had problems, she'd sit beside me and nudge my arm using her snout and place her head on my lap.

Now, she is gone. After 12 years, she has gone to doggie heaven. I am heartbroken.

I miss her. Badly.

Claudette's

This place is something that I have passed by almost everyday when I'm at work. I never really paid much attention to it until I saw a feature on it in a TV show.

I've visited this place before but wasn't much a blogger back then so its the first time I was able to really pay attention to the food and the place.

I was lucky enough to get a lunch break at the same time as Ja and so off we trooped to Claudettes. We ordered some pasta, sandwich, and the best selling cake.

The cake was really good. It wasn't an overkill and the taste just glides in your mouth. It was smooth yet creamy and not heavy on the tongue.  The beef stroganoff pasta was also delish! I was very happy with my choices because both of them were really great albeit heavy on the stomach.

I am definitely going back here when I can and of course, it will be with Ja, one of the most real person in the world.

Cha Dao

FM took me to Cha Dao because we were not able to go here last time we were in the Kapitolyo Area. I noticed that like with other milk tea places, the main colors here were green and white. I think its because it is soothing to the eyes.

The milk tea was pretty okay. It wasn't the best but it definitely also wasn't the worse I've tried. However, the popping bubbles really made a difference. It was so different that until today, days later, I still can't decide whether I like it or not. However, I definitely don't regret trying this place out. It's something that could quench my thirst for milk tea.

Bubble Tea

FM brought me to SM North since I mentioned to him that I have never been to that mall before. He even had a little trivia for me. Apparently, SM North is the biggest mall in the Philippines, not Mall of Asia.

While we were on the way to the parking lot, I happened to see this little signage.

FM shuddered and I laughed. He knew my addiction to milk tea but I was feeling nice that day and thought to myself that I'd just try out this place on my own in time. Much to my pleasant surprise, we ended up having our meeting here for some project we are working on.

I was giddy. The interior was done in the cool colors of green and white which I loved. It was quirky and it was homey.

I ordered their Taro Milk Tea with Taro Crums and FM ordered the Royal Milk tea. We also got the Takoyaki which was one of their best sellers.

Taro Milk Tea

Royal Milk Tea

THE takoyaki

I honestly enjoyed the takoyaki more than the milk tea. It just didn't hit the right taste or the taste I look for in my milk tea. However, the Takoyaki ROCKED! I could have eaten the entire plate but I made sure I gave FM half his share.

So, there goes another milk tea adventure for moi.

Gayuma ni Maria

It was December 2010 when I first heard about this place. It was also December 23, 2010 when a guy first promised to take me to Gayuma. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to and Gayuma became something that I obsessed with.

When my food group decided to go there after much badgering from me, I was happy. Then things happened and I wasn't able to go with them. Gayuma now became something to covet.

Random guys, random dates, random promises of bringing me to Gayuma over the year 2011 made it more elusive. To me, it was like Gayuma was taunting me. "Hey Kathy, I'm just here. Come and get me."

I wanted Gayuma but I have lost hope of ever getting it.

Fast forward to last Friday and I was with FM hanging out at SM North. We were supposed to grab a bite to eat at some Persian place (which I wasn't such a huge fan of) when things took a turn and we ended up on our way to Gayuma.

I should have trusted my instincts and said that we can just go some other time. You see, on the way, we got lost, and lost, and took a wrong turn here and there. It was stressful. Normally, when this happens, it means that I shouldn't go to a certain place.

However, I really wanted to go to Gayuma and so after over 30 minutes of driving when it should have been 10 minutes, we saw this.

I was happy ... like giddy happy giggling like a schoolgirl inside happy. Finally, I was at Gayuma.

Gayuma was an assault on the visual senses. It was pink, and red, black and brown and decors all over. It was exactly what I envisioned it to be and what I wanted it to be. I was mesmerized and amazed. It was like being Alice in Wonderland.

Unfortunately, as with any adventure, it had to end somewhere and boy did it end. The place was packed and they had one server only. To be fair to him, he was really pleasant and charming. He tried ... but it was a vain effort. I have to commend him for trying though. Seriously. He remained charming and smiling the entire time that you'd have to be heartless to get mad at him.

FM and I settled down and got comfy with the chairs, or tried to. It seems that when dining at Gayuma, you shouldn't wear tight jeans or a short skirt unless you fancy flashing someone. We couldn't make up our minds on what to order since we had a pretty good time looking at the names of each dish which reeked of sexual overtones. In the end, we decided to get the following:

Once you go Black, you never go back

When this was served after 30 minutes, it was cold so we had to have it reheated. The taste of the chocolate crust covering the Cream Dory fish was compromised when it was reheated which was unfortunate because it was pretty good. I liked the combination of the fish (the tanginess, naks!) and the chocolate was a perfect combination.

Nang Nilasing ni Eba si Adan

This one reminded me of pork being immersed in pineapple sauce. It was a bit of an overkill for someone who is not a fan of pineapple but for me, it was just right. They actually used apple and beer but the effect was that of a pineapple. Weird no?

I also ordered Beats Sex Anyday (a chocolate cake that made them famous) but it took too long that we just had to cancel it. Sadness. It was the one thing I really wanted to try.

Overall, the gayuma experience is something that I'm still willing to give another try if only to allow them to redeem themselves. I would want to go there again, maybe not on a Friday night perhaps and try the chocolate cake but since its too far, I'm pretty sure this will be another unticked box on my bucket list.

FM and I

Magnum

I have been reading a lot of tweets about this new ice cream and so one day a week ago, it got the best of me. I gave in and got all 3 flavors. 

Since I wasn't crazy enough to down all 3, I got my family to help me consume them. My siblings were more than happy to help. 

They liked the almond and truffle flavor the most. We felt that the original was just like previous versions of the ice cream but the almond and the truffle ones are to die for. 

Will we try it again? Definitely. It was so creamy and rich! I'm glad Magnum made its way here. However, I wish it wasn't overpriced.

and I'm back ...

I missed you heaps guys! Seriously. I could do away with FB and Twitter but I missed my blog and of course, my readers. So, lets start the ball rolling shall we?

I'd like to SHOW OFF, yes, show off my new crib. Haha. I'm kinda proud of this one because its really nice and it fits us just fine. Best part? It seems to be bringing in lots of luck and we are basking in all of it.

These are bits and parts of the new place. I like that in a span of a week, we were able to make it our own and stamp it with our own style and personalities.

What do you think of the new place?