Yesterday was one for the books, as we were in the room where it happened: the Theatre at Solaire for the Hamilfans Day!
Fastest fingers first was the name of the game as Hamilton International Tour and GMG Productions gave away slots to the first 70 who signed up. Being an expert of ~races like this thanks to my experience in scoring fantastic finds at Instagram thrift shops, I was able to sign up immediately within .03 seconds of the link being up. Thankfully, J also got in so I was guaranteed a date heehee. My sister also got a slot thanks to her friend John who won Theater Fans Manila's contest. What a blessing!
We don't get a chance to dress up like this so when we do, I go all out. I ordered my dress and shoes online and thankfully they arrived on time, while I have had this clutch since before the pandemic but yesterday was only my first time to use it.
It's always so exciting to attend fan events because you can feel the passion and joy in the room. We were given the chance to meet the cast who was so generous in sharing their. talents and time in interacting with us fans. I regretfully did not get picked to join the games but that's okay because I would have been such a nervous wreck!
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| Darnell Abraham, Hamilton International Tour's George Washington |
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| Deaundre' Woods, Hamilton International Tour's Aaron Burr |
My sister painted the Hamilton logo on black canvas using gold paint, and she was able to have the cast sign it! Meanwhile, I was able to get Jason Arrow (Hamilton International Tour's Alexander Hamilton), Darnell, and Deaundre' sign my Hamilton ticket holder. I also got a souvenir programme, while we availed free holographic photos at the Unionbank lounge!
When J's sister Chelsea introduced Hamilton to me back in 2016, I didn't imagine I would be this obsessed. Up until now the songs from the Original Broadway Cast Recording are still part of my annual Spotify Top 10 HAHA! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine they would stage the musical here, as I thought I would have to fly out just to catch it. And so to have tickets to the show to share with my sister AND attend the very exclusive Hamilfans Day is BEYOND my millennial-level imagination. What a beautiful memory. It makes me even more excited to see the show next week!
Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now!
I love kitchen equipment that are no fuss and easy to use, and lets me do anything else while it's doing its thing. You know how the reason why I love my Instant Pot is how it makes me look like a cooking expert but in reality it just lets me dump the ingredients on it so it could work its magic? My new favorite, the Baumann Living Bread Maker, also functions this way.
J got me this Bread Maker (because I asked him to) at the height of the pandemic two years ago. That time, high off the hype of my Instant Pot, I was gung ho on experimenting with other kitchen tools and equipment. The Bread Maker caught my radar because of the reviews I found online. I was enticed by the idea of having freshly baked bread any time I want without needing to knead. I have weak arms you see, so even though I had been wanting to try making my own bread ever since I learned how to bake, the prospect of putting my arms to work put me off.
So J got me the Bread Maker, but you see dear reader, working with yeast intimidated me so. Thus the Bread Maker just got kept in storage for two freaking years.
Last week I tried to bake pupcakes using my oven, but they came out severely undercooked. After four years of being my main workhorse, I think my oven has decided to conk out on me. :( But because I was badly craving bread, a lightbulb moment came and I took my Bread Maker out of storage.
I wish I took it out of storage earlier, because my goodness, I had been happily making bread for a week now and I am looking forward to trying out more recipes!
Lemon Loaf
Banana Walnut Loaf
My favorite so far -- Japanese Milk Bread
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| 270ml water + 2 tbsp oil |
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| 1 tsp salt + 2 tbsp sugar + 3 cups bread floor + 1 tsp yeast |
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Set the Bread Maker to 1 for Basic Bread, choose size (I chose 1.5lb), choose crust color (I chose Medium), then press Start. Here is the finished product after about four hours (including warming time) |
Get your own Baumann Living Bread Maker here. This is not a sponsored post as my fiancé got this Bread Maker for me, but I will get a bit of commission if you click and buy using my affiliate link. :)
Our prapso shih tzu Lucy turned six months old yesterday, and we celebrated at Presko Coffee with J's siblings and their dogs, and yummy food and pup cups!
Presko Coffee is our go to-café when we feel like going out without venturing too far away, and we just really prefer it there because aside from their delicious food they also give our baby her own treat. :)
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| Jecco and Kookee with Bonbon and Cooper |
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| Chelsea and Hugo |
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| My small family |
Hi, friends! It has been a little more than a month since J and I got engaged, and since then we have:
- chosen my Man of Honor
- pencil-booked the venue
- enlisted our chosen officiant
- inquired with an event stylist
- booked a photographer
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| We dropped by our chosen venue the weekend after we got engaged |
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| Floriography by Jessica Roux has been very helpful! |
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| Our flower girl Lucy |
This evening while I was washing the dishes, ideas for my vows just came rushing to me that I had to hurry up so I could type them down. That's more than half of my vows done. :)
I am so excited. :,)
You know what a good burger looks like – a buttery toasted bun, a juicy meaty patty, a crisp lettuce – and paired with the most irresistible tomato ketchup and seriously good mayonnaise. Burgers are already great in their classic form, but why stop there? Why not make a crowd favorite even better?
Heinz has a great food hack for you: why not try eating your burgers upside down with Heinz? J actually eats his burgers this way!
Feels Wrong, Tastes Right
Although this move defies all logic (why do you need to turn your food upside down?), there is a pretty rational reason why this works! According to this Toronto Sun article, taking a chance on this food hack can actually help elevate your gastronomic experience. By turning your burger upside down, the thicker top bun is now at the bottom, allowing the juices from your patty to be absorbed into the bread and infusing it with flavor.
This makes so much sense! The toppings that usually fall out from the other end of the burger are also better protected now that they are at the bottom of the burger. Even the condiments that go with your burger, like the Heinz Tomato Ketchup made with real red ripe tomatoes and Heinz Seriously Good Mayonnaise made with the fresh free-range eggs, will hit your taste buds earlier and will not drip down on the sides. You get all the flavors you want on a burger minus the mess–a win-win foodie situation.
Heinz celebrates International Burger Day by turning it into the Upside Down Burger Day in the Philippines
The brand, in an exciting partnership with Pound, has created the Bottom-Up Burger, an Upside Down burger made with your favorite Heinz products. Launched on May 31 via social experiment at Pound X Flatterie Greenbelt 3, Heinz surprised customers with not just a first taste of the newest collaboration but the burger - yes you guessed it right, served upside down! Customers from the experiment said that from now on they will eat their burgers upside down and with Heinz for a limited time period.
This will be available in the following Pound branches for a limited time only from June 10 to July 10:
BRANCHES:
1. SM City North EDSA
2. Ayala Malls Vertis North
3. Eastwood Mall
4. Robinsons Place Manila
5. SM Megamall
6. Greenbelt 3
7. Bonifacio High Street
8. Alabang Town Center
9. SM Mall of Asia
10. Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Why not try and start eating your burgers upside down with Heinz? :)
Still Skeptical?
Head to your nearest Pound branch to try the Bottom-Up Burger, an Upside Down burger that not only changes the way you eat but highlights the good flavors that ketchup made with real ripe tomatoes can give to a crowd favorite.
In the midnight of our eighth anniversary as a couple, J and I decided to get married. ♡
About a year from now, on 6-12-24, I am going to be a wife.
I barely slept because I was too excited! I wanted to tell my closest friends but we decided to tell our respective families first.
We took his parents and sister Chelsea out the next day, and after a late lunch and a movie, we told them over coffee and waffles. The news was positively received. :) When we got home, we called my Mama, who was so happy but almost immediately demanded a grandchild, LOL.
We also called my friend and sunshine-in-a-box Ed and his husband Mark to relay the good news.
The call was filled with laughter and tears, especially when I asked Ed to be my Man of Honor. After everything we both went through in our friendship, truly, there could be nobody else.
J got me two rings:
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| One that is undoubtedly me (floral and multi-colored!) that I would choose to wear most of the time; |
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| and a classic ring with a pretty prism moonstone that dances in the light. |
We have one solid year to plan, but it's going to be just a small wedding so I am not yet feeling stressed about it. Our priorities are to make sure the venue is nice, the food is good, and the photos and videos are amazing. I am even seriously thinking about doing my own makeup.
Dusted off my secret Pinterest wedding board heehee.
We have yet to decide on all other details, but if there's one thing I am sure of it's going to be colorful and warm and full of joy.
I can't wait to be married to the love of my life. :)
Dumplings have long been a part of many cultures and cuisines around the world for hundreds of years - from China to America and Japan and Poland alike. Their popularity can be found anywhere from Chinese restaurants in North America and Japan to Polish ones across Poland. Here in the Philippines there are a lot of Chinese restaurants offering dumplings, and for my birthday in 2019 when we were in Singapore, I opted to celebrate with a dumpling buffet. A delicious sight - of hot steaming dumplings filled with vegetables or meats - often brings back fond memories of home and family; yet behind this iconic dish lies its rich history that contributes to its cultural significance worldwide. In this blog post we will delve into its multidimensional world while discussing its contribution over time in various cultures throughout time and how its influence on their cultures' cuisines throughout their existence.
History of Dumplings: From Ancient China to Today
Dumplings have their origins in ancient China and can be traced as far back as the 3rd century BCE, where they were made with various fillings such as meat (pork and chicken), vegetables and herbs. Dumplings served both practical and symbolic functions throughout Chinese history - from providing nourishment during times of hardship to symbolizing wealth during celebrations.
Dumpling Diversity Across Cultures
Over time, dumplings slowly expanded from their homeland in East Asia into other areas such as Europe and America. Each culture adopted them in unique and creative ways - for instance in Japan they're often made using thin wrappers filled with seafood or meat and vegetables; while in Poland pierogies are eaten as traditional comfort food.
Dumplings Today: A Global Phenomenon
Today, dumplings remain an indispensable staple in global cuisines - from Chinese potstickers to Russian pelmeni and beyond. Their popularity transcends practical uses; now being eaten during Chinese New Year celebrations for good luck or served at Polish Christmas dinners featuring pierogies made using family recipes passed down through generations, dumplings serve as reminders that we all share something in common regardless of our cultural backgrounds.
The Joy of Making Dumplings
Making dumplings can be more than a source of sustenance; it's an experience! Making these delicious morsels brings people together around a table to bond over laughter and delicious aromas while exploring creativity in the kitchen. Give this crockpot chicken and dumplings recipe a try now and experience first-hand all that the joy of creating dumplings can offer you!
The Future of Dumplings
As cultures come together and blend, so will dumplings. There will no doubt be many delicious new versions emerging over time as we see more creative variations emerge. One thing is certain; dumplings will remain a beloved and delicious staple part of the global culinary scene for years to come.
Dumplings have long been part of many cultures worldwide and are celebrated with delicious delight as comfort foods and celebratory elements. Not only are they deliciously comforting treats, but also integral parts of many celebrations and gatherings - from their humble origins to modern creative variations, dumplings will continue to bring generations joy. No matter which variety of dumpling you enjoy making and eating - something magical is at work here that brings people together around food! Don't wait any longer: grab some wrappers, gather up your ingredients of choice and create something truly delightful to celebrate this timeless treat with friends and family for an unforgettable experience!
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| April 25, 2015 This was me in the old Powerbooks (now an H&M) at Greenbelt 3. I went there to support Mina Esguerra's book launch before I went to my own e-book launch J and I matched and talked for a bit on Tinder as I was getting ready to leave the house, and then continued our conversation via Facebook Messenger when I got home at around 10PM until we called it a night at 2AM. |
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| June 2015 TOMS One Day Without Shoes This was a work event that was open to the public so I was able to invite him. In here he got exposed to the work I do and the [PR] world I live in. |
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| April 2016 We started celebrating our meet-anniversary |
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| April 2017 Our first time to travel out of the country together |
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| April 2018 In 2017 I was diagnosed to have myomas. As it might be a problem in case we decide to have kids in the future, the nuisances had to be removed so I had a myomectomy. It was a major operation and I was able to enjoy a two month-paid leave to ensure full recovery. My family, J, and his family supported me all the way. |
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| April 2019 Our second time in Singapore together. We went outside at night to take photos of him in his Spider-Man suit and we chanced on this yellow umbrella at the bus stop. We couldn't not recreate the iconic yellow umbrella scene from How I Met Your Mother |
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| February 2020 One of our last couple of dates before the world shut down because of the pandemic. From renting an apartment near my old office in Makati, I had to move back to my family in Valenzuela. J and I didn't see each other for almost seven months. |
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| July 2021 The year of several transformations. I turned 35 this year, and I felt something in me shifted. I moved out of my family's house again, quit my old job, learned how to cook, lost my Tatay, and got a new job. |
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| May 2022 We voted and promptly got disillusioned. J got depressed for a couple of weeks after the national elections, which is very understandable. I wish there is an alternate universe where our presidential bet could have won, but this is our country's current reality, and it sucks. |
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| March 2023 Celebrating eight years together this year. Can't imagine going through life without you by my side. |
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